The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Camus on Society: Why does his pat answer irritate me?
21:39 Jan 27 2009
Times Read: 718

A journalist hounded the French writer, Albert Camus, asking him to explain his work in detail. The author of The Plague refused: "I write, and others can make of it what they will."



But the journalist refused to give in. One afternoon, he managed to find him in a café in Paris.



"Critics say you never take on truly profound themes," said the journalist. "I ask you now: if you had to write a book about society, would you accept the challenge?"



"Of course," replied Camus. "The book would be one hundred pages long. Ninety-nine would be blank, since there is nothing to be said. At the bottom of the hundredth page, I’d write: "man’s only duty is to love ".

Sex and Death
01:34 Jan 27 2009
Times Read: 723




Sex and death seem to be team players in literature, in movies, and with dangerous people we all know.



Never quite made the connection until this past weekend. Had a major birthday on Friday the 23rd. Been railing against it for over a year, resenting any indication of being assigned to the crone heap of outdated thinking, and wondering if my options in life were inescapably narrowing.



My friends refused to let me forget my birthday. I made a breakthrough, past resistance, past resignation and arrived at rejoicing. Spent the weekend in Palm Springs with my husband, ate lightly, made love deeply --- part calisthenics, part practice made perfect. Add imagination, resourcefulness, humor, and finally that rare ingredient missing from my youth: recognition of death. Specifically, my own. For the first time, I let it play a part in my life, especially my love life.



More at Sex and Death

Dreams and My Life
20:14 Jan 21 2009
Times Read: 750

My adult dreams are always an indication of my deepest concerns, the kinds of things that I shove aside in the day. They are not matter-of-fact; symbolism is rife in them - people and places are not the same - but their meaning is still plain to me.



My adolescent dreams were vivid and full of music and art and love: they were my escape from an ugly world. I dreamt entire symphonies then, sparkling bubbles floating in the sky, and color-washed paisley landscapes populated with fantasy creatures.



I was not on drugs, maybe too much co2 from slumbering so much, and so deeply. My dreamworld was my life; I slept sixteen out of every twenty-four, more if I could get away with it. I missed school and dreamt. I missed meals and dreamt. I missed all family involvement and dreamt. When I awakened, my unfinished dreams would continue and prevent me from hearing or seeing. Even when I tried to focus, the dreams would cast a web over my consciousness, their siren call impossible to resist.



On my few forays into public education, I'd come home and struggle with my algebra homework. I solved the equations in my sleep. That's when I discovered a measure of control over my dream life, which led to more control over my waking life.



That was a good and necessary feat . . . then.



Now, I seek release again into the chaos and delight of no control and imagination set free from worries and responsibility. Dreams are an escape valve, a diary, canvas, sieve, an internet (internal networking) of all things past and possible.



Does age diminish the siren call of dreams? Does the sum total of one's past overpower the x factor in what is still possible? I'll try to solve for that tonight.

Cheney in a wheelchair: part 2
01:18 Jan 21 2009
Times Read: 757

BBC says Cheney injured himself "carrying his own bags." Presumably out of the White House.



Is this martini dry British humor?

Cheney in a wheelchair
19:44 Jan 20 2009
Times Read: 761

reminds me of Mr. Potter in "It's a Wonderful Life."



I'd check under his lap rug folks for the silver.

Vampires and Evil: the Antihero Reborn
19:53 Jan 18 2009
Times Read: 774




Vampires have historically been considered evil, and were blamed for many little understood situations in the cultures that spawned them. But fictionally they are currently not considered 100% bad. Since they’re the living dead – creatures to be feared rather than desired – they deserve a closer look.



Body image and wealth are worshipped in our society, and if you add a bit of trendy perversity to the mix you might get an instant hero, or the 20th century equivalent – the antihero. This character is often dark in nature, and they have their own set of morals. They kill and frighten fragile humans, but they are no longer the monsters or villains of yore. Dress evil in smart clothes over a beautiful body and it doesn’t seem so unappealing anymore. Antiheroes are the ultimate outcasts, and if they are self-loathing, that’s even better: the romantic, but evil, protagonist is born . . . or reborn. Who better to personify those attributes than the modern fictional vampire?



More at Blood Mother Blog



If link doesn't work: www.bloodmother.com

Thorny Issues
05:39 Jan 14 2009
Times Read: 798

Usually listen to NPR, but got wild the other morning on the way to the gym and landed on a station where a woman was being questioned by the DJ regarding her fiancé to whom she had been engaged for six years.



"Why so long? I mean why have you waited so long to get married?"



"Good question. I don't know . . . we just haven't gotten around to it."



"But he seems different lately?"



"Yeah," she answers in a forlorn voice.



"Is he coming home later? Taking showers before he gets in bed? Dressing differently?"



Yes to all of the above, with the co-DJ, a woman, breaking in with: "Taking a shower before bed is cool."



The DJ verifies that the caller wants to proceed.



“Yes,” she says, “Do it.”



We hear a telephone ringing, and a man answers. A girlish voice, soft and not demanding, asks for the fiancé by name.



“That’s me,” he says, all happy-go-lucky.



She offers him a dozen free roses, and free delivery to the person of his choice. At first he tries to get off the phone suspecting a sales gimmick; he doesn’t sound so happy anymore, just bored.



“We’re not even going to ask for a credit card,” she tells him, “and you can send a personal note. Who would you like to send the roses to?”



BAMMO! No surprise he gives a name that is not even remotely close to his fiancée’s

name, but at least he’s back to sounding lucky again. He composes a hopeful note on the spot: Julie, the other night was great. I hope we get together again.



At this point the DJ breaks it to let him know he's busted, and he's like, "Wha . . . !!!"



His fiancée calls him a cheat, and he says, "Well, what about you and Javier?"



"That was a long time ago," she says, "you've been cheating on me NOW!"



"Same thing," he says, "you then, me now."



The DJ pipes in: "So you're saying that Julie is payback for Javier?"



Fiancée screams: "It's not the same!"



Fiancé yells: "I hope your parents are listening."





I arrived at my destination and didn’t get to hear the wrap-up of this radio drama. Because of my NPR news addiction, I was unaware that this program, Ryan's Roses on KISS FM, is a regular feature.



If you get the call, do the smart thing and send the flowers to your Mom.