Supernatural Spotlight: Jeanne Barrack

As Abraham Lincoln once said, "...sexual contact is a harp of a thousand strings."

I've been meaning to write about Jeanne Barrack for quite some time now, but I haven't had the opportunity to write one of my regular Monday posts in weeks. She stumbled across me entirely by accident through this blog... and I'm quite glad she did!

Barrack is a former New Yorker (and I won't hold that against her), music therapist, singer, and romance novelist. She married her high school sweetheart and, after chasing dreams across the country, settled in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

When we typically think of romance work, images of Fabio carrying a frail, scantily-clad woman pop into our minds. Yet, Barrack has broken that mold and aimed her sights on the paranormal. One of her latest books, The Sweet Flag, tells the tale of a gay ghost hunter and his encounters with the ghost of a gay Civil War soldier.

Make no mistake: this tale is certainly not for the faint of heart. She certainly knows how to get into the mind of a gay man... If you're looking for something supernatural as well as steamy, this is definitely a must-read!

Queer Paranormal Road Trip: Rexmont Inn

I have to thank Richard F. for passing along this interesting little tale.

In the tiny village of Rexmont with its one stop sign, you will find a quaint bed and breakfast known as the Rexmont Inn.

The mansion was built in 1875 for banker and businessman Cyrus Rex, where he lived with his niece, Susan Amanda. Cyrus was the namesake for the town and made his fortune selling acre-sized lots to the local miners. He was a "confirmed bachelor" and often traveled to Europe with his "companion" Dr. Andrew M. Gleninger.

The Susan Amanda Room, her former bedroom, is one of the hot spots of paranormal activity at the inn. Visitors and staff have encountered a figure wearing a flowing gown.

But the owners seem to doubt it's Susan. The ghost seems to be taller than a young girl should be.

Cyrus had more than his share of skeletons in the closet. He was a rather private person, yet the townspeople knew he was gay... and that he enjoyed cross-dressing.

So if you find yourself staying the night in Susan's old bedroom and see what appears to be a female apparition gliding across your floor, don't assume it is Susan. It quite possibly could be the spirit of Cyrus Rex, having a little dress-up fun in the afterlife...

Who says drag is dead?

While the inn does not have a website, anyone interested in spending the night at 299 Rexmont Road in Lebanon County can call (717) 274-2669 to make a reservation.

I Saw It With My Own Third Eye...

Colleen Leduc pulled her daughter, Victoria Nolet, out of Terry Fox Elementary School last week in Ontario, Canada. She no longer trusts the school system after an incident involving a teacher... and a psychic.

In the city of Barrie, 50 miles north of Toronto, Simcoe County District School Board contacted the Children's Aide Society to investigate an allegation of sexual abuse against the 11-year-old student last week. What could possibly prompt such a drastic measure, you ask? Why, the word of a psychic, of course.

Victoria's Educational Assistant recently visited a psychic. She was told that a student of hers, whose name begins with "V", was being sexually abused by a man between 23 and 26 years old. Mrs. Deluc was called into the school urgently, notified about the information, and handed a list of behaviors her daughter was exhibiting that coincided with victims of abuse.

The only problem is Victoria is severely autistic and nonverbal, and those behaviors are common with the disorder. And never mind the fact that she doesn't have any contact with males of that age range.

Oops.

The school board claims they were merely "following protocol" and "in all cases this (information) must be reported". CAS found no evidence of abuse and dropped the investigation, yet Mrs. Deluc is still infuriated. She demands an apology and is considering legal action against the school system.

So a family can be investigated for abuse on the whim of a psychic, yet it takes extreme measures for someone to be diagnosed with a mental disease? That sounds fair to me...

What's in Your Backyard?

Linda Stauder and Gene Snyder Jr. knew there was something strange about their Milton, Pennsylvania home. Stauder has felt a ghostly presence upstairs on a few occasions since moving in back in 1994.

Now they just might have the mystery solved.

Recently, they were tearing up their backyard to build a deck. As the backhoe plunged into the earth, more than dirt came up.

