Sunday, December 31, 2006

Happy New Year from Professor Hex 

I want to wish everyone a happy and safe New Year's Eve - and a banner new year for all of us.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:39 PM

The Lard Fiend 

An 1884 newspaper auction on Ebay featuring "the story of the "Lard Fiend", who would traverse the Brockton streets on busy Sunday nights and unbenounced to the ladies, and while walking close to them, deposit a solution of lard on the backs of women's "costly silk dresses," thus ruining them. Because of the congestion on the streets, he was able to do this without as yet being caught. Upon the release of this issue, it was the eighth time he had struck within a few weeks. A serial criminal to be sure."

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:29 PM

Head-banging Chinese snakes can predict earthquakes days in advance, say scientists 

As Asia's telecom systems slowly recovered from the earthquakes that hit Taiwan this week, Chinese scientists said they had developed a new way of forecasting tremors - by observing the tendency of snakes to launch themselves headlong into walls.

Via Raw Story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:56 AM

New year rituals range from melting lead to eating black-eyed peas 

I always eat black-eyed peas.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:31 AM

Livestock Predator Still a Mystery, Two Months After Its Death 

Even after wolves were hunted, trapped and poisoned out of existence in most of Montana, lone predators continued to haunt sheepherders. There was the White Wolf of the Judith Basin, hunted for 15 years, and the Ghost Wolf of the Little Rockies.

"These things became mythological," said Ed Bangs, the Fish and Wildlife Service recovery coordinator for the Rocky Mountains. "Some people said they had supernatural powers."

They were, however, wolves. Wildlife officials are not sure what the latest phantom livestock killer was.

Still might be a Shunka Warak'in.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:30 AM

More African Dino Art Deco 

Cryptomundo has the pdfs if you want a better look.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:23 AM

French space agency to publish UFO archive online 

The French space agency is to publish its archive of UFO sightings and other phenomena online, but will keep the names of those who reported them off the site to protect them from pestering by space fanatics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:21 AM

Eerie Exhibit Portrays World's Most Famous Serial Killers 

A fitting theme for the reopening of Mexico City's Police Museum - life like exhibits of famous serial killers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:19 AM

Globe's hottest spots are also affordable 

The 4,000 travelers who use TripAdvisor.com have spoken.

The top hot spot in the world for 2007 is Pamukkale, Turkey.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:19 AM

Egyptian Vessel Divination 

The following is taken from the Leyden Papyrus, a collection of magical spells from Hellenic Egypt compiled around 300 AD. The spell, a technique for using a divining vessel, appears on Columns I-III of the papyrus.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:16 AM

Ghosts in the Machine 

The human brain is, in surprising part, an appliance powered by electricity. It constantly generates about 12 watts of energy, enough to keep a flashlight glowing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:15 AM

Full Moon Names for 2007 

Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. Those tribes of a few hundred years ago kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:09 AM

At the Coliseum Bookstore, Little Is Left but the Shelves 

Another long-time bookstore bites the dust.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:02 AM

Friday, December 29, 2006

The 'personal blimp' takes flight 

With lots of pics. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:23 PM

Where's my flying car? 

Michael Prescott wants to know.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:19 PM

Physical Evidence That Sasquatch Lives? 

Solid interview with Jeff Meldrum, author of Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science. Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:24 PM

Kennedy Targeted on 1963 Ireland Trip 

President John F. Kennedy was the subject of three separate death threats during his visit to Ireland in 1963, according to newly declassified police documents released Friday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:38 AM

African Dinosaur Hunting: Art Deco Style 

Very cool. Cryptomundo's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 AM

'Vital clue' in hunt for Christmas Truce 

A letter published in a Cumbrian newspaper nearly a century ago could hold the key to unravelling one of the great mysteries of World War One.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 AM

Montana a UFO hotspot dating back to 1950s 

"It's been a pretty active area, and there are a lot of world-documented sightings going way back," said Jeff Goodrich, state director of the Montana chapter of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON).

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:27 AM

Tuscan Church Reveals Answer to Mystery of Medici Deaths 

Picking through centuries-old rubbish, masonry and discarded body parts beneath an abandoned Tuscan church, an Italian historian believes she has solved one of history's great crime mysteries.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:26 AM

2006 A Year End Wrapup 

The year in UFOs. With lots of photos.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:23 AM

The jewel in the crown: The curse of Koh-i-Noor 

Its 750-year history is peppered with tales of murder and treachery. Now, secret papers released yesterday have added another twist to the 186-carat gem's colourful history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:21 AM

Scientist says he knows Stradivari's secret 

For more than a century, artists, craftsmen and scientists have sought the secret that gave the prized instruments their distinct sound. Dozens have claimed to have solved the mystery, but none has been proved right.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:14 AM

Planet hunters widen their search for second Earth 

A Russian rocket hurled a European telescope into orbit yesterday, on a mission to find dozens of rocky planets circling other stars.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:12 AM

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Did Glooskap Kill The Dragon On The Kennebec? 

Some research I've been doing lately.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:01 PM

RIP Gerald Ford 

I know it's horrible, but all I could think about when I heard the news was this video from SNL.

Tragedy today as former president Gerald Ford was eaten by wolves. He was delicious.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:09 PM

Disappearing world: Global warming claims tropical island 

For the first time, an inhabited island has disappeared beneath rising seas.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:04 AM

Missing slab could unlock mysteries of past 

Cool article. And that sure looks like a dinosaur on that slab...

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:30 AM

Copper Clothes Promoted As Healing Aids 

Jeffrey Gabbay hasn't washed his sports socks since 2004. He says he doesn't have to. Gabbay's company, Cupron Inc., says it is the first textile manufacturer to produce fibers "impregnated" with copper oxide, an agent that kills bacteria and odor on contact. The socks, which he says can heal and prevent athlete's foot, are one of his company's best-selling products.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:29 AM

Feds failed to follow bombing evidence 

Information in Utahn's FBI lawsuit points to possible co-conspirators in Oklahoma City.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:27 AM

Armadillos Marching North to Illinois 

Look out, Canada.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:27 AM

Ex-Agent Reveals KGB Mind Control Techniques 

A former KGB officer has divulged secrets of special mind control techniques that security services in developed nations used during and after the Cold War, a Russian government daily said Friday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:26 AM

Documentary claims Jesus had 'secret' siblings 

"Is not this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas? And are not his sisters here with us?"

