In July 2009, an urban legend was circulated online through emails, and this urban legend contained a warning about ants in the brain.
Apparently, around this time, a little boy who was enjoying some sweets but happened to be eating his snacks close to naptime. His tiredness outweighed his love for the sweets and he fell asleep with the sugar-treats on him. As he lay napping, sugar still melting in his saliva and with his candy in reach, ants detected the sweet treats and started to crawl around him to get their fair share of sugar. Some of the ants crawled inside the sleeping toddler and many crawled right inside his ears.
The boy awakened after his short rest but several hours later, his ears began to itch a bit and he complained that his face felt itchy.
He was taken to a doctor but the doctor couldn't find a reason for the itchy discomfort the little boy was complaining about. The doctor decided to take an x-ray of the boy and when the results were examined, the doctor was horrified!
What the doctor saw in the x-ray was a group of live ants in the boy's skull. Apparently, the doctor couldn't operate right away because the ants were alive and moving around.
Needless to say, without the doctor being able to perform surgery, the little boy died.
This story was circulated with urgent warnings for people not to have food items in bedrooms or near places where they sleep - whether these be sweet treats or anything else. The sender of the story urged parents to never let their kids eat sweet items just prior to sleep times, for fear that ants would be attracted to the sweets.
All in all, a very creepy little tale, don't you think?
Can you pick out the obvious signs that it is an urban legend?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Buggy Creepy Germs
People have a natural and very strong aversion to almost all creeping and crawling life forms, from mice and other small rodents to smaller organisms like insects. The idea of bugs on or near a person is sufficient to freak most people out. Naturally, this means there are plenty of totally gross, disturbing tales about insects on, near or even IN people. Add the fact that we call germs and sicknesses by the name of 'bugs' (the flu bug) in our common, everyday language and it becomes a near paradox, this connection-aversion with people and bugs.
Perhaps it is because WE KNOW that sometimes smaller organisms can invade our larger bodies (resulting in great or fatal damage) that we fear bugs so much in general. Almost everyone is perfectly aware that organisms invisible to the naked eye have wiped out entire populations before during the course of history. Smallpox (has killed millions upon millions of people), The Spanish Flu (killed up to 100 million in a space of around two years, 1918 and 1919), The Black Death (1340-1771, killed an estimated 75 million), Malaria (still kills about 2 million each year) and AIDS (has killed an estimated 25 million since we learned what this disease was around 1981) have all been sicknesses that decimated astounding numbers of people and also spread uncontrollably across the landscape.
Most of us know that at least one of the terrible diseases named above is carried by one of the most common insects in the world - the mosquito. These insects - mosquitoes - have been the cause of and are still often the cause of transmission of the germs that cause Malaria. Actually, the disease is carried and transmitted through a particular type of mosquito, the female Anopheles mosquito - but to the naked eye, how is one to identify the Malaria carrying female Anopheles mosquito in order to protect oneself, anyway?
From all this, it is quite apparent that the human body can be considered quite fragile when pitted against an insect large enough to see but which carries a smaller 'bug' that can infect and cause death.
No wonder folklore, mythology and even modern urban legends are filled with creepy bug stories... Bugs are almost universally feared. Bugs are also universally more powerful than the human body, under the right circumstances.
Next post: An Urban Legend about BUGS!
Perhaps it is because WE KNOW that sometimes smaller organisms can invade our larger bodies (resulting in great or fatal damage) that we fear bugs so much in general. Almost everyone is perfectly aware that organisms invisible to the naked eye have wiped out entire populations before during the course of history. Smallpox (has killed millions upon millions of people), The Spanish Flu (killed up to 100 million in a space of around two years, 1918 and 1919), The Black Death (1340-1771, killed an estimated 75 million), Malaria (still kills about 2 million each year) and AIDS (has killed an estimated 25 million since we learned what this disease was around 1981) have all been sicknesses that decimated astounding numbers of people and also spread uncontrollably across the landscape.
Most of us know that at least one of the terrible diseases named above is carried by one of the most common insects in the world - the mosquito. These insects - mosquitoes - have been the cause of and are still often the cause of transmission of the germs that cause Malaria. Actually, the disease is carried and transmitted through a particular type of mosquito, the female Anopheles mosquito - but to the naked eye, how is one to identify the Malaria carrying female Anopheles mosquito in order to protect oneself, anyway?
From all this, it is quite apparent that the human body can be considered quite fragile when pitted against an insect large enough to see but which carries a smaller 'bug' that can infect and cause death.
No wonder folklore, mythology and even modern urban legends are filled with creepy bug stories... Bugs are almost universally feared. Bugs are also universally more powerful than the human body, under the right circumstances.
