Today’s song of the day is “Turbo Lover” by Judas Priest (1986). This song is from their 1986 album called Turbo.
This is one of my favorite cover album arts from Doug Johnson. He also did a lot of their album covers, but this one stands out to me the most. Turbo was Judas Priest’s tenth album and was released on April 7, 1986, by Columbia Records.
The lyrics to Turbo Lover have themes of sex, auto-eroticism, leather, fun, and escaping on your motorcycle on the open road to an unknown destination. The writers of this song are Rob Halford, K.K. Downing, and Glenn Tipton.
This song is deemed a favorite on the Turbo record, and I agree. This song, along with the music video, makes you want to put it on repeat.
What song and band should I write about next? Comment below!
Black Christmas is a movie I watch every Christmas season because I think the holiday season can be scarier than Halloween. This movie was directed by Bob Clark, who also helmed the family-centric Christmas movie A Christmas Story.
Bob Clark has a very interesting film history to his name. He was not a one specific genre kind of director. Rather, he enjoys directing across different genres, and if you look up his filmography, you will see what I mean.
Black Christmas starred Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon. It is about a sorority house receiving these obscene and creepy prank calls that lead to a killer who starts killing the ladies in the house.
Roy Moore, who wrote the script, incorporated some real-life situations and mixed them with the urban legend of the babysitter. I first heard about this urban legend when I was a child. I later found out that it is an older urban legend that started around the 1960s. (Source: Wikipedia) It is a cautionary tale about a girl who goes to babysit a neighbor’s kid, a friend’s parents’ kid, or a teacher’s kid. It is the first time they are babysitting and left alone in a stranger’s house. Later in the evening, the babysitter starts getting weird, creepy phone calls asking her about the children she is taking care of. She calls the police, only to be told that the bizarre phone calls are coming from inside the house. The end result is that when the babysitter checks on the children, the children have met a fatal demise, and the caller has left the house. Although this urband legend does have some truth behind it. It is loosely based on the unsolved murder of Jannett Christman, who was found dead in the house that she was babysitting at.
Although there was some discussion of who committed the murder, no one was ever charged with the crime.
The script was also inspired by various murders around the Westmount neighbourhood in Montreal, Quebec, during the Holiday Season. And was also inspired by the crime and killing spree of serial killers William Heirens and Edmund Kemper. Roy More’s script was initially titled “Stop Me,” but personally, I am glad they changed it to “Black Christmas” instead.
Some Fun Facts about the movie: The snow about the sorority house was not real and was foam that was given by the local fire department.
Despite it being a horror movie, Olivia Hussey said it was a lighthearted time between takes.
There is a novelization based on this movie that explains the characters more and fleshes out their actions.
Most of the actors’ clothes in the film are theirs because the movie had a limited budget.
The main reason Keir Dullea decided to make the movie was that he could visit his parents, who lived close to the location.
Better Davis was offered the role of Mrs. Mac but said no.
Rob Zombie’s favorite movie.
Source: Internet Movie Database, Wikipedia, and YouTube.
On Small Business Saturday, here are some fantastic small businesses that shared their favorite items from their store:
Kerry Quinn’s Kitsch:
Hand-made Greeting Cards
Old Fashioned Cocktail Christmas Card: Retro Santa, Watercolor Holiday
All designs have been hand drawn, scanned, and printed digitally onto 80lb card stock. All cards are blank inside. Kraft envelope is included with every card purchase. Single cards are packaged individually in clear sleeves. Sets of 8 are packaged in clear boxes.
The fused glass oak leaf ornament is perfect for holiday decor or given as a gift. Inspired by heirloom glass, Beetle Glass ornament collections are created to be part of a treasured holiday display year-after-year.
-measures approximately 5-3/8″ x 3-3/4″ *due to the handmade nature of the item, slight variations can occur
VCR of Death has been around for ten years now. This shirt celebrates that milestone by bringing together a collection of some of the best weirdos that have been featured on the page over the past decade. It also features the VCR of Death logo in blue across the back. It’s a beauty.