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:20 AM

Rome's New Vigilance for Its Buried Treasure 

Of all the old saws about the Eternal City, at least one remains simply true: dig a deep hole almost anywhere here, and you'll unearth an archaeological artifact, or two.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:20 AM

China striving for mummy identification 

A group of Chinese scientists are attempting to identify a 2,800-year-old mummy of an apparent Caucasian man found in an ancient tomb.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:15 AM

The Beast of Bray Road 

Monster or mirage, the sightings sound like something out of 'Believe It Or Not'.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:11 AM

The biggest wave ever recorded measures in at 1740 ft 

The biggest wave on record occurred in Lituya Bay on the southern coast of Alaska in 1958.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:04 AM

Bigfoot Tooth Found? 

Cryptomundo's got it, with pics. See also: A New Sasquatch Conspiracy?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:21 AM

A host of unexplained sightings captured 

Could this picture prove we really are not alone? Dedicated UFO spotter Ernie Sears believes so.

See also: He doesn't believe in UFOs; he's just building his own

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:17 AM

The Other Mystery of Easter Island 

The island's lost language of Rongorongo. Via Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:10 AM

10 myths -- and 10 truths -- about atheism 

As the historian Stephen Henry Roberts (1901-71) once said: "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:00 AM

Monday, December 25, 2006

RIP James Brown 

Words cannot do him justice. The Godfather is gone.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:55 AM

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Merry Christmas from Professor Hex 

I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and thank you for your readership. My best to you and your loved ones.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:42 AM

Links to All 2006 Cryptozoology Lists 

Cryptomundo has the master list.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:34 AM

RIP Jerry Berns 

Jerry Berns, a proprietor of the "21" Club for a half-century and the last link to the restaurant's past as Manhattan's most celebrated speakeasy, died yesterday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 99 and had homes in Rancho Mirage, Manhattan and Southampton, N.Y.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:13 AM

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Swiss conductor Tabachnik again acquitted of sect killings 

An appeals court in France on Wednesday upheld the verdict of a lower court, which in 2001 acquitted Tabachnik over the deaths of members of the Swiss-based Order of the Solar Temple.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:50 PM

The Beast of Buchan 

Big-cat sightings are now, like Nessie, almost part of Scottish folklore, stretching back to the 1930s.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:39 PM

...and then there was one 

The Legendary Queen Ann Cafeteria in Oklahoma City is closing, leaving just one independently-owned cafeteria in a city that was once the Cafeteria Capital of America.

See also: Queen Ann ends reign

I've eaten at the Queen Ann many times over the course of my lifetime. It will be missed. 1,400 people ate lunch there on Friday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:33 PM

Giant squid filmed live 

Here's the video if you missed it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:45 PM

Flying high 

Swiss man takes to the skies with wings and a jetpack.

With cool video. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:44 PM

Friday, December 22, 2006

Robert Kennedy, also victim of a conspiracy? 

New graphic evidence shows that the CIA and Italian-American and Cuban mafia groups that do Washington's dirty work are related not only to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, but also to that of his brother Robert.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:29 PM

'Phantom Ferry' floats off to Stockton 

The old boat that became a piece of local legend as the "Mystery Ship" and "Phantom Ferry" during its brief stay in Port Costa is gone.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:57 PM

Unravel mystery of Star of Bethlehem 

Astronomers love a good mystery. At this time of year there's no better one than the Star of Bethlehem.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:54 PM

'42 midget sub committed to the deep 

The wartime midget submarine discovered off the beaches of Sydney is to be left on the ocean floor and is expected to become a permanent tomb for the two crewmen killed inside the vessel after their attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:46 PM

Birth as easy as 1-2-3: one woman, two wombs, three babies 

A British mother could get into the record books after she gave birth to twins and a single baby at the same time -- from two wombs -- in what is believed to be a world first.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:56 PM

Live Giant Squid Caught on Film 

Cthulhu rising. With pics.

See also: Why it's so hard to find giant squid

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:24 PM

Duke Rape Charges Dismissed 

Three Lacrosse Players Still Face Kidnapping And Sexual Assault Charges.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:55 PM

Thursday, December 21, 2006

'Seinfeld' spurs Festivus pole sales 

And at the Festivus dinner, you gather your family around, and you tell them all the ways they have disappointed you over the past year.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:31 PM

Scamalot 

Could the Church of Scientology be the best show on Broadway?

See also: Secrets of Scientology: The E-Meter

And: Volney Mathison, inventor of the E-Meter.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:54 PM

Man charged over Suffolk murders 

A 48-year-old man has been charged with murdering five women whose bodies were found in countryside near Ipswich.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:45 PM

The U.S. Has a History of Using Torture 

The CIA loves them some torture.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:40 PM

Silver Star Mountain Bigfoot 

Are these photos of a Bigfoot, or something altogether else?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:03 PM

Boing Boing 2006 Video 

All of Boing Boing's video links from 2006 in one convenient location.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:56 AM

French soldiers had bin Laden in the crosshairs: documentary 

French soldiers in Afghanistan had Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in their crosshairs -- twice -- but did not receive the order from their US commander to open fire, a French documentary reported.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:23 AM

A twice-cold case yields charges in girl's '67 killing 

Inside a burned-out restaurant near the beaches of South Florida, detectives in the early 1980s caught up with a drifter suspected of killing a schoolgirl in Ohio.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:16 AM

Top Ten Creepy Fossil Finds of 2006 

Cryptomundo's got them.

See also: The Top Ten Bigfoot Stories of 2006

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:01 AM

Meditation changes temperatures 

Mind controls body in extreme experiments.

Cool article.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:54 AM

'Hibernating' Man Survives for 3 Weeks 

A man who went missing in western Japan survived in near-freezing weather without food and water for over three weeks by falling into a state similar to hibernation, doctors said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:36 AM

Who stole Jesus' foreskin? 

Did the Vatican steal Jesus' foreskin so people would shut up about the savior's penis?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:28 AM

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

It's all in your head 

Did mysterious voices diagnose a brain tumor?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:49 AM

This Modern World 

The year in review, Part II.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:02 AM

Bush Admin: What You Don't Know Can't Hurt Us 

Just how many different ways has the Bush Administration tried to hide once-public information sources from the public record? Help us count the ways.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:57 AM

Second Briton arrested in prostitute murder case 

Police arrested a second man on Tuesday on suspicion of murdering five prostitutes in one of Britain's most dramatic suspected serial killings.

