A woman in China heard something late one night. She turned on the light to discover a snake with a foot clinging to her wall. Go ahead, I'll wait... Yes: a snake with a foot. What? Oh yes, on her wall - but that, the foot thing is...
The woman says the snake was working its way along her wall with its claw! She became so frightened, she grabbed a shoe and beat the serpent to death, but she thought to preserve it in alcohol. It is now being studied at a university in Nanchang.
The snake is pencil-thin and 16" long. The area around the foot is larger than the rest, giving it a swollen appearance; on first sight, it looks like the snake ate something which burst from its side. However, scientists say it is most likely a mutated specimen. A fairly common snake mutation - possibly related - sees specimens with two heads! These are often killed and saved as good luck charms. Experts say the heads have a tendency to attack one another!
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
The paranormal, the Supernatural, the odd and Unexplained
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Operation: All Clear - The Oklahoma City Bombing
Oklahoma City Bombing The Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995 was alleged to have been carried-out by Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols (alone...
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Transient Finds Way Into Bear Exhibit
A 21-year old transient found his way into a grizzly bear exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo. The man hid behind a bush, but one bear got close enough to gently paw him. Officials fired a warning shot into the cage to keep the animals at bay as they attempted to extricate the moron, who was somehow both uncooperative and unresponsive.
The man was taken to the hospital then released without injury. He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of trespassing and harassing an animal in captivity. The transient has a previous record of making threats and carrying a concealed weapon.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
The man was taken to the hospital then released without injury. He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of trespassing and harassing an animal in captivity. The transient has a previous record of making threats and carrying a concealed weapon.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Alli and its Alternatives
You have almost certainly heard of Alli - especially if you have need for it or anything like it. It is the only FDA-approved diet supplement for losing weight. It is an OTC pill you can get at drugstores across the nation and, by modifying your behavior (curbing your eating habits, eating healthier, and exercising regularly), you are supposed to be able to lose up to 50% more weight by using alli than you would without it. It is an actual weight loss supplement clinically proven to help you lose weight - again, the only one approved by the FDA.
But there are a lot of alternatives which some people insist can help you lose more weight, faster, than Alli can. Whether or not this is true depends upon whom you talk to, and there are an awful lot of these sites these days. In my opinion, you will do better going with a clinically-proven supplement backed by the FDA than investing your hopes in unproven alternatives. But do your research and decide for yourself.
But there are a lot of alternatives which some people insist can help you lose more weight, faster, than Alli can. Whether or not this is true depends upon whom you talk to, and there are an awful lot of these sites these days. In my opinion, you will do better going with a clinically-proven supplement backed by the FDA than investing your hopes in unproven alternatives. But do your research and decide for yourself.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
"FED" Hanging was Murder
I really need to follow the development of one of these stories online one of these days, as this one has been circling for a while now and absolutely nothing new has developed since it was first reported, yet it keeps being re-reported as though it just happened and things just developed:
A census worker was found naked and gagged, his hands bound behind him, hanging from a tree in a Kentucky cemetery by a visitor from Ohio. Originally, it was reported that the man was going door-to-door in Clay County, KY. The big detail was that the word, "FED," had been scrawled across his chest in pen. The details as to his being bound and gagged, as well as his having been found naked, were not released, but the original report said clearly that it had been determined a homicide - in fact, the article I read said something along the lines of, "Police are not releasing many details, but say it was a homicide."
I don't know when it was amended to say they aren't sure as to this last detail, but it has been. Now, how - exactly - do you bind your own hands behind your back before you write something across your chest and hang yourself? Well, it's Kentucky - them boys'll git to figurin' on it... Now they are refusing to say if he was going door-to-door, yet the article I read quoted a friend of his who said he'd warned him to be careful in that area. Furthermore, door-to-door census calls in the area have been canceled.
Obviously, them Clay County boys done gone and compromised the investigation. And they ought to be charged for it.
The latest AP article quotes "two anonymous sources" and also mentions drug activity in the area - particularly meth labs.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
A census worker was found naked and gagged, his hands bound behind him, hanging from a tree in a Kentucky cemetery by a visitor from Ohio. Originally, it was reported that the man was going door-to-door in Clay County, KY. The big detail was that the word, "FED," had been scrawled across his chest in pen. The details as to his being bound and gagged, as well as his having been found naked, were not released, but the original report said clearly that it had been determined a homicide - in fact, the article I read said something along the lines of, "Police are not releasing many details, but say it was a homicide."
