Thursday, September 30, 2004
Maps bolster ex-detective's theory about 1963 crime
More on the mysterious disappearance of Manchester businessman and "alleged bookie" Alexander Tafralian.
Retired Detective Omer Beaudoin thinks he's found Tafralian's body in a car buried under a brook. NBC Dateline has shown interest in the story. Remember, you read it here first.
Here's another, longer article on the case.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:16 PM
Russian Expedition Establishes Exact Location of Ancient Mystical Country Shambala
A Russian expedition headed by a member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences Yuri Zakharov has established the exact location of the capital of the ancient state of Shambala - the mystical center revered by many religions and philosophers all over the World.
For more on the "mystical" significance of Shambala, click here.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:20 AM
Is the universe friendly?
A great essay on the nature of the universe, coincidence, Charles Fort, quantum physics, and library angels. Highly recommended.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:04 AM
Restoration work at Boston church uncovers mysterious hidden painting
"You're seeing something that was probably not meant to be seen."
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:28 AM
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Famous criminal profiler in Wichita for BTK case
Profiler Pat Brown is also in Wichita researching the BTK case, apparently without cooperation from WPD.
Brown has created two criminal profiles of BTK. To read her profiles, click here.
Be sure to read the latest profile from just a few days ago in which Brown concludes that BTK and the Letter Writer are NOT the same person.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:40 PM
Escher for Real
M.C. Escher in three dimensions. Very cool.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:15 PM
BTK Back: International Intrigue
A British crew is heading home, but they left behind information from an expert who has helped catch killers in the past. This international intrigue could shed new light on the case.
The expert is British psychic Dennis McKenzie who helped police with the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:36 PM
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Alligators in Ohio!
Come to think of it, the Cleveland Alligators is a pretty good name for a ball club.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:00 AM
Grandfather of American fitness still spry at 90
Happy Birthday, Jack LaLanne. I recommend this article for an understanding of just how much Jack has influenced our modern fitness and diet culture.
Wanna live forever? Read Jack's words of wisdom.
"Exercise is king; nutrition is queen. Put 'em together and you've got a kingdom!"
posted by Prof. Hex at 7:52 AM
Setting the record straight is 'Murieta' author's aim
Geting to the truth about legendary bandit Joaquin Murieta.
posted by Prof. Hex at 7:41 AM
ESP's true believer
Twenty years ago, Daryl Bem didn't believe in ESP. Now, the psychology professor from Cornell University is one of North America's leading researchers on the topic, and no longer has any doubt in his mind.
"I'm totally convinced it exists," Bem said from his home in Ithaca, N.Y., during a phone interview with The Sun.
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:17 AM
Billy the Kid legend lives on as team drops plans for DNA test
The Kid gets a reprieve, for now.
posted by Prof. Hex at 4:58 AM
Morton man searches for treasure in Ecuador
The last time Scott Heimdal set out in search of sunken treasure, he ended up being the bounty instead, kidnapped and held for ransom in the jungles of South America for two months not knowing whether he would live or die.
Nearly 15 years after his central Illinois hometown raised the cash that bought his freedom, Heimdal is preparing to head back to Ecuador to resume a treasure-hunting dream that still burns hotter than his memories of 61 days at the mercy of Colombian rebels.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:24 AM
LAPD Images Capture Decades of Grisly Scenes
"Scene of the Crime", a new coffee-table book, captures decades of crime scene photos from the archives of the Los Angeles Police Department. With an introduction by James Ellroy.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:07 AM
Drawing is the thing for autumn
The drawings of Walter Sickert, Patricia Cornwall's Jack the Ripper suspect, are on tour.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:59 AM
Bald Rock: A good view with history
Bald Rock is a good place to cure infertility and see Bigfoot.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:52 AM
"Weird' U.S. destinations chronicled in book
Weird N.J., the cult newsletter that became a magazine that became a best-selling book, has broadened its abnormal horizons.
The result is a new book, Weird U.S.: Your Travel Guide to America's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:46 AM
'Pirate' in hospital after ingesting garden plant
Arrrrgh, mateys, avoid drinking the juice of mescaline carrying garden plants!
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:39 AM
Floating Jesus in the Rio Grande!
Flocks of the faithful are flocking to the Eagle Pass Police Department to see a mysterious statue of Christ. Police say the statue of Jesus just came floating down the Rio Grande.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:31 AM
Detroit's Masonic Temple a marvel of mystery
Hidden areas in building are part of a Mason's genius.
1,037 rooms!
