Wednesday, September 30, 2009

65 years after disappearance, search for WW II WASP pilot will begin anew 

Divers, explorers and aviation archaeologists from the Missing Aircraft Search Team (MAST) and from around the country have launched an expedition off Los Angeles to search for former Summit resident Gertrude Tompkins, the last missing member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:43 PM

South Pacific tsunami kills 119; death toll to rise 

Residents of Samoa and American Samoa are recovering from an earthquake and an ensuing tsunami that caused at least 119 deaths and has left hundreds of others injured in the South Pacific.

With video.

See also: Killer waves take young and old

Two Powerful Earthquakes Leave Islands Reeling

Up to 1,000 killed and more trapped by earthquake in Indonesia's Sumatra

Two Powerful Earthquakes Leave Islands Reeling

This video shows what I believe is the second wave. Audio has praying and some disturbing screams in the background. It's pretty terrifying.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:47 PM

You Built What?! The Shopping Go-Kart 

With cool video. That thing really moves.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:18 PM

U.S. astronomers discover weird planet 

U.S. astronomers say they used multiple observatories earlier this year to observe a bizarre, Jupiter-sized planet with a highly eccentric orbit.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:15 PM

Weird, Rare Clouds and the Physics Behind Them 

“They are some seriously weird looking clouds,” said cloud physicist Patrick Chuang.

See also: Strange cloud formations over NYC

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:10 PM

Mummy autopsy result 'was wrong' 

The first scientific autopsy on an ancient Egyptian mummy probably got the cause of death wrong, research suggests.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:50 AM

Search for buried treasure at Springfield site unsuccessful, but owners of mysterious note vow to keep digging 

The Mount Sterling woman and her husband, Buck, spent Sunday afternoon watching a backhoe dig a large hole on a property on North Fifth Street in Springfield. They had discovered an old note months ago that was tucked away in an antique chair, promising $250 in U.S. gold coins that were buried in a lead chest 12 feet below the surface. The note was signed, "Good Luck Chauncey Wolcott."

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:02 AM

Murder suspect arrested in 33-year-old 'cold case' 

In the 33 years since that night, Doisy has lived with the mystery surrounding her sister’s disappearance. Becky’s body has never been found. Until last week, neither had a suspect.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:53 AM

Did Nelly Arcan commit suicide? 

Questions are surrounding the death of Nelly Arcan, the award-winning author of the risqué semi-autobiographical “Putain” (2002) and “L'enfant dans le miroir” (2007).

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:35 AM

Was Mighty T. Rex 'Sue' Felled By A Lowly Parasite? 

When pondering the demise of a famous dinosaur such as 'Sue,' the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex whose fossilized remains are a star attraction of the Field Museum in Chicago, it is hard to avoid the image of clashing Cretaceous titans engaged in bloody, mortal combat.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:24 AM

New film blames drug firm for plight of honey bees 

Vanishing of the Bees, which will be released in Britain next month, claims the cause is the use of a new generation of pesticides that weakens the bees and makes them more susceptible to other diseases.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:58 AM

'I saw the body' insists ex-SS man as Hitler mystery refuses to go away 

News from the United States that part of a skull – which Russia has claimed since 1946 was that of the late Führer's – actually belongs to a woman, is the signal the world's conspiracy theorists needed in order to trot out the old chestnuts about the demise of the Third Reich's creator.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:48 AM

Black magic ruled Rowling out of White House award 

JK Rowling was denied the United States' highest civilian honour because members of the Bush administration believed Harry Potter "encouraged witchcraft".

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:43 AM

FORWARD THINKING: Futurists put their minds on what lies ahead 

How much moxie, adrenaline and/or nerve does it take to call yourself a "futurist?"

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:23 AM

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

LSD's long, strange trip back into the lab 

Nearly 40 years after widespread fear over recreational abuse of LSD and other hallucinogens forced dozens of scientists to abandon their work, researchers at a handful of major institutions - including UCSF and Harvard University - are reigniting studies.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:44 PM

Machen is the forgotten father of weird fiction 

Arthur Machen might be little read today, but his ideas lie at the heart of modern horror writers Stephen King and Clive Barker.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:32 PM

Voodoo Scholarship on Voodoo Histories 

If you are a singer in the “Conspiracy Theories are bunk!” choir and you love being preached to, then you will love David Aaronvitch’s new book, Voodoo Histories. If, on the other hand, you are even just a little sceptical of “Conspiracy Theory Scepticism,” then odds are Aaronvitch’s book will ultimately cause you to engage in um-ing, ah-ing and copious sighing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:36 AM

Battle of Bosworth 'is in wrong spot', claim archeologists 

For hundreds of years history followers have visited Ambion Hill in Leicestershire, believing it to be the site of the Battle of Bosworth, which marked the end of the War of the Roses and the beginning of the reign of the Tudors.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:57 AM

Man kills identical twin in parking accident 

An American man trying to parallel park a minivan has killed his identical twin brother.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:18 AM

Crystal balls offer glimpse of future, past 

To complement the allure of Halloween during the month of October, the Rosenberg Library Museum is featuring an early 20th century crystal ball as the Treasure of the Month.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:55 AM

Freak waves spotted in microwave cavity 

Freak waves towering as much as 30 m above the surrounding seas have long been reported by mariners, and recent satellite studies have shown that they are more common that previously expected.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:00 AM

Science Weekly podcast: Anomalistic psychology and Iraq combat music 

Prof Chris French is coordinator of the anomalistic psychology research unit at Goldsmiths, University of London. He defines his field as the psychology of paranormal beliefs and of ostensibly paranormal experiences, cognition and emotion. Or 'the study of weird stuff'.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:23 AM

She was a simple French girl who died a century ago. So why are thousands across Britain queuing for a glimpse of Little Flower? 

The atmosphere is part-wedding, part-funeral, part-royal visit, part-circus when I arrive in Bristol as around 1,000 people prepare to welcome the remains of this 19th-century French nun to St Teresa's Roman Catholic Church in the suburb of Filton.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:15 AM

Artifact find key in filling gaps in First Nation history 

She’s investigating Mi’kmaq settlement patterns and social life following their contact with Europeans, specifically the years between 1750 and 1900. Most previous studies of Nova Scotia’s first people focused on the period before European contact, when any artifacts could be said to be exclusively Mi’kmaq.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:51 AM

Big cat spotted on Tamworth estate 

The mystery big cat has been spotted in Tamworth again – this time on a housing estate.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:50 AM

Rosewood an alien invasion site? 

Could it be that the truth really is out there - in Rosewood?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:47 AM

The DNA Mystery: Scientists Stumped By "Telepathic" Abilities 

DNA has been found to have a bizarre ability to put itself together, even at a distance, when according to known science it shouldn't be able to. Explanation: None, at least not yet.

Via The Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:35 AM

Monday, September 28, 2009

Monday Night's Murders 

In northern India, village elders order 'honor killings'

£10,000 reward to solve grisly murder

Law Student's '93 Murder Still a Mystery

The mysterious death of forest ranger Duncan McCoshen

Eighty years ago, the body of the 71-year-old forest ranger was found in a remote part of the Petawawa military reserve near Half Mile Rapids. He had a bullet wound through the chest.

Author teases truth from legend

Who Killed Sherry Edgell?