I don't know when it was amended to say they aren't sure as to this last detail, but it has been. Now, how - exactly - do you bind your own hands behind your back before you write something across your chest and hang yourself? Well, it's Kentucky - them boys'll git to figurin' on it... Now they are refusing to say if he was going door-to-door, yet the article I read quoted a friend of his who said he'd warned him to be careful in that area. Furthermore, door-to-door census calls in the area have been canceled.
Obviously, them Clay County boys done gone and compromised the investigation. And they ought to be charged for it.
The latest AP article quotes "two anonymous sources" and also mentions drug activity in the area - particularly meth labs.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Healthy Fellow
A while back, I told you to get ready for a slew of posts about food. I was reading a couple of books, one a cookbook and the other a kind of history of food-type book, and there was a lot of information on herbs, dishes, drinks, and rituals associated with food that figured into a lot of the superstitions, myths, legends, and lore from around the world. It got me thinking about the whole idea and since we sometimes cover health-related items here as a matter of course, I thought it would make for good reading. Unfortunately, this was just a few weeks before it became certain that I was moving and things got hairy (as they have too often lately). We'll get to all of it one of these days - assuming we have the luxury.
I say that because I really am trying to live healthier. After this surgery, I may well feel like a kid again - I'll at least be able to lead a far more active life than I have these last 6-7 years... if I get in shape to actually take advantage of it. So I'm pleased to tell you I found a truly well-written, knowledgeable health blog I can recommend. Even better, Healthy Fellow focuses on natural foods and a food-based (holistic) approach to health - which is right up our alley!
So, one of these days, I'll post some of those ideas I had about food, folklore, and superstitions, etc., but it's not like I can give you any advice on living healthfully. Healthy Fellow can do that. I read it.
I say that because I really am trying to live healthier. After this surgery, I may well feel like a kid again - I'll at least be able to lead a far more active life than I have these last 6-7 years... if I get in shape to actually take advantage of it. So I'm pleased to tell you I found a truly well-written, knowledgeable health blog I can recommend. Even better, Healthy Fellow focuses on natural foods and a food-based (holistic) approach to health - which is right up our alley!
So, one of these days, I'll post some of those ideas I had about food, folklore, and superstitions, etc., but it's not like I can give you any advice on living healthfully. Healthy Fellow can do that. I read it.
Friday, September 25, 2009
The Cattle Suicides
While scientists say the idea that cattle committed suicide is silly, some 30 cattle fell to their deaths within about three days in the Swiss village of Lauterbrunnen about a month ago. About the same time, over 30 cattle fell to their deaths in Fresno, California. While the circumstances were very similar, no one is sure how or why the cattle died.
Cattle are often let loose to graze on mountainsides, and they become quite adept at navigating their environment. While some do fall to their deaths, the chance is small enough that the practice is still around. The only thing experts have been able to surmise is that the cattle were looking for new areas in which to graze and followed one another too closely... although that sounds flimsy - cows are pretty stupid, but I think at least one cow out of 30 would start wondering what happened to all the others on about Day Two.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Cattle are often let loose to graze on mountainsides, and they become quite adept at navigating their environment. While some do fall to their deaths, the chance is small enough that the practice is still around. The only thing experts have been able to surmise is that the cattle were looking for new areas in which to graze and followed one another too closely... although that sounds flimsy - cows are pretty stupid, but I think at least one cow out of 30 would start wondering what happened to all the others on about Day Two.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Anglo-Saxon Hoard Found in Field
"This is what metal detectorists dream of, finding stuff like this," 55-year old Terry Herbert told journalists, after it was reported that he had stumbled upon an ancient gold hoard worth some seven-figures. Herbert found the cache in a field in Staffordshire owned by a friend. The field is located in what was once the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia.
The hoard, the largest Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found in the UK, contains some 1500 gold and silver pieces and is thought to hail from the 7th-Century. It is so large, experts say it may take a year or more to value it. It has been demarcated a "treasure," meaning it belongs to the Crown. Herbert and his farmer friend will be rewarded for the find. "I have this phrase that I say sometimes - 'spirits of yesteryear take me where the coins appear' - but on that day I changed 'coins' to 'gold,'" Herbert said. "I don't know why I said it that day but I think somebody was listening..."
The hoard contained boxes of gold, swords with bejewelled pommels, over 500 silver pieces, and more. X-rays have shown over 50 dirt clods from the site contain objects yet to be uncovered. Jewels, copper alloy, and glass objects accompanied the find, but "feminine items," such as brooches and pendants, were curiously absent.