Next post: An Urban Legend about BUGS!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Parts 3 and 4 Radio Talk Show Topic: Black Eyed Kids
Parts 1 and 2 are in the post right below here! If you have trouble scrolling, try the link below:
Access Parts 1 and 2 of Radio Show, Topic "Black Eyed Kids"
In this continuation of the radio show, people are discussing Black Eyed Kids for a time - with the possibility in mind that the encounters might be a combined phenomenon. They could be extraterrestrial-related with Shadow people or ghosts...but really, most of the ideas are guesses. Much more talk on Shadow People and extraterrestrials is on this segment.
Regardless, listening to the rest of the show is still worth the time. A lot of interesting possibilities exist here.
Right at the beginning of the fourth segment, a question is asked about a "harlequin." Several accounts are given about encounters with these harlequin entities. In one of the narratives, a kid asks the harlequin who it is and the harlequin responds, "The Tooth Fairy."
Also, regarding a harlequin: the account of a guy who thinks his entire family experienced a harlequin when he was younger: right after thinking they heard something upstairs that they couldn't explain, the family all lost some track of time at the dinner table while the 'dad' laughed maniacally - then everyone woke up from being strangely passed out at the table - and proceeded to try and act as if nothing happened.
Very strange stuff - and more than talk on Black Eyed Kids in the fourth part below:
So again - let me know what you think after you listen to the on-going discussion with Jason Offutt.
Access Parts 1 and 2 of Radio Show, Topic "Black Eyed Kids"
In this continuation of the radio show, people are discussing Black Eyed Kids for a time - with the possibility in mind that the encounters might be a combined phenomenon. They could be extraterrestrial-related with Shadow people or ghosts...but really, most of the ideas are guesses. Much more talk on Shadow People and extraterrestrials is on this segment.
Regardless, listening to the rest of the show is still worth the time. A lot of interesting possibilities exist here.
Right at the beginning of the fourth segment, a question is asked about a "harlequin." Several accounts are given about encounters with these harlequin entities. In one of the narratives, a kid asks the harlequin who it is and the harlequin responds, "The Tooth Fairy."
Also, regarding a harlequin: the account of a guy who thinks his entire family experienced a harlequin when he was younger: right after thinking they heard something upstairs that they couldn't explain, the family all lost some track of time at the dinner table while the 'dad' laughed maniacally - then everyone woke up from being strangely passed out at the table - and proceeded to try and act as if nothing happened.
Very strange stuff - and more than talk on Black Eyed Kids in the fourth part below:
So again - let me know what you think after you listen to the on-going discussion with Jason Offutt.
Part 1 and 2 Radio Show Topic: Black Eyed Kids
The subject of Black Eyed Kids is complicated by the existence of a certain kind of costume-effect contact lenses that are available, most notably Black Sclera Lenses and some called "Plague." These lenses actually cover the whole sclera - the white part of the eye, whereas most contact lenses only cover a part of the eye dedicated to vision.
BEKs or, Black Eyed Kids have been described as having entirely black eyes with no white parts visible...
Here's are two you tube videos which are parts 1 and 2 of an audio interview where author/researcher, Jason Offut, was interviewed on the topic of Black Eyed Kids. Get yourself settled for at least a half hour or so because each part is 10 minutes in length. You might want a little break in between, but do listen carefully so that you can form your own opinion on BEKs.
Here's Part 1 (with a creepy Village of the Damned photo):
Speaking of Village of the Damned - did anyone answer my question from a few posts back yet? About scary children vs scary clowns?
The post: Which is scarier - Clowns or Kids?
Now, did you notice in the first part of the audio interview that Offut mentions the outrageous COST of Sclera Lenses? Wow, up to $300 PER LENS - that's up to $600 for a pair. I've just recently done some online searches and found Sclera Lenses at an even higher cost per pair and as much as $1100-$1200 for two matching lenses. The reason given for the more expensive ones - they're supposed to be a higher quality material, less prone to irritating the eye...
??? (long pause for thought) What? People need less eye irritation because why? They wear these lenses all the time or what?
Anyhow, enough ranting about these lenses. On to the next video.
I've only listened to this second part one time, all the way through - but want to get it posted in the same posting section here so people don't have to hunt around to be able to hear the interview pieces together. I admit, I MUST go back and listen again to this second part because the idea of "Dracos" mentioned by Offutt is a bit spooky.
Brief explanation: Offutt interviewed someone who stated he (the subject, not Offutt lol) was actually a BEK and that there are small numbers of BEK that walk among us...
