Phantoms and Monsters: Pulse of the Paranormal

Zombie Apocalypse: CDC Denies Existence Of Zombies Despite Cannibal Incidents

The horrific face-eating arrest in Miami and several other seemingly subhuman acts has many people wondering what's behind this flesh-munching wave of terror.

A zombie apocalypse, however, is not what we should be worried about, at least according to the federal government.

Over the years the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a couple of tongue-in-cheek "zombie warnings," which really are just disaster-preparedness stunts. But on Thursday, the agency made it official: Zombies don't exist.

"CDC does not know of a virus or condition that would reanimate the dead (or one that would present zombie-like symptoms)," wrote agency spokesman David Daigle in an email to The Huffington Post.

Nevertheless, recent incidents in which humans reportedly ate human flesh have the Internet in a firestorm, with "zombie apocalypse" being Google's third most popular search term by Friday morning.

The zombie craze seemed to start with an attack in Miami on Saturday, when Rudy Eugene, 31, was killed by cops while in the process of eating almost the entirety of a homeless man's face off. The victim, Ronald Poppo, miraculously survived, but doctors are having a hard time figuring out how to put his face back together.

ZOM-BIE: n. also ZOM-BIES pl. 1. An animated corpse that feeds on living human flesh. 2. A voodoo spell that raises the dead. 3. A Voodoo snake god. 4. One who moves or acts in a daze "like a zombie." [a word of West African origin] - Max Brooks, "The Zombie Survival Guide"
Then, on Tuesday, 21-year-old Alexander Kinyua of Maryland allegedly admitted to dismembering his roommate and then eating his heart and brain.

Cops in Canada are also searching for a low-budget porn actor who allegedly killed a young man with an ice pick, dismembered the body and then raped and ate flesh from the corpse. Luka Rocco Magnotta is being hunted after he allegedly mailed some of the body parts to Ottawa. He's also accused of killing cats on video and posting the footage online.

Gawker fingered a "mysterious rash" breakout at a high school in Hollywood and other parts of Florida -- which hazmat and disease control teams still can't explain -- as further proof that zombies are taking over.

Zombie-like characteristics have been confirmed in the animal kingdom, just not in humans. A newfound fungus in a Brazilian rain forest -- called Ophiocordyceps camponoti-balzani -- is known to infect an ant, take over its brain so as to move the body to a good location for growth, and then kill the insect.

Yet Daigle dismissed "fictional viruses" like Ataxic Neurodegenrative Satiety Deficiency Syndrome, noting that other triggers have been alleged to cause zombie-like symptoms.

"Films have included radiation as well as mutations of existing conditions such as prions, mad-cow disease, measles, and rabies," he said.

But recently, some have found truth stranger than fiction.

"Action must be taken now before an outbreak!" an anonymous reader told The Huffington Post. "Zombies may be subdued by destroying the brain or removing the head. It is now your responsibility to prevent the apocalypse." - THP

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

The Zombie Combat Manual: A Guide to Fighting the Living Dead

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UFO sighting at Olympics? Bet on it

Would you bet on Queen Elizabeth lighting the Olympic flame? Or a UFO appearing above the opening ceremony? Or maybe on Usain Bolt winning the men's 100 metre race?

With the London Olympics fast approaching, Britons are happily combining two of their favourite pastimes: sports and betting -- no matter how ludicrous some of the bets.

"It is deep in the British psyche to have a bit of a flutter when it comes to sports. Sports and betting almost go hand-in-hand in this country," said Joe Crilly, a spokesman from bookmaker William Hill.

Less than two months away from kickoff, bookmakers are starting to close their books on the most popular bet so far -- who will light the flame, the symbol of the Olympic Games, at the opening ceremony on July 27.

The identity of the person who runs the final stretch with the Olympic torch after a 70-day relay is always a highlight at the opening extravaganza. China's former champion gymnast Li Ning was awarded that honour in Beijing in 2008; at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali lit the cauldron in an emotional show as he struggled with Parkinson's disease.

Bookmakers William Hill, Ladbrokes, Stan James and Coral all agreed the favourite for that coveted task in London, with odds of 1-3, is former rower Steve Redgrave, 50, Britain's most successful Olympian who won five gold medals from 1984 to 2000.

Bets were also running on the 83-year-old Roger Bannister, who made history as the first man to run the four-minute mile in 1954; Kelly Holmes, the retired British runner who won two gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics; and football star David Beckham.

"We also took some bets on Tom Daley at 16-1, Prince William at 66-1 and, incredibly, the queen at 500-1," said Stan James spokesman Rory Jiwani.

William Hill has taken some bets on whether London Mayor Boris Johnson would have a mishap when he runs with the Olympic torch, setting his notoriously wild hair on fire, and has odds of 5-2 on it raining on the night of the opening ceremony.

