Tuesday, July 31, 2007

In Violation of Federal Law, Ohio's 2004 Presidential Election Records Are Destroyed or Missing 

I am shocked....oh, who am I kidding. Par for the course. Via Raw Story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:41 PM

NJ body is that of missing NYC artist 

A body found by a New Jersey fisherman last month was that of artist Jeremy Blake, the New York Police Department confirmed Tuesday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:34 PM

RIP Tom Snyder 

Tom Snyder was a big part of my childhood. I appreciated his honest manner and opinionated style. What passes for broadcast television these days could use a few more men like Snyder. He was the real deal. Fire up the colortinis, people, and let the pictures come at you through the air.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:58 AM

Spirit d'escalier -- in memory of Theresa Duncan 

Writer Glenn O'Brien has posted a tribute to Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake on Theresa'a blog.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:45 AM

Chemists Study Mysterious Substance 

It didn't rain cats and dogs, apparently something strange did come from the sky in Bucks County.

Via Rigorous Intuition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:44 AM

Mystery of Dartmoor beast 

Stunned walkers came across the mysterious muscular creature on a moorland track.

It is the size of a bear and moved like a wild cat as children rock-climbed nearby.

See also: Mystery surrounds 'big cat' photo (With pic).

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 AM

Sightings of mysterious giant bird continue in San Antonio 

Strange sightings of a huge flying creature have been reported as recently as six months ago. Is it a monster or myth?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:15 AM

BURIED TREASURE ON GRAND ISLAND? 

The existence of the buried French hoard became known almost immediately following the surrender of Fort Niagara, as the Ohio Indians brought by the French got to know their newfound Mohawk friends over flagons of rum. In fact, reports of the treasure were appearing in newspapers back east less than a month later.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:05 AM

Portage County: Home of the Bigfoot? 

The Bigfoot Field Research Organization says Portage County is first in Ohio with 13 reported encounters with the big, hairy fella.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:01 AM

South Texas rancher finds mysterious animal 

Reports of blue, hairless creatures roaming the countryside from Elmendorf to Cuero. Ranchers talking of livestock being drained of blood.

Put the two together, and it sounds like the legend of the chupacabra. One rancher says she has the evidence to back it up.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:57 AM

Turin Shrouds Its Magic, Black and White, in Plain Sight 

Turin is a magical city -- but not the kind of magic one associates with dreamy fantasylands or Disney. Case in point: In a candle-lit wine bar in the Quadrilatero Romano, a buddingly hip district for wining and dining in central Turin, two 20-something locals were trying to show me which city landmarks can be connected to make up a Satanic pentagram. A growing chorus of dissenters began to surround our table, everyone throwing out their own versions of the five-pointed star.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:55 AM

The Yorkshire man who taught Houdini to make an elephant disappear 

The Vanishing Elephant became one of Houdini's most famous tricks and he performed it in front of over a million people. For more than 90 years, long after his death, the tradecraft by which he made this huge beast disappear remained a secret even other magicians failed to solve.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:49 AM

Lunar Flash Mystery Solved 

The moon has gas.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:47 AM

Ufo Mystery Solved 

Chinese lanterns?

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:39 AM

Mysterious Indian battle is 'holy grail' of Alabama digs 

Historians gleaning descriptions from written accounts of Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto's expedition across the South say the earliest and bloodiest battle between Europeans and Indians happened at Mauvilla, a fortified village that researchers spell a variety of other ways, including Mabila and Mavila.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:35 AM

Coffee-exercise Combo can Prevent Skin Cancer 

Drinking coffee and exercising may prevent skin cancer by killing off cells damaged by the sun's ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation, said a study of hairless laboratory mice published Monday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:30 AM

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Gathering my wits about me 

I'm still processing the deaths of Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake but a few things have struck me as odd thus far.

1). Jeremy Blake's Wikipedia page was recently edited (from a New York IP address) to include the information that "Blake's badly decomposed remains were subsequently found by a fisherman about 30 miles to the south of Rockaway Beach off the New Jersey shore." This statement is footnoted to an article that includes no such information and as of this writing there has been no confirmation that the body pulled Sunday from the ocean off New Jersey is Jeremy.

Also in the Wiki entry is this statement: Blake was the romantic partner of aspiring cultural critic and pioneering video game artist Theresa Duncan who, having fallen on hard times, killed herself the week before Blake took his own life. (Emphasis mine)

I'm unaware of any information that Theresa had fallen on hard times. For most people, a loving relationship, the respect of your peers, and a desirable New York City address do not constitute hard times. If so, please, send some hard times my way. Is this inside information or someone trying to shape the narrative?