See also: Strangler suspect was a cop

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:59 AM

Cat Burglary Suspect Held In Belgium 

The suspected "Dinnertime Bandit," the elusive cat burglar known for stealing millions in jewelry from the rich in Greenwich and other affluent towns as they ate dinner, is in custody in Belgium, police said Monday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:56 AM

Unique Petroglyphs Discovered In The Caucasus 

Archeologists from Saint Petersburg have discovered unique petroglyphs at the Western Caucasus, reports the fellow of the Institute of History of Material Culture.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:55 AM

I.E. sees saucer sightings 

Think the Inland Empire is the last place a flying saucer would visit?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:53 AM

RIP Joe Barbera 

Joe Barbera, half of the Hanna-Barbera animation team that produced such beloved cartoon characters as Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear and the Flintstones, died Monday, a Warner Bros. spokesman said. He was 95.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:53 AM

Mystery gift may be valuable vomit 

Best. Headline. Ever.

The New York Times has a picture.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:33 AM

Nocturnal visit leaves me shaken 

Writer violated in the night by...something.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:19 AM

52 species discovered in Borneo rainforest 

In 2006 scientists discovered 52 species in the highly threatened rainforests of Borneo according to a new report from WWF, an environmental group working to preserve the biodiverse "Heart of Borneo" from further destruction.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:13 AM

Monday, December 18, 2006

Ipswich Kiler Caught? 

Detectives hunting the killer of five women working as prostitutes in eastern England have arrested a 37-year-old man, police said Monday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:00 AM

Judith Regan pulls a Mel? 

At least Mel had been drinking. Judith Regan, the simply horrible person behind the O.J. Simpson book, has been canned by Rupert Murdoch, apparently over anti-semitic remarks she made to a company lawyer. A classy exit for a classy lady.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:57 AM

Litvinenko's killers used polonium worth $10m to give massive overdose 

Experts reckon that as little as 0.1 micrograms of polonium-210 would be enough to kill - the equivalent of a single aspirin tablet divided into 10 million pieces

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:56 AM

Quote of the Week 

"I myself have never been able to find out what feminism is; I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:55 AM

Martial Arts Styles - with Videos! 

Neat page with videos of a variety of martial arts styles - if you have the time, check out the rather long Jeet Kune Do video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:50 AM

Shadowing Bigfoot 

Nice long article. Requires registration.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:22 AM

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Missouri Cougar 

With pic!

See also: White Deer Herd, with neat deer pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:57 PM

An Army of Robots! 

Thrilling Wonder's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:16 PM

Moving past Vampire Cult 

A decade after her parents' brutal murder inside their Eustis home, Heather says she wished she had known how to stop the 16-year-old boy who fatally beat the couple - and captured the nation's morbid curiosity with the "Vampire Cult Killings."

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:59 PM

James Bond, Ian Fleming and Aleister Crowley 

Cannonfire's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:57 PM

Diabetes breakthrough 

In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the body's nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease that affects millions of Canadians.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:33 PM

Multiple theories on murder 

As Suffolk Police face the unenviable task of fighting against the clock to track down and capture the killer of five women they are not alone with their theories.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:26 PM

Los Angeles 1942: Some Witnesses Describe UFO as "Giant Butterfly" 

A 1942 article on the Attack on Los Angeles from the Reno Evening Gazette.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:49 PM

Woman claims sasquatch sighting 

A woman from northern Saskatchewan says she saw the legendary sasquatch, and it left behind evidence described by an expert as "the find of the century."

Of course, the expert is Tom Biscardi so draw your own conclusions.

See also: Bigfoot creatures in Malaysian jungles just hoax

Johor Wars: How About All The Tracks?

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:46 PM

RIPPER: HE WILL STRIKE AGAIN BEFORE XMAS 

Town rocked by new terror as police warn vice-girl fiend craves notoriety Cops fear new horror Monster 'cannot stop'

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:45 PM

It's elementary, illness ran in Doyle's family 

It is a piece of detective work worthy of Sherlock Holmes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the world's most famous fictional sleuth, suffered from a form of schizophrenia, according to new research.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:44 PM

10 Greatest Martial Arts Movies of All Time 

I'm sure everyone will agree with this. Just kidding. Looks like the Farkers have some quibbles.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:30 PM

Mystery of Joan of Arc relics is solved 

One of the most tantalising studies in forensic science appears to have ended in disappointment.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:09 PM

Seeing is believing for Ipswich man 

What Michael Domoretsky does have is a fierce conviction that he sees in Leonardo da Vinci's art stuff that nobody else has seen.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:08 PM

Pub haunted by ghosts of Christmas present 

Christmas spirit has taken on a new meaning for regulars of the Bull's Head in Ogden as they await their regular festive visits from ghosts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:06 PM

This Modern World 

The year in review, Part I.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:56 PM

Top Ten Cryptozoo Mystery Pix 2006 

Cryptomundo's got them.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:43 AM

Friday, December 15, 2006

X marks the weekend 

Hello Los Angeles! Have a great weekend everybody.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:27 PM

Vegetarians are more intelligent, says study 

My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chided for my singularity, but, with this lighter repast, I made the greater progress, for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension.
-- Ben Franklin

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:48 PM

Report: Notorious B.I.G. murder case linked to LAPD sex scandal 

The murder of rapper Notorious B.I.G. has become linked to the sex scandal currently plaguing the Los Angeles Police Department, according to a report published in today's LA Times.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:27 PM

Bush bestows high honor on Buck O'Neil 

Finally, Chimpy does something right.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:16 PM

THE HUNT FOR CHILE'S FIRST SUBMARINE 

Somewhere below the surface of Valapariso Bay, hidden in the harbor's dark, frigid waters and half-buried in murky sludge, is a unique 140-year-old object that, for more than a year now, has been filmmaker Juan Enrique Benitez' consuming obsession.

Via Supernatural News.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:00 PM

"Do You See What I See?" 

Rigorous Intuition wants to know.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:57 PM

Diplomat's suppressed document lays bare the lies behind Iraq war 

The Government's case for going to war in Iraq has been torn apart by the publication of previously suppressed evidence that Tony Blair lied over Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.

