Monday, November 30, 2009

Fishing Rods From Carrot Sticks and Canvas Made of Concrete?! Seven Amazing Materials 

Slideshow. Neat stuff.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:39 PM

Top 10 Mysterious People 

Over the centuries, history is filled with wonderful tales of mysterious people – many of whom are never identified.

Thanks Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:17 PM

Occult of Personality 

I added Occult of Personality, interviews with serious esoteric researchers from all over the world, to the links.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:35 AM

Bounty's ghosts boost bids for old naval logbook 

"Several canoes came onboard," Woodthorp writes in curling script. "Found the island inhabited by the descendants of F Christian...Nine Englishmen, 11 Tahitian women and some men first settled here, burnt the Bounty. They speak good English, likewise Tahitian language, at present are 48 inhabitants."

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:32 AM

50 ultimate travel experiences 

Mystical ruins, roads made of skeletons, desert art installations ... explorers, travel writers and tour operators remember their favourite travel moments.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:25 AM

Triangular Snowflakes Have Scientists Puzzled 

One of the most commonly known traits of snowflakes is the fact that they are hexagonal.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:25 AM

Adolf Hitler's Mercedes, the ultimate war trophy for a Russian collector 

Showing off his stunning collection of classic automobiles, Dmitry Lomakov explains why Russians love Nazi cars. "They are symbols of Russia's victory,'' he says. "For Russians the second world war isn't a historical event. For us it happened yesterday."

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:22 AM

Archaeologist Kathryn Bard’s Amazing Egyptian Digs 

Best known for its exports of gold, incense, ebony, elephant ivory, and exotic animals, the exact location of the port city Punt remains a mystery; Bard believes it was in present-day eastern Sudan.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:15 AM

Wreck may hold clue to nation's discovery 

Did American whalers discover the east coast of Australia before Captain Cook?

See also: Old skull European, DNA tests confirm

History's gotten a bit more confusing Down Under.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:08 AM

New York History Blog 

I added New York History Blog to the links. Lots of good info for Empire State enthusiasts.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:17 AM

Bizarre mutilations of cattle lead to 'alien visitor' theory 

The police serving a small village in south central Colorado are scratching their heads over the mysterious deaths and mutilations of four calves reported by one rancher this month.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:00 AM

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Bigfoot researchers pick up on 'Booger' 

The Belt Road Booger's fame has spread outside of Coweta County and is now beginning to attract the attention of Bigfoot researchers on other parts of the globe.

See also: Canton native led the first search for Bigfoot

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:59 PM

Exclusive: Comics Legend Steve Bissette on His New Monsters 

We chatted with the artist a few days ago about how The Vermont Monster Guide came to be, and about his hope to explore the folk legends of the other forty-nine states.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:58 PM

Tiny magnetic discs could kill cancer cells: study 

Tiny magnetic discs just a millionth of a metre in diameter could be used to used to kill cancer cells, according to a study published on Sunday.

Via Fark Geek.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:29 PM

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Secret CIA 'magic' manual from Cold War era on sale 

The guide was part of a larger CIA programme, called Project MK-Ultra, aimed at countering the Soviet mind-control techniques of the Cold War era.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:08 PM

Italian doctor may have found surprisingly simple cure for Multiple Sclerosis 

An Italian doctor has been getting dramatic results with a new type of treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, which affects up to 2.5 million people worldwide. In an initial study, Dr. Paolo Zamboni took 65 patients with relapsing-remitting MS, performed a simple operation to unblock restricted bloodflow out of the brain - and two years after the surgery, 73% of the patients had no symptoms.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:07 PM

Evidence of life on Mars lurks beneath surface of meteorite, Nasa experts claim 

Nasa scientists have produced the most compelling evidence yet that bacterial life exists on Mars.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:04 PM

Bizarre calf mutilations found on Colorado ranch 

A creepy string of calf mutilations in southern Colorado has a rancher and sheriff's officials mystified.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:02 PM

THE JFK CASE: WHAT INFORMANTS ARE STILL OUT THERE? 

There are many questions about the JFK assassination that can easily be answered - but only by eyewitnesses who aren't going to be alive for much longer. Do the math: It was 46 years ago this week. It's time for these eyewitnesses to tell their stories - or for the rest of us to at least know who to ask.

See also: Heir to Oswald boardinghouse shares its history

Via Covert History.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:57 PM

Santa’s Family Tree ‘09 

Cryptomundo gets ready for the season with a cool family tree of the big jolly guy.

See also: Bigfoot & Yeti Ornaments to get your tree ready.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:44 PM

Friday, November 27, 2009

Happy Birthday, Billy the Kid -- Outlaw from the Lower East Side 

Very little is known about Billy the Kid's early life -- even his birth name remains a mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:51 PM

Skinwalkers: What Are They? 

With skinwalkers becoming the subjects of popular books and recently, movies, it is fair to ask about their origins.

See also: Skinwlker Tales, An Index

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:37 PM

Loch Ness Monster 'family-friendly' to boost tourism 

The Loch Ness Monster has been "rebranded" by the film industry during the last decade, according to an expert on cinema.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:03 PM

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving! 

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:45 PM

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Kingdom of Amarugia 

I'm getting a lot of hits today from people searching for info on the Kingdom of Amarugia or the Amarugia Highlands. Any idea why? Drop me a line and let me know. My email link is on the right or you can leave a comment by clicking the time stamp below.

I wish I had more for you folks but info on the Kingdom is mighty scarce indeed. Send some along if you have it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:44 PM

Aeronauts From The Future 

Witness accounts of flying platforms and rocketmen.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:38 AM

The scarecrow of Sagle 

Did Uncle Pat's scarecrow come to life?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:19 AM

What's killing cows and chickens in Pittsylvania County? 

On one farm near Renan, nine calves were found dead last week — bringing the number of cattle killed there in the past year to 16. No one is sure who or what delivered them to their deaths.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:07 AM

On the trail of the New York bigfoot 

Excellent article on the Enigma of the Empire State. With multiple videos.

See also: 2 Local Men Working To Track Down Bigfoot (With video)

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:58 AM

Is case finally closed on 1965 UFO mystery? 

In the chronicles of UFO oddness, there's been a long-standing oddity — some say folklore, others deem it reality. This saga, now over four decades old, centers on a reported out-of-the-sky incident involving the small town of Kecksburg, Penn.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:47 AM

Monster Waves On The Sun Are Real 

Sometimes you really can believe your eyes. That's what NASA's STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) spacecraft are telling researchers about a controversial phenomenon on the sun known as the "solar tsunami."

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

The Addams Gallery 

The great cartoonist gets the museum treatment, sort of.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:51 AM

Woman’s Judo pioneer dies 

Kanokogi said she was hanging out with a neighborhood “tough girls gang” when she found an outlet for her hidden talents -- Judo.

Neat story.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:45 AM

The Man who exposed Stalin and the nazis 

The truth was everything to Gareth Jones. The Barry-born Welsh investigative journalist led a short but highly eventful life that ended in his murder in the wilds of Mongolia in 1935 aged 29. It was the price he paid for his reportage in Communist Russia and Nazi Germany in the 1930s, as he selflessly helped expose one of the gravest crimes against humanity the world has ever seen.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:56 AM

'Antifreeze' Molecules Collected from Subzero Bug 

An Alaskan beetle has cleared a long-standing mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:40 AM

Mengele had no hand in rise in twin births in Brazil 

So much for The Boys From Brazil: Nazi war criminal Joseph Mengele didn't genetically engineer "Aryan" twins in a Brazilian town, National Geographic researchers report.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:20 AM

Experts inch closer to a cure for coughing 

Scientists from Britain claim to have found a cure to coughing, which has by and large remained a mystery so far.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:34 AM

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Patient trapped in a 23-year 'coma' was conscious all along 

A car crash victim has spoken of the horror he endured for 23 years after he was misdiagnosed as being in a coma when he was conscious the whole time.

