Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum - America's "Bigfoot Professor"

[HarryHenderson]

You can "invite him to speak at your next event" for $2.200 plus travel from Idaho and accommodations.(he also seems to be working with "Creepy People Management")

I'm sure they're breaking down doors to pay the idiot to speak. Then again, maybe we should pay "the idiot". $2,200 + travel + accommodations + hooker ≈ $2,350 total and I think we can work with that. Make him do a 2 hour Q & A with just skeptics and The Shrike will be our official spokesmodel. I'll cover the $2,200, you guys get the rest. Oh and let's get ISU TV students to film it. They can show it to the other kids during recess.

ETA¹: In case it's not clear yet, I truly hate that mofo, and I'm willing to do whatever I can to help take him down.

ETA²: This just in, he's refusing to speak to a group of skeptics that calls him "the idiot" because it makes him cry.

 

[AlaskaBushPilot]

The latest interview with Meldrum:

http://www.boisestatepublicradio.or...y-professor-continues-search-bigfoot#stream/0

That was the clearest committment to Bigfoot Belief I have ever heard him make, although I don't exactly follow his talks.

He estimated a population of 150-250 in Idaho. Of course, there's no time to back that up with the calculations behind it. Rather instead we assure everyone how trustworthy we are, our fealty to evidence.

I think it's straightforward math. 150-250 footprints in half a century equals 150 to 250 animals living now.

It was nice to see his reasoning on existence. First, the hoaxed prints. Second, the hoaxed PGF. Third, the exciting DNA evidence being developed on hairs found at bigfoot nests.

For science, I think this recording is a perfect example what kind of act a person can put on in friendly territory. The interviewer wants a "fun" program to sell advertisement and pay for her lunch. Such delightful banter.

While being patently absurd.

You would think the Idaho Department of Fish and Game did not exist. Nor the various animal organizations/foundations like Idaho's Mountain Lion Foundation. The Western Bear Foundation, etc. The ranchers, loggers, miners, hikers, hunters, fishermen, etc. racking up millions of man-years holding cell phones nowadays, this is really a study in con men given the floor.

To see him double down on asserting existence like this, how interesting.

Grover Krantz was our first quackademic BLAARGer. He came on the scene before the 1967 PGF film hoax. He grew up before Sputnik, and we have Google Earth today. We went through generations of wildlife camera traps, through professional animal enumeration science, and far more intensive resource management down to the squirrels.

There's a squirrel on the threatened species list in Idaho but this 900 pound gorilla doesn't make the list with only 150-200 animals. I wonder why Merldumb has not submitted bigfoot for endangered or threatened species.

That's proof he's lying. He knows for certain it doesn't even pass the laugh test for endangered or threatened species designation. Coming out so strong like this on existence, rather than hedging, makes the lie so much less believable.

Krantz had so much more plausibility, vanishingly close to zero as it was. But with the information and cellular ages, the exactness of DNA science, the population of the world now five billion people higher than when Krantz was born...

There was no Endangered Species Act when Yeti, then Sasquatch, then Bigfoot hoaxing began. But since there is one now, anyone who professes belief in it, and how sacred it is, so important to understanding our own humanity blah blah blah...

But then fails to nominate bigfoot for preservation? They're lying. Even at Area X where the NAWAcky group claims to be a Charity under the tax law for the preservation of bigfoot habitat - they have nominated zero square inches of bigfoot habitat for preservation under the various federal and state preservation options. There are private preservation land holders too, so it's just lie through your teeth.

So Bigfoot necessarily becomes not a study of the animal, but the people playing a game with it in the mathematical sense: the game theoretic sense. There are a lot of motivations to playing and a lot of roles one can take on. We have called it different things like Legend Tripping or BLAARGing or Woods & Wildmen.

But Merldumbs motivation appears to be twofold: the notoriety similar to Krantz before him, and the money.

This kind of program is perfect for him, a nice study in sociopathy.

 

[Resume]

I'm sure they're breaking down doors to pay the idiot to speak. Then again, maybe we should pay "the idiot". $2,200 + travel + accommodations + hooker ≈ $2,350 total and I think we can work with that. Make him do a 2 hour Q & A with just skeptics and The Shrike will be our official spokesmodel. I'll cover the $2,200, you guys get the rest. Oh and let's get ISU TV students to film it. They can show it to the other kids during recess.

I dunno. The buck fifty for T/A and P* seems awfully lavish to me.




*Puss Prostitute.

 

[AlaskaBushPilot]

I'm sure they're breaking down doors to pay the idiot to speak. Then again, maybe we should pay "the idiot". $2,200 + travel + accommodations + hooker ≈ $2,350 total and I think we can work with that. Make him do a 2 hour Q & A with just skeptics and The Shrike will be our official spokesmodel. I'll cover the $2,200, you guys get the rest. Oh and let's get ISU TV students to film it. They can show it to the other kids during recess.

