Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday's Witches: Snakes, poltergeists, Balkans and more!
This week's witches starts with the truly weird.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:37 PM
Archimedes' flaming death ray was probably just a cannon, study finds
Archemedes' burning mirror, a device that was thought to concentrate the sun's rays into a laser beam that repelled an invading Roman fleet in 212 BC, was more likely a steam cannon, new research suggests.
posted by Prof. Hex at 7:27 PM
Why are Scotland's magicians in crisis?
Very good article.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:12 PM
A real life case of arsenic and old lace
One of the strangest murder cases of the 1950s involved Rhonda Belle Martin, an Alabama waitress who compulsively poisoned her loved ones again and again, yet went undetected by police for years.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:54 AM
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Did a vampire cause a Colorado car wreck or is this woman just too excited for "Twilight: Eclipse"?
An unidentified woman in Grand Junction, Colorado, crashed her car Sunday night after she became frightened by what she claimed was a "vampire" in the middle of the road.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:46 PM
Prehistoric man went to the movies, say researchers
Prehistoric man enjoyed a primitive version of cinema, according to Austrian and British researchers, who are currently seeking to recreate these ancient visual displays.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:41 PM
10 ways to party hard (from beyond the grave)
Just because you've got a mouthful of formaldehyde (instead of Jägermeister) doesn't mean you have to give up your party-hearty lifestyle deathstyle!
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:09 PM
Top ten "ghost ships" in world
The Mary Celeste and others. Slideshow.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:03 PM
America's 10 Weirdest Tourist Attractions
For those who like a dose of wacky with their travel, Sherman's Travel is out with a Top 10 list of America's weirdest tourist attractions.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:59 PM
3 men found not guilty in Wone murder mystery
Joe Price, Dylan Ward and Victor Zaborski were all charged with tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:25 PM
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Frightening Folklore of ‘El Cucuy’
What we do know is that El Cucuy is some sort of a gobbling goblin with an appetite for children who fail to obey authority. This goblin, ghost, monster, or whatever he may be, will eat you if you don’t listen to your parents.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:49 PM
Tracking a big cat
Researchers follow tagged mountain lion’s extensive travels and learn about hidden Southern California wildlife.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:22 AM
Science historian cracks "the Plato code"
Dr Kennedy, whose findings are published in the leading US journal Apeiron, reveals that Plato used a regular pattern of symbols, inherited from the ancient followers of Pythagoras, to give his books a musical structure.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:42 AM
The mystery of Robert Wone's death
Three men stand accused of covering up the murder of the lawyer in a trial that has gripped Washington.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:07 AM
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Victim's daughter: Charges to be dropped in 'Octopus Murders' case
Charges will be dropped against the only person to be arrested in a 1981 Rancho Mirage triple-homicide case, the daughter of one victim told The Desert Sun.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:45 AM
Kinetic Energy Generator Powers Gadgets with Magic
The rather utilitarian phallus is in fact a kinetic energy generator which charges gadgets as it moves.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:14 AM
Motive unknown, mysterious ex-con in Los Angeles seems like movie character Bourne
Authorities came upon a mysterious scene when they showed up at a luxury apartment in Los Angeles in April while investigating a call about a gas odor.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:13 AM
Why do they call it that? History of the names of Manhattan Project plants X-10, Y-12, and K-25 in Oak Ridge
Founded in 1942 as the home of the top secret Manhattan Project that enriched uranium for the first atomic weapons during World War II, nearly everything in Oak Ridge was cloaked with code names.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:09 AM
Indian Man Dies After Receiving Receipt for Own Cremation
An elderly Indian man was so shocked to receive a bogus receipt for his own cremation service that he suffered a heart attack and died.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:01 AM
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Functional yet stylish zombie weapons
Check out the shield and bat disguised as a nightstand.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:57 PM
'God particle' sound created by Large Hadron Collider scientists
The sound of a Higgs Boson – or ‘God particle’ - has been created by boffins working on the Large Hadron Collider.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:42 PM
Ancient Egyptian Town Found Using Radar : Discovery News
Radar imaging in Egypt's Nile Delta has unveiled the outlines of a buried city that was the stronghold of foreign occupiers some 3,500 years ago, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities announced Monday.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:38 PM
Horseboy freaks out the Internet
A horse-headed figure caught by a Google Street View camera has become the latest Internet mystery.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:25 PM
ASU bioarchaeologist challenges King Tut royal mummy findings
Tut's mystery continues.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:22 PM
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Ghosts are a time lag
Are ghosts from the fourth dimension?
