uk.news.yahoo - Government officials in Siberia are planning to set up a special research institute dedicated to the study of yetis following a number of recent mysterious sightings of the folkloric creature.
Hominology experts, who are lined up to lead the studies at Kemerovo University, are eager to prove their existence after people in remote parts of the region claim to have caught a glimpse of the elusive being.
According to 15 witness statements by Siberian locals in the Kemerovo region, 7-ft tall, hairy, manlike creatures have been spotted wandering the Mount Shoria wilderness, with one man even claiming to have saved a yeti from drowning in a river while hunting.
Villager, Afanasy Kiskorov in Tashtagol reportedly witnessed the yeti activity first-hand. He said: "Their bodies were covered in red-and-black fur and they could climb trees. The creature was screaming in fear after falling into a swollen mountain river."
Despite the alleged sightings, no photographic evidence as yet confirms the existence of the 'abominable snowmen.'
However, hair specimens, large footprints and huge branch shelters in forests have fuelled scientific belief to traces of the yetis, described as the 'Neanderthal ancestors of man.'
Officials of the Kemerovo administration in western Siberia have said that organising an institute or a scientific centre would be a logical continuation of research into the yeti.
Dr. Igor Burtsev, director of the International Center of Hominology, will join the brand new research unit if the plans go ahead. He said: "In Russia there are about 30 authoritative scientists who are engaged in studying the phenomenon of the abonimable snowman."
"All of them will be integrated into this institute. The primary goal is to establish contact with one of the creatures."
Dr. Burtsev told Russian newspaper Itar Press after a yeti expedition last year: "I saw markers (half-broken branches) the creature uses to mark the controlled territory. In the woods I have found several artifacts to confirm my theory. I plan to find the Bigfoot's shelter and even try to contact the creature."
Speaking on 'Friday Night with Jonathan Ross' in 2009, British wildlife expert David Attenborough said he believed that there was very convincing evidence that yetis do exist.
The Administration of Kemerovo, the regional government, will announce its final decision on whether they will implement the research institute after it hosts an international conference on yetis later this year.
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Video: Japanese Coast Guard Ride Over Tsunami Waves
A Japanese Coast Guard video taken as the ship crosses several tsunami waves shows just how deceptive these waves can be when riding them out in the ocean. The front of the wave appears as a wall of water. It's frightening to behold on two levels. The first is the visceral sense of fear at seeing such a wall of water approaching.
We see that sea level itself has risen up on the other side of the tsunami wave and the ship gently settles into the what is now a new, but very sudden norm. That's where the more frightening of the realizations comes - that this new sea level rise is what was about to wash over the coastline of Japan.
Click for video
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Strange deaths associated with Thai hotel
calgarysun - A 59-year-old Edmontonian is now seventh on the list of mysterious deaths that have hit tourists passing through a Thailand hotel since January.
Bill Mah died Jan. 26 in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand of “suspected natural disease” after vacationing in the city for two weeks prior.
Friend and travel companion Ken Fraser told freelance journalist Andrew Drummond that although Mah was staying at the People Palace Hotel, he had used facilities, including the swimming pool, at the Downtown Inn — a common location between six other people who have died in the region since January.
“His death is a complete mystery. He seemed fit enough with no history of heart problems. We have not been told his cause of death. We only have an initial report,” Fraser told Drummond.
Fraser said Mah has had no history of heart problems and in the seven weeks since his death, no toxicology reports have been returned.
“We have pressed the Canadian consul to try and get answers for us,” said Fraser. “I know Bill used the facilities at the Downtown Inn because he asked me to go there with him but I had other things to do.”
On Jan. 24, Mah began to feel sick, complaining of lack of sleep due to chest pains. He was taken to the local hospital where Fraser says he was kept for 24 hours and tested for signs of a heart attack.
“The tests all came back negative. On the morning of the 26th, the chest pains were less and the doctor diagnosed him with acid reflux and sent him home,” Fraser told Drummond.
“That evening, when I checked on him, he was in bed sweating and saying that he was not feeling well again. Later when I called on him, he came to the door but before he could open it. I could hear him collapse on the other side. We had to kick the door in.
“We tried to revive him in vain. At the hospital he was pronounced dead 15 minutes after arrival.”
Drummond reported that the Thailand Department for Disease Control said so far there are no links between the deaths of cases examined of people visiting Chiang Mai in January and February and no link to the Downtown Inn.
Chiang Mai Governor Pannada Disakul reportedly said the deaths were coincidental.
The Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs told QMI Agency on Sunday that it is aware of the Canadian death.
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'American Idol' Top 11 contestants freaked out by ghosts in their mansion
TMZ is reporting the "American Idol" Top 11 contestants have left the mansion!
And it's because of "paranormal activity that sent the contestants over the edge." Supposedly, several of the "American Idol" contestants claim they "watched a bed sheet suddenly take on a life of its own and float down an empty hallway."
Some also reported lights flickering in the Beverly Hills house. And there was a spider infestation. And a leaky roof!
TMZ also reports the contestants moved out Monday and are now staying in an undisclosed location.
This is not the first time "Idol" contestants have complained of ghosts following them around. In 2009, "Idol" contestant Allison Iraheta said she heard growls.
Anoop Desai told ACCESS Hollywood that the “Idols” have named the ghost Phyllis.
"(She) is just a friendly troublemaker. She bangs around and keeps people awake. Allison hears something in her room every night. I don’t know if someone’s just creeping around in there or what.”
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Another Tsunami Perspective
Here is how the waves looked in the port of Oirase Town, Aomori Prefecture, in a video taken from "wngad869," who barely manages to escape at the end:
Clcik for video
