Monday, April 30, 2007

On vacation for a bit 

I'll be out of town for about a week (road trip to Beantown!) with only limited access to computers so in my absence I encourage you to catch up on posts you might have missed and browse my links. Cannonfire has been quite good lately, especially this short post that puts a whole new spin on the US Attorney scandal and helps illustrate that going up against any tentacle of the Bush crime family can be bad for your health. Be safe and have a great week.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:36 PM

Exploring Beyond Limits: The OBE Experience 

During my first conscious out-of-body experience, I encountered the woman I would one day marry.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:21 AM

Police seek ID of woman who died almost 100 years ago 

With a skeleton, hair, some clothing and old bottles, police have managed to build an impressive profile of a young woman whose body was dumped in an old well nearly a century ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:19 AM

The Unnatural History of Winged Snakes in North America 

In the modern age, the "big three" cryptozoologically dominate: Sasquatch, lake monsters and the Chupacabra. Rewind the clock back 125 years though and a new "top three list" of whispered-about mystery creatures emerges from North America: "Wild men of the woods" (likely an early nomenclature for what will later come to be known as Bigfoot), sea serpents and...Winged Snakes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:14 AM

Mysteries behind animal prophesy 

There are some quite remarkable mysteries in animal behaviour which scientists have still not completely understood. One of these is their capacity to sense death and disaster in advance.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:04 AM

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Revenge of the Dark Knight 

Hard-edged comics guru Frank Miller is hot in Hollywood. Now for the graphic details.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:59 PM

Postcards Show the Year 2000 (circa 1900) 

A collection of postcards from the dawn of the twentieth century that depict what life would be like in the year 2000.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:56 PM

Official Caught Using Escort Service Demanded Anti-Prostitution 'Loyalty Oaths' 

Former U.S. AID director Randall Tobias, who resigned yesterday upon admitting that he frequented a Washington escort service, oversaw a controversial policy advocated by the religious right that required any US-based group receiving anti-AIDS funds to take an anti-prostitution "loyalty oath."

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:45 PM

Friday, April 27, 2007

Bush official who promoted abstinence and denounced condoms resigns -- after admitting he used "D.C. Madam's" escort service 

More Republican family values. I bet he used a condom.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:05 PM

Author of fake article puzzled 

Parody writer punks Fox News without really trying.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:59 PM

What would happen if the robots turned against us? 

Interesting question, but I trust that the good people at Cyberdyne have a plan to deal with this sort of thing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:43 PM

McCain goes to Senate floor and demands that America withdraw its troops now 

...from Haiti and Somalia.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:54 PM

One of America's last typewriter repairmen 

Whitlock probably has been repairing typewriters longer than almost anyone in the US. When he started in 1930, Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight was a fresh memory, Herbert Hoover was president, and the Empire State Building was under construction.

Another goodie from Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:49 PM

Bizarre death of church man 

A church organist was found dead at his Teesside home naked inside a giant plastic bag.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:40 PM

Thailand: Amulets Money 

Buddhists have become obsessed with a magic amulet which resembles a rap star's bling-sized medallion, despite warnings that the circular icon is a cosmic crutch, corrupting religion and society. When a fresh batch of Jatukam Ramathep amulets went on sale in April, buyers stampeded, trampling a woman to death. Thieves have infiltrated shops, homes and temples to steal the lucrative charm.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:37 PM

Ghost-hunters of France 

When you think of ghosts, you think of...the UK. But some intrepid ghost-hunters say France does have its share of spirits.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:35 PM

California garage-sale mystery: Junk - or Ansel Adams? 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:26 PM

An opium market mystery 

Drug traffickers have a symbiotic relationship with insurgents and terrorist groups such as the Taliban and al-Qaida. Instability makes opium cultivation possible; opium buys protection and pays for weapons and foot soldiers, and these in turn create an environment in which drug lords, insurgents and terrorists can operate with impunity.

Opium is the glue that holds this murky relationship together. If profits fall, these sinister forces have the most to lose. I suspect that the big traffickers are hoarding surplus opium as a hedge against future price shocks and as a source of funding for future terrorist attacks, in Afghanistan or elsewhere.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:20 PM

Mystery blasts rock area in Fort Mojave 

Early Thursday morning, residents in the Tierra Verde community were startled awake by a loud boom that shook their houses and rattled their windows.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:17 PM

UK airline pilots spot giant UFO 

Two experienced airline pilots at the controls of separate flights have reported seeing a mystery object "up to a mile wide" hovering off the coast of Alderney on Monday, This is Guernsey reports.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:48 AM

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Grandmothers arrested over satanic sex abuse at school 

Three women teachers were among six people arrested yesterday accused of sedating and sexually abusing children as young as 3 at a school near Rome.

The teachers - two of whom are grandmothers who had taught at the school and at Sunday school for decades - are said to have part in the repeated abuse of 15 children aged 3 and 5 for a year, filming them in sexual acts with satanic overtones at the teachers’ homes and in a wood.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:54 AM

British Pilot, Passengers Say They Saw UFOs 

The BBC says a commercial airline pilot reported seeing two unidentified flying objects in the sky near Guernsey.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:28 AM

Former Gonzales aide gets immunity 

A House panel granted immunity Wednesday to a former Justice Department aide in its probe of the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, while senators authorized a subpoena for the White House's political director.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:18 AM

Ghost Yacht Crew Kidnapped? 

