The discovery of the corpse of a year-old infant, stuffed in a suitcase filled with mothballs and stored behind an elderly Philadelphia man's home, uncovered the bizarre beliefs of a cult known as "1 Mind Ministries." Now, the mother of the infant has been sentenced to a 20-year suspended sentence and ordered into counseling.
She agreed to plead Guilty only if prosecutors allowed her plea to be withdrawn once the child is resurrected.
22-year old Trinidad native, Ria Ramkissoon, put her family "behind her" when she became involved with the 1 Mind Ministries cult, her mother told reporters. The religious cell consisted of at least four other people who will also stand trial for the child's death. Ramkissoon will testify against the former cult members, one of whom is free on his own recognizance.
In a mind-boggling illustration of what passes for American "justice," the judge assured the woman her plea could be withdrawn if the child came back to life. A court psychiatrist found her mentally competent to stand trial, as well as criminally responsible, because she knows right from wrong. I am not sure if they do, though -- nor am I convinced that the proclaimed psychiatrist was familiar with the case.
See, Ms. Ramkissoon and her cult starved her child to death when the 1-year old "refused" to say "Amen" following a meal. Believing the child would be resurrected, the corpse was left to decompose in the cult's apartment. Later, the cult packed the body in a suitcase with mothballs and relocated to Philadelphia. There, they befriended an elderly man and stored the suitcase behind his home. Police found the grisly scene a year after the baby's death. If words like "insane," "delusional," or "crazy" come to mind, I concur.
A court psychiatrist did not.
We've been over this one before, guys: mentally incompetent people are incapable of Evil, because Evil presupposes a choice. The American legal system dismisses both the label, Evil, as having religious connotations, and the concept as being separate from knowing "right from wrong." It's one of the greatest failings of a judicial system just chockful o' Fail. Of course, just refusing to use the word, "Evil," does not mean the concept is not in play:
If Ms. Ramkissoon's actions are not considered "Evil," then why would she be facing punishment? It's a convoluted mess of semantics deemed intellectually insulting to those of us without a vested financial or professional interest in organized crime.
Even more insulting is the prosecutors' admission that the finding of competency was "surprising"... but they were still going to punish her to the fullest extent of the law. Because that is exactly what people like poor Ms. Ramkissoon deserve for getting sick, and being taken advantage of by people not unlike the prosecutors!
Next up for Baltimore [ZONE 1] prosecutors? Those fucking cancer patients. Enough with the lying around and hurting shit! Everybody's got problems, for fuck's sake.
Ramkissoon's guilty plea actually means she will come out better than if she had pursued an insanity defense, which could have hospitalized her indefinitely: According to her plea deal, she will have spent a year in jail, and will serve another five on probation. However, she will also be forced to undergo treatment meant to deprogram her. Technically, Ms. Ramkissoon may make a full recovery and actually have a chance at pursuing a normal life; an insanity defense risked her permanent incarceration in a "hospital for the criminally insane" -- yet another legal semantic (a hospital in which one is permanently incarcerated -- get it? Me either).
Mental illness and emotional maladjustments are not necessarily evidence of weak minds or any other physical/chemical shortcoming, nor can the state of mental infirmity or emotional incompetence be considered a "choice." In computing terms, it's referred to as GIGO: "Garbage In, Garbage Out" -- that means that if the information is processed incorrectly to begin with [INPUT], there is no chance for a correct outcome [OUTPUT]. Asking mentally ill and/or emotionally unwell persons to make, or defend, rational moral decisions is akin to asking a paraplegic to run a foot race... or a lawyer not to take a bribe.
How can a woman who spent a year with her infant's corpse in a suitcase filled with mothballs and fabric softener, waiting for it to rise from the dead -- who agreed to plead guilty only if she can withdraw that plea once her child does return from the grave -- be considered to know "right" from "wrong?" What is that even supposed to mean? To such a diseased mind, these are clearly pointless labels, no more relevant than knowing right from left, or red from blue.
The question here becomes: Did the Baltimore [ZONE 1] Court understand Right from Wrong during this trial and Sentencing Phase?
Our hearts go out to all of the victims here -- including both families -- and Ms. Ramkissoon, herself. It is an egregious failing of the American judicial system that requires her and her (almost certainly Public-appointed) attorney to play such legal games in order to get her the help she needs -- the help a society as "advanced" as the US, LLC claims to be should be able to provide her -- but The Weirding applauds her lawyer's efforts (make note, as we are not in the habit of applauding lawyers).
Hopefully, Ms. Ramkissoon will recover... though part of me hopes she never does; the thought of her suffering for the rest of her life under the weight of knowing she killed her own child while delusional is just heartbreaking.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
The paranormal, the Supernatural, the odd and Unexplained
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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Psychology of Sororicide
Kerby Revelus had been in a little trouble with police over the years, all having to do with assault, including a stint in jail for carrying an unlicensed gun. He was shot to death by police when one saw him decapitate his sister with a knife. Now, all three family members will be laid to rest at the same time.
While the reports discussing the brutal crime insist that Revelus' record bore "no indication" of such brutality, I disagree. I mean, the guy had already been arrested for punching his sister in the face because she owed him money on a phone bill. He was again cited for a fight involving several other teenagers. And let us not forget the gun incident.
