Top Ten Dark Comedies?

You can check out the list here, and see if you agree. I don't see how there could be any argument with #1.

Will the Persecution Never End? (A Continuing Series)

The morbidly curious (none of you, surely) can see the pics from the ads here.

Paris Hilton's w(h)ining outrage - Showbiz News - Life Style Extra: "LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - Paris Hilton has caused outrage by starring in a wine advert just weeks after being arrested for drink drivingView the profile for Paris Hilton on Celebrity Spotlight.

The 'Stars Are Blind' singer agreed to be the face of Italian wine-maker Prosecco and posed for raunchy photos to promote their sparkling wine range 'Rich'.

However, road safety campaigners have been left fuming over the sexy ads, saying Paris is not suited for the campaign after her recent drink-driving scandal.

Andrea Dan, the president of Italy's Road safety Society said: 'She has just only been arrested for drink-driving and a few days later she is promoting an alcoholic drink. What sot of image is that?'

The 25-year-old was arrested on 7 September in Hollywood after she was pulled over for 'driving erratically' and failed a sobriety test.

Meanwhile, Paris stunned onlookers in Los Angeles when she broke down in tears after being approached by a young fan.

One onlooker said: 'Paris seemed really sad and tried to explain that she was in a rush. When the young girl asked if everything was OK, Paris shook her head before fleeing in tears.'"

Joseph Hayes, R. I. P.

Joseph Hayes, 88, Author of ‘The Desperate Hours,’ Dies - New York Times: "Joseph Hayes, who wrote the novel “The Desperate Hours,” which he later turned into a Tony Award-winning play and a movie, died on Sept. 11 in St. Augustine, Fla., where he lived. He was 88.

Mr. Hayes died in a nursing home of complications from Alzheimer’s disease, said his son Daniel Hayes.

Though Mr. Hayes had already made it to Broadway in 1949 with a short-lived play, “Leaf and Bough,” he was catapulted to fame with “The Desperate Hours,” his 1954 suspense novel about a suburban family taken hostage at home by three escaped convicts. In his review in The New York Times, the critic Orville Prescott called it “an expert study of the agonizing dilemma of a group of sharply delineated and deeply understood characters.”

Immediately after the book’s debut, Mr. Hayes joined with an actor-turned-producer, Howard Erskine, to bring the theatrical version to Broadway. Their production, based on Mr. Hayes’s adaptation and starring a young Paul Newman, won the 1955 Tony Award for best play. Mr. Hayes also developed the novel into a screenplay; the movie, directed by William Wyler, with Humphrey Bogart in the role that Mr. Newman originated and Fredric March as the homeowner, won an Edgar Award in 1956. The film was remade in 1990 by Michael Cimino."

News for all You Gourmets

First, there's this. And then there's this. My advice is simple: Don't click on either link. Especially not the second one.

Happy Birthday, William Faulkner!

I'm a fan of William Faulkner. I've probably read The Sound and the Fury six or eight times. In fact, I've read an awful lot of Faulkner's work, and I've enjoyed about 90% of it. Faulkner, besides being a lot of other things, was a crime writer (Sanctuary) and a mystery writer. Check out the stories in Knight's Gambit, which is listed in Queen's Quorum. One of the stories, "An Error in Chemistry" originally appeared in EQMM, I believe.

Interview with Me

Author Steven Torres has posted an interview with me at his site. For those of you who are already bored with me, there are some other cool interviews, too. Check 'em out.

To the Surprise of Absolutely No One

The Scotsman - Entertainment - Sir Sean voted best-ever Bond: "SIR Sean Connery has been named as the best James Bond of all time.

The star beat his fellow Bond actors Pierce Brosnan, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby in the poll.

The 1964 film Goldfinger, starring Sir Sean, was named the favourite of all the 007 movies.

Ursula Andress was voted the best Bond girl of all time in the survey for the science fiction and fantasy magazine SFX.

The survey of Ian Fleming's screen spies put Brosnan in second place, followed by Moore, Dalton and Lazenby."

Yet Another List

Ever wondered which movies Leonardo di Caprio thought were the ten best? Now you can find out. Just click here.

Bouchercon

Bouchercon is coming up. We'll be making our way to Madison, WI, on Wednesday, and one of the panels I'm on (Sunday morning, 9:00 A. M.) will include Louise Ure. Besides having been nominated for a Shamus for her first novel (Forcing Amaryllis), she was involved in advertising for a while and was connected to some extent with the California Raisins (yes, they even have their own Wikipedia entry). I'm going to have to be sure to ask her about that.

Anna Nicole Smith Update

I guess no personal sorrow is so bad that somebody can't make a few bucks off it.

Anna Nicole Smith's Unfathomable Sorrow Worth Low To Mid Six-Figures - Defamer: "On Friday, our East Coast big sister Gawker noted that an email had landed in the inbox of all the celebrity weeklies' top editors, offering them the once-in-a-newscycle opportunity to cash in on someone's else's tragedy. Getty Images informed them that for $200k, plus an assurance of 'no negative press,' they could have 17 photos of Anna Nicole Smith beaming in a hospital bed with newborn daughter and Daniel, the son who would be found mysteriously dead in the same building the very next day, at her side. A bidding war ensued, with third-tier glossy In Touch reportedly scoring the World's Most Depressing Photoset for a sum well north of $300k, . . ."

Good News at Secret Dead about Damn Near Dead

Secret Dead Blog: "Damn Near Dead is a Bestseller!

No, not on the New York Times, USA Today, or any of those other so-called 'bestseller lists.' Feh. I'm talking about the Independent Mystery Bookseller Association, which reports that Damn Near Dead was the sixth bestselling paperback in August among fine indie mystery bookstores everywhere."

Make a Wallet from a Paperback Cover.

From Eat Your Heart Out, Martha: "I'm always looking for new ways to work all the odds and ends I collect into something useful. In this case, I ravaged a stack of old paperback novels and concocted a wallet just right for carrying business cards and a little cash. From start to finish it takes no more than 15 minutes to make one of these babies!

"With a trip to a used book shop and a fabric store, plus an hour or two to spare, you can make several of these for five dollars or so. Pick books with a proper theme, slip a little note inside (or even some $$) and they would make sweet little gifts for just about everybody."

Check it out. Thanks to Mary Root for the link.

Night of the Living Dead -- in 3-D

Yes, the next Night of the Living Dead will be in startling 3-D, and if you've got an old pair of those red and green 3-D glasses around the house, you can see some great stills, particularly this one. Check 'em out.

Four-Letter Word?

