Archive for September 2009

Sticky Business…

September 29, 2009

cat duct taped— Now this is just plain wrong!   A cat dubbed “Sticky” was wrapped in duct tape head to tail and dumped in a paper bag in a neighbor’s yard for 12 hours.  The 19-year-old Philadelphia man who did this was described as having, “a lot of issues.”  He faces animal cruelty charges, a fine, and jail time.

Other that being dehydrated, Sticky the cat survived his ordeal.  He was sedated to have the duct tape removed.

‘Scuse  me now, but I’ve got a human to wrap in duct tape…for if there are no human laws to fit the crime, there is always a higher law which can (holds up a large roll of gray duct tape, laughs darkly, and exits…)

Spider Pope!

September 28, 2009

Spider PopeIs it an omen?– – A large arachnid appeared on Pope Benedict XVI’s white robes as he addressed politicians and diplomats in Prague on Saturday afternoon (see speck on shoulder)!  The Pope didn’t seem to notice at first, but the not so itsy-bitsy spider made journalists flinch as the arachnid inched towards Benedict’s neck!

The spider disappeared from view for a moment, but then could be seen crawling up the right side of the pontiff’s face- –eww! When it reached his ear, Benedict gave it a swat…but the persistent arachnid reappeared on the Pope’s left shoulder and then scampered down his robe.  As the Pope left Prague Castle’s Spanish Hall, the spider could be seen hanging from a piece of web!

– -Well, that spider’s now darned to heck…but will the Pope  gain amazing arachnoid powers?- –That would be so cool!!!- -And what a recruitment tool for the church!- –I’d warm a pew for that!- -I can see a Marvel Comics cover now!

<sings> Spider-Pope!- -Spider-Pope!- -He does everything a Spider-Pope does!

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(Disclaimer:  No disrespect intended to the Pope or Catholicism, yada yada…remember, “Comedy is not pretty.” – – Steve Martin) 😉

Crocodile Mafia Enforcer!

September 27, 2009

caiman– -A crocodile could be the ultimate Mafia enforcer, a hit-reptile, if you will.- -Well, one Mafia crime boss appears to have employed such cold-blooded muscle in his operation!

Officers in Italy’s anti-Mafia police unit say that they have seized a crocodile (specifically, a caiman) from the home of an alleged mob boss in Naples!  The owner used the 88-pound, 5.6 foot long reptile to intimidate extortion victims, local businessmen from whom he demanded protection money.  In what sounds like bad TV writing, the boss supposedly would invite the extortion victims to his home and threaten to set the animal on them if they didn’t pay or grant him favors...in other words, he made them an offer they couldn’t refuse!

Now caimans normally live in Central and South America, and it is not known how this one got to Italy…rather than pasta, the croc was fed a diet of live rabbits and mice.  He was placed in the care of Italy’s forestry service, and will probably wind up writing a book in a witness protection program…

Mobile Dog Fighting…

September 26, 2009

dog fighting– -This picture is a mild example of dog fighting; most are bloody and sickening.–How are dog fighters adapting to increasing law enforcement against their despicable activities?–By going mobile, in a practice called “trunking”…

in “trunking,” large cars with spacious trunks are used to stage dog fights while loud music is played to muffle the sounds of the brutality.  The vehicle may actually be kept moving while the fighting transpires, then stop.  Whichever dog is still alive at that point is the winner, with the dead loser simply tossed to the side of the road.   As the entire operation is mobile, it’s difficult for law enforcement to target it and close in.

Animal control officers in Paterson, New Jersey are stepping up enforcement and warning the public about the practice, with arrests having occurred in other states.  The Humane Society is offering a $5,000 reward for information on anyone participating in trunking…

“MysteryQuest’s” Bermuda Triangle

September 25, 2009

Bermuda Triangle– – The History Channel has mounted a triple threat, featuring episodes of MonsterQuest, Nostradamus Effect, and MysteryQuest run back-to-back.  The Bermuda Triangle offering on MysteryQuest was a first run episode, examining the legendary disappearances of boats, planes, and personnel in the 500,000 square mile area that extends between Miami, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda.

Now a number of things have been blamed for the disappearances, including (of course) UFO’s/USO’s, rogue waves in the case of boats, and perhaps most intriguingly, “electronic fog” attaching itself to planes.  Electronic fog is supposedly created when solar energy combines with thunderstorm activity; the fog generated is said to travel with the aircraft as it moves, effectively blinding it and making it difficult to fly out of the disturbance.

