Man’s Best Friend

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Everyone knows that dogs are man’s best friend, right? Personally, I have always had at least one pooch in my life, two at the moment. Admittedly, there’s something vibrant and loving about dogs and we humans have a deeply rooted connection to them. Some dogs even go on to have illustrious careers such as sniffing out bombs in Afghanistan, searching for bodies after natural disasters, chasing down escaped convicts and even providing their warm coats and cold noses to hospital patients as therapy dogs. Oh, and lets not forget the big ole’ St. Bernards that are raised in China for their size and weight. More meat for the stew pot. But don’t worry, I’m not going to get into dog slaughter today but rather tell you a story about a woman who, after undergoing cancer treatment … twice … got a puppy to lift her spirits, soothe her soul and eventually … destroy her life. Here’s the story from The Mail Online:

A 32-year-old woman who has already fought cancer twice faces yet another battle after both her hands and feet were amputated following a rare infection caught from her puppy.

Hannah Rinehart  has been in a medically-induced coma at Northside Hospital in Cumming, Georgia since July 3, after the bacteria ravaged her body and left her with a 103 degree fever.

Doctors were forced to amputate the nurse’s hands and feet last Thursday after her body went into septic shock and she suffered circulatory problems.

They believe she contracted capnocytophaga, an infection usually found in the saliva of dogs. Her husband Mark said he did not know if their one-year-old dog, Brownie, bit her.

The rare infection is only usually a danger to elderly, infirm or those with underlying diseases. Capnocytophaga is found in the throat of mammals and can be passed to humans through bite wounds. The bacteria can cause septicemia, meningitis, rare eye infections and endocarditis – an inflammation of the heart. Symptoms often include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, confusion, muscle pain or malaise. It can also bring on septic shock. When discovered, it can be treated with anti-microbial medications.

‘It was basically like being struck by lightning,’ Mr Rinehart told the Gwinnett Daily Post. ‘It doesn’t happen.’

Mr Rinehart, who has been updating friends and family on her Facebook page nearly every day, said she is not fully conscious yet.

‘The most immediate step is ensuring that we are with Hannah as the sedation wears off,’ he wrote on Facebook. ‘She made a face tonight that seemed to be an attempt at a smile, and she was responding to commands like ‘stick out your tongue”.’

Hannah has beaten cancer twice since the age of 18; she suffered twice from Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was in remission for seven years.

She underwent two bone marrow transplants, which weakened her immune system and made her more susceptible to the bacteria.

Despite these struggles, her husband, a schoolteacher and national guardsman, said she has always been upbeat.

‘You see people around who have had a tough time and are bitter about it,’ Mr Rinehart told WXIA.

‘She’s not; she’s always excited about living. She’s a fighter, I married a fighter.

‘It’s just another stage in our life. I know when she comes out of this she’s going to be smiling just as big as she was before.’

He added to Fox: ’She’s got a passion for living and she was grateful for every day she had after [cancer] and she’s going to be grateful for every day she has after this.’

He said doctors said the bacteria likely came from their puppy and she needed to undergo the amputations to remove the dead tissue from her body.

Her father, Doug Johnson, said it has devastated the family but they have come together to fight it.

‘You cry a lot,’ he told Fox. ‘It’s not something you every want to go through. You could never want your worst enemy to have anything like this every happen to them.’

Mr Rinehart said he has been given support and advice from other families who have also endured quadruple amputations and looks forward to being in touch with more.’We are loved and supported by so many people I can’t begin to send thank yous out but I can keep trying,’ Mr Rinehart, who has been sleeping in the hospital, said.

Although her injuries appear the same, Hannah is not battling the same infection as Georgia grad student Aimee Copeland, who lost her hands and feet to a flesh-eating virus two months ago.

I don’t know about you guys but I had no idea that this germ even existed. Next time my little dog Dixie wants to give me kisses? I’m making her rinse with Listerine first. And I will to.I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical credits:

Bother Me Often, Carter Beale
Bothersome Reprise, Carter Beale

Severed Goddess Hand, Meat Puppets

July 31, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

Bald is Beautiful

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Over the years I’m both seen and met my fair share of transvestites. I know, I know, that term is no longer politically correct and paints the whole she-male community with a wide mascara brush, but I like it’s precision in addressing the outward display of self. For the time being, I’m going to politely ignore the whole range of emotional and psychological reasons that send men down the yellow brick road and straight into Victoria’s Secret.

My first question upon meeting a new drag queen is always “So, are your tits real?” From the response I can usually determine if the person A) has a sense of humor identifiable with my own and B) how serious they are about their transformation. If they’re real, I give them a hug. If they’re not, I give ‘em a dollar. While the reasons that men choose to portray or become women are usually vast and complicated, apparently all you really need is a bald head and a desire for hair. That’s how it happened for one man. He claims that Propecia turned him into a woman. Here’s the story from The Mail Online:

A man who took pills to help cure his baldness has claimed they turned him into a woman.

While William McKee’s hair failed to grow back the father of one said he developed breasts and his hips began to widen.

Months after he sensed his shape was changing he became a cross dresser and went by the name of Mandi as he wore woman’s clothes.

The former Silicon Valley entrepreneur said he did not have any hidden desire to be a cross dresser before taking a generic version of the hair growth pill called Propecia.

He claims the pills, which he took once a day for nine months, radically  changed the hormonal balance of his body and he now is now considering a full sex change.

He said his baldness was hereditary and hoped the pills would restore his thinning hair.

But after almost a month on the pills he said his hair growth was ‘minimal’ but the feminine effects were ‘pronounced.’

McKee said: ‘My rock hard chest from the gym began to soften reaching the point where I had noticeable breasts even under my clothing.’

The 38-year-old, who has a five-year-old son, added: ‘My shoulders were literally falling into a more feminine position, and my hips were loosening and becoming wider as on a woman’s body.’

McKee said he started to cross dress and called himself Mandi as the pills meant he felt more female than male.

He wears a blonde wig, makeup and tight dresses.

The cross dressing ended his ten year marriage and now as Mandi is considering getting breast enhancement and undergoing a full sex change.

‘It felt like the ‘me’ that I’ve always known was not there anymore,’ he told the New York Post.

Writing on his blog, Mandi says: ‘I’m also transgender. I wasn’t always this way. I am early on my path of transitioning to live full-time as a woman, although for 9 months I did take 1 of the 2 most popular drugs that doctors prescribe to men who wish to become a woman.

‘It’s called finasteride. Many of my transgender friends still take this drug today. In some men, the effects are irreversible.

‘The thing is… I didn’t take finasteride to become a woman. I took it to prevent male-pattern hair loss (baldness) after seeing Merck’s ad campaign for years saying that Propecia (finasteride) can stop hair loss in men.’

McKee said as he transitioned from man to woman he considered suicide.

He writes: ‘My entire life has fallen apart in a slow and agonizing downward spiral that led me on a roller coaster ride of depression, anxiety, panic attacks, a severe and disabling loss of focus and concentration, feminization of my body, loss of and inability to work, homelessness, social rejection and isolation, and a complete alteration of my body’s chemistry and self-identity.

‘And it was more than just my life being affected. I was married to an amazing and beautiful woman who lost her husband, and I am father to an amazing 5 year-old-boy – who lost his dad.’

Propecia inhibits the conversion of testosterone, resulting in increased estrogen.

Millions of  men have used it since the 1990s, but it has been linked to sexual problems such as impotence, loss of libido and ‘genital shrinkage’ as well as cognitive impairment, or ‘brain fog,’ which McKee believes he also suffered.

Lawsuits filed in 27 states by men who say the wonder drug screwed up their sexuality have been linked together in Brooklyn federal court.

A spokesman for Merck, the drug’s maker, said, ‘No causal relationship has been established between Propecia and persistent sexual side effects.’

Brooklyn attorney Marc Grossman, whose firm represents more than 300 former Propecia users, said many had breast growth.

He also said animal studies on Propecia showed an increased propensity for homosexuality.

Grossman estimates that more than 1,500 Propecia users will come forward but added, ‘Many men are embarrassed to reveal their problems to anyone, including their doctors, so thousands more will go on living with the condition in private.’

So fellas, if you’re loosing your hair and you’d like to have lustrous locks again for speed-dating night might I suggest that you skip the pills and go straight to the wig shop. Odds are, you might just end up there anyway.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical Credits:

Intro: Pierre Pressure, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Closing: Solace Interlude, The New Orleans Bingo Show

Pretty, The Cranberries

July 23, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

Drinking Yourself to Death

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When I was a kid in elementary school, one of my most memorable class field trips was to a little town in the middle of nowhere. The town wasn’t the destination but rather the beginning of the trip. This little backwater NC town had one of the oldest, coolest train stations in the area. AND, at least back then anyway, it was an actual working station, with passenger trains arriving and departing several times a day. We all waited impatiently in the station for the big locomotive to arrive. Finally, after much screeching and chuffing it pulled into the little station and we boarded. I had a stellar seat, at the front of a car, right by the window. Near me was an old fashioned water cooler, with those little pointy disposable cups. I had never seen such a thing, especially on a train, so along with several of my friends we made a game out of seeing how much water we could drink from the cooler. Seceretly, I think I just wanted to down enough water so that I could check out the bathroom …. I was looking forward peeing on an actual, moving train! This is a big deal when you’re 8, or maybe it was 9. Nevertheless, my friends and I drank so much water that we not only used up all of the little pointy cups, but created a line to get into the tiny bathroom. Our teacher scowled as each of us made our way to the rear of the car to experience the magical little room.