Talking veggies stir controversy at NBC - Yahoo! News: "Marks said the network is 'committed to the positive messages and universal values' of the show and expects 'VeggieTales' to continue airing.

But Bozell [ L. Brent Bozell, president of the Parents Television Council] isn't satisfied.

'If NBC is so concerned about that four-letter-word God, then they shouldn't have taken `VeggieTales',' he said. 'This just documents the disconnect between Hollywood and the real world.'"

Lord Vishnu's Love Handles -- Will Clarke

Let's say you have a little paranormal ability. And that you owe a few million bucks to the IRS. And that the CIA, which has a special section of people with paranorman abilities, wants to recruit you. You don't want to be in the CIA, but they can make that little IRS problem disappear. Would you sign up? The narrator of Lord Vishnu's Love Handles does, and then things start to get really weird.

I've heard that Will Clarke couldn't find a publisher for this novel, so he published it himself. Then it was picked up by Simon & Schuster, got rave reviews, and became a big success. Clarke's in Harry Hunsicker's writing group, so that should tell you something. (I don't know what, but something.) Anyway, this is the oddest spy novel you'll read this year, so check it out.

Headline of the Day

SCHWARZENEGGER GIVES UP HUMMERS:

"ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER has ditched his beloved $950,000 (GBP500,000) fleet of Hummer cars in a bid to save the environment. The TERMINATOR movie star-turned-California governor is devoted to the sport utility vehicles for their 'precision'. He was the first person to own one of cars in 1992 after persuading manufacturers to make them for non-army purposes. But Hummers emit three times more carbon dioxide than a regular car - and after the State of California announced it was suing carmakers Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Honda, Chrysler and General Motors over greenhouse gas emissions, ex movie star Schwarzenegger felt it was prudent to make the change. Eco-aware campaigner AL GORE confirms, 'Arnie has given up his Hummers.' "

Obviously False Story with Made-Up Quotes

Paris Hilton admits she is stupid | the Daily Mail: "Paris Hilton admits she is stupid

Hotel heiress Paris Hilton has admitted something the rest of the world already knew - she's not that bright. The 25-year-old star of The Simple Life made her confession to cops quizzing her about a burglary at the home of Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis. She was hailed as a crime-fighter when she told Francis, who has made a fortune selling raunchy videos of topless college girls partying, she had overheard on the party scene that a Hollywood hanger-on called Darnell Riley had boasted of breaking into his house.

But when she was quizzed by Los Angeles police it emerged she wasn't a reliable witness as she could not remember what happened. 'Like I really, I don't remember,' she said on police tapes obtained by the television show Dateline. 'I'm not, like, that smart. I forget stuff all the time.'"

This Is Just . . . Wrong

Begorrah! Leprechaun theme park for Jackson? - Gossip: The Scoop - MSNBC.com: "Looks like Michael Jackson has taken a liking to the wee folk of Ireland.

The “Thriller” singer, who left the U.S. for the Mideast following his acquittal on sex charges, has been spending time on the Emerald Isle recently, and is looking into buying an estate there — possibly a castle — according to reports.

What’s more, he’s supposedly interested in opening up a leprechaun-inspired theme park."

Latest Issue of Crime Spree

The new issue of Crimespree arrived yesterday. As usual, it's full of great stuff: photos, reviews, comments, and even some fiction. And one other thing: a full page ad for Murdaland, which says that the first issue is now available. You can click the link for a look at the contents and a shot of the cover. It's going to be $12 an issue, so I'd say it's certainly not a direct competitor with or EQMMAHMM and that it doesn't want to be. Looks very interesting. But back to Crimespree. That's Greg Rucka on the cover, and you'll want to read the article about him and his work in both comics and novels. You'll want to read the whole issue, in fact, so check it out.

Smiling Bob May Not Be Smiling Today

Owner of ‘Smiling Bob‘ company indicted: "CINCINNATI - The maker of dietary supplements that claim to improve everything from sexuality to memory defrauded thousands of customers and banks of at least $100 million, federal authorities say.

Warshak, who has 107 counts against him, denies the accusations and will continue to operate the company, his attorney said Thursday.

The company, based in suburban Forest Park, also used false advertising, the indictment charges. In one example, Wednesday‘s indictment cited ads placed in Penthouse and other male-oriented magazines that claimed Enzyte was developed after years of study by two doctors, one at Harvard and the other at Stanford.

Customers with complaints were told to write to a director of customer care who did not exist, the indictment alleges.

The Food and Drug Administration , Internal Revenue Service , postal inspectors and other agencies participated in the investigation."

For Those Who Hate Waiting in Line

For some reason Scott Cupp thought we needed to know about this.

CNN.com - Wanna cut in line? Eat a live cockroach - Sep 21, 2006: "GURNEE, Illinois (AP) -- Why wait in line when you can just eat a cockroach?

That's the question Six Flags Great America is asking thrill seekers during a Halloween-themed FrightFest. The amusement park is daring customers to eat a live Madagascar hissing cockroach in exchange for unlimited line-jumping privileges.

The promotion, which has Lake County Health Department officials shaking their heads, starts October 7.

Anyone who chows down the entire 2- to 3-inch horned cockroach gets a pass for four people to cut to the front of ride lines through October 29.

Park officials insist it's safe to eat the crunchy critters, but health officials are cautioning participants."

Don Walser, R. I. P.

Don Walser was born in 1934 in the small Texas Panhandle town of Brownfield and grew up in nearby Lamesa. His mother died when he was 11, and his father worked nights as a cotton mill superintendent. To fill the solitude of the daylight hours, he listened to the music of West Texas plains on the radio and watched the early cowboy crooners at the movie theater. He began to sing as a young boy, learning the songs, style, and yodeling skills of his musical models.

He joined the National Guard at 15 (claiming he was 17), married his wife Pat at 17, and raised a family of four children. Instead of leaving West Texas to pursue his musical career on the road or in Nashville, he stayed home to devote himself to his family, playing clubs, VFW halls, and honkytonks at night and on the weekends. After 45 years with the National Guard as a mechanic, a superintendent, and an auditor, he retired.

My son worked on a couple of recording sessions with Walser, who was a true Texas classic. Check out some of the soundbites on the website that I linked to above.

Happy Birthday, Stephen King!

I wasn't into Stephen King's work at first. When Carrie was a big hit, I wasn't much interested. What grabbed me was 'Salem's Lot, which I still think is one of the best-ever vampire novels. After that, I was a confirmed Stephen King fan. I was lucky enough to attend the World Fantasy Convention in Ft. Worth in 1979, and King was there (which explains my signed copy of the first hardcover edition of Night Shift). That was when I discovered that King wasn't just some weird guy who wrote horror novels. He was, instead, some weird guy who'd read everything I'd read, and then some. I continued reading his books as they appeared up until around the time if It, which just about did me in. Too long, too rambling, too lacking in discipline? All of those? I don't know, but it marked the end of my having to read everything King wrote. I've read only a few things since (his book on writing, for one thing, and I liked that one a lot), but I remember those earlier books with great affection. And I read his column in Entertainment Weekly whenever it appears.

