Planned Obsolescence–Is the stock market crash a harbinger of something worse?

•September 18, 2008 • Leave a Comment

Because I basically distrust our Government, and have since the 70’s (the time of Nixon), I am always sensitive to any whiff of Government skullduggery. For example, I firmly believe our crooked Administration is behind 9/11, and Ive heard disturbing rumors of impending Martial Law being implemented, with concentration camps being built by Halliburton. I know that sounds wild, but think about it, since 9/11, we’ve seen the erosion of many of our Constitutional rights, and the expansion of Presidential power such that with the stroke of a pen we would all be at the mercy of our local Police force augmented by Mercenaries and Blackwater operatives.

Think Im kidding? Check this out:


Bush could seize absolute control of U.S. government
By DOUG THOMPSON
Publisher, Capitol Hill Blue
Jan 13, 2006, 07:42

President George W. Bush has signed executive orders giving him sole authority to impose martial law, suspend habeas corpus and ignore the Posse Comitatus Act that prohibits deployment of U.S. troops on American streets. This would give him absolute dictatorial power over the government with no checks and balances.

Bush discussed imposing martial law on American streets in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by activating “national security initiatives” put in place by Ronald Reagan during the 1980s.

These “national security initiatives,” hatched in 1982 by controversial Marine Colonel Oliver North, later one of the key players in the Iran-Contra Scandal, charged the Federal Emergency Management Agency with administering executive orders that allowed suspension of the Constitution, implementation of martial law, establishment of internment camps, and the turning the government over to the President.

John Brinkerhoff, deputy director of FEMA, developed the martial law implementation plan, following a template originally developed by former FEMA director Louis Guiffrida to battle a “national uprising of black militants.” Gifuffrida’s implementation of martial law called for jailing at least 21 million African Americans in “relocation camps.” Brinkerhoff later admitted in an interview with the Miami Herald that President Reagan signed off on the initiatives and they remained in place, dormant, until George W. Bush took office.

Brinkerhoff moved on the Anser Institute for Homeland Security and, following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, provided the Bush White House and the Pentagon with talking points supporting revised “national security initiatives” that would could allow imposition of martial law and suspension of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, the law that is supposed to forbid use of troops for domestic law enforcement.

Brinkerhoff wrote that intentions of Posse Comitatus are “misunderstood and misapplied” and that the U.S. has in times of national emergency the “full and absolute authority” to send troops into American streets to “enforce order and maintain the peace.”

Bush used parts of the plan to send troops into the streets of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. In addition, FEMA hired former special forces personnel from the mercenary firm Blackwater USA to “enforce security.”

Blackwater USA, in its promotional materials, describes itself as “the most comprehensive professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operations company in the world,” adding that “we have established a global presence and provide training and operational solutions for the 21st century in support of security and peace, and freedom and democracy everywhere.”

Blackwater is also a major U.S. contractor in Iraq and has a contract with the Bush White House to provide additional security work “on an as-needed basis.”


The Department of Homeland Security established the “Northern Command for National Defense,” a wide-ranging program that includes FEMA, the Pentagon, the FBI and the National Security Agency. Executive orders already signed by Bush allow the Northern Command to send troops into American streets, seize control of radio and television stations and networks and impose martial law “in times of national emergency.”

The authority to declare what is or is not a national emergency rests entirely with Bush who does not have to either consult or seek the approval of Congress for permission to assume absolute control over the government of the United States. The White House press office would neither confirm nor deny existence of Bush’s executive orders or the existence of the Northern Command for National Defense. Neither would the Department of Homeland Security. But my sources within the White House and DHS tell me the plans are in place, ready for implementation when the command comes from the man who keeps telling the American public that he is a “war time president” who will “do anything in my power” to impose his will on the people of the United States. And he has made sure that power will be absolute when he chooses to use it.

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7986.shtml

Here’s info about the concentration camps built by Halliburton and others:

There are over 600 prison camps in the United States, all fully operational and ready to receive prisoners. They are all staffed and even surrounded by full-time guards, but they are all empty. These camps are to be operated by FEMA should Martial Law need to be implemented in the United States.

The Rex 84 Program was established on the reasoning that if a mass exodus of illegal aliens crossed the Mexican/US border, they would be quickly rounded up and detained in detention centers by FEMA. Rex 84 allowed many military bases to be closed down and to be turned into prisons.

Operation Cable Splicer and Garden Plot are the two sub programs which will be implemented once the Rex 84 program is initiated for its proper purpose. Garden Plot is the program to control the population. Cable Splicer plans for an orderly takeover of the state and local governments by the federal government. FEMA is the executive arm of the coming police state and thus will head up all operations. The Presidential Executive Orders already listed on the Federal Register also are part of the legal framework for this operation.

The camps all have railroad facilities as well as roads leading to and from the detention facilities. Many also have an airport nearby. The majority of the camps can house a population of 20,000 prisoners. Currently, the largest of these facilities is just outside of Fairbanks,
Alaska. The Alaskan facility is a massive mental health facility and can hold approximately 2 million people.

