Friday, April 11, 2008

Spookatorium 023

Episode 23 has arrived... tin foil hats are optional but fashionable. This time we take a peek at the life of Thomas Dyott. Dyott amassed a sizeable fortune selling patent medicines under such tantalizing names as Roberton's Infallible Worm Destroying Lozenges & Vegetable Nervous Cordial. The fortune was sizeable enough to enable him to build a “utopian” village, called Dyottville (what else?) that coincidently allowed him to skirt labor laws to perpetuate his business.

From there we peek behind the curtain of opportunist psychiatry and look at the phenomenon of Spirit Release, the process of psychiatric exorcism. In fairness to the recent stories I’ve done on the exorcism/possession upswing (here’s another one), I thought we’d look at some charlatans of a different color. As well as a brief overview we look at the case of Askinra, a spirit that reportedly tormented a man who was possessed by the spirit when he was murdered in a past life.

Finally we look at the Mormon theory that bigfoot is actually the earthly incarnation of the biblical Cain. It is accepted among some within the church that bigfoot is in fact the doomed Cain milling about the earth as penance for the murder of his brother forever wracked with misery and virtually immortal.

Music this time supplied by…

HARVESTMAN (1:05)
BAD SECTOR (4:38)
HOLLENFURT (8:24)
GARMONBOZIA (17:35)
BELBORN (20:48)
FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY (23:44)
IMPETIGO(28:50)
LAMENT CONFIGURATION (40:19)
GOLIAH (44:16)
SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE (47:58)
BETHLEHEM (55:35)
DIE VERBANNTEN KINDER EVAS (60:36)
GAURITHOTH (63:23)
RUHR HUNTER (67:54)

With background accompaniment from
HYBRYDS

Professor Gruntsplatter's Spookatorium 023

That’s it until next time…

Prof. Gruntsplatter

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Spookatorium 022

Episode 22 is upon us, this go around we examine numerous instances of a aural phenomenon described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead as the sound of the soul separating from the body. Buzzing and grinding sounds that build to a crescendo have been associated with everything from Near Death Experiences, Shamanic Rituals, Old Hag Syndrome and other forms of transcendent consciousness. An excellent article, called “Her Sweet Murmur” by Greg Taylor (which you can read if you click the link there) from the collection Dark Lore Vol. 1 summarizes these connections and we take a look at this one component of the article which goes further into exploring some additional sounds.

Then we travel to Ohio to review the story of the Loveland Frog. A 3-4 foot bipedal frog like creature allegedly spotted on the back roads around Loveland, Ohio in 1955 and 1972. While evidence is limited to eye witness testimony and there are reports that at least some of it may have been exaggerated or hoaxed it remains one of my favorite crypto tales.

Finally we take a look at the discredited work of Dr. Johann Beringer. He believed in the early 1700’s that fossils were in fact cast off ideas carved by the hand of God. His collection grew to encompass bizarre specimens like birds with fish heads, and even stones that bore the name of God.

It was later revealed he was duped by colleagues and they were all forgeries, but not until Beringer had published his work. Humiliated, he supposedly spent his remaining days and fortune trying to buy back copies of his book, Lithographia Wirceburgensis, which you can view through the link. His story is perhaps a cautionary tale for those Intelligent Design fans out there. The video is a little dramatization documentary of the events surrounding Beringer’s rise and fall.

The sounds this time around are supplied by…

CHAOS AS SHELTER (1:05)
WYRD (4:36)
NOVY SVET (9:53)
SISTRENATUS (25:31)
BODY CHOKE (28:25)
NEW MIND (32:18)
MOTH MASQUE (36:38)
BACKWORLD (45:19)
AGNES BERNELLE (49:55)
KHOLD (53:28)
SKINNY PUPPY (60:15)
BRUTAL TRUTH (63:55)
CAUL (66:45)
NEFILIM (70:19)

With background accompaniment from
BURZUM & NOCTURNAL EMISSIONS

Professor Gruntsplatter's Spookatorium 022

Thanks as always for tuning in... and congrats to Aspen, the winner of the Blood of the Black Owl "S/T" CD in our first drawing.

