Labels: boston, england, research
-------- AUTHOR: Aisling DATE: 11:08 ----- BODY: Between now and noon on June 1, 2007, you can pre-order a personally autographed copy of Fiona Broome's new book, The Ghosts of Austin. For more information about this very limited offer, see this page. -------- AUTHOR: Aisling DATE: 12:52 ----- BODY: Every year, around May, Hollow Hill experiences changes as some of our volunteers graduate from college and move to other cities. This year was no exception, and it's a bigger change than in the past. Rather than go through this year after year, it's time for us to make some changes. We've talked about our options, which included turning Hollow Hill over to someone else with a more stable professional team, or just leaving the site online without updates. We're not happy with either of those ideas. After about ten years online, it's time to reinvent Hollow Hill and take it in bigger, more interesting directions. We want it to stand out in the crowd. We're proud of Hollow Hill because we conduct serious research. If we can find the documented history of a ghost or its location, we report it whether it supports the "ghost stories" (even our own) or not. Few other ghost researchers know how to uncover this information. Most prefer to focus on folklore, whether or not it has any basis in fact. We were the first to show the effects of various natural phenomena on photos, creating false orbs and vortex images. Ours were among the first photos showing the effects of humidity, rain, sprinklers, hair, and camera straps in "ghost photos." We continue to conduct experiments to rule out natural explanations for the orbs and other anomalies in our photos at haunted sites. With those as our assets, we're considering different projects and directions for Hollow Hill, and we want to include our readers in this. We want to continue our podcasts. We also want to launch the mobile database of haunted places. And, we're eager to publish our free, online magazine on a regular basis. We'll be asking for your ideas and advice. We'll also be asking for help in various departments at Hollow Hill. With over 80,000 unique visitors to Hollow Hill's website each month, there's a huge audience that can participate in our activities. But, at least until early July, things may seem quiet at Hollow Hill. That's partly because we're conducting research in New England in May, and in England during June. It's also because we're brainstorming ideas, while saying goodbye to staff who are moving to new locations for new jobs. -------- AUTHOR: Aisling DATE: 17:04 ----- BODY: We're experimenting with weekly podcasts. They'll be shorter than our monthly ones, and cover several topics. We won't be updating our "Living with Ghosts" website during February and perhaps longer, to make time for some of our other projects. We may not update the news headlines as frequently, either. As announced in November, we're working on a free mobile database for ghost hunters. It will be a list of every known haunted public site in the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland. The format will be simple HTML with few graphics, so that you can use the database on your cellphone or other mobile device. And, at the end of February, we'll have a free new ghost hunters' magazine online, in PDF format so that you can print it easily. There are other plans for Hollow Hill, too. Be sure to check the website regularly! -------- AUTHOR: Aisling DATE: 17:55 ----- BODY: We've just added a series of seasonal articles, updated from my 1998 article that originally appeared at Suite101.com.
--it features three of her true ghost stories--she'll be making two personal appearances:
Saturday, October 28th at 3 p.m. - Barnes & Noble bookstore, Humble, Texas
Monday, October 30th at 7 p.m. - Barnes & Noble bookstore, Westheimer & Voss, Houston, Texas
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 06:49
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BODY:
First, someone pointed out that our banners page was right-click protected, and readers couldn't download graphics for links. We're very embarrassed by that error!
Next, we've seen a surge of emails from writers of paranormal-related fiction. To answer their questions, we're creating a series of pages featuring helpful details and--we'll admit it--stereotypes related to ghosts, ghost hunters and hauntings. (But, sometimes stereotypes are based in fact. That's our focus, to make your research easier.)
All of those new writers' references will be linked from Especially for writers: Introduction to ghosts, ghost hunters and hauntings.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 10:05
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BODY:
The Labor Day weekend at Dragon*Con was amazing. Fiona met hundreds of people, told true "ghost stories" on a panel, demonstrated dowsing rods, and answered thousands of ghost-related questions.
Fiona returned to the office with a stack of questions to answer here at Hollow Hill. The most-asked question at Dragon*Con was about Ouija boards and their safety. Our new article addresses this topic, Are Ouija boards dangerous?