ETA¹: In case it's not clear yet, I truly hate that mofo, and I'm willing to do whatever I can to help take him down.

ETA²: This just in, he's refusing to speak to a group of skeptics that calls him "the idiot" because it makes him cry.

James Randi had a number of "debunking" strategies. It seems to me one approach Randi would be sympathetic to with bigfoot is just doing your own hoax and watching the various industry con men flock to you. Randi wouldn't be beneath electronic surveilance, he was a little guerilla warrior.

If you think about the hysteria the cripple foot tracks created, that would have been fun watching them all trip over themselves trying to be relevant.

With Merldumb, one would love to see him withstand four hours of questioning from skeptics, the wildlife managers of the areas he claims are inhabited by bigfoot, from primatologists or bear biologists, anyone with a lick of sense.

But he won't do an event like that. There is a formula, keep the time really limited, restrict who you will let question you, friendly con artist events only.

But you could trick him. Make him think it is friendlies and instead put him on the spot with real questions. He'd have a melt down. I would have a problem being personally involved in such a thing, it would bother my conscience. But the hookers, I'll come for that.

 

[The Shrike]

So that's $2,200 of pure profit per gig, plus whatever he might bring in from selling books, plaster casts, etc. – plus miles and hotel points from the travel. Sounds like he's pulling in an easy $2,500 profit each time he visits someplace to spread pseudoscience. Pretty sweet, Jeff. I hope you're not also submitting these travels for University reimbursement.

Meanwhile, a mensch like me goes to actual scientific conferences to spread real science, spending about $1000 out of pocket each time without reimbursement because what little travel money we have I spend on my students to make sure they get to conferences without paying a dime.

Also meanwhile, I get invited to give talks to bird clubs, Audubon chapters, etc., fairly regularly. They usually offer a modest honorarium for these (like, $50), which I decline. Why? Because I work for a public university and delivering science directly to the public is automatically part of my job and my university's mission, just as it is at Idaho STATE University.

 

[River]

So that's $2,200 of pure profit per gig, plus whatever he might bring in from selling books, plaster casts, etc. – plus miles and hotel points from the travel. Sounds like he's pulling in an easy $2,500 profit each time he visits someplace to spread pseudoscience. Pretty sweet, Jeff. I hope you're not also submitting these travels for University reimbursement.

Meanwhile, a mensch like me goes to actual scientific conferences to spread real science, spending about $1000 out of pocket each time without reimbursement because what little travel money we have I spend on my students to make sure they get to conferences without paying a dime.

Also meanwhile, I get invited to give talks to bird clubs, Audubon chapters, etc., fairly regularly. They usually offer a modest honorarium for these (like, $50), which I decline. Why? Because I work for a public university and delivering science directly to the public is automatically part of my job and my university's mission, just as it is at Idaho STATE University.

Cheers. Honor is not for sale. Never has been. Some people like to give, and some like to take. Both of them show a lot about the person doing it.

 

[AlaskaBushPilot]

So that's $2,200 of pure profit per gig, plus whatever he might bring in from selling books, plaster casts, etc. – plus miles and hotel points from the travel. Sounds like he's pulling in an easy $2,500 profit each time he visits someplace to spread pseudoscience. Pretty sweet, Jeff. I hope you're not also submitting these travels for University reimbursement.

Meanwhile, a mensch like me goes to actual scientific conferences to spread real science, spending about $1000 out of pocket each time without reimbursement because what little travel money we have I spend on my students to make sure they get to conferences without paying a dime.

Also meanwhile, I get invited to give talks to bird clubs, Audubon chapters, etc., fairly regularly. They usually offer a modest honorarium for these (like, $50), which I decline. Why? Because I work for a public university and delivering science directly to the public is automatically part of my job and my university's mission, just as it is at Idaho STATE University.

The last part of the post here is usually called the public service component of your contract, might be 15 percent or something, and you would be doing an annual activity report the dean is reviewing, seeing what you did for public service.

Someone reviews Merldumb directly, his Dean. And these little talks he's giving for profit would normally be submitted by a faculty member for free service to the public.

These public talks or editorials or classroom visits to high school students, whatever it is - we expect these to be given in the language of the layman, not an audience of PhD's in your specialty field.

So Merdlumb has cover in that respect, that the topic can be far less rigorous than expected with publishing peer-reviewed papers.

But it can't be fraud for profit. As your public service.