It was the marble tombstone of a Reuben Cooper. He passed away April 29, 1894.

The couple believe it might be the identity of their resident spook, and the stone might mark the location of his grave. Authorities have advised the couple not to disturb the remains, if they are indeed there. After the deck is built onto the 1830s farmhouse, the headstone will be returned to the exact place it was found out of respect for the dead.

Of course, Stauder has some sound advice for owners of older homes.

"Be careful where you dig."

A Brief Personal Commentary...

Come, Balki! We do the Dance of Joy!

Don't ask...

As you can probably tell from my Perfect Strangers reference, I'm in high spirits today (no pun intended). I'm psyched. Enthralled. Eager.

Life is interesting.

As promised, though, I'll be returning to regular posts again. And so, without further ado....

After the Panic at the Disco...

Well, I'm feeling relaxed tonight. Relatively. I've accomplished what I needed to work on this weekend, though a bit later than I expected. I would love to discuss things further, but since I have this nasty habit of jinxing myself whenever I open my mouth, it will have to wait a while.

Otherwise, my weekend was interesting. Cleveland Pride was decent. Same people, same setup. I didn't even notice there was a theme until we were leaving... isn't that sad?

Dinner plans changed. There was a $10 cover just to walk into Union Station, and since no food is worth that overhead cost, we ventured elsewhere. The second choice of restaurants turned out to be just as unfortunate. They were without power and unable to cook! Finally, we opted for Bennigan's.

I had a pint of Guinness and a burger, and all was well with the world.

This week is passing extremely quickly. Almost too fast. Perhaps because of the many things that need to be done? I have phone calls to make tomorrow, plans to set into motion, and an immense cleaning project ahead to turn my desk from a disastrous mountain of chaos to a real work station. No wonder I have a difficult time focusing. Too many distractions.

I do have two bright bits of news today to share with you all. I have more good press!

Just tonight, author Jeanne Barrack posted an interview with me on her blog, The Sweet Flag. She's a delightful woman... and since I haven't gotten around to featuring her on here yet, I may as well mention her now! Also, Paranormalizer reviewed my blog on his website (and I'll be adding the tag eventually.. once I figure it all out). A 10 out of 10!! Wow, I'm impressed. That must be a typo. So much for my self-impression of mediocrity!

And here I thought I was the only one getting much enjoyment out of my words. You like me!! You really, really like me! *sniff*

Tomorrow, between frantic phone calls and very important emails, I'll be returning to my usual insane self. Goodness gracious... after such a slow few weeks, I should be able to come up with some great material for here!

A Brief Emergence from My Coffin

I'm still alive. I swear I really am.

It was an interesting weekend for me, but I will have to wait a while longer before I mention all the details. I'm slightly overloaded with work at the moment, so my entries will be more sporadic than usual. Today's "Supernatural Spotlight" will be posted later in the week, as will several other things. I'm in the midst of a lot of other writing and have about a dozen phone calls to make, so these things must wait...

For now, I'm taking a brief hiatus from my blog, but only for 24-48 more hours. This week will be a very busy one for me, but in a VERY good way. Meanwhile, be sure to check Wednesday on The Sweet Flag for a brief interview with yours truly.

Never fear. I will return to my regular odd self within a few days!

Queer Paranormal Road Trip: The Urge

When it comes to diversity, New York City has everything for everyone.

New York's gay community gained notoriety during the Stonewall riots, when abused gay men and lesbians turned the tables on the corrupt police force, pinning them inside the Stonewall Inn and forever altering history. Since that time, Chelsea and Greenwich Village have been known to be gay meccas, yet all of Manhattan is quite welcoming of people of all sexual orientations.

In the East Village, you can find one of New York's many gay bars. The Urge, on 2nd Avenue at 2nd Street, has everything you would expect in a nightclub. There's a beautiful central oval bar, drag shows, DJs, dancing, and male strippers. And if you believe tales from the owners and patrons, it also has ghosts.

