Celebrity Paranormal Encounters

With the tragic and globally impacting death of Michael Jackson dominating the news headlines, I wonder if he will return (as a "ghost") to his familiar and favorite places, the places he loved, like his Neverland ranch. I wonder how long it will be before psychics claim to "talk" to the iconic pop star from beyond the grave. Conspiracy theories have already inevitably surfaced regarding Michael Jackson's death and I will admit that there are too many discrepancies in journalistic reports, but I digress.

Many celebrities have had their share of paranormal encounters.

Michael Jackson

The Thriller singer claims that he was able to communicate with pianist Lee Liberace, who died in 1987 and whom Jackson considers as his guardian angel. Jackson had his own secret room, with a moving wall and mirrors, where he would frequently talk to Liberarce. Jackson would often feel the pianist's presence very close to him, hear his voice, and communicate to him about a plethora of different things.

Hugh Grant

British Four Weddings and A Funeral star, Hugh Grant, attests that his Los Angelese apartment is haunted. He often hears the wailing and screaming of a tormented spirit through the night, whom he has speculated is the ghost of actress Bette Davis who died in 1989.

Russell Crowe

The Sun newspaper relates how Gladiator star, Russell Crowe, knew of his grandfather's death. A kookaburra (an Australian kingfisher) suddenly flew into his window and looked him directly in the eye. He called his mother, who confirmed that his grandfather had died and later, on the day of his death, she too had seen a kookaburra. Crowe firmly believes that the bird was his grandfather's spirit a-visiting.

Nicolas Cage

Actor Nicolas Cage knowingly bought a haunted house, the Lalaurie Mansion in New Orleans' French Quarter, reputedly the most severely haunted house in New Orleans. Cage says he is aware of the mansion's checkered past and its ghostly residents, but has yet to sleep overnight in it. Paranormal groups have requested to investigate the house, but he has refused on the basis that he does not want any of the "residents" to become exploited.

Paranormal News Central

Paul McCartney

Former Beatles singer, Paul McCartney, claims that John Lennon's playful ghost made an appearance during the recording of the 1995 song Free As A Bird. He says, "There were a lot of strange goings-on in the studio - noises that shouldn't have been there and equipment doing all manner of weird things. There was just an overall feeling that John was around."

Paranormal News Central

New "Paranormal Cops" TV Series

There have been a lot of paranormal or psychic type shows aired on TV, including NBC's Medium, W Network's Most Haunted, A&E's Paranormal State, the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures, and Scifi's Ghost Hunters and T.A.P.S International.

While the third season of Paranormal State premiered on 19 January, 2009, there still does not seem to be any signs of the genre easing up on TV or cable networks. In fact, Scifi's Ghost Hunters is already on its fifth season, Most Haunted has reached its twelfth series, and the second series of Ghost Adventures is scheduled for June 2009, with a further 26 episodes planned (presumably for season 3).

And, of course, let us not forget Psychic Kids, co-hosted by Chip Coffey (the psychic/medium who also appears on Paranormal State), or the TV series Supernatural and Medium.

According to Reuters, A&E is tentatively premiering a new paranormal series, Paranormal Cops, which aims to give more credibility to investigations. Investigators include a group of Chicago police officers (who moonlight as "ghost chasers" at night), as well as two technicians and a medium.

A network spokesman said that the "ghost-chasing group existed before the show's producers came along" and the "officers' respective departments have approved the venture", which should provide some solid background resources for eliminating natural phenomena rather than supernatural. The first episode is scheduled sometime this year (no set date yet), but let us hope that the conclusions are objective and that they do not become so analytical that they actually debunk anything paranormal.

This might be something to watch when it does air, so stay tuned and see what happens from here.

Ben Jordan Paranormal Investigator

The folks at Grundislav Games have developed a series of games centered around paranormal investigation work. The games revolve around its central character, Ben Jordan, a college grad who decides to become a P.I. - that's Paranormal Investigator - apparently influenced by episodes of the X-Files, and his adventures.

There are seven in the series, with an eighth in development. The first, Case 1: The Case of the Florida Skunk-Ape, was created in 2004 using Adventure Game Studio (AGS). The game's popularity within the AGS community was such that more Ben Jordan games were created.

For Ben's first case, he visits the Florida Everglades, in search of something known as "The Skunk-Ape", a local variation of Bigfoot, so named because of its horrible smell. Furthermore, several park rangers have been murdered, so Ben is called in to investigate the possibility that the Skunk-Ape is responsible. To compound the theory, all of the victims' livers are missing.

The gameplay is reminiscent of those old Sierra classics from the 90's - Space Quest and King's Quest. In fact, AGS uses the same engine that Sierra did all those years ago, but it was designed specifically for recreating the same kinds of adventure games. Retro-gamers familiar with the Sierra classics will definitely feel the familiarity here, as the GUI is the same and with its built-in points system whenever you receive points (for successful actions), you'll hear a distant Bigfoot growling sound.

