Sunday, October 27, 2013

FORTEAN FILES - Captain Creepy's UFO Sighting

On Friday, October 11th, 2013, Captain Creepy, Mrs. Creepy, and Junior Creepy were sitting in the back yard at a bonfire. At about 10:45pm directly over a tree in the yard of the next door neighbor to the east, there appeared a large white ball. It was approximately 100 feet above the tree top height. The object sat in place for a moment, then shot off directly to the east at an incredible speed, then disappeared from sight. The effect when it sped away reminded me of when the Enterprise would engage warp speed on Star Trek.
This was a very unusual sight. It was certainly not a plane, helicopter, or other normal flying craft. I can't imagine we have drones flying at such incredible speed. It was not a planet, a meteor, or shooting star. The trajectory and characteristics of the movement were undeniably controlled. All three of us witnessed this incredible phenomenon.
Very strange. And very Creepy.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

FORTEAN FILES - Robert The Doll

In 1906 a little boy named Eugene was given a doll by a family servant that felt she was being mistreated. Unfortunately for them, she was from the islands, and very experienced in the ways of voodoo.
 Eugene loved his new doll and named him Robert. It wasn't very long before crazy stuff started to happen.
On multiple occasions Eugene's mother heard talking coming from his room. When she went to check on him he would be sitting with Robert, seemingly in a deep conversation. She assumed her son was just altering his voice during his talks with his toy, giving Robert his own distinct voice. As time went on, she wasn't so sure.
There were times when loud booms and bangs were heard coming from Eugene's room. When his parents ran into his room they found a big mess with furniture turned over and things broken on the floor. Eugene would be crying, saying he didn't do it, Robert did it.
One of the creepiest things in the story to me is what the neighbors reported witnessing. When Eugene and his family were not home, the neighbors say they would see a shadow that greatly resembled Robert, running from window to window upstairs. They also stated the lights upstairs would turn on and off when no one was home.
During dinner parties that were at the house there were guests who were totally freaked out when they reported the doll was sitting on the couch and turned his head and looked at them. That is pretty damn freaky. Sometimes, they said his facial expression would change when they looked at him.
The weirdness continued for many many years. As a matter of fact, when Eugene was an adult he became the owner of the house. One of the first things he did was to have the entire third floor remodeled as an area for his old friend Robert. Makes you wonder what Eugene's wife thought about the whole situation. Nice family I'll bet.
Eugene lived to be a fairly old man, passing away in the early 1970's. A new family purchased the home with no knowledge of the story of Robert. That was about to change. This family had a young daughter, 10 years old, and one day she came across Robert when rummaging about in the attic. She took him out from the attic and put him in her bedroom, thinking she had found a new friend. She was sorely mistaken, and it wasn't long before the little girl regretted ever stepping foot in the house.
The girl would be in her bedroom at night, completely terrified, as Robert scurried about the room. She also swears that the doll attacked her and tried to kill her.
Now in her 40's, to this day she stands by her words that the doll is alive and the essence of evil.
Many of the scary ass dolls from the movies were based on Robert, including Chucky from Child's Play.
There aren't many things creepier than a child's doll being alive. Maybe some of the weird horror clowns going around killing people would be on that level, but it's pretty hard to top.
Robert The Doll is retired now. He currently lives in a museum in Florida. He sits in a little sailors uniform behind glass, in a rocking chair. The stories go that if you visit Robert in the museum you need to ask his permission if you want to take his picture, and you had better be polite to him. If you don't, and you aren't, he will put a curse on you and your family.
People still say when you see Robert in the museum, pay close attention. He sometimes turns his head and watches you.
Is the story of Robert The Doll real? Does this 100 year old gift from a voodoo priestess contain the soul of a demon? Are these people full of crap? I have no idea, but it makes for one hell of a creepy tale.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