Archaeologists know it was not a burial, and do not believe it was an offering. Many of the pieces have been stripped of their precious metals and jewels, leading experts to think the pieces themselves were not valued as objects; some ancient cultures used "hacksilver" for moneys - large pieces of jewelry, such as bracelets, from which pieces were hacked to use as currency. Hoarding is not associated with the 7th-Century and the pieces are warlike in nature, so the treasure may have been buried for safe-keeping and never recovered.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
The hoard, the largest Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found in the UK, contains some 1500 gold and silver pieces and is thought to hail from the 7th-Century. It is so large, experts say it may take a year or more to value it. It has been demarcated a "treasure," meaning it belongs to the Crown. Herbert and his farmer friend will be rewarded for the find. "I have this phrase that I say sometimes - 'spirits of yesteryear take me where the coins appear' - but on that day I changed 'coins' to 'gold,'" Herbert said. "I don't know why I said it that day but I think somebody was listening..."
The hoard contained boxes of gold, swords with bejewelled pommels, over 500 silver pieces, and more. X-rays have shown over 50 dirt clods from the site contain objects yet to be uncovered. Jewels, copper alloy, and glass objects accompanied the find, but "feminine items," such as brooches and pendants, were curiously absent.
Archaeologists know it was not a burial, and do not believe it was an offering. Many of the pieces have been stripped of their precious metals and jewels, leading experts to think the pieces themselves were not valued as objects; some ancient cultures used "hacksilver" for moneys - large pieces of jewelry, such as bracelets, from which pieces were hacked to use as currency. Hoarding is not associated with the 7th-Century and the pieces are warlike in nature, so the treasure may have been buried for safe-keeping and never recovered.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Death for Albino Witchdoctors
A Tanzanian court has sentenced three to die for the brutal killing of a 14-year old, albino boy. His legs were dismembered and sold for use in spells cast by witchdoctors meant to bring forth wealth and affluence. This is the first conviction since the murders began in earnest a few years ago. Tanzania's legal systems are notoriously corrupt.
While some experts say the sentences might curb some of the violence, others do not. The killers will appeal the verdict, but regardless of their conclusion(s), the market for albino body parts is simply too large and too strong to be stopped by a handful of executions. There have been over 50 albino murders in the region since 2007.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
While some experts say the sentences might curb some of the violence, others do not. The killers will appeal the verdict, but regardless of their conclusion(s), the market for albino body parts is simply too large and too strong to be stopped by a handful of executions. There have been over 50 albino murders in the region since 2007.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Montauk Monster Vacations in Panama, Gets Whacked by Gang
A creature eyewitnesses describe as "Gollum from Lord of the Rings" is said to have been killed by a small gang of children who thought it was set to attack them. According to the children, the creature emerged from a cave behind a waterfall and stumbled toward them in a manner that suggested it was set to attack. Depending on the account(s), the kids either beat it to death with sticks or threw stones at it and tossed it back in the river.
When the parents went to investigate, they were shocked to find the creature's corpse had washed ashore. Several pictures were taken which clearly show the creature looks exactly like... the Montauk Monster. The corpse was left on the rocks until vultures picked it apart. A zoologist in the region is set to investigate, but speculates beforehand that the creature is a mutated sloth.
Actually, it appears we are dealing with a species heretofore unknown. The creature looks specifically like the Montauk Monster! Perhaps climate or ecological changes have pushed these things into sight. The "Gollum" suggestion could be quite apt, if - in keeping with the theme of The OddBlog - these creatures are from an inner Earth.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
When the parents went to investigate, they were shocked to find the creature's corpse had washed ashore. Several pictures were taken which clearly show the creature looks exactly like... the Montauk Monster. The corpse was left on the rocks until vultures picked it apart. A zoologist in the region is set to investigate, but speculates beforehand that the creature is a mutated sloth.
Actually, it appears we are dealing with a species heretofore unknown. The creature looks specifically like the Montauk Monster! Perhaps climate or ecological changes have pushed these things into sight. The "Gollum" suggestion could be quite apt, if - in keeping with the theme of The OddBlog - these creatures are from an inner Earth.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Polish Yeti a Pervert?
One week after a teenager caught what he says is a Yeti on film, a 19-year old girl says a similar creature watched her bathe from the opposite bank. The girl says she was skinny-dipping (swimmin' nekkid) when she saw what she thought was a bear on the bank. When it raised itself on two legs and ran off, she was shocked. Her boyfriend snapped a grainy photo which might be real only because it looks so fake.