(source: http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread59023/pg1)

Then things get REALLY odd….apparently there is a poster on the Google Finance page, a Reinhardt by name, who infers that there is a huge influx of money into the Catholic Church, and that the Stock Market crash/wobble was no accident:

“Crash is in September, and the negative news that will move the market downward should occur Sept 15. this organization below.. runs the show

http://www.legatus.org/public/index.asp

the money laundering occurs just prior to the pilgrimage to rome and the checks are written during the pilgrimage and the checks clear by September 14 and the negative news leaks out (something along the lines of “insider trading on a mass scale at a major brokerage) then they start crossing the “t”s and dotting the “i”s on Sarbanes-Oxley II—SOX II will certainly protect the working class’ nest-eggs fur sure!

it is no coincidence that Father Jose Escriva started Opus Dei in 1928 it is no coincidence that Monohan started Legatus just prior to the 1987 crash. it is no coincidence that Tyco’s Belnick “met privately” with the Pope during the 1999 “pilgrimage” google “Belnick” “unlikely cause” as in “Tyco’s windfall goes to unlikely cause” and it is no coincidence the David Tice leaked the rumor that started the slide of Tyco the day after that pilgrimage. google “David Tice” and “Tyco” and put the dates in order as I have done it is no coincidence that the last pilgrimage to rome was during the Ides of March which was the weekend prior to Bear Stearns’ little number the game has to be played somehow, and this.. is the way it is played..

You have been warned

http://www.legatus.org/public/index.asp

Opus Dei used to do it
Now Legatus does it

In an interesting coda, Reinhardt’s profile was banned, and Google gave this explanation:

This account has been banned because it violated the Google Groups Terms Of Use.

he gives his website here

Frankly, Im not sure what to make of all of this, but its a fact that the concentration camps are built, and Bush has signed off on Martial Law. Our Stock Market is shaky. Jobs are scarce. Can any of us really afford to be complacent? There are those who recommend stockpiling food and water, for at least a month if not more. I think I will, because–you know–they just might be right. The worst that can happen is I have a lot of food……

Posted in because I said so, Oddz and Endz, paranormal/conspiracy, Politics as Usual, rants
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The economic crisis–chickens coming home to roost.

•September 15, 2008 • 2 Comments

From the Associated Press headlines this morning:

Lehman Brothers, burdened by $60 billion in soured real-estate holdings, filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in U.S. Bankruptcy Court after attempts to rescue the 158-year-old firm failed. Bank of America Corp. said it is snapping up Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. in a $50 billion all-stock transaction. The demise of the independent Wall Street institutions came as shock waves from the 14-month-old credit crisis roiled the U.S. financial system six months after the collapse of Bear Stearns. The world’s largest insurance company, American International Group Inc., also was forced into a restructuring.

So. Lehman Brothers follows Bear Stearns and Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac into financial ruin. The stock market tumbles and the dollar falls (again) against the Pound Sterling and the Euro. Everyone in banking is biting their nails (when they arent busily gobbling up the leftovers from the failed investment houses that is) because everyone wonders “what next?” Im here ta tell ya, it dont take no crystal ball to figure that one out baybeh.

As far as Im concerned, this is all poetic justice. For far too long, this country has concentrated on helping corporations and banks, giving them tax breaks, legal loopholes, ability to safely go offshore without any penalties (costing us Jobs!), giving them the power to penalize late mortgage or credit payers with exorbitant fees and penalties, and generally making it impossible for anyone to keep their head above water financially.

So what is the result? Folks cant make their mortgage payments because of crazy contracts that have balloon payments or variable interest rates, or ridiculous housing prices so inflated it takes 2 incomes to pay for them (but oops your company just went overseas, sorry) and hardworking folks everywhere are suddenly without the means to pay for their homes and SURPRISE! A veritable landslide of defaulted mortgages, cars, whatever. Banks now have a glut of homes to try and get rid of in a climate that cant find home buyers because why? Oh yeah, no more work….

So, bottom line is, they are now stuck with a bunch of properties they cant offload, they are saddled with reams of defaulted debts and guess what folks, the forgotten, neglected, belittled CONSUMER is finally FINALLY going to have the last laff. Its a NO BRAINER: Lawmakers, you allow companies to go offshore (which means less jobs here in the USA), you allow agribusiness conglomerates to gobble up family farms, you hamstring a debtor’s ability to repay their debts, you concentrate on helping banks instead of helping the folks putting the $$$$ in the banks, YOU ARE GOING TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE. Thats what you get for being GREEDY and I’m laffing my ASS off over here. Because I know that until the jobs come back and the corporations are held in check, this is JUST THE BEGINNING!

And then this:

Ten banks — Bank of America, Barclays, Citibank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and UBS — each agreed to provide $7 billion “to help enhance liquidity and mitigate the unprecedented volatility and other challenges affecting global equity and debt markets.” The Federal Reserve also chipped in with more largesse in its emergency lending program for investment banks. The central bank announced late Sunday that it was broadening the types of collateral that financial institutions can use to obtain loans from the Fed.

What I want to know is, why are all the banks rallying around to give bankrupt banks HUGE sums of money to avoid bankruptcy but if WE default on even ONE payment we get slapped with penalties and fees?  I mean, if a debtor has a problem making the scheduled payment, where’s the logic in adding MORE for the debtor to pay?  Only a BANKER thinks that makes sense!!!  Not only that but I find it highly ironic that these same folks all got together and had newly elected President Bush sign off on punitive debt collection measures, among which were the narrowing or elimination altogether of debt relief measurers historically used (bankruptcy).   We cant do it but THEY CAN and not only can they do it, they get a helping hand from other Banks!  You know where all that 70 billion came from right? From every single sweaty nickel they’ve gouged out of US! There’s just something plain LOPSIDED about the way this whole thing is structured

Friggin’ DUMBASSES.

