Put on some thinking music and prepare a beverage of your choice, here’s today’s news briefs.
- The Perforated Mexicans speak about their mysterious cinemas underneath the streets of Paris. What a let down, I was hoping for some sensationalist, sordid conspiracy, but the answers turned out to be rather normal.
- The ancient Kingdom of Kush remains shrouded in mystery.
- The ancient Chinese had ceramic balls. Er, let me rephrase that …
- Skeleton found in underwater cave in Mexico near the Caribbean coast may be over 13000 years old.
- Irish and Scottish origins may be Portugese and Spanish. “Aye Carumba!” exclaims a shocked Cernig.
- Forest submerged by rising sea levels 6500 years ago rediscovered in Orkneys.
- 7000-year-old pottery vessel may be evidence of early trade across the Persian Gulf.
- Old-fashioned adventurer sunken Spanish galleon off the coast of Ecuador.
- Hindu hardliners attempt to demolish a controversial 17th century Muslim general’s tomb. They should demolish organised religion.
- Warning, American Politics: Hundreds of Republicans injured in stampede.
- Its parachute failed to open, but the Genesis space capsule’s scientific contents may still be intact. NASA’s ego certainly isn’t.
- Astronomers from Chile report the discovery of an extrasolar planet.
- The Pioneer 10 and 11 space probes are being retarded by mysterious forces. Either it’s dark matter, or what we know about gravity is wrong.
- NASA’s Opportunity rover landed in an area that could have been submerged in water.
- Cassini snaps Saturn’s previously-unknown ring.
- Don’t panic! Earth’s magnetic field is fading. I thought faeries were responsible for moving my fridge magnets in the night.
- Could faeries be responsible for crop circles?
- Pravda suggests UFO clouds are abducting humans. I reckon it’s those faeries.
- The French are getting annoyed at tourists carrying copies of Dan Brown novels.
- Beliefs in the supernatural jinn are rife in Kenya.
- For more than three months of the year, Japan’s marathon monks sleep two hours a night and run 17 hours a day. They must be compiling news briefs for TDG.
- Scientists say hypnosis really does work.
- Put Tool’s latest cd on and enjoy the healing power of music. Perhaps we should release a limited edition TDG soundtrack.
- Genetically-Modified fish produce cheap blood-clotting agent.
- The extinction of one species, flora or fauna, may cause the doom of another.
- World Health Organisation (Who?) say Bird (avian) flu pandemic poses bigger risk than SARS.
Quote of the Day:
Ah, leave the hills of Arcady, Thy satyrs and their wanton play. This modern world hath need of thee.
Oscar Wilde to Pan, from “Pan: Double Villanelle”
