Walmart Wonder

Jacob Simmons and Gentry Lee Sutherland, an engaged couple from Anderson County, South Carolina were shocked to see the face of Jesus looking out at them from a Walmart receipt. They had bought some pictures from the store on June 12^th and left the receipt in Sutherland’s apartment. Three days later, Simmons was leaving the kitchen after the couple had returned from a church service and noticed the receipt on the floor. “I was leaving the kitchen and I just looked on the floor and it was like it was looking at me.” said Simmons.

“We had a message on knowing God, abiding in him,” said Sutherland. “If you know God, would you recognize him if you saw him?”

The couple deny tampering with the receipt and hope that it will show Jesus to everyone who sees it.

This story is similar to many that purport to show images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and icons from other religions on mundane objects. Assuming that the couple are genuine, they doubtless feel specially blessed to have been singled out as recipients of such a miracle but there are a few questions that are worth raising:

Firstly, many people will see the image of Jesus in this receipt, however, not one of them will know what Jesus actually looked like. There are no useful descriptions of Jesus from Biblical texts and no evidence beyond these texts that he even existed in the first place. No historian living during the alleged lifetime of Jesus gives any mention at all to him. (And, before anyone mentions Josephus Flavius – he wasn’t even born until 37CE and wrote Antiquities in 93CE which is later than the Gospels!). So, no-one knows what Jesus would have looked like but it is very doubtful that he would display the typical European features given to him by Christian artists over the centuries. So this being an image of Jesus is in the eye of the beholder.

Indeed, there are more direct comparisons that can be made of the image. It does bear a resemblance to self-proclaimed Messiah, Charles Manson. Not exactly a person whom any good Christian couple would wish to have staring at them from their kitchen floor.

To me it looks quite like the writer, Alan Moore, author or Watchmen, From Hell, V for Vendetta and many other successful graphic novels. And Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters. In fact, it looks like lots of people to me, but not Jesus – because I don’t know what he looked like.

L to R; Walmart receipt, Alan Moore, Charles Manson, Dave Grohl
Would the real Messiah please stand up..?

As to the miracle of the appearing image – the receipt has been produced on a thermal till printer. This type of printer uses heat to print the characters on the receipt. Exposure to more heat will blacken the receipt. I have seen the result of this from leaving a petrol station receipt in my car on a sunny day. When I returned to the car, the receipt was completely black. So a receipt left in a place with sources of heat, for example, a kitchen, could easily darken through exposure to heat. As patterns form, our natural tendency to look for significance in these patterns, pareidolia, kicks in and we see faces. In this particular case, the image is a very clear formation and I can’t help suspecting that the image has been ‘helped along’.

Even if it hasn’t had human assistance, I do wonder about Jesus’ choice to manifest himself upon a Walmart till receipt. If we take what has been written about Him, I cannot see Him choosing to announce His presence on a product from a company that, amongst other things, practices money-lending. Jesus was very much against this sort of thing and the practice of lending money and charging interest, usuary, was always regarded as a terrible sin. Then there’s all the pork products. And guns.

I don’t think he’d like Walmart very much.

Assuming that Jesus looked like Robert Powell in 'Jesus of Nazareth', had he survived the crucifixion, he would have looked like this in his later years...

Maybe Walmart should start stocking these?

A naming and shaming, and highlighting paranormal stupidity.

You know sometimes, just sometimes, the cretins who call themselves experts turn up and show just why they are ridiculed and bring a bad name to a subject in dire need of a return to reality.

VANDALS have identified themselves after they broke into the former North Wales hospital and scrawled graffiti on the Grade II listed building.

Flintshire Paranormal entered the dilapidated buildings late on June 17 and left a graffiti tag including the group and individuals’ names.

Unfortunately Flintshire is pretty darn local to me, we’ll get onto the location shortly, one I’ve had a bee in my bonnet about for quite some time

“We only went to the morgue and chapel as it was just too dangerous to try and go any further,” said Donna Taylor, group member.

“We aren’t the kind of group who go around defacing buildings, we would never have done it normally but everyone in the area thinks it is about to be demolished, there is white tape all over it saying ‘demo’.

So you write on the walls, but don’t? HELLO!!!

