Sue St.Clair and Matthew Didier's Paranormal Blog

From correspondents in London - Breaking News!

Article from: Reuters

A BRITISH computer expert has lost his appeal against extradition to the US where he is accused of "the biggest military hack of all time" and could face up to 70 years in prison.

Gary McKinnon was arrested in 2002 after US prosecutors charged him with illegally accessing computers, including the Pentagon, US army, navy and NASA systems, and causing $US700,000 ($741,240) worth of damage.

In 2006, Mr McKinnon said he was just a computer nerd who wanted to find out whether aliens really existed and became obsessed with trawling large military networks for proof.

However, Britain's highest court, the House of Lords, ruled that the gravity of the charges should not be understated and they would carry a maximum life sentence under English law. It turned down his appeal against extradition.

Mr McKinnon's lawyers had argued that sending him to the US would breach his human rights, be an abuse of the English court process and should be barred as his extradition was sought "for the purpose of prosecuting him on account of his nationality or political opinions".

A district court ruled in May 2006 that he should be extradited, a decision upheld at London's High Court in April 2007. But in October three of Britain's top judges gave McKinnon permission to take his case to the House of Lords.

If found guilty in the US, Mr McKinnon could face up to 70 years in prison and fines of up to $US1.75 million.

Using his own computer at home in London, Mr McKinnon hacked into 97 computers belonging to and used by the US Government between February 2001 and March 2002.

Mr McKinnon is accused of causing the entire US Army's Military District of Washington network of more than 2000 computers to be shut down for 24 hours.

Using a limited 56K dial-up modem and the hacking name "Solo" he found many US security systems used an insecure Microsoft Windows program with no password protection.

He then bought off-the-shelf software and scanned military networks, saying he found expert testimonies from senior figures reporting that technology obtained from extra-terrestrials did exist.

At the time of his indictment, Paul McNulty, US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said: "Mr McKinnon is charged with the biggest military computer hack of all time".

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24104448-23109,00.html

To be honest I am not surprised, by the ruling, but I would be lying if I said that I was not concerned for the safety of Mr McKinnon. Just the thought of a 70 year sentence when rapists, and murders are lucky to see half that time at the worst is just ridiculous in my opinion. Rant off.

What are your thoughts on this?

Telling tales of ghosts, and hauntings around the camp-fire. Sauble Beach 2008.

Happy Wordless Wednesday! Thank you for stopping by! Please note that this entry is for both the Tuesday, and Wednesday editions of WW.

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.

........the question of where do ghosts most likely haunt is being discussed on our paranormal message boards. Some people would just love for it to be cemeteries, abandoned buildings, morgues etc...the standard fictional Hollywood movie....and it is not.

If we go with the concept that ghosts are the spirit of the dead would it not be more likely they hang about places where they lived, worked, and played? Statistics that we have gathered do bear that out. And in keeping with that train of thought what if they can choose where they haunt? If I were a dirty-minded old man in life for instance I think I'd much rather be haunting a Shirley of Hollywood then some creaky, rat infested building...

If you were a ghost where would you choose to haunt?

Another "paranormal" photo from Coast To Coast click on the link to view it.

Think about the lines with this...

Quote:

I am house-hunting and my son, daughter-in-law, and grandson went to look at this one with me. When I got home, I found this picture of a face looking out. None of the other pictures showed anything unusual. The position is all wrong to be a reflection, even if it did resemble any of us. Yet if it were inside the house, it would have to be close to the window to be that clear, and in that case, it would be much bigger than it is. The big question is, do I buy the house??

Oddly enough, the line "The big question is, do I buy the house??" makes me go Hmmm...

If you have to ask this, the answer is probably "No"... but then again.

It's an interesting photo... but MAN that would be one small head/face IRL... which leads me to wonder about it's origin...

What's inside the house there? A statue? A painting? A photo? Anything that may have caused the face?

Sadly, that question is unanswered on the page with the photo.

Still, interesting, eh?

And speaking of holidays when most of us think of Orlando vacations we think of that Magic Kingdom called Disney....BUT....did you know that there is a whole darker side to Orlando both historically, and in present times? Friends of us just got back from a trip out that way, and were pleasantly surprised to find some really great ghost tours! Check it out, and perhaps if you are planning a trip to the area you may want to partake in one of these supernatural adventures.

If I had the money I would go.....read on....

We are very pleased to inform you that we are organizing an expedition into the world’s only Yeti Sanctuary. This area has the maximum sightings of the Yeti, or Migoi as it is locally known. The Sakten Wildlife Sanctuary has been set aside for many rare and endangered species. It is the habitat of animals such as the Blue Bear, Clouded Leopard, Snow Leopard, etc. Due to its remote location little in known of this area.

Some years ago an expedition from the UK found hairs that belong to no known species. (please see links to article below). The monastery aSakten is reputed to have the skull of a Yeti among its treasures, although this remains unconfirmed due to religious reasons.

It is our intention to visit this sanctuary and conduct an expedition in search of this and other rare species. Please visit us at http://www.dragonquestadventure.com/adventure-tours for further details on the expedition. The dates for the expedition are set for October 31 and will last for three weeks.

We would be most grateful if you could inform your members of this event on your website. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me Penjo Dorji Event Coordinator

Some links:

http://www.bfro.net/GDB/show_article.asp?id=248

http://home.clara.net/rfthomas/bf_video.html

http://www.bhutantimes.bt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=640&Itemid=1

UFO Details Report:

I saw a UFO many years ago in the summer time one day.I was in the house and my mother came up and got me ,she was frantic? and wanted me to see it with my own eyes. What I and a few other people saw was a Diamond shaped craft in the afternoon sky.The only reason any of us saw it was the sun was setting and it was like a big mirror reflecting the sun back at us on the dark side of the house. I did see someone with a video camera but never knew if they got anything of the craft.When I saw it I decided to go and get my camera for a photo of my own but as soon as I got down my mother told me it took off straight up at a very fast speed.I think about 20 or more people saw this in the evening sky and some may have gotten a photo of it but I do not know,I wish I would have been able to get a photo because it was supper quiet with no sound and was hanging in mid air over what was a chemical storage warehouse scanning with a blue beam what was in the warehouse .As far as I know they had contaminated soil in the warehouse at the time that was located next to a grave yard on top of a hill going out of town. This by the way took place back in 1996 and the only reason I remember it is I kept all of it in my log book I used for CB'ing.

