A Ghost Tour of Haunted Ebay

I find the number of creepy ghost stories that seem to slither their way off of  Ebay fascinating.   Items that have horrible histories and terribly haunting stories are common place on Ebay.  Check my story below "The Dibbuk Box" for a peek into one of my favorites.  A few of these haunted Ebay item stories have gone viral and spread. However, there are literally thousands more of these haunted items on Ebay that seem to go entirely unnoticed. The majority of these items are dolls, but there are other interesting items in the mix.  Many of these items have compelling back stories and interesting histories.  I'm going assume most of the haunted items on Ebay are Hokum, but the creativity that goes into these stories are worth noting.  It is also just interesting to explore haunted Ebay.

Haunted Doll Puppet Savannah:  Ebay Item #:  121154390486  Price$15.49

This is a very old haunted doll puppet named Savannah, I purchased her along with a few other items from a witch estate Salem Ma. on my last trip there a week and a half ago. This doll is beautiful I have never seen another like her, she is amazing, I love the little bird on her hand, and the black and red lace dress that she is wearing, when I purchased her the lady who sold me her, said that there is a soul of a woman attached to this doll vessel, and that she was very wealthy, she married into it, she met her husband at a convention, she was a waitress there, she was serving that night when he set eyes on her, she was breath taking, he fell in love with her at first site, he approached her and introduced himself, but she was of course intimidated by his hefty wallet, so she turned his offer of exchanging numbers down that night, but he was persistent, he found out where she lived, and he located her, a few weeks later, she was stunned by the effort that he made to find her, so when he asked her out she excepted, they dated a few months and by then she had also fell for him, so they married shortly after, they had a happy marriage, until one day all that changed, her husbands company began to seep down hill, and he became agitated, he turned into a man that she did not recognize, all they did was fight and argue about the littlest things, soon they felt like strangers, they began to thrift apart, the love that they once had for each other, was like a light in the farthest distance of the ocean, that neither one could grasp, soon the light had vanished completely, and there was no turning back, Savannah began to find comfort in a new love interest of hers, he was the grounds keeper, they began to form a love for each other, because when she was down about her husband, he was the shoulder that she cried on, they would sneak off together into the fields and make passionate love, soon the other staff began to talk, soon the whole town was talking, and sure enough the news had gotten back to her husband, who felt that he was not finished with the marriage, he wanted answers, she told him that it was just rumors, and that they were just friends, later that night while her husband was asleep she slowly slipped off the bed, and exited down the corridor, she had to see her love to assure him, that her heart was always with him, and that she had to lie because she did not want to cause trouble for him, because she loves him dearly, she found him sleeping in his room, she told him how she felt, and he said that he knew, he can feel their love for each other, and that they should leave together, they planned that the next morning they will leave and never return, they kissed goodbye and parted ways, Savannah was unaware that her husband had followed her and was listening to her sneaky plan, the next morning she woke and her husband was by her bedside, he was very polite and generous, he rubbed her feet and shoulders, and kissed her passionately, she pushed him away, she told him that she was upset that he accused her like he did, and that he should have never done that, he apologized, room service brought in breakfast, he told her to wash up, because they will be having breakfast in bed today, she was stunned and figured that he was trying to butter her up, so she went to freshen up, after breakfast she felt ill, her stomach began to cramp, she said I do not feel well, and she lied down, about 20mins later she was dead, her husband had poisoned her, later her lover saw all of the commotion and did not know what was going on, then he saw them taking out a body bag, he was still confused, he looked and looked around to try to figure who it could have been in the bag, then he overheard a lady speaking to her husband, asking if he had any idea of what may have happened to Savannah, and this is when he fell to his knees, screaming noooooo!!!! nooooo!!!! why? why? not Savannah! NOOOOO!!! everyone was starring at him, some staff even had tears in their eyes, because they knew how much he loved her, and her husband stood there with a smile on his face, later they found out that her husband did it, and he received the death penalty, but her poor love, never married, or had children, he died a lonely man, waiting for his lost love. Savannah became attached to this vessel, because it was a gift from him to her, he gave it to her on her 29th birthday, it reminded him of her because she loved to wear red, and black, they were her favorite colors, and she had a pet bird that was similar to this one, Savannah is a loving spirit she is great to enhance your relationship, she helps things work out for the best, she is a blessing and she will make an excellent addition to any haunted doll collection, she is a puppet and she does not have any legs, she is very unique anyone who owns her will be very lucky, thanks for reading, blessings, love, and light...

Vintage 1930's Rare Cocktail Ice Crusher from Haunted Collection Estate 

Ebay Item #:261261617936  Price$35.00

This item is from the estate collection of my friend Maggie, a respected medium. She collected highly unusual items for most of her life. Please read below the description for information on the estate that this item hails from. The description relates to you what was related to me and my own experience, if any with the item. I make no claims that you will have the same or any experience with this unique vintage barware item. I am not auctioning off anything other than a vintage ice crusher. 

This is a rare vintage cocktail ice crusher from the 1930's. Stainless steel (very rare in the 1930's) with a wood handle and razor sharp crushing blade things! Wicked looking for sure, but will not bring any wickedness to your home. Quite the opposite! Maggie acquired this old piece from the grand daughter of the original owner, Charlie. Charlie lived a good life, was a good man, but passed at the early age of 54 back in 1959. Charlie was a heavy drinker all of his life and struggled with it. On the mornings after, Charlie would get out this ice crusher and make a homemade hangover concoction - crushing ice, tomato juice and other stuff in this stainless cup. The ONLY time he used it was on these mornings. After Charile left this earth, his wife could hardly stand the sight of this ice crusher but could not bring herself to get rid of it. It was a prized possession of her late husband, who would often talk about the quality of stainless steel. To her...it was a memory of the alcoholism that killed him. Eventually the item passed on to Charlies daughter. The family felt his presence in the home and attributed it to the ice crusher. They experienced the sound of tinkling ice in glass, laughter, footsteps, knocking and doors opening/closing. Pranks.The item was finally given to Maggie as the disruptions became too much for a new family. My personal experience, and again, this may not be yours, but here at my house, my dogs have loved having a new playmate around. I think Charile loved dogs. I have heard him romping around with mine! It is a unique vintage item to add to a collection. 