“Shipping details: I don’t print the shirts one at a time on demand. Instead, my shop prints and ships in big batches. The next big batch will ship out in the second week of December, so get your orders in before then if you want your shirts before the holidays!”
LUNCHMEAT:
Lunchmeat Home Video Horror Calendar 2026 (preorder- Calendars will arrive early January 2026):
“The most rewind-radical calendar ever created! HVH celebrates the most incredible, influential, and awesome horror movies ever to haunt video store shelves!”- @Lunchmeat
Where would I be without the magic that is NightFlight? I would be very sad, actually, so I felt that it was necessary to share this fantastic offer from them:
Just make sure when you sign up, use the promocode: BLACKFRIDAY25
Some movies are only worth watching once. It’s been checked off your to-watch list, and you are ready to move on. These movies that I selected are SIMPLY NOT THAT. These particular movies have left an impression on me that I tend to revisit them more often than I want to admit. They also tend to linger in your mind long after watching, and you begin to ask a lot of questions about the movie. So much so that you ended up watching them the next day to see if you could gain a little clarity about what you had just watched. Here are five movies that sprang to mind:
Santa Sangre:
Santa Sangre (1989), directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky and starring Axel Jodorowsky, Guy Stockwell, and Thelma Tixou. The first time I watched Santa Sangre was in college, when I was looking for a movie with surrealist themes. Not really knowing which direction to head in, I used the internet and searched for the weirdest surrealist movies. I got a couple of promising leads, but Santa Sangre had the more unique title, so I decided to take a chance. And OMG, when I watched it for the first time, I literally went to rewatch it immediately. I had no idea what I just watched, but it intrigued me so much.
The plot is about a guy named Felix, a former circus performer who ran away from a mental hospital and returned to the armless arms of his mother. She happens to be running a super weird cult and forces Felix to kill for her because she wills it.
Director Alejandro Jodorowsky is no stranger to making weird surrealist movies. For a movie he made in 1966 called Fando y Lis.
When the movie premiered at the Acapulco Film Festival in 1968, it so upset viewers that a riot broke out, and it was immediately banned in Mexico.
And that is just one example of how bizarre and unique his films are.
Society (1989) directed by Brian Yuzna. Starring Billy Warlock.
Society is an interesting movie. I watched it due to a friend’s recommendation a decade ago. It is about a guy named Bill who feels like he is included in anything. He does not feel like part of his family; his friends look down on him and consider him a forever outsider. He definitely feels like there is some evil, hidden secret in the wealthy neighborhood he lives in. Unfortunately, little that Billy knows, his gut feelings on all of those were not wrong.
Belladonna of Sadness (1973):
Directed by Eiichi Yamamoto. Recommended by friend @astraleyez . A young girl gets abused by a low-life king and is then banned from her own town. She meets the devil on the outskirts and decides to make a deal with him regardless of the outcome. This is a very hard cartoon to watch, even if it’s in cartoon form.
Dead Ringers (1988): Directed by David Cronenberg and starring Jeremy Irons and Geneviève Bujold.
I am a big fan of vintage Cronenberg movies; I love The Brood, Videodrome, Rabid, and Crash. However, it was this movie that stuck in my mind image-wise. Cronenberg does body horror super well, and this movie is about two twin gynecologists who rebel against the fact that it is tough to tell one twin from the other. Their plan to pull off this charade was working until they both fell in love with the same woman.
Hellraiser (1988): directed by Clive Barker:
I am also a huge fan of Clive Barker. I enjoy his writing, and he has a fantastic way of developing very scary characters that leave a lasting impression. When I first saw all the cenobites on the screen, it made me realize that Clive Barker’s mind for creating such crazy leather-clad characters is AMAZING!!!! Pinhead literally stole the movie because he is the movie!!!
What other movies have left an impression on your mind? Share below!!!! Until next time
This week’s contributor Spotlight is from the amazing @stickfirmations!
