Saturday November 8th we had the opportunity to go on-board the USS The Sullivan’s and conduct an investigation. It was a lot of fun for everyone involved. The weather didn’t cooperate and it rained like cats and dogs but thankfully the investigation was deep inside the ship. Next to the ship was the USS Little Rock and their was a sleep over for the Boy Scouts of America. A lot of kids were roaming around until about 10pm but after that all, was quiet. The pre-investigation report was as follows:

Reports of apparitions all over the ship. Reports of strange noises and things moving about from staff and visitors to the ship. A picture of George Sullivan hangs in the Wardroom (officers eating room) and is said to rarely come out properly when pictures are taken of it. People swear they hear their names called and they hear people walking behind them but no-one is there.

There is even a recent report of a Navy Officer in full dress uniform giving a couple a tour of the ship. The couple supposedly came back to the ship to thank the Officer but no-one was ever on-board the day they came. Also their isn’t a single Navel Officer on staff to give any kind of tours.

We just finished this investigation this past weekend and we are three investigation behind on reviewing evidence right now. So I’m not so sure when we will get to it all and get it up on the site. I can say that we have three evp’s and a video clip showing strong responses on our trifield emf meter. We asked several questions and the spirit responded to them by moving the meter needle very strongly.

At least one spirit is attached to a Navel Park staff member. He is a retired Senior Cheif Petty Officer and when he accompanied us on the investigation we got a lot of our evidence for the night. Up until that it was fairly slow.  As I said before we have a lot of review to do. We ran 4 Sony night vision security cameras with a DVR system, 3 digital voice recorders with the security cameras, 2 hand held digital night shot video cameras, several regular cameras, at least four other digital voice recorders that team members carried with them and the notes from each person need to be reviewed and compared to evidence recovered from the investigation.

All our investigations run the same equipment so you can see why it takes so long for us to complete the review process.

Anyway, please bare with us, we should be getting some evidence posted in the next week or two.

I haven’t been on-line a lot lately, and I’ve just been allowing my brain to go to mush marveling at what’s going on with our economy. Since the incident with the chairs, not a lot has happened lately. Perhaps the most significant thing is that one night Cheryl was in the kitchen and I was on the sofa reading, when Cheryl started saying, “Do you see it? Do you see it?” 

“See what?” I wanted to know. No, I didn’t see a thing. 

She told me that while she was at the sink she saw a shadow on the pantry door, moving. I got up and stood where she stood, and she walked around trying to recreate the movement she saw. 

There is a light next to the sofa, and all the other lights were off. This light reflected off of the pantry door. When she recreated the movement, it looked as though whatever was creating the shadow was moving towards her. 

I have noticed that whenever something does happen, she’s investigating possible sources for what happened; much more than she did before. For example, last night we both heard the sound of water dripping. I went to go check out what might be going on, and she told me that the last time she heard it she checked under the sink to make sure there wasn’t a problem there. 

I liked what I was hearing. Her mind is back to looking for alternative explanations, rather than going to paranormal explanations first. 

Cheryl and I have both noticed a change in Prince and his behavior. He’s not the “tag along” he used to be, and he spends a lot more time down in the basement than he ever did. He’ll go down there for anywhere from 10 - 20 minutes at night, and the basement’s dark! 

At one point Cheryl took him downstairs to go potty and she told me he stopped just short of the mirror and went behind it. The area behind it is open, and that’s where he went in order to get around it. She said it was as though “someone” was standing there. Chances are, that’s exactly what happened! 

Speaking of the mirror, Cheryl and I noticed two new little lines Sunday, like the one’s Tara and I noticed when she and David were there. We have both been watching the mirror since that day, and this is the first time something new appeared. 

When Prince comes in from outside, through the basement, he’s been running to a certain area of the basement, stopping, and then runs to the stairs. Cheryl and I think that the “kids” might be there, so I put a digital recorder there on “voice activated,” and left it there for about 6 hours. When I checked on it there was nothing there as far as evps, but the brand new batteries were half drained! 

Speaking of being half-drained, Cheryl, Albert, Prince and I have all been really low on energy since Tara and Dave came by. We’ve all been somewhat lethargic lately. I’m not really sure why, though. 

I do have some good news! My friend, April has said she’ll come by to help try to determine what’s going on in our home. April is also a psychic and was an original member of a group I had investigating claims of paranormal activity. Once April checks out our home, I’ll probably go ahead and do a cleansing.

WARNING MAY BE TABOO TO SOME.

REMINDER - THIS IS A PARANORMAL SITE!

13/10/08 4PM

EVP - found on Wavepad

EVP

ELECTRONIC VOICE PHENOMENOM

The voices of our loved ones?

As an EVP translator, which is the reference I prefer, one of my favourite ways to chill out at night, is to listen to playback of random digital EVP recordings I capture periodically. I put the recorder on, on Saturday morning (11/10/08) for about 30 mins, whilst I cried my heart out for Britt Lapthorne (missing person, recently confirmed deceased) and then got on with a few practical things. This is when the happy image and aura mentioned on Britt Page 2 appeared when I was showering.

I’m going to relax tonight if I can and have a little listen to playback. I sometimes capture Class A EVP’s which almost everyone with normal hearing can hear (headphones or iPod buds are always essential though) but mainly Class B & C’s which require practice and a good ear. Quite often I get a response from energy to questions I ask, so it’s probably worth checking out. The voices are often loud whispers of weak energy or can sound a bit electronic because that is the catalyst. Occasionally a voice will be clear as and loud too, like they are right here with me. Conditions are controlled to ensure it cannot be radio waves or cell phone snippets etc. I get plenty of single words or two or three mainly, but have been getting whole sentences relating to what I am doing or asking about. They sometimes comment on things in the house or the pets! This is very promising.

There is quite a science to this weird phenomenon. The movie WHITE NOISE demonstrates a little about this and ITC.  I don’t mess with my data, just amplify it if it needs it and remove background hiss via filter. I sometimes alter pitch and speed by a percentage of mhz for clarity. I use Wavepad for editing so I can upload for people to hear. Some EVP’s are extremely funny others very upsetting…

If there is anything found relating to this case, I will upload it for you. I have recorded voices of my own (extensive) family in heaven, so I know we have a slim chance of something. Not everyone will accept, agree or understand what this is, and no it’s not evil!!! It is science breaking new ground. People were fearful of Radios/TVs/Phones/Speaking boxes at one point and said they were evil too! You would be amazed at what turns up on a digital IC recorder!

Blew me away when I first heard it and confirmed what I already know - THERE IS NO DEATH! I would never recommend it as a reliable source though, but there may be a clue. I will let you know. If you want to know more about EVP and what it is, just Google it or check out the AA-EVP of which I’m a supporting member.

