Friday, December 31, 2010
Fair Warning, Guys
Report: Wife 'snaps,' beats husband with rock for smoking when he was sick: "A woman was arrested Wednesday morning for beating her husband with a rock, claiming she didn’t want him to smoke a cigarette because of his poor health.
'A woman can only take so much,' she told a deputy."
'A woman can only take so much,' she told a deputy."
Sale!
Today and tomorrow are the last days to save 25% on one order at Crossroad Press. Just use the coupon code "Holidaze." You probably got a new e-reader for Christmas, and you know you want add a couple of westerns by me to your e-book collection, not to mention some horror/thriller novels from Jack MacLane.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Blotter: Report: Man’s behavior turns strange: "Later she reported that he was texting her from the hospital that he was not sorry for what happened."
Billy the Kid Update
No Pardon for Billy the Kid - The Daily Beast: "Old West legend Billy the Kid remains lawless: After anticipation that New Mexico’s lame-duck governor would pardon the famous outlaw, Bill Richardson announced on Good Morning America on Friday morning that he had declined the opportunity."
5 Innovations That Will Change Lives In Next 5 Years -
5 Innovations That Will Change Lives In Next 5 Years - BizTech2.com -: "IBM has unveiled the fifth annual 'Next Five in Five'- a list of innovations that have the potential to change the way people work, live and play over the next five years. It is based on market and societal trends expected to transform our lives, as well as emerging technologies from IBM's Labs around the world that can make these innovations possible."
The Year In Movie Anniversaries
Edward Copeland on Film...and more: The Year in Movie Anniversaries
Hat tip to Steve Stilwell, who delights in making me feel ancient. I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
Mystery Scene Update from Kate Stine
Hi everyone,
Mystery Scene Magazine now has a Wikipedia entry. Contributors names are linked to their Wikipedia entries or websites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystery_Scene_Magazine Feel free to correct any mistakes or add information. Many of you don't have pages set up at Wikipedia and now's as good a time as any to create one.
Charity Fundraiser: Mystery Scene will donate $1 to Reading is Fundamental for every new Twitter follower through December 31. $100+ raised so far! Please help spread the word.
If you're on Facebook or have a Twitter account, make sure we know about it. We'll make your FB page a "Favorite" of Mystery Scene Magazine Page. MS will also follow you on Twitter and include you on the "MS Contributors" List.
The holiday lull is a good time for various housekeeping tasks. For one, please make sure your bio at the MS website's "Our Contributors" Page is up to date.
Brian and I wish you all a wonderful 2011!
Best,
Kate
Croc Update (Kitchen Counter Edition)
New Prehistoric Crocodile Found in "Kitchen Counters": "Fossils of a new species of ancient crocodile cousin have been found in limestone once destined for Italian kitchen countertops, a new study says.
The fossils were originally discovered in a limestone quarry in Ferrara, Italy, in 1955 after workers sliced a huge block into four slabs and found the bones trapped inside.
'When the owner noticed the bones, he decided to save' the slabs, said study co-author Federico Fanti, a geologist at the Museo Geologico Giovanni Capellini in Italy.
Scientists performed only a cursory examination of the fossils—enough to determine that they belonged to an ancient crocodile—before the slabs were transferred to two museums in Italy.
The fossils sat unstudied until 2009, when scientists decided to examine them again in more detail."
The fossils were originally discovered in a limestone quarry in Ferrara, Italy, in 1955 after workers sliced a huge block into four slabs and found the bones trapped inside.
'When the owner noticed the bones, he decided to save' the slabs, said study co-author Federico Fanti, a geologist at the Museo Geologico Giovanni Capellini in Italy.
Scientists performed only a cursory examination of the fossils—enough to determine that they belonged to an ancient crocodile—before the slabs were transferred to two museums in Italy.
The fossils sat unstudied until 2009, when scientists decided to examine them again in more detail."
Forgotten Books: EPITAPH FOR A TRAMP -- David Markson
I first read this book a few decades ago, and I have copies of both the Dell and Berkley editions. But for some reason I picked up another copy the other day. I guess I couldn't resist. Markson wrote a sequel, Epitaph for a Dead Beat, that I also read, but he didn't write crime novels much longer. He moved on to become the highly regarded author of such postmodern novels as Wittengenstein's Mistress, a book much praised by the likes of David Foster Wallace.For all that, the two books about Harry Fannin are more or less conventional private-eye novels, with maybe a few more literary allusions than most. In this one, Fannin finds himself in a classic situation. His ex-wife dies at his doorstep, and there's a lot of missing money that other people are looking for. Fannin and his cop buddy investigate, and the first solution isn't the right one. I remembered the second solution from my first reading, but it was probably obvious even then.
I liked the voice of the book quite a bit, and I liked the writing. I was bothered a little by the gay-bashing, which I probably didn't even notice forty years ago. I remember thinking that Markson must have read Ross Macdonald, though that didn't seem so obvious this time. Macdonald handles some gay issues in The Drowning Pool, and he does so more circumspectly than Markson. But Markson's book was published in 1959, some years after Macdonald's. Some of the dialogue might seem dated to modern ears, but to mine it was still amusing. I'd certainly recommend this novel, and if you run across a copy, give it a try.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Geraldine Hoff Doyle, R. I. P.
Lansing's 'Rosie' dies at age 86 | lansingstatejournal.com | Lansing State Journal: "Her face became the symbol of women's empowerment, and her death is the end of an era.Geraldine Hoff Doyle of Lansing, the woman behind an iconic image of a bandana-clad, muscle-flexing Rosie the Riveter during WWII, has died, according to her family.
Doyle was 86 upon her death, a lifetime older than the 17-year-old factory worker who was captured in a United Press International photo in a metal-pressing plant near Ann Arbor.
Her photo was later used by the U.S. War Production Coordinating Committee in an illustrated poster called, 'We Can Do It!'"