2). On Friday, June 1st, Theresa posted a short poem by Sarah Hannah and linked to the young poet's obituary. Sarah Hannah, who was the same age as Theresa, reportedly committed suicide.

Age was not the only thing these two talented and doomed women had in common.





Could two people resemble each other any more closely without being twins? I've been unable to uncover any other links between the two women aside from their polymathic natures and tragic deaths. What the hell does this mean, if anything? Is this some sort of cosmic joke or is there a deeper message?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:32 AM

Egyptians played ancient version of bowling 2000 years back 

Egyptians played an ancient version of bowling between the second and third century AD, recent excavations some 56 miles south of capital Cairo by a team of Italian archaeologists has revealed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:43 AM

Didn't They Learn Anything from 'Poltergeist'? 

Cook County, in the midst of its many budget crises, is considering selling the land as an attempt to garner some quick cash. What’s the catch? For several decades, that land was used as a “potter’s field” to house the bodies of the poor and the homeless. You know the county budget’s bad when the government’s trying to sell off corpses.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:36 AM

To catch a ghost 

Paranormal investigators swarm Santa Paula's Glen Tavern Inn in search of headless prostitutes, dead filmmakers and murdered card sharks.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:29 AM

Bring on the levitating lady ... 

How the freaks returned to the British seaside.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:28 AM

The evolution of the flying car 

The 1930 film Just Imagine might have sealed the idea in people's minds by presenting a New York City of the 1980s, an urban landscape replete with 200-storey skyscrapers and personal biplanes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:27 AM

New Da Vinci mystery uncovered? 

A computer analyst claims to have discovered new images in Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper, one of the world's best-loved religious paintings.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:24 AM

Science of smooching 

PASH, PECK, SMACK, SMOOCH, SNOG. In its various forms the kiss has long been a source of inspiration to lovers, musicians and poets — less well-known is that scientists have also been getting some of the action.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:23 AM

Unsolved Axe Murder Documentary to Air on KPTS 

Award-winning axe murder documentary "Villisca: Living with a Mystery" will air on KPTS July 29 at 7pm. The film explores connections between the 1912 Villisca, Iowa axe murders and similar unsolved murders in Kansas, Illinois and Colorado.

Press release.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 AM

Jim Morrison's death mystery divides biographers 

Did Jim Morrison OD on a nightclub toilet or die of a drug-induced heart attack in a bathtub at home? Thirty-six years after the death in Paris of The Doors legend, biographers are locking horns over his final hours.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:15 AM

Mystery surrounds mummified baby found in Toronto attic 

The mummified remains of an infant found wrapped in a package and buried beneath the floorboards of a Toronto home faces days of examination before anything can be confirmed about its life and death.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:12 AM

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Authorities: Body found in ocean might be missing artist 

Authorities are trying to determine if a body found floating more than four miles off the New Jersey coast Sunday is that of Jeremy Blake.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:39 PM

Theresa Duncan, RIP 

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Theresa Duncan and the probable death of her partner Jeremy Blake. Both are apparent suicides.

Theresa was a great friend of this blog and her insight and friendship will be missed. My condolences to her friends and family. I have no idea how long her blog, Wit of the Staircase, will remain up but, for now, her charm and erudition are there for everyone to see.

Here's another news story on the tragedy.

As you can imagine, the blogosphere has many comments on Theresa and Jeremy's untimely deaths, as well as some questions.

Rigorous Intuition.

Ron Rosenbaum.

SmellyBlog

This news has depressed me tremendously. Goodbye, Theresa. Thanks for everything.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:30 AM

Ghostly guests in Prosser home 

Debora Jennings knows just how many times the closet door in her guest room has opened on its own -- 27.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:27 AM

The History of Palmistry 

The Gypsy Fortune Teller Bows Out to the Male Expert.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:24 AM

Asian parasite may be to blame for bee deaths 

An Asian parasite that's been blamed for bee deaths in Europe has been found in Canadian hives, and a Maritime entomologist says he thinks it may have played a part in killing bees in the region.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:21 AM

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Olathe's Hairy Wildman 

This one is from my neck of the woods.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 PM

Megafishes Project to Size Up "Real-Life Loch Ness Monsters" 

Join National Geographic News on the trail with project leader Zeb Hogan as he tracks down the world's largest freshwater fishes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:40 PM

Lines that keep the dead alive 

A selection of Britain's wittiest epitaphs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:37 PM

Princess claims clairvoyant powers, aims to share them 

Norway's Princess Märtha Louise, daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja, has emerged as a clairvoyant, and is launching an alternative school aimed at training students to contact angels. Officials at the Royal Palace won't comment on the princess' latest business venture.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:23 PM

