It's What You've Been Waiting For!

Meridian Bridge � A Conversation With Bill Crider, Part 2

How the Internet Destroyed Everything

How the Internet Ruined Newspapers, TV, Music, Movies, Microsoft - Newsweek 2010: "The past decade is the era in which the Internet ruined everything. Just look at the industries that have been damaged by the rise of the Web: Newspapers. Magazines. Books. TV. Movies. Music. Retailers of almost any kind, from cars to real estate. Telecommunications. Airlines and hotels. Wherever companies relied on advertising to make money, wherever companies were profiting by a lack of transparency or a lack of competition, wherever friction could be polished out of the system, those industries suffered."

Forgotten Books: THE CASE OF THE DANCING SANDWICHES -- Fredric Brown

After the disappointment of last week's read, I thought I should give Fredric Brown another try. The Case of the Dancing Sandwiches isn't exactly forgotten. It's just not easy to find. It's a Dell 10-Cent book, and it's one of the more expensive in the series. The cheapest copy on Abebooks is $100. The hardcover reprint from Dennis McMillan is even more. You could probably find a copy of the Summer 1950 issue of Mystery Book Magazine, where the story first appeared, for a lot less.

All that aside, this one's a lot better than We All Killed Grandma. Carl Dixon meets a man who calls himself Vic Tremaine. Tremaine seems like a nice guy, and he and his sister treat Carl to a night on the town. Carl enjoys himself, and he's feeling romantic about the sister. Things, of course, are not what they seem, and before he knows it, Carl is in prison, convicted of murder.

It's all part of a clever plot (based on things that are certainly dated) that's eventually untangled by Carl's finacee and a cop she asks for advice. All I'm going to say is that the title is a clue. This one's a satisfying read.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

Man Crashes $2M Bugatti in La Marque Lake | MyFoxHouston.com: "A rare $2 million car was nearly destroyed in La Marque when a driver accidently drove the Bugatti Veyron into a lagoon.
[. . . .]
La Marque police say the French-built supercar ended up in about 2 feet of saltwater. The driver, whose name was not immediately released, was not injured in the crash.
[. . . .]
The driver, who was from Lufkin, had been looking at real estate in the Galveston area when he was distracted by a low-flying pelican near Omega Bay, according to police."

I'm Not Shocked at All

CUNY's got math problem: Report shows many freshmen from city HS fail at basic algebra: "More city kids are graduating from high school, but that doesn't mean they can do college math.

Basic algebra involving fractions and decimals stumped a group of City University of New York freshmen - suggesting city schools aren't preparing them, a CUNY report shows.

'These results are shocking,' said City College Prof. Stanley Ocken, who co-wrote the report on CUNY kids' skills. 'They show that a disturbing proportion of New York City high school graduates lack basic skills.'"

California, Here I Come

ALA JobList - Grateful Dead Archivist: "Grateful Dead Archivist
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ

Grateful Dead Archivist
Status: Full-time
Posted: 11/09/09
Deadline: Initial Review Date, 12/04/09

The University Library of the University of California, Santa Cruz, seeks an enterprising, creative, and service-oriented archivist to join the staff of Special Collections & Archives (SC&A) as Archivist for the Grateful Dead Archive. This is an academic librarian professional position."

Link via Dave Barry's Blog.

Croc Update

Surprise DNA results boost chances of "extinct" crocodile (Feature) - Monsters and Critics: "Phnom Penh - In 1992, the Siamese crocodile was declared extinct in the wild. It was a depressing end for a creature that was once widespread across its native South-East Asian habitat.

Just a decade later there was altogether better news when field studies by researchers from the Cambodian government and wildlife organizations found a number of Siamese crocodiles in the wild."

Hat tip to Tina Karelson.

David Lloyd, R. I. P.

Matthew Greenberg - Worst Episode Ever – David Lloyd, writer for ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ – and the man who killed Chuckles the Clown – dies - True/Slant: "Tomorrow, when you read the obits about veteran television comedy writer David Lloyd, who died after a long illness, they’ll surely mention “Chuckles Bites the Dust” in the first paragraph.

David Lloyd’s first television writing gig was in 1963 for “The Tonight Show” — his last was for “Frasier” in 2001. In between, he had his hands on just about every legendary sitcom (and occassional drama) you can think of that didn’t come out of the Norman Lear factory — “Phyllis,” “Rhoda,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “Lou Grant,” “Taxi,” “Cheers,” “Frasier” and more.

But it was his work on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” — and that one Chuckles episode in particular — that will be his fitting epitaph."

A nice tribute can be found here. Thanks to Todd Mason for passing this news along.

