We are back!

Well it has been about a year since our last post and unfortunately prior engagements have kept us from being able to update as much as desired. In the future we intend to update at least once per month. This is our goal. With Halloween around the corner, many people are starting to rekindle their annual interest in all things paranormal. Hopefully we can oblige... stay tuned for a special Halloween update.

Ghost Hunting / Paranormal Investigation

What is it?
The term ghost hunt is used when going to a place were there have been no sightings of ghosts and trying to catch some on film, sounds, eyewitness, etc. and trying literally hunting for paranormal activity. The term is often misconstrued as sharing the same definition as ghost investigation, or paranormal investigation, which means going to a known haunted place and recording data, research, interviews, and other evidence to prove or disprove the authenticity of the haunt and to help the owners assist the dead in passing on. This assistance is either provided directly from the investigating party, or by getting the owner in contact with someone who can help them through their situation and let them know their options.

Who can do it?
Technically speaking, almost anyone can do it if they can keep their emotions in check and follow basic protocol, as well as the ability to do proper research while continuing to approach the investigation in a purely skeptical and scientific manner. If you're looking into conducting independent investigations, we suggest you go here.
Though we at ParanormalUnknown try to encourage new people to get active with the paranormal or paranormal investigation, we suggest that you stick with what you know or people who know what you don't. If you are not experienced in Ghost Hunting, we recommend that you find an established group or society in your area, and tag along until you are familiar with the profession. For some tips on proper protocol, go to Ghost hunting Tips.

What will be encountered?
There are two kinds of entities you will encounter: human or non-human. The bulk of most encounters will be that of either human entities or residual haunts. Though the chances are small that you will ever likely encounter one, non-human entities are nothing to betaken lightly. Unlike human entities such as intelligent haunts, non-human entities are usually hostile and have been known to attempt possession upon occasion. Always stay aware of your surroundings; keep a sharp eye out, and always protect yourself. For more information on hauntings and types of haunts, refer to: Hauntings 101

What kind of Equipment?
Required:
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Cellular phone (with confirmed signal) or walkie-talkies (to keep in touch with each other)
- First Aid kit
- Watch (preferably digital)
- Weather appropriate clothing (no strings or toggles on jackets)
- 35mm Camera (needs at least 400 speed film, and can be a single use camera)
- Digital camera (at least 6.0 pixels and infrared)
- Notebook(s) and pencil(s)
Optional / Advanced:
- Digital Video Camera (tripod optional)
- Tape Recorder (with extended microphone and highgrade tapes)
- Digital Audio Recorders
- EMF Detector
- A Compass (same principal as EMF)
- Motion Detectors
- Thermometer
- Thermal Scanner
...other equipment can be useful, but these are just some suggestions.

Please keep in mind that this is a bried overview and is not official. We at ParanormalUnknown do not take responsibility for acts as a result of reading this blog. Other information such a specific procedures and and data recording tips, check out the sources below.

Source(s):
http://www.ghosthunting101.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_hunting

Mongolian Death Worn

Science Fiction creatures like the giant Sandworms of Frank Herbert's Dune may seem like a true stretch of the imagination, but there are tales that suspect otherwise. Enter the world of the Mongolian Death Worm, AKA: The Intestine Worm.

What is The Mongolian Death Worm?
It's a giant worm that causes death. *insert evil laughter here*
Alright, for those of you who are still interested, the Mongolian Death Worm is a creature located in the Gobi dessert of Southern Mongolia. For generations, natives of the area have sworn to the reality of the creature they call Allghoi khorkhoi, which literally translates to "Intestine Worm". These Intestine Worms are the legendary inhabitants of the Gobi Dessert, and have almost only spoken of through out mythology and folklore through the area's culture, as one has never been known to have been captured. However, eyewitness accounts by locals and investigators claim otherwise.