“Hello! My name is Michael, and I’m the creator of Stickfirmations, a craft project where popsicle sticks meet pop culture along with mostly sincere positive affirmations. Let me tell you all about it and how it all started.
If you watched Nickelodeon in the ’90s, you might remember Stick Stickly, a popsicle-stick puppet with red googly eyes who hosted segments for Nick in the Afternoon. He held fast to my heart—maybe because his small size, sweetness, and nerves were comforting and relatable to a child facing a big, weird, and scary world. I also loved practical effects, puppetry, and miniatures—how lucky us ’90s kids were to grow up in such a tactile world!
And so, inspired by this cute little guy and fully supplied by my local craft store, I started making my own stick people when I was about 10 years old. Two hundred of them over a three-year period, to be exact! I based them on myself, friends, family, people I saw on TV and in movies, or whoever popped into my imagination. I made a whole world, a whole community of people who smiled back at me and who made my friends and family smile.
I continued making them until it wasn’t cool anymore (age 13), and for the next two decades they lived jumbled in a Ziploc bag buried in a desk drawer, until one day I reappreciated how cool they were and bought a toolchest, lined the drawers with green felt, and placed each stick safely in their new home, to be preserved for some unforeseen future purpose.
That purpose arrived in November 2024, when I was feeling despondent about the state of the world. I took a big gulp of nostalgia and thought, What if I photograph my stick people and pair them with positive affirmations? What if this made not only me but other people feel better? And maybe I can make some new stick people!
So that’s how Stickfirmations began. I’ve felt so much joy giving my old friends new life and crafting new ones, especially when they make other people chuckle. I love making my favorite film and TV characters: Beetlejuice, Pee-wee Herman, Elvira, the Log Lady from Twin Peaks, Jerri Blank from Strangers with Candy. It’s a fun challenge to recreate someone’s likeness on a tiny stick. The limitations of this small scale encourage my creativity, and I find it comforting and meditative to work with my hands at this level—despite the literal pain in my neck it sometimes causes!
As for the actual crafting, I start by gluing on the eyes. Then I find the right nose—maybe a piece of popsicle stick, the end of a toothpick, a bead, or a tiny pom-pom. Then I make the mouth—most of the time I draw or paint it, or I might sculpt it out of clay (like I did for Jerri Blank in the photo below). This part is often the hardest, and I usually practice on another stick first. Once those basics of the face are done, I do the eyebrows, which requires a further steady hand and more breath-holding.
Then I glue on the hair, which is almost always made of string. If the hair needs to be curly (like for Jerri again), I dip the string into watered-down glue, wrap it around a thin paintbrush or sculpting tool, and let it dry. Perfect curls each time! The clothes come last and wouldn’t happen with such fantastic variety were it not for a huge fabric store near me. Thank goodness for crafter heavens like this!
I do all of this at my dining room table. My partner has been very patient with me throughout this process.
For the photos, I use my phone, and I’ll either build a small set or backdrop, or I’ll take the stick person outside. Photographing in public always comes with some inquisitive looks.
And finally I add the affirmation using Adobe Express. I’ll choose an affirmation based on a line of dialogue or a character trait from the show or movie the person is in, or it might be something more broad and sincere, like “You are enough” or “You are loved.” I always try to find the right balance between sincerity and irreverence, sweet and salty—my favorite combo.
One of the most rewarding parts of doing this has been the connections and interactions I’ve had with other people, both online and in person. I got to meet the super-nice owner of Marty McFly’s house in Back to the Future when I photographed stick Doc and Marty outside.
Stick Pee-wee accompanied me to a screening of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure on the Warner Brother’s backlot, in celebration of the movie’s 40th anniversary, and he helped me connect and laugh with other Pee-wee fans.
Margaret Qualley reposted stick Monstro Elisasue from The Substance to her stories (Wow, the views and likes on that one! I was not prepared.), as did the director of the movie, Coralie Fargeat. Stick Log Lady had her day in the spotlight when the Instagram account for the documentary about Catherine Coulson’s life reposted her pic along with so many other great fan-made Log Lady art.