The family of 56-year-old Derek Batten, missing skipper of Kaz II, the catamaran found drifting off the Australian coast last week, are convinced that foul play is responsible for his mysterious disappearance.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:14 AM

LSD as Therapy? Write about It, Get Barred from US 

BC psychotherapist denied entry after border guard googled his work.

Via About.com.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:13 AM

Underwater archeology center proposed in once arterial sea route 

A museum curator has suggested that Vietnam establish a center to study aquatic relics as Vietnam’s coast could host thousands of such objects left behind by ships traveling along the Silk Road centuries ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:09 AM

UFO debris? Not, it's a chunk of rock 

The University of Washington research engineer who analyzed a mysterious black fragment that some thought was debris from a UFO said it's probably a meteor chunk or old lava.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

Neo-Nazi Leader Arrested for Child Pornography 

Kevin Alfred Strom, the founder of National Vanguard and a major neo-Nazi leader for nearly 20 years, has been arrested and charged with child pornography and witness tampering.

The article notes that Strom was instrumental in promoting the "folk-singing, neo-Nazi duet" Prussian Blue, comprised of 14-year-old twin girls.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:58 AM

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Mystery Of Ghostly Graveyard Rider 

With unconvincing pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:16 PM

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Network Hosting Attorney Scandal E-Mails Also Hosted Ohio's 2004 Election Results 

Did the most powerful Republicans in America have the computer capacity, software skills and electronic infrastructure in place on Election Night 2004 to tamper with the Ohio results to ensure George W. Bush's re-election?

The answer appears to be yes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:18 PM

'America's Birth Certificate' Turns 500 

Centuries before it became a continent or country synonymous with wealth, power, freedom or democracy, "America" was coined by a Renaissance cartographer as the catchall designation for a world that Europeans had yet to name or explore.

Via Fark.

I was always interested in the theory that America is named after Richard Amerike rather than Amerigo Vespucci.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:50 PM

'I saw a UFO' - Jagger claims 

Michael C Luckman - author of Alien Rock: The Rock 'n' Roll Extraterrestrial Connection - says The Rolling Stones rocker developed an interest in extraterrestrial phenomena after a close encounter of the third kind in the 60s.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:59 PM

The Scholars and the Goddess 

Historically speaking, the "ancient" rituals of the Goddess movement are almost certainly bunk.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:58 PM

Scientists unearth Superman's 'kryptonite' 

A mineral found by geologists in Serbia shares virtually the same chemical composition as the fictional kryptonite from outer space, used by the superhero's nemesis Lex Luther to weaken him in the film "Superman Returns".

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:37 PM

The ancient art of Tai chi 

In 12th-century China, a Taoist monk known as Chang San-Feng is said to have studied the physical movements of five animals and concluded that two – the snake and the crane – were best suited to overpower opponents who were fierce and tenacious. From that ancient observation, the slow, graceful movements of tai chi were born.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:34 PM

Anger as sailors' final radio contact revealed 

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of three men from a catamaran off North Queensland deepened yesterday after it emerged they made radio contact hours after police presumed they had gone missing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:30 PM

Lynch, Tillman's brother: U.S. military lied 

Former Pfc. Jessica Lynch and the brother of Army Ranger Pat Tillman told a House panel Tuesday that the U.S. military lied about Tillman's death and Lynch's capture.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:12 PM

Monday, April 23, 2007

Studies back Parkinson's, pesticides link 

Evidence that pesticides can cause Parkinson's disease is stronger than it has ever been after a meeting of experts who have put together links in animals and people, scientists say.

Via Raw Story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:52 PM

VA Allows Wiccan Symbols on Headstones 

About freaking time.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:08 PM

Second "ghost ship" found off Queensland coast 

Cthulhu?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:34 AM

Aspirin may protect against cancer 

Regular aspirin use may protect more than just your heart - it could also reduce your risk of getting cancer.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:22 AM

'Demon' bewitches still, 30 years later 

Do you believe in the Dover Demon?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:11 AM

On the trail of a master of horror 

H.P. Lovecraft sites lure fans to R.I.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:07 AM

Families of 'Mary Celeste' sailors to scour islands 

Relatives of three Australian yachtsmen whose catamaran was found drifting off the Great Barrier Reef vowed today to continue searching for the missing men, as theories about their mysterious "Mary Celeste" disappearance continued to emerge.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:06 AM

Is strange rock from UFO or just a piece of poppycock? 

Lipson and LeFevre believe that 60 years ago a plane that crashed in Kelso contained slag from a UFO. They've tracked down newspaper stories and testimony, and gathered the clues at their museum.

But it's the black chunk of rock they keep locked in a glass case that may be their best clue, and a scientist may test the rock this week.

See also: Flying Saucers and the Cosmic Water

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:05 AM

Psychic hired to visit fatal accident scene 

She is featured on several psychic detective television programs, including those on Court TV. She also is a registered nurse with psychiatric nursing experience and has a Web site devoted to her national appearances and programs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:02 AM

Future of mound remains cloudy 

In its days, the Pillsbury Temple Mound witnessed vanished cultures, puzzled Spanish invaders and largely escaped the development along Manatee's shorelines.

