Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Who Killed Kenny? 

How three hangings and John Doe No. 2 led one pissed-off hillbilly to the center of conspiracy.

Good story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:13 PM

Why water freezes faster after heating 

I always wondered.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:06 PM

Paratroopers could fly 200km with new wings system 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:58 PM

Police eBay probe 

It looks like the case of "Laptop Guy" is being investigated by the police. Laptop Guy, of course, denies any wrongdoing. Hat tip to Hex Correspondent Elisabeth.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:02 PM

Cow killed by mysterious predator 

"I have never had anything like this happen before," said Allen, who has been raising cattle for 35 years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:55 AM

China's 'Pyramids of the Orient' in danger of collapsing 

Ancient mausoleums in northwest China known as the "Pyramids of the Orient" are in danger of collapsing due to 1,000 years of erosion, state press has reported.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:54 AM

Mona Lisa 'speaks' thanks to Japanese scientist 

The Mona Lisa's smile may always remain a mystery, but it is now possible to hear what her voice would have sounded like, thanks to a Japanese acoustics expert.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:51 AM

Jesus Never Lived, Speaker Says 

...a small number of academics, including Carrier, argue that there was never even a historical Jesus. They believe that the biblical apostle Paul founded Christianity, and in his conception, Jesus was an incorporeal, allegorical figure.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:49 AM

"Fence Fiend" Just Sighted 

Cryptomundo has the latest. With drawing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:47 AM

Rome skeleton find pre-dates city 

Italian archaeologists digging in the Roman Forum have found a well-preserved skeleton of a woman who lived 3,000 years ago.

However, the astonishing fact about this discovery is that it dates back to at least 300 years before the traditional date of the founding of Rome, 753 BC.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:35 AM

Mexicans needle candidates with "voodoo" dolls 

Sick of politicians who fail to keep promises, Mexicans are sticking pins in voodoo-style dolls of presidential candidates to needle them into becoming better public servants.

If this only worked.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:34 AM

Once shunned as a marginal denomination, Pentecostalism booms 

"When one seeks the Lord and he or she has that experience, there is an infilling, there is an utterance in tongues," said the Rev. W.L. Davis,

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:28 AM

Recent catch stirs legend of hammerhead 

The mythic hammerhead known as Old Hitler may be gone. Or maybe not.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:39 AM

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Police probe bizarre goat head display 

Last week, police found two severed goat heads, a coconut and a pentagram drawn in chalk in a driveway of a home, police Lt. Francis Balzano said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:53 PM

FBI ends search for Hoffa at Mich. farm 

The FBI is wrapping up its two-week search of a suburban Detroit horse farm after finding no trace of former Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa's remains, a local prosecutor said Tuesday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:05 PM

Lee Harvey MacBeth 

Who is Jesse MacBeth and who does he really work for?

Here too.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:51 AM

Don't Try This at Home 

Garage chemistry used to be a rite of passage for geeky kids. But in their search for terrorist cells and meth labs, authorities are making a federal case out of DIY science.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:26 AM

Japan is proud home of Christ's tomb 

Tomb of Moses nearby.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:21 AM

Top 10 Signs of the Impending U.S. Police State 

From AlterNet.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:16 AM

Mega-church minister linked to paramilitary video game 

Imagine: you are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy, and establish its worldly vision of the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life. You are issued high-tech military weaponry, and instructed to engage the infidel on the streets of New York City. You are on a mission - both a religious mission and a military mission -- to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state - especially moderate, mainstream Christians.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:04 AM

Saudis hope stones mystery will appeal to tourists 

Nobody really knows why the 50 groups of about five pillars each are clustered on the edge of the Nafud desert in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Local legend says they are a lost tribe punished by God.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:51 AM

Bush's Enron Lies 

Contrary to the official story, the Bush administration did whatever it could to help Enron as the company began to go under.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:50 AM

Bizarre creature puzzles thousands 

Thousands of residents of Tianmen, Hubei Province, have flocked to see a rare turtle-like creature caught by an elderly man in a nearby reservoir.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:49 AM

Osama Tape Appears Fake, Experts Conclude 

The latest audio tape attributed to Osama bin Laden appears to be one more installment in a succession of evidence fabricated by the US government to deceive the American people, according to Scholars for 9/11 Truth.

Press release.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:48 AM

Funk pills: Getting on a 'legal high' 

No longer all that ecstatic over ecstasy, Britons are showing a growing interest in alternatives to hard drugs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:46 AM

The 500 Hours of 9/11 

A vast archive of images from the Sept. 11 attack and its aftermath, assembled by Steven Rosenbaum, a Manhattan producer of documentaries, can be sampled on the Internet at www.911archive.net/Google. The future of the collection is uncertain.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:39 AM

The Red, White and Gray (Part Two) 

Rigorous Intuition - highly recommended. Part one is here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:36 AM

Self-Healing Practice of Qigong Promotes Weight Loss 

The practice of Qigong can aid in digestion and weight lose and beyond, in fact it can balance and heal many aspects of the body, promote emotional balance and develop mental clarity.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:22 AM

'Oldest' papyrus is decoded 

Greek and foreign experts have used cutting-edge technology to decode the Greek text of the world's oldest literary papyrus more than four decades after its discovery, it was revealed yesterday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:19 AM

American TV stations in 'fake news' inquiry 

Federal authorities are investigating dozens of American television stations for broadcasting items produced by the Bush administration and major corporations, and passing them off as normal news.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:18 AM

Mayor Says Building Is Too Dangerous For Ghost Hunters 

Ghost Investigators Say Voice Told Them To 'Get Out'.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:17 AM

Researchers Find Ancient Pottery Operation At Angel Mounds 

An archaeological dig at southern Indiana's Angel Mounds complex has uncovered a pottery-making operation that reveals the artistic skills of the Indians who lived there hundreds of years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:17 AM

Techies turn thugs in bizarre clubs 

Silicon Valley fight clubs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:16 AM

'World of Unexplained' logs into paranormal tales 

One advantage of interviewing guests by phone for your Internet radio show is that none of them can see that your studio is in the basement and that the equipment is set up on a folding table like those found in church fellowship halls.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:16 AM

LEGENDARY CARTOONIST ALEX TOTH DEAD AT 78 

Toth's oldest son Eric said Saturday evening his father passed away early Saturday morning while sitting at his drawing table.

The official Alex Toth page is here. And here is a nice eulogy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:15 AM

Idaho woman recovers stolen ring from Kentucky catfish 

A woman from this southeastern Idaho city says she's recovered a stolen class ring that was purportedly spit up from a Kentucky catfish.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:15 AM

Monday, May 29, 2006

25 hurt in cheese-chasing race 

A fearless teenager knocked himself out to win a race at the annual cheese-chasing competition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:50 AM

The Shirt from Hell! 

To the Devil, his due.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:23 AM

Comment: Bigfoot, Cyclops, Yeti or just hype? 

The Bigfoot mania is not new. Humanoid ape-like creatures have been sighted for centuries in many parts of the world. In the forests of North America, there have been sightings of Skunk Ape, Momo, Grassman and Woods Devil.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:04 AM

Great Pyramid as Cuckoo Clock? It Might Not Be Crazy 

THEY have been called mystical, awe-inspiring, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. But it is safe to say that in the 45 centuries the great pyramids of Giza have cast their formidable shadow over the desert, they have never before been described as a cuckoo clock.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:02 AM

UT exhibit takes a serious look at Bigfoot 

Viewed by many scholars as a figment of folklore, for others Bigfoot is an elusive creature hiding in the damp woods of East Texas, where scores of sightings have been logged over the years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:44 AM

The Passing of a Brilliant Bastard 

A nice appreciation of actor Paul Gleason, who passed away this weekend.

Don't mess with the bull, young man. You'll get the horns.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:41 AM

Giant earthworm resurfaces after nearly two decades 

A yard long and as big around as a man's pinkie finger, the giant Palouse earthworm is albino-pale, can burrow 15 feet deep and smells like a lily.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:30 AM

Sunken 17th Century warship to be protected 

The wreck of a warship that has lain on the seabed for more than 200 years is being protected, the Culture Minister said today.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:28 AM

Researchers find new monkey species in Tanzanian mountain 

Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society have discovered a new species of monkey in Tanzania.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 AM

Snake-bitten Varanasi boy returns from the dead after eight months 

Suraj was bitten by a venomous snake and declared dead by doctors on October 23, 2005.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:21 AM

Police consult psychic as man's trail runs cold 

The sheriff's office recently consulted a Little Rock psychic, at the family’s request. Psychic Carol Pate conferred with investigators after she got a photograph of Jones and a handwriting sample.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:18 AM

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Cheney aide is screening legislation 

The office of Vice President Dick Cheney routinely reviews pieces of legislation before they reach the president's desk, searching for provisions that Cheney believes would infringe on presidential power, according to former White House and Justice Department officials.

Via Cannonfire.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:19 PM

Backing Winds: May 26th chase 

Amazing storm chasing photos from Kansas. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:02 PM

Deep Secrets Of The City 

The dark world below Portland's streets harbors tales of shanghaied sailors and mysterious ghosts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:10 PM

Mystery of Michelin tycoon killed at sea 

Investigators sent a robot probe into the waters of the Atlantic yesterday to hunt for clues into the sudden death of Edouard Michelin, 42, the billionaire boss of the world's biggest tyre company.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 PM

After four months at sea, ghost ship with 11 petrified corpses washes up in Barbados 

Very strange.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:05 PM

Rosslyn priest quits over Da Vinci Code hype 

THE priest of Rosslyn Chapel has resigned amid widespread speculation that he is no longer prepared to tolerate the worldwide hype generated by The Da Vinci Code.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:01 PM

Haunting caught on photograph 

This scary shadow may not look like much to the untrained eye, but ghost hunters believe it could prove that spooks exist. With pic. Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:52 PM

Winged-ghost terrorises WB village 

A pigeon with a miniature plastic skull dangling around its neck and with glowing red bulbs in the eye sockets is in the custody of the police.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:57 AM

Jack London: Writer, adventurer ... farmer? 

You've heard of Jack London, celebrated author of "Call of the Wild," and "White Fang." You may also know him as an intrepid world traveler and socialist crusader.

But chances are you don't know Jack London the sustainable farmer who pioneered environmentally friendly practices on his sprawling ranch in the Northern California wine country.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 AM

Scott Joplin: The King of Ragtime Music 

That's right.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:53 AM

Saturday, May 27, 2006

06/06/06: Another Date with Para-Science 

With 06/06/06 looming (June 6, 2006), authorities in some cities are worrying prophecy theorists or hate groups might read something ominous into the date and use it as an excuse to stir tension.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:46 PM

Pulp fiction week at Slate 

How could I have missed this? Always the last to know...

Lots of stuff to read. If you've ever wondered exactly what people are talking about when they say "pulp fiction" (somebody asked me this just last month) you should start here. And to learn about one of the Professor's favorites see here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:32 AM

Lucid Dreaming: Dream & know it! 

A guide to Lucid Dreaming. Another goodie from MetaFilter.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:32 AM

'Grail Bird' fans flocking to Ark 

Optimism prevails for enthusiasts hoping to glimpse elusive woodpecker.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:30 AM

Telling secrets 

Book review of Shadow People: Inside History's Most Notorious Secret Societies.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:28 AM

UFO sightings of 30 years ago explained 

A SPATE of mysterious UFO and alien sightings which gripped a Welsh community 30 years ago may have finally been explained.

A former US Navy sailor claims the furore gripping the Broad Haven area of Pembrokeshire in the late 1970s was caused by an officer in a special fireproof uniform, and new RAF jets.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:23 AM

The real truth about a so-called 'devilish' religion 

There is a lot of misinformation about Wicca. I am Wiccan and for me, I really get upset when people view my religion as some devilish religion. People get Wicca confused with Satanism, and they seem to hold a great many untruths perpetuated by the church. I just want to dispel these myths and tell the truth.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:17 AM

Aliens in West Wales 

UFO mania began in Pembrokeshire after reports of 14 pupils from Broad Haven primary school seeing a UFO landing. The headteacher at the time backed up their claims, saying they had all drawn similar pictures of the craft.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:16 AM

Mastodon mystery 

Where to begin? The tale of the mysterious bones could begin 10,500 years ago, when a prehistoric beast dropped and died in a mucky bog. It could also start a century ago, when a farmer near the southwestern Ontario village of Highgate unearthed an oddity that would become a national wonder.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:16 AM

the broken laptop i sold on ebay... 

...was full of embarrassing stuff.

Via MetaFilter. Probably not safe for work.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:00 AM

Friday, May 26, 2006

Did Porter Goss resign over Skyway? 