“If we had enough money we would ideally like to save the building and do it up ourselves.

No you wouldn’t foolish woman, it’s been condemned for years and proposals for its future have long been sorted.

“It is an amazing place, we were appalled by the state other people had left it in.”

Because dear lady, just like you, everybody who’s viewed Most Farted and other Antix claptrap have thought the same, let’s go and pretend to be Ghostbusters at a lovely place…

Flintshire Paranormal claim to search and investigate for evidence of life after death and also offer ghost nights and a free service to businesses and home owners who want answers on paranormal activity.

So does every other modern day twerp, can you not start crochet or something worthwhile, go back through the UPIA blogs and realise researching the subject isn’t watching TV and becoming an “expert”

The graffiti was discovered and photographed by urban explorer Jim Gilette.

Respect to Jim…. But…

“I wonder if this organisation deface every Grade II listed building they visit,” said Mr Gilette.

People, condemned and privately owned building… Laws… Trespass…

Urgent repair works began on the hospital last week after years of vandalism, arson attacks and thefts.

Finally.

“Everybody is pleased that work has finally begun on the building so people need to keep out of there,” said Denbigh councillor Raymond Bartley.

“Anybody who is entering the site is ignoring police advice to stay out; they are playing with their lives.

“It is extremely dangerous in there and whoever has done this graffiti should be prosecuted.

“We need to maintain what we can in there as a listed building whilst we wait for the repair works to be completed.”

Ok Raymondo, so let’s put our Denbighshire county council hands in our pockets and pay for some security.

A Denbighshire County Council spokeswoman said: “Due to theft, vandalism, many years of neglect and the presence of asbestos the former North Wales Hospital Denbigh is now extremely dangerous.

“Entering the building could lead to serious injury and/or long term health problems. “

A North Wales Police spokesman added: “Officers in the town are warning individuals not to put themselves in danger by entering the disused building which is unsafe.”

Ok, blog over. But let’s jump back a few years.
Most Haunted at the Denbighshire facility, I was contacted then by the same newspaper which featured this story, and knowing the building and its alleged paranormal related history, was able to offer a thorough statement, concerning both the location and the debacle of charlatan TV.

Letter Sent to a local Newspaper by Dave Sadler, Co-coordinator of the UPIA:
As a representative of the Unknown Phenomena Investigation Association, and a serious student of paranormal phenomena in all its forms, I am disgusted at the debacle that was last week’s ‘Village of the Damned ‘edition of Most Haunted.

I have not viewed this programme for a number of years, due to the highly dubious content of the show, so my opinion maybe slightly biased. This aside, due to the locality of the programme, and my associations with local venues, I felt I should watch given the knowledge of the appalling standards set by Most Haunted.

A week of stupidity greeted my eyes, refraining from hurling my hand control at the TV, but still I watched agape.

The use of séances and Ouija boards, as well as the pre watershed content, to me in the digital age encouraged wanna be experts and children to hang around dangerous, disused buildings at night.

The use of Voodoo dolls, witchcraft and raising the devil using a satanic bible (which no Satanist has ever done) as well as other occult matter in mine and others eyes, has made a mockery of ancient religions in many areas.

So to the hospital, and mustn’t the families of those ex patients viewing be overjoyed with the shows practices. Using religious rights in an area where in the past, the reports of paranormal activity, has only been related to the building, in no way witches, this an area of mythology and folklore, but now giving the town of Denbigh a stigmata it will not soon relinquish. Yes tourism may be boosted, but on the evidence of a fraudulent TV programme, earning a lot of money out of the towns good people and name.

Already groups of Most Haunted chasing wannabees are splashed all over the internet to pay them money to visit Denbigh’s locations.

Consumer laws state ‘You cannot charge for a service you cannot prove you are performing’ Therefore these profiteering people and mediums which travel in their wake are breaking laws which are being overlooked.

And my personal favourite. An Exorcist…..

An exorcism to clear evil influences, again consumer laws, and misleading the public comes into play.

