The Killer Bees

PARAÍBA state/Brazil – Wednesday, day 11 of may. At the BR-405 highway, on the stretch between the cities of São João João do Rio do Peixe and Marizópolis, in hinterland of the Paraíba state (northeast of Brazil), an attack of furious bees resulted in death of three persons.

The attack involved a car (automobile) and a motorcycle. Mr. Francisco Peixoto de Araújo, his son of 10 years, Lucas Aves Andrade and Venilson Tavares da Silva, 14 years, were on board of the motorcycle when the driver was surprised by the swarm. He lost the control of the vehicle and hitted against the car.

Firefighters and police officers who participated in the rescue operation of victims were also attacked by bees and were submited to medical cares.

SOURCES:

Ataque de abelhas mata três pessoas na Paraíba.
IN Portal MS, published in 18/05/2011
[http://www.portalms.com.br/noticias/detalhe.asp?cod=959610878]
Hospital de CZ confirma morte da terceira vítima de acidente provocado por enxame na BR 405.
IN Paraíba, published in 13/05/2011
[http://www.paraiba.com.br/2011/05/13/67621-hospital-de-cz-confirma-morte-da-terceira-vitima-de-acidente-provocado-por-enxame-na-br-405]
Morre segunda vítima do acidente com enxame de abelhas no Sertão.
IN Paraíba, published in 11/05/2011
[http://www.paraiba.com.br/2011/05/11/01738-morre-segunda-vitima-do-acidente-com-enxame-de-abelhas-no-sertao]

Supernatural: Messages on leafs

ESPÍRITO SANTO state/Brazil – In Serra city, leafs of trees - by ten years, have presented a strange phenomenon. Inscriptions, religious figures and others appear on the surface of the leafs. The images are like embroideries produced by combination of numerous tiny perfurations. The local population belives that the inscriptions are messages of Our Lady. The house where the tree stays became a pilgrimage place.

The first inscription, appeared sixteen years ago and was found by house owner, Mrs. Maria Aparecida D'Ávila. Since then, the inscriptions don't stop to appear in leafs of all trees of the propriety. A specialist in insect explain that the marks probably were not made by ants.

The expert on insects, Marcelo Teixeira explain: The called "leafcutter ants", like the known "saúvas ants" (Atta), they cut peaces of leafs, like if using scissors. This is not the case. However, many people say they saw ants embroidering the leafs (guided by God). The former residents have moved but an association takes care of the house, which receives thousands of visitors.

During a retirement, drawings, similars to that appear on the leafs but much bigger, appeared on the wall. The Church says that there is no divine or supernatural phenomenon in the leaves, but does not condemn people that want pray at the site.

SOURCE: Imagens em folhas transformam casa em centro de peregrinação, no Espírito Santo.
IN Globo, published in 25/09/2011
[http://oglobo.globo.com/cidades/mat/2011/05/25/imagens-em-folhas-transformam-casa-em-centro-de-peregrinacao-no-espirito-santo-924534677.asp]

Others News About Warriors women of South America – Lesbians & Samurais

The indigenous samurai women of South America

Others notes of travelers, chroniclers of the time, also registered unusual situations that may have given rise to the myth of the "Amazonas" of South America.

Friar Gaspar de Carvajal (1504-1584), the author of, possibly, first relate of a trip to the New World which mentions the "Amazons", despite this reference to a particular meet with a horde of warrior women, in another part of the same text, observes another type of warriors women. Acordding studies of the researcher Hiram Reis e Silva:

The most formidable ethnicity that has existed in the Middle and Upper Amazon river was, without doubt, of the braves Mundurucus, the Lords of War. 

These true "samurai" south-Americans trained their offspring from childhood in a rigid military discipline. For the mundurucus, the combat was life's most noble and rewarding activity. In combat, the Mundurucus were accompanied by women who carried their arrows but according ancient reports, these women were able to catch enemy arrows when were still on the air.

The indigenous lesbians of South America

To conclude this short series on the history and anthropology of the myth of the Amazons, it remains to examine the sociological/sexual phenomenon registered by another chronicler of the time and place. The portuguese historian Pero de Magalhães Gandavo(1540-1580), who lived in Brazil in 1570, writes:

Among indigenous women (South american natives) there are those that determine, themselves, maintain chastity (in relation to men). 

These women don't have contact with men (in biblical sense).They do not allow harassment, heterosexuality and refuse relations with men even that they be needed resist, killing or dying. 

These ... imitate men and follow their offices as if they were, realy, men, bring the hair cut the same way that males do, and go to war with their bows and arrows and hunting ... each has a woman with who says is married, and so communicate the couple and they talk about themselves as husband and wife.

SOURCES:
ICAMIABAS.
IN [http://lendasemisteriosdomundo.blogspot.com/2010/06/as-amazonas-icamiabas.html]
REIS E SILVA, Hiram. As Amazonas.
IN Pantanal News, 02/11/2011.
[http://www.pantanalnews.com.br/contents.php?CID=66202]

"The Amazons": Some facts, some legends

Women indigenous. South-americans female, women warriors, "Amazons" in South America! The historical chronicles about "The Amazons" of the "New World" is often slighted by scholars, because the narratives of travel, many times, seem to be exaggerated or much fanciful.

"Amazons", a tribe, a nation in the tropical jungle, in the equatorial rain florest is an absurd! It known that the myth of "The Amazons" belongs, mainly, to a most ancient mythology: "The Amazons", the tribe of Asia Minor of warriors women was transmited for the Ocident trough by the classical greek mythology. The word "amazon" has greek origin! And returning in timeline even more, a more old origin appears, persian (or "parse") and Shythian (map above) orign: the expression ha-mazan (means warriors women).

