by Rynski on Nov.20, 2009, under Rynski column, art, life, notable folks
Local clown dispels evil clown myths
Local guy John Coppin has an occupation that is often more feared than the dentist and more hated than car salesmen.
Coppin as Mr. Hocus/submitted photo
He’s a clown.
Before you run for cover, just hear him out. He’s here to dispel the myth that clowns are evil and to prove clowns are people, too.
“All clowns are not Ronald or Bozo,” he said. “We are your next door neighbor. Always be wary if you do not know who the clown is, but the John Wayne Gacys are the minority of the clown world. We are to be laughed at and with all in fun.”
Coppin, 53, got into performing more than 30 years ago, and not by attending some fancy Florida clown college but the old fashioned way.
“I went to the school of hard knocks,” he said, “and also had great mentors who showed me ideas.”
Picking his career – which he loves because he gets to make people feel good – wasn’t a tough decision.
“I think I always was a bit of a clown,” he said. “I just had to put on the nose and Mr. Hocus was born.”
Mr. Hocus is the stage name for Coppin’s clown, one that has never scared a youngster – or adult – and one that regularly encounters magical situations in his acts.
“Mr. Hocus is a magic clown,” he said. “The magic happens to him, quite like Emmett Kelly did with the spotlight. He is having the magic occur to him not from him.”
One of world-famous clown Emmett Kelly’s signature act was sweeping up the spotlight on the stage until it actually disappeared.
Coppin the magician/submitted photo
Coppin’s magic career dates back to age 15, when he appeared as the Magic Magician of Christmas at a Wisconsin H.C. Prange department store.
He then took to performing at his high school, local shows in his Wisconsin hometown, and eventually bigger and more populated events. He ended up in moving to Marana last year, where he lives with his wife Carol and dog Frito.
Carol is so supportive of clowns – and Coppin’s act – that she even helps out at events with his forte of balloon sculpting.
Unlike other professions, Coppin said, the clown world is not known for being petty, competitive or stabbing each other in the back – unless it’s with a balloon or something.
“Clowns have no big rivals, really,” he said. “They work well with everyone.”
Yes, even mimes. In fact, the original clowns were more like mimes than the colorful performers we see today.
“They never spoke and the makeup was the whiteface,” he said. “The circus clown became a new idea in the early days of the traveling show, being brighter for the smiles.”
Sure, he’ll admit, some kids have been known to be scared of the whiteface or other clown makeup they find strange. The fears are often fueled by things like the movie “It.”
The 1990 Stephen King flick features the demonic Pennywise, a creature dressed as a clown that terrorizes a small town in the 1960s.
“I always think that the movie ‘It’ caused a lot of problems for clowns,” Coppin said. No, it’s not accurate. No, not all clowns are evil. And no, clowns never come barreling out of toilets.
“Only small cars,” he said.
If you’re still wary, Coppin offers additional advice on how to overcome a fear of clowns.
“Get to know one,” he said, “or better yet find your inner clown and let it out. Laughter is always a great way to find your inner clown and enjoy it.”
Learn more about John Coppin and his magic at MrHocus.com.
Ryn Gargulinski is a poet, artist, performer and TucsonCitizen.com Ryngmaster whose grandmother once baptized a clown doll. Her column appears every Friday on Rynski’s Blogski. Her art, writing and more is at RynRules.com. E-mail rynski@tucsoncitizen.com.
What do you think?
Are your fears quelled now?
Does Coppin help you think of clowns as people, too?
What’s the best clown/magician act you’ve seen lately?
Did you enjoy the movie or book “It,” even though a clown blasts through the toilet?
by Rynski on Nov.19, 2009, under Rynski's Blogski, Stupidity, art, crime, environment, gross stuff, life, odd pueblo, snappy or crappy
Odd Pueblo: Snappy or crappy?
This fun Odd Pueblo feature asks the audience to rate a trend, topic or sighting of something around town: is it snappy or crappy?
The last snappy or crappy, a groovy Volkswagen bus, was definitely cruising on snappy.
The latest snappy or crappy may not be so snappy for some: positive reinforcement graffiti.
This graffiti was snapped at Lakeside Park, right before I had to put the camera away to chase Sawyer and Phoebe out of the water.
