Lady, That's My Skull

Dear Diary, Wow! What a month! Day 1: Significant other went...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:00:09 -0700

Dear Diary,

Wow! What a month!

Day 1:

Significant other went online and checked bank account, noticed that two bills, for gym and car insurance were deducted, as they are every month for several years. In short order S/O’s behavior rapidly escalated in to a violent rage tantrum that lasted about a week with periodic episodes to date.

This is what happened during the next several days:

Accused me of stealing and lying.

Refused to process any further payments through account that day so the phones were disconnected for non payment.

Purposefully causing situations that will create inconvenience and added expenses.

Cut up bank card, loyalty cards. Attempted to destroy driver license, med cards (taken away until later).

Sabotaging health insurance by refusing to pay and states will cancel health insurance when returns to work.

Accused me of faking illness (diagnosed several years ago).

Destroyed joint documents.

Violent behavior: Kicking, hitting, scratching me. Minor physical injuries (scratching, bruises). Hit 20 plus times over next hour.

Repeating violence (kicking, slapping, punching and screaming) to provoke physical fight. Anger escalated when I didn’t fight back, remained calm.

Refused co-pay funds for me to visit doctors. (Getting cleared by doctor is dependent on returning me to work. Sabotaging progress).

Demands meals and drink. Slaps them away/throws in trash/leaves on counter.

Asks questions, demands answers and over reacts or acts in manner inconsistent with answer.

Destroying belongings. Throwing them on floor and into trash.

Turned off web access to checking account.

Acting out, screaming, stomping.

Threatened to overdose on medication and die.

Violent behavior when I interceded in suicide gesture and took away medication.

Demanding be hit, then striking self or attempts to provoke through violence against me when I decline.

Threatened to destroy personal objects if I don’t go purchase cigarettes.

Demanding to be taken to jail, or psychiatric hospital.

Stated leaving, demanded divorce.

Has stated will not be going to work tonight or in future. Exhibiting illness, headache, severe body pain (probably brought on by emotional state).

States is quitting work immediately (Attempted to call employer. Forgot phones are disconnected, threw phone across room).

Going through and sorting belongings, purposely leaving things in state of disarray & scattered for someone else to clean.

Any attempts to communicate results in escalation and return of rage episode.

Preparing to go to bank and remove funds.

Demanded I drive her or will destroy personal objects.

Demanded I drive her or will wreck car if I don’t drive (stated is currently unstable and not safe to drive)

Provoking actions that says are to make me have removed bodily from home (Provocation probably to fulfill scenario or martyrdom).

Usual sleep position as couple, up close, hugging. Moves away when wakes and remembers is mad.

Day 2:

Slow to respond, quick to anger. Takes 2-3 attempts to respond then it is with rage on different subject or statement.

Angry if addressed, yet angry if not consulted for meal, drink, etc.

States is not going to work today.

Still refuses to pay overdue phone, allow purchase of medicine or doctor co-pay.

Complaining about not eating yet refusing to eat. Will not make or take suggestions on what to eat. Ate only M&M and hard candy all day. Threw wrappers and soda can on floor.

Rocking, whining moaning but reacts with anger when asked if needs anything.

Still refused to eat, slaps plates away, won’t take medication, won’t communicate or accept food but keeps acting out.

Stated hopes to die.

Repeated heavy sighs, hitting tables, striking table with object when putting down or moving.

Won’t respond or responds inarticulately in rage when addressed.

Yelled that I have not picked up the objects has thrown on floor.

Day 3:

She woke around 1030 am, screamed for me to leave.

Sullen, uncommunicative.

After repeated attempts all day finally agreed to eat. However this met with negative results as made me guess what would or would not eat, screamed if I suggested something did not want. Finally accepted a meal at 1:30 am next morning.

Threw pills case across room when given with the meal.

When finished eating put plate on dresser instead of adjacent trashcan.

During sleep, again usual togetherness sleep positions.

When left for restroom kicked items around floor.

Refused to eat but angered when I prepared a meal for myself, didn’t want it in same room.

Demanded I give money for plane fare to home state even though I am not in charge of finances.

Dumped medication on floor from the weekly organizer. This is particularly troublesome because we have a pet who will eat anything it finds on the floor.

When observed me making a note of actions proceeded to throw things off shelves and counter onto floor. The destroyed the notebook.