Weird Al and the Story of My Live

F-89c Scorpion Update

For those of you who've been wondering about that F-89c Scorpoion that might, or might not, have been found in the Great Lakes, here's the update you've been waiting for, with images.

Thanks to Bill Halvorson for the link.

Is This the Ultimate Paris Hilton Page?

I report, you click, read, and decide.

Why Paris Hilton Is Famous (Or Understanding Value In A Post-Madonna World) ? chartreuse (BETA)

Happy Birthday, Gogi Grant!

Back home again, just in time to wish Gogi Grant a happy 82nd birthday. "The Wayward Wind" was and is a favorite of mine. My first college roommate had an autographed photo of Gogi Grant that I coveted. That was about the only good thing about the guy.

Euless, Texas

So here Judy and I are in Euless, Texas, taking advantage of the free high-speed Internet service in the La Quinta Inn, where outside our window is a lovely view of the Euless Home Depot.

Last night I was on a panel at the Euless Public Library with Harry Hunsicker, Mike Cochran (the moderator), Carlton Stowers, and Diane Fanning. We had a fine time, and while Harry and I provided most of the lighter moments, Diane and Carlton spoke eloquently and movingly about their experiences in writing true crime. It was good to see Crimespot guy Graham Powell in the audience, not to metion superagent Jim Donovan and writer Margaret Mosely.

Now it's time for us to get back on the road. It's a long way to Alvin.

See? Paris is NOT a Slut.

The Sun Online - News: Coogan can't get into the Hilton: "SEX addict Steve Coogan was snubbed by Paris Hilton when he begged her to let him into her Hollywood home.

The Alan Partridge star paid a late-night visit to the hotel heiress’s pad after drinking in a club with her and Rod Stewart’s daughter Kimberly.

He banged on the door for an HOUR and demanded to be let in by 25-year-old Paris, who had left the nightspot before him.

But Paris, who dismissively calls the funnyman “Courtney’s Creep” after his brief fling with her pal Courtney Love, refused to open up.

A source close to her said: “She wouldn’t touch him if he was the last man on Earth.”"

Euless, Texas

In a couple of hours Judy and I will leaving for love Euless, Texas (Motto: We Have Less Eu), where I'll be on a program tonight at the public library. That means light blogging today and probably none tomorrow. Talk (like Pirates!) amongst yourselves.

District B13

In the near future things are so bad in Paris that the city has simply walled off the worst of the districts and pretty much left the criminals to themselves. The worst of the worst, I guess, is District B13. But there's one good guy living there, and he's played by David Belle, one of the creators of Parkour.

What's Parkour? Well, it involves a lot of running, jumping, and falling. You just take off, and you don't let anything in your way stop you. Just watch the opening scene in District B13, and you'll see what I mean. Or you can click here for an amateur example.

The plot of the movie isn't really important, but it involves a nuclear bomb that's about to go off, countdown and all. Only one man (okay, two men) can stop it. There's a pretty funny Scarface parody in there somewhere, too. Don't bother thinking about any of it. That's not the point. The point is that David Belle can jump through a transom. What more can you ask for?

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

As I'm sure you're all aware, Tuesday, September 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Some of you, however, may be ill-prepared to venture forth and speak without embarrassment. Luckily for you, there's a film that might help. For all I know you might even get college credit for watching it. Check it out.

(Link via Dave Barry's blog.)

Will the Persecution Never End? (A Continuing Series)

Willie Nelson hit with drug charges?|?Entertainment?|?Entertainment News?|?Reuters.com: "NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - Country singer-songwriter Willie Nelson and several fellow musicians were charged with misdemeanor drug possession by Louisiana police after a search of their tour bus on Monday turned up marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms.

State police spokesman Willie Williams said the bus was stopped early on Monday morning about 7 miles east of Lafayette, Louisiana, for a routine commercial inspection, and a state trooper smelled marijuana inside the bus.

State Police seized about 1-1/2 pounds (0.7 kg) of marijuana and two-tenths of a pound (91 grams) of mushrooms from the bus, Williams said."

To Protect and Serve, Oregon Style

Mom: 9-1-1 call was to help son: "Hope Glenn was frustrated because she, her husband and her son's friends couldn't seem to calm her drunken, agitated 18-year-old son early Saturday. So she called 9-1-1 at 3:05 a.m. for help.

She told a dispatcher her teenage son, Lukus, was suicidal, standing outside their house in the Garden Home area of unincorporated Washington County with a knife to his throat.

'When I called 9-1-1, I called to save my son, to get some professional help,' she said in an interview Sunday. 'Maybe I'm naive.'

Minutes after Washington County sheriff's deputies and a Tigard police officer arrived and Glenn's son, Lukus, refused to drop his knife, officers fired bean-bag rounds at him. When Glenn turned toward the house, two deputies fired several gunshots. Relatives said the teenager collapsed by a doorstep. He died at the scene.

The sheriff's office did not say how many times or where Glenn was shot, but said the deputies fired because they were concerned he might harm family inside.

The teenager's parents and relatives Sunday said in interviews the deputies' gunfire ripped through the house and into the teenager's 72-year-old grandmother's room, barely missing her."

Anna Nicole Smith Update

CNN.com - 2nd Smith autopsy?rules out some causes - Sep 17, 2006: "NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) -- An autopsy ordered by Anna Nicole Smith to determine what killed her 20-year-old son has ruled out several natural causes, but her pathologist said he needs to conduct more tests, including drug and chemical analyses.

Forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht, who gained fame as a consultant on celebrity cases including Elvis Presley's death, said the results of samples taken Sunday from Daniel Wayne Smith could take weeks to complete.

The former Playboy model and reality TV star's son died September 10 in a hospital room where she was recuperating from giving birth three days earlier. Investigators have said they did not find evidence of drugs in the room or obvious signs of a crime.

Wecht ruled out several potential natural causes including heart disease, stroke, or a 'congenital anomaly,' and said there was no indication of foul play.

'I don't find anything that would cause me to believe there is something in terms of some traumatic injury having been inflicted, or somebody having done something to him in some cryptic manner that could not be observed,' he said."

Will the Persecution Never End?

Thanks to John Duke for the link (video at the link).

