Dora Esquivel's Blog: Ancient Bond: Masters and Servants, page 21
May 3, 2019
The Macabre Art of a Big Heart Artist, Danny Micheal Vaillancourt
Soulless Chicken Soup!
Danni Michael Vaillancourt aka Soulless Chicken Soup is 26 years old and a digital artist and writer from the French province of Québec, city of Montréal in Canada.
[image error]Art of Danny Michael Vaillancourt
Currently, Danny is a satirist and website marketer for WokenNews.com. However, his art focuses on macabre and obscure themes. Gothic and horror had his art featured on various platforms.
[image error]Art of Danny Michael Vaillancourt
Danny’s artwork, soon scheduled to appear, therefore, make its first debut next month, June, in Montréal and soon its own artistic space at the Toronto Horror Convention, Horror-Rama in the province of Ontario, Canada.
A Big Heart Artist
[image error]Art of Danny Michael Vaillancourt
Danny plans on donating a percentage from the his art sell through his charity link, Danny’s Jeunesse, Jeunesse J’écoute the French help line which helps fund Kids Help Phone—24h/7 a free counselling service offered to Canadian youth.
[image error]Art of Danny Michael Vaillancourt
You Have Art Too?
If you wish to have your art appear on Gothic Bite Magazine‘s website, all you have to do is go to SUBMISSIONS and follow our easy steps! We’d be happy to promote your art!
May 2, 2019
The Icepick Lobotomy
WARNING – Sensitive Subject Matter
No Less Brutal
If you are squeamish, you might not want to read this. However, if you are into horror and want to learn about how many psychiatric patients were abused back in the day, this might be right up your alley.
You have heard of people receiving lobotomies.
It is a procedure that involves cutting into the skull and the frontal lobes.
It used to be used to treat mentally ill patients, oftentimes leaving them
unable to independently function, or even worse—severely brain damaged and in a
vegetative state.
Well, an Icepick lobotomy is a type of lobotomy that does not involve cutting the skull open, however, is no less brutal. It was developed by Walter Freeman, and first performed in 1946.
The Transorbital Lobotomy
Formally called a Transorbital Lobotomy, an Icepick Lobotomy accesses the brain via the eye socket using a tool called an Orbitoclast. This tool looked like an ice pick and was inserted into the eye socket and tapped on with a hammer to puncture the thin layer of bone separating the eye from
the brain.
After the Orbitoclast was embedded in the brain, the surgeon would then make motions back and forth. This would break the fibers that held the brain together and slice into the white matter of the brain.
No Goofy Juice
I could not find any information on whether a person was sedated throughout this procedure. Although from the pictures I have found, I cannot imagine they would have been. Many eyes were open and people were restrained by others.
Though they often did not have memory of the procedure, I can only imagine the pain was breathtaking. Imagine yourself held down on a table against your will so a doctor can shove ice picks up into your brain. The thought sends chills down my spine!
[image error]Lobotomy
The intentions behind the lobotomy were good.
They wanted to help people whose behavior was out of control, or suicidal
regain control. They wanted to cure people of depression, anxiety, and many
other ailments. By disrupting the area of the brain where emotions resided,
they felt they could do just that.
Unsafe All The Way
However, the results were often horrendous. Formerly highly intelligent, functioning individuals were reduced to nothing more than children. Some people lost control of bodily functions.
In fact, I found a statistic that said 3 in 100 people died from this procedure. It was most definitely not a safe procedure to undergo, no matter how good the intentions behind the operation was.
[image error]Lunatic Asylum
Thankfully mental illnesses became treatable
by procedures other than lobotomies and they eventually fell out of favor.
April 30, 2019
Interview with Michelle Gallagher from Cafe Macabre
Who is Michelle Gallagher?
I am a poet and mom of three from Sacramento, California. I love science, especially astrophysics and I often bring that scientific language into my poetry. I like the juxtaposition of visceral imagery and emotion.
[image error]Nine Inch Nails
FOLLOW AND VISIT MICHELLE GALLAGHER’S WEBSITE!
I own the most Nine Inch Nails band T-shirts on the western seaboard. I play WoW, For the Horde! and Netflix is my boyfriend. I studied Psychology, Thanatology and Astronomy and I think it reflects in
my writing.
The Interview
Kendra Hale (K.H.): You have always been an inspiring poet. What made you want to write novels?
