Rick Newman: Boca Raton cracks down on Halloween show - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: Robotic monsters, a holiday music-and-light show and the fountains dyed to look like blood. All that in Rick Newman's front yard isn't a problem for city code-enforcement officials.
But the kids who volunteered to dance Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in his driveway apparently crossed a line.
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
Amazon.com: O'Doul eBook: Wayne D. Dundee: Kindle Store: A Dime Novel - short Western adventure...
O’Doul has been a lot of places and done a lot of things in his life. Now, working on a ranch outside Pitchfork Creek, he finds bad things happening all around. The ranch owner and his wife are splitting up and O’Doul is forced to ride herd on a hot-headed cowboy.
When events come to a head, O’Doul makes a deadly decision and goes into action.
O’Doul has been a lot of places and done a lot of things in his life. Now, working on a ranch outside Pitchfork Creek, he finds bad things happening all around. The ranch owner and his wife are splitting up and O’Doul is forced to ride herd on a hot-headed cowboy.
When events come to a head, O’Doul makes a deadly decision and goes into action.
A.C. Nielsen Jr., R. I. P.
NYTimes.com: Arthur C. Nielsen Jr., who transformed the company his father founded in 1923 into an international leader in market research, helping to make its name synonymous with television ratings, died on Monday in Winnetka, Ill., where he lived most of his life. He was 92.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Perry Mason Update
Warner Bros., Downey team for 'Perry Mason' - Entertainment News, EXCLUSIVE, Media - Variety: Warner Bros. and Team Downey are teaming to relaunch the "Perry Mason" franchise as a feature film, with Robert Downey Jr. eyeing the title defense attorney role as a potential starring vehicle.
Like the original series of books by Erle Stanley Gardner, "Perry Mason" will be set in the rough and tumble world of early 1930s Los Angeles, and feature fan favorites such as Mason's secretary, Della Street, private investigator Paul Drake, and Mason's longtime courtroom nemesis, Hamilton Burger.
Like the original series of books by Erle Stanley Gardner, "Perry Mason" will be set in the rough and tumble world of early 1930s Los Angeles, and feature fan favorites such as Mason's secretary, Della Street, private investigator Paul Drake, and Mason's longtime courtroom nemesis, Hamilton Burger.
Link via Mystery Fanfare.
The Night and the Music -- Lawrence Block
In the middle 1970s, I was living in Brownwood, Texas. In those days, Texas still had Blue Laws, which meant that on Sunday, stores could remain open, but only certain items could be sold. I'd occasionally go out to Walgreen's on Sunday afternoons to look over the paperback rack, since it was apparently okay for me to buy one, though other areas of the store were roped off. And so it came to pass that one Sunday afternoon I picked up a Dell paperback called Sins of the Fathers. I'd already read a lot of other Lawrence Block titles and liked them all, so I grabbed this one, paid for it, and went home to read it. Thus I was introduced to Matthew Scudder.When I finished the book the next day, I was ready for the next one, and I've read all the succeeding Matt Scudder books, which means that I've been keeping up with Scudder's career for a frighteningly long time. I hadn't, however, read all the short stories about Scudder. Until recently, that is. Now the stories have been collected in the e-book you see pictured here, and it's only $2.99, making it the one of the biggest bargains you'll ever find.
As I said, I hadn't read all the Scudder stories, but I'd read several of them, including the Edgar-award-winning "By the Dawn's Early Light" and the Shamus-winning "The Merciful Angel of Death," but some of the other things included here were hard to come by even for die-hard fans. And Block's included a never-before-published story titled "One Last Night at Grogan's" that's guaranteed to make fans of the series a little misty-eyed.
There's also Block's "Afterword," an invaluable discussion of how the stories came to be written, plus an introduction and appreciation by Brian Koppelman. Put it all together and you have an irresistible collection. You'll want this one for sure. Trust me.
Paul Levine Interview
Studio City, CA Patch: Best-selling crime novelist Paul Levine likes living in the hills of Studio City—he thinks the mountain views are really special since he comes from South Florida where there isn’t the slightest bit of elevation other than the high-rises overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
With a confident swagger, Levine arrived at Jerry’s Famous Deli recently for an interview with Studio City Patch looking much less sinister and quite a bit friendlier than in his obligatory head shot on the inside cover of his just-released book, Lassiter.
With a confident swagger, Levine arrived at Jerry’s Famous Deli recently for an interview with Studio City Patch looking much less sinister and quite a bit friendlier than in his obligatory head shot on the inside cover of his just-released book, Lassiter.
Yeti Update
Fox News: Scientists from several countries, including Russia and the U.S., will gather in the Kemerova region of Siberia to hunt down the Yeti, after alleged sightings of the legendary creatures increased threefold in the area over the past 20 years.
