Monday, July 31, 2006

Pell Mel 

I've noticed two Mel Gibson movies on television today. Must be a Jewish conspiracy. In related news, Mad Mel has entered rehab. Not anti-Semitic rehab, just regular old alcohol rehab.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:38 PM

Diebold machines less secure than an X-Box 

"Diebold has made the testing and certification process practically irrelevant," according to Dechert. "If you have access to these machines and you want to rig an election, anything is possible with the Diebold TS -- and it could be done without leaving a trace. All you need is a screwdriver." This model does not produce a voter verified paper trail so there is no way to check if the voter's choices are accurately reflected in the tabulation.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:44 PM

EXCLUSIVE: Bush Admin May Have Violated 26 Statutes, Dems Say 

Bush break the law? I am SHOCKED!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:52 PM

Black Tom: The first U.S. terror attack? 

The sound of the blast was unearthly, and the tremor was felt 100 miles away in Philadelphia. The night sky over New York Harbor turned orange. From Bayonne to Brooklyn and beyond, people were jolted from bed as windows shattered within a radius of 25 miles.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:53 AM

Crawley kids in a tilgate park 

A scooter + playground equipment + bored teenagers = trouble. Wait till the end - it's worth it. At You Tube.

Via Boing Boing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:49 AM

Boggy Bottom Monster 

Cryptomundo has the details.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:32 AM

'Monsterologist' doesn't dismiss the Bear Lake Monster 

Still holding out for Cookie Monster as well.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:31 AM

'Great treasure' of rare cave drawings goes on display 

More than 30 prehistoric cave drawings and etchings inside Dunbar Cave were put on display Saturday, giving the public the first glimpse of a "great treasure of North America."

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 AM

Fairy Tale Phantoms 

Do fairies, gnomes and goblins really exist? Suspend your disbelief for a moment, and consider these real-life encounters with creatures from the land of make-believe.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:21 AM

Death of couples at same time may be no coincidence 

Elderly couples often seem to share times of death, be it the same day, week, month or year.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:15 AM

Tunnel-digging treasure hunters busted in Iran 

Armed with a map to an eighteenth-century "treasure" buried under the sprawling bazaar in central Tehran, the seven men had been digging a 1.5 kilometer (0.93 mile) tunnel for seven months before they were caught, Jam-e Jam daily said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:09 AM

France's new Stonehenge: Secrets of a neolithic time machine 

A spectacular discovery of Stone Age menhirs in Brittany could unlock the code to one of the most puzzling chapters of human development, and transform our knowledge of mankind's early history.

Nice long article.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:03 AM

JOHNSON'S GUITAR? THE DEVIL ONLY KNOWS 

Is this blues legend Robert Johnson's guitar?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:00 AM

Quack doctor had the motive to be Jack the Ripper 

More on Dr. Francis Tumuelty.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:58 AM

Cambodia's magic elephant cures villagers' ills 

In rural Cambodia where doctors and hospitals are scarce, poor villagers are turning to a magic elephant which is believed to cure ills ranging from typhoid to high blood pressure.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:56 AM

'I'm a descendant of Jesus Christ' 

After flying thousands of miles to trace the mythical travels of Mary Magdalene after Jesus's crucifixion, and having convinced herself that she is a direct descendant of the two, Kathleen has written what she describes as a 'partly autobiographical' novel.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 AM

Large Shaanxi tomb belonged to 1st emperor's grandmother 

After more than a year's excavation and research in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Chinese archeologists have concluded that a large tomb belonged to the grandmother of Qinshihuang, the country's first emperor.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:52 AM

Soapbox racing pushed to extremes 

It's extreme! (Insert guitar sound here).

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:42 AM

Giant Dinosaur Discovered in Argentina 

Argentinean scientists have discovered gigantic neck, back, and tail bones from one of the largest dinosaurs ever to roam the Earth.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:41 AM

Bush submits new terror detainee bill 

U.S. citizens suspected of terror ties might be detained indefinitely and barred from access to civilian courts under legislation proposed by the Bush administration, say legal experts reviewing an early version of the bill.

Working for the clampdown.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:39 AM

Short Circuit Solo 

Ever heard of circuit bending? Now you have.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:16 AM

Friday, July 28, 2006

'Nazi aircraft carrier' located 

The Polish navy says it is almost certain that it has located the wreck of Nazi Germany's only aircraft carrier, the Graf Zeppelin.

They sighted it through the screen door on their submarine.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:24 PM

Archaeologists Hot on the Trail of Columbus' Sunken Ships 

Indiana University archaeologists are confident they are closer to discovering some of Christopher Columbus' lost ships -- and the answer to a 500-year-old mystery, "What was on those ships?"

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:15 PM

Mystery Mammal Scampers Through Neighborhood 

A mystery mammal is scampering around a Cleveland neighborhood, leaving many residents scratching their heads.

Ever wonder what a squirrel with mange looks like? Wonder no more. With very weird pic, slideshow, and video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:13 PM

Bigfoot Seen and Photographed in Oklahoma 

There have been some recent reports coming out of Atoka, Oklahoma of sightings of Bigfoot there.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:08 PM

Ebay sea monster 

Sploid's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:58 PM

Thursday, July 27, 2006

KABOOM! 

Great new Cannonfire. And I'm not just saying that because he called me "esteemed".

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:51 PM

'No right to privacy' 

Going, going, gone.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:44 PM

War Is Heck 

More douchebaggery from the Bushies. Now they want to stick it to Ken Burns for the salty language used by WWII vets in his new documentary "The War". Apparently, Hitler was a nincompoop.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:43 PM

Amazing Pictures of Native Americans on Ebay. 

