GHOSTVILLAGE.COM NEWSLETTER #124 - February 17, 2011

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Dear Ghostvillagers,

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about Dr. Duncan MacDougall. Dr. MacDougall was from Haverhill, Massachusetts; he was not only a man of medicine, but a spiritual man too. He believed he could prove that humans had a soul by weighing a person as they expire to see if there is a difference in weight before and after death. In 1901, the doctor convinced six patients who were dying of tuberculosis to allow him to put their bodies on a special bed attached to a sensitive weight when they were close to passing. He would then see if some weight was lost when these people exhaled their last breath. He figured 21 grams was the average amount of weight that a person lost as they died. To MacDougall, this was proof that the human soul existed, it had weight, and it left when a person died.

To test his theory, Dr. MacDougall euthanized 15 dogs while they were on his scales and noticed the dogs had no loss of weight upon death. To him, this proved that humans have a soul or spirit and animals do not. Dr. MacDougall’s tests have been criticized as being both unscientific and unethical and few give much credence to his findings. However, the reason I keep thinking about the doctor and his tests is because I have presented the story of Dr. MacDougall in front of a few lecture audiences recently and I notice the collective groan when I mention the dogs and them not having a spirit.

Ghostvillage.com is filled with many accounts from people who have experienced the ghost of their beloved pet. Others have claimed to hear phantom footfalls of ghostly horses, and legends are filled with many different tales of animal spirits coming back to interact with our world. It makes me question: what is a ghost? Is a ghost the spirit or essence of a living thing that pays a visit? Or is it a living person’s memory manifested into some sort of reality such as a semi-translucent figure that we recognize as our lost loved one? These are the kinds of things that keep me up at night. I invite you to stay up late with me as we explore animal ghosts this month!

As some of you may know, I’m working on a new project involving slips in time. Have you been somewhere and then saw an entire out-of-place scene? Not just a “ghost” out-of-place. I mean an entire layout such as a building, land, and even animals. Like a battlefield from the past, or a house filled with people. An event like this one (http://www.ghostvillage.com/encounters/2003/06162003.shtml) posted several years ago on Ghostvillage.com. Did you interact with anyone from that past or future? If so, I’d like to hear from you! Please get in touch. Something weird is going on and I want in!

A quick reminder to Ghost Adventures fans that all-new season 6 starts Friday, March 9th on the Travel Channel. Be sure to watch! I make a few appearances in some of the episodes this season. And if you can’t get enough paranormal and the just plain weird, be sure to check out my talk show, 30 Odd Minutes (www.30oddminutes.com)! We’re doing some great stuff over there in the Mother Ship. And finally, be sure to join me and tons of other people interested in the paranormal next month in Gettysburg at Phenomenology 104!

Enjoy the rest of the newsletter below.

Supernaturally yours,

Jeff Belanger
Mayor of Ghostvillage.com

Twitter: @THEJeffBelanger
Facebook: Jeff Belanger
YouTube: www.youtube.com/legendtripping




Jeff Belanger's Upcoming Events
This is the place to find out where author and Ghostvillage.com founder Jeff Belanger will be speaking on the subject of the paranormal. If you're interested in booking Jeff for a conference or other event, please visit: http://www.jeffbelanger.com/lectures.shtml for more information.

Events Scheduled:

Dead of Winter Event 2012 - Lizzie Borden House - Fall River, Massachusetts - February 25, 2012
Phenomenology 104 - Parapalooza - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - March 22 - 25, 2012
Repeat Offender Event at Mansfield Reformatory - Darkness Radio - Mansfield, Ohio - March 29 - April 1, 2012
Graveyard Shift at the Slater Mill - Pawtucket, Rhode Island - April 21, 2012
Ghosts and Hauntings with Jeff Belanger - Mystical Parlors - South Norwalk, Connecticut - April 28, 2012, 6:00PM
A Supernatural Evening with Jeff Belanger - Groton Public Library - Groton, Massachusetts - June 21, 2012, 7:00PM
A Supernatural Evening with Jeff Belanger - Mystical Parlors - South Norwalk, Connecticut - October 27, 2012, 6:00PM



Graveyard Shift at Slater Mill
Join us Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the haunted Slater Mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

The creepy giggling of a little girl. The horrible shouts of a young boy in pain. Shadowy figures seen roaming about the grounds.

