Greed:	Medium
Gluttony:	Medium
Wrath:	Medium
Sloth:	High
Envy:	Very Low
Lust:	Medium
Pride:	Very Low

The Seven Deadly Sins Quiz on 4degreez.com

Marmee, in all of the film versions of Little Women.  I especially like Mary Astor in the 1949 version.

Here's another meme. I really thought my total would be higher. I'm more boring than I thought. ; )

Just read the 'offense' and if you've done it, you owe that fine. Keep going until you've read each 'offense' and added up your total fine. Title your bulletin 'My Bail is $........' You don't have to confess your answers, just the amount of your fine.


1) Smoked pot -- $10
2) Ever got drunk at work, or went to work while still drunk --$50
3) Cheated on your significant other -- $10
4) Been in love with two people or more at the same time -- $50
5) Said you love someone but didn't mean it -- $25
6) Went streaking -- $5
7) Went streaking in broad daylight -- $15
8) Kissed a co-worker-- $ 20
9) Kissed your boss --$50
10) Been arrested -- $5
11) Spent time in jail -- $15
12) Peed in the pool -- $5
13) Played spin the bottle -- $5
14) Done something you regret -- $20
15) Slept with your best friend -- $20
16) Been in love with a stripper -- $20
17) Went skinny dipping -- $5
18) Been slapped-- $5
19) Slapped someone-- $5
20) Beat up someone -- $20
21) Been jumped -- $10
22) Ever had sex at church -- $25
23) Dated someone you met online -- $25
24) Cheated on test -- $50
25) Vandalized something -- $20
26) Slept with someone in your parents' bed -- $100
27) Crossed dressed -- $10
28) Given money to stripper -- $25
29) Flirted with an officer to get out of a ticket-- $30
30) Been in love with a stripper -- $20
31) Kissed some one who's name you didn't know --$10
32) Hit on some one of the same sex while at work-- $15
33) Ever drive drunk -- $20
34) Used toys while having sex -- $30
35) Got drunk, passed out and don't remember the night before -- $20
36) Had sex in a pool -- $20
37) Masturbated -- $10
38) Cheated on your significant other with their relative or close friend --$20
39) Done oral -- $5
40) Got oral -- $5
41) Done / got oral in a car while it was moving-- $25
42) Woke up in the morning and did not know the person who was next to you-- $40
43) Stole something -- $10
44) Slept with someone who has been in jail -- $25
45) Made a dirty home video -- $15
46) Plan on making a dirty home video in the near future --$30
47) Had a threesome -- $50
48) Had sex in a public place-- $20
49) Been in the same room while someone was having sex -- $25
50) Stole something worth more than a hundred dollars --$20
51) Had sex with someone 10 years older -- $20
52) Kissed a teacher while you were still a student--$25
53) Lied to your mate -- $5
54) Lied to your mate about the sex being good -- $25

Today we celebrate the life of a flawed but visionary artist.  A person, who was not perfect, but tried to make the world a better place.

I can't help but wonder what John would've thought of the mess the world is in today.

Activism and involvement is down and people are meaner and more selfish than ever.

Sure, we talk about the environment and the economy and the war.  But it's ever so much easier to let someone else take care of things.  Or if we feel we must absolutely do something, we write a check.  We throw money at our cause; as much to ease our own conscience as to actually help.

I've spent quite a bit of time thinking today about what causes are important to me.  I like to think that I've taken action, but realistically, I've made token efforts.  Maybe, this self-reflection will lead to change.  I'm going to make a concerted effort to be more active and informed.  I hope I can stick with it.

Imagine.

"Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?" - Ernest Gaines

We would like to know who really believes in gay rights on livejournal. There is no bribe of a miracle or anything like that. If you truly believe in gay rights, then repost this and title the post as "Gay Rights". If you don't believe in gay rights, then just ignore this. Thanks.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.

I don't know what it is about the holidays, but I always feel more charitable.

Another cause near and dear to my heart is the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.  Toys for Tots began in 1947 and my mother's family has been donating toys for nearly that long.  My Uncle Donnie was a Marine.  He served in Korea and in Vietnam.  When he joined in the early 1950s, the family began supporting this worthy cause.

So, maybe this year, even though times are tough, you might consider donating just one toy.  Believe me, it will make a difference.

www.toysfortots.org

For those of you celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow:

Perhaps, after dinner, when the table has been cleared, the whole family could take a few minutes to sit down and sign a few cards to send.

I'm bringing a few boxes of cards to our gathering and I'm going to ask my family to do just that.  With everyone helping, it shouldn't take long.  And it might just give us all a little bit of time to truly be thankful on Thanksgiving day.

No matter what your personal feelings about the war in Iraq, please take a moment to think of the men and women serving our country abroad during this holiday season.  Remember war is political, the service personnel are not.

Please read the info below about sending Holiday cards to support our military…If you’d like, you can check out more specifics by going to the American Red Cross Web-Site at www.redcross.org.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

From the front lines to the home front, the American Red Cross provides service members, their families and veterans with the care and assistance they need.

The Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes this holiday season for the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. For the second year in a row, we’re collecting holiday cards to distribute to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world. Pitney Bowes is generously donating technology, resources and postage to make this holiday card program possible.

Our goal is to collect and distribute one million holiday cards to spread holiday cheer and facilitate thanks to these brave individuals and families.

Please send cards to this address, following the guidelines listed below:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Card Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when mailing a card to ensure that your card will quickly reach service members, veterans and their families. Every card received will first be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working in one of 16 sorting stations around the country.

