A little over two weeks ago, Spanish authorities arrested some 23 men following raids on 10 houses in which they seized computer equipment, materials used in Voodoo rituals, and passports. The men are accused of supplying the European sex trade with Nigerian women forced into prostitution by threats of "Voodoo curses." The average age of the girls being trafficked is said to be between 12 and 18 years.
In February, Spanish authorities received a complaint from a Nigerian woman who claimed to have been one of the men's victims. She told police the men practice black magickery and frighten their victims with threats of "destroying their souls" or "making them crazy." Some women were transported by roadway into Libya then smuggled into Italy by boat, while others were approached in European hostels from which they disappeared. Some 150+ girls disappeared from hostels in Europe in 2006 and 2007. About a dozen were recovered; the rest are thought to have fallen prey to human traffickers. The money the girls make prostituting is kept by the criminals until their debt (for smuggling them into the country) is paid. The average cost is just under $70,000.00.
Somewhat ironically, many of the trafficked women were branded witches by their villages, who threw them out of their homes and abandoned them. They were promised high-paying jobs and marriage to good men in Europe, but first had to swear an oath in a cemetery. Their fingernails were cut and pubic hair shaved, then their clothes were seized and a sanitary pad with their menstrual blood was collected. These items were ceremoniously placed in a shrine as "wicked incantations" were recited. The girls were told both they and their families would die, should they try to escape or expose the criminals. So fervent was their belief in this magick that few of the girls would leave their lives as European prostitutes when offered escape.
Some of the girls have sex with as many as 30 men a day in an effort to pay off their debt quicker. Madams encourage this by telling them the sooner they paid-off their debt, the better it is for them and their families.
11 men are awaiting trial in the Netherlands for these very practices, following their arrest in March of this year. Arrests involving Voodoo curses used to force girls into prostitution in Europe date back to at least 2007.
The OddBlog will have more on this and will follow the story closely.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
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Showing posts with label europe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label europe. Show all posts
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Swedish Girl Bedeviled by Sign of Satan
A Swedish family is upset over the fact their daughter's tax ID number ends in "666."
The Swedish Tax Authority issues personal identification numbers (PIN) to everyone and this number is crucial to everyday life. But The Holy Bible warns of this in the last book, Revelation. It is also in this book that the number 666 is referred to as the Number of the Beast.
While her parents are distraught and want the number changed, authorities are less than accommodating, noting that about 100 girls end up with 666 in their PIN every year.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
The Swedish Tax Authority issues personal identification numbers (PIN) to everyone and this number is crucial to everyday life. But The Holy Bible warns of this in the last book, Revelation. It is also in this book that the number 666 is referred to as the Number of the Beast.
While her parents are distraught and want the number changed, authorities are less than accommodating, noting that about 100 girls end up with 666 in their PIN every year.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Italy Declares Pompeii Disaster Area
Yes, that title is a teaser.
Italy declared a "state of emergency" for Pompeii, as the historic site has fallen into disrepair. They have earmarked a significant amount of money for revamping the site, and plan to appoint a special commissioner to oversee its future. According to analysts, the site suffers from low-funding, mismanagement, littering, and disrepair; the ancient city of Pompeii has simply been neglected. It is said that over 1500 sq. feet of fresco and plasterwork are lost annually, along with some 3000 pieces of stone, which disintegrates.
Pompeii was covered by volcanic ash in 79 AD. While it destroyed the town and killed most of its population, the ash preserved the fantastic locale, which was excavated in the 18th-Century. The ruins are one of Italy's largest tourist attractions.
The state of emergency will last for one year.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Italy declared a "state of emergency" for Pompeii, as the historic site has fallen into disrepair. They have earmarked a significant amount of money for revamping the site, and plan to appoint a special commissioner to oversee its future. According to analysts, the site suffers from low-funding, mismanagement, littering, and disrepair; the ancient city of Pompeii has simply been neglected. It is said that over 1500 sq. feet of fresco and plasterwork are lost annually, along with some 3000 pieces of stone, which disintegrates.
Pompeii was covered by volcanic ash in 79 AD. While it destroyed the town and killed most of its population, the ash preserved the fantastic locale, which was excavated in the 18th-Century. The ruins are one of Italy's largest tourist attractions.
The state of emergency will last for one year.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Child's Party Sparks Discrimination Suit
A child in Sweden handed-out birthday party invitations in his class, but neglected two of them. Now the boy and his party invitations are at the center of a discrimination battle which is making international headlines.
The 8-year old boy refused two of his classmates invites because one had not invited him to his birthday party previously, and he and the other child had had a falling-out. When the teacher noticed this, she confiscated all of the invitations. According to the school, if the invitations are passed-out on school property, discrimination is not allowed.
