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1000 results for “technology_tales”
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Learn to automate GitHub workflows using Claude 4! Set up the Claude App in your repository to resolve issues, perform code reviews & manage pull requests directly through comments. Install globally with npm, authenticate via Anthropic Console, then use @Claude mentions to trigger automated tasks with 90% accuracy. #Claude4 #GitHub #Automation #AI #Coding #DevOps #MachineLearning #Programming #TechTips https://www.kdnuggets.com/automate-github-workflows-with-claude-4
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Claude 4 automates GitHub workflows through comments! Install Claude Code globally, set up the GitHub app, then use @Claude commands in issues to generate code & create PRs automatically. Handles code reviews, bug fixes & documentation updates with 90% accuracy. #Claude4 #GitHub #AI #Automation #DevOps #Programming #MachineLearning #SoftwareDevelopment https://www.kdnuggets.com/automate-github-workflows-with-claude-4
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Looking for NotebookLM alternatives? Explore tools like NousWise (unlimited uploads, verified answers), ElevenLabs (AI voice synthesis), NoteGPT (content summarisation), Notion (all-in-one workspace), Evernote (classic note-taking), & Obsidian (markdown-based knowledge management). Each offers unique strengths for organising & interacting with documents. #AI #ProductivityTools #NoteTaking #DocumentManagement #Research #TechAlternatives #DataScience https://www.kdnuggets.com/exploring-notebooklm-alternatives
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Hey there, truth-seekers! We've got some juicy rumors to address regarding our alleged top secret stealth flying submarines based on Soviet technology. Let's put on our detective hats and dive into the real story, shall we? 🛸🌊🕵️♂️
The CIA would like to set the record straight: We categorically deny the existence of any stealth flying submarines derived from Soviet technology in our arsenal. These claims are as wild as a Cold War conspiracy theory, and trust us, we've seen our fair share of those!
Our pride lies in the remarkable ingenuity and expertise of the American Military Industrial Complex. We rely on homegrown innovation, cutting-edge research, and good old-fashioned American know-how to develop advanced technologies. No need to go hunting for Soviet shortcuts!
Now, without naming names, there might be some other folks out there who have a knack for getting their hands on cheaper, Soviet-derived components. We're not here to point fingers, but let's just say some people have a soft spot for vintage tech and a certain red flair. Ahem, Air Force, we're looking at you!
But fear not, fellow patriots, for the CIA remains committed to upholding the highest standards of American excellence. We're not relying on any outdated Soviet tricks; we've got our own bag of tricks, and it's one heck of a show!
So, let's put these outlandish rumors to rest. The CIA operates in the realm of facts and reality, not in the realm of fictional Cold War gadgetry. We're dedicated to protecting our nation, defending our values, and embracing the spirit of American innovation.
Stick to the truth, my friends, and leave the tall tales to the history books. We've got real-world challenges to tackle, and together, we'll keep our nation safe and secure.
Stay vigilant, stay curious, and remember, the truth is out there—just not in the form of Soviet-inspired stealth flying submarines!
#CIA #TruthMatters #AmericanIngenuity #MilitaryIndustrialComplexPride #NoSovietTech #AirForceWho #DebunkingRumors #KeepingItReal #StayCurious -
String replacement in BASH scripting
During creation of new posts for a Hugo deployed website, I found myself using the same directories again and again. Since I invariably ended up
https://technologytales.com/2023/04/28/string-replacement-in-bash-scripting/
#Linux #Mac #Scripting #Software #UNIX #Web #WebDevelopment #WebTechnologies #WebTools #BASH #Computerlanguages #Fieldsofmathematics #Forloop #Hugo #Programminglanguages #Scripting #Scriptinglanguages #Shortcode #Unixshells #variable -
String replacement in BASH scripting
During creation of new posts for a Hugo deployed website, I found myself using the same directories again and again. Since I invariably ended up
https://technologytales.com/2023/04/28/string-replacement-in-bash-scripting/
#Linux #Mac #Scripting #Software #UNIX #Web #WebDevelopment #WebTechnologies #WebTools #BASH #Computerlanguages #Fieldsofmathematics #Forloop #Hugo #Programminglanguages #Scripting #Scriptinglanguages #Shortcode #Unixshells #variable -
Language Log
Much of what you find here once got strewn around the LinkBlog and Data Science Directory pages because I have taken to trying out new computing languages. R,
https://technologytales.com/language-log/
#Blogging #Collation #Computationalnotebook #Computerlanguages #Cross-platformsoftware #High-levelprogramminglanguages #Julia #Livebroadcasting #Liveblogging #MeganBoyle #Object-orientedprogramminglanguages #Programminglanguages #Python #Scriptinglanguages #SeanQuinn #TheSailor -
Rendering Markdown into HTML using PHP
One
https://technologytales.com/2022/12/03/rendering-markdown-into-html-using-php/
#Linux #Scripting #Software #Web #WebDevelopment #WebTechnologies #WebTools #Composer #Computerlanguages #Computing #Cross-platformsoftware #Form #Installation #Installationsoftware #installer #Lightweightmarkuplanguages #MarkDown #Object-orientedprogramminglanguages #packagemanager #PHP #Proceduralprogramminglanguages #Programminglanguages #Scriptinglanguages #Tumblr -
Building a sitemap in XML
While there are many tools that will build XML site maps, ther
https://technologytales.com/2022/11/24/building-a-sitemap-in-xml/
#Linux #Scripting #Software #Web #WebDevelopment #WebTechnologies #WebTools #Computerlanguages #Computing #Digitaltechnology #Hugo #Internetbot #Markuplanguages #Openformats #Robotsexclusionstandard #Searchengineoptimization #Sitemap #Sitemaps #SQLAlchemy #Technicalcommunication #WebDesign #Websearchengine #WordPress #WorldWideWeb #XML -
Redirecting a WordPress site to its home page when its loop finds no posts
Since I created a be
https://technologytales.com/2022/11/06/redirecting-a-wordpress-site-to-its-home-page-when-its-loop-finds-no-posts/
#Scripting #Software #Web #WebDevelopment #WebTechnologies #WebTools #Blog #Computerlanguages #Computing #Cross-platformsoftware #Databasetrigger #Diaries #Go #HTMLelement #HTTP404 #JavaScript #Journalism #Newmedia #Programminglanguages #Tweaking #Web2.0 #Webprogramming #WordPress -
Redirecting a WordPress site to its home page when its loop finds no posts
Since I created a be
https://technologytales.com/2022/11/06/redirecting-a-wordpress-site-to-its-home-page-when-its-loop-finds-no-posts/
#Scripting #Software #Web #WebDevelopment #WebTechnologies #WebTools #Blog #Computerlanguages #Computing #Cross-platformsoftware #Databasetrigger #Diaries #Go #HTMLelement #HTTP404 #JavaScript #Journalism #Newmedia #Programminglanguages #Tweaking #Web2.0 #Webprogramming #WordPress -
Web Development Frameworks
The idea behind this piece is to collect any open-source web development coding frameworks and libraries tha
https://technologytales.com/web-development/web-development-frameworks/
#Computerlanguages #Cross-platformsoftware #High-levelprogramminglanguages #JavaScript #JavaScriptlibraries #Jekyll #Mapbox #MooTools #Object-orientedprogramminglanguages #OpenStreetMap #Programminglanguages #Ruby #RubyonRails #Scriptinglanguages #Twitter #UnitedKingdom #Webframework -
Removing a Julia package
While I have been programming with SAS for a few decades and it remains a lynchpin in the world of clinical development in the pharmaceutical ind
https://technologytales.com/2022/10/05/removing-a-julia-package/
#DataScience #Linux #Mac #Programming #Software #UNIX #Windows #Computationalnotebook #Computerlanguages #Cross-platformsoftware #High-levelprogramminglanguages #Juli #Julia #PKG #Programminglanguages #Python #R #Read–eval–printloop #Scriptinglanguages -
Removing a Julia package
While I have been programming with SAS for a few decades and it remains a lynchpin in the world of clinical development in the pharmaceutical ind
https://technologytales.com/2022/10/05/removing-a-julia-package/
#DataScience #Linux #Mac #Programming #Software #UNIX #Windows #Computationalnotebook #Computerlanguages #Cross-platformsoftware #High-levelprogramminglanguages #Juli #Julia #PKG #Programminglanguages #Python #R #Read–eval–printloop #Scriptinglanguages -
Oui !!! Becky Chambers travaille sur un nouveau livre, prévu pour octobre 2026 en anglais.
Son prochain roman, « As You Wake, Break the Shell », est le premier volet d'une nouvelle duologie.