Former Centralia Woman Works to Solve the Brutal Murder of 9-Year-Old in 1959

Real-life crime captivated KC 100 years ago

Was the home of the Swopes, where the old bachelor benefactor of Swope Park resided with relatives, in fact the scene of the cruelest and most cunning of killings?

Or was the accused doctor, Bennett Clark Hyde — who had married into the family and admittedly “fooled around” with poisons — just made to look evil by the media, his mother-in-law and her money?

Terror in Kentucky: Census Worker's Murder

And the award for Most Tasteless Headline goes to :

Dentist’s murder numbed investigators

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:58 PM

The Big Question: Are so-called 'extinct' species really extinct, and will we rediscover any? 

Because the human pressure on the natural world is increasing to such an extent that more and more creatures face being wiped out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:37 AM

Hundreds Gather In Tyler To Discuss Belief In Bigfoot 

They came from across the country to share experiences and become informed on the latest scientific clues that may prove that their belief in the so-called Bigfoot is not so implausible. The need to validate the existence of Bigfoot or Sasquatch has been an ongoing effort since the 1950s and it was thriving Saturday in Tyler.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:39 AM

'Monster of the deep' is filmed 

Jonathan Downes, 50, spotted the "creature" thrashing around in one of the Lakes of Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland, while on holiday last week.

Jonathan Downes is also the director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology.

CFZ site.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:05 AM

What Happened to Amelia Earhart? A Local Documentary MAY Hold The Clues 

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 AM

The Mothers of Plaza Tijuana and Mexico's 'Disappeared' 

The earlier discovery of mass graves containing the remains of victims dissolved in acid has not served to clear up the mystery of the disappeared.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:23 AM

Anglo-Saxon treasure find throws new light on Dark Ages 

The treasures were chanced on in a Staffordshire field by Terry Herbert, a 55-year-old unemployed metal-detection enthusiast. The find - almost 1500 gold and silver items thought to date from the 7th or 8th century - has staggered archeologists.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:22 AM

Rebel sleuth hunts for gunboat 

William Stevens has played the part of a Confederate soldier during Civil War re-enactments. Now he’s playing detective, hoping to find remains of a Confederate gunboat burned in the Arkansas River just before Little Rock fell to Union troops.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:53 AM

A chair, a key and a chase turn into a great adventure for Mount Sterling woman 

When she tossed the seat to the floor, a small envelope fluttered to the floor. On it were the typewritten words, "Finders Keepers."

Inside was a key taped to a typewritten note that detailed a location on North Fifth Street in Springfield where a lead chest containing about $250 in U.S. gold coins had been buried 12 feet below the surface.

A great treasure story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:02 AM

Lawyer says Oklahoma City bombing tapes edited 

A Utah attorney claims the FBI edited some security camera videotapes from the morning of the Oklahoma City bombing before releasing the recordings to him.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:34 AM

Why we need lake monsters 

For several years, there have been reports of strange commotions in the water. In 2004, a woman and her father saw what appeared to be a long, dark creature swimming on the surface. One estimate put its size at four metres.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:38 AM

Eel reveals its migration secrets 

The European eel's migration to the Sargasso Sea to spawn is one of nature's great unsolved mysteries.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:32 AM

Teenage Vampires 

Part 1 and Part 2.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:39 AM

Killer groupies an unexplained mystery 

Even in his death row cell, satanic serial killer and rapist Richard Ramirez, the "Night Stalker," receives bags of mail. And of the dozens of people who try to contact him each year, officials say, about 90 percent are women.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:19 AM

Fresh doubts over Hitler's death after tests on skull reveal it is a woman's 

Adolf Hitler may not have shot himself dead and perhaps did not even die in his bunker, it emerged yesterday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:16 AM

The Oklahoma Octopus 

Credited with being accountable for the notoriously high deathrate for bathers in this region, the Oklahoma Octopus is stated to be a wolfish predatory animal, which is also considered to be violently territorial.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:15 AM

Does the lion roam our yards tonight? 

Have the big cats returned to New Hampshire for the first time since 1885, when the last mountain lion in the state was killed in the White Mountains?

See also: Cougar story gets people talking - and that's no 'lion'

Internet hoax spurs mountain lion mania

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:08 AM

Friday, September 25, 2009

Listen to Cliff Roles interview Occult America author Mitch Horowitz 

Audio.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:15 PM

VB occult expert heads to Farmville 

It was a gruesome scene in Farmville when investigators found four people dead inside a home in the small town last Friday. Now, that quadruple homicide has many people asking why it happened.

More on this "occult expert" here and in this excellent essay.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:13 PM

Another Publicity-Seeker Makes Wild Claims About Having Solved Zodiac Case -- And, Yikes, This One Was Law Enforcement 

More mocking of Steve Hodel.

Thanks, Elisabeth!

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:36 AM

The Shakespeare truthers 

The search for the “real’’ Shakespeare is a collective madness, one that has gripped (of all people) Sigmund Freud, Mark Twain, William and Henry James, and several Supreme Court justices with too much time on their hands. It is a madness with momentum.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:51 AM

Friday's Flying Saucers 

"Proof of Aliens," Fiery Bright Light (With pic)

Was the cigar-shaped object seen in sky by photographer a UFO? (With pic)

Divers recover large rock from Sylvan Lake

UFO? Mystery airplane buzzes the Banks

UFO displays superior speed against fighter jets at air show

UPDATE: Backyard UFO

Tourists witness return of 'UFOs' at Northern Territory

Our Third UFO Sighting The "Plasma Ball"

UFO "H" style craft spelling it out for the human race?

Are aliens patrolling the skies of Cannock?

Silent UFO near Las Vegas hovers and disappears

Triangle UFO hangs over Washington state two hours

Police probe UFO sightings in West

Couple rethink UFO view after sighting (With video)

UFO Alert / Donut shaped UFO September 18, 2009 (With video)

Secret of the Andes and the Golden Sun Disc of MU (Book review)

Argentina: A "Firestaring" UFO in Calamuchita?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:35 AM

Probing Question: Is the Ark of the Covenant real? 

The quest to find the real Ark has inspired generations of adventurers and Hollywood directors, but the trail has always gone cold.

Is the Ark of the Covenant real?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:15 AM

Weird Travel: Odd Wisconsin exhibit's odd items 

Wisconsin has enough odd history that the "Odd Wisconsin" exhibit at the Wisconsin Historical Museum in Madison has swapped in 40% of what is on display. The result is a fresh look at Wisconsin's oddball undertakings.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:35 AM

'Chinatown' writer inspired by memories of L.A. 

A couple of powerful flashbacks to the Los Angeles of his childhood persuaded Robert Towne to write "Chinatown."

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:52 AM

Hope Diamond on display after 50 years! 

For the first time in its 50-year stay at Smithsonian Institution, this week the Hope Diamond was taken out of its setting, giving the public a rare look.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:03 AM

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Cryptozoological Play Set from Archie McPhee & Co. 

Awesome!

