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Reading Between the Party Lines...
2008-04-09 04:47:00
Yes, many of us are already tired of the Presidential race. I'll spare you all another political rant, but I wanted to share a little tidbit of news...This week, Hillary Clinton spoke with the Philadelphia Gay News. Of the three candidates, she was the only one who chose to permit an interview. In the last four years, Obama has granted zero interviews with local GLBT press. And only one interview with mainstream gay press during the entire campaign. McCain's campaign has even acted more politely to local GLBT media sources than Obama's campaign.Perhaps he's playing it safe... or perhaps all the people I've heard praising Obama's support of the community might be a little misguided.That is all. I'll get off my soap box. Or quit playing devil's advocate... whichever you prefer.
More About: Reading , Party , Lines , The Party

Even Ghost Hunters Get the Blues...
2008-04-08 22:01:00
I don't know why, but lately I've just been feeling a bit funky. Not in some 70s disco-type manner, either. Just sort of 'eh'. Listless. Frustrated. Irritable.One possible cause would be my birthday. In exactly one week, I turn 29. My Thirties are looming on the horizon and that "christ-I-haven't-accomplished-hardly-any -goals" depressive mindset is sneaking up again. It'll be another day, like most others. Little fanfare. Cruddy weather. I think what makes this one more poignant to me is my former friend, Chris. He committed suicide 16 days after his 29th birthday. Whoever said that your 20s is the best part of your life was obviously in a drunken stupor through them all. Though they haven't all been bad, April 15th means that chaotic decade of my life is almost at an end.Secondly, I've once again been on the push to quit smoking. An absence of nicotine makes for irritability. I haven't quit outright, knowing what a nightmare I would be while going through withdrawal, but I...
More About: Blues , Ghost , Hunters

