250! YES!

Hauntcast has reached 250, two days ahead of schedule! So, here is the video of the prize drawing, which you boils and ghouls so richly deserve for bringing us back!





Congratulations to all the winners! You all have been so fantastic in supporting this! Click on the pic below to subscribe if you haven't yet, and be included in next month's prize giveaway: one $200 gift certificate to Froggy's Fog!

Our House From Space!

See all the funny things on the front lawn? IT'S MY GRAVEYARD! W00T!


Thanks to Mr. ShellHawk for the heads-up that our house's pic was taken during October!

Off Topic-It's MWD, Not WMD!

This is Benny B163, MWD,
photo via MWD Adoptions Facebook  page

You know how I get when I find something new that I think is a worthy cause. I go off the deep end about it for a while. This is no different, because this is a very worthy cause!

The cause, my friends, is Military Working Dogs, and their care after they retire. HR 5314, which covers the care of retiring military dogs, needs amending, and it's officially called, "MWD Transport, Reclassification, and Recognition Amendment."

The upshot is that under their current classification, retiring Military Working Dogs (MWDs) are considered "equipment" and have no "return to home station" benefits, as do other military personnel. What that means is that people who are adopting these dogs currently foot the bill for their transport Stateside because the dogs are going to be pets when they arrive. (See this article from the U.S.A.F., and this article from FOX News.) Here's a quote from the article:

Although the DOD MWD program will implement an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century-approach to expedite processing for dogs out of the state and country, the general clarified why adopters must bear the brunt of transport for adopted dogs returning from overseas. 

"Once that dog is adopted, it becomes a pet, and therefore loses its MWD status," she explained. "So it would be fraud, waste and abuse for the DOD to transport that pet."  

Huh?

Keep in mind that the average MWD saves about 150 lives during deployment and is just as much a soldier as any of its human counterparts. By the current logic, this means our human soldiers should pay their way home because they're going to be civilians. Can you imagine the stink that would (rightfully) cause? I don't think that it should be any different for the four-legged soldiers returning home. So I wrote a note to my congressman, which I include here, should you decide to do the same:

It's recently come to my attention that our retiring Military Working Dogs are in a pickle. You see, once they retire and are cleared for adoption into a permanent home, the adopter is forced to pay all transport fees because the dog is classified as "equipment." If that dog is coming from overseas, as many are, you can imagine the expense may make a potential adopter think twice about adopting one of these heroes, especially in our current economy. The reasoning behind having the adopting civilian pay for transport, is that the DOD feels it would be fraud to transport these dogs themselves because they will be pets when they reach their destination. Since these dogs are soldiers as much as their human counterparts, and the average MWD saves 150 human lives during its working lifespan, this is truly a grave injustice perpetuated on these silent soldiers. By that same logic, would we force our human soldiers to pay for their transport home because they're going to be civilians when they get there?  Never!

 What I'm asking is for you to support MWD Transport, Reclassification and Recognition Amendment to HR 5314:          

 RETIRING MWD TRANSPORT    

1.  Provide for authorized DoD Transport of retiring MWDs stationed at permanent OCONUS (overseas) bases who are ADOPTION SUITABLE or ALREADY ADOPTED back to CONUS (continental United States) via military transport.      

    A. If the MWD is ALREADY adopted, the dog will be transported to whatever CONUS base the Mil Air plane lands, whereupon the adopter is responsible for paying the MWD's domestic transport to a Forever Home. Support may be required from that base's MWD Facility to place the dog (still a military asset because he has not been relinquished to his adopter) on a commercial flight to the dog's end destination. An overnight stay at the MWD Facility should be an option.  

      B. If the MWD is ADOPTION SUITABLE but is NOT adopted, the dog should be integrated into the already existing MWD Adoption Program at the 341st MWD Training Squadron. The chance of finding a suitable adoption situation will be increased by having the MWD transported Stateside. The MWD's Owning OCONUS Unit SHOULD NOT be required to pay for Lackland transport of any as yet unadopted  ADOPTION SUITABLE MWD.*   

(*Current standard is that if a unit wishes to get a retiring MWD to Lackland AFB, the UNIT MUST PAY FOR THE TRANSPORT. This should not be the case with our retiring adoption-suitable MWDs returned to the 341st Training Squadron MWD Adoption Program.)   

ACTIVE DUTY/RETIRING MWD RECLASSIFICATION

2. Grant an OFFICIAL reclassification of current active duty MWD from "Equipment" to "MWD Troop/Soldier". This change is necessary in order to undergird the reclassification of a RETIRING MWD from the current "Excess Equipment" to "MWD Veteran" or "Military K9 Veteran".   ACTIVE DUTY MWD RECOGNITION  3. Mandate the creation and establishment of a DoD recognized Commendation and Medal for Meritorious MWD Service for Active Duty MWDs.*  

(* For the last five years, the efforts and all official requests of the US War Dog Association have been rebuffed by the Department of Defense with absolute refusal to even consider the creation of any DoD recognized commendation for MWDs. Experts estimate that the average MWD saves 150 soldier lives during his tenure of service. This is a LAUDABLE FEAT which should be recognized in an OFFICIAL CAPACITY.)