Posted in because I said so, Politics as Usual, rants
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PROTECT on Oprah!

•September 15, 2008 • 7 Comments

Ive mentioned before I am a child advocate. One of the groups I belong to– “PROTECT”–is going to be on Oprah on Monday Sept 15th according to an email I got today. Here is the main thrust of the email:

We just got back from taping The Oprah Show in Chicago and wanted to make sure you, as part of the PROTECT family, tune in this Monday to watch Oprah spread our pro-child, anti-crime message to her more than 40 million viewers. We wanted to share some behind the scenes details with you here in advance.

Special Agent Flint Waters demonstrated his computer software that tracks Internet predators and pornographers, leading investigators straight to these criminals’ doors-and potentially leading to child rescue. PROTECT’s Legislative Affairs Director, Camille Cooper, discussed our Federal bill that will award law enforcement the funding necessary to put this groundbreaking and life-saving new program in play. Ms. Cooper told Oprah and her audience of millions how hard PROTECT’s members and supporters have worked on this bill for the past two years. Oprah will be calling upon her vast audience on Monday to demand the Senate passes this legislation.

This has been such a long hard battle for many of us, but victory is in sight. In fact, within mere hours following the taping on Thursday, word reached Capitol Hill of Oprah’s new role in our campaign, leading a to FOX News headline: “Hurricane Oprah Heading Towards Washington.”

And now, let’s win this final round. Please click here to tell your Senators to stop playing politics and pass the ‘PROTECT Our Children Act.’

I’ll be at work when this is aired, but I sure hope those who are at home will take action when they see this. What a wonderful help for our kids! Thanks Oprah!

Posted in because I said so, Child Advocacy, Politics as Usual
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Brushes with the Paranormal—Ghosts Part 4

•September 5, 2008 • 1 Comment

This post concerns something that happened to my daughter when she and her husband were inside the old Senator/El Rey Theater on Main Street in Chico. Its my understanding you can’t watch movies there any more but I believe it is available to rent for live performances (which is why my daughter and her husband were there, he used to be in a popular local Chico Band “La Fin Du Monde” and they were most likely scouting the venue for a performance). Anyway, here are views from both the Tower and the Marquee, which together comprise the whole block:

Also Nighttime views! Love the neon!

pretty cool eh? Ok here’s where it gets interesting: My daughter related to me that she and her husband were in the balcony section when she felt a brush of something against her leg and she saw a woman/young girl in a hoop skirt with a Gibson Girl hairstyle, a parasol and gloves quite near to her….she said she was quite amazed to feel a very small, very cold hand nestle itself inside of hers. She said this woman appeared to be dressed in late 1800’s early 1900’s style clothing, and apparently she wasn’t very tall, indicating youth perhaps. At any rate, my daughter told me she didn’t feel any menace or fear, just surprise that this spirit would put her hand in my daughter’s hand…perhaps for reassurance? Who knows… This is the interior (very ornate!)

In researching this segment, I found this sad little site. Apparently circa 2007, the Senator has been up for sale. At present I don’t know what its fate is, but I hope that whoever buys it maintains a respect for the history and sense of place that this Stately Theater has held for the North State…

UPDATE!! According to an article in the Chico State newspaper (Orion) dated 9/29/16, the Chico City Council put the Senator/El Ray theater on their agenda. Link

UPDATE 2!! Apparently the El Rey is under new ownership but they are committed to keeping the venue alive as a Community Center & Entertainment Showcase! There is a website Here

also, for any CA folks who happen to live near Chico CA…this is a shameless plug for my son in law’s band, “La Fin Du Monde” which has been voted best alternative band in Chico more than once!

Posted in Oddz and Endz, paranormal/conspiracy, weird and wonderful
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Brushes with the Paranormal—Ghosts Part 3

•September 5, 2008 • Leave a Comment

My best friend used to own a historic Victorian on the corner of Henrietta & Court St in downtown Martinez. It is located in what used to be known as “Portuguese Flats” not far from the Downtown business district. The house has had an interesting history. It was built in the late 1890’s. The original owners were the De Sotos, one of the early Mexican Land Grant Families. Mr. De Soto died of a heart attack 6 or 7 years after the house was built, and his widow sold the home soon after to a local developer by the last name of Colton. Both Mr De Soto and his wife are rumored to haunt the place. It is interesting to note that the house is actually known as the Colton House, even though he wasn’t the original owner. While he lived there, however, the house figured prominently in local society life. Apparently it operated as a speakeasy during the prohibition. The Coltons sold the home after their daughter succumbed to the influenza epidemic approximately 1918 or so. It is her ghost that can be heard running up and down the stairs. Not long after this it became a convent for the Sisters of the Holy Family, with the main church located a street or two over.

This is a photo of the original main church which actually can be seen from the upper story of my friend’s old house:

the website for the Church mentions the convent:

The years that followed saw many changes both in the leadership of the parish and in its facilities. Between 1896 and 1903, a second ????? was relocated and a second larger rectory was built. In 1923, the oversight of the parish was transferred from the Dominican Fathers to the Diocesan Clergy. In 1930, a new rectory was constructed on the original location. In 1931, the Sisters of the Holy Family came and taught Summer School. In 1933 they opened a convent in a rented home and later purchased it.

