www.ghostsofohio.org December 2009—Volume 7 Issue 2 From the Spooky Desk of James A. Willis: Looking Back at 2009 Since it seems to still able to provide us with first-hand a meeting with him back further and have become a tradition encounters from the original Mothman further. And now, with his passing, I at the end of every year sightings in the late 60s continues to will never have the opportunity to tell to take a look back at dwindle. With less people able to vouch Mr. Holzer how much he meant to me… those whom we have lost, for the creature’s existence, Mothman at least not in this life. I thought I would take a moves yet another step closer to the land With that in mind, if I could offer moment to talk about two of legend. you but one bit of advice for the coming people that the Earlier in the year, on April 26th, year, it would be this; don’t ever miss an James community author and hunter Hans Holzer opportunity to remind those around you lost in 2009. passed away leaving behind an just how much they mean to you. On July 3rd, 2009, the paranormal enormous wealth of research in the form Because one day, they will be gone and community lost perhaps one of its most of his books. As many of my family and all you’ll be left with are their memories. 1 enigmatic people, John Keel. While he close friends will tell you, Hans Holzer Cheers, had been an author and UFO buff most has always been inspiration to me, ever James A. Willis of his life, Keel would be forever linked since I was a small child. An early Founder/Director to the infamous Mothman when he reader, I was first exposed to Holzer’s began looking into the strange work at the tender age of 6 with his occurrences taking place in and around Ghost Hunter. Since that point, I was Pt. Pleasant, , in the late obsessed with Holzer because he 1960s. His resulting book, The embodied the two things I loved in life: Mothman Prophecies, which was filled writing and looking for . Plus, with Keel’s first-hand account of what Holzer was known to sometimes be a bit he witnessed in Pt. Pleasant, became the of a cranky SOB, which reminded me a cryptozoological bible for anyone lot of my own father. looking into the Mothman. Over the years, my personal library Keel’s passing represents a two-fold would become home to literally dozens loss for the paranormal community. First of first editions of his book. I also had and foremost, we have lost perhaps the “meeting Hans Holzer” on my To Do last of the Mothman research pioneers, list, if for no other reason than to thank which leads to an even broader change. him for being such an inspiration to me. The Ghosts Give Back! Find out more With Keel gone, the number of those Sadly, I kept pushing trying to schedule about this year’s charity drive on Page 2.

The Unveiling of the KAPoS System Greetings, readers, Kaleidoscopic Anomalous and welcome to my first Paranormal outburst Sensor (KAPoS) newsletter article! As a From the Greek, the word member of The Ghosts of kaleidoscope literally means a device for Ohio paranormal viewing beautiful forms. Here, it applies investigation team, I am to the ever-changing and shifting the architect for the probe-reading signatures we observe on Vernier LabPro system, the laptop computer interface. From Mark which I have worked to within these multiple layers of probe turn into what we refer to as the KAPoS signatures scrolling by in real time, at measurement system. Some of you may the rate of two readings per second, we have wondered over time about that search for the unexpected anomalous funny little acronym, so bear witness readings that could portend a paranormal now to this first public unveiling of its outburst. Of course, KAPoS is a lot true meaning, kept hidden even from easier to say! What does the future hold for Ghostly Talk Radio? Turn to Page 3 for details. Jim until the time was right! Continued on Page 4