We are looking for other possible witnesses to this event. If you may have seen something similar please contact us. Your privacy will be protected, and confidentiality is assured.

Our thanks to the witness for sending us this report.

Each Friday we will have a look at the stories and experiences that have been related to us over the years that are amongst our personal favourites. These will include Crypto, Ghosts, Hauntings, UFO's, and other strange events that may be considered Fortean, from in around the Toronto, Canada area .... and since they are from our own personal files will likely not be found elsewhere on the web .... enjoy!

"I was only about 14 years old at the time. We lived in a small house in Hamilton, Ont., and because there was not much room, my parents gave me the use of a tiny room in the basement as my personal "play room". (That is, my own space with a desk where I could read, do my drawings, art projects, etc.).

I liked the room, and spent many happy hours there. But there was something about the basement that made me feel very uneasy. I always felt like there was "something" in that basement with me- although never in my play room. It was odd because the basement was so small, you could see the entire thing from my playroom.

One day, as I was sitting at my desk, (with that uneasy feeling again), I glanced up and saw a dark form lope past the doorway. It was the form of a large, black dog. There was blood all over it. For just an instant, I had the impression it was in great pain and despair. I got up and walked out into the basement and stared at where I'd seen it go, and although it had vanished, I had the strong feeling there was a dog buried there, under the concrete floor. I couldn't explain that feeling, I just knew that there was.

I told my parents, and they just shrugged it off. I didn't think much about it after that. Then, about a week later, on a nice summer night, my parents decided to go out for a walk around the block to enjoy the evening. I was home alone, except for our chihuahua. My parents (who were very safety-conscious), locked the door when they left, and I went upstairs to wash my hair.

I had just got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my head, when I noticed our dog standing at the top of the stairs, ears perked up, staring down and growling. My first concern was that maybe someone had broken in, and I went to stand beside him at the top of the stairs to listen.

The basement door was right at the bottom of the stairs, and there was a hook latch on it. Suddenly "something" hit that door (from the basement side), and the latch rattled. Our dog was growling seriously, his hackles up and staring straight down at it. Then I heard it again, and this time could hear "claws" sliding down it, as if a large dog was jumping against that door, trying to get out.

This sound continued, several times, with the initial "thump" and then "scratching", and the door banging against the latch. I was terrified! There was no other way out of the house but to go down those stairs past that basement door, so I grabbed up our chihuahua in my arms and cautiously made my way down. As I got to the bottom, something hit the door again, and I saw it jar against the latch! Our dog was snarling in my arms.

With that, I flew out the front door and sat on the front steps with our dog waiting for my parents to get home. They were furious to find me outside. I told them what happened and they were skeptical, but my dad went to the basement door to check it out. When he opened it, we found long scratches in the soft wood of the door, just like those a big dog would make with it's claws if it was jumping against it. My dad was shocked, but couldn't explain it. He checked the basement, and all the windows, but it was all secure. Nothing/no one could have gotten in.

I never went down there, again. It had been a terrifying experience- one I knew I hadn't imagined, because my dog had sensed it too. After some thought, I realized there had been no reason to be afraid. To this day, I believe that someone had abused this dog and kept it locked in that basement; that ultimately, they had beaten it to death and buried it there. This dog had only wanted to be free of it's prison. Maybe it was asking for my help.

One day (when no one was home), I cautiously opened the basement door. I whispered, "It's ok, come on out, go on to where you belong."

I don't know if that worked or not, but nothing like that ever happened again, and I never felt that "presence" again."

Our thanks to the witness for sharing this experience with us, and for allowing us to share it with you.

Do you have a real life ghost story, an encounter with a UFO, or other paranormal experience/s you'd like to share? If so, we'd love to hear from you! Post your own experiences in our comments section or send us an email. Please post only true life experiences ... we love good fiction, but there are other fantastic blogs out there to post fictional accounts to.

Image Credit: BBC

Our witness writes:

Was up at my cabin near Britt Ontario located on Georgian Bay with my brother in law on Saturday July 19. Around 10.15 PM my brother in law asked me if the bright light in the sky was a star. The very bright object was moving west to east at a very high speed. We watched it for about 30 seconds. I got my binoculars from the cottage and started to watch it again. The bright object stopped then moved in radical up down and sideways directions. Both of us (me with binoculars and my brother in law with the naked eye could see the radical directions it was making.

It stayed in our vision for a total of about five minutes then suddenly disappeared. A few moments later a commercial or military jet (wings blinking) flew by in roughly the same direction west to east. The blinking aircraft was much slower than the initial object we sighted. The night sky was fairly clear with stars easily seen. The area where my cabin is located is quite remote located on an island in Georgian Bay.

We are looking for other possible witnesses to this event. If you may have seen something similar please contact us. Your privacy will be protected, and confidentiality is assured.

Our thanks to the witness for sending us this report.

Not only is Loch Ness famed for its monster, the castle along its shores is haunted! This is one paranormal hot spot I would LOVE to visit one day.

Happy Wordless Wednesday! Thank you for stopping by! Please note that this entry is for both the Tuesday, and Wednesday editions of WW.

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.

Image Credit: Free Digital Photos.net

For those of you living in Toronto you know exactly what I mean when I say it was a very hot, and overly sticky weekend. I am actually very much a Fall person, so gasp(!) do not be too shocked when I say I spent most of my weekend indoors catching up on a couple of horror flicks, and some spooky documentaries I have been meaning to get to.

This weekend inside also taught me something else, and that is our telly is definitely getting on in years, and I would like to replace it with a new plasma tv.