What does The Mongolian Death Worm look like?
Several experts and Cryptozoologists, including Czech Explorer Ivan Mackerle, attest to a particular description of this creature. The Mongolian Death Worm is said to be a large, dark red, worm-like creature that is estimated to be over a meter in length and roughly 2 inches thick. It is also referred to as the "intestine worm" because it is said the resemble the description of a cow intestine, distinguished by both color and shape. It's rear tail is short, but not tapered, with no visible facial features. Thus making identification between the rear and head extremely difficult. Descriptions of it's movement vary between that of a sidewinder and something similar to a barrel-roll. Said to only be visible during the hottest months of the year and likes to surface after rain, while the ground is still wet. It is said to be dormant at all other times of the year.
According to the locals, the Intestine Worm is said to have the ability to spray an acid-like liquid that causes instant paralysis and most time death. It is also said that the creature has the ability to kill from a distance with an odd form of electrical discharge. (Worm sign, to all you Dune fans out there. hehe) Those who claim to have seen the worm have described it as being deep, blood-red, in color and measuring between two and five feet long.

Possibly expanations or related creatures?
Regarding the local tales of acid-spray and electric shock emanating from the Intestin Worm suggest two associated creatures. The first would be the Electrick-Eel, which contrary to popular belief is not an Eel at all. The second is the Spitting Cobra, and other similar snakes, which have the ability to spray blinding venom accurately up to 10 meters away.

Is there anyone out there crazy enough to look into this?
Well, if you're reading this blog, you can add yourself to the many. There have recently been attempts at genuine research and investigation concerning the creature, similar to the search for other Cryptozoological entities like Bigfoot. Though it lacks the authenticity of the legendary Lochness Monster, and other like phenomena, Intestine Worms are still on the Cryptozoological list of unknown species and therefore should be subject to research and investigation just as prevalently as other proposals.
In 2005 there was an investigation conducted by British scientists in an attempt to produce scientific proof that the Intestine Worm was a genuine phenomena. After four painstaking week in the middle of the scorching dessert, the team returned, convinced that there were in fact creatures like the Intestine Worms in the vicinity. Interestingly enough, the team did not find any trace of the Death worm, however they did discover two animals previously unknown to science: a dragon-like lizard and a two-meter-long horned snake.

You can find out more about Operation Death Worm (2, 3) and the Intestine Worm at the links below.

Source(s):
1. http://www.yourparanormal.co.uk/mongolian-death-worm/
2. http://paranormal.about.com/od/othercreatures/a/aa053005.htm
3. http://cryptoworld.co.uk/projects/operation-deathworm-1/

Ghost Hunting Gudelines

While Ghost Hunting and/or Legend Tripping, you can look to these as some basic guidelines and tips to keep in mind before and during your investigation, but these are not official and we do not take responsibility for the actions of independent groups and/or societies, the individuals, or any members of their team before, during, or after their investigation and/or trip. Never use television as a guideline for information or experience regarding paranormal investigation.

Guidelines:
- Always let someone outside of your group know where you are.
- Do not go anywhere alone. Always stay in groups.
- Do not trespass. Always get permission to get on the property and conduct audio/visual research. If the owners of the property or the Cops ask you to leave or for information, cooperate.
- Always carry your ID on you.
- Be smart and use your common sense.
- If you feel uncomfortable, pay attention. When in doubt, get the hell out.
- Keep an eye on weather reports for extreme weather and reschedule if necessary. Also keep an eye on the humidity and pollen count.
- Keep in contact with each other at all times via either walkie-talkies or cellular telephones. If you do opt to use phones, be sure that all areas you intend to investigate supplies good signals.
- Keep a flashlight on you at all times.
- Wear suitable footwear.
- Do not drink or smoke before or during an investigation. Do not arrive hungry, but do not arrive in a turkey coma either. You need to be fully alert, and smoking can create false readings of various phenomena such as fog/ ectoplasm mist.
- Do a walk-over of the site during daylight to familiarize yourself with the area and will help avoid injury in the dark.

- If you are accompanying another group outside of your own, it is polite to provide reimbursement for their time and expenses. However, though most groups will accept donations, groups who charge you to participate are to be regarded with extreme skepticism. Discuss the group's guidelines and be sure that everyone agrees to abide by them before proceeding to an investigation. Cooperation is key. Individuals not willing to abide by agreed standards and guidelines should reconsider their participation in any investigation.