FORTEAN FILES - The Black Eyed Children

It's a dark and rainy night. A cool wind blows, causing the trees to rustle gently. Everything seems very quiet, almost eerie. There is a knock on your door. Who could that be? Who would be out at this time? The knocks repeat. Rhythmic. Repetitive. Thump...thump...thump.
You peek through the curtains to see who is knocking. There are two figures on the porch. It is hard to get a clear view of them in the rain. You open the door. Two kids are standing there. They appear to be around twelve years old. You have never seen them before. They seem strange. Out of place. They want to come in. They want you to invite them into your house. You begin to feel odd talking to them. A little light headed, a little nauseous. Their speech is slightly off. Unnatural. Everything about them seems to be wrong. They stare at the ground as they speak.
Their skin is pale. They are wearing plain looking clothes. Jeans and hoodies. The clothes don't quite fit correctly. Their hoods are pulled up on their heads to protect them from the rain. Monotone voices ask you again to invite them in.You ask what they want, who they are. Slowly, they raise their heads to look at you. As you glimpse their faces you begin to feel panic as you realize that their eyes are black. Completely black. No whites of the eyes. No anything except black. And soulless.
You abruptly close and lock the door. You are sweating now. Breathing unevenly. They begin to knock again. Rhythmic. Repetitive. Thump...thump...thump.
Suddenly the knocking stops. You carefully peer through the curtains.There is no one there. You pull the curtains back all the way and look. Nothing. They are gone.
This is a typical encounter that people report. A typical encounter with extremely spooky entities known as Black Eyed Children. These encounters have been happening more and more in recent years. This phenomenon is one of the creepiest, scariest things that I have ever heard.
But what are these B.E.C.? There are many theories. Some think they are vampires because they seem to need to be invited into your home or your car. Like they are unable to enter without an invitation. Maybe they are demonic entities. Maybe they are related to one of my favorite subjects, the Men in Black. There are many similarities with MIB encounters. They usually are in groups of two or three, they act out of place, have a slightly off look and vibe, and seem to appear and disappear at will. Some believe the Black Eyed Children to be aliens, or alien hybrids. Maybe a cross between humans and alien grays. They may be Tulpas. Thought forms created by our own minds. Ghosts. Djinn. Maybe they don't exist at all. Urban Legends. I do not know what they are, or if they indeed do exist. I have never encountered the Children, and don't wanna, but I do find them to be a fascinating entry into the world of creepiness.
If nothing else, they make for great stories to be told around a campfire. Do some research on this subject. It's crazy.
If you want to read a multitude of accounts of stories like these I highly recommend a book written by David Weatherly titled simply, "The Black Eyed Children." This is a great book. A quick read with tons of super interesting information. One of my favorite books I have read in the past year.
Stay creepy my friends.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