Finding a Cheap Plasma TV is not as difficult as one might think if shopping on the net. Here is a quick screen shot of a search I did for Tvs using the keywords Cheap, Plasma, TV on Shopping.com

I can search by product, maker, price range etc in order to find what I need. This is a great way to find bargains for hobby related items as well, cameras, recording equipment, outdoor gear, and pretty much anything else you can think of that you would like to do some comparison shopping, and save some money.

Video coverage is now available of CNN’s Larry King Live interview with three former Air Force Officers along with UFO research expert Robert Hastings. The interviews describe compelling incidents involving shutdowns by UFOs of nuclear weapon launch facilities in the 1960’s. No public reports by military officials were ever made about these breaches of American air space or the shutdown of sensitive national security nuclear launch facilities.

In the video Mr. King boldly makes the claim on national television that this military witness evidence proves the American government does not want the American people to know the facts.

These 1960’s national security breaches of controlled air space are now placed in the historical context of a substantiated 2008 FAA Radar Report assembled by Glen Schulze and Robert Powell. According to the FAA data in the Schulze-Powell report, unambiguous radar returns show craft of unknown origin without transponders entered controlled air space in January of 2008.

These unknown craft appeared to move with impunity in controlled air space near Stephenville Texas and flew to within 10 miles of the Crawford Ranch of President Bush, commonly referred to as the Western White House in January 2008.

Although 2.8 million data bits of FAA radar returns clearly show unknown air craft in its records, strangely, military officials at the largest radar facility at Fort Worth Texas and other nearby military radar station officials stated they had nothing to report on for that night despite FOIA requests filed with them by Schulze and Powell.

Is it simply a matter of time until the government and military respond to the increasing pressure being placed on them by CNN to come forward with the truth about the UFO/ET cover-up and this incident? Or, will these officials remain ambivalent as demonstrated by their current policies and practices?

Over the past couple of week's we have become swamped with individual UFO reports. Most of these reports are not current, but vintage sightings.

I have seen quite a few promotional items for the brand new X-Files movie opening here in Toronto this week, and I wonder if this might be spurring people to write in.

The continuing Larry King specials have also helped, as we were contacted by one lady in regards to a 1970's OPP sighting, and she mentioned the Larry King specials as spurring her to make the report.

One of our strongest arguments in the case for the paranormal is simply one of You asked us to prove what has been witnessed or experienced happened, why not prove how it could not have happened as well? Basically, the onus is on any claim to produce evidence...

A quick aside... Carl Sagan used to often quote Marcello Truzzi's famous statement, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." What Sagan often forgot to add... other than he stole the phrase... is that later in life, Truzzi left the sceptical organisation he help found as they had gone from "doubters" (a true scepticism) to "deniers" (poor science based on proclamation rather than actual study) and revised his comment as I have above... CLAIMS (of all sorts) REQUIRE EVIDENCE.

Problem is, that's fine when one witness makes a singular claim about one experience.

...but, more often than not, non-believers cloaking themselves in the word "sceptic" will knee-jerk and claim all experiences are bupkiss.

Ergo: The claim is now theirs... and they must produce evidence to back up that claim.

Simple enough... and literally all the scientists, doctors, and generally people with an IQ over 46 that we've spoken to agree that a "knee-jerk" denial is inappropriate without some sort of empirical data to substantiate it.

One of the common things we hear when we toss the Prove it's all nonsense challenge at so-called (incurably stupid) sceptics is, You can't prove a negative.

Sorry? Come again? Didn't quite catch that...?

You can't PROVE a negative???

Bad news folks, when these scientists clock out this argument, vacuums just ceased to exist.

Something else to consider, and this could go on a history blog, but do you know what some anthropologists consider the sign of an advanced civilization? The realization of those people of the concept of "zero".

...think about that.

Remove ALL your logic and learning... what is "nothing"? How would you describe "nothing"? How would you show a symbol for not having anything? Showing SOMETHING is easy, but what about nothing...?

...and if we have nothing in a VERY basic society, would we bother to account for it? Would we need to document "nothing" if we were at a very fundamental survival level?

We take it for granted now, but the idea of building a symbol or even a word to describe "zero" is a rather impressive philosophical and logical step...

...unless you're a so-called sceptic who feels that it can never be done...

...in which case, let me catch you folks up... the secret is to bang the rocks together.

If coming to the idea of "zero" is so important to the building of an advanced society, what do you think about intergerial mathematics?

Dave, the normal person, owes Bob, the so-called sceptic, ten dollars... but Dave only has seven dollars... How much money does Dave theoretically have?

...according to some, Dave cannot exist... the money cannot exist... Bob cannot exist... because you cannot prove a negative!

Next time one of these wizened veterans of the "sceptical" trade spew forth the concept that proving negatives is impossible, I may give them my credit card company's numbers... I'll be debt-free in a puff of bad logic!

Scientifically, mathematically, and logically, you CAN prove a negative... so this is a moot argument... and now, thanks to this post, when someone makes that claim, I'm just pointing them here to have a read... and perhaps, learn something about the basic principals of science, logic, and yes, advanced society...

...and then, perhaps, they will start banging the rocks together and catch up with the rest of us.

Each Friday we will have a look at the stories and experiences that have been related to us over the years that are amongst our personal favourites. These will include Crypto, Ghosts, Hauntings, UFO's, and other strange events that may be considered Fortean, from in around the Toronto, Canada area .... and since they are from our own personal files will likely not be found elsewhere on the web .... enjoy!

We were asked and told about the ghost at Gravenhurst Opera House or The Op.

I'd like to say it was some recent sightings but to be honest, it was more or less about the stories of "Ben" (as covered in Barbara Smith's wonderful book, Ontario Ghost Stories). Ben is reported to be the unfortunate spirit of a lighting man who fell to his death from a catwalk in flies of the theatre.

Ben is supposed to leave cold spots, slam doors, play with light fixtures, walk around (the sound of phantom footsteps) and the usual mild poltergeist activity that we've come to expect from a ghost in a theatre including one moment of close contact according to Ms. Smith.

