The Greatest "Spooky" Writers and Hallow-Centric Literature Ever

Boo, ya'll! Yes, it's officially Halloween '09. Today, I will discuss the greatest and/or most popular "eccentric" writers and their equally bizarre, frightening masterworks. This list contains names that everyone has heard of and a few that many probably haven't. BTW, I'm attending a Halloween party tonight and am in the process of preparing treat bags for some younguns I know. Here's a valuable tip: If you wanna score big with the Disney Channel and Twilight sets, I highly recommend stashing Brach's MilkMaid Caramel, Chocolate Caramel, and Caramel Apple candy corns. There's something for everybody's taste in this assortment.



Now, for the list w/commentary and fun facts:

1.) Stephen King-- Undeniably the modern master of horror, King has written many scary books that have been adapted for film, including: Carrie, It, The Shining, and Misery. Personally, I think Carrie and The Shining are King's best works.

2.) Edgar Allen Poe-- This guy is the all-time king of horror. Poe's extremely dark stories and poems have been favorites of many, including Abraham Lincoln. Poe's "The Raven," "The Death of Annabelle Lee," The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher, and A Cask of Amantillado are Halloween classics. In addition, Poe's life imitated his art, for he lived a dark and miserable existence, and he despised Romanticism. Maybe that's why he had such a hard life.

3). Mary Shelley-- Author of Frankenstein. In this terrifying tale, a troubled young doctor literally creates a monster, and chaos ensues. Of course, I read this book for school over the summer, so you can thumb through my post archives for further explanations of my views on it.

4.) Ray Bradbury-- Illinois-born dystopian novelist. Bradbury is most famous for Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes, two very Halloween-y books.

5.) Nathaniel Hawthorne-- It doesn't get much scarier than The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables, novels set in Puritan-governed New England that tell of the havoc wreacked by uber-religious hysteria. (Nothing is scarier than the Religious Right.)

6.) Ambrose Bierce-- A Civil War veteran and a very strange man, to say the least. Most of Bierce's writings chronicle the horrors of war that he experienced first-hand. For example, "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" depicts the hanging of a Confederate sympathizer in haunting detail, complete with surrealistic flashbacks.

7.) Charles Brockden Brown-- Brown wrote a 1799 murder mystery called Edgar Huntly, Or, Memories of a Sleepwalker that some consider one of the first truly American novels. I read this book in my Early American Lit. class during a fall semester, and it really sets the mood (if you know what I mean).

8.) Bram Stoker-- No Halloween reading list would be complete without incorporating a little dash of Transylvania. Dracula, with all its dark themes and images of Eastern Europe (my ancestral homeland, incidentally), is perfect Hallow-reading.

9.) Washington Irving-- Let's talk about an all-American frightfest! I love The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. This tale of geeky schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, his fellow residents of Dutch extraction in a New York village, and the Headless Horseman-- the ghost of a Hessian (German) Revolutionary War soldier whose head was blown off by a cannonball-- is one my of seasonal faves. This story was supposedly inspired by real events and people. It is even believed that eighth U.S. president Martin Van Buren was a pupil of a teacher whom Ichabod was modeled after.

10.) Arthur Miller-- This playwright (and Marilyn Monroe's third husband) wrote The Crucible, a play set during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials that is a metaphor for his own experience of being blacklisted during the 1950s heyday of McCarthyism. In light of recent history, this should be required reading in all American high schools and colleges.

Best Electronic-Media Sources of Fright

To continue my little Ashleyverse Halloween series, I'm going to discuss what I feel to be the greatest scary movies, Halloween TV specials and episodes, and eery music ever. (Note: The following list is not a countdown. I've decided that those are just too hard in terms of choosing my fave movies, artists, songs, and books. I love 'em all!) Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy this list of fright-inducing visual and auditory thrills.

Categories, Selections, & Commentary:

MOVIES:

1.) Certain Johnny Depp films-- Y'all knew this was coming, right? Besides appearing in the original Friday the 13th film, my "fantasy husband" has also starred in a host of creepy and/or unconventional flicks, including: From Hell, The Libertine, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (along with Christina "Wednesday Addams" Ricci and the perennially awesome Christopher Walken, perfectly cast as Ichabod Crane's love interest, Katrina, and the Headless Horseman), the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Secret Window, Edward Scissorhands, and The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, co-starring the late Heath Ledger. (I'm actually going to watch a "double feature" tonight, consisting of From Hell and The Libertine.)

2.) Shaun of the Dead (2004, Universal Studios)-- Simon Pegg stars as Shaun in this hilarious London-set spoof of Dawn of the Dead. Shaun and ne'er-do-well best mate Ed (Nick Frost) battle the mundaneity of daily existence and townspeople, many of whom they know personally, who morph into, well, zombies.

3.) A Thief in the Night-- I couldn't resist including this one here. This is the 1970s religious conversion film that my study group used for our adaptation of The Libertine. What's scary is that impressionable youths actually allow themselves to fall for the Religious Right's scare tactics. Another film that falls along the same lines is the documentary Jesus Camp. Kids are coerced to pray to a cardboard cutout of (thankfully!) former President George W. Bush. Now that's scary!

4.) The Shining (1980)-- I saw this a while back, and it was definitely scary. The ghost scenes in the Overlook Hotel, which author Stephen King modeled after Colorado's famed Stanley Hotel after a terrifying 1973 stay there, are perhaps some of the most frightening things I've ever seen. Just as creepy is Jack Nicholson's dissent into madness throughout the movie.

5.) Psycho (1960)-- This Alfred Hitchcock classic is the film to watch when you want to create the ultimate creepy vibe. Another haunted hotel movie, this one centers around increasingly paranoid schizophrenic proprieter Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) and his bizarro relationship with his mother. The notorious shower scene with Janet Leigh alone is enough to make any gal wonder what (or who) could be lurking behind the curtain. Mental illness, dysfunctional family dynamics, murder-- it's all here, folks!

TV:

1.) It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)-- A nostalgic, sentimental classic. The seasonal adventures of the Peanuts Gang always deliver, and this is no exception. Based on Charles M. Schultz' comic strip, the animated storylines involving Charlie Brown and friends simultaneously entertain kids of all ages and make them think.

