Sherlock set to buff up | News | Guardian Unlimited Film: "The tumbleweeds that skid across the barren desert of Hollywood creativity showed no sign of letting up yesterday as Warner Bros announced it is reinventing Sherlock Holmes as an action hero.
Neil Marshall, the highly regarded British director of The Descent, has been hired to orchestrate proceedings and transform the erudite sleuth of 221B Baker Street into something a little more rough-hewn.
The story will be adapted from Lionel Wigram's upcoming graphic novel Sherlock Holmes, with the British Wigram set to produce.
Studio executives are keeping mum about the storyline, although it is understood that Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary creation will rely less on tugging pensively on his pipe and employ instead his little known pugilistic skills and swordsmanship to vanquish Victorian villainy.
Holmes' newfound fighting prowess alone will not be enough to overcome his foes, however. In keeping with the vague truism that behind every superhero lurks an older, often mustachioed aide, the producers are pairing up the crime-fighter with a new-look Dr Watson. Elementary, really."
Saturday, March 17, 2007
The Paper of Record's Obit for Richard S. Prather
The New York Times: Richard S. Prather, a hugely popular mystery writer of the 1950s and ’60s whose novels were known for their swift violence, loopy humor and astonishing number of characters with no clothes on, died on Feb. 14 at his home in Sedona, Ariz. He was 85.
The cause was complications of respiratory disease, his friend Linda Pendleton said.
Mr. Prather (his surname rhymed with “bather”) was best known for his three dozen novels featuring the private eye Shell Scott, a 6-foot-2 ex-marine with a broken nose, a bristling white buzz cut and an ear ravaged by a bullet he took in the Pacific theater. Among the titles in the series, most published by Fawcett, are “Find This Woman” (1951); “Always Leave ’Em Dying” (1954); “Joker in the Deck” (1964); “The Kubla Khan Caper” (Trident, 1966); and “Gat Heat” (Trident, 1967).
The Shell Scott novels have sold more than 40 million copies, according to the reference work Contemporary Authors. Most are now out of print.
More at the link.Black Snake Moan
Those of you familiar with my sordid past know that I was practically required by law to see this movie. It was twenty-five years ago, in fact, that I published an article about backwoods books in The Journal of Popular Culture, illustrated with b&w photos of some wonderful titles. Although the writer and director of Black Snake Moan probably never saw any of those novels, his movie would fit right in. Allow me to quote a few blurbs from the books, all by Harry Whittington under a couple of names.
From Cracker Girl (Harry Whittington): "Yet in the end this proved her salvation, her only escape from the angry passions and degrading emotions which enslaved her."
From Backwoods Shack (Hallam Whitney): "There was Lora, beautiful, vibrant and desirable, but trash."
From Shack Road (Hallam Whitney): "Callie May . . . just couldn't help being friendly to strangers . . . a warm friendliness that was forever attracting strangers to her. . . ."
From Backwoods Hussy (Hallam Whitney): "Her woman's instinct had made her suspect what she could do to a man -- now she knew what men could do to her. . . And she was lost -- lost in the grip of desire . . . ."
Those books were published around 55 years ago, so we all know promised a lot more than they ever delivered. Black Snake Moan delivers, and of course it's completely ridiculous. A black man, former blues singer, chains up a young white woman in his backwoods shack to save her from "the angry passions and degrading emotions which enslaved her," as the blurb writer put it back in 1952. Throw in a boyfriend who has serious problems of his own, have the blues singer in a real snit because his wife's run off with his younger brother, and you pretty much have the plot.
Could anybody but Samuel L. Jackson have pulled off the role of the blues singer? I can't think of anybody, but he makes it believable. It's a towering performance. Christina Ricci plays the young woman, and she's Jackson's equal. John Cothan, Jr., is fine as a preacher who's Jackson's friend, and S. Epatha Merkerson is also very good. Justin Timberlake plays the boyfriend. I'm less enthusiastic about his performance, but he's adequate.
This is a movie that absolutely shouldn't have worked. That it does is a credit to the performers, not to mention the soundtrack, which is the best of the year. Best of several years, if you ask me. The movie might not be for everyone (lots of sex, violence, and cussing), but the soundtrack is. Check 'em both out.
Anna Nicole Smith -- the Movie
I wonder who's going to play my brother.
Anna Nicole Smith movie in the works - CNN.com: "Filming will begin in Los Angeles early next month on a motion picture about the life of Anna Nicole Smith, CNN has learned.
Producer Jack Nasser of All-Media Productions told CNN on Friday that his company is in the process of casting the lead role in the film, which could be released as early as June.
'We're moving as quickly as possible' on the production, Nasser told CNN. 'We're on what we call 'the fast track.' '
Nasser said the film will cover Smith's life from from age 17 until her death last month at 39, including her marriage to billionaire J. Howard Marshall and the death of her son Daniel.
Nasser said his film will focus on 'the positive' about Smith, whose February 8 death caused a media sensation. 'It's not focused on the trash,' he said."
Anna Nicole Smith movie in the works - CNN.com: "Filming will begin in Los Angeles early next month on a motion picture about the life of Anna Nicole Smith, CNN has learned.
Producer Jack Nasser of All-Media Productions told CNN on Friday that his company is in the process of casting the lead role in the film, which could be released as early as June.
'We're moving as quickly as possible' on the production, Nasser told CNN. 'We're on what we call 'the fast track.' '
Nasser said the film will cover Smith's life from from age 17 until her death last month at 39, including her marriage to billionaire J. Howard Marshall and the death of her son Daniel.
Nasser said his film will focus on 'the positive' about Smith, whose February 8 death caused a media sensation. 'It's not focused on the trash,' he said."
Friday, March 16, 2007
Bob Randisi Comments on Raines
Bob Randisi is the author of Everybody Kills Somebody Sometime (A Rat Pack Mystery) and (with Vince Van Patten) The Picasso Flop.
I don't usually respond to blogs, . . but I had to respond to your comments about Raines. SPOILER ALERT! I love that he talks to his dead partner. In fact, if I hadn't seen Goldblum of Regis and Kelly that same morning--where HE gave it away--I might have been surprised. Well, maybe not. END SPOILER ALERT! But I lke the feel of the entire show, talking dead and all. I didn't think it would work for me but, like you, I wanted to give the show and chance. Mainly because of Goldblum. I like him in almost anything. I disagree that this is nothing special. The fact that it's not part of the L&O or CSI franchise makes it special. Goldblum is his usual understated self, which works here. And the retro feel works, as you pointed out. But the taking to the dead aspect--I really liked when he asked the girl a question and she responded "I only know what you know." Characters have talked to themselves before, but this is much better. And it's not played for laughs, i.e. giving us a shot of him talking to air and people staring at him. The only episodic tv I watch is pretty much Shark, Medium, Numbers, and now Raines. Raines is what I wish Monk was, quirky without being slapstick.
I don't usually respond to blogs, . . but I had to respond to your comments about Raines. SPOILER ALERT! I love that he talks to his dead partner. In fact, if I hadn't seen Goldblum of Regis and Kelly that same morning--where HE gave it away--I might have been surprised. Well, maybe not. END SPOILER ALERT! But I lke the feel of the entire show, talking dead and all. I didn't think it would work for me but, like you, I wanted to give the show and chance. Mainly because of Goldblum. I like him in almost anything. I disagree that this is nothing special. The fact that it's not part of the L&O or CSI franchise makes it special. Goldblum is his usual understated self, which works here. And the retro feel works, as you pointed out. But the taking to the dead aspect--I really liked when he asked the girl a question and she responded "I only know what you know." Characters have talked to themselves before, but this is much better. And it's not played for laughs, i.e. giving us a shot of him talking to air and people staring at him. The only episodic tv I watch is pretty much Shark, Medium, Numbers, and now Raines. Raines is what I wish Monk was, quirky without being slapstick.
Anna Nicole Smith Update
Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband sues Bill O'Reilly - CNN.com
Prince Frederic von Anhalt has sued Fox and Bill O'Reilly after the talk show host called him a fraud for claiming he could be the father of Anna Nicole Smith's baby.
Von Anhalt, who is married to Zsa Zsa Gabor, filed the defamation suit seeking at least $10 million in damages Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The claim stems from comments the talk show host made during a February 22 segment of "The O'Reilly Factor."
"Look, this guy's a fraud," O'Reilly said, according to a transcript of the show posted on the network's Web site. "We know he's a fraud. But let's -- what I want to talk about is -- he's done. His credibility is -- is finished."
Since the show aired, von Anhalt said people give him dirty looks when he goes to the grocery store.
"They say, 'Look, here comes the fraud,"' he said. "I get lots of e-mails from people bad-mouthing me. It's very embarrassing."
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Raines
I have fond memories of Jeff Goldblum in Tenspeed and Brownshoe, and I hoped that Raines might capture some of the same feeling. It did, just a little. I was caught by the opening voice-over (mention Hammett, Chandler, and Macdonald, and you have me), so I stuck with the program. Raines is a homicide detective. The gimmick is that he sees dead people. SPOILER ALERT!! Nobody who's seen The Sixth Sense is going to be surprised by the big reveal at the end. I sure wasn't. END SPOILER ALERT!! The thing is that the gimmick isn't necessary. Goldblum is quirky enough without it. I suppose the idea of talking to the victims after they're dead would be even cooler if they'd actually tell him who killed him, but they don't know. Or at least the one in this first show didn't. So instead, they'll give hints, lie, and in other words behave just like an ordinary suspect or client of some P.I.