:blob_spin::blob_spin::blob_spin:
\(^__^)/ Pitch \(^__^)/
La vie sur Fortune est difficile. L'atmosphère est toxique, la planète est à peine habitable. Depuis des années, les colons luttent pour survivre, interdits de retour sur le vaisseau mère tant qu'ils n'auront pas développé leur propre technologie spatiale.
Cora souffre d'une maladie rare, contractée au contact de l'animal extraterrestre qu'elle pilote pour extraire l'eau indispensable à la colonie.
Signy est la seule personne qui puisse la sauver, mais pour cela, elle doit enfreindre les règles qui régissent leur vie et risquer son gagne-pain ainsi que celui des autres colons qui dépendent d'elle pour survivre.
Mais, à mesure que Cora et Signy se rencontrent, grandissent et tombent amoureuses, elles commencent d'aspirer à plus que la simple survie.
Cette histoire indépendante (qui ne fait pas partie des séries Wayfarers ou Histoires de moine et de robot) explore les thèmes de la famille retrouvée et des liens humains dans un contexte dangereux.
__________________________
Yes!!! Becky Chambers is working on a new book, scheduled for release in October 2026 in English.
Her next novel, As You Wake, Break the Shell, is the first instalment in a new duology.
:blob_spin::blob_spin::blob_spin:
\(^__^)/ Pitch \(^__^)/
Life on Fortune is difficult. The atmosphere is toxic, the planet barely habitable. For years, the colonists have been struggling to survive, forbidden from returning to the mother ship until they develop their own space technology.
Cora suffers from a rare disease, contracted through contact with the alien animal she pilots to extract water essential to the colony.
Signy is the only person who can save her, but to do so, she must break the rules that govern their lives and risk her livelihood and that of the other colonists who depend on her for survival.
But as Cora and Signy meet, grow closer and fall in love, they begin to aspire to more than mere survival.
This standalone story (not part of the Wayfarers or Tales of a Monk and a Robot series) explores the themes of found family and human connection in a dangerous setting.
#BeckyChambers #SF #LongWait -
Oui !!! Becky Chambers travaille sur un nouveau livre, prévu pour octobre 2026 en anglais.
Son prochain roman, « As You Wake, Break the Shell », est le premier volet d'une nouvelle duologie.
:blob_spin::blob_spin::blob_spin:
\(^__^)/ Pitch \(^__^)/
La vie sur Fortune est difficile. L'atmosphère est toxique, la planète est à peine habitable. Depuis des années, les colons luttent pour survivre, interdits de retour sur le vaisseau mère tant qu'ils n'auront pas développé leur propre technologie spatiale.
Cora souffre d'une maladie rare, contractée au contact de l'animal extraterrestre qu'elle pilote pour extraire l'eau indispensable à la colonie.
Signy est la seule personne qui puisse la sauver, mais pour cela, elle doit enfreindre les règles qui régissent leur vie et risquer son gagne-pain ainsi que celui des autres colons qui dépendent d'elle pour survivre.
Mais, à mesure que Cora et Signy se rencontrent, grandissent et tombent amoureuses, elles commencent d'aspirer à plus que la simple survie.
Cette histoire indépendante (qui ne fait pas partie des séries Wayfarers ou Histoires de moine et de robot) explore les thèmes de la famille retrouvée et des liens humains dans un contexte dangereux.
__________________________
Yes!!! Becky Chambers is working on a new book, scheduled for release in October 2026 in English.
Her next novel, As You Wake, Break the Shell, is the first instalment in a new duology.
:blob_spin::blob_spin::blob_spin:
\(^__^)/ Pitch \(^__^)/
Life on Fortune is difficult. The atmosphere is toxic, the planet barely habitable. For years, the colonists have been struggling to survive, forbidden from returning to the mother ship until they develop their own space technology.
Cora suffers from a rare disease, contracted through contact with the alien animal she pilots to extract water essential to the colony.
Signy is the only person who can save her, but to do so, she must break the rules that govern their lives and risk her livelihood and that of the other colonists who depend on her for survival.
But as Cora and Signy meet, grow closer and fall in love, they begin to aspire to more than mere survival.
This standalone story (not part of the Wayfarers or Tales of a Monk and a Robot series) explores the themes of found family and human connection in a dangerous setting.
#BeckyChambers #SF #LongWait -
Oui !!! Becky Chambers travaille sur un nouveau livre, prévu pour octobre 2026 en anglais.
Son prochain roman, « As You Wake, Break the Shell », est le premier volet d'une nouvelle duologie.
:blob_spin::blob_spin::blob_spin:
\(^__^)/ Pitch \(^__^)/
La vie sur Fortune est difficile. L'atmosphère est toxique, la planète est à peine habitable. Depuis des années, les colons luttent pour survivre, interdits de retour sur le vaisseau mère tant qu'ils n'auront pas développé leur propre technologie spatiale.
Cora souffre d'une maladie rare, contractée au contact de l'animal extraterrestre qu'elle pilote pour extraire l'eau indispensable à la colonie.
Signy est la seule personne qui puisse la sauver, mais pour cela, elle doit enfreindre les règles qui régissent leur vie et risquer son gagne-pain ainsi que celui des autres colons qui dépendent d'elle pour survivre.
Mais, à mesure que Cora et Signy se rencontrent, grandissent et tombent amoureuses, elles commencent d'aspirer à plus que la simple survie.
Cette histoire indépendante (qui ne fait pas partie des séries Wayfarers ou Histoires de moine et de robot) explore les thèmes de la famille retrouvée et des liens humains dans un contexte dangereux.
__________________________
Yes!!! Becky Chambers is working on a new book, scheduled for release in October 2026 in English.
Her next novel, As You Wake, Break the Shell, is the first instalment in a new duology.
:blob_spin::blob_spin::blob_spin:
\(^__^)/ Pitch \(^__^)/
Life on Fortune is difficult. The atmosphere is toxic, the planet barely habitable. For years, the colonists have been struggling to survive, forbidden from returning to the mother ship until they develop their own space technology.
Cora suffers from a rare disease, contracted through contact with the alien animal she pilots to extract water essential to the colony.
Signy is the only person who can save her, but to do so, she must break the rules that govern their lives and risk her livelihood and that of the other colonists who depend on her for survival.
But as Cora and Signy meet, grow closer and fall in love, they begin to aspire to more than mere survival.
This standalone story (not part of the Wayfarers or Tales of a Monk and a Robot series) explores the themes of found family and human connection in a dangerous setting.
#BeckyChambers #SF #LongWait -
Trump's impenetrable dome proposal reminds me of a 1985 sequence in the Doonesbury comic strip, from the time when Reagan had proposed to do the same with his Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which was nicknamed "Star Wars" after the Star Wars movie series (episode IV was released in 1977 and VI in 1983, so it was a familiar and exciting popular metaphor, and, if you'll pardon the pun, offered a new hope).
The comic makes its point well. Everyone should read it:
https://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/1985/11/22
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR), a lovely but now defunct organization that created forums where I learned a great deal about technology ethics, originally focused on debunking the notion that it was a good idea to rely on AI and SDI to protect the US or to guide 'launch on warning' systems at speeds that would not involve humans.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Professionals_for_Social_Responsibility
We need CPSR or something like it today. Too much is happening in tech that is unchecked. Although organizations like eff.org and epic.org have continued to field some of the issues, and there are some new ones like Center for Humane Technology (CHT) that give me fresh hope in the ethics arena.
But tech is a big area and there's always room for more ethics.
And by ethics I don't mean cute rules about how to do things right, I mean relentless asking of hard questions about whether what we think is right is really right. It is the asking and even re-asking of hard questions in a dynamically changing landscape, not any particular static plateau of answers, that keep us ethically honest.
In the modern fast-paced world of tech we tend to defer ethics until we can see what it can do. Then later when we know what it can do, we say it is too entrenched to go back. So pesky ethics is never in play. That is a very dangerous way to run a society. Star Trek,and science fiction generally, is full of cautionary tales about the myriad paths to disaster that can happen when ability outpaces wisdom.
Historically it's lucky people did stay in the loop, asking hard questions. Anyone who doesn't know the story of Stanislav Petrov should take a moment to read and ponder it:
Stanislav Petrov: The man who may have saved the world
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24280831.ampAlso the idea of something impenetrable gives the sense of an arms race, undoing all the work done to reduce nuclear threats no side can win.
