Saturday, April 13, 2013
Frank Bank, R. I. P.
TV Series Finale: Actor Frank Bank died this morning, one day after he turned 71. Today is his friend and former co-star Tony Dow’s 68th birthday.
Bank was primarily know for his role as Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford on the Leave It to Beaver sitcom in the 1950s and 60s. He reprised his role as Wally Cleaver’s friend in the Still the Beaver TV movie and the 1980s sequel series, The New Leave It to Beaver, joining most of the original sitcom’s surviving cast.
Time Machine Update
Iranian media pulls ‘time machine’ story after online mockery | The Raw Story: An Iranian press outlet pulled a story about a “time machine” after it was received with mockery after spreading online.
Wired reported on Thursday that a Fars News Agency story promoting Ali Razeghi’s alleged invention — a device that could supposedly use readings taken from finger impressions to predict the next five to eight years of a person’s life — got on multiple news sites’ radar after being picked up by the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.
Wired reported on Thursday that a Fars News Agency story promoting Ali Razeghi’s alleged invention — a device that could supposedly use readings taken from finger impressions to predict the next five to eight years of a person’s life — got on multiple news sites’ radar after being picked up by the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Amazon.com: Look You On Beauty And Death eBook: Livia J. Washburn, James Reasoner: Kindle Store: Heroic fantasy short story. A beautiful woman who wields a blade as deadly as any man! A wizard from a far land whose sorcerous powers spell either doom or paradise, depending on his lecherous whim! The warrior Ralna, personal bodyguard to the Empress, sets out into a sun-blasted wasteland on a quest to save the life of her sister. But it may be that not everything is as it appears, and Ralna's wits may prove as valuable to her as her sword arm.
Bestselling, award-winning authors James Reasoner and Livia J. Washburn venture into the realm of swords and sorcery in this action-packed 7000 word short story that originally appeared in the anthology NEW AMAZONS, edited by Margaret Weis. Newly revised and expanded by the authors, it's now available for the first time in an e-book edition.
Happy Birthday, James Bond!
Happy Birthday, James Bond (Shhhhh!) | Bad Latitude | an SFGate.com blog: Six months after the brutally misguided celebration of World James Bond Day (the 50th anniversary of the movie “Dr. No” in October 1962), and six months after a an enthusiastic and sheep-like lifestyle media bought into the hoopla with a blind faith that would make cult leaders giddy with envy, we give you the real event:
Secret Agent James Bond turns 60 years old today.Hat tip to Art Scott.
Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
MAKING STORY: TWENTY-ONE WRITERS ON HOW THEY PLOT (TWENTY-ONE WRITERS #1) (THE TWENTY-ONE WRITERS PROJECT): Bill Crider, Meredith Cole, Jeremy Duns, Brett Battles, Cara Black, Lisa Brackmann, Rachel Brady, Rebecca Cantrell, Jeffrey Cohen, Timothy Hallinan: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: It's often said that everyone has a book inside him or her -- but how do you plot it? In MAKING STORY, edited by the Edgar- and Macavity-nominated author Timothy Hallinan, twenty-one novelists--who have written more than 100 books among them and sold hundreds of thousands of copies--talk about how they go about turning an idea into a plot, and a plot into a book. MAKING STORY offers practical, experience-based advice from people who have repeatedly sat down to write a good book and succeeded in doing just that. The writers who will help you to create your story are Michael Stanley, Kelli Stanley, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, Jeffrey Siger, Zoe Sharp, Stephen Jay Schwartz, Mike Orenduff, Debbi Mack, Wendy Hornsby, Gar Anthony Haywood, Timothy Hallinan, Leighton Gage, Jeremy Duns, Bill Crider, Meredith Cole, Jeffrey Cohen, Rebecca Cantrell, Rachel Brady, Lisa Brackmann, Cara Black, and Brett Battles. This is an indispensable book for aspiring authors and the first in a series, each focusing on a different writing challenge.
Roger Williams Update
National Parks Traveler: Brown University Students Crack 300-Year-Old Code Attributed To Rhode Island Founder Roger Williams
Now in Paperback
BEAT to a PULP: Hardboiled 2: Robert J. Randisi, Wayne D. Dundee, Matthew C. Funk, Eric Beetner, Jedidiah Ayres, Jen Conley, Charles Boeckman, Kieran Shea, Paul S. Powers, BV Lawson, Tom Roberts, Jay Stringer, Edward A. Grainger, David Cranmer, Scott D. Parker: 9780983377542: Amazon.com: Books: BEAT to a PULP: Hardboiled 2 follows the blood-soaked trail left behind by the 2011 award-winning collection, edited by David Cranmer and Scott D. Parker, and pumps out another thirteen knuckle-breaking, crime tales. With writers from the 1930s and 40s golden era of pulp (Paul S. Powers and Charles Boeckman) and modern hardboiled masters (Robert J. Randisi and Wayne D. Dundee), this wild bunch is set to blaze a rat-a-tat sweep across the pulp fiction landscape. Keeping the body count high are top-shelf stories from Jedidiah Ayres, Eric Beetner, Jen Conley, Matthew C. Funk, Edward A. Grainger, BV Lawson, Tom Roberts, Kieran Shea, and Jay Stringer.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Maria Tallchief, R. I. P.
