Psychic & Health Fair in Champaign Urbana on January 24, 2009

Saturday, January 24, 2009

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Psychic & Health Fair

Location: Beads N Botanicals,

117 North Broadway, Urbana. IL 61801

Come and Join Us!

Psychics, Tarot Readers, Reiki, Reflexology and more.

$20 per session. Register at the door.

For more information call 217-365-9355

VICTORY IS MINE!

Finally! I have defeated the offending Virtumonde (a.k.a. Vundo) virus. All it took in the end was the removal of my old Java software, the installation of the latest Java software, and a thorough sweep of my hard drive with Spyware Doctor. Now that I can work without my computer lagging and without a dozen pop ups continuing to pop up every few seconds, I am ready to get back to work on the Vault!

But first... I am going to go see "The Spirit" with some of my friends. Though it has gotten panned by critics fairly extensively, I am still game to see this flick. I mean, c'mon, how bad can it be? It has to better than "Twilight" right? ..... it has to be.....

Anyway, Happy New Year b-movie fans! Stay tuned for some updates to the site!

Merry Belated Christmas; sorry for lack of updates.

First off, MERRY CHRISTMAS (only a few days late, but it's the thought that counts)!

Secondly, I have been battling a pesky virus (Virtumonde and some of its kin to be exact) since Monday and despite my best efforts, the bastard is still running rampant on my computer. Thankfully, due to the use of two anti-virus programs and multiple spyware and malware removers, I have got this b*tch on the ropes, but I still can't seem to fully wipe it out. It's like Darkman: You think you kill him, then he pops up somewhere else! ARGH!!!

This battle has been going on for days, and I'm running out of programs to utilize. Currently, this digital pest is only being annoying and throwing pop ups around on the screen, and hopefully, I'll have it copmletely vanquished soon, so that I can once again enjoy surfing the web and working on the Vault.

Wish me luck, pray for some new updates to the site, and have a wonderful New Year!

Bogart's closes its doors - News

Bogart's closes its doors - News

I was surfing the web and found this old news article at the Daily Illini. Thought it was interesting because many people say we're about as close as it gets to the old Bogart's. Although we do NOT offer piercing services, Beads N Botanicals does offer body jewelry, as well as more than a couple of hundred types of hand-dipped incense that we make right in Urbana, handblended oils, handmade candles, jewelry, crystals and more.

New "My Bloody Valentine 3-D" TV Spot. This movie is gonna ROCK!

I am a fan of the original 1981 "My Bloody Valentine" (read my review of it here) and I was stoked when I heard of the remake. I've been following the news on it and here's what I've been hearing: The movie is gory as hell, fun as hell, and really pushes its R-rating! On top of that, the original 1981 classic is coming out UNCUT on DVD courtesy of Lionsgate (here's a sincere "f*ck you" to Paramount for chopping up this oft-forgotten slasher classic nearly three decades ago), so I am totally freakin' excited for mid-January.

Then I saw the new TV Spot and I lost all control! Check it out for yourself and tell me that this movie does not look like its going to be a blast. I dare you!



"My Bloody Valentine 3-D" hits theaters on January 16th (mainly because the powerhouse that is "Friday the 13th" comes out next February and would most surely crush this fellow slasher remake); the Special Edition DVD of the original hits stores January 13th. I can't wait!

"The Bum" reviews "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

I'm really loving this stuff; I particularly enjoy how this guy slams the movie while seeming to be so enthusiastically smitten with it. It's pure gold. Oh and keep an eye out for a bunch of nods to "Bill and Ted."

I am closer to posting the December Genre Watch (which is really really late I know). Expect to see it at the Vault this weekend.

Oh and in case you weren't counting down the days: 7 shopping days left to Christmas Armageddon!

Chester A. Bum reviews "Twilight."

Hilarious stuff from ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com:


Visit the site and be sure to check out all the other stuff, especially the "Nostalgia Critic" (I remember it, so you don't have to.). Also swing by Cinemassacre.com and check out all the cool videos there, in particular, the Angry Video Game Nerd series. Good stuff!

New Genre Watch coming soon!

Just wanted to pop in and announce that the December issue of Genre Watch is on its way. A little late I know, but that couldn't be helped; I've been preoccupied with decorating, buying gifts, and all the usual junk that occurs around this time of year (plus I just picked up "Fallout 3" the other day and have pumped a good seven or eight hours into it). But fear not, for I have plenty of new content in the works and will work hard to get it posted on the site before Christmas.

Look for the December issue of the BMFV Genre Watch later this week.

And just a reminder: There are only SEVEN shopping days left until Christmas. If you haven't started yet, you may want to. For your own safety, may I suggest shopping online? Avoid the lines, arguments, and fistfights by shopping at online merchants like AMAZON.COM (cough, cough)!

Good luck with your holiday preparations b-movie fans. I'll blog ya later!

New capsule review for "Twilight" (2008) is up at the Vault!

Yeah yeah, I saw this freakin' movie, so sue me. My girlfriend dragged me to the theater (quite literally) and I had very low expectations. That is probably why I didn't completely hate (or love) "Twilight." The film has a few glaring problems (as does the source material which claims that vampires are not destroyed by sunlight, but merely become glittery fairies when hit with direct UV rays), but overall it's watchable and not too awful. I'd say it's pretty much for teenage girls and fans of the books (who are primarily, GASP!, teenage girls). Check out my review HERE.

I have a lot more stuff in the works for the site and I plan on jamming this month with a lot of updates. I'm hoping to complete three more reviews, my December Genre Watch article, and an all new section for the Vault. Keep an eye out for all of that over the next few weeks.

Oh and there's less than three weeks left to get your Christmas shopping done, so get to it b-movie fans!

Beads N Botanicals Joins Art HooHa 2008 In Urbana, IL

Beads N Botanicals is excited to participate in this year's 6th Annual ArtHooHa.

In addition to all of our own wonderful handmade jewelry, candles, soaps, incense and oils, we are proud to feature an exhibit of photographs by local photographer, Tara Allen.

Her images include black & white and color photographs of nature, motorcycles and more. This image is her Black & White Rain Bell.