Tips:
- Don't smoke anywhere near the investigation area.
- When taking pictures: keep lenses clean, take straps off of cameras, keep tabs where your fingers are, hold your breath (to avoid false fog/ectoplasm mist), use an empty memory card or new film.
- When taking EVP: talk clearly and do not whisper, pause between comments when possible, when necessary provocation may be used.
- Avoid jackets with strings and toggles.
- Keep a watch and note the time.
- Know when to get out. As mentioned above: when in doubt, get the hell out.
- Keep an eye out for cobwebs, dust, and other natural phenomena that could easily be mistaken as paranormal phenomena.
- Do not wear perfume or cologne. This will hinder your sense of smell and you want your senses clear.
- Try to debunk observed phenomena on-site when possible. It is imperative that you remain objective and logical when conducting an investigation.
- We at paranormalUnknown do not condone the use of Ouija boards, seances, and other modes of contacting the dead outside of basic contact.
...and above all... RESPECT THE DEAD.

Contact Us!

Hello Readers,
We've noticed that while giving you information, we have not given you a great way to give us information. In trying to solve this, we are now opening up communication between readers and ParanormalUnknown. If you would like to reach us, you can do so by emailing us. We are eager to hear your questions, concerns, personal paranormal experiences, and possible haunts.
Thank you for your continued support,
ParanormalUnknown

Email: paranormalunknown@yahoo.com

Earthbound Spirits

What is an Earthbound Spirit?
We a ParanormalUnknown approach the term with this outlook: earthbound spirits, technically speaking, are the disembodied souls of people who have left the physical realm, but not entirely moved on. Earthbound spirits account for a large portion of legitimate haunts.
Note: A common misconception people have is that if it is in a realm capable of being perceived by a living being, that all entities or spirits percieved must be an earthbound spirit.

Why is a Spirit Earthbound?
Firstly, when trying to identify with an earthbound spirit you need to remember that this spirit was and still is a person. They have the same feelings and plight of man, and sometimes more. Most people think that earthbound spirits are prevented from moving on because of "unfinished business". Though this is sometimes the case, there are a number of reasons why a spirit could be earthbound (and a number of people make a living off of identifying the reasons and also by helping the earthbound spirits move on), here we will go over a few of the most common reasons:
-Unfinished Business-
The most popularized reasoning behind earthbound spirits, spirits that stay due to unfinished business are also found in other categories of earthbound spirit, notably including vengeful earthbound spirits. These spirits usually only stay until their business has been tended to and then easily move on.
-Lost-
Some earthbound spirits stay within the immediate vicinity of their death, often when their death is surrounded by sudden or unexpected circumstances. These souls are are usually confused and having trouble accepting or coping with the reality of their death, some may even fail to realize that they are dead at all. These lost earthbound spirits are often vary eager to make their presence known, trying to attract the attention of anyone that passes, especially those who are more sensitive to spirits.
-Vengeful-
What does a vengeful earthbound spirit want? Revenge or vengeance. These earthbound souls are often found in similar circumstances to lost earthbound souls, usually surrounding violent or sudden deaths. But unlike lost spirits, vengeful spirits have a single purpose for staying here and not moving on. They want revenge or to avenge their death, only then would they be able to find peace and move on.
-Guilty-
Guilty earthbound spirits are earthbound due to guilt or regret, usually surrounding suicides, overdoses, or and other accidental deaths. They feel guilty because of their acceptance of the responsibility of their death and the consequences that follow(ed).
-Fearful-
When a spirit realizes their death, and the existance after, some are reluctant to move on for fear of a finality to it all. To some spirits, going to the light symbolizes the end, and officially be dead, not just walking around spooking unsuspecting tourists. It could be the finality, the unknown, or the possibility of being judged or going to hell: whatever is holding a spirit in fear is responsible for keeping it earthbound; fearful earthbound spirits are earthbound by their own fears of moving on.
-The Living Hold-
When people say that you have to learn to let go, they mean it. Literally. This is a term for a particular circumstance. When someone passes, we as humans have a tenancy to cling to what was rather than what it. Death is an odd, and more often difficult, concept to grasp despite experience or belief. Often earthbound spirits will stay until they feel that their loved ones have come to terms with their death and/or moved on, thus freeing them to do the same, but the living hold is what we use to refer to more extreme cases. The living hold is a term we use to describe situations where the living become obsessed with the desceased, going beyond what is seen as the general terms of grieving. You have to remember that these earthbound souls are human spirits, with emotion and empathy; they are not going to want to abandon their loved ones if they do not feel it is right to do so, nor if their loved ones can not learn to let go.
Note: A residual haunt can be an earthbound spirit, even though it's technically not an intelligent haunt. It still feels and is a human soul, it is just unaware of its current condition or circumstance. Some residual haunts have been theorized to be surrounding lost or vengeful earthbound souls.

