Health & Safety Department Chair Hi all! My name is Shellie. I live in Rockville, Rhode Island. Born and raised in “the sticks”, so to speak. I’ve been a social worker for very close to 25 years, working directly with people who suffer from chronic mental illness and substance abuse issues. I didn’t have my first paranormal experience till I was in my early 30’s. Since that time, I’ve been infatuated with the unknown. My mind is driven to want provable facts though. I will search and search to find a logical explanation for everything lol.
Shellie Langdeau
Author's posts
Jan 31
Michtlantecuhtli
Michtlantecuhtli
By Shellie Langdeau
In Aztec mythology, Mictlantecuhtli was the skeletal god of death who ruled over Mictlan, the underworld, with his wife, Mictlancihuatl.
After the restoration of the sky and earth by Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl, the two gods decide to create people to inhabit the new world. In order to do this, Quetzalcoatl travels to the underworld to retrieve the human bones of the last creation. After a conversation with Michlantechutli, the Lord of Mictlan agrees to give up the bones if Quetzalcoatl will complete a task that involved Quetzalcoatl traveling around the underworld four times while sounding a trumpet made out of a conch shell. Michlantechutli, however, not wanting to give up the bones so easily, makes the apparently simple task challenging by not drilling holes in the conch shell. Quetzalcoatl, nevertheless, is able to complete the task by calling upon worms to drill holes in the shell and by having bees enter the trumpet.
When Michlantechutli hears the conch sounding, he at first allows Quetzalcoatl to take the bones, then quickly changes his mind, but his efforts are in vain as Quetzalcoatl is able to escape the underworld with the bones. Angry at the fiasco, Michlantechutli orders his minions to dig a deep pit, and as Quetzalcoatl runs towards it, a quail pops out and frightens him. Quetzalcoatl falls in the pit dead, and the bones are broken and scattered – the reason why people are different sizes today.
mikl2Quetzalcoatl eventually revives and retrieves the bones, and gives them to the goddess Cihuacoatl (Woman Serpent) who grinds the bones into a flour-like mixture and puts it into a special container. The gods are then able to gather around this container, shed drops of their own blood, & from the combination, spawn the peoples of today.
Oct 29
Mamlambo
By Shellie Lamont Langdeau
Mamlambo is said to live in the depths of African rivers. This cryptozoological creature is said to have first been seen several hundred years ago and to still be seen today. The body of Mamlambo is said to be up to 60 feet long and look like a hybrid of a snake and a fish with a horse-like head. Those who have seen this creature say that it measures around 67 feet long and is a solitary creature. No sounds or smells have ever been associated with this mysterious creature. The first time that this creature was observed it was in the Mzintlava river in Southern Africa and since this first sighting it has been feared by various cultures in the area ever since. According to those who have witnessed the creature, the Mamlambo thrives in wetter weather and has been said to drag both animals and people underneath the water to drown them before eating them. According to local legend, the Mamlambo has taken the lives of nine victims to date, the last of which was a young girl whose body was found buried in the dirt beside the river. Perhaps the most gruesome thing about this creature is that it is said to eat the faces of its victims before eating their brains.
Some explain the Mamlambo away as being an Elasmosaur or a type of Archaeocete; however, to those cultures that have seen it, the creature is simply a gruesome monster to be feared.
http://www.exploringlifesmysteries.com/cryptozoology-crea…/…
Oct 29
Ebu Gogo
By: Shellie Lamont Langdeau
Ebu Gogo has most commonly been sighted in Flores, Indonesia. The creature was first sighted in ancient times and was last seen in the late 19th century. Those who have seen depictions of Ebu Gogo describe it as looking much like a little gremlin. According to noted sightings the Ebu Gogo is a small creature that has a hair covered body. This small creature has disproportionately long arms and a large belly as well as quite large ears. The Ebu Gogo walks bipedally and appears to have an uncomfortable pace. No sighting of this creature has ever noted it as talking to anyone; however, they have been noted as repeating words that were spoken to them or muttering indistinguishably. Fast climbers and strong creatures, the Ebu Gogo are capable and willing to eat anything and everything according to legend, including people. Some believe that the Ebu Gogo is related to the Homo Florensiensis discovered in a cave in Flores. According to local legends however, the Ebu Gogo is a formidable creature and is used to scare children much like the boogie man is used to scare children in the United States. At one point the island of Flores was believed to have belonged to a small race of people not unlike the Ebu Gogo. Legend also tells that at one time humans and the Ebu Gogo lived in close proximity of each other until the Ebu Gogo began to destroy the human’s cattle. Once the humans noted this destruction they drove the Ebu Gogo away by hunting them which angered the Ebu Gogo and caused them to become vengeful. At one point it is said that these creatures even stole a baby from a local village! No very recent sightings of this creature have been noted.
