Showcasing everything paranormal in the state of Oklahoma & Beyond

A complaint?

So, I get a complaint this week about this media source being a waste. It’s wasted because I am not wasting my time chatting about moon phases, EMF levels and the possibility of Indian Burial ground being the culprit of 95.6% if hauntings within the state of Oklahoma. So, it’s a waste?

I personally have met the person making the complaint. In fact, this person has worked right beside me on a few investigations. No, this is not drama or some kind of internet cat fight, it’s nothing more than the reality that there is no “research” taking place. There is no research taking place anywhere, especially within the state of Oklahoma!

What do I do? Well, I search the internet or perhaps I visit a location and learn about their ghostly tales and I am supposed to report them here. What do I find? Not much of anything to be honest.
I visit local teams websites, they are doing nothing but marketing themselves as some type of super hero. Where is their research? There are a couple articles here and there offering a very elementary break down of possible theories concerning paranormal activity. I have even seen a few articles concerning ghost photographs and how to properly use EMF meters. This is not research!!! This is just a basic website full of nonsense that makes the team look “officially scientific” when in reality they are not utilizing anything close to a scientific method. I browse around and see brand spanking new teams pop up, claiming to have 20+ years experience in the field but for some reason, I don’t know who they are. These people are not even in a Google search. What have they been doing for the past 20 years? Stumbling around dark buildings and cemeteries waiting for Casper to pop out? These same brand new teams of “expert scientists” are also charging people for workshops, promising people that they too can become a “ghost hunter”, just like their hero’s on TV. First, I have a problem with someone that has had a “team” in place for less than 3 months teaching the public about how to be ghost hunters, but then again, a monkey truly can walk around in the dark holding a flashlight and jump to conclusions every time the wind blows.

So, where is the research? There is none, not in this state and not across the nation. If there are real research projects taking place, please send me the link to the team so I can get in touch with real paranormal investigators, not “ghost hunters”.

So, before anyone says “hey, practice what you preach” to me and attempt to make me look like a goon or hateful. I am happy to announce that I will be starting a real research project at the first of September. I have been working to find the perfect location and I just found out today that a great location has been reserved for this project. It’s a real location, real people and a real protocol that has been developed and approved by my NewsOK blogging counterpart. Dr. Bryan Farha has helped me and my team in the past organize a paranormal investigation that makes sense. No bells and whistles, just good old fashioned paranormal research.

I am excited about this opportunity. These Cognitive Trials are a lot of fun and very intense but they also make sense to the rest of the world. There is no “research” based off baseline EMF readings, moon phases and whacked out tools that talk on behalf of the dead.

In closing, I invite anyone to point me in the right direction of a team that is conducting any type of research. No, not just historical research, I’m talking applied research that is custom to a location. Not research where the team is doing nothing more than eliminating the obvious to find the unexplainable moments so they can call them ghosts. So, before anyone complains about “what” I am doing on this blog and if it’s a waste of a media outlet, please share with me something that is slightly informative, educational or intriguing concerning subjects of the unexplained. Until then, I will keep browsing, pointing and laughing at the thousands upon thousands of “ghost hunters” that are all doing the exact same thing.

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Current State of Paranormal Research?

I have been in the field of paranormal research a little over ten years now. I have seen people come and go. I have seen ideas, theories and testing come and go. I have also seen the image of paranormal research simply go.

Starting out in the field it was a very small community. The internet was growing quickly. I recall the moment I was able to get rid of my dial up and got “high speed” internet service. As people were able to upgrade computer and connections researchers started building websites that showcased their work, theories and ideas. Back then, teams were not selling anything and honestly, it was taboo to even mention selling anything on a website. There were teams that tried to sell t-shirts and they would be shunned, mainly because this field was for research, not making a buck. There were teams back then, but there were no titles or an “image” to be found. Honestly, it was a community of people, coming together asking questions and allowing their evidence to get reviewed. The term “debunk” was in it’s infant stage, today, it’s a common word that even elementary school children use. Back in the day, if someone posted something for review, they actually wanted it to be explained away, before they made a fool out of themselves by posting it on the internet. Yes, you read that right. Researchers then actually cared what their peers thought of potential evidence. Today, not so much. In fact, it’s the opposite. Boy oh boy, do I miss those days of paranormal research.