Hat tip to Scott.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:17 PM

1935 Sewer Gator Story Confirmed 

Crypomundo's got it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:16 PM

Origin of Species found in British loo 

A first edition of Charles Darwin's seminal book On the Origin of Species will be sold this week, after it was found in a family's toilet in southern Britain, an auction house says.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:55 PM

Found in Bradford: The lost England of Queen's Brian May 

Brian May is a rock star and guitar hero. So how did he end up producing a 3D picture book about an English village?

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:51 PM

The making of a serial killer 

Dennis Nilsen is one of Britain's most twisted murderers. Now a new BBC Alba documentary looks at his childhood in the north east of Scotland in search of clues to what drove him to such heinous crimes.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:06 AM

Weird data suggests something big beyond the edge of the universe 

Astronomers have found the best evidence yet for the weird idea that our universe is one of many in the 'multiverse'. What's more, these parallel universes seem to be exerting a strange force on our own, causing galaxy clusters to stream across space towards the edge of the known universe.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:24 AM

From the Files of the RJ's Surrealist Research Bureau 

The world's weirdest book - the Voynich manuscript.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:12 AM

Alive After 47 Minutes With No Heartbeat 

Three months ago Joe Tiralosi literally died. He walked into the emergency room at Presbyterian Hospital feeling sick and disoriented. One minute later he collapsed in cardiac arrest.

What happened next is nothing short of a medical miracle that even the doctors can't believe. That's because for the next 47 minutes, Tiralosi didn't have a heartbeat.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:11 AM

Mermaids in Myth and Art 

Mermaids and their fishy kin have been with us for a long time, but where did these alluring hybrids come from? We trace the mermaid's lineage, from Mesopotamian carvings to Disney films and Barbie dolls.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:50 AM

I traced my dad... and discovered he is Charles Manson 

Like many adopted children, Matthew Roberts set about finding his biological parents with a mix of nerves and excitement.

Via Fark.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:58 AM

Awesome or Off-Putting: The Brosno Dragon 

The locals lovingly refer to it as Brosnya, and as we understand it the thing is basically Nessie with a taste for musky human flesh and fine tuned German engineering.

Wiki.

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:55 AM

July death of woman who came to Camden County for 'spiritual cleansing' is ruled accidental 

Hamilton's death was never deemed suspicious by authorities, and "Houngan" Hector Salva, the voodoo priest who performed the "Lave Tet" ritual inside his small, Gloucester Township townhouse, was never charged or even named as a suspect in the case.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:34 AM

B.C. researchers discover gold rush ghost ship in Yukon lake 

The vessel A.J. Goddard sank in a winter storm 108 years ago, leaving behind a snapshot of life during the frenzy of prospecting and mining that engorged the Yukon Territory and enriched the ports of Vancouver and Victoria during the late 1800s and early 1900s.

See also: Sunken Canadian stern-wheeler is an underwater time capsule

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:29 AM

Scientology's dark secrets 

Senator Nick Xenophon's stunning attack on the Church of Scientology this week has shone a light on a worldwide group many former members accuse of ruining their lives through fear and abuse.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:22 AM

Monday, November 23, 2009

Monday Night's Murders 

The strange but true case of Dr. Hyde, poisoner

Hunters speak about finding body

Psychic detective says he helps police by contacting murder victims ‘on the other side’

Bendigo couple still missing after 41 years

Murder Behind the Badge: Former detective reveals tales of homicidal cops

Springfield Murders Remain a Mystery

Police hope body IDs crack mesa mystery

TO CATCH A KILLER: 1981 killing of mother and child still unsolved

'THE ULTIMATE PERSONIFICATION OF EVIL'

Missouri Sex Abuse Case Gets Even More Grotesque

Mixing Hare Krishna ex-devotees with relocated Mafioso leads to murder

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:59 PM

io9. We come from the future. 

I added io9 to the links.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:25 PM

Giant earthworks mystery at Cerne Abbas 

Archaeologist Rob Wilson-North has dug up a new mystery surrounding the Cerne Abbas giant.

He has identified earthworks near the iconic figure suggestive of the monument’s best known attributes.

And by "attributes" they mean "penis." More on the Cerne Abbas giant here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:47 AM

Florida panther found decapitated near Yeehaw Junction 

The location was odd enough. An anonymous caller reported seeing a dead Florida panther by the side of the Florida Turnpike near Yeehaw Junction. That's more than 150 miles north of where most panthers live.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:32 AM

Annals of Unsolved Crime: The Oswald Mystery 

The endless tangle of questions about bullets, trajectories, wounds, time sequences and inconsistent testimony that has surrounded the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and has obsessively fascinated, if not entirely blinded, two generations of self-styled assassination investigators, probably never will be satisfactorily resolved.

See also: I-Team: The JFK Conspiracy Theory

'The Lost JFK Tapes: The Assassination' takes viewers back to 1963

BOOK REVIEW: 'JFK': Skyhorse Publishing Brings Back L. Fletcher Prouty's 'Secret History of U.S.', His Version of Who Really Murdered President Kennedy -- and Why

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:12 AM

Where the Wild Things Are 

A visit to the Texas Bigfoot Conference. With video.

See also: Where the real wild things are

Is West Virginia part of Bigfoot’s migration route?

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:01 AM

Mystery Serbian healer goes missing 

Serbian health authorities are looking for a mysterious healer who has recently treated the injuries of several English Premier League footballers with a cure that includes massage with horse placenta.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:43 AM

Mystery lights pass over Moutere area 

No-one used the word UFO but the lights seen in the sky over Upper Moutere, near Nelson, last night are definitely unidentified.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:56 AM

Vintage suitcase projects 

Clever and crafty.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:48 AM

Seven Gigantic Rock Figures Rising from Beneath the Urals 

Bursting out of a plateau in a remote region of the Ural Mountains – like the gnarled fingers of some giant subterranean monster – the seven rock formations of Manpupuner in the Komi Republic are as veiled in mystery as they sometimes are in snowstorms and fog.

With extremely cool pics. Recommended.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:51 AM

Beacon-News writers find strange happenings 

Reporters deal with strange stories sometimes, including monkey men and ghosts.

More on the monkey here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:22 AM

Students under grip of mystery stroke 

Teaching learning activities in Rastriya Proposed Lower Secondary School in Lekhgaun VDC-4 have been adversely affected due to the students' falling unconscious on a daily basis.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:16 AM

Interview with Autumn Breeze, 5th Generation Witch 

Demons, ghosts, angels, etc.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:55 AM

Historic photographs found dumped under FW bridge 

Among the found photographs were images of President John F. Kennedy's motorcade just moments before his assassination, a young President George H. W. Bush and Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:42 AM

South Dakota man shoots a feral pig, rare in the Midwest 

A Lake County man this month shot a feral pig, an animal usually found in the southern United States.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:35 AM

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Sonic Weapons 

From the Fortean Times, 2001, but still a good read.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:14 PM

Paleo-Future Blog 

I added Paleo-Future - A look into the future that never was to the links. Thanks for the tip, Scott.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:59 PM

The Eye of the Watcher 

The Paranormal Pastor and supernatural spies.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:14 PM

'Fat for cosmetics' murder suspects arrested in Peru 

Four people have been arrested in Peru on suspicion of killing dozens of people in order to sell their fat and tissue for cosmetic uses in Europe.