NYTimes.com: Maria Tallchief, a daughter of an Oklahoma oil family who grew up on an Indian reservation, found her way to New York and became one of the most brilliant American ballerinas of the 20th century, died on Thursday in Chicago. She was 88.
Jonathan Winters, R. I. P.
Jonathan Winters, Comedian, Dies at 87 - NYTimes.com: Jonathan Winters, the rubber-faced comedian whose unscripted flights of fancy inspired a generation of improvisational comics, and who kept television audiences in stitches with Main Street characters like Maude Frickert, a sweet-seeming grandmother with a barbed tongue and a roving eye, died on Thursday at his home in Montecito, Calif. He was 87.
Hat tip to Randy Johnson.
Hat tip to Randy Johnson.
The Little Leather Library
AbeBooks: The Little Leather Library: From 1916 to 1923, the Little Leather Library was a hot name in American publishing. First conceived in New York City by brothers and bookshop owners Charles and Albert Boni, the firm came to reality with the help of Max Sackheim and Harry Scherman, two advertising executives the brothers approached. Scherman later went on to found the Book-of-the-Month Club in 1926. Much in the way that Victorian yellowbacks sought to put classic literature in more British hands by making them affordable, the Little Leather Library took an innovative approach to the mass-marketing of the classics in the United States.
Forgotten Books: Baron Sinister -- Joseph Hilton
I've already spoken of my affection for spy fiction back in the '60s, and another of the lower-level series that I read was one about Bart Gould, President's Agent. The first book in the series was written by Joseph Hilton, and the rest by Joseph Milton.A guy can find himself going down some strange rabbit holes when looking things about writers on the Internet. Joseph Hilton, it turns out, is Joseph Hilton Smyth, who started out in the pulps and in the '50s and '60s did a number of paperback originals, including at least three for Gold Medal (including the pseudonymous [and anonymous] I, Mobster). But he's a lot more interesting than that. Back in the late '30s, Smyth and some others bought a number of magazines, including North American Review, Current History, Living Age, and a hefty interest in The Saturday Review of Literature.
Where did a pulp writer get the money for such a venture? Well, he was more than a pulp writer. He was involved with magazines from almost the beginning of his career. But back to the movie. He got it from the Japanese, that's where. He and his partners were paid a lot of dough to buy magazines and spread Japanese propaganda. Since this was before WWII, Hilton didn't suffer a lot for it, as far as I can tell. He was later involved with The Saturday Review again.
Okay, but what about Joseph Milton? Well, the Catalogue of Copyright Entries credits Baron Sinister to Joseph Hilton Smythe (with an e). Other books in the series, however, were written by different authors.
Whew. I've digressed enough. What about the book itself? Well, I remember that the first book in the series was pretty entertaining, but this one was kind of dull. Several workers in the American embassy, people with no secrets to divulge and who don't do any important work, have disappeared. Gould is sent to Austria by his handler (a sort of imitation of Mac in the Matt Helm books) to find out what happened to them. Gould is suave and sophisticated, much more Bond than Helm, but he does kill without compunction more than once. The sinister baron wants to restore the monarchy in Austria and there's some stuff about funneling scientists to Egypt to work for Nasser. Not much happens, really, but the local color is very good.
There's not a lot to recommend here, though things do pick up in the last 1/3. There's even a short sword fight. Still, not top shelf. I should have read the first book in the series again.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Waterstones founder to launch Spotify for books
Telegraph: Tim Waterstone is to launch a new digital books business which aims to become the literary version of Spotify, charging readers a flat rate to access as much reading matter as they like online.
+A+Time+for+Murder+Graphic.JPG)
+A+Time+for+Murder+Graphic+1.JPG)
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
I Report, You Decide
Iranian scientist claims to have invented 'time machine' - Telegraph: "My invention easily fits into the size of a personal computer case and can predict details of the next 5-8 years of the life of its users. It will not take you into the future, it will bring the future to you."
Ed Fisher, R. I. P.
NYTimes.com: Ed Fisher, whose culturally savvy cartoons, featured in The New Yorker for nearly 50 years, made wry sport of modern life, frequently matching images from history or folklore with captions in an up-to-date mode, died on Wednesday in Canaan, Conn. He was 86.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee. . .