Do You Believe? Page 1 Volume 7 Issue 2 Darrin’s Tech Talk: Robert Bess and The Para-What? A lot of talk has equipped with electromagnets, lasers, with the demonstration that was filmed going around since this sensors, internal and external digital by NBC in May of 2007. I was finally past ’s episode thermometers, and magnetic locks—to able to find the footage of this but I can’t Jeff of Ghost Adventures, and detect and capture these low-cycling really say that it shows a ghost being it all revolves around a energy fields. caught and made visible: http:// man named Robert Bess. The chamber is built on top of a www.austindesignworks.net/3MileLock. This article, however, robotic 3x3-foot platform with four The video basically shows Bess setting isn’t about the wheels. Powered by two eight-pound up one of his first versions of the Darrin controversial throw of his lithium quartz batteries, it tops out at containment unit. At one point it starts to EMF meter. It’s about his invention, the 25–30 mph and can pirouette on a dime. fill with smoke and then he tells the Parabot. The Parabot, or Paranormal The chamber is remotely controlled, but people present they have witnessed Containment Chamber as he calls it, is a it can be voice-activated if necessary. history—the first capture and device that is supposed to hunt down, If the EM sensors on the chamber containment of a ghost. Bess never goes trap, contain and make ghosts visible. detect an energy field, its doors open, into any detail as to how he is able to Does it work, and if it does, how does it and it moves in the direction of what it know that his experiment is a success work? There isn’t much out there on this senses. Once it captures the energy in and the container looks to simply be seemingly amazing piece of equipment the chamber, the doors will shut and the filled with smoke. or on its inventor. massive eight-foot Tesla coil inside the But at least it’s more than what he The best description I could find of unit produces 1.4 million watts of got with his newest version of the the Parabot and Bess’s theory on how it energy, "feeding" the EM field until it Parabot that was used on Ghost works was on the Ghost Adventures cycles at a far faster or higher rate, Adventures. During the live broadcast, it website: (http://www.travelchannel.com/ rendering the spirit visible. did little more than make a lot of noise. Ghost_Adventures_Live/gear-and- Confused? Welcome to the club. It is unfortunate that there isn’t more on equipment/robert-bess-parabot- How all this is supposed to work is a the Internet from him about his containment-chamber.html). mystery. invention and how it works. His theory The science behind the containment Robert Bess himself is some what of and invention are very interesting and if chamber is based on the theory that a mystery as well. He is the they work like he says they do I would ghosts are able to harness, and move founder of the Foundation for think he would want to show it off and about as, electromagnetic (EM) fields in Paranormal Research: http:// talk about it as often as he could. Until our dimension. However, because these www.foundationforparanormalresearch. that time, I look forward to his next spirits cycle at such a low rate, humans us/. This website has very little attempt and maybe, just maybe, finding can't see them. information about the man or, as the site out how the darn thing is supposed to Bess designed his eight-foot-tall, claims, his many inventions. The work! four-foot-wide plexiglass Parabot—fully Parabot is only briefly mentioned along The Ghosts Give Back: The Firefighters 4 Kids Toy Drive The Ghosts of Ohio has always into broadening our scope of toy prided itself on giving back to the donations for 2010. Of course, we’ll also community, especially during the be looking into ways that The Ghosts holidays. In the past, we have been can reward you for your generosity, too! involved with Ohio Toys For Tots drives. This year, The Ghosts of Ohio took part in the Firefighters 4 Kids toy drive. Ghosts of Ohio members, family, and friends were asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to our annual Merry Scary Christmas party and place it under our spooky tree. Afterwards, all the toys were gathered up and hand-delivered to local firefighters on Saturday, December 12th. The Ghosts of Ohio personally donated 43 toys to the less fortunate. So many of you have asked how you can get involved that we will be looking The Ghosts of Ohio donated over 40 toys to children in need at this year’s party.

