Weird News

[xoxoxoBruce]

We did a little resettling too.

Orphan Trains

For over 75 years, these Orphan Trains rolled along, delivering their precious young riders to new homes. Thousands of children were transfered from the over-crowded orphanages and homes in the large cities in the northeastern United States, to live with new families on farms throughout the middle West. Here is a little history of the Orphan Train Movement.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

We did a little resettling too.

Orphan Trains

I've never heard of it. Thanks.

[ZenGum]

Murders linked to cosmetics fat trade
Posted November 20, 2009 09:17:00

Four people have been arrested in Peru on suspicion of killing some 60 people to sell their fat and other human tissue to Italian co-conspirators for cosmetic use in Europe, authorities say.

The suspects were arrested in central Peru this month and a search is underway for seven others - including two Italian citizens whose names were not revealed - lead prosecutor Jorge Sans Quiroz said.

The fat was purchased "to be commercialised in European [cosmetology] laboratories," he said.

The prosecutor's indictment said the gang allegedly targeted farmers and indigenous people on remote Andean roads, tricking them by offering them jobs before killing them.

One reported killing took place in mid-September to remove human tissue for trafficking.

The trafficking network could be linked to 60 individual disappearances in the central Andean region, although the ties could not be confirmed.

Police began arrests after discovering early this month a container with human fat that was being shipped to Lima from the Andean city of Huanuco, some 400 kilometres north-east of Lima.

Signs of "an international network trafficking human fat" first surfaced about two months ago, according to General Felix Burga, head of the police criminal division.

Peruvian press cited him as saying the fat can be sold for $US15,000 ($16,325) per gallon in European countries.

The alleged plot revived the Andean legend of the Pishtacos, white foreigners who were said to suck the fat out of people travelling on lonely roads at night, making fine soaps, lubricants, healing salves and beauty creams out of the tissue.

$15,000 a gallon???!!! America, your economic salvation is right in front of you! And some of you are indeed sitting on a goldmine!

[Pie]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

$15,000 a gallon???!!!

Ummm.. why? Wouldn't any one of a variety of animal fats work as well, and be cheaper & legal and not require murder???

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by Pie

Ummm.. why? Wouldn't any one of a variety of animal fats work as well, and be cheaper & legal and not require murder???

Maybe PETA members need moisturizer too?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

I've never heard of it. Thanks.

I read an article many years ago, in Smithsonian magazine, but haven't seen anything about it since. I had to Google it, to find the story to link to. Just one of those things that happened in history, with mixed opinions and mixed results. Would probably make a good Ken Burns, PBS special.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I read an article many years ago, in Smithsonian magazine, but haven't seen anything about it since. I had to Google it, to find the story to link to. Just one of those things that happened in history, with mixed opinions and mixed results. Would probably make a good Ken Burns, PBS special.

Phil Cody has a good song about the orphan trains. That was the first I heard of it. I think I included it on one of the CMEPs.