The funny thing was, when we arrived at our destination, I didn’t feel so well. My stomach hurt and I had a bit of a headache. I can still remember that feeling today. At the time I thought that the motion of the train had made me ill, but now … I’m not so sure. Turns out, all those pointy little cups of water may have nearly killed me! As a matter of fact, water did in fact kill a little girl recently and here’s her story:

A 12 year old girl died recently due to brain complications caused by the consumption of too much water in a game of ‘water poker’ she played with classmates.

The girl had drunk six litres of water in the game, and was pronounced dead in her home town after being declared brain dead in Sweden following the incident.

The school children played the game on the Åland islands located between Sweden and Finland, with the rules being that the loser of each hand on poker had to down a whole glass of water.

The girl’s water intoxication was not noticed by teachers until they were making a head count of the students later in the evening.

“She sat on the toilet and vomited. She had drunk an enormous amount of water,” said Jukka Silvola, principal of the school, to the Aftonbladet newspaper, adding that the girl was “truly well-liked”.

The 12-year-old was immediately taken to a hospital in Åland capital of Mariehamn before being transferred to specialist ward of the Uppsala University Hospital the next morning.

There, the girl was declared brain dead and was taken to her hometown of Nystad in eastern Finland in May, where she died a few days later.

Johan Valtysson, head of the intensive care ward at the Uppsala hospital, explained how water intoxication can lead to fatal disturbances in brain functions.

“What happens when you drink too much water is that your blood is diluted and salt levels in the blood are increased,” he told the paper.

“The effect is that the water is drawn into the brain which then swells up due to the brain’s fluid accumulation. The blood flow is then cut off and you become brain dead.”

An adult should drink around two to three litres of water a day, and the 12-year-old is believed to have consumed six.

Meanwhile, Valtysson told the paper that he can’t fathom why anyone would play “water poker”.

“This is a truly dangerous game,” he said.

So remember folks, when it comes to your kids and drinking, maybe hard liquor is better after all! At least with booze they’ll most likely drink just enough to pass out. Apparently it’s the tap that you should lock up.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical credits:

Bother Me Often, Carter Beale
Bothersome Reprise, Carter Beale

What the Water Gave Me, Florence + the Machine

Audio sound effect credits:

Freesound.org – “Diesel train arrives and departs 2.wav” by digifishmusic

Freesound.org – “Pouring Water.wav” by Pogotron

July 10, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

Dirty Little Headaches

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I’d like to begin today by admitting that I’m no Saint. I have my share of vices as do many of you, I’m quite sure. There are several that I can’t and won’t disclose as this is a somewhat family-friendly format and furthermore, I’m most certainly not going to engage in self-incrimination. One of my more benign vices I blame solely on technology. Occassionally while reading news, doing research or glancing over Facebook updates, my mind, and fingers, begin to wander. A few swipes and clicks in the wrong direction and all of a sudden, I’m cruising through the internet’s red-light district. Oh, shut up. You’ve visited porn sites too at some point. Maybe just before you had to take your pc in for service because of a nasty little virus? Hmmmm? That’s why I use a Mac, praise Steve. Computer viruses aside, have you every been affected physically by a web site? Well, umm, I mean in a negative way. Just suppose you happened to go cruising in the red-light district and every single time you visited one of those notorious sites of ill repute … you got a blinding headache that felt like God’s own guilt hammer was crushing your lust, not to mention your skull. Well, that’s exactly what happens to one young man and here’s his story:

A man plagued by porn-induced headaches has to take painkillers 30 minutes before watching the X-rated movies, according to a case study. a The unnamed “unmarried male software professional,” 24, complained of “severe, exploding” headaches that developed gradually and peaked 10 minutes into the sexy scenes.

“Progressively, he started to refrain from viewing videos as a means of avoiding headaches,” researchers from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi, India, wrote in the case study published in the June issue of Archives of Sexual Behavior.

The cause of the man’s ill-timed headaches, triggered only by porn and not by sex or masturbation, is unclear.

“This guy is interesting because he’s just watching porn and not actually having sex,” said Dawn Buse, associate professor of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and director of behavioral medicine at the Montefiore Headache Center in New York. “But he probably still gets aroused and excited, which may be even worse than having sex because there’s no release.”

Buse said about 1 percent of the population — mostly males — get headaches associated with sexual activity. But even arousal can cause changes in muscle tension, nerve sensitivity and blood flow in the brain that boost the perception of pain, she said.

“It makes sense,” she said. “There’s definitely blood pumping through his head and his body.”

Like exercise-induced headaches, sex headaches are nothing more than a nuisance, easily negated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Buse said. But in rare cases, the pain can signal something more serious, like a brain tumor or an aneurysm.

“If someone has a stiff neck, dizziness or confusion along with the pain, they should talk to a doctor,” Buse said.

The man, ready to abandon his porn-watching ways, was instead advised to take 400 milligrams of ibuprofen and 500 milligrams of acetaminophen 30 minutes in advance, to which, according to the study, “he reported significant pain relief.”

Now, personally I can’t speak to the ladies out there but I think most of the guys are with me on this. Isn’t the whole point of porn to get the blood flowing, develop a little stiffness and have your head explode I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical credits:

Bother Me Often, Carter Beale
Bothersome Reprise, Carter Beale

Dirty Talk, Wynter Gordon

July 2, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

Going Berserk

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The full heat of Summer settled in this week here in the South. Although I’m a cold weather kinda guy, I’ve been trying to embrace the heat this year by forcing myself outdoors for activities that I might otherwise save for another day.  Why, just yesterday I went for an awesome mountain bike ride with a friend and the temps were in the high 90′s. The intense heat of Summer doesn’t bother me as much physically as it does mentally. I tend to get agitated by little things a bit more easily than I probably should and I think that goes for others as well. As a matter of fact while driving yesterday I found myself stuck behind a construction worker on my street who absolutely refused to move his car so that I could continue on into the next street. Although very frustrated and ‘agitated’ by the situation I kept my cool and let my car’s horn do the talking rather than the 45 Cal. Glock that I carry with me most everywhere. Anyway, after much unrecognizable Spanish dialogue directed at me and my car along with quite a bit of finger waving, the gentleman finally relented and moved is car out of the way and allowed me to legally pass. Needless to say he was pretty pissed. Why exactly? I’m not sure as I was simply trying to use a public street that he was blocking. During all of that yelling, spewing, spitting and finger waving I rather fondly imagined him collapsing into a steaming pile of profanity, all the while clutching his chest and wincing in pain. But alas, I don’t blame the young man for his actions, but rather a combination of the heat and of course, the simply awful woman that he’s working for. But here’s the thing … some people like this, and we’ve all experienced them, may be suffering from a bit more than stress and heat when they boil over into our laps. According to Livescience.com, there’s a condition called Excited Delerium and today I’d like to tell you all about it.

After arresting a 30-year-old man who they said was violently assaulting several individuals, police brought him to the emergency room rather than to the station because of his behavior, including confusion, agitation and nonsensical speech.

Police reports indicated the man was “acting very strange,” “agitated,” “babbling” and “yelling and sweating profusely,” according to a case report published online June 4 in the Journal of Emergency Medicine. Essentially, the man was in a state of what doctors call “excited delirium.”

The attending physician at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., found that in addition to delirium, the man was suffering from Long QT syndrome, a heart-rhythm disorder that can cause fast, erratic heartbeats. In some cases the erratic heartbeats persist so long they lead to sudden death, according to the Mayo Clinic.

The man was successfully treated with fluids and sodium bicarbonate for his symptoms.

As such, the police may have saved the man’s life, as well as shed some light on a weird phenomenon in which individuals die suddenly after a display of confusion and delirium (and often after being subdued by police, making the headlines). Perhaps some of these deaths are caused by the abnormal heart condition, compounded by excited delirium, Dr. William Bozeman, an emergency medicine physician at Wake Forest Baptist, said in a statement. [7 Weirdest Medical Conditions]

“Why do people become confused, agitated and violent and then suddenly drop dead? That’s the big question,” said Bozeman. “This has been seen for well over a century, but we don’t have a clear answer. It may be an important link to investigate with future research.”

Excited delirium, he said, could actually trigger Long QT syndrome. “The amount of adrenaline in the body can affect Long QT syndrome. In some people electrical abnormalities are there all the time, while in others they are transient.”

Excited delirium seems to be most commonly caused by drug use. (That may have been the case in North Carolina, as the man admitted marijuana use, though he denied using other illicit drugs.) Psychiatric problems and/or medications represent the second most common cause, followed by various others.

Excited delirium is “a clinical syndrome that may have a variety of causes, but they all present in a similar way: with agitation, confusion or delirium, violence, and superhuman-like strength,” Bozeman said in a statement.

I think today I’ll just stay in the air conditioning and avoid both my own potential for heat rage as well as that of others. As for drugs? I disagree. For me, anyway, when it comes to those moments of frustration, anxiety and agitation? A little valium goes a long way.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical credits:

Bother Me Often, Carter Beale
Bothersome Reprise, Carter Beale

Doncha Go Away Mad, Rosemary Clooney

June 30, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

The Bite That Ruins Your Dinner

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I have two very furry dogs. One is a 35 lb. Keeshond and the other (the one that you sometimes hear howl in the podcast opening) is a 90 lb. Mutant, part Husky and part Timber Wolf. Like all dogs, they’re both prone to flea and tick infestations this time of the year. Although we treat them with meds from the vet, brush and bathe them, there’s always one or two wood ticks persistent enough to grab on somewhere discreet and we don’t discover them until they’re nice and plump. Little dog grapes, ready for harvest.