Ykanmyabas: Women without husbands

Ludwig Schewennhagen claims that the designation "The Amazons" was used by the "Amerabas" when the historic meeting took place with the fleet of Orellana. He writes: The name "Amazon" refering to the lower basin of the great river, the region between the mouth of the Xingu River and the mouth of the river Parentins is antiga. At the epoch of the arrive of european navigators, the tribe of the Tupinambás already used to call "Amazonas", the region of the lower course of this river... (SCHWENNHAGEN, 1986 - p 37)

Nevertheless, nor the more dazzled or perplex among the cronists that faced the astonishing exuberance of the Amazon rainforest, suggested that the native used the term "Amazonas" to talk about the tribe of women warriors. For the natives of that jungle, these women were "The Ykamyabas" (Icamiabas, that means "women withou husbands"), among other indigenous terms like "coniupuiaras" (konyu-pupyaras, Great Ladies).

Muiraquitã. Theodoro Sampaio, 1920.

Resistance of the Matriarchy

Leaving by side the sphere of the mythology, considering the traditional knowledge of cultural anthropology, is possible to understand the tribes of warriors women, in different parts of the world like the remaining reality of the archaic matriarchal societies.

In the case of brazilian indigenous nations, oral culture of the people confirms that in a remote past, the tribes were under the matriarchal power. Anthropologists, like Claude Levi Strauss for example, have colected numerous legends that preserve the history of how the men, after a long time beeing dominated by the women, conspired and took political and economic power reversing the social roles. Much possibly, many women don't accepted the new conditions. These, can have created a dissidence in the form of closed female societies .

In "Relation abrégée d'un voyage fait dans l'intérieur de l'Amérique méridionale depuis la côte de la mer du Sud jusqu'aux côtes du Brésil et de la Guyane, en descendant la rivière des Amazones" (1745. Something like: Brief account of a journey to the interior of Brazil from the coast south towards the Guyana, sailing down the Amazon river), Charles-Marie de La Condamine (1701-1774), french scientist and explorer, exposes his theorie about the warriors women of South America. He doesn't need of Atlanteans or Phoenicians to explain which he understand like a natural social phenomenon. La Condamine writes:

...if, in some historic time, could has existed Amazons in the world, this was at America, where wandering life of the wives, coerced to accompany their husbands, often engaged in making war, could make awake the ideia of flee, of to rebel, searching the stability and independence. To flee to the slave condition and beast of cargo. A resolution like this nothing has of extraordinary.

More natural would still be an elite matriarchal refuse submit themself under command of his former lieutenants. Let's meditate...

Sources:
ICAMIABAS.
IN [http://lendasemisteriosdomundo.blogspot.com/2010/06/as-amazonas-icamiabas.html]
REIS E SILVA, Iran. As Amazonas. IN Pantanal News, 02/11/2011.>/br> [http://www.pantanalnews.com.br/contents.php?CID=66202]
SCHWENNHAGEN, Ludwig. Fenícios no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Cátedra, 1986.
IN [http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/6585607/719953186/name/7389093-Fenicios-No-Brasil-Ludwig-Schwennhagen-PDF.pdf]

Amazons, Phoenicians and Atlantis

As Amazonas, Ulrico Schmidt

The major of historians consider the woman warrior in South America only like a legend, less than a myth or even like mere fantasy of the cronists.

However, some little things in the notes of the explorers make belive that there is a background of strange true behind the legend. The chronicle of Friar Gaspar de Carvajal contains at least two visions of "Amazonas". The witness, source of information of the writer, talks about the clohthes of the women: if in the battle they were naked or almost, in their cities they use tunics of fine wool.

But, what wool is this? The brazilian indigenous, those called "Amerabas", lived naked, or almost, ever. They also did not knowledge the herding. It seems clear that the warrior women of South America don't belonged to same ethnical groups of the others natives of the region. In fact, the witness doesn't could be more clear:

They wear fine clothes made with the wool of the "Peruvian sheep" (alpacas): "Their clothes are like tunics tight down the breasts. On their shoulders and thet they use cloaks that are with cords.

Their long hairs, touch the floor and they have gold crowns on their head, the width of two fingers. Their land is populated by camels (llamas) serving as pack animals. There, exist two saltwater lakes.

Between Bolivia and Peru are notable saltwater lakes as Titicaca, the second largest saltwater lake in the world, located at 3.810 meters of altitude - and the "Poopo" lake.

Amazons of Andes

Researchers from different times have sought to explain the origins of this strange nation of women in South America In 1555, the Franciscan priest and cosmographer, André Thevet (1502-1580, french), published a compilation of texts of various explorers.

About the tribe of "Amazonas", Thevet concluded that possibly were descendants of Amazons Greek that after the Trojan War, had been dispersed around the world. Arriving to South America via North America and Central America, settled themselves in insular territories, in small islands, where they built their cities and underground chambers.

Atlanteans and Phoenicians

Some researchers have supported a history even more old for the great nation of the "Amazons". More ancient that Troy war. Some scholars belive that these women warriors are survivors of a community of the Atlantean civilization that was in a colapse process, and after, much later more, in association with the phoenicians, the women crossed the ocean even reaching the America continent.

Among these scholars figured the austrian professor Ludwig Schewennhagen, whose book "Phoenicians in Brazil: Ancient History of Brazil" is much quoted. Schewennhagen says the arrival of the "Amazonas" at Brazil coincides with the epoch of the Phoenicians arrival, between 1000 and 1200 BC. He also advocates that the name of the great Amazonas river has its origin in this remote time (contradicting the version of spanishes).

