The "News" thread.

[Unorthodox]

http://www.nj.com/camden/index.ssf/2015/11/nj_man_made_up_story_about_tampered_candy_police_s.html

A township man was charged with making a false police report for allegedly putting needles in Halloween candy himself, according to police.

Township police were called to a home on Hillcrest Avenue in Blackwood Sunday by a resident who said he found sewing needles in four separate pieces of Halloween candy.

During their investigation, police said they found out that the man — identified as Robert Ledrew, 37 — posted comments about the alleged tampering along with a picture of a needle on Facebook the day before he reported it to police.
ALSO: Woman's body found in A.C. hotel's laundry
Police said Ledrew made up the story and placed the needles in the candy bars himself. He was charged with making a false report and released on a summons.

Authorities have been investigating incidents of tampered Halloween candy in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Sewing needles were found in Twix bars in Chester County, Pa., and a Woodbury Heights woman reported that she found a pin in a Snickers Almond bar that her children received while trick-or-treating.

[Unorthodox]

http://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-japan-mystery-boats-20151201-story.html

hey drift into seas near Japan by the dozens every year, ghostly wrecked ships thought to come from impoverished North Korea.

Japanese authorities said Tuesday they are investigating nearly a dozen wooden boats carrying decomposing bodies that were found off the country's northwestern coast over the past month.


In most cases, the bodies are in such bad shape after being at sea for weeks that it's been impossible to determine the cause of death, officials say.

On Nov. 20, officials found 10 bodies in three boats off the coast of Ishikawa prefecture. Two days later, another wooden boat was found off nearby Fukui prefecture with six skulls, one nearly intact body with a head, and various other bones and remains, coast guard official Yuka Amao told the Associated Press.
 


Coast guard officials said at least 11 shoddy fishing boats carrying the bodies have arrived since late October. Most are carrying equipment, nets and signs written in Korean, including one carrying a sign saying “Korean People's Army,” the North Korean army.

 
 
 
 
ò





The officials said they could not say for certain, but the poor condition and small size of the 33-foot- to 40-foot-long vessels are not typical of South Korea or Japan, said coast guard spokesman Yoshiaki Hiroto. He said evidence suggests the boats are from the Korean Peninsula, though he declined to identify the country.

The recent spate of arrivals has drawn attention, though such discoveries are not out of the ordinary: Dozens of such wrecked boats drift toward Japan every year.

So far this year, 34 mystery boats have drifted over, including the 11 found between late October and November. Last year, Japan found 65 of them. In 2013, there were 80, according to the coast guard.


lMost Popular



See the most-read stories this hour >>

The number tends to rise during the fall and winter season because of prevailing winds from the northwest, Hiroto said.

In recent years, fishermen from food-short North Korea have increasingly forayed into Japanese waters hunting squid, and some of the boats found adrift have been carrying squid-catching equipment. They are usually ordered away when caught by the Japanese coast guard since the two countries lack a fishing agreement.

Sometimes disabled North Korean vessels are rescued with their crews and repatriated. In other cases, fishermen have used their ships to defect to South Korea.

Such drifting arrivals have occurred for centuries, according to historical accounts.

[Unorthodox]

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/12/war-on-christmas-zombie-nativity-scene-draws-500-a-day-fine-from-town-as-christian-protesters-descend/

n Ohio man is under fire from local authorities for setting up a zombie nativity scene against town wishes, Fox 19 reports.

For the second year in a row, Jasen Dixon, who manages the “13 Rooms of Doom” haunted house, set up a manger featuring the undead honoring a zombie baby Jesus — despite being ordered to take it down last year.

According to Sycamore Township officials, Dixon needed a permit for the macabre display this year. But when he applied he was turned down, and now he faces a fine of $500 per day for every day he leaves it up.

Having gone through the same situation last year before dismantling it, Dixon began soliciting donations earlier this year to cover the expected financial sanctions.

