Friday, January 18, 2008
The Edgar Nominees
| Congratulations to all! The 2008 Edgar® Award Nominees are...
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Archaeological Update
BBC NEWS | UK | England | Underwater city could be revealed: "Britain's own underwater 'Atlantis' could be revealed for the first time with hi-tech underwater cameras.
Marine archaeologist Stuart Bacon and Professor David Sear, of the University of Southampton, will explore the lost city of Dunwich, off the Suffolk coast."
Marine archaeologist Stuart Bacon and Professor David Sear, of the University of Southampton, will explore the lost city of Dunwich, off the Suffolk coast."
Dino Update (Hot-Blooded Edition)
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Dinosaurs 'grew fast, bred young': "Dinosaurs bred as early as age eight, long before they reached adult size, fossil evidence suggests.
Although they were descended from reptiles, and evolved into birds, dinosaurs grew fast and bred young, much like the mammals of today."
Although they were descended from reptiles, and evolved into birds, dinosaurs grew fast and bred young, much like the mammals of today."
Croc Update (Not Guilty Edition)
The Times - Article: "However, to be absolutely sure that it was not the guilty reptile, the 1.8 metre creature was taken to Mtubatuba where it was x-rayed.
'We needed to ensure that there were no human remains in its stomach,' said Zimu. 'There were only stones in its stomach, which helps it with its digestion.'"
'We needed to ensure that there were no human remains in its stomach,' said Zimu. 'There were only stones in its stomach, which helps it with its digestion.'"
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Dickie Lee Fox, R. I. P.
Most of you didn't know Dr. Fox. He was a colleague of mine at Alvin Community College and taught for me in the English Department. He was a six-foot-five ex-Marine (though in Dickie's mind there was no such thing as an ex-Marine) with a booming voice. He was the first person I saw when I set foot on the ACC campus in 1983. A week ago, he had a massive stroke. Today I attended his memorial service. There wasn't a vacant seat in the big church auditorium, and I was reminded again of how much Dickie had done in the community and for so many students. Some of his former students drove a long way to be there and show their respect to his family. He'll be missed.
If you want to read a little about this amazing guy, click here.
If you want to read a little about this amazing guy, click here.
Ed Hoch, R. I. P.
I just got the bad and sad news that Ed Hoch has passed away. One of the greats. I'm going to miss him tremendously. I have several very nice memories of him at various Bouchercons, including the time in Denver when his wife got a great laugh out of the fact that he and I had both sold stories to an anthology that wanted material that was heavy on the sex angle. And in Austin, when he was highly pleased with the duck-call he received when taking a tour of the city. This photo was taken in the hotel lobby when he returned. I can't imagine opening up an issue of EQMM without one of his stories in it. I can't imagine not seeing him at Bouchercon.
Archaeological Update
First Temple seal found in Jerusalem | Jerusalem Post: "A stone seal bearing the name of one of the families who acted as servants in the First Temple and then returned to Jerusalem after being exiled to Babylonia has been uncovered in an archeological excavation in Jerusalem's City of David, a prominent Israeli archeologist said Wednesday.
The 2,500-year-old black stone seal, which has the name 'Temech' engraved on it, was found earlier this week amid stratified debris in the excavation under way just outside the Old City walls near the Dung Gate, said archeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, who is leading the dig."
The 2,500-year-old black stone seal, which has the name 'Temech' engraved on it, was found earlier this week amid stratified debris in the excavation under way just outside the Old City walls near the Dung Gate, said archeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar, who is leading the dig."
Irony Update
Thanks to Lauren Bettinger for the link.
Corvallis Gazette Times: Community News: "A local Oregon Department of Transportation worker was in fair condition Tuesday after he lost control of a de-icing truck on an icy stretch of Highway 99W and the vehicle rolled.
Jerry Atkinson, who works out of ODOT’s Corvallis office, was driving south on Highway 99W near Herbert Avenue at about 7:45 a.m. Tuesday when his truck slid on the ice and into a ditch before rolling, according to Benton County Sheriff reports.
ODOT spokesman Joe Harwood said Atkinson had noticed a few vehicles that had gone off the road ahead of him and started to slow down. As he applied the brakes the truck started to spin on a patch of ice."
Corvallis Gazette Times: Community News: "A local Oregon Department of Transportation worker was in fair condition Tuesday after he lost control of a de-icing truck on an icy stretch of Highway 99W and the vehicle rolled.
Jerry Atkinson, who works out of ODOT’s Corvallis office, was driving south on Highway 99W near Herbert Avenue at about 7:45 a.m. Tuesday when his truck slid on the ice and into a ditch before rolling, according to Benton County Sheriff reports.
ODOT spokesman Joe Harwood said Atkinson had noticed a few vehicles that had gone off the road ahead of him and started to slow down. As he applied the brakes the truck started to spin on a patch of ice."
