Today In Strangeness

[Them]

16.) Animals
Animals often represent the part of your psyche that feels connected to nature and survival. Being chased by a predator suggests you're holding back repressed emotions like fear or aggression.
Animals in our dreams can afford us visions of how our lives could be if we lived more simply and lived with purity of thought and emotion.
Therefore, animals in our dreams may affirm our spiritual goals.

 

[BobSacamano]

...

Today in Strangeness:

On June 7, 1991, Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines exploded, generating a 4.5 mile-high ash column-- a precursor event to even larger eruptions in June. On this day in 1968, Lego opened their first 'Legoland' theme park, in their hometown of Billund, Denmark.

...also...

Thylacine Search Set to Begin:

A highly-anticipated research project which just might provide proof that the Tasmanian Tiger still exists is scheduled to begin later this month. Spearheaded by a pair of professors from Australia's James Cook University, the impending scientific survey sparked a flurry of interest when it was announced earlier this year and resulted in numerous thylacine reports being submitted to the scientists behind the project.

Maybe we can send Garrett on the Tasmanian tiger expedition. Then on one to search for the Dodo after that.

 

[Melonfeud]

Radical S**t stirrer John Brown aged 59 was hung in Virginia on this date in 1859

 

[Them]

Today in Strangenessecember 4th...

On this date in 1872, the abandoned ship Mary Celeste was discovered in the Atlantic Ocean. The cause of the ship's desertion and the fate of its 10 passengers remains a mystery. Theories on what happened include a pirate attack, an encounter with a waterspout, a mutiny by the crew, and an accident involving the ship's cargo: barrels of alcohol.

Captain Briggs and the Mary Celeste

...and an even greater mystery...

Prince William of London/ Carson Wentz of Philadelphia

...?...Now this is a mystery!...

...also...

Interview with Sophia the AI robot:

You may have heard recent news about an AI robot, Sophia, that was granted citizenship of Saudi Arabia. It has rights just like humans and it knows it. Sophia will even explain what its goals are and how it wants to help humanity. You have to see this interview with Sophia for yourself, it’s incredible how realistic it is!


...extra...

Police Thwart Washington Man's War on Sinister 'Lizard People':

Authorities in a Tacoma, Washington suburb had a rather bizarre encounter last weekend when they subdued an armed man preparing to go to war with 'lizard people.' Possessing an AK-47 and a handgun, the unnamed individual conjured concerned calls to police when he stopped his car in the town of Parkland and witnesses spotted his weaponry.

Fortunately, the cops who converged on the scene were able to ensure that cooler heads prevailed and that no one got hurt when they took the man into custody. And when they inquired about his firearms, the distraught man told them a truly fantastic tale.

According to the man, he had recently received a phone call from President Trump, who regretfully informed him that his family had been kidnapped by 'lizard people,' specifically their 'alpha dragon' leader.

No doubt dismayed by this news, the man revealed to police that the president personally asked him to battle the lizard people in order to save his family and, ostensibly, the world as well.

As one can imagine, police were skeptical about his story, especially since the man also informed them about his unorthodox 'diet' which consists of simply snorting methamphetamine to lose weight.

Perhaps anticipating their dubious take on his reptilian tale, the man declared "the meth doesn't make me crazy, man. The lizard people are real!"
In light of his admitted drug use, the cops transferred the man to a medical facility and it is uncertain as to whether or not he will face any charges for the
odd incident.

While he was unable to find nor fight the reptilians believed to be behind his family's kidnapping, it appears that the man did accomplish one facet of his mission. When asked why he had gotten out of his car, he explained that he intended to cause a commotion so that the media would cover his story and share his reptilian news with the world.

Whether raising awareness of the reptilians proves to prevent them from kidnapping any other unfortunate humans remains to be seen, but at least now word is getting out about their treachery.

 

[YosemiteSam]

In 1997 Latrell Sprewell was suspended for attacking his head coach P.J. Carlesimo

 

[Them]

In 1997 Latrell Sprewell was suspended for attacking his head coach P.J. Carlesimo

...!...?....You mean these guys?

Head coach P.J. Carlesimo [/ Latrell Sprewell

 

[Them]

Today in Strangeness: December 5th...

On this date in 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued the Summis Desiderantes, a decree which officially recognized witches and gave permission for
the Inquisition to begin rooting out practitioners of witchcraft. In 1945, five Navy Avenger torpedo bombers, designated as Flight 19 , disappeared in
the Bermuda Triangle.