WTF?? So, I'll get this vid/interview posted and then listen to the track more carefully, myself, to see if I can figure out how to track down more details on where and when Jason Offutt spoke to this guy (who said his real name is "Draco").
Here's part two if the interview:
Let me know what you think of the content in these interviews.
Access post with Parts 3 and 4 Here
Be aware, nowever, that if I think your response is 'flam-ey' or without critical thinking, I will delete it - got to keep the cussword and non-intelligible comment posts down to a minimum here as I'm trying to maintain a non-adult rating for this blog.
BEKs or, Black Eyed Kids have been described as having entirely black eyes with no white parts visible...
Here's are two you tube videos which are parts 1 and 2 of an audio interview where author/researcher, Jason Offut, was interviewed on the topic of Black Eyed Kids. Get yourself settled for at least a half hour or so because each part is 10 minutes in length. You might want a little break in between, but do listen carefully so that you can form your own opinion on BEKs.
Here's Part 1 (with a creepy Village of the Damned photo):
Speaking of Village of the Damned - did anyone answer my question from a few posts back yet? About scary children vs scary clowns?
The post: Which is scarier - Clowns or Kids?
Now, did you notice in the first part of the audio interview that Offut mentions the outrageous COST of Sclera Lenses? Wow, up to $300 PER LENS - that's up to $600 for a pair. I've just recently done some online searches and found Sclera Lenses at an even higher cost per pair and as much as $1100-$1200 for two matching lenses. The reason given for the more expensive ones - they're supposed to be a higher quality material, less prone to irritating the eye...
??? (long pause for thought) What? People need less eye irritation because why? They wear these lenses all the time or what?
Anyhow, enough ranting about these lenses. On to the next video.
I've only listened to this second part one time, all the way through - but want to get it posted in the same posting section here so people don't have to hunt around to be able to hear the interview pieces together. I admit, I MUST go back and listen again to this second part because the idea of "Dracos" mentioned by Offutt is a bit spooky.
Brief explanation: Offutt interviewed someone who stated he (the subject, not Offutt lol) was actually a BEK and that there are small numbers of BEK that walk among us...
WTF?? So, I'll get this vid/interview posted and then listen to the track more carefully, myself, to see if I can figure out how to track down more details on where and when Jason Offutt spoke to this guy (who said his real name is "Draco").
Here's part two if the interview:
Let me know what you think of the content in these interviews.
Access post with Parts 3 and 4 Here
Be aware, nowever, that if I think your response is 'flam-ey' or without critical thinking, I will delete it - got to keep the cussword and non-intelligible comment posts down to a minimum here as I'm trying to maintain a non-adult rating for this blog.
Friday, January 22, 2010
If you want to chat, I'm on Digsby
Hey all,
If you want to chat, I'm on Digsby. You can use the chat widget along the sidebar and I'll pick up messages as I browse on by. Or download the client and we can chat through instant messenger from time to time.
Digsby was listed this past Summer (2009) as one of the top 5 Instant Messenger programs on the LifeHacker Blog
Here's a no-nonsense download link for easy installation:
digsby instant setup exe file - advertising free also found on the LifeHacker blog.
I used this file/installation link myself and my Digsby IM was up and running in about 3 minutes! Of course, while I downloaded, I registered an account properly at Digsby so that when the installation was finished, all I had to do was log into the software and start using the messenger.
Here's where you can register for a Digsby account if you don't already have one:
Digsby account registration page
Once you get set up, my username is mythbuster2009
If you don't want to chat through the messenger, you can still leave a message on the chat widget I placed on this blog - it's on the left sidebar. You can chat as a guest and I'll see your message when I browse by - even if I'm not online or logged in to my messenger.
By the way - the software is free
If you want to chat, I'm on Digsby. You can use the chat widget along the sidebar and I'll pick up messages as I browse on by. Or download the client and we can chat through instant messenger from time to time.
Digsby was listed this past Summer (2009) as one of the top 5 Instant Messenger programs on the LifeHacker Blog
Here's a no-nonsense download link for easy installation:
digsby instant setup exe file - advertising free also found on the LifeHacker blog.
I used this file/installation link myself and my Digsby IM was up and running in about 3 minutes! Of course, while I downloaded, I registered an account properly at Digsby so that when the installation was finished, all I had to do was log into the software and start using the messenger.
Here's where you can register for a Digsby account if you don't already have one:
Digsby account registration page
Once you get set up, my username is mythbuster2009
If you don't want to chat through the messenger, you can still leave a message on the chat widget I placed on this blog - it's on the left sidebar. You can chat as a guest and I'll see your message when I browse by - even if I'm not online or logged in to my messenger.
By the way - the software is free
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