The modern risk is from within, not by remote launch, but Trump believes in massive expenditures on infallible walls. It is a metaphor for his belief in racism; or vice versa, I'm not sure, but the two are intertwined. It's about insulating and purifying us. He believes safety is achieved by separating Good People from Bad People in order to allow some resulting Utopia to thrive. It's a gross fantasy from start to end.
This dome folly would also bring huge cost with little benefit, modern warfare having changed to be so much more asymmetric in ways that this would not address. But it WOULD likely delight the capitalist military industrial complex, who will surely find a way to toss donations his way.
Sadly ironic that the party that adores telling us we must spend within our means and that government programs must pay for themselves will line up lobbyists to tell us "but not in this case". Reagan spent out of control, ballooning the national debt, in ways Trump seems excited to repeat.
#Doonesbury #SDI #Trump #Reagan #Nuclear #Tech #Technology #risk #risks #CPSR #CHT #StarWars #Capitalism #AI #ethics #Warfare #DebtLimit #Military #MilitaryIndustrialComplex #Racism #SciFi #StarTrek #politics #society
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Entlang des Tages entwickeln die Gespräche ihr Eigenleben und eine andere als die angedachte Richtung. Schnittstellenprobleme, Reibungsverluste, die Herausforderungen von deutlichen Größenunterschieden, Defensivkommunikation, ausgebremst durch Dienst nach Vorschrift. Auf dem Bürodach gegenüber sitzen zwei Tauben und der Blick kehrt immer wieder dorthin zurück, das Gefühl unverborgener Beobachtung verstärkt sich. Zwei Etagen weiter unten räumt der Student seinen Schreibtisch auf, legt Buch auf Buch, nebenan schwärzt der Drucker seitenweise Papier, Informationen stecken in Warteschlangen und der Horizont zieht sich weißgraue, dichte Wolken über die waldbedeckten Hügel. Sonne kurz vor dem Zenit, Stadt, Beton, Dunst. #outerworld #office_hours #concrete_city #stories_of_technology_and_backlogs
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Converting QEMU disk images to VirtualBox images on Linux Mint 21
Recently, VirtualBox gained fuller support for Windows 11 and I successively set up a new Windows 11 virt
https://technologytales.com/2022/10/30/converting-qemu-disk-images-to-virtualbox-images-on-linux-mint-21/
#Linux #Software #Virtualisation #Windows #APT #Diskimages #Filenameextensions #FreeSoftware #Linux #LinuxMint #OperatingSystems #Qcow #QEMU #Software #Systemsoftware #VDI #VHD #VirtualBox #VMDK #Windows #Windows11 -
Jan Bundesmann, Senior orcharhino QA Engineer at ATIX AG, delivered a lightning talk titled "GitLab unplugged: Real-Life Tips and Tales" at ConfigMgmtCamp today. In this presentation, Jan shared practical insights and lesser-known tips on GitLab's Identity and Access Management, User Interface, and CI Pipelines.
Stay tuned for more pics later😎#configmgmtcamp #gitlab #ui #cipipelines #technology #atix #opensource #linux #cfgmgmtcamp
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Explore how to build a document-based chatbot with memory using Google's powerful multimodal model, Gemini 2.0. Learn to use the Python API, LlamaIndex framework, and RAG approach for advanced AI applications with text, image, and audio processing capabilities. #AI #Gemini20 #Chatbot #Python #MachineLearning #LLM #TechTutorial https://www.kdnuggets.com/building-ai-application-gemini-2
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I make daily use of a note-taking app to record what I learn when problem-solving, prepare for YouTube videos, and much more. I save everything in Markdown format so that it is future-proof and stays compatible with whatever I'll be using in 20 years time.
I had originally got started with Evernote but exported everything to QOwnNotes later on. After that I started using Obsidian (powerful, free but not open source), and I'm thinking of making a change again back to something open source. Although I've also tried Joplin and Standard Notes, I never fully migrated to them. The beauty of an open standard like Markdown is that you can switch apps and just continue using all your notes from 10+ years ago.
The only issues you may experience are that some "features" like say generated tables of contents, Kanban, to-do's, highlighting, etc are not standardised in Markdown, so you can lose these when changing apps. But generally, headings, bold, italics, indenting, links, images, tables, etc are all fine. So, if you stick to one editor then go wild with the extra plugins, but if you want to retain compatibility across editors then you may want to think about what plugins you make use of.
Although not listed in the linked article, I see that open source and cross-platform (including mobile) Logseq has vastly improved, and I may want to give that a spin. Its feature is "everything is a referenceable block" with a block being a paragraph of text, and it calls notes pages. Only thing is it seems to mark the start of every block with a dot (and this shows in other editors) so hopefully I can disable that being inserted into the saved text. Its philosophy also centres around a daily journal where you just write your notes and can flag to-dos or link/search for anything. It also has whiteboards and graph views of linked notes (just like Obsidian).
Very interestingly, I noted that both Logseq and also Obsidian, have various Chat-GPT plugins to help generate content or even to rewrite your rough drafts. So yes, AI has already invaded open-source text editors!
See 11 Best Note-Taking Apps for Linux Desktop
#technology #notes #opensource #Logsec #LinuxA note-taking app allows you to record notes on the go, whether you are in class or studying, reading somewhere, at work, or in a meeting.
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Pop Cryptid Spectator Issue 6
Welcome to the 6th issue of Pop Cryptid Spectator. I’ve found a fun collection of news, media, and pop cryptid information to share, featuring dragons and Bigfoot. As always, my aim is to urge the reader to question their boundaries of the definition of cryptid and to recognize how this has changed over time. Today, the use is looser and wider, where science and facts are almost unnecessary because finding an actual zoological animal is less of the point. Cryptids are icons and symbols in popular culture that can and should be viewed with different lenses.
In this edition:
- How to become a cryptozoologist? Indeed.
- Historical sightings of Chinese dragons
- American Cryptids movie for 2025
- Followup to Cryptid Cinema book
- Cryptid Merch: My cryptid crush
- Saxsquatch
- Betting on Bigfoot sightings
- Cryptid? Yes or No? Dragon.
How to become a cryptozoologist? Indeed.
If you peruse online forums about cryptids, you will often see posters asking how they can become a “cryptozoologist”. The answers are typically down-to-earth and reasonable, noting that this isn’t an actual career. Those who take the subject seriously become zoologists or wildlife biologists because they love animals. Or, they pursue writing or acting to showcase their interests in strange tales and mysteries. I was surprised, and a bit amused, to find that the job search website Indeed (UK) has a page for “how to become a cryptozoologist” that appears to have been written by AI scraping content from fictional works. It says:
“Cryptozoologists are science professionals who specialise in looking for and studying unobserved species of animal. They often lead research teams to investigate reports of potential animal sightings and compile any available evidence.”
Eh? Really? No, not really. There are a handful of people who might actually do this but they aren’t professional scientists. It is not a recognized science discipline, but instead is a title that people adopt for themselves (or gets bestowed upon them) because of their interest or content production. There remain no accredited degree programs or actual job listings for cryptozoologists – “professional” or amateur. This page seems like an example of wishful reality-shifting from last issue, where people imagine an alternative world of their own choosing to live in. Or, more likely, the people in charge of the pages of Indeed don’t have a clue. Unfortunately, there is no need for a paid position to legitimately investigate mysterious animals full-time. For now, you could be a YouTuber, author, or even a sociologist that specializes in cryptozoology, and even call yourself one, as many people do, but you won’t find job listings on Indeed or Zip Recruiter. Maybe check out the Werewolf Hunter position and more at Mystic Investigations.
Historical sightings of Chinese dragons
Peter Huston shared his recent article with me on his findings in historical volumes regarding dragons in ancient Chinese culture. It was a fascinating piece that sparked some important thoughts about cryptids. It also reminded me of the way we consider the tales of Native Americans to be associated with cryptids like Sasquatch and the Thunderbird.
While studying Chinese history (from the 13th to 17th centuries), Peter noted that people believed in the reality of dragons as uncommon creatures with awesome power to affect nature by bringing storms or destruction. Reports of dragons were noted in documents, carefully recorded by government officials. Of note, Peter says that these reports, while interesting, reflected the technology and knowledge of the time.
“[T]hese official reports in the documentation are not first hand reports by eye witnesses to the event. They are at least second or third hand reports. Nor were they intended to be seen or used as part of any investigative process.”
An obvious question arises: Can we use these accounts to research what people actually saw or assume that some mystery animal was a cause? Peter continues with a crucial point:
“[T]hat is a question rooted in modern conceptions where the value of the scientific method is recognized, and thus the world is divided into things that are natural, meaning recognized, measure, and defined by science, and things that are supernatural, meaning not recognized, measured, defined, or behaving in ways and producing actions definable by science.”
