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Post by paranormalis50 on Oct 14, 2010 8:18:04 GMT -5
Yes, interesting viewpoint on a topic which receives so much debate. And healthy debate is what which ultimately fosters answers.
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Post by paranormalis50 on Sept 21, 2010 14:44:43 GMT -5
Any person of religious, social, political, or other type of major influence could be a potential target of prime interest. Probably, as long as influence is allowed against mankind, there will unfortunately be many awful acts against our fellow men and women, whether in the name of religion, politics, discrimination, power, or just general principles.
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Post by paranormalis50 on Sept 18, 2010 21:39:07 GMT -5
In my first post, I left something out. As an independent researcher, I was familiar with many of the La. Spirist team members here in North La. And, I had many pleasant conversations, swapped those familiar war stories, and had developed some lasting friendships. I knew of their professionalism, dedication, and desire to be the best they could be. This was a major factor also in my decision to apply, and have met and made many more friends here, all with the same dedication of the ones I already knew. We talked briefly about college degrees, fancy paper, and whether that can make a real, major difference in paranormal research. I recently was offered a 5-year contract with a major university in Europe to perform basically the same research I a performing here at home. The money wasn't bad at all. BUT, it would mean leaving my home here, all the friends I have made at La. Spirits, and abandoning my current research efforts to date. As we've discussed, when it's time to cash in the chips, you can't take them with you, wherever we may go, or be. So, I decided to stay home, with the friends I have made, doing the research I like to do, and not answering to some board of regents who wouldn't begin to understand the concepts being examined. If the personality survives, the memories and knowledge of friendships certainly must, the cash most certainly ceases all value whatsoever. J.
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Post by paranormalis50 on Sept 18, 2010 16:47:10 GMT -5
I agree it's childish, and it's perceived by the doer as a proactive measure to preempt others from being critical of the doer and the inept methodology they often adopt, or claim to have adopted. I acknowledge, however inept, luck can play a part in any research, by any individual, however hapless they may be. But will they recognize what has happened? What kind of quality work can these people actually contribute to the field? In my personal opinion, most don't truly understand the question, must less care about finding any answers or understanding. They seek the semblance of success, at something the the public seems to be paying attention to, at the time.
And "What lies beyond bodily death?" has to be the major question any individual can ask or wonder about during their lifetime. And I stand behind that statement, regardless of the individual's depth of faith, or lack of it. As we get older, the question has more bearing. For example, see Stephen Hawkins, one of the world's best cosmologists located at Cambridge University, who just very recently recanted his lifetime views as an atheist, and has made known his concern for the afterlife. Lack of knowledge, or an abundance of it, plays no part in the natural inherent need to seek answers to what happens at bodily death.
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Post by paranormalis50 on Sept 18, 2010 11:19:04 GMT -5
Todd: Thank you for taking the time to write and respond to situations, and events, that are of real concern to the serious members of the investigating community. First, the caps are okay. They are for emphasis, and sincerity of belief. Also, maybe some people do need a little SHOUTING at every now and then. A little positive shouting might get someone's attention, and that's not always a bad thing. Problem is, in most cases, the ones we feel like shouting at aren't going to hear it. The ears may be open, but the brain is closed, and probably will remain so. These are the ones who will be jealous, have a chip on their shoulder, verbally rundown others, and generally never mature or gain expertise in their field, whether the paranormal or otherwise. They will continue to manufacture or otherwise create evidence to prove things to themselves, pretending it's for the client. Falsification of data, intentional, is a progressive disease, and generally will prove fatal.
Secondly, let me add that for many years, I was totally an independent researcher, before joining in with La. Spirits. This was a personal choice, and joining or remaining independent should be a personal choice. I joined to get access to more cases, be part of a reputable team, have some of the workload shared, and was given reasonable latitude to continue research outside the "normal" methods of data gathering. So, I understand, first hand, where your concerns come from.