GENERAL NONSENSE - Some Things I Remember

 I remember when going to the moon was all that seemed to matter.
I remember when the Six Million Dollar Man met Bigfoot. It was a seriously big event!
I remember swinging on the swing in our backyard. My mom calling that the mail had arrived and my first issue of Sports Illustrated was there. It had Muhammed Ali on the cover.
I remember when Young and The Restless debuted.
I remember watching Hank Aaron hit the home run off the Dodgers to set the record.
I remember watching Skylab at night.
I remember when Mt. St. Helens erupted.
I remember when Jim Jones and his followers met their demise in Guyana.
I remember my first pack of football cards. I got Bob Griese of the Dolphins, who became my favorite player and favorite team.
I remember reading Grit Newspaper, Popular Mechanics, National Enquirerer, my moms Family Circle and Woman's Day.
I remember getting a subscription to the XMen when Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and John Byrne worked on the book. What a classic time.
I remember sitting in the backyard at my friends house in the blazing summer reading stacks of comics. Batman, Flash, Legion of Super Heroes, and those old spooky Dark Shadows, Tales of The Unexpected, and House of Mystery.
I remember being in kindergarten and kicking a 5th grade bully in the nuts so hard he fell on the ground and cried for his mommy.
I remember Bruce Jenner when he was an olympic hero instead of a pitiful joke.
I remember when Kevin Bacon was on the Guiding Light.
I remember when Kevin Bacon was in Friday the 13th.
I remember watching Halloween at the theater.
I remember watching Friday the 13th 3d in the theater. 3d seemed so amazing.
i remember watching the Patterson Gimlin Bigfoot film in the theater as like a 15 minute documentary before the movie started. I was immediately pulled in to the mystery of Cryptozoology.
I remember as a child in the 70's just how mysterious the Bermuda Triangle, Bigfoot, UFO's, and the Loch Ness Monster were.
I remember setting up hot wheel track in the yard and having tournaments to find which one of my cars was the fastest.
I remember when TV Dinners were a real treat and seemed fancy to me.
I remember eating cereal on a TV tray in the living room on Saturday mornings watching cartoons for hours.
I remember the Space Kidettes.
I remember the Kids From C.A.P.E.R.
I remember the Herculoids.
I remember watching the Kolchak the Night Stalker episode about the headless motorcycle rider with a sword riding around decapitating people. The next day I was riding my bike and when a motorcycle came down the street I pedaled hard for the house.
I remember Jason Newsted before he was in Metallica.
I remember when Ozzy left Black Sabbath the first time and when Ronnie James Dio joined.
I remember when everyone wanted to know what KISS looked like without their makeup.
I remember when people actually thought KISS was evil. Haha.
I remember when Led Zeppelin was going strong.
I remember when a kid at school brought in the first Aerosmith album. They were a new band.
I remember buying ice cream from the ice cream truck on a hot summer day.
I remember walking barefoot in the yard after a rainstorm and the mud oozing up between my toes.
I remember the first time I saw a chicken running around with its head cut off.
I remember Bill Cosby doing Picture Pages.
I remember Captain Kangaroo.
I remember Tiger Beat and all the teen idols.
I remember hurrying home from school to watch Match Game, and Big Valley, and Wild Wild West.
I remember watching Star Trek the Animated Series on Saturday Mornings. There was an episode about Spock when he was a boy that was a game changer.
I remember going to flea markets, auction sales, and garage sales all the time.
I remember playing in the yard in the summer and my mom coming outside with a book, a glass of Pepsi, and her cigarettes. The book she was reading was starting to scare her so she sat in the sun in a lawn chair to read for a while.
I remember cold war propaganda.
I remember sitting on the front porch in the evening, watching the world go by.
I remember GI Joe and Big Jim.
I remember how scared I was spending the night in the hospital to get my tonsils out.
I remember stopping at the Dime Store on the way home from the hospital and getting a Geronimo figure to go with my Johnny West toys.
I remember my Easter basket in 1975. I got a see thru pack of Topps baseball cards and Sandy Alomar was on the front.
I remember when we had tornados a lot.
I remember throwing a tennis ball off the garage and playing entire baseball games in my mind. I had the lineups and batting orders of every team in the league memorized.
I remember Snap Baseball.
I remember going to the drive in movies all the time.
I remember when the Planet of The Apes movies were the bomb.
I remember playing Electric Football. It never worked quite like it was suppose to.
I remember watching OJ Simpson break the 2000 yard rushing mark in a season.
I remember when Stephen King was just starting out.
I remember my old cat Tippy and my old dog Rags. Rags loved popcorn.
I remember many things from my life. Many more than I have mentioned here. I will list more of my memories when I have the time.

