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The world DID NOT end on December 21, 2012, as some interpreted the Mayan prophecies. One of the important discoveries from the Yucatan ruins is that the Maya had several calendars.One is known as the Long Count calendar, which is reset to day 0 every 1,872,000 days, a period known as The Great Circle. The next reset date, by some calculations, is December 21, 2012. Obviously, this calendar is of no interest to the Maya any longer, since their civilization collapsed over a thousand years ago. (Though there are people today who are the descendants of the Maya and the culture lives on through them) Nevertheless, this date is of enormous interest to certain doomsday prophets and New Age astrologers, such as Carl Johan Calleman, who are spreading the good news either that the Maya knew the date when the world would end or they knew the date when a New Age of Transformation would begin.In Charles Gallenkamp's book Maya The Riddle And Rediscovery Of A Lost Civilization on December 21, 2012, there will be an "alignment between the galactic and solar planes." The winter solstice sun will "conjunct the Milky Way." This is supposed to open up some sort of "cosmic sky portal."The cosmic alignment on 12/21/2012 - click image to enlargeAstrologer John Major Jenkins explains the chart: If we make a standard horoscope chart for December 21st, 2012 A.D., nothing very unusual appears. In this way, I was led astray in my search until Linda Schele provided a clue in the recent book Maya Cosmos. Probably the most exciting breakthrough in this book is her identification of the astronomical meaning of the Mayan Sacred Tree. Drawing from an impressive amount of iconographic evidence, and generously sharing the process by which she arrived at her discovery, the Sacred Tree is found to be none other than the crossing point of the ecliptic with the band of the Milky Way. Indeed, the Milky Way seems to have played an important role in Mayan imagery. For example, an incised bone from the 8th century Tikal depicts a long sinking canoe containing various deities. This is a picture of the night sky and the canoe is the Milky Way, sinking below the horizon as the night progresses, and carrying with it deities representing the nearby constellations.The incredible Mayan site of Palenque is filled with Sacred Tree motifs and references to astronomical events. In their book, A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya Schele and Freidel suggested that the Sacred Tree referred to the ecliptic. Apparently, that was only part of the picture, for the Sacred Tree that [the Mayan king] Pacal ascends in death is more than just the ecliptic, it is the sacred doorway to the underworld. The crossing point of the Milky Way and ecliptic is this doorway and represents the sacred source and origin. (Apparently, Jenkins is interpreting Pacal's sarcophagus, which depicts the Sacred Tree emerging from what has been called an umbilical cord)While it is true that the sun conjuncts the Sacred Tree on December 3rd in the year 755 A.D., over the centuries precession has caused the conjunction date to approach the winter solstice. So, how close are we to perfect conjunction today? Exactly when might we expect the winter solstice sun to conjunct the crossing point of the Galactic Equator and ecliptic - the Mayan Sacred Tree? Any astronomer will tell you that, presently, the Milky Way crosses the ecliptic through the constellation of Sagittarius and this area is rich in nebulae and high-density objects. In fact, where the Milky Way crosses the ecliptic in Sagittarius also happens to be the direction of the Galactic Center.Most astronomers will likely tell you that an alignment between our sun and any particular point in the Milky Way will just bring another day in paradise here on planet Earth. In any case, Jenkins is not alone in his interpretation of the mysterious Maya Long Count calendar. A Guatemalan anthropologist and student of Maya history and calendars, Carlos Barrios, has a similar interpretation:The Mayan calendar's comprehension of time, seasons, and cycles has proven itself to be vast and sophisticated. The Maya understand 17 different calendars, some of them charting time accurately over more than ten million years. The calendar that has steadily drawn global attention since 1987 is called the Tzolk'in or Cholq'ij. Devised ages ago and based on the cycle of the Pleiades, it is still held as sacred. With the indigenous calendars, native people have kept track of important turning points in history. For example, the daykeepers who study the calendars identified an important day in the year One Reed, Ce Acatal, as it was called by the Mexicans. That was the day when an important ancestor was prophesied to return, "coming like a butterfly." In the Western calendar, the One Reed date correlates to Easter Sunday, April 21, 1519, the day that Hernando Cortez and his fleet of 11 Spanish galleons arrived from the East at what is today called Vera Cruz, Mexico.When the Spanish ships came toward shore, native people were waiting and watching to see how it would go. The billowing sails of the ships did indeed remind the scouts of butterflies skimming the ocean surface.It will be the start of a new era resulting from and signified by the solar meridian crossing the galactic equator, and the earth aligning itself with the center of the galaxy.At sunrise on December 21, 2012, for the first time in 26,000 years, the Sun rises to conjunct the intersection of the Milky Way and the plane of the ecliptic. This cosmic cross is considered to be an embodiment of the Sacred Tree, The Tree of Life, a tree remembered in all the world's spiritual traditions. Some observers say this alignment with the heart of the galaxy in 2012 will open a channel for cosmic energy to flow through the earth, cleansing it and all that dwells upon it, raising all to a higher level of vibration.So according to these interpretations, we can expect a transformation and good vibrations as a result of a cosmic energy flow. This sounds fantastic to me...maybe we'll receive a few answers to some long-ago-asked questions as well. However, the facts indicate that the Maya kings and nobles focused more on short-term projects like enriching themselves, building monuments, and remaining in power than in predicting the dawning of a new age of good vibrations long after their civilization had collapsed.Nevertheless, let's look at the prophecies:The Mayan Prophecies of 2012An Apocalypse (Greek: “lifting of the veil” or “revelation”) is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception."Both the Hopis and Mayans recognize that we are approaching the end of a World Age... In both cases, however, the Hopi and Mayan elders do not prophesy that everything will come to an end. Rather, this is a time of transition from one World Age into another. The message they give concerns our making a choice of how we enter the future ahead. Our moving through with either resistance or acceptance will determine whether the transition will happen with cataclysmic changes or gradual peace and tranquility. The same theme can be found reflected in the prophecies of many other Native American visionaries from Black Elk to Sun Bear." — Joseph Robert Jochmans"The person with no previous exposure to the Mayan Calendar will usually initially be surprised by the fact that some people today take such an interest in an ancient calendar. After all, human history has seen a high number of different calendars. Is not then the Mayan calendar just a very specialized subject of interest only to specialists or history buffs? “Why would the world today need another calendar than the Gregorian or Muslim that are currently in use, and why should this be the Mayan calendar?” some may ask.Well, to begin with, most people probably have a much too limited view of the importance of the Mayan civilization, and Native American traditions generally. In fact, at their height in the 5th to 9th centuries AD, the Mayan cities would be among the largest in the world and developed the most advanced mathematics and