Saturday, July 18, 2015
First It was the Thin Mints Melee
Man uses flame thrower to set motel on fire: Walter Neal Thompson,29, tried to rent a room at Overlook Inn but was turned away because he did not have proper identification.
Damage Done -- Amanda Panitch
Damage Done is a YA mystery novel that proves to me how much has changed since I was a YA. Back in those days of the early Pleistocene, this book would have been considered not fit for YA consumption, involving as it does mass murder and other equally unsavory activities. Lucy Black, the book's narrator, might seem on the outside to be a normal high school student, but she's most certainly not. Her real name is Julia Vann, and she's living as someone else because her parents have elected to leave her hometown and change their names because of a mass murder in the school band hall. One of those who was shot was Julia/Lucy's brother. He shot himself. Only Julia walked out of the band hall.
So far the story seems rather straightforward, but after this, all bets are off. Amanda Panitch reveals secrets a bit at a time. You're never quite sure what will happen next, but you're bound to keep reading to find out. I can't say anymore about it because that would spoil things. All I can say is that if Jim Thompson ever wrote a YA novel, this might be something like what he'd write. The ending leaves room for a sequel. That would be quite a trick to pull off.
Aubrey Morris, R. I. P.
BBC News: British actor Aubrey Morris, best known for playing probation officer Mr Deltoid in Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film A Clockwork Orange, has died aged 89.
He also had roles in cult horror film The Wicker Man, Lisztomania and Woody Allen comedy Love and Death during his five decade career.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
Dutch Curridge - Kindle edition by Tim Bryant. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. Part TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and part UGETSU, Bryant's DUTCH CURRIDGE examines the life of early 1950s Fort Worth from the bottom up.
Dave Somerville, R. I. P.
EW.com: Dave Somerville, cofounder of rock & roll group The Diamonds, died Tuesday. He was 81. Someville died from cancer in Santa Barbara, California, according to a statement.
Dino Update
Meet ‘new’ raptor dinosaur Zhenyuanlong suni — a ‘fluffy feathered poodle from hell’: Scientists have unearthed a spectacularly preserved, nearly complete fossil in northeastern China of a feathered dinosaur with wings like those of a bird, although they doubt the strange creature could fly.
FFB: John Flagg -- The Persian Cat
Time for a confession. I've owned John Flagg's The Persian Cat and all his other Gold Medal Books for well over 40 years, and I've never read a one of them. I have no excuse. I just never got around to it. When Stark House came out with a new edition in mass-market paperback size to help kick off its Black Gat imprint, however, I figured that the time had come to see what I'd been missing. A very entertaining book, as it turns out.As I've mentioned elsewhere, I'm sure, the Gold Medal pattern was set early. The Persian Cat was the first GM fiction title, and it's got everything you could want in a paperback original from the '50s: first-person narration by a cynical tough-guy protagonist (Gil Denby), great local color in an exotic location (in this case Teheran, as it was spelled in those days), a twisting plot, sex (two beautiful women who find Denby irresistible), conflicting loyalties, some violence, and a cast of colorful characters. The ending is a bit of a letdown, but I'm not complaining.
Flagg (really John Gearon) has a smooth style, and the pacing is swift. I'm giong to have to take a look at some of his other GM titles one of these days.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
In That Case, Officer, You Are Free to Go
Boing Boing: The Chandler Arizona police department explained that one of its police officers barged into a naked woman's home without her permission and handcuffed her because the woman was "trying to agitate" him.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
MIND MELD: How Do You Choose Your Next Read?
Frequent commenter and the brains behind Tip the Wink, Rick Robinson, is part of this. Check it out.
MIND MELD: How Do You Choose Your Next Read?
MIND MELD: How Do You Choose Your Next Read?
