Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Hell Hath No Fury, etc.
floridatoday.com: A 48-year-old woman who police say was scorned by her fiance’s request for her to leave his house by New Year’s, remains jailed on charges she deliberately set off a Christmas Day fire in front of her children that gutted the man’s home.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
A Literary Review of 2013
AbeBooks: A Literary Review of 2013: Well, it’s another year done and again J.K. Rowling is at the center of one of the top book stories of the year. Rowling made headlines in July when The Sunday Times of London revealed her as the writer behind the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, author of the crime novel The Cuckoo’s Calling. The book sold only 1,500 copies between its release in April and when Rowling was outed in July – afterwards, it soared to the top of the bestseller lists and signed first editions are currently selling for over $5,000.
Overlooked Movies: Flash Gordon (1980)
What else do I like? The color is superb. The soundtrack by Queen is classic. Watch the trailer at the link below and see what I mean.
Sure, it's campy. Sure, the special effects are cheesy. That's all intentional, and it works just fine for me. And don't try to tell me the writers hadn't seen this digest cover. I won't believe you.
I watched this one again on Christmas day. I'm glad I own the DVD and can watch it anytime at all.
Monday, December 30, 2013
New Poem at The 5-2
The 5-2 | Crime Poetry Weekly, Annual Ebooks - Gerald So, Editor: Steve Peacock
1990, OR A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE POEM
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Here's the Plot for Your Next Espiionage Thriller
Mail Online: The spying Scotsman who hunted the Nazis of New York: The amazing story of Britain's clandestine war on Hitler's agents... and his big-money backers in the US.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Wow
On Ice: 100 year-old negatives discovered in Antarctic: Conservators restoring an Antarctic exploration hut recently made a remarkable discovery: a small box of 22 exposed but unprocessed photographic negatives, frozen in a solid block of ice for nearly one hundred years.
These negatives were meticulously processed and restored by a Wellington photography conservator.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee
Friday, December 20, 2013: The holidays got the best of one couple. Sheriff’s deputies were called to a house just south of Paradise after a husband and wife got into a fierce argument over wrapping Christmas presents.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
No Wonder My Brain Feels so Boosted
Brain function 'boosted for days after reading a novel': Reading a gripping novel causes biological changes in the brain which last for days as the mind is transported into the body of the protagonist.
Friday, December 27, 2013
Sounds Like a Reasonable Excuse to Me
Unreturned library books can mean jail time: Enck was released on a $200 bond, requested time-served — and returned the book. He said he couldn't do it earlier because he checked it out before beginning a three-year prison term for robbery.
Hat tip to Steve Stilwell.
Hat tip to Steve Stilwell.
Paul Blair, R., I. P.
NY Daily News: Paul Blair, who was acclaimed as one of the greatest defensive center fielders in baseball history and was one of the heroes for the Yankees in their 1977 World Series triumph over the Dodgers, died Thursday after suffering a heart attack while bowling in Pikesville, Md., his family said. He was 69. Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
Amazon.com: The Rules eBook: Mark Troy: Kindle Store Personal Protection specialist Ava Rome follows three rules: A professional never calls attention to herself or her principal; a professional never leaves her principal; and, the most important rule, a professional never gets involved with her principal. To break the rules is to die.Paul, her principal, comes from a powerful family with many enemies. Murder and kidnapping are just means of business in Paul's family. Ava believes he is not like the rest of them. Good looking, intelligent, he has everything women want. And many women want him, which makes Ava's job harder. Does she want him too? She recognizes that the greatest threat comes not from the outside, but from her own growing desire. In order to save them both, Ava must leave Paul, against his wishes and in violation of one of her rules.
Ava was wrong. A greater threat lurks outside Paul's secure compound. Two threats, in fact. One human and the other a hurricane. Ava focuses on the hurricane. She and Paul make preparations to ride out the storm. It arrives and so does the intruder. Now Ava is in a fight for her life as nature's fury assaults the house from the outside and a serial rapist stalks her on the inside.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee
New Hampshire Crime: A 22-year-old Londonderry woman was arraigned Thursday on a second-degree assault charge, after she allegedly stabbed her father in the chest Christmas Eve during an argument over the location of the Big Dipper.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee
seattlepi.com: A Shoreline teen is behind bars following allegations he tried to shoot his father with a crossbow.
King County prosecutors contend Tristan P. Olson tried to feather his father after the older man refused to let him drive the family car.