MICHELLE GALLAGHER: Thank you so much for saying that! I think the inclination or at least the desire to write things other than poetry has always been there, but I think it took until now to feel confident enough
to try.
There have been a lot of starts and stops and things I’ve written for myself that have never, and will never, see the light of day, but nothing substantial or share worthy.
I think I’ve become bold in my old age and I promised myself that in 2019 I would look for opportunities that would challenge my writing and
take them.
FOLLOW MICHELLE GALLAGHER ON FACEBOOK!
K.H.: You are currently part of a book called Café Macabre, would you let our readers know more about this book? What it is about?
MICHELLE GALLAGHER: Café Macabre is the brain child of the amazing Editor and Author Leah Lederman. She had great women clients who told fantastic horror stories and it got her thinking about a collaborative effort via an anthology.
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All women’s voices and perspective in the horror genre as well as women artists. From top to bottom, this project was put together by women. It was something that has been in the works for a long time and it has definitely been a labor of love for all of us involved. Its incredible to see it
come together.
K.H.: The book is currently on Kickstarter for 8 more days but you guys were funded in just 12 hours! Congrats to you all that is so amazing!! Can you tell us more about that? What can people expect?
MICHELLE GALLAGHER: We have some amazing people who came out in force to back us! There are many different tiers to choose from when pledging for the Kickstarter. From $1 pledges to show support to getting your short story or comic script edited by Leah and trust me, her services are incredible.
We have already unlocked stretch goal #1 which is a bonus story by Leah with art by Cora Linden, and stretch goal #2 which is a behind the scenes look at the process of creating the book.
FOLLOW MICHELLE GALLAGHER ON TWITTER!
So not only will people be getting the stories from Writers: Leah McNaughton Lederman, Kasey Pierce, Stefani Manard, Kari McElroy, Amy Hunter, Harlow West, Isabella Christiana, Scarlet Driscoll and myself, and artists: K Lynn Smith—cover, Marianna Pescosta, Corinne Roberts, Kari McElroy, Crystal O’Rourke, Autumn Nicole Brown, Ashley Jagodzinski and Amy Hunter, people will get the expanded edition with the bonus material.
[image error]Haunted Forest
We are also very close to stretch goal #3 which will be a story by Christina Blanch and art by Dani Herrera.
which will be a story by Christina Blanch and art by Dani Herrera.
K.H.: I know this is, I believe, your first writing outside of poetry right? How do you feel?
MICHELLE GALLAGHER:It’s exhilarating to be honest. I’ve felt I’ve been in freefall the entire time we’ve worked on this project.
And I think it’s very exciting. Having Leah as an editor has been an amazing experience. She made me feel confident and able. I think it’s the first time in my life I’ve really felt like… “Yeah I got this” when it comes to my writing.
K.H.: Which authors influenced your writing?
MICHELLE GALLAGHER:Definitely writers like Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Warren Ellis, David Brown, Kasey Pierce, Chris Charlton just to name a few.
[image error]Stephen King
K.H.: Which novel is your favorite and why is it your favorite?
MICHELLE GALLAGHER:A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway. The first time I read it I think it was the first time I ever read a book with an unhappy, gut wrenching ending.
And I thought, “yes! This is life!” it was so much more true to reality than anything I’d ever read up to that point and it is very close to my heart.
FOLLOW MICHELLE GALLAGHER ON INSTAGRAM!
K.H.: Do you believe in the paranormal, by that I mean in hauntings, that there are creatures out in the wild we still don’t know the existence of?
MICHELLE GALLAGHER: I am a very science minded individual but I think all of us have had experiences once or twice that we couldn’t explain. I think we don’t know all there is to know about our own planet, and what’s out there.
[image error]Oddities
I mean we know less about our own oceans than we do about space. I guess what I’m saying is, that I’m not averse to the idea of things existing that are beyond explanation or comprehension.
K.H.: What mythical creature is your favorite?
MICHELLE GALLAGHER: Well, I’m a huge Game of Thrones fan, so I want to say DRAGONS! But I’m also fond of the lowly jackelope.
K.H.: What can readers look forward to from you in 2019?
MICHELLE GALLAGHER: I have two pieces of poetry featured in The Rejected #2 by Stan Konopka through Source Point Press. I’ve also written an eight-page comic for the anthology Get in the Game, collected by Pat Kawula, with art by Emily Zelasko.
April 28, 2019
Gothic Bite Magazine Interviewed Author M.J. Vieira
Who is M.J. Vieira?