2.) The Simpsons Annual Treehouse of Horror Spooktacular-- While the series itself has long since run out of steam (not to mention originality), this is always reliable.

3.) M*A*S*H, "Trick or Treatment (#11.2)"-- In this episode, the 4077th is confronted with the ultimate horror-- the carnage of war-- on Halloween, 1953. While Capts. Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) and B.J. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell), dressed fittingly as Superman and a clown, respectively, trade sometimes very funny, pun-laced one liners, the best dialogue is supplied by Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III (David Ogden Stiers). For example, when his colleagues swap supernatural experiences in the O.R., Winchester retorts, "Hobgoblins are the hobgoblins of little minds!" and "I can't believe so many idiots can work in one place!"

4.) Early Roseanne Halloween episodes-- These were pretty dang good. Later on, the whole series became an overblown freakshow.

5.) Saturday Night Live: The Best of Halloween-- There's about two decades worth of laughs in this collection. My fave skits have got to be those featuring Dana Carvey as the Church Lady ("Halloween-- what is it, an innocent little night on the town for the kiddies, or a walk for SATAN!?") and the Coneheads (Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtain, and Laraine Newman) ("We shall dispense the small consumables.")

MUSIC:

1.) Bob Dylan's "Visions of Johanna"-- A track on the 1966 Blonde on Blonde album, this song was rightfully named one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In fact, Dylan himself called it one of his best works. "Visions" is chock-full of amazing, super-surreal lyrics, namely "Jewels and binoculars hang from the head of the mule." More importantly, it's extremely haunting, especially when The Bard warbles, "Lights flicker from the opposite loft, the country music station plays soft, but there's nothing to turn off." The sound lends itself to the content, and slower, live and/or bootleg versions are even more haunting than the slightly faster and more up-tempo album cut.

2.) The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and The White Album-- Released in 1967 and 1968, respectively, these two albums are perfect for playing this time of year. On the former, tracks such as Lennon and McCartney's "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and Harrison's "Within You, Without You" deliver the psychedelic goods, plus the entire album concept is an experiment in surrealism (thanks to a "little help from their friends"!) to the highest power. As for the latter selection, "Helter Skelter" is the most hellatious (read: kickass) song ever written.

3.) Anything by Led Zeppelin-- Lead singer Robert Plant has a life-long obsession with Celtic mythology and the occult. The British classic rockers are at their Halloween-y best on "Stairway to Heaven." Plant's bandmates-- Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John "Bonzo" Bonham-- are positively demonic (in a good way) on "Whole Lotta Love" and "Houses of the Holy."

4.) The Black Crowes' "She Talks to Angels"-- IMHO, one of the greatest rock songs ever. This song provides a distinctly Southern supernatural vibe.

5.) Yellow Submarine (film and soundtrack)-- The Fab Four's 1968 animated musical and artistic masterpiece contains a slightly creepy bit of social commentary. In the film, the Blue Meanies threaten to overtake Pepperland and banish all that is artistic, positive, and beautiful from the "unearthly paradise." Worse, they want to "create" a state of perpetual war. (Sound like any actual political regime we know?) Lennon likened the Blue Meanies' Reign of Terror to the Nazis' hostile takeover of Europe, including the Beatles' native Britain, during WWII. I guess the underlying message here is: Censorship sucks! As for the music, this is a compilation of the group's hits from Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966), and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967). My favourite tunes (and accompanying animated videos) would definitely have to be "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and the Harrisong "It's All Too Much."

Various Halloween-Related Items

Alright, I've got various Halloween-y things to share with y'all today. Last year at this time, I was so preoccupied with the election that I didn't think of doing anything related to fall's first big holiday here. Accordingly, I'm going to make up for lost time this year.
First of all, I want to remind y'all that the Travel Channel is airing a live marathon of Ghost Adventures tomorrow night during which the crew will travel to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston, West Virginia, where it will try to detect supernatural phenomena and summon the spirits of souls trapped between this world and the next. Speaking of supernatural phenomena, I may possibly have experienced a little of it myself. I won't go so far as to say that I'm a believer, but I think there might be some activity in the house I grew up in. I won't go any further, as I don't want to destroy my street cred with my fellow "academics." LOL!
Secondly, I want to relay a cutesy lil' anecdote from an Ashleyverse Halloween past. Three years ago, I assembled a few odds 'n' ends from the bottom of my closet, including a zebra-print top, an old mini-skirt, and some knee-high boots. (I think y'all have a basic understanding of the concept here.) Anyway, I went to a party at my Aunt Cindy's house. While I was in the kitchen, getting something to eat and drink, my then-six-year-old cousin, Maryn, came up to me and asked, "Are you a businesslady?" I replied by quipping, "Well, yeah, honey, a certain type of businesslady!" We both giggled upon recognizing the similarities in each other's senses of humor.
In addition, I'll let y'all in on what I'm doing this year. I'm attending the grand opening of Cindy's new store tomorrow night. I'm so excited for her. She is, as Thoreau advises readers, going confidently in the direction of her dreams and living the life she imagined.
Finally, I'm not dressing up this year, but I guess I could suggest a few costume ideas. I personally believe that the creative, original, gathering-odds-and-ends approach is, in the spirit of the times in which we're living, the way to go. Of course, one could always adapt the Adam Sandler approach of devising recession-friendly disguises in the form of goofy, wacky characters, like "Crazy Guy/Gal Under the Desk" and "Crazy Newspaper Face." How's that for timely, socially conscious suggestions?

Update on That Scary, Halloween-Themed Stuff

Howdy, folks! Stay tuned into the Ashleyverse the next couple days or so, for I'm gonna have a plethora of Halloween-themed stuff on here-- ranging from ghost stories, discussions of supernatural phenomena, and apropo literature- and cinema-related lists to recollections of Ashleyverse Halloweens past, costume ideas, and possibly personal experiences with, um, otherworldly beings and happenings.
Okay, this has absolutely nothing to do with anything posted above, but have y'all considered getting or already gotten H1N1 (a.k.a. swine flu) vaccinations? Today at work, my co-workers and students were talking about getting inocculated against this plague du jour. Maybe I should look into it. After all, the president has declared swine flu a national emergency!