A volunteer was working and felt hands rest on her shoulder from an invisible source. She merely informed the unseen entity she was "very busy" at which point the hands were removed and she continued her work no worse for ware for her ghostly experience.

Our recent e-mail did mention that Ben might still be around and lately loves to wreak minor havoc on the lighting in the dressing areas although never too much to take away from the productions.

Does "Ben" still linger? We'd like to know. If you have any information about Ben or any ghostly experience in The Op or anywhere in Gravenhurst, please let us know.

Hat tip to Coast2Coast's Website for the item below...

From The Daily Telegraph...

The Northampton Paranormal Group caught the figure on camera during a visit to the site of the Battle of Naseby, a field between the villages of Clipston and Naseby in Northamptonshire, last month.

The visit coincided with the 363rd Anniversary of the Battle of Naseby. Members said they heard clunking noises as well as sounds like cannonball fire.

When the group then looked through pictures they took during the visit, they spotted what appeared to be mysterious figure walking out of the dark carrying something in its hands.

Emma Whiteman, leader of the group, said: “The picture was taken about an hour after we heard the noises but we didn’t see anything at the time.

“When we saw it, when we were looking back through the pictures, we were gobsmacked.

“We’re saying that it’s a soldier. Some people can see it sitting on a horse and some people just see it as a walking soldier.”

The Battle of Naseby in 1645 was a key win for the Parliamentarians over the Royalists in the English Civil War.

The battle involved more than 21,000 troops when the Royal army, under Prince Rupert, was beaten by Parliamentary troops led by Sir Thomas Fairfax.

Adrian Perkin, an author and 'ghost detective’, said he thought the image was a soldier with a musket or pike walking through a gateway.

He said: “If this is genuine it’s a very, very, good example. It’s the best I have seen for many years.”

Sceptics said the effect was caused by the camera itself.

Anne Haddon, of The Naseby Battlefield Project, said: “I haven’t heard anything like this at the battlefield in all my association with it. It’s fair to say I’m a bit sceptical.”

I disagree with all parties... but this is just my opinion... I believe it's a fluke-shot where the trees and foliage are in just the right spot... and an "orb" (airborne particle) is shown to make the chance separation of the foliage all the more "real" by adding a "sceptre-like" appearance to the shot.

Although, to be honest, this is me editorializing... and since I was not there when the image was taken, I could be and might very well be wrong.

What's your opinion?

It always amazes me how people can confuse the reality of a haunted house, which could be any age, lived in, and usually well looked after, in any normal suburban setting as opposed to the fairground type where air tools are used to make zombies jump out at you!

The former is very subtle, and investigators could spend weeks with nothing happening in them, while the latter is highly recommended for those who are seeking an instantaneous spooky thrill!

This Friday July 18 at 9:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm PT Larry King continues his coverage of the UFO issue. He will present testimony by three former Air Force Officers describing incidents involving UFOs and nuclear weapon launch facilities in the USA. Long-time UFO researcher Robert Hastings will join Larry King to add evidence to the argument that UFOs have a strange affinity for nuclear facilities and weaponry.

Guest Profiles:

Bob Salas, a Minuteman missile launch officer at Malmstrom AFB, was on duty in his underground launch "capsule" one night in March 1967 when a UFO hovered over the site and somehow shut down most (possibly all) of his 10 missiles. An identical incident occurred at another launch facility outside of Malmstrom two weeks earlier.

Bob Jamison, a Minuteman missile targeting officer at Malmstrom, was involved in bringing some of those missiles back online. Jamison and his team were explicitly told during a briefing that UFOs had caused the shutdowns and were ordered, for their safety, to stay on base until all reports of UFO activity had ceased. Only then was the team allowed into the missile field.

Dr. Bob Jacobs, a photographic officer, was filming an Atlas missile test at Vandenberg AFB, in September 1964, when a UFO suddenly appeared near the separated dummy nuclear warhead while it was in flight downrange. Jacobs and another officer, Major Florenze Mansmann, state that the film showed the UFO circling the warhead and shooting beams of light at it. Seconds later, the warhead tumbled out of sub-orbit, well short of its target. The film was reportedly confiscated by two government agents who visited Mansmann at VAFB.

The succession of provocative evidential material presented by Mr. King continues to fuel speculation as to what the - “beyond the news” or “infotainment” - motivations of this influential senior CNN journalist really are, to shed light so vigourously on the government UFO cover-up. It is obvious that upper management and ownership at CNN are throwing a broadside challenge at programs like CBS’s 60 Minutes or NBC’s Dateline and Meet the Press to engage this issue with similar depth, quality and legitimacy.

King’s unrelenting offensive also raises two important questions, “Who will be the first significant political figure to appear on national television to answer the questions and concerns about the reality and policy implications of the UFO/ET matter?” and, “What will Mr. King do next to raise the stakes in this highly political issue after the parade of witnesses he has brought forward have convinced a large and growing proportion of the public that UFOs are in fact real?”

Tune in this Friday July 18 at 9:00 pm ET and 6:00 pm PT to Larry King Live on CNN.

Our thanks to EXOPOLITICS Toronto

Over the last few weeks the kid and I have been indulging in watching some classic horror films. For her these are a new thrill, and for me watching the Exorcist is revisiting an old standard of the genre.

I would love to put together a spooky home theater one day including the perfect sound system, and spooky decorations right down to some old fashioned looking home theater carpet to give the place a real haunted feel.

Sigh....if only the reality of the paranormal were as thrilling as Hollywood would have us believe.

Looks like a saucer crash, doesn't it? Actually it is a close-up of the Spirit of Kansas, the $1.2 billion stealth B-2 bomber that crashed in Guam last February. There were no fatalities. The pilots ejected safely.

Happy Wordless Wednesday! Thank you for stopping by!

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.

Image Credit: Gizmodo

On Larry King Live last night radar expert Glen Schulze and Robert Powell, MUFON Director of Research released their findings concerning UFOs in the Stephenville Texas area in January 2008. The 77 page report is replete with data received from the FAA, National Weather Service, nearby military bases and other official sources.

