Haunted Collector impresses me a little

Here in the UK 'Haunted Collector' is broadcast on 'Watch' channel and is on just about every night. If you haven't seen it yet its worth a look.
It's a documentary following the cases of John Zaffis and his team as they help out people tormented by the paranormal. Their research is by far the most impartial I have seen. If a natural explanation is forthcoming they will uncover and debunk it.
On the other hand if they do find anything out of the ordinary they often discover it connected to an object in the building being haunted. I have seen it said that people accuse them of seeing something they like so the get to have it, I disagree they do actually state that they are looking after items in their museum of the paranormal, and anyone can have them back. The facts are usually pretty overwhelming, and if it was me I'd want the item as far away as possible.
They use EMF detectors and are surprisingly skeptical about a great deal of what they find, often finding natural explanations like nearby power supplies or even fluorescent lighting. I've also seen them use old school techniques which is nice to see, common sense things like placed objects, talcum powder and hanging string.
They use EVP as well which is very interesting albeit sometimes unreliable due to modern overcrowded airwaves, but it does in most proven cases to seem perfectly reasonable. 
Absolutely no mention of orbs which is a relief. 
John has quite a pedigree, his uncle, whom he learnt his trade from, was Ed Warren. Ed and Loraine Warren, for those that don't know, were very active in paranormal research. Some occurrences that they have experienced have even had films made out of them. Amityville for one, and a TV movie called 'The Haunting' about a family called Smurl who were being terrorized by demonic spirits. That story was the inspiration behind another movie called 'The Entity'.
In conclusion I really enjoy the show and its impartiality, although it does occasionally seem a little contrived. I'm impressed by the professionalism.
Thankfully there are no screaming ex-childrens TV presenters or orbs.

Paranormal or Para-idiocy?

I like to learn about the paranormal. Recorded events, detection techniques, stuff like that.

So why oh why do the programs depict that sort of thing in such an idiotic way. There's a plethora of shows that have over theatrical presenters and employ 'spooky' effects to get their 'Stories' across  it's purely entertainment. I want and like to learn. I want to know what techniques are used, I want to know the science.

There's a distinct  lack of seriousness to the whole subject. They have plenty of programs about mad men living in woods and aliens running the world that come across as realistic and factual. Why not bother with something that has mystified people for centuries?

www.paulshuggins.co.uk

An intricate web of fear

Review of 'Vermilion Dawn' by Joseph Freeman

This is, by far, the most atmospheric and gripping story I have read for a long time. Joseph has a wonderfully eloquent writing style and certainly knows how to weave an intricate web.

Jim Grant is a police detective, he is part of a team trying to track down a barbaric killer. A journey that takes him to the edges of even his own sanity and past.

I could easily imagine the winter landscape as it seemed very similar to the area I live. Beautiful and idyllic in the summer, but very lonely and sometimes barren in the winter. An area where friendly in the daylight, but eerie and threatening in the darkness.

The characters are believable and like the rest of us, not perfect. They all have their fears, faults and worries. 

It was the first, and most recent, of Joseph's books I have read, but it won't be the last.

Time to see what all this blogging is about. 
My first meaty post will be done later on, I'm kicking off with a brief review of a book by my good friend Joseph Freeman.