Pope (not so) Innocent VIII

Witch

Flight 19 was the designation of a group of five Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo
bombers that disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle on December 5, 1945.

...also...

Massive Mysterious Stick Structures Concern Forest Officials in NM:

Officials from the Santa Fe National Forest are sounding the alarm over strange stick structures that keep being built at the site.
According to a spokesperson with the Forest Service, the odd, conical-shaped collections have been appearing with increasing frequency over the last few weeks, leaving authorities both mystified and concerned.

Their worry is that these wooden structures, which sometimes measure an astounding two or three stories tall and boast a diameter of up to twenty feet, are a massive fire hazard. Noting that they are reminiscent in shape to what one would use to build a campfire and signs of burned wood have been found inside of them, suggesting that it may only be a matter of time before one such structure sparks an inferno.

Additionally, they have expressed concern over the possibility that the wooden 'forts,' which sometimes sport thousands of sticks, could collapse onto someone and severely injure them. As to who has been building the structures, officials concede that they are stumped by that as well as the motivation behind the makeshift forts.

Although the likely culprit for this kind of foolhardy endeavor seems to be bored teenagers, more imaginative individuals have proposed that the structures are some kind of Sasquatch-built shelters. Should that be the case, one can only imagine how Bigfoot might feel about the Forest Service announcing that they plan to destroy any structures they find in order to protect the public.

And, if the legendary cryptid really is behind the odd phenomenon, we're guessing that officials will be hard-pressed when it comes to enforcing the $5,000 fine for illegally building on federal land. .....(Fire pits!?....doubt it's a Bigfoot building those structures!)


...extra...

Oldest video clip in the world:

It can be so fun to get out all the old photographs and video clips to see yourself as a child, mom and dad as young adults, or even to see them as children too. But do you ever wonder how far back photos and videos go? Check this out to see the oldest video clip known to man.

 

[Them]

Today in Strangeness: December 6th...

On this date in 1884, construction of the Washington Monument was completed, with workers placing a nine-inch aluminum pyramid at the top of the tower. Made of some 36,000 blocks of marble and granite, the monument was the tallest structure in the world at the time. But, back in the 1860s, when construction was halted during the Civil War, Mark Twain described the unfinished monument as looking like a "hollow, oversized chimney."

1884 Washington Monument uncapped

Cap...

Washington Monument capped

...also...

Odd 'Ball' Spotted on Mars:

Anomaly hunters studying images from Mars believe they have spotted yet another out-of-place item in the form of an eye-catching ball of some kind on the surface of the Red Planet. Noticed in a photo taken by NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover, the odd grey object looks remarkably smooth and spherical, standing out among the jagged rocks around it.

It is believed that the ball is around the same size as a softball or, as some imaginative observers have noted, a cannonball.
This particular perspective argues that the anomaly is further evidence that there was some kind of battle on the Red Planet prior to a collapse of the Martian civilization.

One conspiracy theorist went so far as to suggest that it was an indication that Mars was once pelted with artificial meteors, presumably by an hostile ET race, in an effort to strip the planet of its atmosphere. However, that is merely one possible interpretation as the 'ball' serves as something of a Martian Rorschach test, allowing viewers to put their own spin on its origin and purpose.

Some may see a more whimsical side to the anomaly, believing that it was, perhaps, the centerpiece of an exotic Martian game played long ago.
Others might propose a utilitarian take on the object, positing that it's possibly a form of food eaten by the advanced denizens of the Red Planet akin to our
astronaut ice cream.

Skeptics, of course, say that it is simply a rock which took on the ball-like shape via the geological process known as 'concretion.'(...much like the skeptics'
brain I suppose!... *>)

...extra...

Australian Shepherd helps mom with her exercises:

Australian Shepherds are incredibly intelligent dogs. They were born to herd sheep, but you can teach these dogs to do almost anything - they just learn so fast. You can even teach them to do things you’d never expect. Like this beautiful Aussie that helps her mom with sit ups and squats. They are such a great team!

 

[YosemiteSam]

• The 13th Amendment was ratified today in 1865
• Jerry Rice breaks Steve Largent's TD record (101st) in 1992

 

[Them]

....Jerrr reee Rice...

 

[Them]

Today in Strangeness: December 7th...

On this date in 1982, Charles Brooks Jr. earned the dubious distinction of being the first person ever executed by lethal injection. While the concept of lethal
injection as a means of execution had been around since the late-1800's, it was not until the late 1970's when it became a viable option for executing death row inmates. Since Brooks' demise, lethal injection has become the predominant form of capital punishment in the United States.