Supernatural Spotlight: Karen Laven
2008-04-07 19:33:00
Of all places to run across a paranormal author: I first heard about Karen Laven on craigslist.Everyone who knows me knows how much the paranormal intrigues me. Therefore it was no surprise when a family member sent me information from an ad on craigslist looking for Ohio ghost stories. On a whim, I wrote to the author and introduced myself. I heard back almost instantly.Though Karen may be a shy, quiet person, she is a very accomplished writer. She began as a journalist and photographer in Buffalo, NY made the leap to books after moving the the northern Kentucky/southern Ohio region several years ago. Her books are diverse in topic, though I find myself very partial to the paranormal ones.Her first ghost book deals with a fascinating city, Cincinnati. It is quite a fascinating place, both paranormally and historically. Personally, I've always been intrigued by the subway tunnels running underneath the city... for a subway system which was abandoned just as it was being finished......
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Can You Hear Me Now?
2008-04-07 05:12:00
Last week, the Blackpool Gazette reported strange activity in a Lancashire home. The house on Windsor Avenue in Thornton has been the center of paranormal activity for decades. Previous residents told reporters of strange and terrifying phenomena as far back as 1971.Frank Jones and his family moved in 20 years ago. Though they believed the stories were exaggerations, they soon learned that everything was true. Loud noises and bangs, strange smells, and floating mists were just a few of the nightly experiences. The family nicknamed the culprit The Thing.Fleetwood Spiritualist Church was called in and "cleansed" the property of the entities. Everything went quiet... at least until five years ago when his son and wife passed away in a three-month span of time.When Jones arrived home one evening, he noticed the scent of perfume accompanied by cigarette smoke. He immediately attributed the smells to Sadie, his wife. Just moments before entering the house, he received a missed call though...
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Everybody Wants to Get Stoned...
2008-04-04 20:10:00
With all the excitement yesterday, I completely forgot to post an entry. But oh well, such is life sometimes...I did have an interesting evening at a metaphysical shop with Bill and Evie. We attended a little gathering which takes place regularly on Thursdays discussing a variety of topics. There were several interesting people (interesting in a good way, though). We gabbed endlessly until finally approaching the topic for the evening: stones and crystals.We each picked a stone from a bag. I picked amber (though from the flat, lightweight shape I pulled out I honestly thought it was accidentally a potato chip) and we all discussed the meanings attached to the stones. We then traded stones with the person next to us to see if we could "sense" anything about the person from holding it. Some people had a lot of success, but I wasn't too great at it. Then again, much of these things are relative... and meanings can be found in a plethora of symbols and images.I've always liked rocks a...
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The Nature of the Beast...
2008-04-04 18:47:00
Convicted child molester Gene R. Morrill, 57, of Ipswich, NH was sentenced to 20 years behind bars last week for soliciting sex with a minor over the internet. He didn't realize the young boys he was chatting with were actually police detectives from Stafford, Virginia. He also faces similar charges in Prince William County.During his questioning, a possible explanation for his behavior came out. He was molested as a child himself. Not by a family member or neighbor... by Bigfoot.Though he was determined to be mentally competent, Morrill remains convinced he was raped by a Sasquatch in his early years. The courts failed to lend a sympathetic ear, though.Makes me wonder if we should add Bigfoot to the list of sexual predators... but then where would we list for his address?
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No Rest for the Damned...
2008-04-04 18:21:00
Want some peace and quiet? A restful retreat? Some time alone to gather your thoughts?Why not lie in a grave for a little while?At least that was the plan created by a vicar in Düsseldorf, Germany. Thorsten Nolting thought it might be a nice, "meditative exercise" for his parishioners. People would be permitted a seven-minute stay six feet under to contemplate the world above and resisting the "dark energy...weighing them down".Of course, the local media ruined it for everyone.Peace was disrupted by reporters and inquisitive journalists. The end result? Participants were leaving the graves more stressed than ever. They could not find solitude while being questions endlessly by the media about their experiences and had a difficult time blocking out the din from above. One local man was still shaking 20 minutes after emerging from the plot.Perhaps cemeteries are only truly peaceful when you're dead.
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Phantom Law Enforcement...
2008-04-03 05:07:00
No one likes being in a police station. But in the town of Homestead, Pennsylvania, even the officers sometimes have that feeling of dread. Why? Because the station is believed to be haunted.Everything from footsteps to doors slamming has been experienced inside the building by workers. The door leading to the attic mysteriously opens no matter how many times it is bolted shut. A typewriter has a habit of operating under its own volition. Icy breezes blow through the old cell blocks. Even outside the building, a snow blower recently started up... even though it had no key or battery.Employees finally want proof that they aren't going insane. They've called in the Greater Pittsburgh Paranormal Society to find evidence of a haunting. They claim to have made a discovery in the boiler room (which happens to be a 'hot spot' for activity), though they are waiting to release their findings at a later date.
More About: Phantom , Law Enforcement , Enforcement

Three Bedroom, Two Bath, One Demon...
2008-04-02 23:33:00
After three long and agonizing years, homeowners Gaetano and Stefania Bastianelli of Spoleto, Italy have decided to sue the previous owners for failure to disclose certain problems with their house on Santo Chiodo Road. The foundation, plumbing, and structural details may be fine, but the haunting has been quite a nuisance.The house was a steal at ?120,000 in 2005. The previous family had even left all their furniture and belongings there... including the coffee cups! Not thinking twice about it, they purchased the dwelling immediately. Unfortunately, starting on the first night they spent in the house, they noticed peculiar things happening.The hot water turned on in the bathroom, flooding the floor. By morning, the walls were coated in a "luminous green mould". Later, his daughter was awakened by rattling chains in the hallway. Both the lawnmower and Mrs. Bastianelli's car caught on fire on separate occasions for no known reason.It seems the house is situated near an abandoned ce...
More About: Bath , Bedroom , Demon

