What About The Short Story Trilogy I Recently Submitted To Writer's Relief?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN LURKERS!!! In case you didn't already know, I submitted 3 of my short stories to Writer's Relief for reviews. "Maliciousness," "The Bill Collector," and "Psycho Vs. Psycho" were the 3 short stories I submitted.

Because all 3 stories are centered around the protagonist, Alice I view them as being The Alice Trilogy. The first 2 short stories were written 12-13 years ago for Creative Writing. Both were bound to my Carthage College chapbook but are unpublished.

"Psycho Vs. Psycho" on the other hand, was written 6 years ago. It is in continuation of "The Bill Collector." The opening for "Psycho Vs. Psycho" picks up where "The Bill Collector" left off; "The Bill Collector's" ending segues into "Psycho Vs. Psycho."

When you really think about it, those 2 particular stories are parts 1 and 2 of "The Bill Collector." At the same time, "Psycho Vs. Psycho" could also be seen as the conclusion to "Maliciousness."

In "Maliciousness," Terry went as far as tricking Alice into eating an Oreo Cookie, that he previously had in his mouth. Terry sucked the cream filling out of the Oreo, stuck it back together, and fooled Alice into eating it, when they were 2nd graders.

As the years progressed, Alice had time to swear vengeance against Terry and their so-called friends, Tiffany, Carrie, and Drew.

Considering that Michael Dimitrius Peyton was Alice's high school crush/prom date at the time, she did not expect his deception.

It was not until their prom night, that Alice overheard Mike colluding with Terry over his cell phone about taking her virginity. Those 2 lowlives betted on Alice losing her virginity to Michael.

After she lost her virginity to Mike, he bragged about it in his cell phone message to Terry. That bet was the worst prank they ever played on Alice. However, Terry and Mike did not get the last laugh.

Both antagonists squandered years seething over Alice and began referring to her as "Malice." Although, Mike carried his vendetta towards Alice 3 years after high school.

Michael Dimitrius Peyton mostly spent 3 years seething over Alice's malicious intent towards Tiffany, Terry, Carrie, Drew, and himself. After what she did to them, Mike felt compelled to retaliate against Alice 3 years later. He had his half-brother, Greg stalk her by posing as a bill collector named "Larry," in "The Bill Collector."

While sending Alice and her boyfriend, Damon harassing phone calls about supposedly having delinquent payments on her laptop, Greg becomes madly in love with Alice in "The Bill Collector."

In "Psycho Vs. Psycho," Alice is unexpectedly reunited with her old high school crush/prom date. In this particular short story, readers should expect murder, mayhem, mystery, dark humor, and fights. 

"Psycho Vs. Psycho" has the most activity, which should really hook the readers. "Maliciousness" and "The Bill Collector" never had problems inciting controversy, but "Psycho Vs. Psycho's" writing has the most depth and depravity throughout the time skips.

More time was spent on the dialogue than the narration. I believe that readers will favor "Psycho Vs. Psycho" over "Maliciousness" and "The Bill Collector." In "Psycho Vs. Psycho," readers will have a chance to learn more about just how merciless she can be as a protagonist.

Hopefully, you enjoyed today's blog. I managed to squeeze in time from my hectic schedule on HALLOWEEN to explain about the short stories I submitted to Writer's Relief.

What A Roller Coaster 2018 Has Been!

How's it going my gumdrops? Or should I call you "creepers" on OMG, Anna! What's Going On?! instead?

Let me know what you think sounds better. Gumdrops or creepers?

Yes, I know it has been another month, since last publishing a blog on here and on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns.

What a roller coaster 2018 has been for a number of us! Since the start of this year, it has been extremely chaotic. There's no telling how unpredictable the end of the year will be. I can most definitely say that without a doubt.

I cannot help reiterating how stressful this year has been, especially for me both on and offline. 2018 has been a year of backburning projects, relocations, family funerals, repairs, etc. Luckily, some progress has been made towards the end of this year. 

Speaking of relocations, it was recently announced that Google Plus is planned to shut down 8/31/19. Considering the fact that their head moderators act trollish and condescending, and that their social media site is mostly a ghost town, good bye and good riddance to Google Plus!

Because Google Plus' moderators blocked, blacklisted, banned me and my blogs, as well as THREATENED to have my entire Google account suspended, 2 YEARS IN A ROW, they are THE MAIN REASON why I stopped blogging for most of 2018. The crooked moderators controlling Google Plus intentionally killed my blog traffic and page views.

More time was spent throughout 2018 searching for a better social media site than Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus, etc. I had no such luck finding a better social media site, until 2 weeks ago.

All my friends, subscribers, visitors, etc. can now find me on the social media site, MeWe.
  