I'll Bet It Was in the Sewer and Came Out of the Toilet

Man walks into restroom, finds 6' gator | restroom, county, steve - Local News -: "Imagine walking into a public restroom and finding yourself face-to-face with a 6' alligator. That is exactly what happened to a local man on Wednesday morning in Jasper."

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

Police Train To Draw Suspects' Blood - Houston News Story - KPRC Houston: "After Houston police pull over suspected drunken drivers, officers will soon have a new option: drawing blood themselves.

A source in the Houston Police Department confirmed 10 officers are assigned to complete training.

The source said if a driver refuses a breath test, they will get a warning about losing their license. Officers will then ask for a blood sample. If the driver again refuses, the officer will ask for a search warrant from a judge, then draw the blood, him or herself, at the police station.

However, the source said, in certain cases, the officer will be able to draw blood without a warrant."

Las Vegas Leads the Way

'Stripper-mobile' with live dancers raises safety, decency concerns - Las Vegas Sun: "It’s akin to a small U-Haul truck but with Plexiglas surrounding the brightly lit cargo area instead of walls. In the middle is a gleaming stripper pole. Swinging around the pole is a scantily clad young woman. Two of her fellow strippers are in the back of the truck too, awaiting their turns."

Connecticut Leads the Way

Chewing-Gum Theft on the Rise in Connecticut - Asylum.com: "On the rough-and-tumble streets of Connecticut, chewing-gum robberies are on the rise, say police, who've seen a rash of gum thefts this year.

It all started in March when $800 worth of Orbit gum was stolen from stores in Bridgeport, Fairfield and Stratford by one man, Kenneth McManus, who intended to sell it for drug money. Cops say this high-profile robbery has led to several copycat gum thefts since June.

'What the motive is, we don't know,' said New Britain State's Attorney Scott Murphy. 'But gum thefts are increasing.'"

Hat tip to Toby O'B.

Black Friday Is Coming

Target's Black Friday bet:$3 appliances, deep deals on HDTVs - Nov. 11, 2009: "Target is hoping to lure this year's Black Friday shoppers with $3 toasters and coffeemakers, deep deals on high-definition televisions, and discounts of 50% on clothes and toys, according to a Web site that says it has received a leaked copy of the retailer's circular.

Brad Olson, founder of Gottadeal.com, a Web site that markets itself as one of many 'official' Black Friday deal sites, said Wednesday that he received a copy of the discount retailer's ad."

Get off My Lawn and Let This Guy Mow It

3 News > Home > Story > Get off my lawn - cause this 100-year-old's about to mow it: "Arthur Wilson 100 years old. We hope he got a telegram from the Queen, but he already has something he cherishes - his job.

Mr Wilson mows lawns.
[. . . .]
So that no young whipper-snapper could come and take his job off him, Mr Wilson just signed a contract to keep mowing lawns for another five years."

Follow that Dream

Money for Grades Update

School pulls the plug on fundraiser that exchanged grades for money | Head of the Class - MLive.com: "A North Carolina middle school’s plan to raise test scores for students who raised money was quickly squashed today, according to an article in the News & Observer.

District leaders stopped the fundraiser, issuing a statement this morning indicating no extra grade credit will be issued that may have resulted from donations, and donations will be returned starting Thursday."

Peru Update

Peru: 1.5 lbs. of nails pulled from man's stomach: "'They call me the hardware store,' says Requelme Abanto from his hospital bed in northern Peru.

Doctors in the city of Cajamarca say they removed 1.5 pounds of metal from Abanto's stomach, including nails, coins, and rusted copper wire and scrap metal.
[. . . .]
Delgado said specialists are examining Abanto's mental health as he recovers.

The 26-year-old construction worker ate the metal for months, and told Peru's Channel 9 television that he may now do it in public 'as sport.'"

Top 10 Abandoned Bank Vaults

10 Amazing Abandoned Bank Vaults: Built to be indestructible, they often survive long after the buildings which house them. Many creative individuals have played off of our fascination with them and dreamed up new uses for these marvels of impenetrable steel

Code Talkers

Navajo Code Talkers: Of the approximately 400 Navajos who trained as code talkers, only about 50 are still alive, most of them living in the Navajo Nation that includes part of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Today, for the first time, a group of 13 code talkers will take part in the Veterans Day parade in New York City.

You should click the link and read the whole article. Yes, Nicolas Cage starred in a bad movie about the code talkers. Don't let that stop you from reading the article.

Dick Stodghill, R. I. P.

The Star Press.com: Stodghill wrote far more than all that, though. A former Pinkerton Detective Agency operative himself, he was a longtime fan of classic mystery writers, whose attributes he could discuss at length, and during an earlier, temporary retirement from his newspaper work, tried his hand at it with amazing results.