astronomy of their day. And so, even if the Native American civilizations hardly survived the later contact with the Europeans they were and are the carriers of a significant and irreplaceable part of the global human consciousness.When we talk about the Mayan Calendar something profoundly different is also meant than just a system to mark off the passage of time. The Mayan Calendar is above all a prophetic calendar that may help us understand the past and foresee the future. It is a calendar of the Ages that describes how the progression of Heavens and Underworlds condition the human consciousness and thus the frames for our thoughts and actions within a given Age. The Mayan Calendar provides an exact schedule for the Cosmic Plan and the unfolding of all things that come into existence. There is now ample empirical evidence for this, something that shines new light on the age-old questions of mankind. Things do exist for a reason. The reason is that they fit into the divine cosmic plan. For those who seriously engage in a study of the Mayan Calendar this soon becomes evident and the former materialist worldview loses all relevance. The Mayan Calendar is a gateway to the worlds of consciousness which the majority of humanity has been blinded to through the use of false or delusory calendars.Since everything that exists is an aspect of consciousness, and the Mayan Calendar describes the evolution of consciousness in all of its aspects, no stone is left unturned for the serious student of the Mayan Calendar. All of science is affected, all of religion is affected, all of life is affected. We are here for a reason. Time is no longer equated with money but with spirit. Time is an inspiration!My own view is that this is the last chance that human beings will have to truly align themselves with the cosmic plan. It is now or never and if you do not think that the Conscious Convergence has something to do with you you probably have not studied the Mayan calendar seriously enough. Hence, there can be no proxies for your participation in the transformation of the world as the calendar comes to an end." - Carl Johan Calleman Ph.DThe Prophecies of the Hopi PeopleTheir prophecies are not written in obscure, archaic language, hidden away in dusty tomes. The Hopi Elders have passed these warnings to subsequent generations through word of mouth and concerning ancient rock drawings and tablets, keeping track of those that have been fulfilled and paying close attention to warning signs.The following prophecies, probably the only portion shared with whites at the time, have been reproduced many times and are usually the first glimpse of Hopi Prophecy that one encounters when researching the subject.Emergence to the Fifth World"The end of all Hopi ceremonialism will come when a Kachina removes his mask during a dance in the plaza before uninitiated children. For a while, there will be no more ceremonies, no more faith. Then Oraibi will be rejuvenated with its faith and ceremonies, marking the start of a new cycle of Hopi life."World War III will be started by those peoples who first revealed the light (the divine wisdom or intelligence) in the other old countries (India, China, Islamic Nations, Africa). The United States will be destroyed, land and people, by atomic bombs and radioactivity. Only the Hopis and their homeland will be preserved as an oasis to which refugees will flee. Bomb shelters are a fallacy. "It is only materialistic people who seek to make shelters. Those who are at peace in their hearts already are in the great shelter of life. There is no shelter for evil. Those who take no part in the making of world division by ideology are ready to resume life in another world, be they Black, White, Red, or Yellow race. They are all one, brothers."The war will be a spiritual conflict with material matters. Material matters will be destroyed by spiritual beings who will remain to create one world and one nation under one power, that of the Creator.'"That time is not far off. It will come when the Saquasohuh (Blue Star) Kachina dances in the plaza and removes his mask. He represents a blue star, far off and yet invisible, which will make its appearance soon. [Some Hopi spokespersons suggest that Hale-Bopp is the Blue Star.] The time is foretold by a song sung during the Wuwuchim ceremony. It was sung in 1914 just before World War I, and again in 1940 before World War II, describing the disunity, corruption, and hatred contaminating Hopi rituals, which were followed by the same evils spreading over the world. This same song was sung in 1961 during the Wuwuchim ceremony."The Emergence of the Future Fifth World has begun. It is being made by the humble people of little nations, tribes, and racial minorities. 'You can read this in the earth itself. Plant forms from previous worlds are beginning to spring up as seeds. This could start a new study of botany if people were wise enough to read them. The same kinds of seeds are being planted in the sky as stars. The same kinds of seeds are being planted in our hearts. All these are the same, depending on how you look at them. That is what makes the Emergence to the next, Fifth World.'"These comprise the nine most important prophecies of the Hopis, connected with the creation of the nine worlds: the three previous worlds on which we lived, the present Fourth World, the three future worlds we have yet to experience, and the world of Taiowa, the Creator, and his nephew, Sotuknang." - from Book of the Hopi by Frank Waters"The Fourth World shall end soon, and the Fifth World will begin. This the elders everywhere know. The Signs over many years have been fulfilled, and so few are left."This is the First Sign: We were told of the coming of the white-skinned men, like Pahana, but not living like Pahana -- men who took the land that was not theirs and who struck their enemies with thunder. (Guns?)"This is the Second Sign: Our lands will see the coming of spinning wheels filled with voices. (Covered wagons?)"This is the Third Sign: A strange beast like a buffalo but with great long horns, will overrun the land in large numbers. (Longhorn cattle?)"This is the Fourth Sign: The land will be crossed by snakes of iron. (Railroad tracks?)"This is the Fifth Sign: The land shall be criss-crossed by a giant spider's web. (Power/telephone lines or the internet?)"This is the Sixth Sign: The land shall be criss-crossed with rivers of stone that make pictures in the sun. (Concrete roads and their mirage-producing effects?)"This is the Seventh Sign: You will hear of the sea turning black, and many living things dying because of it. (Oil spills?)"This is the Eighth Sign: You will see many youth, who wear their hair long like our people, come and join the tribal nations, to learn our ways and wisdom. (Youth of the 1960's?)"And this is the Ninth and Last Sign: You will hear of a dwelling-place in the heavens, above the earth, that shall fall with a great crash. It will appear as a blue star. Very soon after this, the ceremonies of the Hopi people will cease."These are the Signs that great destruction is here: The world shall rock to and fro. The white man will battle people in other lands -- those who possessed the first light of wisdom. There will be many columns of smoke and fire such as the white man has made in the deserts not far from here. Those who stay and live in the places of the Hopi shall be safe. Then there will be much to rebuild. And soon, very soon afterward, Pahana will return. He shall bring with him the dawn of the Fifth World. He shall plant the seeds of his wisdom in our hearts. Even now the seeds are being planted. These shall smooth the way to the Emergence into the Fifth World."Sources:The Hopi Survival Kit: The Prophecies, Instructions and Warnings Revealed by the Last Elders (Compass) - Thomas E. Mails & Chief Dan EvehemaNative American Prophecies: History, Wisdom and Startling Predictions - Scott PetersonBook of the Hopi - Frank WatersHOPI, a Message for All People as told by Dan Katchongva, Sun ClanThe Revelations of NostradamusMichel de Nostredame or Nostradamus as he is popularly called, was born in