PR Newswire: Full Page "Dear Facebook" Letter In The New York Times From MeWe, The Competitor Mark Zuckerberg Refuses To Name

Imagine if Facebook and Google Plus were combined into 1 social media site, had more security with user friendly interfaces, less toxicity, and less division. THAT  is MeWe. 

Those who are sick of all the other social media sites with their bullshit political propaganda, agendas, division, spam ads, etc. and want to belong to a more interest based social media site with like-minded people, you may want to join MeWe. Recently, I created my own group page on MeWe for OMG, Anna! What's Going On?!

Aside from relocating from Google Plus to MeWe, I managed to submit 3 of my short stories to be reviewed at Writer's Relief, towards the end of last week.

2 of the 3 short stories I submitted for writer reviews were short stories I wrote 12-13 years ago. Even though my work is unpublished, some short stories have been bound to my Creative Writing Chapbook.

Over the last 2 weeks to 5 months, revisions for 6 of the short stories I have written over the last 6-12 years have been made. You're probably thinking to yourselves, "Anna, 6-12 years is a very long time. Why has it taken you so long?"

Battling my own health scare before, during, and after graduating from Carthage College really set me back. Throughout most of my 20's, I was severely ill.

Before my grandfather died in 2004, it was the beginning of what would later become a severe health scare, 2 years later. The first portion of 2006 was when I was the sickest in life.

In 2006, I was supposed to study abroad in Japan the last semester of my college senior year. It never came to fruition.

After my grandfather's death in 2004, my immediate family went through economic hardships. Less than 2 years later, my great-grandmother died. She died the month before my college graduation in 2006.

All the while, the first 6 months of 2006, I was severely ill. By the end of that same year, just when I was recovering from my own health scare, my mother had a severe medical emergency; She suddenly had a seizure.

It took not only a few years for her to be granted disability, but also years for me to be well enough to job hunt again.

Those, who have been my friends and subscribers for the last 5 years on Xanga, Blogster, Horror-Punks, and on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns already know, that I haven't helped my uncle with his company again, since 2013. However, that was due to my uncle appeasing his lying, gold digging, shrew. She micromanaged and purposely sabotaged his company, while plotting to replace ME with her FRIEND'S daughter. Therefore, you can do the math on that catastrophic division.

After my uncle ousted me from his company to appease his shrew, I've had more time to focus on my own content. In other words, I had more time to be the webmaster and blogger on my own website. This cannot be said regarding 2018.

The first part of 2018 was spent finding an oral surgeon, who was willing to accept my insurance for my wisdom tooth to be extracted. It wasn't extracted until 2 weeks before my birthday, 6 months ago.

Meanwhile, the constant interruptions mostly dealing with my mother's neediness, hypochondria combined with actual health problems that she has, doctor's appointments, home repairs, remodeling, and chores occupied most of 2018. I just managed to squeeze in time to revise my short stories for writer's submissions.

As of last Thursday, I feel like I was finally able to accomplish a long overdue goal. Now, I must wait at least 2 more weeks for reviews on 3 of the short stories I submitted. Knowing that I was able to accomplish at least 1 goal for 2018 makes me feel a little better about myself.

Hopefully, the reviews for my short stories are positive. Right now, I could really use some positive news. Like I said earlier, this year has been a roller coaster. 2018 has been so stressful, that I am only 36 and have been forced to recently take blood pressure medication.

If it is possible, I want to publish another blog on my website, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns explaining about the short stories I submitted to Writer's Relief for reviews.

So, what are your thoughts?

In the following links below, don't forget to find me on MeWe and let me know what you think! Thank you and I look forward to seeing you there!

mewe.com/i/annah614

mewe.com/join/omg_anna_whats_going_on

Got Any Questions For It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns' 5th Anniversary?

How's it going my gumdrops? On September 23rd, it will be 5 years since the time of building my website, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. If it is possible, I would love to have another Q&A blog. 

It is tradition to celebrate It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns' Anniversary by me annually publishing and sharing Q&A blogs.

Normally, I allow 1-3 questions per friend, subscriber, and visitor. My answers are usually very long because of the complex questions that are asked. 

With that being the case, here are 2 Q&A's I previously copied and pasted to my other Blogger page.

It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns: Q&A #1

It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns: Q&A #2

Here are the rest of the Q&A blogs from my official website.

It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns' 2nd Birthday [Q&A EDITION] 

It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns 3rd Anniversary: Q&A

It's Not All Gumdrops And Unicorns Q+A 2017 [Part 1]

It's Not All Gumdrops And Unicorns Q+A 2017 [Part 2]

You have 1 week to ask questions, that will be published and shared for the upcoming Q&A. 

The questions typically asked are entertainment based regarding movies, musics, shows, writing, etc. I try to be as apolitical as possible. In other words, I refuse to alienate viewers with politically divisive questions and answers.