Joseph Cannon examines the claim.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:28 PM

"Vampire" To Protest White Castle's Garlic Sandwich 

Someone please get a picture of this.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:00 PM

Nude Sherpa sparks Everest debate 

A NEPALESE sherpa stripped and stood naked on the summit of Everest in sub-zero temperatures for three minutes, sparking an immediate row today over defiling the sacred mountain.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 PM

Teams to seek proof of Bigfoot 

Two teams of researchers will be sent into the jungles of Johor to gather proof of the existence of Bigfoot, said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:13 PM

Mysterious glowing clouds targeted by NASA 

Glowing, silvery blue clouds that have been spreading around the world and brightening mysteriously in recent years will soon be studied in unprecedented detail by a NASA spacecraft.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:02 PM

Mexicans raise mob-hit theory in Ianiero case 

Family's lawyer angered that York police are asked to probe 'baseless' rumours.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:01 PM

Search On For Mysterious Underwear Man 

Underwear Man? Wasn't he in the Avengers?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:56 PM

FBI rebuts critics of its search for Hoffa corpse 

The FBI on Friday dismissed criticism investigators were wasting money by tearing up a Michigan horse farm in a search for the body of labor leader Jimmy Hoffa.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:16 PM

Naperville Man's Wallet Found After 35 Years 

The condom? Probably useless.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:14 PM

Bionic Dolphin Personal Submarine 

Coolcoolcool.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:13 PM

Early 'Invisibility Cloak' Could Be 18 Months Away 

Imagine an invisibility cloak that works just like the one Harry Potter inherited from his father.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:10 PM

Monster Kids! 

Monster Movies made by kids! On DVD! Hysterical!

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:05 PM

Ziggy Stardust, Super Hero 

An extremely odd David Bowie comic that includes other rock super heroes. Probably the only piece of "art" in the world that contains the sentence "Mick and Oz have called a meeting of the council of elders."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:04 PM

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Ain't it the truth? 

Link.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:11 PM

The strange and convenient death of J. Clifford Baxter--Enron executive found shot to death 

As the Enron verdicts come in, let's not forget the mysterious "suicide" of Vice-Chairman Cliff Baxter.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:39 PM

Court overturns conviction in Austin murders 

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals today overturned the conviction of a man once sentenced to death in Austin's yogurt shop murders in which four teenage girls were bound, gagged and fatally shot in the head in 1991.

For a highly complicated possible motive for the Yogurt Shop Murders see here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:16 PM

Former Space Camp Instructor Confirms His Prediction of Giant Tsunami in the Atlantic on Upcoming May 25 

Eric Julien, former military air traffic controller, twin engine jet pilot and former instructor at astronaut Patrick Baudry's Space Camp -- Discovery Shuttle flight -- has written four articles covering the high probability of a giant tsunami in the Atlantic Ocean caused by the impact of a comet fragment near or on May 25.

Today's the day!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:17 PM

The Gulf Breeze Six 

On July 9, 1990, six US military intelligence analysts from the 701st Military Intelligence Brigade at Augsburg, West Germany, at that time the biggest NSA (National Security Agency) listening post in the world outside the United States, deserted their posts, somehow convinced that the end of the world was nigh.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:09 PM

Leader of German Colony in Chile Convicted 

The leader of a now-dismantled colony founded by German immigrants in southern Chile was convicted of sexually abusing 25 children and sentenced to 20 years in jail.

Judge Hernan Gonzalez also sentenced Paul Schaefer, 84, on Wednesday to pay $1.43 million to 11 of the children whose families filed a civil suit against the former leader of Colonia Dignidad, or "Dignity Colony."

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:05 PM

Enron - Guilty! 

Hopefully the sentences will be jail-tastic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:14 AM

Mystery Disease 

More Morgellons, with a possible cause theory.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:09 AM

Israel's first underwater museum opens for public 

Scuba divers swimming under the blue Mediterranean sea surface are not always looking for fish, in one spot they are checking out exhibits in Israel's first underwater museum in the city of Caesarea.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:12 AM

Is Boudicca buried in Birmingham? 

The burial ground of Queen Boudicca could be next to a burger restaurant in Birmingham, it has been claimed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:08 AM

Strange Rectangular UFO Photographed Over Germany 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:07 AM

A spooky business 

Creator of long-running Gettysburg tour brings similar ghost tour business to Fredericksburg

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:05 AM

DC 9 CARRYING 5.5 TONS OF COCAINE WAS CIA PLANE 

The "mystery" of Porter Goss' resignation last month as CIA Director is apparently directly related to the huge seizure in Mexico several weeks earlier of over 5.5 tons of cocaine, according to government documents recently obtained by the The MadCowMorningNews.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:50 AM

Lawyer blasts voting machines 

A state appeals court yesterday heard arguments that electronic voting machines used in 20 of the state's 21 counties are so unreliable the constitutional rights of voters are violated.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:48 AM

UFO's - fact or fiction? 

South Africa is abuzz with speculation about UFO activity following the recent alleged sighting in Port Shepstone.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:46 AM

SWAPATORIUM 

Very very cool. Check this out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:45 AM

Panel approves burials in ghost town cemetery 

A Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday that would allow the few remaining residents of the ghost town of Elkhorn, Mont., to bury their dead close to home.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:18 AM

This is not your grandfather's bubble gum 

Bazooka Joe gets a makeover.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:11 AM

Team resumes search for plane lost in 1950 

58 people died in what was at the time the worst U.S. commercial air disaster ever.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:08 AM

Tree House Home 

Give your child a cartoon treehouse! Really amazing.

Via Boing Boing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:03 AM

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Attorney Can Advise Polk; Not Represent Her 

In yet another bizarre twist at the Susan Polk Murder Trial, an attorney can sit behind Polk and advise her as she is cross-examined but he cannot represent her, a judge ruled Wednesday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:13 PM

The phoenix has crashed 

In 2005 the ivory-billed woodpecker rose from the ashes of extinction on the merits of an announcement from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The bird had been rediscovered in 2004 in the Big Woods of Arkansas.

Now, after more than two years of intense searching, Cornell has announced it has no new evidence to corroborate claimed sightings and four seconds of "Bigfoot" video used to substantiate that claim.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:08 PM

Entangled Minds : Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality 

Book review.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:03 PM

Neo-Nazi becomes fanatical Muslim 

You couldn't make it up. A leading Nazi behind the notorious Combat 18 has become a fanatical Muslim supporter of Osama bin Laden.

Sure he did. Rigorous Intuition has some background on Myatt.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:18 PM

'Beader' senses the magic of the stones 

Durkin is happy to expound on a cheerful subject, "the energy of the stones" and their "feel." She firmly believes that you get "magical" energy from touching or rubbing certain gemstones - a mysterious connection with Mother Earth.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:04 PM

MYSTERY OF MARKET GHOST 

GHOSTLY goings-on have brought a new dimension to shopping at Mablethorpe's Red Doors Market, on Victoria Road.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:00 PM

Hidden in the hills 

The Bosnian Pyramid hits the Chicago Tribune.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:57 PM

Yard may answer where foe killed in Andrew Jackson duel is buried 

A quiet dead-end street a few blocks off Nashville's busy West End Avenue was the scene for a 21st century attempt to solve a 200-year-old puzzle.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:48 PM

Creature feature 

Odd animals in Arkansas, including the Fouke and White River Monster.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:47 PM

Republicans, incumbents receive large majority of oil lobby cash 

Republican incumbents are far more likely than their colleagues in Congress to receive oil company money, RAW STORY has found.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:41 PM

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Is this the Perfect Man? 

No, it's not a picture of the Professor.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:49 PM

The Snooping Goes Beyond Phone Calls 

How the government sidesteps the Privacy Act by purchasing commercial data.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:08 PM

Less than half of Americans satisfied with 9/11 investigations 

According to a new Zogby poll, less than half of Americans are convinced that that the events of September 11 have been thoroughly investigated, RAW STORY has learned.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:04 PM

Mystery Robot Said to Solve Crimes, Find Mines in Chile 

But can the Mystery Robot find love?

Via Sploid.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:03 PM

Lloyd Bentsen, dead at 85 

Former Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen, most famous for his public humiliation of Dan Quayle, has passed away at his home. He was 85.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:59 PM

Soldiers bond with iRobot machine; CEO dreams big 

U.S. soldiers in Iraq are giving nicknames and forming emotional bonds with bomb-defusing robots they have come to regard as teammates, according to the founder of the company that invented the machines.

Another goodie from the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:52 PM

Couple seeks to crack Brigantine ice mystery 

Ice from space?

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:50 PM

Graveside Photo of Jim Morrison's Ghost Still Haunts Rock Fan 

The Lizard King returns! With mojo-riffic pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:47 PM

The Illuminati 

Essay about the documentary.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:44 PM

Conspiracy theorist helped bring down ex-gov 

Political gadfly Sherman Skolnick, "the grandaddy of all conspiracy theorists," died peacefully Sunday in his sleep at his South Side home.

Or did he?

And see also: Sherman Skolnick, activist and political gadfly, dies at 75

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:39 PM

UFO 'probably a small meteorite or something' : Mail & Guardian Online 

Probably.

Or it was a waterspout.

Either way, the search will resume.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:33 PM

Who Killed the Electric Car? 

It was among the fastest, most efficient production cars ever built. It ran on electricity, produced no emissions and catapulted American technology to the forefront of the automotive industry. The lucky few who drove it never wanted to give it up. So why did General Motors crush its fleet of EV1 electric vehicles in the Arizona desert?

Movie review.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:22 PM

Protecting Bigfoot 

A handful of imaginary species are protected by real laws.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:21 PM

Nazca photos deepen mystery 

The Nazca Lines have been a source of mystery and dispute since their discovery in southern Peru nearly a century ago. So why should the latest find be any different?

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:12 PM

Mystery: Pilot Crashes While Pursuing UFO 

It's a mystery dating back to 1947. A UFO allegedly crashed in Roswell, New Mexico. That story is well documented, but equally puzzling was this mystery regarding a UFO in the skies above Kentucky just a few months after the Roswell incident.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:10 PM

Hoffa probe continues; no comment from FBI 

This just in: Jimmy Hoffa is still missing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:08 PM

Monday, May 22, 2006

Doc's Exercises 

Doc Savage and Scientology?

Via Raw Story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:01 PM

Mysteries under Moscow 

Includes the search for the lost medieval library of Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

Special thanks to Hex Correspondent Gary over at Covert History for the heads up.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:31 AM

Buying property with a notorious past 

Jeffrey Stambovsky and his wife Patrice planned to relocate from Manhattan to Nyack in 1990 ... until they discovered the $650,000 riverfront Victorian they planned to purchase was haunted by ghosts.

See also:Local ghosts are up for sale

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:30 AM

Mystery beast ravages flocks of Mont. sheep 

Ranchers in eastern Montana have a wildlife whodunit on their hands.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:29 AM

War on Iraq: The Great Iraq Oil Grab 

The official reasons the U.S. invaded Iraq don't hold water. So, as the man said, follow the money ... straight to the oil fields.

There's a story, perhaps apocryphal, that Pentagon planners wanted to name the invasion of Iraq, "Operation Iraqi Liberation." Only when someone realized that the acronym -- O.I.L. -- might raise some uncomfortable questions, was "Operation Iraqi Freedom" born.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:28 AM

The Eerie Predictions Of Nostradamus 

I see you reading this very soon.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:26 AM

TIGER Tales: Psychic Spies and the War on Terror 

Revelation of the NSA domestic phone record collection program is only the tip of the iceberg. Evidence suggests that highly placed government officials are seeking to use the ultimate internet in the war on terror: the collective unconscious mind. Forget about wire taps and NSA phone call records -- the privacy issue of the 21st century may involve direct access into your private thoughts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:25 AM

Bones in togas puzzle Vatican archaeologists 

Archaeologists exploring one of Rome's oldest catacombs are baffled by neat piles of more than 1000 skeletons dressed in elegant togas.

Also puzzling - Ancient beer bongs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:25 AM

Disinformation :: Meta-Magick Podcast #2: Watch Yourself Relax 

Can a podcast influence brain activity? The second audio offering from Meta-Magick.com features discussion about new findings in neuroscience - and a demonstration of the principles in action, delivered through your speakers!

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:24 AM

The writing's on the walls 

Everyone who comes to Rosslyn finds their own interpretation - and perhaps that is the real point of the chapel.

But what are the symbols which have created so much excitement - and what was Haye and Sinclair's message to future generations?

Today, we offer some of the keys to unlocking the secrets of the Library in Stone.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:23 AM

Twenty-Eight Percent Believe Bible Is Actual Word of God 

Which is just about where Bush stands in the polls.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 AM

Ancient city reveals life in NW China desert 2,200 years ago 

Chinese and French archaeologists claim to have discovered the ruins of an ancient city which disappeared in the desert in Northwest China more than 2,200 years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:20 AM

At DePalma's trial, 'made man' tells court how he was inducted 

The biggest night in a mobster's life is the night he gets inducted into the Mafia - straightened out, as the wiseguys call it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:19 AM

Royal Blood, Holy Blood, Fairy Blood: the meaning and legacy of Sangreal! 