First High-Profile Afghan War Protester Resigns from State Department Post

As President Obama mulls the decision of whether to send more U.S. troops into Afghanistan, the first high-profile Afghan War protester has officially spoken out. Matthew Hoh, a former Marine and Iraq War veteran-turned State Department employee, resigned from his post-- effective today. Hoh stated in a letter dated Sept. 10 (but released just today) that Afghanistan "isn't worth it." This announcement is poignant in that October is the single deadliest month in Afghanistan so far, with eight troops killed.
I believe Hoh's decision (and decisions of those who follow suit) will positively influence President Obama's decision. The president said this week that he will definitely not rush it. I believe, based on the latest reports of increased Taliban insurgency, that we will be leaving Iraq soon and not getting heavily involved with Afghanistan. This might be wishful thinking on my part, but such results do appear likely at this point.
As for Mr. Hoh, well, I just want to say: "Matt, for your brave service to your country and your willingness to patriotically question its leaders' actions, I salute you!"

Review/Discussion of The Libertine (2004) and My Class Presentation of It

Alright, I'm finally going to review/discuss The Libertine (2004). I'll also take a few minutes to talk about my study group's adaptation of this 17th-century play by Thomas Shadwell.
This play is essentially the story of John Wilmot a.k.a. the Second Earl of Rochester, who debauched himself vis-a-vis illicit sex and unrestricted substance abuse right into an early grave. This film has a lot of strengths, the least of which is not its cast. For starters, Rochester is portrayed by none other than Johnny Depp. Need I say more, y'all? As is always the case, my "fantasy husband" nails his role. Listening to and watching Depp on screen, you will actually think you've been transported to Restoration-era England. (Restoration-era England w/Johnny Depp? I'm so there!) In addition, the supporting players rock. For instance, the one and only John Malkovich (an EIU theater program alumn, incidentally) plays King Charles II brilliantly, complete with the silly period wig and requisite ruffled blouse. Another great aspect is the romance. Rochester falls passionately in love with his muse, a popular stage actress (Samantha Morton). An added bonus is that the characters' names are all basically double entendres; for example, one charcter is named Mr. Alcock (Richard Coyle). No explanation necessary. Better yet, this play-turned-movie has my absolute favorite literary element: scandal. In one awesome cinematic masterpiece of a scene, Rochester scandalizes King Chuck with the most out-there play imaginable. It contains a dance sequence that is basically a full-on homage to a certain male body organ. (Oh, yeah, I love this play!) Most importantly, this film adaptation pretty much stays true to Shadwell's original vision. In other words, it's not totally Hollywood-ized. I love the fact that Depp chooses quirky, off-the-beaten-path roles, even though he could easily be a traditional leading man.
If I have one caveat about The Libertine, well, it ain't for the kiddies or the weak minded. If you don't fall into either one of these two categories, you should watch this movie.
That said, the concept for my own adaptation of this classic is twisted and convoluted, to say the least. My partners and I are staging it like one of those 1970s films shown to impressionable youngsters via projector in church basements to warn them of the dangers of straying from the straight-and-narrow path. Um, yeah.

Urgent News Bulletin: Limbaugh Punked by Presidential Thesis Hoax

Have y'all heard the latest about Rush Limbaugh? Anyway, the portly self-appointed Messiah of the so-called "New Conservative Movement" got his meaty mits on a copy of President Obama's college thesis in which the commander-in-chief questions the motives and intellect of the Founding Fathers. Perfect fodder for the neo-cons' smear cannon. Unfortunately for them, the president's incendiary thesis is a hoax. Leave it to Limbaugh & Co. to buy into it. (Honestly, why would anyone who would ever harbor ambitions of becoming the President of the United States write something of that nature?)
If y'all haven't heard about this yet, it's all over the Internet atm. In this one article I read, author Claudine Zap dares grad students to write a thesis about the proliferation of faux-theses by public officials. Hmm...

A Few More Thoughts on the Republicans' Downfall

While sifting through today's Google ad placements on this blog, I found a link to a Website called republicangomorrah.com. Of course, I had to check it out. The site's content basically reaffirmed everything I've been thinking and saying lately. The GOP brought itself down through right-wing, pseudo-Christian-fundamentalist extremism. And, yes, it's true: Sarah Palin wrecked John McCain's presidential campaign last year.
Today, those extremists on the right are trying to bring down President Obama. There have even reportedly been (fortunately foiled) assassination attempts against the president. According to this Yahoo! story I read, the economic situation has prompted Secret Service cutbacks, thus putting the president in increased danger. Here's my feeling on all this: We live in an increasingly technology-driven age. Anyone who tries to knock off a political leader won't get very far. Furthermore, anyone dumb enough to broadcast his (or her) plans to become a wannabe John Wilkes Booth or Lee Harvey Oswald isn't smart enough to pull off an assassination plot. Thanks to near-universal accessibility to the Internet, such plans can easily be uncovered by any and everybody, including Secret Service and law enforcement personnel. Again, that's just my oh-so-humble opinion.

More Scary Travels

A couple weekends ago, I mentioned that I love to watch the Travel Channel this time of year. Well, this weekend, they're airing a whole bunch of uber-creepy entertainment. For example, you can catch a double dose of The Most Terrifying Places in America tomorrow night from 8-10 PM EST. I've actually seen the first installment of this series. It was excellent and, yes, creepy. Featured haunted places include the site of the Lizzie Borden axe murders in Fall River, Massachusetts, the Winchester Mystery House (which was supposedly built by spirits that dictated blueprints to Sarah Winchester, the widow of the founder of the world-famous rifle company) near San Jose, California, a famous Colorado hotel that inspired horror-master Stephen King's The Shining, a tuberculosis ward of a Louisville, Kentucky, hospital, and the Myrtles Plantation. Located in St. Francisville, Louisiana, the latter was originally a Tunica Indian burial ground that later became the site of several murders, including a death by oleander-laced birthday cake. (In case y'all don't know, an oleander is a poisonous flowering plant that is ubiquitous in the South.) I haven't seen the second part, but I'm sure it'll be just as good as the original. The TC is running a string of haunting shows this evening. Finally, be sure to tune in next Friday, when the Ghost Adventures crew goes live at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia. This is an interactive broadcast during which viewers can participate online and offer feedback about their own supernatural/paranormal experiences. (Go to travelchannel.com for more details.) Are your spines tingling yet?

