...Cause you know you love the nightlife!

Welcome to the crypt, or, if you're a more modern sort, a loft with timer-activated blinds to save you from that final sunburn, each morning.

Vampires on television, as recurring, even sympathetic characters, started with Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, a gothic-horror daytime drama (okay, so, it was a soap; it was still cool!) which ran from 1966 to 1971.

There have been other shows, since... Forever Knight; Kindred: The Embraced; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Angel...

And, currently, two newer shows: Moonlight, on CBS, and, Blood Ties, and almost unknown show on equally obscure women's network, Lifetime.

Both the two latter shows feature a male vampire operating in the role of private detective, harkening back to Forever Knight and Angel. Seems vampires never get jobs as air-traffic controllers, brain surgeons, or, professional wrestlers.

At any rate, Moonlight's Mick St. John is a "younger" vamp, still not at all at ease with his condition, while Henry Fitzroy of Blood Ties (based on Tanya Huff's novels) is much older, and, fairly at ease in his "lifestyle.' This makes for an interesting contrast between the two. In comparison, Dark Shadows' Barnabas was much more sinister and selfish, even evil, to begin with, and, while he eventually sought to regain his humanity, he was always very dangerous to those around him.

To view episodes of Dark Shadows online as free, streaming Video, go to:

www.guba.com

...and, type "Dark Shadows" into the Search Guba box. They're not in any particular order, but, they are labeled:

Dark Shadows - 1-030 - 030 - VHS2XviD.avi, for example, is season 1, episode 30, which is also episode 30 of the entire series. Keep in mind that Jonathan Frid first appeared as vampire Barnabas Collins in episode #210. However, the character's hand was briefly seen in the climax to episode #209, prior to Frid's introduction.

Episodes of Moonlight may be viewed at:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/moonlight/

Episodes of Blood Ties may be viewed at:

http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/bloo...od-price-part-1

...Be sure to use the "Select and episode" drop-down menu to see each one. There are 22 episodes, each broken into approximately 9 minutes for ease of streaming.

Also, you can order the DVD set of all 22 episodes online at Amazon.com UK; search by title. It's Region 2 (UK and Japan), but, if you have a region-free player, that's no problem. You can also order both Blood Ties and Moonlight on ITunes.

There are 5 Blood Ties novels out from Tanya Huff (Amazon.com, again, US is fine), plus another book on preorder (looks like short stories). She also does another series, the "Smoke" series with Tony Foster, another character from the Blood book series (you won't see Tony in the TV series, per Tanya Huff, as, she thought he had potential for his own series!), which include Henry, the Blood Ties vamp protagonist, as well.

The novels present the characters and their relationships rather differently, and, might not be to some viewers' tastes. However, they are the original source material for the series, so, adventurous completists might give the first novel or two a try.

Finally, while Dark Shadows is long-since off the air, except on very rare occasions, and, Moonlight's status is unsure but relatively positive, the future of Blood Ties is still up in the air; although the series is unaffected by the WGA Writers' strike, being produced entirely in Canada, Lifetime has not yet committed to a third season. A growing coalition of BT fans have started a Yahoo group to share information and to coordinate efforts to encourage the renewal of this show:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/saveblood...yguid=322589985

Once you've seen a few episodes, you might also play the online game:

http://www.mylifetime.com/fun-games/games/puzzle/blood-ties

...Since views of online episodes and downloads of the game help Lifetime gauge interest in the show, and, have the potential to influence a renewal.

So, will you sharpen your stakes, or offer, a hungry vamp a bite to eat?

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

Ray I know I've told you this before.....

YOU REALLY NEED TO SEE BUFFY AND ANGEL!!!

My work here is done.....

There is only so much times. Still trying to get through Blood Ties.

I love Moonlight. Awesome show.

Blood Ties isn't bad.

Two great shows which actually provide some vampire "lifestyle" contrasts.

And, yes, I know, I really need to watch Buffy and Angel... And, prob'ly, Forever Knight, too.