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

March of the Shadow Gnome

The Sun in the UK has a report from General Geumes, Argentina indicating the town is being visited, and intimidated by a mysterious "gnome." Additionally, this devious little fellow was captured on video, unfortunately it's not available for embedding.

Jose Alvarez who shot the cell phone video had this to say... "One of my friends was so scared after seeing that thing that we had to take him to the hospital.”

I will try and keep an eye out for follow ups on this. Pretty awesome story, true or not, and the video is a great addition to what will no doubt become a legend with some legs in the area.

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Friday, March 07, 2008

They Came For the Mayor

Ken Williams (aka Don LaRose) was the mayor of Centerton, Arkansas for 6 years until this March 5th when he resigned. His reason for resigning - 30 years ago he believes he was abducted and brainwashed by Satanists. He claims he was not aware of his tormented past until he recently was injected with a "truth serum."

This "truth serum", which is unnamed in the article, caused these memories to come rushing back, and he realized he had a wife and two kids in his previous life as Don LaRose. Williams said he left his wife and kids to protect them from the Satanists and changed his name and started a new life.

The ReligionNews Blog details the story further, their take is slightly different and fills in some of the back story. LaRose became Pastor of a Hessville Baptist church in 1978. At some point he told his parishioners that he was abducted by a cult in in Maine, New York back in 1975 for "blaspheming Satan". He says they gave him multiple shock treatments to erase his memory and took him from Maine to Minneapolis and dumped him off. In 1980 he began acting strangely and telling people the Satanists were after him again for criticizing cults. He claims to have seen one of the Satanists through the window of the church while delivering a sermon, no one present at the sermon saw anyone suspicious. The next day LaRose did a runner and disappeared.

He floated around for a few years before settling in Arkansas, and ultimately wound up a multi term mayor in Centerton under his new identity, and identity he stole from a man who died in 1958.

LaRose/Williams apparently now claims, at least to some media, it was an underworld crime organization rather than a Satanic cult that was or is after him. He is quoted here as saying that he lived in fear of being found out ever since, and now that he's been outed feels he may be in danger again. This suggests he didn't need the "truth serum" to recall any of this and his Grandson isn't buying the tale at all.

Here's a peek at "Satanic Panic: The Creation Of A Contemporary Legend" on GoogleBooks if you are unaware of the of the Satanic Panic movement. A more concise summary can be seen here courtesy of the Skeptics Dictionary. The media space this idea consumed in the 80's really was absurd. Geraldo Riveria pretty much built a career off of it as well as numerous moth like pop-psychologists drawn to the fictional satanic flame. There was never any evidence uncovered that organized and violent Satanic Cults existed.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Spookatorium 021

Welcome gawkers to episode 21 of the show! This episode we examine the Jewish ritual of Kapparot - the transfer of sins into the body of a chicken and the sacrifice of the chicken prior to Yom Kippur... as well as recent performance of it in New York and the aftermath left behind. I’ve also included a short PETA video here in the notes to further give you an idea of what we are talking about. I also juxtapose this with a sensational article from the Sioux City Journal regarding a reported ritual killing.

Following this we look at the hoax of the Jenny Haniver. Oddly named this crytpotaxidermy beast constructed from dried, rays, skates and cuttlefish has been passed off as a bona fide monster since the 16th Century, and continues to be despite widely being dubbed a hoax from early on. You can buy one right here.

Finally a look at the fascinating Charles Bonnet Syndrome. The condition in which those with failing vision find their lives interrupted by elaborate hallucinations. I hadn't heard of this until reading a great piece in the book Dark Lore Vol. 1 which I would recommend.

In addition this time we are having a little drawing from which the winner will receive a copy of Blood of the Black Owl's self titled record on Bindrune Recordings. Details are in the show...

Music this time from the likes of...

BLIXA BARGELD (1:05)
CARPATHIAN FOREST (5:00)
TULUS (10:45)
THE ACCUSED (26:33)
HARMONY GARDEN (28:55)
MALHAVOC (32:51)
DARKTHRONE (37:14)
BABYLAND (43:23)
SUBTERANNEAN MASQUERADE (46:56)
EMBER (52:45)
DESSAU (54:57)
COIL (65:17)
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (71:15)
NEVER PRESENCE FOREVER (76:25)

With background accompaniment from
DEL

Professor Gruntsplatter's Spookatorium 021


That is it this time, leave a comment or drop an email ya ingrates.