And not it's the . . .News from The Associated Press: COOKOUT MACHETE ATTACK
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
CourseSmart E-Textbooks Track Students’ Progress for Teachers: “It’s Big Brother, sort of, but with a good intent,” said Tracy Hurley, the dean of the school of business.
Roy Cox Jr., R. I. P.
Corpus Christi Caller-Times: Roy Cox Jr., the bass player in Texan psychedelic rock band Bubble Puppy, died April 2, 2013. He was 64.
Cox Jr. was one of the founding members of Bubble Puppy, best remembered for their one -hit wonder, “Hot Smoke and Sassafras.”
Trailer for RoboCroc
Take a Bite Out of the Trailer for RoboCroc: For the majority of this trailer you’ll probably find yourself thinking this film looks like a Syfy knock-off of Piranha 3DD but with a crocodile terrorizing a water park instead. Except this is no ordinary crocodile - it’s RoboCroc!
Phoenix Press: Depression Era Pulp on AbeBooks
Phoenix Press: Depression Era Pulp on AbeBooks: New York’s Phoenix Press was a publisher of mysteries, westerns, and other light fiction in the 1930s and 1940s. We were alerted to this company’s literary history by a loyal AbeBooks customer called Paul Rollinson, who encouraged us to feature Phoenix’s fantastic Depression-era pulp, if only for the amazing dust jackets. Phoenix was one of many lending-library publishers of the era, and fought to rise above the others of its ilk to make a name for itself in the tough economic climate.Disclaimer: I know the use of "pulp" here will raise the ire of some readers of this blog. I don't write 'em; I just link 'em.
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Will Metropolis and Gotham Do the Same?
CBS New York: New York City Councilman Proposes Crackdown On Costumed Characters
SEP Fiction Contest
THE SATURDAY EVENING POST LAUNCHES
2014 GREAT AMERICAN FICTION CONTEST
Second Annual Search for America’s Next Noted Novelist to Join the Ranks of
F. Scott Fitzgerald, Edgar Allan Poe and Kurt Vonnegut
Indianapolis (April 9, 2013)— F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, The Great Gatsby, is once again celebrated in movie theaters this summer and as a contributor to The Saturday Evening PostFitzgerald penned almost 70 short stories which defined an era. Now budding fiction writers across the country have the opportunity to contribute to one of the staples of American literature. The Post has announced its “2014 Great American Fiction Contest”. The competition offers aspiring writers the opportunity to have their work appear on the same hallowed pages as famous Postcontributors John Steinback, William Faulkner, Kurt Vonnegut, Agatha Christie; Ray Bradbury, Louis L’Amour, Sinclair Lewis, Jack London; Anne Tyler; and Edgar Allan Poe.
“Writing is a passion for many of our readers, and the incentive to be published in The Saturday Evening Post brings out people’s best work. This competition serves as a reminder that in today’s world of rapidly evolving technology, there still is a place in our society for great writing and we are proud to showcase it,” said Editorial Director and Associate Publisher Steven Slon.
Sponsored by the nonprofit the Saturday Evening Post Society, the contest is designed to promote fiction and creative writing, while uncovering some of America’s great unpublished voices. The winning story will be published in the January/February 2014 issue of The Saturday Evening Postand on the magazine’s website. The winner will also be awarded $500, and five runners-up will receive $100 each and have their stories published online.
Entries must be character- or plot-driven stories in any genre of fiction that falls within the Post’sbroad range of interests. Entrants must be previously unpublished authors (excluding personal websites and blogs) and stories must be 1,500-5,000 words in length. All submissions should be made electronically in Microsoft Word format with the author’s name, address, telephone number and email address on the first page. The Saturday Evening Post editorial staff in consultation with the magazine’s fiction advisory board will judge the stories. There is a $10 entry fee and all entries must be postmarked by July 1, 2013.
For more information or to submit a story, please visit saturdayeveningpost.com/fiction-contest.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
Longmont Times-Call: A woman was arrested and jailed on Saturday after she admitted to police that she pushed and choked her boyfriend on the 3800 block of Pike Road because he would not stop repeatedly singing Macklemore's song "Thrift Shop." Officers were called to the area on a report of a domestic disturbance.
The Six-Gun Tarot -- R. S. Belcher
So the book is really stuffed. Even at over 350 pages, it seems too short. Or rather, it seems as if an editor might have said, "Hey, we can lose this entire plot and nobody will ever know the difference." There's just too much going on, but you sure can't accuse Belcher of not being ambitious. It's as if he figured, hey, I may never write another book, so I'm going to put everything into this one. And even at that, things are clearly set up for a sequel.
