Still Moving

Sorry guys; I forgot about you again. This move is really taking its toll on me. It already took its toll on my little female friend: she flew the coop! But it's all good; the truth is that it's just as well and I guess we've both been thinking that for a while now. I still have almost all the dishes to pack and I knew they would be a hassle, which is why I'd been saying they needed to be packed since the weekend.

If you read the link above, you'll understand why I may be sitting in the dark all weekend. And though I'm almost certainly pulling an all-nighter, I won't be able to be here much tonight. Hopefully, I'll find a few things to keep you busy, but we do have some pretty extensive archives for you to check out until I'm able to get back to you.

Three schools in Fayette County, TN have closed because of the Swine Flu. A school in Shelby County also closed for seven days, as did one in Nashville. Supposedly, there were two cases discovered in Tennessee.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

SWINE FLU PANDEMIC REACHES MASS PROPORTIONS

As news-hungry media inflate a simple flu outbreak into the world-scouring Superflu of a Stephen King novel. No fewer than four major stories on the BBC's newsfeed, Good Morning America Weekend had an interview with a family who was not only "quarantined" but wore masks to protect the GMA crew, New Zealand's in the picture now, and Chinese doctors are working to develop a test which will return results in several hours (as opposed to weeks)...

From what I learned on GMA Weekend, the Swine Flu is an amalgam of influenza affecting some 3-4 various animals, including pigs. As the anchor tried to inject an overly serious tone to everything said, the teenager who had been reported "infected" chortled as he shrugged and responded, "No one else at [my] highschool had it," when asked, "Any idea how you might have contracted it? Did you go to Mexico?" The kid laughed yet again, "No."

In fact, when the anchor got right down to it, the boy said he felt generally rundown and, you know, basically flu-ey. He said it was "basically like any other flu." His mom rebuked the melodramatic telejournalist with much the same answers.

Just so you know, this family was from Texas, which closely borders Mexico and is one of the states most known for illegal immigrants. While GMA is too politically-correct to mention it, it's safe to assume the boy's highschool contains a healthy Mexican population. Further, America ranks 37 in world healthcare - not really a top-ranking - but Mexico? 61.

So, um, I'm kinda surprised more Mexicans don't die of the fucking common flu.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Sorry - Moving

Sorry, guys. I don't think I mentioned to you all that we are moving this week. We started in earnest yesterday and got several things moved into our new place today. We also got some of the cleanup started - and there is a lot of that to do! The place is a real... well, let's not start things off on a sour note, shall we?

Anyway, we have until the 1^st to be out of here and have many, many things to do in this short time. I packed a box of "immediate" books to be taken to the new house and it got rerouted to storage, so I'm at a loss for good reference material, but we've made-do in the past and will make-do this time around. Still, we will be a little wobbly as we find our feet the next few weeks.

It will be a while before we get settled in our new place, a while before we find a place for everything and get everything a place, and so on. Posts will almost certainly be sparse periodically, but we will be around.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Japanese Schoolgirl Pays Phone Bill by Prostituting

A 37-year old mother and 47-year old stepfather were sentenced to jail terms and fined substantially for forcing their daughter to prostitute herself to pay for her mobile phone bill. A court heard testimony as to how the girl was forced to perform "an indecent sex act" on a man in a hotel room after school in February for about $175.

Japan is the world's biggest cellular market and an estimated 96% of all highschool students have their own mobile phones. This has led to a multitude of social issues concerning the devices, most specifically "cellular-bullying." I find the concept intriguing and it's obviously akin to cyberbullying, but the article does not detail it, so I'm not sure what it entails, exactly. Many districts have since banned cellphones from school premises.

An underage prostitution ring was uncovered earlier this year, sending explicit pictures and messages over their phones and arranging encounters with customers.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

"Mysterious Figure Resembling a Human Being"

According to the Gulf Times (Qatar's Top-Selling English Newspaper, it proudly proclaims), an expatriate Arab woman spotted "a mysterious figure resembling a human being." Despite being terribly frightened, she managed to snap a photo of the creature, which appears here.

Two things here: first, and most obvious, this looks a little hokey. Is it real? It's hard for me to say and I'm no expert in any field which would allow me to offer any kind of suitable, "professional" technical... anything which would be useful as to that.

The second is that I have seen a figure very similar to this in at least one other picture - a picture often referenced as one which cannot be proven, nor disproven, as authentic. As many of you are fellow phenomenalists, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about (and seeing as I am on dial-up, I simply do not have the time or patience to look it up right now - if anyone comes across it, I'd really appreciate a link in the comments!).

As always, The OddBlog takes the usual stance: we are very open to believing what many consider "unbelievable," but we don't like to be had. It's very possible we're too cynical and the woman, along with the throng of onlookers the article assures us surrounded her following the encounter, actually snapped a photograph of a strange creature - and the creature pictured is absolutely strange; but it's a little more possible (we're not saying probable - not yet) that the Gulf Times wanted to ensure it remains the top-selling English newspaper of Qatar. Whatever the hell Qatar is.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Wonder-Bra Deflects Bullet

A 57-year old woman suspected thieves were burglarizing her neighbor's Detroit home. She looked out the window and one of three teens fired a round which smashed her window and hit her breast. The unnamed woman sustained injuries which were "not life-threatening" because the bullet was deflected. By the underwire in her bra!