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:34 PM
Times Square Kiss Photo: Nurse in Times Square Photo Dies in Los Angeles
The nurse who claimed to be at the center of the iconic " Times Square Kiss" World War II photo has died.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:07 PM
Wednesday's Witches
More World Cup, African, and Salem witchery!
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:59 PM
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Spirals Underground
Diego and Paola Meozzi, the Italian archæology journalists who produce the admirable Stone Pages website, have alerted the outside world to an amazing discovery on the Italian island of Sardinia.
posted by Prof. Hex at 7:02 AM
Parascientifica
I added
Parascientifica to the links.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:39 AM
7th-graders discover mysterious cave on Mars
A group of seventh-graders in California has discovered a mysterious cave on Mars as part of a research project to study images taken by a NASA spacecraft orbiting the red planet.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:12 AM
The Green Hornet Trailer
Another classic American character gets the big screen treatment. Looks like fun. I'm glad they kept the car.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:11 AM
Andrew Jackson's duel victim, once forgotten, gets second burial
More than 200 years after he fell in a duel with a future president, and almost a century after his grave was lost and forgotten beneath someone's front lawn, Charles Dickinson will be laid to rest again.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:48 AM
Seeking to Illuminate the Mysterious Placebo Effect
The phrase “mind-body connection” has many connotations. For some, it’s shorthand for New Age quackery. For others, it’s a source of hope and a way to reconcile their spiritual life with modern science.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:46 AM
Chimpanzees kill each other to expand their territory, study says
Chimps kill their neighbours, a study says, in order to expand their territory.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:37 AM
Ada filmmakers spotlight infamous 1909 hangings in documentary
Indie documentary about infamous, unsolved 1909 Ada hangings, which aired in 30 states, is nominated for a regional Emmy. With buggy video. Get your act together, NewsOK.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:25 AM
Bones from a Cheddar Gorge cave show that cannibalism helped Britain's earliest settlers survive the ice age
New carbon dating techniques reveal that 14,700 years ago humans living in Gough's Cave in the Mendips acquired a taste for the flesh of their relatives, and not just for ritual reasons.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:07 AM
Monday, June 21, 2010
Mystery of Ned Kelly's skull to be solved by scientists
Australians have been asked to help scientists determine whether a skull thought to belong to the outlaw Ned Kelly is genuine or not.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:42 AM
Holy Grail hiding in plain sight, claims author
British author EC Coleman claims the hunt for the Holy Grail is over.
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:48 AM
Ancient legends once walked among early humans?
Wild, hairy, folks who fought griffons and nomads — have paleontologists unearthed mythic figures of folklore?
posted by Prof. Hex at 4:36 AM
19th-Century Spirit Photos -- A Marriage of Technology and the Irrational
In the latter part of the 19th century, a range of powerful new visual technologies were developed that used the intrinsic mechanics of light-sensitive media to achieve spiritual allusions and illusions.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:29 AM
CIA Report Confirms NSA Psychic Spy Program
A footnote found in an article written by Gerald K. Haines for the CIA's classified "Studies in Intelligence" confirms the existence of a rumored National Security Agency psychic research program.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:07 AM
'Queen of Blues' has story cloaked in mystery
Who was Marion Harris?
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:02 AM
Tales From The Crypt - Germany's Aristocratic Mummies
When they died, Germany noble families of the 18th century did what the Egyptians had done before them: They had themselves mummified. As an increasing number of such well-preserved corpses are found, scientists are trying to find out why.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:54 AM
Phantom of the Pines: More Tales of the Jersey Devil
More than twenty years after their first book about the Jersey Devil was published, James F. McCloy and Ray Miller Jr.’s, new research into this phenomenon continues to intrigue readers.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:50 AM
Mystery big cats of Australia
Exotic feline or enduring phantom? Something big, something strange has been stalking New South Wales' Blue Mountains for decades and it's back in the spotlight. See also:
Do big cats exist in the Hills?