There is comprehensive info out there on-line and it’s growing in popularity. It can bring a lot of comfort, and no, to me at least, it is not in the least bit scary (I’m fairy fright proof after my years of mortuary/funeral work!) - it’s sound waves and energy from those who have gone before us, grateful that technology has given them yet another means to communicate and send their love for all to hear…

To me, it confirms my belief in the survival of our core essence after physical life here has ended. In effect, there is no real death in the way that we are possibly conditioned to think.

***************************************

THE FINDINGS…

JAM PACKED WITH ACTIVITY - I HAVE LIMTED THIS AUDIO VIDEO

Not everyone has an ear for EVP and these captures are of fairly poor quality, mainly Class B and below. It takes a huge amount of energy for a soul to form a voice. It is not my voice, ever, I was alone in a quiet place when the recorder was running. I use an EMF sensor to ensure there are no stray radio waves present. Some of what I discovered is in the video file below. I am not implying this is to do with Britt, but the session was for her benefit. It was utilised well. I conducted a healing meditation and opened up communication pathways mentally, not verbally.

Consider yourself well warned. A family member is also aware and has the chance to listen in. I don’t know if they have as yet as I only made this file this morning. There may be familiar clues hidden here, such as references to a milk man, peanuts forever, the red horse, (firstly, made me think of an English Pub, there are lots of ones called “The Red Lion”),  but I hear the red horseman, a cellar (basement).  EVP is my forte and mainly what this whole blog site is actually about. EVP often utilise the person recording the session as a “medium” to assist with the imprints in someway that I don’t yet understand - I am just the catalyst and those who have transitioned are attracted to me for some reason beyond my fathoming! But it’s fine by me - happy to help as long as not inundated, which can happen!

UPLOAD RUINED QUALITY - A BIT MUFFLED SOUNDING NOW

WARNING - VIDEO CONTAINS HIGHLY SENSITIVE AUDIO MATERIAL

HEADPHONES ARE ESSENTIAL 

***WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR IS CLOSED FOR NOW***  

ATTENTION!

“The Red horse, man,” maybe referring to

“The Red Dwarf, man,” in Dubrovnik. I may have misheard that.

Someone just told me they could hear the ”Red Dwarf” man, not “Red horse”

The Red (something) man, anyway.

**********************************

OKAY - THERE IS A SMALL GUESTHOUSE IN DUBROVNIK

WITH THE NAME THE RED DWARF.

THAT MAKES MORE COMMON SENSE…

MAYBE WE GET CLOSER…

*************************************

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A BRIEF CAPTURE CAUGHT FOR BRITT

PROBABLY PAST EVENT REPLAY PHENONEMENOM

LIKE MY EXPERIENCES WITH ALL THIS LAST WEEK…

16/10/08

POOR QUALITY, BRIEF, LOOPED X 4 X 4 & RAW FILE

“GO BRITT LAPTHORNE”

I SENSE MANY OF YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR THIS

AT THIS TIME EVEN WITHOUT HEADPHONES. (?)

UNUSUAL AS IT IS A HIDDEN EVP, VERY, VERY SUBTLE ON THE

ORIGINAL RAW FILE. A PARTING GIFT IN SOME WAY? 

Oh, he is...

Recently I visited the beautiful garden City of Toowoomba, perched on top of the Darling Downs, West of Brisbane, Queensland.

Toowoomba is Australia’s second largest inland City, Canberra, the Capital being the first. Not only do I like the more Englishy climate there, less sticky humidity and proper seasons, including many deliciously cold nights, I love the sense of history that greets one at every twist and turn.

Toowoomba is home to many old and elaborately designed colonial buildings - all with a tale or two to tell.

I booked into an architecturally interesting (and expensive) guest house for a 2 night break.  Upon phoning, I mentioned to the owner/manager that I was a hobbiest Paranormal Investigator and that I’d like to do a little research during my stay.  No problem he said.  In fact, they’d had several sightings over the years and it would be very interesting to see if I picked up on anything.

Great! This was going to be an excellent and much needed trip away and with a little bit of “ghost hunting” thrown in for good measure, I was really looking forward to it.

The guest house was everything I’d hoped for…a lovely room awaited, antique furnishings, four poster bed, open fireplace, roses in the room and chocolates on the pillow…everything one would expect for this type of price bracket and a special trip away. The room also had a good vibe and was relaxing and homely.

The place was very quiet, there was only one other couple in one of the rooms. I took a few photo’s of our charming room and the building/gardens and walked around the hallways with my IC recorder ON, commenting here and there on bits and pieces of decor or the history of the house etc.

The property yielded some interesting results, but was hardly what I call bursting at the seams with paranormal activity…my own cottage is more active.  In the tiny guest lounge-room, which looked like it had been an old scullery area, there was a hostile, cold feeling, misery, haughtiness and brooding moodiness - not an inviting place for guests to use at all. I captured 2 wonderful EVP’s in there when I put a CD on (to lift the gloominess) - it was Billie Holiday and soon inadvertently provoked an entity into making itself obvious!

“Um, I’m NOT having that!” a female voice snapped and promptly turned the CD off…Twice! I guess the music was a little too modern for her…

I captured a few more, like, “Get out of MY chair!” when my b/f sat down in the lounge-room and later that night, I did see two female spirits walking up the road opposite in a misty swirl as well as a veranda swing gather momentum whilst apparently “empty” on a broad moonlit windless night…

One EVP said menacingly,  ”I could burn you!” as I sat in front of the roaring log fire in our room.  Another called me a “Witch!”, very flattering! A few more included “Don’t touch me!” “Help me, I love you” “We’re not there, we’re in here…” (children’s voices) and “Come back to bed!”…

We went out to the Toowoomba Drayton Cemetery and took photo’s and I recorded quite a few more EVP’s. Having been in the funeral profession, I visited the Toowoomba Crematorium and captured even more there. The rest of our time was spent eating too much and catching up with nearby friends and his family.

The time came to return home all too quickly, so upon checking out of the guest house, I mentioned what I’d seen, promised to email them my findings and a copy of a video I would be placing on You Tube as part of my investigative collection. I explained I would have to analyse any recorded data found and then process it so that it would upload on the Internet along with some photo’s. The owner seemed happy and chatty enough and I was very impressed with the whole weekend. I paid, thanked him and we made the long drive home, stopping at Marburg Cemetery to see the unusual white pyramid gravestone with “Shine on you crazy diamond” engraved on it’s plaque…

I did make a short 3 minute video featuring these EVP’s about our stay in Toowoomba, with the backing track by Pink Floyd (Shine on you crazy diamond - Wish you were here) Album, inspired by the pyramid grave (see edited grave plaque above).  It took me an entire 12 hour working day to complete the video. I emailed off a copy as promised to the guest house and also a link to a rave review I had also written about our lovely time there, highly recommending it for romantic weekends and honeymoons etc. 

