Archives for October 2018

With Halloween quickly approaching, we’ve decided to share 5 of our favorite, most outlandish conspiracy theories. Most of these are just too strange to be believable, but it definitely makes you wonder what else might be out there, and what the truth really is.

1. The Moon Is a Projection

But… but… it’s right there??? Yeah, we know.  Theorists who do not believe in the moon’s existence allege that the world’s governments fabricated the moon many centuries ago, and now everyone just kind of goes with it.

Why did they feel the need to fabricate the moon? And how did they do it?  This is where things get really weird.  People speculate that the government is using advanced projection technology that the public has no knowledge of in order to make us believe that a false moon orbits our Earth.  Everything we think we know about this supposed celestial object is just an extensive government cover up.  Why they did it is contested among the theorist community, but some of the most popular theories are that the moon is covering up something else in the distance, like a planet that is on a collision course with the Earth.

The best “evidence” for this wild theory includes the changing appearance of the moon, a line from Romeo and Juliet, and the difference in density between the Earth and the moon.  Yeah, we don’t think we could ever believe this one.

 

2. The Denver International Airport is a Gateway to Hell

While most people think of the DIA as nice, pleasant airport, some theorists believe that this building is hiding something much more sinister beneath its surface.  While a “gateway to hell” is a bit of a stretch, there are definitely some creepy things about the DIA that has people wondering.

First off, that scary horse (pictured above).  We’re not gonna lie, this demon horse outside of the airport is more than a little freaky.  Some say that the statue will provide transportation for a Horseman of the Apocalypse, but perhaps the creepiest thing about aptly-named “Blucifer” is that it fell on and killed its sculptor.  Other mysterious features include, but are not limited to, gargoyles sitting in suitcases, some strange murals that highlight both community and death at the same time, and runways in the shape of a swastika.  Though probably not a gateway to hell, we can’t help but question the decisions of whoever designed that building.

 

3. The Earth is Flat

We all knew this was gonna be on here sooner or later, so let’s just get it over with.  Like the moon hoax, believers of the Flat Earth Theory allege that the spherical nature of the Earth was fabricated by the world’s governments and space agencies long ago as a way to make people feel insignificant and therefore more likely to conform to societal norms.  Believers call themselves the “Flat Earth Society,” and they even have their own website.

Many facts easily debunk the Flat Earth Theory, but followers are nothing if not persistent. They imagine the Earth’s true map to look like the image above, with the North Pole at the circle’s center and Antarctica as a ring of ice all the way around the edge (this apparently explains why people don’t fall off, for it is very difficult to get permission to travel that deep into the continent).  This flat earth is allegedly moving upward at a rate of 9.8 meters per second, accounting for gravitational force.  Many more elements to this theory (and we mean MANY more) are detailed on the official website.

 

4. Our Leaders are Actually Lizard-People

Yeah, this is actually a thing.  A survey in 2016 found that nearly twelve million people believe that world influencers are really highly advanced, lizard-like aliens in disguise with the goal of controlling and manipulating the Earth.

There isn’t much of an argument for this one, aside from videos of political leaders and celebrities supposedly “slipping back” into lizard characteristics for no more than a few seconds.  Speculated aliens include Justin Bieber, the Clintons, Miley Cyrus, George Bush, and the Queen of England.  However, we all know that video and photo can be highly manipulated, and frankly, this one just makes zero sense.  We’re glad too, because lizard people sound pretty terrifying.

 

5. Finland Isn’t Real

Of all the theories on the list, we think that this one might actually make the most sense (still almost none, but okay).  According to theorists, the country of Finland doesn’t actually exist.

The story goes that Japan, having a large economic foothold in seafood, suffered as more restrictions were placed on the amount of fishing that could be done in international waters.  As a way to maximize their product output, they created “Finland”, which is apparently a large Japanese fishing colony.  People who supposedly live in Finland (less than 0.01% of the world’s population) are really just citizens of Eastern Sweden, Estonia, and Russia.

A piece of evidence sighted by believers is that Nokia, a Japanese company, does a lot of business out of Finland and through Russia, a nation that they have been very secretive with in the past.

With Halloween quickly approaching, we here at My Commons Life know one of the most vital elements of this spooky holiday: the scary movie.  Below, we have detailed five of our favorite Halloween films, and as a bonus, each one is available on Netflix.  Happy watching!

1. Coraline (2009)

This animated Halloween classic may be rated just PG, but its overwhelmingly creepy nature and eerie stop-motion puts Coraline up pretty high on our scariness scale.  This one gave our child-selves nightmares for weeks.

2. The Conjuring (2013)

This one almost seems like a no-brainer.  Apparently based on a true story, The Conjuring has received international acclaim since its release.  With strong acting and classic scares, this film is perfect for those who love some good old-fashioned horror.

3. Scream (1996)

Here’s a true horror classic: Scream.  Sure it spawned an entire franchise of films, some of questionable quality.  But the original is a bona fide classic filled with inside jokes, self-aware characters, and some genuine scares, too.

4. The Sixth Sense (1999)

The Sixth Sense was one of only four horror films to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.  Accompanied by strong performances and multiple jump scares, this is a film you won’t want to watch by yourself.  And that ending!

