“The Other Side” – Paranormal

In the world of internet videos, to “go viral” means the clip has gained huge popularity in a short amount of time. Popularity is gauged through counting the number of views of a video on sites like YouTube and Break. Talking dogs, kids reenacting Star Wars light saber fights, and dancing babies, have all proved to be successful internet videos that have gone viral.

Over the last couple months a video by 14-year-old Rebecca Black has sparked interest and controversy. Her song “Friday” has taken YouTube by storm. The repetitive, grating lyrics and off the wall video have entertained some and infuriated many.  So much attention has been paid to Ms. Black, that another more important video has been flying under the radar. With much discretion, new video evidence from the 1947 Roswell, New Mexico, UFO crash has hit the world wide web (Watch the video below).

It may be hard to believe, but the latest alien video has nothing to do with the Katy Perry single “E. T.”  The grainy footage posted on YouTube shows a thin alien supposedly being interrogated by the United States government after it’s space craft crashed in New Mexico more than 50 years ago. The alien’s appearance fits the stereotypical image of what a creature from outer space would look like. Gray skin, large black eyes and a head about the size of Cheer’s star Ted Danson’s melon. The clip that runs almost a minute and a half has been tweeted about and even was a central topic on a webisode of MSNBC.com’s “Zeitgeist.” It has also sparked a debate over the authenticity of the video.

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The journalists at The Weekly World News took it upon themselves to hire an expert to dissect the video. WWN looked to a member of the U. N. Panel on Extraterrestrials, Dr. John Malley for further insight. Dr. Mally believes the video is “real and 100% authentic.”

UFO investigator for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense, Nick Pope, does not fall in line with Dr. Mally’s judgement.  Pope does compliment the clip as one of the better fakes he has seen but also adds it will not change anyone’s mind.  Pope goes on in his statement to WWN by saying “believers will go on believing and skeptics will go on thinking its a load of nonsense.”

We live in a time where an internet video can transform a regular person into an international superstar.  Justin Bieber, I am looking at you.  The mysteries surrounding the UFO crash has been discussed for decades and no definitive answers have ever come to light. Now in this age of internet videos, we may finally get a few answers as to what happened that night in New Mexico. That is my hope, but until then I will get back to enjoying this YouTube clip of kittens wearing mittens.

Don’t judge.

— Jordan O’Donnell

Jordan O'Donnell

Life needs a narrator.  That was the only thought flowing through my mind on a Friday night when I found myself standing in a Civil War era cemetery.  The situation would make much more sense if only I could hear Vincent Price’s voice chime in to describe my surroundings.

Unfortunately this is real life and not the music video for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”  Without Mr. Price to call on for a dramatic narrative, I was left to fend for myself.  The Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tour in Hannibal, Mo., had lead me to my first paranormal investigation and the sight of a cemetery already had my skin crawling.

The Haunted Tour visits some of Hannibal’s most spooky landmarks. Along the way, passengers are treated to stories and intriguing historical facts about the locations around the town. The tour is capped off when the shuttle reaches The Old Baptist Cemetery. Here the passengers are invited to their own paranormal investigations with the help of dowsing rods.

Though originally used to find groundwater and buried minerals, ghost hunters have found dowsing rods to be effective tools in locating the presence of paranormal energy sources. The user holds  the two “L” shaped brass rods loosely in hand and follows the direction in which they point. Once the two rods cross and make an “X” the source of the paranormal energy has been located.

With dowsing rods in hand, myself and the rest of the small group on the tour began to roam around The Old Baptist Cemetery.  By the time we reached the investigation site, the sun had gone down.  Even if someone is a non-believer in ghosts, I would imagine it hard to move around a dark graveyard and not feel a heightened level of anxiety.

Tour guide Lisa Marks showed us one of the unique things in The Old Baptist Cemetery. A marked grave site of a slave stands near the edge of the grounds, which is quite rare and Marks makes a point to highlight it on every tour. As Marks is telling the story of the slave, she extends out her hand behind the grave stone.  She explains she is feeling what ghost hunters call a “cold spot.” These “cold spots” can be a sign that a ghost may be present. Sure enough when feeling the air near where Marks hand was out stretched, it felt much colder than the surrounding areas. I couldn’t tell if it was the shot of icy air or the thought a ghost might be present, but the hairs on my arms were standing straight up.

