Does the Paranormal and Journalism Mix?

A while ago I ran across an interesting piece in the Kansas City Star, by Derek Donovan,about journalists covering the paranormal. More specifically, Donovan addresses readers' concern about the paper reporting on a medium offering help in solving an old murder case as well as a previous interview with a medium who used to work in law enforcement.

Some readers have suggested that when a journalist covers anything that is supposedly paranormal, the journalist's job is to debunk the paranormal event. I don't know that I am very comfortable with that idea, especially since I strongly doubt how qualified journalists are to debunk (or validate) many paranormal phenomena. Of course I could go on and on about the debate of who is qualified to examine such events--a controversial subject in-of-itself.

How should journalists cover paranormal topics? Should they even cover paranormal topics? According to Donovan's article, one reader expressed discomfort that the newspaper even has a horoscope. Whether you believe in them or not, want to think about them or not, paranormal events have and continue to strongly shape many people and societies. I have argued before that a belief in a miracle-performing Jesus classifies as paranormal, since such miracles defy conventional scientific reasoning.

Since paranormal events defy what we know about science (the real ones, not the phony hoaxes), how would a journalist who is even well-versed in scientific theory and methodology be able to use science to validate or properly debunk the event? How could anyone use science to measure many paranormal events? I sometimes wonder if our efforts to quantify and examine paranormal events using scientific means is like trying to measure the speed of a race car using a teaspoon.

Journalists have a responsibility to cover the news, including "fluff" stories some people may not be interested in. Rather than completely staying away from paranormal topics, journalists should report on the phenomena in the most well-rounded way possible, leaving the reader to draw his own conclusions. Personally, I always find such reporting to be the best, but that may be because I like to use my own ideas and not be told what to think.

You can read the article in the Kansas City Star by clicking here.

Why You Should Shop at a Local Independent Bookstore

In an instant, the whole world can change. It wasn't that long ago that the big box bookstores Barnes & Noble and Borders were beating their chests as independent bookstores slunk away in horror. Many an independent shop closed as the two titans battled for market share across the country, offering customers not only a huge inventory of books, but also a well-stocked cafe.

Now, in 2011, Borders is hanging on by a thread as it closes many of its stores while Barnes & Noble is increasing the amount of toys and novelty items in its stores in a fight to not follow the pathway being blazed by Borders. Only time will tell if Borders and Barnes & Noble will be able to maintain their nationwide foothold, or if the two will disappear from a number of states.

Why has the decline of Borders and Barnes & Noble taken place? Opinions vary, but everyone agrees it has not been from a lack of interest in books. Book sales figures are at all-time highs. Some theorize that the two big bookstores did not get involved in digital books early and aggressively enough, a market that is growing wildly but is also dominated by Amazon.com and its Kindle reading device. Others have pointed to the lack of actual variety in the cavernous stores, or to the lack of personal attention offered to customers. Still others have declared the refusal of the booksellers to carry independent books as a bad move.

Whatever the reason, the irony now is many independent bookstores are doing rather well. People have begun to realize that going to their local-owned-and-operated store has its advantages. For those of you not convinced going to your local independent bookstore is a good idea, consider these points:

- Have you ever wanted to go where everyone knows your name? Sounds a little like the old sitcom Cheers (I'm dating myself a little, I know) but by going regularly to a small shop you could very well establish a relationship with the workers or even owner to the point you are on a first name basis.

- Need a good book recommendation? You can ask family and friends, but it is also nice to ask someone who works with books all day. The big box stores may have the "employees picks" section, but those are just some books displayed on an end-cap. By being able to really talk to your local independent bookseller, you can get truly personal recommendations based on the specific subject you are looking for or even your taste. It's all about better service.

- By shopping locally you keep your dollars more local, helping to pump up the local economy. Even if your local bookstore does not have a specific title in stock, they probably can order it. Instead of ordering that paperback from Amazon, try the bookstore first.

- Many independent bookstores will feature independent titles. Despite what big publishers and the two big bookstores will try to tell you, many quality books on the market are independent. Independent many times means the books will not be so formulaic, or will present viewpoints or opinions you won't be able to find in the books put out by big publishers. Also, many of the independent books are written by local authors, meaning you are keeping your dollars local.

- Most independent bookstores have a good idea what appeals to the specific culture of the area. They also hold community events including live concerts, book clubs, writing workshops and more. Instead of clicking with your mouse to order your books, you can go to an independent bookstore and be connected to the community.