"We need to get some bulletproof vests made from that!" a policeman told Detroit reporters.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Australian Newspaper Dumbfounded by Landshark

Some time after midnight, a visitor to the neighboring McDonald's noticed a shark on the front step of a Western Australian newspaper's offices. When police arrived, they threw some water on it and said it "kicked around a bit." They borrowed a bucket and some water from the fast-food eatery and released the poor guy back into the ocean.

The Port Jackson shark is common to Australia and grows up to 5' ¹/₂" in length. It is harmless but for two poisonous dorsal fins. The one in question was only about 2' long.

The newspaper said it had no idea who would have left the shark, nor why. Police said whomever left it would be charged with animal cruelty, if they are caught.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Sioux Split Over Black Hills Suit

Some 5000 Sioux Indians have joined a class-action lawsuit calling for the disbursement of moneys won in court cases from years ago, but only 19 plaintiffs are named - the other 4,981 Indians live on reservations and fear retribution from fellow Indians who believe accepting money for the Black Hills is tantamount to selling the land. The suit asks for the release of $900 million in compensation and interest from cases awarded more than a century ago, as well as in the 1980s. However, since eight Sioux tribes refused the money at those times, some legal experts believe the case will be dismissed - further, that the money could not be awarded anyway, without Congressional approval.

Those opposed to the suit say accepting money would "bless" the "sale" of the Black Hills and want the land returned. Of course, that is not going to happen. Still, certain stubborn tribesmembers say those who take the money are just looking for a check and are "prostituting" themselves.

The Sioux were awarded the Black Hills in an 1868 treaty. When gold was discovered in the mines there, it sparked battles including George Custer's infamous "last stand." In 1877, Congress reclaimed the lands when the Sioux refused to sign a new treaty relinquishing ownership. In 1980, the Supreme Court upheld an earlier ruling, granting eight Sioux tribes more than $100 million in restitution, but the tribes refused it. This case also seeks money won by the tribes for earlier industrialization of the land.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Skinheads Induce Birth on Hitler's B'day

Police in California underwent a street sweep, targeting an area gang known as the Inland Empire Skinheads, and said two of the female associates were found in maternity wards, attempting to induce labor so their children would be born on April 20^th, Adolf Hitler's birthday.

The gang, also known as the IE Skinheads, is known by its red suspenders and black boots with red laces. Police say they are responsible for murders, assaults, drug trafficking, and area home invasions. The IE Skinheads are said to induct younger members by having them assault random people outside of public places. The random victims are chosen by ethnicity. The gang is said to contact new members and associates through social networking sites and is believed to be about 30 strong with some 70-odd associates - several of whom are highschool students or of equivalent age.

The sweep arrested numerous high-ranking members, including the leader, as well as the two mothers-to-be, and police believe this will crush the gang. However, the women did manage to bear their children on Adolf Hitler's birthday.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Ark. Gardener Uncovers Civil War-era Cannonball

An unidentified Fort Smith, Arkansas, man was gardening at his home when he unearthed a 4" round from the Civil War.  Authorities say it may still be live and plan to fire at it with "a shaped charge."  The impact will either detonate the device, split it apart, or put a hole in it.  The remnants will be put on display at a local museum.

Fort Smith and the surrounding areas hosted many engagements throughout the Civil War.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

San Diego Squirrel Plagued by... the Plague!

A San Diego squirrel has tested positive for the plague, prompting local officials to post signs and publicly ask people not to setup their tents and camping areas near burrows. They also warned area residents not to feed the squirrels and to warn their children to avoid them.

The plague can be passed from squirrel to human through flea bites. While there have been no cases reported in San Diego residents so far, officials warn residents to be cautious.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Florida Woman Attacked by Wild Hog

Upon learning that a wild pig was in her backyard, a 26-year old woman from the St. Petersburg area did what every 26-year old woman does... in horror movies: she went to investigate. The 200-lb. wild hog charged her, injuring the back of her leg.

Responding officials treated the woman's injuries at the scene and lassoed the boar. The pig will be observed for rabies.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Nicaragua's Crazy Sickness

In 2008, there were 65 reported cases of Grisi Siknis, which translates from Miskito language to "crazy sickness," or "jungle madness." Those suffering it turn to local healers -- people we refer to as "mystics" and "witchdoctors" -- because Western medicine has no idea how to treat it. Yes, "Grisi Siknis" is apparently a very real medical malady.

The affliction dates back to the 1850s and originally only affected the Miskito. Recently, however, the illness has presented itself in those of Spanish descent. Also called Grisi Munaia and Nil Siknis, the Crazy Sickness is what Western medicine refers to as "culture-bound," meaning it is limited to those of a specific culture or region -- in this case, the Miskito people.

Culture-bound illnesses are very real, though their treatment is specious, at best. While most Western doctors consider it unethical to provide the victims folk treatment, as they believe themselves to be deceiving the patient, it logically follows that culture-bound illnesses should be susceptible to culture-bound remedies. But now, it appears the affliction is spreading outside the cultural sphere which is believed to have created it, perhaps elevating it to an actual form of mental illness.

Furthermore, Grisi Siknis spreads in outbreaks. While culture-bound illnesses are known to be "contagious." Western psychology prefers to apply the term, "mass hysteria." Mass hysteria is also known as Collective Obsessional Behavior, which is far more apt. So far this year, there have been 46 reported cases. As a local doctor, and ardent researcher of the malaise, says, "If an attack is not contained quickly, it can spread throughout an entire community."

The most common symptoms are hallucinations in which the sufferer believes he is being attacked or sexually molested by The Devil of Christian mythology; severe anxiety, nausea, and dizziness; irrational fear and anger; and periods of frenzy during which the victim often runs away.