Double sororicide and decapitation is a few steps beyond, I freely grant, but I think Revelus' record clearly suggests a violent, young man. That Revelus was black compounds the matter, not explains it; "angry black, American male" is more than just a stereotype and is celebrated in the sub-culture through incredibly violent lyrics. The culture glorifies excessive violence and we Americans have come to accept that; I believe officials - who, again, are used to such extremes - saw something within Kerby Revelus which suggested he was capable of great violence.
While statisticians like to decry how black Americans are more likely to be imprisoned, or even arrested, than whites, they fail to include the celebration of violence which has become inherent in the culture. However, IRL, we Americans are largely anesthetized to it. In fact, violence in general is rather inherent to the American culture and killing one's siblings is an idea many of us have considered... often (as a simple search for "sororicide" proves). Kerby Revelus had to have exhibited some traits others saw which led them to believe he was an exception to the general rule (that rule being that violence between siblings, and things like young, black Americans carrying guns, are not immediate grounds for arrest or conviction).
All of this is unfortunately subject to an even simpler factor which cannot be ignored: money. The American justice system is thoroughly corrupt and many people are cited for "crimes" which are not really indicative of criminal behavior; laws have had to be put into place to limit these legal abuses - such as issuing traffic tickets to those who exceed the posted speed limit by as few as 2-3 MPH. It's a sad fact that once a person "catches papers" (has a record), the law goes into a holding pattern which is hard to get out of.
But Revelus was only 23!
The truth is that his first arrest for punching his sister occurred when he was barely of majority age. Kerby Revelus was probably a violent juvenile (and I'm thinking juvenile offender). I mean, there are plenty of exceptions, but most cops will let similar family disputes go - white or black. At worst, the case goes to court, where it is dismissed with prejudice (meaning court costs are assessed), which solves the city's getting its money; to press charges in such a case leads me to believe there were factors pulling in the "this kid could snap" direction.
Decapitating a human being is definitely extreme behavior, but cases involving familial disputes usually involve extreme violence. Even a cursory familiarity with primetime "crime shows" teaches you that cases involving "overkill" almost always involve someone who knew the victim well; overkill is the hallmark of an attack by someone who knew the victim, generally speaking.
The decapitation does not surprise me. What surprises me is Revelus' rather extensive (for a 23-year old) record of assault and etc., and the insistence that there was "no indication" of his capacity for violence. Separate the decapitation from this account and it's barely newsworthy in this day and age.
Still, for as often as I thought about, or even expressed, murdering a sibling, I never seriously considered acting on such thoughts and I think this is safe to assume of most people. Something about Kerby Revelus made officials think he just might, yet they failed to act responsibly to prevent such an incident and, instead, worked to escalate the situation -- which is the central tenet of "Occupation" by Hostile forces.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
UPDATE: While Kirby Revelus' actions, and the psychology behind it, remain a mystery, new research supports the idea that he may have been a Targeted Individual subject to a "law enforcement" technique known as "gangstalking." A pernicious, Hostile, Terroristic tactic frequently employed by American Law Enforcement and Defense agencies. The OddBlog covers Targeted Individuals, Gangstalking, and the methodologies and technologies employed in its pursuit exhaustively.
Gangstalking Targeted Individuals is used extensively within the Black American community, often by organized crime units working in tandem with Law Enforcement agencies as "CI" in a technique known as a "Lockstep."
The Weirding frequently bumps the "Violent Raps" and Heavy Metal -- loud AF. Death Metal and Gangster Rap, in particular, are two of our most beloved genres. We also oppose ISrael and ISraeli expansion, and are currently targeted by numerous, related, paramilitary entities working in conjunction with the US Federal Government (including the JDL/ADL, FIDF, Black Cube, and PropOrNot/Hamilton 68).
The return address on this particular gangstalk attempt from February 10, 2018 is "4730 Hwy 17 # B, Helena, AL 35080, USA," but the center of attacks is Decatur County, TN. - 2018
While the reports discussing the brutal crime insist that Revelus' record bore "no indication" of such brutality, I disagree. I mean, the guy had already been arrested for punching his sister in the face because she owed him money on a phone bill. He was again cited for a fight involving several other teenagers. And let us not forget the gun incident.
Double sororicide and decapitation is a few steps beyond, I freely grant, but I think Revelus' record clearly suggests a violent, young man. That Revelus was black compounds the matter, not explains it; "angry black, American male" is more than just a stereotype and is celebrated in the sub-culture through incredibly violent lyrics. The culture glorifies excessive violence and we Americans have come to accept that; I believe officials - who, again, are used to such extremes - saw something within Kerby Revelus which suggested he was capable of great violence.
While statisticians like to decry how black Americans are more likely to be imprisoned, or even arrested, than whites, they fail to include the celebration of violence which has become inherent in the culture. However, IRL, we Americans are largely anesthetized to it. In fact, violence in general is rather inherent to the American culture and killing one's siblings is an idea many of us have considered... often (as a simple search for "sororicide" proves). Kerby Revelus had to have exhibited some traits others saw which led them to believe he was an exception to the general rule (that rule being that violence between siblings, and things like young, black Americans carrying guns, are not immediate grounds for arrest or conviction).
All of this is unfortunately subject to an even simpler factor which cannot be ignored: money. The American justice system is thoroughly corrupt and many people are cited for "crimes" which are not really indicative of criminal behavior; laws have had to be put into place to limit these legal abuses - such as issuing traffic tickets to those who exceed the posted speed limit by as few as 2-3 MPH. It's a sad fact that once a person "catches papers" (has a record), the law goes into a holding pattern which is hard to get out of.
