ABC News: Actor John Heard, whose many roles included the father in the "Home Alone" series and a corrupt detective in "The Sopranos," has died. He was 71.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Old Car City
Old Car City: One of the world's largest automobile junkyards is a unique landscape of metal and moss.
Clancy Sigal, R. I. P.
The New York Times: The first time Clancy Sigal went to jail he was 5. His mother, a Socialist union organizer, had been arrested in Chattanooga, Tenn., for violating social and legal norms when she convened a meeting of black and white female textile workers. Hauled away to the jailhouse, she took Clancy with her.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
When New York City Rioted Over Hamlet Being Too British
When New York City Rioted Over Hamlet Being Too British: In the deadly Astor Place Riot, how to perform Shakespeare served as a proxy for class warfare
Friday, July 21, 2017
FFB: Ross Macdonald's Inward Journey -- Ralph B. Sipper, Editor
Ross Macdonald isn't much read or discussed these days, and when I do see references to him by younger readers, they don't seem to be much impressed with his work. That's quite a change from past decades, including the 1980s when Ross Macdonald's Inward Journey was published. The book includes two previously unpublished essays by Macdonald himself and a short but quite poignant one by his wife, Margaret Millar; however in the main it's a tribute to Macdonald's life and work by other writers. Those who don't think that Macdonald was one of the greats might want to consider what these writers have to say. I'll give a few examples.Robert B. Parker: "It's not just that Ross Macdonald taught us how to write; he did something much more, he taught us how to read, and how to think about life, and maybe, in some small, but mattering way, how to live."
Thomas Berger: "Ross Macdonald's work has consistently nourished me, at home and abroad. I have turned to it often to hear what I should like to call the justice of its voice and to be enlightened by its imagination, and, not incidentally, superbly entertained."
Collin Wilcox: "I own Ken Millar more than I can ever repay."
Paul Nelson: "I remember thinking we come to his novels for comfort in the disaster of our lives, knowing that he and Archer have seen us -- and worse than us -- and will dispense mercy and kindness or, if they turn us over, at least understand."
And so on. Some of the writers were even inspired to write poems instead of essays. I've been a fan of Macdonald's work since the first time I picked up one of his books, more than 50 years ago. Reading Ross Macdonald's Inward Journey reminded me again of why I liked his work so much. It might do the same for you. And if you've never read his books, don't read this book first. Read one of Macdonald's novels first. The sooner, the better.
Thursday, July 20, 2017
The Debuts and Early Performances of 20 Future Stars
The Debuts and Early Performances of 20 Future Stars: The most famous show business performers in history are no different than the unknowns, the obscures and the lesser knowns. Every performer has one thing in common- they all made their debut somewhere or other, whether auspicious or less so. Like they say, everyone has to start some place. Let's take a look at the show biz debuts and earliest performances of twenty stars.
Red West, R. I. P.
Red West, Elvis Presley's friend and film and TV actor, dies: MEMPHIS — Red West, the longtime and sometimes critical confidante and bodyguard of Elvis Presley who became a successful film and television actor after the singer's death, died Tuesday night after suffering an aortic aneurysm at Baptist Hospital. He was 81.
Annoying auto-start video.
Annoying auto-start video.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
American Guano: Never Put It Down
American Guano: Never Put It Down: The reason that the United States has control of so many random islands has much to do with an odd law passed just a few years before the Civil War.
FFB on Wednesday -- Jack of Eagles -- James Blish
Jack of Eagles is an origin story about a man named Danny Caiden, who has great psi powers and is learning to harness them. Psi powers were a very big thing in the '50s SF digests that I read, especially Astounding, I believe. It's a short book, but it's also a kitchen-sink book, with just about everything you could ask for in the way of psi powers being tossed in: Rhine cards, the Fortean Society, fortune telling, a romance, gypsies, travel into possible futures, lots of action, pseudo-scientific and mathematical explanations for psi powers, predicting the future, and probably a few other things I've forgotten. The action comes from the shady Brotherhood that wants to use Caiden to change the future so that they can be in control of the world. Several of the Brotherhood also have strong psi powers, so the battles are tough ones. The members of the Brotherhood have only one psi power each, though, and Caiden has them all.
The book is short and fast, and it was well-reviewed when it appeared. It's dated now, but if you're in the right frame of mind, it can be fun. And did I mention that it was short? Always a virtue in my mind.
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
When 1980s Satanic Panic Targeted Procter & Gamble
When 1980s Satanic Panic Targeted Procter & Gamble: The company spent decades battling false claims that it was in league with the Devil.