Hopefully next time you are looking to buy a book, you will at least consider going to your local independent bookstore. You just may find out the experience is worth the extra time and will keep going back. If you try one out and don't find it is your thing, look for other stores in your area. Independent bookstores can be drastically different from one another, making shopping at them a unique experience. 

Similarities Between Rowling's Harry Potter Series and Tolkien's Middle Earth: Part 5

Perhaps one of the biggest pieces of Tolkien's influence seen in J.K. Rowling's work comes in the form of a piece of jewelry. Everyone who is even casually familiar with the Middle Earth series knows about The One Ring and its powers. The Ring gives the wearer unimaginable power because Sauron put a little of himself into The Ring when he made it. In order to defeat Sauron, The One Ring must be destroyed in a very specific way, weakening Sauron and sending his forces into a confused disarray.

Similarly, Harry Potter and his companions find a horcrux that is in the form of a locket. The locket must be destroyed in a specific way in order to weaken Voldemort so he can then be mortal once more. Professor Slughorn explains in The Half-Blood Prince that a horcrux is an object a wizard uses to conceal a part of his soul.

Both the locket and The One Ring weaken the one who bears it, even to the point of filling that person's heart with despair. Professor Dumbledore destroys a ring horcrux in The Half-Blood Prince and injures his hand in the process, meanwhile Frodo's hand is also injured in the process of destroying The One Ring.

Also in The Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter travels with Professor Dumbledore to a seaside cave in an attempt to obtain the locket horcrux. The two wizards travel across the water inside the cave using a boat. Harry Potter sees a dead man lying down in the water just inches below the surface, giving him a scare. Dumbledore points out more of the dead people in the water, who have been placed by Voldemort as guards. In The Two Towers Same sees dead men and elves as he travels with Frodo and Gollum across the Dead Marshes

A Second Edition of Shadow House

Shadow House was the book that started my fiction writing career. Since the book debuted, it has exceeded many people's expectations as far as sales and positive reviews.

I have been asked by some people if--knowing what I do now--I would change anything about Shadow House. My response has always been that I absolutely would. Shadow House has taught me much, forever altering how I write and promote my work.

I will be making few changes to the text of Shadow House, mostly just correcting mistakes I and others have caught. I will be adding a forward as well as some other additional parts to the text. In addition, the cover will be completely redesigned. The Kindle edition will reflect the same changes.

When exactly the new edition will be available is still in the works. I am also working on a new distribution model for The Devil's Nightmare and future books, which will lower he cost of the print edition on the second edition of Shadow House significantly.

Similarities Between Rowling's Harry Potter Series and Tolkien's Middle Earth: Part 4

The list of similarities between J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and Tolkien's Middle Earth books stretches on. In Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, readers are introduced to the Whomping Willow on the school grounds, which attacks Harry and Ron. The Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings are assaulted by Old Man Willow, which they escape without harm.

Also introduced in The Prisoner of Azkaban are the dark-cloaked Dementors, which literally strike fear into the hearts of anyone they near. The Dementors search relentlessly for their prey, proving to be almost an impossible force to thwart. Tolkien's Ringwraiths also wear dark cloaks, strike fear in the heart of anyone they get near and are almost unstoppable in their pursuit of The One Ring.

Both Tolkien and Rowling have a character that is a large spider. Shelob inhabits Middle Earth and almost makes a meal out of Frodo, while Aragog is Rowling's large spider readers are introduced in The Chamber of Secrets. One critic pointed out that many older readers who were familiar with Tolkien's work saw Aragog as Shelob.

In the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter runs across the Mirror of Erised, which reflects a person's deepest desires. Tolkien also introduces a mirror in The Fellowship of the Ring, called the Mirror of Galadriel, although it is not in the same form as a traditional mirror. The Mirror of Galadriel is a silver basin, which Galadriel fills with water to create a reflective surface. Instead of showing a person's desires, the mirror shows past, present and future events at the command of Galadriel. Both Tolkien's and Rowling's mirrors are not traditional, but use magic to reflect more than a simple reflection.

Also similar to the Mirror of Galadriel is the pensieve Rowling introduces in The Order of the Phoenix. Rowling describes the pensieve as being a wide, shallow basin just as Tolkien describes the Mirror of Galadriel. The pensieve also is described as having runes written on the exterior, just as runes are featured on magical objects in Middle Earth,such as The One Ring.