These are really cool. And the names - check out Sam Breaks In, Whirlwind Wife of Bird Necklace, and Chief Shot in the Eye. Amazing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:59 PM

Colorado Man Says He Commited 48 Murders 

A man serving a life sentence in Colorado for murdering a teenage girl has claimed responsibility for as many as 48 slayings across the country dating back more than three decades, authorities said Thursday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:48 PM

Legendary gold stays shrouded in mystery 

According to Superstition Mountain Historical Society records, nearly 150 treasure hunters claimed to locate the Lost Dutchman's gold since his death in 1891. To date, no one has produced the gold.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:32 PM

Strong personalities swirl at center of Dyleski's trial 

Opening statements today in case of teen charged with murder.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:49 AM

FOX News Deliberately Hides Fact That "Middle East Analyst" Is Apocalyptic Christian Preacher 

Lovely.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:20 AM

Cell Phone Picture Called Obstruction Of Justice 

Police harassment on a whole new level.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:14 AM

Mexico quietly ends probe of killings along border 

Federal officials have quietly closed a three-year inquiry into the rape-strangulation of 14 women and teenagers in the border city of Juarez, leaving relatives with little hope the killings will ever be solved.

Via this Rigorous Intuition post.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:05 AM

ALASKA REFUSES - AGAIN - TO RELEASE 2004 ELECTION DATA! 

Brad Blog has the news.

Via Cannonfire.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:26 AM

Quack doctor buried here may have been Jack the Ripper 

Was Dr. Francis Tumuelty really Saucy jack?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:14 AM

'Columbus was an Ottoman spy' 

Amateur historian Cezmi Yurtsever has again claimed to have decrypted secret codes on a map belonging to 16th century Ottoman Admiral Piri Reis and has come to the conclusion that Christopher Colombus was an Ottoman spy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:13 AM

Will we ever be told the truth about the death of Dr David Kelly? 

I'm gonna guess no.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:12 AM

UFO or Balloon? Either Way Man Dies in Pursuit 

It was one of Kentucky's most famous and controversial UFO cases. It involved Kentucky National Guard Pilot Thomas Mantell, who crashed his plane and died in 1948 while chasing what he thought was a UFO.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:10 AM

Iran: The Next War 

From Rolling Stone.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:08 AM

Jury acquits mother in 1997 stabbing of son 

Nine years after the brutal slaying of fifth-grader Joel Kirkpatrick, a jury on Wednesday acquitted his mother, who claims a roving serial killer with St. Louis ties may have been the real killer.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:04 AM

The miracle book from the bog 

The book has about 20 pages and has been dated to 800 AD to 1 000 AD. According to Trinity College manuscripts expert Bernard Meehan, it is the first discovery of an Irish early medieval document in 200 years. Never before has such a document been found buried in the soggy earth of Ireland.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:03 AM

Accused stripper no-show in court 

A judge revoked bail Wednesday for the South Plainfield stripper accused of illegally possessing a severed human hand and six human skulls after she failed to show up for an arraignment.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:02 AM

Forgotten Jamestown well holds centuries-old artifacts 

Outside Indian artifacts, the items are among the oldest ever unearthed in North America.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:02 AM

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Detectives Seek 50 Women Connected With Death-Row Inmate 

When photographer Bill Bradford was convicted in 1987 of murdering two aspiring models, he made an ominous statement to jurors deciding whether he should be sentenced to death.

"Think of how many you don't even know about," he said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:36 AM

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Suburban mayor charged with child porn 

More Republican family values.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:45 PM

'Zombies' arrested in downtown Minneapolis 

This just in: Minneapolis Police total morons.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:01 PM

Unsolved: Flying Humanoids 

Astonishing accounts of "people" who fly - with wings or without

Via Cabinet of Wonders. Check out this post and the strange flying man pic. Looks a little like Iron Man.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:26 AM

Alchemy Enters The Academy 

In Philadelphia last week, a group of scientists busily polished what was, until recently, a rusty old science. Alchemy, the ancient pursuit of transmuting base metals into gold, has been absent as a focus of serious scientific inquiry since roughly the mid-1700s. So who could have foreseen that this once obsolete practice would enjoy growth as a topic of modern academic analysis?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 AM

Severed hand, skulls found; woman charged 

The severed hand is named "Freddy."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:06 AM

Darkness Falls 

New Rigorous Intuition. All your base are belong to us.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:05 AM

CDC investigating mysterious new ailment 

The CDC takes on Morgellons.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:04 AM

The Monkey-Man of New Delhi 

Awesome Or Off-Putting takes a look.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:02 AM

The secret salacious world of the Munchkins 

Munchkin orgies at the Culver Hotel? I don't remember seeing that in the promotional material.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:01 AM

What is red mercury? 

The most bizarre aspect of the trial of Abdurahman Kanyare and his two co-defendants was the fact that no-one in the court could be certain whether the terrifying substance on which the entire prosecution case was based actually existed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:00 AM

Monday, July 24, 2006

Kathleen McGowan: The Da Vinci descendant 

An American woman claims in a new book that she can trace her antecedents to Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Is she out of her family tree?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:32 PM

So-Called Indigo Teen Says She Can Read People 

Self-important and annoying "Indigo Children" grow into self-important and annoying "Indigo Teens". "Indigo Acne" and "Indigo Fake IDs" right around the corner.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:21 PM

MAN ON MOON: WE SAW A UFO 

Buzz Aldrin comes clean.

"There was something out there, close enough to be observed, and what could it be?"

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:16 AM

Amazing mystery 

A medicine man understood the secrets of this plant long before we did. How?

Great article.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:15 AM

Japan's robots stride into future 

"The machine is a friend of humans in Japan," said Shuji Hashimoto, a robotics professor at Waseda University in Tokyo.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:00 AM

Kaunos ancient theater had rotating stage, say archaeologists 

Cool.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:58 AM

Masonic house of the temple a not-so-secret marvel 

Modeled after the tomb of King Mausolos at Halikarnassus and designed by John Russell Pope in 1911, visitors to the building climb sets of three, five, then seven stairs - the increasing numbers represent a Mason's climb to greater knowledge - pass between two huge stone sphinxes and ring the bell at a heavy bronze double door to enter. It is not unlike Oz.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:57 AM

Group dives into history beneath the surface of Lake George, marks historical sites 

Underwater archaeology in Lake George.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:53 AM

Myths of the pioneers 

Think you know all there is to know about Utah's pioneers? They're great stories, but there are times when history has inflated some of our favorite tales.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:49 AM

Sunken oceanliner still claiming lives 

The Andrea Doria. George Costanza still not impressed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:47 AM

Bohemian Grove retreat draws protest 

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside an exclusive California retreat for government and business leaders Saturday to challenge the right of a "ruling elite" to make policy decisions without public scrutiny.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:39 AM

'Killer dragon' eludes Fortean team 

The Centre for Fortean Zoology comes up short - for now.