Today, searching the net for a paranormal research team can be a daunting task. Not many are actually “paranormal researchers”, they have adopted the title of “Ghost Hunter” and the majority of them claim to be some kind of expert or leader of some sort. As people may need help with their unusual problems, I can only imagine the stress they deal with as they pick a team to come and investigate their homes and private properties. What they have to filter through is a lot of fluff, advertisements and narcissistic claims made by the team. They have to filter through team bio’s complete with semi-professional team “photos” and of course the drawn out history of why each member is involved with the paranormal. None of those things are important, but it seems to be the new thing as team are selling their image, not their skills.

I won’t get into the reasoning as to why I think Paranormal based TV shows are literally killing the field of parapsychology, as most of you are already aware of where I stand on that issue. But the lack of information, testing, ideas and theories have seemed to be neglected. To me, and many veteran researchers it takes more than a “cool image” to make a team reputable and rational, otherwise just good researchers. The word research has been replaced with “hunt”. Do people really want teams of people in matching t-shirts to come to their personal property and “hunt” for things that go bump in the night? Or, am I so crazy to think that these people actually want some answers, explanations and rational reasoning behind their unexplainable moments. The general public that watches these TV shows are entirely educated as today’s ghost hunter. They do not need any additional knowledge outside of what they have seen on TV. Why? Today’s ghost hunters are just mimicking what they see on TV, they do not have any upper hands or extended knowledge of paranormal research. Not to mention, the mass majority of teams today will enter these properties already assuming the place is haunted. Wishful thinking, from a hunter. Not a rational view from a researcher.

Back in the day, it was word of mouth as to how investigations were researched. As more households jumped on the world wide web finding help became easier for people. They could just send photos and explain unnatural occurrences via email. Today, there are thousands upon thousands of “ghost hunters” claiming to be paranormal researchers on the internet. Very few have any information posted for public view. Most of these teams treat their personal websites as some sort of infomercial as they try their hardest to get a potential clients attention. They boast and brag about going to haunted locations as seen on TV, as if that makes them bolder, braver and more experienced than the next team. These teams proudly sell items from t-shirts to bobble head dolls, all to which are to help them pay for their “expenses”.

Expenses in the field are limited and the general public should never donate or pay a dime for services. EVER.
What are these teams using the money on? There are several things they use the money on. Here are a few…

Toys- Somewhere people have confused technology with science. In reality, a team can base a very nice and scientific based investigation with nothing more than a pen, paper, flashlight and some sort of recording device, audio or video. Meters, thermal imaging and laser pointing temperature gauges are used to make a team appear to be scientific, in fact it’s just a bunch of people playing with overpriced electronic gadgets that make them look as if they are important. Technology and gadgets are not scientific. These people have not been properly trained on the thermal imaging camera they purchased used on Ebay. Does the item work properly is a whole other question. Nobody should ever donate money for teams to get toys for ghost hunting. If you are that free with your money, I am sure there are deer hunters, scuba divers and even treasure hunters that could use a nice donation. Besides, what they are hunting for has already been proven to be real… ghosts have not according to science. The real scientific world does not approve of the tools they use. Figure that one out. If a team needs to earn money for their “Paranormal Princess Lifestyle”.. they should raise it themselves with public events. But, remember public events are for fun and entertainment, just roll with it.

Travel- paranormal research is not a paid profession. A person can make some money, but it’s not a lot. If a team of fifteen people want to go to a place they seen on TV and pay hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars to have the place for a night, why would you pay for their vacation? Most researchers pay out of pocket for any travel destinations, especially if it is one that the team is just going to go have a good time at. How I can prove they are there on a paranormal hiatus is this way. Visit their site. See how they market that they are going. Check back and see if they actually did any “research” at the location. Chances are, they will have photos of dust bunnies, maybe some purported EVP’s they collected while they took the guided tour with about twenty other people. If a team does not have gas money to arrive to your location, please dis-invite them. The only thing a team should ever ask for is maybe use of the restroom and a glass of water.

Webspace- It is not the general public’s problem nor should they give a damn about paying for some ghost hunting teams website. If the team eliminated the bells and whistles, they could manage, operate and maintain a website for less than $100 a year. The team members should pay for this, not the general public. They will not go away if their site goes down. They will be forced to simplify and by the grace of God use the space to showcase what they do as researchers, not rock stars. Not to mention the free resources available on the internet, such as youtube and blogs.

Their Time- Ghost hunting is a hobby. NOT a career. Teams that charge for their time are nothing more than scam artists. They should be reported to the police and any other authority that will listen. It is a scam, I repeat. A SCAM. Their time is valuable, to them and nobody else in this field. They should have a day job or other means of income, there is no local experts worthy of collecting money for their services involving any type of ghost hunt or investigation. I can not stress this enough. If a team asks you for money, please let someone know so they can be turned in. If they ask for money to “Clear/rid your property of ghosts” please notify any other team in your area asap to get second opinion, even a third. do not pay anything until you have spoken with other teams in your area about the situation.