 

[Castro]

As an aside, it's funny to see Meldrum whining about the placement of his book in the Woo section at Barnes & Nobles in 2013...

“But if you go into Barnes and Noble and ask for my book, they'll direct you to the New Age section, you know, somewhere between Bermuda Triangle and crop circles,” he says. Meldrum tries to tell them: his book is different. “This is a natural history book! We're simply asking a biological question: Is there a species of primate behind the legend of Sasquatch? And I think, based on the evidence, the answer is yes," he says.

...and having now no problems working with a management structure called "Creepy People Management", which claims to be "the premier source for speakers with expertise in all aspects of the supernatural."

Creepy People Management is the premier source for speakers with expertise in all aspects of the supernatural. We represent many of the most well-known and talented personalities in the paranormal field. If you are looking for knowledgeable and entertaining speakers with a creepy twist for your event, let us connect you with the perfect fit.

 

[AlaskaBushPilot]

.[/URL]he also seems to be working with "Creepy People Management")

That's interesting. So they have a booking fee arrangement, probably a percentage.

But the hypocrisy is pretty rich, isn't it? You do circus side-shows with alligator boy and Tom Thumb and then complain about the circus people.

 

[The Shrike]

So Merdlumb has cover in that respect, that the topic can be far less rigorous than expected with publishing peer-reviewed papers.

The topic doesn't matter. When I speak to bird clubs I'm speaking about really basic and often just-for-fun things. They're the ones who offer me honoraria, which I refuse.

I have no specific Extension component to my appointment. I am 60% research and 40% teaching. I don't know if Meldrum has a specific split in his appointment for Extension, and I doubt that he does. Nonetheless, we both work at public Land Grant Universities, and it's understood that our mission includes a certain amount of direct knowledge delivery to the public.

Don Jeffrey is taking money from the public – double-dipping as it were, because the public already pays his salary – and using his station to make them dumber if they believe any of his drivel.

 

[DennyT]

You can "invite him to speak at your next event" for $2.200 plus travel from Idaho and accommodations.(he also seems to be working with "Creepy People Management")

Says benefitting The Falcon Project. Hmmm. A charity? Don’t get me started.
2200 bucks? I guess that means his fee is 2000 personal income and the rubes pay the 200 tithe, not him.
Meanwhile the Falcon Project gets movie money. If it still exists. Call for William Allen Barnes...

 

[AlaskaBushPilot]

The topic doesn't matter. When I speak to bird clubs I'm speaking about really basic and often just-for-fun things. They're the ones who offer me honoraria, which I refuse.

I have no specific Extension component to my appointment. I am 60% research and 40% teaching. I don't know if Meldrum has a specific split in his appointment for Extension, and I doubt that he does. Nonetheless, we both work at public Land Grant Universities, and it's understood that our mission includes a certain amount of direct knowledge delivery to the public.

Don Jeffrey is taking money from the public – double-dipping as it were, because the public already pays his salary – and using his station to make them dumber if they believe any of his drivel.

I see, regarding what you refer to as "extension", yes. You don't do talks on fake birds? Jackalopes of the bird kingdom?

Even for how you phrase it with double-dipping I think it too kind. He is double-dipping in addition to fraud by deception with each of the casts he is selling. And to sell them he is definitely using the ISU credential to validate the hoax casts. The photo of his collection is at his University.

You know, they have nurses at hospitals that murder dozens of patients before they are found out. I am not saying he's a serial killer, not even in the same ball park or universe. It's just that we find it hard to believe there can be such a person embedded in a position of trust of some kind.

 

[Drewbot]

Would the University be required to offer up the Annual Public Activity Report if a FOI request was made?

 

[William Parcher]

As an aside, it's funny to see Meldrum whining about the placement of his book in the Woo section at Barnes & Nobles in 2013...

It probably sells more copies being located in the Woo section rather than located in the Nature section.

 

[The Shrike]

Would the University be required to offer up the Annual Public Activity Report if a FOI request was made?

Yes, state Land Grants rely on Federal appropriations, too. Whether personnel files (e.g., annual performance evaluations) would be included, I don't know.

To clarify, it is not (to my knowledge) illegal for Meldrum to make money from public lectures and appearances. It's just distasteful to those of us who respect the Land Grant tradition. I've got people in my own department taking 13 months* of annual salary by charging salary to multiple grants. I find that distasteful and think it should be illegal, but it is legal.



*Many (most?) faculty positions pay 9 months of salary. When we're "off" in the summers, that's when we're supposed to be doing the bulk of our research and, of course, that's when we're often the busiest in terms of field work, preparing papers, writing grants, etc. If we'd like to get paid for those 70-hour weeks in June, July, and August, it's our responsibility to get external grants that will provide that salary. Securing 3 months on outside grants makes sense, but for some reason they allow us to take 4 months as a reward for getting big/multiple grants. That's 13 total. I will never put in for a 13th month because those grants we get are public dollars, and I ain't gonna double-charge my fellow citizens to pad my pocketbook.