Once again, it has been a while, since I last published any blogs not only on OMG, Anna! What's Going On?!, but also on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns.  

Over the last 5 years or so, I have dealt with more than my share of struggles. 2018 has surely been a year of deaths, health issues, hiatuses, and mostly repairs both on and offline. 

Normally, I publish and share blogs 2-3 days a week. Last Thanksgiving, my great uncle died of cancer and my mother had another medical emergency the day after Christmas. 

During late January 2018, a distant cousin's heart stopped. She was briefly put on life support. Then, she died a few days later. 

In addition, I spent months searching for an oral surgeon who would take my insurance. The oral extraction for my wisdom tooth wasn't done until literally 2 weeks before my birthday. 

Speaking of my birthday (which is in mid-June), this last birthday felt more like a Sixteen Candles type of birthday except I turned 36 rather than 16. Now that I think about it, both of those birthdays sucked. 

While doing yard work in the sweltering heat and on my birthday of ALL days this year, I lost my claddagh ring. 

Most of this year has been spent dealing with problems offline. That's not including having to deal with problems online. Since last year, the engineers at Webs have been unable to repair all of our websites' glitches. 

We still cannot send out e-mail blasts to our subscribers. That has to be the worst problem I have had, since the beginning of this year, regarding Webs. Luckily, Webs' engineers did modify our URLs by adding "https" to make our websites more secure. 

However, none of this changes the fact, that Webs continues to have problems. Because I have spent YEARS managing my website, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns on Webs, I continue to keep it live. 

Meanwhile, the asshole moderators at Google Plus made sharing my blogs harder by constantly blocking, banning, and blacklisting my content by marking it as spam. 

Is it not bad enough that Facebook keeps changing their algorithms, making it harder for everyone to communicate with each other? 

I refuse to go back to using Twitter. That social media site is a bigger sewer overrun with smear campaigns, cyber wars, negativity bias, and political division than Facebook. 

Regardless of what popular social media platforms I'm on, they are sickening to use. This is especially when the social media sites are user UNFRIENDLY,  as I share my online content into the void of mostly indifferent people. 

Today I almost didn't publish and share this blog, which should say something. You may be wondering, "Anna, are you burnt out?"

In a way, I think it is a combination of being burnt out from both on and offline problems, as well as being stuck in a rut without anything or anyone to help me.

The moderators at Google Plus have actually exacerbated my preexisting problems. It is amazing how a last resort social media site like Google Plus wants to treat their most loyal users like we're all a bunch of criminals.

Because of the all the preceding issues, that I have continuously been struggling with this year, I have continued to backburn working on my website and blogs. 

Even though this has probably been the worst year that I have had within the last 12 years on and offline, I have been more productive by contacting book publishers, literary agents, etc. 

Despite everything I have said, do you have any questions for me? I look forward to hearing back from you. 

Thank you my gumdrops! Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, +1 on Google Plus, and leave your feedback in the comments section below!

Cartoon Sunday: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Diamond Is Unbreakable Music References

How's it going lurkers? Above is an illustration of the defeated Vampire Supervillain, Dio Brando with his Stand, The World. 

 

Similar to characters from a Greek Tragedy, Dio's God Complex and his own hubris led to his demise. Over the last 2 decades, this antagonist had quite a few voice actors. 

Dio Brando's Multiple Voice Actors In Japanese & English (2017):

Dio Brando was the type of supervillain you loved to hate. Because he was such a deplorable vampire, I already miss his wickedness. In order for a character to be a supervillain in entertainment, I believe Dio raised the bar high.

Last April, I published a Cartoon Sunday blog regarding Watch Mojo's Countdowns of Top Anime Villains. Dio Brando made it at least TWICE on those countdowns.   

 

Cartoon Sunday: Watch Mojo's Anime Villains Countdown

    

As a Vampire Supervillain, Dio was extremely psychopathic and sinister. I am surprised, that NONE of the late Ronnie James Dio's songs were used as opening or ending theme songs for Parts 1-3 of the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise. After all, Dio Brando was named after him. 

Call me biased but "Egypt" really should've been used as the ending theme song for Stardust Crusaders' "Battle In Egypt" Arc as opposed to "The Last Train Home". Ugh! It's like listening to depressing-sounding '80s Muzak.

Now that Dio is dead, it will be disappointing not seeing him in Diamond Is Unbreakable and the future seasons to come. 

Earlier this year, it was announced that Golden Wind (Part 5) was in the works of being animated.

According to Anime News Network in June, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind is scheduled to premiere in Japan in 2 more months. 

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 5: Golden Wind Manga Gets TV Anime in October

Considering that JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is a Seinen Supernatural Action Anime, it's only fitting to have Golden Wind premiere this October. 

