Battle of the Paranormal Shows. We Have a Winner!

What the hell is going on with so many shows about ghosts and the paranormal lately? There are literally twenty shows that have some sort of investigative or first-person account of ghosts and hauntings right now in production. Actually, I bet I am low-balling that number. For the most part, I am pretty happy about these programs because, who doesn’t like a spooky tale this time of the year? There is nothing I like more than to get settled on the couch with a glass of brew, turn on a show that is mostly in night vision and learn about the history of an old inn or dilapidated hospital. To me, they are almost like history programs and the pay off of ghostly evidence is just a bonus. But of all these shows, there is only one that truly creeps me out. My Ghost Story.

Recently I have learned that the Bio Channel is not Lifetime. Honestly, I assumed Lifetime, WE, Bravo and the Bio Channel were all the same. Just since this past September did I learn that the Bio Channel is the deliverer of all things down right scary and it is because of the show My Ghost Story. Right away this program separates itself from the ridiculously dressed Ed Hardy figure, Zak Bagans of Ghost Adventures and the painfully boring Ghost Hunters, with words that will make me miss my mouth when playing a game of Cheez-it catch like “disturbing”. And you know what? A few of these episodes are a little disturbing.

I think what separates this show from all other types of paranormal shows are the real photographs and videos. I mean, take it for what it is. Any of this could be fake but after watching a few of these episodes I am hard pressed to believe that every one is a hoax.

The show has the real people telling you their experiences without actors or drawn out reenactments. There is no narrator or host but rather a simple text explaining who these people are and after their story, what the present situation is. More than not, their situation never gets better. I know this is selfish, but I like it better that way. Such a dick I am! The whole show has creepy ambiance that one can’t help but look over one’s shoulder, try not to peer at the dark windows and keep a close ear for any noises from upstairs. I am not going to lie, this show has been in my mind when the dog has to pee at 2am.

So, with so many paranormal shows out there, why is this the one that makes me want to sleep with rosary beads? I think it is a combination of the first-person accounts with the witnesses and tangible evidence. The tales, whether true or not, are just unnerving. It seems that all the “ghost chaser” shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters, there is too much emphasis on the crew and the spooky feeling is completely lost. Lately, these shows are ether tear jerkingly boring or laughably idiotic. My Ghost Story may not make you a believer but I promise you, next time you are in a basement alone,you’ll want to stay away from the mirrors!

If you want to watch this, and I suggest you do, it airs pretty often on the Biography channel. Actually, this coming Saturday a whole new season starts. But if you can’t wait and want to know what I am talking about, there are full episodes on YouTube.

I love you YouTube. I like pina coladas and getting drunk in the rain. I am not into yoga and I have half a brain. Please marry me.

BONUS!

Here is another review from the Dundee Seasonal Pack. This time I try the porter and chat about my favorite horror selection for Halloween. Please excuse the babbling.

My finger looks like a ghost. Wait a minute…

October 13, 2011 23

The Fall Beer Vlog 2011: Part 1

Well, here it is. The first of five beer review videos featuring the Dundee Seasonal Craft Beer Pack. I didn’t plan on reviewing another seasonal pack but I couldn’t pass this one up. Why not you say? Because this beer holds a certain nostalgic place in my heart. You see, this was the first seasonal pack I reviewed some five years ago when I inadvertently started a tradition of drinking beer for the reason of celebrating Halloween and carving random items like peppers, pineapples and Triscuit boxes. So, I figured I needed to try each one in a video that is far too long, most likely redundant and you can watch me get progressively more intoxicated. But it isn’t just beer that I will be discussing. During these reviews I will talk about Halloween shows, movies, memories and other topics that I really want you to become involved in. Watch these and tell me about your Halloween favorites in either the comments below or on the site where is says “SAY HI”.

Oh, and I know “Friend’s” on the site is wrong. But it won’t let me change it. It’s a Wix error, not mine. I swear!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this next week of bonus videos that will be both on here and over in the video section of Veggiemacabre.TV. Be well my friends.

October 9, 2011 4

Me Thinks Me Should Say It MeSelf

We sure did rip through the first week of October, didn’t we? Holy Hannah! I am working on a shitload of beer reviews as well as other projects to boast VeggiemacabreTV and brother, business is a boomin’. I find the work thing and life thing to be a bit of a compromising situation though, so while I want to do it all I can only do it some. But I promise it will be great. I hope.

Here is me rambling in my work clothes and trying to give some new insight with this thing I call a hobby. Be well and see you in a sec!

