Golfer Sparks Wildfires

A golfer in California inadvertently started a wildfire that blazed through 12-acres before firemen brought it under control by hitting a rock with his golf club. Firemen put the case together after interviewing people on the scene. Authorities say the man will not be charged and his name is being withheld from the media.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Man Made Pact with Lord of Death to Kill

Argentine police say they have arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with at least six murders, and possibly more. Marcelo "Marcelito" Antelo is said to have made a pact with a spirit known as San La Muerte, the Lord of Death, in which Antelo would kill one person a week in return for his prosperity and the protection of himself and his family.

San La Muerte is said to have a large following amongst Argentina's poor and disenfranchised, mainly in the prisons and shantytowns. The figure emerged from these poor, where elements of Roman Catholicism often blend with other legends. Usually, followers will ask the spirit for a bountiful harvest, protection, or prosperity, but they also pray to San La Muerte for the death of others.

Antelo is being charged with all six murders, but police say he may be charged with others as the case develops. The murders did not receive much media coverage because the victims were poor and lived in neighborhoods even the police are reluctant to enter.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Eighteen Die Hunting Mushrooms - None from Eating Poisonous Shrooms

Some 18 European deaths have been linked to mushroom-hunters. Experts have been vocal in warning amateurs on the dangers of identifying and ingesting poisonous mushrooms, the effects of which range from hallucinations and illness to death, but none of the 18 deaths were from ingestion of mushrooms; all were due to carelessness, unpreparedness, and general bad luck.

All 18 fell down rocky slopes, into gorges, or died under similar circumstances. Authorities say more people are coming to Italy and the France border to hunt mushrooms during season, and most are "unfit" for the outing.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Chew Chew, an Australian Restaurant for Dogs

Believe it or don't (I don't have the money to fight a lawsuit), a restaurant in Sydney, Australia is for dogs only. Chew Chew serves only organic, all-natural dishes and doggie treats -- and serves only dogs. (Cats are actually welcome for lunch anytime after 2pm, but must make reservations to ensure a dog-free atmosphere). Customers can also purchase Chew Chew's foods and treats from the restaurant or online. Chew Chew also serves "doggy-cinos," a coffee treat for pooches, which comes with sprinkles of liver.

Britons can rest easy, as their dogs are catered to by an ice cream truck serving doggy cones.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Parked Car Takes Joyride

A couple who had paid to leave their car in a JFK airport long-term lot while they were away returned to find their car had moved some 724 miles since they last drove it! A CD was also playing at full volume, leading the couple to believe someone took it for a "joyride."

The manager of the lot said the logs showed no suspicious entries and that the lot had never had any previous complaints. However, 724 miles is approximately the distance from New York (where the car was left) to Pittsburgh and back.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Moderate Drinkers Live Longer Than Teetotalers

According to a new study, moderate drinkers outlive both heavy drinkers and teetotalers, but the bigger revelation is that heavy drinkers tend to outlive those who do not drink. "Moderate drinkers" are those who have three or fewer drinks a day, or less.

The study involved six researchers from the University of Texas at Austin who reviewed case studies over a span of 20 years. With consideration to all factors, such as socio-economical conditions, support systems (friends and contacts), physical activity, and the like, it turned out that heavy drinkers not only outlived those who did not drink, but teetotalers were more likely to be depressed.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Teens 'Fake' Christians

In her new book, Almost Christian, United Methodist Church minister, Kenda Creasy Dean, says teenagers today are less likely to be passionate about religion, are inarticulate about religion and faith, and are likely following a "mutant" form of Christianity, which youth pastors and parents have presented to them. This form of Christianity designates God as a sort of "therapist" who only wants to boost their self-esteem, see them do well, and ensure they treat others kindly. Dean calls this an "impostor" faith and claims it is to blame for more teenagers leaving the church.

Dean participated in a controversial study which interviewed 3,300 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17. It is largely from this study that she drew her conclusions. She says parents are the primary influence on these kids, and it is the parents' own religious apathy which has created what the researchers involved in the study call ""moralistic therapeutic deism."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

'The Last Exorcism' Leads American Box Office

The Last Exorcism, produced by "torture-porn auteur," Eli Roth, topped the American Box Office this weekend, raking in far more than expected. The movie is said to have been filmed in Louisiana for about $1 million. With another $15+ million in prints and advertising, The Last Exorcism has already made back its money, with an estimated $21 million take.