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:28 PM

'Horrorcore' Rap Adds to Mystery of Slayings in Va. Town 

Folks in Farmville figured that the town, population 7,000 or so, was their haven, an oasis of quiet sanity in what a lot of them think is a mixed-up, gone-to-hell world. That was before a 20-year-old Californian, a rapper of luridly violent lyrics who billed himself as Syko Sam, alighted in their central Virginia community last week.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:28 PM

Black Dahlia Revisited 

I need to make a few points about the coverage of the Black Dahlia case before I move on. The killing and the subsequent investigation are incredibly complicated and the false claims, ridiculous "true crime" books and crackpot websites have only muddied the waters even further.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:13 PM

Moon water findings are a game-changer 

The discovery of widespread but small amounts water on the surface of the moon, announced Wednesday, stands as one of the most surprising findings in planetary science.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:10 PM

China’s Hairest Man to Bare It All for His Art 

The 32-year-old Liaoning native is planning an extreme make-over involving hours—perhaps weeks—of laser-hair removal. “I just want to prove that I have talent and I don’t need this hair to be someone,” said Yu, who first found success in a movie called “Monkey Boy’s Treasure Safari.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:48 AM

How we won out over the 'cavemen' 

Two opposing hypotheses have vied to explain the relationship of Neanderthals to Homo sapiens . One proposed that Neanderthals were an archaic variety of our species that either evolved into or was assimilated by modern Homo sapiens . The other hypothesis proposed that Neanderthals were a separate species, Homo neanderthalensis , that were eliminated when modern humans entered their territory.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:00 AM

Local film, expert put new focus on ancient mystery 

Not only does Wolter believe the stone is real and that it predates Christopher Columbus by more than 130 years, he also has come to the startling conclusion that the stone was carved by the Order of the Knights Templar, a medieval European military group, as a land claim for much of eastern North America.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:51 AM

Hunt for treasure of Bonnie Prince Charlie 

IT started with an object no bigger than a button – but it could solve a 250-year-old mystery and lead to a hoard of thousands of gold coins.

See also: Buried treasure found in Córdoba

Largest Anglo-Saxon hoard found

Metal detector hobbyist starts second career as treasure hunter

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:47 AM

Freaky New Ghostshark ID’d Off California Coast 

A new ghostshark species has been identified off the coast of Southern California, and it’s darker and weirder than any shark we know.

With freaky pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:41 AM

Muggers left six-inch knife in victim's bum 

With x-ray pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:27 AM

Mysterious Bulawayo man lives with 100 000 bees 

The bees, believed to have been more than 100 000, had camped in the kitchen cupboard and roof of House Number 652 but that did not bother the owner of the house who only identified himself as Mr E Ngwenya.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:48 AM

'Speak-easies' are the hot new bar trend 

Thanks to the resurgence of classic cocktails, we now have a new species of cocktail den lurking in the hippest neighborhoods.

But good luck finding them.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:47 AM

'Alien hand' spotted on estate agent website: ET sell home? 

From where the photo was taken it appears that the rubbery, pink hand reaching for the knob has only three fingers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:26 AM

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Giant squid caught off coast of Louisiana 

It’s only the second known giant squid obtained from the Gulf of Mexico.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:46 PM

George 'Evil Genius' Hodel Rides Again III 

Against his better judgment, Larry Harnisch starts to dissect Steve Hodel's latest.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:06 PM

FBI Whistleblower says Neocons Negotiated Iraq Invasion with Foreign Agents in Summer 2001 

In an interview with former CIA officer Phillip Giraldi, FBI translator turned whistleblower Sibel Edmonds named Douglas Feith, Paul Wolfowitz, and Richard Perle as having been wiretapped and recorded discussing plans with the Turkish ambassador in the Summer of 2001 to invade Iraq and occupy the Kurdish region bordering Turkey.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:08 PM

Jumbo squid hit Oregon beaches 

Dozens of deep-sea-living Humboldt squid washed up along the central coast on Tuesday morning between Florence and Newport, providing a puzzle for scientists and a spectacle for beachcombers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:57 PM

Interview With Sara Karloff, Daughter of Hollywood Legend Boris Karloff 

I have been fortunate enough to have Dark Horse Comics agree to republish my father's 1960's comic book series Boris Karloff's Tales of Mystery in hardback format, hopefully in 4 volumes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:55 PM

Police seize mafia boss' pet crocodile 

Here's another of the Mafia's trademark offers-you-can't-refuse: pay or be eaten by a crocodile.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:51 PM

Mythical beast is ‘spotted’ in Windermere 

Footage that some people believe appears to show the creature causing ripples in the surface of Windermere was shot by Lakes TV cameraman John McKeown on Saturday.

With link to video. When you get to the video link you have to click on "Bownessie" to watch.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:41 PM

10 Historic Political Photoshop Disasters 

Long before there was Photoshop, image doctoring was the work of hobbyists, businesses and big governments alike.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:31 PM

Immortality only 20 years away says scientist 

Scientist Ray Kurzweil claims humans could become immortal in as little as 20 years' time through nanotechnology and an increased understanding of how the body works.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:36 PM

Mad, or plain evil 

Within days of his arrest, police were questioning whether Percy, who frequently travelled with his family on caravan trips, visited his grandmother's house in NSW on holidays and who joined the navy, aged 19, in late 1967, living and moving between ports, is Australia's most prolific child serial killer.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:43 AM

Bizarre Gelatinous Fish Found in Brazil 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:07 AM

The man with phobia of women 

Neil Dando, from Worthing, West Sussex, suffers from chronic 'loveshyness' – a psychological condition which means he cannot approach a girl without becoming a nervous wreck and suffering extreme anxiety attacks.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:44 AM

Ask the Mexican 

Gustavo Arrellano, columnist, food writer and nationally bestselling author famous for his controversial “¡Ask a Mexican!” syndicated humor column, came to UC Irvine on Nov. 5 to talk about a less glamorous history of immigration.

Interesting. I've always enjoyed his column.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:37 AM

Iran downs strange bright craft over Persian Gulf 

"Glowing objects were sighted over the Persian Gulf. IRGC air defense targeted one of the objects successfully, forcing it to plummet and sink in the seas off Boushehr (Province)."

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:47 AM

The Hunt for Extraterrestrial Life Gets Weird 

In the search for extraterrestrial life, some scientists say we’re focusing too much on finding signs of existence as we know it, and in the process, we may be missing more strange forms of life that don’t rely on water or carbon metabolism.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:25 AM

Tiny, Easy-to-Build Weapons Annihilate Office Boredom 

Fun and cool. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:56 AM

T.V. has nothing on Old Doc's medicine show 

Doc Corn's Medicine Show was quite the success until he hooked up with the wrong partner and sold tickets to view a strange animal called the Pollimazuke.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:45 AM

Magick and Me: Blondie's Gary "Valentine" Lachman on the Occult 

Former Blondie bassist and world expert on the occult Gary Lachman talks to David Moats about participating in rituals, Mick Jagger's flirtations with magick, the Freemasons, and why there's more to the occult than being a drug fiend like Aleister Crowley.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:02 AM

George 'Evil Genius' Hodel Rides Again II 

For anyone who knows anything about historic crimes, this book is a joke. If "Black Dahlia Avenger" was seeing the face of Jesus on a tortilla, then "Most Evil" is the whole enchilada -- with rice and beans.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:12 AM

Update: Chilling New Details Emerge in Syko Sam Horrorcore Murders Case 

According to Paul Calcagno, McCrosky was part of a Satanic cult who engaged in ritual music videos and idolized David Berkowitz, the 1970s NYC serial killer who called himself "the Son of Sam."

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:06 AM

At the American Museum of Natural History, Gossamer Silk From Spiders 

Five years ago Mr. Peers and Nicholas Godley, an American fashion designer also living on the island, began a partnership to do what no one there, or anywhere, had tried for more than 100 years: to harness spiders to make silk in the same way that silkworm cocoons have been used for thousands of years.

