Thursday, May 27, 2010
Forgotten Music -- Eddie Fisher
Eddie Fisher, who's still with us, was one of the biggest pop stars of the 1950s. He had an incredible career (forty-five Top 40 hits in that decade), was a regular on a number of variety shows (including two of his own), and was married at one time or another to Debbie Reynolds (Carrie Fisher is their daughter), Elizabeth Taylor, and Connie Stevens (Joley Fisher is their daughter). He starred in movies with boy Reynolds and Taylor. Time and musical fashions passed him by, and he couldn't adapt. His well-publicized drug and alcohol problems didn't help. He's spent the last 50 years in relative obscurity. But when he was on top, he had some great hits. He was one of the last of the crooners, and one of the best.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Five Greatest Songs of All-Time
The Five Greatest Songs of All-Time - The Early Show - CBS News: "You may never get everyone to agree on the greatest songs ever, but Rolling Stone magazine is giving it a shot.
On Friday, it unveils a special collector's edition with its definitive list of the 500 greatest songs of all-time."
On Friday, it unveils a special collector's edition with its definitive list of the 500 greatest songs of all-time."
The top 5 are at the link.
Hat tip to Jane Johnston Ray.
Art Linkletter, R. I. P.
TV's 'People Are Funny' host Art Linkletter dies - Yahoo! News: "Art Linkletter, whose 'People Are Funny' and 'House Party' shows entertained millions of TV viewers in the 1950s and '60s with the funny side of ordinary folks and who remained active as a writer and speaker through his ninth decade, died Wednesday. He was 97.
Linkletter died at his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles, said his son-in-law, Art Hershey, the husband of Sharon Linkletter.
'He lived a long, full, pure life, and the Lord had need for him,' Hershey said.
Linkletter had been ill 'in the last few weeks time, but bear in mind he was 97 years old. He wasn't eating well, and the aging process took him,' Hershey said."
Linkletter died at his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles, said his son-in-law, Art Hershey, the husband of Sharon Linkletter.
'He lived a long, full, pure life, and the Lord had need for him,' Hershey said.
Linkletter had been ill 'in the last few weeks time, but bear in mind he was 97 years old. He wasn't eating well, and the aging process took him,' Hershey said."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
kens5.com: "School's out at John Marshal High School, and exiting the facility are your typical cliques: cheerleaders, nerds, jocks and Goths… and werewolves?
'We're not to be feared,” said Argus, his ghost-white, eyes staring at the camera.
Argus is one of several members of the wolf pack, one of several packs scattered about San Antonio's north side.
His friend Katze Lupus Burn added, 'We're not a gang at all. Gangs are like posers. They just want attention, that's why they go along tagging stuff. The pack? We're a family. We go to each other for our problems.'"
'We're not to be feared,” said Argus, his ghost-white, eyes staring at the camera.
Argus is one of several members of the wolf pack, one of several packs scattered about San Antonio's north side.
His friend Katze Lupus Burn added, 'We're not a gang at all. Gangs are like posers. They just want attention, that's why they go along tagging stuff. The pack? We're a family. We go to each other for our problems.'"
Hat tip to Scott Cupp.
Bonnie and Yonni
Cue Flatt & Scruggs.
She had been working for Zenia Mucha, Disney's head of corporate communication, since 2007 so she had access to secret company information."
Hat tip to Walter Satterthwait.
They're Everywhere!
Man says he’s a vampire: Royal Oak native tells deputies he can smell blood, live forever - Daily Tribune: Breaking news coverage for southeastern Oakland County, Michigan: "A Royal Oak man found staggering outside a Drug Mart at 3 a.m. Saturday apparently wasn’t looking to shop, he was looking for blood.
Andrew Whiteman, 21, of Royal Oak, told Lorain County sheriff’s deputies he was a vampire who can smell blood. He also threatened to kill one of the deputies and his children, and also said he would live forever, according to a sheriff’s office report."
Andrew Whiteman, 21, of Royal Oak, told Lorain County sheriff’s deputies he was a vampire who can smell blood. He also threatened to kill one of the deputies and his children, and also said he would live forever, according to a sheriff’s office report."
No Comment Department
Fake Nipples Aim To Destroy You, Boys: "Selfridges claims that the 'Body Perks nipple enhancers are the latest fashion accessory for your breasts, . .'"
Get out the Throat Spray
GREASE IS THE WORD AGAIN THIS SUMMER: "Paramount is rereleasing Grease this summer with lyrics onscreen, urging people to sing along with the songs."
The 25 Greatest Philanderers in American Political History
Doing It for the People: The 25 Greatest Philanderers in American Political History: Politics: GQ: "They groped. They skirt-chased. They lusted in their hearts. And now they will live in infamy"
Hat tip to David Cranmer.
I'll Sit on my Couch and Watch on TV
Skydiver preparing for 120,000-foot supersonic fall - CNN.com: "An Austrian daredevil is planning to become the first person to break the sound barrier in a free fall, without riding in a vehicle.
This summer in New Mexico, Felix Baumgartner hopes to make the highest, longest and fastest fall ever.
His attempt will take him to an altitude where the atmosphere ends and space begins -- where blood boils at body temperature, and the air temperature could be as low as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The first step in the attempt will be riding a helium balloon to an altitude of 120,000 feet above sea level -- almost 23 miles -- higher than anyone has ascended in a balloon before."
This summer in New Mexico, Felix Baumgartner hopes to make the highest, longest and fastest fall ever.
His attempt will take him to an altitude where the atmosphere ends and space begins -- where blood boils at body temperature, and the air temperature could be as low as minus 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The first step in the attempt will be riding a helium balloon to an altitude of 120,000 feet above sea level -- almost 23 miles -- higher than anyone has ascended in a balloon before."
Robert Tralins, R. I. P.
