Ghost Sightings Highest in 25 Years

Lionel Fanthorpe, widely considered an expert on the Unexplained in Britain, has concluded that not only are ghost sightings in the UK at their highest in the last quarter-century, encounters with evil spirits, dæmons, and Elementals are "as widespread today as in medieval times."

Fanthorpe conducted his research online, as well as in various archives and his own reports. He sought to identify all decidedly Supernatural sightings with evil aspects, and decided upon 968 reports of "dæmonic activity" over the last 25 years.

Fanthorpe further identified Yorkshire as the heart of the sightings, with 74 reports of sightings - including "hell hounds," ghouls, and werewolves - dæmonic possession, water dæmons, and more. The sightings of a "water dæmon" in Filey Bay, with a serpentine body and glowing eyes, may be sightings of a cryptozoological specimen, though.

Devon rated second on the list, most well-known (here, especially) as the home of the Devil's Footprints. But a dæmonic form dubbed "Stephens" merited special note: A hideous, skeletal apparition clothed in dingy, gray robes, it i s thought to be the specter of a man who committed suicide in Dartmoor. Fanthorpe noted 57 reports from the area.

Somerset landed in third, with 51 sightings, but had the highest number of "monster" sightings. Wiltshire is close behind, with 46 reports, most of which were of "hell hounds." Not surprisingly, a "big, black dog with eyes like hot, red coals" has been frequently spotted at Black Dog Hill near Black Dog Woods.

Also unsurprisingly, Inverness - which lay at the mouth of the infamous Loch Ness - leads the list in "water dæmons," with 13 sightings over the last 25 years. Most of these are of "kelpie," a type of water spirit which attempts to lure victims to their death by drowning.

Dorset, Norfolk and Lancashire¹, Sussex and Derbyshire¹, Essex and Suffolk¹, and Lincolnshire rounded-out the top ten list.

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¹: Tied.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Spontaneous Human Combustion in Literature: Mark Twain

Spontaneous human combustion was prolific throughout 19^th-Century literature.  It made appearances in books and stories from major writers, including Dickens, Melville, and (arguably) America's greatest humorist, Mark Twain.

In Life on the Mississippi, Twain details the death of one Jimmy Finn, a drunken sot.  This excerpt is from the book, published in 1883 (now in the public domain):

Jimmy Finn was not burned in the calaboose, but died a natural death in a tan vat, of a combination of delirium tremens and spontaneous combustion.  When I say natural death, it was a natural death for Jimmy Finn.

Obviously humorous, this account still includes spontaneous human combustion almost as an afterthought. While Twain was not a noted phenomenalist, he was -- and he remains -- a great intellectual; it seems Twain, like many of his day, believed whole-heartedly in spontaneous human combustion and associated such a death with alcoholics.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

'Engulfed in Flames'

While The Wick Effect has been demonstrated under controlled conditions many times, and is thought to explain the majority of cases involving "spontaneous human combustion," some cases remain inexplicable. Such is the case of Mary Carpenter, who was "engulfed in flames and reduced to a charred corpse" in mere minutes.

In full view of her husband and children!

This event occurred in England, off the coast of Norfolk on a cabin cruiser on July 29^th, 1938. The investigating officer "suppose[d] her clothes caught fire," but admitted he could not explain how this happened, nor why she burned so quickly. Also inexplicable: None of the family were injured, and the boat was not burned.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Human Torch

I do my best to classify these stories by tags, because I really want to make this information available to researchers, phenomenalists, and armchair paranormalists, but some stories defy the categories, no matter how well-crafted or numerous. This is one such story:

A woman from Antigua in August of 1929 began experiencing troublesome fires about her person: Her clothes and bedding repeatedly caught fire and were scorched when she awoke each morning, yet she herself remained unburned. Neighbors who helped the woman replace her wardrobe and bedding corroborated her unusual story.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Burglars Steal TVs from Prison

Danish thieves have targeted a minimum-security prison twice in the last two months, making off with TV sets from cells in which the prisoners are away on weekend furloughs. The facility is for prisoners nearing the end of their sentences, and seeks to help re-integrate them into society, so many prisoners are allowed to leave for the weekend on a regular basis. This is when the thieves have chosen to strike.

