Near Fukishima Nuclear Plant in Japan they found mutations in butterflies. I know, I know, perhaps the earlier Godzilla movies were predicting Mothra before their time -
The Chernobyl disaster gave us lots of examples of how radiation can create aberrations. This makes me wonder at times if high radiation on earth actually created our form of life from something else and we are
mutants?
Let us not forget what radiation does to humans - such a tragedy -
It's oddities week and Sex and the Single Ghost Hunter Friday -
So, let's talk about oddities.
I met a man who was handsome, had a steady job, in great shape, real nice. But, he was also a kind of a bland guy with no interests, hobbies, not really sure what he was. He had no quirks of personality. He had no accent. He had few facial expressions. He wasn't into horror, paranormal, going to carnivals, stargazing, collecting movie memorabilia, or any other oddities that would make him, well, interesting or even memorable.
A man who can wear a tatt or a hat -
Oddities are what make someone a complete character. Any author knows that their characters must have little quirks to make them seem real. A guy who likes to see every episode of MST3000 and gets excited to do bumper cars is quirky. Another man who can repeat verses of Poe and likes to beachcomb with a metal detector is delightful.
Oddities. They make someone more human.. It's the things we become obsessed about or excited about that make us a-dorkable beings. I like a man who has lots of interests and hobbies or quirks and geek qualities. I'm never quite sure what to do with someone with no dreams, no escapes, no focus, no passion.
It goes without saying, but the more interesting a guy's mind, the more handsome he is to the female. In fact, it's the quirks and oddities that make him seem human and almost child-like or vulnerable and accessible, curious and excited about life. That energy is addictive.
The single best test for a man who is quirky enough? If he can play "what if?" and he comes up with exceptionally creative responses.
"Beneath" When a group of young friends commemorating their high school graduation take a trip to the remote Black Lake, their celebration turns into a nightmare with the sudden appearance of a bloodthirsty, underwater predator. Stuck in a leaking boat with no oars, the teens face the ultimate tests of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival. Beneath is written by Tony Daniel and Brian D. Smith, and directed by horror icon Larry Fessenden (The Last Winter, Habit). Produced by Fessenden and Peter Phok for Glass Eye Pix (Stake Land, The Innkeepers, I Sell The Dead).
**This movie was just shown at the Stanley Film Festival and will be on Chiller in the upcoming future.**
And, Friday, May 31st - NEW YORK – May 22, 2013 – On Friday, May 31 @ 9pm, Chiller presents the debut of its first-ever anthology film, Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear. The film comprises five unique – and hair-raising – takes on the human senses, each the vision of select up-and-coming writer/directors (including 20-year-old phenom Emily Hagins, who recently debuted her newest feature, Grow Up Tony Phillips, at SXSW 2013):
Smell: Nick Everhart (2012 Doomsday)
See: Miko Hughes (Directorial Debut; Actor: Pet Semetary, New Nightmare, Steve Niles’ Remains)
Touch: Emily Hagins (Grow Up, Tony Phillips; My Sucky Teen Romance)
Taste: Eric England (Madison County, Roadside)
Listen: Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton (YellowBrickRoad)
5 Senses of Fear is produced by Andrew Gernhard, Zach O’Brien and Colin Theys for Synthetic Cinema International.
We call it "inbreeding" and physicians often refer to children with defects by asking if the parents have consanguinity - or are closely related.
A table shows relationships and the rate at which their offspring might be given similar genes that create the defects -
Typical inbreeding coefficient percentages are as follows, assuming no previous inbreeding between any parents:
Father/daughter, mother/son or brother/sister → 25% (1⁄4)
Grandfather/granddaughter or grandmother/grandson → 12.5% (1⁄8)
Half-brother/half-sister → 12.5% (1⁄8)
Uncle/niece or aunt/nephew → 12.5% (1⁄8)
Great-grandfather/great-granddaughter or great-grandmother/great-grandson → 6.25% (1⁄16)
Half-uncle/niece or half-aunt/nephew → 6.25% (1⁄16)
First cousins → 6.25% (1⁄16)
First cousins once removed or half-first cousins → 3.125% (1⁄32)
Second cousins or first cousins twice removed → 1.56% (1⁄64)
Second cousins once removed or half-second cousins → 0.78% (1⁄128)
Third cousins or second cousins twice removed → 0.39% (1⁄256)
Third cousins once removed or half-third cousins → 0.20% (1⁄512)
What we look for in our breeding population is diversity and if two parents are so closely related that they carry the same gene for disease, there is a guarantee the child will have this difficulty. There is increased risk of birth defects, , facial defects, mental difficulties, weak immune systems, as well. Certainly, this doesn't even cover the social implications of dipping into one's family pool to breed. That's a whole different can of worms.
Famous folks who married their cousins: HG Wells, Thomas Jefferson, Johan Sebastian Bach, Franklin Roosevelt, Jesse James, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin (ironically), Edgar Allen Poe, Jerry Lee Lewis, Rudy Guliani. Considering the millions and even billions of choices on the earth, it seems to me that someone marrying their cousin is just freaking lazy.
Talk about oddities! There is nothing odder than having it rain fish.
The theory has been that winds and water spouts crossing over water pick up the lighter fish and carry them, dropping them as the winds die down. Although it hasn't been tested in action, the theory is the logical one.
A desert town in Australia was astonished to see it raining hundreds of fish from the sky. The fish had traveled hundreds of miles and were still alive when they hit the ground. It was believed they were picked up by a tornado.
Check out this story:
The phenomenon of 'The Rain of Fish' or 'Lluvia de Peces' has been
occurring in the Departamento de Yoro of Honduras each year since the
mid 1800s. The occurrence has been puzzling not only the residents, but
also scientists since it started. Each year witnesses report that in May
or June, dark storm clouds, accompanied by thunder and lightning will
appear over the horizon and move over the region. The clouds are
accompanied by a very heavy rain which will last upwards of three hours.
Once the rain has finished, the city streets are littered with living
fish.
National Geographic headed to the region in 1970 and were able to
witness the event, though they were unable to offer up an explanation.
They were able to determine that all of the fish that appear are roughly
the same size, and are all the same species. What's more puzzling is
that this particular species of fish do not inhabit any nearby waters.
One scientific theory is that the fish are sucked up in waterspouts
formed by the high winds. Some think that the fish may be flying in from
as far away as the Atlantic Ocean, which is some 200km away. Another
theory suggests that the fish may be residing in underground rivers in
the area.
While science has yet to offer a definitive explanation, the
residents believe the annual event is nothing short of divine
intervention. Between the years 1856 and 1864 a Catholic priest by the
name of Father Jose Manuel Subirana was living in the region. Many
Catholics, especially those in Honduras, consider him to be a saint,
even though the Vatican never gave him such an honor. While he was
living in the area, it is said that he spent three days and three nights
in seclusion and prayer, asking God to tend to the impoverished nation
and provide sustenance. The legend says that when the Father had
concluded his three-day prayer the first 'Rain of Fish' occurred, which
has continued to this day. Upon arrival of the miraculous fish,
residents are all too happy to rush to the streets collecting the fish
for sustenance and nourishment.
Starting in 1998 a festival has been held in honor of the event in
the city of Yoro. It is also worth noting that in recent years residents
have been reporting not one, but two occurrences of the 'Rain of Fish'
each year.
