Another sign of the times

The local Movie Gallery is closing.  It wont affect me negatively becasue I have been using Blockbuster ( which is just across the street from the Movie Gallery) but it is still sad.  The movie rental buisness is quickly going the way of the dinosaur thanks to downloading, instant streaming and Netflix. Netflix and Blockbuster are trying to keep up by offering streaming ( Netflix) and a Netflix like service and Blue box type vending machines ( block buster.)  Still, like I mentioned, it is sad to see stores closing.  I remember when video stores first started opening, they were basically all mom and pop operations, then the big franchises starting opening up forcing the small buisnesses out of buisness.  Just like in other forms of retail.  However there is profit for the movie collector who doesn't mind rental copies.  Right now the Movie Gallery is selling all their stock at 3 DVDs for ten bucks.  Not bad.  Iw ent in and picked up six DVDs and may go back before they close.  I picked up REC, Infernal Affairs,  Them ( french film),Sukiyaki Western Django, Left for Dead, and Coffy.  Hurry in if you are a collector in the Foley area.

Lost Boy Corey Haim dead at 38

The LA Times is reporting that Corey Haim has died of an accidental overdose at the age of 38.

Story here

Corey has had a well publicized battle with drugs throughout his career, but still it is sad to see  a star that once shone so bright, blink out of existence way too soon. He really was a lost boy.  Rest in Peace Corey, you will be missed and fans of theLost Boys will never forget you.

Thanks for the memories

Will the real Wolfman please stand up?

I really tried not to hate Twilight.  I know it was a book written for kids, that broke into a mainstream audience.  It reached beyond the young horror genre to millions of people who would never go see a horror movie willingly.  I can only assume some of these people have never heard of a werewolf before.  That assumption is the only thing holding back my anger at Twilight and its fans over the last few weeks.  Now I fear it is becoming impossible to have any respect for Twilight or the majority of its fans.  I realize Twilight does have some "real" horror fans that like it.  I also realize that it is an entertaining movie for tweens.  I also realize that America's teens and tweens are becoming more and more stupid and Twilight isn't helping matters.


First off it was the fan letter to Universal accusing them of "stealing" from Twilight to make The Wolfman remake with Benicio del Torro.  Part of me still holds out hope that the letter was a prank, but knowing teens today, I can see it being real.  Then some twit on the Oscar red carpet refers toTaylor Lautner as playing the most famous werewolf of all time?  Excuse all the fuck out of me?  That’s like calling Lady Gaga the most famous singer ever.  Just because it is hot right now does not mean it will stand the test of time.  Let us take a quick look at the most famous werewolf of all time. Jakob Black would not exist without this man.  Stephanie Meyer would still be working at Captain D's if not for him.  Ladies and gentlemen,
Lon Chaney, Jr.


Maybe Lon doesn't pass the hawtness test of today’s text obsessed, barely can spell, can't locate Canada on a map teens but in the 40's he was considered a handsome leading man.  Not only that he could act.  He put a pathos and a sadness into his wolf man that has never been repeated in film.  The entire film was as much a tragedy as a horror film.  You tweens do know what a tragedy is right?  Or did you skip out on that part of class to go to the mall?  Most of the time honored werewolf mythos was created in that film, mythos which Meyer confidently threw out to make her goofy love triangle story.

The 40's were a different time though.  A time when a movie didn't need big flashy effects.  A time when people actually paid attention to the story and the acting.  Now America is simply too stupid.  If a movie doesn't have big sparkly effects, fast cuts, handsome young barely legal actors and a non-sense storyline, it just cannot keep our interest.  Honestly Twilight is nothing but
a gimmicky, flashy, teenage angst filled piece of fluff.  Hopefully the

tweens that flock to it will someday realize this, but I don't hold out
much hope.

I am afraid the day of good movies, at least on the big screen are over.  I liked The Wolfman remake but it suffers from those same flaws, too much flash and not enough substance.  Much more substance than Twilight, but it can't compete with the original.  Will we ever see another Lon Chaney?  Nope. Will we ever forget him? Not true horror fans and true cinema fans.  It is our job, no our responsibility to keep his memory alive.  If your kids want to watch Twilight, make them watch The Wolfman first.  Take away their cell phone while they are watching it, turn down the lights and make some popcorn.  Maybe they will laugh at the special effects after being exposed to all the CGI, but maybe they will jump once or twice.  Maybe they will shed a tear at the end.  If they don't leave me a comment saying " I told ya so," if they do then maybe there is hope for America yet.

Oh yeah Twilight sucks

third party add ons

Beware using third party add ons especially counters and count down timers.  Most are bugged.  I had to remove my custom template to get rid of mine.  I tried removing it normally and it wouldn't let me and I am not a master of HTML. Forgive the bare appearance, I will snazz it up more when I have time.