First It was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
. . . and now it's the Clamato Calamity! NY Daily News: Clamato calamity! Montana bartender shot, dog killed after irate customer served Clamato instead of tomato juice, cops say
Helping Out Tom Piccirilli's Family
My Little Corner: Apex Books - Helping Out Tom Piccirilli's Family: Apex Books has posted that from now until the end of the month if you purchase any of Tom Piccirilli's work that they've published on their site all proceeds will be donated to Tom's wife Michele Scalise and their family to help with the medical bills. They've also published links to Tom's work that listed at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. While the big guys aren't donating all the profits, the sales will help his family. You can check out the post here.
Mildred Wirt Benson Was One of The Most Interesting YA Writers of All Time
Nancy Drew ghostwriter and journalist Mildred Wirt Benson: The Original Ghostwriter Behind Nancy Drew Was One of The Most Interesting YA Writers of All Time
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Gator Update (Florida Man Edition)
Florida Man Arrested for Having Sex with an Alligator
Hat tip to an Anonymous pal. I hope this is a hoax.
Hat tip to an Anonymous pal. I hope this is a hoax.
In That Case, Ma'm, You Are Free to Go
Woman Blames Obama For Counterfeiting Money: “I don’t give a ****, all these other b****** get to print money, so I can too,” she reportedly told police when she was arrested.
Today's Legal News
Crystal Lake-Cary, IL Patch: A Crystal Lake lawyer mocked the size of a client’s penis and challenged him to a duel, according to a complaint filed by the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission.
Overlooked Movies -- Rumor Has It
This review original appeared on December 9, 2005.Being in the mood for light entertainment, Judy and I went to see Rumor Has It this afternoon. The audience looked about like what you'd expect: a bunch of old ginks who'd all seen The Graduate 40 years or so ago and wanted to see what this new riff on it was like. I think they all went away happy, or at least smiling.
Kevin Costner is fine, and I'm glad to see that he appears to have given up being the savior of various post-apocalyptic worlds, Shirley MacLaine is just about perfect as the even older Mrs. Robinson, and Jennifer Anniston does a good job of playing the confused young woman who might nor might not be the daughter of Benjamin Braddock (or Beau Burroughs, or whoever). I have to admit that I do find it a little hard to belive that it's never occurred to her Sarah Huttinger character that her birth occurred a little too soon after her parents' marriage. Kids wonder about stuff like that, don't they?
This isn't the kind of movie that's going to change anybody's life or make anyone's "Ten Best" list, but it's fun and it's nostalgic for those of us who remember seeing The Graduate on the big screen in its first release. There are lots worse things you could spend your money on.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Michael Masser, R. I. P.
The New York Times: Michael Masser, a stockbroker-turned-composer whose lush melodies were recorded by Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Roberta Flack and many other star vocalists, died on Thursday at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 74.
The Digest Enthusiast Book Two
Maybe you recall my comments about the excellent Digest Enthusiast Book One, but if you don't, you can read them here. This issue is just as good, if not better. Interviews, articles, reviews, stories, you just can't go wrong. I highly recommend it. You can get it in paperback or for the Kindle (links below).Interviews:
Gary Lovisi: Gryphon Books, Paperback Parade, Sherlock Holmes
Steve Darnall: Nostalgia Digest, Those Were the Days, Radio’s Golden Age
Robert Lopresti: Alfred Hitchcock, Ellery Queen, Mike Shayne
Articles:
Borderline (James Dean & Vampira, L. Ron Hubbard) by Tom Brinkmann
Astounding Trading Cards
The Mysterious Traveler Magazine (Robert Arthur and David Kogan)
The Italian Mister No Digest Comics by Joe Wehrle, Jr.
H.L Gold’s Beyond Fantasy Fiction by Joe Wehrle, Jr.
Australia’s Action and Leisure Pulp Crime Digests by Gary Lovisi
Archie Comics Digests By the Numbers by Matthew Turcotte
Reviews:
Monster! #15 edited by Timothy Paxton & Steve Fenton
Shanks on Crime by Robert Lopresti
Pulp Crime Digests by Gary Lovisi
Asimov's July 2015 edited by Sheila Williams
Big Fiction #7 edited by Heather Jacobs
Dead Weight by Frank Kane
Paperback Parade #88 edited by Gary Lovisi
Analog #1000 edited by Trevor Quachri
Fiction:
"Passenger for the Night Train" by Joe Wehrle, Jr.