France in 1503. He was a kind of pharmacist and a healer and around 1550 he developed an interest in the occult sciences and started writing almanacs. He became famous for these and many people used to come to him for horoscopes and psychic advice. Later he started summarizing his prophecies and writing them in quatrains which is a four-line poetic para in French. He compiled about a thousand of these undated quatrains into a book called The Prophecies Nostradamus wrote in a cryptic style and his quatrains need interpretation. Many have found that most of these predictions have been accurate and his prophecies are highly regarded by astrologers and in many occult circles.You must keep in mind that Nostradamus's predictions are never clear cut and he writes symbolically hence different people interpret these symbols in various ways. Although this is the case, many of his predictions have been interpreted correctly regarding the Second World War, Hitler, and so on. This makes 2012 Nostradamus predictions even more interesting to read as most people feel that they can be highly accurate.According to these interpretations, Nostradamus predicted massive destruction and havoc brought about by a comet. It is not clear whether this comet will strike the earth or will pass very close to our planet, causing massive earthquakes and other cataclysmic occurrences. But many interpreters of his quatrains are united on the opinion that it will be a comet that will come somewhere in December 2012.One of the quatrains says – “King of terror shall come from the sky. He will bring to life the King of Mongols.” This line has been interpreted that after the coming of the comet, China will gain prominence and might start attacking countries to gain supremacy. Nostradamus also gives an indication of the fate of certain nations. “The Huge dog will howl at night, when the great pontiff will change lands”. The great dog is taken to be the United Kingdom by many interpreters, and the line suggests its destruction. The pontiff is taken to be the pope and hence Rome too will be destroyed.The Book Of RevelationThe Book of Revelation opens with the announcement of its title, and with a benediction on those who give diligent heed to its solemn prophetic utterances:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:2 who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.Biblical scholars believe that around 90 CE the Book of Revelation was written, the only apocalypse in the New Testament and the "last book of the Bible..." the least read and most difficult." Revelation has had tremendous influence on our culture and history, not only motivating millions of believers but contributing vivid images and phrases to popular culture, from the "four horsemen of the Apocalypse" to the "mark of the beast."Of course, its meaning is open to interpretation...just like all of the doomsday scenarios and predictions.In my opinion, on a collective scale, we are experiencing a period in which all that has been unconscious may become conscious. All that has been hidden may begin to be revealed.We live in rare and precarious times...astounding, fragile, and mysterious. We are each drop in this sea of humanity, small pieces of the physical and psychic collective. We need to remember our unity by facing our shared challenges. The crises we will face must bring us together to inspire our constructive creativity. There is no way out of the future, only a way through. By finding genuine compassion with each other, we access genuine wisdom. Lon12/21/2012: A ProphecyThe Day After 20122012 Prophecy Change, Apocalypse & The End Of The World2012 Time For Change**********PHANTOMS & MONSTERS VIDEO LIBRARYPOLL: WHAT DO YOU THINK? Vote & comment on paranormal, cryptid & unexplained mysteries!UNDERWATER HUMANOIDS - AQUATIC ANOMALIES | LIVE CHAT | Q & A (AMAZING EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS & MONSTERS REPORTS & CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHAREPHANTOMS & MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on SpotifyPHANTOMS & MONSTERS READING LISTCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonJOIN AMAZON PRIME - Unlimited Movie/TV Streaming& FREE 2-Day ShippingRegister a SNAP EBT CardTry Audible PlusBigfoot and Other Cryptid Videos on YouTubeLYCANS! - PENNSYLVANIA'S CRYPTID CANINES UPDATE'KILLER BIGFOOT' HUNTED BY U.S. SPECIAL FORCES / GLIMMER MAN / MANTIS HUMANOIDSCRAWLER HUMANOIDS - GRUESOME INVADERS! (REAL EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)WEREWOLVES: DO THEY EXIST?'DOGMAN IN OUR YARD!' - AN OHIO FAMILY'S 12-YEAR SAGA WITH CRYPTID CANINESHey, folks. Thanks for the congrats on 'The Mothman Revisited' episode on Unsolved Mysteries. As a result, we are receiving more sighting reports and are very excited and grateful for the new information!I sincerely thank the Unsolved Mysteries team and Netflix for allowing us to tell the world about this phenomenon.If you have information about this or any other cryptid or unexplained sighting or encounter, please feel free to contact me by email or at 410-241-5974. Thanks again! LonCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistChicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map----------Become a Phantoms & Monsters Radio member - just $2.99 monthly, and receive these perks. Thanks for your support!-Members-only live chats-Exclusive members-only videos-Priority reply to members' commentsHave perks suggestions? LMK-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS

Odon, Indiana, is a peaceful small town and not one that you would suspect of having a history of paranormal mysteries. Yet in June 1940, an Odon farmhouse would be the setting of one of the strangest supernatural puzzles of modern times.William Hackler finished breakfast and left the house to begin his many chores for the day. As he was walking across the yard, he noticed smoke pouring out of one of the upper-story windows. Alarmed, he ran back into the house and raced up the stairs. Once inside the room, he saw that a medium-sized fire was consuming the wall underneath the window. The fire seemed to be coming from inside the wall itself. This would make one suspect faulty wiring, but the Hackler homestead was not wired for electricity. And there was no fire burning in the house’s stove. There was no apparent cause for the fire.The volunteer fire department was sent for and put out the mysterious fire soon after their arrival and then left.No sooner had the firefighters put off the flames and returned to the station, that another call came from the Hackler house. This time, Mrs. Hackler had found another fire ablaze on her feather bed. Now the fire seemed to be originating from the mattress. The fire spread wildly and covered the entire room. The firefighters acted steadily and doused the flames.If the firemen thought they would be leaving the Hackler house any time soon, they were to be disappointed. Throughout the day fires burst out and consumed objects and parts of the house’s structure. In one case a firefighter went to a bookshelf and picked up a book that seemed to be emitting smoke. As he opened it, he found it burning from within. In fact, the cover was intact while the pages were on fire. In the kitchen, a firefighter found a pair of coveralls burst into flames, while a damp dishwasher caught fire. A bedspread caught flames right before the eyes of a dozen witnesses. As a flame on the roof was completely extinguished, another fire broke out charring the window blinds. A medicine cabinet was found burning from the inside, while another book inside a desk drawer was mysteriously flaming from within, while its covers were unspoiled.Scared, the Hacklers removed all their goods, took out the windows, and patiently waited for the house to be engulfed by flames. However, with another little fire at 11:00 p.m., the fires ceased. Several goods were burnt, but the house itself wasn't seriously harmed. About a hundred firefighters had gathered to put off 28 fires in a single day! No cause could be determined. There was no electricity, nor was any stove left burning. On July 4th, the unsettled