News, Views, & Interviews

As soon as my Congressman receives this letter I just sent him… Dear Congressman Richard Neal: Please send me $1,000,000 in free government money that your organization is handing out to various financial and industrial companies like AIG, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford. Please note there are vast differences between my money request and some of the banks and industries that are going to receive billions in handouts. 1. I said “Please.” 2. I’m only asking for $1,000,000; a drop-in-the-bucket, comparably. 3. Unlike the before-mentioned companies, I’m doing okay financially. This is an opportunity for the United States government to prove that they don’t just reward companies that are inept, incapable, or corrupt; by giving me a million dollars, the government can prove they also reward people who know how to keep their balance sheets in order in good times and bad. 4. Unlike the current proposals put forth by some of the companies begging for money, giving me a giant handout will ensure my success, as opposed to temporarily delaying inevitable failure. I’m going to outline why my proposal is not only going to help the American people, but is also the single-best financial proposal in front of Congress at the present time. By giving me a million dollars, the government will receive approximately $330,000 in tax revenue right from the get-go. Bam! Money right back in the coffers. With the remaining money, I plan to pay off my mortgage. Pow! Easing the balance sheet and providing some much-needed cash to the American mortgage company that owns most of my house. Think of the poor Ferrari dealer in my area who is struggling with lagging sales. I’ll buy my Ferrari with cash. Zing! The economy is helped because not only does the Ferrari dealer make a few dollars, but when my neighbors and friends see me parading around in that hot ride, they’ll say, “Hey, that guy is doing okay. Maybe this economy isn’t so bad.” As others try and “Keep up with the Belangers,” they’ll be forced to spend more money on retail items. Also, I promise to eat dinner out at least four nights per week, further aiding the local economy, providing jobs to restaurant and bar staff, and keeping the promise of America alive to dozens in my region. In troubled times, the American people need to hold on to their dreams. I could be that dream they strive for. It’s an awesome responsibility, but I’m ready to help my fellow Americans with this selfless act of patriotism and capitalism (at least capitalism as the current Congress defines it). Please make my check out to: Jeff “Mad Dog” Belanger. God Bless America. -Jeff Belanger Massachusetts

If you’re like me, you know the first line of that song we sing at midnight on New Year’s Eve and that’s about it. The song (at least when I sing it, anyway), goes something like this: “Should old acquaintance be forgot… daa dahh daa da daa da daahhhhhhhh (hic!) Should old acquaintance be forgot… doo doo dah dah daa daa blaaaaaahhhhhh!” My last act of kindness for the year is to look the damn words up and reprint them here. The song is called “Auld Lang Syne,” and was written by Robert Burns in 1788. It’s a Scottish poem whose title roughly translates to “Old Long Since,” or more loosley: “Days Gone By.” The poem was meant to be an act of reflection on the past (something many of us end up doing on the last day of the year). Thanks to those of you who have supported me this past year. Thanks for your help with my work, thanks for your friendship, laughter, and thanks to all the good spirits I had the fortune of bumping into along the way in 2008. May 2009 bring you all something special. Without further ado, “Auld Lang Syne.” Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind ? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old times since ? CHORUS: For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne. And surely you’ll buy your pint cup ! And surely I’ll buy mine ! And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne. CHORUS We two have run about the slopes, and picked the daisies fine ; But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, since auld lang syne. CHORUS We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine† ; But seas between us broad have roared since auld lang syne. CHORUS And there’s a hand my trusty friend ! And give us a hand o’ thine ! And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne. CHORUS

Those of you who know me pretty well know that occasionally the muse descends and I have been known to write a song or two. Usually the songs are about something deep and meaningful, like hunting Santa’s reindeer, or what happens when you eat bad Mexican food. I don’t know what it is about Christmas, but the season just brings out my irreverent side. This Christmas is no different. On Thanksgiving day of this year I started messing around with some lyrics. Soon verses gave way to choruses, choruses to solos… ahhh… I’m making this bigger than it is. I’m blessed to have some talented friends. I wrote the song “My Christmas Tree is Haunted,” figured out a good key on my guitar, and sent the 12-bar blues number over to my best friend since childhood, John Judd. John’s the real musician. He put all of the music together and we realized that a song this good needed someone who can sing. So I called my father-in-law, Robert Peckman, and he got to work on the vocals. John pieced everything together and our new band, The Ghostvillage Memorial Choir was born. Don’t be looking for us to gig anywhere anytime soon, but do watch for more songs in the future. Without further ado, you can download/listen to the MP3 of the song by clicking here (the file is 10 MB). Rock this one ’round your Christmas tree at home.

