The Bizarre, The Unusual, The Unexplained Blog

While cruising the hidden jungles of Indonesia scientists discovered a huge rat, which had never been seen before. This new species is about five times the size of your ordinary city rat. 

The scientists made the discovery when the rat wandered into their camp. The giant rodent had no fear of humans. Finding new species of animals is extremely rare. Teams of American and Indonesian researchers are attempting to confirm the actual status of the rat.

Giant Rat from Indonesia

Also discovered was a tiny species of marsupial related to the possum. Dubbed the Pygmy Possum because of its unusual size, the possum is reportedly one of the “world’s smallest marsupials.” Marsupials care for their newborn in a pouch.  Kangaroos are another example of marsupial.

 
The Pygmy Possum

These species were discovered in the remote Foja Mountains of Indonesia. Scientists began calling the region, the “Lost World” because humans had almost never visited the area. Also found were countless new exotic species of plants, including palms and butterflies.

 ”It’s comforting to know that there is a place on Earth so isolated that it remains the absolute realm of wild nature,” said expedition leader Bruce Beehler. You can read more about these amazing animals here.

Whenever I read stories about rats it reminds me of one of my favorite books of all time: King Rat  by James Clavell.

This book is set in a Prisoner of War Camp in  Japan during World War II.  An incredible story. A fantastic tale of survival. I give this book a solid “10″. I recommend this book without reservation. A great read.

Albert Grande, Bimwah-in-Training

http://albertgrande.com/
http://pizzatherapy.com
http://grandepublishing.com
http://hawaiisecret.info/

The Unusual, The Unexplained…

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The nuns of Loretto Chapel, in Santa Fe, New Mexico  had a problem. A big problem.

After years of teaching and completing God’s work, their prayers had been answered.

A chapel had been erected to allow them to worship in a magnificent manner. There was one small oversight. The architect had created a masterpiece. However, there was no way to reach the choir loft some 22 feet above the chapel.

Several solutions were offered and each one was rejected. Perhaps a ladder someone suggested. Someone else had the idea of a staircase outside of the chapel. There seemed to be no solution to this problem.

No one could come up with an acceptable way for nuns to reach the choir loft. No access to the choir loft meant no choir. No choir meant no music for their house of worship.

They decided to complete a novena (a specialized form of prayer), to search for divine guidance.  They prayed to St. Joseph, father of Jesus, a carpenter by profession, and patron saint of all carpenters.

On the 9th day of the novena, a man on a donkey arrived. He was a carpenter. He had his carpentry tools. He unloaded his tools and got right to work. He began to create a staircase up to the choir loft. Not any staircase: a spiral staircase. Here is a picture:

The Loretto Chapel Staircase

His creation defied logic. The staircase has no visible means of support. It does two complete 360 degrees turn-arounds. No nails were used, just wooden pegs.

When the staircase was finished, he left.

Just as mysteriously as he arrived, he disappeared. The nuns tried in vain to contact him. He was never paid for any of his work. He was never seen again.

The nuns felt the actual work was completed by St. Joseph, father of Jesus. There are 33 stairs in the staircase. Jesus was 33 years old, when he was crucified.

Loretto Chapel has since been sold. It is now used as a museum and for private affairs.  You can read all about Loretto Chapel at the official website, click HERE

Be well.

Albert Grande
http://albertgrande.com
http://pizzatherapy.com
http://grandepublishing.com

The Unusual, The Unexplained…

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 A giant truffle found in Italy by a truffle sniffing dog was recently sold at auction for $330,000.

Stanley Ho,a billionaire from Macau won the 3.3 pound prize at an auction that was staged simultaneously in Florence, Italy and the Grand Lisboa Hoetel, in Macau. Hois the owner of the Grand Lisboa. Truffles are usually between 1- 2.8 ounces.

The largest truffle, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is a 2.6 pound White Truffle  discovered in Croatia in 1999. The record book will now have to be rewritten.

The truffle was found by Cristiano Savini, his father and truffle dog, Roccoin, a town located 25 miles from Pisa. Rocco started sniffing like crazy when he came upon the truffle.

Cristiano Savini holds giant truffle.

According to auction organizer, Giselle Oberti, the previous record for a truffle was $212,000. The proceeds for the auction will be donated to charity.

 Truffles which are prized in Italy are used to flavor pasta sauces, and rice dishes. A tiny sliver of truffle is used. This truffle will flavor a lot of pasta and rice.

Truffles are fungus, as are mushrooms. The difference is that truffles grow below the ground while mushrooms grow above the ground. You can discover more about truffles and mushrooms the Fungi page here.

To read the entire story of the truffle auction, go here.

You won’t find mushrooms, but to find the best Christmas give away, visit the 12 Days of Christmas, Click Me.

Be well,

 Albert Grande
http://albertgrande.com
http://pizzatherapy.com

The Unusual, The Unexplained…