Robert Tralins wrote banned and bordello books, as well as stories that inspired 'Beyond Belief' - St. Petersburg Times: "Mr. Tralins enjoyed the controversy created by his book, Pleasure Is My Business. The author of at least 251 titles had accomplished daring feats through his James Bond-like hero, Jack Lund, defeating terrorists, drug lords and leaders of occult groups.He had sowed vicarious wild oats with 1960s titles like Win With Sin, Operation Boudoir and Invasion of the Nymphomaniacs under the pen name Sean O'Shea and with racy illustrations on the covers.
He was guided by an unswerving independence, raising a family through only his writing income and living aboard a sailboat for many years. He hobnobbed with science-fiction writers Piers Anthony and L. Ron Hubbard. His nonfiction about the paranormal led to a Fox television series, Beyond Belief."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
And stay off his lawn!
Hoffman competes in the Senior Olympics. He rattles off all of the events in which he competes.
'I pole vault, high jump, long jump, discus, shot, javelin, hammer throw and run. I run the 100 meter and 200 meter,' Hoffman said.
Last year at the age of 86, Hoffman won seven medals out of 9.
Now he's in training for the 2011 games. He's working out alongside high school athletes."
Miami Leads the Way
Miami Company Creates "Gringo Masks" for Illegals |
NBC Miami: "If you are looking for a way to beat Arizona's new immigration law, look no further than Miami's new Gringo Masks.
The new product, brainchild of Miami advertising agency Zubi Advertising, guarantees the cops won't be stopping you or your loved ones after you put your best white face forward.
The product is simple. Choose from a cut out of a blue-eyed, sandy hair-colored white guy or a green-eyed, blond haired white woman."
NBC Miami: "If you are looking for a way to beat Arizona's new immigration law, look no further than Miami's new Gringo Masks.
The new product, brainchild of Miami advertising agency Zubi Advertising, guarantees the cops won't be stopping you or your loved ones after you put your best white face forward.
The product is simple. Choose from a cut out of a blue-eyed, sandy hair-colored white guy or a green-eyed, blond haired white woman."
Hat tip to Jeff Segal.
Bookshelves of the Rich and Famous
AbeBooks: Bookshelves of the Rich and Famous: "If you were wealthy and famous, what would your library look like? There would probably be similar books to the ones you already own except they would be worth more. Never mind that old paperback of The Hobbit, you would have the true first edition signed by John Ronald Reuel himself.
Dare to dream as we showcase some of the rare (and very expensive) treasures available on AbeBooks."
Dare to dream as we showcase some of the rare (and very expensive) treasures available on AbeBooks."
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Real-Life Redneck Noir
The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia - Boing Boing: "The documentary, directed by Julien Nitzberg, follows the legacy of the White family of Boone County, West Virginia. Their most famous living member is Jesco White, star of the 1991 cult documentary hit 'Dancing Outlaw' (on which Nitzberg was associate producer).
The Appalachian clan is notorious for criminal activity and reckless, larger-than-life characters. They tap-dance, shoot and stab people (including each other), and sell (and do) a lot of drugs. Think 'Sopranos' meets 'Coal Miner's Daughter.'"
The Appalachian clan is notorious for criminal activity and reckless, larger-than-life characters. They tap-dance, shoot and stab people (including each other), and sell (and do) a lot of drugs. Think 'Sopranos' meets 'Coal Miner's Daughter.'"
Those Wacky Guys at the CIA
SpyTalk
- CIA unit's wacky idea: Depict Saddam as gay: "During planning for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the CIA's Iraq Operations Group kicked around a number of ideas for discrediting Saddam Hussein in the eyes of his people.
One was to create a video purporting to show the Iraqi dictator having sex with a teenage boy, according to two former CIA officials familiar with the project.
“It would look like it was taken by a hidden camera,” said one of the former officials. “Very grainy, like it was a secret videotaping of a sex session.”
The idea was to then “flood Iraq with the videos,” the former official said."
- CIA unit's wacky idea: Depict Saddam as gay: "During planning for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the CIA's Iraq Operations Group kicked around a number of ideas for discrediting Saddam Hussein in the eyes of his people.
One was to create a video purporting to show the Iraqi dictator having sex with a teenage boy, according to two former CIA officials familiar with the project.
“It would look like it was taken by a hidden camera,” said one of the former officials. “Very grainy, like it was a secret videotaping of a sex session.”
The idea was to then “flood Iraq with the videos,” the former official said."
Archaeology Update
Pictures: Massive Maya City Revealed by Lasers: "Airborne lasers have 'stripped' away thick rain forests to reveal new images of an ancient Maya metropolis that's far bigger than anyone had thought.
An April 2009 flyover of the Maya city of Caracol used Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) equipment—which bounces laser beams off the ground—to help scientists construct a 3-D map of the settlement in western Belize. The survey revealed previously unknown buildings, roads, and other features in just four days, scientists announced earlier this month at the International Symposium on Archaeometry in Tampa, Florida."
An April 2009 flyover of the Maya city of Caracol used Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) equipment—which bounces laser beams off the ground—to help scientists construct a 3-D map of the settlement in western Belize. The survey revealed previously unknown buildings, roads, and other features in just four days, scientists announced earlier this month at the International Symposium on Archaeometry in Tampa, Florida."
Welcome to the Menaissance
So long, metrosexuals: Welcome to the Menaissance - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Metrosexuals, take note: The party's over.
The man's man is back. And he's had enough of unisex salons, simpering emo music and the emasculating kryptonite of the Oprahsphere.
Or so say a spate of ads, books and websites that hail the emergence of the retrosexual, whose attitude and style hearken back to the strong, silent type of the '50s and early '60s.
The retrosexual keeps things simple. He does not own more hair and skin care products than his wife or girlfriend. He does not 'accessorize.'"
The man's man is back. And he's had enough of unisex salons, simpering emo music and the emasculating kryptonite of the Oprahsphere.
Or so say a spate of ads, books and websites that hail the emergence of the retrosexual, whose attitude and style hearken back to the strong, silent type of the '50s and early '60s.