Hacklers found it wise to have their house demolished. On April 19, 1941, Collier's Magazine published an advertisement from the Traveler's Insurance Company, detailing the petrifying tale of the Odon Fire Poltergeist.Officials were baffled and put forward odd solutions such as rogue magnetic fields, gasses seeping from an unused well, and pranks by Hackler’s children. Thoroughly spooked, Hackler demolished the house and built a new one. As far as history records, he and his family were never bothered by phantom fires again.Was this a case of spontaneous combustion, or was there a supernatural cause?Listverse.com's Epic Book of Mind-Boggling Lists: Unbelievable Facts and Astounding Trivia on Movies, Music, Crime, Celebrities, History, and MoreStrange Indiana MonstersHaunted Indiana: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Hoosier State (Haunted Series)**********PHANTOMS & MONSTERS VIDEO LIBRARYPOLL: WHAT DO YOU THINK? Vote & comment on paranormal, cryptid & unexplained mysteries!UNDERWATER HUMANOIDS - AQUATIC ANOMALIES | LIVE CHAT | Q & A (AMAZING EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS & MONSTERS REPORTS & CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHAREPHANTOMS & MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on SpotifyPHANTOMS & MONSTERS READING LISTCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonJOIN AMAZON PRIME - Unlimited Movie/TV Streaming& FREE 2-Day ShippingRegister a SNAP EBT CardTry Audible PlusBigfoot and Other Cryptid Videos on YouTubeLYCANS! - PENNSYLVANIA'S CRYPTID CANINES UPDATE'KILLER BIGFOOT' HUNTED BY U.S. SPECIAL FORCES / GLIMMER MAN / MANTIS HUMANOIDSCRAWLER HUMANOIDS - GRUESOME INVADERS! (REAL EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)WEREWOLVES: DO THEY EXIST?'DOGMAN IN OUR YARD!' - AN OHIO FAMILY'S 12-YEAR SAGA WITH CRYPTID CANINESHey, folks. Thanks for the congrats on 'The Mothman Revisited' episode on Unsolved Mysteries. As a result, we are receiving more sighting reports and are very excited and grateful for the new information!I sincerely thank the Unsolved Mysteries team and Netflix for allowing us to tell the world about this phenomenon.If you have information about this or any other cryptid or unexplained sighting or encounter, please feel free to contact me by email or at 410-241-5974. Thanks again! LonCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistChicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map----------Become a Phantoms & Monsters Radio member - just $2.99 monthly, and receive these perks. Thanks for your support!-Members-only live chats-Exclusive members-only videos-Priority reply to members' commentsHave perks suggestions? LMK-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS

The following descriptions detail a few of the creepiest documented cryptids. Is there a possibility that one or two of these unconfirmed beasts actually exist?The J'ba FoFi, also known as the Congolese Giant Spider is a cryptid said to exist in the Congo. The eggs are pale yellow-white and shaped like peanuts. Native claim the hatchlings are bright yellow with a purple abdomen. Their coloration becomes darker and brown as they mature. Some of the natives indigenous to the regions in the Congo where the J'ba FoFi has been seen assert that the spider was once quite common, but has become very rare.Famous naturalist and cryptozoologist, William J. Gibbons, his shared his experience with the J'ba FoFi:"On this third expedition to Equatorial Africa, I took the opportunity to inquire if the pygmies knew of such a giant spider, and indeed they did! They speak of the Jba Fofi, which is a "giant" or "great spider." They described a spider that is generally brown in color with a purple abdomen. They grow to quite an enormous size with a leg span of at least five feet. The giant arachnids weave together a lair made of leaves similar in shape to a traditional pygmy hut, and spin a circular web (said to be very strong) between two trees with a strand stretched across a game trail.""These giant ground-dwelling spiders prey on the diminutive forest antelope, birds, and other small game, and are said to be extremely dangerous, not to mention highly venomous," Gibbons states. "The spiders are said to lay white, peanut-sized eggs in a cluster, and the pygmies give them a wide birth when encountered, but have killed them in the past. The giant spiders were once very common but are now a rare sight."The Tsuchinoko is an oddly-shaped snake-like creature from Japan. They are reported to be between 30 and 80 inches long. The name "tsuchinoko" is used in Western Japan, however it is known as "bachi hebi" in Northeastern Japan. The tsuchinoko has a thin head and tail, and a wide girth in between. It reportedly has fangs and venom, similar to some snakes. Some accounts also describe the tsuchinoko as being able to jump up to a meter in distance.According to legend, some tsuchinoko can speak and have a propensity for lying, and are also said to have a taste for alcohol. Legend records that it will sometimes swallow its own tail so that it can roll like a hoop, similar to the mythical hoop snake. It is also referenced in the kojiki, the oldest book about the history of Japan.An Olitiau is a gigantic cryptid bat (or flying reptile) said to exist in Central Africa. Olitiau are said to have 6–12 ft (2–4 m) wingspans. Their body is allegedly black, though their wings have been described as either dark brown or red. Their lower jaws are said to contain 2-inch (50 mm) long, serrated teeth with equal spacing between each tooth.There are stories of these bats from the local tribes in the forests of Cameroon, in West Africa, but the first story to reach the Western world came from the biologist Ivan T. Sanderson in 1932. When Sanderson reported his encounter to the native guides he was with, they became excited and attributed it to what they called the Olitiau, which is a combination of the words “ole” and “ntya,” and which they named after a type of ceremonial mask that was carved in the shape of a demon. According to them, the Olitiau lived in nearby caves and came out at night to feed. There have been no other reported sightings.The Minhocão (name means "big earthworm" in Portuguese) is a giant subterranean worm-like cryptid reported to dwell underground in the South American forests. These creatures are described as enormous limbless beings with scaly black skin, a readily visible mouth, and a couple of tentacle-like appendages protruding from the head. According to at least one witness, it also has a pig-like snout. It has been reported to prey on large surface animals, including cattle, by suddenly capturing them from below the water.According to Karl Shuker, the Minhocão is more likely a caecilian than an earthworm. Caecilians are amphibians that resemble overgrown worms, except for the fact that they have eyes—and teeth. People who claim to have seen the Minhocão say that it has massive teeth, black skin covered in scales, and two tentacles protruding from its head. There haven’t been any Minhocão sightings for over a hundred years.Shaped like a monstrous elephant with the tail of a snake, the Grootslang feeds on trespassers and fiercely guards a stash of thousands of diamonds and gemstones. At night, a cryptid is supposed to emerge from the caves in the desert Northern Cape province of South Africa and lure prey back into its lair. Somewhere in this vast desert is what the locals refer to as the Bottomless Pit...a massive cave system that has never been fully explored.In 1917, British explorer Peter Grayson was lured by the stories of diamonds in the Bottomless Pit, Grayson took a small team of men to find the cave. On the journey to the cave, tragedy struck: two of his men were killed by a lion, one was bitten by a venomous snake, and another became sick. The final two team members carried him back to the nearest town, leaving Grayson alone to continue the quest. He was never heard from again, and locals came to believe he had been killed by the Grootslang.One supposed witness claims to have found mysterious footprints a meter wide that eventually disappeared