Van Helsing's Curse is a symphonic metal side project formed by Dee Snider, the frontman of Twisted Sister. The project was founded in 2003 and focused on creating a unique blend of heavy metal and classical music. The band took its name from the famous vampire hunter, Professor Abraham Van Helsing, from Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula." One of the main features of Van Helsing's Curse was their use of a full orchestra, creating a grandiose sound that merged the power of heavy metal with the richness of symphonic music. This combination resulted in a dramatic and epic sound that embraced both the darkness of gothic horror and the intensity of metal. The band released their debut album, "Van Helsing's Curse: Oculus Infernum," in 2003.
Sean Tanner’s work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Irish Times, The Stinging Fly, The Lonely Crowd, The Forge Literary Magazine, The Moth Magazine and Litro Magazine, among others. In 2017 he won the Hennessy New Irish Writing Award for first fiction, and in 2018 he received the John McGahern Award for literature. In 2021 he was awarded a full literature bursary from the Arts Council of Ireland.
, that we are purely rational gain-seeking machines, or that if only we nurtured our better, more communal ie MORE CATHOLIC AND CHRISTLIKE selves, then we could all live happily ever after at the end of history and of capitalism; b names the harm of market-based economies and their necessary commodification of land and people commodity myths without denying the enormous material gains markets delivered most people in the long run; c points to the importance of the speed at which economic transitions take place and emphasizes that the primary role of the state is not to organize labor or production outright central planning in the extreme , but to mitigate through regulation and social programs the ecological and social destruction that markets cause. Flus and Covid are the scourges of what Zuckerberg and ilk call the meat-world or meatverse, the in-the-flesh realm that stands contra and inferior to FB s recently announced metaverse a complete virtual reality that sounds basically like the internet, except that you can better escape your puny corporeality.
The band released their debut album, "Van Helsing's Curse: Oculus Infernum," in 2003. The album featured a collection of original songs and a few classic covers, including Black Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" and Blue Öyster Cult's "Burnin' for You." With these covers, Van Helsing's Curse added their unique touch, infusing these timeless songs with their dark orchestral sound.
Closing shelters creates uncertainty
Carla Battle is worried she’ll have to sleep on the sidewalk somewhere.
Mark Sheetz is hoping to couch surf and then get a dirt-cheap apartment, possibly in Tijuana.
Sepanda Djalaly thinks he’s saved enough to afford one of the downtown residential hotels that cater to people on government assistance.
AdvertisementThey are among more than 350 homeless people at risk of returning to the streets Tuesday morning when San Diego’s two homeless shelters close for the first time in nearly two years.
Former Mayor Bob Filner declared the shelters year-round facilities in fall 2012 and said they’d remain open until they were no longer needed.
But Mayor Kevin Faulconer and other city leaders announced in April that the shelters would close June 30 and revert back to opening only from late November through March each year.
The goal is redirecting nearly $2 million it cost to make the shelters year-round toward programs that aim to get people permanently off the streets — instead of just temporarily.
“It’s unfortunate people have to sleep out in the elements, but we’re pushing for more permanent solutions and we need to implement new strategies,” said Dolores Diaz, executive director of the San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless. “These shelters were originally intended to be seasonal.”
While getting people permanently off the streets is a great goal, year-round shelters serve as central intake points for homeless people where they get put on a path back to self-reliance, said Bob McElroy, who runs the city’s 220-bed shelter near Petco Park for the Alpha Project.
“You need a place to start the process, and there won’t be one when the shelters are closed,” McElroy said. “They’ll be over 200 people sleeping outside who had been sleeping inside.”
McElroy said the shelters keep people safe, give them a chance to stop using drugs and, in some cases, keep them alive by allowing them to refrigerate the medicines they use.
“It’s a tremendous resource and we’re not going to have it for four months,” he said.
Police Lt. Debra Farrar, supervisor of the city’s homeless outreach team, said she’s confident closing the shelters won’t be a disaster.
“I don’t think it’s a sky-is-falling moment,” she said. “We didn’t see a large increase of homeless people on the streets the last time they closed.”