The thing is, I now have to edit out certain parts, all the good bits in fact…it turns out one of the owners is not comfortable with this after all and I sense regrets having me stay there because the “activity” is proven now.  This is something one should keep in mind…it can be life altering and even shocking when it can’t be denied and is caught on tape or film etc. The way one feels about a place can change as it dawns that there is so much more going on than we are usually aware of.

The EVP’s were 100% location specific and relevant to what was going on at the time and my comments.  I guess this person really didn’t believe the house was active at all and perhaps it challenged some sort of mindset or possibly caused fear… It should go without saying that would never be my intention, I’m pure of spirit and I have better things to be doing than trying to scare people silly!

Well, I’m sorry, but you’ve got ”ghosts” - whether I’m there or not and they’ve been there a lot longer than you have… Naturally, I removed the “offending” video immediately from my channel view. It was only on-line for a top of 2 hours and in that time it was mainly viewed by the global EVP community and positively complimented upon. Certain well respected fellow EVP translators automatically get an alert whenever I upload a new EVP video… I value their opinions.

The “ghosts” are quite benign and mainly generated from the residual energy from the original family/occupants, when the property was a private residence at the turn of the 1900’s.  Energy is everywhere all of the time. Like it or not.  I say benign, EXCEPT  for the poltergeist activity I witnessed and captured on the Billie Holiday recording.  This one, a female energy is responsible for moving things around and the awful feeling in that lounge-room.  She wants it all her way…I feel she is a former head Housekeeper/Nanny who ran a tight ship! 

In an attempt to describe this poltergeist energy to you, the character of Mrs. Danvers comes to mind in Daphne du Maurier’s wonderfully haunting novel “Rebecca”, (2 films were later made of the book). ”My” Mrs. Danvers was in service at this home for many years, even after the early deaths of two children, and was devoted to the original Lady of the house. Her domain was that particular room too. No wonder it’s so unappealing now…  Unfortunately, I didn’t take many internal photo’s, so there is nothing paranormal to show you visually.  I haven’t examined the night vision shots I took yet because I can’t figure out the format or upload at this time of writing! It’s a new Sony Handicam…

It’s a shame I can’t share this with you in it’s original format. I was disappointed by the very sudden change in attitude towards me and I’m not able to go back for further investigations, even if I took along a Minister friend. They should have said they would not be happy if I did find something before they took my credit card details at the time of booking (I would have selected elsewhere to stay)…but that’s business I guess. One would have thought, that in this day and age, there would be a little more open mindedness and curiosity about life after life…regardless of whatever spiritual confines or beliefs one follows. Many of the people who are now the “ghosts” were far more zealous and socially self-righteous than we are today and even they are saying, “Hey, think outside your square for just a moment, stop burying your heads in the sand - things are not as they seem”.

So, to wrap up this little report, I hope they don’t have too much trouble with their grouchy “Housekeeper/Nanny” poltergeist.  They know where to reach me if they wish to have a clearing and blessing conducted at any time… and having been in the hospitality trade myself many years ago, I would have thought that any business savvy establishment would quite enjoy indulging the odd nutty paranormal investigator every so often…bums in beds is the name of a very lucrative game… Haunted or not, ghosts always sell more than they repel!

I would like to return to this wonderful City and conduct further investigations in the near future.  If anyone else in Toowoomba would like me to conduct a professional paranormal investigation of their home, business, hotel, motel or guest house, then I’d be happy to oblige free of charge (just basic travel/accommodation costs need to be covered where applicable - I will pay my flight!), provided you can COPE with the findings which includes digitally recorded EVP’s as evidence of survival of energy…  I  only ask that I be permitted to report/post on it via my media choice (blogging/video) for public interest, education and what we have to term “entertainment” purposes, if anything is unusually outstanding, or if you want a record of it, I can make you a short DVD for free. Business names or locations can be included or discretion applied.

Simply leave a note on the Forum Page.

Headphones required.  These were captured in my home…wooooo.

Okay. Here’s a trick of the trade then… Watch it and learn, make a coffee, hit record on your digital IC unit and stir up a storm, it’s amazing how well this assists Spirit forms to utilise sound waves…:)

Daniel Morcombe - Missing since Dec 2003

NOTE: This was written on the 26th September 2008, pre Britt Lapthorne meditation request and all the recent furore. It was my first ever posting here about missing persons. Britt’s was my third, also by request, but second blog posting. The second was a private request from the States on a 10 year old double missing cold case. Feedback from that has proven correct so far and is still being followed as it is an extensive report. 

Missing Sunshine Coast teenager, Daniel Morcombe, has been in the public’s awareness for some time now, thanks to massive advertising campaigns and top class media coverage. His family have suffered incredibly over the years, and have been lead down many a dead end and frustrating path, which I certainly don’t want to add to. I can only imagine their nightmare and daily heartbreak at not knowing what happened and where their Son is. Police keep Daniel’s files open of course, in the hope of a sure and certain lead coming through. He has also been on my mind on a different and probably controversial level…

This is not an easy topic to post about.  To post or not to post, has been the question on my mind for some time. I have ummed and ahhed for so long, but have decided to finally just do it, after much deliberation and soul searching. I write this post in honesty and from a place of compassion. My heart goes out to Daniel, his twin brother Bradley and his family & friends. I hope that what I have to say is accepted for what it is - just my personal impressions of what I see in my mind’s eye about Daniel and the people linked to his sudden disappearance.

Firstly, I am not claiming special powers or to be a “Madam Zelda” clairvoyant or a Psychic Detective, and I have no reason to be marketing anything.  This post is not an adfomercial in any way. I just need to tell what I have intuitively been aware of and I’m realise that I may be judged as some sort of crackpot, but that’s to be expected in an often closed world.  If it helps locate Daniel, confirms some existing issue, finds a clue or brings justice to the guilty or closure to this appalling situation in some way for his family, then at least, I have served some purpose.  I am sure there have been many people the world over, calling themselves psychics/clairvoyants/empaths etc. who have been brave enough to make contact about this matter already. I am a chicken, but I can’t keep ignoring this feeling.

Sure, some are after fame, money or publicity and that doesn’t necessarily make them wrong or right about what they “see”. Their conscience allows that. Mine doesn’t. This is personal work. It’s not an exact science (at this point) and caution must be taken that it doesn’t cause more damage to this already broken family, even from those of us with the purest of intentions.  I have read one or two of their “impressions” on-line and I hope that something good comes from all this, no matter who is right in the end. What matters, is solving this dreadful mystery once and for all so the family can have some closure.

