Miracle Mindset

 Written by Ken Hulsey This morning I was going through more of my photos from the Monster Island News archive when I stumbled across this one of the puppet used for 'Grumpy' the Tyrannosaurus who menaced the Marshall family in the 70s Saturday morning science fiction series Land of the Lost. I believe that the image originally came from a 1998 Sid & Marty Krofft memorabilia auction when it was sold to a private collector.

 Written By: Ken Hulsey Do dinosaurs still walk among us? While science strongly suggests they don't, every now and then, we hear of a fascinating sighting from some isolated corner of the world that sparks our imagination. A recent intriguing discovery in Cambodia might just add a twist to the chapter of our planet's prehistoric history.  

New Discoveries in Tyrannosaur Evolution: A Giant Leg Bone Unearthed in New Mexico The world of paleontology has been shaken by the recent discovery of an enormous tyrannosaur leg bone in the fossil-rich Kirtland Formation of northwestern New Mexico. This shinbone, measuring three feet long, suggests the existence of an unusually large member of the tyrannosaur family, a group that includes the iconic Tyrannosaurus rex. Documented in a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, this finding provides new insights into the history and evolution of these magnificent creatures.

Recently, my wife and I decided to travel west from our home in central Louisiana and cross the border into Texas to visit the city of Lufkin. Although Lufkin is a smaller city, with a population of 34,074, it boasts many attractions, including several top-notch museums. After considering our options, we chose to spend our afternoon at the Naranjo Museum of Natural History.

It’s interesting how certain experiences from childhood can stick with you and shape who you become. One memory that stands out for me happened fifty years ago, in 1976, which was our nation’s Bicentennial year. Back then, I was just a young boy living in Texas when reports started to come in about strange 'flying monsters.' These stories both fascinated and frightened me. During that year, it seemed like every day, the news would share new sightings of this creature. I remember in the summer, I was so scared to go outside and play, worried that the monster might swoop down to get me or carry me off somewhere. Although my online searches now reveal that most of the sightings were reported near the Texas-Mexico border, I recall hearing stories from all over the state. People described the creature in many different ways—from something that looked like a flying dinosaur to something resembling a dragon with bat-like features or even a gorilla. Those memories still linger with me...