The retrosexual keeps things simple. He does not own more hair and skin care products than his wife or girlfriend. He does not 'accessorize.'"
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Texas Gov. Perry's showdown with varmint on the jogging trail sparks 'Coyote Special' pistol | Washington Examiner: "Texas Gov. Rick Perry's showdown on the jogging trail has spurred a gun maker to sell a 'Coyote Special' edition of the weapon he used to take down the varmint. Perry himself has one of the pistols.
The governor shot the coyote that he said was threatening his daughter's puppy with a Ruger .380-caliber pistol. Manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. has now come out with a version emblazoned with 'Coyote Special' and 'A True Texan' on the sides.
On top is a picture of a coyote howling at the moon and five-pointed star of Texas. The box says it is 'For Sale to Texans Only.'"
The governor shot the coyote that he said was threatening his daughter's puppy with a Ruger .380-caliber pistol. Manufacturer Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. has now come out with a version emblazoned with 'Coyote Special' and 'A True Texan' on the sides.
On top is a picture of a coyote howling at the moon and five-pointed star of Texas. The box says it is 'For Sale to Texans Only.'"
Hat tip to Jeff Segal.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Keep off His Lawn!
Or he might run you down.
Rider Don Wales took the petrol-driven mower into the record books at Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire, reports the BBC."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Best News Lede Ever
No Jail Time For Man Arrested In Captain America Costume - News Story - WFTV Orlando: "The Brevard County doctor who was arrested for groping a woman while dressed as Captain America with a burrito in his pants will not go to jail."
Hat tip to Art Scott.
But Time and Chance Happen to Them All
After 30 Years, Harrison Ford Breaks Silence And Speaks Out About ‘Star Wars’ | YouBentMyWookie: "It’s been 33 years since Ford looked up at Sir Alec Guinness. Now the late Sir Alec doesn’t seem so old. “I looked at Alec Guinness, who, at the time, I knew he was a wonderful actor but I thought he was an old man, an old wonderful actor. When I sat there [recently] and I was looking at him, I did the math. I figured out how old he was in Star Wars, and he was about six years younger than I am now. It gave me pause.”"
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Snake in SUV's AC vent was no fraternal prank: "Was Patty Everett scared when she saw the snake coming out of the air-conditioning vent in her Buick SUV?
'Well, somebody crapped in my pants,' she said."
'Well, somebody crapped in my pants,' she said."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
One Giant Step (Backward)
Youngstown News, End of an era in space travel is sneaking up on Americans: "It boggles the mind that the only nation that ever put a man on the moon isn’t sure about what it’s going to do next in manned spaceflight, aside from continue to send crew members to the ISS. The difference will be that the crews will travel by Russian rockets, not U. S. shuttles."
Everest Updaate
British man becomes the first to swim under Mt Everest | News.com.au: "A BRITISH endurance swimmer summoned the peak of his powers to become the first person to swim under the summit of Mt Everest.
Lewis Gordon Pugh battled freezing waters wearing only a pair of Speedos, a cap and goggles to cross the 1km glacial lake next to the Khumbu Glacier, Sky News reported."
Lewis Gordon Pugh battled freezing waters wearing only a pair of Speedos, a cap and goggles to cross the 1km glacial lake next to the Khumbu Glacier, Sky News reported."
Sounds like a Must-Have
The Independent: "Exactly a century after rumours of his death turned out to be entirely accurate, one of Mark Twain's dying wishes is at last coming true: an extensive, outspoken and revelatory autobiography which he devoted the last decade of his life to writing is finally going to be published.
The creator of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and some of the most frequently misquoted catchphrases in the English language left behind 5,000 unedited pages of memoirs when he died in 1910, together with handwritten notes saying that he did not want them to hit bookshops for at least a century.
That milestone has now been reached, and in November the University of California, Berkeley, where the manuscript is in a vault, will release the first volume of Mark Twain's autobiography. The eventual trilogy will run to half a million words, and shed new light on the quintessentially American novelist."
The creator of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and some of the most frequently misquoted catchphrases in the English language left behind 5,000 unedited pages of memoirs when he died in 1910, together with handwritten notes saying that he did not want them to hit bookshops for at least a century.
That milestone has now been reached, and in November the University of California, Berkeley, where the manuscript is in a vault, will release the first volume of Mark Twain's autobiography. The eventual trilogy will run to half a million words, and shed new light on the quintessentially American novelist."
Archaeology Update
57 ancient tombs with mummies unearthed in Egypt - Yahoo! News: "Archeologists have unearthed 57 ancient Egyptian tombs, most of which hold an ornately painted wooden sarcophagus with a mummy inside, Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities said Sunday.
The oldest tombs date back to around 2750 B.C. during the period of Egypt's first and second dynasties, the council said in a statement. Twelve of the tombs belong the 18th dynasty which ruled Egypt during the second millennium B.C."
The oldest tombs date back to around 2750 B.C. during the period of Egypt's first and second dynasties, the council said in a statement. Twelve of the tombs belong the 18th dynasty which ruled Egypt during the second millennium B.C."
Sunday, May 23, 2010
No Comment Department
Ex-U.K. royal Fergie in cash-for-access sting - Britain's royal family- msnbc.com: "Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson feels devastated after she was secretly recorded offering to sell access to her ex-husband Prince Andrew in return for 500,000 pounds ($720,000), her spokeswoman said Sunday."
Never Ask What's in the Sausage
The Associated Press: Police: Man sucked into sausage seasoning machine: "Police said a cleaning man was taken to a hospital after being sucked into a machine at a sausage-making company in Danvers. The accident happened Thursday night as the man was cleaning the vacuum-type machine that is used to season the meat at DiLigui Sausage Co. Police said the man's head and shoulders became stuck in the machine after it somehow activated while being cleaned."
Hat tip to Mark Harris.
Steve Weddle Interview
DSDPodcast: Special Episode: Frank Bill day at DSD: "Steve Weddle talks with Frank Bill about his new book, DONNYBROOK."