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!
2008-04-01 19:19:00
This past weekend was a very busy time for me. Although today is the official day, Saturday night is when I gathered with friends to celebrate my friend Chris' birthday.I arrived Friday afternoon to help Bill clean and set up for the surprise party. Since the weather was decent enough, I painted most of the enclosed porch as well. I decided against finishing it Saturday morning, just on the outside chance some paint might still be wet when guests arrived. That night, I set up streamers and arranged seating for everyone before finally getting some rest.Saturday, I did some baking early in the day, hoping the scent of chocolate chip cookies would disperse before evening. I cleaned the kitchen and living room before relaxing with a movie. Natasha and Robin arrived in time to help blow up balloons and hang them and we killed time chatting about the paranormal. Slowly, people started to arrive... just in time to quietly wait for Chris to come into the room.It was a pleasant surprise for...
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What We've All Been Waiting For...
2008-04-01 06:19:00
It's a landmark day for paranormal investigators around the globe: we now have definitive proof that ghosts actually do exist.Dr. Clarence Vuyaunte of Cornell University, a professor of physics, says that recent lab work has concluded that the paranormal realm is not only plausible to science but can be quantified by recent experiments in his Eschelmann Hall laboratory. A series of tests were conducted on an entity from a nearby undisclosed cemetery.His deductions have astounded his colleagues. His findings are somewhat surprising as well:-"Anti-energy" (similar to antimatter) is the basic component of entities.-Power is derived from external sources, similar to machines.-Ribbons of antimatter occur in some manifestations of "spirits", giving them a dark, shadowy appearance.-Infrared and UV light occasionally captures the outer layer of antimatter from apparitions in cold, dry climates.-Low levels of current carry the conscious mind of the deceased in a free-floating energy bundle....
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Supernatural Spotlight: Antonio R. Garcez
2008-03-31 18:49:00
I don't have a single drop of Native American blood coursing through my veins. That does not mean I'm not extremely curious about the myths, lore, and history surrounding the early civilizations of the Americas. And oddly enough, I've had a few unexplainable experiences involving Native spirits during my life... experiences which still sometimes haunt me to this day.In our modern times, the Eastern Woodland tribes of the Midwest are a distant memory. We are left with a few artifacts (arrowheads, mounds, and sparse monuments) acknowledging their existence in the region over thousands of years. The few whom were left were forced West in the early 1800s and late 1700s. Some descendants still can be found in the Southwest, though much of the original cultures are forgotten.A few years ago, I stumbled across Antonio Garcez's website while browsing paranormal topics. It was sheer coincidence that someone mentioned his name and recommended his work. I bookmarked his site and ventured o...
More About: Supernatural , Spotlight

The Wanderer Returns...
2008-03-31 04:43:00
It was a good weekend, but a long one. I'm still feeling worn out, but I'll be back to normal tomorrow. So much to catch up on... and I'm too tired and sore to do it now!

Ghouls and Goals...
2008-03-28 13:36:00
When most people think of England, two things come to mind: ghosts and football.(No, not that "American football"... normal football (i.e. soccer). You know, what the rest of the globe calls football? The sport that actually involves your feet?)Among England's many football leagues and teams is Arsenal, part of the Premier League. Their goalkeeper, Spaniard Manuel Almunia, recently received special permission to return to his Hertfordshire home for lunch with his wife in Abbots Langley. Ana doesn't like being home alone.Apparently, their house is haunted.She has heard chains rattling and witnessed the stereo volume changing on its own. The most terrifying experience occurred one night when the figure of a monk carrying a candle appeared at the foot of their bed.The couple believes the home was built on the original location of Leavesden Hospital. This mental institution was constructed in 1867 and was mostly demolished in 1995. Only the administrative block, recreation hall, and c...
More About: Goals

The Bigfoot of the Bush?
2008-03-27 05:42:00
The creature often known as "Bigfoot " goes by many names. In the United States, it is often referred to as Sasquatch in the North and Skunk Ape in the South. In the Himalayas, the Yeti.But what about Yowie?Yes: on the remote island of Australia, there have been reports of the same enigmatic beast. There, he is commonly referred to as the Yowie. And like anywhere else in the world, the tales are often met with skepticism and plenty of humour. Yet much of the Australian Outback is still uncharted. Many beasts once believed to be extinct (or yet to be discovered) could roam the countryside.According to researchers, Oz is home to two distinct species of Yowie: a smaller, more docile 'jingera' of Aboriginal legend, and a gigantic, aggressive counterpart. The basic description remains the same: large, hairy, ape-like humanoid creatures with immense strength and horrid body odor. A few reports from the 1800s exist, and people have reported seeing an ape-like creature as recently as last ...
More About: Bush , The Bush