Happy graffiti at Lakeside Park/Photo Ryn Gargulinski
While it’s not very artistic per se, it is kind of refreshing to see a positive message scrawled on cold concrete amidst debris.
Yes, graffiti is illegal and often very crappy. No, I did not paint this.
Some graffiti, like those really cool murals that once graced many New York City subway trains, can also be quite artistic.
Whee!/Ryn Gargulinski
We’re not talking swear words or illegible tags, but graffiti that actually enhances a structure or mood.
Positive reinforcement messages, which some of us chant or tape to our bathroom mirrors, can really change your attitude and outlook.
Does this graffiti do it for you?
What do you think?
Please vote and leave comments below.
Have you ever dabbled in graffiti?
What’s the coolest/stupidest graffiti you’ve ever done or seen?
by Rynski on Nov.18, 2009, under Rynski's Blogski, crime, danger, environment, life
Tucson, Yuma, Casas Adobes best places to raise kids in AZ, survey says
Got kids? Bring them on down to Tucson.
Two cute Tucson kids/Ryn Gargulinski
Old Pueblo is the top place in Arizona for families to thrive, according to BusinessWeek’s annual “Best Places to Raise Your Kids” rankings.
Tucson hit Arizona’s top spot, with the runners up being Yuma and Casas Adobes.
We have a feeling the ranking committee has never been to Yuma.
We also have a feeling they may not have come to Tucson, either – or at least tried to get anywhere on a bus if they did.
“It’s (also) a relatively affordable place to live,” the report said of Tucson, “with more than 100 parks, a good public transportation system, and many public and private golf courses.”
Tucson school yards are counted as parks, by the way.
But the golf courses are important. We know how much kids love to golf away their Saturday mornings.
The ranking focused on towns that have a population of at least 45,000 and a median income of $40,000 to $125,000. BusinessWeek picked one top spot from each state, and two runners up, if applicable. Alaska’s Anchorage had no runners up.
Natural sandbox option/Ryn Gargulinski
Towns were then judged on their air quality; family income; job growth; theaters; diversity; household expenditures; crime rate; number of schools and their performance; museums and those school yard parks.
Based on those categories, it’s obvious why Tucson made the cut. Our air quality definitely beats out places like Los Angeles. We only get air quality warnings when there is a blinding, dusty wind or massive brush fires in the distance spewing ashes into our atmosphere.
Families usually make enough to live on – as long as they still have their jobs. But we are not sure why the job growth category didn’t kick us out of the mix altogether, as it seems Tucson jobs are shrinking.
The report mentioned University of Arizona as being one of the biggest employers, but it failed to mention the school’s hiring freezes.
For theaters, we got the Fox, The Loft and that cheapie place with $2 tickets at Grant and Swan roads.
Household expenditures often lack snow pants, furry boots and ski masks.
Pima Air and Space Museum probably got us hovering near the top in the museum category, and bless those school yards, as they helped us kick butt in the parks category. Tucson also has six dog parks, eight if you count the two in the county.
Not bad.
The rankings also left out some other reasons why Tucson is a great place to raise kids:
Bilingual studies. Children will automatically be immersed in the study of the Spanish language, hopefully learning key phrases, like “Your mother wears combat boots,” from their classmates.
Natural sandbox. Never mind those chintzy plastic backyard boxes, Tucson has a glorious sandbox created by God. Kids can find hours of pleasure in the dry riverbeds and washes, like the diapered child I once saw frolicking in the sands of the Rillito. All the rocks, glass shards, coyote feces and horse manure makes for some very interesting mud pies.
Less environmental dangers. Sure, we have prickly, eye-poking cactus and those pesky killer rattlesnakes, but there is absolutely no chance a kid will drown in the ocean or be swept out to sea. Few Tucson children are injured from slipping on ice or getting lost and buried in the snow.
Even though I am poking fun, I think Tucson can rock for anyone.
What do you think?
Is Tucson an awesome place to raise kids? Why or why not?
What about Yuma or Casas
What criteria would you use for ranking a place good for kids?
Where were you raised? Was it good for kids?
by Rynski on Nov.17, 2009, under Heroes, Police/fire/law, Rynski's Blogski, crime, danger, life, notable folks
Would you help stop a crime in progress? These folks did
If you saw a crime in progress, would you simply shut the shades?