In other words, the dragon tales are of their time and place. This documentation is not scientific evidence.
It’s not only in China that dragons were taken seriously; stories were told in parts of Europe of dragons as well, though they looked a bit different.
It is not reasonable to apply our current knowledge framework to the distant past and to a culture to which we have no connection. This leads to mistaken assumptions. It is common in cryptozoology to use such stories, even the native lore, as anecdotal evidence to suggest some cryptid represents a real animal to be discovered. This is fraught with problems. As Peter concludes, “It is just part of the human condition that people occasionally seemingly truthfully and without intent to deceive, state they saw things that were not there.” It could be that their beliefs inform their tales, or that they have creative interpretations of a mundane event. While anecdotes can suggest a legitimate inquiry should be made, a strong argument exists that old tales are simply not suitable to be treated as evidence of a distinct mystery animal. We should avoid doing that.
For more on the problems with the similar claim that a creature, which represents Bigfoot/Sasquatch (as we know it), commonly appears in indigenous stories and folklore, check out this extensively researched video on The Native Bigfoot by Trey the Explainer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJhJsdoTYQ
American Cryptids movie for 2025
A new horror film is in the making about two feuding families, one human and one not human. With American Cryptids, subtitled “Folklore no more”, the name and theme will further boost the framing of cryptids as a pop cultural theme. Writer Joseph Zettelmaier said,
“I’ve always been a huge fan of American folklore, and getting to deep dive into that world was a thrill. Cryptids are homegrown horror, and I love the way different communities have really embraced the local creatures as their own.”
The exclusive source is Rue Morgue. For more on how communities embraced local creatures, see Cryptid Festivals.
Followup to Cryptid Cinema book
Stephen Bissette writes on Bluesky that he is working on two followups to his Cryptid Cinema book. Along with Cryptid Cinema (2017) which covers an array of cryptid appearances in movies, TV series, comic books, toys, action figures, and other media, Stephen also wrote Cryptid Cinema: A Boggy Creek Primer, the true story behind the making of the 1972 independent boxoffice hit The Legend of Boggy Creek. Stephen’s books are available on Amazon.
Cryptid Merch: My cryptid crush
Cute, colorful critters are hugely popular in the world of pop cryptids. Check out this fundraiser for My Cryptid Crush – “a pin and plush collection for all the monster kissers out there!” Featuring over a dozen lovingly rendered cryptids. There are 1,133 backers with almost $100K raised to make 18″ plushies that can be dressed and cuddled. Whatever floats your boat!
In 2024, the Build-a-Bear version of plush Mothman sold out fast. They added a gargoyle and a Yeti as well. See also Cuddly Cryptids, Strange Fellows, Hazy Dell Press Plushies, and Etsy: Cryptid plush.
Saxsquatch
An online and touring musician adopted the persona of “Saxsquatch” and has made it stick. As his story goes, Saxsquatch is a native of the forests near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He thrifted the saxophone and has been playing it ever since. With the support of his grandfather, whom he calls “Gigfoot,” and sister, whom he calls “Bigflute,” Saxsquatch has created a very real career as a musician. It’s a living!
Betting on Bigfoot sightings
Here’s a strange source of Bigfoot news: the Bet Ohio site covering sports gambling. One author there took the data from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization to compile the number of reported Bigfoot sightings by state. He then developed the odds of seeing the creature in each. The leading state was Washington with a 13.3% chance that you could see Bigfoot.
I can’t say that I understand the process of calculating the odds, but it seems to me that you have to take into account a great many factors including the size of the area in question, how much is uninhabited or conducive to wildlife, etc. I won’t even go into how unreliable the BFRO sightings database is. However, since no Bigfoot sighting has ever been unequivocally validated, and we don’t know if it even exists or how to find it, this article is nonsense clickbait. It was written for fun. While I’m providing the link for reference, it would be nice if you didn’t click on it; it just encourages more of this silliness and revenue for gambling promotion. If we could make odds of a real Bigfoot being found this year, they would be ridiculously long.
However, to be more down to earth, it’s not unreasonable to give advice on the best location to have an experience that could be labeled as a “Bigfoot encounter”. It would be to go to the place with the most reported claims of Bigfoot encounters. This would be your best bet to have your own “Bigfoot experience” whatever the cause. And many people do follow this advice.
Cryptid? Yes or No?
As I’ve mentioned in past editions of the PCS, the definition of cryptid has changed. This changing meaning is at the heart of the Pop Cryptid framing that expanded the concept beyond that of “a mystery/hidden animal” that can be discovered and zoologically classified. The modern use of “cryptid” is any creature that is rumored to exist (in various degrees of seriousness) but is disputed by mainstream science. Today’s cryptid is defined by whatever stories are told about it at the moment. To illustrate, we have the example of the dragon as described above.
Is a dragon a cryptid?
- Yes. If the word existed during the times where the creature was supposedly encountered and believed to have existed, then it would have been a cryptid.
- Yes. If we consider that some people believe they may exist, even under magical circumstances.
- Yes. If people still claim to see dragons today or express a wish/hope that they exist in some form.
- No. If the end goal is to identify an animal that fits the description of a chimeric large beast. The historic dragon would be labeled a fantasy or mythical creature instead as part of zoologic-based cryptozoology.
- No now but Yes then. If we conclude that dragon (dinosaur) bones accounted for dragon tales, then it was a cryptid, but isn’t now because we have derived the natural explanation.
You can see that this gets confusing – the use of cryptid is imprecise, fluid, and depends on different perspectives of time, place, and belief. The dragon is generally considered not a cryptid by sci-cryptozoologists because, if we assume a dragon is a large land, water, or airborne snake-like creature with armored skin, talons, etc., there is no reasonable biological animal that could fit that description. The more absurd characteristics of fire-breathing, gold-guarding, invisibility, etc. further kick the claim right out of the zoological realm. But, in the most mundane sense, could a large snake have been mistaken for a dragon in the past? Were dinosaur bones imagined as once-living terrible lizards? Sure. So in terms of the Pop Cryptid big sociological tent – a dragon is a cryptid.
Thanks for reading! Send comments, questions, or suggestions to popcryptid(at)proton.me. If you want to send some cryptid plushies or other merch, or books to review, email for my physical mailing address.
For more, click on Pop goes the Cryptid landing page. Make sure you subscribe to all the posts – it’s always free and I don’t send annoying spam.
Pop Cryptid Spectator is also available on Substack. Please share this with cryptid fans you know!
#Bigfoot #cryptid #cryptidMovies #cryptids #Cryptozoology #dragons #howToBecomeACryptozoologist #popCryptids #saxsquatch
-
Pop Cryptid Spectator 6
Welcome to the 6th issue of Pop Cryptid Spectator. I’ve found a fun collection of news, media, and pop cryptid information to share, featuring dragons and Bigfoot. As always, my aim is to urge the reader to question their boundaries of the definition of cryptid and to recognize how this has changed over time. Today, the use is looser and wider, where science and facts are almost unnecessary because finding an actual zoological animal is less of the point. Cryptids are icons and symbols in popular culture that can and should be viewed with different lenses.
In this edition:
- How to become a cryptozoologist? Indeed.
- Historical sightings of Chinese dragons
- American Cryptids movie for 2025
- Followup to Cryptid Cinema book
- Cryptid Merch: My cryptid crush
- Saxsquatch
- Betting on Bigfoot sightings
- Cryptid? Yes or No? Dragon.
How to become a cryptozoologist? Indeed.
If you peruse online forums about cryptids, you will often see posters asking how they can become a “cryptozoologist”. The answers are typically down-to-earth and reasonable, noting that this isn’t an actual career. Those who take the subject seriously become zoologists or wildlife biologists because they love animals. Or, they pursue writing or acting to showcase their interests in strange tales and mysteries. I was surprised, and a bit amused, to find that the job search website Indeed (UK) has a page for “how to become a cryptozoologist” that appears to have been written by AI scraping content from fictional works. It says:
“Cryptozoologists are science professionals who specialise in looking for and studying unobserved species of animal. They often lead research teams to investigate reports of potential animal sightings and compile any available evidence.”
