Krantz's secret criteria for judging footprints, do we know them now? Options

[christianb2]

In Big Footprints Krantz mentions he had both "published and private" criteria for judging the authenticity of footprint casts. What were his private criteria? Do we know them now after his passing? (Or were they in Big Footprints and I just missed them? )

This post has been edited by christianb2: Jun 14 2004, 11:24 AM

[Somethin'smells]

I've got a copy of Big Foot-Prints, and with as much detailed study as he put in this book, I too would be curious to know what the private criteria was/is.

[Somethin'smells]

Off topic:

Speaking of books on this subject, what's the latest? I've check the big-three (Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and Borders) over the last couple of months and have found nothing up to date, or in print. Anybody out can point me in the direction of a good source?

[InRepair]

Off topic: 

Speaking of books on this subject, what's the latest?  I've check the big-three (Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and Borders) over the last couple of months and have found nothing up to date, or in print.  Anybody out can point me in the direction of a good source?

The latest book I've come across is something by Loren Coleman...not sure the exact title; anyway, it's from 2002 or 2003 and so mentions stuff like Myakka and John Chambers and Ray Wallace, etc., and, in general, reads as rather boring stuff. I mean, it doesn't contain anything you don't already know or couldn't find out in 10 minutes on the 'Net. Besides, I've always regarded Coleman as a boring writer, anyway...pretty credulous seeming, too. You didn't ask , but I'd say my favorite writer regarding unexplained physical phenomena is Jerome Clark ("Unexplained!" is amazing)...his writing has a certain droll, dry wit, and he approaches most things with a healthy skepticism (I know he's fallen for some doozies in the past, though). Speaking of skepticism, I saw an advertisement in Skeptic Magazine for a huge, hardcover crytozoology encyclopedia for, like, $150.00, that I'd never seen before. Mail-order only, I suppose.

The thing I hate about searching out bigfoot books at these stores is the fact that they're lumped in with New Age stuff; I always feel like a goofball rummaging through that section, pushing past "Wicca Spells for Today's Modern Teen" and such fare. Some Borders stores slightly alleviate this by creating a section called "Speculation," which I think is perfectly apt...respectable sounding, too.

See, I want even total strangers to love me.

[Somethin'smells]

Thanks Inrepair,

Note to self...sample Coleman's stuff before buying.

[counselor]

In Big Footprints Krantz mentions he had both "published and private" criteria for judging the authenticity of footprint casts. What were his private criteria? Do we know them now after his passing? (Or were they in Big Footprints and I just missed them? )

I have heard that his 2 criteria were dermal ridges and nail prints - but don't quote me on that.

C

[SgtFang]

The thing I hate about searching out bigfoot books at these stores is the fact that they're lumped in with New Age stuff; I always feel like a goofball rummaging through that section, pushing past "Wicca Spells for Today's Modern Teen" and such fare.

hehe, do what I do! Carry one or two of the better crypto books around while you shop, then before you leave, stick them in the "Zoology" section!

I think someone else around here does that too- I found my copy of "Big Footprints" a few years ago in the "Anthropology" section!

-Sarge

[micahn]

The thing I hate about searching out bigfoot books at these stores is the fact that they're lumped in with New Age stuff; I always feel like a goofball rummaging through that section, pushing past "Wicca Spells for Today's Modern Teen" and such fare.

hehe, do what I do! Carry one or two of the better crypto books around while you shop, then before you leave, stick them in the "Zoology" section!

I think someone else around here does that too- I found my copy of "Big Footprints" a few years ago in the "Anthropology" section!

-Sarge

My wife works at B&N and from spending a lot of time in there I know just where they keep their "Bigfoot" type books. They keep them in the section called new age. I asked why that is and was told that "New age" means stuff that most people do not really believe in like Bigfoot, Witch's, UFOs And any other thing like them.

I do not agree with that at all but who am I ? lol. I would much rather see the Bigfoot and other crypto animals be with the zoology books and stuff and other things with other things related to them. But I do not think that will ever happen because the people who work there do not really know what is what and where they should be.
No kidding I have seen the charts that the main office sends out and some of the shelves has where to put what so that the people who are putting the new books out put them in the right spots.

[Somethin'smells]

They keep them in the section called new age.

Yep, I found that out the hard way...(after a good bit of time wasted looking elsewhere).

One more thing, try looking up the subject by names like Bigfoot, Sas, and or Yeti, and everything points to kids books...mystery section of all places!

If one of these things is found, can you imagine the amount of work their employees are going to have to do creating a section & data base, getting out of print stuff back in stock for this subject?

[counselor]

word on the street is - toenails and scars....

[The QuatchWatche...]

word on the street is - toenails and scars....

Ahhhhh toenails. This is something I have wondered and posted about before.

Good To Hear,
The NailWatcher

[Paul1968UK]

Sorry if this sounds a little dim, but aren't toenails on the top of the toes, not the part that makes contact with the ground ?

[Bitter Monk]

Sorry if this sounds a little dim, but aren't toenails on the top of the toes, not the part that makes contact with the ground ?

Depends on how deep and at what angle the toes make contact with the soil.

[Paul1968UK]

True, but most prints are not going to include any 'toe' detail. Of all the casts in my office, only one has a nail print, and that is from a hand print, not a foot print.

[Bitter Monk]

True, but most prints are not going to include any 'toe' detail. Of all the casts in my office, only one has a nail print, and that is from a hand print, not a foot print.

I concur. Not saying it would be a frequent event, and for that matter I doubt it was one of Krantz's criteria. It would seem he would be looking for something that would be repeated more often.

What's funny is that in "Big Footprints" I think he touches on both criteria. He just doesn't point them out as his own "secret criteria".

[counselor]

i read an interview with the indiana gentleman who faked a track and krantz thought it was real - he said that he suspected the 2 secret criteria were scars and nail prints. He included them in his fake and krantz believed him. not that his guesses mean anything - just that he fooled krantz.