Among the expert analysis of the data received by the investigators from official sources, charts and radar data clearly show the track of an unidentified non-military craft with no transponder beacon vectoring towards Crawford Texas, the location of the Bush Ranch – also known as the Western White House.

What does the report include?

- Data from the FAA

- Witness summary reports

- Over two dozen graphs and charts depicting craft movements and locations

- FOIA requests by the authors

- Responses by FOIA officials

- Denials by military officials of any existing information

- Blacked out US Air Force pilot flightlogs from 457th NASJRB Ft. Worth Tx.

- FTW Antenna Chart showing Skin-Paint Returns from 2.8 million data returns

- The unusual admission by military officials that they were “unaware of any activity in the area” while complex FAA radar configurations picked up massive data of unidentified craft,

…and much more for the interested reader.

The significance of this report and its implication is nothing less than astounding – as it verifies the existence of craft of unknown origin operating in controlled air space without the knowledge of the America military. Furthermore, it is implicit and thus evident by the response of military officials that they were helpless or at least lacked any significant management of the entire series of events during the period of the air activity.

Therefore this radar report clarifies four important issues:

It supports the eye-witness testimony of many Stephenville residents who saw what has now been proven to have actually occurred.

The report addresses and dispels on-going critique by critics that no available, substantive or scientific data indicating anything of interest concerning the reality of UFOs exists.

The radar report clearly demonstrates that there are in fact unknown craft with superior flight capabilities far beyond known technology operating and moving at will within controlled air space, thus demonstrating that it appears our most sophisticated craft and military monitoring devices are ineffective in dealing with the phenomenon.

Only two possibilities now remain. These craft are either highly sophisticated secret human technology or they are craft from off-world origins. In either case – each possibility is an enigma and the skeptics and military are running short of explanations.

This entire series of events and the depth of the report raise another serious and as yet unanswered question: “Considering the proximity of the craft to controlled air space near the Bush property, is there any access to information that NORAD or other missile launch control centres were placed on alert during this period?”

Our thanks to Exopolitics Toronto for providing this information.

The entire radar report can be downloaded at:

http://www.mufon.com/symposia.htm

To review assessments of this report:

http://stephenvillelights.com/slnews_article010.html

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/68094

No, I'm not talking about monstrous mortgage lenders, and their rates, but I would like to address the topic of stigmatised homes, and privacy at least here in Ontario.

We are frequently asked whether certain addresses are haunted or stigmatised etc, and for the most part we really do not know. However, even if we did we are governed by the Ontario privacy act, and would not be able to give out that information in regards to private residences.

Think about how you would feel if you owned property that became the magnet of every would-be Canadian ghost hunter simply because the address was published or made public on the internet or elsewhere.

Each Friday we will have a look at the stories and experiences that have been related to us over the years that are amongst our personal favourites. These will include Crypto, Ghosts, Hauntings, UFO's, and other strange events that may be considered Fortean, from in around the Toronto, Canada area .... and since they are from our own personal files will likely not be found elsewhere on the web .... enjoy!

I live in the Durham region and used to attend Sir Sanford Fleming College in Peterborough. I spent 15 months there, starting in April 94, going year round completing a diploma in Law and Security administration.

One of the young men in the semester ahead of me worked part time in the college as a night security guard, as many students try to gain experience in this area before heading out to police forces etc., and told me and several other classmates of mysterious noises and feelings sometimes occurring in the old center part of the college. He always was alone in the college, having previously patrolled the building. He stated that he often heard people walking in the halls very late in the evening or during the middle of the night. He said that there were two distinct types, one normal with heavy boots or shoes and a second with a cane and a bit of a limp. He said on one occasion he saw part of an apparition, or I should say only 1/2 the body. One part of the school he refused to patrol in the evening because of the frequency of the sounds and ghost.

Most of his classmates and mine laughed at his stories but I myself have heard footsteps following behind me in the old part of the building as I walked through the basement hallway. And i have felt cold spots, and the hairs of my neck standing straight up suddenly, and total absolute blinding fear, for no reason. (I do NOT scare easily, and am a very bold person). I thought I was the only one to have these encounters until the other student spoke about them.

Our thanks to the witness for sharing this report with us. Does this report sound familiar? Do you have a similar experience at this location that you would like to share? If so, we would like to hear from you. Please send your submission to submissions AT torontoghosts.org

Larry King Live tonight presents yet again more news about the Stephenville Lights (February 2008)

After investigations and reports by MUFON (The Mutual UFO Network), Larry King once again takes on UFOs in his seemingly relentless series of investigative programs on this issue.

It is worthy of note that CNN’s top rated program Larry King Live has not only been consistent in its coverage of the UFO issue but Mr. King has been asking pointed questions about the government intelligence secrecy surrounding classified information on UFOs.

In his on-going coverage, Mr. King has featured prominent guests that include: Shirley MacLaine, film-maker James Fox, Roswell researchers Tom Carey and Don Schmitt, Nick Pope, physicist Stanton Friedman, former Governor of Arizona Fife Symington and journalist Angelia Joiner.

A spokesperson for Exopolitics Toronto, a Canadian organization dedicated to UFO Disclosure, has stated, “The in depth and on-going coverage on American national television by Larry King Live on CNN is a milestone in the disclosure process. He has managed to have on his program the most highly credentialed people involved in the search for the truth about UFOs and an ET presence. Each evening that Larry King decides to engage the UFO matter with his obvious conviction and open inquiry, is an evening closer to a CBS, NBC or ABC investigative news program like 60 Minutes taking on this issue with the seriousness and integrity it demands and deserves. A free press in America is the key to Disclosure – like the Watergate investigation in the era of Richard M. Nixon – once the evidence is brought forward, the truth embargo imposed by the government on the UFO matter will go into cascade failure. UFO Disclosure is currently bookmarked between the threat of an American attack on Iran and the existing energy crisis. The Disclosure of an UFO/ET presence will absorb each event.”

Larry King seems to want to be part of this unrelenting process of Disclosure.

