The city section of this morning's New York Times carries a report from Brooklyn that describes, in all apparent earnestness, a house that is haunted by ghosts. The Times reports that in 1995, the homeowner called in "a parapsychologist and a medium" who "apprehended five restless 19th-century Dutch spirits and two dogs, as well as the ghosts of two newlyweds who had died in the 50's." The Times reports that the "parapsychologist" and medium "convinced the ghosts that they were dead" and "hauntings ceased."
The Times further reports that "one bedroom still gives off occasional banging noises. But family members no longer see balls of light near the ceiling or strange mists floating down the hall. And it's been years since anyone invisible has splashed water on them."
A photo cutline that accompanies the article shows the homeowner "in her once-haunted basement in Brooklyn."
If the New York Times has genuinely discovered a haunted house in which "a parapsychologist and a medium" have "apprehended five restless 19th-century Dutch spirits and two dogs, as well as the ghosts of two newlyweds who had died in the 50's," then this story should be on the front page of the newspaper, above the fold. If it's just a ghost story, though, it's hard to see why the newspaper would devote any space at all to it in its news columns.
Gutter Ball: An article in the city section of today's New York Times reports on bowling alleys in New York. "Young executives like Dan Smith and Rob Gordon stop in for a pitcher of beer and a game after work," the Times reports. "'It's a refreshing change,' Mr. Gordon, a 24-year-old writer, said." Well, which is Mr. Gordon, a "young executive" or a "24-year-old writer"? The Times gives readers two different descriptions, one after the other.
No Disclosure: The book review in today's New York Times carries a review of a book by Michael Pollan. Amazon.com and the cover of another book by Mr. Pollan identify him as a contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine. But the book review in today's Times never mentions that he has a formal connection to the newspaper.