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:20 AM
After 550 years, mystery death of French king's lover may be solved
She was one of the most beautiful women of her time, who won the heart of a king to become France's first officially recognised royal mistress.
But when Agnes Sorel died in agony at the age of 28, rumours began to circulate that she had been murdered.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:04 AM
Friday, September 24, 2004
Monster fungus mushrooms in Switzerland
Europe's biggest mushroom growth, spanning an area 800 by 500 metres, has been discovered in a Swiss national park, scientists said on Friday.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:15 PM
Reward offered to find out how tombs were built on cliffs 2,600 years ago
Management of a famous Taoist mountain in east China's Jiangxi Province has offered to pay 400,000 yuan (about 48,000 US dollars) to anyone who can give a convincing explanation of how tombs were built on its steep cliffs more than 2,600 years ago.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:06 PM
"We're Just Regular People"
Pagans come out of the closet.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:00 PM
Weird science for the dedicated gearhead
Wacky stuff on the Web ranges from hamster-run lights to plants that sing.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:51 PM
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Is it a bird? Is it a weirdo? No, it's Ivanman, handing out cash and kindness
Ivanman performs random acts of kindness for a mysterious benefactor.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:33 PM
Smallest cathedral draws the curious, the faithful
The guest book shows that visitors come from all over the country, and even the world, to this tiny hamlet in southern Missouri.
It's not a glitzy destination like Branson, which is less than 30 miles south on U.S. 65.
No, it's in Karl Pruter's back yard. There, nestled under the shade of a large oak tree, is the world's smallest cathedral.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:23 PM
Some Christians complain, but the government leaves Halloween alone
A nice article on the history of Halloween.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:03 PM
"Arkansas Justice"
An article on the West Memphis 3.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:00 PM
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
'Master X' cast a unique spell over Richmonders
Jesse Lee Boland either was a gifted psychic or a charismatic charlatan. His reputation fluctuated wildly, depending on the satisfaction of his clients or his latest newsmaking exploit.
Known to most Richmonders as "Master X," Boland fascinated area residents for the 25 years he practiced his personal brand of magic, blended with a little science and psychology, at a downtown Richmond shop. Fake, genuine or a mix of the two, Boland knew how to command attention.
posted by Prof. Hex at 7:23 PM
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Lightbulb Burns for 96 Years
They sure do not make things anymore like the Texas lightbulb that sold for a few cents and has burned for for 96 straight years.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:55 AM
Speak to the Dead with Dice!
The dead beat me at craps.
I can't tell if this is serious or not.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:56 AM
Knocks, scents add up to ghost fears
Fear of ghost a who knocks on doors and wafts the scent of aftershave lotion along corridors has forced a prestigious college for statisticians in the Indian capital, Dehli, to close.
posted by Prof. Hex at 8:36 AM
Ghost Ship Bound for Scrap Heap
The mystery of what happened aboard a Taiwanese ship found floating abandoned with tonnes of rotting fish aboard may never be known, with the vessel destined for a West Australian scrap heap.
Little is known about the High Aim 6, which has been compared to the ill-fated ship Marie Celeste, which was found drifting without its crew in the Atlantic in 1872.
posted by Prof. Hex at 8:08 AM
Monday, September 20, 2004
Spooky World, R.I.P.
The park's contents, with an estimated value of more than $1 million, were auctioned off piece by piece, sometimes appendage by appendage, to a crowd of more than 300 collectors, amusement park owners, and fans of fright.
I wish I could have made it to to this auction. Be sure to check out the slide show. Cool stuff. Too bad they had to close.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:59 AM
How witchcraft went from crime to prime time
A nice article on the history of witchcraft in Scotland.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:49 AM
Portrait of a pet psychic
Animal communicator offers inside scoop.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:41 AM
22 Suggested Alternate Nicknames For Michael Jackson
Just for fun. My personal favorite is "Cap'n Touch-Yer-Pants".
posted by Prof. Hex at 7:47 AM
Shipwreck salvors see treasure for the taking
More on treasure hunting.
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:25 AM
Hunt for Superstition treasure OK'd
The U.S Forest Service has issued a rare permit to a group searching for the lost Superstition treasure.
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:16 AM
Mali's human sacrifice - myth or reality?
From this article, I'm going with reality.
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:02 AM
On the trail of a BIG CAT
Mountain lions in Ohio!
posted by Prof. Hex at 4:44 AM
Haskell storytellers recall campus' haunted legends
Scotty Harjo, 76, says it's true: Haskell Indian Nations University is haunted.
posted by Prof. Hex at 4:01 AM
More on the Paris catacombs
DEEP below the Left Bank, dim light glistened on stacked human skulls and water dripped on the tunnel walls as Sebastien explained why the anti-terrorist police in Paris had suddenly descended on the secret world of the catacombs.
