Dear Ghostvillagers,
There is a lot of talk in the news these days about what to call this time of
year. There's a strong push by certain parts of the Christian community to have
everyone call this season "Christmas," but it's also Chanukah,
Kwanzaa, and the Winter Solstice (Yule). Somewhere along the way, people began
saying "Happy Holidays" as a simple greeting that could encompass
everyone. But lately there's been a backlash by some who accuse those of wishing
"happy holidays" as being overly politically correct. It's enough to
make one throw all of the holidays out the window and only celebrate "Festivus"
á la Frank Costanza on the Seinfeld television series. Here's Frank Costanza
telling Cosmo Kramer about the origins of Festivus from episode 166 of Seinfeld:
Frank Costanza: Many Christmases ago, I went to buy a doll for my son.
I reached for the last one they had, but so did another man. As I rained blows
upon him, I realized there had to be another way.
Cosmo Kramer: What happened to the doll?
Frank Costanza: It was destroyed. But out of that a new holiday was
born... a Festivus for the rest of us!
Cosmo Kramer: That must've been some kind of doll.
Frank Costanza: She was.
For those of you who may want to adopt this new holiday, Festivus is
celebrated on December 23rd. An aluminum pole is used instead of a Christmas
tree and those who participate use the holiday as an opportunity to air their
grievances for one another. The day ends with "feats of strength"
whereby those involved wrestle the head of the household to the floor.
I'm an inclusive type of person. If there's a way to get more people on the
same page, I'm all for it. If I know for certain someone is a Christian, I wish
them Merry Christmas, if I know someone is a Witch, I say, "Happy
Yule," and if someone if Jewish, "I say Happy Chanukah." If I'm
not certain, I say, "Happy Holidays" because I see no need in
potentially alienating someone. This is a great time of year no matter what your
belief system is, and it's a spiritual time of year. It's a time for ghost
stories, it's a time for sharing and caring, and it's a time to think about new
beginnings with the coming new year.
2005 has been amazing here at Ghostvillage. It's been a year of growth, of
thousands of new faces, and the sharing of a ton of great information. 2006 will
only be bigger and better, I promise that. This great thing called Ghostvillage
that we're all a part of is running on its own inertia now, and you can look
forward to seeing interviews with more big names, great articles and insights,
and even more people who take up residence in our village.
From my family to yours, I wish you all a merry Christmas, a blessed
Chanukah, a happy Kwanzaa, a cool Yule, and a stress-relieving Festivus. I'll
see you in 2006!
Supernaturally yours,
Jeff Belanger
info@ghostvillage.com
Mayor of Ghostvillage.com
Congratulations to Jessica Becker of Chicago, Illinois, who was last month's winner of an autographed copy of
Jeff Belanger's new book, The Nightmare Encyclopedia: Your Darkest Dreams Interpreted, a Ghostvillage.com window sticker, and a Ghostvillage.com t-shirt!
This month, we're doing the contest again, but we ask that you first click this link:
http://www.ghostvillage.com/index.shtml#winner.
If it says, "The search is on" then we don't have a winner yet and go ahead and send in your answer. If you see today's date
and "We have a winner!" that means you weren't the first to email us. Sorry, please try again next month.
On to this month's question: This question can be answered by reading a page on Ghostvillage.com. The first
person to reply to this email with the correct answer will win this month's prize.
What was the first music album Dennis William Hauck ever bought?
Once we have a winner, we will announce it on our home page as soon
as possible. 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 new book, The Nightmare Encyclopedia: Your Darkest Dreams Interpreted, a Ghostvillage.com window sticker, and a Ghostvillage.com t-shirt!
Didn't win? Want to buy a copy? Click on the graphic.
The Supernatural Calendar is the place where thousands will learn about your events of interest to the supernatural world. The service is only available to registered members of the message boards, and it's free!
We'd like your help filling our calendar in -- so add your events for thousands of Ghostvillagers to see. There are no events in our calendar for the next 60 days.
| Who's Who in the Town Square? |
Get to know some of your fellow Ghostvillagers.
>>damckie<< - member since December 27, 2004
What is your name?
David Mackie
How old are you?
40
Where do you live?
Painesville, Ohio
What do you do for a living?
Machinist.
How did you get into ghost investigations?
Back in 1999 while living in a house in Chesterland, Ohio, we had a spirit living within our home.
I was not into the paranormal at that time but for some reason I was not afraid of this spirit. We
found out by a medium that it was a 12-year-old boy haunting our house. That is what got me pretty
much started into the paranormal field.
What's the funniest thing that's happened to you on an investigation?
The funniest thing that ever happend to me was when Julie [juliet_keller] and myself were doing an investigation at our favorite cemetery.