Similarities Between Rowling's Harry Potter Series and Tolkien's Middle Earth: Part 3

Some critics and readers just revel in the names of Rowling's characters in the Harry Potter series. Rowling has said in interviews that she started collecting names for characters when she was a child since interesting names are fascinating to her. Many of the names in the Harry Potter series not only sound interesting, but they also carry some meaning behind them. Several names have potential ties to Tolkien's work, however subtle the connection may be.

After the Hobbits leave the Shire, they head for an inn called The Prancing Pony, where they are supposed to meet up with Gandalf. Once they reach the inn, they are greeted by the jovial innkeeper named Barliman Butterbr. In the Harry Potter series, the characters regularly partake of a drink called butterbeer. Coincidence?

The Hobbits love to smoke a weed they call Longbottom Leaf. Mary and Pippin both partake of Longbottom Leaf with glee after sacking Saruman's stronghold and finding a stash of food stores.In the Harry Potter series there is a character named Neville Longbottom, who happens to have a talent for herbology  or the study of magical plants.

Both the Harry Potter series and The Lord of the Rings feature a main villain who is an evil lord bent on ruling the world and wiping out anyone who stands in his way. In both stories many if not most characters avoid saying the actual name of the evil lord, using allusions to the dark lord instead. Aragorn explains in The Two Towers that Sauron has banned his followers from either speaking or even writing his name.

In The Two Towers, Tolkien introduces a spy known as Wormtongue, who keeps control of a kingdom in order to keep at bay the threat of human intervention in Sauron's plans. In The Prisoner of Azkaban Rowling introduces Wormtail, who is also a spy of Voldemort but has the ability to transform himself into a mouse. In both cases, the authors associate spies with worms.  Both characters try to worm their way out of being caught and put in harm's way, so perhaps the association is appropriate.

Similarities Between Rowling's Harry Potter Series and Tolkien's Middle Earth: Part 2

Frodo Baggins and Harry Potter share quite a few similarities, which may go unnoticed by some readers. Both Harry and Frodo are orphans who have been taken in by their uncle. Frodo gets a doting and childless uncle who is considered strange by others in the community, while Harry gets an uncle who already has a child and who wants desperately to appear normal and acceptable to the community. 

Both protagonists have the ability to turn themselves invisible, helping them to avoid detection and capture. Frodo has The One Ring, which when he puts it on shrouds him from the view of others (with the exception of the Ring Wraiths). Harry has his father's invisibility cloak, allowing him to roam the castle halls unnoticed late at night.  

Frodo and Harry both bear a mark or scar from a previous brush with death by the hands of a powerful enemy. Harry Potter, of course, has his lightning bolt scar from Lord Voldemort's attack on both him and his mother. Harry wears his scar rather prominently on his forehead, while Frodo's scar is in a less-obvious place. The Witch-king gave Frodo his scar on his shoulder during the confrontation on Weathertop. Despite the medicine of the elves, Frodo was left with a lasting scar but his life was spared.

Harry and Frodo also consistently are underestimated by their rivals as well as others. These two characters both surprise other characters with their bravery and resourcefulness, allowing them to beat the odds and reach their goals by the story's end. In other words, but Frodo and Harry are underdogs who do not give up, but keep fighting until they receive victory.

More similarities between Tolkien's and Rowling's work to come soon.

Similarities Between Rowling's Harry Potter Series and Tolkien's Middle Earth: Part 1

Some critics have accused J.K. Rowling of plagiarizing J.R.R. Tolkien's work. Ironically, Tolkien was accused by some critics of his time of plagiarizing Lewis Carroll's work. While there are numerous similarities between the Harry Potter books and The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series, I don't consider them plagiarism but rather a homage to the greatness of Tolkien's creative genius. Caroline Monroe once wrote that all writers borrow from previous writers, putting a unique spin or angle on the same ideas. In other words, each writer stands on the shoulders or those who have gone before, but writers incorporate original creative energies to make old concepts new. Monroe goes on to explain that no modern writer of epic fantasy can nor will escape “the mark of Tolkien” no matter how original their works may be.

What are the similarities? Well, there are quite a few--so many that I am going to have to break up the details among several posts on here. For this first part I will be focusing on one similarity between The Sorcerer's Stone and The Lord of the Rings trilogy: the adult wizards in both works.