Tune in to Larry King Live today Friday July 12 at 9:00 ET/6:00 PT on CNN.

I was pleasantly surprised when I was contacted today by a very nice Burlington, Ontario lady who had found us through a book entitled 21st Century Ghosts by paranormal author and TV presenter Jason Karl. Apparently he thought to include us, which indeed was very thoughtful, and much appreciated.

While we have been cited in numerous books over the past 10 years including an entry in the Encyclopaedia Britannica of all places it is always a thrill for us personally when an author includes us in any way in their writing. Especially when their books add value to the paranormal community such as this one does. My day has been made!

There is a lot of talk about how Bill C-51 will affect the Canadian health food industry, and the consumer. Everything from vitamins to weight loss products like Leptitrex may be affected by this proposed legislation. I am all for consumer protection, but some people believe this bill is going too far.

Would be interested in Canadian readers thoughts on this. What do you guys & gals think? Is this going to be harmful? Is it just a means to get rid of snake oil salesmen?

I am not that familiar with the topic, but I am fairly mistrustful of the current Conservative government in the first place, and some of the awful bills that have recently been put on the table that blatantly are pushing a very narrow-minded agenda.

The Night Of The Long Shadows is being put together by The Shadows Project, and it promises to be a fun evening for paranormal investigators, researchers, and just those that like a good creepy story to get together in an informal, and relaxed setting.

This is not a PSICAN nor GHRS event so any questions or feedback should go through The Shadows Project staff directly.

Speaking of the new PSICAN look, and website we have been actively seeking advertisers for its PR 4+ main page. We feel this would be a great added revenue generator that could directly offset the cost of servers etc, and possibly even fund research, and projects.

One thing I have discovered though is that certain products or services may be seen in poor taste on a paranormal website examples being mental health services, drug rehabs, senior life insurance heck, any type of life insurance.

Hopefully we will attract the interest of science stores, book shops, or even services geared towards alternative lifestyles, health, or spirituality. These would be far more appropriate imho.

After months of discussion and weeks of work, the new PSICAN website is now online and running!

After three years online (for the PSICAN main site,) it was time for a change. Along with a better "look and feel" comes a better search option, better navigation, and a generally easier site for visitors and staff alike to use.

Concentrating on advancing the study of the paranormal in Canada, PSICAN's groups have over a decade's worth of online experience so our web presence is a vital component in our activities.

We hope you'll stop by and have a look at what we hope will become a source of information for all Canadians and beyond about those things people call the "paranormal".

I think it would be a dream come true for all ghost enthusiasts, and paranormal investigators from hobbyist to professionals to travel the world, and visit all those cool haunted hot spots that most of us can only ever read about.

My first choice, and perhaps the most well known, and written about haunted locations are all in the U.K. United Kingdom Hotels, and other tourist amenities are easy to come by, and for the most part very safe for Western visitors, but what happens when your paranormal vacation is somewhere less travelled???

I would love to travel one day to the Eastern European countries that are the mysterious lands of my ancestors. These locations are sadly lacking in good documentation of paranormal events, and I would be highly intrigued by an opportunity to visit them.

Hungary is high on my list, and therefore Budapest Hotels particularly if haunted would be very interesting indeed! If I were to go to Hungary I would most certainly wish to include neighbouring Romania, and look into Romania Hotels that would suit my budget, and purposes.

Where would you wish to travel if you were planning a paranormal vacation?

Here is a photograph of the faceless aliens that were spotted throughout the crowd at Wimbledon!

Wow! They certainly are creepy looking!!! So what is your guess? Is this an interesting art project with a sci-fi sort of twist? Or is this viral marketing for a new film, tv show, or even product that is coming out?

Image Credit, and News Report at the Daily Mail.

We have done it! We have purchased the new Wind laptop from MSI!

It is currently on order, and should be shipped within the next couple of weeks. Not only is it lightweight, and can easily fit into a ghost investigator's bag of toys, but it has just the right amount of laptop memory to be highly useful for writing up reports, getting blog entries ready etc while on the go. And it looks cool!

I will do a full write-up on the MSI Wind once we have tested it out

In honour of the USA Fourth Of July celebrations this week's Freaky Friday edition features an American report, and is dedicated to our U.S. readers!

Virginia, USA - Death Omen

The following strange encounter was sent in by one of our readers, and they are hoping for some feedback from others who may have gone through something similar or have heard about another report like it.

An event that took place in 1990 has had myself, and 2 friends curious for some years now.

August 1990, three of us went to Atlantic City. On the way home, my passenger side control arm snapped. I recovered from the skid and safely made it off the highway.

After hours spent waiting for a wrecker that never came, another friend came and got us, sometime after dark. We dropped off the first of our group in Fairfax, VA, then began the trip to our second stop.

We were on a divided highway in Manassas VA, no roadside lights, and tree lined. We noticed a female walking down the shoulder of the road. She was in a long black formal dress, kinda old style. She was weaving from side to side as she walked, so we figured we ought to stop and help.

A curious note is that despite the side to side movement, there was no vertical movement or bounce to her step. In the instant between her leaving our headlights, and when she should have been next to us, she was gone.

The next day, I was in a car wreck that had me in the emergency room for 5 hours, and the paramedics and firemen agreed that I should have been dead given the severity of the crash.

Two years later, in August, the guy that lived in Manassas, and was in the car when we saw the girl was killed in a car wreck.

Another two years following that, the driver was in a car wreck that left him legally dead for 2 minutes, and has walked with a cane ever since.

Nothing bad has happened to the guy we dropped off before we saw the girl.

I am curious as to whether there is some example in some folklore that would match this experience. It could be ruled as a sad coincidence, but there are enough details in this story that seem to resemble a kind of death omen, that I am curious as to if there is some tradition that would fit this episode.

Our thanks to the witness for sharing this report! It is our experience that apparitions or spirits of the dead are harmless, nor is this case a phantom hitchhiker. Any feedback or thoughts will be much appreciated. Please write to sue AT psican.org

Thankfully the days of orb photography when every bit of airborne particle photographed by would-be ghost hunters was posted to the net seem to finally be over.

