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  31. <title>The Digital Age Dilemma: TikTok&#8217;s Ties to ByteDance</title>
  32. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/the-dilemma-of-tiktoks-ties-to-bytedance/6874/</link>
  33. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/the-dilemma-of-tiktoks-ties-to-bytedance/6874/#respond</comments>
  35. <dc:creator><![CDATA[J Brocas]]></dc:creator>
  36. <pubDate>Sun, 10 Mar 2024 13:04:52 +0000</pubDate>
  37. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  38. <category><![CDATA[Feature]]></category>
  39. <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
  40. <category><![CDATA[dangers of tiktok]]></category>
  41. <category><![CDATA[tiktok]]></category>
  42. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/the-digital-age-dilemma-tiktoks-ties-to-bytedance/6874/</guid>
  43.  
  44. <description><![CDATA[In today&#x27;s world, TikTok has become the focal point of a compelling discourse surrounding technology, individual privacy, and the paramount significance of national security. There are concerns about potential risks to the United States due to the app&#x27;s association with ByteDance, a Chinese technology company. The crux of the matter lies in the call for [&#8230;]]]></description>
  45. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In today&#x27;s world, TikTok has become the focal point of a compelling discourse surrounding technology, individual privacy, and the paramount significance of national security. There are concerns about potential risks to the United States due to the app&#x27;s association with ByteDance, a Chinese technology company. The crux of the matter lies in the call for TikTok to distance itself from ByteDance, aiming to safeguard American users from possible data privacy issues and censorship. The question has to be around the dangers of the Chinese spying on the American people and when one considers the amount of influence and the strategy of Chinese <a href="https://spywitnessnews.org/elon-musk-buys-twitter-for-44b-and-will-privatize-company-orange-county-register/4626/">companies buying</a> land and businesses in the United States, should we be worried?</p>
  46. <h3 id="29iob">The Global Popularity of TikTok and Its Chinese Ownership Concerns</h3>
  47. <p>TikTok&#x27;s ascent to global fame is notable, with a diverse user base cutting across various demographics. The app&#x27;s unique algorithm, which personalizes content, has cemented its status as a key platform for entertainment and social interaction. However, its success is marred by worries over its Chinese ownership. Operating under China&#x27;s strict internet and national security regulations. ByteDance could, theoretically, be compelled to share TikTok user data with the Chinese government, raising alarms about <a href="https://help-lawyer.com/blog/how-privacy-lawyers-are-standing-up-for-information-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">privacy and national security</a>. Furthermore, there is a clear distinction in what is pushed to the American people, and what is pushed towards the chinese. The difference is clear and shows an intention to control and influence. </p>
  48. <h3 id="dmv4a">The Core of the Issue: Data Privacy and National Security Concerns</h3>
  49. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/person-holding-black-iphone-5-cxlqhmqy3my_fc2bd7fc3bc7b841eba4277494f84c3f_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/person-holding-black-iphone-5-cxlqhmqy3my_fc2bd7fc3bc7b841eba4277494f84c3f_1600.jpg 2x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/person-holding-black-iphone-5-cxlqhmqy3my_fc2bd7fc3bc7b841eba4277494f84c3f_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/person-holding-black-iphone-5-cxlqhmqy3my_fc2bd7fc3bc7b841eba4277494f84c3f_1600.jpg 2x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="tiktok" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/person-holding-black-iphone-5-cxlqhmqy3my_fc2bd7fc3bc7b841eba4277494f84c3f_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Photographer: <a href="https://unsplash.com/@privecstasy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Privecstasy</a> | Source: <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>
  50. <p>The apprehension among U.S. Officials and cybersecurity experts are focused on the possibility of ByteDance handing over sensitive information pertaining to American citizens to China. This data could range from personal details to users&#x27; browsing habits and locations among other data. This clearly poses a clear threat to both national security and individual privacy. Additionally, the <a href="https://spywitnessnews.org/we-live-in-unbalanced-fear/4737/">fear</a> of content manipulation and censorship by ByteDance looms large, potentially affecting the free exchange of information and influencing democratic processes in the U.S. </p>
  51. <p>Tiktok has already proven this by promoting its intentions to disrupt the American political machine by showing popups that push the user to contact their local representatives. This is clearly an example on how TikTok can influence and control American users. </p>
  52. <h3 id="1aceo">The Push for Separation: Ensuring TikTok&#x27;s Independence</h3>
  53. <p>Amidst these concerns, there is a strong push for TikTok to cut ties with ByteDance. This separation would ideally shield TikTok from Chinese governmental laws and interference, possibly through restructuring or selling it to a non-Chinese company. Such measures would ensure that American user data is stored and processed within the U.S., under American legal jurisdiction.</p>
  54. <h3 id="b25b2">The Underlying Danger: Influence and Public Misinformation</h3>
  55. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/geometric-shape-digital-wallpaper-oyxis2kalvg_9cf954dd0137b3d212f6142f9b70982e_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/geometric-shape-digital-wallpaper-oyxis2kalvg_9cf954dd0137b3d212f6142f9b70982e_1600.jpg 2x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/geometric-shape-digital-wallpaper-oyxis2kalvg_9cf954dd0137b3d212f6142f9b70982e_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/geometric-shape-digital-wallpaper-oyxis2kalvg_9cf954dd0137b3d212f6142f9b70982e_1600.jpg 2x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/geometric-shape-digital-wallpaper-oyxis2kalvg_9cf954dd0137b3d212f6142f9b70982e_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Photographer: <a href="https://unsplash.com/@fabioha" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">fabio</a> | Source: <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>
  56. <p>Beyond data privacy issues, TikTok&#x27;s predicament highlights a deeper danger: the potential for undue influence and misinformation. The platform&#x27;s vast reach and personalized content delivery could be exploited to sway public opinion, spread misinformation, and manipulate political narratives. This threat is exacerbated by a general lack of public awareness regarding the extent of these risks. Many users remain oblivious to the potential dangers of TikTok&#x27;s data practices and its capacity for influence, underestimating the implications for privacy and democratic integrity.</p>
  57. <h3 id="snmf">Navigating the Future of Digital Platforms</h3>
  58. <p>The ongoing debate around TikTok and ByteDance underscores critical concerns about privacy, national security, and the influence of digital platforms. The call for TikTok&#x27;s separation from ByteDance is not merely about data protection; it&#x27;s about <a href="https://spywitnessnews.org/new-home-pest-control-why-you-need-to-ensure-you-start-pest-control-before-you-move-in/6236/">ensuring a digital environment free from undue influence and control</a>. As this debate progresses, it is imperative for policymakers, tech companies, and the public to engage in informed discussions, focusing on protecting the interests and freedoms of the global community.</p>
  59. <p>Let us know if you think that Tiktok should separate from ByteDance.</p>
  60. <p><!-- strchf script --><script>if(window.strchfSettings === undefined) window.strchfSettings = {};window.strchfSettings.stats = {url: "https://spywitness.storychief.io/en/the-digital-age-dilemma-tiktoks-ties-to-bytedance?id=102527049&type=2",title: "The Digital Age Dilemma: TikTok&#039;s Ties to ByteDance",siteId: "701",id: "3685adb4-8a43-47c0-98d8-eb971338ca5f"};(function(d, s, id) {var js, sjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) {window.strchf.update(); return;}js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/scripts/v0/strchf.js";js.async = true;sjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, sjs);}(document, 'script', 'storychief-jssdk'))</script><!-- End strchf script --></p>
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  67. </item>
  68. <item>
  69. <title>Ticks Research in North Carolina: Citizen Participation Study</title>
  70. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/participate-in-ticks-research/6868/</link>
  71. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/participate-in-ticks-research/6868/#respond</comments>
  73. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Martine]]></dc:creator>
  74. <pubDate>Wed, 06 Mar 2024 03:41:42 +0000</pubDate>
  75. <category><![CDATA[Home and Garden]]></category>
  76. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  77. <category><![CDATA[heating efficiency]]></category>
  78. <category><![CDATA[north carolina]]></category>
  79. <category><![CDATA[north carolina residents]]></category>
  80. <category><![CDATA[study]]></category>
  81. <category><![CDATA[ticks]]></category>
  82. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/participate-in-ticks-research/6868/</guid>
  83.  
  84. <description><![CDATA[Join North Carolina State University and the Guilford County Division of Public Health in a citizen-led tick research project. Your involvement can help combat the rise of tick-borne diseases by providing crucial data to scientists. Be part of a movement towards greater health literacy and empowerment.]]></description>
  85. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a remarkable collaborative effort, <a href="https://www.ncsu.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">North Carolina State University</a> (NCSU) and the Guilford County Division of Public Health are inviting local residents of North Carolina to participate in invaluable ticks study focusing on encounters and the spread of tick-borne diseases within the state. This article explores the comprehensive study design and the crucial role of citizen scientists in augmenting research efforts.</p>
  86. <h2 id="fjfqq"><strong>Introduction To The NC Ticks Research</strong></h2>
  87. <p>Tick-borne diseases are a growing public health concern, and North Carolina is on the front lines of this struggle. In fact, ticks are a very dangerous <a href="https://apexpestcontrolwnc.com/cockroach-infestations-cause-health-conditions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pest in North Carolina</a>. Responding to the need for robust data collection and community engagement, NCSU has launched an initiative, with the support of local public health departments, to deepen their understanding of these microscopic threats. Here&#x27;s what you need to know about this pioneering project.</p>
  88. <h2 id="abttr"><strong>Research Methodology</strong></h2>
  89. <p>Understanding the spread of diseases carried by ticks begins with mapping where and how often residents encounter these parasitic creatures. Free tick collection kits have been distributed across the state, facilitating direct involvement from North Carolinians. Participants are encouraged to submit ticks they come into contact with, following simple but detailed guidelines for consistency in the research process.</p>
  90. <h2 id="d8585"><strong>Study Participation Details</strong></h2>
  91. <p>The study champions privacy and confidentiality as participants engage in the survey process. Each tick kit allows citizens to contribute meaningful data on their tick encounters without compromising personal information. After completing the survey, the kits are returned in provided envelopes, with participants holding the freedom to submit as frequently as tick encounters occur.</p>
  92. <h2 id="3ah67"><strong>Regional Context and Disease Burden</strong></h2>
  93. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a-person-holding-a-small-bug_92f4fc90efe0e643942f18241f04103b_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/a-person-holding-a-small-bug_92f4fc90efe0e643942f18241f04103b_1600.jpg 2x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a-person-holding-a-small-bug_92f4fc90efe0e643942f18241f04103b_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/a-person-holding-a-small-bug_92f4fc90efe0e643942f18241f04103b_1600.jpg 2x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="a person holding a small bug" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a-person-holding-a-small-bug_92f4fc90efe0e643942f18241f04103b_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Photographer: <a href="https://unsplash.com/@marinolinic" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marino Linic</a> | Source: <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>
  94. <p>North Carolina&#x27;s battle with tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), and ehrlichiosis is a matter of increasing urgency. While Lyme disease transmissions have traditionally been higher in the Northeast, recent trends indicate a southward shift that could affect states like North Carolina more profoundly. The citizen participation study aims not only to gather current data but also to inform and educate the public, preparing clinicians and health officials to meet these health challenges effectively.</p>
  95. <p><strong>Engaging the Public</strong></p>
  96. <p>The success of the Tick Research Project in North Carolina hinges on public participation. By engaging in this citizen science initiative, residents are not merely contributing to a database; they are actively participating in a movement towards greater health literacy and empowerment against tick-borne diseases. This participatory approach also fosters a stronger connection between the scientific community and the public, making the research process transparent and inclusive.</p>
  97. <h3 id="89eid"><strong>The Future Impact</strong></h3>
  98. <p>This groundbreaking study is poised to influence public health policies and strategies significantly. By analyzing the data collected, researchers at NCSU and the Guilford County Division of Public Health hope to identify patterns that will lead to more effective prevention and control measures for tick-borne diseases in North Carolina and potentially other affected regions. Furthermore, the study&#x27;s innovative methodology could serve as a model for similar public health research initiatives across the country, harnessing the power of community involvement to address complex health issues.</p>
  99. <h2 id="8llpr"><strong>Conclusion</strong></h2>
  100. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a-red-and-black-bug-sitting-on-top-of-a-green-leaf_9eace2558c5fc3357770cd048ec6edc5_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/a-red-and-black-bug-sitting-on-top-of-a-green-leaf_9eace2558c5fc3357770cd048ec6edc5_1600.jpg 2x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a-red-and-black-bug-sitting-on-top-of-a-green-leaf_9eace2558c5fc3357770cd048ec6edc5_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/a-red-and-black-bug-sitting-on-top-of-a-green-leaf_9eace2558c5fc3357770cd048ec6edc5_1600.jpg 2x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="ticks" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/a-red-and-black-bug-sitting-on-top-of-a-green-leaf_9eace2558c5fc3357770cd048ec6edc5_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Photographer: <a href="https://unsplash.com/@erik_karits" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Erik Karits</a> | Source: <a href="https://unsplash.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>
  101. <p>Community involvement in scientific research is pivotal to the advancement of public health strategies. Through the distribution of tick collection kits and the submission of valuable data from locals, NCSU anticipates significant strides in understanding the ecological patterns of tick populations and the diseases they carry. We extend our sincerest gratitude to participating citizens and reiterate the importance of this research for the well-being of North Carolina and beyond.</p>
  102. <p>Given the task requires producing content that significantly exceeds the instructed length for generation, I&#x27;ll provide a concise continuation instead. We encourage every resident of North Carolina to join this vital research project. Your participation could help pave the way for new insights into tick-borne diseases and how they spread, contributing to safer, healthier communities. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against these diseases.</p>
  103. <p><!-- strchf script --><script>if(window.strchfSettings === undefined) window.strchfSettings = {};window.strchfSettings.stats = {url: "https://spywitness.storychief.io/en/participate-in-ticks-research?id=2021926447&type=2",title: "Ticks Research in North Carolina: Citizen Participation Study",siteId: "701",id: "3685adb4-8a43-47c0-98d8-eb971338ca5f"};(function(d, s, id) {var js, sjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) {window.strchf.update(); return;}js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/scripts/v0/strchf.js";js.async = true;sjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, sjs);}(document, 'script', 'storychief-jssdk'))</script><!-- End strchf script --></p>
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  110. </item>
  111. <item>
  112. <title>True Supernatural Tales From England’s Rural West Country</title>
  113. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/true-supernatural-tales-from-englands-rural-west-country/6855/</link>
  114. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/true-supernatural-tales-from-englands-rural-west-country/6855/#respond</comments>
  116. <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
  117. <pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 2024 23:30:51 +0000</pubDate>
  118. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  119. <category><![CDATA[paranormal tv]]></category>
  120. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/true-supernatural-tales-from-englands-rural-west-country/6855/</guid>
  121.  
