Wednesday, January 04, 2017
Tuesday, January 03, 2017
Health Update
For those interested in the state of my health, here's the latest. After a long day of testing yesterday, I met with the doctor today. The test results were "mixed" and a little puzzling. The good news is that both the CT scan and the bone scan showed nice improvement, and most of my blood work was excellent. The bad news is that the one problem with the blood work was the PSA count, which has risen again. This is puzzling because in light of the test results, that shouldn't be the case.
Rather than start chemo immediately, the doctor wants to wait one week and do another blood test. If the PSA remains high, then I'll be boarding the chemo train. I can't see any reason why it won't remain high, and the doctor wasn't sanguine, either. At least I'm getting a week's reprieve, so I'm glad about that.
Rather than start chemo immediately, the doctor wants to wait one week and do another blood test. If the PSA remains high, then I'll be boarding the chemo train. I can't see any reason why it won't remain high, and the doctor wasn't sanguine, either. At least I'm getting a week's reprieve, so I'm glad about that.
Ex-drug users share photos after their recovery
Ex-drug users share transformation photos after their recovery from drugs
Annoying slideshow, but interesting.
Annoying slideshow, but interesting.
Lynn Munroe Books: Morgan Kane
My friend Art Scott reminded me that I've been remiss in not posting links to Lynn Munroe's latest research. This time Munroe discusses Morgan Kane, who did hundreds of great paperback covers, among other works. The bio is great, and the checklist is a visual feast. Mostly. As Art points out, Kane, while a great illustrator, was also responsible for some not-so-wonderful photo covers, including the early '70s Shell Scott novels by Richard S. Prather. Lynn Munroe Books: Morgan Kane bio
Morgan Kane Checklist.
A Recommended Website . . .
for SF readers who miss the old days: Galactic Journey:
Imagine living in the post-Golden Age of science fiction and fantasy. What would it be like to actually be there, experiencing life, the movies, the books, the music, day per day?
The Traveler lives in 1961, but he regularly commutes 55 years into the future to write about then-contemporary science fiction and fantasy, particularly fiction found in magazines. But that’s not all there is to life 55 years ago! So expect to read about the movies, the space shots, the politics, the music, and much more!
There is nothing like the Journey anywhere else in the universe. Come jump through the portal and see a world you may but dimly remember, or which you may never have seen before, but without which your time could never have been…
Imagine living in the post-Golden Age of science fiction and fantasy. What would it be like to actually be there, experiencing life, the movies, the books, the music, day per day?
The Traveler lives in 1961, but he regularly commutes 55 years into the future to write about then-contemporary science fiction and fantasy, particularly fiction found in magazines. But that’s not all there is to life 55 years ago! So expect to read about the movies, the space shots, the politics, the music, and much more!
There is nothing like the Journey anywhere else in the universe. Come jump through the portal and see a world you may but dimly remember, or which you may never have seen before, but without which your time could never have been…
Overlooked Movies -- The Terror of the Tongs
Christopher Lee, plays the head of the Red Dragon tong in a somewhat lackadaisical performance. The MacGuffin is a list of the members of the tong, which a group opposed to the tong could use to destroy it if they can only get their hands on the list. The man with the list hides it in a book before he's killed. The book is a gift for a ship's captain (Geoffrey Toone), and his daughter is killed when the tong members are searching for the list. And it's a good thing. The daughter is so irritating that I was glad that she was in the movie for only a few minutes. I couldn't have taken much more of her.Naturally the captain wants revenge. The police are no help, so he sets out to destroy the tong on his own. You could probably write the rest of it yourself since it plays out just as you'd expect. The surprise villain isn't at all surprising.
My guess is that 90% of the actors aren't Asian. This might occasion a bit of comment today, but I don't remember that it occasioned any on its original release. What got the comment was the torture and violence, which would now be rated PG at worst. It's all quite mild and nothing graphic is shown. It's an okay movie but nothing you need to go out of your way to see.
Monday, January 02, 2017
I'm Sure You'll All Agree
The 30 Best Self Help Books: This list reflects books that have saved lives, sold millions of copies, spawned publishing empires, influenced work habits, inspired presidents and prime ministers, and we approached the subject from a variety of angles ranging from allegories to straight fiction to ensure diversity in our recommendations. Mind, body and health, family and relationships, work, money and finance, and lifestyle are all covered.