Here's the Plot for Your Next Mafia Thriller
Houston Chronicle: A Houston woman whose infant son inherited the Baby Dolls strip club six years ago is alleging that a former New Jersey mobster - reputed to be an inspiration for HBO's Tony Soprano - has cheated her out of more than $1 million.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Never Bring Your MMA Skills to a Gunfight
WPEC 12 West Palm Beach: A 33-year-old man who claimed to be a mixed martial arts fighter was incapacitated by a shotgun after a fight with an internet prostitute and her husband early Monday morning, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.
Hey, Who Doesn't Like Pizza?
Bear lets himself into restaurant for pizza: hungry bear has scared off customers in a Canadian pizza shop after he walked into the restaurant and helped himself to some dinner.
Hat tip to Cullen Gallagher.
The Wonder of Woodcuts
The Wonder of Woodcuts on AbeBooks: An important printing technique for centuries, woodcuts are a form of relief painting where patterns and images are carved into blocks of wood to create a raised picture. The raised surface is then covered with ink and pressed onto paper thus transferring the image. In the early days of the printing press, woodcuts and moveable type were a marriage made in heaven.
New Issue of Clues
The Bunburyist: Clues 29.2: Simenon, Stout, Sayers, et al.: Vol 29, no. 2 of Clues: A Journal of Detection has just been published, . . . .
See contents at the link.
Forgotten Films: Shane
You haven't forgotten Shane, you say? I'd expect most readers of this blog to remember it, but I wonder how many people these days remember westerns at all, even one as famous as this. I saw the movie in the theater when I was about 12 years old. I loved it without knowing why, but it seems obvious now, looking back more than 50 years. For one thing, it's a simple story that I'd seen plenty of times in the black-and-white B-westerns at Saturday matinees: ranchers vs. homesteaders. Shane was in beautiful color, but it was black-and-white in its depiction of two of the central characters. There's never any doubt that Shane is the good guy and that Jack Palance isn't. Palance is great as a man who's as thoroughly evil as a man can be, and loves it. He dresses entirely in black and is a real prince of darkness. The scene where he provokes Elisha Cook, Jr., into drawing on him was a shocker to me, and probably to some of the adults in the audience, too.
That's not to say the movie's morally simplistic. Shane's relationship with Marian Stewart (Jean Arthur) and the ranchers' grievances against the homesteaders are more complex that you might think at first, and they give the movie some depth.
Another typical western element is the use of the lone stranger who rides in to set things right, reluctantly, of course. Alan Ladd was never anybody's idea of a great actor, but he's really good here, mainly because he underplays everything. He's all quiet strength.
There's also the coming-of-age story with Brandon De Wilde, the kid who begins to realize that things aren't as simple as he thought and that even doing the right thing has a price.
And then there's the scenery. This must surely be one of the best-looking westerns ever filmed, in Technicolor and wide screen, with the Tetons as a backdrop to a lot of the dramatic action. To a kid who'd never been out of Central Texas, it was like seeing a movie filmed on another world.
There are people who don't Shane is a great movie, but it will always be on my list of best westerns. (The Mad parody is pretty good, too.)
Monday, October 03, 2011
Highly Recommended by Judy
Amazon.com: India Black and the Widow of Windsor (9780425243190): Carol K. Carr: Books: Black is back-Her Majesty's favorite spy is off to Scotland in this new adventure to ensure the Queen doesn't end up getting killed.When Queen Victoria attends a seance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral. Prime Minister Disraeli suspects the Scottish nationalists plan to assassinate the Queen-and sends the ever resourceful India and the handsome British spy, French, to the Scottish highlands.
French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the guests-and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the household staff. India is certain that someone at Balmoral is determined to make this Her Majesty's last Christmas...
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
Amazon.com: Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles Vol. II eBook: Edward A. Grainger: Kindle Store: Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles Vol. II continues to chronicle the tales of two unorthodox 19th century U.S. Marshals. With seven more adventures, this collection includes the novella "Origin of White Deer" where the outlaw marshal leaves his Arapaho home as a teen to find his roots in the lawless town of Cheyenne, Wyoming. These noir tales infuse the Western genre with a fresh perspective on topics like race relations and social justice while still delivering pulse-racing action in the tradition of Wanted: Dead or Alive and Gunsmoke.
Girl Power
Pinckney's Brianna Amat Kicks Winning Field Goal after being Named Homecoming Queen: She's the first girl to kick on Pinckney's varsity football team. On Friday night, Brianna Amat kicked a 31-yard game-winning field goal and was crowned homecoming queen on the same night.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
wzzm13.com: One man was arrested over the weekend for threatening another man with a bow and arrow during an apparent road rage incident in Montcalm County.