Meanwhile, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable will premiere next Saturday night at 11:30 pm Central on Adult Swim's Toonami block. 

{Toonami Promo}: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable (2018)

 

Diamond Is Unbreakable takes place in 1999. 

 

Ahh, 1999. Before American Entertainment was corrupted by self-righteous, political "activist," celebutards, and political divisiveness in general like it has been, since the turn of the century. 

Nearly 2 decades ago, a plethora of monumental incidents happened like Woodstock '99, for example. 

In 1999, I was a notorious, 17-year-old girl full of "angst" and living a so-called "double life." No, I was not partying like it was 1999. It's amazing how much time flies. Well, I digress.

In Diamond Is Unbreakable, Jotaro Kujo will meet Josuke Higashikata. Josuke is the bastard son of Jotaro's grandfather, Joseph Joestar. What a twist! Honestly, I did not see that coming!

Because this is another blog about the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise, here are 4 previously published Cartoon Sunday blogs. 

Cartoon Sunday: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Phantom Blood Review (2016)

Cartoon Sunday: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood + Battle Tendency Music References (2017)

Cartoon Sunday: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Recap With Stardust Crusaders Music References (2017)

Cartoon Sunday: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crusaders & Stands (2017)

Also, as promised in yesterday's Song Saturday blog, here are the following music references for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable for today's Cartoon Sunday!

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable Music References (2021)

Song Saturday: Jo Stars- Tommy, Coda, Jin's JoJo, That Blood's Memories ~End Of The World~

How's it going lurkers? Had this past week not been so chaotic, I definitely would've published another blog before today. 

 

Bear with me, I am currently in the middle of nursing a stye in both eyes. These last 3 weeks, a stye on my lower left eyelid kept flaring up. 

Aside from my relentless health issues, are all my fellow JoJo's Bizarre Adventure fans ready to watch tonight's finale of Stardust Crusaders? 

Surely, I can't wait to watch the fall of Dio Brando. Well, actually I already have. Awhile back, I managed to watch clips of the 1993 OVA's for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders. 

As JoJo's Bizarre Adventure fans already know, Stardust Crusaders is Part 3 of Hirohiko Araki's Manga. It was the only part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, that was adapted into OVA's. 

Since 2012, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Parts 1-4 (Phantom Blood, Battle Tendency, Stardust Crusaders, and Diamond Is Unbreakable) were adapted into 3 Anime seasons. Stardust Crusaders is currently the longest running season from the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise. 

After tonight's finale of Stardust Crusaders on Adult Swim's Toonami block, it will feel weird. 

Viewers like yours truly became used to watching Joseph Joestar, Jotaro Kujo (his grandson and main protagonist), Mohammed Avdol, Jean Pierre Polnareff, Noriaki Kakyoin, and their dog, Iggy. 

Most of the characters mentioned above are dead in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders. Tonight Dio Brando (Vampire Supervillain) is about to get served his just desserts by Jotaro. 

Now that Stardust Crusaders will be ending its American broadcast on Toonami, we will also have to say goodbye to this Seinen Supernatural Action Anime's theme songs. 

Stardust Crusaders has several openings and endings, that Toonami refused to air. Airing animated music videos, that suit Toonami and Adult Swim's political agenda mostly takes precedence over the network's programming. Anyway, I digress.

"The Last Train Home" by the 1987 Jazz Fusion band, Pat Metheny Group is an ending theme song I definitely will NOT  be missing from Stardust Crusaders' "Battle In Egypt Arc." I swear, that song is like listening to depressing Muzak from the 1980's. 

At the risk of sounding like some fangirl holding onto her 1980's childhood nostalgia, I still prefer The Bangles' "Walk Like An Egyptian" as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders' original ending theme song. 

Also, I enjoyed Jin Hashimoto's "Stand Proud" and Jo Stars- Tommy, Coda, Jin's "JoJo, That Blood's Memories ~End Of The World~" as opening theme songs. 

Opening Theme Song #1: Jin Hashimoto "Stand Proud" JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders (2014)

Opening Theme Song #2: Jo Stars- Tommy, Coda, Jin "JoJo, That Blood's Memories ~End Of The World~" JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders "Battle In Egypt Arc" (2015)

Both opening theme songs got us JoJo's Bizarre Adventure fans hyped to watch Stardust Crusaders every Saturday night; We couldn't wait to see a Saturday Night Rumble. 

"Stand Proud" and "End Of The World" were songs meant for fighting. In other words, "Fight Music." This especially applies to the latter. 

Jotaro's Stand, Star Platinum, always shouts "ORA, ORA, ORA!"  in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders and in the latest opening theme song.

