Bizarre In The News - "Hills alive with UFOs"

The Daily Telegraph

A PROSPECTOR who went to find gold in the hills thinks he may have found something better - evidence that aliens really do exist.

Adam Cainero believes he captured a photograph of an alien spacecraft hovering above an escarpment near Majors Creek, in the Southern Tablelands near Braidwood.

After an unsuccessful weekend fossicking for gold Mr Cainero and a friend were making the long trip home when he stopped to take a snap of the steep mountain they had driven down.

When he got home, Mr Cainero said he realised he had found gold of another kind after all.

"I just took a picture of the mountain range and the sun was in my eyes so I just kind of pointed and shot," Mr Cainero said. "Then we looked at the picture - we were, like, no way."

With its shape and its position in the sky, Mr Cainero said he immediately knew the black object was a UFO.

"We always see really weird things as we go out to places where there is no one around," he said.

Read more here

FROM BRY: It's definitely an unidentified flying object but it's not evidence aliens exist by any stretch of the imagination. As you may have gathered I am incredibly skeptical when it comes to photos of UFOs and this photo is no different. It could be anything from a fly/bug that flew in front of the lens to a piece of dirt on the lens or even a bird? And not to forget terrestrial aircraft. There are a number of rational options to explore before naming it evidence of aliens. 

Bizarre In The News - Ghostbusters spooked by homestead

Tweed Daily News

AN historic Murwillumbah homestead has spooked a couple of Gold Coast ghost hunters.

Paranormal investigator Judy Barr said a tour of the house in November presented her with activities she has not found an explanation for.

“On the recordings there were banging noises which we didn't hear when we were in the room,” Ms Barr said.

“We have some people looking at the recordings but no one has been able to come up with any explanation yet. It is certainly the strangest encounter yet.”

Ms Barr and her fellow investigator Marg Pettiona started Ghosts-Inc to gather information for a better understanding of ghosts, hauntings and other paranormal activity on the Gold Coast and Tweed.

“We met at work and discovered we both were interested in the paranormal,” Ms Barr said.

“We joined other groups but found they weren't what we were looking for so we decided to start our own group on the Gold Coast.

“We have five other people who help us out on investigations, and we go in looking for alternative reasons rather than searching for ghosts.”

To read the rest click here

Bizarre In The News - Ballarat ghost-hunters wanted for TV show

thecourier.com.au

THE producers of a new reality TV show are looking for Ballarat volunteers to participate.Producers of the ghost-hunting show Spooked want five
adventurous volunteers to accompany Australian ghost whisperer Anthony Grzelka to an undisclosed haunted location to film the pilot program on December 11.
Executive producer Keith McNamara promised a “scary”
experience for volunteers and viewers alike.
“We’re looking to shoot it mostly guerilla-style in night vision,” he said.
“We want to bring the audience in and make them feel like they’re taking on the ghost hunts first-hand.”
Grzelka is a medium with extensive experience conducting ghost tours in Western Australia.
“Anthony will be looking to evoke spirits on the show. He’ll also do some background explanation of the
locations,” Mr McNamara said.
The location of the filming is a secret, but Mr McNamara said it would be in the Ballarat area.
“We’re keeping the location secret so that our volunteers don’t do background research and then ham it up for the cameras,” he said.
“We want them to go in with an open mind.”
Anyone wishing to volunteer for the pilot can email the producers at spookedtv@y7mail.com.

'Ghost' caught on camera at Flinders Mall, QLD

Couriermail and Paranormal.about.com

THERE'S something spooky going on in one of Townsville's oldest inner-city buildings.

Video footage of paranormal activity in an old CBD building has surfaced on internet site YouTube, and it has already captured the imagination of the online world, sceptics and ghost-hunters alike.

The man behind the camera, who doesn't want to reveal his identity or the location of the haunted site, has posted 12 short films from his iPhone and a hand-held camera and insists something sinister lurks in the building's basement.

The amateur ghostbuster told the Townsville Bulletin strange things had been happening at the site for a couple of months before he finally mustered the courage to try and record it on his phone.

See the Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kgMhxI9wXI

Read more here

Sceptics Unite! (sceptic science) - SMH's new blog

smh

The universe is an endlessly amazing place and every week newspapers, magazines and science blogs report on remarkable new discoveries in fields as diverse as astronomy, biology and neuroscience that help us understand it a little bit better.

But at the same time we're inundated with all sorts of claims about everything from ''alternative'' medicine to psychic mediums and those magic rubber bracelets that are so popular with footballers. This is where it pays to have a bit of healthy scepticism.