Speaking of P.I.s, there's on in this show too. He's no Andy Barker, but I liked him because he had a statue of the Maltese Falcon on his desk. Or maybe it was the real Falcon. Anyway, he's a victim, so we won't be seeing him again. His ghost didn't talk to Raines, because he saw who killed him, and that would have spoiled everything.
This show is nothing special. I'll probably watch it now and then, though, because it has a kind of retro feel to it and because I like Goldblum.
Andy Barker, P. I.
Andy Barker (Andy Richter) is a CPA with no clients. He's rented the office of a retired P.I. (Harve Presnell), and when a hot blonde dressed in red comes in and asks Andy to find her husband, he goes along with the gag. Barker is no Steve Bentley, but, using his CPA skills, he gets the job done. The old P.I. is so impressed that it appears he's coming out of retirement and that Andy will be working for him. I got some laughs from this show. I especially liked the movie snobbery of the guy who runs the video rental store on the floor below Andy's office. "We don't carry Meet the Fokkers," he tells a caller, and he's appalled when Andy says, "I didn't think they could top Miss Congeniality, but boy, Miss Congeniality 2 comes close." I also liked the Sandra Bullock doll. So I might even watch this one again. Judy, I must say, was not impressed at all.
He's the One that We Want!
Okay, fans of You're the One that I Want. Now's the time to step up for Alvin, Texas. I confess that I've never seen the show, but one of the contestants, Austin, is from Alvin. His grandmother lives two houses down the street from me. This is a photo of the sign in her yard. (That's my garage door about 3/4 of the way up on the far left edge.) Don't let Alvin down. Vote for Austin!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Your Tax Dollars at Work
Congress loads up $20 billion in pork - Examiner.com: "WASHINGTON - Congress has loaded up President Bush's request for 'emergency' spending on the Iraq war with more than $20 billion in 'pork' for members' districts.
Money for peanut storage in Georgia, spinach growers in California, menhaden in the Atlantic Ocean and even more office space for the lawmakers themselves is included in what has ballooned into a $124 billion war bill.
'This emergency supplemental bill has more ornaments hanging over our many branches of government than the White House Christmas tree,' Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., said.
Originally, Bush asked for $105 billion in emergency funding. Democratic leaders say they want to grant the request to continue funding the war despite their desire to end it.
'We have provided all of the money the president requested- and more,' boasted House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer.
That includes $74 million for peanut storage, $25 million for spinach growers and $100 million for citrus growers.
It also includes $16 million to convert the old Food and Drug Administration building in southwest D.C. into more office space for the Capitol. That 'emergency' expenditure comes at a time when taxpayers already shell out $600 million 'more than double the original estimate' for a mammoth expansion of the Capitol, which includes 160,000 feet of new office space."
Money for peanut storage in Georgia, spinach growers in California, menhaden in the Atlantic Ocean and even more office space for the lawmakers themselves is included in what has ballooned into a $124 billion war bill.
'This emergency supplemental bill has more ornaments hanging over our many branches of government than the White House Christmas tree,' Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., said.
Originally, Bush asked for $105 billion in emergency funding. Democratic leaders say they want to grant the request to continue funding the war despite their desire to end it.
'We have provided all of the money the president requested- and more,' boasted House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer.
That includes $74 million for peanut storage, $25 million for spinach growers and $100 million for citrus growers.
It also includes $16 million to convert the old Food and Drug Administration building in southwest D.C. into more office space for the Capitol. That 'emergency' expenditure comes at a time when taxpayers already shell out $600 million 'more than double the original estimate' for a mammoth expansion of the Capitol, which includes 160,000 feet of new office space."
Everybody's Gettin' inta the Act
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A 76-year-old Kenosha County man in whose cornfield the skeleton of a mammoth believed to be about 12,500 years old was dug up in 1994 is interested in selling it, and officials of the Milwaukee Public Museum are interested in it. "I'm just looking for some funds for my grandkids' college," John Hebior said the possible sale of the skeleton now in 15 large wooden crates and four plastic tubs in the basement of his farmhouse five miles west of Somers.
Milwaukee Public Museum president Dan Finley said the Hebior mammoth would look great standing in the atrium of the natural history museum.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Bob Randisi Update
Bob Randisi writes to say that Vince Van Patten (Bob's Picasso Flop co-author) is featured this month in three magazines: Poker Pro, All In, and Cardplayer. Bob and Vince are the coverboys on the new issue of Crimespree. With all that publicity, the book's bound to be a smash.
Harry Potter Update
ABC News: Massive Print Run for New Potter Book: "NEW YORK Mar 14, 2007 (AP)— The final Harry Potter book will have a record-breaking, backbreaking first printing of 12 million copies, publisher Scholastic Inc. announced Wednesday.
And, for those who somehow don't know about Potter 7, Scholastic also plans a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign in support of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,' which comes out July 21.
'This is so much more than the publication of a single book,' Lisa Holton, president of Scholastic Trade and Book Fairs, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. 'It's a true celebration of the Harry Potter movement and of the joy of reading.'
The Scholastic campaign is called 'There Will Soon Be 7.' It will feature a Knight Bus National Tour, stopping at 40 libraries in 10 major metropolitan areas and millions of Potter bookmarks, easel backs and tattoos."
And, for those who somehow don't know about Potter 7, Scholastic also plans a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign in support of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,' which comes out July 21.
'This is so much more than the publication of a single book,' Lisa Holton, president of Scholastic Trade and Book Fairs, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. 'It's a true celebration of the Harry Potter movement and of the joy of reading.'
The Scholastic campaign is called 'There Will Soon Be 7.' It will feature a Knight Bus National Tour, stopping at 40 libraries in 10 major metropolitan areas and millions of Potter bookmarks, easel backs and tattoos."
O. J. Update
Simpson book could land in stores after all - Celebrity News - MSNBC.com: "LOS ANGELES - A judge Tuesday ordered that rights to O.J. Simpson’s aborted book, “If I Did It,” be sold at auction to help satisfy a civil judgment against the former football star — meaning the book could find its way into stores.
The ruling comes four months after Simpson’s book about how he could have committed the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman, was scrubbed by News Corp. media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg’s decision comes at the request of Ron Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman, who expressed outrage at the original publication of ”If I Did It” and now finds himself putting the manuscript back into circulation.
“The Goldmans were horrified as to the content, but the real horror was that Simpson was profiting,” Goldman’s lawyer, David Cook, said. “O.J. is now on the block. On the right hand we get to sell the book, and on the left we get the money.”"
The ruling comes four months after Simpson’s book about how he could have committed the 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman, was scrubbed by News Corp. media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg’s decision comes at the request of Ron Goldman’s father, Fred Goldman, who expressed outrage at the original publication of ”If I Did It” and now finds himself putting the manuscript back into circulation.
“The Goldmans were horrified as to the content, but the real horror was that Simpson was profiting,” Goldman’s lawyer, David Cook, said. “O.J. is now on the block. On the right hand we get to sell the book, and on the left we get the money.”"
Happy Birthday, Phil Phillips!
As I said last year on his birthday, Phil Phillips is one of the greats. A one-hit wonder, maybe, but what a hit it was. His recording (with the Twilights) of "Sea of Love" never gets old. You can hear about 45 seconds of it here, and there are some other interesting records to look at while you're scrolling down.It's also the birthday of Max Shulman, one of my favorite writers, author of the Dobie Gillis books, the source of the TV series. If you haven't read the books, you're missing a real treat.
Score One for the Old Guys!
German brothel offers pensioners 50 percent off | Oddly Enough | Reuters: "BERLIN (Reuters) - A brothel in Germany hopes to capitalise on the growing number of pensioners by offering them a 50 percent discount for sex in the afternoon.
The 'Pascha' in the western city of Cologne has introduced reduced rates for sex sessions for clients aged 66 and above -- provided they can prove they are old enough.
'All clients need to do is show us some proof of age,' said a spokesman for the brothel's managing director Armin Lobscheid. 'A 'normal session' costs 50 euros (34.20 pounds) with us -- and we're now paying 50 percent of that for these older guests.'
'We don't earn as much money, but we're establishing ourselves across a broader range of age groups,' he added."
The 'Pascha' in the western city of Cologne has introduced reduced rates for sex sessions for clients aged 66 and above -- provided they can prove they are old enough.
'All clients need to do is show us some proof of age,' said a spokesman for the brothel's managing director Armin Lobscheid. 'A 'normal session' costs 50 euros (34.20 pounds) with us -- and we're now paying 50 percent of that for these older guests.'
'We don't earn as much money, but we're establishing ourselves across a broader range of age groups,' he added."
What Is It with Japanese Guys and Women's Knickers?
Serial lingerie thief arrested in Japan - Breaking News - World - Breaking News: "Police found more than 4,000 pieces of lingerie in the home of a Japanese construction worker who used climbing skills developed on his job to steal women's underwear.
Police believe that Shigeo Kodama, 54, amassed the 3,977 knickers, 355 bras and 10 pairs of stockings over a six-year period."
Police believe that Shigeo Kodama, 54, amassed the 3,977 knickers, 355 bras and 10 pairs of stockings over a six-year period."
This Is Not a Paris Hilton Item . . .
Instead, it's an item about Paris Hilton's nipples.
Thanks to Jeff (he's not staring) Meyerson for this link.
Thanks to Jeff (he's not staring) Meyerson for this link.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Anna Nicole Smith Movie Update
At the link there's a link to a film clip. Do they award posthumous Oscars for direct-to-DVD movies?