Haunted Jewelry 

Ebay Item #:  111140201376  Price$89.99

This Ring is to powerful to even have in anyone's possession, but the witches cajinn the ring is known to contact the dead and let them thru and bring evil to your enemies you wish upon VERY DANGEROUS if you dont know what your doing! If you are not certified in witchcraft please don't purchase this ring something can go wrong and you have NO control over what is brought thru BUY AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Antique Rogers Silver Plated Pitcher Large from Haunted Collection

Ebay Item #: 261262194754  Price$30.00

This antique pitcher would be beautiful if someone is willing to put some elbow grease into it and polish off the decades of tarnish. If you look at the 2nd photo, you can see I polished a section of it. I did not finish because as soon as I started, the activity began. I got my hair pulled, the phone rang with no one on the other end and there was a strong, strong scent of almonds. Too much for me. I am still very uneasy having all these "visitors". Maggies notes on this item say - "Jules. Found hidden in coal bin, 1947 - Denver, Co. Katherine. Homicide. Eternally pissed off (her words, not mine :) ) likes attention." So there you have it. Very old William Rogers. Engraved on bottom. I cannot make out the numbers. As I said - this could be a beautiful antique piece with a little TLC. Large - 9 inches high and 7 from handle to spout.

Madam Money's Q & A: Will Rent Reference Help Mortgage Application

Have you (or someone you know) ever wondered if a reference letter from a landlord would help with showing payment history for a mortgage application? 

Great Question!  Here the answer ... 



Do you have a personal finance or credit questions?  

Ask me and get answers! 

Just email your question to Tarra@TarraJackson.com. 

Making Money Matters Manageable, 

Tarra Jackson

Another Legend

Even before I started school I was interested in how things worked. That's probably why I eventually became an engineer. But it wasn't just how things were put together that fired my imagination. I often wondered how things were created. What was the spark that led to these things being invented?

It's the same with TV programmes and feature films. I'm fascinated by the story behind the story. How does a writer's idea get to the point where his words are being spoken on screen? I want to learn about the process and bits of trivia that occur in between those two endpoints. These days there are programmes that give us behind-the-scenes insights into some of our most popular series.

So, as promised in my last post, I'm now going to share some facts about one of my favourite TV series.

Some of you might be old enough to remember The Adventures Of Robin Hood. The one that starred Richard Greene.

The programme was commissioned by Lew Grade but was created by American writers who couldn't find work in the US, having fallen foul of the McCarthy communist witch-hunts in the 1950s. Because of their precarious position the writers could not be granted artistic credit for the episodes they worked on.

Apart from film actor Richard Greene, many other established and future stars appeared during the series. The one I remember is Paul Eddington of The Good Life and Yes Minister who played Will Scarlett if my memory serves me right.

You may also remember actress Patricia Driscoll, who played Maid Marion. She was the presenter of the Watch With Mother programme Picture Book.

The theme song was recorded as a single and rose quite high in the UK charts. I think I still have a copy somewhere in my loft. (On a 78rpm of course).

One episode of the 2006 BBC Robin Hood series was entitled Lardner's ring as a tribute to Ring Lardner, one of the original 1950s writers.

Does anyone else have memories of this drama?

Did he really do it ... or just an accident

I don't actually want to post this one here because the story is kinda sensitive, and somewhat provocative. However, people think this is an urban legend, so I thought, maybe, I should list this story here.

I don't know the whole truth behind the story, so I should be careful with my words. One thing is certain to me, it really did happen. What makes it questionable, is his statement when he was asked about the thing.

The Story

Jobert Sucaldito hospitalized after an accident with ... a cucumber? Showbiz talk show host Jobert Sucaldito is recovering at the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City after a successful emergency surgery to remove a large piece of cucumber that got stuck in his rectum, according to reports. Sucaldito, one of the hosts of ABS-CBN's The Buzz, reportedly met with the accident Sunday night and was rushed to the hospital after complaining of extreme pain in his bottom. X-rays subsequently revealed that a broken piece of cucumber, about five inches in length, had gotten lodged into the lower end of his large intestine. It was not immediately clear how the cucumber got there. The surgeons who operated on Sucaldito were tight-lipped and refused to discuss his case with media, citing doctor-patient confidentiality. Oddly enough, they all looked like they were trying vainly to keep from laughing and refused to look reporters in the eye. Members of Sucaldito's household who declined to be named said they recovered the other half of the cucumber, also five inches in length, in Sucaldito's bedroom. They said it had bite marks and was in a soggy state. Besides the cucumber, they said they also found a bottle of Johnson's baby oil, pictures of scantily clad men, and lots of tissue paper.” Reached by phone, Sucaldito said he is fine and will be discharged from hospital soon. He explained that it was all an accident. Gumagawa kasi ako ng salad. Napaupo ako dun sa chair e meron palang pipino dun na patayo ang pusisyon. Basta, mabilis kasi ang mga pangyayari (I was making a salad. I sat on a chair but there was a cucumber there in an upright position. Everything just happened so fast), he said. In a related development, a group of vegan Filipinos is reportedly thinking of filing an abuse complaint against Sucaldito for allegedly molesting a harmless and defenseless vegetable. Source: Good Times Manila

Now that you have read the article above, its up to you if you will believe his statement ... or you know - guffaw?

Source:
http://es2pido.tumblr.com/post/606344574/jobert-sucaldito-hospitalized-after-accident-with

All Your Response Belong to Us

Electrolux Japan Ltd

Re: Legal Representative

Thanks for your response, Our customer the target company is 

(Local Business Here)

We like to know if you have conflict that will prevent you from representing our firm,  

Please see attached Letter of Intent for your review.

Please forward us your engagement letter and furnish us with the estimate for legal fee. 

Thanks for your previous understanding.

Yours Sincerely,

Mr. Yong Miyata

Electrolux Co. Ltd.

Yasuda Shibaura No.2 Bldg.

2-12, Kaigan 3-chome, Minato-ku, 

Tokyo ZIP 108-0022

Tel;(03)5445-3360   

Email; yongmiyata@gmail.com

http://www.electrolux.co.jp/

 Yong Miyata<yongmiyata@gmail.com> wrote:

We have communicate with a company whom are customers of ours in your state regards merging, we like to merge with the company to increased revenue, market share, and cross-selling opportunities.

We would like to retain you to help us in the process to review proposed transactions for acquisitions or purchase of businesses and creation of contracts for acquisition (merger), if you are interested

   

836226_2007>yongmiyata@gmail.com

http://www.electrolux.co.jp/

Madam Money's Q & A: Is Race Considered in the Credit Score?

Have you (or someone you know) ever wondered if a person's race for financial situation affects or is considered in the calculation of their Credit Score?

Great Question!  Here the answer ...

Do you have a personal finance or credit questions?  Ask me and get answers!

Just email your question to Tarra@TarraJackson.com.

Making Money Matters Manageable,

Tarra Jackson

Hell is ... Real?

Well, for Christians like me, we believe it is real. I don't know if others do believe as well. By the way, have you watched this Filipino documentary (from a Christian Channel) discussing everything about hell? I have watched it once when I was still in secondary school.

I don't mean by putting the videos here that it was an urban legend. Actually, I have read an UL story claiming they made a hole from surface to hell accidentally.

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5


Part 6

What Am I?