Not only will you be able to view this talented photographer's works, you can also purchase them.

We also welcome the artistry of Marlitta who works with beads, feathers, wood and antlers to create unique smudge feathers, smudge fans, feather ties, dream catchers and other nature-inspired craftwork.

The Art HooHa was created as an opportunity for people in the community to buy locally made artwork to give (or keep!) during the holidays. Come check out the studios, the artwork, and meet the artists in a relaxed atmosphere, have a cookie, browse, shop, move on to the next spot. It's easy!Art HooHa 2008 will feature art and fine crafts for show and sale by local artists who have joined to schedule open studios, home shows, and special gallery hours on the same weekend. Like last year,each artist is contributing to a fund that will go to Arts Education in Champaign-Urbana. (Each location will have a donation jar available for anyone who like to chip in as well.) The money will be donated to Champaign-Urbana Schools Foundation to be used toward an arts-related grant.

Art HooHa is an unofficial celebration of our creative community and an opportunity to support artists while you find unique gifts for your holiday list (or for yourself). We hope you enjoy our little event and its relaxed atmosphere where you can check out both the goods and the studios, nibble on some cheese, shop for presents and have fun. Bring your friends.

ArtHooHa 2008!
8 locations in Urbana
Friday Night, December 5th (6:00 - 9:00)

Saturday, December 6th (11:00 - 6:00)

Maps and more info at www.artHooHa.com

Hooey Batiks Open House
905 S Lynn Street, Urbana
• Jill Miller / Hooey Batiks - Batiked clothing, pillows, scarves
• Deborah Fell - Art quilts, hand-dyed clothing, fiber items, silk scarves and mini art pieces
• Georgia Morgan - Polymer clay jewelry
• Wild Wimmin Craft Collective - desktop and pocket shrines, assemblage art, non-traditional wreaths, jewelry and other beaded/bejeweled baubles & whimsies

Firefly Jewels Open House
712 S Maple Street, Urbana
• Athan Chilton/Firefly Jewels - Glass beads, jewelry, leatherwork
• Julie Watkins/Garnets and Glass - Beaded jewelry
• Melinda Willis - Hand carved ceramic beads, small vessels

Dragonfly Press
*Saturday only*
2108 S Vine Street, Urbana
(217) 367-8931
• Rosalind Faiman Weinberg - Painting, Drawing, Printmaking

Glasslake Studio
2908 E Main St reet, Urbana
• Barrie Bredemeier - Hand blown glass
(Glasslake Studio web site)

Griggs Street Potters
(Gallery and Studio)
305 West Griggs Street, Urbana
344-8546
• Charlene Anchor
• Betsey Cronan
• Reni Franciscono

Beads N Botanicals
Open Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
117 North Broadway Ave
(217) 365-9355

•Tara Allen's photography
• Handmade jewelry, perfume oil blends, candles, soaps, beading supplies, incense and more.
• Classes and Workshops available http://wiseweeds.blogspot.com

Butterfly Beads
1104 E Washington Street, Urbana
(217) 344-2323 (BEAD)
• Classes and Workshops available
(see Butterly Beads on Etsy)

Heartland Gallery
112 West Main Street, Urbana
(217) 337-4767
heartland-gallery@comcast.net
• Featuring art and fine crafts from the Celtic lands, traditional Indian and Latin American folk art from Kalarte Gallery and the work of over 35 local artists.
(Heartland Gallery web site)

New stuff coming soon.

Just a quick update before my girlfriend kicks me off of her computer. I have watched and taken notes on "Godmonster of Indian Flats." All I have to say is Wow...... just.... wow. I've seen some bad movies, but few are as unique as this obscurity. And the extras on the disc are just as weird as the feature film and seem really out of place. I guess Something Weird Video really likes to live up to their name.

In any case, I'll be working on a review for "Godmonster" this week, along with a capsule review for "The Ghouligans! Super Show." I've also begun work on a new section to the Vault (the WANTED ON DVD page) and I'm also in the process of getting the December edition of Genre Watch ready to go.

Well I've gotta go b-movie fans. Have a good "Cyber Monday;" lord knows it is safer to shop online than at Wal-Mart. (Especially on Black Friday.... the darkest day of horror the world has ever known.)

Blog ya later!

Issue #1 of The B-Movie Film Vault GENRE WATCH is online!

After weeks of tweaking code, painstakingly pouring through websites to get all the necessary info I needed, and putting it all into an easy to digest format, I am happy to present the first issue of The B-Movie Film Vault's GENRE WATCH! I'd tell you more about it, but I'm pretty darned tired and I think this new section of the Vault will speak for itself. Head on over and see what DVD, Blu-ray, and theatrical releases all of us cult and b-movie fans have to look forward to this month and feel free to leave a comment. Any feedback concerning the Genre Watch blog would be greatly appreciated.

Well g'night b-movie fans; I'll blog ya later!

Note on Nov. 19 Earring Class

Just a note: our Wednesday evening, November 19 Basic Wire Working: How to Make Earrings class is closed. If you want to take the class, please preregister and pay for the Saturday, Dec. 13 class.

For stringing classes, I will allow more than six people, but I prefer to be able to give folks a bit more attention with the wire working classes. The Dec. 13 will be our last scheduled earring class for 2008. Of course, we will be offering it once again in 2009, after the holidays.

We still have plenty of room in our upcoming bracelet and necklace design classes. But please, preregister AT LEAST two days before any of our beading and craft classes so I can make sure there is class space AND materials on hand to work with.

Remember, we provide all materials in our class fees. All classes are held at our shop at 117 N Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL 61801. Phone: 217-365-9355.

Where in the world is the Vault Master?

Currently sitting at home, about to get ready for work, and I'm still feeling pretty crappy. I've been hit by the flu and it is a powerful opponent. (I'd rank it well above the common cold and just below a full-blown case of "Captain Tripps.") In between painful coughing fits and frequent worshipping of the "porcelain god," I've been tinkering with the first issue of "Genre Watch" all week and I believe I'm about ready to put the remaining three-quarters of the article together and get it posted.