*** I can not stress enough that ghost hunting/paranormal investigations is not a paid service. Please report anyone to the authorities or heck, let me know. Just let people know. There are so many scam artists claiming to be ghost hunters these days. People need to be aware.

I’m not going to say that my way is the right way. There are good teams out there. There are good investigators out there, not all of them have commercials on the internet to help them look more official. Google the team leaders names and see if they are actually linked up with any type of paranormal research or if they just popped up in the past year and are all of a sudden claiming to be an experienced researcher.

I did a quick search on Youtube and found a great example of how teams are advertising their services. If you know me and this is your team, I do apologize in advance. But, I am not afraid to say that this is a very tacky and non impressive way to make you and your team look professional. What are you selling? The video is more scary and eerie than the unexplainable events taking place in peoples houses.
Here is the video advertisement for this particular team.

If people were not spooked before, I’m sure they are thinking they have some kind of demonic boogie man in their basement after watching this video. Marketing on peoples fears is the thing with today’s teams, nothing more. They will scare you to have a place to play. They will scare you so they can make a buck off of you. They will scare you and make you believe, what they want you to believe.
Paranormal research is not, nor should it ever be about marketing, commercialism and enterprise.

Agents, head shots and biographies- As you search the internet. See who has an agent, management service, head shots, biography that is similar to an actors. Are these people really doing research or are they just trying to make a name for themselves to be some type of celebrity?

That is the current state of the paranormal field to date. It’s no longer about research to most, it’s about recognition, competition and to see who can get on TV and make “big bucks” so they can live their dreams of overreacting on TV in spooky situations. If you are in need of a reputable paranormal research to help you make sense of the paranormal claims at your property please be careful as to who you have into your property. Ask for references from businesses that have not made money from the teams presence at the location. Google the leaders name, see how much they are really respected in the field. What they have written, research and who even knows who the heck they are. If you, the reader ever need a list of educated paranormal researchers to contact for referrals, contact me I can get you in touch with those that have earned a name for themselves with their research efforts and progress they have made in the field of parapsychology.

I am looking forward to your feedback.

Sincerely,

TonyaH

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Underestimating Ghost Stories

I am contacted a lot concerning haunts and paranormal activity.  When I am contacted people want one of two things. Number one being, someone to listen to them, or in my case, someone to read all about their paranormal problems. Number two is that they want someone to come to their property so others can witness what they are experiencing or make them feel “not so crazy” about of course, a crazy situation. As an investigator, I take the time to read/listen as much as possible. At this point in my life, I am able to decipher if someone just wants attention or if there is truly something going on.  No matter what people tell me, they are telling me a ghost story and I love every moment of it, no matter out outlandish it may be.

The good old fashioned ghost story is underrated these days. The beauty of story telling and people being able to tell a story for the sake of the story is a forgotten art.  I always smile when people start to share their tales with the sentence “You are going to think I’m crazy” or the ever so classic “You are not going to believe this”. I smile because those typically are the start of a great story. People that deny their supernatural events, in my opinion and experience are those that potentially have had something unexplainable take place. When the human mind starts to doubt the event, it’s a sure sign that something unexplainable probably took place.

There are many types of ghost stories, but as most of you will and can agree (once you think about it) that people do not forget the magic of a ghost story. Ghosts stories turned into movies that we will never forget because we have had the visual stimulation to encourage the thrill of the tale. Can you remember a part of a movie or film that continues to haunt you, even if it was from your childhood?

This particular 1984 TV show had a moment that has haunted me for a long time. Showing my age, this one scene has made me afraid of small closets, even to this day.  ha! What is in the closet? Not a ghost, but this is a great example of the visual influence of ghosts and pretty much anything paranormal.  As an adult, I have met other adults that recall this exact TV moment and they too have a fear of little closets.  Yes, it’s funny and I’m a goofball for even posting this, but I have a feeling that some people can relate to this episode. For I am not alone….

People remember ghost stories, mainly because they make us question our faith, beliefs and skeptical outlooks which in turn is our overall sense of intelligence! How dare they make me question myself! Without the visual stimulation of film, I ask that you reach way back, even to your childhood to recall a good ghost story. Did you ever attempt to venture into the abandoned house at the end of your neighborhood, challenge your friends to go peek inside and you recall them running away in terror? I do. I have many stories like that from my childhood. I recall those moments vividly as the fear became a part of me in that exact instant. I will never forget the fear, the furious bike ride home and the laughter from my friends as we recapped the scary moment. A few days later, we returned and did the same thing, just a different kid of course. The power of a ghost story is just as haunting as what took place. How you tell it can make or break you on your sanity meter.