"People can laugh, but new species are still out there. This year a pig the size of a sofa was found in Brazil."

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:31 AM

Paganism Gaining Popularity in Prison 

A pagan religion that some experts say can be interpreted as encouraging violence is gaining popularity among prison inmates, one of whom is scheduled to be executed this week for killing a fellow prisoner at the foot of an altar.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:30 AM

Europe's pyramid history unveiled 

On 31 October 2005, various news agencies including Associated Press ran a story headlined "Bosnian explorer finds 'Europe's first pyramids'". This statement, as so many headlines are, is wrong. There are many small pyramids that can be found across Europe, from France to Greece.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:09 AM

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Mystery Flying Cryptid Photo 

Cryptomundo's got it.

See also: Giant Spiders.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:07 PM

LOOKING FOR LITTLE GREEN MEN IN SPOOKY SUFFOLK 

The Rendlesham Forest Incident.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:46 AM

An Italian town revives ancient cave dwellings 

Peasants were evacuated from ancient cave dwellings in Matera, Italy, in the 1950s. Now people are going back in.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:40 AM

Spider expert's disappearance a web of disjointed clues 

An interesting story, despite the hokey headline.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:39 AM

1941-Cape Girardeau, Missouri Crash 

UFO crash in the Show Me state?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:33 AM

Face Reflexology 

Taken quite literally, face reflexology sounds almost a contradiction of terms, as far apart as the extremities the words refer to. Yet it is actually a new complementary therapy that combines looking good with feeling good through a unique marriage of three ancient techniques; Chinese energy meridians, Chinese acupuncture points, and Vietnamese and Andean tribal body maps.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 AM

DIANA EXCLUSIVE: THE DRIVER'S LOST THREE HOURS 

SCOTLAND Yard detectives investigating the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, are baffled over the disappearance of driver Henri Paul for three hours on the night of the Paris car crash.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:13 AM

Monkey business is slowly fading away for organ grinder 

"In the next 50 years, the organ grinder will cease to exist in the U.S."

Organ grinders still exist?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:11 AM

1,500-year-old Byzantine port discovered 

"This was the ancient harbor of Byzantium, the Theodosian harbor," Pulak said, pointing to the dusty site around him, which he said was probably an expansion of an earlier port known as Eleutherion.

He believes the ships were wiped out all at once in a giant storm. He said the wooden boats, all apparently destroyed around 1000, make up a sort of "missing link" in the history of shipbuilding because of the fusion of old and new techniques in a single boat.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:07 AM

Friday, July 21, 2006

Searching for Spirits 

Go ahead and tell Sue Sereno your ghost stories - she'd love to hear them.

See also: Haunted House For Sale In Central Florida - Ghost Of Woman Slams Cabinets, Moves Items

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:50 PM

Banker in food scandal is found dead after Opus Dei meeting 

A BANKER who had been questioned over a huge corporate scandal was found murdered yesterday, having apparently been kidnapped on his way home from a meeting of the Roman Catholic organisation Opus Dei.

See also: Banker linked to Parmalat scandal is found dead

"Found dead" is a euphemism for "chopped to pieces".

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:41 PM

Mystery of the sunken Sydney 

A 92-former Nazi sailor living in South America may hold the key to solving one of Australia's greatest wartime mysteries, the sinking and disappearance of the battleship HMAS Sydney.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:37 PM

Tour of Culture: The Watts Towers 

There are 17 structures that make up the Watts Towers, the tallest is over 100 feet. Made of rebar, wire, mesh and concrete and embedded with broken pottery and glass, the site is one of only nine works of folk art listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:33 PM

Tree Holding Mystery Boulder Falls Down 

One of the strangest sights in Indiana is no more, but the mystery about it continues.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:29 PM

Whistleblower thinks 9/11 inside job 

Sploid's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:53 PM

Christopher Columbus - Douchebag 

Christopher Columbus was a cruel, despotic tyrant who ruled over his subjects with an iron fist, according to new documents which have emerged 500 years after his death.

Okay, so now it's official: Columbus was an asshole. He was such a dick that even the Spanish thought he was cruel - and their cruelty is legend. And he wasn't the "first" anyway, so why does he get a holiday? So how will we replace Columbus Day?

Let's see what other exciting events happened on October 12 that we can use for a national holiday:


1773 - America's first insane asylum opens for 'Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds' in Virginia
1775 - The United States Navy is formed.
1810 - First Oktoberfest
1859 - Self-described "Emperor of the United States" Joshua A. Norton issues a decree dissolving the U.S. Congress

I'm going with the last one.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:52 AM

Silver Linings and a Cross of Gold 

Guess who's excited about World War III?

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:48 AM

Bigfoot Search In Lamar County 

Is it an elaborate hoax? Or has a team of investigators found actual proof that "bigfoot" is roaming the woods of north Texas.

Or, did someone forget a question mark?

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:46 AM

Demolition May Knock Ghosts Out Of Old Home 

Gentrification on the spectral level.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:37 AM

Film to mark Bruce Lee's 35th death anniversary 

The family of Bruce Lee is planning a movie to mark the 35th anniversary of the kung-fu legend's death, a news report said Friday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:33 AM

Snake Vomits Dollars 

If this was Snakes Vomiting Dollars on a Plane they might have something.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:15 AM

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Gone to the dogs: the girl who ran with the pack 

When she was found, at the age of eight in 1991, Oxana could hardly speak and ran around on all fours barking.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:52 AM

Unwrapping history 

Paper made from mummy wrappings in Maine.

"I've been able to document Maine was a real hotbed," for paper-making with mummy wrappings, said Wolfe, who will be joined by her husband and technical adviser, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Professor David Rawson, in her presentation tonight in Gardiner. "Gardiner had four or five mills that made paper from mummy-wrappings. It's a fascinating bit of real Yankee lore. The big question is what happened to the bodies?"