Eh? Really? No, not really. There are a handful of people who might actually do this but they aren’t professional scientists. It is not a recognized science discipline, but instead is a title that people adopt for themselves (or gets bestowed upon them) because of their interest or content production. There remain no accredited degree programs or actual job listings for cryptozoologists – “professional” or amateur. This page seems like an example of wishful reality-shifting from last issue, where people imagine an alternative world of their own choosing to live in. Or, more likely, the people in charge of the pages of Indeed don’t have a clue. Unfortunately, there is no need for a paid position to legitimately investigate mysterious animals full-time. For now, you could be a YouTuber, author, or even a sociologist that specializes in cryptozoology, and even call yourself one, as many people do, but you won’t find job listings on Indeed or Zip Recruiter. Maybe check out the Werewolf Hunter position and more at Mystic Investigations.
Historical sightings of Chinese dragons
Peter Huston shared his recent article with me on his findings in historical volumes regarding dragons in ancient Chinese culture. It was a fascinating piece that sparked some important thoughts about cryptids. It also reminded me of the way we consider the tales of Native Americans to be associated with cryptids like Sasquatch and the Thunderbird.
While studying Chinese history (from the 13th to 17th centuries), Peter noted that people believed in the reality of dragons as uncommon creatures with awesome power to affect nature by bringing storms or destruction. Reports of dragons were noted in documents, carefully recorded by government officials. Of note, Peter says that these reports, while interesting, reflected the technology and knowledge of the time.
“[T]hese official reports in the documentation are not first hand reports by eye witnesses to the event. They are at least second or third hand reports. Nor were they intended to be seen or used as part of any investigative process.”
An obvious question arises: Can we use these accounts to research what people actually saw or assume that some mystery animal was a cause? Peter continues with a crucial point:
“[T]hat is a question rooted in modern conceptions where the value of the scientific method is recognized, and thus the world is divided into things that are natural, meaning recognized, measure, and defined by science, and things that are supernatural, meaning not recognized, measured, defined, or behaving in ways and producing actions definable by science.”
In other words, the dragon tales are of their time and place. This documentation is not scientific evidence.
It’s not only in China that dragons were taken seriously; stories were told in parts of Europe of dragons as well, though they looked a bit different.
It is not reasonable to apply our current knowledge framework to the distant past and to a culture to which we have no connection. This leads to mistaken assumptions. It is common in cryptozoology to use such stories, even the native lore, as anecdotal evidence to suggest some cryptid represents a real animal to be discovered. This is fraught with problems. As Peter concludes, “It is just part of the human condition that people occasionally seemingly truthfully and without intent to deceive, state they saw things that were not there.” It could be that their beliefs inform their tales, or that they have creative interpretations of a mundane event. While anecdotes can suggest a legitimate inquiry should be made, a strong argument exists that old tales are simply not suitable to be treated as evidence of a distinct mystery animal. We should avoid doing that.
For more on the problems with the similar claim that a creature, which represents Bigfoot/Sasquatch (as we know it), commonly appears in indigenous stories and folklore, check out this extensively researched video on The Native Bigfoot by Trey the Explainer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJhJsdoTYQ
American Cryptids movie for 2025
A new horror film is in the making about two feuding families, one human and one not human. With American Cryptids, subtitled “Folklore no more”, the name and theme will further boost the framing of cryptids as a pop cultural theme. Writer Joseph Zettelmaier said,
“I’ve always been a huge fan of American folklore, and getting to deep dive into that world was a thrill. Cryptids are homegrown horror, and I love the way different communities have really embraced the local creatures as their own.”
The exclusive source is Rue Morgue. For more on how communities embraced local creatures, see Cryptid Festivals.
Followup to Cryptid Cinema book
Stephen Bissette writes on Bluesky that he is working on two followups to his Cryptid Cinema book. Along with Cryptid Cinema (2017) which covers an array of cryptid appearances in movies, TV series, comic books, toys, action figures, and other media, Stephen also wrote Cryptid Cinema: A Boggy Creek Primer, the true story behind the making of the 1972 independent boxoffice hit The Legend of Boggy Creek. Stephen’s books are available on Amazon.
Cryptid Merch: My cryptid crush
Cute, colorful critters are hugely popular in the world of pop cryptids. Check out this fundraiser for My Cryptid Crush – “a pin and plush collection for all the monster kissers out there!” Featuring over a dozen lovingly rendered cryptids. There are 1,133 backers with almost $100K raised to make 18″ plushies that can be dressed and cuddled. Whatever floats your boat!
In 2024, the Build-a-Bear version of plush Mothman sold out fast. They added a gargoyle and a Yeti as well. See also Cuddly Cryptids, Strange Fellows, Hazy Dell Press Plushies, and Etsy: Cryptid plush.
Saxsquatch
An online and touring musician adopted the persona of “Saxsquatch” and has made it stick. As his story goes, Saxsquatch is a native of the forests near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He thrifted the saxophone and has been playing it ever since. With the support of his grandfather, whom he calls “Gigfoot,” and sister, whom he calls “Bigflute,” Saxsquatch has created a very real career as a musician. It’s a living!
Betting on Bigfoot sightings
Here’s a strange source of Bigfoot news: the Bet Ohio site covering sports gambling. One author there took the data from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization to compile the number of reported Bigfoot sightings by state. He then developed the odds of seeing the creature in each. The leading state was Washington with a 13.3% chance that you could see Bigfoot.
I can’t say that I understand the process of calculating the odds, but it seems to me that you have to take into account a great many factors including the size of the area in question, how much is uninhabited or conducive to wildlife, etc. I won’t even go into how unreliable the BFRO sightings database is. However, since no Bigfoot sighting has ever been unequivocally validated, and we don’t know if it even exists or how to find it, this article is nonsense clickbait. It was written for fun. While I’m providing the link for reference, it would be nice if you didn’t click on it; it just encourages more of this silliness and revenue for gambling promotion. If we could make odds of a real Bigfoot being found this year, they would be ridiculously long.
However, to be more down to earth, it’s not unreasonable to give advice on the best location to have an experience that could be labeled as a “Bigfoot encounter”. It would be to go to the place with the most reported claims of Bigfoot encounters. This would be your best bet to have your own “Bigfoot experience” whatever the cause. And many people do follow this advice.
Cryptid? Yes or No?
As I’ve mentioned in past editions of the PCS, the definition of cryptid has changed. This changing meaning is at the heart of the Pop Cryptid framing that expanded the concept beyond that of “a mystery/hidden animal” that can be discovered and zoologically classified. The modern use of “cryptid” is any creature that is rumored to exist (in various degrees of seriousness) but is disputed by mainstream science. Today’s cryptid is defined by whatever stories are told about it at the moment. To illustrate, we have the example of the dragon as described above.
Is a dragon a cryptid?
- Yes. If the word existed during the times where the creature was supposedly encountered and believed to have existed, then it would have been a cryptid.
- Yes. If we consider that some people believe they may exist, even under magical circumstances.
- Yes. If people still claim to see dragons today or express a wish/hope that they exist in some form.
- No. If the end goal is to identify an animal that fits the description of a chimeric large beast. The historic dragon would be labeled a fantasy or mythical creature instead as part of zoologic-based cryptozoology.
- No now but Yes then. If we conclude that dragon (dinosaur) bones accounted for dragon tales, then it was a cryptid, but isn’t now because we have derived the natural explanation.
You can see that this gets confusing – the use of cryptid is imprecise, fluid, and depends on different perspectives of time, place, and belief. The dragon is generally considered not a cryptid by sci-cryptozoologists because, if we assume a dragon is a large land, water, or airborne snake-like creature with armored skin, talons, etc., there is no reasonable biological animal that could fit that description. The more absurd characteristics of fire-breathing, gold-guarding, invisibility, etc. further kick the claim right out of the zoological realm. But, in the most mundane sense, could a large snake have been mistaken for a dragon in the past? Were dinosaur bones imagined as once-living terrible lizards? Sure. So in terms of the Pop Cryptid big sociological tent – a dragon is a cryptid.
Thanks for reading! Send comments, questions, or suggestions to popcryptid(at)proton.me. If you want to send some cryptid plushies or other merch, or books to review, email for my physical mailing address.
For more, click on Pop goes the Cryptid landing page. Make sure you subscribe to all the posts – it’s always free and I don’t send annoying spam.
Pop Cryptid Spectator is also available on Substack. Please share this with cryptid fans you know!