I never expected (I hoped!) anyone to repost me or to even like what I was doing. But it’s been happening, and it feels really good. Not for the stats, but for the acknowledgement. For one creative person to see another creative person and say, “I like what you’re doing.” I think social media can be good for this—for connection with like-minded people, for moments of artistic inspiration and support. There’s still kindness out there!
I hope my stick people bring you joy, and I hope they remind you—like Stick Stickly does for me—that small things matter. All of your dreams, your interests, your crafts and skills and hobbies matter, regardless of their scale or their scope, and despite what the world might say you should or shouldn’t do. Especially if you’re an adult. Your dreams matter as much now as they did when you were a kid. You are the maker of your dreams. Don’t stop making them! “
Michael Burge is a crafter, writer, proofreader, film lover, and nostalgic millennial living and dreaming in San Francisco, California. When he’s not making stick people, he’s probably watching Beetlejuice for about the 167th time. His Instagram is @stickfirmations
It’s that time of year again. When Vinegar Syndrome starts, there is a pre-sale for one of their biggest events of the year. There is a Black Friday Sale!
This pre-sale option started on November 1st and ends today, November 4! If you are unsure where to start, here are five recommendations of what to pre-order to beat the rush:
The Garbage Pail Kids Movie (1987)- This movie has been a long fascination of mine. So much so that I bought the soundtrack on vinyl a decade ago, and it has been a prized possession ever since. Some viewers who had watched or seen clips of the movie defined it as gross, but I believe that it is not the case!
At Close Range — this is a blind buy for me. I am a huge fan of Christopher Walken, and to be honest, I haven’t heard of this movie, but the cover art for it looked pretty intense.
The Chain Reaction- Australian cinema is one of my favorites. This movie has a lot going on: Car chase scenes, weird radiation stuff, and the government trying to hide its tracks!
Krazee Kidz Video Party — I am also a devoted fan of AGFA media, and this unique, crazy-sounding title just made me curious, so it was an automatic purchase! And if this trailer doesn’t convince you of the uniqueness, then I don’t know what will!
Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point- During this pre-sale, I always tried to get something that is either a winter or a Christmas theme. This time I decided on this movie.
With my birthday coming up soon, here are five things on my birthday wish list! My goal recently in life is to read one book a month, and so far, I am accomplishing my goal. 🙂
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure- Criterion Collection. This was one of the movies I had on repeat growing up. I always wanted to live in a dinosaur.
Cannibal Error: Anti-Film Propaganda and the Video Nasties Panic of the 1980s by David Kerekes and David Slater. Most of my favorite movies are actually on the cover of this book. I am interested in digging deeper into the era of the Video Nasties list of the 1980s.
Le Puzz Puzzles 1000 Piece Puzzle- Y2K. I am a huge puzzle nerd, and this is one of my favorite puzzle brands. This has been on my wish list since it was released. Update a friend got me this 🙂
This month’s contributor spotlight features Anna Bucholz, also known as _cookingthebooks_ on Instagram.
“I’ve been collecting vintage cookbooks for over 30 years, and it all started with Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book.
This classic cookbook is beloved by many. Although it was published in 1963, The Cooky Book is so popular that facsimile copies of the original are still being sold . With its shiny red cover, charming sketches, and festive photographs, this book reminds me of Christmas (even though it’s not technically tied to the holidays). Growing up I would flip through my mom’s copy page by page, plotting which cookie to try next. The possibilities for fun seemed endless.
In 2021 my cookbook collection led me to start my YouTube channel, Cooking the Books. I wanted to try recipes from my collection on a more regular basis and thought other cookbook lovers might be interested in my experience. Fast forward to today, and I’ve published over 300 videos. Currently I try 3 recipes per week and share a new video every Sunday. I collect books from all decades, but when it comes to actually trying out recipes my sweet spot is between 1940 and 1990.
Here are a few lessons I’ve learned after trying hundreds of vintage recipes.
There are really good vintage recipes out there!
