My Vlogs

Looking for Halflings

After a rude and abrupt end to a phone call with the Omega Corporation about the lifeforms in the underground tunnels; and suspicious activity surrounding accusations against my credibility as a professor at Missouri State University...


I’m on the road to investigate the underground tunnel systems in a part of Northern Arkansas, the ones near Batesville.  My gear is packed, and I'm ready. 


As explained in my previous blog posts, I will be utilizing my standard recording gear to capture any activity. If I find anything, you can be certain it will be on my YouTube channel as soon as humanly possible:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ProfessorLamott?feature=mhee

I Will Investigate the Claim of Halflings.

This “thing” in the tunnel may or may not be human, may or may not “look” human.  I’ve received a credible tip with respect to these alleged life forms, courtesy of one of my contacts in the government, Xavier M (he asked that I do not use his last name), who has been following my recent blogs.

 I’m currently planning to check it out myself this weekend. 


If I find nothing of consequence regarding these life forms, I intend at the very least to discover what has happened to Roland.

A Troubling Discovery

My assistant has brought to my attention a novel that has recently released, entitled Halflings –

Upon further investigation of the novel, it appears that Roland himself discovered the book, and even began engaging with the author online before he dropped my class. Why wouldn't he maintain contact with me? Why only a brief note mentioning "Halflings" with no further explanation, when he obviously viewed me as an expert on the topic of paranormal activity? This is very suspicious indeed.

I’m dismayed that my theory may have been co-opted by the “establishment” (aka NewsCorp) in what seems like an obvious attempt to discount these claims and present them to the world as nothing more than "popcorn" fiction for teens.  


I have no other choice but to try and prove everyone wrong. 

Halfling: A Human/Angel Hybrid?

Using Biblical and mythological texts, I’ve discovered there was only one brief moment of time throughout recorded history that human/angel unions may have taken place. 

Genesis 6:1-4:

“1And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

3And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

4There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”

If something of this magnitude did occur, where are these beings, these purported “giants,” today?  Would some have survived thousands of years?  Or did they create a new being able to reproduce after its own kind?

Let’s consider the facts. Scientifically speaking, this is a fascinating conundrum.  Angels are eternal beings that never die.  Humans are limited to a max of not much more than one hundred years.  But a being half-human and half-angel?  Who knows the lifespan?

This is what is commonly understood from the Bible: Lucifer was an angel who took one third of the created angels and rebelled against God; God consequently banished them to the earth.

Using this notion as the backbone to my research, I’ve happened upon a series of supplementary texts and understandings that have been passed down to generations of believers – generations, who until this point, have remained mostly silent or, at least, only vocal within their own religious communities.  This Biblical mythology, as I refer to it, seems to indicate that these fallen angels felt a kinship with human women, a bond that manifested itself in irrepressible sexual attraction, an attraction that was ultimately reciprocated –

Therefore, half-human, half-angels were bred: “Halflings.” 


This is a hypothesis only. I need more time. More investigation. A way to test this claim. 


I wish Roland had not dropped my class. Beyond that, as it was confirmed in a discussion with the dean's office this week, he has left the school altogether. 

If Angels DO Exist...

If angels exist in a carnal sense (meaning they have skin and bones), then an angel-human union seems feasible.

The morning Roland Billings dropped my class, and subsequently disappeared without a trace from campus, I found a note in my faculty mailbox.  The note simply said:

"Halflings…    angels."

Halflings. 


I cannot get the term out of my head.  


While I’m moderately aware of the term from J. R. R. Tolkien’s literature, wherein he used the term to describe hobbits – it’s used as a functional term to define any creature that is half one species and half another – it still sparked something in my mind.  Could this be the beginning of an entirely new type of classification for paranormal entities?  A hybrid of two schools of thinking, two schools seemingly in contradiction to one another: the school of paranormal activity, and the school of divinity.

What was Roland trying to tell me?  Has he found evidence of a hybrid creature?

Is it possible that Halflings are the union: the union between man and angel; humanity and the divine?  


This may seem farfetched, but it’s just a theory, a possible theory, and any theory in this line of work is worth investigating.

Are Heaven and Hell Real?