Pop Cryptid Spectator Pop Cryptid Spectator 12Pop Cryptid Spectator 11
Pop Cryptid Spectator 10
Pop Cryptid Spectator 9
Pop Cryptid Spectator 8
Pop Cryptid Spectator 7
Pop Cryptid Spectator 5
Pop Cryptid Spectator 4
Pop Cryptid Spectator 3
Pop Cryptid Spectator 2
Pop Cryptid Spectator 1
#1 #chupacabra #cryptid #Cryptozoology #deathOfAUnicorn #popCryptid #reddit #rollerCoaster #scientific #seaSerpents #Skinwalker #Wendigo
-
Pop Cryptid Spectator 6
Welcome to the 6th issue of Pop Cryptid Spectator. I’ve found a fun collection of news, media, and pop cryptid information to share, featuring dragons and Bigfoot. As always, my aim is to urge the reader to question their boundaries of the definition of cryptid and to recognize how this has changed over time. Today, the use is looser and wider, where science and facts are almost unnecessary because finding an actual zoological animal is less of the point. Cryptids are icons and symbols in popular culture that can and should be viewed with different lenses.
In this edition:
- How to become a cryptozoologist? Indeed.
- Historical sightings of Chinese dragons
- American Cryptids movie for 2025
- Followup to Cryptid Cinema book
- Cryptid Merch: My cryptid crush
- Saxsquatch
- Betting on Bigfoot sightings
- Cryptid? Yes or No? Dragon.
How to become a cryptozoologist? Indeed.
If you peruse online forums about cryptids, you will often see posters asking how they can become a “cryptozoologist”. The answers are typically down-to-earth and reasonable, noting that this isn’t an actual career. Those who take the subject seriously become zoologists or wildlife biologists because they love animals. Or, they pursue writing or acting to showcase their interests in strange tales and mysteries. I was surprised, and a bit amused, to find that the job search website Indeed (UK) has a page for “how to become a cryptozoologist” that appears to have been written by AI scraping content from fictional works. It says:
“Cryptozoologists are science professionals who specialise in looking for and studying unobserved species of animal. They often lead research teams to investigate reports of potential animal sightings and compile any available evidence.”
Eh? Really? No, not really. There are a handful of people who might actually do this but they aren’t professional scientists. It is not a recognized science discipline, but instead is a title that people adopt for themselves (or gets bestowed upon them) because of their interest or content production. There remain no accredited degree programs or actual job listings for cryptozoologists – “professional” or amateur. This page seems like an example of wishful reality-shifting from last issue, where people imagine an alternative world of their own choosing to live in. Or, more likely, the people in charge of the pages of Indeed don’t have a clue. Unfortunately, there is no need for a paid position to legitimately investigate mysterious animals full-time. For now, you could be a YouTuber, author, or even a sociologist that specializes in cryptozoology, and even call yourself one, as many people do, but you won’t find job listings on Indeed or Zip Recruiter. Maybe check out the Werewolf Hunter position and more at Mystic Investigations.
Historical sightings of Chinese dragons
Peter Huston shared his recent article with me on his findings in historical volumes regarding dragons in ancient Chinese culture. It was a fascinating piece that sparked some important thoughts about cryptids. It also reminded me of the way we consider the tales of Native Americans to be associated with cryptids like Sasquatch and the Thunderbird.
While studying Chinese history (from the 13th to 17th centuries), Peter noted that people believed in the reality of dragons as uncommon creatures with awesome power to affect nature by bringing storms or destruction. Reports of dragons were noted in documents, carefully recorded by government officials. Of note, Peter says that these reports, while interesting, reflected the technology and knowledge of the time.
“[T]hese official reports in the documentation are not first hand reports by eye witnesses to the event. They are at least second or third hand reports. Nor were they intended to be seen or used as part of any investigative process.”
An obvious question arises: Can we use these accounts to research what people actually saw or assume that some mystery animal was a cause? Peter continues with a crucial point:
“[T]hat is a question rooted in modern conceptions where the value of the scientific method is recognized, and thus the world is divided into things that are natural, meaning recognized, measure, and defined by science, and things that are supernatural, meaning not recognized, measured, defined, or behaving in ways and producing actions definable by science.”
In other words, the dragon tales are of their time and place. This documentation is not scientific evidence.
It’s not only in China that dragons were taken seriously; stories were told in parts of Europe of dragons as well, though they looked a bit different.
It is not reasonable to apply our current knowledge framework to the distant past and to a culture to which we have no connection. This leads to mistaken assumptions. It is common in cryptozoology to use such stories, even the native lore, as anecdotal evidence to suggest some cryptid represents a real animal to be discovered. This is fraught with problems. As Peter concludes, “It is just part of the human condition that people occasionally seemingly truthfully and without intent to deceive, state they saw things that were not there.” It could be that their beliefs inform their tales, or that they have creative interpretations of a mundane event. While anecdotes can suggest a legitimate inquiry should be made, a strong argument exists that old tales are simply not suitable to be treated as evidence of a distinct mystery animal. We should avoid doing that.
For more on the problems with the similar claim that a creature, which represents Bigfoot/Sasquatch (as we know it), commonly appears in indigenous stories and folklore, check out this extensively researched video on The Native Bigfoot by Trey the Explainer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zJhJsdoTYQ
American Cryptids movie for 2025
A new horror film is in the making about two feuding families, one human and one not human. With American Cryptids, subtitled “Folklore no more”, the name and theme will further boost the framing of cryptids as a pop cultural theme. Writer Joseph Zettelmaier said,
“I’ve always been a huge fan of American folklore, and getting to deep dive into that world was a thrill. Cryptids are homegrown horror, and I love the way different communities have really embraced the local creatures as their own.”
The exclusive source is Rue Morgue. For more on how communities embraced local creatures, see Cryptid Festivals.
Followup to Cryptid Cinema book
Stephen Bissette writes on Bluesky that he is working on two followups to his Cryptid Cinema book. Along with Cryptid Cinema (2017) which covers an array of cryptid appearances in movies, TV series, comic books, toys, action figures, and other media, Stephen also wrote Cryptid Cinema: A Boggy Creek Primer, the true story behind the making of the 1972 independent boxoffice hit The Legend of Boggy Creek. Stephen’s books are available on Amazon.
Cryptid Merch: My cryptid crush
Cute, colorful critters are hugely popular in the world of pop cryptids. Check out this fundraiser for My Cryptid Crush – “a pin and plush collection for all the monster kissers out there!” Featuring over a dozen lovingly rendered cryptids. There are 1,133 backers with almost $100K raised to make 18″ plushies that can be dressed and cuddled. Whatever floats your boat!
In 2024, the Build-a-Bear version of plush Mothman sold out fast. They added a gargoyle and a Yeti as well. See also Cuddly Cryptids, Strange Fellows, Hazy Dell Press Plushies, and Etsy: Cryptid plush.
Saxsquatch
An online and touring musician adopted the persona of “Saxsquatch” and has made it stick. As his story goes, Saxsquatch is a native of the forests near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He thrifted the saxophone and has been playing it ever since. With the support of his grandfather, whom he calls “Gigfoot,” and sister, whom he calls “Bigflute,” Saxsquatch has created a very real career as a musician. It’s a living!
Betting on Bigfoot sightings
Here’s a strange source of Bigfoot news: the Bet Ohio site covering sports gambling. One author there took the data from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization to compile the number of reported Bigfoot sightings by state. He then developed the odds of seeing the creature in each. The leading state was Washington with a 13.3% chance that you could see Bigfoot.
I can’t say that I understand the process of calculating the odds, but it seems to me that you have to take into account a great many factors including the size of the area in question, how much is uninhabited or conducive to wildlife, etc. I won’t even go into how unreliable the BFRO sightings database is. However, since no Bigfoot sighting has ever been unequivocally validated, and we don’t know if it even exists or how to find it, this article is nonsense clickbait. It was written for fun. While I’m providing the link for reference, it would be nice if you didn’t click on it; it just encourages more of this silliness and revenue for gambling promotion. If we could make odds of a real Bigfoot being found this year, they would be ridiculously long.
However, to be more down to earth, it’s not unreasonable to give advice on the best location to have an experience that could be labeled as a “Bigfoot encounter”. It would be to go to the place with the most reported claims of Bigfoot encounters. This would be your best bet to have your own “Bigfoot experience” whatever the cause. And many people do follow this advice.
Cryptid? Yes or No?
As I’ve mentioned in past editions of the PCS, the definition of cryptid has changed. This changing meaning is at the heart of the Pop Cryptid framing that expanded the concept beyond that of “a mystery/hidden animal” that can be discovered and zoologically classified. The modern use of “cryptid” is any creature that is rumored to exist (in various degrees of seriousness) but is disputed by mainstream science. Today’s cryptid is defined by whatever stories are told about it at the moment. To illustrate, we have the example of the dragon as described above.
Is a dragon a cryptid?
- Yes. If the word existed during the times where the creature was supposedly encountered and believed to have existed, then it would have been a cryptid.