Western medicine and procedures seem to have no effect, but local mystics' rites and potions often cure the afflicted. Of course, if the Grisi Siknis is, in fact, societal in nature, then what else would cure it but culturally-bound procedures such as those provided by local witchdoctors?

Western science continues to scratch its collective ass head.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

TXT 2 DON8

Errant parishioners in Finland may soon be able to make donations via text message. Dean Matti Pikkarainen of the Oulu Cathedral intends to raise the issue at a nationwide church meeting next month. At the end of 2008, 80% of the Finnish population were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Currently, the law forbids donations via text messaging, but the Dean noted that many listen to the services on radio, watch them on TV, or access them via the Internet. Mobile phone giant, Nokia, is headquartered in Finland.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Give Earth Some Slack, Jack - Be Groovy, Baby

Researchers decided to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions of the 40% obese British population and compare the results to those of the 1970s, when only 3.5% of the population was obese. The results were pretty staggering: the current population uses nearly 20% more "food energy" than that of the '70s, which equates to nearly 60 megatons of emissions! The transportation costs of supplying this food added another ¹/₂-1 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions! But there is a caveat.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) of the population has also increased, and not just in the UK, all over the world. This means people, in general, are bigger than they were some three-four decades ago. And while the researchers involved preferred to say they were getting "fatter," we have all noticed how much younger kids are developing. You can also see great differences in musculature and so forth in athletes and fitness freaks. It is not fair to say people are "getting fatter" as a blanket statement; it is fair to say people are bigger than we were in the 1970s.

Still, the basic concept is correct in that we should scale-back to the obesity percentages and so forth of the 1970s. Back then, we ate larger portions of vegetables and smaller portions of meat. Changing that much of your diet can help both you and the planet.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Handicapped Man Dies After Being Hit by Bus Which Crippled Him

A Philadelphia man who had lost his leg when a city bus hit him previously, was hit by another city bus on the same corner, and died.

61-year old Milton Boneta, who lived at a nursing home just a few minutes away, was apparently crossing the street when the bus struck him. It dragged the man and his wheelchair quite a distance before coming to a complete stop.

Years earlier, Boneta was at the same intersection when a city bus struck him, causing him to lose his leg, making him wheelchair-bound. The bus company said it had not confirmed the earlier accident and had no comment at this time.

An investigation is "far from over."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Storms Imminent

Those great thunderstorms in the South U.S. you've been hearing about lately are exactly where I am, but the last wave or two missed us (even though they interrupted TV to follow them, very closely, while they were occurring all around us), but it looks like this one is going to hit us squarely. It keeps lightning and thundering, though all the rain that dropped happened overnight and early this morning (so far, that is). I figure it's just a matter of time before I either get kicked offline or decide it's best to pull the plug.

If it's just more posturing on the part of Mother Nature, I'll probably be back; otherwise, I'll see you soon!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Do the Molyneux Haunt Croxteth Hall?

The Liverpool City Council is calling for some counsel of the paranormal kind, following the appearance of a possible phantom on closed-circuit TV footage from 400-year old Croxteth Hall. The video seems to show a glowing apparition wandering about the grounds, late at night.

Investigators called the evidence "intriguing," but have said little else. However, local superstition may back-up claims of a haunting. Croxteth Hall was originally built in 1575 and was passed down through the Molyneux family until 1972, when the last, direct descendant died without naming an heir. Croxteth Hall then became the property of Liverpool and the once private grounds are now open to the public.

Local superstition holds that William Philip Molyneux revisits Aintree Racecourse every year during the Grand National. He was the 2^nd Earl of Sefton and laid the foundation stone for the racetrack. Could he be the mysterious phantom? Or is it Hugh William Osbert Molyneux, 7^th Earl of Sefton? Perhaps he feels the grounds are still his, as he bequeathed them to no one? Or maybe he is there to visit his wife, who died some eight years later and was the last to inhabit the estate?

Whomever, or whatever, it is, the film clearly shows some phenomenon which appears humanoid in shape and size and moves definitively across the grounds.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Monkeys Teach Offspring to Floss

Female long-tailed macaques have been observed flossing their teeth with human hair. While interesting, the most exciting part is that the monkeys spend twice as much time flossing when their infants are watching, suggesting they are deliberately teaching the offspring to floss.

Experts noted the research is only in the "hypothesis stage," but teaching tool-using techniques to others is a practice thought inherent only to humans.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Man Survives Niagra Fall

From the vault:

A man survived a plunge over Horseshoe Falls on March 12^th. He was pretty naked.

Eyewitnesses say they saw the man climb a wall, then leap. Moments later, he was seen clinging to a log. He swam away from rescuers, but was eventually pulled from the icy waters when a helicopter used its blades to blow him closer to shore. He was taken to a hospital, where he was treated for hypothermia and a head wound. He was conscious but unable to speak and was listed in critical condition.

Few have ever survived the Falls. Authorities decreed it illegal, as there was a time in which many tried. In 2003, an American tourist survived a leap he later explained as "a spur of the moment act."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Avalanche o' the Odd

I hate to do this to you, but today is going to be incredibly busy; I'll be posting all day long, one right after the next. I know it has been hit-and-miss lately, but I said it would be. We start packing the house up this week - might even start tonight, if we can find the boxes and all that.

I have tons of stories I have bookmarked over the last few weeks, when I wasn't able to be here to actually cover them, so a lot of the stuff I'll be bringing you is kinda old - you may have already heard about some of this. Still, it's interesting stuff.