Links to the podcast can be found by clicking the link above.
Come Here and I'll Give You a Wedgie
Bullying 'can be good for children': Study finds those who fight back are more popular | Mail Online: "It is considered one of the most traumatic experiences of growing up but being bullied can actually benefit children, a study has found."
Soon We'll Have No Freedoms Left at All
Chicken costumes banned at Nev. polling places: "Voters dressed in chicken costumes won't be allowed inside Nevada polling places this year."
The Ten Most Disturbing Scientific Discoveries
The Ten Most Disturbing Scientific Discoveries | Science & Nature | Smithsonian Magazine: "Science can be glorious; it can bring clarity to a chaotic world. But big scientific discoveries are by nature counterintuitive and sometimes shocking. Here are ten of the biggest threats to our peace of mind."
Croc Update (Mummy Edition)
Crocodile mummies at UC Berkeley's Phoebe A. Hearst Museum - latimes.com: "Strange that no horror movie ever featured these creatures from the crypts of ancient Egypt — crocodile mummies.
The toothy reptiles were embalmed and wrapped in worship of the crocodile god Sobek, and two painstakingly preserved 2,000-year-old specimens are now on display at UC Berkeley in an ancient Egypt exhibit that marks a sharp departure from touring King Tut spectacles."
The toothy reptiles were embalmed and wrapped in worship of the crocodile god Sobek, and two painstakingly preserved 2,000-year-old specimens are now on display at UC Berkeley in an ancient Egypt exhibit that marks a sharp departure from touring King Tut spectacles."
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Martin Gardner, R. I. P.
Martin Gardner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "Martin Gardner (October 21, 1914 - May 22, 2010)[1] was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, pseudoscience, literature (especially the writings of Lewis Carroll), philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion. He wrote the Mathematical Games column in Scientific American from 1956 to 1981, and published over 70 books.[2]"
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Corpus Christi, TX | KRISTV.com | Marijuana Seizure Turns Into Yardwork: "What was initally thought to be one of the largest marijuana plant seizures in the police department's history turned into what amounted to a city park cleanup Thursday night.
Shortly after 8:00pm, a teen riding his bike through Waldron Park in Flour Bluff discovered what he thought were marijuana plants growing there.
Police later hauled away 300-400 medium-sized plants that they also believed was marijuana.
If fact, officers only stopped collecting the plants because it got too dark, and planned to return in the morning to look around for more.
However, after spending more than an hour removing and tagging the hundreds of plants, then hauling it all down the police department downtown, testing revealed that none of it was marijuana at all."
Shortly after 8:00pm, a teen riding his bike through Waldron Park in Flour Bluff discovered what he thought were marijuana plants growing there.
Police later hauled away 300-400 medium-sized plants that they also believed was marijuana.
If fact, officers only stopped collecting the plants because it got too dark, and planned to return in the morning to look around for more.
However, after spending more than an hour removing and tagging the hundreds of plants, then hauling it all down the police department downtown, testing revealed that none of it was marijuana at all."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Man pulls rank trick in Army - BostonHerald.com: "A Texas man with no military experience tricked the Army into letting him enter a reserve unit as a noncommissioned officer earlier this year, a deception that placed an untrained soldier in a leadership position in a time of war.
Jesse Bernard Johnston III, 26, joined the Army Reserve in February as a sergeant and was assigned to the Corps Support Airplane Company at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station. But he wasn’t qualified to hold that rank, according to military records obtained by The Associated Press that show Johnston’s only military experience was attending a Marine officer candidate course for college students in 2004."
Jesse Bernard Johnston III, 26, joined the Army Reserve in February as a sergeant and was assigned to the Corps Support Airplane Company at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station. But he wasn’t qualified to hold that rank, according to military records obtained by The Associated Press that show Johnston’s only military experience was attending a Marine officer candidate course for college students in 2004."
I Feel Like Such a Worthless Slug
13-year-old American climbs Everest, calls his mom - Yahoo! News: "The youngest climber to reach the peak of Mount Everest hugged his tearful companions and told them he loved them. Then 13-year-old Jordan Romero took the satellite phone and called his mom.
'He says, 'Mom, I'm calling you from the top of the world,'' a giddy Leigh Anne Drake told The Associated Press from California, where she had been watching her son's progress minute by minute on a GPS tracker online.
'There were lots of tears and 'I love you! I love you!'' Drake said. 'I just told him to get his butt back home.'
With Saturday's success on the world's highest mountain, at 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level, Jordan is just one climb from his quest to reach the highest peaks on all seven continents.
The teenager with a mop of long curly hair — who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa when he was 9 years old — says he was inspired by a painting in his school hallway of the seven continents' highest summits.
'Every step I take is finally toward the biggest goal of my life, to stand on top of the world,' Jordan said earlier on his blog."
'He says, 'Mom, I'm calling you from the top of the world,'' a giddy Leigh Anne Drake told The Associated Press from California, where she had been watching her son's progress minute by minute on a GPS tracker online.
'There were lots of tears and 'I love you! I love you!'' Drake said. 'I just told him to get his butt back home.'
With Saturday's success on the world's highest mountain, at 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level, Jordan is just one climb from his quest to reach the highest peaks on all seven continents.
The teenager with a mop of long curly hair — who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa when he was 9 years old — says he was inspired by a painting in his school hallway of the seven continents' highest summits.
'Every step I take is finally toward the biggest goal of my life, to stand on top of the world,' Jordan said earlier on his blog."
Hang Cool Teddy Bear -- Meat Loaf
Okay, time for another confession, this one about on a par with my admission that I love ABBA. I'm also quite fond of Meat Loaf. Note the capital letters. While do enjoy a good meat loaf for dinner, I'm talking about the singer here. When Bat out of Hell came out all those years ago, I bought it on 8-track (how's that for an embarrassing admission?). Later I bought it on cassette, and still later I bought it on CD. I've bought the other Bat CDs, too, and the other day I listened to Hang Cool Teddy Bear, which is pretty much in the same vein.