Advertisement: Story continues below

So what is a sceptic? The usual image is of a humourless, closed-minded cynic who enjoys snorting derisively and saying things such as ''Fiddlesticks! There's no such thing as ghosts!'' But that picture is a bit out of date.

Serious sceptics don't just scoff at unusual beliefs. They know that most people aren't liars or fantasists and that there's often something behind even the strangest beliefs. A good sceptic will examine the evidence for a particular claim and, if it's unconvincing, look for alternative explanations. These often turn out to be fascinating in themselves.

In the case of haunted houses, for instance, people will often report feeling sudden fear or anxiety upon entering a certain room. In some cases, this has turned out simply to be because a ventilation fan is emitting inaudible infrasound, which has been proven in experiments to induce feelings of fear.

To read more click here

It will be interesting to read more of their blogs!

Could this be the thylacine?

From Phantoms and Monsters and Tassie Tiger.org



Tasmanian tiger or what? What are your thoughts?

Balls of light - help needed...

A friend of mine keeps seeing balls of light in her house out of the corners of her eyes. They have different colours. Anyone have any knowledge of this phenomenon or what it could be?

Creature defies identification?

Coffscoastadvocate

THIS bizarre discovery on Diggers Beach, near Coffs Harbour, has given rise to a host of theories explaining what this creature might be and how it washed ashore.

The animal, roughly two foot long, was found by surfers on Father’s Day, but only now have the photos surfaced.

One of the local men who came across the animal, Peter Atkinson, is at a loss to explain it.

Countless others have also been stumped in making a positive identification.

“It was found on the high water mark and we contacted National Parks, but it appears the animal was washed back out to sea on the next tide,” Mr Atkinson said.

Suggestions have ranged from the credible to the ridiculous.

One strongly supported possibility is that it’s a type of monkey.

Others said it could be a South American sloth.

Yet web searches could not help with a positive identification.

Even the experts at Taronga Zoo were brought in on the case yesterday.

Mr Atkinson confirmed the photos were real and taken on a mobile phone, ruling out an email hoax, through several other credible witnesses.

Late yesterday a more likely explanation came through the office.

Lawrence Orel from the National Parks and Wildlife Service said on first inspection it appeared to be a brush tailed possum.

“The bushy fur on the tail gives it away I think. Possums do get that dark in colour, and it looks as though the fur may have come away from the face, but we’ll wait for positive confirmation from the zoo.”

Read more on their page at coffscoastadvocate.com.au

FROM BRY: I think its likely to be a decomposing native Australian animal. What are your thoughts?

Should we just give up on ghost photos?

I just saw ANOTHER app that can put "real ghostly images to your photos"
New app ghosted has now been released and ghost capture is as popular as ever.  As seen in the recent news article it is still managing to fool journalists who are after a quick news story. RGJ.com

Did reader capture image of a ghost at Pyramid Lake? 

A reader named Ashif Halim submitted this photo to Online Editor Pete Krajewski that he says captures a ghostly figure at Pyramid Lake. Just behind the man in the white shirt, an image of what appears to be a little girl in a white dress can be seen. The photo's authenticity has not been confirmed, but an independent analysis was conducted by paranormal investigator Mariah Robards, who said the apparition appears to be authentic based on the fact that it has its own light source.

So did reader capture image of a ghost? In one word NO. And with all due respect - what independent analysis was conducted by Ms Robards to assess that this photo is authentic?

Can you spot the girl anywhere in the picture above?

Looks similar to this one doesnt it?

The above photo is a known hoax which fooled a lot of newspapers.


So, what does this new app "ghosted" do thats different?

"Now, you can frighten your friends by adding ghosts into your photos, with Ghosted. Take a picture of a friend and add ghosts to the photo, adjust the transparency of the ghost images to make it look like it is really in the photo."

✔ Added transparency slider, so you can adjust the transparency or opacity levels of the ghosts

✔ 25 More Ghosts Added (over 50 total)

✔ Added HD iPhone/iPod Touch 4.0 Retina graphics!

Sounds fun right? I just bought it for A$1.19 just so i can experiment and show how easy it is to fake photos (see below).


In some ways this makes me think we should give up looking at any ghost photos as genuine because there are so many different ways to fake them these days. When people declare fake photos genuine it gives a lack of credulity to any real ghost photos that might come along.  There's always been trickery with ghost photography since the beginning of photography so this is nothing new, we just have different technology. 

Here a couple of my own examples from ghosted.