5. Stranger Things (2017)

Yes, we know that this one isn’t technically a movie, but we couldn’t resist.  This Netflix original series has received high acclaim from both viewers and critics for its talented cast, special effects, and allusions to the 1980s.  Though not as typically “horror” as the rest of the list, this series is definitely something to binge leading up to Halloween.

We often forget we are in a city of almost 250 years of history. A lot of people have come and gone during those years, and Music City has no doubt seen its own share of odd happenings. All these dead people and the mysteriousness of some of these deaths make a potent recipe for ghosts, which just happen to be the subject of this Top 5: The most haunted places right here in this fine city. Thanks to Haunted Places, Ghostvillage.com, HauntedPlacestoGo.com, and Ghosts of the Prairie, all sites that deal with reporting and detailing supposed paranormal experiences, I was able to get the inside scoop on which places in Nashville offer the richest haunted experiences. Get ready for some serious thrills, because we are going to go strange places that no Top 5 has ever gone before!

1. Union Station

A railroad terminal that opened in 1900, Union Station is now a posh hotel just west of downtown Nashville. With such tragedies as the Great Train Wreck of 1918, resulting in the deaths of at least 101 people, and, according to A Gothic Curiosity Cabinet, the suicide of a young woman in Room 711, there are definitely same negative vibes floating around this place, man. According to internet posts of people who stay at this place, the squeals Phantom steam locomotives, loud thumps, and ghosts goofing around with the electricity are all hallmarks of Union Station. Throw in whispered tales of Satanic sacrifice, and you have yourself quite a paranormal stew. While not as suffocatingly frightening as other haunted hotels, it still has its grim mysteries lurking in the corners of rooms and darkened hallways.

Address: 1001 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203

Phone Number: (615) 726-1001

2. Ryman Auditorium

Ryman Auditorium, also known as the Grand Ole Opry House, is an ideal ghost habitat, considering that this building has been standing since 1892, and its history as the “Cathedral of Country Music.” According to HauntedPlacetoGo.com, sightings include the wizard of country music, Hank Williams Sr., whose short and troubled, means that he just HAD to become a ghost once passing through the veil. There are also many sightings of a mysterious Gray Man, a special entity who is often observed sitting seen sitting in the balcony area, watching the stage. Usually only seen by maintenance workers and security guards, it makes its appearance long after the performance has finished and the audience has gone home. In general, people have reported incidents of poltergeist activity, and the original Captain Ryman is still said to wander around keeping a watchful ghostly eye on the place.

Address: 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219

Phone Number: (615) 889-3060

3. Tennessee State Prison

A former correctional facility located on Bomar Boulevard, Tennessee State Prison was opened in 1898, and stayed open for almost an entire century, before it closed its doors in 1992. A majestic building in its own right, the description and the comments for this place at Haunted Places contains many instances of unexplained sounds, such as doors slamming, voices, and footsteps, no doubt caused by the restless spirits of prisoners, who are still imprisoned in this plane of existence. Thrill seekers occasionally catch sight of these prisoners, ghostly apparitions whose violent lives in prison have left them wandering around, seeking some sort of mysterious justice. Unfortunately, due to structural instability, one cannot actually visit the prison, but still it has to be include as a place of significant paranormal activity here in Nashville. As you might have guessed, there is no contacting this place by phone, and if you are the sort of person who likes to live dangerously, a visit here would preclude getting pass the guards, and after hoping the structurally unstable building does actually collapse on top of you.

Address: 100 Bomar Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209

Phone Number: (615) 350-3309

4. 2 Rivers Mansion and Golf Course

A historic mansion located North of Nashville International Airport with various amenities, such as tennis courts and, of course, a golf course, attached to it, 2 Rivers Mansion was built in 1859 and in the intervening 158 years, it has developed an intriguing amount mysterious activity.  According to the description on Haunted Places, the golf course is supposedly on the site of what was a civil war battle ground and a Native American burial ground, so it’s no wonder that at least according to the testimonies on that website speak of shadow figures often wandering around the golf course in the middle of the night. Strange noises and orbs are often reported as being heard and seen around both the mansion and the golf course as well. On top of all this, unexplained difficulties with modern electronic equipment is apparently a common motif here. This is a place that is inconvenient as well as fright-inducing.

Address: 3130 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214

Phone Number: (615) 885-1112

5. Tennessee State Capitol

The Tennessee capitol building has a place on this list more for its history than for its ghosts, but still there are many rumors of a particularly interesting sort of haunting. Completed in 1859, the Tennessee State Capitol stands atop the highest summit in the city, this building is home to a never-ending argument between the ghosts of William Strickland and Samuel Morgan, who were not the chummiest fellows when they were alive. What makes it odder was they were not even politicians, Strickland was the architect who built the Capitol, and Morgan was the overseer of the operation, and was supposed to keep Strickland within budget. Haunted Places states that they decided to take their very many arguments about the construction of this iconic building into the afterlife. It does not really help that these two are buried on the property.

Address: 600 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37243

Phone Number: (615) 741-2692