The warriors women of Dahomey, between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries

The oldest ancestors of women warriors were a nation, member of the immense empire of Humanity and civilization of the Atlanteans. Possibly, the Amazons could had been the last matriarchal society in the context of an advanced culture. Their tribes were scattered across almost the entire known world. Asia Minor, yes, but also in Africa where were known as the warriors women of Dahomey. They were Amazons, because they dominated the riding, they were knights women, and warriors because they had the knowledge the art of war and weapons.

SOURCES:
SCHWENNHAGEN, Ludwig. Fenícios no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Cátedra, 1986.
IN [http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/6585607/719953186/name/7389093-Fenicios-No-Brasil-Ludwig-Schwennhagen-PDF.pdf]
ICAMIABAS
IN [http://lendasemisteriosdomundo.blogspot.com/2010/06/as-amazonas-icamiabas.html]

Amazons: Stories of the women warriors

The legend of the women warriors roamed all the heavenly realms.It belongs to those uniform circle ofdreams and ideas around which the poeticand religious imagination of all human races andall ages gravitate almost instinctively.

Alexander von Humboldt

One of the most fascinating legends of the mythical culture of the Amazon region is the saga of the female warriors called Amazons. A story so extraordinary that the memory of this great tribe ended up giving name to the whole extense region of tropical-equatorial jungle. 

Since the first incursions of the europeans crossing the Atlantic to conquer territories, chroniclers Spanishes and Portugueses, among others, talk about these brave women of South America.

Although they have received that name as a reference to the mythical tribe of women called Amazons, at ancient Greece, that also dominated perfectly fabulous steeds, the Amazons of South America they did not know horses. But in terms of the arts of war those indigenous women were as courageous like the greek female warriors.

At the time of the great maritims discoveries, time of the great navigations appears the first and unique (of a eyewitness) relate about amazons of the South-America. The notes were written by Gaspar de Carvajal, catholic religious that was present in the expedition (1541) of Francisco Orellana (1490-1550, explorer and adventurer of Spain) along the great river of the tropical forest, the Amazon river.

In his text, Relación del nuevo descubrimiento del famoso río Grande que descubrió por muy gran ventura el capitán Francisco de Orellana (Account of the recent discovery of the famous Grand river which was discovered by great good fortune by Captain Francisco de Orellana), the dominican Friar Gaspar de Carvajal tells:

...[the indigenous, the men]... They are the subjects and tributaries of the Amazon. Realizing our arrival, they ran to ask help to the women-warriors. They came in a small group. It was ten or twelve of them. We saw them. (They confronted us). In front of everyone them (the men) as captains ... fought bravely. (Indigenous, men who fled of us) ... They all were killed by beating with with big wood sticks (the sticks are called 'bordunas').

These women have very light skin. Are of tall stature, long hair arranged in braids around the head. They have a strong physique, well trained. They don't use clothes, living naked and cover only the genitals (in terms of the Friar, 'the shames'). They are skilled with their bows and arrows and one of this women worth ten men.

However, Carvajal says that in the end, the spanishes obtained the win against the women warriors killing about eight of them. One of the natives asked about the women said that they lived inside (at hinterlands, not on the coast), around seven days far from the coast ... their villages were made with stones, their homes had doors and their roads had vigilants in all the strategic points for require the payment of a tax to let pass the travelers.

Legend or fact, Carvajal's account coincides with many others left by others historic travelers. Everyone agrees that these women not cohabit with men. It is an all-female society. That does not mean, however, that they have no contact with men while males. After all, for the women-warriors were needed too procreate to preserve their bloodline.

With them – they interbreed. When they become pregnant, they release the captives. If the child that born of the relationship is a girl, will be educated to be a warrior. If borns a boy, he will be delivered to the tribe of the father or, according to other information, will be killed immediately.

GOLD, SILVER AND RELIGION

At the epoch of Carvajal and Orellana the Amazons were headed by an honorable warrior. Hers was recorded until the name or perhaps the title. It was called 'Conhori'. 

The Amazons were rich. They had large amounts of gold and silver that was used to the manufacture of a variety of objects, from tools to clothes and jewelry. But the great luxuries were intended for an elite of nobles. The common women used objects made ​​of wood or seeds. These powerfull society of women mastered the art of pottery, too.

In account collected by Carvajal, these women did not lived in simple villages, like the other Indians of the region. Apparently, they had a culture more advanced than the South American tribes that inhabited below of the equator line.

Those women lived in cities. They had a capital city, where the Great Lady had her residence. There, existed five major buildings dedicated to worship of the sun. 

These large houses were called "caranaí". There were big salons, with covered floors, ceilings decorated with paintings very coloridas and many idols and others objects made ​​of gold and silver. They wear clothes of fine wool, because the lands of the Amazons warriors, there are many sheep, as in Peru.

The brazilian indigenous that portugueses navigators found, men and women, still remained limited in a Neolithic culture. The Amazons women that lived further north and west, were much more evolved. This is a mistery.

[http://www.pantanalnews.com.br/contents.php?CID=66202]

Giant Tortoise in Piauí

PIAUÍ (state), Brazil – Friday, may, day 13, in the first hours of dawn, a giant turtle was spotted in "Pedra do Sal", a beach located on Parnaíba city, Piauí state's shore.