Fascinating.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:04 AM

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Free Book! 

Nick Mamatas's Move Under Ground, a Beat-style horror tale in which Jack Kerouac saves the world from Cthulhu, is available for free download. Follow the link to learn more or go here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:49 PM

Garver's Flying Circus - Kansas Memory 

Garver's Flying Circus was established around 1920 by Karl Garver from Attica, Kansas, and Cyle Horchem, an ex-army airman from Ransom, Kansas. These men and others, performed spectacular aerial stunts across the Kansas sky.

A sad but cool piece of history. Thanks to Ian for the tip.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:26 PM

FATAL ATTRACTION 

Some little boys like football or dinosaurs, but as a young child Alan Petrucelli had a passion for dead celebrities.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:16 PM

Oral myths and truths explored at conference 

Did Aboriginal people find the treasure from a sunken ship off Stradbroke Island and use it to finance community purchases?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:17 AM

Mothman Festival 2009 

Every year since 2002 as the leaves begin to change, the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia becomes the site of the Mothman Festival, dedicated of course to celebrating the history, legend, and lore that sprang from the 1966 sighting of an ominous man-like winged creature by Linda and Roger Scarberry.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:46 AM

Exact Date Pinned to Great Pyramid's Construction? 

The Egyptians started building the Great Pyramid of Giza on August 23, 2470 B.C., according to controversial new research that attempts to place an exact date on the start of the ancient construction project.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:01 AM

Can a daily pill really boost your brain power? 

In America, university students are taking illegally obtained prescription drugs to make them more intelligent. But would you pop a smart pill to improve your performance?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:20 AM

Bigfoot convention event to bring big bucks to Tyler 

When Kim Doughty got the call about Bigfoot believers wanting to use her Sleep Inn & Suites as the host hotel for convention-goers, she didn't know what to think.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:26 AM

Now You Can Find Out What Cthulhu Smells Like 

Everybody wants a sniff of the gods of the deep, and that's why Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs has created a bunch of perfumes inspired by HP Lovecraft.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:10 AM

Call for greater recognition for Welsh scientist 

The scientist in question? Occultist John Dee.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:07 AM

George 'Evil Genius' Hodel Rides Again 

Steve Hodel, whose last book claimed that his father was the Black Dahlia killer, has a new book coming out in which he claims that his father was several other serial killers, including San Francisco's Zodiac Killer. Next up, My Daddy was Jack the Ripper!.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:37 AM

Monster mystery on Cameron Lake 

Kirk, the president of the B.C. Scientific Cryptozoology Club, was on the shore of Cameron Lake Saturday, on an expedition to look into reports of sightings of strange waves and wakes on the lake surface that might indicate the presence of a large, as yet unknown animal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:17 AM

Brutal Destruction Of Iraq's Archaeological Sites Continues 

These days Ancient Mesopotamia looks more like a scene from the movie Holes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:31 AM

It's a strange world -- The Strange Family Circus 

The Stranges could not find a baby-sitter, so they took their children to work, which on this night was at an asphalt parking lot in downtown Phoenix during the monthly First Fridays Art Walk. The couple set up a play table, where their two daughters could color and read, next to the stage, where Mom and Dad would eat fire and swallow razor blades.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:16 AM

The most creepy stuff on the web 

They're among the creepiest videos and photos online, with some bordering on the sheer terrifying. Some may find this content disturbing.

I don't know about creepiest but not a bad list.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:51 AM

Masons: the reluctant text symbols 

The Freemasons held their fraternal breath as midnight approached last Monday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:40 AM

New Lizzie Borden book teased at lecture 

Lizzie Borden is a woman who most people know as infamous, who may or may not have committed the murder of her father and step-mother, who lived in Victorian times stuffed in high ruffled blouses, who was a wealthy spinster who’d been ostracized by society and who lived the remainder of her life alone at Maplecroft.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:18 AM

Monday, September 21, 2009

Baby's First Mythos 

H.P. Lovecraft for children. Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 PM

Monday Night's Murders 

A decade later, Nix's murder still a mystery

Ten years have passed since 18-year-old Elaine Nix made a call from a convenience store pay phone and was never heard from again.

Yale Murder Motive May Remain a Mystery

The Mystery Behind Hendrix's Death

A former Jeffery associate, James Wright, asserts in his 2009 title, Rock Roadie, that the manager confessed to the murder in 1971. “That son of a bitch was going to leave me,” Jeffery said. “If I lost him, I’d lose everything.”

Drifter's death thaws two cold cases

Three decades and two countries apart, the young couples were shot to death in the night as they slept under the stars. Then the killer crept into the shadows of a mystery that only now is beginning to come to light.

Mystery of woman found dead under floorboards

Rolling Stones Drama Continues: New Suspect Pointed Out in Brian Jones Murder Enquiry, Mick Taylor Denies He’s Suing the Band

Did Double Life Lead to Craigslist Murder?

Six-month Claudia search takes toll

The disappearance of Claudia Lawrence has occupied the minds of her family and the time of North Yorkshire Police for six months now.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:22 PM

Cyprus a victim of lunar larceny 

They thought we’d simply lost it, but Cyprus’ own piece of the moon, the Apollo Goodwill Moon Rock, was never given to the government in 1974 and instead ended up for sale on the black market in 2003, a retired NASA agent revealed yesterday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:51 PM

Identical lottery draw was coincidence 

The draw of the same six winning numbers twice in a row in Bulgaria's national lottery was a freak coincidence, officials said Thursday.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:23 PM

Ales Stenar, Sweden: a ship of stones 

Richard Tulloch ponders a megalithic monument perched high and dry above the Baltic Sea.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:59 PM

Secret portrait of British artist hidden behind another canvas by admirer 

Art experts have discovered a century-old portrait of Sir Alfred Munnings thought to have been concealed by a female artist to avoid upsetting her jealous husband.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:52 PM

Ellroy Confidential 

He lives like a monk and swears like a sailor. He worships Beethoven and doesn't own a computer. For novelist James Ellroy, fierceness and stamina are required to reveal giant lies and tell big stories.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:43 PM

Cammy: A New Canadian Lake Monster? 

Move over, Sasquatch: Some say there's a new monster in Canada, living in a small lake on Vancouver Island.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:42 PM

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Mongolian death worm hunters return with film but no creature 

Two New Zealanders who went hunting for the acid-spitting, lightning-throwing Mongolian death worm have returned from the Gobi desert in one piece.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:48 PM

The search is on for Windermere's mystery monster 

The search follows years of reported sightings of a big creature in the lake, the most recent being in July when Lake District hotelier Thomas Noblett was hit by a three-foot wave while swimming.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:47 PM

Climate change depresses beer drinkers 

If the sinking Maldives aren't enough to galvanise action on climate change, could losing a classic beer do it?

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:12 PM

Human body parts don’t create wealth: Is any ritual murderer listening? 

For centuries, human body parts have been used as ingredients for magical concoctions and charms. To obtain body parts, performers of these dark arts kill people in order to harvest specific organs for use in the occult.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:00 PM

Researchers uncover secrets of mystery island 

After spending nearly three weeks on a rugged island in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, two researchers uncover more secrets of this so-called "Mystery Island."