Friday night on his Facebook page, Dixon wrote: “We were going to take it down, decided to leave it up, all the lights are re-hooked and open for business just no roof. Let’s see what happens.”

According to Dixon, his request for a permit was denied because local authorities said his display violated the town’s zoning code by taking up more than 35 percent of his front yard.

“I got all the paperwork and how it was wrote out, and it says as long as it’s not over 200-square -foot that I can have it without a permit, and it’s about 65 square foot,” he explained, adding that he thinks the council hates the zombie theme.

“I think it’s the theme,” he explained. “It just rubs people the wrong way. That’s why they’re coming down so hard on me.”

Dixon was already slapped with a $500 fine on Friday, but claims his neighbors are perfectly fine with the display.

“My father hates it. The other neighbors, they drive by and give me a thumbs-up,” he said.  However, he noted that Christian protesters handed out pamphlets Sunday in front of his display reading “God frowns upon this manger display,” accompanied by Biblical verses.

Pffft...Everyone know Jesus wasn't a zombie when he was BORN.   You celebrate zombiesus in SPRING.

[Rusty Edge]

On a related note, I'm now reading The Serpent and the Rainbow, as you suggested.

I knew that zombies were some strange kind of voodoo drugged slaves. This book is an eye-opener. I now understand Haiti, not as a former French colony, but as an African settlement in the New World. I'm still reading about the particulars of the process, but the religious and social aspects are African rather than Western.

Thanks, Uno.

[Unorthodox]

Yeah, you say voodoo, and people think New Orleans (thank you Hollywood), which has very little in common with the Haitian practices.  I could point you down some very deep rabbit holes along those lines, as you might suspect.  Don't remember what context I suggested it under, but glad you are finding it interesting. 

[Rusty Edge]

Yeah, you say voodoo, and people think New Orleans (thank you Hollywood), which has very little in common with the Haitian practices.  I could point you down some very deep rabbit holes along those lines, as you might suspect.  Don't remember what context I suggested it under, but glad you are finding it interesting.

I don't remember where either. I made some light-hearted quip about the TV/movie style zombies. I've been tending towards series in my reading, and it took me a while to get around to it. We'll see if I want to learn more when I've finished the book, or if I'm ready to move my mind to a brighter place.

[Unorthodox]

http://www.wbrz.com/news/residents-in-shock-after-exposed-skull-found-in-cemetery/

CLINTON -  Some residents in Clinton are demanding action over a disturbing situation at the Hickory Hut cemetery.

Several graves at the cemetery are in bad shape but not as bad as one that shows exposed bones.

Frederick Boyd enjoys taking walks through the Hickory Nut cemetery. He's lived in Clinton for most of his life. It's the peacefulness and serenity here that keeps him coming back, but recently that peace has been interrupted.

 "I just happened to be in this area visiting a couple of people that I know and to my surprise I stumbled upon this and I wish it was something I never saw," said Frederick Boyd.

 About a month ago, Boyd came across one of the most disturbing, shocking images he's ever seen. A human skull exposed. The skull is surrounded by what appears to be an old, wooden coffin.
 The concrete that encased it is crumbling from years of weather and nothing has been done to cover it up.

"This is someone's loved one, what if it was your loved one," said Boyd. "What if it was you."

So we went searching for answers. We found a number associated with the cemetery on the Lousiana Cemetery Board's website.

Jerrlyn McCray answered the phone when we called. According to her, she helps maintain the cemetery with her mother. McCray claims the grave belongs to a woman who was buried more than 40 years ago.

"When they come tell her about the cemetery, she tries to help and get it straight and talk to the families," said McCray as she speaks on behalf of her mother. "Many families have came and reset the vault when the vault fell in." 

She claims when they notified a family member a month ago they didn't do anything about it.

"That's not our responsibility," said McCray.

With no one taking responsibility to fix it, people like Boyd want to see something done and he's hoping this story will help bring some dignity and respect to the person in this cemetery to finally rest in peace.

