Regarding mylar balloons, I’ve seen tons of videos where they are mistaken for something else. They can and do take on shapes that are quite remarkable and I can agree that some of these videos could definitely be mylar balloons.

Besides being a cryptozoologist, Ken is also a Heavy Metal/Alternative musician. He’s founded and played in two Bands. I guess that’s maybe where the hat comes from. Let’s give the guy a break, shall we? Though I SORT OF understand where you’re coming from. Still irrelevant to his “Job,” though.
I did not know Cryptozoologists had to adhere to a certain “dress code.” Do you, Loren???

Anyway, my thoughts on the show:

Mystery_Man:

1) The man analyzing the “Witch” footage at the end intimated that maybe the Straight Path the “Humanoid” was taking was maybe due to IT being suspended from a Cable–notice he intimated the horn-like protusion at the top of the creature’s head was pointed and looked like it could hold a Hook. He did not say this WAS the explanation for the “Humanoid” going in a straight line, but gave a good probability to it.

I mention this as sort of “possible confirmation” that this could be a “controlled” event—which you disagreed with. Personally, I just don’t think the guy who was filming this just happened to film a randonly floating balloon that just “happened” to
follow a perfectly straight line like this did.

The video’ guy’s possible explanation for the behavior of whatever this is just reinforces my feelings that this could be a controlled “whatever”.

It’s probably (and I’m not totally convinced) a Balloon—but what KIND of Balloon? And is it Free-floating? Or is it being directed? And what are the circumnstances behind it being videotaped? That is the question, Mystery_Man. I just think that if this IS not “real,” it just feels like a Balloon Hoax.
I’m starting from the “Mundane,” then trying to work from there—like you said.

2) I do agree with LanceFoster that a second test on the specimen and DNA need to be done—just to see if the “results” from both match. Tell you what—have it tested multiple times. They also need to go over the photographs of the “Thing In The Trap” AND analyze the camera to see if there is any funny business going on.

I must say, I’m kind of surprised at the level of “Doubt” leveled at the Scientists analyzing the “Whatsit.”
Surely MQ knew that questions would be asked regarding the legitimacy of the “autopsy” of whatever-this-is.
Call me a “naive non-cynic” on THIS instance, but I just don’t think MQ would have risked ridicule and deligitimization if they did not know these weren’t the BEST forensic scientists and anthropologists (and otherwise) they could come up with at the moment.
While (again) I agree that further testing and research on this is necessary—the scientists featured in the episode seemed excellent to me and working within the perimeters of their discipline.

The fact that they could not come up with a definite identification DNA-wise as to what this was does not mean they are incompetent or corrupt. I don’t see them risking their reputations or standing in their respective commnuties if they did not REALLY know what this was. The scientists seemd genuinely baffled by this. And the fact they could not even narrow this to whether this was a “mamal” or “reptile” or whatever added to the authenticity of this, in MY opinion.

To be honest, the creature seemd “real” in the sense of it being “not a Small Monkey.” The explanations the scientists gave for why it was not were convincing to ME. I understand a lot here may disagree. Let’s see more testing, though.

3) The “creature” does not have to be an “Alien” to be unknown to science. And just because it was featured on the MQ episode “Flying Humanoids” does not mean it is one of THEM. If it is “Real,” it could just be an animal not detected by Science beforehand. I think this may cause some unnecessary confusion to some viewers, unfortunately.

Overall, good episode—the other “Humanoid Sightings” were too indefinite and unfocused to be Scientifically worthwhile but they still were extremely creepy. 3 out of 5 stars.

A Mylar balloon unlike latex can lose some helium, taking on a more “baggy” appearance yet still hover in the sky. And they are creepy especially when they reach an equilibrium where they are floating just five or six feet off the floor. They will travel around the house on very subtle air currents and even float up the stairwell to the second floor. When its night and you’re alone, logged on to Cryptomundo with only the desk light on, it scares the pee out of you when the balloon drifts silently up behind you.

The most logical explanation is that this is Mylar balloon losing helium but with sufficient “umph” to remain fairly high in the sky. A good steady breeze of 10 mph is moving it along. Several years ago I watched an “anomaly” flying about 10 feet above a corn field that looked just like this thing. And yes, it was weird and very eerie and my brain was not computing what I was seeing. Then after watching the object for several minutes and getting much closer, I could see it was a balloon.

Like Mystery Man says, start with the mundane and work outwards, not the other way around.