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:45 PM

Plague Bacteria May Have Killed Chicago Researcher 

A University of Chicago researcher died Sunday, Sept. 13 from an infection which may be from a weakened strain of the bacteria that causes the plague, a University of Chicago Medical Center news release said.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:40 PM

Gatti died by hanging: second autopsy 

Despite the latest results, many people still disagree on how Gatti died.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:38 PM

Animal sightings beg some questions 

It was an uncanny encounter. This English guy, whom I now delight in calling "That Limy guy up off the Chet Noyes Road," was lining up with me to check out our latest purchases at Hicks Hardware in Colebrook, and said, "Have you seen the cougar near your place?"

See also: EXCLUSIVE: Vow to catch big cat

The Crystal Palace 'Puma'

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:36 PM

Mothman Attracts Visitors to Mason County 

For the eighth year in a row the Mothman menaces downtown Point Pleasant.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:32 PM

Woman uses $20 bill printed in 1934 in UPS Store 

What a Dickinson business manager thought was a worthless counterfeit $20 bill turned out to be worth more than even face value.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:27 PM

Jay-Z: A Master Of Occult Wisdom? 

Mitch Horowitz, author of American Occult says that Jay-Z has a keen grasp of certain esoterica, especially in the music video for his new single, "Run This Town."

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:26 PM

Search is on for serpent-like lake creature 

Brigette Horvath knew she saw something strange in Cameron Lake on Vancouver Island two years ago and a team of researchers say she might be right.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:14 PM

Friday, September 18, 2009

The Friday Five: Starting your weekend right 

Five of the more funky events in the archeological world for this week.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:28 PM

Evidence Points to Conscious 'Metacognition' in Some Animals 

J. David Smith, Ph.D., a comparative psychologist at the University at Buffalo who has conducted extensive studies in animal cognition, says there is growing evidence that animals share functional parallels with human conscious metacognition -- that is, they may share humans' ability to reflect upon, monitor or regulate their states of mind.

Via Tima Vlasto, who has more info and links.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:45 AM

Friday's Flying Saucers 

UFO spotted over Belton (With murky pic)

'UFO' spotted over St. Paul's (With pic)

Michigan witnesses watch 'dark' UFO over Lake Huron Campground

UFO on videotape, real or fake? You tell me (With videos)

Sleep paralysis versus UFO abduction

The X-Files comes to East Dunbartonshire

Document Shredding by the FAA Destroys Valuable UFO History

When UFOs Cozy Up With Airplanes (with pic)

Paranormal experts feel alienated by Obama

New class of UAVs look more like UFOs (With pic)

UFOlogy: Aliens and Hucksters Among Us

New Photo Analysis Shows WCUFO to Be Authentic!

More sightings in the sky (With pic)

Video: 'Ghost Plane' UFO in the skies above Broxbourne

Second UFO sighting over Streatham - the truth is out there (With video)

Are there UFOs in Epsom's skies? (With video)

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:25 AM

How to seek the Holy Grail one hour from London 

If Hertford makes the news, it’s usually about the progress of the local cricket team. That all changed in 2004, when the local Acheson brothers told the town newspaper that a network of booby-trapped secret tunnels ran underneath the town, used for unspecified rituals and filled with precious objects.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:45 AM

Rare Coins - Family Treasure or Ill-Gotten Goods? 

Roy Langbord had guessed that someone in his family might have hidden away a great treasure decades before, but not until his mother had him check a long-neglected safe-deposit box did he realize just how great it was.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:02 AM

Jack the Ripper victims turned to prostitution after their marriages failed, census records reveal 

Over the last century they have passed into gruesome folklore, but Victorian census records on Jack the Ripper's victims cast new light on the lives of some of the murdered prostitutes.

See also: Scotland Yard inspector used Jack the Ripper case as cover for espionage

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:09 AM

British Skeleton Suggests Ancient Murder Mystery 

A skeleton found at an ancient Roman site in Britain has researchers wondering if they've stumbled on a murder mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:05 AM

Tarot Cards - A Short History And Introduction 

The history of Tarot cards has been shrouded in mystery. The popular version of the history of Tarot is that the cards had a mysterious origin in Egypt. That version then goes on to state that the Gypsies then took those cards all around the world.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:24 AM

The Wheaton mystery animal a cougar? Maybe 

It's still a mystery - whatever that animal is that's been prowling around Wheaton.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:55 AM

Alamance County Man Traps Mystery Animal 

A very lost coati.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:48 AM

Study finds T. rex had 8-foot mini precursor 

Tyrannosaurus rex's likely ancestors started small — but perfectly armed — some 125 million years ago, dinosaur researchers reported Thursday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:43 AM

Mystery object discovered beneath surf in Surf City 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is investigating an unidentified object buried in the sand off the 17th Street beach.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:43 AM

Thursday, September 17, 2009

“Alien Hand Syndrome” 

A review of the new book from the fine people at Damn Interesting.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:13 AM

The Found Symbols: Mitch Horowitz, 'Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation' 

The "all-seeing eye" and broken pyramid on the back of the dollar bill is a Masonic image, placed there in 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was a Freemason.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:50 AM

Sea-Monkeys! 

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:42 AM

Newton and the Counterfeiter 

We learned at school about Sir Isaac Newton's theories of gravity - thanks to the falling apple - and planetary motion, but I, for one, did not know he took on the job of running the Royal Mint and virtually saved Britain's currency.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:40 AM

TV producer, reporter dig into life of accused 'Craigslist Killer' 

In the days after accused “Craigslist Killer” Philip Markoff’s April arrest, many media reports pointed to a possible gambling addiction as a motive for robbery and murder.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:22 AM

A preview of Moctezuma: Aztec Ruler 

The story of Moctezuma, last king of the Aztecs, is one of absolute power – and abject surrender. And now it is the subject of a haunting new exhibition at the British Museum.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 AM

Abominable 'No' Men 

The determined deniers who resist the weight of evidence and exclude expert opinion from their world-view.

You lie!

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:02 AM

What is This, a Piranha? 

Wisconsin Piranha.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:10 AM

Space Shuttle Unleashes Magnificent Plume of Pee 

To anyone who's ever pondered what urine looks like in space -- c'mon, don't be shy -- we say: wonder no more, because photos of the phenomenon have finally hit the internet.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:03 AM

Teens accused of taking skulls return to help clean old Hernando cemetery 

Thrill seekers and ghost chasers tell of mysterious orbs of light, babies crying, dogs barking, ethereal images of a lynched man hanging from a tree, even an old shed holding a device they say the Ku Klux Klan used to grind up lynching victims.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:53 AM

ZODIAC Serial killer still stalks retired officer’s memories 

Vern Lippold, 82, of Sequim, claims to have arrested a man he says was the Zodiac killer, during his police days.
“I’ve been tortured with this for years,” he said.
“I’m sure this guy was the Zodiac. I’m try-ing to prove this guy was ‘the guy’ to myself.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:38 AM

UVU Professor unlocks mystery of 33 Peruvian mummies 

A UVU anthropology professor was recently featured on National Geographic for his research findings on 33 mummies at a site northeast of Chichlayo, Peru.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:34 AM

Birth of an urban legend: Paul is dead 

It was 40 years ago today that an article first appeared in a university student newspaper which gave birth to a weird rumor about the greatest rock band of all time.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:19 AM

Crystal Skulls Key to Maya Predictions for 2012 

Press release.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:18 AM

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Groovy artifacts from 1960s Marin County commune sorted 

The '60s aren't dead. They're in an archaeological site north of San Francisco.