Aron Abrams, R. I. P.
Showbiz - News - Producer Aron Abrams dead, aged 50 - Digital Spy: "Aron Abrams has been found dead in his Hawaiian hotel room at the age of 50.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports that the Everybody Loves Chris and Grounded For Life producer was discovered by his wife on Christmas morning while the couple vacationed in the town of Waikoloa."
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports that the Everybody Loves Chris and Grounded For Life producer was discovered by his wife on Christmas morning while the couple vacationed in the town of Waikoloa."
Snooki Update
Showbiz - News - Snooki 'won't drop New Year's ball in NYC' - Digital Spy: "Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi will reportedly not take part in MTV's New Year's Eve coverage on Friday.
According to PopEater, the Jersey Shore star's plan to become a human hamster during the network's giant ball drop was cancelled after authorities deemed the plan unsafe.
'The Snooki ball drop isn't going to happen in Times Square,' a source said."
According to PopEater, the Jersey Shore star's plan to become a human hamster during the network's giant ball drop was cancelled after authorities deemed the plan unsafe.
'The Snooki ball drop isn't going to happen in Times Square,' a source said."
Keep off His Lawn!
Probation for killing after dog pees on prize lawn - U.S. news - Crime & courts - msnbc.com: "A former Marine who was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a man whose puppy urinated on his award-winning lawn was sentenced Wednesday to four years probation."
Hmmmmmmm
Woman strangled necklace massager: Woman strangled by necklace caught in massager - OrlandoSentinel.com: "A South Florida doctor has died after authorities say she was accidentally strangled by an electronic neck massager on Christmas Eve.
Kenneth Gegerson called 911 after finding his wife's body on the bedroom floor next to the neck massager."
Kenneth Gegerson called 911 after finding his wife's body on the bedroom floor next to the neck massager."
Pike -- Benjamin Whitmer
Pike's a guy you shouldn't mess around with, mountain mean and tough. Rory, a bar boxer, is his best and only real friend. One day a woman shows up with Pike's granddaughter, Wendy, and hands her over to Pike. Pike's daughter, she says, has died of an overdose in Cincinnati. Pike reluctantly takes on the guardianship of his daughter, but before he can settle into any kind of life with her, he has a need to find out if his daughter's death was really an accident or if it was accidental. The search for answers sets Pike on a collision course with Derrick Kreiger, a seriously bent cop, who's more of a vigilante than a cop, a wild man who's convinced that he's in the right no matter who he kills or beats to a pulp. Not that Pike is much better. It's hard to work up a lot of sympathy for either. Wendy and Rory are as close to innocence as we come, and they're no angels.
Pike's journey takes him into some hellish parts of the city, and some of the people he meets are even less savory than Kreiger. This isn't a pretty book, and there are no pretty scenes. It's violent and brutal, just like the people in it. Don't come to the book looking for uplift and you'll be rewarded. The prose is clean, and the writer's vision is clear and unsparing. Check it out.
The Eyes Have It
Eye-catching: Incredible pictures that for the first time reveal the human eye in all its glory | Mail Online: "These pictures are a sight for sore eyes.
For while they may resemble the dramatic surface of the Red Planet they are actually the eye-catching images of the human iris in all its glorious detail - each one as unique as a fingerprint."
For while they may resemble the dramatic surface of the Red Planet they are actually the eye-catching images of the human iris in all its glorious detail - each one as unique as a fingerprint."
Photos at the link.
Soon to Be a SyFy Movie!
Do Pterosaurs Still Exist on Papua New Guinea?: "Pterosaurs are ferocious flying dinosaurs thought to have been extinct for 65 million years. However, there is physical evidence of gigantic nesting sites in some of the mountainous cliff areas of Papua New Guinea. What's more the natives there have been reported as being fearful of animals that fit their description and given eyewitness accounts. The animals were described as being large in diameter, with bat-like wings connecting to an elongated beak. There were reports of razor sharp teeth and claws and a lengthy whip-like tail with a split or flange at the end."
An Experiment
Here at my house I have a new gizmo. I'm trying out the speech recognition software that comes with windows seven. It's having a little problem with my Texas accent. However, maybe if I keep practicing it will learn a few things, or maybe I will. So far it's typed this entry with only a few mistakes. I don't know that it will ever take the place of typing with my fingers. But it's fun to try it out.
Forgotten Music -- Recitations
Whatever happened to corny recitations? There was a time when Walter Brennan could sell millions of records with "Old Rivers" or this one, "Dutchman's Gold."
And before Wink Martindale because a game show host, he had a smash with "Deck of Cards."
To be fair, a lot of other people had hits with this same number, including Tex Ritter. Now, this kind of thing would be laughed off the air, I suspect. Or maybe we could make a case that it's an early form of rap. No? I didn't think so.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Agathe von Trapp, R. I. P.
Agathe von Trapp is dead at 97; Her musical family inspired show and film 'The Sound of Music': "Agathe von Trapp, a member of the musical family whose escape from Nazi-occupied Austria was the basis for 'The Sound of Music,' has died, a longtime friend said Wednesday.
Von Trapp, 97, died Tuesday at a hospice in the Baltimore suburb of Towson after suffering congestive heart failure in November, said Mary Louise Kane. Kane and von Trapp lived together for five decades and ran a kindergarten at the Sacred Heart Catholic parish in nearby Glyndon until 1993.
Von Trapp was the oldest daughter of Austrian naval Capt. Georg Ritter von Trapp. His seven children by his first wife, Agathe Whitehead von Trapp, were the basis for the singing family in the 1959 play and 1965 film, which won the Oscar for best picture."
Von Trapp, 97, died Tuesday at a hospice in the Baltimore suburb of Towson after suffering congestive heart failure in November, said Mary Louise Kane. Kane and von Trapp lived together for five decades and ran a kindergarten at the Sacred Heart Catholic parish in nearby Glyndon until 1993.