When I was able to shake off my chill, I got back to experimenting with my dowsing rods. As I walked towards the middle of the cemetery, I noticed the ends of my rods had flipped and were pointing behind me.  I turned my body till the rods straightened out and began to move in the direction they were guiding me.  I was almost back to the area of the marked slave grave when my rods crossed to form an “X.”  My arm began twitching a bit. Something was trying to get my attention.

I looked around the location that I was summoned to for clues, but the spot I was standing in had no marker or evidence it was a grave of any kind. Marks then informed me that there are people buried in the cemetery who’s markers have either fallen down or never had a marker at all.

Across the cemetery a woman had been lead by her dowsing rods to a grave that had the same birthday on it as her son. I made my way over to join the rest of the group. I noticed once I had left my spot, the dowsing rods had flipped back around. Whatever was calling me to the unmarked spot didn’t want me to leave.

I pointed this out to Lisa Marks who told me the dowsing rods can also be used to ask questions to the spirits. By asking a question then saying to cross the rods for yes, spread them apart for no, the living can open a channel of communication with a ghost.

I was filled with hesitation to try and speak with my ghost. The words kept getting caught in my throat. Finally I was able to spit out, “Would you like me to come back, cross the rods for yes.”  The moment I finished my inquiry my dowsing rods quickly crossed into the now familiar “X.”  I glanced back to the spot. Part of me wanted to go back, while the other just wanted to get back on the shuttle and go home.

I decided I would oblige my ghost and return to the spot it had called me to earlier. Once back my dowsing rods again formed an “X” letting me know I had reached my destination. I didn’t try to communicate with the ghost this time, I just stood quietly. The air around me felt heavy. The feelings of fear and anxiety were gone.  In the short time period, I felt a strange closeness to the spirit. So many questions were on my mind. Who was this spirit? Why didn’t it have a grave marker?  And out of all things, why did this spirit chose to reach out to me?

I looked back towards the shuttle and the rest of the tour had started to gather. Time had gone by so fast and it was time to go. When we arrived at the cemetery, I didn’t even want to get out of the shuttle, now I really didn’t want to leave. I felt like I was letting the spirit down. In a strange way, I felt like I had made a new friend. Some people make new friends at parties or bars, apparently I make them in cemeteries with people I can’t see. Go figure.

My experience on the Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tour gave me much more than I had expected. In addition to the fascinating stories, the tour gave me the opportunity to make a connection I never thought I would have. Though my wish remains not granted that my life be narrated by Vincent Price, I can say however I am proud to know I have a spirit friend out at The Old Baptist Cemetery.

*For more information on the Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tour, visit www.hauntedhannibal.com or call (314) 494-2918.

Jordan O’Donnell

Over the past few years vampires and werewolves have risen to prominence in popular culture. The “Twilight” series alone has drawn interest to these creatures.

Recently, zombies have started to catch up in popularity by an abundance of new novels, films and video games.

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Zombies have starred in famous horror films. Features like “Night of the Living Dead” and “Dawn of the Dead” have managed to generate large cult followings. Audiences have enjoyed zombies for the level of fear they arise, but still take comfort that the the dead rising from the grave is a concept that sounds completely based in fantasy.

According to PLoS 0 Journal and onecare2.com scientists have discovered a species of fungus in Brazil that contains spores that are turning carpenter ants into real life zombies.

Soon after the ants are exposed to the fungi they lose all mind control. Some wander off on their own and display bizarre behavior and they run around with the fungus living in and on their bodies.

Eventually the ants will find a spot either on a leaf or to the side of a tree and die. After their demise the fungus spores are released from their bodies, further infecting other carpenter ants. (Source: The Guardian)

“Science Today” points out that there are four different types of fungus that have zombie mind-effecting chemicals. Human beings have been known to eat mushrooms that do. In China, some people have been using these fungi for many years thinking they have power to cure diseases.

