Author: Laptop

The Paranormal Press
The Official Newsletter of the Northwest Indiana Ghost Trackers

Volume 2, Issue 8

AUGUST 2006

Inside This Issue

IGT News	1
Deadlines / (Headlines)	1
The Viewing Room / (Picture of the Month)	2
What’s on Slab / (Upcoming Events)	3
Gravesites / (Websites)	3
Self-Promotion / (Halloween Party)	4
IGTU / (Technology)	5
The Screaming Room / (Entertainment)	5

Newsletter Creator
and Creatrix
Chris & Jennifer
Mojica

IGT NEWS

WELCOME!
Lots of new faces appeared at July’s meeting. Welcome to those of you who decided to no longer be guests and have joined IGT as members!!
BRAIN STORMING
October Fundraiser Ideas:
Ghost tours, Overniters...
Fall Activity Member Nites:
Hayrides, Haunted Houses, Bonfires (Ghost stories), Supernatural Cruise
Thank You!!
To all VOLUNTEERS who worked the Porter County Fair booth!! This could not be accomplished without souls like you!
NWI TRAINING
101 & 102 Training day in mid-August. See Mary Shea, NW Trainer, and keep an eye on the Forums.
NWI STATE TRAINING
Statewide Training will be held by Northwest this fall—Watch Forum board for details
LOCKED IN
Exclusive over night at the Valparaiso Jail Museum Aug. 4th

DEADLINES

Professor Researches Paranormal Media Effects on Viewing Public
Source: The Exponent

Glenn Sparks picked a good time to start thinking about ghosts.
With the increasing number of paranormal shows dotting the new season's TV line-up, public interest in the paranormal is steadily rising.
Since the early 1990s, Sparks, a professor of communication, has been researching how the media affects the public's belief in the paranormal.
"I had done a number of studies early in my career on the effects of frightening movies on emotional reactions that children had. I was interested in the sorts of things that scared children in the media at different points in their development and what parents could do to help children who were scared," said Sparks.
Sparks noticed most of the programming, which caused the frightened reactions, were shows that involved ghosts, aliens and other similar programming. Around the same time, Sparks noticed an increase in paranormal programming.
"I've always been interested in how media affects what people believe. I just became interested in how (paranormal) depictions were being framed and what their effects might be on the viewing public," said Sparks.
Sparks said he has done about seven studies on the subject and is looking forward to starting his next project. Sparks' next research project will be studying ghosts, particularly how the media depicts ghosts and how that affects what people believe.
"Ghosts are very commonly represented in the media," said Sparks. "Ghosts and psychics are two that I would like to look at."
He has found that a large percentage of the public admits to believing in ghosts or have not decided whether or not they believe in ghosts. He would also like to look at whether or not a person's prior belief in ghosts can predict the emotional reaction a person might have to a movie about ghosts.
"(Researching the paranormal) has opened up so many different realms of exploration," Sparks said. "As a result, I've become familiar with a lot of the skeptical societies out there and their publications."
The magazine Sparks enjoys the most is the Skeptical Inquirer, which is published by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.
Benjamin Radford, managing editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, said the paranormal stories the media present is just a reflection of what the public is interested in.
"The amount someone believes in the paranormal more or less goes up and down," said Radford. "Paranormal shows have always stayed around because there is always an interest in what's out there."
Sparks hopes his research will help to advance theory and understanding about media effects on the public. He thinks the research could help to sensitize people to their own beliefs about the world and the role media plays in helping to influence those beliefs.
"It is important to be able to evaluate evidence for or against a claim as students," said Sparks. "As a culture, if we're not able to discriminate between what's true and false we're in trouble."

Volume 2, Issue 8

Page #

THE VIEWING ROOM

Over the decades there have been some extremely compelling and convincing evidence of the paranormal. From photographs showing mists and orbs to blood curdling EVP’s. The evidence is compelling and further supports the theory that spirits are among us. However, there is one piece of evidence that truly raises the brow of society. It is considered the holy grail of ghost hunting. That evidence is the photograph of a full-figure apparition.
Orbs and mists are easily disputed and are usually considered inconclusive because of the various possibilities of their origin. Full-figure apparitions leave very little question about the validity of spirits and ghost-hunting.
To conclude last month’s article on the most famous ghost pictures ever taken, here are a few of the most famous pictures of spirits captured on film. They have been studied and all are considered original and authentic pictures.
6) Baby Ghost, Queensland Australia, 1947
Mrs. Andrew captured this apparition while taking a picture of her 17 yr.-old daughter’s grave. She remembers that she was alone that day and doesn't even recognize the child in the picture. Notice the image of the child is transparent.
7) Tulip Staircase Ghost, Greenwich, England, 1966
While visiting the National Maritime Museum, Rev. Ralph Hardy caught this apparition on film as he photographed the beautiful “Tulip Spiral Staircase” located in the Queen’s House section of the museum.
8) Girl on Grave, Bachelor’s Grove, Chicago, 1991
Taken by Ghost Research Society member Jude Huff-Felz, this photo shows a young lady dressed in period clothing sitting on a tombstone. The photo was taken (using an infrared camera) when some unusual things were occurring in that area.
9) Back Seat Ghost, 1959
While visiting the grave of her deceased mother, Mrs. Mabel Chinnery snapped this picture of her husband as he waited in the car alone? It appears that Mabel’s mother may have tired of the cemetery and was hitching a ride home.
10) Ghost in the Loft, St. Botolph’s Church, London, 1982
Taken by Chris Brackley, this photograph shows a figure in period clothing high up in the church’s loft glaring down below.