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:16 AM

BURLESQUE [CONFIDENTIAL] 

Everyday women steal the stage as the queens of the new burlesque.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:08 AM

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

IU's Lilly Library will acquire world's largest collection of mechanical puzzles 

Indiana University's Lilly Library will be home to the world's largest collection of mechanical puzzles, library officials announced today (July 19). Highly regarded for its variety and scope, the collection includes items dating from the eighteenth century.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:45 PM

The Mystery of Philadelphia's "Toynbee Tiles" 

More in depth than usual.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:17 PM

Carved stone still mystifies scholars 

Finally, a picture. A bizarre, head-scratcher of a picture.

The American Naturalist suggested that the stone "commemorates a treaty between two tribes." Others have guessed the stone is Celtic or Inuit. A letter to the historical society in 1931 suggested it was a "thunderstone," which, the writer said, "always present the appearance of having been machined or hand-worked: frequently they come from deep in the earth, embedded in lumps of clay, or even surrounded by solid rock or coral."

Another curious detail is that there are holes bored in both ends of the stone, with different size bits. Each bore is straight, not tapered. Scratches in the lower bore suggest it was placed on a metal shaft and removed several times, according to an analysis done by state officials in 1994.

What is this thing?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:10 PM

Frank Miller Adapts Eisner's Spirit 

Amazing news. A Spirit movie, directed by Frank Miller.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:01 PM

Charming and macabre, Edward Gorey House welcomes visitors 

Cool.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:53 PM

Deep DNA memory theories 

Can we remember our ancestors' lives?

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:50 PM

Mystery Fish Caught At Buffalo Springs Lake Identified 

Turns out to be a Pacu, a South American fish with teeth. Very scary teeth. With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:41 PM

Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness 

In a new book, Quantum Enigma: Physics Encounters Consciousness (Oxford University Press, July 2006), physicists Bruce Rosenblum and Fred Kuttner of the University of California, Santa Cruz, present a clear exposition and entertaining discussion of the baffling mysteries of quantum physics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:38 PM

Small Town Investigates String Of Cancer Cases 

There's growing debate over whether something in a Nebraska town is giving residents cancer, and some feel a new study may prove those fears correct.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:35 PM

Toddler Flips off Bush During Veto Announcement 

The kids are alright. Hysterical.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:34 PM

Terror database tracks UC protests 

A federal Department of Homeland Security agent passed along information about student protests against military recruiters at UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz, landing the demonstrations on a database tracking foreign terrorism, according to government documents released Tuesday.

I am shocked! Shocked!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:28 PM

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

The Prestige 

The trailer for Christopher Nolan's The Prestige is out and it looks very interesting. Watch for a brief glimpse of David Bowie as Nicola Tesla. Now that's casting.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:31 PM

Colonial myths of Angkor Wat in ruins 

The effect of the temples and of the myths surrounding them has been enormous and by no means entirely beneficial. Many of the myths surrounding Angkor and the Khmer developed in the colonial era (1863-1953) and only recently have been called into question. Contrary to much popular writing about Angkor, for example, the ruins were never forgotten by the Khmer, nor were the temples lost in the jungle, as many early writers suggested.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:48 PM

YouTube - Bush gives Merkel a massage - she is not amused 

Are low approval ratings contagious?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:15 AM

A sure sign of the apocalypse 

Advertising on eggs. No, really, advertising on eggs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:01 AM

Afraid to Give Up Ghosts 

Mainland China may have left otherworldly beliefs behind, but in Taiwan ... well, you'd better just do what the spirits say.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:29 AM

How to brew cheap wine 

This is one step above prisoner plonk but it looks interesting.

Via Make Zine.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:25 AM

US using 'dangerous new form of weapon' 

Death ray in Iraq?

Via the Fortean Times.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:20 AM

A mother's defense: The serial killer did it 

On Jan. 2, 2000, in Del Rio, Texas, sheriff's Lt. Larry Pope was questioning a drifter suspected in the New Year's Eve stabbing death of a 13-year-old girl. As Pope and a colleague asked the 35-year-old bearded man about the girl's death, he stunned them by calmly asking: "I guess you want to know about the other ones."

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:34 AM

Computer game tests for telepathy 

Scientists are using computer technology to play mind games in a bid to probe the mysteries of the paranormal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:30 AM

Monday, July 17, 2006

Psychedelic mushrooms earn serious 2d look from science 

Psychedelic mushrooms have been a stubborn part of the nation's drug problem for decades, offering their users a potentially dangerous, and decidedly illegal, way to warp their consciousness. Now government-funded scientists have found that the active ingredient in the mushrooms could be a powerful tool for scientific research, and they say it should be explored as a potential treatment for depression, anxiety, and other disorders.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:53 PM

Scientists to dig mysterious pyramids in Sevastopol 

Ancient pyramids in Ukraine?

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:48 PM

Psychics aid police in crime fighting, but skepticism abounds 

I see... an idea for a television show...

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:32 PM

A ballooning in sightings of UFO 

After the Luton News reported the 50-year-old mystery of a UFO sighting over Ramridge Junior School it became clear that the town was not alien to the unusual.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:20 PM

World War III and Cryptozoology 

A nice and thoughtful article by Loren Coleman.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:12 PM

Mickey Spillane, RIP 

An amazing life. Did you know Mickey once got shot out of a cannon? Or that he was a Jehovah's Witness and attended Ft. Hayes State in Kansas? Neither did I.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:31 PM

Saturday, July 15, 2006

UFO enthusiasts touch down at Tech Center 

The 37th Mutual UFO Network International Symposium.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:35 PM

Clue found in mystery of Civil War sub 

Scientists say they may have found an important clue in the mystery of why the Confederate submarine Hunley sank 140 years ago after making history by sinking an enemy warship in battle.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:18 PM

One Da Vinci Code Deciphered: Ornithopter Flies! 

An alert ANN News-Spy called our attention to a rather remarkable achievement recently up north: the successful, sustained flight of a real-life, manned "ornithopter" -- a design steeped in mystery, that originated on the drawing board of one Leonardo da Vinci.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:16 PM

Witches lead a charming life 

From doctors who talk to Norse gods to families who visit fairyland, this year's Witchfest Scotland provides a disarmingly pleasant introduction to the world of magic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:13 PM

No Telling What An Emu Will Do 

Out-of-place emus in Connecticut. Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:11 PM

1934's Murderous Monster Marsupial at Cryptomundo.com 

Sometimes the strangest things you hear about in cryptozoology catch up with physical evidence years later. Take, for instance, Killer Kangaroos. No, I'm not talking about the Mystery Kangaroos that punched out the Chicago police in the 1970s. I'm thinking, instead, about the Killer Kangaroo of 1934.