Sunday, January 01, 2017
Librarians use fake reader to check out and save books
The Sacramento Bee: A library in Florida created a fake reader, named it for a former major-league baseball player, and allowed it to check out books to make sure certain titles remained on the shelves. Books that aren’t used for a long period can be discarded and removed from the library system.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
William Christopher, R. I. P.
By Ken Levine: This awful awful year just will not end. Bill Christopher, who played Father Mulcahy [on M.A.S.H.], has passed away at 84.
Tyrus Wong, R. I. P.
Tyrus Wong, Pioneer ‘Bambi’ Artist, Dies at 106: Tyrus Wong, whose paintings served as visual inspiration for Disney’s animated classic “Bambi,” died Friday, Dec. 30. He was 106.
December 31
As most of you know, there was a time back in July when I wasn't at all sure I'd be around to see the end of the year. Yet here I am. Hooray!The other notable event of the year for me was finding three abandoned kittens who are now residents of Casa de Crider. The Very Bad Kittens have become somewhat well known on Facebook, but for the most part I've avoided inflicting photos on you here on the blog.
I finished and turned in Dead, to Begin With, a Sheriff Rhodes novel that might well be the final one. My editor left St. Martin's, and there's been a reorganization. I won't know about the fate of the series until the new year, but I'm not sanguine. And I'm fine with that. I've had a great run.
And speaking of the new year, on January 2 I'll be spending all afternoon and a good part of the evening getting tested at M.D. Anderson. On January 3 I'll learn my fate. I'm about 90% sure that the long-postponed chemo will be on the menu, so keep a good thought or two for me in 2017.
And in the meantime, Happy New Year, everybody!
How the 1963 'Career Girl Murders' Bolstered the Myth that Cities Aren’t Safe For Women
Atlas Obscura: Response to the murders—and the subsequent wrongful conviction—was a perfect storm of panic about liberated women, black men, and city life.
Friday, December 30, 2016
Chris Cannizzaro, R. I. P.
NY Daily News: Chris Cannizzaro, an original 1962 Met, has died, the San Diego Padres announced on Friday. He was 78.
Cannizzaro played 59 games for the Amazin’s who lost 120 games that season and stayed with the club through the 1965 season. He hit .236 with zero home runs, 30 RBI over his four seasons spanning the Polo Grounds and Shea Stadium. He led the league in caught stealing percentage in 1962 (56%) and 1965 (53%).
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Robert Hulseman, R. I. P.
Boing Boing: Robert Hulseman, creator of the iconic Red Solo Cup seen at frat parties, sizzurp celebrations, and Midwestern family reunions everywhere, has died at age 84. Hulseman, with friend Jack Clements, followed up that iconic container design with another: the Solo traveler coffee cup lid, such a classic design that one of them is now in the New York Museum of Modern Art.
Forgotten Hits: December 30th
Forgotten Hits: December 30th: Our brand new series kicks off today with a look back 50 years ...
Meg Chittenden, R. I. P.
Judy Bobalik reports on Facebook that Meg Chittenden has died. I've known her for years through seeing her at Bouchercons. A wonderful woman and writer.
Barbara Tarbuck, R. I. P.
Hollywood Reporter: Barbara Tarbuck, the busy actress who played Lady Jane Jacks on General Hospital for more than a decade and recently appeared on American Horror Story, has died. She was 74.
FFB: Sharp Practice -- John Farris
Sharp Practice is an amazing book. It's a ripper novel, but it's also about a lot of other things: writing, folk music, amnesia, academia, psychology, incest, and lunacy, to name just a few of them. Farris doesn't skimp on any of them. It's powerful stuff. The writing is amazing. There are long stretches of almost idyllic scenes, beautifully rendered landscapes, intricate histories, odd characters that take over for a few pages, and then come startling twists and bursts of potent violence. Word of warning: Don't get too attached to any of the characters. There's plenty of darkness, along with a little bit of light. Not much, but a little. There's even humor.