Arrete: C'est ici, l'empire de la mort (Halt: here is the Empire of Death).
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:14 AM
Sunday, September 19, 2004
It was like the head of a dragon
Somewhere in the murky depths of the continent's deepest lake, a monster lurks.
Link found at The Anomalist.
posted by Prof. Hex at 8:35 PM
Wiccans explain their religious beliefs
Allison, 17, is a typical Indianapolis teenager in many ways -- she goes to school, works a summer job and hangs out with friends. But she lives in fear that her secret may be uncovered.
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:05 AM
Police seek tips in bizarre Hub execution
The macabre execution of a Hyde Park man whose mouth was sewn shut and hands bound behind his back before he was fatally shot in the chest has moved homicide detectives to appeal to the public for help.
posted by Prof. Hex at 4:55 AM
A mystery resurfaces
More on the mysterious disappearance of Alexander Tafralian, a siding salesman from Manchester, N.H., who vanished 41 years ago. Retired detective Omer Beaudoin thinks he's found Mr. Tafralian buried in a car under a stream.
posted by Prof. Hex at 4:44 AM
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Adventurers, and not always ladylike
Women and adventure.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:40 PM
Wednesday, September 15, 2004
In serial-killer class, BTK is off-limits
A nice profile on Wichita police Lt. Ken Landwehr, director of the BTK investigation.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:54 AM
Kansans' weather worries spur interest in folklore, myths
Weather was one of the earliest worries that sent humans searching for signs and portents of the future - particularly in terms of storms and seasons.
Those signs and portents remain a fascination, according to Mary Knapp, State of Kansas climatologist. Desert dwellers still search for signals that rain is on the way. Almost everyone knows folklore about the coming of a late spring or severe winter.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:11 AM
Hypnotism ban lifted, fairgoers are spellbound
Now that the Kansas ban on hypnotism has been lifted, people are free to be mesmerized again.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:16 AM
Monday, September 13, 2004
Batman scales Buckingham Palace
Holy Security Breach, batman!.
With Batpic.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:24 PM
Election 2004: The Rise of a Satanic Right?
John Kerry, Vampire Slayer? Zombie Reagan? It's all here.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:13 PM
Black Dahlia blooms again
Interview with Severed author John Gilmore, who claims to have met both Elizabeth Short and her killer. Though not mentioned in this article, he also claims to have slept with James Dean.
Gilmore's website is here.
A lot of people have problems with Gilmore's research, notably Dahlia researcher Larry Harnisch. Some of his issues are illuminated at his web site FAQ. Harnisch's website is quite informative for those interested in the case (of course he has his own suspect) and he doesn't seem to suffer from the "Dahlia Madness" that affects so many writers on the subject.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:05 PM
Story of `Wobbly' is no ordinary fish tale
'Wobbly', the monster fish that derailed a train.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:31 AM
Beware the Perforating Mexicans!
More on Paris's underground theater and the people behind it.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:58 AM
Historia Discordia: Meet Kerry Thornley, the second Oswald
Kerry Thornley lived and died in obscurity. But while few people noticed, he invented one of the 20th century's more influential religions, helped launch '60s-style sex-and-nature neopaganism, and was a major force behind the first modern libertarian 'zine.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:15 AM
Coney Island's freak shows still shock
Great article.
Almost 100 years after its heyday, the freak show is hanging on. This may seem surprising when eating bugs and other gross stunts are standard fare on such TV shows as "Fear Factor," but real-live performing "freaks" seem to have an oddly enduring appeal.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:31 AM
Sunday, September 12, 2004
J Lo's voodoo rituals with faith healer to be revealed!
The title says it all.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:48 PM
Friday, September 10, 2004
Ancient skeleton found in submerged cave
Divers making dangerous probes through underwater caves near the Caribbean coast have discovered what appears to be one of oldest human skeletons in the Americas, archaeologists announced at a seminar that was ending on Friday.
Older than Kennewick Man!
Also in this article:
Until now, the Americas have produced only 25 bones or skeletons dated as more than 8,000 years old, said Silvia Gonzalez of John Moores University in Liverpool, England. But she told the conference that she would soon publish a paper establishing that humans occupied a site near Puebla east of Mexico City 21,000 to 28,000 years ago.