The Sisters operated the convent for many years but eventually moved the convent to another location and the home was used primarily to store church property. During the 1950’s the Sisters sold the home to the Columbo family who used it as a boarding house to generate income. According to my friend, one of the ghosts that inhabit his old house is a music teacher who rented a room from the Columbos during its boarding house phase. He was reportedly a dog lover and my friend’s Dalmations used to like going into that room, perhaps it was for a ghostly pat on the head!

Here is a picture of his home from above and behind

Here is what it looks like today:

When he first bought the home, he took me on a tour and explained the history of the place, and showed me the basement quarters of the home which housed the nuns when the place was a convent. He said that he did get an ominous feeling down there but he couldn’t explain it until he learned the home’s other, haunted history.

Among the ghostly goings on were flickering lights and the sound of little feet running up and down the staircase, most likely the little child who lived and died there. My friend surmised that the minor pranks that occurred were probably because of this youthful spirit. He also related a ghostly piano serenade on Christmas morning one year. The sudden noise of piano keys playing music on Christmas morning scared the visiting family members so badly they never came back!

I myself spent one night there and was worried sick about seeing/hearing “ghosties.” Without going into too much detail, all I will say is, I never heard or saw anything and was vastly relieved. A few of his Dalmations did keep me company that night and I was very grateful!

Part 4 coming soon…….

Posted in Oddz and Endz, paranormal/conspiracy
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Brushes with the Paranormal—Ghosts Part 1

•September 5, 2008 • 14 Comments

We’ve all grown up with Ghost stories–of all the potential brushes with the paranormal, ghost encounters are the most common occurrence. Even if you haven’t had one yourself, you probably know someone who has. All countries have their stories/legends/folktales, and America is no exception. I found a cool site which has an interactive map of Ghost Towns in America. This site is labeled Some Real American Ghosts and has excerpts of legends or sightings from the past. Another site recounts various Ghost stories of American celebrities, including famous Hollywood actors/actresses, and well known political figures

Sigh…seems like almost everyone in my inner circle has fairly well developed psychic powers—except for ME! My daughter has visions and has had encounters with Ghosts. My brother has had a brush or two with Ghosts as well. My mother has displayed precognitive and other psychic abilities all my life. Heck, my best friend even bought a haunted historic home in the Bay Area and had numerous Ghost stories to relate! Alas, I have yet to see a Ghost and frankly, I want to keep it that way! Honestly? The idea of seeing a Ghost scares me silly! When I was a kid, we had the White Witch of Black Diamond Mines/Kirker Pass. My step dad had a Ghostly encounter in the Black Diamond mines area, and even my Grandmother, who was a reporter for a local newspaper, told a story about a picture taken of a certain tree in the Black Diamond Mines area reputed to have developed ghostly images of disembodied heads hanging from its branches!

First, my dad’s account (this occurred in the late 60’s or early 70’s and is my best recollection of what he told the family):

I was driving home from work and I had taken the shortcut from Kirker pass (near Clayton) to Antioch via the back roads near the Black Diamond Mines and Nortonville (this was in the days when that roadway was still open to the public). I had gotten most of the way through when I experienced car trouble. I managed to get the car to the side of the road and parked it. I then began walking along the road leading toward Antioch. This stretch of road is not well traveled, and I had little hope of getting a ride, and as it was getting toward dusk, I was a bit concerned, not having a flashlight or other emergency supplies. Lady luck smiled upon me that evening, for I heard a vehicle on the road behind me. I turned and spotted a horse drawn wagon and a solitary driver coming toward me. He offered me a ride, and I thanked him and got in. My driver said nothing to me and I followed suit. Soon, we arrived within sight of Antioch, and I jumped down from the wagon. I looked out toward the town and then turned back to thank my rescuer, and he was nowhere to be seen! I was then gripped by a cold chill to realize that I had just been given a ride by a ghost! I never took that shortcut again, and shortly thereafter, it was closed to general public.

In an effort to corroborate my recollection with what my Dad experienced, I emailed him and he had this to say:

“Mary, I do Remember,and it is true it scared the hell out of me. I’ll try to get on line and look at it. Miss talking to you.   love you Dad”

This particular area is known for strange paranormal occurrences, and there is a spot along a lonely stretch called “gravity hill” which pulls a car uphill even though the motor is off. Here are a few links regarding Ghost activity in the area:

http://paranormalstories.blogspot.com/2007/04/black-diamond-mines.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/628467/haunted_places_in_antioch_ca_digging.html

This is a link about the White Witch:

http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm394820.html

This is directions to get to Gravity Hill near Antioch:

Antioch, California; on Empire Mine Road. This road has since been closed to the public. From East/West exit Highway 4 at Lone Tree Way, turn right on Deer Valley Road, turn right on Empire Mine Road. From South, take Ygnacio Valley Road, right on Clayton Road which becomes Marsh Creek Road, left on Deer Valley, left on Empire Mine Road.

I always just got there from the road that offshoots Sommersville Road, but thats just me.

this site listed all the haunted areas of Antioch:

Antioch – Black Diamond Mines – These mines are haunted by the White Witch. In life, her name was Mary. She was a nanny in the 1800’s when there was still coal mining in the mines. All of the children died of illnesses and she was accused of Witchcraft, then executed. She guards the mines and when people see her, she is all white.

Antioch – Black Diamond Mines – The Rosehill Cemetery – haunted by Sarah Norton, also known as the “White Witch”. She was a midwife and on her way to deliver a baby her carriage fell over and she was crushed. She is seen in the graveyard floating around the tombstones.