"Sweet and Sour" by D.D. Ploog
"Painesville" by Richard Krauss
"In the Fight for His Life" by John Kuharik
Artwork:
Joe Wehrle, Jr. (cover & illustrations)
Brad Foster (gag cartoon)
Andrew Goldfarb (illustrations)
Michael Neno (illustrations)
D.D. Ploog (photo art)
Bob Vojtko (gag cartoons)
Also includes:
Editor's Notes
Beyond Fantasy Fiction contents
Mysterious Traveler contents and the original sources of its reprints
Robert Lopresti bibliography
Social media round-up
Opening Lines
Print version includes nearly 100 cover images.
Kindle version includes over 50 cover images.
152 pages, 5.5" x 8.5" digest
Print $8.99 Digital $2.99
First It was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
. . . So I suppose the Dildo Battering was inevitable: Cops Arrest Woman, 58, For Battering Female Domestic Partner With Dildo
The Surprising Story of Famed JFK Impersonator Vaughn Meader
The Surprising Story of Famed JFK Impersonator Vaughn Meader (and Why You've Never Heard of Him)
This story isn't surprising to me at all. In fact, it's familiar to me, and I've certainly heard of Vaughn Meader and listened to his recordings. That's because I'm Old.
This story isn't surprising to me at all. In fact, it's familiar to me, and I've certainly heard of Vaughn Meader and listened to his recordings. That's because I'm Old.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Randy Johnson, R. I. P.
It’s Been Fun | Not The Baseball Pitcher
I knew Randy only as an Internet friend, but I always enjoyed his review of books, movies, and TV shows. He never seemed so far down that he'd leave us like this, and I'm very sad to reblog what appears to be his final post. The world was a better place with Randy in it, and I'm sorry if he's gone, as appears to be the case.
I knew Randy only as an Internet friend, but I always enjoyed his review of books, movies, and TV shows. He never seemed so far down that he'd leave us like this, and I'm very sad to reblog what appears to be his final post. The world was a better place with Randy in it, and I'm sorry if he's gone, as appears to be the case.
Ernie Maresca, R. I. P.
Ernie Maresca - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Ernest Peter "Ernie" Maresca (August 21, 1938 – July 8, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter and record company executive, best known for writing or co-writing some of Dion's biggest hits.[1]
He was born in the Bronx, New York, and began singing and writing in a doo-wop group, the Regents, who later had a hit with "Barbara Ann". His song "No One Knows" came to the attention of Dion DiMucci, who recorded it successfully with the Belmonts on Laurie Records, the record reaching #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 record chart in 1958. Maresca then began songwriting full-time, writing "Runaround Sue" with Dion (that recording artist's only number one hit), and then other big hits with and for him including "The Wanderer," "Lovers Who Wander" and "Donna the Prima Donna".[1]
He was born in the Bronx, New York, and began singing and writing in a doo-wop group, the Regents, who later had a hit with "Barbara Ann". His song "No One Knows" came to the attention of Dion DiMucci, who recorded it successfully with the Belmonts on Laurie Records, the record reaching #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 record chart in 1958. Maresca then began songwriting full-time, writing "Runaround Sue" with Dion (that recording artist's only number one hit), and then other big hits with and for him including "The Wanderer," "Lovers Who Wander" and "Donna the Prima Donna".[1]
Failed Mongol Armada Wreck Discovered off Japanese Coast
IFLScience: It was the largest armada the world had ever seen, and would only be surpassed 700 years later when the Allies invaded Europe during the Normandy landings. The Mongol leader Kublai Khan sent two massive fleets during the 13th Century – of up to 4,000 ships each – to try to invade Japan. Both attempts were thwarted and destroyed by severe weather, with the ships and the men they carried laid to rest off the coast of Japan.
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