The "concept" here is that each song is the daydream of a wounded soldier, each one representing a possible vision of his future life. The visions unfold in operatic power pop, with wailing guitars, hammering drums, and soaring above all that, Mr. Loaf's incredible vocals. How can he hit those notes at his age? I don't know, but he does.
Lots of guest stars here, including Justin Hawkins, Jack Black, and Hugh Laurie (yes, that Hugh Laurie) on piano. And Patti Russo, which brings back some memories.
If you've never liked Meat Loaf, this CD isn't going to change your mind. If you were looking for another Bat out of Hell, this one doesn't quite measure up. But it's a lot of fun. One line in "California Isn't Big Enough" made me laugh out loud, and "I Saw Elvis in Vegas" actually achieves the big emotions it's striving for. If you like this kind of music, this is the kind of thing you'll like. If not, forget it.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Body Art Expo - KIAH: "The Largest Tattoo and Body Art Expo in the World is open for business Friday May 22nd until Sunday May 24th. The expo tours the Nation and features over 200 tattoo artists and other exhibitors. Looking to make an impression? There's a tattoo contest for that. The Body Art Expo touts itself as a skin show-off party."
Don't Worry, Be Unhappy
Want to keep the wife happy? Be miserable
| Mail Online: "Stay miserable? Men who are less happy than their wives tended to have more enduring marriages, according to research."
| Mail Online: "Stay miserable? Men who are less happy than their wives tended to have more enduring marriages, according to research."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Pirates terrorize boaters on Texas lake along Mexican border |
kens5.com
| San Antonio News, Weather, Sports, Traffic, Entertainment, Video and Photos: "It sounds like something out of yesteryear: Pirates attacking boats and sailors, robbing them of their treasures. But it's not on the high seas, but in deep South Texas.
With machine guns in hand, Mexico's deadliest cartel is patrolling the waters of a Texas border lake."
kens5.com
| San Antonio News, Weather, Sports, Traffic, Entertainment, Video and Photos: "It sounds like something out of yesteryear: Pirates attacking boats and sailors, robbing them of their treasures. But it's not on the high seas, but in deep South Texas.
With machine guns in hand, Mexico's deadliest cartel is patrolling the waters of a Texas border lake."
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thumbs Up
8th-grader finds Jesus on thumb while doing science project? |
Phoenix News | Arizona News | azfamily.com
| Phoenix News: "Austin Coleman says he found Jesus on his thumbprint. He says he put the thumbprint on a piece paper for a school science project then stepped back and noticed the resemblance. He admits, “I got a little freaked out.”"
Phoenix News | Arizona News | azfamily.com
| Phoenix News: "Austin Coleman says he found Jesus on his thumbprint. He says he put the thumbprint on a piece paper for a school science project then stepped back and noticed the resemblance. He admits, “I got a little freaked out.”"
Forgotten Books: FIND MY KILLER -- Manly Wade Wellman
George Kelley's off on a Manly Wade Wellman binge, and that inspired me to pull Find My Killer off the shelves for a look. I'm a big admirer of Wellman's stories about John the Balladeer, as well as some of his other work. Not too long ago I reviewed his Sherlock Holmes pastiche (a collaboration with his son) here. I don't know why I didn't read Find My Killer long ago, but I'm glad I finally got around to it.
Let's start with the front cover. I like it, but it has absolutely nothing with the book. Must have been lying around the office. Looks a bit like western cover that's been altered. So forget the cover.
I don't usually show the back covers of books I review, but I thought the info on this one was so interesting that I couldn't resist. It gives some nice background on Wellman.
The book's a combination of the hardboiled private-eye novel with a John Dickson Carr locked-room mystery. It works better than you might think, thanks to the smooth first-person narration of Jackson Yates, a former cop who's just out of the army. He goes to work for J. D. Thatcher, a lawyer, one of whose clients wrote codicil to his will shortly before his death implying that he knew he'd be murdered. He leaves $5000 to the person who finds his killer. You might wonder why he didn't name the person he suspected. Well, what would be the fun in that?
There are plenty of clues, both real and false, and also some hardboiled action (Jackson undergoes a savage beating). Lots of stuff about guns, most of which bears on the plot. There's romance, too. J. D. Thatcher is a woman, and Jackson's attracted to her from the start. I didn't know what to expect when I started reading, but I enjoyed this one. Worth looking for if you're in a used-book store.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Chupacabra Update
Montauk Monster: Beast found in Ontario | Mail Online: "Locals in a small Canadian town have been stumped by the appearance of a bizarre creature, which was dragged from a lake.
The animal, which has a long hairy body with bald skin on its head, feet and face, has prompted wild internet speculation that it is a more evolved version of the famous 'Montauk monster'."
The animal, which has a long hairy body with bald skin on its head, feet and face, has prompted wild internet speculation that it is a more evolved version of the famous 'Montauk monster'."
Photos at the link.
Hard Case Crime Update from Charles Ardai
Friends,
Back in 2008, we published one of our most popular books (and our first by a female author), Christa Faust's MONEY SHOT. The book was called "an instant pulp classic" by Rolling Stone magazine, was a finalist for the Edgar Award, and is currently in development as a movie. Ever since it came out, people have been asking us if there was a chance they'd someday get to read more about Angel Dare, the former adult film star turned vigilante killer.
I'm happy to report that the answer is yes. There'll be a bit of a wait -- 9 months, give or take, and why shouldn't gestation take about that long? -- but when next February comes to a close you'll see a book called CHOKE HOLD arriving in bookstores. You can already get an early peek at the book's gorgeous cover at our Web site: www.HardCaseCrime.com. We haven't posted a sample chapter yet (Christa's still putting the finishing touches on the final draft), but the cover's worth a look all by itself...