ABC News: Has Paris Hilton Lost Her Mojo?: "Sept. 16, 2006 — Paris Hilton, famous for being famous, is used to living the good life and getting star treatment. But in a recent turn of events, it appears Paris Hilton's star may be descending rapidly.

'Paris Hilton has been having a string of bad weeks lately,' said ABC News entertainment contributor Katrina Szish. 'It seemed like nothing could go wrong in this girl's world. But lately, everything has been going wrong.'"

What Does America Need?

We need this holiday. And keep off my damned lawn!

What if Jack Black Had the One Ring?

Thanks to Walter Satterthwait for the link.

Gator Update

If you live in Florida, take the poll.

Poll to Help Manage Gators | theledger.com: "Poll to Help Manage Gators
Officials seek input for first review of gator management plan in decades.

By Tom Palmer
The Ledger

LAKELAND -- Some Floridians have seen alligators their entire lives and some Floridians know little about them outside of press accounts of fatal attacks on pets or humans.

State wildlife officials want to hear from that kind of cross section of residents as part of the first comprehensive review of alligator management in Florida in decades.

The online poll is being conducted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission."

Happy Birthday, Robert B. Parker

I see on Gerald So's blog that Robert B. Parker is 74 today. Gerald finds Parker's voice engaging even in novels with thin plots. So do I, though Jeff Meyerson obviously doesn't, at least if you believe his comment on the "10 Greatest Detective Novels" post below. I've been reading Parker ever since his first book (I wish I'd gotten the first edition instead of the book club edition that I still own), and I'm not likely to stop any time soon.

Film Noir: A to Z

Check out this cool film noir alphabet from Louis Parks in the Houston Chronicle. Don't miss the slide show at the beginning. You might also want to read Parks' article on flim noir, which also has a short slide show in addition to some pertinent comments.

Anna Nicole: The Saga Continues

Anna Nicole's pathologist prepares for autopsy:
By MICHAEL MELIA
Associated Press

"NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A pathologist who consulted in the death investigations of Elvis Presley and JonBenet Ramsey said Saturday that Anna Nicole Smith had hired him to perform a repeat autopsy on her son.

Daniel Wayne Smith, 20, died Sept. 10 in a hospital room where the reality-TV star, former Playboy model and ex-Houston resident was recuperating from giving birth three days earlier. Investigators have said they did not find evidence of drugs in the room or obvious signs of a crime.

Bob Dylan and Henry Timrod

Check out the whole article.

From the New York Times: Perhaps you’ve never heard of Henry Timrod, sometimes known as the poet laureate of the Confederacy.

But maybe you’ve heard his words, if you’re one of the 320,000 people so far who have bought Bob Dylan’s latest album, “Modern Times,” which made its debut last week at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.

It seems that many of the lyrics on that album, Mr. Dylan’s first No. 1 album in 30 years (down to No. 3 this week), bear some strong echoes to the poems of Timrod, a Charleston native who wrote poems about the Civil War and died in 1867 at the age of 39.

******************************

Henry Timrod was born in 1828 and was a private tutor on plantations before the Civil War started. He tried to sign up for the Confederate Army but was unable to serve in the field because he suffered from tuberculosis. He worked as an editor for a daily paper in Columbia, S.C., and began writing poems about the war and how it affected the residents of the South. He also wrote love poems and ruminations on nature. During his lifetime he published only one volume of poetry. Among his most famous poems were “Ode Sung on the Occasion of Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead at Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, South Carolina 1866,” and “Ethnogenesis.” Mr. Cisco said he could not find any phrases from these poems in Mr. Dylan’s lyrics.

Mr. Dylan does not acknowledge any debt to Timrod on “Modern Times.” The liner notes simply say “All songs written by Bob Dylan” (although some fans have noted online that the title of the album contains the letters of Timrod’s last name).

Happy Birthday, Ken Kesey!

Ken Kesey was born on this day in 1935 and died in 2001. He wasn't a prolific novelist, but he did publish one of my favorite books, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I read it first in 1965 and then read it many times after that. I taught it nearly every semester for 12 years at when I was at Howard Payne U., and I'd previously taught it as a graduate assistant at Texas. The graduate assistants had a saying about freshman English: "When all else fails, teach the Cuckoo's Nest." It was the one book that never failed to catch the students' interest and resonate with them.

10 Greatest Detective Novels?

David Montgomery, over at the Crime Fiction Dossier, is embarking on the modest project of listing the 10 Greatest Detective Novels. Sort of. Check out his requirements and then trip on over to his blog and submit your own list.

Crime Fiction Dossier: "10 Greatest Detective Novels -- let the debate begin!

I've decided to compile a list of the 10 Greatest Detective Novels ever written. And you can help! I'll give my preliminary list below. Feel free to use the comments section to argue over the choices. Your suggestions and contributions are welcome. I want to put together the definitive list...Well, at least, the CFD's definitive list.

The only requirements are: the book must feature a detective; it must be written in English; and I have to have read it. (I know, you don't know what I've read. We'll figure it out.)"

The Warren Magazine Collection

Some great covers here. Check 'em out. (Link via Boing Boing.)

WARREN MAGAZINE Collection: "This Web Site was created for the Cover Collection from Warren Publishing magazines. It includes CREEPY, EERIE and VAMPIRELLA."

Greatest Hollywood Starlet?

Knightley tops poll - Movie news - Movies - Virgin.net: "Keira Knightley has been rated the greatest ever Hollywood starlet.

The British beauty was chosen ahead of Scarlett Johansson and movie legend Judy Garland in the survey of film fans.

Still only 21, the Pirates of the Caribbean actress already has one Oscar nomination under her belt for her performance as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.

The survey of 1,600 film-goers by Yahoo! Entertainment revealed that starlets from the golden age of Hollywood can still outshine some of today's talent.

Garland, whose films include The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me In St Louis and A Star Is Born, was second.

And Shirley Temple, child star of the 1930s, was fifth.

Scarlett Johansson was voted into third place.

The 21-year-old is currently sizzling on screen in Forties thriller The Black Dahlia.

Natalie Portman and Lindsay Lohan also appeared in the list, along with Brooke Shields and Mia Farrow."

Not Quite the Holy Grail . . .

. . . but close. I've known of three Harry Whittington sleaze titles for nearly 30 years, but I've never been able to find them. Thanks to Lynn Munroe, I've now cut that number to two. I'd never even seen a copy of Nightmare Alibi by "Henry Whittier," but now I own one. There's another title under that name (or possibly "Henri Whittier") that I'm still looking for (Another Man's Claim), and one called The Mexican Connection by "Howard Winslow." There are probably many more under names I don't know, but it's better that I never find out about them since they'd be impossible to find, I'm sure.