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

Okay...my .02. Blood ties was...okay...when there wasn't any other available vamp to offer my blood to, but now that Mick St. John is on the case....<swoon> He's perfect as a vampire. Dark, brooding, troubled, honorable, sexy, valiant...he has a keen sense of justice that I also love, even if it is his own brand of justice. I like the chemistry between Mick and Beth too even though I think the woman is totally off her nut for pining for that whiney Josh, when Mick is around and totally willing. I mean seriously. He's a much better age for lusting after too...mid 30's instead of Henri Fitzroy's mid 20's (actors ages mind you not characters ages) Lusting aside, I like the show overall as well. And now that the writer's strike is over, there will be four more eps of Moonlight starting April 11th. No word yet on if the network will renew for a second season yet though...not till May. <crosses all appendages she has two of>

Immortality has never looked so good....

Okay Ray...here's where we're a lot alike. I've never seen an ep of Buffy or Angel either for that matter. I know they're both Joss's creations and everything, but for some reason I'm still dragging my feet. Maybe it's because I have a difficult time assigning seriousness to a so called vampire slayer named buffy, or that maybe david boreanaz doesn't do anything for me <sigh> maybe I'm just waiting for Santa to bring me box sets of all the seasons....

Well, Henry Fitzroy was "turned" at age 17, so, he will always look more like a "bad boy" than Mick. This also creates a bit of an image problem, in his relationship with Vickie, who is acutely aware of the apparent age difference between them, not to mention her love/hate/love with her former partner, Mike (who is, by turns, a jerk, and, a decent guy, a nice bit of character development). On the other hand, he is more "mature" in his condition, having had centuries to adapt. I prefer Vickie to Beth, simply because Beth has always come across, to me, as a pushy, nosy "Lois Lane" type. Vickie is more capable, and, has a bit more originality and depth. Of course, you and I are approaching this from diametrically opposing ends of the gender-interest spectrum, so...


Buffy, the original movie, was high camp, and, amusing, on its own merits. The series rapidly evolves into something much more serious, darker, even tragic. And, I've only gathered this much from watching over the missus' shoulder, occasionally.

What daunts me is that, there is SO gorram much of it to watch, and, to absorb. And, then, you have Angel, which, as I have been informed, one does not watch after Buffy, but, starts to watch while still watching Buffy (any help, here, antipyrene?)

But, yeah, a lot of what makes Firefly so enjoyable, the character chemistry, the dialogue, the progressive story arc... That is what makes Buffy/Angel popular. In fact, if Firefly had been allowed to progress, just based on Joss' handling of Buffy, well, we might have had some sharp twists and tragic moments, just like Buffy (in fact, what happened to certain characters in Serenity would likely have happened, for some of the same reasons, in a later season of Firefly, given the chance).

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

But you gotta admit there's even a similarity there to, lol.

I read the first two books of Tanya Huff's series and to tell you the truth, it just didn't grab me by the throat <pardon the pun> the way Laurell K Hamilton does for instance. So I guess I was predisposed to not thinking much of the series. But I'll give you one thing...Vicky is certainly more appealing than Beth...even though I prefer men that doesn't preclude me from noticing when one is more sexy than another...

I'm tickled that there are more venues for the concept... not that Vampires are languishing since the advent of Anne Rice... but that the mecium has space for more than one perception of reality is a good thing...

Much like Ghost Whisperer and Medium are both dealing with the departed or ectoplasmic energy of one kind or another... and able to connect/ view/ understand... and those connections are made with the ordinarily immesurable... a good thing.

Now, I'm not in praise of either show... even if I praise the material. Neither are written with the pathos of Moonlight or Firefly... not near the wit... very little humor. I fear the shows are kinda "slasher light" or CSI by vision. It could be the lack of ensemble...

Now, the cast of Moonlight is not that large... but it acts like an ensemble...tho losin' the boyfriend so soon... surprised me, while the "cure"... following on the heals of the dearly departed... hmmmm.
Which harkens back to Laurel... and whoa!! how long does the cure last...

I like Tanya Huff, generally. I have not yet read the Blood ties series.
I've been too tied up reading Hamilton...
Good grief!!! I love the selection here!!!