I’ve dealt with this sort of thing for years and it’s never been a big concern … until this year. This year I’m keeping an eye out for a very different sort of tick. One much worse, in my opinion, than the Lyme disease spreading deer tick. The Lone Star Tick.  This little bastard may not make you overtly ill, but it can change your life … forever. Here’s the story from Yahoo News:

A bite from the lone star tick, so-called for the white spot on its back, looks innocent enough. But University of Virginia researchers say saliva that sneaks into the tiny wound may trigger an allergic reaction to meat — agonizing enough to convert lifelong carnivores into wary vegetarians.

“People will eat beef and then anywhere from three to six hours later start having a reaction; anything from hives to full-blown anaphylactic shock,” said Dr. Scott Commins, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. “And most people want to avoid having the reaction, so they try to stay away from the food that triggers it.”

Commins said cases of the bizarre allergy are popping up along the East Coast and into the Bible Belt, areas ripe with lone star ticks. He’s already seen 400 or so. And 90 percent of them have a history of tick bites, he said.

“It’s hard to prove,” he said of the link between lone star ticks and meat allergies. “We’re still searching for the mechanism.”

Allergies are immune reactions to foreign substances, from pet hair  to peanuts.  As antibodies attack the substance that caused the reaction, they trigger the release of histamine, a chemical that causes hives and, in severe cases, life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Commins said blood levels of antibodies for alpha-gal, a sugar found in red meat, lamb and pork, rise after a single bite from the lone star tick. He said he hopes experiments that combine tiny samples of tick saliva with the invisible antibodies will prove the two are directly connected.

“It’s complicated, no doubt,” said Commins. “But we think it’s something in the saliva.”

Experts say the six-hour lag between exposure to meat and the allergic reaction complicates things even more.

“It’s very atypical as food allergies go,” said Dr. Stanley Fineman, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. “Most food allergies occur very quickly. And it’s also a bit unusual to see adults develop a food allergy.”

But the tick bite theory could help explain the sudden onset of some meat allergies, Fineman added.

Other Common food allergens include peanuts, shellfish, milk, eggs, soy and wheat. And most food allergy sufferers are glad to discover the source of their misery, even if it means upheaval for their diets.

“Avoidance is the best way to handle any food allergy,” he said.

But meat allergies are hard for some brawny barbecuers to swallow.

“Some people are totally destroyed,” said Commins. “Others say, ‘Maybe I’m better off without it.’”

Personally I fall into the latter group and would do just fine without meat in my diet. Although I’d rather not be allergic to meat, there are worse reactions that come to mind from a bug bite such as boils, sores, swelling, neurological disorders and worse a nervous tick.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical credits:

Bother Me Often, Carter Beale
Bothersome Reprise, Carter Beale

Jingle of a Dog’s Collar, Butthole Surfers

Audio sound effect credits:

Freesound.org – “dogscratch.wav” by SassyLaur

June 27, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | 2 Comments »

Summer Vacation

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It’s now mid-June and time for those beloved Summer vacations. Most of the kids around the country are out of school, Moms and Dads are frantically coordinating their vacation schedules (that is if they both happen to be employed) and recreational options are being considered. There’s always the beach right? Or how about a trip inland for a week on a cool, refreshing mountainside? Theme parks are always good … Disney and Six Flags would just love to take your money and let you wander around for hours on their hot, baking asphalt and sell you $8 sodas. And then there are the more clever, interesting trips that are available but might take a bit more planning and effort. Personally, I enjoy a weekend of rafting and zip lines with the occasional midnight raccoon hunt thrown in for good measure. You just have to watch out for the rabid ones. While perusing the web for potential adventures this year I discovered an interesting reality-based trip that I thought worth sharing. Now you too can find out exactly what it’s like to be in illegal immigrant. Here’s the story from Oddity Central:

Ever wondered what Mexican emigrants go through trying to illegally cross the border into the United States? Well, now you have the opportunity to experience it for yourself at Eco Alberto, an Illegal Border Crossing Theme Park.

Located 100 kilometers from the US border, and about two hours away from Mexico City, the small town of El Alberto has become one of Mexico’s most popular tourist attractions. Seven years ago, 90% of the local population had crossed over into the US in search of the American Dream, and the small settlement had become a modern ghost town. Life was simply too hard in El Alberto and almost everyone decided to try their luck across the border. But that all changed when the Eco Alberto Park was inaugurated in the vicinity of the small Mexican town. Now, El Alberto has a population of around 3,000 and draws in thousands of tourists every year, all eager to experience the unique activity that put this place on the map.

The Eco Alberto Park doesn’t have any impressive roller-coasters, carousels or themed rides, like Disneyland, but it does offer an activity you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Called “Caminata Nocturna” (Night Walk), this unique experience simulates what it’s like for illegal emigrants trying to cross the border into the United States through rough terrain and with the border patrol always on their tail. Although the name might be a little confusing, it’s no walk in the park, and even though participants are safe from extreme danger, this course gives them an authentic experience of fear, joy and the hope of a better life. Putting yourself in the shoes of an illegal alien will set you back 250 pesos ($20), but it’s an experience you will never forget.

The Night Walk illegal border crossing is split into several stages. First, there’s roll call, after which the would-be emigrants are packed in the back of pick-up trucks and taken to the starting point, where they are given an explanation of what they are about to go through. A “coyote” (people smuggler) tells them they will be facing rough conditions, spiders, snakes, poisonous plants and the vigilant border patrol, but that it’s not even 5% of what a real migrant has to go through to reach his goal. He also informs them that the whole Caminata Nocturna was created as a way to show people a part of Mexico that exists but no one wants to see, and as a way to honor all those brave migrants who tried to cross the border for real. When the coyote finishes his speech, the real fun begins.

The Eco Alberto Theme Park spreads over seven miles of rough terrain, which the Mexican migrants have to cross by pick-up and by foot in order to reach their destination. The coyote is always by their side, guiding their every move and instructing them on how to remain undetected. They have to crawl through tunnels, mud and small canyons, while avoiding snakes and other dangerous wildlife and keeping an eye out for the US border patrol.

The park has a staff of 82 who do their best to offer tourists a realistic experience, and for the most part they do a pretty good job. Members of “La Migra”, or the US border patrol, have a particularly important role in the Night Walk experience, so they try to act the same way and say everything the real authorities do. Their Mexican accent makes them less believable, but you can tell they’re trying their best. La Migra tries to convince emigrants to come out, and when they catch some of them they even rough them up a bit to make it look real.

The State Government of Hidalgo has accused the Eco Alberto Park of making fun of emigrants and even of training Mexicans so they can cross the border into America for real, but the parks’ representatives say that since they started organizing the Night Walk activity, in the summer of 2004, 60% of the local population preferred to remain home, instead of putting their lives in danger and being exploited in the US. They claim they are trying to train people not to leave, but to stay in Mexico and work harder for a better life.

Personally, I think this would be rather entertaining. I can’t help but wonder what’s next tho. Perhaps I’ll just monitor this for awhile and when they begin offering trips as gun runners and drug mules, I might throw in. Better party favors.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

June 14, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

Marked for Death

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Do you have tattoos? I’m sure many of you do. Personally, I have yet to succumb to the temptation of the ink and needle. It’s not that I’m opposed to them in any way, just that I haven’t thought of anything creative and interesting enough that I’d like added to my personal packaging for rest of my life. Perhaps one day I’ll be inspired and and make a visit to one of our local studios, but until then I’m just plain old vanilla. However, I did happen upon a story this past weekend that gave me a reason to think about the location of my potential tattoo. It would appear that something on the neck can be quite useful … especially if someone is trying to identify your severed head. Here’s today’s disturbing little story compliments of the city of New Orleans:

After finding a decapitated head lying on the beach Saturday morning in Harrison County, Mississippi officials were able to positively confirm the identity of the female torso that washed up Thursday in neighboring Hancock County as belonging to 22-year-old Jaren Lockhart of New Orleans. Also found on Saturday were three pieces of Lockhart’s legs, said Don Bass, chief deputy for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

According to New Orleans police, Lockhart was last seen by her boyfriend Tuesday about 8 p.m. at a Mid-City motel where the couple was living. He told police she was headed to a Bourbon Street club where she worked.

Before Lockhart’s head was discovered, investigators were awaiting DNA evidence on the torso found earlier in Bay St. Louis for a positive identification. The torso had a stab wound to the back, Bass said — probably the cause of death, though that has not been confirmed, he said.

Although the head had been in the water for an estimated three days, Bass said, it was easily identified as Lockhart’s, in part because of tattoos on her neck.

Before Lockhart’s head, along with some clothing, was found by police in Long Beach at midday Saturday, two pieces of leg were found in different locations Saturday morning in Pass Christian, also in Harrison County. The first piece was spotted by a fisher, who notified police and set in motion an extensive search on land and in the water, stretching across the two counties.