I have no idea what this and the following weeks will bring at this point. You'll know more when I do. You may want to save a few stories for when I'm unable to be here.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

The Tombs of Anthony & Cleopatra

Archaeologists think they are hot on the trail of the tomb bearing Anthony and Cleopatra's bodies. They have been excavating a series of tombs recently discovered near Alexandria and finds within those - including a mask thought to have belonged to Mark Anthony - suggest the star-crossed lovers' mummies may be nearby.

In one tomb, they uncovered a series of shafts in which they think the pair's bodies might be located. This is where they found the mask, as well as a bust of Cleopatra, and several coins with their images.

Also interesting, researchers say the coins bearing the images of both Mark Anthony and Cleopatra refute the claim that some experts have made, as to Cleopatra's beauty being exaggerated.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

More on Legalizing Drugs

Economist and Harvard Lecturer, Jeffrey Miron, wrote an intriguing piece on CNN a while back, calling for the legalization of drugs. As regular readers know, a British intellectual recently made our little blog when he suggested much the same. But while Prof. David Nutt was simply suggesting certain drugs be reclassified as less dangerous, Miron suggests the entire prohibition of drugs be lifted.

As he successfully argues, violence is the norm in the drug trade specifically because those involved in it have no other means by which to resolve their disputes. They cannot sue, they cannot enter arbitration, they cannot use advertising to best their competition. He also notes that violence was the norm when alcohol was prohibited, but not before and not after. He adds gambling and prostitution, as well; violence is not common where these practices are legal.

In his piece, Miron goes on to offer numerous other reasons for the legalization of drugs and the drug industry. His article is well-written and recommended, as you may have heard many of the arguments he presents, but his ability to communicate makes them resonate. Commenting is closed on the piece, though some of the comments included are worth reading.

In general, it seems more and more people are in favor of legalizing the drug industry, specifically so it can be controlled. They are tired of the violence, the tactics used by police, the harsh punishments associated with drugs, and all that goes along with the "war on drugs" which has been going on for decades now and has done absolutely no one any good.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

New Tallest Man Discovered

Former basketball player, Zhao Liang, may well be the world's tallest man.  He was "discovered" after being treated at a hospital.  He is 8'1" tall, putting him nearly 4" over the current record-holder, Bao Xishun, who is also Chinese.  Liang is now hoping the Guinness World Records will confirm his height and give him the record.

A basketball star until he injured himself a decade ago, Zhao Liang was unemployed until he learned to do magic tricks and play instruments and began performing with a street troupe.  Doctors at the hospital were shocked at his height when he came in to be treated.  They say he should make a full recovery.

Unlike many, Zhao Liang suffers no health problems related to his height.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Some Tea with Your Shooting

Police were looking for Tammy Sexton's husband because they had a restraining order to give him - one which told him to stay away from his wife. However, they didn't find Donald Ray Sexton before he got to his wife. As a relative ran to a neighbor's house to call police, Donald Ray Sexton shot his wife point-blank in the head, then went outside and shot himself.

But when cops got to the house, Tammy Sexton answered the door holding a rag. "What's going on?" she asked. She made herself a cup of tea and offered the policeman something to drink.

Apparently, the .380-gauge bullet passed between the lobes of her brain without causing serious damage. A neurosurgeon confirmed that there is a small place where a missile could pass without causing major damage, but "It would be rare."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Old Woman's Roo'ed Encounter

A 67-year old retiree was picking flowers near her home in the small town of Sunbury, near Melbourne, when she was attacked by a kangaroo. The roo knocked her down and clawed her. While the entire encounter only lasted about 30 second, she suffered scratches to her head, neck, and back severe enough to warrant surgery.

Some believe the kangaroo attacked because it was hungry. Townspeople note kangaroos have been approaching the houses in the neighborhood more frequently lately and many had feared an attack. Droughts in the region have killed much of the grasses the marsupials usually eat.

In March, a kangaroo bounded through a window in Canberra. It destroyed the bedroom before the homeowner found the courage to displace it by putting it in a "headlock" and dragging it outside. Last year, we brought you a similar report of an attack on an elderly woman. In that attack, her dog chased off the kangaroo, but not before she also suffered serious wounds.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Wombat TP

Australian... industrialists? Someone in Australia had been playing with poo, kangaroo poo to be more specific, trying to make various products from it, such as paper. Because these animals are herbivores, their waste is largely fibrous. When tourists were introduced to the concept, they would ask questions such as "Can you make it from sheep, koalas, etc." The animal most mentioned, though, was the wombat. So Creative Paper, a company local to Burnie, decided to find out.

Everyday, a local farmer collects the droppings from his single wombat, named Nugget. The waste is then sent to Creative Paper, which boils it down, and creates novelty toilet paper for sale to tourists. While workers say it smells "horrific, as you can imagine" while being boiled, once processed, it bears no scent.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Man Bites Snake - Now This is News!

A Kenyan man bit the tail of a python to escape its deadly grasp, but there's oh so much more to this wonderful story:

Ben Nyaumbe said he "stepped on a spongy thing" and was suddenly in a fight for his life. The python, which he surmised had been preying on livestock, coiled around his leg, starting what would be a three-hour fight between man and snake.

Nyaumbe's tenacity and quick-thinking are all that saved him: he put his shirt over the serpent's head to keep it from swallowing him and got to his cellphone when the python released its grip at some point. When police arrived, they wanted to shoot the snake, but were afraid of injuring Nyaumbe.