The boy's father has issued complaints to the school's ombudsman.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
The 8-year old boy refused two of his classmates invites because one had not invited him to his birthday party previously, and he and the other child had had a falling-out. When the teacher noticed this, she confiscated all of the invitations. According to the school, if the invitations are passed-out on school property, discrimination is not allowed.
The boy's father has issued complaints to the school's ombudsman.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Pilot Collides with UFO
This is one of those stories I flagged for following, but as no new developments have presented themselves since the 10th, I decided to go ahead and post it:
A leaked report claims a Romanian MIG 21 fighter jet was hit by 'strange objects' which shattered the cockpit and injured the pilot. The plane was landed safely and the incident was supposedly captured on film, though no video has surfaced so far. Authorities ruled-out numerous "common" debris and objects which might account for the accident, including ice, birds, and small meteorites.
No other details are known at this point, but I don't think we have much cause for alarm.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
A leaked report claims a Romanian MIG 21 fighter jet was hit by 'strange objects' which shattered the cockpit and injured the pilot. The plane was landed safely and the incident was supposedly captured on film, though no video has surfaced so far. Authorities ruled-out numerous "common" debris and objects which might account for the accident, including ice, birds, and small meteorites.
No other details are known at this point, but I don't think we have much cause for alarm.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Murder Journalist Found Dead in Prison - Vlad Taneski
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| Vlad Taneski |
According to authorities, Taneski committed suicide by sticking his head in a bucket of water. He was found early this morning.
The OddBlog had been following this story since the weekend and erroneously reported Taneski's arrest on two murders of elderly women. However, that was what sources said at the time. The body of a fourth woman has yet to be found.
We will continue to follow the story, as Vlad Taneski did not drown himself.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Journalist Vlad Taneski Suspected of Reporting Own Murders
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| Corruption Redacted |
Police say they became suspicious when 56-year old reporter, Vlado Taneski, when he allegedly included details in his articles that had not been made public. They were apparently not intelligent enough to realize that that is what reporters do. Upon further "investigation," these same police discovered the victims had much in common with Taneski's late mother, with whom he had a bad relationship: All were poorly-educated, elderly, and worked as cleaners.
Taneski is suspected of kidnapping, sexually torturing, murdering, then dismembering at least three women from the same neighborhood in Kicevo. He is also suspected in the disappearance of another elderly woman who has yet to be found. All of the women suffered sexual abuse, extreme violence, and, "Were found naked, strangled, wrapped with phone cables."
Taneski took the ice bucket challenge while in captivity.
None of the murders have ever been solved.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Dead Mayor Emerges Victorious
A Romanian village so detests change that they re-elected their dead mayor.
Neculai Ivascu died a week before the election before canceling the vote. He had led the Romanian village of Voinesti for two decades. Villagers were so against change that they voted for him anyway... and an official declared him the winner!
His opponent said he will challenge the decision and several villagers have called for a new vote but, as of this post, a dead man is the mayor of Voinesti.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Neculai Ivascu died a week before the election before canceling the vote. He had led the Romanian village of Voinesti for two decades. Villagers were so against change that they voted for him anyway... and an official declared him the winner!
His opponent said he will challenge the decision and several villagers have called for a new vote but, as of this post, a dead man is the mayor of Voinesti.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
European Beaver
The European Beaver will be reintroduced into Scotland after 400 years. The animal.
Four beaver families will be caught in Norway and moved to Scotland in 2009. They will be quarantined for six months before being released into five lochs proposed for the process. This will be the first time a mammal has been reintroduced into the wild in the UK and the program will have a trial run of five years. It is being hailed as an "historic moment."
The European Beaver was hunted to extinction in Scotland in the 16th-Century.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Four beaver families will be caught in Norway and moved to Scotland in 2009. They will be quarantined for six months before being released into five lochs proposed for the process. This will be the first time a mammal has been reintroduced into the wild in the UK and the program will have a trial run of five years. It is being hailed as an "historic moment."
The European Beaver was hunted to extinction in Scotland in the 16th-Century.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
St. Padre Pio on Display in Italy
St. Padre Pio's body will be on display in Italy to commemorate the 40th anniversary of his death.
St. Padre Pio was said to have had stigmata - a Christian affliction (and paranormal oddity) in which the sufferer bears Christ's wounds, generally manifested in bleeding from the hands and feet and, even more rarely, from the side or head; St. Pio's was said to be on his hands, feet, and side. While his body is well-preserved despite no measures having been taken to achieve this (incorruption, also a Christian paranormal oddity - which fall under the category of miracles here - often associated with sainthood), there is no sign of stigmata. Of course, St. Padre Pio's blood has long stopped flowing.