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Volume 2, Issue 8

Page #

WHAT’S ON SLAB

AUGUST

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
		1	2	3 Lake Co. Fair Begins	Jail / Overnite	5 NWI / Meeting
6	7	8	Full / Moon	10	11	12
13 Lake Co. Fair Ends	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	INDY / Statewide / Training
27	28	29	30	31

Notes:
Meeting Location: Langel’s Pizza, Highland - Time: 4-6:30 - Pizza, Salad and Pop for $10 per person

www.goddessgift.com
Celebrate & nurture the goddess in
every woman
www.hauntedattraction.com
Online magazine
www.hauntedravensgrin.com
Mt. Carroll, Illinois, haunted house
tour
www.rootsweb.com/~asylums
America’s historic asylums, county homes, state
& medical hospitals

GRAVESITES

August 1st is only 91 Days til
Halloween!!!

INDIANA GHOST TRACKERS
Presents

The 5th Annual
ALL HALLOW’s EVE
BALL

DJ & Live
Music!

Costume
Contest!

Located in the “haunted” old courthouse

$$Cash Bar$$

Saturday, October 28th, 2006
8pm-1am
$10/Person 21 and up
220 South Main Street, Crown Point
The Hall of Justice
For more info: www.indianaghosts.org

We’re dying to meet you!

“Do not Fear death so much, but rather an inadequate life.”
Bertolt Brecht, The Mother,1932

Quote of the Month

Last month, India authorities in New Delhi were called out to investigate reports made by farmer Sunil Das. He alleges that his neighbors are using ghosts controlled by black magic to steal his chickens and mentally and physically torture him at night. The investigation continues.

Eerie Fact

OFFICERS

Northwest

Director
Denise Williams
Secretary
Jen Jacob
Treasurer
Michelle Walavich
Public Relations
Wendy Deiotte
Trainer
Mary Shea

Volume 2, Issue 8 Page 5

IGTU

High-Speed Camera May Serve Dual Purpose

Snapping 5,000 frames per second, a high-speed camera has captured the best images ever of elusive sprites, flashes of light associated with intense thunderstorms.
The findings, published by Steven Cummer of Duke University and his team in a recent online edition of Geophysical Research Letters, show how sprites develop.
They could also help scientists get a better handle on the chemical make- up of the upper atmosphere, a region that is too high to analyze with planes and too low for satellites.
"They substantially improved the time resolution of the observation of sprite events," said Victor Pasko, associate professor of electrical engineering at the Pennsylvania State University.
"That immediately brought some very interesting results in comparison to previous studies," said Pasko, who is not involved in the research.
To date, the fastest images ever taken of sprites have been at a speed of 1,000 frames per second. From those and previous studies, scientists had some insights into these so-called transient luminous events that burst and fade out faster than the blink of a human eye.

Could this be a photograph of an active spirit?

SCREAMING ROOM

Incoming!
With the release of several supernatural-themed feature films this summer, Hollywood has no plans on slowing down the paranormal/horror gravy train anytime soon. The offerings continue with two soon to be released films and one pre-production feature.
(Dates and information are subject to change)
The Illusionist, PG-13
Release Date: 8/16/06
Master Magician Eisenheim (Edward Norton) has become Vienna’s latest sensation. The pompous Crown Prince, jealous of all the attention being given to the mysterious trickster, tries to expose his secrets with help from the Chief Inspector (Paul Giamatti) and his very own love interest Sophie (Jessica Biel). But are his tricks only an illusion or are they something much more??!!
The Reaping, Rating: N/A
Release Date: 11/08/06
After a tragic accident takes the lives of her family, a missionary (Hillary Swank) now has devoted her life to disproving miracles. While investigating unusual plagues of biblical proportions, she realizes the only way to save a small Louisiana town is to battle it with the faith she once had.
Igor, Rating:N/A
Release Date: N/A
A mad scientist’s assistant has dreams of one day becoming a brilliant scientist in his own right by winning the Grand Prize at the Evil Genius Science Fair. Christian Slater, Steve Buscemi and John Cleese have been announced to voice characters in this animated feature.

E-mail submissions for The Paranormal Press to: paranormalpress@hotmail.com

Paranormal Press

It’s been over 10 years since The Nightmare Before Christmas was released and for Tim Burton fans it’s been 10 years too long since we have been blessed with one of his dark fantasy stop animation film. The Corpse Bride, now playing, is based on an old Russian fairytale about a

http://playtonium.com/g.php?g=halloween
(knock over ghosts & ghouls; if you dare!)
www.oakalleyplantation.com
(haunted Louisiana)
www.hauntedvoices.com
(EVP, articles)
www.frightshop.com
(Halloween supplies)
www.wicca.com
(self explanatory)
www.halloween-website.com
(history, recipes, party ideas)

CREATURE FEATURE

Volume 1, Issue 4

(Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed here are strictly of this film school graduate and should in no way be taken to heart.
Don’t take my word for it, see it for yourself!)

Volume 1, Issue 6