http://www.exploringlifesmysteries.com/cryptozoology-creat
…/
Jan 22
Pareidolia Art
Pareidolia (pronounced pa-ri-DOE-lee-a) is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or a sound) being perceived as significant. Common examples including seeing images of animals or faces in clouds, the man in the moon, and hearing hidden messages on records played in reverse.It is thought that there may be some kind of evolutionary advantage to this malfunctioning of the perceptual
apparatus, particularly with regard to our tendency to see faces in commonplace objects. Carl Sagan hypothesized that as a survival technique, human beings are “hard-wired” from birth to identify the human face. While this allows people to use only minimal details to recognize faces from a distance and in poor
visibility, it also lead them to interpret random images or patterns of light and shade as being faces. The evolutionary advantages of being able to identify friend from foe, with split second accuracy, are numerous; prehistoric (and even modern) men and women who accidentally identify an enemy a a fried could face deadly consequences for their mistake. This is only one among many evolutionary pressures responsible for the development of the modern facial recognition capability of humans.
In 2009, a magnetoencephalography study found that objects incidentally perceived as faces, evoke an early
activation in the ventral fusiform cortex, at a time and location similar to that evoked by faces, whereas other
common objects do not evoke such activation. This activation is similar to a slightly earlier peak seen for
images of real faces. The authors suggest that face perception evoked by face-like objects is a relatively
early process, and not a late cognitive reinterpretation phenomenon.
This study has helped to explain why people identify the “face” features, as in the picture below, so quickly
and without hesitation. Precognitive processes are activated by the “face-like” object, which alert the
observer to the emotional state and identity of the subject….even before the conscious mind begins to process
or even receive the information. The “stick figure face”, despite its simplicity, conveys mood information (in
this case, disappointment or mild unhappiness). It would be just as simple to draw a stick figure face that
would be perceived as hostile and aggressive. This robust and subtle capability is the result of eons of natural
selection favoring people most able to quickly identify the mental state, for example, of threatening people,
thus providing the individual an opportunity to flee and fight another day. In other words, processing this
information subcortically (and, therefore, subconsciously and before it is passed on to the rest of the brain for
detailed processing, accelerates judgment and decision making when alacrity is paramount. This ability,
though highly specializes for the processing and recognition of human emotions, also functions to determine
the demeanor of wildlife.
Jan 22
Lead Poisoning
Another environmental factor and danger to think about before investigating a site, is lead. Leadpoisoning is a serious and sometimes fatal condition. Lead is a highly toxic metal and is a very strong
poison. It can be found in lead-based paints, including paint of the walls of old houses and buildings
and on toys. It can also be found in contaminated dust and art supplies.
Lead poisoning usually occurs over a period of months or years and can cause severe physical and
mental impairment. Young children are most vulnerable to lead poisoning due to their behavior of
putting things into their mouth.
Lead poisoning occurs when lead is ingested. It can also be caused by breathing in dust that contains
lead. You cannot smell or taste lead and it is not visible to the naked eye.
Lead use to be common in household paint and gasoline in the United States. Although these products
are no longer produced with lead, lead is still present everywhere, especially in older homes and
buildings.
A few common sources of lead include:
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House paint from before 1978
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Toys made and painted outside the US
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Toys and household items painted before 1978
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Bullets, curtain weights, and fishing sinkers made of lead
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Pipes and sink faucets, which can contaminate water
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Chipping house paint and soil polluted by car exhaust
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Jewelry, pottery and lead figures
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Storage batteries
The symptoms of lead poisoning are varied and the may affect many parts of the body. Most of the
time, lead poisoning builds up slowly. It follows repeated exposures to small quantities of lead. Lead
toxicity is rare after a single exposure.
