Druidan's Xanga

National Novel Writing Month Update!

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:42:29 GMT

I've posted an Update about my National Novel Writing Month Progress HERE, at my blog devoted to the novel I'm currently working on. Feel Free to Check it out! Also, the First Five Chapters are also up on that blog, in their mostly finalized form.

You are my Bilboard

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:58:14 GMT

Dear Xanga,

I have finally decided what I am going to use you for. You are my Billboard. You see, I still have friends on here that I can find no where else, specifically Jerjoni. And Yet I do not have time to update you as I used to do. I also don't have the patience to re-post everything I write over at My New Blog on Wordpress on here. So from now on, you are my advertisement to the world.

From now on, I'll post links to my new blogs on here. That way when my friends see it, they can come and read what I write. Are you okay with this xanga? Don't worry, you aren't the only one. I use Facebook and Twitter as m billboards too. I don't even look at my Myspace page anymore. So don't fret Xanga. I haven't tossed you aside. I have given you new life! an new Purpose! See, Xanga? Everything will be all right.

I'M ALIIIIIIIIVE!!!!!

Fri, 01 May 2009 18:32:21 GMT

no really, I am. :)

The Dark Knight Review

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:10:04 GMT

The Dark Knight

We Deserve A Better Class Of Super Hero Flicks. Chris Nolan’s Gonna Give It To Us.

July 18, 2008 – I was terrified of watching this movie. Not because I was actually afraid of the film. Not at all, though parts of this film will keep me up at night staring into the darkness. Rather, I was afraid for the film. I’ve been following the hype machine following this movie for quite a long time now, longer than most movies I follow, and I couldn’t believe any film could live up to it. How could it? As interesting as the trailers were, they didn’t speak to me. I was interested, certainly. I was even hooked. But I was never reeled in. I knew that everybody was raving over the late Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker. I knew that the stunts, effects and camerawork were said to be spectacular. How could anything live up to it all? A sequel at that. Granted, a sequel to one of the most acclaimed Super Hero films ever, but still a sequel. What can I say that hasn’t been said? Probably nothing, however, let me make this clear: This film is a masterpiece.

Before I go any further, there is something I feel has to be made clear. I’ve read many reviews, from people lucky enough to see it ahead of time, that call it a masterpiece, yes, but because to them it’s a crime-drama masterpiece. Yes, the crime drama aspects are important, and excellent. Vital too. But this movie is not a crime drama. It is a super hero film. When someone watches this film, and recognize its greatness, why do they feel that they have to classify it as a more critically dignified genre? Can it only be taken serious if it is a crime-drama? Is there something wrong with admitting it to be a super hero film? Does that somehow take away from its mastery of the cinematic art? I say it is a superhero film. And it is a masterpiece. It doesn’t need to be something else to be what it is. I’ve long known that serious story telling could come from comic books. Stories that could achieve incredible heights in whatever medium they were put in. Stand up and take notice that Super Heroes and Comic Books can be for adults too. But the nature of Superheroes is a subject for a future rant. Or dissertation. Or whatever.

(We now return you to your regularly scheduled review)

The plot starts out simple. Batman’s presence in Gotham has brought out the best and the worst. The best takes the form of the new district attorney, Harvey Dent. Dent is the face of fearless, public justice. He’s a truly inspiring and capable arm of the law. He takes Batman as inspiration to stand up and fight evil fearlessly, but does it where he can do the most good: The Courtroom. The worst takes the form of the menacing, creepy, sinister, sadistic, [insert several more appropriate descriptive words here] Joker. The Joker’s motives start out seemingly normal. He appears to be out for money. This, however, is far from the Joker’s true motivation, which is far more dangerous. In the struggle between the forces of good, like Batman, Lieutenant Gordon, and Harvey Dent, and the forces of evil, the Joker and a friend gone bad, Gotham turns into a war zone, fighting for the soul of the city. The plot coherently follows winding twists and turns that always surprise, always deliver, and yet never leaves you lost if your paying attention.

Much ado has been made about Heath Ledger’s Joker. There has even been rumored Oscar talk. After seeing the film, I’m positive that if Ledger doesn’t get a nomination, he will have been robbed, and if it were up to me, there’d be no question, he’d get the little golden man now, and receive the send-off that his burgeoning talent deserved before the world lost him prematurely. His masterwork in this film only amplifies how much of a tragedy it really is.

I could go on from here to talk about the intricacies of psychosis, disappearing pencils, maniacal laughs, phone calls, bombs and body counts. I could talk about how you can’t keep your eyes off of him. I could talk about how the makeup that seems to be rotting off of his face will haunt your dreams. But nothing I say will convey the lasting impression Ledger’s Joker leaves. I was worried from the reviews that Ledger might have overplayed it. I was worried from the trailers that he might have under-played it. And for the first few times I saw the Joker on screen I worried he under-played it. But as I watched, layers were peeled away, and more layers kept coming, and what starts as a very good villain at the beginning turns into the greatest screen villain ever by the end. If you need one reason to watch this movie, watch it for the Joker.

If you can peel your eyes off of Ledger for any length of time you’ll find excellent acting in pretty much every scene of this movie from the entire supporting cast. Christian Bale is the perfect Batman as always, with the right mix of billionaire playboy during the day and agent of justice at night. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are perfect as Luscious Fox and the butler Alfred respectively, each with important, character defining choices to make with moral weight. Aaron Eckhart does a terrific job with DA Harvey Dent, Gotham’s White Knight, not to mention the tragic turn the character takes two thirds of the way through. To save from spoiling too much, I’ll just say that Eckhart played both sides of the coin that is Dent’s character perfectly. Gary Oldman does a brilliant job giving a sense of reality and wholesomeness to Lieutenant Gordon, and Maggie Gyllenhaal plays an improved Rachel Dawes.

The cinematography was spectacular. It made unprecedented, and glorious, use of the Imax Camera. Now, what I wouldn’t have given to see it on an IMAX screen …. Most every angle was great and added to the emotion of the film, though there was an occasional moment when the camera gave just a bit to much room for Batman’s pointy ears in close ups that ultimately make it seem that Batman is sliding down out of the screen. It only happened once or twice, and it was generally a small difference anyhow.

As for the look, Gotham never looked so true to life. Of coursed it helps when Chicago is willing to become the playground for the film. I’ll always be a fan of the overly gothic architecture of the Tim Burton films, but the realistic city lends weight and reality to the proceedings. The special effects and CGI, which you almost never notice with one exception, are all pretty excellent as well.

****Spoiler Alert****

My only gripe is with Two-Face’s face. Now I’m not saying the whole thing was bad, but I kinda wish the popped eye looked a bit more real. It might have helped if it looked as scarred as the rest of the face, but in such a way that you know it’s an eye. You know, whiten the pupil a bit, maybe make the orb itself less glaringly white. Even still, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Two-Face’s scarred visage when he was on-screen.

****Spoiler Alert****

The Audio was also exceptionally brilliant, with a truly disturbing theme for the Joker that ratchets up the tension perfectly, as well as the subtly swelling trumpets and horns recognizable from the trailers. All of the sound effects were right on target too. The Film editing was brilliant, and the ease with witch it made keeping tabs on all of the action and plot-lines at once was superb. His film also deserves an award for its editing, easily.

Most of the complaints I’ve seen of this film, which are admittedly few and far between, rest on a couple of things: 1.) It’s too dark and sadistic 2.) The length, and at two and a half hours, it is a longer movie than most. 3.) The twisting plot. The last two complaints are often bedfellows, as several critics argue that as much as 30 minutes of the film could be shaved off. This may simply be a matter of taste, but the plot was so intriguing, that those 2 ½ hours were some of the fastest of my life. There was never a moment I was looking at my watch going, “Man, couldn’t we hurry this along a little?” And as for the plot twists and turns, they were many and often, but never too confusing for me. Once again this is simply taste as some people like more straightforward stories. I like mine nice and complicated. But the first on is what gets me a little riled up. True, this picture is gruesome, especially for a PG-13 movie (*Hint* Don’t bring the little kids to this one) but its not meant for kids. Almost every time I saw this complaint it was coupled with the idea that as a super hero movie, it was too dark. They’re fine with the Godfather, or a good number of action flicks out there, but when a superhero picture gets serious: “Oh no! Foul!” That isn’t a serious complaint, that’s a stereotype. That’s putting something in a box. And for those who cry foul for that reason I call foul right back. Yes we need kid-friendly super hero films. That’s what we have Spider-Man and the Fantastic 4 for. But I have every right to my adult super hero goodness.

Closing Comments:

While Iron Man may be the most well rounded Superhero film for audiences of all ages, The Dark Knight is a masterpiece that far surpasses it, and every other contender for the title there is. It can proudly stand next to the greatest films of all time, not because it’s a crime drama, or some other genre, but because it reaches the heights of mastery, period. It is a superhero movie, and still the best movie this year, and one of the best movies of this decade. Go see it. Thank me later.

And did I mention that Heath Ledger does a magnificent job as the Joker?

Rating out of 10 Description

9.5/10 Story: The same excellent use of twisting, surprising

plot, that is found in other works by Christopher

Nolan, such as “Memento” and “The Prestige”.

10/10 Character: Heath Ledger is the Joker. How many times

do I have to push his awesome scariness before

you go see this film?

9/10 Look: Excellent, real, not as dark as last time and

brilliantly executed special effects.

9.5/10 Cinematography: IMAX. Seriously, have you ever

experienced the glory?

9/10 Audio: Disturbing and right on.

10/10 The Spark: The movie made so many promises, and it

filled each and every one of them and cashed a

few extra just for the heck of it. Once again I

find myself coming back to the Joker. Even if

the Joker had been a little less good, it would

still be an excellent movie, but Heath Ledger’s

performance brings it up those couple extra

notches it takes to hit masterful territory.

OVERALL: 10/10 (Not an Average)

Hellboy II Review

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:54:00 GMT

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Demons with guns? Rogue Elven Prince? Robot Army? Guillermo del Toro? There is a God!

July 14, 2008 – In a perfect world, Guillermo del Toro would get to do these kind of films more often. As the man behind Pan’s Labrynth, Blade 2, and the original Hellboy, he’s building a very nice portfolio of movies with stunning and unique looks. He also knows how to make a movie with heart, which is the key ingredient to most films. If there is any one weakness to his films it is their occasionally poor plotting. This is, unfortunately the problem with Hellboy II.

Now before anyone starts flinging the flames of hate at me, let me state that the plot is entirely serviceable, and worthy for the films purposes. It isn’t always coherent, such as the choice of the elven prince to hold his sister hostage, when he’d die if he killed her. Add a couple odd inconsistencies in the behavior of minor characters and the sudden inexplicable shift in the attitude of the ectoplasmic agent Johann near the end of the film, and you have a plot that doesn’t entirely stand up straight on its own two legs. Thankfully, the plot has excellent backup. Though the nature of the plot isn’t terribly original, the characters, and objects that fill, it are. Even though there are hints of the films that have gone before, Hellboy’s characters, settings, and creatures, all feel new. You don’t come out of Hellboy II thinking “I’ve seen that before”. And in a time where everything under the sun feels already done, it is quite an accomplishment.

The basic premise of the story is that mankind once lived alongside the fantasy world. However, mankind was greedy and tried to conquer their magical neighbors, such as elves, ogres, goblins etc. In the ensuing war, man was winning, until the titular Golden Army, an army of seemingly indestructible robots, was built. Mankind’s armies were decimated by the magical race’s new weapon. But the heart of the king of the elves was grieved for all the death and destruction, and so called a truce between Man and Magic. Man would stay in the cities and the Magical races would keep to the forests. Fast forward several thousand years and mankind has not kept the bargain, encroaching on the territories of the Magical races. The old king is still willing to keep the truce in the name of peace, but the exiled prince, now returned, has vengeance on his mind. Bloody, golden, robotic vengeance. Into this dicey situation steps Hellboy and his teammates, the last defense of mankind against this new, old, enemy. Anyone still not tired of tried and true fantasy stories lines, myself included, will appreciate the plot more than it is probably worth. It still beats the pants off of movies like Hancock and Eragon, from a couple years back.

The plot, though only ‘good’, is the perfect vehicle for some excellent characters, art direction, exciting action, and laugh out loud moments. Ron Perlman is back as Hellboy, and no more perfect casting could be made. He fits into the role like slipping into some favorite shoes, and he brings the character to life so well that you don’t even really see the makeup, only the character. Selma Blair is also back as Hellboy’s girlfriend Liz, and she seems much more comfortable in the role than her debut appearance, and though she still isn’t given much to do, she makes the most of her screen-time, so that you feel her presence throughout the movie. The character she plays makes some important steps forward, and becomes a deeper character. Her relationship with Hellboy, like the princess’ relationship with Abe, provide the heart and humanity of the story, which truly needed it to connect with the audience. Speaking of Abe, Doug Jones does an admirable job of acting the part, as well as filling in the vocal shoes of David Hyde Pierce from the first movie. If I didn’t know there had been a change of voices, I would never have realized it by watching the films. As long as I’m paying attention though, I do kinda miss the old voice. I don’t mean to take away anything from Jones’ acting, though. The character goes through a lot more development this time around, and he comes across as far more complex, if perhaps a bit gullible. Prince Nuada, played very well by Luke Goss, is ruthless and dangerous as a villain, but he is also relatable and a sympathetic character in some respects, much like Magneto of the X-Men movies (less so, the third iteration). A part of me misses Agent Myers from the first film, just because he made a solid human character to play off of, even if he didn’t do the greatest acting.

Some of the best moments in the film are entirely character driven. The slapstick fight between Johann, voiced by Seth MacFarlane, and Hellboy comes to mind as a very well choreographed and hilarious moment, and the drunken singing of Abe and Hellboy is funny as well as poignant and full of character charm. I also loved the way Liz’s little secret is handled in the film, and it plays out very nicely. Come for the action, stay for the characters.

Of course the action is very nice too. The choreography is excellent, and you almost never get the feeling that what you’re watching is artificial. This lends a lot of weight to the world and every encounter the character’s have. The special effects and men-in-suits, all blend together better than I really could have hoped for, and the colorful marketplace scene is reminiscent of both the Star Wars cantina and the magical market of Stardust. The combination is very well done. The only exception to the special effects drawing you further into the world is the fight between the Forest God and Hellboy. Not to say it isn’t about as well done as possible, but after the marketplace scene, the giant flower headed monster comes across as too computer generated. Furthermore, with its funny face it feels like the least inspired creature in the film. That is until it dies, at which point it really becomes something to look at.

The soundtrack by Danny Elfman is superb and fits every scene like a glove. While not overly memorable, it’s not forgettable either, and could even merit a purchase of the soundtrack for the serious fan. The sound effects are generally excellent, especially the clanking and whirring of the Golden Army. It does trip up once or twice however, when the sounds don’t match the on-screen action in a few relatively unimportant scenes, particularly the slapping incident where Hellboy is trying to slap some information out of a creature, and the slapping sounds are one too many and out of sync with the physical slaps.

Closing Comments:

Don’t let anything I said about the plot fool you, this is a very good movie. It’s something of an acquired taste, accept for action/fantasy fans who’ll probably lap it up with relish like I did, but even the non-fantasy indulgent should appreciate the skill behind the make-up, choreography, music, and especially the acting and characters. Hellboy II expands upon the groundwork set by it’s predecessor marvelously, and despite a slightly more unwieldy plot than the first manages to find the sweet-spot for what a summer film should be. Trust me when I say it’s worth it. Now I just have to wait till the DVD comes out to add it to my personal collection.

Rating out of 10 Description

7/10 Story: Light, with a few plot holes, it still manages to be one of the better

fantasy yarns out there today, and it serves it’s purpose as a vehicle

for the characters and action sequences.

9.5/10 Character: Ron Pearlman and crew are excellent actors, particularly in

these parts, which seem to have been built for them. The characters

themselves go through a lot of growth, and become more fully-

fleshed characters by the time the credits roll. This is definitely the

heart of the film. Now if only Seth MacFarlane didn’t have such an

annoying German accent…

9/10 Look: Excellent makeup and costumes combined with terrific special

effects. Guillermo del Toro’s style is all over this thing, which only

makes it that much better. The Forest God could have used some

work though.

8.5/10 Cinematography: Generally great, some scenes may have used a more

dynamic camera, but overall more than competent. Even

if it won’t be held up as a marvel of modern cinema.

8/10 Audio: Beautiful score by Danny Elfman. Disappointing slap flub.

9.5/10 The Spark: The movie promised to be an action packed popcorn muncher

with big guns, big flying fists, big monsters, and one big red demon.

It not only delivered it, despite a somewhat derivative plot, but it also

delivered some great acting, humorous moments, character growth,

and the joy of Guillermo’s unique style. I can’t wait to see how he

tackles The Hobbit.

OVERALL: 8.5/10 (Not an Average)

Hancock Review

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:35:54 GMT

Hancock

When a Great Character Finds Himself Stuck in a Terrible Movie.

July 07, 2008 – There are some movies that I go into with every expectation that I’ll be wowed. Hancock was one of those movies. It had an impeccable actor, a much needed twist on a familiar genre, humor and an underlying seriousness that I appreciate in my blockbuster summer movies. I was supremely disappointed.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to like here. The film certainly begins well enough with a likeable superhero/street-bum character, Hancock, played by Will Smith, who stops the bad guys in humorous and delightfully destructive ways. The populous doesn’t appreciate his expensive and disastrous methods, and take it out on Hancock in mass verbal abuse. Will Smith’s portrayal of the character is one of the brightest aspects of the film, and will carry it for many movie-goers. He blends the various characteristics terrifically, portraying someone who wants to do the right thing, but because of a deep hurt and constant mistrust becomes apathetic and uncaring. The mixture is done perfectly, and in the few scenes where Smith is given the chance to show it, he let’s the audience into his burdened and complex psyche. Unfortunately this happens all too little, and the heart that Smith puts into his character is lost beneath the muddy plot and distractions.

Into this situation steps Ray Embrey, played by Jason Bateman, a PR executive whom Hancock saves from a train early on in the film. Looking back I really wish he hadn’t. That train could have saved this movie a lot of anguish. The plot of Hancock leaves its title character to focus on the struggles of Ray, an annoying and boring character who puts Hancock on the right path. How this idiot manages to reach Hancock I’ll never guess, but he encourages Hancock to go to jail willingly, so that when the people realize they need him, he can emerge as a true superhero. Despite Ray’s presence, the movie still maintains a sense of action and humor that eclipses all of the negative aspects up to this point. But then the second act begins.

Through the second half we find out more about Hancock’s past, how he got his powers, and what the heck is up with Ray’s wife Mary, played by Charlize Theron. Unfortunately none of it makes any impact. Every revelation only serves to convolute the plot and characters till even the most dedicated won’t really care what happens. The dropped hints allude to a very interesting back story that is never really elaborated on, which is a missed opportunity in my opinion. The mysterious loss of Hancock’s powers that are the climax of the film’s tension are based on a hugely gimmicky plot device. Kryptonite is a better plot device than this.

Ray gets more obnoxious every time he speaks, and you can feel everyone in the audience secretly wishing one of the bad guys would miss Hancock and nail him between the eyes. I’ll stop complaining about Ray after I say one more thing: Bateman, I don’t know if it was mostly you, or the writers, but please, please, please, stay out of my super hero movies. On a positive note, Kudos to the writer’s to make such a hot interracial couple out of Hancock and Mary, anti-kudos for not capitalizing on the inherent love-

triangle with Ray. He just sits back seemingly accepts it all. I was fully expecting him to turn on Hancock out of jealousy and become the villain. It would have saved Ray’s character and added a much needed sense of menace to the plot. This is ironic, in that it is the plot itself that is the menace.

Speaking of Villainy, the movie sure could have used some. The most dangerous enemy Hancock has is a typical I-Have-Explodable-Hostages bank robber. The man escapes from prison later in the film with a little help of a few new buddies to little fanfare. The escape gets all of 3 seconds of on-screen time and it’s in a news bulletin on a nearby tv. And his great plan for revenge? Find him and shoot him. That worked oh-so-well the last time, why shouldn’t it this time? Lucky for them they come right as Hancock is weakened by the gimmicky plot, but you don’t really care because even though Eddie Marsan does everything he can with the character, he can’t convincingly make his character scary because he has a grand total of about 10 minutes of screen-time. It’s a shame.

Underused is the key term for this movie. There’s not enough Hancock, not enough Mary, not enough Villainy, not enough back story, and not enough bullets in Ray’s head. Sorry, I said I’d not complain about him anymore. Everybody lies sometimes.

Oh, and please don’t ruin my perfectly beautiful moon for that looser, Hancock. He doesn’t deserve your kindness.

Closing Comments:

There was a lot of possibility in this film, and to some degree Hancock delivers. The main character is brilliant and well acted by the impeccable Will Smith. He is the biggest reason to watch this film, and if he weren’t in it, I would not recommend seeing it at all. However, it does enough right, and has enough humor, that you won’t kill yourself for watching it when the curtain closes. Just keep in mind that you won’t be patting yourself on the back either.

Rating out of 10 Description

4/10 Story: A great premise, a terrific setup, horrible follow-through.

8/10 Character: Every bit of this score belongs to Will Smith and Charlize

Theron. Every bit that they didn’t get was because of

Ray, Jason Bateman. They needed more of Hancock than

they had.

7/10 Look: The movie looked pretty great, the special effects for most of

the super-hero antics were nice, but occasionally spotty

graphics keeps this from reaching greatness.

7/10 Cinematography: There were several lost opportunities for dramatic

or more affecting camera angles, and cutting to a

close-up pf the same shot is still a no-no.

7/10 Audio: Entirely unmemorable, but serviceable. The only track I

remember occurred when Hancock came to the rescue at the

bank. It was a slightly cheesy number with the typical

trumpet crescendo. Meh.

6/10 The Spark: Hancock promised a superhero story about a repentant

super-powered bum, with plenty of action, heart, humor

and heroics. They only delivered this for half the film,

and even then it wasn’t always as good as it could have

been.

OVERALL: 6.2/10 (Not an Average)

The OFFICIAL Return of Druidan

Fri, 02 May 2008 23:16:27 GMT

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am returned. Some of you knew this day was coming, some got some sneak peaks, and some got me a little ahead of schedule. Let me tell you, I didn’t want to be gone so long, I really didn’t, but that’s more or less the nature of life. School kept me away mostly. Endless Papers. Endless…Endless, Papers. Oh and a little something… a play I stared in, Tartuffe. I was Tartuffe. For those of you who do know what that means, well you can stop gaping at me. For those of you who don’t… well… Tartuffe is a bit of a womanizing religious hypocrite with a taste for the bottle and extra-marital affairs. It was a fun role, if…. difficult…. At times. But as you can see I’ve been keeping busy. Consider this the kickoff of a (slightly) more regularly updated me!

Tartuffe Information:

Part 1 - http://youtube.com/watch?v=rCaYBkHnOHs
Part 2 - http://youtube.com/watch?v=JvRPmvO3f4Q&feature=related
Part 3 - http://youtube.com/watch?v=0N1h5DyE1Os&feature=related
Part 4 – http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ss4yw-AR4sQ&feature=related
Part 5 – http://youtube.com/watch?v=mmYxKYyyCPM&feature=related
Part 6 – http://youtube.com/watch?v=pYOFe0UHD2Q&feature=related
Part 7 – http://youtube.com/watch?v=155r-gAQTBg&feature=related
Part 8 – http://youtube.com/watch?v=5qcO6A-FHBM&feature=related
Part 9 – http://youtube.com/watch?v=FczuIo4rse8&feature=related
Part 10 – http://youtube.com/watch?v=n0PPaXgntKI&feature=related
Part 11 – http://youtube.com/watch?v=mjhOQSp3KzI&feature=related
Part 12 – http://youtube.com/watch?v=1mywn8jykG0&feature=related

There is also a Music Video about our production of Tartuffe made by DJ Funkmaster G that I’ll post later.

P.S.
I also saw Iron Man today. Excellent Movie! I’ll have a review later. (Make Sure to Stay After the Credits!)

Emotional Paranoia Sinks to New Lows

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:16:15 GMT

    Oh America, land of the worried, offended and paranoid, what the hell is wrong with you? Okay, I'm not your typical naysayer. I'm not the kind of guy to picket various street corners proclaiming "The End is Near". But I'm nearly there when I see cases such as this one.
    I hope you actually went to read that. It's an important sign of just how low some elements of our society are sinking. Yes, there's progress, has been progress, and will be progress in living comforts, technologies and sciences, but what about our mental health? What of our emotional health? What is happening to us, to come to the point in which hugging in public is worthy of punishment? A child, showing affection through a couple of hugs, has been given two days of detention. For hugging, just hugging, her friends. It was cited as a public display of affection, which is banned at the school.
    Public affection banned? What are we afraid of? One day we are giving out detentions to children who play games using their fingers as toy guns, which is ridiculous enough, but now we're punishing children who show affection to one another? I suppose a little eight year old girl is going to walk into a school one day and start mercilessly loving everyone in sight. What a tragedy.
    This is yet another example of what I believe is a disturbing trend in American society. Though it could just as easily tie into themes of American school's overprotective, over sensitive, tendencies, I'll instead focus on something even more damaging. Alienation.
    This is not a new problem. Any brief study of history and literature can see the issue of alienation stemming back a very long time, but never has this degree of separation between individuals existed openly in society. Men shouldn't love one another because we're so paranoid of homosexuality. Women shouldn't grow too attached to men, or other women will call them traitors to the feminist cause. Deep, attached and loving relationships are exchanged for one-night stands, or flash-card partnering. Republicans shun their liberal neighbors and Democrats are encouraged to avoid their conservative ones. And children are told that they can't show their friends that they care.
    We've been building up to this for a long time of course. The stereotypes that homophobic men built into the image of gay men now has every straight male afraid of his every emotional impulse. All of his friends must be kept at arms length, and a subtle fear of everyone grows inside him. The spirit of equality between men and women that the suffrage movement and Feminism so nobly espoused has been exchanged for misandry, the domination of men. Women are told they don't need men, and men don't need women.   People are told that they don't need each other. They can do everything they ever wanted. Alone.
    The free-love movement of the sixties and seventies had many things wrong with them, but one telling problem was the degradation of the importance of the sexual relationship. People claimed that it freed sexual bonds, but all it really did was tell men and women both that they could have whoever they wanted and it didn't matter. The relationship didn't matter. People don't matter. It's a degenerative cycle that is destroying us.
    People are taught to hate and fear those with different opinions than themselves, and so amicable pary-lines become vast chasms of in-passable hostility. And we've become so paranoid that anything outside of merely existing as individual, mute automatons is bad and must be silenced at all costs. Men can't be men, and women can't be women. Hell, people can't be people, because that's going to offend somebody and we just can't have that. After all, a little pumping blood and hot air might mean we're alive or something.
    What are we going to do about it? Only a few years after the inspirational Free-Hug Campain we find ourselves banning them in our schools. And as any intelligent individual knows, the school ground is the place where our society and relationships grow. Can we really afford to make everyone so cut off from everyone else? They say no man is an island. Well not if the District Superintendent has anything to say about it.
    We don't have to take this. I know I won't, and I'll hug someone if I bloody well please thank you very much. I hope anyone who reads will too.

Many Returns - 2007 College HorrorShort Story Entry for Writer’s League of Texas

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:51:47 GMT

Okay, the backstory... Well I was working in the English Dept. as I am wont to do on Mondays-Wednesdays, when I spotted a short story contest, due by Halloween, for a 1000 word short story. Now, I figure that in general I'd be rather poor at writing horror stories. I'm not easily scared myself by anything writtenon paper(screens, etc.). Movies can scare me, and goodness knows sound can scare me, but it is very hard (though possible) to scare me through the written word.

Well, there were only a few days left before the contest was over, but it was ONLY 1000 words, and I knew I could do that in just a few hours. But I'd never tried, or even attempted, horror before. I thought, "Eh, might as well try." So here I am, typing up this brief intro to the story I entered into the contest. I wrote it last Saturday night, let some people read it for reactions, and then I made some necessary changes Monday, as well as another proof-reading on Tuesday, just before I e-mailed it off. In any case, what you have here is the final product, and I hope you enjoy it!

Many Returns

By: Edward L. Cheever II~

This was the house she had grown up in, so long ago. She tore through it, flying headlong through darkness into a table. It hadn't been there when she was a child. She felt a rip in her leg. Oh God, what the hell was that!? And there it came. Softly floating through the air, an innocent little croon, "Ashleeeeey." It sung her name quietly. Desperately she drug herself to her feet. Stumbling away through the pain, she crossed the floor, high in the house's second story. It was coming.
             "Ashleeeeey." She bolted, panting heavily. The staircase emerged from the shadows. She thought she missed them. What she wouldn't give to never have come back. Why!? She screamed inside. She turned at the foot, eyes probing the gloom. Suddenly it was there, outlined in the flash of lighting from the raging storm. Wide eyes gouged into hers, surging with malevolence. Mouth agape, it droned, "Ashleeeeey", stroking her name, vanishing into the depths of the black murk.
              Moaning through clenched teeth, she flung herself up the stairs to her parent's old bedroom. She'd climbed the steps, giggling, years before. Now staggering, crawling, sobbing she clambered onward. There it was! Her parent's door. Creaking open, it echoed loudly to her ears.
              She drug herself through and slammed it shut behind her. Half hobbling, half falling, she scrambled back and in the darkness thudded against the foot of a bed. Then she heard it, softly muffled behind the door. "Ashleeeeey." She trembled and hugged her knees closer. Please say it can't come through the door! She cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. Oh God! What do I do!?
               She sat still for a moment, enveloped in shadow. Then she heard it. The bed creaked. She looked over her shoulder. The sheets hissed softly, and the bed shook. A pair of maggot-white eyes gazed back. Screeching she flipped around and kicked back from the bed. She could barely make it out; a figure wrapped in darkness arose from the linens. She struggled to her feet, gagging at the sudden and overwhelming stench. Limping, she backed away, and struck the wall, pressing into the wood behind. It inched nearer, and from the darkness a misshapen hand and a deathly face seeped from the black. Desperately, she clenched her eyes shut and threw her arms in front of her.
               A boom of thunder and a brilliant flash lighted the room, and when she opened her eyes the fetid corpse was gone. That shrunken face. She saw it… last on the man they sold their house to. She felt sick and collapsed. She pressed a hand to her pounding head.
               "Ashleeeeey." She whirled and faced the closed door. Wide-eyed she slunk back into the corner. The heavy rain throbbed on the window behind her. Again it droned gently, "Ashleeeeey." The door quivered violently, pulsating, all hell beating the door in waves. Screaming, she clasped her head between her hands, half turned from the door. The flimsy wood jumped and tremored, as to shatter at every blow.
                 A boom rumbled with a flash of brilliant light. For a moment, she was blind, but when her sight returned, she saw herself. Everywhere. Her corpses dangled from the ceiling, strung from ropes, chains and hooks. Sprawled across the floor, dried blood caking her throat, or chest. Arms jutted haphazardly from drawers, or half-hidden under the bed. On the bed lay a pile, all tied, together. Every corpse, every deathly eye watched; all gazing at her through the darkness.
                She retched silently, turned away, and looked into her own dead eyes. She screamed and flung away. A corpse huddled next to the corner, a deep gory split down her forehead, between her eyes which gazed from odd angles. Ashley heaved and hiccupped, her every organ seemed drug out through her throat.
               "Ashleeeeey." She whirled. There it stood, hunched over, in the center of the room. The door that had creaked so loudly, swung softly shut. "Ashleeeeey." Eyes bulging she watched through shadows as it spun the hanging corpses staring at her intensely. Abandoning its play, it crept forward slowly.
                Shrieking, she threw herself back against the wall. Dug her nails into the wall. Turned and clawed at it, cramming her fingers against the splintering wood. "Ashleeeeey." It moaned longingly. She threw fists against the wall desperately, weeping. A crack. The window! She cried. She threw her arm against it. It shattered. Bloody shards pierced her flesh and dug deep. She put one foot on the ledge and looked out into the crashing rain. Three stories high, she stared hopelessly at the drenched earth. She looked back. It was nearly upon her. Its eyes gleamed, almost dead, so full of blood. "Ashleeeeey." Despair took her. Choosing her death she leapt from the window.
                The night winds howled. High above, curtains from the broken window flapped and swayed, gently soaking in the steady downpour. She lay sprawled below. The rain beat upon her mudded form in front of the porch steps. It poured, and quietly gathered about her in a puddle, lightly cupping her broken body.
                 She could feel it. No. She thought wildly. She felt the glass in her arm, the sprain in her leg. No! She felt the deepening mud beneath her. NO! Every fiber screamed at her to move. She was paralyzed. She blinked through the rain at the gate of the fence, the gate out of reach. She heard through the pouring rain the creak of the front door. OH! GOD! NO! She screamed silently to herself.
                 Something slithered around her leg and slowly coiled her back to the house. NOOO! She cried endlessly, tears mingling with the rain streaming across her face. The door loomed darkly though the icy sheets, and softly she could hear it. "Ashleeeeey." She shrieked, locked inside her skull, eyes bulging. Head thrown back, she stared endlessly at the gate, falling away. Drawn into the maw of darkness, the door clicked softly behind them.

Reports of my Demise....

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:03:00 GMT

Well, it HAS been a while, hasn't it? Looking back, it seems the last blog I put up was Ages ago! O.o Goodness, it's been months!
Well.... What should I say... So much has happened, and yet I remember so little.... =..

Well, let's see, The Birthday Party went well. (Sept. 20) Really well. I wish more people had come, but I really appreciate all you people that did! You guys are awesome!

Then there was also this great trip I made to visit Katie one of these past weekends 12-15th of October if I remember correctly... It wasn't a lot of time, but it was great while it lasted ( ^_^ <3). And it was my first trip out of state alone! O.o Weeeeiiiird. It was also my first time traveling by Greyhound, and if that wasn't surreal I don't know what is. The people you see on a bus, and the kinds of places a bus stops, are very interesting things to witness.

Let's see, aside from that... Well there has been school... I've read papers, written papers, taken tests, and stressed over homework until late at night. you know.. The usual. Oh, and I've done fairly well too, which is encouraging. (I take the college base exam later today, and I didn't know it existed until last week, and I haven't studied for it AT ALL! >.< Pray for me or keep me in your thoughts...)

I've watched movies and television shows (Heroes, I loved your first season, but please pick up the second a little! And "The Prestige" was pretty darned awesome, IMO. Go check it out.)

I've read stuff. Stuff for school and manga mostly, but I also got and read "The Absolute Sandman" vol. 2 by Neil Gaiman, which is pretty great. And even the schoolwork reading has been good, with Great Expectations coming to mind as particularly awesome (And yes, I take the side of the people who defend the official, second, ending. I wrote my paper on why it's a great ending.)

The English Dept. Haloween Party is this Sunday, and I've still got to work on my costume (Come to the party to find out what it is! :D Everyone's invited!)

I've had a tiny bit of tradgedy in my life lately too. Both my desktop and my laptop crashed, taking a short story I laboured all Fall Holiday to finish with it, as well as a good many downloads and a few other files I hadn't yet backed up. I plan on re-writing the story, even though that goes against my nature as a writer. Thanksgiving will see my room become writer's central. I'll have to re-format my harddrive and load a wordprocessor before that though... Once I have it done I'll give it it's own myspace page too. Oh, and I've got another pretty splendid Idea for a short story in my head. I'll be working on that one over Thanksgiving too.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl is taking up a good deal of my brainspace when I'm allowing myself down-time. I think I'm obsessed a bit. What's worse is that it's release has been post-poned till February (Grrrr).

I've been chipping away at my video game collection for a little while now, as I have realised I have a tendancy to not finish the games I have. So I have recently completed both The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and Trauma Center: Second Opinion (both for the Wii). they are both excellent games (If a bit on the overly dramatic side for Trauma Center) and come highly recomended. Next up - Marvel Ultimate Alliance. I've got to clean house a bit before Christmas comes and I get some more games I have to complete. (I wish to see that Guitar Hero III under my christmas tree, followed by Mario Galaxy then I'll be a happy me.) ... (don't mind me, just cause I sometimes lapse into ryhme...)

Well.... That's all for now I suppose... I'll try to step back up to that plate more often, but there's just so much to do! Adios!