A third piece of leg was discovered later in the day floating in the water in the harbor at Pass Christian. Altogether, Bass said, investigators have “one full leg and one half leg,” minus the feet.

The torso was discovered Thursday evening by workers pumping sand onto the beach in Bay St. Louis near South Beach Boulevard and Bay Oaks Drive.

The events that led to Lockhart’s death, dismemberment and disposal, Bass said, are “inconceivable.”

Based on Thursday’s and Friday’s high winds and high tides, he said, it appeared likely that the body parts floated in from somewhere to the west of Bay St. Louis.

Chip Price, the night clerk at the Capri Motel at 2424 Tulane Ave., said the couple had been staying at the motel for two or three months, and would pay $50 in cash each day.

About 7 p.m. every night, Price said, he would call a cab for Lockhart, who he said was working as a dancer in the French Quarter. Price, whose shift ends at midnight, said the couple kept to themselves, and the only thing he remembered about the boyfriend was that he spent his time hanging out with Lockhart. Police have not released the boyfriend’s name.

An employee at Temptations strip club at 327 Bourbon said Lockhart worked the night shift from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

The day her boyfriend reported Lockhart missing, Price said, he explained he could no longer pay for his room and moved his belongings to an acquaintance’s room at the same motel. Price said he hasn’t seen the boyfriend since then.

In a news release Thursday afternoon, police said Lockhart’s boyfriend reported that he became concerned when he was unable to reach her and contacted police.

Price said he was shocked to learn of Lockhart’s gruesome fate. The motel is home to many offshore and French Quarter workers, he said, and does not get many tourists.

Bass said the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is in charge of the homicide investigation. Until investigators can find evidence to prove otherwise, he said, they have to assume that the murder happened where the first piece of the body, the torso, was discovered.

Detectives are working with police in New Orleans to try to find a motive and a suspect, Bass said.

The search for body parts will continue on the Mississippi coast, Bass said, depending on the tides and weather conditions. Pathologists and coroners in both counties are working together to piece together Lockhart’s body, he said.

With more than 20 miles of beach in the two counties, Bass said, there is a lot of ground to cover. He said he was thankful that most of the body parts were found by search teams rather than children playing on the beach.

Mississippi authorities are determined to find a suspect in Lockhart’s murder, Bass said.

I suppose it’s great for friends and family that this young woman was identified by her ink, but dead is dead right? In the end the needle didn’t save her from the blade.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

June 11, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

Roasting Your Banana

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Everyone likes a Summer BBQ, right? There’s nothing quite like getting together with family and friends, icing down your favorite brew and firing up the grill for an afternoon of sun and sizzle. And of course, one should be responsible when spending time in the Sun. Slathering or spraying on a little sunscreen never hurts. Or does it? A man in MA recently discovered that when tending the grill, perhaps the only thing that should be oiled up it is the chicken. Here’s more from CBS Boston:

A Stow man says he was nearly killed after applying sunscreen.  Standing in front of his barbecue grill, Brett Sigworth says it was only a second before his body was engulfed in flames.

“I went into complete panic mode and screamed,” he says. “I’ve never experienced pain like that in my life.”

He was at his lakefront home entertaining friends when he applied Banana Boat sport aerosol sunscreen.

He says, “I sprayed on the spray-on sunscreen, and then rubbed it on for a few seconds. I walked over to my grill, took one of the holders to move some of the charcoal briquettes around and all of a sudden it went up my arm.”

Brett says his body was on fire, “it went wherever the block went.”

Ten days later, his skin is still healing. The worst of the burns are around his neck.

Pictures from the hospital burn unit show the extent of his second degree burns on his chest, ear and back, where you can see the lines where he sprayed the sunscreen.

“There is no warning that says this product is flammable when applied to your skin or for a period of time when applied to skin,” he says.

The warnings only read, “flammable, don’t use near heat, flame or while burning” but nothing about once it’s applied.

“I think if people were told this is flammable for two minutes on your skin afterward, people wouldn’t use it,” he says.

And that’s why he is speaking out to prevent this from happening again.

Brett says, “I had no idea and it was so scary and I just wouldn’t want to see it happen to anyone else.”

Brett says he was lucky his friends and girlfriend saved his life that day by putting out the flames. Doctors say if he was on fire for only a few more seconds he would have suffered third or fourth degree burns.

Brett has an attorney but says he’s not looking for money from the company. Instead he wants more warnings and testing to see why this happened.

WBZ tried to reach Banana Boat for comment but could not reach them.

I don’t know about you guys, but after hearing this story … if I’m spending the day in the sun with friends perhaps cold salads and banana splits are the wiser option.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical Credits:

Bother Me Often, Carter Beale
Bothersome Reprise, Carter Beale

Audio sound effect credits:

Freesound.org – “flamewind.wav” by scarbelly25

June 4, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

Smells Like Teen Spirit?

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I don’t know about yours, but my Grandmother stank. She was a grand old lady, very sweet and somewhat clean, but she had an odor that both preceded her entrance into a room and, thankfully, made it’s departure as she rustled out the door in her house dress. Oh, and when grandma came to visit? Guess who she bunked with. Yup. I sometimes think those experiences scarred me for life, perhaps leading to my discomfort with sleeping with women. When I was around her I sometimes tried to sniff out the source of the smell. She didn’t have body odor, per say, just a moist staleness – and her hair was pretty neutral. She dipped snuff and perhaps that was a contributing factor. However, the tobacco wasn’t very noticeable until she jettisoned the occasional dark stream of spittle into the spittoon – usually half way across the room. She took pride in her aim and her distance skills. These old memories came to mind today as I was pondering a new study just published in Scientific America. Turns out, Grandma really DID stink. Here’s the story …

Wait a minute. There’s something unusual about the subway seat you just claimed. It’s awfully warm, and a peculiar odor seems to hover in the air nearby—a stale, musty odor tinged with something as acrid as mothballs. You know this aroma: it’s “old person smell.”

Anecdotally, the unique scent of the elderly lingers wherever they live and in any confined spaces they have recently occupied, such as taxis and elevators. Many different cultures have recognized the phenomenon—the Japanese even have a word for it,kareishuu—but the biological truth of old person smell remains uncertain. In a new study, blindfolded volunteers reliably recognized the aroma of the elderly by sniffing sweat-soaked armpit pads, although they had a much harder time correctly matching pads to the young and middle-aged, and they were not able to make fine distinctions about age based on scent alone. Contrary to the popular notion that old person smell is disagreeable, volunteers in the new study rated the odors of the elderly as much less unpleasant and intense than those of the middle-aged and young. Combined with earlier research, the new findings suggest that people retain a latent ability to gauge someone’s age based on their odor, a talent inherited from evolutionary ancestors that might be linked to the ways animals recognize the sick and dying.

Human body odor also changes with age, depending largely on the activity of various skin glands and how the substances they release interact with bacteria. The sebaceous glands, which secrete a waxy substance called sebum to lubricate and waterproof the skin, are particularly active during puberty and throughout most of adulthood. Likewise, apocrine sweat glands—which are only located in a few places, such as the armpits and genital region—rev up during puberty. Eccrine sweat glands, found all over the human body, exude a clear, odorless, salty liquid throughout life. All these fluids begin to stink when bacteria break down the various chemicals they contain—especially steroids and lipids—into smaller, odorous molecules that easily waft into the air. The more sweat on the skin, the more chemicals for the bacteria to break down, and the stronger the body odor.

Johan Lundström of the Monell Chemical Senses Center studies human and animal body odors and how the brain responds to smells. Every now and then, he gives scientific talks at an elderly care center in the greater Philadelphia area that—he realized one day—smells almost exactly like the nursing home his mother managed in Sweden when he was young. Perhaps the smell really did emanate from the residents. Knowing about earlier research on animal body odors and age, Lundström decided to test whether smell also informs how people evaluate age.

In their new study, Lundström and his colleagues sewed absorbent nursing pads into the armpits of T-shirts and asked volunteers of different ages to sleep in the shirts for five consecutive nights. The researchers divided the 44 volunteers into three groups: eight women and eight men between the ages of 20 and 30 (the young); the same number of men and women between 45 and 55 (middle-aged); and six women and six men between 75 and 95 (elderly). During the day, the volunteers stored the T-shirts in sealed plastic bags; avoided spicy foods, cigarettes and alcohol; and showered with odorless shampoo and soap.

After the fifth night, Lundström and his team collected and carefully quartered the sweaty nursing pads, placing four segments from each age group in different glass jars in preparation for a smell test. A different group of 41 young men and women volunteered their noses, taking a big whiff of the air at the top of a jar while blindfolded and rating both the intensity and pleasantness of the odor. Sometimes volunteers had to choose which of two odors most likely came from the older volunteer. Other times the volunteers had to label different jars “young,” “middle-age” or “old-age.”

Contrary to common complaints about “old people smell,” the volunteers’ blind ratings revealed that they found elderly people’s odors both less intense and less unpleasant than odors from young and middle-aged people. Middle-aged man musk took top prize for intensity and unpleasantness, whereas volunteers rated the odors of middle-aged women most pleasant and whiffs of old man as least intense.

Not only did volunteers in Lundström’s new study rate the scent of the elderly as less offensive than any other, they also had the easiest time singling out old person smell from a selection of odors. When the volunteers compared two jars containing pads from different age groups, they reliably recognized that the odors were different, but they were not particularly adept at deciding which scent came from the older person. When volunteers attempted to label several different jars by age group, they also often failed to correctly identify odors from the young and middle-aged—but they were much more successful at picking out the jars containing pads soaked in elderly sweat. Old people smell was often instantly recognizable.