October 7, 2011 7

Fall Beer Review 2

Okay okay I know. By the stroke of midnight I really meant by the stroke now. Typical me in the blogging world to over promise and under deliver but with my new position in the real world and less time to sit on my duff and drink beer while syncing flash animation advertisements to Flock of Seagulls (yes, I really do this), I have found that quality over quantity reviews win the day. I know that these reviews aren’t for everyone because, well let’s face it, beer isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But I do hope to add a little something for everyone. After this review I will just tack on a review as a bonus to real articles going forward. We still have a way to go this season so lets jump in and pop the top of the first two brews. Don’t tell me you forgot the bottle opener!

The HEX Ourtoberfest from Magic Hat Brewing Co. located in Burlington, VT is one of the first beers that I nearly broke my neck taking a double-take while walking past the beer aisle last week. It has one of the greatest looks, art and names of any spooky-time beer that I have seen since…ever, really. It screams colonial creeps with the iron gate logo and the name “Hex” font-ed in thorny branches. But like Bugs Bunny taught us, just because it looks hot doesn’t mean what’s under the dress isn’t a rabbit with nuts. How does it perform?

It definitely has the autumn hue that an American made October brew tends to have. The taste, however, is very different. Right from the first taste you get less a hoppy/spice taste and more of a tart/smokey flavor. It was an awesome surprise especially after thirty pumpkin spice beers to have a roundhouse kick to the palate to clean it of pie and paint it with smoked molasses. I never thought I would say “smoked molasses” in a positive way. The Magic Hat Brewery states that it has a blend of fermented apples, caramel and smoked cherry wood malt that gives it the different taste.

I will say this about Hex and that is if you are looking for a very different blend that will keep you interested in seasonal beers, this is your homecoming date. It’s a smokey sweet lighter beer that makes you want to chop wood. The strange part is that this beer is only available until October 15th. I am not really sure why they made such an early date in the season to pull Hex but if you have the means and you can find it, I highly recommend buying this and maybe extras to keep in the cellar.

I give it three singing Elvises.

Hello Weyerbacher Autumn Fest Brew, how are you? I love the name Weyerbacher. I assume it’s German because I keep wanting to pronounce it “Vierbocker” in a very WWII German officer accent. “Vee have vays to make you talk.” Anyway, this is a great full body brew from Easton PA that doesn’t really break away from the fray when it comes to another American Oktoberfest type beer. Same copper color and mildly sweet malty taste. What I love about this beer, of course, is the awesome farm-scape scene with the creepy scarecrow and harvest moon-lit yellow sky. I really wish I could line the walls of the house with prints of all these beers but perhaps my life shouldn’t imitate art. It’s already a satirical cartoon.

I give it two flying toasters.

A couple of nights ago while reviewing these beers I decided that putting catnip in the bottom of a Frankenstein’s monster mug would make for a good title page shot. I forgot how fat the cat is and when he got his head stuck, Frank’s monster was the loser.

Had to bury him in the backyard.

BACK TO VEGGIEMACABRE.TV

October 6, 2011 8

The New Fall Beer Review Update

I was thinking the other day that it seems there are a lot more seasonal beers than I remember from years past. Not being the know-it-all about brews like some others, I went to a local friend who is a professional brewer and he confirmed that there actually are more Fall beers and this trend has doubled over the past three years. When I first started the Fall beer review five years ago, I had no idea that there were a specific season for these types of beers. All I wanted to do was drink beer, wax nostalgic verbiage and carve a pepper. Since then I have had tons of emails, beer reps asking to review other beers, some pretty awesome t-shirts and stickers given to me and gained a lot of knowledge about my favorite beverage. All in all, this has been a fun topic to cover over the years. Now that I have reviewed my first seasonal pack, Blue Moon, I have seven more beers to cover. Time to stop operate heavy machinery and check to make sure I am not pregnant because there is going to be some drinkin’ happening up in here.

Outside the local Co-Op this foreboding character is perched with a sign stating “Tard a Skarin'” and I couldn’t be happier to see it. I love homemade scarecrows and small town Halloween decor. I don’t know why but I think it is the sincerity that wins me over. Anyway, this was just half of what put a smile on my face. Behold the amazing!

Son of a bitch look at all this Fall beer! I know that there is no way to accurately review all these so it is a bit of a Sophie’s choice to determine which ones to buy. I think I will go with the ol’ standard and choose by appearance. Let’s take a look at the winners of this years review.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the lineup of this year’s review. I am sure these are familiar to some of you but I tried to also include a couple local breweries from North Carolina. This will be fun and I think I will do one or two a night just to keep it accurate. Last time I did a full review with more than three beers my self-check system told me I was no longer a fair judge. It’s a pretty safe system too.

If you are not familiar with this game, it is on every table at a Cracker Barrel restaurant. If you are unfamiliar with Cracker Barrel, I will save that for another blog because it needs to be discussed. Anyway, the point of the game is to leap frog the pegs taking the “leaped” one out and at the end you should be left with one. If you have more than two left, the game says you are an egnoramoose. I have already tested each one of the beers set for review and my new test system told me I may not be a fair judge anymore.