Mars; The Busiest Dead Planet in the Solar System

Ever since the Mars Curiosity Rover landed on the red planet and started sending back its fascinating images, it seems that Mars has become a very busy place.  Between UFO’s and underground structures, moving rocks and animals, there seems to be a great deal happening on this dead planet.

The most recent footage picked up by UFO enthusiast StreetCap1 from last month seems to show a cone shaped UFO streaking across the sky.  What seems to be exhaust can be seen at the rear of the object.  The footage came from the one of the rover’s cameras and has been attributed to a meteorite or perhaps even something on the lens of the camera itself.  Dr John Bridges from the University of Leicester was quoted in the Leicester Mercury stating that the object may even be one of Mars moons, most likely Phobos.

And those who analyse these pictures are hoping that the fact that NASA released them is a sign of changing policies in the US space agency.  Josh Barker, from the agency, said the item was a UFO in the sense it was an unidentified flying object but that it was not an alien vessel.

Track record

It seems since the moment Curiosity landed on Mars, all the locals have been out to have a look.  Some of the first pictures taken saw a distant object which appeared then disappeared, but turned out to be dust from the sky crane which dropped the rover off.  It had impacted some 2000 feet away and thrown up a cloud of fine dust.

Two streaking objects were then leaked to a YouTube account ParanormalCollection said to have come from time-lapse cameras.  There was later some debate as to whether these had been faked by NASA and purposefully released to shake the credibility of researchers.  

Faces in the Sand

More recently, images released are said to contain a picture of a face half buried in the sand, perhaps a colossal-type statue.  Just behind the face is a sharply right-angled piece of rock which has been suggested to be a plinth for the statue.  The logic behind this is that nature does not create right-angles and these stones clearly show them.

This follows the comparison between an outcropping of rock on a flat plain which resembled tombs from Japan from the 5^th century.  The Kofun tombs are described as having a central round mound then an almost triangular shaped area leading away from it.  NASA has said that the rocks could have been created by fracturing of the hills.

Scientific basis?

Interpretation of data from the HiRISE camera which is on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter by one geologists leads to the conclusion that there were once oceans on Mars.  Lorena Moscardelli, geologists at the University of Texas, Austin, is quoted on www.ufo-blogger.com stating that the boulders photographed on the planets northern plains show signs of movement by underwater landslides. 

In this possible view of Mars, the area known as Oceanus Borealis since it was first seen by the Viking Orbiter, could be an ocean stretching across a third of the planet.  The study likens it to similar movements in Arkansas, Argentina and Brazil where underwater events have effected huge areas.

And if there were water covering a third of the planet, then this would mean atmosphere and could this mean civilisation had also existed there?  Are the artefacts being photographed on the surface the remains of this civilisation, as the Pyramids are remains of an ancient civilisation in Egypt?

Top Haunted Spots of Alabama

Alabama is a south-eastern state of the US, which has been occupied thousands of years before European colonisation.  Europeans started arriving in the 1700s and since then, the state has seen civil war, racial issues and everything in between.  So it’s not surprising that there are plenty of haunted locations scattered around the state.  Here is a selection of some of them…

Indian Meadows, Adamsville

There are many sites across the world which are built on the burial sites of those who came before, and Indian Meadows is said to be one of them.  But the spirits are not resting easily and are frequently seen in the woods around the outskirts of the area in the form of dark figures.  When the witness checked out the figures, no-one is there and similarly when people have heard scratching at the doors or windows at night. One man found claw marks along the banister of his porch when he checked out the noises the next morning.

Highway 431, Albertville

Just off Highway 431 near the town of Albertville is a typical haunted house.  The property is said to be haunted by it’s first owner who died in the garden when his tractors overturned.  His wife sold the house due to the weird noises and the next owners reported the same thing.  They became so frightened; they left in the middle of the night, and their belongings were still in the house.  Even when empty, it was busy as neighbours have reported seeing lights on.