Beatified in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, Padre Pio had legions of followers before his death - but the Catholic Church was not among them. In fact, Pio was banned from attending or performing public mass. Many thought him a fraud, and several contend that to this very day; one skeptic suggested he used carbolic acid to create his wounds (a pretty ludicrous claim).
Born in 1887 in the village of Pietrelcina in Southern Italy, St. Pio joined the Capuchins at 17 and lived for 11 years as a novice. On September 20th, 1915, he began experiencing severe pains in his side and extremities for which doctors could find no reason nor cause. Exactly three years later, to the date, St. Pio fell to the floor in agony at the altar of the church in Foggia. His fellow monks found him there, unconscious, bleeding from his side, hands, and feet. He bore the stigmata unto his death; no medical efforts healed them and no evidence of imposture was ever found.
Throughout his lifetime, Padre Pio was attributed many miraculous cures, as well as the gifts of precognition and bilocation. Pio rarely left his monastery and died peacefully on September 28, 1968.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
St. Padre Pio was said to have had stigmata - a Christian affliction (and paranormal oddity) in which the sufferer bears Christ's wounds, generally manifested in bleeding from the hands and feet and, even more rarely, from the side or head; St. Pio's was said to be on his hands, feet, and side. While his body is well-preserved despite no measures having been taken to achieve this (incorruption, also a Christian paranormal oddity - which fall under the category of miracles here - often associated with sainthood), there is no sign of stigmata. Of course, St. Padre Pio's blood has long stopped flowing.
Beatified in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, Padre Pio had legions of followers before his death - but the Catholic Church was not among them. In fact, Pio was banned from attending or performing public mass. Many thought him a fraud, and several contend that to this very day; one skeptic suggested he used carbolic acid to create his wounds (a pretty ludicrous claim).
Born in 1887 in the village of Pietrelcina in Southern Italy, St. Pio joined the Capuchins at 17 and lived for 11 years as a novice. On September 20th, 1915, he began experiencing severe pains in his side and extremities for which doctors could find no reason nor cause. Exactly three years later, to the date, St. Pio fell to the floor in agony at the altar of the church in Foggia. His fellow monks found him there, unconscious, bleeding from his side, hands, and feet. He bore the stigmata unto his death; no medical efforts healed them and no evidence of imposture was ever found.
Throughout his lifetime, Padre Pio was attributed many miraculous cures, as well as the gifts of precognition and bilocation. Pio rarely left his monastery and died peacefully on September 28, 1968.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Stonehenge Excavation Begins
The first excavation at Stonehenge in almost 45 years gets underway today.
Headed by two of Europe's leading experts on the site, Professors Tim Darvill and Geoff Wainwright, the excavation seeks to find pieces of the original inner circle of bluestones that are believed to have been the first monument erected on the site. The stones at the center of the structure, are thought to have once been believed magical. Darvill and Wainwright traced them back to their original source - the Preseli hills in Wales - and found that inscriptions at the site show that ancient people believed the stones, area, and waters surrounding them to have been magical.
Darvill and Wainwright have postulated the theory that Stonehenge was built as a sort of "Neolithic Lourdes," where the afflicted traveled in hopes of a Supernatural cure. Further evidence to bolster their claim comes from remains recovered at the site - many of which show signs of trauma and of having traveled a great distance to visit the site.
Their hope is that the dig will show that the original flooring of Stonehenge was placed with bluestone chippings purposely included. This, they believe, will cement their theory as the correct one for why the ancient structure was built.
I, for one, would like to see at least one of the professors twist a coathanger into an ancient shape and aim it at the stones - just to see if it will electrify them. That would be proof of something! Exactly what, I am not prepared to say at this time.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Headed by two of Europe's leading experts on the site, Professors Tim Darvill and Geoff Wainwright, the excavation seeks to find pieces of the original inner circle of bluestones that are believed to have been the first monument erected on the site. The stones at the center of the structure, are thought to have once been believed magical. Darvill and Wainwright traced them back to their original source - the Preseli hills in Wales - and found that inscriptions at the site show that ancient people believed the stones, area, and waters surrounding them to have been magical.
Darvill and Wainwright have postulated the theory that Stonehenge was built as a sort of "Neolithic Lourdes," where the afflicted traveled in hopes of a Supernatural cure. Further evidence to bolster their claim comes from remains recovered at the site - many of which show signs of trauma and of having traveled a great distance to visit the site.
Their hope is that the dig will show that the original flooring of Stonehenge was placed with bluestone chippings purposely included. This, they believe, will cement their theory as the correct one for why the ancient structure was built.