Signs of repeated exposure include:
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Abdominal pain
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Abdominal cramps
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Aggressive behavior
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Sleep problems
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Constipation
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Irritability
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Headaches
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Loss of appetite
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Fatigue
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High blood pressure
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Memory Loss
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Numbness or tingling in extremities
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Kidney dysfunction
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Anemia
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Loss of development skills in children
Since a child’s brain is still developing, lead can lead to mental impairment. Signs of this can include:
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Behavior problems
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Poor grades
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Low IQ
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Problems with hearing
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Growth delays
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Learning difficulties (short and long term)
A high, toxic dose may lead to more emergency symptoms such as:
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Severe abdominal pain and cramping
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Muscle weakness
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Stumbling when walking
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Vomiting
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Seizures
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Coma
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Encephalopathy, which manifests as confusion, coma and seizures
Lead poisoning is diagnosed through a blood lead test. This test is performed on a standard blood
sample.
Low levels in adults is common. However, low levels in children are a cause for concern. Normal lead
levels vary by age group. The amount of lead in the blood is measured in micrograms per deciliter
(mcg/dL).
For adults, the normal the normal result is less than 20 mcg/dL. Slightly higher levels may not be
serious. Treatment is recommended if the adult is experiencing symptoms. It is also recommended for
a blood lead level greater than 60 mcg/dL.
For children, a normal result is less than 10 mcg/dL. Any higher level than normal should be
monitored closely and the source of the lead should be removed immediately. A level greater than 45
mcg/dL should always be treated. Levels of 10-25 mcg/dL have been associated with impaired
neurobehavioral development in children. Levels of 25-50 mcg/dL may be associated with headache,
irritability, and early nerve problems. Levels of 50-70 are associated with moderate toxicity, and levels
greater than 70-100 mcg/dL are associated with severe poisoning.
Additional tests may include blood tests to look at the amount of iron storing cells in the blood, x-rays,
and possibly a bone marrow biopsy.
The first step of treatment is to locate and remove the lead source. If it cannot be removed then it
should be sealed. Call your local health department for information on how to remove lead. They can
also help you reduce the likelihood of lead exposure.
Simple steps can help you avoid lead poisoning. Some steps include:
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Avoid areas where lead-based paint may have been used
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Keep your home free of dust
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Test your water for lead. If lead levels are high, consider using a filtering device.
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Teach your children to wash their hands after playing.
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Clean faucets and aerators regularly.
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Make sure any contractor doing work in your house is certified in lead control.
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Screen young children for blood lead levels.
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Use cold water to prepare any foods or drinks
In researching lead poisoning for this article I discovered a plethora of information out there regarding
this topic. As always, stay safe out there!
Information gathered from www.healthline.com
Jan 15
What is histoplasmosis?
I can just imagine the excitement and adrenaline rush of going on a investigation in an old, dilapidated, abandoned building! But beware! Histoplasmosis may be the only thing you “catch”……
Wait…what?? What is histoplasmosis??? Why do I need to know this, you ask??
Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus often found in bird and bat droppings. It is most commonly transmitted when these spores become airborne. Most people who develop histoplasmosis never develop symptoms and are not aware they are infected. For people with already compromised immune systems, histoplasmosis can be serious.
Several types of histoplasmosis exist, from the mildest form producing no symptoms, to the most severe infections which can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms will usually occur 3-17 days after exposure and may include the following:
– fever
– chills
– headache
– muscle spasms
– dry cough
– chest discomfort
“Chronic” histoplasmosis may include weight loss and a cough that may produce blood and can mimic the symptoms of tuberculosis. The most severe cases of histoplasmosis occur in people with compromised immune systems, as mentioned above, and can effect nearly any part of your body, including your mouth, liver, central nervous system, skin and adrenal glands. If untreated, this variety is usually fatal.
In closing, as investigators, please do your due diligence in always being aware of your surroundings and the physical dangers of the area you are investigating. Contact your doctor if you develop flu-like symptoms after being exposed to bird or bat droppings. And, as always, stay safe out there!
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/histoplasmosis/basics/symptoms/con-20026585