I've followed John Farris' career for well over 50 years, starting with the great Harrison High. He's written a little bit of everything, and everything I've read by him has been purely wonderful. I've never read any of his Harrison High sequels, which I once thought might be just hackwork to put money in the bank (NTTAWWT). Judy, however, read all of them and thought they were very good. I have several, and I guess it's time I found out for myself. Farris is a master, no matter what he's writing, so I'm sure it'll be fun.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Carleton Carpenter
The death of Debbie Reynolds made me think of "Aba Daba Honeymoon," which also made me think of Carleton Carpenter, which led me to look for him on the internet. I'm happy to report that he's still alive and that he even published a memoir (The Absolute Joy of Work) in 2016. So now I suppose I'll have to head for the bookcase and pull down a copy of one of his mystery novels and read it.
December 29, 1960
This will be the fourth year in a row that I've run this post. I guess that makes it a tradition.Judy and I met on December 29, 1960, on a blind date arranged by her friend Loibeth Black and my friend Fred Williams. On the left you can read what Judy wrote in our wedding book about that night.
I remember exactly what she was wearing, and though she doesn't mention it, she also wore what was then called a mouton coat. Just about every girl had one of those back then. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it were in a closet somewhere in this house. I don't know if she was impressed by me, but I was certainly impressed by her. She was a senior in high school, and I was a freshman in college. She was black-haired beauty. I was a short-haired, four-eyed geek. It didn't take me long to learn that she was also very smart, and if I didn't fall for her on that date, it wasn't long before I did. After a few dates I could tell that she liked me, too, for reasons I'll never understand.
We always celebrated December 29 as an anniversary and gave each other a gift every year. I miss the old days.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Debbie Reynolds and Me
While I never met Debbie Reynolds, I feel almost as if I grew up with her. My first memory of her is from a movie called Two Weeks with Love, which I saw when I was about nine years old. I thought "Aba Daba Honeymoon" was the greatest song ever, and I fell hard for Debbie Reynolds. I saw her in many movies after that, and when that rat Eddie Fisher dumped her for Liz, it was big news among my friends, especially the girls. (Carleton Carpenter, who sang the duet with Debbie, went on to write a series of mystery novels, most of which I own, but none of which I've read.)
But the main thing I wanted to mention is that there was a persistent rumor that Debbie was related to some people in my little hometown of Mexia, Texas. These people weren't the cream of society, quite the opposite, in fact. One of them was known only to me (and everyone else I knew) as Guv'nor. He was, as we say now, mentally challenged, and he lived with his mother in a house that wasn't much more than a shack. The rumor went that Debbie came to Mexia more than once to visit Guv'nor and his mom. I knew at least two people who claimed to have seen her when she was in town.
Several years ago Judy and I saw her do a one-woman show about which I remember very little other than that she was natural and charming and exactly what I'd expected Debbie Reynolds to be. I sure wish I'd seen her when she slipped into my hometown to visit her less fortunate relatives. If they were her relatives and if she ever did.
But the main thing I wanted to mention is that there was a persistent rumor that Debbie was related to some people in my little hometown of Mexia, Texas. These people weren't the cream of society, quite the opposite, in fact. One of them was known only to me (and everyone else I knew) as Guv'nor. He was, as we say now, mentally challenged, and he lived with his mother in a house that wasn't much more than a shack. The rumor went that Debbie came to Mexia more than once to visit Guv'nor and his mom. I knew at least two people who claimed to have seen her when she was in town.
Several years ago Judy and I saw her do a one-woman show about which I remember very little other than that she was natural and charming and exactly what I'd expected Debbie Reynolds to be. I sure wish I'd seen her when she slipped into my hometown to visit her less fortunate relatives. If they were her relatives and if she ever did.
Debbie Reynolds, R. I. P.
TMZ.com: Debbie Reynolds -- who rose to stardom in "Singin' in the Rain" and quickly became a staple among Hollywood royalty -- died Wednesday as a result of a stroke, TMZ has learned ... just one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher passed away ... this according to her son Todd.