Residents said people have been buried there since the 1800's.

(video with no embed options at link)

 "I just happened to be in this area visiting a couple of people that I know and to my surprise I stumbled upon this and I wish it was something I never saw," said Frederick Boyd.

Something is wrong with one of us, as we couldn't have a more polar opposite opinion...

[Unorthodox]

IN THE INTEREST OF KEEPING THIS FAMILY FRIENDLY, I'LL JUST INCLUDE THE LINK AND A SYNOPSIS.  LANGUAGE ABOUNDS IN THE ACTUAL ARTICLE.


http://motherboard.vice.com/read/tumblr-devolves-into-literal-witchhunt-over-alleged-bone-thief

So, someone posted to tumblr and facebook about wanting to sell a bunch of human remains they find after rainfalls, and it's upset a number of newage "witches" vs some others that want to use these items.   

[Unorthodox]

! No longer available

I'm fairly sure there was an episode of the twilight zone about this...

[Unorthodox]

My bad, it was an Outer Limits. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cry_of_Silence

[Unorthodox]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/648441/Mummified-captain-found-in-ghost-ship-he-sailed-in-for-seven-years-after-death

Mummified captain found in 'ghost ship' he sailed in for seven years after death

A MUMMIFIED captain was found in a mystery boat drifting 40 miles from the shore...still sat in the seat where he is believed to have died.



By Jon Austin 

 PUBLISHED:  00:00, Tue, Mar 1, 2016   | UPDATED: 09:54, Tue, Mar 1, 2016 
 





   
 


   
 


   
 


   
 



   
 

26K
 




   
 

27
 

 
 


 

     

The man, who appears to have been trying to make a desperate mayday call, has been identified as German adventurer manfred Fritz Bajorat.

He was found by two fishermen at the weekend in the seas off Surigao del Sur province, about 50 miles off Philippines.

The grey corpse, which was preserved by dry ocean winds, hot temperatures and the salty air, was still sat at a desk near radio equipment on the 40ft yacht called Sayo, which was partially submerged.

His decomposing body was found by photographs and a haunting letter to his wife, Claudia, who died from cancer in 2010.

It is not year clear when he died, but no one has reported seeing him since 2009.

Local officials remain puzzled by the death and have yet to completely rule out foul play as some of his personal items could have been "damaged by force".


The explorer before he died (left) and how he was foundEPA•POLICE

The explorer before he died (left) and how he was found


Mayday: Manfred Bajorat is believed to have been trying to radio for helpBaroboPolice

Mayday: Manfred Bajorat is believed to have been trying to radio for help


Two fishermen spotted the drifting "ghost ship" and climbed on board before finding the body and photo albums, clothes and tins of food strewn all over.

Paperwork on board identified him, but the cause of death is unknown.

The mast of the boat was broken, but it is not clear if this happened before or after his death.

One theory is he could have suffered a heart attack.

A year before what appears to have been his last voyage, in 2008, he broke up with his wife who used to venture with him.

However, she has since died of cancer so can shed no more light on his movements.

[Rusty Edge]

Fascinating.

Well, the Filipino fisherman could probably use the salvage money.

[Unorthodox]

http://missoulian.com/news/weird-news/a-murder-of-crows-dead-birds-found-along-michigan-railroad/article_2de6ecd0-b830-5e7b-8ffa-6aa1be92bf23.html

SPRINGFIELD, Mich. (AP) — A murder of crows? Dozens of dead birds have been found along railroad tracks in southern Michigan, and wildlife officials are trying to figure out what happened to them.


Some area residents estimated there could be as many as 300 carcasses stretching at least 200 yards along the tracks, the Battle Creek Enquirer reported (http://bcene.ws/1pmmige ). They were discovered Tuesday in Springfield, southeast of Grand Rapids.


A Calhoun County official found 57 dead crows along the tracks Tuesday, Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Tom Cooley told The Associated Press. Two birds were found to have fractures and may have been struck by a train, Cooley said.




