August 1, 2007

Today's Leftover Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

A Belgian man appeared in court after a woman at his dinner party found the bodies of his wife and stepson in the freezer as she put away the leftovers. The woman went to the police after discovering the 46-year-old woman and her 11-year-old son and officers arrested the man in the town of Verviers, near Liege in east Belgium, on Wednesday, July 4, 2007. "She went to the freezer and that is what she saw. She then alerted the police," said Georges Lahaye of the local public prosecutors' office. Prosecutors want the suspect, aged 43, to be remanded in custody to allow more time for an investigation into the deaths. Lahaye said the suspect had not made a confession. He added that the couple argued a lot.

Culled from: Reuters
Generously submitted by: Remo

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My guess as to the man's response when confronted about the bodies? "Is THAT where they've been all this time???" <innocent expression> If this had happened in America they'd blame it on Desperate Housewives...

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Morbid Mirth Du Jour!

Here's a little video worth laughing out loud over!

Billy's Balloon

Thanks to Desmodus for the link.

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Ghastly!

Here's a video that I believe I may have shared with you previously of a man being thrown from a car and run over by oncoming traffic. If I did already share it, I apologize for the repeat. However, I know how you are... and I'm sure you'll enjoy watching it again, won't you? ;-)

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/throwncar.asp

Thanks to Paradox for the link.

August 2, 2007

Today's Forcibly Restrained Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

Wladislaw Dering was a Polish prisoner doctor at Auschwitz. He was enlisted by S.S. doctors to perform surgery in connection with sterilization experiments. Dering removed ovaries and testicles of about two hundred Jewish inmates after these organs had been subjected to radiation, to make them available for pathological examination to determine whether the radiation had been effective. He administered spinal anesthesia in a crude and painful manner, often while patients were forcibly restrained. Operations were done without sterile procedures for hands and instruments, were performed extremely rapidly, and were followed by hasty and rough suturing. Another prisoner doctor, Dr. Wanda J., had the task of calming the young women Dering operated upon. In subsequently taking care of these women, she observed the extensive tissue destruction and infection resulting from the combination of deep X-rays, crude surgery, and general Auschwitz conditions. Dering made a tobacco pouch out of the scrotum of one of the testicles he had removed from Jewish prisoners, and sometimes displayed it to other inmates.

Culled from: The Nazi Doctors

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How about that bridge in Minneapolis?? I'm sure I've driven over it many times, having spent much time in the Twin Cities. Can't quite imagine what it would be like to be sitting there in rush hour traffic, then suddenly plunging into the water... but it's got to be better than what happened to those poor souls along the Nimitz Freeway in Oakland during the '89 S.F. Earthquake. Remember that? The lower level of the freeway was pancaked. Now, that *can't* be comfortable!

Sometimes I'm glad I work from home!

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Morbid Trinket Du Jour!

The Sock Horror Mausoleum is your one-stop shop for only the most horrific of sock puppets!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5061899

Thanks to Jen for the link.

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Morbid Link Du Jour!

We've talked before about the importance of devising the perfect last words to secure your legacy as a clever, witty, and intelligent being. Well, if you're not as clever, witty, and intelligent as most, here's the perfect answer:

The Deathbed Joke Project

Thanks to Steve O for the link.

August 4, 2007

Today's Statistical Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

It is estimated that 100 billion people have died since humans began.

Culled from: Discover.Com
Generously submitted by: Amos Quito and Barry

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I'm not sure exactly how they defined "since humans began" - I'm assuming they mean when Homo sapiens sapiens began about 200,000 years ago. Unfortunately, the article doesn't say so I'll just have to trust their judgement on this one.

No, you didn't miss an episode of Morbid Fact Du Jour - I didn't get one out yesterday thanks to a combination of fighting with my dying computer and being sidetracked by a trip to Great America. Yes, the Comtesse does, upon occasion, attempt to enjoy herself... but she always fails miserably. In this case, she found that being strapped into place then thrown into odd angles at high speed doesn't actually increase her enjoyment of life... which is quite astonishing. Thank goodness for the Dippin' Dots and the Funnel Cake, or all would have been lost! (Including, possibly, pounds.)

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Morbid Observation Du Jour!

Did you ever notice the uncanny likeness between these two serial killers? Only the one on the right has beadier eyes... and a much greater death toll.

Thanks to Axollot for the image.

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Morbid Link Du Jour!

Does the fact that these pictures sent me into a hysterical fit of laughter make me a bad person?

http://www.snopes.com/photos/medical/forknose.asp

August 5, 2007

Today's Electric Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

A Vietnamese man who once appeared on national television to demonstrate his ability to resist electric shocks has been electrocuted while repairing a generator. Nguyen Van Hung, aged in his early 40s, was killed in Tay Ninh province near the Cambodian border while repairing the generator without first cutting the power supply. "When alive, he used to demonstrate at our office how he would insert two fingers into the electrical plughole without problems," a local official said. Hung, nicknamed "Hung Electric," had appeared on television's "Strange Stories of Vietnam."

Culled from: Reuters
Generously submitted by: Bruce T.

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I'm sure someone will start a band named Hung Electric. I mean, how could they not?

Speaking of bands, I spent a miserable Sunday sweating to death with a bunch of annoying yuppies at Lollapalooza. Never again, I say, never again! The only thing that made the trip worthwhile was the ever-amazing Juliette Lewis and her band Juliette and the Licks, who were incredible. Other than that, I think I'm done with music festivals. Too much pain, not enough gain.

And speaking of morbid, the Comtesse is actually going to start the Master Cleanse Diet tomorrow. I have tried this diet three times before and have never made it past day two, so the chances of success are very slim... but I definitely need to reverse the damage the funnel cake and Dippin' Dots have done. Besides, I hear it's quite an adventure after about a week, when all of the toxins in your body start coming out in very disgusting ways. I figure I'll give you daily updates and that will force me to stay on the diet for the requisite 10 days. One would hope anyway...

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Morbid Mirth Du Jour!

When Funerals Go Really, Really Wrong!

Thanks to Googie for the link.

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Urban Exploration Link Du Jour!