Space Alien Anna Defends Uranus - TMZ.com: "TMZ has obtained more clips from Anna Nicole Smith's final movie, 'Illegal Aliens.'
The movie, scheduled for a straight-to-DVD release in May, shows Anna Nicole (baby doll voice and all) as a space alien trying to stop an intergalactic terrorist -- played by the equally outrageous Chyna Doll. Smith gets to show off her acting chops by dropping TrimSpa references ('You like my body?') and feigning fear of Chyna's character."
Space Alien Anna Defends Uranus - TMZ.com: "TMZ has obtained more clips from Anna Nicole Smith's final movie, 'Illegal Aliens.'
The movie, scheduled for a straight-to-DVD release in May, shows Anna Nicole (baby doll voice and all) as a space alien trying to stop an intergalactic terrorist -- played by the equally outrageous Chyna Doll. Smith gets to show off her acting chops by dropping TrimSpa references ('You like my body?') and feigning fear of Chyna's character."
Anna Nicole Smith Update
Anna death: Proof points to foul play-Rest of World-World-NEWS-The Times of India: "
LONDON:The coroner investigating Anna Nicole Smith's tragic death has found some new evidence indicating the possibility that she might have been murdered. The police called the new evidence significant, but put off announcing the results until the probe was complete.
Anna Nicole's bodyguard, Maurice Brighthaupt, who was with her on the fateful day, claimed that her boyfriend Howard K Stern had been acting 'highly strange' hours before she collapsed in a Florida hotel room last month. 'This was unexpected.
But this case has more turns than anything I could have imagined,' the Mirror quoted medical examiner Joshua Perper as saying. Perper said he met with police chief Charlie Tiger after being intimated about the new evidence.
Brighthaupt also told the police that she was on 'heavy doses' of prescription drugs when she died. He is also believed to have said Stern administered her 'some types of drugs' in the months leading to her collapse. "
LONDON:The coroner investigating Anna Nicole Smith's tragic death has found some new evidence indicating the possibility that she might have been murdered. The police called the new evidence significant, but put off announcing the results until the probe was complete.
Anna Nicole's bodyguard, Maurice Brighthaupt, who was with her on the fateful day, claimed that her boyfriend Howard K Stern had been acting 'highly strange' hours before she collapsed in a Florida hotel room last month. 'This was unexpected.
But this case has more turns than anything I could have imagined,' the Mirror quoted medical examiner Joshua Perper as saying. Perper said he met with police chief Charlie Tiger after being intimated about the new evidence.
Brighthaupt also told the police that she was on 'heavy doses' of prescription drugs when she died. He is also believed to have said Stern administered her 'some types of drugs' in the months leading to her collapse. "
Cruel Poetry -- Vicki Hendricks
Get out the kevlar gloves: this is hot stuff. Rennie is a prostitute. Jules is an aspiring writer who lives next door. She listens and watches when Rennie plies her trade or gets it on with her special friend, Francisco. Richard ("Professor Dick") is the college prof who loves Rennie and whose compulsions are going to cost him everything: wife, family, career, and more.One evening Jules rushes in to rescue Rennie from a man whom Jules thinks is choking her. In the ensuing fracas, Jules kills the man with a pair of scissors. From that point on, things go downhill. Lots of people die in unpleasant ways. Hendricks doesn't flinch from describing any of them or from describing sex in any number of different combinations. There's no way to predict how things will turn out. You'll want to know because you care about the characters and their fates.
Can it really have been more than ten years since I read Miami Purity? I remember the pleasure of discovering a new writer with a noir sensibility that was brand new and old at the same time. She's just gotten better, and Cruel Poetry is the proof. Check it out.
You Don't Need a Getaway Driver in Minneapolis
This gives new meaning to the old slogan "Take the bus and leave the driving to us."
Bank robber stops at liquor store, food store, before getaway on bus: "A man who robbed a south Minneapolis bank Monday afternoon made the liquor store his next stop, then went into a sandwich shop and finally made his getaway on a bus.
The robber who held up the Wells Fargo branch at 2600 E. Franklin Av. just after 3 p.m. was seen a few minutes later buying a bottle of liquor at a store next to the bank, said FBI special agent Paul McCabe.
The man, who was alone, smelled of liquor and waved a silver handgun wrapped in a baseball cap when he handed a teller a note demanding money. He left the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and headed to the liquor store, the FBI said.
An employee at Milio’s Sandwiches a couple doors down from the bank said the robber came in and got a sandwich before boarding a Metro Transit bus."
Bank robber stops at liquor store, food store, before getaway on bus: "A man who robbed a south Minneapolis bank Monday afternoon made the liquor store his next stop, then went into a sandwich shop and finally made his getaway on a bus.
The robber who held up the Wells Fargo branch at 2600 E. Franklin Av. just after 3 p.m. was seen a few minutes later buying a bottle of liquor at a store next to the bank, said FBI special agent Paul McCabe.
The man, who was alone, smelled of liquor and waved a silver handgun wrapped in a baseball cap when he handed a teller a note demanding money. He left the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash and headed to the liquor store, the FBI said.
An employee at Milio’s Sandwiches a couple doors down from the bank said the robber came in and got a sandwich before boarding a Metro Transit bus."
Brackets
Thanks to Walter Satterthwait for this link.
The Enlightened Bracketologist reveals the best ad slogan of all time, the greatest film death, and more. - By Mark Reiter and Richard Sandomir - Slate Magazine: "This essay is adapted from the introduction to The Enlightened Bracketologist: The Final Four of Everything, the book that uses ingenious NCAA Tournament-style brackets to answer life's most nagging questions. What was more memorable, 9/11 or the JFK assassination? Which movie had the better death scene, Psycho or Bonnie and Clyde? With our interactive brackets, you can check out what The Enlightened Bracketologist's experts think or choose your own champion.
Go to the Where Were You When Moments bracket. Go to the Film Deaths bracket. Go to the Marital Arguments bracket. Go to the Ad Slogans bracket."
The Enlightened Bracketologist reveals the best ad slogan of all time, the greatest film death, and more. - By Mark Reiter and Richard Sandomir - Slate Magazine: "This essay is adapted from the introduction to The Enlightened Bracketologist: The Final Four of Everything, the book that uses ingenious NCAA Tournament-style brackets to answer life's most nagging questions. What was more memorable, 9/11 or the JFK assassination? Which movie had the better death scene, Psycho or Bonnie and Clyde? With our interactive brackets, you can check out what The Enlightened Bracketologist's experts think or choose your own champion.
Go to the Where Were You When Moments bracket. Go to the Film Deaths bracket. Go to the Marital Arguments bracket. Go to the Ad Slogans bracket."
A Perceptive Reader
Benjie Potter, a frequent commenter here, was a student of mine back when I was teaching at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. Benjie learned well in my classes and became a perceptive reader. There's plenty of evidence on his blog, Book 'em Benj-O, particularly here and here. All his reviews are worth reading, though, so you might want to bookmark his blog.
In the First Place, I Don't Belive It
And in the second place, I'm definitely not going to blog about it.
Gator Update
wcbstv.com - Alligator Escapes Mount Ivy Trailer After Break-In: "Police said they weren't just looking for three men who ransacked a trailer park home in the middle of the night while a terrified woman hid in a closet. They also were looking for a 3 1/2-foot alligator that disappeared from the home after they started investigating.
The woman told Haverstraw police the break-in occurred at 1:50 a.m. Monday at the Mazza-Leone trailer park home she shared with two men, who were out at the time. She said she didn't know why the trailer was targeted by the intruders, who were carrying what appeared to be assault rifles. "
The woman told Haverstraw police the break-in occurred at 1:50 a.m. Monday at the Mazza-Leone trailer park home she shared with two men, who were out at the time. She said she didn't know why the trailer was targeted by the intruders, who were carrying what appeared to be assault rifles. "
Betty Hutton, R. I. P.
I have distinct memories of going to see Annie Get Your Gun at the Palace Theater in Mexia, Texas. The theater has been gone for 50 years now, but my memories of Hutton's performance remain.
thedesertsun.com | Betty Hutton, 86, star of 'Annie Get Your Gun': "Betty Hutton, who exploded onto the silver screen in such films as 'Annie Get Your Gun,' 'Incendiary Blonde' and 'The Greatest Show on Earth,' has died.
The Palm Springs actress turned 86 a couple weeks ago.
Details, including memorial arrangements and when she died, were unavailable Monday evening, though they are expected to be announced today.
In recent years, the reclusive former actress gave few interviews from her Smoketree home.
Her last 'public' appearance in the media was a 2000 'Private Screenings' interview on Turner Classic Movies in advance of the release of 'Annie Get Your Gun,' Turner's No. 1 requested classic movie before its release.
'Annie Get Your Gun,' released in 1950, wasn't released on DVD or video until after 2000 because the rights were held by the Irving Berlin estate."
thedesertsun.com | Betty Hutton, 86, star of 'Annie Get Your Gun': "Betty Hutton, who exploded onto the silver screen in such films as 'Annie Get Your Gun,' 'Incendiary Blonde' and 'The Greatest Show on Earth,' has died.
The Palm Springs actress turned 86 a couple weeks ago.
Details, including memorial arrangements and when she died, were unavailable Monday evening, though they are expected to be announced today.
In recent years, the reclusive former actress gave few interviews from her Smoketree home.
Her last 'public' appearance in the media was a 2000 'Private Screenings' interview on Turner Classic Movies in advance of the release of 'Annie Get Your Gun,' Turner's No. 1 requested classic movie before its release.