A devastating attack on Mr Blair's justification for military action by Carne Ross, Britain's key negotiator at the UN, has been kept under wraps until now because he was threatened with being charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:56 PM

Sightings the talk of 'sasquatch-ewan' 

East described the creature as dark in colour, with dirty yellow patches over its face, chest and abdomen. It loped out of sight as they got closer.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:53 PM

Breast cancer may be sexually transmitted 

Breast cancer could be sexually transmitted, says a researcher who has found the same virus that causes cervical cancer in breast cancer tumours from Australian women.

See also - more good news - Brain Tumors May be Infectious

Via Daily Grail.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:49 PM

The Top Cryptozoology Books of 2006 

Cryptomundo's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:39 PM

Police have fifty Suffolk Strangler suspects 

Police sources said today the hunt for the Suffolk strangler was "at a very critical" stage and revealed detectives have a list of fewer than 50 suspects.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:25 PM

Baby boom of white buffalo a mystery to breeders 

When a white buffalo was born on their farm a few months ago, Dave and Val Heider managed to keep it a secret for about two weeks.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:23 PM

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Michael Crichton - Douchebag of the Week! 

Beyond the pale. Douchebag might not be a strong enough word. Coward is a little closer. And a bully. Crichton's problem with Crowley seems to stem from a critical essay Crowley wrote early this year about Crichton's views on global warming. I understand not liking someone's critique of your work - though you'd think a gazillionaire writer would have a little thicker skin - but libelling them in your novel hardly seems the way to handle it. And Crichton can hide behind his money in case of a lawsuit. Which makes him a bully.

I'm going to link to Crichton's web site so his site masters can report this to their boss. Please click on it. Maybe I'll show up in his next novel.

"Professor Rex liked to eat children and was especially fond of Republican babies in a glazed plum sauce. He was well known in certain circles for his sexual kinks involving watermelons and hat racks."

As to Crichton's work, well, let's just say that even in the realm of speculative fantasy the man is not known for his accuracy. Remember when the Japanese took over the country? Remember when sexual harassment lawsuits crippled the nation? Yeah, me neither.

Again, Michael Crichton is a douchebag.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:05 PM

Al Fayed repeats murder allegation over Diana death 

Mohamed al Fayed, the Egyptian owner of Harrods department store in London, Thursday repeated his public accusation that his son Dodi and Princess Diana were "murdered."

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:19 PM

Malkin announces that she's going to Baghdad 

Pro-war writer and internment camp cheerleader Michelle Malkin says she's going to visit Iraq. We'll see. Frankly, I wonder what's taken her so long. Henry Rollins has gone. Al Franken, Robin Williams, and Ted Nugent have gone. Hell, even Jessica Simpson and 50 Cent have gone. Doesn't Michelle support the troops?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:15 PM

Administration asks to keep Cheney logs secret 

The Bush administration asked an appeals court Wednesday to overrule a federal judge and allow the White House to keep secret any records of visitors to Vice President Dick Cheney's residence and office.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:18 AM

Trademark may trap killer 

All five victims of one of Britain's most prolific serial killers were suffocated or strangled and left naked but for their jewellery, senior detectives have told The Times.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:29 AM

Could Bigfoot Be Planarial Bad Memories? 

One of the "extreme" theories that rears its "ugly" head every so often is the idea that [insert your favorite cryptid here...e.g. Bigfoot, Nessie, etc] is actually a thought-form manifestation, occasionally referred to as a tulpa.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:17 AM

"Monster of Florence" 

More than 20 years after the 'Monster of Florence' terrified Italy, the police are still charging people in connection with the serial killings. But how did two innocent writers investigating the crimes find themselves facing jail?

After reading this you'll wonder how Italian police can catch a cold, much less the most notorious serial killer in modern European history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:09 AM

2,500-year-old boat coffin to reveal mysterious Chinese kingdom 

With abundant cultural relics, a boat-shaped coffin dating back nearly 2,500 years has unearthed recently in southwest China's Sichuan Province, giving expectation to reveal true history of a mysterious kingdom in the area.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:54 AM

Oregon Coast Freaky Fish, Celebrities, Ghost Trees and An Exploding Whale 

It's time for freaky facts about the Oregon coast, kids.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:52 AM

Death of Australian astrophysicist an Antarctic whodunnit 

An Antarctic whodunnit that could have been written by Agatha Christie was outlined in an inquest held in New Zealand, according to news reports on Thursday. The question posed to Christchurch coroner Richard McElrea was how did Australian Rodney David Marks, 32, die of acute methanol poisoning while working at an American research base near the South Pole in 2000?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:48 AM

Serial killer probe focuses on mystery man in car 

British detectives probing the deaths of five women by a feared serial killer are hunting for a man in a blue BMW who may provide a key to the affair, a top policeman said on Thursday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:47 AM

Velvet Underground record for sale again 

The cyberspace saga of The Velvet Underground's 40-year-old first recording, which fetched a false eBay bid of more than $155,000, ain't over — till it's over.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:46 AM

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

A chat with ... Laura Albert (formerly JT LeRoy) 

Hoaxster Laura Albert lines up a new generation of suckers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:40 PM

The Mysterious Menengai Crater 

Despite the serene and breathtaking marvel that is the Menengai Crater, locals believe that evil spirits haunt it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 PM

1,200 Square Feet Under the Sea 

For a 24-hour view of one of the most vibrant coral reefs on Earth, book a room at the world's first underwater hotel.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:14 PM

Shadow People 

Shadow People in the Show-Me State.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:36 PM

Crunks '06: The Year in Media Errors and Corrections 

An editorial in Friday's paper incorrectly stated that Florida Cresswell, a candidate for state representative in the 28th District, was convicted in 1999 of battery and stealing Tupperware. In fact he was convicted of stealing a battery from a van as well as Tupperware that was inside the van.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:21 PM

'Ripper' Round-Up 

Pathologist prepares for Ipswich post-mortem

He no longer sees himself as a man with a mission but as a serial killer on the run

Sex worker killer matches toll of Victorian Jack the Ripper

Murky past of UK serial killers

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:22 PM

More thoughts on Prince Turki al-Faisal and the Iraq war 

Cannonfire has a few more observations.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:11 PM

RIP Peter Boyle 

Holy crap!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:04 PM

It's still about oil in Iraq 

In case you'd forgotten.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:48 AM

The Thunderbird: Examining the Legend 

Across the globe there are stories of giant birds often called Thunderbirds that we assume exist only in legend.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:51 AM

The Monticello miracle 

Freak racetrack accident restores WWII vet's vision - lost since 1942. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:49 AM

Wi-Fi as a Health Hazard 

Electromagnetic field sensitivity is an empirical chimera.