A fan of short stories, his soon began to appear regularly in top mystery publications, most notably Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. Even after his eventual return to newspaper work, he was a regular contributor, his stories frequently culled for hard-cover collections published by groups like Mystery Writers of America and Private Eye Writers of America.

Indeed, during last month's Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in Indianapolis, his story Panic on Portage Path was a nominee for a 2009 Shamus Award from the Private Eye Writers of America.

An Idea Whose Time Has Come

Selling candy didn't raise much money last year, so a Goldsboro middle school is selling grades.

A $20 donation to Rosewood Middle School will get a student 20 test points - 10 extra points on two tests of the student's choosing. That could raise a B to an A, or a failing grade to a D.

For Those Who Just Can't Get Enough . . .

Meridian Bridge � A Conversation With Bill Crider

Joe Maross, R. I. P.

PASSINGS: Joe Maross, Al Cervi, Rod Van Hook -- latimes.com: "Joe Maross, 86, a prolific character actor whose film and television career spanned the 1950s to the 1980s, died of cardiac arrest Saturday at a convalescent hospital in Glendale, said his son, Michael.

Maross appeared in several movies, including 'Run Silent, Run Deep,' 'Elmer Gantry,' 'Sometimes a Great Notion' and 'Rich and Famous,' but he was best known for his work in television.

Beginning on live TV in New York in 1952, he had roles in dramatic anthology series such as 'Lux Video Theatre,' 'Studio One' and 'Armstrong Circle Theatre.'"

Hat tip to Toby O'Brien.

Oops

Drive-by Shooter Forgets to Roll Down Window: "A Wisconsin man made an obvious mistake while allegedly attempting to commit a crime last week.

The 'Appleton Post-Crescent' reports that Andrew Burwitz forgot to roll down his window as he allegedly attempted a drive-by shooting."

Hat tip to Jeff Segal.

Veterans Day

Thanks to all who serve!

Support Your Local Community College!

Daily Herald | ECC beats Yale in mock trial tournament: "Elgin Community College, the only community college to compete in Harvard's annual Crimson Classic mock trial tournament over the weekend, beat two of the four prestigious teams it was pitted against - Villanova and Yale."

Girls! Girls! Girls!

The Story With No Name: Part 15

Davy Crockett's Almanack of Mystery, Adventure and The Wild West: DEATH COMES to The Story With No Name: Part 15 by James J. Griffin

Uh-Oh

Will Smith Signs onto Flowers for Algernon | Pajiba - Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People: "Two-time Academy Award nominee, Will Smith, may have found the project that will finally win him that elusive Oscar. According to our inside source, The Hollywood Cog, Smith is set to produce and star in Flowers for Algernon, a modern-day adaptation of the Daniel Keyes’ novel."

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet Returns

Check out this review.

Roberson's Interminable Ramble: Tom Corbett, Space Cadet: ". . . nothing is lost forever."

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

Loaded Gun Found in Juvenile Lockup | MyFoxHouston.com: "Harris County authorities are trying to find out how a 16-year-old was able to get a loaded handgun past officers at the juvenile detention center.

Guards at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center discovered the handgun about two hours after the youth was booked for possession of marijuana around 6 a.m. Monday."

Berlin Wall Quiz

Special News Quiz | Berlin Wall History - The Learning Network Blog - NYTimes.com: "Answer the questions below, each of which is based on past or recent Times reporting. After you answer a question, click on the related resource to see the original or a related article."

I got 9.

I'm Yawning Right Now

Go Ahead–Yawn! - Natural Solutions Vibrant Health Balanced Living: "Afraid to risk rudeness and let out a hearty yawn? Well, here’s an excuse to give Miss Manners a hissy fit: According to neuroscientist Andrew Newberg, MD, director of the Center for Spirituality and the Mind at the University of Pennsylvania, yawning is one of the best-kept health secrets. “If you want to maintain an optimum healthy brain, it is essential that you yawn,” says Newberg. The action stimulates neural movement in certain areas of the mind and regulates brain temperature and metabolism—all of which can increase muscle control, enhance sensuality, and even ward off jet lag. Newberg suggests yawning 10 times in a row every day, along with your regular workout or wellness routine."

G. I. Blues

Archaeology Update

Vanished Persian army said found in desert - Discovery.com- msnbc.com: "The remains of a mighty Persian army said to have drowned in the sands of the western Egyptian desert 2,500 years ago might have been finally located, solving one of archaeology's biggest outstanding mysteries, according to Italian researchers.

Bronze weapons, a silver bracelet, an earring and hundreds of human bones found in the vast desolate wilderness of the Sahara desert have raised hopes of finally finding the lost army of Persian King Cambyses II. The 50,000 warriors were said to be buried by a cataclysmic sandstorm in 525 B.C."