Rare jungle deer photographed for the first time 

A camera trap has captured the first ever pictures of an elusive forest deer in its natural habitat, reports the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:18 PM

UFO Round Up 

Author says UFO-Air Force dogfight ended in Flatwoods

UFO sightings bring town to a standstill

Leaked 'Top Secret' Government UFO Documents Proven Frauds

Mystery UFO sighting (With pic)

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:16 PM

Lucky Collector Finds Rare Mormon Religious Books 

The volumes are rare and likely worth much more than the purchaser paid, say booksellers who trade in early writings from leaders of the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's still a mystery how the books made their to the thrift store.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:10 PM

Bat Boy sheds a tear: Weekly World News quits 

Weekly World News, the tabloid that for 28 years has chronicled sightings of Elvis, extraterrestrial activity and the exploits of Bat Boy, is no more. Its publisher said today it would put out its last issue next month, maintaining only a Web presence.

This is sad news.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:04 PM

Mystery Rocks That Beg More Questions Than Answers 

The un-explained inscriptions make the defiant rock almost mythical.

The foot-like imprints similar in size to those of human beings clearly showing from the surface advance the mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:01 PM

Newly exposed ledge 'footprint' inspires legends 

When crews blasting ledge for the Penobscot Narrows Bridge crafted a new path for Route 1, they never suspected they would create a new attraction beside the bridge.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:15 PM

Schiller's family exhumed as scientists work to crack mystery of the two skulls 

Two skulls, one poet. It is a riddle that has been vexing experts for years. But now scientists hope to finally determine which skull belonged to Germany's most famous playwright, Friedrich Schiller.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:15 PM

Almas, The Modern-Day Cavemen 

Awesome Or Off-Putting takes a look.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:13 PM

Mayors Backing To Find Pirates Hidden Hoard 

The treasure is thought to be that of pirates Captain Kidd and Henry Avery who had associations with Oak Island, a small privately-owned piece of land near the coast of Nova Scotia.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:12 PM

Symbol In NYC Building Becomes History Mystery 

Triangular shapes found in the wall of a New York City building have confounded historians.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:01 PM

Chupacabra, coyote or ... ? 

Strange animals are sighted in DeWitt County.

With pic. See also: DeWitt mystery animal similar to Elmendorf Beast

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:01 PM

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Is Big Foot a tall tale? Not for this crew 

When Oakley resident Melissa Morrison used to come to Summit County as a child for family reunions, her uncle told her campfire stories about seeing Sasquatch wandering through the Uinta Mountains.

See also: Bigfoot expedition makes a quick visit to Uinta Mountains

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:52 PM

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Old-line Republican warns 'something's in the works' to trigger a police state 

"The administration figures themselves and prominent Republican propagandists ... are preparing us for another 9/11 event or series of events," Roberts continued. "Chertoff has predicted them. ... The National Intelligence Estimate is saying that al Qaeda has regrouped. ... You have to count on the fact that if al Qaeda's not going to do it, it's going to be orchestrated. ... The Republicans are praying for another 9/11."

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:43 PM

New evidence in West Memphis murders 

Reviving an investigation that ended 14 years ago, West Memphis police recently questioned the mother and stepfather of Stevie Branch, one of three 8-year-old boys murdered in 1993. Three teenagers were convicted of the killings.


See also: New DNA testing by the defense shows that none of the genetic material recovered links Echols, Baldwin, or Misskelley to the crime scene. Instead the defense claims the tests found DNA from Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of one of the murdered boys.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:36 PM

The world's most prophetic comic book 

Cannonfire has it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:06 PM

The Bible and the Paranormal - A New Perspective 

Witches, wizards, sorcery, evil and unclean spirits, devils, ghosts, demonic possession and exorcisms, conjuring up and raising the dead, divination, trances, astrology, oracles, enchantments, supernatural healing, super-human strength, giants, dragons, and unicorns are but a few of the many instances of paranormal phenomena found in the Bible.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:30 PM

Physical Ghosts 

What if, and it's a huge and nearly ridiculous what if, but what if these patterns could burn themselves into the electromagnetic ether of this invisible universe, like leaving a thumbprint on a window or a radio wave signal floating about the cosmos? What if this pattern could function, independent of a sustaining power source, to perform limited and repetitive functions?