The case of Bruce Gernon was examined, a survivor of a Bermuda Triangle encounter on December 4th, 1970 when he felt that a cut developed in the fabric of time, causing him to time travel…

Large Squid Found in Gulf of Mexico

September 24, 2009

ADDITION Giant Squid– – A 19-1/2 foot, 103 pound squid was netted by accident in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana in late July, with the photos just released.  Researchers were trawling 1,500 feet below the gulf’s surface to study dietary habits of sperm whales when the squid was brought to the surface, not surviving the rapid ascent through the changing depths.

The squid was described as being the size of an SUV, and is rare with the species not having been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico since 1954.   The preserved squid won’t wind up as calamari, but will be sent to the Smithsonian…

–Hitler’s Escape?

September 19, 2009

Cat Hitler– -Did Adolf Hitler escape the closing grip of Allied troops on Berlin during the final days of Nazi Germany in World War II, and somehow get spirited to Argentina or elsewhere?–Yes he did, ultimately to be reincarnated as a cat…

Seriously, though, the opening episode of MysteryQuest considered the question of whether Hitler had indeed escaped his bunker, with a body double in some accounts having been used in the dictator’s supposed suicide.  The Soviets did retain some fragmentary and minimal remains said to be those of Hitler, including a bloody couch and a skull fragment complete with a bullet hole.  MysteryQuest was permitted a very brief examination of the remains, bringing back photos and even small samples.  Some interesting conclusions were reached…

…photos and examination suggested that the sutures joining the skull plates were relatively open, as would be characteristic of a younger person in the age range of 20 to 40 years, rather than a man of Hitler’s age.  Furthermore, the bone itself was not as thick or robust as is usually seen in males, and is more characteristic of a female! DNA was successfully extracted from the samples, and was conclusively found to be female as well.

While these findings do not prove that Hitler escaped his bunker, they do suggest that the remains housed by the Soviets could not be those of Hitler…Do I think that Hitler escaped Berlin and survived?–Not bloody well likely…but for a really cool story about Hitler cloning, check out The Boys from Brazil, novel by Ira Levin or movie featuring Gregory Peck…

–Yowsa!

September 18, 2009

fox spirit 2– -Woo-hoo!- -Over fifty thousand hits on Foxsylvania!- -Thank ‘ya, Constant Readers!- -Your faithfulness will not be forgotten when the Revolution comes, and your names, avatars, paw prints, or fursonas will be duly inscribed in the Book of Fur.– -So let it be written…so let it be done!– –Bite the Power!

Nostradamus Effect

September 17, 2009

Nostradalmatian– -The end is near!– -At least that’s what the doomsday predictions from Nostradamus, the Book of Revelation, the Mayan “long count” calendar and many others would have us believe.  A new show on The History Channel, Nostradamus Effect,  examines end-of-time predictions from cultures across the globe, questioning whether they constitute inspired visions or crackpot conspiracy theories.

Now Michel de Nostradamus was a 16th century French physician and astrologer whose name is synonymous with apocalyptic visions of the near and distant future…kinda the gold standard for that type of thing.  But we furries have our future-predicting psychic seers, too!

One such is Nostradalmatian, a canine seer seen in the comic strip Get Fuzzy by Darby Conley.- -Don’t you believe in Nostradalmatian’s uncanny powers?!–Oh, he knew that you were going to say that!!!

“MysteryQuest” on the History Channel

September 16, 2009

Atlantis— Alright, it won’t be MonsterQuest, but the new MysteryQuest may appeal to some of the same audience.  MysteryQuest is a new series that promises to dispatch teams of experts throughout the world to try to solve some of mankind’s strangest and most persistent mysteries.  Following the MonsterQuest formula, a science team will then conduct a forensic exam of the evidence gathered by the investigative teams using the latest technology.- -Sound a little familiar?

Promised are episodes on the Bermuda Triangle (…always a favorite!), the Zodiac serial killer, and Atlantis.  Kicking the series off is an installment on Hitler (- -alive and well and living in Argentina?).   Watch for it Wednesday nights on the History Channel.- – And yes, Foxsylvania may comment; we love drek like this!

I’m  hoping for an episode on the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch! (It’s a Monty Python thing, BTW…)