Important safety note: The Blood Ties (and, the "Smoke" series, featuring another character in the same milieu) books present the characters rather differently than the show; some readers may find their sensibilities tested. If you like Laurell K. Hamilton, I have it on good authority (the missus, of course) that you should enjoy the Blood Ties/Smoke novels.

That said, the missus is also getting a tad bored with LKH's Anita Blake novels; the more recent ones seem to be lighter on plot, with the emphasis on the sex. I guess that's what sells the books, but, it's not all my Sweetie reads 'em for. Your mileage may vary.

-RC =^[.]^=

Watch the first 3 seasons of Buffy (be patient, it starts slow, but by season 2 it has moments of absolute brilliance, and by season 3 is clicking on all cylinders) then alternate episodes for Buffy seasons 4/5 and Angel seasons 1/2 (at that point they aired back to back, with some stories starting on Buffy and ending on Angel)...after that Buffy moved to UPN so theres less crossovers, I'd just watch the end of Angel season 4 before seeing the final 3 episodes of Buffy

Look for Captain Tightpants in Buffy season 7, Summer in season 3 Angel, Gina as the Big Bad in Angel season 4, and Adam in a tailored suit as a lawyer (literally) from Hell in Angel season 5

As for Firefly, the events of Serenity were originally supposed to be Firefly seasons 2 and 3 (Joss tends to plan events well ahead...in Buffy theres was foreshadowing of events in seasons 5 and 6 as early as seasons 2 and 3)

Hey Ms. Singer! Welcome!

I'm still in exile at skiffy after 9 days....maybe they'll get things straitened out there soon...

I can only speak for myself here....but books...especially books like Ms. Hamilton's <pant, moan> they're my sex life. Sad to say, but true nonetheless. Being single has it's perks but when it comes to sex, sharing your bed with a total stranger that knows nothing about you (one night stands at MY age? <shudder>) is a total waste of time and effort and unsatisfying to boot. And the selection of men here in the piney woods of east Texas is laughable....you either have inbred rednecks or drunks....or inbred redneck drunks. So Ms. Hamilton is doing a public service imho.

Not everyone's cup o' tea, but certainly mine.

I concurt!!! While I do love the storyline... I also appreciate the graphic nature and Ms. Hamilton's rather inventive nature, ahem, and the extent to which the characters have found ways to deal with both their nature and their real and imagined needs. That she deals with the difficulties in relationships, as well as what works, and confounds it with the politics and intrigue... that's why I read 'em.

The erotic scenes are magnificent... and I have fallen for the fairie... I still deeply love the necromancer... different women... and different problems, obviously. But the concept that sex is magic is one I have always believed... so, it is right up my alley. I find it an act of creation... imitating the gods, if you will... sort of.
Hey T... I think I need another cup.

I want mine supersized, LOL

I fell in love with the way she writes in first person, and that while you're reading her books you believe 100% that there really are shapeshifters, vampires and fairies among us....she makes it all so convincing. And hell, what woman wouldn't want so many men lusting after them that were all magnificent in bed? Given the opportunity (not that there's one iota of chance of that happening where I live) I prefer a monogomous relationship, but if I could put myself in Anita's or Merry's shoes? I'd learn to live with the adoration of the many for the good of the few, LOL.

Hey, T... do you know why my siggy has text sizes in it??? Did I need to put text between the markers???

I think you're supposed to type the text then highlight it and click on size and/or color. So that the text falls between the bboard code.


"It's been a while -- a long damn while -- since anybody but me took ahold of my plow"
Malcolm Reynolds


Yuppers....I previewed it and voila!

Ha!
Got it...
I feel ever so much better, now.
I still need to do some work... get an image... maybe an Icon.
Things to work on.

Who knows if Mick will get with Beth. I think they will drag it out forever like they do on all tv shows. Mick's EX puts a damper on things too. Can't wait till it comes back on.

Well, you know they HAVE to maintain the sexual tension. Otherwise, the show goes *POOF!* I like how they work that between Henry and Vickie (and Mike) on Blood Ties, too. There, it's the female lead with the issues that complicate everything. Of course, in that case, the books have it rather differently...

Still haven't seen anything definite on when we'll see new Moonlight. I've seen announcements ranging from late March to (mebbe, we're still thinking about) next fall. So, we'll see more, when we see more.