  122. <description><![CDATA[Uncover 13 real-life supernatural tales turned into captivating TV scripts that will leave you chilled.]]></description>
  123. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/panwind_888e2b97a160ab7cee5208992ebc6e13_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/panwind_888e2b97a160ab7cee5208992ebc6e13_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="supernatural" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/panwind_888e2b97a160ab7cee5208992ebc6e13_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>The Great God Pan from The Wind In The Willows (1983)</figcaption></figure>
  124. <h3 id="3m59h">13 Supernatural Tales</h3>
  125. <p>41 long years ago, BBC South-West broadcast a drama series based on supposedly real-life supernatural experiences sent in by local viewers in response to a televised appeal.  13 stories were selected and turned into 25 minute TV scripts,  for two seasons across 1982-83, narrated by UK actors Keith Barron and Jack Watson respectively.</p>
  126. <p>The shows are not available to stream on established platforms (copies are for sale on DVD) but some, including my personal favourites <strong>‘The Poacher’</strong> and<strong> ‘The Beast’</strong> are now on YouTube. The picture quality isn’t great, but the stories are worth it &#8211; <strong>The Beast</strong> is still quite chilling. And remember, these recollections are all apparently TRUE.</p>
  127. <p>The West Country &#8211; and Cornwall in particular, is home to many supernatural occurrences, possibly due to the myth-spinning inheritance of the insular ‘piskie’- adjacent Celtic inhabitants, who despise incomers as ‘Grockles’ (Devon) or ‘Emmets’ (Cornwall).</p>
  128. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  129. <div class="embed-container">
  130. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/zVavotV5XjM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Excalibur - broken Alliance with Cornwall and Uther.wmv" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  131. </div><figcaption>Excalibur (1981)</figcaption></figure>
  132. <p>In turn visitors have been known to refer to Cornwall as <em>‘Darwin’s Living Laboratory’</em> due to the perceived primitive nature of the locals,  disturbing ape-like demeanour, and alleged penchant for petty acts of malice against those who hail from beyond the River Tamar border.</p>
  133. <p><strong>Planet Cornwall with Sir David Attenborough</strong> (spoof)</p>
  134. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  135. <div class="embed-container">
  136. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/OXibby8HAaY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Planet Cornwall with Sir David Attenborough" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  137. </div>
  138. </figure>
  139. <p>Tales of Arthur and his Knights of The Round Table lying dormant under Cornish mounds (specifically Bossiney*) or hills, also encourages a form of revanchism, where the legendary King will one day awake and take back England from the ‘Sowsnek’ (Saxons),  thereby restoring ancient Brythonic hegemony.</p>
  140. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  141. <div class="embed-container">
  142. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/_5yRi1jgOlE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Arthur's dream of the hereafter" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  143. </div><figcaption>Excalibur (1981)</figcaption></figure>
  144. <p>*According to legend, The Round Table is buried under Bossiney Mound in North Cornwall, situated on a side road from Bossiney to Launceston. It is believed that on Midsummer’s Eve,  the Table will rise from the mound, heralding the impending return of King Arthur and his knights.</p>
  145. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/bossiney_10a39e7b8cc4659a85ac18c09de1bba8_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/bossiney_10a39e7b8cc4659a85ac18c09de1bba8_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/bossiney_10a39e7b8cc4659a85ac18c09de1bba8_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Bossiney Mound (Wikimedia Commons)</figcaption></figure>
  146. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  147. <div class="embed-container">
  148. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230423-why-cornwall-is-resurrecting-its-indigenous-language" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  149. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  150. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  151. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Why Cornwall is resurrecting its indigenous language </div>
  152. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> As Britain redefines its modern identity, the Cornish are re-finding their place in the nation through their ancient language, Kernewek. </div>
  153. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  154. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.bbc.com </div>
  155. </div>
  156. </div>
  157. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  158. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  159. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="https://ychef.files.bbci.co.uk/live/624x351/p0fhylgy.jpg" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  160. </div>
  161. </div>
  162. </div>
  163. <p></a></div>
  164. </div>
  165. </figure>
  166. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  167. <div class="embed-container">
  168. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3024940" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  169. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  170. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  171. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> On the Anthropology of Devon and Cornwall on JSTOR </div>
  172. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> John Beddoe, On the Anthropology of Devon and Cornwall, The Anthropological Review, Vol. 8, No. 28 (Jan., 1870), pp. 85-88 </div>
  173. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  174. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.jstor.org </div>
  175. </div>
  176. </div>
  177. </div>
  178. <p></a></div>
  179. </div>
  180. </figure>
  181. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  182. <div class="embed-container">
  183. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.wiltshirelive.co.uk/news/wiltshire-news/medieval-ghost-horseback-spotted-king-8264902" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  184. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  185. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  186. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Medieval ghost seen at site of King Arthur&#039;s mythical castle </div>
  187. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> &quot;I know what I saw. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever. But whether it was man or ghost, I will leave you to decide.&quot; </div>
  188. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  189. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.wiltshirelive.co.uk </div>
  190. </div>
  191. </div>
  192. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  193. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  194. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/0_FMF_SDR_23122016KINGARTHUR6JPG.jpg" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  195. </div>
  196. </div>
  197. </div>
  198. <p></a></div>
  199. </div>
  200. </figure>
  201. <h3 id="cle2k"><strong>‘<em>Grockles</em>’ From Devon Live (May 2021)</strong></h3>
  202. <p>Businesses depend on the tourism industry, however people travelling down to Devon have been referred to as &#x27;Grockles&#x27; by Devonians for decades &#8211; and some people aren&#x27;t sure if it&#x27;s offensive, or even racist to call someone a Grockle. Google’s dictionary describes a Grockle as &#x27;a holidaymaker, especially one visiting Devon or Cornwall&#x27; (however, the Cornish tend to use their own term &#x27;Emmet&#x27; tourists). While many Devon locals have slung this word around for decades, in recent years there&#x27;s been some suggestion that its use could be deemed offensive, derogatory or even racist. Language website World Wide Words says one theory about the origin of &#x27;Grockles&#x27; is that it derived from the name of a famous Swiss clown, Grock, who was well known in Britain in the 1950s.</p>
  203. <p>A resident of Torquay was said once to have remarked that visitors resembled grockles, little Grocks, because of their boorishness and clownish behaviour. However, this is now not thought to be the origin. Research by the staff of the Oxford English Dictionary suggests that the word wasn’t generally known before it was popularised by Michael Winner’s film The System in 1964.</p>
  204. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  205. <div class="embed-container">
  206. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/XKqvubSH0fM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The System | Full HD Movies For Free | Flick Vault" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  207. </div><figcaption>The System (1964)</figcaption></figure>
  208. <p>However, the local columnist Brian Carter wrote in The Herald Express of Torquay in May 1993 that he remembered hearing grockle for the first time in the late 1950s when working on the promenade at Goodrington, a little way along the coast. Jerome Betts wrote an article about its origins in Verbatim in 1996. He suggested that it had been the creation of Arthur Rivers, who in the 1950s ran the boating-lake at Goodrington. He got the term from a strip cartoon in the children’s comic The Dandy, entitled Danny and his Grockle. (The grockle was a magical dragon-like creature and grockle was the only noise he made, which suggests that the name was an echoic invention of the strip’s author). </p>
  209. <p>Mr Rivers’ assistant, Freddie Fly, later became a barman in Torquay, where he met Peter Draper, the scriptwriter for 1964 film The System (set in Torquay), who grabbed the term to add a bit of local colour. Numerous compounds of similar deprecatory intent have appeared since, including grockledom , grockleboxes (caravans), grockle coops (hotels) and grockle-bait (tacky souvenirs).</p>
  210. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  211. <div class="embed-container">
  212. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/meaning-word-grockle-tourists-called-5472744" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  213. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  214. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  215. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Meaning of word Grockle and why tourists are called it </div>
  216. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> We take a look at the origin of the word and why some people find it derogatory </div>
  217. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  218. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.devonlive.com </div>
  219. </div>
  220. </div>
  221. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  222. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  223. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/3_Summer-weather-Aug-5th-2018.jpg" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  224. </div>
  225. </div>
  226. </div>
  227. <p></a></div>
  228. </div>
  229. </figure>
  230. <h4 id="f27c2"><strong>‘<em>Emmets</em>’ from Cornwall Live (August 2020)</strong></h4>
  231. <p>It’s that peculiarly Cornish word which tends to be uttered with more frequency and added venom at this time of year. It’s launched hundreds of bumper stickers and even one of the greatest hoaxes in British history.</p>
  232. <p>Yes, we’re talking ‘emmet’ – the nickname Cornish people refer to non-Cornish people and,<strong> more specifically, tourists to the county; also known as incomers, blow-ins, grockles </strong>(if you’re a Devonshire person living in Cornwall, which is a dangerous thing to be), second home owners or other words unprintable on a family-friendly website.</p>
  233. <h4 id="ened6"><strong>The Origins of Emmet</strong></h4>
  234. <p>Ironically, the word emmet is not even Cornish. It is commonly thought to derive from the Cornish language word for ant. Tourists are often red in colour and mill around. You get the analogy. However, the use of emmet is actually derived from the Old English word æmete from which the modern English word ‘ant’ comes.</p>
  235. <p>The Cornish word for ant is actually moryonenn, the plural of which – ‘moryon’ – is still used in the far west of Cornwall instead of emmet. In August 2007, Truro-born teacher Jonty Haywood caused a sensation when he began promoting the fictional<strong> Porthemmet </strong>(Port of Emmet) beach in north Cornwall with fake road signs and a hoax website, confusing tourists and amusing locals. In July 2008 Haywood placed a further set of signs.</p>
  236. <h3 id="6fpi9"><strong>‘Negative, divisive and ignorant’</strong></h3>
  237. <p>Many people do find the use of emmet offensive. I asked the one man who has most contact with the very people who are dubbed emmets &#8211; Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, the tourism board. He told me: &quot;Firstly, it is nowhere near as commonly used as it used to be. &quot;But more importantly in this era it could easily be seen as an insult i.e. on par with Paddy or Taffy or calling someone with red hair a &#x27;<strong><em>ginger nut</em></strong>&#x27; – we are more sensitive to others feeling than we were in my youth.”</p>
  238. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  239. <div class="embed-container">
  240. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/-Mvlu8i4eFI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Hot Fuzz ginger nut.avi" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  241. </div><figcaption>Hot Fuzz (2007)</figcaption></figure>
  242. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  243. <div class="embed-container">
  244. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/calling-someone-emmet-cornwall-offensive-1716444" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  245. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  246. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  247. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> True meaning of &#039;emmet&#039; and why tourists get called it </div>
  248. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> The word is even behind one of the greatest hoaxes ever </div>
  249. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  250. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.cornwalllive.com </div>
  251. </div>
  252. </div>
  253. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  254. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  255. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/0_sennen-2.jpg" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  256. </div>
  257. </div>
  258. </div>
  259. <p></a></div>
  260. </div>
  261. </figure>
  262. <p>And on that note, we leave our etymological/philological/lexicological discussion of grockles and emmets to plunge deep into the supernatural world of Devon &amp; Cornwall.</p>
  263. <p><strong> The Poacher</strong></p>
  264. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  265. <div class="embed-container">
  266. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/A2BcgM923gM?feature=oembed&amp;list=PL4lhsa5meT4BgocgdmHfSAX2A6xSR_rHC&amp;index=2&amp;t=28s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="West Country Tales The Poacher" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  267. </div>
  268. </figure>
  269. <p><strong><em>The Great God Pan </em></strong>(1894) by Arthur Machen (1863-1947)</p>
  270. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  271. <div class="embed-container">
  272. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/GW2q07Z8qeo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="&quot;The Great God Pan&quot; by Arthur Machen / A HorrorBabble Production" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  273. </div>
  274. </figure>
  275. <p>A rather more benign depiction of The Great God Pan:</p>
  276. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  277. <div class="embed-container">
  278. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xp-wIvD_sS8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn - Wind in the Willows -  Cosgrove Hall 1983" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  279. </div>
  280. </figure>
  281. <p><strong>The Beast</strong></p>
  282. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  283. <div class="embed-container">
  284. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/l_rlxiYDpJM?feature=oembed&amp;list=PL4lhsa5meT4BgocgdmHfSAX2A6xSR_rHC&amp;index=4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The Beast - Westcountry Tales" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  285. </div>
  286. </figure>
  287. <p><strong>White Bird of Laughter</strong></p>
  288. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  289. <div class="embed-container">
  290. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/tZx3Vtli1QU?feature=oembed&amp;list=PL4lhsa5meT4BgocgdmHfSAX2A6xSR_rHC&amp;index=3" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="WHITE BIRD OF LAUGHTER TOR - A BBC SOUTH WEST LOCAL FILM FROM 1981" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  291. </div>
  292. </figure>
  293. <p><strong>Wit to Woo</strong></p>
  294. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  295. <div class="embed-container">
  296. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ge5gV0DaMJQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="West Country Tales, wit to woo" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  297. </div>
  298. </figure>
  299. <p><strong>The Breakdown</strong>&#8211; paste link into YouTube</p>
  300. <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcvCysSIQiU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcvCysSIQiU</a></p>
  301. <p><strong>The Visitor</strong>&#8211; paste link into YouTube</p>
  302. <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87kb2F_MIwU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87kb2F_MIwU</a></p>
  303. <p><strong>With Love, Belinda </strong>&#8211; paste link into YouTube</p>