Authorities have yet to determine how the gang accessed the prison, and no arrests have been made.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

New Hampshire Teens Lifted by UFO, Dropped

At first, the policeman didn't believe their story, but after he looked at the vehicle, he couldn't figure out why the airbags deployed when there was no damage. According to the report, two teens say a UFO picked up their vehicle, then dropped it almost 200' away. The asphalt at the scene is damaged, but shows no tire marks as one might suspect, had the teens run over it. The policeman, nor the teens, knew it, but the car's undercarriage was totaled.

MUFON is now looking into the event.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Decapitated Body Sacrifice to Blood-Thirsty Goddess

Police say the decapitated head and naked torso of a man found on the steps of a temple to the goddess Kali is a sacrifice to the goddess. Kali is the Hindu goddess of time and change, and is considered a bloodthirsty deity. She is most often depicted wearing a necklace of human skulls. Followers who offer her human sacrifices expect to be rewarded with fertility, health, and wealth.

While human sacrifice is obviously illegal in India, it does occur. Authorities say there is a thriving underground of secret ceremonies in which humans are sacrificed "to propitiate the gods." A three-year old boy was sacrificed to gods just a week ago. It was the second child sacrifice in the region in as many months.

Beliefs in witchcraft and the practice of black magic is predominate in rural areas, where people are poorer, and often desperate to change their plight. However, last October, two high-ranking scientists in Gwalior allegedly attempted to murder a junior co-worker as a sacrifice! In fact, experts say belief in black magic is on the rise, worldwide.

The victim found at the temple had his forehead smeared with vermilion and was surrounded by flowers and incense - certain indicators of a ceremonial sacrifice.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Sherpas to Clean Everest's 'Death Zone'

A 30-year old sherpa and his team of trained climbers plan to scale Mt. Everest and clean the debris from the infamous "Death Zone."  The area above 26,000' is known as the "death zone" because of the lack of oxygen.  While many climbers have cleaned Everest at lower elevations, none have dared to clean above the 26k' mark.  The climber in charge of the expedition says there is litter there which dates back to the first time Everest was scaled in 1953, by Sir Edmund Hillary.

The team hopes to clean nearly 45,000 lbs. of oxygen and water bottles, gas canisters, ropes, tents, and more -- items many climbers discard on their way down out of sheer exhaustion.  They are also set to recover the corpse of a man who died in 2008, then cremate it at the base of the mountain.  The leader of the team says he has seen three corpses lying in the Death Zone "for years."

Mt. Everest has been derided as 'the world's tallest garbage dump.'  Much of the trash has been covered by snow for years, but global warming has melted a lot of that, revealing the junk.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Locust Pizza

In response to locust swarms which have clouded the region, one Australian pizza owner has made lemonade of... he's made a locust pizza! While the mayor of the region is credited for the idea, he admits he has not tried one of the locust pizzas, but says it's because he figures they taste "like anchovies," which he doesn't like, either. He reports that at least one of the locals has tried the pizza, though did not say what the local thought of it.

Australia's northern Victoria is facing the worst locust swarms it has seen in 30 years.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Deep-Sea Diver Finds Dank Water-Secreting Skull

Fifteen years ago, a commercial fisherman from Maine came across a bizarre skull in waters about 1800' deep. Since then, he has kept it in his garage, where he says no mice or insects have even tried to disturb it. Even more inexplicable, the skull has continued to secrete a brown ooze from a hole in its top - for the last 15 years!

This story was reported out of Portland some weeks back (and yours truly sat on it for another week or so). In that time, many commenters have reported finding similar skulls, most of whom are also commercial fishermen. At this time, most seem to agree the skull belongs to some type of catfish.

Catfish are "bottom-feeders," meaning they stay toward the bottom and feed largely off of sediment and, basically, whatever comes to them - they do not "hunt" for food. A large skull, such as this one, could possibly hold enough mud, or brackish water, to continue oozing it slowly for some time... but, 15 years?

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Second Possible Pizzly Dropped

An Inuit hunting on Victoria Island may have felled the second confirmed Polar/grizzly bear cross. The first, felled by American hunter, Jim Martell, in 2006, was also felled on Victoria Island. It is now on display.

