Gasp August 19, 2008
Posted by argotnavis in Archaeology, Humor, News.Tags: archaeoblog, Bigfoot, craziness, hoaxes, Indiana Jones
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Saw this on CNN today. Apparently the “Bigfoot” that was found recently in Georgia is a hoax. The research team (note that Richard Klein was not a member) found that it was, uh, made of rubber. Please, try to contain your surprise. I know. We were all pretty sure this one was for real.
This whole thing really makes me wonder. No, I’m not wondering why it is that people are still willing to believe that the proof will actually materialize, long after the eighth time. What I’m wondering is whether it’s really as easy as it sounds. Do you really just have to buy a gorilla suit, steal grandpa’s dentures and gut a possum to get your name all over CNN for a few days? This wasn’t a sophisticated hoax or anything. They really did just stick a Bigfoot costume in the chill chest. Oh well.
In related news, Archaeology Magazine has found their own Bigfoot, and they’re putting him up against Indiana Jones in what I assume is a fight to the death (via). Bigfoot definitely seems to have the advantage, but Indy is really kicking some ass in the polls. Really, though, it isn’t that surprising. Bigfoot isn’t as popular among archaeologists since the controversy surrounding him last year.
Don't be frightened away by the reptilian aliens April 3, 2008
Posted by argotnavis in Humor.Tags: blogs, craziness, Dan, quackery, Star Wars
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Many of you, I'm sure, don't read Dan Rutter's blog. You probably should, as it's usually pretty entertaining, especially if you're a nerd. His entry today about an e-mail exchange he had with a rather interesting character is a must read. Here's a bit of it:
“THERE IS AN ORCHESTRATED CAMPAIGN BY THE POWERS THAT BE TO FRIGHTEN PEOPLE AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT SCARE STORIES INVOLVE REPTILIAN ALIENS AND ARE OBVIOUSLY FALSE SO DONT LET SUCH NONSENSE PUT YOU OFF FROM FINDING OUT THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT”
You know you're in a strange business when one of the biggest concerns you think your customers might have about a product involves reptilian aliens. I'm glad I came across this today, though; I was beginning to believe all those scare stories I was hearing about the Trandoshans.
It has to be the Atlantians April 2, 2008
Posted by argotnavis in Archaeology, TV/Movies.Tags: Atlantis, craziness, documentaries, Japan, Yonaguni
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History's Mysteries is one of those shows I love, much in the same way I love documentaries about ghosts or mythical beasts. Part of why I love these shows is how ridiculous they are. I mean, when the only skeptical voice on the show is the rather open-minded Robert Schoch, you know you're in for a hell of a ride.
The episode they reran today was about the Yonaguni “monument”. I'll try not to summarize too much, since most of it is contained on the two pages I just linked to. Basically, there are some stones underwater off the coast of Yonaguni that look like they could be man-made. On this show, you have Masaaki Kimura and Graham Hancock arguing that they are man-made, and Schoch arguing that they aren't, with some of the divers who have seen it pointing out that they “got a distinct feeling” that it was man-made. The main argument seems to be that it certainly has a right-angled, man-made look to it, which is not as compelling as it may, at first, sound. The other argument, as usual, is that “mainstream archaeologists and historians unquestioningly believe their theories, and they don't want them to be wrong, because that would mean rewriting history.” (I guess the cost of publishing too many new books is a deterrent?) So that's why no one is applying for funding to do a large-scale investigation there. I suspect that if someone did, they'd probably find that Schoch is right here, but Kimura points out that seeing the rocks in person is the only way you can make judgments about them, so . . . I guess I can't say anything about them.