Admittedly they are pretty crappy examples but with a little tinkering you could probably trick some people.

Maybe its time to accept ghosts can't be caught on film? Or more to the point if we're in the "business" of providing evidence, then ghost photos can't be presented as fact or evidence because there are too many ways to fake it.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Please share below.

The Paranormal and YOU

Definition of the word paranormal from wikipedia: Paranormal  is a general term (coined ca. 1915–1920) that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience orscientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena that are understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure.

As most of you probably know (or have worked out) I am a paranormal geek ;) I have a huge interest in all things strange, spooky and paranormal. What I want to know is what YOU think. Do you believe in the existence of ghosts? If yes, why? If no, why not? What about other paranormal stuff like cryptozoology? (bigfoot, yowie, loch ness monster etc etc).

Are you "religious"? Does your spirituality allow for the belief in the paranormal?

I class myself as Christian. A follower of Christ and His teachings. Many people think this would mean I think all paranormal things are demonic or would not believe in any of it at all. Neither of the above statements are true for me. Yes i believe in angels and demons but I don't believe all things paranormal related lead back to angels/demons. Some yes, but definitely not all. The bible is one BIG paranormal occurrence. So, why are so many Christians reluctant to look into or believe in anything outside of their comfort zones. There are SO many things out there that we don't understand, yet we try and put it all in a box. We try and put God in a box and limit what He can and can't do. Which I personally can't do. Who knows the wonders of this world and the next? 

Anyway, that is MY point of view. What is yours?

Bizarre In The News - Sydney scientist's alien planet puzzle

Daily Telegraph THE recent discovery of Gliese 581g, an alien planet in the habitable zone of another star, has been an exciting development for scientists probing the galaxy for signs of extraterrestrial life.

At least one claim of a possible signal from the planet has already surfaced – and been met with harsh skepticism among the science community.

Following the Sept. 29 announcement of the discovery of Gliese 581g, astronomer Ragbir Bhathal, a scientist at the University of Western Sydney, claimed to have detected a suspicious pulse of light nearly two years ago, that came from the same area of the galaxy as the location of Gliese 581g, according to the U.K.'s Daily Mail online.

Bhathal is a member of the Australian chapter of SETI, a non-profit scientific organization that is dedicated to research, exploration and education in the field of astrobiology.

Read more here...

Bizarre In The News - Haunted Home Scary

NT NEWS

HORNY Kevin is not the only ghost to haunt Northern Territory families.

A Darwin family yesterday claimed to be living in a haunted house - with Harry, their ghost, scaring children in the bathroom and rattling cupboard doors.

Jahmaine Sheridan, 10, said yesterday she was "relieved" to hear there were "more ghosts out there" than the one haunting her home in Jingili.

She said she burst into tears when she saw the story about Kevin, the horny ghost, in the NT News.

"I was so glad to see it was happening to other people too," she said. "It's not just us, we are not mad."

The girl said her family has had encounters with "something very creepy and scary" in their home, since moving in three years ago.

Read more here

Bizarre In The News - UFO Photo Proof? (and a rant from me)

NTnews

THE accidental photograph on today's front page of a UFO over a popular tourist destination occurred only hours before a bright light buzzed the crowd at the Katherine Show.

Victorian tourist Adam Rewuk did not realise he captured the image of the flying saucer over Katherine Gorge until he looked back over his photos after the trip.

"My Dad used to be a big UFO believer, so when I saw the picture, I thought of him," he said.

"I took the photo around lunch time, but I saw nothing in the sky. I didn't realise it was there until I saw the photo."

Mr Rewuk said the image was definitely not that of a plane or a mark on the lens of the camera.

"If I zoom in on the picture, it almost looks like a diamond shape with a bubble on the bottom," he said.

Mr Rewuk said the photo was taken only a few hours before a UFO was spotted at the nearby town show.

The NT News reported on July 17 that a bright light had travelled slowly across the sky about 6.20pm.

The UFO spooked hundreds of people at the showgrounds as the sun was starting to go down.

To read more click here
___________________________________________

From Bry - With all due respect to Mr Rewuk in my humble opinion I don't see anything paranormal in the photo. In fact at first I wondered where the UFO was. Then i realised it was the thing right at the top of the photograph.  This could be anything? Someone on the news website suggests a tree branch creeping into the photo. I suggest dirt on the lens or even a fly? Anyone who's been up to the Northern Territory knows how many flies there are up there.
Another thing is the photographer says he didn't see it whilst taking the photo. Surely you'd notice something like a UFO in your eyeline?
Mr Rewuk also states it definitely wasn't a plane or a mark on the lens. How can he know that definitely?
What is it with things like this making the news? Its like blobsquatch but with UFOs. Same with ghost photos. A smudge is immediately a ghost! No wonder no one has any respect for people who work in the paranormal field.
Rant over.