You may have read The Da Vinci Code or seen the movie and are still puzzled by what is meant by Sangreal or royal blood. It has been written about by countless authors in many literary works.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:19 AM

Unidentified object 'crashes' into sea 

Port Shepstone rescuers are monitoring a mysterious situation in which "numerous" eye-witnesses reported an unidentified object crashing into the sea, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Saturday.

See also: Search launched after UFO sea splash-down mystery

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:17 AM

Feds bring in more gear in Hoffa hunt 

Federal agents are bringing in more equipment today as their search for the body of late Teamsters leader James R. Hoffa enters its sixth day at a Milford Township horse farm.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:16 AM

Mummy Mystery 

It's the oldest of cold cases: A girl's death 2,200 years ago. Can modern technology explain it?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:16 AM

Mexican Myth or Texas Terror? 

Is a local Texas television station desperate for ratings or is there something behind the legend of the Chupacabra?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:15 AM

WITCH WHO STARTED FLAT BLAZE JAILED 

A WHITE witch who set fire to her flat in a botched spell, trapping a neighbour above her, has been jailed for three years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:13 AM

Why the long face? The pet psychic knows the answer 

Jay, an acclaimed horse whisperer, pet psychic and medium, brought an open heart and mind to Graystone Equestrian Center on Saturday in Upland.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:07 AM

This monster is no myth? 

How did a weekend father-son fishing trip become 'one of the most important amateur fossil discoveries'?

Their discovery, Tullimonstrum gregarium, was F.W. Holiday's candidate for the Loch Ness Monster, albeit a giant version of the creature.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:06 AM

Suicide or murder? Sati mystery 

A bizarre controversy has erupted over the death of a woman in the Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

Thirty-eight-year old Vidayawati was burnt to death when she reportedly jumped into the funeral pyre of her husband last Thursday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:05 AM

How the nose knows 

For decades, scientists have been trying to learn how the sense of smell works. Now, they're getting close.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:04 AM

Missing German trekker found dead in Nepal 

Kristina is the third European tourist to die in Nepal in mysterious circumstances in less than a year. In September, French tourist Celine Henri disappeared from a forest reserve, northwest of Kathmandu. She is still officially listed as missing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:03 AM

Activist Sherman Skolnick Dies 

Mr. Skolnick died at his home. Some dismissed Mr. Skolnick as a conspiracy theorist, but some have credited him with exposing a bribery scandal within the Illinois court system in the late 1960s and early 1970s, in a corruption scandal that led to the indictment of former Gov. Otto Kerner.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:02 AM

Bones back in Kansas 

Just one bone, a section of a man's left shoulder blade, is to be taken back to Boulder, where a geneticist will attempt to retrieve DNA that could prove whether the man buried here 127 years ago is Hillmon, or perhaps another man who was killed in 1879 and buried as part of a $25,000 insurance fraud.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:02 AM

Sunday, May 21, 2006

A private dancer: Is she considered exotic or erotic? 

William Safire takes it off. Excellent word porn.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 AM

Great malodor of Milpitas: What's behind that smell? 

The stench, or at least the lingering jokes about it, hover over the proud city of Milpitas. It has catapulted wild dreams for some, carved out career paths for others and linked people as far-flung as the queen of England to the lore of this city by the South Bay.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:43 AM

'Da Vinci' earns $29 million on 1st day in U.S. cinemas 

The protests worked!

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:41 AM

Locals doubtful Hoffa buried on horse farm 

As the FBI tries to locate the suspected grave of Jimmy Hoffa at a horse farm in suburban Detroit, people whose families have owned the land in the years since the former Teamsters leader disappeared said they believe it is unlikely the body will turn up.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:24 AM

Keeper of secrets 

A pilgrim in 1486, traveling near Edinburgh, Scotland, would have been puzzled upon encountering an intricately carved stone chapel near the village of Roslin.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:21 AM

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Bosnian pyramid's the real thing! 

Sploid's got it and includes links to info on the little-known Greek pyramids.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:28 PM

Maine Has It's Own Da Vinci Mystery 

There's a lot of hype about The Da Vinci Code movie right now, but did you know that the Portland Museum of Art has its own Leonardo mystery?

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:01 AM

Friday, May 19, 2006

Road ghost: now the experts appear 

GHOSTSPOTTERS are being asked to come forward to help solve the riddle of the mysterious ghostly sightings in Caterham.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:56 PM

Plot thickens over Ben Nevis piano 

Another day, another theory.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 PM

Frightening Skin Disease Affects Thousands 

And just like that, Morgellons is all over the news. I wonder why?

See also: OSU Health Scientists studies strange skin disease.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:47 PM

Idaho author claims he knows who killed Jimmy Hoffa 

The former teamsters boss vanished back in 1975, but there is a search underway for his body on a farm in Michigan.

It is that search that is giving more credence to an Idaho author who claims he knows who killed Hoffa.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:46 PM

1870s Grave Dug Up To Solve Mystery 

Researchers in Lawrence Friday dug up a body buried in the 1870s in hopes of solving a mystery.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:43 PM

Spanish researchers say Christopher Columbus bones buried in Seville 

Spanish researchers said they have resolved a century-old mystery surrounding Christopher Columbus's burial place, which both Spain and the Dominican Republic claim to be watching over. Their verdict: Spain's got the right bones.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:42 PM

Winchester Mystery House 

It's a lovely home.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:41 PM

'Punk shui' philosophy embraces chao 

Come on, it's a joke, right? Josh Amatore Hughes, author of Punk Shui: Home Design for Anarchists ($10.95), which Three Rivers Press blurbs as "Martha Stewart meets the Sex Pistols," insists he's serious.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:44 AM

Woman sacrifices her soul to join husband in heaven 

A 35-year-old widow has dumped herself into a scorching pyre that was prepared for the cremation of her deceased husband in the village of Papageorge in Uttar Pradesh, the local press reported on Friday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:41 AM

Rapid development running into Minnesota's Indian burial mounds 

Historians say Minnesota once had as many as 12,500 Indian burial mounds. But after years of neglect, only a few thousand remain.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:39 AM

Polk says husband led her by leash 

Felix Polk hated Americans, loved the French and counted a hit man as one of his closest friends, murder defendant Susan Polk said Thursday on the second day of her narrative testimony as her own defense witness.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:59 AM

Killer Grannies? 

Sploid's got it. I think I saw this on Law and Order.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:51 AM

Robertson: God Says Tsunami Possible For U.S. 

God also said to send me a lot of money.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:44 AM

Officers discover sex-slave cult 

The group, called Kaotians, follow the Chronicles of Gor novels which depict a society where women are dominated.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:43 AM

Secrets in the stones 

Thanks to the hype surrounding The Da Vinci Code, tracking occult symbols in the Manitoba Legislature has put Winnipegger Frank Albo into the limelight.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:41 AM

Glimpse of 'ghost' sparks speculation 

A SIGHTING of a mysterious woman walking through a room and disappearing has sparked speculation that Spalding's Ayscoughfee Hall is haunted.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:39 AM

Hobbit's species status in question 

"Since its discovery, controversy has ensued over whether a diminutive hominid, found on the remote Indonesian island of Flores and nicknamed the 'hobbit,' represents a new species of ancient human."

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:35 AM

New Title on Alchemy from Brian Cotnoir & James Wasserman 

Press release.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:34 AM

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Lawmaker: Marines deliberately killed Iraqis 

A Pentagon probe into the death of Iraqi civilians last November in the Iraqi city of Haditha will show that U.S. Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood," a U.S. lawmaker said Wednesday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:35 PM

Polk testimony covers her marriage, premonitions / Murder defendant describes being 'ashamed' to wed therapist she says she killed in self- 

Polk testimony covers her marriage, premonitions

Murder defendant describes being 'ashamed' to wed therapist she says she killed in self-defense, then delves into paranormal

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:54 PM

Pentagon hit by flying grilled cheese sandwich, video frames show 

It's astonishing, really. According to almost every reporter in the mainstream media, a Boeing 757 jet, when photographed, looks exactly like an indistinguishable blur. Let's face it: The video frames released by the Pentagon make ghost and UFO photos look downright crisp.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:49 PM

Shop takes heat for unlicensed Bigfoot 

Owners of a Dallas pawn shop are going to court to defend their municipal right to stand a 200-pound Bigfoot mascot outside their store.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:47 PM

Rosslyn podcast 5 

PODCAST FIVE looks at the impact of The Da Vinci Code and whether visitors to the chapel find what they expect.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:40 PM

Mystery Of Stone Circle 

A man who claims to be able to sense energy fields believes a stone circle and mound close to Preston city centre could be of major historical significance.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:30 PM

Sasquatch patrol coming to Price County 

An international group that purports a dedication to unlocking the mystery of bigfoot plans expeditions to the woods of Price County beginning next month.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:28 PM

Ireland's burial mounds hold many mysteries 

Today, more than 300 such ancient mounds are scattered across northeastern Ireland. The most intriguing are called passage tombs, owing to a long corridor leading to a central cross-shaped chamber. Historians long believed the dead were left in these chambers to begin their journey to the Other World.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:24 PM

On the big lake they call "Gitche Gumee" 

A group of meteorologists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday that they have solved at least part of the mystery of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the Great Lakes legend that sank Nov. 10, 1975, in a Lake Superior storm.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:17 PM

Inmate's tip leads FBI to dig for Hoffa at farm 

A tip from a 75-year-old federal inmate gave FBI agents what they're calling their latest and best chance yet to crack the 30-year-old mystery of what happened to former Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:09 PM

Psychic Says Elvis Messaged About House Deal 

He says he wants a fried banana sandwich.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:18 AM

Terrifying Haunting or Clever Hoax? 

In 1662 English landowner John Mompesson began telling the world that his household was haunted by an evil and mischievous spirit.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:15 AM

The Merovingian Mythos and the Mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau 

In the midst of all The Da Vinci Code hype and hoopla, one can be forgiven for forgetting that there are more than just two books that discuss Mary Magadalene and Rennes-le-Chateau.

Book review.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:09 AM

Inca sun worship mystery solved 

THE sun-worshipping Incas may have been onto something when they made Cuzco the capital of their ancient civilization.

Scientists have discovered the city in modern-day Peru is the spot on Earth blistered by the highest UV levels.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:55 AM

Mystery of Ben Nevis piano 'solved' 

the "solution" is as weird as the story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:53 AM

Ex-Official Gets 10 Mos. in Phone-Jam Plot 

A former Republican National Committee official was sentenced Wednesday to 10 months in prison for his role in the jamming of New Hampshire Democrats' telephones on Election Day 2002.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:48 AM

Human Ancestors May Have Interbred With Chimpanzees 

Too...many...jokes...flooding...brain...

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:43 AM

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Chan Hall - Douchebag of the Week! (And it's only Wednesday) 

"People at Duke have a lot of money on their side." Chan Hall, 22, said, "It's the same old story. Duke up, Central down." Hall said he wanted to see the Duke students prosecuted "whether it happened or not. It would be justice for things that happened in the past."

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:39 PM

World opinion of U.S. sinking 

Thanks Chimpy!

Keeping the peace, winning the war on terrorism and other critical goals are achievable "only if people like you and trust you," said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center.

Instead, Kohut and his associates find American credibility eroding, even among NATO allies.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:31 PM

HEADLESS TORSO PULLED FROM RIVER 

More human sacrifice in the U.K.?

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:08 PM

Was it Jill the Ripper? 

JACK the Ripper could well be a Jill.

In a bid to crack the identity of one of the greatest murder mysteries of all time, technology developed in Australia has tested 118-year-old DNA the notorious serial killer may have left behind and built a partial female profile.

Mary Pearcey is the only known female Ripper suspect.

Via The Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:54 PM

Save Nazanin Petition 

On January 3, 2006, 18-year-old Nazanin was sentenced to death for murder by court in Iran after she reportedly admitted fatally stabbing one of three men who attempted to rape her and her 16-year-old niece in a park in Karaj (a suburb of Tehran) in March 2005. She was seventeen at the time. Her sentence is subject to review by the Court of Appeal, and if upheld, to confirmation by the Supreme Court.

According to reports in the Iranian newspaper E'temaad, Nazanin told the court that three men had approached her and her niece, forced them to the ground and attempted to rape them. Seeking to defend her niece and herself, Nazanin stabbed one man in the hand with a knife that she possessed. As the men continued their attack, she stabbed another of the men in the chest, which eventually caused his death. She reportedly told the court "I wanted to defend myself and my niece. I did not want to kill that boy. At the heat of the moment I did not know what to do because no one came to our help". She was nevertheless sentenced to the maximum punishment possible under the law, death by hanging.


Please sign.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:48 PM

Sploid: Illegal Alien! 

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales shocked the nation Tuesday when he told CNN there's no proof his family immigrated legally to the United States.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:39 PM

Sasquatch speaks! 

The Enigma of the Talking British Columbia Sasquatches.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:25 PM

ABC uncovers ex-CIA executive director's seven-bedroom, 12 guest Hawaiian hideaway 

Raw Story's got it. With paradisical pics!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:16 PM

Defense Department Releases September 11 Pentagon Video to Judicial Watch 

Here's the video over at Judicial watch. If you click on the video players they will take you to You Tube, where you can enlarge the players for a more detailed view.

