Category Archives: Pets

“Ghost of Spud” Returns Temporarily in 2017 Super Bowl Ad

06 Monday Feb 2017

Posted by in Advertising, Animals, Commercials, Famous People, In the News, Paranormal, Pets, TV Reviews, Uncategorized

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“Ghost of Spud” Returns Temporarily in 2017 Super Bowl Ad

A 30-second Super Bowl commercial is a bargain at $5.5 million, once advertising companies factor in the expected 110 million people tuning in, the social media marketing tie-ins, and the Monday morning water cooler talk. Plus, most people tune in just for the commercials. Rankings and ratings started well before kickoff. Super Bowl LI had some incredible commercials: poignant, powerful, and quirky. There was a commercial for every viewer—even the paranormal enthusiast. Anheuser-Busch brought back 80s “original party animal,” Spud MacKenzie from the grave.

spuds-mackenzie

Bud Light’s famous “spokesdog” debuted in 1987 in a Super Bowl XXI commercial. He was an overnight success. Although “Spud” was portrayed as a male, the female bull terrier named “Honey Tree Evil Eye” captured the hearts of beer drinkers across the world. The advertising campaign ran for three (3) Super Bowls: XXI (1987); XXII (1988); and XXIII (1989). During that time, Spud was credited with increasing sales 20%. After thirty years (30), more than 70% of people over the age of 21 still recognize him. During the 80s, advocacy groups were concerned that the huggable dog was alluring children to drink—or at least to wear the Bud Light merchandise. The commercials ended nearly as fast as they started. Tragically, the original “Spud” died in 1993.

spuds_new_poster17

The 2017 commercial was a throwback acknowledging the 30th anniversary of Spud’s debut. Bud Light shifted the focus from party-party-party “Spud,” now played by “Gigi,” to wise sage Spud proclaiming, “You’re here for the friendships!” He has returned from the grave to encourage a young professional to join his friends by participating in Trivia Night and attending get-togethers where Bud Light is served. Spud’s mission: reminding his young friend that spending time with friends is more fun than staying home alone. Yes, it had Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol feel about it.

In addition to broadcasting during the game, the commercial has had over 7.6 million views on YouTube.com. Anheuser-Busch claims the commercial is temporary and will disappear just like real ghosts do. Watch it before is vanishes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYeXldMEpV8.

 

A Genuine Amy Allan

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by in Animals, Famous People, In the News, Pets, Psychics, Reality TV, Scarefest

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Amy Allan

Amy Allan & Bella at Scarefest.

A Genuine Amy Allan

Amy Allan stood nervously in front of the 100+ people at Scarefest and was amazed. She was utterly surprised that all of these people wanted to listen to her. She was very popular and her Q & A quite informative.

Amy Allan is the psychic medium star of Travel Channel’s Dead Files. Together with retired police detective Steve DiSchiavi, Amy tours predominately residential houses helping the occupants understand the possible paranormal events occurring. The show is very popular.

Amy Allan comes from a lineage of psychics. Though Amy admits to difficult teen years, she eventually embraced her gifts and studied under Dr. William Roll. Early in her career, Amy apprenticed with Dr. Roll in the Haunting in Georgia case.

Initially approached in 2003, Amy declined an offer for the TV show because of contractual obligations with CBS. However, things changed by 2007 and Amy agreed to join the show…but on her terms. Amy works within a scientific background and demands certain methodology to ensure that the cases are not compromised. She is adamant that the rules be followed so that the results and data are not faulty—basically to preserve integrity.

Walk-through investigations take between 3-6 hours. They are physically draining. Afterwards, Amy meditates, orders a lot of food to help with grounding, takes a bath with oils and salts, and then she sleeps—a lot. Psychic work is tough on the mind and the body.

Amy travels “with a lot of dead people” who surround her and protect her during the walks. Amy calls her spirit guides “amazing,” stating “They have my back.”

Prior to arriving at a location, Amy conducts a partial opening. Understandably, the walk-throughs are edited and pared down.