Fiona also met some of the cast of the TV show, Ghost Hunters, and talks about that experience in her article, Ghost Hunters - the TAPS guys.
Also, look for three of Fiona's true "ghost stories" in a new book, Weird Hauntings. It's selling quickly at Barnes & Noble; get your copy early if you'd like to read it for a good scare around Halloween. (Fiona will be doing readings and book signings around Houston, Texas during October. Ask your local B&N if they're on her schedule.)
Later this week, we'll have updated ghost-related news headlines and some other announcements.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 12:43
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BODY:
Fiona has recorded a 15-minute video to explain what goes into a ghost hunter's journal, using our new journals as an example.
Tips for keeping a ghost hunting journal
You can use many of these ideas in a plain notebook, if you like. But, of course, we hope you'll like what you see in the video, and try one of our specialized ghost hunters' journals.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 12:18
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BODY:
We've published our own, customized ghost hunters' journals. We're very proud of them. Learn more about them at our webpage, Ghost Hunters' Journals.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 12:16
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BODY:
Amazon has given us a chance to test their stores, in beta. We could choose up to nine favorite items that they carry, and add our comments.
To see our selections, visit http://astore.amazon.com/hollowhill
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 13:07
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BODY:
Have you thought about a formal degree in parapsychology? We report on accredited degree programs related to paranormal studies in Parapsychology Degrees.
We've also created some "widgets" so that you can add ghost news headlines to your website. They're automatically updated, too. Collect the free code at Free ghost headlines for your website.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 18:34
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BODY:
We're almost rabidly enthusiastic about The Haunting--both the 1963 movie and the Shirley Jackson book that it's based on.
Read our reviews of the book and both movies of the same title, and be sure to follow our link to the text of Shirley Jackson's chilling tale, The Lottery.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 12:28
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BODY:
We've added a new article about spooky music and sound effects.
We've highlighted some of the very best eerie CDs for a "good scare." We've also provided some free MIDI classics, and links for more creepy sounds online.
Whether you're planning a party or a haunted house for Halloween... or simply like Gothic background music, see our best recommendations at Haunted House Music.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 13:25
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BODY:
We've added a few new articles recently:
Residual energy imprint hauntings - Explaining one very common category of hauntings.
Finding hauntings with history - If you're looking for unreported (or under reported) hauntings, start with history. At the very least, those sites should have residual energy imprints.
Living with ghosts - How to cope with a ghost if your home or business is haunted.
Also, at the foot of Living with ghosts, please see our request for your true experiences with ghosts. We're looking for your first-person stories about ghosts in houses, hotels, inns, restaurants, and ghosts you've encountered during ghost tours.
We've completed the articles about our recent investigations with the Texas Paranormal group at Patterson Road, Houston, TX, and vicinity:
Bear Creek Bridge - May 2006 - A year after our first investigation at this site, it's still dazzling with visual anomalies.
Langham Creek Bridge - May 2006 - During this visit, Langham Creek Bridge seemed far more haunted than in the past. This indicates an active haunting, not a constant level of residual energy on a loop.
Ghosts of Beeler Cemetery, Houston, TX - This tiny cemetery set amid corporate offices offers intriguing energy and good orbs. Be sure to see our "Notes from the Other Side."
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 09:58
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BODY:
We're trying to find time for articles about last weekend's ghost hunts in and near Bear Creek Park. So far, we've posted a two-part article about Addicks Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery. It's an easy location for research, but we didn't detect ghosts there. Our photos were inconclusive.
If that location is haunted at all, it's at the north end of the cemetery. However, the entire cemetery is protected by a tall, chain link fence, and the gates are padlocked, day & night.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 15:20
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BODY:
With the upcoming movie, An American Haunting, there is renewed interest in the story of the Bell Witch. (She's a ghost or some sort of spirit, not actually a witch.)
These are our first four articles about the spirit (or spirits) of Adams, Tennessee.
The True Story of the Bell Witch
The Bell Witch Murders
What happened to the Bell family?
Links to Bell Witch information
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 12:35
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BODY:
We've added more NH pages. Many of these stories are from our own research. Others come from current and former Colby-Sawyer College students.
More ghosts of Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH - a dorm-by-dorm list of ghosts.