Humans have forever considered the possibility of heaven and hell.  Do they exist?  If so, are there beings from either place roaming the earth?  It’s an age old debate, yet one that I must admit that has captured my attention for the first time.  If they do exist, what is their purpose?  Are they here to protect?  Are we to believe the lore?  Or are there darker motivations at work, and are the depictions of “angels” as we know it simply fairy-tale fluff?


What do you think?

Are Angels and Demons Real?

I will now come out and say that this new “lead” may very well be the first step towards worthwhile evidence of a theory of THE DIVINE.  That’s right, an old skeptic like me just said it.  I leave you with this question:

Are angels and demons real?  I’ve been building up to this question in my head, and it’s now time that I, and by extension, you, explore it. 


Please post your answers in the comments section below.

What (or who) is in the Tunnels?

All right, let’s get down to brass tacks here – let’s rule out what this potential tunnel-dwelling entity is not:

1.      It’s not a cryptid.  Through my research, and a description from Roland, this entity takes the shape of a human being – or something resembling a human being.  Even if the entity is not human, and only taking the shape of a human (or hijacking the physical form of a human), it would still not be considered a cryptid, as a cryptid is the same in both substance and form.

2.      It may very well be an alien, I cannot rule that out; however the history of alien sightings and happenings suggests they originate far above the land, and not beneath it.

3.      This leaves it as a prime candidate for a “spirit.”

With these points in mind, specifically number three, I don’t think it’s as simple as all this…I think it’s much more complex than I, or anyone else, expected...

More is Uncovered...

I frequently receive tips and all sorts of far-fetched claims involving the paranormal, so I’m often suspicious of them and do not follow a lead unless I have done my due diligence and seriously believe there may be some tangible truth to a specific claim.  The potential activity in the tunnels underground sparked an interest in me, not only due Roland's claims, but also because of the tunnel’s proximity to the Omega Corporation, which is based just under 30 miles away on the outskirts of Harrison, Arkansas. 

As I mentioned earlier, the Omega Corporation had been consistently coming up in conversations I had while investigating Roland’s claim.  At first, I was bewildered by the connection, and by the potential ramifications of such a connection, but I now feel secure enough in my findings to begin probing this relationship further.

Omega Corporation is a major multibillion-dollar corporation that researches state-of-the-art technologies for numerous “undisclosed” clients, the kind of clients with bottomless checkbooks.  If you’re unfamiliar with Omega, just know that it’s their business to have their hands in everything that matters.  Divisions of Omega Corporation have been known to dabble in everything from testing electromagnetic pulse theories to MRI machines to titanium forging.  Their primary laboratory is in Harrison, which I recently discovered maintains an extensive medical facility. 

This is very troubling to me.

From my days as a consultant with The Defense Department, I recall that some “below-the-radar” medical testing consistently took place in underground channels, for both security and safety reasons.  I also recall that Omega Corporation was on the payroll as a government contractor for research and development in technologies at the time – mainly research into electromagnetic radiation and practical uses for it.  This is extremely interesting, and once again…troubling.

Descendants of Noah

I have investigated the validity of the “tip” I received earlier this month, and have determined that it is indeed sound.

A student of mine, Roland Billings, first mentioned the potential phenomenon to me earlier in the semester, and the only reason I inject a student’s opinion into my personal blogs is that this particular person is no longer a student of mine.  Roland mysteriously dropped my class after I pursued the subject of this phenomenon with him, and soon after his Spring Break.  This may or may not have anything to do with his decision to drop my class, but I mention it because it conforms to the timeframe.  Roland, a “goth,” not a typical “goth” but he did sometimes sport a black trench coat, attended a series of “underground parties” in the tunnels underneath the streets of Arkansas.  I’m assuming these were similar to those parties thrown in the catacombs that exist under the streets of Paris, teenagers often gather there to get away from their parents on the weekends (there are a plethora of ways into these tunnels, ways that law enforcement haven’t caught onto yet). 

There’s a long history, a lore if you will, surrounding tunnel systems such as these, such as the tunnels under Chinatown in Los Angeles, for instance, which were used to connect people to speakeasies during prohibition, and are now used for not much more than cool "hangout" spots for local high schoolers.  Some of these tunnels were abandoned attempts at sewage systems or subway rails; regardless, they exist and there are many.  And the system under our feet – excuse me, my feet (I sometimes forget the reach of the internet) -- is rumored to be home to an unidentified species of life forms, a subspecies that may in fact exhibit a type of paranormal phenomenon.