Great bit of cryptozoological history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:08 PM

Ex-Bush Aide Fatally Shoots Son, Himself 

A former Bush administration official, after arguing violently with his wife Thursday night, shot and killed his 12-year-old son inside their McLean home, then turned a shotgun on himself and committed suicide, Fairfax County police said.

Here is Sploid's take on it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:00 PM

Friday, July 14, 2006

Searching for Ropens 

Examining the Revolutionary Idea that Pterosaurs Live in Papua New Guinea.

Via Book of Thoth.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:36 PM

Dead executive 'not a suspect' 

A former banking executive who was due to give evidence at the trial of the NatWest Three killed himself by cutting his throat, police sources said.

"We believe it was a tragic shaving accident," said one officer.

Via Covert History.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:09 PM

Former CIA officer sues Cheney over leak 

Valerie Plame comes out swinging.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:01 PM

Creepy speculation about Bush spying on political opponents 

I've said it before and I'll say it again - Bush's domestic spying has nothing to do with terrorism and eveything to do with keeping tabs on his opponents and blackmail. Every Democrat and journalist in this country should regard their phone calls and emails as being monitored.

Imagine the crap they've got on O'Reilly.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:59 AM

Acupuncture being accepted in mainstream health care 

"The expression is that a billion Chinese people can't be wrong," says Laura Culver Edgar, deputy director of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. "(Americans) are starting to recognize that it is a valid form of medicine and more and more people are using it."

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:46 AM

ACCUSED G.I. WAS TROUBLED LONG BEFORE IRAQ 

On the last day of January 2005, Steven D. Green, the former Army private accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and murdering her family, sat in a Texas jail on alcohol-possession charges, an unemployed 19-year-old high school dropout who had just racked up his third misdemeanor conviction.

Days later, Mr. Green enlisted in a soldier-strapped Army, and was later assigned to a star-crossed unit to serve on an especially murderous patch of earth.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:44 AM

Holy Hydrocarbons! Theologians Use Bible To Hunt For Oil 

A group of evangelical Christians hopes to succeed with a new technique: finding black gold using ancient scriptures.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:40 AM

Everybody was kung fu fighting 

A new holiday offers one-to-one training with Shaolin monks.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:37 AM

Cause and defect: Can the future influence the past? 

While reverse causation (also called backward or retro-causation) may sound like science fiction, it is firmly grounded in classical laws of physics. These laws say time is symmetrical, that it moves - or should be able to move - in all directions with equal ease.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:32 AM

'NatWest Three' extradited to U.S. 

The dead guy, of course, will stay home.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:30 AM

Report: Harris tried to implicate Scarborough in intern's death 

Lie down with dogs...

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:25 AM

Evangelist arrested on federal charges 

Kent Hovind, the anti-evolution evangelist who owns Dinosaur Adventure Land, has been arrested for tax evasion.

Kent Hovind, who often calls himself "Dr. Dino," has been sparring with the IRS for at least 17 years on his claims that he is employed by God, receives no income, has no expenses and owns no property.

Man, that's a sweet deal. Is God hiring?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:23 AM

UFO, Venus or something else? 

Former Vail man now thinks the 'UFO' he saw 28 years ago was a planet; expert disagrees.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:09 AM

RFK Jr Files Fed. Suit Against Voting Machine Cos. 

Good.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:08 AM

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Are Enron Bankers/Witnesses Being Murdered? 

With the latest revelation that a body discovered in North-east London is that of a banker intimately connected with the Enron fraud case, one has to begin to ask why are there so many "unexplained" deaths linked to this case?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:46 PM

Cat's Back! 

Cat, over at Confessions of an Occult Mastermind, has returned from a year-long hiatus. Welcome back Cat!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:13 PM

Hunting for Ghosts 

Children learn to detect the paranormal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:22 AM

Nineteen-Year-Old Says His Touch Can Cure Diseases 

That's the best pick-up line ever.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:19 AM

World's largest photo taken in defunct El Toro base hangar 

Now they start to build the world's largest photo album.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:16 AM

The Mexican Lindbergh - And Why New Jersey Remembers Him 

"All glory is fleeting," the ancient Romans were fond of reminding their heroes. The wisdom of this is attested to by the life of Emilio Carranza Rodriguez.

Cool story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:13 AM

Fresh investigation into Wilmslow UFO 

A FRESH investigation has begun into the sighting of an unidentified flying object over Wilmslow 30 years ago.

With drawing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:02 AM

Plans afoot to acquire cave site 

Upton Chamber may become a public park. Which would be very cool.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:01 AM

The Stolen Election of 2004 

The numbers simply do not add up.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:58 AM

Jack the Ripper identified by investigating detective 

Yawn. It's Kosminski.

For more on Kosminski see here. As to the reaction from Ripperologists - as opposed to hyperbolic headline writers - see
here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:51 AM

Dead men don't talk 

The "suicide" of a British banker tied to the Enron scandal is the latest in a string of mysterious insider deaths in England and the United States.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:38 AM

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Serial killers terrorize Phoenix area 

Not one, but two serial killers have taken up residence in Phoenix.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:30 PM

New clue in Jack The Ripper case 

New documents about the identity of 1880s serial killer Jack The Ripper are be revealed at the re-launch of Scotland Yard's Crime Museum.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:15 PM

Lost Shelley poem found after 200 years 

Poem does not contain the word "Nantucket".

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:05 PM

Happy Birthday! 

I want to wish cryptozoologist Loren Coleman a happy birthday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:12 PM

Farinelli rises from grave to reveal castrati secrets 

Historians and scientists have exhumed the remains of legendary castrato Farinelli in Italy to study the anatomical effects of castration carried out on young boys to turn them into high-pitched stars of the opera.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:37 PM

The monster detectives: on the trail of the ninki-nanka 

Once, the komodo dragon was thought to exist only in folklore. What other mythical beasts might we find if we look hard enough? Helen Brown meets the man on the trail of the ninki-nanka.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:32 PM

Enron witness found dead in park 

If you had anything at all to do with the Enron case I suggest you watch your back. It's clean-up time.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:25 PM

Researchers study mysterious mutilation 

Almost a year to the day after a cow mutilation was reported near Paradise Hill, another case has surfaced, this time in the Hillmond area.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:54 PM

Hot Dog Mailed Between Sisters for 54 Years 

Flora Zimbelman says it all started 54 years ago when she put an uncooked hot dog in her sister's suitcase.

