Weekly Weird News for 12 May 2023
Hi everyone! Welcome to another weird week. Remember, you can get a sneak peak at stories I collected on Sharon’s Strange Times on Flipboard.
As usual, I’ll start out with some follow-ups from previous stories.
More on Kambo deaths
First, more on the Kambo deaths I linked to last week. Kambo is the use of mucus scraped from a poisonous frog to induce purging and clearing of the body’s “toxins”. Like ayahuasca, it’s meant to be a grueling, life-changing experience. Sometimes, it changes life completely around - into death. Additional deaths have been reporting including a man who collapsed during a ceremony. When paramedics arrived, they were reportedly shooed away from a victim by a woman who didn't want them to interfere with his "aura". He died a gruesome death from the effects of his body reacting to the substance. As the use of alternative and extreme treatments increase, authorities are considering safety regulations. But this kind of natural toxic stuff will always be outside the reach of enforcement. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-65541618
The NY Times did a piece on kambo in 2021. What happens right after you take it?
“They call it ‘frog face,’” Ms. Allison said. “It kind of looks like a celebrity plastic surgeon went to town on your face, like Kim Kardashian in a fun-house mirror. And then, suddenly, you are unbelievably nauseous. You’re basically going from zero to the worst flu of your life within 60 seconds.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/style/self-care/kambo-tree-frog-detox.html
A twist to the death cult in Kenya
Two weeks ago brought the world news of a mass burial of people associated with religious cult in Kenya. Many were children. Authorities examining the bodies now say that some organs were missing. They suspect the group was selling body parts. I don’t know if this is actually confirmed though. If so, it makes this already horrific story even worse. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kenya-starvation-cult-deaths-autopsies-missing-organs-harvesting-investigation/
Whoa. Those were really heavy. Let’s lighten things up. A lot.
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There were some funny items from the Coronation.
Grim Reaper outside the church
Viewers captured a black cloaked figure carrying a pole (or scythe?) walking past the entrance to Westminster Abbey. The internet crowd kicked into major drama mode by suggesting the figure was the Grim Reaper. It took a day or two to determine that it was a church helper, called a verger, who assists with religious services, but isn't a clergy member. They sometimes carry a staff. https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/grim-reaper-cameo-coronation-of-king-charles-iii-01gzrpc3wn4c and https://uk.news.yahoo.com/mystery-spooky-figure-coronation-solved-145409735.html
Meghan in disguise
While some speculated the black cloaked figure was death, some suggested it was Meghan Markle in disguise, attending the ceremony. Other were sure that she was there in the guise of a elderly man with bushy hair, mustache and glasses. Posted on social media, the screen shot joke took off.
This was a hilarious story except Welsh composer Sir Karl Jenkins didn’t think so. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cljgg9801w5o
Mysterious black line in the sky
A woman in Kent, UK took a photo of a vertical line in Folkestone. She was surprised no one else did. what is it? The most likely explanation is that it’s a shadow cast of a vapor trail in the sky from a plane (contrail). Or is there another explanation? Notice that it parallels the light pole. https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/residents-and-experts-baffled-by-strange-black-line-in-the-s-286739/
Beware. Dangerous rabbit.
A neighborhood in Iowa has a wascally wabbit running amok. A black rabbit lunged several people and bit at least two. It’s not suspected the rabbit has rabies. The rabbit was caught and released elsewhere. But no mention in the news that the animal seems to be a domestic rabbit that was let loose, possibly on purpose because of its bad behavior. People release pet rabbits thinking they can survive in the wild. They usually end up dead from disease or predators. Don’t ever do that. https://www.ketv.com/article/iowa-perry-rabbit-bitten-at-least-2-people/43852387
Big cat DNA evidence in UK
A TV production company is claiming they have DNA evidence that a “black panther” is menacing the British countryside. They say that hair stuck to a fence in Gloucestershire where sheep were attacked and killed was tested using mitochondrial DNA analysis to ascertain a 99% match to a big cat species. It’s not mentioned that any scientists were involved. The “99%” match sounds dubious as “proof” (as they headlines suggest) since maybe domestic cats share this 99% match of genetics with big cats. It’s not clear. But that’s the point. They are trying to sell their show and what’s a great way to do it than with manufactured hype that will be deflated only after you’ve watched the show. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/dna-evidence-found-proving-big-26889999
Gold rush may wash over California
The snowmelt in the California mountains is expected to clog streams with sediment including that from rocks that contain gold. The flecks of gold become separated in mechanical process and the gold bits travel downstream. Placerville is gearing up to help prospectors who wish to pan for gold. https://ktla.com/news/california/california-readies-for-treasure-hunt-as-floods-wash-up-gold-rush-2-0/
Do raptors carry off children? Maybe. But they definitely have killed some.
There are dramatic stories of children being carried away and killed by large birds of prey. While that may be possible for some babies and small toddlers, it’s clear that large birds have attacked small children and killed them, only carrying off pieces. Even today, large eagles can see children as prey even if they won’t be successful. https://lithub.com/this-eagle-would-eat-your-toddler-if-it-had-the-chance/
Two meteorite hits in two weeks!
A meteorite smashed through the roof of a building in Hopewell, New Jersey. It’s rare for this to happen but it does occasionally. The approximately 2 lbs. rock will be tested and taken to the College of New Jersey https://newjersey.news12.com/meteorite-hopewell-township-house-deemed-safe-hazmat-team
Surprisingly, just 1 1/2 weeks ago, a homeowner in Elmshorn, Germany discovered a meteorite had smashed through his roof. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2023/05/09/possible-meteorite-strikes-house-in-new-jersey/
Swifties go nuts over book rumor
Here's a display of irrational pattern-seeking and blind following. And we wonder why conspiracies are so popular? They flocked to by an unnamed book thinking it was a secret project by Taylor Swift. It turns out it was another music-oriented book. IDK, people get weirdly obsessed with stuff. https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/05/10/taylor-swift-memoir-mysterious-book/
Crime solving doesn’t pay
An amateur detective concocted an idea that a roving serial killer was loose in the US. He had a big TikTok following until the drama went a bit too far. His followers started to question his claims that he was being followed. Then his trumped up serial killer idea came under scrutiny. Some critics thought the whole thing was aimed to help his new startup company. Crowd sourcing investigations may be a good idea, but, more often than not, people online portray themselves as having expertise they most certainly do not have. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tiktok-ken-waks-backlash-serial-killer-case-true-crime-ethics-rcna83105
Profiting off fear
A former football player used his connections and misinformation to sell child ID kits. He marketed them by stoking fear among parents and communities about child abductions. The kits from the National Child Identification Program was one of a series of for profit ventures from a guy who owes a lot of debts. There is no evidence that these ID kits did any good. https://www.propublica.org/article/kenny-hansmire-persuades-politicians-to-fund-child-id-kits
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The author of the article on eagles that can be dangerous to humans didn't know of any human fatalities caused by Harpy Eagles, but I do. In 1962, I was visiting with Miguel Alvarez del Toro, Director of the Tuxtla Gutierrez Zoo in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, and he told me about a Harpy Eagle that had escaped from his zoo and that had killed and partially eaten a small child. I asked him if he had ever published on this and he said no, that the event was just too horrible to dwell upon. I reckon that the story would not reflect well on his zoo, either. The article says that howler monkeys are the largest of the South American monkeys. They are not. The muriquis are the largest. Also, he writes about what he calls the "black vulture" as being exceeded in size only by the Andean Condor. I don't know what he means by "black vulture," but the bird that goes by that name in the New World is nowhere near that big.
Good stuff, Kiddo.