Happy Birthday, Rolling Stone!

The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor | No Direction Home by Charles Wright: "It was on this day in 1967 that the first issue of Rolling Stone was published. It was started by 21-year-old Jann Wenner, who dropped out of Berkeley and borrowed $7,500 from family members and from people on a mailing list that he stole from a local radio station, and with that money he managed to put together a magazine. The cover of the first issue featured John Lennon, and in it, Wenner wrote, 'Rolling Stone is not just about music, but also about the things and attitudes that the music embraces.'"

Gator Update (Limoges Edition)

Tantas Treasures - Limoges Alligator

Hat tip to Tina Karelson.

It's Still Hammer Time

Hammer swings into Melbourne | Herald Sun: "'My Hammer pants right now are being made by six or seven of the world's finest designers,' he said. 'In 2009 they were some of the best selling pants in high fashion. I got the new ones, I got the Versace, I got the Christian Dior Homme Hammer pants, they are really nice.'

Hammer said he was still amazed at the popularity of U Can't Touch This. 'To have something still be embraced after 20 years plus is very humbling.'"

They'd Do Anything for an "A"

Prosecutors seek Northwestern journalism students’ grades :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State: "A Northwestern University professor and journalism students who spent three years investigating the case of a man convicted in the 1978 killing of a security guard believe they have evidence that shows prosecutors put the wrong man behind bars. But in the quest to prove his innocence, they may have to defend themselves, too.

Cook County prosecutors have outraged the university and the journalism community by issuing subpoenas to professor David Protess seeking his students’ grades, his syllabus and their private e-mails. Prosecutors claim since the team was made up of students, they may have been under pressure to prove the case to get a good grade."

How I Became a Famous Novelist -- Steve Hely

I have Vince Keenan to thank for my reading of this book. It's as funny as he said it was in his review, maybe even funnier. For me, it was worth reading for Hely's parody of the NYT bestseller list alone. I laughed so much that Judy thought something was wrong with me. (There probably is.) You can read the list at the link, and if you don't think it's funny, then you probably won't like the book, either. Mad Magazine has nothing on Hely.

Pete Tarslaw, the book's narrator, decides that he can write a bestseller. It seems easy enough, once you figure out the formula. So he writes a book called The Tornado Ashes Club. It has everything. Trust me. Tarslaw admits from the beginning that he does some terrible things along the way to fame. He hopes the backstory he's including will make the reader think better of him at the end. It probably doesn't, though maybe Pete isn't quite a soulless as he appeared at the beginning. You can take the climactic showdown in Marfa, Texas, two ways, I think. I tend to be cynical about it, myself, but that's just me.

I'm recommending this book to every writer I know. If there's a publishing target that Hely misses, I can't think what it is. His eye for the telling detail is dead-on, and reading his description of the Oprah show is like watching it. Throughout the book he scatters excerpts from the bestsellers on that list I linked to above. If you didn't know better, you'd think you were reading real thing.

Bonus reason why I liked the book: Hely mentions in passing a mostly forgotten writer named Vance Bourjaily. In my youth when I read really long books, I read Bourjaily's The Violated and was pretty impressed. I have a paperback copy of it on my shelves even now. Not many people even know who Bourjaily is these days, and it was a pleasant surprise to run across his name.

Gator Update (Lost Dog Edition)

Man reaches for dog, gets bitten by alligator | abcactionnews.com: "A man searching for his dog got quite the nasty he reached underneath his car early Sunday morning, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife.

Spokesman Gary Morse said 38-year-old Joseph Cannistra was outside his Geddy Drive home about 12:30 am looking for his dog, when he thought he saw his pet lying underneath his car.

There was something underneath, but it wasn't his dog. Officials said an five foot alligator was waiting and when Cannistra reached underneath, it bit both of his hands."

Crocs on the 'Net

Indian crocodiles video blog for survival | Lifestyle | Reuters: "Call it video blogging for reptiles: conservationists are attaching cameras to the critically endangered Indian gharial, a crocodile-like creature, to understand more about its life in a bid to save it.
[. . . .]
In an attempt to better understand the reptiles' habitat and life cycle, scientists at the Gharial Conservation Park in Lucknow are using small video cameras for 'bio-logging.'

The lightweight cameras are attached to gharials that are released into the wild, where they record pictures every four seconds and monitor movement and behavior."

King Creole

Will the Persecution Never End?

Heiress upset at 'vacant' ad - National - NZ Herald News: "American heiress Paris Hilton is threatening legal action against a Wellington company which used her picture on a billboard with the word 'vacant' written across it.

Media5 used the photo, which showed Hilton partying, to advertise vacant billboard space.

