Sylvia Shults's Blog, page 16

Today I Learned …

More than 60,000 people entered an Airbnb contest to sleep in a bedroom in Paris, France, that was submerged in a huge tank containing 37 sharks. The temporary underwater room for two at the city’s Shark Aquarium had a 360-degree transparent wall, which was all that separated the guests from the sharks. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: A Century of Strange)

Today I Learned …

During World War II, fuel was delivered from Sandown Fort on the Isle of Wight to Cherbourg, France, through pipes laid on the seabed. The operation to secretly deliver fuel to occupied France was codenamed PLUTO, for PipeLine Under The Ocean. (Most adorable code name EVER.)

Ever Wanted to Visit the Villisca Axe Murder House?

Every so often, I get asked if I’d like to do an article for some other author’s newsletter. I always say yes, because I know how important it is to have stuff to put INTO these newsletters. Ophelia Julien has been a friend for years, so it was a treat to be asked to contribute to her pages. Just follow the link to explore the mysteries of the Vilisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, Iowa. And while you’re there, maybe poke around and see what other goodies Ophelia has in store for you! Have fun, and I’ll see you in Iowa.

Word on the street is .. there’s a new book out!

Ah, vacations. There’s nothing like getting away from it all, enjoying a change of scenery, and maybe visiting a museum. Or enjoying animal antics at a zoo. Or scaring yourself silly on a rollercoaster at an amusement park. But not all vacations are days at the beach filled with sunshine and fun – the unseen can linger anywhere, even in places where you’d least expect it. “Getting away from it all” may just mean coming face to face with the unknown!

Join award-winning paranormal reporter Sylvia Shults for a look at the darker side of your summer vacation! Come along as she takes you on a supernatural road trip to the world’s most haunted zoos, museums, and amusement parks – where animals, zookeepers, curators, and thrill-seekers from the past continue to linger into the present.

So, step right up! Grab your ticket and turn the pages of the first book of its kind, taking you behind the locked doors, beyond the velvet ropes, and right past the “you must be this tall” signs and revealing the carefully-kept secrets of ghosts and spirits that we’re probably not supposed to know!
Order Your Copy of this Spooky Travel Guide Today!

And you don’t have to go alone! Tenny Brossity is your friendly little travel buddy. He’s all packed and ready to hit the road. When you get there, take a selfie with Tenny, and post it on social media with the hashtag #GoneOnVacation, so we can all enjoy your travels. Have fun out there!

Today I Learned …

In 2011, a vial of unmatured malt whiskey from Scotland’s Ardbeg Distillery was sent to the International Space Station with pieces of charred oak, and after it returned in 2014, experts said it tasted much better than identical samples that had stayed on Earth. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: A Century of Strange)

Lights Out: Willard Library

Hey hey, and happy Sunday to all! And guess what? There is (at long last) a brand-new Lights Out to enjoy. We visit the haunted Willard Library, home of the Grey Lady. https://youtu.be/fWXXPw3xneI Enjoy!

Today I Learned …

British soldier Gordon Heaton was killed in World War I, but his family was never told of his death. The offical telegram, and his last will and testament, went undiscovered for 67 years after a delivery boy left them on a bus. They were found in November 2011 in a lost and found box at a bus depot in Birmingham, England. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Eye-Popping Oddities)

Today I Learned …

When a horse thief in 17th century Scotland was sentenced to decapitation by the Scottish Maiden (an early form of guillotine), the stolen animal was used to pull the cord that brought the blade down on the criminal’s neck. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Eye-Popping Oddities)

Today I Learned …

When two men climbed onto a wall in 2014 to pose for a photo at the Enchanted Forest theme park in Salem, Oregon, they accidentally knocked Humpty Dumpty off his perch. The cement statue crashed onto the ground below where it smashed into pieces. The sculptor, artist Roger Tofte, was faced with the task of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. Humpty had sat on the wall since the park’s opening in 1971. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Eye-Popping Oddities)

Today I Learned …

The town of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, holds an annual Rain Day Festival — complete with a Miss Rain Day pageant — on July 29 to recognize the fact that it has rained there on that date 114 times in the past 141 years. (From Ripley’s Believe It or Not: Eye-Popping Oddities)