Paranormal Investigators: We Know Drama
2008-03-26 19:36:00
Many people watch shows like Ghost Hunters and think, "Gosh, that looks like fun! getting together with people, investigating ghosts, having fun... I want to do that too!"I really wish that were the case.Yes, investigating hauntings can be fun, rewarding, and sometimes even a bit lucrative. But just as with any hobby or career, it has plenty of pitfalls.Media, be it print or television, isn't always a blessing. Some reporters misconstrue words and twist storylines to follow their own private agenda. Occasionally, journalists will appear to have the best intentions, but once the story is published it has a negative stance. Reporters will make mistakes. They will use hype to over-dramatize statements, evidence, or tales. It comes with the territory... after all, ratings and good reviews can mean the difference between a feature story and being sent into a hurricane miles away, never to be seen again. There are plenty of decent, well-respected reporters in the world, but that doesn't...
More About: Drama , Paranormal

Dead and Breakfast
2008-03-26 14:28:00
When a building is haunted, most people try their best to ignore or deny the presences.Not Goodwin House Bed & Breakfast in Burton, Ohio. They welcome the spirits. And don't mind talking about them.This 1828 house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built by Dr. Erastus Goodwin and most of the structure remains original, right down to the woodwork and foundation. The innkeepers quarters may date back as far as 1814. A few guests and paranormal investigators have reported unusual experiences, especially in the dining room. Robyn Morris, the innkeeper, heard her name called by an unknown person.Of course, there are a few other hauntings in town. At least one spirit ("Peter") is said to haunt Full Spectrum Art Studio. Burton Fox Inn, a former restaurant and boarding house in the southwest corner of Burton Square, is haunted by a little boy named "Charlie". Belle's Colonial Restaurant has been plagued by mysterious footsteps.The Goodwin House, along with ...
More About: Dead

Pretty Fly for a Dead Guy...
2008-03-26 05:02:00
Zack Dunlap of Fredrick, Kansas has a bit of trouble with his memory. Most people might consider that odd for a 21-year-old.But most young adults haven't been dead before.On November 19th, Zack was involved in a serious accident involving an all-terrain vehicle. He was taken to the hospital, but after his heart and brain ceased functioning, he was declared dead. Family members went to pay their last respects before his organs were donated.But he moved.48 days later, he was released from the hospital. He doesn't remember the accident or much else, but he can recall hearing the doctors announce his expiration.Doctors say it may take at least a year for his brain to repair itself after the trauma, but the Dunlap family doesn't mind the necessary patience.
More About: Dead , Pretty

Jeepers Creepers, Where'd You Get Those Peepers?
2008-03-26 00:17:00
Over the past decade or more, stories of particularly strange encounters with not-quite-human people have been whispered around the globe.The storytellers are very diverse: a bank executive in Sydney, Australia elevator; a couple at a rest area in Michigan; a Portland, Oregon apartment manager; an anonymous Starbucks customer in an undisclosed location; and most-surprisingly a newspaper reporter in Abilene, Texas.To the casual observer, the individuals they met or saw wouldn't seem very unusual. Though upon closer inspection, they all had one very odd thing in common: their eyes. They were pure blackness, lacking a pupil or iris.Websites often refer to these people as BEKs (short for "black eyed kids"). Generally, they are children, between 10 and 18, and are entreating entrance. Be it a ride in a car or coming inside a home or apartment to borrow the phone, they generally grow impatient if denied. Witnesses have noticed a strange, uncomfortable feeling around them... even compulsi...

