(In Bill Cosby voice) What with the vandalism and the zombies and the hacking into things to warn of the zombies mmmmmhaw haw haw.

Road signs warn of zombies [via nbc or something]

…and the BBC in its infinite wisdom sees an idea for a tv show and creates it.  Awesome.  

I somehow suspect that despite the BBC’s notoriously pathetic production values (they being the reason I can’t watch more than 10 minutes of Dr. Who from any decade), this will be better than Bitches.

Being Human [via BBC]

If you don’t spend enough money on toys, well, buy some Night of the Living Dead Megos in stock from the fine purveryors or horror stuffs, Fearwerx. Get ‘em here.

Go pick up a print. You can pick it up here.

[Via Ectoplasmosis]

The Intrepid Fox is a heavy metal bar in London’s Soho district. I was skeptical at first, just because the term “heavy metal bar” could mean several things. Could be a plain old bar that plays heavy metal music. Could be a bar that just has a heavy metal theme night. Could a bar with heavy metal karaoke. Could be a bar with large cast iron object throughout the room.

This was a veritable heavy metal bar according to my guide, and he was quite right.

This is a 2 story monster (3 if you count the dungeon to the bathroom) of a bar, filled with everything a metal-head or punk kid would have a wet dream over. The whole of the place is pretty much lit red and black, and is filled with the requisite accouterments, like skulls, more skulls, devils, and even half of a hell-car hanging from the ceiling above the bar, adds a bit of a motor city feel to the place:

Can kinda see it over there. Along with the skull jester on the pole. Stuff like that all throughout.

One of the coolest features of the bar is the load of old concert and bands posters lining the walls, especially in the dark corridor leading to the disgusting bathrooms (trying to copy the filthiness of NYC bathrooms). Lots of good ole White Zombie ones etc.

Also, the bar was a literal wet dream for most metal kids, filled with attractive metal chicks, covered in tattoos and various levels of piercings. The bartenders were of course either intentionally rude, or over the top happy to serve you. Standard metal bar fare.

The top level apparently hosts live music, so I’ll be checking back and reporting additional findings.

Luckily for me, it was glam night as well. So lots of dudes in zebra striped leggings etc.

I found out about Haunted House Productions while searching for a holiday gift for my father, who like me, has fantastic tastes in books and is an avid horror fan. In particular, he is a fan of the Necroscope series of books by Brian Lumley (swears by them), so I figured I would search and see what bit of collectibles I could find.

What I found was this bad boy:

Yes. A figurine based on the cover of the first Necroscope book. This was the perfect gift, guaranteed to keep me ahead of my brother in my parents’ will.

Seriously, that’s a badass sculpture, and will scare the shit out of my dad’s coworkers. Well, I am trying to convince him to take it to work, but it looks pretty sweet right now sitting on his bookshelf next to, you guessed it, his Necroscope collection.

(more…)

[Update] – Congratulations to Neil for winning The Newbery Medal for another of his children’s books, The Graveyard Book.

I finally picked up Coraline this weekend from my locale bookstore and though I’m 6 years late I can’t recommend it enough. It’s written by Neil Gaiman so you know it’s fantastic, and though it’s aimed at “young adults” it is a great read no matter what your age.

I figured with the movie coming out in less than 2 weeks I had better read it soon, before any mental image of the characters brought to mind claymation figures. Pick it up and you’ll read through it in a day.

Finally, try your hardest to find this version with the cool black script cover (it took me 5 bookstores), and not one of the multitudes of kids’ versions floating around. One, because there is a Q&A with Gaiman in the back, and two, so you don’t look like a 12 year old when people catch you reading it.

This just arrived for me this morning. To say it’s beloved would be an understatement.  

You can buy one for yourself here.

Just a quick note to remind everyone that I will spending the majority of the next 3 months abroad in the lovely city of London, in all it’s haunting and dreariness.

Expect several London-specific entries, along with the usual location-neutral blabber.

36.) Do you drink alcoholic beverages? If so, to what extent? State preferences.

I’m drinking an alcoholic beverage as we speak (type), if that says anything. The extent is that if there is a good reason to drink, I will do so. I never turn down a good drink. Unless there is no alcohol in it. What is the point of THAT? I usually don’t decide to stop drinking, it’s usually regulated by things like having to go to work, the bar closing, stores running out of alcohol, prohibition, etc.

I drink a shitload. I know of no other word to describe my drinking. I love drinking with a passion. Both love drinking WITH a passion and love drinking … with a passion. Do you understand?

I prefer North Carolina, New York, Ohio, and California. Not necessarily in that order. South Carolina can be OK at times as well. And Texas. Sometimes.

37.) Do you have any tangible services or resources which you would care to contribute?

I have tons of coal that I would be willing to contribute to the cause. I also have lots of baseball cards that would probably bring all kinds of wealth to the group.

Services-wise, I need to think about. Again, I am concerned about disclosing something that could be harmful to my club reputation. I know for a fact that my skills as a carpenter would come in quite handy for building upside-down crosses.

38.) Are you free to travel? To what extent?

Ooh I like this question. Does this mean I could be going on some super secret missions for the church of Satan, roaming the globe recruiting new members?
Pay for me and I’ll go wherever you want me to. As long as it’s not New Jersey.

39.) Define Satan.

My father, who art not in heaven.
Wikipedia has a good entry for him as well.

40.) Provide your signature attesting to the above, and enclose photograph.