Sorry for the delayed response.

Here is the link to the background story on that photo:

Sasquatch Statue Stolen

$400 Reward For $100 Bigfoot

Further Adventures of the Garden Yeti

Stolen Sasquatch Statue Update

Niki’s Quick Six Thanks Cryptomundo

Oh, one more thing. I think with all of the new commenters, we should maybe have another one of those “400 Soon?” things, where everyone kind of introduces themselves and posts some background. I think this is a great way to get to know everyone.

I’ve been around here for a long time. I remember when I was a reader here, just lurking. That must have been, oh, just about the time this site started. It wasn’t that I was not interested in commenting, it was just that I was also new to this whole “blogging” thing at the time, and wasn’t sure if my voice would be heard. I was content to read the wonderful articles and follow the discussions as merely an observer.

Then one day there was an article on something on Japan (where I live and work), and I just had to comment. I simply could not resist. Loren liked what I wrote and I was surprised and thrilled to actually get an e-mail from him. Considering my long time interest in cryptozoology, he was of course a figure I looked up to highly and getting a mail from him praising my comment just blew me away. I was astounded that I had managed to not only have my voice heard, but get a personal response from one of my heroes. It was a special moment for me.

From there, I started doing guest blogs here from time to time on cryptids of Japan and they were mostly positively received. I was very pleased to introduce these creatures, some of which are hardly ever mentioned, if at all, in English cryptozoology literature. It was rewarding to feel that I was able to put my background and Japanese language skills to use to enrich and drive cryptozoology forward somewhat, no matter how little.

These guest blogs took off and now here I am as a regular writer for Cryptomundo. I believe, and Loren you tell me if I am wrong, that with my work on Japanese cryptids I have written perhaps the longest running series of articles on a single topic here at Cryptomundo. There is more to come, and I tell you, I could not be happier to share these things and contribute to this amazing site.

Cryptomundo is not to me just a cryptozoology site. It is THE cryptozoology site. Nowhere else have I seen such a measured, level headed approach to this subject, and nowhere else have I seen such thought provoking discussions amongst the commenters. We are truly blessed with a group of mostly intelligent, scientifically minded, respectful commenters here. Looking at some of the free for all forums I have seen elsewhere, this is a treasure. Thank you for all being here.

Whenever I come here, I feel like I am among friends. Indeed, we have been through a lot together on this bumpy road we call cryptozoology, and we have had both serious debates and laughs. Some long time commenters I feel like I almost know personally (DWA, red_pill_junkie, Photo Expert, and others, you all know who you are). Others seem to have gone, and I miss them as if they were old friends I’ve lost contact with. (Where are you springheeledjack and cliffhanger?You still around?)

Coming here and contributing here is one of my joys in life, and I thank Loren, Craig, and all of the commenters here for that.

There are some things I miss besides the commenters who have come and gone on their separate ways. I am fully with Photo Expert on the point that I miss the long discussions we used to have in the old days. I can’t say it much better than him, but indeed there was a time when we had long, in depth debates and discussions that went on and on to sometimes the 3rd page of Cryptomundo or beyond. Whatever happened to these? I hardly ever see this anymore. Now often there are just a few comments on a topic that at one time would have sparked a major discussion. I miss those days.

This comment is longer than I intended. Mine usually are. Let me just part by saying that this is an amazing and enriching site full of great people. I am proud to be a part of it. Although unfortunately my work often makes me busy and I have long hiatuses from this site from time to time, I am always drawn back and it is like coming home.

Thank you all, and congratulations.

It has been quite a while since I read anything on the Ivory Billed Woodpecker, although I do remember visiting a town in Arkansas where it is considered quite a big deal.

I’ve been a member since mid-2006. The Maine Mutt-ant reeled me in .

I’ve been visiting this site on a regular basis since 2007. I hope I get to see many more Cryptomundo anniversaries

Yes, I miss a couple of the old things at Cryptomundo. I am in agreement with Loren. I liked the bold headers identifying the writers of various posts. It stuck in my head, as to who wrote the article while reading it. Now that I am older, not getting any younger, I think it might be a good idea to bring that back. I was recently reading through several posts and I could not remember who the author was. I realized it was probably mystery_man who had written it but had to go back and check, just to make sure. So that is not a bad idea.

Another thing I miss is the long conversations between members of Cryptomundo. Yes, I do realize that a post must be extremely interesting and have opposing camps for that to happen. But it seemed to happen more often in the old days. I remember many contributing posters running the posts on for several feet of my computer screen. This rarely happens any more. I miss that! There were great discussions and almost everyone was cordial to one another regardless of the point they were trying to make or which camp they came from.

I think many of the posts here now are general information posts about cryptozoology. That is good! I want the information. But what might be better are discussion oriented posts. I remember a couple that are good examples of what I miss. The BigFoot Massacre post was an awesome thread. The BF Digger Indian post was another. The post about the timeline of the Bluff Creek incident was another good discussion. There were several more.

The posts that illicit that type of discussion today on Cryptomundo are video postings for analysis and photos posted for scrutiny. The posts I referred to earlier did not need photos or videos to bring about a lively discussion. We need more posts like that, especially after reading here in this very thread that there are several lurkers or those that do not post often. Discussion type posts get people involved. Lurkers become posters and thus you have more active participation by Cryptomundo members.

See my point? And that is why I miss those days.