Amelia Earhart Mystery Solved?

During her lifetime, Amelia Earhart achieved such records as “First person to fly Atlantic twice” and “First woman to fly non-stop, coast to coast across the US”. In 1937, along with Fred Noonan, made an attempt to make a circumnavigational flight of the globe which ended in tragedy. Earhart disappeared somewhere near Howland Island. Her and Noonan’s disappearance has led to one of America’s biggest mysteries.

Many theories have emerged concerning their fate. Some believed, and a movie further fueled this myth, Earhart was acquired by Franklin Roosevelt to spy on the Japanese. However, lack of evidence has dismissed this one. One hypothesis stated Earhart survived the world flight, moved to New Jersey and changed her named. Irene Bolam was claimed to be Earhart based on research by Major Joseph Gervais. This research was turned in to a book by Joe Klaas, but after a lawsuit filed by Bolam, the book was pulled from the market. A thorough background check on Bolam eliminated any possibility she could be Earhart.

Fred Goemer, a CBS Correspondent, published a book in 1966 claiming Earhart and Noonan crashed on Saipan Island. They were then captured and executed by the Japanese. A former U.S. Marine claimed he and other soldiers opened a safe containing Earhart’s briefcase. There have been a couple of people who witnessed or knew someone who witnessed the alleged execution. Their “graves” was excavated in 2004. No bones turned up.

The most common theory is that of the Gardner Island Hypothesis. It’s believed Earhart and Noonan arrived at the uninhabited Gardner Island (now known as Nikumaroro), landing on a reef-flat near the wreck of a large freighter and at some point died. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery has visited the island and recovered a zipper pull and bronze bearings thought to have belonged to Earhart. TIGHAR will be continuing their efforts next year with a new $500,000 expedition in hopes to recover DNA evidence.

In 2010, will the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance finally be solved?

GS Question of the Week

Do you think a house could be built for the soul purpose of cursing it and any one who lives in it?

Legend of Maggie Duffton

If you’re a resident of Kemnay, you may have heard of the legend of Maggie Duffton. She once owned the Burnett Arms Hotel, a quaint hotel dating back to the 1800s. Maggie died in 1931. Her wishes was to have three coffins made. One was to be buried in a family grave in the Kemnay Cemetery. The other two, one containing her body and the other her money, was to be walled up in a vault in the hotel cellar.

Seventy-eight years later, Malcolm Edwards, current hotel boss, is determined to prove the legend’s validity once and for all. Along with local stonemason Karl Bisset, the plan is to open up a solid cellar wall. A probe camera was pushed through a tiny wall to reveal a framed photograph and box. The demolition date was set for July 11th. Villagers were even invited to watch the unveiling on a large screen in the bar above. I could not find any word of what happened. Maybe there was nothing to tell.

Even though Edwards doesn’t believe in ghosts, he says there is an unknown presence in the hotel. Many staff members have described seeing a ghostly woman wearing a pink wedding dress walking through the lounge. One night, a staff member cleaning the bar saw someone coming through a locked door calling for someone named Norman. It is not known who Norman is. Another former owner’s father supposedly had “many conversations” with this ghost believed to be Maggie. Locals are afraid the excavation could stir up other ghosts in the hotel’s past.

Solar Eclipse Myths

Today’s solar eclipse has many afraid of what it may bring. Will an evil force attack the world? Will a birth on this day cause defects for the infant? Will food become contaminated? We now have science to ease our fears…at least for those who choose to believe in it. Science or no science, people from all over the world still give power to the superstitions passed from one generation to another from so long ago. What did those before us believe solar eclipses were or how they effected their world?

The Chinese have ancient eclipse records dating over 4,000 years old. They believed dragons devoured the sun. Ancient Chinese astronomers recorded solar eclipses in chronicles and on “oracle” bones made from animal bones and tortoise shells. These bones were most likely used divination but the records were incomplete and the dating of the bone was unreliable.

A tradition in ancient China was to bang drums and pots to make loud noise to frighten the dragon away. The Incas also tried to frighten these monsters away by immersing themselves in water. Some countries still practice these traditions today.