But its future - in the hands of the South Florida Museum's board of directors - remains blurry.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:00 AM

Friday, April 20, 2007

Japanese ChampQuest '07 

Cryptomundo wishes them luck.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:04 AM

420 

Well, today is 4/20, a day steeped in meaning for potheads everywhere. It's also someone's birthday. Lemme see, who was that....oh! That's right! I almost forgot! Happy Birthday Tito Puente!

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:55 AM

Wreckage from secret 1947 mission found 

The real story, it turns out, wasn't on the front pages of those newspapers from 1947. It was buried deeper, where reporters said the plane's crew members were "flying disk" investigators, searching for UFOs, and carrying a payload of "top secret material." One newspaper reported that "material" included pieces of flying saucers, being taken to California for examination by the Air Force.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:38 AM

The mysterious case of the missing remains 

A detective tracks down the thief who stole ashes from a Santa Ana cemetery. At the end of the trail, he says, he found a witch.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:36 AM

The wave that destroyed Atlantis 

If you believe Atlantis was Crete, that is.

The legend of Atlantis, the country that disappeared under the sea, may be more than just a myth. Research on the Greek island of Crete suggests Europe's earliest civilisation was destroyed by a giant tsunami.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 AM

Feng shui master claims estate 

A mystery Hong Kong feng shui master on Friday claimed the estate of Asia's richest woman Nina Wang, setting the stage for a spectacular courtroom battle over her $4.2bn fortune.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:18 AM

Yacht in Marie Celeste-style mystery 

Rescuers are trying to solve the mystery of a yacht found floating off the Queensland coast with food on a table ready to eat and computers running, but no crew.

Wiki page on the Celeste is here. See also: Mystery Deepens - Second Ghost Ship in Six Months

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:11 AM

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Doolittle Resigns Appropriations Panel Seat 

Probably a good idea as his home just got raided by the FBI.

Every time I see Doolittle:



I think Calhoun:




"I am Tim Calhoun, and I am running for candidate for President for America. My candidacy is based on honesty, so there are a few things about me you should know. I've been in jail. It's not important how many times, but if you must know... I'd say... one, two, thirty-one times. There are times when I'm not gay at all. But then there are other times I'm so gay it more than makes up for it. Here's where I stand on the issues: I'm glad that drunk driving is illegal. When I am drunk, I drive like crap. I propose that for scientific testing purposes, we breed a type of midget even smaller than the normal midget. We can call them Shetland Midgets. There's nothing on this card. In conclusion, and in summary, read my lips: (whispering gibberish). I think that says it all. Vote for me, Tim Calhoun, for Candidate for President for America for goodbye."

He seems qualified for the Bush White House.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:56 PM

Manipulative Extraterrestrials influenced Adolf Hitler, scholars suggest 

Some reports also allege that Adolf Hitler escaped capture by the U.S. and its Allies with the assistance of Manipulative Extraterrestrials.

Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:23 AM

D.A. drops drug charges against punk rocker 

Prosecutors Tuesday dropped all charges against a punk rocker arrested earlier this month in Orange County after a field test showed the Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap he was carrying contained the date-rape drug Gamma Hydroxy Butyrate, or GHB.

Via Wit of the Staircase.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:12 AM

The End of a 1,400-Year-Old Business 

Japanese temple builder Kongo Gumi, in operation under the founders' descendants since 578, succumbed to excess debt and an unfavorable business climate in 2006.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:39 AM

Lake Hodges features many fish species - and maybe a monster 

I had never heard of Hodgee before, but he even has a web site.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:35 AM

UFO Over Vatican 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:30 AM

Rare maps a surprising discovery 

Imagine you move a dusty old file and it turns out to contain a priceless atlas. Or that you pick up a couple of old boards in your shed and a set of hand-drawn maps falls into your hands.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:26 AM

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

RIP: Kitty Carlisle Hart 

Kitty Carlisle Hart, an actress and singer who earned a niche in movie history by singing in the Marx Brothers' "A Night at the Opera" but who achieved her greatest fame as a panelist on TV's "To Tell the Truth," has died. She was 96.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:30 PM

Mysterious creatures roaming Geauga County 

They might be a kind of curly horned sheep. Of course, they could be a funky breed of mountain goat, too. Or . . . well, this sounds sort of silly, but the idea has been tossed out there . . . maybe they're mutant deer.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:26 PM

Va. Tech Killer Ruled Mentally Ill by Court; Let Go After Hospital Visit 

A court found that Virginia Tech killer Seung-Hui Cho was "mentally ill" and potentially dangerous. Then it let him go.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:14 PM

The Copycat Effect: VA Tech Shooting 

Loren Coleman takes a look at the Virginia Tech tragedy.