Characters are unique, each with specific (and sometimes humorous) traits, like Ranger Rick, who is very superstitious, or an angry hippy, who certainly is funny. The author has spent some time developing the characters appropriately for the game, although in later games this is much more in-depth.

There are a number of puzzles in the game. I'm usually hopeless at logical thinking, but for the most part found them fairly easy, so probably won't pose too many problems.

Overall, the game is entertaining and anyone who likes adventure games (especially those with the Sierra-style GUI) will definitely like this one. Although it's a little too short for my liking, it does have a high replayability if not for some of the funnier lines than anything else. I would definitely recommend this game to adventure game enthusiasts and those into the paranormal alike.

The game itself can be downloaded here, where there are two versions to download. The simple download (6.4 Mb) and the deluxe version (36.3 Mb) which has improved graphics and full speech.

For a comprehensive list of all the Ben Jordan games available, here is the website. Enjoy them as much as I am (currently playing Case 3).

Celebrity Paranormal Project

I remember vaguely seeing an episode or two of the Celebrity Paranormal Project, where well-known celebrities investigate haunted locations. This particular episode, celebrities are actor David "Kung Fu" Carradine, pro boxer Mia "The Knockout" St. John, Andrew "The Bachelor" Firestone, playboy model Bridget Marquardt and rapper/actor Coolio.

What's interesting to me is that David Carradine is passive and fearless, unphased by the apparent ghostly goings-on and Coolio, who "ain't afraid of nothin'", eventually freaks out. This is quite entertaining considering that it's meant to be a bona fide investigation conducted by people with celebrity status.

Haunted Britain - Real Ghost Stories

There is no doubt that something, just beyond the edges of our psyches, exists, caught in between two worlds. They are the darker shadows of the night, within the night, the "night stalkers", preying on our fears and terrorizing us. Perhaps they are manifestations of our darker natures, or perhaps they are something far more sinister. This video (only part 1) details one such instance.

The other parts (20 in total) can be viewed here. The rest of the episodes chronicle other eyewitness accounts of paranormal activity.

Robert the Doll

A&E have been showing episodes from previous seasons of Paranormal State, in addition to its newest episodes. We are glued to this show, although we don't always agree with the religious ceremonies conducted to "exorcise" spirits. In Episode 11 (Season 1), Ryan and the team investigates an ugly-looking "haunted piano". When the owners brought it into their home, they inexplicably became sick, having feelings of anxiety and oppression. Indeed, Ryan and the team also start feeling the same, so "disposed of" the piano, smashing it up in a warehouse.

There are many reports of objects being paranormally possessed or cursed, ranging from coins to ships. Everyone probably knows about "Chucky" (the doll from the movie Child's Play), but the notion of a doll that comes to life is just fantasy. Or is it?

Robert the Doll was a wire-framed, straw-stuffed cloth doll given to a Key West painter, Robert Eugene Otto, by a Bahamian "servant" (slave), in the early 1900s when he was still a boy. In many voodoo practices, it is believed that if a "soulstone" (a crystal that will take the soul of another person the moment of their death), the soul of that person can pass into the crystal, thus imbuing it with a soul of its own. It is most likely that the servant placed a soulstone, containing his son who passed away at the time, into the doll. Otto's sister also died at around the same time he received the doll, but he immediately took to it. He named the doll Robert and insisted that everyone else called him Eugene. Throughout his childhood, whenever bad things happened or Eugene was blamed for mischief, but Eugene would say that Robert did it.

Strange and inexplicable events began to occur. Items were thrown across the dining room, servants locked outside, clothing was found torn up, and bedding in long unused rooms were crumpled on the floor. Beloved toys were also found brutalized and mutilated. Servants often reported hearing giggling sounds and snippets of low conversations, first in Eugene's boyish voice then in an entirely different tone.

Eugene eventually married, and the couple moved into "The Artist House". Eugene insisted that the doll never left his sight, not even at the dinner table or at the newlywed's bedside. He even had a custom-built room for Robert the Doll, replete with a lowered ceiling and customized furniture.

Over time, Eugene became increasingly abusive to his wife, Anne, and would frequently lock her in a slanted closet under the stairs (beneath Robert's room) for days on end.

After Eugene's death, he was buried in the Key West Cemetary and Anne returned to her family home in Boston, but allowed the house to be rented out. She locked Robert in his upstairs room, placing a clause in the rent agreement that "Robert must at all times remain the sole occupant of the attic room", otherwise the contract was considered as void. The clause was honored until her death in 1976.

A plumber needing to do some work in the house for new renters unlocked the room and there he encountered Robert! He later reported that the doll appeared to shift slightly in its chair, including appearing on the other side of the room when he heard giggling sounds.

Future occupants continued hearing noises coming from upstairs, including footsteps, laughter and crashes. Further investigations revealed that Robert had moved position from where he had been left, usually with his crossed arms or legs or shifted from one chair to another. Eventually, Robert was locked in a sea chest and left in the attic again, honoring the original lease agreement once more. This only angered Robert even more and it was claimed that he reappeared in all kinds of places. The final straw came when the doll was reportedly found giggling and holding a kitchen knife at the foot of the new owners' bed.