An exorcism is a religious blessing which can only be performed by an ordained priest, who has specific permission from the diocese bishop. This permission is generally given as a last resort after counselling, psychiatric and medical approaches have failed to achieve any change in a case. This generally works as a placebo. At present the catholic church has 13 ordained exorcists, controlled by the Vatican. 3 Protestant (exorcists) deliverance ministers and since the 1600′s no orthodox ministers. Therefore Who was the exorcist, why was he paraded as such, and why have most haunted stooped to these levels?

The UPIA are currently undertaking an experiment to see how quickly and what procedures are in place to become a recognised exorcist, outside of reality.

Overall I feel sorry for those misled by Most Haunted; Upset by its content and its continued forays into faked and fraudulent practices, and the fan base it has created. Especially my and other UPIA member’s thoughts go out to residents of the town, and family and friends of the hospitals former patients.

Regards
Dave Sadler
www.upia.co.uk

My colleague Kirst D’Raven, best worded the furore created in Denbigh and its attraction to the amateur idiot.

I include Kirst’s original blog in full as to understand where I’m going with this….

Once again I find myself in the winter of my discontent. Only this time, I have company..

Hallowe’en is one of those times of year that you either love or hate – I personally love it, not for its over Americanised trick or treat tradition, its Pagan roots or its rich Celtic history – not even for the rehashed and repeated horrorfest of blood spattered and gore infested pap served up on TV, but because I’m lucky enough to be able to get the chance to rip the piss out of the barmpots who call into the radio phone in which we have been taking part for the last two years on Hallam, Viking and Aire FMs ‘Confessional’ Show with Ian and Vix.

Hallowe’en is a pretty dire time for serious paranormal investigators. The press misrepresenting and twisting your comments regarding local phenomena, and you can barely step out of the front door without tripping over some no mark paranormal tourism company, hell bent on relieving the unsuspecting public of their hard earned in return for ‘Pay-Per-Boo’ ‘Vigils’ in ‘Haunted’ locations…

This year however, I was lucky. The press have been quite happy to print mine and UPIAs comments very faithfully, and as I mentioned before Ian and Vix know not to expect any woo-woo from us, and quite like the fact that we offer the rational side of paranormal investigation. Unfortunately that hasn’t been the case for some of the other, more influential outlets. I am talking of course about Most Haunted Live.

I can’t watch it – I’ve tried. I seem to suffer some kind of allergic reaction characterised by a shocked pallor, uncontrollable arm movements, Tourrettes like symptoms and an overwhelming feeling of sickness at the mere thought of watching it, but millions still do, and millions are still being mislead that this is actually what paranormal investigation is all about.

I have however tried to keep abreast of what they have been up to down in Denbighshire, partly because I’m a nosey cow, and partly because one of the first texts that came into Hallam Fm on the 30th was asking if the person, someone called Tracey I believe, who had just appeared on MHL claiming to be the leader of UPIA North Wales was in any way associated with UPIA.

The resounding answer (which I actually managed without swearing live across the UK airwaves) was of course ‘Is she heck as like!! UPIA are a serious investigation and research group, not a mockery of a sham of an untruth!!’

This little incident did however draw my attention to some of the other reports of the shenanigans going down in deepest Wales, and for once, instead of being amused and slightly pissed off by the inane rambling of mediums, unproductive investigation technique and downright pisspoor acting skills of the crew and cast, I found myself deeply disturbed and horrified.

Firstly, the fact that the whole week long debacle had been subtitled ‘Village of the Damned’ can’t have done anything for the areas street cred. Apparently it refers to the dubious and probably unproven legend that witches practiced Satanism in the area and it is now cursed. Three points should be made here:

1. Witches? by witches do we mean the people who were persecuted and executed as witches during the Witchtrials, when anyone who was classed as an outsider, was old, deformed, ugly, had a cat, a wart or a basic knowledge of the medicinal properties of herbs or refused to give up their beliefs in the ‘old religion’ was prime target for a quick prod and torture session?

2. Witches that practice Satanism? Surely witches practice Witchcraft? You know – like Pagans practice Paganism, Christians practice Christianity? Satanists practice Satanism?

3. One of the most important facts you find when studying any area of the Occult or Magic is just how difficult it is to find real information. There’s a reason for this. It’s Secret. There’s also a reason why it’s secret. The Church doesn’t approve. Thus, anyone who knows anything about the occult, Satanism, Magic etc also knows that if any form of practice, celebration or whatever had been performed in that area then nobody would know about it. Ever.

