That title is almost like dividing by zero.  Read it a few times, you’ll get it.  

I recently stumbled across a website calling themselves “SAPS”, or “Skeptical Analysis of the Paranormal Society”.  Founded by Alison Smith in July of 2006, it is what I would consider an officially organized group of James Randi cohorts. 

Now, I’m all about and all for the “prove it” mentality.  One might consider SAPS to be the “Paranormal Police”; watching our groups and making sure we’re conducting ourselves in the most scientific and professional manner possible.  In fact, I’d be inclined to say such a group is a healthy addition to the paranormal community.  Problem is, they so vehemently oppose anything found by paranormal investigators that anything and everything proposed to them is considered ludicrously faked, staged or natural in origin.

 Upon digging into the various pages of their website it became quite apparent to me that this organization has primarily got The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) in its sights.  They refer to other paranormal societies and clubs, but for the most part it seems TAPS is their whipping boy.  There are numerous video clips on their website showing original TAPS footage, and then “re-created” footage showing the same result.  This is where I think they’re getting it wrong.

It would be rather simple to re-create just about any piece of paranormal evidence using everyday items and techniques.  Heck, if we got a good enough look-alike android of John F. Kennedy, we could re-create his assassination.  Does this mean the assassination didn’t happen or was faked?  Of course not!  Are they claiming that TAPS, and other paranormal groups are preying upon those by faking evidence and labeling mundane occurrences as paranormal?  I have to wonder, are they taking all that we stand for, including our professionalism, objectivity and scientific evidence, and stepping upon these core values by calling us, for a lack of better words, conmen?

In the website’s “about” page, it does state:  ”The most important thing to remember about SAPS is that our goal is not to spread unbelief, but to offer alternate ways of thinking about paranormal events. This does not mean that your own paranormal experience didn’t happen, or that you are deluded or ignorant or stupid. It merely means that there has never been concrete evidence of the paranormal, yet there are individuals who will represent their findings as absolute truth.”

Any group that states their evidence as “absolute truth” isn’t worth their weight in feathers, I’ll agree with that (absolute truth in the paranormal realm will not be achieved until we can scientifically produce repeatable processes).  That being said, what else do we have other than our evidence?  How do crime scene investigators determine who committed a crime?  They use evidence.  How can paranormal investigators prove the existence of ghosts in a scientific manner?  Truth be told, we can’t!  In the world of the paranormal, there are no absolutes.  No absolute truths.  No scientific proof.  No DNA, bloodtrail or fingerprints.  This leaves the paranormal investigator vulnerable to a great deal of suspicions and a tremendously large area of gray to wade through.  It also leaves us open to people who might refer to our activities as predatory.  That’s a shame, really, being that most organizations (reputable ones at least) don’t charge one red cent for an investigation in a person’s occupancy of concern. 

I honestly respect some aspects of their approach.  It is a healthy concept to consider alternatives and take each piece of evidence with a grain of salt.  It’s a good plan to consider nothing as ”concrete”.  It makes for good investigating entering a place with the idea that the place most likely isn’t haunted, but ‘hey, we’ll see what we can find’.  Stating that evidence is ineffectual, however, is foolish.  Here is a quote by Alison regarding James Randi’s One Million Dollar Challenge: 

“If you have footage of a ghost or something, that doesn’t really count as proof of the paranormal. You need to be able to show off some kind of talent under controlled, observable conditions. If you know where the ghosts hang out, however, feel free to drop me a line and I’ll try go get there and check it out.”

Sorry Alison, at this point in time with our current technological abilities, I can’t give you anymore than some footage, a picture, a story or an EVP.  And what exactly are you  going to check out that my group hasn’t?  I will say that I can balance a broomstick on my chin for a really long time though if you’re looking for talents.

If you care to dive into the world of pure, unadulterated skepticism, feel free to poke around SAPS’ site.  It can be found at:   http://www.skepticalanalysis.com/

‘Til next time…

 

If you feel that you are experiencing paranormal activity and would like help, please contact BHAPS at:  Help@BHAPS.com or feel free to call us toll-free at: 1-866-510-6130.

 

I know the title of the blog here is a bit general.  My apologies.  I’m not referring to the fear of the paranormal or the fear of ghosts or death.  I’m talking about the fear of coming forward and speaking of our own personal experiences regarding the paranormal.

I guess this should begin with me.

For the record, this is the first time I’ve revealed any of this information (not because I’ve been afraid to…I just haven’t felt the time has been “right”.).  Okay, so it’s a lousy excuse, but let me continue.