Once that's completed, I'm going to attempt to get some new reviews up on the site. In particular, I want to review a real "turkey" of a film for Thanksgiving, and thanks to visitors to the Vault, it looks like "Godmonster of Indian Flats" is the film of choice.

In any case, I gotta run. Stay tuned for some new stuff very soon b-movie fans!

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Beads N Botanicals In Urbana

Ribbon cutting at Beads N Botanicals(Pictured l to r, Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing,
Beads N Botanicals Owner Catherine Novak and Ethel Womble)

Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing officiated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new shop in downtown Urbana, Beads N Botanicals, at 117 N Broadway Ave.

Still recovering from Halloween weekend.

I'm still pretty tired from this past weekend. I didn't party hard, but I ate stuff that in great quantities, could probably kill lesser men. So much candy, and pizza, and wings, and cider, and hot cocoa, and soda, and Doritos, and... well, you get the idea.

I was going to do a bit o' writing last night but was way too tired, so I'm hoping that after work tonight, I'll be ready to sit down and get back to finishing up all the stuff I wanted to post in time for Halloween. (Which amounts to quite a bit actually, what with two capsule reviews, one full-length roundtable review, an article, and the premiere of Genre Watch all sitting there... STARING AT ME!)

So stay tuned for more updates b-movie fans; I'll blog ya later!

Tern Island Blog

I finally started my Tern Island blog. If you are interested in Midway, stay on this blog, but for my new adventures on another Northwestern Hawaiian Island, go to:

http://ternisland.blogspot.com/

News-Gazette article about Beads N Botanicals

Don't let the headline fool you! The article gives us a nice mention about our new location in Urbana, Il 61801

Store moves to Urbana

Beads N Botanicals, which sells scented products and beading supplies, has moved from Hoopeston to downtown Urbana.

Now at 117 N. Broadway Ave., the shop also offers classes and consultations with owner Catherine Novak.

Novak also operates Wise Weeds Botanicals, a handmade oils and incenses retail/wholesale business she has had for 16 years.

Novak first opened her store in Hoopeston three years ago. She decided to relocate to Urbana, she said, because she has lots of potential customers there who know her through the tarot card readings she does in the area.

Her new Urbana store sells crystals, beads, semiprecious stones, crystal stones and clusters, medicinal and culinary herbs, handmade jewelry, tarot cards, teas, incense, hand-blended oils, books, candles, custom-blended perfumes and bath products.

Classes focus on jewelry-making, beading, aromatherapy, medicinal herbs and personal development.

Novak said she is available for consultation about herbs, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, Reiki (a Japanese relaxation technique) and tarot readings.

For the complete
article check here.

Urbana Farmers Market Gets Ready to Heat Up

Tarot Readings by Phone


http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/2008/11/02/its_your_business_urbana_farmers_market_gets_ready_to_heat_up

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

WOOHOO! All Hallow's Eve is upon us; I'm about to head out to Kutztown to pick up my best friend and then we're headed to a Halloween party later this evening. I hope you all have a fun, happy, and safe Halloween. But before you go out and have a good time, be sure to watch the following commercial from my sponsors as Silver Shamrock Masks Inc. And be sure to wear your official skeleton, witch, or pumpkin mask while you watch this commercial for an EXTRA special surprise.



And here is an apparently horror film that we may never ever see on the big screen (what's the big deal Warner Bros?!). Enjoy the trailer for "Trick R' Treat!"



I have some stuff in the works for the Vault and should have some of it up tomorrow night. I was hoping to get it all posted for Halloween but my time was spent on other projects (Guitar Hero World Tour cough cough). So have a great night all you vamps and ghouls and I'll see you back at the Vault soon!

The Dance of the Harvest, Halloween, Samhain, Dia de Muertos

If you live in the city, you may not appreciate the change of seasons as much as those of us who live outside an urban area.

While I've always enjoyed the change of seasons (as a gardener, even in the city I paid attention to their passing), I especially notice them nowadays.

On my drive from Hoopeston, IL to my shop in Urbana this morning, I saw one of the huge harvesters just pouring down a shower of golden corn into a trailer. A glorious sight that brought home to me what all the acres of corn and soybeans are about.

Mind you, I tend to favor smaller, organic gardens and the concept of organic farms. Nonetheless, there is beauty in seeing the dance of the harvest on such a grand scale. Yet to produce this harvest, corn, soybean and other plants must die.

Halloween, Samhain, Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead), All Souls, are all holidays that, in their own way, celebrate the concept of harvest. The seed of the grain harvested this Autumn will not only feed people, cattle or fuel cars, it will give us future harvests when planted. Even in the death of the corn (or wheat) is found life. These holidays, which celebrate the dead, also acknowledge the living and our connection to the circle of life and death.

Many blessings to you and yours during this harvest season.

Evil Dead II.... Mentos Commercial

I didn't post anything Halloween-oriented yesterday, so here's the consolation prize: A short Mentos commercial parody made with footage from "Evil Dead II!"



I started cleaning up the house for my eminent (post) Halloween party and my god.... I lived in this filth for the last few weeks? My DVD collection had an inch of dust on it and that is inexcusable! In any case, I should have this place whipped into shape in another day or two, then I've gotta get some junk food and beverages for my guests on Sunday. This task will be a little hard to accomplish as I have Guitar Hero World Tour and the new MST3K boxed set arriving via UPS tomorrow, but I shall persevere and be 100% ready to watch some horror flicks and chow down on some copious amounts of chips, candy, pizza, wings, and whatever else I can get my hands on.

There's only a few more days left until Halloween, so you best be ready b-movie fans! Blog ya later!

The Life and Death of a Pumpkin plus other Halloween-oriented Youtube vids.

From the guys who came up with CHAD VADER comes this very odd and somewhat creepy tale of a pumpkin's sad and short lifespan.



Weird stuff eh? And here's a little clip from National Geographic explaining the origins of our favorite holiday:



Though I am against having Christmas-ish lights for Halloween, I have to admit that this is cool:



Well that's enough stuff for tonight. I need to get some shuteye because..... TOMORROW NIGHT IS MONDO MOVIE NIGHT AND THEY'RE SHOWING "DEEP RED" ON THE BIG SCREEN! WOOOOOHOOOOO! And yes, I will be writing up an article about that at the Vault... just in case you were wondering. Interested in going to the show? Tickets are $6.00; showtime is at 10 PM on Saturday, October 25th at the Endless Mountains Theatre, located on the Scranton-Carbondale Highway in Scranton, PA! Hope to see you there! Blog ya later b-movie fans!