Although I have not seen the movie, reviews say the first half centers on a faked possession, making the latter half of the film -- which is supposed to show a real possession -- that much harder to take. Mixed reviews have all said the same thing: The first part of the film undermines the intended horror of the latter half.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Dry Weather Leads to Archaeological Finds

England's dry summer has allowed researchers to find and photograph archaeological sites that have not been visible since 1976. That year, the area suffered from a drought.

Experts say hundreds of sites have become visible this year, and they have taken full advantage of the chance to photograph, record, and examine them. In many cases, these sites have come to light thanks to the fact that crops planted on top of them grow at a different rate from those planted around them, though these features are usually only noticeable from the air. Several prehistoric and Roman-era settlements have come to light, including one near Bradford Abbas, Dorset. Sites already know to experts were able to be better photographed, as well.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

North Carolina 'Ghost Train' Investigator Killed by Train

Flitting Ghosts

According to legend, every year on August 27^th, anyone near the Bostian Bridge by Statesville, North Carolina, will hear the screaming wheels and passengers of a phantom train that crashed nearly 120 years ago, killing nearly 30.  Eyewitnesses say the visage of a uniformed man with a gold fob sometimes presages the event.

And so it was that, on the 119^th anniversary of the vicious, 1891 disaster, several, self-styled ghost hunters from around the country gathered to witness the "ghost train."  Unfortunately, as they were investigating the bridge, a real train was headed their way.

Of the dozen investigators, 10 of them made it safely off the bridge; one plummeted to the water below and was injured, and the other was struck by the train and killed.  29-year-old Christopher Kaiser pushed the other investigator, whose condition remains unknown, to safety before he was hit by the train.  The train was traveling at the proper speed, and the engineer blew the horn and tried to brake, but there was little he could do.

Over the years, reports of railroad crossing arms dropping without cause have occasionally surfaced, but only one person claims to have experienced the phantasmagorical event.  This was in 1991, on the 50^th anniversary of the wreck.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Mars Hoax

According to some news sources, an e-mail is circulating which claims that Mars will be "as large as the full moon" tonight (August 27^th, 2010) and tonight only: "NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN," the e-mail concludes. The e-mail sounds so plausible because it is, in fact, true... except that the August 27^th Mars event happened in 2003.

Yes, Mars did come as close to the Earth as it has in some 60,000 years (!), but it never appeared "as large as the moon," nor will it ever. Actually, tonight, Mars will be as far away from our planet as it gets, as its orbit around the sun is longer than that of Earth's.

Live Science says the e-mail circulates every year and has, since 2003.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Tiger Cub Found in Luggage

A 31-year-old Thai woman is under arrest in Bangkok, facing two charges of smuggling wildlife, after a live tiger cub was found in her luggage. The cub was drugged and placed in a bag filled with stuffed animals. Airport security discovered the animal when the woman's luggage went through x-ray.

The woman was on her way to Iran, where tigers are prized as exotic pets and can fetch over $3000 on the black market. The cub is now in a wildlife conservation center in Bangkok, where it is recovering from exhaustion and dehydration. Officials say the cub is doing much better.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Massachusetts Pranksters Hoax Great White

There have been several reports of sharks off the Massachusetts coast this summer, including one incident in which a shark made its way into Chatham's harbor. In some cases, entire beaches have been closed even though there have been no attacks as of yet.

However, police say this week's sighting off Somerset, in Fox Hill Cove, which lit-up the 911 operators' boards was actually a prank. Someone cut a fin out of Styrofoam, then wrapped it in Duct tape, and weighted it down. Police do not know who was responsible for the hoax, but say it could have caused real problems, had a real emergency occurred while experts were dealing with this prank.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Family Sues SeaWorld Over Son's Trauma

A family who was in attendance when a trainer was pulled under and drowned by a killer whale is suing the Orlando SeaWorld theme park for traumatizing their 10-year-old son. While this sounds like a frivolous lawsuit at first blush, and common sense screams, "Why did you just stand there and watch!? WTF!?" the family is actually only suing for a little over $15,000.