But Revelus was only 23!
The truth is that his first arrest for punching his sister occurred when he was barely of majority age. Kerby Revelus was probably a violent juvenile (and I'm thinking juvenile offender). I mean, there are plenty of exceptions, but most cops will let similar family disputes go - white or black. At worst, the case goes to court, where it is dismissed with prejudice (meaning court costs are assessed), which solves the city's getting its money; to press charges in such a case leads me to believe there were factors pulling in the "this kid could snap" direction.
Decapitating a human being is definitely extreme behavior, but cases involving familial disputes usually involve extreme violence. Even a cursory familiarity with primetime "crime shows" teaches you that cases involving "overkill" almost always involve someone who knew the victim well; overkill is the hallmark of an attack by someone who knew the victim, generally speaking.
The decapitation does not surprise me. What surprises me is Revelus' rather extensive (for a 23-year old) record of assault and etc., and the insistence that there was "no indication" of his capacity for violence. Separate the decapitation from this account and it's barely newsworthy in this day and age.
Still, for as often as I thought about, or even expressed, murdering a sibling, I never seriously considered acting on such thoughts and I think this is safe to assume of most people. Something about Kerby Revelus made officials think he just might, yet they failed to act responsibly to prevent such an incident and, instead, worked to escalate the situation -- which is the central tenet of "Occupation" by Hostile forces.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
UPDATE: While Kirby Revelus' actions, and the psychology behind it, remain a mystery, new research supports the idea that he may have been a Targeted Individual subject to a "law enforcement" technique known as "gangstalking." A pernicious, Hostile, Terroristic tactic frequently employed by American Law Enforcement and Defense agencies. The OddBlog covers Targeted Individuals, Gangstalking, and the methodologies and technologies employed in its pursuit exhaustively.
Gangstalking Targeted Individuals is used extensively within the Black American community, often by organized crime units working in tandem with Law Enforcement agencies as "CI" in a technique known as a "Lockstep."
The Weirding frequently bumps the "Violent Raps" and Heavy Metal -- loud AF. Death Metal and Gangster Rap, in particular, are two of our most beloved genres. We also oppose ISrael and ISraeli expansion, and are currently targeted by numerous, related, paramilitary entities working in conjunction with the US Federal Government (including the JDL/ADL, FIDF, Black Cube, and PropOrNot/Hamilton 68).
The return address on this particular gangstalk attempt from February 10, 2018 is "4730 Hwy 17 # B, Helena, AL 35080, USA," but the center of attacks is Decatur County, TN. - 2018
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Australian Toad Hunt
In 1935, the poisonous cane toad was introduced to Australia from South America. The intent was pest control, but it backfired; now, the cane toads themselves are the pest. And the population of Queensland has had enough.
A festive culling of the herd known as Toad Day Out has them collecting the fat, warty creatures. Many will be turned into fertilizer, some will be given to the University, and the largest will be stuffed by a taxidermist, presumably for display in museums and similar showplaces.
The cane toads are believed to be responsible for the deaths of crocodiles, which unknowingly ate them.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
A festive culling of the herd known as Toad Day Out has them collecting the fat, warty creatures. Many will be turned into fertilizer, some will be given to the University, and the largest will be stuffed by a taxidermist, presumably for display in museums and similar showplaces.
The cane toads are believed to be responsible for the deaths of crocodiles, which unknowingly ate them.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
FYI
Hey guys, I know things have been slow. The OddBlog has perpetually suffered from "stop and go" syndrome; every time it starts getting hits and coming together, something comes up in my personal life or elsewhere which pulls me away from it. This time is no different.
I will be moving throughout this month, which is obviously going to dominate my time. I'll largely be working over the weekends, but packing throughout the weeks, and in addition to my usual regimen of doctors visits and so forth. Basically, I have no idea what this month will bring, but I know that after that, things will be dicey until I am able to move in to my new place. I had two and they both fell through at the last minute and now I've decided to shift my attentions elsewhere (geographically).
Stay tuned - more as I know it!
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
I will be moving throughout this month, which is obviously going to dominate my time. I'll largely be working over the weekends, but packing throughout the weeks, and in addition to my usual regimen of doctors visits and so forth. Basically, I have no idea what this month will bring, but I know that after that, things will be dicey until I am able to move in to my new place. I had two and they both fell through at the last minute and now I've decided to shift my attentions elsewhere (geographically).
Stay tuned - more as I know it!
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Away
Hi guys. I know things have been incredibly slow here lately - as slow as they ever have been - and I apologize for that, but it couldn't be helped. I have to be away on yet another extended trip. I am gone and probably will not be back until Saturday.
There are so many personal things going on right this minute that I simply have not been able to be here. It's all I can do to keep up elsewhere lately. And I fear that none of it is going to slow down enough to matter significantly for at least a month or so.
Anyway, I will be around a computer, and depending on how I feel and how things go, I will try to bring you what I can here and there. This also means if you leave a comment, it will take longer for me to approve it. But be assured, it will post.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
There are so many personal things going on right this minute that I simply have not been able to be here. It's all I can do to keep up elsewhere lately. And I fear that none of it is going to slow down enough to matter significantly for at least a month or so.