Many years ago, explorers were said to have stumbled upon a tunnel just north of Batesville, Arkansas, that was illuminated by a greenish phosphorescence and inhabited by a race of beings who stood 7 to 8 feet tall and had bluish skin.  The beings, or creatures, who appeared to have access to advanced technology, told the explorers they were the “direct descendants of Noah.”

http://paranormal.about.com/od/hollowearth/a/aa082905_2.htm

After I received this first tip from Roland, I began my investigation.  I’m unsure whether his tip has anything to do with the above-referenced claim of “blue men,” but I will certainly keep that morsel of information in the back of my head.  There will be more to come as I gather and organize my data.

Do Angels Exist?

I feel I must reiterate my “reverse-existentialist” theory, in which I assert that if it’s absurd to think that something exists outside of the human’s ability to comprehend such a thing existing, it’s equally absurd to think that it could NOT exist.

And this is where it gets important to pay attention –

This theory not only should be applied to pursuits in investigating the paranormal, but also in pursuits in investigating “the divine;” and furthermore, that these two seemingly disparate worlds may have more in common with each other than most people think.

Omega Corporation?

There have been whispers of the “Omega Corporation.”

Why is a multinational conglomerate being mentioned at all as I probe into this latest tip?  I fear saying too much about this too early; I don’t want to get ahead of myself as I’m still putting all this together.  Once I have more concrete info, I will go into it in much more detail.

Thanks for your patience…

A Paranormal Investigation of Infamy

My mother once told me as a child, “never trust a person with a mustache.”  Did that prevent me from growing a mustache in the 1970’s?  No, it did not.  The warning, although I believe it was sincere, lacked a firm grounding in reality. 

I once had a case that involved an elderly woman who swore her husband’s facial hair was a result of a pact with the devil.  While I initially accepted the retainer’s fee for my service to investigate the claim, I refunded half of the payment when I determined the claim to be less a result of evil, and more a result of this woman’s particular battle with dementia.  Needless to say, my opinion was her husband’s facial hair did not seem the least bit unnatural...

Science Is In The Paranormal Shivers

The increasingly sporadic weather has me once again thinking of climate change and how some people are so willing to ignore 95% of scientists.

I suppose if one is not a scientist, or one does not have acumen in the area, it’s difficult to accept the theories that one may not upon first impression understand intellectually.  But that’s no reason to doubt the curriculum vitae of scientists and disregard their years of thought and effort.  Not to mention everyday empirical evidence of the drastically warmer and colder days we’re experiencing, warmer and colder than those past days of the same dates.  Evidence that makes your body sweat more than it ever has, or shiver greater than it ever has, is simply hard to sidestep. 

This brings me to the “shivers” that are sometimes associated with firsthand experiences with the paranormal. 

People who encounter these experiences often report tangible feeling, like being brushed up against, or they report a physical reaction in their body to the experience, the reaction most universally being a “shiver,” or a slight trembling, or something reminiscent of the feeling of “hairs standing up on the back of the neck.”  If these reports are valid, although one may assume it’s the literal entity that is interacting with him physically, it may very well be a physical reaction to the temperature of the environment.  For example, some ghost hunters have been known to keep rooms that are supposedly “haunted” extra cold, as a way to facilitate the extraction of an entity.  On the flipside, it may indeed be the entity that is causing the temperature shift, and therefore causing a reaction in the individual.  If we do not immediately see the explanation, then we must consider alternate theories for the cause. 

Polaroid Cameras for Sale

Although this is my first attempt at internet blogging, I’m indeed hip to various other dimensions of the world wide web.  One particular dimension I’m extremely familiar with is “ebay.” 

Here are some links to some wonderful Polaroid cameras that are ideal for retrofitting as you begin your own attempts at capturing paranormal evidence:

• Polaroid One Step SX-70; Price: $39.95

• Vintage Polaroid SX70; Price: $9.00

• Polaroid OneStep Closeup Camera 600; Price: $19.99

And this is where you can buy the correct film, from The Impossible Project: http://the-impossible-project.com/


Happy hunting!

Capturing Paranormal Evidence.

While prepping the investigation of this latest tip, I feel this is an opportune time to expand upon my methods for collecting data.