Via Daily Grail.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:42 AM

Top Ten Stories of 2006 From National Geographic News 

A look back.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:40 AM

Who Coined "Skunk Ape"? 

Cryptomundo wants to know.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:38 AM

Yoga may help in mind-body healing from cancer 

Yoga may help people with cancer face the fear and uncertainty of the disease, a growing body of research suggests.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 AM

Probe into smuggling of rare dinosaur eggs 

Chinese authorities are investigating the smuggling of a rare fossilized dinosaur egg nest, which was auctioned for US$420,000 in Los Angeles on December 3, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:28 AM

New Research Shows That Tea Can Help You to Focus 

Press release.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:16 AM

FBI determined to solve Jimmy Hoffa mystery 

Also determined to find Judge Crater.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:14 AM

RIP Martin Nodell 

Martin Nodell, the creator of Green Lantern, the comic book superhero who uses his magical ring to help him fight crime, has died. He was 91.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:11 AM

Aboriginal language had ice age origins 

Aboriginal languages may be much older than people think, argues a linguistic anthropologist who says they originated as far back as the end of the last ice age around 13,000 years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:11 AM

Police in race to find 'Ipswich Ripper' 

British police are today racing to catch a serial killer suspected of killing five prostitutes before he strikes again.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:06 AM

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

RAW Data 

Apparently, the "near death" Robert Anton Wilson has a blog. See? Blogging is good for you.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:59 PM

The mysterious Prince Turki al-Faisal 

This is not the first time he has suddenly resigned an important post. As some of you will recall, he quit his job as Saudi intelligence chief just before the attack on the World Trade Center.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:54 PM

A devil food is turning our kids into homosexuals 

Really! It's true! It's the Devil's soy products!

The gullibility of right-wingers never ceases to amaze me.

Best quote: Research in 2000 showed that a soy-based diet at any age can lead to a weak thyroid, which commonly produces heart problems and excess fat. Could this explain the dramatic increase in obesity today?

Of course! It's not the massive amounts of junk food in American diets - it's the tofu! Via Americablog.

Looks like Raw Story has picked up on it as well.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:56 AM

Olive oil may be the best cancer preventive 

The authors drew this conclusion based on the outcomes of volunteers from Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, and Spain, who consumed 25 milliliters (a little less than a quarter cup) of olive oil every day for three weeks.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:07 AM

Mysterious object brightens night sky 

Deputies with the Natrona County Sheriff's Department responded to numerous calls of a large fireball streaming through the night sky early Friday morning, but were unable to find any trace of the object.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:04 AM

Scholars say accuracy is first casualty of 'Apocalypto' 

"Apocalypto" depicts the Maya as a super-cruel, psycho-sadistic society on the skids, a ghoulscape engaged in widespread slavery, reckless sewage treatment and bad rave dancing, with a real lust for human blood.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:01 AM

Ball Lightning 

Doctor Fong's House of Mysteries has the video. Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:26 AM

Pinochet's Death Spares Bush Family 

Gen. Augusto Pinochet's death on Dec. 10 means the Bush Family can breathe a little bit easier, knowing that criminal proceedings against Chile's notorious dictator can no longer implicate his longtime friend and protector, former President George H.W. Bush.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:07 AM

Slain pair's safe was open 

"This could lead to the conclusion that robbery was a motive," Greenspan said at a press conference yesterday. "This is the first time we hear of the Ianieros' room safe being opened while they were not in the room."

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:03 AM

Bio suggests Houdini killed by Holmes creator, psychics 

It's a sensational, 80-year-old murder plot with a globally famous victim, a dramatic Canadian climax and an alleged gang of conspirators worthy of a Sherlock Holmes novel -- including, if the theory holds, the master of mystery himself, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:01 AM

'Werewolf' attacker bit chunks out of friends 

With rather disturbing bitten ear pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:59 AM

Remains confirmed to belong to victim of 70yo murder mystery 

Thanks to modern CSI style forensic analysis, the bones have finally been identified as a farmer whose disappearance in 1936 sparked a police investigation that saw an innocent man wrongly convicted of murder.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:56 AM

Bigfoot: Yurok names for Sasquatch 

I like "Boss of the Mountain". Hat tip to ADQ.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:51 AM

100-million-year-old discovery pushes bees' evolutionary history back 35 million years 

A bee in amber changes everything.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:40 AM

Monday, December 11, 2006

Married to the Octopus 

Rigorous Intuition on Princess Diana, Dodi Fayed, Adnan Khashoggi, mysterious deaths, the Secret Service - whew, just go read it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:18 PM

Again, Bear Lake 

What's in Bear Lake?

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:06 PM

Computer Provides More Questions Than Answers 

The Antikythera Mechanism - still a puzzler. Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:05 PM

Top 10 Scams of 2006 

From ConsumerAffairs.Com.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:06 PM

US denies CIA bugged Princess Diana's phone calls 

That's a shock.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:24 PM

137-year-old brew tastes "absolutely amazing" 

A recently discovered cache of 1869 ale should have been undrinkable, but liquor and beer connoisseurs are claiming that the brew tastes "absolutely amazing".

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:25 PM

Sam Raimi and The Shadow 

More on Raimi's possible Shadow movie.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:26 AM

Diana was bugged by secret service in U.S. 

American intelligence agencies were bugging Princess Diana's telephone over her relationship with a US billionaire.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:18 AM

Cowabunga! 

Two cool links from MetaFilter. First we have How To Build A Surfboard - the perfect project for a long cold winter. Also cool is Peanuts Meets Marvel, in which our favorite Peanuts characters get transformed in the Mighty Marvel Universe. My favorite:

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:58 AM

The Challenge, Part Two and Three 

Michael Prescott continues his look at James Randi's "challenge". Part Two is here and Part Three is here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:46 AM

3rd Millennium BC Artificial Eyeball Discovered in Burnt City 

Archeologists in Burnt City announced unprecedented discovery of an artificial eyeball, dated to 4800 years ago, in this historic site.