I stumbled upon a great Urban Exploration Live Journal community called Abandoned Places. It's well worth a gander!

http://community.livejournal.com/abandonedplaces

August 6, 2007

Today's Searing Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

On February 4, 1797 a tremendous earthquake collapsed buildings, released avalanches, and started volcanoes erupting in a disaster that devastated five Ecuadoran provinces. The city of Quito, Ecuador, was demolished, while whole mountains and rivers were also moved in the affected area. Citizens of the village of Cuero may have had time to look up and see the mountainside rolling down upon them before the entire village was buried without a trace. Even as a mountain tumbled down upon the village of Masdro, the ground split open and the houses, churches, and streets disappeared into the fissure. Only two people there survived. Meanwhile, a flood of lava erupted from the volcano Ygulaga, sweeping away more than five villages in its searing path. The area was later described as a lake of smoldering lava. Estimates of the dead were put at 40,000 or more.

Culled from: The Pessimist's Guide To History

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Okay, okay - false alarm on the Master Cleanse. It turns out that the Comtesse forgot that she has a dinner engagement with the Duke of Entropy this weekend, and since the master cleanse requires at least 10 days of nothing but lemon juice, maple syrup, water, and cayenne pepper, it would be somewhat rude to be cleansing whilst socializing. Also, I have absolutely no willpower and enjoy food very much... but really, that had nothing to do with it. Really.

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Vile Video!

Here's a fascinating video of a motorcyclist running into an obstacle in his attempt to escape from the police. It's amazing that anyone could walk away from this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG8xsAaOnwY

Thanks to Nina for the link.

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Morbid Trinket Du Jour!

Here's the perfect office accessory for the filthy rich! A Spine Lamp!

Available for a hefty fee from Mark Beam.

Thanks to Shifter for the link.

August 7, 2007

Today's Scientifically Recounted Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

In 2001, C.W. Moeliker published his findings in the zoological publication Deinsea magazine, where he scientifically recounted observations of a 1995 incident in which a mallard duck crashed into the mirrored windows of the Natuurmuseum Rotterdam, died, and then was raped for 72 minutes by another male mallard. Though necrophilliac behavior has been previously documented among ducks, this was the first recorded case of homosexual necrophilia in the species.

Culled from: The 2006 Fact Or Crap Calendar
Generously submitted by: Jason

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And, rather unbelievably, this guy won a Nobel Prize in biology for this "research"!

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A Morbid Must-Have!

I just saw on Amazon that a new book of historic photographs from the Mütter Museum is being released next month. Rejoice!!

"The first book on the Mütter Museum contain artful images of the museum's fascinating exhibits shot by contemporary fine art photographers. Here, the focus is on the museum’s archive of rare historic photographs, most of which have never been seen by the public. Featured are poignant, aesthetically accomplished works ranging from Civil War photographs showing injury and recovery, to the ravages of diseases not yet conquered in the 19th century, to pathological anomalies, to psychological disorders. Many were taken by talented photographers between the 1860s and the 1940s as records for physicians to share among colleagues and to track patients’ conditions, and demonstrate various techniques used in medical photography including the daguerreotype, micrography, X ray, and traditional portrait-style photography. As visual documents of what humans endured in the face of limited medical knowledge, these extraordinary and haunting photographs demonstrate how far medicine has advanced."

I'm soooooooooooooooooooo excited!!!

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Morbid Mirth Du Jour!

Is your idea of a good time a game in which you run and shoot zombies while listening to "music" by goregrind bands like Last Days of Humanity, Regurgitate and Inhume? Then, I have the link for you!

http://www.viceland.com/se/v2n2/htdocs/zombiegrinder.swf

Thanks to Sebbo for the link.

August 8, 2007

Today's Maximally Accessible Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

One of the methods of execution utilized at Auschwitz was a fatal phenol injection to the heart. An injection of ten to fifteen milliliters into the heart caused death within fifteen seconds. The victims were positioned on a footstool, usually so that the right arm covered the victim's eyes and the left arm was raised sideways in a horizontal position. Sometimes one's right hand was at the back of one's neck, with the left behind the shoulder blade; and some victims were blindfolded with a towel. The idea was for the victim's chest to be thrust out so that the cardiac area was maximally accessible for the lethal injection, and for him or her to be unable to see what was happening. The person giving the injection filled his syringe from the bottle and then thrust the needle directly into the heart of the seated prisoner and emptied the contents of the syringe. Most prisoners fell dead almost immediately, but some lived for seconds or even minutes.

One of the prisoner doctors recalled: "The executioners used to boast about their records. 'Three in a minute.' ... And they did not wait until the doomed person really died. During his agony he was taken from both sides under the armpits and thrown into a pile of corpses in another room opposite. And the next took his place on the stool... Approximately fifty people could be killed during one and a half to two hours."

Culled from: The Nazi Doctors

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Follow-Up Du Jour

Several of you wrote to point out that C.W. Moeliker did not, in fact, win a Nobel Prize for his necrophiliac homosexual duck research, but an IgNobel Prize - the parody of a Nobel Prize. Can't believe I missed that! Now, that makes sense!

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Morbid Mirth Du Jour!

I received this e-mail from Jet which amused me, so I thought I'd share:

"I was all curious and excited when I spotted the baby hanging station in the ladies room. So sad, so disappointed. One of the straps was just covering the 'C' in changing station. I guess it's true we see what we wanna see."

Such a tragedy!

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Morbid Trinket Du Jour!

Here's a brilliant product that can be used to improve hygiene even as it creeps your guests out!

http://www.popgadget.net/2007/07/wash_your_hands_1.php

Thanks to Imnettin for the link.

August 9, 2007

Today's Disgusting Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

Richard Kuklinski (April 11, 1935 – March 5, 2006) was a notorious hit man known as "The Iceman" who was connected to the Gambino crime family. Over the course of thirty years Kuklinski killed regularly. Although an exact number has never been settled upon by authorities, Kuklinski himself at various times had claimed to have killed at least 100 and possibly more than 200 individuals. Kuklinski stated that only once had he felt repulsed in the commission of a crime. He once kidnapped one of his victims, and rather than conventionally murder him, tied him up so tightly that the ropes drew blood. He then left the man in a cave in the wilderness where he was eaten alive by rats that were attracted by the smell of blood. Kuklinski filmed the man's death, and claimed that upon viewing it, he felt disgusted for the first and only time in regard to a murder he had committed. According to Philip Carlo's book "Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer" this method of feeding live victims to rats was used multiple times by Kuklinksi. It was common when the victim was required to "suffer." Kuklinski claimed to video tape the deaths for whoever wanted the hit. Police however, have never found any of the videos.