Suffice to say that the owners left hurriedly and gave the doll to the East Martello Museum, in Key West, where he is well-guarded. He was rediscovered years later in storage and was put on display in the museum. Visitors reported new camera batteries draining, pacemakers and cameras stopping and feelings of nausea and dizziness. Some visitors swore that Robert's facial expressions changed before their very eyes. Museum curators claimed that Robert changed position overnight, despite the fact that he was behind a glass case, locked with 3" wooden doors and bars on every window in a brick museum.

The doll even made an appearance at the paranormal convention, Taps CON, held in Clearwater, Florida in May 2008. This was the first time that it had left Key West, Florida in the 105 years of its existence.

Believe the story of Robert the Doll or not, it is still a creepy tale nevertheless.

[The full article can be found at Paranormal News Central.]

Hauntings Across America

Here's a fascinating, hour-long journey into some of America's most well-known hauntings, including some of its famous Hollywood ghosts. It's narrated by Michael Dorn (Lt. Worf from Star Trek for those who don't know).

An Unknown Encounter

This is a documentary, hosted by Felix Mayne, about a Californian family haunted by the apparition of an old man. Investigators also log their findings. If this is true, then this is potentially one nasty spirit. Watch it and decide for yourself.

Paranormal Collections #1 Video

This is my first attempt at a compilation video delving into the paranormal realms. If I had my way though it would contain much more information, including rendered impressions of the ghosts mentioned.

I may "tweak" this later and replace it here, or I may expand it. It's early days yet and this video is more like a tentative foray into movie making rather than a serious attempt. I guess that's how it'll stay right now.

What I'm ultimately wanting to do is make an short paranormal movie, based on a short story I wrote a while back, but have yet to finish the script conversion.

Happy Paranormal Easter

Happy Easter To All!

While Easter is a welcome vacation from the daily grind, filled with the joys of chocolate Easter eggs and fluffy pink bunnies, spirits remain active. We didn't do much today, since it's raining too hard. Instead, we sat down to a pleasant family meal.

There are countless reports of paranormal activity and sightings occurring on or around Easter Sunday. These are a few of them (with the focus on the UK, my "favorite" haunted country):

Incense Aromas

Location:Church House Inn, Broadhempston, Devon, UK
Type: Reoccurring Manifestation/Haunting
Date/Time: Easter and Christmas

Many guests have noticed, especially at Easter and Christmas, the sweet aromas of incense burning pervade some of the rooms of this historical inn. It is thought that long-dead monks continue their celebrations here, still ritually waving their incense burners, accounting for the mysterious smells.

The Black Abbot

Location: St. Mary's Church, Prestbury, Gloucestershire, UK
Type: Reoccurring Manifestation/Haunting
Date/Time: Easter, Christmas and All Saints Day

A hooded figure with his head bowed, always described as seeming to glide rather than walking, maintains the same route every year, usually appearing around Easter, Christmas and All Saints Day, and occasionally after funerals. He was often seen walking down the aisle of the church, in addition to one of the nearby cottages used as the vicarage, until both buildings were exorcised. Since then has only appeared in the Churchyard, and is often seen crossing the churchyard and disappearing through a wall in the High Street. He has also been sighted in other parts of the village, including the Plough Inn and the Reform Cottage, the garden of which was once a burial ground for monks.

The Charging Horseman

Location: The Plough Inn, Prestbury, Gloucestershire, UK
Type: Reoccurring Manifestation/Anniversary Haunting
Date/Time: Easter

The mystery figure of a horseman charging pellmell through the streets of Prestbury, especially through Shaw Green Lane and The Burgage, can be seen around Easter. It is said that he was a messenger on his way to Edward IV's campsite at Tewkesbury during the War of the Roses, but was killed by a Lancastrian arrow (around May 4, 1471), so never made it to his destination. To this day, he still carries the burden of delivering the message. (During roadworks, a skeleton was indeed found with an arrowhead embedded between the ribs.)

Easter Priest

Location: Holme Hale, Norfolk, UK
Type: Reoccurring Haunting/Anniversary Manifestation
Date/Time: Easter

In and around the Green Room, the ghost of a priest supposedly haunts the building. It is believed that the priest was killed on Good Friday by Cromwell's soldiers, hence the majority of sightings reported tend to occur during the Easter period.

<1-- MOLLY TAPE -->

Molly Tape

Location: The Castle Restaurant, Hurst, Berkshire, UK
Type: Reoccurring Haunting/Manifestation
Date/Time: Easter

In 1971, local news reported the appearance of a mystery woman, wandering down the road wearing little clothing, but she disappeared into a lane, as mysteriously as she had appeared. There have been few sightings of her since then, but locals claim she still appears occasionally around Easter. It is thought that the woman, Molly Tape, had a passionate love affair with a farmer named Dick Darval. Eventually, Dick rejected her after one of their romantic trysts and, in despair, she hanged herself in the lane. Her scantily clad spirit still haunts the location of her death.