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    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.

    Bizarre News Recaps…


    2008 - 10.28

    While recovering from a cold the past few days, I didn’t have a chance to write long posts about some odd and interesting news from the last week. Here’s a bit of what you missed while I was busy hording Kleenex.

    Pinned for Office…

    President Nicolas Sarkozy of France is up in cross stitched arms and spitting nails (or needles) over the tactics of a publishing company. They are selling voodoo dolls of his likeness accompanied by slogans reportedly spoken by Sarkozy (including such thoughtful words as “get lost, you pathetic arsehole”). They aren’t just targeting the incumbent; his rival, Segolene Royal, has a similar doll marketed by the same company during last year’s election. Both men are considering legal action. Some politicians are just a bit high strung.

    Branded a Driving Witch…

    Get ready, Salem. Drivers in the city may soon have the option of purchasing specialty license plates bearing a witch. Destination Salem is asking the Registry of Motor Vehicles to add the new plate to its options. Unfortunately, similar plates will not be issued for broomsticks.

    A Feline Vortex…

    Wooaston in Stourbridge, UK, has earned the nickname “The Purr-muda Triangle” this month, as nearly 50 cats have gone missing without a trace in the past five years. Several collars have been located around Meriden Avenue, where the mystery is centered, but not a single hair or body has surfaced. Are aliens in need of a litte furry companionship or has Cruella deVille turned her sights toward other animals?

    Virtual Jail Time…

    Two Dutch teenagers have been convicted of theft in Leewarden District Court. The object in question is a magic amulet and mask. Not a real amulet, mind you: it exists only in the virtual reality game RuneScape. The culprits, aged 15 a 14, convinced a 13-year-od boy to snag the items and place them into their online accounts. For their acts, the two youths were sentenced to 200 and 160 hours of community service, respectably. And no amount of cyber gold coins can get them out of this mess.

    Choose Your Own Adventure…


    2008 - 07.03

    First, the bad news: I will not be posting a “Queer Paranormal Road Trip” this week.

    No, I have not run out of places (quite the contrary). Instead, I’m taking the time to ask for a little assistance from around the world. An open call for help from my dear readers.

    You might think I’d be content with having the dozens of tales I possess at the moment, but no. I know there are more gay/lesbian ghosts and gay/lesbian-owned haunted places! Some might possibly be in your own town… or personal experiences you have had over the years.

    So, do you have a story? Do you know of a haunted place with a queer spook? Have you stayed at a gay-owned bed & breakfast and had an unusual experience? Noticed any rainbow flags flying at places on ghost tours?

    I want to know.

    It doesn’t matter where in the world the place is, I’m looking for something anywhere I can find it. Australia would be nice… Spain, Canada, Portugal, France, Brazil, Germany, China… anywhere at all. The United States as well. Anonymity is not a problem. And keep in mind I’m looking for places open to the public. Private residences aren’t preferred, but they will do in a pinch.

    Just drop me an email and tip me off. No harm, no foul.

    In the mean time, happy hauntings…

    Dead Disco Drama Queens…


    2008 - 05.24

    A creepy old, run-down house and a young straight couple. Sounds like an A-typical Hollywood horror movie, right?

    Not quite.

    A French film titled Poltergay changes everything. Homeowner Mark is awakened by loud disco music only he can hear. Winged penises appear on walls, bare butts poke through walls, and a polariod camera snaps a picture of him in the shower. Yet his wife Emma and his best friend don’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Apparently, 27 years prior, there was an explosion at a gay nightclub at the same site. Five of the victims now haunt the house!

    Yes, it is intended to be a comedy. The characters are stereotypical and the storyline intriguing. If you can get beyond the subtitles, be sure to check it out! Of course, finding a copy of it might not be very easy… I have yet to locate the 2006 film on DVD.

    Check out the trailer for yourself:

    Stop Dying Already!


    2008 - 03.13

    A new ordinance in Sarpourenx, France is no laughing matter for Mayor Gerard Lalanne. The town’s cemetery has run out of room for graves and there are no plans for expansion.

    So, 70-year-old Lalanne has made a bold statement: if you haven’t bought a plot by now, it’s too late. “All [other] persons… are forbidden from dying in the parish.

    Find somewhere else to die, people. We won’t tolerate you dying in this town!

    Think it’s a joke? He added, “Offenders will be severely punished.”

    I wonder, is there really a fate worse than death?