I always feel funny talking about myself; I never want to come off as arrogant. So, if this introduction is awkward, I apologize.
I was born and raised in rural Maine. My parents are avid readers, and I picked the habit up at a young age. I spent most of my childhood either at the barn riding horses, snowmobiling, listening to music or reading.
I loved Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, and Stephen King and found any chance I could to read as much as I could. My grandmother pushed me to write, to express myself.
[image error]M.J. Vieira Author Picture
I found it an invaluable outlet while in high school; not only was it a hard time in any kid’s life but I was attending a formally all boys school. My freshman year was the first time the school accepted girls. While there, my mother received a diagnosis for breast cancer.
My junior year, I began homeschooling so I could tour with my horse for a national title which I won in 2005. I then went to college at the University of Findlay where I majored in Western Equestrian Sciences with a minor in Telecommunications.
FOLLOW M.J. VIEIRA ON INSTAGRAM!
All the while, I read every book I could. My English professor, Ronald Tulley, pushed me to elevate my writing. I wrote papers, short stories but didn’t begin writing my first book until a few years later.
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My first book, Lux, opened a new door for me and despite working forty hours a week, raising my son and dealing with autoimmune issues, I keep pushing because it’s a passion I can’t allow to die.
Other weird tidbits about me: I love dragons, one of my nicknames is Dragon; I also see myself as a squirrel. I’m a huge music fan; I have attended many concerts and am continually looking for new metal and rock groups to add to my playlists.
I write with music playing and have playlists for each of my characters. I am the mother of one amazing son. My favorite movies are the Lost Boys, Twister, Dracula 2000 and Happy Gilmore.
INTERVIEW!
ALEXA WAYNE (A.W.): When did you find out you would want to write novels?
M.J. VIEIRA: I stumbled onto it, to be honest. I was listening to the song Monster, by Skillet and a scene came into my mind.
I sat down and wrote it out. The scene sat there for three years before a friend encouraged me to keep going with it. That became the opening scene for Lux, my first novel.
FOLLOW M.J. VIEIRA ON GOODREADS!
A.W.: You mentioned me your work, all set in paranormal or Gothic settings, would you let our readers know why you are more attracted to that genre?
M.J. VIEIRA: I have always had an attraction to the supernatural world. Vampires were my drug of choice. I am obsessed with matters of faith, religion and the darker forces that pull at humanity’s soul.
[image error]LUX by M.J. Vieira
My writing is very dark, and the majority of it centers around the struggle between good and evil which I explain with my paranormal characters.
A.W.: When writing about paranormal, do you do research and if so, how far do you go with your research?
M.J. VIEIRA: I do. Sometimes I feel my research takes longer than writing the actual book. I love local lore, so I read it as much as I can. I like to draw on mythology but put my twist on it.
A.W.: What is most important to you when writing your novels?
M.J. VIEIRA: My character development. I want them to be relatable, for the reader to feel they’re as real as they seem to me.
FOLLOW M.J. VIEIRA ON BOOKBUB!
A.W.: Which authors influenced your writing?
M.J. VIEIRA: J.R.R. Tolkien, Laurell K Hamilton, Karin Slaughter, and many indie authors.
A.W.: Which of your novels is your favorite and why is it your favorite?
M.J. VIEIRA: Oh man, that’s like asking which kid’s your favorite. I love Lux because it was my first; it’s also how I worked through a very dark time in my life.
[image error]VERITAS by M.J. Vieira
FOLLOW M.J. VIEIRA ON AUHOR CENTRAL!
A.W.: Do you believe in the paranormal, by that I mean in hauntings, that there are creatures out in the wild we still don’t know the existence of?
M.J. VIEIRA: I do. I cannot watch Paranormal Activity or things with ghosts as I feel they are real and it freaks me out too much. I think there are too many stories across the globe for there not to be some validity to them.
A.W.: What made you decide to be self-published?
M.J. VIEIRA: Well, I haven’t found a publisher that wants me…yet. I decided to self-publish because I wanted to get my work out there before I chickened out. So, I just did it, haha.
FOLLOW M.J. VIEIRA ON FACEBOOK!
A.W.: What sets you apart from other paranormal and Gothic authors?
M.J. VIEIRA: My characters. They’re amazing.
[image error]FIREWEED – The Manjian Chronicles Part One by M.J. Vieira
A.W.: What can readers look forward to from MJ Vieira in 2019?