Finally, Nyaumbe's boss and several villagers tied a rope to the snake and brought both serpent and entangled victim crashing to the ground. There, they managed to help Ben Nyaumbe free himself.

The single most interesting thing about this case is that the python dragged Ben Nyaumbe into a tree! Time and again, eyewitnesses have made claims to pythons swallowing children, even adults, as well as to the fact that truly large serpents exist. "Experts" have dismissed all such stories and explained-away most photographic evidence as trickery or illusion. According to most Western world "experts," no python grows large enough to swallow a man whole, regardless of the persistence of such stories, regardless of photographic evidence.

The Superintendent of the Malindi District where this occurred, Peter Katam, told the BBC, "If it wasn't for the villagers and officers who helped him, he would have been swallowed by the snake over the Easter holiday.

"It's very mysterious, this ability to lift the man onto the tree. I've never heard of this before."

Police took the python to a sanctuary, but it escaped. The village is now in fear of the beast, for which they say they "are still seriously looking." Supt. Katam added, "We want to arrest the snake."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

The World's Oldest Baby

No ladies, this is not a post about your husbands. This is the curious case of India's Jerly Lyngdoh, a 26-year old man with a 2-year old's body and a 65-year old's teeth. Lyngdoh's entire body is perfectly proportioned for a toddler. It is not until he smiles that you realize Jerly Lyngdoh is... different.

Lyngdoh suffers from a condition which is basically the opposite of progeria (the super-advanced aging disease); it is not a stunted-growth case. A pediatrician, working with a colleague, who examined him said, "We think this is a case of pan-hypo pituitarism leading to poor secretion of growth hormones from the pituitary gland." He then called Jerly Lyngdoh "a genuine rarity."

You can see his teeth are already rotting, and Lyngdoh also suffers from seizures. He is possessed of the mental capacities befitting a child and cannot speak. Jerly is entirely dependent on his mother. Jerly's maternal grandparents even considered him a curse on the family and urged his mother to wack him!

While his condition might have been treatable had it been caught earlier, his poor, illiterate, agrarian parents did not have the money to pursue medical treatment. His mother did take him to a traditional healer, but the healer was unable to cure him of his epilepsy. The examining team eliminated genetics as a factor, as none of Lyngdoh's six siblings suffer any abnormalities.

A charity helped his mother, Merilda, get him to a reputable medical facility, where he was closely studied for 17 months before being moved to a more advanced hospital. The team overseeing his treatment and studying his condition are hoping to get help from the larger medical community.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Perry Mason Arrested for Practicing Law

44-year-old Perry Mason of Houston was arrested for barratry, which is a third-degree felony.  Reports say Mason was soliciting former jail inmates for an unnamed lawyer.  The lawyer was also arrested but released Wednesday on bond.

Perry Mason, portrayed by Raymond Burr in the classic TV series and several made-for-TV movies, was based on the equally popular novel series by creator, Erle Stanley Gardner.  It ran for nine years and garnered Burr two Emmys.  The made-for-TV movies continued up to 1993.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Gay Tactics? Release Your Inner Cannibal!

23-year old Zacharie Morrison plead guilty to aggravated assault in January, regarding an attack he made on then 31-year-old Aaron Helferty in which he bit the man's nose -- hard enough that Helferty has since undergone surgery to repair it.   But that isn't that interesting:

Morrison told the court-appointed psychologist that he became enraged when he saw the older man "grab" a girl on the dancefloor and approached him.  At this point, Morrison says Helferty adopted "gay tactics" by trying to dance with him before grabbing him by the throat.

Morrison said that it was at this point that, "The cannibalist in me came out.  It was really frightening for me."  One can only imagine how it was for Mr. Helferty.  The psychologist also recorded the following statement: "Biting should only be used as a last resort and not as a fight tactic, according to Bruce Lee the martial artist."  This information was entered into evidence in the Canadian court.

While all of this sounds rather bizarre, we have to remember it is being presented completely out of context; were you to record any conversation word for word and present only certain parts of it, it could likewise be perverted.  The psychologist recommended anger management classes and a "career path" for Morrison, but noted he was a "medium risk" for re-offense.

The prosecutor wants to see him serve up to 30 years in prison.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

All These Em-Effin' Snakes on This Em-Effin' Plane!

In a scene straight out of a cheesy horror movie, an Australian flight was grounded when a shipment of baby pythons got loose in the cargo bay.  The snakes, just 6" long, can grow up to a yard in length.  They were being shipped to Melbourne in an aerated plastic bag inside a foam container with holes punched in it.  No one knows how they escaped.

Passengers were put on other flights and the plane was fumigated.  The bodies of the pythons have yet to be found...

(I smell a sequel!)

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Hey, Pig - Yeah, You

Since the HBO special documentary last month, it seems that pigs have suddenly become the cause... du jour.  The truth is that most pig farms are pretty "humane," for as far as that goes, and pork is damned tasty.

While perhaps not the cornerstone of Western civilization, pork is certainly one of the most popular meats in the Western world.  And, as Richard da Costa writes, "If we are going to eat animals... then we must accept that they must be killed to be eaten."

And while vegetarians -- especially vegans -- argue that we meat-eaters are "base," abusive murderers and so on (and on), they're mostly just hangry because they're dying for a porkchop.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Our Drunken Ancestors

A US team under the leadership of the Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, Patrick McGovern, used organic compounds and cutting-edge science to determine that liquid recovered from a vase some 5000 years old contained alcohol.  The container was excavated from Egyptian tombs dating back to around 3150BC.  They are the earliest jars, or amphora, discovered so far containing liquid.