Do You Believe? Page 2 Volume 7 Issue 2 Ghostly Talk Paranormal Radio: A Silence That Speaks Volumes What is becoming of the paranormal community? On the outside, the plethora of ghost reality shows on television and paranormal talk shows on James the Web seem to hint that things have never been better. And yet, there are those who believe that our community has lost its way and is now more concerned with fame and fortune rather than serious research. So which side is more accurate? For now, I will choose to remain silent and simply say that, while many people were not aware of it, on October 18, 2009, something happened that speaks volumes as to the current state of the paranormal community— Ghostly Talk Radio went on indefinite hiatus. For the uninitiated, Ghostly Talk became the first regular, live, You never knew that they were going to conventions were few and far between independent, Internet-based paranormal be talking about or what was going to and when they did, you could see a radio show when Scott L. and Doug happen next, which was part of the certain awkwardness with them. You (they prefer to go by their first names) show’s allure. But more than that, the could tell they didn’t like the spotlight. hit the airwaves eight years ago. For the one thing listeners always took away Once again, they simply wanted to be a most part, it was the two guys sitting from the show was that Ghostly Talk part of the paranormal community that behind a microphone, talking about all was in love with the paranormal they had grown to known and love. They things paranormal. They had no set community…and we with them. never got paid for traveling to these script for how the show would go (or if Visiting the Ghostly Talk website conventions, even though they often they did, they never followed it). Rather, and flipping through their archived recorded the entire show and they put Scott L. and Doug would banter back shows and interviews reveals a who’s them up on their site for free. For them, and forth about the latest paranormal who of the paranormal community: it was a labor of love. And then, on tidbit they had just picked up. It didn’t Lorraine Warren, Stanton Friedman, October 18, 2009, it all came crashing matter that the show ebbed and flowed, Loren Coleman, Peter James, Loyd down. often coming dangerously close to Auerbach. And let’s not forget the On that show, which is available for a getting far too out of control. What mixed bag of bizarre guests that would free download on ghostlytalk.com, Scott mattered to Doug and Scott L. was that stop by, too: Sid Haig, Dee Snider, and L., Doug, and Bonnie announced that they were in love with all things even Henry Rollins. Listen to any of Ghostly Talk would be going on an paranormal and were getting the chance those interviews and you can almost see indefinite hiatus. You could hear it in to talk about it on the air. If you weren’t the smiles on Scott L. and Doug’s faces their voices that this was a hard decision into the paranormal, you probably shut as they’re talking to these people. to make. And yet, one could not argue the show off 10 minutes into it. But if Through the years, Scott L. and Doug with their reasons. They felt that the you were a paranormal freak like me, never lost sight of the fact that they were paranormal community they knew and you felt like it was it was—a couple of just two guys from —two guys loved was gone, replaced by one where people getting together and shooting the who somehow got the amazing getting a new television pilot was more s**t about things. For me, it felt like opportunity to chat with people they had important than what value was being home. long admired and looked up to. added to the field. They felt that the As the years rolled on, Scott L. and On top of the radio show, Ghostly driving force of the field—people’s Doug brought in Bonnie in a vain Talk also took to the road and made personal paranormal experiences—was attempt to reel them in a bit. Thankfully, appearances at conventions across the being overshadowed by sensationalism it didn’t work and the Ghostly Talk United States. The few times when and all-out manufacturing of evidence. machine just kept right on rolling along. Doug and Scott L. actually spoke at the Continued on Page 7

Do You Believe? Page 3 Volume 7 Issue 2 Continued: The Unveiling of the KAPoS System Continued from Page 1 And, yes, I am a bit of a technical geek, of course, to find “beauty” in colored lines plotted on the screen—but what else would you expect from an applied engineer/scientist who chases after ghosts and other paranormal phenomenon in his spare time?! In previous newsletter articles, Darrin has discussed many of the technical features of the KAPoS measurement system that we routinely use on paranormal investigations. This real-time data acquisition system has the ability to track rapid changes in air temperature, static electrical charge, magnetic field strength, and both movement and velocity of objects within the ultrasonic motion sensor's field of view. And though not presently integrated with the main acquisition system, we also have the ability in a handheld device to measure the that complements the normal recording of KAPoS sensors deployed at an investigation of Room 108 at the Versailles Inn in Versailles, OH. video and audio from cameras and handheld digital voice recorders. KAPoS drain in its energy. A recurring theme of ladies out of the room and left it empty, uses the LabPro system, made by strong paranormal activity, the rapid that temperature variation abruptly Vernier Software and Technology, with draining of batteries may signify the ceased. When we put male investigators support for 50+ sensor probes in presence of a powerful ghostly in the room, there was no cyclic differing areas of physics and chemistry. manifestation, so this would be a cool variation at all—only a small increase in Beyond the off-the-shelf science- new addition to KAPoS capability! room temperature. In the case of the specific sensors offered by Vernier, a So, what has been our experience so Versailles Inn, full body apparitions simple voltage probe allows for other far in using KAPoS on investigations, eye-witnessed over long spans of years measurements within custom circuit you ask. Like our other methods of have always been male. Could a male designs of our own invention. For recording potentially haunted ghost have been “looking over” the example, in the coming months we will environments, such as video cameras ladies in Room 108? Who knows for add a customized "ghost bait" probe that and audio recordings, sometimes boring certain, but the data we recorded is will monitor the real time electrical normalcy prevails. intriguing. charge on a battery and record any rapid Yet, at other times, intriguing Even more so, in that same room, variations in the probe KAPoS simultaneously recorded very signatures have appeared that unusual changes in the static electric lack simple explanation. For charge fields throughout the evening. It example, at the Versailles Inn was as if there was a varying level of investigation in 2009, in Room static electricity near the probe, or an 108 to be specific, which is a ionization generator in the room that small hotel room without open changed its behavior with time— windows or open doors and sometimes adding ions to the air and without the temperature probe sometimes taking them away. Ions in the being close to a working air air directly affect the build-up or vent, we observed repetitive removal of electrical charge on the cyclical drops of several copper pipe connected to this KAPoS degrees Fahrenheit in air probe, and they can affect its sensitive temperature along a wall of sensor readings much like a charged-up The primary KAPoS screen displays real-time metrics interest in the room—but only static electrical balloon does. captured by the various sensors equipped to the system. when female investigators were Continued on Page 7 present. When we moved the