Bizarre In The News - The truth is out there

Herald Sun 

MATTHEW Jones was totally unprepared for what he saw as he stood in his garage in suburban Canberra in October last year.

Packing boxes for a house move, he was confronted by a stocky, hairy monster standing in the corner of the garage staring at him.

The creature, according to James, was a juvenile covered in hair, with long arms that almost touched the ground.

"It was inquisitive about what I was doing," he said. "It was definitely trying to communicate with me."

At the time, James had no idea what the creature could be. A friend later told him it could be a yowie - the creature described in the newly-published Something Is Out There as "the big daddy of all Australian mystery monsters".

It is, according to the book about the paranormal, the Aussie cousin of North America's Bigfoot, the Himalayan Yeti and the Abominable Snowman.

The Aussie monster is as elusive as he is controversial, often seen but never photographed, according to the book's authors Julie Miller and Grant Osborn. They claim the yowie is an important part of folklore, making numerous appearances in the Dreamtime legends.

Read more here

Thursday LOLs -

Horny ghost Kev spooks housewife

A NORTHERN Territory woman is convinced a horny ghost is haunting her home.

Jennifer Mills-Young claims the ghost, named Kevin, once tried to drag her out of bed in the middle of the night.

"I was asleep," she said. "I woke up when someone grabbed my wrist.

"I though, 'Hmmm, hubby wants a bit of romance', when I suddenly remembered he wasn't even at home."

Mrs Mills-Young said she could feel the hand around her wrist trying to pull her up and out of bed.

"The moment I opened my eyes, the grip was gone and the room was empty.

"I yelled at Kevin that he was not welcome in my bedroom and that he couldn't come into bed with me.

"I told him to f*** off and to close the door behind him. A moment later I saw how the bedroom door slowly was closed.

"I jumped up and locked it - not that it makes much of a difference when you're dealing with a ghost."


Read more here

Bizarre In The News - Loneliness sucks: vampire seeks mates

SMH

MORPHEUS knew he was a vampire from the age of three.

''When all the other kids wanted to be Luke Skywalker, I wanted to be Dracula,'' he said.

Morpheus, 34, a law student from Bronte who does not want his identity revealed, believes drinking blood will prepare him for a better afterlife. ''I don't believe my body is immortal but I believe my soul is,'' he said.

''I believe that by drinking blood, I imprint my consciousness, so that in the next life I will remember who I am now.''

Read more here

Bizarre In The News - Council to reconsider Picton Ghost Hunts

Macarthur Chronicle

WOLLONDILLY Council was considering terminating its licence agreement with Picton Ghost Hunts at last night’s council meeting, in a move that operators say would end the business.


Council officers had recommended the council end the agreement after years of pressure from both police and residents to stop the tours to the disused Picton railway tunnel known as the mushroom tunnel - (mushrooms were produced there some years ago). Residents say they have been subjected to continuing antisocial behaviour such as egg throwing, flashing (nudity), drug taking, offensive language and excessive noise in the tunnel area. The termination of the agreement would spell the end of 13 years of Picton Ghost Hunts, a popular and successful Macarthur area tourist attraction.

To read more click here

Bizarre News - NSW drivers speeding 'to conjure ghost'

NINE MSN

Superstitious drivers are reportedly risking their lives in an attempt to conjure the ghost of a dead motorcyclist.

Police in Port Stephens, north of Newcastle, are aware of several videos uploaded to YouTube showing young people reaching speeds of up to 180km/h along Lemon Tree Passage Rd.

The reckless driving is reportedly due to an urban legend that says the spirit of a 20-year-old motorcycle rider — who was killed in a crash by a speeding car three years ago — will appear and pursue a dangerous driver along the stretch of road.

Several videos posted online appear to show an eerie bright light suddenly emerging in the vehicles' rear windscreens.

"I undoubtedly believe in this ghost, and if you don't believe, go witness it for yourself," one YouTube user writes.

But local police are more interested in catching dangerous drivers than investigating the paranormal.

To read more click here
Bit of a language warning for the video below....

