Saturday, August 30, 2014
I Want to Believe!
First-ever Yeti footprint photos could fetch almost $5000 at London auction
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
Mind Prison - Kindle edition by Dave Zeltserman. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.: Do you think you'll be able to guess the shocking ending of MIND PRISON? In this mind-bending mix of science fiction and noir, a renowned scientist, Dr. Graham Winston, is developing an ingenious and, some might say, horrifying technology that will revolutionize prison. He's close to a breakthrough, except that he finds himself distracted by his beautiful mistress... and thoughts of murder.
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Lefty Unavailable for Comment
MiamiHerald.com: Pancho — a 12-foot, 300-pound American crocodile that has made its home in the backyard waters of the exclusive Gables by the Sea community— is on the run.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Forgotten Books: My Gun, Her Body (Dinah for Danger) -- Jeff Bogar (Leslie Bernard)
This is one of the books I bought at Kayo Books when I was in San Francisco. I bought it because I liked the title and the cover, and I should have known better than to read it. But I couldn't resist.Jeff Bogar is a house name used by several of the residents of the Mushroom Jungle. In this case, it's being used by Leslie Barnard, according to this website.
Jeff Bogar is also the name of the detective in this novel, which is set in Florida. I don't know if Leslie Barnard was ever in Florida, and the setting is indeed a lot like Florida as imagined by someone in Britain. There are occasional Britishisms throughout the text, so I suppose the editors at Lion Books didn't really do much editing but instead just reprinted the British edition just as it appeared when it was called Dinah for Danger. I have to admit that I like the U.S. title better.
The story's nothing special. A private-eye's looking for a reporter who's disappeared while working on a big story. Bogar gets beaten up and dragged to the swamps. Or maybe he gets dragged to the swamps and beaten up. I forget the order. He vows revenge. He gets it. Dinah finally shows up, and there's a bit of a twist, but nothing surprising. I wish I could say the book was fun in its goofy way, but it wasn't. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood, but for now I'm pretty well convinced that it deserves to be forgotten. Except for the title and the cover, of course. Those are great.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Movie Novelizations: They Still Exist
Movie Novelizations: They Still Exist, and With Good Reason: Studio interference, zero royalties, a lack of acclaim. Adapting books based on movies can be thankless work, but the authors who write them deserve your respect.
The Perfect Coed -- Judy Alter
We all know that nobody's perfect. Sometimes even the people who look perfect or who their parents think are perfect are the ones who wind up dead in the trunk of someone's car. That's what happens to Missy Jackson in The Perfect Coed. The car belongs to Susan Hogan, who teaches in the English Department at Oak Grove University. Susan would much rather be working on her proposed book about Zane Grey than having to deal with being accused of murder, but things get worse: someone tries to kill her. Amateur sleuthing ensues.So does professional sleuthing, and since Susan is involved with Jake Phillips, the chief of the campus police, there's a certain amount of conflict about her trying to solve the mystery. Another complication is the arrival of Susan's Aunt Jenny, who's confident from the first that she knows who the killer is. There are other coeds who are in the mix, too, because something's going on, something slightly sinister that the women won't talk about to anyone.
I mentioned that I got a kick out of the academic hijinks in The Skeleton Takes a Bow, and the same is true here. The shenanigans and maneuvers involving tenure are all too realistic (and funny if you're not involved in them), and some of the things about the students reminded me very much of my classroom days.
Susan is a prickly character, and she doesn't put up with any guff from her male colleagues, the cops, or even Jake. Aunt Jenny is funny and a great cook. I have a feeling all these characters will be returning for a sequel, so you'll want to pick this one up now before you get behind. You won't regret it.
Talmadge Gough, R. I. P.
WJRT – Flint, MI: FLINT (WJRT) - (08/27/14) - An original member of the doo-wop group the Crests has died in Mid-Michigan.
Talmadge Gough was part of one of the first interracial singing groups of the '50's.
The Crests' "Sixteen Candles" sold more than 1 million copies and climbed to the number two spot on the charts.