'Annie Get Your Gun,' released in 1950, wasn't released on DVD or video until after 2000 because the rights were held by the Irving Berlin estate."
Monday, March 12, 2007
Just Say No to Scavenger Hunts in Texas
AP Wire | 03/12/2007 | Police crack down on scavenger hunt: "LAREDO, Texas - A scavenger hunt turned sour for 40 high school students when Laredo police learned of it and arrested them on felony charges of theft and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Police accused the students - most of them seniors at Laredo high schools - of swiping up to five truckloads of loot from across town. The scavenger list included items such as city traffic signs and pinatas, police said.
'We will cooperate fully, review the case and collaborate with officials to determine all the facts,' said Marco Alvarado, spokesman for the Laredo school district. 'If needed, we will take appropriate action as specified in the student Code of Conduct.'
Police arrested the 32 adults and eight juveniles March 2. The students' names were not released.
Officers first uncovered the escapade when a group of five students was pulled over for speeding. Their car contained stolen stop signs, a garden hose and other items, police said."
Police accused the students - most of them seniors at Laredo high schools - of swiping up to five truckloads of loot from across town. The scavenger list included items such as city traffic signs and pinatas, police said.
'We will cooperate fully, review the case and collaborate with officials to determine all the facts,' said Marco Alvarado, spokesman for the Laredo school district. 'If needed, we will take appropriate action as specified in the student Code of Conduct.'
Police arrested the 32 adults and eight juveniles March 2. The students' names were not released.
Officers first uncovered the escapade when a group of five students was pulled over for speeding. Their car contained stolen stop signs, a garden hose and other items, police said."
Another Voting Opportunity
Thanks to Scott Cupp for the tip.
Public to choose oddest book title - Los Angeles Times - calendarlive.com: "'How Green Were the Nazis?' could be the title to beat this year for the Bookseller/Diagram Prize for oddest book title.
The book by Thomas Zeller, Franz-Josef Bruggemeier and Mark Cioc is billed as the first to examine the environmental policies of the Third Reich.
Other nominees:
'The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: a Guide to Field Identification,' by Julian Montague.
'Tattooed Mountain Women and Spoon Boxes of Daghestan,' by Robert Chenciner, Gabib Ismailov, Magomedkhan Magomedkhanov and Alex Binnie.
'D. Di Mascio's Delicious Ice Cream: Di Mascio of Coventry, an Ice Cream Company of Repute, With an Interesting and Varied Fleet of Ice Cream Vans,' by Roger De Boer, Harvey Francis Pitcher and Alan Wilkinson.
'Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Seaweed Symposium.'
'Better Never to Have Been: the Harm of Coming Into Existence,' by David Benatar.
The winner will be chosen by the public though voting online at www.thebookseller.com. The prize will be announced April 13."
Public to choose oddest book title - Los Angeles Times - calendarlive.com: "'How Green Were the Nazis?' could be the title to beat this year for the Bookseller/Diagram Prize for oddest book title.
The book by Thomas Zeller, Franz-Josef Bruggemeier and Mark Cioc is billed as the first to examine the environmental policies of the Third Reich.
Other nominees:
'The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America: a Guide to Field Identification,' by Julian Montague.
'Tattooed Mountain Women and Spoon Boxes of Daghestan,' by Robert Chenciner, Gabib Ismailov, Magomedkhan Magomedkhanov and Alex Binnie.
'D. Di Mascio's Delicious Ice Cream: Di Mascio of Coventry, an Ice Cream Company of Repute, With an Interesting and Varied Fleet of Ice Cream Vans,' by Roger De Boer, Harvey Francis Pitcher and Alan Wilkinson.
'Proceedings of the Eighteenth International Seaweed Symposium.'
'Better Never to Have Been: the Harm of Coming Into Existence,' by David Benatar.
The winner will be chosen by the public though voting online at www.thebookseller.com. The prize will be announced April 13."
Robin Hood -- Sheriff Got Your Tongue?
Judy and I were busy Saturday evening, so I missed the second episode of the new BBC Robin Hood series. I recorded it, however, and watched it today. This was a good thing, since I was able to zip through all the irritating commercials and watch the show in about 45 minutes instead of an hour.
I'm glad I decided to stick with this show. There are some things that are a little irritating, but here are some of the things I like: the music, the colors, the action, and (mostly) the characters. The Sheriff of Nottingham is way, way over the top. I don't care. I enjoy watching him as he delights in his villainy, whether he's having a tongue cut out or whether he's taunting the peasants. He's also a pretty shrewd judge of character. Robin might be a little too noble, but I like that, too. His ability with a bow is possible only with modern film techniques rather than in real life, but that doesn't bother me at all. I'm ready for another episode.
I'm glad I decided to stick with this show. There are some things that are a little irritating, but here are some of the things I like: the music, the colors, the action, and (mostly) the characters. The Sheriff of Nottingham is way, way over the top. I don't care. I enjoy watching him as he delights in his villainy, whether he's having a tongue cut out or whether he's taunting the peasants. He's also a pretty shrewd judge of character. Robin might be a little too noble, but I like that, too. His ability with a bow is possible only with modern film techniques rather than in real life, but that doesn't bother me at all. I'm ready for another episode.
Charles Einstein, R. I. P.
Charles Einstein, who wrote for both Dell and Gold Medal, has passed away. Wallace Stroby has a fine tribute to the man and his work right here.
Greatest Sitcom Characters of All Time?
You can vote at the link if you're so inclined. (I voted. I had to vote for Barney Fife.) I learned about this from Brent McKee's blog, and you can read his comments there. He includes his list of missing characters and includes the phrase a "host of others."
Entertainment: Lifestyles: Story: Sitcom Star Wars: 64 characters. 1 winner. You decide. 03/11/07: "
Great sitcom characters come in all sizes and shapes. Some are hilarious. Some are despicable. Some make us laugh. Some make us cry. The best ones become our friends, dropping by to visit once a week for 30 minutes.
Two years ago, we asked Times-Union readers to choose the greatest American rock band (the Eagles beat out Creedence Clearwater Revival in the finals). Last year, we sought out the greatest American movie (Star Wars defeated Gone with the Wind in the finals). This time around, in a tournament sure to start heated arguments across breakfast tables all over the area, we're asking you to pick the greatest sitcom character of all time."
Entertainment: Lifestyles: Story: Sitcom Star Wars: 64 characters. 1 winner. You decide. 03/11/07: "
Great sitcom characters come in all sizes and shapes. Some are hilarious. Some are despicable. Some make us laugh. Some make us cry. The best ones become our friends, dropping by to visit once a week for 30 minutes.
Two years ago, we asked Times-Union readers to choose the greatest American rock band (the Eagles beat out Creedence Clearwater Revival in the finals). Last year, we sought out the greatest American movie (Star Wars defeated Gone with the Wind in the finals). This time around, in a tournament sure to start heated arguments across breakfast tables all over the area, we're asking you to pick the greatest sitcom character of all time."
Ken Bruen Appreciation Day
Sandra Ruttan: On Life And Other Inconveniences: Ken Bruen: "It might have been more appropriate if this was March 17th, but today is International Ken Bruen Appreciation Day."
I discovered Ken Bruen's work earlier than a lot of others, with the publication of The White Trilogy. Jeff Meyerson recommended it in the pages of his apazine, and I had a copy already, so I read it. I was blown away by the writing style and the characters. I could tell at once that Ken Bruen was unique. I met him in Toronto at the Bouchercon and went up after his panel to tell him how much I'd enjoyed his work. I was surprised when he said he knew who I was (I'm always surprised when some says that), and it was a pleasure to get to talk to him a bit more at the (as always) crowded St. Martin's party. I've managed read pretty much every crime novel he's written now, but the good news is that I'm certain there'll be many more to come.
I discovered Ken Bruen's work earlier than a lot of others, with the publication of The White Trilogy. Jeff Meyerson recommended it in the pages of his apazine, and I had a copy already, so I read it. I was blown away by the writing style and the characters. I could tell at once that Ken Bruen was unique. I met him in Toronto at the Bouchercon and went up after his panel to tell him how much I'd enjoyed his work. I was surprised when he said he knew who I was (I'm always surprised when some says that), and it was a pleasure to get to talk to him a bit more at the (as always) crowded St. Martin's party. I've managed read pretty much every crime novel he's written now, but the good news is that I'm certain there'll be many more to come.
Abandoned Books
What are your abandoned books? | News | Telegraph: "The average Briton spends more than �4,000 on books during his or her lifetime but nearly half of them remain unread, a new study claims.
DBC Pierre's Booker Prize-winning novel, 'Vernon God Little', topped the list of unfinished fictional works, followed by the fourth installment of Harry Potter and James Joyce’s notoriously difficult 'Ulysses'.
The research, commissioned by Teletext, also found that more than half of the 4,000 respondents, (55 per cent) admitted they often bought books for decoration and had no intention of actually reading them."
DBC Pierre's Booker Prize-winning novel, 'Vernon God Little', topped the list of unfinished fictional works, followed by the fourth installment of Harry Potter and James Joyce’s notoriously difficult 'Ulysses'.
The research, commissioned by Teletext, also found that more than half of the 4,000 respondents, (55 per cent) admitted they often bought books for decoration and had no intention of actually reading them."
Croc Update
Thanks to Jeff "Croc" Meyerson for the link.
Ananova - Nike croc shoes slammed: "Nike has been slammed by animal rights groups after launching trainers made from crocodile and snake skin.