Antioch – Black Diamond Mines – Somersville – Sarah Norton – Sarah Norton was a midwife who died on the way to deliver a baby when her carriage over turned and killed her. Sarah was not a religious woman and told her kids that she did not want a funeral. So when she died the town s people of Somersville wanted to give her a funeral. The first time they went to give her a funeral a fierce storm struck up and cause the towns people to delay the funeral till the next day, the next time they tried to give her a funeral another storm came out of no where and the live stock started charging thru town, at that point the towns people stopped trying to give her a funeral and just brought her to Rosehill Cemetery, From that day her sprit has been seen around Somersville and the other locations where the mining towns use to be know as The Black Diamond Mines in eastern Contra Costa County and other locations off of marsh creek rd. Her ghost has been known to be called the White Witch.

Antioch – Brentwood – Gravity Hill – In the 1950’s a school bus was driving kids home from a field trip. It skidded into a wash and all the kids drowned. If you go there, put your car in neutral around the turn, you get pushed up the hill. It’s supposedly by the kids who died in the bus crash and they want to keep you from the same fate.

Antioch – Empire Mine Road – Gates of Hell – Fair warning – no trespassing you will get fined or arrested. Possibly torn down – In the middle of Empire Mine road, there is a Stuckko wall with a bunch of spray paint on it. If you like to take hikes, this is the place to go. There is a rumor of an old Insane Asylum at the very end of this road. You will come to another gate then behind their lies this old decrepit Structure of a hospital. Many people were killed brutally in this place, and it is VERY haunted by not so nice spirits. Things have been thrown at people, they have been pushed and screams have been heard from the people being tortured by themselves or another. – October 2003 update: Reports of it being a golf course now.

Antioch – Empire Mine Road – Rail Road Mine – Fair warning – no trespassing you will get fined or arrested. Possibly torn down – At the end of Empire mine road, there is an old railroad track tunnel that is pretty spooky inside. There are bats inside it and you can hear voices at the end of the tunnel.

Antioch – Empire Mine Road – Slaughterhouse -Fair warning – no trespassing you will get fined or arrested. – An old slaughterhouse stands in the corner of the road after the first bend. It is haunted by an old man who walks the grounds and makes sure that everything is ok, and that no one gets hurt while there. Strange noises are heard inside the first building where they chopped up the meat. Clanking inside of the circle figured tubes towards the back of the property. Chains clank all around and you can hear footsteps behind you like someone is watching over you. Just remember to watch your step!

Antioch – St. James Presbyterian Church – This old church, located on Leland Avenue in San Francisco has a history of hauntings. Late at night, footsteps can be heard walking up the stairs, doors shut, etc. Also, on more than one occasion, late at night, doors that normally open easily will be impossible to open, as if a ton of bricks is on the other side of the door. Later, the doors will be found wide open.

Antioch – Vasco road – you can hear people if you get out of your car running around. breathing and invisible people is also reported. if you don’t feel like getting out of your car, it is scary just to drive through in the dark.

This post is turning out to be a longish one so I will continue in part 2

Posted in Oddz and Endz, paranormal/conspiracy
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Brushes with the Paranormal—Ghosts Part 2

•September 4, 2008 • 1 Comment

This post concerns an encounter my brother had while helping a friend who owned a Ski Lodge in Cisco Grove, near the Yuba River and Donner Pass.

According to my brother, he was helping his friend close up the lodge for the night, and he went upstairs and began checking to make sure the windows and doors were secure. He went from one end of the hallway to the other and at some point in his progress from one end to the other, he passed through a cold spot. He noticed it but didn’t really think anything of it, and kept going. He finally reached the other end of the hallway and turned around and noticed that the first door he closed at the other end of the hall was open. He went back and closed it, again passing through the cold spot. His room was across the hall and down a door or two, and he slipped into his room to take a shower. After his shower, he came out of his room and again noticed that the same door was again open.

This time he examined the door knob, the latch, the wood of the door jamb, anything that might have explained the door opening. Finding nothing wrong, he closed the door again, and went to bed. In the morning, the door was again open, and my brother mentioned it to his friend who said “oh thats Mary’s room.” The friend (his name was Jim) related the story of this woman Mary who apparently favored that room, and allegedly used it for trysts with a lover (Mary was married). Legend has it that Mary’s husband found out about the affair, and shot both Mary and her lover dead.

My brother had one other strange occurrence, this time on the stone stairwell the led down to the basement gambling room. Apparently, during prohibition, this room was used as a speakeasy, and booze and gambling were common pastimes there. My brother related that the stairs were made of stone and they were approximately 6 feet wide, quite roomy. At some point during his stay there, he had to go down these stairs and again noticed a cold spot partway down. This time he stayed in the cold spot until it went away. My brother mentioned the cold spot to Jim who related that that particular spot is allegedly where a gambler was shot dead after being accused of cheating.

Before I wrote this piece I verified the name of the town, the Lodge and the basic facts of the events as they happened to him. He was careful to state that he put no particular store by the recounting of the legends, reminding himself that folks have a tendency to embellish a story, and that we may never really know the whole truth. I assured him I would present it as it happened to him and let folks make up their own minds.

Out of curiosity, I wanted to see if I could corroborate any of the particulars of my brother’s experience, and lo and behold, right at the top of the search results was this story:

The Spirits Play Host at Rainbow Lodge by Robert Frohlich

Rainbow Lodge has been a popular way station for trans- Sierra travelers since 1892. And if certain rumors are to be believed, it has also been a frequent stop for travelers of the spirit world for almost as long.