One of Patsy Collins' recent posts was about professionalism. She asked those of us who had been paid for our writing whether we considered ourselves professional writers. This got me thinking. Thanks, Patsy. As if I don't have enough to do with all the links you put up for competitions and other writing opportunities. Now I have to spend time thinking.

Where was I? Ah yes. I was thinking. Not just about being (or not being) a professional. But other stuff. Like am I working class or middle class? At sixty one am I old or still middle aged? Am I British or English? (Definitely not European). Do people think I'm a geek or just an enthusiast?

That last point got me worried. Well, not worried maybe. But puzzled. Surely we're all geeks in a way? We all have our skills and interests. There must be a fine line between nerdiness and just being an expert. Maybe it becomes geeky when you just can't resist showing off your knowledge to anyone within earshot. (Or blogshot?) Just like I did on my last blog post with those bits of trivia about The Lone Ranger.

The geek look was in vogue for a while with horn-rimmed glasses and braces becoming fashionable accessories. But it didn't last. More recently, the American sit-com Big Bang Theory (of which I'm a huge fan) has given a 21st century insight into the world of geeks. In any case, I think I prefer the term 'geek' to 'anorak'. The latter invokes images of train spotters. Not that I wish to alienate any railway enthusiasts.

So, to sum up: I'm a young-at-heart, English working class, semi-professional writer with geeky tendencies. Just to prove it – in my next post I'm going to bore you to death stir your interest with several facts about another legend. You have been warned, Patsy.

Cat Walk Wish (Part 2)

Cat Walk Wish (Part 2) The next day, I went to the old garden again. I sat in the deserted bench where I sat the last time I went there. I felt good and relaxed - especially I was picked by the couch of the college basketball. Minutes later, I heard a voice again. I ignored it. I thought it was normal in the place. Well, last time the same voice was badgering me. It kept calling at me, so I looked to the cat-walk. Upstairs, I found my friend, sitting in his wheelchair. "Hey!" He said. "Congratulations. I'm very proud of you." After he spoke, I went upstairs but not to talk to him. Instead, I just passed over him. I went straightly to my classroom. I waited at him, but he didn't come. Our teacher was in the classroom preparing to discuss our lesson, but still he's no where to be found. Three subjects passed but he's still no where. I felt worried. I left him in the old garden, in the cat-walk. I became exaggerated. I was thinking something bad happened to him. So I decided to go back there, but before I can make it to the exit, I found him approaching. I felt relieved. Then I went back to my table. [Click here to continue.]

The Fengdu Ghost City

The Fengdu Ghost City is located on the North end of the Yangthze River on Ming Mountain.   If you wander through this old Chinese City, you will cross a landscape of ghostly loss that is rarely seen in this world.   You can walk across The Bridge of Helplessness.  This is the bridge every soul must cross before it can enter the underworld.  You will find statues of the ghost king, the judge of hell, the drunkard ghost, and the the lustful ghost.  Every bend and turn of the road brings you to meet another building that would be found only in the land of the dead.  Every statue is a depitction of a ghost.  The Fengdu Ghost City is trully a ghost town..

Fengdu Ghost City got its name during the Han Dynasty when two officers came to Ming Mountain to practice toaist teachings.    On Ming Mountain, these officers sought immortality and accourding to legend, they eventually became the kings of hell.   During the Tang Dynasty a temple was built in this location to show life in hell.  The temple was meant to be horrifying.  It showed graphic depictions of the horrors that awaited those who did evil in hell.  Now, Fengdu is an entire city dedicated to Diyu, the underworld of Chinese mythology.

It isn't surprising that ghost stories linger in Fengdu.   It is said that Fengdu was a Taoist cemetery before it became the ghost city it is today.   Although the city bustles with tourists during the day, some believe it is crowded with ghosts after the night falls.   Fengdu is one of the creepiest places in the world on almost every list of creepy places I have seen.   It is certainly on my bucket list as one of the places I dream of going before I die.

Be careful, 6 Things It Can Trigger Unexpected Incidence of Heart Attack

A heart attack can come at any time for those who have risk factors, but researchers now reveal some other things unnoticed and unexpected fact can lead to a heart attack. Here are 6 things unforeseen that could lead to a heart attack, as reported by Prevention, Monday (08/19/2013).

Nonstick chemicals

Chemicals was felt nonstick cooking process makes everything easier. But in fact the medical side of the material is just the opposite. Previous anti-sticky material usage is associated with infertility, high cholesterol, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

But a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests a link between the chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and heart disease. Regardless of age, body weight, presence of diabetes or other diseases, researchers found that people with high levels of PFOA in their blood had a 2 times greater risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those who had low levels of PFOA.

Climate change

Climate change is having a devastating effect on health, one heart attack. Excessive heat leads to the formation of small particles in polluted air, known as PM2.5. These particles will be entered and lodged in the lungs. Size is so small makes these particles can avoid the body's natural immune system defenses and migrate into the blood stream. Though hampered blood flow can clog arteries and form plaque, which is the trigger of heart attack and stroke.

Anti-bacterial soap

Triclosan is a chemical anti-bacterial soap and toothpaste is one of the causes of the risk of thyroid disease. Recent research suggests this material fact also can damage the heart and muscle tissue. As much as possible, should be the minimization of the use of soaps containing triclosan.

Canned foods

Sodium in fact not the only hazardous materials contained in canned foods. Other materials that bisphenol A or BPA, a hormone disruptor linked breast cancer, or aggressive anger problems in girls, obesity, and infertility.

Now a study published in the journal PLoS ONE reveals that small doses of BPA can cause cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. To avoid this, try to limit canned food and prefer fresh or frozen foods.

Congestion

Scientists have found a link between air pollution, traffic congestion, and heart attack risk. German researchers found that those who are stuck in traffic, either as a driver or passenger, had 3.2 times higher risk for heart attack compared with those who did not get stuck in a traffic jam.

Some seafood

Researchers from Syracuse University shows that you have to choose more carefully seafood. Because, they found that fish contaminated with high levels of mercury which can disrupt the body's response to stress and increase the risk of heart disease. Mercury raises this risk by interfering with the body's natural levels of the hormone cortisol.

First hearing...for real this time.

I've waited a few days to write this post, but wanted to do so before I lost a lot of my memories (aka: the rest of my mind). As plenty of people know, this week I attended my first court hearing. And what a hearing that was. I was supposed to have a hearing last week, but it was rescheduled with another judge due to a conflict with the previous judge.

Now, some background info about this hearing (but obvs not too much)....it was a custody dispute. And custody disputes are NEVER EVER EVARRRRRRR fun. They suck. People cry, kids act like assholes, and there are no true winners. None.