- Yes. If we consider that some people believe they may exist, even under magical circumstances.
- Yes. If people still claim to see dragons today or express a wish/hope that they exist in some form.
- No. If the end goal is to identify an animal that fits the description of a chimeric large beast. The historic dragon would be labeled a fantasy or mythical creature instead as part of zoologic-based cryptozoology.
- No now but Yes then. If we conclude that dragon (dinosaur) bones accounted for dragon tales, then it was a cryptid, but isn’t now because we have derived the natural explanation.
You can see that this gets confusing – the use of cryptid is imprecise, fluid, and depends on different perspectives of time, place, and belief. The dragon is generally considered not a cryptid by sci-cryptozoologists because, if we assume a dragon is a large land, water, or airborne snake-like creature with armored skin, talons, etc., there is no reasonable biological animal that could fit that description. The more absurd characteristics of fire-breathing, gold-guarding, invisibility, etc. further kick the claim right out of the zoological realm. But, in the most mundane sense, could a large snake have been mistaken for a dragon in the past? Were dinosaur bones imagined as once-living terrible lizards? Sure. So in terms of the Pop Cryptid big sociological tent – a dragon is a cryptid.
Thanks for reading! Send comments, questions, or suggestions to popcryptid(at)proton.me. If you want to send some cryptid plushies or other merch, or books to review, email for my physical mailing address.
For more, click on Pop goes the Cryptid landing page. Make sure you subscribe to all the posts – it’s always free and I don’t send annoying spam.
Pop Cryptid Spectator is also available on Substack. Please share this with cryptid fans you know!
Pop Cryptid Spectator Pop Cryptid Spectator 12Pop Cryptid Spectator 11
Pop Cryptid Spectator 10
Pop Cryptid Spectator 9
Pop Cryptid Spectator 8
Pop Cryptid Spectator 7
Pop Cryptid Spectator 5
Pop Cryptid Spectator 4
Pop Cryptid Spectator 3
Pop Cryptid Spectator 2
Pop Cryptid Spectator 1
#1 #chupacabra #cryptid #Cryptozoology #deathOfAUnicorn #popCryptid #reddit #rollerCoaster #scientific #seaSerpents #Skinwalker #Wendigo
-
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I tried out something I thought I would never even dream about last week: Transfer a DVD to VHS.
#dvdtovhs #transfer #electronics #disney #talespin #kitcloudkicker #savethetiger #tech #technology #outwiththenewinwiththeold #thedisneyafternoon
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What pre-1985 science fiction are you reading? + Update No. XX
- A selection of read volumes from my shelves
What pre-1985 science fiction are you reading or planning to read this month? Here’s the January installment of this column (sorry I missed a month).
Before John W. Campbell, Jr. (1910-1971) attempted to raise the “standards and thinking in magazine SF,” David Lasser (1902-1996) attempted his own brief (1929-1933) program to improve science fiction as managing editor of Hugo Gernsback’s Science Wonder Stories, Wonder Stories, and Wonder Stories Quarterly. According to Mike Ashley’s The Time Machine: The Story of the Science-Fiction Pulp Magazine from the Beginning to 1950 (2000), Lasser is a “much neglected revolutionary in science fiction” and through his efforts the genre “started to mature” (66).
Ashley highlights Lasser’s letter of instruction mailed to his regular contributors on the 11th of May, 1931, in which he “exhorted them to bring some realism to their fiction” (72). He also outlawed common tropes like the giant insect story and space opera (73). He emphasized the need to focus on characters that “should really be human” — not everything needs to be a “world-sweeping epic” (73). Stories in this vein, according to Ashley, include Clifford D. Simak’s religiously themed “The Voice in the Void” (1932), P. Schuyler Miller and Walter Dennis’ “The Red Spot on Jupiter” (1931) and “The Duel on the Asteroid” (1934), which featured a grim realism and character development (74).
Lasser also seems like a fascinating individual. He wrote the The Conquest of Space (1931), the first “non-fiction English-language book to deal with spaceflight,” was a member Socialist Party, and was elected head of the Workers Alliance of America (a merger of the Socialist Unemployed Leagues and the Communist Unemployment Councils). He also was banned from federal employment by name in legislation passed by the U.S. Congress due to his political connections. President Jimmy Carter sent him a personal letter of apology when he was finally officially cleared as a subversive in 1980!
The Photograph (with links to reviews and brief thoughts)
- Poul Anderson’s The People of the Wind (1973). I mysteriously adored this one back in 2010… Sometimes my oldest reviews befuddle. I praised Anderson’s refusal to create “monumentally homogeneous societies” yet despaired at its moments of silly and dull battle sequences.
- Doris Piserchia’s A Billion Days of Earth (1976). The best of Piserchia’s novels I’ve read so far. She was an original voice.
- Philip José Farmer’s Night of Light (1966)– a fix-up of “Night of Light” (1957). I remember enjoying this Father Carmody tale despite my inability to write a review. As many know, it influenced Jimi Hendrix’s song “Purple Haze” (1967).
- Robert Silverberg’s collection Needle in a Timestack (1966) contains one of my favorite early Silverberg tales–“The Pain Peddles” (1963).
What am I writing about?
Since my last installment, I’ve posted a review of Star Science Fiction Stories No. 3, ed. Frederik Pohl (1955) which contained three standout stories: Philip K. Dick’s “Foster, You’re Dead” (1955), Richard Matheson’s “Dance of the Dead” (1955), and Jack Williamson’s “Guinevere for Everybody” (1955). I did not know Williamson was capable of such things. In addition, I posted short reviews of two middling (but interesting) novels: Margot Bennett’s The Long Way Back (1954) and Mack Reynolds’ The Earth War (1964).
I compiled a rare Adventures in Science Fiction art post in order to commemorate Rodger B. MacGowan’s passing. Few know his early science-fictional work in Vertex magazine.
Continuing my general interest in science fiction on themes of sexuality and identity, I surveyed an account of the first gay and lesbian-themed SF panel at a Worldcon.
What am I reading?
Makes secret/sad noises. I’m fighting exhaustion on all fronts. I’m struggling to complete projects or stay focused. The only way I get through these spells is to refuse to make plans. This is all for fun! That said, my history reading continues to focus on the working-class experience. See Tobias Higbie’s fascinating book in the previous photo.
A Curated List of SF Birthdays from the Last Two Weeks
March 3rd: Artist Ric Binkley (1921-1968)
March 5th: Author Mike Resnick (1942-2020).
March 5th: Artist Attila Hejja (1955-2007). The master of the blues!
March 6th: Author William F. Nolan (1928-2021). Best known for Logan’s Run (1967).
March 7th: Author Leonard Daventry (1915-1987). Wrote A Man of Double Deed (1965)–which I described as a “dark and grungy tale of polyamory, telepathy, and apocalyptical violence.”
- Tadanoi Yokoo’s cover for the 1979 edition
March 7th: Kobo Abe (1924-1993). Secret Rendezvous (1977, trans. 1979) is one of my favorite SF novels of the 70s. And it received a thematically and visually perfect cover by Tadanoi Yokoo (above).
March 7th: Author Elizabeth Moon (1945-).
March 7th: Author and editor Stanley Schmidt (1944-).
March 9th: Author William F. Temple (1914-1989). Another prolific magazine author whom I’ve not read…
March 9th: Author Manly Banister (1914-1986).
March 9th: Author Pat Murphy (1955-). She left a lovely comment on my review of The Shadow Hunter (1982) recently. I need to fast track my post on her first three published short stories.
- Carlos Ochagavia’s cover for the 1979 edition of John Morressy’s Frostworld and Dreamfire (1977)
March 10th: Artist Carlos Ochagavia (1913-2006). I’ve featured his work here.
March 11th: Author F. M. Busby (1921-2005). Despite missteps like Cage a Man (1973), Busby was capable of some effective introspection — notable “If This is Winnetka, You Must Be Judy” (1974).
March 11th: Author Douglas Adams (1952-2001).
March 12th: Author Harry Harrison (1925-2012). 2025 if finally the year I get to Make Room! Make Room! (1966). Say it with me!
- Diane and Leo Dillon’s cover for Suzette Haden Elgin’s Furthest (1971)
March 13th: Artist Diane Dillon (1933-). One half of the illustrious art partnership of the 60s/70s/80s! Diane created fantastic cover art with her husband Leo. I’m particularly partial to their cover for Suzette Haden Elgin’s Furthest (1971) (above).
March 13th: Author William F. Wu (1951-). With his short stories of the late 70s, Wu is one of the earlier Asian-American SF authors. I need to read his work.