Thanks, Joe!

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:28 PM

Lamp controlled by the power of your mind! 

Thanks to over 27 year’s research at the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) Laboratory and the company Psyleron, we can now own a lamp that reads our minds.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:18 PM

Midwest megameteor makes media madness 

With very cool video.

See also:

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:15 PM

Friday, November 20, 2009

Museum: Galileo's fingers, tooth are found 

Two fingers and a tooth removed from Galileo Galilei's corpse in a Florentine basilica in the 18th century and given up for lost have been found again and will soon be put on display, an Italian museum director said Friday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:44 PM

JFK relics scattered across U.S. still hold mystique 

Places and objects linked to John F. Kennedy's death still stir strong sentiments 46 years later. "It's not just the assassination," Underwood says. "It reminds people of the last spurt of innocence before the death of a president."

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:33 AM

Rebel Witches and the Creation of Capitalism 

Silvia Federici’s brilliant Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body, and Primitive Accumulation, tells the dark saga of the Witch Hunt that consumed Europe for more than 200 years. In uncovering this forgotten history, Federici exposes the origins of capitalism in the heightened oppression of workers, represented by Shakespeare’s character Caliban, and in the brutal subjugation of women.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:25 AM

Friday's Flying Saucers 

Special Report: UFO Activity in Nevada

White Pine Lights: UFO Sightings in Eastern Nevada (With pretty good video segment)

Mass UFO Landings?, UFOs filmed everywhere and finally the truth to be disclosed once and for all.

Abduction happens

Remember that UFO? It's easy to give kids fake memories

Is UFO pic just a load of hot air? (With pic)

Anniversary of "West Lothian Question" UFO mystery

SYDENHAM: Mum and daughter's alien fear over UFO sighting (With pic)

Cop Sees Aliens In Fresh Crop Circle

The Men Who Stare at Zygotes

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:24 AM

What Richard Nixon knew about Watergate: forensic experts investigate 

Forensic investigators have been called in to solve one of the greatest mysteries of US presidential history by discovering what exactly Richard Nixon knew about the Watergate break-in.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:57 AM

Treasure hunt on an international scale 

Russian parliamentarians and historians have a new lead in the search for the legendary gold of the Tsar's family. According to the new discovery, the whole treasure, or part of it, may be in Japan.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:46 AM

Surprises still to come in Knox trial 

For all the intrigue that's passed through this medieval city, from Roman battles to papal wars, Perugia is now in the throes of a modern mystery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:43 AM

Paititi: The Last Secret of the Incas? 

A critical analysis of the legends surrounding the Lost Inca City of Gold.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:03 AM

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Was there a Stone Age apocalypse or not? 

Was there a Stone Age apocalypse or not? One narrative has it that about 13,000 years ago a comet blasted North America, wiping out the continent's megafauna – as well as its early settlers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:46 PM

ACORN 

PPP's newest national survey finds that a 52% majority of GOP voters nationally think that ACORN stole the Presidential election for Barack Obama last year, with only 27% granting that he won it legitimately.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:44 PM

Mammoth dung unravels extinction 

Mammoth dung has proven to be a source of prehistoric information, helping scientists unravel the mystery of what caused the great mammals to die out.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:56 PM

Psychic dog signals incoming phone calls 

Or does it?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:20 AM

Indianapolis Schools Block Atheist Sites 

Also blocks sites "which discuss or deal with paranormal or unexplained events."

Pretty sure I'm blocked.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:00 AM

Scientists Say Jupiter's Moon Europa Might Be Teeming With Fish 

New evidence has come to light that the vast, ice-encrusted oceans of Europa may be harboring Earth-like life that lives on the oxygen-rich waters.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:59 AM

Remote viewing used by government psychic spies 

As bizarre as it may seem, top government officials have dabbled in ESP and the psychic realm for many decades. The first government-sponsored remote viewing program began in 1970.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:18 AM

At Twilight, Interview with a Vampire … Expert 

Vampires Today: The Truth About Modern Vampirism (2009) takes a look at teenagers, stay-at-home moms, grandmothers, and professionals, all unremarkable subjects save for one little thing: they claim to feed off of other people’s energy, and, every so often, they drink human blood.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:03 AM

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Some Wednesday Witchcraft 

Police seize elderly Mexican man over 'witch' killing.

Mexican authorities have arrested a 78-year-old man on charges he killed a woman he believed was a witch who had put a spell on him.

Storyteller delights audience with Hispanic folklore

Nasario García's eyes widened as he told the story of a boy who snuck out of his grandmother's home and was attacked by a witch.

Tarot cards could spell out your future

You see, many modern-day witches and magicians believe magick is the route to happy relationships and happy lives. And let's be honest, who couldn't do with a helping hand?

Greek police smash voodoo prostitution ring

They say it is the latest incident involving Nigerian women forced by witchcraft into selling their bodies in Europe.

The healing benefits of a witch’s brew

The ancient fort, built before the dawn of Islam, stands vigilant in the middle of the modern part of Bahla, a town famed for its witchcraft and whose reputation extends to the rest of the Gulf and as far as Oman’s former colonies in east Africa.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:57 PM

Brian May wows audience with set of Victorian photos 

Queen guitarist unveils his new book, collecting 'stereographic' photography from the 19th century.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:43 PM

The Stupidest Story You'll Read Today 

The Professor gets a shout out from Bruce V at the Memphis Flyer as he dissects the "standing broom" story linked below. Thanks for reading, Bruce!

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:00 PM

The art and airships of Charles Dellschau 

Nice review of The Secrets of Dellschau: The Sonora Aero Club and the Airships of the 1800's. Interesting stuff. Via the Anomalist.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:36 AM

Real-life rolling stones creep across Death Valley in California 

These are the incredible pictures that reveal a bizarre event that is rocking the science world – the real-life rolling stones.

I'm only seeing one pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:25 AM

Scientist, Psychic Weigh in on Standing Broom Phenomenon 

Is it spirits? Is it science? Is it simply the style of the brooms?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 AM

Lost on the turnpike of possibilities, looking for signposts 

The Blogsquatcher looks at the strange connections between Bigfoot and UFOs. Be sure to watch the hi-larious trailer for Invasion of the Saucer Men. They really picked the wrong voice-over guy. Interesting comments, too.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:12 AM

Apocalypse Soon? 

What the Maya calendar really tells us about 2012 and the end of time.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:26 AM

''SHANGRI-LA'' CAVE PICTURES: Art, Texts, Bones Revealed 

The folio is part of a treasure trove of 15th-century Tibetan art and manuscripts that could be linked to the real-world inspiration for Shangri-La, a fictional paradise described by British writer James Hilton in his popular 1930s novel Lost Horizon.

With pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:17 AM

In Sri Lankan politics, not even an opposition astrologer is safe 

With candles glowing next to his computer, Chandrasiri Bandara, the nation's most popular astrologer, looked at his birth chart and predicted that he would soon be assassinated.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 3:20 AM

Don't pack your parachute: Totally free fall 

Will the wingsuit make the parachute obsolete? With cool video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:18 AM

NGC's Explorer Nazi Mystery 

Twins from Brazil uncovers the truth behind the unusual number of twins in the town of Cândido Godói, Brazil.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:58 AM

Mystery as Sea; Rescuers Find No Survivors 

A 27-foot boat burned about two miles west of the Venice Pier Tuesday, but it was unclear how the fire started or if anyone was on board.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:49 AM

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Mysterious sea creature spotted in Madeira Beach canal 

Russ Sittloh says a mysterious serpent-like creature that's at least 20 feet long has been swimming in the canal behind his Madeira Beach home and he wants to find out what it is.