M.J. VIEIRA: So many projects! I have my werewolf series, the Beskyett series; my novella, Firebird, the follow up to Fireweed, is coming out
in April.
A new series, the final chapter of the Veritas series, Aequitas; Runes, featuring cover model, Jay Leverton; multiple anthology pieces; and Greek mythology inspired novel called Hunter.
[image error]ROUTE 201 – A Short Story by M.J. Vieira
Rock Sugar Sandman?
Eighties Metal and Pop
Greetings Biters! For the April tribute to the Sandman, I’d take you for another trip into my music library. Let me introduce you to the band Rock Sugar and their hit Don’t Stop The Sandman.
[image error]Social Media Era
The band consists of guitarist Chuck Duran, former bassist Johnny Santoro and now current bassist, Ken Cain, drummer Alexander Track and lead singer Wakko Warner himself Mr. Jess Harnell.
Rock Sugar is a metal band. When stranded way back in 1989 on an island with nothing but a CD player and batteries along with the CD collection of a thirteen-year-old girl they became whom we know now.
At least, so goes the band’s fictional backstory and framing device for their unique sound of mashing up eighties metal and pop songs.
Metallica’s Journey?
As I just mentioned the band’s claim to fame is a mash-up of genres from the eighties. Their debut number is a rather obvious take on the Metallica’s famous song, Enter Sandman and Journey’s legendary, Don’t Stop Believing. It is not only their opening track on their album, Reimaginator, hitting the scene back in 2010 it is also the only video I could find from the band itself.
One could find it a strange mix when thinking of Metallica and Journey while to me it appealingly complements one another. While Enter Sandman gives Journey’s an edge, Don’t Stop Believing gives Metallica a brighter side.
The video itself falls more into the light-hearted side switching from them performing on a beach and singing in a recording studio while goofing around having fun with their fans.
The light, upbeat footage pairs and contrast nicely against the hard rock fashion of the traditional black clothing, rings, and leathers we see them wearing on the beach for the big Enter Sandman intro. I merely knew the video would be great.
Cowby Wacco
My final thoughts on the video have me wishing I had Jess Harnell’s cowboy hat. I’d also wish for someone to play this song over Animaniacs clips for the fact I can’t un-hear Wakko when he sings the Journey lyrics.
[image error]Social Media Era
The bottom line is, I enjoy Rock Sugar and their unique way to mash up eighties music together. So, Biters, if this sounds like your cup of tea, hit YouTube and give Don’t Stop The Sandman a listen or maybe check out Rock Sugar’s other tracks.
April 26, 2019
POKÉMON: Let’s Go Pikachu
All Because of George!
As promised, here is the review you guys and girls have been waiting for, guest written by my step-son George. See, I wasn’t one of those who got in on the Pokemon craze when it originally released, no, I started after meeting my step-son.
His love for Pokemon became infectious, and thus, I began to see what all the hype was about. I downloaded Pokemon Go on my phone and started collecting the cards.
My step-son would always talk to me about the various Pokemon, of course, his favorite being a toss-up between Mew and Pikachu, showing me all the different games he had for his Nintendo DS. The way his face would light up told me I needed to make sure he had all he needed to continue his adventures, his enthusiasm for all of it made me smile.
[image error]Pokemon Let’s Go
Then, Nintendo announced the first full Pokemon adventure for the Nintendo Switch at E3 2018. Of course, George was sitting right next to me when they showed off the game and its release.
My wife and I knew that was going to be a must own, so, a pre-order was done for the deluxe edition of the game, and a happy step-son got his gift for Christmas that year.
Before I Give George The Mic
So, before I turn this over to my step-son for his portion of the review, I will give you the lowdown on the game itself, the deluxe edition and some of the features introduced in this game. Now, as many of you know, this game was released in two versions, Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee.
There was a deluxe edition published that gave you a Pokeball controller that contained a special gift for you to use in the game, Mew, the legendary Pokemon. The controller connects to your Nintendo Switch and allows you to control your avatar in the game, and even catch Pokemon by “throwing” the ball at the Pokemon.
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Now, another feature that surprised both me and quite a few others, the game actually connects to your phone and Pokemon Go. Now, not only does it connect to Pokemon Go, the controller connects as well, and can be used to play Pokemon Go while it is in your pocket.
It vibrates when a Pokemon is nearby and allows you to catch them with the click of a button. Nintendo really pulled out all the stops for this, the first of the Pokemon games to be released for a home console, not a handheld.