Professor McGovern said the findings prove that our ancestors were using trial and error to develop medicinal concoctions, and that alcohol was a key ingredient in their treatments.  Other ingredients in the liquid are known medicinal components, including herbs and tree barks.  McGovern notes that alcoholic brews would have been particularly well-suited for dissolving these ingredients.

The professor is now collaborating with a team at the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center in testing the oldest alcoholic beverage in existence -- liquid found in China which dates back to around 7000BC.  He is hoping to recreate some of the compounds.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

The Taxman Cometh

I did not receive one of my 1099s until mid-March and there is far too much going on in my life right this minute, so I am still filing taxes. The good news is that the government owes me money (as well it should!); the bad news is that I don't think I'm going to be able to finish filing everything before midnight, so who knows when I'll get it?

Anyway, I'm always collecting stories as I come across them, I just can't always get here to post them before they become "old." Such is the case this week. If I get done in time - or, conversely, realize I will not be able to and file an extension - I'll be back with some more entries. Otherwise, I'll see you later this week.

Also, I told you I have until 3:00p, April 30^th to be moved out of here, so there's that. Just an incredibly busy month.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Yemen Tribsemen Release Dutch Couple

While traveling in the city of Sanaa, a Dutch couple was seized by Yemen tribesmen and forcibly removed from the urban area.  They were relocated to a mountainous region nearby.  There, they say the tribesmen treated them well, offering them food, drink, and tea.  In fact, the husband was shown on TV, pleading with the Dutch government not to use military force to free them.  They were held for nearly two weeks; they were kidnapped on March 31^st.

Yemen tribesmen are known to kidnap unsuspecting victims.  They use them as bargaining chips when dealing with the controlling government.  The Dutch couple (Jan Hoogendoorn and his wife Heleen Janszen, 54 and 49, respectively) were kidnapped in retaliation for the wounding of six tribesmen by Yemen police last year.  The tribe was hoping to use them as bargaining chips for compensation.

The couple was said to be in good condition and on their way back to Sanaa.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

"Deathbed" Confessor Recovers, Charged for Murder

James Brewer thought he was on his deathbed following a stroke. Desperate to enter Heaven and die with a clear conscience, Brewer confessed to shooting a 20-year old neighbor some 32 years ago. Then he made a miraculous recovery.

Brewer explained how he shot and killed 20-year old neighbor, Jimmy Carroll in 1977. He was even charged for the crime, but he jumped bail and fled Tennessee for Oklahoma. Brewer changed his name to Michael Anderson and lived with his wife for 32 years before the stroke landed him in the hospital. He had thought Carroll was trying to seduce his wife.

Anderson, nee Brewer, surrendered to Tennessee police.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

California Tar Balls

Large balls of tar washed up on the shores of Coronado Beach in California late last week. Altogether, there was enough to fill a 55-gallon drum. Beachcombers were warned to steer clear, though they were not thought dangerous.

Experts note this waste could be from an earlier spill, not from one reported Saturday. However, the tarballs were first reported Saturday. Samples from the balls found are being examined and compared to the diesel spill Saturday.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Lego My Christ

A church in Sweden unveiled a 6' statue based on the popular image of Jesus Christ which parishioners had fashioned out of Lego blocks. The statue took 40 people, 18 months, and 30,000 Lego blocks to create. About 400 people showed up to the Protestant church to view the unveiling.

The statue was based on Danish sculptor, Bertel Thorvaldsen's, Christus, which is on display in Copenhagen. The outside of the statue is made entirely of white bricks, though the inner blocks are of all different colors.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Easter Weekend

Our "celebration" consisted of eating - a lot. We roasted a ham in pineapple juice (it was delicious!), and I made a sweet potato pie (my first - it was also the first time I made a non-graham cracker pie crust) and my famous peanut butter cup pie. It was fun, despite the work involved. Speaking of which, there is still a sinkful of dishes.

I actually found a lot of interesting stories regarding Good Friday and Easter that I wanted to bring you. But you've surely heard how we Southerners dealt with a large storm system this weekend and there's another one on the way today. It didn't really hit us, even though we were directly in its path, shifting at the last minute, but we thought for sure it was on its way, so we had to take precautions regardless. I'm not bothering with it today, which means we will probably get hit by a twister...

We'll fly across that bridge when we get to it.

So I'm getting an incredibly early start on things today - before they interrupt TV and all that. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a bunch of stuff out to you, regardless of storm systems.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Bullet Injures Woman... 12 Years After She Was Shot!

In 1997, Mrike Rrucaj was shot in the cheek as she laid in bed. At the ER, the doctor told her the bullet had passed through her cheek and cleaned the wound. The time was one of civil unrest in Albania and doctors were often faced with seriously injured patients, "...not someone standing up and talking to them," as another doctor said.

But, 12 years later, Mrike collapsed in pain. When she got to the hospital, the bullet showed up on an X-ray. It had not gone through her cheek, but had been lodged in her head for over a decade! It was nearly 3cm long.

In 1997, fraudulent pyramid schemes and other problems had led to civil unrest, and Albania was a violent place. Shootings and gunfire were commonplace and some 2000-3000 Albanians died during that time. The chief neurosurgeon of Albania's military hospital, who treated Ms. Rrucaj, said, "It is easy to judge the doctor now, but it was quite different back in 1997."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Einstein, Newton: Autistic?