A Highly Pertinent Hodgepodge

In current NPR news, a magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region between Afghanistan and Pakistan at approximately 12:21 EDT this morning*. There is no official casualty report at press time. (*Note: They're a day ahead of us in the Middle East, so the earthquake actually occurred at 12:21 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23.)

In Ashleyverse news, my class was cancelled for tonight. In honor of this extremely rare occasion, I got off work this morning and came home and slept. LOL! Actually, that rest was much needed, for I'm quite tired and haven't been feeling all that great the past couple days, plus I have a slight hitch in my giddyap. I must've pulled that leg muscle after overdoing it on the yoga (or perhaps this minor injury occurred while I was trying to emulate She-Wolf Shakira on SNL last weekend). Seriously, though, I really can't complain too much. Oh, and speaking of my EIU class, I'm presently reading George Lillo's The London Merchant; or, The History of George Barnwell (1731). I'm also in the throes of a group project. My partners and I are creating a contemporary adaptation of The Libertine. (Yes, folks, I promise I'll get around to discussing that further, perhaps even this weekend.) Finally, I'm developing my thesis topic. BTW, I got a little ahead of myself in regards to this matter the other day. This prospectus actually has to pertain to the course I'm taking now. Accordingly, I've revised my plan and will instead write about a sociopolitical issue broached in Venice Preserved (love that play!) and how that issue was staged for Restoration-era audiences.

Last but not least, Adam Lambert's first video has finally been released to the masses. I found out about it via a Yahoo! Music blog post. It's for a song from the 2012 soundtrack. The world premier of "Time for Miracles" can now be viewed on the aforementioned site. I watched it yesterday, and I would classify it as an Aerosmith-esque power ballad. The link to the vid and corresponding post is: http://www.new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/279195/adam-lamberts-first-music-video-explodes-fans-heads-follow-suit/. (Did I fail to mention that I'm a self-confessed Glambert?)

President Obama's Afghanistan Predicament

President Obama announced this week that he promises to hold to his proposed strategy for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. Now, however, the president is facing his toughest foreign policy decision ever-- whether or not to expand U.S. involvement in the increasingly unpopular Afghan War. The decision he makes will more than likely shape the remainder of his presidency, and he is taking it very seriously.
Analysis: While I disagree with certain parts of the president's Afghanistan strategy (I think we should leave the Middle East immediately), I think he is taking the high road by distancing himself from Afghan President Hamid Karzai, whom the Bush administration was reportedly quite chummy with. Another winning strategy would be for Obama to continue sending foreign policy powerhouses, such as Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), to meet with Middle Eastern leaders. If he does these things, President Obama can be successful in regards to the Afghan situation.
The Bottom Line: It's time to cut our losses in the Middle East and bring our brave guys and gals home with honor. Our continued presence over there is only making our own national security situation more dangerous and breeding more sectarian violence-- especially amongst the Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds in Iraq and Christians, Muslims, and displaced (as a result of the Persian Gulf War (1990-91)) Kurds in neighboring Turkey (an overlooked "hot spot," IMHO), not to mention creating more terrorist cells. We are also impeding progress in terms of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Furthermore, the outcome of the Nov. 7 Afghan run-off election will more than likely be Karzai's unanimous re-election. The Iraqi and Afghan armies need to be forced to become self-sufficient so that good as opposed to more-corrupt-than-the-last puppet governments can take root in these nations. Moreover, we have enough problems here at home. We need to divert all that war funding to domestic matters so that we can continue to be a shining light on the world stage. Most importantly, this president is extremely aware of his legacy and the ramifications of his decisions on history. Therefore, I believe he will try to get us out of the Middle East as soon as possible and not escalate the Afghan War to a high degree.

Reflections of America: The Virginia Governor's Race

In my Autumn 2009 op-ed, I mentioned incumbent Democratic Virginia governor Tim Kaine. Well, the 2010 Old Dominion governor's race is already heating up. According to recent news stories and polls, Republican Bob McDonnell is beating Democrat R. Creigh Deeds for Kaine's soon-to-be old job. The naysayers are claiming that the Dems' enthusiasm that propelled President Obama to the White House last fall is now only a lackluster shell of its former self. Virginia voters are likewise allegedly disillusioned with the economy and health-care reform woes, as well as the president's handling of the Afghan situation. This combination, say critics and conservative pundits, will lead McDonnell to victory and return Virginia to its Red State status.
My Big Ole Rebuttal: Okay, I have another one of my out-there theories on this. Here goes: Deeds will win the Virginia gubernatorial election. I say this, because based on what I've read, McDonnell is out of touch with the attitudes of the New South (and America as a whole). For instance, McDonnell has had to defend his 20-year-old grad school thesis in which he condemned working women, various minority groups, and gays. (Memo to grad students aspiring to political careers: What you do in grad school doesn't stay in grad school. LOL!) Anyway, Virginia will remain a Blue State, and there will more than likely be a whole lot more blue below the Mason-Dixon Line on the 2012 electoral map. Besides, the economy is slowly but surely improving, the Afghan War might be winding down soon, a bipartisan (thanks, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)!) health-care bill could very likely pass, and the president's job approval rating numbers are actually up right now. It may seem like I'm reaching a bit here, but we've gotta remember one thing, folks: Prior to the 2008 election, these same naysayers were crowing that a certain freshman U.S. senator would be lucky to win Illinois and Hawaii, didn't have a snowball's chance in Hades of becoming president, and would more than likely fade into obscurity. Y'all just meditate on that!

My Official "Balloon Boy" Rant

Alright, I know there's waayy more important stuff going on out there, but I just had to use this time to comment on the "Balloon Boy" saga. That is, to quote one of my dearest BFFs, "a big bottle of crazy sauce." I actually saw part of the Heene family's Wife Swap (ABC) episode. I was rushing around getting ready for work, but what I witnessed was highly disturbing, to say the least. The husband is a quasi-intellectual loser, who keeps his perfect little Asian wifey subservient to him. (Sorry, but it seems to me that a lot of hyper-egotistical white males prefer submissive Asian women. Just an observation.) The Heenes' three beautiful, precious sons are grossly exploited pawns in their self-involved parents' sicko charade of a marriage. Again, that's just an observation. (Methinks that tomorrow I shall return to blogging about decidedly more substantive things.)