Now, two more games in the works will be heading to the Switch by the end of this year, Sword and Shield.
[image error]Pokemon Let’s Go
Now, while I have only played a little bit of the game with my step-son, I have enjoyed it immensely, especially the ability to play with a friend. Yes, that’s right, Pokemon Let’s Go has co-op a mode. So, it makes it even better to be able to play this game with your family.
Now I will turn this review over to my George for a bit, then come back for the wrap-up and final score. So, without further ado, here is George to talk to you all about one of his recent favorite games.
Pokemon: Let’s Go George!
Hello, my name is George. I’ve loved Pokemon almost my whole life. So, I was really excited when I watched E3 2018 with my stepdad. On the second day of E3, we saw that Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee was coming out. So here are some of my opinions about the game.
It was exciting when I got to name my “rival,” which his name is exotic. I really did not like it when it had these spots where it was really almost impossible to get to.
[image error]Pokemon Let’s Go
Because it’s a remaster of Pokemon yellow, it didn’t have that big of a story which was kind of sad. Compared to a game I really like, ultra-moon, it barely has any narrative.
Ultra-moon, on the other hand, had a great storyline out of the other Pokemon games I’ve played. This game has added a brand new Pokemon named meltan/melmetal, and on a side note, my step-dad and I are still trying to catch him.
The Final Score
So, wrapping up this review, I asked George what his final score would be for this one would be, he gives it a solid 8.5 out of 10. So, all in all, a great game, and a great first effort for the new console edition of one of our favorite series.
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There you have it folks, another review in the can. I’m sorting out which review I will tackle next. There are so many games and so little time! Until next time, and as always, I will see you in the games.
Edward Hale & George Smart III.
PSN ID: BatEd700
George’s PSN ID: Bubichu
Xbox Live: SENSEIZEEANBEE
Nintendo Switch friend code: 5408-1426-5409
YouTube Channel
April 25, 2019
Serial Murders
The Brutal Fascination
There seems to be a fascination with serial killers. Even I am intrigued by them. So, what is it about them that piques people interest in them? Is it their crimes, the victims? The types of murders they committed.
The brutality of it all? For me, it’s trying to understand how another human being can be so devoid of emotions that they see other humans as prey. Chilling to think of, but to them, we are a means to their dark desires.
[image error]Eye Horror
Serial killers are different in how they murder and the victims they choose. There has been a long-held myth that most serial killers are white, but they run the gamete of other racial groups in the United States.
Only twenty percent of most multiple murders fit the profile of a 20-something, white male, according to the Serial Killer Information Center, a project at Radford University that studied more than 4,700 mass murderers.
Blending In
Most killers blend well into the population, ordinary folks doing ghastly deeds. They could be your neighbor, teacher, police, fireman, any part of society. These killers are not social misfits but are married, employed, and interact with their community, during and after their violent crime sprees.
H.H. Holmes: Known as America’s first serial killer, he murdered his victims in a hotel during the World’s Fair, anywhere between twenty-seven to two hundred victims to his name.
[image error]H.H. Holmes
However, he was a respected doctor of his time. His patients had no idea that H.H. Holmes had a torture basement.
Age: 35 (1861-1896.)
Dennis Nilsen: Served proudly in the Royal British Army for over a decade. He ate and killed fifteen men; the only reason they found him was that the drain in his house clogged up from human flesh.
Age: 73
Dean Corll: Served in the Air Force and was a local businessman who handed out candy to the local neighborhood kids. No one suspected that he had been killing off young men from his community.
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He killed and raped over thirty boys, and the number could be higher, we can’t know.
Age: 34 (1939-1973.)
Women Killers
Multiple murder is not limited to men. There are female serial killers. Motivations behind their killings, their motivities and victims vary just the same as their male serial killers.
Even they harder to recognize than their male counterparts, these females are no less barbaric, cruel, and violent. Women are most likely to use, poison, suffocation, shooting, stabbing, or drowning to slaughter their victims. Their reasons for killing can vary too, but most do it for power
and control.
A 2015 study published in The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology found that the most common motive for female serial killers was for financial gain and almost 40% of them had experienced some mental illness.
[image error]Social Media Era
Another study by Peter Vronsky in Female Serial Killers, 2007, maintains that female serial killers today often kill for the same reason males do as a means of expressing rage and control.