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:12 PM

The Lost Nation of Iynkicidu 

In November, 1829, in a quarry twelve miles northwest of Philadelphia, a block of marble taken from a depth of between sixty and seventy feet was found to bear an indentation containing the raised alphabet characters "I" and "U."

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:10 AM

Cryptozoology museum opens on Congress Street 

With nice pic of Loren Coleman.

Go buy a t-shirt!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:03 AM

150-year-old mystery in Athol may be revealed 

Mrs. Whipps-Lee will be meeting with the Board of Selectmen tomorrow to request permission to remove an obelisk style monument in Hapgood Street Cemetery in the hope of retrieving 300 pages of documents and whatever else is found stored inside it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:27 AM

Mystery black panther spotted in Belgian forest 

A black panther known to have been roaming a forest in southern Belgium for several weeks has been spotted near the town of Malmedy, the RTBF channel reported.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:05 AM

The Vanished Army: Solving an Ancient Egyptian Mystery 

In 525 BC, the Persian Emperor Cambyses dispatched 50,000 of his soldiers to lay waste to an oasis temple in the Sahara desert because its oracle had spoken ill of his plans for world domination. The punitive expedition proved to be one of antiquity's most dramatic episodes of imperial overreach. One morning, while the army was taking breakfast, writes the ancient historian Herodotus in The Histories, it was set upon by "a violent southern wind, bringing with it piles of sand, which buried them." The Greek continues: "Thus it was that they utterly disappeared."

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:39 AM

Mothman’s legend lives on 

For 43 years Point Pleasant, W.Va., has been haunted by the Mothman, which has gained attention all over the world. The city has used this bizarre legend to develop tourism.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:17 AM

The mysterious death 

Or not. What really happened to Helen Brach?

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:07 AM

Ned Kelly skull 'find' could solve one of Australia's great mysteries 

For years while he was on the run, robbing banks and holding up stage coaches, police were determined to have bushranger Ned Kelly's head.

With cool pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:29 AM

New Australian PelviSteel exercisers help women have better sex 

Two words: Vaginal Barbell.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:26 AM

Explosive New Book Exposes the CIA, LSD Experiments and Murder 

In a new explosive and staggeringly researched book, A Terrible Mistake: The Murder of Frank Olson and the CIA’s Secret Cold War Experiments, author H.P. Albarelli Jr. details once highly-classified accounts of the CIA’s experiments with LSD and other drugs in a series of biochemical experiments.

Press release.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:25 AM

Monday, November 16, 2009

Monday Night's Murders 

Report points to homicide in mystery S.F. death

An independent review of the bizarre 2007 stabbing death of a French citizen at his Hayes Valley apartment in San Francisco has determined that he was attacked outside his door and did not commit suicide.

A murder contract on a nightclub owner

1958: The owner of Orange County’s most famous nightclub was murdered in his driveway and his wife had her hands blasted off by a shotgun-wielding gunman.

Drew Peterson wants to sell his house to Fox News

He's not gunning for a typical buyer.

Convicted Murderer Sues Wikipedia, Demands Removal of His Name

Wikipedia is under a censorship attack by a convicted murderer who is invoking Germany’s privacy laws in a bid to remove references to his killing of a Bavarian actor in 1990.

A loner looking for a romantic connection goes on a killing spree

1973: Carl Eckstrom was so desperate for female companionship that one day in 1973 that he drove to the Cerritos Mall, walked up to two young women in a parking lot, showed them a gun, and demanded that they go with him.

Fernando Bermudez declared innocent after serving 18 years in prison for murder

Cheers and sobs erupted in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday as a judge dismissed the indictment against the father of three - and scolded prosecutors for not acknowledging sooner that they'd nabbed the wrong man.

The Death of an Elvis Impersonator

It is a crime with Las Vegas flavor. A well-known Elvis tribute artist and his beauty queen girlfriend were shot and killed in what looked like a mob-style hit.

Suspect list 'small' in mesa murders

The hunt for the killer behind the murders and burials of 11 women on Albuquerque's West Mesa has developed a short list of suspects, an investigator close to the investigation told KRQE News 13.

Update: Highway Killers

In the bizarre realm of serial killers possibly working as long-haul truckers being looked at by the FBI in literally hundreds of cases, there does not appear to be an end in sight to the horrors being committed along our nation's highways.

'His murderer could still be alive today'

The grand-daughter of the victim of one of South Wales's oldest unsolved murder cases has spoken about the pain of his death — more than 60 years after it happened.

Unsolved: Trick or Treat Murder of 1982

Dubbed the "Trick or Treat Murder," Marvin Brandland, 69, was shot in his home on Ninth Avenue South, on Oct. 30, 1982, by a young man wearing a pillow case over his head - under the pretext of being a trick or treater.

BBC documentary to reveal Ripper questioning over Liverpool's Lorraine Jacob murder

Inside Out North West examines police files surrounding the killing of mum-of-two Lorraine Jacob and exclusively discloses that the Yorkshire Ripper was questioned about the killing at the time.

Night stalker: from Jack the Ripper to the black cab rapist, Britain's criminal reigns of terror

Spanning almost 20 years the night stalker attacks rank among Britain's long-running criminal reigns of terror.

Original coverage of Clutter murders from Nov. 16, 1959

The following is one of the original stories published in the Garden City Telegram on Nov. 16, 1959, the day after the bodies of Herb, Bonnie, Nancy and Kenyon Clutter were found in their Holcomb home.

Accused Yale Employee Behaved Suspiciously
An animal research technician charged with killing a Yale graduate student raised suspicions when he began scrubbing floors after the crime and tried to move a box of bloody wipes from the view of an investigator, according to an arrest warrant released Friday.

Why I'm convinced my husband is innocent of the Beauty in the Bath murder

Hers has often seemed like a hopeless cause, but now, an astonishing 26 years after the murder, evidence has come to light that suggests Susan Taft's faith in his innocence is not misplaced.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:23 PM

Mutate! 

I added Mutate! A General Interest Blog for Weirdos to the links.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:43 PM

Scientists Test First Universal Programmable Quantum Computer 

Quantum computing uses spooky physics to run faster and more powerfully than traditional computers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:08 PM

Special Assignment: Wisconsin Werewolf 

Hundreds of people right here in Wisconsin are saying there's something out there. Something they can't explain.

See also: Wisconsin: Man-Wolf sightings

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:06 AM

Were rats behind Easter Island mystery? 

"Who or what destroyed the ancient palm woodland on Rapa Nui (Easter Island)?"

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 AM

Finding the phantoms in the forest 

Since time immemorial, weird sightings of elusive, unidentified creatures have persisted in New Jersey.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:21 AM

L.A. County sheriff's deputies arrest 74-year-old tagging suspect 

Calling him the oldest tagging suspect they have ever captured, Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies arrested a 74-year-old Los Angeles man for allegedly putting "slap tags" on the inside of Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 AM

Silver bullets not only kill vampires but bacteria 

Silver bullets aren’t only the Lone Ranger’s calling card, “a symbol of justice, law and order,” and an effective way to kill a vampire, but according to a recent press release by the University of New Hampshire: a powerful antimicrobial.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:40 AM

Hypnosis has 'real' brain effect 

Hypnosis has a "very real" effect that can be picked up on brain scans, say Hull University researchers.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:37 AM

Is there something wrong with the laws of physics? 