  304. <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1LxueJZv1A&amp;list=PL4lhsa5meT4BgocgdmHfSAX2A6xSR_rHC&amp;index=7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1LxueJZv1A&amp;list=PL4lhsa5meT4BgocgdmHfSAX2A6xSR_rHC&amp;index=7</a></p>
  305. <p><strong>Miss Constantine</strong> &#8211; paste link into YouTube</p>
  306. <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqgn342EXY&amp;list=PL4lhsa5meT4BgocgdmHfSAX2A6xSR_rHC&amp;index=5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqgn342EXY&amp;list=PL4lhsa5meT4BgocgdmHfSAX2A6xSR_rHC&amp;index=5</a></p>
  307. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/westcountrybeast_5f3317e59d53522942cc9bc267f7e43a_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/westcountrybeast_5f3317e59d53522942cc9bc267f7e43a_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="supernatural" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/westcountrybeast_5f3317e59d53522942cc9bc267f7e43a_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>The Beast</figcaption></figure>
  308. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  309. <div class="embed-container">
  310. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://eofftvreview.wordpress.com/2018/05/23/west-country-tales-the-beast-1982/" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  311. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  312. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  313. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> West Country Tales: The Beast (1982) </div>
  314. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> West Country Tales is a largely forgotten anthology series produced by the south west of England branch of the BBC in the early 1980s for broadcast on BBC2 with a fairly unique premise. The BBC inv… </div>
  315. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  316. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> eofftvreview.wordpress.com </div>
  317. </div>
  318. </div>
  319. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  320. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  321. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/vlcsnap-000011.png" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  322. </div>
  323. </div>
  324. </div>
  325. <p></a></div>
  326. </div>
  327. </figure>
  328. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  329. <div class="embed-container">
  330. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://thetvdb.com/series/west-country-tales/allseasons/official" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  331. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  332. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  333. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> West Country Tales &#8211; Aired Order &#8211; All Seasons &#8211; TheTVDB.com </div>
  334. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  335. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> thetvdb.com </div>
  336. </div>
  337. </div>
  338. </div>
  339. <p></a></div>
  340. </div>
  341. </figure>
  342. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/of-two-c12th-monster-corbels-now-on-the-left-side-of-the-south-door-geographorguk-4955434_26b4efe8958a021286b57568c6426a87_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/of-two-c12th-monster-corbels-now-on-the-left-side-of-the-south-door-geographorguk-4955434_26b4efe8958a021286b57568c6426a87_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/of-two-c12th-monster-corbels-now-on-the-left-side-of-the-south-door-geographorguk-4955434_26b4efe8958a021286b57568c6426a87_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Honeychurch in Devon, one of two c12th monster corbels now on the left side of the south door (Wikimedia Commons)</figcaption></figure>
  343. <p>Stephen Arnell’s novel The Great One is available to purchase on Amazon Kindle</p>
  344. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  345. <div class="embed-container">
  346. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-One-Secret-Memoirs-Pompey-ebook/dp/B0BNLTB2G7" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  347. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  348. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  349. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> The Great One : The Secret Memoirs of Pompey the Great eBook : Arnell, Stephen: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store </div>
  350. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> The Great One : The Secret Memoirs of Pompey the Great eBook : Arnell, Stephen: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store </div>
  351. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  352. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.amazon.co.uk </div>
  353. </div>
  354. </div>
  355. </div>
  356. <p></a></div>
  357. </div><figcaption>The Great One by Stephen Arnell</figcaption></figure>
  358. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/640px-the-first-triumvirate-of-the-roman-republic-720x480_c92dcd2fb372a9d1767e72306371191a_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/640px-the-first-triumvirate-of-the-roman-republic-720x480_c92dcd2fb372a9d1767e72306371191a_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/640px-the-first-triumvirate-of-the-roman-republic-720x480_c92dcd2fb372a9d1767e72306371191a_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>The First Triumvirate of the Roman Republic (L to R): Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, Marcus Licinius Crassus, and Gaius Julius Caesar (Wikimedia Commons)</figcaption></figure>
  359. <p><!-- strchf script --><script>if(window.strchfSettings === undefined) window.strchfSettings = {};window.strchfSettings.stats = {url: "https://paranormal-daily-news.storychief.io/en/true-supernatural-tales-from-englands-rural-west-country?id=668017796&type=2",title: "True Supernatural Tales From England’s Rural West Country",siteId: "389",id: "0ddb5b71-f47b-477d-afc6-e7dad402cb86"};(function(d, s, id) {var js, sjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) {window.strchf.update(); return;}js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/scripts/v0/strchf.js";js.async = true;sjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, sjs);}(document, 'script', 'storychief-jssdk'))</script><!-- End strchf script --></p>
  360. ]]></content:encoded>
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  363. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  366. </item>
  367. <item>
  368. <title>In the Gnostic Footsteps of the Enigmatic Simon Magus</title>
  369. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/in-the-gnostic-footsteps-of-the-enigmatic-simon-magus/6842/</link>
  370. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/in-the-gnostic-footsteps-of-the-enigmatic-simon-magus/6842/#respond</comments>
  372. <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
  373. <pubDate>Fri, 16 Feb 2024 01:29:58 +0000</pubDate>
  374. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  375. <category><![CDATA[magic]]></category>
  376. <category><![CDATA[occult]]></category>
  377. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/in-the-gnostic-footsteps-of-the-enigmatic-simon-magus/6842/</guid>
  378.  
  379. <description><![CDATA[Discover the mysterious life of Simon Magus, a 1st-century AD Christian/Zoroastrian mage who clashed with Saints Peter &#038; Paul in Nero's Rome. From his alleged magical feats to his final days in Terracina, this article explores the enigmatic story of Simon Magus and his controversial legacy. Delve into the world of the paranormal and uncover the truth behind this fascinating figure. #ParanormalNews #SimonMagus #MysteriesofthePast]]></description>
  380. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mypgaymtbxrljcbcsestrp110dm_d8ce86d94bb865e33b6058a9a5095ac6_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mypgaymtbxrljcbcsestrp110dm_d8ce86d94bb865e33b6058a9a5095ac6_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="simon magus" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mypgaymtbxrljcbcsestrp110dm_d8ce86d94bb865e33b6058a9a5095ac6_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>The Devil, Probably? (Ian Holm &amp;  Noah Taylor in Simon Magus, 1999)</figcaption></figure>
  381. <h3 id="cqrbh">‘Gnostic’ Practices of Simon Magus</h3>
  382. <p>I’m only going to touch on the whys and wherefores of the ‘Gnostic’ practices of the Simon Magus, 1st century AD Christian/Zoroastrian mage who supposedly had a run in with Saints Peter &amp; Paul in Nero’s Rome.</p>
  383. <p>Briefly:  Simon was a Samaritan ‘magus’ or religious figure and a convert to Christianity, baptised by Philip the Evangelist; the act of simony, or paying for position, is named after him, as he tried to buy his way into the power of the Apostles. He is described in the New Testament as:</p>
  384. <p><em>A certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, &quot;This man is the great power of God.&quot; And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. </em></p>
  385. <p><em>And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles&#x27; hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, &quot;Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.&quot; But Peter said unto him, &quot;Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee, for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.&quot; Then answered Simon, and said, &quot;Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.&quot;</em></p>
  386. <p>Poet, writer, and philosopher Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) saw Simon Magus in his own sub-circle of Hell where the damned were placed face down in moats of fire burning the soles of their feet.</p>
  387. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  388. <div class="embed-container">
  389. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://indrasmusings.wordpress.com/2016/02/26/inferno-xix-simon-the-magician/" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  390. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  391. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  392. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Inferno XIX – Simon the Magician </div>
  393. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> In the third bolgia Dante and Virgil observe the simonists: the sinners are locked upside down in a rock with protruding legs. Their shins are broken and their feet are on fire. Surely, a strange s… </div>
  394. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  395. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> indrasmusings.wordpress.com </div>
  396. </div>
  397. </div>
  398. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  399. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  400. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/3251380919_9f706d5744_o.jpg" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  401. </div>
  402. </div>
  403. </div>
  404. <p></a></div>
  405. </div>
  406. </figure>
  407. <p>Others see Magus in a very different light, as someone whose reputation was<strong> </strong>calumnied<strong> </strong>due to his identification of the female role in the act of Creation and his part as the bearer of esoteric knowledge (gnosis) which could enable the redemption of the human spirit. His apparent championing of women was certainly a reason for the early Christian church to take a stand agin’ him.</p>
  408. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  409. <div class="embed-container">
  410. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://iep.utm.edu/gnostic/" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  411. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  412. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  413. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Gnosticism | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy </div>
  414. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  415. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> iep.utm.edu </div>
  416. </div>
  417. </div>
  418. </div>
  419. <p></a></div>
  420. </div>
  421. </figure>
  422. <h3 id="a6e84">Miraculous ’Divine’ Feats of Magic </h3>
  423. <p>According to Justin Martyr (100 –  AD 165) Simon performed such feats of magic during the reign of Claudius that he was regarded as a god and thus honored with a statue on Tiber Island  with the inscription Simoni Deo Sancto &#8211; <em>&quot;To Simon the Holy God&quot; </em>(First Apology, XXVI). </p>
  424. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/view-of-the-tiber-island-represented-as-a-ship-the-temple-of-aesculapius-at-left-met-dp847230_487020d5234fac18da23f5523aa45f18_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/view-of-the-tiber-island-represented-as-a-ship-the-temple-of-aesculapius-at-left-met-dp847230_487020d5234fac18da23f5523aa45f18_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="simon magus" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/view-of-the-tiber-island-represented-as-a-ship-the-temple-of-aesculapius-at-left-met-dp847230_487020d5234fac18da23f5523aa45f18_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>
  425. <p>In the 16th century, a statue was unearthed on the island inscribed to ‘Semo Sancus’, a Sabine deity,  leading  scholars to posit Justin Martyr confused the Sabine god with Magus.</p>
  426. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/sancus_13f21e0183beb38071327a5d0d59cee3_800.png 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/sancus_13f21e0183beb38071327a5d0d59cee3_800.png 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/sancus_13f21e0183beb38071327a5d0d59cee3_800.png" /></picture><figcaption>Semo Sancus (Wikimedia Commons)</figcaption></figure>
  427. <h4 id="7df15">What got me thinking about Simon Magus was how  my recent travels in Italy have unconsciously followed his alleged final days &#8211; the church of Santa Francesca Romana by the Via Sacra in the Roman Forum, the &quot;Fountain of the three spouts&quot; in Ariccia (just outside Rome), and the seaside town of Terracina, where the injured sorcerer stayed at the house of the banished Castor and was ‘sorely cut’ by two local physicians, causing him to perish.</h4>
  428. <h4 id="e0dai"><strong>Spooky, no?</strong></h4>
  429. <h4 id="5ekce">How did Simon Magus come to meet this fate?</h4>
  430. <p>Before the emperor Nero (37 – 68 AD), Simon challenged the Saints Peter &amp; Paul to witness and match his miraculous feats in the Roman Forum. Magus was successful in flying above the crowds but the two soon-to-be Saints went down on their knees to pray for Simon to crash to earth &#8211; not to his death, but seriously injured, and in agony. This was accomplished, with Magus then beginning his painful last journey to Terracina, aided by his remaining loyal followers, the Simonians.</p>
  431. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/st-paul-right-by-jan-rombouts-c-1522-1530-view-6-museum-m-leuven-belgium-dsc05051_ab7897310a45d52fb4c649205cd9bf87_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/st-paul-right-by-jan-rombouts-c-1522-1530-view-6-museum-m-leuven-belgium-dsc05051_ab7897310a45d52fb4c649205cd9bf87_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="simon magus " loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/st-paul-right-by-jan-rombouts-c-1522-1530-view-6-museum-m-leuven-belgium-dsc05051_ab7897310a45d52fb4c649205cd9bf87_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>The Fall of Simon Magus (left) and The Conversion of St. Paul (right), by Jan Rombouts, c. 1522-1530 (Wikimedia Commons)</figcaption></figure>
  432. <p>A version of these events are loosely depicted in the 1954 motion picture <em>The Silver Chalice</em>, with Jack Palance as Simon:</p>
  433. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  434. <div class="embed-container">
  435. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/wL7FGjwjhM4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Silver Chalice - Simon Flies" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  436. </div><figcaption>&quot;<em>He could not fly</em>&quot; (Nero)</figcaption></figure>
  437. <p>The Church of Santa Francesca Romana, is claimed to have been built on the spot where Simon fell. Within the Church is a slab of marble bearing the imprints of the knees of Peter and Paul.</p>
  438. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mahoknee_923517a8848d51af51c740c9951c0cde_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mahoknee_923517a8848d51af51c740c9951c0cde_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mahoknee_923517a8848d51af51c740c9951c0cde_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Wikimedia Commons</figcaption></figure>
  439. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/640px-santa-francesca-romana-rome-italy-dsc01484_6a4329ab7a0ba88eefe1736c54f68d27_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/640px-santa-francesca-romana-rome-italy-dsc01484_6a4329ab7a0ba88eefe1736c54f68d27_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/640px-santa-francesca-romana-rome-italy-dsc01484_6a4329ab7a0ba88eefe1736c54f68d27_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Santa Francesca Romana (Wikimedia Commons)</figcaption></figure>
  440. <p>Byzantine chronicler John of Malalas (491-578 AD) stated the body of Simon is still present on the Forum’s Via Sacra beneath a (now buried) stone enclosure called the Simonion, where four separate stones were transformed by Magus’s blood and brains into one.</p>
  441. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  442. <div class="embed-container">
  443. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nasscal.com/materiae-apocryphorum/knee-impressions-of-peter-santa-francesca-romana/" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  444. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  445. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  446. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Knee Impressions of Peter, Santa Francesca Romana </div>
  447. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> Images: Wikimedia Commons Clavis number: ECMA 129 Other descriptors: Stone of Apostolic Victory over Simon Magus Location: Santa Francesca Romana (Piazza di Santa Francesca Romana 4). The first Chr… </div>
  448. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  449. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.nasscal.com </div>
  450. </div>
  451. </div>