Together, the evidence indicates that people recognize a characteristic “old people smell” not because of the aroma’s intensity or offensiveness, but because of its uniqueness compared to the body odors of younger people. “I think it’s true that old people smell a certain way,” Lundström says, “but the idea that the smell is negative may largely be social stigma.” An earlier study found that, compared with people aged 25 to 40, people over age 40 have higher levels of a fragrant organic compound known as 2-nonenal in their sweat and on their skin. The chemical, which the researchers described as having an “unpleasant grassy and greasy odor,” might be “a major cause of the deterioration in body odor that has been observed with aging”—in other words, the biological explanation for why older people have a characteristic odor. But the compound has also been linked to the scent of cucumbers and aged beer, which are not distasteful to most people; others have compared old people smell to old book smell, which most people find benign at worst and enjoyable at best.

Compared with many other animals, humans have a lousy sense of smell. Determining exactly how people change their behavior based on one another’s scents—or possibly pheromones—has frustrated and challenged scientists. Still, some evidence suggests that subtle chemical communication, much of it subconscious, helps people recognize family, changes women’s reproductive cycles and makes it easier to empathize with others. As for the advantage of recognizing age by odor, “It might be a way to distinguish the sick from the healthy—not overt sickness, but underlying cell decay,” Lundström says. “The older we get, the more natural decay we have. But no one really knows why animals or people have this ability.”

Excuse me folks, but I think I’m going to take a bath now, brush my teeth and douse my head with Listerine.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical Credits:

Bother Me Often, Carter Beale
Bothersome Reprise, Carter Beale
Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana

Audio sound effect credits:

Freesound.org – “L-train.wav” by nmgproduct

May 31, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | 3 Comments »

The Serpent in the Pulpit

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As a child, I was forced to attend the United Methodist Church with my Mother. Somehow my Dad managed to convince her that he had found the Lord walking in the woods, communing with nature and in his basement workshop. He successfully begged off most Sundays. I tried this tactic but was informed that the Lord would see me by appointment only and that the weekly therapy was necessary to save my mortal, sinful soul. I was six.  I’d sit quietly in the pew – always a window seat when I flew with Jesus – and stare longingly out the beautiful stained glass windows into the adjoining cemetery. It always looked so peaceful and appealing out there. I could never understand why, like in school on a pretty day, we all didn’t just go outside for class, sit on the tombstones and have fellowship with all of those poor, fallen Christian soldiers. The service itself was never too weird only boring and disjointed, with all the loud, off-key musical productions, the constant standing up and sitting down, weird recitations and oh yeah – the free crackers and juice snack that was held in such reverence.

There were rumors of other churches where people spoke in spontaneous mystery languages, drank poison and played with snakes. Cool, right? Perhaps if I had belonged to one of these cults I would have stuck with it. However, as you might imagine snakes can be dangerous, especially Timber Rattlers. One such serpent recently reached his limit with priest fondling and, well, struck out against the church’s abuse.  Here’s the story:

Mack Randall Wolford, pastor at the Full Gospel Apostolic House of the Lord Jesus in Matoaka, West Virginia, died hours after receiving the deadly bite on Sunday – the day after his 44th birthday. Wolford’s father, who was also a serpent-handling pastor, died in the exact same way nearly 30 years earlier.

Wolford was holding a ‘homecoming’ service outdoors in Matoaka while fondling the rattler, which is seen by his followers as a sign of faith.

The gathering was a yearly occurrence for Wolford, who joined relatives to celebrate faith and family before sitting down together for dinner during the Memorial Day weekend.

Wolford had reportedly owned the timber rattlesnake, named Sheba, for several years, taking care of it in his home and introducing it to his followers during his services. His unique celebrations were held regularly for his followers – who numbered between five and 30 – most of whom were members of his family.

Wolford owned several snakes, which he cared for in his home, according to filmmaker Kate Fowler, who was shooting a documentary about him called With Signs Following. In an interview with MailOnline, Ms Fowler, who has worked on the documentary for about a year, described Wolford as ‘articulate, well-read, intelligent and charismatic.’ She said that despite handling venomous snakes, he did his best to make his guests feel comfortable. Ms Fowler said: ‘It was pretty scary the first time I was at a service, but I’ve never seen him put anyone in a bad situation.’

Wolford had been bitten three times before, but never sought medical attention, saying that a bite was a test of his faith. It was his wish not to be taken to a hospital unless absolutely necessary.

A young resident of Matoaka, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I know [Wolford] was really bad off before he died… it was really bad. He’s worshiped at that church all his life. ’His daddy passed away the same way, from a rattler. He knew the risks. All of us around here are that way.’

Wolford was only 15 at the time of his father’s death, but later took on his mantle.

His devastated mother, who was present at the service when he was bitten, was always fearful for her son, but was extremely proud of his work with those who battled alcoholism and addiction, Ms Fowler said.

A nursing supervisor at Bluefield Regional Medical Center told the Charleston Daily Mail that Wolford was admitted to the facility at about 10:30pm on Sunday night. The supervisor told the paper: ‘He was a snake handler. It looked like it happened maybe during church, but by the time he got here, it was a bad situation.’

Ms Fowler was in the process of a final edit of With Signs Following, but is still deciding how to approach Wolford’s death in the documentary.

Neighbours told the Daily Telegraph that Wolford, like other snake-handling preachers, was fully aware of the danger posed by the reptile.

In closing, I have to admit that I have now fully embraced my Father’s philosophy. When Sunday rolls around, I piddle around the house (while praying, of course) drink a little poison, usually mixed with tomato juice and take the occasional walk in the woods. But ya know what? I always wear boots because out there on the trails … that’s where the snakes are and I have the good God-given sense to know … that they’re dangerous.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical credits:

Bother Me Often, Carter Beale
Bothersome Reprise, Carter Beale
Welcome to Paradise,  Front 242

Sound effect credits:

Freesound.org – “Cuckoo Clock.mp3″ by morgantj
Diamond Back Rattle Snake

May 30, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

What a Sithole

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When I turn on the mic and fire up the Mac to produce one of these little bothersome spots, my main goal is first and foremost to entertain you. Sure, most days it’s simple dismemorabelia for your dark, mental scrapbook but occasionally you actually might learn a little something. Today is a bit different. I have a story of terrorizing goblins, but what’s really fun is the way in which the story is written and what is lost in or perhaps gained through translation. Today’s podcast is dedicated to all the word nerds out there. You know who you are. This story may be found in Zimbabwe’s Zimdiaspora:

Three huts and a house were flattened last Sunday, while people are occasionally being pelted with stones by unseen things, believed to be goblins at a Chisumbanje homestead in Chipinge South where mysterious occurrences are haunting the Sithole Family.

In this true to life tragedy whose scripts reads like a horror movie, the Sithole family had to make do with stones being thrown at them for the past two months, while soil is intermittently tossed into their pots by invisible assailants as they will be preparing food. However, things came to a boil early last week when three huts at the homestead as well as a house suddenly went up in smoke and the family now sleeps in the open, while the few belongings they managed to salvage from the raging fire are heaped outside.

Whenever one young male member of the family, Taso Sithole (16) entered each of the huts and as soon as he came out, that hut would unexpectedly go up in smoke and this happened on all the four structures that were burnt at the homestead. To make matters worse, efforts to put out the fire were rendered futile as the well at the homestead mysteriously ran dry, only for the well to automatically fill up to the brim with water soon after the huts had been razed.

A visibly traumatised Sarah Muyambo (52) said they were not aware of the hand behind the calamity. She, however, admitted that her 29-year-old son was once fingered by some traditional healers as having caused the misfortunes after he had allegedly laid his hands on some money making magical charms!

“It was around 10am when the fire started. All along we were used to being occasionally pelted with stones, while soil would be hurled in our pots as we were cooking sadza. In fact, it has been long since we last prepared a decent meal simple because you would not want to spend a long time preparing a meal, lest soil would be thrown in whatever you will be cooking. My son, we do not even know why the Lord has allowed this to happen to us. So many things have been said by our neighbours and other passers-by, but no one knows the truth yet. As per our tradition, when such things happen, we consulted different traditional healers for possible solutions. On more than one occasion, we were told that my son – Enoth, is responsible. They said he laid his hands on some money-making magical charms and things are now backfiring. When he returned from Bindura we went to one traditional healer with him so that he could hear it from the horse’s mouse, but he vehemently denied the allegations.”

She added that the family has been left without any option, but to come out in the open and let the world know that they were in serious trouble. She said different Christian groups visited her home and prayed, but nothing has improved yet.

“We are now sleeping in the open. We have no choice. After all, we hardly enjoy peaceful nights because at times we are pelted with stones by some unseen assailants. Today, it happened about three times when all of a sudden we found ourselves scurrying for cover as we were being pelted with stones. Sometimes some big objects like pots mysteriously rise from the ground coming in your direction and you just need to be alert all the time,” she said.

In a separate interview, Enoch professed ignorance on the causes of the calamity that has befallen their family. The distraught Enock said he actually came back from Bindura to clear his name.