Want a great read sooner than 9 months from now? I urge you to visit your favorite local bookseller (or online retailer) and pick up a copy of our latest title, NOBODY'S ANGEL by Jack Clark. It's an extraordinary novel -- written by a Chicago cab driver, about a Chicago cab driver -- and I don't think I've ever read a more passionate, heartbreaking, moving depiction of the Windy City in my life. This is a dark book, a sad book, a noir book through and through...and you'll be kicking yourself if you don't give it a read. The Chicago Sun-Times will shortly be running a profile about the book and the author; Booklist magazine has already given it a starred review, writing "The cynical, melancholy cabbie point of view is perfect for this kind of neon-lit, noir-tinged, saxophone-scored prose poem, and Clark hits all the right notes." Originally, when Jack wrote the book, instead of publishing it the conventional way, he printed up 500 copies himself and sold them to his passengers by hand; the only way you could get a copy of the book was if you were lucky enough to catch a ride in the author's cab. We are incredibly proud to be able to give the book the professional publication it has deserved all along, and I very much hope you'll try it.
And remember, if none of the booksellers you visit have copies left, you can always order one directly by calling 1-800-481-9191.
One other bit of news, and it's a big one: Our best-selling title of all time, Stephen King's THE COLORADO KID, is about to become a TV series! The show is called "Haven," and it debuts on July 9 on SyFy (the network formerly known as The Sci-Fi Channel). In New York, it airs at 10PM; not sure what time it's on in other parts of the country, but check your listings. It'll also be shown outside the U.S., so wherever you are, there's a good chance you'll be able to watch it. The series expands on the story of the book, introducing a new main character (an FBI agent with a mysterious past), but you'll see as the series unfolds that the central mysteries of the book are very much at the heart of the TV show as well. There's a brief video up on SyFy's Web site if you want to get a taste of the show: you can find it by going to http://www.syfy.com/haven/ and clicking on the video link on the right side of the screen that's labeled "Haven - Everyone's Hiding Something." I'm fortunate to be working on the show as a writer and producer and am very excited about how it's coming out. There are some terrific stories hidden in the town of Haven, Maine, and week by week we'll do our best to bring them to you.
We've got more big developments in the works that I'm itching to tell you about...but those are still in the works, so we'll save them for a future update. In the meantime, please do grab a copy of NOBODY'S ANGEL -- and when July 9 rolls around, please tune in to SyFy and join me in watching Hard Case Crime's television debut!
Many thanks,
Charles
----------
Charles Ardai
Editor, Hard Case Crime
You Married Folks Will Be Shocked at this Discovery
What Married Women Want More Than Sex - The Early Show - CBS News: "Two thousand American wives between the ages of 18 and 49 were surveyed about their sex lives by iVillage. The most alarming finding was that 77 percent reported being 'somewhat to extremely happy' with their sex life, but 63 percent of them would rather sleep, watch a movie or read than have sex."
Uh-Oh
Exclusive: Drew Barrymore to Direct an "Oz" Sequel | Disney Brings Back Cinderella | Pajiba - Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People: "Also, we’ve learned exclusively that Surrender Dorothy, yet another Wizard of Oz sequel, has been resurrected. The project was first announced in 2002. It was based on a Zach Helm script (Stranger Than Fiction) and had Drew Barrymore attached to star. She is now attached to direct, as a follow-up to her directorial debut, Whip It."
End of an Era
Last typist refuses to switch to laptop, gets boot from Writers Room in Greenwich Village: "The ribbon has run out on the last typewriter at a Manhattan writers' den.
Skye Ferrante has spent six years at the Writers Room in Greenwich Village, blissfully banging away on his grandmother's 1929 Royal typewriter.
The 37-year-old writer represented a bygone era, the last typewriter-user in a special room devoted to typists.
'In the event that there are no desks available, laptop users must make room for typists,' read a sign posted in the 'Typing Room' for years.
When Ferrante returned to the Writers Room in April after an eight-month break, the sign was gone and his noisy typewriter was no longer welcome."
Skye Ferrante has spent six years at the Writers Room in Greenwich Village, blissfully banging away on his grandmother's 1929 Royal typewriter.
The 37-year-old writer represented a bygone era, the last typewriter-user in a special room devoted to typists.
'In the event that there are no desks available, laptop users must make room for typists,' read a sign posted in the 'Typing Room' for years.
When Ferrante returned to the Writers Room in April after an eight-month break, the sign was gone and his noisy typewriter was no longer welcome."
Link via Boing Boing.
Stray Dog -- A Guest Review by Kerry Newcomb
If you harbor a fondness for noir films or those good ol' 1950's police procedurals shot on the mean streets of... (Naked City, Asphalt Jungle, Kansas City Confidential, etc) then may I suggest you find a copy of Akira Kurosawa's Stray Dog.
It is a fascinating film, a little long in the middle although I have to say it continued to interest me. What we have is a simple story, a rookie detective has his pistol lifted from his pocket. The rest of the film is his pursuit of that gun. It is a Colt automatic loaded with seven rounds. Yep, you count them off one by one as the gun is used in one crime after another. Recovering the weapon becomes a point of honor for the young detective and he suffers greatly each time it is used to harm an innocent.
Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura play the young novice detective and the experienced veteran. Shimura has the quiet, passive, thoughtful strength of a Japanese Inspector Foyle (I add this for you Michael Kitchen fans. You'll know what I mean.) The film is shot on the streets of Tokyo, indeed one nine-minute section is shot without dialogue and involves Mifune wandering undercover, down the streets and slums of the city looking for a gangster arms merchant.