My first recollection of a ghostly moment was when I was a very small child. I was with my family, my mom was even there. We all witnessed it and we all ran out screaming. I will post the tale of Ol’Doc Littles Pond this week. Until then, I ask that you reach back, as far back as you can in your mind and share your very first and perhaps only ghostly encounter. If you don’t have one, I invite you to share a tale that was perhaps told to you or you have seen somewhere that has embedded itself into your subconscious mind for the rest of your life.

Never underestimate the power of a ghost story.  No matter if it’s true or not, most people have one. I would like to read yours.

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Paranormal Eyes- The New Year

Now that the snow is gone… it’s time to hit the road and explore Oklahoma’s most unusual places. I am not setting out to claim locations to be haunted. I want to get the story, share it with you and offer an unbiased opinion about the paranormal claims that are taking place right here in our great state.

What I need from Oklahoma residents is for you to contact me. Let me know about Oklahoma’s most “haunted” or “paranormal” location. I will visit the location and when I am able, I will stay the night.

I will document my findings, right here on this blog. If you are a paranormal investigative team, contact me and show me that you have the most paranormal location in the state of Oklahoma!

I am gearing up to hit the road and I hope Oklahomans will point me in the right direction!
These locations can be forgotten and open to the public. Send me to your favorite eatery, bar, hotel, motel or historical site!

Email me at tonya@ghouli.org and

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Tapped Out? – TV’s Ghost Hunters plan to make a press release

It’s okay to admit that you watch paranormal TV shows. TAPS-Ghost Hunters is the longest running paranormal based TV show to date.  They started out as plumbers and moved on to be the worlds most famous ghost hunters. Many teams across the nation praised them for bringing paranormal research/ghost hunting to the mainstream. Many years later, those same people are screaming to make them stop. The show started out as a innocent peek into the then very private and low key field of paranormal research. Now it’s big business and it’s no longer about the ghosts… well, maybe the ghost of Benjamin Franklin. When I write this blog, I can’t help but sing a familiar song titled “Mo money, mo problems” by Notorius BIG . I provided the link, just for fun.

TAPS- Jason and Grant, the super hero’s of the supernatural. They are no longer mere plumbers, they are business men. They own, produce and manage an empire. The TAPS empire. From big dollar property , merchandise, magazines, to giant events. TAPS is living large these days, thanks to their fans of course. On top of filming for the weekly TV show on Syfy, Ghost Hunters are now the poster children according to some for literally “selling out”. The majority of people that watch the shows are fans, as for TAPS fellow paranormal researchers watching, not so much.

Lately, the TAPS empire has been under the microscope by their peers. What used to be the occasional “oh my that’s a paranormal” moment, has turned into a weekly cat and mouse chase of let’s see what they can get on film this week. From jacket tugging to sliding pieces of furniture, the past two seasons have been chocked full of ghostly phenomenon, too good to be true. Once self proclaimed “debunkers” are now getting debunked. Not only by fellow paranormal researchers but by regular people that have a great deal of common sense and a keen eye for too good to be true moments. Perhaps TAPS has taught their viewers well?  The TAPS scrutiny hit hard during the Halloween live episode where Grant, reported to have his jacket “tugged” by a ghost.  Perhaps it would have been more convincing if the “ghost” tugged just once, but it was actually tugged 3 times. Overkill is never good for live TV. Since then, the pressure is on. The real paranormal community is watching like a hawk.  The heat may be on for the TAPS crew to get more evidence, perhaps that is why they are getting miraculous events, caught on tape each week. Remember, it is a business.

I will provide a few links for you to see how the general population is getting the word out about rumors of staging crews and rigged evidence. Want more? Visit YouTube, there is a plethora of video to help you make up your mind, or not.

Recent TV show starring singing icon called Meatloaf & Part II

2008 Jacket Tugging fiasco

Hanger Hoax?

Master bedroom analysis

More  video

Crazy KII meter action

& of course Sliding Lamp Want more? Visit Youtube

I am not setting out to change the way people think about a scripted reality based TV show on the Science FictionNetwork, so don’t get too upset with me.  But I do want to share what some are calling breaking news in the paranormal field concerning TAPS. Oh and to remind you that TAPS, Syfy and Pilgrim films are to offer a press release to clear their tainted image this week.

The not so “breaking news”- Many remember Donna Lacroix from the first few seasons of Ghost Hunters and perhaps, Ghost Hunters International.  She was involved with the starting of the show, before it became big business.