Friday, July 26, 2013

TV TALES OF TERROR - Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated

     Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated finished its 52 episode run this past spring on Cartoon Network. It was a somewhat controversial entry into the Scooby Doo series. Many people hated it, but I liked it a lot.
     The setup for this series was that rather than the gang being out in some random location, like visiting an old uncle in a swamp somewhere when they stumble onto a mystery,the story is set in their hometown of Crystal Cove. The Paranormal tourist capitol of the world. This allowed for the inclusion of a supporting cast that added quite a bit of flavor. The parents for all the gang were included, and played important roles in the overall story.
     Another aspect that was different in this incarnation than all previous ones was the ongoing relationship dramas of the main characters. Freddy and Daphne were on again off again romancing, as were Shaggy and Velma, which of course caused serious problems with the Shaggy and Scooby friendship.The romance is the part that everybody really hated. It did get to be a little much at times, but whatever. I can appreciate the fact that at least they tried to keep the main overall feeling of the original series but updated it. I can dig it
     Scooby Doo Mystery Inc followed the X Files style of storytelling by having monster of the week episodes with an overall story arc weaving its way throughout. Very cool! The show was also crammed full of references to movies and shows and things that an old fart like me would spot that many wouldn't notice. Homages and a tip of the hat to such cult favorites as War of The Gargantuas and Humanoids From The Deep, as well as more well known films like Carrie, Saw, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. How about the episode featuring "HP Hatecraft" as voiced by legendary Lovecraftian actor Jeffrey Combs? That same episode featured sci fi writer Harlan Ellison portraying himself. This is some killer stuff for a "kids" cartoon. The voice casting was amazing all the way with many other great choices, Gary Cole as Freddy's dad, Patrick Warburton as the sheriff, Lewis Black as Mister E, Vivica Fox as a very Pam Grier styled character named Angel Dynamite. This stuff is right in my wheelhouse.
     Snippets of awesomeness are sprinkled throughout the series. Fred and Daphne come across a statue of Scrappy Doo in a museum, to which Fred says, "we were told never to speak of him again," or something along those lines. Believe me Fred, you speak for all of us. There is a great episode that spotlights "sidekicks" and guest stars Captain Caveman, the Funky Phantom, Jabberjaw, and Speed Buggy. It was live traveling back to my childhood in the 70's. Thanks again Scooby writers!
     Later on in the series the Scooby gang starts talking about Zecharia Stichin, the Annunaki, and the planet Nibiru. WHAT? It's like an episode of Ancient Aliens. Are you kidding me? Ancient Sumerian civilizations and Scooby Snacks. Quite a combo. This even continues as an ongoing story in the second season. Totally bizarre. Giorgio Tsoukalos should have joined the cast.
     Scooby Doo Mystery Inc is not a perfect show, and I'm not even sure right now where I would place this in the history of Scooby Doo shows. I'm thinking probably near the top. Maybe in the future I will write about my thoughts on the various Scooby shows from the 60's to the present. I have a long history with the Scooby Doo gang, as do most people in my demographic. I just wish this series had continued on with more episodes and more seasons. Oh well, now it's time for me to go watch a Vincent Van Ghoul movie marathon.
     In closing, just remember the famous last words, "and I'd have gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for those meddling kids and that dog of theirs."

Friday, July 19, 2013

FORTEAN FILES - When Sleepy Time Becomes Creepy Time

Sleep can be a pretty strange thing if you think about it.It's just that most of us never actually do think about it. Must be nice. You know for a guy like Captain Creepy it's hard to not think about strange stuff. It's how I do.
I am not a scientist. I don't know the physics and hard science behind a lot of the stuff I think about. I just think about stuff. That's really fine anyway because I do believe that much we have been taught about the world we live in may not be entirely true. Red pill or blue pill? Which will you choose? Well, that's a story to write at another time, and not what I am focusing on today. Today is Creepy Sleep day.
Growing up we never learn much about sleeping, or are taught much on the subject. It just comes naturally. Most little kids cry and fuss when they have to go to bed, but that's because they don't wanna miss out on something, or they wanna keep playing, or just cuz they are kids and that's what they do. It really isn't that they have anything in particular against sleep. Maybe they should. Maybe we all should cry and fuss when it's time for the Sandman to come.
I mean really, step out of what we do on an everyday basis and think about how weird this looks. Every night we close our eyes, lay still, and basically shut down for several hours. Kind of like a robot or a phone on a charger. Almost as if we go into somewhat of a temporary death like state for a period of time. That's a pretty damn odd concept to me.That idea seems to fit into the theory that we live in a Matrix like world in which we are actually in a sort of computer simulated world that doesn't even exist in the way that we think. Probably not, but it makes me sometimes wonder. Do we have to plug ourselves into our own version of a charger every night?
Another weird thing about sleeping is those funky ass dreams. I have had dreams about some of the most unusual things imaginable. Everyone has. Scientists give us all these reasons for crazy things that happen when we dream,  but do they know, or are they just guessing like everyone else? Ever have a dream where you are at your workplace except the people you work with are not who you work with, then you go through a door and are in your old high school? I'm sure most people have. Then I'm on a river in a little boat that looks like the glider that was attached to my swing set when I was in elementary school. Of course the river is filled with poisonous snakes. Then the recurring dream that I have had since childhood where a Manson Family like group is in my house and I am hiding like a bitch hoping they don't find me. I have woke up with my heart pounding extremely fast from that one more than once. I've been chased from town to town by Nazi's in my dreams. I've been in struggles with Aliens and Demonic forces. Haven't we all? Then there is the whole lucid dreaming thing, where you know you are dreaming and have some control over what happens in your dream. Been there done that. Strange.
Dreams aren't the only creepy thing that is going on while we sleep. Tales of Succubus and Incubus throughout history. Old Hag Syndrome. Visitors coming in the night. Alien abductions from your bed. Black shadow figures standing over you. I may go deeper into some of these things in the future but I am running out of time right now. Do some research on these things and be amazed at how many strange experiences people have reported while they were supposedly asleep. Sleep paralysis accounts for some things for sure, but that in and of itself is pretty weird.
There are more creepy bedtime things going on than these things I have mentioned. How about the mind blowing concept of Astral Projection while sleeping. Some people supposedly have perfected the ability to leave their bodies while they are sleeping and literally fly around. Many say that most of us have probably done this throughout our lives and just don't remember. I'm not sure what to think about that whole thing but it is freaking wild.There are techniques you can use as you are falling asleep that will help you to leave your body. That's right, the old night time out of body experience. I will delve into some of these things in my writings in the future when I have the proper time to devote to them.
Are all of these things phony? Is everything just how we were taught?
 Many people believe there are a lot of things that happen that most of us never even notice.
Sometimes because we are sleeping. Goodnight.

