The "News" thread.

[Unorthodox]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9877822/Strange-slime-baffles-workers-at-nature-reserve.html

The jelly-like substance has been found at the RSPB Ham Wall Nature reserve in Somerset. As yet the mystery slime has not been identified.

Steve Hughes, the RSPB site manager at Ham Wall, said: "This past week we've been finding piles of this translucent jelly dotted around the reserve.

"Always on grass banks away from the water's edge. They are usually about 10cm (4in) in diameter. We've asked experts what it might be, but as yet no one is really sure. Whatever it is, it's very weird."

Scientific speculation as to the nature of the jelly is varied.

One of the more favoured explanations is that it is a form of cyanobacteria called Nostoc.

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Some, however, suggest that it is the remains of the regurgitated innards of amphibians such as frogs and toads and of their spawn.

Alternatively, it may be related to the intriguingly named crystal brain fungus.

Tony Whitehead, an RSPB spokesman for the South West, said: "Although we don't know what it actually is, similar substances have been described previously.


Mr Whitehead added: "It's great that in this day and age that there are still mysteries out there. We've read a few articles now and much speculation.

"One suggested it was neither animal nor plant, and another that it didn't contain DNA, although it does give the appearance of something 'living'.

"Our reserve team will be looking out for the slime over the next few days, but if anyone can offer any explanations we'd be glad to hear."

The public are being warned not to touch the mystery substance, and to inform nature reserve staff.

Real pic in link, but I've seen it before.  (jump to the 5 minute mark)

The Blob 1958 part1

[Unorthodox]

The aliens are attacking?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-03/mysterious-light-ignites-fire-in-tasmania/4550142

Tasmanian police and firefighters are unable to explain the source of a beam of light which reportedly fell from the sky and formed a circle of fire in a Hobart suburb.

Early Saturday morning police and fire crews received calls from concerned residents in Carnegie Street at Claremont, who reported seeing a bright light igniting a fire in a nearby paddock.

Tasmania Fire Service officer Scott Vinen says the blaze was quickly put out, leaving an obvious burnt patch.

He says the bizarre incident has everyone baffled.

"Once we put the fire out, we kind of walked through the fire and tried to find something," he said.

"We thought a flare or something may have landed there, but we couldn't find any cause."

The Fire Service says it will not investigate further.

[Buster's Uncle]

New York "cannibal cop" in tears as defense rests after one day
By Chris Francescani | Reuters – 18 hrs ago.. .

 
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York City cop on trial for plotting to kidnap, cook and eat women shed tears on Tuesday as his attorneys rested their case after one day.
 
"Just knowing that we've finally come to the conclusion (of the trial) and that his fate is in the jury's hands" made Officer Gilberto Valle emotional, attorney Robert Baum said after court ended.
 
"That's a huge weight for someone to bear," Baum said.
 
Closing arguments were scheduled for early on Thursday.
 
Since the trial's start last week, jurors have heard excerpts read aloud from dozens of Internet chats and emails in which Valle talked with others about murdering and eating women. Those women included his estranged wife, Kathleen Mangan-Valle.
 
Out of two dozen plots involving women, at least three were real, prosecutors contended.
 
Defense lawyers said their client's cyber-plots were "pure fiction," no more dangerous than a Stephen King novel or a horror movie.
 
They concluded the defense case without calling Valle to the witness stand or noted forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz, who interviewed the cannibalistic serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
 
Earlier on Tuesday, defense attorneys showed jurors a video tour of DarkFetishNet.com, the website where prosecutors say Valle's kidnap plots were first hatched.
 
Jurors saw graphic pictures of mutilation, hanging corpses and profile pages for members with names like Vicious Vixen.
 
Banner ads were displayed throughout the site for various torture erotica websites that featured pictures of bound women and men beside lines such as "Their pain. Your Gain," and "Dead Girls Are Easy."
 
Jurors received a brief dose of comic relief from a videotaped deposition of the creator of DarkFetishNet.com, who repeatedly compared his violent, sexual, fantasy role-play website to Facebook.
 
"It's a social media network very similar to Facebook," Sergay Merenkov, 34, said in describing how the site works.
 
"It does everything that Facebook does," he said during the deposition, which was taken recently in Moscow.
 