Von Trapp was the oldest daughter of Austrian naval Capt. Georg Ritter von Trapp. His seven children by his first wife, Agathe Whitehead von Trapp, were the basis for the singing family in the 1959 play and 1965 film, which won the Oscar for best picture."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Billy Taylor, R. I. P.
Billy Taylor, Jazz Pianist and Educator, Dies at 89 - NYTimes.com Billy Taylor, a pianist and composer who was also an eloquent spokesman and advocate for jazz as well as a familiar presence for many years on television and radio, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. He was 89 and lived in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.
The cause was heart failure, said his daughter, Kim Taylor-Thompson.
Dr. Taylor, as he preferred to be called (he earned a doctorate in music education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 1975), was a living refutation of the stereotype of jazz musicians as unschooled, unsophisticated and inarticulate, an image that was prevalent when he began his career in the 1940s, and that he did as much as any other musician to erase.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Affidavit Details FBI "Operation Payback" Probe | The Smoking Gun: "-As part of an international criminal probe into computer attacks launched this month against perceived corporate enemies of WikiLeaks, the FBI has raided a Texas business and seized a computer server that investigators believe was used to launch a massive electronic attack on PayPal, The Smoking Gun has learned."
Making ‘True Grit’ a Best Seller
Making ‘True Grit’ a Best Seller - NYTimes.com: "The underlying story, about young Mattie Ross’s pursuit of the man who shot her father, certainly had fans. But Mr. Rehme recalls that Paramount, which collaborated with Mr. Wallis on the film, had an interest in seeing that the book lived up to its reputation as a best seller.
So Mr. Rehme, by his own recollection, did what any really enterprising publicity executive of the era would have done: he set out to rig the game."
So Mr. Rehme, by his own recollection, did what any really enterprising publicity executive of the era would have done: he set out to rig the game."
A Guy Named Gator
TWO ARRESTED FOR 911 ABUSE: "Then there’s the case of a man who goes by the name of Gator. He’s 61-year-old Lawrence Gauthier from Oak Hill with a history of using the 911 emergency line like it was his own personal request hotline. Gauthier made his first call to 911 asking for a deputy to come to his house and bring him business cards. Later deputies say an apparently intoxicated Gauthier called emergency dispatchers because he wanted to have the media arrested."
True Grit
Many years ago I read a review of a book called True Grit. Probably in Time magazine. Soon afterward I went to the library and checked out the book. I loved it. I thought Portis was a genius. I immediately read his previous novel, Norwood, and was even more convinced. I've read his succeeding books with almost equal pleasure. So I'm the target audience for a new movie version of True Grit.Not that there was anything wrong with the original except for Glen Campbell. Wayne seemed to think he needed a young singing star in his films to get the teen audience in the theaters. This led to such things as having Frankie Avalon in The Alamo. Yikes. That being said, I think Ricky Nelson did just fine in Rio Bravo, and Fabian was very good in North to Alaska.
But I digress. I liked the original movie version just fine, and I like Coen brothers version an awful lot. In some ways it's the same movie. Some the shots are the same. The shootout in the meadow is almost identical. The dialog is pretty much the same too, and it follows the same conventions that the book and first movie do (no contractions). But the tone is different this time. The big difference to me is that Wayne played Rooster Cogburn for comedy. Jeff Bridges plays him more or less straight, and he's a scary guy. The new movie is still very funny, but the humor's not nearly as broad as it was in the first film.
The current movie also uses the book's framing device, with Mattie doing a voiceover at the beginning to let us know that she's now an older woman looking back at an incident from her past. The ending uses the voiceover as well, and I found it much more evocative that the ending of the John Wayne version (though that ending was appropriate for that film).
The actors are uniformly fine. If Hailee Steinfeld isn't nominated for a best actress Oscar, there's no justice. And I wouldn't be surprised to see Bridges get a nomination, too. The photography is stunning.
If you think the western's a worn-out genre, if you think it can't still generate power and show beauty in tough situations, see True Grit. I think it'll prove you wrong.
Here's the Plot for Your Next Gator Thriller
'All hell breaks loose' after Reptile Guy rescues gator: "Hopcraft said he was informed he was under investigation for the illegal transportation and possession of an American alligator, and faces jail time and fines up to $100,000 under B.C.'s new exotic species bylaws. The ministry confirmed he is under investigation, but has not responded to Hopcraft's claims that he was set-up in the deal."
Croc Update (Priestly Edition)
Ancient priests' names preserved in pottery - Technology & science - Science - DiscoveryNews.com - msnbc.com: "Broken pieces of clay pottery have revealed the names of dozens of Egyptian priests who served at the temple of a crocodile god, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) announced.
Engraved with text dating back to the Roman period, the small potsherds have been found by Italian archaeologists on the west side of the temple dedicated to the crocodile god Soknopaios in Soknopaiou Nesos, an Egyptian village in the Fayoum oasis."
Engraved with text dating back to the Roman period, the small potsherds have been found by Italian archaeologists on the west side of the temple dedicated to the crocodile god Soknopaios in Soknopaiou Nesos, an Egyptian village in the Fayoum oasis."
It Was 50 Years Ago Today
On December 29, 1960, I had a date with a girl named Judy Stutts. She was pretty and smart, so I thought I'd ask her out again. Seems like only yesterday.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Here's the Plot for Your Next Heist Gone Wrong Thriller
Chief: Woburn cop slay like ‘wild west’ - BostonHerald.com: "When a career cop on the verge of retirement crossed paths with a paroled thug aiming to restart his criminal career at Kohl’s jewelry counter Sunday night in Woburn, it ended with splatters of blood, scattered diamonds and two men dead in the wind-driven snow.
It was the first and last time in 34 years of public service that Woburn police officer John “Jack” Maguire, 60, a married father, had fired his gun on the job. He planned to retire in October."