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:26 PM

Ghost World Conference coming to Gettysburg 

Gettysburg may be known for apparitions on and off its Civil War battlefield, but this weekend the people haunting the area will be those with a primary interest in the paranormal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:22 PM

Important Viking treasure found in Britain 

Discovered earlier this year by a father and son detecting team near Harrogate in northern England, the find includes coins, ornaments, ingots and precious metal objects all hidden in a gilt silver bowl and buried in a lead chest.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:12 PM

Moscow revives long and bloody history of silencing its enemies 

Twelve months ago the Duma passed a law allowing Russian security agents to pursue "terrorists" overseas and to kill them if they were deemed a threat. The clear aim was to kill Chechen fighters who had sought refuge in neighbouring countries. But the law also allowed the FSB, the successor to the KGB, to resume a practice that had been officially halted since the disbandment of an organisation (well known to James Bond readers) called Smersh, an acronym for Death to Spies, that was set up by the Soviet Union to hunt down and destroy its enemies around the world.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:32 PM

Golden hoards 

When you find treasure, all and sundry promptly start to claim it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:28 PM

Monster claims rubbished 

Experts have dismissed rumours circulating in the Lakes that a fish of “Jaws-like” proportions is in Windermere.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:21 PM

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Unlock The Secrets Of The Stones 

If you have always had your own ideas as to what its purpose was but were unwilling to voice them for fear of ridicule, now is your chance for you to write in with your own explanations.

This ought to be good.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:38 PM

Metal that crashed through roof in New Jersey was part of woodchipper, FAA says 

Follow up.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:36 PM

The race to find 10m Nazi gold hoard 

In the chaos of those days, a potent legend was born that Rommel's men had not left empty-handed. Packed into ammunition boxes, it was said, were bars of gold, trinkets and diamonds, all the terrible fruits of their pillaging of the Jewish communities in Tunisia.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:34 PM

Ancient Megafloods Created English Channel 

The cultural rift between Britain and France endures as an amusing mystery for many, but the physical divide between them can now be blamed on two ancient floods.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:27 PM

Legendary lake 'monster' is captured on camera 

China’s Loch Ness monster has been sighted. Or so Chinese state-run television says. Not just one, but more than a dozen huge creatures can be seen churning across Lake Kanasi in remote western China, leaving a foamy wake more like an enormous motorboat than a big fish.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:00 AM

53 more students drift into mysterious unconsciousness 

Another 53 students were struck by the mysterious unconsciousness symptoms yesterday at different schools in Magura, Khulna, Satkhira and Bagerhat.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:26 AM

Health benefits of tea still steeped in mystery 

Studies of tea point to such potential benefits as improved mental alertness, lower blood cholesterol and triglyceridelevels, reduced blood pressure, lower risk of breast, colon, lung, ovarian and prostate cancer, as well as possible protection against type 2 diabetes and maybe even weight loss.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:18 AM

130-year-old outhouses yield artifacts 

The spot where a pair of outhouses stood 130 years ago is proving to be a treasure trove for archaeologists who braved the lingering smell in the dirt to uncover some 19th Century artifacts — and a mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:17 AM

Did U.S. intelligence assets kill Antioch College? 

How a college targeted by the FBI and its notorious COINTELPRO operation during the Cold War as a "vanguard of the New Left" managed to place two "spook"-connected trustees on their board is a mystery worth exploring.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:16 AM

Scoop: UFO Sighting Report Process Formalised 

Press release.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:12 AM

Mysterious metal block hits home 

NJ Transit, FAA won't claim it, NASA suspects military link.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:10 AM

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Blackshirts and Skins 

New Rigorous Intuition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:43 PM

Newcastle's little black book of magic 

Archivist Gionni Di Gravio has unearthed a rare French manuscript about magic and talismans from the University of Newcastle's rare books collection.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:33 AM

Officials Set Traps For Colo. Pond Creature 

Wildlife officers are hoping chicken and fish will lure a mystery creature into traps set around a Loveland, Colo., pond.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:29 AM

Woman hunts for secrets of the lost colony 

Croatoan.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:28 AM

Big cat or bad dog? 

Commerce police investigate mystery mauling of prize-winning animals.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:26 AM

Publishing boss killed at home with rare dagger 

Marina Pisareva, 47, was found dead at the weekend at her cottage outside Moscow, the regional prosecutor's office said yesterday.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:45 AM

Monday, July 16, 2007

What It Feels Like...to Be Mauled By a Bear 

For now, I pushed my eyelid open with a bloody finger, saw Grinnell Lake shining blue in the valley below, and waited for help to arrive.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:55 PM

Why we quit aping around, began walking 

Humans walking on two legs consume only a quarter of the energy that chimpanzees use while "knuckle-walking" on all fours, according to a new study.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:45 PM

Archeologists dig up mask of Thracian king 

Archeologists have unearthed a 2,400-year-old golden mask in an ancient tomb believed to have belonged to a Thracian ruler.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:41 PM

Fishermen catch coelacanth off the coast of Indian Ocean archipelago 

The find makes Zanzibar the third place in Tanzania where fishermen have caught the coelacanth, a heavy-bodied, many-finned fish with a three-lobed tail that was thought extinct until it was caught in 1938 off the coast of South Africa.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:39 PM

Nostradamus of the Middle East or just a phoney? 