With video. Hat tip to Scott.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:38 PM

Shipwreck may hold radioactive waste sunk by mafia off Italian coast 

Italian ministers and officials were today holding urgent consultations following the discovery of an unmarked wreck that prosecutors believe was used by the mafia to sink radioactive waste.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:04 PM

Rare discovery ancient gemstone with portrait of Alexander the Great 

A volunteer at a public structure in the south Tel Dor excavation, unearthed an engraved gemstone with a miniature portrait of the Greek ruler, Alexander the Great. The portrait is in such detail that all the characteristics of Alexander the Great are depicted on this gemstone. The stone is less than a centimeter high and half a centimeter in width.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:18 AM

Botched execution leaves prisoner sobbing 

A tearful prisoner tried to assist with his own death after executioners spent two hours sticking a poison-filled syringe into his body during a botched killing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:12 AM

Snake born with hand shocks scientists 

An elderly Chinese woman who discovered a snake with a clawed hand protruding from its body was so scared she beat it to death, according to reports.

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:11 AM

Sonar Survey Spies Mysterious Plume Off California Coast 

An oceanographic survey has discovered a 1,400-meter-tall plume rising from the seafloor off the coast of California. Water samples taken at the site, about 32 kilometers northwest of Cape Mendocino, indicate that the feature isn’t mineral-rich water spewing from a hydrothermal vent, but researchers aren’t yet sure exactly what the feature is made of.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:09 AM

FBI Continues Mysterious Dig in Detroit 

This new dig has sparked speculation that the Feds may be looking for the former Teamster's President Jimmy Hoffa.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:09 AM

Tibetan Healing Sound Instruments Mysteriously Alter Space, Mind, Time 

Press release, perhaps from another dimension.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:06 AM

Believe it or not: Conspiracy theories are invading pop culture 

What have Dan Brown and the Internet done?

See also: 8 myths from ‘The Lost Symbol’ on Freemasons decoded

I’ll tell you things about the Masons that even Dan Brown won’t, the chicken

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:54 AM

Director of Mothman Festival excited for eighth year 

It’s been 43 years since Mothman has been seen in Point Pleasant, that is, unless you attend the annual Mothman Festival every year.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:53 AM

New push to ID mesa burial victims 

X-rays from six missing Albuquerque women have been sent to a Texas lab trying to identify the last four sets of remains recovered from sandy graves on the city's west mesa earlier this year.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:45 AM

A turtle? A tortoise? Hard to tell. But object at coast is important, scientists say 

After a visit to an Oregon beach today to see what some thought could be a 20- million -year-old turtle, scientists walked away sure of only this: It's big, it's unusual and removing it would greatly imperil anyone trying such a feat.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:42 AM

New suspect emerges in possible Brian Jones murder 

The line for suspected killers of Rolling Stones co-founder Brian Jones forms at the left.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:40 AM

London museum takes a bet on Loch Ness Monster 

The London museum secured rights to showcase Nessie's remains in return for verifying her existence according to documents from its archive.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:38 AM

Divers survey wreckage of Civil War-era boat in Tampa 

A Civil War-era wooden steamship that smuggled cotton and cattle hides to Cuba, the Scottish Chief also returned with ammunition and guns for Confederate troops and Cuban cigars and fine wine for a deprived city in the grips of a strangling Union blockade.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:37 AM

Ancient man used stone 'sat nav' to navigate across country 

The complex network of stones, hill forts and earthworks allowed travellers to trek hundreds of miles with 'pinpoint accuracy' more than 5,000 years ago, amateur historian Tom Brooks says. The grid covered much of southern England.

Prehistoric man 'used crude sat nav'

See also: Ley Lines

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:36 AM

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Awesome or Off-Putting: Mexican Farmer Drowns Cute Baby Alien 

The problems with monsters, ghosts and aliens is that, sure – people see them – but there usually are no pictures to prove it. Sometimes a few frames get snapped off – but the blurry image in the distant background is rarely convincing of anything.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:39 PM

Fish With Both Male, Female Characteristics Found in Many Rivers 

Federal researchers have found "intersex" fish -- with both male and female characteristics -- in rivers from the deep Southeast to the Pacific Northwest, indicating that a condition found in the Potomac River is more widespread than previously known.

Are we next?

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:48 PM

Did the artist Paul Klee tweet the first Twitter in 1922? 

Did Twitter find its birth place in Paul Klee’s "Twittering Machine" painted in 1922?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:43 PM

Mystery Hill--America's Stonehenge? 

In the quiet woods of New Hampshire, there lies a mystery. Strange monuments of stone are interspersed among the trees. Some look like squat houses, others like enclosures of some kind, and there's a large, flat stone with a channel cut around it that looks perfect for some bloody ritual.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:40 AM

Lost symbols found? 

You don't have to read "The Lost Symbol" to get hooked on the historical puzzles lying in and around the nation's capital - including a puzzle that even super-symbologist Robert Langdon would be hard-pressed to solve.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:41 AM

Can anyone identify this mystery critter? 

First up, a mysterious critter question. Hearsayer Debbie tuned in the other day to say that her dog, Roxy, had discovered this critter under a small barn near her house in Hartwell several months ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:41 AM

Hiking Hadrian's Wall 

Multiple posts on walking a fascinating bit of history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:38 AM

Bermuda Triangle plane mystery 'solved' 

Two of the so-called Bermuda Triangle's most mysterious disappearances in the late 1940s may have been solved.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:38 AM

Samurai mind training for you and me... 

Time reports that the U.S. military has launched a "samurai mind training" program for our troops.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:34 AM

TOO MANY 9-11 COMMISSION QUESTIONS STILL UNANSWERED 

When Pandora's Box is finally fully opened on the deceptions and abuses of power by the Cheney/Bush administration ~ the 9/11 conspiracy and cover-up will stand alone as the most treasonous act in American history.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:31 AM

Madeleine McCann 'is in a secret lair' 

Ulster detective leading the hunt on why he thinks she’s being held captive just like Jaycee Dugard.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:33 AM

White Supremacist Held on $1 Million Bail for Facebook Threats 

You are doing it wrong.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:31 AM

Monster has West Palm Beach City Commissioner seeing green 

West Palm Beach City Commissioner Bill Moss thinks it's time his city starts getting serious about the Muck Monster.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:56 AM

The famous ghost lights of Marfa, Texas 

Way out in West Texas, near the sleepy little town of Marfa, there is an unexplained phenomenon that can often be seen on the darkest of nights, when strange, colorful lights appear in the sky, giving the surrounding landscape an otherworldly glow.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:30 AM

Fossils From Animals And Plants Are Not Necessary For Crude Oil And Natural Gas, Swedish Researchers Find 

The findings are revolutionary since this means, on the one hand, that it will be much easier to find these sources of energy and, on the other hand, that they can be found all over the globe.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:16 AM

Cryptozoo Museum Opens In Downtown Portland 

Awesome!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:14 AM

Mystery of cats that vanish 

Residents of Kirksanton are keeping an extra eye on their beloved pets.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:08 AM

Monday, September 14, 2009

Monday Night's Murders 

Lab technician eyed as suspect in murder of Yale student Annie Le

Weatherston jailed for at least 18 years

Weatherston, 33, was in July found guilty by a Christchurch jury of murdering Miss Elliott, 22, stabbing her in her Dunedin home 216 times on January 9, 2008.