This week, Donna spoke about her time on the set of Ghost Hunters as a cast member live on the internet radio show titled GhostDiva-Live. The GhostDivas show is a fun and unique broadcast. It comes on late and is targeted towards adults. The show basis is similar to the popular TV & Radio show titled “Whatever Martha” The women sit and talk about what is on TV, have guests and poke and prod at the paranormal field, just for laughs. Donna was a guest on this show this past week and she told the hosts that they can ask anything, from plastic surgery to rumors of TAPS faking evidence. She agreed.

The show has now hit the paranormal and even skeptic community like a tornado. Although, Donna’s intentions were just to speak her mind. The possibility of the TV show staging evidence has become focus.  On several sites Jason Hawes of TAPS have made statements concerning Donna’s interview. He also stated that Pilgrim Films and SyFy network are preparing a press release over the show. I find it odd that they are taking this internet radio show so serious. Was Donna telling the truth enough to make the TAPS empire nervous? Many people feel that yes, it was enough to tarnish their image. Donna has made many statements that all she wanted to do was to talk about it. She was also aware that it would ruffle some feathers in the community, but she had no idea that it would circulate around the internet as it did in less than 72 hours. I do have to ask why TAPS, Pilgrim Films and even the SyFy network would take her statements so serious to create a press release?   The truth is, GhostDivas LIVE is a small but very popular (for like minds) type of radio show, based in Oklahoma, and broadcast by the Supernatural Radio Network, it’s not a huge radio show by any means.

There are message boards, forums, youtube videos, tweets, Facebook updates, myspace blogs, standard blogs and beyond in an uproar about this show. Many people have been sitting back waiting on the smoking gun to officially shut the TAPS empire down. This show was not the smoking gun, it may lead to it yes, but it is not. The radio interview was to allow Donna to speak her mind and for people to ask questions about the production. To most,  Donna is a hero for speaking out, while to a small few, they were disappointed that it was not the bomb they had been wishing for. No matter what your opinion is about TV’s TAPS/Ghost Hunters, the radio interview offers an entirely different outlook when it comes to the super hero status that is seen on TV.

No matter what you might think about the TAPS/Ghost Hunters TV show you must remember that the show was created for entertainment purposes only. Why would TAPS be the only “real” TV show on a network that has nothing other than Science Fiction based programming is a great  question to ask yourself.  If you are a fan of this show that is fine, but keep in mind that it is for entertainment and quite possibly fiction wrapped in a cozy “reality based” blanket.

I will be awaiting patiently the press release from the Syfy network, TAPS and Pilgrim Films.  Nobody is attempting to change anyone’s mind, but I do ask that you see both sides of every story from the youtube videos to net radio shows. Do not believe everything you see on TV and continue to think critically when it comes to those claiming to have evidence of the afterlife. In my 11 years of research, I have yet to have a ghost perform for me on camera. Now, I am asking myself, maybe it’s because I’m not wearing a TAPS  official and certified t-shirt?

Sincere blogger,

Paranormal Eyes

Tonya H.

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The reality of Paranormal Activity-The movie

This weekend, for Halloween I headed to the theater to check out the very popular movie titled “Paranormal Activity“.  I do want to state that I am not a movie critic. I am a paranormal researcher that likes movies, spooky movies.

I have read some mixed reviews about this flick but I made a point to not read too much or make up my mind before I watched the movie with my own eyes. I did read up on some facts behind the movie. I tried to avoid the over personal opinions about the film.

First, the movie was made with an $11,000 budget. I was worried that the small budget would leave me with motion sickness or camera shaking migraine headache, like the Blair Witch Project successfully achieved. I learned that the actors used their real names during the film, as characters, just to keep the “reality”, well, real. The location was a real home, it was not a set. In fact, the home looked like the average Americans home. Real decor and it was age appropriate for the cast. I did not research a lot of the story line as I wanted it to be fresh and new to me. I did not want to expect or seek out scenes while viewing. With basic information in hand, my family headed to the theater to get the wits scared out of us! Just in time for Halloween!

The movie started out rather slow, but it seemed to pick up about 20 minutes into it. The plot and character placement took it’s sweet time to inform the viewers of who they are in the movie. At first, the camera movements were annoying to me, but I will admit, I did get sucked into the personal relationship between the couple. As for being a low budget film, with no name actors, I did find myself believing that they could in fact, be a real couple. The dynamic between the two of them was very realistic. The script, I forgot there was a script, never really thought about a script. To me, it just started to feel as if I was peeking into someones home life, via home video camera.
The plot grew a the movie continued. I did find myself totally emerged into the storyline.
The scare scenes started out subtle, which I respected. I love suspenseful movies and I feel they pulled it off with class. Compared to movies today, where glitz, effects, music and big bucks create scenes. The producers seemed to realize that a good scare is often worth the wait. I will not list my favorite scenes because I do feel that seeing it on the big screen for yourself will help you make up your list of favorites.

