Bigfoot: Descendant of Cain

I have heard many theories regarding Bigfoot. Missing Link. Undiscovered North-American ape. Living modern branch of Gigantopithicus. Inter-dimensional time traveling monster summoned from the physics experiments during the US Government funded Montauk Project. Really, I'm a fan of all of these and thought I had heard all of these. Not True.

Enter Matt Bowman. You may remember him from a previous post Is Bigfoot My Brothers Keeper? He wrote a paper published by the JOURNAL OF MORMON HISTORY VOLUME 33, NO. 3 FALL 2007. It is an article entitled A Mormon Bigfoot: David Patten’s Cain and the Concept of Evil in LDS Folklore.

I will give you the Readers Digest version. Multiple historical Mormon documents reference an Bigfoot-like encounter experienced by David W. Patten. Patten was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The creature is described as a hairy man of ill smell, who claimed to be none other than Cain himself. Yes, the creature talked.

Why am I bringing this up again? Because, I was a little disappointed after reading Matt Bowman's Paper. I realized there is no mention of one of the most respected BF scientists out there, Jeff Meldrum. Why would/should have Matt Bowman mentioned Jeff Meldrum? Jeff Meldrum is a BYU Alumni AND Author of the Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science. A book recognized and recommended by Jane Goodall, in fact she is quoted on the cover, "...[Sasquatch:LMS] brings a much needed level of scientific analysis to the Sasquatch-or Bigfoot-debate."

Being ever diligent I have corresponded with both Matt Bowman and Jeff Meldrum. I should first say both are very gracious and kind. Although I must say Mr.Meldrum shattered my own private personal Bigfoot hypothesis, but that's another post altogether.

First Mr.Meldrum's response to the Cain/Bigfoot Paper:

I am aware of the primary citations, but haven't encountered Bowman's paper...I don't place any significance in Patten's "experience" for Sasquatch research, but would be interested to learn more about its historical context.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Jeff Meldrum

Your welcome Jeff, I had a hunch as a Mormon you may have heard of David W. Patten and as a published well-recognized and respected Sasquatch researcher you may also have had something to say about the whole thing.

Matt Bowman's response?

In retrospect probably should have included something about Meldrum in the paper; I was aware of him when I did the research, but just didn't find a good place to fit him in. I've seen some of his work but have never spoken to him personally, so I'm not sure what drives his interest.

Overall, though, I'd say he fits in with the trend among Mormons I describe in the paper away from a more supernatural interpretation of Bigfoot and toward an increasingly scientific approach.

Best,
MB

So there you have it mystery solved.

Living Sasquatch: Hundreds of Sasquatch Caught on Film

Jack Link's Beef Jerky has done it again. You can now can create your own Patterson/Gimlin film at www.livingsasquatch.com






Jack Link's Launches First-of-Its-Kind Experience, Helping Consumers Bring the Elusive Sasquatch to Life
Living Sasquatch takes user-generated content to the next level and marries it with social networking by allowing users to control a virtual Sasquatch and share their interaction with friends.


MINONG, Wis., April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Jack Link's(R) Beef Jerky, the leader in the meat snack category, continues to keep Jack Link's fans coming back for more with the launch of LivingSasquatch.com. Leveraging the success of the brand's Messin' With Sasquatch ad campaign, Living Sasquatch brings Sasquatch - the world's most elusive creature and Jack Link's brand icon - to life using cutting edge technology and consumer creativity.


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090427/CG05633)


"Jack Link's has been a trend-setter in the snack food category when it comes to social media and was among the first to use sites like MySpace and YouTube to help tell the Jack Link's story," said Jeff LeFever, director of marketing, Jack Link's Beef Jerky. "Living Sasquatch continues to push the social media envelope by coupling user-generated content and social networking to create a unique experience that allows Jack Link's fans to add their personal touch to their Sasquatch interactions by creating signature films."


A first-of-its-kind application, Living Sasquatch allows site visitors to engage with a 3D Sasquatch, record and share their interactions with him online. Living Sasquatch allows users to direct Sasquatch's performance - from jumping to stomping and even dancing. Here's how it works:



Go to www.LivingSasquatch.com, download and print Footprint image
Position webcam on Footprint and watch Sasquatch come to life!
Add selected Sasquatch animations to timeline
Record interactions using a webcam
Share movie creations with friends




"Sasquatch has been wildly successful online, and we wanted to give that community more ownership of the brand by creating new ways for them to interact or mess with Sasquatch and the brand that he embodies," said LeFever. "Living Sasquatch not only gratifies the hundreds of thousands of current brand and Sasquatch loyalists, but also provides a great platform to introduce Jack Link's to new audiences and build brand awareness."


Since its inception in 2006, Jack Link's award-winning Messin' With Sasquatch campaign has included television, online and social media components, public relations, mobile marketing and sports sponsorships. The popular campaign's 12 broadcast spots have spawned millions of views on YouTube; a dedicated interactive Web site (messinwithsasquatch.com) that receives millions of visits per month; auctions of Sasquatch's belongings on eBay; T-shirt designs on Threadless, photo albums on Flickr, and product reviews by Sasquatch himself on Amazon.com; not to mention the hundreds of knock-off and fan videos circulating online.


Jack Link's - Feed Your Wild Side.

Headquartered in Minong, Wis., Jack Link's is the No. 1 U.S. meat snack brand and fastest growing meat snack manufacturer worldwide. The Jack Link's brand represents a heritage of quality and consumer trust. Check out www.JackLinks.com for more information about Jack Link's brand.


Contacts:
Nancy Knutson
Jack Link's Beef Jerky
(715) 466-2234
nancyk@jacklinks.com

Martine Larson
Carmichael Lynch Spong
(612) 375-8522
martine.larson@clynch.com

Sasquatch Assault

As you have read on the previous post Top 51 Bigfoot Movies. You all know how I feel about stories turning Bigfoot into the monster-of-the-week. I don't care for that exploitation of Bigfoot among those who consider themselves scientific researchers.

However, in the hands of a slasher movie being true to its genre? I say go for it. Watch this preview and if you are a fan of classic slashers that made Jason, Michael and Freddy so popular than I think this may be in the same vein. The director is no Stanley Kubric (who is right?), but as you can see in the preview, the composition of the shots and the lighting of the scenes did not go without art or craft.