According the biologists of the "Projeto Tartarugas do Delta" (Delta's Turtles Project), the turtle, measuring 1.6 meters long and 2.4 meters wide, belongs to the specie Leatherback sea-turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Not were found markings or rings of identification in the body of the animal. It means that this turtle is not monitored by none work related to its specie.

A Leatherback sea-turtle can reach thus 2 meters of lenght and weigh arou 500 to 900 kilograms. The byologist Mr. Mario Neto explain that the Delta Project is monitoring the reproductive period on the region since 2007, between the months from December to July.

Among all species of sea turtle, the leatherback sea-turtle has a large geographic distribution, but their spawning is restricted to tropical and subtropical areas. In Brazil, was belived that the state of the Espírito Santo (state) was the only place where regular annual spawning could occur. Eventualy, was possible that the spawns, in aleatory way, could happen in other parts of the Brazilian coast.

However, throughout the study, conducted by "Projeto Tartarugas do Delta", belongs to the NGO - "Comissão Ilha Ativa" from 2007, the presence of the leatherback turtle was confirmed in the Piauí shore in all breeding seasons. This species of turtle is one the most threatened with extinction in Brazil.

SOURCE: Tartaruga gigante é encontrada na praia da Pedra do Sal, litoral do PI.
IN 180º Piauí, published in 05/14/2011
[http://180graus.com/geral/tartaruga-gigante-e-encontrada-na-praia-da-pedra-do-sal-litoral-do-pi-426324.html]

🐟 🌊 STRANGE WATER WORLD

MEXICO – In El Desemboque, a little port town of the Mexican state of Sonora, northwestern of the country, fishermen caught a strange animal. Apparently it is a fish, however, seems to be a creature extremely antiga. 

The strange fish is monstrous and has a pre-historic appearance. The news says the animal measures 3 meters of lenght but, judging by the photo there is exaggeration in this dimension (or the fisherman holding the animal is endowed with low height). Your weight (of the fish): 70 kilograms. 

The fishermen published the photo of the creature on newspapers in the hope of someone, a biologist - perhaps can clarify: what animal is this?

SOURCE 

Atrapan pescadores a una ‘rara criatura’.

IN Expresso/Mexico, published in 05/10/2011

[http://www.expreso.com.mx/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16454:atrapan-pescadores-a-una-rara-criatura&catid=17:vistazo&Itemid=71]

To sell: river island in the Amazon

AMAZONAS – At Amazonas state, in Carei Castanho city, located 125 km from Manaus (state capital), a little river island is for sale. The ground measures 8 hectares in area, has a house with 72 m², a floating dock and some fruit trees. In the past, on-site, existed a livestock.

The owner, Mr. Nuno - (who preferred not to reveal the full name), 71, ensures that the documentation is in order. He says: My father bought the land in 1907 for 40 "contos". I lived there for some time but I need to stay in Manaus. So I'm selling.

According to the Environmental Protection Institute of Amazon (Ipaam), the team sent to the place found that, indeed, there is a title deed dated 1911. The Institute has no environmental constraints to make the sale. Moreover, the Land Institute of the Amazon, although it considers the business uncommon believes that, considering the size of land, the sale is considered conform the law.

Mr. Nuno does not hide the soil is not ideal for agriculture but believes that the place has a good potential for tourism or even can be an excellent place to live. The price of the island: 60 000 Reais (slightly more than $ 37,000 or almost 26 000 euros)

SOURCE: AFFONSO, Victor. Ilha é colocada à venda em Careiro do Castanho.
IN A Crítica, published in 05/08/2011
[http://acritica.uol.com.br/manaus/Ilha-colocada-venda-Careiro-Castanho_0_476952398.html]

The bloody tree of Colombia

Link video: spanish. The dwellers claim
that the tree cries and cries blood. In
the video, witnesses assure that the
substance exuded has healing properties.

COLOMBIA – On Friday, April 16 (2011), in the early morning hours, in the neighborhood of the Media Luna (the Colombian city is not mentioned in the article!) some children, while were playing, they noted a tree in which, in one part of the trunk, seemed sprout blood. One of the children, ran to tell their parents, but they didn't gave atention. However, as the children insisted, the parents of some of them went to the site to check.

Soon the news spread and a festival of men, women, children, people on foot and motorcycle, crowded the place to see the phenomenon. A neighborhood resident, Mrs. Maristella P. Barreto, said that in the beginning, the trunk just dripped, exuded (a substance the color of blood) but with each passing hour, the liquid was taking the form of a man, with open arms. She concluded: It is Jesus Christ!

Zoraida Perez, 80 years believes that in the Christian Easter season, these epiphanies often happen. In this same time the evil temptations also become more numerous and the figure in the tree is a miracle inviting us to renew the Christian faith. The peasant, Santander Manjarrez, explained that the tree, known locally as "árbol de carreto" has a dense wood, heavy, without resin or internal cavities. He does not understand how the tree can secrete any fluid.

SOURCE: Revuelo por árbol que sangra.
IN Taringa, published in 04/25/2011.
[http://tarinbot.net/noticias/75402/descubren-rbol-que-llora-sangre-lo-que-falta-taringa.html]

The St. Martha pharos's ghost

SANTA CATARINA/BR – These images was captured in march, in two different nights, by Mr. Jeferson Berbier Dick. The first (above), was made in march, 25 of 2011. The second, in the same month, day 29. 

The location is Farol de Santa Marta (Pharos of St Marta), in Laguna town, Santa Catarina (state), Brazil. Mr. Dick often spends his vacations there. 

