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The Strangerous Channel Newsletter
You’ve subscribed to The Strangerous newsletter! We’re going to recap this week and provide some other updates on books, shows, and projects.
Jason Murphy is a novelist, screenwriter, and content creator. He is watching, out there past men's knowing, where stars are drowning and whales ferry their vast souls through the black and seamless sea.
This Week on The Strangerous Shorts
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These are the most popular Strangerous shorts from last week. Below, you’ll see the Scold’s Bridle. Yes, it may be metal AF, but it’s true purpose is … well, read on…
What is this horrible thing?
The Scold's Bridle (also known as a Witch’s Bridle or Brank’s Bridle) was a form of punishment for “witches” and “willful women” in early modern England. The bridle was a type of muzzle or cage-like device that was placed on a “witch's” head, which effectively silenced them and brought shame and humiliation. The bit kept the wearer from speaking or casting spells. And there was often a bell on top to let members of the community know the punished were coming. They’d gather and laugh. If the witch tried to speak, their tongue would be pierced by a spike inside the mask.
The bridle was never endorsed by national legislation as a legal punishment but was often employed as a form of public display. It was primarily used on women who were perceived as scolding or speaking out against societal norms, but it was also utilized for other crimes such as blasphemy and immorality. The earliest known reference to the bridle in England comes from Macclesfield, and examples of it can be found hanging outside the office of the Mayor in some towns as a warning and deterrent.
Then there’s the awful story of Agnes Sampson, who was examined by King James himself in 1590. Sampson endured various torturous ordeals until she confessed to fifty-three indictments against her. There was also the case of Elizabeth, wife of George Holborn, who was tied to a market-cross for two hours for her scandalous language. There was a genuine fear of female conspiracy and the power of female words during this period.
The Scold's Bridle gradually fell out of use as the Victorians deemed such punishments as archaic and irrational. However, it is interesting to note that during the Victorian era, many collectors became fascinated with these punishments and began collecting and creating reproductions of the branks. They wrote books on "bygone" punishments, showcasing a mix of modernity and voyeuristic interest in the punishments of women in the past.
https://museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk/news/object-of-the-month-scolds-bridle/
In the Mario Bava movie, Black Sunday, the opening scene has them putting Barbara Steele in an iron mask as punishment for her witchcraft.
This isn’t quite what we’re talking about, of course, but it got me thinking … were those masks real? That research lead me to discovering the Scold’s Bridle. While the one from the movie is clearly a lethal punishment, the real thing is insidious in a different way, whole employing pain and profound public humiliation. I do wish we’d seen a chapter of history where the victims of these treatments struck back, capturing and forcing their tormentors through the same punishments. Of course, that’s the narrative of most modern witch stories - vengeance on the ancestors of the captors.
Also, is there an internet version of this?
“That was a dumb and stupid and hateful thing you said in the comments, jackass. Now you’ve got to wear the bridle. We voted.”
Could you beat a lion in a fist fight?
We need to have a serious talk, America.
In a 2021 YouGov survey, a surprising revelation unfolded about Americans' confidence in their ability to win unarmed fights against various wild animals. While 72 percent believe they could defeat a rat, the confidence diminishes as the size of the animal increases.
While only 6 percent of Americans believe they could emerge victorious in an unarmed fight against a grizzly bear, that’s … that’s still way too high. Grizzlies can stand at 8 feet and weigh up to 1,700 pounds. Did I even need to mention that? Why are we having this conversation???
Americans demonstrated a slightly higher confidence level (8 percent) in facing a lion, a big cat with a weight of approximately 420 pounds. Alan Wilson, a professor of locomotor biomechanics, noted the influence of perception on survey results. He highlighted that most people have only seen lions in wildlife documentaries, far from their full aggressive potential. Wilson emphasized the disparity in power and the formidable nature of four-legged animals compared to humans with only two legs on the ground.
Yeah. They’re lions. Eight percent!? That means some of you reading this think you could fight a lion in hand to hand combat. Please, friend. I implore you. Do not fight a lion.
A bold 9 percent of respondents believed they could take on a crocodile, the world's largest reptile. Simon Pooley, an expert in applied herpetology, dispelled this notion, presenting the staggering size and strength of saltwater crocodiles, which can reach lengths of 17 to 20 feet and weigh over 2,000 pounds. Pooley highlighted the futility of human strength against these stealth predators, armed with a bite force of 3,700 pounds and 66 teeth, capable of effortlessly shattering bones.
