I don't presume to draw connections between what are truly, from the stance of obvious probability, entirely unrelated acts of murder, mayhem, inexplicable nudity, and high-strangeness; still, there seems to have been far more of all-of-the-above occurring lately than can be easily accounted for. These range from today's lead story, that of a 28-year-old Bulgarian transient who inexplicably (and savagely) murdered a woman in her sixties, to a now ridiculous number of instances where people have either had "spiritual epiphanies" or simply gone bonkers, tore off their clothing, and wandered around in the buff for all to see. As I often begin to ask of such things, this recent rash of so-called "madness" has me wondering "what is the meaning of all this?!"

The first story, as mentioned above, dealt with a 28-year-old homeless Bulgarian man who had been living presently in Tenerife, in the Canary Islands (thanks to Keith for the correction. -The Editor). This individual, whose full name had not yet been released by the press, was said to have been released from a mental hospital only three months ago, and seemed to show agitation and hostility toward those who passed him on the street. Sadly, it was more than either of these that he showed one victim, a 62-year old woman, whom he had allegedly stalked for days.

Obtaining a sword (or a machete according to some accounts) from a novelty store, the man followed the victim into an area supermarket, where he stabbed her several times, then beheaded her, and left the scene mumbling to himself and brandishing the severed head. He was finally stopped when a motorcyclist stopped and launched his helmet at the gruesome killer, allowing police to tackle and apprehend him. This disturbed individual was already under suspicion for murder, according to the Daily Mail, and even claimed to be "a messenger from God," known for citing loudly that "God is on Earth." He had also referred to the poor woman's severed head as "my treasure," and had allegedly shouted at police trying to apprehend him that they, "could not take his treasure" from him.

The police have begun investigating reports of a mysterious red light being directed at planes landing at Chennai airport in the last few days.

Three pilots had reported this to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) which informed the police.

AI regional executive director D Devaraj said "we have taken the reports seriously though it is impossible to track an aircraft flying at high altitude using laser pointer lights."

If you happen to see an eight-foot-tall, very hairy fellow wearing sunglasses, a straw hat and strings of old Mardi Gras beads at this week's Handy blues festivities, don't be alarmed.

It's merely Bigfoot, a.k.a. Sasquatch or Yeti, who has snuck into town to enjoy the music, eat some red beans and rice, and watch folks lose their inhibitions and break into impromptu dance.

He won't be displaying any fancy footsteps himself because he'll be attempting to keep a fairly low profile. As low a profile, that is, as a super-tall, 500-pound critter can keep.

The question isn't for whom the bell has tolled shortly before midnight in downtown Mount Pleasant, but why.

One of three bells in the tower of the Sacred Heart Catholic church in this central Michigan community rang, without human provocation, last Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, usually between 11:30 and 11:40 p.m.

"One woman said it was wonderful, the most peaceful sound she's ever heard. Others were not so happy about having to listen to a bell in the night," explained Parish Deacon Jim Damitio, who also is an accounting professor at nearby Central Michigan University.

After the first night, church authorities thought they had turned off electricity to the automated bell-ringing system, but the lone bell rang again. Finally, the circuit breakers were completely pulled and the bell fell silent.

A Montana resident says an energy company has identified the cause of a brief power outage as "deer with wings."

Lee Bridges says she was outside with her dogs around the time the power went out when a NorthWestern Energy truck pulled up, giving her a chance to ask the driver what caused the problem.

She says he pointed up and said, "Apparently, we've got deer with wings."

Bridges looked up and saw a dead fawn on a power line.

It's unlikely the animal had an accident while trying to make like distant-cousin Rudolph. Bridges suspects that an eagle dropped its prey and couldn't retrieve it.

The lineman who removed the carcass from the power line said he'd never seen anything like it.

Source: The Associated Press

For over a week, the digital clocks in Catania have been perplexing owners by skipping ahead 15 to 20 minutes every day.

The inexplicable time changes caught the attention of two computer technicians in Sicily, who turned to Facebook to confirm the phenomenon.

Posing a question to ask if their friends and colleagues had noticed anything amiss with their clocks and radios established a definite pattern of electronic misbehavior.

I'm sitting on a white plastic chair in what seems like total darkness. Strapped to my chest and shoulders is an array of electronic gear--microphones, a video camera, a box that detects magnetic changes and a Geiger counter. Somewhere in the mix is a flashlight, the only device whose function I understand, and thus, the only device I cannot find.

In front of me, I can almost make out the sinister shapes of some truly spooky trees. Malevolent bugs are buzzing in and out of my eyes and ears, and it occurs to me that there must be a tavern open somewhere nearby, even in this remote corner of Utah. One hundred or more yards away, beyond a barbed-wire fence and a little creek, are my fellow paranormal rangers, equipped with their own video cameras, night-vision glasses and assorted scientific gear. They are supposed to be watching me to see if anything happens.

On this night, I am the bait. Bait for what, I wonder? The unspoken hope is my own inherent weirdness quotient might give me some sort of connection to the undeniably odd energy, or entity, that seems to have concentrated itself on this remote rural community, and, in particular, on this small ranch where I now sit, waiting for something to announce its presence.

Some very strange things have happened at the precise spot where I'm sitting. It is here that a visitor was accosted by a roaring but nearly invisible creature, something akin to the Predator of movie fame. It is here that a Ph.D. physicist reported that his mind was invaded, literally taken over, by some sort of hostile intelligence that warned him that he was not welcome. It is here that an entire team of researchers watched in awe as a bright door or portal opened up in the darkness and a large humanoid creature crawled out before quickly vanishing. And it is here that several animals--cattle and dogs--were mutilated, obliterated or simply disappeared.

A mysterious explosion yesterday left police wondering what its source was as their investigations led them to nothing - except quiet fields and 'witnesses' who could not explain what had happened.

The loud explosion took place in the vicinity of Dingli Cliffs at 6.20pm, but it was heard from several places across the island, including far away Pembroke, Naxxar, Swieqi and Mellieħa.

But when police and Civil Protection Department personnel rushed on site, with all indications pointing to another blast caused by fireworks, there was no evidence that anything of the sort had happened.

There was no plume of smoke, no debris and no smell of chemicals. The police searched all the area in question, but they could not pinpoint the exact spot where the blast occurred.

People who live in the vicinity also described it as an "earthquake, as doors shook and windows rattled.

The police kept up their investigations till late in the evening, but they were still [unable] to find out what caused the blast as theories abounded.

The mystery continues...

A village in Durham is the latest place to report a strange vibrating noise - known as "the hum". Why is it such a mystery?

According to sufferers, it is as if someone has parked next to your house and left the engine running. The Hum is a mystery low frequency noise, a phenomenon that has been reported across Britain, North America and Australia in the past four decades.

There are a range of theories from farm or factory machinery to conspiracy theories such as flying saucers. And yet, 'the hum' remains an unsolved case.

Woodland, a village in county Durham, is the latest place to fall victim to the noise. Some residents have reported hearing a buzzing noise like electricity or a car engine that won't go away.

"It sounds like an overhead power line with this constant humming buzz," says Kevin Fail, a 53 year-old bathroom installer who lives in the village.