Return of the Roaming Gnome...
2008-03-24 21:34:00
Did anyone really think the Argentinian gnome story would go away?Countless people from far and wide have commented about the strange sighting and the mobile phone video. Some say it's a hoax. Others, a clever Travelocity ploy. Our iconic image of the typical gnome dates back only to the 1970s. Before the book, Gnome s, was published, no two people could agree on their appearance.And the debate still rages on. 90 percent of the residents of General Guemes believe in the small creatures.Now, more people are coming forward. Apparently, only weeks before the infamous footage was captured near the town cemetery, rail workers reported a strange gnome-like creature on the tracks they were working on during the night. Other Argentinians claim to have witnessed gnomes over the course of their lives.Could this be real? Or has someone been reading too many of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books? In fact, is was done by R.L. Stine... There is an episode (ironically) titled "Revenge of the Lawn Gnom...
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Bunnies, Bibles, and Gay Scientists
2008-03-22 20:06:00
Aah, Easter. Tomorrow is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days following his crucifixion. What that has to do with coloured eggs, marshmallow Peeps, and a giant white rabbit, I'll never know...Actually, Easter coincidentally originally fell on the Spring Equinox, when pagans celebrated the return of spring and the fertility of the coming year's crops. The name itself, "Easter", is believed to have originated from Eostre, the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. I guess we tend to mix things up over the centuries...I'll spare you all the usual ranting about misconstrued history and instead give you a bit of humour from Australia. The following clips are from CNNNN (2002-2003), a comedy show which preceded The Chaser's War on Everything. After five long years, they're still quite amusing...What better way to honour Easter than to discuss Christianity and homosexuality?
More About: Bibles , Scientists

Got Milk?
2008-03-22 06:01:00
British comedian Richard Herring samples......Sasquatch Milk .
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They See Dead People?
2008-03-22 03:51:00
England is well known for its ghosts. Of the many haunted places throughout the UK, the Gaiety Theatre, on the Isle of Man, is reported to be one of the most haunted on the British Isles. The theatre was originally constructed in 1899 and opened its doors in 1900. After falling into a state of severe disrepair by 1968, it was saved from demolition. Restoration began in 1990 and was completed in 2000.Three spirits are said to haunt the building. One, known as the"Lady in Black", sits in the auditorium and, according to some witnesses, has a penchant for musicals. The second is a shadowy male figure who walks through a wall on the right side of the auditorium. Lastly, an invisible pair of hands is said to help guide people during a crisis.Perhaps there could be one more?Actors Zac Efron and Claire Danes have been at the theatre filming a movie titled "Me and Orson Welles". Just last week, the pair were terrified by an apparition outside of a window. Efron was reportedly quite shaken b...
More About: People , Dead , Dead People

Bridges to Nowhere...
2008-03-10 04:46:00
I am horribly afraid of heights. To say that I suffer from acrophobia is a gross understatement.At times, it can be comical. I remember walking a trail in Mohican State Park years ago with a fellow ghost hunter. We found ourselves on an abandoned stretch of trail and there was a small bridge ahead. Over half the planks were missing. It spanned probably all of seven feet, with a two-foot drop to the water below, which may have been two feet deep at most. I was shaking, terrified, as I made three separate attempts to cross. It didn't help that she was laughing the whole time.Still, I love the beauty of bridges. Not modern concrete slabs with no character, but old bridges. They have a certain charm... a thoughtfulness of design that is absent in our modern world. We spend far too much time concentrating on our destinations instead of the journey now. That could explain our carelessness about history. Why we destroy old bridges, buildings, and landmarks without batting an eyelash.In fa...
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Another Kent Ghost...
2008-03-09 03:05:00
Apparently, Marvin Kent has more than one connection to haunted places.After the construction of the Kent Depot, he created his glorious mansion in 1884 on the hillside overlooking the town. Marvin's son, William, moved into the large brick house along with his wife, Kitty. Within two years, tragedy would strike and effect their lives forever.It was the year 1886. The Kent family was planning another elaborate Memorial Day celebration, as had become their custom. As the evening drew nearer and guests filled the house, Kitty climbed the stairs to the third floor ballroom. There was a slight chill to the air and to please her guests, she lit the kerosene stove to warm the space for an evening of dancing.Unfortunately, something went horribly wrong. The stove burst into flames, throwing fire onto Mrs. Kent. Family members ran to her rescue after hearing her agonizing screams. The flames were doused and she her horrible wounds were treated as best as was possible. She lingered on for ...
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Dining at a Haunted Depot
2008-03-09 02:27:00
Ever since college, I've found Kent, Ohio to be quite lovely. It isn't a huge city, but maintains a lot of its history and has so much to see, do, and enjoy. Too many towns and cities tear down their historic buildings. Kent has lost some gems, but still keeps as much as it possibly can.During a meeting of the paranormal group last week, we dined at a wonderful restaurant I've been to several times over the last decade: The Pufferbelly Ltd. It's an old railroad depot converted into a restaurant which has been in business for 26 years. I was quite surprised to learn that it also has a resident ghost, known as "Charlie".Kent Railway Station was originally constructed in 1875 to service the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, which began running through the town (then known as Franklin Mills) in 1863. It was designed and built by Marvin Kent, a local businessman whom the town was renamed after the following year. It was later used by the Erie Railroad and finally fell into disre...
More About: Dining , Haunted

