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  • Archive for December, 2008

    White Landscapes and Wite-Out®…


    2008 - 12.06

    As the snow begins falling on the cold ground here, like powdered sugar sifted from some ethereal source, I’m once again dashing off for another interesting weekend. In a few hours, there’s a brief investigation with Western Reserve Paranormal at a private Cleveland residence followed by dinner at Union Station. I have this unshakable feeling that I’ll endure another drag show.

    It’s been a busy week otherwise. I’m slapping on my editor’s hat and working diligently on a book being written by a friend. I’ll be cracking down on my brainstorms more this coming week. Plenty of notes, outlining, and rewriting to tackle, but it’ll be a fun project nonetheless. I’m not abandoning my own manuscript at all. It’s been a semi-exciting week again, but fearing I may jinx myself I’ve kept tight-lipped about it. I’ll just say this: 31 minutes. Some of you already know what I’m talking about… the rest, well, you’ll find out eventually barring any unforeseen disasters or writer’s blocks.

    To avoid another dull, lonely New Years, I’ll probably be finalizing plans with friends this weekend as well… since no one else has stepped forward with an offer. *cough*

    But I must run now. Too much to do and never enough time in the day.

    News from our Strange World…


    2008 - 12.04

    It’s an odd word out there. We’re in the middle of some scary times… and I’m not even talking about the economy! If those dire tales of woe from your local broadcasters are turning you numb, here are just a few of the more amusing news stories you missed.

    Needling those Politicians…

    Sorry, President Sarkozy. A French court has decided against banning voodoo dolls made in his image. The novelty toys may have won, but they didn’t walk away unscathed. K&B was ordered to pay one Euro in damages plus court costs and now needs to attach a disclaimer to the doll stating that the President of France disapproves. I’m sure Sarkozy is feeling a but more blue than his fabric likeness.

    Girl Power(s)…

    Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has decided to ’spice up her life’. The actress and singer recently discovered her own psychic abilities! As proof of her supernatural skills, she accurately predicted that one of her PAs would give birth to a girl. Good going, Ginger. It’s the little victories that matter most, right?

    ¡Salsa Dios Mío!

    The Virgin Mary decided to get a little favor when she miraculouly appeared in salsa splatter on a wall in Bakersfield. While mincing the Spanish treat in a blender, the California woman noticed the pattern on her kitchen cabinet after some dip splashed out of its container. The anonymous homeowner says there is also the scent of roses in her flowerless home. She told local media sources that she beieves it to be a sign that “people need to start treating each other better”. She could start by passing the nachos…

    Drive-In Ghost Tours…

    Don’t believe what you hear; ghost hunting can be deadly! Participants in a Charleston ghost tour discovered this for themselves Tuesday night when an out-of-control Mazda RX7 crashed through the crowd at Meeting and Broad streets, known as the Four Corners of Law. The driver accidentally stepped on the gas instead of the clutch, injuring two tourists. Tour owner John LaVerne refunded everyone, though most continued the tour. Talk about your die-hard ghost hunters!

    I Fell into a Burning Ring of Fire…

    What do you do when your apartment is infiltrated by evil? Well, a woman in Marietta, Georgia thought she chose the best solution: burn it down. Claiming that items inside her dwelling were possessed by voodoo curses, Felicia Johnson stacked the belongings in two piles and lit them ablaze to “cleanse the apartment of the spirits”. Marietta Fire Department quickly conquered the flames and avoided serious damage to the complex. She was charged with first degree arson and taken to a hospital to undergo mental evaluation.

    A Picture is Worth a Thousand Groans…


    2008 - 12.03

    Give someone a ghost photograph and they’ll be amused for a brief while; teach someone to take paranormal photographs and they’ll discover new levels of self-induced paranoia…

    Or so I’ve learned.

    The number of “Oh my god! I took a picture of Satan in my oatmeal! Do I need an exorcism?!” photos I end up receiving can, at times, be mindboggling. Blurry, dim, and/or erroneous digital pictures can create a fount of possibilities in our minds. Of course, most of the time it really is all in your head. Hand me any picture taken anywhere and I can point out at east one “face”, and probably a dozen other objects – from skateboards to dragons to tubas. Are they paranormal or paranoia? Well, hopefully neither… but often the latter.

    Then there are the dozens of “orbs”, usually taken in either basements or attics (coincidence?), I muddle through, trying to find the politest way to reply. Dust… oops, I mean “orbs”… happens. Old, dirty houses have dust! Even your cleanest home has particles flying around in the air. And outdoors, pollen and insects are an orb hunter’s dream come true! Don’t believe me? Experiment a little Shake a flower or an old pillow gently in the air and snap a photo.

    So, to the many people capturing remarkable digital photos of orbs, faces, devils, witches, ectoplasm, faeries, dead celebrities, and alphabet soup flying through the air, I have one bit of advice: test out a few mundane possibilities before dialing 9-1-1. Photograph shadows, breath, dust, insects, and deer before giving yourself cardiac arrest.

    In the Spirit of Giving…


    2008 - 12.02

    This is the season of giving. While we all appreciate ribbon-adorned packages beneath a shimmering Christmas tree, there are many other ways of giving heartfelt presents. If you’re looking for a positive way to give and make a difference, I ask those who are able to pass along the gift of charity to help save a piece of queer paranormal history.