But spokesman Crilly said the weirdest bet yet was a $23 wager that a UFO would appear above the Olympic Stadium on the night of the opening ceremony. The odds? A massive payout at 1000-1.

"It is mainly Brits really getting into the spirit of things as the Olympics draw closer and having fun," said Crilly. "Once the torch arrived on these shores, we have seen people getting involved in the Olympics and betting not just on novelty bets."

Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter and world record holder, is currently the favourite with odds of 4-7 to win the Olympics showpiece event, the men's 100 metre race, while fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake is second favourite with odds of 3-1.

Most bookmakers were also running bets on which country would top the gold medal table when the Olympics close on Aug. 12.

Coral spokesman David Stevens said the Olympics were not usually a major betting event but interest was likely to be higher at the London Games due to Britons' love of gambling.

The most recent independent report by the Britain's government-sponsored Gambling Commission on gambling participation showed that nearly three quarters of British adults, or 73%, had gambled in 2010 compared to 68% in 2007.

The Association of British Bookmakers estimates that bookmakers contribute $4.62 billion annually to the UK economy, which is about 0.5% of gross domestic product.

"It will be the biggest Olympics in betting terms but this is starting from a very low base," said Stevens.

"The Olympics are being held in a nation where betting is a part of everyday life. The real activity will kick off in the fortnight leading up to Games and then during the Games but we're a bit in the dark over how much interest we will see." - thechronicle

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Mysterious creatures torment woman for sleeping with a Nigerian man

A tormented woman has revealed that she is living in hell because of ghost-like creatures she claims have been trailing her like a shadow on daily basis.

Violet Mbizvo of Mbare said she sees mysterious creatures she suspects are ghosts following her. Narrating her ordeal, Violet said she started seeing strange images five months ago after dating a Nigerian man.

"I have been keeping this to myself for quite a long time now, but I have realised that if I don't open up I will not find help. For the past five months, I have been living a very terrible life, I always see strange images following me. I will be the only one seeing them, even if I am in a place where there are quite a number of people. These fierce creatures usually interrogate me, and at times then even predict bad things that would then happen to me," said a sobbing Violet.

The 30-year-old woman said all the problems started after she had a one night stand with the Nigerian man.

"Last year in December, I was invited by this guy from Nigeria who used to be my friend. When I was at his house, we ended up having sex and I later menstruated. The next day I saw the guy taking the pad that I had used giving it to another fellow who had visited him. Since then, I started having these unusual experiences," she said.

Violet also said that she had tried to consult several prophets in the country but she has not received any help.

"Because of my desperation, I have visited different shrines seeking help but I have not found any help yet. I am now afraid that something bad might just happen to me," she said. - bulawayo24

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Goblins saga, girl dies under 'mysterious' circumstances

A Grade Seven pupil has died under "mysterious" circumstances at Nhlupho Primary School in Kezi District, where a recent goblin exorcism ceremony resulted in the village head committing suicide.

The death, which occurred on Wednesday, has divided villagers with some saying the goblins that were allegedly removed from village head Moffat Ncube's home were responsible for the death.

Eighty-one-year-old Ncube allegedly committed suicide on 19 May after goblin hunters said he was responsible for supernatural creatures that were reportedly sexually abusing teachers at Nhlupho Primary and Secondary schools.

A villager who asked not to be named said the girl fell ill on Sunday last week, saying something was eating into her left thigh, and died on Wednesday.

"She was perfectly healthy and only had a boil on her right leg. However, on Sunday she started screaming saying something was burrowing into her left thigh and causing unbearable pain. We think it is those goblins because no one could see anything," said the villager.

A teacher at Nhlupho said villagers believed that the goblins were now feeding on human flesh because their owner was no longer around to give them food.

Another villager said the goblins issue was causing people in the village to distrust each other.

"Everyone was moved by this girl's death because it is painful to lose a child under such strange circumstances.

"However, I think authorities should come in before this goblin matter gets out of hand. This area has no chief to solve such disputes and if this finger-pointing is allowed to continue, it could result in bloodshed," said the villager.

Ncube's daughter, Ms Rita Ncube (35), said people who claimed goblins from her father's homestead killed the girl were being mischievous.

"If there were ever any goblins at our homestead, those tsikamutandas from Binga removed them. Whoever said there are goblins here has a personal score to settle. It is all lies and as a family, we are not happy about it," said Ms Ncube.

Contacted for comment, Chief Nyangazonke Ndiweni, who has jurisdiction over neighbouring villages, said the goblin exorcism ceremony was illegal to begin with.

"I do not know how these people secured the services of witch hunters because only a chief can authorise such an action. Without a chief's consent or supervision, such actions are illegal," said Chief Ndiweni.