Reiterated refusal to go to work. I have requested a medical leave of absence so will not be terminated from job.

Day 4:

Woke up 1pm, sullen but responded when asked if wanted coffee.

Communicating slowly when prompted without angered outbursts on different subject.

Displayed irritation, exaggerated disgust at there not being fish at lunch.

Only ate half of lunch.

Occasional outbursts of saying without prompt “Goodbye, I’m leaving” during day.

Sitting in chair slamming it against bed, squeaking, bumping it on floor.

Day 5:

Wakes up at 12:30 pm. When asked, agrees to eat what I cook.

On my return with coffee is searching for the cash she has hidden around room since emptying bank account on Day 1. Accuses me of stealing $100. Keeps accusing though there is, surprisingly, no escalation in behavior, just simply saying does not believe me. Went to bag hanging on door and then stopped talking. I think remembers where hid money but will not admit any error. Eventually checks the bag and realizes money is still in there from where hid it several days ago. Ends event with no escalation, returns to ignoring me. I open bag and funds are in a pocket, refuses to acknowledge or talk about it.

Accepts breakfast with out incident.

That night, refused to go to work, refused to notify her employer.

Day 6 and Continuing With No End In Sight:

Went back to work this evening. Requested schedule change to work less hours weekly.

Family member, unable to contact us, pays phone bill.

Still refuses to take any medications but is complaining she feels worse.

Continually sullen.

Asks for food, complains at every meal about what is eating even if it is what she requested.

Goes to restaurant, complains she can’t cook at house. Literally, nothing is stopping. Refuses to buy ingredients for favorite foods.

Period lighter moods are of a short period. Becomes distant or angry. Displays resentfulness,

Outbursts insulting my family and house.

Refuses to leave bedroom if anyone else is at house.

Engages in constant passive-aggressive behavior such as:

“Accidentally” interrupting my sleep since this series of events began.

Refusing escort to or from car at night.

Leaves car unlocked when arriving home.

Does not inform anyone or take care of problem herself when car fluid levels or tire pressures are low and if car need gas, etc. All these actions could cause damage to our only car. Added unnecessary expenses would result not to mention might be stranded somewhere with no way of contacting me for help (let car service account expire also).

Becomes violent at the merest suggestion needs professional help or any medical assistance.

Well, Diary, that’s all for now. More later!

XXX000XXX

sciencefictiongallery: Frank R. Paul - Planet Of The...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:00:18 -0700

sciencefictiongallery:

Frank R. Paul - Planet Of The Knob-Heads, 1939.

FRANK R. EFFING PAUL

Monday with Hayley Mills: More Like Incredible Table Amirite

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:00:04 -0700

Monday with Hayley Mills: More Like Incredible Table Amirite

You leave me no alternative, but to introduce two of my...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:00:13 -0700

You leave me no alternative, but to introduce two of my “associates”. Bruno is almost blind, has to operate wholly by touch. Klaus is a moron who knows only what he reads in the New York Post.

Watched the 1984 opus Top Secret! the other day and was disappointed that I couldn’t find a copy online of that newspaper Klaus was gripping. I’m almost as a big a fan of Olivia Neutron Bomb as I am of Hayley Mills so I made my own for fans to use as they see fit.

And hey, that Kilmer kid could sing. Wonder whatever happened with that?

E=MC2: "Liberal Claptrap"

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0700

E=MC2: "Liberal Claptrap"

DC/Warner flogging Man of Steel to churces

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:07:55 -0700

DC/Warner flogging Man of Steel to churces

Leaked PowerPoint slide describing how the government’s...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:00:16 -0700

Leaked PowerPoint slide describing how the government’s NSA data mining PRISM program works.

Two-page spread for Miss Masque from Exciting Comics #52...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:00:16 -0700

Two-page spread for Miss Masque from Exciting Comics #52 (November 1946). Credited to Lin Streeter.

From The Man in the Convertible published in Romantic Story #31...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:00:14 -0700

From The Man in the Convertible published in Romantic Story #31 (March 1956). Art and story uncredited.