Some additional factoids:

  • Ex-husband Matt removes the personal items; however, it takes 3-4 people to reassemble the house.
  • Amy travels 26 days a month, 8 months a year.
  • Amy agrees with most of the sketches; however, she prefers to work with a police sketch artist.
  • The sketches take between 3-4 hours to create with the longest taking 9 hours.
  • Amy thought the sketch from the Alaska investigation was a practical joke by the crew.
  • Amy has encountered dead family pets, as well as a cow.
  • Amy is working on 2 books.

Amy continued the Q & A session by telling the crowd the importance for the living to release the dead, especially children. Amy educates the attendees. Dead Files incorporates skeptics with a psychic medium supported by research. The most important aspect is to isolate the medium from the researcher. This eliminates contamination. Despite Internet gossip, Amy does use paranormal equipment. She would like to see it used more in scientifically controlled environments. Amy encourages paranormal groups to do more than use the tools; incorporate them into longer research endeavors.

Amy Allan was genuine and entertaining. Asked whether Dead Files was renewed for another season, Amy merely smiled. Wink. Wink.

Oculus—One Cloudy Film

21 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by in Haunted Houses, Media, Movies, Pets, Reviews

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Oculus Movie Poster

Oculus Movie Poster

 

Oculus—One Cloudy Film

The gals from Archer Paranormal Investigations (API) took in the film Oculus Saturday night. Many, many words come to mind now that I have properly reflected upon it, and none of them are the words “Good,” “So-So,” or even “Marginal.” This movie was horrible.

There were only two things I liked about the movie: the eerie music and “Dog.” Spoiler Alert: The only saving grace was that the dog was released half way through. I wished that I too was released then. I kept looking at my cell phone to see how much longer the pain would continue. The mediocre storyline could have been overcome with less flash backs. The lady down from me kept saying how confused she was. I wasn’t confused. I was bored.

Prior to the screening, I was concerned that the movie would be too graphic and gruesome. There was one bug-out scene where the adult Kaylie, played by Karen Gillan, mistakenly eats an abnormally large, round light bulb thinking it was an apple. (And the hairdresser should be shot for styling her hair that way, just saying.) Other than that, the horror factor was low. And that would be okay if the director played upon our psyche. He did not. Instead he kept rotating the flashback scenes with present day trying to confuse the viewer. There are so many holes in the plot. Why weren’t the kids in school? What neighbor walks a pre-teen child back without calling 9-1-1? Who has a tattoo on her arm in 2002? How does a mother who never leaves the house really believe her husband is having an affair in his home office? None of this makes sense. Then add an expensive mirror with ties to royalty. How on God’s green earth did this family afford it? It was too distracting to try and reconcile all of this and still watch.

In the end no one won. And that’s a cinematic problem. The protagonist always wins. That’s the formula. That’s what makes the genre work. Instead one dies and the other is remanded back into custody. The movie ends with an obvious desire for a sequel. Pass.

All Dogs Go to Heaven

27 Thursday Feb 2014

Posted by in Animals, Famous People, Live Paranormal, Media, Pets, Radio Show

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Dogs in Heaven Debate

Two churches debate whether dogs (actually all animals) go to heaven.

 

Tonight on the Archer Paranormal Hour:

1. Do animals have souls? Visit http://tithenai.tumblr.com/post/3215186237/two-churches-located-across-the-street-from-each-other to see the great church debate.

2. Can demonic possession be a viable defense to murder?

3. API tribute to the late Harold Ramis.

Tune in at 7 pm EST on www.liveparanormal.com

 

 

 

 

Pet Cemeteries Existed Before Stephen King

13 Monday Jan 2014

Posted by in Cemeteries, Ghost Hunting, Pets

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Hyde Park Pet Cemetery

Vintage postcard for the pet cemetery located in London’s Hyde Park.