All in a day's work at Slater Mill.

For more than 200 years, Slater Mill has sat on the banks of the Blackstone River. It was built in 1793 by Samuel Slater and was the first successful water-powered, cotton-spinning mill in North America. It is considered by many to be the birthplace of American industry.

It's also one of its most tragic haunts... Join us for a dinner, lectures, and hours of investigating! Click here for more information: http://www.legendtrips.com/slatermill2012.shtml





Monthly Contest
Congratulations to Diane Vella of Westfield, Massachusetts, who was the December winner of an autographed copy of Jeff Belanger's latest book, The World's Most Haunted Places, Revised Edition and a Ghostvillage.com window sticker!

How to win: Entries will be accepted up until 5:00 PM (eastern time) tomorrow (February 18, 2012). At 5:00 PM, we will draw a winner at random from the correct entries that have been received. You no longer have to be the first, but you only have until 5:00 PM to get your answer in. If you click on this link: http://www.ghostvillage.com/index.shtml#winner, you see today's date, and "We have a winner!" that means the contest has ended. Sorry, please try again next month. To submit your entry, simply reply to this email with the correct answer.

On to this month's question: This question can be answered by reading a page on Ghostvillage.com. Remember, reply by 5:00 PM tomorrow to be eligible to win.

According to April Slaughter, who discovered IADC therapy?

At 5:00 PM tomorrow, we will announce the winner on our home page. Good luck! (Only Ghostvillagers who have not won a prize from us in the last year are eligible.)

This month's prize: We're giving away an autographed copy of Jeff Belanger's book, Encyclopedia of Haunted Places, Second Edition and a Ghostvillage.com window sticker!


Didn't win? Want to buy a copy? Click on the graphic.



Haunted Hats 100% Hand-Made by Jeff Belanger's Mom!
Jeff's mom is crafty! These "Haunted Hats" are hand crocheted by mom, the black flower features a ghostly button that makes the look perfect for you ghost-hunting ladies looking to keep warm and cute. One size fits all (except really tiny heads). The hat is made from 100% acrylic yarn that is machine washable and dryable.

Doesn't Sarah from 30 Odd Minutes look awesome in her Haunted Hat? Click here to check them out: http://www.jeffbelanger.com/hauntedhats.php





Who's Who in the Village?
Get to know some of your fellow Ghostvillagers.

>>barb_s13<< - member since August 29, 2010

What is your name?
My name is Barbara Ann Wright – Wright’s my married name. My maiden name is Dickerson, which was cool, because my initials used to be B.A.D. Now they’re B.A.W., which isn’t quite as cool.

How old are you?
You had to ask that, didn’t you! I’m older than dirt – seriously, I turned 57 in November, however, I don’t act or look my age, or so I’m told. I never have; in fact, I was “carded” up to the age of 40. I remember that night clearly, because it was my 40th birthday and I wanted to give that bartender a big thank-you hug!

Where do you live?
I live in Kingston, Massachusetts, with my husband, Al; our two youngest sons, both in college, Brian and Dan; and a menagerie, including a bratty cockatiel named “Eddy,” a large land hermit crab we call “Crabby Patty,” a little white Bichon Bolognese dog, “Malcolm” and several turtles. Kingston is one town north of Plymouth, “America’s Hometown,” and the entire area just reeks of history. Not only that, it’s close to the Bridgewater Triangle area, which is our paranormal group’s primary focus of interest.

What do you do for a living?
I’m a lifelong, published writer – writing is my life’s work and truly my passion. Right now, I’m working on a mystery suspense novel, but to pay the bills, I’m doing technical writing and editing. Over the years, I’ve had many careers, ranging from veterinary technician to semi-professional clown. I’m also a Vietnam era veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy as an aerial intelligence administrator at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

What got you interested in the paranormal? Did you have a personal experience?
Yes, I’ve had several paranormal experiences. But, I have to say I didn’t find the paranormal; it found me. The very first paranormal experience I remember having was when I was about 13 and I stayed with my grandmother a short time after we lost my grandfather. I woke up with a start, in the middle of the night to find my grandfather standing in the doorway staring at my grandmother. Her bed was directly facing the bedroom door. It was as if he didn’t see me in the room. I rubbed my eyes and pinched myself to make certain I was awake, but he just kept standing and staring at the doorway. Not having a clue as to what to do, I just went back to sleep; it really didn’t even phase me. I didn’t tell anyone about it until recently.