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Beezlebufo & It's Not Necessary Being Green

The Associated Press sent out a story that has made the rounds of news outlets today about the discovery of the bones of a giant prehistoric toad in Madagascar. Nicknamed the "Devil Toad" or Beelzebufo, it weighed in excess of 10 pounds, the largest current living frog the Goliath Frog can get up to about 7 pounds. It is believed the Devil Toad was capable of taking down small dinosaurs. Also of interest is the similarity between the the Beezlebufo and current toads in South America on the other side of the world. It's led to renewed speculation about prehistoric geography.

While I'm here, here's an older story I have been holding onto for awhile. Back in September it was announced that Japanese scientists had created a transparent frog. Their reasoning for prompting the transparency mutation was so that the organs would be visible without dissection for educational purposes and general coolness. Professor Masayuki Sumida whose team bred the frogs has hopes that with further experimentation they will be able to create a frog that will glow when it develops cancer. Sumida plans to patent the transparent frog technology.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Devil May Care

Here are some additional pieces to follow up on the stories in the last podcast regarding possession and exorcism.

The latest exorcism death comes to us from Texas where a 60 year old man killed his 59 year old wife. His claim is that he was attempting to perform an exorcism when the devil entered HIS body and the devil killed her. He told the police he was pinning her face down on the carpet when she died. When the police arrived he'd wrapped the body in the a sheet and placed a cross and a sword on the body. I haven't seen any reports on the autopsy yet in regards to what actually killed her, suffocation sounds like a real possibility. Hubby was charged with murder. I believe this was the 4th exorcism death I have seen a report on in the last month.

The other part of the story from the show was in regard to the Catholic Church and their renewed focus on exorcism and satanic fear mongering. This story from the BBC struck my curiosity... during the reign of Pope John Paul II enrollment in the religious orders fell 25%, and just between 2005 and 2006 it dropped an additional 10%. So, the ranks and influence of the Church and its full time adherents seems to be hemorrhaging and has been for sometime. It could be suggested that the Vatican may be trying to spice up the prospect of a life within the Church. In this day and age with the knowledge we have of science, the evolution of myth and archetypes, with the politicization of religion and zealotry on the upswing in some circles the Catholic Church doesn't have the presence it once had. They are seeking the resurrection of the bogeyman.

Additionally, the Washington Post picked up the story on the possession treatment center in Poland we covered in the last show. Here's their piece on that one. There is a bit more detail in this one than the originally translated Polish article I mentioned, and it offers a bit of a larger picture.

Rev. Amorth, who is considered the "Exorcist In Chief" for the Vatican says, "People don't pray anymore, they don't go to church, they don't go to confession. The devil has an easy time of it," Amorth said in an interview. "There's a lot more devil worship, people interested in satanic things and seances, and less in Jesus."

According to Rev. Jankowski, one of the folks working at the center those at risk include "
include people who turn away from the church and embrace New Age therapies, alternative religions or the occult. Internet addicts and yoga devotees are also at risk."

Yoga is potentially Satanic, but raping children isn't on their list for some reason. However a woman who was seeking a divorce and began to hate her husband is most likely possessed as the story linked indicates.

They are resurrecting the bogeyman to validate themselves. This message is filtering down to those who... don't have a real good sense of discretion, and as I said this is the 4th exorcism death I have seen in a month.

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Spookatorium 020

Greetings once again, episode 20 is now up for your consumption. It is nice to reach the 20 show landmark.

This time we take a look at a rise in reports of possession, exorcisms and the mark of the beast in the news, and some things the Catholic church are doing to that end, including a treatment center for demonic possession being built in Poland.

Next up we take a look at the legacy of John “Goat Gland” Brinkley. Brinkley was a medical huckster that made a fortune off the idea that goat testicles were an excellent cure for virility issues. He became a multi millionaire during the Great Depression peddling this idea, and even made a couple failed attempts at the Governorship of Kansas.

Finally, we look at George Daynor’s Palace of Depression in New Jersey. It’s tale of determination built from scraps in a swampy auto graveyard that became a monument to perseverance and hard work during the Great Depression. Its eccentric creator however ended up in a paupers grave, the victim of his own ambition and promotional vision.