Michel Hayek, a butcher's boy who has risen to the status of an Arab media celebrity, has the knack of making accurate predictions in an anxious and uncertain Lebanon looking for answers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:23 PM

Book examines mysterious 1907 death at Naval Academy 

Rosa Sutton said her son's ghost visited her at the family home in Oregon, and told her he had been murdered.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:20 PM

Vets: Pet Injuries Peak During Full Moons 

Injuries and illness among dogs and cats seems to be higher during full moon than at other times of the month, a new study finds. But researchers don't know why.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:12 PM

Giant Homer Simpson prompts pagan backlash 

With hysterical pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:12 PM

Found: the giant lion-eating chimps of the magic forest 

Deep in the Congolese jungle is a band of apes that, according to local legend, kill lions, catch fish and even howl at the moon. Local hunters speak of massive creatures that seem to be some sort of hybrid between a chimp and a gorilla.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:07 PM

A Race to Solve the Mystery of the Subterranean Chambers 

It started with an ever-expanding sinkhole at the entrance of the Mystic Pointe condominiums here and led to an excavation this spring that revealed an underground complex of brick chambers with vaulted ceilings.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:00 PM

Bigfoot researchers record thermal images 

Just after midnight Saturday, veteran BFRO investigators Pam Porter of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Don Young of Phillips, Wis., saw "grainy blips" through the viewfinder of a thermal imaging camera near where a previous bigfoot sighting had been reported, Moneymaker said, and they caught some of what they saw on film.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:58 PM

Was Reich right? 

Wilhelm Reich was a scientist. A physician. An inventor. An inmate. A much-studied man who remains something of a mystery, now 50 years after his death in a federal prison.

This man who gained acclaim and, to some degree, notoriety for his research will be the focus of a conference here at the end of July. More than 85 doctors, scientists and researchers from Europe and the United States, and others interested in Reich, will gather to discuss what his work means today and how it should be advanced.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:54 PM

Archaeologist plumbs mysteries of the Bible 

The recent feuding over discoveries of a Lost Gospel of Judas, the purported tomb of Jesus and even Noah's Ark only hints at the interest in seeing archaeology illuminate biblical tales.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:51 PM

Analysis: More rumors of bin Laden's death 

Osama bin Laden, like Mark Twain, may complain that rumors of his demise have been greatly exaggerated. Assuming, of course, that he is still alive.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:46 PM

History of the Wichitas goes back 500 million years 

The rugged landscape is rich in lore that includes legends of Indian battles and Spanish treasure. Spanish miners reportedly searched for gold and silver. They did not find any in large quantities. The Spanish penetrated the region in the 1600s and French traders first crossed the area during the 1770s.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:43 PM

Friday, July 13, 2007

Big Dipper's Faith Healer 

Hard to believe this song is twenty years old. Have a great weekend everybody. I'm going fishing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:41 AM

Reed boat crew set off on historic trans-Atlantic attempt 

Goerlitz first became fascinated more than a decade ago with pre-historic cave drawings of reed boats, some of which dated back 15,000 years. "If they were able to do this, why not we?" he said.

With pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:24 AM

Brothers have scary talent; Dover duo investigate ghostly happenings 

Started three years ago by Dover twin brothers Jason and Justin Sipple, both 26, the paranormal investigation team has completed dozens of investigations in homes and businesses believed to be inhabited by spirits.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:19 AM

Heritage inspectors visit feature 

Archaeologists have said the Rotherwas Ribbon, found by road builders, could be as important as Stonehenge.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:08 AM

On The Path Of Bigfoot 

"It was a big ape that got up and he was brown, black or chocolate brown," Budreau said, "and he was probably four feet or better across the shoulders, and he was probably seven feet tall."

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:38 AM

Unexplained sighting gives Metro East a spot in UFO lore 

"I can't explain what I saw," said Mark Lopinot, an O'Fallon police detective who watched as the object approached his city. "It was shocking."

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:36 AM

Secrets of Assassins' fort unearthed in Syria 

Nestled at the foot of Syria's coastal mountains, an ancient citadel has been put on the tourist map by restoration and excavation that revealed mysteries of the medieval Assassins sect, once based here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:23 AM

Father of collar-bombing suspect says daughter's mind 'goofed up' 

"I don't think she's completely sane."

