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  • Archive for March, 2008

    Return of the Roaming Gnome…


    2008 - 03.24

    Did anyone really think the Argentinian gnome story would go away?

    Countless people from far and wide have commented about the strange sighting and the mobile phone video. Some say it’s a hoax. Others, a clever Travelocity ploy. Our iconic image of the typical gnome dates back only to the 1970s. Before the book, Gnomes, was published, no two people could agree on their appearance.

    And the debate still rages on. 90 percent of the residents of General Guemes believe in the small creatures.

    Now, more people are coming forward. Apparently, only weeks before the infamous footage was captured near the town cemetery, rail workers reported a strange gnome-like creature on the tracks they were working on during the night. Other Argentinians claim to have witnessed gnomes over the course of their lives.

    Could this be real? Or has someone been reading too many of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books? In fact, is was done by R.L. Stine… There is an episode (ironically) titled “Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes“!

    And actually, it all depends on who you ask. Take, for example, Christian von Lähr and Christopher Valentine of Myst of the Oracle: a pair of mediums who communicate with gnomes, elves, leprechauns, and faeries (of course, I didn’t realize there was much demand for it in North Carolina). They’ve written a few books on the subject too… or should I say channeled the wee folk and wrote their words for them? That interesting information is discussed more on their other site, The Gnome’s Station.

    I pass no judgments…

    Supernatural Spotlight: Rebecca Muller


    2008 - 03.23

    Every so often, my website Haunted Cuyahoga gets a little attention or the random hit from an interesting person. I have made some wonderful business contacts, as well as a few friendships, simply from random people finding my site through search engines. Writers, photographers, attorneys, psychics, journalists,… the variety of visitors never fails to amaze me. Though some may be strange or disturbed, most are truly great people.

    One of the most intriguing contacts I’ve made this year comes from my own state: Ohio.

    Rebecca (Shott) Muller is a clairvoyant and paranormal investigator originally from the Cleveland, Ohio. Two years ago, she moved to Columbus with her husband. She stumbled across my site and sent me a message. The more we’ve talked the more fascinating it has become. We’ve worked with some of the same people, dealt with plenty of colourful characters, and share the same views on many matters.

    Of course, she is definitely more famous than I am.

    She is one of the more professional, rational investigators I have encountered. She may be psychic, but she doesn’t simply believe everything, nor does she behave in any arrogant or self-righteous manner. She’s just a regular gal who happens to love spooks. She and her husband even went to the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast last year to celebrate their honeymoon! If you’re in the Columbus area and need some help with the paranormal, I highly recommend her. If only more investigators were as nice (and as well-behaved)…

    Last October 31st, she was featured on the Today Show. You can see the short (and albeit stifled… not by her choice) video here:

    Go Find Some Easter Eggs…


    2008 - 03.23

    No, I don’t mean the coloured eggs you might see today. I’m talking about virtual media Easter eggs.

    Starting in 1979, programmers and creators have found neat little ways of sneaking extras into everything from video games to software to movies. Most of us never even realize they are there, but to those creative enough to seek them out, there can be many rewards.

    If you’re a movie buff like I am, you may want to check out DVD Easter Eggs and glance through to see if there are any interesting things you’ve been missing out on your movies and television series’. Ironically enough, in Season 3 of Doctor Who, an episode titled “Blink” deals with these virtual Easter eggs hidden in DVDs as part of the plot.

    Then there are more interesting ones. Especially in video games. Say, for example, the new Rockstar Games ‘Bully’. A few choice moves and you can do something other than beat up on people. You can get a few of the boys to make out!

    Don’t believe me? Well, someone did a nice job of recording a screen capture from their makeout moment…

    Bunnies, Bibles, and Gay Scientists


    2008 - 03.22

    Aah, Easter. Tomorrow is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days following his crucifixion. What that has to do with coloured eggs, marshmallow Peeps, and a giant white rabbit, I’ll never know…

    Actually, Easter coincidentally originally fell on the Spring Equinox, when pagans celebrated the return of spring and the fertility of the coming year’s crops. The name itself, “Easter”, is believed to have originated from Eostre, the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. I guess we tend to mix things up over the centuries…

    I’ll spare you all the usual ranting about misconstrued history and instead give you a bit of humour from Australia. The following clips are from CNNNN (2002-2003), a comedy show which preceded The Chaser’s War on Everything. After five long years, they’re still quite amusing…

    What better way to honour Easter than to discuss Christianity and homosexuality?

    Got Milk?


    2008 - 03.22

    British comedian Richard Herring samples…

    …Sasquatch Milk.

    They See Dead People?


    2008 - 03.21

    England is well known for its ghosts. Of the many haunted places throughout the UK, the Gaiety Theatre, on the Isle of Man, is reported to be one of the most haunted on the British Isles. The theatre was originally constructed in 1899 and opened its doors in 1900. After falling into a state of severe disrepair by 1968, it was saved from demolition. Restoration began in 1990 and was completed in 2000.

    Three spirits are said to haunt the building. One, known as the”Lady in Black”, sits in the auditorium and, according to some witnesses, has a penchant for musicals. The second is a shadowy male figure who walks through a wall on the right side of the auditorium. Lastly, an invisible pair of hands is said to help guide people during a crisis.

    Perhaps there could be one more?

    Actors Zac Efron and Claire Danes have been at the theatre filming a movie titled “Me and Orson Welles”. Just last week, the pair were terrified by an apparition outside of a window. Efron was reportedly quite shaken by the experience.