Next, about the best thing we can do, as far as the backstabbing, etc., is just as you concluded. Ignore the progressive disease, and take time to communicate and work with the serious in the field, regardless of their "affiliation".
College degrees? Etc.? You are correct that much knowledge is available on the internet, and in the thousands of books written over thousands of years. Most contain reliable, verified cases that would take hundreds of years to personally conduct, and the modes, patterns, theories, etc., are worth looking at and considering. We may not believe or accept everything, as there are no hardcore, verifiable answers to the paranormal even after all these books and years. Doesn't make it wrong to gather data, as this does help us to answer these questions personally, even if we can't reproduce our results in a lab, on demand. So, it's important to gather data, from many sources. Then, we gather experience. this allows us to take our data, as well as the data of others, and translate it into what we percieve as our personal reality. This translation process is reasoning. We do it every day, but, for analysis purposes, sometimes we have to "professionalize" this reasoning process. Then, we can help the client, for they are human, carnate or discarnate. They still have to have a thinking process, which must be understood, to effectively communicate and solve problems.
When a client has "something happening" in their home, it can be quite disturbing. They know it's "not normal", generally hasn't been happening, can't be explained, is illogical, and downright frightening. This disturbs not only the individual, but the the entire family unit/structure. "Home" and "privacy" are violated, and control is lost. Helplessness and " Are We Crazy?" are quickly manifested. When this truly happens, and it does, the client needs someone who cares about them and their family. The rank amatuer will promise "Answers", when no one has really found them in thousands of years. Data can be gathered, hypotheses formed, and, hopefully, a measure of understanding provided, which, hopefully, may give the client some measure of "answer". But The Answers are not there, yet, any way. But we try. Without that, nothing happens.
I have found that "the more expensive" equipment is not always about gathering paranormal data, but in eliminating the false positives. There are many events that are natural, but can cause phenomena that duplicate "paranormal phenomena" to the letter. We owe it to the client to eliminate these when we can. Most teams understand that high EMF fields can cause mood swings, nausea, unease, heavy atmosphere, hallucinations, and much more. High positive ion counts will do the same thing. So will infrasound as this can be really tough. It's effects can be strong over time. (a work shift/ sleep time, etc.) Detecting infrasound can be a little tricky, and so can positive ions with their short life span, when the source is cut off. Infrasound can even cause object movement with its low frequency vibrations. Note this is movement, as opposed to actual displacement over a distance.
But, I will argue that the best assets any investigator or researcher should have consists of desire and willingsness to persue that desire professionally. Unfortunately, that can't be bought. Some will have it, some will fool themselves that they do, and try to convinve both themselves and others that they do. These are obvious over time, and exist in all callings and professions.
I will add one more "Amen" to our sermon. If a ghost or spirit doesn't want to communicate, you won't get anything. HOWEVER, perseverance does often pay dividends. Personally, I try to make more than one call if little or no data is gathered, and often, if it is. Even if I am not sure about the client's report of activity. Do we truly know how accurate all clients are in their perceptions of what is happening? Or their ability to communicate these perceptions? So, it all boils down to "At the time of testing, in the places tested".
Thank you for stopping in and taking time to post. I believe that I do see you stop by fairly often. Glad you do, and wish more others did.
John Combs La. Spirits
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Post by paranormalis50 on Jul 18, 2010 18:39:27 GMT -5
I posted some about this elsewhere, but wish to comment here, also. Public buildings, etc., really constitute, in most cases, research. Private residences constitute people problems. People who are confused, bewildered, and frightened. They need and want answers for themselves and their family. It's personal, and they often don't know where to turn, or who to trust with their homes and their mental health. These are real issues, that need professional assessment.
Public buildings are great. But, buildings have no consciousness, and therefore, can have no real problems. And, as I pointed out, great for research. However, as a researcher, I would be quick to point out to those who use this as an excuse to investigate/visit, if you've been to a building once, and only once, never planning to return, you haven't thoroughly researched anything. You went on a tour, with or without a guide. And if the results are not available for public inspection, I rest my case.