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:48 AM
Philo Vance meets Nick Charles
Old Ass Movies dug up this old trailer for
The Thin Man featuring detectives Philo Vance and Nick Charles - both played by William Powell. Fun stuff. Not quite enough Myrna Loy, but fun stuff.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:39 AM
Ohio martial-arts pioneer remembered on Father's Day
Interesting story.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:30 AM
Archaeologists hunt for Native American relics
Seeing a backhoe rip up a well-maintained front lawn might bother some people.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:02 AM
Making sense of acupuncture's mysteries
Although acupuncture has been used for relieving pain for the past 4,000 years, exactly what makes it an effective painkiller is still largely a mystery. A recent study may have found at least one answer, however, suggesting that adenosine, a neurotransmitter with analgesic properties, is released in the area where the small needles are inserted and manipulated.
posted by Prof. Hex at 1:01 AM
Seeing double in Bulgaria's 'twin' village
This otherwise rather unremarkable miners' village of around 5,000 inhabitants gives new meaning to the term "twin town", with its unusually high -- and so far inexplicable -- twin population.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:59 AM
Hills reveal WWII secret
A village schoolteacher’s personal challenge to his clan’s fear of the unknown has led him to the wreckage of a World War II aircraft on a perilous wooded hill in Arunachal Pradesh.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:58 AM
Friday, June 18, 2010
North Carolina Bigfoot: Track found day after Peeler sighting
Another North Carolina man claims to have found possible evidence of Bigfoot only one day after the reported sighting of a 9-to-10 foot tall creature in the woods around Casar.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:25 AM
North Carolina Bigfoot 911 call released: "It looked like a giant ape with a man's face."
Interestingly, Mr. Peeler seems to acknowledge that he has seen similar creatures before.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:11 AM
Consumer Maker of Eco-Connect Bottle System has lofty goals
Developed by Steve Klein, a former New York City schoolteacher, the Eco-Connect Bottle System is intended to be a green, inexpensive way to make a soccer goal (a computer-generated version of the goal is shown) out of empty, used plastic soda bottles. The Eco-Connect system, hopes Klein, could also be used for toys and building materials. Cool. Via
Fark Geek.
posted by Prof. Hex at 3:15 AM
World's most expensive meats
Hungry. Very very hungry. Except for the puffer fish. I'm not that hungry.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:38 AM
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Pato Fu - Música de Brinquedo - Live And Let Die
The band Pato Fu has released a video showing some of the recordings, what will your new CD, which will be called 'Music Toy', the tenth album of their career Pato Fu. The novelty of staying on behalf of the entire album was recorded with toy instruments and miniatures.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:51 PM
Finding a strange power amid the ancient stones
I was sceptical about dowsing right until the moment when the copper alloy rod seemed to take on a life of its own and turned a full 180 degrees.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:53 PM
WWII Code-Breaking Archives to Be Digitized and Posted Online
The exact contents of the archives are a mystery.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:33 AM
Rent a White Guy
Not long ago I was offered work as a quality-control expert with an American company in China I’d never heard of. No experience necessary—which was good, because I had none. I’d be paid $1,000 for a week, put up in a fancy hotel, and wined and dined in Dongying, an industrial city in Shandong province I’d also never heard of. The only requirements were a fair complexion and a suit.
posted by Prof. Hex at 7:13 AM
Wednesday's Witches: World Cup, Salem, and Burkittsville witchery!
This week in witchcraft starts with the World Cup.
posted by Prof. Hex at 7:03 AM
Extreme Personal Finance: Eating Well on One Dollar a Day
I love stuff like this.
posted by Prof. Hex at 6:11 AM
Austin's 'Cathedral of Junk' to close
A unique piece of Austin history may be headed for the, ahem, junk pile. Photo by Robert Gaal via Flickr/Creative Commons
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:49 AM
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Where's the fort in Fort Worth?
