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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...

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Large, Exotic Cat Shot in Detroit

Chum was the name of the big cat that had some residents in Detroit unnerved, fearing for their housepets and children. Now dead, Chum was just that: A regular cat, though large, and not an exotic pet as authorities had originally feared.

A cross between an African serval and a domestic housecat that had gotten loose from its owners and begun prowling the largely abandoned streets of the large city. Chum's death has some upset, as its carcass was found dumped in a trashbin like so much refuse.

© C Harris Lynn, 2013

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Does Positive Thinking Really Work?

Every few years, some new book, system, movie, or other vehicle comes along to promote the power of thinking positively. The basic theory is that if you "put positive energy out there," you will reap positive results and, conversely, a negative approach to life will result in negative consequences.

Some studies have proven that those with a more optimistic outlook on life tend to have better overall health although why this is has yet to be answered. One of the most popular theories is that optimists handle stress better than pessimists who tend to blame themselves for bad things. Sadly, I fall into the latter group for the most part.

I am trying to develop more optimistic thinking patterns and outlooks on the world and others but it isn't easy to do. As I discussed in an earlier post, I have all but quit following the news because it only reports the worst things in the most sensational ways -- and I have honestly been at least a little bit happier! Of course, that is only part of the solution.

My issue with unbound optimism is one of self-delusion. A lot of people are under the impression that just believing in something somehow makes it true and that earnest belief, wishful thinking, faith -- whatever name you give it -- is just as valid as factual information and actual results.

So I put it to those of you who have tried positive thinking: Did it work for you?

© C Harris Lynn, 2013

Friday, August 23, 2013

'Sea Monsters' Wash Ashore in Spain

The corpse of what appears to be a previously unidentified aquatic animal washed ashore in Spain recently, confounding onlookers. Some sources reported a second corpse washing ashore shortly thereafter but that has not been confirmed.

The 13' long creature appears to have horns and possibly legs or fins but only photographs remain of the beast as authorities claimed they had to bury the body for safety reasons. Many armchair skeptics insist it is merely the decomposed body of a dead oarfish but others are not so sure, noting the horn-like protrusions on the head.

© C Harris Lynn, 2013

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Boycott the News

Everyone's so politically high-minded these days that not a day passes in which I do not hear of this group or that one "boycotting" something. Most of the times, it's something stupid - both the boycott and the reason(s) for it - and it makes me angry. The news, in general, has gotten so that it physically affects me - I have, at times, been shaking with rage or doubled-over with stomach cramps from unease and dread. Really!

Now, since 2006, I have run several blogs, many of which depend on my reading the news for stories of interest to discuss, so this extreme reaction was definitely something new. I can't pinpoint the exact date on which it started but I attribute the beginnings to the last Presidential election which was about as divisive as any I can recall in my lifetime. I certainly got worked-up over news items before this but it was rare enough that it didn't disrupt my daily life or overthrow my mental processes.

Finally, I snapped. And turned off the news.

For the last couple of months, I have been "boycotting" the news - not just mainstream outlets but all sources. Well not entirely, as my homepage has news headlines from several sources, but I only skimmed those and refrained from clicking-through on all but a handful of occasions. I also clicked-through on news items posted by those I have Friended or Follow on Facebook (Twitter is also on this "boycott" list for obvious reasons). It was only the other day that I returned to actually reading the news. I even watched Newsy a few times the past week and tune-in to Next News at 10pm for the Mike Salvi Show.

Shit, I watched the President lie to America's face on Jay fucking Leno yesterday without screaming at my TV! I talked to it rationally, but I did not scream at it.

But even though I have managed to keep my food down these last few days, I saw a story just this morning that immediately started my head spinning and my mouth foaming. And I decided right then and there to resume my self-imposed, solo "boycott" of the news and its outlets.

Although there are days on which I feel hopelessly out of touch, I know that part of that can be attributed to missing the daily routine of scanning news sites and aggregators for items of interest. I will continue to sift through the detritus occasionally just to set my mind at ease and see what's what but, aside from that, I'm done - over it.

But I'm telling you: I feel much happier without it. I'm no longer irrationally afraid, justifiably angry at things I cannot change, or screaming at the idiots in the idiot box. I no longer rewrite the perfect comeback tweet to that day's troll as I drift into a broken slumber. It's kind of nice.

© C Harris Lynn, 2013

Friday, August 2, 2013

Mystery Coffin Found at Gravesite of Richard III

While excavating Richard III's gravesite, archaeologists were surprised to discover a stone coffin. Unable to research it at the time, the intact coffin was overlooked until recently when archaeologists were even more stunned to discover it contains a second, iron coffin. This type of burial suggests it belongs to a "high status" individual. There is a hole in the coffin through which the corpse's feet can be seen but this offers no clue as to whom the coffin belongs.

An archaeologist working on the discovery said no one on the team had ever seen an iron coffin within a coffin before and it was almost as exciting a discovery as the grave of Richard III himself. Test are being conducted to determine the best method of opening the container without damaging the contents.

© C Harris Lynn, 2013

New Bigfoot Video

A new video claiming to have captured Bigfoot in the wild has surfaced and has racked up over one million hits on YouTube. The film is silent and shows a hairy figure walking across a hilltop far away from the camera. The humanoid creature appears for about 20 seconds before lumbering off camera.

The new film has excited researchers and the public, though skeptics have raised the usual questions as to its authenticity. Recently, several outlets have offered cash prizes to anyone who can present irrefutable proof of Bigfoot's existence. So far, none of the prizes have been claimed.

© C Harris Lynn, 2013