We use walkie-talkies (not anymore) when we decide to split up and go our own ways. I was standing next to a
fresh grave, gathering EVP, and I started to walk away from the grave and Julie decided to ask me through the walkie-talkie
if I was still there. Usually we chime- in before we speak. She didn't! I probably jumped 3 feet into the air
and I believe I said a few things that made Julie laugh while jumping into the air. She got me good that night!
Finish this sentence: All I want for Christmas is______.
All I want for Christmas is to appear on an episode with TAPS and show them how it's done! LOL
Ghostvillage.com's book reviewer, Lee
Prosser, has brought us several new book reviews since our last newsletter.
This past month's Library additions:
Sorcerer's Stone: A Beginner's Guide to Alchemy by Dennis William Hauck [AUTHOR INTERVIEW]
Sacred Mushroom of Visions edited by Ralph Metzner
Ghosthunting Illinois by John B. Kachuba
Uriel by Richard Webster
The Fall Lineup from Ghost House Books
The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters AND The Encyclopedia of Ghosts and Spirits by Rosemary Ellen Guiley
Llewellyn Almanacs published by Llewellyn Publications
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:
The Faucet Turned Itself On - West Virginia
The Dark Phantom at Paris Les Halles - Paris, France
The Haunted Family Home - Exeter, United Kingdom
Mysterious Footprints - Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Precognitive Dream About my Sister's Passing - Orlando, Florida
Remembering G.G. - Long Beach, California
1700s Ghost Lady - Dublin, Ohio
Dad's Message - El Dorado, Arkansas
The Graveyard Woman - Indianapolis, Indiana
Apparition at Senator Bard's Mansion - Ventura, California [PIC]
The Vanishing Soldier - Posovina Corridor, Bosnia
This is the place to find press releases and news items on paranormal
happenings around the world. If you have a news item you'd like to submit, please see our
guidelines.
Paranormal Phenomena Research & Investigation and the Centre for Parapsychological Studies in Canada Present the 2006 Canadian Paranormal Conference - December 7, 2005 [CONFERENCE WATCH]
ABC Television and Wife Swap are Seeking Families Involved in the Paranormal World - November 29, 2005
The Nightmare Encyclopedia Offers Insight into Our Darkest Dreams - November 17, 2005
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:
Whose Scrooge? - by Lee Prosser - December 15, 2005 [COLUMN]
Spirit Dor by John Richards - December 9, 2005
The Witchcraft Connection - The Ghostly Carpenter - by Lord Foxglove - December 6, 2005 [COLUMN]
Nature is a Haunted House - by Lee Prosser - December 1, 2005 [COLUMN]
Hollywood Ghost Hunt Weekend by Richard Senate - November 28, 2005
| 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
supernatural. If you're interested in booking Jeff for a conference or other event, please
email us for more information.
Events Scheduled:
New Jersey Ghost Conference 2006 - April 22, 2006
2006 New England Ghost Conference - October 13-15, 2006
There's only one place where you can tune in to the leading paranormal radio programs available online, and that's right here on
Ghostvillage.com's Paranormal Radio: http://www.ghostvillage.com/resources/ghostradio.shtml
Tune in to: A.P.S.R. Talk Radio, Exploring Unexplained Phenomena, The Ghost Chronicles, Ghostly Talk Radio, The Graveyard Shift, Magick
Mind Radio, Nightwatch, Weird Stuff Happens, and The 'X' Zone Radio Show.
| Hot Threads in the Community |
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 spam filters may block this email, so you'll need to check your spam 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:
Alistair Crowley
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=11233
The man and his legend.
What to Look For in an Investigator
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=1888
Guides and tips to finding the right group.
A Very Active Video from Moon Lake
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=11436
This video has everything from orbs to blanked out frames from ghostly activity.
Morley Music Hall
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=11566
This EVP was heard by the investigators themselves.
What the Heck is This Thing?
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=11582
This is a weird anomaly. Want to guess just what it is?
Dudleytown, Connecticut
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=8384
A place said to be haunted, and filled with tragic tales and a history of occupants going mad.
Will They Ever Communicate?
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=10066
Will orbs and spirits in my house ever communicate with me?
What is your Life Altering Experience?
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=11498
What has changed your life?
SNOW! Not as fun as it used to be!
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=11632
It's that time of year again for many villagers... snow time.
What's Your Pick for Spookiest Film?
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=2411
Have a favorite?
Your Past Lives
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=9271
Who were you?
Appocalypse Now! Share your visions!
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=11543
Is the end near?
Sensation vs. Perception
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=11533
Discussion on personal filters and paranormal experience.