While undergoing renovations, something seems to have been stirred up in the walls. Poltergeist activity has plagued the club ever since. While the spooks haven't kept the customers away, it is commonplace for the occasional drink to be dumped over by a mysterious force. No one is quite sure who could be haunting the establishment, yet the possibilities are endless.

After all, the building was once a funeral home.

Whether you visit NYC for the shopping, nightlife, or unquiet dead, there's something for everybody. Just remember that no matter how lively the atmosphere can be, the dearly departed could be right over your shoulder...

I Got My Pride...

As the week goes by, I've found myself preoccupied with so many things, my blog has suffered. I do sincerely apologize to my dear readers. Never fear; there will be my regular "road trip" posted tomorrow still! Believe it or not, I have enough stories to last throughout the summer and into the fall.

Otherwise, tomorrow I'll be heading to the haunted Mansfield Reformatory for an overnight paranormal investigation. The prison is quite notorious for it's hauntings and was even featured on an episode of Ghost Hunters. Though we'll be permitted to stay until 6:30 AM, I know I won't be lasting that long. It should prove to be an interesting night. At the very least, there will be fun and amusement to be had.

The main reason I won't stay all night is Saturday plans. It's that time of year again. Rain or shine, northeast Ohio will be having it's annual Cleveland Pride celebration at Voinovich Park. Though I'll probably be sleeping through the parade, I'll be at the festival itself in the afternoon. It will be interesting to see what this year brings... and who I happen to see. And if you happen to be there, don't hesitate to say hello if you see me. I swear, I really am a friendly person!

Later on, my friends and I will head over to Union Station for dinner, drinks, and perhaps a show. I'm already planning on having a long island iced tea that night, unless there happens to be a decent drink special. By that time, I'll need a little libation to relax and unwind.

Over all, it's a crazy few days ahead. But it's that time of year to let your hair down (which is actually possible for me now that I'm letting it grow out beyond the usual buzz cut... or as my friends say, "turning emo") and enjoying life. Freedom and celebration will be in the air. And for me, it's a time of major change.

This summer could prove to be a pivotal turning point in my life...

Nothing More Than Feelings...

It's another week of writer's block and emotional outbursts for me. While last week ended on a very good and positive note, the past several days have flipped that coin upside-down.

I think it probably began with the this weekend's festivities. Bickering, snobbery, and irritation reigned supreme. Coupled with the lack of sleep, it was extremely draining. Is it my imagination or do people feel the need to complain and aggravate others just to make their days better? Is it not possible for a group of people to spend time together without putting people down, being mean to each other, or have a reckless disregard for others?

As I began catching up on sleep, I couldn't shake that not-so-chipper feeling. Little things began weighing on my mind. Everything felt personal. I could literally feel the tension building in my chest. I felt the urge to break down and cry. Sanctuary seemed to be an impossibility. Although a knight in shining armor broke the monotony with a comedic line from a movie, sending me back into some form of normality, as a new day dawned today the same feelings returned. I felt like a burden. I felt like the world's problems were all my burden. I had to step back and take a breath.

I'm sorry, I have my own baggage. Do I look like a porter?

Everyone around me is in some type of turmoil, and the caring part of me wants to fix everything but doesn't know how. I enjoy being there for friends. I care deeply about my friends (even the ones who could care less about me). I'm not saying that I want everyone to back off, just spilling out my own emotions in the only way I ever seem to know how (and get away with doing): by writing them down.

I feel mildly better knowing my friend Chris is going through the same bout of melancholia as I am. But even that is a two-way street: I want to make him feel better while I don't even know how to make myself feel better. My mind feels like a complete chaos of thoughts. I have so much to get finished over the next few weeks yet it's not easy to focus on any one thing.

And then there's my traditional worry: that friends who read this will interpret it as a personal attack, which it isn't. I have a tendency to vent and have it misinterpreted by those close to me. It's just my way of saying, "Sometimes, I have those days where I need to release the tension that I keep bottled up inside so I won't explode." I have a trunk full of worries and fears tucked out of view on a constant basis. There aren't very many people in my life who I can feel openly comfortable unloading my tension upon and end up feeling better.