See also: VA Tech's Garuda

And: Tragic Month of April

And: Gunman's cryptic phrase sparks frenzy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:15 AM

Mexico researchers find child sacrifices 

Archeologists have discovered the remains of two dozen children who were apparent sacrificial victims to a rain god by Mexican Indians nearly a thousand years ago, researchers said Tuesday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:13 AM

Turn up your radio 

Art deco in Australia with exceptionally cool radio picture.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

Waiting for Bigfoot 

Randy Harrington's quest to find Bigfoot, Part Two.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:05 AM

Man walks on burning coal to prove innocence 

In a bid to prove his innocence after being accused of killing a goat, a tribal man walked on blazing coal in a village in Rajasthan.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:01 AM

Titanic explorer says U.S. slipping as world's science leader 

The underwater explorer who found the wreckage of the Titanic said Tuesday that America is in danger of losing its standing as the world's leader in science to China, India and other countries.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:00 AM

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Virginia Tech killer identified 

Cho Seung-Hui, 23.

See also: A Second Killer Escaped The Police?

Via Raw Story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 AM

Lawyer claims OKC bomber mix-up 

Has John Doe No. 2 been identified?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:11 AM

Death and the maidens 

Penn researchers tackle Mesopotamian mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:09 AM

Psychic's tip followed by police; 

Medium advised investigators to check canal locks, inquest told.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:07 AM

Carbonear home to first church in North America? 

The Conception Bay town can trace its roots to 1550 when it was first mentioned by the Fishing Admirals. It was settled by Nicholas Guy in 1630.

But if the findings of a recently deceased British historian can be substantiated, the town may well be able to trace its roots back even farther - perhaps to the late 1400s.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:06 AM

Monday, April 16, 2007

At least 31 dead in Va. Tech shooting 

A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at a college in Virginia on Monday, killing at least 30 people in the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history. The gunman also was killed, and more than a dozen other people were injured.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:05 PM

Monk details sex, drugs, weeping icon at Texas monestary 

One of five monks facing charges of sexually abusing children told authorities that an inner circle of monks at the monastery there had sex with one another, smoked marijuana and used an eyedropper to produce fake tears on a Virgin Mary icon.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:52 PM

Are mobile phones wiping out our bees? 

The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:18 AM

Deal Near on a Lost Welles 

One of American cinema's lost masterpieces could finally reach theaters next year after a deal nears completion to edit and release Orson Welles's final, uncompleted film, "The Other Side of the Wind," according to the director and actor Peter Bogdanovich.

Via MetaFilter.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:13 AM

RIP Anna Mitchell-Hedges 

Anna Mitchell-Hedges, the alleged discoverer of the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull, passed away on April 11, aged 100.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:00 AM

Bigfoot and the Cherokee Hill 

A journey into sacred lands where the creature has been known for generations.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 AM

The mystery of Maury Island 

"People are always talking about Roswell," says Philip Lipson of the Seattle Museum of Mysteries, "and very few people realize that the first UFO incident was in Puget Sound."

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:17 AM

The immune-boosting effects of tai chi 

The new study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, is the first — and most rigorous — of a welter of rigorous new studies designed to probe the health effects of tai chi.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:16 AM

Scroll from 1871, displayed in Salem, tries to encompass history of the world 

His 21-foot scroll, "A Chronological Chart of Ancient, Modern, and Biblical History" was a best seller of the 1870s but is little-known today.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:12 AM

Town seeking its 'ancient harlot' 

An Irish village has cleared the latest hurdle in its campaign to change its names to the Fort of the Harlot.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:11 AM

So who was the Zodiac killer? 

The movie opens in Britain.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

EXCLUSIVE: OUIJA BOARD GAMES LEFT ME SCARED FOR LIFE 

The actor, who appears in paranormal drama Sea Of Souls this week, confessed to a teenage brush with a Ouija board - used to communicate with the dead during a seance.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:07 AM

Cougar sightings: Fact or fiction? 

Include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director Dale Hall among those who believe there is some credibility to reports of cougars — or mountain lions — in the Northeast.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:05 AM

Sears catalog houses become obsession 

Across the country, otherwise ordinary people have been transformed by obsession into identifying and preserving "kit houses" from Sears.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:05 AM

Friday, April 13, 2007

New Loch Ness Monster Photo 

Cryptomundo's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:55 PM

Four years of Rove emails missing 

"It was an honest mistake I tells ya!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:37 PM

NASA Releases New Photos of the Martian Face 

Strangely, it appears to be Don Imus.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:46 AM

The roots of some common superstitions 

So, exactly what are superstitions? Merriam-Webster provides a handful of definitions, including "... fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance" and "a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary."

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:43 AM

Holy homage, Batman! 

Ever wonder who would win a fight between Captain Kirk and Batman? So did this guy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:39 AM

Quantum secrets of photosynthesis revealed 

Through photosynthesis, green plants and cyanobacteria are able to transfer sunlight energy to molecular reaction centers for conversion into chemical energy with nearly 100-percent efficiency.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:37 AM

Chinglish unlikely to vanish by Olympics - New Zealand's source for oddstuff - strange, weird & bizarre news on Stuff.co.nz 

China is littered with wrong, embarrassing and sometimes plain rude signs in Chinese English, examples of which often end up on the Internet, such as writing "oil gate" for a petrol station, and "the slippery are very crafty" – slippery when wet.