Anyway, I will be around a computer, and depending on how I feel and how things go, I will try to bring you what I can here and there. This also means if you leave a comment, it will take longer for me to approve it. But be assured, it will post.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Another Komodo Dragon Attack
Yet another man has been killed by komodo dragons. This time, it was 32-year old Muhamad Anwar of Indonesia. Anwar was trespassing on an island which was cordoned off due to the high number of komodo dragons. Anwar went looking for sugar-apples when he was attacked by one or more komodo dragons and severely injured. Other fishermen took the man to a hospital in Bali, but he had already bled to death by the time they got him there.
Komodo dragons can run as fast as dogs in short bursts and kill animals with a swipe of their powerful tails. While attacks on humans are generally rare, there have been several the past few years.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Komodo dragons can run as fast as dogs in short bursts and kill animals with a swipe of their powerful tails. While attacks on humans are generally rare, there have been several the past few years.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Haunting in Connecticut Family Haunted by Trespassers
The family living in the house portrayed in the upcoming movie, A Haunting in Connecticut, claims there is nothing unusual about the house, much less Supernatural, and wish trespassers would leave them alone. While the name of the family and the town in which the events depicted in the film were changed, they are given on the movie's website (why, I have no idea - that makes no sense to me, whatsoever). This has led to curious onlookers descending on the house, and the family which now lives there.
"Most people are respectful. They stay on the road," the woman who currently resides there told a newspaper, but they have been so stressed-out over the events of late that they have removed the address number and placed "No Trespassing" signs all over the property. She says they do not want to place a fence around the property. The police have stepped-up patrols in the neighborhood.
The family who claims the house was haunted invited well-known parapsychologists, the Warrens, to the house to "clear" it of Evil and spirits. The Warrens found the house haunted at the time, though Lorraine Warren says the house was cleared in 1988. The events were later turned into a book and chronicled in a TV show, both entitled A Haunting in Connecticut.
The house was once a funeral home.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
"Most people are respectful. They stay on the road," the woman who currently resides there told a newspaper, but they have been so stressed-out over the events of late that they have removed the address number and placed "No Trespassing" signs all over the property. She says they do not want to place a fence around the property. The police have stepped-up patrols in the neighborhood.
The family who claims the house was haunted invited well-known parapsychologists, the Warrens, to the house to "clear" it of Evil and spirits. The Warrens found the house haunted at the time, though Lorraine Warren says the house was cleared in 1988. The events were later turned into a book and chronicled in a TV show, both entitled A Haunting in Connecticut.
The house was once a funeral home.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
New Batch of MoD UFO Files Released
This third batch of UFO files, previously classified secret and unavailable to the public, covers the years of 1987-1993 and contains more than a few oddities which cannot be easily dismissed. Perhaps the best is the one from 1989, in which an unidentified woman claims to have encountered a fair-haired man with a Scandinavian accent who claimed to be an alien. The woman ran away, thinking the man crazy, but heard a loud buzzing before she got home and turned to see a large object, glowing orange and white, rise steadily into the air until it was out of sight.
Other incidents had more ready explanations, usually blimps, space debris, and so forth. But there are a handful of accounts which defy explanation
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Other incidents had more ready explanations, usually blimps, space debris, and so forth. But there are a handful of accounts which defy explanation
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Little, Pink Elephants
Man! This has really been a year for oddly-colored creatures! And this one is doubly neat, because of the old saying about alcoholics and little, pink elephants. A little pink elephant is exactly what a wildlife cameraman caught on film while photographing a herd in Botswana.
The calf was among the 80 elephant herd in the Okavango Delta. Experts believe the little guy (or girl) is an albino, which are extremely rare amongst African elephants. Albino elephants are a reddish-pink, not white, and they are more common in Asian elephants.
Check out the pictures and read more about the experience at BBC.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
The calf was among the 80 elephant herd in the Okavango Delta. Experts believe the little guy (or girl) is an albino, which are extremely rare amongst African elephants. Albino elephants are a reddish-pink, not white, and they are more common in Asian elephants.
Check out the pictures and read more about the experience at BBC.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Cage Fights in Texas Highschool
While the principal of the highschool vehemently denies the charges, the superintendent says "some things... happened inside of a cage" and at least one student's mother says she was ignored when she tried to bring the cage fights to light several years ago, after her son came home with a swollen hand and told her students stood around the cage, cheering and clapping, while he and another student fought. The allegations of staged cage fights came to light as the school was being investigated over a grade-fixing scam.
According to some, fights took place inside a steel mesh equipment cage in the boys' locker room between 2003 and 2005, and the principal and other faculty members were aware of it. In fact, the principal is said to have told a staff member to put two students accused of fighting "in the cage and let 'em duke it out." The principal says "it never happened" and calls the whole thing "barbaric."
A 2008 report says the principal and other staff at South Oak Cliff High in Dallas were aware of the fights. It is unclear as to how many "cage fights" occurred, but is certain of at least two. The cage fights came to light when the school was being investigated over a grade-fixing scam, which cost South Oak Cliff High two basketball titles. The principal retired last year.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
According to some, fights took place inside a steel mesh equipment cage in the boys' locker room between 2003 and 2005, and the principal and other faculty members were aware of it. In fact, the principal is said to have told a staff member to put two students accused of fighting "in the cage and let 'em duke it out." The principal says "it never happened" and calls the whole thing "barbaric."