    The historic Villa Montezuma in San Diego is an incredible piece of Queen Anne architecture. For a brief time, it was home to pianist, author, and medium Jesse Shepherd who still haunts the dwelling to this very day. Built in 1887, the structure suffered damage in a fire in 1986 and its foundation needs repairs. A non-profit organization, Friends of Villa Montezuma, has worked tirelessly since the 1970s to renovate the structure and return it to its former glory.

    Structural concerns have closed the home to tours, though the society hopes it isn’t permanent. While I’m sure they do appreciate gracious, larger donations, they gladly accept whatever the public can offer. In these troubling economic times, our pockets are lighter, but the same applies to non-profit organizations. Without a helpful hand, so much of our history will disappear from the landscape. The past is more fragile than you may think.

    If you feel this house is worth saving, you can make a donation or become a sponsor for a restoration project. It can be as simple as becoming a member or, if you live in the San Diego area, you can donate your time and aid the society at events.

    And remember: not all presents can be bound by bows. Sometimes the best benefactions are those which warm the soul and come without benefit of reciprocation.

    What Tarot Card are You?


    2008 - 12.02

    Every so often, it’s neat to break up the monotony with an online quiz or two. Here’s a nifty one I discovered thanks to Cat Grant and couldn’t resist. While there are a few points I seem to disagree with, others hit the nail right on the head…

    You are The Hermit

    Prudence, Caution, Deliberation.

    The Hermit points to all things hidden, such as knowledge and inspiration,hidden enemies. The illumination is from within, and retirement from participation in current events.

    The Hermit is a card of introspection, analysis and, well, virginity. You do not desire to socialize; the card indicates, instead, a desire for peace and solitude. You prefer to take the time to think, organize, ruminate, take stock. There may be feelings of frustration and discontent but these feelings eventually lead to enlightenment, illumination, clarity.

    The Hermit represents a wise, inspirational person, friend, teacher, therapist. This a person who can shine a light on things that were previously mysterious and confusing.

    What Tarot Card are You?
    Take the Test to Find Out.

    Supernatural Spotlight: Dean Radin


    2008 - 12.01

    The paranormal community constantly battles skepticism and doubt. Belief in anything which isn’t widely accepted by both the scientific and academic worlds is met with criticism and doubt. Without definitive science, even weathered paranormal investigators can fall victim to disbelief and jaded outlooks.

    So, you ask, is there anything that science can say to give us a glimmer of hope that the supernatural exists?

    Don’t ask me. Ask Dr. Dean Radin, Senior Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

    Radin, 14 (he was born on February 29), is a bona fide scientist with a doctorate in psychology. His work ranges from physics to research in consciousness. While he takes his work seriously and maintains a professional, scientific view of the world, he also believes there is more to parapsychology than we give credit.

    At a spoon bending gathering in 2000, Radin experienced unusual malleability in the metal. Not content to simply bend a spoon at the neck, he attempted to alter the spoon at its strongest point: the bowl. To his surprise, it bent nearly in half quite easily between his thumb and forefinger. Knowing the amount of force required in the eyes of science, it concreted his long-held belief and understanding in psi phenomena.

    Amazingly, Radin believes he has discovered a coexistence between science and parapsychology. If you want to find out about his work, be sure to read his 1997 book The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena. His newest book Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality further explores scientific reality and parapsychological experiences. Even harsh skeptics can’t help but take notice.

    So, is there truth to our belief and hope that the rational world of science isn’t so bland and concrete? Perhaps. But don’t take my word on the matter. Read the books and find out for yourself.

    The Red Badge of Courage…


    2008 - 12.01

    As we begin the quick rush toward the end of 2008, it’s an important time to pause and reflect upon what we miss while pondering the holidays. Today marks an often overlooked observance: World AIDS Day.

    Since the early days of HIV awareness in 1981, over 25 million people worldwide have lost their lives to AIDS. While we have come far in our understanding of HIV and mislabeling it a “gay disease”, a certain amount of prejudice still exists. It can effect anyone, without regard for age, race, or sexual orientation. Some victims, like Liberace, kept quiet for fear of scandal. Others, such as Ryan White, became public speakers helping the world understand the virus better and giving sufferers a face of normality. Yet there are still people who believe past misinformation and stereotypes. For as far as we have come, we have greater strides to make.

    Throughout my life, I have watched the slow changes since its initial discovery. I remember watching Ryan White on television and seeing the earliest uses of the symbolic red ribbon. I have known and befriended people living with the disease. I have watched fear and hysteria give way to somber understanding. Great advances have been made in the past 20 years, from drug cocktails to scientific work on a vaccine. Yet the fight isn’t over. In 2007, the number of individuals living with HIV was estimated at 33 million. In poorer countries, the survival rate is extremely low. While we may not consider AIDS as a serious affair worthy of news attention today, the battle hasn’t ended.

    It doesn’t take much to become a catalyst for change. Educate yourself on the disease by reading information provided by the World AIDS Campaign or volunteer some time or financial donations at one of the many AIDS organizations throughout the world. HIV won’t disappear simply because we turn a blind eye. Like anything we fear, we have to face it head-on.