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:58 AM

Salvaged Bomb Makes Juvenile Space Ship 

Sooooo coooool.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:49 AM

Thursday, July 12, 2007

'I've never got over it' 

The man arranging his medals and sitting up straight for a photograph in the conservatory of a nursing home in Wells is the last British man alive to have served in the trenches during the First World War. The last survivor of Passchendaele, that three-month orgy of blood-letting in the mud of Flanders which began 90 years ago this month and commemorated by the Queen at Tyne Cot cemetery in Belgium today. The last Tommy of the Great War.

And he looks damn good for 109.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:27 PM

Ancient Massacre Discovered in New Mexico 

Seven skeletons discovered in a remote New Mexico canyon were victims of a brutal massacre that may have been part of an ancient campaign of genocide, archaeologists say.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:06 PM

Collar Bomb Robber's Family Outraged 

The family of a pizza deliveryman being killed by a bomb locked around his neck in a bank robbery scheme is outraged that prosecutors have linked the man to the plot.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:02 PM

Secret tunnel discovered in Jaipur palace 

A secret tunnel between Jaipur's famous Amber Palace and Jaigarh Fort has been discovered during a massive restoration that is currently underway there.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:18 AM

Green Castle Hill: A site of mystery, wonder and much speculation 

"Green Castle Hill has upon it not hundreds but thousands of megaliths. These are large volcanic rocks. There are lots of monuments around the world which just don't look pretty but are astronomically aligned with the stars and movement of the moons and planets."

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:16 AM

Bigfoot or big phony? Seekers pay high prices 

They marshal dozens of searchers, lug backpacks with elaborate gear and stomp through the most remote forests in search of the legendary, elusive beast.

See also: Don't go down to the woods today

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:14 AM

For nostalgic techies: Steampunk Watches 

Cool.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:11 AM

Ancient coins discovered on beach 

Ancient coins have been found on a beach in the Western Isles giving new clues to the far reaching influence of the Roman Empire.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:01 AM

Queen star finishes PhD thesis after 30 years 

Congratulations Brian! And thanks for all the rock!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:39 AM

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Victim of collar bomb a participant in robbery plot, sources say 

Brian Wells, the Pennsylvania pizza deliveryman who died when a bomb attached to his neck detonated, was involved in the plot that took his life, two sources with knowledge of the investigation said.

UPDATE: The Smoking Gun has the indictment.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:19 PM

German sailor emulates ancient mariners in voyage from NYC 

Dominique Gorlitz, 40, an ex-teacher from Chemnitz, Germany, set sail Wednesday from New York Harbor, bound for Spain, in an effort to replicate ocean voyages that he believes were taking place 12,000 years before Christopher Columbus' famous trip.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:41 AM

British blamed for mysterious Beast of Basra 

British forces operating around the southern Iraqi city of Basra are being blamed for the arrival of a plague of vicious badgers that stalk the streets at night, attacking livestock and even humans.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:36 AM

'Whopper' of a giant squid washes up on Australian beach; long as a bus 

For anyone thinking of a calamari feast, Walker-Smith said giant squid contain high levels of ammonia in their bodies as a buoyancy aid.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:36 AM

$14,000 wine not to be drunk 

A $14,000 bottle of wine, said to be New Zealand's oldest, will not be sampled, but to have the proceeds destined for a deserving cause is all the reward the buyer needs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:34 AM

CHARLES LANE: 1905-2007 

'06 quake survivor nailed hundreds of film, television parts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:30 AM

Mysterious mummy in King Tut's burial chamber identified as boy pharaoh's father 

Egyptologists claim to have uncovered new evidence that indicates that the mysterious mummy discovered a century back in tomb KV 55, less than 100 feet from the King Tutankhamun's hidden burial chamber, is actually the copse of the boy Pharaoh's father, Akhenaten.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:29 AM

After initial digs, Zodiac killer theory turns up nothing but dirt 

Using shovels and directions from an amateur Zodiac sleuth, authorities searched 4 feet into the earth for the body of Donna Lass, a nurse who disappeared 37 years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:29 AM

New book: Jim Morisson died in nightclub toilet 

New light on the death of Mr. Mojo Rison.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:26 AM

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Charges in Pizza Bomber Case 

ABC News has learned exclusively that charges have been filed against a Pennsylvania woman in the bizarre 2003 "pizza bomber" case in which a local pizza delivery man robbed a bank with a bomb attached to his neck. The bomb later exploded, killing the man.

Thanks Ian!

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:58 PM

Seafaring Super-Rich Dive to Ocean Bottom in Luxury Submarines 

The ocean floor is the final spending frontier for the world's richest people.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:58 AM

A Huge Amazon Monster Is Only a Myth. Or Is It? 