“I was told while I was in Bindura that I was being fingered by some traditional healers as the person behind the mysterious happenings at our home. That is why I came back to clear my name. I know nothing about it. I have never consulted any traditional healers with the aim of acquiring riches. My hands are clean,” he said.

However, some neighbours confirmed that strange things were taking place at the Sithole homestead. Others went on to claim that snake-like creatures wearing sunglasses, a suit and a pair of shoes had been seen at the homestead.

After reading this guys, I’m not sure what disturbs me more – Invisible forces throwing stones, snakes dressed as men in black, or being fingered by healers.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

May 28, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

The Twin Within

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I come from a family of twins. My Dad alone had two sets of twin siblings. Two of those twins later went on to produce twins. I always found it fascinating, and as a boy always jealous of my identical cousins. Not so much for the obvious reasons like dressing alike, pranking the neighbors or secretly sharing the same girlfriend but to experience the weird, creepy premonitions and synchronicities that often accompany such a close genetic connection. Sometimes I wonder if in fact I actually do have a twin, you know, one of those phantom siblings that isn’t quite viable enough to see the light of day and gets absorbed by the stronger fetus. That would perhaps explain both my love and hate of NASCAR as well as my mild bi-polar disorder. There are many astounding examples of psychic connections betwixt and betwinned and I have an interesting one to share with you today. Here’s more from The Mail Online:

Medical experts are describing it as an extraordinary example of sixth-sense – an identical twin’s headaches which led to his brother having a life-saving brain tumour operation.

When Sydney man Brenton Gurney, 38, began suffering from a series of headaches, he went for a brain scan, which revealed nothing wrong. But Brenton then suggested his identical twin Craig should go for a check up – and specialists found a 1.6in brain tumour in the base of his skull. Craig had a 10-hour operation to remove the tumour and has now recovered.

The incident has left medical experts acknowledging that there is still a lot to learn about the remarkable relationship between identical twins. Justine Gatt, who has been studying twins at Sydney’s Westmead Millennium Institute, said it showed ‘there’s a lot more to know’. She said: ‘This is not something that happens often.’

It was not the first time one of the twin brothers had felt the symptoms of the other. On one occasion it was Craig who detected his brother had a life-threatening mystery rash. He also knew when Brenton had dislocated his shoulder and, in a curious coincidence – or was there more to it? – both men married women called Nicole. We’re really closely connected and we’ve always been able to pick each other, know what each other was thinking,’ Craig said.

‘There’s no doubt in my mind that Brenton’s actions and getting involved in the study effectively saved my life,’ said Craig, referring to research being carried out by psychologists.

Specialist surgeon Dr Narinder Singh said when Craig sought his help ‘he was quite shell shocked, along with his wife, because he was completely asymptomatic’. This means he had a serious problem but was not experiencing symptoms.

The brothers have been helping twin research studies since their mother registered them with the Australian Twin Registry soon after their birth.

They said they believed it was ‘almost a duty’ for twins to take part in studies so scientists can learn more about the part that genes and the environment play on their health.

As for my twin cousins, one was killed in combat in Afghanistan while serving in the Marine Corps. I guess if he had been around he would have possibly felt the the pressure and pain in his chest that the other experienced as he died of a massive heart attack and collapsed into the open trunk of his car.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Musical credits:

Bother Me Often, Carter Beale
Bothersome Reprise, Carter Beale

Audio sound effect credits:

Freesound.org – “drop_cardboard_box.wav” by farbin

May 22, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | 3 Comments »

Nibbling Around the Edges

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As you well know, the world is filled with disgusting parasites. Leeches, maggots and investment bankers are a few that come to mind that can, on occasion be beneficial if they’re monitored closely and disposed of properly when their job is done. While leeches and investment bankers are best known for extracting pooled blood and reducing swelling here and there from a wound or bruised portfolio, maggots make quick work of necrotic and fetid flesh that might otherwise cause trouble for the entire body. I suppose it stands to reason that it would be best to keep the maggots away from the investment bankers as they would most likely make quick work of the poor bastards. While researching this topic and doing a little online banking, I happened upon this story of another little parasite :

Fish that are used in trendy spa treatments to clean feet may not be so clean themselves, a new study suggests.

In “fish pedicures,” the fish, called Garra rufa, exfoliate clients’ feet by nibbling on them. During a session, clients immerse their feet, or sometimes their entire bodies, in water with the fish, allowing the fish to feed on dead skin for cosmetic reasons, or to control skin conditions, the researchers said.

The researchers found that supplies of these fish from Indonesia destined for spas in the United Kingdom harbored potentially harmful bacteria. The researchers intercepted and tested the fish upon their arrival at a U.K. airport.

The fish carried a diverse range of bacteria, some of which are capable of causing soft tissue infections in people, the researchers said. The bacteria were resistant to a variety of antibiotics.

One type of bacteria found, Vibrio vulnificus, can cause wound infections and septicemia, a condition with high mortality rates, especially among people with conditions such as liver disease, diabetes or impaired immune function. Another type, called Streptococcus agalactiae, is a common cause of skin and soft tissue infections, especially in older adults and those with chronic diseases such as diabetes. Although the particular strain identified in the study does not generally cause human disease, it could evolve after repeated exposures to people, the researchers said.

There have been very few reports of people being infected with bacteria after a fish pedicure.

“However, our study raises some concerns over the extent that these fish, or their transport water, might harbor potential zoonotic disease pathogens of clinical relevance,” the researchers wrote in the June issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, a journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People with conditions such as diabetes or immunosuppression should be discouraged from undertaking these treatments, especially if they have breaks in the skin, the researchers said.

Spas that offer fish pedicures should consider using only disease-free fish reared in controlled facilities with high standards, the researchers said.

The study was conducted by researchers at the Center for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science Weymouth Laboratory, in Weymouth, United Kingdom.

I can’t help but wonder what happens to these little fish after they’re fed a steady diet of foot flesh. Are they edible? I know, maybe the spas could sell them as snacks to the patrons. Fried Garra fish on rye toast with a side of toe jam?

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Intro: Pierre Pressure, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Closing: Solace Interlude, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Six Cold Feet, Hugh Laurie

Sound effect audio credits:

Freesound.org – “Eating Crisps” by poorenglishjuggler
Freesound.org – “running water bubbles-02.aif” by kijjaz
Freesound.org – “00866 frying 1.wav” by Robinhood76

May 18, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

Kids Are Such Cutups

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We’ve all heard stories of the terrible things that adults do to children from time to time, right? From pedophile priests to child labor sweat shops many kids have a pretty rough time. In my small town I’m shocked at the number of crimes against children that are reported by our local newspaper. I suppose that the good news is, the paper is reporting because the perps are being arrested and prosecuted. But still, the willingness, no, eagerness of some adults to exploit children is sometimes shocking beyond belief. I’d like to share with you today one such case that is shocking and disturbing – even to me.

From The Sydney Morning Herald, this is the story of George Mukisa:

George is a survivor of child sacrifice. He was aged just two, playing football with his brothers, when a neighbour, John Otebati, offered to take him into town for sweets. Instead, Otebati, a witch doctor, took him to a nearby banana plantation and removed his genitals with a knife. In Uganda, children live in fear of child sacrifice, driven by unscrupulous witch doctors and their accomplices or fraudulent traditional healers who claim they can bring power, prosperity and money.

A report by the British charity Jubilee Campaign and Kyampisi Childcare Ministries last year described the crime as a “relatively recent phenomenon” that was not a part of traditional culture.

According to the research, “greed and a growing middle class in Uganda” have fuelled the demand for child sacrificial rituals, during which the youngsters’ organs, blood and limbs are used after they have been killed.

George survived that brutal day in February 2009 only because passers-by heard his cries and interrupted Otebati, who fled, leaving George in a pool of blood.

He was rushed to hospital where doctors used a flap from his forearm to perform penile replacement surgery.

“He’s a fighter. He’s gone through a lot of pain. He remembers vividly what happened to him even though he was so young,” said the founder and executive director of Kyampisi ministries, Peter Sewakiryanga.

When George’s artificial penis stopped working two years ago, a urethral catheter was inserted into his abdomen, which allowed him to pass urine. But he is an active child and the tube constantly became dislodged. It had to be painfully removed and replaced weekly – causing him pain and leading to dangerous infections.

In 2010 a chance meeting between Pastor Sewakiryanga – who was visiting Australia from South Africa to talk to politicians and church groups about child sacrifice – and Geoff Mitchell, an Australian professor of general practice, changed his life. Professor Mitchell was horrified to learn of George’s ordeal and approached a friend, a Brisbane urological surgeon, David Winkle. A week ago Dr Winkle and a plastic surgeon, Scott Ingram, performed a life-changing operation to re-route George’s urethra. They also revised previous reconstructive surgeries, to make George look completely normal.

Dr Winkle said the surgery was rarely done in Australia, but was quite straight-forward.

He was reluctant to claim credit.

“George is the main game here. What we did was just help out and it’s not really much at all,” he said.

The surgeons were assisted by an anaesthetist, who also donated his time. Church groups in Australia, Britain and the US covered the rest of the costs.

Professor Mitchell said the group was delighted with the results.

“Without this surgery, George was likely to develop chronic urinary infections, renal failure and eventually die,” he said.

Otebati, who goes by the alias Otenge, was sentenced to 15 years’ jail in November.

Lieutenant-General Kayihura, the inspector-general of the Ugandan police, said his force had “defeated” the threat of child sacrifice after forming a taskforce in 2009. There were 15 reported cases in 2009, nine in 2010 and seven last year, police statistics show.