Happy Birthday, Lauren Bacall!

I always think of Lauren Bacall in black & white. Dark Passage. To Have and Have Not. The Big Sleep. Come to think of it, I guess I always associate her with Bogart, too. There's a lot more to her than that, of course. She's 82 today.

10 Worst Movies of the '80s

Blog: Stuck in the '80s | Tampabay.com - St. Petersburg Times: Top 10 Worst Movies of the 80s (aka Stallone Appreciation Day): "Today's biggest loser: Sylvester Stallone, come on down! With nearly a third of the movies on the top 10 list, you own this list. I'm having all comments forwarded to his agent."

The Celebrity Power of the Hoff!

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | The celebrity power of the Hoff: "From leather-clad cop with talking car to hunk in trunks, David Hasselhoff is the most watched television star in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records."

Yes, Another List

Any list that has Baby Doll on it is all right by me.

Entertainment Weekly's EW.com | Feature: Most controversial movies: Nos. 21-25: "The 25 Most Controversial Movies Ever

The world's $583 million obsession with ''The Da Vinci Code'' proves it: We're fascinated by what shocks, disgusts, and divides us"

Even the Old Ones Were Once Young

Awwwww. Check out the gallery of Cthulhu Babies.

(Link from Neatorama.)

Headline of the Day

Woman pleads guilty in fake penis case - Yahoo! News: "Woman pleads guilty in fake penis case

Fri Sep 15, 6:51 AM ET

MCKEESPORT, Pa. - A woman pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in connection with a bizarre incident in February that resulted in a fake penis being microwaved at a convenience store."

Little Richard Translates George W. Bush on The Daily Show

Jim Lee's Texas

One of my favorite writers, teachers, and commentators, Jim Lee, has started a blog. Check out his list of the Top Ten Western movies and argue with him. Also, be sure to scroll down to his lits of favorite B-Westerns.

Don't Come Knockin' if This Van's Rockin'

You gotta like the Sheriff's answer.

Sandoval sheriff disputes reports : Local : Albuquerque Tribune: "Sandoval County Sheriff John Paul Trujillo denies what he calls 'very serious allegations' made about him in two Bernalillo Police Department reports.

According to the reports, two officers encountered Trujillo's dark blue SUV on Monday in a Park ?n' Ride lot on U.S. 550, and found 'the vehicle shaking back and forth.'

As officers approached, one observed the sheriff crawling 'from the back seat area of the SUV into the front driver-side seat' and 'maneuvering to put his pants on by way of buttoning and zipping.' The officer also observed 'in the back seat area the figure of a female crouching down obviously not wanting to be seen.'

According to the report, the officer asked what was going on and Trujillo responded that 'everything was fine.'"

Shadow of the Wind -- Carlos Ruiz Zafon, translated by Lucia Graves

Several people recommended this book, and I'd seen reviews referring to its literary quality its beautiful writing, its wonderful characters, and so on. So I bought it. I have to confess that while I managed to read the whole thing (it's very long), I wasn't as taken with it as others seem to be.

I thought it was an attempt to write a modern version of the gothic novel. Having once taken a course in the gothic novel, I remember most of the things one is supposed to contain. Shadow of the Wind has 'em all. Deep, dark secrets? Check. Persecuted maidens? Check and double check. Death, decay, madness, crypts, madhouses? Check again. Old dark houses and dark and stormy nights? Check. Murders and violent confrontations? Check. Hints of the supernatural? Check. Dark figures slinking through the night? Doomed romance? Check. And so on. You get the idea. This kind of thing can be fun, but to tell the truth, after I've read nearly 500 pages of it, I don't want the big revelations to be things I guessed before I'd gotten to page 50. As for the beautiful writing, well, if referring to snow as "God's dandruff" is what constituted good writing for you, then you need to grab this book right now.

One of my big disappointments was that the opening pages introduce us to the "Cemetery of Fogotten Books." Now that's a great idea. But it's one that the novel does next to nothing with.

All in all, I'm not sorry I read Shadow of the Wind, but I don't plan to read any more books by Sr. Zafon. Should you check it out? If you like the kind of book I described, this is the kind of book you'll like. I report, you decide.

New Spinetingler

Sandra Ruttan says: "The Fall 2006 Issue of Spinetingler is now available. This is a double issue, in every sense of the word. Nineteen stories. 23 reviews. Profiles and interviews with the de la Crime, Peter Robinson, Reggie Nadelson and Simon Kernick, as well as a special look at joint promotion with Barry Eisler and JA Konrath: find out what they really did at Thrillerfest."

You can download it or read it on-line. Check it out.

Jeb Bush: And You Thought G. W. Couldn't Speak English

Weird News at Tampa Bay's 10: "Governor Jeb Bush alongside Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio announced this year's book choice for the state's third annual reading promotion from the West Tampa library.

Bush compared “The Zero Game” by Brad Metzler to the “Da Vinci Code.” He said it’s a fast moving thriller about a betting game between politicians in congress. Bush says it's an entertaining way for anyone to better themselves.

Governor Jeb Bush, Florida
“If you could only do one thing really well to be successful in life it is probably to be really literate because then you can acquire knowledge, be respective of where you are, who you are and with that comes all sorts of other things.”"

And I Haven't Even Seen "Thong Girl I"

Gallatin mayor let 'Thong Girl 3' be filmed in his office - Nashville, Tennessee - Friday, 09/15/06 - Tennessean.com: "GALLATIN — Mayor Don Wright has raised eyebrows in town by allowing the makers of 'Thong Girl 3' to film in his office on a Sunday.

Wright says he supports filmmaking for economic development in town and only knew generally what the movie was about.


'They told me it was a film about a superhero woman and there was no nudity or any kind of offensive stuff in the film,' Wright said.

In the film series, the risque superheroine dons red underwear and 'polices the skies with an iron fist' to keep Nashville safe, according to the Thong Girl Web site, thonggirlfilms.com.

Some say using City Hall for this kind of movie could be offensive."

Happy Birthday, Joey Heatherton!

Another icon of my youth. 62 today.

Not That There's Anything Wrong with That

More of a Sad Story

This is a long (3-page) article. If you're interested in true crime tales, take a look at the whole thing.

Anna Nicole Smith tried to revive dead son?|?Entertainment?|?People?|?Reuters.com: "NASSAU, Bahamas (Reuters) - Anna Nicole Smith tried frantically to revive her 20-year-old son even after he had been pronounced dead by officials at the Bahamas hospital where the former Playboy centerfold had given just days before, her attorney said on Wednesday.