Latest (and Greatest?) School Projects

Howdy, folks! I've been busy reading John Gay's The Beggar's Opera (1728) for school this past week. I actually performed a scene from this play with two classmates in an undergrad-level class that was, in fact, taught by the same professor. I played Polly Peachum, a young Englishwoman in a rather, um, unconventional marriage. I was informed Thursday night that I'm now famous for said perfomance. LOL!


I'm also beginning preliminary research for my thesis prospectus, which is due in December. I've decided to write about the Brook Farm Experiment-- a gathering of 19th-century American writers with a Utopian vision that took place in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, from 1841 to 1846. One of these writers was Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter (1850) and The House of the Seven Gables (1851). Hawthorne, a native of infamous town Salem, Massachusetts, was actually the great-great-grandson of Judge John Hathorne, who presided over the 1692 Salem Witch Trials (which are a good example of why we need separation of church and state, as well as balance between the worldly and religious realms). Anyway, Hawthorne added the "w" to his last name, presumably in order to distance himself from his ancestor's participation in this horrific Puritan hysteria. Earlier today, I saw a Travel Channel show called Mysterious Journeys: The Witches of Salem that delved into all this. (How's that for creepy, Halloween-themed stuff?)
Oh, BTW, I've pushed that review/discussion of The Libertine back a few more days. I'll get it on here eventually, though.
Well, until our next forum, peace, love, & happiness in all of life's endeavors.

Live from New York...It's Saturday Night (Again)!

I'm currently doing some housework (eww!). In order to make this task slightly more pleasant, I'm watching my SNL-- Best of... DVDs. I've been dusting, scrubbing, and vacuuming to The Best of Will Ferrell, Vols. 1 & 2. Below, I will discuss both volumes and my fave skits on them.
Vol. 1-- By far, the stand-out sketches on this disc are the Blue Oyster Cult Behind the Music/"Cowbell" sketch and the "Lova!" skit-- Ferrell's pseudo-intellectual collaboration with Rachel Dratch. In this installment, Ferrell and Dratch are joined in the omnipresent Welshly Arms Hotel hottub by road-weary businessman Dave (Jimmy Fallon) and champion archer Barbara Hernandez (Drew Barrymore). The Inside the Actors' Studio skit is rather "scrumptulescent" as well. Of course, the cheerleader skits with Cheri Oteri always add a bit of comic relief to an otherwise blah day. On this compilation, jock wannabes Craig and Arianna are put in their places by a chess team nerd. Likewise, the Harry Carey sketch, featuring Jeff Goldblum as a visiting scientist, is pretty dang funny. I, too, wish the moon was made of barbecue spare ribs, and I'd polish it off with a tall, cool Budweiser. LOL! The Celebrity Jeopardy skit is always a hoot, with Ferrell as long-suffering host Alex Trebek duking it out with uber-famous nitwits, especially Sean Connery (Darrell Hammond) and Burt Reynolds a.k.a. Turd Ferguson (Norm MacDonald). Classic!
Vol. 2-- Here, the post-9/11 patriotic thong and "Lova!" sketches really shine. In the latter, Roger and Virginia discuss the art of lovemaking with the always-good-for-a-laugh-or-two Christopher Walken, who is accompanied by his "lova with a fiery soul," played by then-cast member Ana Gasteyer, who is repulsed by the over-the-top threesome's tales of sexual exploits. Also, the "Weekend Update with Colin Quinn" installment in which Ferrell cameos as a frat boy discussing the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal delivers the topical humor goods. In addition, Kate Hudson as Drew Barrymore on Inside the Actors' Studio is an ingenius delight. Finally, Ferrell's dead-on Dubya impersonations can't be beat. I love it when he says, "Math is definitely part of the Axis of Evil." Priceless!
Non-sequitur P.S. I'd like to give a joint b'day shout out to the coolest mother-daughter duo ever-- my Aunt Cindy and Cousin Taylor. They're 50 and 26 years young today, respectively. So, happy b'day, gals. Keep on rockin' in the free world! (Cindy's a big Neil Young fan; therefore, I thought that was very apropo.)

The Louisiana Interracial Marriage Case: A Sad Day in America

I know y'all have probably heard about the Louisiana interracial marriage case. This is a sad day in America. I've been writing a lot about how the South is changing for the better, but now I feel that I may have spoken too soon. Hopefully, many brave souls will step up to the plate and help overturn this unjust ruling.
For those who've been living in a cave recently, what happened is that Louisiana Judge Keith Bardwell denied an interracial couple a marriage license. Folks, we cannot afford to allow this to become another Plessy v. Ferguson-- an 1896 Louisiana-originated case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled on behalf of the so-called constitutionality of racial segregation. (For more history and details on this case, Wikipedia it, folks. I'm too dang tired to go into it in depth right now. Then again, isn't that history teachers' job? Hmm...) Personally, I think Judge Bardwell should be disbarred.

Finishing Touches

I feel so relieved right now! I just completed my personal statement and resume, the final two steps in the application process. It's really weird to write about yourself and your experiences. But that's how schools and businesses operate these days-- you've got to sell yourself to them. Anyway, I just talked about my "unique" interests and varied work experience and life-long exposure to different cultures. I also talked up my work ethic and alleged intelligence. (To be quite honest with y'all, I feel like the biggest airhead/space cadet sometimes.) I'll find out in a couple of weeks or so if this was a winning marketing strategy or not. Well, I've gotta get goin' now. Until next time, peace!

Wacky Wednesday

This has been one wacky Wednesday in the Ashleyverse, to say the least. The main contributing factor to said wackiness is that the reality of my application process is beginning to sink in. Honestly, I don't think that my responsibilities in my possible new job will be any different than the ones I have now. I just need to breathe, relax, and think of good things, like trips to England, literature, yoga, and fall. Speaking of yoga, I've started this intense workout regimen, which is helping me physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Still, I'll be so happy when my application is submitted and I know if I got the job for next semester or not. For now, I'm just trying to live in the moment.