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

TBug says it comes back in April.

This is where I get the information from, and strangely enough...I got this link from Ray, lol


http://moonlightfans.com/index.php?option=...8&Itemid=44

Yes, but, that just shows how much attention I pay to myself...

Blood Ties is up for an Indie Award!

The awards are tonight:

http://www.cftpa.ca/membership/indie_awards/nominations.php

Best Prime Time Drama Series

Blood Ties
Producer(s): Paul McConvey, Randy Zalken, Marshall Kesten, Kirk Shaw, Peter Mohan
Durham County
Producer(s): Janis Lundman, Adrienne Mitchel, Michael Prupas
Intelligence
Producer(s): Chris Haddock, Laura Lightbown, Arvi Liimatainen
Race To Mars
Producer(s): Arnie Gelbart, Phyllis Platt, Pia Maria Marquard
ReGenesis III
Producer(s): Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Laura Harbin, Tom Chehak

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

Here's a short essay on the television genesis of the "reluctant vampire:"

http://bekkilynn.blogspot.com/2008/02/vamp...ner-demons.html

"Saturday, February 16, 2008
Vampires Fighting Their Inner Demons

How many of you know that Barnabas Collins was the first vampire to question his curse and fight it? Jonathan Frid's performance of the character set the course for Ann Rice and those who followed in the quest to protray vampires unwilling to accept the demon within. From there on, they have become the hero's of many romances in various genres.

For me, Barnabas has always been the epitomy of the romantic vampire. I was very young at the time the series began and it was the only soap opera I was allowed to watch. Throughout the years, when A&E would air episodes, I was right there watching.

I have spent the entire day watching Dark Shadow episodes. At the end of each DVD, a cast member or staff member reflects back on the show. At the end of the third disc in this set, I learned this tidbit and wasn't in the least surprised by it.

Unlike most soap operas, this show took over an entire studio with sets everywhere and scenes filmed simultaneously and put together in the film room. This amazes me for the era as I've yet to see any errors aside from the occasional shake of the camera. When one show ends, the next picks up with end and then carries on -- modern day soaps attempt this, but not well. Often today, the clothes are different, the hair is different, little things they didn't care to take their time to right. I think this leads a lot into the fact that cast of Dark Shadows were made up of people who were used to working theatre and were trained to notice and make things right.

I have another set coming - the first 35 episodes of the series. I'm hoping by the end of the year to have the entire collection. I am so thrilled my husband gave me this set for Valentine's Day. And he's been right here watching with me. There are 40 episodes in this collection and we're barely in the fourth disc. I started at 7am. It's been like watching an all day movie.

Bekki
Posted by Lynnsplanet at 4:57 PM"

My own observations about the vampire genre:

The duality of his condition reflects the nature of the curse Barnabas was under. His initial savagery, when released from his long imprisonment, had to be suppressed, if he was to fit in as "cousin Barnabas." But, for much of the time, while he was subject to his vampiric state, he was the Beast beneath the outward semblance he assumed.

In this, Barnabas may be compared to other vampire characters, particularly Dracula. Dracula has been portrayed in a myriad of different ways, even sympathetically, but, notwithstanding some movie treatments, Bram Stoker depicted him as the Devil in the flesh, calculating his way among the humans upon whom he preyed, but, never really a part of them.

In particular, consider the movie "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992) with Gary Oldman. It was originally intended to be a close reproduction of the novel, but, as so often happens in Hollywood, that notion was ash-canned, in favor of making Dracula a "tragic, romantic figure." That's why, every time we watch it, I have to remind my wife that, early on in the film, we witness Dracula give a baby to his vampire brides to feed on. That revelation, which serves to establish Dracula's real nature, puts a fast stop on the "dreaminess" factor pretty quickly. Yet, without my reminder, she, as the audience is intended, tends to forget that particularly acute moment of horror, falling under Dracula's spell, herself.

Mina, herself, might never have fallen so easily for Dracula, had she known about that. But then, it was his well-concealed secret.