I think I’m what some people call a “sensitive,” because when we go on investigations, I am the one that tends to be poked, pushed and touched by the unseen, which is fine by me! I have many personal experiences to share, trust me! It seems like entities really like me. Maybe it’s because I’m really short (only 5’ 2”) and therefore more approachable.

What’s your favorite TV show right now?
Right now, my favorite TV show is The Voice. All four judges are so talented and kind. They just want to mentor other musicians who are struggling to be discovered. The talent you see on that show is mindboggling, the music is amazing and it’s uplifting.



Features
Our "Features" section is a place for editorials, research articles, open letters to our readers, and other content of interest to Ghostvillagers. If you have a topic on your mind, agree or disagree with something you read recently, we want to hear from you! For guidelines, click here.

New features added since our last newsletter:

The Rise and Fall of the Nephilim with Scott Roberts February 14, 2012 [VIDEO]
Induced After Death Therapy: An Interview With April Slaughter February 2, 2012
The Ghosts of Ohio with John Kachuba January 31, 2012 [VIDEO]
Pendulum Dowsing Study January 25, 2012
Ghost Research: Science or Spiritual? With Dustin Pari January 24, 2012 [VIDEO]



Recent Encounters
We receive personal encounters from all over the world. Many are scary, some are touching, but they are always profound. If you would like to share your own experience, please click >>here<<. Since our last newsletter, we added the following new encounters:

Spectral Roommate - Boston, Massachusetts
Dancing Ghosts - Union, New Jersey
Visit From An Irish Grandmother - Belfast, Northern Ireland
Haunted Desert Home - Lancaster, California
Tall Shadow Figure - Saratoga Springs, New York



News
This is the place to find news items on paranormal happenings around the world. If you have a news item you'd like to submit, please see our guidelines.

This month's headlines:
Kids won't hear from ghost-hunters
North Platte Telegraph North Platte, Nebraska - January 27, 2012
[EXTERNAL NEWS]
Man arrested for punching his wife tells police: A ghost did it The Mirror Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin - January 25, 2012 [EXTERNAL NEWS]
Obituary: Dr. William G. Roll Parapsychological Association Villa Rica, Georgia - December 30, 2011 [EXTERNAL NEWS]

WANT THESE HEADLINES ON YOUR SITE FOR FREE? Syndicate our news! If you have a Web site or blog, you can syndicate our news feeds to your site for free. Join the growing list of Web sites who carry our news by visiting our syndication page.



Hot Threads and the Ghostvillage.com Community
In the past month, hundreds of new people registered for free to join our supernatural discussion! Have you?

If you have registered for our message boards but haven't validated your account yet, it's simple to do! Look for the email that was automatically sent to you when you registered and click on the account activation link in the email (note: some bulkmail filters may block this email, so you'll need to check your bulkmail folder if the validation email didn't immediately come through). There are always great discussions going on in our huge message board community. We hope you'll get involved. It's free to register if you're not already a member. Here are some of the hot topics this month:

Skeptics
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=28902
As a Skeptic, what would it take to change your mind?

Personal Encounters
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=32387
Wife's encounter - brief posession.

Spirit Communications
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=32336
Ouija Board Sessions: an experiment.

General Board
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=32502
Ghost trains of the Union Pacific.

Religion and Spirituality
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=32430
The Left Door - is it bad judgment?

Spirit Communications
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=32422
Spirit Boxes - what are they?

Evidence Alley
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=32578
What caused the camera to move?


Board of the Month -- Animal Ghosts
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showforum=27
Do animals have a spirit? Can they haunt us? Let's discuss!


Ghostvillage.com Advertising Opportunities
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If you're ready to put Ghostvillage.com to work for your company or organization, send us an email to get started.


Ghostvillage.com Quick Stats:
319,700 Posts in the Town Square Message Boards
29,747 Members in the Town Square
1,078 "Personal Encounters" published on Ghostvillage.com
1,755 Paranormal Web sites in the Ghost Links directory
37,626 Subscribers to this newsletter
3,853,228 Total Web site "hits" for Ghostvillage.com in January


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