Current Events Roundup

I just read the craziest thing. Dick Cheney's daughter, Liz, has formed a reactionary political group called Keep America Safe. The organization's "mission statement" is to counteract the "radical foreign policy" of the Obama White House. Apparently, the new definition of "radical" is communicating with other nations and actually using diplomacy as opposed to creating enemies by destroying and invading them. I suppose this is some sort of ploy to appeal to Big Daddy's ultra-conservative voter base and drum up support for a potential presidential campaign next time around. Newsflash, honey: Politics and marketing work in tandem, and voters usually don't support candidates who scare the crap out of them. Just a tip.
In other news, Palestine and Gaza Strip allies are re-opening war crimes investigations against Israeli militants. Score one for our side!
In domestic happenings, President Obama is scheduled to push his biggest health-care reform measure to date sometime this week. Let's keep our fingers crossed about this one.
In Ashleyverse news, I'm getting ready start the heavy-duty part of my grad assistant app process. Again, let's keep our fingers crossed. Maybe this will prove to be a lucky 13th in the Ashleyverse and beyond.

Random Thoughts on Columbus Day '09

Today is Columbus Day. Whoopee, right? To me, it's just another Monday holiday. Overall, it's been a relatively enjoyable long weekend. I watched a couple pretty good movies last night: He's Just Not That Into You and Grey Gardens, both featuring the talents of the endearingly quirky Miss Drew Barrymore. (I may discuss the latter film here at some point.) Anyway, it's a feature-length adaptation of a 1975 documentary of the same name about Big and Little Edie Bouvier Beale-- Jackie O's aunt and cousin-- and their highly complex mother-daughter relationship and eccentric life in a decaying mansion in the Hamptons. Barrymore and co-star Jessica Lange absolutely nailed their roles. I just love Little Edie's fashion sense and expressions, especially "This is the perfect costume for the day." LOL! Classic!
Also, I read a very interesting article in the October 2009 issue of Vanity Fair. Written by Bristol Palin's Baby Daddy Levi Johnston, "Me and Mrs. Palin (p. 216)" is essentially an expose of the former GOP veep nominee and former governor of Alaska. Johnston says that Sarah is basically a scatter-brained nutjob and that he couldn't believe it when she was chosen to be Sen. McCain's running mate. (To be fair, who could?) Johnston goes on to divulge even more shocking revelations that completely dispel the Palin myth. Y'all just have to read the article to know the full (read: true) story.

My Personal Views on the President's Nobel Peace Prize

To begin, I'd like to preface this post by stating I've decided to wait until later this week to review The Libertine. I've decided that there's much more important stuff to talk about. One uber-important thing is the president's Nobel Peace Prize win. Of course, certain people have just had to put a negative spin on this. What the heck is wrong with people? It seems as though it's become sort of fashionable to diss those who have it going on in some way. I'm sorry, but having a president who is deemed worthy of such an honor by the international community is the best thing that could happen to the U.S. right now. As for this criticism that the prez hasn't done anything to deserve this award, all I've got to say is: 'Gimme a freakin' break!' I swear, some folks just can't be the least bit positive to save their lives. Fortunately, that's not my problem.

Tribute to My All-Time "Working-Class" Hero, Pt. 2

Okay, as I promised, folks, here's my commentary on Tracks 11-20 of Lennon Legend. Enjoy!

Tracklist & Corresponding Commentary:

#11: "Stand By Me"-- An admirable cover of Ben E. King's classic Lieber and Stoller-penned hit. This song appeared on Lennon's 1975 Rock 'n' Roll album. Again, he was longing for the comfort of a simpler (read: pre-Beatlemania) time.
#12: "(Just Like) Starting Over"-- This was supposed to be Lennon's comeback hit-- a single off what was supposed to be the ultimate comeback album, Double Fantasy (1980). Unfortunately, the comeback was not to be.
#13: "Woman"-- According to one VH1 countdown, this is one of the greatest love songs of all time. I honestly can't disagree with that assessment. This would make a great wedding/couple's first dance song.
#14: "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)"-- Here, proud papa John dispenses pearls of wisdom to son Sean. The best part is when Lennon sings, 'Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.' How true is that?
#15: "Watching the Wheels"-- This tune chronicles John's "Hermit of 34th Street" phase. More immortal words, especially the line 'I tell them there's no problems, only solutions,' abound here.
#16: "Nobody Told Me"-- This song is also chock-full of awesome lyrics, like: 'There's UFOs over New York.', 'There's matches in the bathroom underneath the stairs.' , and 'They're starvin' back in China, so finish what you've got.' Incidentally, the video on the companion DVD rocks! Check out the "fashion show," featuring Lennon, Yoko Ono, talk show host Dick Cavett, and fellow ex-Beatle George Harrison. Very funny! Crazy music and images for crazy times.
#17: "Borrowed Time"-- The sentiment expressed in this number would prove all too prophetic for Lennon. Interestingly, this was released posthumously in 1984 as a single off Milk And Honey, a collection of never-before-released material.
#18: "Working Class Hero"-- Lennon at his brilliantly sarcastic zenith. In this song, he just lets the shite fly and pulls no punches about the inequity created by the traditional "factory model" for education and Britain's rigid social class structure. Lyrics such as 'They dope you with religion and sex and TV' and 'You think you're so clever and classless and free, but you're still f---ing peasants as far as I can see.' illustrate precisely why I love Mr. Lennon.
#19: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"-- My favourite non-traditional holiday tune (for obvious reasons). Sadly, this sentiment has been applicable to the past eight Christmases.
#20: "Give Peace A Chance"-- This could easily be subtitled: "Memo to the Neocons." LOL! Again, this kickass protest anthem is way too applicable to current events. It just makes you wonder what Lennon would be doing to further the progressive cause if he were alive today.