It was the first and last time in 34 years of public service that Woburn police officer John “Jack” Maguire, 60, a married father, had fired his gun on the job. He planned to retire in October."
Girl Gang!
Girl gang's grip on London underworld revealed | Books | The Guardian: "Girl gangs might sound like a modern British problem, but new research has revealed an all-female crime syndicate had a firm and pitiless grip on London as far back as the 18th century.
Forgotten stashes of photographs, records and letters have revealed that although the capital was carved into different fiefdoms by various male villains, one all-female gang ruled part of the gangland underworld for almost two centuries."
Forgotten stashes of photographs, records and letters have revealed that although the capital was carved into different fiefdoms by various male villains, one all-female gang ruled part of the gangland underworld for almost two centuries."
DVD Alert
'The Andy Griffith Show 50th Anniversary' review: Today is a perfect time to enter the world of Mayberry | Ken Tucker's TV | EW.com: "Christmas is just over, and maybe you’re happy or exhausted or overwhelmed or at peace. There is no mood, however, that cannot be lifted or enhanced by watching a few episodes of The Andy Griffith Show. A new DVD, The Best of Mayberry, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the show’s 1960 debut, and collects what is, by fan common consensus, 17 episodes that are the all-time favorites of the series that ran from 1960-1968. It starred Griffith as Sheriff Andy Taylor, presiding over Mayberry, a town that is at once an idealized small town, and a quietly realistic embodiment of small-town habits and values."
I For One Welcome Our New English-Teaching Overlords
South Korean students get robot teachers - The News Chronicle: "Almost 30 robots have started teaching English to youngsters in a South Korean city, according to the Associated Press.
The 29 robots, about one metre (3.3 feet) high with a TV display panel for a face, were said to have started teaching Monday, with Engkey, a white egg-shaped robot developed by the Korea Institue of Science of Technology, leading at 21 elementary schools in the southeastern city of Daegu."
The 29 robots, about one metre (3.3 feet) high with a TV display panel for a face, were said to have started teaching Monday, with Engkey, a white egg-shaped robot developed by the Korea Institue of Science of Technology, leading at 21 elementary schools in the southeastern city of Daegu."
Truer Words Were Never Spoken
Court rules teen's sock fire not arson - UPI.com: "'(He) was 14 years old, and although his intelligence appeared to the (Youth Court) judge to be average, average 14-year-old boys may do things without any thought of the risks involved, even when they have been told about the risks on other occasions,' Justice Jill Mallon said in the High Court ruling."
The Secret Life of Bees
Honeybees are found to interact with Quantum fields: "How could bees of little brain come up with anything as complex as a dance language? The answer could lie not in biology but in six-dimensional math and the bizarre world of quantum mechanics."
DVD Alert
ALLIGATOR & ALIEN FROM THE DEEP Coming To DVD - FANGORIA: "ALLIGATOR is really THE GREAT ALLIGATOR, which was already released by No Shame under the title THE BIG ALLIGATOR RIVER, well, now it's coming out again, by Mya Communications on Feb 22nd."
Top 30 Signed Books on AbeBooks in 2010
AbeBooks.com: Top 30 Signed Books on AbeBooks in 2010: "2010 saw a mixture of established writers and some relatively little known authors share the limelight.The clear leaders in the signed books category were Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell. Both novels were acclaimed by the literary critics with Franzen also receiving a hefty plug from Oprah Winfrey. Other established names on the list include Peter Carey, Ian McEwan, Philip Pullman, Joe Hill and Bret Easton Ellis."
No Comment Department
Texas pastor caught with fur coats, laptop says she was securing belongings, not stealing them - latimes.com: "A Texas pastor caught by police with a laptop and fur coats said she was protecting the valuables, not stealing them from the home of a parishioners.
Sandy McGriff, cofounder of the Church of the Living God, told The Dallas Morning News on Monday that she used poor judgment when she entered a church member's home through a broken window and removed valuable property."
Sandy McGriff, cofounder of the Church of the Living God, told The Dallas Morning News on Monday that she used poor judgment when she entered a church member's home through a broken window and removed valuable property."
Alcohol Was Involved
Burglars ram forklift through wall of West Linn general store to steal beer | OregonLive.com: "Burglars drove a forklift through the side of a general store building on Christmas Day, making off with beer.
The store was closed for the holiday and nobody was working during the break-in, which was discovered Saturday afternoon. Although the store carries a wide selection of tools, wine and groceries, the only thing that appeared to be missing was beer."
The store was closed for the holiday and nobody was working during the break-in, which was discovered Saturday afternoon. Although the store carries a wide selection of tools, wine and groceries, the only thing that appeared to be missing was beer."
Hat tip to Lawrence Person.
Monday, December 27, 2010
No Comment Department
Make it on a computer and they will come: "It's official: realism is dead in movies, at least at the big bucks end. Not one of the world's top 10 grossing films this year represents the world we live in, from Toy Story 3 - the first animated film to take more than $US1 billion - to Tim Burton's partially animated Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter 7, Shrek 4, Twilight 3 or Iron Man 2.
The closest to realism was Christopher Nolan's topsy-turvy puzzle game Inception - the point of which was to subvert the real. Each top 10 grosser was made wholly or partly on a computer."
The closest to realism was Christopher Nolan's topsy-turvy puzzle game Inception - the point of which was to subvert the real. Each top 10 grosser was made wholly or partly on a computer."
Archaeology Update
Researchers: Ancient human remains found in Israel: "Israeli archaeologists say they may have found the earliest evidence yet for the existence of modern man.
A Tel Aviv University team excavating a cave in central Israel said Monday they found teeth about 400,000 years old. The earliest Homo sapiens remains found until now are half that old.
Archaeologist Avi Gopher said Monday further research is needed to solidify the claim. If it does, he says, 'this changes the whole picture of evolution.'"