Overlooked Movies: Range Beyond the Blue
For some reason TCM showed a bunch of Eddie Dean westerns the other night, and Range Beyond the Blue was among them. Eddie and his trusty comic sidekick, Soapy (Roscoe Ates) happen upon a stage holdup and prevent the outlaws from taking the gold shipment. They accompany the stage into town and learn from the lovely young owner of the line, Margie Rodgers (Helen Mowery), that every time she has a gold shipment, the stage is robbed. Her uncle says that proves there’s inside info being given out and offers to buy the line (you’ll need only one guess as to who the villain is).The town's sheriff is wounded and can’t perform his duties, so Eddie suggests that Soapy be made acting sheriff. Everyone thinks that’s a fine idea for some reason. Eddie goes undercover and finds out who the villain is, and the villain kills him. But don’t worry. Eddie’s only faking it, and it all works out in the end, where it’s revealed that Eddie and Soapy are actually federal marshals. If you’re wondering about the title, at the very end Eddie is asked if he’ll ever settle down, and he says, not until I reach the place in this song, whereupon he breaks into “Range Beyond the Blue.” Pretty sneaky, huh?
No trailer for this one, I'm sorry to say.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Middlegate Station – Fallon, Nevada
Middlegate Station – Fallon, Nevada: Founded in 1857 by James Simpson, the restaurant that stands today was once an active station and rest stop along the historic Pony Express Trail, serving horses and their riders alike. Due to its location between two gate-like cuts in the mountains—known as Eastgate and Westgate—this station became�known as Middlegate Station.
Me, Me, Me, Me, Me!
Bill Crider 071617: For more than four decades Bill Crider has had a following of Texas readers—and for more than twenty novels Crider’s Sheriff Dan Rhodes has been holding his own with the likes of such sleuths as Stephanie Plum and Kinsey Milhone. The Alvin, Texas, “retiree” whose most recent novel came out in August talked with us via email about writing, Sheriff Dan, and what’s next, in this week’s Lone Star Listens.
I Found a Penny in the Walmart Parking Lot Last Week
10 Amazing Backyard Discoveries: Everyone dreams of making an amazing discovery. Some people are lucky enough to find incredible objects hidden in their backyard. Others are even luckier and find treasure lying on their lawn. The following discoveries were made by people who had just left their back door.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee
WATCH: Tea dispensers fly, shirt comes off in viral video of fight at SA area Taco Bell
And Texas leads the way!
And Texas leads the way!
Exquisite Entomology
Exquisite Entomology: Entomology is the study of insects: their life cycles, habits, characteristics, habitats, classification and more. Few topics inspire as much of a diverse emotional response as insects do. Depending on the person, you might see reactions of disgust, pity, curiosity, fear or awe. Though small, insects possess remarkable abilities and make up over two thirds of all known living organisms on Earth.
Sunday, July 16, 2017
George A. Romero, R. I. P.
George A. Romero, master of zombie film genre, dead at 77: The man who kicked off the popularization of the modern zombie genre, director George A. Romero, has died at the age of 77.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Martin Landau, R. I. P.
Actor Martin Landau dead at age 89: Landau began his acting career in the 1950s and starred in the “Mission: Impossible” series and a number of feature films including Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “Tucker: The Man and His Dream,” for which Landau was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Welcome to Slab City
Welcome to Slab City: Here’s a look at one of the most unusual, most unlikely, and, strangely, most beloved campgrounds in the entire United States.
The Lady of the Lines
The Lady of the Lines: If you've ever heard of the Nazca lines, you have this woman to thank for preserving them for posterity. And if you've ever doubted that one person can make a difference, think again… The picture is one I took of the lines when we visited some years ago.
The Little Old Lady Who Terrorized New York's Famed Plaza Hotel
'The Eloise from Hell': The Little Old Lady Who Terrorized New York's Famed Plaza Hotel: Still, in all the annals of rent control, Fannie Lowenstein stands a cut about the rest: For 35 years, she paid around $500 a month for a three-room suite in the Plaza Hotel overlooking Fifth Avenue and Central Park—the sort of accommodation that could cost guests more than $1,000 a night.
Babe Parilli, R. I. P.
Babe Parilli, backup QB on Jets’ Super Bowl III team, dead at 87: Babe Parilli, who served as not only Joe Namath’s backup in Super Bowl III but also as an early inspiration to the iconic Jets quarterback, died Saturday. He was 87.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
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