Well, in their defense, the slippery are very crafty.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:34 AM

Big cat sightings a shock for residents 

Sightings of a big cat have been reported by East Herts men - and one of them even tried to feed the mysterious animal some stewing steak!

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:29 AM

Fugitive says he met missing ex-FBI agent in Iran 

An American fugitive living in Iran since he murdered an Iranian opposition activist in the US in 1980 has revealed that he met a former Federal Bureau of Investigation agent shortly before the latter disappeared on the Iranian island of Kish a month ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:23 AM

Woman boasts famous pen pals 

Her letters to world leaders and entertainers drew responses that fill scrapbooks and boxes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:15 AM

Mystery of hidden rosary 

A rosary hidden under floorboards at Gorton Monastery 140 years ago has sparked a mystery about the Victorian child who may have who put it there.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:09 AM

The Goans get tough and mystery remains 

Did the Portuguese discover Australia?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:05 AM

Archaeologists Looking For Treasurers Of Revolutionary War Hero In S.C. 

Searchers found a brass candleholder, a small British cannonball along with rifle shot and horse gear. It may not seem like much, but for those looking for hideaways of the state's craftiest Revolutionary War hero, it's a treasure trove.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:02 AM

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Knights Templar Encyclopedia 

The Knights Templar Encyclopedia is the first of its kind. Written by renowned medieval historian Dr. Karen Ralls, it has hundreds of entries on all aspects of these enigmatic knights of the Crusades, from scholarly sources only.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:53 AM

The 'grave slab code' baffles experts 

What could be a 900-year-old code is baffling archaeologist Peter Ryder.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:41 AM

RIP: Kurt Vonnegut 

Kurt Vonnegut, whose dark comic talent and urgent moral vision in novels such as "Slaughterhouse-Five," "Cat's Cradle" and "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater" caught the temper of his times and the imagination of a generation, died Wednesday night in Manhattan. He was 84.

I met Mr. Vonnegut years ago and he was very kind and generous with his time. "So it goes," as it he might say.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:40 AM

Historian uses rods to locate stone circles 

A Cambridge historian is to use water divining rods to pinpoint the location of forgotten West Cumbrian stone circles.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:38 AM

The Johnsville News 

Now that the Duke "Rape" Case has collapsed it might be a good time to visit The Johnsville News, which has covered the hoax extensively.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:35 AM

The dark legacy of Carlos Castaneda 

At the heart of Castaneda's movement was a group of intensely devoted women, all of whom were or had been his lovers. They were known as the witches, and two of them, Florinda Donner-Grau and Taisha Abelar, vanished the day after Castaneda's death, along with Cleargreen president Amalia Marquez and Tensegrity instructor Kylie Lundahl. A few weeks later, Patricia Partin, Castaneda's adopted daughter as well as his lover, also disappeared. In February 2006, a skeleton found in Death Valley, Calif., was identified through DNA analysis as Partin's.

At Salon. Via Supernatural News.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:26 AM

Disappearing Honeybees Concern Beekeepers and Farmers 

Beekeeper David Hackenberg owns the Buffy Bee honey farm outside Tampa, Florida. He says he has lost as many as two-thirds of his beehives within a matter of weeks.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:17 AM

Waiting for Bigfoot 

This is the first in a two-part series on Kansan Randy Harrington's quest to find Bigfoot.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:16 AM

White House Claims It Lost RNC Emails 

I am shocked, SHOCKED! Cannonfire has more on the "Oops" excuse.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:14 AM

New "Paddler" Photo Surfaces 

Lake monster or sub?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:10 AM

UFO sightings a mystery to Maidstone mayor 

According to a Winnipeg researcher who maintains a registry of UFO sightings in Canada, Maidstone leads the country in this respect, and by a huge margin.

See also: Expert: V-shaped 'UFO' is a kite

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

It had thunder of a sonic boom, resident says 

Skyquakes over Florida.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:03 AM

And that's renaissance magic ... 

After lying almost untouched in the vaults of an Italian university for 500 years, a book on the magic arts written by Leonardo da Vinci's best friend and teacher has been translated into English for the first time.

The world's oldest magic text, De viribus quantitatis (On The Powers Of Numbers) was penned by Luca Pacioli, a Franciscan monk who shared lodgings with Da Vinci and is believed to have helped the artist with The Last Supper.

Via Wit of the Staircase.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:03 AM

Mexican sacrifice victims came from afar 

Archaeologists have discovered new evidence to suggest ancient Mexicans brought human sacrifice victims from locations hundreds of miles away.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:03 AM

Worst...candidate...EVER!! 

Joe Cannon takes a look at an unelectable politician.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:00 AM

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Friday the 13th Fright Night Movie Freak Out! 

This Friday the 13th I will be kid sitting my wonderful nieces, Goblina and Fantomina, and I have promised them an evening of scary movies. Now the quandry - what are good scary movies for a six and eight year old? My brother, Herr Hex, lets them watch just about anything they want (within reason - just like our old man did) and they don't have nightmares or any ill effects (so far). I do want to tread that fine line between fun horror and oh-my-god-I'm-gonna-be-scarred-for-life-thanks-Uncle-Professor. If you have any good suggestions, please click on the time stamp for this post and leave me a comment. Or email me. My short list right now is The Blob, the original House on Haunted Hill, and the Howard Hawks classic The Thing from Outer Space (a movie I watched for the first time with my dad when I was about their age). I appreciate any input.