Charles (or Charlie) Brooks Jr was the first person to be put to death by lethal injection in the United States. But he might not actually have pulled the trigger. Brooks teamed up with Woody Lourdes to kill a mechanic by the name of David Gregory. They both tied him to a motel chair using coat hangers, gagged him, then one of them shot him in the head. Neither confessed who actually fired the gun, but legal wranglings meant that Lourdes landed a 40-year sentence while Brooks got the death penalty. The injection was pumped in at 12:09am and Brooks was pronounced dead at 12:16am. He was aged 40.

...also...

Bizarre New Dinosaur Discovered:

Paleontologists have discovered a strange-looking new dinosaur species that has amazed experts and boasts quite the odd origin story.
Dubbed 'Halszkaraptor escuilliei,' or simply Halszka for short, the creature somewhat resembles a modern day swan yet sports flipper-like 'arms' as well as
monstrous claws on its feet. The dinosaur's snout also garnered interest from experts as it boasts crocodile-like teeth lurking beneath what looks to be a beak.

Believed to be a relative of the infamous velociraptor, researchers say that the creature was likely amphibious, which would make it only the second such dinosaur ever discovered.

What also makes the Halszka rather exceptional is how it wound up in the hands of paleontologists in the first place.
The fossilized remains of the creature are thought to have been originally found in Mongolia's Gobi Desert, but were secreted away from the site by smugglers.

From there, the eye-catching creature apparently bounced around the fossil black market for years until it was spotted by a diligent dinosaur researcher who managed to purchase the piece so that it could be studied. Using advanced imaging techniques, scientists were able to examine the remains of the dinosaur without the disturbing the rock around it and ultimately concluded that it was an exotic new species.

Not all scientists are convinced of their findings, however, as some paleontologists say that the fossil could be an elaborate hoax created using different dinosaur bones fused together. While that may be the case, especially since such an oddity would have likely fetched a high price on the black market where it once was sold, the researchers who studied the Halszka are confident that it is genuine.

Should that be the case, it raises the question of what other unseen wonders might be on display in the proverbial man caves of wealthy eccentrics who collect such curious specimens.


...extra...

Smart assistants’ jokes told in a busy comedy club:

Smart assistants say some pretty funny things when asked certain questions, but which one is the funniest? This guy lined up Cortana, Alexa, Google Home, and Siri to find out. He asked them jokes and told them in a comedy club to see if people would laugh. It’s hilarious to see how awkward it got when the jokes weren’t very funny! (...PS...I have Cortana!...jus' sayin'...)


PS...Of course one should never forget the many service personnel who died defending our great country at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7th 1941...

 

[Them]

{* Woke up to about 3" to 4" of snow today...a winter wonderland!...Ho Ho Ho!...}

Today in Strangeness: December 8th...

It was 37 years ago on this day that John Lennon was shot to death by Mark David Chapman.
In 1982, Norman D. Mayer held the Washington Monument hostage, demanding an end to nuclear war.
He threatened to blow it up with explosives he claimed were in his van. After a 10 hour stand-off,
he was shot to death by police; no explosives were found in the van.

John Lennon signing autograph for Mark David Chapman

...also...


Ghost Appears in Selfie at Haunted Plantation?:

A group selfie taken by visitors to a notoriously haunted plantation in Louisiana appears to show the face of one of the site's resident spirits.
The creepy image was posted to Facebook by The Myrtles Plantation, a popular tourist destination due to its reputation for being "one of America's most haunted homes."

In the photo, a group of guests gather together to commemorate their visit to Myrtles with a celebratory selfie and seemingly managed to snap a shot of something supernatural in the process. Spotted in a window behind the women is a remarkable anomaly which bears a striking resemblance to a face.

Some have suggested that the oddity could be evidence of Myrtles' most famous ghost, a slave girl named Chloe, who has purportedly been photographed at the plantation on numerous occasions in the past. Skeptical observers, however, argue that the 'face' is simply a trick of light and shadow which became a 'ghost' by way of being taken at a legendary haunted location. ( There goes those dang "skeptics" again...SMH)

...extra...

You’ve never seen a T-rex skeleton like this!:

This takes balloon animals to a whole new level. Mark is a World Balloon Modeling Champion who has created several sculptures entirely from balloons.
This Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton is a life-sized replica and his biggest creation yet. Watch to find out how many balloons it took and to see his creation process.