The sounds this time around are supplied by…

BIG BLACK (1:05)
CAZZODIO (3:19)
DOUBTING THOMAS (7:07)
BLACKHOUSE (21:14)
FUNERAL DINER (23:06)
DEINONYCHUS (26:16)
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN (30:00)
IMPALED NAZARENE (41:51)
16 VOLT (45:25)
HAGALAZ RUNEDANCE (49:40)
BLACK FLAG (58:33)
PINE TREE STATE MIND CONTROL (61:38)
DIVINUS BAAL & RUNA (64:23)
NEUROSIS (68:06)

With background accompaniment from
NECROPHORUS
HOLLOW EARTH

Thanks again as always for tuning in, if you have anything to say or any good stories to share feel free to leave a comment or send over an email.

Professor Gruntsplatter's Spookatorium 020

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Thursday, January 17, 2008

This one goes to 11:11

A couple days ago my better half pointed at the clock on the stove and said "I always seem to look at the clock when it's 11:11." We talked for a minute about numbers that appear repeatedly in life and how it can reach the point of strangeness, and that was that. Today I discovered the "Beyond Reality Radio Show" which is a paranormal show hosted by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of TAPS fame. The episode I listened to they were interviewing Uri Geller, and someone called in to to ask his opinion on the "1111" phenomenon.

A phenomenon was news to me... There is actually a fair amount of material on this out there and I am surprised I haven't seen any of it before. Geller has an article on his site about it which you can check out. He seems to focus simply on the number 11, more than anything, and takes ample opportunity to make points about September 11th that seem completely out of place. He does include a few numerology equations as well, some of which seem to have more relevance than others, but this part of the article I found somewhat interesting...

"If you multiply 1111 by 1111 you get 1234321, representing a pyramid, and number 11 is a sacred number of the pyramid with the proportions of the great pyramid being of the ratio 7:11. Eleven is also a number harmonious with Pi. Therefore, it seems that number eleven is of central importance in understanding the mathematical infrastructure of the universe." - Uri Geller

His is certainly not the only interpretation though, there are those that link it to the Mayan Calendar and the prophetic speculation linked to 2012. It is at 11:11 Universal or Greenwich Mean Time depending on the report that the calendar ceases on 12/21/12. Here's a sensationalistic video to illustrate that point of view.



There are also those that associate it with a portal between "duality and oneness" as a pathway to a different level of consciousness and evolutionary path. Other's point to it as a meditation path and a time of day for collective prayer, which is explained in this interview...



Still others associate it with passages from the bible, like Revelations 11:11.

"And after three days and an half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them." - Revelations 11:11

I've also seen comparisons drawn to Daniel 11:11 and this video illustrates that portion of the Bible with lots of gory effects and rotten corpses...

"And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand. " Daniel 11:11



So there is a mess of information out there related to 11:11, but no definitive explanation or even real common ground has been found to explain the prevalence the number seems to have in so many peoples lives.

Prof. Gruntsplatter

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Spookatorium 019

Episode 19 is now up, this time out we take a look at an alleged forbidden tome called Oriuagor, and the superstitions and warnings associated with reading the work. We also look at the very real likelihood that it’s all a marketing hoax.

Next we review the life and death of Anna Goldi who was immortalized as “The Last Witch of Europe” after her execution 1782 on bogus allegations of witchery in a small Swiss town.

Lastly, we look into two fabled giant serpents, the Lindorm in Scandinavia, and the Tatzelwurm reported to live in the Alps throughout Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland. For a comprehensive look at the Tatzelwurm evidence and lore check out the feature over at Cryptomundo.com.

The sounds this time around are supplied by…

NAIANDRA MURIATICA
ECONOCON
KAPO!
IBURN
HEAD OF DAVID
VENOM
NAPALM DEATH
EINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN
VEIN CAGE
DEF.MASTER
GODFLESH
TEAR GARDEN
GROTUS
DREAM INTO DUST

With background accompaniment from
AESTHETIC MEAT FRONT
NOS
DEVILLOCK

Thanks as always for checking out the show, feel free to comment and don’t forget to check out the Flickr group and other features of the site.