I have never been one to subscribe to the "missile hit the Pentagon" theories bandied about the Internet, but this video does more to raise my suspicions than allay them. And despite media claims that the video shows "American Airlines Flight 77 crashing into the military headquarters building" it really does nothing of the sort. It shows something hitting the Pentagon, but I couldn't swear in court that it was a plane.

Actually, what makes me more suspicious than anything else about the fate of Flight 77 is that Bush Cabal mouthpiece Ted Olson was the only person who supposedly received a phone call from the plane. How convenient.

Here's an informative essay on Olson's supposed phone call and its subsequent impact on the media.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:08 PM

Uri Geller buys Elvis' first Memphis home 

British psychic Uri Geller and two partners have bought the Memphis house that once belonged to a young Elvis Presley.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:59 AM

Stradivari Violin Fetches a Record $3.5 Mln at Christie's N.Y. 

A 1707 Stradivari violin known as "The Hammer" sold for $3.5 million at Christie's International Plc in New York, setting a new auction record for a musical instrument of any kind.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:58 AM

China likely to launch moon probe next April 

China's first lunar satellite may be launched during a fly-by mission in April in 2007, said Luan Enjie, director of the China National Space Administration on Tuesday, May 16.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:56 AM

Mass for vanished Scottish Monk 

There's got to be a way to blame the Da Vinci Code for this.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:41 AM

Was this a ritual murder? 

Sr. Margaret Ann Pahl was brutally murdered in 1980 on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter in the Christian faith. Holy Saturday, the day that satanic calendars refer to as a holiday requiring a human sacrifice. As tragic as the nun's apparently sacrificial murder was, perhaps her death was not entirely in vain.

Letter to the Editor

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:17 AM

"Satan said she deserved it." 

Investigators who arrived at the home of a decorated Army soldier found the body of the man's wife mutilated with a pentagram carved into her flesh and blood-smeared messages in the kitchen.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:14 AM

Green fireball 'space junk or meteor' 

Or swamp gas. Or Saturn. Or plasma. Or GIANT ALIEN SPACE CRAFT!

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:01 AM

The Wit and Wisdom of Satchel Paige 

"Ain't no man can avoid being born average, but there ain't no man got to be common."

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:57 AM

UFO report reveals Lancs sightings 

Bright green lights above the M6 and a moon-like object hovering in the Preston skies are just two of the 'UFO' sightings to have been reported in Lancashire.

With photo gallery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:55 AM

Mummy found in pyramid in Peru dates to A.D. 450 

Archaeologists in Peru have discovered a 15-century-old mummy of a tattooed Moche woman entombed with a dazzling collection of weapons and jewelry.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:53 AM

Piano found on Britain's highest mountain 

A musical mystery today surrounded Britain's highest mountain after a piano was discovered near its summit.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:51 AM

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Join the military! 

Be a liaison of one!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:47 PM

US 'releases 9/11 Pentagon tape' 

The US defence department is to release a video of the plane crashing into the Pentagon on 11 September 2001, legal rights group Judicial Watch has said.

And Sploid has a few comments.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:42 PM

Glaciers in Africa Expected to Disappear 

Mountain glaciers in equatorial Africa are on their way to disappearing within two decades, a team of British researchers reports.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:58 AM

Yoga lessons for Hyderabad jail inmates 

They need to try this in American prisons.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:53 AM

Gertrude Bell: settler of Iraq's borders 

Gertrude Bell, a British traveler, writer and linguist, was one of the most powerful women of the 1920s, an adviser to empire builders and confidante to kings.

An "oriental secretary" to British governments, she is credited with drawing the boundaries of modern Iraq out of the ruins of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War One.

Good article.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:52 AM

Exorcism: Ancient Art or Hocus Pocus? 

I suppose it could be both.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:50 AM

Senator sinks $97m into Civil War sub 

Unsuspecting taxpayers in South Carolina have spent nearly $100 million trying to preserve a Confederate submarine. This boondoggle has been the pet project of the president pro tem of the state Senate, who also happens to be a Civil War reenactor.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:47 AM

Cool products 

This Venom extractor looks handy for when you're exploring the unexplained and get bitten by pesky critters. And this Wego Kite Tube looks both exhilarating and terrifying.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:33 AM

Pentagon Discloses List of Gitmo Detainees 

After years of secrecy, the Pentagon has disclosed the names, ages and home countries of everyone held at the isolated Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in southeastern Cuba as a suspect in the U.S.-led war on terror.

None of the most notorious terrorist suspects was included in the list, raising questions about their whereabouts.

Biggest surprise? John Tesh.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:19 AM

Bush Country 

What's left of it anyway.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:17 AM

Stag blimp was not the 'ghost ship' 

The L-8 soon was called "the ghost ship." Its mysterious voyage soon was embellished with wild tales of half-eaten sandwiches and warm cups of coffee being found in the cabin. Not surprisingly, it eventually became the stuff of UFO legend.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:42 AM

Is There Bigfoot in Georgia? 

Sometimes in this world there are certain things we just can't explain.

Ghost sightings, the loch ness monster, and what about big foot? Well, bigfoot, that's one we may be able to help you with. Did you know there have been over fifty bigfoot sightings in Georgia?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:40 AM

New finds rewriting the history of Mayans 

Experts try to decipher brightly painted murals.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:33 AM

Tuscany's Etruscan claim knocked 

The Tuscans' proud claim to be the descendants of the ancient Etruscans has taken a knock.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:31 AM

Mystery Americans on the trail of bin Laden? 

This quiet mountain resort, better known for its polo games and mountain treks, has become the latest site of interest in the hunt for Osama bin Laden, much to the outrage and bemusement of its inhabitants.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:26 AM

Warren Ellis finds his tulpa 

Warren Ellis has posted a bunch of interesting links on tulpas and their creation. Warren has good taste.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:24 AM

Monday, May 15, 2006

FBI Acknowledges: Journalists Phone Records are Fair Game 

The FBI acknowledged late Monday that it is increasingly seeking reporters' phone records in leak investigations.

"It used to be very hard and complicated to do this, but it no longer is in the Bush administration," said a senior federal official.

Yep, nothing's hard under the Bush administration. Except, you know, running the country.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:34 PM

How did you find the Professor today? 

Was it like this?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:06 PM

Feng shui sparks romance and travel trend in US 

Some lonely Americans are eschewing Internet dating and instead putting their faith in feng shui in a bid to find their romantic soul mates.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:34 PM

The weird thing is, Bush offered him a job... 

Chris T. Coppinger of Davenport was fired in March from Mohassan Grotto 22, where he worked as co-manager of the organization's charitable bingo operation.

He was fired after his supervisors allegedly found $1,000 in cash and checks in his office, along with a condom and a jar of urine that appeared to have been hidden. Coppinger was subsequently accused of smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol in the building; having pornography on his work computer; having sex with another person on his desk; and ordering a 15-year-old co-worker to urinate in a jar. He also was fired for failing to deposit cash and checks the organization had collected.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:29 PM

ABC News: Federal official says US tracking calls made by ABC News, New York Times, Washington Post 

A senior federal law enforcement official tells ABC News the government is tracking the phone numbers we call in an effort to root out confidential sources.

"It's time for you to get some new cell phones, quick," the source told us in an in-person conversation.

Of course, they could also be gathering information for blackmail operations.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:36 AM

Xtreme Cuisine 

Arizona Chef Kaz Yamamoto prepares exotic meals - including penguin, monkey, and human - for the rich and famous.

Long article - not for the squeamish. Found over at Rigorous Intuition. There's even a forum for it. There's some debate as to its authenticity. Is Kaz really cooking human body parts for the elite? Or is this clever satire? Fact or fraud? You decide.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:07 AM

Some See a 'Pyramid' to Hone Bosnia's Image. Others See a Big Hill 

The New York Times discovers the Bosnian Pyramid.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:06 AM

Fishermen find Utah Lake Monster 

Not long after the Mormon pioneers settled in Utah, Ute Indians informed the new colonists that Pawapicts or Water Babies, inhabited the waters of the Great Basin. The new residents were slow to acknowledge the presence of these supernatural beings until 1868 when Joseph C. Rich, a correspondent contributing to the Deseret News, told of a type of serpent that settlers had spotted in Bear Lake.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:05 AM

Why Cryptozoology Is Interested In Alligator Sightings 

Cryptomundo will tell you.

See also: Florida marks third deadly alligator attack in less than a week.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:04 AM

Saucer Semantics: UFOs vs. UAPs; Bring Back the Flying Saucer 

UFO should be a neutral term -- was intended to be a neutral term -- free of assumptions, but we all know that isn't so. Say 'UFO' and you have knee jerk reactions from skepti-scoffies about ET coming to land in your backyard, or silly jokes about anal probes.

See also the DVD review of : Dan Aykroyd: Unplugged on UFOs

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:04 AM

Life in the Bridgewater Triangle 

A hotspot for paranormal activity in Massachusetts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:03 AM

Amazing Missing Links 

Is it possible that ancestors of early humans have survived in isolated areas of the Earth? Have specimens of them actually been captured and studied? Consider these incredible, mysterious creatures.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:02 AM

British inventor claims to have made world's most fuel efficient car 

A British inventor unveiled a car he claims is the world's most fuel efficient -- capable of doing 8,000 miles (12,875 km) to the gallon (4.5 litres).

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:01 AM

Killer-artist's portraits theme of macabre calendar 

A serial killer calendar with portraits of famous killers painted by a famous killer - that shouldn't cause controversy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:53 AM

Amazon Stonehenge suggests advanced ancient rainforest culture 

The discovery of an ancient astrological observatory in Brazil lends support to the theory that the Amazon rainforest was once home to advanced cultures and large sedentary populations of people.

Good long article.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:52 AM

Donner Party Relic Dig Planned For Sierra 

Oh my god...is that barbeque sauce?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:49 AM

Steve McQueen's Dream Movie Wakes Up With a Vrooom! 

Steve McQueen's dream project, Yucatan, may finally make it to the screen.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:49 AM

Archaeological theory would upend history 

Mysterious inscriptions in Kentucky.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:47 AM

What Is Christian Nationalism? 

What they really want. Scary as hell.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:46 AM

White House Blocks Investigations Into Spying 

With news reports exposing the National Security Agency's previously secret spying on the phone conversations of tens of millions of Americans, what is the status of the U.S. Department of Justice probe of the Bush administration's authorization of a warrantless domestic wiretapping program?

The investigation has been closed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:45 AM

MASS MURDER WAITING TO HAPPEN? 

MAYBE MASSACRE FOR MANIAC MORMONS?

Accused child rapist and multiple-marrying Mormon nutjob Warren Jeffs "has been prophesising "a final showdown between the faithful and the outside world." According to the FBI.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:43 AM

Abramoff cohort spent millions on Sussex homes 

Anthony Wiles became suspicious four years ago when a lifeguard named Michael Scanlon offered to pay cash for Wiles' $4.8 million home in Dewey Beach.

I was a lifeguard for years. What did I do wrong?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:41 AM

The twisted tale of a Ferrari reduced to twisted rubble 

It's the smash up that car lovers can't seem to get enough of - an exquisite red Ferrari rare by even its own lofty standards shredded by a 162 mph crash on Southern California's scenic Pacific Coast Highway.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:40 AM

Arms enthusiasts ecstatic over find 

Antique arms enthusiasts in Dunedin have dug up two giant gun barrels.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:39 AM

Civil War enthusiasts rally around tattered flag 

Rob Swinson believes he has found a Civil War treasure.

It's a regimental Confederate Civil War flag that flew in the western theater of the war in five major battles: Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga and Ringgold Gap.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:38 AM

A warning sign for the ages 

"No culture has ever tried, self-consciously and scientifically, to design a symbol that would last 10,000 years and still be intelligible," said David B. Givens, an anthropologist who helped plan the nuclear-site warnings. "And even if we succeed, would the message be believed?"

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 AM

Rosslyn podcast 1 

PODCAST ONE looks at some of the more bizarre theories as to what lies entombed in Rosslyn.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 AM

Invasion: Creve Coeur bar has a ghost 

Employees say murdered man still coming to work.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:36 AM

SPIRITED GOINGS-ON IN SCOTTISH PUB 

When the owners of the White Cockade Pub in the mountains above Boulder Creek say they have some unusual spirits, they don't mean their Monty Python Holy Grail Ale or the Black Prince Porter.

They mean spirits.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:34 AM

Tutankhamun's mysteries to be put online 

It was the most famous archaeological find of all time, but still it holds secrets that have yet to be unravelled. Now Oxford scholars are preparing to post the notes, diaries, drawings and photographs from the 1922 excavation of the tomb of King Tutankhamun on the internet in an attempt to study it completely.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:34 AM

St. Louis museum refuses to return Egyptian mask 

The St. Louis Art Museum will keep a 3,200-year-old mummy mask unless it gets more proof that it belongs to Egypt.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:33 AM

Help needed to find kangaroo killer 

All the animals died in the past nine months and all but one of the eastern grey kangaroos was decapitated.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:32 AM

06/06/06 - Day of the Devil? 