Hilton's manager Jamie Freed said from Los Angeles Media5 had not gained permission to use the image and could expect to hear from her lawyers."

Robert Rines, R. I. P.

Robert Rines, Inventor and Monster Hunter, Dies at 87 - Obituary (Obit) - NYTimes.com: "Dollars to doughnuts, Robert H. Rines will be mainly remembered not for holding more than 800 patents, starting a law school or writing music for the stage, but for his dogged pursuit of the Loch Ness monster.

But Dr. Rines, who died on Nov. 1 at his home in Boston at 87, may have outlived the fabled Scottish creature he pursued for more than a quarter century. He had come to suspect that the beast died during his hunt, leaving him to search for a skeleton."

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

New Reading and Writing Podcast Interview

016 Reading and Writing podcast interview – Meg Gardiner interview: "The sixteenth episode of the Reading and Writing podcast features an interview with Meg Gardiner, crime novelist, and author of The Memory Collector, available in bookstores now."

Tour the Victoria & Albert Museum

Victoria & Albert Museum Puts Details of One Million Objects on Website | Art Knowledge News: "The V&A announced that visitors to its website can now find online over one million records detailing objects in its collections ranging from well known treasures such as Tippoo’s 'Tiger' to less familiar paintings and ceramics. People using Search the Collections, at collections.vam.ac.uk, will find images of more than 100,000 objects with more images and details to follow as they become available. The online records vary from detailed studies written by curators to more basic inventory information which might include the maker, provenance, production technique and style. Visitors can also look up whether an object is on display and where in the Museum it can be found."

Link via Neatorama.

Wapner!

8500 minutes to Wapner! Judge Wapner Returns to The People’s Court on Friday the 13th - TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings | TVbytheNumbers.com: "On Friday, November 13, Judge Marilyn Milian welcomes Judge Joseph A. Wapner back to the bench of “The People’s Court” to litigate a special case in honor of his 90th birthday. Judge Wapner bangs the gavel on the Emmy-nominated court show that launched the entire court show genre and paved the way for a multitude of reality television shows. “The People’s Court was the original reality series featuring real litigants, real cases and real justice."

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

Polk County teacher suing state over fingerprinting - KTRE.com Lufkin and Nacogdoches |: "A Polk County teacher is suing the state for requiring her to be fingerprinted for a background check, saying it violates her religious freedom.

According to her attorney, Scott Skelton, of Lufkin, Pam McLaurin believes the book of Revelation literally and that getting a fingerprint would bear her the mark of the beast and she would be 'be tormented in burning sulfur.'"

Victor Gischler Take Note

Famous Paintings Reproduced In Coffee - Coffee art by karen eland - Gizmodo: "Sure this reproduction of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam is a lil' bit perverted by the inclusion of a coffee cup, but look closer. The entire masterpiece was painted using only coffee."

Lots more coffee masterpieces at the link.

Florida Leads the Way

Gator Chomp Prompts Prose From Cop | NBC Miami: "Last week, a former Miami-Dade police officer was sentenced for his role in an ecstasy-smuggling ring. Yesterday, a Pembroke Pines officer alleged that he was fired because a supervisor was having an affair with his wife. Today brings news of a Fort Lauderdale cop dismissed for forging a signature on court notification."

But of course the important part of the article is the police report about the gator. You have to click the link and scroll down for that gem.

Just Because I Wanted To

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

Lung disease didn't change course of Lake Dallas cross country runner | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News: "The crazy stares and the questions usually come at the meets. They come from people who don't quite know Taylor Lively's story.

Last Friday, at the District 5-4A cross country meet, Lively won. He does that a lot. The kid in the Lake Dallas High School uniform with golden brown hair and a mask covering his mouth crosses the line before anyone else and then keels over. 'They tell you to walk,' Lively said, 'but usually I can't.'"

50 Biggest Flops Over the Past 50 Years

Power of 50: Biggest Flops Over the Past 50 Years – AARP Bulletin Today

G-Men

New Story at BEAT to a PULP

BEAT to a PULP :: Mortification :: Sophie Littlefield

As for Me, I Think Mediums Should Stick to Murder Investigations

'Michael Jackson furious he's not buried next to Marilyn Monroe', claims medium on live TV seance | Mail Online: "Michael Jackson is annoyed he was not buried alongside Marilyn Monroe, according to a medium.

Derek Acorah claims he was contacted by the star during a televised seance and reduced fans to tears with his account of the singer adapting to spiritual life."

Here's the Plot of Your Next Cold Case Files Novel

Police: Teen missing since 1954 was slain - Crime & courts- msnbc.com: "A young woman buried as Jane Doe in Colorado 55 years ago. An Arizona family puzzled and saddened as Dorothy Gay Howard's disappearance stretched into decades.