It’s a question many of us might ask whenever we get on the bathroom scales. But now some scientists are starting to ask the same question as they try to make sense of data coming in from probes in deep space.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:50 AM

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Champ, 1929 

Three young fishermen, still excited over their experience, insisted they had seen the famous Lake Champlain sea serpent, whose existence has been affirmed and denied by a confusing combination of fact and fancy during the more than 300 years since the lake’s discovery.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:56 PM

Cat banned from visiting Buddhist bank robber in jail 

A Buddhist bank robber has had his request for his cat to have visiting rights to him in jail turned down by a court – despite his plea that it is the reincarnation of his mother.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:39 PM

Self-identified vampires create community in South Florida 

For a group of South Floridians who consider themselves modern-day vampires, their world is not one based on role playing.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:47 PM

UCLA study proves looking at photo of loved one reduces pain 

According to a recent study by UCLA psychologists, looking at a photo, holding the hand or even just thinking of a loved one will reduce pain.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:39 PM

Robots perform Shakespeare to learn how to save people 

But merp, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Unit XCR-5000 is the sun!

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:29 PM

NZ team to drill for whisky in Antarctica 

A team of New Zealanders is preparing to drill in Antarctica in the New Year, and they hope to strike - whisky.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:45 PM

Mystery: Notorious criminal, greed, fame and a love affair 

But what began as the perfect crime motivated by greed and fame soon turned into a love affair with the watches, according to Ms Hasson. “Diller was a talented, intelligent man. Throughout his life, he used his intellect and skill for crimes. The Marie Antoinette robbery was a one-man job,” she says.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:35 PM

Friday, November 13, 2009

NASA: Bombing the Moon Provided Definite Evidence of Lunar Water 

Obviously just the water supply of the Nazi moon base we bombed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:05 PM

Speak of the Devil: The Many Faces of Cinematic Satanism 

We recognize a vampire when we see his fangs and a zombie by the rotting flesh, but a Satan-worshipper? Tougher to spot.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:02 PM

Happy Friday the 13th! 

Have a great weekend everybody.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:13 AM

Italian hunt for Nessie moves onshore! 

The mystery of Nessie has puzzled hordes of visitors from across the globe and now one strange party of nine Italians are determined to find her.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:04 AM

City of Symbols 

While Dan Brown looks for Masonic symbolism in Washington, DC, we journey through Masonic London, on a trail that takes in Isaac Newton and Jack the Ripper, St Paul's Cathedral and Canary Wharf, conspiracy theories and occult forces...

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:46 AM

Friday's Flying Saucers 

A History of Chilean Ufology

Close encounters of the faked kind

"Have you seen the saucers?"

UFO reported in southern Tracy skies (With pics)

Officer made UFO report

More UFO sightings in the news

UFOs in McDowell?

Dozens report 'UFO' sightings

Can you solve the mystery of the weird lights above Milngavie and Bearsden?

Peruvian Ufologists Claim Planet is 'Monitored' by ET

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:04 AM

A Satanic cult touches off a wave of fear with a two-day killing spree 

Just a few months after the notorious Manson family slaughtered nine people in ritualistic killings in Los Angeles County, Orange County had its own encounter with cult slayings.

Steven Craig Hurd was the leader of a small band of devil worshippers who touched off a local wave of fear with the slayings of service station attendant Jerry Wayne Carlin, 20, and school teacher Florence Nancy Brown, 29, during a two-day crime spree in 1970.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:38 AM

Scientists find out why language is unique to humans 

U.S. scientists have discovered a single gene which links to human capacity for language and that perhaps can explain why language is unique to humans.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:20 AM

'Ned Kelly's skull' handed to authorities 

A skull purported to be that of Ned Kelly has been handed to medical authorities, more than 30 years after the bushranger's skull was stolen from the Old Melbourne Jail.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:20 AM

Author: Ancient Mayans never predicted doomsday in 2012 

There is a growing legend out there, egged on by Hollywood and extremist Web sites, that the ancient Maya predicted the world would end on Dec. 21, 2012.

Author John Major Jenkins is here to clear the air.

See also: Many scientific experts say using Mayan end-is-near calendar is off base

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:18 AM

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Crime Writer Michael Connelly Tackles Hong Kong Case 

Ani Ashekian, a 31-year-old Canadian tourist, arrived in Hong Kong on Nov. 9, 2008, traveling solo. After spending the night at a guesthouse in Chungking Mansions, a famously shabby tenement building, she text-messaged her niece to wish her a happy birthday and withdrew money from an ATM across the harbor. After that, Ashekian vanished.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:49 PM

Bigfoot in the Midstate? 

With video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:50 PM

Mystery Spot: The John Dillinger Museum in Hammond, Indiana 

Come on an interactive historical adventure illustrating the life and times of John Dillinger and other gangsters during the 1930's depression era and see advancements made in crime fighting technology during the first 30 years of the 20th century.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:50 PM

Lair of the Beasts: A New York Monster 

Bigfoot...in Central Park?

Via Ghost Theory.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:42 AM

Cracking the code 

Is the Voynich Manuscript a "previously unknown form of symbolic algebra?" Very interesting theory.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:54 AM

Mystery Lights – A Personal Story 

Are you familiar with the Brown Mountain lights? Are you familiar with the infamous Marfa lights? Do you know that there exists reports of spontaneous fires breaking out in the middle of nowhere, but only to appear as bonfires and disappearing within minutes?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:54 AM

Records on Kecksburg 1965 event an unsolved mystery 

Whatever dropped out of the sky in Kecksburg more than 40 years ago, NASA officials insist they have no records documenting its origin, recovery or supposed removal by the military.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:04 AM

Remains likely those of ’70s serial killer victim 

Another chapter in Dean Corll's evil legacy.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:59 AM

The Altamaha river Creature ....The Altamaha-ha 

There is said to be a creature living in the Altamaha river. The South Georgia coast is characterised by tiny islands, canals, waterways, deep rivers, and lots of inter-crossing creeks and streams.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:59 AM

BC Lake Monster Like “A Hippo” 

Inhabitants of this little Cariboo town know now why the Indians dread the deep waters of a nearby lake and will venture on its surface only when the ice is two feet thick.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:44 AM

Thesaurus Rex 

At almost 4,000 pages and about 800,000 meanings, this mind-boggling reference work is the biggest thesaurus ever and the world’s first historical thesaurus: It takes the enormity of the OED and arranges it thematically and chronologically. A glance at any page is a look at language evolution from Old English to the present, and it’s no less startling and amazing than watching sea slime slowly morph into monkeys and Neanderthals.

So cool. Who wants to lend me $360?