I went into this hearing expecting for everyone to give testimony, for a finding of the best interest of the child to be offered up by the judge, and for my client to get her kid back (that she's raised for 16 years with no friggin support from his deadbeat asshole of a father). Judge messed that over when he said he was inclined to grant custody....before testimony was given, before child had been interviewed, before any fights were made..and based on a piece of shit motion by OC.

What followed was a quick argument that involved the kitchen sink, and afterwards....six hours in court. Six long, looong, LOOOONG hours in court. My client did not win, but the one who did pissed the judge off. So though she didn't win custody, she got visitation, was ordered to pay no child support, and the asshole ex is going to have to come up with over $40K to pay my client within the next two years in back child support.

And that's just phase one. I implement phase two next week. Justice works in mysterious ways, but I've learned a shitton from my client, her case, and that proceeding. And I've figure out that sometimes justice isn't what you're asking for, or may come about in a different way than expected....

5 Quick Tips to Divorce Finances Through A Divorce

Do you (or someone you know) know someone who is going through a divorce that needs a few financial preservation tips?  I do!

Even though I have never had the unfortunate experience of a divorce, I have helped several of my clients through the financial transition from joint to individual finances.  When couples go through a divorce, they are not only divorcing each other; they are also divorcing their finances as well.  Financial Divorce can be just as, if not more, emotionally draining and frustrating.  Depending on how amicable the separation is, may determine the ease or complexity of the separation of finances.

Regardless of where a person is in the separation, here are 5 quick tips about How to Divorce Finances through a Divorce.

  

Get Organized!

Gather as many financial documents as possible. Financial statements and documents will be requested and may be required during the separation process.  Here is a Divorce Financial Checklist of documents that may need to be gathered. Consult with a divorce attorney for all of the documents that will be asked for and required to remit to the court.

  

Separate Bank Accounts

Make sure to open separate individual savings and checking accounts.  Don’t just open an account in desperation … rather; make sure to open up an account at a financial institution that is conducive to the financial needs and usage. Open an account with great customer service because they may be needed for assistance through the financial transition.  Avoid accounts or financial institutions with excessive fees.

  

Update Direct Deposit

Don’t forget to update direct deposit or payroll deductions through the employer from the joint account to the new individual bank account(s) established.  If the joint account is responsible for paying bills that may affect the credit reports, continue to make deposits just enough to pay those bills OR stop the bill payment or payroll deduction from that joint account and set it up in the individual account to maintain a positive credit history.

  

Do a “Clean Break” with Loans

Having joint debt is like having a child together.  Regardless of the status of the relationship, both borrowers are equally responsible to pay the debt until it is paid in full despite what the judge or divorce decree says.  So, first things first … get copies of all three credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union from www.annualcreditreport.com.  The best way to preserve credit history during a divorce is to do a “Clean Break.” Identify all credit accounts, and then try to negotiate who will take on what debt. Once that is agreed upon, each should try to get an individual loan to pay of the joint loan.  If either person does not qualify for an individual loan to do a “Clean Break,” try to agree that the other person will make timely payments on the joint loan. This is important because if the one person pays late or not at all, it will negatively affect the other person’s credit and ability to obtain the credit that may be needed after the divorce.  This is especially critical with credit cards.  Make sure to block the credit card lost/stolen and request a new card number to avoid future usage from the other part.

  

Update Beneficiaries

Don’t forget to update all financial documents! Update the beneficiary on your retirement savings account, insurance policies, bank accounts, etc.  Also, don’t forget to update the W-4 once the separation is final. During the divorce, many people forget to update this important information.

  

  

The best way to get through this tough situation is to try to think of the financial side as a business matter.  However, if the separation is not amicable, it may be best to have the divorce attorneys to discuss and negotiate these and other matters.

It is also a good idea to work with a financial professional or counselor for guidance during the financial divorce. Best wishes and contact us for further assistance.

  

  

Making Money Matters Manageable,

Tarra Jackson    

Aokigahara Forest: The Suicide Forest

Aokigahara Forest sits at the base of Mount Fugi in Japan.  The Forest has always been a place of death.  Poor families used to abandon  their elderly and infirm in the woods when they became a burden.   The abandoned would suffer long and horrible deaths from exposure in the gnarled trees.  The forest has also always been associated with people getting lost.  The Mountain has large deposits of volcanic, magnetic iron that cause malfunctions of compasses, GPS's, and cellphones.  It also has over 100 caves.  It is a treacherous landscape that is easy to lose your way in and slip into a cave and be forgotten.  In fact, many of the trail heads are blocked by ropes and labeled with signs that say not to enter because it is too easy to become lost.

As you enter the forest, signs read "Your life is precious.  Please think about your parents, siblings, and children.  Don't keep to yourself.  Talk about your troubles suicide prevention association."  Nooses dangle from trees where bodies used to hang. Old skeletons can be found amongst the undergrowth and suicide notes are nailed to trees.  Every year there are over 100 suicides in Aokigahara Forest.  Authorities are only able to sweep the forest for bodies annually and many bodies aren't found during these sweeps.  The bodies of the dead often linger for years, waiting to be found.  Although the forest has always been a place of death, since Seicho Matsomoto's novel "Kuroi Kaiju", or Black Sea of Trees, the forest has become the second most popular place in the world for suicides (The Golden Gate Bridge is the first.).  The novel tells the tale of two lovers who end their tragic lives via suicide in Aokigahara Forest. 

It isn't surprising that tales of ghosts and spirits abound in the shadows of Aokigahara Forest.   It is said that ghastly white spirits glide between the trees.  The spirits of the elderly that were once abandoned there wander with the spirits of those who ended their own lives.   Locals believe that death has so permeated the forest that the very soil and trees have taken on the evil of the place and that they actively prevent those who enter from finding their way out.  The darkness of the place ensnares travelers and traps them so that they get lost and never find their way out.

Spolarium

Songs are created by song writers to express their feelings, to tell their stories, and to say their disappointments for something. All of the songs are meaningful - they may expressly or impliedly say something from within.

One of our viewers suggested a topic to me through e-mail. She asked me to create an article of a song with a hidden meaning on it, or backmasking. I became interested, so I begun searching songs with hidden meanings. There were many, but only one caught my attention - the Spolarium of Eraserheads.

The Song

The song Spolarium was written and performed by the Eraserheads, and was included in their album - Sticker Happy. The song was allegedly hiding something puzzling behind the poetical lyrics. People who hear it might not understand instantly what was in there if they don't know the story. On the other hand, people may also misunderstood the song if not gently inspected and studied.

Now, let's have the lyrics of the said song.