While the coloring of the bear is consistent with that of a polar, its head and paws are distinctively shaped like those of a grizzly, leading experts to wonder if it is another hybrid. One expert noted the specimen may have brown hair around its paws, as well. Another noted that blonde grizzlies do exist - some of which are so light as to appear white - but also said it was still early in the year for a grizzly.

DNA results are expected to put the matter to rest. Those tests are expected this week, and until then, the hunter who felled the possible pizzly is keeping mum. But he's betting it's a hybrid.

While legends of pizzlies have persisted for generations, scientists poo-pooed the idea, as grizzlies were not thought to travel that far north. The two species also have similar mating habits, but were not thought to be compatible. The 2006 shooting lead many to speculate global warming was to blame, but The OddBlog must point-out that legends of the pizzly have persisted for generations.

So... maybe the scientists were just plain wrong?

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Meteor Over Iowa (Video)

Residents in the Midwest were stunned by a fireball, which blasted through the April 14^th night sky. Some heard a sonic boom, others witnessed the smoking tail, and still more actually captured the event on video - including a policeman whose dash-cam recorded the meteor.

Yes, it was confirmed a meteor by a... wait for it. Meteorologist.

One expert said it was "The brightest thing most folks have seen in the sky beyond lightning or the sun."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Mountain Lions Going Urban

Colorado residents have been reporting a number of sightings of mountain lions in urban centers over the last several years.  The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW), which began a study three years ago, confirms these sightings, noting that, like other wildlife, mountain lions sometimes pass through green belts and drainage ditches in urban centers.  They have tagged some of the cats they have come across in urban areas, and have been tracking their whereabouts and movement.

The DOW found that the lions are generally tracking deer and elk, but will eat domestic pets from time to time.  They also found that the cats are not living very long: Of the 44 they tagged three years ago, only 18 are still alive.  Many are killed by traffic.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Fox Finishes Finnish Flock of Flamingos

A fox in Finland apparently crossed ice to get to a flock of 16 flamingos in a zoo, killing them all. The flamingos are usually brought inside at night, and the zoo is looking into why they had been left out on this occasion.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

20% of the World Believes Aliens Exist Among Us

According to the Reuters Ipsos poll, some 20% of 23,000 people from 22 different countries believe that aliens not only exist, but walk among us, disguised as humans!

But, technically, that's just a trick of the mathematics; 80% of the entire group polled does not believe aliens walk among us. Those from India and China were most likely to believe that aliens walk among us, while those in Belgium and the Netherlands, among the most sparsely populated of the 23,000 countries polled, were least likely to believe so. Some experts note the difference may have to do with population density.

More men than women believe that aliens have infiltrated human society, and most of all of those who believe in such are under 35. Between the sexes, women were less likely to believe in alien life than men.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

New Ancient Hominid Found?

Researchers believe a new hominid -- human-like ancestor -- has been discovered. The bones of what appear to be an adult female and juvenile male, possibly mother and son, were found in South Africa, not far from Johannesburg. The remains are around 2 million years old, and appear to have died at the same time, or soon after one another. The hominid has been named Australopithecus sediba. "Sediba" is Sesotho, the language spoken in South Africa, for "fountain"

Some believe they are the remains of a previously unknown hominid, representing the bridge between, "an ape that walks on two legs to, effectively, us." Others disagree, as the precise placement of the A. sediba remains in Man's history is proving controversial. The hominid reportedly has a mixture of ancient and modern features, such as smaller teeth and an advanced pelvis, but long arms and a small brain.

Experts say the remains were found on top of others, none of which appear to have been scavenged, suggesting they were entombed... quickly.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

The Maine 'Snow Monkey'

Here is one which managed to escape my radar until recently: The Maine "Snow Monkey," which some are suggesting may be proof of Bigfoot.

The video was posted to YouTube back in January, but once it became an Internet sensation (?), whomever posted it took it down. The video is still available from The Sun, and between audio and visual, it appears to be quite real.

The video shows some kind of creature perched high in a tree. At first thought to be a bear, once the cameraman zooms in, it becomes rather clearly a monkey. Though details are sketchy, as the cameraman is obviously far away, you can just make out the face in some of the later moments of the video.