A Tel Aviv University team excavating a cave in central Israel said Monday they found teeth about 400,000 years old. The earliest Homo sapiens remains found until now are half that old.
Archaeologist Avi Gopher said Monday further research is needed to solidify the claim. If it does, he says, 'this changes the whole picture of evolution.'"
Toy Story 3
I liked the first two Toy Story movies, so I expected to like this one, too. And I certainly did. The opening sequence got to me not just because I maintain even in my old age a deep connection to my childhood but because I remember and almost identical situation in my own life. In the movie, Andy's going away to college, and his mother tells him he has to clean out his room. Everything has to go, either to the dump, to the daycare center as a donation, or to college along with him. All mothers must get their ideas from the same place because the same thing happened to me. I can remember all too vividly the day my mother told me that I had to get rid of all my books and magazines or she'd throw them out. I called a friend with more understanding parents, and we loaded all of them into the back of his station wagon. I can still see them through the back window as he drove away.
But enough about me. The toys get donated by accident, and the daycare center looks like a great place, with an apparently friendly bear named Lotso in charge. But things aren't what they seem, and the toys need to escape. This leads to one of the more harrowing (and touching) animated sequences I've ever seen.
The voice acting is great. Is there an Oscar category for voice acting. If there isn't, there should be. The Pixar animation is as amazing as ever, if not even more amazing, and the writing and storytelling are top shelf. In fact, the more animated movies I see, the more I think the writing and storytelling are better than in the live-action films. Some adults can't get into animated movies, and that's okay, but I think they're missing something if they pass up stuff like this.
Bonus: Best use of deus ex machina since Eurpides.
Bonus: Stay through the credits to see Buzz Lightyear and Jessie do the paso doble.
Thinking of a Career Change?
Ahearn: For backstage labor, rich rewards - NorthJersey.com: "The Carnegie stagehands' pay was something else again, but not, as it turns out, unique. At Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, the average stagehand salary and benefits package is $290,000 a year.
To repeat, that is the average compensation of all the workers who move musicians' chairs into place and hang lights, not the pay of the top five."
To repeat, that is the average compensation of all the workers who move musicians' chairs into place and hang lights, not the pay of the top five."
Damn Near Dead 2 Update
Scott Montgomery’s 2010 Top 10 Mystery Picks: "3. Damn Near Dead 2 edited by Bill Crider – A follow up to my favorite anthologies lives up to its predecessor. Stories range from Anthony Neil Smith’s darkly humorous tale of an aging pimp to Don Winslow’s melancholy tale of an aging surfer."
No Comment Department
The Wimps Who Stole Christmas | Philadelphia Daily News | 12/27/2010: "This is the height of wimpiness, and the girly-men who made this sad decision should be ashamed of themselves."
Teena Marie, R. I. P.
My Way News - Teena Marie, known as 'Ivory Queen of Soul,' dies: "Teena Marie's last album, 'Congo Square,' was titled after a historical meeting place for slaves in New Orleans, featured a tribute to Martin Luther King's widow and also song 'Black Cool,' written for President Barack Obama.
No matter that Marie, 54, was white. The R&B legend revered and fully immersed herself in black culture - and in turn was respected and adored by black audiences, not only for her immense soulful talents, but for her inner soul as well.
'Overall my race hasn't been a problem. I'm a Black artist with White skin. At the end of the day you have to sing what's in your own soul,' she told Essence.com in an interview last year while promoting 'Congo Square.' That album would turn out to be her last."
No matter that Marie, 54, was white. The R&B legend revered and fully immersed herself in black culture - and in turn was respected and adored by black audiences, not only for her immense soulful talents, but for her inner soul as well.
'Overall my race hasn't been a problem. I'm a Black artist with White skin. At the end of the day you have to sing what's in your own soul,' she told Essence.com in an interview last year while promoting 'Congo Square.' That album would turn out to be her last."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Okay, I'm warning you not to click the link if you're easily offended and don't have your eye bleach handy.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Buffalo Leads the Way
Armed customer tries to stop bank robber - UPI.com: "A bank customer tried to stop a fleeing armed robber in the Buffalo, N.Y., area, running after the man and firing his own weapon, police said."
Here's the Plot for Your Next Hollywood Extortion Trhiller
Cowboy star Roy Rogers faced Ohio extortion attempt in 1950s
Read the article for details of an early photoshopping extortion scheme.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Customers buy prosthetic eye for waitress' daughter who survived cancer | khou.com | khou.com Local News: "Talk about a generous tip. Some customers at the 59 Diner near South Kirkwood Road gave their waitress a Christmas gift she never expected: a prosthetic eye for her daughter who survived cancer last year."
They Always Get Their . . . Oops
Mounties docked pay for sex misconduct: "Two Mounties have admitted to disgraceful conduct after it was revealed one was having sex while on duty with a female recruit and another officer was sending sexually explicit e-mails to a female intern."
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Police: Man finds teenage son in bed with naked 35-year-old woman | son, edinburg, teenage - Now - TheMonitor.com: "A man told police he found his 16-year-old son in bed with a naked woman more than twice his age who he allegedly hired to have sex."
You Can Go Home Again
Who says you can't relive your childhood? Recreated photographs are an internet hit | Mail Online: "There are people who say you can never relive your childhood - and then there are these guys.
What started as a simple online photo competition has become an unstoppable internet force.
Internet blogger Ze Frank asked his readers to recreate childhood photos in a compelling 'then and now' experiment."
What started as a simple online photo competition has become an unstoppable internet force.
Internet blogger Ze Frank asked his readers to recreate childhood photos in a compelling 'then and now' experiment."
A Very Happy Holiday to all You Buckaroos and Buckarettes!
Times were a lot simpler back when I was reading Roy Rogers comic books, and I can remember many of those Christmases as clearly as if they were happening now. I wish all of you the happiest of holidays, whatever you might be celebrating, and I do hope that everyone has something to celebrate today. May your days be merry and bright, and may 2011 be the greatest year of your lives so far.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
And happy birthday, Mayor Moore!