at the edge of a river.The Ahool is a flying cryptid, possibly a giant bat, or by other accounts, a living pterosaur or flying primate. Named for its distinctive call A-hoooool, it is said to live in the deepest rainforests of Java. It is described as having a monkey/ape-like head with large dark eyes, large claws on its forearms (approximately the size of an infant), and a body covered in gray fur. Possibly the most intriguing and astounding feature is that it is said to have a wingspan of 3 m (10 ft). This is almost twice as long as the largest (known) bat in the world, the common flying fox.An inquiry focused on an 'Ahool' encounter in Lee County, Florida. Here is the email that was forwarded to me:"Hi - I recently had an encounter with a bird-like creature but I know it wasn't a bird - it looked to be a flying person. I know it sounds weird and crazy but I know what I saw. Well here's the whole story. On Feb, 5th around 11:30pm my older sister and her husband were taking me, my little sister, my mom and my two nieces to eat at Denny's in a near town (Fort Myers, FL). Well as we were driving on I75 out of nowhere through the windshield I see a person with wings fly over our car. It went over two times back and forth. I got a good look - it looked like a person with wings but then again it also looked like a pterodactyl (pterosaur). My brother-in-law also saw it and agreed with me. He says it was not a bird! Well that was my encounter with the creature.My nephew also witnessed a person-like creature. He was walking to his girlfriend's house late at night and by her neighbor's house there are some trees. He said he saw a person / figure standing in the trees looking at him. He asked his girlfriend if she also saw it - she said that its always there. He then started to walk closer to get a better view of it when the creature jumped off the tree onto his girlfriend's neighbors fence causing it to make rattling noise. The dogs started barking and then the creature flew off in front off his eyes. It then ran into his girlfiend's house scared it would come back but it didn't. My nephew's encounter happened in Lehigh Acres, FL a couple of days before my encounter happened! We have no clue as to what it is or why it would be following us?! It is very mind boggling!!" KThe Mythical Creatures Bible: The Definitive Guide to Legendary BeingsThe Monster Hunter's Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Saving Mankind from Vampires, Zombies, Hellhounds, and Other Mythical Beasts**********PHANTOMS & MONSTERS VIDEO LIBRARYPOLL: WHAT DO YOU THINK? Vote & comment on paranormal, cryptid & unexplained mysteries!UNDERWATER HUMANOIDS - AQUATIC ANOMALIES | LIVE CHAT | Q & A (AMAZING EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS & MONSTERS REPORTS & CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHAREPHANTOMS & MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on SpotifyPHANTOMS & MONSTERS READING LISTCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonJOIN AMAZON PRIME - Unlimited Movie/TV Streaming& FREE 2-Day ShippingRegister a SNAP EBT CardTry Audible PlusBigfoot and Other Cryptid Videos on YouTubeLYCANS! - PENNSYLVANIA'S CRYPTID CANINES UPDATE'KILLER BIGFOOT' HUNTED BY U.S. SPECIAL FORCES / GLIMMER MAN / MANTIS HUMANOIDSCRAWLER HUMANOIDS - GRUESOME INVADERS! (REAL EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)WEREWOLVES: DO THEY EXIST?'DOGMAN IN OUR YARD!' - AN OHIO FAMILY'S 12-YEAR SAGA WITH CRYPTID CANINESHey, folks. Thanks for the congrats on 'The Mothman Revisited' episode on Unsolved Mysteries. As a result, we are receiving more sighting reports and are very excited and grateful for the new information!I sincerely thank the Unsolved Mysteries team and Netflix for allowing us to tell the world about this phenomenon.If you have information about this or any other cryptid or unexplained sighting or encounter, please feel free to contact me by email or at 410-241-5974. Thanks again! LonCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistChicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map----------Become a Phantoms & Monsters Radio member - just $2.99 monthly, and receive these perks. Thanks for your support!-Members-only live chats-Exclusive members-only videos-Priority reply to members' commentsHave perks suggestions? LMK-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS

Two men escaped without serious injury after their motor glider crashed into a road in Gloucestershire, in South West England. The plane appeared to have skidded through a hedge during rush hour late Tuesday afternoon, and ended up on the A 419, blocking both lanes. The pilots may have overshot the runway at Aston Down […] The post Pilots Live Through Miracle Landing After Their Aircraft Crashes Into Busy Road Without Hitting Cars appeared first on Good News Network.

Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Tim Walz, will impoverish America. That’s the best way to understand one of their most important—yet least-known—policy pipe dreams. As vice president, Harris has backed so-called net zero, which means offsetting every iota of manmade greenhouse gases. Walz, as governor, has pushed one of the most aggressive net-zero policies in America, mandating no carbon emissions in Minnesota by 2040. This promise is economic suicide. Not only is it unachievable, but ramping up unreliable and costly energy sources like wind and solar while eliminating reliable and affordable options like natural gas and nuclear power is disastrous. It inevitably means a dramatic and ongoing drop in our standard of living—a drop that’s already begun. Thanks to net zero, Americans are already paying more on utility bills and everyday goods, even as more homes and businesses suffer rolling blackouts that are getting worse. As the Republican ticket, Donald Trump and JD Vance should fight this madness—but they have to be smart. Republicans have never effectively responded to net zero, which has a positive sound that appeals to Americans. People will only rally around something equally (or ideally more) inspiring. And no, simply praising fossil fuels won’t cut it. Here’s a real winning message: zero energy poverty. Zero energy poverty casts a powerful vision, one that can be realized by unleashing our vast natural resources. Such resources can deliver a future in which no one would struggle to afford utility bills. No one would have to choose between filling up their car and feeding their family or getting medical care. Everyone would benefit from better jobs, higher wages, better health, and a new era of innovation. With a vision like that, no one could oppose zero energy poverty. Why might this rallying cry work? To start, it connects environmental and energy policy to people’s true priorities.  While 70% of Americans support tackling climate change, just 2% say it’s the most important issue facing the country, according to Gallup. Eighteen times as many Americans list the economy as their top concern, for good reason. After years of soaring inflation and slow-to-nonexistent wage growth, families are legitimately worried about getting poorer, and many are. A stunning 8 out of 10 people now think their children’s lives will be worse than their own. Moving to eliminate energy poverty can help reverse this dispiriting pessimism, ushering in a new era of optimism born of greater opportunity. Zero energy poverty also highlights that net zero is the path to poverty unless you’re politically well-connected—see the massive subsidies that the Biden-Harris administration is throwing at green companies. Net zero requires curtailing freedom and massively growing government, as evidenced by bans on gas-powered cars, natural gas appliances, and the forced closure of reliable electricity plants—all of which are driving widespread economic pain. Americans’ suffering will worsen as ham-fisted policies force continued emissions cuts without regard to economic or environmental reality. If you want a family budget you can’t balance, or if you’d rather risk death from frostbite or heat stroke when the power goes out, net zero is for you. And while net zero’s proponents talk a big game about good-paying jobs and economic growth, their record is one of failure. Their policies lead to economywide deindustrialization—just ask Europe. Like net zero, the goal of zero energy poverty is aspirational. Unlike net zero, it’s achievable and will improve lives. It’s a springboard for policies that tap America’s boundless energy potential, yielding tangible benefits like lower utility bills and cheaper food, which requires energy to grow and transport. Fully tapping American energy can also make housing more affordable and durable and healthcare more innovative and accessible. And yes, zero energy poverty is the best path to making the environment cleaner since it calls for policies that unleash emission-lowering innovation without undermining the economy. Zero energy poverty means an easier everyday existence, greater wealth, better health, and a more expansive and inclusive American dream.  