Via Daily Grail.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:43 AM

The Davenport Devil: 'Thunderbird' or 'Mothman'? 

Some spectacular stories take decades to come to light.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:33 AM

Criminologist wonders if a killer stalking students? 

Vanishing students. Dead bodies. Fears something sinister is lurking in the shadows.

A string of college student drownings across the Midwest has all the makings of great mystery. Or does it?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:51 AM

Neanderthal cannibalism a mystery 

Was it ritual, or were they just starving?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:49 AM

Man in black 

Craig Myers did what UFO-believers always say newspaper reporters never do when it comes to sightings: He investigated.

See also: Local UFOs sighted

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:26 AM

Egyptian archaeologists unearth ancient doctor 

Named Qar, the physician lived under the sixth dynasty in ancient Egypt, between 2,350BC and 2180BC.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:21 AM

Beelzebeeb song church fury 

Spinal Tap ruffles some feathers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:18 AM

Ambassadors to Honor Female WWII Spy 

In 1942, the Gestapo circulated posters offering a reward for the capture of "the woman with a limp. She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies and we must find and destroy her."

The dangerous woman was Virginia Hall, a Baltimore native working in France for British intelligence.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:10 AM

Psychics To Look Into Ricky Reel Death 

A team of television psychics who are to "investigate" the mysterious death of Ricky Reel in 1997 have been blasted by a senior police officer for "raising the expectations of the family".

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:09 AM

Skin ailment is baffling doctors 

More on Morgellons.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:07 AM

Sunday, December 10, 2006

33 Names of Things You Never Knew Had Names 

10-13. JARNS, NITTLES, GRAWLIX and QUIMP

Various squiggles used to denote cussing in comic books.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:50 PM

Was It A Shunka Warak'in? 

Was the sheep-killing "Creature of McCone County" a Shunka Warak'in?

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:35 AM

AMBUSH GUN IS 'FOUND' 

A gun has been found near the Westchester site where the wife of a disbarred lawyer - a neighbor to Bill and Hillary Clinton - was mysteriously shot and killed, authorities revealed yesterday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:25 AM

Is this mystery big cat? 

The latest mysterious sighting of a big cat in Shropshire has been captured on CCTV after an animal bounded into view at Wroxeter Roman Vineyard.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:22 AM

Police inquiry may end Diana murder theories 

A long-awaited British police report into Princess Diana's death due this week could finally lay to rest conspiracy theories that she was murdered rather than that she died the victim of a tragic accident.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:13 AM

Ohio's Stonehenge 

Fort Ancient is largest, best preserved earthwork of its kind in America. Its purpose is not known.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:10 AM

Town gets Snippy about skeleton of mutilated horse 

"Snippy was the very first horse thought to be involved in alien mutilations," Duran said as he led a reporter through the insurance office and into the room where Snippy stood on her platform. "Maybe she was abducted by aliens. Maybe she was the first."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:10 AM

Lawyer pursues links between neo-Nazis, Oklahoma City bombing 

Another envelope from the FBI landed in Jesse Trentadue's mailbox last week, bearing a copy of another secret memo from the FBI's investigation into the Oklahoma City bombing more than a decade ago.

Like thousands of other pages that the Salt Lake City lawyer has extracted from the government over the years via a series of lawsuits and Freedom of Information Act requests, this latest document was heavily censored to obscure the names of most suspects and informants. But a few key words stood out among all the ones that had been covered over: "Aryan Nations" and "explosives" and "bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:09 AM

Mexican icon blossoms in U.S. 

Immigrant faithful's devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe has inspired interest in her beyond her Catholic roots.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:08 AM

Bigfoot on campus 

An Idaho State University professor takes a scholarly approach to the legend of Sasquatch.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:06 AM

Searching for a ghost 

Is murderer John Patrick Addis really dead?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:04 AM

Velvet Underground Rarity Sells On EBay 

The rare recording has sold for $155,401.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:02 AM

Poison plot spreads to Germany 

The mystery surrounding the poisoning death of a former Russian spy has veered into Germany, where investigators Saturday found traces of radiation in an apartment connected to a Russian businessman who met the spy on the day he fell ill.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:00 AM

Friday, December 08, 2006

Yowie man's ghostly trail 

Tim has just released his new book, Haunted & Mysterious Australia, which impressively forms a reference of Australian supernatural history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:39 PM

Thomas Hardy 'infected wife with syphilis' 

The wife of Thomas Hardy died of syphilis, according to research that unravels the mystery of why her husband was driven to expressing so much guilt in the elegies he wrote after her death.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:37 PM

Fairytale of New York 

New Rigorous Intuition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:20 PM

THE BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES 

Part II.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:14 PM

Mr. Governor, it's the ghost again 

The governor told radio listeners Thursday that the ghost who supposedly has haunted the 193-year-old executive mansion in Richmond for more than a century seems to have taken up telemarketing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:44 PM

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Jeweler Was Told To Lie In Princess Diana Case 

A key witness in the inquiry into the death of Britain's Princess Diana recently claimed police threatened him to change his evidence.

Via Supernatural News.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:26 AM

The challenge, part one 

Michael Prescott takes a look at James Randi's Million Dollar Challenge. It's worse than you think.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:17 AM

New York City Walk 

I'm enjoying New York City Walk so much I added it to my permanent links. The proprietor spent two years walking every street in Manhattan and took many photographs to document his wandering. He's also a bit of a history buff so he adds fascinating historical tidbits as he goes.

Check out architect Stanford White's still existing townhouse (scroll down) and Doyers Street in Chinatown.

I also nabbed his link to Forgotten New York. That's right - Im in ur site, stealing ur linx.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 AM

Too-low tally of attacks serves Bush policy, report says 

The Bush administration routinely has underreported the level of violence in Iraq in order to disguise its policy failings, the Iraq Study Group said as part of its report.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:28 AM

Snake-eating starlet props up the last of the traveling freak shows 

Japan once boasted of a rich tradition of traveling tent freak shows, but now there are only three left, one of which is Irikata Kogyo.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:24 AM

Sam Raimi's Pulp Fiction 

IGN has learned that several pulp heroes of yesteryear will be brought to life on the big-screen courtesy of none other than Dark Man and Spider-Man filmmaker Sam Raimi.