[Taken from Internet [a]:]

Spolarium By: Eraserheads Dumilim ang paligid May tumawag sa pangalan ko Labing isang palapag Tinanong kung okay lang ako Sabay abot ng baso May naghihintay At bakit ba pag nagsawa na ako Biglang ayoko na At ngayon di pa rin alam Kung ba’t tayo nandito Pwede bang itigil muna ang pagikot ng mundo Lumiwanag ang buwan San Juan 'Di ko na masasakyan Ang lahat ng bagay ay gumuguhit na lang sa 'king lalamunan Ewan mo at ewan natin Sinong may pakana At bakit ba tumilapon ang gintong alak dyan sa paligid mo At ngayon 'di pa rin alam Kung ba’t tayo nandito Pwede bang itigil muna ang pagikot ng mundo Umiyak ang umaga Anong sinulat ni Enteng at Joey dyan Sa gintong salamin 'Di ko na mabasa Pagkat merong nagbura ahhh… Ewan mo at ewan natin Sinong may pakana At bakit ba tumilapon ang spolarium dyan sa paligid mo? At ngayon di pa rin alam Kung bakit tayo nandito Pwede bang itigil muna, ang pagikot ng mundo Pwede bang itigil muna, ang pagikot ng mundo Pwede bang itigil muna, ang pagikot nga mundo

Spolarium By: Eraserheads The surroundings dimmed Someone called my name Eleven(th) floor(s) And asked if I was okay While handing me a glass Someone was waiting And why is it when I’ve had enough Suddenly I don’t want it anymore And now, I still have no idea Why we're here Can we please just stop the earth from revolving The moon shone San Juan I may not be able to ride (on it) Everything is just drawing a line (trailing) across my throat You don’t know and we don’t know Who did it And why did the golden liquor spill all around you. And now I still have no idea Why we are here Can we please stop just for now, the world from revolving The morning cried What did Enteng and Joey write In the golden mirror I can’t read anymore Cause someone erased it ahh… You don’t know and we don’t know Who did it Why did the spolarium spill all around you? And now I still have no idea Why we are here Can we stop it for now, the world from revolving Can we stop it for now, the world from revolving Can we stop it for now, the world from revolving

Meaning of Terms

The title Spolarium was actually a 19th century painting of our hero - Juan Luna. The painting is now displayed in the Malacanang Palace. It depicts a picture of a scene in a Roman Coliseum with soldiers dragging cadavers of gladiator out of it. The painting signifies the death or absence of freedom or the lost of hope of a country.

Other than that, there were also other obvious words in the song that might imply something important.

According to a website[a], these are the words he considered are important facts of the song.

San Juan
This might refer to a place. The verse 'Di ko na masasakyan (I may not be able to ride on it.) might tell you a clue of a jeepney routing to the place named San Juan.

The word gumuguhit
Gumuguhit came from the simple verb guhit which means to draw. However, the song didn't really mean to draw. Gumuguhit is actually a kind of feeling - sensing something sharp that trails accross your throat, especially if you're drinking a liquor.

Enteng and Joey
Enteng is a name presumed to be Vic Sotto, as it was his name in his popular fantasy movie, Enteng Kabisote. And Joey is Joey De Leon. They are two famous comedic icons in Philippine entertainment scene, or more appropriate mass culture. (You can still watch them every noon of Monday to Saturday on Eat Bulaga in GMA Channel 7.)

The Alleged Story

Some people said that the song was actually telling us the story of Pepsi Paloma who was said to be a rape victim. They said, the rapist was Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and Richie D'Horsie.

She was given a liquor till drunk. When her consciousness was lost, she was raped.

The case happened in 1982. Joey de Leon along with Vic Sotto and Richie D'Horsie made headlines when underaged actress Pepsi Paloma accused the trio of gang raping her. The case was settled out of court and the trio made a public apology to Paloma. According to Pepsi Paloma, it was mainly Tito Sotto who coerced her to sign the affidavit of desistance to throw out the filing of the rape case, which is punishable by death penalty at that time. Justice was stopped from moving when the comedians humbly made a public apology to the judge to where they admitted to the crime committed to the starlet. Paloma committed suicide by hanging herself afterwards in 1985, due to the trauma she experienced from the hands of the comedians.[b]

There were rumors that Pepsi didn't actually committed suicide, instead she was killed to stop her from testifying in court.

As the Spolarium resembles an absence of freedom, Pepsi's death indicates the absence of justice.

The True Story

It wasn't actually about the case of Pepsi Paloma. Yes, the story of the song did happen, but wasn't connected to the prior sad story.

In fact, it was telling us about how a drinking spree started.

It was evening, Ely Buendia was about to go home. Then he was called out by somebody in the eleventh floor of a condo in San Juan (particulary in Unit 1108 of that condominium). He was asked if he's alright (as it was our habit, saying Kamusta? or How are you?). Somebody hand him a glass of liquor. He stayed there till morning.

The gintong alak (golden liquor) is a Goldshlagger. Enteng was one of the Eraserheads' roadies that time; Joey a.k.a. Cowpunk, a classmate of Raims, was a member of the Eraserheads' posse. Thus, the song didn't have any connection with Vic Sotto as Enteng and Joey as Joey de Leon. What the two wrote using their hands in the mirror was Ely's true name but slightly erased. So he can't read it properly.

Source:
a. http://aragonasten.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/spolarium-by-eraserheads/
b. http://www.istorya.net/forums/general-discussions/550586-pepsi-paloma-and-meaning-behind-song-spolarium-eraserheads.html

The Bitterroot Footage

My sister found this footage for me and brought it to my attention.  I've heard many rumors about it.  Initially, people were saying it was an attempt at viral marketing for the movie "The Possession" but that movie has been out for a year now and was based on the Dibbuk Box I wrote about yesterday.  I've also heard that it was marketing for another movie called "The Lords of Salem" but that movie doesn't seem to fit the bill either.  The footage has been floating around for a while and no one seems to really know the story behind it.  The consensus is that it is a hoax or marketing but for what?  I thought the footing was haunting and creepy enough to merit a post here.  It certainly got my attention and I would love to hear the real story behind it.  I think I would also watch whatever movie this might be marketing for.   Here is the footage and the story that came with it.



My name is Chad. I'm a student at a university in New York.
I just moved to a studio apartment and needed some furniture.
I found a guy on Craigslist that wanted to desperately get
rid of his things at super cheap prices so I went to check it out.
He sold things in bulk to get rid of as much things as possible.
I bought a small table and it came with a bunch of other random things.
Some of it I gave away and some I kept.

An old wooden box caught my attention. It was locked and out
of curiosity, I kept it. I had to force open the lid with a screw-driver
and inside I found some old pictures. The word 'bitterroot'
was handwritten on the backs of all of them. There was also a tin can that
contained a reel of film that I later learned from my
friend Dario (a film student), was 8mm film.

The film was pretty damaged so I just kept it on my bookshelf
as decoration, but I couldn't get the images of the pictures out of my head.
I had to figure out a way to watch that film.

With help from Dario, we got an old 8mm projector in good
working condition on Ebay. The film skipped in several spots so
we put it together with a special tape and then watched it again.
What we found was disturbing.