A week earlier, another camper filmed a dark, apelike figure in the same area. Bigfoot hunters and park officials alike have descended on the area.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
A week earlier, another camper filmed a dark, apelike figure in the same area. Bigfoot hunters and park officials alike have descended on the area.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Swarm of Bees Kills Colorado Man
An 81-year old man who was mowing the yard of an abandoned house near his home was attacked by possibly "Africanized" bees. He suffered multiple stings, but emergency workers say he likely died from bee stings to his head and upper torso.
A team of experts was sent to the abandoned property, charged with the removal of the bees.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
A team of experts was sent to the abandoned property, charged with the removal of the bees.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Oldest Living American Dies
115-year old Gertrude Baines of Los Angeles died yesterday of what is thought to be heart failure. Baines was the officially-recognized oldest human being alive. She inherited the title in either January or May of this year, depending on whether or not you believe the story of Sohan Dosova. Dosova, thought by many to have been 130 years old, died in May; Maria de Jesus, also 115, died in January.
The oldest verifiable living person today is thought to be 114-year old Kama Chinen of Japan.
Ms. Baines is thought to have been the oldest voter ever in 2008; she voted for Barack Obama. President Obama sent her a congratulatory letter on her birthday this past April.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
The oldest verifiable living person today is thought to be 114-year old Kama Chinen of Japan.
Ms. Baines is thought to have been the oldest voter ever in 2008; she voted for Barack Obama. President Obama sent her a congratulatory letter on her birthday this past April.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Birth of the Antichrist
A pregnant Minnesotan and her husband joked about their baby being due on September 9th and when the doctor chose that date, they laughed. When the Lacrosse area woman's surgery was scheduled for 9am, the husband once again joked about the baby being born at 9:09a.
When Henry Michael Berendes was born on 09-09-09 at 9:09a, he weighed 9 lbs., 9 oz.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
When Henry Michael Berendes was born on 09-09-09 at 9:09a, he weighed 9 lbs., 9 oz.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Ghost Hunter Falls to Death
A man and woman were investigating a 134-year old building they believed haunted at the University of Toronto and were three stories above the ground when they came to an impasse. Instead of making their way back to ground-level and finding a way to the other building, the pair decided to jump. The man made it, but the structure gave way beneath the woman as she leapt.
Police were called to investigate reports of two people jumping from the old building. The woman was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Police were called to investigate reports of two people jumping from the old building. The woman was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Technical Requests
Hey guys, I am going to be making some changes here this week. I'm writing this to ask - nay, beg - any of you to tell me if you have problems viewing the blog, things look wonky, or just to give me general suggestions if there's anything you'd like to see or for me to get rid of or whatever.
I'm working on an older OS under an older browser and I already know some things appear differently under Vista than they do under 98, so I can't always tell when things are funky. Please, just let me know if you notice anything funky.
Thanks!
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
I'm working on an older OS under an older browser and I already know some things appear differently under Vista than they do under 98, so I can't always tell when things are funky. Please, just let me know if you notice anything funky.
Thanks!
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Japanese PM's Wife Rode Spaceship to Venus, Married the Alien
Miyuki Hatoyama, wife of Japan's prime minister-elect, wrote about a close encounter she claims to have had some 20+ years ago. In her autobiography, Very Strange Things I have Encountered, Miyuki says her "soul" was taken aboard a "triangular" spacecraft one night "While [her] body was asleep." She says the spacecraft took her to Venus, which she described as "a very beautiful place and... very green."
Miyuki told her now ex-husband about the event and he told her it was just a dream, but she obviously believes there was more to it than that. She later married Yukio Hatoyama, who will take office as Japan's Prime Minister this September. Miyuki herself pursued a career in acting in the 1960s, then moved to America and penned several cookbooks.
Hatoyama was once nicknamed "the alien" because of his prominent eyes.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Miyuki told her now ex-husband about the event and he told her it was just a dream, but she obviously believes there was more to it than that. She later married Yukio Hatoyama, who will take office as Japan's Prime Minister this September. Miyuki herself pursued a career in acting in the 1960s, then moved to America and penned several cookbooks.
Hatoyama was once nicknamed "the alien" because of his prominent eyes.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
New Sources
Well, for the most part, the "30-mile Yardsale" was a bust. Pretty much everyone and their brother piled shit they didn't want on their front lawn and, even though we were some of the first out there (we left home at 5:30a - my dad comes from a long line of dedicated yard-salers), there just wasn't much to be had.