Visit Netflix while ya are here and help a brotha out

Hunting for rock hunting

Ok so I am the worst in the world for getting ideas for new hobbies. These new hobbies might last for a few days or a few years but it seems eventually they all fall by the way side. Lately I have gotten interested in rock collecting. I guess it started with a trip to the Great Smokey Mountains last year. We stopped at one of the many "mine your own gems" places and had a short go. Actually I let my nephew mine, and I helped him. He found a couple rubies and a nice sized sapphire. It was fun thought that sense of adventure in not knowing what you will find. Still most of the mines there are salted with small gems but occasionally you do hear of big gems being found in the "native" unsalted mines.


I planned on going back to the mountains when I found a job and saved a bit of money. The job has happened but still haven't saved enough money for a trip to the mountains. Moving is expensive. The bug has hit me again and I have been looking at places where I might go and possibly mine for myself. There are lots of free and fee places to find gems and minerals. I have even started walking the beach looking for interesting shells and rocks. Meanwhile I am also looking for a rock shop I can visit in person and learn more about the hobby. Unfortunately the Mobile area isn't just over crowded with them. There are several listed in New Orleans but that is a 21/2 to 3 hour drive.

I found one listed a bit closer and decided to make a trip this weekend. Normally I work Sun to Thurs so I decided to go on Thursday. I was on call Thursday night but the shop ( that will go unnamed) was only about 40 minutes away according to Map quest so I should be able to make it there and back before my call started. Unfortunately the third shift worker called in sick so guess what? The call guy ( or gal) has to work. That was ok I can go Friday.

According to the shops website, they closed at five o'clock. I woke up at one and was ready to go by two-thirty. At this point I will say that I SHOULD have called ahead. Instead I head out with just a scrap of paper with the turns listed on them. Big mistake. there were only four turns listed so it should be simple. "Cough" never trust online maps. After only two turns and an hour later I realize something is not right. The street I am on is not on my list and I have not passed "Fernwood" my third turn. Not only that but I ma in a residential neighborhood, the street I am on has changed names to one not on my list, and I am headed south toward the coast. Before long I see the ocean and the bridge to Pensacola Beach. Obviously I have made a mistake somewhere. Biting the bullet I pull over and buy a map. Six bucks lighter I am scanning the city and still can't find fernwood. My position can be roughly determined by the large body of water known as the Gulf of Mexico over my left shoulder..

Finally I spot the street where the shop is and shocker its not that far and only a couple of turns. Still with almost two hours this should be a cinch. So what if I don't see a fernwood street anywhere near. A few minutes later I find my destination street and make a left turn onto it. Hmm this doesn't look like a business street. It looks residential and...dangerous. The cop car with the flashing blue lights parked at the end of the street convince me to turn and go back. Then I notice this is the "east" version of my street and I need the "west" version. Pulling over at a church a few blocks away from the cop car area I glance at the map again. The street the shop is on stops and starts several times.

I plot a route for the next section as time draws closer to closing time. twist and turns later I come upon the street again. This time is not a "east" or a "west," Probably not my street but I turn and, well, it is a pretty shabby neighborhood. I check my notes and see this block is about the 3200 block and going down as I drive east on it. I need the 3800 block. Back to the map I go. Finally another small stretch of the street to the west and lo and behold there is Fernwood, intersecting with the highway I had originally been on. How had I missed it?

I plot a new course along a short rote to get me there. Less than an hour till closing time but I have come this far. Not only that but I am very frustrated, hungry, and determined to find it. Eventually after a few turns and twists, a couple wrong turns I cross Fernwood and am on the street. On the right street and very close! Then out my driver side window I see the words "Rock Shop" painted on a run down shed like building, surrounded by a chain link fence. I must be close, wait, that run down shed...is the rock shop. At this point I am glad the fence gate appears locked. There is a sign out front that appears to announce they are moving to a new location. I was too disappointed to stop and check the address. I might also say I was a bit pissed that they had not updated their website with the new address.

I started back home tired and disappointed. I stopped and got some decent barbeque in Elberta, Alabama then headed on home. Doing more internet searching I found another possible rock shop. There was only the name which included "Rock Shop" and no description so it could be landscaping or music. This was however just a few miles from my house. I went by today and couldn't find it but the location is a large flea market so it could be a stall that isn't open all the time. I plan on going by again when it is warmer and more shops are open.

My plan now is to buy a tumbler online next week ( when another check hits the bank) and I am planning a trip to either Arkansas or North Carolina during the summer to dig for gems. I know this is a "horror" blog but doesn't wasting five hours of a Friday night driving in circles count as horror? Ah well I saw some decent architecture in P cola and I know how to get to Pensacola Beach now.

I'll let you know if I ever find that rock shop

Who knows if the hobby lasts over a week or two I might start a blog about rock hunting that I can neglect