We all have those moments in our lives where we wish life came with some form of return or exchange policy. Trade in your used-up emotions, mistakes, and follies in return for a clean slate. We strive for perfection, falter along the way, and feel rotten when life ends up imperfect. yet that's what life is: imperfection. It's a learning experience. Accidents do happen. Milk is spilled. People get hurt. We forget that no matter how much we want life to be what we want, it ends up being what it is meant to be.

In the end, we make do with things. We try our best to make life tolerable. We either forgive mistakes or bury them behind us. We cope. The horizon stretches out far in the distance and as long as our eyes remain fixed on what awaits us, we can make it through another day.

Ghosts Pointing Fingers...

Being dead isn't always a handicap. Given the right opportunity, you can fight crime from beyond the grave.

A pedophile is behind bars right now to prove this point.

During the taping of a live show for medium Patrick Hutchinson last year in a pub, a message came through from an audience member's grandmother. The spirit told Hutchinson that the girl had been abused 10 years prior and the guilty man was still at large. The ethereal confession weighed on the mind of the 20-year-old receiver and prompted her to tell her friend... who had also been a victim of Terrance Dunstan of Morley, Leeds.

A complaint was filed in October. Soon after, a third girl came forward with similar allegations. Dunstan was charged with 5 counts of indecent assault on the three girls, and the court discovered previous allegations and a guilty plea from 2005.

Dunstan, 61, has been sentenced to over 5 1/2 years in prison and will be on the sex offenders list for the remainder of his life.

The Return to Dysfunction Junction...

The camping trip was an interesting experience, to say the least. Rest? Relaxation? Not such a strong possibility. In fact, last night I may have had a total of an hour of sleep. Between a dog and people talking and laughing until dawn, rest wasn't an option.

I felt relieved to take a shower today, took a brief nap, dealt with the insanity called my neighbors (they went so far as to slam their door so hard it shattered the glass), and overall have felt the stress level rise back to overflowing. At times, I wonder if Alice's adventures in Wonderland were more sane than what seems to surround me on a daily basis.

Otherwise, I was too tired to post this weekend's entries, so I'll save them for this coming week. For now, I'm burning some incense to attempt a calmer atmosphere... and looking forward to a nice, long sleep in a bed for the first time all weekend.

The Great Outdoors and an Aussie Breakfast

As of this afternoon, I will be taking a brief leave of absence for a couple days. I'm heading out with TOP-Org, a paranormal investigation group, to spend the weekend camping at the haunted Beaver Creek State Park near East Liverpool in Columbiana County, Ohio.

The weather is threatening to make it a damp affair, but I'm trying to remain optimistic. I've decided to travel light in lieu of the weather forecast, so I'm leaving most of my equipment behind. it will be more for relaxation... and perhaps an eye-witness encounter, if I'm lucky.

I'll be returning on Sunday and will fill in all the interesting details. But for now, I have to discuss breakfast...

In an astounding seven days, my package from my dear friend Joel in Australia arrived on my doorstep. It was much more than I expected, in a very nice and sweet way: a flash drive, photo card (the most important part!), a beautiful Australian opal watch.

And yes... there was Vegemite inside!

As an unfortunate American, I shall have to put my own perspective on the taste experience which is Vegemite. I'll admit, I was a bit frightened when Joel mentioned something about "suppressing my urge to gag". Nevertheless, I took the French bread I baked yesterday, slathered on a good dose of the brown goo, and crossed my fingers...

I now understand why I was told to use it sparingly.

it is a very unique, salty, almost charred-smoky flavor, with a hint of veggies. Imagine beef bullion, vegetable spread, and a hint of Guinness blended into a paste. I'll admit, I felt as many Aussie children must while tasting it for the first time, hearing their mothers saying, "It's good for you." I managed to eat both slices (without gagging, of course) and will be sure to eat it on a regular basis (they say we have to taste something 15 times to acquire a taste for it, so it may be a few weeks).

Obviously, the typical American would wretch at the first taste, but I'm a trooper.

And with that introduction to fine Aussie cuisine over for the day, I must get back to work. Noon will be here before I know it!