Every cover for the installment of the Nancy Drew series The...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:00:06 -0700

Every cover for the installment of the Nancy Drew series The Clue In the Crumbling Wall (1945) shows Nancy and her pals as vigorously proactive and adventurous, snooping and investigating. Kind of curious how the covers for the Nancy Drew series were initially matter-of-fact. The books featured staid, even boring art that depicts methodical detective work by a smart, curious and gutsy young woman. This was a trend that continued until the 1970s, supposedly a time of greater awareness of the equality of women in society.

By the 1970 printings Nancy is more often than not shown as pensive and drawn more in the style of a Gothic romance ingenue. One late cover in the series is all noise and explosion and Nancy is more a victim of events than an instigator of them. Action and violence, apparently, was considered more of a draw than being smart.

“You jerk-offs, you popped my yogurt!” Rocky, from Ron...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:00:05 -0700

“You jerk-offs, you popped my yogurt!” Rocky, from Ron Goulart’s 1977 Challengers of the Unknown novel. Cover artist uncredited.

PULP WONDER WOMAN -The New Paradise- The space-suited figure was...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:00:10 -0700

PULP WONDER WOMAN

-The New Paradise-

The space-suited figure was terribly heavy to carry but Diana dared not lighten the burden by removing the protective suit the man wore. Breaking the seal on the visitor’s helmet and exposing the rocket ship pilot to the atmosphere could prove fatal, or worse. Much had changed in the world in the century since the corpse of the Zerodark slammed into the world from outer space and transformed the world of mankind forever.

Diana spared a glance back over her shoulder at the vast, horizon-spanning bulk of the creature that destroyed much of the old world so many years ago by dying within the pull of the Earth’s gravity. She could still detect the wisp of gray smoke from the destroyed rocket curling upwards through the sky, visible against the cracked, dark blue chitinous armor of the Zerodark. An hour’s walk distant from the rocket and Diana could yet hear the hungry screams of the alien fauna drawn to seek prey by the noise of the rocket crash.

For a moment an exhausted Diana considered abandoning the unconscious pilot to the mercies of the strange plant and animal life that was borne to earth by the ill-timed death of the moonlet-sized creature. Living within its flesh, both hostile parasites and beneficial microbes were set free from their usual world of thick shell to attack and twist the Earth. But leaving the pilot to a horrible fate was a consideration that was, at most, fleeting. The spaceman represented hope for her people. He was from a time no one was old enough to recall and surely held secrets of science that Diana and the rest of the survivors could only dream of. The remains of humanity would need this man’s help in the quest to rebuild the world into a new paradise for them all.

Next Month

- Eye of the Zerodark-

Originally posted at LTMS May 2007.

lilacsinthedooryard: Horse and Train 1954 Glazed tempera40...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:00:00 -0700

lilacsinthedooryard:

Horse and Train 1954

Glazed tempera
40 x 53.3 cm
Art Gallery of Hamilton

IN LIFE I AM THE HORSE I WILL NOT STOP I WILL NOT DEVIATE FROM MY CHOSEN PATH I WILL SUCCEED.

To hell with Sun Tzu and The Art of War. All I need to know about life I learned from this painting.

Why do the religious and conservative minds seem to hate science...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:00:00 -0700

Why do the religious and conservative minds seem to hate science and facts so much? Why do they tortuously do whatever they can to avoid, cloud, self-servingly edit, ignore and discredit facts?

Because they can’t adapt their fantasies fast enough to survive reality.

They exist within a static universe or one in which their predispositions serve their interests. Facts chip away at the foundations of their prejudices and the upsetting of the status quo or anomie is hard to accept. Usually it is these people who will often be on the losing side of right and wrong and history.

Fear of the loss of control is usually the result. The worry that randomness is the true meaning of the universe and those in power are determined to keep their hold as tight as possible on the people and events that keep them on the top.

Progress marches on, keep up or get stepped on and left behind.

Lady, That's My Skull: True Life Secrets: Short Story

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:54:37 -0700

Lady, That's My Skull: True Life Secrets: Short Story

PULP SLEESTAK The moment she walked into my office through the...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:00:14 -0700

PULP SLEESTAK

The moment she walked into my office through the door I forgot the first rule of detective work: Never trust a beautiful dame, especially a blonde. There was something about her. Something special and I could sense it right away. She came breezing in on a cloud of expensive French perfume, all blond and soft curves and sharp, high cheekbones. From the way she was dressed I could tell she could afford an entire team of private dicks so if she came to a skid row P.I. like me it could only be for two reasons: She was desperate and had a secret.