Culled from: Wikipedia
Generously submitted by: Brandon

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Now, that's a hit man with imagination! I'll have to check out that book. Here's the Amazon link, if you're interested:

Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer
by Philip Carlo

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Morbid Mirth Du Jour!

Here's a game that will keep you entertained for minutes! Who knows, maybe even tens of minutes?

http://www.addictinggames.com/stairfall.html

Thanks to RussianWitch for the link.

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Ghastly!

If you're in the mood to look at some nasty medical images, I have the site for you!

UCSD Catalog Of Clinical Images

Thanks to Liz for the link.

August 10, 2007

Today's Very Probable Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

A French prisoner who killed his cellmate "very probably" ate some of the victim's body parts, a prosecutor in the northern town of Rouen said. The victim's body was discovered in a prison cell on Wednesday, January 3, 2007, with a large wound to the chest. The alleged killer, who shared the cell, told investigators he had removed and eaten his victim's heart. Investigators initially discounted the possibility of cannibalism after the victim's heart was "found intact in its usual place and in its membrane which was also intact," Rouen state prosecutor Joseph Schmit said in a statement. However an autopsy revealed that pieces of muscle from the victim's rib area and part of his lung were missing. "The absence of these anatomic elements, which have not been found on the scene of the crime, render the confessions of cannibalism by the presumed perpetrator of the crime very probable," Schmit said. The alleged Rouen killer and another cellmate who admitted he had not been asleep at the time of the crime, were in temporary custody and would be placed under formal investigation for premeditated murder, Schmit said.

Culled from: Undisclosed Source
Generously submitted by: Liz D-M

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Wretched Recommendations!

A few weeks back I featured a Ghastly photo of a death metal singer named, appropriately enough, Dead who was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot by another band member... who thoughtfully photographed the carnage and used it for an album cover.

Amos Quito sent me a link to a book called Lords of Chaos that chronicles the fascinatingly dark Norwegian black metal movement, with all of the murders, suicides, and general derangements that goes along with it. Sounds like a must read!

Lords of Chaos: The Bloody Rise of the Satanic Metal Underground
by Michael Moynihan

Here's the description:

"Gangsta Rap's white-kid counterpart, black metal music enjoys a continued obscurity that is baffling in light of the made-for-tabloid events detailed in Moynihans's and Soderlind's book. Their book is a sort of guide to the Norwegian black metal scene, where, the authors claim, this latest, more rebellious form of heavy metal music originated. Moreover, Norway is the recent setting for the burning of numerous churches, and for two gruesome murders for which a small group of black metallers have been convicted. Whereas gangsta rappers might cite ancient African traditions that have been violently uprooted as a cause for their crimes against society, Norwegian black metal-heads cite the slaughter of their pagan traditions at the hands of early Christians as their justification. For most readers, such rationalizations will fall apart as they note that black metal kids murder their own kind (as, often, do gangsta rappers). It does not require 344 pages (plus appendices) to become disenchanted with the authors' rather disorganized history, but rabid fans will find much to savor here, such as lengthy interviews with the scene's icons. This is an exhaustive look at a few, extremely disturbed young men who, tragically, did not get Ozzy Osbourne's joke."

That's entertainment!!

As a reminder, in case you weren't aware of it, I've compiled my favorite morbid books and films, along with those books and films that have been recommended by readers, into an aStore at Amazon.Com. Profits from the sale of books through the store are used to fund contests and to purchase books from which to glean morbid facts, so your patronage is extremely appreciated. Please come and have a browse if you've never visited before:

The Library Eclectica

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Morbid Motoring!

Here's the perfect car to commit suicide in! It saves your family the trouble of having to pick out a coffin. Talk about foresight!

Thanks to Arctic Peach for the image.

August 11, 2007

Today's Long Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

From November 19-21, 1798 the infamous "Long Storm" swept across New England, its high winds and driving snow burying houses under great snowdrifts. Hundreds of people are believed to have died in the storm.

Culled from: The Pessimist's Guide To History

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Follow-Up Du Jour!

Andrew points out that the coffin car photo that I sent out in the last MFDJ "bears a rather striking resemblance to the Munsters' Dragula racer." Actually, I didn't know that, since I've never been the biggest Munsters fan, but thank you for pointing it out!

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Morbid Site Du Jour!

If you have ancestors from Missouri, you may be interested in looking up their death certificates online. For the rest of us, we can randomly browse through the certificates and entertain ourselves for hours.

Missouri Death Certificates, 1910 – 1956

Thanks to Catherine for the link.

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Wretched Recommendations!

Dorisaurus has a book recommendation for us:

The Zombie Survival Guide
by Max Brooks

"A tongue-in-cheek 'how to' book on the history of zombies and how to protect yourself and your family."

August 12, 2007

Today's Hijacked Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

Pakistani police are hunting a man who dug up his father's two-year old corpse and took it home in a hijacked ambulance to try to bring him back to life. Abdul Rehman's family say he is mentally ill and has never been able to cope with his father's death. "He dug up the corpse on Thursday night after he had hijacked an ambulance and its driver at gunpoint and took it to his home," Ghulam Murtaza, a duty officer at Ferozabad police station said. Police raided the house on Friday after a complaint from the trust that owned the ambulance and from Rehman's brother. "He kept the corpse, which was nothing but a skeleton in his bedroom, for well over 12 hours. He escaped when we raided the house. We have buried it again," Murtaza said. Rehman had also kidnapped a vagabond who slept in the graveyard and locked him up at home. "He told us he saw Rehman chanting magic spells and pouring rose water on the corpse to bring it back to life and was crying bitterly," Murtaza said. Rehman faces a year in jail for defiling a corpse.

Culled from: The New Zealand Herald
Generously submitted by: Remo

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Morbid Video Du Jour!

My friend Virginia sent me a video showing how to get out of a speeding ticket. It makes for a fascinating viewing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDmBXfjIbHM

I tried to find out some information about the video, particularly whether the occupants of the car survived (I somehow doubt it) with no luck. Does anyone out there have any info you can share?

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Wretched Recommendations!

