Whirling Sharp Edged Fun Circle!

Monster Mondays - 12 Great Monster Dads

2009-06-24T05:01:17Z

Today a very special Monster Mondays looks at the famous fathers of monsterdom. As a soon to be dad, I'm interested in what each of these earthbound abominations can teach me about what makes a good parent, and what makes an unholy creature of the night.

Monsters are ranked in order of parenting skills.

12. Dr. Victor Frankenstein.
While I normally live my life by the motto WWVFD? when it comes to parenting the good doctor is about as bad as it gets. After creating a man out of corpses, he neglects to name it, insults its looks, abandons it, and then hunts it down to kill it. It's clear in the book and many of the movies that the monster sees Victor as his father, and since the Doctor never gave him a proper name, the family name of Frankenstein is absolutely as the only name of the creature. Frankenstein deniers say the only Frankenstein was Victor, a statement the Dr would find a relieving since it takes up his position of denying his creation its family and humanity. Frankienstein's Monster my ass. And if that wasn't bad enough, Dr. Frankenstein is no more capable of parenting when it's his own flesh and blood and not a reanimated corpse. Son of Frankenstein is alienated and spiteful of his father, who was always more a mad scientist then a family man.

See Dads 11-1 after the jump

Monster Mondays - Celtic Halloween Spirits

2009-06-10T01:16:37Z

Earlier I wrote on Celtic origins of Halloween and the important changes that took place with the Holiday in America. Today for Monster Mondays I'm going to look at the early Monsters of Celtic Halloween. The traditional holiday bears little resemblance to the Halloween we know now. It was not a celebration of death, horror, and thrills, but a harvest festival and new years eve celebration. The most important practices involved fortune telling, making predictions for the coming year, and it was believed that on this day ordinary rules did not apply, and souls, spirits, and fairies could be present on earth. Most descriptions of what souls,spirits, and fairies visit earth are rather vague, but a few specific supernatural creatures are named. As is usually the case, the first at the party are the first to go, and I don't think I've ever seen any of the Celtic Halloween monsters doing the Monster Mash or out trick-or-treating.

Cailleach Bheur -Also known as Cally Berry (no relation to Hallie Berry), Old Woman Winter, The Blue Hag, The Storm Hag, and The Veiled One. In all respects, the Cailleach is a god and not a monster. She is the embodiment of winter reborn every Samhain/Halloween and turned to stone, or to a tree, or to a young woman every Beltane. Her staff can freeze anything with a touch and she is the gaurdian of the animals. Some say she carvedthe Mountains of Scotland with a hammer and pick. She once fell asleep while pumping a well, flooding the valley and killing hundreds. That valley is now Loch Awe.

Aillen Trechenn, The Three Headed Monster.

More after the jump,including this sexy witch

Decorations for 5 Haunted House Scenarios

2009-06-05T03:48:11Z

The following are some of the suggestions we give anyone setting up a Halloween Party or Haunted House. Props we can provide are linked. All Halloween props are available for sale or rental. Email BJ at BJ@Dapppercadaver.com for a quote or more Haunt scenarios and suggestions. Note the importance of actors, timing, drama, and atmosphere as well as props and effects. Be sure to add eerie lighting and sounds!

Scene 1: The Dinning Room:
A long table is set with piles of bloody body parts and partial human corpses. Gothic tabletop candelabras sit on the table and 5 foot tall floor candelabras are around the sides. On the walls are hung changing portraits, grotesque taxidermy and bloody curtains. A vulture perches on one chair, a decomposed skeleton in another. Platters are covered in small bits, eyes, fingers, tongues. Other plates are piled with intestines, hearts and livers. Two actors sit at the table in costume feasting on edible brains, hands, hearts, and faces, instead of silverware they use dissection instruments. Another actor or animatronic is on the table moving and screaming.

Scene 2: Butcher shop
The next 4 Haunted House Scenarios after the jump

You're Invited to Drawing Blood at Dapper Cadaver on Thursday June 5th

2009-06-04T01:18:15Z

On Thursday June 4th, I'd like to invite you to Dapper Cadaver's first free after hours art event, "Drawing Blood"

WHAT: Drawing Blood - Once a month, The Dapper Cadaver Prop House opens its studios in the evening for a free evening where artists of all kinds are invited to come by and use our unique collection of props, oddities, scientific specimens and equipment, and Halloween decor as models for their art. Sketching, illustration, painting, sculpting and more are encouraged. Props can be artfully arranged to suit your needs. Coffee and snacks will be provided. Most evenings will be free form, but check out our mailing list and blog for info on special nights featuring live models and special instructors. Email me if you're interested in modeling or instructing. Commercial photography and video not allowed.

BRING: All your own art supplies. We have some chairs and stools but if you need one you may want to bring your own. Any food or drink.