Via FARK.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:24 PM

Mystery Ice Block Misses Mans Head 

A football-sized block of ice crashed through the roof and ceiling of a bungalow, smashing shocked householder Simon Jones on the head.

Headline writer apparently unfamiliar with the definition of the word "misses". But Simon Jones is a lucky man - check out the size of that hole.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:42 PM

Boys catch pirahna in ditch 

Four young anglers had the catch of a lifetime this week. But it wasn't a trophy walleye or a lunker bass - it was a piranha.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:38 PM

Great Opportunity for Fabulous Floating Ogopogo Sighting Station 

Here's the story of a tugboat that served those who live on the lake for nigh 35 years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:17 PM

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

50 year study says conservatives 'followers' 

Conservatives waiting on someone to tell them to denounce this study.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:41 PM

Gecko that usually lives in the southeastern US found in Kansas 

When I lived in Lawrence some friends of mine had a horrible cockroach problem. Their solution? Buy a gecko and let it loose in their apartment. Problem solved. The gecko ate all the bugs in their apartment and the apartment next door before moving across the alley to another building where it presumably kept up its cockroach diet until it passed away. Now I wonder...was that gecko pregnant?

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:34 PM

The big question: Is Ogopogo a sturgeon? 

At Cryptomundo.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:38 PM

Why did they murder Philip Merrill? 

Xymphora can think of nine billion reasons.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:31 PM

Quest for the Metal Library 

A system of tunnels and caves beneath Ecuador and Peru is reputed to hold an ancient treasure-house of artefacts including two libraries, one containing inscribed metal books and the other storing tablets of crystal.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:11 PM

World's first 3-D crop circle found in English field 

With cool pic. No glasses needed. Via FARK.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:51 AM

Darryl Peebles meet ... Daryl Peebles 

When an American minister, Darryl R. Peebles, typed his name into an Internet search engine he was surprised to find another Daryl R. Peebles living in the Australian island state of Tasmania. But the surprises kept coming.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:48 AM

Actress J Lo Accused in Court of Conjuring Voodoo Spells 

Santeria, actually. This explains a lot.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:44 AM

New links 

I recently added Modern Mechanix and New England Anomaly. The Professor says check 'em out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:38 AM

Pink Floyd legend Syd Barrett dies 

RIP, Syd.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:31 AM

Simon Says 

New Rigorous Intuition.

By the way, I fixed the RI link in my links bar so that it now takes you to the new (and improved!) Rigorous page instead of the static and stuck-in-time old page that Blogger has trapped in amber.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:24 AM

Quantifying A Mystical Experience: Hallucinogenic Research Gets To Grips With Spirituality 

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that an active agent contained in "sacred mushrooms" can induce strikingly similar mystical experiences in different subjects; and the experiences seem to be descriptively identical to spontaneous epiphanies that people have reported for centuries.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:07 AM

Agents in green tea could provide future cancer treatment, say FWCC researchers 

Dr. James Cardelli, professor of microbiology and immunology and director of research at FWCC, believes that green tea could hold an answer in future cancer treatment, but perhaps not in its whole form.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:02 AM

First tomb uncovered in Valley of Kings may be Tutankhamen's mother 

It's King Tut's mummy!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:00 AM

Andrea Doria Researcher Dies Wreck Diving 

David Bright, a leading researcher into underwater exploration and shipwrecks, has died after diving to the site of the Andrea Doria off Nantucket where he was working in preparation for the wreck's 50th anniversary. He was 49.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:55 AM

The tale of Princess Kaiulani 

She was a Scottish-Hawaiian princess who, during her short life, captivated two continents and attempted to save a throne. Her childhood was a fairy tale, but as the stability of the Hawaiian monarchy teetered on the edge of dissolution, this brave princess appealed to a U.S. president for help.

With pic of the lovely princess.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:51 AM

Rosslyn Chapel claims historical roots in Canada 

Among a multitude of beautiful ancient carvings inside the chapel is an archway of Indian corn stretched across the south window.

According to some historians this is a link made by one of the founders of the chapel, Sir William St. Clair in 1446, the last prince of Orkney. Apparently his predecessor Henry St. Clair, the first prince of Orkney, is said to have discovered America nearly 100 years before Christopher Columbus.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:50 AM

US teen fights to treat cancer on own terms 

Abraham Cherrix is in the center of a legal battle to determine his medical future.

Abraham is currently taking the Hoxsey Treatment.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:47 AM

Artifacts helping to solve wreck mystery 

Sometime on June 14, 1774, the sailing vessel Severn, en route from Bristol, England, to Philadelphia, ran aground in Delaware Bay and filled with water.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:25 AM

Roanoke landlord resigns from National Socialist Movement 

White said Monday he stepped down as spokesman for the group and leader of its Roanoke unit over the weekend following revelations that some NSM members are involved with a group called the Joy of Satan.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:39 AM

Ancient suicide note unearthed 

An ancient Egyptian poem is being hailed as the oldest description of feeling suicidal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:27 AM

Cape Cod Haunted Map Unveiled 

From Sagamore to the Pochet Island Marshes, Monomoy to Race Point, the map is slithering with stories of sorceresses, wraiths, apparitions, mermaids, ghost ships, spirits of drowned sailors, underwater Native American chiefs, mer-women, phantom oxen tracks, medicine beings, elves, sea serpents, and haunted beaches.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:24 AM

Monday, July 10, 2006

Suzi Boneshaker 

Suzi Boneshaker makes stuff that is both creepy and cute. This is her Myspace page.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:59 PM

Scientists consider benefits of yoga for cancer patients 

Last month, the National Institutes of Health awarded University of Texas researchers some $2.4 million to investigate whether Tibetan yoga has a positive impact on women undergoing treatment for breast cancer. It's the largest award ever given to study the effects of yoga.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:34 PM

Huashan Mysterious Grottos 

The Largest Man-Made Cavern in Ancient China.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:32 PM

Bring me the head of "Kenny Boy" Lay: Another convenient death invites new investigations of Enron-Bush crimes 

Kenneth Lay, world-class Enron criminal, long-time Bush family friend and crime ally, was pronounced dead on July 5, allegedly of a heart-related condition.

