Saturday, December 10, 2016
Will the Persecution Never End?
Daily Mail Online: Paris Hilton may be double Sofia Richie's age.
But that didn't stop the two from partying it up together.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Friday, December 09, 2016
Joseph Mascolo, R. I. P.
toofab.com: Joseph Mascolo, the actor who portrayed villain Stefano DiMera on "Days of our Lives," passed away on Thursday, Decemeber 8 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 87.
Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
Naughty or Mice - Kindle edition by Livia J. Washburn. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. NAUGHTY OR MICE is a heartwarming Christmas novelette from award-winning author Livia J. Washburn. Funny, poignant, and romantic, it's a charming "tail" you won't soon forget.
FFB: Dragon Weather -- Lawrence Watt-Evans
At some time or other I read an enthusiastic review of Dragon Weather and bought a copy. That was years ago, but the other day I was in the mood for a Big Fat Fantasy novel, so I read it.As a lad, Arlian is the only survivor of a dragon attack on his village. Looters sell him into slavery in a mine, and he vows revenge on them and the dragons. After seven years he escapes from the mine and finds refuge in a whorehouse where all the working women have had their feet cut off to prevent any escape attempts. After quite a while there, he's discovered. The owners of the house, represented by the very man who looted his village, kill four of the whores, carry off the rest, and burn the house. Arlian vows revenge on them, too, and he vows to rescue the whores, who have been carried off by the owners.
When he was lying in hiding in his village, Arlian swallowed a mixture of dragon's venom and human blood. This mixture has given him "the dragon's heart," not exactly superpower, but something that sets him apart from other men. For one thing, he'll live about 1000 years unless he's killed. He's not immune to that kind of death.
In going about his revenge, he joins a secret society of others like himself, including all the owners of the whorehouse. He becomes incredibly rich thanks to a trading expedition, and his revenge begins. (Count of Monte Cristo, anyone?)
As it turns out, revenge isn't as sweet as he'd thought it would be, and in the end he discovers about having "the dragon's heart." I enjoyed Dragon Weather so much that I ordered the Big Fat Sequels. Not promising I'll read them, though.
Thursday, December 08, 2016
John Glenn, R. I. P.
The Columbus Dispatch: His legend is other-worldly and now, in his 95th year, that’s where John Glenn has gone.
An authentic hero and genuine American icon, Glenn died this afternoon surrounded by family at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus after a remarkably healthy life spent almost from the cradle with Annie, his beloved wife of 73 years, who survives.
An authentic hero and genuine American icon, Glenn died this afternoon surrounded by family at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus after a remarkably healthy life spent almost from the cradle with Annie, his beloved wife of 73 years, who survives.
![The Twenty-Year Death (Hard Case Crime Book 108) by [Winter, Ariel S.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/517e45palyL.jpg)
Greg Lake, R. I. P.
BBC News: Greg Lake, who fronted both King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, has died aged 69.
One of the founding fathers of progressive rock, the British musician is known for songs including "In the Court of the Crimson King" and "I Believe in Father Christmas."
Wednesday, December 07, 2016
“Every Customer Is a Story” (by Peter Sellers)
“Every Customer Is a Story” (by Peter Sellers) | SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN: Peter Sellers is a noted short-story writer and the 2001 winner of EQMM’s Readers Award for “Avenging Miriam” (December 2001). A few years ago, he expanded his range in the literary field by opening a second-hand bookshop in Toronto (something he talks about in this post). He is also the editor of a number of crime-fiction anthologies. It has been ten years since EQMM readers have had the pleasure of seeing a story by the Canadian author in our pages, but we expect to present a new Sellers story later this year.—Janet Hutchings
How (Almost) Everyone Failed to Prepare for Pearl Harbor
How (Almost) Everyone Failed to Prepare for Pearl Harbor: The high-stakes gamble and false assumptions that detonated Pearl Harbor 75 years ago
Tuesday, December 06, 2016
Rashaan Salaam, R. I. P.
The Daily Beast: Retired football star Rashaan Salaam was found dead in a Boulder, Colorado park Monday night at age 42. Salaam, a running back, won the Heisman Trophy in 1994 for the University of Colorado. He was a first-round draft pick for the Chicago Bears, where he became the youngest player to rush 1,000 yards. His cause of death is unknown, and authorities said there were no signs of foul play. The Daily Camera reported that police are investigating the death as a possible suicide.
Kindle Book Bargain of the Day
Amazon.com: The Forever War eBook: Joe Haldeman, John Scalzi: Kindle Store
A mere 25 cents. If you like SF and haven't read this, you should. Scalzi provides the introduction.
A mere 25 cents. If you like SF and haven't read this, you should. Scalzi provides the introduction.
Margaret Whitton, R. I. P.
Tampa Bay Times: You know Margaret Whitton's work even if you don't always remember her name. She was evil Cleveland Indians owner "Rachel Phelps" bent on taunting her players in Major League. She was the ignored wife intent on seducing Michael J. Fox in The Secret of My Success.
Marget Whitton passed away on Sunday at her Palm Beach (Fla.) home after a brief battle with cancer, according to the Hollywood Reporter. She was 67.
Marget Whitton passed away on Sunday at her Palm Beach (Fla.) home after a brief battle with cancer, according to the Hollywood Reporter. She was 67.
I Just . . . I Can't . . . I Found a Penny in the Walmart Parking Lot Last Week
The highest paid YouTuber in 2016 made ...: PewDiePie — who recently declared he will delete his YouTube channel once he reaches 50 million subscribers — is the highest paid digital star of 2016.
