Aug 7 2023 - A scotch, a cigar and then Churchill saw a ghost

 

First we have the possible scientific reasons for ghosts - 6 possible reasons from Scientific American.  There's the question of why do we see ghosts - more articles there.  And then there's the scientific evidence for the existence or lack of existence of ghosts.   But mostly, the current articles are about how many people consider ghosts exist.  This is more scientific - numbers can become percentages and that looks good on paper. "Gen X'ers (55%) and Millennials (52%) are the most likely to believe in ghosts, followed closely by Gen Z (49%), while only one in three Boomers (33%) say they believe." "In 2019, 4 in 10 Americans believed in ghosts, and more than 46% agreed that supernatural beings exist.   While in 2019 14% of people believed in vampires, today just 11% agree. The past survey showed slightly more adults believed in demons, with 45% saying they're real. "  "About 51% of Republicans believed demons are real, while 34% of Democrats agreed. In terms of actual ghost sightings, 20% of Americans claim they've seen one. But only 11% say they've encountered a demon, and 3% say they've seen a vampire." And in the mix of things to be passed over - things like: "visit haunted houses all over the world" and other sponsored content, I found this.  It is not to be passed over.   Here is the noteworthy bbc.com introduction to an article on the paranormal: "Soon after World War II, Winston Churchill was visiting the White House when he is said to have had an uncanny experience. Having had a long bath with a Scotch and cigar, he reportedly walked into the adjoining bedroom – only to be met by the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. Unflappable, even while completely naked, Churchill apparently announced: “Good evening, Mr President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage.” The spirit smiled and vanished." Isn't that sublime!   One article's closing paragraph says this about the topic:  "Despite mountains of ambiguous photos, sounds, and videos, the evidence for ghosts is no better today than it was a year ago, a decade ago, or a century ago."   That didn't stop the author - Benjamin Radford - from writing his book Investigating Ghosts:  The Scientific Search for Spirits! Here's a Toronto street find from quite a few years ago.

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June 27 2021 - Ghost Stories

 

I dreamt I saw ghosts.  Well, there's a double science question.  Are there ghosts?  Why do we dream? Scientists want us to know that there's no science to support the existence of ghosts.  What does Scientific American say they are? Low frequency sound Mold Carbon monoxide The power of suggestion Drafts We enjoy being afraid Here they are in more detail.  You have to click the bottom to get to a new page to read the explanations.  But they are unsatisfying.  Compare that to the List of Ghosts in Wikipedia - from around the world. The list for Canada is a good one - so here they are from the main article: List of reportedly haunted locations in Canada Emily Carr allegedly haunts James Bay Inn in Victoria, British Columbia. Francis Nicholson Darke allegedly haunts Darke Hall in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Dungarvon Whooper is a ghost believed to haunt Blackville, New Brunswick. Charles Melville Hays allegedly haunts Château Laurier in Ottawa, Ontario. The Headless Nun is a purported ghost believed to haunt French Fort Cove in Nordin, New Brunswick. Minnie Hopkins, wife of Edward Nicholas Hopkins, allegedly haunts Hopkins Dining Parlour in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Alexander Keith allegedly haunts his brewery in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Nils von Schoultz allegedly haunts Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario. Aeneas Shaw's daughter, Sophia allegedly haunts Queenston, Ontario. Lady in Red  - The FirstOntario Concert Hall, informally known as Hamilton Place, in Hamilton, Ontario is said to be haunted by a Lady in Red that also weeps red tears. She has been reported by both staff and theatre-goers. Toronto's Lower Bay transit station has been closed since 1966 but has numerous reports of a Lady in Red. According to witnesses the ghost appears distraught as it glides without feet or eyes. Furthermore, workers that claim to have seen her refuse to go back to work in the tunnel. White Lady  I had expected there would be ghosts in Niagara Falls - the site of so many accidents and events. And wouldn't the power of suggestion be in full-swing there!

There are no model layout pictures so far in 2021.  It is unlikely I will go to the Hickory Convention - and it is near the Biltmore Hotel and grand gardens. Here are train pictures from 2020 - of Gerry's layout.  You can see the scale when we include the human element in the scene.