Moreover, she was so traumatized by the sudden death on Sunday morning of Daniel Smith, which local authorities have termed 'suspicious,' that she experienced memory loss, and had to be reminded of what had happened, according to a statement from Michael Scott.

Mother and son, along with her longtime attorney and spokesman Howard Stern, had spent Saturday night together in Smith's room at Doctors Hospital in Nassau, where the reality TV star was recovering from the birth of a daughter last Thursday.

When Smith noticed, about 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, that Daniel did not appear to be breathing, she awoke Stern, who checked his pulse and immediately summoned hospital personnel.

'Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the medical staff was not able to revive Daniel,' Scott said. 'Even after Daniel had been pronounced dead, Anna Nicole and Howard frantically continued resuscitation efforts.'"

Plunder of the Sun -- The Movie

I'd read David Dodge's novel a couple of years ago because it was set in Peru. The movie, as it turns out, is set in Mexico, so the Incan ruins of the novel become Aztec ruins in the movie. Sine the movie was filmed in 1953, it's a record of a different time. When Ford and Diana Lynn traipse around the deserted ruins (today, there'd be thousands of tourists swarming over them), he's in a suit and tie; she's wearing a coctail dress and heels. In fact Ford's nearly always in a suit and tie, even when digging up atifacts. Those were the days.

The plot from Dodge's novel is pretty much intact, though in a Cliff's Notes version (the screenplay is by Jonathan Latimer): ancient manuscript, treasure, everyone trying to beat everyone else to the treasure, and nobody's motives made clear until the end. Though the movie's short, there's a foot chase near the end that's dragged out for too long. There's some atmospheric B&W photography, but the ruins really aren't done justice. Color would have worked better.

Ford is very good as hardboiled Al Colby, and I enjoyed the performance of Sean McClory as the bespectacled villain. Patricia Medina looks great, as always, and Francis Sullivan dies too soon. Overall, about a C+. You could do better, but you could also do worse.

There They Go Again, Trampling on our Precious Rights

AP Wire | 09/13/2006 | Sports group stops raffle with gun prize: "WEAVERVILLE, N.C. - A youth athletic association stopped the sale of raffle tickets for an Uzi submachine gun after parents complained that the tickets were being sold at a concession stand.

Gary Chandler, commissioner of the North Buncombe Youth Athletic Association, said his group didn't approve the raffle tickets, which were sold Saturday during football practice at North Buncombe Park.

'It was a parent who was doing soliciting out in the community,' Chandler said. 'This individual or parent did not think it through.'"

Will the Persecution Never End?

John Duke points out that now there's even a website devoted to criticizing Paris Hilton.

New Issue of Thrilling Detective

Kevin Burton Smith says that the new issue of Thrilling Detective is up and live, "with with not one, not two, not even three or four but FIVE new private eye short stories.

"That's private eyes, folks. Not talking cats or clever pastry chefs or serial killers suffering from verbal diarrhea.

"Yep, we've got new stuff from Sarah Weinman, Kim Harrington, Russel McLean, Daniel Hatadi and D.H. Reddall. It's an intriguing mix of virgins and those who've been around the block a few times. Check 'em out. Let us know what you think.

"We've also got an excerpt from the early 60s pulp classic A DUM-DUM FOR THE PRESIDENT by Brett Martin, featuring Montreal private eye Mike Garfin.

"Plus over 300 new or updated files (and more on the way), and a couple of new non-fiction essays, including Max Allan Collins' MICKEY SPILLANE: THIS TIME IT'S PERSONAL."

The Plot Thickens

Thanks to Jeff Meyerson for the link.

iWon News - Officials May Know Why Smith's Son Died: "NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) - Authorities believe they know what killed the 20-year-old son of Anna Nicole Smith but are awaiting a toxicology report to confirm their findings, and are holding open the possibility criminal charges will be filed, the Bahamas coroner said Wednesday.

Her Majesty's Coroner Linda P. Virgill told The Associated Press that once the coroner's office receives the toxicology report of David Wayne Smith, it could launch a formal inquiry and there is the possibility his death on Sunday could result in the filing of criminal charges.

'We do know the cause of death,' Virgill said. 'But we need to confirm it with a toxicology report.'"

He Said He Wanted to Have a Hot Time

Crime Scene KC: "Analyst says she may avoid jail time
A Montreal woman has pled guilty to setting her boyfriend's penis on fire with fondue fuel while he slept after an argument. He suffered third-degree burns on the groin and spent a month in the hospital."

Will the Persecution Never End?

Now even Fox Trot is getting into the act.

Bob Dylan on XM

Just a reminder: You can listen to Bob Dylan yourself today on AOL Radio, or you can listen to any (or all) of the previous shows. The links are in my post here. Check it out.

Sad Anna Nicole Update

Mystery surrounds death of Anna Nicole Smith's son: "Mystery surrounds death of model's son

By JESSICA ROBERTSON
Associated Press

NASSAU, Bahamas — The remains of Anna Nicole Smith's 20-year-old son, who died suddenly while visiting his celebrity mother in the hospital, were to be returned to his home in California with no official word yet on what caused his death.

A funeral home hired by the family of the 38-year-old reality TV star, who had given birth to a healthy baby girl in the same hospital three days earlier, said today it expected to receive Daniel Smith's body after police completed an autopsy."
**************
"Daniel Smith, who died Saturday, was the product of Smith's 1985 marriage to Billy Smith. The couple, who met while working together at Jim's Krispy Fried Chicken in Mexia, Texas, divorced in 1987. The son had small roles in her movies Skyscraper and To the Limit."

This Might Not Be True . . .

. . . but if one can't believe The Sun, whom can one believe?

The Sun, September 12, 2006

A WIFE aged 65 chopped off her dead husband’s willy in hospital — so she could keep it in a pickling jar as a souvenir.

Uta Schneider used a butcher’s knife to hack off the “treasured” manhood. She wrapped it in foil and put it in a lunchbox — next to gherkins.

But she was spotted by a nurse and arrested in Stuttgart, Germany. She is accused of mutilation.

Uta was wed to Heinrich, 68, for 35 years.

She told police: “It was his best asset and gave me so much pleasure.

“I wanted to pickle it for eternity — he would have wanted it. We called it his joystick. I wanted it to remember him by.”

The French Have Too Much Time on their Hands

Hat tip to Neatorama.

The Hoff: Classier Than You Ever Imagined

The Hoff's 'friendship' with Diana: "Baywatch legend David Hasselhoff has claimed he was asked to sing at Princess Diana's funeral service.