Queer Paranormal Road Trip: Queen's Theatre

The Queen's Theatre can be found in the heart of Soho, only a few blocks from London's Leicester Square. London has become infamous for hauntings, and even it's gay neighborhood would not be complete without, you guessed it, a gay ghost.

The Queen's Theatre opened it's doors on Shaftesbury Avenue on October 8, 1907. Originally, it was to be named Central Theatre (to which Bernard Shaw stated, "as if it were a criminal court or a railway terminus"), but after much debate the name Queen's was attached, and a portrait of Queen Alexandra was fixed above the fireplace in the grand entrance foyer.

On September 24, 1940, during World War II, a bomb was dropped on the theater, ripping off the front of the building, destroying the stone dome and foyer, and killing three unnamed people. After a costly reconstruction, it reopened in 1959 and has been showing plays ever since. In fact, the longest running performance of Les Misérables still can be seen there to this day.

While the theater is host to a few supernatural entities, one in particular made his presence known to medium Becky Walsh during an investigation for Spirit & Destiny Magazine in 2006. A male presence had been spotted periodically in the upper circle. The team had been notified that ushers have felt uncomfortable stares while changing in the stall bars. During a séance conducted in a corridor which formerly connected to backstage, a male presence did indeed come through. And he had a message to deliver.

He fancied one of them men on the team. And he enjoyed watching the boys changing into their uniforms.

An ethereal queen in the Queen's Theatre? What are the odds?

So if you find yourself in London at one of the top theaters on the West End, be sure to keep a lookout for a male figure looming in the shadows. If you're an attractive man, he just might be looking back at you...

Stopping By the Laptop on a Muggy Evening...

I do apologize for not having posted as much as usual this week. I have been busily typing away on more pressing matters.

I am once more taking the plunge. Beginning tomorrow morning, I'm sending out queries for another book idea.

I'll need all the luck I can possibly get right now. As an editor said to me this week, "It's tough out there." But given it's originality and peculiarity, I believe it has a sporting chance.

Tomorrow, it's back to normal before I venture out on a weekend of water-logged camping and ghost hunting.

Stay tuned for another gay ghost, redefining death, a Vegemite taste test, and this weekend's adventure...

When in Rome...

England is known for it's ghostly tales. And one of the most bizarre legends I have heard comes from Bath.

While the town itself has many supernatural presences, one obscure one stands out above the others. Apparently, the area around Bath Abbey and part of the town centre is haunted by the apparition of a Roman soldier.

A nude Roman soldier.

While the Abbey itself only dates back to 1499, the land on which it was built has been a site of religious importance as early as the 4th century. As it's name implies, the Romans built several baths in the area and were quite prominent in the region. Therefore, a nude soldier shouldn't quite be a shock.

Do naked ghosts exist? Apparently... yet I haven't had an opportunity to experience one for myself. But if you ever find yourself in Bath, keep on the lookout for the ethereal streaker...

Your Tax Dollars at Work...

The IRS has some explaining to do.

The Independent Review Service, that is.

In am effort to boost morale among employees, the British government agency, responsible for pensioning out the Social fund to the needy, decided to hold a séance. Plans were thwarted after news of the event was leaked to local media.

"It doesn't take a crystal ball to see that this would have cost a lot and achieved nothing," said a spokesman for The Taxpayers' Alliance.

Workers at the Birmingham office were shocked when they heard what was in store for them. Not only was it viewed as a gross waste of funds, it could also be deemed 'offensive' to those who recently lost a loved one or have religious objections.

Bringing a medium in was for a "team-building exercise", according to a spokesman. While most people agree that morale is very low in the office, it would take more than a few ghosts to remove the apathy.

So much for summoning the ghosts of paupers past.

Live from Spook Central...

The British television series Most Haunted has finally announced their location for this year's Most Haunted Live episode. Yvette Fielding and the crew will be heading across the pond once more to one of America's "most haunted" locations: Gettysburg.

The show will feature several haunted hot spots throughout the town: from taverns and inns to farms and historic homes. As always, there will be interactive components for home viewers including live viewer feedback and webcams.