Monday, July 15, 2013

MOVIE MUSINGS - Pacific Rim

Pacific Rim is exactly the movie that it claims to be. It is a movie that is full of action, drama, bright colors, loud explosions, giant monsters, and giant robots. Giant monsters and giant robots standing toe to toe and beating the living piss out of each other. This is not a chick flick. This is not a feel good movie. This is a summer time grab your popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the next two hours type of movie. Imagine Power Rangers with a gigantic budget that is directed by Guillermo del Toro. Pure eye candy.
The cast is well put together. Idris Elba is very good as the boss man of the Jaegers (giant robots). Ron Perlman plays a character named Hannibal Chau, a dealer of body parts taken from dead Kaiju (giant monsters). Perlman is an amazing actor that seems to steal every scene he appears in. Charlie Day from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia also stands out with an excellent performance as a wacky scientist with an affinity for the Kaiju.
There is obviously a heavy Japanese influence in this movie, and that is totally the right thing. For those of us that have spent many hours in our lives watching old Godzilla movies. and consider War of the Gargantuas an all time classic, Pacific Rim will hit the spot.
There are also nods to other movies sprinkled throughout. Elba, as the commander that hasn't piloted a Jaeger in years, but has to step up and do so once again, but first makes a profound speech to rally the troops, is a clear homage to Bill Pullman in Independence /Day. Near the end of the movie there is another scene that is a clear wink to Independence Day, and a scene with Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.
Obviously this movie isn't going to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, but maybe it should. For a change, a movie that actually lives up to what it claims to be. Fun! Captain Creepy says check it out.


 

Sunday, July 7, 2013

MOVIE MUSINGS - Lords of Salem

Rob Zombie's new film The Lords of Salem is not for everyone. Actually, it's not for very many at all. I enjoyed this movie, as did the other two people in the theater with me. I talked to them in the lobby on the way out. This is a throwback to those late 60's, early 70's Satanic Grindhouse Exploitation movies that kind of followed up Rosemary's Baby. Films like Daughters of Satan, Satan's School For Girls, Mark of The Beast, remember those? Well Rob Zombie does. The Lords of Salem actually came off to me more as a love letter to the old school than an actual movie of its own. Sherri Moon is quite effective as the lead and Ken Foree is pure magic his entire career. Dee Wallace was a great choice for her role as well. Although the execution falters in many places and the ending didn't do much for me, I do appreciate Rob Zombie's passion for the genre and his willingness to try things that others are not doing. So I guess I liked the movie, but couldn't really recommend it to anyone. The Lords of Salem was made for very few of us, and for that I am grateful.