The Reality is...
...that the likelihood of a deceased loved one haunting you for the sake of it is rather rare; it has and does happen, but it's not as popular of an occurrence as most would like (or tend) to believe. As with any kind of experience that suggests a haunt, we suggest that you try to observe objectively. We have encountered several incidents where people wish to contact their death loved ones so badly that they will start to assign normal occurrences, or other non-related paranormal phenomena, to the presence of the loved one as a means of affirmation. No matter the situation, sometimes the living hold just is not enough and when emotions get involved things always get messy. Earthbound spirits deserve to move on.

If you have had an experience, or are curious as to whether or not you or your home might be haunted, there is useful information in the Hauntings 101 blog.

Source(s):
Shadowlands
Personal knowledge from various research and investigation.

Ley Lines

What is a Ley Line?

Ley lines are hypothetical alignments of a number of places of geographical interest, such as ancientmonuments and megaliths. Their existence was suggested in 1921 by the amateur Archaeologist Alfred Watkins, whose book The old Straight Track brought the alignments to the attention of the wider public. It is important to note the Watkins did not invent or discover, but merely re-discover and popularize the theory of Leys or Ley Lines.

What do Ley Lines mean?

The existence of alignments between sites is easily demonstrated. However, the causes of these alignments are disputed. The major interpretations are:
-Archaeological-
-Cultural-
-New Age-
-Skeptical-
The Archaeological interpretation of Ley Lines suggests a new avenue of archaological study: archaeogeodesy. Archaeogeodesy examines Geodesy as practiced in prehistoric time, and as evidenced by archaeological remains. One major aspect of modern Geodesy is surveying. As interpreted by geodesy, the so-called ley lines can be the product of ancient surveying, property markings, or commonly traveled pathways.
The Cultural interpretation of Ley Lines suggests many cultures use straight lines across the landscape. In South America, such lines often are directed towards mountain peaks; the Nazca lines are a famous example of lengthy lines made by ancient cultures.
The New Age interpretation of Ley Lines suggests that Ley Lines and their intersection points resonate a special psychic or other form of mystical energy, often including elements such as Geomancy, dowsing, or UFOs, stating that, for instance, UFO's travel along ley lines (in the way that one might observe that cars use roads and highways). This belief postulates that points on lines have electrical or magnetic forces associated with them.
Lastly, the Skeptical interpretation of Ley Lines often suggests the classification of Ley Lines to be pseudoscience. Such skeptics tend to doubt that ley lines were planned or made by ancient cultures, and argue that apparent ley lines can be readily explained without resorting to extraordinary or pseudoscientific ideas.
Note: The existence of the observed alignments is not controversial. Both believers in magical and ancient theories of ley lines and skeptics of these theories agree that these alignments exist between megaliths and ancient sites.

According to claims by investigators of Ley Line theories, some points along the lines possess higher magnetic energy than the average geomagnetic intensity. These claims have been published in "Places of Power" (Paul Devereux; Blandford Press, 1990) and "Lodestone Compass: Chinese or Olmec Primacy?" (John B. Carlson; Science, 1975).

Ley Line Controversy?
According to Paul Devereux, it was the Occultist Dion Fortune in her 1936 novel The Goat-Foot God (republished in 1971 by S. Weiser, New York, and in 1989 by Aquarian Press, Northamptonshire) who invented the idea that ley lines were "lines of power" linking prehistoric sites. A few years later, it was suggested that ley lines followed lines cosmic energy in the Earth and could be detected using dowsing rods. In the 1960s, ley lines, or "leys" as they were now called, became linked with UFO sightings.
The demonstration of the plausibility of the current evidence under the null hypothesis is not a formal disproof of Ley Line claims. However, it does make skeptics likely to consider Ley Line theories as unsupported by the current evidence. Most skeptics would be willing to reconsider the hypothesis of Ley Lines if there were non-anecdotal evidence of physical, geomagnetic or archeological features that actually lie along the lines. Skeptics believe that no such convincing evidence has been presented. There is a broad range of beliefs about and theories of Ley Lines, many of which are not falsifiable, and which are thus not generally amenable to the Scientific Method. Some people find Ley Lines compatible with a scientific approach, but much of the literature is written by people who are indifferent to or actively oppose such an approach.