Elizabeth has a film recommendation for us:

"Reading about Jerry Payne's time-lapse film of a decomposing pig reminded me of a brilliant film I saw years ago at Art College which features many such sequences (fruit, a zebra etc) called 'A Zed and Two Noughts' by the genius that is Peter Greenaway. It's about separated conjoined twins who want to be re-joined! Another film of his which subscribers will enjoy (and probably find more accessible) is 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover' which is mostly set in a restaurant, stars Helen Mirren and has a beautifully morbid denoument - watch it soon!"

August 14, 2007

Today's Foreclosed Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

A man making his first visit to a home he bought in a foreclosure auction found the former owner's mummified body sitting on the living room couch in May, 2007. Coroners estimate the woman's remains had been there since 2001, when she stopped making payments on the residence in the coastal town of Roses in Spain's northeast Catalonia region. The body mummified instead of rotting partly because of the salty seaside air in Roses. The woman, in her mid-50s, was estranged from her children in Madrid, and no one had reported her missing. She was not identified by officials. Police said her death also went undetected because her ground-level apartment is in an area of vacation homes with a high turnover of travelers. Roses Mayor Carles Paramo told the newspaper El Mundo it was normal that no one missed the woman because in housing developments like this one "people are not minding other people's business." But authorities were surprised that bank officials who sold the residence after the foreclosure never bothered to examine it. Buyer Jordi Giro acquired the home last week. He visited it Saturday because a fire in the same building had forced the evacuation of some residents and he wanted to check for damage.

Culled from: Yahoo News
Generously submitted by: Bruce T.

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Random thoughts...

1) Some people have all the luck. A new home AND a corpse!! Talk about a bonus!
2) I need to move somewhere where I can get away with not paying for my residence for six years before I'm kicked out.
3) Does anyone else feel a twinge of fear when they read stories like that, thinking, "That's gonna be me if I don't get a social life." I certainly do.

I didn't get a fact sent out yesterday, by the way, in case you were wondering.

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Morbid Link Du Jour!

Here's a site that features some fascinating images of plaster casts from Pompeii.

http://www2.brevard.edu/reynoljh/italy/corpsecasts.htm

Thanks to Anna for the link.

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Wretched Recommendations!

Here are some uber-creepy doll head candle holders. Shudder!!!!

Thanks to Shifter for the link.

August 15, 2007

Today's Wicked Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

The Lords of Coucy were a medieval lordship based on the fortress at Coucy-le-Château-Auffrique, in Picardy, France. The lords of Coucy became, especially in the 13th century, one of the most powerful magnates in western Europe, and forged links with royal families such as those of France, England and Scotland. The most notorious and savage of the Coucys was Thomas de Marle. As his mother's heir to the territories of Marle and La Fère, Thomas added them to the Coucy domain to which he succeeded in 1116. Untamed, he pursued a career of enmity and brigandage, directed in varying combinations against Church, town, and King, "the Devil aiding him," according to a contemporary account. He seized manors from convents, tortured prisoners (reportedly hanging men up by their testicles until these tore off from the weight of the body), personally cut the throats of thirty rebellious bourgeois, tranformed his castles into "a nest of dragons and a cave of thieves," and was excommunicated by the Church. When he died in bed in 1130 he was called "the wickedest man of his generation."

Culled from: A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century

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This is just the first of what will prove to be many morbid facts culled from A Distant Mirror. I'm currently reading the plague chapter - oh boy, there are about 20 facts on every page! You gotta love the Middle Ages. Them was rotten days... as you'll soon find out!!

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Wretched Recommendations!

Amy has a book recommendation for us:

Dixie Spirits: True Tales of the Strange and Supernatural in the South
by Christopher K. Coleman

"It's a great read and the best part is it's all true!"

Here's the Amazon synopsis:

"There is something about the South that is particularly conducive to ghosts, hauntings, and assorted weirdness. From the dank bayous of Louisiana to the misty mountains of Appalachia, there is hardly a city, town, or whistle-stop that cannot boast of some resident spirit or similar unexplained phenomena. Dixie Spirits explores this uncanny aspect of the South in depth. A collection of authentic Southern 'haint' tales and other accounts of the unexplained, the stories are set in the land below the Mason-Dixon Line—Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky (Transylvania), Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Old North State (North Carolina), South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Covering both the past and the present, these stories recount some of the most famous hauntings of all times as well as an assortment of anomalies that continue to defy speculation. The 62 stories in Dixie Spirits are organized into sections by state. Although the tales are about the dead (and undead), they are as much about life and living as they are about death and dying. Love’s labor lost, the futility of war, crime and punishment—these are eternal themes that speak to us about the human condition, regardless of their supernatural setting. Moreover, these stories are based on factual, historical incidents involving real people and places."

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Morbid Advertisement!

I recently joined a Live Journal community called Vintage_Ads and every now and again they have some good morbid ones. Like this one!

August 16, 2007

Today's Declassified Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

In a recent raid on an al-Qaeda safe house in Iraq, U.S. military officials recovered an assortment of crude drawings depicting torture methods like "blowtorch to the skin" and "eye removal." Along with the images, soldiers seized various torture implements, like meat cleavers, whips, and wire cutters. The images, which were just declassified by the Department of Defense, also include a picture of a ramshackle Baghdad safe house described as an "al-Qaeda torture chamber." It was there, during an April 24, 2007 raid, that soldiers found a man suspended from the ceiling by a chain. According to the military, he had been abducted from his job and was being beaten daily by his captors. In a raid earlier this week (May 24, 2007), Coalition Forces freed five Iraqis who were found in a padlocked room in Karmah. The group, which included a boy, were reportedly beaten with chains, cables, and hoses.

Culled from: The Smoking Gun
Generously submitted by: Bruce T.

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The photos can be found here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0524072torture1.html

Quite the artist, huh?

Photos of the torture implements can be found here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0524072torture7.html

And photos of the injured Iraqis are here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0524072torture9.html

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Ghastly!

Here's an interesting video featuring some ghastly imagery (including World Trade Center jumpers) set to a catchy cowboy tune called "God Isn't Real". Probably not a good one for religious people to view...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YObpZN8Ub_s

Thanks to EP for the link.

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Morbid Mirth Du Jour!

Here's a new answer to the age old question of How to Make A Dead Baby Float:

http://www.joehavasyillustration.com/c116.html

Thanks to Jen for the link.