I think they'd enjoy Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow but there might be too much head chopping in that one. For some reason I think that Sam Raimi's Evil Dead II might be fun for kids - it's so over the top I can't imagine they'd take it seriously.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:30 PM

The unresolved story of ABC News' false Saddam-anthrax reports 

Your liberal media in action.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:52 AM

How did an 18ft python end up dead on a country road? 

In England?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:31 AM

3,200-year-old hair of famed Pharaoh Ramses II returned to Egyptian Museum 

Locks of 3,200-year-old hair from the Pharaoh Ramses II were unveiled at the Egyptian Museum on Tuesday, returned to Egypt after being stolen 30 years ago in France and put up for sale on the Internet.

Black-market Egyptian Pharoah hair. Never thought I'd type that sentence.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:16 AM

Prince Philip's UFO encounter 

Britain's Prince Philip was once set to meet the world's most famous alien abductee, a new book has revealed.

See also: Hundreds of Canadians seeing things - in the sky

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:13 AM

Squatchdetective.com Gearing Up for 2007 Field Investigations 

Press release.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:11 AM

Narcotics investigator's death declared 'in line of duty' 

But what actually killed Stuart Cohen?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:08 AM

Monday, April 09, 2007

A fresh future for flat old beer 

The collection included strong commemorative ales brewed to celebrate royal marriages, visits and births. The oldest was Ratcliff Ale, created to mark the birth of a son into the Ratcliff brewing family. The beer was brewed in 1869, when Neville Chamberlain, future prime minister, was born and Charles Dickens was embarking on one of his last literary tours.

Mmmmm, ancient beer. Cool article. Via those drunkards at Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:13 PM

Questions Linger About Bushes and BCCI 

BCCI was the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, a dirty offshore bank that then-president Ronald Reagan's Central Intelligence Agency used to run guns to Hussein, finance Osama bin Laden, move money in the illegal Iran-Contra operation and carry out other "agency" black ops. The Bushes also benefited privately; one of the bank's largest Saudi investors helped bail out George W. Bush's troubled oil investments.

Via Wonkette.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:09 AM

They Came from … Earth? An Interview With Mac Tonnies 

Essentially, I'm wondering if the ET mythos that accompanies the UFO phenomenon is memetic subterfuge emplaced by an indigenous humanoid intelligence. Jacques Vallee and John Keel have advanced similar ideas, but they've opted for a paranormal origin - a "multiverse" and a "super-spectrum," respectively. I'm not sure either is called for; we could instead be dealing with a flesh-and-blood species that's eluded detection, which isn't nearly as preposterous as many think.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:24 AM

Half of French UFOs remain unexplained 

For three decades, an arms length branch of France's national space agency quietly gathered reports of strange apparitions in the skies over the republic, from bright lights zig-zagging in the dark night to calls about flying saucers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:52 AM

Professor who criticized Bush added to terrorist 'no-fly' list 

Walter F. Murphy, the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Emeritus, at Princeton University, attempted to check his luggage at the curbside in Albuquerque before boarding a plane to Newark, New Jersey. Murphy was told he could not use the service.

Impeach. George. W. Bush.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:32 AM

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Did NASA Accidentally "Nuke" Jupiter? 

On September 21, 2003 NASA deliberately directed its amazing, still-functioning Galileo spacecraft to make one final, 108,000 mph suicidal plunge into Jupiter's vast atmosphere. Thus ended the incredibly successful eight-year unmanned NASA Galileo mission...which had returned against all odds an array of phenomenal new information on Jupiter and its "mini-solar system of moons"...in a literal, most fitting "blaze of glory."

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:54 PM

Study: Tai chi may help prevent shingles 

It's unclear how tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art that has become increasingly popular in the West, affects the immune system. But health experts were encouraged by the positive results.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:43 PM

Herbal supplement may help treat recurrent bladder infections 

An herbal extract that is sold in health food stores and promoted as an allergy and fat loss aid may improve treatment of bladder infections when it is taken with antibiotics, research suggests.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:40 PM

Mystery of the fat Venus 

They're known as Palaeolithic Venuses and they raise a lot of puzzling questions: How come these almost identical figurines were found all the way from France to Siberia? How come this stylised carving tradition was practised and passed down over 20,000 years? What purpose did they serve?

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:38 PM

Bones: Son's story key to riddle? 

A sworn statement, written off by police at the time, could take on a whole new meaning with the recent discovery of bones locked in a sandy grave at Umdloti.

See also: The sins of the father: a dark legacy

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:36 PM

Herbalists scour Siquijor's forests to cure the incurable 

Filipinos know Siquijor as the mystic island.

Feared by many for its sorcerers, known locally as mam­babarangs, the island has also earned a reputation for the apparently incredible powers of its local healers, or mananambals.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:11 PM

'I dreamt up a phone number and found my bride to be' 

Waking up one morning five years ago, David Brown found a mystery mobile phone number running through his mind.