An alert reader just sent this in to the Weird Massachusetts world headquarters here in my spare bedroom. BREAKING NEWS: Police in Harwich, Massachusetts, acting on a tip, discovered a Baldwin Acrosonic piano, model number 987, intact, and apparently in tune, in the middle of the woods. If you are missing such a piano with the serial number 733746, it’s important that you contact authorities right away… and then please contact me. I gotta hear the story too. Also, if you find other pianos in the middle of the woods on Cape Cod, please also contact me. Perhaps we’re witnessing some new paranormal phenomena involving pianos. If you find a pristine tuba in the woods, please DO NOT contact me. I’ve had my fill of those reports. There’s nothing paranormal there. For the full story, click here.

I now understand what John Denver meant by “Colorado Rocky Mountain High.” He meant that knocking back four or five beers at 7,200 feet in altitude is like drinking a 12-pack at sea level. I also now understand what Tiffany Johnson (aka Psychic Tiff) means by “Rocky Mountain Oysters.” After sharing a basket of the deep-fried delicacy with Ms. Tiff, I learned that these things just ain’t seafood. Luckily no one will ever know about this little faux pas… unless of course Jason Hawes tells anyone… or shares the video he took of us eating said “oysters.” This past week the haunted Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, was the scene of the Darkness Event paranormal conference. I was fortunate to speak at the event on haunts, history, and spirit communication. The hotel was packed with paranormal fans, researchers, and people who came to soak in the majestic mountains all around us. I had the chance to speak with many of the conference goers and met a lot of good folk. Events like these are so important because we get to network with other people who are also asking big questions, plus we get to stand in a room where we’re almost (probably almost) certain we’re not the weirdest person in the building. For four days we investigated the hotel that inspired Stephen King to pen The Shining, we (and by “we,” I mean “me”) realized that this was also the hotel where they filmed scenes from Dumb and Dumber, and we realized that the “Redrum,” drinks that were so popular at the bar can really knock you for a loop. I also had the opportunity to take a quick tour of Rocky Mountain National Park just a few miles away from the hotel. Thanks to Ed Laughlin of Ghosts of Georgia Paranormal Investigations, and our Crypto tour guide, Loren Coleman, we drove through the park and spotted bigfoot, deer, crows, bigfoot, elk, big-horned sheep, and bigfoot… just kidding, we didn’t see any crows. Thank you to Loren Coleman for correcting the previous paragraph to read: Thanks to Ed Laughlin of Ghosts of Georgia Paranormal Investigations, and our Cryptozoo tour guide, Loren Coleman, we drove through the park and spotted Bigfoot (Anthropoidipes ameriborealis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), raven (Corvus corax), black-billed magpie (Pica pica), Bigfoot (Paranthropus eldurrelli), elk (Cervus canadensis), bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), and Bigfoot (Gigantopithecus canadensis)… just kidding, we didn’t see any magpies. Thanks to Darkness Dave Schrader for having me out, and thanks to the other speakers who not only gave great lectures, but were a lot of fun to hang out with: Loren Coleman, Patrick Burns, Grant Wilson, Jason Hawes, Father Andrew Calder, Chris Fleming, and Bill Chappell.