There were two, distinct types of sellers: those who just wanted to get rid of their crap and those who thought they were going to redecorate their homes with the proceeds. There were just too many of the latter to land any real "finds." These people were selling pens and pencils for $1.00 a piece! Regardless, as far as books, comics, and RPG go, there was absolutely nothing to be had. I got a great deal on a Yamaha drum machine but, other than that, nothing.
Still, I managed to pick up one new source: Ripley's Believe it or Not! 9th Series. I wrote a post concerning plagiarism over to Weird Ink (the Writing department) which is kind of a digression here, but needed to be mentioned in case anyone is interested in learning more about how these sources are used. You can find a list of sources used in the Links section of the left sidebar and under the sources tag.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
There were two, distinct types of sellers: those who just wanted to get rid of their crap and those who thought they were going to redecorate their homes with the proceeds. There were just too many of the latter to land any real "finds." These people were selling pens and pencils for $1.00 a piece! Regardless, as far as books, comics, and RPG go, there was absolutely nothing to be had. I got a great deal on a Yamaha drum machine but, other than that, nothing.
Still, I managed to pick up one new source: Ripley's Believe it or Not! 9th Series. I wrote a post concerning plagiarism over to Weird Ink (the Writing department) which is kind of a digression here, but needed to be mentioned in case anyone is interested in learning more about how these sources are used. You can find a list of sources used in the Links section of the left sidebar and under the sources tag.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Taxidermist to Stuff Chupacabra
A student brought Jerry Ayer, a teacher at the Blanco Taxidermy School in Texas, a creature for identification - but Ayer could not identify the beast, either. He put it in his freezer, where it resides to this day.
The specimen is hairless, with lathery, gray skin and large fangs,. Ayer says the front legs are longer than those of a normal coyote. Ayer says he has never seen anything like it. The alleged chupacabra was poisoned by Ayer's former student who originally thought his barn was infested by mice. The specimen is whole and in very good condition, as Ayer has been keeping it in the freezer.
Prior to the poisoning, there were several reported sightings in the area of an animal matching Ayer's description of the "chupacabra" in his freezer. He plans to stuff and mount the creature, then offer it to a local museum for display.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
The specimen is hairless, with lathery, gray skin and large fangs,. Ayer says the front legs are longer than those of a normal coyote. Ayer says he has never seen anything like it. The alleged chupacabra was poisoned by Ayer's former student who originally thought his barn was infested by mice. The specimen is whole and in very good condition, as Ayer has been keeping it in the freezer.
Prior to the poisoning, there were several reported sightings in the area of an animal matching Ayer's description of the "chupacabra" in his freezer. He plans to stuff and mount the creature, then offer it to a local museum for display.
I don’t know what to call it, I'll just call it a chupacabra too.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
Mermaid Medical Association Set to Sue Kiryat Yam
A few weeks ago, we brought you the story of Kiryat Yam; the municipality is offering approximately $1 million to anyone who can "prove" the existence of a mermaid in the area, which eyewitnesses have been reporting for several months now.
On August 24th, the municipality received a letter from a Brooklyn, NY organization calling itself the Mermaid Medical Association. The Association threatened to appeal to the International Court of Justice in Holland if Kiryat Yam does not rescind the $1 million offer within 10 days.
Kiryat Yam officials said they were "shocked" by the letter and restated they are not encouraging people to hunt the mermaid, but to simply collect evidence of its existence. The offer states a photograph of the creature will suffice.
A spokesperson said Kiryat Yam intends to appeal to the Mermaid Medical Assoc. and ask them to get involved to help prove the mermaid's existence.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
On August 24th, the municipality received a letter from a Brooklyn, NY organization calling itself the Mermaid Medical Association. The Association threatened to appeal to the International Court of Justice in Holland if Kiryat Yam does not rescind the $1 million offer within 10 days.
[The $1 million offer] badly and outrageously damages the legendary mermaid legacy.
- The Mermaid Medical Assoc.
Kiryat Yam officials said they were "shocked" by the letter and restated they are not encouraging people to hunt the mermaid, but to simply collect evidence of its existence. The offer states a photograph of the creature will suffice.
A spokesperson said Kiryat Yam intends to appeal to the Mermaid Medical Assoc. and ask them to get involved to help prove the mermaid's existence.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
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