June 6, 2006 - 06/06/06 - is just weeks away and a date that is generating frenzied discussion and debate around the globe, not seen since the eve of the new millenium.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:31 AM

Quantum physics and qi 

While science is coming close with the understanding of gravity and nuclear forces, it has very little knowledge of life-force, or qi.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:30 AM

Innocent Texas Citizen Targeted With Deadly Electronic Weapons 

Leslie Oliver is being "cooked alive" and Jesus Mendoza is dying a slow "electronic death," as two more stories surface about torture and abuse at the hands of a totalitarian U.S. government using high-grade military weaponry against its own people.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 AM

City hall may contain treasure 

Workers at Cincinnati City Hall will begin peeling back the years this week - along with decades-old paint, glue and acoustical tile - from the ceiling inside council chambers in an attempt to uncover a mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:27 AM

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Thuggery, buggery, hunger and war 

Jad Adams on accounts of the rise and fall of British fascists from Stephen Dorril, David Faber and Nigel Farndale.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:42 AM

Sunken treasure cheer turns sour 

With a few beautiful pictures of the Chinese treasure. Check out that dragon vase.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:29 AM

India seeks to save its treasure of manuscripts 

The National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) has launched a massive survey programme across the country to find out, document and preserve manuscripts within five years' time period.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:08 AM

Unusual encounters 

For the past five years, Shiel has been intensively studying two profound phenomena, Bigfoot and UFOs. Scouring libraries, sifting through old publications and prodding researchers, Shiel obtained as much knowledge as she could. Based on her research, evidence and several personal encounters, Shiel wrote two non-fiction novels, and her latest, "Backyard Bigfoot: The True Story of Stick Signs, UFOs, and the Sasquatch," published by Slipdown Mountain Publications LLC, reveals her findings.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:03 AM

Satanic aspects left out of trial; prosecutor says priest's murder of nun had cult hallmarks 

The slaying of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl was "a classic textbook satanic cult killing," according to Lucas County Assistant Prosecutor Dean Mandros, but he thought it would not be a wise strategy to pursue in the murder trial of Toledo priest Gerald Robinson.

See also: View of priests has changed over the years

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:01 AM

Ohio politicians are bracing for coin dealer's plea change 

The investment scandal investigation has been a major embarrassment for Republicans, who dominate state politics. It prompted Taft, a lame duck, and two former aides to plead no contest to ethics charges.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:50 AM

Johor to verify Bigfoot tales 

Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman wants to get to the bottom of the Bigfoot mystery. The Government, he said, would like to verify the Bigfoot tales.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:36 AM

Students search for missing monument 

A Minnesota State University history class is tackling the mystery and meaning of the missing monument marking the hanging deaths of 38 Dakota American Indians - all while digging up dirt on the stone slab's fate.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:36 AM

This time around, the invaders are the tourists 

Tourism is booming in the Languedoc region of France, largely due to some enduring mysteries that link a charismatic priest of a century ago with the controversial claims in The Da Vinci Code.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:30 AM

San Diego Defense Contractor Linked to Company in 5.5 Ton Cocaine Bust 

The MadCowMorningNews has uncovered evidence implicating a San Diego defense contractor, The Titan Corporation, in fraud involving the shadowy St. Petersburg FL company involved in last month's mysterious 5.5 ton cocaine seizure in Mexico.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:21 AM

Thunderbird Film Discovered 

This is cool on so many levels. The film looks like a classic 70's B monster pic which is neat in and of itself, but the story is based on the works of Manly Wade Wellman, who totally rules. Dude.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:07 AM

President Gore Addresses The Nation 

Hysterical. From SNL.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:48 AM

'Amazon Stonehenge' found in Brazil 

Archaeologists discovered a pre-colonial astrological observatory possibly 2,000 years old in the Amazon basin near French Guiana, said a report.

"Only a society with a complex culture could have built such a monument," archaeologist Mariana Petry Cabral, of the Amapa Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (IEPA), told O Globo newspaper.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:32 AM

Friday, May 12, 2006

NSA Whistleblower To Expose More Unlawful Activity 

"I think the people I talk to next week are going to be shocked when I tell them what I have to tell them. It's pretty hard to believe."

Lovely.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:09 PM

Build a better Bush 

Have fun with Chimpy McCokespoon! Guaranteed to cheer you up!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:22 PM

Psychic, Detective Sentenced In Fraud 

A Delray Beach police detective and a self-proclaimed psychic were sentenced Wednesday to prison for a scam in which elderly and seriously ill people were told they could be magically cured of diseases.

See also: Family of Missing Toddler Turns to 'Mind Searcher' for Help

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:53 PM

Federal agents raid home of CIA's former No. 3 boss 

Foggo's home has been raided.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:40 PM

Construction Crews Uncover Bank Vault 

Officials say the vault belonged to the former First National Bank of Atlanta. The 2,000 square foot vault is home to safety deposit boxes, furniture, letters and paperwork, dating back to the 1940's.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:26 PM

Can Hitchhiking Save the Country? 

The view from the side of the road. Great interview with Elijah Wald, author of Riding with Strangers: A Hitchhiker's Journey.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:18 PM

Flying robot attack "unstoppable": experts 

Not if they're running on Windows.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:13 PM

Yaldhurst UFO 

Here it is folks, a world exclusive. Following Juliet's sighting of what has been dubbed the "Yaldhurst UFO" other reports have been flooding in, including this picture from real estate agent Grant.

With very weird pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:11 PM

Nightmares of Bunker Hill 

The fine folks over at 1947project are running another tour of LA's bizarre criminal past. Check it out, Angelenos!

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:36 AM

Welcome to Coral Castle 

The homepage for Ed Leedskalnin's Coral Castle. Check out the amazing photos.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:52 AM

Unrelenting Arousal -- Rare Sexual Disorder Plagues Women 

Apparently, constant sexual arousal is no picnic. Who knew?

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:29 AM

International probe may reveal vital clues on explorer's origins 

As the world marks the 500th anniversary of the death of Christopher Columbus, the mysteries surrounding his birth and death his origin and the location of his tomb could be about to be resolved.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:21 AM

Rare Mirage Lasts for 4 Hours Off East China Shore 

With mirage-a-riffic pic!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:17 AM

Google Trends 

Man, this is cool. Google Trends tells you what cities are making the most search requests for various topics. Who makes the most searches for "Sex"? Muslims. Who makes the most requests for "Bigfoot"? The Chinese, by a long shot. And if you type in the universal shorthand for adult entertainment, XXX, you'll realize that we're not nearly as porn crazed as the rest of the world. Naughty naughty, Santiago.

Via Raw Story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:48 AM

Menehune Today 

Cryptomundo's Loren Coleman looks at the little hairy people of Hawaii.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:23 AM

America unhenged: 7 great Stonehenge replicas 

It's hard to explain why America is filling up with replica Stonehenges. Thousands of miles from England, on solitary vistas in places such as Alliance, Neb., and Fortine, Mont., citizens have taken it upon themselves to build their own Stonehenges, sometimes true to the original, sometimes merely inspired by it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:40 AM

UFO cannot believe it! 

A space odyssey of UFO sightings has been zooming across our radar courtesy of eagle-eyed readers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:36 AM

Freemason History: Secret Handshakes, Passwords, FDR, Franklin 

Who the heck are the Freemasons, and do they really run the world?

The National Geographic Channel takes up both questions in "Secrets of the Freemasons".

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:35 AM

Ancient Alexandria Exhibit: Murder, Mayhem and Mystery on Display 

Treasure hunter Franck Goddio has spent years bringing the sunken city of Alexandria to the surface. The results of his labors, now premiering in Berlin, reveal incest, fratricide and iniquity. And breathtaking beauty.

With great pics and an illustration of what the city looked like around the time of Jesus. The picture in the upper left corner of this page is also from Alexandria.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:34 AM

Close Encounters of the Nevada Kind 

ET Highway doesn't guarantee 'sightings,' but it's worth trip.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:32 AM

SNAP Founder Says Chet Warren Remains a Threat 

It is arguable that given his high profile, a profile that gained even more notoriety when allegations surfaced linking him to a cabal of priests who accused of using ritual and elements of Black Magic in the abuse of children, that even if Chet Warren had been tried and convicted, there is little more that authorities could do to protect the community.

See also: Chet Warren, Defrocked Priest, May Still Have Had Access To Children

Strange goings on in Ohio.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 AM

The case against Rev. Robinson: What the jury didn't hear on CourtTV.com 

The jury that convicted the Rev. Gerald Robinson Thursday listened to 41 witnesses during the three-week trial, but they did not hear every piece of information authorities uncovered in the course of their investigation.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 AM

Some say downtown bar may be haunted 

Some say Ernestine and Hazel's bar on South Main Street serves up two kinds of spirits.

See also: BEWARE OF THE VOICES

And A new ghost in S.I.

And don't miss: Owner of Haunted Amityville House Dies

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:23 AM

Mother's Day dates back to ancient Greeks 

A brief history of Mother's Day.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:20 AM

Bush Dips Into the 20s 

Bush at %29.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:17 AM

Filmmakers go fish for a new screen legend 

The mythical beast of Lake Okanagan gets a silent part in movie project.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:13 AM

Faster Than Light Effect Baffles Boffins 

The textbooks say that information can't travel faster than light, but researchers at Rochester University have uncovered tantalizing evidence that this may not be the case.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:10 AM

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Toledo Priest Convicted In Nun's Slaying 

Robinson, arrested in 2004 after investigators reopened the murder case, was convicted Thursday of choking and stabbing Sister Margaret Ann Pahl in a hospital chapel.

He was immediately sentenced to the mandatory term of 15 years to life in prison and led away in handcuffs to the county jail.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:38 PM

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

The X Spot on Paranoia 

Chilling.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:48 PM

HAVE 200,000 AK47S FALLEN INTO THE HANDS OF IRAQ TERRORISTS? 

If Levi's can stick a RFID tag in your jeans then why can't the military keep track of their weapons?

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:44 PM

Investigator in charge of bribery probe says scandal is 'much bigger' than convicted congressman 

Here come the "suicides"!

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:32 PM

Save the Internet 

Congress is pushing a law that would abandon the Internet's First Amendment -- a principle called Network Neutrality that prevents companies like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast from deciding which Web sites work best for you -- based on what site pays them the most. Your local library shouldn't have to outbid Barnes & Noble for the right to have its Web site open quickly on your computer.

The threat is real.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:20 PM

Man Photographs Mysterious Animal 

With not-as-blurry-as-usual pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:49 AM

Mystery Spots and Gravity Hills 

Cars and balls seem to roll uphill, people appear able to stand at impossible angles - all in contradiction to the laws of gravity and physics. What's really happening at these curious locations?

From About.com.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:48 AM

Brian Wells, Two Years Later 

The family of Collar Bomb victim Brian Wells has put up a web page with information about the case, including pictures of the murderers' notes and sketches of persons of interest.

Please take a look and see if you recognize anything (the notes are very distinctive). It's been two years since Brian was murdered and the charade has gone on long enough. This case has been mishandle from the beginning and I think it is clear that the only way it will get solved is by community action. You are the community. Take action.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:31 AM

"Nine Fingers" and the Third Man 

New connections between the CIA and the Cunningham Scandal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:21 AM

The Devil You Know 

Occult America with Rigorous Intuition. Highly recommended.

Part One is here.

And Part Two is here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:06 AM

Did Monks Try to Make Gold? 

A ceramic cone unearthed at a remote British abbey might indicate that Cistercian monks implemented the Benedectine motto "ora et labora" (pray and work) with another rule: "make gold."

Via ThothWeb.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:12 AM

Priest's defense rests case; closing arguments next 

The Rev. Gerald Robinson's defense rested yesterday after calling 11 witnesses in two days, probing police and forensic experts to build its case that there is insufficient evidence to convict the priest of murder.

See also: Key testimony in trial of Toledo priest

And perhaps most importantly: Diocese got inside data on slaying probe.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:10 AM

Sixty-mile walk - under water 

Suck it, David Blaine!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:04 AM

Divine Vegetation In Tutors Garden 

A gardener had a revelation when he dug up his asparagus plant and saw the face of Jesus.

With Jesus-riffic pic!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:01 AM

Death is no stranger in a 'haunted' house 

The home where a West Park woman was found murdered Monday had been the scene of bloodshed before.

"People are saying the house is bad, the atmosphere in the house is wrong somehow," Corugedo said. "I know it's nuts, but they don't know how else to explain what's happened in that house."