“I was referred to you by a mutual acquaintance, Mr. Sleestak. You come highly recommended as a person who could get things done quietly and without fuss. I can’t afford this problem to be a matter of public fodder for the gossip columns.”

“Why don’t we start with your name.” I said. I didn’t bother to correct her notion about keeping things quiet. A lot of my cases usually ended with a lot of noise. The kind of noise that comes from the business end of a gun. I motioned her to a chair and she reluctantly took a seat. She was high class, that was for sure. She was almost able to keep the expression of distaste of her angelic face as she settled onto the chair. I wasn’t one for housecleaning. I was sure that this skirt would burn her dress the first chance she got.

“I’m Susan Evers.” She said. I knew the name. The famous, or should I say infamous Evers Family had their fingers in all kinds of pies in this town. She was rich. Real rich. “My estranged sister is out to destroy the family.”

“Go on.” I urged her, taking another drink from the bottle of cheap bourbon I always keep on hand in my desk. I tipped the bottle towards her in a silent offer of a drink, but she ignored my gesture. My already high estimation of her went up a couple of notches.

“As you may know, my family does not always get along.” Miss Evers began. “In fact, my parents divorced early and fought for controlling interests in the family holdings for decades. Since in the event of their passing the family money and business goes to us children, my sister and I where used as weapons by each parent to control the other. My mother and sister, Sharon, who is my exact twin by the way, moved to England shortly after the divorce. It is only recently come to my attention that Sharon has been attempting to take control of the business by undermining my influence.”

Getting mixed up in family problems was always bad news for a detective. Too much emotion and not enough facts cloud the issue. I’ve seen this before. People say it’s about right and wrong but in the end it always come down to one thing. Greed. I nodded. “So why come to me? This seems like more of a matter for a shyster and not a low-rent gumshoe.”

“I wish I could use the courts, but all the lawyers are being manipulated and some of them are in on the plan. Sharon has already impersonated me a number of times and is always one step ahead of my own team. Sharon signs paperwork and makes appearances as me and if I attempt to reverse one of “my” decisions I look weak, foolish or ineffective to the board of directors. That plays right into Sharon’s hands.”

“Mr. Sleestak, The shareholder’s meeting is in two weeks and for the first time in 20 years our parents will be living under the same roof for the duration. It was Sharon’s idea that we all get together. We will all be one big “happy family” again until the proxy vote is over and I’m worried that Sharon has laid some kind of trap for our parents. My fear is that Sharon will take that opportunity murder them and me in order to take control of the family business.”

She started to cry then, and dabbed delicately at her tears with a lace handkerchief. At that point I knew that little bit of cloth was the luckiest silk to ever be extruded from the bowels of a caterpillar. If I had one weakness it was when a dame starts with the waterworks. She looked up at me. “I need your help to get the proof I need to stop Sharon, Mr. Sleestak. Will you take the case?”

“Yesssss.” I said. “But from now on, call me Slee.”

Originally posted at LTMS November 2007

androidghost: “Adventure Thru Inner Space” Adventure Thru Inner...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:05 -0700

androidghost:

“Adventure Thru Inner Space”

Adventure Thru Inner Space opened on August 5, 1967 as part of the New Tomorrowland, and closed in 1985

I loved that ride. I am absolutely stunned and terribly saddened that when the ride was dismantled for Star Tours no one saved the giant eye through the microscope animatronic. That was such a cool and thrilling finale to the ride.

mudwerks: American Airlines postcard. (by...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:00:29 -0700

mudwerks:

American Airlines postcard. (by totallymystified)

Photograph by Ivan Dmitri. “The DC-7 main cabin. This 365 mph airliner flies nonstop between Los Angeles and New York.”

“Folks, we’ll be experiencing a little turbulence. Your flight attendants will be passing out helmets to prevent injuries from all the suitcases falling from the shelf-like overhead storage.”

I’m noticing this image, a sales advertisement from a...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:00:21 -0700

I’m noticing this image, a sales advertisement from a precious gems reseller, showing up a lot online in the last few weeks. Most notably being posted and shared on conservative social media.