The pharos was builded in 1891. Its lamp has 3 meters of height and the temperature near the light is much high. The Santa Marta, is the second major pharos of the world. situated on top of a hill 28 meters above sea level. It has 29 meters of hight.

SOURCE: Suposto Fantasma no Farol de Santa Marta.IN Sobrenatural, published in 05/03/2011
[http://www.sobrenatural.org/foto/detalhar/1639/suposto_fantasma_no_farol_de_santa_marta/]

Where is the photo?

Carlos Latuff. IN Opera Mundi, 05/02/2011

The monster of Billings Dam

The plate warns: Warning. Anaconda. Traffic Interrupted. Photo: Ernesto Rodrigues/AE

São Paulo state – In the metropolitan area of Grajau, Parque Residencial Lagos (Residential Park Lakes), on the banks of the Billings reservoir a snake more than 5 meters in length is scaring the 1,2 thousands of families living on site. The monster, an "Anaconda", better known in English as "Anaconda"(probably a Eunectes murinus) is considered one of the largest and most robust amid all snakes in the world.

For now, she only managed to attack animals from small to medium size, such as capybaras, chickens and ducks, but nothing prevents that she can to capture a human being, especially the smaller, such as children and adolescents.

President of the Association of Friends of the Park, Mrs. Vera Lucia baseline, 61 years (in 2011) account: This is a monster. It sticks his head out of the water and then, dives, lifting gigantic tail. Even a dog, she eaten. In the main pier of the park, a plate that was placed warns – Danger: Anaconda. Herself Basali identified the animal: I was born in Mato Grosso. This snake appears there only in the Amazon ... (but this is the anaconda pilgrim of Grajaú ...).

For unknown reasons, far from its original environment, the Anaconda found a home in Billings Dam and nobody knows how the animal got there. Amid the mystery surrounding the origin of the creature, have appeared different versions of its presence in the area.

The tongue of the people puts the blame on an unidentified Japanese. He would have taken the snake to Grajaú and began to create it. Finally, he decided to put it in the pond. The time of appearance of the snake in the water is also controversial: the majority says that it appeared about 20 days but Mrs. Janet Marques da Silva, 53, says: There is talk on this snake since 2003. Mrs. Silva believes that the snake has even some offspring: Ten, at least, the oldest to have about ten years now.

The young marketer Elanes Santos Moreira, 16, was almost a victim of the monster. Even alerted he gone to fish in the Dam. He reports: Suddenly, it appeared, put his head above water. I felt blood to fled of my face.

Mrs. Basali even tells that tried to photograph the creature but complains of fatigue, because of the vigil, day and night. Still not got the picture and describe: She's too ugly. His head has the size of a ball handball. Informed, the firemen were on standby to try to capture the animal. But the beast is unpredictable and only with a patient ambush, will can surprise the creature. Let us follow the case and await a flagrant photo of the monster of the Billings Reservoir.

SOURCE: SAMPAIO, Paulo. Grajaú tem também seu monstro do lago Ness.
IN Estadão/SP, published in 05/01/2011
[http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20110501/not_imp713261,0.php]

Sorcery and violation of grave

ANGOLA/África – In the hamlet of Kayenga, community of Kamoka, Ukuma city - this april (2011), there was a macabre case of violation of grave. The deceased, the corpse, that belongs to Angelina Ngalula, who died aged 32, was found outside the coffin beside the grave stripped of some internal organs: heart, liver, intestines. The crime came two days after the burial.

The complaint was made Tuesday - (april, 12) by the Soba of the village, Aurelio Viyé. He said that was unaware what were the real reasons for this gruesome act committed in his village by unidentified individuals. But he conjectures: Many say sorcery does not exist but, this that happened in the village of Kayenga means what?

The soba that is a traditional regional authority in Angola said he had never seen anything like it in all its long vida. He was shocked by the case and blamed the villagers by the crime, and repeated: This only can be linked to witchcraft.

SOURCE: Desconhecidos desenterram cadáver na aldeia de Kayenga.
IN Jornal de Angola, published in 04/14/2011
[http://jornaldeangola.sapo.ao/14/15/desconhecidos_desenterram_cadaver_na_aldeia_de_kayenga]

Termites, these damn termites

Photo: AP

TAIWAN – A forestry expert that is investigating what caused a train accident in Taiwan said termites, slowly, had been digging a hole in a centennial tree, causing her to fall and crush the train.

The disaster that happened on Wednesday (04/27/2011) caused five deaths near the tourist area of Alishan Mountain were Chinese tourists. Dozens of people were injured.

During the inspection conducted, the expert Wang Ya-nan said that the hole left by termites was hiding, and that the tree fell at a unhappy moment.

Authorities said the driver stopped the train's composition after the wagon be reached by the tree but the huge branches, by hitting other cars on the train, provoked the increase of the tragedy.

SOURCE: Cupins causam acidente ferroviário em Taiwan.
IN Último Segundo/IG, published in 04/29/2011
[http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/ciencia/meioambiente/cupins+causam+acidente+ferroviario+em+taiwan/n1300119918972.html]

Mayas - Stairs that tell Histories

MEXICO – In the archaeological site of El Palmar, southeast of Campeche, a staircase of hieroglyphs was discovered by researchers at the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) associated with the University of Arizona and to Mexican National Autonomous University (UNAM). Preliminary analyses have indicated that this pre-Hispanic city was in contact with the cities of Calakmul (Mexico) and Copan, Honduras. The finding has a thousand and three hundred years.