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:49 AM

'Pastafarians' get holy writ, with marinara 

You've founded your new religion, but before you can kick back and await those brimming collection plates you have to write the holy book.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:34 AM

Polk, son's foster mother square off 

Accused murderer Susan Polk squared off against her youngest son's foster mother today, accusing the middle-school teacher of looting her estate after the defendant was jailed in the killing of her husband.

See also Witness tells of Polk's teenage affair with husband

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 AM

Mystery revived: Where is skull of Geronimo? 

More on Geronimo's remains and the Skull and Bones.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:11 AM

Does Hayden have bigger problems than confirmation? 

This story over at MilitaryCorruption.com
intimates that Hayden may have not conducted himself as an oficer and a gentleman.

Via Cannonfire.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:10 AM

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

UFO mind-melting in government report? 

Did you see these headlines this week? "Secret report says UFOs DO exist", screamed one. "UFOs don't exist, says MoD", said another. Confused, intrigued and potentially a little disappointed, I tried to find out what was behind the flurry of flying-saucer excitement.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:08 PM

Kecksburg UFO Crash - Possible First Eyewitness 

I received an email from a gentleman who told me he had been witness to the crashed object at Kecksburg, Pennsylvania. What I didn't realize was that this fellow, who was 15 years old at the time, and out hunting with his brother and a friend may have been the first eyewitness to actually see the crashed object.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:05 PM

Close to having ghostly evening 

In Edinburgh, there are countless accounts of ghostly apparitions at the Castle and in the scores of winding walkways in the depths of the Old Town. Guided city tours thrive on the Capital's ghoulish reputation and take glee in promoting it as one of the most haunted cities in Britain.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:59 PM

Exploring mystical tunnels beneath the campus 

Tunnels under Wesleyan.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 PM

A howler? Signs of dog, but not reported big cat 

The large mystery animal spotted in Monmouth County last week - thought to be a wild cat - may have been a dog, state officials said yesterday.

The homeowner who reported the sighting to police said it resembled a mountain lion or panther.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:38 PM

Man thinks Huisentruit buried on his land 

There may be a break in the search for Minnesota native Jodi Huisentruit, the TV news anchor that disappeared 10 years ago on her way to work at an Iowa station.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:36 PM

Morgellons: Controversial disease doctors refuse to treat 

Morgellons disease is an illness first documented more than 300 years ago, yet it is still considered a mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:23 PM

Another Sighting Of Mystery Animal Reported 

Central Ohio residents are on the lookout for something unique. Several drivers claimed they saw an animal early Tuesday morning -- but the question is whether the creature is another big cat.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:14 PM

What's Inside the Pioneer Monument? 

100 years ago, Pioneer Ezra Meeker placed an Oregon Trail Marker on the Statehouse grounds, known today as the Pioneer Monument.

Supposedly, Meeker placed a time capsule inside that statue.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:09 PM

Monday, May 08, 2006

1918 Letter Claims Geronimo's Bones Found 

A Yale University historian discovered a 1918 letter that raises anew questions about a secretive Yale student society and the remains of the American Indian leader Geronimo.

Its most enduring story concerns Geronimo, who died in 1909. According to lore, members of Skull and Bones - including the president's grandfather, Prescott Bush - dug up his grave when a group of Army volunteers from Yale were stationed at the fort during World War I.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:45 PM

Blaine Fails to Set Underwater Record 

Stunt artist David Blaine was pulled from an aquarium by divers Monday nearly two minutes short of his goal of setting a world record for holding his breath underwater.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:41 PM

Bush & Nixon photo finish 

Who will win the title of least-loved president?

Via Atrios.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:10 PM

Jockey Shorted 

Keith Olbermann just mentioned this amazing sports story that actually turns out to be true. And today's the anniversary.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:33 PM

The Holy Grail on eBay 

Grail hunters Rat Scabies and Christopher Dawes are selling a 2% equity share of the Grail - if they find it, that is - on ebay.

Here's a link to their site and book, Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail: Can a Punk Rock Legend Find What Monty Python Couldn't?

Of course, there is a contract involved. An excerpt:

(3) If the Holy Grail manifests itself as a cup or a chalice or a bowl or some other kind of vessel for holding liquid, it is hereby agreed that:

(i) The Grail Stakeholder will be allowed one sip from the vessel of a beverage of the Grail Stakeholder's choosing, which beverage to be provided by the Grail Stakeholder at the Grail Stakeholder's sole expense. The Grail Stakeholder may thereby gain eternal life and the healing of all physical ailments. However, because the Grail Finders cannot be held responsible for the mysterious powers of the Grail and all that, the Grail Finders shall not be held responsible for any failure on the part of the Holy Grail to give eternal life to the Grail Stakeholder, or to alleviate physical ailments, and the Grail Stakeholder hereby warrants to make no claims of any kind against the Grail Finders in the event of such failure.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:22 PM

Potential Evidence Surfaces of Bush's Illegal Spying 

An Oregon attorney may have proof of Bush's domestic spying operation -- which means the illegal program's days may be numbered.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:08 PM

Translations of national anthem have long history 

Psst.

Someone ought to tell the president, Congress and anyone else upset over the controversial Spanish translation of the national anthem that they're about 90 years too late.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:40 PM

Scientology nearly ready to unveil Super Power 

Under wraps for decades, Super Power now is being prepped for its eventual rollout in Scientology's massive building in downtown Clearwater. That will be the only place worldwide where the program, much anticipated by Scientologists, will be offered.

A key aim of Super Power is to enhance one's perceptions - and not just the five senses we all know - hearing, sight, touch, taste and smell.

Here's Cabinet of Wonders' take on it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:52 PM

CIA's number three resigns 

CIA Executive Director Kyle 'Dusty' Foggo has resigned his post, according to an email sent out to the agency Monday morning, MSNBC reported Monday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:16 PM

Trust the News. . . 

Steve Huff weighs in on the arrest of Memphis Fox News broadcaster Ron Meroney for statutory rape. Nice work, Steve. Highly recommended.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:01 PM

Polygamy prophet joins most-wanted list 

The "prophet" of the bizarre Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints -- a breakaway group of hardline Mormons -- yesterday became the latest addition to the infamous FBI Most Wanted list.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:16 PM

The Bell Witch 

From About.com.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:01 PM

Cryptozoologist mulls theories on 'Big Bird' 

"This bird's got a habit of going after people," said Guadalupe Cantu III, an eye witness. "This is strictly a nighttime bird, though....From 11 o'clock on, everybody's bait."

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:54 PM

GHOST HUNTERS 

Despite the naysayers, cliche rituals like seances and dowsing rods, a cadre of believers in a haunted Mendocino hotel gather for a conference and trapped spirits.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:42 PM

Military fort from War of 1812 discovered in Warsaw, IL 

"We started with the only known drawing of Fort Johnson, done by James Callaway - the grandson of Daniel Boone," said Tieken. "We then relied on local legend and a process of geographical elimination to find Fort Johnson."

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:35 PM

Former police official denies cover-up in nun's death 

Police didn't do anything to stymie the investigation of a Roman Catholic priest accused of killing a nun inside a hospital chapel in 1980, a former deputy chief testified today.

Woman Credited for Events Leading to Gerald Robinson Trial

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:25 PM

EXCLUSIVE: CIA Nominee Hayden Linked to MZM 

While director of the National Security Agency, Gen. Michael V. Hayden contracted the services of a top executive at the company at the center of the Cunningham bribery scandal, according to two former employees of the company.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:56 PM

Sunday, May 07, 2006

The Porter Goss story becomes even weirder 

I have to thank Xymphora for directing our attention to the strangest Porter Goss tale of all: The unusual June 4, 2000 "suicide" -- if suicide it was -- of John Millis, the staff director of the House Intelligence Committee, which was chaired by then-congressman Goss.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:30 PM

Porter & 'the boys': Goss Made His "Bones" on CIA Hit Team 

Deposed CIA head Porter Goss was once a member of the CIA's super-secret Operation 40, an assassination squad which roamed through North and Central America during the 1960's.

Via Cannonfire.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:30 PM

The meandrous monster migrates to Utah Lake 

More on the Utah Lake Monsters.

Via this post at Cryptomundo.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:04 PM

Water, Water for a Week, Nor Anything to Eat 

The New York Times on David Blaine's immersion stunt.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:49 PM

Book has Bigfoot pictures 

A book on the Johor Bigfoot, said to include exclusive photographs of the elusive creature, has caused a stir among cryptozoologists around the world.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:37 PM

15 ways to live longer 

Hints and suggestions.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:34 PM

Ohio earthen embankments show evidence of sophisticated ancient culture 

On first glance, the circular earthen embankment abutting state Route 79 between a shopping mall and car dealerships isn't particularly awesome.

But consider this: It was created nearly 2,000 years ago, making it among the oldest man-made structures in North America.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:29 PM

UFOs: Thinking About Little Green Men Again 

It"s a part of American folklore; the phrase "Little Green Men." We say that we "don’t believe in little green men," or ask, jokingly, "do you believe in little green men?" Many pieces on UFOs from non-UFO writers -- puff pieces on the local UFO sighting -- use the phrase "little green men" in the first paragraph, often the first sentence, and it's almost always dismissive of anything to do with UFOs, ETs, or other weirdness.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:55 PM

Mysterious markers on city streets still puzzling 

Unless you're hunting for them, the weird markers embedded in downtown streets in St. Louis don't draw much attention.

Another article on the Toynbee Tiles. For more see here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:50 PM

Delving into old waters 

Little is known about the ships that brought the first English settlers to Virginia 400 years ago. But on the coast of Maine, traditional wooden boatbuilders are exploring the mystery, plank by plank.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:43 PM

Mystery booms could have come from U.S. planes, Canadian military official suggests 

Or not.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:40 PM

Saving Beauty 

Mold and bureaucracy threaten France's Lascaux Cave. But how did the rot set in? And will this unique heritage survive?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:38 PM

Map may reveal Churchill secrets 

Mystery surrounds a map which experts believe may provide new information about plans to defend England from invasion in World War II.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:35 PM

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Despite a troubled history, police across the nation are keeping tabs on ordinary Americans 

U.S. News has identified nearly a dozen cases in which city and county police, in the name of homeland security, have surveilled or harassed animal-rights and antiwar protesters, union activists, and even library patrons surfing the Web.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:27 PM

CIA boss Goss is cooked 

CIA Director Porter Goss abruptly resigned yesterday amid allegations that he and a top aide may have attended Watergate poker parties where bribes and prostitutes were provided to a corrupt congressman.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:21 PM

The Secret History of the Knights Templar in America 

An interview with the authors of Templars in America.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:58 PM

The Face of the Johor Mawas 

Cryptomundo Exclusive: Vincent Chow and the Photographs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:37 PM

Group searches cemeteries for lively activity 

Ghost hunters.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:34 PM

How much should you pay for sex? 

Erotica can be a good investment, finds John Windsor as he looks at 16th-century to postmodern art.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:25 PM

Blood-feast in Berkeley update 

Over a year ago, we reported on a horrific crime in Berkeley, California, in which an elderly woman walking by park in my neighborhood was attacked from behind with a knife, her throat slit to the bone, and left to die with her husband standing beside her.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:18 PM

Best Photos Yet of Smoking Gun UFO 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:17 PM

Hacker fears 'UFO cover-up' 

Interview with NASA hacker Gary McKinnon.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:14 PM

Sorry ET, you're just a puff of plasma 

Britain's defence intelligence chiefs have come up with a detailed scientific explanation to solve the mystery of unidentified flying objects.

After a four-year inquiry, they have concluded that most sightings can be explained by a little-understood atmospheric phenomenon.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:09 PM

Hooray for spandex! 

In honor of Free Comic Book Day, we get cozy with Captain America, Superboy and a host of other powerhouses to assess the state of the superhero.

At Salon.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:05 PM

Where thieves do not enter door-less homes 

"We install an idol of the village deity Kharakhai Thakurani in every home to protect us from theft. When the deity is protecting us, there is no need to build doors."

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:58 PM

Nepal royal family massacre to come under fresh probe? 

Activists in Nepal are demanding a fresh probe into the mysterious shootout in Narayanhity Palace in 2001 that killed 10 members of the royal family, including the king, queen and crown prince.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:52 PM

From Skull And Bones, To Spook Extreme? 

I couldn't fabricate a best seller with all of the twists, turns, and creepy background plots; no one would believe it!

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:36 PM

Friday, May 05, 2006

Pathologist: Heart disease, not knife, killed Polk husband 

A forensic pathologist testifying on behalf of Susan Polk in her murder trial told jurors today that Polk's husband had died of cardiovascular disease and that the stabbing wounds she inflicted had been made in self-defense.

See also: Polk witness can't find supporting documents

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:25 PM

Fall of an American Criminal 

Sploid's got it. Highly recommended.

The shameful resignation of CIA director Porter Goss is just the latest outrage for the monstrous spook who has cheapened and dirtied the United States for a half-century.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:59 PM

YouTube - Colbert's Audition Video 

YouTube has the video of Bush's reaction to Stephen Colbert's "Audition Video" at the White House Correspondent's Dinner. He looks like his head is going to pop off. Hysterical. Suck it Chimpy!