4. Curses. I like curses, they are interesting, but then I’m interested in psychology as a whole. The interesting thing about curses is they only work if you believe in them. That’s because it’s a psychological thing. If you can make a person believe they are going to die, certain physiological factors come into play which could actually cause death – but only if the person BELIEVES. Now, let’s apply this to a place as opposed to a person… err.. doesn’t work, does it? The pace can’t believe in the curse, the place is not a sentient being.

So, since we have that out of the way, and discovered that logically there’s really no reason to believe that any activity of a paranormal nature is likely to occur there – or from what I can gather has even been reported there, at least not that could be associated with any occult practices, what next?

Ah yes, the Asylum..

It’s a sad fact that in this day and age people do still fear mental illness – for obvious reasons, of course, we wouldn’t want it to happen to ourselves or our loved ones, much in the same way we wouldn’t want to be afflicted with cancer, pain or even an ingrowing toenail. What I find even sadder is the stigma which is still attached to psychiatric patients and their families. The ignorant attitude of some individuals that all psychiatric patients are dangerous, and must be restrained with medication, appliances or padded cells. The Selfish and heartless attitude that mental illness is something that we should be ashamed of, that our sick, chemically imbalanced, depressed fellows should be hidden away and not spoken of… this is 2008. This is not the age of Bedlam. Victoria is no longer on the Throne.

I must admit that through the media and education, society has gradually become more tolerant, and the Victorian attitude somewhat less apparent these days. People who as little as fifty years ago would have been ushered out of the eyesight of others are now accepted freely among us – and rightly so too! Illness is nothing to be ashamed of, being different is not a crime.

So why in these enlightened times were Most Haunted allowed to show footage of people in straitjackets, in padded cells, rocking in corners? And did I not read somewhere that one of the experiments conducted featured members of the crew in similar circumstances?

Just for this one stupid, insensitive, heartless act this programme should be removed from the listings.

I read somewhere a statement from Antix productions (who make MHL) that their approach to filming the investigation at the asylum would be ’sympathetic and sensitive to the feelings of the families of patients and the patients themselves, past and present’ or words to that effect. Hmmmm… Maybe there was a typo there, maybe they meant ‘pathetic and insensitive’. Denbigh closed in 1997; I think it’s safe to say that there are still people who will have been offended by those scenes.

The other irrational, irrelevant and irresponsible acts included over the seven days the programme was on air are kind of pale in comparison to this, but I’ll include them anyway.

1. Invoking Satan, using the Satanic Bible – presumably the one readily available and written by Anton LaVey? – I actually own the book, can’t remember it saying how to do that, although it’s a long time since I read it. And did I hear that the ‘protection’ used while this invocation was performed was a circle of salt? Just in case the Devil hates salt? Surely the Devil is pure evil, wouldn’t think a little salt would bother him..

2. Performing ‘Voodoo’ rituals using a poppet or likeness into which pins were inserted to cause pain to, in this case, the teams “medium”. I’m told the medium actually had to be told where the pins were being inserted too, which is a bit disconcerting as I would have expected any medium who was worth his special most haunted devil repelling salt to have somehow ‘Known’ (said in a spooky voice) one way or another..

3. Performing Séances. Séances aren’t actually used as part of serious paranormal research, neither are tabletilting, Ouija boards, mediums.. in fact any means of gaining information that doesn’t have at least some scientific or logical evidence to back it up. This kind of Victorian pastime is usually used by people who are hoping to provide entertainment to the masses.

4. Exorcism. I’m still looking into the actual ins and outs of this one. An exorcism is a religious rite which can only be performed by an ordained and trained priest. The rite must be sanctioned by the bishop of the diocese, and is only ever used as a last resort, and is considered a placebo. The person performing the exorcism must have exhausted all other ways – medical, psychological, environmental etc – to resolve the problems being experienced.

However..

Recent research and experimentation by UPIA has revealed that there are ways and means one can implicate to become regarded as an exorcist, and if one was so inclined possibly make some cash out of it – which is quite disturbing.

