The Real Fame Monsters...

What with everything happening personally lately there have been some news stories I missed out on mentioning. Yes I'm still doing my best to survive out in southern California. And it seems to be rough for a lot of people lately. Not just living daily life but also dealing with the paranormal.

Take popstar Robbie Williams, for example. After his switch from singing to stargazing in search of life beyond Earth, Williams purchased a magnificent home on an alleged ley line in England believing it would increase the likelihood of a close encounter. So far no visitors from outer space have popped in for tea at Compton Bassett House. The singer is now putting the 7.5 million manor up for sale and, according to some reports, is willing to sell at a loss. According to the Daily Mail, Robbie is planning on living permanently in Los Angeles, California possibly to continue his extra-terrestrial hobbies... or the other strange and unexplainable creatures found on this side of the United States. I should know. I see at least one anomaly a day... and I can't always tell if they're human.

And now, a current pop chart singer is finding herself in a supernatural bind. Gay icon Lady Gaga is allegedly being haunted. Not by ex-boyfriends or crazed fans, but negative spirits. A paranormal specialist by the name of Dan Webb reportedly sold the diva $5000 in ghost busting gear to help her while on tour. According to some accounts, the negative "spirits" are following her everywhere she goes. At first, Gaga (also known as Stefani Germanotta) thought she could be suffering from schizophrenia but became convinced her problems were of the otherworldly kind, which led to her asking Webb's firm to cleanse the offstage area where she was performing in London.

Has Gaga gone ghost-busting? Nobody knows for sure. But just for a little fun, here's a music mash-up of Lady Gaga and the theme music from that classic 80s movie Ghostbusters:

Stories of the Strange...

I have missed quite a lot of odd news over the past month. Luckily, there's a never-ending supply of the odd around our planet. Here are just a few strange stories from various news wires.

Are Curses Really Talent?

Simon Cowell is the man everyone seems to love to hate. Now, he's upset the wrong girl on the wrong day. While filming an episode of Britain's Got Talent, one contestant took her dismissal a bit too seriously. She returned to the stage, placing a hex on all the judges, stating, "You're all doomed." Following the witchy woman's departure, the crew experienced the worst session ever. But was it the curse or just a lack of talent in Birmingham?

A Predestined Payoff...

Jorma Hogbacka, a 60-year-old retired welder from Ontario, is now $14.5 million dollars richer. But the St. Catharines man isn't at all surprised. A psychic told him he would be rich beyond his wildest dreams just four years ago. Hogbacka doesn't have any major plans for the money and says he feels like it's "another day, except I have a big cheque." Surele he won't be the ony one cashing in on this bit of luck. if the psychic comes forward, she undoubtedly stands to make her own windfall.

Strangers in the Night...

While singer Robbie Williams is hunting UFOs, something strange has been happening in the comfort of his own home. On numerous occasions, Williams has awakened to find cuts and scratches on his back. The marks generally disappear within a few days, but he didn't think it strange until mentioning it to friends recently. Some people have suggested it to be encountered with demons, ghosts, or succubi. Or perhaps he simply rolled over on his cat in the middle of the night...

Smudge Them Out...

After the past eight years of Bush and Cheney in the White House, there is probably more than a little bad karma left over within its walls. But not anymore: last Monday, hundreds of people met at Dupont Circle to burn some white sage. The act, known as smudging, follows shamanic/Native American tradition of dispersing negative energy from an area. As the crowd sang "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye", wafts of the pungent smoke drifted toward 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to rid it of "evil spirits." Fortunately, the evil entities had already vacated the building...

Cream, Sugar, or Spooks?

British scientists believe they've found a clue to explaining paranormal activity by the cup full. A Durham University study of 216 coeds this month revealed that students drinking large quantities of caffeine (at least seven cups per day) are more prone to hearing unexplained voices. According to the researchers, caffeine consumption could have an effect on schizophrenic hallucinations, though they could not confirm repeatable tests or that participants actually consumed the levels of caffeine stated in the study. Really. Over two hundred college students claim caffeine is their one vice that leads to hallucinations? I find that hard to swallow...

Even Celebrities Love Ghosts...

British pop singer Robbie Williams isn't limiting himself to ufology these days. All realms of the supernatural are fair game.

A group of 15 teenagers in England were surprised by the singer while investigating the Leopard Inn in Burslem, Staffordshire for a local educational project called Reach4It. Williams was there for the Halloween hunt with his mother Jan and his girlfriend Ayda Field. He congratulated the teens on their work investigating the alleged hauntings.

Being the good sport he is, he picked up the group's £200 tab for the tour, food, and drinks.

Between autographs and photo ops, Williams asked the group a multitude of questions about the paranormal and their work. During their later investigation, some of the teens reported slamming doors and strange lights.

The Leopard Inn has been a public house since at east 1765 when Josiah Wedgwood (founder of the famed Wedgwood pottery) met with James Brindley to discuss construction of the Trent and Mersey Canal. The hotel portion of the business closed in 1956 and was reopened in 2007 with plans for restoration.

Let Me Entertain You...

And so the Robbie Williams saga continues...

Today, at 6:30 PM GMT on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom, Williams will be on a program discussing extra-terrestrials. Considering the unexplained UFO photographs captured in London in February, it is perfect timing.

And just where has he been these past few months? Hiding out in his Mulholland Estates home in California, sleeping all day and watching the skies at night for signs of intelligent life. There are still people who think he's insane for his alien pursuits, but his beliefs are unshakable.

It turns out Robbie has been surrounded with the supernatural all of his life. His mother was a firm believer in the paranormal and may have started his obsession. Her nighttime discussions of ghosts and spirits left an impression and still haunt him to this day.

In an interview, Robbie added, "Maybe that’s why I want to investigate UFOs so I can work out why I get scared at night."

There may be major differences between hauntings and flying saucers, but whatever works for him...

We've Got Stars Directing Our Fate...

Robbie Williams is back in the news again. He is not backing down on his goal of becoming a ufologist. In fact, his latest actions show the dream is finally coming to fruition.

He has begun a shopping excursion, looking into buying an observatory. And reportedly, he may spend around £2.5 million (US$5 million) for it! What was once viewed as a farce and a silly attention plea is now looking more like an ambitious venture. He has even been visiting a telescope in the Arizona desert to quench his desire to explore outer space from the comfort of earth.

Call him insane but we should all give him credit for his pursuit. After all, we once believed the sun revolved around the earth. Science fiction always retains the possibility of becoming science fact.

With billions of solar systems dotting the galaxies and trillions of planets floating around in the universe, it would be absurd to believe that earth is the only populated one. As for space travel, that is still debatable.

It could be possible and we can't rule out the slight probability. There is a chance that other life forms somewhere are far more advanced than we are.

"Take That" to Your Leader?

Robbie Williams has had a rough life: insecurity and self-esteem issues, weight problems, alcoholism, drug abuse, and depression. He has been to rehab and been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He has suffered a few album flops. And now, he's feeling like a change of life might do him well.

Something different. Something... paranormal?

Yes, Robbie is seriously contemplating putting down his microphone to pursue a subject that has always interested him: UFOs. He's planning on becoming a ufologist when he soon quits the music business.

During his early childhood, he recalls seeing strange lights in the sky over the UK. Later, while living in Los Angeles, he witnessed another unidentified object. The last sighting came shortly after composing a song about alien visitation.

Fans shouldn't be terribly shocked by the news. After all, he did have a "Close Encounters Tour" in 2006.

Robbie Williams as Fox Mulder? Stranger things have happened. We shall see what happens.

After all, "the truth is out there".