Via Raw Story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:40 PM

Early Media Coverage of Goss's Resignation Dances Around Cunningham Scandal 

Really? The U.S. media? I am shocked. Shocked!

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:30 PM

CIA Director Porter Goss Resigns 

CIA Director Porter Goss has resigned. President George W. Bush is scheduled to made the announcement Friday.

See also: CIA's Goss Drawn Into Hooker Probe?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:05 PM

Blogging the Wolfe Book, The Two-Minute Executive Summary 

Larry Harnisch sums up his examination of Donald H. Wolfe's The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles.

In checking Wolfe's book against its sources and against the historic record, we have found lies, errors, fraud and plagiarism.

Yikes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:48 AM

Antimatter-Rocket Plan Fuels Hope for Star Trek Tech 

Warp drives may be the stuff of science fiction, but another Star Trek staple appears to be edging toward science fact.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:59 AM

With 7 killings, Mexican city fears becoming next Juarez 

Is the violence of Juarez being repeated? Victims' advocates see chilling parallels to unchecked killings in six other cities.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:44 AM

Ghosts dead against toll road 

The Pocahontas Parkway is perhaps the most haunted toll road in the US, even the world. There have been frequent sightings of Algonquian Indian ghosts chanting around the Parkway.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:38 AM

Braced for new crusade 

Nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the Languedoc region, the tiny hamlet of Rennes-le-Chateau is being bombarded with camera-wielding tourists. There was a time when you could drive up the narrow road that winds carefully to the village without passing another car. Nowadays, the odds are you'll be trailing a convoy of coaches crammed with amateur historians.

All of which is a bit strange given that Rennes-le-Chateau is never actually mentioned in The Da Vinci Code. Where it is mentioned, though, is in The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail – the book from which Dan Brown took many of his most controversial plotlines.

See also: The Secret: Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code from Philip Gardiner.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:28 AM

Bed Books 

The revolutionary way to print books for comfortable reading in bed!

The patent pending sideways text layout of Bed Books affords total comfort and eliminates the back and neck strain associated with the contorted body positions normally required for reading conventional books while lying down, and usually propped up, in bed.

Via Strange New Products.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:20 AM

At the Driftwood Inn 

Steve Huff weighs in on the Allen/Cutshall murders.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:55 AM

California looks to outlaw home sonograms 

Thanks a lot Tom Cruise.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:41 AM

Friday Funnies: Harry Potter Fanfics We'd Rather Not Read 

My favorite is Harry Potter and the Chamber Pot of Secrets.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:34 AM

The Jonestown Death Tape (FBI No. Q 042) 

From the Internet Archive.

From the comments:

This recording is absolutely chilling. Forget the made-for-TV dramas about Jones and the People's Temple; this is the real thing, and, as usual, art can't even begin to deal with reality.

Via Warren Ellis.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:28 AM

Bell Witch's town eager for 'Haunting' 

Witch's antics still stir people's minds, even in Hollywood.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 AM

Early History of Baseball in America 

It is difficult to pinpoint when baseball was first played in America. The early development of baseball is chronicled more in myth and legend rather than in facts and history. The first and earliest written evidence of baseball in America is a bylaw written in 1791 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:03 AM

Mystery lights in sky 

FOUR Horsham residents want an explanation for a mysterious orange light, spotted in the night sky last Friday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:01 AM

Watergate Subpoenaed in Hooker Probe 

This is getting more like the Nixon administration everyday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:30 AM

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Greek gods prepare for comeback 

It has taken almost 2,000 years, but those who worship the 12 gods of ancient Greece have finally triumphed. An Athens court has ordered that the adulation of Zeus, Hera, Hermes, Athena and co is to be unbanned, paving the way for a comeback of pagans on Mount Olympus.

Here's something I didn't know: About 98% of Greeks are Orthodox Christian, and all other religions except Judaism and Islam had been banned.

So I can't worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster in Greece?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:53 PM

Under the bandages King Tut is all man 

An ancient riddle of the sands has been solved by modern hospital technology. The mummified remains of King Tutankhamun have been found to be, let us say, intact.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:48 PM

Tourist shoots 'UFO' in Penang 

Could the object in the picture be an Unidentified Flying Object?

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:44 PM

Toledo Murder Case Rekindles Debate About Ritual Abuse 

From Crime Library.

See also: Hospital workers saw priest near chapel on morning of nun's death

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:41 PM

Swastikas are coming off St. Cloud cathedral 

The five swastika-emblazoned discs along the cathedral's roofline predate Nazi Germany. On many third-century monuments, swastikas appear as a cross in the Christian context. But since the Holocaust, the symbol has been controversial.

See also: Playground pentagram to go

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:28 PM

Tech trio hunts for lost treasures of the Northwest 

Nice article on Oregon treasure hunters with cool pics and a mention of the Neahkahnie Mountain treasure.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:27 PM

Bosnian Pyramids: Great Discovery or Colossal Hoax? 

It's either one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of our time, or man has made a giant pyramid out of a molehill.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:19 PM

Riddle of the fake earl solved 

The mystery surrounding the identity of a man who stole a name from a baby's headstone and styled himself the Earl of Buckingham is about to be solved.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:10 PM

'The Book of Lost Books,' by Stuart Kelly 

Book review. Sounds interesting.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:08 PM

Unidentified Flying Cubes 

Cabinet of Wonders has a nice post on the phenomena.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:56 PM

Danvers Demolition 

The Strange Mainers have some pics of the demolition of the Danvers State Insane Asylum in Massachusetts. Long rumored to be haunted, the Asylum is being turned into condos.

Here is some historical information on Danvers. And here is an article about the trend in "Asylum Chic".

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:49 PM

Captain America - fugitive 

Captain America is about to battle his most fearsome foe yet: The government of the United States.

Today, Marvel Comics is releasing the first in its miniseries Civil War, which can only be described as a gutsy comic-book series focusing on the whole debate over homeland security and tighter government controls in the name of public safety.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:46 PM

The motorcycle that runs on water 

Cannonfire has some comments and interesting links.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:41 PM

Malaysian Bigfoot = Surviving Homo Erectus? 

Here's the statement he made that either makes him a very confident man or a very insane one. Shortly after he arrived at the conference, he announced this: A book will be launched sometime soon (in June, he told me), revealing all they know about the Malaysian Mawas from their 11 years of study of the animal. And - get this - they have clear close-up photographs of male, female and juvenile animals!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:33 PM

Anybody else hear that ringing? 

What they are hearing is a barely discernible sound - perhaps chimes, a faint trill or an electronic bleat - that they mistake for the ring tone of their cellphone, which isn't ringing.

This audio illusion - called phantom phone rings or, more whimsically, ringxiety or fauxcellarm - has emerged recently as an Internet discussion topic and has become a new reason for people to either bemoan the techno-saturation of modern life or question their sanity.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:22 PM

BC UFOs, Beam Of Light, Frightened Residents 

Over 200 witnesses speak out - We Want To Know!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:19 PM

Nixon's 1960 Sandwich Again In Spotlight 

Some might call the leftovers of a sandwich ordered by Vice President Richard Nixon more than 40 years ago trash. But Steve Jenne thought he saw a piece of history and has held on to it since.

The sandwich is rumored to be dating Paris Hilton.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:17 PM

UM professor finds long lost bell 

Like a proud parent, Chet Rock watched Wednesday as the historic bell he spent nearly six years looking for was lowered from the University of Maine Fogler Library roof in Orono where it had been tucked away more than 50 years ago and forgotten.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:13 PM

Does this really work? 

Count me in!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:09 PM

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

The Obakemono Project 

A Gaijin's Guide to the Fantastic Folk Creatures of Japan.

Very cool. With great illustrations. Via the excellent forums over at Cabinet of Wonders.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:18 PM

The Curious Life of Kyle "Dusty" Foggo 

What do we know about Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, the highest-ranking CIA official to admit he attended poker parties thrown by crooked contractor Brent Wilkes? Thanks to a handful of enterprising journos, we know a surprising amount about the guy, whom the CIA insisted was undercover until late last year.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:35 PM

Bush, Billions, and Body Parts 

You want a truly ghoulish conspiracy story? Here's one: "Chop shops" are dealing in human body parts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:27 PM

New Mt. Hood Bigfoot Photograph? 

Cryptomundo's got it.

See also: More from Mt. Hood

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:46 PM

Study: Americans sicker than English 

Middle-aged, white Americans are much sicker than their counterparts in England, startling new research shows, despite U.S. health care spending per person that's more than double what England spends.

Interesting. Check this out:

Earlier studies have shown the United States does a poorer job than other industrialized countries at providing primary medical care to its citizens, particularly to those with less education and income, said Dr. Barbara Starfield, a professor of health policy and pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University.

"Countries oriented toward providing good primary care basically do better in health," she said.

Marmot offered yet another explanation for the gap: Americans' financial insecurity. Improvements in household income have eluded all but the top fifth of Americans since the mid-1970s. Meanwhile, English citizens saw their incomes improve, he said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:42 PM

Tune into the Da Vinci coda 

Another article on the musical mysteries of Rosslyn Chapel. With link to a recording.

They hope that the music, when played on medieval instruments in situ, will resonate throughout the chapel unlocking a secret in the stone.

Via Warren Ellis.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:35 PM

Electronic Road Signs and Me 

If you ever find an unattended electronic road sign....

Also hysterical.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:24 PM

Close encounters of the strange kind 

They're out there all right, in more ways than one. Several hundred people were way out at the Integratron Saturday for the Retro UFO Space Convention.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:13 PM

He has a vision for Lancaster 

Paranormal researcher hopes to establish museum, research center.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:12 PM

More Bigfoot footprints found near waterfall 

The Johor Bigfoot, it seems, is still alive and kicking.

Kampung Lukut's well-known Bigfoot hunter Kong Nam Choy said yesterday that he had seen a set of eight fresh giant footprints, which he believed were made by Bigfoot, in the vicinity of the Kota Tinggi waterfall last Wednesday.

With pic.

See also: Is Bigfoot Smarter Than We Are?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:11 PM

Historian attacks Rosslyn Chapel for 'cashing in on Da Vinci Code' 

A LEADING Scots historian yesterday criticised the keepers of Rosslyn Chapel for perpetuating "ludicrous" Da Vinci Code conspiracy theories.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:07 PM

Author to Present New Theories about Magick and the Occult 

Author Philip H. Farber believes that magick is real -- and plans to demonstrate occult techniques before audiences in three days of lectures and seminars, June 2 - 4, 2006.

Press release. If you're in Seattle check it out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:04 PM

Michigan Researcher Provides Evidence for Link Between Bigfoot and UFOs 

Michigan Bigfoot expert and certified Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) field investigator Lisa Shiel will be the featured speaker at the May 7, 2006, meeting of the Michigan MUFON chapter at Walli's East Restaurant in Burton, Michigan (near Flint). During her presentation of "Bigfoot and UFOs," she will present the results of years of personal research into both phenomena and clearly explain the usually overlooked connections between them.

Obviously, Wookies have taken an interest in our planet.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:58 AM

Paranormal expert scans woman's apartment 

Ed makes his living hosting an Internet radio show, Magick Mind Paranormal Talk Radio. He is also, according to his website, a public speaker specializing in demonology, UFOlogy, cryptozoology, alien abductions, conspiracy theories and government coverups, ancient civilizations, the prophecies of Nostradamus, secret societies and ancient mysteries.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:53 AM

UFO Encounters Continuing In Frederic, Wisconsin 

Weirdness in Wisconsin.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:49 AM

Egypt insists St. Louis museum must return 3,000-year-old mummy mask 

If only the 3,000-year-old mummy mask at the Saint Louis Art Museum could talk. Maybe then the mystery of its rightful owner could be laid to rest, much like it was in an ancient Egyptian pyramid so many ages ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:42 AM

Shitegeist: Fortean Times Uncon 2006 

A review of the convention.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:36 AM

Belvidere class takes stab at identifying Jack the Ripper 

Freshmen from the newly created Academy at Belvidere High School have solved a crime mystery that has befuddled experts for more than a century. They've identified Jack the Ripper.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:34 AM

Machu Picchu Shows Wear of Being on Must-See List 

Machu Picchu, one of the most storied archeological sites in the Americas, has become a victim of its own astounding success and now faces threats from overcrowding, landslides, erosion, fire — and greed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:32 AM

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Colts Neck schools keep students inside after mystery cat report 

Reports that state wildlife authorities are investigating whether a mountain lion or large cat passed through the area led the township school district to keep its students inside during physical education classes and recesses Tuesday.

Big Cats in New Jersey. See also: Clues to mystery animal sought

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:17 PM

'Cocaine One' DC-9 airliner switched crews somewhere after leaving Caracas? 

In the two weeks since an American DC9 airliner was busted by Mexican troops at a small airport in the Yucatan, carrying 5.5 tonnes of cocaine packed neatly into 128 identical black suitcases (somewhat hilariously marked 'private') the search for the true owners of the plane has produced these startling new developments...