Oh, to be in San Fran now that Claude is there!
Meet Santa Claude at the California Academy of Sciences!: Santa Claude, the one-and-only 'Alligator Santa' will be making special holiday appearances on December 24 and 31, 2013 as well as on January 1, 2014 starting at 10am at the California Academy of Sciences. Don't miss your chance to meet the lovable albino alligator character and take a professional holiday photo with family and friends.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee
FOX Carolina 21: Deputies: Woman stabs fiance after argument over wedding color scheme
FFB: A Night in the Lonesome October -- Roger Zelazny
To begin with, let me say that this is the best book you'll ever read that's narrated by Jack the Ripper's dog. If that idea puts you off and makes you doubt that this is your kind of book, I'd say you're wrong.
The dog's name is Snuff, and the story he tells has to do with the Great Game that is played during the month leading up to Halloween in those years when there's a full moon on that date. That's when the Great Old Ones of Lovecraftian lore make their attempt to enter a gateway into our world. There are two groups of players, the Openers and the Closers. Jack has played before, but it appears that none of the others in this game have. So far, the Closers have always won, but it's often a tight race. The players this time consist of Jack the Ripper, the Universal monsters (I know they didn't originate with Universal, but their characters in this book come from the movies, not the original sources), a Mad Monk, a witch, a Druid, a clergyman, and a couple of others. Sherlock Holmes and Watson are also important characters, and all the players have familiars, of which Snuff is one. The familiars are excellent characters, too, especially Graymalk, the cat, whose relationship with Snuff is one of the book's highlights.
The Game has rules, but sometimes they get violated, and it's fairly complicated. I'm a little surprised nobody's developed it as an actual game to be played by gaming fans. I'm sure it could be done.
A Night in the Lonesome October is stylish, poetic, at times hilarious, suspenseful, and just a whole lot of fun. And did I mention the Gahan Wilson illustrations? No? Well, there's one for each night of the month, with maybe a couple of extras. Great stuff. If you're looking for a treat, don't wait until next year to read this one.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Jeffrey Pollack, R. I. P.
TheWrap: Jeffrey Ian Pollack, a producer of Will Smith’s 1990s sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and director of 1997 Jamie Foxx comedy “Booty Call,” was found dead Monday morning in Hermosa Beach, Calif. He was 54.
Happy Boxing Day!
Boxing Day - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Boxing Day is traditionally the day following Christmas Day, when servants and tradesmen would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their bosses[1] or employers. Today, Boxing Day is the bank holiday that generally takes place on 26 December. It is observed in the United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago and some other Commonwealth nations.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
That's the Spirit!
Now I Know – A Festivus for the Peruvians: On December 25th — yes, Christmas Day — residents in the area dress up in traditional costumes and take to the street, dancing. Afterward, they gather in a field and beat each other up.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Most Annoying Word
Most Annoying Word: 'Whatever': Hands down, no word grates on Americans more than "whatever," a public opinion survey says.
Overlooked Movies: Francis (The Talking Mule)
Before there was Mr. Ed, there was Francis. Some you know me as a "hip" and "with it" kind of guy, very sophisticated and debonair. Others of you have read my comments on movies like The Mouse that Roared and Carry On Nurse (not to mention The Good Humor Man) and realize that I'm actually a slapstick-loving hayseed. And if you're not convinced of that already, well, this post should do the trick. Because, you see, I loved the series of movies about Francis, the talking mule. There were quite a few of them, and I saw most of them in the theater, laughing all the way.The setup in the first on in the series is simple. It's a service comedy. Donald O'Connor is a soldier lost in the jungles of Burma. He happens to run into a mule that talks. More importantly, the mule knows the way back to the base, so O'Connor is saved. Naturally the mule won't talk to anyone but O'Connor, but that's okay at first. Then O'Connor is assigned to intelligence work and starts coming up with great intel. Which all comes from Francis. O'Connor, who cannot tell a lie, thought to be nutty. Hilarity ensues. Or it does if you're like me, which you probably aren't.
At the end of every one of these movies, things are made all right when Francis finally speaks up to a group of people. Nobody remembers that by the time of the next movie, though, so it all begins again. Francis is voiced by Chill Wills, and he has all the best lines in the movies. Donald O'Connor doesn't sing and dance, more's the pity, but I never saw him in a movie in which he didn't do a fine job, as he does here. Sometime when you're feeling the need of a little craziness, take a look at Francis.
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