In case you hadn't heard, LL Cool J and friends are returning for a 13th season of "NCIS Los Angeles" on CBS. New episodes debut tonight, October 10, 2021.
In celebration of the gang coming back to Cali, we present "Going Back to Cali", a song performed by LL Cool J before he turned to acting.
With Halloween approaching, we're going to be spotlighting seasonally appropriate coffee blends for you to check out!
Does George Clooney Drink Coffee From Dusk 'Till Dawn? Yes!
BONES COFFEE COMPANY: FROM DUSK 'TILL DONUTS
This is another blend from Bones Coffee Company that I ordered because the name and packaging amused me with its obvious refences to to the great horror film "From Dusk 'Till Dawn". I didn't have high expectations for the blend itself--jelly donut flavored coffee... really?--but I was wrong about the Maple Bacon blend, so maybe I was going to be wrong about this one, too.
Like some of the other Bones blends I've tried, hints of things to come were evident as soon as I opened the 4-oz. bag of pre-ground coffee and took a sniff: A pleasant aroma of coffee and a sweet fruity smell filled my nostrils. There wasn't a particularly strong scent as the coffee brewed--the usual smell of coffee was present in the kitchen, with a hint of the fruitiness I smelled earlier, but it didn't wasn't strong enough to make it down the hallway and into my office.
The first sip of the coffee poured straight from the pot into the mug reflected this; as I drank it straight, the From Dusk to Donuts had the smoothness of a good medium-roast, with a sweet undertone that satisfied my desire to add almond milk or creamer. As I took a few more sips, the sweetness intensified, and I tasted a strong flavor of grape jelly that lingered in my mouth. Adding unsweetened almond milk brought that flavor of jelly to the forefront and between the two of them, the taste of the coffee was almost completely obscured. And, just like I'd been surprised that Maple Bacon worked as coffee flavor, I found myself enjoying From Dusk to Donuts despite expectations, both with and without milk.
One thing I found amazing about this blend is that it is basically the same if you drink it hot or iced. I find that flavors seem to shift in intensity or change entirely (with the Sinn-a-Bun blend being the most extreme example of this I've encountered in the Bones Coffee line-up so far). When you first start drinking it, dominant flavor is coffee, but the grape jelly taste grows stronger the more you drink, lingering in your mouth even after the cup is empty. This remains true even after adding unsweetened almond milk.
All in all, From Dusk to Donuts was a pleasant surprise, and I recommend it to any coffee drinker who's looking for a somewhat unusual treat as the months begin to grow colder (at least in my part of the world.)
During this month of Halloween, Death will be dropping by to sing us some of his favorite tunes (which also happen to be about him) while playing the banjo. We hope you enjoy these unique, Halloween-flavored treats!
First up, we have "Death and the Lady", a folksong that's been kicking around since at least the early 1700s.
(For more on "Death", Old Leatherstocking, and performances by the man behind the mask, click here.)
Born on October 8, 1949, Sigourney Weaver is one of the great faces of cinematic sci-fi and drama since the late 1970s. with her starring turns in "Aliens" and several of its sequels perhaps being the films most know her from, with "Ghostbusters" (1984), "Galaxy Quest" (1999), and "Avatar" (2009). And speaking of "Avatar", Weaver has filmed scenes for four sequels to it that have projected release dates from 2022 through 2028.
Today, we celebrate Weaver's birthday with neat photos of her!
Some of the greatest British dramatic and comedic actors of the 1960s showed up on "The Avengers" television series. Here's a brief look at one of them.
DOUGLAS WILMER In "The Danger Makers", Douglas Wilmer is Dr. Long, a government psychiatrist that joins the Avengers in their investigation of the mysterious and reckless behaviors that are claiming the lives of decorated British military officers.
