Weekly Weird News for 4 February 2022
Beware the slippery slope
Welcome to another edition of WWN. If you like these newsletters curating the best of fringe headlines, please share with someone who also might enjoy.
This week we have the usually unusual array of strangeness.
Let’s begin with some weather news.
Record megaflash
The World Meteorological Organization announced that a record 477 mile-long lightning bolt was documented on the US Gulf coast in April of 2020. The flash of horizontal lightning stretched from around Corpus Christi Texas to Mississippi and was recorded by a NOAA satellite. The longest duration flash was recorded at 17 seconds over Uruguay also in 2020. Now that they are looking, researchers expect to find more astonishing related finds. The same kind of satellite detects flashes when meteors explode in the atmosphere, allowing us to perhaps pinpoint the causes of mysterious booms. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/article/477-mile-lightning-strike-seen-over-Houston-was-16819935.php and https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/megaflash-longest-lightning-strike-record-certified/1135356
A fizzy sound
Methane is bubbling out of the floor of Puget Sound. The greenhouse gas is being released along fault zones. The water is shallow enough here that the methane could be making it to the atmosphere and contributing to the global warming problem. Scientists also wonder if the leaking gas says anything about earthquake potential in the area. https://www.king5.com/article/tech/science/environment/methane-gas-bubbles-puget-sound-university-of-washington/281-fc6ae422-a165-434e-8501-48d620a45343
Another cul de sac on the search for a cause of Havana syndrome
A new report from an intelligence panel investigating Havana syndrome or AHI (anomalous health incidents) is out this week confirming that the cases are “genuine and compelling”. But, after considering 5 potential mechanisms, they say “pulsed electromagnetic energy, particularly in the radiofrequency range” could be the cause. The report gives no scientific support for that finding. But it does state that psychosocial factors (like stress on the job) probably contributed to some incidents. The 4-page report released to the public, on the whole, is unimpressive and is not confirmation of any answer on the condition. How many more of these “reports” do we get? There is no one “weapon” or cause. This is a complex problem. https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/02/politics/havana-syndrome-report/index.html
California leading the way again
In a terrifying harbinger of what a new alt-right America could look like, in Shasta County, California, a militia-backed movement gained control over county government as this conservative area falls to extremist, anti-science, and conspiratorial views. The militia threatened violence over mask mandates. https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article257968573.html and https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/03/california-county-controlled-by-militia-group
Slippery trespasser caught on camera
In Mayasia, the legend of the Orang Minyak says that a slippery, oil-covered, supernatural being enters a house at night to abduct women. It’s also known as the “oily man”. This past week, a video from Shah Alam, was rumored to show such a creature in the act. It turns out the video was of a naked man breaking into a house. The police, who are aware of the situation, say no one filed a police report. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/true-or-not/2022/02/01/quickcheck-was-an-039orang-minyak039-caught-on-camera-in-shah-alam
Slippery “monster” chases boater
In another popularly passed-around video, a boater in Brazil says he was chased by a mysterious creature that “wanted to attack” him. The marine creature, dark with glowing eyes, is seen following the boat at high speed, jumping in the wake. The boater, and apparently many viewers, assumed this “mystery creature” was a monster of some sort. But, many others concluded it was a seal playing in the waves made by the passing boat. In no instance was an “attack” imminent. https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/mysterious-sea-creature-chases-brazil-fishermans-boat-heres-what-it-really-was-4723175.html
Roommate dispute becomes religious, dramatic, and deadly
Many exorcism victims die as a result of being restrained. In the news this week is a case from Texas where a woman died from asphyxia during a supposed exorcism, though the details matter. Ms. Jordan, who is facing charges for manslaughter, allegedly straddled her roommate to pray over her until she stopped breathing. In another incident, she assaulted the woman “in the name of the Lord”. There seems to be an indication that the roommates had a contentious relationship. A third party reported concerns to police after they originally assumed the death was medical-related. https://www.kwtx.com/app/2022/02/02/texas-woman-accused-killing-roommate-by-sitting-her/
Dead heads missing
Human remains were stolen from a Melbourne, Australia cemetery last week. The vandalism and thefts occurred over multiple days. One authority noted “symbols” that might be “satanic” and that lit up the headlines. It’s not really a safe bet to trust a criminologist on these matters when they are not genuine experts. A later report has ruled out the cause as related to a Satanic cult and more likely to be thrill-seeking with the candles and letters to Satan being more of a joke than real. But, the theft is odd and disturbing, for sure, and it doesn’t seem like there are leads. Surveillance cameras have been installed. https://7news.com.au/news/crime-melbourne/satanic-ritual-ruled-out-as-motive-for-stolen-heads-while-search-for-tomb-raiders-continues-c-5545208
Lucky fortune cookies
We’ve all seen the “lucky numbers” on the little paper inside the fortune cookie. Well, sometimes they really are. There have been at least 3 occasions where people played those numbers and won cash in the lottery. The 4th occasion seems to be a man in North Carolina who won $4 million. He said he was not a regular player. It’s not always crystal clear if the numbers directly translated to the win or if other factors were involved but considering the millions of people who play and don’t win, this isn’t a game-changer. https://abc7.com/mega-millions-nc-lottery-fortune-cookie-lucky-numbers/11525409/
Head-on bird encounters
Two odd bird incidents this week made the national news. In Utah, a red tailed hawk became stuck on a car front when hit. A wildlife rehab center assumed care and reported that the female bird appeared fine and injury-free. Sadly, the center often has to care for birds, including bald eagles, that have been hit by vehicles. https://www.upi.com/OddNews/2022/01/31/red-tailed-hawk-rescued-front-grill-car-Utah/7821643650799/
In Georgia, a woman discovered a vulture embedded in the car grille after traveling from South Carolina. With help, the bird was removed alive and turned over to a vet. What the news didn’t report was that the bird’s injuries were too severe and it was euthanized. I found the sad news in the follow-up Facebook post. Please slow down when you see animals alongside roads. Birds that eat roadkill are often killed by vehicles. https://www.upi.com/OddNews/2022/02/01/Georgia-police-rescue-vulture-stuck-in-front-grille-car/5381643738979/
The all-knowing eye
A photographer in Derbyshire, England was “in the right place at the right time” to capture this frozen puddle on a rock that looked like an eye. The water in the rock divot was frozen and perhaps contained debris that formed the “pupil” of the realistic eye. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-derbyshire-60168209
Unwanted clean-up
In Scotland, a local community is upset after a “clootie well” site was cleaned up. Clootie wells are where people leave offerings to the spirits of wells or springs. These offerings, called “cloots”, are usually a piece of cloth tied to tree branches after soaking in the well. The abundance of items will begin to overwhelm the site. Whoever took it upon themselves to clear out the cloots were accused of “desecrating” the site. The locals are now discussing the need for regular maintenance of the site before it gets out of hand. Visitors are encouraged to only leave natural, biodegradable items as offerings. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/30/upset-a-lot-of-people-outrage-tidy-up-of-scottish-sacred-well-clootie-offerings
BlueBeer-d
A company in France is making spirulina beer that results in a blue color. Spirulina is algae (cyanobacteria) that is marketed as a dietary supplement. The addition of spirulina turns the beer a distinctive blue color, which seems to be a novelty that can boost sales. https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/sacrebleu-french-brewers-use-algae-make-blue-beer-2022-02-03/
Cheers!