It’s often hard for me to watch ghost related movies and shows and not critique them, as a paranormal researcher. This movie I did not. I was able to focus on the story line and the suspenseful events taking place in the couples bedroom. I did notice a few old school ghost hunting tactics take place during the film and I respect the writers efforts to showcase the simplicity of most “paranormal activity”. Real hauntings are never as Hollywood glorifies them. In my 11 years of researching paranormal claims I  have yet to witness breathing walls and clients running down the stairs to greet me while doing a spider walk. In the movie, the basics were covered. They even used the Audacity audio editing program that most paranormal researchers use today.

The couple did call in a psychic for assistance. Which in reality, that would be what people would do in real life. I was impressed that they did not call in a “Ghost Hunting Team” to help them, to me that would have turned the movie sour. The couple handled it on their own and faced the consequences for it. The effects were simple and the unexplainable occurrences were basic. They utilized the power of suspense as they would in older movies that are also some of my favorites. I will point out the fact, that watching a movie without creepy background music was great. This movie did not have music or outrageous sound effects to build suspense.

I have read mixed reviews. The bad reviews are from movie buffs that appreciate and expect money, special effects and the impossible within today’s movies. I will admit, I am one of those people that watch movies and say, “um, that is impossible, that could never happen”. Personally, I do not like over done movies where effects have to build the story line. I am a fan of good writing, strong personal plots and the reality of the entire movie. Psychological thrillers are my favorites and I do feel that Paranormal Activity was worth the ticket price. The movie was just as fun to watch as it was for me to hear grown men scream in the seats behind me.

Was the movie amazing? I would not go as far to say that. For a good thrill and a couple nightmares, yes it was a lot of fun to watch. Was the movie horrible? The camera shaking was annoying at first, but it did get better as the movie progressed. It was not on a Blair Witch level, if it were, I would have walked out. The realistic, reality of  “paranormal activity” they showcased in the movie. It’s my opinion that they did a great job in showcasing a lot of claims people make, in real life. Yes, it was crammed into an hour and a half movie, but as a researcher, I have heard and witness people make the same claims, in real life. Therefore, the reality was a truthful, up until the end. (I won’t spoil it for you)

Great movie for the season and for me, a lot of fun to watch.One thing I did notice after watching the movie, I had a couple claw marks and bruises on my arms the next day. Paranormal? Not really, I had both of my children on each side of me, holding on for dear life. For kids and teens, this is a very scary movie. For adults, it could scare you if you allow it to do so. Just try not expect big money effects and creepy music to create your fear. In reality, real paranormal activity does not have sound effects and suspenseful music leading you on. Just allow it to happen.

How do I rate this movie? I won’t. I will leave that up to the people that specialize in movie ratings. I  just wanted to share what I thought about the movie, on a paranormal level. My family liked the movie and it was scary and fun. Paranormal Activity will not be a classic in my opinion, but it was done very well for a very small budget.

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BBQ & Banshees at The County Line

Oklahoma City, OK- The County Line Restaurant has a magnificent past. It has held haunting tales for the past 20 years and is still going strong. As new staff members enter the County Line crew, I have found that just dropping in to check on the ghost stories to be one of my all time favorite things to do, oh and I can’t forget the great BBQ!

In the 1930′s during the Prohibition days and when society declared that pointing fingers at what was socially acceptable was the rage, the former Oak Cliff club was purchased by a Greek immigrant. The then known as Oklahoma’s Kentucky Club paved the way for Oklahoma City nightlife. Booze, women, dancing, fashion and of course gambling were some of the key elements that kicked the Kentucky Club into  gear and deemed to be one of the city’s hot spots.  Not only did the Kentucky Club attract the local rum  guzzlers the club attracted high rollers from all across the nation. Rumors of busted up raids, insider informants and of course murder line the walls of the club today.  The club was infamous for it’s entertainment and a great place where you could grab a bite of food and a stiff drink in the days where money was scarce but living the  high life was demanded. The club was designed after the Kentucky Club in, well, Kentucky. Stable style seating where a dame and her beau could enjoy a nice quite dinner or distinguished gentleman could enjoy a good cigar and place a bet or two on the horses.  Those with a sense of adventure could venture out and experience a lit up dance floor for a night on the town. The Kentucky Club was one of Oklahoma’s hottest night spots and as we all know, where there is glitz and glamor, there is always a dark side.