* All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.
* Participants are encouraged to limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group. If you are mailing a larger quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes. Each card does not need its own envelope or postage.
* Please ensure that all cards are signed.
* Please use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
* Please send cards as opposed to long letters which delay a quick review process.
* Please do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
* Please do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
* All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts, including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums.

It has been 17 years since we lost one of the greatest entertainers of our time.

I wish Queen and Paul Rogers all the success in the world with the new album, but no one can ever replace Freddie.

A Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain to all my friends.

Enjoy and be safe no matter how you celebrate!

Son of Dracula (1943) d. Robert Siodmak
Starring Lon Chaney, Jr., Louise Albritton, Frank Craven and J. Edward Bromberg

This was a pleasant surprise. I was expecting a really cheesy 1940s horror flick. The film, in spite of fairly uninspired casting, is much more original and atmospheric than others of the same era. Lon Chaney, Jr., most famous for his portray of the Wolfman, is really quite good as Count Alucard. He doesn't try to fake an accent, even though he's mentioned to be from the Carpathians and he doesn't try to over act the part. He is restrained and menacing and I was impressed. Frank Craven as the local doctor carries the bulk of the narrative with the Count and his intended have relatively little screen time. The story is also moved from the familiar European locales of others of the genre, to a creepy plantation in the American South. Standing in for Van Helsing is the equally knowlegeable Professor Lazlo. The use of light and shadow add to the atmosphere and the special effects are quite good. Most importantly, the surprise ending sets this apart from many other films of the same ilk.

Watched on October 4 as part of the octobermovie challenge.
Crossposted.

Dracula's Daughter (1936) d. Lambert Hillyer
Starring Gloria Holden, Otto Kruger, Irving Pichel and Edward Van Sloan

Dracula's Daughter picks up right where Dracula leaves off. The bodies of Renfield and the Count have been discovered at Carfax Abbey. Van Helsing is still at the scene and finds he must defend himself for the murder of Count Dracula.
Enter the mysterious Countess Zeleska. She is portrayed by Gloria Holden. Her performance is eerie and her delivery of dialogue has the deliberateness that was the hallmark of Lugosi's Dracula. Edward Van Sloan reprises his role from the original film. Otto Kruger is the psychiatrist who Van Helsing consults instead of legal cousel. Kruger is marvelous as a doctor, but too cold as a romantic lead. His love interest, Janet, played by Marguerite Churchill is just irritating and not likable at all.
The most interesting thing about this film, is that in Countess Zeleska we find one of the earliest instances of the reluctant vampire that is so prevalent in modern vampire mythology. She wants to coerce Dr. Garth to help her overcome her vapiric curse much in the way that Barnabas Collins turned to Dr. Julia Hoffman in Dark Shadows or Nick Knight turned to Dr. Natalie Lambert in Forever Knight.
At only 71 minutes, it moves fairly swiftly and incorporates many elements introduced in the original. There is the obligatory exposition speech by Van Helsing in which he explains vampire mythos; ie. native soil, no reflection, etc.
It is a pleasant enough diversion and a fairly worthy successor to the original.

This was viewed on October 3 as part of the octobermovie challenge.
Crossposted.

Drácula (1931) d. George Melford
Starring Carlos Villarias, Pablo Alvarez Rubio, Lupita Tovar

This Spanish language version was shot simultaneously at Universal using the same sets and script as the classic starring Bela Lugosi. This version is as ominous and moody as the Browning film yet is a fully different film. Unfortunately, in spite of a more fluid camera, the film suffers as Villarias is not as strong as the title character. In some situations he seems cheesy, he smiles too broadly and too often. The strongest acting comes from Pablo Alvarez Rubio as Renfield. His performance, while different from that of Dwight Frye, is just as riveting. He steals the film. There is a marked difference in costuming. The young ladies, Eva and Lucia wear much more revealing outfits than their English speaking counterparts.
All in all, it is an interesting study in film direction; to see how two different directors can take the same script and sets and make two differing films. Both films have their merits and are well worth the time.

I watched this on October 2 as part of the octobermovie challenge.

I have recently taken on the octobermovie challenge to watch a different horror movie every day in October. This is the first movie of the month. I will be cross posting my thoughts here.

Dracula (1931) d. Tod Browning
Starring Bela Lugosi, Dwight Frye, David Manners, Helen Chandler

This is the classic that came to define the vampire myth for decades to come. It is a marvelously atmospheric film, but it is strange experience for the modern viewer. It's hard to imagine the experience of the 1931 audience. Today, even people who have no interest in seeing the film are familiar with the myth and the visual style associated with it. This familiarity takes much of the surprise out of the film for a modern viewer. It is an unusual film, shot in a manner reminiscent of silent films but with so many wonderful quotable lines. The lack of an underlying musical score is unsettling.
The film is short, only 75 minutes, but it seems longer. Most of the best and most memorable moments are in the first half. The characters of Dr. Seward, Mina, Harker and Van Helsing are boring in contrast with the performances of Dwight Frye as Renfield and Bela Lugosi as the Count. Those two characters make the film.
I had not watched this in many years. I was struck by the fact that I was still engrossed in the story in spite of the familiarity. Lugosi dominates every scene in which he appears, as does Frye in his scenes. The other characters are dull. David Manners, in particular is grating as Harker. I've enjoyed his performances in other films, but I really found him almost dislikable here. The female characters, Mina and Lucy, are unmemorable. Overall, I enjoyed revisiting this classic and revelling in the beginnings of a cultural phenomenon.