Several years ago, I remember seeing a large sign at the side of the highway. It had a massive photo of Daniel on it. I noticed this as I whizzed past in my car on a trip and it was news to me, as I never watch any news on TV, listen to radio or read the papers, because it it all so raw and depressing. This is really a good thing in many ways, as it ensures I am ignorant and therefore open to the impressions which sometimes come to me, without them being “coloured” in some way by media reports or speculation. I hadn’t even known about 9/11 until a friend mentioned it! (I had seen skyscraper buildings falling in a City filled with smoke and people running and screaming in a dream years before, but didn’t equate it with anything at the time and I just thought it was a bad nightmare). Some things are out of a little fish’s control…

Here is what I am somehow aware of:

I could feel myself sympathetically drawn to the image of this young boy and, like everyone else, sent silent thoughts out to his family and for Daniel, that he be quickly found safe and sound. I didn’t think too much more about it until one day I heard his name mentioned again somewhere.  Then I felt he probably wasn’t still in this realm.  Just after that, I started to ”see” in my head, a property from the air, like a birds eye view. That image hasn’t changed over the years and pops into my head at all sorts of times, for no apparent reason, as it did again yesterday and it sometimes wakes me up when I’m dozing off to sleep… I feel like I am being “nudged” to look into this more deeply, to think again about it.

I have been aware of this peculiar way of seeing places, or “imagining” them for as long as I have earth walked. I can only explain that it’s like being a human satellite!  I see the landscapes like in movie format in my head and can also zoom in on situations and locations, even inside houses. I can walk around as I do in normal life (but don’t need the confines of a body) and somehow “travel” to wherever in the Universe. Images are not always crystal clear, it depends on many things. Stress really stuffs it up. I know I’m not the only person to have this “remote viewing” thing going on and I did test it out a few times when I was younger - with surprising results, which proved accurate about certain features that I couldn’t have otherwise known. Now, I’m the first to admit that sounds crazy. Perhaps I am. I have a big visual imagination and life hasn’t quite managed to totally knock the stuffing out of it yet despite having to dodge some fast bullets.

When “Daniel related energy” pops into my thoughts, I always see the same image of a rural acreage property, just off a main Highway (probably Highway 1 as I seem to go back there over & over), up a wide, well used dirt track driveway. I feel pulled South of Daniel’s home town, to the stretch of road that looks like it’s between Ballina and Port Macquarie, maybe it’s the New Italy region or somewhere that has lots of trees on a very long stretch each side of the road. This is just where it looks like, not definitely is. It’s fairly remote even though a main road the road passes the property.  Believe it or not, I have only just realised I can possibly find what I am seeing by utilising Google Earth’s satellite images. I should be able to locate what I am talking about and will work very hard to find it.  I feel this place is linked to Daniel in some way or the people who know what happened, and I feel it’s not good energy.  There is heavy drug use around them and alcohol and gambling money. They travel from their base to Maryborough/Hervey Bay and also as far as Melbourne. I think they traffic drugs and launder cash somehow. I will not elaborate on anything to do with what actually happened to him in this post.  Results will be the same without going into such issues at this point. And readers don’t want to know what I see.

As many readers of this site already know, and also viewers of my You Tube page & mini videos, I am an EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) translator. It is my hobby and I have asked those in Spirit to assist with this case. I have taped once, yesterday and I might post the analysed findings here on this site when I can. It takes hours of attention to find the EVP captures and enhance them if required so that you can also hear them. I have captured several references to this case already and many hours and much energy is required to provide something tangible, with some real leads to back up what I am sensing. The EVP’s have encouraged me to carry on my investigations and I will do my best. I am just going to tune in to this impression and go with whatever comes to me. I have no idea if it’s accurate or not, but I must try for Daniel. Forgive me if I ramble on, I need to include as many details as I can as I have a rotten memory about a lot of things and this blog acts as my notepad… I should point out that it is not always visible to the public. I control what I want out there.  Trusted people have access to my investigations, so that I can learn and get confirmations wherever possible. This is not media fodder. It’s important to me and personal.

I feel Daniel has transitioned and his spirit energy (whatever you like to call it) is OK. I think he has an older male looking after him, maybe a Grandfather or an Uncle, he is not alone and I think he is in good spirits (pardon the phrase). He is with animals and cares for them. There is a small dog, like a Jack Russel near him. He is trying to get attention and help bring justice to the people who are responsible. His main concern is to let his family know that he’s alright and knows how they feel. He knows they can sense him too and their impressions are correct. I see a red Ferrari toy car with a chequered flag sticker on it or nearby,  this means something for someone. I think it was Daniel’s or was a present from him. It’s in a bedroom. Schoolmate?

The property I can see is large and I feel it’s linked or was, to horse trotting, or racing of some kind, maybe trail/quad bikes or stock cars, but horses have been or are there. It is a neglected sort of place, with about four old cars dumped in a yard area near the house. It stands out from an aerial view because it has a large oval shape highlighted on the land, near obvious large sheds or barns. This shape is not a dam, but there are 2 or 3 dams on the land. The shape is like a trotting track. There is a high-set cream & mission brown house to the left hand side of the driveway.  I see an old light to mid blue horse truck, like a Pantec truck than is no longer used. It has rust, faded powdery paint and flat tyres.  It is parked besides the large shed/barn or possible indoor riding school.  I see blue plastic 44 gallon drums and some metal rusty ones near the side of the big shed, near the truck. Horses always kept coming to mind and I couldn’t believe the above photo of Daniel when I found it on-line earlier today…

Daniel had an affinity with animals and particularly horses.  This, or trail/quad motorbikes played some common link. I feel that Daniel is within sight of these buildings.  This is so they can keep an eye in case of disturbance,  I also think the truck or horse float truck is parked over the actual site. The ground is dry and hard, very dusty but with prairie grass now growing in tufts around the tyres of the vehicle. I see an old bent Qld number plate hanging from one screw at the rear of the truck, I think I can make out a faded KLM or MKL but not any numbers yet which is so frustrating and typical of this method/sight. I will keep viewing and post my insights here as I get them. I just pray they are of some sense and useful.

I include the whole of what I sense, without editing. This helps me focus. If I try to be clinical and create a synopsis, it doesn’t work as well. I can look at each thing later and make a list, although it takes things out of context and whatever is related might hold a clue.  I have to follow the journey as I write.  This is where the details come out. It makes for a very long post but is as I see it in the now moment, not past tense. I sincerely apologise for the hypergraphia, it’s part of the deal here…

The dams on this property get very low in dry season, one has a black plastic liner, bought last year, he is not in water, but may have been moved because of this. I see hessian sackcloth which speaks volumes and I’m not saying anything more on that.  The house is very dirty with tatty old furniture. Very late 1970’s, with orange vinyl chairs at an octagonal sappelle look formica dining table. There are beer bottles everywhere and ashtrays overflowing. The house smells bad and they don’t have fresh air in, just an old rattling A/C unit. Faux wood panelling covers the walls in the kitchen-cum-diner-cum-lounge room area. It’s all very brown and orange with a mustard coloured print lino flooring, which is ripped and worn through in places. There are two dark coloured dogs on chains under the house - Rottweilers I think or Dobermans. I don’t get my energy too close as they might sense me nosing about and set off an alert. Yes, I know it sounds nuts, but animals sense these things easily because they don’t judge.