Moore, who is in his 61st year at the helm in Richmond, turned 90.
'I couldn't be better,' Moore said as he answered the phone Wednesday afternoon. 'I feel fortunate. God has been good to me. I'm blessed with a wonderful family, and while I have had what some people consider serious illnesses, they haven't gotten me down so far.'"
As If We Didn't Know
Basic instinct: Women take just three minutes to make up their mind about Mr Right | Mail Online: "It takes a woman just three minutes to make up her mind about whether she likes a man or not, a study has revealed."
In Case You Were Wondering, . . .
Where do I put the paper?: "I'd imagined that in most countries in the world, putting toilet paper down the toilet was the accepted method of disposal, but if you're a Western European or similar type of person and you decide to do a bit of travelling, where you put the paper can suddenly turn into a bit of a problem – at least until you get the hang of the country and their rules."
Here's the Plot for Your Next Scottish Crime Thriller
iWon News - Ex-lawmaker faces jail over sex life perjury: "It was a case that gripped Scotland - a firebrand leftist lawmaker who claimed he spent nights at home playing Scrabble versus a tabloid that claimed he took part in wild parties at a sex club.
The first jury ruled for Scrabble. The next one decided that he had lied.
So Tommy Sheridan, a former member of Scotland's Parliament, has been told by a judge to get ready for jail when he returns to a Glasgow court next month for sentencing."
The first jury ruled for Scrabble. The next one decided that he had lied.
So Tommy Sheridan, a former member of Scotland's Parliament, has been told by a judge to get ready for jail when he returns to a Glasgow court next month for sentencing."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
A Poem
Long ago I wrote a cheery little Christmas poem. It was published in riverSedge in 1977. I thought it would become a Christmas classic on the order of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, but for some reason, it didn't. So since you won't be seeing it anywhere else, here it is:
Plastic Xmas
Underneath my plastic tree
Are plastic presents wrapped with glee
And plastic tape as you can see.
Nearby there's a nativity
(Made of plastic, naturally)
With its plastic babe fast asleep,
Watched over by placid plastic sheep,
And plastic shepherds that quietly creep,
As plastic angels from the rooftop peep.
Beside it stand my plastic wife . . .
My plastic children . . .
My plastic life.
Okay, Now This is Odd
Usually my blog gets about 1000 page views a day. Not bad, though nothing like what the popular kids get on their blogs. But the other day I linked to a post on the worst baby names. And the stats went through the roof. I got three times as many hits on that one post as I usually get on all my posts for the day. I always thought that phrases like "Lindsay Lohan's boobies" were the ones that got hits. Now I know better. The people want posts on baby names. Go figure.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Woman arrested at ABIA after refusing enhanced pat down | kvue.com | KVUE News home | KVUE.com | Austin news: "Early Wednesday morning, a computer glitch shut down a security checkpoint for a couple of hours at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The line snaked out the door as many travelers waited for more than an hour and some missed their flights. One of the first people in line after that shutdown never made it through. She was arrested and banned from the airport."
Here's the Plot for Your Next Serial Killer Thriller
On a barrier island, mystery deepens on 4 corpses EarthLink - U.S. News: "A week after police accidentally discovered the bodies of four women strewn over a quarter-mile stretch of marshy grasslands, overgrown shrubbery and sea grass on a barrier island, mere paces from an oceanfront parkway, investigators are vexed by the basic questions: Who are they and how did they get there?
By week's end, police brass appeared to concede they were stumped, even backing away from earlier notions that a serial killer may be responsible."
By week's end, police brass appeared to concede they were stumped, even backing away from earlier notions that a serial killer may be responsible."
Beautiful, Collectible Space Books
Beautiful, Collectible Space Books on AbeBooks: "Since humans first looked to the skies, long before Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, people have been fascinated by the beauty, mystery and dizzying vastness of what lies beyond the planet Earth. From the sun and the moon to stars, comets and planets, from rocketships and satellites to astronomy and astrology, our devotion to discovering and understanding the skies has showed itself in our industry, our technology and our design. Moons, suns, stars and more have long been popular themes throughout both the content and the decor of beautiful books, many of which are now scarce and collectible - but often highly affordable.
Enjoy this selection of some of the beautiful books with celestial-themed cover design available."
Enjoy this selection of some of the beautiful books with celestial-themed cover design available."
Christmas on Pleasant Street
Redding women report dispute over cat litter box dumping � Redding Record Searchlight: "Pleasant Street in Redding this morning wasn’t very pleasant when a dispute between neighbors erupted as two women reportedly began dumping their cats’ litter boxes on each other’s property."
Forgotten Books: THE DROWNING POOL -- Ross Macdonald
The Drowning Pool (1950) is the second novel to feature private-eye Lew Archer. I have several copies of it, but when I saw one for a buck the other day, I couldn't resist picking it up. And then I figured it might be fun to read it again. It was.Ross Macdonald was still feeling his way with this one, so the style isn't what it would be come, but The Drowning Pool has the themes that would occupy him for the rest of his career: dysfunctional families, the sins of the fathers setting their children's teeth on edge, the changing face of California (Ross Mac saw the same sorts of things happening there that John D. Mac saw happening in Florida), the conflict of the generations, and the widening gap between the rich and poor.
Lew Archer's client is a woman who's received a blackmail letter. She doesn't want to tell Archer anything about herself or her family, but he takes the job. Working pretty much in the dark, he begins to turn up plenty of secrets that everybody would like to keep covered, secrets that lead to murder. Typically, even when Archer is supposed to be off the case, he keeps on digging. He can never let go until he finds all the answers.