Pet Cemeteries Existed Before Stephen King

This past weekend, Archer Paranormal Investigations (API) conducted an investigation at a private residence in McDonough, Georgia. As we were going through the house taking baseline pictures, we headed outside to the backyard. As many of you know, most of the USA was overwhelmed with the Polar Vortex this past week, too. Georgia received a lot of rain. Further, a major thunderstorm raked through the state earlier that day. The ground was saturated and we were trotting along in our rain boots. Jenn was back around the rather large shed and her foot fell into a hole. Not finding much outside, we ventured back in when the homeowner said, “Did I fail to mention the pet cemetery in the back?” Ah, yeah, you did. However, now my interest is piqued. I’m sure everyone has buried a dead pet in the backyard. Or cast it to sea in the case of fish.

Ancient Egyptians mummified and buried cats along with royalty. Archaeologists unearthed 40 dog mummies in a pet cemetery in Ancient Peru. In the ancient world, the largest dog cemetery was the Ashkelon National Park in Israel. In London’s Hyde Park, an informal pet cemetery was active between 1881-1903. The first burial was a dog named “Cherry.” This cemetery hosted 300 burials. The longest continually running pet cemetery is located in Hartsdale, New York. In 1896, a grieving dog owner could not find a proper place to bury her pet. She expressed her sadness to a veterinarian, Dr. Samuel Johnson, who offered to bury the dog on his apple orchard. Thus created the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and Crematory. Dr. Johnson was a co-founder of the ASPCA, by the way.

By September of 1905, the cemetery grounds had grown to 3 acres. Over 1,000 pets had been interred by 1914. A War Dog Memorial was erected in 1923 to honor the thousands of dogs that died in action during World War I. Most recently, Sirius the dog that died during the 9/11 terrorist attacks was interred here.

Commonly known as “The Peaceable Kingdom.” The cemetery has over 80,000 pets including dogs, cats, monkeys, horses, and a lion cub that once resided at the Plaza Hotel. Further, it is the only pet cemetery on the National Registry of Historical Places. Quite an honor!

For more information, visit http://www.petcem.com and http://www.hartsdalepetcrematory.com.

 

The Peaceable Kingdom

View of the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery and Crematory, also known as “The Peaceable Kingdom.”

War Dog Memorial

War Dog Memorial erected in 1923 honoring the dogs that died during WWI.

 

Diving In: Welcome, 2014!

03 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in Orbs, Pets

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Orbs

Orbs are circled in red.

Diving in: Welcome 2014

The New Year is upon us and Archer Paranormal Investigations (API) is busy. We are booked through January. We ended 2013 with some very compelling evidence from private homes in and an apartment in Rome. We are heading back to Rome to debunk the orbs, EVPs, and anomalies we captured. So, I thought I opine on some of the evidence and paranormal theories.

What are Orbs?

Orbs are globular forms of light that sometimes appear in flash photography. Orbs can also be captured on video or digital cameras without a flash. Paranormal investigators believe that orbs represent spirits trying to manifest. Skeptics believe orbs are created by dust particles, condensation in the air, or by insects. Always note the atmospheric conditions when taking pictures so that you can discount these presumptions.

The divide is wide on where people stand on orbs. Basically, you’re on one side or the other. Please don’t comment if you are a skeptic. I get it. You don’t believe. However, the majority of you do believe. Below are pictures that API (http://archer-pi.com) has captured of orbs. Upon review, API always tries to debunk the orb as dust, water, etc. If we cannot ascertain the origins, then we try to link the orb appearance to our investigation. At times, the orbs appear when we are attempting to communicate with the spirits. Often, we are merely observing the location and the orbs just appear.

I’m most fascinated with pets that seem to see the orbs. I’m also interested when the orbs take on a globular form, as opposed to a circle, and look like they are interacting with the environment. In the end, I don’t know if we will ever have a definitive answer on what orbs are; however, I prefer to believe.

Cat Watching Orbs

Pets seem to “see” the orbs.

Blanket with Orb

Orb appears when discussing the deceased man’s blanket.