Listening to Dio Brando shout, "MUDA, MUDA, MUDA!!!" (which means "useless" in Japanese) in the final episodes always cracks me up, along with him shouting his stand's name, "THE WORLD!" 

It seems like most of us fans love hearing Dio shout "ZA WARULDO!" (meaning "THE WORLD" in Japanese), which is another popular JoJo's Bizarre Adventure meme. I don't know how Anime fans cannot like the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise. 

This Seinen Supernatural Action Anime franchise is campy and music oriented. Most of the characters are namesakes, if not modeled after those in music. 

Speaking of music and characters, tomorrow will be another music reference blog regarding the next season, Diamond Is Unbreakable. Make sure you stay tuned! Today I am sharing the current opening theme song for Stardust Crusaders. 

Jo Stars- Tommy, Coda, Jin is comprised of Hiroaki "Tommy" Tominaga, Coda, and Jin Hashimoto. 

Within this collaborative trio, each singer individually performed opening theme songs for the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise in the past.

Rather than making this blog any longer, here is Jo Stars- Tommy, Coda, Jin's "JoJo, That Blood's Memories ~End Of The World~" for today's Song Saturday.
 
Jo Stars- Tommy, Coda, Jin's "JoJo, That Blood's Memories ~End Of The World~" JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders "Battle In Egypt Arc" (2015)

Cartoon Sunday: Christian Johnston Narrates Paul Ferruccio's A Creepy Ghost Hunting Story {Animated}

How's it going my gumdrops? As of yesterday, I managed to achieve a minor accomplishment. So far, my latest Song Saturday blog featuring Type O Negative's Banned cover of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze" reached 285 page views and counting. 

Yesterday's blog was shared with the Official Danzig fan page and Horror-Punks' official group page on facebook. My Song Saturday blog featuring Type O Negative was also shared on World of Anime, AnimeNation, Digg, and around Google Plus. Most of my viewership was from those 2 facebook group pages mentioned above. 

At the same time, asshole moderators from Google Plus continue to strip my blogs from multiple Google Plus communities. It's amazing how people on that site can spam the shit out of our news feeds with pornographic videos and pictures but the moment I share my own content for exposure, texters on their phones are EASILY triggered and want to have me removed.

Judging by the looks of it, as I continue to hunt for other ways to share my content without using Google Plus, I am getting the impression that certain moderators around Google Plus continue to feel some kind of way about me sharing my content to certain Google Plus communities, again. It is ONLY a matter of time, until the asshole moderators censor my content again by blocking, blacklisting, demonizing, and suspending me and my account. 

All the while, an opportunistic, social climbing copycat, who continues to monopolize other Google Plus communities that I belonged to long before she joined them is allowed to share her content without attempting to help me out of a bad situation. 

More and more, I continue to miss the original Xanga where I didn't have to work so hard to generate blog traffic, and when I made top blogger multiple times. I would just like to thank all of those, who read my Song Saturday blog featuring Type O Negative's banned cover of "Summer Breeze," which is titled "Summer Girl." 

In case you missed yesterday's Song Saturday blog, here it is once again. 

Song Saturday: Type O Negative's Summer Girl {Banned Version Of Seals & Crofts' Summer Breeze}

If you missed last Thursday's blog with my explanation as to why I stopped blogging literally 4 MONTHS ago, you can read it HERE.

Speaking of hunting, I have a Horror Animated Short for Cartoon Sunday, which is about hunting. However, it is a different type of hunting. 

Have you ever done any ghost hunting? 

Never in my life have I ever ghost hunted. My house is already haunted. That's not including the death warnings my spirit guide sends me on occasion, as I try my hardest to escape the gravitational pull of this house.

After watching Paul Ferruccio's ghost hunting story (which was illustrated by Llama Arts and narrated by Christian Johnston), it reminded me of those stories I heard from friends and others about the Ouija Board. 

Have you ever used the Ouija Board? 

I never tried it, nor would I ever recommend it. Years ago, my friend's husband told me about the time he played with a Ouija Bord in his house. He claimed his "Fundamentalist Christian" mother stopped him from playing with the board and she began to pray over it. In the middle of praying, the cross on their wall sparked on fire. 

Even though Paul Ferruccio's creepy story has nothing to do with using the Ouija Board, his ghost hunting story reminds me of my friend's husband's story. For today's Cartoon Sunday, here is Paul Ferruccio's creepy ghost hunting story.

Paul Ferruccio's A Creepy Ghost Hunting Story {Narrated By Christian Johnston} (2018)

***NEVER MESS WITH THE PARANORMAL OR THE SUPERNATURAL!***

Thank you my gumdrops! Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, +1 on Google Plus, and leave your feedback in the comments section below!