The heroes of both series are little people (Hobbits or children) who are guided by an adult wizard (Gandalf or Dumbledore) who are old yet very spry. The adult wizards seem to come and go, often not being present or accessible for the little people when they perhaps need the guidance or powers of the adult wizard the most. The adult wizards also keep the little people in the dark much of the time, telling them only a little of the big picture of things.

Both works also feature an evil adult wizard or sorcerer (Sauron or Voldemort). This evil wizard was once incredibly powerful, ruling the world in cruelty. The evil wizard was toppled from power and left barely clinging to life, but he becomes more of a threat as he gathers his strength again as well as his former followers. The little people in both stories must thwart the efforts of the evil wizard to obtain a magical object that will aid the evil wizard in restoring his powers (The One Ring or The Sorcerer's Stone).

And so you see that Rowling is not immune to the "mark of Tolkien in her work. Next time, more similarities between the two.

Things About Utah I Will Miss

Please excuse me as I indulge in a little nostalgia as I am saying some of my last goodbyes to the people and places here in Utah. I have spent almost the last eleven years of my life in this state, and so inevitably there are things about Utah that I will miss. Without getting too horribly personal, here is my list of things I will miss about the Beehive State (some of which I would consider hidden gems):

- Crown Burgers: The featured burger at Crown Burgers has a patty topped with a generous serving of pastrami and some special dressing. The burger is moist, the pastrami is moist and the result is incredibly good and filling. Owned by a local Greek family, Crown Burgers also serves the best gyros in Utah as well as other traditional Greek dishes. The restaurant even picked up accolades from the Food Network's Man vs. Food. Check out Crown Burgers' website here.

- Mountains: One of the biggest features here is the mountains. The mountains are forever looming to the east and west and provide endless entertainment with skiing, hiking and great getaways from valley inversions both in the winter and summer. I grew up with mountains in Albuquerque, so this will be the first time in my life I will not be near any. I should put in that many of the canyons are amazing, such as Hobble Creek, Millcreek and several canyons north of Ogden, to name a few.

- Scentsations: Scentsations is a unique local store that puts Bath and Body Works to shame. You can buy lotions, body wash, perfumes, etc with any one of a huge variety of scents. The store also sells bamboo pajamas and any number of other relaxation-oriented products. I can never leave that store not feeling refreshed and relaxed. Check out Scentsations' online store here.

- The Pie Pizzeria: Voted the best pizza in Utah, The Pie also offers a different atmosphere. The original location is a half a block from the University of Utah's campus, in a basement space. The pizza is amazing, as are the wings and sub sandwiches. Rock icons and artwork adorn the walls along with people's signatures on the brick. Rock music, many of it from the 70s, plays constantly. The Pie's website can be viewed here.

- This is the Place Park: Want to know more about how life in Utah was like for early pioneers?This is the Place Park, located across the street from the zoo, is about as close as you can get. Many of the buildings in the park are original and have been transported there, including one of Brigham Young's homes. The buildings are full of artifacts as well as actors in period dress. If you don't go when it is busy (summer, Halloween and Christmas time) the park is serenely quiet and you will truly feel transported back in time. As if that were not enough, many buildings in the park are actively haunted. For more information, look at the park's website here.

- The Training Table: Yet another local restaurant, The Training Table offers great burgers and sandwiches, as well as cheese fries that are addictive enough to blow anyone's diet. You order your meal from a phone sitting at each table, adding to the unique factor of the restaurant. I highly recommend the blue bacon burger, which comes with crumbled blue cheese dressing, as well as the hickory burger, featuring Training Table's own hickory sauce. Here is The Training Table's website.
 

- Tutoring Toy: If you have kids and live in Utah, then you have to check out Tutoring Toy. Located in the Foothill shopping center in Salt Lake City, the store offers a lot of toys not found elsewhere. Many of the toys have a nostalgic feel from yesteryear and actually hold my kids' attention quite well. One of the best parts is that the owner will order specific items for you if they do not have them or even normally carry them. He also gives great recommendations. See more about the store here.

- Cowboy Grub: A place that is practically hidden, Cowboy Grub has a strong local following. I've seen a variety of local celebrities there, including former governor John Huntsman Jr. The decor and food are, of course, cowboy inspired. Since the cowboys first learned their trade from Mexican vaqueros, there are several Mexican dishes (without the spiciness, though). One of the unique dishes is a sandwich called the Big Monty, featuring french toast bread, melted mozzarella on ham and turkey, as well as sliced tomatoes. Kids (mine included) love the play room there, which has mechanical horses for the kids to ride on. See the website here.