I, for one, would like to see at least one of the professors twist a coathanger into an ancient shape and aim it at the stones - just to see if it will electrify them. That would be proof of something! Exactly what, I am not prepared to say at this time.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Last European Witch-Hunt Still Going On
Now this one makes me mad for all sorts of reasons:
It turns out that the last real witch-hunt in Europe was carried out in the 18th-Century by a secluded little village in Switzerland called Glarus. As it turns out, a young, very beautiful, woman, one Anna Goeldi, was hired as a houseworker by a wealthy homeowner, one Jacob Tschudi. Tschudi then laid her soundly and when he threatened to let her go, he was afraid that she woud reveal their tryst; at the time, adultery was a crime in Glarus.
So the rising political figure took to inserting pins in his children's food and blamed the events on the poor woman. An illiterate and uneducated girl, she was taken into custody and tortured into confessing to being a witch, although she vehemently denied all the charges before torture. Once the events were over and she had recovered somewhat, she recanted. She was then tortured again until she confessed and this time did not recant.
She was then led through the streets of the town, humiliated, and beheaded with a sword.
This was 1782, the Age of Enlightenment.
Now, some are calling to clear the victim's name, but others - in true Swiss form - refuse to confess, claiming they should not be held accountable for the actions of their ancestors.
Except that no one is actually asking them to personally be held accountable; all that is being asked is that the woman's sentence be dropped and her name cleared! No one is going to be put to death for killing the young woman, no one is going to be imprisoned, no one is going to be fined; they simply have to admit that the actual crime that occurred in 1782 in the streets of Glarus, Switzerland was murder.
Of course it isn't right and I'm certainly not condoning it, but I would be remiss if I didn't reiterate the fact that the "good and upright" citizens of Glarus tortured Anna Goeldi into confession - not once but twice. Maybe what's good for the goose isn't so bad for the gander?
It turns out that the last real witch-hunt in Europe was carried out in the 18th-Century by a secluded little village in Switzerland called Glarus. As it turns out, a young, very beautiful, woman, one Anna Goeldi, was hired as a houseworker by a wealthy homeowner, one Jacob Tschudi. Tschudi then laid her soundly and when he threatened to let her go, he was afraid that she woud reveal their tryst; at the time, adultery was a crime in Glarus.
So the rising political figure took to inserting pins in his children's food and blamed the events on the poor woman. An illiterate and uneducated girl, she was taken into custody and tortured into confessing to being a witch, although she vehemently denied all the charges before torture. Once the events were over and she had recovered somewhat, she recanted. She was then tortured again until she confessed and this time did not recant.
She was then led through the streets of the town, humiliated, and beheaded with a sword.
This was 1782, the Age of Enlightenment.
Now, some are calling to clear the victim's name, but others - in true Swiss form - refuse to confess, claiming they should not be held accountable for the actions of their ancestors.
Except that no one is actually asking them to personally be held accountable; all that is being asked is that the woman's sentence be dropped and her name cleared! No one is going to be put to death for killing the young woman, no one is going to be imprisoned, no one is going to be fined; they simply have to admit that the actual crime that occurred in 1782 in the streets of Glarus, Switzerland was murder.
Of course it isn't right and I'm certainly not condoning it, but I would be remiss if I didn't reiterate the fact that the "good and upright" citizens of Glarus tortured Anna Goeldi into confession - not once but twice. Maybe what's good for the goose isn't so bad for the gander?
Friday, April 27, 2007
Out of This World! - Super-Earth, France Releases X-Files, Hawking Flies
There's been a flurry of activity in and around our atmosphere this week and I didn't have the time to document it all as it happened, so I collected me a buncha these bookmarks and now I'm gonna lay it all down for you:
- Scientists have discovered a "super-Earth" near the Gliese star about 20.5 light-years from the Libra Constellation. This is unrelated to the planet recently discovered in the Pegasus Constellation which they claim may also have water. According to researchers, models suggest the planet should either be mountainous or oceanic. The exoplanet is the smallest they've discovered yet and has been given the name, Gliese 581 C.
- France launched a website on which it has organized some 50+ years' worth of UFO (called ONVIs in France) reports, including scanned police reports. The server crashed hours after the announcement due to high traffic. The CNES handles over 1500 UFO or ONVI cases annually. About 25% of these are labeled "Class D," meaning there is no official explanation. About 10% of the total cases result in on-site investigations.
- Science maven, Stephen Hawking, went 0-G for up to 4 minutes yesterday in the "vomit comet." He is hoping to go into space in 2009, when Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic starts. It will take private citizens into space for a hefty sum -- about $200k!
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