A 2008 report says the principal and other staff at South Oak Cliff High in Dallas were aware of the fights. It is unclear as to how many "cage fights" occurred, but is certain of at least two. The cage fights came to light when the school was being investigated over a grade-fixing scam, which cost South Oak Cliff High two basketball titles. The principal retired last year.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Bank Robbers Robbed Outside Bank
Two middle-aged men robbed a bank in Milwaukee the other day. On their way out of the bank, they were held-up by two younger men. A fight ensued, followed by a short car chase. In the end, police apprehended all four. However, no loot was found!
If you're like me, you may be thinking, "This one has screenplay written all over it!" Except that this particular story has already been told in movies at least 21309213090 times! I'm not sure if this is a case of life imitating art or just one of those incidents you can point to and say, "See!? It really does happen!"
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
If you're like me, you may be thinking, "This one has screenplay written all over it!" Except that this particular story has already been told in movies at least 21309213090 times! I'm not sure if this is a case of life imitating art or just one of those incidents you can point to and say, "See!? It really does happen!"
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Gambian Villagers Kidnapped by Witchdoctors, Police
London-based Amnesty International reports that as many as 1000 Gambian villagers were rounded-up by police and taken to detention centers where witchdoctors forced them to drink "potions" and confess to practicing witchcraft. Many were elderly and many were beaten severely. The "potions" made many sick with diarrhea and vomiting and caused some to hallucinate.
Others were simply arrested and many reports indicate the military is leading this effort or, at the very least, participating alongside the witchdoctors. Hundreds of villagers have fled the area and one reporter who tried to investigate was arrested and charged with spying.
All of this started when the president's aunt died earlier this year. Her death was blamed on witchcraft.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Others were simply arrested and many reports indicate the military is leading this effort or, at the very least, participating alongside the witchdoctors. Hundreds of villagers have fled the area and one reporter who tried to investigate was arrested and charged with spying.
All of this started when the president's aunt died earlier this year. Her death was blamed on witchcraft.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Man Survives Niagara Fall
An unidentified man was taken to the hospital over the weekend after rescue workers pulled him from the icy waters beneath Horseshoe Falls, one of the three waterfalls which make up Niagara Falls. Witnesses say the naked man scaled a wall before leaping over the falls.
When rescue workers appeared, the man swam away from them. One worker said, "I thought he was an idiot..." But workers did not realize he had gone over the falls. A police helicopter was called in. It used the force of its blades to blow him closer to shore, where he was finally pulled from the waters. He was conscious but unable to speak.
The man is suffering from hypothermia and a serious head wound and is listed in critical condition.
Few survive going over any of the three Niagara Falls, though so many tried that officials finally made it illegal. They have not said whether or not the man will be charged.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
When rescue workers appeared, the man swam away from them. One worker said, "I thought he was an idiot..." But workers did not realize he had gone over the falls. A police helicopter was called in. It used the force of its blades to blow him closer to shore, where he was finally pulled from the waters. He was conscious but unable to speak.
The man is suffering from hypothermia and a serious head wound and is listed in critical condition.
Few survive going over any of the three Niagara Falls, though so many tried that officials finally made it illegal. They have not said whether or not the man will be charged.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Background Tech
Sorry, guys. I have been doing a bunch of stuff behind the scenes that will hopefully make your experience that much smoother, and that much better. Mainly, it's removing a bunch of small scripts and so forth that add to the load time.
I am also going to play with the color scheme because I've realized how hard it is to know what are links and what aren't, unless you've already visited the site. However, unlike the other blogs on The Weirding, The OddBlog is not getting a major overhaul/facelift, so it's nothing major.
I am focusing all my attentions on another project right this moment, but rest assured, we'll be back to our usual highjinks shortly.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
I am also going to play with the color scheme because I've realized how hard it is to know what are links and what aren't, unless you've already visited the site. However, unlike the other blogs on The Weirding, The OddBlog is not getting a major overhaul/facelift, so it's nothing major.
I am focusing all my attentions on another project right this moment, but rest assured, we'll be back to our usual highjinks shortly.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Paradox Takes on Chariots of the Gods
Erich von Daniken's 1968 best-seller, Chariots of the Gods, has been optioned to be made into a sci-fi film by Paradox Entertainment. The film company is also set to make a new Conan movie, and one of the producers involved shepherded all three Lord of the Rings movies.
While von Daniken's book was non-fiction, the Chariots of the Gods movie will be science-fiction, based on the premise that aliens have visited earth many times before, throughout history. In the (great, BTW) book, von Daniken offers plenty of pseudo-scientific evidence to back-up his claims that these visits were the catalysts for many of Man's greatest achievements. While the evidence he presented is strong, the truth is that there is no smoking gun and all of it is open to interpretation.
Erich von Daniken's interpretation is truly no more convoluted than the pop-science bullshit proffered by the scientists who reject his hypotheses -- in too many cases.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
While von Daniken's book was non-fiction, the Chariots of the Gods movie will be science-fiction, based on the premise that aliens have visited earth many times before, throughout history. In the (great, BTW) book, von Daniken offers plenty of pseudo-scientific evidence to back-up his claims that these visits were the catalysts for many of Man's greatest achievements. While the evidence he presented is strong, the truth is that there is no smoking gun and all of it is open to interpretation.
Erich von Daniken's interpretation is truly no more convoluted than the pop-science bullshit proffered by the scientists who reject his hypotheses -- in too many cases.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Dracula Fish
Researchers have discovered a species they named Danionella dracula for its bony "fangs." The Dracula fish has only been found in one Burmese stream. Scientists believe the fish lost their teeth through evolutionary process, which left the bony protrusions that have a fang-like appearance.
