News That's Beyond Bizarre...

To end the week on an interesting note, here are some unusual stories from our weird world. And that's no hat trick...

The Whisperer and the Ghost...

Yes, Jennifer Love Hewitt, star of Ghost Whisperer, does believe in ghosts in real life. In fact, she recently had a conversation with her dead grandmother, thanks to psychic James Van Praagh. She told OK! Magazine, "She just wanted to say hello and tell me that she was looking out for me. It was really nice." I'm sure Hewitt was an easier audience for Van Praagh than Barbara Walters.

Please, No Pictures...

The hunt for Storsjöodjuret, the infamous lake monster of Sweden, continues. But there is one slight snag for cryptozoologists: cameras have been banned by the council from being used on the shores of Lake Storsjön. Under-water surveillance has passed through local ordinance four times, but if you're planning an impromptu jaunt with a digital, you had better think twice. Who needs evidence, anyway?

Those Bloody Lesbians...

Perth was shaken in 2006 by the slaying of a 16-year-old girl. The two assailants, Jessica Stasinowsky and her lover Valerie Parashmuti, both pleaded guilty this week to bludgeoning their roommate to death with a concrete block. Apparently, the deed turned them on and they proceeded to make out while standing over her body. Parashmuti, 19, belonged to a vampire cult which engaged in the ritualistic drinking of blood. Their motive? They thought the girl was "annoying" and believed she was flirting with the girls significant other. Thus perpetuating the belief that lesbians are tough, vicious creatures...

Was Darby O'Gill Delusional?

If you're seeing faeries outside of the nearest gay bar, you might be suffering from Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). British doctors estimate as many as 100,000 people in England may suffer from CBS. The disturbance causes hallucinations of people, objects, and even little winged human figures while the sufferer remains otherwise of sound mind. Scientists say it is caused by a lack of visual stimulation, not mental illness. Theories for ending CBS vary from stimulating the fingertips to holding your breath to (in extreme cases) medication. In the case of visual hallucinations of leprechauns, I might recommend looking for that pot of gold anyway...

With Chips on the Side...

Something fishy is happening along the Nepal-India border. Those unwise enough to bathe in the waters of the Great Kali may find it to be their final cleansing. Teenagers have gone missing and a few spectators have watched helplessly as people are pulled into the river.

By what, you ask? Killer catfish.

It may sound like the plot of a low-budget science fiction movie, but giant catfish (called Goonch, or more specifically Bagarius yarelli) are killing people. And just like any good movie script, the locals have a theory to accompany this taste for human blood and flesh.

The river is a popular place for funeral pyres. They conclude that the partially burnt corpses sink into the river bottom where catfish feed. Over the years, these Goonch have munched away on the dead bodies and found that although we are often menacing, we are also mighty tasty morsels. With the newfound pallet, the fish have taken to snagging live humans to feed their hungers.

Don't be fooled by visions of deep-fried catfish on plates. These monsters have been hooked at upwards of six feet long and weighing in at 161 pounds. Biologist Jeremy Wade recently launched an investigation of the Goonch catfish and will report his findings on a television documentary. Flesh Eating River Monsters is slated to air on UK's Channel 5 on October 23.

Quirky Paranormal News Shorts...

Just to catch everyone up on some of the news of the odd from the past few weeks, here's a brief glimpse at some of the world's more strange occurrences.

Big Fish, Mork, Mork, Mork!

A local videographer in Sweden claims to have captured footage of Storsjöodjuret, Sweden's version of the Loch Ness Monster. The creature in great Lake has been spotted hundreds of times over the past 400 years. It is described as a humped serpent with the head of a dog. Just be careful to keep the Swedish Chef at bay. Who knows what he might do with such a delicacy.

Your Mystic Money's Not Good Here...

In King County, the Solid Waste Division as turned down psychic funds. Seattle psychic Alexandra Chauran was impressed with the composting of our bodily functions and offered to donate her services for a fund-raising program for the Christmas holiday. They replied with a "thanks, but no thanks", stating that a paranormal business was "not an appropriate fit for a county program". Crooked politicians? Yes! Tarot readers and pet psychics? Absolutely not!

What Big Feet You Have...

Fossilized footprints believed to belong to a bigfoot-like creature have been unearthed near Cookville, Tennessee. They were discovered by Harold Jackson on his property and measure 15 inches long and 11 inches wide. Jackson thinks they're simply Native American tracks. That might be wise, after the bigfoot corpse hoax of recent news. Still, footprints that large are questionable, unless it was a native basketball player from the past.

Police Hounds of the Baskervilles...

A band of would-be ghost hunters broke into Westboro State Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts to hunt for ghost of the former mental patients. What they encountered instead was the rattling of handcuffs as local police arrived on the scene. One man jumped from a window and eluded police, while the others quickly ran out when they heard the police dogs bark. They were arrested on charges of trespassing and breaking and entering. But luckily, they weren't bitten by any dogs... or ghosts.