I was shocked to hear that Ken Gerhard was quoted as saying the beginnings of the “Houston Bat Man” sighting began with an eyewitness saying they saw a moth flying near a light, and then after the sighting, there was a flash of light. I’ve thoroughly investigated this classic pecan tree sighting, and that was the first time ever that I’d heard those details. It also felt like it was an unconscious attempt to tie the Mothman cases into this one.

Tell me it ain’t so, Ken?

1. The policeman seems sincere, but we don’t really know his mental state. He might be delusional or perhaps he had hallucinations, from lack of sleep or whatever. He might even be lying, but who knows, he seems to believe what he is saying. In any case, he is describing a “witch” with no lids and black eyes dressed in black which aligns more with folklore and the paranormal than cryptozoology per se.

2. The flat trajectory of the “witch” in the canyon does look more like an object being suspended from and sent along a cable in a slow and steady way. I don’t see anything “humanoid” (human-shaped) about it. As a Mexican friend of mine said yesterday when I asked him what he thought about the video: “I’ll say… its a pretty slow flying witch, she’s better off running ” I’ll go with what the police video analyst said.

3. The Mexico City video- Some have chewed over the jetpack idea and at first that sounded like a possibility, but there are too many problems regarding the height, the lack of sound, the fact that the jet pack demonstration was “tethered” etc. So unless more evidence is forthcoming, it seems like the idea that the shining part was really a portion of a mylar balloon in a cluster catching the light of the rising sun seems about right.

4. The Santa Monica video- You can see that the object is a distant cluster of objects of similar size and dimensions rather than a separate object. Some objects are darker than others. Just misidentification by another sincere observer. and it was either in the Santa Monica or Mexico City video that we see an unconcerned seagull fly right by it toward the end of the program.

5. Joe Nickell’s experiment with the balloons seems to show that if the Mexico City and Santa Monica objects are bunches of balloons, they are more likely to be intentionally tied closely together (possibly even hoaxes) and thus kept closer together than the usual way tied lower on the strings which would be more scattered in appearance. Also, if it is a hoax, a very small amount of ballast would keep a more steady flight aspect (the “head” kept upright, etc.)

6. Wind conditions vary by time of day, weather, season, location etc. Sometimes smoke rises straight up, sometimes it is dispersed, etc. Different wind conditions and manner of tying the balloons (even the strings becoming more entangled as the bunch goes further) could account for the steady movement. –I suspect we will see more and more floating objects in the near future as people have a bit of fun with seeing if they can get other people to think there are floating humanoids in the neighborhood.

7. Gerhard sure had a lot of “funny feelings” all over different places: caves, rock art in canyons, mountains, etc. Is that typical for him? I don’t know the fellow. He has an interesting life Speculating about rock art, listening to local tales, and entering a cave with “funny feelings” and a weird smell, is not evidence though, although fun and interesting. I will say, having been in Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico several times while working for the National Park Service, I too have smelled that weird smell, which is the ammonia etc. from the guano (droppings) of millions of bats over thousands of years of accumulation. It doesn’t smell like your average human, dog, etc. doodoo though; it’s kind of pleasant and weird in a way, almost “fruity” mixed with the ammonia.

8. The reports from Chehalis and Houston seem more like the paranormal/UFO situation as well (the clowns, mad gassers, MIB, etc.), with a guy in helmet, black boots and paratrooper clothing and cape. The reconstructions by the program made me think of those “Second Life” avatars flying around

9. Finally, the monkey. The dentition, the anatomy, skull etc. all looks like a naturally mummified infant squirrel monkey which could have been traded north in Precolumbian times; along with jade and parrots, which is a matter of ethnographic, historic and archaeological record. Such things were traded from Central America as far north as the Pueblo and Hopi of Arizona and New Mexico. I don’t believe it was alive when it was found, with such a dramatic story. I think those guys that found it were having a joke and probably sold it for a pretty peso to the gullible fellow with the safe. Barnum would approve. I know many of you know of the case where hoaxers took a monkey carcass, dyed it green and left it on the highway with a scorched ring around it, along with a UFO and little green man report.

As to the DNA study, there is something fishy going on there. The way they discussed the results as “nothing” made no scientific sense. They could have at least narrowed it to reptilian, mammalian, avian etc. I would suggest another test to compare the results, preferably one at an American university lab with extensive experience doing primate genetic sequencing. They should also get a primatologist to examine the x-rays and look at the skeletal results. It’s a baby monkey which died long ago, and it’s a hoax with lots of folks in on the “joke.” A quick look at the “human foot” looked to me like the “toe” by the heel was broken off.

But I liked the show. It was a lot of fun