Judy and I have known Miranda James (under a slightly different name) for about 30 years now. Judy says that this is the best book yet in the "Cat in the Stacks" series.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Judy and I have known Miranda James (under a slightly different name) for about 30 years now. Judy says that this is the best book yet in the "Cat in the Stacks" series.
A Little Story from my Life
The title of today's PaperBack reminds me of something that happened a long time ago, the summer of 1966. I'd finished up my work on my M.A. at what was then called North Texas State University, and we were planning to move to Austin. One weekend we drove to Austin and met a friend of ours, a very strait-laced guy, who was going to help us look for an apartment. At the first place we looked, the apartment manager was a young woman, probably even younger than we were, and we were very young. She took us into a one-bedroom apartment about which I remember nothing at all except for the bedroom, and the reason I remember that is because of what the young woman said when she took us into it. She said, "It's a queen-size bed, and I'm sure it's big enough for all three of you."
For me, that moment marked the beginning the official beginning of that era known as "the '60s." I knew for sure that I'd come a long way from my little old hometown, and even a long way from North Texas State. I thought our friend was going to faint. I still remember how red his face was. I was laughing, and I think Judy was too. We didn't rent that apartment, but I'll always remember that little episode fondly.
For me, that moment marked the beginning the official beginning of that era known as "the '60s." I knew for sure that I'd come a long way from my little old hometown, and even a long way from North Texas State. I thought our friend was going to faint. I still remember how red his face was. I was laughing, and I think Judy was too. We didn't rent that apartment, but I'll always remember that little episode fondly.
Dino Update (with bonus Cretaceous Croc illo)
New Hadrosaur Noses into Spotlight: Call it the Jimmy Durante of dinosaurs – a newly discovered hadrosaur with a truly distinctive nasal profile. The new dinosaur, named Rhinorex condrupus by paleontologists from North Carolina State University and Brigham Young University, lived in what is now Utah approximately 75 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.
A Long-Forgotten Film
Coming Soon, a Century Late: A Black Film Gem: Now, after years of research, a historic find has emerged: what MoMA curators say is the earliest surviving footage for a feature film with a black cast.
Overlooked Movies: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Every now and then there's a movie that nobody likes but me, and I like it a lot. That's the case with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which I find hilarious. I even own and have listened to the novelization on tape. I realize that this makes me stupid and immature, but I can't help it. Maybe you prefer the darker TV series that came along later. Not me.Kristy Swanson is the Valley Girl who discovers that she's the one chosen to be the slayer of vampires. Donald Sutherland is her mentor. Rutger Hauer is the head vamp, and his right-hand minion is Paul Reubens. That's right, Pee-Wee himself, and he's hilarious. So is Stephen Root, who plays the high school principal. Luke Perry is okay. And let's not forget Tilda Swinton in what must be one of her least typical roles.
I found the whole movie hilarious. For me, Kristy Swanson is the real Buffy, and Sarah Michelle Gellar is merely a pretender. Joss Whedon apparently didn't approve of the movie and claims that much of it was rewritten. The story is that he left the set and never returned. His vision was ruined and was shown only in the TV series. That's fine by me. I still prefer the movie. And I'm not one bit ashamed. Okay, maybe a little.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Admit it -- you can hardly wait
SyFy’s ‘Lavalantula’: A Movie About Fire-Breathing Spiders Starring The Cast Of ‘Police Academy’
The Girl Who Wanted to be Sherlock Holmes
The Girl Who Wanted to be Sherlock Holmes: In my continuing effort to become incredibly rich, I'm trying to gin up some sales for this YA novel (Kindle only), that's really fun for all ages. So I'm putting the first chapter up for free at the link. The theory is that you'll be so taken with it that you can't resist buying the book. If you've already read the book, spread the word about the free chapter. My Swiss bank account will thank you.
Once Again Texas Leads the Way
However, Alvin, Texas, is inexplicably omitted: Best Places to Live 2014
Sunday, September 21, 2014
PimPage: An Occasional Feature in Which I Call Attention to Books of Interest
Catnapped!: A Dead-End Job Mystery: Elaine Viets: 9780451466303: Amazon.com: Books No more pussyfooting around! Husband and wife PI team Helen Hawthorne and Phil Sagemont have barely scratched the surface of the world of show cats when a cornered kitty kidnapper’s claws come out....
This is the latest in another of Judy's favorite series, and she's given me permission to say that she liked this entry a lot.
This is the latest in another of Judy's favorite series, and she's given me permission to say that she liked this entry a lot.
Cement (Not Concrete) Makes the Modern World Possible
Cement Makes the Modern World Possible: Concrete is one of those technologies that was used for centuries—in this case, by the Romans—and then had to be invented again centuries later. But once we rediscovered it, we were hooked. The only thing that humans consume more of, by volume, than water is cement, concrete's key ingredient. We use so much of the stuff that the cement industry is responsible, all on its own, for 5 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.
Short Story Free for Kindle for a Limited Time
Mind Game (A Blanco County Short Story) - Kindle edition by Ben Rehder. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.: The sheriff of Blanco County has a problem on his hands. One local resident is making vague threats—hypothetically speaking, of course—to unsettle another local resident, who stole the first man's girlfriend. The problem escalates and violence is almost certain, until the sheriff comes up with a brilliant and ironic solution.
You can also get this collection of short nonfiction articles free if you act now! And why wouldn't you?
You can also get this collection of short nonfiction articles free if you act now! And why wouldn't you?
Will Radcliff, R. I. P.
Ohio creator of Slush Puppies dead at age 74: Will Radcliff, who built a multimillion-dollar global business from flavored, icy Slush Puppie drinks, has died in Cincinnati. He was 74.
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