Barnabas, on the other hand, had a personality, however much submerged in evil, at times, which made him just that much more human. There was more to him than just the creature of darkness, though the two aspects were clearly at odds. Barnabas' story was, ultimately, a search for redemption. As written, Dracula, on the other hand, was just a predator, and, to be honest, a less than three-dimensional antagonist for Van Helsing, Harker, Quincy, et al, perhaps befitting a force which Stoker never intended to be fully understood.

Then, you have the more current crop of "romantic" vampires, Nick, Angel, Mick, and, Henry, all post-Barnabas TV vampires, from Forever Knight, Angel (the sequel to Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Moonlight, and, Blood Ties. Interesting that all are portrayed as working as detectives (though Henry Fitzroy is also a graphic novelist in the TV series, and, in the original novels by Tanya Huffman, is actually a romance novelist!).

All of them, though somewhat limited by their conditions, largely partake of the human world and society, more or less in control of their predatory natures, depending on the demands of the plot. They represent an evolution away from the evil spirit animating the dead flesh of a cursed nobleman (Dracula); through the conflicted but constantly dangerous creature born of a human spirit trapped within a cursed existence (Barnabas); to more or less regular guys (who even hold down jobs) with an interesting set of handicaps, not enough to keep them from being heroic protagonists, but, still enough to present that element of peril.

"Bad boys with bite," if you will.

So, where Dracula is simply a blight upon humanity, with no real personality or human motivations of his own, save the remaining traces of the man who once lived in the body which houses the evil spirit, Barnabas actively struggles (though, it might be said, somewhat selfishly) to overcome his curse, and, the modern vampires struggle /not to/ fall prey to their own, darker natures.

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

Whoa...Ray... good myth!
I think the fascination we have is the struggle...suborning the beast within...
If the Vampire were only the predator, it has too many skills for the human to withstand for long.
With the rememberance of humanity, the longing for love... that is what makes all the vamp stories
fun...
The bad boy image might be part of the allure, but seriously, I don't think most of us vanilla types
are really lookin to suffer just so the boy might go on to the next one...

Beth's line, "I fed you...!!!" suggests there needs to be some reciprocity in modern times.

I remember Barnabas. I watched faitfully each day after school...
I love where the story has come, never mind the production...
Not that it wasn't terrific. It was, the story was, due to continuity... the acting was informative.

Did Barnabas have access to a blood bank?
I love that Mick uses either a glass or a syringe... by the way, any body know why the syringe??

The question of evil ... how can it be placed in one predator, and not be in another???
If we exile the vamp, we must also exile ourselves... we eat other flesh... some do use the blood of other species...
Are Vamps human... or not human? While humans don't actually on a regular basis eat other humans... we are known to prey on other humans in a variety of ways... economic, spiritually, physically,... etc.
Which shall we tolerate? Eating someone's blood, bad/evil. Bilking them out of their retirement account... just business.

Barnabas did have the help of Dr. Hoffman, where blood supply was concerned. Before that, he would send an understandably reluctant Willie Loomis to fetch him an animal off which to feed.

Not so familiar with Moonlight... I do wonder why Mick sleeps in a freezer, though. I'm still polishing off the last available episodes of Blood Ties (which didn't win the Indie, by the way =-[.]-=). Moonlight will probably be next, though the missus and I own the Buffy DVDs...

As for the nature of evil, Dracula was a creature of spiritual evil, the Devil given flesh. No matter that he might seem like the Wallachian nobleman whose flesh he inhabited, he was just a puppet for an evil spirit. Barnabas was accursed; he was undead, but, fundamentally, he was still the person he had been, possessed of urges he was ill-prepared to control, and, his destiny was also tainted, so that he was doomed to destroy whom he loved.

Later vampires (Nick, Angel, Mick, and, Henry) drew upon different interpretations of the mythology, and, thus, had different takes on the matter of free will versus instinct, spiritual evil versus moral. Spiritual evil may be seen as immutable, forever malevolent in its essence. Moral evil, on the other hand, may be interpreted as a result of free will, and, capable of being overcome, as well as the compulsion of instinct.