Whether there is any real power or reason behind Ley Lines, the world may never know.

Hauntings FAQ's

Ever feel as though you are not alone?

Hauntings and contact with the other side has been well documented since the written word. It's man's attempt at the age old question of what happens after death. Whether there is a paradise in the sky, or we are simply here for eternity in a more spiritual form: when some people die, they don't want to leave. This is going to be more of an educational and informational blog and not one of a recent event or news bulletin in the world of paranormal phenomena. Today we are going to cover a few basic questions: How can I tell if I am haunted? What is haunting me? What am I haunted? Whether it is all in your head (common ways to debunk)? What can I do about it?

There is a lot of ground to cover here, so you might want to get comfortable.

How can I tell if I or my home are haunted?

If you have any reason to feel you are haunted, know that you are not alone. We are not trying to tell you that there's not the possibility that you are entirely schizophrenic, but we will say that you may not be all that crazy.

Though most occurrences can be easily debunked, there are a variety of occurrences associated with a haunting including apparitions, EVP, Ectoplasm, voices, high EMF readings, large temperature fluctuations, banging or rapping, orbs... and the list goes on.

What is haunting me?

If you genuinely do feel that you are haunted, there are some simple things you can do to check out the other world around you and help you legitimize or debunk your claim. First off, you need to find out what's going on and identify your symptoms. I speak as though it's some kind of ailment, but in all honesty, most haunts are harmless. You might be surprised to find that it's easy to categorize a haunt if you have an intelligent full-bodied apparition standing beside you, but otherwise it can sometimes be tricky.
There are three basic categories of haunt:
- Residual -
- Intelligent -
- Inhuman -
A Residual Haunt is an unintelligent haunt. Plain and simple. Residual haunts are, generally speaking, a haunt where there is a repeated event or phenomena regardless of outside influence. An unintelligent/residual haunt will not notice the presence of it's fleshy observers, and often will occur around the same time and/or place. There have been many documented reports of unintelligent apparitions and various repetitive events; if you see it and it doesn't see you, it's a good bet that it is a residual haunt. Most residual haunts are as if someone recorded an event or scene and then replayed it on an eternal loop. As mentioned before, apparitions along with EVP's or sounds, are generally reported, but it does not have to be either to be a Residual. Just a repetitive sight, sound, event or unintelligently motivated paranormal occurrence. Generally speaking, you will not have to worry about a residual haunt because they are an unintelligent haunt and not malevolent in nature, occasionally they have been reported to be the cause of property damage. Though not an intelligent haunt, these can be the result of an earthbound spirit.
An Intelligent Haunt is broad category covering everything malevolent and benign from a previous owner to your mom's dead great aunt who just wanted to drop by and say hi. These are spirits or entities that respond to outside stimuli including conversation, provocation, or even just noting the presence of other people or objects in the surrounding area. These can be apparitions, EVP, or any other sight of intelligence or motivation behind the signs of a haunt. Generally speaking, you have to remember that most intelligent haunts are by entities that were at some point human and are now earthbound spirits, so they have emotions just like any other human; they can be angered or joyful, and can be easily affected by their surroundings. In other words, it's not a good idea to pick on a ghost because sometimes they hit back harder.
Lastly, there are Inhuman Haunts. There are two inhuman haunts: Demonic and Poltergeist.
Poltergeist. The word poltergeist is a German word and literally translated means "noisy ghost". For the most part a poltergeist is exactly that, an intelligent entity that communicates through various avenues of noise or the moving of objects (some also attribute asports to poltergeist activity). The down side of discovering you have a poltergeist us that they tend to be rather moody; not necessarily malevolent, but just easily irritated. The odds of one throwing knives at you like something out of a movie are extremely unlikely, but I have seen reports of people having chair pulled out from under them and other similar occurrences. Usually manifested due to children or teenagers and is enhanced by limestone and/or quartz deposits. Some people attribute poltergeist activity to Psychokinesis.
Demonic haunts. A lot of people see demonic and start thinking of Hell, Satan, and any number of other commercial identifications associated with the word. Truth is, these entities are rare and they are mean. These are hostile and resentful, non-human, entities often accompanied by several symptoms; most notable of which is the presence of sulfur or some kind of similarly ill-scented odor. Though little is actually known about the entities origin, it is rather obvious that they would be malevolent in nature, as most Demonic haunts are a direct attempt at possession, though not all are swift and direct about it. Interestingly, some Demonic entities have been known to mimic the signs of a poltergeist. Please note that these are extremely rare and if you believe you have a poltergeist, do not freak out about how we told you that you have a demon in your closet because the reality is that you probably don't.

