What Were These Strange Faces?
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Jason Murphy is a novelist, screenwriter, and content creator. If he saw a mysterious face in the floor, he would tell no one its secrets.
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Below is this week’s most popular short Strangerous story. Check it out for more information on the mysterious truth of the faces of Belmez and let me know what you think.
What Were These Strange Faces?
The story of the Belmez faces began in August 1971 when María Gómez Pereira, a resident of the small Spanish town of Belmez de la Moraleda, noticed a strange stain on her kitchen floor. This stain, which resembled a human face, appeared to be forming spontaneously. Despite her best efforts to clean it, the face reappeared, seemingly with its own will.
Word of the paranormal phenomenon quickly spread, attracting the attention of scientists, journalists, and paranormal investigators. Over the years, more faces appeared on the floor, each with its own distinct expression and personality. The faces varied in age, gender, and emotion, making the phenomenon all the more baffling. I wonder if the family named them. That seems like the obvious next step, right?
Several investigations were carried out to determine if the phenomenon had a natural explanation. Experts in various fields, including chemistry and geology, examined the floor and the concrete slab beneath it. Some proposed that the faces were the result of mineral deposits or chemical reactions, while others remained skeptical, unable to explain the phenomenon's persistence and complexity.
Despite accusations of fraud, Pereira maintained her innocence and claimed that she had no control over the appearance of the faces. She allowed her home to become a public attraction and endured years of scrutiny and media attention.
Skeptics suggested that the phenomenon could be attributed to subconscious psychological factors or even a form of psychokinesis, where the human mind unconsciously influenced the appearance of the faces.
Ultimately, the faces were shown to have been painted on the concrete floor, first with paint, but then followed up with an etching of acid. As with so many of these, it looks like this phenomenon was the result of a need for attention and financial gain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9lmez_Faces
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/belmez-faces
https://the-line-up.com/belmez-faces
https://skeptoid.com/episodes/4193
Truth time - I have a ton of respect for people who can pull off a good hoax. I even have to applaud those who try and fail, even when their efforts are laughable. Sure, some of them might be out for financial gain, but how much money can you really hope to make by telling someone you were abducted? Or that your toaster burns the spirit and image of Jesus into chosen slices of bread? Admittedly, the lady was grifting the devout, superstitious people who are desperate and will try anything to connect with the holy. I know my position is cynical, but my hat comes off to someone who genuinely tries to introduce a little bit of magic into the world, no matter how implausible. It’s the stories behind these phenomena that make them worthwhile. If you believed something patently ridiculous and forked over cash? Maybe that’s on you.
What Was The Starfish Prime Test?
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a race to demonstrate their military and technological prowess. In this climate of intense rivalry, the idea of conducting a nuclear test in space captured the imagination of scientists and military leaders alike. This was the birth of Starfish Prime.
On July 9, 1962, the United States launched a Thor rocket carrying a W49 thermonuclear warhead into space from Johnston Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. The warhead was positioned about 250 miles above the Earth's surface. When detonated, it unleashed a burst of energy equivalent to approximately 1.4 megatons of TNT. This explosion created a spectacular and unexpected light show in the night sky, visible from thousands of miles away.
The detonation of the Starfish Prime warhead produced a massive burst of electromagnetic energy, resulting in a phenomenon known as an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). This EMP had far-reaching consequences, causing electrical disturbances and damage to communication systems in Hawaii, nearly 900 miles away. Streetlights went out, burglar alarms sounded, and radio transmissions were disrupted.
In the years that followed, efforts were made to limit the use of nuclear weapons in space, culminating in the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963, which prohibited nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater, and in space.
https://sofrep.com/news/starfish-prime-nuclear-test-introduced-world-emps/
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20150910-the-nuke-that-fried-satellites-with-terrifying-results
Once again, the scientists developing our nuclear weapons seem to behave with the same carefulness as rednecks dropping cherry bombs into empty paint cants. They thought the Trinity test might incinerate the entire planet! Since then, we’ve been keenly aware of the ability of an upper-atmosphere EMP test to debilitate the entire planet. And let me tell you - it’s real bad. This type of story has been mined pretty thoroughly, especially recently, as our love for prepping has bled into stories where we can explore that desperate resourcefulness.
Is There A Dogman In Michigan?
One of the most famous encounters with the Dogman on record is the Gable Film incident, which supposedly took place in the late 1960s in Michigan. According to the story, a man named Robert "Bob" Gable was out in the woods with his friends when they witnessed a large, dog-headed humanoid creature standing on its hind legs. Gable managed to capture a short video clip of the creature before it disappeared into the woods.
The film allegedly shows a brief glimpse of the creature, with its canine head and humanoid body, standing near a tree. The encounter left Gable and his friends shaken, and they kept the film secret for many years due to fear and concerns about public ridicule.
In 2017, the Gable Film surfaced on the internet, reigniting interest in the Dogman legend. However, like many cryptozoological claims, this encounter remains highly controversial, with skeptics suggesting it could be a hoax or a misidentification of a known animal. And guess what? It was fake. Strangely, it feels like the impact of this footage may have actually strengthened discussion about the Dogman, despite being debunked.
But then we get to the Beast of Bray Road. This encounter is not a single incident but a series of alleged sightings that have occurred in and around Elkhorn, Wisconsin, particularly along Bray Road. The creature is described as a humanoid wolf or Dogman-like creature. Witnesses have reported seeing this creature on various occasions, often near the road at night.
