Category Archives: Rob

Rob Reviews: 100 Years of Horror (1996)

Wherein Rob Reviews Everything He’s Ever Seen, Read, Heard, Experienced or Thought

I’m doing a review of every TV show my Watched media list says I’ve seen.

A promotional image for '100 Years of Horror' hosted by Christopher Lee, featuring a close-up of Lee's face with a dark background and the title in bold lettering.

I don’t know for a fact that I watched all 26 episodes of 100 Years of Horror. But that is what it says on my Watched list, and we are taught to trust spreadsheets, are we not? Either way, I have a pretty strong feeling I watched a healthy chunk of it.

In an attempt to jump-start my addled brain, I searched YouTube and found the first four episodes sitting there waiting for me. I clicked on episode one, “Dracula and His Disciples,” and within two minutes, I realized I need to watch this entire series again—which I definitely will.

The bad computer-graphics of the ridiculously over-long intro made me smile. It looks like it was rendered on a Commodore 64. But the moment Sir Christopher Lee utters his first couple of words, I was hooked all over again. There is nothing better, it turns out, than hearing Christopher Lee say the word Drac-oo-la. The man delivers every single syllable like he’s presiding over a Victorian execution.

The show systematically breaks down iconic sub-genres—Scream Queens, Mutants, Giants, and beyond—loading up on vintage clips from Universal Classics and Hammer Horror. It mixes in talking-head commentary from genre royalty like John Carpenter, Roger Corman, and Bela Lugosi Jr., all bathed in that distinct, cozy 1990s basic-cable lighting. But Lee is the glue. His smooth, velvety gravitas elevates bargain-bin monster footage into prestige television.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 Vampire Capes.

Absolute recommendation for anyone who considers themselves a horror fan—especially those who think the first Saw movie counts as “old school.”

How’s Your Morning Going?

Woke up way too early this morning. Like, still dark early. Because of a pain in my hip and lower back. Likely need a new mattress.

Because I use a CPAP machine -it really works well for me, i sleep much better – I find I can only sleep on my back. Being ‘stuck’ in this position likely exacerbates the back/hip pain. Sometimes, like this morning, when the pain and stiffness is pronounced, I take off the CPAP and move my body onto one side or the other to find relief. I am so used to the CPAP machine that I find it hard to sleep without it. This morning – this too-early dark morning, lying on my side and finding no relief, I reluctantly decide to get up.

First task in the morning is the Doughall dog walk. This morning it is raining and blowing hard. Dog walk soaks me to my core. Drenched and dilapidated with hip pain.

Sitting in the living room, with the rain pelting against the front of our house, streaming down the picture window, I hear a drip drip drip drip that is out of place. The sound is coming from inside your home! Turns out there is a steady and consistent leak emanating from the top of the picture window.

So that’ll have to get fixed.

So does the roof where several of the asphalt shingles have blown away. getting an estimate next week.

So does the siding on the exterior of the house which is in desperate need of a paint job.

A bit of good news: I got an email from GFL telling me the rates for getting a roll-off dumpster delivered so we can get rid of the junk that’s accumulated over 65 years of our family living here, and it’s less expensive than I was expecting.

And now the rain has stopped and so has the aggravating drip drip drip.

Hip pain has dissipated significantly too.

So the day’s getting better.

How’s your morning treating you?

Someone Stole My Rowboat!!!!!!!

I hope I’m alive
In ten years time
When friends share posts
About Gus’s boat
Concerned it’s missing and “oh what a shame
That someone could steal such a dear thing
And pass it along, let’s find this boat!”
Not realizing of course it’s old-time news
In fact, by then, a one-score old
Twenty year memory algorithmically refreshed anew
Like some dementia-addled brain
Insisting that the past is now

Killer Bees

Killer Bees

Attila the Hun never had no fun
Until he raped and pillaged
But just like dope
You take one toke
Soon you have to screw the village

Burn all the trees
Get on your knees
Screw who we please
We’re killer bees

For leather and whips
And pierced lips
We thank Marquis de Sade
We’re decadent and au currant
And not some passing fad

Burn all the trees
Get on your knees
Screw who we please
We’re killer bees

Join the bee hive
Hear the bee cry
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz

This time around
We make no sound
Just swarm into your kitchen
We're drinking tea
No apology
Let's bring back prohibition

Burn all the trees
Get on your knees
Screw who we please
We’re killer bees

Join the bee hive
Hear the bee cry
Buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz, buzz

Gobbledygook has been mistook
For a great philosophy
No wonder why that number pi
Goes for infinity

Rob’s 7-Word Review of Superman

Bright fun action supersedes daft chaotic plot.

All Aboard! A Glimpse of Tignish in 1886

Railway Station in 1886 Tignish Prince Edward Island

Take the train back to 1886, when the Tignish Railway Station stood as a bustling hub of activity at the western terminus of the Prince Edward Island Railway (PEIR). Built as part of the PEIR’s ambitious development, which began in 1871, the station became operational by 1886, connecting the vibrant community of Tignish to the rest of the island—and beyond.

The railway station wasn’t just a building; it was the lifeline of Tignish, bringing goods, news, and passengers to this westernmost corner of PEI. Farmers relied on the railway to ship their crops, local businesses thrived with improved access to markets, and families welcomed visitors or embarked on their own adventures.

Tignish itself has a fascinating history. Founded in 1799 by eight Acadian families from Malpeque, it later welcomed Irish immigrants in 1811, creating a unique blend of cultures and traditions. The town’s name, derived from the Mi’kmaq word Mtagunich (meaning “paddle”), reflects its deep connection to the natural world and its Indigenous heritage.

By the time the railway arrived, the town had already established itself as a thriving community, with landmarks like the iconic St. Simon & St. Jude Catholic Church showcasing its growth and resilience. The railway station became the heartbeat of the town, enabling commerce, connection, and opportunity.

Though the the trains stopped running in 1989, and the Tignish Railway Station is no longer standing, its legacy remains alive through the Confederation Trail, which follows the old railway route. This trail is now a cherished recreational path that invites Islanders and visitors to explore the beauty of PEI while tracing the footsteps of history.

Rediscover the spirit of Tignish! Today, Tignish is a charming community that honors its rich history while continuing to thrive in the present. Next time you visit, walk or cycle along the Confederation Trail to experience the history and charm of this vibrant community. 

Mangez Ma Poutine

I was browsing through my google drive and came across some lyrics I had written years ago. They were for a song called “Mangez Ma Poutine” by a fake Acadian band named Pota-trois, from the fake album entitled ‘Taber-Nickle-Nacle”.

I think my purpose was to create a rather banal song, written in French and badly translated into English. I’ve always been a fan of poor translations. Of course, since I don’t speak the language hardly at all, the French lyrics were initially translated from English, using Google Translate, and I am sure, there are likely all kinds of bad or poor French grammatical things going on there, so to the French, I apologize for any butchering of the language that may have resulted.

Rob’s 7-Word Review: Juror #2

Flawed script? Underdeveloped caricatured characters? Verdict: Guilty!

Rob’s 7-Word Review of the movie Carry-On

Positive Reviews, you lied to me. Ridiculous.