Whatever the case may be - Bigfoot or no - I know there aren't supposed to be any monkeys in Maine! Others agree that it does not appear to be any sort of hoax.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

'Oriental Yeti' Discovered

Hunters captured a creature that looks a bit like a bear, but with a tail like a kangaroo and a call like a cat's, after it emerged from an ancient wood in China.  The hunters were pursuing a bear after locals reported seeing something, but no one ever expected to catch a brand new species of... animal?

Some are saying the creature may be the source of claims of a man-like beast in Chinese lore, but The OddBlog calls "no dice."  This creature stands on four feet, not two, has no hair, and in no way resembles either a man or an ape; the cat-like calls of this creature may have been mistaken for that of the Yowie, but no one would confuse this creature with a Bigfoot-like animal.

Scientists believe it could be the last of its kind.  The poor, sad-looking beast is set to be shipped to Beijing, where scientists will run tests and extract DNA.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Filipinos Nailed to Cross in Good Friday Rites

Filipinos travel to San Fernando to be nailed to a cross every Good Friday, in an annual ritual rejected by the Church. Participants first gather in a nearby village, where they dress in robes and tin crowns, then carry wooden crosses on their backs to a mound in San Fernando, where men nail their hands and feet to the crosses. The crucifixion rite is also performed in other provinces in the Philippines, while other Filipinos march through the streets, flagellating themselves with sticks tied to ropes.

While some believe experiencing Jesus' pain brings them closer to God, others do it in hopes of culling God's favor. However, Church officials say the real reason the villages do this is to increase tourism. San Fernando drew some 10,000+ spectators, including many foreigners, who were not allowed to take part in the ritual. A spokesperson said foreigners are no longer allowed to participate because a foreign film crew recently took part only to film it and "make fun of it."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Did Jesus Survive the Crucifixion?

According to the New Testament of the Holy Bible, Jesus rose from the dead three days after He was crucified. Some believe He then moved to Kashmir, where He lived-out the remainder of His years quietly. While the grave at the Roza Bal shrine in Srinagar belongs to one Youza Asaph, a Muslim priest from the Medieval era, some believe it is the tomb of Jesus Christ.

Believers say Christ survived the Crucifixion and changed His name to Yuz Asaf, which, literally translated, is said to mean "Son of Joseph." Locals dispute the legend, saying it was forwarded by local merchants to boost tourism. And boost tourism it has: The shrine at Roza Bal has attracted so many pilgrims in the last few years that it has been closed and gated. Yet tourists are not deterred and continue to flood the small town.

The legend goes back to the 19^th-Century, and has become more popular in recent years thanks to several books, including some written by the former Director of Archives, Museums, and Archaeology of Kashmir, Dr. Fida Hassnain. The legend has become so popular, in fact, that a number of documentaries and films have been made about it, including one by the BBC. However, locals and most scholars completely dismiss the idea as nonsense. What's interesting is why:

The locals are largely Muslim and do not want the grave disturbed; scientists and others want to test the DNA of the corpse (though I don't know how that will help - do we have Jesus' DNA on file?). Further, they do not believe it is Jesus' tomb specifically because the Quran states that God lifted Christ up to Heaven... which means (logically?) that the grave could not possibly be Jesus'.

Closer to the truth is that Jesus' tomb has been claimed all over the world and no proof exists in any case, largely for the same reasons no proof has been collected at Kashmir: Believers consider them sacred places, not to be disturbed.

The other part to this legend concerns Jesus' "Missing Years" -- age 12 to 30 -- which are not covered by the Bible. It is popularly thought that He spent these years traveling, and many think he visited Tibet. Some say He met Buddha, while others say he simply learned the principles of Buddhism. There is supposed to be documented evidence of this but, again, it is inaccessible due to the resistance of the holy men who possess it (Hemis Monastery in Ladakh).

Believers say Christ also visited Kashmir during this time, looking for the lost tribes of Israelite. Some say tales and evidence found along the ancient Silk Road -- the first, major trading route in history -- fill-in that 18 year gap in Jesus' history, thus proving he was in Kashmir, however briefly, during that time.

Is Jesus Christ buried in the Roza Bal Shrine in Srinagar, Kashmir?

© C Harris Lynn, 2010