In my own personal home I have observed a great deal of paranormal activity.  Of course I have a great deal of equipment here in the house which I have used many times in order to “put a thumb” on what it is I have been experiencing.  I haven’t come up with anything.  Not anything worth mentioning at least.

I look at this fact as a very revealing experience.  Even though perfectly sane people have been experiencing things in their homes which are a bit beyond the normal, even through what some might call “professional intervention”, I was unable to obtain any hard evidence in my own home.

For a number of years now, I have experienced everything from perfectly audible voices to my garbage can being thrown from underneath the sink.  My wife (as well as my dog) have both experienced the same things simultaneously as myself.  It takes an amazing feat in hoaxing in order for two humans and one very intelligent dog to all see the same thing at the same time and be ruffled by the experience.  My wife has experienced strange lights and music, both of which cannot be debunked through natural occurrences . 

I have had my window blinds physically moved (which was very interesting because I was chatting with my father on the phone at the time as to how I hadn’t had any activity in the house as of late).

  We’ve named our ghost “Hamm”.  Simply because the area in which my home was built (1934) is in the “Hamm Addition”.  It seems that when we began renovating the seventy-something year old home is when all of the fun began (paranormal activity during renovations are very common, by the way).  I took it as a protest from “Hamm” and the pride he had in the craftsmanship of his houses. 

It doesn’t scare me.  It doesn’t upset me.  In fact, I think it’s pretty neat.  And above all, I think it’s amazing that so many Americans in this country experience such things and yet we refuse to come forward about our personal experiences.  Even more frustrating is the fact that the majority of those experiencing such activity don’t take a proactive approach and catch some of this activity on photos/film/voice recorders. 

I have to say, it truly is my ultimate goal to get people to comfortably come forward with their own personal claims of paranormal activity with absolutely no worries of societal ramifications or worries of being labeled.  I truly believe once these worries can be abolished, it will truly amaze those who haven’t seen the other side that there are many out there who have.

So, what are we so afraid of?  Well, it’s not the ghosts, it’s the skeptics.

‘Til next time…

If you feel that you are experiencing paranormal activity and would like help, please contact BHAPS at:  Help@BHAPS.com or feel free to call us toll-free at: 1-866-510-6130.

 

“Ghosthunters”, “Paranormal State”, “A Haunting”, “Most Haunted”–a plethora of television viewing pleasure which has erupted into a flurry of google searches including “ghosts”, “spirits”, “is my teenager possessed”, “my five-month-old has been speaking Latin”, etc., etc…

Why is it that it takes televesion to make Americans step up and realize that there are things going on out there that are as valid as the Vikings game we watch on Sundays (Well, I watch the Vikings at least…I’m from Minnesota originally.  Broncos?  Blah.)?  Surely we are a nation of ultra-confident, originally-thinking individuals careless of the ramifications of offering new or different ideas, right? 

I beg to differ.

It seems that many Americans need the commercialization of syndicated programs to understand and accept that what they have (or haven’t) been experiencing holds some merit.  I don’t understand this.  Are we such a shallow nation that the glowing box in our living room is the shepherd in our walk of life?  If this light-emitting box were to tell us that we can make a million dollars (minimum) per year stuffing envelopes for the homeless in Darfur, is this a guarantee?  Well, if you’re anything like me, I’ve tried the envelope stuffing thing and I’ll tell you, it’s a hoax.

And so comes the analysis of the information portrayed to the public over the television:  It’s not all true.  I promise that.  There are people out there making millions upon millions of dollars preying on the curiosities of the human mind and soul.

Am I stating that the majority of the information we see regarding paranormal activity is false?  Absolutely not!  But I will say that I believe it is up to the individual to look at claims in an objective way which allows for the complete inclusion of reason and scientific analysis.  There is a small part of me that believes that there are responsible adults out there who buy into the paranormal agenda based soley on the fact that it makes them feel like “a kid” again; the monster under the bed has always been a scary thought (as a child of course).  But it’s the genuine wonder if he’s really there that makes the idea fun.

This, in my opinion, is why the paranormal is somewhat of a taboo.  It taps into that “scared of monsters” mentality harbored by  children (and adults).  “Hey, we’re adults now…there’s no such thing as monsters!  Well…okay, maybe not monsters, but there may be ghosts…right?”

And most people won’t admit that.

Case in point?  The media has provided an amazing outpouring of information and ideas regarding the paranormal.  I must admit, I am greatful for the fact that the paranormal has finally made the mainstream media.  Unfortunately, with the rat-race of paranormal entertainment bombarding our televisions, there is much to be scrutinized and considered in a scientific, objective manner.  Don’t believe everything you see on television…remember to keep an open mind.