Do You Believe? Page 4 Volume 7 Issue 2 A Merry Scary Christmas: Celebrating the Holidays, Ghosts of Ohio Style What do you get fun, laughs, and the "spirit" of giving. the fun events, group investigations, when you cross The This year we held our 6th presentations, and charity work we have Ghosts of Ohio with the annual holiday party, and as with participated in over the past 10 years Jeff holiday season? A tradition, the Ghosts members were shared. Merry Scary Christmas generously brought gifts and toys for The evening carried on with great party, that's what! needy children. The presents filled the conversations and games with the Imagine Tim Burton's room with warmth under the Merry Ghosts members. All who attended left "Nightmare Before Scary Christmas tree. with a great appreciation for all we Sheri Christmas," crossed with In addition to the giving, there were have accomplished over the last 10 years the abominable snowman, met with delicious confections from meatballs, to and with a sense of anticipation and paranormal investigators and TONS of cheese trays, to homemade cookies, to excitement for the next 10 years to food, and you'll have a good idea of pizza, to chips and dips. The highlight come. Happy Holidays! what a Merry Scary Christmas party is of the evening was looking back on The all about. The Ghosts of Ohio and our Ghosts of Ohio's accomplishments families celebrated the season with food, over the past 10 years. Memories of

The Ghosts of Ohio rarely miss an opportunity to cut loose, and Not your typical holiday party, as some guests wore elaborate this year’s “family” portrait was no exception. costumes and delivered frightening delicacies.

The pictures below were taken using the Ghost Camera, a state-of-the-art disposable camera found in the aisle at a paranormal outfitter called Big Lots. As you can see from the startling evidence below, this party will certainly haunt its attendees for years to come!

Do You Believe? Page 5 Volume 7 Issue 2 Putting Reality Shows Under the Microscope: A Review of Ghost Lab I have to admit that I had pretty much given up on “reality” ghost shows. Don’t get me wrong…it seemed to start out ok. You had Ghost Hunters, which was the one that really seemed to start it Wendy all, and actually opened to save face with the public and prove they are doing some things the rest of us my eyes to the fact that people out there we all aren’t just a joke? And suddenly, are not, such as their intensive baseline actually had groups that investigated Ghost Lab appeared on my lovely readings and setup. This gang moves in ghosts! They are the ones that put me on AT&T U-verse guide. Another joke, or like an army and just coats each my investigative path, and they have worth the hour of watching? It turned investigative site with digital picture (with a couple dramatic issues) stayed out to be the latter. taking so that they have proper backup true to themselves. Then there was the Ghost Lab follows the investigations for questions that pop up later. The clock dearly departed Haunting Evidence, of Everyday Paranormal out of Texas, radio in the old brothel was a good which tried to close cold case files via headed up by Brad and Barry Klinge. It example of how having more pictures psychics and scientific “paranormal” has a narrator who is not a member of than you can possibly know what to do findings. Along came Paranormal State, the group, giving the show a with can actually help disprove what with a different angle at investigating, documentary-type feel missing from the another group may have taken to be and Ghost Hunters created an other shows. This small group of evidence. They also try and recreate “International” show. And it snowballed investigators travel across the US of A events that may bring out paranormal from there. Everyone and their brother in a loaded down trailer they use as their activity, such as bringing in a group of either wanted or had a show. And the command center. This enables them to people off the street to be the audience quality…the quality?!? Do you hear that review evidence in real time, which in an old theatre in an attempt to bring flushing sound? helps focus what direction their out the ghost of . Most Haunted found its way across investigations take. It is always great to Another thing that puts Everyday the pond to our TV sets, and blew get immediate feedback when you are Paranormal into a class of their own is everyone out of the water with general working. It lets you know you are on the their deep hooks into the scientific goofiness and idiocy. Seriously? right track, and eliminates the boredom I community. They are actually teaching Running away from DUST?? Follow know we all feel when we are sitting in a us with every episode. It is very this up with various ghost hunting dark room holding a tape recorder for refreshing to actually learn something specials with goons running around with hours on end. So I must say I am from the scientists and specialists that cameras, and my stomach began to knot, seething with jealousy at their swanky appear on Ghost Lab that can be put to my jaw clenched, and I began pulling setup. The investigators all seem to be use in our own evidence reviews. Any out huge chunks of hair. I began to fear personable and serious about what they investigator that is serious about what that the public was going to write off the are doing, although I think no Emmys they are doing in the field is definitely paranormal investigative community as for acting will be coming forthwith. going to benefit from this, so much a joke, and to prove my point, along There is (so far), no dramatics (well, thanks goes out to the Klinge brothers came Zak and Ghost Adventures. So some slight panic), no petty arguing, no for that. much running, yelling, provoking, and running, no screaming, NO DUST So…the stomach is unclenching, the biceps! While they do provide a comedic ORBS. I love this group. Sigh. Although jaw is unlocking, and I’m sure my hair value, and ghost hunting does have its I don’t think I would take one for the will grow back eventually. Hope has fun, dumb, goofy, totally blonde team and get a tattoo in order to try and been restored for those of us who want moments, there is a very serious side draw out a ghost! the public to view what we do as that seems to have been tossed out with While they may have the same serious, viable work. Rock on, Everyday the week old pizza. Were we ever going equipment that most of us are using, Paranormal…you are worthy. ADMINISTRATION

