I feel I’ve always been an economist at heart. In the last several days, we’ve all watched with baited breath as the news unfolds regarding Congress’ recent bailout plan, and with hope that our ailing economy may be set on course for a future of growth and stability.

Therefore, it is with a degree of pleasure (and interest) that I report today that I have learned about a new project my friend Joshua P. Warren is planning. In an effort to try and offset the negative losses incurred as a result of the recent Georgia Bigfoot Hoax, Warren plans to work with the parties involved to try and sell the stuffed costume, with any excess proceeds going toward research into hoaxing, with the intent of ruling out future hoaxes of this kind. Below I have included Warren’s press release in its entirety:

MEDIA MEMORANDUM

For immediate release

For information:

Joshua P. Warren

President, Shadowbox Enterprises, LLC

(828) 253-7736, ShadowboxENT@gmail.com

www.HoaxResearchCenter.com

Asheville, N.C. (October 7, 2008) — The Bigfoot Hoax that landed two Georgia men in hot water has one last chance to bail them out of financial problems. The original body, and freezer, have now been put on eBay, and money earned will help settle financial conflicts and pay for a new Hoax Research Center, devoted to studying these kinds of cases to prevent them from happening in the future. The Center’s founder says widespread Halloween props give more people opportunities to fake paranormal phenomena. He thinks it’s notable since major news outlets stopped covering Obama and McCain to cut away to a live announcement regarding the “find” on August 15.

The Hoax Research Center is operated by Joshua P. Warren, a well-known author, TV and radio personality who specializes in paranormal research. “There’s no doubt about it,” he said, “this hoax has damaged the field of legitimate bigfoot research for a long time. Now we’re trying to extract something positive from the situation–studying what happened and contributing to an organization to ensure it never happens again.”

For years, Warren has produced contests to fake (but not hoax) UFOs, and claims the results have helped UFO experts rule out fakes when analyzing footage. “It can be a double-edged sword,” he explained. “We can be accused of inspiring fakes, but I think it’s like a vaccine. A small shot of what we’re avoiding overall helps us prevent a bigger problem.”

The original body, known as the “RickMat” creature is being offered, along with cooperation of the fakers, Matt Whitton and Rick Dyer, to restore it to its original condition and speak about how and why the hoax was perpetrated. The buyer of the body is expected to enjoy a great deal of publicity, as this weird story has been covered internationally by CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and Newsweek; and TIME Magazine even gave Rick Dyer a quote of the week when he told cynical reporters they would eat their words. “What does this tell us about our society?” Warren asks. “The hoaxers never intended to sell the body, but it’s a last resort, and an opportunity for money earned to partially redeem this deception.”

The museum-quality display is currently on eBay, and more can be learned through www.HoaxResearchCenter.comon the internet.