However, there are still many paranormal websites cluttered with orbs to be found on the internet, and although some are obviously long abandoned they still manage to put out much misinformation to the general public.

Today I got an email from someone insisting that the orb photo they sent me last week had to be "real" because they had vacuumed the room prior to snapping their digital pics.

My answer was along these lines...

You could have the power of a thousand Sebo vacuums, and you will still not be dust-free. In fact, if NASA cannot guarantee dust free environments, how can you????

UFO details report: Canada Day 2008 my family and I were sitting atop the mountain brow with hundreds of firecracker enthusiasts watching the show they put on at Bayfront park. The sky was very dark/cloudy, no moon, no stars and I was distracted from looking down over the city and I watched 2 planes circle above. What I thought was a third plane flickered from Burlington area towards us, not a flicker more like a blip one second I thought it was a third plane, next second it was right there over our harbour and then in a blink of an eye there were these 6 beautiful pink firecrackers that SLOWLY fell to the water. These pink firecrackers were so slow and so beautiful they lit up ALL of the water and the crowd ooohed and aaaahed and I seemed to be the only one freaking about how they suddenly appeared there and fell to the water. Walking back to the car just before 11pm my kids pointed out the one and only brightest "star" in the sky (which was there for hours after). I'd like to know what that "3rd blip of a plane was" and if it dropped those pink slow fading fireworks into the water tonight.

Our thanks to the witness for this report. Our Hamilton area UFO investigator is following.

"We use scientific tools and methods and are proving the existence of ghosts."

Ah, the cry of the wild ghost-hunter... Who am I to argue? Maybe they are... but more often than not, upon further study, one has to question exactly what some of the people that say this are up to. Are they scientists? Are they really going to find the 'Holy Grail' of the study and get valid proof?

Perhaps...

Perhaps not...

If they do present data, it's likely to be held up to major scrutiny and if the controls and proper methods were not in place, (and no, not methods from a 'ghost' site as the source... "We had a good and positive attitude and asked the ghost to give us this data!" is not really a 'proper' control,) it's likely to be discarded by most rather rapidly. Would it kill the average 'ghost-hunter' to go to the local library and pick up two books... one on gathering a particular type of data (photographic, video, atmospheric readings... and those books not from a 'ghostly' source, but a mainstream scientific source) and one on using scientific controls and methods? Presenting data, at that point, would get attention from many sources and not just buddies on a message board.

I guess what this rant is about is how ghost-hunters run out, grab scientific data collection tools, and start taking readings and measurements willy-nilly. They wave around an EMF detector claiming spikes and dips and saying "Aha! We've found an active place!", then whip out a laser or infrared thermometer, take a single (or, if your lucky, two) readings and say "Aha! The temperature changed! We have a ghost!" and then, of course, whip out tape recorders and cameras and WHEEE!

Next time you see a group or person like this... ask these questions...

"What evidence do you have that there is any electro-magnetic changes or differences when a ghost is present?"

"Have you taken a series of mean or standard readings before proclaiming a variations or are you guessing?"

...and if you're really feeling brainy...

"Are you familiar with Dr. Michael Persinger's work and it's repetition by Project Hessdalen (Erland Strands work within Østfold University College in Norway) on the effects of raised electro-magnetic ambient energy and temporal lobe hallucinations? How do you know finding your EMF spike and raised reading is not an indication that the people that say they've seen something weird weren't hallucinating due to this effect?"

...then there's...

"When you took your reading with the thermometer, did you check for outside sources for a drop (or whatever) in temperature?"

"Did you take several readings and this is a genuine change or is it just a static temperature variance in this particular area (some places, without aid of a ghost, are just colder than others... these places can even be in the same room... think insulation...)?"

"Did you take a minimum of five temperature readings from the same location at different times and then note and document them to confirm this?"

"Did you look into the issues revolving this piece of equipment as far as distance accuracy?"

A "proper" scientist would be doing all of the above... and would be aware of all (or at least, most possibilities) mentioned above. If you say you're using science, are you really?

Now, before it becomes an issue, my definition of "scientist" is not a woman/fellow in a lab coat who spent her/his entire lengthy academic career in university and has many wonderful letters after their name. A "scientist" can be anyone who uses proper scientific methodology and controls when carrying out their work. Although, when I'm asked, I usually say, at best, "I'm an amateur scientist.", I still do my best to use controls when collecting data and know about the tools and devices I'm using.

In a lot of cases, there seems to be the feeling to if a person simply owns some tools, this makes them "proper", "professional", or, as stated, "scientific."

I put it to you like this... If I own an airplane, does this make me a pilot? If I own a scalpel, does this make me a surgeon?

Answer: No, but with proper training...

Well, if I own an electro-magnetic field detector, a sensitive (I've talked to too many atmospheric scientists to recommend infrared or laser) thermometer, a night-vision cam-corder, a 35mm camera and/or digital camera... am I a ghost investigator/researcher... even a "ghost-hunter" really?

Answer: No, but with a proper understanding...

To be frank, (or Matthew,) the BEST tools for a proper ghost investigation are...

* Pen/Pencil and Paper
* Eyes
* Ears
* Common Sense
* Knowledge
* Facts... and critical thinking

...and the above list is NOT based on my own opinion. The above list is on many non-GHRS sites.

What seems to be passing for some would-be "ghost-hunters" as the only tools needed are...

* Camera
* Tape recorder
* EMF detector
* Thermometer
* Other toys... (misc.)
* Faith... based on few if any facts.

...with common sense and knowledge not even making the list. These folks are pretty easy to spot as every place they visit, regardless, is truly "haunted" and has tonnes of stuff happening... according to their own notes.

Long and the short of it is, simply owning certain equipment is not an indication of intelligence or knowledge. I can give a chimpanzee an EMF detector and camera and this does not make my simeon friend a proper investigator.