Beads N Botanicals Class Schedule for Fall/Winter 2008 in Urbana, IL

BEADS N BOTANICALS Fall/Winter 2008 Classes in Urbana, IL

Please feel free to pass this information on to whomever you think might find it of interest. Please remember I am also offering tarot readings, herbal consultations, hypnotherapy for relaxation, behavior modification and past life regression, as well as Reiki energy heali
ng....Catherine

P.S. We will also be hosting a reflexologist, a Medium and other psychic readers by appointment.

Body/Mind/Spirit Classes Fall/Winter 2008
Held at Beads N Botanicals
117 N Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL 61801
217-365-9355
Please pre-register and pay for all jewelry making and craft classes
at least two days in advance of the actual class.

Wednesday, October 29
Basic Wire Working: How to Make Earrngs: A great starter class! You’ll make two pairs of earrings. Cost: $15, materials included. … 6 p.m. Please Note: This class is a pre-requisite for our Wire-Wrapping Pendants class.

Meditation for Relaxation … Cost: $5. Calm your mind and let go of stress, easily & effortlessly. 7:15 p.m.


Wednesday, November 5
Basic Stringing: Necklace Design: Want to learn how to put together a necklace, but not sure how to begin? Or, how to end it? Cost: $18, materials included. … 6 p.m.

Crystal Healing… Cost: $5… … 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, November 6
Introduction to Aromatherapy: Learn about aromatherapy--its historical and modern development. Discover the therapeutic uses of essential oils for healing, and why they work. Gain confidence in your own abilities to evaluate, purchase and blend essential oils.

Cost: $10… 6 p.m.

Saturday, November 8
Basic Wire Working: How to Make Earrings. Cost: $15, 1 hour, materials included … 11 a.m.

Making Solid Perfumes: Solid perfumes are spill proof and make great gifts, especially when they are made in nifty little containers
. Learn how easily basic solid perfumes can be made, for personal use and for gift giving…Cost: $18, materials included.…1 p.m.


Wednesday, November 12
Basic Stringing: Bracelet Design: Want to learn how to put together a bracelet, but not sure how to begin? Or, how to end it? $15, 1 hour, materials included. …6 p.m.

Basics of Psychic Protection … Cost: $5…7:15 p.m.

Thursday, November 13
Building Immunity Herbally: Find out about alternative approaches to building immunity. Learn how to fight colds
and flus. Includes information not only about appropriate herbs but also essential oils and other natural aids. Cost: $10…6 p.m.

Saturday, November 15
Basic Stringing: Necklace Design: Want to learn how to put together a necklace, but not sure how to begin? Or, how to end it? Cost: $18, 1 hour, materials included. …11 a.m.

Making Dream Pillows: Get a good night’s sleep by using herbs and oils to enhance sleep and dreaming…Cost: $10…1 p.m.


Wednesday, November 19
Basic Wire Working: How to Make Earrings. A great starter class! You’ll make two pairs of earrings.Cost: $15, 1 hour, materials included. … 6 p.m. Please Note: This class is a pre-requisite for our Wire-Wrapping Pendants class.

Tapping into Your Intuition … Cost: $5…7:15 p.m.

Thursday, November 20
Overcoming Stress Herbally: Find out about alternative approaches to overcoming stress. Distinguish between types of stress: resulting from overwork, physical injury or emotional upset. Includes information not only about appropriate herbs but also essential oils and other natural aids.… Cost: $10…6 p.m.

Saturday, November 22
Holiday Home Fragrancing Techniques …
11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Cost: free

Wednesday, December 3
Basic Bracelet Design … Cost: $15, 1 hour, materials included… 6 p.m.

Meditation for Relaxation …Calm your mind and let go of stress, easily and effortlessly. Cost: $5… 7:15 p.m.

Thursday, December 4
Secrets of Herbal Teas & Tinctures: Tasty and healthy brews. The differences between a cup of tea, medicinal teas and herbal tinctures. How to prepare a medicinal herb tea. Cost: $10…6 p.m.

Saturday, December 6
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Stop by for hot cider and holiday goodies.

Spicing up the Holidays: Mulling Spices for flavoring hot seasonal drinks …
11 a.m.,1 p.m., 3 p.m.
Cost: free

Wednesday, December 10
Basic Stringing: Necklace Design: Want to learn how to put together a necklace, but not sure how to begin? Or, how to end it? Cost: $18, materials included. … 6 p.m.

How to Work with Pendulums... Cost: $5…7:15 p.m.

Thursday, December 11
Introduction to Chinese Medicinals: This class highlights the differences between Chinese and Western descriptions of body systems. Learn about some commonly used Chinese herbs. Find out about the concept of Yin/Yang as it relates to health. Discover how easy it is to incorporate Chinese herbs into your everyday diet.

Cost: $10…6 p.m.

Saturday, December 13
Basic Wire Working: How to Make Earrings …. (See Description listed above)… Cost: $15, materials included.11 a.
m
Basic Bracelet Design … Cost: $15, materials included…1 p.m.

Halloween Horror Mega Mix!

The Halloween hijinks continue with this very cool Halloween MegaMix I found on Youtube. Many of the classics are represented here, and the editing is pretty damn good. It's seven minutes long, but kept my interest throughout, so those of you with ADD should be able to sit through it. ;-)



Only a week left until Halloween! I just ordered my costume (a bit pricy... but that's because I had the shipping expedited so I would get it in time) and hope that the damn thing fits. I can't wait to put it on and shock my friends (and coworkers). What exactly is my costume? Well... unfortunately I cannot say (some of my friends actually do swing by here apparently) but here is a hint:



Yeah... that's pretty much a dead giveaway but I still won't SAY what the actual costume is. ;-)

Here's what Halloween means to Stephen Lynch.