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:13 AM

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Some Wednesday Witchcraft 

‘Devil Worshipper’ Retort May Burn Employer

Pastor beaten up at funeral for ‘muti’ threats

How rainforest shamans treat disease

'Witches, possessed' flock to Kenya pastor

Man Killed Over Sorcery

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:03 PM

Japan's 'Black Widow' serial killer accused of killing six men 

Details of how six men met their untimely ends, allegedly at the hands of a woman the Japanese media has dubbed the Black Widow, are shocking the public here - not least because of their inventiveness.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:32 AM

La Paz celebrates Day of the Skulls 

In Bolivia, the Day of the Skulls is a colourful collision of ancient ritual with Catholic belief. The BBC's Andres Schipani went to a central La Paz cemetery to find out more.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:32 AM

The Art of Steampunk hits Oxford's Museum of the History of Science 

With some cool pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:27 AM

Pittsburgh handwriting expert shares theories on 'Jack the Ripper' 

Appearing in the 10 p.m. broadcast is Pittsburgh handwriting expert Michelle Dresbold, who concludes Jack the Ripper was Francis Tumblety, an "Indian herb doctor," and abortionist from Rochester, N.Y., who once lived in Pittsburgh among other American cities before moving to England.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:09 AM

Placenta Teddy Bear Repulses Many 

After giving birth, many women choose to have the placenta -- the organ that supplies a fetus with oxygen and food -- tossed out by hospitals. But now someone is paying tribute to the placenta in a new and innovative way.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:49 AM

Missouri, yoga go toe to toe over sales tax 

On Sunday, Missouri became the only state to enforce a sales tax on what many see as a spiritual pursuit — the practice of yoga.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:44 AM

FBI said 1951 death wasn't 'spontaneous human combustion,' but mystery persists 

It was called the "cinder woman'' case, and it was the biggest thing that had happened in St. Petersburg in years. All of a sudden, the sleepy little city was getting national attention.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:43 AM

Texas Trails: Buried Treasure 

Before Texas was known as a haven for Old West outlaws, it was a haven for pirates.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:30 AM

Encyclopaedia Britannica 1768: 10 weird facts 

Written in 1768, the very first edition provides insights into how vastly man’s priorities have shifted between the eighteenth century and today.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:01 AM

Bulgaria: Bulgarian Man Sets Himself on Fire over Turkish-Language News on National TV 

With "Dude, you're on fire" pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:05 AM

Best Books of 2009 

Publishers Weekly serves 'em up in a variety of categories.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:27 AM

From The Vaults, A Look At Early Indie-Movie History 

Nickelodeons were once as common as coffee shops, and the nickel-a-pop silent films they showed were as disposable as YouTube videos. That made for a lot of competition in the early days of the movie business — competition that fueled the rise of an indie-films culture as early as 1909.

Not that you'd know it from the history books.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:26 AM

Will probe's upcoming fly-by unlock exotic physics? 

What's causing spacecraft to mysteriously accelerate? The Rosetta comet chaser's fly-by of Earth on 13 November is a perfect opportunity to get to the bottom of it.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:15 AM

History mystery solved for Battle of Britain veteran 

94 year-old RCAF vet gets his uniform back after almost 50 years.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:12 AM

Doubts cast on Chessmen origins 

New research has cast doubt on traditional theories about the historic Lewis Chessmen.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:09 AM

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Grisly man 

Interview with David Kulczyk, author of Death in California: The Bizarre, Freakish, and Just Curious Ways People Die in the Golden State and a bunch of other interesting books.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:44 AM

Monsters From the Old Testament Who Want to Eat Your Kishkes 

Just to remind us that the Old Testament is scary too, Jewish culture magazine Tablet commissioned this series of Jewish giant monsters from Dubisch.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:24 AM

Uncanny Archaeology 

A look at the archaeology of Halloween, witches and witchcraft, creatures of the night, and ancient curses and magic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:21 AM

Exclusive: Mike Connell's Family Copes With His Mysterious Death, Tipsters, Legal Options 

On December 18, 2008, Bush IT expert Mike Connell, a highly skilled pilot, was killed in a sudden crash while flying his small aircraft from Washington DC to his Akron/Canton home airport. The cause of the crash is still unknown and under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:02 AM

The Faceless Phantom of Langmead Street 

The family of eight were tormented by an unseen assailant who dragged furniture about the West Norwood residence. And then, at 2:15am on a warm July night in 1951, Dennis and his wife Gladys got the shock of their life when they entered their home and were confronted by a tall, grey figure without a face.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:22 AM

'Mayan 2012 apocalypse theory' not true, Nasa says 

The world is not coming to an end on December 21, 2012, Nasa insisted on Monday in a rare campaign to dispel rumours fueled by the internet and a new Hollywood movie.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:03 AM

Eerie screams spook villagers 

This could easily be a Halloween movie but the murder of a woman, eerie screams, and the discovery of skeletal remains in a well are not spooking moviegoers in cinemas but the residents of Kampung MIC here.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:27 AM

A Missouri Bigfoot 

When I was a kid my dad called him Momo the Hairy Biped.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:48 AM

Witches' Brews 

Paul Devereux discusses the use of hallucinogenic substances by medieval witches.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:41 AM

Mass extinction blamed on fiery fountains of coal 

A frenzy of hydrocarbon burning at the end of the Permian period may have led to the most devastating mass extinction Earth has ever seen.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:35 AM

Shanghai's midnight markets 

Sounds like fun.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:07 AM

Monday, November 09, 2009

Monday Night's Murders 

Weekly photo flashback: the Torso Murders of the 1930s

Led by our famous safety director, Elliot Ness, they turned the city upside down. But the man who was dubbed "The butcher of Kingsbury Run" was never held accountable for his Jack-The-Ripper-style crimes - the gruesome string of murders between September 1935 and August 1938.

Yet Another Killer Dad in the Black Dahlia Case

With the publication of Steve Hodel’s “Black Dahlia Avenger” and “Most Evil,” I assumed that the market for “Daddy did it” claims about the Black Dahlia case was exhausted, particularly after the tragic suicide of Janice Knowlton, who began this bizarre publishing genre with “Daddy Was the Black Dahlia Killer.”

But no.

Screams heard as family killed in their Sydney home

The English-born curator found murdered with his author daughter at her $1 million Sydney suburban home was a respected art figure who organised the acclaimed Sydney Biennale three times, it has emerged.

Haunted by the mystery of Lee Ellen's last hours

Twelve years ago Lee Ellen Stace's remains were found in a bush grave. Her parents hope that a coronial inquiry into the schoolgirl's unsolved murder will help to lessen their agony.

Fortitude Valley killing mystery means killer still on streets

So far the man responsible for the unprovoked attack on Stephen Dickson, 53, has eluded detectives – despite being caught on camera at the scene.

Mexican mayor announces death of drug boss hours before body found

Mexico City prosecutors say corpse of Hector 'Black' Saldaña not discovered until three hours after Mauricio Fernandez declared him dead

Wife of Washington sniper reveals the chilling reasons why her husband gunned down 13 strangers

In a sensational new book, she claims her ex-husband shot all those people simply to lay the ground for another murder - her own - so that he could regain custody of their three children.

Police: Woman Missing For 10+ Years

Girly Chew came to America to find the husband of her dreams -- a rich American doctor, but what she found was a conman and a killer.

One year later, Harrisonville woman’s murder still a mystery

The investigation also found its way to an FBI fraud probe already under way into the relationship between a giant New York bank and the insurance company where Cara Jo Roberts worked until being laid off a week before she was killed.

Disputed evidence in spotlight as Amanda Knox trial nears end

Within weeks of British student Meredith Kercher's death in the vibrant college town of Perugia, Italy, prosecutors and police declared the case closed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:22 PM

Vanished Persian Army Said Found in Desert 

The remains of a mighty Persian army said to have drowned in the sands of the western Egyptian desert 2,500 years ago might have been finally located, solving one of archaeology's biggest outstanding mysteries, according to Italian researchers.

With pics and video.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:04 PM

UK scholars linked to 'stolen' bowls of Babylon 

A secret report on the chequered history of priceless Aramaic bowls loaned to a leading university has exposed an apparent attempt to cover up UK academic connections to a potentially deadly trade in stolen Iraqi antiquities.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:41 PM

The 'grandmother hypothesis' 

Why don't we die as soon as we have kids?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:58 AM

He's positive these are famous negatives 

Man's $45 garage-sale find thought to be original Ansel Adams works.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:22 AM

Traces of Mithras in Malta 

The Mithraic Mysteries was a mystery religion that became popular among the military in the Roman Empire, from the 1st to 4th centuries AD.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:20 AM

Dinosaur whodunit: Is Shiva crater the missing link? 