In captivity, the males have been observed "sparring" with their fangs, but no blood appears to be drawn. They nudge one another after opening their jaws "incredibly widely," but it appears to be more a symbolic mating ritual than actual combat. Only the males bear these tell-tale fangs.
The fish do not have actual teeth - even the males' fangs are not teeth - rather, the jawbone has developed sharp protrusions which mimic the appearance of teeth.
Since scientists did not recognize the fish as a new species immediately, they note there could be more swimming around in other bodies even now.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
In captivity, the males have been observed "sparring" with their fangs, but no blood appears to be drawn. They nudge one another after opening their jaws "incredibly widely," but it appears to be more a symbolic mating ritual than actual combat. Only the males bear these tell-tale fangs.
The fish do not have actual teeth - even the males' fangs are not teeth - rather, the jawbone has developed sharp protrusions which mimic the appearance of teeth.
Since scientists did not recognize the fish as a new species immediately, they note there could be more swimming around in other bodies even now.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Pinky, the Albino Dolphin
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| Pinky, the Albino Dolphin |
Pinky is an albino dolphin that was first spotted in the lake last year. It has been photographed, and draws spectators to the lake in droves. Pinky is the same color over his entire body, and has pinkish-red eyes. Pinky has begun swimming away from his mother more lately, but usually stays with the pod.
At least one marine biologist said he has never seen a bottlenose dolphin of this color in all his career. There is an endangered dolphin of another type in South America which is called the "pink dolphin," or boto, but Pinky is not of that species; Pinky is thought to be an actual albino dolphin.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Photo from The Guardian, links in body. - 2018
World Water Shortages by 2025
More than 25,000 conservationists are set to meet in Istanbul this month to discuss the world's growing water shortage issues. According to some analysts, 2/3 of the world will face major water shortages by 2025.
However, many common sense people - myself included - note that most of these people who will face this shortage live in areas where water is not abundant... and at least 70% of the Earth is made of water. Droughts, climate issues, and so forth aside, if you live in a desert, then water shortages are simply something with which you should be left to deal on your own.
I'm not obtuse; as I sit here, unable to afford to move to a better place, I understand that not all of these people have much of a choice. However, instead of wondering what we can do to better provide them with even more resources where they are, why aren't we determining a way to move them somewhere more palatable?
And if religious/traditional/cultural morés and standards are what is keeping them from doing so, then leave them to their own devices. Sorry to say, but if they die-out due to stubbornness, then that's Natural Selection doing its Thing.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
However, many common sense people - myself included - note that most of these people who will face this shortage live in areas where water is not abundant... and at least 70% of the Earth is made of water. Droughts, climate issues, and so forth aside, if you live in a desert, then water shortages are simply something with which you should be left to deal on your own.
I'm not obtuse; as I sit here, unable to afford to move to a better place, I understand that not all of these people have much of a choice. However, instead of wondering what we can do to better provide them with even more resources where they are, why aren't we determining a way to move them somewhere more palatable?
And if religious/traditional/cultural morés and standards are what is keeping them from doing so, then leave them to their own devices. Sorry to say, but if they die-out due to stubbornness, then that's Natural Selection doing its Thing.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Odd American Factoids
I'm not 100% certain how "odd" these facts are, but (like a lot of these things), I thought they fit with the theme here:
- 57% of Americans have never lived outside the state in which they were born
- 37% have never left their hometown
- 50% of those who have live within 50 miles of the town in which they were born
- College graduates are far less likely to live in their birth state than those with a highschool education
Church Shooting Leaves Pastor Dead
A churchgoer at the First Baptist Church in Maryville, IL walked down the aisle, exchanged words with Pastor Fred Winters, then produced a gun and shot him once in the chest. When the gun jammed, the man pulled out a knife. Two in the attending congregation tried to subdue him and suffered minor wounds. The gunman then began stabbing himself.
The gunman was arrested and is being treated for his wounds. Pastor Fred Winters later died from his wounds at a local hospital.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
The gunman was arrested and is being treated for his wounds. Pastor Fred Winters later died from his wounds at a local hospital.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
This Little Piggy Went to Market
If you have HBO, you've seen the advertisements for the upcoming documentary on animal cruelty, centering on a pig farm in Ohio. The owners of that farm were charged with animal cruelty, following video footage shot by undercover agents from an animal rights group called the Humane Farming Association.
US pork producers, already facing rising prices, are worried the documentary - set to air next Monday and another 19 times by April 1st - will further affect sales. They are eager to let consumers know that "...there are 75,000 hog farms across the country and what happened on this farm is not common practice."
Animal rights groups have forced change in the meat industries. California's Proposition 2 - which overwhelmingly passed with 2/3 of the votes in favor - prohibits the confinement of animals which prevents them from turning around (veal), as well as changed the way they are transported. The penalties include fines up to $1000 and imprisonment for up to 180 days. The Pork Board plans meetings to further discuss the issues raised by the documentary.
Death on a Factory Farm premieres Monday, March 16th, on HBO.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
US pork producers, already facing rising prices, are worried the documentary - set to air next Monday and another 19 times by April 1st - will further affect sales. They are eager to let consumers know that "...there are 75,000 hog farms across the country and what happened on this farm is not common practice."