All in all, the whole thing seems to have proved to be a shambles from start to finish. Local councils are up in arms.. traders in fear of their livelyhood.. disgruntled residents horrified – not to mention the horrendous way the patients and families have been portrayed and the ancient beliefs and religions of many people made a mockery of – all this AND shown at such a time and glorified in such ways to actively encourage people – particularly the young and unstable – to go wandering around derelict buildings recreating this drivel! I say the young and unstable because to be frank you’d have to be to believe it in the first place.

Personally, If I were involved with Most Haunted I’d give up the Ghost, so to speak. At the very least public apologies should be made for their irresponsible attitude, their insensitivity, their wrongful portrayal of investigative procedure and religious ritual. Not to mention for the damage they are doing to the field of paranormal investigation as a whole. This is without the obvious mention of the fact that from now on, a warning should be broadcast throughout the programme, informing viewers that this programme should be viewed for what it really is – Entertainment Only, and pretty dire entertainment at that..

My point being, Denbighshire county council have know the issues regarding the building for some time, unfortunately they allowed the use of the site by crap TV, known to attract the idiotic The facts have been available for years, the tinterweb is awash with images taken by trespassers, so why has nothing been done to protect the Grade II listed building before.
And to be honest, why are other buildings of consequence around the UK also being protected. The Deva asylum facility in Chester is another favourite of the buffoons, and that’s just two in one blog.

Pull your finger out people, if one of these arses does get injured, who’s liable?

And Flintshire Paranormal, I name and shame you. Let’s face it, I guarantee somewhere your promoting yourselves as professional, reliable, honest and scientific. And people are letting you into their homes….

And its they I feel sorry for.

Who Ya Gonna Call Now?

Wales Online

Professor Brian Cox slates believers in ghosts online

TELEVISION scientist Professor Brian Cox has slammed people who believe in ghosts – labelling them “nobbers”.

Now now, lets not over react here! The Smiley Scientist generally calls most people ‘Nobbers’..

The slick scientist, pictured, attracted a slew of complaints from listeners after he repeatedly poked fun at believers with comedian Robin Ince on his Radio 4 show The Infinite Monkey Cage during a discussion of science and the supernatural.

A number of listeners complained to the BBC after the Monday airing of the programme, saying it lacked balance.

Cox – voted one of the sexiest men alive – took to Twitter to blast paranormal believers.

“Just heard we got complaints about lack of BBC balance about ghosts,” he wrote. “There are some utter nobbers out there!”

Another tweet read: “Here is my official statement, which also has the benefit of being a fact. There are no ghosts, so it would be silly to believe in them.”

I like Brian Cox – if he’d been my physics teacher I probably would have learnt physics..

The bit I liked the best was when all the bloody ‘skeptics‘ jumped on the bandwagon.

So,  now the bestower of  nobber nighthoods has spoken – and obviously what he says MUST be true, since he’s a professor and suchlike – what are all you skeptical paranormal investigators going to be skeptical about? Surely, as a true, dyed in the wool skeptic, you should question the reliability of  Sir Brian of  Cox’s statement? Test his theory to breaking point? find out the ‘Troof’??

Evidently not..

No, because he’s famous. Just jump on the bandwaggon and agree, hey? Better to just give up hunting for things that don’t exist – wouldnt want to be labelled a nobber, would you?

I actually had more respect for the believers than the skeptics, at least they had the moral backbone to stand up for their beliefs, regardless of what that made them ( Nobbers in this case, according to the Cox Groupie Brigade). I should imagine that their belief will far outweigh the need to jump on the free publicity bandwagon, and they will continue to seek that which eludes all..

And me? I’m neither a skeptic nor a believer, and I do what I do ‘cos its my passion. I do it for me, not fame and fortune. I’m a realist, wether or not ghosts actually exist  has never been a major part of what I do. And frankly, I don’t need a bandwagon to ride. I’ll keep doing what I do because, regardless of who said what and what they said on some COMEDY radio show, I have no doubt that folk will still truly believe they’ve experienced something paranormal…

I’d like to find out what and why..

and I’d rather be a ‘Nobber‘ than a ‘Cox Suck-Up’