Photo Ryn Gargulinski
Such was the case with Catherine “Kitty” Genovese in 1964. The 28-year-old was murdered and raped near the doorway of her New York City apartment building while at least 37 folks heard her screams or saw the attack. Many simply closed their window shades. Only one woman bothered to call police.
That’s not the case on the University of Arizona campus, where a handful of folks are being honored in a Tuesday ceremony for their assistance to the UA Police Department, according to a news release from UAPD.
Some of the crimes – like shaking a vending machine to get free snacks – are nowhere near the murderous stage, but they are crimes nonetheless and these folks deserve kudos for doing more than simply walking away.
The honorees are:
Graffiti busters – Doug Archer, Frankie Kolb and Peter Smith:
This trio was working at the Lunar and Planetary Sciences when they noted folks spray painting the building and a nearby wall. They immediately called police and had enough information to lead to three arrests for vandalism.
Bicycle guardian – Justin Armer:
Armer was outside the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering building when he saw someone trying to break a bike lock with a hammer. Rather than simply go on his merry way, glad it wasn’t his own bicycle, Armer approached the would-be thief, who ran away without the bicycle. If that wasn’t enough, Armer followed the suspect and called police. An arrest followed.
Vending machine savior – Arun Ganesan:
Ganesan helped get several folks arrested when he called police after watching those folks shake a vending machine. Lots of free goodies had fallen from the shaken machine, but their snacking was cut short when Ganesan called police.
Thief trapper – Chiara Figueroa:
Figueroa had her laptop and several other items stolen on campus when she received an e-mail that she thought might be related to the theft. She tracked down the e-mailer and gave her info to police. UAPD followed up on her lead and found the person not only stole stuff from Figueroa but also stole from several other victims. Yes, another arrest.
Another graffiti buster – Jared Melillo:
Melillo, who lived near the new recreation center construction site, noted several taggers having a field day on one of the new buildings. He quickly called police, who were able to arrest one of the suspects.
Felony finder – Kurt Myers:
Myers was jogging around campus when he noted two people drinking alcohol behind the open door of a UA building that was not open to the public. He called police to report what may have been trespassing, but turned into a bigger catch. One of the suspects had a felony warrant out for arrest. Both were arrested, thanks to Myers taking a moment to report them.
Double duty dude – David De La Rosa:
De La Rosa helped with arrests in two separate crimes, one that involved a stolen kid and another that involved a suspected killer.
De La Rosa noted a car parked with a kid in the backseat, but no parent or guardian anywhere to be found. He reported the sighting to police, who found the car had been stolen – with the child still in it. Car and child were returned to their owner.
He also reported a panhandler near Student Union who kept approaching women. Police tracked down the panhandler and found the person hand a felony warrant for homicide. Goodbye, panhandler.
Suspicious suspect nabber – Miguel Perez:
Perez was working on campus when he saw a would-be thief playing around with a bicycle lock. He noted the person had been milling around earlier, as if scoping out the bike rack. His quick call to police led to an arrest.
Monocle man – Riley Schock:
Schock was out walking his dog when he found several monocles lying around his neighborhood. He took them home, where a friend recalled a news report about monocles being stolen from a UA building. Schock turned the monocles over the UAPD, returning stolen property that was valued at an estimated $10,000.
The Partners with Our Community awards will be presented at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 (today!) at the University of Arizona Police Department, 1852 E. First St.
What do you think?
Do you report crimes in progress or just go on your merry way?
Do you know any other heroes who helped authorities with reporting, identifying or researching criminal activity?
by Rynski on Nov.16, 2009, under Rynski's Blogski, Stupidity, danger, life
Everybody must get drunk – alcohol companies try to make sure of that
If boring old beer is no longer enough for you, advanced alcoholic products on the market now offer several different ways to get drunk.
Is he low-carbing it?/Ryn Gargulinski
Yes, beverage companies will definitely go out of their way to insure there’s a feasible way for everyone to get slammed, skewed, tipsy or torrentially wasted.
Wouldn’t want to miss those sales, now.
Folks who want to boost their buzz by drinking something that mixes alcohol with stimulants, like caffeine and guarana, can go for the alcohol energy drinks.