He suggests that sometimes the theft of the victims’ property by the female “black widow” type serial killer appears to be for material gain, but really is akin to a male serial killer’s collecting of totems, souvenirs, from the victim as a way of exerting continued control over the victim and reliving it.
Many of their victims are spouses, children, and/or other family members.
Juana Barraza: Was a Mexican professional wrestler who was later known as La Mataviejitas, The Old Lady Killer, for the death of eleven elderly women, and most likely more.
Today, she is serving a 759-year sentence in a Mexican prison.
Elizabeth Báthory: Was a Hungarian Countess who went down as one of the most ruthless killers in European history. Between 1585 and 1610, Báthory is believed to have tortured and killed nearly 650 girls–mostly teenage peasants.
[image error]Elizabeth Báthory
She was a cannibal and a sadistic killer. The Blood Countess—was forced to remain in her castle, in solitary confinement, for the rest of her life.
Nannie Doss: Recognized as a black widow in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after murdering five husbands. She also killed her mother-in-law, sisters, mother, and two of her children.
[image error]Nannie Doss
She used arsenic to kill her victims.
She was sentenced to life and died in prison for leukemia.
Common Threads
Even though male and female serial killers differ in their styles of killing, they have more in common than not.
Motives for both genders fall under four categories: visionary, mission-oriented, hedonistic, and power or control; many of these can overlap.
Visionary suffers from psychotic breaks with reality, sometimes believing they are another person or are compelled to murder by entities such as the Devil or God.
[image error]Torture Wheel – Städtisches Museum Zittau
Mission-oriented killers typically justify their acts as “ridding the world” of certain types of people perceived as undesirable, such as the homeless, ex-cons, homosexuals, drug users, prostitutes, or people of different ethnicity or religion; many are not psychotic though.
Hedonistic this type of serial killer seeks thrills and derives pleasure from killing, seeing people as expendable means to this goal. Forensic psychologists have identified three subtypes of the hedonistic killer: “lust,” “thrill,” and “comfort.”
[image error]Torture Rack
Power/control, the main objective for this type of serial killer is to gain and exert power over their victim. Such killers are sometimes abused as children, leaving them with feelings of powerlessness and inadequacy
as adults.
Ted Bundy: is an example of a power/control-oriented serial killer. He traveled around the United States seeking women to control.
Documented serial killers span all types of racial groups; they range in intelligence and are of both genders. It’s a scary thought that we can’t tell them apart from the overall general population. The boogeyman exists but not like how we think.
April 24, 2019
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Leading To Hauntings
I was reading around about what haunting I wanted to explore this week and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum caught my eye. I have always known that conditions in asylums were almost always poor and lead
to death.
Sometimes they were so deplorable that disease ran rampant, and many patients died from physical illness far sooner than their mental illness would have killed them.
[image error]Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
However, what shocked me to read was exactly how poor conditions were in this particular asylum. Though designed to help and to heal, this particular structure was only designed to home 250 people at one time.
This is an extremely limited number, and when they were at their peak of enrollment, this asylum had 2,600 patients! I cannot fathom how crowded and mistreated many people were.
Reading Too Much
There has been documentation of people being kept in cages when they were “unable to be controlled” by caretakers, and even the wallpaper was peeling from the walls. Patients attempted to kill each other, and were sometimes successful due to the overworked staff.
[image error]Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
I even found a report where when two patients failed in hanging another patient, they beat his head in with a steel bed frame. Even women whose only sign of illness was novel reading were admitted, and some eventually were driven to the point of insanity from the filth and even chains they were forced to live in.
The Icepick
Lobotomy surgeries were also a dime a dozen there. It is far too graphic for me to be able to type out, however the “icepick” lobotomy was the surgery of choice there and I am barely able to read about it without feeling ill.
They also specialized in insulin shock therapy, electro-convulsive therapy, and even those who were gay were subjected to a lobotomy in an effort to “cure” them of a perceived illness.
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Now here is the question, they claim the changes in treatment and deterioration of the facility forced the closure of it in 1994. That seems fine and well, however I had a thought while I was reading about it, was that
the truth?
We all know asylums were hotbeds for abuse of power, and the mistreatment of the mentally ill. But what I wonder is exactly how much worse the conditions of the asylum made the patients, and how much the overcrowding affected those who stayed there.
Over Worked Cruelty
Would patients have wanted to stay because they wished to inflict further torment on their supposed caretakers?