So, a vampire may delight in destroying humans (evil by nature, or, by moral choice), or, may show restraint, either in not killing unnecessarily (which is also good policy, for purposes of long-term survival), or, in not feeding on humans, either directly, or, at all. However, some blood, from some source, is necessary for a vampire to continue its existence. To deny a vampire the right to feed in some manner is to declare that it has no right to exist.

In some cases, that's a reasonable position. Dracula needed killing. Henry Fitzroy, for example, perhaps less so, though no direct explanation is given for his condition (i.e., no "possessed by a demon or devil" or other specific definition). However, we know that Henry, by his own admission, has killed, and, committed many acts for which he, himself, bears the burden of guilt. Should he be penalized for his crimes? Or, is guilt sufficient penance for an immortal, who, it can be argued, has learned better?

Short of killing, a vampire who compels or coerces a human, in order to feed, violates their free will, their body, possibly (depending on the milieu) even their spirit. This is tantamount, at the least, to rape. However, this onus is relieved if the blood is given willingly, although an argument might also be made about knowledgeable consent, in this intepretation.

So, do we hold a vampire to the same moral code as we do ourselves? A difficult question. To turn it on its ear, consider this: Vampires are no longer human. In that case, do they have any of the same rights we afford ourselves as humans? Or, as a walking, thinking corpse, can a vampire be murdered? Enslaved (assuming one has the means to control one)? The emotional response is likely to be, yes. The response may be more ambiguous, when considered within the strict limits of human law.

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

He seems to only use the syringe after he first wakes up. I don't really know the significance of that other than maybe he heeds direct application to thaw all the way? As you see him warm up after the injection.




Okay Ray...there is no one difinitive answer here. Depending on any one author's artistic license, some of them are subject to the laws humans are, albiet a bit altered for thier purpose. And some vampires are undead as you say, only having a heartbeat when they're "animated" and dying when the sun goes down, while others just get a bit lethargic and never lose their heartbeat at all. Yes a vampire can be a murder because it's not necessary for them to kill to eat. Yes they can be enslaved (by their master or maker) and they can also be containted for punishment. Cross wrapped coffin anyone? What human law is strict? Given an adequate lawyer any law can be skewed. Therefore IF vampires, shapshifters and fairies suddenly decided to let the world be aware of their presence, then by our own laws they'd have to be recognized as fully sentient beings. They could very well demand rights just like everyone else regardless of gender, race, color, religeon or creed.

AHA!

So, Ms. Bug, you have fallen into my trap!

The real question, as you have so cleverly divined, is, "What is a person?"

You could extend your list to include aliens, talking animals, and, sentient computers, as well. Of course, in the latter case, the question of property rights versus parental responsibilities would arise for the parties responsible for creating a sentient computer.

So, what is a person? Assuming one could come up with a definition of sapience, any "self-aware" being which met certain benchmarks for reasoning ability still might not qualify; humanity already ignores the fact that other animal species are fully capable of "reason," within their own range of needs and functions, even being able to extend that range beyond their own, evolved set of capabilities to adapt to interaction with humans. For example, dogs can be amazingly smart, at doing doggish things, as well as doing the things to which humans train them... But, no one affords them the consideration of true sapience, because they can't fix a transmission, program a TIVO, or, make a perfect omelette.

Those of us who know and love critters do know that they are self-aware enough to have personalities and feelings. Your own, dear Bug is a good example. To you, he's a person, part of the family. But, to most folks, he'd be just a pig, mostly due to ignorance and prejudice.

Apes and dolphins are acknowledged as being close to human in mentation, capable of learning tasks which, while not so complex as those I mentioned, still outstrip the capabilities of your average dog, or, even, pig. Apes have the advantage of a physical structure which approximates our own, providing a degree of similarity which simultaneously creates and overcomes prejudices against their "person-ness." However, apes (both chimps and gorillas) which (who?) have learned sign language, have broached the barrier between us and them. When a "critter" can hold a conversation with you, it's kinda hard to think of them as a completely inferior being, anymore.

Dolphins actually have a longer historical relationship with humans, the Greeks enshrining them as brothers of man from the dawn of their civilization. Whether the stories of dolphins rescuing humans at sea are true or not, the tuna-fishing industry notwithstanding, people love dolphins. They are also possessed of formidable gifts, including large, complex brains which not only make them clever and emotionally complex (much like humans), but, also manage their range of sensitive sensory and physiological capabilities, as well. But, no hands, no manipulatory appendages, which might, otherwise, make them the dominant species on the planet.