These figures, however, have been criticised.

Pastor Sewakiryanga said there were hundreds of cases of missing children in Uganda, possibly linked to child sacrifice or trafficking, and they were not being investigated due to a lack of police resources.

As a result, the real number of victims was likely to be “considerably higher”.

George, who arrived in Brisbane with Pastor Sewakiryanga three weeks ago, is expected to stay for another month or two. They are staying in the Brisbane suburb of Corinda and when he returns to Africa, it’s hoped he will be able to live with his family.

He will never have children and, when he is older, will need hormone replacement therapy, which Pastor Sewakiryanga will facilitate through fund-raising.

But for now, George – whose surname means “blessing” in his native tongue – is looking forward to going to the beach for the first time and seeing a koala.

“He loves Australia. Often times he tells me ‘you go back and I’ll stay’,” Pastor Sewakiryanga said. “He loves the hot showers and wants to see koalas.

“His recovery is surprising everybody. He is talking and laughing and running and he even plays a bit of soccer.”

George has also made friends with local children, who raised the money to buy him a scooter. Pastor Sewakiryanga hopes they will stay friends for life.

General Kayihura said he was “grateful to Australia for your compassion and generosity, for giving such critical support to this innocent child”.

“It will certainly give [George] a chance to live a normal life,” he said.

Well, it’s certainly encouraging to know that plastic surgery can give this poor kid back his future manhood. Once again, good has triumphed over evil through a combination of love, kindness, charity and cutting edge technology.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Intro: Pierre Pressure, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Closing: Solace Interlude, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Bleed, Collective Soul

Audio sound effect credits:

Freesound.org – “Percussions tribales Assam.wav” by grololo
Freesound.org – “slashkut.wav” by Abyssmal
Freesound.org – “scream little boy.aiff” by gntv

May 14, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | 4 Comments »

Beware the Devil’s Breath

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When I was a kid one of my favorite TV shows was the old Batman and Robin series from the 60′s. As a side note, I’d like to add that I’m not quite old enough to have seen them during their original run, but rather in syndication several years later. This was my first exposure to an exciting gay couple with lots of money and fantastic gadgets and toys. The story I have for you today reminded me of one of those old shows. I can’t remember the exact one. Nor can I recall which fiendish super-villian was involved, probably the lovely Ertha Kitt, but what does come to mind is a strange, potent material, blown in Batman’s face – not by Robin, but by the super-villian, that immediately put him into a zombie-like state. He was then captured, blah, blah, kaboom, pow… you know the routine if you’ve ever seen the show. Anyway, here’s the story as reported in The Mail Online:

A hazardous drug that eliminates free will and can wipe the memory of its victims is currently being dealt on the streets of Colombia. The drug is called scopolamine, but is commonly referred to as ‘The Devil’s Breath,’ and is derived from a particular type of tree common to South America. Stories surrounding the drug are the stuff of urban legends, with some telling horror stories of how people were raped, forced to empty their bank accounts, and even coerced into giving up an organ.

Demencia Black, a drug dealer in the capital of Bogota, said the drug is frightening for the simplicity in which it can be administered. Black says that Scopolamine can be blown in the face of a passer-by on the street, and within minutes, that person is under the drug’s effect – scopolamine is odourless and tasteless. ‘You can guide them wherever you want,’ he explained. ‘It’s like they’re a child.’ Black said that one gram of Scopolamine is similar to a gram of cocaine, but later called it ‘worse than anthrax.’ In high doses, it is lethal. The drug, he said, turns people into complete zombies and blocks memories from forming. So even after the drug wears off, victims have no recollection as to what happened.

One victim told Vice that a man approached her on the street asking her for directions. Since it was close by, she helped take the man to his destination, and they drank juice together. She took the man to her house and helped him gather all of her belongings, including her boyfriend’s cameras and savings. ‘It is painful to have lost money,’ the woman said,’ but I was actually quite lucky.’

According to the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, the drug – also known as hyoscine – causes the same level of memory loss as diazepam.

In ancient times, the drug was given to the mistresses of dead Colombian leaders – they were told to enter their master’s grave, where they were buried alive.

In modern times, the CIA used the drug as part of Cold War interrogations, with the hope of using it like a truth serum. However, because of the drug’s chemical makeup, it also induces powerful hallucinations.

The tree is quite common around Colombia, and is called the ‘borrachero’ tree – loosely translated as the ‘get-you-drunk’ tree.

It is said that Colombian mothers warn their children not to fall asleep under the tree, though the leafy green canopies and large yellow and white flowers seem appealing.

Experts are baffled as to why Colombia is riddled with scopolamine-related crimes, but wager much of it has to do with the country’s torn drug-culture past, and on-going civil war.

Baffled? Really? If this thing would grow in Mendocino County, CA do you really think we’d need roofies anymore??

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Intro: Pierre Pressure, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Closing: Solace Interlude, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Batman TV Theme, Crimson Ensemble

May 14, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | 1 Comment »

Baby, Take a Powder

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I’m sure that many of you, like me, take various supplements and vitamins to keep yourselves healthy right? My personal selections include daily doses of Vitamin D, Fish Oil and Turmeric, with the occasional Zinc and acidophilus thrown down the hatch for good measure. My favorite ‘supplement’ is red wine. After all, the results of a recent study on mice released in the May 1 issue of Cell Metabolism suggest that the active compound resveratrol could actually slow down the aging process by increasing mitochondrial function. But that’s all boring science, and not really what I want to discuss today. The story out this week that really intrigues me is about a natural supplement from China that allegedly cures all sorts of ailments, and South Korea’s heavy-handed response to the shipment of this useful and benign product. Here’s more from The Guardian:

South Korea has seized thousands of smuggled drug capsules filled with powdered flesh from dead babies, which some people believe can cure disease.

The capsules were made in north-east China from babies whose bodies were chopped into small pieces and dried on stoves before being turned into powder, the Korean customs service said.

Officials refused to say where the dead babies had come from or who made the capsules, citing possible diplomatic friction with Beijing. Last year, Chinese officials ordered an investigation into the production of drugs made from dead foetuses or newborns.

The customs service said it had discovered 35 attempts since August to smuggle a total of about 17,450 capsules.

The smugglers told customs officials they believed the capsules were ordinary stamina boosters, and were ignorant of the ingredients and manufacturing process. Ethnic Koreans from north-east China who now live in South Korea intended to use the capsules themselves or share them with other Korean-Chinese, a customs official said.

The capsules were carried in luggage or sent by international mail. They were all confiscated but no one was punished because the amount was deemed small and they were not intended for sale, the official said.

The customs agency began investigating after receiving a tip a year ago. No sicknesses have been reported from ingesting the capsules.

I can’t help but wonder if the powdered baby could, like my Turmeric, also be used as seasoning to make a delicious chicken curry?

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Intro: Pierre Pressure, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Closing: Solace Interlude, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To you, Billie Holiday

Audio sound effect credits:

Freesound.org – “babycry01.wav” by pfly

May 11, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

See You Outside

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I don’t mind telling you that when it comes to visual acuity, I’m as blind as the proverbial bat. If it weren’t for contacts and polycarbonate lenses I would be that guy with the coke bottle glasses, and probably a pocket protector just to complete the look. Since the third grade when I was first diagnosed with Myopia, annual trips to the optometrist have been a regular part of my blurry and distorted life. There’s really no one to blame for my nearsightedness other than my Mother, who’s vision was nearly as bad as mine. Dad, on the other hand has 20/20 vision and all that I got from him was my face and bad temper.

As a kid I spent lots of time outdoors, and still do. What does this have to do with Myopia you may ask? Well, perhaps nothing in my case but a new study just published in The Lancet medical journal suggests that children who spend the majority of their time indoors are far more likely to be wearing those coke bottle glasses. Here’s the story from Yahoo News:

Snubbing the outdoors for books, video games and TV is the reason up to nine in ten school-leavers in big East Asian cities are near-sighted, according to a study published on Friday.

Neither genes nor the mere increase in activities like reading and writing is to blame, the researchers suggest, but a simple lack of sunlight.

Exposure to the sun’s rays is believed to stimulate production of the chemical dopamine, which in turn stops the eyeball from growing elongated and distorting the focus of light entering the eye.

“It’s pretty clear that it is bright light stimulating dopamine release which prevents myopia,” researcher Ian Morgan of the Australian National University told AFP of the findings published in The Lancet medical journal.

Yet the average primary school pupil in Singapore, where up to nine in ten young adults are myopic, spent only about 30 minutes outdoors every day — compared to three hours for children in Australia where the myopia prevalence among children of European origin is about 10 percent.

The figure in Britain was about 30 to 40 percent and in Africa “virtually none” — in the range of two to three percent, according to Morgan.

More than other groups, children in East Asia ”basically go to school, they don’t go outside at school, they go home and they stay inside. They study and they watch television,” the scientist said.

The most myopic school-leavers in the world are to be found in cities in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, where between 80 and 90 percent were affected.

Of these, 10 to 20 percent had a condition called high myopia, which can lead to blindness.

“Most of what we’ve seen in East Asia is due to the environment, it is not genetic,” said Morgan, contrary to the common belief 50 years ago.

The researchers, collating the findings of studies from around the world, stressed that being a bookworm or computer geek does not in itself put you at risk.