Is this just an urban legend then? Does anyone know the  identity of the motorcycle driver that allegedly haunts this stretch of road? Or is it merely an illusion?
According to one youtube comment- its an illusion...

pigglespig

You know the road bends and creates the illusion of the light going off the road. I have been doing it for years coming home at 1-3 am. Still fun to see people flogging their cars to try it. :0P

I first heard about it 9-10 years ago

Bizarre News - Dream's grisley end as hunt for Keisha continues

Click here for the story - http://ccapsg.blogspot.com/2010/08/bizarre-news-dreams-grisley-end-as-hunt.html

The Paranormal Pastor: His Eye is on the Sparrow

Check out the latest story!

The Paranormal Pastor: His Eye is on the Sparrow

Bizarre News - Aboriginal brothers 'forced by spirits' to beat up white anglers at sacred site

news.com.au

TWO Australian Aboriginal brothers who beat up white anglers searching for a fishing spot at an indigenous sacred site said they were defending their land under traditional law - and claimed they had no choice but to attack because otherwise they would receive retribution from the spirits.

The landmark case, which is being heard in Broome Magistrates Court, Western Australia, is expected to set a precedent over the extent of rights traditional owners have when protecting sites of significance on exclusive possession land under Native Title, The Australian said.

The Kimberley Land Council says the 2008 alleged assault took place in an area deemed "exclusive possession native title" near Bidyadanga.

The KLC, which is defending Lenny and John Hopiga, say this means the brothers had the right to exclude people from their land and use reasonable force to defend it against trespassers.

Read more: here

Bizzarre News - Our ghostly area's the perfect film set

Macarthur Chronicle
THE producers of a chilling new documentary on paranormal activity will visit Wollondilly shire in the coming months to film at some of the region’s most iconic locations.

The Sydney-based Unreel Productions have already been to the Macquarie Arms Hotel in Windsor, the Old Dubbo Gaol, Maitland Gaol, and Monte Cristo at Junee, but have their sights on Picton’s Mushroom Tunnel, the Queen Victoria Memorial home and the Anthill Hotel.

Producer Rob Kerr, a 34-year-old former actor from Castle Hill, said he was intrigued by the area’s history of paranormal activity and the popularity of ghost hunts.

“What we really want to do is capture some of this paranormal activity on film,” he said.

“We are armed with equipment that should be able to pick up ghosts. We are using small hand-held cameras, as well as electro magnetic frequency detectors, night vision cameras, what we call a four-spectrum camera and a digital voice recorder.”

To read more click here

Bizzarre News - Woman 'who dragged cop' shuns witch tag

Ninemsn

A Geelong woman charged with seriously injuring a police officer after dragging him 190m by her car has hit back at reports describing her as a witch.

Eilish De Avalon, 40, has pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court to charges including recklessly causing injury and driving while suspended over the February 23 incident.

De Avalon said she is tired of being labelled a witch because of its negative connotations, and would rather be known as a healer and an activist.

"I don't wear the label of witch comfortably," she told ninemsn.

"A lot of witches prefer the title of pagan, or in my case pagan priestess. We are healers. We are psychics."

In the February incident, De Avalon is accused of disobeying Leading Senior Constable Andrew Logan after he pulled her over for allegedly speaking on her mobile phone.

The court yesterday heard De Avalon told Sen-Const Logan she was "a being from another world" with a "universal name" that she would not disclose, theGeelong Advertiser reported.

"Your laws and penalties don't apply to me. I'm not accepting them, I'm sorry, I must go, thank you," police quoted De Avalon as saying.

To read the rest please click here 

Bizzarre news - Ghost Hunt Lands Man in Court

Rockhampton News A MAN who went to see a ghost at the former Neerkol Orphanage was recently convicted for trespassing.

Benjamin Nathaniel Munday-Barber and his friend were caught on CCTV at the former orphanage grounds, near Rockhampton, now owned by Stanwell Corporation.

About 1am on February 5, Munday-Barber and his friend were driven by a person they didn’t know along Meteor Park Rd before they jumped a barbed wire fence and walked for several hours through bush.

Read more 

Paranormal In The News - Macarthur area panther sightings detailed in Australian Big Cats: An Unnatural History of Panthers

Macarthur Chronicle 

THREE incidents involving big cats spotted in the Macarthur region have been documented in a new book investigating more than a century of panther sightings.

Rebecca Lang, co-author of Australian Big Cats: An Unnatural History of Panthers, said the sightings in the Macarthur region of these mysterious creatures showed they had a wide range and could traverse long distances.

Ms Lang, who wrote the book with partner Mike Williams, said the Macarthur region’s proximity to the dense Australian bush and concentration of farms went some way to explaining the sightings.

To read more click here