According to some new research, Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein may have suffered from a form of autism. Researchers from both Cambridge and Oxford note both men had characteristics associated with Asperger's Syndrome. Sufferers of Asperger's Syndrome have trouble communicating with people, are often considered eccentric, and are usually obsessed (to varying degrees) with complex matters.

Einstein displayed these characteristics from a young age. He was always a loner and he often repeated sentences obsessively. Later in life, he became more social and even had several affairs, though he continued to be a bad lecturer. He was also known for his sense of humor. While some characteristics seem at-odds with the diagnosis, researchers insist Einstein had the characteristics associated with the condition.

Newton, on the other hand, displayed "classic" symptoms. He hardly spoke, he was engrossed with his work to the point that he forgot to eat, and was often lukewarm or ill-tempered with the few friends he did have. It is said that if no one turned up to his lectures, he gave them to an empty room! Newton had a nervous breakdown at age 50.

Regardless, many still believe the men's troubles were due to their high intelligence, not Asperger's. Jerry, the neurotic lawyer from Boston Legal, had Asperger's Syndrome. While played largely for laughs, and Jerry's many mental issues were varied and all over the place, experts note that victims of the disease can still excel professionally and in other aspects of life. In fact, passion for one's work and interest(s) is an indication of the condition. But highly intelligent people are often somewhat socially inept and just as passionate about their work and interests.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

130-Year Old Woman?

A new national census in Kazakhstan discovered a woman who claims to be 130 years old -- and has the documentation to prove it!  Sohan Dosova claims to remember when the tsars ruled Russia and Lenin died.  Her passport, issued in the 1980s, says she was born in Karaganda in March, 1879!

Sohan can still walk (though with a cane) and see, but she has trouble hearing and only has one tooth.  Her favorite snack is tea-soaked bread and she says her "secret" is adding butter to the tea.  She has lived her entire life in the small village of Aul, in the Karaganda region.

Aside from her passport and historic claims, there is no real way to prove Sohan's age.  Few rural Kazakhstans were registered in the time she claims to have been born and many of them literally made up their birthdays.  Yet, Kazakhstans are satisfied that Sohan Dosova is the real deal: She is the oldest human being alive and the oldest human being on record.

But, though she has achieved minor fame -- fame her daughter hoped would help improve her living conditions -- Sohan continues to live a meager existence in her little, fifth-floor walk-up.  Her large family (which she calls "a small tribe" -- with good reason: Sohan had 10 children, three of whom are still alive, and she has 35 grandchildren) hopes a generous benefactor will hear of her story and provide her with a better life.

While there are persistent rumors of people at 121 and 134 years of age, Sohan is the only verifiable "oldest person alive."  Before this, Tomoji Tanabe of Japan was thought to be the oldest person alive at 113.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Tag Change: "Avian"

I changed the "avian" tag to "ornithological." I know this is not a major change and I've made far more without telling you, but I thought I would drop by and let you know while it's on my mind.

Tags are an important element of any blog, as they comprise the majority of the navigational system, but I believe they are doubly important to blogs concerning Phenomenalism and have pleaded for more unity in developing accepted tags for use throughout the community. This would make it easier for you, and specifically earnest researchers, to find what y'all are looking for.

However, we also have to keep in mind that most lay-users are unfamiliar with the terminology involved in the fields - that's why there is a "ufology" tag as well as "UFO" and both are included on related posts. Yes, it is redundant, but it helps non-Phenomenalists who don't know to search for "ufology." Speaking of which, the "UFO" tag is being phased-out (The OddBlog is old and established enough that entries should show up under searches for "UFO," even without the tag).

I will keep you apprised of other tags changes, as well as all changes in technical aspects which may affect you and your experience, as they come.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Darwin's Egg Rediscovered

Charles Darwin, considered the father of evolution, once traveled on the HMS Beagle, collecting eggs and other specimens throughout his trip. Amongst these were eggs from different birds. At one time, up to a dozen of these eggs were thought to exist, but none have ever been found... until now.

A volunteer at Cambridge University was sorting the eggs in the museum's collection when she came upon a small, brown egg that was cracked and bears the inscription, "C Darwin." The collections manager, Matt Lowe, was the first to realize the egg's importance. The museum's ornithological curator, Dr. Michael Brooke, traced the egg back through Professor Alfred Newton's notebooks. Newton was a zoologist and peer of Darwin's, who wrote about receiving the egg in the mail.

Newton's notes say Darwin packed the egg in too small a box, causing the crack. He goes on to say Darwin came across it in Uruguay and it is from the Common Tinamou, indigenous to those parts. Darwin originally mistook the bird for a partridge and wrote that its cooked meat was "most delicately white."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

The Wicked Witches of the East... er

In Sweden and parts of Finland, Easter is celebrated by children who dress up as witches and carry copper kettles to beg for treats. The children don dirty rags, old clothes that don't fit, shawls, and other stereotypical "witch" clothing, paint bright red circles of "blush" on their cheeks, and carry a broom and copper pot to trick-or-treat on the Thursday (or Saturday) preceding Easter Sunday. In exchange, the children give their benefactors homemade Easter cards.

The tradition comes from the long-held belief that witches flew to Blåkulla (Blue Mountain) to meet with Satan. Villagers lit fires to scare the witches away on their return trip, which leads to the tradition of lighting fires throughout the season.

Another Swedish Easter tradition involves tying bright feathers to birch twigs. In earlier times, kids lashed each other with birch twigs on Good Friday, to commemorate Christ's pain. However the tradition, which dates back to the 19^th Century, is said to be more about welcoming Spring than the flogging thing.

