-- It's worth noting the different tactics employed against protesters - hands off policies in place when folks tote guns to protest rallies versus aggressive "non-lethal" assaults on peaceful, non-gun-toting protesters. Also notable - we have very steadily adopted the notion that government permits are needed in order to exercise our rights to voice opinions via a protest.
-- One wonders why aggressive enforcement of banking and financial regulations were not immediately applied to halt bogus and conflated schemes for making money as quickly as authorities were called in to remove tents, sleeping bags, and peaceful protesters from public spaces. Which of the above actions constitute the greatest threat to public safety?
-- Despite the spread of national and international protests and concerns over financial management (or mismanagement) in government, Republicans in Congress remain locked up solid against improvements to the economy, even the improvements they vowed to provide."Republicans, in effect, said in August, “If we fail, we’ll accept
these cuts we don’t want.” The same Republicans, in effect, are now
saying, “It turns out, we don’t like our idea anymore. ... In the bigger picture, Republicans were never working in good faith.
Even putting aside the inherently disgusting debt-ceiling crisis they
created over the summer, GOP officials were willing to offer the
defense-cut trigger precisely because they knew they’d try to kill it
after the super-committee inevitably failed."
-- If this is the non-doctor person you decided to visit to get "butt enhancement" injections -
A cash windfall is headed my way as a result of class action lawsuit against Netflix and Wal-Mart. I was not a part of the class action, so naturally, those who were will get a heap of money and I will not. They are set to receive about $5,000 each.
If I file a claim, which I can, according to the email I received today, then I could expect about $1.50. Probably a gift card.
Once again, the oddest of political animals - politicians who campaign by calling the government a monstrous creation - returns, as Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey hosts what he calls a "red tape tour". Claims are made that government regulations are so huge and vile, the regulations are what hurts our economy most.
"... surveys from the National Federation of Independent Business, and
Brookings Institution scholarship ... all said the same thing:
government regulations are not responsible for holding back the economy.
The New York Times, the AP, the Economic Policy Institute, the Wall Street Journal, and McClatchy newspapers all did their own research and reporting on this in recent weeks, and all came to the exact same conclusion.
At this point, it’s safe to say anyone insisting that regulations are
the driving factor behind the weak economy is a fool or a hack."
Here you go - your chance to both see and hear me as I promote my current theatrical project, all real life (sort of, the beard I'm sporting is for a character I'm playing in this production of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" by the Morristown Theatre Guild, a show I am also directing. Which is to say I do not normally have a beard.)
This is the first time I have been on YouTube (and I think, the first time the Guild has a YouTube vid.) This was shot while I was doing some emcee work for the annual Mountain Makins festival in Morristown, and was shot for Morristown TV Today.
What I noticed in this promo for the show is that when I start talking about the plot for Christie's play - 10 people are stranded on an island estate and are being killed off one by one - is that I suddenly develop a case of Crazy Eyes. I must confess that it is quite likely that whenever I start talking about mysteries and murder plays and stories, my eyes will get all crazy. And my smile turns kinda creepy too. The video is below, but first, props to the cast. (Oh and I have tinkered a bit with the script, so that the show will have a different ending depending on which night you see it.)
This show has been fantastic fun to work on, a true ensemble cast of talented players who, like me, enjoy the screams and the chills that go with this show. So let me tell you some about them and their characters, who are all liars and have all been accused of murder as the story unfolds -- Eric McDowell and Tana McClain play Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, servants who have been hired to take care of the arriving guests. He is rather milk toasty and she is rather rude and their fate is not pleasant. John Carpenter plays the cavalier mercenary Phillip Lombard, and John and I have been friends for decades. We make jokes and references to pop culture so old, that Autumn Leming, who plays the young secretary Vera Claythorne, said at rehearsal recently, "Oh, you old people and your words!"
Newcomer to the Guild is Larry Glover, who plays the mostly dim-witted and devious Mr. Davis/William Blore, and he cracks jokes backstage constantly. Kylian Andrew has the choice role of the spoiled, preppy Anthony Marston (he's also the youngest member of the cast and I also directed him in a production of "Alice In Wonderland", where he performed a perfect Mad Hatter. In fact, Tana played the Red Queen and Autumn was Alice - they are a very talented young trio.)
Hobart Smith plays the addled and nearly ancient General MacKenzie, and he is always such fun to work with. He reminded me recently our first show together was when he played a sloppy drunk "children's story hour reader" for a fake live radio show titled "Laughing Buddha Holistic Radio Show" and his slurred reading of "Winnie The Pooh" was hilarious. Mitzi Price-Akins plays the ultra-conservativc Emily Brent, who is rather like a furious modern American conservative denouncing all things. She's a bona fide force of nature onstage.
Dale Stanton plays the high-strung and nervous Dr. Armstrong. Dale and I last worked together on "On Golden Pond" when he played Norman Thayer. He is sly and funny and works relentlessly as an actor. Doug Knight plays the boat captain, Narracott, and though it is a small part, he makes it most memorable and funny. And he agreed to do the show even though he is a newlywed of less than a month. I play the role of Sir Lawrence Wargrave (what a great name!), a judge who enjoys ordering everyone about. (typecasting?) Olivia Fee is the stage manager for this show.
And mention too must be made for my longtime friend David Horton, who is the technical director for the show, and is the most talented and creative man I know. He played the role of Lombard when the Guild last performed this play, back in 1983, and he has been a brilliant adviser on this show. He and I have worked together co-writing spooky plays and murder mysteries for many years. David travels the world and the U.S. as a professional entertainment consultant and he does astonishing things on a regular basis. Thanks, DH.
Performances for this show are Nov 11-20 at Rose Center, with Friday and Saturday shows at 8 pm, Sunday matinees at 2 pm. Also, a special opening night reception will be held just prior to the show at 7 pm on Friday Nov. 11 as the Guild presents their line-up of shows for the 2012 season (their 78th year) and to say thanks to everyone who attends and supports the Guild. Tickets are available online at lakewaytickets.com.
And now, here I am, unmasked and with a case of Crazy Eyes, talking about the show. I hope you, dear reader, can attend at least one performance.
There's still one more weekend to visit the 4 Attraction Screampark, Frightmare Manor, in Talbott.
The hauntings and scares will be just as good this weekend as they were during October, so don't miss this weekend. I'll bet you still have some Halloween candy and pumpkins on the porch, so Frightmare will fit right into your lifestyle.
"Some lawmakers wonder if members of Congress have even single-digit
approval from the public. 'I’d like to meet the 6 percent who approve of
Congress,' said Representative Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, who
has often voted in ways that help hold up legislation, because he is
seeking deep cuts in spending. 'I just don’t know who they are'.” (via)
Hold Up legislation, that's probably the best description of the witless behavior in Congress.
"Tom was one of radio's great clowns," he said. "He was serious about
silliness and worked hard to get a moo exactly right and the cluck too
and the woof. His whinny was amazing -- noble, vulnerable, articulate.
He did bagpipes, helicopters, mortars, common drunks, caribou (and
elands and elk and wapiti), garbage trucks backing up, handsaws and
hammers, and a beautiful vocalization of a man falling from a great
height into piranha-infested waters.
"Whenever Keith came onstage for a sketch, Keillor said, the audience watched intently.
'They could hear me but they wanted
to see Tom, same as you'd watch any magician," he said. "Boys watched
him closely to see how he did the shotgun volleys, the singing walrus,
the siren, the helicopter, the water drips."
A Tennessee judge says there was no cause to arrest protesters at the Occupy Nashville protests, releasing all those that Gov. Bill Haslam ordered arrested. This Halloween weekend's pointless repression of free speech should haunt the governor.
Are we just supposed to be grateful that - so far - no one has been injured in Nashville? Are we supposed to be grateful the right to free speech is only being discarded for just a few people?
R. Neal: After
declaring a curfew at Legislative Plaza last night, Gov. Haslam has sent
THP state troopers with a SWAT team to clear the area. An Occupy
Nashville livestream report from the scene says approx. 100 officers
began arresting a small group of peaceful demonstrators at around 4AM
(3AM Nashville time).
Betsy Phillips: Setting
time limits and monetary requirements on when people are allowed to
gather on taxpayer-funded state property to exercise their first
amendment right to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a
redress of grievances is unconstitutional.
Also from Betsy: But please, notice that the Governor is afraid of fifty people. Other
Occupies have hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people. And our
governor has to sneak up on fifty people in the dead of night. But what’s worse than sneaking up on fifty people in the middle of
the night is stripping everyone in the state of their constitutional
right to peaceably assemble. That hurts everyone.
This weekend marks the 36th Annual Mountain Makins Festival at Rose Center in Morristown, a celebration of Appalachian folk life, history, art, handmade crafts and displays of skill, music, dancing, food and much more. And I will again be the emcee for one of the stages of live music.
I'll be the host for the Gazebo Stage, sponsored by ORNL Federal Credit Union. Here's a lineup of the music - and this year will mark a first: Russian Bluegrass music.
FIRST
TENNESSEE STAGE 10AM:
Tracy Wilson- Scottish Highland Bagpipes
10-11:
The Red Wellies- Celtic
11-12:
The Grassabillies- Rockabilly
12-1:
Steve Brown and Hurricane Ridge – Bluegrass
1-2:
Rough Edges- Bluegrass
2-3:
Hot Mountain Caravan
3-4:
Roan Mountain Hilltoppers – Old Time
4-5:
The Grass Pistols- Russian Bluegrass
ORNL
GAZEBO STAGE 10:15:
Tracy Wilson- Scottish Highland Bagpipes
10:30-11:30: Steve
Brown and Hurricane Ridge- Bluegrass
11:30-12:30: The
Red Wellies – Celtic
12:30- 1:30
The Grassabillies – Rockabilly
1:30-2:30:
Roan Mountain Hilltoppers- Old Time
2:30- 3:30:
Grass Pistols – Russian Bluegrass
3:30-4:30:
Rough Edges- Bluegrass
4:30-5:00:
Hot Mountain Caravan- Americana/Folk/Roots
SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 30 FIRST TENNESSEE STAGE
11-12:
The Dulcimer Guys- Hammer and Mountain Dulcimers
12-1:
Earl and Pearl- Old-Time
1-2:
Harmony Strings- Traditional Country and Gospel
2-3:
Hall Family and Friends- Traditional ‘Shape-note’
Singing
3-4:
The Dulcimer Guys- Hammer and Mountain Dulcimers
4-5:
Clinch Valley Bluegrass- Bluegrass
ORNL
GAZEBO STAGE 11:30-12:30
The Katts - Americana
12:30-1:30
The Dulcimer Guys- Hammer and Mountain Dulcimers
1:30-2:30
Earl and Pearl- Old Time
2:30-3:30
Clinch Valley Bluegrass- Bluegrass
3:30-4:30
Harmony Strings- Country and Gospel
4:30-5:00
The Dulcimer Guys- Hammer and Mountain Dulcimers
Prior to opening of Frightmare Manor in Talbott this year, a team of paranormal researchers took their team through the old house on the property. This team is from the area, and I spoke with them about what happened when they got into the house - they asked not to be identified, as they prefer to do their work without much fanfare or attention.
"There's a lot of activity in that old house," one team member told me. "The K-2 meter was off the scale all through the building." A K-2 is an electromagnetic field detector most ghost-hunters use.
"In almost no time, we made contact with 2 young girls," he said. And again, for privacy reasons, they asked me not to give too many details, as the team is still planning more investigations and they are trying not to gain notoriety as much as they are interested in learning all they can first. The team did learn the names of the girls, and their presence was quite powerful, they said.
Whether or not these girls are connected to the stories of Jeremiah Lexer, the mysterious owner of the property who committed some heinous crimes before taking his own life, is being investigated too. Lexer's tale was mentioned in this previous post. What is for certain is how intense that night investigating the house became for the team. Their faces and voices were greatly strained and it was obvious the experience left it's mark on them.
It's no surprise that for the second year in a row, Frightmare Manor has been voted the best haunted attraction in East Tennessee in a poll from WBIR-TV.
Already a banner year here at the house when it comes to all things Horror for Halloween 2011, I've more great news to share - this weekend my friend Clint Keller picked up the award for the best grindhouse-style trailer at the Knoxville Horror Fest Grindhouse Grind-Out for his epic tale of a maniac mechanic, called, naturally "Mechaniac". And the Best Actor award went to my roommate and semi-adopted brother (or did he adopt me?) Timothy Mooney.
Tim effortlessly portrays a crazed killer mechanic who does not like it when folks don't take care of their cars. He's not about being Green, but he will make a deep red bloody mess out of you. Heh heh.
Ah, but enough talk - here's the grainy, film-scarred trailer of what has to be the best grindhouse movie you never saw!
As best I can tell by employing research via the GoogleMachine, the tradition of tramping out into the chilly evenings around Halloween while masking one's identity and seeking candy delights or other treats is relatively new - the late 1930s and early 1940s.
Expectations today assert that some $2 billion will be spent for candy alone on Halloween. And that:
"... an average Jack-O-Lantern bucket carries about 250 pieces of candy
amounting about 9,000 calories and about three pounds of sugar."
Halloween historians of television's History Channel say folks began begging for and receiving "soul cakes" for a promise to pray for dead relatives during England's All Souls Day parades and that donning costumes was based in the idea that one should wear a disguise so that roaming ghosts could not find you. "Soul cakes" sound far more interesting than they actually are.
Today, Halloween treats and foods can be deeply weird - I for one am still oddly fascinated with the Halloween Meat Hand. Meat and ghoulish imagination have also brought us the Halloween Meat Head. Make it cream cheese or jello for "glue" and slather meat around a skull. (none for me, thanks)
Also, Candy Blood, you know, for kids:
Around my home, I have noticed in the last few years that the neighborhood kids seem a little ... different ... and they want bacon.
I sat down with Chris Wooden, the creator behind Frightmare Manor, now open for their third year in Talbott, smack on the border of Jefferson and Hamblen counties, to see if we could get some more details about what audiences can expect if they dare take the journey through all four stages of frights and chills offered at this "screampark". I can tell you that the pure enthusiasm from Chris and his crew of Frightmare Fiends is enormous. As they have said before, for them, running Frightmare Manor is like Christmas for them.Their delight is indeed much like a wide-eyed child on Christmas morning - except of course, the child here is rather demented and deeply devoted to making you shriek out loud many times, no matter what your age. So Chris, tell us a little about the planning that goes into this huge event. Do you have a regular team of creators involved?
"Planning for Frightmare Manor is truly a year
round event. Our managers and actors keep in touch throughout the year and brainstorm new and creative ways to torment our victims. This event is in our blood and is something we enjoy working on year round. Once our plans are set, the redesign and renovation work usually begins late April."
Tell us what a visitor can expect from the four different attractions at Frightmare?
"Each attraction for 2011 is designed to be a
completely different experience for our victims. We offer 3 unique haunted attractions at 1 location, plus the Frightmare Challenge - each mesmerizing in their own way. Whether it be through high-tech animatronics and Hollywood
DMX Lighting, or old fashioned blood and chainsaws, we attack ALL 5 senses when someone steps foot onto this old plantation. We invest more and more money every year to give our victims a terrifying experience, that they want to experience year after year. We guarantee new and innovative haunts every year!
"New for 2011, we have a 1 of a kind, custom,
entry piece that, by now, everyone has noticed when they drive past our property. Victims must enter into Frightmare Carnivore through this enormous Beast Facade Piece. There is not another example of this creation in the world. It was the Entry Piece to one of the largest haunted attractions in the U.S. for many years, until it's relocation to Frightmare Manor. This is only 1 example of how we will go the extra mile, traveling the U.S., to provide our customers with the Ultimate Haunted Experience. When customers come to Frightmare Manor, they will be seeing the fruits of not only our hard work, but the evidence of the vast industry connections we have, which allows us to bring the BEST props and scare-tactics to the Knoxville, TN area seen ANYWHERE in the U.S.!"
What can you tell us about the tales of a serial killer on this property?
"Jeremiah Lexer was the original property owner
of this entire plantation around the turn of the 18th century. The past 2 years we have focused on more recent, controversial events surrounding the 2001 closing of the
successful restaurant on this property. Over the past year, we have dug into the record books and unearthed a lot of forgotten (or hidden) information about Jeremiah Lexer and his original homestead. We believe Haunted House customers want to experience TRUE TERROR. Because of this, Frightmare Manor will remain at the old Jeremiah Lexer Plantation. We will continue to learn and share with our customers the evidence over the next few years."
This must take a lot of work from performers and tech crews - about how many people are involved? "Many Haunted Attractions choose to use volunteers to staff their event. Frightmare Manor is proud to employ close to 80 staff seasonally. Most of our actors tell us it's an experience they would do for free, but we believe our actors truly appreciate the payment and we feel they absolutely deserve it! Working at Frightmare Manor is a unique experience and we have hundreds of applications per year. Providing seasonal employment to our community is truly a joy for us. It's a true Win-Win!"
I can verify for you, dear reader, since I worked at Frightmare last year, that everyone involved works very, very hard to make your experience unforgettable and uncanny. Don't miss it!
I've said it before many time - I like Halloween scares and events so much I frighten even myself. And that means it's time to share a unique fear-filled thrill being presented in Knoxville at Relix Variety Theatre on Thursday and Friday nights by The Wild Thyme Players.
Titled "The Ghastly Gala of the Grand Guignol", the show draws from the legendary productions of melodrama and mayhem of live shows in Paris in the late 19th century, shows which dared to shock, scare, and amaze audiences with theatrical madness. As the Wild Thyme Players explain on their website:
"The Theâtre du Grand Guignol,
located in the bohemian Montmartre district of Paris in the late 19th
century, was famous for its mystery and horror plays. These performances
later inspired works by Alfred Hitchcock, Stephen King and Quentin
Tarantino. Project Director Courtney Woolard says, “Grand Guignol
was innovative and provocative theatre for its’ time, and remains
relevant today as the basis for many of the modern horror films we love
to scare ourselves with.”
Woolard explains that Grand Guignol
translates into “puppet master,” and the performances are designed to
manipulate the audience’s emotions with a “hot and cold shower” of
horror, eroticism and comedy."
How about a little more enticement? Thursday's show is only 10 dollars, Friday is 15 dollars, so attend one or both and be prepared to wade deep into the disturbing world of the Grand Guignol. This show does include a parental warning -- Due to the adult nature of this show, parental discretion is advised. For more information call (865)325-9877
Halloween seems the most appropriate time to release a new album from iconic actor William Shatner. It's called Seeking Major Tom and includes an also appropriate line-up of iconic musicians - Zakk Wylde, Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore & Ian Paice, The
Strokes' Nick Valensi, Scorpions' Michael Schenker, country star Brad
Paisley, funk legend Bootsy Collins, '70s rock god Peter Frampton,
folkster Sheryl Crow, Tangerine Dream founder Edgar Froese, The Kinks'
Dave Davies, and Yes guitarist Steve Howe
I've often had the misfortune to hear the bizarre rants and twisted fabrications which flows like a broken sewage pipe from talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Late last week, his idiocy and lust for attention brought him to claim that President Obama was attacking Christians in Uganda. Not only is that a lie, horrible enough, he also sided with the group known as the Lord's Resistance Army and read their propaganda on his program.
Oddly, for a change, his despicable comments have been rebuked by officials and average folks from all corners. However, a survivor of the unimaginable brutalities of the LRA, named Evelyn Apoko, abducted at age nine and forced into a life of endless terrors, filmed a calm, compassionate reply to him. Now at the age 22, she has begun traveling into the West to encourage support for ending what can only be called a war on children.
Here is her video response to Mr. Limbaugh, evidence of a courage and an honesty and compassion arrived at with an enormous cost - something Limbaugh is utterly incapable of understanding.
Late last year, The Hill published a vivid account of her ordeal, just one example of the hundreds of thousands of children and adults being butchered by the LRA. Her survival is a miracle. That she now seeks to aid those still left in grip of such endless nightmares come to life is testament to her courage and humanity.
This event is yet another example of how deeply deceptive lies and hateful tactics are the norm for Limbaugh. How anyone can listen to his show more than once or twice and not emerge with a realization his words are slimy and ugly distortions of reality, made in hopes of collecting fame and wealth, is beyond me.
Shame is but the smallest hallmark of Limbaugh and his followers.
".... you don't know much, do you ... on this night, the barriers would be down, you see, between the real and the unreal, and the dead might be looking in..."
Chilly nights, shadowy forms shambling through the darkness, screams echoing across the rolling hills of East Tennessee - and the return of Frightmare Manor in Talbott, right on the border of Jefferson City and Morristown.
I worked there last year and had a real blast scaring folks silly, and owner Chris Wooden has gathered another horde of horrible things to scare you silly for 2011. Student night is this week, Oct. 20th, and with a student I.D. you can get a $2 discount off admission. Also on Oct. 30th at 2 pm it's Kid's Day - and it's free, people. And kids can meet some of the cast members too.
The Screampark (I love that!) is open Oct. 20th from 7 til 10 pm, Oct 21 and 22 from 7 til 1 am, Oct. 27 from 7 til 10, Oct 28 and 29 from 7 til 1 am, Oct 30 and 31 from 7 til midnight, and Nov 4 and 5 from 7 til midnight.
A pair of recent editorials tries to crack the code to answer a "what does it mean?" aimed at the Occupy Wall Street and other spreading protests nationally and globally. But I'm not sure really that there is a code to crack.
Bernard Harcourt writes an editorial for the NYTimes that OWS is designed to be "political disobedience" - a rejection of the current state of American ideological political divisions, goals, and practices. "Ultimately, what matters to the politically disobedient is the kind of society we live in, not a handful of policy demands." Perhaps he is right.
From my perspective, the Tea Party folks and the OWS are both expressions of the same deep dissatisfaction with American politics. Serious efforts to provide economic policies, devise solutions to complex global problems and limit the influences of corporate cash support are truly absent in today's political world. And none in charge seem to want to alter the current status in any way, instead doubling-down for more of the same, which leads to less than nothing and nowhere. Those in government, local and national, do not understand any of their failings and remain focused on one goal - election and re-election. Tragedy is poised for performance.
Sadly, as noted by Seiler, the overall effect looks far too much like the chaos of a society overrun by endless, mindless hordes of consuming monsters. The survivors want two things - survival and a way to reinstall some normalcy - but none have all the answers. Make your best guess, try and endure, and try to maintain some kind of human community.
At this point, as in most zombie movies, all I can say is "good luck with that".