Americans’ quality of life depends on energy—affordable, abundant, reliable energy. The promise of zero energy poverty provides a way to remind society of this fact, fostering greater support for essential, on-demand energy sources like oil, natural gas, and nuclear. These energy sources aren’t poisons to be avoided, as net zero implies. They’re a critical tool for human progress—a tool that America must continue to use for the betterment of all. One of the best things Donald Trump can do is promise to replace the Harris-Walz climate agenda with a real pathway to “zero energy poverty.” Originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal. The post How Trump Can Win on Energy: Zero Energy Poverty appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The unprecedented case of the attack on Telegram via the arrest of Pavel Durov – and the nature of the charges against him – has clearly emboldened not only the lovers of censorship (such as the EU) but also the enemies of encryption (the EU). Encryption itself has long been in the crosshairs in the bloc, but also in various individual countries in Europe individually, and others around the world. This push to undermine encryption – despite it being the key component of security, and privacy online – is habitually justified as necessary for law enforcement to do its job. Now EU member Denmark is trying to come for end-to-end encryption, and not only Telegram, but also Signal, WhatsApp, and others. In this particular instance, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard’s preferred course of action would be to just block these apps (perhaps as a stopgap measure) rather than taking the much longer path of building encryption backdoors. Judging by reports in the Danish press, Hummelgaard wants to use this moment to further increase pressure on encrypted services, unsurprisingly giving “fighting crime” as the reason. And while Hummelgaard considers such services as “safe havens” for criminals (it’s the same as saying states are safe havens for criminals because criminals operate in them), a large number of Danish MPs use encrypted apps – according to an investigative report in frihedsbrevet.dk, at least 70. (The country’s parliament has 179 seats). To make matters even more absurd, Hummelgaard was (or still is) one of them. And now those perplexed by his idea to block encrypted messengers are calling for him to “lead by example” and make his own messages publicly available – if that is, private communications are an evil that justifies resorting to blocking apps. Reports quote Danish Reddit users making this suggestion, with one sarcastically noting that this shouldn’t be a problem – “surely he has nothing to hide, and therefore nothing to fear?” The push around the world to get encrypted apps to “cooperate” by allowing the authorities to expand mass online surveillance to them as well, is defended by those sympathetic toward such policies as the need for “transparency” and “accountability.” If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Danish Justice Minister Under Fire for Pushing Encryption Ban While Using It appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

“There they go again.” No, that wasn’t President Ronald Reagan but Dennis Quaid, the actor who brings the late leader to life in “Reagan.” The movie, out Aug. 30, recalls the president’s remarkable life from his days as a humble lifeguard to leader of the free world.     Getting the word out about the film has been “complicated,” to use a common Facebook phrase. Quaid shared how Facebook, now officially known as Meta, initially banned “Reagan” marketers from boosting posts tied to the film on “The Joe Rogan Experience.” “Censorship is happening to us through Facebook,” Quaid told the Spotify host. “The content in [the posts] was ‘an attempt to sway an election.'”     Newsweek reported that the problem began months ago after Quaid appeared on a podcast hosted by Dr. Jordan Peterson. Facebook prevented the film’s marketers from boosting a clip from that interview for brand awareness. Another post that couldn’t be boosted on the platform? A photograph of Quaid as President Reagan with the following quote: Don’t let anyone tell you that America’s best days are behind her—that the American spirit has been vanquished…We’ve seen it triumph too often in our lives not to believe it now. Boosting posts allows for far greater reach as well as targeting select demographics. Rogan and fellow new media giant Megyn Kelly slammed Facebook following Quaid’s allegations. The “Reagan” team sent a letter to Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg requesting answers.  A Facebook official publicly apologized via Newsweek. While there are no restrictions on this page that would prevent the admins from posting, we did identify a handful of ads from this account that were incorrectly rejected. This happened because our automated systems mistakenly determined that content about President Reagan required prior authorization in accordance with our policies for ads about Social Issues, Elections or Politics. This was a mistake and the restriction on the ads has been lifted. The matter appeared to be settled though “Reagan’s” team said they never heard directly from the company. Then another “Reagan”-themed post couldn’t be boosted by the film’s marketers just weeks before the movie’s release. And another. “Reagan” PR officials shared screen caps with HiT showing the platform blocked them from boosting new videos tied to the film. The clips in question hailed from both Rogan and Kelly’s respective podcasts. Why? The clips allegedly went against the platform’s “Advertising Standards, Community Standards or Terms of Service. The host of “The Megyn Kelly Show” dubbed the flurry of Facebook moves “moronic” “The irony in Facebook banning ‘Reagan’ ads is that this is a movie about a historic figure who, yes, was a politician, but whose bipartisanship and friendship with Democrats is an important part of the film,” Kelly told Hollywood in Toto. “It’s a movie about America, and how we used to talk to each other and respect each other, irrespective of political differences. On cue, Facebook bans promotion of the film, apparently seeing it as socially divisive,” Kelly added. Eric McClellan, “Reagan’s” director of digital marketing, denied the posts in question had anything to do with November’s presidential election. “Our posts promote discussion about our film to our fans and others. But Facebook again denied our boosts, claiming they could ‘influence public opinion, how people vote and may influence the outcome of the election,'” McClellan told HiT. HiT has reached out to Meta/Facebook for comment. It’s ironic since Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg admitted in 2022 that his platform depressed news of the Hunter Biden laptop story at the behest of the U.S. government. That likely had far more potential impact on the electorate than conversations about a president who died in 2004. A 2022 poll conducted by New Jersey-based Technometrica Institute of Policy and Politics found that eight out of 10 Americans thought the laptop story’s suppression impacted the 2020 election.