It could be the plot of a mega disaster movie. A huge asteroid, nearly 40 km in diameter, comes hurtling towards earth. It strikes the planet, off the western coast of India, near Bombay High, creating a vast crater, 500 km wide.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:08 AM

This burning mystery is little-known part of history 

Was the 1935 fire at the Oregon Statehouse arson?

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:51 AM

Hope revives in 1955 case of missing Sullivan tot 

Brown's brother was 22 months old when he walked away from the family home in the secluded Catskill woods on Denman Mountain.

He was never seen again.

posted by Prof. Hex at 5:18 AM

Dead Wrong: Man Attends Own Funeral After Mix-Up Over Body's ID 

On the holiday known as the Day of the Dead, a Brazilian bricklayer walked into his own funeral.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:59 AM

Kansas mountain lions do exist 

For the first time, wildlife experts have confirmed that a living mountain lion has been spotted in Kansas.

With pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:58 AM

Does Dauphin County Man Have Bigfoot Footage? 

A Dauphin County man, who wishes to remain anonymous, says he may have caught images of Bigfoot with his flip-cam.

With pic.

See also: Caddo Wild Man, 1865

And sadly: RIP Sallie Ann Clarke, Authority on Lake Worth Monster

Sallie Ann Clarke Dies

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:54 AM

Mystery as 50,000 dead starfish wash ashore in Ireland 

With pic.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:36 AM

Land of mystery 

Strange events in England's Lake District.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:30 AM

10 Failed Doomsday Predictions 

With the upcoming disaster film "2012" and the current hype about Mayan calendars and doomsday predictions, it seems like a good time to put such notions in context.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:26 AM

3-D Model Of Lee Harvey Oswald's Head: A Setback For Conspiracy Theorists 

For decades, JFK conspiracy theorists have claimed this photo of Lee Harvey Oswald holding a rifle and a Marxist newspaper was a fake.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:01 AM

Sunday, November 08, 2009

Sunday's FlyingSaucers 

US Armed Forces Listened for Messages from Mars

LONNIE ZAMORA (1933 - 2009): Eulogy, to a Man of His Word, and The Finest Witness One Could Ever Interview...)

Strange lights a mystery for man (With pic)

Derek's close encounter (With grainy video of "cow abduction")

UFO's return to Cannock skies on Halloween

Peru is "a prophetic country," according to UFO specialists

Search engine oracle predicts UFO disclosure

UFO sighting above Yeovil?

UFO seen over Coggeshall

'Kept in dark over aliens'

Disc-shaped UFO's reported in three states

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:59 PM

Friday, November 06, 2009

Jon Ronson: The Men Who Stare At Goats 

Great interview with Jon Ronson, author of The Men Who Stare at Goats. Includes some insight as to what was really going on at Abu Ghraib.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:39 PM

Collector finds unseen Charlie Chaplin film in tin sold for £3.20 on eBay 

Morace Park was footling around on eBay looking for antiques when he stumbled on an item that was listed casually as an "old film" – and even then he was really more interested in the tin it was in.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:22 AM

Mystery creature in scrub 

A second sighting of a panther-like animal roaming bushland in southern Logan has been reported.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:21 AM

'Inner statue' under Nefertiti bust? 

Italian scientists say CAT scans have helped them uncover an "inner statue" under one of the world's best-known faces, the bust of Queen Nefertiti of Egypt.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:10 AM

Coroner confirms ID of foot found on Richmond beach 

A right foot found recently found on a Richmond beach belonged to a dead man from the Lower Mainland who had been reported missing nearly two years ago, the RCMP said Thursday.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:06 AM

The Many Mysteries of Neanderthals 

We are currently the only human species alive, but as recently as maybe 24,000 years ago another one walked the earth — the Neanderthals.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:02 AM

Newborns Cry With An Accent, Study Finds 

Think newborns just eat, sleep and wail the same way across the world? That's not so, according to a new study which found that babies cry with an accent within the first week of life.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:59 AM

Ice chunks from sky batter a North Side house 

The chunk of ice dropped from a partly cloudy sky onto Linda Dowd's roof around dinnertime Wednesday, with a crash that set her family running in alarm.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:01 AM

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Caged in the human zoo 

The shocking story of the young pygmy warrior put on show in a monkey house - and how he fuelled Hitler's twisted beliefs.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:04 AM

On first time out with his metal detector, amateur treasure hunter finds £1m hoard of gold torcs 

When David Booth bought himself a metal detector, he was looking for a new hobby – and perhaps the occasional old coin.

Wow. With pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:03 AM

Disappearance of plane in 1991 is still a mystery 

The problem is the story about the flight from Houston to Tallahassee isn't just a tale told by those fascinated by the lore of the Bermuda Triangle.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:00 AM

Ancient Eruption May Have Hit Mediterranean Societies With Tsunamis 

The massive eruption of the Thera volcano in the Aegean Sea more than 3,000 years ago produced killer waves that raced across hundreds of miles of the Eastern Mediterranean to inundate the area that is now Israel and probably other coastal sites, a team of scientists has found.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:58 AM

Petroglyphs in Southeast Alaska 

Scattered across the beaches of Southeast Alaska, and indeed along the entire Northwest Pacific coast from Kodiak to the Columbia River, are intensely staring eyes, totemic animals and geometric patterns carved into boulders and bedrock.

With pics.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:46 AM

The World’s Largest Pyramid is in Mexico, and is Invisible to the Naked Eye 

For hundreds of years, the Great Pyramid of Cholula in Mexico appeared to be a grassy hill with a church on top. Luckily, the dirt and soil gradually eroded away and the stunned archeologists made an astonishing discovery in the early 20th century.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:41 AM

Rines never found his 'Nessie' 

Many years ago as a boy, I once saw a murky, grainy photograph in a magazine that showed the face of a horned, dinosaur-like creature that lived underwater. Another dark grainy photo showed the creature's flipper.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:11 AM

Investigator absorbed in mesa murders 

An investigator who lives and breathes the West Mesa murder mystery case has come up with a list of 10 missing women who could be Jane Doe No. 7, the youngest of 11 victims.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:09 AM

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Mystery of Forest Park Cannon Solved; Spanish Gun Arrived in St. Louis in 1900 

For the past year, Fred Ruhrwien has waged a lonely crusade to discover the origins of a Spanish cannon in Forest Park.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:11 PM

Hugh Cameron, "The Kansas Hermit" 

Cameron at one time lived in a tree near Lawrence.

Sweet. Thanks, Ian!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:23 PM

Some Wednesday Witchcraft 

'I am a modern-day witch'

In Sierra Leone, Mystery as Teenage Boy Turns into Woman

Accusations of witchcraft mirrored in history

Mum fled after accusations of being a witch

Of hags and witches

Jim Cline Looks for the Witches of Salem

Irish author's incredible link to her 'witch' subject

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:13 AM

Suspicious track at Dolly Sods has group on watch 

s one search for Bigfoot wound up with a suspicious footprint but no sightings in West Virginia's Dolly Sods area, another is set to begin in the vicinity of Kanawha State Forest.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:06 AM

UFOs, Orgasms and the Occult: The Tucson Connection 

Wilhelm Reich, UFOs, rainmaking, Crowley and more!

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:04 AM

Inventor who claimed he saw Loch Ness Monster dies aged 87 

Dr Rines, an inventor, lawyer, professor, researcher and composer, had a huge passion for all things Nessie.