WHEN: 6:30pm -10:00pm, the first Thursday of each month.
March 5th / April 2nd / May 7th / June 4th / July 2nd / August 6th / Sept 3rd / Oct 1st / Nov 5th / Dec 3rd

WHERE: Dapper Cadaver Prop House.
7572 San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA, 91352 (near Burbank)
North side of San Fernando Rd (Little San Fernando Rd), Across the tracks from Sofa U Love.

CONTACT:
BJ Winslow
bj@dappercadaver.com
818-771-0818

MORE INFO
www.dappercadaver.com
www.bjwinslow.com
www.dappercadaver.com/blog

Best regards,
BJ Winslow
Owner-Artist
Dapper Cadaver
NEW PHONE # 818-771-0818
CELL PHONE # 310-709-8691
NEW ADDRESS 7572 San Fernando Rd, Sun Valley, CA, 91352
www.bjwinslow.com
www.dappercadaver.com

Images from the March 5th Drawing Blood

Girls of Dapper Cadaver Part 1

2009-05-27T22:09:25Z

Just got through a photoshoot with models Jezebelle X and Radhika from Art of Bleeding. Photos are by Marianne Williams.

Model: Radhika. Photographer: Marianne Williams. Props: Dapper Cadaver Skeletons

Model: Jezebelle X. Photographer: Marianne Williams. Props: Decayed Mummy

More photos here

Monster Mondays: Tyrannosaurus Feathers

2009-05-13T04:58:32Z

Today, Dapper Cadaver's Monster Mondays has some sad news. Word is pouring in from China of new Dinosaurs, fluffy and covered with delicate colorful plumage. First it was the Velociraptors, once proud ninja's of the dinosaur world, now just toothed roosters, complete with cocks-comb and dwaddle. More recent finds of fluffy dinos include several Tyrannosaurids. The greatest real monster to ever walk the earth is about to get a make-over in fabulous feathers. It's absurd. Imagine you're in a broken down jeep on Jurassic Park, you hear a thump, the water in your cup does that dino sensing thing that you keep cups of water in the car for, then you hear a deafening "Gobble-gobble-gobble" as the largest turkey you've ever seen steps out of the woods.

It hasn't happened yet. The feathered Tyrannosaurids the Chinese have discovered aren't the King beast, Tyrannosaurus Rex, just his scrawny uncles and cousins, but storm clouds are gathering on the distant pasts future. In 5 years time our children won't be able to tell Big Bird from Rex, and in 10 years time I wouldn't be surprised if we stopped calling Tyrannosaurs, Drommeosaurs, and Oviraptors "Feathered Dinosaurs" and started calling them "Toothed Birds." It must be stopped. If we can make Pluto a planet again through through the shear force of nostalgia, then science be damned, we can keep TRex scaly and terrifying. Join me!

The idea of wearing feathers sickens T Rex's only living relative, Godzilla.

But Godzilla may not be the only surviving radioactive mutant T Rex for long, apparently, one of the scientists who worked on Jurasic Park (I knew it was a true story!) is working on genetically engineering Chickens to give birth to mutant chicken-osauruses. I couldn't make this stuff up.

Kids need scary monsters to eat there smaller toys and to team up with Batman in kids crayon drawings, to fight cowboys, give King Kong a run for his money, and, scientifically speaking, be 51% MOTHERFUCKER, 49% son-of-a-bitch.

Will T-Rex still be the motherfucker we love and fear if he goes from this to this?

In closing, I would like to once and for all establish T-Rex as the scaly Tyrant King of Pimps by giving the people what we always wanted- Tyrannosaurus Sex

If you'd like to support the keep T-Rex scaly movement, you can help by buying a Tyrannosaurus skeleton.

You're Invited to Drawing Blood at Dapper Cadaver

2009-05-01T22:19:32Z

On Thursday May 7th, I'd like to invite you to Dapper Cadaver's free after hours art event, "Drawing Blood"

WHAT: Drawing Blood - Once a month, The Dapper Cadaver Prop House opens its studios in the evening for a free evening where artists of all kinds are invited to come by and use our unique collection of props, oddities, scientific specimens and equipment, and Halloween decor as models for their art. Sketching, illustration, painting, sculpting and more are encouraged. Props can be artfully arranged to suit your needs. Coffee and snacks will be provided. Most evenings will be free form, but check out our mailing list and blog for info on special nights featuring live models and special instructors. Email me if you're interested in modeling or instructing. Commercial photography and video not allowed.

BRING: All your own art supplies. We have some chairs and stools but if you need one you may want to bring your own. Any food or drink.

WHEN: 6:30pm -10:00pm, the first Thursday of each month.
March 5th / April 2nd / May 7th / June 4th / July 2nd / August 6th / Sept 3rd / Oct 1st / Nov 5th / Dec 3rd

WHERE: Dapper Cadaver Prop House.
7572 San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA, 91352 (near Burbank)
North side of San Fernando Rd (Little San Fernando Rd), Across the tracks from Sofa U Love.

CONTACT:
BJ Winslow
bj@dappercadaver.com
818-771-0818

MORE INFO
www.dappercadaver.com
www.bjwinslow.com
http://www.dappercadaver.com/blog/horror/drawing-blood/

Best regards,
BJ Winslow
Owner-Artist
Dapper Cadaver
NEW PHONE # 818-771-0818
CELL PHONE # 310-709-8691
NEW ADDRESS 7572 San Fernando Rd, Sun Valley, CA, 91352
www.bjwinslow.com
www.dappercadaver.com

Monster Mondays: The Mysterious Lemur Boy of Qatar

2009-04-28T01:29:07Z

Today's Dapper Cadaver Monster Monday comes from a hot tip that came out just this weekend. The English language "Gulf Times" ran a translation of a Qatar story that featured this creepy photo, and the following text

"A mysterious figure resembling a human being was sighted on the Doha Corniche’s parking lot, according to a report published in a local Arabic daily.
The report is based on the statement of an Arab expatriate lady who said she had seen the strange figure near the Oryx statue while walking in the area.
Quoting the woman, the daily said she took a picture of it in spite of being terribly frightened.
“She was very soon surrounded by a large number of people who also attested to the fact of what she had seen . But it suddenly disappeared out of their sight when they tried to go near it,” the report added."

Some have speculated it's an escaped Aye-Aye, a kind of hideous lemur native to Madagascar but known to have hilarious adventures adventures in other parts of the world thanks to their anthropomorphic penguin pals.

Or is the creature a Canadian made genetically engineered living toy? Find out after the cut
Click Here

Monster Mondays - Bonnacon

2009-04-07T01:45:24Z

Bonnacon is really a creature where the less said about it the better. So I’ll just go straight to the source. Pliny the Elder, author of the worlds first Natural History Encyclopedia and one of ancient Greece’s most brilliant writers. His Natural History is over 160 volumes long and holds the closest thing we have to a complete record of Greek knowledge at that point. He must have thought no one would possibly read the whole thing when he slipped in this gem.

“Pliny- “There are reports of a wild animal in Paeonia called the bonnacon, which has the mane of a horse, but in all other respects resembles a bull; its horns are curved back in such a manner as to be of no use for fighting, and it is said that because of this it saves itself by running away, meanwhile emitting a trail of dung that sometimes covers a distance of as much as three furlongs (half a mile), contact with which scorches pursuers like a sort of fire.”

Yes, Bonnacon is Buffalo followed by half a mile of flaming dung. But words aren’t enough to convey it’s might. We need ridicules illuminated manuscripts of knights getting buffalo shit on them. Better bring a shield.

Click the link to see Bonnacon doing what Bonnacon do best

Monster Mondays - Dolichocephaloids

2009-03-03T03:14:51Z

Todays Monster Monday from Dapper Cadaver travels down the spine of the Americas to Peru, circa 2000 years ago for a kind of person bizarre and real, the Dolichocephaloids or Peruvian Coneheads. There is currently a video going around getting a lot of attention saying they were found in Siberia. This video is wrong, they are from Peru.

What we do know about the Dolichocephaloids is limited, what we believe about them is vast, and what we don't know about them is enormous.

What we do know - These guys had really long squash shaped heads. They were human. They lived in Peru roughly 2000 years ago. There were a lot of them.

Most had brains the same size as other humans (1400-1600cc) others had larger brains, up to 2000cc or 2 liters. If you want to experience how much larger that is get a human skull and fill the brain case up with soda. Empty a whole 2 liter bottle. Whatever spills on your desk is how much bigger their brains are then ours.
What we believe - leading scientific theories about the coneheads is they were an elite class of Peruvian, they seam to show signs in their graves of wealth and power. They do seam to be a class rather then a race of Peruvians, as they are almost always found with many normal people around them. It is believed that the conehead shape was achieved by binding an infants skull at a very young age to warp its growth. We believe they believed these deformed skulls would give them power, possibly mystical powers.

Pseudo-science believes these people are human-alien hybryds, a lost race, mystical mutants, psychics, telekenetics, and more.

The documentary "Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" explains a lot of these theories.

It's also possible they deformed their skulls for the sake of beauty, similar to the beautiful deformities of foot binding and augmented breasts.

Some believe the deformations were done as punishments. Although it is known the Peruvians would often use mutilation as punishment against conquered peoples or enemies, the Dolichocephaloids seam both privileged and deformed in a way that could not be done quickly against someones will. However, recent findings of a conehead in a lower-class village with clearly mutilated bodies is extremely mysterious.

Since we haven't shaped a human skull into that form in over 2,000 years, we only can hypothesize, and not test, how it was done and what effect, if any, it had on the persons brain and mental abilities.

The Mummy's Womb

2009-02-20T19:29:43Z

the mummy's womb, originally uploaded by Boju.

Eileen and I are super damn proud to announce we're gonna be parents!

The baby is almost 12 weeks old, which puts it at the start of it's second trimester. Eileen got photos and saw the baby wave, here it is below

That's his head on the left, feet on the right,and that light blob near his head is his (or her) hand. We don't know the baby's gender yet,because they don't grow any until closer to the fifth month. I tend to call it a him because I don't like calling it an IT. It's about doubled in size in the last month,going from being gummy bear sized to being fun-sized snickers size.

If we could get a real photo instead of this batman style sonar image, he would look like this

The baby is healthy with a strong heart and growing at the right rate. I missed the last picture session because Eileen thought it was going to be just a checkup with no paparazzi, but I was at the first one 4 weeks ago. You can't tell in the photo, but during the live ultrasound you could see it's heart beating as a pulse of light, E.T. style. You could also hear the heart going wooshwooshwoosh. Seeing that and hearing that was probably the most amazing thing I've seen in my life.

Monster Mondays: Oscar Worthy Horror

2009-02-18T04:02:59Z

HA-BUTLER-1, originally uploaded by Boju.

The Academy Awards, AKA,the Oscars, have a notorious history of nominating dramas beyond all other categories. In fact 49% off all the Best Pictures out there are dramas, according to Oscar. Fighting for the left over scraps of best picture awards are the genres, in order comedy, epic, musical, action-adventure, war, suspense, and crime. Horror doesn't make the list, having only one win for best picture 90 years. And if you're wondering about how comedy came in second, you're not alone. According to the Oscars the greatest comedies of all time include Tom Jones (1963), The Sting (1973),The Apartment (1960), Terms of Endearment (1983), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Shakespeare in Love (1998) and American Beauty (1999). Hilarious?

While they seldom win best picture, or anything at all, some really landmark horror films have been nominated for Oscars. Here's a history of Horror at the Academy I like to call
"The Phantoms of the Oscars"

1927 - Metropolis
Nominations: 0
Winner for Best Picture: Wings
Why it should have won: Metropolis is a ground breaking picture way ahead of it's time in calling for sex robots and middle management. The special effects are still mesmerizing as is the performance of Bridgette Helm.
Why it didin't Win: Too weird, too nihilistic ,too German.
Verdict: Oscar the Grouch!

Nominations: 0
Winner of Best Picture: Cavalcade.
Why it should have won: Groundbreaking special effects, infectious enthusiasm. Hot monkey on girl action.
Why it didn't win: Oscars known anti-monkey prejudices.
Verdict: I think Oscar is trying to make it up to the original King Kong by giving an Oscar to every King Kong since and even that imitator Mighty Joe Young. Unfortunately all this just feels like a slap in the face. Stop awarding the copycats and just give a honorary oscar to the OG already.

1935 - Bride of Frankenstein
Nominations: 1
Wins:0
Winner of Best Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty

1939 - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Nominations: 2
Wins: 0
Winner of Best Picture: Gone with the Wind

See the rest of the nominees after the jump

You're Invited to Drawing Blood at Dapper Cadaver

2009-02-14T01:09:26Z

On Thursday March 5th, I'd like to invite you to Dapper Cadaver's first free after hours art event, "Drawing Blood"

WHAT: Drawing Blood - Once a month, The Dapper Cadaver Prop House opens its studios in the evening for a free evening where artists of all kinds are invited to come by and use our unique collection of props, oddities, scientific specimens and equipment, and Halloween decor as models for their art. Sketching, illustration, painting, sculpting and more are encouraged. Props can be artfully arranged to suit your needs. Coffee and snacks will be provided. Most evenings will be free form, but check out our mailing list and blog for info on special nights featuring live models and special instructors. Email me if you're interested in modeling or instructing. Commercial photography and video not allowed.

BRING: All your own art supplies. We have some chairs and stools but if you need one you may want to bring your own. Any food or drink.

WHEN: 6:30pm -10:00pm, the first Thursday of each month.
March 5th / April 2nd / May 7th / June 4th / July 2nd / August 6th / Sept 3rd / Oct 1st / Nov 5th / Dec 3rd

WHERE: Dapper Cadaver Prop House.
7572 San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA, 91352 (near Burbank)
North side of San Fernando Rd (Little San Fernando Rd), Across the tracks from Sofa U Love.

CONTACT:
BJ Winslow
bj@dappercadaver.com
818-771-0818

MORE INFO
www.dappercadaver.com
www.bjwinslow.com
http://www.dappercadaver.com/blog/horror/drawing-blood/

Best regards,
BJ Winslow
Owner-Artist
Dapper Cadaver
NEW PHONE # 818-771-0818
CELL PHONE # 310-709-8691
NEW ADDRESS 7572 San Fernando Rd, Sun Valley, CA, 91352
www.bjwinslow.com
www.dappercadaver.com

Monster Mondays- Dumbo Octopus

2009-02-10T02:42:06Z

dumbo-octopus, originally uploaded by Boju.

Today Dapper Cadaver's Monster Monday Blog dives down to the bottom of the sea for one of the strangest, and rarest creatures on earth- the Dumbo Octopus.

They live all over the world in depths of 12,000 feet and below. They've discovered new species of them as recently as 2007 and while most are 20cm and below, some grow to over 5 feet. If you're in Sarasota, Florida, then I highly recommend visiting the Mote Marine Laboratory which is offering lectures and encounters with their favorite sea monsters, including the dancing pink elephant with the weird ear-wings, the dumbo elephant.

Watching the Dumbo Octopus swim is like watching a bird crossed with a pac-man ghost. It flaps its wings instead of jets around like it's blue water cousins. It also has unnervingly human eyes, complete with what appears to be pink eye lids, whites, and irises. Their familiar eye just adds to their oddness though, as there is nothing else familiar about their face, and you can't figure out which end is the front.

Closer to the ground they move by spinning and fluttering their webbed arms like a pinwheel.

The males are armed with a tentacle-like hectocotylus, which is a word you really ought to know if you watch enough anime.

Monster Monday - Ugjuknarpak, the giant sea mouse of the north

2009-02-03T03:00:58Z

7swims, originally uploaded by Boju.

Todays Monster Monday by Dapper Cadaver comes from the Inuit (eskimo) people of Alaska, behold the mighty Ugjuknarpak! The unkillable sea-mouse of the sea that is also a giant!

Ugjuknarpak's name derives from the gurgling sound his victims make as he wraps his long prehensile tail around their necks and drags them under. His friends call him Ugjuk for short. Ugjuk doesn't have any friends though, because no one goes near Ugjuk's island. Ugjuk has exceptional hearing and speed, and a hide that cannot be pierced by any hunters weapon. Try kayaking over to his place and you'll be dead before you leave the harbor. All that will be leftis your overturned canoe.

Do not f*ck with this mouse!

I'm in LA Weekly!

2009-02-01T03:49:11Z

If you're in Los Angeles, pick up this weeks LA Weekly. It's free and worth every penny. There's a full page feature on Dapper Cadaver with a full color photo and everything. It's a great article and gives you a good behind the scenes look at the oddities we make and the oddballs we make them for.

Read the Dying Art of Dyeing the Dead in LA Weekly here

Monster Monday - Memecoleous

2009-01-27T03:34:23Z

Today's Dapper Cadaver Monster Monday creature comes from India, by way of Europe. You see there was a lot of disagreement over what exactly a Manticore was. Some described it as a lion with the head of a man. Some described it as a lion with wings. Some described it as a lion with both the head of a man and wings. Some said it was like a were- lion that men turn into. Some described it as a lion with the head of a man, huge jaws with three rows of teeth, the tail of a scorpion and a voice like trumpets. This man was Pliny the Elder and he was considered brilliant. Some said the Manticore wasn't actually part lion but part tiger. This was crazy and clearly wrong, so they decided if a Manticore was part tiger instead of part lion it was a Memcoleous and it must be from India because that's where tigers are from. This helped a little, but they still couldn't decide what a Manticore was and only agreed on the lion part. This is probably because no one has ever seen a Manticore.

This is not a Manticore but it might be a Memecoleous.

Monster Monday - Killer Geese

2009-01-20T03:52:58Z

monster goose, originally uploaded by Boju.

By now you've probably heard America's borders are under attack. Canada has launched an armada of killer geese in an attempt to shoot down American aircraft. Earlier this week, US Airbus 320 was struck by a flock of Canadian Geese, taking out its engines, and forcing it to crash into the Hudson River. Fortunately everyone survived, but be warned, killer geese are intent on striking again.

As part of Dapper Cadaver's Monster Mondays today I invite you to gander at a gaggle of ghoulish geese.

Dromornis- The Great Goose of Armageddon
Dromornis were flightless geese over 10 ft tall that ate meat and plants and terrorized Australias first aborigines. These were basically dinosaurs dressed in goosedown. And there wasn't just one of them, there were dozens of species, including the giant, carnivorous Bullockornis, so named because a giant killer goose sounds like a load of bullocks.

Dasornis - The Toothed Terror of the Sky.
These geese could easily take down a plane, since they were almost as big as a Cesna.Dasornis had a wingspan of 20 feet, and a long crocodile beak lined with jagged teeth. The circled the shores of England 50 million years ago.

With such monsters in Gooses not to distant past, it's no wonder they're so prone to attack, whether by chasing you in the park or shooting down on passenger planes. So grab your pitchfork and light the torch, it's time to storm the castles of killer geese

Count Bacula

2009-01-14T01:27:47Z

loxodonta penis anatomy, originally uploaded by Boju.

The Bacula Research Project (BRP) needs your help! The group is studying the variety of bacula found in the mammal family and is trying to locate a few unusual specimens of baculum.

"WHAT'S A BACULUM?" you're probably asking. It's the penis bone. Now don't get excited, you don't have one. Humans are amongst the few animals that don't have bacula. Along with Koala Bears and duck billed platypuses, when we get a hard on, its hard from blood pressure alone. Other beasties get an erection with no viagra necessary, they're hard as a bone in seconds because they have a bone there already.

I was recently contacted by a researcher for the Bacula Research Project in need of a few specimens.

The first is the American Hog-nosed Skunk (Conepatus leuconotus). Found in the American Southwest this skunk is distinguished from other skunks by a single, solid white stripe down it's back and a bald, pink nose. If you don't mind getting intimate with skunk dick,
Contact me.

The other two creatures are both moles.
Coast Mole (Scapanus orarius) Townsend’s Mole (Scapanus townsendii). Both are found in the Pacific Northwest. For these we'll probably need the whole specimen, as the mole penis is an organ so minute they respond to every male enhancement add they see, or to quote the BRP "The bacula from these two species of moles are less than 0.5mm in diameter and would require a microscope to confirm. Unless you know what your looking for and where its located, the baculum located in the distal portion of the penile organ would be removed along with the dermal skinning of the carcass. The baculum is a heterotopical bone and therefore not part of the skeletal system."

Contact me if you're in the north woods and interested in trapping moles.

Monster Mondays - Real Vampires of the Animal World

2008-12-11T01:59:11Z

vampire bat, originally uploaded by Boju.

Every so often I get someone in the shop who asks me if I think vampires are real in a tone so serious I know if I say "yes" they'll offer to suck my blood. So I usually dodge the question.

Of course I know people can and do drink blood, but that doesn't make someone a vampire any more than hiding eggs makes you an Easter bunny.

There are however a host of real life creatures that live on blood, have retractable fangs, and fly through the night in a way far more vampire-like then any mortal human ever could hope to be. They are the real life vampires and they will be scored by how much more vampiric they are then the guy in Twilight.

1. The Vampire Mocking Bird

How alike are vampire mockingbirds and real vampires? Consider the following.
1. Both can fly.
2. Both live off blood.
3. Vampires preferred victims are buxom maidens in skimpy nightgowns.Vampire mockingbirds preferred victims are masked boobies.
4. Vampires are notoriously eloquent. Mockingbirds have the most versatile vocal range of any bird and can memorize over 200 unique songs patterns.
5. Lily Munster, a vampire, lived at 1313 Mockingbird lane. Vampire Mockingbirds, which are found in the Galapagos, have been spotted nesting at 3131 Lily Munster lane!

Overall Vampiric Score for the Vampire Mocking Bird- 5 times more Vampiric then the guy in Twilight.

2. Vampire Squid.

How alike are vampire squids and vampires? Consider the following-
1. Vampires only come out at night. Vampire squids are only found in the sea depths where it is always night because no light penetrates.
2. Both Dracula and Vampire Squids are noted for their demonic red eyes.
3. Instead of canine teeth, vampires have fangs. Instead of suckers, Vampire squid tentacles are covered in fangs.
4. Vampires where capes that resemble bat wings. A vampire squid has a webbing around it's tentacles that resembles both a cape AND bat wings. Bonus points!

Overall Vampire Score for the Vampire Squid- 4.5

3. Vampire Finch

Pretty much the same as the Vampire Mockingbird, but without as much of a voice. However, bonus surprise point for being menacing while still a finch.

Vampire score: 4

4. Chinese Water Deer

Holy crap, did you see that? Does that deer have fangs?

Dude. Not only does the Chinese Water Deer have fangs, but they're attached to their sockets with powerful muscles so that the can be extended and retracted just like a vampire!

Amazing! But they don't drink blood or fly. Vampire score: 2

Many endangered Bat species are being illegally collected

2008-12-11T01:02:04Z

caption="A Chinese Pipestrelle Bat Skeleton. One of the most commonly sold bat specimens. Chinese Pipistrelle or Pipistrellus pulveratus is listed on the IUCN Red list (1996) of Threatened Species."

Notice: Dapper Cadaver will no longer be carrying authentic bat specimens as many species of bats are threatened or endangered and are being illegally collected. If you have any love of these creatures please do not purchase any more bat related products. We love both bats and bat specimens at Dapper Cadaver and our decision to discontinue them was not any easy choice to make, but it was the right choice to make.

It is the policy of Dapper Cadaver to not trade in specimens of any threatened species, only common game, livestock, lab raised, or pest animals. All other specimens are replicas.

The plight of formerly common bats was brought to my attention by the Bat World Sanctuary. I support their efforts and have posted a copy of our exchange below.

From: Bat World Sanctuary <sanctuary@batworld.org>
Subject: bat specimens in jars
To: info@dappercadaver.com
Cc: BWCenters@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008, 1:51 PM

Dear Dapper Cadaver Owner,

I am disappointed to see your company selling real bat specimens in jars. The bats that end up in these jars are healthy, wild caught mothers collected in NM. They are harvested during baby season, leaving behind an infant to starve to death. These bats have a potential lifespan of 25 years in the wild and will eat millions of insects in their lifetime:

http://www.dappercadaver.com/specimen-jar-32oz-bat-p-746.html

http://www.dappercadaver.com/diaphonized-bat-p-568.html

Bat populations are in severe decline around the world, and free-tailed bats are listed as a species of Special Concern by US Fish and Wildlife. I hope that you will consider not selling this item. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Amanda

---

Amanda Lollar, Founder/President

Bat World Sanctuary

www.batworld.org

Bat World Sanctuary is a non-profit,
all volunteer organization that provides
rescue for bats worldwide. For more
information about bats and how they
make our world a better place please
visit www.batworld.org

From: BJ W <customcorpse@yahoo.com>
To: Bat World Sanctuary <sanctuary@batworld.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 5:54:49 PM
Subject: Re: bat specimens in jars

The bat specimens we carry, of which there are only 2 bats and 4 diaphanous bats, were purchased from a museum specimen preparer who was retiring and selling off any remaining specimens. The age of the specimens is unknown, but they were definitely collected years ago. We have no contact with anyone else dealing in bat specimens and will not be ordering more. We have since stopped selling the mounted bat skeleton as well.

We try to make it a point at Dapper Cadaver not to deal in any specimens of rare animals, and all the real specimens we do have are common lab, livestock, or game animals. Unfortunately I am not a bat expert and was not able to positively ID the species of bat specimens we acquired.

I wholeheartedly support your work. I have volunteered at a veterinary clinic and a bird sanctuary and have been involved in several animal rescues including one bat rescue (it was trapped in a mall).

Best regards,
BJ Winslow
Owner-Artist
Dapper Cadaver
323-962-1924
www.bjwinslow.com
www.dappercadaver.com

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Flag this message

Re: bat specimens in jars

Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:54 PM

From:

"Bat World Sanctuary" <sanctuary@batworld.org>

Add sender to Contacts

To:

customcorpse@yahoo.com

Dear BJ,

Thank you for your response. I've very happy to know the specimens you have on hand are not among those that come from NM.

Sincerely,

Amanda

---

Amanda Lollar, Founder/President

Bat World Sanctuary

DIY Halloween: Becoming a Better Creature

2008-11-21T19:38:27Z

COFFIN dead marilyn John Ganun, originally uploaded by Boju.

When I was a kid I loved monster masks. Every Halloween I wanted to have the coolest scariest Halloween costume and mask, and when I was a kid masks were great because I could get a couple and hit the houses with the best candy over and over.

As an adult though masks present some major problems. First you can't drink. Second my glasses fog up. Third you can't drink and Fourth it muffles your ability to talk. Solution? Ditch the mask and build a better creature with make up, prosthetics, contacts, andprops.

As the owner of the Halloween shop Dapper Cadaver I'm amazed at how many people are reluctant to do any make up but still buy masks. Believe me the mask is 100 times more unpleasant to wear then some prosthetics. Plus, prosthetics transform your face without hiding it so you still look alive.

Then just add some creepy FX contact lenses like the kind they have at Lens Shopper and you go from an average joe to a creature from beyond. Be sure to order early, I don't sell contact lenses and I can't tell you how many people call me desperately in the 11th hour looking for some.

For prosthetics I usually use cinema secrets. They stick to the face easily with spirit gum / spirit glue and they can be colored with practically any make up. Don't be intimidated by the shear variety of make up available. Unless you know you're a make up artist go with the simple stuff. Believe me, when it's dark out or in the club no one can see the small details anyway, what they see is "holy crap that guy really has a cut up face and creature eyes!"

My friends and I in monster make up:
Halloween 2008

Halloween 2007

Halloween 2006

Halloween 2005

Monster Mondays - Save the Water Monster, Axolotl

2008-11-11T02:43:55Z

axolotl precioso, originally uploaded by girl next door ...

In the canals beneath Mexico City and in the lake that surrounds it lives the Axolotl or "Water Monster." It is an ancient race of up to 2 ft long salamander that Aztecs say are the direct descendent's of Xototl, the dog headed god of Death. I think they look more like pokemon with their cartoonish eyes and mouths and anime style external gills.

In 1998 the waters of Lake Xochimilco held 1500 axolotl per square mile, when surveyed this year it was a mere 25 per square mile. Scientists are now saying this otherworldly creature may only have five years left on the planet before it succumbs to extinction.

"What are axolotl good for?" you might ask. Well, they're good for a lot of things. First off they're inherently good. Then they're bizarre appearance and gentle nature make them excellent pets. Or excellent tamales. Their soft flesh is apparently deliscious and has been part of the Aztec and Mexican diet as long as there have been people there. The locals also make folk medicine with them.

They're also true freaks. They become sexually mature adults while still in the larval stage, and can remain larval their entire lives. That's like a race of polliwogs that breed and grow huge and never turn into frogs. This strange condition makes them able to regrow lost limbs, tails, nerve, heart, and brain cells. Science has long utilized these creatures in studies about regeneration, gene therapy, evolution, fertilization and the cures for certain diseases.

They seam to be dying do to a combination of water pollution and the introduction of Tilapia to Lake Xochimilco. The Tilapia eat the axolotls eggs and young.

Scientists are rushing to establish Axolotl sanctuaries, most notably around the Isle of Dolls or La Isla de las Muñecas, so called because it inhabited by an eccentric old man who fishes doll from the lake and hangs them from every part of the island to ward off evil spirits. Could he be the axolotls savior?

If you're interested in helping save the water monster, don't eat Mexican Tilapia for starters. I've tried to find the organizations setting up the sanctuaries so that we can be more directly involved. If I get their contact info, I'll post it here so everyone can help. Apparently it's not easy to set up a wildlife sanctuary by Mexico City.

Monstro Politico: Scary Presidential Race Costumes

2008-10-11T21:47:52Z

hillraiser, originally uploaded by Boju.

The scariest day of 2008 will come five days AFTER Halloween, will we be electing the political team of an inexperienced newbie and a grumpy old man or ....wait I guess that's both choices. If you're feeling patriotic this Halloween, instead of just going for a rubber mask and a suit, why not do something truly monstrous with the candidates? Allow me to offer the following suggestions-

7. Hellraiser fetish robe + Hillary Clinton mask=
HELLARY or HILLRAISER
(see image above)

6. JOHN EDWARDSCISSORHANDS

"How about a $30,000 Haircut?"

The rest of the list after the jump

Haunted Los Angeles Part 1: "The Valley of the Shadow of Death"

2008-10-04T20:36:19Z

Attack Boju, originally uploaded by Boju.

by BJ Winslow

As part of my quest here at Dapper Cadaver to leave no gravestone unturned I am adding a new feature to the Dapper Cadaver Blog - Haunted Los Angeles. There are over 300 different neighborhoods in Los Angeles- from out of the way spots like Aliso Village and the Yucca Corridor, and of corpse Hollywood, Downtown, Venice, and the other big deal parts of town, and every single one of them has strange specters afoot.

I'll start with The San Fernando Valley, AKA "The Valley"

Slymar-
The northern most burb of The Vally boasts 2 paranormal epicenters that have garnered national attention. An alleged Gravity Hill in Lopez Canyon where naughty objects openly break the law of nature and apparently roll UP HILL, and a possessed statue in Glen Haven Memorial park that witness claim walks the grounds on certain nights.

Mission Hills-
At the Mission San Fernando Cemetery a apparition of a lady in a white dress and a white scarf on her head has been seen praying in the front row of the chapel. She has appeared both ghostly, or solid at first, then vanishing in the air.

Pacoima-
Pacoima was home to Etta Smith, an otherwise normal professional who made the news in 1980 in a very unusual case.
From CNN.com
"A nurse named Melanie Uribe vanishes on her way to work without any suspects or physical evidence. Los Angeles detectives are searching without a map for the missing woman. But one woman, Etta Smith, feels she knows exactly where Melanie Uribe is. How? A psychic vision supplied her with the exact location of the missing nurse...

Etta doesn't know Melanie Urbie, but she's sure that the images flooding her mind are connected to her disappearance. Detective Ryan knows that every second counts in the hunt for a missing person. Could Etta Smith's psychic clues give them a much needed break in the case? Etta Smith's vision becomes a reality, when she sees the exact location flash in front of her eyes.

Now, investigators left to make sense of a bizarre chain of events. A woman goes to the remote canyon and finds the body of a murder victim she claims she's never met. It seems like an improbable feat. So improbable, that Etta Smith becomes suspect No. 1 in the murder of Melanie Uribe."

More Strange San Fernando Valley after the jump