Professor Gruntsplatter's Spookatorium 019

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Friday, December 28, 2007

Balloon Witches

This video has been out for a few months and I kept bouncing back and forth on whether to cover it on the show or just post it here. So here it is...

It relates to a reported flying humanoid recorded in Mexico. There has been much speculation that it is something much more mundane than the witch that the news report suggests. Have a look and see for yourself.



Here is an amateur analysis done of the video, and there are a few others you can find on youtube, but how much pixelation do you really need to see...



A lot of people believe the video simply shows a cluster of balloons that creates a humanoid illusion. As you will see highlighted in the analysis video, there is a section of the footage that seems to show the object make contact with the ground this is curious, but far too low resolution to really draw any conclusions from. Some say it might be this thing...



I found it interesting because you don't see too many alleged flying witch videos...

Prof. Gruntsplatter

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Spookatorium 018

Welcome to episode 18, some of the little improvements I have been hoping to do for awhile finally got taken care of, so hopefully you’ll like those.

This time out we look at the legacy of Mary Toft, she was involved in a hoax in 1726 that drew the attention of the King of England and inspired perhaps the most famous of any trick in a magicians repertoire. Her story is outlined further in the book “The Girl Who Gave Birth To Rabbits: A True Medical Mystery,” which I am hoping to check out before too long.

Next we take a trip down south to check in on a couple of mysterious creature sightings. One is believed to be a possible Skunk Ape and the other dubbed the Beast of Bolivia, is killing dogs in South Carolina. In addition LiveScience.com ran a recent article on the possibility of using hi resolution satellite imagery to search for elusive breeding colonies of various cryptids.

Finally we take a look at the theory of palingenesy, the alchemical idea inspired by the work of Greek philosopher Lucretious that sought to explain ghosts and apparitions chemically, rather than metaphysically. The thought was that a body’s form resided in its salts, and by applying heat to those salts, you could regenerate the form of a dead or destroyed plant or animal as an apparition. This one is pretty interesting and I have been meaning to cover it for a few weeks so I hope you find it curious.

The sounds this time around are supplied by…

DISHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
DAZZLINGKILLMEN
MISSING FOUNDATION
SNOG
BLANCHE
CLAN OF XYMOX
DESCENDENTS
NAVICON TORTURE TECHNOLOGIES
VO.I.D
FLUISTERWOUD
TODAY IS THE DAY
THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN
BRUTE FORCE
CHARNEL VALLEY

With background accompaniment from
NAJ
CORPOPARASSITA

Thanks as always for checking out the show…

Professor Gruntsplatter's Spookatorium 018

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Shake Hands With The Treeman

This is really quite remarkable. An Indonesian man has what dermatologists are now suggesting is Human Papilloma Virus. Under normal circumstances the disease generates small warts on the skin, like plantar warts etc. There is also an STD version of the infection.

In this man's case however he has an immune system that isn't able to contain the warts, and they have blossomed root like branches that have pocked his body and entirely consumed his hands. It has cost him his family and ability to work, and it would seem from looking at him many other simple activities in life. Now an American doctor is hopeful that a treatment of synthetic Vitamin A will get the warts under control.

There are three different videos on the Telegraph UK article you can check out here.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Spookatorium 017

Well, this was intended to be the second annual Halloween episode… it is a bit late I realize, however listen to it through pumpkin shaped headphones if you will. Halloween is a time of year and a feeling in the air, not simply a day on the calendar.

This episode looks into ghostly sightings and communication with the dead through various gadgetry. Our first stop is among the urban legends and paranormal sightings on a secluded lane known as Zombie Road in western St. Louis County. And looks briefly at investigations by missourighosts.net and the Missouri Paranormal Research Group.

Then it is off to 1930’s Britain for a peek at the contraptions of the Askir-Jobson Trianion Guild, who with information they claim to have received from a deceased colleague created devices to facilitate communication with spirits.

Another person who more recently claims to have received instructions from entities on building a device to communicate with the dead is Frank Sumption. His creation, quaintly called “Frank’s Box” or “The Ghost Box” uses more modern electronics to create what he believe is a live EVP receiver. You can check out the schematics for the device here, Coast to Coast AM did a show on the subject as well that you can check out here, and I have included a video of the device in action for you to judge for yourself.