After obtaining a handful of lawsuits and closings, the club flourish for a great number of years. Murder, scandal and secrets were starting rebuild the reputation of the Kentucky Club one mishap at a time.

The history of the Kentucky Club is a fun one, if you are into ladies of the night, booze and the occasional mafia or political tie in. The restaurant is now known as the County Line. Probably more famous for the BBQ than the ghosts, but here in Oklahoma, I do believe it’s one of the  most whispered about establishments in the state.

Come for the BBQ stay for the ghosts?

After meeting up with the County Line this past month. I was able to check in with some new staff members about the haunting tales and to see if they are still taking place, oh and of course to have some BBQ!  I decided to go around and take some photos of the joint since it was pretty close to closing time.  My team member Mandy had brought her tape recorder just for taking notes. After a nice evening of walking around, admiring the artwork and images from the past we were quickly reminded that the “ghosts” of the County Line are still swinging away, even today.

While taking some photos of the annex building out on the porch, I heard a man say “excuse me”. It caught me off guard, I never hear “voices” while out and about. It was just Mandy and myself out there, nobody else was around. she played the tape back and yes, we got the voice of the man saying “excuse me”, and my shocking reaction of course!  After reviewing the audio the next day, Mandy discovered that she had obtained a few great EVP’s during our non-ghost hunting adventure. It just goes to prove that the “ghosts” that are still lurking around the County Line enjoy people more when they are just hanging out, for no particular reason.

This September and October I will be hosting a series of dinners at the County Line Restaurant. BBQ & Banshees is the theme. If you are interested in ghosts or interested in BBQ and a good time, this intimate event is for you. Come and learn about the County Line and of course some of the states most haunted places. Well known authors and speakers will delight you over dinner as they share tales from Oklahoma’s past and present. Come for the food and entertainment but stay for the ghost hunt. After dinner guests will be allowed to see for themselves if the ghosts of the County Line are just rumors or the result of too much cold beer and great BBQ.

These events are open to the public and all ages are welcome. Bring the family, bring a date! The cost of the evening is cheaper than a boring night out on the town and you will have memories that will last you a lifetime. Don’t worry, singles are welcome and groups.

CLICK HERE FOR DATES AND TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!

Check out the great line up of speakers!

David Farris- Author of Mysterious Oklahoma

Marilyn Hundson- Oklahomas own Paranormal Librarian!

Mandy Watson of GHOULI and of course Me, Tonya H. of NewsOK’s “Paranormal Eyes”.

Come hear the EVP and learn more about the ghosts of the County Line! This event is not scary by any means it’s a lot of fun!!  Reservation only! Hurry, these events will fill up fast as we get closer to Halloween!

CLICK HERE FOR DATES AND TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!

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Now this is a smart ghost!

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Press Release: Father of the Paranormal Dies

Press Release: Amityville Ghostbuster Hans Holzer dies Sunday aged 89.

Hans Holzer, known as the Father of the Paranormal, died Sunday at his Manhattan home after a long illness.

Dr. Hans Holzer, PhD, authored over 145 titles including Murder At Amityville, which was the basis for the 1982 film Amityville II: The Possession.

Having earned his PhD from the London College of Applied Science, he spent over five decades traveling the world to obtain first hand accounts of paranormal experiences, interviewing expert researchers, and developing parapsychological protocols and terminology such as ‘sensitive’ and ‘beings of light’.

Holzer had hundreds of national and regional talk show appearances, co-hosting/hosting programs such as Ghost Hunter on Boston’s Channel 2, NBC’s In Search Of with Leonard Nemoy (an Alan Landsburg productions), Murder in Amityville, Beyond The Five Senses in Louisville, KY, Explorations with Brownville Productions in Ohio, Radio including a continuous segment with New York City’s WOR with famed radio personality Joe Franklin who still is a family friend.

Father Paranormal

A Biography

Dr. Holzer pioneered and paved the path for the field of study of the science of unexplained phenoma. He was the first of his kind to mainstream the term ‘ghost hunter’ which became the title to his first book in 1963, ‘The Ghost Hunter’ which went into an unheard of eleven printings.

Writing genres included parapsychology, the supernatural, the occult, some fiction, poetry, religion and healing. Most famous for Amityville Horror II: The Possession, Ghosts, Americas Haunted House, The UFOnauts, The Journey of the Magi and Murder in Amityville: Fact or Fiction. Most of his titles can be found on http://www.barnesandnoble.com.