Macdonald isn't as popular now as his progenitors, Hammett and Chandler. Some readers complain that the plots develop too slowly, and The Drowning Pool doesn't have a murder until more than 60 pages have gone by. Macdonald is more interested in setting up the characters than in presenting a murder on the first page. Other readers might find the book a bit dated. It's not, certainly, in its environmental concerns, though the treatment of homosexuality is a bit off-putting to modern eyes. Still, the narrative works just fine for me, pulling me a long as easily as it did the first time I read the book, nearly 50 years ago. There's even some snappy patter that Spenser would envy.
While this book isn't Macdonald's best, it's still quite good. Macdonald could plot, and he could write. It's no wonder that Macdonald remains one of my favorite p. i. writers.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Towne East Mall Shoppers Maced at Chaotic Air Jordan Sneaker Sale: "Mesquite police early Thursday used pepper spray to control an unruly crowd of sneaker shoppers.
The incident happened at Towne East Mall, where dozens of people had lined up top buy Nike's new Air Jordan 11 Retro, which went on sale at 6 a.m.
Sisters Laurie and Lorraine Martinez, who said they had been in line since 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, described the scene as frightening and chaotic."
The incident happened at Towne East Mall, where dozens of people had lined up top buy Nike's new Air Jordan 11 Retro, which went on sale at 6 a.m.
Sisters Laurie and Lorraine Martinez, who said they had been in line since 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, described the scene as frightening and chaotic."
Hat tip to Jeff Segal.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
High School Student Sues Softball Coach for Outing Her to Parents: "A Texas high school softball player has sued her coach and school because, the student claims, her coach told her mother that she's a lesbian. Which is usually not how you want your mom to find out you're gay."
Chupacabra Update
Mysterious creature found in Nelson County - WAVE 3 News - Louisville, Kentucky: "Has a mythical creature made its way to Kentucky? Some people seem to think so, after a Nelson County man came across a creature with grayish, wrinkly skin and no fur."
But What about My Flying Car?
IBM Expects to See Holographic Phone Calls, Air-Powered Batteries by 2015 - Bloomberg: "By 2015, your mobile phone will project a 3-D image of anyone who calls and your laptop will be powered by kinetic energy. At least that’s what International Business Machines Corp. sees in its crystal ball."
And Stay off Her Damn Lawn!
Girl loads rifle to spook burglars | Albuquerque, N.M. | KRQE News 13: "When three teenage burglars pried open the door of a northwest Albuquerque home they had no idea they would be met by a brave little girl, police said Wednesday.
Alyssa Gutierrez, 11, took matters into her own hands Tuesday when police said when Miguel Marquez, Eduardo Zubiate and Jesus Quintana broke into her home.
Gutierrez armed herself with a loaded rifle.
'I was planning, if they came right next to me, I would shoot them,' Gutierrez said."
Alyssa Gutierrez, 11, took matters into her own hands Tuesday when police said when Miguel Marquez, Eduardo Zubiate and Jesus Quintana broke into her home.
Gutierrez armed herself with a loaded rifle.
'I was planning, if they came right next to me, I would shoot them,' Gutierrez said."
Scientists Get the Finger
Another humanoid species co-existed with early humans and Neanderthals: "A single finger bone found in this Siberian cave led to an amazing discovery. Early humans and Neanderthals co-existed with another humanoid species called Denisovans. And many present-day humans carry genes that prove our ancestors had children with Denisovans, too.
The new species is named after the cave where the 30,000 year-old finger bone was found. Researchers had been searching for Neanderthal bones in the area, and were surprised to discover what they initially thought was a fossil from an early human's little finger. To find out more, they shipped the bone off to the Max Planck Institute in Germany, where evolutionary biologist Svante Paabo had already sequenced several Neanderthal genomes. Paabo's tests gave a shocking result: The genome sequence they got from the bone showed that it was neither human nor Neanderthal."
The new species is named after the cave where the 30,000 year-old finger bone was found. Researchers had been searching for Neanderthal bones in the area, and were surprised to discover what they initially thought was a fossil from an early human's little finger. To find out more, they shipped the bone off to the Max Planck Institute in Germany, where evolutionary biologist Svante Paabo had already sequenced several Neanderthal genomes. Paabo's tests gave a shocking result: The genome sequence they got from the bone showed that it was neither human nor Neanderthal."
Probably Just Placebos
Shipwrecked 2,000-Year-Old Pills Give Clues to Ancient Medicine: "Scientists are trying to unravel the mystery of whether pills found in a 2,000-year-old shipwreck were, in fact, created and used as effective plant-based medicines.
And the bigger question: Could the ingredients of these ancient tablets still work to help with modern illnesses?
Around 130 B.C., a ship, identified as the Relitto del Pozzino, sank off Tuscany, Italy. Among the artifacts found on board in 1989 were glass cups, a pitcher and ceramics, all of which suggested that the ship was sailing from the eastern Mediterranean area.
Its cargo also included a chest that contained various items related to the medical profession: a copper bleeding cup and 136 boxwood vials and tin containers.
Inside one of the tin vessels, archaeologists found several circular tablets, many still completely dry."
And the bigger question: Could the ingredients of these ancient tablets still work to help with modern illnesses?
Around 130 B.C., a ship, identified as the Relitto del Pozzino, sank off Tuscany, Italy. Among the artifacts found on board in 1989 were glass cups, a pitcher and ceramics, all of which suggested that the ship was sailing from the eastern Mediterranean area.
Its cargo also included a chest that contained various items related to the medical profession: a copper bleeding cup and 136 boxwood vials and tin containers.
Inside one of the tin vessels, archaeologists found several circular tablets, many still completely dry."
The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships and Burnt the Topless Towers of Ilium
United States blamed Anna Nicole Smith for collapse of Nassau government, WikiLeaks cable show - NYPOST.com: "Us diplomats blamed Anna Nicole Smith for bringing the government of the Bahama government of the Bahamas close to collapse, according to cables released yesterday by WikiLeaks.