Think Red Bull meets Budweiser, perhaps.
But you better drink up quick. It finally came to someone’s attention that the combination of alcohol and stimulants may not be safe.
Really? But people have been popping uppers or snorting coke with alcohol for years. Only some of them die. What’s the harm with a little alcohol in an energy drink?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a Nov. 12 letter to 30 of these energy drink companies, giving them 30 days to prove that alcohol and caffeine do, indeed, safely mix.
Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, along with other AGs, sent a letter to the FDA some time back, asking the agency to look into this combination, according to a news release from his office.
How many calories would have been saved with LITE?/Ryn Gargulinski
“Scientists and medical professionals who have conducted research in this area stated that the use of caffeine and other stimulants as additives to alcoholic beverages poses public health and safety risks,” the release said.
“The scientists pointed to recent studies that confirm that caffeine appears to mask, but not reduce, the intoxicating effects of alcohol. Combining alcohol and caffeine may lead to increased risk-taking and other alcohol-related problems such as traffic accidents, violence, sexual assault and suicide.”
The release also noted the target audience for these alcohol energy drinks are the younger crowd, who habitually don’t think about things like risking their lives when they are trying to get blitzed.
If alcohol energy drinks are too risky for you – or you are watching your weight – you can always join the fray of “diet” beer drinkers.
For the health conscious, the big buzz has been low carb beers. This way you can make sure to maintain your six-pack abs as you slam a six pack of brews. Lite beers are old hat. We now need the low carb versions.
While companies at first labeled anything that was light as “low carb,” the U.S. Treasury Department Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax & Trade set standards about five years back, according to a report at BellaOnline.com.
Official “low carb” beers must have less than 7 grams of carbohydrates, but nothing stops other pale brews being labeled as “lower carb” or “reduced carb” – as long as they have lower carbs than their original brews.
We’re waiting for other advanced alcohol products, such as beer for pregnant or nursing mothers and beer especially brewed for athletes and bus drivers to enhance their performance on the job.
What do you think?
Are you going to try the alcohol energy drinks – or have you already – before they may get pulled off the market?
Do you think the FDA is being silly with its claims of the combo being unsafe?
Do you stick to your workout while drinking low carb brews?
Are alcohol companies getting ridiculous or do you think it’s smart for them to target different sectors of the population?
by Rynski on Nov.13, 2009, under Police/fire/law, Rynski column, Rynski's Blogski, crime, danger, death, gross stuff, life
Kids who kill their parents – Is it ever justified?
Kids certainly don’t always get along with their parents. But we hope the tension never turns ugly enough for the kids to haul off and kill them.
Kevin Black/submitted photo
Such was allegedly the case earlier this week when 50-year old Kevin Black reportedly shot and killed his stepfather, Kenneth Phipps, 76.
Mom was in the house at the time of the shooting, although she is bedridden and suffers from dementia, police said. Black’s half-sister, age 47, was also there; she’s the one who ran outside yelling for help.
Police said the fatal shooting came during an argument between stepfather and son about Black walking around the house wearing a gun belt. Black had also been on the police’s radar in the past for stealing things from his family to feed his drug habit.
Kids who kill off their parents or stepparents usually do so a tad earlier than the age of 50 – since the younger kids can’t just pick up and leave as an adult can – but no matter what the age, the outcome is just as tragic.
Some of the most recent statistics, which are already 20 years old, determined more than 300 parents were killed by their children each year between 1977 and 1986. That’s about 25 dead moms or pops each month. Compared to other murders, that’s also very rare.
Parent-killing children generally fall into three types, according to parricide expert Kathleen Heide.
Sidewalk art anonymous/Photo Ryn Gargulinski
We have the kids who were cruelly abused; those who are suffering from mental illness; and the most dangerous of the bunch – the uncaring and selfish children afflicted with an antisocial personality disorder. This disorder is marked with, among other things, a blatant disregard of pretty much everyone’s rights but their own.
Never mind the commandment about honoring thy father and mother, kids who murder their parents are already breaking an even bigger rule.
Lizzie Borden was perhaps the most notorious of suspected parent killers, although she was acquitted of the 1892 crime.