Again, thanks to Rikki, who's doing my job for me today.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:55 PM
From the police blotter
Strange action from Acton
The Spotlight on Crime comes from a lot closer than usual -- beautiful Acton.
On Aug. 24, a Strawberry Hill Road woman reported receiving a suspicious blocked phone call at 8:46 p.m. She also reported someone has mental telepathy powers over her, forcing her to drink from the toilet. She asked police to enter it into the log.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:14 PM
'Murder-suicide' case takes a strange twist
At first, it looked like a murder-suicide:
Husband kills wife, then dies himself from one shot to the chest. He's found with his finger still on the trigger of a gun.
Three hours after Daniel Buie was seen fatally shooting his wife, Kimberly, in Sayler Park Saturday night, he fell dead, too, across town on Carmalt Street in Mount Auburn.
But when forensic analysts at the Hamilton County Coroner's Office started examining the body, they realized Buie couldn't have killed himself.
Two bodies, three guns, a whole lot of questions.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:52 PM
Mentalist reveals tricks of the trade
Craig Karges is the world's foremost "extraordinist."
He should know because he claims to have invented the word.
Thanks to Rikki for the heads up.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:39 PM
Thursday, September 09, 2004
MYSTERY 'MINI-MONSTER' WASHED UP
Residents are baffled by what has been described as a mini Loch Ness Monster washed up on their beach.
"It seems to have a seal's body, the tail of a whale, fins on top and sides, but also claws and really sharp teeth."
With inconclusive pic.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:17 AM
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Mr. Telepathy
The Lansing Police Department is mourning the loss of a former police officer known for his uncanny ability to find stolen cars.
Mark Burns was sometimes called "Mr. Telepathy" for another uncanny ability he had to "will" suspects under surveillance to appear.
posted by Prof. Hex at 4:07 AM
Target Wellstone
A insightful review of American Assassination: The Strange Death of Senator Paul Wellstone by Four Arrows and Jim Fetzer.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:44 AM
Ex-detective hopes to solve 1963 mystery
A determined retired Manchester, N.H., detective has found what he thinks is a car buried below a brook that contains a murdered man who has been missing for
41 years.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:10 AM
Wargames Were Cover For the Operational Execution of 9/11
For almost three years since 9/11 independent researchers have stockpiled individual smoking guns which prove that the official version of events was not only a lie but operationally impossible.
However, no single smoking gun has yet been forwarded to explain why air defenses categorically reversed Standard Operating Procedure and failed to respond to hijacked jetliners.
Until now.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:53 AM
In a secret Paris cavern, the real underground cinema
A great article on a recently discovered cave below the streets of Paris, complete with a "fully equipped cinema-cum-restaurant" and "bottles of whisky and other spirits behind a bar" as well as a "pressure-cooker for making couscous." The cave had an elaborate and fully powered security system and when police returned with utility officials to discover the source of the electricity they found the wires cut and a note. "Do not," it said, "try to find us."
Apparently, Paris has gangs of "Cataphiles" who explore the tunnels and catacombs below the City of Light. One of these groups has possibly the best gang name of all time-- the Perforating Mexicans.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:35 AM
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
James Bond's boss 'M's' identity unveiled!
If there is one fictional character who can teach the suave double agent James Bond a thing or two about spying, it has to be his elusive boss 'M,' and now a new book has finally revealed the identity of the MI5 chief.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:37 AM
A dose of dowsing
"Most of you are probably here because of water dowsing," said American Society of Dowsers speaker Rene Lincoln to the group gathered in a semicircle around her out on the lawn. "But in reality, there isn't anything you can't dowse for with a 'yes' or 'no' answer. It's only limited by your own imagination what you can ask."
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:35 AM
Family defends farmer who found Kensington Runestone
The descendants of the Swedish farmer who claimed to have found the Kensington Runestone in 1898 have broken their silence to say Olof Ohman wasn't the sort of man who would put on an elaborate hoax.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:47 AM
Mobile Phone Being Used for Sorcery
The Head of the Committee for Psychological Welfare, a branch of the charity for social services, has warned of mobile phone cameras being used for black magic and sorcery.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:54 AM
Pollution triggers bizarre behaviour in animals
Hyperactive fish, stupid frogs, fearless mice and seagulls that fall over. It sounds like a weird animal circus, but this is no freak show. Animals around the world are increasingly behaving in bizarre ways, and the cause is environmental pollution.
First the animals, then us.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:33 AM
A former detective recalls manhunt
A nice profile on Bob Keppel, the police detective who interviewed Ted Bundy in an effort to learn more about the now-solved Green River murders. Keppel's book, "The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer," is now the basis for a new movie on A & E.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:29 AM
Monday, September 06, 2004
Is this the Zodiac?