'Not since Category 4 Hurricane Betsy made landfall in 1965 has one woman done as much damage in Nassau,' said one November 2006 document, apparently written by Deputy Chief of Mission D. Brent Hardt.
The cables said a quickie grant of permanent Bahamian residency to the ill-fated former Playboy playmate led to the ouster of a top government minister while the alleged bungling of her son's treatment and death cut short the careers of other officials."
'Not since Category 4 Hurricane Betsy made landfall in 1965 has one woman done as much damage in Nassau,' said one November 2006 document, apparently written by Deputy Chief of Mission D. Brent Hardt.
The cables said a quickie grant of permanent Bahamian residency to the ill-fated former Playboy playmate led to the ouster of a top government minister while the alleged bungling of her son's treatment and death cut short the careers of other officials."
Wikileaks Santa
Santa Claus of Twenty Two Years Blogs About Kids Dreams - ABC News: "For the past 28 years, Anderson, known by most as 'Santa' or 'Mr. Claus,' has welcomed child after child up on his knee to whisper their holiday wishes in his ear.
But this year, Anderson decided to turn his years of stories -- which up until now he has recorded in nearly 30 journals -- into a blog: Santasays.org.
'For years, when kids have said something I want to be sure to remember, I've jotted it down,' said Anderson, 57. 'Of course they think I'm writing down that they want this doll or that truck but I'm not.'"
But this year, Anderson decided to turn his years of stories -- which up until now he has recorded in nearly 30 journals -- into a blog: Santasays.org.
'For years, when kids have said something I want to be sure to remember, I've jotted it down,' said Anderson, 57. 'Of course they think I'm writing down that they want this doll or that truck but I'm not.'"
Hat tip to Jeremy Lynch.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Get a Rope!
Boy, 13, Busted For Illegal Marker Possession | The Smoking Gun: "A 13-year-old boy was arrested Friday for using a permanent marker while in class at his Oklahoma City middle school, a violation of an obscure city ordinance.
According to an Oklahoma City Police Department report, the boy was spotted “in possession of a permanent marker” by Roosevelt Middle School teacher DeLynn Woodside. The 50-year-old educator told cop Miguel Campos that the student was “writing on a piece of paper, which caused it to bleed over onto the desk.”"
According to an Oklahoma City Police Department report, the boy was spotted “in possession of a permanent marker” by Roosevelt Middle School teacher DeLynn Woodside. The 50-year-old educator told cop Miguel Campos that the student was “writing on a piece of paper, which caused it to bleed over onto the desk.”"
Fred Foy, R. I. P.
Fred Foy, Famous for Lone Ranger Intro, Dies at 89 - NYTimes.com: "Fred Foy, the announcer best known for his passionate lead-in to 'The Lone Ranger,' has died at his Massachusetts home.
His daughter says he died Wednesday of natural causes. He was 89.
Nancy Foy says her father landed the job as the announcer on 'The Lone Ranger' radio program in 1948. Radio historian Jim Harmon says Foy's introduction and narration was so good it 'made many people forget there were others before him.'"
His daughter says he died Wednesday of natural causes. He was 89.
Nancy Foy says her father landed the job as the announcer on 'The Lone Ranger' radio program in 1948. Radio historian Jim Harmon says Foy's introduction and narration was so good it 'made many people forget there were others before him.'"
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Kingston Trio to get Lifetime Achievement Grammy
Good news, and the award is well-deserved.
Graham Powell Appreciation Day
Put Down the Frozen Chicken and Back Away Slowly
Suspect package holds up airport | theadvertiser.com | The Advertiser: "The airport was briefly shut down as authorities investigated a suspicious package that turned out to contain a frozen chicken and a head lamp, said Lt. Craig Stansbury, spokesman for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Texas' population reaches 25.1 million | McClatchy: "Texas zipped past the 25 million mark as it topped the national growth chart for the last decade by adding 4,293,741 residents, according to 2010 Census figures released Tuesday."
Here's the Plot for Your Next Body in the Suitcase Thriller
Dead Woman Found in Suitcase in East Harlem | NBC New York: "Authorities say someone called 911 at about 12:15 a.m. after apparently seeing a foot sticking out of the luggage."
Some of My Books Might be Included
WIN AN MP3 PLAYER LOADED WITH AUDIOBOOKS!: "AUDIOBOOK CONTEST
The prize: A 2GB Sansa Clip MP3 player, brand new, and loaded with Crossroad Press & Springbrook Digital audiobooks – over $300.00 in Value…"
The prize: A 2GB Sansa Clip MP3 player, brand new, and loaded with Crossroad Press & Springbrook Digital audiobooks – over $300.00 in Value…"
Sale!
Crossroad Press is having a sale on the occasion of having published 100 eBooks. From now until January 2, get 25% off -- one time use on the coupon. The code is Holidaze. You can order my books here.
Plastic Man
The Body Odd - 'Rubber Man Syndrome' turns man into real-life Gumby: "Todd Shaeffer of Philadelphia can bend his fingers completely backward, fold his ears forward so they stay that way and perform other cringe-worthy feats that would be impossible for most of us.
“I see it as a blessing,” says Shaeffer, 27. “I used to think I was a superhero.”
As a kid, Shaeffer impressed his friends with stunts like spinning his head around 180 degrees to look over his back and wrapping his arms around his entire waist and touching his fingers together."
“I see it as a blessing,” says Shaeffer, 27. “I used to think I was a superhero.”
As a kid, Shaeffer impressed his friends with stunts like spinning his head around 180 degrees to look over his back and wrapping his arms around his entire waist and touching his fingers together."
Christmas -- A Time for Family
Herald Palladium > Archives > Local News > A bad movie scene along U.S. 12?: "A weird story unfolded over the weekend when a father and daughter's fight on a highway ultimately ended several miles away as the daughter rammed one police car, busted out the windows of another and kicked several police officers, police said.
Police said alcohol apparently played a big role."
Police said alcohol apparently played a big role."
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