By Tim Binnall
Space exploration, our perception of animals, and the UFO phenomenon were among the fascinating topics explored this past week on Coast to Coast AM. And, here at the C2C website, we told you about a tire-slashing dog that tormented an Italian village, a mysterious Santa that appeared in a Texas neighborhood, and an Indian pastor busted for a bizarre scheme involving what he claimed was a magical box. Check out our round-up of highlights from the past week ... In Coast You Missed It.
UFOs were once again a hot topic of conversation on Coast to Coast AM this past week with a pair of programs exploring the mystery that has gripped the zeitgeist in recent years. First, on Monday night's program, legendary experiencer Whitley Strieber talked about the current state of the disclosure movement, lamenting that legislation surrounding pro-UFO transparency has seemingly stalled in Congress, while expressing no doubt that the government possesses alien bodies and craft. Then, on Tuesday night's show, Nancy du Tertre detailed a recent UAP conference held in France, her research into the phenomenon, and her work with remote viewing.
With the holiday season in full swing, it should come as no surprise that this past week was replete with weird stories centered around this most unique time of year. In Minneapolis, a marketplace unveiled a rather nightmarish statue that will serve as their winter mascot for years to come and they are asking the public to help name the piece which resembles an unnerving yeti-like creature. Meanwhile, a Texas woman was stunned when she discovered that a possum had somehow gotten into her house and had crawled up into her Christmas tree and, in another part of the Lone Star State, residents of a neighborhood were delighted to find that a mysterious individual had installed a massive inflatable Santa in an empty lot on their street.
Why are some creatures considered pests, while other animals are beloved? On Wednesday night's program, science journalist Bethany Brookshire explored this intriguing question surrounding perception and the natural world. She observed how a particular animal's proverbial reputation is often based upon how it may negatively interfere with our lives and can depend upon a specific time and place, such as how pigeons were once an esteemed animal, but in modern times are seen as something of an invasive nuisance. She noted that rats possess a similar duality in that they are revered in some parts of the world, while vilified in other areas.
This past week featured a pair of stories involving mischievous dogs, beginning with a case in Italy where authorities found themselves flummoxed by a mysterious serial tire slasher who had tormented a village for months. Following a rather exhaustive investigation involving undercover cops and hidden cameras, they were able to nab the culprit, which turned out to be someone's pet pooch who had a bad case of gingivitis and was gnawing on the tires for relief. Later in the week, police and firefighters in South Carolina came to the rescue of an inquisitive dog that got its head stuck in the dryer vent of a house. Fortunately, rescue workers were able to free him from the predicament and the pooch was no worse for wear.
The fascinating experience of exploring space was detailed on Thursday night's program as highly accomplished NASA astronaut Mike Massimino shared first-hand insights from his prodigious career. He recounted conducting a spacewalk at the Hubble telescope which proved to be particularly difficult and mused about the breathtaking nature of Earth when it is seen from space. Massimino also detailed what it is like to live aboard the International Space Station, which he indicated is actually not as claustrophobic as some might suspect. During his appearance, he also imparted life lessons developed from his time as an astronaut which he still uses to this day.
Easily the weirdest story of the week came by way of India, where a pastor was arrested for allegedly duping a woman out of $400,000 in exchange for what he claimed was a magical box that would bring her good fortune. The scheme saw the ne'er-do-well first befriend his victim before eventually revealing the 'enchanted' object to her with the promise that it could be hers for a whopping $2.5 million. Over the next several years, she dutifully paid for the magical box in sizeable installments until he and an accomplice posing as a businessman pressured her to give them another $500,000. This caused the woman to have second thoughts about the odd transaction and, when they refused to return her money, reported them to police.
Coast Insiders can check out all this week's shows as well as the last seven years of C2C programs in our enormous archive. Not a Coast Insider yet? Sign up today.