Why am I (or my home) haunted?

There are a number of explanations for ghostly occurrences. Once you know what kind of haunt you are experiencing, it is fairly simple to identify possible reasons these occurrences are taking place. The best way to find out possible explanations for a haunt is to learn the history of not only your house and/or it's previous owners, but also the history of the land. Of course, there is always home remodeling, invocation, and other obvious ways to provoke an intelligent entity. A history of some form of burial grounds, suicide, psychotic episodes, war, murder, and other extreme circumstances are often found surrounding the areas of genuine haunts.

What are the odds that it's all in my head?

For every person that has a genuine experience with a ghost or some other kind of paranormal phenomena, there are two others out there lying. Unfortunately, such a statistic is taken a great toll on the credibility of various sightings and the possibility of phenomena in society today.
The best way to tell if you have anything paranormal going on is to approach it as skeptically as possible. There is nothing going on unless there is no other way to prove that it happened.There are a number of easy ways to debunk occurrences that people believe to be paranormal, but it can be anything from noisy pipes to a bad camera. Here I will give a few quick and easy ways to debunk some classic occurrences. Keep in mind that not all of these occurrences can or will be debunked and that's where the paranormal phenomena comes into play.

- - Some Basic Debunking - -

Sulfur Smell - There can be any number of explanations other than a demonic haunt for this occurrence, seek them out. In many houses the water smells, I've personally seen this a number of times. It resembles rotten eggs and is often attributed to a demonic haunt.

Drafts/Temperature Fluctuations - check for vents, windows, and other ways for air to enter or travel.
Voices / EVP's - be sure there are no outside influences such as pedestrians, etc.
Poltergeist activity (including Rapping/banging) - A lot of older places have noisy pipes that run through the walls and fluctuations in the temperature(s) of those pipes can cause noises similar to poltergeist activity. Keep in mind that drafts can move doors , shutter, etc. Another explanation for Poltergeist activity is Psychokinesis, which is self-induced.
Orbs - Orbs are often seen as some kind of apparition or spirit. I personally do not believe this. Orbs have also been attributed to the creation of crop circles and have been associated with other paranormal phenomena such as rods, but honestly I have to say that I do not know. I must say that orbs in still photography, digital or otherwise, have no impression on me because of the high tendency for it to simply be dust on a lens or some other kind of film or camera edit or glitch. More often then not, still photographs of orbs can easily be attributed dust in the air or on the actual camera lens.

What do I do if I am haunted?

If all else fails and you find yourself with a genuine haunting, the first thing I would recommend doing is relaxing. If it is a residual, benign, or non-malevolent entity you really have nothing to fear. If it is a malevolest entity, poltergiest, or even a demonic haunt, you still need to relax. These are entities that feed off of negative energy and fear. There are three steps I recommend doing in the case of the latter:
1. Take back your home or self - This is your home, your body, your space. Yours, not theirs. You have the right to tell them to go away and force them to, enforce and empower that right. Sometimes something as simple as asking it to leave will work.
2. Cleanse - If after trying to take back your space or home you are still faced with paranormal phenomena associated with the haunting, there are a number of ways you can cleanse your space. The easiest way is to burn Sage; there are a number of different options available though for various entities and belief systems. If you want more ideas, try Google.
3. Exorcism - An Exorcism, in my opinion at least, is just an glorified cleansing ritual. Popularized by the Roman Catholics, these ceremonies can have more of an impact for cleansing than other rituals because of the faith many people put in the Clergyman, High Priest, Shaman, etc.

Sources:
TAPS
TAPS Glossary
My personal knowledge from various research and investigation.

Denver UFO Video

There are aliens in America! No, I'm not talking about illegal mexicans, I mean bug-eyed beauties from outerspace. That's right... breath deep the sweetness of America the free and independently conflicted country of beauty and ET. If you weren't feeling patriotic before, now you should be running for the flags because we have more illegal aliens then ever thought!