Song Saturday: Type O Negative's Summer Girl {Banned Version Of Seals & Crofts' Summer Breeze}

 


How's it going my gumdrops? In case you missed the blog I published on Thursday, I explained about my 4-month disappearance from blogging. In case you missed Thursday's blog, here it is once again at the following:

 

OMG, Anna! Where Have You Been?!

Aside from the previous blog, it has been a while, since I last published a Song Saturday blog featuring Type O Negative. Normally, there is an image of the late Peter Steele in them. 

The fact that this Goth/Doom Metal band was forced to disband, after their frontman died in April 2010 remains to be a tragedy. You could say their disbanding was for the best. Years later, Peter was and still is irreplaceable. 

Rather than always trying to replace lead singers (especially when they are dead), I generally feel that disbanding is for the best. There are still other bands, that continuously release new albums with replacement vocalists. 

What's the point? Why ruin the legacies of their vocalists by replacing them with other vocalists, that have those proverbial big shoes to fill? 

It is pointless, especially when it is not a veteran co-vocalist. Those bands already had their reign in music, years ago. This includes Type O Negative.

Even though Type O Negative tends to be a Goth/Doom Metal band, that somewhat became mainstream, their cult following still remains. 

Speaking of co-vocalists, above is a picture of  Type O Negative's former guitarist/co-lead vocalist, Kenny Hickey. He always seemed to be the least mentioned in Metal news, or at least it always seemed that way to me. (Although, I could be wrong). 

When it came to this Goth/Doom Metal band, I always felt that Johnny Kelly and without a doubt, Peter Steele overshadowed Hickey. However, Steele did mention him in Type O Negative's cover of Seals and Crofts' "Summer Breeze." 

There are 2 different versions of "Summer Breeze, that "Type O Negative released for their 1993 album, Bloody Kisses. There is "Summer Breeze." Then, there is "Summer Girl." 

On "Summer Girl," Peter mentioned his co-vocalist, Kenny Hickey in the lyrics. Originally, "Summer Girl' was going to be featured as Type O Negative's cover. Because Seals & Crofts found Steele's lyrical changes of the cover to be "distasteful," a normal version was released on Bloody Kisses. After hearing the following verse:

"Kenny Hickey lying on the sidewalk
Devil music from the house next door
So I step on over his vomit
Through the screen and across the floor"

I can understand why Seals & Crofts found Type O Negative's original version of their cover to be distasteful. In today's era, people in cyber space would view the above verse from "Summer Girl" as "trolling." 

If you are interested in the previous Song Saturday blogs I published featuring Type O Negative, you are more than welcome to click on the following links from my website, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns.

 

Song Saturday: Type O Negative Block

Song Saturday: Type O Negative On Halloween

Early Song Saturday: Type O Negative Tribute

 
In the meantime, here is Type O Negative's banned cover of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze" a.k.a. "Summer Girl" for today's Song Saturday.

Type O Negative "Summer Girl" {Banned Cover Of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze"} Bloody Kisses (1993)

 

Thank you my gumdrops! Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, +1 on Google Plus, and leave your feedback in the comments section below!

Cartoon Sunday: Watership Down {DisturbingTrailer}

How's it going my gumdrops? As a quick reminder, I will NOT  be publishing any blogs for Song Saturday or Cartoon Sunday next weekend. For Easter, I will be taking a break. 

Sometimes it is amazing how March can be about Saint Patrick's Day, then suddenly switch to being about Easter within a matter of days. 

During the last part of last week, I had the hardest time deciding what to share for today's Cartoon Sunday. I wanted to share a creepy animated short. After all the searching I did, it appears that I found something, that actually creeped ME out. It left me with the feeling of "What the FUCK did I just watch?!" 

Have you ever watched, much less heard of Watership Down? It was an animated film from 1978 named after Richard Adams' Fantasy Thriller novel of the same name. Never in all my years of living have I ever seen, much less heard of this G-rated movie. 

Watching 3 1/2 minutes of Watership Down's trailer felt as if I was in the middle of watching a darkly humored, animated prank aimed at children. However, I don't believe Watership Down was meant for younger viewers. 

You may ask "Anna, why do you think Watership Down is 'darkly humored'?" 

You could say I am in disbelief, that such a movie was marketed for children to go see in movie theaters, 4 decades ago. Watching the trailer was like a horrific, animated trailer of Animal Farm except the movie is about rabbits.

It has been said that Watership Down was popular among adults, who attended late-night screenings in 1978. In addition, it is considered to be the most VIOLENT animated G-rated film to have EVER been made.  

The British Board of Film Classification still receives complaints, 40 years after the release of Watership Down. 