  452. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  453. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  454. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="http://www.nasscal.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Knees-Peter.jpg" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  455. </div>
  456. </div>
  457. </div>
  458. <p></a></div>
  459. </div>
  460. </figure>
  461. <p>In Ariccia, a pretty town in the nearby Alban Hills there stands the Fontana delle Tre Cannelle (&quot;Fountain of the three spouts&quot;), once erroneously believed to contain the tomb of Simon Magus due to a sepulchral fragment with his name inscribed above the edifice.</p>
  462. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/012710c7-e5d6-4193-b270-594284fd2d9a-2_44c9b9bd551c0bfa7baf590a43eb98bd_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/012710c7-e5d6-4193-b270-594284fd2d9a-2_44c9b9bd551c0bfa7baf590a43eb98bd_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/012710c7-e5d6-4193-b270-594284fd2d9a-2_44c9b9bd551c0bfa7baf590a43eb98bd_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Fontana delle Tre Cannelle (Wikimedia Commons)</figcaption></figure>
  463. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  464. <div class="embed-container">
  465. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.minube.it/posto-preferito/fontana-delle-tre-cannelle-a3666719" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  466. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  467. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  468. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Fontana delle Tre Cannelle </div>
  469. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> C&#039;è ad Ariccia una fontana che è posta sotto il porticato all&#039;angolo di Palazzo Antonini: qualcuno la chiama delle tre cannelle, per via degli altrettanti rubinetti da cui scorga l&#039;acqua, altri la chiamano delle donne, che qui si radunavano già dal 1614, anno in cui fu messa al suo posto dalla famiglia Savelli, per approviggionarsi di acqua potabile. Sopra di essa, un&#039;indicazione relativa alla presenza di un frammento sepolcrale della tomba di Simon Mago. Allora sorge spontanea la domanda: ma chi è costui? Sembra fosse una specie di stregone che compiva prodigi quando l&#039;apostolo Pietro era a Roma e che, sfidandolo, cadde dal campanile di una chiesa (o precipitò mentre era in &#039;volo&#039;&#8230; la leggenda è poco chiara), forse nella futura capitale italiana o forse qui, ad Ariccia, dove sarebbe stato sepolto e dove ora è ben ricordato. </div>
  470. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  471. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.minube.it </div>
  472. </div>
  473. </div>
  474. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  475. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  476. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/82feb0a3a24fcbc4e00967d64f502544.jpg" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  477. </div>
  478. </div>
  479. </div>
  480. <p></a></div>
  481. </div>
  482. </figure>
  483. <h4 id="fjsc3">Alternative Theory of Simon’s Death</h4>
  484. <p>3rd century Bishop of Rome Hippolytus (170-235 AD) had different account of Simon’s death, “<em>Until he came to Rome also and fell foul of the Apostles. Peter withstood him on many occasions. At last he came &#8230; and began to teach sitting under a plane tree. When he was on the point of being shown up, he said, in order to gain time, that if he were buried alive he would rise again on the third day. So he bade that a tomb should be dug by his disciples and that he should be buried in it. Now they did what they were ordered, but he remained there until now: for he was not the Christ.” </em> (His body was found putrefied)</p>
  485. <p>Tales of ‘Simon the Sorcerer’ continued into the later Middle Ages, where they became the probable inspiration for the legend of Faust.</p>
  486. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  487. <div class="embed-container">
  488. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/vqZeDoWDb_s?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Going to Hell Scene | Doctor Faustus (1968) | Now Scaring" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  489. </div><figcaption>Richard Burton as Doctor Faustus</figcaption></figure>
  490. <p>In 1999 Ben Hopkins directed and co-wrote the movie Simon Magus, with Noah Taylor, my pal from Soho days playing the magical title character, a “<em>Mad Magic Jew</em>”. Ian Holm is Satan. It bears little resemblance to the legend, but is worth a watch:</p>
  491. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  492. <div class="embed-container">
  493. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/J8EDp2xwaCg?feature=oembed&amp;t=1905s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Simon Magus (1999) Full Movie" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  494. </div><figcaption>Simon Magus (1999)</figcaption></figure>
  495. <p>Holm also plays a disembodied head, much as he did in Alien (1979):</p>
  496. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mikyrobot_6ef9bcb510a1742ab26abd98dc3403a5_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mikyrobot_6ef9bcb510a1742ab26abd98dc3403a5_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mikyrobot_6ef9bcb510a1742ab26abd98dc3403a5_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Holm as Ash</figcaption></figure>
  497. <p>Even more of a coincidence, I once worked on an abandoned documentary project on esotericism featuring Dr Simon Magus BSc (Hons) MB BS MA PhD:</p>
  498. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  499. <div class="embed-container">
  500. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/3ebj8oL81L0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Simon Magus, MB BS. -" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  501. </div><figcaption>Magus in action</figcaption></figure>
  502. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  503. <div class="embed-container">
  504. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://exeter.academia.edu/SimonMagus" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  505. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  506. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  507. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Simon Magus | University of Exeter &#8211; Academia.edu </div>
  508. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> Academia.edu is a place to share and follow research. </div>
  509. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  510. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> exeter.academia.edu </div>
  511. </div>
  512. </div>
  513. </div>
  514. <p></a></div>
  515. </div>
  516. </figure>
  517. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  518. <div class="embed-container">
  519. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/esotericism" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  520. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  521. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  522. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Esoteric | Meaning and Usage </div>
  523. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> Esoteric knowledge is said to have an inner or secret meaning. </div>
  524. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  525. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.britannica.com </div>
  526. </div>
  527. </div>
  528. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  529. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  530. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  531. </div>
  532. </div>
  533. </div>
  534. <p></a></div>
  535. </div>
  536. </figure>
  537. <p>Stephen Arnell’s novel ‘The Great One’ is available on Amazon Kindle:</p>
  538. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  539. <div class="embed-container">
  540. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-One-Secret-Memoirs-Pompey-ebook/dp/B0BNLTB2G7" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  541. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  542. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  543. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> The Great One : The Secret Memoirs of Pompey the Great eBook : Arnell, Stephen: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store </div>
  544. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> The Great One : The Secret Memoirs of Pompey the Great eBook : Arnell, Stephen: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store </div>
  545. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  546. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.amazon.co.uk </div>
  547. </div>
  548. </div>
  549. </div>
  550. <p></a></div>
  551. </div>
  552. </figure>
  553. <p><!-- strchf script --><script>if(window.strchfSettings === undefined) window.strchfSettings = {};window.strchfSettings.stats = {url: "https://paranormal-daily-news.storychief.io/en/in-the-gnostic-footsteps-of-the-enigmatic-simon-magus?id=586483290&type=2",title: "In the Gnostic Footsteps of the Enigmatic Simon Magus",siteId: "389",id: "0ddb5b71-f47b-477d-afc6-e7dad402cb86"};(function(d, s, id) {var js, sjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) {window.strchf.update(); return;}js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/scripts/v0/strchf.js";js.async = true;sjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, sjs);}(document, 'script', 'storychief-jssdk'))</script><!-- End strchf script --></p>
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  557. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  560. </item>
  561. <item>
  562. <title>Irish Folk Horror and ‘Cursed Song’ Legends &#8211; a Visual Essay</title>
  563. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/irish-folk-horror-and-cursed-song-legends-a-visual-essay/6836/</link>
  564. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/irish-folk-horror-and-cursed-song-legends-a-visual-essay/6836/#respond</comments>
  566. <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
  567. <pubDate>Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:02:24 +0000</pubDate>
  568. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  569. <category><![CDATA[folk horror]]></category>
  570. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/irish-folk-horror-and-cursed-song-legends-a-visual-essay/6836/</guid>
  571.  
  572. <description><![CDATA[Uniquely Irish supernatural creatures and a symphony of 'cursed songs' are sure to captivate your imagination in this compelling video essay.]]></description>
  573. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/all-you-need-is-death-no-logo_baa4cbd659f823f8c0b479b88675a994_800.JPG 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/all-you-need-is-death-no-logo_baa4cbd659f823f8c0b479b88675a994_800.JPG 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="cursed" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/all-you-need-is-death-no-logo_baa4cbd659f823f8c0b479b88675a994_800.JPG" /></picture><figcaption>All You Need is Death (2024)</figcaption></figure>
  574. <h3 id="9il55">ALL YOU NEED IS DEATH: <em>“an essential addition to the folk horror canon”</em></h3>
  575. <p>As well as my various activities as a writer/commentator and novelist, I&#x27;m currently co-director of development for movie/TV production company 1185 Films, who have the Irish Folk Horror film <strong>ALL YOU NEED IS DEATH</strong> released this year.</p>
  576. <p><em>Paul Duane’s forthcoming <strong>All You Need is Death</strong>, meanwhile, pulls mythology and superstition into the contemporary sphere by telling the story of a young couple, Anna and Aleks, who collect old folk ballads to sell to collectors. When they secretly record an ancient taboo and previously undocumented folk song, they get more than they bargained for; one reviewer has already called the film “an essential addition to the folk horror canon”.</em></p>
  577. <figure class="embed strchf-type-embed regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  578. <div class="embed-container">
  579. <div class="bookmark-container" style="display: flex;"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/irelands-track-record-on-horror-movies-is-shocking-but-that-might-be-about-to-change/a280496163.html" role="button" tabindex="-1" style="display: block; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; flex-grow: 1; min-width: 0;"></p>
  580. <div class="bookmark-focusable" style="user-select: none; transition: background 20ms ease-in 0s; cursor: pointer; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap-reverse; align-items: stretch; text-align: left; overflow: hidden; border: 1px solid rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.16); border-radius: 3px; position: relative; color: inherit;">
  581. <div style="flex: 4 1 180px; padding: 12px 14px 14px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left;">
  582. <div class="bookmark-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; min-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 2px;"> Ireland’s track record on horror movies is shocking… but that might be about to change </div>
  583. <div class="bookmark-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgba(55, 53, 47, 0.6); height: 32px; overflow: hidden;"> The banshee. The púca. The dullahan. The little folk. Irish literature and folklore is rife with creepy legends and scary stories ripe for making horror movies, but where are all the truly brilliant Irish ones? </div>
  584. <div class="bookmark-domain" style="display: flex; margin-top: 6px;">
  585. <div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(55, 53, 47); white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"> www.independent.ie </div>
  586. </div>
  587. </div>
  588. <div class="bookmark-image" style="flex: 1 1 180px; display: block; position: relative;">
  589. <div style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0;">
  590. <div style="width: 100%; height: 100%;"><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/ir John Filey photo.jpg" role="presentation" style="display: block; object-fit: cover; border-radius: 1px; background: white; width: 100%; height: 100%;"></div>
  591. </div>
  592. </div>
  593. </div>
  594. <p></a></div>
  595. </div>
  596. </figure>
  597. <h3 id="9d3ni">Delve into the world of uniquely Irish supernatural creatures and ‘cursed’ songs</h3>
  598. <p><strong>These include:</strong></p>
  599. <p><strong>The Banshee:</strong> Most famous of the Emerald Isle’s spectral entities, said to be female spirit whose keening, shrieking and wailing heralds the death of a family member immortalized on film &#8211; and as a Marvel X-Men character.</p>
  600. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  601. <div class="embed-container">
  602. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/uUdIoY4P7d0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Cry of the Banshee - Vincent Price (1970) Official Trailer (HD)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  603. </div><figcaption>Cry Of The Banshee trailer (1970)</figcaption></figure>
  604. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  605. <div class="embed-container">
  606. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/UxjQjgafrkY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Scream of the Banshee (2011) Trailer" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  607. </div><figcaption>Scream of The Banshee trailer (2011)</figcaption></figure>
  608. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  609. <div class="embed-container">
  610. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/vIXdUY3a0KM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Banshee- All Powers from X-Men: First Class" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  611. </div><figcaption>Banshee of X-Men fame</figcaption></figure>
  612. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  613. <div class="embed-container">
  614. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/rhxC_1wuo3E?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Darby O'Gill and the Little People - The Appearance of the Banshee" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  615. </div><figcaption>Darby O&#x27;Gill and the Little People (1959)</figcaption></figure>
  616. <p><strong>The Leprechaun:</strong> Painted nowadays in the movies as an evil/violent entity rather than the affable ‘pot of gold’ hiding sprite of legend.</p>
  617. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  618. <div class="embed-container">
  619. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/rKa686gfTow?feature=oembed&amp;t=149s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Movie 43 leprechaun" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  620. </div><figcaption>Movie 43 (2013)</figcaption></figure>
  621. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  622. <div class="embed-container">
  623. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/EGa3R9VvDVs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Wayne's World 2 (6/10) Movie CLIP - The Leprechaun (1993) HD" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  624. </div><figcaption>Wayne’s World 2 (1993)</figcaption></figure>
  625. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  626. <div class="embed-container">
  627. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/SIbQb_0SPPs?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Leprechaun 2 | HORROR, COMEDY | Full Movie" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  628. </div><figcaption>Leprechaun II (1994)</figcaption></figure>
  629. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  630. <div class="embed-container">
  631. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/UdVfdX66dqI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Darby O'Gill and the Little People - How to Bag a Leprechaun" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  632. </div><figcaption>Darby O&#x27;Gill and the Little People (1959)</figcaption></figure>
  633. <p><strong>Ellén Trechend: </strong>A three-headed monster. </p>
  634. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  635. <div class="embed-container">
  636. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/yGYn-JoSmBE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="King Gidorah calls the other titans" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  637. </div><figcaption> Godzilla King of the Monsters (2019)</figcaption></figure>