The special edition shoes come with 18-carat gold lace tags and cost �1,400, reports the Sun.
One version is made from saltwater crocodile skin while the other features the skin of the world's largest snake - the anaconda.
They have been made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nike's Air Force 1 range, and have gone on sale at flagship stores around the world.
In London, one pair is spotlighted beneath a glass case.
However, the move seems to have backfired, with the National Animal Welfare Society saying: 'What a horrific and objectionable way of making money. They are croccy horrors.'"
Ananova - Nike croc shoes slammed: "Nike has been slammed by animal rights groups after launching trainers made from crocodile and snake skin.
The special edition shoes come with 18-carat gold lace tags and cost �1,400, reports the Sun.
One version is made from saltwater crocodile skin while the other features the skin of the world's largest snake - the anaconda.
They have been made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nike's Air Force 1 range, and have gone on sale at flagship stores around the world.
In London, one pair is spotlighted beneath a glass case.
However, the move seems to have backfired, with the National Animal Welfare Society saying: 'What a horrific and objectionable way of making money. They are croccy horrors.'"
Sunday, March 11, 2007
The Gunseller -- Hugh Laurie
I don't watch House very often, but I do know that Hugh Laurie's the star. He's also a darned good writer if The Gunseller is any evidence. It's fast-moving, funny, and thoroughly entertaining. The narrator is Thomas Lang, and when he's asked to kill an American millionaire, he refuses the job and informs the man of the plot against him. No good deed goes unpunished, and before Lang is absorbing more punishment than you'd think possible. He even lands in the hospital a couple of times, though his ability to recover rivals that of the immortal cheerleader on Heroes. He also finds himself at the center of a highly convoluted plot that I won't even try to summarize here. Let's just say that things blow up real good, that people are shot (or not), and that hardly anyone is what he (or she) appears to be.
This is great fun all the way through, and be sure to turn the next-to-last page for the final two-line kicker, which is fully in keeping with the cynicism of the rest of the novel.
Gator Update
Looser gator-hunt rules allow kills at nesting time | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "RIO HONDO — Listed as endangered a few decades ago, alligators these days are keeping game wardens busy as they respond to calls about the scaly reptiles being spotted alongside highways, behind strip malls and in the man-made lakes of gated housing developments.
The state's solution: more alligator hunting.
April 1 marks the beginning of the first spring alligator-hunting season in Texas, allowing one alligator per hunter in areas beyond the traditional zone in the state's swampy east.
And the new season comes with loosened restrictions, which worry some longtime hunters.
Hunters will be allowed to shoot alligators during nesting season and can shoot alligators in open water, which can leave a wounded and even more dangerous animal sitting in the bottom of a pond.
Traditionally a state warden permits alligator hunting only after a property meets a set of criteria. This season, Texas Parks & Wildlife specialist Amos Cooper said, is 'for any Joe with water and an alligator.'"
The state's solution: more alligator hunting.
April 1 marks the beginning of the first spring alligator-hunting season in Texas, allowing one alligator per hunter in areas beyond the traditional zone in the state's swampy east.
And the new season comes with loosened restrictions, which worry some longtime hunters.
Hunters will be allowed to shoot alligators during nesting season and can shoot alligators in open water, which can leave a wounded and even more dangerous animal sitting in the bottom of a pond.
Traditionally a state warden permits alligator hunting only after a property meets a set of criteria. This season, Texas Parks & Wildlife specialist Amos Cooper said, is 'for any Joe with water and an alligator.'"
I'll Bet She Smokes Salems
Witch rumors prompt teacher lawsuit - Newsday.com: "Her fingernails, makeup and clothing apparently made her look like a witch in the eyes of the principal at the Hampton Bays school where she taught reading, Lauren Berrios said Tuesday as she prepared for her lawsuit against the district to go to trial.
Berrios, 37, who vehemently denies ever practicing witchcraft, said there was no reason her appearance at the school could have been mistaken for anything other than a prim and well-kept professional.
Jurors in federal court are scheduled to start hearing Wednesday about how Berrios endured harassment from former Hampton Bays Elementary School principal Andrew Albano, who she claims falsely accused her of being a witch."
Berrios, 37, who vehemently denies ever practicing witchcraft, said there was no reason her appearance at the school could have been mistaken for anything other than a prim and well-kept professional.
Jurors in federal court are scheduled to start hearing Wednesday about how Berrios endured harassment from former Hampton Bays Elementary School principal Andrew Albano, who she claims falsely accused her of being a witch."
In Reality, They Were Just Good Friends.
Americans get an 'F' in religion - USATODAY.com
Sometimes dumb sounds cute: Sixty percent of Americans can't name five of the Ten Commandments, and 50% of high school seniors think Sodom and Gomorrah were married.
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Saturday, March 10, 2007
High Profile -- Robert B. Parker
I'm an admitted Robert B. Parker junkie. I've read all his novels, some more than once, and I find something to enjoy in all of them, even those that others dislike with varying degrees of intensity. That being said, I think we can now declare that it's official: nobody's proofreading the books any more. Maybe we can excuse the missing period after the book's last sentence. That might be some Faulknerian Literary Device (Parker was an English teacher, after all). But I don't think that explains the momentary lapse into first-person narration on p. 188. I think Parker just forgot for a second that he wasn't writing a Spenser novel and that nobody read the galleys, not the copy-editor and not Parker. But, hey, I don't care. I still enjoy the books. This one has two plots. One involves the high-profile murder of a radio and TV talk show host, and the other involves Jenn, Jesse's wife, who claims that she's been raped and that the rapist is now stalking her. Jesse has his hands full with the murder, so he enlists Sunny Randall, crossing over again from her own series, to take care of Jenn. There's always plenty of psychology (some might say too much) in Parker's novels lately, so there's a lot of analysis of Jesse's relationship with Jenn and of his relationship with Sunny. There's a lot of analysis of Jenn's relationship with Jesse, the "rapist," and men in general. There's also the usual smooth, assured writing (with that one little lapse), the snappy dialog, the fast-moving story. In other words, all the things I like. Check it out.
Gator Update
ABC News: Pet Alligator Confiscated From Vt. Home: "A 125-pound pet alligator that had been living in a basement cage is headed to a new home after it was confiscated by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. The 6-foot-4-inch American alligator, estimated to be 17-years old, had been living in the home for seven years.
'This animal could have harmed a child, not to mention the people who were taking care of it,' said Michael Ralbovsky of Rainforest Reptiles of Boston, who helped Vermont agents seize the alligator.
Ralbovsky said the alligator, which was kept in a wood and glass enclosure, was well taken care of, but small for its age.
'They just don't warm up to people. They don't ever become friendly. They don't make good pets,' he said."
'This animal could have harmed a child, not to mention the people who were taking care of it,' said Michael Ralbovsky of Rainforest Reptiles of Boston, who helped Vermont agents seize the alligator.
Ralbovsky said the alligator, which was kept in a wood and glass enclosure, was well taken care of, but small for its age.
'They just don't warm up to people. They don't ever become friendly. They don't make good pets,' he said."
Friday, March 09, 2007
More Birthdays!
Happy birthday to Lloyd Price: "Stagger Lee," "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," "Personality," and plenty more. Wonderful stuff.
And a happy birthday, too, to Mickey Gilley. He's more than just Jerry Lee's cousin and the one-time owner of Gilley's. He cut a few pretty good records, too: "Don't the Girls all get Prettier at Closing Time," "Roomful of Roses," "I Overlooked an Orchid." He even did a version of "Lawdy Miss Clawdy."
Top 5 Sidekicks
What? No Gabby Hayes?
Survey Says Chewbacca Is The Ultimate Sidekick - Starpulse News Blog: "Movie wookie Chewbacca has topped a new internet poll created to find the ultimate Celebrity Sideman. The Star Wars character, portrayed by Peter Mayhew, beat Burt Reynolds' sidekick Victor Prinzim (Dom DeLuise) in The Cannonball Run to land the title in Maxim.com new list.
The top five film friends are:
1. Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) in Star Wars
2. Victor Primzin (Dom DeLuise) in The Cannonball Run
3. Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) in Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom
4. Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) in Lord Of The Rings
5. Barney Fife (Don Knotts) in The Andy Griffith Show"
Survey Says Chewbacca Is The Ultimate Sidekick - Starpulse News Blog: "Movie wookie Chewbacca has topped a new internet poll created to find the ultimate Celebrity Sideman. The Star Wars character, portrayed by Peter Mayhew, beat Burt Reynolds' sidekick Victor Prinzim (Dom DeLuise) in The Cannonball Run to land the title in Maxim.com new list.
The top five film friends are:
1. Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) in Star Wars
2. Victor Primzin (Dom DeLuise) in The Cannonball Run
3. Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) in Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom
4. Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) in Lord Of The Rings
5. Barney Fife (Don Knotts) in The Andy Griffith Show"
Birthdays!
I have to admit that I didn't know until Beth Foxwell pointed it out that Mickey Spillane and William Campbell Gault shared this day as their birthday. Two great guys, two writers I've enjoyed for many years. Both gone now, and that's too bad.
I Hate Daylight Saving Time
As far as I know, there are no studies to prove that DST saves significant energy, or, for that matter, any energy at all. Yet we have to go through this every year. Stop the madness!
LiveScience.com - How to Survive the First Morning of Daylight Saving Time: "
Your head and body are in for a spin on Sunday morning, when clocks shift forward an hour in the earliest-ever calendar start of Daylight Saving Time (DST).