It is understandable that the late filmmaker, John Hubley (He died in 1977.) and Martin Rosen wanted Watership Down to personify and give their anthropomorphic depiction of Richard Adams' novel. All the while, the BBFC and MPAA really did NOT  take their target demographic more seriously. 

Watership Down released literally 6 years before the United Kingdom and States began enforcing censorship, and before the launching of the PG-13 rating. In 1978, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) passed Watership Down with a 'U' certificate. 

A 'U' certificate in the United Kingdom is similar to a Rated-G film in America. 

I cannot speak for everyone else. Although, I find this to be not only hypocritical, but also appalling. 

The BBFC, MPAA, media watchdog groups, and Christian zealots spent YEARS demonizing the Slasher Horror sub-genre and browbeating Slasher Horror filmmakers during the 1980's. It was to the extent, that more films went directly to video to avoid persecution. 

And yet the BBFC and MPAA saw NOTHING wrong with Watership Down being an animated film meant for children?! That's outrageous!

That 40-year-old trailer was and still is too disturbing for younger viewers. Had I been alive to see the movie trailer for Watership Down, I probably would've been traumatized. This is coming from a Horror fan and a 35-year-old single woman with no children. 

Watching the 1978 movie trailer made me feel disturbed. I can only imagine how incredibly disturbing the actual movie was for children and why it still causes so much controversy, 40 years later. 

If Watership Down was going to be marketed towards minors, it should've been marketed towards teenagers. They would've been able to handle both the novel and film as opposed to traumatizing younger children in 1978. 

It is understandable that children in other countries mature faster than American children. Anytime other people still have major problems with Watership Down supposedly being meant for children, that should say something. 

Considering that I have been anti-censorship, since my youth during the 1990's, you may be wondering why I feel so strongly about Watership Down. Allow me to clarify. 

I am NOT  trying to demonize the filmmakers. If anything, I am confronting the double standards and hypocrisy, that the BBFC, MPAA, and media watchdog groups set into motion decades ago. 

More parents should use better judgment, when it comes to graphic content. Knowing their children's interest in entertainment should go without saying. 

Maybe when I have more time out of my hectic schedule, I will try watching Watership Down. In the meantime, here is the disturbing movie trailer from 1978 for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Watership Down Trailer (1978)

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Song Saturday: Black Funeral's Dearg Due (Blood Sucker)

How's it going lurkers? I assume most people really enjoyed Saint Patrick's Day, last Saturday. It was reported yesterday on my local news, that Wisconsin is currently rated the 2nd DRUNKEST state in America. 

Talk about embarrassing. This makes me feel ashamed to be a Wisconsinite. Last Sunday, the Internet was a ghost town, or at least it seemed that way on my end. 

There was barely any activity online, when I was on several websites at a time. More people were probably passed out drunk, or high from excessive partying on Saint Patrick's Day. Otherwise, they were involved in other activities. Regardless, I could barely find anyone doing much of anything online last Sunday.  

Hopefully, more people stayed safe and warm during the celebration of Saint Patrick's Day. Even though the festive Irish holiday is over, I still have at least 1 more Irish themed blog to share with you all today.

If you still have yet to read the blog, that I published about Irish Horror Folktales, I encourage you to do so. In that blog, I explained about Dearg Due, Leanan Sidhe, and Caorthannach.

Speaking of Dearg Due, she was an Irish vampiress, who seduced men and drained them of their blood in Irish Horror Folktales. The name, Dearg Due means "Red Blood Sucker" in Gaelic. 

It appears that the Irish vampiress left quite an impression on Black Funeral so much so, that they felt compelled to write a song about her. Maybe Dearg Due should've been considered "The Evil Irish Fairy Muse" and not Leanan Sidhe? Either way, both have Black Metal songs written about them.

Most Black Metal bands are typically from Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden. However, Black Funeral is an American Black Metal band from Houston, TX. They have been around, since 1993 with a total of 9 albums. Ankou And The Death Fire, which was released in 2016, is Black Funeral's most recent album. 

This American Black Metal band also released Journeys Into Horizons Lost and Of Spells Of Darkness & Death. Both happen to be music demos from 1994 and '95. "Dearg Due (Blood Sucker)" can be found on Black Funeral's 2016 album, Ankou And The Death Fire.  

If you would like to learn more about the band, don't be scared to visit their official Bandcamp and Facebook pages. Otherwise, there is Metal-Archives.com. Since today's blog is mostly about Black Funeral and the Irish vampiress, Dearg Due, here is Black Funeral's "Dearg Due (Blood Sucker)" for today's Song Saturday.

Black Funeral "Dearg Due {Blood Sucker}" Ankou And The Death Fire (2016)

Cartoon Sunday: The Gaffe Grant Wonley Made At A Bar In Ireland

How's it going my gumdrops? Did you enjoy celebrating Saint Patrick's Day yesterday? Hopefully, you enjoyed celebrating such a festive Irish holiday safely and NOT at the dangerous expense of others. 