What a fascinating experience, this post war Japan, rising from the ashes of WW II. The camera enters bars and you expect those singsong, Sayonara melodies found in American films. Kurosawa gives us New Orleans blues or bassa nova rhythyms or back alley jazz, all these amazing foreign influences that in the four years of occupation after the war the Japanese culture has adopted as its own. Mifune is an ex soldier and there is a distinct parallel between him and his criminal nemesis. Both men suffered indignities and a sense of displacement after returning home from the war. Mifune's character could have easily slid into the criminal life and he recognizes this about himself. Shimura, the wise old cop, was a law man during the war, whose job was to keep civil order in an impossible time of major conflict. A heat wave grips the city. The celluloid practically drips moisture through the television screen. And when storms erupt into savage downpours their timing rivals the hurricane in a film like Key Largo. Shimura is a dogged, plodding copper who has no use for hunches. he scrutinizes the evidence of each crime scene and fits the tidbits together like the pieces of a map leading to the gunman. Kurosawa supplies us with plenty of colorful types to deal with. And the final chase and desperate confrontation that courses through slum streets, train yards and a heavily wooded tract thick with trees and overgrown and steamy as some savage Eden is just excellent. And left me exhausted. Kurosawa's brilliance is in setting up this final chase with a preemptive scene in which...well...I won't spoil it but it is one of those great, "Holy Crap!" moments.
Anyway, I've seen films shot in Paris and Berlin after the war, The Third Man comes to mind, but cannot recall one shot in Japan. It was fascinating. There is a scene in a burlesque house with a bunch of chorus girls (now I have your interest?) where what happens after their onstage routine is something I have never seen portrayed in a film before.
So Stray Dog isn't gonna be everyone's cup o java but if you're interested, it's worth searching out at the library or Netflix.
If you haven't read Kerry Newcomb's novels, you're missing a treat. Here's a good one to begin with.
Here's the Plot for Your Next Big Caper Novel
Paintings Worth Millions Stolen from Paris Museum - WSJ.com: "A lone thief stole five paintings possibly worth hundreds of millions of euros, including major works by Picasso and Matisse, in a brazen overnight heist Thursday from a Paris modern-art museum, police and prosecutors said.
The paintings disappeared early Thursday from the Paris Museum of Modern Art, across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower, one of the French capital's most tourist-frequented neighborhoods."
The paintings disappeared early Thursday from the Paris Museum of Modern Art, across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower, one of the French capital's most tourist-frequented neighborhoods."
And You Thought the DMV Was Bad in Your State
DMV Relocates Driver to Unfortunate Locale on License |
NBC Miami: "The line that was supposed to display Lineberger's street address was replaced by the vulgar message and the state Department of Motor Vehicles has no clue how the mishap occurred.
Lineberger's husband, Charles, said after getting the run around on the phone with the state DMV, the couple went to the local DMV to get some answers. What they got was laughter and a quote for another fee if they wanted the license fixed.
'They thought it was hilarious like it was some kind of joke,' he said. 'Then they wanted us to pay for another license.'"
NBC Miami: "The line that was supposed to display Lineberger's street address was replaced by the vulgar message and the state Department of Motor Vehicles has no clue how the mishap occurred.
Lineberger's husband, Charles, said after getting the run around on the phone with the state DMV, the couple went to the local DMV to get some answers. What they got was laughter and a quote for another fee if they wanted the license fixed.
'They thought it was hilarious like it was some kind of joke,' he said. 'Then they wanted us to pay for another license.'"
Photo of the license at the link.
It's Hard to Find Good Help These Days
NJ Mom Recognizes Census Worker as Sex Offender |
NBC Philadelphia: "A man with a U.S. census badge knocked on Amy Schmalbach’s door on May 4. Thinking that answering the door to a government worker was a safe bet, she did. And then she wondered why he looked so familiar.
As soon as the man left her Pennsauken home, Schmalbach realized where she had seen him before: on the state’s sex-offender registry."
NBC Philadelphia: "A man with a U.S. census badge knocked on Amy Schmalbach’s door on May 4. Thinking that answering the door to a government worker was a safe bet, she did. And then she wondered why he looked so familiar.
As soon as the man left her Pennsauken home, Schmalbach realized where she had seen him before: on the state’s sex-offender registry."
Hat tip to Jeff Segal.
Get a Rope!
8th grader flips teacher off; banned from graduation |
KMOV.com
| St. Louis news, Missouri news & breaking news | KMOV.com | News for St. Louis, Missouri: "An eighth grade student in Albers, Illinois is in trouble for flipping his teacher the bird and running out of class.
After the boy flipped off his teacher, school officials locked down the school and officers from several police departments responded.
The superintendent says the 14-year-old's behavior caused, “widespread student unrest.'"
KMOV.com
| St. Louis news, Missouri news & breaking news | KMOV.com | News for St. Louis, Missouri: "An eighth grade student in Albers, Illinois is in trouble for flipping his teacher the bird and running out of class.
After the boy flipped off his teacher, school officials locked down the school and officers from several police departments responded.
The superintendent says the 14-year-old's behavior caused, “widespread student unrest.'"
Gator Update (Shopping Mall Edition)
Shopping mall has reptilian visitor - UPI.com: "Florida shopping mall had an unexpected, and unwelcome, visitor Wednesday when a 10-foot alligator took up residence on a nearby sidewalk, authorities said.
Trappers were called to the Millenia Mall in Orlando, Fla., early in the morning to capture and remove the animal, WESH-TV, Orlando, reported."
Trappers were called to the Millenia Mall in Orlando, Fla., early in the morning to capture and remove the animal, WESH-TV, Orlando, reported."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
kens5.com
"Rosemary Benitez thought it was a joke at first. She was told her store was going to�need a food permit in order to stay in business.
But Benitez doesn't own a restaurant. She owns the Shades of Love lingerie store on West Bitters road.
Shades of Love sells racy lingerie, high heel shoes, adult toys and items meant to enhance a couple's sex life. However, some of those items are edible. That's why the health department ruled the store needed a food permit."
"Rosemary Benitez thought it was a joke at first. She was told her store was going to�need a food permit in order to stay in business.
But Benitez doesn't own a restaurant. She owns the Shades of Love lingerie store on West Bitters road.
