Zombies Found in Haiti

Recent studies coming out of Haiti tell tales of zombie intrigue and immigrant slave conspiracies. Apparently researchers have found, in a remote Haitian area, information that Haitian voodoo priests have concocted a drug or "poison" that can render the person on the receiving end immobile and, for lack of a better term, "dead." Now, not exactly being the re-animated corpses we are so used to seeing in movies, these drug-induced people are usually poor villagers or immigrants/tourists that get doses of the "zombie drug" and are thus rendered unconscious and unaware of their actions for what can be up to hours, days, weeks, or even months! Once injected with the toxin, the victim is then forced unwillingly (and generally unknowingly) into slavery. Once they come out of this zombie-like stupor after how ever long they were under for, they have no recollection of how they ended up where they did or what they were doing.

According to the article, located under AOL's "Weird News" section, this has most-likely been an ongoing event for decades! The article chronicles the story of one man, a Mr. Clairvius Narcisse, who was pronounced dead at a hospital in Haiti, buried, and, 18 years later, found wandering around alive and, for the most part, well. He went on to state that he was drugged (probably with this "zombie poison"), buried alive, but unconcious, and dug up and forced into slavery. Narcisse recounts in his tale that he was sent to work on a plantation with others who shared the same experience. One man who researched this phenomena extensively, Wade Davis, turned this accounts into a popular, mainstream movie in the early 1980's called "The Serpent and the Rainbow." Davis recalls that this zombie-drug that makes people appear "dead" was most-likely tetrodotoxin, a deadly poison found in puffer fish. According to Davis, "Tetrodotoxin turns out to be a very big molecule that blocks sodium channels in the nerves, bringing on peripheral paralysis, dramatically low metabolic rates and yet consciousness is retained until the moment of death." Scary, isn't it? After one of these Haitian voodoo priests, called "bokor's," injects their victim with the tetrodotoxin, the person is then pronounced dead by a physician, subsequently buried, and then dug up by the priest and given some kind of "chemical paste" to keep them in the zombie-induced state so they can be sold into slavery.

This article brings to surface some terrifying accounts of an un-Godly practice. It just makes one even more worried about traveling abroad or even leaving the comfort of their own home. It seems like it can happen to almost anyone without them even knowing until it's too late (or until the drug wears off). All I know is that I don't plan on booking a trip to Haiti any time soon...

The article I referenced can be found here: http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/how-to-make-a-zombie-haiti-style/19638134?icid=main|main|dl12|sec1_lnk3|172567

Moses and the Parting of the Red Sea, Debunked?

Recent reports and epxeriments say there may be an explanation to the passge in the Bible's "Book of Exodus" that explains the parting of the Red Sea by God to allow Moses and the Israelites to pass through. According to the US National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the "phenomenon" of "wind setdown" may be the explanation we (may or may not have) needed. The event of wind setdown is a rare happening in which heavy winds push water someplace else to pool and can cause effects similar to the parting of the seas. This is interesting and all, but apparently there would need to have been "hurricane-force winds" and a rare kind of geological layuout on the seabed for this to actually occur. So, in other words, there would have to have been a hurricane, and the perfect geographical location for the winds to part the sea and create safe passage.

If you really wish to believe that it was divine miracle or not, there is a brief video simulation on the website regarding this article, but I know I personally believe that tehre is not such thing as "divine intervention," not even for the beloved Israelites. I am a skeptic at heart, and, although this is highly interesting, it doesn't really stir any kind of truth in me.

The article can be found here: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/22/moses_water_sim_study/

Quran Burning and A Florida Pastor

An article stemming from the recent event of a planned "Quran burning" by a Florida pastor has finally come to it's ultimate conclusion. "An evangelist in contact with the Rev. Terry Jones said the Florida pastor 'has agreed in principle' not to burn copies of the Quran (CNN.com)." The proposed Quran burning protest/demonstration, led by Rev. Jones, was the result of the planned mosque construction near Ground Zero in NYC. Just days before the event was to take place, the Reverend himself was debating whether or not he would actually follow through with his radical plans to set fire to Islam's version of the Bible, although, he couldn't seem to give a clear decision.

According to the CNN article, his decision to halt the actual protest was due to a meeting with the man in charge of the mosque building in NYC, imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, but here's where it becomes messy. Apparently, Rev. Jones told reporters that Rauf told him he would move the location of the mosque if Jones called off the Quran burning. This was quickly shot down by Rauf's mediator, imam Mohammad Musri, who stated, "That's not what I offered him."

So, the rest of the world is stuck debating whether to believe in Jones' story, or Musri's and Rauf's. I, personally, feel like Jones is taking matters too far. It's radical in nature the burning of a religion's holy book, but I am still torn about the building of a mosque so close to a place where so many people died due to the muslim terrorists. I feel that the mosque should be built in another location, and not in a place where there is so much controversy. It's almost like a slap in the face to Americans, even if Rauf's intentions are good, it's just not right. I think both sides need to take into consideration the issue as a whole before they start jumping into things so quickly.

(The article is located here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/10/florida.quran.burning.imam/index.html?npt=NP1

Muslims vs. The U.S.

While perusing articles from Time magazines website, I came across an article relating to American's fears of Muslims and their religion. The article in question brings forth a case out of rural Wisconsin involving a Muslim, Dr. Mansoor Mirza, who is trying to erect a mosque on property he owns in a neighboring town. When Mirza stepped in front of the committee awaiting their decision, he was hit with some of the worries and fears many Americans keep bottled up in regards to race, religion, and morality. These fears were only hastened even more when the planned mosque in New York City came to surface. Where does all this hostility and fear stem from? Well, it's most-likely a result of the terrible events that took place on September 11th, but it may also be more than just that.

Personally, I believe that many American citizens are scared of the outcome of what the aftershock would be like if these mosques were built. We all fear terrorism because jihadists are still out there plotting and planning, and the promotion of anything associated with the Islamic religion definitely strikes a chord. When we hold our tongues on such critical issues and bottle up what we want to say, it's only bound to burst out of us, and sometimes in stereotypical and hateful ways.

The resulting backlash from Americans if the mosques are built would be catastrophic. The same goes for if the mosques aren't built. It's a double-edged sword issue, and one that will, no matter what the outcome is, hold a place in history and haunt U.S. citizens for years to come.

(The article I referenced can be found here: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2011798,00.html

PETA Reacts to Video of Apparent Animal Abuse

A video recently posted to youtube, and the wildly popular site, 4chan, depicting a young girl throwing puppies into a river, has sparked outrage amongst animal activist groups, and has many questioning the video's authenticity. No matter whether the video is authentic or not, the depiction of anyone harming any creature in any way is just despicable. In the video, the girl, who, according to CNN Justice, is speaking Croatian, is seen lifting 6 puppies out of a basket and launching them into a moving river. This particular incident of animal abuse really struck a chord with me. The fact that it (allegedly) happened in another country angers me more-so because the rules and regulations in regards to animal cruelty in other parts of the world differ greatly from the laws associated with it here in the United States. The link to the actual article from CBS News can be found here: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20015283-504083.html