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I Wouldn't Change a Thing
CHAPTER ONE: From Riches to Rags: When I look back upon my life in this round of the soulful experience I have enjoyed so much; there are many things that seem almost too good to be true. I have chosen to be a very unusual ‘bird’ or a weird duck to...
Internet Addiction Disorder: a Review (Part 2)
MODELS OF IAD Clinical research on behavioral addictions has focused on compulsive gambling (8), overeating (11), and compulsive sexual behavior (12). Similar addiction models have been applied to technological overuse (24), computer dependency...
On Being Human
Are we human because of unique traits and attributes not shared with either animal or machine? The definition of "human" is circular: we are human by virtue of the properties that make us human (i.e., distinct from animal and machine). It is a...
Rock of Ages
William Jennings Bryan said: "Christians desire that their children shall be taught all the sciences, but they do not want them to lose sight of the Rock of Ages while they study the age of rocks." It may seem incredible to those who do not know...
The New Old Wonders of Electrodes
Unless you are paid attention during science class or are
mainstay of science fairs, the term electrode will seem fairly
faraway to you. Some people even think that electrodes belong
only in science fiction as some sort of name for a weapon or...
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X-Files Stuff in the News!
I have always loved science fiction. I always have and always will. However, I do possess, most of the time, a solid enough grip on reality to let go of my sci-fi love when I put the book down or leave the movie theater.
I mean, I would love for half the stuff I see in sci-fi to be true right now. You know what I am talking about, don't you? I would love to be able to zoom through "Space the Final Frontier" in the comforts of the Starship Enterprise sipping margaritas with Jean-Luc Picard while watching the stars fly by. Maybe that babe, Counselor Troi, could join us.
Yes, I can tell the difference between truth and reality (sort of). It's fun to pretend but I know when the pretense stops—or do I?
Another kind of sci-fi on the caliber of the "X-files" has been going on lately and I want to know just what in the name of Agent Mulder is going on?
I wrote a week or two ago about the exploding toads of Germany.
"I cannot get out of my mind the exploding toad phenomenon reported in the Altona district of Hamburg, Germany. This was taking place at the end of April 2005, causing a ghoulish and macabre mess that confused the hell out of scientists. They had taken to calling the district the "pond of death".
They think they may have solved this little grotesqueness with the explanation of some peckish toad-liver-stealing crows. I don't buy that at all.
On May 18th, a report appeared in the Associated Press about a scene right out of Hitchcock's "The Birds" occurred in Houston.
Apparently, some rather miffed Grackles (a large and loud crow-like bird) have gotten it into their little pea-sized birdbrains to attack the good citizens of Houston. These attacks have become so vicious that people are being injured.
"The grackles zeroed in on a lawyer who shooed a bird away before he tripped and injured his face, Jue said. The lawyer was treated for several cuts." [1] Can you believe this?
One woman was knocked to the ground, according to the article, and had to be helped up by two men who were also attacked. All three had to flee into a nearby building to escape the Grackle
attack.
So what set off this flock of Grackles? And note that they are large and loud Crow-like birds. Is there a connection between the toad-murdering crows of Germany and this Houston event? Don't you want to know?
Then, lo and behold, Reuters' news service reported that on May 19, a sleepy little Russian village's lake simply DISAPPEARED overnight! Imagine that! You go to bed telling the wife that you will be up before the crack of dawn to go "Wet a Hook". You get up, eat a little something, grab the gear, and walk down to the lake, only to find that it is gone--Poof! [2]
I assure you I am not making any of this up. An entire lake was there when the Russians went to bed and the next morning it was gone.
Get this: The article is entitled, "Lake Disappears, baffling villagers". They find it, what, a little baffling? I wonder if TERRORIZED would have been a more appropriate word? Baffled just doesn't cut it. I am thinking that an overnight disappearance of an entire lake would elicit a little stronger reaction like,
"Мы тянем наших ишаков из здесь".
This roughly translates to,
"We are hauling our butts out of here."
Just what the devil is going on here? Exploding toads in Germany (the explanation was NOT conclusive), vicious people-attacking CROW-like birds in Houston (authorities had to close down that section of the street), then the overnight disappearance of an entire lake.
Just where are Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Skully when you need them?
[1] Hostile Grackels Attack People in Houston; Associated Press
[2] Lake Disappears, baffling villagers.
About the Author
Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. He is a columnist with Cricketsoda.com and the Magic City Morning Star. He is also listed with Ezinearticles.com. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico. His newest book Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country can now be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241
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