Stories Of The Paranormal, The Unexplained, And All Things Incredible

May 16, 2012

Pets to the Rescue

We all know animals are much smarter than we usually think but it's incredible how much smarter they actually are. It seems like many of them can access that 80% of unused brain that most of us human beings ignore.

In February, 1939, St Bernard dogs in the Swiss Alps refused, for the first time ever, to go for their morning walk with the monks. An hour later an avalanche engulfed the part of the track that they would have been on in normal circumstances.

In 1783 dogs in Messina, Italy, howled so uncontrollably before an earthquake that they could be silenced only by being shot. Bet they regretted that after the dust had settled.

Adele Holzer was driving with her normally sleeping cat in the back seat when the pet became agitated and jumped up front with her, meowing and tapping her arm. When the cat began nipping her hand on the steering wheel she finally pulled over. At the moment a huge tree fell across the road and would have crushed them had she not stopped.

Contemporary English biochemist Rupert Sheldrake has extensively investigated the subtler senses often demonstrated by pets. Some of his accounts include: A dog who stubbornly refused to enter a pedestrian walkway which collapsed seconds later with an explosion of concrete crashing down from the ceiling. One owner was prevented by his dog from boarding a boat that blew up soon after and another pet pulled its owner away from the path of an out-of-control van before the vehicle appeared in sight.


Labels: ,

May 9, 2012

Howard Carter - In the Beginning

Life leads us to where we need to be. An excellent example of this is the life of the infamous English archeologist, Howard Carter -discoverer King Tut's tomb.

Carter was born into a family too poor to send him to school in a hamlet in Norfolk, May 9, 1873.
His father made a meagre living painting watercolour portraits of animals belonging to the local aristocracy. He taught Howard to paint. In 1890 a wealthy neighbour inadvertently introduced the young man to Egyptology when she asked him to assist a friend finish some drawings of ancient monuments discovered in Middle Egypt. Carter taught himself about antiquities as he went along, first with a three month stint at the British Museum and then as a most junior member of the staff of the Egyptian Exploration Fund.

Eventually he became assistant to one of the greatest Egyptologist who ever lived, Sir William Flinders Petrie. Unfortunately Carter's stubborn sense of protocol and insensitivity to petty politics ended the appointment. In 1903 Petrie, accompanied by his wife and three young women were recording hieroglyphs in a tomb at Saqqara when they were accosted by several drunken Frenchman. The men demanded a private tour and attempted to force their way into the women's quarters. Carter arrived with a squad of Egyptians guards to save the day and during the ensuing struggle, knocked on of the Frenchmen to the ground.

With injured pride, the fallen man complained to his consul and demanded an apology. Howard refused. He was only doing his job afterall. Unfortunately the French had the upper hand in the power structure of Egyptian archaeology, and Carter was dismissed from service. After four years of barely surviving by selling watercolours and giving guided tours, life once again moved Howard Carter to where he needed to be. He was introduced to Lord Canarvon who was looking for a Egyptologist for his treasure hunting expeditions. Howard Carter was a professional and readily and cheaply available. In 1922,after years of vicious insects, unbearable heat and unending ridicule, Carter and Carnavon discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamen. The rest is history.

May 4, 2012

Curiosity Uncovers New Clue to Missing Roanoke Colony

Curiousity is arguably, in my opinion, one of the most important qualities for an satisfying life; right up there after integrity. Curiosity leads us on bold, new explorations. Curiousity brings delight to the intellect and now, curiousity has uncovered a new clue to the Roanoke settlers who disappeared over 400 years ago.

The "Virginea Pars" map of Virginia and North Carolina was created by explorer and expedition leader  John White in the 1580s. The blue eyed British Colonists, whom he had brought to start a new life in America, were left on their own while White went back to England for further supplies. When he returned three years later everyone had mysteriously disappeared.

The map has belonged to the British Museum for nearly 150 years. Recently, First Colony Foundation board member, Brent Lane let his curiousity get the better of him, pointed to the map and asked "What's under those two patches?" Thus the first clue to the whereabouts of this seminal group in four centuries was revealed. The only other clue of note was when White returned to the uninhabited Roanoke Island and found the word CROATOAN carved into a wooden post.

One was the patches appeared to have been applied to correct a mistake in the shoreline of the Pamlico River. The other patch, however, revealed the possible location of a fort. More on this fascinating history mystery here.