I do not consider myself a luddite (I’m not one of those people who prefers the nostalgia of a record player over the user-friendliness and compactness of an MP3 player, not to mention the immense storage capacity on those things), but I cannot help but think there is an element to rapidly rising technology that is meant to keep the consumer intentionally in the dark.  Once the world transforms elements from the organic and into ones and zeroes, it’s infinitely harder for the average citizen to make sense of those elements. 

What the average person needs to capture paranormal evidence:

1.      Polaroid Camera.

2.      Flash, do not use an excessive amount of light, or light sources that utilize fire (such as a lantern or a match), as this might introduce a temperature shift into the environment that will disturb the entity and prevent it from being photographed properly. 

3.      Thermostat; to gauge temperature shifts and record measurements during moments of activity.

4.      Film retrofitted for Polaroid Cameras, available from “The Impossible Project.”

I attach a small digital video camera to my Polaroid, so that I can document my own movements and progression, and when I feel it’s the right moment to attempt to document a specific phenomenon, I snap an instant photograph while filming.  I liken this method to the game videos football coaches show their players before the next game, as a means through which they can view their mistakes and learn from them, and consequently invent new strategies as a result.  I use the videos I record in much the same way.  If I’ve gotten good results, I may continue the specific approach that I used; if my results are less-than-desirable, I will often shift tactics and brainstorm new approaches to documenting future entities.  I find these videos are very important with this respect, and not in the respect of compiling evidence. 

Tricks of the Paranormal Photography Trade (Part 1)

The following is an effort to parlay my own investigations into “spiritual” paranormal phenomenon into practical information on capturing “evidence” --

I was once an amateur photographer with a passion to go pro; but in fear of being pigeonholed into shooting weddings the rest of my life, I gave it up.  Well, sort of.  I decided to employ my knowledge of photography into my profession of studying the paranormal.  I found that the hobby was a perfect match to the profession (though some of you will probably argue as to which one’s the hobby and which one’s the profession – for me, there is no debate).

My preferred method of capturing paranormal evidence is to rig an HD video camera to my Polaroid camera.

Earlier in my life, I might have hesitated to reveal this information, as perhaps a Michelin Star chef might hesitate to reveal the secret ingredient to his most famous recipe.  But as I’ve gotten older, the urge to leave a part of my mind “behind,” as they say, has become an important stimulus to me.  And what better venue than the blogosphere to throw my proverbial “caution to the wind”?  


Furthermore, in revealing such information, I can’t help but acknowledge the possibility of conspiracy.  Perhaps the notion of conspiracy is more sincere of a motivation for my hesitation than anything else.  I can’t tell you how many of my connections to various organizations, like The Department of Defense, The Congressional Subcommittee on Paranormal Phenomenon, interagencies that examined UFO sightings within the Washington D.C.’s Federal Bureau of Investigation, have been erased from virtual existence.  It appears as though I never worked for them.  The government’s penchant for secrecy is overwhelming and far-reaching.  


I do not think it’s such a stretch to suggest the possibility of an insidious link between the collapse of the Polaroid Company, and other film manufacturers, and the rise of digital cameras, as a way for the government to protect the paranormal, to safeguard the mysteries that they’d like the masses to not pry into.  If paranormal phenomenon is only captured digitally, it’s easy to debunk: “Oh, it’s Photoshop;” “Oh, it’s a pixel;” “Oh, it’s digital noise, static, feedback, etc.”  However, with film, what’s on the negative is on the negative, it can’t be ignored or altered via a computer – it’s much harder to debunk.  It’s hard evidence.

Exposing and developing film is a chemical process – it is an organic process – just as the spiritual process of the paranormal is.

Photography: Film vs. Digital

When it comes to attempting to photograph a spirit, there is an inconsistency present in the frequencies of modern digital cameras, and a divide in exposure and materialization of the photo – the light, how it’s absorbed into the camera’s electronic sensor, and the subsequent digital translation of the visual information.  


Whereas film, specifically the nature of Polaroid instant film, is “instant” in the truest sense – the image is bounced from a mirror and exposed immediately on film.  And perhaps the most important element to this, which further distinguishes instant film from other types of traditional small, medium and large film formats, is that instant film develops in the exact same environment in which the ghost/paranormal subject inhabits, or just inhabited.  