This is not the only staircase carved, decorated with hieroglyphics found in the lowland Maya. Twenty of this kind were cataloged. Evidence of the monument were first found in 2009 among others, which are called Grupo de Guzman. At the time, the evaluation of the stones "in situ" suggested the existence of a stairway.

The field season began in late 2010 and early 2011. According to archaeologists, Javier Lopez and Camacho Kenichiro Tsukamoto, the first four pieces examined, were in good condition, while two others were fragmented. It was necessary to do emergency procedures for conservation.

All blocks, drawings, and specific location of the find were photographed and examined with instruments like a topografic laser, before being transferred to archaeological camp with safety. The INAH's restorers: Yareli Jaida and Diana Leticia Jiménez Arano determined the level of conservation and are working in restoration of the blocks.

Hieróglifos

A preliminary translation of hieroglyphics, led by epigraphist Octavio Olguin Esparza (UNAM) provides important information for understanding the Maya Classic period (250-900 AD). The hieroglyphic stairway relates, among other historical events, the visits by foreign to El Palmar. The events are marked in a calendar. The date shown is "11 Ajaw Sak 18" or 13 September of 725 AD. The stone document also refers to the 'Lords of place' and the contacts they had with cities such as Copan and Calakmul, in the southern of the region that was occupied by ancient mayas.

During the excavations, was discovered a large room whose floor shows signs of having been burned, which indicates the possibility of perform of rituals. There were also fragments of pottery. A funerary instalation with offerings was also found. There were human bones and two objects of polychrome pottery. The anthropologist Jessica Cerezo-Roman, University of Arizona determined that the mortal remains belong to a mature man, as indicated the examination of the jaws and the inlays of jade on the front teeth.

SOURCE: Descubren escalinata con jeroglíficos mayas.
IN Artículo 7, published in 04/25/2011
[http://a7.com.mx/cultura/arqueologia/7105-descubren-escalinata-con-jeroglificos-mayas.html]

The Giant Scorpions

Paleontology – Analyses performed on the fossil of a giant scorpion 417 million years old, a species extinct (thank goodness!) revealed traces of a substance called chitin in the exoskeleton of the creature. This finding demonstrates something that until now was considered impossible: The age of the chitin found, is several hundred million years older than what was considered the maximum possible in terms of conservation of this material.

The discovery was made ​​by a team of scientists led by George Cody of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Analyses were conducted at the ALS (Advanced Light Source) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California

The work of these experts contradicts the classical idea that the organic material can not be mantained for so long because it would be decomposed by microorganisms. However, scientists have found a fibrous mesh of chitin in the fóssil. Chitin is a polysaccharide rich in nitrogen.

Some species of these huge animals had reached over two meters in length. Chitin was also found in younger fossils, like a scorpion 310 million of years and even others, with 25 million years. The size of the giants scorpions is a frightening demonstration that in the past, arachnids, insects, crustaceans and other creatures were much larger than today. It is known that Eurypterids are aquatic ancestors (and extinct) of land scorpions and possibly of all arachnids of today.

SORCE: Detectan vestigios de quitina en el fósil de un aterrador escorpión gigante.
IN NCYT, published in 04/11/2011
[http://noticiasdelaciencia.com/not/862/detectan_vestigios_de_quitina_en_el_fosil_de_un_aterrador_escorpion_gigante/]

Mutant tadpole

PARÁ state – In Uruará location, near the city of "Porto dos Milagres"a fisherman known as "Neuzito" captured in his fishing net a strange creature. Its head and tail seem like of a fish. Where there should be fins, there are the legs of a frog.

The fisherman, intrigued, said that never saw similar animal. It measures around 30 centimeters and called attention of the local dwellers that gathered to see it. His limbs doesn't has fingers. It doesn't has gills too. The photo of him was published at the Tapajós TV website and it hoped the help of readers to indentify the animal.

SOURCE: Pescador captura estranho animal em Uruará, no Pará.
IN O Globo, published in 04/27/2011
[http://oglobo.globo.com/cidades/mat/2011/04/27/pescador-captura-estranho-animal-em-uruara-no-para-924330022.asp]

Rhinoceros: The stolen horns

PORTUGAL – At Coimbra town, on Tuesday – 19, two horns of rhinoceros of the eighteenth century were stolen from the Museum of Science, University of Coimbra. Authorities believe the theft was an act of a international gang which operates in the black market, where these horns can reach the price of 80 000 euros.

The robbery happened at the section of zoology at around 17.00 at a closed section of the gallery. Museum director commented: We believe that this is a work of an international gang because thefts similar to this have occurred in other museums. Theft of rhino horns are happening some years ago. They started in South Africa this year, the latest happened in the UK, (in February) in an antiques shop in Essex and in the Museum of Natural History at Rouen in March in France.

The destination of the goods is Asia, where these horns are used in the preparation of aphrodisiacs. But the director of the Museum warns: These horns are impregnated with toxic products used for its conservation. Are poisonous for human consumption.

SOURCE: GERALDES, Helena. Chifres de rinoceronte do século XVIII roubados da Universidade de Coimbra.
IN Público-Ecoesfera/Pt, published in 04/23/2011
[http://ecosfera.publico.clix.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1491053]

The bizarre baby of Dominican Republic

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – In the touristic town of La Romana, in the afternoon of a monday – april 14 (2011), in Hospital de Saúde Pública Francisco Gonzalvo (public Health Hospital), a woman from Haiti, identified like Tossent Luis, 20 years of age, gave birth to a bizarre baby.

The child had a human body but her face was like a frog face. The mother, when looked the litlle girl, was taken of terror and left the hospital, running. Nobody knows to where she gone.