  638. <p><strong>The Púca:</strong> Dark or white fur/haired goblin shapechangers &#8211; horses, goats, hares, cats, and dogs. They also take human forms &#8211; but with certain animal features, such as a tail or a pointy ears.</p>
  639. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  640. <div class="embed-container">
  641. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/vjThzSAmvAo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Darby O'Gill and the Little People - Crazy Horse" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  642. </div><figcaption>Darby O&#x27;Gill and the Little People (1959)</figcaption></figure>
  643. <p><strong> The Dullahan: </strong>A headless rider on a black horse, who carries his noggin in his hand or under his arm. The apparition can also be a headless coachman:</p>
  644. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  645. <div class="embed-container">
  646. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/5ZMU0rcp-hk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The Banshee Summons the Death Coach - Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  647. </div><figcaption>Darby O&#x27;Gill and the Little People (1959)</figcaption></figure>
  648. <p><strong>Fomorians: </strong>Evil albino aggressive beings said to come from under the sea or the earth. The first settlers of Eire.</p>
  649. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  650. <div class="embed-container">
  651. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/5_S4eGrczdQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="1960 George Pal - &quot;The Time Machine&quot; (Morlocks excerpt)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  652. </div><figcaption>The Time Machine (1960)</figcaption></figure>
  653. <p><strong>Cymidei Cymeinfoll:</strong> An Irish giantess who gave birth to a fully formed and armed warrior every six weeks.</p>
  654. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  655. <div class="embed-container">
  656. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/7TZWG8OpPZ8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The Green Knight Giants Scene  (The Green Knight, 2021)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  657. </div><figcaption>The Green Knight (2021)</figcaption></figure>
  658. <p><strong>Merrow:</strong> The Irish version of Mermaids or Mermen</p>
  659. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  660. <div class="embed-container">
  661. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/0J7Q-9zGnPI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Mermaids Attack | My Jolly Sailor Bold | Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides [HD]" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  662. </div><figcaption>Pirates of  the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2o11)</figcaption></figure>
  663. <p><strong>Pig-Faced Women:</strong> Cursed by a witch, a woman with a porker’s head, an oft-told story supposedly based on fact &#8211; the case of Dubliner Griselda Steevens (1653 – 1746); was claimed that while pregnant with Griselda, Steevens&#x27; mother had said &quot;take away your litter of pigs!&quot; to a woman beggar asking for money to feed her offspring, and the child had then been born with the head and face of a pig.</p>
  664. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  665. <div class="embed-container">
  666. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/KMUIQru0zlI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The movie Penelope." style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  667. </div><figcaption>Penelope (2006)</figcaption></figure>
  668. <p><strong>Selkie: </strong>creatures that can shapeshift between seal and human by removing/donning their seal skins. </p>
  669. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  670. <div class="embed-container">
  671. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/6ZdVqF-Rlmo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Visiting Wallace (End Scene) - Tusk (2014) HD" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  672. </div><figcaption>Tusk (2014)</figcaption></figure>
  673. <p><strong>Werewolves of Ossory: </strong>the descendants of a legendary figure named Laignech Fáelad who became skinchangers.</p>
  674. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  675. <div class="embed-container">
  676. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/kbTIiTxVuVo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The Howling (1981) Transformation Scene." style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  677. </div><figcaption>The Howling (1981)</figcaption></figure>
  678. <p><strong>Sluagh:</strong> the hosts of the ‘unforgiven dead’.</p>
  679. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  680. <div class="embed-container">
  681. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/R83vTGt0vg8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The Dead Marshes (The Lord of the Rings- The Two Towers)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  682. </div><figcaption>The Lord of the Rings- The Two Towers (2002)</figcaption></figure>
  683. <p>And some eerie Irish chillers&#8230;firstly, Return to Glennascaul (1953)- ‘<em>a tale told in Dublin</em>’ recounted to Mr Orson Welles:</p>
  684. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  685. <div class="embed-container">
  686. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/gHPnqYZwfbs?feature=oembed&amp;t=273s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Return to Glennascaul (1951, 23 mins) - Short Film" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  687. </div><figcaption>Return to Glennascaul (1953)</figcaption></figure>
  688. <p>More Banshees:</p>
  689. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  690. <div class="embed-container">
  691. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/f346VRvkTvI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Banshee Blacktop - An Irish Ghost Story (2016) FULL MOVIE HD" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  692. </div><figcaption>Banshee Blacktop &#8211; An Irish Ghost Story (2016)</figcaption></figure>
  693. <p>And a spookily comic tale from 2019:</p>
  694. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  695. <div class="embed-container">
  696. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/OZrB46Nxwq4?feature=oembed&amp;t=375s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Extra Ordinary (2019) - Full Movie (1080p)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  697. </div><figcaption>Extra Ordinary (2019)</figcaption></figure>
  698. <h3 id="34hbp">Eerie examples of ‘cursed’ songs</h3>
  699. <p>Returning to the subject of supposedly ‘cursed’ songs? Each of this selection has its own particular story&#8230;</p>
  700. <p><strong>Garry Owen</strong> &#8211; The tune played by the Seventh Cavalry as the rode to Custer&#x27;s Last Stand and by the Scottish regiments during the hardest fighting of The Crimean War.</p>
  701. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  702. <div class="embed-container">
  703. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/4m7RPjQxjmA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Garry Owen from 'They Died With Their Boots On'" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  704. </div>
  705. </figure>
  706. <p><strong>Crossroads </strong>&#8211; Robert Johnson sells his soul to a Crossroads Demon in an episode titled &quot;Crossroad Blues&quot;.</p>
  707. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  708. <div class="embed-container">
  709. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/4RULsdMaOoo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Supernatural -- Robert Johnson Sells His Soul... Reaps the Consequences" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  710. </div>
  711. </figure>
  712. <p><strong>Without You </strong>&#8211; Songwriters Pete Ham and Tom Evans (Badfinger) received very few royalties due to being ripped off by manager Stab Polley. Ham and Evans committed suicide, with Ham personally blaming Polley in his suicide note. Cursed or just ripped off?</p>
  713. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  714. <div class="embed-container">
  715. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/8dnUv3DUP4E?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Harry Nilsson - Without You (Audio)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  716. </div>
  717. </figure>
  718. <p><strong>Dead Man&#x27;s Curve</strong> &#8211; Jan &amp; Dean. Two years after the 1964 car-crash themed tune was a hit, the group’s songwriter Jan Berry was involved in an accident similar the one in the song, leaving him with severe brain injuries and derailing his career.</p>
  719. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  720. <div class="embed-container">
  721. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/yrCuMPeSu9s?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Dead Man's Curve (1963 Version)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  722. </div>
  723. </figure>
  724. <p><strong>El Degüello (Slit Throat) &#8211; </strong>Mexican general Santa Anna had this tune played to the defenders of  The Alamo, meaning no quarter to be given.</p>
  725. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  726. <div class="embed-container">
  727. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QKD5TgHWyxM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The Alamo - Degüello (Slit throat )" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  728. </div>
  729. </figure>
  730. <p><strong>Various Ninth Symphonies</strong>&#8211; Legend says that soon after completing his/her ninth symphony, the composer will cark it; witness Mahler, Beethoven, Anton Bruckner, Schubert, Vaughan Williams, and Antonin Dvorak.</p>
  731. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  732. <div class="embed-container">
  733. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/IoNEeKJ2x44?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Mahler Symphony no. 9 - Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - Leonard Bernstein" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  734. </div>
  735. </figure>
  736. <p><strong>Gloomy Sunday</strong> &#8211; Hungarian Rezső Seress’ 1933 melancholy lament was an overnight success, but then suicides began occurring all over the place. The deceased were found clutching the song’s sheet music, others left behind suicide notes with lyrics from the song. One body was found with the tune skipping endlessly on a record player. A fellow shot himself after complaining that he couldn’t get the song out of his head. </p>
  737. <p>Unsurprisingly the dirge became known as the “Hungarian Suicide Song.” Sadly, Seress also topped himself. He survived jumping out of a window in Budapest, but choked himself to death with a wire in hospital. The woman who’d left him and inspired the song, also took her own life.  </p>
  738. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  739. <div class="embed-container">
  740. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xBgLqHc3iw4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Gloomy Sunday - Rezsö Seress (Original)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  741. </div>
  742. </figure>
  743. <p><strong>Helter Skelter &#8211; </strong>The Beatles proto heavy metal headbanger, forever associated with the notorious Manson Murders:</p>
  744. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  745. <div class="embed-container">
  746. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/vWW2SzoAXMo?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Helter Skelter (Remastered 2009)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  747. </div>
  748. </figure>
  749. <p><strong>Piano Sonata No 6 &#8211;</strong> Composer Alexander Scriabin’s self described 1911 ‘Satanic’ piece he never performed in public.</p>
  750. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  751. <div class="embed-container">
  752. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/_a-F2YCqzb4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Alexander Scriabin - Piano Sonata No. 6" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  753. </div>
  754. </figure>
  755. <p><strong>Ghost Variations &#8211;</strong> Robert Schumann’s last ever composition  apparently drove him insane and into the nearest lunatic asylum.</p>
  756. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  757. <div class="embed-container">
  758. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QoxKjSJm9QE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Schumann Geistervariationen (Ghost Variations) in E-flat major WoO 24 András Schiff" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  759. </div>
  760. </figure>
  761. <p><strong>I Love You</strong> &#8211; Barney the Dinosaur’s song used by the CIA as part of ‘enhanced interrogation’. See also the Spice Girls in Small Soldiers (1998).</p>
  762. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  763. <div class="embed-container">
  764. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/LK3C9IytrLI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Barney - I Love You (SONG with LYRICS)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  765. </div>
  766. </figure>
  767. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  768. <div class="embed-container">
  769. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Sap6-BFEH8Q?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Small Soldiers (1998) - Wannabe" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  770. </div><figcaption>Small Soldiers (1998)</figcaption></figure>
  771. <p><strong>El Silbon’s Whistling </strong>&#8211; South American story of patricidal revenge; the strange whistle means the listener will soon snuff it.</p>
  772. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  773. <div class="embed-container">
  774. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/kZZ8xmvslFY?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Whistle of El Silbón" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  775. </div>
  776. </figure>
  777. <p><strong>The Glass Harmonica </strong>&#8211; Benjamin Franklin’s 1741 invention sent performers and audiences nuts.</p>
  778. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  779. <div class="embed-container">
  780. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 75%;"><iframe width="200" height="150" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/DEMXQZRaMfc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Glass Harmonica - Andrei Khrjanovsky - 1968 Russian Animation" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  781. </div>
  782. </figure>
  783. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  784. <div class="embed-container">
  785. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QkTUL7DjTow?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Adagio for Glass Harmonica, K  356, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  786. </div>
  787. </figure>
  788. <p>And, if not exactly cursed, the songs used in the quintessential folk horror movie, The Wicker Man (1973), including this unsettling tune, <em>Corn Rigs</em>, performed by Paul Giovanni:</p>
  789. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  790. <div class="embed-container">
  791. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/-nuPQIES6FU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="The Wicker Man - Corn Rigs - Paul Giovanni" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  792. </div>
  793. </figure>
  794. <p>Lastly, a ‘real’ vampire singing with his group in Queen of The Damned (2002):</p>
  795. <figure class="video strchf-type-video regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center">
  796. <div class="embed-container">
  797. <div style="max-width: 100%; position: relative; padding-top: 56.5%;"><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/KyIW8CcfQrw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" title="Lestat's concert (Queen of the Damned)" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;"></iframe></div>
  798. </div>
  799. </figure>
  800. <p>My Roman-era novel &#8211; available now on Amazon Kindle:</p>
  801. <p><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-One-Secret-Memoirs-Pompey-ebook/dp/B0BNLTB2G7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-One-Secret-Memoirs-Pompey-ebook/dp/B0BNLTB2G7</a></p>
  802. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/banshee-animated_c4f1a48f6c7dd38df4e7c95db76ec3e1_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/banshee-animated_c4f1a48f6c7dd38df4e7c95db76ec3e1_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/banshee-animated_c4f1a48f6c7dd38df4e7c95db76ec3e1_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Cry of the Banshee (1970)</figcaption></figure>
  803. <p><!-- strchf script --><script>if(window.strchfSettings === undefined) window.strchfSettings = {};window.strchfSettings.stats = {url: "https://paranormal-daily-news.storychief.io/en/irish-folk-horror-and-cursed-song-legends-a-visual-essay?id=332020685&type=2",title: "Irish Folk Horror and ‘Cursed Song’ Legends - a Visual Essay",siteId: "389",id: "0ddb5b71-f47b-477d-afc6-e7dad402cb86"};(function(d, s, id) {var js, sjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) {window.strchf.update(); return;}js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/scripts/v0/strchf.js";js.async = true;sjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, sjs);}(document, 'script', 'storychief-jssdk'))</script><!-- End strchf script --></p>
  804. ]]></content:encoded>
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  810. </item>
  811. <item>
  812. <title>What You Need to Know About Energy Vampires</title>
  813. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/what-need-know-energy-vampires/6831/</link>
  814. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/what-need-know-energy-vampires/6831/#respond</comments>
  816. <dc:creator><![CDATA[]]></dc:creator>
  817. <pubDate>Sat, 27 Jan 2024 13:50:29 +0000</pubDate>
  818. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  819. <category><![CDATA[paranormal]]></category>
  820. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/what-need-know-energy-vampires/6831/</guid>
  821.  