You see, temperature is critical, as sometimes temperature is altered by the presence of a paranormal entity, thus the development of the picture in these same environmental conditions, the very conditions altered by the subject, is crucial to the process – and crucial to capturing an image of the entity...


For some interesting, but mostly fake, examples that exhibit the unique inconsistencies in modern digital photography, visit: http://ghostphotographs.blogspot.com/

True Blood, Shmoo Blood.

POSTSCRIPT to my last entry:

For the record, I believe vampires are the hackneyed imaginings of novelists and screenwriters.  Be that as it may, students (most of whom resemble vampires) still choose to attend my lectures.

I’m a novice in the area of biology; however, I find it inconceivable that an organic creature (alleged vampires may be inhabited by a mystical entity, but the bodies they inhabit are organic human remains) can accelerate the growth of its teeth at such a rate as to replicate the speed that’s portrayed in the mouths of “vamps” who release their fangs in movies and television.  Those vampires, Bill and Eric, in TRUE BLOOD have the fastest retractable fangs I’ve ever seen on screen, and furthermore, I cannot fathom why or how they can run so quickly – when they run like that they remind of me of Wile E. Coyote.  


I don’t know what Sookie Stackhouse sees in them.  The human tooth is made up of highly condensed tissues that surpass the durability of bone, which is why dental records are so often used to identify the dead.  Teeth last, much longer than bone.  Teeth are much harder than bone, and much less likely to be malleable, no matter how supernatural the force is that tries to manipulate their molecules.

I’m open to the idea of the existence of such a creature, perhaps one outside of what Hollywood’s depiction of it is – I just haven’t come cross any evidence of one yet...

For Vampires, Fashion is Undead Too.

I’m not sure whether the latest vampire craze has anything to do with my students’ interest in “ghosts.”  They certainly can’t get enough of stuff like the Twilight series, The Vampire Diaries,  and True Blood, I would argue that vampires fall into the category of “ghosts” as opposed to the category of “cryptids,” even though they are portrayed as being physically in our world, they are technically dead – the physical body is controlled by an ethereal force, a force outside, or beyond, our spiritual world.

This popular “gothic,” or simply “goth” as the kids like to call it, sensibility has driven up the numbers of students registering for my fall class.  Whatever it’s called, I’m a fan of this sensibility, as it’s currently keeping me employed at my university.  I have noticed that along with the rise of student numbers has come the rise of piercings, tattoos and black leather exhibited on their persons.  I have no opinion on their personal disfigurements or lapses in fashion sense, that is their business and their business alone.

The more extroverted kids have taken to actually wearing “fangs;” in fact, you can get your own pair of dental-fit fangs right here if you’re so inclined:

http://www.vampfangs.com/

As for me, my business is the business of ghosts, and other paranormal phenomenon, et al.

A Ghost, an Exorcism, and the spirit world. Are they real?

I’ve spent most of my career focusing on category 1, Spirits (AKA “ghosts”), notwithstanding various paid freelance jobs with a government I cannot identify, per the guidelines of my contracts, on which I focused on category 2 (extraterrestrial life).

In my experience, the idea of the existence of ghosts seems to be the most publicly acceptable.  This may seem contrary to logic, as this category of the paranormal specifically deals with entities from another existence, another dimension if you will; whereas “alien life forms” and “cryptids” are purported to exist within our own realm, be it on another planet or not.  This may stem from the idea of the “soul” and a person’s intrinsic desire to be in touch with spirits (whether the spirits of those friends and family members who’ve passed on, or the spirits of strangers) outside of our own.  Demonic possession is a “happening” that has been, and continues to be, accepted by those inside and out of various religious communities.  Exorcisms continue to be practiced, just as they once had been when they were first practiced by the Jesuits at the College of The Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.  To this day, this small liberal arts college is rumored to keep a light on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in an upper floor room in their main academic building that was used to conduct exorcisms in the late 19^th Century.  This does pique the students’ interest there, as it remains unexplained as to why the light remains on, and it does seem like a ridiculous waste of electricity.

Although my students, and others their age, may find it boring by today’s standards, I still maintain that THE EXORCIST is the scariest movie ever made; and judging by the unending explorations of this “dark art” by Hollywood, it’s still relevant.

This widespread embrace of the spiritual world may be a result of another intrinsic desire to not only comprehend what happens to “us” after we die, but to determine whether or not there is life, or a form of life, after death...