The Swedish gamer — whose real name is Felix Kjellberg — made an estimated $15 million for the 12 months ending in June 2016, according to Forbes' recent ranking.
The Swedish gamer — whose real name is Felix Kjellberg — made an estimated $15 million for the 12 months ending in June 2016, according to Forbes' recent ranking.
Van Williams, R. I. P.
The New York Times: Van Williams, who played crime fighters on television during the 1960s, most notably the Green Hornet on a short-lived ABC show that later attained a cult following and that introduced American audiences to the martial arts master Bruce Lee, died last week in a care facility near his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 82.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Literal Bohemian Rhapsody
Literal Bohemian Rhapsody: Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" has been turned into a hardboiled crime noir film. You already know the plot. You probably already know the entire script. But you'll want to watch anyway.
Peter Vaughan, R. I. P.
Daily Mail Online: Peter Vaughan, best known for his roles in Porridge and Game Of Thrones, has died today aged 93, his agent said.
The actor, who had a career in theatre, television and film spanning more than 75 years, died this morning, surrounded by his family.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
This Works Nearly Every Time
Vero Beach Man 'Plays Dead' So Guest Would Leave His Home
The story reads like an episode of a bad sitcom.
The story reads like an episode of a bad sitcom.
Overlooked Movies: Man in the Shadow
As I mentioned on Friday, I read the novelization (by Harry Whittington) of this movie before watching it on Encore Westerns. The movie and the novelization are very similar, although the level of violence in the movie doesn't equal that of the novelization. The poster looks pretty good, and it makes me wonder what the movie would have been like in color. As it is, it's a low-budget B&W production. The B&W photography is very effective, so maybe color wouldn't have served this modern western well.Jeff Chandler plays Ben Sadler, the sheriff who's going to investigate a murder of a worker on the Golden Empire Ranch, no matter who tries to stop him. Orson Welles plays Renchler, the ranch owner, who asked two of his top hands to teach the worker a lesson. He fights back, and they kill him. They figure no one will care about one more wetback (the movie's term) death, but they didn't reckon on Sadler. The closer Sadler gets to the truth, the more Welles ups the ante, and soon an attempt is made on Sadler's life. It fails, but finally he's beaten and humiliated. I won't spoil the ending for you, but there's nothing new here.
That doesn't mean it's not relevant to our own time. It certainly is. You'll have to watch it and make your own judgment, but it seems more relevant now than ever. It's very well done, and Orson Welles, even though he must have needed to money to make this kind of movie, is very good. He's fun to watch. Chandler is handsome and stalwart. The supporting cast is very good, with Colleen Miller, Ben Alexander, William Schallert, Paul Fix, Royal Dano, Leo Gordon, and probably some others you'll recognize.
Man in the Shadow isn't a classic, but it's gripping for its short running time. There's no trailer available. Catch it if you can.
Monday, December 05, 2016
PimPage: An occasional feature in which I call attention books of possible interest
Otto Penzler, ed. - Silent Night, Deadly Night | The Mysterious Bookshop: Ah, the Christmas season. The scent of roasting chestnuts fills the air, turkeys cook in every household oven, and mistletoe is hung in every unsuspecting doorway. But beneath this cheerful Yuletide veneer, a seedier reality lurks, as a criminal element continues to ply its dastardly trade in secret, disguised by the joyous songs of carolers young and old… At least, that’s the case in the pages of this volume, in which some of crime fiction’s biggest names offer a playful take on the holiday’s most beloved melodies, including such soon-to-be classics as “Arrested Merry Gentleman,” “How Come You’re Not Faithful,” and “I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus.” I'm among "many others" who contributed to this little anthology. My "Frosty the Blowman" is in there somewhere. I'd forgotten all about it, as the book was to be published eight years ago. Things went wrong with the original publisher, and when Otto Penzler was going through his files, he decided to publish the book himself. Check it out.
PimPage: An occasional feature in which I call attention books of possible interest
RISING SUN: The Complete Trilogy - Kindle edition by James Cabot. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com. The RISING SUN trilogy is a science fiction historical thriller. An unearthly / mysterious / sinister and beautiful time traveler crosses paths and clashes with an American secret agent in the days before the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. A tale of intrigue, romance, deception, and betrayal. An epic journey revealing great secrets both international and intimate.The RISING SUN trilogy took thirty-five years to complete. I started writing it in October, 1981, in Hawaii. I fell in love not just with the story and its characters, but also with my research that uncovered forgotten aspects of the 1941 era. I fell in love not just with the story and its characters, but also with my research that uncovered forgotten aspects of the 1941 era. I completed the trilogy as I retired from teaching in the late summer of 2016. I am pleased that the books will appear around the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Sunday, December 04, 2016
Travis Holley, R. I. P.
Houston Chronicle: Travis Holley achieved a certain measure of fame for teaching his younger brother to play the guitar.
That brother, who became known as Buddy Holly, went on to be an early Rock n' Roll legend before dying in a plane crash in 1959.
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
Art Car Museum – Houston, Texas: Some people wash and wax their cars, making sure that the finish is exactly as clean and shiny as the day they bought the car. The art car movement goes in entirely the other direction.
Bicycle Heaven
Bicycle Heaven – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: With 3,000 bikes on display, the world's largest bicycle museum includes some famous rarities.
Striking Portraits of Lonely Cars in 1970s New York
Atlas Obscura: This photograph is just one of many Clay shot between 1974 and 1976. In those years he documented parked cars, in Manhattan and Hoboken, in streets devoid of people and always at night. The title of each image includes the names of the cars, which are themselves evocative: Chevrolet Bel Air, Plymouth Duster, Gran Torino Sport.
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