Here are some tips to keep the grogginess to a minimum and ease your body into the new “time zone,” according to the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center.
* A few days before Daylight Saving kicks in, hit the sack a little earlier each night. Even 15 minutes earlier for three days can make a difference.
* Also, set your alarm clock for 15 minutes earlier successively for each of the three days before DST.
* Make sure to set your clock one hour forward before going to bed this Saturday, not the next day. Sleeping in on Sunday will only cause problems down the line. Experts say to wake up at your normal time."
LiveScience.com - How to Survive the First Morning of Daylight Saving Time: "
Your head and body are in for a spin on Sunday morning, when clocks shift forward an hour in the earliest-ever calendar start of Daylight Saving Time (DST).
Here are some tips to keep the grogginess to a minimum and ease your body into the new “time zone,” according to the University of Michigan Sleep Disorders Center.
* A few days before Daylight Saving kicks in, hit the sack a little earlier each night. Even 15 minutes earlier for three days can make a difference.
* Also, set your alarm clock for 15 minutes earlier successively for each of the three days before DST.
* Make sure to set your clock one hour forward before going to bed this Saturday, not the next day. Sleeping in on Sunday will only cause problems down the line. Experts say to wake up at your normal time."
Dang
LiveScience.com - You Can't Travel Back in Time, Scientists Say: "The urge to hug a departed loved one again or prevent atrocities are among the compelling reasons that keep the notion of time travel alive in the minds of many.
While the idea makes for great fiction, some scientists now say traveling to the past is impossible.
There are a handful of scenarios that theorists have suggested for how one might travel to the past, said Brian Greene, author of the bestseller, “The Elegant Universe” and a physicist at Columbia University.“And almost all of them, if you look at them closely, brush up right at the edge of physics as we understand it. Most of us think that almost all of them can be ruled out.”"
While the idea makes for great fiction, some scientists now say traveling to the past is impossible.
There are a handful of scenarios that theorists have suggested for how one might travel to the past, said Brian Greene, author of the bestseller, “The Elegant Universe” and a physicist at Columbia University.“And almost all of them, if you look at them closely, brush up right at the edge of physics as we understand it. Most of us think that almost all of them can be ruled out.”"
The Wheels of the Law Grind Slowly
State revokes trucker's driver's license: "A trucker who had a lengthy record of driving offenses before causing a fatal crash on the Maine Turnpike has lost his driver’s license for good, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap announced Wednesday.
The state was able to permanently revoke Scott Hewitt’s license because of a finding by investigators that Hewitt was under the influence of marijuana when his tractor-trailer crushed a car on the toll highway in July 2005, Dunlap said.
Hewitt, 34, of Caribou, pleaded guilty last month to manslaughter in the crash, which caused the death of Tina Turcotte, 40, of Scarborough.
'The death caused by Mr. Hewitt was a needless tragedy, and it is my sincere wish that he never get behind the wheel of any motor vehicle ever again, in Maine or any other state,' Dunlap said Wednesday in a statement.
Hewitt’s driving record, which included 63 convictions, 23 license suspensions and a previous fatal crash, outraged many Mainers and prompted the Legislature to crack down on motorists with suspended licenses who refuse to stop driving."
The state was able to permanently revoke Scott Hewitt’s license because of a finding by investigators that Hewitt was under the influence of marijuana when his tractor-trailer crushed a car on the toll highway in July 2005, Dunlap said.
Hewitt, 34, of Caribou, pleaded guilty last month to manslaughter in the crash, which caused the death of Tina Turcotte, 40, of Scarborough.
'The death caused by Mr. Hewitt was a needless tragedy, and it is my sincere wish that he never get behind the wheel of any motor vehicle ever again, in Maine or any other state,' Dunlap said Wednesday in a statement.
Hewitt’s driving record, which included 63 convictions, 23 license suspensions and a previous fatal crash, outraged many Mainers and prompted the Legislature to crack down on motorists with suspended licenses who refuse to stop driving."
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Bitter Ground -- W. R. Burnett
Once upon a time, long, long ago (1958), Knopf published western novels. And they were reviewed in the New York Times, which called Bitter Ground the "best western of the year," according to the blurb on the back of the Bantam paperback edition. Don't get the idea that Bitter Ground is a "novel of the west" or anything like that. It's a pure powder-burner. A man named Doc and his two cronies ride into San Ygnacio with the idea of taking over the town. The sheriff is Ben Gann, a fast gun, but over the hill, or so Doc believes. The only obstacle to Doc's plan is William Stafford, a young man who's in San Ygnacio to escape from his past, when he was known as "Brazos" and was faster with a gun than anybody. He's hung up his guns, however, and vowed never to strap on a pistol again.
So what do you think? Will Brazos be forced to wear guns again? Will he and Doc have a showdown in the middle of Main Street? You're durned tootin'. This is the good old stuff. Check it out if you ever get the chance.
Hollywood's Hottest Blondes
I'm not going to mention #8.
Christina Aguilera Is The Hottest Blonde - Starpulse News Blog: "Christina Aguilera has topped a new magazine poll to find Hollywood's Hottest Blonde.
The pop superstar beat Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson to land the top spot on the new In Touch hot list."
Christina Aguilera Is The Hottest Blonde - Starpulse News Blog: "Christina Aguilera has topped a new magazine poll to find Hollywood's Hottest Blonde.
The pop superstar beat Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson to land the top spot on the new In Touch hot list."
Interview with Lee Goldberg
There's an entertaining an interesting interview with Lee Goldberg over at Poe's Deadly Daughters. Check it out.
Mama Mia! Update
Pierce Brosnan to star in ABBA musical with Meryl Streep - Yahoo! News: "Pierce Brosnan has become the latest star to sign up for the big-screen adaptation of hit ABBA musical 'Mamma Mia!,' local media reported Wednesday.
The Irish actor best known for his portrayal of British super spy 007 in the James Bond films will line up opposite two-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep for the movie, film industry tabloid Daily Variety reported.
The film, which plays out to a soundtrack of hit songs from the Swedish super group of the 1970s and 1980s, tells the story of a young woman trying to find out the identity of her father."
The Irish actor best known for his portrayal of British super spy 007 in the James Bond films will line up opposite two-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep for the movie, film industry tabloid Daily Variety reported.
The film, which plays out to a soundtrack of hit songs from the Swedish super group of the 1970s and 1980s, tells the story of a young woman trying to find out the identity of her father."
No English Teacher Reading this Will Be Surprised
The applicants who all had burnt pyjamas-News-UK-Education-TimesOnline: "University admissions officers may have been amused and impressed with the bright young spark who began his medical school application with an entertaining yet thoughtful anecdote about setting fire to his pyjamas when he was a boy.
But that was before they read 233 other applications telling exactly the same story.
They may experienced a similar sense of d�j�vu when they read all 370 applications from would-be doctors who opened their personal statements with “a fascination for how the human body works . . .” and the 175 who referred to their “elderly or infirm grandfather”.
A creative imagination may not be the first thing universities were looking for from our future GPs, dentists or brain surgeons, but they might reasonably expect applicants to tell the truth."
But that was before they read 233 other applications telling exactly the same story.
They may experienced a similar sense of d�j�vu when they read all 370 applications from would-be doctors who opened their personal statements with “a fascination for how the human body works . . .” and the 175 who referred to their “elderly or infirm grandfather”.
A creative imagination may not be the first thing universities were looking for from our future GPs, dentists or brain surgeons, but they might reasonably expect applicants to tell the truth."
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Big Bopper Update
Big Bopper autopsy puts rumors to rest - CNN.com: "KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (AP) -- J.P. 'The Big Bopper' Richardson suffered massive fractures and likely died immediately in the 1959 plane crash that also killed early rock 'n' rollers Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, a forensic anthropologist said Tuesday after exhuming the body.
The performer's son, Jay Richardson, hired Dr. Bill Bass, a well-known forensic anthropologist at the University of Tennessee, to look at the remains in Beaumont, Texas.
There have been rumors a gun might have been fired on board the plane and that the Big Bopper might have survived the crash and died trying to get help.
Bass took X-rays of the body and found nothing Tuesday to support those theories.
'There was no indication of foul play,' Bass said in a telephone interview from Beaumont. 'There are fractures from head to toe. Massive fractures. ... (He) died immediately. He didn't crawl away. He didn't walk away from the plane.'
The rock 'n' roll stars' plane crashed after taking off from Mason City, Iowa, on February 3, 1959 -- a tragedy memorialized as 'the day the music died' in Don McLean's song 'American Pie.'"
The performer's son, Jay Richardson, hired Dr. Bill Bass, a well-known forensic anthropologist at the University of Tennessee, to look at the remains in Beaumont, Texas.
There have been rumors a gun might have been fired on board the plane and that the Big Bopper might have survived the crash and died trying to get help.
Bass took X-rays of the body and found nothing Tuesday to support those theories.
'There was no indication of foul play,' Bass said in a telephone interview from Beaumont. 'There are fractures from head to toe. Massive fractures. ... (He) died immediately. He didn't crawl away. He didn't walk away from the plane.'
The rock 'n' roll stars' plane crashed after taking off from Mason City, Iowa, on February 3, 1959 -- a tragedy memorialized as 'the day the music died' in Don McLean's song 'American Pie.'"