When it refused to go away, he decided to call it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:09 PM

Physicist needs $20,000 for time-travel experiment 

The Seattle scientist who wants to test a controversial prediction from quantum theory that says light particles can go backward in time is, himself, running out of time.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:04 PM

Abe Coleman, Wrestler Known as Hebrew Hercules, Dies at 101 

Abe Coleman, a squat powerhouse of a professional wrestler, billed by promoters as the Hebrew Hercules and known to opponents by the two-footed kick he copied from kangaroos, died Wednesday in New York. He was 101, probably making him the oldest professional wrestler, according to wrestling publications.

See also: Remembering "Hebrew Hercules" - Really nice article. Hat tip to Tom.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:59 PM

Friday, April 06, 2007

The Larry Belleville Abduction 

The story of Larry Belleville begins in the dark. The still darkness of the early morning hours of August 1957 when Larry was nine years old.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:33 AM

Disease may have fueled Hatfield-McCoy feud 

The most infamous feud in American folklore, the long-running battle between the Hatfields and McCoys, may be partly explained by a rare, inherited disease that can lead to hair-trigger rage and violent outbursts.

Here is the Wiki entry on the legendary feud.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:29 AM

Satellite Images Reveal Mysterious Objects in the Dragon Triangle 

With pics. Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:14 AM

Is bigfoot trouncing through Tobico? 

A bunch of trees snapped in two along a trail at Bay County's Tobico Marsh has some wondering if it's the handiwork of a bigfoot.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:03 AM

Project to prolong life of Europe's paper artefacts 

While there is huge interest in preserving great works of archaeological, historical or artistic value, there is no escaping the fact that the oxidation process means all paper-based artefacts will have a limited shelf life and not last forever.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 AM

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Houdini Revealed 

Smithsonian has a photo essay on the legendary magician. Via Boing Boing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:44 PM

Discovery Of America: Revolutionary Claims Of A Dead Historian 

Dr Alwyn Ruddock, a former reader in history at the University of London, was the world expert on John Cabot's discovery voyages from Bristol to North America (1496-98). What she was said to have found out about these voyages looked set to re-write the history of the European discovery of America. Yet, when Dr Ruddock died in December 2005, having spent four decades researching this topic, she ordered the destruction of all her research.

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:34 PM

House Of Horrors 

Frightened mum Claire Bracey says a posse of ghosts has taken up residence in her family's home.

Mrs Bracey, 29, of Derriads Green, Chippenham, and her husband Tony, who have three young children, have seen ghostly faces appearing through walls and mysterious orbs turning up on family photographs in their 50-year-old home.

With pic of "face".

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:43 PM

Hotel Spook Caught On Camera 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:26 PM

Remains not those of Joan of Arc, scientists say 

A rib bone supposedly found at the site where French heroine Joan of Arc was burned at the stake is actually that of an Egyptian mummy, according to researchers who used the latest scientific techniques to expose the fake.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:22 PM

An X-ray Time Machine? 

X-rays may be revolutionizing the science of paleontology.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:09 PM

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Why do gigglers hate America? 

Now the wingnuts are upset that someone "giggled" at the McCain press conference in Baghdad. It must have been Michael Ware! Don't these people realize that giggling emboldens the enemy?

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:58 PM

Swansea woman donates birdman tablet to Mounds 

Best part: Kassly found the tablet in 2000 while surface collecting on a farm near Valmeyer in her free time.

Watch the skies! And watch the ground!

Another goodie from the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:45 PM

The Secret War Against Iran 

A Pakistani tribal militant group responsible for a series of deadly guerrilla raids inside Iran has been secretly encouraged and advised by American officials since 2005, U.S. and Pakistani intelligence sources tell ABC News.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:42 PM

Tunguska—the Fire in the Sky 

What happened in Siberia? Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:41 PM

The Great Tennessee Marijuana Cave 

Wow. Just...wow. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:11 PM

Missing ex-FBI agent helped nab Noriega 

A Coral Springs man's FBI career focused on complex international investigations, from Russian crime syndicates to Colombian drug cartels.

And he's missing in Iran.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:42 PM

Mummified corpses found in Japan death rite mystery 

Five decomposed bodies, possibly of a couple and their children who died one after another several years ago, have been found in a house in Japan, triggering media speculation on religious death rites.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:30 PM

FBI halts this medal's orbit on eBay 

How did astronaut James Lovell's Medal of Freedom end up on eBay?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:29 PM

Mummified corpses found in death rite mystery 

Five decomposed bodies, possibly of a couple and their children who died one after another several years ago, have been found in a house in Japan, triggering media speculation on religious death rites.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:28 PM

History Sleuth 

"I learned so much about demolition and how we are losing these houses," said Marks, whose research work with the Bradley house led her to founding her own company, "House Histories," to assist individual homeowners, community groups or companies interested in researching the history of properties, either for self-knowledge or to prevent demolition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:26 PM

Seats Helped Ancient Greeks Hear From Back Row 

As the ancient Greeks were placing the last few stones on the magnificent theater at Epidaurus in the fourth century B.C., they couldn't have known that they had unwittingly created a sophisticated acoustic filter. But when audiences in the back row were able to hear music and voices with amazing clarity (well before any theater had the luxury of a sound system), the Greeks must have known that they had done something very right because they made many attempts to duplicate Epidaurus' design, but never with the same success.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:23 PM