Ghosts of New London, NH - The New London Inn, the Playhouse, and the WNTK radio site all have lingering ghost stories... and fun ghosts.
Ghosts of Old Center Cemetery, Andover, NH - One of the creepiest cemeteries we've ever seen, even in broad daylight. It's about half an hour's drive from Colby-Sawyer College, and set in a beautiful New England town.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 15:24
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BODY:
For a long time, we thought that we could recognize a camera strap in a 'ghost picture' because it's an obvious loop, and usually on the right side of the camera.
Our experiments this week showed us that a camera strap can appear to be a single line that fades away. It can look like a floating irregular shape. It can even appear as a strange shape that's walking through a solid object.
Here are our reports:
Ghost vortex picture... or camera strap?
Strange shapes and camera straps
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 12:07
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BODY:
This week, we've conducted several tests to create 'fake' ghost photos. Some of the pictures were startling, while others confirmed what we'd already asserted.
False ghost pictures - Hair tests - These look a lot like some 'vortex' pictures.
This is confirmed by even more photos, at More fake ghost pictures with hair.
False ghost orbs - Dirt and dust - This test confirmed that dust and dirt aren't such significant factors in 'ghost orb' photos.
False ghost orbs - Sprinkler experiments - This is an unlikely source of false orbs, but we had to check it out, just in case. We learned that lights are more of a factor than water.
False ghost orbs - Flour experiment - We'd hoped for more interesting results. Instead, we learned that it can be very difficult to fake orbs with particulate.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 16:14
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BODY:
Recently, we talked with the owner and neighbors of a local house that's had a 'haunted' reputation. We're not sure how long its possible ghosts have been the subject of speculation, but this prompted us to look into laws regarding the purchase and sale of haunted property.
Buying or selling a haunted house - Opinions, advice, and resources.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 11:58
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BODY:
We've added four new articles. They're a series about the ghosts of Tyng Mansion and related sites. This story was reported in the Nashua Telegraph on October 31, 2002, when Holly Bedard interviewed Fiona Broome for the annual Halloween issue. We've added a few details and made some changes in the story to reflect our continued research.
The Haunting of John Alford Tyng [part 1]
Judith Thompson's vengeful ghost [part 2]
Tyng Mansion Ghosts, Tyngsboro, MA [part 3]
John Alford Tyng's cursed grave [part 4]
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 11:13
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BODY:
Continuing to document our extensive research in NH, we've added two more pages about coastal New Hampshire:
Ghosts of the Isles of Shoals, NH - From Victorian times, people have been ghost hunting at the Isles of Shoals. This webpage provides a list of the most popular ghosts on the nine islands off the NH coast.
Ghosts of NH's Seacoast - As we add more articles, the Seacoast needs its own webpage. On this page, we describe many ghosts in Portsmouth, Rye, Hampton, and vicinity. We also link to additional articles we've written about this region.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 12:02
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BODY:
We've had a busy week of research and writing. Here are some of our newest articles:
Earning a living as a ghost hunter - Ways to support your hobby, at least part-time.
Getting permission to ghost hunt - Always get the okay to investigate empty homes & buildings.
A TX house that looks haunted, but isn't - We were astonished when this struck a nerve with some people.
How to start ghost hunting - Basics for new ghost researchers.
The ghost of 'Goody' Cole, Hampton, NH - Highlights the life, witch trials, death, and hauntings of a famous NH ghost, in a two-part article.
And, for very basic ghost hunting how-to, see Eibhlin's new website at the Google Pages beta: Ghosts and Ghost Hunting.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 09:18
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BODY:
We've added our research into one of Dover, NH's most interesting--and under-publicized--ghosts. See our report, 'Salt Eye' Storr - Dover, NH's earliest ghost?
The story has some great history, with Puritans, Colonial politics, an attack by vengeful Abenakis, and Richard 'Salt Eye' Storr, who may have been a pirate. (We left that part of the tale out, because we can't confirm it yet.)
We've heard reports about his ghost around the historical marker at Central Ave & Washington St, and also along the waterfront just in back of the downtown area. If you can confirm either with a first-person story, let us know.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 15:15
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BODY:
We're actively expanding our New Hampshire ghosts section. Some of these locations, such as Portsmouth's South Cemetery, have been our favorite haunts for years.