It is well to remember, however, that we mustn't romanticize dolphins. They have been observed in the wild exhibiting a range of negative behaviors which, while belying their noble reputation, certainly bring them up to human standards, such as racial prejudice (between species of dolphins), brutality, even gang rape.

But, most folks think of "people" as being humans, and, "non-persons" as everything else, despite these shades of grey. We're actually quite jealous of that status, not wanting to open a legal/ethical can of worms and rock the well-established boat of our social structure.

So, yes, we'd likely treat any humanoid non-human beings as human, for legal purposes (and, quickly strive to make them part of the tax-paying electorate), no matter their peculiarities. Non-humanoid, mebbe not so much. But, first, it would be necessary to overcome the natural prejudices which would arise. Vampire? "Sure, he'd work out fine on the graveyard shift, but, I wouldn't want one to marry my daughter"... Or, more likely, "Destroy the unholy demonspawn!" ...And, that, as a rallying point for a range of otherwise disparate religious groups, who have already proven themselves, historically, quite willing to level that charge against genuine H. Sapiens sapiens people, and, to back it up with all manner of violence.

So, that may be why vamps and weres and fae folk would have good reason to otherwise keep quiet about themselves. Well, that, and, to avoid the IRS.

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

Trust you to lay such a clever trap ray, lol.


I read almost nothing but vampire, shapeshifter, and alien type ficiton....I'll gladly read anything if it's good, but I buy the former for myself. What I have found is there is almost as many differing opinions out there for these types of beings as there are pennies in the US. So when I answered your questions earlier, that is to what I was referring.

I agree with your assessment of so called humankind and the atrocities we've visted upon those of our own kind much less those of the animal world. It pains me to witness animals being more humane than humans. Shades of grey be damned.



That is unless of course they were there to save your ass.....

Aww... You know I was kiddin' about the trap part =^[.]~=.

Naturally enough, in the quest for originality, you'll find plenty of variations on the vampirism theme (among others). The problem is, even in the original folklore (among the many cultures in which the vampire myth appeared), nobody was working very hard to remain consistent. But, the original, classic Slavic vampire was nobody you'd want to take to bed with you. And, far as I'm concerned, that is unexplored territory with some rich potential, depending on how somebody might want to write it, with such a cursed individual as a main character. I guess it depends if you want romance, or, horror.

And, sure, it's much more fashionable to cast vampires as protagonists, now, than as villains. I just wish they'd find something other to do than work as detectives.

-RC =^[.]^=

It never occured to me that the IRS would be out for our vamp friends...
Wonder how Mick and Angel.. managed it. Angel had employees, to.
Hmm. Maybe, incorporate... a corporation is treated like a person in many ways by the tax system.

Now, I can make a perfect omlette... and the IRS wants my blood...and my money.
I am uncertain having sentience is a good thing.

All of Laurel Hamilton's folk definitely run businessess... one kind or an another... and with the fey series... she actually delves into what the rules are for the fey to operate... limitations on use of powers... etc.


It would be interesting to look at the opposite, of course, what rules they would break... how we'd deal with "proof," containment, and punishment.
As much as the Vampire may be 'undead'... they seem to have a powerful will to continue their 'existance' and survival mechanisms to do so.

I'm reminded of the law of entropy... a body in motion... except, vampires do rest... whethere in a coffin or a freezer... does the freezer preserve their life-like appearance?

Anne Rice dealt with a vamp being 'restored' once... and she was appaled at having to 'eliminate'... how crass that was.
It's the little things, eh?

Heheh... What'd vamps do to maintain their looks before the advent of Frigidaire?

As for elimination... You know, all that blood has to go somewhere... Vampire bats have guano that resembles tar.

Just sayin'.

-RC =^[.]^=

Well I AM female, LOL. If I want horror I'll read King or Koonz....

What, as a male, I can't appreciate romance?

Heheh...