Farrar said some homeless people have used the extra time in the shelters to save up for rooms in downtown residential hotels that they probably could have afforded anyway.
The city will solve the lack of a place to take homeless people needing emergency shelters in September when a new 25-bed triage facility opens with case management counseling aimed at finding permanent housing.
Farrar said the city’s shift toward permanent solutions and outcome-based programs is the right move, contending it will create incentives for people to become self-reliant and accountability for those receiving assistance.
While the shelters will be open less, Faulconer’s new approach will help boost assessment and case management services when they are open. In addition to the downtown shelter, there is a federally funded 150-bed shelter for veterans on Pacific Highway.
Another $400,000 that the mayor is redirecting is being spent on software allowing social service agencies to share data and apply for more grants.
The city’s Connections Housing will get $300,000; $150,000 will fund a place where homeless people can store their goods while applying for jobs or seeking treatment; and the Serial Inebriate Program will get $120,000.
Another new program in San Diego is the “25 Cities Initiative” launched in June by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Melissa Peterman, an analyst with the San Diego Housing Commission, said the program has brought together nearly every local group fighting homelessness. They survey homeless people and figure out the best approach to get them off the streets.
“Instead of one size fits all, we tailor the homeless solutions to the person based on their scores,” Peterman said.
She said the program helped with the mad rush to place people living in the shelters before they close. She also said it has spurred great optimism about eventually solving homelessness in San Diego, where 6,000 people were found on the streets during last winter’s official count.
Peterman said the Housing Commission helped 396 people find permanent housing during the 19 months the shelters were open, while another 328 were placed in transitional housing.
But Carla Battle, 47, isn’t one of those people.
“It’s going to be hectic for me because I don’t have any income,” Battle said Monday afternoon at the downtown shelter. “I’ve been going from place to place trying to find another shelter or permanent housing, but I don’t have a case manager. I’m really nervous.”
While getting people permanently off the streets is a great goal, year-round shelters serve as central intake points for homeless people where they get put on a path back to self-reliance, said Bob McElroy, who runs the city’s 220-bed shelter near Petco Park for the Alpha Project.
The project also incorporated elements of storytelling, as each song on the album contributed to an overarching narrative. This approach further enhanced the immersive and cinematic experience that Van Helsing's Curse aimed to create. The lyrics explored themes of vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures, bringing to life the mystique and horror associated with classic Gothic literature. In addition to their studio album, Van Helsing's Curse also performed live shows, featuring a full orchestra and choir, as well as guest appearances by renowned musicians such as Neal Schon of Journey and Al Pitrelli of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. These performances provided an unforgettable experience, allowing the audience to witness the fusion of metal and orchestral music in all its glory. While Van Helsing's Curse was initially formed as a Halloween side project, they captured the attention of fans and received critical acclaim for their unique sound and performances. Although the band has not released any new material since their debut album, their legacy as a groundbreaking symphonic metal project remains, leaving a mark on the intersection of heavy metal and classical music..
Reviews for "Breaking the Curse: Van Helsing's Ultimate Quest"
1. John - 2/5 - I was extremely disappointed with "Van Helsing's Curse". The acting was subpar, with most of the cast delivering wooden performances. The plot was convoluted and lacked coherence, making it difficult to follow and ultimately uninteresting. The special effects were also quite underwhelming, especially considering the technology available today. Overall, I found the film to be a letdown and would not recommend it to others.
2. Laura - 1/5 - "Van Helsing's Curse" was an absolute mess of a movie. The storyline was incredibly dull and predictable, offering no surprises or moments of suspense. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it impossible to connect or sympathize with any of them. Furthermore, the dialogue was cringeworthy and felt forced, leaving me cringing throughout the entire film. I honestly can't think of anything positive to say about this movie and would advise others to stay away from it.
3. Michael - 2/5 - As a fan of vampire movies, I was eagerly looking forward to watching "Van Helsing's Curse". However, the film fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of mundane dialogue and little action to keep me engaged. Moreover, the editing seemed haphazard, with abrupt transitions and disjointed scenes that made it difficult to follow the story. Although the concept had potential, the execution was lacking, and I was left feeling underwhelmed by the overall experience.