In a recent episode of Squaring the Strange we look back at pop culture aspects of the Satanic Panic of the 1980s and 1990s, including Dungeons & Dragons, Geraldo Rivera, heavy metal, "Satanic Yoda," and how technology influenced the panic...You can find it...
Research
Squaring the Strange #102: Alienstock, Joker Fears, Homicidal Dwarves, and the Ica Stones
In case you missed it, our recent episode of Squaring the Strange has all sorts of weirdness! From Celestia: Ben recounts his latest TV appearance and chupacabra follow-up. The AlienStock / Storm Area 51 thing happened, or tried to happen. And two movies...
The Real Stories Behind Classic Horror Films…
I’m quoted in a new article on the true stories behind many classic horror films... How do you make a horror tale scarier? Just say it’s “based on a true story.” That’s a technique book publishers and movie producers have been using for decades, whether or not...
“Malling While Muslim” Update
Earlier this year a West Virginia mother called 911 to report that an Arab man tried to abduct her five-year-old daughter at a mall. Police and mall security arrested the man (an engineer from Egypt who spoke little English), but surveillance footage showed no...
Joining Josh Gates For Chupacabra Research on ‘Expedition Unknown’
I was recently on “Expedition Unknown" with Josh Gates on the Discovery Channel, talking about my chupacabra research in Puerto Rico. Watch for dead fowl, vampire legends, and roaches! You can find it HERE! You can find more on me and my work with a search for...
Astrology and Racism
There are many scientific and skeptical objections to astrology, including the fact that the constellations have shifted since astrology was devised, that many real-world tests have failed to find statistically meaningful patterns in the lives of people born under...
Squaring the Strange: (Real) Diseases and (Fake) Diplomas
The new episode of Squaring the Strange is out! First we talk with Dr. Hans House about infectious diseases (flu, ebola, measles, etc.), as well as how to deal with vaccine deniers. Then we're joined by Kenny Biddle to talk about faked credentials, and I...
Peal To Panic: Analysis Of A False Abduction Rumor
How a fictional missing girl led to a massive police search that terrified a community. My recent article takes a closer look at a recent child abduction rumor and panic in England... A mother recently claimed in a Facebook post that an eight-year-old girl had...
Who Are Mass Shooters? Mass Shooter Demographics
This is part two of a three-part series. You can read the rest of the series here. With the recent tragic attacks in El Paso and Dayton, the world once again turned its attention to mass shootings. It’s a subject that has captivated America for years with little...
How Common Are Mass Shootings? The Nature And Frequency Of Mass Shootings
This is the first part of a three-part series examining mass shootings from a critical thinking and media literacy perspective. With the recent tragic attacks in Dayton and El Paso, the world once again turns its attention to mass shootings. It’s a subject that has...