The Shadow? Doc Savage? The Avenger? In one movie? I'm dreaming, right?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:22 AM

Lost hoard of 2,000-year-old gold refound 

A priceless collection of Afghan gold, thought to have been destroyed by the Taliban, resurfaced in Paris yesterday after mysteriously disappearing almost 20 years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:15 AM

Mexican murder probe in limbo 

Mixed signals continue to come out of Mexico regarding the grisly murder of a Canadian couple at a resort there in February.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:15 AM

For his next trick, illusionist Uri Geller turns into a TV star 

Illusionist Uri Geller, who gained fame bending spoons using what he says are psychic powers, has returned to Israel after 35 years with a new reality TV show.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:14 AM

Possible Triangle UFO Video 

With pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:12 AM

DISAPPEARING CIVIL LIBERTIES MUG 

Drink your decaf in this dazzling mug - and watch your civil liberties disappear and reappear!

Via Boing Boing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:11 AM

Magnetic field puts bats on track 

The mystery of how bats can navigate long distances in the dark may have been solved.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:09 AM

EXCLUSIVE: BRITAIN'S LAST WITCH TRIAL 

In 1944, medium Helen Duncan became the last woman in Britain to be convicted of witchcraft when one of her seances exposed a government attempt to cover up the deaths of 861 sailors. Now, campaigners aim to clear her name.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:09 AM

Patterson-Gimlin Footage Stabilization 

Cryptomundo's got it. Worth watching.

See also: The Agogwe

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:08 AM

Changing Mars Gullies Hint at Recent Flowing Water 

The changing appearance of gullies on Mars over the last seven years suggests that liquid water flowed recently on the red planet and may still seep out in brief bursts, researchers said Wednesday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:03 AM

Remains of St. Paul May Have Been Found 

Vatican archaeologists have unearthed a sarcophagus believed to contain the remains of the Apostle Paul that had been buried beneath Rome's second largest basilica.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:01 AM

RIP James Kim 

Search-and-rescue workers discovered the body of James Kim on Wednesday, 11 days after the San Francisco man took a disastrous series of wrong turns here in Oregon's Coast Range while driving his family on a vacation trip. It was a grim coda to the miraculous rescue two days earlier of his wife and two young daughters.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:09 AM

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Mmmm, polonium 

The owners of a restaurant in northern England are having their hands full these days, unexpectedly capitalizing on the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:26 PM

Man accused of faking retardation 

For 20 years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:01 PM

Whatcha' reading Professor? 

I just started Lovecraft's New York Circle: The Kalem Club, 1924-1927, edited by Mara Kirk Hart and S.T. Joshi. Really fascinating thus far. The description of Kirk and Lovecraft walking through Greenwich Village and searching out surviving Colonial homes and architecture is great. One of the streets mentioned still looks pretty good.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:57 PM

Boy Crazy 

Why is one accused Orange County serial child molester still free and awaiting trial after nearly four years? Because he's a Republican of course!

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:54 PM

Our Great List of Scandalized Administration Officials 

Republican values at work.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:29 PM

Putz on Iraq: a timeline 

Ever wonder just how wrong, misguided, and patently ridiculous right-wing bloggers can be on Iraq? Well, wonder no more! Keep in mind that this idiot is a law professor, which makes me glad that my lawyer did not graduate from the University of Tennessee.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:40 PM

Emela-Ntouka: Killer of Elephants 

The Emela-ntouka has been an unknown animal of some confusion in Africa. A few chroniclers have felt it was merely another named cryptid representing the sightings of the Mokele-mbembe. But as revealed by a carving (below) seen here for the first time, it appears to be a beast unlike the saurapod-like Mokele-mbembe.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:55 PM

VF: Did White House know about Foley's e-mails to pages? 

An article in the coming issue of Vanity Fair discusses rumors that the White House was aware of former Florida Republican Congressman Mark Foley's e-mails to underaged boys.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:51 PM

India's oldest woman dead at 125 

Fulla was known for her love of smoking ganja and cigars and palm juice.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:23 PM

Velvet Underground Acetate Breaks Record 

Record collector Warren Hill paid 75 cents at a yard sale in Chelsea, New York for an acetate in a plain cardboard sleeve. After some research, Hill's friends confirmed that the acetate disc, recorded by sound engineer Norman Dolph (who also wrote Reunion's "Life Is A Rock But The Radio Rolled Me"), was the third recording ever made by the Velvet Underground and the first album they ever did.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:50 AM

Quackery! 

Michael Prescott takes a look at James Randi's douchebaggery. Via Daily Grail.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:43 AM

Horse that launched animal-mutilation UFO lore lands on eBay 

The Appaloosa mare's death drew international media attention when her owner, Nellie Lewis, said the 3-year-old was mutilated by space aliens.

There were no tracks or blood on the ground, but the skin and flesh from the withers to the head were removed, exposing the bone.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:00 AM

I thought I'd married a spy - but he was a bigamist and paedophile 

William Jordan, the man who seduced Mary with outlandish lies, was yesterday behind bars and awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty at Oxford Crown Court last week to fraud, bigamy, possession of a stun gun and failure to register as a sex offender.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:56 AM

Officials don't know if predator was wolf or where it came from 

The mysterious, sheep-killing predator shot and killed a month ago between Jordan and Circle was initially thought to be a wolf.

But now, wildlife officials aren't so sure.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:51 AM

Mysterious Perthshire 

Luncarty author Geoff Holden launches his new book, 'The Guide to Mysterious Perthshire', in the AK Bell Library, Perth, this evening.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:19 AM

Cougar attacks? Mystery of the cougar continues in Osceola County 

Deb Merriss believes her horse, Annie, was attacked by a cougar at her home near Ashton. Three to four sighting reports come in each month to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Baldwin Field office, but there are opinions on both sides as to whether cougars exist in Michigan.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:14 AM

Missing S.F. mother, children found safe in Oregon 

James Kim still missing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:10 AM

Monday, December 04, 2006

Rare stamp on ballot is a phony 

It's official: Any value of the World War I-era stamp used to mail in an absentee ballot packet is purely sentimental.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:38 PM

Visiting Tombstone, Ariz., is a haunting kind of experience 

They say ghosts walk the streets of this dusty desert town. It's easy to understand why.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:06 PM

The Most Dangerous Roads in the World 

Amazing. Part One and Part Two. Be sure to check out the Magnificient Guoliang Tunnel Road in Part Two.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:46 AM

2 experts to view stamp for authenticity today 

The Smithsonian is eager to put it on display. Experts from around the country have offered to examine it. elections officials just want to know whether they have a fake or a fortune on their hands.