Long, Long Ago
I think I posted this one a few years ago, but I ran across it yesterday, and couldn't resist. This is a shot of Judy, Joe Lansdale, and me taken at AggieCon in 1980.
Here's the Plot for Your Next Feel-Good Family Comedy
Jail for family who googled murder to get granddad's riches: A BRITISH schoolgirl has been imprisoned for her part in a family plot to kill her elderly grandfather to get at his money.
The 16-year-old girl searched the internet with her 49-year-old mother, 19-year-old brother and his 17-year-old girlfriend for ''the easiest way to kill an old person''.
The 16-year-old girl searched the internet with her 49-year-old mother, 19-year-old brother and his 17-year-old girlfriend for ''the easiest way to kill an old person''.
They'd Better Stay Off His Lawn!
UPI.com: The FBI says it hasn't yet determined if Friday's stickup at a San Diego bank branch was the work of the elusive "Geezer Bandit."
Sunday, October 02, 2011
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
Amazon.com: The Lineup: Poems on Crime 4 eBook: R. Narvaez, Sarah Cortez, Reed Farrel Coleman, Gerald So: Kindle Store: The fourth and final issue of THE LINEUP: POEMS ON CRIME features work by Ken Bruen, Michael Casey, Reed Farrel Coleman, David Corbett, Mary Agnes Dalrymple, Mary Christine Delea, Jeanne Dickey, H. Palmer Hall, Paul Hostovsky, David Jordan, Laura LeHew, Thomas Michael McDade, Peter Meinke, Keith Rawson, Chad Rohrbacher, Stephen Jay Schwartz, Nancy Scott, Kieran Shea, J.D. Smith, J.J. Steinfeld, John Stickney, Caitlin Elizabeth Thomson, Randall Watson, Charles Harper Webb, Steve Weddle, and Germaine Welch.
No Comment Department
The Raw Story: Researchers at the University of London found the elements of a song that make them a singalong hit and have declared Queen’s We are the Champions as the world’s catchiest song.
With Fava Beans and a Nice Chianti?
NBC Miami: A former model who killed, cooked and ate her husband 20 years ago will make a bid for freedom next week.
First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
Northwest Florida Daily News: A Fort Walton Beach woman accused of throwing a Bible at her son's girlfriend was charged Sept. 25 with battery causing bodily harm, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office arrest report.
Pete Gent, R. I. P.
iWon News - 'North Dallas Forty' author dies in Michigan: The seamier side of professional football was exposed by former NFL player Peter Gent's "North Dallas Forty," the 1973 novel that became a sports movie classic depicting the drugs, sex, greed and self-preservation of the game.
Gent had an unlikely five-season career playing for Dallas before penning the story loosely based on the Cowboys. It later became a movie, nestled between comedy and tragedy, showing the drinking and drugging by thinly disguised football characters.
Gent, who died Friday at his boyhood home in western Michigan, seemed pleased with how the movie turned out but usually didn't watch it years later, his son said Saturday. Gent went on to write several more books.
Gent had an unlikely five-season career playing for Dallas before penning the story loosely based on the Cowboys. It later became a movie, nestled between comedy and tragedy, showing the drinking and drugging by thinly disguised football characters.
Gent, who died Friday at his boyhood home in western Michigan, seemed pleased with how the movie turned out but usually didn't watch it years later, his son said Saturday. Gent went on to write several more books.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
ABC News: A New York man came up with an unusual plan to hurt his ex-girlfriend: kill a bear, skin it, and then dress up in the carcass and attack her.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Your Houston News: News: Houston has landed back in the top 10 of America’s fast cities -- but we’ve got plenty of company right here in Texas. In fact, Texas placed five cities on the list, compiled annually by Men’s Health, with what the magazine dubbed “Corpulent Christi” as the No. 1 fattest city nationwide.
Houston was in ninth place, with El Paso in third, Dallas in fourth and San Antonio seventh.
Houston was in ninth place, with El Paso in third, Dallas in fourth and San Antonio seventh.
But What about their Self-Esteem?
The Guardian: Stone age toddlers may have attended a form of prehistoric nursery where they were encouraged to develop their creative skills in cave art, say archaeologists.
Saturday, October 01, 2011
And Keep Off His Ice Pack!
Belgian eccentric who sees everything in black and white... because he thinks he's a penguin | Mail Online: The 79-year-old, nicknamed 'Monsieur Pingouin' (Mr Penguin) dons his favourite hooded black-and-white penguin costume when he takes trips out in local neighbourhood of Schaerbeek.
