Sci-Fi's Ghost Hunters Starts the Fall Season with a Bang

Sci-Fi Channel's hit show, Ghost Hunters, began its new year on October 4, 2007. The founders of the TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) business, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, unveiled their new facility and future expansion plans.

TAPS helps people who believe they are the victims of paranormal activity. However, unlike some others in their field, TAPS doesn't go into a site just looking for proof that ghosts exist. They also go in with an eye toward debunking situations. The result of their work is often a more thorough investigation that leads to paranormal proof that is much more compelling.

What I like about the TAPS team is the respectful way they approach all of their customers, which include individuals, families and businesses. They never insinuate that people are making up stories or exaggerating experiences. Instead they try to see if they can find other solutions that might cause the problem. By eliminating those extraneous situations, they can pave the way for exposure of any real paranormal activity.

TAPS is well equipped with 35mm cameras, audio voice recorders, digital infrared recording cameras, digital video cameras, thermal imaging digital cameras, digital thermometers, electromagnetic field recorders, and night vision goggles.

In additional to Jason and Grant the full-time team includes environmental engineer Donna LaCroix, technology manager and evidence analyst Steve Gonzales, and technical advisor/case manager Brian Harnois.

In the season opener the TAPS team visits San Francisco. The first stop is the Presidio, which according to its historian Dr. Thomas Smith has been the subject of paranormal activity for many years.

The team quickly discovers that the "floral smell" claims might be coming from the janitorial closet which contains supplies that have a distinct floral odor. They are also able to debunk the claim of continued cigar and cigarette smoke present in the establishment's smoking lounge. It seems that porous materials used in the room could be holding on to the smell and releasing it once again whenever the air is properly vented.