Rumors aside, the 33-room inn of burnished, hand-hewn timber and native granite remains a delightful combination of pioneer history and contemporary comforts. Built in 1930, the warm and rustic lodge has an intimate restaurant, pine log furniture, walls lined with historic photos and even the original spittoon at the base of the bar, all of which hark back to another time. Overlooking a bend of the Yuba River near Cisco Grove, eight miles west of Donner Pass, Rainbow Lodge’s beautiful building and level of service have made it a well-known landmark in the Tahoe region, especially with Nordic enthusiasts. Part of Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort, Rainbow Lodge is a 22-kilometer, 1,200-foot vertical drop from the resort’s main Summit Station via the Rainbow Interconnect Trail.

The roadhouse rests along a section of the historic Emigrant Trail, on the site of a former nineteenth century stage stop for weary yet determined travelers crossing Donner Pass. Legend has it that a young woman named Mary was shot to death by her husband there after he found her in bed with another man. That structure burnt down, but some timbers were supposedly used to build the Rainbow Lodge.

Today’s guests need not worry about stray bullets. But mysterious lights, water taps left running in rooms, the sound of someone crying and occasional sightings of a man who quickly disappears can provide visitors with great stories to share around the lodge’s inviting fireplaces.

“There are two ghosts at Rainbow, one man and one woman,” claims former inn manager Elisa Sarona. “Legend has it that both were killed on the property. The woman ghost, Mary, is said to inhabit room 23. People have booked that room on purpose in hopes of recognizing her presence. Neither ghost has ever been known to be mean or malicious, just mischievous.”

During the 1920s, the lodge’s basement doubled as a gambling hall. One card player was shot and killed for cheating; his loot, said to be as much as $40,000, was allegedly buried somewhere around the property. Some say his spirit lingers at Rainbow Lodge to protect his money.

“One time, we had just opened the restaurant for dinner,” says Lynn Markley, who waited tables for 12 years at Rainbow Lodge’s Engandine Café. “I glanced from the hostess station and noticed an elderly man at a table. His head was down, so I really couldn’t see him. I grabbed a menu, turned around, and there was no one there.” Another time, housekeeper Monica Roth was cleaning a room and happened to turn around to see an elderly man sitting on the bed watching her. She blinked, and he was gone.

Others claim to have felt the presence of Mary. No one can specifi cally recall why the spirit chooses to occupy room 23, but many stories abound, indicating that is where she rests. When John Slouber, founder of Royal Gorge Resort, purchased the building in 1987, it had been closed for over a year due to bankruptcy. As one would expect, its rooms were very dusty and musty—all except room 23, which was absolutely, clean, fresh and preserved.

Mysterious lights, crying sounds and sightings of a man who disappears have all been reported.

Jennifer Ferris, a Donner Lake resident, once managed the bar at Rainbow Lodge. “Mary has been known to knock glasses off trays, touch clothing and pinch legs,” says Ferris. “During the April Fool’s blizzard in 1983, the building was evacuated over our guests’ safety because of the intensity of the storm. The building was locked. No one had been in the building, but upon our return, we discovered the windows in room 23 wide open, curtains flapping and snow on the floor.”

Connie Jackson, a former restaurateur in Soda Springs, had a close encounter of the paranormal kind during a séance conducted by two parapsychologists who appeared at the lodge in the early 1980s. “I used to hear noises of a woman crying and felt a strong presence near the back stairs of the building,” recalls Jackson. “During this séance, I guess things got pretty wild. I don’t really remember a thing except I woke up crying. My girlfriends who were there said Mary spoke through me. They said I cried while telling the story, in my own voice, of how Mary died by the hand of a male fi gure.”

“It’s hard not to dismiss the ghosts as hoodoo,” says Slouber, who sold his 3,000-acre Royal Gorge Resort, including Rainbow Lodge, in 2005 to Bay Area developers Todd Foster and Kirk Syme. “But the stories sure are a lot of fun, and I wish I could have located the buried treasure.”

The spirits may have already spooked Royal Gorge’s new owners. In the midst of a project that includes the construction of a 10,500 square foot day lodge and private real estate development, they’ve placed Rainbow Lodge on the market. Asking price is $7 million.

Whoever purchases the property may eventually agree with others about the inn’s spirited guests. “The ghosts have only added to the charm of the place,” says Lynn Markley. “I think they get lonely and, from time to time, want to be recognized. They do something as if to say, ‘Hey, we’re here.’ It’s almost reassuring, a feeling sometimes like a friend calling. If nothing else, Rainbow Lodges’s bar remains a great place to tell a ghost story.”

Robert Frohlich is a TQ contributing editor and occasional ghostwriter. He ghostwrote Magic Yosemite Winters for Coldstream Press under the name Gene Rose. LINK
I cant say how much of the legends or folklore is true, however I will say that I know my brother to be a very honest person and that the experiences he says he had, he had. Apparently many others have had them too. Part 3 coming up.

Posted in Oddz and Endz, paranormal/conspiracy, weird and wonderful
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It was a Jayne Cobb weekend.

•September 3, 2008 • Leave a Comment

As Ive said before, and probably will again–due to my annoying OCD–I LURVE Jayne Cobb. Fortunately for me, my bloodthirsty little almost-8 yr old hooligan loves him too. We were in Jayne Cobb heaven over the 3 day weekend, gleefully playing the Serenity Movie over and over. Ive decided he’s even yummier in Serenity than he was in Firefly, I think he’s been working out even more (if thats possible!)