And above all…don’t rely on what you see on television to influence your thoughts/experiences/feelings!

‘Til next time…

 

 

If you feel that you are experiencing paranormal activity and would like help, please contact BHAPS at:  Help@BHAPS.com or feel free to call us toll-free at: 1-866-510-6130.

 

Visit just about any paranormal researcher page and you’ll see photo after photo of “spritual orbs”.  Simply stated, orbs are circular visual anomalies which appear in photos, often labeled as being paranormal. 

Here is a link to a photo BHAPS collected during our investigation of the Hotel Alex Johnson containing numerous “orbs”:   http://img155.imageshack.us/my.php?image=orbshowerow3.jpg

For the most part, the round spheres seen throughout the picture are a classic case of orbs.  I will state that we thought that this picture in particular was interesting, merely for the fact that there were three pictures taken in succession (a matter of seconds), with nothing in the first picture, the above picture in the second, and again nothing in the third picture.  I couldn’t explain why that had happened, other than the fact that possibly the camera flash caught the dust in the air just right on the second picture.

I may be putting my neck on the chopping block here, but I feel inclined to share my educated opinion: Orbs are NOT paranormal. 

BHAPS recently conducted a small study sampling hundreds of random pictures from an image hosting site.  What we found was quite interesting:  Of 218 random photos reviewed (none having anything to do with the paranormal…we’re talking daughter’s graduation, playing with the dog, the thirty point buck cleatus shot last year…very random) over 12% containted classic orbs.  What was even more interesting was the fact that in photos shot during inclement weather or in dusty conditions, the “orb count” was as high as sixty percent in these photos!  Funny how these spiritual entities eagerly show themselves when there is a high probability of particulate pollution in the air!

Dust, snow, rain, insects, coughing, sneezing, lens flare and a host of other perfectly normal occurring events are the source of these “phenomenon”.  Unfortunately, it seems that the paranormal community as a whole is still regarding these little balls of carbon-based matter as something other than natural.  It’s interesting that above all evidence captured by paranormal investigators, orbs are the easiest and most common “evidence” to obtain.  I can’t imagine why.

Troy Taylor, the founder of the American Ghost Society and author of numerous books surrounding paranormal studies has released his final view on these spherical oddities:  http://www.prairieghosts.com/trouble.html.  Troy has been in the “ghost business” for over twenty years and has collected a mass of knowledge and experience which gives his words great credence in my book.

Next time you’re digging through that old family album or reviewing pictures from your digital camera of your visit to Katmandu, take an extra minute and do an “orb inventory”.  I bet you’ll be amazed how many “ghosts” decided to spend time with you on the beach!

‘Til next time…

If you feel that you are experiencing paranormal activity and would like help, please contact BHAPS at:  Help@BHAPS.com or feel free to call us toll-free at: 1-866-510-6130.

The National Science Foundation (The same guys that say paranormal belief is harmful to human intellect) conducted a poll regarding peoples’ belief in the paranormal.  They found that nearly seventy percent (that’s 70%) of over 2,000 Americans polled believed in some sort of paranormal phenomena, with fifty percent of those polled believing in ghosts/haunted houses (Source, NSF.gov).  

After reading these statistics, I considered it the proverbial slap-in-the-face  when I read the following:

Concerns have been raised, especially in the science community, about widespread belief in paranormal phenomena. Scientists (and others) have observed that people who believe in the existence of paranormal phenomena may have trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality. Their beliefs may indicate an absence of critical thinking skills necessary not only for informed decisionmaking in the voting booth and in other civic venues (for example, jury duty[38] ), but also for making wise choices needed for day-to-day living.[39] 

Specific harms caused by paranormal beliefs have been summarized as:

• a decline in scientific literacy and critical thinking;  

• the inability of citizens to make well-informed decisions;  

• monetary losses (psychic hotlines, for example, offer little value for the money spent);  

• a diversion of resources that might have been spent on more productive and worthwhile activities (for example, solving society’s serious problems);  

• the encouragement of a something-for-nothing mentality and that there are easy answers to serious problems, for example, that positive thinking can replace hard work; and  

• false hopes and unrealistic expectations (Beyerstein 1998). (Source, NSF.gov)

Judging by this assessment, I’d have to say that seventy percent of us Americans are uninstructed, mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers.  Apparently we’re not supposed to vote, either (read it again if you didn’t catch that part).  Surely we are incapabale of critical thinking and general day-to-day life decisions because of our belief in something other than this physical plane.

Do these claims by a governmental agency (aka your tax dollars) sit well with you?