Prosecutors have accused Valle of conspiring to kidnap, cook and eat women, saying many of his plots were hatched on DarkFetishNet.
 
Asked at one point whether he knew all of the 37,000 members of his website, Merenkov, wearing a black T-shirt and sipping from an "I Love Tea" mug, scoffed at a prosecutor.
 
"No," he said, drawing muted smiles from weary jurors. "That's like asking (Facebook creator Mark) Zuckerberg if he knows each and every member of Facebook."
 
After months of online role play last year, Valle began to act on his fantasies when he met one of his online "targets" for brunch and improperly accessed a law enforcement database to get personal information on another, Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall Jackson has alleged.
 
Valle's secret online life began to unravel last year after Mangan-Valle said he began acting oddly and spent much of his time on the couple's computer. She discovered dozens of files her husband kept on their computer about women, including herself, that he wanted to kidnap, torture and murder, she testified.
 
She contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Valle was arrested in October.

http://news.yahoo.com/defense-poised-open-york-cannibal-cop-kidnap-conspiracy-143130114.html

[Buster's Uncle]

Voucher school textbook defines ‘hippies’ as followers of rock stars who may have worshipped Satan
By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News | The Sideshow – 1 hr 20 mins ago.. .


 
A school participating in Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's controversial voucher program is apparently using a history book that teaches its eighth-grade students that "hippies" were dirty followers of Satan-worshipping rock musicians.
 
The textbook, “America: Land I Love," includes a section on the counterculture movement of the 1960s.
 
Here's a paragraph taken from that section, which was published Wednesday by AmericaBlog.com:
 

Many young people turned to drugs and immoral lifestyles; these youth became known as hippies. They went without bathing, wore dirty, ragged, unconventional clothing, and deliberately broke all codes of politeness or manners. Rock music played an important part in the hippie movement and had great influence over the hippies. Many of the rock musicians they followed belonged to Eastern religious cults or practiced Satan worship.
 
It's not clear which school is using the aforementioned textbook. John Aravosis, who published the text on AmericaBlog, said the source was "a friend" who sent him a photo of the section.
 

 
But this isn't the first time books used in Jindal's voucher program—which allows poor and middle-class students the opportunity to attend private schools that often have religion-based curricula—have been called into question. Last fall, Mother Jones magazine published a list of "14 wacky 'facts' kids will learn in Louisiana's voucher schools."
 
Among them:
 

"A few slave holders were undeniably cruel. Examples of slaves beaten to death were not common, neither were they unknown. The majority of slave holders treated their slaves well."—United States History for Christian Schools, 2nd ed., Bob Jones University Press, 1991
 
And:
 

"[The Ku Klux] Klan in some areas of the country tried to be a means of reform, fighting the decline in morality and using the symbol of the cross. Klan targets were bootleggers, wife-beaters, and immoral movies. In some communities it achieved a certain respectability as it worked with politicians."—United States History for Christian Schools, 3rd ed., Bob Jones University Press, 2001
 
Last month, Jindal defended the program in Washington.
 
"To oppose school choice is to put the wishes of the adults who control the status quo ahead of the needs of our children," Jindal said. "To oppose school choice is to oppose equal opportunity."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/hippies-satan-worship-school-history-book-201334876.html

The article fails to mention that that's true about hippies...

[Unorthodox]

I was wondering what the problem was... 

[Unorthodox]

I need to move to Rio de Janeiro apparantly.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_BRAZIL_GIFT_WRAPPED_SKULLS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-03-07-13-30-15

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Police in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo are baffled by a macabre puzzle: someone has been leaving gift-wrapped human skulls around town.

Investigator Paul Henry Bozon Verduraz described the case to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper in a story published Thursday.

The first skull in cherry-red wrapping was found on February 20 in a planter near a residential building downtown. Since then, seven others have been found near Mormon temples or consulates, including those for Russia, the Czech Republic and South Africa. The skulls are old, with traces of dirt.

Verduraz says security cameras captured images of a woman in an ankle-length skirt leaving the skulls, which seem old, with traces of dirt. He thinks this may be part of some sort of ritual.

My knowledge of Quimbanda (witchcraft branch of Macumba religion brough from Africa to Brazil) is limited, but enough to know someone is attempting to commune with Exus (spirits of the departed) to extract justice.  I virtually guarantee the "dirt" is clay, and there's alcohol being left with/on the skulls as well. 