August 17, 2007

Today's Not Well Understood Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

The cause of 12th President Zachary Taylor's death is not well understood. On July 4, 1850, Taylor was diagnosed by his physicians with cholera morbus, a term that included diarrhea and dysentery but not true cholera. There is some strong evidence that Taylor died from complications of heat stroke. On July 4, 1850, the weather in Washington was hot and rather humid. Taylor was there to preside over ceremonies at the laying of the cornerstone of the Washington Monument. Taylor was sporting a thick coat, vest, high-collared shirt, and a top hat. Shortly after arriving, Taylor complained that he was very thirsty. He went to the reception table and downed a large amount of water directly from a pitcher.

Since the water was sitting in the sun, the idea of cholera is a possibility. But Taylor exhibited classic symptoms of heat stroke, particularly red, flushed skin on the face. Records also indicate that Taylor was having trouble walking and exhibiting slurred speech. At no time while outside did anyone loosen or remove Taylor's clothing. Only after returning to the White House was some of his clothing loosened. It was only a short time before Taylor collapsed.

At this point his clothing was removed, but internal organs had already been damaged. In fact, his doctors were mystified as to the cause of multiple organ failure. Medical sciences had not addressed heat stroke and the internal damage caused by it. According to author Charles Panati, Taylor actually awoke briefly and said: "I should not be surprised if this were to result in my death." He took a few sips of iced milk, again adding to the possibility of cholera. He lapsed again into unconsciousness and died on July 9, 1850.

Culled from: Wikipedia

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Wouldn't it have been better if he had awoken and said, "I do declare, this humidity is gonna be the DEATH of me!" If only...

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Morbid Trinket Du Jour!

Here's an interesting way to make a point about the hazards of smoking: A lung ashtray! It also makes a nifty change tray for we non-smokers.

Thanks to Desmodus for the link.

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Wretched Recommendations!

Dorisaurus has another humorous fiction recommendation for us:

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
by Max Brooks

"Brooks, the author of the determinedly straight-faced parody The Zombie Survival Guide (2003 - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/071563318X/theasylumeclecti), returns in all seriousness to the zombie theme for his second outing, a future history in the style of Theodore Judson's Fitzpatrick's War. Brooks tells the story of the world's desperate battle against the zombie threat with a series of first-person accounts 'as told to the author' by various characters around the world. A Chinese doctor encounters one of the earliest zombie cases at a time when the Chinese government is ruthlessly suppressing any information about the outbreak that will soon spread across the globe. The tale then follows the outbreak via testimony of smugglers, intelligence officials, military personnel and many others who struggle to defeat the zombie menace. Despite its implausible premise and choppy delivery, the novel is surprisingly hard to put down. The subtle, and not so subtle, jabs at various contemporary politicians and policies are an added bonus."

August 18, 2007

Today's Negligent Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

An airline passenger died in the restroom during a flight and wasn’t found until the cleaning crew boarded the plane after it landed, a federal lawsuit contends. The passenger, Taisuke Matsuo, 66, apparently had a heart attack on an American Airlines flight from Tokyo to Chicago during the first leg of a trip home to Indianapolis, according to the lawsuit filed Monday by his wife, Carolyn D. Watts. The lawsuit accuses American Airlines of negligence and seeks damages of about $150,000. After the plane landed at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on April 13, 2005, passengers and flight crew disembarked and the jet was taken to another gate for cleaning. Workers then discovered the bathroom was locked from the inside and found Matsuo’s body — about two hours after the jet landed.

Culled from: MSNBC.Com
Generously submitted by: Steve O'

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Jeez, you try to give a guy a little privacy and look at the thanks you get!!

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Ghastly!

Okay, I knew it had to happen eventually: I just attempted to read an article about a ghastly industrial accident that was too disgusting for me to finish. Perhaps you'd like to try yourself?

To Hell and Beyond

Thanks to Karen for the link.

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I Want My M(orbid) TV!

Alicia writes to remind us of an oldie but goodie: The First 48. Of course, I TiVo this one "religiously" and highly recommend it.

"I don't know if you have ever seen or heard of this show but I was flipping through the channels and found it. The show is called The First 48, on A&E. On the A&E website they describe it like this:

'For homicide detectives, the clock starts ticking the moment they are called. Their chance of solving a case is cut in half if they don't get a lead in The First 48. Each passing hour gives suspects more time to flee, witnesses more time to forget what they saw, and crucial evidence more time to be lost forever. The First 48 follows detectives from around the country during these first critical hours as they race against time to find the suspect. Gritty and fast-paced, it takes viewers behind the scenes of real-life investigations with unprecedented access to crime scenes, autopsies, forensic processing, and interrogations.'

The First 48

"What grabbed my attention when I first started watching is they actually show the crime scene, dead bodies and all! If you're into these kind of shows you'll most likely enjoy it."

August 19, 2007

Today's Disputed Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

Historians dispute the number of victims burned at the stake during the Inquisition. Llorente - for some years reportedly secretary to the Inquisition - estimated that between 1481 and 1517 at least 13,000 were burned alive, 8,700 burnt in effigy (which meant they had been previously strangled in prison), and 17,000 condemned to various punishments. He also calculated that, from 1481 to 1808, a total of 341,021 were condemned to death in Spain alone. Other authorities consider these numbers greatly exaggerated, so much so, that Torquemada, who was Grand Inquisitor from 1483 to 1498, has been accused - 'at a fair estimate' - of no more than 2,000 deaths.

Culled from: The History Of Torture

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Wretched Recommendations!

Ann has a book recommendation for us:

Post Mortem: Solving History's Great Medical Mysteries
By Philip A. Mackowiak, MD, FACP

"I came across a excerpt from this book on the Discover magazine site. It sounds very interesting and somewhat morbid. The author analysis the deaths of several historical figures and attempts to make a medical diagnosis. It include the symptoms leading up to the deaths, and the diagnosis that was given at the time, as well as possible real diagnosis."