Me neither.

The primary reason I formed the Black Hills Area Paranormal Society was due in part to paranormal experiences I have had personally.  If the events I have witnessed in my own home are the result of hallucinations, well then, my dog and my wife are suffering from hallucinations as well…Simultaneously.  Amazing!

I think for anyone who has had a genuine paranormal experience, claims such as these from a respected government agency can be downright insulting. 

I think we need a nasty rip-roarin’ poltergeist haunting at the White House.  They’ll either have to genuinely look into it, or publicly consider the President and his aides crazy (insert current administration joke here). 

Unless properly studied using federal funds and scientific measures, the governent has no place labeling those who have experienced the paranormal in the negative light they have.  What’s next? Are they going to tell the ninety-plus percent of Americans who believe in a higher power that we’re babbling fools destined for extinction?  Of course they wouldn’t do that, this country was founded on the principles of God.  Come to think of it, couldn’t one consider God to be a form of the paranormal?

Something to think about.  ‘Til next time…

If you feel that you are experiencing paranormal activity and would like help, please contact BHAPS at:  Help@BHAPS.com or feel free to call us at: 1-866-510-6130.

An EVP, or “Electronic Voice Phenomena” is the most common phenomenon encountered by paranormal investigators.  Simply stated, it is a voice that appears on a recording device which wasn’t heard during the time of the recording.  It seems the magnetic or digital medium of the recording device is capable of picking up voices not audible to the human ear.

There are multiple theories, as with all things paranormal, as to why this phenomena occurs.  Some researchers and skeptics conclude that they are simply small snippets of frequencies received from an outside source (cellphones, radios, walkie-talkies, etc.), captured on the recorder.  Others state that they are thoughts inadvertently imprinted onto the recording by the investigator himself!  Lastly, the theory exists that EVP’s are simply the disembodied voices of people passed on.

Which is true?  How can these theories be tested in a scientific manner?  

I personally have two theories regarding EVP’s.  I consider all three of the causes listed above as viable sources for their cause.  However, there are ways to objectively look at what might be causing these creepy, inaudible anomalies (say that ten times fast).  

The strongest evidence for EVP’s being a genuine communication attempt from beyond the grave is the rare case where a paranormal investigator gets valid responses to multiple questions.  I can’t imagine the odds of a barrage of digital pollution surrounding the investigator and his recorder could provide, through chance, intelligent and valid answers to questions being asked.  It is a rare situation for an investigator to ask a single question and get a valid answer.  If he/she asks three, four, five questions with answers being intelligently given, well, that’s just epic in the paranormal community!  What makes these situations even more amazing is when the investigator is actually able to validate some of the information given by the spirit.  I personally cannot give an explanation as to what could be causing such an incredible occurrence other than that of paranormal activity. 

If it is indeed the human mind imprinting the answers it wants to hear on a recording device, then we truly haven’t even touched the capabilities of the human brain.  Regardless, either situation goes in my “Paranormal” classification (Para means “beyond”.  Paranormal = “Beyond Normal”.  ESP and thought imprinting is certainly “beyond the norm”.  Paranormal doesn’t have to involve spirits). 

Another more scientific way to help define what these EVP’s really are is the use of a device called the “Faraday Cage”.  A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure formed by conducting material, or by a mesh of such material. Such an enclosure blocks out external static electrical fields. Faraday cages are named after physicist Michael Faraday, who built one in 1836 (Source: Wikipedia.org).

In short, a Faraday cage can be used to completely eliminate the effects of EMF fields on a recording device while trying to obtain Electronic Voice Phenomena.  This removes the intrusive EMF pollution, allowing the investigator to know that his recording was not contaminated by radio transmissions, cell phones, etc.  The recording device the investigator is operating is used the same as always, however it is placed into the Faraday cage during the investigation.  If Electronic Voice Phenomena is recorded while in the Faraday cage, how do the skeptics define this?  I know I can’t.

In April of this year, our organization, BHAPS, investigated the Hotel Alex Johnson.  We came home with a good bit of evidence including multiple EVP’s, photographs and some interesting EMF experiences.

Of the evidence we collected, the EVP’s we recorded were the most impressive.  We had numerous voices, so clear that they were discernible with absolutely no audio editing (also a rare occurence).  Below you’ll find a link to our investigation which includes one of the better EVP’s we gathered that night.  Hope you enjoy!

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h6odMt6dsUY

 

 

If you feel that you are experiencing paranormal activity and would like help, please contact BHAPS at:  Help@BHAPS.com or feel free to call us at: 1-866-510-6130.