The episode will air on The Travel Channel on October 10th from 8:00 PM to 3:00 AM EST.

It's Human Nature...

Ann King, staff supervisor of the Denver Parks & Recreation Department, fired three employees and suspended a fourth on what officer Bruce Plotkin called unreasonable grounds. Allegedly, there were "significant errors" in payroll. The workers were ill-trained and overloaded with work.

King, on the other hand, found the time to operate a psychic business on the side. The city authorized King to operate her own small business during her time off of work.

Perhaps she should have offered them a free psychic consultation beforehand... "I see a career change in your immediate future..."

The hearing officer ordered the employees to be given back their jobs. The mystical sideline has been halted voluntarily by King to better concentrate on her duties. The city remains convinced that King was justified in her actions.

And King's hypnosis business still lingers on in Texas. I guess residuals aren't considered a business...

No More Thrill Rides...

With the soaring popularity of investigating hauntings, it seems everyone is trying to jump on the bandwagon. Unfortunately, some people fail to follow any sort of legal procedures.

Five "ghost hunters" in El Paso, Texas, learned their lesson the hard way last week.

Jorge Montoya (17), Carmen Salazar (17), Gerardo Santoyo (18), John Carrillo (20), Rene Nunez (21), and Felipe Ochoa (23) decided to investigate the abandoned Magic Landing Amusement Park on Wednesday night. They ignored the 'No Trespassing' signs placed around the property and wandered around by flashlight, snapping photographs and looking for paranormal activity. A neighbor phoned police after seeing the lights. The quintet fled to their vehicles when police arrived, but couldn't escape the law.

Each was charged with criminal trespassing Thursday morning.

The property owners take the matter very seriously. In April, an arson fire caused $485,000 in damage to the former amusement park. They have since told Sheriff Deputies they will press charges against anyone found on their property without their consent.

Nicknamed "Tragic Landing", the park was only open for four years. Legend states that a boy lost his hand and died at the park; his ghost is said to wander the grounds. In 1985, an 18-year-old employee named Frank Guzman Jr. was killed after his arm was severed by a roller coaster while retrieving a customer's baseball hat from the track. The roller coaster is gone now... it was sold to Bosque Magico in Mexico.

I doubt this is the sort of fame hoped for by the group. Perhaps they should have made a phone call to the owners and saved themselves the trouble of calling a friend or family member to get them out of jail...

A Time for Vows and Screenings...

Another long weekend is drawing to a close. The sweltering heat has made it feel even longer, but overall it was pleasant otherwise.

Friday, I attended a wedding rehearsal for my friend Colleen and her fiancé, Erin. it was over relatively quickly and Bill, Chris, and I followed a few people to their home after for snacks and drinks. Of course, it wasn't easy. Construction and traffic wreaked havoc on those plans. We became lost after separating from the leaders... and ended up heading back to Cleveland.

We stopped for pizza then went to Bill's house where we relaxed and watched some television before calling it a night. The next, morning we woke up early, picked up Evelyn, and made out way to the church. It was a nice, relatively simple ceremony, followed by a reception in another building on the site. After a few hours, we headed back to Bill's to change and kill a little time before venturing out once more.

Evelyn received tickets to a television preview event so we decided to try it out. We watched two shows, one called Soul Mates (a mystery series pilot about two lovers from a past life reunited and attempting to unravel the past and present puzzles) and a sitcom titled Dads (previously aired a few times, a comedy about divorced fathers raising children). I gave my two cents... the first was interesting, yet needed work... the latter I disliked. We stopped for a bite to eat, dropped off Evelyn at home, and returned to Bill's. I managed to catch most of Graham Norton and Dame Edna's appearance before falling asleep.

Today, I've been a bit too drained to do much. I'll hopefully catch up on everything tomorrow. For now, I'm simply trying to stay cool...

Queer Paranormal Road Trip: Banting House Inn

If you're looking to take an extended trip to Toronto for a weekend this summer, one gay-owned bed and breakfast should be on the top of your list. In fact, it has been ranked one of the Top 10 Places to Stay in Toronto.