Swedes still enjoy eggs over the Easter holidays, though they do not hunt for them. They eat a lot of eggs, as eggs are prohibited during Lent and many celebrated the end of their fasting by eating eggs. Children give one another homemade paper "eggs" filled with treats, as well.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Court Tells Mom to STFU

A Viennese court fined a mother nearly $500 for calling her son up to 50 times a day. The woman said her son refuses to talk to her, as does her daughter, and she has never seen her grandchildren, one of whom is now 15 years old; all she wanted to do was talk, she said. But the courts found her guilty of stalking her son.

The woman is 73-years old and the suit was brought by the son, but no more details have been released.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Missouri Re-Elects Dead Mayor

Popular Winfield, Missouri mayor, Harry Stonebraker, has been re-elected to a fourth term - after dying of a heart attack last month. Stonebraker died after the ballots had been printed and the absentee ballots had gone out, and he won by a landslide with 90% of the votes! A temporary mayor will be appointed by the town to serve until a special election takes place next year.

In 2000, Missouri elected a senator who had died in a plane crash weeks earlier. And last year, a small village in Romania elected a dead mayor on purpose!

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Not Gone, Just Forgotten

Sorry guys! I got so busy over the weekend that I literally forgot about you.  I have been bookmarking stories like mad, though- - The Telegraph has had a rash of ghost-related articles since the weekend and I've been keeping up with them, so I'll be getting to them either tonight or tomorrow.

This will be a very sketchy month.  We're moving, for one (and the biggest) thing, and I have to get my taxes filed, thanks to a company which didn't bother to send me the W-2 until the second week of March... So, I really don't know what to tell you, other than to hang in there and keep checking back. You know I'll be around when I can.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Board Firmly Rebukes 'Paddling Judge'

The State Commission on Judicial Conduct officially rebuked Judge Gustavo Garza of Brownsville, TX, for offering parents of truant schoolchildren the option of publicly paddling their children in the courtroom instead of paying a $500 fine.  While the Commission specifically stated Judge Garza's actions "routinely facilitated and permitted the paddling of juveniles in his courtroom thereby clothing the practice with an improper judicial blessing," it added that he had failed to make other arrangements available to them, such as payment plans.

Judge Garza said he understood the Commission's findings, but pointed-out the reduction in the school district's truancy cases.  One of the cases prompting the Commission concerned a man who reluctantly paddled his 14-year old daughter because he could not afford the $500 fine.

Of course, not having kids, it's easy for me to say I don't see the problem here.  And I'm not so far removed from my own childhood that I can't imagine the sheer mortification the kids surely experienced.  But isn't that part of the reason Judge Garza thought of this in the first place?  I can certainly imagine $500 being more of a household concern than the issue of a public paddling -- I know it would have been in my house!

While Judge Garza did not say whether or not he would continue the practice, if he does, he could face fines or even removal from office.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Suicide Discovered 29 Years Later

A 69-year old man climbed some 30+ feet into a spruce tree and lashed himself to the trunk before committing suicide. In 1980.

Landshut (Germany) police say the man apparently never wanted to be found. However, a hiker exploring steep forest found bones on the ground below the tree. The remainder of the skeleton was found in the tree with a gun beside it.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Catholic Church Considering Miracle for Pope John Paul II's Beatification

"I stand before you today and can say, to my mind, Jory is a miracle," Father Art Snedeker told a press conference the other day.  He was talking about Jory Aebly, who sustained a point-blank bullet wound to the head, "execution-style," during a mugging and has made a near-complete recovery.  Aebly and his family, along with Father Snedeker, attribute the miraculous healing to a rosary blessed by Pope John Paul II.

For absolutely no good reason, many Catholics have vied for Pope John Paul II's canonization.  For this to happen, at least two miracles attributed to him have to be documented and verified by the Catholic Church.  So far, the Church has found none, but some are saying Aebly's recovery may be the first.

But one commenter on the ABC news site pointed-out that:

The fact that Pope John Paul II presided over the Catholic Church during its dirtiest scandal since indulgences [sic] (i.e. the pedophile priest sex scandals) and did nothing to stop it really diminishes anything else this man might have done in his lifetime. I wouldn't call that " living a life of heroic virtue."

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Study Finds Unknown Cache of Irrawaddy Dolphins

Thousands of rare Irrawaddy dolphins have been discovered in Bangladeshi waters, bringing the number of known Irrawaddy dolphins up considerably. However researchers note these 6000 dolphins are already endangered by fishing nets and climate changes.

Irrawaddy dolphins are related to orcas (killer whales) and grow to about 8' in length. They are found in freshwater rivers and estuaries in Asia. The largest known populations were thought to contain only a few hundred, if that. The 6000-strong population was discovered in the freshwater regions of the Sundarbans mangrove forest and the Bay of Bengal.

The study made the information known so they could push for greater fishing restrictions in and around the areas. Researchers said the discovery brings "great hope" for the species.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

Bishops Ordain Reiki UnChristian

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has declared the Japanese healing practice of Reiki UnChristian, saying it lacks scientific credibility and is at-odds with Christian values and beliefs. The panel admitted a correlation between Reiki and the Christian belief in the laying of hands, but noted Reiki was a technique, not a prayer, and that lay-healing is believed to be a Divine power granted by God and Christian faith. The panel concluded that Reiki is "superstition."

Reiki was developed in the 1800s and is a process by which believers are said to be able to manipulate life energies through sheer will. The practice is used to heal.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009