I am, of course, making reference to the fairly recent release (if that's what you can call it) of the "Denver UFO Video", being hyped and promoted by alien lovers everywhere. The video that is said to break the government hold on the truth about aliens and to once and for all clear the air of mystery surrounding ET.
The above screen capture was the only released material associated with this video. You know, for a video that's support to get rid of mystery, it sure is shrouded in a lot of it. How are we supposed to be made believers when the sheer hoarding of the footage naturally makes us want to turn our backs on it?

The video, revealed on Friday May 30th to a select number of local (Denver-area) reporters, supposedly contains footage of an authenticated alien sighting. A real, honest-to-goodness, breathing, blinking, living alien... or so they say. Not only that, but he won't be releasing it online, or allowing anyone to rebroadcast it. The people who get to see it are only allowed to write about it, no pictures other than the above are allowed.

Jeff Peckman, proposer of a ballot initiative to create an Extra Terrestrial Affairs Commision in Denver, jumped on the wagon early with the discovery of this footage as a means to promote his cause. An instructor at the Colorado Film School in Denver carefully scrutinized the video and reportedly validated its authenticity. However, I remain skeptical, and I am not alone.
Sadly the general public will have to wait to see it because it's being included in a documentary by Stan Romanek. How convenient.

I think it's time some long-lost cousin needs to get a hold of the footage and throw it up on Youtube so that people could judge for themselves. I don't think it's right that they include it in a documentary without a basic reaction to it. I mean... the documentary could make all the claims in the world, and it will have an affect on the perception of this footage, which I do not agree with.

Anyhow... the video has a mildly humorous story behind it. I mean, when aliens announce their presence you'd think that they would have a bit more tact than this...

You see, apparently the man who taped the Alien set up the hidden camera as a way to catch who he thought were peeping tom's spying on his teenage girls, when he played the tape back, he was shocked to find that there were no peeping tom's, but there were aliens. heh. I'm sorry, but the scenerio just sounds too coincidental to have any real merit to me. This random Colorado man just happens to find an excuse to randomly videotape a window in his home (which is not a regular thing) and the exact same night that he does a real life alien just happens to come over for a looksy? I think not. This is just too convenient for me. Either way, the only way anyone is going to see this puppy is to be in the immediate family, part of the documentary group, or be a chosen media affiliate. This really is rediculous.

Now, on to my personal views on this...

Look... I think that aliens exist. I mean, to believe we Humans are the only intelligent entities in the entirety of our endless, constantly expanding, universe is impractical. However, I think that people need to take a step back and analyze things before jumping to conclusions, or randomly becoming obsessed with Ufology because they swear their brother's girlfriend is ET. I think that UFO's are real and that there have been true encounters; but as with anything, there are copycats and false accusations and/or reports. A LOT. People striving to become famous, needed, or who just don't want to feel alone anymore as they spend another cold night jacking off to whatever black-label porn they've selected. It's idiots like that who have created the lack of genuine belief in the possibility of the paranormal in general, not just UFO's or aliens.

As far as this whole video is concerned... I say that if you are going to attempt to be a spokesperson for alien awareness, ad I will call it... then you need to get some kind of credibility. To talk about war, politics, health, or even fashion., people need credibility... why is it so different to require it when it some to Ufology? It's not. The proposed documentary probably has various avenues of credible sources, but if it is a real video of an alien, it should be open to the public... people should be able to freely access it. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION!

Wendigo

For our first blog, I figure I will post details and/or information of the infamous Wendigo(s). (AKA: Windigo, Windago, Wee-tee-go, Windiga, Witiko, Wihtikow, and various other variations.)

If you have ever read (or seen) The Village, you can understand what I mean when I say that things are not always what they seem. From the beginning of time, man has created stories, myths, and so forth about the things that live in the dark, the woods, or the unknown lands. The Wendigo is one of these many tales. Generally associated with the dark, cold, wooded areas of northern Minnesota and Ontario, the Wendigo is a well-noted part of Algonquian culture and since had lived on through other Native American cultures and legends.
As with the Witch and Werewolf trials in Europe, Canada had it's share of Wendigo trials in the settler days; such accounts were often well documented.

What is a Wendigo?