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Do You Believe? Page 6 Volume 7 Issue 2 Spend the Night with The Ghosts of Ohio! The Ghosts are Planning Where As part of the Spend the Night with Ghosts of Ohio have to pay in order to To Spend The Night in 2010 The Ghosts of Ohio program, we are rent out the building (dollar amount renting out some of the most haunted subject to change based on individual Our investigation of Bobby Mackey’s buildings in Ohio for an entire night. venue). officially ended the 2009 Spend the Unlike traditional "ghost hunts," where In addition, we'll be drawing at least Night program. But if you weren’t one you are often forced to share the location one lucky Grand Prize winner who will of the lucky winners, have no fear. As with total strangers, every building we get to come along for FREE! long as you are subscribed to our news- rented out was totally ours. That's all there is to it! Of course, we letter, you are eligible to win in 2010 How do you get in on all this spooky might want to take a few pictures of you and beyond! fun? It's simple, really. All you need to on the investigation and post them on Plans are currently underway to book do is sign up for The Ghosts of Ohio our site so you'll be the envy of all your several locations for our 2010 Spend the newsletter—which is free…and which friends. But hey, that's a small price to Night program, including a return visit most of you have already done!! pay for the chance to spend the night to Mansfield Reformatory. So keep an For each investigation, we'll be with The Ghosts! eye on The Ghosts of Ohio website and picking several names from our list of If for some reason you don't have your this newsletter for more details as they newsletter subscribers and giving them own subscription, what are you waiting become available. Until then, keep your the first shot at spending the night with for? http://ghostsofohio.org/services/ fingers crossed! us. All they need to do is pay the same newsletter.html. registration fee that the members of The The Newsletter is a Robot! Continued: A Silence that Speaks Volumes We’ll stop reminding you when you stop Continued from Page 3 sending emails to the newsletter address! If Ghostly Talk didn’t want you send anything at all to the newsletter to go away, but they also address, our surly robot will eat it…and that felt they couldn’t continue will make us all sad. So please don’t do it, the charade anymore. It OK? Promise? wasn’t fair to their fans and it wasn’t fair to them. And so, with sadness, they turned Continued: The Unveiling of their microphones off. the KAPoS System While I can’t pretend to understand everything that Continued from Page 4 Scott L., Doug, Bonnie, and Normally, this probe simply produces the rest of Ghostly Talk are a reading that slowly ramps up (or feeling, I can’t deny that it down) to a saturation condition and then has opened my eyes even must be reset. That night, in room 108, more. And when you look at something else in the room environment the big picture—a group of individuals again in the near future. I, for one, am was dynamically changing this probe all becoming so disillusioned with a field hoping and praying that’s true. Ghostly by itself—something that, to this day, they once loved that they are willing to Talk’s departure, aside from being a has intrigued us all here at The Ghosts of walk away from something they are so message to us all, has left a void in the Ohio and keeps us looking forward to passionate about—one can’t help but paranormal community that, despite the next time when we can incorporate wonder what’s become of this field. what others might tell you, cannot be KAPoS into an investigation. They promise that this is just a brief filled. hiatus and that Ghostly Talk will rise Investigations and Consultations: Now Scheduling for 2010 The Ghosts of Ohio has begun request. All investigations are offered situation and what help we may be able scheduling investigations for 2010. If free of charge, and confidentiality and to offer. you or someone you know is discretion are assured. For more information, please visit experiencing something unexplained in a Not sure if you want or need an http://ghostsofohio.org/services/ home or place of business, contact us at investigation? The Ghosts of Ohio now investigations.html. [email protected] or visit our offers consultations. Let us sit down website to fill out an investigation with you to discuss your current