Born in 1920 in London, Douglas Wilmer was a classically trained actor who spent his early career in the theatre and Shakespearean roles, with his appearances in "MacBeth", "Romeo and Juliet" and "Merry Wives of Windsor" being reportedly among the most noteworthy. During the early 1950s, he transitioned to television where, over the next 30 years, he made his mark with portrayals of numerous historical figures and famous literary characters, with reprisals of his portrayal of MacBeth and, one of his favorite rules of his career, Sherlock Holmes. In fact, throughout his career, Wilmer returned to roles relating to Conan Doyle's famous detective, sometimes playing Holmes himself, sometimes playing villains. His final role before he passed away was a small part in an episode of "Sherlock", a series that transposed Holmes into the modern day.
Beginning in the early 1960s and continuing into the 1980s, Wilmer balanced his television work with roles in celebrated big screen genre pictures such as "El Cid" (1961), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), "Fearless Vampire Killers" (1971), "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" (1975... which SHOULD be a celebrated picture in my opinion), and the James Bond film "Octopussy" (1983). He also played Sir Nayland Smith in the Christopher Lee-starring "Fu Manchu" movies during the 1960s--although those are not necessarily anything one would want to celebrate.
As the 1980s drew to a close, Wilmer retired from acting. Within short order, however, he turned what had been a hobby into a late-life second career and found great success creating and selling paintings.
Douglas Wilmer passed away in 2016 at the age of 96.
Edgar Allan Poe was a poet, writer, editor, and an American writer who not only helped shape the horror genre as we know it, but also the short story format. He passed away at the entirely age of 40 on this day, October 7, in 1849.
This is the third post today in which we honor his memory with pictures, posts, songs, and more. Here's another song, inspired by Poe, from the great goth musician and satirist Voltaire.
Did we say "inspired by"? That was a mistake. If that song sounded familiar, it's because it IS Poe's famous poem "The Conqueror Worm" set to music. Given that it is quite literally written like song lyrics, it's surprising that no one has done this before. (There's been entire concept albums based on the works of Poe, but no one previously do Voltaire thought to actually write music to go with any of the poems that lend them to it. Some artists have come close, but none had taken the plunge until 2014. If we are wrong on this, please correct us in the comments. We can spotlight those artists we just slighted next year on October 7!)
Meanwhile, here's Poe's "The Conqueror Worm" for your reading pleasure. Perhaps you can restart the music and sing along with these lyrics!
THE CONQUEROR WORM By Edgar Allan Poe
Lo! ’t is a gala night Within the lonesome latter years! An angel throng, bewinged, bedight In veils, and drowned in tears, Sit in a theatre, to see A play of hopes and fears, While the orchestra breathes fitfully The music of the spheres.
Mimes, in the form of God on high, Mutter and mumble low,
And hither and thither fly— Mere puppets they, who come and go At bidding of vast formless things That shift the scenery to and fro, Flapping from out their Condor wings Invisible Wo!
That motley drama—oh, be sure It shall not be forgot! With its Phantom chased for evermore By a crowd that seize it not, Through a circle that ever returneth in To the self-same spot, And much of Madness, and more of Sin, And Horror the soul of the plot.
But see, amid the mimic rout, A crawling shape intrude! A blood-red thing that writhes from out The scenic solitude! It writhes!—it writhes!—with mortal pangs The mimes become its food, And seraphs sob at vermin fangs In human gore imbued.
Out—out are the lights—out all! And, over each quivering form, The curtain, a funeral pall, Comes down with the rush of a storm, While the angels, all pallid and wan, Uprising, unveiling, affirm That the play is the tragedy, “Man,” And its hero, the Conqueror Worm.
Edgar Allan Poe passed away on October 7, 1849, at the age of 40. In his short life, however, he wrote many dark poems and short stories that form part of the foundation upon which modern horror stories stand. We suspect that if you're reading these words, you're already family with one of Poe's most famous works, "The Raven". If not, you should take a few moments to read it now. And if you are familiar, it can't hurt to read it again. Perhaps you should read it out loud, so you can get the full experience of the rhythm of the sentences.