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
No Comment Department
SoCal official's false medal claim defended as free speech: "An elected official charged with falsely claiming he earned the military's highest honor has filed a motion to dismiss the federal case against him on free speech grounds.
The motion argues that the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, under which water board member Xavier Alvarez was charged, is incompatible with the First Amendment because it restricts free speech by criminalizing false claims of military honors.
Alvarez, an elected representative to the Three Valleys Municipal Water District, said last year at a water district meeting that he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his deeds as a Marine."
The motion argues that the Stolen Valor Act of 2005, under which water board member Xavier Alvarez was charged, is incompatible with the First Amendment because it restricts free speech by criminalizing false claims of military honors.
Alvarez, an elected representative to the Three Valleys Municipal Water District, said last year at a water district meeting that he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his deeds as a Marine."
Kill People. Go to Prison. Profit.
US paid hit-man $20,000 on release from prison - The Boston Globe: "When hit man-turned-government witness John Martorano strolled out of prison last year after serving only a dozen years for 20 murders, the federal government gave him $20,000 cash to help him start a new life.
Officials defended the payment yesterday, saying it is not unusual for witnesses, like Martorano, who decline to join the federal witness protection program to get money to help them survive after their release from prison.
But the families of some of Martorano's victims and some lawyers familiar with the case say such payments are wrong."
Officials defended the payment yesterday, saying it is not unusual for witnesses, like Martorano, who decline to join the federal witness protection program to get money to help them survive after their release from prison.
But the families of some of Martorano's victims and some lawyers familiar with the case say such payments are wrong."
Destination Bookstores
Nine destination bookstores worth putting on a tourist's itinerary - USATODAY.com: "NEW YORK — When is a bookstore worth a tourist's time?
When it's more than just a place to buy books.
A destination bookstore can make you feel like you're part of the community, whether you're grooving on the laid-back vibe at Powell's in Portland, or tuning into the Beltway buzz at Washington's Politics and Prose."
Hat tip to the Dark Forces gang.
When it's more than just a place to buy books.
A destination bookstore can make you feel like you're part of the community, whether you're grooving on the laid-back vibe at Powell's in Portland, or tuning into the Beltway buzz at Washington's Politics and Prose."
Hat tip to the Dark Forces gang.
The Broken Body (aka The Golden Goose) -- Floyd Mahannah
Floyd Mahannah wrote five or six mystery novels and (as far as I know) disappeared. Too bad. I've read a couple of his books, and both were very good.In this one, a gent named Riley Wadell is getting out of the p.i. game because it's a "stinking business." He's quitting with no more regret "than you'd feel about getting fired off a garbage truck." But wouldn't you know it? On the very day he's calling it quits, a dame comes into his office with a job offer. He turns her down, but later she's back, and this time she's offering him $15K to hide her for two weeks. It seems that someone's killed her husband, and she's the most likely suspect. Waddell thinks she guilty of murder, but the money convinces him to help her. During the two weeks, Wadell and the woman become lovers, but he still turns her in when the time's up. Then he goes away to start over.
But of course he can't forget her, so he returns to do what he can to help. Before long he begins to think she's innocent, and things get a lot more complicated.
Mahannah was a darned good writer, and after reading this book, I wonder again whatever happened to him.
And You Thought They Were Only in the Comic Books
Superheroes in Real Life - City Pages (Minneapolis/St. Paul): "BY MOST OBSERVERS' RECKONING, between 150 and 200 real-life superheroes, or 'Reals' as some call themselves, operate in the United States, with another 50 or so donning the cowl internationally. These crusaders range in age from 15 to 50 and patrol cities from Indianapolis to Cambridgeshire, England. They create heroic identities with names like Black Arrow, Green Scorpion, and Mr. Silent, and wear bright Superman spandex or black ninja suits. Almost all share two traits in common: a love of comic books and a desire to improve their communities.
It's rare to find more than a few superheroes operating in the same area, so as with all hobbies, a community has sprung up online. In February, a burly, black-and-green-clad New Jersey-based Real named Tothian started Heroes Network, a website he says functions 'like the UN for the real-life superhero community.'"
It's rare to find more than a few superheroes operating in the same area, so as with all hobbies, a community has sprung up online. In February, a burly, black-and-green-clad New Jersey-based Real named Tothian started Heroes Network, a website he says functions 'like the UN for the real-life superhero community.'"
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
It Has a Cousin in Sumatra
Giant rat that once roamed the earth - Times Online: "The fossilised skull of a rat the size of a car has been unearthed. The creature lived about four million years ago, weighed about a tonne and ate mostly soft vegetation. It was so big that it probably spent much of its life semi-submerged in water, like a hippo, to reduce the stresses caused by its size.
Palaeontologists found the skull in rock deposits in Uruguay. It is believed to date back two to four million years to a time when giant wildlife was commonplace in South America."
Palaeontologists found the skull in rock deposits in Uruguay. It is believed to date back two to four million years to a time when giant wildlife was commonplace in South America."
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