A Charlie Brown Christmas Quiz
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=11616
See how well you know the classic cartoon.
Have a Christmas Recipe?
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity/index.php?showtopic=4912
Step up all you chefs.
Board of the Month -- Holiday Spirits!
http://www.ghostvillage.com/ghostcommunity...hp?showforum=27
In the last month, the following people have joined our ghostly community. Please welcome:
quewww, suzansullivan, ghostwatcher4892, RammsteinGhostGRL, diamondwillow, creepyct2, Aunt Bea, Mark1ready, shadowperson, miket60, jamesdoona, Garett Y., LovingDean, ranch501, badattuide66@yahoo.com, BERNESES, HRTMENDER2000, Amy702, qtip33, Vampire Research Society, gwarner, cassell, agent00shoe, kc5vkg, BlossomingDream, truprophet45, rickiespirit, SpookyGurl84, psy333che, Brian76, cac777chick, Libitina1972, Johnsru23, laserone, owen27, cloud7, The Waide, Angelundercover23, ilovecody, sifukurt, Heavenly_Child, Crkwolf, Helterskelter, iancole, VampireAzriel, debe1952, robinmon, play_girl, SchattenJager, LEXI, Tainted, sensitive3, terelangford, Alpha_Omega, tallyhoo, danamichelle, harra009, quenched_by_blood, zombi69, caela, kevcpratt, krupptwife, Chief Bojack, Tera_Moon, GregoryIrish1960, clemo, lookingforanswers, darkkat, mibbi, seanb1, chrystel, sowaldo1, Deanne, dave33, Faitiana, PerfectDrug, CTBIGDOG, goobygoober, locknester, Kae, teddy_bear_tears, kittierebekah, DaisiesMadness, eternal, rishidhar, newonetoo, Myst, SherBear, cvfd8330, Susan Haneline, spawnofdarkness, bellaoctober1, s7885kh, egon, pare_ann, scootzman, tttoms, LadyIrish2, xaeo, cruiser50, Fabby, MAD IAN, polishedgirl89, babaylan_bsdak, ballack13, terrs33, retta1973, missycaela, monstre, DarkAngel3X3, PPIA_Rodney, tunde, everthink, nightshadowing, st.michael, vicki8881, Tammy1024, lillyz, wyldechylde, Niki, DBghsthntr, rackk003, Sexy_Girl, squirrelgardens, brownbird, Cj Harty, Anarchy_Alternative, Vance, johnsmith1700, keapns, amber rose, 813, sissybaby59, Nosferatuscreams, Ryan-AE, lizard2005, KellyCorry, horibble, mrspsychic, geminichild70, archangels101, lordthorn, Laconic Lurker, heather cross, OklahomaSweetheart48, therube731, marcus_leader, rita61, Kellie, wilkins1633, Juicy Curly Fries, ranma, jtiana54, StarSensations, EmmieLou, ghostgirl888, James Mayle, hmwilkie1408, ariezjapez, grannyann2820, SlipknotWraith, foxmulder, Bim, MyFamiliar, steveECPIRT, chunlip, Ghost 1234, jessicawysocki, PrinceOfThieves, jo716, river21@sbcglobal.net, damienmccrea, frekoashvini, supernaturalbeing, lamfgirl, crazy_canuck, vincent torres, mystereigh1978, badcat, galina, Gregor8, ghostgyal, Clarisse, karlak218, Fellowwiccan14873, orionsbelt, xion_racer, Haunted Yorkshire, IMI, Trinity, kdd7173, leslie_dragonlvr, morrigan,
DrClaw27, nanapati, guilford, angiessw, and dreamist.
| Ghostvillage.com Quick Stats: |
163,429 Messages in the Town Square Message Boards
9,544 Members in the Town Square
438 "Personal Encounters" published on Ghostvillage.com
408 Paranormal Web sites in the Ghost Links directory
17,805 Subscribers to this newsletter
4,201,854 total Web site "hits" for Ghostvillage.com in November
Ghostvillage.com is the Web's largest supernatural community, the central place
where people come to share their experiences, thoughts, and research. Please help us continue to grow
by buying a copy of The World's Most Haunted Places: From the Secret Files of Ghostvillage.com, Communicating With the Dead: Reach Beyond the Grave, The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places, shopping, or by buying a Ghostvillage.com t-shirt. Every little bit helps run our servers and
helps the site get bigger and better! Please also click on our banner ads and support our advertisers -- when you do business with someone who
advertises with Ghostvillage.com, let them know you saw their ad with us and thank them for the support.
Please email us anytime at info@ghostvillage.com.
Your comments, questions, and feedback are always welcomed.
All material is © 2005 Ghostvillage.com
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