The Hoff, whose musical talents are perhaps better known in Germany, said the Princess's brother asked him to perform at the service which famously featured Sir Elton John's outstanding rendition of a reworked 'Candle in the Wind'.

The former hunk in trunks said there was a common bond between the pair while the Princess was alive and that she even wrote him letters which she dared not send.

The Hoff said: 'Her brother Charles rang me up and asked me to sing at her memorial and he said she'd written me letters but had never sent them.

'He said 'was there something there?' and I said 'yeah'. I saw a lonely person in her, I saw a little girl and someone who needed a friend and I kind of needed a friend at that time and didn't even know it.

'We had a lot of fun together. The first thing she said to me was 'you look good with your clothes on' and I said 'so do you'.'

A spokesperson for Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, said: 'I'm afraid that we have nothing to say on this subject.'"

Elvis (Jr.) Lives!

Son of Elvis or not, singer drops touring to settle down by lake
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Michael Sangiacomo
Plain Dealer Reporter

"Celina, Ohio- People with 'Suspicious Minds' want to know: Does the son of Elvis Presley live in Ohio?

Absolutely, says Elvis Presley Jr., and he'll tell you all about it.

'Junior,' as he likes to be called, can be found at Dreamland, the Elvis Presley Museum and Dinner Show, on Celina Road (Ohio 703) near Grand Lake St. Marys.

The museum, attached to the 'Nifty 50s' diner, is open daily. On weekends, Junior performs Elvis' greatest hits and some songs of his own. The club opened the first week of July and has sold out shows ever since.

Junior looks the part: the face, the hair. But unlike the army of Elvis impersonators, he doesn't talk like Elvis. He sings like Elvis but refuses to wear a tacky jeweled jumpsuit.

At 45, he's outlived Elvis, who died at age 42 in 1977.

But is he really the son of The King?

'People either believe or they don't,' he said. 'It's my story, and I feel I have the proof, and the rest is up to them.'"

Will the Persecution NEVER End?

How Paris was left hopping at Branson's Mad Hatter bash ... | the Daily Mail: "How Paris was left hopping at Branson's Mad Hatter bash ...
By CHRISTOPHER LEAKE Last updated at 10:06am on 10th September 2006

Paris had asked if she could come to the Mad Hatter-themed bash dressed as Alice in Wonderland - guaranteeing her a starring role.

But when the Virgin tycoon found out, he secretly ordered that all 60 waitresses at the event should also wear Alice costumes - and he rubbed salt into Paris's wounds when she arrived by deliberately mistaking her for one of the serving staff and asking her to serve him a drink."

On-Line Interactive Mystery Game

CNN.com - Review: 'Mansfield Manor' a clever whodunit - Aug 18, 2006: "Review: 'Mansfield Manor' a clever whodunit

By Marc Saltzman
Gannett News Service
Friday, August 18, 2006; Posted: 2:05 p.m. EDT (18:05 GMT)

Armchair sleuths with a knack for solving murder mysteries on TV shows or in books can put their skills to the test with a new Web-only adventure, 'Mystery at Mansfield Manor.'

This clever whodunit can best be described as an online interactive movie with nearly three hours of live-action video.

The game stars 14 real actors -- most of whom are suspects -- and it's your job as Detective Frank Mitchell to interrogate each one to solve the murder of a wealthy oil industrialist, Colin Mansfield Sr."

Mystery*File Update

Not good news. But there is some good news further down in the post. Go read it all.

MYSTERY*FILE ON-LINE: "Sept 10. SITE STATUS. I’ve been delaying this decision as long as possible, but since it has to be made, there’s no reason to put it off any longer. I’m not shutting down, but M*F On-Line, as it’s existed over the past year or so, is going on hiatus for the time being."

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same

I shouldn't write posts like the one immediately below. I start thinking about stuff, and one thing leads to another. You know how it goes. Anyway, thinking of the JFK assassination reminded me of Mort Sahl, whose career took a header when he became obsessed with the assassination and the supposed conspiracy surrounding it. Sahl's still around. It's just that his career died a long time ago. Or if it didn't die, it more or less disappeared. Anyway, I was reminded of one of Sahl's jokes: "Senator McCarthy doesn't disagree with what you say, so much as he disagrees with your right to say it." Change the name (you can probably think of a few to substitute without even trying), and you've got a joke you could use right now.

September 11

Everything happens when I'm in school. I guess that's because I spent most of my life in the classroom, one way or the other. When JFK was shot, I was in my first year of teaching. I was talking to to my fourth-period class about some scene in Huckleberry Finn when the school secretary came to the door and called me out of the room. She told me that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. That was all she knew. I went back into class and finished the lesson.

I had a study hall the next period. It was in a huge room with a lot of students. I think there must have been 100, but I could easily be mistaken. When I walked in, the room was completely quiet, a big change from the usual. Someone had set a little transistor radio in one of the windows and tuned it to a Dallas station. For the rest of the period we all listened. For nearly an hour nobody said a thing. Some of the students cried.

Five years ago on this date I was in my office at Alvin Community College. A lot of years in a lot of different schools had gone by since that long ago day in 1963. I was grading some papers when John Duke came in from the office next door to tell me that something was happening in New York. An airplane had crashed into the World Trade Center. He had a TV set in his office, so I went with him to see what was going on. We saw the Twin Towers collapse.

Like a lot of people who were a good distance removed from the event, I spent most of the rest of the day in a kind of daze. I couldn't quite get a grip on what had happened. I'm not sure I have one yet. In the years since, a lot of things have happened in this country. Most of them I don't like at all, though I don't often talk about them here. That's not the purpose of this blog (in case you were wondering, the purpose of this blog is to keep me entertained). I just thought I'd say a few words today and then move on.

Jumper -- The Movie

Steve Gould wrote an excellent SF novel called Jumper, which I read a number of years ago. It's now being filmed, and JoBlo has some photos from the set, including one of Samuel L. Jackson, who's definitely not in his Snakes on a Plane mode. Check it out. (Better yet, read the book if you haven't done so already.)

Megan Abbott Speaks

Over at The Rap Sheet, Megan Abbott has some interesting commentary on the actual case that inspired her forthcoming novel, The Song is You. Check it out.

Now You, too, Can Hear Bob Dylan on Theme Time Radio

Slampo doesn't like Bob Dylan's new album, but he has a link to this page, where you can listen to all the back shows. I also learned that Theme Time Radio Hour is now simulcast on AOL Radio, which is all for free, so you can listen every week. Now I can stop posting those playlists. You're on your own.

A Little Culture for the Masses

Link via the ever-fascinating Neatorama.