Daniel’s distinctive (I want to call him Dan - he says in my mind, Dan is the name!) fob watch is in a piece of black cloth or a little black velvet bag and it’s in a brown wooden jewellery box in a drawer in a bedroom dresser. Some vests cover it and it’s pushed to the back. It can’t be pawned or passed on of course. The room is darkened with yellow and brown floral curtains hanging badly from a broken curtain track. There is a double bed, with dirty blankets in a heap thrown on it. The mattress, which is light blue, is old and stained badly. The pillows have no cases on them. I feel a female comes here often, but does no house work. She knows about Daniel and like 3 males, she is cunning, not intelligent and takes drugs. She drinks too much and there is much yelling and violence with one of the men. Her 3 children are in care or not with her. She is slim, around 5′4″ and about 37 years old. She has shoulder length brown hair with waves and some grey. Her eyes are blue and cold and she has a lot of lines on her face. She has done a lot of bar work and is from the Western Sydney area. She is wearing a black short sleeved top and black trousers. Her toe nails have chipped purple nail polish on them. She has multiple piercings in her ears and wears silver sleepers and one stud.

One of the men, is thin, haggard looking and has collar length dirty mousy coloured hair which is almost curly. He has bad teeth and the right incisor missing. He is around 5′8″ tall. I get the names Troy and Marky in the EVP’s. He wears a blue singlet, dirty blue denim jeans and has old black boots on like cowboy ankle boots with almost pointed toes. RM William’s sell these type. They are sort of Rodeo style. This man has been in prison before. There is a faded bluey green tatoo on his left upper arm, can’t see what but impression of a “naked lady” shape, standing, her arms above her head in a sexy pose. He is wearing a belt, black with a Harley Davidson buckle. If this profile and couple, and I think they are partners, seems familiar to you - please ring Crime Stoppers straight away on 1800 333 000. They are up to no good and part of something linked to all this. They know what happened to Daniel Morcombe. I would not be shown this if it was harmless or fantasy…I do not have the energy, health or toleration for total nonsense either.

There are 2 other men who are involved, one was the driver of the car in which Daniel was abducted. He had a shaved head and earring in his left ear. He has a Celtic or Viking style band tattoo on his left upper arm. He is well built and fit. They drove a long way and I feel there were 2 of them in the backseat holding Daniel out of sight. I think the other one may be dark skinned. I am aware of unruly black hair, about collar length and he is also strong and well built but has a beer gut. He could be of Island/NZ descent going by his build. The car is like the blue one seen by witnesses and it’s littered with beer bottles, the brown ones, not clear glass and McDonald’s wrappers. I think they talked to Daniel about either motorbikes or horses. I think he had met them or at least one of them before, elsewhere at some open place, like a sports oval or carnival field…It had green grass and I see Dan there clearly. I think he thought they were a bit rough but friendly enough. I think he got into the car willingly for a lift and then things got out of control very quickly when they drove on past where he thought he was going. It did not happen in the vehicle.

There is a black or dark brown coloured older Range Rover or older Pajero parked near the house. It is almost grey with dust. I think it might even have a miss-matched bonnet on it, like silver. The plates are yellow, NSW? I get the feeling these people are involved heavily with drugs, there are filthy bongs on a wooden oval coffee table. The smell is stale marijuana in the house - I can smell it all around me and I don’t touch the horrible stuff. I smell this as I type this now.

Daniel was not in this realm when he was taken to the place where he lies now. It is many miles from home and I’m always lead South. I will also search other areas until I find this property, I know it’s out there. The men knew the plantation forests on the Bruce Highway were far too high risk. These criminals argue and threaten each other over this and I think, sadly, it may not be the first time at least one of them (Troy) has been involved with abduction and worse.  As I said, I don’t know where all this is coming from, but I will keep looking for him and working on the EVP aspect too. I am also going to email this link to Crime Stoppers, because then I know I have done the right thing. I don’t want the Morcombe’s to suffer any more distress over the loss of Daniel and I sincerely hope this is of some real assistance to Police and not a waste of hope, resources and time. I am posting an alert on my YouTube Channel to this site. We need to keep the awareness out there for all missing people too.

Here is my Daniel Morcombe public YouTube Video - the uploading process made it go out of focus a bit, but please take it in and perhaps meditate on Daniel yourself…

Here is another video I briefly sourced from YouTube about Daniel Morcombe and the music is a little loud - please speak to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you relate to anything I am sensing here or email me if you also “know” something you can’t explain and feel uncomfortable going public with…it could make all the difference to add it to this site. Please help Daniel and his family find peace & closure…

EVP CAPTURES ~ DANIEL MORCOMBE CASE MEDITATION #1

WARNING! This first Daniel related video contains the first batch of EVP’s I have recorded when I was meditating on Daniel’s case the other night.  Some of them are highly upsetting… I am just the messenger, so please don’t shoot me.  This is to help this cold case & find Daniel. Thank you & blessed be. Pixi )o(

AUDIO VIDEO FOR PRIVATE TRANSLATION ONLY - SORRY NOT AVAILABLE.

* I will endeavour to post more EVP’s as they come in to me. Headphones will be needed for optimal volume & clarity. The quality is not Class A, but quiet Class B- , I think they are related to Daniel as that name is mentioned.

HERE ARE MY UPDATES (AS AND WHEN THEY COME THROUGH):

Monday 6th october 2008

Okay, nothing ethereal about this…a girlfriend just rang me to say that she saw a huge new advert for Daniel Morcombe on the side of a truck in the Brisbane area earlier today. It features an image of the scruffy man I also “saw” in my minds eye…  Strange timing!  To me, it means Daniel’s energy is really getting stronger, closer and he is determined to be found and soon. Let’s hope something comes of all this.  The other side is doing all they can too…let’s hope someone out there is taking a little bit of notice from “alternative” sources. If his family are supposed to know all this, they will guided here. I do NOT contact families first, EVER.  If they approach me and ask, then that’s completely different.

Tuesday 30th September 2008.

I spent something like 6-8 hours going over Google Earth, near where Daniel was abducted from all the way to just North of Sydney, frame by frame on a very slow computer, trying to find the image I see in my head.  I found several properties of interest, but not the exact one I am looking for thus yet. I still feel drawn South.

I keep getting the Oval horse racing/trotting/rodeo image.  This is related to either Daniel or the people who know about what happened. It is very persistent. I did not know there was racing near Caloundra.

The numbers 7093 were spoken loudly in my ear by a gruff sounding male. I haven’t got a clue what the heck that means but it is noted here.