St Clair County Jail, Asheville

Jails often see the passing of people, through one reason or another and the St Clair County Jail is no different.  Both inmates and jailers have reported a range of strange feelings in the cells including inexplicable cold spots, feelings of being watched or touched when alone while items in empty rooms are moved around.  Electric locks are often interfered with and have to be operated manually while strange mists have appeared on security cameras.

Tutwiler Hotel, Birmingham

Opened as a luxury hotel in 1914, the Tutwiler Hotel was constructed to fulfil the need for somewhere for businessmen could stay when the city grew rapidly.  One of the shareholders, Major Tutwiler, is still believed to be in the hotel, undeterred by the fact he died some years ago.  There have been various reports from guests on the 6^th floor usually concerning strange knocking at the door in the middle of the night.  When the guest opens the door, there is no-one in sight.  The Major also enjoys spending time in the restaurant where he turns on lights which have been switched off and on one occasion, a meal had been cooked, laid on the table and wine taken from the cabinet.  All while the hotel had been closed overnight.

Sloss Furnace, Birmingham

Sloss Furnace is probably one of the most well-known haunted locations across the state.  It worked transforming coal and ore from the local area into hard steel from 1882-1971 which was used across the country.  One particularly harsh supervisor died in a horrible accident when he fell into a vat of melted iron ore and rumours abound that he had been killed by workers.  During his time, 47 workers had lost their lives, 10 times more than other shifts.  But his death did not see the end of his supervision.  Workers spoke of an unnatural presence and a watchman in 1926 was physically injured when he was pushed from behind.  He searched the grounds but found he was along.  In 1947, three supervisors at the plant went missing and were found in the boiler room.  They had been approached by a man with burned skin who shouted at them angrily.  They did not have any idea how they had ended up in the room!  There have been over 100 witness reports from Sloss Furnaces according to local police records, and a website now exists to document the happenings.

Fort Gaines

Fort Gaines stands on Dauphin Island and is the site of the Battle of Mobile Bay from the Civil War.  It sits metres from the Gulf of Mexico and is home to an array of spirits as well as the staff.  Confederate and union soldiers are often reported walking the grounds including one particular soldier who follows people around.  He continued to do this until they leave through the front gate, perhaps suspicion of them being up to no good.

USS Alabama, Mobile

The USS Alabama was brought to Mobile in 1964 to be a memorial for veterans as well as a tourist attraction.  There were only eight deaths on her when she was in service, and they came during an accident with a gun mount.  Workers on the ship have reported footsteps approaching them, only for no-one to be near while voices are heard from empty rooms.  More spectacularly, heavy steel hatches would suddenly slam shut, and investigations could find no reason for the movement.  Perhaps the old sailors were still with their ship…

University of Montevallo

The university was founded in 1896 as a girl's school, but several of the buildings are older than both.  There are stories of a tunnel system running beneath the campus used in the Civil War, which has a haunting presence while cold spots and strange occurrences happen in many of the buildings.  In the main dormitory, a student was burned alive in an accident and the door of her room carried an impression of her body.  Since then, whenever a new door is fitted, the same outline appears on the new door.  Screams and moans have also been heard in the hallway.

St James Hotel, Selma

St James Hotel is another of the ‘most haunted’ sites of the state, and it’s ghosts are quite famous.  The hotel was built in 1837 making it one of the oldest facilities still used as a hotel across Alabama.  Two of the ghosts reported from the hotel is that of outlaw Jesse James and his girlfriend who were said to have stayed in the hotel in 1881.  James is often seen in the bar area as well as the room he stayed in and were described by his clothing, typical of a man of that time.  His girlfriend, Lucinda, has her picture hanging on the ground floor and her presence is recognised by the scent of lavender.  There are also residual hauntings around the building, like a replay of past events, as if a party was taking place in the 1800s and a glimpse back then was being offered.

If you have any experience of any of these places, or any haunting story you would be willing to share, please get in touch.  I am happy to keep stories anonymous if you would prefer.