Shades of Love sells racy lingerie, high heel shoes, adult toys and items meant to enhance a couple's sex life. However, some of those items are edible. That's why the health department ruled the store needed a food permit."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Double Down Update
Chickens, Beware: KFC Extends Double Down - ABC News: "KFC says Americans are gobbling down so many Double Down sandwiches that the fast-food chain will offer the bunless, meaty sandwich longer than it had planned.
Originally the sandwich — bacon and cheese surrounded by chicken filets — was to have been available through Sunday.
But KFC said Wednesday that the sandwich will be available now for as long as customer demand remains high."
Originally the sandwich — bacon and cheese surrounded by chicken filets — was to have been available through Sunday.
But KFC said Wednesday that the sandwich will be available now for as long as customer demand remains high."
She Should Have Stayed On Her Lawn
Scooter-Riding Senior Takes Freeway To Casino - San Antonio News Story - KSAT San Antonio: "A woman on a motorized scooter took to the interstate Tuesday in hopes of reaching the casino, Albuquerque TV station KOAT reported.
After several calls from motorists, police tracked her down after she had pulled over to the side of the road because her oxygen tank was low."
[. . . .]
'I only had one person yell at me and it was a kid,' Martin said. 'I told him to shut up.'
'I only had one person yell at me and it was a kid,' Martin said. 'I told him to shut up.'
After several calls from motorists, police tracked her down after she had pulled over to the side of the road because her oxygen tank was low."
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
End of an Era
Smothers Brothers Retire From the Comedy Grind | PopEater.com: "For decades now they've looked like a couple of squares, with their cardigan sweaters and those tidy haircuts, but it's their sneakily subversive brand of comedy that made the two jokesters from New York City household names. Now, The Smothers Brothers are puting away their touring shoes for good after more than 50-odd years on the road.
[. . . .]
Dick, 70, told the Las Vegas Sun he and his older brother have canceled all future gigs. 'I was wondering if it would be emotional,' he said, 'But that to me was just another day in the office.'"
[. . . .]
Dick, 70, told the Las Vegas Sun he and his older brother have canceled all future gigs. 'I was wondering if it would be emotional,' he said, 'But that to me was just another day in the office.'"
Chupacabra Update: Runaway Bay Leads the Way
Chupacabra Adopted as City Mascot - News- msnbc.com: "Fort Worth has the historic Stockyards. San Antonio has the Alamo. Runaway Bay has the chupacabra.
That's right. The chupacabra. The legendary goat-sucker.
On Tuesday night, the Runaway Bay City Council passed a resolution that would make the chupacabra the city's official mascot."
That's right. The chupacabra. The legendary goat-sucker.
On Tuesday night, the Runaway Bay City Council passed a resolution that would make the chupacabra the city's official mascot."
Photo here, in case you've forgotten.
Hat tip to Angela Crider.
It's About Time
147 years later, Wis. Civil War soldier gets medal - KansasCity.com: "Seven score and seven years ago, a wounded Wisconsin soldier stood his ground on the Gettysburg battlefield and made a valiant stand before he was felled by a Confederate bullet.
Now, thanks to the dogged efforts of modern-day supporters, 1st Lt. Alonzo Cushing shall not have died in vain, nor shall his memory have perished from the earth.
Descendants and some Civil War history buffs have been pushing the U.S. Army to award the soldier the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration. They'll soon get their wish."
Now, thanks to the dogged efforts of modern-day supporters, 1st Lt. Alonzo Cushing shall not have died in vain, nor shall his memory have perished from the earth.
Descendants and some Civil War history buffs have been pushing the U.S. Army to award the soldier the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military decoration. They'll soon get their wish."
Hat tip to Scott Cupp.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Photos reveal inside look at East Austin tunnel home |
kvue.com
| KVUE News local | Austin, Tx | Breaking news: "The City of Austin Tuesday released photos of the web of tunnels a man dug underneath his East Austin home.
Under the yellow home are three stories of tunnels. For at least two years, neighbors suspected owner Jose Del Rio was up to something strange, but had no idea just how busy he'd been."
kvue.com
| KVUE News local | Austin, Tx | Breaking news: "The City of Austin Tuesday released photos of the web of tunnels a man dug underneath his East Austin home.
Under the yellow home are three stories of tunnels. For at least two years, neighbors suspected owner Jose Del Rio was up to something strange, but had no idea just how busy he'd been."
Monkey See, . . .
Monkeys pay for sexy pics : Nature News: "To a monkey, some things are worth looking at more than others. A US study has shown that rhesus macaques will pay to look at images of powerful or sexually interesting fellows.
The discovery, made by neurobiologists at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, supports the theory that monkeys will make sacrifices to gain socially useful information, much as a human might spend money on a newspaper."
The discovery, made by neurobiologists at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, supports the theory that monkeys will make sacrifices to gain socially useful information, much as a human might spend money on a newspaper."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Houston Could Use These Druids
Druids hired to cut road accidents |
Quirky News |
Orange UK : "Motoroway bosses in Austria secretly hired a full-time team of druids to drain 'negative energy' from accident blackspots.
The team is said to have reduced fatal accidents at one notorious crash site to zero after restoring its 'terrestrial radiation'."
Quirky News |
Orange UK : "Motoroway bosses in Austria secretly hired a full-time team of druids to drain 'negative energy' from accident blackspots.
The team is said to have reduced fatal accidents at one notorious crash site to zero after restoring its 'terrestrial radiation'."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Here's the Plot for Your Next Geezer Noir Story
Investigators believe mystery woman targets wealthy, older men to clean out their bank accounts | abc13.com: "Her identity is a mystery, but investigators want viewers to take a good look. Investigators say she's a con artist who targets rich, elderly men. Robert, who wants to only use his first name, says she tried to clean out his 88-year-old father's retirement account."
I'd Better Stay Out of Trouble
Blind Justice? Attractive Get Breaks with Juries - CBS News: "According to a Cornell University study, unattractive defendants are 22 percent more likely to be convicted than good-looking ones. And the unattractive also get slapped with harsher sentences - an average of 22 months longer in prison."
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