With Dr. Rines' famous 'fin' photo.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:41 AM

Strange happenings force family to live in small hut 

They claim certain parts of their house would suddenly be engulfed in flames.

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:20 AM

Indiana Jones and the Micronesia temple 

The mystery of Nan Madol.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:09 AM

Searching for a Devil in the deep, dark woods 

They came to dark Wharton State Forest for the Jersey Devil, a fearsome beast whose legend dates back more than two centuries.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:07 AM

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Some Tuesday Murders 

Missing Ariz. teen's family finally knows her fate

It took a determined family member, a historian and a detective to realize that Howard could be "Jane Doe," a young woman whose nude and battered body was found along a Boulder, Colo., creek in 1954. It took a DNA test to confirm their suspicions.

Tangled web of 'Black Widow' case

Grandmother Betty Neumar has had five husbands, some of whom died in suspicious circumstances. As she awaits trial in the US over the death of husband number four, film-maker Norman Hull investigates whether the woman known as 'The Black Widow' could really have been a serial killer.

Fears Geelong woman may be victim of serial killer

Earlier this year NSW Deputy State Coroner Carl Milovanovich wanted police to set up a taskforce to reinvestigate a string of missing young women after learning the possible murder of Ms Carmichael was treated as a suicide for more than three years.

Enduring murder mystery: Was justice too swift?

The victim, Marion Hart, 39, was killed on the late afternoon of Oct. 13, 1915, in a rough-hewn, one-room shack at 1098 Old Stone Rd. -- now Richmond Avenue -- in Bulls Head on Staten Island's West Shore.

With pic of the shack. Imagine living in there with another person, two dogs, and a litter of puppies.

Porn Star Murdered in Woodland Hills

Michaels "was a nickel and dime player who always aspired to be a quarter."

Cops See Break in 1971 New Hampshire Murder

Autumn brings a chilling memory for many residents of Franklin, N.H. It's the time of year when Kathy Gloddy, 13 at the time, vanished in broad daylight almost 40 years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:20 PM

Man-eating lions chewed on fewer humans than thought, say UCSC scientists 

The mystery had all the makings of a Hollywood murder flick: an unsuspecting Kenyan village, two hungry lions and lots of blood and gore.

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:29 PM

The Paranomalist and Parafactor 

I added The Paranomalist and Parafactor - paranormal talk radio that abducts and probes you - to the links.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:59 PM

Gnomes - A Sustainable Population? 

Are Gnomes - and Bigfoot - temporary entities?

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:51 PM

'Russian road roulette' plagues streets of Sofia 

Gangs of drivers in Sofia are defying death for bets of up to £5,000 by speeding through red lights at 120mph.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:47 PM

6 students attacked by ‘demons’ at Phumtile High 

Six students of Phumtile High School are going through a hard time after being attacked by demonic spirits.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:34 PM

The Bruton Vault Story 

Are the original Shakespeare manuscripts - as written by Francis Bacon - buried in a Virginia churchyard?

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:44 AM

Lost ancient temple in Mediterranean Sea points to underwater 'city' 

A British holidaymaker has uncovered what is believed to be a lost, ancient temple, which could be evidence of a submerged city dating back to 2nd century BC, while snorkelling in the Mediterranean.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:24 AM

Town's alien rumor has lived 112 years 

Legend has it that residents of Aurora, TX, had their own alien encounter more than 100 years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:10 AM

Descendants of Pulaski give their side of his story 

Known as the father of the American calvary, Pulaski formed an independent corps of cavalry and light infantry known as the Pulaski Legion. The corps successfully defended Charleston, S. C., against British attack in 1779, but later that year Pulaski was wounded by a shot in an attack on Savannah.

This is where the stories diverge.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:06 AM

Finding phantoms in the forest 

Is there something new to the woods of the Garden State -- or has it always been this way?

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:29 AM

Revealed: Lea & Perrins 170-year-old secret recipe for Worcestershire Sauce 

After more than 170 years, the original recipe for Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce has been revealed.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:02 AM

Whence the Falklands Wolf? 

It's a mystery that stumped even Charles Darwin. How did a reddish, stocky wolf arrive on the Falkland Islands?

posted by Prof. Hex at 6:27 AM

Has King John's missing treasure been found? 

For almost 800 years mystery has surrounded the whereabouts of King John's missing treasure.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:59 AM

How Superman Defeated the Ku Klux Klan 

Kal-El kicks klan kan.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:30 AM

Monday, November 02, 2009

British nuclear expert's 17th floor UN death plunge 'was not suicide' 

A British nuclear expert who fell from the 17th floor of a United Nations building did not commit suicide and may have been hurled to his death, says a doctor who carried out a second post-mortem examination.

posted by Prof. Hex at 10:43 PM

Paw print pointes to a werewolf costume 

The Grosse Pointe Farms Department of Public Works doesn't exactly publicize that it has a boulder on its property with the vague but undeniable imprint of Le Loup Garou, the werewolf of Grosse Pointe.

With dopey photo.

posted by Prof. Hex at 7:42 PM

England's Ancient Ridgeway Trail 

The Ridgeway is the oldest continuously used road in Europe, dating back to the Stone Age. Situated in southern England, built by our Neolithic ancestors, it's at least 5,000 years old, and may even have existed when England was still connected to continental Europe, and the Thames was a tributary of the Rhine.

posted by Prof. Hex at 4:44 PM

Lydia the Tattooed Lady 

In 1989, the Republic of Abkhazia (in the former Soviet Georgia) proclaimed independence. To show the world they were rejecting their Communist past, they issued two postage stamps of Groucho Marx and John Lennon.

Thanks, Scott!

posted by Prof. Hex at 2:14 PM

An eye-witness speaks about the night the devil danced at Boccaccio's 

On a cool spring night 30 years ago, Danny Nava played rock and roll for Satan.

Nava says he was a 16-year-old DJ at Boccaccio 2000, a McAllen disco, the night that birthed the legend of the woman who danced to her grave with the devil.

posted by Prof. Hex at 1:06 PM

Book review: The men who stare at goats by Jon Ronson 

Nice review of the book behind the upcoming film.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:57 PM

Cousin: Japanese captured Amelia Earhart 

Wally Earhart of Carson City, the fourth cousin of Amelia Earhart, says the U.S. government continues to perpetrate a “massive coverup” about her mysterious disappearance in the Pacific 72 years ago.

posted by Prof. Hex at 12:17 PM

Hong Kong police step up hunt for mystery high-rise acid attacker 

Police in Hong Kong Monday stepped up their hunt for a mystery attacker who throws bottles of acid on to passing crowds from high-rise buildings.

posted by Prof. Hex at 11:16 AM

Family of missing cop Mick Isles turn to witchdoctor 

Arnhem Land-based tracker and witchdoctor Victor Huddleston and his son Victor Nathaniel Huddleston have arrived in Queensland and on Monday will begin searching bushland around Ravenswood, where Senior Sergeant Isles' abandoned car was found in late September.

posted by Prof. Hex at 9:43 AM

Peru's Nazca culture was brought down with its trees 

The Nazca people of Peru -- famous for their huge line drawings on an arid plateau that are fully visible only from the air -- set the stage for their demise by deforesting the plain, allowing a huge El Niño-fueled flood to ravage the Ica Valley about AD 500, researchers have found.

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:17 AM

Legend of the Belt Road Booger 

Many creatures prowl the streets of Newnan during Halloween, but perhaps none carries quite the cachet as a true Newnan classic, the "Belt Road Booger."

See also: The legend of the Woolybooger

posted by Prof. Hex at 8:14 AM