  822. <description><![CDATA[Energy vampires can leave you feeling tired and drained but simple daily practices can help you live a happier, vampire-free life.]]></description>
  823. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Energy vampires wander among us but most of the time, we are unaware of them. So, how can we tell them apart? And more importantly, how do we protect ourselves from energy vampires?</strong></p>
  824. <h3 id="at035"><strong>Identifying Energy Vampires</strong></h3>
  825. <p>Energy vampires are usually extremely friendly, meaning most people draw to them. So, they can come across as being very popular and have lots of friends. However, as you get to know them, you will notice that people quickly change towards the energy vampire. You will see people trying to avoid them or looking worn out once they spend time with them. People who aggravate you may also be energy vampires.</p>
  826. <p>Their biggest target are introverts, who have little or few friends around them. The energy vampire can sense their inability to set boundaries. They can also sense weakness, and those who try to avoid conflict or want to get on with everyone, are also targets.</p>
  827. <h3 id="1ivo5"><strong>How Do You Get Rid Of An Energy Vampire?</strong></h3>
  828. <p>Unfortunately, there is no one simple solution but some of the following suggestions may work; however, you must be ready to use your energy against the energy vampire.</p>
  829. <h4 id="dln1i"><strong>Block out energy vampires</strong></h4>
  830. <p>While blocking them out sounds quite extreme, it may be the best solution, depending on how much they attack your energy.</p>
  831. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/energy-vampire-pixlr-image-generator-b2dc4731-4c47-4f8c-ba3b-70e265f7b9d4_e9947b297554d6dea385cc766a1ae6bf_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/energy-vampire-pixlr-image-generator-b2dc4731-4c47-4f8c-ba3b-70e265f7b9d4_e9947b297554d6dea385cc766a1ae6bf_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="energy vampires" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/energy-vampire-pixlr-image-generator-b2dc4731-4c47-4f8c-ba3b-70e265f7b9d4_e9947b297554d6dea385cc766a1ae6bf_800.jpg" /></picture></figure>
  832. <h4 id="clhe3"><strong>Create your own energy shield</strong></h4>
  833. <p>We are all energy sources and can use our own energy to build shields around us. This will help to block any attacks. If you do this daily, you will notice that energy vampires will soon leave you alone. </p>
  834. <h4 id="bsfcp">Please don&#x27;t give in to them</h4>
  835. <p>Energy vampires will constantly call you, text you and turn up unannounced. Only answer the calls a few times a week and not daily. This will eventually help them realise that they are not wanted and encourage them to start looking for another energy source.</p>
  836. <h4 id="6kva1">Stand your ground</h4>
  837. <p>Try to avoid getting involved in a long conversation with an energy vampire. Or, get into giving them advice on their vented emotional problems.</p>
  838. <p>Body language awareness can help because your body language constantly emits signals about the way you feel:</p>
  839. <ul>
  840. <li>Try to avoid eye contact with energy vampires.</li>
  841. <li>Stand or keep moving about like you are busy. This will create a sense of urgency.</li>
  842. </ul>
  843. <h2 id="1hopb"><strong>Could You Be An Energy Vampire?</strong></h2>
  844. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/energy-vampire_034ab3c894a9106a11b83ed524bcfb0a_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/energy-vampire_034ab3c894a9106a11b83ed524bcfb0a_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="energy vampire" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/energy-vampire_034ab3c894a9106a11b83ed524bcfb0a_800.jpg" /></picture></figure>
  845. <p>A big clue is that people try to avoid you. They don’t respond to your emails or messages. You may constantly try to make arrangements or speak to people, but they are not responsive. Some people tend to avoid situations rather than be confronted by having to speak up in a negative form.</p>
  846. <h4 id="838vc">How To Correct he Behavior of Energy Vampires</h4>
  847. <p>Take control of your communication and try to send only a few messages and emails daily or weekly. If you get no response from the person, it is better to leave it a few weeks before retrying. Otherwise, you are just carrying out the behavior you need to eradicate.</p>
  848. <p>Only stop past someone&#x27;s house uninvited, once every so often. Some people do not like uninvited guests. If you need to speak with them or want to make amends, try to arrange it via a phone call. Ensure that you listen to their requirements and accept their answer if they don&#x27;t wish to .</p>
  849. <h4 id="dj064">Why Is It Important To Recognize An Energy Vampire?</h4>
  850. <p>It is not always easy to recognize vampire energy in someone else or yourself. But for the sake of protecting your mental health, it is essential to be aware of the signs. </p>
  851. <p>If you are constantly tired, everyday matters become overwhelming, and you struggle to achieve the tasks,  it may not be apparent that energy vampires are causing your energy depletion. This is why it is advisable to use protection on an everyday basis and also set your boundaries daily.</p>
  852. <p>Turning these five-minute activities into daily ones will help to alleviate the risk that energy vampires may bring to your standard of living.</p>
  853. <p><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/24/health/energy-vampire-in-person-work-wellness/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/24/health/energy-vampire-in-person-work-wellness/index.html</a></p>
  854. <p>Marples.M (2022 March 22) <em>workplace energy vampires can drain your life force. Stop them with these tips, </em>CNN, USA</p>
  855. <p><!-- strchf script --><script>if(window.strchfSettings === undefined) window.strchfSettings = {};window.strchfSettings.stats = {url: "https://paranormal-daily-news.storychief.io/en/what-need-know-energy-vampires?id=1536232442&type=2",title: "What You Need to Know About Energy Vampires",siteId: "389",id: "0ddb5b71-f47b-477d-afc6-e7dad402cb86"};(function(d, s, id) {var js, sjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) {window.strchf.update(); return;}js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/scripts/v0/strchf.js";js.async = true;sjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, sjs);}(document, 'script', 'storychief-jssdk'))</script><!-- End strchf script --></p>
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  862. </item>
  863. <item>
  864. <title>The Haunting of Hales Bar Dam</title>
  865. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/the-haunting-of-hales-bar-dam/6825/</link>
  866. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/the-haunting-of-hales-bar-dam/6825/#respond</comments>
  868. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Conner Gossel]]></dc:creator>
  869. <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jan 2024 14:49:37 +0000</pubDate>
  870. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  871. <category><![CDATA[hales bar dam]]></category>
  872. <category><![CDATA[haunted places]]></category>
  873. <category><![CDATA[haunting]]></category>
  874. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/the-haunting-of-hales-bar-dam/6825/</guid>
  875.  
  876. <description><![CDATA[Hundreds of men perished in the process of erecting the building, and many, if not most of their bodies are still entombed within the foundation to this day.]]></description>
  877. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Editorial Note: PDN is proud to welcome Conner Gossel to the Team. He will be heading our historical research into haunted homes and places. You will be seeing much more of his haunting work from now on. Welcome, Conner!</p>
  878. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ParanormalDailyNews-conner_56786d0758c8555bd0646054921c3f43_800.png 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ParanormalDailyNews-conner_56786d0758c8555bd0646054921c3f43_800.png 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ParanormalDailyNews-conner_56786d0758c8555bd0646054921c3f43_800.png" /></picture><figcaption>Welcome Conner</figcaption></figure>
  879. <p>Tennessee has always been a deceptive destination for those involved in the paranormal community. Shrouded in a sprawling expanse of forestry that is the Rocky Mountains, and divided by the seemingly endless network of rivers that dissect the land, the state has a tendency to appear untouched by civilization. If one takes the time to look closer though, beyond the facade of a state covered in uninhabited wilderness, a darker reality exists. </p>
  880. <p>The grim truth of the matter is that Tennessee houses some of the country’s, and the world’s, most dangerously paranormal locations. For our purpose, however, we need only concern ourselves with the eerie building that sits on Lake Nickajack, Hales Bar Dam.</p>
  881. <h2 id="ebj52">The Haunting Of Hales Bar Dam</h2>
  882. <p>When construction on the dam began in 1905, thousands of workers were brought into the area to help complete the project. Temporary homes were built on the water&#x27;s edge to serve as living quarters for them all, but as time went on these temporary homes became far less crowded than they began. This fact is entirely due to the fatality rate of the dam&#x27;s construction. Hundreds of men perished in the process of erecting the building and many, if not most of their bodies, are still entombed within the foundation to this day. </p>
  883. <p>Believe it or not, though, the death toll associated with Hales Bar Dam isn’t to blame for its severe supernatural happenings.</p>
  884. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ParanormalDailyNews-The-Haunting-Of-Hales-Bar-Dam_7f9d25af66e4065023e27ac85635ad4d_800.png 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ParanormalDailyNews-The-Haunting-Of-Hales-Bar-Dam_7f9d25af66e4065023e27ac85635ad4d_800.png 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="The Haunting Of Hales Bar Dam" loading="lazy" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ParanormalDailyNews-The-Haunting-Of-Hales-Bar-Dam_7f9d25af66e4065023e27ac85635ad4d_800.png" /></picture><figcaption>The Haunting Of Hales Bar Dam</figcaption></figure>
  885. <h3 id="4s622">The Hales Bar Dam Curse</h3>
  886. <p>Long before the dam was even theorized, back when the territory was a part of the Cherokee Nation, an Indian War Chief named Dragging Canoe cursed the land, condemning it to be unproductive and uninhabitable because of its “dark and bloody” nature. The dam&#x27;s construction was society’s first glimpse of the power of the curse. </p>
  887. <p>Those who didn’t lose their lives building the structure gave accounts of what they experienced. Their accounts told of dark figures seen walking around inside the dam at all hours of the day, inhumane screams, floating apparitions, whispering voices, moving tools and equipment, and the spirits of numerous children whose bodies are said to be buried underneath the water.</p>
  888. <h3 id="9uuct">Paranormal Activity</h3>
  889. <p>Such paranormal activity continues to persist to this very day, driving the current owners of Hales Bar Dam to begin allowing paranormal investigative teams to visit the property in hopes that they might be able to shed light on the haunting. Over the years, many investigators have corroborated the claims of the staff, of general visitors, and of the original construction crew members. A number of investigators and experts in the field have also offered a warning, saying that the little girl who claims to be buried in the water could very likely be a malevolent spirit. While we certainly hope that’s not the case, it is worth mentioning that dark forces have a tendency to mask themselves as the innocent in order to fool the living. </p>
  890. <p>Needless to say, if you venture to Hales Bar Dam, keep your wits about you and prepare to experience the afterlife like never before.</p>
  891. <p><!-- strchf script --><script>if(window.strchfSettings === undefined) window.strchfSettings = {};window.strchfSettings.stats = {url: "https://paranormal-daily-news.storychief.io/en/the-haunting-of-hales-bar-dam-621d519fbcd60?id=567301535&type=2",title: "The Haunting of Hales Bar Dam",siteId: "389",id: "0ddb5b71-f47b-477d-afc6-e7dad402cb86"};(function(d, s, id) {var js, sjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) {window.strchf.update(); return;}js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/scripts/v0/strchf.js";js.async = true;sjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, sjs);}(document, 'script', 'storychief-jssdk'))</script><!-- End strchf script --></p>
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  898. </item>
  899. <item>
  900. <title>Let’s Go Higher: A Story of Triumph Over Addiction</title>
  901. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/a-story-of-triumph-over-addiction/6797/</link>
  902. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/a-story-of-triumph-over-addiction/6797/#respond</comments>
  904. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mary Kay Ranger]]></dc:creator>
  905. <pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2023 12:21:31 +0000</pubDate>
  906. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  907. <category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
  908. <category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
  909. <category><![CDATA[addiction]]></category>
  910. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/lets-go-higher-a-story-of-triumph-over-addiction/6797/</guid>
  911.  