Quite possibly the woman doing the leaving is possessed (in the african tradition not the catholic one) as well. 

The dispute is most likely over more earthly matters than spiritual, or the rituals would have needed to be more Umbanda in nature.  Monetary disputes, legal proceedings, that ilk.  Given the range of targets, I'd guess we have an honest to goodness witchdoctor doing this for money. 

[gwillybj]

Voucher school textbook defines ‘hippies’ as followers of rock stars who may have worshipped Satan
By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News | The Sideshow – 1 hr 20 mins ago...

A school participating in Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's controversial voucher program is apparently using a history book that teaches its eighth-grade students that "hippies" were dirty followers of Satan-worshipping rock musicians.
 
The textbook, “America: Land I Love," includes a section on the counterculture movement of the 1960s.
 
Here's a paragraph taken from that section, which was published Wednesday by AmericaBlog.com:
 

Many young people turned to drugs and immoral lifestyles; these youth became known as hippies. They went without bathing, wore dirty, ragged, unconventional clothing, and deliberately broke all codes of politeness or manners...

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/hippies-satan-worship-school-history-book-201334876.html

I resent that remark on behalf of the hippies I knew as a youngster in the 60's and 70's. They were among the nicest, most polite and well-mannered people with whom I was friends. They were not unwashed themselves, nor did they wear dirty clothes or rags. Unconventional, yes, but not dirty.
As for their lifestyle, yes, they tended to be more open to alternative relationships and non-standard chemical or herbal remedies. None of those I knew were Satanists, rather they tended to be regular in attendance at the various Christian churches.
Overall, they were disillusioned and saddened by the state of governmental affairs.

[Buster's Uncle]

I can only speak of the many hippies I've known over the years, a smallish minority of whom were sweet people.  Almost all were immature hypocrites trying to invent non-conformist personalities for themselves by following a trend.  They do really hate devil worshipers - but Jesus whorshipers, too.

I was was half-joking, but only half.

[Unorthodox]

Mom was a hippy, and certainly explored what some would consider satanic worship. 

[Buster's Uncle]

...I'm guessing she did something to you with a dog skull, too...

[Unorthodox]

Nah, that was all in me brain. 

The evil dogs helped, but mostly in me brain. 

[gwillybj]

FBI dog 'Ape' killed in line of duty in Herkimer
Posted: Mar 14, 2013 4:08 PM EDT

Police in Herkimer kill suspect in deadly shooting spree

HERKIMER, N.Y. - On Thursday morning, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Tactical K-9 "Ape" was killed in the line of duty while accompanying FBI agents who were attempting to arrest Kurt Myers, the suspected killer of four people in Herkimer Wednesday.

Ape was shot by the suspect during a shootout with police, who then returned fire killing the suspect.

Special Agent Ann Todd says Ape will be returned home to Quantico, Virginia. A memorial will be held at Quantico and his name will be added to a memorial wall.

Ape was a Czech German Shepherd born on November 17, 2010. He began on duty with the FBI on February 25, 2013 after successfully completing a demanding tactical training course which started on October 12, 2012.

"Ape was doing what he was trained to do and made the ultimate sacrifice for his team. His actions were heroic and prevented his teammates from being seriously wounded or killed," Todd says. "K-9s are a tremendous asset in tactical operations and enhance the safety of law enforcement personnel who routinely confront complex and high-risk threats"

"He will be missed by his FBI family."

http://www.news10.com/story/21644283/fbi-dog-ape-killed-in-line-of-duty-in-herkimer

[Buster's Uncle]

I got it from a cop once that killing a police dog is not good for your health.

[Unorthodox]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/19/explosion-during-training-at-hawthorne-army-depot/

An explosion at a military ammunition storage facility in Nevada during a Marine Corps training exercise killed seven U.S. Marines and wounded several others, military officials said.

The North Carolina-based soldiers with the 2nd Marine Division were killed late Monday when a 60-millimeter mortar exploded during a live-fire training exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot as Marines were preparing to fire it, NBC News reports.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation. The identities of those killed were not released pending notification of their families, officials said in a statement from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp LeJeune, N.C.