This unsolved 1969 murder in Lompoc, California is still classified as a Jane Doe, but it has many similarities to the Zodiac Killer's Lake Berryessa murders.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:21 PM
Friday, September 03, 2004
Collarbomber Update
The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) has released a new report concerning what they are calling the Collarbomber case. Some of the details confirm what the Professor has already discerned.
Brian Wells was never intended to rob that bank successfully.
The behavior seen in this crime was choreographed by "Collarbomber" watching on the sidelines according to a written script in which he attempted to direct others to do what he wanted them to do. This is very unusual and complex criminal behavior. Because of the complex nature of this crime, the BAU believes there were multiple motives for the offender, and money was not the primary one.
As I've mentioned before, I don't believe that the bank robbery was the primary motive in this case. Indeed, I don't think that money was any motive at all. I think this entire action was an "experiment in terror", if you will, an experiment in the manipulation of an average citizen. The bank robbery was never the primary objective and served only as a red herring. One of many. The bomber knew that from the moment the collar was attached Brian Wells had only 55 minutes to live, and yet Mr. Wells was sent on a series of errands against a clock that spelled not only his doom, but the failure of the entire mission. The designer of this crime would not have left that to chance.
If "Collarbomber" was primarily concerned with getting the money, he would have wanted Brian Wells out of the area of the PNC bank as soon as possible.
While the Collarbomber indicates in his letter that Brian could use various keys to disarm the bomb at predetermined intervals and "buy" himself more time, I don't believe that any of these keys actually worked (as indicated in the FBI report concerning loose and misleading wires in the bomb itself). Additionally, while the note to Brian from the Collarbomber indicates an ability to detonate the bomb from a distance, this also seems to have been a ruse designed to manipulate Mr. Wells.
The behavior seen in this crime was choreographed by "Collarbomber" watching on the sidelines
I still think that this crime was being watched closely by the manipulators, though I do not believe, as the Collarbomber would like, that they had more than a token presence on the ground. And while is probably too late to search for the remote digital cameras placed along Mr. Wells's route, I firmly believe that they were there at one time. The person who did this had to watch it, needed to watch it. This is their reality TV. While I risk open ridicule by mentioning this, I think that a partial motive for this crime involved the creation of an elaborate snuff film. I know, snuff films don't exist. Tell me another one.
The FBI would do well for itself in attempting to track down the video tape of this crime and then work backwards to discover the perpetrators.
And frankly, while the FBI report only tacitly acknowledges it, this was obviously the work of a group of people. This was not the work of one man, nor two, nor three. This was the work of a conspiracy. As much as you might hate the word, there it is, just as Webster's defines it. I think the FBI report errs in assuming that the builder of the bomb must necessarily be the "mastermind'. If you acknowledge a conspiracy, why not assume a mastermind and a mechanic? I would certainly investigate any sudden deaths among grumpy anti-establishment tinkerers in the last year. I think our mastermind would cover his tracks.
While asserting that money was not the primary motive for this crime, the FBI report later backtracks and notes that:
"Despite the fact that this was an elaborate plan, it ultimately fell apart. Brian Wells was killed, and the bank's money was recovered. It is not likely "Collarbomber " intended for his scheme to end in the way it did or as quickly as it did. He did not invest his time and effort into this plan only for it to fail, and the reality of this failure would have angered and frustrated him. He may still be brooding about the outcome a year later."
Tosh.
His plan didn't fail. His plan was a success.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:36 PM
Another poem by BTK is released
"T' was perfect plan of deviant pleasure so bold on that Spring nite...."
So opens a poem the serial killer BTK penned to a woman he meant to kill 25 years ago. But it wasn't a perfect plan, because she didn't come home when he thought she would.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:29 AM
Mysterious booms make Fort Wayne homes shake
City officials have been trying to figure out just what is
booming.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:10 AM
Secret tomb may hold key to pyramid mystery
Two French amateur archaeologists this week published a book in which they claim to have located the secret burial chamber of the Pyramid of Cheops near Cairo, the largest pyramid ever built.
Of course, there is controversy as to whether Cheops was ever intended as a tomb at all. Some claim that the pyramid was a power plant, while others insist it was an enormous water pump.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:02 AM
Mystery tunnels baffle Paris prison authorities
At least three reinforced tunnels were discovered earlier this month under Paris's only prison complex, prompting an inquiry as to their origin and purpose, a judicial source told AFP on Wednesday.
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:47 AM
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