While the zombie plague sweeps through the ant population, there are many humans going through life with no knowledge of the occurrence. If a fungus can rise so easily and transform simple carpenter ants into zombies, whose to say the human race are not close to meeting a force with similar capabilities. Who knows how it will come about or when it would happen. Perhaps, a zombie outbreak amongst humans shouldn’t be considered something that only happens in fantasies.

— Jordan O’Donnell

Robert.

When my mother was a little girl, one of her biggest fears was a doll.

It was not just any doll, but one of Emmitt the Clown. Those unfamiliar with Emmitt, he is a clown that looks unshaved, a bit dirty, clutches a knapsack and always frowns.  My mother was so horrified, she would try and stuff it deep into a hallway closet with the hopes my grandmother would never find it.  Sure enough my grandmother would find it and the doll would make its way back to its throne on the mantle. My mother attempted many times to rid herself of this menace, but Emmitt would always return still frowning. My mother was certain this doll was evil.

As it turns out Emmitt the Clown was not the first sinister doll to cause torment. Recently, I was listening to an old episode of the radio show “Coast to Coast” with George Noory.  He was interviewing a paranormal investigator named Joshua P. Warren and their discussion centered around one of Warren’s recent investigations that found him in Key West, Florida.  He was there visiting the Fort East Martello Museum, which is home to Robert the Haunted Doll.

As the story was told on air Robert originally belonged to Eugene Otto. The doll was given to him by one of his family’s servants. Though the doll was given in the form of a gift, it came harboring evil. This particular servant had become angry with the family and to make matters worse, she was skilled in the art of voodoo.

Eugene loved his new toy and would carry on long conversations with it. His parents would listen in and initially thought it was a young boy playing. When the extended talks between Eugene and Robert escalated to sometimes angry shouting, the parents began to have their concerns. These occurrences were only the beginning of the troubles with little Robert.

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The Otto’s would often wake up in the morning or return from being out, to find their home in complete disarray.

Hauntedamericatours.com elaborates on these situations.  The site explains The Ottos would find chairs overturned, torn clothes, silverware thrown, and frequently unused rooms looking as if a tornado had come through.  Initially The Ottos placed the blame on their son to which Eugene replied the now famous Key West phrase, “Robert Did It!”

New Owners eventually took over the house to find Robert waiting in the attic.  Hauntedamericatours.com once again elaborates by pointing out that the family didn’t last in the home long due to finding Robert in various rooms as if he had moved on his own.  Even in one situation, the site reports that a family member saw Robert at the foot of a bed clutching a knife and giggling. After hearing that story, it should come as no surprise that Robert is the inspiration for the popular horror movies “Child’s Play.”

On the “Coast to Coast” Show Joshua P. Warren discussed the current state of the curse surrounding Robert.  Visitors who wish to take a picture with the haunted doll must politely ask him first.  He will give his nod of approval by titling his head to one side or the other.  If the visitor dares to snap a picture without asking Robert bad things could be coming their way.  The worst is that the “rude” visitor is cursed with bad luck. Hauntedamericatours.com points to the story of a woman from Orlando who claims the doll followed her home in spirit.  She would see Robert’s silhouette creeping around the walls and even the doll’s face in a window.

The other negative that can occur if you chose to not have a proper meeting with Robert is the film will be blank or exposed, even on digital cameras. On Robert’s own website robertthedoll.org, a story is cited covering a visit from the Travel Channel.  The team attempted to video Robert with top of the line HD cameras. When they would try to review their results the screen was blank. Several explanations were made and the crew worked to fix the problems with the camera.  Despite their efforts, still the footage remained blank. Finally they asked Robert if it would be alright to film him, they began to shoot again and upon viewing the results the footage came out clear.

You can still visit Robert today. He currently makes his home at the Fort Martello Museum in Key West Florida. If seeing Robert in person may be to much, go to his website robertthedoll.org.

Jordan O’Donnell