Lucky at Cards -- Lawrence Block
The other day I commented on Lawrence Block's $20 Lust, reprinted as Cinderella Sims. Block started out to write a Gold Medal crime novel, figured this one didn't quite cut the mustard, and published it as soft-core porn. Now Hard Case Crime has reprinted another of Block's old soft-core novels, Lucky at Cards (aka The Sex Shuffle). This one comes a lot closer to being a Gold Medal book, I think, than Cinderella Sims.For one thing, there's a lot less sex. Cinderella Sims has a lot of sex, and the scenes are considerably longer and more explicit than those in Lucky at Cards. Another thing is that the background in Lucky is a lot more carefully worked out and believable than the one in Cinderella. All the stuff about poker and gin sounds exactly right, and the setting is as convincing as in anything Block has done.
With a little tweaking, especially toward the end, this book would have fit right into the Gold Medal line. I wonder if Block tried it there and it just didn't fly for some reason. At any rate, it's great to have this new edition on the shelves. Check it out.
Top 10 Things You Don't Want to Hear in the Elevator at an SF Convention
Top 10 Things You Don’t Want to Hear in the Elevator at an SF Convention
10 “Signal the Mother Ship! The specimens in this turbolift will just fill our quota for new slaves!”
Click the link for more.
Anna Nicole Smith Update (from the Ever Classy O. J.)
O.J. A SMITH DAD CANDIDATE - Pagesix - New York Post Online Edition: "ADD O.J. Simpson's name to the list of Anna Nicole Smith conquests. When the blond bombshell died last month and at least three men claimed to be the father of her baby girl, Dannielynn, the double-murder acquittee 'said he was throwing his hat into the ring,' Norm Pardo told Page Six. Pardo is the videographer who amassed 70 hours of footage of Simpson from 2000 to 2005. 'He said he knew Anna Nicole pretty well, and he said he had slow-moving sperm, and he might be the father.' Simpson and Smith were castmates in 'Naked Gun 331/3: The Final Insult' (1994), and Anna Nicole was certainly O.J.'s type. His murdered wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, was also blond and busty. Simpson, who often visits the Bahamas, also joked to Pardo, 'I hope they don't do a DNA test on Anna Nicole's baby. If they find out Dannielynn is mine, I don't want Fred Goldman trying to seize her money - or the baby herself.'"
Anna Nicole Smith Update
ANNA NICOLE SMITH - ANNA NICOLES JAILED EX FEARS SEX TAPE HAS BEEN STOLEN: "ANNA NICOLE SMITH's jailed ex-boyfriend fears a sex tape of him making love to the tragic model is among the items stolen in a raid on her home in the Bahamas. MARK HATTEN, who is serving time for making terrorist threats against Smith and beating up her neighbour, has revealed the existence of the sex tape in recent correspondence with Smith's estranged mother VIRGIE ARTHUR. In one letter to Arthur, obtained by website TMZ.com, Hatten urges her to find and destroy the tape, explaining his ex was 'against pornography (hardcore)'. "
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Out of the Gutter
I've been reading the stories in Out of the Gutter this week. You remember those old "not for the squeamish" warnings? Well, it sure applies here. But the old adage about not being able to judge a book by its cover doesn't. Take a look over there to the left. You're going to get what the cover promises. These are rough and tumble stories, and some of them hit like a fist in the face. There's nothing pretty and dainty here, but if your looking for something rough, raw, and real, they gotcha covered. Some of the stories are even funny, in a gruesome or very dark way. There's some nonfiction, some verse, some comics, and some mock ads, too. An interesting and entertaining package. Check it out.
So That's Why They're Called Drill Sergeants
FOXNews.com - Drill Sergeant Accused of Forcing Trainee to Dress as Superman, Submit to Sex Acts - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News: "A drill sergeant at Fort Eustis in Hampton is accused of forcing a male trainee to dress as Superman and submit to sexual acts.
Officials say Army Staff Sergeant Edmundo Estrada also faces charges of indecent assault, having an inappropriate relationship with a trainee, and cruelty and maltreatment of subordinates. The 35-year-old was arraigned in January and is scheduled to appear April 17 in a military court. He remains on active duty but is no longer a drill sergeant.
A search warrant affidavit filed in Hampton Circuit Court says officials began investigating Estrada in August after a soldier reported Estrada mistreated and sexually assaulted him."
Officials say Army Staff Sergeant Edmundo Estrada also faces charges of indecent assault, having an inappropriate relationship with a trainee, and cruelty and maltreatment of subordinates. The 35-year-old was arraigned in January and is scheduled to appear April 17 in a military court. He remains on active duty but is no longer a drill sergeant.
A search warrant affidavit filed in Hampton Circuit Court says officials began investigating Estrada in August after a soldier reported Estrada mistreated and sexually assaulted him."
News Flash
SCI FI Wire | The News Service of the SCI FI Channel: "SCI FI Channel has green-lighted production on Flash Gordon, a series based on the popular comic-strip franchise, the channel announced Jan. 12 at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif.
Production on the 22 one-hour episodes begins in Canada early this year. The series, produced by Reunion Pictures, is slated to debut on SCI FI in July, with a broadcast syndication window to follow.
The series will be produced under an agreement between King Features Syndicate, which owns the rights to Flash Gordon, and Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. (The Legend of Earthsea).
The characters of Ming, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov will be brought back for a contemporary retelling of the comic-strip story created in 1934 by Alex Raymond. The strip is still distributed internationally by King Features Syndicate. "
Production on the 22 one-hour episodes begins in Canada early this year. The series, produced by Reunion Pictures, is slated to debut on SCI FI in July, with a broadcast syndication window to follow.
The series will be produced under an agreement between King Features Syndicate, which owns the rights to Flash Gordon, and Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. (The Legend of Earthsea).
The characters of Ming, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov will be brought back for a contemporary retelling of the comic-strip story created in 1934 by Alex Raymond. The strip is still distributed internationally by King Features Syndicate. "
New Hardluck Stories Now On-line
The latest issue of Hardluck Stories is on-line now, with some great artwork and some fine stories. Don't let anybody try to tell you that the e-zines aren't publishing topnotch work. This is good stuff. Check it out.
Art Buchwald Update
The Laughter Lives On at Art Buchwald's Memorial Service - washingtonpost.com
They sent "Artie" off with laughter, as was only fitting, given that humor had been Art Buchwald's great gift to this world. So when hundreds of family members and friends -- many of them public luminaries -- gathered at the Kennedy Center yesterday to commemorate his life, it was a ceremony filled as much with mirth as mourning.
"He provided so much material for everybody, and so much of it was timeless," said his son, Joel Buchwald, after the 90-minute service. With 10 eulogies and two video tributes, approximately 550 guests and a setting in the Eisenhower Theater, Buchwald's memorial may not have matched the fantasy one he humorously described in his last book -- Carnegie Hall, Harlem Boys Choir, "New York Symphony" -- but it was certainly an event.
Among the guests were John Glenn, Nancy Pelosi, Sam Donaldson, Andy Rooney, Eunice Shriver and a whole clan of Kennedys, Robert Novak, Bob Woodward . . . and that doesn't even include those who spoke. In addition to three members of his family (Joel and his sister Jennifer Buchwald, as well as Joel's wife, Tamara Buchwald), the longtime humorist was honored by Tom Brokaw, Mike Wallace, Ben Bradlee, Dave Barry, George Stevens Jr., Michael Newman (who was Buchwald's friend as well as his physician) and Ethel Kennedy, who brought down the house with rich anecdotes about her old friend.
They sent "Artie" off with laughter, as was only fitting, given that humor had been Art Buchwald's great gift to this world. So when hundreds of family members and friends -- many of them public luminaries -- gathered at the Kennedy Center yesterday to commemorate his life, it was a ceremony filled as much with mirth as mourning.
"He provided so much material for everybody, and so much of it was timeless," said his son, Joel Buchwald, after the 90-minute service. With 10 eulogies and two video tributes, approximately 550 guests and a setting in the Eisenhower Theater, Buchwald's memorial may not have matched the fantasy one he humorously described in his last book -- Carnegie Hall, Harlem Boys Choir, "New York Symphony" -- but it was certainly an event.
Among the guests were John Glenn, Nancy Pelosi, Sam Donaldson, Andy Rooney, Eunice Shriver and a whole clan of Kennedys, Robert Novak, Bob Woodward . . . and that doesn't even include those who spoke. In addition to three members of his family (Joel and his sister Jennifer Buchwald, as well as Joel's wife, Tamara Buchwald), the longtime humorist was honored by Tom Brokaw, Mike Wallace, Ben Bradlee, Dave Barry, George Stevens Jr., Michael Newman (who was Buchwald's friend as well as his physician) and Ethel Kennedy, who brought down the house with rich anecdotes about her old friend.
Monday, March 05, 2007
On the Wrong Track -- Steve Hockensmith
Gustav and Otto (or Old Red and Big Red, if you prefer) Amlingmeyer are back. That should be all you need to know to send you looking for Steve Hockensmith's new novel, the official publication date of which is today. In spite of the setting (the 1890s), this book is, of course a western. It's a historical mystery, this time with a railroad setting.* It's got a lot of great stuff for mystery fans, including robbery, murder, hoboes, and even an actual detective (who drinks a lot). Hilarity and deductifyin' ensue. Fans of the first book in this series (Holmes on the Range) will recall that Gustav is the one who believes that Sherlock Holmes is a real person, and, inspired by his example, attempts to apply his methods in the Old West setting. Fans will also recall that one of the best things about the novel is Otto's first-person narration. If you're not a fan, you should be, because this is a series that's going to be around. You'll want to be sure to get in on the ground floor.