 

[YosemiteSam]

In 1940, the Bears DESTROYED the Commanders 73-0 in the NFL Championship game.

Then obviously, today the United States declared war on Japan in 1941.

 

[Them]

In 1940, the Bears DESTROYED the Commanders 73-0 in the NFL Championship game.

Then obviously, today the United States declared war on Japan in 1941.

 

[Melonfeud]

One of the more peculiar items amongst the super butt load of gear& intel the U.S of A provided to their good time buddies & everlasting friends the Afghan freedom fighters/ mujahedeen in support of their valiant effort in thwarting and ultimately (fer' now) driving the invading forces of soviet Russia back from whence they came in the early 1980's was 700 mules,,, bred& born from,,,
* redacted *,,,

 

[Them]

One of the more peculiar items amongst the super butt load of gear& intel the U.S of A provided to their good time buddies & everlasting friends the Afghan freedom fighters/ mujahedeen in support of their valiant effort in thwarting and ultimately (fer' now) driving the invading forces of soviet Russia back from whence they came in the early 1980's was 700 mules,,, bred& born from,,,
* redacted *,,,

...I'll give you a well sought after "Unofficial Like!"...

 

[Them]

17.) Demons

Demons are sneaky evil entities which signify repressed emotions. You may secretly feel the need to change your behaviors for the better.
You may also see demons in your dreams that will be representing negative parts of your own personality, and not other people of your social environment.
In this case they will appear mainly like aliens that came from another planet, or strange human beings that have no blood.

Images where demon faces are seen in dreams represent other people. When they appear somewhat camouflaged they are a part of your own personality.

 

[Melonfeud]

{* Woke up to about 3" to 4" of snow today...a winter wonderland!...Ho Ho Ho!...}

Today in Strangeness: December 8th...

It was 37 years ago on this day that John Lennon was shot to death by Mark David Chapman.
In 1982, Norman D. Mayer held the Washington Monument hostage, demanding an end to nuclear war.
He threatened to blow it up with explosives he claimed were in his van. After a 10 hour stand-off,
he was shot to death by police; no explosives were found in the van.

John Lennon signing autograph for Mark David Chapman

...also...


Ghost Appears in Selfie at Haunted Plantation?:

A group selfie taken by visitors to a notoriously haunted plantation in Louisiana appears to show the face of one of the site's resident spirits.
The creepy image was posted to Facebook by The Myrtles Plantation, a popular tourist destination due to its reputation for being "one of America's most haunted homes."

In the photo, a group of guests gather together to commemorate their visit to Myrtles with a celebratory selfie and seemingly managed to snap a shot of something supernatural in the process. Spotted in a window behind the women is a remarkable anomaly which bears a striking resemblance to a face.

Some have suggested that the oddity could be evidence of Myrtles' most famous ghost, a slave girl named Chloe, who has purportedly been photographed at the plantation on numerous occasions in the past. Skeptical observers, however, argue that the 'face' is simply a trick of light and shadow which became a 'ghost' by way of being taken at a legendary haunted location. ( There goes those dang "skeptics" again...SMH)

...extra...

You’ve never seen a T-rex skeleton like this!:

This takes balloon animals to a whole new level. Mark is a World Balloon Modeling Champion who has created several sculptures entirely from balloons.
This Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton is a life-sized replica and his biggest creation yet. Watch to find out how many balloons it took and to see his creation process.

That dude that made the to scale dinosaur from balloons is pretty cool,,, I was watching that video and started wondering what immediately goes thru his mind if like somebody slips up behind him a pops a balloon behind his back,,, do you think he would flinch ? Think "crap,I hope that wasn't a key center piece where I'll have to dismantle it",,, or,,,be totally immune and unfazed?,,,

 

[Them]

Today In Strangeness: December 11th...

The first recorded display of the Aurora Borealis in the United States took place on this date in 1719 in New England. 200 years later, Enterprise, Ala. unveiled its Boll Weevil Monument (1919) -- it's the one and only monument to an agricultural pest!

Aurora Borealis

Boll Weevil Monument

...also...

Giant Bigfoot Statue Unveiled in NY:

A town in New York state with an affinity for Bigfoot now boasts a monstrous tribute to the famed cryptid by way of a massive Sasquatch statue.
The amazing piece, which can be found in the town of Whitehall, stands almost 12 feet tall and was crafted out of steel by artist Steven Mestyan Sr.