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Post by paranormalis50 on Jul 9, 2010 9:04:48 GMT -5
I also want to add that having any answer may not alleviate fear. If you feel that there is a demonic presence, then have the house blessed. Whether there is or is not a demonic presence is not the real question. The real issue is safety/elimination of fear. Have it blessed. If you are uncertain on how to proceed, go back to our site, go to members section, then the North Team, and you will find a member Bess Maxwell, and a link to her mail. E-mail Bess, and she would probably be able to find someone in your area to do the house blessing.
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Post by paranormalis50 on Jul 9, 2010 8:29:12 GMT -5
I see many photos where there is the figure of a person, and the photographer simply isn't aware of that an actual person was standing there. Anyone looking at/analyzing this type photo simply "wasn't there", and therefore must make an analysis based on limited data. In any type analysis, period, the principle of Occum's Razor has to apply first, and that is a statement that in most problems, the real solution is the simplest one. We have a cliche about that, if it walks like a duck.....Ok, back to the photo. The figure is hidden and would not be obvious to the average photographer, and it is a humanoid type figure. Now we have the info from the source that say no human was there. Therefore, the conclusion is that it's not human, inescapable given the above first fact, no human was present in that area. Now, on to the figure. The image, due to blow-up, is not extrememly sharp. The eyes/teeth do not have enough definition to truly say they ARE strange. There is not enough onfo there. There is enough info to say they APPEAR strange, which may be because of reality OR distortion. Now deeper, is it demonic?? True answer, NOBODY knows for sure what it is, period. All are guesses, no matter the source. MOST demonic entities DO NOT make appearances. The goal, Hollywood movies aside, is temptation, not pushing by fear. In true demonic presences, it's generally subtle, and the victim , receiving temptation/choices makes ALL the decisions. Through temptation, the victim leads himself/herself down the primrose path, every step is voluntary, and further towards oppression/obsession/possession syndrome. Even in the early stage of oppression, the suffering is brought about on the victim by the victim's own choices, as a result of temptation.
Back to the figure, it it's not human, then it must be spirit, and probably is simply a discarnate human spirit. That is NOT a definitive answer, as the question, with laws of physics as they stand now, is not answerable with 100% certainty. The answer I gave is my own opinion, and I feel it's the highest percent correct answer. Will be glad to do my best to answer any additional questions regarding this photo.
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Post by paranormalis50 on Jul 6, 2010 20:27:10 GMT -5
I saw the dust orb, also. The figure in the shadows, just inside the doorway is difficult to see, but seems to be just someone standing there. Attachments:
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Post by paranormalis50 on Jun 25, 2010 8:35:25 GMT -5
I am at work, but will look later tonight when I can get the photo into some analysis software to look at the wispy area. In reagrds to orbs, some may possibly be a form of paranormal activity, but the vast majority are light reflections from the camera flash off of dust, moisture, insects, or other items in the air, and close to the camera lens. The closer the flash is to the lens, the higher the probability of getting this type of false positive. I use exclusively a raised flash, and almost never get orbs, even though I seem to get my fair share of evidence when paranormal activity is on-site. As far as the apparition in the chair, I would love to see you post this one, or, if you want, send it to me at paranormalis@aol.com, if you don't want to make a public post of the image. If sent to me privately, I will reply only privately, unless otherwise instructed. More, later.
THANKS, John Combs La. Spirits
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Post by paranormalis50 on Jun 24, 2010 11:31:45 GMT -5
When not being present when a photo is taken, any after-the fact opinion is simply an educated guess. When a photo is taken, we often are not aware of objects immediately in front of the lens (very close). In this case, the shadow seems to extend from the upper-left corner, downward to the right, and seems to be rounded with a slight bulging roundness on the bottom. Holding your hand outward/downward, this is the same profile of the human finger, which, when inadvertently placed in front of a lens, and will produce a shot that is entirely consistent with this image. I do not know this is what happened, but only my first impression, having seen photos w/ fingers placed in front of the lens, it produces a very similar result. If you know this did NOT happen, please supply me with any other info you may have, and I will see what else I can come up with.
