Memory & Fog: The Impermanence of Objects, 3rd Meditation
Once, a long time ago, I told you I would love you forever. I never intended to lie to you. I am back in San Francisco, the place where we once lived together. It has
Christmas in Patagonia
Christmas Day, 1999. Twenty years ago. Was I at home in New York, a gentle snow falling outside, while inside blazed a warm fire in the fireplace, with presents under the Christmas tree that
Christmas in Patagonia
Christmas Day, 1999. Twenty years ago. Was I at home in New York, a gentle snow falling outside, while inside blazed a warm fire in the fireplace, with presents under the Christmas tree that
Thou Doth Protest Too Much: The Silent Night, Deadly Night Controversy
Picture this: the year is 1984 and you are an impressionable youth watching an episode of Three’s Company or Little House on the Prairie when during a commercial break this comes on the TV:
A Very Pagan Christmas: The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus
I’m sure you all know the story of Santa Claus, right? Of course you do. Everyone remembers how when Santa was an infant he was abandoned in the woods in a snow bank till the
A Very Pagan Christmas: The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus
I’m sure you all know the story of Santa Claus, right? Of course you do. Everyone remembers how when Santa was an infant he was abandoned in the woods in a snow bank till the
An Immaculate Fix: A Junky’s Christmas
It was Christmas Day and Danny the Car Wiper hit the street junksick and broke after seventy-two hours in the precinct cell. It was a clear bright day, but there was warmth in the
A Merry Little Alternative Xmas
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. Sure, that’s a given. People seem to enjoy the colored lights, the slowly dying tree in the living room, and the glitter. Oh, and the gifts.
He Sees You When You’re Sleeping: Krampus the Anti-Claus
We are all familiar with the benevolent nighttime intruder who once a year indulges in mass breaking and entering to deposit gifts under indoor foliage. You know, the omnipotent fat man dressed in red who
Happy Life Day: The Star Wars Holiday Special
Author's note: This was written nearly four years ago and I must admit my opinion of the Star Wars Holiday Special has softened a bit. Oh, I still think it's awful don't get me
The Worst Guy to Have Dinner with in Ancient Greece
Once upon a time there lived a guy named Tantalus who was, for reasons that will become clear, a rather unpleasant fellow. Tantalus was the king of a place called Sipylus and had a
My Favorite Things to Eat: A Former New Yorker Talks About Food
A guest post by David Hicks What are my favorite things to eat? Good question. Thanks for asking. Bagels. Mozzarella. And what are the two foods I loved most in New York that I
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
A guest post by David Hicks “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” has for a long time been my favorite “ghost story,” not solely because of how well it is told, but also because it is,
A Brief Discussion About Cults in the 1970s
In the 1970s satanic cults were everywhere. Or at least that’s what popular culture would have you believe. In apartment complexes, suburban planned communities, quiet rural towns – somewhere lurking beneath the all-too-normal exterior was
Fruit Flavored Terror: Monster Memories
As a kid I loved monsters. Not the ones that hid under the bed or lived in the closet obviously - those were terrifying and nightmare inducing if one actually managed to get to
Notes from the Dreaming: A Shape in the Darkness
In the darkness you were dreaming. Dreaming and that is all. You did not see what you thought you saw. You did not experience what you thought you thought was so real. There was not
All Hallows’ Eve Month is Here! A Month of Classic Horror
October has arrived - the most wonderful time of the year. There is a nip in the air, the leaves are changing and the smell of pumpkin pie surrounds us. It’s time to wear flannel
A Funny Story Involving a Portable TV in the 1970s
Do you want to hear a funny story? Not exactly but something like this. When I was a youngster way back in the 1970s my family owned a portable TV. It was bulky
What’s in a Name? The Story of DaddyElk
Since I started DaddyElk I've been asked several times just what the heck the name means. Well, I wish there was some deep, symbolic meaning behind it but it comes from a very simple source.
Episode 23: Nexus of All Realities: Giant-Size Man-Thing #1
Welcome everyone to the Nexus of All Realities – A Man-Thing podcast! Today on the program...the big one...the grand euphemism...the greatest double entendre in all comic book history: Giant-Size Man-Thing So yes, there will be jokes
What You Reading? Invisible Woman #1
by Mark Waid & Mattia De Iulis I typically do not write about first issues of a comic book because – for me – I find the first issue to be the least
What You reading? Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi I am a lover of genre fiction – specifically scifi and fantasy. And in the case of fantasy I feel that it gets a bad rap. I understand that when
I Can Hear the Fireworks Up & Down the Line: 4th of July Memories
It is Independence Day. There is red, white and blue bunting hung from porches and windows. The air has the scent of smoke; it’s there in the background but always present. You almost don’t notice it...
Quick Thought: Is Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings Brilliant or Bad?
I recently re-watched Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings (and mean really recently – like 10 minutes ago) and as I sat blinking at my screen as the credits rolled I thought to