Lay's name can now be added to the list of dubious Enron-related deaths, which include the alleged 2002 shotgun suicide of Enron Vice Chairman Clifford Baxter.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:25 PM

''Witch of Pungo'' receives governor's pardon after 300 years 

So, after 300 years, she isn't a witch.

So says Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who today pardoned Grace Sherwood, known as the "Witch of Pungo," three centuries to the day she was convicted of witchcraft.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:53 PM

Water Witching 

Is Dowsing For Wells A Superstition Or An Uncanny Ability?

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:17 AM

New letters reveal mysteries of Einstein's love life 

Albert Einstein had half a dozen girlfriends and told his wife they showered him with "unwanted" affection, according to letters released on Monday that shed light on his extra-marital affairs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:59 AM

Jersey Devil + 40 

Some good stuff over at Cryptomundo today, including this post on the Jersey Devil and
this post on the imminent capture of the Johor Bigfoot.

I'm not holding my breath.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:54 AM

Hundreds turn up to see mummified mermaid 

They came by the hundreds to the small hall wanting to see for themselves what they had read in books and seen in movies.

See also: Ghostly Affair At Muzium Shah Alam

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:47 AM

Putin Weighs In on Robots and Sex 

And Cthulhu. Really.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:43 AM

Satellites can throw light on 'cosmic cities' 

Analysis of pictures sent by their satellite orbitting the space, 800 kms above the Earth, can give interesting insights into how 'cosmic cities' described in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata must have looked, according to a senior scientist with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:41 AM

The Tartan wave 

A history of Scottish surfing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:38 AM

Closing In on the Niger Uranium Hoax 

Who lied us into war? The answer may be forthcoming...

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:24 AM

Pellots from 3,000-year-old Yin Ruins might be missiles 

A large number of pottery pellets have been discovered in the famous Yin Ruins in central China, and now an archaeologist said they might have been used as catapult missiles more 3,000 years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:46 AM

Friday, July 07, 2006

Is Cheney Betting on Economic Collapse? 

Why does Dick Cheney hate America?

Via FARK.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:43 AM

Lay's death could set Skilling free 

Cui bono?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:34 AM

Rigorous Intuition (v. 2.0) 

New Rigorous on imaginary friends and not-so-imaginary crooks.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:33 AM

Who Built the Moon? 

An interview with Christopher Knight.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:20 AM

Water, Water Everywhere... from Nowhere 

Strange cases of water falling from clear skies and dry ceilings.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:15 AM

Professor researches paranormal media effects on viewing public 

Since the early 1990s, Sparks, a professor of communication, has been researching how the media affects the public's belief in the paranormal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:14 AM

UFO caught on camera 

A PLEASANT evening barbecue turned into a sci-fi drama when a teenager spotted a UFO and captured it on film.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:10 AM

UK hacker confirmed for US extradition 

The decision to allow the extradition of the alleged US military hacker has been confirmed by the Home Secretary John Reid.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:09 AM

DNA tests do not grant inclusion to Confucius family tree 

Chinese people desperate to prove they are descendants of Confucius have been told that DNA tests will not be included in the current compilation of the family tree of China's first teacher of philosophy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:01 AM

Thursday, July 06, 2006

British Explorers Seek Ninki-Nanka and Gambo 

Cryptomundo has the update.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:58 PM

Using His Cranium - Grover Krantz's Last Wish Was to Remain With His Friends. And He Has. 

In a dim hallway in the Smithsonian's Museum of Natural History, anthropologist David Hunt opens a dingy green cabinet and pulls out a drawer full of human bones.

"This," he says, "is Grover Krantz."

Here's Loren Coleman's remembrance.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:56 PM

Researchers Follow Reports of Legendary Ape-Man 

In Australia, it's called the Yowie. In the Himalayas, natives speak of the Yeti. The Mapinguari roams the Amazon Basin. And in North America, tales persist of a giant, ape-like being known as Sasquatch, or Bigfoot. The mystique of this legend has endured for centuries, and a California-based group has just completed yet another leg of a cross-country expedition for the mysterious - and controversial - creature.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:53 PM

Express of gems 

Torsa Ghosal tells us the secrets behind some of the most famous diamonds in the world.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:47 PM

The Loch Ness metaphor, a monstrous mystery 

I still shiver a little at one of the stories told to me years ago by Dr. Roy P. Mackal, who, along with his scholarly attainments as a professor of biology at the University of Chicago (where he investigated, among other things, bacteriophages and the lysogenic cycle), firmly believed in weird creatures.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:41 PM

Mystery of bunker in the dunes 

An elaborate underground bunker built in sand dunes on a Surf Coast beach has mystified police and intrigued locals.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:38 PM

Sasquatch sensation 

Phillips goes ape over Bigfoot expeditions.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:37 PM

Exhibit will be "Armed" with boxing artifacts 

The exhibit will also include Dan Donnelly's mummified right arm. With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:34 PM

Ill. Museum To Store Native American Remains Discovered in Attic 

What started out as typical house cleaning has ended in historic donations to the state of Illinois. The remains of 33 Native Americans have been found in a late dentist's former house in Bloomington, Ill.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:31 PM

Mystery of sneakers' origins still eludes historians 

Vintage basketball sneakers, marketed as the first modern basketball shoe, with the label Colchester Rubber Co., will be sold overseas as early as August, according to the clothing collectors who found an old pair in a closet of an estate sale in December 2005.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:28 PM

Mexico Presidential Election Ballots Found in Dump 

As the apparent victor in Mexico's presidential election switched back and forth Thursday morning, ballots were found in two garbage dumps, RAW STORY has learned.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:09 PM

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Sex, witchcraft and the murder of a druid 

A nice long article on the murder of Peter Solheim and the conviction of Margaret James. Good read.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:15 PM

Christchurch's ghost whisperers investigate 

After years of bangs in the night, taps turning on and doors slamming, staff at Riccarton's Racecourse Hotel believe they will soon find out whether they have a noisy ghost or fanciful imaginations.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:55 PM

Ship of legend now a model for display 

The Mary Celeste returned to home waters Tuesday, or at least a scale model of the well-known mystery ship did.