Stephen Lynch is certainly not for all tastes, but I think the man is a comedic (and musical) genius. Here is a twisted little number by Stephen about All Hallow's Eve.



Woohoo eight more days... damn, I really need to get ready for my party and get a costume while I'm at it. Got any suggestions for the latter folks? Because this video didn't really help me out all that much:

Scent of the Week: Crackling Firewood

Told a friend last weekend that I just got a "Crackling Firewood" oil in and she went gagga. For anyone who has ever attended a festival with a great bonfire...like Sirius Rising or Starwood, when you can't make it one year (or, in my case, several years), the scent of flaming wood can be rather nostagic.

Never mind that wood burning fireplaces can be so romantic, anyway!

The special at Beads N Botanicals this week (well....we're extending it through next Saturday November 1st because I'm just kicking it off) is....CRACKLING FIREWOOD incense sticks and Reed Diffuser Oils. Here at the shop (brick-and-mortar) it will be discounted.

We'll be featuring a new scent each week

Scent of the Week:Crackling Firewood

Special Discount

Incense Sticks

$2.50 per pack

Reed Diffuser Oil

$4.00/ounce $7.50/two ounces $11.50/four ounces

Halloween Theme Song

HAHAHAHAHA! I've seen the Jaws Theme Song these guys did and it is hilarious. But this is just as good, if not better.



Why are so many people wasting their obvious talent on Youtube when they can be putting their skills to work, saving sketch comedy shows like MAD TV or Saturday Night Live (both of which, in my opinion, have gone down the toilet in recent years)? I guess we'll never know.... in any case enjoy this vid.

OH, and just in case you weren't counting down the days to Halloween....only ten days to go! Woohoo!

Happy Halloween from CHAD, MATT & ROB!

I was scouring Youtube for some fun stuff to watch the other night and accidentally discovered the manic comedic brilliance of Chad, Matt, and Rob. These three guys are hilarious and have made some very cool videos. (Visit their Youtube Channel Page HERE.) Please enjoy their Halloween "episode" and make sure to check out the rest of their videos afterwards.



You just gotta love the "Headless Horseman" gag at the 53-second mark!

Beads N Botanicals Takes Urbana by Storm!

Okay, maybe that headline is a little bit of an exaggeration ;*)

Just been sooo busy that I forgot to post our new address and contact information here at the blog. Silly me.

Beads N Botanicals
117 N Broadway Ave
Urbana, IL 61801
217-365-9355

Business Hours:
Tuesdays: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wed-Fridays: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
And by appointment

Got the best phone call this morning from a customer in North Carolina. Lisa called me up all excited about the sample of Black Amber Musk I had sent her. (She'd ordered African Musk from my webstore).

Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Lisa'd been living in North Carolina for about nine years. She'd found that finding the scents she loved so much was much harder down there than up in New York. So she'd googled "African Musk" and decided to try mine, scent unsmelled. And was delighted when she received her order the other day.

Then...she smelled the Black Amber Musk....."It's killing me," she said. "Killing" in this instance being a good thing! LOL She was also delighted to find out I had a "killer China Rain" and wonderful patchouli oil.

Asking if I made this into an incense....I told her, "not yet, because it's new, but sure can." So, she ordered oils and incense...and then found out I can also add scent to unscented body wash, hand creme and shampoo, as well as make glycerin bar soaps.....So, that's on her list for the next order.

Lisa's enthusiasm was just what I needed this morning. She reminded me of what I've always said about my business...we're boutique, NOT Walmart. You can get almost anything you want here ("'cepting Alice"....for Arlo Guthrie fans who get the reference from "Alice's Restaurant.")

The Vault Master shall "Fear No Evil!"

Well I've survived round one of "Torture the Vault Master" and have posted a rather lengthy review (with screencaps!) for FEAR NO EVIL. This movie turned out to be a cakewalk and wasn't nearly as bad as I had previously recalled. However, that doesn't mean that it is a good film by any stretch. There's plenty of homosexual undertones in this bad boy, but they are easy to ignore because there is so much weirdness going on in this movie.

We get one bloody baptism, one death by dodgeball scene, a dude who magically grows breasts, an effeminate transvestite Antichrist, a small horde of zombies, heavenly animated death rays, and an awesome 80's soundtrack! So head on over and read my review and stay tuned for more updates at the Vault!

Oh and just in case you weren't paying attention.... 11 more days until Halloween! WOOHOO!

Update on "Fear No Evil" review + other Vault related updates.

Well now I've gone and done it... I've come down with the flu. SO, that means I'll be staying home today and tomorrow, which means that I have time to work on the Vault. Here is what I currently have in the works:

UPDATE: October 20th, 2008 @ 11:30PM Eastern Standard Time.....
I am now approximately 99% done with my review for "Fear No Evil." This bad boy will have screencaps, plus the "Fear No Evil" theme song available for download! I just have to finish up the DVD review and EXTRAS portions of the review, spellcheck & proofread it all, then get it uploaded. I'm very excited about this, and hope all of you readers will enjoy it. Stay tuned for the new review; I'll post about it here as soon as it is up!

I am in the process of upgrading my forum software from YaBB 2.1 to YaBB 2.3. Thus far, things seem to working OK with the latest version of my forum (which has yet to go public) but I'm having some issues. (i.e. Images and graphics not appearing on webpages; mods I installed on version 2.1 don't seem to work on YaBB 2.3) Hopefully I can get all the bugs worked out soon.

I have decided that I will install a Wordpress Blog onto my server, and use that to write up my monthly Genre Watch articles. It seems pretty easy to use and will neatly organize everything for me. Since October is pretty much over with, you can expect the first Genre Watch report to show up in November.

My remaining goals for this month are to do capsule reviews for "The Ghouligans! Super Show" and "Night of the Demons," as well as a full-length review for "Slugs." That line-up is subject to change, but I feel that I can pull it all off within the next two weeks.

So there's the update folks! Stay tuned for the b-movie goodness you love and rejoice for Halloween is less than two weeks away!

"The Dark Knight" coming to DVD and Blu-Ray on December 9th!