Common sense would lead one to believe that any city named after a fort would have once had a fort somewhere in it's vicinity.
posted by Prof. Hex at 10:42 PM
The Legend of Sink Hole Sam
One of my favorite Kansas legends.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:26 PM
Latest Details in the Wone Conspiracy Case: Still Weird
Today's update in the Washington Post from the trial of Joseph Price and co-defendants Victor Zaborsky and Dylan Ward reveals that the prosecution narrowed its focus this week on one piece of evidence regarding the alleged conspiracy to murder Robert Wone: the knife. The case took two significant turns this week.
posted by Prof. Hex at 8:55 PM
The Thunderstone Mystery
What's a Stone Age axe doing in an Iron Age tomb?
posted by Prof. Hex at 8:53 PM
Newsweek ‘covers up’ secret zombie invasion headlines
"Programmers for Newsweek’s Web site, Newsweek.com, have apparently placed a hidden joke on the magazine’s home page for readers who enter a special keyboard combination, triggering a page of headlines purporting to provide coverage of an uprising by the undead."
posted by Prof. Hex at 5:08 PM
What do zombies and Nazis have in common?
What worse than zombies? Nazi zombies! See also:
Ultimate zombie summer reading list of death
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:15 AM
$100 Million 'National Treasure' Found at Flea Market
A true copy of the original handwritten 1776 Declaration of Independence rescued from obscurity by Tom Lingenfelter of Bucks County, Pennsylvania is to be offered for sale at a yet undetermined venue. Press release.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:04 AM
Monday, June 14, 2010
Her Sweet Murmur
Strange sounds and paranormal activity.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:14 PM
North Carolina Bigfoot: The return of Knobby
The area around Carpenter's Knob was famous for more than a dozen Bigfoot sightings in the late 1970s.
posted by Prof. Hex at 12:14 PM
Latte Art Contest: Time to vote for your favorite!
As someone who does not drink coffee regularly I was impressed at the skill on display here. I voted for the cat, but the monkey was a close second. Check 'em out.
posted by Prof. Hex at 11:51 AM
The Mystery of the Wax Museum
I tried something a little different over at the Examiner today - an article that is also a short story. Let me know if I succeeded in the comments. And be sure to watch the slideshow. I had a lot of fun putting it together. The idea for this article came to me in a dream. No joke.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:11 AM
The 5 Greatest Books With Psychotic Fan Bases
Books can change the world. That's not a controversial statement: From the Holy Bible to Reading Rainbow, just about everybody acknowledges the importance and influence of the written word. Even psychopaths.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:08 AM
The red plains of Mars were once covered by a vast ocean
Far from being a dusty red desert, our neighbouring planet was once wet and rainy - raising the prospect that it was home to extra-terrestrial life.
posted by Prof. Hex at 9:07 AM
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Historian revisits mystery of the Lost Colony
When James Horn started writing a new account of the founding of Jamestown in the early 2000s, he hoped to find some fresh leads.
posted by Prof. Hex at 8:47 PM
Mystery ice 'meteors' strike village
Beijing meteorite experts are examining samples of ice that fell from a cloudless sunny sky on June 5 in Bodong village, Fengning county, Hebei Province.
posted by Prof. Hex at 8:39 PM
Renaissance plot captured in forgotten opera
Even the tumultuous banking events of today can't beat the Pazzi conspiracy of 1478 when one family of Renaissance power brokers tried to murder the competition on a fine Easter Sunday in Florence.
posted by Prof. Hex at 8:11 PM
SNP looks to bring last Wallace possession home
The Scottish Government has started moves to repatriate the only surviving possession of William Wallace.
posted by Prof. Hex at 8:09 PM
Wiltshire vicar revives ancient archery law
A vicar has revived an ancient law to call members of her parish together for archery practice.
posted by Prof. Hex at 7:59 PM
Saturday, June 12, 2010
How Frozen Humans Are Brought Back
Yeast and worms can survive hypothermia if they are first subjected to extreme oxygen deprivation, a new study finds.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:38 AM
Was Ambroise Vollard murdered?
What he found exceeded even his wildest expectations: a lost hoard of artworks by many of the greatest artists of the late 19th and early 20th century, including Cézanne, Picasso, Matisse, Gauguin, Renoir, Degas, Derain, Bonnard and Man Ray. They had belonged originally to Ambroise Vollard, an art dealer who made a fortune in Belle Epoque Paris and helped to shape our idea of modern art by giving Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso and others their first solo shows.
posted by Prof. Hex at 2:37 AM
Shroud of Turin Center in California Offers Vivid Replicas of Legendary Cloth