Indestructible Duck WBAGNFARB
Stuff.co.nz: An indestructible duck hit by a car at almost 100kmh survived with bruises after getting stuck inside the vehicle's grill for a day.
Friday, September 30, 2011
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Interesting Books to Your Attention
Amazon.com: The Hungry eBook: Harry Shannon, Steven Booth: Kindle Store: Sheriff Penny Miller of Flat Rock, Nevada, is the kind of woman who will do whatever it takes to protect those she is sworn to serve, even when that includes a murderous biker, her wimpy ex-husband, a unit of incompetent National Guardsmen, and even the scientist responsible for releasing the undead upon an unsuspecting world.If you're one of the tens of thousands of people who read the free short story, ‘Jailbreak,’ also by Booth and Shannon, this is your opportunity to find out what happens after that terrifying first night of the zombie apocalypse. And those of you encountering The Hungry for the first time are in for the ride of your life. Remember... Aim for the head!
The Biggest Bargain at Bouchercon . . .
. . . was Mystery Scene #11, which could be had at Maggie Mason's table in the dealers' room for a measly two bucks. It's from 1987, and I'm surprised people didn't snap up all the copies just for the photo on the cover alone. But it's the inside that's the real nostalgia trip. There's an interview conducted by the late Ellen Nehr, one of the great fans and a unique personality if ever there was one. There's a letter from Stephen Wright in which he cancels his subscription because he claims that editors Randisi and Gorman won't review his books in the magazine because they aren't published by "the commercial press." There's a letter from Michael Avallone (speaking of unique personalities) in which he rants about Stephen King, among other things. A book review by Charles Willeford. A short article by Willam R. Cox. There are columns by Max Allan Collins, Clark Howard, William Campbell Gault, Richard Laymon, Charles L. Grant, Jan Grape, and others. Book reviews, ads, photos. And lots more. I'm sure some of the names above aren't familiar to the whippersnappers, who also don't remember the famous magician who appeared at the Bouchercon banquet in 1987. He's not mentioned in the article touting the convention, but I remember him well. At that banquet, I was awarded the Anthony for Best First Novel. Like a lot of the people I mentioned above, I used to be somebody. It seems like only yesterday.
My original copy of this magazine is at Texas A&M now, so I had to have this one just to read and remember. Great stuff. Maggie had a lot of copies that weren't sold. Too bad so many people missed out, but at least I'm giving you a look at that cover.
Ig Nobel Prize Winners
Reuters: Prognosticators who predicted the end of the world and got it wrong, scientists who built a wasabi fire alarm, and researchers who studied how the urge to urinate affects decision-making were among the winners of spoof Ig Nobel prizes on Thursday.
Collectible Color Plates: Color Your Shelf
AbeBooks: Collectible Color Plates: Color Your Shelf: Most people familiar with AbeBooks will have seen the words ‘color plate’ used in association with certain rare book listings. Plates are whole page illustrations printed separately from the text (illustrations printed within the text are called cuts) and naturally color plates feature color illustrations.
To some book collectors, the golden age of color plates had to be the Victorian era where countless books were produced on flora and fauna complete with numerous color illustrations of everything from moths and butterflies to grasses and alpine plants. However, many subjects are addressed in color plate books, including satirical cartoons, sporting scenes, landscapes, costumes, fairy tales and architecture.
To some book collectors, the golden age of color plates had to be the Victorian era where countless books were produced on flora and fauna complete with numerous color illustrations of everything from moths and butterflies to grasses and alpine plants. However, many subjects are addressed in color plate books, including satirical cartoons, sporting scenes, landscapes, costumes, fairy tales and architecture.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Houston News - Hair Balls: Man, the Houston Police Department is starting to seem less like a police force and more like the world's biggest frat party these days. Hard on the heels of the dismissal of one veteran cop for driving to work drunk off his ass and crashing into a (luckily almost empty) school bus, comes an allegation that three other boys in blue chomped down on some pot brownies they had seized in a drug raid.
Forgotten Books: Don't Dig Deeper -- William Francis
When I pulled this off the shelf the other day for a PaperBack feature, I figured I might as well read it. After all, there are times when nothing will do but a private-eye novel from the old days, one that uses plenty of the conventions (I never call them clichés) that we know and love.This is a "one man against municipal corruption" book in the Red Harvest vein. Steve Cash is a private-eye who doesn't really want to get involved. But then he gets pushed around and beaten up, so he decides he's going to bring down the whole rotten system. Of course the fact that he has a paying client and a murder to investigate has something to do with it.
The plot is a little complicated, there's lots of shooting, and Cash takes a few more beatings. He does what he set out to do, but the ending's a bit more downbeat than you might expect. Solid stuff.
(Francis, full name William Francis Urell) also wrote as Curtis Lucas.)
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