Dena Ross: October 2008 Archives

Although I absolutely love to scare myself--usually with horror movies--ghosts have always been at the top of my list of "Things That Almost Make Me Pee in My Pants in Fear." Sci-Fi Channel's "Ghost Hunters" always gives me a weekly dose of fright.

The Ghost Hunters team is actually comprised of members from The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) based in Warwick, Rhode Island. Co-founders Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, who have day jobs as Roto-Rooter plumbers (I guess ghost hunting doesn't pay much), go out on investigations with other members of their team. These members include not only investigators, but researchers, technical/equipment specialists, evidence analysts, and more.

What I've always loved about the show is that the group isn't out to jump on the smallest bit of evidence that a ghost or a haunting may exist at a given location. In fact, during every investigation, they first set out to disprove that something paranormal is going on. This typically involves Jason and Grant looking at the location structure, pipes, heating system, electrical outlets, etc. Using basic science, [their] experience, and a lot of common sense, they explain away what some people might immediately attribute to a haunting.

The team also uses modern technical equipment to capture their evidence, and they do not rely on their eyes or personal experiences alone. They use thermal energy cameras, digital recorders, special computer software, and more.

This Halloween, the Ghost Hunters team will embark on their third annual Ghost Hunters Live event, filming at historic Fort Delaware in Delaware City, Delaware for seven full hours (Sci Fi Channel, October 31 at 7 p.m. ET). In addition to watching the event on TV, fans can also go online to access the thermal imaging cameras the group will set up. These cameras will send instant alerts to the team if they spot anything they think is paranormal.

I recently had a chance to ask Jason and Grant a couple of questions about their ghost hunting experiences:

   

The upcoming movie "The Spirit" (set to be released on Christmas day) is based on the popular comic book series and follows a cop who returns from the dead to fight crime. The film stars Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson and Eva Mendes, and was written and directed by Frank Miller.

The Oscar winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson, who most recently appeared in the big screen version of Sue Monk Kidd's "The Secret Life of Bees," experienced horrific tragedy this weekend, as her mother and brother were found murdered and her young nephew has gone missing (and according to reports at the time of this posting, may have been murdered as well).

Please post your thoughts and prayers to this Beliefnet prayer circle, to offer Hudson comfort and support during what's bound to be the most trying time of her life.

We all need to cry sometimes. And even if life's going pretty well for you--you have your health, a wonderful significant other, friends and family who love you, a good job, a few bucks in the bank --- once in a while, you still just want to be alone and crawl into a little ball on your couch with a blanket, a box of tissues and movie that makes you think about the power of love...and cry.

It's during those times I turn to one of the movies below. I know that many of you will disagree with some of my choices. You'll say things like, "What?! She picked that over Casablanca?!" But guess what? This is my list....and maybe I've never even seen Casablanca. Anyway, here are my picks for the 10 best movies to put your faith back in love--love of family, love of friends, and love of...love. Post your own thoughts in the comments section below.

10. Selena: When Mexican-American singer Selena, "Queen of Tejano Music" burst onto the music scene in the early 90s, I was too busy banging my head to Nirvana and Pearl Jam to notice. But when she was murdered in 1995 by her fan club manager, I was awakened to the shock, anger, and heartbreak among her many fans. In the heavily Hispanic areas of my hometown, Brooklyn, N.Y., I noticed memorial T-shirts worn by many. In "Selena," Jennifer Lopez wonderfully portrays the music star (in a performance she hasn't matched to date) as a carefree, caring, amazingly talented young woman, whose life and career was cut way too short. Watching her fans and family grieve her loss was absolutely heartbreaking. I've seen more than one boyfriend cry during scenes from this movie.

9. Titanic: OK, we all know how this movie ends. But it doesn't prevent me from falling apart during the scene where Jack Dawson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio encourages his love Rose (Kate Winslet) to survive the icy waters after the massive Titanic sinks. "You must promise me that you'll survive. That you won't give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless. Promise me now, Rose, and never let go of that promise....never let go." And then...he dies.

Check out this new movie video by musician/record producer Dave Stewert of a song he co-wrote with Bono called "American Prayer." According to the website My American Prayer "the video brings together a diverse cast of personalities to reflect the broad reach of Obama supporters." It features celebrities, such as Whoopi Goldberg, Forest Whitaker, Margaret Cho, Cyndi Lauper and other big names--as well as ordinary Amerians.

Did anyone catch Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live" this weekend? What did you think of the Sarah Palin rap on Weekend Update? I have to say, watching her raise the roof was pretty funny....

Pam Grier, that oh-so-cool 70s icon that you may now see on "Law & Order: SVU" and "The L Word," is also starring in a new Hallmark Channel TV movie on Saturday called "Ladies of the House." The movie is...

Check out the trailer for "Sunshine Cleaning," a new comedy about two sisters who go into business cleaning up after crime scenes--and learn to offer comfort and support along the way. Starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Alan Arkin....

Ben Stein's "Expelled," one of the most controversial documentaries of the year, is being released on DVD on October 21st. In the film, Stein, an intelligent design advocate, publically denounces the theory of evolution or "Darwinism." Beliefnet has 10 copies...

Top-selling Christian band Casting Crowns just released their first ever Christmas album, "Peace on Earth" last week and is already causing a stir among fans. The band is very excited about their new release. "I want to see people rediscover...

Anyone catch the hilarious episode of "Family Guy" last Sunday, featuring a record store-working Jesus Christ a a guest star? Check out a clip below....