Tensions were high in the Borden household when Lizzie purportedly hacked her dad and stepmother to death with an axe, some say after poisoning them didn’t work. One theory is it had something to do with seizures she was having during her menstrual cycle.
The Menendez brothers, who were convicted of gunning down their parents in 1989, are also up there on the notoriety list. Although they were brought up in a mansion and both college students when the crime went down, there are claims their dad was too tough on them.
By all means, then, shoot him.
It was later learned the double murder may have been all about the money.
My current true crime read, Cold Kill, is in the midst of outlining another slain parents tale of woe in 1982.
Adult child Cindy Ray Campbell spun skeins of delusional lies about how horribly her parents had treated her growing up. She was chained to the toilet. She was repeatedly raped.
Her boyfriend David West believed the lies. He also believed he’d get half her inheritance if he helped out his gal. So she finally convinced him to blow them away as they slept.
While we may not know every detail in these crimes, like what the heck goes through a child’s head when he pulls the trigger or she wields that ax, we do know that society’s view of parricide has gotten softer.
What once was totally and horrendously unthinkable is now, well, perhaps in some cases nearly justifiable.
A case in point is Billie Joe Powell, 16, who reportedly shot and killed her dad after he had allegedly abused her. Her Ohio community banned together with petitions and support to attempt to get her tried as a juvenile rather than an adult so she’d get a more lenient sentence.
How nice of them.
The judge was nice about it, too, not sentencing Powell to any prison term. Her 1993 plea agreement had her pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in exchange for 88 days in jail, five years probation and four years of psychological counseling.
So does the abuse of a child condone the murder of a father? We have to wonder if anything is horrific enough for a kid to take his parent’s life, the same life that brought him into the world in the first place.
Ryn Gargulinski is a poet, artist, performer and TucsonCitizen.com Ryngmaster who wants to stay at the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast in Fall River, Mass. It’s supposed to be haunted. Her column appears every Friday on Rynski’s Blogski. Her art, writing and more is at RynRules.com. E-mail rynski@tucsoncitizen.com.
What do you think?
Is there anything that would justify a child killing his or her parents?
Do you like Lizzie Borden?
Have you heard any other horror stories? Do tell.
by Rynski on Nov.12, 2009, under Pets/animals, Rynski's Blogski, life, notable folks, technology
Meet a cool Tucsonan: One crafty dog walker
Abigail on her evening dog ride/Ryn Gargulinski
Anyone who has ever tried walking more than one dog – or even one stubborn dog – knows the task can be quite a challenge.
One Tucsonan was innovative enough to figure out how to walk six – without even breaking a sweat.
Crafty Abigail hooked up a tricycle, complete with a hook that accommodates six separate leashes, when summer treks got too hot to keep up with the half-dozen dogs.
Abigail was wary of the bicycle thing, as dogs like to dart away at the first glimpse of a rabbit or in front of the tires as their mood permits. Others, like Sawyer, will run along fine beside a bicycle until he suddenly decides he is going to sit – while I’m still pedaling.
But Abigail’s trike has been heavenly. Or as heavenly as it can be, as six dogs are quite a handful. They sometimes still get jumbled, but no one, namely Abigail, gets pulled down a gully or hauled off into the wash.
The biter/Ryn Gargulinski
Two of the pooches belong to her daughters. One is looking for a new home.
“He’s spoiled,” she said of the dog that is up for adoption, a cute black and white little thing. “And he bites people. I gave him to my daughters and he bit four people in one week. They gave him back.”
Abigail said the puffy little doggie especially has a vendetta for men. The men who get bit, however, usually try to act manly and tough, she said, but there were a few who whined about it.
“The dog needs a home with someone who has no job and no life and can devote every second to him,” Abigail said.
In the meantime, the sextet runs along in glee into the Rillito River sunset.
Abigail and crew ride off Into the sunset/Ryn Gargulinski
Dog jumble and Sawyer's snout at front of the trike/Ryn Gargulinski
What do you think?
Do you know anyone who has hooked up innovative things to suit their needs?
Have you ever tried bicycling with a dog? What about roller blading or skate boarding?
Have you seen others try it and fall on their noggins?
Enjoy the ride/Ryn Gargulinski
by Rynski on Nov.11, 2009, under Police/fire/law, environment, life
Help Wanted: Someone in southern Arizona is actually hiring
Recruitment is on for one of the most heroic jobs out there – but you must be cute, strong and willing to risk your life for total strangers.