"We send our prayers and condolences to the families of Marines involved in this tragic incident. We remain focused on ensuring that they are supported through this difficult time," said Maj. Gen. Raymond C. Fox, the force's commander. "We mourn their loss, and it is with heavy hearts we remember their courage and sacrifice."

Stacy Kendall, a spokeswoman for Renown Regional Medical Center, told NBC News the facility was treating eight people wounded in the blast. Three were listed in serious condition; five were listed in fair condition. Kendall said the injuries included traumas and fractures.

Earlier, Russ Collier, an official at the facility, told KRNV-TV that the explosion was an accident unrelated to the ammunition that is stored at the military facility near the small desert community of Hawthorne.

The 147,000-acre depot, established in 1930, is about 140 miles southeast of Reno. The facility stores and disposes of ammunition, and provides long-term storage for industrial plant equipment. It is comprised of nearly 3,000 buildings — including igloos, supply warehouses and munitions sheds — throughout more than 230 square miles.

The facility had an operating budget of $270,000 and a payroll of $2.88 million in fiscal year 2009, according to its website.

Messages seeking comment from Hawthorne Army Depot officials were not immediately returned.



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/19/explosion-during-training-at-hawthorne-army-depot/#ixzz2NzmC6hDJ

That's not good...

[Unorthodox]

Leaked into my news feed.  When are people going to learn the onion is satire? 

http://www.theonion.com/articles/what-youre-doing-is-weird-and-wrong-small-voice-in,31734/

PYONGYANG—While performing his duties as Supreme Leader of North Korea Tuesday, Kim Jong-un reportedly heard a small voice in the back of his mind telling him that his actions over the last six months have been very strange and wrong.

Sources confirmed that the tiny voice, which spoke to Kim at various points throughout the day, quietly suggested that the four-star military general and Worker Party’s secretary is a weird person with out-of-whack priorities who acts in a way that makes little sense to anyone.

“You are a very odd man who does things that are bizarre and indicative of a mentally ill person,” the little voice reportedly said following a speech in which Kim issued apocalyptic threats to enemies in the West and predicted the destruction of America. “The things you say on a daily basis are not only extremely creepy and off-putting, but they are also very wrong. You should probably not be the leader of a country.”

“Stop that,” the voice continued as Kim issued another threat to the global community. “Stop saying these weird things. You’re making people frightened and uncomfortable.”

According to sources, the faintly perceptible voice located in the recesses of Kim’s mind continued communicating with the dictator during the presentation of a propaganda film depicting the nuclear annihilation of the United States’ Eastern Seaboard. The soft whisper told the North Korean leader that the film was not only strange-looking because it was clearly rendered from a video game, but also filled with factual inaccuracies. The voice went on to note that when Kim Jong-un endorsed the video and shared it with millions of people all over the world, it made him seem like he didn’t know what was going on and that something was deeply wrong with him psychologically.

The voice then openly asked the dictator whether any of this was registering at all.

“When you tell the world that you will turn the West into a sea of fire, do you realize that this is not a normal thing for people to say?” said the barely audible voice, adding that it is equally strange for Kim to say he was born under a double rainbow and can control the weather. “When you pose in pictures on top of horses looking off into the distance, do you see that makes you look like a psychotic individual?”

At this point, sources reported, the small voice was suddenly cut off by a second, deeper voice telling the North Korean leader that he is not only very strong and powerful, but also very likable and popular and that he should not listen to any voice that tells him otherwise.

A third voice sounding vaguely like his deceased father told Kim it was “extremely impressed and proud” with the way he was acting. That was reportedly followed by a fourth and even stronger voice informing the military commander that he is the leader of the most powerful country and military in all of the world and had better act like it.

Sources also said that, based upon the way he was slightly moving his eyes back and forth and up and down, the voices were mostly likely talking to Kim at the exact same time.

“Dear Leader, you are a great and beloved strange human being who is extremely odd and should fulfill the destiny of your ancestors,” said the cacophonous group of voices reverberating in Kim’s head. “You are the shining sun. You are a lunatic who is going to end the world. You should destroy South Korea. You look ridiculous right now. They must bow to the might of your nuclear arsenal. I love you, my son. You are an insane man whose death would benefit the entire world.”

At press time, the Dear Leader was enjoying a 12-course meal, and reportedly had an easy time shutting out the voices of 15 million starving North Koreans who were crying out in agony and despair