SeaWorld has been fined $75,000 by federal authorities for safety violations. The killer whale which attacked the trainer was also known to be violent. All things told, I absolutely believe a 10-year-old child would be traumatized by such a thing, and SeaWorld should absolutely bear the responsibility. More than anything, $15,000 is a very reasonable amount, and I have a feeling that, should this case go to trial, the family may be rewarded far more than that.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Shot to the Head but Who's to Blame?

A 35-year-old Polish man felt a lump in his head and decided to have it checked-out. X-Rays revealed a bullet! The man said he remembered receiving a blow to the head while celebrating New Year's Eve in the German town of Herne five years earlier, but did not seek medical attention at the time. He had been drinking and was drunk at the time of the incident. Police say the bullet may have been a stray from a fellow celebrator.

The bullet was just under the skin and did not penetrate the man's skull. Doctors operated and removed the .22-caliber projectile.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Roy: Border Collie, Duckherder

A Northumberland border collie is training to make the English sheepdog team by herding ducks. Roy's 24-year-old owner, Emma Gray, says the Indian Runner ducks make for good training because they are slow and more predictable than sheep.

Roy has become a hit with visitors to the Morpeth farm, but Ms. Gray is hoping Roy is chosen to represent the UK in the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) World Trials. The competition is held every three years.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Things What Done Fell from the Sky: Bosnian Targeted by Aliens?

50-year-old Bosnian, Radivoke Lajic told reporters that he believes aliens have targeted him and his home for some unknown reason. While Lajic said he doesn't know what he's done to anger them, and has no idea why they are attacking him, "...there is no other explanation that makes sense." Radivoke Lajic's house has been hit by meteorites six times in the last three years. All of the strikes have occurred when it was raining.

Scientists say the rocks have all been meteorites, but are also at a loss as to why such an extraordinary event would happen as often as it has. Lajic said he has trouble sleeping and has reinforced his roof with steel. He paid for the steel by selling one of the rocks to Duke University.

However, there is an upside: Lajic has had so many visitors, he plans on starting his own museum. "These meteorites have brought happiness to our family."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

SETI Sets Sights on Sentient Machines

SETI, the Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence program, has long been listening for radio signals they believe could have been issued by intelligent life somewhere in space, but a senior astronomer involved in the organization now says the search is being expanded to take into account drones and artificial intelligence, as well. Seth Shostak believes there would be little time between these intelligent lifeforms developing radio broadcast technology and AI tech would be relatively short.

While SETI will continue its hunt for biological alien life, if our own technological advancement is any indication, and we have yet to master space travel and other technology associated with ET, then this new direction may prove more fruitful than SETI's current research.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Giant Rats Discovered in England

A pest control agency found two giant rats in a factory in the East Midlands. Both were about 2' in length. At first, some thought they may have been coypu, a semi-aquatic, herbivorous rodent originally from South America, but experts dismissed the claim, as they did not have the orange teeth found in the species. The coypu was hunted from the wild some 20 years ago. It is now illegal to own one without a license.

A spokesman for the pest control agency, Rentokil, said, "It goes to show that where there's a food source, these rodents will grow big."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Were Soldiers Who Skipped Christian Concert Treated Unfairly?

The Army is investigating claims that dozens of soldiers who skipped a Christian band's concert were confined to their Fort Eustis barracks and forced to clean them. About 20 of them, several of whom were Muslim, refused to attend on religious grounds. A spokesman said that, if this happened, it is contrary to Army policy.

Soldiers say they felt pressured to attend a concert by the Christian group, BarlowGirl, as part of the Commanding General's Spiritual Fitness Concerts program. Almost half of those at the base decided not to attend and, instead of being allowed to spend their free time as they chose, they were locked-down and told not to use their computers or cellphones.

Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said Christian-based events are "ubiquitous" throughout the military. He called it "egregious, unconstitutional religious tyranny" and said it was "our job to fight it."

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Ringing Rocks

Ringing Rocks

Though "Ringing Rocks" are found around the world, they seem to be most prolific in Pennsylvania.  There, several sites throughout the southern region of the state are home to Ringing Rocks -- stones composed largely of diabase, some of which are up to 10' thick.  When struck hard with a hammer, these stones literally ring.  And scientists do not know why.

