Site of the Month for September 2011 talks about Humor Directory. Search Humor presents various categories of websites linking to joke story, joke picture, job humor, humor columns, practical jokes & pranks and more.

Recent Folklore abounds about the humble Vampire bat who is said to have supernatural powers, being able to change shape from bat to man. In many of our Vampire horror movies the Vampire bat is used in just this way. In South America stories have been told of large bats who kill and eat people and bats have been linked to ceremonial knives and artifacts of sacrifice. These sacrificial items were used in decapitation to supply blood to appease the gods.

Almost no country is free from the folklore of blood sucking creatures. Gypsy groups coming from India tell of Bhuta, Brahmaparusha, and Rakshara roaming the night killing and sucking the blood of humans. Indian folklore also believed Vampires could change into not only bats but chickens, horses, dogs, cats, snakes, fleas and even fruits such as pumpkins, watermelons and household tools. When all is said and done the Vampire bat is really very nondescript. He is tiny and at full growth is only as big as an adults thumb. He mainly feeds off livestock and birds by using his sharp teeth to leave a gash and then lapping the blood and feeding on the red cells. This little bat has special anatomy adapted to its liquid diet allowing it to separate the red cells which it needs to survive.

The unique properties of the vampire bats’ saliva has been used in the study of Stroke patients. This study which appeared in the January 10, 2003 issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, tested a genetically engineered drug called desmoteplase, which uses the anticoagulant properties of the saliva of Desmodus rotundus, and was shown to increase blood flow in stroke patients. Maree Tozer Borg is the Proud Owner of The Vampire Shack, where you can find interesting articles on Movies and DVDs and general information on your favorite Vampire stars… She also has Vampire and Gothic related Jewellery, Books, DVDs, Fashion and just about everything else related.