It took a historian, a detective and a determined family member to make the connection after more than a half century that these two people were one and the same."

There Will Always Be an England

Psychic 'leads' prompt murder inquiry | UK news | guardian.co.uk: "A police force has defended spending €20,000 investigating a man's death after his ghost was said to have told psychics that gangsters had forced him to drink petrol and bleach."

When Dolphins Go Bad

Monterey Bay researchers say dolphins are causing porpoise deaths - Santa Cruz Sentinel: "For the past five years, the growing number of dead harbor porpoises washing up on California shores has been a marine mystery -- until now.

In September, marine biologists with Okeanis, a nonprofit conservation group based in Moss Landing, captured the only video footage taken in Monterey Bay of bottlenose dolphins attacking and killing a porpoise."

I Thought the Percentage Would be Even Higher

Report: 237 millionaires in Congress - Erika Lovley - POLITICO.com: "As Washington reels from the news of 10.2 percent unemployment, the Center for Responsive Politics is out with a new report describing the wealth of members of Congress.

Among the highlights: Two-hundred-and-thirty-seven members of Congress are millionaires. That’s 44 percent of the body – compared to about 1 percent of Americans overall."

Each Dawn I Die

Maybe It's Just Me . . .

. . . but it bothers me that whenever there's a developing crisis like the Fort Hood shooting, the "news" channels fill the air with hour after hour of rumors, misinformation, and wild-ass guesses.

All Righty, Then

Clash Of The Titans Posters - FilmoFilia: "“Clash of the Titans” is a modern version of the 1981 Greek mythology film."

Okay, I realize that whoever wrote the above probably wasn't even born in 1981. Still, I do kind of resent the implication of that sentence.

SMILE, you @#$%&'s!

Frown if you dare ... | The Sun |News: "A DESIGN student has created a high-tech hat that forces its wearer to SMILE.

The woolly headwear detects a user's facial expression and jabs a sharp metal SPIKE into their head if they stop grinning."

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

Police: Smell of pot sparks 12-hour SWAT standoff in gated Harris County community | khou.com | News: "A 12-hour standoff ended Thursday morning after police fired tear gas into a northwest Harris County home.

It all happened in a gated community in the 16000 block of Stoneside Drive. Police said they got a tip Wednesday night about the smell of marijuana coming from a home. When they arrived, investigators said a deputy confirmed the tip and knocked on the front door. The man inside did not answer.

Police then called a K-9 unit to the house. Investigators said the dog made two separate hits at the front door and the garage for drugs. Again, police said they got no response from the man inside.

Investigators secured a search warrant, and the HPD SWAT team was also called in to assist. The tactical team arrived around 2 a.m. Officers tried to contact the man over a loudspeaker and through a cell phone, but got no response after trying for two hours.

That’s when the officers fired the tear gas and the suspect came out."

No Wonder I'm so Slow

Good Sprinters Have Long Toes: Scientific American Podcast: "When the starting pistol fires, sprinters launch into the race with a burst of acceleration. That initial velocity depends, in part, on the length of their toes. The scientists examined the feet of a dozen collegiate sprinters and a dozen non-athletes of a similar height. They measured foot length and used ultrasound imaging to watch Achilles tendons in action. And they found two things.

First, the sprinters have longer toes. That could give them an advantage by allowing them to maintain maximum contact with the ground as they push off the starting block. Second, their Achilles tendons have less leverage. That might sound bad, but it actually allows their leg muscles to produce greater force."

Even Older than I Am

Oldest American artefact unearthed : Nature News: "Archaeologists claim to have found the oldest known artefact in the Americas, a scraper-like tool in an Oregon cave that dates back 14,230 years.

The tool shows that people were living in North America well before the widespread Clovis culture of 12,900 to 12,400 years ago, says archaeologist Dennis Jenkins of the University of Oregon in Eugene."

My Mind is Boggled

Babies' Language Learning Starts From The Womb: "From their very first days, newborns' cries already bear the mark of the language their parents speak, reveals a new study published online on November 5th in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication. The findings suggest that infants begin picking up elements of what will be their first language in the womb, and certainly long before their first babble or coo.

'The dramatic finding of this study is that not only are human neonates capable of producing different cry melodies, but they prefer to produce those melody patterns that are typical for the ambient language they have heard during their fetal life, within the last trimester of gestation,' . . ."

Forgotten Books: WE ALL KILLED GRANDMA -- Fredric Brown

As far as I know, this Fredric Brown novel hasn't been reprinted since the 1953 paperback release. There's a good reason for that. It's regarded as one of Brown's lesser efforts. I've had it on my shelves for nearly 40 years, and before this week I'd never read it.