We'll be adding more Portsmouth-area information in the coming weeks. For now, you can learn more about the ghosts of the public library, South Cemetery, and Strawbery Banke at Haunted Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 17:35
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BODY:
After years of trying to discourage people from visiting Vale End Cemetery in Wilton, NH, I've decided that I may as well tell my story. So, Hollow Hill has published four new webpages about the only time I've been frightened on a ghost hunt:
The Blue Lady | More ghosts at Vale End
Possible demons at Vale End (part one of two)
Fear at Vale End Cemetery (part two of two)
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 10:27
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BODY:
We're not sure what's in this photo, but it's one of those pictures that feels haunted when we look at it: Texas Governor's Mansion - ghost picture?
Also, it was hectic here at the end of this past week, as we prepared for our Austin research trip. But, before leaving for the state capital, we added these pages for beginning ghost hunters:
Ghost hunting tips - Where the orbs are - The things that we look for when we're ghost hunting, to choose where to take photos.
More ghost orb photo tips - A short article to keep your expectations real when taking ghost pictures. We've included a photo at The Myrtles Plantation that has no anomalies (but should have had dozens of humidity-related orbs) plus one indoor photo that includes an orb... and a ghost story to go with it.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 08:34
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BODY:
We've received many questions about psychic sensitivity and divinatory tools for ghost hunters. In the past, we've avoided the latter topic because it can be repugnant to some people, especially in the context of their religious beliefs and practices.
However, many people don't feel that way, and others feel that divinatory tools can be gifts from Deity.
So, we've written several articles about psychic preparations and tools for ghost investigations.
Basic Tools Every Ghost Hunter Must Have
Psychic Preparations for a Ghost Hunt
Ouija Boards and Ghost Hunting
Using Tarot cards to contact ghosts
But, we'll admit that the cards that Fiona pulled at random for that last article... Well, that was a bit eerie to say the least. They're the most perfect possible cards for our example.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 16:56
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BODY:
We've created a page listing the most popular ghostcams, at Ghosts Cams in Haunted Places. (The page title is plural because that's what most people seem to be searching for: 'ghosts cams' instead of 'ghostcams'.)
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 17:31
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BODY:
This past weekend, we discovered a haunted cemetery in a charming town between Houston and Austin, Texas. It's Columbus, Texas, and we recommend it for ghost enthusiasts and history buffs.
Ghosts and the Full Moon is our newest article. We often use the phases of the moon to schedule our ghost investigations, because we can get the best results at the full and new moons. See this new article for more information, and ideas for using lunar cycles to enhance your research.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 11:23
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BODY:
Here are some true ghost stories that support the descriptions in Dickens' famous holiday tale: The Real Ghosts of Dickens' Christmas Carol
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 12:33
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BODY:
12/05 - So that ghost hunters visiting Texas know about the most important haunted sites,
we've added Texas Ghost Hunters Information.
We've also updated The Ghosts of Haunted Texas with a ghost photo from Galveston.
Also, we're not sure if our server hiccup'd or what, but the latest page about finding real, haunted places is back. We share more tips about how we locate haunted places to research at How to Find Real Haunted Places. (At some point, we'll compile our many pages about finding ghosts, by category. For now, we'll keep adding research tips as time permits.)
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 10:32
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BODY:
12/05: We've added a list of recommended gifts for ghost hunters, from basic tools to fun items. We've also created a printable "wishlist" for you to download and use to drop hints about gifts that you'd like to receive. For these lists, see: http://www.hollowhill.com/yule2005.htm
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 10:28
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BODY:
We've added some new pages this week:
First, responding to issues raised by the controversy at Britain's popular "Most Haunted" TV show, Fiona has written Dealing with Challenges: Skeptics, Psychics, Deception, and Ghost Hunts.
We've also posted some of our photos from two cemetery visits in the Houston, Texas area:
Ghost Hunt - Houston, TX - August 2005 (three-page report).
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 13:39
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BODY:
Do ghosts use EMF to travel? Consider the US Navy's alleged experiments in 1943: Ghosts, EMF, and the Philadelphia Experiment
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 14:52
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BODY:
We've added two more webpages, both of them very basic for new ghost hunters:
How to Find Local Ghosts - Where to look for information, and "sure thing" haunted places in most communities.