Believe it or not, Banting House Inn is right in the heart of downtown Toronto. Yet it's immense property and towering trees make you feel as though you're in an oasis within the city. The seven guest rooms each have their uniqueness (such as the Wedgewood Room and the Oscar Wilde Room) and the off-street parking is an added bonus! Of course, there are some possible reasons to visit... of a more supernatural nature.

The brick home was constructed in 1899... and apparently, one of it's first residents never left.

It is possible that the apparition occasionally seen by visitors is none other than Sir Frederick Banting, who once resided at the homestead. Banting was a Nobel Prize winner in 1923, made famous for his work with Dr. Charles Best which lead to the discovery of insulin. (His later home in London, Ontario houses the Canadian Diabetes Association and a museum, not to confuse the two "Banting Houses".)Banting perished in a plane crash in 1941, at the age of 49. It was also used as an animal research facility, and a few guests have reported hearing dogs barking or running up and down the hallways.

But that hasn't deterred anyone...

So if you're looking to visit Toronto and are curious to stay at a haunted inn, Banting House is the perfect spot. Even if you don't have a paranormal experience, it is certainly worth the trip.

It's All About Evie Tonight...

I'm always the last to know everything...

Did anyone else know the site GirlsWillBeGirlsOnline.com existed? No, it's not some adult site with drunken college girls and spotty camera work. It's the continuation of the comedy film bearing the same name.

Minus the "Online" part, obviously.

If you haven't watched the movie Girls Will Be Girls, you seriously should. Anyone with as warped of a sense of humor as mine will truly enjoy it. The cast includes Jack Plotnick (Drawn Together, Gods and Monsters), Clinton Leupp (Trick), and Jeffery Roberson (...I'm sure he was probably in something). Word simply cannot describe this movie, but "over the top" seems to sum it up quite nicely!

Be sure to check out the blog for plenty of video shorts. From what I was told, there won't be anymore!

Bravo, writer/director Richard Day. If I can ever write something half as funny as your work, I'll finally feel I've achieved my goal...

...and might get somewhere with my own scripts.

Not Exactly an Act of God...

Oldnall Road in the West Midlands has a high frequency of automobile accidents. The most recent involved a motorcycle. If the incidents were reported to insurance companies, they probably didn't mention a commonly reported cause: a ghost.

Late-night travelers have encountered an apparition of a young girl, between three and five years old, dressed in Victorian attire standing in the center of the street. People who encountered the ghost and reported the events weren't involved in traffic accidents, but with the number of serious accidents occurring at the same location, it might be a possible cause.

David Taylor, chairman of Parasearch, believe it could simply be an optical illusion.

“In all honesty we are probably not talking about the ghost (or apparition as we prefer) as a spirit of the dead," he told The Mirror, "but rather as a reaction to a complex series of stimuli that results in the witnesses having different experiences from the same stimuli, what that stimuli is, is the really interesting question!”

Whatever it is, sooner or later someone will figure it out...

Forever in Blue Jeans...

Ghosts in Pakistan are trying to show who really wears the pants...

The S.M. Denim factory in SITE was closed this week, pending paranormal investigations. As many as 150 workers have been fainting; some have even mysteriously begun bleeding from their ears, noses, and mouths. The afflicted were treated and released from Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, leaving the doctors perplexed as to the cause.

Authorities sealed the factory, examining it for poisonous gases. No trace was found. Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has been inspecting the building, as have "religious figures" in an effort to find an explanation. While experts seem convinced that a chemical has spilled or been released into the atmosphere, the workers have their own opinions.

They blame it on ghosts.

Although the incidents have only been reported within the past week, many employees have convinced themselves that there are angry spirits roaming about the floors. And why are they angry? Because the living have taken up residence in their domicile. The workers are invading their ethereal space. Scientists insist this is absurd and chalk it up to the "simpler nature" of the laborers (i.e. a polite way of saying they are ignorant commoners).

We shall find out next wee when the experts announce their findings. Meanwhile, keep your pants on...