Ringing Rocks produce their unique sound regardless of their location; they can be broken into smaller rocks and moved anywhere, and still produce their unique, ringing sound.  

In 1890, Dr. J. J. Ott -- backed by a brass band -- played several selections on the rocks for the Buckwampum Historical Society.  But not all of these rocks ring, despite being of the same composition; only about 30% of the rocks are "Ringing Rocks."

Studies have been done, and many theories proposed, but no one is certain why Ringing Rocks... ring!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Things What Done Fell from the Sky: Rains of Fire

In this post on Things What Done Fell from the Sky, The OddBlog reports on a shower of fire that occurred in Surrey, England in 1867. While many reports of sulphuric rains are later identified as pollen, residents of Thomas Ditton say whatever fell from the sky on October 18^th, 1867 cast a "brilliant" light for about 10 minutes. The next morning, eyewitnesses say rain puddles were "thickly covered with a deposit of sulphur."

The event has yet to be explained.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

New Computer

Lightning struck the ground outside the house a couple weeks back, destroying both my modem and the brand new laptop. I bought a new one, but I am still setting it up -- configuration, preferences, installing software, and so on. It will be a few days even after that before I can get back here and get back to regular posting, but not terribly long. If I had to guess, expect to see more posts as early as next week.

But don't hold me to that!

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Six Women to Swim Length of Loch Ness

Six London women are going to attempt to swim the length of Loch Ness, monster or no. The women, who are doing this for the benefit of a new hospital in Afghanistan, have dubbed themselves London's Serpentine Swimming Club and had tartan suits specially made for the attempt. The oldest swimmer of the Club is 65. A lifeboat will follow the women in case any should experience trouble. Their Loch Ness trek could take up to 18 hours to complete.

The BBC featured a picture of only five of the women, begging the question: What happened to the sixth!?

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Peru Suffers Outbreak of the Plague

One child has died and 31 others have been infected in Peru's worst outbreak of the plague since 1994. Peru's health minister said most of the infections are Bubonic Plague, which is caused by fleas, while four are pneumonic plague, an airborne contagion. Thirty-five people died from the plague in Peru in 1994. While treatable if caught early, the affected area is not far from the popular tourist spot, Chicama Beach.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

'Sea Monster' Spotted off British Coast

Saltern Cove Nessie

On July 27^th, around 5:30pm, Mrs. Gill Pearce saw something in the Saltern Cove waters off the British coast.  It appeared to be stalking a school of fish which beached themselves shortly thereafter.  

Though she saw the creature up close, it had moved farther away by the time she got her camera.  However, Mrs. Pearce managed to get two snapshots that have baffled marine experts.

The pictures appear to show a large, serpentine creature with a long neck.  While some suggest the object in the picture is simply driftwood and a trick of the light, experts disagree.  Other eyewitnesses saw the creature as well, but thought it a turtle.  Saltwater crocodiles, otters, and whales have all been proffered as possibilities, but largely dismissed by authorities at the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

Experts there have dismissed claims of turtles, sea lions, and more -- and presently classify the creature as "unidentified."  One even mentioned Plesiosaur -- a dinosaur once thought to be extinct, but often suggested as the creature living in both Loch Ness and Lake Champlain, and possibly several other large bodies of water across the world.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Remains of St. John the Baptist Discovered

Researchers found a sarcophagus embedded in an altar on the island of St. John in the Black Sea. The altar was inside the ruins of an ancient monastery.

A tooth, part of a jaw, and part of an arm are among the bone fragments in the sarcophagus. Experts are convinced that the remains belong to a major Christian figure, but more tests will be needed to ascertain that figure's identity.

While some believe that John the Baptist is the same man who wrote the Biblical book of Revelation, that is not known for certain. St. John was said to have visions, having foretold the coming of Christ, but who exactly wrote the Apocalyptic book foretelling the destruction of Man is unknown. Still, St. John the Baptist's importance in Christianity is inarguable, and if the remains prove to belong to him, it is a major archaeological find for Christians worldwide.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010