“As long as they get outside it doesn’t seem to matter how much study they do,” explained Morgan.

“There are some kids who study hard and get outside and play hard and they are generally fine. The ones who are at major risk are the ones who study hard and don’t get outside.”

The scientist said children who spent two to three hours outside every day were “probably reasonably safe”. This could include time spent on the playground and walking to and from school.

“The amount of time they spend on computer games, watching television can be a contributing factor. As far as we can tell it is not harmful in itself, but if it is a substitute for getting outside, then it is,” said Morgan.

He said ways must be found to get children to spend more time in reasonably bright daylight without compromising their schooling.

“It is going to require some sort of structural change in the way a child’s time is organised in East Asia because there is so much commitment to schooling and there is also a habit of taking a nap at lunchtime, which is from our perspective prime myopia prevention time.”

After considering this story for mere moments, I think I may have a solution to this problem. All the kids need is an app for their smartphone! One that they can hold in front of their faces that uses the phone’s camera to display the area directly in front of them. A virtual, superimposed she-male dwarf with thick glasses could then beckon and lead them out into the daylight, where they would most certainly go completely blind and burst into flames.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Intro: Pierre Pressure, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Closing: Solace Interlude, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Miss Me Blind, Culture Club

May 8, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | 3 Comments »

Holes to Hell

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Dante' & Virgil in Hell

Years ago while listening to the late night radio show Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell, I was first introduced to the legend of holes to hell; various openings that allegedly exist in the surface of the earth that seemingly connect us mere mortals to the dark and mysterious underworld. A listener had submitted a recording of what was reported to be sounds emanating from a very deep hole that was excavated in Siberia by Russian research scientists. Here’s a bit of that audio.

Although the legitimacy of that particular recording is suspect, it is pretty compelling. After all, history is rife with legends and references to various spots around the world that are indicative of man’s fascination with hell and the various ways to get there. A few examples include Hells Gates in Tasmania, Shimokita Peninsula in Japan, and St. Patrick’s Purgatory on Station Island, just to name a few. And now, new archeological research in Israel suggests the existence of another such dreadful place. Here’s the hole story from The Huffington Post:

It’s an ancient legend: Located in scattered areas of Earth are openings, doorways, gates, if you will, to some unseen underworld, also variously referred to as hell, Hades and Dante’s Inferno.

Researchers exploring the famous Twins Cave outside of Jerusalem have uncovered evidence of some pagan rituals, dating back to the Roman Empire, that suggest people may have believed the cave was a portal to this underworld.

Bar-Ilan University archaeologists found 42 clay lamps — dating to the late Roman period — in a 70-foot-long vertical shaft inside the cave. It’s speculated that the lamps may have been used in ancient rituals between the 2nd and 4th century C.E., to supposedly guide the Greek goddess Demeter into Hades to search for her missing daughter.

“In the ancient world, it’s tricky — if not dangerous — to try to assume that we know what the people really thought,” said Daniel Schowalter, a professor of religion and classics at Carthage College in Wisconsin.

“Even if there were rituals going on at the site, associated with the underworld, people probably knew that it was just a cave,” Schowalter told The Huffington Post.

The idea of some mysterious, menacing dark world of the dead has been written about for as long as humans have speculated about it. Even still, Schowalter says most people don’t understand the difference between the terms hell and Hades.

“It’s called the realm of Hades, where Hades is the king,” he said. “In Greek and Roman conceptions, it’s a different understanding than what Christians later developed in terms of hell as a place of punishment.

“Hades was the world of the dead — the place where the dead lived. The expectation was that when you died, you passed into a different form of life.”

Schowalter is the co-director of an excavation site of a Roman temple in northern Israel. He explains the early belief that when you died, “you went to live in the place of the dead, which is the underworld, a kind of shadowy place, which did not necessarily involve punishment, and you weren’t sent there because you were bad. It’s just where dead people went.”

But how would one actually reach this mysterious underworld realm?

According to the online edition of Israel’s Haaretz, “dark, deep pits or caves were considered gateways to hell and were often used for rituals dedicated to pagan gods.”

Numerous books, movies and television shows have depicted the dark, shadowy underworld. But is there any truth to the idea that an actual entrance to such a place may someday be discovered?

“My quick answer is no,” Schowalter said. “The more interesting thing is that people wanted to have contact with the world of the dead and they did somewhat extreme things and developed rituals in which they thought that they could try to do that.”

The whole idea that people in “hell” are being punished for various sins is, according to Schowalter, something that stems from a Christian re-interpretation of that material.

“There was this desire to have contact — and it’s obviously still seen in our society today — where people will go to great lengths to try to understand what dead people would say to them.

“There were lots of different ways in which the ancient Greeks and Romans understood themselves connected to the gods, and they acted those out in rituals that took a lot of different forms.”

Although I think that everyday life itself offers up adequate punishment and hellish abuse for most of us, I suppose there could be some final destination of eternal torture and mayhem. Some awful place filled with disturbing creatures and screams of pain. In closing, I’d like to offer one last recorded example of hellish torment to provide you with the nightmares that you most certainly deserve.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Intro: Pierre Pressure, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Closing: Solace Interlude, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick Astley

Audio sound effect credits:

Freesound.org – “Monster.wav” by Sea Fury
Freesound.org – “scream.wav” by analogchill
Freesound.org – “01205 shovel digging 2.wav” by Robinhood76

April 26, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »

A Shocking Predicament

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Ok, I admit it. While surfing the internet I have, from time to time, stumbled across a few websites in the internet’s red light district. Don’t even try and play the part of the offended innocent, dear listener, as I’m sure many of you have as well. While porn sites may be, um, interesting it the accompanying ads which often catch my attention. I’m especially fascinated by the stores that sell all sorts of interesting objects and contraptions designed for your personal pleasure. There’s one such device that both intrigues and disturbs me a bit. It consists of a series of wires, straps and electrodes designed to be attached to a man’s … well … you get the idea. Let’s just say electroshock therapy ain’t what it used to be. Well, it appears that a man in Rochester NY took it upon himself to place upon himself one such device of his own design and construction which in the end, provided him with the final release. Not only that, his widow is now quite a bit wealthier as a result. Here’s more from The Mail Online:

A widow who lost her husband to his penchant for auto-erotic electrocution has won a major battle in the courts.

Rochester resident Amanda Martin found her husband Paul, 35, lying naked on the floor in the couple’s basement in December 2008 after hooking himself up to a homemade electrical contraption.

Ms Martin was denied her claim for an accidental insurance award from his employer’s insurance, but a judge has just overturned that verdict and demanded that the Hartford Life-Insurance company pay more than $200,000 in total awards.

Ms Martin sued the insurance company after they claimed ‘Mr Martin’s own volitional acts caused to contributed to the injury which resulted in his death .’

Subsequently, Ms Martin was awarded $162,000 in life insurance benefits but denied accidental death benefits amounting to $81,000.

Police documents show that Ms Martin found her husband lying face-down and half naked in the family’s basement, shortly before they were scheduled to have a festive family brunch with their young daughter.

She saw wires wrapped around his blue arms and turned him over, receiving a shock in the process.

Emergency officials said that Mr Martin’s ‘homemade wire device’  ‘accidentally electrocuted him to death.’

Mr Martin, an electrical engineer, was a diabetic and suffered from erectile dysfunction, Ms Martin told officials, but their marriage was a happy one.

Mr Martin made the device by attaching a black power cord into a regular power strip and soldering on purple wires. One of the purple wires had a soldered bare loop on one end and the other had a handle. The loop at the end of the purple wire was ‘attached to his scrotum,’ police wrote, and he could turn the device on and off with the handle.

Though the police determined the death to be ‘accidental’ the Hartford Insurance company denied the claim.

Last year, a federal judge in Rochester sided with Hartford and also rejected Ms Martin’s suit, but she refused to give up.

Expert witness Dr Stephen J. Hucker, a forensic psychiatrist, argued that electrical stimulation is for enjoyment, not suicide.

‘The use of electrical stimulation to produce sexual excitement and orgasm has been known since at least the nineteenth century,’ Dr Hucker argued.  ‘Clearly their intention is to use the instrument repeatedly for sexual enjoyment and not to end their lives.’

Likening Mr Martin’s hobby to rock-climbing, Ms Martin’s attorney ferociously fought for his client.

Irving Pheterson asked the court whether anyone would say that a rock climber’s death from an accidental fall while climbing was ‘caused or contributed by an intentionally self-inflicted injury’ because, he argued, the rock-climber had suffered scrapes and scratches in the past.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, after evaluating all the evidence, declared that Mr Martin’s death was not the result of ‘intentionally self-inflicted injury,’ but rather ‘negligently self-inflicted injury’ and demanded that the case be re-visited.

After taking a long, hard look at this story my opinion in this … If Mr. Martin had used a little common sense, a few strokes on his keyboard and jacked into the internet, he would have found the relief which he was obviously seeking and the cost would have been much much less than funeral arrangements. $125.00 plus shipping, to be exact.

I’m Jeffrey Lynch and that’s today’s Spot of Bother.

Intro: Pierre Pressure, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Closing: Solace Interlude, The New Orleans Bingo Show
Hot Pants Explosion, B-52′s

Audio special effects courtesy of Freesound.org

April 24, 2012 | Categories: Spot of Bother Podcast | Leave A Comment »