A Recent Development...

I have begun uploading video comparisons to these blog posts. If you would like to watch them, I am told you can do so by visiting YouTube or clicking this link: http://www.youtube.com/user/ProfessorLamott?feature=mhee

Mothman, El Chupacabra, The Jersey Devil (Cryptids Pt. 2)

Regardless of the sarcasm in my previous blog, it is the lesser-known cryptids that I am most fascinated by.  Perhaps it’s an appeal similar to the appeal wine enthusiasts have for lesser-known, smaller vineyards – maybe it’s the fact that the lesser-known resources are shared by fewer people, and therefore less diluted.  That somehow the smaller the mystery, the bigger it is, and the more authentic it is.

Some of the lesser known cryptids include the Mothman, the Chupacabra, the Yeti (more widely known as “The Abominable Snowman”), the Jersey Devil, and another creature that I have recently become aware of potentially existing –

It’s this last creature that fascinates me the most, specifically its speculated connection to the spiritual world.  More on that later...

The Yeti, Loch Ness, and Bigfoot... (Cryptids Pt. 1)

Cryptids.

Despite the macabre nature of its name, this classification involves creatures that are believed to be alive, but are presently unconfirmed by science.  The ubiquitous example is, of course, the Loch Ness Monster.  Even though it supposedly does not exist, there is a picture of it –

You’ve probably all seen this picture before, but I guarantee it has probably done more for tourism in the Scottish Highlands than it has done to advance the studies of Cryptozoology.  It is probably more realistic to assume that if such a creature exists, it is most likely an example of a relic left over from a long-lost generation of plesiosaurs. 

There are literally hundreds of “cryptids” thought to be in existence at this present moment, though evidence of such a claim is scarce.  Some of the more famous ones include: Bigfoot, Werewolves, and Trolls.

Here’s a rather amusing montage of “cryptids” on youtube that’s certainly a farce, but it has over 7 million views…so what do I know?

Aliens and Divine Cults

In more recent years, there has been a push to connect UFO sightings to the spiritual world.

In believing that alien life forms have the ability to see beyond the scope of what’s possible for a human being, some secular and religious groups believe that if contacted they can be a conduit to a spiritual world, a divine world, that’s beyond our current ability to reach.  

In other words, some believe they are, or possibly are, our connection to God.  The possibility of such a connection though fascinating, and hopeful for some, can also be quite dangerous; as evidenced by the members of the Heaven’s Gate religious group who committed mass suicide in the late 90’s in order to board an alien spacecraft that they believed was following an eternal comet.

Although the comet was at its brightest, the promise of reaching a space ship in this manner is to me, at best, a reach.

About Aliens... Part 2

In the 1950’s, excitement over UFO sightings was at a fever-pitch.  This was reflected in the newspapers and, more dramatically, in the science fiction movies of the era.  There was even a title for those who were enthusiastic for the rage:

“UFOlogists.”

In 1952, various fast-moving objects appeared on radarscopes at three separate installations in Washington DC, including the Capital building and Andrews Air Force Base. Fighter Jets were launched, but did not come across anything.

The same thing apparently occurred again the next night, however this time the objects were confirmed by witnesses on the ground.  The largest press conference in the government's history regarding unidentified phenomenon was called by Major General Roger M. Ramey, USAF operations chief, and Major General John A. Samford, USAF director of intelligence, to explain to reporters that radar traces were caused by thermal inversions, despite the absence of proper weather conditions on the nights in question for this phenomenon to have been the cause of the incidents.

Here is a clip of the press conference addressing the 1952 Washington D.C. UFO Incident:

I cannot confirm the veracity of these sightings; I can only confirm the government’s “sweeping-under-the-rug” of them.

About Aliens...

Extraterrestrial Life, aka "aliens" (including UFOs):

Many believe that this category of unexplained phenomenon is not technically “paranormal.”  To these ghost snobs, I disagree, for as we just learned, the definition of the word “Paranormal” is that which is not scientifically explainable.

It also helps to embrace a firm distrust of the government and what the government allows the general public to be aware of.  An unidentified flying object may very well be an alien, or it may very well be an F-15 fighter jet, or it may also be an otherworldly spirit: as long as we’re kept in the dark, all three options are equally likely.