Ok you knew this was coming:

I am SO going to get this picture for my birthday!

PASS ME A NAPKIN SOMEBODY PLEEZ!

Posted in because I said so
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It just goes to show ya…

•September 3, 2008 • Leave a Comment

You never know what will resonate with your readership, Im learning. I mean….as a newbie, Ive been anxiously tracking my daily stats for hits and I’ve been pleasantly pleased with the modicum of success Ive enjoyed but nothing could have prepared me for the absolute shock I received when I had over 500 visits to my site in one day! And the weird thing was, it wasn’t for a post which I felt was well written or supported by various sources, no. It was for a throwaway post I did on VILLAINS of all things!

I could be a ratings hawg and write about the train wreck that is McCain/Palin, or Gustav (which actually isnt a bad idea since its related to another post I felt was fascinating (the weather wars post) or the near miss in New Orleans (again, more ties to weather wars)….but I haven’t. I may yet, but Ive resisted the temptation to follow the herd because as Ive said to all and sundry, Im no sheep! Wait! that deserves the obligatory pic:

so anyway, where was I? Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I’m gonna ride this particular carnival ride till the carnival closes. I still think the mysterious/paranormal/conspiracy stuff is more interesting, but HEY! who am I to argue with success??

Posted in because I said so, Oddz and Endz
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Brushes with the Paranormal—Bigfoot

•August 29, 2008 • 13 Comments

(image borrowed. See Sasquatch, Legend Meets Science for details)

Im sure by now, everyone has heard about the two EEJITS from Georgia who put innards on top of a mangled Gorilla suit and tried to pass it off as Bigfoot….if not, here you go

Sigh. RETARDS like that ruin it for the legit sightings or recordings that do come along. Anyway, Im going to make it clear at the outset, I BELIEVE in Bigfoot. Not only do I believe in Bigfoot, I live in Bigfoot country. True. My daughter lives about 15 minutes away from me and she hears Bigfoot every late summer. Not long after she and her husband bought their land, they heard eerie yowling screams in the wee hours of the morning. My daughter recounted one evening as follows:

It was about 2 in the morning, very dark, on a late summer night (late July, early August) when I heard this weird eerie screaming. I’d never heard anything like it before, and all the dogs in town had started barking like crazy. My two dogs (a Bull Mastiff and Great Pyrenees) began to bark and they sounded frightened. Whatever it was, it was calling to something on the other side of town, and it was fast. one minute, I could hear it calling and rustling in the bushes behind my house, then I heard running feet and next, the screaming came from the opposite end of town.

I asked my daughter if she went outside to get a better look and she said NO! whatever it was, it sounded so unearthly that it made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She said it was also very loud, like there was a lot of power in those lungs!

Later, we visited a website that had many different wild animal audio clips on it, to see if we could find what it might have been. I was thinking maybe wolves, since they are pretty speedy and they do howl….anyway, none of the audio clips even came close, with the exception of maybe an Elk rutting. We were both frustrated and tired and she went home. I decided on a whim to search for audio sound clips of Bigfoot and I stumbled upon the motherlode, the Bigfoot site to end all Bigfoot sites. Here is the link to the best sound clip I’ve found yet. When she heard it, both she and her brother in law (who lives next door and has heard the howling) said THATS IT! It gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it, its like nothing Ive ever heard before, and to imagine that sound when you’re alone in the woods, at night, just is too much…not only that, a quick search found this mention of a sighting just outside Paradise:

Paradise & Sterling City, California, 1969

Mr. and Mrs. Robert L Behme, of Magalia, California, made a curious night meeting: ” – on April 16, 1969 at approximately midnight, we were in the car on the road between Paradise and Sterling City. The surrounding area very wooded, well sprinkled and crossed by deep canyons. As we started a long curve, our headlights lit what seemed to be a man in a fur, crossing the road. During one moment we had a front view when it turned to the car, then it was inserted in the darkness. Our impression that it was high of more than 6 feet [1.80 m] completely was covered with short black hairs, which seemed to be marked either of white spots or of mud.
Its face was white although the details appeared confused. The eyes did not shine in the night-light, as is the case of the eyes of an animal. The head was small and finished at a peak at the top. It was heavily built with particularly heavy legs.”

Credit © Peter Byrne 1975
Courtesy Western Bigfoot Society

source: http://www.bigfootencounters.com/stories/paradise.htm

Another anecdote from this site, strangely enough was about a relative of my daughter’s husband. Apparently his family has a long hallowed history of encounters with Bigfoot, this time getting the attention of Ivan Sanderson, a famous Zoologist noted for investigating the weird aberrations in biology. Bigfoot would qualify Im sure. Anyway, here is a link to that article

Now comes the disclaimer. I am a believer, but I am not crazy. Neither is my oh so practical daughter. Or her Husband or his family. Granted, we havent found any hard evidence beyond plaster casts or hair or feces samples, but then, we never find bear bones or mountain lion bones or carcasses……and we KNOW they exist. The way I see it, its kind of like the legends you hear about Elephant graveyards…..you never find elephant bones, but we know there must be some somewhere, because we see the live animals roaming around. so………why no bones? And if Elephants and Pumas and Bears (which we KNOW exist) dont leave bones, why should we doubt Bigfoot just because we dont see bones?? Just a question for thought…

Furthermore, in spite of the obvious temptation for fifteen minutes of fame, these BFRO folks aren’t in it for notoriety. They are serious about this. They collect hair and feces and plaster castings and record audio clips and photographs. Folks who want to be taken seriously send in their photos and sound clips or what have you. These people stage expeditions throughout the year. They’ve done this often enough that they have a rough idea of the preferred terrain of Bigfoot, what sort of signs to look for and even sometimes how to bait Bigfoot into making an appearance (sometimes a food offering is accepted, or a brief sighting).