The news spread. Many people moved by morbid curiosity gone to the hospital hoping to see the abnormality. Were not allowed to view the child. As is common in such cases, the child died after half an hour after birthing.

This case resembles another episode occurred at Nepal in 2006. The breakingnews said: Bizarre baby born. The text is reproduced below:

NEPAL

Bizarre baby born in Dolakha 
By Rajendra Manandhar

Charikot, Dolakha, March 29 - The birth of a bizarre-looking baby in Charikot, the headquarters of Dolakha district, on Wednesday, drew a huge number of onlookers to witness the astonishing sight.

The neck-less baby with its head almost totally sunk into the upper part of the body and with extraordinarily large eyeballs literally popping out of the eye-sockets, was born to Nir Bahadur Karki and Suntali Karki at the Gaurishnkar Hospital in Charikot.

The Karki couple is a permanent resident of Dolakha’s Bhirkot VDC. The bizarre baby, however, died after half an hour of its birth, Suntali, the mother, informed. It was taken to the hospital after its death.

The news about such a baby being brought to the hospital spread like wildfire and there were hundreds gathered at the hospital to have a look. The police had to be deployed to control the crowd.

“We wouldn’t have been able to save it, even if it had been brought here alive, said a nurse attending to the mother at the hospital. This is an extremely abnormal case.

The “baby” weighed 2kg at birth and was born after the normal nine-month gestation period. Suntali, already a mother of two normal daughters, was not suffering from any illness during the pregnancy.

Nir Bahadur, the father, says he does not feel any remorse for the newly-born baby’s death. “I am happy that nothing happened to my wife, he said.

SOURCE: VEGA A. Manuel. Nace niña con cara de rana en hospital de La Romana
IN El Nuevo Diario/Republica Dominicana, published in 04/14/2011
[http://www.elnuevodiario.com.do/app/article.aspx?id=238025]

The past encaged on a crystalline stone

PERU – In Chiclayo (a town located at northwest of Peru, capital of Lambayeque region, one of the 25 political divisions of the country) scientists found several examples of small insects preserved in amber stones. Researchers believe that these tiny specimens lived around 20 millions of years ago. Were – therefore, contemporary of the dinosaurs and, they passed, at least, for a glaciation.

In the stones of amber insects like Psocoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and spiders, as well as spores, pollen fossils, and even a drop of blood and hair of rodents, all of these fragments of the past remained preserved.

The discovery was made ​​on a beach in far north of Peru by paleontologists from the Paleontological Museum Meyer-Honningen. The team found more than a hundred stones, among the river sediments, but still could not identify the majority. Some of the insects are nor even known, like the , long-legged mosquito Zancudo or a wasp, that has the stinger in the front of its body. These are possibly species already extinct that indicate changes in the flora and fauna of the area.

However, the Peruvian museum has invited Austrian scientists to assist in the study of fossils and new expedition will be made in the Santiago River, for try to uncover new clues about the evolution of the Amazon.

SOURCE: Âmbar alberga fósseis de insectos extintos.
IN Ciência Hoje/Pt, published in 04/21/2011
[http://www.cienciahoje.pt/index.php?oid=48649&op=all]

UFO-Brazil – Sighting in Santa Catarina

SANTA CATARINA (state) – Sunday, march – 10 (2011) an UFO was filmed at 'Erechim' town, north of the state. The images were obtained by a professional filmaker, Osnei de Lima that relates: When I took knowledge about something of strange at the sky, I got my camera and filmed the object. It was moving in all directions.

Lima recorded the images during one minute and 28 seconds until the bright object followed eastward, then north and finaly, disappeared. The director says this is not your first time that he observes a foreign object near his home, in Poland Street (rua Polônia) , one of the highest regions of the city. "But it was the first time I captured images. The object had a rounded shape and its light was very bright.

The UFO appeared to be far, far away. Moreover, its movements were made with great speed. I know very well the trajectory of an aircraft and can assure you that was not an airplane, he said.

Director of 24 films - six long and 18 short films, winning several times - Osne Lima, 36, used a camera with high definition, full HD to capture the sequence. The Commander Kraemer of surveillance Airport of Erechim confirmed that on Sunday no aircraft took off down the runway or terminal.

FONTE: Depois de Xanxerê, Joaçaba e Piratuba, ovni é visto em Erechim.
IN Rádio Rural/sANTA cATARINA state, published in 04/14/2011
[http://www.radiorural.com.br/noticias.php?nId=leitura&idnot=11142]

Mystery of Teotihuacan

The underground work of the temple of Quetzalcoatl

TEOTIHUACÁN, México — In the archaeological site of Teotihuacan, 40 miles southwest of Mexico City, a team of archaeologists discovered a tunnel that may have much to reveal about one of the most important pre-Columbian civilizations.

The site was discovered by chance in 2003 when the heavy rains that fell in the region have revealed a small crater. But only in 2009, scientists began to excavate the place - with the support of the Institute of Anthropology and History Mexico (INAH).

The researchers believe that the tune could lead to a burial chamber of rulers of Teotihuacan, because none of them, no cemetery or graves have been found to date.

The archaeologist Sergio Gomes says: Teotihuacan means "place of the gods". It was a religious center built as a replica of the universe. The tunnel that we are looking can to be a sort of gateway to the underworld. We believe that this architecture can also to hide a replica of the underworld.

Historians estimate that the city flourished in the early Christian era. Teotihuacan was possibly the most important urban center in North America in his time of splendor. Your maximum population may have been 200 thousand inhabitants. Occupying an area of 25 sq. km, only 5% of the site was explored by scientists. Teoatihuacan was abandoned by the seventh century.