With Celeste-ial pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:53 PM

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Ruins revived at Aquileia 

Italian archaeologists are working hard to unearth more of the largest Roman city ever uncovered, a colony that served as a bulwark against barbarian invasions before being destroyed by Attila the Hun.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:14 PM

Race on to save Egypt's ancient treasures 

Swiss archaeologists are joining the scramble to recover invaluable ancient remains in Egypt before they are lost forever beneath modern developments.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:11 PM

Mystery of an African queen 

There are two versions of the legend of the Queen of Sheba - one set in Yemen and the other in Ethiopia. Catherine Arnold explores them both.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:46 PM

Relic declared not Spanish but from Masonic sword 

The mystery of a relic found on a rocky slope of Grand Mesa 45 years ago took a new turn when researchers declared it not to be a piece of a cross brought by Spanish explorers.

Instead, the copper plate likely came from the sheath of a Masonic sword about 150 years ago, said David Bailey, chief curator for the Museum of Western Colorado in Grand Junction.

"Now it leads us in a whole new direction," Bailey said. "What was someone with a Masonic sword doing in that area at that time?"

See also: Metal relic an ancient scabbard

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:44 PM

Solved: case of the first stamped letter 

THE mystery of the world's first stamped envelope has been licked by a team of first-class historians.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:41 PM

Historic mystery: Notice of Declaration found under floorboards 

A mystique still surrounds the discovery of the Dunlap broadside, the large sheet of paper that announced the signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776, which was found in the Ladd-Gilman house in the 1980s.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:39 PM

Carved stone still unexplained after more than a century 

In 1872, so the story goes, workers digging a hole for a fence post near Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith found a lump of clay that seemed out of place.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:37 PM

Barcelona Police Seek Serial Killer 

Police in Barcelona warned today that a serial murderer was targeting old women living on their own in the city.

Residents were told to be on the lookout for a middle-aged woman who befriends the elderly, before strangling them in their flats. The killer is thought to have struck three times in the past month, including twice in the past four days.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:33 PM

Fallen Soldier Gets a Bronze Star but No Pagan Star 

At the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in the small town of Fernley, Nev., there is a wall of brass plaques for local heroes. But one space is blank. There is no memorial for Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:23 PM

Monday, July 03, 2006

Report: Bush ordered Cheney to use classified info to discredit Wilson 

President Bush told Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald that he instructed Vice President Cheney to use classified information to discredit former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, according to a report in the National Journal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:35 PM

Witchcraft ban ends in Zimbabwe 

Zimbabwe has lifted a ban on the practice of witchcraft, repealing legislation dating back to colonial rule.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:53 PM

Happy Birthday, Covert History! 

Covert History celebrates one year in action.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:29 AM

Mysterious lake creature shrouded in myth 

Once described as a being the spawn of an earwig and a whale, the mystery of Okanagan Lake's Ogopogo is still being debated to this day.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:54 AM

Doctors remove 119 nails from woman's stomach 

Yikes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:45 AM

Bigfoot has place in our family tree 

MYSTERIOUS "Bigfoot" creatures said to be roaming Malaysia's jungles are probably descended from humankind's ancient African ancestor, homo erectus, an environmentalist says.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:40 AM

UFO mystery sightings were balloons 

Telford was gripped by UFO fever at the weekend when people spotted dozens of weird lights floating through the night sky. But the display was in fact produced by balloons designed to hoax the public.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:34 AM

Ann Coulter: Plagiarist 

"John Barrie, the creator of a leading plagiarism-recognition system, claimed he found at least three instances of what he calls "textbook plagiarism" in the leggy blond pundit's "Godless: the Church of Liberalism" after he ran the book's text through the company's digital iThenticate program," writes Philip Recchia.

Here is the Post's article.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:29 AM

FBI losing senior agents to private sector 

Years of pummeling by the press and Congress, plus wrenching changes produced by the FBI's shift in focus to antiterrorism, have depressed morale at the bureau and are causing senior agents to mull job offers worth as much as $600,000 a year in the private sector.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:27 AM

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Don't call me crazy just for seeking the truth about what really happened on Sept. 11, 2001 

Letter to the editor.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:19 AM

Spy Agency Sought U.S. Call Records Before 9/11, Lawyers Say 

The U.S. National Security Agency asked AT&T Inc. to help it set up a domestic call monitoring site seven months before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, lawyers claimed June 23 in court papers filed in New York federal court.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:13 AM

UFO In The Neighborhood? Who You Gonna Call? 

Mike Johnson and his daughter Brenna were driving home to Woahink Lake from town one spring night in 1995 when Brenna turned around in her seat and saw a strange light hovering above the water.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:07 AM

Here comes the sun 

It really doesn't matter what brings you to summer solstice, the first day of summer, the longest day of the year and a good-time-for-all kind of holiday that seems to have started back with the ancient Celts thousands of years ago. Once you're there, you are welcome to celebrate the day that has made a big comeback over the past couple of decades among partygoers and Pagans.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:55 AM

Mystery Primate 

Who, or what, is Bigfoot?

See also: Bigfoot: Legend lives on, despite lack of evidence

Bigfoot named as Johor Hominid

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:44 AM

Mysterious Sightings 

Young ghost hunters get a chance to search for the paranormal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:37 AM

Adventures in Ghost Hunting on Oregon's Coast 

Some people collect hubcaps, figurines or stamps. I collect paranormal stories about Oregon's coast.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:29 AM

UFOs and extra-terrestrial life under the spotlight 

South African UFOs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:16 AM

Motive for tomb theft mystifies detectives 

A day after police discovered that someone had broken open Stevie Russell Dale's tomb and stolen his remains, investigators searched for a motive.

Three theories: Santeria, voodoo or cult activity.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:04 AM

Down-to-earth crop circles 

Mystery or mischief? Strange patterns have been showing up in Norfolk's crop fields.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:00 AM