The image is typically accompanying or begins articles or statements about over-reaching government, magic as science fact in school curriculum and ‘proof’ of someone’s opinions. Comments that follow this image are often supportive and in the realm of “Hear! Hear!” and “Well said!”. Like much of the items obliviously peered at through conservative-filtered glasses this as is either not critically evaluated or if read, not understood outside of how it is applied towards their predispositions.

Let’s look at this image and the message. To start with, this is an advertisement. It is public relations. That in itself makes any message and the intent suspect. A diamond reseller found it necessary to comment on what is being taught in schools? The origins of this ad are a bit murky but searches lead it toward being produced sometime in the late 1970s and 1980s. It is not of recent make and is awkwardly shoved in as support for whatever subject the person is attempting to apply it to.

Context is important. The ad references school and education. What was this ad in response to originally? This reseller is recognizing a disturbing trend that they could be legitimately concerned about, but more likely there was something occurring in society that they has or they fear will affect sales. But shoving this into a conversation in support of teaching creationism, cutting lunches or as a comment that America Has Lost Their Way doesn’t even make sense. Whatever it was that prompted this ad it has been used primarily in the discussions of the non-critical or magical thinker. For all anyone knows this could have been against teaching Intelligent Design in school.

Think about what was going on in the late 1970s and through the 1980s. Increases in civil liberties and equality, public awareness of wrongs throughout the world, the economy famously taking a periodic downturn and backlashes in 80s materialism. All of which directly or indirectly would negatively affect gem sales. Awareness of market manipulation and the sources of many gems, procured through exploitation and slave labor definitely hurt sales. The various recessions only helped reinforce the decisions not to purchase precious gems mined from questionable sources.

In the recent past the terrible sources of diamonds and other gems was hushed, ignored or obfuscated. Thanks to government regulations and embargoes in recent years gems newly procured must be conflict free. That is, gems must have been procured through fair labor and not used to fund criminal activities or oppressive regimes and terror organizations.

Today companies embrace as selling points that their products are not “conflict diamonds”. But this is only a feel good PR move for the consumer as miners and resellers have little choice but to do the right thing. Even as recently as the 1990s and later some politicians in the US argued against embargoes of gems mined by slave labor or sold in support of regimes participating in crimes against humanity. Why? Because it was their opinion that American women would not accept not being able to purchase diamonds. An horrific argument that eventually failed.

It is interesting that the ad mentions maturity and compassion, traits they are trying to manipulate in their favor. No one with any real maturity and compassion would buy a precious gem in that era. While the current sources of most gems may be cleaner than in the past some companies were built on the horrific exploitation of labor and human rights violations on a near genocidal scale.

The message in this ad is ultimately self-serving. Nothing inherently wrong with that. However with the exception of a comic book store no business would tell people to not buy their product because of negative-trending public opinions. They would make every effort to sway a disturbing trend in their favor. It is a matter of survival. Just be aware that ultimately this is about nullifying whatever may prompt a rational person to not purchase a precious gem by going against what was probably a trend of public awareness.

This change of heart in the origin of precious gems to the market was not out of innate goodness or morality on the part of the resellers. It was forced upon them kicking and screaming by governments. Profit over right is the reason governments impose regulations. Companies simply are not as a whole able to self-regulate in manner that does good for anyone other than the entity itself.

This ad smacks of a cynical attempt to appeal to a certain niche, prompting some sort of trigger to make a type of consumer feel community and thereby, maybe, spend thousands of dollars on a precious stone.

No thanks, 1980s marketing from company that sells rocks mined by slaves. I’ll get lessons in maturity, compassion & morality elsewhere.

comicsalliance: Dana Delany & Tim Daly Reprise ‘Superman’...

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:36:18 -0700

comicsalliance:

Dana Delany & Tim Daly Reprise ‘Superman’ Roles For Animated ‘Man Of Steel’ Trailer

By Andy Khouri

Repeating the formula from its highly bloggable Batman: The Animated Series Rises video, The Hub has enlisted the original voice cast of Superman: The Animated Series to help recreate the Man of Steel theatrical trailer almost shot for shot using clips from the classic cartoon. In the video below, Tim Daly and Dana Delany return to their fan favorite roles as Superman and Lois Lane, respectively, to perform in their own styles such lines as “How do you find someone who has spent a lifetime covering his tracks?” and “It’s not an ‘S.’ On my world, it means ‘hope.’”

READ MORE

I teared up more at that then when puppies die.