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

As you say...we're coming at this from different ends of the spectum You see I don't know you personally that well...but it's been my experience with most men that their idea of romance is quite different from a womans. Not coloring you with the same broad brush here mind you....

Oh, Ray--- we all knew that you were a romatic at heart!!!
Any Browncoat is a romantic at heart... and a screaming roomantic for RL!!
One cannot know Kaylee and not,,, nor Wash and Zoe... nor Inara and Mal... even Simon.

The way you take such good care of Rhiotre. not to mention moving her to the most romantic
place in the world... where one need not wear more than one chooses... moonlight nights on the
beach... maybe a naked beach (just watched Ariel last night...)... gosh, were I lucky enough
to find a guy like you... I might conscider a partner...

Awww... That's okay, Ms. Bug. I know you're an open-minded lady, livin' in a world of folks who contribute to stereotypes like they're tax deductible. I guess I'm a bit atypical, or, mebbe, more in touch with my feminine side, that way. Hey, I know! It's from havin' to wear Rhiotre's handle over on Skiffy =^[.]~=.


*BLUSHES!* Um, well... Didn't realize I was that transparent... And, it's Rhio who takes good care of me. I already wanted to live in Hawai'i; she was just sweet enough to agree, is all. Rhio's sensible, that way. No, my flamin' romantic side scarcely comes out, hereabouts, and, it might even make you blush Ms. Singer, to find out what an old-school, sappy romantic I can be.

-RC =^[.]~=

Like Ms. Singer said....if we could only find a man like you. Say.....you don't have any single brothers do you?

Actually, I do... Bill doesn't want to move to Hawai'i, though.

-RC =^[.]~=

How 'bout Palau?

Nah, Palau doesn't want to move there, either.*

-RC =^[.]~=

*Besides, I love the tropics, but, I also need the modern conveniences, like a WalMart 20 minutes down the road in Hilo. Dun think they have a WalMart in Palau.

Honey... If he'd be willin' to head to Vegas... we can talk, and T-bug is no where near Hawaii...

This is a link to a web site on which scans and transcriptions (please pardon the typos) of a great many magazine articles about Dark Shadows can be viewed:

http://tinyurl.com/2zhn96

Just click on the magazine cover picture (or, the image link on the left side of the page, if the cover is missing) to view the article. Some of these go back to the 1960s!

Enjoy!

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

Granted there may be a walmart in Hawai'i...but there's surperior diving in Palau, so I'd sacrifice a few conveniences for that

You been divin' in Palau, Ms. Bug?

That sounds like a story to hear!

-Raycheetah =^[.]^=

Well....no...I haven't. I had signed up and paid for a trip aboard the Palau Aggressor back in '97 and had to back out...luckily for me though they refunded my trip fees. I've been trying to get there ever since. Here's just a sample...

http://palaudive.com/Wrecks.htm


I just finished a great book that Ms. Rhio might like. It's called A Rush of Wings By Adrian Phoenix. It's a unique take on vampires and the book was so awesome that I read it then reread it again right after. Took me five days total. It's hardback book sized but has a soft cover. 403 pages total. Awesome book. I haven't been wowed by a book since I first picked up Narcissus in Chains, which was the very first LKH book I ever read. Yeah trust me to start in the middle, lol....that was three or four years ago.

I found a new set for me... Did any of us mention Kelly Armstrong??
The series opens with were-wolves... then adds witches and vamps and demons and half/demons... fun romps!!!
While waiting for the next from our favorites...

I found them in the Sci-Fi section... so there is some sex, but not as ... ummm... detailed as Ms. Hamilton...
Very interesting world, she's created, nevertheless!!!

I've got what she's written so far, Bitten, Broken, Stolen, Haunted... Dime Store Magic, Industrial Magic, and last... No Humans Involved

There is one more coming... but it was a fun read, so far, and, well... goodness knows when we'll have something worth watching on TV again.

Any body heard anything about Armstrong???
It's Fox, again... so part of me is most reluctant to get excited.

You mean New Amsterdam I think and the season premire was last night. It was okay....nothing Moonlight-like or anything. I thought the premise was a bit cheesy. The show was just okay. It may get better with time, who knows?