Here's the Amazon synopsis:

"Their lives changed history. Their deaths were mysteries, until now! Post-Mortem: Solving History's Great Medical Mysteries by Philip A. Mackowiak, MD, FACP, examines the controversial lives and deaths of 12 famous men and women. Post-Mortem answers vexing questions such as: Was Alexander the Great a victim of West Nile virus? What caused the gruesome final illness of King Herod? Was Joan of Arc mentally ill during her heresy trial? Could syphillis have made Beethoven deaf? Did Edgar Allan Poe drink himself to death? This new book also investigates the mysterious deaths of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, the Greek statesman and general Pericles, the Roman Emperor Claudius, Christopher Columbus, Mozart, Florence Nightingale, and Booker T. Washington. Post-Mortem traces 3,500 years of medical history from the perspective of what contemporary physicians thought about the diseases of their renowned patients and how they might have treated them. It follows the case history format of today's clinical pathologic conferences, describing the characteristics of the illnesses in question, and bringing to life the medical history, social history, family history, and physical examination of their famous victims. Post-Mortem then sifts through the medical evidence, testing a wide range of diagnostic theories against the known facts and today's best scientific research, to arrive at the diagnosis most consistent with the illness described in the historic record."

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Morbid Auctions!

You might remember that last year I put some comics up for auction on Ebay. Well, times are tough again, so I'm putting more comics up for auction to help fund the website. I thought I'd let you know about the morbid or off-beat comics in case you are interested in bidding.

Lenore #1 & 2

August 21, 2007

Today's Small And Dysfunctional Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

Foot binding, also known as kack put, was a custom practiced on young females for approximately one thousand years in China, beginning in the 10th century and ending in the early 20th century. In Chinese foot binding, young girls' feet, usually at age 6 but often earlier, were wrapped in tight bandages so that they could not grow and develop normally; they would, instead, break and become highly deformed, not growing past 4-6 inches. As the girl reached adulthood, her feet would remain small and dysfunctional, prone to infection, paralysis, and muscular atrophy. This was initially a common practice only in the wealthiest parts of China, particularly in North China. However, by the late Qing Dynasty, foot binding had become popular among people of all social classes except the poorest of peasants, who needed able-bodied women to work the fields. Today, it is a prominent cause of disability among elderly Chinese women.

Here's the process in all its painful "glory":

A mother or grandmother started to bind her daughter's or granddaughter's feet when the child was around 4-7 years old. The process was started before the arch of the foot had a chance to properly develop. So that the feet were numb, meaning the pain would not be as extreme, binding usually started during the winter months.

First, each foot would be soaked in a warm mixture of herbs and animal blood. This concoction caused any necrotised flesh to fall off [4]. Then her toenails were cut back as far as possible to prevent ingrowth and subsequent infections. To prepare her for what was to come next the girl's feet were delicately massaged. Silk or cotton bandages, ten foot long and two inches wide, were prepared by soaking in the same blood and herb mix as before. Each of the toes were then broken and wrapped in the wet bandages, which would constrict when drying, and pulled tightly downwards toward the heel. There may have been deep cuts made in the sole to facilitate this.

This ritual would be repeated every two days, with fresh bindings, for anywhere up to ten years. After two, her feet would be only three to four inches long. After three, her feet would practically die which caused them to smell terribly.

Every time the bandages were rebound they would be pulled tighter ensuring that this process was continually painful. Though, the pain didn't stop there. The most common ailment of bound feet was infection. Toenails would ingrow and could lead to flesh rotting, occasionally causing the toes to drop off. Disease inevitably followed infection meaning that death could result from foot binding. Occasionally, the ball of the foot would grow directly into the heel. All of this meant that as the girl grew older, she was even more at risk from medical problems. Older women were more likely to break hips and other bones in falls and were less able to stand up from sitting.

Culled from: Wikipedia
Generously submitted by: Jaclyn

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And here are some ghastly photos of the end result. Poor woman.

http://www.totallycrap.com/galleries/galleries_wee_sexy_feet

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Morbid Link Du Jour!

Here's an interesting site that attempts to decipher the riddle of The Black Dahlia murder.

The Black Dahlia Solution

http://blackdahliasolution.org/about.htm

Thanks to Lady Morgana for the link.

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Morbid Mirth Du Jour!

I haven't seen the show Dexter yet (the first season is out on DVD today, so I will be seeing it soon), but this Dexter-gram, which simulates a morbid news report based on the names and information you provide, is a fun way to impress/depress your friends!

http://www.icetruck.tv/

Thanks to J. Bo for the link.

Here's the Amazon link for Dexter and a blurb about the show for those (like me) who aren't in the know:

Dexter is based on the compelling novel "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" by Jeff Lindsay. Orphaned at the age of four and harboring a traumatic secret, Dexter Morgan (Dexter Morgan (Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor Michael C. Hall from "Six Feet Under") is adopted by a police officer who recognizes Dexter's homicidal tendencies and guides his son to channel his gruesome passion for human vivisection in a constructive way - by killing those heinous perpetrators that are above the law or who have slipped through the cracks of justice. A respected member of the police force, a perfect gentleman and a man with a soft spot for children, it's hard not to like Dexter. Although his drive to kill is unflinching, he struggles to emulate normal emotions he doesn't feel, and to keep up his appearance as a caring, socially responsible human being.

Dexter: Season One

Darkly Dreaming Dexter
by Jeff Lindsay

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Morbid Auctions!

You might remember that last year I put some comics up for auction on Ebay. Well, times are tough again, so I'm putting more comics up for auction to help fund the website. I thought I'd let you know about the morbid or off-beat comics in case you are interested in bidding.

Lenore #1 & 2

August 22, 2007

Today's German Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

When Albert Einstein died in 1955 his last words were spoken in his native German, a language that none of his friends could understand, as he died in the United States. Thus, his final words went unrecorded.

Culled from: Death A History Of Man's Obsessions and Fears

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Which is why you should always make sure you invite people who speak all of your languages to your death bed!

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Morbid Band Du Jour!

Nina writes to tell me about a band called The World Famous Crawl Space Brothers:

"i don't know if you have featured this oh so fabulous band yet, but if not you definitely NEED to check them out. They have officially put me in a good mood. My personal favorite is 'Shut Up Spoon Me Like Richard Ramirez'..... it's quite catchy."

The band is on hiatus now, but you can listen to their songs on the website. Amusing stuff!

The World Famous Crawl Space Brothers

Great name for a band, eh? Which brings me to the latest...

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Morbid Contest!

It's been far too long since I've held a contest - and recently the MFDJ Google Discussion Group (http://groups.google.com/group/MFDJ) has been discussing morbid band names. So, I was thinking that it might be fun to have a contest to come up with the greatest morbid band name. The rules are simple: Send me your most demented and ghastly band names - after doing a Google search to make sure said name is not currently being used - and I'll pick the best ones and put them up on a poll. Whoever wins the poll wins the prize. And the prize is ... your own brand-new personal copy of:

Lords Of Chaos: The Bloody Rise Of The Satanic Metal Underground
by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind

I'll do a Google check as well, and any name that's being used will be disqualified - so get creative!!