Finally we take a look at the theories behind the talking board, or Ouija board, from the Spiritualist and Atomatistic points of view. You can find a mess of Ouija stories and transcriptions here at the Grave Addiction site and I’d recommend checking out the Museum Of Talking Boards for a great photo gallery of various talking boards over the years.

In addition the ghastly harmonies of the following break up the sound of my voice…

LOUIS ARMSTRONG
THE ROHAN THEATRE BAND
BLACK MAYONNAISE
HADIT
THE DEAD BROTHERS
ULTHAR
MERCYFUL FATE
GOATVARGR
BAUHAUS
MONDBLUT
SCHLOSS TEGAL
DARVULIA
THE HANDSOME FAMILY
THOSE POOR BASTARDS
SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES
HEID
AH CAMA-SOTZ

With background accompaniment from
GEOMATIC
A MURDER OF ANGELS
INNANA
BRIGHTER DEATH NOW

Thanks again for having a listen, my apologies for the lateness of the episode. The next one should come much faster, and I have a few stories saved up for the site as well.

Professor Gruntsplatter's Spookatorium 017

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Friday, November 09, 2007

Crypto Happenings Follow Up

This is a follow up the the story posted below about the alleged Chupacabra in Cuervo, Texas. DNA tests have been conducted on the creature, using material from its head and have determined that it is a Texas Coyote. Livescience.com also recently ran an article called "How Monsters are Made" which explores this as well as a recent bigfoot sighting a bit closer.

Their premise is that frequently it is simply disease that give normal animals the appearance of something extraordinary. It's a theory that I have held in relation to the myths of "monsters" through history as well. How often were the horrible creatures of legend simply regular people afflicted with some sickness, mutation or deficiency that science was unaware of and the general populace had never witnessed? The examples I could give might seem insensitive now, but in times of limited knowledge and dubious science those things we empathize with now could certainly have been perceived as monstrous.

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Crypto Happenings

This story has made the rounds for a bit, but I was sort of holding off to see if anything new came out of it. In July of 2007 in Cuero, Texas, two curious creatures were hit by cars in the area. Some believe them to be chupacabra, others a disheveled coyote. The linked article is from Earthfiles.com, and includes some investigation, photos and an interview with the rancher who was most involved. I had two other articles from a local paper and an AP feed that I wanted to include here for a bit of balance and I sat on it too long and they are no longer available.

Looking at the photos, the front legs look like they have been broken severely and healed poorly. In that situation a feral animal would learn to move with it's hind legs, I've seen domestic animals do the same thing. So the anatomy of shorter front legs when compared to the chupa-mythos on this animal leaves a little to be desired for me. It's certainly a curious specimen, and the interview is intriguing, but it seems a lot of possible research wasn't done for what may or may not be legitimate reasons.

Here's another one that is a bit more amusing than anything else....

Reported on the 18th of October out of Charleston, South Carolina a woman called 911 to report that she may have just hit a giraffe... in South Carolina. The caller says there were two crossing the road, she tried to avoid them and struck one damaging the side mirror of her car. She believed it to be a giraffe because it was ""bigger than a horse." Police who spoke to the woman felt it "may have been a large deer," the caller did not want to file an official report. There is an audio clip of the 911 call with the article. It is highly unlikely that there were two giraffe roaming along the highway in South Carolina that day, the eye witness reports it was larger than a horse, and the police admit all they have to go on is the witness account. I haven't seen any follow up on this, or even if the police did investigate what she may or may not have run into.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Philosophy of Ghosts

This is an excerpt I stumbled across of famed Deconstructionist and Philosopher Jacques Derrida's thoughts on ghosts. The clip is from the film "Ghost Dance," which he helped script, and it explores his idea that a ghost is a memory of something that was never real. I have not seen it in full myself yet. Derrida died in 2004.

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Johnny One Leg's Great Adventure

This is one of those stories that is almost too absurd to believe...

John Wood had to have his leg amputated following a plane crash that killed three members of his family in 2004, including his father. If the story ended there we'd all stop for a second to feel for the guy and go back to what we were doing. The story however does not stop there.