Perhaps it is nothing more than a legend, as skeptics say. Or maybe it is real, as those who claim to have seen it avow. But the mere mention of the mapinguary, the giant slothlike monster of the Amazon, is enough to send shivers down the spines of almost all who dwell in the world's largest rain forest.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:26 AM

'Water monsters' reappear in Kanasi Lake 

The "monsters" created a large wave in the lake about 8:20am on Thursday, and several witnesses recorded them with digital cameras until they disappeared eight minutes later, the report said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:59 AM

Found: Shoe, circa late 1800s 

Construction workers were tearing up stairs between the second and third floor of the Statehouse's west wing on Thursday when they unearthed the century-old attire.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:56 AM

On the trail of a legend 

In July 1937, Amelia Earhart vanished. Since 1988, a Del. man has been seeking her.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:52 AM

Friday, July 06, 2007

Ed Wood: America's Most Prolific Novelist? 

Edward D. Wood, Jr. has been called "The Worst Director of All Time" but he also wrote over 80 novels.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:50 PM

Archaeologists set to unearth secrets of Scone and its kings 

From the reign of Kenneth MacAlpin in the ninth century, every Scots king assumed the mantle of power, seated on the Stone of Destiny, on the ancient mound now known as Moot Hill at Scone in Perthshire.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:34 PM

Japanese acupressure technique targets blocked energy 

Jin Shin Jyutsu, which roughly translates as "the art of the creator expressed through knowing and compassionate man," identifies 26 points, or safety energy locks, that are arranged in pairs on each side of the body. These are used to "unlock" energy that may be stagnated.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:26 PM

Deaths 'most mysterious' ever investigated 

Extensive tests using the country's foremost experts and state-of-the-art equipment have also drawn a blank."

Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:14 PM

Fatal Web 

After years on the run, Sandra Camille Bridewell, the Black Widow, is finally in custody in Texas. And authorities would like to keep her there.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:02 AM

Boeing's Psychic Lab 

Boeing researchers don't just spend their days designing killer drones and networked tanks. They also investigate unexplained powers of the mind, sometimes. Especially if those times are the late '60s.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:51 AM

Close encounter of the weird kind 

An orange ball and lights in the sky has left a Cheshunt man wondering if aliens really do exist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:48 AM

What It's Like to Talk to the Dead 

Beliefnet readers share stories of cold chills, warm hugs--even recipes, from beyond the grave.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:47 AM

Bad blood, 'Good Earth' 

With her stolen manuscript found, a feud is igniting anew over Pearl S. Buck's legacy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:46 AM

Concern over cult swastika poster 

A poster advertising a cult UFO conference in Glastonbury was taken down after concerns that a swastika featured on it was causing offence.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:39 AM

Mysterious crop circle appears 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:38 AM

My Boss Was the BTK Killer! 

I was next!

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:37 AM

Historic Preservation Commissions Doubt Rune Rock Credibility 

While some believe the rune stone is proof the Vikings - perhaps even Leif Eriksson himself - visited the Vineyard nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus and 600 years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, others have dismissed it as a hoax.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:31 AM

CROONER CROSBYS PRISON RECORD WIPED 

Der Bingle in Der Bighouse?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:31 AM

'Octosquid' Caught in Hawaii Could Be New Species 

With cool pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:30 AM

Enduring mystery of 'crown jewel' theft 

It happened a century ago, but has all the ingredients of a modern detective thriller, theft, dishonour and rumours of sexual indiscretion.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:24 AM

Elizabeth - The Golden Age 

The trailer at YouTube. Quite impressive.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:23 AM

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Unique Bronze Age serpentine mound found in western England 

An archaeologist has made a find in western England that he hopes will help illuminate the ritual life of Britain's Bronze Age inhabitants - a 60-meter (65-yard) serpentine mound paved with cracked stones believed to be the first of its kind discovered in Europe.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:11 AM

Finders keepers 

Old snapshots have taken on a new cachet in the art world recently. Called vernacular or found photographs, viewed through the eyes of curators and artists who don't know the people in them, they can be read the way art is: for composition and enigmatic content.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:58 AM

'Incorruptible' body studied in Russia 

For the first time, scientists and theologians have gathered in Russia to try to solve the mystery of the so-called incorruptible body of Hambo Lama Itigilov.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:53 AM

Steorn's Orbo "free-energy" machine demonstrated! 

Here we go, after months of doubt over claims of a magnetic machine promising "infinite clean energy," Steorn will be putting their wares on display for public scrutiny in London. A physics defying perpetual machine, if you will.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:46 AM

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Did Primordial Chefs Feed Our Giant Brains? 