Religion and the Grape Lady...

That pesky Virgin Mary keeps popping up everywhere. Now she's taking over the supermarket fruit aisle! 24-year-old Becky Ginn of Arlington, Virginia found her effigy on a grape and blogged about it on Livejournal. After some prodding from readers, she contacted the local media. Ginn, a Baptist, hasn't given any thought to idolizing the green relic. But if she plans to sell it, she probably should do so before it becomes another California raisin.

That's all the wierdness for the day. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Dying to Check In...

It's the night before "the biggest gay party weekend of the year", and five gay couples find themselves seeking accommodation far from the highway. The Sahara Salvation Inn seems like a rustic, charming old place... but as the night wears on, secrets are revealed and the nightmares begin!

That's the basic synopsis for the campy, humorous horror movie, The Gay Bed & Breakfast of Terror. The 2007 independent film centers around a group of stereotyped gay men and lesbians, from the sophisticated lipstick lesbian to the personal trainer/gym bunny boy. The innkeepers, Helen and Luella, might seem like typical, wholesome mother and daughter entrepreneurs, but nothing at this inn is what it seems to be.

While it might not feature hauntings, the plot does involve something even more frightening. And it all leads to the attic...

But don't take my word on it. Just watch the trailer...

Undead and Proud...

Who would've known that gay zombies would be such a popular cinematic theme?

Gay Zombie is another strange comedy about life... and being undead. Miles, a zombie in West Hollywood, is feeling sexually confused and is in counseling. He meets Todd and becomes smitten. But can Miles reconcile his taste for human flesh... and horrible skin problems?

I actually caught the tail end of this film a while ago. Nothing like watching the last 15 minutes of a film like this to leave you utterly bewildered...

Check out the trailer:

Beware of the Gnomes Near Nome...

Ah, Alaska. The land of caribou, soon-to-be-extinct glaciers, the Aurora Borealis, Eskimos, and perhaps something a little more sinister.

And I do mean 'little'...

At least that's what an email, which has been circulating as a warning, seems to be telling the locals. The Alaskan Bush isn't so safe. In the tundra lurks the ircenrraq, lying in wait to disorient, discomfort, and trap unsuspecting humans.

Ircenrraat, from Central Alaskan Yup'ik tradition, are little, mischievous creatures who live in the tundra. While their meddlesome ways often are notorious among the native peoples, every so often the myth attracts a little outside attention.

On May 7th, a man from Marshall stumbled across a young boy at Pilcher Mountain, all alone, in an area inhabited by large tundra brown bears. He was confused and has been crying. He had no recollection of where he was or how he had gotten there. He did, however, recall being lead away by "little beings" to the site where he encountered a young girl who had been kidnapped in a similar manner some 40 years prior. The ircenrraat decided to release him... at which point he was discovered by the man.

Similar stories have been heard over the years, and Pilcher Mountain itself is alleged to be a hotbed of ircenrraat activity. Thanks to the worldwide web, the man's warning email was forwarded on and his tale reached an Anchorage reporter.

Was the youth telling the truth? Do small creatures resembling elves or gnomes conceal themselves in the frozen Arctic?

Or has the permafrost and lack of daylight warped people's imaginations?

Somewhere, Beneath the Sea...

Among the many mythical creatures keeping cryptozoologists busy unraveling mysteries are mermaids. Museums sometimes show antique, mummified remains (like the Feejee Mermaid) which have been known to be hoaxes. Most scientists and historians agree that sightings from the past have been nothing more than manatees mistaken for humanoids.

But that doesn't mean we can't dream...

And yes, there are even believed to be mermen. They may not be as common or as popular in legend, but half-man, half-fish creatures have been occasionally reported.

But just in case you aren't curious to track down legendary creatures on your own, you can always get your own, more compact, version.

The delightful people at December Diamonds have an entire line of mermen ornaments, perfect for making any Christmas a little gayer. Most of the collection is available at Diamonds of the Sea, Q Gifts Online, and many other retailers.

But I'm sure they would make for interesting conversation pieces at any other time of the year...

Deathly Drab and Ghoulishly Gay?

"The closet is no place for a monster..."

If you think there's no room for campy gay humor in comics, you're wrong. Dead wrong.

The Gay Monsters is a web-based comic created by illustrator and flash animator Andy Bauer. It features a host of undead characters from Twinkle Toad Town, including a zombie drag queen, queeny Frankenstein-esque monster, hunky dead stripper, and jealous mummy. It's a unique blend of cute humor and dead people (and the penis-shaped tombstone is a nice touch...).

Though the comic is only a little over a year old, it's still relatively undiscovered, which is a true shame. If you're looking for a little amusing and funny pick me up, be sure to check it out... and visit the MySpace site!

And now for the preview: