goreletter:the_birds_are_fowl
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goreletter:the_birds_are_fowl [2013/11/26 16:39] – [WEIRD SITES OF THE MONTH] marnzen | goreletter:the_birds_are_fowl [2013/11/29 11:51] (current) – marnzen | ||
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+ | THE GORELETTER: | ||
+ | Arnzen' | ||
+ | |||
+ | http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | +++ Vol. 3.02, May 05, 2005 +++ | ||
+ | |||
+ | **The Birds are Fowl** | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====BLATHER==== | ||
+ | Blather. Wince. Repeat. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Excerpts from a Psycho Bird Watcher' | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Bird seed will not grow into birds no matter how much you water it. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + If the early bird gets the worm, then that means the lazy worms who just sleep in every day are the ones left running the show. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + I hear that God watches over us through the eyes of little birds. I suspect God also pecks our eyes out through the beaks of little birds, too. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Why do birds settle for the whimsical birdhouse, when the big kahuna is often right next door? Are they " | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Birds will fly directly into large windows and brain themselves if you don't use curtains. I like to trick them by taking out the pane of glass entirely and letting them in. Then I might swoop down from above with my frying pan, or throw the cat in the air from below and see what happens. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Man wishes he had wings so he could fly. Bird wishes he had hands so he could fly a plane, instead. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + If the woodpeckers organized, we'd really be screwed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Why do people panic when a bird gets free inside the house and flutters about? The house IS the cage! | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Birds twitter and tweet at each other in some stupid sort of Morse code that has only three or four letters. This explains their curious look when they gather on phone lines. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + If birds ate enough seed, in theory they could kill off the very plant kingdom that produces the seed in the first place. Are they aware of this? | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Ostriches and other tall-standing birds that walk on two feet creep me out because they look too much like muppets made flesh. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Birds pivot and snap their heads to and fro instead of rolling their eyes. Beyond their little leathery talons and sharp little beaks, this is what truly makes them monstrous. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + I can understand why birds fly south for winter, but I really don't get why they come back. And you'd think hunting season would give them a clue. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + The world is the bird's toilet. They' | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Some birds, predators like the hawk, eat other birds. They' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====ONLINE GIZMO OF THE MONTH==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Zoomquilt | ||
+ | |||
+ | You may have already seen this one, but if not, you're in for a treat. This collaborative art project is mesmerizing as you fly through a surreal tunnel of cascading bizarre art. For some reason I was reminded of The Phantom Tollbooth as I scrolled through its infinite recesses, but I can't explain why. (The " | ||
+ | |||
+ | http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Thanks to Judi Rohrig for mentioning this one.] | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====YOUR OWN MONSTER MASHES!==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Last issue I sponsored the "Mash Your Own Monster" | ||
+ | |||
+ | DONALD TRUMP vs. THE UNIVERSAL MONSTERS\\ | ||
+ | Trump progressively fires the classic monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula as he realizes that none of them can even match his comb-over in horribleness. Finally Trump decides to bring in surprise ringer Martha Stewart as the winner of his reality TV show prize -- running for Vice President supporting Jeb Bush on the Republican 2008 ticket. | ||
+ | -- David Howell | ||
+ | |||
+ | FRANKIE' | ||
+ | Come and get your memories sucked out by Dr Eegor. Lose all the memories of those crappy dates and moments with the ex-wife. | ||
+ | -- Doug Arnold | ||
+ | |||
+ | E.T. vs. PREDATOR\\ | ||
+ | Tagline: In space, no one can hear you phone home. | ||
+ | Synopsis: The lovable alien from Spielberg' | ||
+ | -- J.A. Konrath | ||
+ | |||
+ | JOHN DOE (from Se7en) vs. PATRICK BATEMAN (from American Psycho)\\ | ||
+ | John Doe: "We live in a world of sh*t and garbage. There is a deadly sin of every corner, in every magazine, on every TV station. The more grotesquely outrageous a sin, the higher the paycheck they receive. We applaud stupidity and banality, while shunning any and all forms of creative thought. We pay illiterate athletes millions of dollars to play school yard games, while begrudge teachers and police officers cost-of-living raises. Only in a world this sad and pathetic could one ... (sees Patrick Bateman approaching, | ||
+ | Patrick Bateman: "Yes it is." | ||
+ | SPLAT! | ||
+ | -- Ward Mallon | ||
+ | |||
+ | ASH vs. LEATHERFACE: | ||
+ | Three hands a-swingin', | ||
+ | -- Aurelio Rico Lopez III | ||
+ | |||
+ | GODZILLA vs. THE MUSHROOM PEOPLE\\ | ||
+ | In this new Japanese black-and-white retro classic, who will consume whom? | ||
+ | The winner will appear on The Iron Chef! Stay tuned for what's on the menu. | ||
+ | -- Terrie Leigh Relf | ||
+ | |||
+ | THE BLOODS vs. THE CRYPTS\\ | ||
+ | The Lost Boys wind up in the land of Romero and this necropolis is strictly SRO (Stiff Rotting Occupants). It's not about turf. It's not about immortality. It's about marketing. And best of all, everybody dies. | ||
+ | Talk about spoilers. | ||
+ | -- Brian Rosenberger | ||
+ | |||
+ | THE MUMMY vs. EDWARD SCISSORHANDS\\ | ||
+ | Ever wonder what the mummy keeps under wraps? Wonder no more. Watch Edward Scissorhands cut through the tape. Or will he be cursed to cut off his own head instead? See a new classic battle coming soon to a theater near you. | ||
+ | It'll tear you up. | ||
+ | -- Karen L. Newman | ||
+ | |||
+ | PUMPKINHEAD vs. THE CREEPER (from Jeepers Creeper): Vengeance in the Heartland\\ | ||
+ | Pumpkinhead is resurrected by a vengeful love one after the Creeper kills for another body part, yet to Pumpkinhead' | ||
+ | -- Justin Orman Thompson | ||
+ | |||
+ | NIXON (from Oliver Stone' | ||
+ | Thrill to the adventures of the man whose blood-red horrors range from opening the west to "the Red Chinese" | ||
+ | -- John S. Walsh | ||
+ | |||
+ | TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE vs. FREDDY KRUEGER\\ | ||
+ | The two infamous hackers battle it out, each one seeking to cash in on the young college coed's favors before hacking her to pieces. They each discover that they aren't alone in their temptations and end up in a slash and bash battle to the death. Of course, the coed claims the trophies: the heads of each of her would be suitors. | ||
+ | -- James C. Wardlaw | ||
+ | |||
+ | WHITE CHICKS 2\\ | ||
+ | Transylvania invades Pennsylvania Avenue when Blacula and the Blackenstein Monster masquerade as the Bush twins and wreak havoc at the Inaugural Ball. Which monster will end up in the oval office? | ||
+ | -- Steve Verge | ||
+ | |||
+ | JASON vs. THE KILLER TOMATOES (a.k.a. FRIDAY THE 13th part 16)\\ | ||
+ | After developing serial killing dyslexia and hooking up with a cute (but partially blind) plastic surgeon named Nancy, Jason Vorhees lands a job in Jersey City at a local pizzeria after his face is brought back to a normal look. But his old habit returns when a crate of tomatoes (to be used for sauce) come alive and slaughter everyone in the kitchen...everyone, | ||
+ | -- Nick Cato (3rd Place!) | ||
+ | |||
+ | THE BROOD vs. THE OOMPA LOOMPAS\\ | ||
+ | Can chocolate soothe the savage mom? | ||
+ | When Charlie dumped her after finding a Golden Ticket and subsequently inheriting Willie Wonka' | ||
+ | -- Stephen M. Wilson (2nd Place!) | ||
+ | |||
+ | THINGAMABLOB: | ||
+ | Tagline: "Man Is The Warmest Place To Hide Jelly Filling" | ||
+ | Synopsis: After picking up the survivors of the Antarctic Research Station, the expeditionary team from a submarine crew is infected by The Thing and taken over in the first act. On the way back to the sub, they discover a packing crate containing the frozen remains of the Blob, and eat it. Hilarity (and perhaps romance?) ensues. | ||
+ | Cast: Keith David, Chuck Heston, Steve and/or Butterfly McQueen, Brian Keene, George Kennedy, Noble Squirrel, & Tara Reid as the Blob. | ||
+ | -- Cody Goodfellow (1st Place!) | ||
+ | |||
+ | The top prize goes to CODY GOODFELLOW for his ingenious goopfest, " | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====GORELETS: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Hellicatessen | ||
+ | |||
+ | the demonic butcher\\ | ||
+ | asked me how I liked\\ | ||
+ | it sliced as he hefted\\ | ||
+ | the dripping live squealer\\ | ||
+ | out from the rotisserie\\ | ||
+ | with his carbuncular carving\\ | ||
+ | hooves and I noticed it was\\ | ||
+ | pregnant when I answered\\ | ||
+ | paper-thin, please, paper-thin\\ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====INSTIGATION: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Creative Oppositions | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Imagine an awful way to die. Now physically turn the victim upside-down. Write. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Describe a notorious painful experience (root canal, etc.) from the viewpoint of a character who finds it pleasurable. | ||
+ | |||
+ | + Choose a common horror icon or trope. Put the word " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Instigation is a WEEKLY department in Hellnotes newsletter: http:// | ||
+ | You can also buy collections of prompts for chump change at The Sickolodeon: | ||
+ | If you publish or post something instigated by this department, let me know at arnzen@gorelets.com and I'll mention it here! | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====ARNZEN NEWS==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | STOKER AWARD FINALIST\\ | ||
+ | I'm excited to announce that my book 100 Jolts: Shockingly Short Stories is a finalist for the 2004 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection. This means that the Horror Writer' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Also worth celebrating: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Needless to say, I'm extremely honored -- and humbled -- by this recognition from my colleagues in the Horror Writers Association. The Stokers are arguably the highest accolade in the horror writing community. Other writers up for this year's award who I haven' | ||
+ | http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | A VERY GRIM GRIMOIRE\\ | ||
+ | At World Horror Convention last month, the " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Grimoire Photos: < | ||
+ | Shocklines Preorder: < | ||
+ | Project Pulp Preorder: < | ||
+ | Play Dead excerpt: < | ||
+ | |||
+ | TIME TO GET YOUR FREAK ON\\ | ||
+ | This weekend, I'm signing copies of Freakcidents to ship back to Shocklines Press. Freakcidents (think "Freak Accidents" | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | ZOMBIES ARE DEAD PEOPLE, TOO\\ | ||
+ | I'm happy to announce that my next poetry chapbook -- Rigormarole and other Zombie Poems -- will be released later this year by Naked Snake Press. Tom Piccirilli, author of November Mourns and A Choir of Ill Children, writes: " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Naked Snake: < | ||
+ | Bare Bone: < | ||
+ | Dreams & Nightmares: < | ||
+ | |||
+ | HORROR-WEB IS CHOPPING ME TO BITS\\ | ||
+ | Horror-Web has started an open " | ||
+ | |||
+ | Horror-Web Boards: < | ||
+ | |||
+ | PLAY DEAD CHARITY TEXAS HOLD 'EM WINNERS\\ | ||
+ | My publisher for Play Dead, Raw Dog Screaming Press, sponsored a fantastic poker tournament for charity at World Horror Convention in NYC last month. I've posted coverage of the event on the Goreletter weblog. Congratulations to winners F. Paul Wilson, Valerie Thorpe, Jeremy Robert Johnson, and Thomas Monteleone. They played a wicked game and won about $1500 smackeroos for charity! (I came in 9th out of twenty players, going all in on an amazing straight but getting beat by a lucky turn on the river that gave Wilson a flush). | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | BITS & BOBS\\ | ||
+ | I'm running a little late with this issue, but there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Cemetery Dance: http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dark Discoveries: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Kopfhalter: < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Mythic Delirium: http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Flashshot: < | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Broadsheet: http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====WEIRD SITES OF THE MONTH==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Worthy Causes | ||
+ | |||
+ | Saving Graves\\ | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | Traffic Cone Preservation Society\\ | ||
+ | http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | Ripper Preservation\\ | ||
+ | http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====NOT DEAD YET: PRINT REVIEWS==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Inhuman Magazine (#2) | ||
+ | |||
+ | Allen Koszowski' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Tightening its thematic bond is the supremely talented artwork, ALL of which is not only monster-centric, | ||
+ | |||
+ | And the stories Allen K. is publishing are all wonderful. You can tell how well-read this artist and his assistant editors are in the genre; the authors they choose are excellent examples of the best working in horror today (and in year's past). I already mentioned the magazine' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Finally, it's worth noting that Inhuman attempts to do what is virtually impossible in today' | ||
+ | |||
+ | Allen K's Inhuman is a digest-sized, | ||
+ | |||
+ | http:// | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | ====OUR ODD TRIPLE FEATURE==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nicolas UnCaged | ||
+ | |||
+ | For your next movie night, rent: \\ | ||
+ | Vampire' | ||
+ | Wild at Heart (1990)\\ | ||
+ | Kiss of Death (1995)\\ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====BOO COUPONS==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | It actually pays to scroll this far down. | ||
+ | |||
+ | SHOCKLINES BARGAIN RUNNING OUT SOON\\ | ||
+ | There' | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | |||
+ | THREE GREAT OFFERS FROM FAIRWOOD PRESS\\ | ||
+ | The publisher of my chapbook, Gorelets: Unpleasant Poems, has three great new deals for you. Subscribe to their magazine, Talebones, and get a free issue (either a back issue, or the first issue of the subscription -- your choice). Order Tom Piccirilli' | ||
+ | http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | FLESH & BLOOD DISCOUNT\\ | ||
+ | Get all available back issues of Flesh & Blood magazine for 20% off. Free shipping and handling on all purchases. Please send payment made out to Jack Fisher with a note mentioning the " | ||
+ | NEW web address: < | ||
+ | |||
+ | DISCOUNT ON DARKNESS\\ | ||
+ | Dark Discoveries magazine is offering an exclusive discount to all Goreletter subscribers. Save 25% on subscriptions or single copies. That's 4 issues for $14.99 or single issues for $4.50 instead of $5.99 (shipping is free!). You can pay thru PayPal (to: jjbeach@spiritone.com ) or see the publisher' | ||
+ | a snail mail payment. Use code GOREDISC in your order to claim the coupon. | ||
+ | http:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====COLOPHON==== | ||
+ | All material in The Goreletter is © 2005 Michael A. Arnzen, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward the entire contents as a whole, without alterations or excisions. Direct links to articles in the archives or the weblog are permitted and encouraged. For reprint permissions of individual pieces, please contact arnzen@gorelets.com. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Winner of the 2003 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Alternative Forms from the Horror Writers Association: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Subscribe, unsubscribe, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Read The Goreletter online as a draft-in-progress, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Our surrealist product endorsement: | ||
+ | |||
+ | With apologies to latitude 53,41667, longitude 27,91667. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Help spread the strange. Forward this issue to your weirdest friend! | ||
+ | |||
+ | ====PITHY MORBID THOUGHTS==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Got Sanity? | ||
+ | |||
+ | "I am interested in madness. I believe it is the biggest thing in the human race, and the most constant. How do you take away from a man his madness without also taking away his identity?" | ||
+ | -- William Saroyan (died 1981) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | {{page> |