John/ La. Spirits
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Post by paranormalis50 on Jun 15, 2010 17:54:48 GMT -5
It's not that unusual for the voices in Electronic Voice Phenomenon to be recorded and found to be "backward", and have to be manually reversed to be understood. There are no real satisfactory explanantions for why most EVP voices are recorded as normal, and some as reversed.
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Post by paranormalis50 on May 3, 2010 17:31:37 GMT -5
Great job, Jenn! Should have done a quick, after-hours investigation in one of those bars.
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Post by paranormalis50 on Apr 29, 2010 13:30:02 GMT -5
Thank you, Rachael! Quite a compliment, coming from one of the greatest EVP analysts on the planet
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Post by paranormalis50 on Apr 28, 2010 20:47:37 GMT -5
A GENERAL COMMENTARY ON MATRIXING
Matrixing is simply another name for paredoilia. Two two terms are pretty much interchaangeable, but we'll use matrixing. It's the term used when people take photos, and later spot something there, that they're pretty sure wasn't there when the photo was taken, and generally involves a face or human figure. One possibility for this single-minded fixing is that when a human baby is born, its first associations are faces (mother), and the human form. It's also part of the basic survival instinct, to spot enemies or predators that are hiding in areas of foliage, etc. It's a basic and natural instinct. We have a tendency to try to make order or find patterns in what is otherwise chaos. We want to "understand", or "to see".
When light is reflected off an object, into a camera lens, or the human eye, an image is formed, or perceived. In the eye, the light focuses on the retina, where rods and cones interpret the signal, and pass it on to the optical nerve. It eventually ends up in the visual cortex of the brain, where the image is actually formed into what we call sight. So, what you see is what you get?? No, not with ANY individual. And it's not "new age" philosophy, that we each create our own reality, it's both quantum mechanics and psychology/physiology. When the signal leaves the optical nerve, it passes through the frontal lobes of the brain. There, the image passes through "filters", and everyone's are unique. These are composed of past experience, prejudice, expectations, comparisons, and the whole of our past experiences. It is estimated that FIFTY PER CENT of the visual data gets changed between the optical nerve and the visual cortex. Ever hear war stories about the hit-and-run accident with ten witnesses, and they all swear the hit-and-run car was one of five different colors??
Matrixing is more common with digital cameras of LOW resolution, having larger pixels, and therefore more data that is inexact. The brain goes to work solving the puzzle of the missing pieces, and each person may see the image differently. (Those filters). Matrixing is more common in unfamiliar places, as the brain has no past references as to what is not supposed to be there, or to remember what actually was there.
Bottom line, photography is fun, and there will always be a few matrixed images, law of odds. You still have to take the shots, and take chances. Many excellent images are obtained in "spec" shots where the final image was seen by the camera, but not visible to the eye. The human eye can see only a limited portion of the entire light spectrum. The camera may cover a wider range. It's also best, if you are able to do so, to try to mentally recapture the moment the image was made, if a possible anomaly may be present in the image. We are pretty smart animals, and get more data input that we often credit ourselves with. Data may have been received, other than visual. Sometimes, it's just mood, or feeling. It's the same thing that gives us a warning that someone in a crowd may be staring at us. Even though the anomaly is probably harmless, we still may feel unease, as something feels "not right" at a particular moment. Gather the supporting data, mentally, for the image.
Thanks for the inquiry and posting. John/Paranormalis50 La. Spirits
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Post by paranormalis50 on Apr 28, 2010 16:25:45 GMT -5
Could you send me a copy of the image? Possibly I could explain matrixing better if I knew more about this specific image. www.paranormalis@aol.comTHX for the post and the question. John/
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