The Occult Section

Well, we can now add Fran Drescher to the growing list of celebrities who claim to have been abducted by aliens (see Hagar, Sammy). The star of “The Nanny” is claiming that she was abducted by UFO occupants in junior high school and had an alien chip implanted in her that caused her to meet her ex-husband. Yeah…

I could see why aliens would want to abduct and probe her. Now if only they could have done something about her voice...

Fran Drescher, whose “Happily Divorced” has been a hit for TV Land, believes that she was abducted by aliens while she was in junior high. She also, very seriously, says that said aliens planted a chip in her hand and programmed her to meet her ex-husband, Peter Marc Jacobson, who inspired the TV series.

“You know, it’s funny because Peter and I both saw [aliens] before we knew each other, doing the same thing, driving on the road with our dads,” she tells HuffPo. “We were both in junior high.”

Years later, they met and compared experiences. “We realized that we had the same experience. I think that somehow we were programmed to meet,” she says, pointing out a small scar on her hand. “We both have this scar. It’s the exact same scar on the exact same spot.”

Jacobson doesn’t share her opinions. He suggests that Drescher got the scar from a drill bit or a burn from a hot beverage. “I said to him, that’s what the aliens programmed us to think,” Fran explains. “But really, that’s where the chip is.”

…It could explain some things.

Alien abduction stories are always a bit suspect for me. First off, I feel like most can easily be explained by sleep paralysis. Simply put, the brain shuts your muscles down when you sleep so that you don’t act out your dreams. But sometimes we wake up when our bodies are still paralyzed, and one can get the sense of being immobilized. And since the brain is still technically dreaming, hallucinations can occur, such as the feelings of an ominous presence nearby. The implanted chips, which are always thought to be extraterrestrial in nature, always turn out to be completely terrestrial in origin. They are weird, to be certain, but alien control devices? That has yet to be proven.

Technorati Tags: alien, alien abduction, aliens, celebrity, cover-up, debunking, extraterrestrial, flying saucer, fran drescher, happily divorced, humor, media, News, paranormal, people, the nanny, thoughts, ufo, ufos

In what seems to be an epidemic, ghosts are now apparently comitting a series of crimes. And the criminal activity is escalating. Whereas last time it was just a case of stolen goods, now a Wisconsin man, who is accused of beating his wife, says that a ghost is responsible for her injuries. Hell, it’s better than “she fell down the stairs.”

He may be available soon, ladies. But the ghost that follows him may strangle and beat you.

JANUARY 20–A Wisconsin man charged with domestic abuse told cops that a “ghost” was actually responsible for injuries suffered by his wife, according to police.

The bizarre claim by Michael West, 41, did not prevent the Fond du Lac man’s arrest for strangulation, battery, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. West is pictured in the mug shot at right.

According to a January 18 criminal complaint, West and his spouse got into an argument Sunday that turned violent. The victim told cops that West twice strangled her, and that he punched her in the face when she tried to dial 911.

When cops arrived at the couple’s home, the crying woman was bleeding from the nose and had blood on her Packers jersey.

During police questioning, West claimed his wife sustained her injuries to her face and neck during several falls. When pressed by a cop–who pointed to marks on the woman’s neck–the intoxicated West shifted his story. “A ghost did it,” he said.

In light of the apparition claim, officers sought to place West in custody. After a struggle, he was handcuffed and transported to the county lockup, where he remains in custody in lieu of $1000 bail.

It’s no surprise that this guy was drunk. But still, that’s the best excuse he could come up with? In other news, 37 local paranormal teams have been trying to contact the couple to see if they could go in and investigate.

Technorati Tags: abuse, debunking, domestic violence, ghost, ghost hunters, ghost hunting, ghosts, haunted, haunting, hoax, humor, media, michael west, News, packers, paranormal, people, supernatural, thoughts, wisconsin

On of my biggest pet peeves is when ghost hunters find a piece of “evidence” that is clearly faked and then go to the media to claim that they have proof of paranormal activity. Now we have another irresponsible paranormal investigator claiming that some footage taken in a Glasgow church shows the ghost of Princess Diana. Frankly, my 4-year-old son could take more convincing ghost pictures on my iPod camera without even trying.

"Princess Di's mother's cousin's friend may have once thought about going to Scotland...it makes perfect sense that she would haunt this church!!"

Paranormal enthusiast Michael Cohen is investigating whether a recent sighting at a church in Glasgow is in fact Princess Diana’s ghost.

A group of Chinese tourists filmed the stained glass window in Scotland without realising that it featured Princess Di from beyond the grave.

The video – which was later passed on to Cohen – appears to show a ghostly-looking image resembling Diana.

And Cohen is convinced the short snippet of footage could well be evidence or paranormal activity.

‘Scientists tell us that ghosts don’t exist, and yet people around the world keep seeing them,’ he said.

‘While we might not want nothing to do with the dead, perhaps some ghosts have unfinished business with us.’