Or would the supposed caretakers even have stayed because they felt their business was unfinished? It is hard to say what their each individual connection to the property is, however there have been confirmed reports of voices, apparitions, and other reports of activity.
[image error]Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
When you take a moment to read about this
particular place, it leaves little to the imagination as to why it is haunted.
The real question is do the tortured souls left behind in this place ever find
peace? Or will they forever be damned to wander these halls in search of some
sliver of peace?
April 23, 2019
Vampires Donating Blood
Red Cross Call
According to the American Red Cross, approximately thirty-two thousand pints of blood are used each day in the United States. One pint can save up to three lives.
With a shelf life of just forty-two days, blood is always in demand. The Red Cross counts for about forty percent of the nation’s blood donations.
Shockingly only about three percent of those eligible to donate does it. According to the Red Cross’ website, there is a shortage. Donors all around the world roll up their sleeves to help meet this need. However, for the first time in Endless Night history, vampires organized and heard the call.
[image error]Donation Blood Bags
This past weekend, April 19th and 20th were Vampiricon in Las Vegas Nevada Endless Night vampires, and Vampiricon goers united to support the American Red Cross. Vampires packed the Artisan Hotel for a weekend’s worth of parties, music, and mayhem.
In addition to letting loose, vampires from all over the world came together for a good cause. Endless Night impresario, Father Sebastiaan was on site and posted a live feed of his donation on his Facebook page encouraging others to join the fight.
[image error]Father Sebastiaan
I did reach out to Father Sebastiaan for final counts and to see if Endless Night would be hosting another blood drive in the future, but unfortunately, he was not available for comment.
Not Just About Blood
I see this more and more and more. Modern vampires are stepping out into the communities they call home and taking up causes that matter to them. Whether it is a blood drive, bullying or taking on gang violence. Vampires generally follow a code, that with much powers responsibilities
are greater.
[image error]Blood Stain
However, the Mayor of New York City in 1892 used that same philosophy. Today’s vampire community is putting that way of thinking into action with events like Endless Night’s blood drive.
The Gothic Picnic in Baltimore hosted by The Vampire Court of Baltimore and The Vampire Court of Dallas is taking on Human trafficking with NTCAHT in September.
[image error]Endless Night Vampire Ball
These are just a few of the events posted on Facebook feeds that I noticed when I go online to check what is happening.
Do Not Be A Vigilante
Naturally, I’ll add my disclaimer because I want to make sure people understand I am not encouraging vigilantism. If you witness a crime, please call 911 or your country’s emergency responders.
April 22, 2019
Gothic in Every Way – Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
I became captivated by the folktale of Robin Hood and wanted to know more about the medieval time and its beauty and terror.
So here is my review of the first movie that had me fall for medieval times and Gothic history.
Original 1991 Summary
Nobleman crusader, Robin of Locksley, played by the fantastic , breaks out of a Jerusalem prison with the help of Moorish fellow prisoner Azeem interpreted by the exceptional talent of and travels back home to England.
[image error]Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – 1991
Then, upon arrival, he discovers his dead father in the ruins of his family estate, killed by the vicious sheriff of Nottingham, acted by the late and beloved, . Robin and Azeem join forces with outlaws Little John, played by and Will Scarlett represented by , to save the kingdom from the sheriff’s villainy.
Storyline
After being captured by Turks during the Crusades, Robin of Locksley and a Moor, Azeem, escape back to England, where Azeem vows to remain until he repays Robin for saving his life.
Meanwhile, Robin’s father, a nobleman loyal to King Richard the Lionhearted, has been murdered by the brutal Sheriff of Nottingham, who helped install Richard’s treacherous brother, Prince John, asking while Richard is overseas fighting the Crusades.
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves Trailer – 1991
When Robin returns home, he vows to avenge his father’s death and restore Richard to the throne.
Even though Maid Marian, his childhood friend, cannot help him, he escapes to the Forest of Sherwood where he joins a band of exiled villagers and becomes their leader. With their help, he attempts to cleanse the land of the evil that the Sheriff has spread.
A Tale for Adults
When I first saw the movie, I was so young that my mother cut the first few scenes and started the movie when Robin is back home in England. So, let’s skip to the first time I saw the entire movie as a teen.
Robin, volunteering himself to have his hand cut off by a dungeon master instead of another war captive, had me almost barfed in my mouth at the time.