 

[DennyT]

I wonder if there are documents discussing his road trip to CA in the ISU vehicle?

 

[DennyT]

Yes, state Land Grants rely on Federal appropriations, too. Whether personnel files (e.g., annual performance evaluations) would be included, I don't know.

To clarify, it is not (to my knowledge) illegal for Meldrum to make money from public lectures and appearances. It's just distasteful to those of us who respect the Land Grant tradition. I've got people in my own department taking 13 months* of annual salary by charging salary to multiple grants. I find that distasteful and think it should be illegal, but it is legal.



*Many (most?) faculty positions pay 9 months of salary. When we're "off" in the summers, that's when we're supposed to be doing the bulk of our research and, of course, that's when we're often the busiest in terms of field work, preparing papers, writing grants, etc. If we'd like to get paid for those 70-hour weeks in June, July, and August, it's our responsibility to get external grants that will provide that salary. Securing 3 months on outside grants makes sense, but for some reason they allow us to take 4 months as a reward for getting big/multiple grants. That's 13 total. I will never put in for a 13th month because those grants we get are public dollars, and I ain't gonna double-charge my fellow citizens to pad my pocketbook.

I expect he avoids charging the locals/Saints.

If I were a local I would be concerned about him spreading lies about anatomy to my future doctors and nurses. Of course he would say it’s just a tool to bring the subject to life, to which I would say that every student in the class has REAL anatomy and is alive.

 

[Drewbot]

Yes, state Land Grants rely on Federal appropriations, too. Whether personnel files (e.g., annual performance evaluations) would be included, I don't know.

To clarify, it is not (to my knowledge) illegal for Meldrum to make money from public lectures and appearances. It's just distasteful to those of us who respect the Land Grant tradition. I've got people in my own department taking 13 months* of annual salary by charging salary to multiple grants. I find that distasteful and think it should be illegal, but it is legal.



*Many (most?) faculty positions pay 9 months of salary. When we're "off" in the summers, that's when we're supposed to be doing the bulk of our research and, of course, that's when we're often the busiest in terms of field work, preparing papers, writing grants, etc. If we'd like to get paid for those 70-hour weeks in June, July, and August, it's our responsibility to get external grants that will provide that salary. Securing 3 months on outside grants makes sense, but for some reason they allow us to take 4 months as a reward for getting big/multiple grants. That's 13 total. I will never put in for a 13th month because those grants we get are public dollars, and I ain't gonna double-charge my fellow citizens to pad my pocketbook.

What is the actual document called that details the additional speaking arrangements that he would be submitting to the university?

 

[Castro]

It probably sells more copies being located in the Woo section rather than located in the Nature section.

Yep, probably, and that upsets Meldrum...well, at least that's what he publicly says.
https://www.scientificexploration.org/docs/30/jse_30_3_Meldrum.pdf

...When my book, Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science was published, I was quite adamant that it be categorized as a work of natural science, with a place on the shelf alongside Jane Goodall’s books about primates (all the more appropriate since the cover bears her endorsement). In the information for librarians found on the back of the title page, it was recommended to the Library of Congress designation QL89.2 within General Zoology, but also 001.944 in the Dewey Decimal System, within Controversial Knowledge. The publisher had arranged for my book to be carried by Barnes & Noble bookstores across the country, so whenever I had an opportunity to visit a store, I would check to see where indeed my book was shelved. With few exceptions, it was in the New Age/Occult section (i.e. controversial knowledge), somewhere between works on the Bermuda triangle and crop circles. Once I confronted a store manager on the matter and to my chagrin she assured me that the title would get ten times the traffic in the New Age section as opposed to the Natural History section. So much for context and perceptions...

Ten times? Poor Jeff, innocent victim of hegemonic skepticism.

 

[AlaskaBushPilot]

Would the University be required to offer up the Annual Public Activity Report if a FOI request was made?

It's going to be in a personnel file, so that has a layer of protection other public records often don't have.

I don't know their convention for naming this item but it is an Annual Activity Report or some such thing that discusses his contract percentages, and how he met them. It might discuss the next year too, what he is teaching and what his research expectations are, and public service if there is one.

It never hurts to ask. Both federal and state law may apply here, there are state "public records acts" and Idaho will have one. So you can look that up.

Denny T - you bet you can dig up the car use. That one will have a paper trail. If you cite the event, the date, his name, you are going to get it. If he got per diem that should be easy to find too.