“The Satan Bug” (1965) has an intriguing concept, the world could possibly end if a germ warfare agent known as the Satan Bug were to be accidentally exposed to an unknowing public. Well, in the desert, there exists a germ warfare lab and it appears that a vial of the Doomsday Drink is missing. Ah…..Espionage is afoot. This is all well and good but I must say that trying to follow all the clandestine activity and all the bodies involved in the nefarious deeds and double crosses (TODAY’S HEADLINES, ANYBODY?) was a bit migraine inducing. What I find very alarming [More]
This time of year with the holiday season upon us can be a stressful time. We are getting all our last minute shopping done, we are battling traffic, going to work, and juggling a lot of other life necessities and the damned weather is completely sticking its foot out and tripping up our good outlooks on life. The video clip linked here shows the people who have to deal with the elements on a daily basis: the TV weather people. Sometimes, the wind, rain, blizzards get them down too. Watch some hilarious meltdowns! Merry Christmas!
This is a very cool collection of optical illusions based on viewing angle, object build and perspective gathered under one roof. Enjoy!
Michael gets some guitar time in before returning to his favorite vocation. Happy Halloween!
Rusty West’s You Tube videos and books talking about missing people, weird occurrences and Bigfoot have become some of my favorites. I just like his writing style and narration. I think it is very direct and entertaining. But also very spooky! Case in point, in this collection of tales, is the tale of the raided chicken coop. That one gives me the chills. Check out Rusty.
Here is a seasonal fun item. Rite Aide sells this adjustable party strobe light which also includes spooky sound effects of a haunted house, howling winds, thunder and lightening, creaking doors and general Halloween inspired noise. Buy a couple and have competing audio and video mayhem in your own living room. Michael Myers mask is optional but necessary. Ah. The possibilities!
It is that time of year again. Want to get into the spirit? Why not pick up your guitar and learn the “Halloween” (1978) theme? I am referring to the music and movie created by John Carpenter that has become very ingrained in our culture. Very remarkable, that! Here is some guitar tablature that will allow you to easily follow along and learn the tune. Let the celebration begin!
Martin Scorsese’s epic crime movie of The Mob setting up shop in Las Vegas and the rise and fall of a few of the characters involved. It is hard to believe that this thing is almost three hours long. Violence, greed, colorful dialogue and equally colorful characters inhabit this desert landscape. Episodic in nature, the exploits of all the bad guys and their battles for power and control are nicely interwoven and interesting. Great performances by Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone. This is one of my favorite Scorsese films.
Not quite a horror comedy but this film definitely has some satirical touches added by director/writer, the late, great Larry Cohen. There is also a good supply of gore such as bitten off limbs and rains of blood from the sky above. Two New York cops are in pursuit of a crazed killer who is enacting Aztec ritual sacrifice on people. Why, you may ask. The rituals will summon forth, Quetzalcoatl , an Aztec god of wind and air who could give the killer more of an edge in taking New York over by force. So, the killings continue both on [More]
I used to listen to the CBS Mystery Theater radio program late at night as a kid and, then, in later years tried to relive those happy moments by collecting old cassette recorded copies of similar radio drama programs. I stumbled upon this gem, the 1950’s era Escape show and its feature, “The Abominable Snowman”. The story is presented in an economic style with a handful of characters, emotive music and gobs of sound effects. All the better that there are no visuals involved so that your mind’s eye can more effectively play tricks on you. The imagination can be [More]
The 50th anniversary of man first setting foot on the Moon is close upon us. Looking back at this documentary, it gives an expansive encapsulation of the entire mission from preparation, to lift off, to setting foot on the Moon. And then there remained the task of managing a safe journey back to Earth. Mind boggling! Stunning accomplishment for the United States and the World. Very cool, vintage documentary. Relive this momentous event again and try not to shed a few tears when the Eagle lunar module lands on the Moon. Joyous! We should do this adventure again soon!
Dick Dale was known as the King of Surf Guitar. I am including this link to a story reported in Rolling Stone magazine. It tells Dale’s story better than I could: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dick-dale-surf-guitar-king-dead-obituary-809294/ I saw Dale perform at a small club a few years back. His band definitely didn’t hold back on the volume! Treble, reverb, noise showered the crowd. A beautiful thing.
Multi-instrumentalist and revolving UFO member MVP, Paul Raymond, passed away recently. Raymond played keyboards and guitar in many different iterations of UFO and had a memorable participation in The Michael Schenker Band. A very reliable addition to any band, his energy and enthusiasm will be missed in the music world.
Sadly, multi instrumentalist Peter Tork of The Monkees fame has passed at 77. Pete contributed bass, guitar, banjo, keyboards and vocals to The Monkees’ recordings and live shows. Depicted in the show as the simple minded one, in actuality Tork was quite the opinionated “thinker”. Pete passed an audition to become one of the four members of a prefabricated band to appear in a weekly television show copying the Beatles massive cultural appeal in the late 1960’s. Tork did have the ability to play an actual musical instrument which is more then can be said of half of the other [More]