Anyway, I really want to point out how hilariously predictable certain parts of these shows tend to be. The narrator will, inevitably, say something along the lines of, “But this would not be the first time scientists have been wrong about a supposedly mythical location.” Cue, “In 1871, Heinrich Schliemann discovered Troy, a site most archaeologists thought didn't exist.” (I notice that these shows always seem to present Schliemann as a hero of archaeology, who took on the big, bad establishment, without mentioning that he was appallingly bad about recording parts of the site he wasn't interested in, even for his time.) Cut to “the other side of the story,” about the Bimini Road probably being natural. I guess being able to reuse a lot of the narration does make it easier on the writers.
Only the little dogs pay taxes December 4, 2007
Posted by argotnavis in Humor, News.Tags: craziness, dogs
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I came across this story in the news this morning. The story itself is ridiculous, as is probably standard for stories involving dogs inheriting fortunes. I mean, I'm not sure how I'd feel as her brother, knowing she gave her dog more of her money than me. Or, for that matter, one of her grandchildren, who, combined, got less than the dog. And then, apparently someone has been writing the dog death threats. A dog has received 20 death threats. Who is writing these? I mean, how much time do you have to have on your hands before writing death threats to a dog seems like a good idea? I'm really curious, because I have a lot, and I haven't hit that point yet. Then, the dog went into hiding. I hope they're making wigs for dogs now, too. Wait! I think I found her! My favorite thing about the story, though, is the second paragraph after the lead. “It says the tiny bitch was whisked away under an assumed name after receiving about 20 threats.” I assume that's as opposed to the big bitch?
Dear lord. . . July 19, 2007
Posted by argotnavis in Cars, TV/Movies.Tags: Bugatti, craziness, superlatives, Top Gear
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I've been interested in the Bugatti Veyron for some time now, but this is somehow the first time I've actually managed to see one in action. Top Gear's James May apparently managed to take it up to its top speed of 253 miles per hour. Of course, such a speed makes it the fastest street-legal production car in the world . . . you know, for situations where you need a car that is both street-legal and capable of 250+ MPH. My interest in it, of course, is the Volkswagen-derivedness of its massive 8 liter, quad turbocharged (not that quad turbos are anything new for Bugatti. The EB110 of the early to mid-'90s used a quad-turbocharged V12, although it only managed a measly 540 HP) W16 engine, producing somewhere in the neighborhood of 1001 HP — a nice, low number. The W16 is, unlike the rather strange, three-banked W18 of the Veyron concept, pretty similar to the “let's stick two VR6s together” W12 engine of the VW Phaeton (among others), which is also pretty similar to the W8 formerly available in the Passat. Anyway, watch the damn thing. It's pretty impressive, if nothing else.
Oh, cruel fate, why do you mock me? August 1, 2006
Posted by argotnavis in Humor, TV/Movies.Tags: antiques, Cash in the Attic, craziness, Winston Churchill
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Wow, two in one night. . .
I have a confession to make. I love “Cash in the Attic.” Well, let me amend that statement slightly. I love the British version of “Cash in the Attic.” I think a big part of why I like it so much is the crazy crap that British people find in their houses. Hearing conversations like this is amazing:
“This is my walking stick.”
“Oh, you walk with that?”
“Yes.”
“What's the story behind it?”
“Oh, it was owned by Winston Churchill.”
Owned by Winston fucking Churchill. It's crazy. They really have some amazing things. More than once, I've heard someone say, “If they did this show in America, what would they have? Probably nothing good.” I'd be inclined to agree.
I'm really glad that HGTV decided to actually find out, and is now producing an American version of the show. It was on tonight, so I had to stay up to watch it. Actually, I'm currently watching it. I'm not sure why I'm still watching it, though, because it's really bad. Would you like to know the answer? Do you really want to know what they'd find if they did that show in America?
Well, if this episode is anything like the others, they find 250 Beanie Babies and an autographed photo of Erik Estrada. Yeah, those were the highlights. An autographed goddamned picture of Ponch. Dressed as Ponch. Wow, can you believe that only went for $25? $30 under estimate. That buyer must be counting his lucky stars.
I really hope the next episode has some old people in it or something. At least they'd probably have some good crap to sell.
Damn. No such luck.
