Infocult: Uncanny Informatics

The great 2016 clown panic continues

The clown panic has spread across Alabama, with more announcements of school lockdowns.

Here's what the great 2016 coulrophobia panic looks like on the ground.  First, the specter:

They've been luring children into the woods, spreading fear on social media and causing school lockdowns across Alabama for the past several weeks, authorities said...

In Brighton, a suspect dressed as a clown jumped out of the bushes and chased two teens down the street on Sunday. The incident happened at 8 p.m. on Huntsville Avenue near King Street...

In another incident, on Monday night an 18-year-old was arrested in West Blocton after jumping in front of a car while wearing a clown mask, according to WBRC.

It's a mix of hoaxes, pranks, rumors, and some kind of actual activity, all of which can overlap.  Naturally, some of this occurs via social media:

Parents in Montgomery became frightened when an individual known as Bingerman Clownferd made a Facebook post of a schedule showing which Montgomery County schools he was going to visit and when, the Montgomery Advertiser reported.

"Warning," Clownferd said. "Get ready to get your a** beat the f*** up. High schools next week. I'm so ready."

Then comes the authorities' response:

Officials across the state are trying to put an end to the "creepy clown" sightings. Some police departments have identified and arrested suspects who have used the clown persona to make threats against schools. Other law enforcement agencies are still trying to catch those behind the threats and pranks.

Naturally these two can feed into each other, with pranksters or people genuinely interested in scaring people more seriously hoping to make their actions even more exciting. 

Next come connections to other fears, namely school shootings and terrorism:

Extra deputies patrolled Saks Middle School in Calhoun County after someone threatened on Facebook to start shooting at the school. A 16-year-old Pleasant Valley resident was arrested and charged with terrorist threats.

This last point is important.  Clowns are now expanding beyond their own creepiness, and serving to anchor broader, more established fears and stories.

Previously the clown panic has excited other locales in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and California/Indiana/New Mexico.  There were some early signs last year.  If you want more clown fear in general, Infocult has you covered with a big goofy grin.

(thanks to Ted Major for the latest story; photos by Alan Levine and Chip and Andy)

More clown scares, this time in Alabama

Schools in Tuscaloosa went on "soft lockdown" in response to a clown threat.  Yes, the clown panic is in full bloom:

[A]ll schools in the system were placed on a “soft lockdown” because of a message posted on social media. The message included a threat about a clown named “Dum Danny” coming to one of the schools.

Pickens said each school was placed on a “soft lockdown,” meaning that instruction would continue at the normal schedule, but that no one would be allowed in or out of any school buildings in the county.

Similarly,

On Thursday, Flomaton High School and Flomaton Elementary School in Escambia County were put on lockdown following messages on Facebook about a group of clowns called “Flomo Klowns,” which were purportedly coming to the schools.

It's interesting that the clowns are named.  Are these stock characters, or actual professional identities, or something else?

(thanks to Ted Major)

Sinkholes up their game

Mother Earth continued her sinkhole campaign against the human race this week, escalating things with some industrial and civic damage.

A massive sinkhole at a fertilizer plant in Mulberry, Florida, has caused about 215 million gallons of radioactive water to drain down into the Floridian aquifer system, according to ABC affiliate WFTS.

The aquifer system supplies drinking water to millions of Florida residents, according to the St. Johns Water Management District's website. Additionally, water that escapes from the aquifers create springs used for recreational activities like snorkeling and swimming.

Yes, it's Florida, of course.

(thanks to Ed Webb)

Clown panic expands across the American South

After clowns terrified people in South Carolina, they were apparently inspired to move around the South. Now there are clowns spooking folks in Georgia.

The Troup County Sheriff's Office responded on Wednesday to a report of people dressed as clowns standing outside a white van. Deputies found the van at the scene but no signs of any costumes, the sheriff's office said in a statement on Thursday.

...unless they weren't.

Questioned by investigators, Brandon Jerome Moody, 26, admitted he was aware of recent complaints of clowns in the area and had fabricated the sighting that he called into emergency operators, the statement said.

Has the clown scare of 2016 already peaked?

(thanks to Jesse "Honk Honk" Walker)

Another blood river appears

Another blood river has appeared, and it's for a good reason. The location is Dkaha, Bangladesh, and the reason involves bodies:

it appeared as though there were red rivers running across the city...

Eid morning on Tuesday began with shower that continued intermittently into the evening. Despite the pouring, Dhaka’s citizens went to say their Eid prayers in the morning and sacrificed their animals.

As rainwater built up on the roads of Dhaka and flooded many areas of the capital it got mixed with the blood to create an unusual and gory scene...

"The roads soon filled up with blood and waste."  Like so:

Sacrificing was widespread:

The two city corporations designated 1,000 spots – 496 in the north and 504 in the south – for slaughtering animals. However from around 7.30am in the morning, many people were seen slaughtering animals in the streets and their convenient places in several areas including Mohammadpur, Mirpur, Shyamoli, Uttara, Dhanmondi, Niketon.

Our previous river of blood was in Russia, but for a different reason.

(thanks to Todd Bryant)

Death by clown

This may be the most Infocult obituary ever published:

Here's the nightmarish text:

Birth:	Jul., 1840 Cincinnati Hamilton County Ohio, USA
Death:	Jan. 11, 1854 San Francisco San Francisco County California, USA
13y 6m; Died by being swung around by the heels by a Circus clown.   Funeral was from N Gray and Company, San Francisco   ************************* Moved to Cypress Lawn Cemetery in San Matero, original burial in Yerba Buena Cemetery (Defunct) ***************************

No matter how much you fear clowns, it can always be worse.

(thanks to Chris Lott)

Human body parts for food, Mexican drug war edition

Today's real-life Gothic horror comes from Mexico's drug wars, as some Gothically-oriented mobster got creative with body disposal:

The mutilated hands of a person were found on a disposable plate on 4^th Street and Mexico Avenue in the neighborhood of Bellavista...

Upon arriving at the location, a disposable plate was found with a lid, and under the lid was a pair of hands with radishes, onions, and cilantro, as if it were an order of tacos.

Is this legit?  It could be. The photo could go either way.

The anti-clown movement begins with a machete

Clowns can spark fear in the hearts of many. Now that fear has turned to resistance:

The clown was spotted about 10:05 a.m. at the apartment complex The Park at Oak Ridge, at 5856 Old Oak Ridge Road, said Susan Danielsen, police spokeswoman.

A man called 911 to report the clown, and chased the person into the nearby woods with a machete, Danielsen said. Officers responding to the call could not find the clown.

This is when it begins.  The Dark Days for Clowns!

(thanks to Jesse "Red Nose" Walker)

 

Blood red river in Russia

A northern Russian river has turned sanguine, apparently after a mining problem.

Some residents claimed the river is polluted by a discharge from the plant. Others said the color was caused by wastewater mixed with mineral ore leaking from the factory into the river.

(thanks to Todd Bryant)

Technofear through the ages

The BBC offers an introductory infographic illustrating technology panics through the ages.

A sample:

When it comes to the modern day the thing moves too quickly and skates over some of the panics we've explored here. But it's a good, accessible intro.

(thanks to Todd Bryant)