He said he would liaise with other traditional leaders in the district to come up with a way to put the matter to rest.

"Emotions usually fly where a human life has been lost. It is up to traditional leaders to rein in superstitions to avoid unnecessary confrontations. We will sit down with other chiefs to discuss a speedy solution to the problem," he said. - bulawayo24

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Breast-Sucking Tokoloshe Terrorises Women

Female residents at Bethanie are living in fear as a Tokoloshe is reported to suck at the breasts of unsuspecting women and is being accused of sexually abusing them. The creature has apparently been causing havoc in the village since early this year. Bethanie is situated 70 kilometres from Khorixas on the way to Twyfelfontein.

“The Tokoloshe is sucking my breasts and at times it also sexually abused us,” reported Veterika Gawises. “Sometimes in the morning I wake up with swollen private parts,” the distressed 37-year old mother of six children revealed. Gawises told Informanté that she was shocked by the ordeal and is very afraid as this unexplained phenomenon presents a particular kind of hell for women in the village. Another woman who reportedly suffered the torment of the breast-sucking tokoloshe refused to spoke to Informanté out of fear.

The husband of Gawises reiterated the claims about the tokoloshe and said: “My wife and some other women complained about the sexually abusive breast-sucking tokoloshe at Bethanie.”

The residents are now hoping to bring in prophets to pray for them as the matter has gotten out of hand, but the fees charged to exorcise the town are exorbitant and beyond the means of the poverty-stricken rural community. “We plan to bring prophets, one of whom has asked for N$10 000, while another asked for N$2 800 to pray for us,” Gawises told Informanté.

An elderly married man at the town is suspected of being behind the sexually abusive tokoloshe. According to Gawises the man asked them for forgiveness and has said that “the thing is not meant to harm you, but was sent to someone else.”

Informanté has in the past reported on unexplained phenomena in the Khorixas area, but the existence of this mythical creature could not be verified and to date no proof exists to verify the veracity of the reports from the village of Bethanie. - informante

NOTE: for those unfamiliar with a Tokoloshe - Legendary Humanoids: Tikoloshe, African Vampire...Lon

The Other Zulus: The Spread of Zulu Ethnicity in Colonial South Africa (Politics, History, and Culture)

Culture Shock! South Africa: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Guides)

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Odd Encounter in Michigan

Manistee National Forest, MI. - 5/15/1985 - unedited: In 1985 I was in my third year in the U.S. Air Force at Keesler AFB, MS. I came home in May to metro Detroit, Michigan on leave with my one year old son and wife. After a few days of visiting with family and friends I decided to go with a friend to Manistee National forest to do some fishing over the weekend. Just prior to arriving, my friend and I pulled over at a gas station where he asked me if he could drive my new Ford Bronco II the rest of the way to the campground, to which I agreed. Approximately 10 minutes after leaving the gas station and with my friend driving at approximately 1:00am, my friend looked in the rear view mirror and asked me "what is that following us?" I then turned around from the passenger seat and looked out the back of the vehicle which was traveling at approximately 45mph. What I witnessed was an "object" that was approximately the size of a two story house with no descernable outline with thousands of overlapping red lights going on & off at different intrivals, but they were going on & off like "dimmer switches" which created a pulsating appearance. My mind was trying to put it into a catagory of "something." I then turned to my friend and said, "I dont know what the hell it is." I then turned back to the object and noticed four yellow "slits" in the lower left hand corner. They were approximately 4ft long and approximatley 6-8in wide, shaped like eyes with bright yellow lights coming out, stacked one on top of the other, two sets next to each other. As I stared at it, the eye shaped lights became wider at the same time, aproximately 2ft wide for approximately 10 seconds, they then went back to narrow, 6-8in. As I stared at it trying to find a catagory in my mind, it...disappeared. I then turned around in the passenger seat and didnt say a word and neither did my friend, for approxiamtely 30 seconds. We both started talking at the same time, him saying, "I aint telling no one" & me saying "Im telling everyone." To which he said, "No one is going to believe you and theyre all going to make fun of you and accuse you of being on drugs, to which I replied, "I dont care, I saw it." Immediately after the incident we started noticing deer out in the road, approxiatley 10-15. We had to slow down to 5-10mph to keep from hitting them and as we drove by them, they didnt move.
My friend was right, everyone I told laughed and made fun. Even my own wife said, "I believe you saw....something." This incident as haunted my mind ever since.
20 years after that incident (2005), I was in the approximate area and witnessed "somthing," not of a "unidentified flying" nature, but more of a ? "supernatural" orgin. - MUFON CMS

Myths and Mysteries of Michigan: True Stories of the Unsolved and Unexplained (Myths and Mysteries Series)

Aliens in America: Conspiracy Cultures from Outerspace to Cyberspace

True Police Stories of the Strange & Unexplained

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