The statue was commissioned by local business owner Paul Thompson, who was looking for a landmark for the front of the building which houses his stone company. To Thompson, Sasquatch seemed like the natural fit due to Whitehall's rich history of Bigfoot sightings and lore.

In fact, the creature is so popular in the town that the statue is the fourth such Sasquatch monument to be built in Whitehall.
And there is even an ordinance in Whitehall which affords Bigfoot protected status, lest an ambitious hunter attempt to capture the cryptid thought to reside in or around the community.

Fortunately, the newly-unveiled statue is also protected, in a manner of speaking, by way of weighing a whopping 1,000 pounds, which would likely thwart any ne'er-do-wells with dreams of making off with the awesome artwork.

...extra...

Another Mystery Foot Found in BC:

A dismembered foot discovered on a beach in British Columbia is the latest chapter in what has been a bizarre ongoing mystery for the last decade.
Incredibly, the baffling body part is the thirteenth mysterious foot to be found along the shore of British Columbia since the summer of 2007.

An additional five feet have also been found on the coast of America's Pacific Northwest, bringing the grisly total to an eyebrow-raising eighteen.
Authorities are uncertain as to where these feet keep coming from but have assured the public that the eerie appendages are not the result of foul play based on the condition in which they were found.

However, what has perplexed forensic experts is that it is only feet which keep washing ashore and no other body parts appear to accompany them.
Various theories for their origin have been offered including that they came from people who committed suicide or died in an accident on the high seas.

Another tantalizing hypothesis that they feet are from people who fell victim to the massive tsunami that rocked Sumatra in 2004.
Unfortunately, unless someone hobbles in to a police station looking to reclaim their lost foot, it would seem that the strange spate of body parts appearing on beaches is likely to remain a mystery.

 

[Them]

Today in Strangeness: December 12th...

On this date in 1913, the "Mona Lisa" painting, missing for two years, turned up under a hotel bed in Florence.
Awakened by a throbbing noise, a Jupille, Belgium man saw a large metallic UFO hovering between trees on a nearby road, and the next day police found a giant circular impression in a nearby meadow. Taking place on Dec. 12, 1989, the incident was part of the massive six month UFO wave over Belgium and France.

Vincenzo Peruggia the thief / the Mona Lisa

...also...

One month review of JIBO the semi-lifelike smart assistant:

Smart assistants are getting very popular, but they still just look like a device. JIBO, though, is a little robot that not only talks like Alexa and Google Home,
but also has a little robot face. JIBO even memorizes faces, and will say “hello” when you walk in the room as if it’s a polite little human! See what this
journalist had to say about JIBO after living with it for one month.



...extra...

SETI Project Plans to Give Interstellar Asteroid a 'Listen':

An ambitious project aimed at searching for signs of ET life is turning its attention to the odd interstellar asteroid known as 'Oumuamua.
Discovered earlier this year, the curious find was hailed as the first object to have entered into our solar system from somewhere else in space.

Along with sparking the imagination of UFO enthusiasts, 'Oumuamua's unique origin story also apparently caught the attention of astronomers with the Breakthrough Listen project. The SETI endeavor backed by a Russian billionaire has announced plans to 'listen' to the historic asteroid starting this coming Wednesday in an attempt to see if they can detect radio signals emanating from it.

In a rather remarkable email, reported by The Atlantic, the head of Harvard's astronomy department who serves as an advisor to the project made an observation that is likely to send ET fans' hearts souring. "The more I study this object, the more unusual it appears," professor Avi Loeb wrote, "making me wonder whether it might be an artificially made probe which was sent by an alien civilization."

The collective curiosity of the team at Breakthrough Listen when it comes to 'Oumuamua led them to reserve space at the telescope in West Virginia in order to see if they could spot some kind of signal from the asteroid. Fortunately, the asteroid is still close enough to Earth that astronomers ought to be able to pick something up fairly quickly if such a sign of ET origin for 'Oumuamua exists.

However, it does present something of a weird sci-fi-film-worthy problem should they be successful, since 'Oumuamua is actually headed away from the Earth. Since humans are yet to possess the technology to send a probe out to examine 'Oumuamua, we very well could find evidence for ETs that is quickly disappearing before our eyes.

More grounded members of the mainstream science community say that it's unlikely that we'll be faced with such an issue, since 'Oumuamua is probably only an interesting asteroid and not something ET-made. Nonetheless, the fact that serious astronomers deem it worthy of checking is a testament to how times have changed when it comes to the quest to find aliens, since someone suggesting such an idea in the past would have been dismissed as merely a 'UFO buff.'