The names, Troy, Marky, Adam, Robin Kanash/Canash & Gordon Ranston/Ranstone are around me and all are saved on EVP tape, spoken by Spirit. EVP’s are recorded in quiet conditions when I am alone. The voices captured on them cannot be me. Google EVP if you are interested in this thing.

I captured another EVP saying like “It’s where I was cycling” in a boys voice. I relate that the where he may have first encountered one or two of the men. Near the sports field or cycling track place.

When I’ve got a few more EVP’s (some I need expert help determining the words) I will post them here if and when I can get them audible enough to be clearer. There are several whole sentences, which is unusual.

I have not heard anything from Crime Stoppers (that they are in receipt of my postings/EVP data) or been contacted by email by anyone with any other useful input. I may be on my own with this.

ANY COMMENTS ON THIS ~ PLEASE TAKE IT TO THE FORUM PAGE.

My dear friend Tom recently moved to a small cabin, situated on an Island.  He may have got more than be bargained for, because this curious little property seems to be bursting at the seams with paranormal activity, aside from Tom unpacking that is!

I visited last week to conduct the first part in a mini investigation into the property.  Tom’s Wife couldn’t sleep and didn’t feel at ease in the homestead.  She felt there may be “something” hanging around and was sensitive to a particular area outside in the garden at the rear boundary line.  I was also drawn there…

I took along some of my basic equipment and captured the EVP’s that you should be able to hear in the video below. Please use headphones or iPod buds.  Some of the photo’s I took have subtle, strange anomalies in them. I deliberately photograph into mirrors as this often shows up misty images reflected in the glass, making it easier to see what is actually there, showing itself anyway.  EMF (Electro Magnetic Field) readings were unremarkable, even though the home is experiencing electrical failures with some lighting problems and appliances not working.

There is a sense of stuffy, heavy energy inside the cabin, which features many ornate protective Moari carvings, and the rear garden is alive with voices urging investigation into a burial, possibly of an infant years ago…

The Island does not have a public Cemetery, apart from sacred Aboriginal burial grounds no longer in use, and it would have been common practise for the early European settler’s to bury their dead on a families own land.  This block appears to have been in use for many years, and features some very old, large Mango trees as well as an old water bore far outdating the current premises.  I will do a little research into the history of the block, but the current dwelling is not of any noteable age - possibly only around 20 years, but certainly pre-council planning permits.

I now have a night vision camcorder, so as soon as I can figure out how to use it (lol), I will be holding an overnight vigil sometime soon. I will keep you posted as to my findings at Tom’s haunted cabin, so watch this space for more news.

PART ONE:

PART TWO: Our most recent EVP captures at Tom’s Haunted Cabin…

26th August 2008

Here are this week’s EVP captures… Please use headphones as the sound quality is variable.  Enjoy…

Three guesses what I got up to last weekend!  Here is a sample of the fruits of our labour… The first of many we hope.  Headphones or iPod buds are a good idea and please adjust the volume to suit you, some bits are louder than others.  The EVP’s have not been altered in any way - only looped to repeat for audible clarity a couple of times.  My friend Paolo and I were the only “live” ones at the locations - so the recorded voices must be….the Others.

Thanks to Paolo for the company and loan of the camera!

I would love to know what you make of these EVP’s ~ please post your comments below…

© Pixi Bow-Dern 2008

THE WORK OF DEBORAH PALLAS ~ ART WITH SPIRIT

I find these EVP videos by Deborah Pallas very interesting and well composed. I also like the way she is naturally very respectful during her “Ghost hunts” and works gently with those in spirit.  It is important to develop a protocol of dignity when conducting investigations and I think Ms. Pallas demonstrates this very well. 

Her work is of great benefit to newbies and I advocate the softly, softly approach too.  Use headphones or plug in your iPod buds for much better clarity and you can definitely hear what is said by a little boy spirit, James, who is buried in the Cemetery where Deb was filming and recording her EVP’s. Other spirit’s also talk to or about Deb which is interesting.  

She has captured many great EVP’s as well as spirit photography. I believe she is writing a book about her wonderful experiences this year and setting up a website - so look out for it. I will post links and updates when I’m aware of them here for you too.  I have posted two examples of her work below.  Click on the link provided for many more EVP Videos from Deborah Pallas.

“Little James” Part One

“Little James” Part Two

Here is the link the her YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-PgTsnC_-M

© Copyright D. Pallas on all videos featured in this article. Thanks for permission Deb! Keep up the great work!

Photo - Typical Ghost Hunting Paraphernalia (not mine!)

Last night, I was thinking about doing some extensive research on decent EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) recording equipment and, seeing as all I had at home was the digital recorder on my cell phone, I turned it on and stood in my lounge room asking the “spirits” if there was anybody there.  I heard nothing but the wall clock ticking away.  I recorded for all of 30 seconds and felt like a total idiot.

Upon immediate playback (with no headphones or clean up programs), I could hear quite distinctly these words, spoken by a youngish sounding female - “Look…she’s taping us!”. I replayed this over a few times and then, not being familiar with this particular cell phone feature, I somehow deleted it! Oh, no! Not my first ever digital EVP!  I was crestfallen…but now I have EVP fever, and I think I’m about to go down with a pretty bad case of it…is there a shrink in the house?!

Had I not deleted it by mistake - I would not have been able to upload it here for you to hear anyway as I don’t yet have any software or other equipment needed.  I shall be busy goooooogling for some “ghost hunting” paraphernalia today, I can tell you. Now, where’d I put that credit card?

I would rate that recording as a Class A EVP - and it was moment specific, so non-residual energy - directly related to what was going on, which was a wonderful start on this new hobby for me. Also the voice said “us”, so I take it there may have been a crowd in my tiny house!

UPDATE: 05/08/08

I gave that credit card a  workout at the weekend!  Bought myself a digital recorder, microphone and headphones…and sped off to a nearby Cemetery with my friend Paolo.  Boy, did we have a surprise!  Paolo had just popped the batteries in the thing and was doing a test recording, you know - “testing, one, two, three, testing”… All seemed to be working fine, so we walked around the Cemetery, stopping to read the headstones, commenting here and there and so forth.  We were dive bombed by nesting Plover’s almost non-stop, so there was a lot of shrieking being recorded too, as well as passing vehicles.

When we got back to Paolo’s place, I plugged in to listen to the playback, and, drum roll please…there it was! Almost immediately after the test - a young female voice says “Help me…” then “I’m here…”.  I had hardly climbed out of the car - it happened so quickly.  I’m going to upload it for you to hear just as soon as I can figure out how to do that, along with other audible voices we recorded over the weekend. So, it seemed the “dead” were a pretty noisy bunch and had plenty to say - much to our delight.