Talmadge Gough was part of one of the first interracial singing groups of the '50's.
The Crests' "Sixteen Candles" sold more than 1 million copies and climbed to the number two spot on the charts.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
The Skeleton Takes a Bow -- Leigh Perry
This is the second adventure of Sid, the sentient skeleton (that's not the author's phrase; it's mine. I liked its hissability). I like Sid. He's the most unusual amateur sleuth around. Sid lives in the Thackery family attic, and his existence is known to only a few. In this book, he interacts with Georgia Thackery, an adjunct English prof, her daughter, Madison, and her sister, Deborah. As you can imagine, Sid doesn't get out much, so he's really happy when he gets the part of Yorick in Hamlet at Madison's school. Well, okay, not all of him. Just the skull, which Madison takes to school in a bowling bag. Things get complicated when she forgets him one night, because while he's bagged up in the theater, he overhears a murder.
Georgia believes him, but she can't very well go to the police and tell them how she knows about the murder. She makes an anonymous call, but there's no sign of a body, so the cops don't investigate any further. Complications ensue.
One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the academic stuff about the lot of adjunct faculty and the importance of the SATs. The book is also very funny, and Sid is a great character. Not to slight the humans. Georgia, Madison, and Deb are fun, too, but it's Sid who steals the show. If you like a good cozy, this is one to look for.
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
Houston Chronicle: Federal authorities say an East Texas man has admitted to deliberately driving his $1 million car into Gulf waters so that he could collect insurance on the vehicle.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Beautiful Rare Bibles
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
At Last They're Taking Action Against those Fraud Stars. And I'm Gonna be Rich.
To. Beneficiary.
This is Agent David Jackson and we are here in Nigeria as an FBI/ UNITED NATION delegate that have been delegated to investigate these fraudsters who are in the business of swindling Foreigners that came for transaction in Nigeria .
Please be informed that during our investigation,we found out that there is a total sum amount of money $12.5million that has been assigned in your name as the beneficiary and these fraudsters are busy swindling you without any hope of receiving your fund.
These are the works of the fraud stars who needed to extort money from you in the name of this transfer.We have to inform you that we have made some arrested in respect of this delayed over due fund. I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I advise you urgently respond to this message .
These criminals will be caught unaware and we don't want them to know this new development to avoid jeopardizing our investigation,you need to conceal anything that has to do with this exercise to enable us get all the necessary information we required.
I shall be expecting your swift response as soon as you receive this email.
(1) Your full name.
(2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Home address/ Country
4) Profession, age and marital status.
Best Regard,
AGENT DAVID JACKSON
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION VISIT IN NIGERIA
This is Agent David Jackson and we are here in Nigeria as an FBI/ UNITED NATION delegate that have been delegated to investigate these fraudsters who are in the business of swindling Foreigners that came for transaction in Nigeria .
Please be informed that during our investigation,we found out that there is a total sum amount of money $12.5million that has been assigned in your name as the beneficiary and these fraudsters are busy swindling you without any hope of receiving your fund.
These are the works of the fraud stars who needed to extort money from you in the name of this transfer.We have to inform you that we have made some arrested in respect of this delayed over due fund. I have a very limited time to stay in Nigeria here so I advise you urgently respond to this message .
These criminals will be caught unaware and we don't want them to know this new development to avoid jeopardizing our investigation,you need to conceal anything that has to do with this exercise to enable us get all the necessary information we required.
I shall be expecting your swift response as soon as you receive this email.
(1) Your full name.
(2) Phone, fax and mobile #.
3) Home address/ Country
4) Profession, age and marital status.
Best Regard,
AGENT DAVID JACKSON
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION VISIT IN NIGERIA
Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
Island of Bones (Louis Kincaid Book 5) - Kindle edition by P.J. Parrish. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.: Publishers Weekly Book of the Year!
Shamus Award finalist!
Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
All The Young Warriors (Mustafa and Adem 1) - Kindle edition by Anthony Neil Smith. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.: When two of the Twin Cities' “Lost Boys” — young Somali men drafted to fight for terrorists back in the homeland — kill a pair of cops on his home turf, detective Ray Bleeker is left devastated. One of the dead cops was his girlfriend. The investigation grinds to a halt when he discovers that the young murderers have fled to Somalia to fight in the rebel army. He's at his wits' end until the father of one of the boys, an ex-gang leader called Mustafa, comes looking for answers. Bleeker and Mustafa form an uneasy alliance, teaming up to help bring the boys back home. But little do they know what Somalia has in store for them.
I Shall Wear the Bottoms of my Trousers Rolled
How the growing generation gap is changing the face of fandom: “Worldcon is like a family reunion,” said longtime convention-goer and fanzine writer Curt Phillips, at a panel about the history of Worldcon. After a few days, I could only agree. It was indeed like being at a family reunion, in that it felt like you were spending your time with elderly relatives. You might want to talk to them and listen to their stories, but you’ll have to tolerate some offensive and outdated opinions along the way.
We Do Have Some Rights Left, After All. At Least in Topeka.
Why He's Naked And Unafraid In Topeka: . . .it turns out walking naked in Kansas is actually not against the law.
PaperBack
John Dexter (Robert Silverberg, according to some sources), The Bra Peddlers, Nightstand, 1961
United Sweets of America map
United Sweets of America map: A dessert for every state in the country.: If every state had an official dessert, what would it be? (Montana gets S’mores.)
Help!: The Beatles' Second Movie
Help!: The Beatles' Second Movie
I remember seeing this one very well. Judy and I had been married a couple of months, and we'd moved to Denton, Texas, where I was going to finish up my work on my M.A. We saw the movie in a theater on the courthouse square. I don't remember the name of the theater, though.
I remember seeing this one very well. Judy and I had been married a couple of months, and we'd moved to Denton, Texas, where I was going to finish up my work on my M.A. We saw the movie in a theater on the courthouse square. I don't remember the name of the theater, though.
Overlooked Movies: Robin and Marian
The movie opens with a scene that's quite unflattering to Richard the Lionheart (Richard Harris). When Robin and Little John (Nicol Williamson) refuse his orders to take a castle that's home to some women and children and one old man, Richard has the inhabitants killed and orders the execution of Robin and Little John. It doesn't happen, though, and Richard himself dies. Robin and Little John go home to England, where King John is still causing problems and where Marian has become an abbess. Naturally there is trouble, and naturally Robin is caught up in it.
[SPOILER ALERT] Robin and the sheriff eventually engage in single combat. Robin is wounded and taken to the abbey where Marian takes poison and gives him some to drink as well. [END OF SPOILER ALERT]
You probably all read the spoiler, or maybe you've seen the movie. If so, you know why the movie wasn't a huge hit. It has just about everything it needs -- fine performances from all concerned, action, a good story -- but the ending is not the kind of thing guaranteed to get people into the theater It's a fine, elegiac conclusion, but it didn't send people out with a song in their hearts. Really good movie, though.
Monday, August 25, 2014
The Complete List Of Star Wars Changes
Who Shot First? The Complete List Of Star Wars Changes: An exhaustive chronology of George Lucas' post-release tinkering
Rare intact mammoth skeleton is donated to Perot Museum
I think I've mentioned before that my brother and one of his daughters were part of the team engaged in excavating the remains of an intact mammoth skeleton. The team leader was Tom Vance, who's tuckerized in the book to the left, which was inspired by and earlier excavation of a much less interesting specimen. You can read all about the latest one and see a video (auto-start warning) at this link:
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Richard Attenborough, R. I. P.
LA Times: Lord Richard Attenborough, the respected British actor and Academy Award-winning director of “Gandhi,” the multiple-Oscar-winning best picture of 1982, has died. He was 90.
PaperBack
David V. Reed, The Thing that Made Love (The Metal Monster Murders), Uni Books, 1951
Besides being retitled, this book was "specially adapted for your reading pleasure." I don't know what that means.
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
MainStreet: Let the worker beware: in Texas it is now entirely legal to lie to your staff.
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