Not all foods from the past were encased in gelatin even if those are the images you see most frequently. People love to focus on the wild, weird, and ‘gross’ recipes in older cookbooks. In reality, much of the time you’ll find familiar dishes you’ve eaten before. Think meatloaf, casseroles, baked goods, and other comfort foods. It’s true that cuisines and tastes change over time, but there are so many classic recipes that still hold up today.
Read recipes THOROUGHLY and be on the lookout for hidden ingredients
Have you ever planned to try a new recipe, carefully gathering the listed ingredients, only to find out the recipe instructions include even more ingredients? I have! I find this to be more common in books where the recipes are crowd sourced, such as community or fundraiser cookbooks. The way recipes are written and formatted has changed over time. Be sure to read through new-to-you recipes and make note of any added ingredients included in the directions before you proceed.
Watch your package sizes
Over time, the available sizes of many canned goods, cake mixes, and packaged goods have changed in size. Canned vegetables that used to be sold in 1 pound cans are now 14.5 ounces. A recipe may call for a package of cream cheese…does that mean a 3oz package (commonly available in the past) or an 8oz package (the most common package size today)? Some vintage recipes will indicate package sizes in the ingredients list, but others won’t. You may need to do a little internet sleuthing and research similar recipes to find the right size.
Your Grandmother’s secret cookie recipe is from Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book.
Ok, so maybe this isn’t true for everyone. However, many of my viewers have told me they were surprised to find out later in life their treasured family recipes really came from popular cookbooks, magazine ads, or product packaging. Food can evoke powerful memories of happy times and special people. It doesn’t really matter where the recipes come from.
Sometimes, simple is best.
I love being surprised by recipes, and some of the most surprising dishes have come from recipes that don’t seem to have a lot to them. Minimal ingredients and simple seasonings can equate to unexpectedly delicious results. You don’t always need a lot to make something that tastes incredible.
Vintage cookbooks have a lot to offer – not just in the way of food and recipes, but as a way to get a glimpse of the past. We may have access to countless recipes online, but physical cookbooks will always have a place on my shelves.
Anna Buchholz is a home cook, vintage cookbook and housewares collector, and content creator. She publishes weekly videos about food, vintage cookbooks, and retro recipes on her YouTube channel, Cooking the Books.
Banned Book Week starts from October 5-11, 2025. What is Banned Book Week? It is a yearly event that began in 1982, prompted by an alarming number of books being challenged or pulled from the shelves of public libraries and schools.
This event draws public attention to the right of people to access information that others have attempted to prohibit by limiting access. The list of banned books continues to grow larger every year. Banned Book Week highlights the need to reduce censorship in what readers choose to read and to encourage the importance of reading. I am a big believer that knowledge is power and having an openness to read out of one’s comfort zone. Here are some books that have been consistently challenged for various reasons, along with some new additions to the list. Many of these books are among my favorites.
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson (2020) is due to its sexual nature and LGBT content.
Carrie by Stephen King (1974) due to its graphic, violent nature. sexual nature and being against religion.
“Crazy Lady” by Jane Leslie Conly (1993) is not suitable due to its foul language.
Curses, Hexes, and Spells by Daniel Cohen (1974). Due to its occult ideals and uses, the Bible was a resource.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (1947). It was added to the list because of the reference to growing up as a teenager and sexuality.
Guess What? by Mem Fox (1988) is a picture book aimed at kids, and it was added to the list because it discusses themes of the occult and references to punk rock.
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (1972). This book was added because it was not suitable for the recommended age reading group and has references to violence.
Ordinary People by Judith Guest (1976). On the list due to foul language and sexual nature.
Something Happened in Our Town by Jennifer Zivoin (2018). It was banned due to its language, which was used to entice readers to be against the police.
The Upstairs Room by Johanna Reiss (1972). It was put on the list due to its profanity and discussions regarding the Holocaust.
And those are just some of the books that are on the ever-massive and growing list of books.
If you want more information about Banned Book Week. Here are some references:
ladycultblog 