Tribute to My All-Time "Working-Class" Hero, Pt. 1

As y'all already know, I'm a big-time John Lennon fan. Well, today would be his 68th birthday. Accordingly, I've compiled a tribute of sorts via commentary on the tracklist of the Lennon Legend CD. (BTW, there's also a Lennon Legend DVD that contains videos for each song.) So, here goes:
Tracks 1-10 & Corresponding Commentary:
#1: "Imagine"-- This is the anthem to end all anthems. Lennon brings his characteristic depth and intelligence to a seemingly simplistic message: Why can't we get past all our perceived differences and unite into one peaceful human family?
#2: "Instant Karma!"-- This energetic, fun ditty reminds us that our actions do indeed impact the lives of others. If we do good things, we get good things back. More importantly, the more positive vibes that are sent out to the universe, the more "we all shine on." If we do bad things, well, as Lennon admonishes-- "Instant karma is gonna knock ya on the head." Right on, man!
#3: "Mother"-- This is song is one of Lennon's most autobiographical and heartbreakingly candid. In an eerie twist, Lennon was separated from his mother, Julia, who died when John was 17, when he was five. When Lennon himself was assassinated in 1980, his sons, Julian and Sean, were ages 17 and 5, respectively.
#4: "Jealous Guy"-- Here, the temperamental, jealousy-prone Lennon confesses to being what he referred to in later interviews as a "male chauvinist piglet" in his youth.
#5: "Power to the People"-- This is probably my favourite post-Beatles Lennon tune. Social consciousness at its peak and righteous indignation at its best.
#6: "Cold Turkey"-- This haunting song harrowingly details Lennon's struggle to free himself from the unrelenting bondage of heroin addiction. Warning: This is hard-core stuff.
#7: "Love"-- A whole different side of our beloved British muckraker. This Plastic Ono Band single is about Lennon's short-lived early domestic tranquility with second wife Yoko Ono.
#8: "Mind Games"-- Ah, so much to say about this one, so little time. My interpretation is that Lennon is just longing for simple, face-to-face communication with his fellow human beings after living through such a complicated, tumultuous era-- a.k.a. the 60s.
#9: "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night"-- Written during Lennon's "Lost Weekend," which actually lasted 14 months, this song was inspired by a late-night viewing of a TV program about overcoming alcoholism. Sadly, like so many other rock stars, Lennon fell prey to various addictions. Perhaps watching this show forced him to look in the mirror and realize he had a drinking problem.
#10: "#9 Dream": This highly surreal song revolves around Lennon's favourite number, 9. This number was all-powerful in his life. For example, Lennon was born on October 9, 1940. The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. He met Yoko Ono on November 9, 1966. Then, second-born son Sean arrived on Lennon's 35th birthday in 1975. Finally, Lennon died on December 9, 1980. (Although he was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. on the 8th in New York City, it was already the 9th in Lennon's native England.) Hmm... Maybe there's something to the whole numerology thing after all.

Another Theatrical Thursday

Hey, everybody! I just got out of class at EIU. We read and had an intense discussion of George Farquhar's The Beaux' Statagem (1707), a very interesting play that illustrates the shift in cultural thinking in regards to gender roles and social hierarchy between the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment. I also got my paper back. Guess what, folks, I got an A (95/100, to be exact) on it! Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.
In other Ashleyverse news, I'm embarking on yet another heavy-duty chapter with my communications students. Anyway, there's a long weekend coming up, and I'm very much looking forward to that.
In world news, we've been in Afghanistan exactly eight years now. I trust that the president will make the right decisions regarding this matter. Speaking of which, his approval ratings are actually going up, despite what critics have been claiming. BTW, did y'all know that FAUX News is doing a series of "investigative reports" about the president's supposed involvement with ACORN? Puh-leeze! For the record, his involvement with the organization is negligible at best and occurred before the alleged unethical acts.
Well, that's all I've got for y'all atm. I've got to head home ASAP to catch The Office wedding. Yep, Jim and Pam-- a.k.a. "Jam"-- are finally tying the knot. I think they are the cutest, funniest, sweetest, and most realistic TV couple. Peace, Love, & Happiness!

Autumn 2009 Op-Ed Column

The Obama Presidency Quarterly, Autumn 2009 Issue:

President Barack Obama has been in office only nine months, and he's already being heavily tested in the form of two wars, a bad economy, and a domestic battle of health-care reform. Many critics are claiming that the president won't succeed in handling these and other issues and that all this doesn't bode well for his 2012 re-election bid. Others, however, strongly disagree with this negative assessment of the Obama presidency thus far. In fact, some even believe that the president can win votes in the region of the country that was the most difficult for him in 2008-- the South.

One of these optimistic individuals is talkingpointsmemo.com blogger Steve Katz. In his June 3, 2009, 6:24 PM, post, 'Racism And Obama's Reverse "Southern Strategy",' Katz argues that the president actually has a good shot at breaking the GOP's Southern stranglehold during the next election cycle. According to Katz, the Republican Party has dominated Southern politics since the 1960s, when President Lyndon B. Johnson-- a Texas Democrat-- signed major Civil Rights legislation. As a result, GOP candidate used this fact to zero in on the fear-based ideology of conservative Southern whites in 1968. The South has voted mostly Republican at the national level ever since. (The only Democratic presidential candidates who've fared well in the region since 1968 were Georgian Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Arkansas native Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996.)

More than 40 years later, things are beginning to change. Katz cites New York Times columnist Bob Herbert's 2005 article "Impossible, Ridiculous, Repugnant" in order to substantiate this claim. Herbert explains that the GOP's four-decade Southern success is attributable to its appeals to racism disguised as appeals to conservative values. That disguise, writes Herbert, is wearing thin. Herbert says, "The truth is that there was very little that was subconscious about the GOP's relentless appeal to racist whites. Tired of losing elections, it saw an opportunity to renew itself by opening its arms wide to white voters who could never forgive the Democratic Party for its support of civil rights and voting rights for blacks." And this revelation of the Republicans' ulterior motives is only one reason Democrats could regain power in the South in 2012.