These kids got the cute down pat/Ryn Gargulinski
Well, you don’t technically have to be cute – but you do have to pass a physical and be willing to put your life on the line when duty calls to apply for a position as a Northwest Fire District firefighter.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old; have a valid driver’s license and at least a high school diploma or GED; get certified in CPR and as an EMT and, of course, be willing to swoop into burning buildings in a single bound. Northwest is expecting to hire for at least 10 positions. See more details under “Firefighter Recruitment” at NorthwestFire.org.
Other ideal characteristics for a firefighter include a willingness to spend long nights away from home, having an adaptable sleep pattern and being a very good cook. My grandpa John was a Detroit fire chief who was known around town as the Kielbasa King.
Even in the crappiest of economies, certain occupations will continue to be in need.
Firefighters are definitely one of them. Others include funeral directors, doctors, garbage collectors and hair stylists. No matter how bad it gets, folks still want a good haircut.
A list from Money Magazine posted on FiveCentNickel.com includes a number of other careers that will never go out of style – and are even growing in demand. Thank goodness the list includes hydrologist:
Some jobs are not going up in smoke/Ryn Gargulinski
1. Financial adviser – 47% growth rate – $74,000 median income
2. Software program manager – 29% growth rate – $103,000 median income
3. Database administrator – 29% growth rate – $77,000 median income
4. Physical therapist – 27% growth rate – $67,000 median income
5. Physician’s assistant – 25% growth rate – $84,000 median income
6. Environmental specialist – 25% growth rate – $53,000 median income
7. Hydrologist – 24% growth rate – $59,600 median income
8. College professor – 23% growth rate – $79,000 median income
9. Certified public accountant – 18% growth rate – $64,000 median income
10. Teacher – 12% growth rate – $48,000 median income
If we analyze the list, it’s a very telling tale of our society.
We’re living longer and becoming unhealthier as we sit in front of computers all day – hence the need for medical positions and computer software and database experts.
We are also squirreling away our money instead of enjoying it, hence the financial advisors and accountants.
Teachers and professors are always a plus – we can chuck our children at them instead of raising them ourselves. We can also continue to rape the environment and wreak havoc on the water supply, since there will be a steady stream of environment specialists and hydrologists to clean up after us.
Writer Clare Kaufman also noted an ongoing and future need for high security corrections officers and sales associates, especially those in the pharmaceutical industry.
This means we can keep throwing people in prison and buying, buying, buying things – especially those prescription drugs that make it easier to ignore everything else.
Oh, yes, and we can also burn the house down. As long as our fire departments keeps those positions fully filled.
What do you think?
What other careers are always in demand? Is yours one of them?
What careers are going quickly out of style?
by Rynski on Nov.10, 2009, under art, danger, gross stuff, life, movies
The good, the bad, the ugly: Pumpkin winner, Paranormal Activity review and demonic possession
What do pumpkins, demons and a really crummy movie have in common? They are all mentioned in this post. Enjoy.
AZMouse's prize mini sugar skull/Art and photo Ryn Gargulinski
The good
Congrats to AZMouse for winning TC.com’s Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Her scary scarecrow and coyly peeking pumpkin took the win with 39 percent of the 33 votes. Jennatoolz’s Hungry Demon was a close second with 36 percent, while entries from KoreyK and Radmax tied at 12 percent each.
Thanks so much to all who entered their creative creations. Sawyer says AZMouse wins Rynart — a mini sugar skull named Terry Jr., which I fashioned after the Terry Sr. skull she admired in a previous post (unless, of course, she would prefer burnt pumpkin seeds).
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The bad
Paranormal Activity has been running away with box office sales. More than 1 million folks voted for the movie to go nationwide after its debut as a midnight-only flick in limited areas. Roger Ebert calls it “an ingenious horror film. It’s so well made it’s truly scary.”
Are folks so used to today’s incredibly wide array of crappy films that Paranormal Activity actually looks good?
This flick features a young couple who have enough cash to buy a house in San Diego although they never seem to go to work. They are too busy playing around with a video camera to try and capture the evil force they believe is invading their home and has been following the chick around her whole life. Ninety-nine percent of the movie is watching them sleep – or at least try to.