The Wendigo's classification has remained debatable, jumping somewhere between the physical and biological anomolies associated with Cryptozoology and a spiritual view ranging from malevolent spirit to forms of demonic possesion.
Theories of how one becomes a Wendigo are varied, but they all resort to one cause: cannibalism. Some believe a human could transform into the Wendigo, while others believed the phenomena to be related directly with possession by a Wendigo spirit. No matter, all cultures in which the Wendigo myth appeared shared the belief that human beings could turn into Wendigos if they ever resorted to cannibalism or, alternately, become possessed by the demonic spirit of a Wendigo.
They were strongly associated with the Winter, the North, and coldness, as well as with famine and starvation. At the same time, Wendigos were embodiments of gluttony, greed, and excess; never satisfied after killing and consuming one person. There is even a satirical ceremonial dance originally performed during times of famine to reinforce the seriousness of the Wendigo taboo.

Can a Wendigo stop itself?

Though most tales recount the Wendigo as being cannibalistic, dangerous, and malevolent, some still maintain that the human spirit can have some impact on the decisions of the Wendigo. That the host can still try to live far from civilization to prevent anyone from gaining the misfortune of becoming it's next victim. Some Wendigo possessed people were said to even commit suicide to prevent hurting anyone.

What does a Wendigo look like?

To paraphrase various complex and detailed descriptions of the creature, the Wendigo is an extremely skeletal creature lacking any real muscular tissue other than skin and bones, it's skin color ranges from yellow to ash gray, and its eyes range from deep blackened pits to glowing yellow eyes. The description varies quite a bit at times; adding hair, fur, fangs, antlers, and other variations, the Wendigo is one truly left up to the darkest reaches of the human imagination. Some groups believed whenever a Wendigo ate another person, they would grow larger, in proportion to the meal they had just eaten, so that they could never be full.
To sum them up: Windego(s) are tall, lanky and are driven by a horribly insatiable hunger.

Is there any recent Wendigo Activity?

A Wendigo allegedly made a number of appearances near a town called Rosesu in Northern Minnesota from the late 1800's through the 1920's. Each time that it was reported, an unexpected death followed and finally, it was seen no more. The latest sighting in Ontario of such a creature was back in 1997 by an American trucker near St. Catherine's.

What our your Conclusion?

Some theorize that the tales of the Wendigo were the result of sightings of Big-Foot-type creatures, which the local leaders quickly took advantage of as a way to repress cannibalistic views of some, thus they created the story of the Wendigo. With this in mind, it is interesting to note that the wendigo legend is restricted to the colder parts of the American continent and hasn't spread south. Some would suggest that this bit of information would encourage the idea that a Wendigo is some kind of fictitious tale surrounding some form of ape-man.
Unfortunately, many people tend to believe that the Wendigo is more of a spiritual takeover, or infection, than anything else. Some stories borderline the theories of Werewolf lore; being if one is bitten that the spirit of the Wendigo infects them with no real cure. My personal opinion is that the legends created some form of Wendigo-Psychosis frenzy, resulting in cannibalistic tendencies in persons who were said to be possessed by the Wendigo Spirit. Though, by that same coin, people could simply be possessed and by that note out of their own mind, which is a troubled mental state in itself. Either way, the northern tales of the Wendigo will live on, deterring canabalists everywhere. Real or not, anything that keeps people from trying to eat me is okay in my book.

Anything else?

Like Lycanthropy and it's obvious associate with Lycans or Werewolves, Wendigo's have an associated mental condition related to the symptoms of the legendary cannibal, known as Wendigo Psychosis. But Windego Psychosis is a coined term and is not recognized as an official mental condition my the APA.

Note: Wendigo Psychosis is also an associated mental condition. (As with the term Wendigo, the associated mental condition has many referenced spellings and alternative terms) It refers to a condition in which sufferers developed an insatiable desire to eat human flesh even when other food sources were readily available, often as a result of prior famine cannibalism Windigo Psychosis is identified by Western psychologists as a culture-bound syndrome, though members of the aboriginal communities in which it existed believed cases literally involved individuals turning into Wendigos. Such individuals generally recognized these symptoms as meaning that they were turning into Wendigos, and often requested to be executed before they could harm others.

Popular Culture Note: Recently the Wendigo has also become a horror entity of contemporary literature and film, much like the vampire, werewolf, or zombie, although these fictional depictions often bear little resemblance to the original entity.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendigo
http://www.prairieghosts.com/wendigo.html
http://dinojoe.8m.com/crypto/windigo.html
Troy Taylor
Trevor Mendham