The ARGNY Blog

Aport of Call

This is a subject that is a little bit out there, but interesting, nonetheless. The phenomena of aportation, has its beginnings fraudulently in the 1800's when fake mediums would materialize objects out of nothing, with the explanation that they were gifts from the spirits. Sort of like paranormal door prizes. These days, charlatanism still surrounds aportation, with people like Sathya Sai Baba puking up all kinds of trinkets and paraphanalia in front of frenzied Indian groupies.

 

However, more reliable anecdotal evidence has been reported on the aportation of objects where no normal means of their sudden presence could be explained. On a recent episode of Paranormal State, a family was being plagued by the sudden aportation of potpourri balls, which would be thrown at them as they lay asleep on their bed. Understand, there were no potpourri balls present in the house at all until they would materialize out of nowhere. This in fact happens during the episode, although it is not visible on camera. Why potpourri? Who knows. They should just be glad, the balls were potpourri and bowling.

The reverse of aportation (what is that called? Unportation, Reportation? Deportation?) is extremely common in locations with reports of other types of paranormal activity. For example, keys or jewelry will suddenly disappear and re-appear in another spot. Or disappear, never to be found. This is sometimes also known as theft.

Ghost Hunters: Back to the Future

The thing that made you love Ghost Hunters in the first couple of seasons was that these were down-to-earth, honest guys, trying to help people. Their mission was to debunk places that were supposedly haunted and were soo not haunted and to only declare a place haunted if it was REALLY haunted. I remember lamenting one time on the TAPS message boards a bunch of years ago that the only way Jason would admit a place was haunted was if a ghost suddenly materialized right in front of his face, whacked him in the head with a sack full of nickels and then helped him up so they could pose for multiple photos and video spots. Well, those days are long gone.

But, last week's Season 5 premiere showed us a somewhat humbled Ghost Hunters team. No more were the crystal clear Class A EVPs, the incredible evidence and the locations jam-packed with activity. This was much more the kind of Ghost Hunters you remember from the early days, when there were some places that just didn't have anything going on. When debunking was still job one.

Jason and Grant obviously heard the complaints of their viewers and even the shock horror of their diehard fans when evidence was cropping up around the web that the team, themselves was faking some of the activity they were reporting. So, they've gone back to basics. It's not as flashy and certainly not as shocking, but it's real and that's what we love about those guys.

Video of the Week: Ghost Hunters Debunked, Again! (I Think I'm Going to be Sick)

This is a video from one of the many guys that have debunked the video that TAPS recorded at Eastern State Penitentiary. When this episode originally aired, I was very skeptical as to the authenticity of this clip. It looked to me like someone in a cloak running up to the camera and then back again. In fact, I could have sworn that I saw a leg, which this guy clearly points out exists.

I disagree, however, that TAPS staged this. I think it is more likely that ESP staged it themselves, but TAPS turned a blind eye. Something that I think they are doing now more often than not. I also completely disagree with TAPS' claim that it would not be possible for someone to run that fast in the dark on that cat walk. I've been there (see my Eastern State post) and I know that it is perfectly possible. If you want to see the original TAPS footage, check it out, here:

100 Bottles of Ghost on the Wall, 100 Bottles of Ghost...

For $20 you can buy a ghost in a bottle from gen-u-ine ghost hunters. You even get a ghost certificate, so you know it MUST be real. But, be careful, because as the web site clearly warns,

"WE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISFORTUNE TO BEFALL YOU SHOULD YOU TAKE POSSESSION OF THIS OBJECT."

But that didn't stop Murray from Apple Valley, California, who wrote,

"Just like your instructions advised, I beleive I have seen all signs of my ghost. I'm thinking of moving out of my apartment, it's now haunted. The Ghost Bottle is a very entertaining novelty!"

Hey Murray, what do you want to do tonight? Bowling? Movie? Move out of your apartment? I don't know, they all sound so entertaining!

Flipper, The Friendly Ghost

This video, which originally aired on CNN a couple of weeks ago, is currently making the rounds. There are already spoof videos that have been made of it. It is classic fraudulent ghost imagery, in the tradition of the fake seance, but with digital flair. Someone managed to digitally super-impose what looks like a dolphin onto a surveillance camera feed.

Have a great Thanksgiving!