Send your ghastly band name suggestions to:
bandnames@asylumeclectica.com

Good luck everyone!

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Morbid Auctions!

You might remember that last year I put some comics up for auction on Ebay. Well, times are tough again, so I'm putting more comics up for auction to help fund the website. I thought I'd let you know about the morbid or off-beat comics in case you are interested in bidding.

Lenore #1 & 2

August 23, 2007

Today's Legless Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

On December 15, 1927, Marion Parker, the 12-year-old daughter of Perry Parker, a prominent banker in Los Angeles, was abducted from her school. A man had appeared at the principal's office and said that her father had been injured in a terrible accident. Letters demanding money were sent to her father for several days. All the communications, which often taunted the parents, were signed with names such as, "Fate," "Death," and "The Fox." Negotiations with the suspect continued until a price was agreed upon and a meeting was set. Mr. Parker placed the ransom money, $1,500 in cash, in a black bag and drove off to meet "The Fox." At the rendezvous, Mr. Parker handed over the money to a young man who was waiting for him in a parked car. When Mr. Parker paid the ransom, he could see his daughter, Marion, sitting in the passenger seat next to the suspect. As soon as the money was exchanged, the suspect drove off with the victim still in the car. At the end of the street, Marion's corpse was dumped onto the pavement. She was dead. Her legs had been chopped off and her eyes had been wired open to appear as if she was still alive. Her internal organs had been cut out and pieces of her body were later found strewn all over the Los Angeles area.

A massive manhunt for her killer began that involved over 20,000 police officers and American Legion volunteers. Huge cash rewards were offered to anyone who could provide information that led to the identification and capture of "The Fox." Suspicion quickly settled upon a former employee of Mr. Parker named William Edward Hickman. Only a week after the kidnapping murder, two officers who recognized him from the wanted posters, found Hickman in Echo, Oregon. He was conveyed back to Los Angeles where he promptly confessed to another murder he committed during a drug store hold-up. Eventually, Hickman confessed to a dozen armed robberies. "This is going to get interesting before it's over," he told investigators. "Marion and I were good friends," he said, "and we really had a good time when we were together and I really liked her. I'm sorry that she was killed." Hickman never said why he had killed the girl and cut off her legs. Though his attorneys attempted to plead insanity for Hickman, the jury wouldn't buy it. He was convicted of murder and hanged at San Quentin prison in 1928.

Culled from: Crime Library
Generously suggested by: Riley

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The Marian Parker murder shocked the nation and inspired a number of folk songs, including the following ditty:

'Way out in California, a family bright and gay
Were preparing for their Christmas not very far away
They had a little daughter, a sweet and pretty child
And everyone who knew her loved Marian Parker's smile

She left her home one morning for her school not far away
And no one dreamed that danger was lurking near that day
But then a murderous villain, a fiend with heart of stone
Took little Marian Parker away from friends and home

The world was horror-stricken, the people held their breath
Until they found poor Marian, her body cold in death
They hunted for the coward, young Hickman was their man
They brought him back to justice, his final trial to stand

The jury found him guilty, of course they could not fail
He must be executed soon in San Quentin jail
And while he waits his sentence, let's hope he learns to pray
To make his black soul ready for the great judgement day

There is a great commandment that says, "Thou shalt not kill"
And those who do not head it, their cup of sorrow fill

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A Short Hiatus

MFDJ will be on hiatus until Monday, August 27th while The Comtesse is roaming aimlessly through Michigan. Have a morbid weekend!

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Morbid Trinket Du Jour!

Now here are some proper necklaces!! The skull is especially fetching, don't you think?

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=60178

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Morbid Contest!

It's been far too long since I've held a contest - and recently the MFDJ Google Discussion Group (http://groups.google.com/group/MFDJ) has been discussing morbid band names. So, I was thinking that it might be fun to have a contest to come up with the greatest morbid band name. The rules are simple: Send me your most demented and ghastly band names - after doing a Google search to make sure said name is not currently being used - and I'll pick the best ones and put them up on a poll. Whoever wins the poll wins the prize. And the prize is ... your own brand-new personal copy of:

Lords Of Chaos: The Bloody Rise Of The Satanic Metal Underground
by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind

I'll do a Google check as well, and any name that's being used will be disqualified - so get creative!!

Send your ghastly band name suggestions to:
bandnames@asylumeclectica.com

Good luck everyone!

August 29, 2007

Today's Frightful Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

For the 600 elementary school students looking on, it was supposed to be an exciting science demonstration. Instead it turned into a frightful look at death. A teacher and a utility company worker in Othello were suspended about 30 feet off the ground in a lift bucket Thursday, when the boom suddenly separated from its base, sending the bucket crashing to the ground. They were thrown from the bucket when it hit the ground outside Hiawatha Elementary School. Killed was 50-year-old Bob Smith, an employee of Avista Utilities. The teacher, Melissa Martinez, was hospitalized for treatment of what were described as non-life-threatening injuries. They were conducting the annual "egg drop" science demonstration at the school, dropping eggs in protective containers to see which ones don't crack. Several hundred school children were on the playground to watch the event. The company and the department of labor will investigate the incident. School district officials are taking steps to provide counseling for the children who saw the fatal incident.

Culled from: The Associated Press
Generously submitted by: Paradox

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Why not a "frightful science demonstration turned into an exciting look at death"? There is such a bias against morbidity...

Sorry for the lull in facts - life is getting in the way of my hobbies again.

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Morbid Link Du Jour!

Danny sent me a link to a fascinating online Mourning Jewelry Museum:

"During the Georgian and Victorian Periods, works of art and jewelry were created out of hair and other materials to commemorate the loss of loved ones. These mourning pieces served as an eternal memorial and reminder of the lost loved one."

Mourning Jewelry Museum

And there's a Mourning Art Museum too!

If you're rich enough, you can even purchase some mourning jewelry for yourself!

Things Gone By

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Morbid Trinket Du Jour!

Coolest doorknob ever???

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Morbid Contest!

Send in your entries by September 1!