WOOHOO! "The Dark Knight" is coming to DVD and Blu-Ray. I'll give you a minute to rejoice before I continue with this post......

Done? Great! Here are the DVD and Blu-Ray specs on this upcoming release, which you can pre-order today from Amazon.com!

The single-disc edition is pretty much bare bones, but the 2-disc has quite a few extras. Here's what you get:

* Gotham Uncovered: How Christopher Nolan and his team developed the new Bat-suit and Bat-pod and composer Hans Zimmer musically characterized the Joker’s reign of chaos.

* The Dark Knight IMAX® Scenes: View these 6 action-packed sequences--shot on the largest format possible--in their original IMAX framing, just as they were intended

* Gotham Tonight: 6 episodes of Gotham Cable's premier news program

* The Galleries: Poster art and production stills

* Digital Copy of the feature film

And besides having better sound and picture, the Blu-Ray disc comes with some great extras not found on the two-disc DVD:

* Movie with Focus Points (picture in picture) BD Live

* Gotham Uncovered: Creation of a Scene: Director Christopher Nolan and creative collaborators unmask the incredible detail and planning behind the film, including stunt staging, filming in IMAX®, and the new Bat-suit and Bat-pod.

* Batman Tech: The incredible gadgets and tools (in HD)

* Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of The Dark Knight: Delve into the psyche of Bruce Wayne and the world of Batman through real-world psychotherapy (in HD)

* Gotham Tonight: 6 episodes of Gotham Cable's premier news program

* The Galleries: The Joker cards, concept art, poster art, production stills, trailers and TV spots

* Digital Copy of the feature film

Needless to say, my copy of this amazing film is pre-ordered. So what are YOU waiting for? Blog ya later b-movie (and Batman) fans!

They Raped Indiana Jones! (Tell us something we don't know.)

I swung by South Park Studios to watch the latest episode of South Park and I have to say, I haven't laughed this much since I saw Trey Parker and Matt Stone's "Major Boobage" episode that parodies "Heavy Metal."

Here is a clip from the episode in which Kyle has a nightmare about the "raping of Indiana Jones." This clip is pretty timid; the next three Indy-rape flashbacks in this episode get a little graphic. (Serves Spielberg and Lucas right for ruining a cherished film franchise with f*cking aliens, wussy Commies, nuke-proof fridges, and CGI vine-swinging hijinks!!!)



You can watch this and every other episode of South Park for free at www.southparkstudios.com! Enjoy!

Amazon.com's Halloween DVD sale!

I'm not sure how long this sale is going on for, but DAMN, I have gotten some amazing friggin' deals over the last two weeks. Click on the image below to go to Halloween deals webpage and select from over 600 different DVD titles!

I have ordered almost two dozen flicks from the list including Dark Sky's amazing two-disc ultimate edition of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (only $7.99 AND it's in a tin case!!!!), the infinifilm release of "Nightare On Elm St.," and many more cult faves! So enjoy the sale horror fans, and don't forget to purchase movies through my (Amazon hosted) DVD Shop, or through any of my Amazon affiliate links! (Comission made from these links will help keep the Vault online for many years to come!)

Stay tuned for a new review within the next few days (FINALLY!), plus several capsule reviews over the coming weeks. And, expect a nice treat at the very end of the month, where I will be giving you (hopefully) two brand new reviews that are part of an all new fright-themed roundtable.

I'll blog ya later b-movie fans!

Torture the Vault Master - ROUND 2!

As of my typing this, I am currently in the early stages of writing my review for "Fear No Evil." I'm going to work hard to get it completed and uploaded sometime this weekend and truthfully, I ended up liking this movie a lot more than I could have imagined. But as the saying goes, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

That is why an all new "Torture the Vault Master" poll is set up in the Vault forums! I've kept two of the more popular choices from the last poll, but overall, this is a whole new list of bad movies for you to choose from. CLICK HERE to begin casting your votes, and seriously, pick something that could cause me considerable pain.

Voting will end at midnight on Halloween night; the review for your bad movie of choice will follow soon after. Happy voting b-movie fans; I'll blog ya later!

Update on "Torture the Vault Master" review.

Well I just sat through "Fear No Evil" to take my notes and.... I enjoyed the movie. Yeah, I know, I'm shocked too. I added it to the "Torture the Vault Master" poll because I hated the movie after my initial viewing so many years ago. But I guess my taste in film has dramatically changed because I liked this Godforsaken film. I'm going to give it another go tomorrow with the commentary turned on; I should start typing up my review on Wednesday, and plan on having it done and posted by this weekend.

UPDATE - 10/05/08: I am currently in the process of writing the review. Had I not been helping my parents with various home improvement / winter readiness projects, you would be reading my "Fear No Evil" review right this very second. (Sometimes sacrifices must be made.) So hopefully, you can expect to see said tardy review pop up at the Vault late Tuesday night. Stay tuned for further updates.

Sorry folks, I thought you really were going to torture me, but instead, you managed to give me an all new outlook on a film I once hated with a passion. Oh well, maybe next time the movie you pick will cause me some major pain. G'night b-movie fans!

Star Wars Fans... the not so terrible truth.

Earlier this week, my buddy Gary invited me to go to the Ross Park Zoo in Binghamton, NY for their annual "Star Wars Day." The idea of "Star Wars Day" is to have people come dressed in their fan-made costumes and meet and greet visitors to the park. Some of these guys have amazing costumes, and do this event to help bring in more biz for the zoo. Plus, they all happen to love kids and enjoy seeing a tyke's face light up when he gets to meet a stormtrooper, or a jedi, or Darth Vader.

The point of all that exposition is that I went to this event in a negative frame of mind: I was tired, it was rainy and humid, and I would have to put up with geeky Star Wars fanboys for five hours. (No offense meant by the latter comment.) With my expectations so low, I was pleasantly surprised to find that A) the day wouldn't be a total bust despite the bad weather and B) the small number of fans that showed up were really cool and down to Earth. They were not what I expected at all.

These guys and gals all have normal lives and created their costumes as a fun hobby. This isn't a way of life for them, it is just a fun distraction that allows them to share their creativity and love of George Lucas' sci-fi franchise. So please, allow me to apologize to you COOL Star Wars fans for stereotyping you.