Where to find information about ghosts - This is mostly a FAQ-type answer, because so many readers ask us for beginner info and resources.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 13:35
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BODY:
My preliminary photos at Brennan's Restaurant aren't as impressive as I'd like, but you may notice small changes in the portrait of the murderous M. Lefleur: Ghosts at Brennan's Restaurant - Red Room
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 13:50
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BODY:
We've begun to fill in the Travel section of Hollow Hill (not much, yet) and we have a New Orleans photo that may be in our upcoming book: See eerie lights and ecto at haunted Jackson Square. We took several photos there, over a four-day visit, and almost every photo has something odd in it.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 19:20
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BODY:
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 11:14
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BODY:
We've added three new pages to help you identify false orbs in your ghost photos:
Bugs and false 'ghost orbs' won't confuse anyone who knows what to look for. However, many websites that pretend that trails of reflected light from an insect are a "vortex."
Fake orbs and pollen are easy to tell apart as well. A recent National Geographic show tried to debunk real ghost photos and videos by claiming that they were caused by dust or pollen. As you can see from this study, no experienced ghost researcher is likely to confuse the two.
Our report on False 'ghost orbs' and hair show two photos that excited us a lot... until, a few minutes later, we realized the truth.
Also, a New Orleans historian has confirmed that the house we described as Marie Laveau's house probably isn't one that she lived in. However, two other historians suggest that it was. We're leaving the description as it is, but want you to know that Marie Laveau may not have lived there. (Of course, the house may still be haunted, but by someone else.)
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 15:13
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BODY:
This week, we took advantage of tropical downpours in Houston. Our photo shows what false orbs look like when pictures are taken during the heaviest possible rainstorm: False 'ghost orbs' and Heavy Rain.
Also, we'll be investigating more ghosts in New Orleans during four days later in July. We'll have new photos and (we hope) new ghost encounters to report.
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AUTHOR: Aisling
DATE: 20:18
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BODY:
In the past week, we've added two new pages:
New Orleans - Orbs on Gov. Nicholls St. This is one of several orb-filled photos taken at a "not haunted" house in New Orleans' French Quarter.
Angel or Ghost? While we were documenting the effects of smoke in "ghost photos," an odd shape appeared in one picture. It's an unusual figure in a photo that was supposed to be... well, just smoke.
-------- AUTHOR: Aisling DATE: 09:45 ----- BODY: We've added two new reports from recent ghost hunts, and one new study for serious ghost hunters: We returned to the 'old town' area of Katy (about 25 minutes from downtown Houston) and discovered more about the Ghosts of the Katy, Texas Train Depot. On another ghost hunt, we researched a cemetery with an eerie atmosphere, but not much real activity: Ghost Orbs at Cemetery #1. And, we're continuing our free educational series for serious ghost hunters. In our latest report, we show photos of cigarette smoke that could look like 'ecto' if you didn't know better: 'Ecto' and Smoke. -------- AUTHOR: Aisling DATE: 11:34 ----- BODY: Starting now, we'll post links to Hollow Hill's newest pages, here: New since early May 2005 The ghosts of Patterson Road, Houston, TX - a two-page report These spirits made themselves known during our first investigation. However, aside from the strange tapping on the car, we didn't witness anything truly dramatic. We'll be going back for additional research later. Ghost Hunting in Spring, TX - a two-page report We visited several sites in Spring and Old Town Spring. We're not sure that it's--as claimed--the "most haunted town in Texas," but it does have the right kind of history to be haunted. Possible Ectoplasm at Old Greenhouse Road, Houston, TX This location didn't seem especially haunted, but these are two of several photos that we took at that dangerous turn in the road. One of them has something odd in it, and we won't call it "ecto," but... it's odd. See our amazing orb picture from Old Greenhouse Road, too. A 'Ghost Orb' in Bear Creek Park, Houston, Texas We weren't expecting anything great in this random photo, but it turned out to be one of the best of the evening. After posting this photo for others to see, we learned that there had a been a tragic motorcycle accident close to where Tamara took this photo. --------