Over the years, they have made some stunning discoveries and have been validated by some important experts in the field, such as Jane Goodall, who lived among the Gorillas in Africa and knows large primate behavior intimately. In addition, many Native Americans have come forward and recounted old legends that tell of these creatures, hundreds of years ago.

Ok. first the sound clips

this is the Ohio Howl. It reminds me of Chewbacca. Note the frantic dog in the background. Granted, this one isn’t as compelling as the version my daughter heard. I suspect they make different types of sounds for different reasons. Sometimes moans, sometimes ululations, sometimes something that almost sounds like a language.

For example, this is tagged “Samurai Chatter” and does sound very much like terse Japanese. In fact, in this one, the man recording it (Ron Moorehead) is attempting to communicate with one. The site explains:

The act of gesturing and speaking in their direction sometimes provokes “Samurai Chatter” — the speech-like vocalizations that are occassionally heard when these animals are nearby. It’s a rare priviledge, and an intense experience, to hear this class of vocalizations in person (refer to the interaction vocalizations clip). It’s also a key scientific observation. Provoking this special class of vocalizations is one priority of every BFRO expedition.

The suggestion of speech-like vocalizations will seem outlandish to some. Speech, as we know it, is something that humans assumed was unique to humans. One of the important things this species (genus?) will demonstrate, is that “human-like” speech is an ability that can arise when an ape species evolves to walk upright (i.e. becomes “bipedal” (pronouced “by-PEH-dull”)). Humans are bipedal apes. Sasquatches are also bipedal apes. As bipeds, both humans and sasquatches had the potential to develop the anatomical structures in the neck, face and brain, capable of producing speech-like sounds.

Here is a link to a walkie talkie exchange that happened during one expedition in Pennsylvania. The woman you hear is a law enforcement officer (NJ sheriff’s deputy) and is very used to high stress situations. Further on in the clip a third officer also mentions he hears something nearby. She says “Im seeing it, somebody walking in the treeline…..” Here is an excerpt from the site about the incident:

This is a walkie-talkie exchange during a Class B (compromised visibility) encounter on a BFRO expedition. It was recorded by documentary filmmaker Chris Noel during the 2005 expedition in Michaux State Forest, Pennsylvania. The woman speaking is Lorrie G. – a sheriff deputy from New Jersey.

Lorrie is a keen observer of bodies in motion. Lorrie’s day job is transporting felons to courts, and walking unarmed through holding pens of unrestrained jail inmates. She has also worked with surveillance teams for the sheriffs department.

After the incident Lorrie described the figure she observed in greater detail. It was upright and very large. She could see the shape of its head, its shoulder, and clearly observed its large swinging arms as it walked up the road toward her. She watched one figure, but insisted there was more than one nearby.

Not long after the end of the recording the figures departed and didn’t return.

During the incident Lorrie is encouraged to “try to talk to it”. This should not be misinterpreted to mean she should try have a conversation with one. Rather, it is a short-hand way of signaling her to do certain things, involving voice and gestures, that had been explained to her earlier in the trip. There are several purposes for these actions. One purpose is to encourage the animals to approach closer. Other animals, such a bear, cougars, deer, etc., tend to move away when people approach them and make these kinds of sounds. Sasquatches respond differently.

This is a link to a 911 call that will shock you

This is the link to the site’s home page, the most credible site Ive seen yet for documentation of these elusive creatures.

here is a link to the most recent additions to the sightings database (not necessarily the most recent sightings)

I live in California, so naturally Im curious about the sightings in my area. I contacted BFRO when my daughter identified the sound she heard, and informed them as to the details of her encounter. I suggested that they consider this area for future expeditions as my daughter has mentioned she hears the same sounds every summer. I spoke with one of the senior researchers by telephone and by email. I believe they are interested and will jot this area down as a possible expedition point in the future. Currently, there is an expedition planned for the CA Redwoods forest area. Also, one in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Oklahoma. These 4 areas seem to be pretty active, sightings-wise. Also Washington state is pretty active. The best sound recordings (aside from the Samurai chatter) come from Washington state.

In the interests of objectivity, Im posting links to other audio clips of animals you’d hear in the wild. Completely different from what my daughter heard.

predator calls

animal sounds

Cornell University digital sounds online index

Digital Librarian (requires you to search huge database–have fun!)

Animal sound sites on the net

Animal Sound Archive

Oh yeah, and to give you an idea of what came the closest among identifiable sound clips, here is a link to an elk rutting audio clip

By the way, the best footage of Bigfoot so far, the Patterson Footage (of the female Bigfoot captured on film in 1967 near the CA/OR border) is still the best film footage to date of Bigfoot and has NOT been debunked, despite claims to the contrary. I hope you will at least keep an open mind and explore the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization’s website and see for yourself–these folks are serious. They are just regular folks like you and I but they are taking a decidedly scientific approach to this question and looking more and more credible all the time.

OTHER Bigfoot sites:

Bigfoot Encounters  CA

Bigfoot Sightings  CA

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