Do You Believe? Page 7 Volume 7 Issue 2

What the Dickens? The Ghosts of Ohio Word Search Beyond a Christmas Carol The release of A G S T Y D O N I D C F R W W B E L I E V E X R W Christmas Carol, starring W Z V E R Y O F T E Q O T L N O M E D C X F O F Jim Carrey, this holiday A U P B T Y I E V C G L H O I O H E Z O M B I E season has once again D W P X J L T T J I T A Z Y T T G N I T N U A H reminded everyone that it’s just not Christmas E G A Y F W C M T O D R I H C V N I M V Z Y V P without another re-telling X H P D S P E M I V N C M H L D M C V D M L O K James of the Charles Dicken’s O O P W O S J Z R D D A K U A R Z R U F Z U R H classic tale, A Christmas Carol. First R S A Q H A O U Q E N K U D I O Z E P R P B T N published in December of 1843 C T R K G C R L N I O W O E R T K T Y E O P E V under the rambling title, A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost I S I P Z O P E G D C A Z F V C Z R C G L L X W Story of Christmas, Dickens’ book S O T E I R L Z K O S Y O I O E X O P N T W K H hasn’t been out of print since and has M F I C Q E A U F B N T W L Y T G C R A E S X I spawned a mind-numbing array of D O O T F T R Q I M E E F R A E P O L G R Q N T adaptations, including those on the R H N O L N T V J E P Y X E N D Y G F L G Y H E stage, screen, and radio. But for ghost aficionados, the best part about A R I G P O E S K N S U Y J T C F O N G E E A Y N Christmas Carol was that it was a G O Z L W Z A Q N I G L K F E M E I Z P I V E O holiday story that centered on ghosts! If T Z O A E L T Z P D D D W A T E C T E P S Q T I you’re one of those people who love Y H A S R H M Y N X T Q X X R D V I F O T K I S your merry with a little bit of scary T Z E M E V U L E Y L I N E S F P O J D K D F E thrown in, you can rejoice in the little-known fact that A Christmas Carol C Q U P W D X H C Q O U X O O X C N D V T Q M D was one of dozens of Christmas stories After Life Ectoplasm Dickens wrote that involved ghosts and Apparition EMF Detector Retrocognition Astral Projection Exorcism Vortex other spooky creatures. Believe Ghosts of Ohio Werewolf Something that is often overlooked Clairvoyance Haunting White Noise Demon Ley Lines Xenoglossy was that back in Dickens’ day, part of Disembodied Voice Mothman Yeti the Christmas tradition involved families Doppelganger Orb Zombie gathering around the fire and telling stories after the holiday feast was done. In 1859, Dickens chose to disband Who Stole A Sexton, The Signal Man, More often than not, as the night wore Household Words over disagreements and The Haunted Man And The Ghost’s on, the Christmas tales would be with his co-owners. Dickens decided to Bargain. replaced by chilling ghost stories. This create his own magazine, over which he Charles Dickens passed away in may have been the inspiration for would be the sole owner and 1870. And while many may argue that A Dickens to create a mixture of Christmas decision-maker. That magazine became Christmas Carol stands as one of his best and ghosts in A Christmas Carol. the weekly journal All The Year Round. holiday ghost stories, a trip to the local Regardless, after its publication, Dickens As with Household Words, Dickens bookstore or library just may change felt he had hit on just the right mixture continued to contribute a to your mind. If nothing else, it will give of merry and scary and decided to All The Year Round every year for the you a way to spring new spooky tales on continue creating spooky Christmas December issue. This would continue your unsuspecting friends and family. tales. until 1867, when Dickens retired and In 1850, Dickens created and became handed the business over to his son, part owner of the magazine Household Charles Dickens, Jr. Holiday ghost Words. Aside from overseeing every stories written by Dickens for All The aspect of the magazine’s publication, Year Round included The Haunted Dickens also made the decision to House (1859), A Message From the Sea contribute a ghost story to the annual (1860), and No Thoroughfare (1867). December edition. Beginning with Dickens so loved the idea of telling 1851’s What Christmas Is, as We Grow ghost stories around the holiday fire that Older, Dickens wrote eight holidays he even published several short stories stories involving ghosts for Household outside of his magazines. Some of his Words, including the chilling The Wreck more popular stories published outside of the "Golden Mary." of his own magazines were The Goblins