Yesterday history was made in an exciting and emotional election here in the United States. American voters came out in record numbers to elect the country’s first black president. It’s a time of renewed hope that truly anything is possible, and it’s a time to look ahead to a new era in the political landscape. It’s also time for President-elect Obama and his family to start thinking about what it’s going to feel like to live in a haunted house. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., the address of a very famous and very haunted house, better known as the White House. It’s where the President lives and works while serving in the executive branch of government. This majestic building holds the Presidents’ family, pets, and a large staff of butlers, chefs, security, and other workers. About 100 people work to keep the White House running — people who are employed by the government and have a job to do regardless of which political party’s candidate is President. The White House has room for parties, meetings, important government events, and, according to many reports… it also has room for ghosts. A few weeks ago, my new book, Who’s Haunting the White House?: The President’s Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There was published. My first book for younger readers (ages 10 and up), the book explores the haunted history of one of America’s most famous buildings. President-elect Obama will be joining a long and prestigious list of Presidents who have lived and worked in this incredible and haunted building. Will the ghost of President Lincoln pay Obama a visit? Will some of the many other historic ghostly figures from Abigail Adams to Andrew Jackson make some kind of appearance during the next administration? Time will surely tell. I’m sure, like other Presidents, President Obama will take some comfort knowing the spirits from the past are still around to keep an eye on the country they loved so dearly. Congratulations to President-elect Obama. If you need any help with the ghosts who still lurk in your new home, call me!

I was the writer and researcher for the Ghost Adventures series on the Travel Channel. It was a fun project for me to work on and a great production team. The production company for the show hired me to do what I’ve been doing for years: research the haunts, and find the witnesses who would be willing to tell their stories. I pass on my research and findings, and the cast and crew take it from there. Though they incorporate investigation techniques different from anything I use, I think what Zak, Nick, and Aaron do is a part of the greater paranormal discussion. Some will love it, some will hate it, and that’s something we run into with just about every paranormal group out there. Hopefully this show will add to the debate and discussion, and at the very least, be some entertaining television! Working for the visual medium of television was a new undertaking for me, and I learned quite a bit during the process. I wish the cast and crew the best of luck with the new show! If you haven’t seen Ghost Adventures, you can tune in Friday nights at 9:00 PM on the Travel Channel.

Recently the Web site, Haunted America Tours released some of their Top-10 Lists for 2008. I’m honored to be included on two of those lists: Top Ten Most Haunted Authors 2008 And my Web site, Ghostvillage.com, earned a spot on: Top Ten Most Haunted Web Sites 2008 It’s a thrill to be included in a list with a lot of other distinguished paranormal people and Web destinations!

Recently Ghostvillage.com launched a brand-new section of the Web site: http://kids.Ghostvillage.com. This is a first — an Internet resource specifically designed for kids, parents, and educators on how to broach the subject of ghosts. The site offers a guide to Junior Ghost Hunters, a section to help parents who may be dealing with a haunting and small children under the same roof, and a section for educators who want to incorporate ghosts in the classroom as a learning tool. I hope you’ll take a minute to check out the new Web site and share your own experiences. As with everything on Ghostvillage.com, the Kids’ section will grow and expand as we move forward. I know this topic is a bit controversial, which is why our advisory board includes children’s book authors, and psychologists who work exclusively with children. It’s a starting point to help families and kids who have questions. Like almost every other adult paranormal investigator I know, my interest in this subject began when I was very young. http://Kids.Ghostvillage.com will include resources I wish I had when I was ten years old, and offer the perspectives of investigators, parents, and kids who are in the field today. Take a moment to click around. We welcome your input!

I wrote an article that appeared in today’s Boston Globe called “This could only happen in Massachusetts, believe it or not.” The article is based on my recent book, Weird Massachusetts. The Travel Editor asked me to give a whirlwind tour of Bay State oddities. I made one goof in the printed version of the article (the online version has since been fixed). In discussing the Quabbin Reservoir I wrote that five towns were displaced. It was actually four: Dana, Greenwich, Enfield, and Prescott. Though if you count all the named villages in and around these towns, it’s over a dozen: North Dana, North Prescott, Atkinson Hollow, Greenwich Village, Packardville, Nichewaug, Millington, Bobbinville, Coolyville, Smith’s Village, and Doubleday. I got the facts right in my book (which includes an interview with a former resident), but messed up on the number in the article. I’m sorry for the mistake. Also, to all those people who wrote in saying they thought the translation of Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg was actually, “You fish on your side of the lake, I fish on my side, and no one fishes in the middle,” that’s what the bumper stickers say, and that’s in the spirit of the meaning, however the most literal translation is: “Englishmen at Manchaug at the fishing place at the boundary.” Stay weird. -Jeff