They are all scientifically unexplainable, as long as the scientists are not allowed to explain them.  And, I must admit, the mystery surrounding such incidents and claims of UFOs, and the reticence of the government to elaborate on such incidents and claims, does make you wonder…what are aliens and UFOs?

Viva Don Quijote!

In response to a number of your confused messages regarding my last blog entry, I must clarify that my reference to Don Quixote as being in the running for “most logical character in literary history” was my attempt at a joke.  Don Quixote was anything but logical.  He challenged windmills to duels.

I was also attempting some irony, something that’s lost on a lot of my students, at least with respect to my personal use of it, as many in the field of science (and those outside of the field) consider my forays into paranormal studies, essentially, a quixotic enterprise.  Many believe attempting to procure evidence of the paranormal is about as constructive as tilting at windmills. 

To all those challenging my enterprise, I challenge them to a duel.  After I’m finished slaying these particular windmills.

Viva Don Quijote!!

Correction...

CORRECTION: 

Sherlock Holmes may not be the most logical character in literary history; that is simply my opinion.  Though I think that Don Quixote may be a close second...

What Are Ghosts? Part 2

In general, evidence of ghosts has been inconclusive. 

There has been a long history of attempts at photographing this type of paranormal phenomenon, and the success of these attempts differs by whom you talk to about it.  The photograph is by nature subjective – it is not reality, but rather a form of art.  The moment a lens is pointed at something, a subjective choice has been made, and when the shutter is depressed, that choice is cemented.

Apparitions caught on film date back to the invention of the camera.  Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the most logical character in the history of literature, Sherlock Holmes, believed in the infamous fake photos dubbed “The Cottingley Fairies” that came to light in 1917 and caused a fervor. 

What is so obviously detected as fraud in the present was believed as magical when eyes first viewed them in the early 1900’s.  Doyle embraced this photograph as definitive proof of the spiritual world.

It’s my opinion that the brain, even those brains existing in humans of high intellect, when presented with visual information it has never seen before it may not immediately know how to comprehend it, and therefore grossly misjudge it.  As viewers, we’ve become more savvy to trickery, as we are aware of what a program like Photoshop can conjure without any paranormal assistance.  It’s getting harder to fool us.  But the technology grows, as evidenced by the gadgets of increasing complexity used by “ghost hunters” on various cable network television shows.

For examples of these shows, follow these links:

http://www.syfy.com/ghosthunters/

http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/ghost-adventures

And for all you ghost-hunting aficionados who can’t get enough of these shows, you can get more information on this site that “strives to bring you the most up to date paranormal television shows from around the world”:

http://www.extremeghosthunters.com/

The more savvy we get, the more complex the techniques of presenting paranormal evidence become.  This is either an attempt to fool us once again, as Arthur Conan Doyle was once fooled, or a sincere attempt at detection.  I cannot be clear as to which motivation is more widely held.

However, I can tell you of my personal photography experience and opinions dealing with the nuances of camera work. This will appear in a later blog post I will title Photography: Film vs. Digital 

What Are Ghosts?

Okay, now I’m guilty of invoking some sensationalism by leading with the word “ghost” instead of “spirit,” but in my years of teaching high school and college, sometimes a dramatic turn of phrase or a good old slamming down of a textbook on the desk to begin a lecture is the only thing to keep a listener awake.

In simplistic terms, a “ghost” is the tangible manifestation of a dead person.

Some scholars contend this manifestation to be the “soul” or literal “spirit” of the deceased; others consider it to be a part of the person that has yet to “cross over” into the realm of death.  Either way, both camps will agree that a “ghost” is considered a part of the deceased that is detected in the world of the living.  The very nature of the idea also conjures up notions of the divine: the two sides of that coin being, the angelic side, and the demonic side.  If such a connection exists between ghosts and an omnipotent force that is indeed beyond this world, “Angels” and “Demons” would most certainly be classified as ethereal “spirits.”

I’m not a religious man, not in any traditional sense, but I do believe in the unknown – in the existence of “things” that may be beyond our normal human understanding.  Therefore, I cannot discount the mystical or “divine” implications in such a belief system.  If I am to subscribe into the existence of spirits or ghosts, I must subscribe into the existence of “Angels” as well. 

I will delve deeper into this in later posts...