Today they'll find out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:07 AM

The House of Death 

When 12 bodies were found buried in the garden of a Mexican house, it seemed like a case of drug-linked killings. But the trail led to Washington and a cover-up that went right to the top.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:07 AM

Baby giant sloth unearthed in western Iowa 

The remains of a baby giant sloth have been recovered in western Iowa, the third member of what researchers believe is a family that died there thousands of years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:05 AM

The jinx of Little Bastard 

This is a story about a Porsche 550 Spyder that James Dean owned, raced and crashed at the crossings of highways 41 & 46.

The 550 Spyder,which Dean called "Little Bastard", was jinxed not just for him, but also for many who came in contact with it, till it mysteriously disappeared in 1960.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:03 AM

Ex-Putin bodyguard was also murdered 

A former bodyguard to Russian President Vladimir Putin was murdered with a poison that produced symptoms remarkably similar to those that killed former spy Alexander Litvinenko, it emerged yesterday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:01 AM

San Marcos author seeks scientific proof for paranormal in book 

Science and metaphysics have been considered opposing forces for ages, but San Marcos writer Marie Jones said emerging evidence makes a case that the two are more related than people realize.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:00 AM

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Cryptozoology: Out of Time Place Scale 

I took my nieces, Goblina and Fantomina Hex to the Cryptozoology: Out of Time Place Scale show in Kansas City yesterday. They really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it if you're in the area. The show's up until December 20th.



Bigfoot lives! Fresh from his appearance in Tenacious D's Pick of Destiny. Really impressive in person.



Slightly out of focus Fiji Mermaid.



Goblina studies a unknown hominid.



Fantomina reports for work.



Thylacine on the prowl.



Serious young scholars of the strange and mysterious.

I also bought the companion book which is reviewed here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:00 AM

Saturday, December 02, 2006

"Rogue Elements" 

New Rigorous Intuition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:36 PM

The Bayer Stone Head: What Is It? 

What face stares out from the nearly thirty-pound stone head found in the ground in 1932, in New Paltz, New York? Are the features extremely ape-like or child-like? How does it compare to the Columbia River stone heads discussed in the Sasquatch literature?

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:06 PM

The Quest for Truth: Mysteries, Enigmas and the Unexplained 

ThothWeb.com has just published an exclusive 400 page paranormal e-book that can can be downloaded completly free of charge from the site.

See ThothWeb in my links.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:54 PM

Egypt to dig up pharaonic tombs 

Bulldozers have moved in to demolish houses in the Egyptian village of Qurna which sits on top of dozens of pharaonic tombs in Luxor.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:52 PM

FBI taps cell phone mic as eavesdropping tool 

The FBI appears to have begun using a novel form of electronic surveillance in criminal investigations: remotely activating a mobile phone's microphone and using it to eavesdrop on nearby conversations.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:36 PM

Worst. President. Ever 

Sure, I knew that, and you knew that, but the Washington Post has finally figured it out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:22 PM

Conspiracy theories for fun and entertainment 

Opinion.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:03 PM

On the road, a family vanishes 

Two weeks ago, James and Kati Kim of San Francisco loaded their two children into the car and drove to the Northwest for Thanksgiving.

They spent the holiday with family in Seattle and then headed to Portland to visit friends. Their next stop was to be a hotel in Gold Beach on the Southern Oregon Coast before returning home.

They never made it. No one has heard from the Kims for a week.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:35 PM

Experts reconstruct Leonardo fingerprint 

Anthropologists said they have pieced together Leonardo da Vinci's left index fingerprint - a discovery that could help provide information on such matters as the food the artist ate and whether his mother was of Arabic origin.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:34 AM

Friday, December 01, 2006

Onions, garlic linked to lower cancer risks 

People who flavor their diets with plenty of onions and garlic might have lower odds of several types of cancer, a new study suggests.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:33 PM

After 60 years, student's fate remains a legendary mystery 

"I'm going to hike on the Long Trail."

Hardly words from which legends are born. Except that these words were the last that anyone heard from Paula Welden, the now-legendary Bennington College student who disappeared mysteriously 60 years ago today.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:38 PM

Mysterious flying object falls in Siberia 

Local sources report this morning a not identified object fell in the Siberia region of Krasnojarsk. Still it is no possible to understand what is.

See also: To Divert Attention From Polonium UFO Reportedly Crashed in Russia

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:35 PM

Seal found miles from sea 

With adorable lost seal pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:34 PM

Indian bid to solve seahorse aphrodisiac riddle 

Indian scientists are hoping to discover once and for all if seahorses are an aphrodisiac, a myth that has made the creatures a major hunting target for centuries and an endangered species.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:21 PM

Teddy Roosevelt gun snatcher pleads guilty 

A Florida man faces up to 90 days in prison and a $500 fine after pleading guilty to stealing the pistol Theodore Roosevelt used in the Spanish-American War.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:14 PM

Robotic Indiana Jones set to explore Pyramid of Cheops 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:12 PM

Ancient body prompts new theories 

A Roman sarcophagus discovered near Trafalgar Square could lead to the map of Roman London being redrawn.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:56 PM

Pyramids were built with concrete: Study 

The ancient Egyptians built their great Pyramids by pouring concrete into blocks high on the site rather than hauling up giant stones, according to a new Franco-American study, The Times, London reported.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:54 PM

New 2006 Yowie Sighting 

Cryptomundo's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:54 PM

Well-known GOP activist held in sex-predator sting 

Larry Corrigan, a well-known activist in local Republican politics as a backer of U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert and King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng, was arrested Wednesday in an Internet sting for allegedly trying to arrange sex with a 13-year-old girl.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:49 PM

Ancient tsunami devastated Mediterranean 

A volcano avalanche in Sicily 8,000 years ago triggered a devastating tsunami taller than a 10-story building that spread across the entire Mediterranean Sea, slamming into the shores of three continents in only a few hours.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:33 AM