[image error]Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – 1991
However, Robin found a way to create so much chaos in the dungeon that he found himself capable of freeing all men from the Turks and cut off the hand of the executioner.
There were other troubling scenes that had me understand why my mother was hesitant to have me watch the movie at nine years old—thought it picked my curiosity about human history.
I couldn’t understand all that was going on; however, I developed a nerdy side for ancient times at a very young age. I enjoyed the sceneries and the clothing, the furniture and the simplicity of the time—that gave them the name, Dark Ages.
[image error]Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – 1991
I wanted to know if Robin Hood was real and if there was, in fact, such a hero that existed to save the people from famine, illnesses, and never-ending pain and sadness. I admired the hero that Robin Hood represented and to this day, debates exist among historians to figure out the truth.
Twenty-Three Years Later
I watched the movie not too long ago, my husband never liked it not because of the casting, of course, but because he maintains that Robin Hood’s tale was overdone and he couldn’t stand the story on the
screen again.
However, to me, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves is the only proper representation of the hero that became a legend once back in the Early Middle Ages.
[image error]Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – 1991
The very thought of a man capable of standing against greater evil, inspiring others strong enough to stand by his side is necessary for humans to survive. Robin Hood represents: justice, fairness and equality. Three words that to this day we fight to keep real.
The movie filmed in various places such as England and two towns in France was true to its time as an overall visual effect. The scenery, always majestic and splendid, represented the feel of the time well. It almost felt as if you could smell the fresh air, the aroma of farm country with horses walking around and livestock.
I won’t lie, the visual of the movie is stunning and this I say, even after twenty-seven years. The clothing and artisan-ship behind all the details from the robes to the jewelry and weaponry was right on point with the twelfth century we are set in. I believe the director and crew put much time and the meticulous work in creating the perfect setting of the time was wroth it.
[image error]Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – 1991
The music composed by is impeccable and unforgettable. It does fit the period like a glove and soothes every scene of the movie with grace and add to every single action posed by the actors.
The movie is two and a half hours of a pure Gothic classic folktale, and I can say that it doesn’t seem that long when watching it. The story, well presented and quite well thought of from the beginning is a delight. Every single detail is meticulously present, and every scene is necessary to the telling of Robin Hood’s story.
[image error]Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – 1991
Also, what is impressive, is that Prince of Thieves showcase the backstory of Robin of Locksley, overlooks Prince John and instead, focuses on the rivalry between Locksley and the Sheriff. Perfect choice.
The pacing of the story is perfect; there’s time to adjust to every change and action taking place. I also still enjoy the subplots with , her right-hand woman who is brave and courageous and of course, other supporting characters that reveals to be quite charming while others are playing their roles well to be despised by the viewer.
Everything I Do
Of course, the classic and timeless song sang by Bryan Adams, Everything I Do, I Do It For You is still to this day my favorite song of all time. Ever since I watched the movie for the first time, I promised myself it would be my wedding song, and two years ago, when the big day took place, it was.
The song was so perfect and became an instant classic because of the movie. The love between Robin Hood and Marian is quite palpable despite not entirely being the center of attention throughout the movie.
Bryan Adams – Everything I Do I Do It For You – Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – 1991
It represents the folklore so well that to this day I believe it is a perfect tribute to the hero Robin Hood was and so Marian as she was a great help to her people too, defending orphans and protecting young girls to
their adulthood.
Overall
Robin Hood Prince of Thieves to me is a solid 9.5 out of 10. It used to be one of my favorite movies of all time and to this day still stands. The performance of the cast was perfect.
[image error]Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – 1991
I didn’t speak of Marian much either, but throughout the movie she is a heroine worthy of mention. She is victim of forced marriage, close to face rape in front of a corrupted priest ready to marry her to a man she hates, the Sheriff.
We also see the brave side of her, the fighter, when helping a woman to give birth, protecting girls and women the best she can and working her land to help her people relying on her to survive.
[image error]Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – 1991
The presence of Marian is more than one of a simple love interest, one can understand why a hero like Robin of Locksley would fall for a warrior like her.
Also, despite Kevin Costner failing the English accent after taking courses, is still a great Robin Hood. The movie was a box office success and for a great reason. It was an epic Gothic movie.
NEXT WEEK: Robin of Locksley, The Legend.
Ancient Bond: Masters and Servants
Centuries ago Lucien's family and pack were slaughtered and betrayed by family. Lucien was then enslaved for five hundred years by the demon who killed ...more
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