And one more thing. As Joe Bob Briggs would say, "Heads roll." Check it out.
*Once upon a time there was a series of westerns about a railroad detective agency, the main operative being a guy being named Stone. The author of the books was one "William Grant," and each book in the series was a mystery novel dealing with railroads in the Old West. The books were, unfortunately, marketed as westerns and sank without a trace. However, if you're a mystery fan and would like to read something along those lines, I recommend one called The Colorado Special.
25 Years? Seems More Like Two Weeks to Me
John Belushi, 25 years gone - CNN.com: "LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- When a force of nature like John Belushi is lost, 25 years isn't time enough to ease the grief or erase the laughter.
Actor-comedian Richard Belzer still dreams about him from time to time, the unselfish friend and 'impish genius' who devoured life. John Landis, who directed Belushi in 'Animal House' and 'The Blues Brothers,' is still angry at him for dying foolishly and young.
'Saturday Night Live' creator Lorne Michaels feels an obligation to 'restate the obvious,' that Belushi was profoundly talented and part of the show's creative DNA. (Blog: Belushi memories)
By most measures, the round comic with the sharp edges left a small body of work when a drug overdose killed him at age 33 on March 5, 1982. But his TV, movie and music performances proved influential, hitting the baby-boomer sweet spot and surviving despite pop culture's truncated attention span. "
Actor-comedian Richard Belzer still dreams about him from time to time, the unselfish friend and 'impish genius' who devoured life. John Landis, who directed Belushi in 'Animal House' and 'The Blues Brothers,' is still angry at him for dying foolishly and young.
'Saturday Night Live' creator Lorne Michaels feels an obligation to 'restate the obvious,' that Belushi was profoundly talented and part of the show's creative DNA. (Blog: Belushi memories)
By most measures, the round comic with the sharp edges left a small body of work when a drug overdose killed him at age 33 on March 5, 1982. But his TV, movie and music performances proved influential, hitting the baby-boomer sweet spot and surviving despite pop culture's truncated attention span. "
The Blog Project Story
Bryon Quetermous and Dave White set today as the date the latest blog project stories would go live. Each story was supposed to mention blogging, I believe. So I figured why not go the whole hog? My story is a blog. You can read it here. Since it's a blog, you can start with the most recent post and read it backward, or you can go to the beginning and start there. You won't be allowed to comment, but you can read the comments, I hope. They're kind of part of the whole thing.
I believe we were to receive the links to the other stories today, but I don't have those yet.
Update: Gerald So's keeping up with the contributors to the project on his blog. You can go there for the links.
I believe we were to receive the links to the other stories today, but I don't have those yet.
Update: Gerald So's keeping up with the contributors to the project on his blog. You can go there for the links.
But His Hair Was Perfect
Fond du Lac Reporter - Man who claims he’s a werewolf faces charges: "A Fond du Lac man who claimed he was a werewolf and spoke what sounded like a medieval language has been charged with criminal trespassing, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana.
A $5,000 cash bail was ordered for Robert Marsh, 39 — who lists his address as the Fond du Lac County Jail — during an appearance Friday in Fond du Lac County Circuit Court.
A woman who lives on West Division Street contacted Fond du Lac police about 3 a.m. March 1 and reported that Marsh broke through the deadbolt on her door and grabbed her arm but was stopped by two men in the apartment, according to a criminal complaint.
Marsh was released from prison a few days prior to the incident and the woman had allowed Marsh to stay at her place because he was homeless, according to the report.
During the time Marsh stayed at the home he had not slept, was drinking and often incoherent, stating he was a werewolf, had powers and was involved in a witch religion, the woman told police.
When Marsh was located he had a small amount of marijuana on him and warned authorities that he could change forms."
A $5,000 cash bail was ordered for Robert Marsh, 39 — who lists his address as the Fond du Lac County Jail — during an appearance Friday in Fond du Lac County Circuit Court.
A woman who lives on West Division Street contacted Fond du Lac police about 3 a.m. March 1 and reported that Marsh broke through the deadbolt on her door and grabbed her arm but was stopped by two men in the apartment, according to a criminal complaint.
Marsh was released from prison a few days prior to the incident and the woman had allowed Marsh to stay at her place because he was homeless, according to the report.
During the time Marsh stayed at the home he had not slept, was drinking and often incoherent, stating he was a werewolf, had powers and was involved in a witch religion, the woman told police.
When Marsh was located he had a small amount of marijuana on him and warned authorities that he could change forms."
Happy Birthday, Al Hubin!
Happy birthday to the founder of The Armchair Detective and the compiler of the definitive crime-fiction bibliography. Long may he thrive.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Robert E. Howard Days Coming in June
Thanks to Charlotte Laughlin for the link.
Cross Plains creator of Conan died young : Local Attractions : gosanangelo.com: "Some Texas writers become famous after years of hard work, and some live long enough to enjoy their celebrity. For Robert Ervin Howard, 40 years would go by before his writings would bring him fame, long after his death by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian, the mystical land of Cimmeria and the sword-and-sorcery genre of fiction, died more than 70 years ago when he shot himself while grieving his sick mother. She would die 30 hours after her son. They are buried side by side in Brownwood’s Greenleaf Cemetery.
Howard was one of America’s most prolific writers, and perhaps the weirdest. He has been mostly forgotten by his peers, and his life was so unremarkable that not many folks remembered much about the man. He was described as “a social misfit who was so dependent on his mother that even as a grown man he could never leave her for more than a weekend.”
In June, his hometown of Cross Plains will again host a special weekend of commemoration focused on the Howard home and Howard’s manuscripts, notes and other articles."
Cross Plains creator of Conan died young : Local Attractions : gosanangelo.com: "Some Texas writers become famous after years of hard work, and some live long enough to enjoy their celebrity. For Robert Ervin Howard, 40 years would go by before his writings would bring him fame, long after his death by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian, the mystical land of Cimmeria and the sword-and-sorcery genre of fiction, died more than 70 years ago when he shot himself while grieving his sick mother. She would die 30 hours after her son. They are buried side by side in Brownwood’s Greenleaf Cemetery.
Howard was one of America’s most prolific writers, and perhaps the weirdest. He has been mostly forgotten by his peers, and his life was so unremarkable that not many folks remembered much about the man. He was described as “a social misfit who was so dependent on his mother that even as a grown man he could never leave her for more than a weekend.”
In June, his hometown of Cross Plains will again host a special weekend of commemoration focused on the Howard home and Howard’s manuscripts, notes and other articles."
Happy Birthday, James Ellroy!
Ellroy.com: "James Ellroy (nee Lee Earle Ellroy) was born in Los Angeles [on this day] in 1948. His mother was a nurse and his father, when he did work, was an accountant, among other things.
When his parents divorced in 1954, his mother got custody and moved to El Monte (a low income area in L.A). His mother was murdered there in 1958. James Ellroy's attempt to solve this still unsolved murder was the subject of his 1996 nonfiction work My Dark Places. After his mother's death, he moved in with his father.
Ellroy claims to have been turned on to crime fiction by the Hardy Boys. At the age of ten, his father bought him Jack Webb's The Badge:a history of the LAPD. He became obsessed with the book and studied it repeatedly. In this book, he discovered the story of the Black Dahlia, as well as the cops and crime figures he would later write about in the L.A. Quartet."
When his parents divorced in 1954, his mother got custody and moved to El Monte (a low income area in L.A). His mother was murdered there in 1958. James Ellroy's attempt to solve this still unsolved murder was the subject of his 1996 nonfiction work My Dark Places. After his mother's death, he moved in with his father.
Ellroy claims to have been turned on to crime fiction by the Hardy Boys. At the age of ten, his father bought him Jack Webb's The Badge:a history of the LAPD. He became obsessed with the book and studied it repeatedly. In this book, he discovered the story of the Black Dahlia, as well as the cops and crime figures he would later write about in the L.A. Quartet."
Let's See Paris Hilton Top This
Britney 'attempted rehab suicide' | NEWS.com.au: "BRITNEY Spears has flipped her lid in rehab, trying to hang herself with a bedsheet after screaming 'I am the anti-christ' to frightened staff.
She made the demonic cry after scrawling the devil's number '666' across her head.
Spears's manic behaviour has concerned relatives who once again fear for her safety, and has staff at the Promises Clinic in Malibu, California struggling to cope."
She made the demonic cry after scrawling the devil's number '666' across her head.
Spears's manic behaviour has concerned relatives who once again fear for her safety, and has staff at the Promises Clinic in Malibu, California struggling to cope."
Robin Hood
I watched the first episode of BBC's Robin Hood last night and liked it. Jonas Armstrong's no Errol Flynn. He's moodier and broodier and lacks the zest I enjoyed so much in the Flynn film. He also looks too young for a guy who's supposedly been in the Holy Land slaying infidels for five years, but then nobody should expect realism in a series where the peasants all look as if they've just come from a shower and a hair stylist. Richard Armitage seems okay as Guy of Gisborne. I'm sure the character will get more development as the series goes on. Keith Allen's Sheriff of Nottingham is not a guy you'd trust with your birds. Lucy Griffiths' Maid Marian is a fiesty cliche, but maybe that will change. I'm wondering about Sam Troughton as Much, the miller's son. He's comic relief but seems to have secrets we're yet to learn.The show looks good, and the bow-and-arrow stuff is fun. Shooting two arrows at once? Even Flynn didn't try that one, and how about that sword toss? I think I'll stick with this one for a few episodes, and maybe for the whole run. Check it out.
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