Cohen goes on to claim the shot as one of the ‘clearest’ paranormal images he has come across.

‘The footage is currently being examined by myself and other researchers to ascertain if it is a genuine ghost capture. It might be a bizarre optical illusion, but then again, it could be a ghost – possibly Princess Diana’s.

‘Ghosts often appear in places connected to their lives and families. Ghosts might appear to warn individuals, groups and even entire nations of possible impending danger.’

The Princess of Wales’ mother is believed to have spent a lot of time in Scotland, passing away there in 2004.

The footage is being used in an upcoming TV series on Paranormal mysteries.

I really wish that these investigators would err on the side of caution once in a while. It makes us all look bad when they run to the media claiming “proof” of the paranormal, especially when the evidence they are touting can very easily be debunked (and usually looks completely fake). They haven’t finished analyzing this video yet, but Mr. Cohen has apparently already made up his mind that this is most likely the picture of a ghost. Good job.

Technorati Tags: celebrity, debunking, ghost, ghost hunters, ghost hunting, ghosts, glasgow, great britain, haunted, haunted house, haunted houses, haunting, hoax, jake, media, News, paranormal, people, princess di, princess diana, scotland, supernatural, thoughts, tv show

I have blogged regarding this story in the past, and it appears that “Bigfoot” has won his legal case. Way to clog the court system, ACLU and Mr. Doyle.

CONCORD, N.H. — “Bigfoot” can roam Mount Monadnock with a camera in tow free of any permit because the National Natural Landmark is so well known it constitutes a “traditional public forum” where free speech is protected, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled Friday.

The court threw out a state Department of Resource and Economic Development regulation requiring performance artist Jonathan Doyle of Keene to get a permit 30 days ahead of filming “Bigfoot” talking to hikers in Mount Monadnock State Park.

To get the permit, Doyle was required to pay $100 and obtain a $2 million insurance policy covering the state.

The court battle began more than two years ago. On Sept. 6, 2009, Doyle decided to film himself dressed as Bigfoot on the 3,165-foot mountain, which is owned and managed by the Department of Resource and Economic Development. The mountain has 100-mile views to points in all six New England states, the court noted in its 11-page ruling, and is said to be the second most climbed mountain in the world.

Doyle bought a costume resembling an ape and climbed the mountain with his girlfriend. At the top, he put on the costume and filmed conversations he had with other hikers.

About 20 minutes later, he removed the costume and headed back down. On the way, he met two park staff members, and persuaded them to write a note saying there had been a “Bigfoot sighting” on the mountain.

Later, the staffers said they were just playing along with what they thought was a college project. But after leaving the park, Doyle went to the local police station and also to the New Hampshire State Police barracks in Keene to tell them of the Bigfoot sighting on Mount Monadnock.

Pleased with the reception his Bigfoot hoax received, Doyle decided to stage a second Bigfoot event. First, he had a friend interview him about the prior filming and sent out a press release that Doyle gave to the Keene Sentinel. The newspaper printed a story saying Doyle would again climb the mountain dressed as Bigfoot. He also promoted the event on his website.

Monadnock State Park manager Patrick Hummel, learning of Doyle’s plans, sent an email to his supervisor Brian Warburton, telling him of Doyle’s plans. Hummel said Doyle “never ran anything by him.” He was annoyed that newspapers were calling him to ask whether the Bigfoot story was legitimate and told Warburton the Bigfoot party would soon return and, because he believed they had “stepped over the line,” he would intercept them before their ascent.

Two days later, Doyle and five others were back at the mountain to film. They hiked up to the halfway house, a trail junction, and prepared to perform. Doyle and two of his friends remained in plainclothes, while the others dressed up as Bigfoot, Yoda and a pirate. Doyle filmed a few scenes and interviewed passing hikers and several people stopped to watch the filming.

Soon after, Hummel arrived and asked Doyle if he had a special use permit. Doyle said he didn’t and Hummel told him he had to leave the mountain. The group complied with the order and then Doyle filed suit in Cheshire County Superior Court.

Judge Larry Smukler upheld the state regulation requiring the permit and $2 million bond. Doyle, with the help of the ACLU, appealed that decision, which the high court overturned Friday.

The court said its ruling is a narrow one and rests on the assumption that Mount Monadnock is a traditional public forum, a position the Department of Resource and Economic Development took in Superior Court but, on appeal, instead argued the mountain was either a limited public forum or nonpublic forum, which would allow for some restrictions.

I think that people should be more upset by the fact that Mr. Doyle went to the authorities with his hoax, and tied up police resources with his (funny only to him, I’m sure) stunt.