I asked my friend to help me make this website so I can share my findings."

If you want to look at the actual website you can find it at:   http://thebitterrootfootage.com/

Not just a great man, but a good man too.

Yesterday I said goodbye to one of the greatest men I've ever met. His name was Mr. Louis Nabors.

While in undergrad, I pursued a science degree, though my passions generally lie with the arts. Throughout my time in college, I participated in operas, musical theatre, straight-laced theatre, and several choirs. This was difficult, because I took several hours of labs each week, and many of the labs lasted until five o'clock, at which time I'd have to run over to the theatre to begin rehearsals that lasted until 9:00 or later. I received scholarships for my efforts, and made many MANY friends through my participation in VAPA, our Visual and Performing Arts program.

Mr. Nabors was one of these friends. He was my voice teacher, and the one teacher I had every.single.semester of college. I started with 30 minute lessons, then my second semester of Freshman year, I swapped to an hour long lesson each week. And each week, he would threaten me with his cane, compliment me when I achieved something I thought I was unable to do, and pick songs that seemed to be made for my voice. He was tough, lethally honest, and always hilarious. My accompanist, a great man as well, used to chuckle throughout our voice lessons, which he dubbed Comedy Hour. My voice grew to something I never thought it could be. Mr. Nabors constantly bemoaned my lack of practice due to my dedication to sciences, but when he paid me a compliment, I knew he was being honest.

Plenty of people were afraid of Mr. Nabors, partially because of this honesty, but also because of his presence. He was at least 6'7, and had a voice that filled a room. He was a true bass, but had a clarity to his voice that many basses lack. When he spoke, you could hear him across a football field. And when he sang, you never wanted him to stop. I heard him perform as Sorastro in The Magic Flute, which was magnificent, but he was best known for his renditions of old Negro spirituals (and You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, but that was a rare treat indeed). Indeed, his presence was so large, so amazing, that you sometimes forgot he was a mortal man.

Mr. Nabors passed July 30, 2013 doing what he loved--performing. He was in Italy to teach and perform and while there, he suffered a fatal stroke. A man I considered to be immortal has passed away, but he has not died. I know that he is singing in God's choir in the sky.

Even now it seems surreal, but I have to be thankful for the things he has taught me and the memories we have shared, and I take comfort in the fact that I visited him numerous times since graduation, most recently a few months ago, during which time I was able to speak with him for over an hour.

Mr. Nabors was a great man, and he was a good man. He encouraged me to pursue my passions, and demonstrated this pursuit in his own life. I hope anyone reading this blog has their own Mr. Nabors, and I hope you tell him or her how much they have inspired you, how much they mean to you, and marvel at how they were put in your life. He certainly changed mine, and I am proud to say he was my mentor and an inspiration to me.

The Dybbuk Box

I love internet tales of Horror.  My favorite is The Hand that Resists Him http://ghoststoriesandhauntedplaces.blogspot.com/2012/05/haunted-ebay-painting.html but the Dybbuk Box is a close second.   The Dybbuk Box was first discovered my a man named Kevin Mannis.  Mannis purchased what is now known as the Dybbuk Box at an estate sale in 2001. It used to be the property of a Holocaust survivor who escaped and moved to the US.  The survivor's name was Havela and she was supposed to have put the Dybbuk into the box after her friends helped her with a séance.

A Dybbuk is a spirit from Jewish folklore.  It is an angry spirit that is able to possess the living.  When Mannis opened the box, he found 2 pennies, a lock of blonde hair, a lock of brown hair, and a small statue engraved with the word Shalom inside the box.  It also contained a wine goblet, a dried rose, and a candle holder wit octopus legs.   These items are all used in the Jewish exorcism ritual.  According to Manis, he gave the box to his mother as a birthday present.  She had a stroke that very day. Manis had many other problems with the box and he finally decided to list the box on Ebay.  The listing included the following statement:

All of the events that I am about to set forth in this listing are accurate and may be verified by the winning bidder with the copies of hospital records and sworn affidavits that I am including as part of the sale of the cabinet. The winning bidder will also be able to contact most of the persons mentioned herein for the purposes of verification, corroboration, and to gain insight into the full scope of whatever it is. During September of 2001, I attended an estate sale in Portland Oregon. The items liquidated at this sale were from the estate of a woman who had passed away at the age of 103. A grand-daughter of the woman told me that her grandmother had been born in Poland where she grew up, married, raised a family, and lived until she was sent to a nazi concentration camp during World War II. She was the only member of her family who survived the camp. Her parents, brothers, a sister, husband, and two sons and a daughter were all killed. She survived the camp by escaping with some other prisoners and somehow making her way to Spain where she lived until the end of the war. I was told that she acquired the small wine cabinet listed here in Spain and it was one of only three items that she brought with her when she immigrated to the United States. The other two items were a steamer trunk, and a sewing box.
I purchased the wine cabinet, along with the sewing box and some other furniture at the estate sale. After the sale, I was approached by the woman's granddaughter who said, I see you got the dibbuk box. She was referring to the wine cabinet. I asked her what a dibbuk box was, and she told me that when she was growing up, her grandmother always kept the wine cabinet in her sewing room. It was always shut, and set in a place that was out of reach. The grandmother always called it the dibbuk box. When the girl asked her grandmother what was inside, her grandmother spit three times through her fingers said, A dibbuk, and keselim. The grandmother went on to tell the girl that the wine cabinet was never, ever, to be opened.
The granddaughter told me that her grandmother had asked that the box be buried with her. However, as such a request was contrary to the rules of an orthodox Jewish burial, the grandmothers request had not been honored. I asked the granddaughter what a dibbuk, and keselim were, but she did not know. I asked if she would like to open it with me. She did not want to open it, as her grandmother had been very emphatic and serious when she instructed her not to do so, and, regardless of the reason, she wanted to honor her grandmothers request.
I finally ended up offering to let her keep what seemed to me to be a sentimental keepsake. At that point, she was very insistent and said, No, no you bought it!
I explained that I didnt want my money back, and that it would make me feel better to do what I thought was an act of kindness. She then became somewhat upset. Looking back now, the way she became upset was just plain odd. She raised her voice to me and said, You bought it! You made a deal!
When I tried to speak, she yelled, We don't want it! She began to cry, asked me to leave, and quickly walked away. I wrote the whole episode off to the stress and grief she must have been experiencing. I took my purchases and politely left.
At the time when I bought the cabinet, I owned a small furniture refinishing business. I took the cabinet to my store, and put it in my basement workshop where I intended to refinish it and give it as a gift to my Mother. I didn't think anything more about it. I opened my shop for the day and went to run some errands leaving the young woman who did sales for me in charge.
After about a half-hour, I got a call on my cell phone. The call was from my salesperson. She was absolutely hysterical and screaming that someone was in my workshop breaking glass and swearing. Furthermore, the intruder had locked the iron security gates and the emergency exit and she couldn't get out. As I told her to call the police, my cell phone battery went dead.
I hit speeds of 100 mph getting back to the shop. When I arrived, I found the gates locked. I went inside and found my employee on the floor in a corner of my office sobbing hysterically. I ran to the basement and went downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs, I was hit by an overpowering unmistakable odor of cat urine (there had never been any animals kept or found in my shop). The lights didn't work. As I investigated, I found that the reason the lights didn't work also explained the sounds of glass breaking. All of the light bulbs in the basement were broken. All nine incandescent bulbs had been broken in their sockets, and 10 four-foot fluorescent tubes were lying shattered on the floor. I did not find an intruder, however. I should also add that there was only one entrance to the basement. It would have been impossible for anyone to leave without meeting me head-on. I went back up to speak with my salesperson, but she had left.
She never returned to work (after having been with me for two years). She refuses to discuss the incident to this day. I never thought of relating the events of that day to anything having to do with the cabinet.
Then, things got worse.
As I already indicated, I had decided to give the cabinet to my Mother as a birthday gift. About two weeks after I made the purchase, I decided to get started refinishing it. I was surprised to find that the cabinet has a unique little mechanism. When you open one of the doors, the mechanism causes the opposite door, and the little drawer below, to open at the same time. It is very well made. Inside the cabinet, I found the following items:
1 1928 U.S. Wheat Penny; 1 1925 U.S. Wheat Penny; One small lock of blonde hair (bound with string); One small lock of black/brown hair (bound with string); One small granite statue engraved and gilded with Hebrew letters (I have been told that the letters spell out the word SHALOM); One dried rosebud; One golden wine cup; One very strange black cast iron candlestick holder with octopus legs.
I saved all of the items in a box intending to return them to the estate. The family has refused the items, so they will be included in this sale of the cabinet.
After opening the cabinet, I decided not to refinish it. I cleaned it, and rubbed in some lemon oil. It was at this time that I noticed that there was an inscription in Hebrew carved into the back of the cabinet. I have no idea what it says or if it is significant. I have included a picture of that inscription below. On my mothers birthday, October 28, 2001, my mother called to tell me that she was going out of town with my sister for three days, and we postponed celebrating her birthday together until she returned. On October 31, 2001, my mother came to my shop. We were going to have lunch together, but before we were going to leave, I gave her the wine cabinet. She seemed to like it. While she examined it, I went to make a phone call. I hadn't been out of sight more than 5 minutes when one of my employees came running into my office saying that something was wrong with my mom.
When I went back to see what the matter was, I found my mom sitting in a chair beside the cabinet. Her face had no expression, but tears were streaming down her cheeks. No matter how I tried to get her to respond, she would not. She could not. It turns out that my mother had suffered a stroke. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance. She ended up suffering partial paralysis, and losing her ability to speak and form words (she has since regained the ability to speak). She could understand things being said to her, and could respond by pointing to letters of the alphabet to spell out words she wanted to say. When I asked her the following day how she was doing, she teared up and spelled out the words: N-O G-I-F-T. I assured her that I had given her a gift for her birthday, thinking that she didnt remember, but she became even more upset and spelled out the words: H-A-T-E G-I-F-T. I laughed and told her not to worry. I told her I was sorry she didnt like the cabinet, and that I would get her anything she wanted if she would promise to get well soon.
Still, I didn't associate anything that had happened with the cabinet itself or anything paranormal. Frankly, I dont think I ever even used the term paranormal until this last month.
I'll try to make this short now. I gave the cabinet to my sister. She kept it for a week, then gave it back. She complained that she couldn't get the doors to stay closed and that they kept coming open. There are no springs in the door mechanism and I have never found that the doors come open. I gave it to my brother and his wife who kept it for three days and then gave it back. My brother said it smelled like Jasmine flowers, while his wife insisted that it put out an odor of cat urine. I gave it to my girlfriend who asked me to sell it for her after only two days. I sold it the same day to a nice middle aged couple. Three days later, when I came to open the shop for the day, I found the cabinet sitting at the front doors with a note that read, This has a bad darkness. I had no idea what that meant. Anyway, I ended up taking it home.
Then, things got even worse.
Since the day I brought it home, I began having a strange recurring nightmare. Every time I have the horrible dream it goes something like this: I find myself walking with a friend, usually someone I know well and trust at some point in the dream, I find myself looking into the eyes of the person that I am with. It is then that I realize that there is something different, something evil looking back at me. At that point in my dream, the person I am with changes into what can only be described as the most gruesome, demonic looking Hag that I have ever seen. This Hag proceeds then, to beat the living tar out of me. I have awakened numerous times to find bruises and marks on myself where I had been hit by the old woman during the previous night. Still, I never related the nightmares to the cabinet, nor do I think that I ever would have.
About a month ago, however, my sister, and my brother and his wife came over to my house and spent the night. The following morning, during breakfast, my sister complained that she had had a horrible nightmare. She said that she recalled having had it a couple of times before, and went on to describe my nightmare exactly to the last detail. My brother and his wife froze as they listened, and then chimed in that they had both had had the exact same dreams during the night as well. The hair was standing up on the back of my neck and still is. As we talked, it became clear that the common denominator was that each of us had had the nightmare during the times that the cabinet was in our respective homes. I called my girlfriend and asked if she could recall having any nightmares recently. She described the same nightmare, same Hag, everything. When I asked her if she remembered the date when she had the nightmare, she said she did not. Then I asked if it happened to be the night before she gave me the cabinet back to sell for her. She said, Yeah! Hey, how did you know that?!!!
Now then, since my family discussion, it seems like all hell is breaking loose. For a week afterward I started seeing what I can only describe as shadow things in my peripheral vision. In fact, numerous visitors to my house have claimed that they have seen these shadow things. I put the cabinet in an outside storage unit and was awakened when the smoke alarm in the unit went off in the middle of the night. When I went to see what was burning, I opened the door and didnt see any smoke. However, I did get hit with the smell of cat urine. When I went back inside, the smell was there in my house. I DO NOT OWN A CAT AND I NEVER HAVE. I went back outside and grabbed the cabinet. I brought it back inside and tried to research it on the Internet. While I was surfing the net, I fell asleep and once again had the same freakin nightmare. I woke up at around 4:30am (when it felt and smelled like someone was breathing on my neck) to find that my house now smelled like Jasmine flowers, and just in time to see a HUGE shadow thing go loping down the hall away from me.
I would destroy this thing in a second, except I really dont have any understanding of what I may or may not be dealing with. I am afraid (and I do mean afraid) that if I destroy the cabinet, whatever it is that seems to have come with the cabinet may just stay here with me. I have been told that there are people who shop on EBAY that understand these kinds of things and specifically look for these kinds of items. If you are one of these people, please, please buy this cabinet and do whatever you do with a thing like this. Help me.
You can see that I have no reserve price or minimum bid. If I can make things any easier let me know and I will do everything within my abilities.
One more note. On the same day my Mom had her stroke, the lease to my store was summarily terminated without cause.
The measurements are 12.5" x 7.5" x 16.25"
ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT I ORIGINALLY FOUND INSIDE THE CABINET ARE INCLUDED IN THE SALE AND WILL BE DELIVERED WITH THE CABINET.