Not too long ago, a "sceptic" (sceptdebunker) was arguing with me that there was no such thing as a "paranormal event." I asked for his evidence... his evidence, more or less, he said was the many years he spent in university, his multiple 'scientific' magazine subscriptions, his "thousands" of text books. I called him out... most "legitimate" scientists I know (these are the guys that wear lab coats and have many letters after their names) do except that there are things "unknown" (...yet) and think that the study of the perceived paranormal is an important one. He countered with "Well, all my books/magazine/etc. tell me differently!" yet he could not cite a single case for me... whereas I did cite cases to him... not only of "unknown phenomena" being reported by what I knew he'd have to agree were good witnesses, but of proper studies that indeed did shed light on something at one point considered "unknown."

You'll be happy to hear that according to this "great physicist" (the guy has a BSC from University of Victoria) that there is nothing "unknown" or "paranormal" in existence and he has all kinds of stuff (despite citing none of them to me) to prove his point. He did, however, tell me there were great scienitific studies being done by CSICOP... all I can say to this is "Yeah, right... bastions of good science." I told him to seek a refund from his university as he really got shafted in his "education."

There's the inverse... a "sceptic" (sceptdebunker) saying he's well educated... especially in science and is capable of passing judgement on the paranormal.

His best "theory" on what witnesses of the paranormal were experiencing was based on a single study he found... done by a pharmaceutical company... saying that most of the North American population was wandering around with undiagnosed mental illness... which, I had to point out to him was not saying we were mad and hallucinating, but we were all clinically depressed... and this study, as I remind the gentle reader, was from a pharmaceutical company... "More Xanax please!"

I then tried to introduce him to more popular "sceptical" studies that I was following and led off with my favourite one, Dr. Persinger. He shot the gent down without looking at his work... he called Dr. Persinger a "loony Psychologists" so I asked if he had the same opinion of Susan Blackmore and James Allcock and you know what, HE DID! I had to laugh...

#1: With Dr. Persinger, he's chewing on a fellow who is apparently proving that some cases of ghosts and the paranormal are hallucination using repeated and proper scientific experiment... that are in physics, not in "psychology."

#2: With Dr. Blackmore, he's picked a nit with a woman who feels that everyone who's experienced the paranormal is in a kind of self-importance/self-induced hallucination... Blackmore is the sceptdebunker's sceptdebunker. She feels that none of it's real and it's all in our minds.

#3: Professor James Allcock is in the same vein as Blackmore and has done much media in Canada to say that all experiencers of the paranormal are imagining it.

This was all on a "sceptical" message board... I get the feeling that he got more than a few e-mails from his sceptdebunker buddies saying, "Dude! Where's your brain?"

This is a case of a sceptdebunker not knowing his OWN study!

Now, I do hope you're all giggling over this fellow, but he's just the mirror image of many folks who say they're doing proper investigation with "scientific tools" who, to be honest, have cool toys that make interesting noises or look neat...

If you're going to do work, argue a point, try to collect data... know your tools and understand your study. The folks who run about claiming all is haunted with their beeping and booping toys are no better than the sceptic that just pooped on many of his "respected" brethren... proving he may have OWNED some magazines and books... but hadn't read and understood them.

I will be the first person (honestly!) to say that it's impossible to know everything and to be perfect... but if one is billing themselves as someone to be listened to or deserves attention on a topic, shouldn't they truly understand it from preferably more than one source?

Just my two-cents...

It was a super surprise to see that we were picked #1 out of the top ten blogs over at Blog Mad this past Canada Day!

Thanks to all of our fellow blog surfers over at Blog Mad! You literally made our day!

Often people ask us what is the best tool in a ghost hunter's kit, and my reply has always been the same their brain! Common sense is probably the most valuable tool of the successful ghost hunter...and sadly this ability seems more lacking than found amongst the oodles of ghost hunters out there....but I digress.....

The second most important tool for any ghost investigator, much like a cop their pad of paper, and pens. I stock up on pads of paper, and Papermate pens at least four to six times per year, and keep them at the ready for investigations.

Typically on an investigation I will use up at least one to two paper notebooks with the metal rings. In these I add my notes about the location, witnesses, and my own sketches.

This is to let everyone know that the 2 hour feature documentary UFOs: The Secret History (a.k.a. UFOs and the Politics of Reality) will get its world broadcast premiere in Canada on History Television on July 15th at 8:00pm EDT with a repeat at 12AM midnight EDT.

But there will be a special treat the week before: a public preview screening: July 8 at 7pm at The Royal Cinema, 608 College St. West Toronto M6G 1A1 Phone: (416) 534-5252

The Royal has recently been renovated and has an HD projector so the film will be seen in all its hi-def glory on a 40 foot screen.

There'll be a nominal $6 charge at the door with all proceeds going to the J. Allen Hynek Centre for UFO Studies.

For further information you can contact David at:

davidc AT allinonefilms.com

Today is Canada Day, and to celebrate our Wordless Wednesday edition for this Tuesday features a Canadian ghost story.

Nestled in High Park is historic Colborne Lodge, once home to the Howards who were the benefactors of High Park to the City of Toronto. Their home still stands and is a tourist spot in the massive park near Lake Ontario in Toronto's west end. Across from the home stands the grave and monument to John and Jemima, whose huge stone dominates the scene from the house's front windows. The fence and gates are are made from wrought iron from St. Pauls Cathedral in London which is fitting for someone who gave so much to his adopted city. Jemima passed away before her husband after a long term health issue (probably breast cancer) that kept her constantly medicated "to kill the pain". Her last days were spent gazing through a morphine and laudanum haze at the site of her own burial and the future site of her husband's. Jemima Howard passed away in 1877 at the age of 75.

Even in recent times, there have been sightings of a ghostly woman peering out the second floor windows past the road at the memorial monument, and even a ghostly sighting reported by a police officer in 1969. Along with the apparition, there are definite cold spots around the home and reports of poltergeist activity in the lodge. Is Jemima still looking sadly out at her burial spot?

Happy Wordless Wednesday, and for our Canadian readers Happy Canada Day! Thank you for stopping by!

For a list of other Wordless Wednesday participants please click here.