I'm not hesitant to recommend this one. If you like this kind of thing, you're going to love it. If you don't know much about the weird west, this might be a good introduction. Check it out.
Overlooked Movies: The Great Race
So much for the personal nostalgia portion of our program. What about the movie? Well, I think it's hilarious. Not everyone agrees with me, and I don't think it got great reviews when it was released. It's about an around-the-world auto race that has three competitors (six, originally, but sabotage takes out three before the race begins): The Great Leslie (Tony Curtis), Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon), and Maggie Dubois (Natalie Wood). Prof. Fate's henchman, Maximillian, is played by Peter Falk, and Wood's sidekick, Hezekiah, is Keenan Wynn. Lots of other familiar faces in the cast, too.
The movie's a tribute to silent films, with many of the sight gags lifted from the silents. Are they too much of a good thing? Not for me. Is the Prisoner of Zenda bit too much? Not for me. Lemmon is hilarious all the way through, and so is Falk. Natalie Wood is beautiful and funny. Curtis seems to be having a great time. Just thinking about this movie makes me laugh. If you haven't seen it, give it a try. If you aren't laughing by 15 minutes in, it's clearly not for you. Forget it and watch The Hangover, instead.
Monday, April 08, 2013
For the First Time Ever
Bloomberg: An emergency medical helicopter pilot flying over Missouri was sending and receiving text messages before crashing in 2011, the first time such distractions have been implicated in a fatal commercial aviation accident.
Sara Montiel, R. I. P.
thenews.com.pk: Sara Montiel, the first Spanish actress to make it in Hollywood and best known for her roles in international blockbusters such as "Vera Cruz", died at home in Madrid on Monday aged 85, her family said.
One of Spain's most loved actresses, Montiel made her on-screen debut in her mid-teens after winning a beauty contest whose prize was a film role in "Te quiero para mi". This lead to a three-decade long movie career where she featured in nearly 50 films.
One of Spain's most loved actresses, Montiel made her on-screen debut in her mid-teens after winning a beauty contest whose prize was a film role in "Te quiero para mi". This lead to a three-decade long movie career where she featured in nearly 50 films.
Annette Funicello, R. I. P.
Annette Funicello Dead -- Mouseketeer Dies at 70 | TMZ.com: Annette Funicello -- the undisputed queen of the "Mickey Mouse Club" -- has died, according to Disney's official fan club Twitter. She was 70.
Funicello was a triple threat -- Mouseketeer, pop singer and bigscreen star. She was huge in the 60's with movies like "Beach Party" and "Beach Blanket Bingo."
Funicello was a triple threat -- Mouseketeer, pop singer and bigscreen star. She was huge in the 60's with movies like "Beach Party" and "Beach Blanket Bingo."
Margaret Thatcher, R. I. P.
Margaret Thatcher Dies After Stroke: Baroness Thatcher has died at the age of 87 after suffering a stroke, her spokesman Lord Bell has announced.
Lord Bell said: "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning.
Ummmmmm. Nutella.
News from The Associated Press: Police said Monday an unknown number of culprits made off with 5 metric tons (5.5 tons) of Nutella chocolate-hazelnut spread from a parked trailer in the central German town of Bad Hersfeld over the weekend.
Sunday, April 07, 2013
Daniel Hoffman, R. I. P.
NYTimes.com: Daniel Hoffman, a scholar and critic who was the nation’s poet laureate from 1973 to 1974 and whose books include a collection of sonnets, an epic poem about the founding of Pennsylvania and analytical works about Paul Bunyan and Edgar Allan Poe, died Saturday in Haverford, Pa. He was 89.
Want Some Free Kids' Books for Your E-Reader?
All you have to do it go here and sign up with your e-mail address.
Archaeology Update
FRANCE 24: Over four millennia ago, the fortress town of Gonur-Tepe might have been a rare advanced civilisation before it was buried for centuries under the dust of the Kara Kum desert in remote western Turkmenistan.
After being uncovered by Soviet archaeologists in the last century, Gonur-Tepe, once home to thousands of people and the centre of a thriving region, is gradually revealing its mysteries with new artifacts being uncovered on every summer dig.
After being uncovered by Soviet archaeologists in the last century, Gonur-Tepe, once home to thousands of people and the centre of a thriving region, is gradually revealing its mysteries with new artifacts being uncovered on every summer dig.
Hitler's Food Taster
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Each meal could have been her last, but Adolf Hitler's food taster Margot Wolk lived to tell her story. Forced to test the Nazi leader's meals for more than two years, the 95-year-old tells SPIEGEL ONLINE that she lived in constant fear.
Hat tip to Fred Zackel.
Hat tip to Fred Zackel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)