Holzer was a leading authority in the field of the paranormal, known as Father of the Paranormal. Having earned his PhD from the London College of Applied Science, he has spent over five decades traveling the world to obtain first hand accounts of paranormal experiences, interviewing expert researchers, and developing para-psychological protocols. He taught parapsychology at the New York Institute of Technology for a decade.

He was a member of the WGAE, Dramatists Guild, Producers Guild, SAG, Authors Guild, AFTRA ASCAP, Archaeological Institute, NY Academy of Science, NY Historical Society and Who’s Who In America.

Dr. Hans Holzer 1920-2009

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NOTES:

No matter what you believe,  if you agree or disagree there is no denying that, Dr. Hans Holzer was a pioneer in the field of “paranormal research”.

This folks, is  how you create a legacy.

Are you creating a legacy like Dr. Holzer or are you just chasing ghosts like so many others  out there?

If you are in this field as a researcher, strive to not become one of the thousands that will eventually achieve nothing.  Not even a trail or a crumb of who you are, were, what you did and why you did it, nothing.

Bravo to Dr. Holzer for doing a great job in creating your legacy in the  field of paranormal research.

Sincerely,

Tonya H.

Paranormal Eyes

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Oklahoma Tours, Events & Books?

It seems there is a lot going on these days in Oklahoma. Tours, ghost hunts and public events are busy as ever. It does not have to be Halloween to celebrate things that go bump in the night. In fact, things reports of paranormal activity take place all year around. Just wanted to shout out about a great event that will be taking place March 21, 2009 in El Reno, Oklahoma.

The 4th annual Oklahoma Paranormal Conference (ParaCon 2009) is set and tickets are already selling like hot cakes. New teams and individuals are starved for education when it comes to paranormal claims and this is one reason why we feel this years conference is going to be the best to date!

On top of having a great line up of speakers this year, it’s just going to be fun for everyone.  Watch the promotional video here

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXy1vYcGW5Y

Or visit www.ghouli.org for speaker details.

You will notice NewsOK blogger will be speaking at this event. We are happy to have his skepticism present this year. http://blog.newsok.com/smokeandmirrors/ 

No matter what you believe, most people enjoy a good ghost story. The Oklahoma Paranormal Conference is celebrating the ghost story with the states top story tellers and paranormal leaders. A new Oklahoma book will also be released. GHOSTLAHOMA is released at ParaCon 2009! This is a series book and we have already started writing Part II of this series. The next book will feature places where you can eat, sleep and drink… with a haunting history of course. So, we are taking your stories and following up your leads now. Want to help our or submit a story? Email us tonya@ghouli.org

Investigations- My team and I are priviledged to be investigating the Historic Overholser Mansion. We have paired up with Preservation Oklahoma to investigate and potentially validate the haunting tales that surround the Mansion. We are excited about being able to work with such respected organizations within the state of Oklahoma where they are allowing us to preserve history, one ghost story at a time. If you would like to nominate a location, just contact us!

Tours for Fundraising- We ask that you support your local historical tours. Just pay close attention to where the money is going. If the tour is hosted by a ghost hunting team find out how much of the proceeds are going to historical preservation. Many property owners utlize haunting history to make extra money for repairs and up-keep. It is important that these properties are allowed to make as much money as possible to keep the lights on, windows in and paint on the walls.  Most teams suggest that they are not for profit or they work for free.  Please check with the property owners to make sure the funds are going into the building, not the ghost hunting teams pockets. If it’s a fund raiser for the team, they should have this posted on a website or brochure.  It is typical for teams to be compensated for time and marketing efforts but it’s more important that these historical properties are raising funds more. Ask questions before you turn your money over. Not all tours are rip off’s! There are a lot of fantastic tours in the state of Oklahoma that offer a very nice evening and are very affordable. There are even teams that are licensed to run tours in the state of Oklahoma! Have fun! Red flag ghost hunting teams that have a tendency to scare people, get demon possessed or are utilizing tours for self promotion or a TV show. The teams should be promoting the historical property, not themselves. Just ask questions about where and how much of the money is going towards the historic property that is offering the tours.

I just wanted to give a heads up. My 2009 goals was to blog more and I will. I also wanted to let people know how they can get involved and network with others that have an interest in the paranormal. I will admit, we are excited about the great things the state of Oklahoma is allowing us to do this year and we hope to continue preserving the stories and legends that make Oklahoma an Unusual State.

Sincere Blogger,

Tonya Hacker

Paranormal Eyes

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