One of the most well-known encounters involves a woman named Linda Godfrey, a local reporter, and author who investigated the reports. In 1992, she began documenting the stories of individuals who claimed to have encountered the Beast of Bray Road. Some witnesses described it as a large, upright wolf-like creature with sharp fangs and glowing eyes.
While there's no concrete evidence to prove the existence of the Beast of Bray Road, the sheer number of reported sightings and Linda Godfrey's investigation have made it a prominent part of American cryptozoology folklore. However, skeptics attribute these sightings to misidentifications of known animals, like large dogs or wolves, or simply as urban legends.
One of the well-documented encounters with the Beast of Bray Road involves a young woman named Doristine Gipson. In the late 1980s, Gipson was driving along Bray Road, just outside Elkhorn, Wisconsin, when she had her encounter with the Beast of Bray Road. She recounted that as she was driving, she noticed a figure on the side of the road that she initially mistook for a person crouched down. However, as she got closer, she realized that what she was seeing was no ordinary person.
According to her description, the creature was covered in shaggy, gray-brown fur and stood on two legs like a human. Its eyes glowed a deep yellow or amber color. Most notably, it had a face that resembled a wolf or a German Shepherd with a long snout filled with sharp teeth. (Why don’t they ever look like pugs? Or boxers?)
As Doristine's car approached the creature, it slowly rose to its full height, which she estimated to be around seven feet tall. She was overcome with terror and quickly swerved to avoid hitting it. The creature reportedly moved with incredible agility, almost darting across the road in a few strides.
Doristine reported the incident to local law enforcement, adding her account to a growing list of Beast of Bray Road sightings.
https://www.scientificmystery.com/michigan-dogman/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michigan-dogman-upright-canine_n_2019442
Alright. Hear me out. We domesticated wolves, right? From the mighty wolf, we got Pomeranians. We got poodles. And I *love* dogs. If we can get this guy to accept some treats and maybe get some belly rubs, we could probably go viral on TikTok. You think the squirrel guy is beloved? Wait until we put a collar on Captain Jellybean. (We can debate about the name later.)
I think I just described Harry and the Hendersons, but with the Dogman.
Can These Monks Run 200 Miles?
The Lung-gom-pa tradition traces its roots back to Tibet, a region characterized by extreme altitudes and treacherous terrain. These conditions necessitated the development of exceptional physical and mental skills for survival. Lung-gom-pa emerged as a distinct discipline within Tibetan Buddhism, blending elements of meditation, physical training, and spiritual practice.
Lung-gom-pa practitioners undergo rigorous training from a young age. Their training encompasses various aspects:
1. **Physical Conditioning:** Runners engage in rigorous physical exercises to enhance their strength, endurance, and flexibility. These exercises help them navigate the challenging Himalayan landscape effortlessly.
2. **Meditation and Breath Control:** Central to their training is the practice of meditation and breath control. Runners learn to regulate their breath and mental focus, allowing them to maintain composure in high-stress situations.
3. **Balance and Coordination:** Runners hone their balance and coordination skills by traversing narrow paths, steep cliffs, and icy slopes. This training is essential for their remarkable ability to move swiftly through challenging terrain.
4. **Environmental Adaptation:** They also become intimately familiar with the unique environmental conditions of the Himalayas, learning to read the weather, anticipate changes, and adapt to sudden challenges.
The most astonishing aspect of Lung-gom-pa is their ability to seemingly defy gravity. Runners perform incredible feats, such as leaping across seemingly bottomless chasms, scaling towering cliffs, and navigating treacherous icefields, all with grace and precision. These extraordinary skills are attributed to their mastery of the Tibetan practice of "Tummo" (inner heat) and "Lung-gom" (wind meditation), which allows them to harness the power of their breath and inner energy to achieve seemingly superhuman feats.
Beyond their physical prowess, Lung-gom-pa practitioners view their abilities as a means of spiritual growth and enlightenment. Their training often incorporates Buddhist teachings, and they regard their feats as a form of meditation in motion. Runners believe that by connecting with the elements and nature in this way, they attain a deeper understanding of themselves and the universe.
https://www.trailrunnermag.com/people/culture-people/the-lung-gom-pa-runners-of-old-tibet/
http://www.tibetanbuddhistencyclopedia.com/en/index.php?title=The_Tibetan_Lung-gom-pa_runners
It needs to be mentioned that there are very few people who have witnessed Lung-Gom-Pa in action. There are only a few historical records of it and the monks certainly don’t want their spiritual secrets out in the world. But what if it did get out? There are plenty of rules about doping and so forth in competitive sports, but what if you harness ancient Tibetan magic? I can say with certainty that there’s no rule in the Olympics saying you can’t use Buddhist sorcery.
Like something out of a comic book or an old kung fu movie, stealing ancient techniques like this can’t be allowed. Nike, however, would have other ideas. They’d spend millions to create a new breed of athletes. Lung-Gom-Pa runners, with their impossible abilities, would grace the covers of magazines all over and would sell so many tennis shoes.
And thus, a cadre of Tibetan monks must travel to the wicked United States to defeat these corporate overlords who have stolen their magic.
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Thanks for sticking around to the end. I write these to connect with other folks who get as weird about this kind of thing as I do. If you’ve got anything strange or dangerous to share, or any bizarre personal stories, send them our way! See you next week.