Krampus' Wife???

Check out www.inexorableblog.blogspot.com to see a post about Santa Muerte, who may be married to that lovable European scamp, Krampus. It's a cool bit of info about a saint that isn't recognized by the Catholic church, but is pretty cool and interesting anyway. Take a look.

Cool Art at Omnia ab Uno

Hey all, I don't think I mentioned it before, but if you're into art, check out the blog Omnia ab Uno. It's by D, a good friend of mine I've known since our college days. She's a fantastic artist. Her work is mystical and fascinating. She's down there in my list of followers. Her addy is www.dgarzelloni.blogspot.com. Go take a look. Go on, you know you want to.

Krampus Krew

Here are some pics I found of various folks dressed up as Krampus for the holidays...I think they're pretty cool. Enjoy!

Krampus, St. Nick's Pal

I swear, Christmas stuff gets put out at stores earlier every year. There were Christmas candies on the top shelf above the Halloween candies at Walgreens. Thanksgiving isn't even here yet, and there's holiday music, commercials, and decorations up everywhere you turn. So, I thought I'd counter this with a bit of early holiday cheer myself, with a piece about the European pal of good ol' St. Nicholas, known as Krampus.

Krampus is basically a devil of sorts. His name is derived from old High German krampen, which means 'claw'. He is related to the Perchten, followers of Perchta, an old goddess.He is depicted as your basic devil with horns and fur, but his images range from a little imp to a big-ass demon. He is by turns mischevious and imposing. He is said to follow his buddy St. Nicholas around in December, usually on December 5th in the evening, and while Nick gives the good kids presents, Krampus may give them a bundle of sticks, or spank them with the sticks, or even carry them off to some other fate, depending on who you talk to. There are lots of old postcards showing Krampus doing acts that range from prankish to downright demonic.

In Austria,during December, groups of men dressed as Krampus/Perchten walk around town, giving spankings to people, especially pretty women. I don't know about you, but dressing up as a horned beast and spanking women sounds like a lot more fun than caroling and drinking egg nog...the Europeans definately have better holiday traditions than us, let me tell you.

I found the whole Krampus thing interesting and a bit funny. Here's a saint and a devil, running around during the holidays, like some weird buddy-cop movie or something. Anyway, enjoy the pictures, and I'll have more later.

Anna 1992-2008

I'll miss you, little girl.

The Beast's Movie Cave- Poultrygeist, Night of the Chicken Dead

I enjoyed posting about movies during Halloween so much, I thought I'd continue to do so. I won't limit the films to horror, but it turns out this first non-seasonal film is a horror/comedy/musical titled Poultrygeist, Night of the Chicken Dead. This movie is brought to us by the fine folks at Troma Films, who produced such films as The Toxic Avenger, Tromeo and Juliet, and Terror Firmer. If you've seen any of these films, then you pretty much know what to expect. Troma, headed by Lloyd Kaufman, specializes in horror/comedies that are overflowing with gore, gross-out effects, gratuitous female nudity, and a very non-PC sense of humor. If you are easily offended, stay the Hell away from any of Troma's films...and this one is no exception.

Arbie (Jason Yachanin) and Wendy (Kate Graham) are young lovers who get separated when Wendy goes to college. Wendy comes back to Tromaville to protest the opening of an American Chicken Bunker retaraunt that is built on the site of an ancient burial ground sacred to the Tromahwak Indians. Arbie is overjoyed to see Wendy at first, until he discovers she is with her new girlfriend. Arbie is enraged, and decides to work at the restaraunt to spite Wendy. The fast-food chain is soon invaded by the angry spirits of both the Tromahawk tribespeople and those of the chickens killed for the restaraunt. Will Arbie get Wendy back? Will they be able to escape the undead chicken zombies?

Poultrygeist is funny as Hell, and gross as Hell,too. The musical numbers are pretty funny, with songs like "Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Fried" and "Slow Fast Food Love". As I stated earlier, the Troma brand of humor is very unpolitically correct. Just about every race, religion, and sexual orientation is made fun of, as well as the fast-food industry, big corporations, and trendy protesters. Also, veritable buckets of blood, vomit, shit, and slime are spilt, sprayed, hurled, and projectile-fired across the screen at any given time. Stand-out scenes include a hapless fast-food employee being pushed into a meat grinder by a possessed chicken body, "Jared "(Joe Fleishaker) having a disgusting trip to the restroom after eating spirit-tainted chicken, and the attack of the zombie chicken demons on the restaraunt, with heads being dipped into deep fryers and eyes plucked out by beaks to be put into egg cartons. The gore, while appropiriately gooey, is not overly realistic, and while definately gross, has a cartoony feel to it. Still, it may not be everyone's cup of tea( or bucket of chicken).

Poultrygeist is a fun, gross, messy, gloroiusly un-PC film that anyone with a sick sense of humor(and a strong stomach) should enjoy. I give it 4 out of 5 clawmarks. The Beast says see it soon!

Renfair Rogues

I just got back from the Texas Renaissance Festival. It's the biggest renfair in the state, and we've been attending every year for a long time. If you've never been to a renfair, it's a lot of fun. Besides all the people and performers in costume, there's shops,and booths that sell everything from swords and armor to candles and bath salts, games, jousting, and lots and lots of food and drink. In fact, even if I had absolutely no interest in medievil things, I'd still go for the food(and drink). Turkey legs, potatoes, fish and chips, kettle corn, empanadas, chocolate covered strawberries, and fried alligator on a stick are but a few of the treats available...then there's beer, wine, sangria, mead, and non-alcoholic beverages such as sodas and water available to wash it all down with.

We usually go in costume. Typically I wear chainmail and carry a broadsword( it's the barbarian in me), but this year we went on Pirate Weekend, so we dressed accordingly. Pictured above are the Black Pirates- my wife Kim, myself, and my friend Nicole. I think we make a dashing crew, if I do say so myself.

If you've never attended a renfair, I suggest you check one out if there's one in your area...it's a lot of fun.