In any case, it was a fun day and I managed to get in some training as a "handler" (i.e. a roadie for people in costume at conventions and other events) and I managed to get some decent photos of these SW-Fans in action. CLICK HERE to visit my Photobucket Album and check out the rest of the pics. (Just a side note: My buddy Gary is the Snowtrooper seen above. He was proud to be the only cannon fodder there!)

Of related interest is the website mentioned to me by two of the gents who attended the event at the zoo: www.mandalorianmercs.org. This fan group is comprised of folks whose costumes apparently did not fall within the strict guidelines of other (apparently elitist) fan groups, so they started there own and already have a good many members with some very cool suits of Mandalorian armor.

Well I'm turning in the for the night, so enjoy the pics and have a wonderful night b-movie fans. Blog ya later!

New Capsule Review: Eric Falardeau's "COMING HOME"

With the posting of this review I have managed to kill two birds with one stone: I have finally added a new review to the site and I've finally reviewed my screener copy of Eric Falardeau's "Coming Home." I first experienced Eric's unique brand of film making two years ago, when I was still writing for Rogue Cinema. Years later, his skill has naturally improved, and I find myself quite impressed with his latest short film, "Coming Home," which is essentially a mystery/revenge flick with a fairly gory outcome. Be sure to read my review for this extremely well-made indie short by clicking HERE. For more info about Eric and all of his films, visit the Out Of Nowhere Productions Myspace Page.

I have this Monday off and plan on spending a good chunk of it in front of the computer, so don't be too shocked if you see more new stuff on the site early next week. Blog ya later b-movie fans!

Looking to kill some time? Try out "Warlords: Call to Arms."

While surfing around Newgrounds.com one afternoon, I came across a little flash game called "Warlords: Call to Arms." It is a ridiculously simple and addicting game, though towards the end, it can be quite challenging (i.e. frustrating). I have yet to actually conquer all 25 lands on the map (the best I've done thus far was 22...), but I haven't given up on that quest yet.
To play the "full version" of the game (which allows you to pick from three races that are not available on the Newgrounds version), CLICK HERE. Enjoy!

I'm still here AND I have a plan!

Hello all! Just wanted to check in with a blog post and let you all know that I'm still around, though I have yet to actually add anything new to the Vault. For any of you wondering if I've given up, the answer is no. I have renewed the domain name for two more years, and have in fact been trying to come up with some new ideas for the site. Here's what I got so far:

• A monthly "GENRE WATCH" column that will allow visitors to keep up to date on all the cult and b-films that are being released on DVD and Blu-Ray. THE B-MOVIE FILM VAULT GENRE WATCH will also highlight theatrical releases that would suit fans of cult cinema like myself. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this yet and I'm not sure if I will (or how I should) archive each month's Genre Watch. I can create a webpage from scratch and update it monthly, or do a monthly post here on the Blog, or even create a section in my Forum. The latter seems to be the best route, but I'll explore all three avenues before making a final decision.

• A WANTED ON DVD page. Brian from Eccentric Cinema has one, but it is lacking quite a bit in my opinion. There are dozens of movies out there that have yet to make a digital debut, and with my upcoming Wanted List, I hope to shed some light on many oft-forgotten or unknown films that remain shackled to their VHS prisons.

• I plan on making my recent "TORTURE THE VAULT MASTER" poll a monthly thing. Right now though I have to get up the courage to watch "Fear No Evil," then write about that wretched flick.

• I'm going to attempt to accept screeners for reviewing purposes once again. I already have three films that I have to get reviewed, but once they are taken care of, I'm thinking of actively accepting/pursuing screeners from indie film makers and cult DVD companies like Blue Underground and Anchor Bay.
  

As you can see, I've got plenty of ideas. The trouble is finding enough free time to implement them. I'm hoping to take a day or two in the near future and get the ball rolling on some or all of these projects. I am only one man, and life unfortunately gets in the way a lot. Plus it does not help that I have gotten lots of new movies (DVD and Blu-Ray!) and video games. (All your base is belong to Spore!) So hang in there b-movie fans and check back again soon. If all goes well, you could expect to see some new stuff by next Tuesday. Catch ya later!

The "Torture the Vault Master" poll results are in!

ARGH! The combined results are in for the first ever "Torture the Vault Master" poll and it appears that I'll be suffering through the homo-erotic horror that is "Fear No Evil." I've watched this turkey once before and was a bit put off by this story of a young teen that finds out that A) he is the antichrist and B) likes to kiss boys in the shower. Blech!

For those who were curious, here are the exact number of votes that each film received:
The Alien Dead - 1 vote
Blood Tide - 3 votes
The Demon - 1 vote
Fear No Evil - 6 votes
House of the Dead - 3 votes
Monster Shark - 5 votes
Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys - 4 votes
Raptor - 1 vote
Ultracop 2000 - 1 vote

While I'm not exactly thrilled to reviewing "Fear No Evil," I figure I got off lucky considering how bad some of the other films listed above are. And although a mere 25 votes were cast (within a month's time mind you), I'm thinking of making "Torture the Vault Master" a permanent fixture at the Vault. I've also been brainstorming on some new ideas for the site and hope to implement them before September is through. Mum's the word for now, but I assure you that the new sections I'm planning will really help put the Vault on the map.

So stay tuned for some new updates b-movie fans and, as always, be sure to "Keep fighting the good fight for fellow b-movie lovers everywhere!"

Fear not for I still live and breath!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to check in quick and let you all know that I'm still alive and kicking. I've spent thousands of dollars on upgrading my entertainment center, got a ton of new video games, and have just been busy as hell at work and at home, so I haven't had much time on my hands to update the Vault (or post in the Blog or Forum). I'll fill all of you in on the details of my disappearance later tonight, but for now, I must get to work. Blog ya later b-movie fans!

The Vault Master is now a quarter-of-a-century old!