In the Odyssey, Homer states that, “the Sun vanished out of heaven and an evil gloom covered all things about the hour of the midday meal.” Ancient Egyptians believed the Sun God Atum the eclipsed Sun passing the second contact of a total eclipse. Ra/Re is the eclipse at second contact appearing as the Diamond Effect. The Great Sphinx was considered “Lord of Sun Eclipses”. Hathor was the goddess of Sun Eclipses. The shadow bands was the God Aten of the Amarna Revolution.

Solar eclipses represent letting go of the old and embracing the new.

GS Question of the Week

Would you buy a house/business knowing someone is buried on the property in a cemetery or otherwise?

Octomom Says House is Haunted

Nadya Suleman a.k.a. Octomom burst in to the spotlight with news of her octuplets, a birth so rare there is only one other documented case of a full set born alive. These eight babies are an addition to the six other children she has also through in-vitro fertilization. Since the news broke, Nadya’s every move and decision has been scrutinized by the public. One of her latest claims have been rather…paranormal.

The house in which her father bought for her with donated funds may have already had a resident inhabiting it. Nadya claims there is a new child living in her home, of the ghost variety. She says she has heard a child whispering “Mommy” on occasions. States one of her friends has been touched by this entity. Felt someone pull on her leg. Supposedly, there is one room, the nannies room, that remains cold the majority of the time. One of her nannies have heard noises and saw a child run in to an upstairs bedroom. Upon inspection, the room was empty.

To be honest, if it were anyone else, I would say this is something that should be looked in to further. Nadya went straight to a celebrity website with this. Even had a camera crew tour the places where this “entity” has been seen and heard. I’d be more inclined to believe her if she wasn’t seeking media attention all the time. She says her belief in God doesn’t allow her to believe in ghosts. As far as I know, she doesn’t have a job and is on public assistance programs. She’s talking about wasting the taxpayers money on twenty Bibles to place around her house. She needs to be putting that money towards the fourteen kids she chose to have.

Whether her house IS really haunted or not, I don’t know. No one is going to believe her if she continues to do and say crazy things.

Houska Castle

If a gateway to Hell existed, where would it be located? What or who would guard it? Legend states Houska Castle in the Czech Republic was that place. Built by Ottokar II of Bohemia during his reign (1253-1278), it sits surrounded by sandstone mountains where there was no source of water, protection or land view and away from trade paths.

It’s defense mechanism was turned to the inside. No stairs led to the first floor. Many windows seen from the outside have no rooms behind them. It remained in the hands of the aristocracy until 1924. It was turned from a Gothic castle into a Renaissance chateau in the 16th Century. During WWII, Nazis took over the castle and made it their headquarters until the end of the war.

The chapel was built over a hole or bottomless well. This well was believed to be the gateway to Hell. Locals wanted to fill it with stones to keep the evil spirits at bay but was unsuccessful. They were forced to cover it with stone plates and build the chapel. Its walls remain moist even during droughts. The walls are covered with ancient drawings of dragons being slain and a left-handed archer (the only known picture). It is even believed non-human remains are buried in the Houska Castle cellar killed by its defenders.

Gaither Plantation

Gaither Plantation was once a cotton plantation ran by Cecilia and W.H. Gaither in the 1800s. The property extended several thousand acres but now consists of only a few hundred, including the original home, several outbuildings and a relocated historic church built in 1822. During the Civil War, it’s rumored that Confederate soldiers hid at the plantation. Cecilia and W. H. had several children. Their daughter Clara died at the age of 9. Her and her father are both buried in a family cemetery on the grounds. Cecilia was forced to sell the plantation in 1921 when she was unable to pay the $28 in taxes she owed.

Several spirits are said to roam the property. A female is often seen. Sensitives state her name to be “Ceely”. One paranormal group discovered Cecilia was often called Ceely by her grandchildren. The smell of perfume is found in her room as well. Other apparitions are believed to be connected with Confederate soldiers, a murder committed at the back of the house, and a pastor murdered his wife and himself in the church. A male is also seen in the upstairs area of the house. Footsteps and voices are often heard in empty rooms.