Please, _______________, help us speak for the portion of our military that has no voice to speak for itself.

 Respectfully,

I hope you decide to take a minute to help out with this, since those affected can't do it for themselves. It's bad enough that our soldiers are having all their benefits cut, but for these dogs to be considered "equipment" is ridiculous! Equipment doesn't bleed and die in the line of duty!

Oh, and if you're interested in adopting a retired MWD, go to Military Working Dog Adoptions, who can help connect you with the military bases in your area with dogs awaiting adoption. I'm definitely keeping them in mind when it's time to add to our pack!

Speaking of the Zombie Apocalypse...

Back in September of 2010, I posted about the Zombie Workout. With my recent return to the gym after a far-too-long absence, the Zombie Workout popped into my head again. The Cadaver gave me the vocabulary word needed for this workout: parkour.

I didn't run from this zombie, since he was so polite, and took a picture with my Ape.

Today, after I got done with my workout (30 minutes of rowing, 15 minutes of walk/jog, 30 minutes of chest, back and arms), I did my post-workout stretching routine. As I was sitting in my giant puddle of stinky, un-sexy sweat, it occurred to me that with the popularity of The Walking Dead, a Survive the Zombie Apocalypse workout class would be a slam dunk for any fitness club, even in my town.


So, after my stretch, I ambled over to one of the managers and asked him to pull it up on the internet, because I thought it would make a great addition to my club. He seemed enthused about the idea, too! We'll see if anything comes of it.


Since then, I discovered there's a 5k obstacle run in The Bloodshed Brothers's territory, called "Run for Your Lives!" There are additional locations in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Indiana, and elsewhere, so click the link to see if you might have one near you. There's even a Run For Your Lives promotional video!


I know anyone who can complete a triathlon is pretty badass, but surviving the Zombie Apocalypse? That is badass and one louder, isn't it?

Update-Don't Start the Zombie Apocalypse

Well, boys and girls, there are only 15 more subscriptions left until the big raffle, and only those first 250 will qualify for Juneau Studios Lizzy Borden mirror prop. (As if you didn't already know this, right?)
And even though many of you are righteously tired of the relentless promotion (as are we!), I had to share this new commercial with you, voiced by our own Revenant. Absolutely hilarious! Click on the pic to watch it!

If you're interested, here's Chris with the latest Hauntcast update. Halloween Asylum just donated a prize and will be giving discounts, and I think a few others have joined, as well.

Bad Pumpkin

When pumpkins go bad...


From Masterpiece Pumpkins.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Click on the pic for a St. Pat's Day playlist, and click, "Play All."

Have a safe one!

Shocktail Hour

The new Shocktail Hour is up and running, boils and ghouls! Johnny Thunder and Chris Baker keep it classy. Not.

This is why cousins should not marry.

Shopping for WCHC

I've got the official go-ahead from Mr. ShellHawk to go to West Coast Haunters Convention this year to represent Hauntcast and to bring some of my Hallowe'en ceramics along to sell. Of course, many of you ladies realize this is a fine opportunity to shop for new things, especially because I'm going as a "public figure" (insert raucous laughter here). I mean, I can't just show up in any old thing, now, can I? I'd disappoint my adoring fans! (At WCHC, I believe that's the Davises and possibly the Bloodshed Brothers... :oD)


So I've been trolling the 'net for some fun stuff to wear, mostly because my Hauntcast t-shirt makes me look like a frumpy housewife because it's made for boys. Since I'm losing weight, it'll look even more tent-like by the time June rolls around. I do plan to take the t-shirt over to my local alterations place to have it taken in, but I still can't miss out on the retail therapy I get to indulge in, right?


Take these wonderful pumps, for instance:

These are all kind of costume ball fabulous-ness, aren't they? You can pick them up on sale at Starlets and Harlots. If you like boots, you can find the same basic design at Sinister Soles:

If you prefer a little color and a touch of Steampunk, you might like these Metropolis: Ripley shoes:

Of course, you can't have the heels without the dress:

Though I love the dress, it's a little spendy for me right now. *sigh* Maybe this one is a bit more in my league:

I couldn't get a pic of this dress from Pinup Girl Clothing, but you'll see why I think I should have it.  I would get something like this for evening, but I'm having an attack of the over-40-insecurity and I don't want to embarrass myself!


Oh, well. There's plenty of time to decide, right? And another ten or twenty pounds, too...

I Guess It's Happy Dance Week!

Another happy dance? Yes, my friends. There have been two happy dances this week. Firstly, because Hauntcast is back, and secondly, be cause I just got my copy of Haunted Air!Some of you may not know about this wonderful book. I first found out about it from the Hallowe'en Grand Master, himself, Pumpkinrot. It sold out in its first printing, and now it's back in stock! (Obviously, ShellHawk. That's why you got a copy. *eye roll*) 


I think my favorite part of the forward by David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Eraserhead, Dune) is this one, particularly the last line:

I couldn't pull away - it was all like a magnet and there was beauty in it. Human creatures with the feeling of being turned strange and open to falling. And glee - they seemed to have a glee for somehow stitching a laugh to darkness.

"Stitching a laugh to darkness." What an apt description of Hallowe'en and the haunter.