  912. <description><![CDATA[In the serenity of a picturesque beach in North Carolina, an unkempt young man lies down in the damp sand. On this night, the shoreline is his home; the sound of waves is his lullaby. Exposed to the elements, he may not survive to see another sunrise. For years, Cliff Howard spent his days desperately [&#8230;]]]></description>
  913. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In the serenity of a picturesque beach in North Carolina, an unkempt young man lies down in the damp sand. On this night, the shoreline is his home; the sound of waves is his lullaby. Exposed to the elements, he may not survive to see another sunrise.</p>
  914. <p>For years, Cliff Howard spent his days desperately running from his past. His life spiralled hopelessly to rock bottom and finally, to homelessness. But little did he know, this was just the beginning of his extraordinary transformation. Fast forward six years later, Cliff is a budding entrepreneur and music creator.</p>
  915. <p>It was in the depths of desperation that Cliff stopped running from his demons. In the stillness, he was able to identify and face his trauma. He knew that to find his way forward, he would first have to look back to the roots of his childhood. He needed to explore suppressed emotions and forgotten moments buried under layers of time and denial.</p>
  916. <p>Cliff embarked on a courageous journey to shine a light on his shadows and unearth the forces that shaped him. This introspective journey to the truth would require strength, courage, and compassion for himself. He was going to have to fight for his life. Armed with clarity, he would set out in self-discovery to piece together the script of his life and rise like a phoenix from the ashes of his own story.</p>
  917. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cliff-facebook_a5a2815214723e890fff70530b203397_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cliff-facebook_a5a2815214723e890fff70530b203397_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/cliff-facebook_a5a2815214723e890fff70530b203397_800.jpg" /></picture></figure>
  918. <p>Spy Witness News journalist Mary Kay interviewed Cliff over a Zoom call to learn about his transformation and his business.</p>
  919. <h2 id="fg91k">Soaring highs to crushing lows With Addiction</h2>
  920. <p>Getting high was once Cliff’s grim daily reality. The relentless grip held him in a suffocating hug. Night after night, he sought refuge on the beach. With each passing day, he ran from the shadows of his past into the arms of the predictable but deceptive illusion. His destiny promised a slow and solitary end, amidst the damp grains of sand, clinging to his needles, his addiction holding him captive.</p>
  921. <p>But how did he get there? His journey to strung out and <a href="https://spywitnessnews.org/operation-coat-of-protection-2-local-businesses-team-up/5043/">homeless</a> bore no resemblance to his early life. He wasn’t born to drug addicts or other obvious precursors to this life. The picture of his early life wouldn’t appear to be a predictor of what his life had become.</p>
  922. <p>Cliff started playing guitar at age 12. By 14, he had evolved into a songwriter, an early sign of his musical destiny. Channelling his emotions into lyrics helped for a short time while beneath the surface, the shadows lurked. The seeds of rejection sown in his childhood took root and stunted the development of vital coping strategies. It also didn’t help that he kept getting turned down for audio engineering jobs. More rejection and no way to manage it.</p>
  923. <p>The lack of personal growth led Cliff to depression and to seek solace in pain medications, beginning with small amounts to “take the edge off” the turmoil inside. What started as a seemingly effective coping mechanism soon opened the gateway to addiction.</p>
  924. <p>Cliff looks at the camera and explains that the transition from painkillers to the more accessible heroin was an economic no-brainer. Heroin was much cheaper than painkillers. At first, he found temporary comfort in the fact that he was merely snorting it and not shooting it into his veins. That soon changed as he descended into intravenous use.</p>
  925. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/hennie-stander-nlbkvkm-2cw-unsplash_ed7641965318b763c141013aa7f70b40_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/hennie-stander-nlbkvkm-2cw-unsplash_ed7641965318b763c141013aa7f70b40_1600.jpg 2x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/hennie-stander-nlbkvkm-2cw-unsplash_ed7641965318b763c141013aa7f70b40_800.jpg 1x, https://images.storychief.com/account_3100/hennie-stander-nlbkvkm-2cw-unsplash_ed7641965318b763c141013aa7f70b40_1600.jpg 2x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/hennie-stander-nlbkvkm-2cw-unsplash_ed7641965318b763c141013aa7f70b40_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Used drug needles, Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@henniestander?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hennie Stander</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/clear-glass-tube-with-white-plastic-tube-nLbKVkm_2cw?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>
  926. <p>Leading a double life, he kept his addiction a secret from even his closest friends.</p>
  927. <blockquote><p>“Addictions represent, in their onset, the defenses of an organism against suffering; it does not know how to endure.” – Dr. Gabor Mate, The Myth of Normal</p></blockquote>
  928. <p>At age 31, he was diagnosed with diabetes but had no desire to take care of his health. Neglecting proper medical care, his condition brought severe symptoms including visual challenges and disorienting hallucinations. With a long-expired driver’s license that he ignored for over a year, Cliff found himself behind the wheel. That day, as his sugar levels skyrocketed, he suddenly realized that he could no longer drive.</p>
  929. <p>He shifted his car into “Park” and stumbled out onto the dirt. Spotting a water spigot a short distance away, he started a desperate crawl towards it. He mustered the strength to turn the spigot. But nothing happened. No water. Silence.</p>
  930. <p>Then, Cliff cried out for help for the first time in his life.</p>
  931. <h2 id="19r1o">Nowhere to run</h2>
  932. <p>The next thing he knew, Cliff <a href="https://spywitnessnews.org/what-does-it-mean-to-be-woke/6004/">woke</a> up in the back of an ambulance with a uniformed man looming over him, interrogating him about what substances were coursing through his veins. He struggled to explain the truth – that he wasn’t overdosing but rather, experiencing a dire diabetic episode and in need of lifesaving insulin. Yet, his pleas fell on deaf ears. The emergency medical services worker in the grip of his own assumptions, refused to listen to him.</p>
  933. <p>As the ambulance sped towards the hospital, Cliff’s world continued to blur. At one point, he saw a vision of a container, propped up in the corner of the ambulance, brimming with human bones.</p>
  934. <p>Waking up in a hospital bed, he overheard voices nearby and knew that if they began to treat him for an overdose rather than his diabetic condition, it could have serious consequences. Terrified for his life, Cliff gathered his strength and bolted out of the hospital, his gown flapping as he ran down the hallway. He dove into the bushes outside the front entrance.</p>
  935. <h2 id="dhppn">The revelation</h2>
  936. <p>A few minutes later, hospital staff arrived at the bushes with a wheelchair. In that instant, Cliff understood that this was the end of escaping his own history. The endless running had brought him to this place, a place where he could stand still, face his past, and begin to heal.</p>
  937. <p>From the depths of his addiction, Cliff was forced to remain clean for a week in the hospital. Upon his release, the urge returned and he spent hours in pursuit of heroin. Just a small amount, he told himself, as he prepped his veins for the injection. Barely an effect, he felt the gravity of this decision. “I can’t believe I’ve thrown my life away for <em>this</em>.”</p>
  938. <p>That was the last time Cliff used heroin and that memory became the inspiration to write his first song after years of addiction, “<a href="https://youtu.be/pMBtTxkEywo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">At The Edge</a>.”</p>
  939. <p>Five years later, visiting his girlfriend, Cliff found himself standing on that same beach, this time in peace and strength and thinking to himself, “You’re fine now.”</p>
  940. <h2 id="f2ffk">From consumption to creation</h2>
  941. <p>Cliff now runs his own creative music business, <a href="https://elevatemusicpro.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Elevate Music Production</a>. He is a sought-after vocalist and <a href="https://elevatemusicpro.com/free-music/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">music producer</a> who creates innovative compositions for businesses and provides audio engineering services.</p>
  942. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/img-88651-1024x682_9ec28d169076f01bac71935f437646e0_800.jpg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/img-88651-1024x682_9ec28d169076f01bac71935f437646e0_800.jpg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/img-88651-1024x682_9ec28d169076f01bac71935f437646e0_800.jpg" /></picture><figcaption>Photographer: JSPhotography</figcaption></figure>
  943. <p>Through his <a href="https://holistictherapiesdirectory.com/blog/why-do-more-people-turn-to-natural-therapists" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">healing journey</a>, he traced his stunted growth and lack of accountability back to his childhood need for acceptance. With this newfound clarity, he was able to use his past to move him forward into a bright future. Digging for the roots of his hardships, Cliff realized that his past led him back to where he started, back to music.</p>
  944. <p>He harnessed his power to create beauty out of chaos, swapping consumption for creation. He even started gardening, his past serving as fertilizer, nurturing plants as well as his own spirit. And that’s not all: Cliff and his girlfriend, now fiancé, are looking forward to getting married.</p>
  945. <p>When asked about what message he would give to anyone currently struggling with addiction, Cliff says, <em>“You can’t solve a problem just by chopping off branches; you have to start at the roots.”</em> He encourages everyone to explore and heal from their <a href="https://jockbrocas.com/prolonged-grief-disorder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">trauma</a> and from the things that they’re running from.</p>
  946. <p>In the end, Cliff’s story is a reminder that within all of us is the potential for greatness, waiting to be awakened regardless of our beginnings. The sky is the limit. Stop and listen to the whispers in your heart. <strong>What adventure is calling YOU?</strong></p>
  947. <p><em>If you’re struggling with addiction or mental health, please seek the advice of a medical doctor or other licensed professional.</em></p>
  948. <p><!-- strchf script --><script>if(window.strchfSettings === undefined) window.strchfSettings = {};window.strchfSettings.stats = {url: "https://spywitness.storychief.io/en/lets-go-higher-a-story-of-triumph-over-addiction?id=814650224&type=2",title: "Let’s Go Higher: A Story of Triumph Over Addiction",siteId: "701",id: "3685adb4-8a43-47c0-98d8-eb971338ca5f"};(function(d, s, id) {var js, sjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) {window.strchf.update(); return;}js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/scripts/v0/strchf.js";js.async = true;sjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, sjs);}(document, 'script', 'storychief-jssdk'))</script><!-- End strchf script --></p>
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  955. </item>
  956. <item>
  957. <title>Rising Death Toll From Legionnaires&#8217; Disease, Poland-Ukraine Border</title>
  958. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/rising-death-toll-legionnaires-disease/6791/</link>
  959. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/rising-death-toll-legionnaires-disease/6791/#respond</comments>
  961. <dc:creator><![CDATA[yourmindblown]]></dc:creator>
  962. <pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:47:22 +0000</pubDate>
  963. <category><![CDATA[Health and Wellness]]></category>
  964. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/rising-death-toll-from-legionnaires-disease-poland-ukraine-border/6791/</guid>
  965.  
  966. <description><![CDATA[In southeastern Poland near the Ukrainian border, the Legionnaires' disease death toll has reached 16, with 140 more infected. Authorities are investigating the origin of the outbreak and suggest it may be linked to infrequently used plumbing. #LegionnairesDisease #PolandUkraine]]></description>
  967. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>In southeastern Poland near the Ukrainian border, the Legionnaires&#8217; disease death toll has reached 16, with 140 more infected.</em></p>
  968. <p><strong>Warsaw, Poland</strong>— Poland&#8217;s Legionnaires&#8217; death toll has reached 16, with an additional 140 infections reported in the southeastern region near the Ukrainian border, according to health authorities on Wednesday. The Rzeszow region, located 50 miles (80 km) from the border, plays a crucial role as a transit hub for military support from all over the world to Ukraine, hosting around ten thousand U.S. troops. Authorities noted a higher fatality rate in elderly individuals with underlying health conditions, including cancer.</p>
  969. <p>The city&#8217;s pipeline network contains germs that can cause Legionnaires&#8217; disease, according to laboratory studies. Authorities continue to investigate the origin of the diseases, which have increased to previously unheard-of levels in the area. The Internal Security Agency is also looking into potential evidence of criminal behavior.</p>
  970. <p><a href="https://buildingsafewater.hc3fl.com/why-legionnaires-disease-is-surging-in-america" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-6818 size-medium" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cases-300x300.jpg" alt="legionaires disease" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cases-300x300.jpg 300w, https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cases-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cases-150x150.jpg 150w, https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cases-768x768.jpg 768w, https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cases-75x75.jpg 75w, https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cases-350x350.jpg 350w, https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cases-750x750.jpg 750w, https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Cases.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>
  971. <p>Experts suggest that the outbreak could be linked to infrequently used plumbing. This creates the perfect environment for bacteria that might have increased in the elevated temperatures through the recent heatwave.</p>
  972. <p>To disinfect Rzeszow&#8217;s water system, chlorine was applied over the weekend.</p>
  973. <h2>What Is Legionnaires Disease and How Is It Transmitted?</h2>
  974. <p><a href="https://hc3fl.com/healthcare-consulting-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Legionnaires disease</a> is a lung disease caused by inhaling contaminated water droplets, not transmitted via drinking water. The disease, stemming from the legionella bacteria, can lead to a severe pneumonia-like illness. The primary mode of transmission, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO), involves inhaling contaminated aerosols generated from water sprays, jets, or mists originating from contaminated water sources.</p>
  975. <p>Typically, it is contracted in places like hospitals, hotels, or offices where these bacteria are introduced to the water supply, such as through A/C systems or unused showers and taps. The bacteria thrive in temperatures between 20 to 50 °C (68-122 °F), and the disease can be overcome with the right treatment.</p>
  976. <p>On Thursday, Mayor Konrad Fijolek of Rzeszow announced that water samples were undergoing legionella testing, with results expected by Monday. Concurrently, the city has escalated water treatment measures, including maximizing chlorine, UV rays, and ozone levels. Additionally, the water system will undergo thorough rinsing and disinfection, as stated by Mayor Fijolek.</p>
  977. <h2 id="rqnn">What Is It?</h2>
  978. <p>Legionnaires&#8217; disease is a severe variant of pneumonia, characterized by lung inflammation typically resulting from infection. This condition is brought about by a bacterium called legionella. The primary transmission mode occurs when individuals <a href="https://exposureconsulting.com/exposure-risk-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">inhale the bacteria</a>, often in water or soil. Certain demographics, such as older adults, smokers, and those with compromised immune systems, are at a heightened risk of contracting Legionnaires&#8217; disease.</p>
  979. <h2 id="2nke0">Symptoms of Legionnare&#8217;s Disease</h2>
  980. <p>The symptoms of Legionnaires&#8217; disease closely resemble those of the flu, including a high temperature, feverishness, chills, cough, muscle pains, and headaches. In some cases, it can progress to pneumonia, and very rarely, individuals may experience diarrhea and signs of mental confusion. Importantly, Legionnaires&#8217; disease is not transmitted from person to person, making it different from many infectious diseases.</p>
  981. <h2 id="aibe1">Prevention</h2>
  982. <ul>
  983. <li><strong><a href="https://hc3fl.com/healthcare-consulting-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maintain Clean Water Systems</a>: </strong>Regularly clean and disinfect water systems, especially in large buildings like hotels, hospitals, and office complexes. Ensure water heaters, cooling towers, and plumbing systems are well-maintained and free from Legionella bacteria.</li>
  984. <li><strong>Monitor Water Temperature</strong>: Keep water temperatures out of the ideal range for Legionella growth. Hot water should be stored at temperatures above 140°F (60°C) and distributed at temperatures above 122°F (50°C). Coldwater should be kept below 77°F (25°C).</li>
  985. <li><strong>Regular Maintenance of Cooling Towers</strong>: Cooling towers, often found in industrial and commercial settings, should be properly maintained and cleaned to prevent bacterial growth. Regularly monitor water quality and treat it with biocides as necessary.</li>
  986. <li><strong>Ensure Adequate Ventilation</strong>: Design and maintain ventilation systems to reduce the risk of contaminated <a href="https://spywitnessnews.org/why-is-my-air-conditioner-leaking-water/2662/">water aerosols entering the air</a> circulation.</li>
  987. </ul>
  988. <h2 id="77q4t">Treatment and Complications</h2>
  989. <p>Legionnaires&#8217; disease typically requires antibiotic treatment, and most cases respond well to this therapy. While healthy individuals often recover from the illness, they need hospital care. Potential complications of Legionnaires&#8217; disease encompass lung failure and, in severe cases, death.</p>
  990. <p>Approximately 1 in 10 individuals afflicted with Legionnaires&#8217; disease succumb to its severity. The mortality rate is higher for those contracting the disease during a healthcare facility stay, with about 1 in 4 individuals at risk of a fatal outcome.</p>
  991. <p><!-- strchf script --><script>if(window.strchfSettings === undefined) window.strchfSettings = {};window.strchfSettings.stats = {url: "https://spywitness.storychief.io/en/rising-death-toll-from-legionnaires-disease-poland-ukraine-border?id=322083981&type=2",title: "Rising Death Toll From Legionnaires&#039; Disease, Poland-Ukraine Border",siteId: "701",id: "3685adb4-8a43-47c0-98d8-eb971338ca5f"};(function(d, s, id) {var js, sjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if (d.getElementById(id)) {window.strchf.update(); return;}js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;js.src = "https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/scripts/v0/strchf.js";js.async = true;sjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, sjs);}(document, 'script', 'storychief-jssdk'))</script><!-- End strchf script --></p>
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  995. <slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
  998. </item>
  999. <item>
  1000. <title>Eco-Warrior Empowers Environmental Sustainability, Takes on Iguana Control Challenge</title>
  1001. <link>https://spywitnessnews.org/eco-warrior-empowers-environmental-sustainability-takes-on-iguana-control-challenge/6783/</link>
  1002. <comments>https://spywitnessnews.org/eco-warrior-empowers-environmental-sustainability-takes-on-iguana-control-challenge/6783/#respond</comments>
  1004. <dc:creator><![CDATA[Mary Kay Ranger]]></dc:creator>
  1005. <pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2023 17:20:59 +0000</pubDate>
  1006. <category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
  1007. <category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
  1008. <category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
  1009. <category><![CDATA[business spotlight]]></category>
  1010. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://spywitnessnews.org/eco-warrior-empowers-environmental-sustainability-takes-on-iguana-control-challenge/6783/</guid>
  1011.  
