Idy and Heidi(?)

This photo has been making the rounds on face book. Most of you by now recognize the animal on the right, but the creature on the left with the golden braids is not the Swiss miss from the famous children's books. It is noted nature photographer and Idyll-Beast Research Center fellow, Gina Genis. 

Genis is always taking photography to places it's never been before. She is  now bringing her artist's training and scientist's instincts to a new medium: video. And what more moving subject than our mascot, the Idyll-Beast? Her recent high-country expeditions have reportedly amassed material that will forever raise the bar for Beast spotting.  And may forever raise the profile of Idyllwild as a premier destination for cryptozoologists, amateur and professional.

Once Bitten

Citizens ask me every day why the Idyll-Beast is not campaigning in Idyllwild’s Mayoral Contest. Certainly he agrees that raising money for ARF and Living Free is a worthy cause: any dollars he finds, he stuffs in one of those jars.  And his success in the 2011 Chamber of Commerce Board elections would seem to put him in a position to seek higher office.

Although we have heard rumors of a write in campaign on his behalf,  the Idyll-Beast has held firm in his decision not to run. “If nominated I will not run, if elected I will not serve. If served, I will not be delicious.”  The animal goes on with some advice for the candidates: “The election is fun, lots of snacks and grooming. And photo ops. But after the election it’s a different story. You may be all day in the office and forget to eat. Your hair may begin to fall out in clumps. The press may misquote you or associate you with some scandal or another.”

The Idyll-Beast did offer some reassurance and an offer of cooperation and moral support to the future mayor. “Former Chamber Directors tell me that the memories become fonder with the passing years, and dog or cat years do pass more quickly than Beast years. If you need some one to scratch behind your ears and tell you you’re a “good dog” I’ll be there. And remember to delegate: you don’t need to lift your leg on every fire hydrant in town, that’s what committees are for.”

So it would seem that although even the most introspective and elusive animals may “catch” the political bug, the Idyll-Beast is once bitten, twice shy.

Art and Science

Noted wildlife photographer and friend of the Idyll-Beast Gina Genis brought to our attention a beast of a story on the KCET.org website. Author Tyler Stallings is Artistic Director for the Culver Center of the Arts and Director of the Sweeney Art Gallery at the University of California, Riverside. The man knows about truth and beauty, and while I cannot agree with all his conclusions, I applaud his seriousness of intent and admire his sense of the sublime. The story is here:

http://www.kcet.org/arts/artbound/counties/riverside/upcoming-idyll-beast-piece.html#_login

The page states that if enough people "like" the story it will be made into a mini-documentary. You know what to do. 

Human Nature Center

Researchers have begun submitting evidence from last weekend's Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival. Apparently the Riverside County Department of Parks and Recreation invited Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce Director Idyll-Beast to assist in their public outreach effort. The animal proved to be a lively addition to the Parks pavilion, inviting scads of visitors to visit Idyllwild, Riverside County's only Mountain Resort Community.

Guest researcher Patrick Strong submitted this image of three delighted wine and balloon lovers discovering one of the Inland Empire's lesser-known assets.

A careful perusal of the image reveals what appears to be a slightly blurry Idyllwild Nature Center volunteer, Scott Fisher. It is lilely that the blurring is a result of the camera's depth of field and not Mr Fisher's wine consumption.

The Festival was a terrific opportunity: Hundreds of visitors met the Idyll-Beast and availed themselves to the ensuing photo-ops, and the Beast learned a few things about human nature.

Beauty and the Beast

CNN  has picked up a story from the  journal Biodiversity that deals with:

…. how vulnerable species that overtly display characteristics human beings respect or find desirable -- such as beauty, strength, power or cuddliness -- are more likely to be the focus of concerted conservation programs than animals or plants that are less appealing to the eye.

"People have biases towards species that are glamorous," said Dr. Ernie Small, author of the study and taxonomist for Agriculture Canada.

"Animals that are beautiful, entertaining or that command respect due to their size or power are almost always given greater forms of conservation protection."

         Fortunately for Idyllwild, our own Idyll-Beast meets or exceeds new federal guidelines for personal appearance of protected species. The beauty and cuddliness aspects are attested to by the scores of photographs Idyllwild visitors take home with them and which we gladly publish here. As to strength, the animal is sometimes seen working out at the par course below the ICRC playground site. And reportedly making excellent time.

            And as to power, well there are different kinds of power. His position as a director of the Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce gives him some very limited powers. I believe he is able to sign checks (with a second director.) And of course Chamber Directors have the power of invisibility. He can also make and second motions and vote.

            But I think what the authors of the study cited had in mind were more “telegenic” powers.  Being beautiful, entertaining and commanding respect for his size; what better description could an Idyll-Beast elicit? Certainly the behavior of the ladies in many of these photos is ample testament to powers most of us wish we had…

Do I Smell Bacon?

Readers of all political stripes (and spots) have been outraged by recent revelations of excess and debauchery by members of the Federal Government’s General Services Agency. Almost a million dollars was spent on one “motivational seminar” in Las Vegas, and officials who organized this little shindig took nine so called “planning trips” to Vegas before the main event. The travel and catering costs for the planning phase alone totaled over $136,000. One investigator, staggered by the scope of this “culture of fraud, waste and corruption,” was quoted as saying “every time we turn over a rock, there are fifty more with all kinds of things crawling out.” Sounds like spring-time in my back yard.

We at the Idyll-Beast Research Center have been quick to spot the silver lining in this cloud of corruption, bribery and kickbacks. This week we sent off a huge package of brochures from local inns, restaurants, shops, day spas and pet grooming services, along with an effusive cover letter offering the services of the Chamber of Commerce as “Event Planning Consultants,” addressed to the General Service Agency’s Department of Wretched Excess and Unseemly Frolic. I bought the stamp myself.

What happens in Vegas no longer stays in Vegas, but Idyllwild… We have a crypto-hominid serving on the Board of Directors of our Local Chamber of Commerce, yet the tabloids leave us alone. This is just the kind of place where beastly hi-jinx will be ignored. And think how much further our tax dollars will go here!

Splatt!

Friends
More evidence from the recent Riverside County Fair and national Date Festival has surfaced. I here reproduce the unedited report from famous cryptozoologist "Splatt Ratzenberger."

In 2011, Splatt and family left Palm Desert for a backwoods 4 wheel-drive camping excursion to Black Mountain, when they caught their first glimpse of the Idyll-Beast – posted on the yellow sign at Mountain Center.

Needless to say, hopes of a chance-encounter kept them on their toes, all thru the night! They hoped to lure the Idyll-Beast into camp with ‘smores…but the wind wasn’t blowing the right direction.

They visited the friendly folks at the Black Mountain Fire Lookout for an incredible view - high atop the pines…but no Idyll-Beast movement was seen.

They even ventured into “Camp Lackey”, the long-abandoned YMCA Camp....but came up empty.

Finally, “Splatt”, of the Biker Nation TV Show, discovers the long-elusive Idyll-Beast at the Riverside County Fair, of all places!!

Kids, these days, do “planking”….”owling”….and even “phooning”.

In Idyllwild, Splatt and daughter, “C-Na$ty” sent all their friends a cell-phone pic….“Beasting”.

Even motorcycle riding Momma, “Wild Child” got in on the act….