There were other things recorded, such as “don’t go”, “come back tomorrow”, a few names spoken, Maggie, Lizabeth, “….I miss you always” and a few snarly sounding monster things - which are a bit freaky, but it’s all in a day’s work for us intrepid spook stalkers…

I will have to sit and go through all of it before I can decide what is clear enough to upload - we ended up visiting four Cemeteries in the end - some were where I had buried “clients” in my Funeral Directing days, so I hope there will be no complaints about the level of service on the recorder!  It’s a bit late for a refund now…

I will keep you posted here, so watch out for my uploads as I would love to hear what you think of them and if you can pick up anything else I may be missing. I’m not technical, so what you hear will be unfiddled with, except for volume control and a reduction in static, if I can manage that.  If you don’t believe what you are hearing is true - then that’s your prerogative - but go and try it for yourself, this really works…

NB: There was one hysterical moment when we were back home, sitting down and both plugged into playback - I had forgotten Paolo had said something in jest (I had been going on about respecting the spirits and talking to them) just before we starting our first trek around Cemetery #1, when, what I heard through my headphones was a “demon” saying in a horrible loud voice “GET OUT!” - I tell, you, I ripped the headset off in utter horror, my heart was pounding out of my throat and then I saw Paolo killing himself laughing…Yep, I have a terrible short term memory.  I was so busy intensely concentrating on the slightest sound, that I had forgotten that silly bit was coming up!  I guess you had to be there - but, my God, am I going to get him back or what! It nearly finished me off…and when I do kick the bucket, I will make sure he gets no peace at all! Kudos.

UPDATE: 10/08/08

I decided to take the plunge and record some more EVP activity in my cottage today.  I needed a sleep as I’ve been working hard putting some research stuff together and burning the midnight oil quite a bit, so I set up the digital recorder in the hallway - which is my most active spot in the house.  I fell asleep very quickly for a couple of hours. 

When I woke up, I uploaded any “captures” onto the laptop - using Wavepad. Rather than sit through 2 hours of playback, I can see on the screen any anomaly points I should take a closer look at.  There was a lot of banging & knocking I can’t blame the dog for… and then, I heard it… “Where’s up?” a male voice asks very clearly. It also sounded like someone was playing my djembe drum a few times too. That was all I got, but I could tell my dog was certainly bothered by something as well.  I can hear her on the playback whinging, like she is being annoyed by something.  

My home is like a convent - certainly no males about the place!  The voice was strong and close to my bedroom door, in keeping with a benign male energy I often sense here.  This is a Class “A” EVP and will appear in my next mini video.

W.E.E. Ghosties revisited Old Town Winchester, Virginia the other night. Our focus was Indian Alley, the hanging square and the Old Courthouse. It was an early evening hunt with lots of local activity going on not of the paranormal kind. Quite a few people wandering around, street construction and such. So consequently it was tough to get in the mood. We caught a couple interesting EVPs which I will post later this weekend. Photos revealed a couple “orbs” in the old hanging square which is interesting because we have never picked up orbs on the D50 before. One anomaly/
bright spot with separate orb from the Hessian lot caught my attention. There is also something odd about the photos of the glass in the courthouse windows. Several panes but not all the panes look distorted in the photographs which is something I did not see at the site. I should run these by our resident photographer before posting but what the heck, post your comments and let me know what possible explanations there are for the distortions. These windows overlook the spot of the hanging tree outside the old courthouse.

W.E.E. Ghosties visited the West Virginia Penitentiary in April, 2008. For a complete account of our investigation visit our WVP Investigation page. This a four part series that includes a detailed account of the visit, EVPs, links to photographs and tips for planning your trip.

Part Four
Part One
Part Two
Part Three

Here is the final installment of a four part post on our Ghost Hunt at West Virginia Penitentiary. This one includes tips and suggestions for those who plan to make the trip themselves.

• Book early at West Virginia Penitentiary Tours online. At the time of this post all Ghost Hunts are booked through July and they are selling out fast for tour hunts scheduled for August.
• Our trip was in April and it was chilly. However, personally I would rather be a bit cold than too hot. I read one post on the forums where someone said it was over 100 degrees in July.
• Plan ahead. Do your research on the history of the penitentiary. It helps if you know a little something before you go. Your guide may not be very informed and then you will miss out on some of the best places in the prison to search for activity. It also helps when separating fact from fiction.
• Bring the typical ghost hunting necessities.

1. Even if you have never been on a ghost hunt before, pick up a small digital recorder for taping EVPs. You just might be surprised what you pick up. I had good luck with the RCA RP5030 Digital Voice Recorder. It sells for $47.00 at WalMart and $30.00 at Big Lots. Perfect for Mac users as well as PCs. For Mac simply connect to your computer via included USB cable.
2. Bring your camera but test it out in the dark first. Don’t be afraid to bring a good digital camera. I was worried about the dust and grime but really it wasn’t that bad. I would have been disappointed if I ended up with low quality photographs. you may also consider a movie camera.
3. A flashlight or headlamp is a must. I chose to bring a headlamp and wrapped it around my wrist because I didn’t want to blind anyone when I turned to look at them. I bought a Rayovac Industrial Hands Free Headlamp. It lists here for $13.00. I got mine at Big Lots for $5.00.
4. A small pad and pen for taking notes. I ended up not using mine on this trip because I had too much else going on to dig it out of my backpack. We tried to be sure that when we did recordings we stated our location and the time and date. I think this system is sufficient for recordings however you may want to jot down notes for your photographs, things you want to research, things you don’t want to forget. It may have been better if I had mine more accessible like around my neck. I probably would have got more use out of it.
5. I brought extra batteries but didn’t need them. My batteries did not drain of power like I was warned they would but better prepared than not.

• Bring a survival kit and dress for the trip

1. A small pocket size first aid kit that includes the essentials just in case: a few band-aids, a sample size bottle of anti-bacterial hand soap, aspirin or other headache/pain medicine.
2. Munchies and bottled water if you think you might get hungry throughout the night. You are fed two slices of some fairly good pizza and a soda right after the 90 minute tour. Coffee is available early on in the evening but it was put away before 3:30. There are soda machines in the lobby but I don’t know how well stocked they are.
3. In colder months you might want to bring disposable pocket hand warmers.
4. Dress in layers. I wore a short sleeve t-shirt under a long sleeve t-shirt with a sweatshirt over that. I kept a coat in the lobby and ended up wearing that too around midnight.
5. Wear old shoes. There are places wear you might run into standing water even on the second floor. It is not filthy here as some people describe it but there is a lot of dust and dirt. You will do a lot of walking so make sure your shoes are broken in and comfortable. Even in the summer I would not recommend flip flops or open toed shoes. There are hazards everywhere especially in the stairwells. Be careful on those as the concrete is crumbling away and the steel toes are bent up in places making it easy to trip and fall down a flight of concrete steps.