It's been far too long since I've held a contest - and recently the MFDJ Google Discussion Group has been discussing morbid band names. So, I was thinking that it might be fun to have a contest to come up with the greatest morbid band name. The rules are simple: Send me your most demented and ghastly band names - after doing a Google search to make sure said name is not currently being used - and I'll pick the best ones and put them up on a poll. Whoever wins the poll wins the prize. And the prize is ... your own brand-new personal copy of:

Lords Of Chaos: The Bloody Rise Of The Satanic Metal Underground
by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind

I'll do a Google check as well, and any name that's being used will be disqualified - so get creative!!

Send your ghastly band name suggestions to:
bandnames@asylumeclectica.com

Good luck everyone!

August 30, 2007

Today's Clean Yet Truly Morbid Fact!

A baby girl who survived being hanged by her mother in what police believe to be a horrific murder-suicide case in a small American town is recuperating in hospital. The eight-month-old was found hanging from a clothes rod in the closet of a mobile home, crying and struggling with a sweater around her neck. Next to her were the bodies of her three older sisters, aged 5, 3, and 2, and her mother, aged in her mid-twenties, in Hudson Oaks, Texas. The young girl was taken to hospital in nearby Fort Worth and was today listed as being in a good condition. She was rescued by her aunt, who discovered the terrible scene after breaking into the home which was locked from the inside. "The only way you could describe the scene would be horrendous," said Parker County Sherriff Larry Fowler. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the names of the deceased as Gilberta Estrada and her daughters Maria, 5, Yaneth, 3, and Magaly Frayre, 1. Estrada was separated from her husband and worked at a local fast-food restaurant. A restraining order against her husband had been taken out in August last year. Mr Fowler said police were treating the case as a murder-suicide. A neighbouring couple, Vicky Montgomery and Richard Lamb, said the woman had seemed like a caring mother. "I believe she was a good mother. The kids were always clean and playing outside. She seemed very dedicated," Vicky said. "She always took her kids to the bus in the morning and always had lunch for them," said Richard. Stunned neighbours watched police officers remove crime scene tape from around the mobile home as rain fell on children's toys strewn around the yard. Less than 2000 people live in Hudson Oaks, a small town clustered around the Interstate 20 freeway, which runs almost 3000km across the southeast of the US. In 2002, Hudson Oaks woman Dee Etta Perez shot and killed her three children, aged between 4 and 10, before turning the gun on herself. Before killing herself, Perez also shot and wounded her estranged husband, a member of the local fire brigade.

Culled from: news.com.au
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21818876-2,00.html
Generously submitted by: Remo

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I tell you, there is naught more frightening on this earth than a Texas mother. Can you imagine if they drafted them for the military? A shot wouldn't be fired - the enemy would take one look at the Bible-quoting wackos and lay down their arms in defeat!

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Update Du Jour!

Back in June, I featured a band called the Uncommon Houseflies who have a morbid song called "Too Bad You're Dead". It can be heard at their My Space page:

http://www.myspace.com/theuncommonhouseflies

The song is now available for purchase through iTunes at the following link:

http://tinyurl.com/yskl53

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Wretched Recommendations!

Kim A. has a film recommendation for us:

"I saw the most interesting, haunting, sad, riveting, morbid movie last week on the Independent Film Channel called 'The Bridge'. It is a documentary by Eric Steel about people who have committed suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. He had cameras across the bay, filming the bridge from dawn till dusk for 365 days in 2004 and actually captured 24 suicides on film (and some attempted ones). He and his film crew were actually able to prevent 6 suicides; every time they saw someone who looked suspect, they called bridge security. He actually shows some of the suicides in the film, framed by discussions with family and friends of the deceased. It may sound sensationalized or like he is exploiting these people but it is not that way at all -- it is so beautifully and tastefully done. By listening to the families and friends talk, you realize these are just people who are troubled by depression or mental illness they cannot overcome; they all had people who loved them as do we. It has always been overwhelming to me to think of the despair and hopelessness one must feel to want to end one's life, but after seeing this film I came away with an even greater feeling of sympathy. Especially with the view down from the bridge. Incidentally, it's 220 feet high, and they hit the water at 75 mph. More people have ended their lives there than anywhere in the world.

"They also spoke to a man who jumped (in 2000) and survived. Only 26 people have survived the jump since it was built in 1937.

"I got this information from the movie, the website, http://www.thebridge-themovie.com/new/index.html, and a 2003 New Yorker article that the movie was based on called "Jumpers" ( http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2003/10/13/031013fa_fact).
I definitely urge my fellow morbidites to see this movie. (My boyfriend watched part of it with me and was horrified that I would enjoy something like that!) I promise you, you will be thinking about it for days. I cannot get the final person, especially, out of my mind."

I just watched this movie as well, and found it to be compelling viewing. There are a few of the suicides that they captured in up-close detail that were amazing to behold. I can't help but wonder obsessively what those people were thinking during those seconds that it took to fall from the bridge. Were they regretful, or were they at peace?

Another thing that really struck me was the interview with the parents of one of the jumpers. They had this attitude that, "Well, we can't stop him from jumping - if he really wants to do it, he'll do it - what can we do?" that was absolutely baffling to me. Did they never hear of anti-depressants or psychotherapy or interventions? No wonder the kid ended up killing himself, with apathetic losers like that as parents! If someone I loved spoke of jumping off the bridge frequently, I'd be doing everything I could to help them - I wouldn't just shrug my shoulders and say, "What can you do?"

It's a fascinating and highly thought-provoking film that is a must-see for the morbidly inclined.

The Bridge (2006)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000O76PXK/theasylumeclecti

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Morbid Contest!

Send in your entries by September 1!

It's been far too long since I've held a contest - and recently the MFDJ Google Discussion Group has been discussing morbid band names. So, I was thinking that it might be fun to have a contest to come up with the greatest morbid band name. The rules are simple: Send me your most demented and ghastly band names - after doing a Google search to make sure said name is not currently being used - and I'll pick the best ones and put them up on a poll. Whoever wins the poll wins the prize. And the prize is ... your own brand-new personal copy of:

Lords Of Chaos: The Bloody Rise Of The Satanic Metal Underground
by Michael Moynihan and Didrik Soderlind

I'll do a Google check as well, and any name that's being used will be disqualified - so get creative!!

Send your ghastly band name suggestions to:
bandnames@asylumeclectica.com

Good luck everyone!