Report details cabin stakeout, gunfight

John Gotti Junior goes on trial for racketeering

My brother, the Unabomber

Dr Thomas Noguchi: LA coroner confidential

Fair prostitutes help West Mesa murders

The fair kicks off Friday and investigators hope prostitutes coming into town for the event will lead them to a killer.

Crime novelist accused of attempted murder starring in own drama

Man is arrested in 1975 strangulation of Mar Vista woman, 80

Cook County Jail EMT testifies Brown's Chicken suspect said he killed for 'fun'

'House of Horrors' shocks country

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:42 PM

Prisoner escapes French jail in cardboard box 

Embarrassed officials were at a loss to explain how Jean-Pierre Treiber, 45, a double murder suspect, managed to elude detection in the box he had built himself at a workshop in the high security prison of Auxerre, Burgundy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:37 PM

Horse Slaughter Mystery Deepens in South Florida 

The discovery of another slaughtered horse -- this time a prized racehorse -- has deepened the mystery of a spate of grotesque mutilations in south Florida this year.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:27 PM

Census shows Jack the Ripper victims led "respectable" lives 

Some of Jack the Ripper’s most notorious victims appear to be living respectable domestic lives in census records that went online today.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:33 PM

N.H. researchers see toxin found in pond scum as possible cause of ALS 

Researchers hope to explain why Lou Gehrig’s disease seems to occur more often in people who live near lakes and ponds where cyanobacteria bloom

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:26 PM

“Cthulhu” 

You can go home again. But you will be raped by Tori Spelling.


See also: Astoria Horror: An Interview with Cthulhu’s Dan Gildark

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:12 PM

Searching for a monster in Cameron Lake 

John Kirk has been eager to find out what lies below the surface of Cameron Lake for a few years now, and this week he’ll have his chance.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:52 AM

New wrinkle could prolong Knox trial for months 

The murder trial of Seattle student Amanda Knox could stretch on for several more months under a scenario that's considered increasingly likely by observers of the trial.

See also: Amanda Knox murder trial: Taking aim at Rudy Guede

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

Airship visited Bloomington in 1910 

Cool pics!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:21 AM

Where the BHMs (Big Hairy Monsters) are 

Everyone knows the story of Champ, the mysterious monster allegedly living at the bottom of the big lake that inspired its name.

But what about the bats with human faces sighted outside Rutland? How about the pet-eating Pigman of Northfield? Or the cats with freakishly long legs that roam the dumpsters in Burlington?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:16 AM

Witches, ghosts and bigfoot! Caldwell County lore 

As I sped down Kentucky Highway 62, the butterflies in my stomach stood at attention.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:15 AM

Greenwoods Village 

I added Greenwoods Village to the links. Check out their UFO links in the Reading Room.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:06 AM

Xinjiang needle jab attacks not toxic: report 

Authorities in western China's restive Xinjiang region have found nothing toxic in blood samples taken from victims of a wave of needle attacks, state press said Monday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:53 AM

'The Lost Symbol' 

Like "Angels and Demons," published in 2000, and "The Da Vinci Code," "The Lost Symbol" solves puzzles, analyzes paintings and reveals forgotten histories -- all so that Brown's tireless hero, Robert Langdon, can find a legendary Masonic treasure despite special ops squads that are dogging him and a bizarre killer who has kidnapped his dear friend and mentor.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:47 AM

Axe hovers over occult writer's Streatham home 

The man who lived there once sent shivers down the spines of millions of readers, but now Dennis Wheatley’s former home is in dire peril of coming to a sticky end itself.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:45 AM

Wreckage of storied ship unearthed at Topsail Island 

Waves and wind have once again uncovered what one newspaperman dubbed “one of the most chilling tales of shipwrecks and death along the Carolina Coast in the 20th century.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:40 AM

Decades-old mystery solved 

The mystery of Everett Ruess — a legendary artist, writer and vagabond who vanished without a trace in 1934 — hovered over the rugged canyon country of Utah for nearly 75 years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:34 AM

Old love letters recall an affair to forget 

Once in a while, on an outwardly calm sea, a story breaks loose from its moorings and veers into uncharted waters.

Such was the riddle behind of a packet of love letters — found stashed in an old piano bench in Fisher Park — written by a mystery woman named Ophelia to her beau, Charles, and postmarked 1937.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:31 AM

Mesa Verde, Colorado: In search of a vanished Indian civilisation 

The first time a white man set eyes on the extraordinary ancient cliff dwellings dug into the canyons of Mesa Verde in south-western Colorado, a local Ute Indian chief warned him to back off before it was too late. "When you disturb the spirits of the dead, you die too," he warned.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:28 AM

Extinct New Zealand Eagle May Have Eaten Humans 

Sophisticated computer scans of fossils have helped solve a mystery over the nature of a giant, ancient raptor known as the Haast's eagle which became extinct about 500 years ago, researchers said Friday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:20 AM

Friday, September 11, 2009

Friday's Flying Saucers 

Video: 'Ghost Plane' in the skies above Broxbourne

Readers shed some light on UFO sightings in Kendal (With pic)

UFology and Science - can they co-exist?

12-year-old snaps photo of UFO over Arizona neighborhood (With pic)

UFO invades Indian town: Smoking gun video (With video from Indian TV)

Aliens in Galloway?

New UFO Video using infrared filter, very cool

Notre Dame panelists ponder: Is there life out there?

UFO sightings recalled by police eyewitnesses

Weekend rash of UFO reports include sightings in Pittsburgh, Jeannette; multiple reports in Ohio

Amazing UFO footage over Fresno, California?

UFO 'filmed for 40 minutes' by Chinese scientists during solar eclipse (With video)

Mystery surrounds second 'UFO' sighting in the skies of Mitcham, Tooting and Streatham

UFOs caught on video over Palestine (With video)

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:21 PM

Earliest fibers found in Georgia, dating back 34,000 years 

Archaeologists have discovered fibers used by prehistoric man a record 34,000 years ago to make clothes and rope, according to research published Thursday in the United States.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:44 PM

The Friday Five 

The Friday Five, the week's most interesting news articles from the world of archeology, is here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:20 PM

The Masonic Myth and Occult America 

Review.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:23 PM

Needle attacks and rumours spread in China's Xinjiang 

Mysterious needle attacks have spread to new cities in China's restive far-western region of Xinjiang, the China Daily said on Friday, although once again the assaults appear to be a mix of real and imagined.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:15 PM

Giant eagle ruled New Zealand skies 

A new study shows that New Zealand's giant – and now extinct – Haast's eagle ruled the skies until 500 years ago, swooping down on moa.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:59 PM

WW2 Anniversary: Warrington man writes book on lost ship 

Steve Burke, aged 34, of Morton Close, has been interested in history and the Second World War throughout his life but it was only when he received an encyclopaedia of ships for Christmas one year that he heard of the Nazi aircraft carrier the Graf Zeppelin.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:56 PM

Monster mystery has kept George in the media spotlight 

A decade on, George chuckles at the memory of the worldwide media frenzy which followed the announcement of his discovery of "Nessie's Lair", although that discovery had actually been made several years before.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:55 PM

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Mysterious code of 'king's bowl' cracked 

It's been called the baptism bowl of Scottish King Robert the Bruce and even spent 20 years being used as a plant pot.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:22 PM

Bad movie inspires Rocky Horror-like following 

Every now and then, a movie comes along that defines a generation. Incredibly, the film that has begun to fill that role for 20- and 30-somethings is The Room, a gloriously dreadful story of love, betrayal and awkward dialogue.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:28 AM

An unexpected encounter with a hairy visitor 

Sixty-eight years ago this month, a family in British Columbia had a scary visit from an unexpected hairy visitor.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:07 AM

Ancient figurines were toys not mother goddess statues, say experts as 9,000-year-old artefacts are discovered 

They were carved out of stone and squeezed out of clay 9,000 years ago, at the very dawn of civilisation.

