The stories begin in pictures.

From when we first begin to understand the concept of stories, they are told to us with pictures. Usually in the form of books with big cartoon images or comic strip panels, we begin to understand the way that information is passed on from generation to generation and from person to person.

It makes sense. Long before the invention of language and the construct of verbal communication, our ancestors relayed their own histories with simple images - of the hunt, of their tribal movements and their short, brutal lives - painted on cave walls.

And while we live in an age of rapid-fire communication in which the advancement of tools such as the internet and wireless messaging provide instantaneous means of reaching out to each other, the visceral connection that images provide remains one of the most powerful forms of communication.

The difference, of course, is that we no longer have to travel to caves to take in those images. Instead, we simply log on to our computer, or we upload them into our PDA's, or we send them across invisible wires to our cellular phones that simultaneous act as our daily calendar, photo gallery, video game arcade, music player and personal movie player.

And so it goes for us as a news organization. Instead of having to try to tell the stories of strange places and events far away, we are now able to relay them on demand to people in the comfort of their home, or on their commute or wherever they may be at the time.

And strange places they are - at least to the eyes of many of us who live out here on the gateway to the Mountain West. Snake charmers protesting in the streets? Trash TV stars taking stage on the streets of London? Men who promote peaceful understanding committing unspeakable acts of violence?

Here's a quick look at some of the most unusual images of the past week, via video.

Snake charmers take to the streets

Really? There are still snake charmers in India?

Well, apparently there could be thousands because near 1,000 of them took the streets Tuesday in eastern India playing their flutes in protest against laws that prevent them from performing with live snakes.

Apparently, it's a big problem in India. Performing with live snakes, that is. The protesters didn't look all that threatening.

The thing is, the charmers often remove the venom glands from the snakes or, worse yet, sew the snakes mouths closed. The protesters say they can play a vital role, not only in their work at preserving a traditional Indian practice, but also in such areas as the medical fields as experts who can extract venom from some of the world's most dangerous snakes.

Meanwhile, the government is taking a hard line stance on the charmers, saying they will jail anyone who continues the practice of using live snakes. Truly, I could not have made this up.

Springer makes debut in 'Chicago', but is that the Hoff?

Want surreal? Check this out.

Former politician turned trash TV king Jerry Springer is trying his chops at something new: theater.

It seems an odd match, but what about Jerry Springer doesn't seem odd. The talk show host will be playing the role of attorney Billy Flynn in the West End production of "Chicago." The self-effacing Springer notes that he should do fine as long as they keep people from bringing weapons into the theater during the production.

And another famous "actor" makes a brief appearance in the video: David Hasselhoff. The Hoff also plays Flynn in a stage production of Chicago, which brings up the brilliant show down question of the day: Whose better - the Hoff or Springer? And , more importantly, can the end of the world be that far off?

Beware of those G-7 after parties

Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa's resigned Tuesday after a not-so-sobering appearance at a recent G-7 summit in Rome. I don't understand Japanese, so I can't understand anything being said here.

However, after seeing Nakagawa struggle through this news conference, I can hear one thing loud and clear: No more Wild Turkey or all-nighters at the G-7.

The sweeping power of mother nature in Peru

It's flood season in South America, and this video taken from Lima, Peru, is amazing. A rescue official barely survives an attempt at recovering a body from the raging flood waters.

One gets a true sense of near panic in his cohorts voices as they try to pull him from the relentless flow of the muddy river and pull him to shore half alive.

Naked man dies after being Tasered

Note to self: Never take off all my clothes and go running through the neighborhood shouting incoherently. Truly, no good can come of it, especially when you do it in Los Angeles.

LAPD officials were called to such a scene this week and attempted to subdue a man who had apparently run amok (and down the street naked) by hitting him with a dose of pepper spray. When that didn't work, they turned to the Taser and handcuffs. But when they went to handcuff him, they noticed he wasn't breathing.

Second note to self: Never volunteer for one of those media-law enforcement training sessions where the police hit you with a Taser blast.

First hand video from the scene of plane crash

You want instant communication, you got it.

Moments after a plane crashed in suburban Buffalo last week, Sam Merlo shot video of the crash scene of Flight 3407 and the charred, jumbled mess that once was a passenger jet.

The best part of this, though, isn't so much the video, although it is rather spooky. The best part is Merlo describing what he saw and then watching those images with him, all the while hearing his sparse comments in the background from when he shot the video.

Pucker up: Mexico City sets the new world kissing record

Talk about public displays of affection. Thousands of people mashing in a public square in Mexico City to some kind of sultry, somewhat disturbing soundtrack.

As my 5-year-old Brewer would say: Gross!

Improving the image of Muslims? Probably not

Muzzammil Hassan, the chief executive of Bridges TV Network in New York who had a mission of promoting better understanding and the image of Muslims in the United States after the 9-11 attacks, is charged in the gruesome death of his wife, Aasiya Zubair Hassan.

Aasiya had a protection order against him and had kicked him out of the house, which apparently brought Muzzammil to the breaking point. He allegedly beheaded her and then turned himself into police.

It's a double tragedy of sorts, the first being, of course, the taking of a life so violently and the destruction of a family. Secondly, though, is when the actions of individuals committed to good deeds such as promoting understanding between entire races, cultures and religions speak so loudly against their teachings, it stains not only themselves but the cause that they hold dear.