Animal rights groups have forced change in the meat industries. California's Proposition 2 - which overwhelmingly passed with 2/3 of the votes in favor - prohibits the confinement of animals which prevents them from turning around (veal), as well as changed the way they are transported. The penalties include fines up to $1000 and imprisonment for up to 180 days. The Pork Board plans meetings to further discuss the issues raised by the documentary.
Death on a Factory Farm premieres Monday, March 16th, on HBO.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Check Out the Rest of the Site
I know most of you come here specifically for odd news - the paranormal and Supernatural, cryptozoological stuff, and just plain weird bits - and I'm so glad you do! But I also know few of you check out the rest of The Weirding, and I wish you'd take a moment to do so.
We cover a slew of topics there, from comic books and tabletop roleplaying games to writing to Cyberculture - and more than a few of them are classifiably "odd." Regular readers know that we get our share of "crossover" posts (which usually include a link to whatever other department they crosssover with), so you really never know what you might find. In particular, the Chill and Dark Conspiracy games deal directly with the subjects we cover here - I link to a lot of posts from those departments, in fact - so you might get a kick out of checking those out (though they're entirely fictitious).
I spend a whole lot of time developing The Weirding - that's where I am most of the times I'm not here - so I obviously want people to check it out, but seeing as how The OddBlog is part of The Weirding, you guys in particular just might find something you dig!
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
We cover a slew of topics there, from comic books and tabletop roleplaying games to writing to Cyberculture - and more than a few of them are classifiably "odd." Regular readers know that we get our share of "crossover" posts (which usually include a link to whatever other department they crosssover with), so you really never know what you might find. In particular, the Chill and Dark Conspiracy games deal directly with the subjects we cover here - I link to a lot of posts from those departments, in fact - so you might get a kick out of checking those out (though they're entirely fictitious).
I spend a whole lot of time developing The Weirding - that's where I am most of the times I'm not here - so I obviously want people to check it out, but seeing as how The OddBlog is part of The Weirding, you guys in particular just might find something you dig!
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Coloradan Super Glues Teeth in Head
Health care is in such a poor state in America, a Colorado woman uses Super Glue to hold her teeth in her head. September Williamson is ineligible for dental care because she has health insurance which covers a whopping $1000 per year, so she has had to use Super Glue to keep a crown in her head. She needs partial dentures which cost nearly $10k.
View the entire report here.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
View the entire report here.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Designer Baby Clinic Backs Down... For Now
The Fertility Institute's director, Dr. Jeff Steinberg, has backed-down for now. In a statement posted on the clinic's website, Steinberg said the clinic "remain[s] sensitive to public perception and feel that any benefit the diagnostic studies may offer are far outweighed by the apparent negative societal impacts involved."
Steinberg had recently announced his clinic was going to offer parents the ability to choose various physical traits for their child, using a process known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD. The process is already used to test babies for disease, and has been for years. But many insist the science Steinberg suggests is still years away. Dr. Steinberg himself had said he could not guarantee the children would have the traits parents choose but, using the process, he could dramatically increase the chance. "I can't say with 100 percent certainty that parents will be able to choose something like eye color - more like 80 percent certainty," he was quoted.
Others have said, "Nobody can do this..."
Steinberg's California clinic is known for offering gender selection.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Steinberg had recently announced his clinic was going to offer parents the ability to choose various physical traits for their child, using a process known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD. The process is already used to test babies for disease, and has been for years. But many insist the science Steinberg suggests is still years away. Dr. Steinberg himself had said he could not guarantee the children would have the traits parents choose but, using the process, he could dramatically increase the chance. "I can't say with 100 percent certainty that parents will be able to choose something like eye color - more like 80 percent certainty," he was quoted.
Others have said, "Nobody can do this..."
Steinberg's California clinic is known for offering gender selection.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Stuff
Sorry guys, this is the first of the month and it's bill-paying time and all that (regular readers know it always slows down around this time, but just for a few days), but all that aside, this week has not turned out the way I hoped it would.
We'll get into it some other time, but it's been a trying week and I'm ready for it to be over. I have a whole week's worth of posts to get out to you, as well as hundreds of articles in the archives I haven't been able to get to you yet, so we'll try to focus on it over the weekend.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
We'll get into it some other time, but it's been a trying week and I'm ready for it to be over. I have a whole week's worth of posts to get out to you, as well as hundreds of articles in the archives I haven't been able to get to you yet, so we'll try to focus on it over the weekend.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Chinese Claim Tibetan Monk "Came Back to Life"
A 24-year old Tibetan monk who set himself ablaze in protest of the Dalai Lama's exile during a prayer festival in China last week "...came back to life after 12 hours' treatment [and] is out of danger now," according to a Chinese physician claiming to have treated the man.
Further, Chinese sources assured news agencies that another monk had confessed to spreading "made up" rumors that police had shot the student to "create greater disturbances so as to attract the attention from overseas."
A spokesperson for the Free Tibet Campaign cited unidentified sources as having said the man exited a monastery and set himself ablaze. Shortly afterward, shots were heard. The student was hurried into a van and whisked away. He has not been seen since.
The details of his miraculous recovery were told to a Xinhua news agency by Shen Yongcai, a physician at the Aba hospital, who said he treated the 24-year old for burns over half his body.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Further, Chinese sources assured news agencies that another monk had confessed to spreading "made up" rumors that police had shot the student to "create greater disturbances so as to attract the attention from overseas."
