I tuned into Mystery of the Crystal Skulls last night and watched it for the first hour and a half before I got disgusted by the cult of crystal worshipers. The first segment of the show was interesting in that it talked about how the crystal skull was discovered by treasure hunter, Anna Mitchell-Hedges in the 1920s. More were discovered by her father, F.A. Mitchell-Hedges.

While it is said that these skulls are scattered throughout the world, the focus of this search remained in Central America, where the first skull was discovered. Bill Homann, widower of the late Anna Mitchell-Hedges and owner of the crystal skull, led the expedition through the jungles. His wife had given him the crystal skull as well as some treasure maps before she died in 2007.

Another interesting aspect of the show were the scientific experiments performed on this skull. Scientists immersed it into an alcohol solution as well as a laser experiment in order to determine how the skull was made and if, in fact, it contained hidden data that would save the planet from an apocalypse. If skull did contain any information, the scientists couldn’t find it. They did state, however, that it would have taken the Mayans 300 years of polishing and shaping to make this crystal skull. Even more fascinating was the fact that they didn’t find any telltale signs of tool markings on the crystal. So, how was it made?

Well, there are several theories, but I’ll discuss the one I remember the most. Former NASA consultant, Richard Hoagland theorizes that the skull was made by aliens and brought to the Mayas. If you are unfamiliar with Hoagland, read A New Shot of the Face of Mars. The show veers from its original theme as Hoagland discusses the controversial photographs taken by NASA, which he believes are evidence of an alien civilization that was once on Mars. That extraterrestrial theory is possible, although there is no evidence to support what Hoagland believes is fact.

After a commercial break, the show returns to Homman, who is trying to find another skull in the Belize jungle as well as the waters off the coast. He found another burial site in the jungle, but couldn’t excavate it without a permit. So he turned to the coast, only to get discouraged by the strong current and weather.

When Mystery of the Crystal Skulls delved into the healing power of crystals and crystal worshipers, my husband and I decided that we’d had enough and turned off the television. Another thing that irritated us was the constant references to the new Indiana Jones movie that is due to hit theaters this Thursday. Yes, we know what the movie is based on. To us, it didn’t have a place in a documentary.

That said, what we watched intrigued us enough to discuss it afterwards. I’ve always wondered what happened to the Mayas, who vanished without a trace. My husband is intrigued by the astrological aspects of the various ruins around the world. He believes that if this show had any scientific validity, it would have been broadcast on the Discovery Channel and not the Sci-Fi Channel. I can’t help but see his point.

The Hotel Del Coronado’s most longstanding and internationally famous guest was believed to be Kate Morgan. According to legend, Kate checked into the hotel under the assumed name of Lottie A. Bernard on the afternoon of November 24th, 1892. She is accused of being a swindler and a cheat, charming men out of their money. She was married to a gambler, pregnant, and riding the rails.

Her death was ruled as a suicide after she was found on the steps leading to the beach on the morning of November 29, 1892. That is the legend. The truth, uncovered by researchers who used a new process called “Interdimensional Communication”, reveals a shocking case of mistaken identity.

Bonnie Vent (Research Medium located in San Diego, California) interviewed the spirit, who identified herself as Mrs. Lottie A. Bernard. Physical research into the case revealed that Bernard had taken a train from Denver to Coronado on December 2, 1892. Kate Morgan was living in Los Angeles under the assumed name of Katie Logan. She had left her employer’s house the day before Thanksgiving, promising to return the next day to make dinner. She never returned.

Several books were written about this case, although no one thought to question the story of Joseph E. Jones, who checked into the hotel on Thanksgiving day and told the bell boy that he had ridden in the same train car as Lottie. His name was listed in the registry directly below hers. Is that significant? It might be because he had refused to testify before the coroner’s jury.

Whatever the case, we know that the true identity of the ghost of the Hotel Del Coronado is not Kate Morgan.

Listen to sample footage of Interdimensional Communication from the documentary Conversations with the Dead at: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid959009698

This rumor is very reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Cell. An unsuspecting cell phone user answers their phone, finds a red-colored apparition of a woman on their display screen, and dies when their brain explodes. The rumor swept through Karachi, with new warnings of impotency and pregnancy.

According to the rumors, the cause of these supernatural killer calls is due to a mobile phone company building a tower at a graveyard. This enraged the spirits, who decided to kill off the company’s customers in retribution.

As preposterous as these rumors are, they have sent a wave a panic among cell phone users in Karachi. This fear has prompted cell phone companies to issue clarifications to their customers that their cell phones are safe to use. Other people have taken this rumor for what it is, an urban legend started by bored kids or an angry customer.

Harry Houdini enthralled the world with his feats of magic, most notably his escape acts. Some time in the 1920’s, after his mother died, he gave up his career as a magician and used his talents to expose self-proclaimed psychics and mediums. While his exposes earned him great respect within the academic and scientific communities, he made some powerful enemies with people who believed in spirituality and the paranormal.

His death from peritonitis, stemming from a beating and a subsequent ruptured appendix, was widely accepted. However, some believed that he was poisoned by a group called the “Spiritualists.” Houdini’s great nephew, George Hardeen, wants to have his body exhumed so a forensic team can examine the remains. He and his lawyer were scheduled to appear before a New York judge today.