Have you ever seen a crocodile take a man down in a death roll, Joey?
15 percent of Americans expressed confidence in their ability to defeat a king cobra, one of the longest and most venomous snakes on Earth. Snake venom research specialist, Anita Malhotra, dismissed these claims, attributing king cobras' avoidance of conflict with their intelligence. Malhotra unequivocally stated that tangling with the world's largest venomous snake is a losing proposition, emphasizing that the king cobra would emerge victorious every time, without exceptions.
https://www.newsweek.com/surprising-americans-beat-wild-animals-fight-experts-1691793
America. What the hell is going on with you? Do you not watch Nature documentaries. Just pull up something on YouTube.
You know what? Here. I’ll do it for you.
You still think you got it? Fine. But please please please make sure a friend is nearby to film and upload it, ‘kay?
The Horror of the Lake Nyos Tragedy
On August 21, 1986, a massive cloud of carbon dioxide (CO2) erupted from the depths of Lake Nyos in northwestern Cameroon. Released by a landslide or volcanic activity, the cloud descended upon the villages nestled around the lake, suffocating everything in its path.
Enveloped by a shroud of the deadly gas, the villages fell silent. Within minutes, the streets were lined with the lifeless bodies of humans and animals alike. The survivors, those who managed to escape the toxic cloud's grip, later found their loved ones, their neighbors, their livestock, all dead where they stood.
Over 1,700 people perished.
Limnic Eruptions
Limnic eruptions, also known as lake overturns or water-gas explosions, are rare but catastrophic events that occur when CO2 gas deeply dissolved in lake water suddenly erupts from the depths. The rapid release of this gas forms a massive cloud that descends, displacing oxygen and asphyxiating any living creature in its path.
The exact causes of limnic eruptions are still being investigated, but earthquakes, volcanic activity, landslides, or even heavy rainfall are thought to trigger them. These triggers can cause the deep, stratified waters of the lake to mix, releasing the CO2 that has been trapped in the sediments for years.
Reducing the Risk
Given the potential for catastrophic damage caused by limnic eruptions, scientists and communities are taking steps to reduce the risk of these events. One approach is to install degassing systems that can safely release CO2 from the depths of the lake without triggering an eruption. Another strategy is to develop early warning systems that can detect changes in the lake's water chemistry and provide time for evacuation in the event of an impending eruption.
https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/lake-nyos.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nyos_disaster
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/lake-nyos-1986
The earth’s ability to find new ways to kill us is truly impressive. We think we have mastered nature, but then a lake in Africa burps and wipes out a bunch of people. The tragedy is so immediate and fatal in its nature that it’s hard to comprehend. What other surprises does the earth have in store for us?
Oh, you don’t have to wait! I’ll tell you.
The Strangerous Channel Updates
As you probably heard, I’ve started running my Christmas-themed Dungeons and Dragons one-shot. It’s going really well! So far the severed heads and anarchy haven’t put anyone off, but then again … most players are murder hobos at heart.
And if you’d like for me to run a D&D game for you, you can book me here:
https://startplaying.games/gm/jasonmurphy
Oh! And we launched another short on the YouTube Channel! If you’re one of our Patrons, you’ve already seen this one. https://www.patreon.com/posts/what-cultures-93507191
Support The Strangerous
We have launched our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/TheStrangerous
Please consider joining the Strangerous Society, where you’ll get hangouts, the Discord chat, and all sorts of bonus content.
Even More Strange and Dangerous!
As you probably know, I’m a demon enthusiast. I’m not a worshipper or even a believer, to be honest. And I’m certainly not learned enough to be considered a scholar of the topic, so let’s settle for enthusiast.
If you’re anything like me - and if you’ve read this far, you definitely are - you probably enjoy games and stories about aforementioned demons. Well, some friends of mine just launched a Kickstarter for their new game SpiritFall. I encourage you to check it out and maybe throw some support their way, if this is your kind of thing.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spiritfall/spirit-fall-a-post-apocalyptic-ttrpg
See you next week, friends. And let me know if you encounter anything Strangerous out there you’d like for us to cover!