It has a promising start. The narrator, Rod Britten, has amnesia. His grandmother's been murdered, and he thinks he might have killed her. Even when the cops prove he couldn't have been the killer, he worries about it. Nothing new there, but the back cover of the book promises "a hammering, hard-driving murder." It is to laugh. I wonder if it's too late to sue for false blurbage. I haven't read a book that plods like this one in a long time. It's almost all talk, with no action at all. It's less about the murder than about Britten's attempt to recover his memory and reconnect with his ex-wife, and nothing happens for page after page.

There's a pretty good twist near the end, but by that time, you might have lost interest. I almost did, but Brown's style, even in a book like this one, flows so well that I kept on reading. And the title almost makes sense (don't be thinking Orient Express, though). I found the morality of the ending questionable at best, but what the heck. I can't really recommend the book. It's another forgotten novel that might just as well remain that way.

Oh, and that's not grandma on the cover, in case you were wondering. It's not anybody in the book, as far as I can tell, but at least the cover makes up for some of the book's shortcomings.

Update: Here's a good article on Brown by Bud Webster. All his "Past Masters" columns are worth a read.

Some Like it Hot

Ghost Towns

There are more than you might think.

O. M. G.!

Undead Backbrain � Blog Archive � Dinocroc vs Supergator: "First there was Dinocroc (US-2004; dir. Kevin O’Neill), then there was Supergator (US-2007; dir. Brian Clyde) — both produced by the inimitable Roger Corman (see Undead Brainspasm article).

Now there’s Dinocroc vs Supergator, and courtesy of Jim Wynorski we bring you the latest images of the rampaging beasts — bigger and more fiercesome than ever!"

America's Youth -- Our Country's Future!

Obesity, poor education big obstacles to military recruiting - washingtonpost.com: "About 75 percent of the country's 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for military service, largely because they are poorly educated, overweight and have physical ailments that make them unfit for the armed forces, according to a report to be issued Thursday.

Other factors, such as drug use, criminal records and mental problems, contribute to what military leaders say is a major problem that threatens the country's ability to defend itself at a time when the all-volunteer force is already strained fighting two wars."

Tom Sawyer Update

Brazilian makes surprise visit at own funeral - Weird news- msnbc.com: "A Brazilian bricklayer reportedly killed in a car crash shocked his mourning family by showing up alive at his funeral."

Hat tip to David Cranmer.

Happy Birthday, Art Garfunkel!

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

Men Filing Suit After Dogs Sent Them to Jail | MyFoxHouston.com: "Three men who spent months in jail after dogs linked their scents to evidence from crimes they did not commit are filing a lawsuit claiming Texas authorities falsely arrested and imprisoned them, their attorney said Tuesday.
[. . . .]
This is at least the third lawsuit targeting Pikett, who has spent about 20 years training dogs named Clue, James Bond and Columbo to sniff out possible criminals in more than 2,000 scent identification lineups. Pikett says his dogs determine if a suspect's scent matches smells from crime scene evidence."

Now This Is Really Sad

What the wild things are: British children unable to identify crocodiles and leopards | Mail Online: "More than half of British children can't identify a crocodile while just one in five can name four basic wild animals, a new study has found."

A Completely Honest and Accurate Review

� A Review by Steven Steinbock: BILL CRIDER - Murder in Four Parts.

Guess Which One I'm More Likely to Watch

CMT greenlights two adventure series: "But first, coming in the second quarter are ITV's 'Danger Coast' and 12 Forward's 'Gator 911' (working titles).

'We did a lot of research looking at what reality programming our audience watched on other networks, and adventure shows kept popping up near the top of the list,' said Mary Beth Cunin, CMT senior vp programming strategy.

'Coast' follows Miami's elite Marine Operations Bureau as they protect the public. 'Gator' follows Gary Suarage, owner of Texas-based adventure park Gator Country, as he and his team rescue wandering gators. Both half-hours received a 10-episode order."

Hat tip to John Hall.

Precognition Update

Mexican mayor announces rival's death hours before body is found - Telegraph: "A Mexican mayor announced the death of his main political rival hours before the body was found."

Hat tip to Fred Zackel.

Mr. Rock and Roll

He's Invisible . . . well, Almost

Liu Bolin Creates Slowest, Least Practical Invisibility Cloak Ever - liu bolin - Gizmodo: "Liu Bolin is a Chinese artist who makes himself invisible. See him hiding there in the picture above? But wait, how does he do it?"

Check the link for the photos.
Hat tip to Walter Satterthwait.

Talk about Luck!

BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | Tayside and Central | Amateur 'stunned' after �1m find: "'I basically parked the car up and got the metal detector out and picked a direction to set off and about seven steps later there it was. It was the first thing I came across.'"

Photos and video at the link, which comes via Neatorama.

Who Needs Mel?

Perez Hilton: Mad Max Is Back! Charlize Set To Star (Not As Max): "The Mad Max franchise will be resurrected! The only question is, will Mad Mel Gibson return for it?

That remains to be seen but it has been announced that Charlize Theron will be joining the post-apocalyptic fun! She has signed on to star in the fourth chapter of the series, titled Mad Max: Fury Road."

Uh-Oh

Perez Hilton: Adam Sandler To Play Jack AND Jill!: "Adam Sandler has signed on to the romantic comedy Jack and Jill, in which he will be playing Jack as well as his twin sister Jill."

Happy Birthday, Ralph Macchio!

Turns 48 today. Make you feel old? Anyway, he might even be getting a TV show.

Ralph Macchio Reality Show? | The Plastic Surgery Channel: "Ralph Macchio may be moving to prime time. The 48-year-old star of the Karate Kid movies is in talks with an unnamed network about a reality show based around his family."

Hey, It Worked on OLD MAN'S WAR

Elevator to space? They're really trying :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Nation: "Rocketing into space? Some think an elevator might be the way to go.

That's the future goal of this week's $2 million Space Elevator Games in the Mojave Desert.

In a major test of the concept, robotic machines powered by laser beams will try to climb a cable suspended from a helicopter hovering more than a half-mile (one kilometer) high."

Latest Issue of I Love a Mystery Now On-Line

I Love a Mystery

Ah-Ha!

Time change could prove hazardous to your health | Viewpoints, Outlook | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "Although daylight-saving time was sold politically as an energy-conservation measure, it does no such thing. Studies conducted in Indiana prior to 2006, when that state operated under three different time regimes, show either no difference in energy consumption or a small increase in power usage during the months after clocks were moved one hour ahead."

The Most Popular Christmas Toys, By Year Since 1960

Permuto Discoveries � The Most Popular Christmas Toys, By Year Since 1960: "Here they are, the most popular Christmas toys since 1960"

Link via Neatorama.

Firsts Magazine, November 2009

Book collecting, first editions: Firsts Magazine for book collectors - November 2009: "James Lee Burke

We profiled Burke in our July 1991 issue, when it was clear that his Dave Robicheaux detective novels were among the best the genre had to offer. In course of the 18 years since, Burke has more than fulfilled his promise."

The article on Burke is by Robert Skinner, and it's a really good one. Highly recommended. There's also a good article on "Books into Film" that discusses The High Window, Time to Kill, and The Brasher Dubloon. Plus an article on C. J. Box.

I'm Getting a Reputation

Two people sent me this Speed Bump cartoon this morning. Thanks, John Hall and Beth Foxwell.

Go, Johnny, Go!/Rock! Rock! Rock!

The Story with No Name

Rolls on.

Carl Ballantine, R. I. P.

Carl Ballantine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Carl Ballantine (born Meyer Kessler; September 27, 1917 - November 3, 2009) was an American actor, magician and comedian. Billing himself as 'Ballantine the Great' or 'The Amazing Ballantine,' his vaudeville-style comedy routine involved transparent or incompetent stage magic tricks, which tend to flop to the wisecracking Ballantine's mock chagrin."

Hat tip to Toby O'B.

Don't Mess with Texas

Pregnant woman shoots would-be burglar in northwest Houston - 11/03/09 - Houston News - abc13.com: "Houston police say a pregnant woman shot and killed a man trying to break into her car.

The shooting happened on Pinemont near Alabonson in northwest Houston last night. Investigators say a woman who is eight months pregnant saw a group of men breaking into a neighbor's car and then the crooks turned toward her vehicle."

20 Crap-tacular Action Flicks

Con Air | 20 Crap-tacular Action Flicks YOU Love | Photo 1 of 16 | EW.com: "To welcome ''G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'' to DVD, we asked PopWatchers for their ''just bad enough to be awesome'' flicks -- ''Con Air,'' ''Wanted,'' and ''Starship Troopers'' made the cut."

I like this list for many reasons, particularly for #1.

Happy Birthday, PBS!

U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for Nov. 3 | Reuters: "PBS, the Public Broadcasting System, aired its first television broadcasts 40 years ago today, as a string of local educational channels united to form the network. Over the years, PBS has built a reputation for excellent programs and objectivity. Some of its well-known programs include the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, The American Experience, and Sesame Street. For some years, it was the leading broadcaster of key tennis matches. The Public Broadcasting System currently has more than 350 stations, which collectively own the network."

Hat tip to Todd Mason.