Even if the stars of the flick can’t sleep as some invisible, three-toed demon tramps through talcum powder down their hallway, the audience certainly can.
Paranormal Activity is truly a yawn. Yes, the premise is thrilling – what’s not to like about the possibility of demonic possession? But the execution is not. In fact, you kind of hope there will be an execution to speed things up a bit.
Perhaps that’s a bit unfair. The audience does stay awake. It’s hard to sleep, after all, when we were treated to that same choppy, disoriented, and headache-inducing camera work that has unfortunately become so popular following the Blair Witch Project.
You know the stuff: unfocused images, zooms to the corner of the ceiling, watching people’s torsos while they speak since the camera just so happens to be focused on their abdomens rather than their faces. It’s enough to make you seasick.
Highlight: Hope. Hope is the only thing keeping the audience alive. You hope something will soon happen. You hope you’ll get to see the three-toed demon. You hope this thing is winding down already.
Lowlight: Not being able to take a bathroom break since you don’t want to miss the possibility of some three seconds of action that you hope will happen soon.
Another lowlight: Rumor has it Paramount is talking about a sequel. Jaws 5, anyone?
Rating (1 to 10): 3.
While it’s not the worst movie I’ve seen lately, we are still annoyed we didn’t opt for our second choice about the weed-eating zombies.
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Demonic possession may sound fun but really isn't/Art and photo Ryn Gargulinski
The ugly
Demonic possession, although a thrilling concept, is not a very pretty thing. It’s quite rare, but common enough to pay attention. Below please find several warning signs of demonic possession taken from the very lengthy lists at Foundation for the Study of Paranormal Phenomena.
The site also warns: “Never mention to someone undergoing personality changes that they might be possessed. You can plant a dangerous seed by doing that.”
You may also offend them, no?
Hey, Ethel, you’re not acting like your usual self. Are you maybe possessed by a demon?
Warning signs of demonic possession:
Changes in personality, sleep patterns, weight gains or loss, lots of cussing, preoccupation with sex and aversion to religious objects or going to church.
Bad hygiene, change in what they eat or how they dress, outbursts of violence and hurling cats against the wall, nightmares and peeing on themselves.
Change in eye color, hair color, facial features, a habit of “gliding” along instead of walking, suddenly blessed with many talents, such as moving objects around a room, speaking languages they never studied or being able to levitate.
Have a nice day.
What do you think?
Did you see Paranormal Activity? Are you going to?
Is it worth all the hoopla?
What’s the best demonic movie possession you’ve seen?
Did you ever meet someone possessed by a demon?
by Rynski on Nov.09, 2009, under Rynski's Blogski, art, death, life
All Souls Procession wows once again – slide show and poem
Taking photos of Tucson’s annual All Souls Procession is like owning dogs or eating salted peanuts – you certainly can’t stop at just one.
Don’t fret, as I shan’t post all 195 photos I snapped of the event, but I will give you my top 40 as the phrase has a ring to it.
Yes, I’m a photo junkie. But it’s much healthier than heroin.
Enjoy. My beau and I certainly did. Now I have Monday off to recover from the festivities and staying up late to post these photos.
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The procession kicked off at Epic Cafe, at Fourth Avenue and University Place, and culminated at the Franklin Street docks.
I ended up with only one photo of the Tucson Citizen newspaper gang, as I was too busy waving to all those Citizen folks I dearly miss – and getting a big hug from a dapperly yet deathly dressed Renee Schafer-Horton. She makes a cute corpse. Good job on the tribute, guys. I miss your laughter.
BONUS: ALL SOULS PROCESSION POEM
EMBRACEABLE CORPSE
a cute corpse hugged
me on Sunday night as I
drank in the All Souls
Procession she left white
makeup on my chin and –
it was quite an honor to
connect with the souls of the
dead – who thrive on the
other side – where we’re
stripped down of flesh
blood and limb and –
left with what
really
matters.
-Ryn Gargulinski.11.2009
So, were you among the thousands who enjoyed the Sunday evening procession?
What was your favorite costume/outfit/puppet/sight?
Did you see the three legged dog?
What death would you or did you honor in the procession?
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