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Cthulhu by the Bay 

Giant Squid Appearing Off California Coast.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:46 PM

Prehistoric whale found in inland Italy 

Italian researchers have found the skeleton of a 33-foot prehistoric whale in the Tuscan countryside, a discovery that could shed light on the ancient environment of the sea, officials said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:55 PM

Early Human Remains Challenge 'Out of Africa' Theory 

The discovery of ancient human remains in China has challenged the long agreed upon theory that humans developed in African, then began moving to the rest of the world from there.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:54 PM

Nazi Antarctic Base, Sunk 

You would think the Nazis' military regime was so grotesque that there wouldn't be the need to create any myths -- reality was hard enough to comprehend. Not so. Conspiracy theorists for years have connected the Nazis to everything from UFO sightings to anti-gravity technology. One particularly persistent myth -- that the Nazis established a secret base in Antarctica -- is now the subject of a peer reviewed scientific paper...to debunk the entire idea.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:52 PM

British UFO Hacker Loses Extradition Appeal 

A British hacker who broke into U.S. military computers looking for evidence of UFOs lost another extradition appeal on Tuesday in London's High Court.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:51 PM

DNA Boosts Herodotus' Account of Etruscans as Migrants to Italy 

Geneticists have added an edge to a 2,500-year-old debate over the origin of the Etruscans, a people whose brilliant and mysterious civilization dominated northwestern Italy for centuries until the rise of the Roman republic in 510 B.C.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:48 PM

"Weeping" walls a mystery 

A house with weeping walls believed to be signs from a boy who died recently or God himself?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:47 PM

Solve our tunnel mystery 

MYSTERY surrounds the discovery of a huge tunnel unearthed by builders while working in Dewsbury.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:38 PM

"Night-shining" clouds bring mystery 

Since their discovery 120 years ago, strangely luminescent clouds called noctilucent clouds have been creeping slowly toward the equator.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:36 PM

How Jesse James Became a Legend: An Interview with His Two Best Biographers 

There is no surviving evidence that justifies the James brothers' reputation as American Robin Hoods, but as the journalist says in John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:35 PM

Monday, April 02, 2007

Matt Drudge - Douchebag of the Week! 

And it's only Monday.

Neo-Con Piss Boy Matt Drudge has been pushing the story that CNN correspondent Michael Ware heckled John McCain on his recent trip to Baghdad. This is, obviously, wingnut payback for Ware's defenestration of McCain's claim that there are neighborhoods in Baghdad that are safe for Americans to walk through. The story has been picked up by all the usual mouthbreathers who love to smear the character of anyone who opposes this war. Of course, the whole unsourced incident was pulled out of Matt Drudge's ass and is now curiously missing from his archives. But now the right will refer to this endlessly as proof that Ware's reporting is unreliable.

El que avisa no es traidor.

He who warns is not a traitor

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:34 PM

Zodiac Killer Update 

ZodiacKiller.com has an update on new Zodiac developments and a new suspect.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:24 AM

Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes Of All Time 

A little late, but still worth a look. Via Boing Biong.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:20 AM

War of the pyramid theorists 

Pyrmids and politics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:00 AM

Do animals have telepathy? 

Can pets be so connected and attuned to their owners when they are far apart, even when there is no possible way they could be using their sense of smell or hearing?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:56 AM

Alex Barclay's top 10 psychological thrillers 

I've read five - I feel a little foolish that I've never read Rebecca. I highly recommend The Straw Men by Michael Marshall and Every Dead Thing by John Connolly. Via Wit of the Staircase.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:36 AM

At 96, Author Debuts With Acclaimed Memoir 

Into his 90s, decimated by the loss of his beloved wife, and alone at night with the memories of a rough and sad childhood spent battling an alcoholic father and vicious anti-Semitism, Harry Bernstein decided to write.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:31 AM

Sunday, April 01, 2007

A GHOST TO THE BRIDE AND GROOM 

A couple who held their wedding at Scotland's most haunted hotel were stunned when they were gatecrashed by a mysterious green phantom.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 PM

The mystery of the KKK relic 

Why was a KKK medallion hidden between the walls of a 200-year-old house?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:33 PM

JFK slaying plot -- a spy's tale told by 2 of his sons 

The unmasking of Hunt, who was convicted in 1973, sent his family into a tailspin: His first wife, Dorothy, was killed in a plane crash in 1972 while carrying $10,000 in hush money from the White House to the burglars' families; son David was sent to live with his militant Cuban godfather in Miami; St. John later became a drug addict and daughters Kevan and Lisa became estranged from their father.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 PM

Millionaire diver wins right to explore wreck of the Lusitania 

Mystery surrounding the sinking of the Lusitania may be resolved after the American owner of the Cunard liner won his case to dive on the wreck.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:19 PM

Diary a Clue to Amelia Earhart Mystery 

It's the coldest of cold cases, and yet it keeps warming to life. Seventy years after Amelia Earhart disappeared, clues are still turning up. Long-dismissed notes taken of a shortwave distress call beginning, "This is Amelia Earhart...," are getting another look.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:58 PM