Or you can just drop down to the bottom of the post for Jandzi Lorber's fabulous animated tribute to the poem. Made with cut-out animation, it took Lorber ten weeks to make the two-minute film.
THE RAVEN
By Edgar Allan Poe
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. ''Tis some visitor,' I muttered, 'tapping at my chamber door - Only this, and nothing more.'
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore - For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels named Lenore - Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before; So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating ''Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door - Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; - This it is, and nothing more,'
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer, 'Sir,' said I, 'or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore; But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door, That I scarce was sure I heard you' - here I opened wide the door; - Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before But the silence was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, 'Lenore!' This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, 'Lenore!' Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before. 'Surely,' said I, 'surely that is something at my window lattice; Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore - Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; - 'Tis the wind and nothing more!'
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he; But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door - Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling, By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore, 'Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,' I said, 'art sure no craven. Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the nightly shore - Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!' Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door - Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as 'Nevermore.'
But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only, That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour. Nothing further then he uttered - not a feather then he fluttered - Till I scarcely more than muttered 'Other friends have flown before - On the morrow will he leave me, as my hopes have flown before.' Then the bird said, 'Nevermore.'
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken, 'Doubtless,' said I, 'what it utters is its only stock and store, Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful disaster Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore - Till the dirges of his hope that melancholy burden bore Of "Never-nevermore."'
But the raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling, Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and door; Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore - What this grim, ungainly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore Meant in croaking 'Nevermore.'
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core; This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er, But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er, She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor. 'Wretch,' I cried, 'thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he has sent thee Respite - respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore! Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe, and forget this lost Lenore!' Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'
'Prophet!' said I, 'thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! - Whether tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - On this home by horror haunted - tell me truly, I implore - Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!' Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'
'Prophet!' said I, 'thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore - Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn, It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels named Lenore - Clasp a rare and radiant maiden, whom the angels named Lenore?' Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'
'Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!' I shrieked upstarting - 'Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore! Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken! Leave my loneliness unbroken! - quit the bust above my door! Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!' Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore.'
And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming, And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor Shall be lifted - nevermore!
The great writer of chilling poetry and horror short stories, Edgar Allan Poe, passed away on October 7 in 1849 at the young age of 40. Please enjoy this song from Voltaire in his memory, and as part of our effort here at Shades of Gray to get you in the proper mood for Halloween! (As an extra treat, we've picked a fan-made video to feature. You can click here if you want to visit YouTube for the version uploaded by Voltaire himself.)
.... but there's still plenty of time to get decorations up, treats purchased, and costumes prepared, so Vampirella is spending this picture-perfect Wednesday playing with her favorite pet.
How about you? Are you taking your time getting ready for Halloween this year?
Blood Highway (2017) Starring: Herlin Navarro, Kevin O. Peterson, Jack Shipley, Lily Rebecca Ramras, Kyla Geyer, Scott Sederquist, and Eddie Ascolillo Director: Joseph Dwyer Rating: Seven of Ten Stars
A pair of guns-for-hire (Peterson and Navarro) take revenge on a mad scientist (Shipley) and his psychotic hirelings (Sederquist and Ascolillo) as a zombie outbreak is spreading across the nation.
"Blood Highway" feels more like an excerpt from a longer movie than an actual short film. It seems to assume we have knowledge of the relationships between various characters, and there are stray references that are beyond what is reasonable even for an extreme in media res approach to story telling. Further, there's no discernable end to the story being told here; the encounter is resolved, but the main characters go stumbling off down the road with literal Hell at their heels, three different subplots are begun during it, and there's one that seems left over from before the start of the film that remains open. Plus--the one highway in the film that doesn't seem particularly bloody.
All that said, what we have a sample of here looks like it could be a really good movie with a vibe that's best described as a cross between a gritty crime drama and horror film from the 1960s--as if Mario Bava had directed a George Romero-style zombie movie--with a John Carpenter/Goblins-esque electronic score. (That said, the film is clearly supposed to be set in modern day, since there are a couple kids posting pictures of themselves online using their smart phones.)
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