Yes, you read that right folks: I am now 25 years old! My birthday isn't really a big deal to me, but it seems like everyone else I know thinks otherwise. Thanks to everyone who offered me birthday greetings today; thanks to my best bud who will be throwing me a birthday party this weekend; thanks to my coworkers for chipping in to get me a peanut butter cup cheesecake for my b-day (and thanks for the card Carli!); and a big thanks to my folks and my girlfriend who show continued love and support for this obsessive cult movie fanatic.

Well, I'm going to go watch a movie and enjoy the last bit of my birthday, so have a great night fellow b-movie fans and stay tuned for some new review-age on the site!

I have discovered the "Black and White Ecstasy" of ZEBRAMAN!

Taskshi Miike is best known for the shockers he's made, such as "Ichi the Killer" and "Audition," but would have thought that this man had a lighter, more family-friend side? "Zebraman" is proof that Miike can branch out from doing horrifically violent films, and is one of the better superhero comedies I've come across.

Mild mannered Shinichi Ichikawa is never taken seriously by anyone. Then, one fateful night, while running around his neighborhood in a homemade Zebraman costume (styled after his favorite tokusatsu hero), he engages in battle with a rapist wearing a crab-mask. After utilizing some amazing acrobatic moves and delivering a face-crushing blow to the perpetrator, Shinichi runs off and soon embraces his destiny of becoming the REAL Zebraman!

This was a very fun film, and I can't help but recommend it. Check out my capsule review for "Zebraman" HERE, and feel free to post your thoughts about the film and/or review HERE.

Stay tuned for an updated review from the OLD Vault archives, plus a roundtable review for 1981's "The Burning." Oh, and don't forget to cast your vote for what bad movie I should review in the "TORTURE THE VAULT MASTER" poll! Blog ya later b-movie fans!

Torture the Vault Master + upcoming reviews.

Hey b-movie fans! Have you ever wanted to inflict a bad movie on a b-movie webmaster? Well here is your chance! I have selected NINE bad movies and have posted a poll here on the blog (top right corner of the page) and one HERE in the Forum. All you need to do is vote for what film I should review, or films if, God help me, there is a tie between one or more titles. Voting is open to the public and will continue all through the month of August, so cast your votes now!

Also, stay tuned for a capsule review for Takashi Miike's wonderfully bizarre superhero film, "Zebraman!" I have everything ready to go for the update, I just need to sit down and write the review. Expect that to pop up on the site later this weekend.

And also expect a new full-length review in two weeks for the lost 80's slasher classic, "The Burning," which will be part of the "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" roundtable. This mini-roundtable event will appear online between August 15th - 17th, so keep an eye out for that!

That's it for now b-movie fans, so enjoy the rest of your weekend and keep fighting the good fight!

Resurrection Plant Rose of Jericho Dinosaur Plant

This plant pictured above is in a teacup. It's a very small plant compared to most of the plants I have (although the smaller ones would be great for doll houses, in my opinion!)

Resurrection Plant or Rose of Jericho

Selaginella pilifera also known as the Resurrection flower, is a desert plant growing in the sands of Egypt, Arabia, Syria and Mexico. For long periods, these 'roses' live in desert regions, growing and reproducing as any other plant until the environment no longer supports an adequate existence. When this time comes, the flowers and leaves are dead and fallen, they lose moisture and the drying branches curl inwards, forming a round ball.They retract their roots from the soil and allow the desert winds to carry them across the desert, until one day they arrive in a damp place where they can continue to grow and spread.

The ball then expands again, opens flat on the ground and deposits its seeds, which germinate. Once watered, the dried-up looking young plants soon begin to bud. You could say they feel their way through this process,
as they don't necessarily remain in the first place they stop, but feel into the nature of the place to see if it is adequate to enhance growth. There they may stay, and grow, or indeed they may move again many times.

This amazing little resurrection plant is often sold as a novelty due its incredible ability to turn from a dry ball to a lush looking plant ove night when placed in a dish of water. These plants have used this ability to survive since prehistoric times.Therefore another common name given to them is "the dinosaur plant." Great for show and tell, too, as every kid is amazed at watching one of these wonders of nature unfold and seemingly come to life again.

You can buy a plant at Resurrection Plants for Sale

Garden Full Speed Ahead!

This year's garden incorporates vegetables, flowers, herbs in mixed plantings. Delightful to the eyes and senses, mixed plantings also work well for beneficial insects. While you might think we lived in the country from this picture, we actually live in the middle of town. In the far back of the picture is a stand of wild lettuce, burdock, yellow dock and thistle. Wild lettuce can be calming as part of a tea. Burdock is used both as a vegetable (the root), and medicinal herb (root and seeds). Yellow dock is used for food and as an herb. Thistle (all kinds) are supportive of liver function.

It's always amazing to me how slowly a garden seems to take shape, and then it's like it is on a race track, speeding forward with incredible growth. First pictured above is the catmint/echinacea patch in early Spring. The next picture was taken about a week ago in July. The spiked purple flowers to the right are a Russian Sage plant that I thought I was going to kill last year, as I kept accidentally digging up the little start. Now established, it will probably keep up with the cat mint and start to spread next year.




While I do not welcome the green cabbage worms on my red cabbage plants, my son and I celebrate seeing the yellow swallowtail butterfly caterpillars (and others) on my dill plants. The Umbelliferal family seems to appeal best to them. And our echinacea sp. patch, along with flowering catmip, flowering Russian sage, flowering oregano, garden sage and (somewhere in the mix) lavender appeal to many beneficial insects.

Legend of Dinosaurs review is a go!

After months of starting and stopping, I have finally completed my full-length review of "Legend of Dinosaurs and Monster Birds!" This extremely strange kaiju film features an odd disco / funk / jazz soundtrack, inventive cinematography, and some of the most violent dinosaur-to-human violence I have ever seen in a 70's film. This film isn't particularly popular or well-liked, so naturally I enjoyed it. If you get the chance, check this cinematic "gem" out and give it the love it so richly deserves.

Then, after you do that, go see "The Dark Knight" in theaters! This movie is simply amazing and is worthy of repeat viewings. As it stands, it seems like the world at large has deemed this superhero film as one of the best movies ever made! So go see "The Dark Knight" everyone, and help it oust "Titanic" as the top grossing film of all time! Blog ya later!