Now archaeologists say these astonishing Stone Age statues could have been the world's first educational toys.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:00 AM

Is the beast back? "Big cat" prowls Brighton and Hove golf course 

Golfers more concerned about birdies and albatrosses now have to contend with another animal on the course - a big black cat seen prowling the rough.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:13 AM

THE GHOST ROAD 

The ghostly light of Ghost Road has been explained in various ways--as the distant lights of automobiles, swamp gas, and other natural phenomenon.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:53 AM

Cops Get Paranormal Help from Above and Beyond, According to Book by Michigan State Police Officer s 

It started as a routine traffic stop by two Detroit police officers, but seconds later, bullets from an Uzi-style submachine gun came screaming into their vehicle, piercing the hood and doors and shattering the windshield. Then something really weird happened.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:24 AM

Mice Levitated in Lab 

Scientists have now levitated mice using magnetic fields.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:01 AM

Local author explores mystery of Atlantis in book 

His imagination led him all the way to the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, where he discovered the lost continent of Atlantis in his new book, “Proof of Atlantis: Records from the Past.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:07 AM

'MonsterQuest' to feature MSU faculty member 

Forensic artist takes on Mothman.

See also:

Dark Wings - The Mothman Chronicle Trailer

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:17 AM

Sexy Beast 

The Mysteries of the Giant Pacific Octopus.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:10 AM

They say in hard times people return to superstition 

Our brains have evolved to detect order in the environment and to expect that every outcome has a cause. Some cause and effect relationships are uncertain, but must be responded to and this leaves us prone to superstition.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:03 AM

Diving Deep in the Search for a Living Fossil 

For 33 years, Peter A. Rona has pursued an ancient, elusive animal, repeatedly plunging down more than 3,000 meters to the muddy seabed of the North Atlantic to search out and, if possible, pry loose his quarry.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:59 AM

Bible-Era Mystery Vessel Found -- Code Stumps Experts 

It didn't look like much at first, just a broken, mud-caked stone mug.

But when archaeologists in Jerusalem cleaned the 2,000-year-old vessel, they discovered ten lines of mysterious script.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:58 AM

Two whistleblowers independently report teleporting to Mars and meeting Martian extraterrestrials 

Two whistleblowers, both formerly involved in secret research and development projects undertaken by US defense agencies, have independently verified their secret teleportation to US bases on Mars, and to meeting intelligent Martian extraterrestrial life. Their accounts are now available on the Internet, and can be seen below in this article.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:56 AM

Egyptian temples followed heavenly plans 

Ancient Egyptian temples were aligned so precisely with astronomical events that people could set their political, economic and religious calendars by them. So finds a study of 650 temples, some dating back to 3000 BC.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:16 AM

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Hey hey, we're the monkeys 

New Rigorous Intuition. Go. Read.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:10 PM

Happy 9-9-09 Everyone! 

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:54 AM

Buss, the Un-Discovered Island 

n September 1578, while sailing near Greenland’s southernmost point at Cape Farewell, captain James Newton of the Emmanuel recorded in his log the first sighting of an island “seeming to be fruiteful, full of woods, and a champion countrie.”

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:45 AM

An Exorcist's Field Guide 

The Paranormal Pastor has a new book.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:30 AM

Shan Hai Jin - an ancient Chinese wonder book 

There are a number of highly significant tomes out there that have never attracted the degree of cryptozoological and zoomythological attention that they deserve. One such example is the Shan Hai Jin (or Jing) - a classic Chinese text at least 2,200 years old, roughly 31,000 words long, divided into 18 sections, and containing a wealth of information on all manner of extraordinary beasts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:04 AM

SMASHING NEW BOOK ON ATLANTIS 

There have been more books on Atlantis than you can shake a stick at. So what’s different about this one? Well, aside from being written by noted scholar, Fortean and antiquarian Ronan Coghlan; it is an A to Z of not just all things Atlantean but of all lost geography: lost cities, lost islands, lost continents. It’s all here: Hyperborea, lemuria, Mu, Shambhala and many others.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:59 AM

Fairy tales have ancient origin 

Popular fairy tales and folk stories are more ancient than was previously thought, according research by biologists.

Via the smartly redesigned Daily Grail.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:58 AM

Criminals of the Kriminalmuseum 

The Kriminalmuseum is meant to be about more than simply murder. There are indeed displays of counterfeit money, lock picking, brothels, and police investigation, however these displays are few and far between. Mostly, images of bodies axed to bits and the skulls of murderers and victims fill the space. It can be rather difficult to get through, and yet a morbid fascination pulls you along.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:27 AM

The Mngwa, legendary big cat of Tanzania 

The Mngwa (translates as the strange one) or Nunda is said to be a extremely large , ferocious, grey striped cat , that lives in the East African country of Tanzania. It is further described as, "the size of a donkey."

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:25 AM

The dog-headed man of Southern California 

Like, arf, dude.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:21 AM

Levitation Secret Revealed (70 years ago) 

Up, up, and away! (Sort of.)

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:19 AM

The OFFICIAL Gralien Report TOP TEN SCARIEST MONSTERS 

Although I question virtually everything presented here (not taking a completely skeptical stance against the possibility, by any means), there is a wide margin of collected evidence which suggests the baddies presented here are worthy of further speculation. You be the judge. . .

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:07 AM

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Kentucky Bigfoot 

"Do you think Bigfoot's a vegetarian?"

"I hope so."

Camera Snaps 'Bigfoot' Photo In Ky. Back Yard

CNN video

Some wonder if mysterious image in picture is Big Foot

Cryptomundo weighs in.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:51 PM

Flatwoods Remembers Strange Sighting 

Frank Feschino spoke with local residents about the research he has compiled in his recent books about a mysterious object that landed on an old farm on September 12, 1952. (With video)

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:56 AM

World's top ten most mysterious and horrible spots 

My bedroom curiously absent.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:57 AM

Teenage girls suffer fainting fits after playing ouija online 

Three more students in Colombia's Caribbean department of Sucre have succumbed to fainting fits after playing with a Ouija board over the internet.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:50 AM

Jeffery Anderson's new book looks at 'Hoodoo, Voodoo and Conjure' 

Jeffery Anderson, a professor of history at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, has delved deep into the myth and history of this practice and has found its roots reach far deeper than the cypress trees in the swamp.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:59 AM

Mystery of the Mega Volcano 

NOVA joins four scientists in their global pursuit of clues to a massive volcanic eruption that appears to have had a devastating impact on the Earth 75,000 years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:46 AM

London's Garrotting Ghouls 

The sinister side of London's folklore is peppered with tales of elusive killers, perverse slashers and stabbers, and all manner of peculiar assailants. These kinds of individuals, or groups, and their fiendish acts, often result in local panic and terror. Such creation of urban hysteria becomes legend. Take for instance the rumour that between 1856 and 1862, phantom garrotters were prowling the city streets.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:05 AM