For Friday’s edition of CBS Evening News, guest host Nancy Cordes and Miami correspondent Cristian Benavides hyped a rather silly lawsuit that argued that the state’s law allowing for people to challenge books in school libraries on the grounds they are inappropriate for children violates the First Amendment. At the same time, Cordes hyped a scientifically dubious bill from California that could see foods like Twinkies and Cheetos banned from public schools. Cordes teed up Benavides's report by declaring, “Several top-selling authors and major publishing companies are now suing the state of Florida over a controversial law that led to the banning of hundreds of books.” In addition to the companies, Benavides profiled mother and son Jack and Judi Hayes. According to Benavides, the latter, “said the Florida law restricting certain books in school libraries is hurting Jack's ability to learn.”     No, Benavides didn’t ask if a book is so important to Jack, why doesn’t Luci just take him to the public library or buy it on Amazon. After Judi insisted, “We’re not talking about Playboy,” Benavides proceeded: The Hayes are part of a lawsuit filed Thursday by Penguin Random house and several other companies that argues the law violates the First Amendment and created a ‘regime of strict censorship’ in schools. Right now, any county resident can challenge books over their sexual content. That book must be removed within five school days and remain unavailable until the objection is resolved. Classics that have been pulled include Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. Taken to its logical conclusion, the idea that not having a book in the school violates the First Amendment means everyone who has ever written a book has a First Amendment case against, not just Florida, but every state, if there book is absent from the school library. That’s clearly untenable. For the other side, Benavides quickly reported that “the lawsuit names the Florida Board of Education as a defendant. They called it a ‘stunt.’ Not named as Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who championed the law.” A 2023 clip of DeSantis showed him taking exception to the framing of the debate, “They try to say that this is quote ‘Banning books.’ But what you have in a school, you have to make judgments about what's appropriate or not.” Exactly, and if someone is overzealous in challenging a book, the challenge should fail. Nevertheless, Benavides added, “Jack Hayes said politics should not play a role in his education.” Jack, apparently thinking his school is the only place to get a book, claimed, “If a student wants to read, they should be able to read that book.” Speaking with Cordes after the pre-recorded report, Benavides elaborated, “Florida Department of Education spokesperson said there are no books banned in Florida, but PEN America, a free-speech organization, said there have been over 3,000 challenges to books in 11 school districts here in the state between 2021 and 2023. That's more than anywhere else in the nation. Nancy?” PEN America is hardly a credible source, as their database of “banned” books has been debunked. Yet, while CBS hyped a cartoonish lawsuit targeting Florida, it also hyped a cartoonish new bill out of California as Cordes segued into a commercial break, “Cristian Benavides in Orlando, thank you. Popular foods like Twinkies and Cheetos could soon be banned from the menus at California public schools. We’ll explain next.”     After returning, Cordes reported, “California Governor Gavin Newsom is weighing whether to approve a first-of-its-kind ban on certain artificial dyes in meals served in the state’s public school cafeterias. The bill passed by state lawmakers would prohibit foods and drinks containing six synthetic colorings that have been linked to behavioral issues in kids. If approved, the band would take effect in December of 2027.” “Linked to behavioral issues in kids” is stretching it. In a related article, the FDA told NBC, “The totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives, but some evidence suggests that certain children may be sensitive to them.” Here is a transcript for the August 30 show: CBS Evening News 8/30/2024 6:46 PM ET NANCY CORDES: Several top-selling authors and major publishing companies are now suing the state of Florida over a controversial law that led to the banning of hundreds of books. We get details now from CBS's Cristian Benavides. CRISTIAN BENAVIDES: On 16-yead old Jack Hayes's bookshelf, you’ll find books that may no longer be available in some Florida classrooms. JACK HAYES: Slaughterhouse Five. BENAVIDES: His mother, Judi, said the Florida law restricting certain books in school libraries is hurting Jack's ability to learn JUDI HAYES: We're not talking about Playboy magazine, you know, we are talking about Anna Karenina. BENAVIDES: The Hayes are part of a lawsuit filed Thursday by Penguin Random house and several other companies that argues the law violates the First Amendment and created a “regime of strict censorship in schools.”  Right now, any county resident can challenge books over their sexual content. That book must be removed within five school days and remain unavailable until the objection is resolved. Classics that have been pulled include Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON: It is not protecting children. BENAVIDES: Author Laurie Halse Anderson's book Speak about sexual assault was removed. ANDERSON: Parents can say “no, I don’t want my child to read that,” that's their choice for their kid, but what they don't have a right to do is to decide for other people’s children. BENAVIDES: The lawsuit names the Florida Board of Education as a defendant. They called it a "stunt." Not named as Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who championed the law. RON DESANTIS [2023]: They try to say that this is quote "Banning books." But what you have in a school, you have to make judgments about what's appropriate or not. BENAVIDES: Jack Hayes said politics should not play a role in his education. JACK HAYES: If a student wants to read, they should be able to read that book. BENAVIDES: A Florida Department of Education spokesperson said there are no books banned in Florida, but PEN America, a free-speech organization, said there have been over 3,000 challenges to books in 11 school districts here in the state between 2021 and 2023. That's more than anywhere else in the nation. Nancy? CORDES: Cristian Benavides in Orlando, thank you. Popular foods like Twinkies and Cheetos could soon be banned from the menus at California public schools. We’ll explain next. … CORDES: California Governor Gavin Newsom is weighing whether to approve a first-of-its-kind ban on certain artificial dyes in meals served in the state’s public school cafeterias. The bill passed by state lawmakers would prohibit foods and drinks containing six synthetic colorings that have been linked to behavioral issues in kids. If approved, the band would take effect in December of 2027.