Other than sleeping in and doing the usual chores yesterday, I had nothing personally special planned. Does watching Black Clover, Stardust Crusaders, and Naruto Shippuden on Adult's Swim's Toonami block count? 

Speaking of Saint Patrick's Day, Black Clover, and Toonami, it was a tad disappointing to discover, that Adult Swim planned NOTHING special for the block's 21st anniversary.

What would've been more logical? How about marathoning a series titled, "Black Clover" on Saint Patrick's Day for Toonami's 21st Anniversary? Hmmm... Such a hard decision there. 

Considering that Cartoon Network originally launched the Toonami block on Saint Patrick's Day 1997, it would've been more logical to celebrate the block's 21st anniversary and Saint Patrick's Day with a Black Clover Marathon. 

Yes, I know there are those Toonami fans STILL ranting about Black Clover being chosen over My Hero Academia for Adult Swim's Toonami block. Some are those same Toonami fans from last year, who are still ranting about One Piece being removed from the Toonami block and being replaced with Tokyo Ghoul.

 

RANT: Toonami Fans And Their Incessant Crying

Either way, you gain some, you lose some. 

Even though Saint Patrick's Day is over now, there will still be a few more Irish themed blogs I will be publishing and re-sharing with you all for this month. There are ONLY 2 more weeks left in March. Hopefully, you have been enjoying these blogs this month. 

Originally, I was going to share the link to Episode 1 of Black Clover today in English Dub. Then at the last minute, I changed my mind. Instead I thought I would share this hilarious animated documentary by Grant Wonley. 

It is always best to learn about foreign countries, their cultures, customs, religions, and especially their social environments before visiting them. I have been saying this to friends and other people for the last 16 years. 

People cannot always say and do whatever they want, whenever they want to whoever they want. This is especially when they are in foreign countries as VISITORS. 

Grant Wonley's short animated documentary is a hilarious depiction of the time, when he visited Ireland. Wonley recounts the time, when he made a gaffe at a bar in Ireland.

The Gaffe Grant Wonley Made At A Bar In Ireland (2016)

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Cartoon Sunday: BEWARE! The Curse Of The Banshee!

How's it going my gumdrops? Last night, did you remember to turn your clocks ahead 1 hour? Spring is coming around the corner, which is why it is best to be prepared to "SPRING forward."

BTW: If you have not already done so, make sure to like, subscribe, share, and +1 blogs from OMG, Anna! What's Going On?! 

This can be done via facebook, Google Plus, Blogger, or other social media sites such as World of Anime. Otherwise, there is always subscribing by e-mail. 

Also, for those who don't know how to find previously published blogs from my website, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns, all the blog links are currently in neon green font. You can't miss these links. I post links in bright bold colors to make them highly visible for everyone to see.

With that being said, here is yesterday's Song Saturday blog once again, in case you missed it.

Song Saturday: Primordial's Hosting Of The Sidhe {REVISITED}

Speaking of World of Anime, I was asked on the Anime-centric social media site about why I did not publish a blog specifically about International Women's Day. 

Last month, I wanted to publish a blog about Women In Horror. Considering my hectic schedule offline with doing chores, attending doctor and dental appointments, and being a personal caregiver, there was not enough time. 

Most people have no idea the amount of times I have backburned things I really wanted and needed to do both on and offline. I still have yet to return to revising and editing my own Short Horror Stories. 

Let's also not forget, that I have published at least several blogs about women on here and It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns within the last week to 2-5 years. Therefore, me not publishing a blog about International Women's Day was nothing too severe. 

Since we are on the topic of International Women at this very second, I will have you know, that if you clicked on my blog link about Irish Horror Folktales, I specifically chose to focus on WOMEN from those folktales. 

Basically, I killed "2 birds with 1 stone" so to speak regarding the matter of International Women and Horror Folktales. That particular blog was linked inside of yesterday's blog above, in the bold neon green font. 

In addition to those previously published blogs on OMG, Anna! What's Going On?! and It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns, you can expect to see more blogs about women in Irish Horror Folktales. 

This includes today's Cartoon Sunday blog about the banshee. The banshee was another woman, who was a part of Irish Horror Folktales. 

In March 2016, I published a Song Saturday blog on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns explaining about her. However, I never shared a Cartoon Sunday blog about the banshee, until now. 

Sapphire from Snarled shared an animated vlog enlightening viewers about such an appalling woman. Megan Matheson from Scotland told Sapphire in disturbing detail about her terrifying encounter in real life with the banshee. For today's Cartoon Sunday, be prepared to be creeped out. 

BEWARE: Curse Of The Banshee! (2017)

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