In August 2010, after digging about 12 feet, archaeologists have found what could be the entrance to a tunnel. The hypothesis was correct. The entrance had been blocked deliberately - with stones, and objects parts that may have belonged to a temple destroyed. Were already removed 300 tonnes of materials: small objects made ​​of jade, marine shells, bones.

A small camera-robot, first used in an archaeological research in Mexico, exploited the small entrance. A radar system allowed to evaluate the possible extension of the tunnel, about 120 meters. The hypothesis suggest that in the end of the corridor may exist at least three mortuary chambers containing the remains of some rulers of Teotihuacan.

The idea is based in the location of the site that seems seems extend itself along the underground area of the temple of the "Plumed Serpent" (Quetzalcóatl). The delicacy required for the operation involves a job that should last for years. But it is a start for unravel the great mystery that is the origin and abandonment of the powerful city of Teotihuacan.

SOURCE: NICHOLSON, Sophie. Unos arquéologos buscan en un túnel los secretos de Teotihuacán.
IN Google/AFP, published in 04/07/2011
[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iwsL9Xn0J5XPAHRRThKkfkIq8NCg?docId=CNG.d9537645f26505042c24a73e3115be9f.2141]

Spiritist fever in brazilian movies

"As Mães de Chico Xavier" (The mothers of Chico Xavier), April 2011. More recent production of the Brazilian spiritist cinema.

In the brazilian cinema the rise of a new genre of films opens a space in the market and reveals the excelent acceptance and fascination of the the conception about life after death of kardecist spiritism in the imaginary of people.

The phenomenon isn't surprising considering that Brazil is the largest Spiritist kardecist nation of the world. There is in the country a vigourous spiritist literature. The 'beyond', according kardecist spiritism also appears on TV, in soap operas of great success. But, on movies, the popularity obtained by the spiritists produtions is a mark in the history of the brazilian cinema.

The thing began in 2008 when the film "Bezerra de Menezes - O Diário de um Espírito" (Diary of a spirit) debuted and even without any big advertising structure, attracted nearly 500,000 viewers in that year alone. The film, is a biographical account of the life Bezerra de Menezes, a physician and exponent of the spiritist movement Kardecist at Brazil.

From the exit of "Bezerra de Menezes" was born the film producer company Estação da Luz (Light Station). Since then, the company produced two more films: Chico Xavier (2010) and As mães de Chico Xavier (The mothers of Chico Xavier – 2011), both directed by Daniel Filho. But other producers were paying attention in the genre. Also in 2010, it launched the long "Nosso Lar" (Our Home).

Chico Xavier, a film about the life of the most famous brazilian spiritist medium.

With great stars of the national drama, the film budgeted at around 12 million of reais, Chico Xavier, another biography, takes to the big screen the life of Brazil's most famous medium. In the same year, 2010, "Nosso Lar" arrived the theaters. The most expensive film in Brazil's history, even now, costed 20 million of reais.

Our Home is based in one of the most renowned works of literature psychographed made in Brazil. The eponymous book (that was wrote - or psychographed by Chico Xavier), translated into several other languages, speaks of a place, the Beyond, passing from the shadows of hell of the sinners to the rescue of souls. Our Home is the name of an ethereal city, a kind of spiritual colony where the disembodied spirits are cured from the trauma of physical life.

In his debut, only in the first three days of exhibition, "Our Home" earned 5.7 million of reais and was seen by more than half a million people.

Nosso Lar, (Our Home), 2010. Another film-related to the medium Spiritist Chico Xavier (1910-2002) medium, author of numerous texts of literature psychographed produced in Brazil. The story is inspired in the eponymous book, a best seller of the kardecist spiritist brazilian literature.

"Our Home", produced by Iafa Britz, also has a cast of big names. Moreover, according to the book scene, it was necessary to hire international experts as the director of photography Ueli Steiger and special effects supervisor Lev Kobolov of the Canadian company Intelligent Creatures.

In this april month, 2011, debuted "The mothers of Chico Xavier" ("Estação da Luz" prodution), another story related to the life of the medium. In this april month, (2011) debuted "The mothers of Chico Xavier", another story related to the life of the medium. And it's not te finish. Two new debuts of the genre are coming. In the "midia" - they talk about a spiritist fever in produtions of brazilian movies.

Also in 2011, will be released "E a vida continua" (...and Life goes on) and "O filme dos espíritos" (The film of the spirits), the latter inspired by the famous "Book of Spirits" (Book of Spirits), by Alan Kardec, the precursor of western Spiritualism.

RELATED LINKS Chico Xavier movie website [http://www.chicoxavierthemovie.com/] (english) Nosso Lar movie website [http://www.nossolarofilme.com.br/ingles/] (english) As Mães de Chico Xavier movie website [http://www.asmaesdechicoxavier.com.br] (portuguese)

FONTES Cinema brasileiro aposta em "Chico Xavier". IN Diário do Vale, published in 04/02/2010 [http://diariodovale.uol.com.br/noticias/3,19212.html#axzz1IbfAwOrA] Nosso Lar é a terceira maior estreia da retomada. IN Ultimo Segundo, published in 07/09/2010 [http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/cultura/cinema/nosso+lar+e+a+terceira+maior+estreia+da+retomada/n1237771101373.html] Filmes aumentam movimento em centros espíritas. IN Midia News, published in 04/04/2011 [http://www.midianews.com.br/?pg=noticias&cat=16&idnot=46614]