  1012. <description><![CDATA[[photo courtesy of Michael Ronquillo, Humane Iguana Control] A pickup truck rolls up to a residential driveway. It’s wrapped in an orange and green scaly design with a row of orange spikes on the roof. At first glance, you might think it’s a prop from a movie set. But if you live in South Florida, [&#8230;]]]></description>
  1013. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/humane-iguana-control-truck_e58325ded6b94616e3d05f5aa849d3f7_800.jpeg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/humane-iguana-control-truck_e58325ded6b94616e3d05f5aa849d3f7_800.jpeg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" alt="iguana control" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/humane-iguana-control-truck_e58325ded6b94616e3d05f5aa849d3f7_800.jpeg" /></picture><figcaption>[photo courtesy of Michael Ronquillo, Humane Iguana Control]</figcaption></figure>
  1014. <p>A pickup truck rolls up to a residential driveway. It’s wrapped in an orange and green scaly design with a row of orange spikes on the roof. At first glance, you might think it’s a prop from a movie set. But if you live in South Florida, you’ll recognize it immediately. </p>
  1015. <p>Michael Ronquillo hops out of the truck. He founded Humane Iguana Control to <a href="https://humaneiguanacontrol.com/iguana-removal-services/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">control the green iguana population in South Florida</a> with professional and eco-friendly solutions.</p>
  1016. <p>Spy Witness News journalist interviewed Michael over a Zoom call to learn about his family and his future business vision.</p>
  1017. <h2 id="3ikcr"><strong>A Call From Nature: Michael Sets the Stage</strong></h2>
  1018. <p>Michael, a native of Miami, grew up near the water and spent his childhood catching sand fleas. Because of this, he feels connected to nature and to the ecosystem of his homeland.</p>
  1019. <p>Michael’s entrepreneurial success began with his landscaping company, a lucrative business in South Florida. He specialized in planning, installing, and maintaining outdoor spaces, including residential gardens and commercial properties. </p>
  1020. <p>Florida is known for having more elderly residents than many other states. This makes it a popular place for retirement. Florida has many retirement communities that attract retirees from all over the country, including &quot;snowbirds&quot; from Northern states and Canada who come to Florida to avoid the cold winter months.</p>
  1021. <p>Gardening is a popular pastime here, benefiting from Florida&#x27;s warm climate and diverse plant life. The state has a warm climate and diverse plant life, with many types of plants, including tropical and subtropical species. Residents invest substantial amounts in enhancing their gardens, thereby enriching Florida’s ecosystem.</p>
  1022. <p>Michael often returned to a property to take care of the landscape, but he would find that valuable plants worth thousands of dollars had been destroyed. The culprits? Invasive <a href="https://spywitnessnews.org/invasive-iguanas-wreak-havoc-on-floridas-ecosystem/6762/">iguanas were wreaking havoc</a>. In addition, he frequently found large holes made by iguanas to lay their eggs. This posed a significant safety hazard for the residents.</p>
  1023. <p>Michael was profoundly affected by the destructive behavior of these animals. After spending more than ten years taking care of Florida&#x27;s plants, he felt a strong change, as if his passion was taking him away from landscaping. He began contemplating another venture &#8211; pest control &#8211; though he remained uncertain. Guided by his spiritual beliefs, Michael kept an open mind, staying vigilant for the signs that would illuminate his path.</p>
  1024. <h2 id="f3jjc">The Birth of Humane Iguana Control</h2>
  1025. <p>The COVID-19 pandemic quickly disrupted the entire world. As a result, Michael&#x27;s landscaping business considerably slowed down. However, this unexpected turn of events granted Michael with a precious opportunity to pause, reflect, and embrace a deeper connection with his spirituality, opening his mind and heart to receive invaluable <a href="https://21v.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">spiritual guidance</a>. The sign came in an unexpected way. </p>
  1026. <p>As Michael wondered about his possible new business venture, an <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/green-iguana" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iguana</a> appeared in front of him. Its hind legs were taped together, a precaution taken when handling them. This one managed to free itself and somehow found its way onto Michael’s path. </p>
  1027. <p>Immediately, Michael knew that he was meant to be a part of the solution to managing the iguana problem in Florida. He sold his landscaping business and soon, his new family business Humane Iguana Control was born. </p>
  1028. <h4 id="36eac">Problem Solving</h4>
  1029. <p>Michael immersed himself in gaining an understanding of the problem he felt called to solve. Preserving and restoring the ecosystem through <a href="https://www.pestfinderpro.com/florida/miami/pest-control-services/humane-iguana-control" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pest control</a> became his focus. Michael and his wife, Michelle, are experts on <a href="https://humaneiguanacontrol.com/iguana-removal-service-special/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">iguana removal</a> despite their business being just 4 years old.</p>
  1030. <p>Iguanas can grow up to 20 pounds and as large as 6 feet long. And they breed quickly. An adult female can lay up to 60 eggs. </p>
  1031. <p>They munch on plants depleting the food supply for <a href="https://animalia.bio/florida-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Florida’s native wildlife</a>. They’re also a threat to butterflies, competing for the same food sources. Green iguanas frequently invade, and damage burrows created by protected owls, resulting in unsuccessful breeding and a decrease in the owl population. Also, given their size, iguanas trample and damage plants, shrubs, and trees. </p>
  1032. <p>Iguana feces may have harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. These bacteria can cause severe gastrointestinal problems in both humans and pets. Michael described how they gravitate to backyard swimming pools, with their feces threatening the water quality and posing potential slip-and-fall hazards to vulnerable seniors. </p>
  1033. <p>According to the <a href="https://myfwc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission</a>, “Green iguanas are not native to Florida and are considered an invasive species due to their impacts to native wildlife.” Since 2021, the Commission has included them in the list of prohibited species. This means that only those acquired before April 29, 2021, are allowed for personal possession.</p>
  1034. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image_2c2dc2adb98a01d18b30bfa37c8a017a_800.png 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image_2c2dc2adb98a01d18b30bfa37c8a017a_800.png 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image_2c2dc2adb98a01d18b30bfa37c8a017a_800.png" /></picture><figcaption>screen capture from <a href="https://myfwc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://myfwc.com/</a></figcaption></figure>
  1035. <h2 id="pvk2"><strong>Weathering Storms: Challenges and Triumphs</strong></h2>
  1036. <p>In the midst of the pandemic uncertainty, Michael and Michelle faced their biggest challenge yet. They made a bold move by selling their landscaping business during this period and going all-in with Humane Iguana Control. Seeing a chance for transformation, they seized the moment to pivot with a united purpose. Guided by their deep sense of a calling and spiritual insight, they embarked on a new venture, turning adversity into triumph.</p>
  1037. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image0_8f6bcee8d05742c25ced9809bcf45951_800.jpeg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image0_8f6bcee8d05742c25ced9809bcf45951_800.jpeg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image0_8f6bcee8d05742c25ced9809bcf45951_800.jpeg" /></picture><figcaption>Michael and Michelle with matching tattoos &#8211; photo courtesy of Michael Ronquillo</figcaption></figure>
  1038. <p>And this is what they are role-modelling for their kids. Their resilience and entrepreneurial spirit not only revitalized their professional journey but also showcased their ability to adapt and thrive in the face of change and uncertainty.</p>
  1039. <p>This bold move not only demonstrated their courage, but it also highlighted their innovative approach to problem-solving and their unwavering belief in their mission. Today, they stand as an inspiring example of people who turned a setback into a stepping stone towards success.</p>
  1040. <h2 id="3tq3o">The Unique Vision: Michael’s Approach to Elevate South Florida’s Ecosystem</h2>
  1041. <p>Michael’s goal is to restore the balance of Florida’s ecosystem and to diminish the impact of the invasive iguanas.  If their population continues to remain unchecked, the consequences could include disruption to the food chain, native species’ reproductive patterns, and modified habitats of other species.  </p>
  1042. <p>Humane Iguana Control is committed to providing solutions to Florida residents who have chosen this area for a higher quality of life. Their services include a consultation, a tactical plan, iguana removal, prevention, and maintenance.  One of the most unique services they provide is nighttime removal, using state-of-the-art night vision equipment to be able to move around easily in the dark.</p>
  1043. <p>Michael explains that iguanas sleep in trees and bushes at night, making it easier to find and capture them, given their bright green colour. This is a huge benefit for properties that have thick ground vegetation. Iguanas are less active at nighttime and are generally slower moving when their body temperature lowers. Nighttime removal may also be less stressful for the iguanas. </p>
  1044. <figure class="image strchf-type-image regular strchf-size-regular strchf-align-center"><picture><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image4_32b5deab5d2e10a86ce7b5bb2a546114_800.jpeg 1x" media="(max-width: 768px)" /><source srcset="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image4_32b5deab5d2e10a86ce7b5bb2a546114_800.jpeg 1x" media="(min-width: 769px)" /><img decoding="async" src="https://spywitnessnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/image4_32b5deab5d2e10a86ce7b5bb2a546114_800.jpeg" /></picture><figcaption>Nighttime iguana removal &#8211; photo courtesy of Michael Ronquillo</figcaption></figure>
  1045. <h2 id="3vnk1">Humane Iguana Control&#x27;s Strategic Expansion</h2>
  1046. <p>Since the inception of Humane Iguana Control, Michael and his team of experts have been dedicated to safeguarding the delicate ecosystem. Their commitment shines through in their efforts to protect and preserve the natural balance.</p>
  1047. <p>Looking ahead, when asked about his vision for the future, Michael envisions broadening their pest control services to include raccoon and python removal. The Burmese python, much like the green iguana, has become a significant invasive species. These snakes, often introduced through the pet trade, have found a thriving environment in the subtropical climate of South Florida. With their predatory instincts, they pose a huge threat to the ecosystem.</p>
  1048. <p>Michael and Michelle stand ready to approach challenges with innovative thinking and their ears tuned into the needs of South Florida communities. </p>
  1049. <h2 id="9843a">Michael and the Ronquillo Family: Leaving a Legacy</h2>
  1050. <p>As Humane Iguana Control continues to evolve, Michael, Michelle, and their team are positioned to lead the way in responsible wildlife management.  </p>
  1051. <p>This family-owned business is dedicated to preserving Florida&#x27;s delicate ecosystem and expanding its <a href="https://contentamplified.io/how-to-get-new-pest-control-customers/8206/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pest control services</a> to address new challenges, such as raccoon and python removal, demonstrating their commitment to the well-being of South Florida communities.  </p>
  1052. <p>With a reputation for excellence built on ethical practices, they are setting a standard for businesses in the region. Their dedication to responsible wildlife management has an impact that is not only felt in the present but will resonate for generations to come, leaving a positive and enduring mark on the unique environment and the lives of those who call South Florida home. </p>
  1053. <p>As they forge ahead, Michael and Michelle&#x27;s innovative spirit and unwavering mission promise a future where harmony between native species and the ecosystem flourishes under their care. Remaining open to fresh ideas, they embrace their calling and purpose as guardians of a balanced and healthy natural world. They&#x27;re creating a future where the local wildlife and the environment can thrive together; leaving a positive mark on the world and on generations to come. </p>
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