- Temple Square: It's one of the most-visited areas in the state, and for good reason. Temple Square offers a park-like atmosphere in the middle of downtown Salt Lake City. The temple itself is a wonder, crafted out of granite and featuring architecture not normally seen in cities in the Western United States. Temple Square is a great place to take pictures, get away and relax or learn more about the culture of the area.

- Park City/Heber Valley: Park City, of course, has reached fame for the 2002 Winter Olympics as well as the Sundance Festival held there every year. The city offers a unique look, where all the buildings (including Burger King and the gas stations) look like buildings out of a small mountain mining town. Park City offers several great ski resorts, as well as a unique main street with interesting shops and great dining, making it a great place for even locals to get away. The Heber Valley, located south of Park City, is not quite as flashy, although it does offer some amazing resorts and golf courses, many of which are nestled in hidden valleys. Heber still has a quaint main street that you find in a shrinking number of areas, including the restaurant Dairy Keen.

- McCune Mansion: I call it the Biltmore of Utah. McCune Mansion is easily the most ornate house in the state, making it something you have to see in person to truly appreciate. Not only is the mansion beautiful, but it is also haunted. You can read more about the paranormal happenings of McCune Mansion in an article I wrote here.

- Ogden Area: Many people who simply pass by Ogden, Utah from I-15 see the industrial face of the city, which is admittedly not very attractive. These people are missing out on the east side of the city, particularly the benches, where the university and major hospital are situated. The views from the benches are breathtaking and the mountains look particularly wild and beautiful. Take a walk around the university's campus and you will find it may be the prettiest -- if not close to it -- campus in the whole state of Utah.

Another Bigfoot Physical Evidence Claim

Bigfoot apparently has a liking toward peacocks, according to the account of a Northern California man. Kirk Stewart from Gasquet, California, claims that three years ago Bigfoot came onto his property and bird-napped his peacocks from a pen.

What made the man think the assault was performed by Bigfoot and not a known wild animal? Supposedly he found peacock feathers in tree branches seven feet off the ground, as well as some hair left behind. The man, for whatever reason, though the hair looked odd and so sent it off for analysis by a Bigfoot research society, who has been studying the hair for three years. According to the article on Paranormal Utopia, the researchers believe the hair samples to be primate in origin, although they are not entirely sure what kind of primate they belong to.

Stewart has experienced other events on his land since finding the hair, including finding large muddy footprints (which you can see pictures of in the article on Paranormal Utopia) as well as having his melon patch raided.

In all honesty, these types of evidence -- particularly the footprints -- are common and unfortunately debunked quite easily by objective researchers. The fact Mr. Stewart turned all evidence over to a Bigfoot research group does not inject much confidence in the fact that the truth of the origins will be uncovered in an objective fashion. Before you jump to conclusions, I am not a Bigfoot skeptic, but I have learned to be skeptical of many of these groups and evidence.

Some Writers Are Whiners

Writing, like any profession, can be a tough way to make a living. After interacting with a wide variety of writers of many sorts, I have come to the conclusion that some writers -- and people in general -- are just plain whiners. Apparently these writers think that they should get an easy or free ride, that editors should never ask them to rewrite a single piece and that everyone will love what they write. Yes, these writers are egomaniacs who need a serious dose of reality.

I have read the complaints of some writers that they must work the equivalent of forty to fifty hours a week (the horror) in order to make enough money. I wonder if these writers have ever worked an office job, or if they only did a stint at their local Baskin Robbins during high school, went to college and did not work and then started writing once they finished school.

I have said before writing is not for the weak-of-heart and is not as simple as so many think, but don't let writers give you a sob story about how horrible the profession is. I have seen in numerous job satisfaction surveys for various professionals that writers score in the top five for job satisfaction, while lawyers and accountants consistently score in the bottom.

Still Around

It's been a few days since I have posted here, so I wanted to let everyone know I am still alive. For the past few days I have been where my internet connection has been less-than-stellar. I have been traveling around, seeing new places and receiving more inspiration for my writing. For now I'm going to be brief since I have so much to catch up on (and I'm tired from being behind the wheel so much).