Defining "Paranormal"

The term “paranormal” as defined by Merriam Webster’s dictionary reads:

 adj \ˌpa-rə-ˈnor-məl, ˈpa-rə-ˌ\ : not scientifically explainable

This is an extremely broad, yet succinct, definition.  And this definition in the reason I’m baffled that synonyms like “supernatural,” “spectral,” “mystical,” and “occult” are commonly used in its place.  This is utter nonsense and most likely the act of the speaker to invoke a kind of sensationalism into his parlance.

Paranormal phenomenon is simply something that cannot immediately be explained through science.  This does not mean that it will not EVENTUALLY be explained through science.  According to this definition, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum might use the term “paranormal” with respect to climate change, since there is apparently a popular disagreement on what seems to me, anyway, like solid scientific fact.  But science is constantly being debated…as is the paranormal.

This is an interesting site to explore, as I’ve done some consulting for the organization in years past:

http://paranormalresearchsociety.org/

What are Aliens, Ghosts, and The Loch Ness Monster?

As best I can disseminate in the blog format (thank goodness I’m not twittering these thoughts, as I’ve been told you’re only allowed 140 characters), I will elaborate on the established classifications of paranormal phenomena. 

These classifications can be divided into three categories:

• Spirits (AKA “ghosts”)
• Extraterrestrial Life (including UFO’s)
• Cryptids (mainly creatures, like the Loch Ness Monster for example)

I’ve received feedback about being too wordy and using too big of a vocabulary.  Normally, as in the cases of my class lectures and with my students, I would respond with a chastisement: I shouldn’t dumb down my content for the fast-food consumption of my audience; but in this case, and for the purpose of disseminating as much information as possible, I will try to comply with the criticism...

In an effort to adhere to the “times,” and the attention spans of readers of the same age or below as my students, my following blogs will be brief.

Thank You!

On a personal, and I suppose somewhat professional, note, I wanted to reflect for a moment on all the initial feedback I’ve received in response to my foray into internet blogging.  I’m happy to say it’s primarily been positive, and a welcome respite from the often aggressive and incredulous environment of college academia, and the even more cutthroat world of civil service, in which the insidiousness of politics never ceases to rear its ugly head.

My mission remains steadfast: to relay data on this subject of Anthropological Phenomenology, the majority of which I’ve gleaned from years of hard work investigating and gathering compelling evidence.

Thank you all for your support.  There will be more to come.

Supernatural Skepticism

The scales are tipped in the favor of skeptics, simply because it is a lot easier to accept the unexplainable as a fraud or fake, rather than expending the effort to prove the veracity of a particular event, object or entity.  With the aid of archetypes, like those hypothesized by Carl Jung (see Wikipedia article), people are more apt to explain the causes of potential phenomena by chalking such results up to the images or concepts that already reside in their minds, as though the seeds have already been planted in their brains and the ensuing confirmation in reality is therefore deemed less-than-reliable.  It’s like the housewife who finds an image of the Virgin Mary burnt into her toast; it’s much less a sign, than it is an example of wish fulfillment of this particular person’s need to validate her faith.  I doubt, if she was say, Muslim, or Hindu, that she would see that same image in that same piece of burnt toast.  This is an extreme example, but nonetheless an example that skeptics of the “unknown” use often. 

The mind attempts to settle the unexplainable before it has a chance to use its mechanisms of logic to deduce a definitive root cause.

However, efforts to prove the unexplainable as fraudulent should be met equally with efforts to prove the veracity of the unexplainable.  Pursuits of either result should be equally weighed.  What is outside the realm of human comprehension is something that one cannot dismiss as not existing. This is basically a more complex version of that age-old question: “If a tree falls in the woods, and you are not present to see or hear it, does it make a sound?”  If you fall into the camp that believes this means the tree doesn’t make a sound, then you are most likely a skeptic, and perhaps also an individual who is likely to disregard claims of the existence of the supernatural or paranormal.  If you fall into the camp that believes the tree has most likely made a sound, even though you were not witness to the event, well, you are most likely a person who subscribes to logic, to deductive reasoning, and someone who is more likely to investigate claims of the supernatural and allow your mind to be open to the possibility of “something else” – something that exists beyond the scope of our comprehension, something that we are not readily aware of, or might never understand in our lifetimes, but it’s something for which you cannot deny the possibility of existing.