Technorati Tags: aclu, bigfoot, cryptozoology, debunking, hoax, media, Mount Monadnock, new hampshire, News, paranormal, people, sasquatch, thoughts

Here we go again. Another town is using the supposed paranormal activity of an old building to attract tourism. This time, it’s Harriman, Tennessee. And this is one of those issues that walks a very fine line in the paranormal community, and even outside of it. Is it ethical to run “ghost tours” to bring in funds for a struggling town’s economy? Some would say yes, especially if the money is going towards preserving a historical building. Others would say no, that turning such a place into a “haunted house” attraction is cheap and disrespectful to the dead. It’s a very tough issue. And I also have trouble with the paranormal investigator who will be leading the tours speaking with such certainty about what might be haunting the Temperance Building.

Call me crazy, but this "apparition" looks strangely like the light from a flashlight shining on the brick wall...

NASHVILLE (Reuters) – Harriman, Tennessee hopes that ghosts, or rather ghost hunters, can raise enough money to restore an historic and reputedly haunted building.

One ghost hunter wants to use the “dark entities” supposedly haunting the 121-year-old Temperance Building, a former jail, to attract both tourists and paranormal enthusiasts to Harriman, which was founded by anti-alcohol crusaders in the 19th century.

Last week, by unanimous vote, the six-person city council agreed to let Ghost Hunters of Southern Tennessee – G.H.O.S.T. Paranormal — show footage caught during a night spent inside the city-owned building. It will be aired on January 27 on the web-based Paranormal Network.

This Tuesday, a council workshop is slated to consider ghost hunter Richard Ruland’s plans to conduct paid tours of the building, with half the proceeds going toward its restoration.

The haunting is a part of local lore, said Mayor Chris Mason, who grew up in the town of about 7,000 residents. Ghost enthusiasts often visit the Temperance Building, but G.H.O.S.T. Paranormal “found an exceptional amount of paranormal activity” there, said the mayor.

Mason said he does not necessarily believe in ghosts, “but I don’t not believe in them either.”

Under Ruland’s plan, ghost tourists would pay $299 for all-night visits by up to six people and $30 per person for three-hour tours.

He said he has no doubt the tours will be successful.

“It’s a gold mine to have a different place to hunt,” said Ruland.

The three-story brick and stone structure was built in 1891 by the Tennessee Land Co. when it began developing what was to be the “Utopia of Temperance,” about 40 miles west of Knoxville in easternTennessee.

The stately building later became Temperance University before serving time as city hall, with a jail in the basement. Now it holds a few offices and the city museum.

Councilman Buddy Holley said the city council’s session with G.H.O.S.T. was hardly normal.

“They showed us video that showed what appeared to be some apparitions, and they had some voices recorded,” Holley said.

Holley is not sure if he saw ghosts on the video, but he is sure the talk of paranormal guests could help in the ongoing restoration of the historic downtown, which includes the Temperance Building.

It will take about $1 million to finish renovations and upgrades to the building, Holley said.

He said he also hopes it will bring some publicity to Harriman and boost tourism. “We’re really interested in getting people to visit,” Holley said.

Ruland, whose group is based in Dayton, Tennessee, is sure of what he and other ghost hunters recorded on the night of December 17, 2011, when they used cameras and other gear, including the Ghost Meter Pro, which detects electromagnetic fields.

“We actually caught a photo of what I believe is a full-body apparition down in the basement,” he said. “We captured overall 50 voices… There were a lot of things in that building that were completely unexplained.”

One voice, he said, even confessed to murder. “That building, everything in it wants to talk, wants to say ‘hi,’ wants to have communication with somebody,” he said.

Most of the ghosts “aren’t your grandma walking up and down the hall,” he said. “Do I think I am dealing with human entities that are trapped there? Yes. But that’s only about 10 percent of what’s there.

“The other 90 percent would be the Wraiths, a term a lot of people wouldn’t know outside my industry,” Ruland said. “They are darker entities, once-human souls.

“In their death, they’ve been transformed into these mischievous, angry entities,” he said. “They live on electromagnetic fields from electricity in buildings, from batteries, from people.”

This particular crew in Harriman isn’t dangerous, he said. “They just like to screw with people.”

I don’t think even TAPS has ever claimed to capture 50 voices at a location. The thing is, if you’re capturing that many EVPs, you’re doing something wrong. Either your audio is contaminated, or you’re reading way too much into random noises. Also, to proclaim to know whether an alleged ghost was once human or non-human is a bit reckless and irresponsible. The truth is, nobody knows what these anomalies are. That’s why people do research into the paranormal. If we knew for certain, there wouldn’t be 8 million paranormal teams per state. Say you caught some things you couldn’t explain, and I can get behind that. Say that you have 50 voices, confessing to murders, that you’re able to tell the difference between human and non-human entities, and it sounds to me like you’re trying to sell tickets. For $299 a pop.

Technorati Tags: debunking, ghost, ghost hunters, ghost hunting, ghosts, harriman, haunted, haunted house, haunted houses, haunting, hoax, media, News, paranormal, people, supernatural, taps, temperance building, tennessee, thoughts