50 Best High School Movies?

Entertainment Weekly (or Weakly, as someone likes to say) has a list. I'd rank 16 Candles much higher. And how could they leave off Blackboard Jungle. Maybe I just missed it.

September 8, 1900: Deadly Anniversary

The 1900 Storm: Galveston, Texas: "A Galveston Daily News reporter in 1900 said the story of the Sept. 8, 1900, hurricane could never truly be written. For many, no words could ever be spoken again about the deadly hurricane that reshaped the Gulf Coast forever."

Happy Birthday, Grace Metalious!

Grace Metalious was born on this day in 1924. I've commented briefly on her greatest novel, Peyton Place, here and here. Check 'em out.

Gator/Croc Update

Northern Territory News: Supersized saltie is back [ 08sep06 ]: "A CROCODILE believed to be the biggest known specimen in the world has returned to a popular Territory fishing spot.

Dozens of tourists were treated to a rare sighting of the super-sized saltie, estimated to measure at least 6m long, on a boat tour of Corroboree Billabong.

Tour guide Ted Jackson, who operates Wilderness 4WD Safaris, spotted the saltie on the banks of the Mary River two months ago -- but did not see it again until Sunday.

'He is without a doubt the largest-known living crocodile I've ever seen or heard of,' he said.

'We were just 2m from his head, which was lying on the bank of the river parallel to the edge.

'Boy, is he something.

'I was only just telling the group all about him and there he was.' "

Coming in January from St. Martin's

Buy early and often! (This is a Sheriff Rhodes book, despite the academic-looking cover.)

Joi Lansing Sings and Dances!

Yes, and it's all there for you to see at Jaime Weinman's fine site. Check it out.

Something Old, Nothing New: Scopitones!: "'Trapped in the Web of Love,' a video with stupefyingly literal interpretations of the lyrics and lots of wholesome obscenity, featuring Joi Lansing."

She Only Wanted a Quick In-N-Out!

No, the title is not a straight line. I knew, of course, that she had a good excuse. (And thanks to Paris Hilton mauven Jeff Meyverson for the link.)

New York Daily News - Daily Dish & Gossip - Hilton is booked: "Hungry Paris only had one, lawyer says of DWI bust

LOS ANGELES - Hunger drove Paris Hilton to drink and drive, her rep says.

The willowy starlet, busted and handcuffed early yesterday on a drunken driving charge in Hollywood, was famished from a long day of working and schmoozing without eating when she headed out for a burger after downing 'one margarita' at a charity bash, her spokesman Elliott Mintz told the Daily News.

'She had not eaten all day. She was a little weak. She left the event intending to go to In-N-Out Burger,' Mintz said. 'She is a big fan of fast food.'"

Paragaea -- Chris Roberson

At Armadillocon, I was on a panel called "What Should I Have Read this Year?" One of the panelists, Willie Siros, mentioned this book. When Willie speaks, I listen, so I immediately went into the dealers' room and picked up a copy. It's billed as "A Planetary Romance" in the tradition of Burroughs and Leigh Brackett, but I was reminded more of the "travels through wonder" branch of the genre. (The first Jack Vance book I ever read was Big Planet, which I thought of when reading this one. Maybe it's a planetary romance, too.)

What happens is that a Russian cosmonaut (Leena Chirikov) from the early '60s slips through a wormhole to a parallel earth full of dinosaurs, cat men, snake men, and more wonders than I can catalogue here. Not to mention a handy hero (that's his name, too, sort of) from her own world (again, sort of). It's just one damn thing after another, from the first chapter to the last. There's enough material here for a slew of sequels about the different characters who go their own ways at the end of the novel. It's a very Burroughsian ending.

I enjoyed Roberson's take on all the old pulp cliches, updated in his own sly ways. He even manages to work in a comment (or so I took it) on airport security. Check it out.

Some Questions about Carter Brown

Dr. Toni Johnson-Woods, author of a two-part article on Australian pulp fiction, has some questions about Carter Brown. I'm sure she'd appreciate any help you can give her.

To Each His Own

Thanks, again, to Jeff Meyerson.

KSBY - Sheriff's Deputies Make Bizarre Arrest: "Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies come across a bizarre encounter at La Purisima Mission in Lompoc.


Around midnight they found a 69-year-old Huntington beach man...naked and covered in oats.


Deputies say the man had covered himself in olive oil, rolled around in oats and allowed the horses at the mission to lick him clean.


He apparently told deputies this has always been a fantasy of his and drove up from the Los Angeles area to play it out."

Will the Persecution Never End?

Thanks to Jeff Meyerson for the link.

iWon News - Paris Hilton Booked on DUI Charges: "LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paris Hilton was arrested early Thursday for investigation of driving under the influence, police said.

Hilton was arrested shortly before 12:30 a.m. after being pulled over in Hollywood, said police Officer I. Isabella, who declined to give his first name.

Police stopped Hilton because she was 'driving erratically,' he said.

'The officers observed that Hilton exhibited the symptoms of intoxication. A field sobriety test was conducted at scene, and the officers determined she was driving under the influence,' Isabella said, reading a police statement.

Hilton was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI and released, he said."

Bob's Back!

Dylan's New Album Hits No. 1 on Charts: "Bob Dylan is back at the top of the charts — for the first time in 30 years. His new album, 'Modern Times,' reached No. 1 on the album sales chart, selling 192,000 units in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures released Wednesday.

The critically acclaimed disc is Dylan's first No. 1 album since 1976's 'Desire.'"

Bob Dylan on XM

Bob Dylan Theme Time Radio on XM
September 6, 2006
Theme: The Good Book

“Where Are You Bound?” sermon by the Reverend J. M. Gates
“The Bottle and a Bible,” the Yayhoos
Clip from The 38 Steps
Bob tells the story of Samson and Delilah
“Samson and Delilah” (“If I had my Way”), The Reverend Gary Davis
“He Will Set Your Fields on Fire,” Kitty Wells
“Adam, Come and Get Your Rib,” Wynonie Harris
“The Old Ark’s a-Movin’,” AA Gray
“Denomination Blues,” Washington Phillips
“I’m Using my Bible for a Roadmap,” The Four Interns
“God and the Bible,” commentary by Keb Mo
“Elijah Rock,” Ollabelle
“Rivers of Babylon,” Melodians
“John the Revelator,” Blind Willie Johnson
“Boogie Woogie Preachin’ Man,” Jess Willard
“Oh Mary Don’t You Weep,” The Swan Silvertones
“That’s What the Good Book Says,” The Robins

For the '80s Generation

Over 1500 music videos. I recommend starting with ABBA.

(Hat tip to Pop Culture Junk Mail for the link.)