    Crew members have since been teasing him about their experience.

    On the Road Again…


    2008 - 03.21

    If you’re looking for a paranormal experience, tonight just might be your lucky night… if you happen to be near Toledo, Ohio.

    Once again, it’s the anniversary of the “Headless Motorcyclist” of Elmore, Ohio.

    According to the tale, the unknown man was returning home from World War I, to surprise is fiance with an early release from duty. He rode his motorcycle to her house to find that while he was gone at war, she left with another man. Jilted and angry, he sped away down the drive and out to the road. His rage lead to a few wrong moves, and before he knew it his motorcycle went out of control at the bridge. The authorities found the wreck site later, the twisted motorcycle lying in the creek. The decapitated head of its rider resting only a few feet away.

    Ever since, rumors have spread that on the anniversary, the light of his motorcycle makes its fateful route again. Flash your headlights three times and honk your horn three times. And then the light travels from the driveway down to the bridge and vanishes. People have experienced it, but it remains a mystery.

    Tonight, March 21, marks the 89th anniversary of his death (in 1919 for those of you with poor math skills). Will he come back? Why not see for yourself?

    The bridge (which crosses Muddy Creek, the middle branch of the Portage River) can be found along Fought Road in Ottawa County, 1/2 mile south of the Ohio Turnpike (I-80)/King Road and 6 miles southeast of Elmore.

    But don’t be surprised if you’re not alone…

    Grounded for Life…


    2008 - 03.20

    New York has more than its share of strange people. But not all of them are intentionally weird.

    A 12-year-old boy from Pulaski has been causing problems at Lura Sharp Elementary School. Whenever he would work at a computer, it would freeze and crash. An awards show was nearly canceled when the slide projector near him malfunctioned. Once he was moved away from the hard drive, things went smoothly.

    Is he a troublemaker with a eye for technology? not at all. Somehow, he effects electronic devices in his general vicinity. The trouble isn’t limited to school, either. At home, his Xbox 360 would freeze up every time he tried to play it.

    School officials gave Joseph Falciatano, a.k.a. “Magneto Boy”, a special wristband to wear, grounding him and any possible electrical field, and have had no further problems. An expert in static electricity was called in and has yet to discover the cause of these unusual problems.

    We’ve Got Stars Directing Our Fate…


    2008 - 03.19

    Robbie Williams is back in the news again. He is not backing down on his goal of becoming a ufologist. In fact, his latest actions show the dream is finally coming to fruition.

    He has begun a shopping excursion, looking into buying an observatory. And reportedly, he may spend around £2.5 million (US$5 million) for it! What was once viewed as a farce and a silly attention plea is now looking more like an ambitious venture. He has even been visiting a telescope in the Arizona desert to quench his desire to explore outer space from the comfort of earth.

    Call him insane but we should all give him credit for his pursuit. After all, we once believed the sun revolved around the earth. Science fiction always retains the possibility of becoming science fact.

    With billions of solar systems dotting the galaxies and trillions of planets floating around in the universe, it would be absurd to believe that earth is the only populated one. As for space travel, that is still debatable.

    It could be possible and we can’t rule out the slight probability. There is a chance that other life forms somewhere are far more advanced than we are.

    Condescension Among the Ranks…


    2008 - 03.19

    It’s Wednesday. I’m still tired and felt the need to vent a bit… since I really didn’t have much time to last night.

    I was actually in a decent mood up until a conversation last night. Wait, conversation implies two parties talking to each other, not one person talking and replying condescendingly to opposing viewpoints.

    The topic started out harmless enough, but soon spiraled to a whirlwind of prophecies and economics. Not thought-provoking economics, either. More of the “I want to tell you how the economy works since you probably never attended a class in your life on the subject” variety of economics. With a hint of “the world is heading toward major change and enlightenment” tossed in for good measure.

    Edgar Cayce meets Alan Greenspan.

    I take no issue with anyone having future predictions. Even if the new “global single country” is labeled the “New World Order” (so, we’ll be an 80s band… who would’ve guessed?). Eventually, we’ll find out if he or she is right. I do, however, take offense when someone proceeds to tell me how the world works and how current events are effecting things and I’m not permitted to disagree. My main qualms last night were 1) the world economy does not hinge on the whim of the United States, 2) our government is not “probably using a lot of the war money to save our economy and prepare us for the major changes heading our way”, and 3) if the United States economy collapses, the world won’t suddenly crumble and head toward disaster.

    Maybe this is partly why I am so un-American. When someone tries to shove the American ego down my throat, I want to gag and vomit. Just look around. China, for all intents and purposes, already owns us. a vast majority of our jobs are already overseas. The dollar is dropping in value so fast that Amsterdam currency exchange outlets are sometimes refusing to accept American currency.

    I read the global news. I have actually studied economics and listened to the projections being made. So that makes me a bumbling fool because I don’t think we’re still a superpower? And to add insult to injury, being bashed in the head with all this until after 4:00 AM?

    Afterward, while lying in bed, contemplating my irritation, my thoughts drifted to a certain Russian “news” website and its belittling comments about the US. I was thinking about the personal attacks they write while missing a neutral stance and logical explanation. I thought about why I don’t attack in that manner, by name-calling and whatnot.

    I audibly uttered, “I’m not that sort of bloke.”

    Bloke. Yes, I actually said bloke.

    I think I’m turning British. Very quickly.