• Eat dinner before arriving. Don’t count on the pizza to be your last meal.
• Arrive on time for your tour but don’t worry about getting there first. Nothing begins until everyone is signed in and in the lobby. Most likely this will not be before 8:00. If it is raining make sure you have an umbrella as the line to get in is long and you are outside in the elements.
• All parking is on the street in front of the penitentiary. Parking is not secured so do not leave valuables in the car. We did not have a problem and I did notice patrol cars going up and down the street, however no sense tempting someone by leaving your purse in the car.
• If you think you might need to doze or rest during the night, bring a fold up lawn chair for the lobby. You can find a place to set it up in the visitor section.
• Use the restroom when you can. There is only one so don’t attempt it when you arrive or before or after pizza. The line is simply too long.
• No need to print a map of the facility. They have some on the counter. Maybe I will work on creating a better one though and post it here.
• I’m not big on T-shirts but bring cash if you want a souvenir. (shirts, caps, marbles, books, dvds, and yes they did have postcards)
• No matter when you arrive try to move towards the front to listen to the initial instructions from your guides. It is difficult to hear from the hallways. This way you can choose which guide you would like to take the 90 minute tour with. If you get a good vibe from Guide #1 then make your way to the front so you can be in that group. If Guide #2 appeals to you then hang back. You will have to wait around about 15 to 20 minutes to start the second tour though. Don’t worry - you have all night.
• I don’t know if this will work on every tour but if you want a shot at being alone in the Sugar Shack head there first. We assumed that everyone else would do the same thing and were surprised to find it empty.
• If they don’t tell you about the gymnasium it is located at the end of South Block and up on the second floor. Don’t go too far in as the center of the floor has heaved up and it is a catastrophe waiting to happen. We didn’t stay here long enough as a few fellow ghost hunters arrived right on our heels. i wish we would have though. It may have been a good place for an EVP.
• North Block is the main attraction and as you have all night I would recommend heading to the fourth level of cells in South Block for some quiet time alone with your camera and your recorder.
• Somewhere in South is a padded cell. Again in hindsight wish we would have tried for some EVPs.
• Don’t forget to visit Charlie and Bobby’s window. It is located in the hallway between North and South just outside the cafeteria and what the others called the maintenance room. I believe it was the second to the last set of windows before you get to North Block.
• If it is too busy for good EVPs just give it some time. We started with 86 people and by 2:30 over half of them had called it a night. By the time we left at 3:45 there were only 20 left. Would have been nice to stick around. Things were getting busy I think.
• If I had to do it over again (and I just might) I think I would make the trip earlier in the day and get a hotel room to rest up in before the evening begins. Then have a place to crash for a couple of hours and maybe a shower before driving home. It would also make it easier to see the other attractions in Moundsville that I missed.

Well I think that covers it. That is all the advice I can offer other than to say be quiet, be respectful, be patient and above all be very open minded - or you might just walk by a ghost rattling a window and blame it on the wind

Enjoy!

No this posting is not about the beer selection at the Cashtown Inn; it is to remind the readers of American Public House Review that on Wednesday evening March 26th, the results of the investigation conducted by the team from The Atlantic Paranormal Society will be revealed on “Ghost Hunters.” The show airs on the Sci Fi Channel at 9:00 PM, and will be rebroadcast at 11:00 PM. 

The natural skeptic in me appreciates the no-nonsense scientific techniques employed by this particular group of paranormal detectives. The lack of theatrics coupled to their honest analysis and frank assessment of each individual case lends credibility to a profession that all too often has been the domain of hoaxers and charlatans.

During a recent luncheon at the Cashtown Inn, which is purported to be one of the most haunted taverns in America, I was able to conduct my own inquiry into the otherworldly activities associated with this Civil War landmark. Unfortunately my own personal contact with the spirits was limited to the superb potables recommended by the owner, Jack Paladino. Regrettably, my sensitivity to the spirits seems to stop at my palate. So until my third eye becomes functional, I will have to rely on gaussmeters, EVPs, thermal imaging and the trusted judgement of the crew from TAPS.

Paranormal phenomena? Flickering lights? Disembodied voices? Unidentifiable footsteps? Appartitions?

Is your house/office/building haunted? Are you haunted by the idea of being haunted?

No one can deny the current popularity of shows about paranormal investigators. From Houdini to Harry Price, and Leonard Nimoy to Ghost Hunters, the fascination is enduring. Ghosts, hauntings and the paranormal raise some interesting questions about why we’re here, and where we’re going. I’m equally fascinated, but that’s not what I’m here to bitch about today…

How effective are paranormal investigations? And what are the motives of the ‘haunted’?

For a quick and dirty perv on a typical paranormal investigation, read Ghost Mining, to read of the absurd, amateur, ignorant and unscientific nature of the individuals and groups who profess to be ‘experts’. Most of all, (and I’ve bitched about this so much that the messgage should be out by now) these groups confuse scientific tools/instruments/gadgets (EMF readers, EVP recorders, etc.) with the scientific method. Yep, the latter might sound like a geeky drag, so to pour it into a mental pint of beer, it’s about common sense, reality and truth.

If some weird shit is happening to you, calling up one of these misguided ‘ghostbusters’ won’t provide any answers or solutions. Most likely, these groups will confirm your fears (a little thing called Confirmation Bias) and you’ll end up doing something unnecessary, like selling your house, moving out, living in complete and utter fear, stigmatizing the building and telling inane stories to your mates in the pub for the rest of your life…

This is assuming you are the first kind of ‘haunted’ victim: an innocent person who’s experienced strange phenomena and seeks an explanation, and a solution. However, if you are the second kind: the individual seeking fame, fortune, notoriety, and publicity for your ‘haunted’ patch of Earth, then these ‘ghost hunters’ are gonna tell you, and the public, what y’all want to hear. Seeking more than to nobly protect local folklore, you want your 15 minutes of fame with the plethora of lame TV shows, and some cash to pay off your little mortgage crisis. Yes, the Skepbitch has an example of this kind of paranormal investigation too…check out The Business of Haunting about the latest publicity success story, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky.

My earnest offer is this…if you are haunted, and seek a genuine explanation of the phenomena, please, contact me. If you want reasons, causes and rationale, with or without the publicity, then I, or any other member of the International Network of Skeptical Organizations can assist you, in a professional manner.

Quirky occurrences to terrifying incidents…stop losing sleep…and start asking questions. From the Humpty Doo Poltergeist quest to an investigation by Ben Radford in the January/February 2008 edition of the Skeptical Inquirer, Skeptics have found natural explanations for haunting experiences, and provided more sincere and useful assistance than any theatrical group of paranormal investigators. Contrary to popular opinion, skeptics maintain an open mind.

So…do you seek truth, or fake ‘proof’?