Several dozen crows were found dead near tracks in the same general area last month. About half a dozen were looked at and determined to have been killed by a passing train, he said.


Birds are susceptible to the weather, especially windy or stormy conditions, according to Cooley.
 

























Pause


Current Time 0:00


/


Duration Time 0:00









Loaded: 0%

Progress: 0%

0:00


Fullscreen





00:00


Unmute





















"With these, there's got to be something in that general area that makes them prone to be struck," he said.




The livers of the two birds brought to Lansing on Tuesday will be tested to see if pesticides played a role in their deaths.

[Rusty Edge]

We had a storm front move through with some high winds- the kind that drop large trees on school buses and homes, and inspire idiots to go out on Lake Michigan in a kayak and endanger rescue workers- but that was Wednesday.

Maybe there was a whiff of vinyl chloride. It seems to me that crows are too vigilant and too clever to be hit by passing trains, particularly not in groups. Unless they were drunk on fermented fruit. Or somebody mounted an owl decoy on the train and was playing a distress call...

[Unorthodox]

-2016-chalk-signs.html]http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2016/03/24/atlanta--emory-univ.-students-traumatized-after-seeing-[Sleezebag]-2016-chalk-signs.html

A flurry of chalk scrawls supporting Donald [Sleezebag] on the Emory University campus sparked a demonstration by students who demanded and were granted a meeting with the president, saying the messages made them feel concerned and frightened. At least one of them said he got death threats after the protest.

The students viewed the messages as intimidation, and they voiced "genuine concern and pain" as a result, Emory President Jim Wagner wrote Tuesday, one day after meeting with 40 to 50 student demonstrators.

The Atlanta university on Wednesday provided The Associated Press with a copy of Wagner's letter, in which he said students confronted by [Sleezebag]'s name in chalk "heard a message about values regarding diversity and respect that clash with Emory's own."

Students at Monday's protest chanted, "You are not listening! Come speak to us, we are in pain!" shortly before Wagner agreed to meet with them, Emory's student newspaper, The Wheel, reported.

Slogans such as "[Sleezebag] 2016" were written in chalk on campus sidewalks and some buildings sometime during the weekend. At least one of the chalk messages stated "Build a wall," said one of the students at the protest, Jonathan Peraza, 19, who said he is of Latino heritage and went to high school in suburban Atlanta.

"That is a direct reference to brown people on campus," Peraza told The Associated Press Wednesday, adding that "we feel unsafe on our campus."

"It was an intentional way to rile students up and intimidate those of us who feel we are in danger with this presidential candidate," Peraza said. "We do feel that our lives are in danger with his campaign and the violence that he's been inciting."

Peraza said that since the demonstration, he's received death threats on social media, including a picture of a gravestone with his name on it. He's forwarded the threats to Emory administrators, he said.

Peraza said he was not the leader the protest, but was one of many demonstrators.

"We're getting targets put on our backs because we're speaking out for the things that we need," he said. "I'm literally watching my back all over campus."

Another student protester, Lolade Oshin, 20, said no one is trying to take away anyone's First Amendment right to free speech.

"Nobody ever told anybody that they can't vote for Donald [Sleezebag]," Oshin said.

She and other students are frustrated, she said, at what they perceive as rhetoric from university officials and not enough concrete actions to promote tolerance.

"If there were pro-Hitler things around the campus or swastikas, Emory would have taken a stance on it," she said. In October 2014, Emory University officials said the FBI had joined an investigation into swastikas that were painted on the exterior of a historically Jewish fraternity house.

Oshin said she's meeting Friday with Emory administrators, who have been working for months on several policy changes, which Wagner outlined in his letter to students.

The changes include refinements to the school's "bias incident reporting and response procedure," Wagner wrote. Emory is also taking steps to have regular opportunities for "difficult dialogues," he wrote.
 

. . . .