Other owners say the box smells like urine and is accompanied by nightmares about an old hag.  Horrible tales were carried with the box as it leapt from one owner to the next. Iosif Neitske was the last owner that auctioned the box on Ebay.  He claims that the box caused electronic failure, insect swarms and medical problems.  Medical problems included hives, vomiting blood, and hair loss.  Neitske tried to sell the box on Ebay. 

An article in the Los Angeles Times talks about this famous Ebay box:

"A small wooden cabinet went up for auction on EBA.  Inside were two locks of hair, one granite slab, one dried rosebud, one goblet, two wheat pennies, one candlestick and on allegedly, "dibbuk", a kind of spirit popular in Yiddish folklore.

The seller, a Missouri college student name Iosif Nietske, described the container as a "haunted Jewish wine cabinet box" that had plagued several owners with rotten luck and a pate of bizarre paranormal stunts"

The story of this strange box was the basis for last summer's movie "The Possession".   You can read more about this box and its story at http://dibbukbox.com/story.htm 

Halloween is Comming!

I am always slightly dismayed by how early Christmas decorations go up in stores.  It often seems like Santa finds himself sitting by skeletons before Halloween is even over and that bothers me.  Yet, the earlier Halloween decorations are up the happier I am.  The first signs of Halloween can be seen in my corner of the world and I am delighted.  I received my first Halloween catalogue yesterday.  Spirit Halloween is already setting up and Cracker Barrel has its Halloween display up. Old Time Pottery Barn has its front filled with pumpkins and ghosts and The Hallmark Stores are putting up their Halloween Trees.  Halloween is popping up everywhere and I have begun counting the days.  Here is a little peek at some of the Halloween fun I've found so far.

Who Was That Masked Man?

Just been to see the new Lone Ranger film. I knew it would only be a parody of the original tale and so didn't have any high hopes but, as a lifelong fan, I couldn't miss it. It was entertaining enough so no complaints and I have to admit that a tingle ran down my spine when he first rode onto the screen to The William Tell Overture. My 1958 Lone Ranger annual sits on the shelf above me as I type so I thought I'd share a few facts about the legend of the Masked Man.

It started off as a radio programme in 1933. The phrase 'Hi-Yo, Silver! Away!' was written into the script to indicate to the listeners that a riding sequence was about to follow.

The character of Tonto was introduced so that the Lone Ranger had an accomplice to talk to. This made it simpler to explain the plot to the audience.

Actor Clayton Moore played the main part when it hit the TV screen in 1949. Due to a contract dispute he was replaced by John Hart for one series but was soon reinstated.

Canadian Jay Silverheels who played Tonto was born Harold Smith on a Mohawk reservation. Being an outstanding athlete, his nickname, Silverheels, derived from his speed across the ground while playing lacrosse. He started out in films as an extra and stuntman but eventually was given acting parts alongside stars such as Humphrey Bogart and James Stewart.

The Lone Ranger's real name is John Reid. He was part of a posse of Texas Rangers who were ambushed by a band of outlaws. His five fellow riders were killed including the leader, his brother, Captain Daniel Reid. Tonto discovered the injured John Reid and nursed him back to health. They buried the dead men and dug a sixth empty grave to make it look like all six had perished.

He acquired his horse, Silver, when he rescued him from an enraged buffalo.

When the series ended Moore and Silverheels continued to make appearances in character but Clayton was forbidden by the studio to wear the iconic mask. He resorted to wearing dark glasses and joked that people changed the phrase 'Who was that masked man?' to 'Who was that glassed man?'

Moore died in 1999 and Silverheels in 1980.

PS  If you're a fan of Classic FM I understand that the definition of sophistication is the ability to listen to Rossini's overture without thinking of The Lone Ranger. That's me out then.

The Conjuring and the True Story of the Annabelle the Doll

I watched the Conjuring last night.  I really enjoyed the movie.  The Warrens and their work have always fascinated me and I've written about them before on this blog.   The movie was primarily about the work they did with the Perron family.  They aided in ridding the Perron house in Rhode Island of the ghost of a witch name Bathsheba.   However, the movie begins with Annabelle the Doll.  I have written about Annabelle a couple of times before and although I loved to see her story in the movie, it wasn't completely accurate.   First of all, the movie doll was a creepy glass doll and the real Annabelle was just a Raggedy Ann doll.   Here is the real story of Annabelle

 Annabelle was a gift given to a young nurse named Donna by her mother. It wasn't long after Annabelle was given to Donna that Donna began to notice Annabelle moved about the apartment on her own. Donna and her roommate, Angie, began to notice that they would leave for work and when they came home the doll would be laying on the bed in a different position. The women started arranging the doll purposely in one position and they would find it with its arms crossed or legs moved. This went on for some time and after a while the doll became more active. It would change rooms. Once, they even found the doll kneeling. This is a position that is impossible for a raggedy anne doll on its own.

Over time the doll began to leave messages. The messages were left in pencil on parchment paper. The women had never owned parchment paper so its origin was as mysterious as the messages themselves. The notes usually said "help us" or "help lou". The women began rigging the apartment to check for intruders. They thought that maybe someone was tricking them, but there was no evidence of break ins. One night they came home to find blood on the doll's hand.

Finally, the women contacted a medium to talk to the doll. The doll said that she was a little girl who had died on the property who was lonely. After this, the women contacted paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens believed the story about the little girl was trickery to gain sympathy and that Annabelle was really possessed by a demon. This belief was confirmed when Angie's boyfriend was attacked physically by some unseen spirit in the apartment. The attack left a series of deep marks on Lou's chest.

After this, a priest was called in to do an exorcism. The exorcism seemed to work and the Warren's offered to take Annabelle home with them. On the way home, Annabelle caused the car to veer off the road almost killing the Warrens. The Warrens dosed the doll in Holly Water and the activity stopped for a time. Soon after, Annabelle began to be active in the Warrens' home and they had to move her to their Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. They keep a website that documents their experiences with Annabelle at http://www.edandlorrainwarren.com/. The doll has remained active since its placement in the museum and is even thought to be responsible for some deaths since that time.  Below you'll see the real Annabelle as compared to the demented looking doll they used in the movie.