A Harvard primatologist thinks that the invention of barbecue occurred 1.9 million years ago, fueling the expansion of the early hominid brain.

Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 PM

N.C. fisherman reels in a piranha 

Ouch. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:16 PM

Signs of the Times 

New Rigorous Intuition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:40 PM

Hy Zaret, 99, Tin Pan Alley Lyricist, Is Dead 

Oh, my love, my darling,
I've hungered for your touch a long, lonely time,
Time goes by so slowly and time can do so much.
Are you still mine?
I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me.

Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh, 'Wait for me, wait for me'
'I'll be coming home, wait for me!'

Are you still mine?
I need your love, I need your love, God speed your love to me

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:53 PM

Strange UFO sightings over Didim 

DIDIM became the UFO sighting capital of Turkey when several people reported seeing strange lights ın the skies.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:47 AM

Seeking buried treasure 

The search for the Chorruca, and another about 200 miles north for Blackbeard's Queen Anne's Revenge, are not quests for riches, said Christopher Amer, state underwater archeologist for the Maritime Research Division of the S.C. Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology.

See also : Treasure hunters set sights on new wreck

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:15 AM

'Haunted' mental hospital to be demolished 

An old mental institute in Dunwoody, Ga., believed by some to harbor a ghost is to be knocked down to make room for a skatepark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:57 AM

A glass of wine can keep tooth decay and a sore throat at bay 

"Overall, our findings seem to indicate that wine can act as an effective anti-microbial agent against streptococci bacteria and upper respiratory tract infections," she said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:46 AM

Did suspected UFO cover-up have ties to Port? 

A central figure in the purported government suppression of proof of alien life was Gordon Gray, a former secretary of the Army whose curriculum vitae also included secret government psychological warfare programs, top-secret security consultations with the Oval Office, and — oddly enough — the preservation of historic downtown Newburyport.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:43 AM

Seeking Erie's 'holy grail' 

The Marquette & Bessemer No. 2 vanished in a winter gale on Dec. 7, 1909, somewhere between Conneaut, Ohio, and its Port Stanley destination.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:41 AM

Monday, July 02, 2007

BC Sasquatch Photo? 

Cryptomundo takes a look.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:33 PM

Domestic cats may have ancient roots 

Garfield, Morris and the Aristocats get the fame, but look to the origins of today's furry felines and you find "lybica," a Middle Eastern wildcat. Domestic cats can be traced to wild progenitors that interbred well over 100,000 years ago, new research indicates.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:32 PM

Shambala: A mythical land in Himachal; or is it in Tibet? 

Some people say that Shambala is hidden in a remote part of the Himalayas. Some call this mysterious kingdom "a house of the immortals" - Gyanganj. It is identified as Shambala, Shangri-La or Siddhashram, but this "wondrous land" has many other names too.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:31 PM

Shreveport has stake in UFO legacies 

When the candles are blown out on the 60th birthday cake for the nation's craziness over UFOs and alien beings, Shreveport has a place at the table.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:25 PM

Miners used divining rods to find Mendip's lead veins 

It is a queer sensation to hold a hazel twig in your hands and have it twisting and trying to pull away from your grip as though vigorously alive.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:24 PM

Big snake in lake mystery has Springfield, Ill., on the lookout 

The Loch Ness Monster it's not. But an unusual-looking snake spotted in a central Illinois lake has prompted excited speculation, as well as a search in advance of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:19 PM

Gibraltar Pt. light an historic beacon 

Octagonal stone structure on Toronto Island dates back to early 19th century. Once the tallest building in the city, it survived war and is shrouded in mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:18 PM

Mystery 'Pyramid' Room Discovered In China's Terra Cotta Tomb 

Chinese researchers say they have found a strange pyramid-shaped chamber while surveying the massive underground tomb of China's first emperor and theorize it was built as a passageway for his soul.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:13 PM

Mystery Solved: How Airplane-Sized Bird Flew 

With a wingspan of more than 20 feet, a condor the size of a Cessna airplane relied on updrafts to glide up to 40 mph above the plains of Argentina some 6 million years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:11 PM

Chemical in manuka honey which kills bacteria identified 

German scientists have identified the mystery chemical in New Zealand's manuka honey which is responsible for killing bacteria better than many antibiotics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:10 PM

Local filmmaker offers 'Proof' of 9/11 conspiracy 

When asked who perpetrated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, most people point to the shadowy figure of Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida network.

But a growing number of people in the United States and around the world are going back to ask hard questions about what happened that day more than five years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:05 PM