The tenth anniversary of the Sony Pictures hack, which was centered around the Seth Rogen and James Franco comedy “The Interview,” has come around. In the film, Rogen and Franco team up to interview North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to save their dwindling television careers. The movie’s plot was allegedly so egregious in the eyes of the DPRK dictator that North Korean hackers breached the servers of Sony Pictures, releasing massive data dumps that included troves of emails from Sony executives like CEO Michael Lynton and co-chairman Amy Pascal. 'Typically, it’s the IT staff you have to worry about.' It took just four days after the November 24, 2014, hack for the first report, published by Re/code, to attribute the attack to North Korean entities. The Guardians of Peace Initially, Sony received messages from a group called “God’sApstls,” littered with statements about Sony's bad business practices. “We’ve got great damage by Sony Pictures,” the message said in broken English. “The compensation for it, monetary compensation we want. Pay the damage, or Sony Pictures will be bombarded as a whole. You know us very well. We never wait long. You’d better behave wisely.” The God’sApstls were only referred to again in follow-up messages by a group called the Guardians of Peace. “We’ve already warned you, and this is just a beginning. We continue till our request be met,” the other group’s message said, per Deadline. “Thanks a lot to God’sApstls contributing your great effort to peace of the world,” it added. This is where allegations began that the hack originated from inside the Sony lot rather than a North Korean entity. Lucas Zaichkowsky, a cybersecurity expert, remarked at the time that state-sponsored hackers typically do not adopt catchy names like Guardians of Peace. “Attackers don't create cool names for themselves,” he stated. Researcher Ken Heckenlively agreed, saying the hackers’ messages “sounded like what comes from a group of disgruntled employees.” The author told Blaze News in an interview that he spoke to tech experts, cybersecurity firms, and even former members of the intelligence community, all of whom were skeptical of the official government narrative. The author joked through a choppy internet connection that “the powers that be will not stop this information from getting out!” The feed then stabilized enough to show his book. On the cover, a cartoon Barack Obama and Kim Jong Un fight like Godzilla and Rodan in front of a Hollywood backdrop. The subjects inside, however, are much more serious than the cover may let on. Inside the Sony Hack: The Story Behind America’s Most Notorious Brink-of-War Cover-Up Heckenlively explained that in 2014, several cybersecurity agencies wanted to jump into action and save the day. He referred to cybersecurity agencies as being “like bounty hunters” who all want to play hero for the big tech companies. Cybersecurity company Norse got the job and began its investigation in late December 2014. "Sony had gone through a significant downsizing in [May] 2014," Heckenlively told Blaze News. “And a lot of that included IT staff. Typically, it’s the IT staff you have to worry about because they have access to your network,” he laughed. "Pretty quickly it appeared to [Norse] that the hack was done by an insider, using this other hacker group called Lizard Squad that had previously hacked the Sony PlayStation,” Heckenlively stated, emphasizing yet another curious hacking group name. That hack, which took place just a few months earlier in August 2014, took down the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Facebook. "That wasn't the narrative that the United States government wanted, though,” the author continued. "It was the North Koreans! It was Kim Jong Un! ... But the North Koreans didn't have the capacity to do that. The hack was done by an insider, probably with an actual physical presence on the Sony lot." Kurt Stammberger, then senior vice president of Norse, presented his findings to the FBI. They also suggested the breach was an inside job. “Sony was not just hacked; this is a company that was essentially nuked from the inside,” Stammberger told CBS News. “We are very confident that this was not an attack masterminded by North Korea and that insiders were key to the implementation of one of the most devastating attacks in history.” Stammberger posited that the security lapse likely stemmed from six disgruntled former employees who were among those laid off earlier in 2014. But this wasn’t a case of Norse going rogue and defying the government; other cybersecurity professionals agreed with the company. Los Angeles Times columnist Michael Hiltzik characterized the evidence implicating North Korea as “circumstantial” and noted that other experts were also “skeptical” about linking the attack to the regime. Wired’s Kim Zetter described evidence against the North Korean government as "flimsy,” while an actual hacker also doubted the North Korean connection. Hector Monsegur, who previously hacked Sony with the group Anonymous, said that the latest attack on the company happened way too fast. “For something like this to happen, it had to happen over a long period of time. You cannot just exfiltrate one terabyte or 100 terabytes of data in a matter of weeks,” he told CBS News. Monsegur doubted North Korea's capability to manage such a transfer due to its limited internet infrastructure. He also suggested that the attack could have been executed by hackers sponsored by China, Russia, or North Korea, but he leaned toward the possibility that it was an inside job by a Sony employee. Why Sony? Critics have long pointed to a possible cover-up by U.S. intelligence agencies; a lack of direct evidence implicating the North Koreans has only strengthened those claims. By most accounts, it took seven to nine days after the hack for the reticle to be placed over North Korea as the perpetrator. According to the Hollywood Reporter, it took just 25 days for the FBI to label Guardians of Peace as acting on behalf of the North Korean government. The reasons for an alleged cover-up were numerous but not unending. One possible reason was the reauthorization of the Corporate Terrorism Risk Program. The federal program provides compensation to companies that have suffered losses due to terrorist acts. The “temporary federal program,” which began after 9/11, was reauthorized in January 2015, just two months after the Sony hack. It has been renewed twice and remains in place through December 31, 2027. According to the program’s 2024 report, the program has paid out $56.7 billion in premiums to insurance companies between 2003 and 2023. Heckenlively’s most lucid explanation was regarding another possible reason for a cover-up: to drum up conflict between North Korea and the United States, which would have benefitted the military/intelligence contractor Rand Corporation. Sony’s connections to that organization were through former studio head Lynton, who was on the Rand board of trustees at the time, as revealed by emails in the data dump. “Lynton's father was in British intelligence and served on the board of directors for Rand Corporation,” Heckenlively stressed. “As did [Amy] Pascal's father.” Contacts between Lynton and Rand showed that the organization wanted to invite stars like George Clooney to events and showed Lynton offering a contract to Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. Simply put, executives on the Sony lot were deeply tied to those with direct connections to the federal government. 'I came away thinking he was a pretty good guy, that he wanted to know the truth.' The Seth Rogen factor The collusion allegedly started when Rogen and his writing partner, Evan Goldberg, submitted “The Interview” as a script. “The movie was originally meant to be about an unnamed, ambiguous [leader], much like Sacha Baron Cohen's movie ‘The Dictator,’” Heckenlively explained. “But at some point in development, a Sony executive suggests that Kim Jong Un be made the antagonist of the film.” When asked if Rogen would have known about a connection between Sony and Rand as the reason for the change, Heckenlively pointed to remarks the actor made in 2019 to the Hollywood Reporter. Rogen said at the time that the fact North Korean entities never targeted him, and that “raised suspicions in [his] head.” “That didn’t seem like North Korea’s MO. That seemed more like young, amateurish hackers than a foreign government launching a systematic attack on another country,” he said. After suggesting that North Korea could have been used as a cover story, Rogen added, “It would be nice to know the truth.” “I don’t think I would feel drastically different on a personal level if it was or wasn’t North Korea. I do think other people would probably feel vindicated,” he concluded. Heckenlively made it a point to get across the fact that through all his research, he was pleasantly surprised by the way Rogen handled the ordeal. “I came away thinking he was a pretty good guy, that he wanted to know the truth,” Heckenlively said. The author smiled at the idea that someone in Hollywood was interested in knowing the truth. In the end, Heckenlively came to a simple conclusion: Intelligence agencies are working with movie studios to create entertainment pieces that will be provocative and serve a certain agenda. Whether that is foreign-policy-based or to push specific legislation, government agencies may have their hooks even deeper into Hollywood than the common person realizes.