Carrie Fisher and Me
Like everyone else, I'm saddened by the death of Carrie Fisher. Judy, Angela, Allen, and I went to see Star Wars the day it opened in Brownwood, Texas, where we were living at the time. A few days later Angela, Allen, and I all got Star Wars t-shirts. I still have mine. Carrie Fisher was a big part of the movie's success. She was the very best kind of princess. She was smart, good with a blaster, and didn't take crap from anybody.
I never met Carrie Fisher, but there is a connection, however tenuous it might be. I never met her, but I did meet one of the men she (allegedly) had a romantic fling with. In the movie version of Postcards from the Edge, he's played by Dennis Quaid.
The man that she (allegedly) had a fling with is a writer, and Judy and I met him at a conference a year or so before the movie came out. Judy once told me that he (the writer) was "the best-looking man I ever saw in person." I said, "You mean besides me."
Now I have to tell you something you might not know about Judy, even if you knew her fairly well. Judy never lied. Ever. She was probably capable of it, but she told me that she would never do it, not for any reason. So when I said, "You mean besides me," she said, "No. He's the best-looking man I ever saw in person."
I sulked around covertly for a day or so, but I got over it. After all, he was a pretty good-looking guy. Even better-looking than Dennis Quaid.
And that's my Carrie Fisher connection.
I never met Carrie Fisher, but there is a connection, however tenuous it might be. I never met her, but I did meet one of the men she (allegedly) had a romantic fling with. In the movie version of Postcards from the Edge, he's played by Dennis Quaid.
The man that she (allegedly) had a fling with is a writer, and Judy and I met him at a conference a year or so before the movie came out. Judy once told me that he (the writer) was "the best-looking man I ever saw in person." I said, "You mean besides me."
Now I have to tell you something you might not know about Judy, even if you knew her fairly well. Judy never lied. Ever. She was probably capable of it, but she told me that she would never do it, not for any reason. So when I said, "You mean besides me," she said, "No. He's the best-looking man I ever saw in person."
I sulked around covertly for a day or so, but I got over it. After all, he was a pretty good-looking guy. Even better-looking than Dennis Quaid.
And that's my Carrie Fisher connection.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
![Conan the Barbarian: The Complete Collection (Book House) by [Robert E. Howard]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41pmlZCjXAL.jpg)
Richard Adams, R. I. P.
BBC News: The author of Watership Down, Richard Adams, has died aged 96, his daughter has said.
The tear-jerking children's classic about a group of rabbits in search of a new home after the destruction of their warren was first published in 1972.
The tale, first told by Adams on a long car journey with his daughters, turned into a best-seller.
Carrie Fisher, R. I. P.
BBC News: US actress Carrie Fisher, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars series, has died aged 60, days after suffering a heart attack.
Vera Rubin, R. I. P.
Pioneering Astronomer Vera Rubin Dies: (NEWSER) – Vera Rubin, a pioneering astronomer who helped find powerful evidence of dark matter, has died, her son said Monday. She was 88. Rubin's scientific achievements earned her numerous awards and honors, including a National Medal of Science presented by President Bill Clinton in 1993 "for her pioneering research programs in observational cosmology." She also became the second female astronomer to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences. "It goes without saying that, as a woman scientist, Vera Rubin had to overcome a number of barriers along the way," California Institute of Technology physicist Sean Carroll tweeted Monday. Rubin's interest in astronomy began as a young girl and grew with the involvement of her father, Philip Cooper, an electrical engineer who helped her build a telescope and took her to meetings of amateur astronomers, the AP reports.
Hat tip to Deb.
Hat tip to Deb.
Ricky Harris, R. I. P.
Actor, Comedian Ricky Harris Dead at 54: (NEWSER) – Comedian and actor Ricky Harris passed away Monday of a heart attack, his manager tells the Hollywood Reporter. He was 54. Harris performed on HBO's Def Comedy Jam before making his acting debut in 1993's Poetic Justice with Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur, reports the Los Angeles Times. He went on to have TV roles on Moesha, Everybody Hates Chris, Dope, The Tracy Morgan Show, and The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, per CBS News. He also performed skits on his childhood friend Snoop Dogg's albums. In an Instagram video, Snoop Dogg says Harris was a "Long Beach original" who's "on his way to heaven now."
Hat tip to Deb.
Hat tip to Deb.
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