When the leg was amputated Mr. Wood put in a request with the hospital that he wanted the leg after it was removed. It was his wish to have the bones to hold onto so that when he eventually died he could be cremated as a "full man." To his surprise, he was presented, not with the bones, but with the fleshy leg and foot combo by the funeral home attending to the matter. He kept the leg in his freezer and despite becoming a bit of a macabre joke, all was well.

Then Mr. Wood got behind on his bills and his electricity was shut off. It was decision time for Mr. Wood, but after the plane crash, loss of family and amputation he wasn't going to take another hit from the power man. He cut the screen from his front door, wrapped the leg in it and tied it to a a couple posts to let it dry in the sun. Once it dried he put the remains inside his barbecue smoker for safe keeping.

He eventually became homeless and was living out of a van which he also ultimately lost. His family had put all of his belongings in storage for him while he dealt with his situation. Eventually the bill for the storage space went unpaid and the contents of his storage space were put up for auction. Including the barbecue.

Enter Shannon Whisnant, the buyer of the smoker from the storage auction. He found the leg, and notified the police. Wood's family saw the story on the news and came forward with their story. Crazy eh? Well... there is more. After surrendering the leg to police Wishnant has since changed his mind and decided he paid for the leg and wants it back to use in a Halloween display in intends to charge admission to and is willing to go to court to fight to have it back. The police have said "he doesn't have a leg to stand on". (yes, the police really did say that) they will return the leg to Mr. Wood to hang on his rear view mirror or whatever his next great idea is.

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Spookatorium 016

Greetings onlookers, a new episode is up featuring the delicate melodies of the following

NAZCA
DANTE’S VOODOO CABARET
DOWNLOAD
SPEKTR
IN GOWAN RING
POSSESSED
GRINDERMAN
PITCH SHIFTER
CAT RAPES DOG
DELLAMORTE
FRED LANE
SISTERS OF MERCY
NOVEMBER NOVELET
ARCANA
DIAPSIQUIR

With background accompaniment from
DEVA-LOKA
NOVATRON
ATOM INFANT INCUBATOR

Beyond that I also give a quick recap of recent articles from the site and offer up some new coverage. A collection of escape artists are seeking to set the world record in a one day relay of over 80 escape performances, while a grizzled old school freak takes the law into his own hands.

A pillar of the pharmaceutical industry is working on a virtual reality rig that gives the user a window into the schizophrenics world, and then there is this look at how schizophrenia fits into the evolutionary chain.

Another team working on solving our world’s energy issues are looking at cow stomachs as the golden ticket to solve our woes… environmentalist/animal rights advocates heads explode at the conundrum.

There are couple of stories from the lab regarding brain surgeries with unexpected results. One involving a skull that passed its expiration date, and another where a young boy is catapulted into the land of posh.

Also a look at some research on the Orb Phenomenon from researchers associated with NASA and the Vatican where they find that orbs are indeed of paranormal origin. I think the question remains quite open, but they feel convinced.

That’s it for this episode, next one should come much sooner. The Spookatorium Caravan relocated in the last month and I will be able to get going now on some of the additional things I want to do to make the show better. Including finding a better microphone solution... Be sure to check out some of the new links to the left in the menu, and if you are accessing the site through blogspot update your bookmarks to www.spookatorium.org.

Professor Gruntsplatter's Spookatorium 016

Keep your wiggle funky,

- Prof. Gruntsplatter

Friday, September 21, 2007

The Yamabiru Are Coming!

Long sequestered in the mountains of Japan, the Yamabiru have decided their time is at hand. Urbanization and reforestation efforts have ignited the flames of migration and the long silent Yamabiru have teamed up with their forest brethren and come down from their isolated realm to feed. Feasting on the blood of the humans that have inadvertently rousted them from their quiet existence, they have been known to gorge upon their victims to the point that they reach 10 times their normal size. So clandestine are the methods of the Yamabiru that frequently their victims are unaware they have been visited until they discover the bloodied point of entry and the predator has moved on.

The Japanese see three options in confronting this invasion. They can dramatically reshape the environment to something less hospitable in the hopes that the Yamabiru return from whence they came; they can fight them off with poisons and chemical warfare, or they can concede and accept their place in the food chain. All of these are obviously dramatic and carry their own hazards. However, in these dire times when nature is rising to subjugate humanity the dramatic may be the last hope.

- Prof. Gruntsplatter