March 14th: Author Mildred Clingerman (1918-1997). Another hole in my SF knowledge… I own her collection A Cupful of Space (1961).
March 16th: Artist Chris Foss (1946-). As I say every year as the fans circle… He’s iconic. He spawned a lot of clones. People love him. He’s not for me.
March 16th: Author P. C. Hodgell (1951-). God Stalk (1982) is supposed to be bizarre.
March 16th: Artist James Warhola (1955-). Best known for his cover for the 1st edition of Gibson’s Neuromancer (1984).
March 17th: James Morrow (1947-).
March 17th: William Gibson (1948-). Very much an author of my youth — I devoured Neuromancer (1984), Virtual Light (1993), Idoru (1996), All Tomorrow’s Parties (1999), Count Zero (1986), the stories in Burning Chrome (1986), and Mona Lisa Overdrive (1988). I haven’t returned to his work in almost two decades.
For book reviews consult the INDEX
For cover art posts consult the INDEX
For TV and film reviews consult the INDEX
#1950s #1960s #1970s #avantGarde #bookReviews #books #dorisPiserchia #fantasy #fiction #paperbacks #PhilipJoséFarmer #poulAnderson #RobertSilverberg #sciFi #scienceFiction #technology -
What pre-1985 science fiction are you reading? + Update No. XX
- A selection of read volumes from my shelves
What pre-1985 science fiction are you reading or planning to read this month? Here’s the January installment of this column (sorry I missed a month).
Before John W. Campbell, Jr. attempted to raise the “standards and thinking in magazine SF,” David Lasser (1902-1996) attempted his own brief (1929-1933) program to improve science fiction as managing editor of Hugo Gernsback’s Science Wonder Stories, Wonder Stories, and Wonder Stories Quarterly. According to Mike Ashley’s The Time Machine: The Story of the Science-Fiction Pulp Magazine from the Beginning to 1950 (2000), Lasser is a “much neglected revolutionary in science fiction” and through his efforts the genre “started to mature” (66).
Ashley highlights Lasser’s letter of instruction mailed to his regular contributors on the 11th of May, 1931, in which he “exhorted them to bring some realism to their fiction” (72). He also outlawed common tropes like the giant insect story and space opera (73). He emphasized the need to focus on characters that “should really be human” — not everything needs to be a “world-sweeping epic” (73). Stories in this vein, according to Ashley, include Clifford D. Simak’s religiously themed “The Voice in the Void” (1932), P. Schuyler Miller and Walter Dennis’ “The Red Spot on Jupiter” (1931) and “The Duel on the Asteroid” (1974), which featured a grim realism and character development (74).
Lasser also seems like a fascinating individual. He wrote the The Conquest of Space (1931), the first “non-fiction English-language book to deal with spaceflight,” was a member Socialist Party, and was elected head of the Workers Alliance of America (a merger of the Socialist Unemployed Leagues and the Communist Unemployment Councils). He also was banned from federal employment by name in legislation passed by the U.S. Congress due to his political connections. President Jimmy Carter sent him a personal letter of apology when he was finally officially cleared as a subversive in 1980!
The Photograph (with links to reviews and brief thoughts)
- Poul Anderson’s The People of the Wind (1973). I mysteriously adored this one back in 2010… Sometimes my oldest reviews befuddle. I praised Anderson’s refusal to create “monumentally homogeneous societies” yet despaired at its moments of silly and dull battle sequences.
- Doris Piserchia’s A Billion Days of Earth (1976). The best of Piserchia’s novels I’ve read so far. She was an original voice.
- Philip José Farmer’s Night of Light (1966)– a fix-up of “Night of Light” (1957). I remember enjoying this Father Carmody tale despite my inability to write a review. As many know, it influenced Jimi Hendrix’s song “Purple Haze” (1967).
- Robert Silverberg’s collection Needle in a Timestack (1966) contains one of my favorite early Silverberg tales–“The Pain Peddles” (1963).
What am I writing about?
Since my last installment, I’ve posted reviews of Star Science Fiction Stories No. 3, ed. Frederik Pohl (1955) which contained three standout stories: Philip K. Dick’s “Foster, You’re Dead” (1955), Richard Matheson’s “Dance of the Dead” (1955), and Jack Williamson’s “Guinevere for Everybody” (1955). I did not know Williamson was capable of such things. I posted short reviews of two middling (but interesting) novels: Margot Bennett’s The Long Way Back (1954) and Mack Reynolds’ The Earth War (1964).
I compiled a rare Adventures in Science Fiction art post in order to commemorate Rodger B. MacGowan’s passing. Few know his early science-fictional work in Vertex magazine.
Continuing my general interest in science fiction on themes of sexuality and identity, I surveyed an account of the first gay and lesbian-themed SF panel at a Worldcon.
What am I reading?
Makes secret noises. I’m fighting exhaustion on all fronts. I’m struggling to complete projects or stay focused. The only way I get through these spells is to refuse to make plans. This is all for fun! That said, my history reading continues to focus on the working-class experience. See Tobias Higbie’s fascinating book in the previous photo.
A Curated List of SF Birthdays from the Last Two Weeks
March 3rd: Artist Ric Binkley (1921-1968)
March 5th: Author Mike Resnick (1942-2020).
March 5th: Artist Attila Hejja (1955-2007). The master of the blues!
March 6th: Author William F. Nolan (1928-2021). Best known for Logan’s Run (1967).
March 7th: Author Leonard Daventry (1915-1987). Wrote A Man of Double Deed (1965)–which I described as a “dark and grungy tale of polyamory, telepathy, and apocalyptical violence.”
- Tadanoi Yokoo’s cover for the 1979 edition
March 7th: Kobo Abe (1924-1993). Secret Rendezvous (1977, trans. 1979) is one of my favorite SF novels of the 70s. And it received a thematically and visually perfect cover by Tadanoi Yokoo (above).
March 7th: Author Elizabeth Moon (1945-).
March 7th: Author and editor Stanley Schmidt (1944-).
March 9th: Author William F. Temple (1914-1989). Another prolific magazine author whom I’ve not read…
March 9th: Author Manly Banister (1914-1986).
March 9th: Author Pat Murphy (1955-). She left a lovely comment on my review of The Shadow Hunter (1982) recently. I need to fast track my post on her first three published short stories.
- Carlos Ochagavia’s cover for the 1979 edition of John Morressy’s Frostworld and Dreamfire (1977)
March 10th: Artist Carlos Ochagavia (1913-2006). I’ve featured his work here.
March 11th: Author F. M. Busby (1921-2005). Despite missteps like Cage a Man (1973), Busby was capable of some effective introspection — notable “If This is Winnetka, You Must Be Judy” (1974).
March 11th: Author Douglas Adams (1952-2001).
March 12th: Author Harry Harrison (1925-2012). 2025 if finally the year I get to Make Room! Make Room! (1966). Say it with me!
- Diane and Leo Dillon’s cover for Suzette Haden Elgin’s Furthest (1971)
March 13th: Artist Diane Dillon (1933-). One half of the illustrious art partnership of the 60s/70s/80s! Diane created fantastic cover art with her husband Leo. I’m particularly partial to their cover for Suzette Haden Elgin’s Furthest (1971) (above).
March 13th: Author William F. Wu (1951-). With his short stories of the late 70s, Wu is one of the earlier Asian-American SF authors. I need to read his work.
March 14th: Author Mildred Clingerman (1918-1997). Another hole in my SF knowledge… I own her collection A Cupful of Space (1961).
March 16th: Artist Chris Foss (1946-). As I say every year as the fans circle… He’s iconic. He spawned a lot of clones. People love him. He’s not for me.
March 16th: Author P. C. Hodgell (1951-). God Stalk (1982) is supposed to be bizarre.
March 16th: Artist James Warhola (1955-). Best known for his cover for the 1st edition of Gibson’s Neuromancer (1984).
March 17th: James Morrow (1947-).
March 17th: William Gibson (1948-). Very much an author of my youth — I devoured Neuromancer (1984), Virtual Light (1993), Idoru (1996), All Tomorrow’s Parties (1999), Count Zero (1986), the stories in Burning Chrome (1986), and Mona Lisa Overdrive (1988). I haven’t returned to his work in almost two decades.
For book reviews consult the INDEX
For cover art posts consult the INDEX
For TV and film reviews consult the INDEX
#1950s #1960s #1970s #avantGarde #bookReviews #books #dorisPiserchia #fantasy #fiction #paperbacks #PhilipJoséFarmer #poulAnderson #RobertSilverberg #sciFi #scienceFiction #technology