That having been said, why might an Obama Reverse "Southern Strategy" ultimately be successful? For starters, increasingly bizarre behavior and outlandish claims from the likes of conservative "leaders" and "voices," such as: Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), and Sarah Palin-- not to mention the antics of those at faux-townhall meetings-- have seriously tarnished the Republican brand. Secondly, since taking office in January, the president has reached out to GOP moderates and followed the Lincoln model of appointing rivals, including Utah governor Jon Huntsman (ambassador to China) and former Illinois Republican congressman Ray LaHood (transportation secretary), to diplomatic and cabinet positions. In addition, President Obama has the support of moderate-to-conservative members of his own party. For example, the first person to endorse Obama's candidacy was Virginia governor and DNC chairperson Tim Kaine, a pro-life, pro-Second-Amendment rights Democrat. Furthermore, Obama won three of the largest Southern states-- Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida-- handily in 2008. Most importantly, despite an often ugly history, the South is changing. Unlike the Old South, the New South is more ethnically diverse, educated, and middle class. For these reasons, Team Obama could possibly emerge victorious in the South following the next presidential election.

A Different Kind of Tuesday

This has not been a normal Tuesday in the Ashleyverse. For one thing, I have the day off today. This is totally bizarre, because I usually have to teach at 8 a.m. on Tuesday mornings. I'm not exactly complaining, though. It was nice to be able to sleep past 6, especially since it's rainy and dreary today. Still, I'll be happy to get back to my regular routine tomorrow. I need structure! (Aside: I watched The Libertine last night. Look for a review/discussion sometime this weekend.)

Just Another Manic Monday

Yeah, this is a crazy day in the Ashleyverse. For starters, I'm teaching all afternoon and evening. I've also got a lot of stuff to do for school, mainly reading for a group project/modern adaptation of Thomas Shadwell's The Libertine (1675). I've got the movie version-- starring my "fantasy husband," Johnny Depp-- at home and will probably watch it tonight after I "land."
In addition, I'm mulling over a bunch of personal side projects in my head, like fall-and/or-Halloween-themed stuff for this blog. I'm seriously considering doing stuff related to literature, music, and movies. (Shocking, right?)
Anyway, speaking of tunes, did y'all see Lady Gaga on SNL this past weekend? Wow! I'm definitely a fan now. Continuing on the musical theme, for the past few days, I've had a strange compulsion to listen to Adam Lambert's version of Smokey Robinson's "The Tracks of My Tears" incessantly in my car. I never thought I'd be so nutso for an AI alumn. It's like, 'My name is Ashley W., and I'm a Glambert.' LOL!
Finally, I'm working on my Autumn, 2009 editorial for my local newspaper. In this installment, I will argue that Team Obama can pull off a successful reverse Southern strategy in 2012. I promise that, as always, I'll post it here in a couple days.
Well, folks, that concludes this manic Monday post. Take Care!

Scary Travels

In yesterday's post, I talked about wanting to travel and how I enjoy watching the Travel Channel and want to actually visit all the places I see on those shows. Well, since it's almost Halloween, my fave cable channel has been airing lots of programs about haunted places, such as Weird Travels, Haunted Hotels, Most Haunted, Ghost Adventures, Mysterious Journeys, and installments of the Haunted America series. Anyway, I did some research for today's post and came across a Web site called SixWise.com that had a list of the 10 Most Haunted Places in America. (Link: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletter/06/10/18/the-10-most-haunted-places-in-america.htm) Listed spooky sites include the Old Slave House (Old Hickory) in Junction, Illinois, and the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. To find out more about these and the eight other scariest places in the U.S., simply click on the link above and dare to be scared. I definitely plan on visiting all 10 places someday and, of course, blogging about my experiences. Stay tuned!

Info Regarding My Possible Eurotrip

Earlier this week, I mentioned a lil' something about going on a possible Eurotrip next summer. Well, Thursday I went to an informational meeting at EIU's Study Abroad office to find out more about it. Anyway, it's a five-week (June 7-July 9, 2010) educational and fun trip to Grantham, England, a little Midlands village located about 30 mi. (what would that be in kilometers?) north of London. While there, I-- along with students from all over the U.S.-- would stay at Harlaxton Manor, a gorgeous mansion built in 1837. The area surrounding the estate supposedly inspired Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813) and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights (1847). In terms of the educational aspect, students take classes at Harlaxton College-- the "British Campus of the University of Evansville (Indiana)." (EIU and UE have a Harlaxton program partnership with one another.) You can earn six credits toward a B.A. or M.A. in English lit. through this program. As for the fun part, participants can take trips into the city (London, of course), and additional sidetrips, including junkets to Scotland and/or Ireland and a long weekend in Paris, are offered. I choose all three. LOL! Another exciting thing is the interdisciplinary symposium, which Harlaxton has hosted since 1984. Here, students learn about British history, art, music, and literature. Okay, I think I need to get a passport ASAP! (Source: Wikipedia)
I have a number of reasons for wanting to go on this trip. The main reason, though, is that I've discovered that I'm a bit of a ramblin' woman. There's a whole big world out there, and I want to experience all of it. Instead of just merely watching Travel Channel programs about all these cool, exotic places, I want to actually visit them. I was raised a traveler, and I want to continue that wonderful tradition with my own family someday. Now, if I can just find a guy who'll ramble with me... Um, I'll get back with y'all on that. Perhaps I will eventually find my Mr. Darcy.
(To learn more about Harlaxton Manor, log onto http://www.en.wikipedia./org/wiki/Harlaxton_Manor.)

More About Otway's Venice Preserved (1682)

Last night in class, we discussed Thomas Otway's Venice Preserved (1682). It's quite possibly one of the most interesting things I've ever read. For starters, it's a political play, which automatically drew me in. Secondly, it's got it all: corrupt government officials, class warfare, sexual tension (and plenty of double-entendre-laden dialogue!), and a revolution plot gone wrong. Finally, this play (imho) could be adapted to the current political climate in this country. For example, there is one character-- a Republican politician (LOL!)-- who has an illicit sexual affair with a professional prostitute. (Hmm...) Anyway, I think this play is definitely worth reading for these and many other reasons.

Hurray for October!

Today is Oct. 1-- the very first day of my favorite month. Better yet, it actually feels like fall out there this afternoon. Yippee! Anyway, I'm currently at EIU and just finished up my reading for this evening-- Thomas Otway's Venice Preserved Or, A Plot Discovered (1682), a play about the Catholic vs. Protestant religious conflicts that plagued Europe for centuries. Of course, the other big thing is that that dang paper is due tonight. Well, I've got to get to class now, and I've had a really long day. I taught this morning, and we're in the midst of a heavy-duty chapter. So, that's all I've got for y'all atm. Peace!