A spokesperson for the Free Tibet Campaign cited unidentified sources as having said the man exited a monastery and set himself ablaze. Shortly afterward, shots were heard. The student was hurried into a van and whisked away. He has not been seen since.
The details of his miraculous recovery were told to a Xinhua news agency by Shen Yongcai, a physician at the Aba hospital, who said he treated the 24-year old for burns over half his body.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Women Suffer More From Bad Marriages
According to research done by US psychologists, women apparently suffer more physical health issues from bad marriages than men. Wives are said to be more prone to factors putting them at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, where men appear "immune" to these issues.
The subjects were asked a series of questions relating to a bad marriage, then they were submitted to a battery of tests to ascertain whether or not they showed signs of metabolic syndrome, a collection of symptoms which point to a raised risk for the above-mentioned health issues. Women were also more prone to Depression than men.
Accordingly, men appeared to suffer similar mental decline, but without the associated physical ailments. By this logic, men are less prone to physical damage from bad marriages.
Tell that to David Harris.
The study was conducted by a female psychologist.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
The subjects were asked a series of questions relating to a bad marriage, then they were submitted to a battery of tests to ascertain whether or not they showed signs of metabolic syndrome, a collection of symptoms which point to a raised risk for the above-mentioned health issues. Women were also more prone to Depression than men.
Accordingly, men appeared to suffer similar mental decline, but without the associated physical ailments. By this logic, men are less prone to physical damage from bad marriages.
Tell that to David Harris.
The study was conducted by a female psychologist.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Back Tomorrow
Sorry, guys. Regular readers know things get hairy at the first of the month, and that is now. We will be back to regular posting tomorrow (or should be - hopefully), but then I will be away Thursday. It will likely be a busy weekend here to The OddBlog, so bear with us.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
How Smoking Affects Pets
I am a smoker. I'm not all that vocal about it because it's just a habit of mine (or vice, however you wish to view it), but increasingly these last few years, my fellow smokers and I have come under fire. In my state, they have raised taxes nearly $2.00 in the last year on cigarettes and tobacco products - only. In other states, various laws have banned smoking in public places (including bars and clubs!).
And while many are upset over all of this, a few say it's helped them cut-back on their smoking, so they don't mind. However, I'm writing this to inform you of a study one article mentioned in covering these recent changes - one I did not know about and one which made me stop and think.
A study some seven years ago found that smoking also affects your pets. While dogs often get asthma and other respiratory problems similar to those some humans who smoke face, cats were more likely to come down with intestinal lymphoma - because the carcinogens in the smoke settles on their fur and they ingest it when grooming themselves.
And if your cats are anything like mine, they are constantly grooming themselves.
This really worried me because, no matter how bad my cats are (and they are bad), I love them and want them to be around for as long as possible. But I tried to cut-down on my smoking and it lasted for all of maybe three-four days!
Still, it's been a really rough few months; maybe once my stress decreases some, I can actually do it. And once it warms-up, I am going to get in the habit of going outside to smoke. That alone helps curb your habit more than anything else I have ever tried, because I lived in places where I had to do it, so I speak from experience.
Anyway, I've wanted to pass that along since I read it a few weeks back.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
And while many are upset over all of this, a few say it's helped them cut-back on their smoking, so they don't mind. However, I'm writing this to inform you of a study one article mentioned in covering these recent changes - one I did not know about and one which made me stop and think.
A study some seven years ago found that smoking also affects your pets. While dogs often get asthma and other respiratory problems similar to those some humans who smoke face, cats were more likely to come down with intestinal lymphoma - because the carcinogens in the smoke settles on their fur and they ingest it when grooming themselves.
And if your cats are anything like mine, they are constantly grooming themselves.
This really worried me because, no matter how bad my cats are (and they are bad), I love them and want them to be around for as long as possible. But I tried to cut-down on my smoking and it lasted for all of maybe three-four days!
Still, it's been a really rough few months; maybe once my stress decreases some, I can actually do it. And once it warms-up, I am going to get in the habit of going outside to smoke. That alone helps curb your habit more than anything else I have ever tried, because I lived in places where I had to do it, so I speak from experience.
Anyway, I've wanted to pass that along since I read it a few weeks back.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Agenda
Hey guys, I know it's been hit-and-miss (or hit and run) here lately, and I'm just stopping by to let you know it's going to remain that way for the time-being. I am going to bring you a slew of posts today and tonight and may schedule one or two for tomorrow, but I don't know what Monday will bring.
Tuesday, I will be out of the house for probably the entire day. Then Thursday, I will be gone for the entire day. After that, I'm hoping everything settles back down, but won't know until it gets here. Basically, I already know this entire week is shot, so I'll do what I can today and bring youwhat I can throughout the rest of the week, but it will be at least next Monday before things get back to a regular schedule.
I'm hoping this next round of medical appointments brings some relief, which is what I have to have before I can even entertain the notion of being able to work daily again, but we will have to wait and see.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Tuesday, I will be out of the house for probably the entire day. Then Thursday, I will be gone for the entire day. After that, I'm hoping everything settles back down, but won't know until it gets here. Basically, I already know this entire week is shot, so I'll do what I can today and bring youwhat I can throughout the rest of the week, but it will be at least next Monday before things get back to a regular schedule.
I'm hoping this next round of medical appointments brings some relief, which is what I have to have before I can even entertain the notion of being able to work daily again, but we will have to wait and see.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
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