What? More Snow??
2008-03-07 05:42:00
According to the National Weather Service, there could be "blizzard-like conditions" over the next two days. What a perfect way to start the weekend. Hopefully this won't make my weekend a nightmare of being trapped indoors, unable to leave from the piles of snow heaped up against the door.I would officially go insane if that happened.But this is Ohio. This is that wonderful part of the United States where the weather changes before you know it. Where snow is followed by rain with a break of sun. Winters can be harsh and summers incredibly hot. We deal with extremes... and a lack of sunny days.I ask myself very often why I live here. I have no good reason. I'd be happy with only seeing snow one day out of the year. I'm not terribly fond of extremes. I enjoy sunlight. The only positive thing is being so close to a national park. But we need better weather to make it more enjoyable.Honestly, I don't see myself living in Ohio permanently. I wouldn't want to be here until the end. ...
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The Undead Political Graveyard...
2008-03-05 06:45:00
Well, I'm keeping tabs on the primary elections tonight, just to see what is happening. Hillary already won Ohio... and it's looking like Texas too (as of a few minutes ago). If she does indeed win both, that means she's not out of the running yet. And I'll be glad.Yes, I voted. Since I was an emergency poll worker, I was on call. Thankfully, with all the problems they were running into today, they didn't call me in. Though, of course, the money would have been very nice.This is turning into quite an interesting election. Most Americans would be happy with either candidate, but I'll confess I voted for Hillary Clinton. Why? Well, for one it's a major chance to have a woman in office. I also liked her while she was First Lady, and she did reach out to people even back then. She seems to have an insider's perspective of how Washington and the presidency works so at the very least, she can tell what changes can be made and how. She has been attacked for getting defensive and at...
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Malfunctioning Internal Clocks and Fixed Trinkets
2008-03-03 17:42:00
For the last few days, I've been getting up around 5:00 AM and finally falling asleep around 9 or 10 at night, Eastern Standard Time.Australian Eastern Standard Time, that is.Yes, my sleep patterns are horribly off, and today I'm trying to get back to my normal patterns. It's not easy. I've only had maybe four hours of sleep today, and I can feel it. I feel drained, sleepy, and nauseous.Another week finally begins, and I'm feeling hopelessly optimistic about it. Tonight, I have a meeting to attend... tomorrow I'm on call for the election polls. Some part of me keeps thinking I have things going on the rest of the week, but my hazy mind can't wrap itself around it today.The weather is shocking today: sunny and... that can't be right...63°F (17°C)??? Holy cow! No wonder there's a flood watch for the entire area. The snow will be melting today! Of course, there will be more of it in the next few days to replace it...I hate Ohio.Otherwise, aside from having a few down, dull mom...
More About: Clocks , Internal , Fixed , Trinkets

Recognition for Being Long-Winded...
2008-03-01 08:48:00
Yes, ladies and gentlemen: I am now officially a columnist.The wonderful people at GenQ, an online Australian magazine, have taken pity on me and are permitting me to babble about a topic every week. I truly feel honoured and hope I can meet their expectations!You can check it out yourself here: Yabbering YankSo, yes... this means my blog will be more odd and interesting news and tidbits, personal updates, paranormal topics, etc. and I'll save my long rants about life, love, and politics for the column.Yay for me!!
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