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:11 PM

Mystery Animals Shake Up Town 

Some unusual creatures have people talking in one South Carolina town.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:08 PM

Satanic Drawings Could Be Key To Jenner Beach Murders 

Investigators Tuesday hoped DNA evidence, etchings of Satan, a distinctive hat, an empty bottle of beer and a missing necklace may hold the key to the nearly two-year-old murder mystery surrounding the slaying of a couple on an isolated Jenner beach.

This probably would have helped, I dunno, two years ago. The killings took place near Goat Rock Beach so the Satanism angle makes some sense. You can view the evidence here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:06 PM

Cutter Charges Brought Down WTC Buildings 

"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act," said the British writer George Orwell. Orwell's words aptly describe the situation of Steven E.

Jones, a soft-spoken professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) who has turned his attention to the unanswered questions of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Read it. Via What Really Happened.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:46 PM

Top CIA Official Under Investigation 

A stunning investigation of bribery and corruption in Congress has spread to the CIA, ABC News has learned.

The CIA inspector general has opened an investigation into the spy agency's executive director, Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, and his connections to two defense contractors accused of bribing a member of Congress and Pentagon officials.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:55 PM

2 men discover what may be hemisphere's oldest seasonal calendar 

Great story. Another goodie from the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:47 PM

Could 1964 UFO be lunar lander? 

Something strange happened in the desert near Socorro NM, on a spring night 42 years ago, and a State Police officer was there to report it.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:42 PM

The GOP's Racist 'Big Tent' 

A Virginia company that sells mailing lists of far-right and racist groups has found willing clients in establishment GOP organizations like the Republican Governors Association.

Also via Crooks and Liars.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:36 PM

Red Lights on Capitol Hill? 

The Wall Street Journal reported today that indicted former California Congressman Randall "Duke" Cunningham may not have limited his good times to partying on a rented yacht. It turns out the FBI is currently investigating two defense contractors who allegedly provided Cunningham with free limousine service, free stays at hotel suites at the Watergate and the Westin Grand, and free prostitutes.

Here's the follow-up.

Via Crooks and Liars.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:32 PM

Wooden Computing 

Extremely cool.

Via Boing Boing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:52 AM

FACT CHECK: U.S. Government Commissioned Spanish-Language Star-Spangled Banner in 1919 

Part 49,568 in our ongoing series "Right Wingers are Idiots".

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:46 AM

BIOLOGY meets BIGFOOT 

Ohio University scientist uses forensics to track nature's mysteries, including Sasquatch sightings.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:38 AM

Elves, Giants, and Sphinges 

Some interesting new stories over at Fate by Scott Corrales, Brad Steiger, and Paul Stonehill. I bet you didn't know that "sphinges" was the plural of sphinx, did you? Me neither.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:37 AM

Mitchell River Monster? 

North Carolina has more than just an evil basketball team.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:33 AM

Happy Birthday, Illuminati! 

Sploid's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:26 AM

SIGNS OF LIFE -- UFOs, interdimensional travel and one Giant Rock 

They say there is a magical rock in California's Mojave Desert.

Just ask the folks who live near the seven-story, freestanding boulder known as Giant Rock. Ask, and they might tell you about those who believe it attracts flying saucers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:23 AM

British not French first to blame germs for sickness 

Work conducted by experts at the University of Sheffield has, they claim, derailed the theory that Frenchman Louis Pasteur was the first scientist to debunk the ancient theory that diseases were caused by "miasma", or bad air.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:20 AM

A UFO/Alien Encounter In Bloomington Indiana 

As Ufologists we hear many stories of unusual encounters and sightings of exotic crafts flying through our day and night skies. Every once in a while we come across a case that truly defies explanation.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:19 AM

Joel Biroco's Chaos 14 

Disinfo has the pdf download.

KAOS 14 contains further information about this Working and explores the significance of the KAOS-BABALON 156 current, the impetus of which arose out the skrying of the Enochian Aethyrs by Aleister Crowley and Victor Neuburg in Algeria in 1909, and prior to that from the receipt of the Angelic language by Dr John Dee and Edward Kelly in Cracow, Poland, in 1584.

Also features: Austin Osman Spare and Jack Parsons.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:10 AM

Cold-case detective tells why priest was suspect 

Toledo Police Detective Steve Forrester explained today how and why the Lucas County cold-case unit focused its attention on the Rev. Gerald Robinson in investigating the 1980 murder of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:09 AM

What is the best way to walk the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu? 

Adventure Advisor from Outside magazine. Posted for John.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:05 AM

Magician David Blaine to spend a week in water-filled acrylic sphere 

Take a deep breath. David Blaine's latest stunt is spending a week living in an acrylic sphere filled with water.

With Blaine-tastic pic!

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:03 AM

Looking for answers in the tarot cards 

Learning to read tarot cards can be an exercise of the imagination.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:33 AM

Mystery shipwreck has the romantics guessing 

Ancient shipwrecks have teased historians over the years, many of whom are convinced that Captain Cook was not the first to explore Australia's east coast.

The so-called 'Mahogany ship', buried under dunes in Warrnambool, Victoria, is just one example, with enthusiasts citing the type of timber in that hull as evidence that other nations plied our waters.

Were they Portuguese, Spanish, Indian, Chinese? Until the timber is analysed, no one can begin to know.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:06 AM

'Opal' Similar to More Books 

Kaavya Viswanathan '08 faces new allegations that her novel, "How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life," borrowed material from earlier works.

The new age of cut and paste publishing. William S. Burroughs would be proud.

Coming soon from Professor Hex Press: The Catcher in the Da Vinci Code: Return to Salem's Lot.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:05 AM

Not a whisper about stolen Scream 

A Norwegian court will deliver its verdict today on six men accused of being involved in the theft of the masterpiece and another painting, Madonna, from the Munch museum in Oslo.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:05 AM

Monday, May 01, 2006

2004 police interview video with priest is played for jury 

In a videotape of a 2004 police interrogation, the Rev. Gerald Robinson said that another priest confronted him at the scene of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl's 1980 murder and accused him of killing the sister.

See also Catholic expert on rituals set to testify

And Witness: Nun's killer was expert in Catholic rites

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:52 PM

Bedazzled!: The Clash On Fridays 

Cool cool cool. For once I can write "Working for the Clampdown" and not be referring to Chimpy.

Via Boing Boing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:42 PM

Cracking the Cult of Hackers 

"In the early days, it was all about ego. At that time, hackers just wanted to prove they were smart," said Stuart McClure, head of McAfee's Avert Labs. "Today, hacking is absolutely predominantly financial. Everything is driven by financial gain."

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:19 PM

Statue Shedding Tears Of Blood: Weeping Madonna Mystifies German Town 

A devout Catholic woman in the southern German town of Traunstein has reported blood emerging from a 30 centimeter figurine of a praying Virgin Mary standing in her apartment. The town's newspaper has dispatched its newshounds and the local church is deeply skeptical.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:17 PM

Dreaming of treasure island 

The four Americans who have just bought half of Oak Island have no interest in building condominiums or developing the island for any commercial venture, their local lawyer says.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:58 AM

A legend or just elusive? Sasquatch keeps the world guessing 

He's as elusive as the mist on a mountain lake, his hair as thick as the tangled underbrush of the deep woods. Most likely, if he's ever seen (again?), he'll be shot. And that may be the only way to conclusively prove he exists.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:56 AM

Mysterious monsters inhabited Utah Valley waters 

In this day and age, a cry of "Walla-la-loo-loo" wafting across the nighttime air would not cause a normal Utah Valley resident to tremble with fear. However, during an earlier time in Utah Valley, that cry would likely have sent a chill through the breech cloth of many a Shinob-fearing Timpanogos warrior.

See also Why Bear Lake Again?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:55 AM

Looking for man behind Old West legend 

A new biography of Doc Holliday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:52 AM

Bigfoot's 20,000-year-old walkabout 

We had only bones and simple tools to show that man lived in the Ice Age - until the discovery of a remarkable set of fossilised footprints.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:51 AM

Cornwell, Gary - Author, JFK Conspiracy Theorist 

Interview with Gary Cornwell author of Real Answers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:49 AM

Scots photograher reveals pictures of Kennedy killing 

PREVIOUSLY unpublished photographs of the assassination of Robert Kennedy, taken by Harry Benson, the renowned Scots photographer, are to be unveiled in Edinburgh.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:48 AM

Rumors rewrite Bard's life 

As the year 2000 approached, a poll in Britain named William Shakespeare the "Person of the Millennium."

But the Bard's reputation is taking some hits in this millennium, with an array of claims and speculation about his life -- the most shocking that Shakespeare was the love child of British royalty.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:42 AM

Roswell museum presents both sides of UFO story 

"We're also here to present information on other UFO phenomena, since Roswell has become a household word in the UFO world."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:35 AM

Dave vonKleist Explores Another Side of 9-11 

At first, Dave vonKleist seems like one of those guys that sells salad spinners, ginsu knives or vacuum cleaners at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. But after viewing his movie "911 In Plane Sight," one winds up believing he just could be right!

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:33 AM

Polk puts on dramatic high-wire act in court 

When Susan Polk gave her opening statement last week in her murder trial, experts agreed she scored points with jurors by stressing that she was the victim of a controlling, abusive husband whom she killed in self-defense.

But when she invoked Harrison Ford movies and Stephen King thrillers, said she believed in fairies and claimed to be a psychic who predicted the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, courtroom observers shook their heads and wondered if there would be any end to her outlandish theories, absurd claims and odd courtroom antics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:32 AM

Gone West: Col. J.B. Swindal, 88 

JFK's last pilot follows him to eternity.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:31 AM

Local authors discuss inspirations for ghost stories 

Three authors of "Trespassing Time: Ghost Stories from the Prairie" read excerpts from the book and discussed their literary inspirations at the Manhattan Library Association annual meeting Sunday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 AM

The Priory Of Sion 

To follow the trail of the Priory of Sion, you first need to go to a small, remote village in the foothills of the French Pyrenees called Rennes le Chateau and to go back in time more than 100 years. It was here that the Priory was said to have had a mysterious influence on the village priest, Berenger Sauniere, who spent money on a scale that was way beyond his means.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:26 AM

Behind The Shroud Of Opus Dei 

As 45 million-plus readers of "The Da Vinci Code" already know, the fictional Silas, a masochistic albino monk, and murderer, is a member of Opus Dei -- an actual group within the Catholic church -- which may or may not be anything like the Opus Dei in Dan Brown's novel.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:24 AM

Colbert Does the White House Correspondents' dinner: 

Crooks and Liars has some video. Here's the transcript.

Now, I know there are some polls out there saying this man has a 32% approval rating. But guys like us, we don't pay attention to the polls. We know that polls are just a collection of statistics that reflect what people are thinking in "reality." And reality has a well-known liberal bias.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:22 AM

Spain destroys lost Roman city for a car park 

Extremely depressing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:20 AM

Bush challenges hundreds of laws 

Chimpy McCokespoon thinks he's above the law. Big Surprise.

President Bush has quietly claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office, asserting that he has the power to set aside any statute passed by Congress when it conflicts with his interpretation of the Constitution.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:13 AM

Charles Fort and Cryptozoology 

Cryptomundo's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:10 AM

Hero William Durkin Dies at 89 

William Durkin, the Marine who pulled Howard Hughes from the wreckage of a plane he had been test-piloting over Beverly Hills, has died. He would have turned 90 Sunday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:08 AM

Foiling the Space Aliens 

The Retro UFO Space Convention and the Tin Foil Hat contest.

See also A close encounter with flying saucer business

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 AM

Cesarean section's ancient history 

References to C-sections go back thousands of years. Early Chinese drawings depict newborns being removed from openings in their mother's abdomens. Ancient Greeks believed the sun god Apollo ripped his son Asclepius from his dying mother's belly.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:06 AM

A Preface to Paris: New Clues to the Roman Legacy 

On a Left Bank hillside, which carries the name of Sainte-Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, French archaeologists have found remnants of a road and several houses dating back some 2,000 years to when Rome ruled Gaul.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:05 AM

TV-B-Gone 

Hate TVs in bars and restaurants? Try TV-B-Gone!

Via Make Zine.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:04 AM

Revealing secrets but not faces through postcards 

A profile of Postsecret.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:03 AM

Witches wish to cast joyful spell 

On Friday, good witches all around the world will be summoned to cast spells for peace, love, hope and prosperity.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:01 AM

How Did Human Remains End Up Miles From Flight 93's Crash Site? 

Are we supposed to believe that hijackers armed with only box cutters forced an angry mob to jump from the plane seconds before the crash? Or are we supposed to believe that people simply felt compelled to jump from the plane? If the official story is true then people jumping from the plane is the only way human remains could have been found miles from Flight 93's crash site.

A more logical explanation is that people inside the plane were sucked out because of a sudden depressurisation.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:00 AM