Do You Believe? Page 8 Volume 7 Issue 2 The Scariest Movie of All Time? A Review of Paranormal Activity Paranormal Activity proportions in some respects, while Unfortunately, somewhere around the definitely wins the prize brilliant in others. 1-hour mark, what had started out as a for being this year’s most The premise of the movie is thus: good, if annoying and repetitive, scary hyped movie. “Go online Katie and Micah are engaged and living movie, was steadily “hollywoodizing.” and DEMAND together. Micah gets a camcorder to try The movie spiraled from actuality into Paranormal Activity for and capture paranormal activity that out and out fantasy, negating all the your theater!!” And Katie is complaining about. positive information that this movie was either a lot of people did Unfortunately, Katie is a whiner, and giving out. Even The Exorcism of Emily Wendy and it worked, or it was Micah is a self-centered cretin. This Rose (by far and away the most all a ploy and we were going to get the characterization caused me to be unable authentic recounting of possession) has a movie anyway. Next step, rush out to to feel for or connect to either character. little hollywoodizing in the barn scene, see the “scariest horror movie ever.” Movies never win when you don’t feel but the rest of that movie MORE than Me? I cried when I found that $5.00 and something for the main characters. The makes up for a minor snake attack. In almost two hours of my life were gone, only thing I felt was the need to smack Paranormal Activity’s instance, we got a never to return. them both into their next lifetimes. movie that started out Blair Witch, and The Blair Witch Project was the Scared Katie calls in a psychic who ended somewhere far below. The final movie that pretty much pioneered horror gives them good, valid advice…the written notes were the icing on what had “reality” filming…one of the characters same advice I find we as investigators turned into a rotting fruitcake. While it carrying around a camcorder and giving to our own clients. Does Micah worked for The Strangers, and had recording the unfolding events. Blair listen? He is under the impression that everyone Googling the names of the Witch set the bar. Then came people who work with these things don’t supposed victims, in this instance it Cloverfield, which was cheesy, intense, know what they are talking about, and merely elicits a giggle. goofy and full of win. And finally, that web surfing and a Ouija board will So I’m going to give this one 2 skulls, Paranormal Activity came along, give him all the answers he needs. So he for the brilliance that you can catch which turned out to be a fail of epic continues on his way to trap a demon, glimpses of between the unsympathetic whilst unknowingly fueling the fire. By characters and the SciFi movie the 20-minute mark, he shenanigans. is deep into the Rating: “obsession” step that occurs during demonic possession, while Katie continues in a Interact with The Ghosts downward spiral from regression, to repression, Need a spooky friend? If you have a to depression. Lots of MySpace account, swing by and add “sions” when it comes to The Ghosts of Ohio to your friends list: the demonic. www.myspace.com/ghostsofohio. While the characters And for those of you who use are completely annoying, Facebook and/or Twitter, you can now the effects are well done, find The Ghosts of Ohio on those sites, and the information given too:

out throughout the movie Facebook is good. My guess is most http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/ people who see this don’t pages/Columbus-OH/The-Ghosts-of- understand the steps of Ohio/60704381381?ref=mf possession, and weren’t aware how really well those Twitter http://twitter.com/ghostsofohio steps were being shown. As with most things that we Whichever online community you find occurring in the prefer to use, you can always find us! paranormal, you don’t actually see the being that is doing the damage, only the damage itself, whether it is physical or mental.

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