Looking at this photo you would never know that this place is filled with tragedy and mystery. The Menengai Crater is one of the largest calderas of the world and the largest of Kenya. There are many versions about the origin and the meaning of the name, “Menengai.” One of the more popular definitions is “the place of the dead corpses,” as many people have died there.

During the 19th century, war broke out between the Maasai unity and various rival clans over cattle and grazing grounds. In one battle, the Ilaikipiak warriors were thrown into the calderas. Recently, a woman fell to her death while trying to rescue her 12 year-old son, who was trapped inside a ravine.

The locals claim that the crater is under the control of evil spirits and have since named it “kirima kia ngoma” (where the devils live). Strange things happen to people who visit the crater and its cave. Many were reported to have disappeared, only to turn up hours later, not knowing how they got lost. One of them was a man who had known the area for a long time. Some people go in there and are never seen again.

Pilgrims flock to the site to pray, despite the crater’s reputation. Mr. Paul Walingo from Kakamega spent two weeks in the cave, fasting and praying, without incident. He does not believe the tales of the locals about ghosts and demons.

Simon Kamenju, on the other hand, believes that they are real. According to him, the ghosts capture people who attempt to destroy the crater’s fauna and hide them in the underworld. “Some of those who wander, do so after harvesting firewood inside the cave. But as soon as they drop the firewood, they find their way back.”

The latest mystery involves a “flying umbrella” that appears to shield the crater whenever it rains, only to disappear after the storm subsides. No one knows where this alleged umbrella goes, although I think it would be hard to miss since the crater measures 8-10 kilometers.

Source: allAfrica.com

Rick Lisko of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin was driving down his mile-long driveway on November 22 when a small herd of deer sprinted across the road in front of him. He slowed down. The two does made it across, but the young buck ran under the man’s truck and got killed.

Lisko made a startling discovery when he left his truck to check the animal’s welfare. The buck not only had male and female reproductive organs, but seven legs that resembled crab’s pinchers. The majority of them were three to four-inch appendages that grew from the buck’s hind legs. Another appendage was found on one of the front legs.

“It kind of gives you the creeps when you look at it,” he said, but he thought he saw the appendages moving, as if they were functional, before the deer was hit.

Lisko called Warden Doug Bilgo of the state Department of Natural Resources, who tagged the deer and took pictures of it for his managers. Afterwards, Lisko had it skinned and ate the venison.

Bob Larson, an evangelical minister and founder, of the Spiritual Freedom Church in Denver, claims that he has performed 10,000 exorcisms around the world over the past 30 years, including some famous people that he refuses to identify.

“I see it in (someone’s) eyes,” Larson said. “The demon looks at me. I’ve learned to recognize what it looks like. (At a ministry) when I see it, I go to a person. It’s a look that once you see it, you never forget it. It comes from another realm; an incredibly evil look, The eyes narrow and there’s darkness.”

Larson has written 30 books on exorcism, cults and spirituality, as well as hosted a syndicated radio show for over 20 years. During this time, he has managed to create quite a following, enough for him to establish an exorcism center in a $1.2 million facility in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The funding for his Scottsdale church comes from his worldwide ministry and people he calls Do What Jesus Did Spiritual Team members, who pay $199 annual to support his ministry. Nonmembers are required to pay $20 for exorcisms.

A long time ago, I watched a documentary about the effects freezing temperatures had on the human body. From what I can remember, the scientists in this film discussed cryogenics and hypothesized whether this would work to freeze terminally ill patients until they could find a cure for whatever disease they had. It was determined that cryogenics wouldn’t work because when the body freezes, it crystalizes our tissues.

So I was amazed when I found this story about a little tree frog, who had the misfortune of freezing solid in an Australian freezer. The story wasn’t clear about where the frog was at the time of the accident - in a zoo or at someone’s home. But when he was removed and defrosted, he began to breathe. Read the full story by clicking on the link below.

Source: Ananova.com