Once Again, New York Leads the Way

Lucy the fossil dodges controversy, goes on display in US: "Lucy, the world's most famous fossil, took on a new role as international tourist when she went on public display this week for the first time outside Ethiopia since her discovery in 1974.

Lucy is no longer the oldest-known member of the human family tree, but dating back 3.2 million years and with 40 percent of her skeleton recovered, she is the oldest, most complete specimen of an early human species.

As such, some paleontologists and fossil hunters within the scientific community have sharply protested her cross-Atlantic voyage to be exhibited from Friday at the Houston, Texas Museum of Natural Science."

The Last Colony -- John Scalzi

I've reported previously on The Android's Dream and Old Man's War. The Last Colony continues the story of John Perry and his wife, Jane Sagan, from the latter novel (and also from The Ghost Brigades and Sagan's Diary, which I haven't read.

In this one, Perry and Sagan are asked to head up a new colony on a planet called Roanoake. A huge alien alliance opposes allowing any more human colonies, and the colonists soon find that their own Colonial Union has tricked them and sent them to a different destination from the one they'd planned. They're on an unnamed planet where they can use only the most primitive of tools. There's a savage native race, that the colonists haven't been told about. And the double-crossing is only beginning.

This book has a lot going on. It's a survivalist novel, a political novel, and a space opera. For starters. Pretty soon The Fate of Humanity Hangs in the Balance. Old-fashioned in the best sense but up-to-date in the best sense, too. I'd certainly recommend it.

One old cranky English teacher complaint. I wish Scalzi wouldn't write "[Yoder] glanced up at Jane and I." And "But you're telling me that you chose Jane and I to lead Roanoake was because . . . ." Arrgggghhhh.

Happy Birthday, Edgar Rice Burroughs!

Burroughs was a big part of my childhood, through comics, books, and movies. I suspect a lot of guys my age could say the same. Someday, someone will make a movie of A Princess of Mars and do it right. I hope I'm around to see it.

The Writer's Almanac from American Public Media: "It's the birthday of one of the most popular pulp fiction writers in American history, Edgar Rice Burroughs, (books by this author) born in Chicago (1875). He had read Darwin's book Descent of Man, and he was fascinated by the idea that human beings were related to apes. He began to wonder what might happen if a child from an excessively noble, well-bred family were somehow left in the jungle to be raised by apes. The result was his story 'Tarzan of the Apes,' which filled an entire issue of All-Story magazine in October of 1912. It was one of the most popular issues the magazine had ever published, and within six-months, Edgar Rice Burroughs was a full-time writer producing about 400,000 words of short stories every year."

Croc Update (Handy Viewing Guide Edition)

Diane Werts is Off the Wall for crocodiles -- Newsday.com: "CROC-O-RAMA. One year after Steve Irwin's death, Animal Planet presents a Crocs Rule! week of prime-time shows led by the premiere of 'Secrets of the Crocodile' (Tuesday at 9 p.m., Animal Planet), a project Irwin was working on when he died. Other shows airing Sept. 1-6: the big-screen movie 'Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course' (tonight at 7), 'Outback to Hollywood' (tomorrow at 9p.m.), a 'Crocodile Hunter' marathon (Monday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.), and the tribute 'Crikey, What an Adventure!' (Wednesday at 8 p.m., all on Animal Planet). There are even mini-marathons of his daughter's kids show, 'Bindi the Jungle Girl' (Saturday-Monday 8-11a.m., Animal Planet). Lineup at animal.discovery.com."

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

Killer seeking hug from his mom gets Taser instead | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "Moments after being convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a Houston man was Tasered into submission Friday as he tried to go over the court railing to hug his mother."

Chupacabra Update

Jayme Blaschke has already posted part of this story, but I can't resist. Cool chupacabra photo at link.

Has a mythical beast turned up in Texas? - Yahoo! News: "CUERO, Texas - Phylis Canion lived in Africa for four years. She's been a hunter all her life and has the mounted heads of a zebra and other exotic animals in her house to prove it.

But the roadkill she found last month outside her ranch was a new one even for her, worth putting in a freezer hidden from curious onlookers: Canion believes she may have the head of the mythical, bloodsucking chupacabra.

'It is one ugly creature,' Canion said, holding the head of the mammal, which has big ears, large fanged teeth and grayish-blue, mostly hairless skin.

Canion and some of her neighbors discovered the 40-pound bodies of three of the animals over four days in July outside her ranch in Cuero, 80 miles southeast of San Antonio. Canion said she saved the head of the one she found so she can get to get to the bottom of its ancestry through DNA testing and then mount it for posterity."

And Now a Word From Our Sponsor

Okay, so I don't actually have a sponsor. I like this ad, though.

Nocturnal Mission

Knees Calhoun, the creation (not to say alter ego) of Fender Tucker, has a song about public restrooms that might take your mind off the current discussion of such places. You can read the lyrics here, and if you click on the title, you can hear Knees sing it. I believe there's something in it to offend just about everybody, so don't say I didn't warn you.

Walter Satterthwait Goes to Market

Walter Satterthwait, noted author and bon vivant sent me this photo, taken on his trip to the market today. Walter goes to more exotic markets than I do. Enlarge the photo to see what I mean.

300

Back in the Olden Days when I was a mere youth, there were plenty of what were called "sword and sandal" movies. Some were pretty good. Some weren't. One that really impressed me at the time was The 300 Spartans. It starred Richard Egan and it was about the same battle at Thermopylae. I was impressed with the story and the heroism of King Leonidas and his 300 men. It's remained a sentimental favorite of mine, so I was prepared not to care much for 300, the jazzy re-telling of the story based on Frank Miller's graphic novel.

Well, imagine my surprise at how much I liked this movie. I know I say all the time that movies look great. This one looks really great. Don't take my word for it. Watch the movie and see for yourself.

You already know the plot. King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans hold off tens of thousands of Persians and die bravely. If you don't like battle scenes, blood, and lots of talk about love, honor, courage, and duty, you might be put off. I think Robert B. Parker's Spenser would enjoy it, though.

Sci-fi Films Are as Dead as Westerns

Sci-fi films are as dead as Westerns, says Ridley Scott - Times Online: "He was the director of two of the most critically acclaimed science fiction films, but now Sir Ridley Scott believes that the genre is so tired and unoriginal that it may be dead.

At the Venice Film Festival for a special screening of his seminal noir thriller Blade Runner, Sir Ridley said that science fiction films were going the way the Western once had. “There’s nothing original. We’ve seen it all before. Been there. Done it,” he said. Asked to pick out examples, he said: “All of them. Yes, all of them.”"

Gator Update (Desert Edition)

Cute Gator pic at the link.

Alligator in the desert? | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California: "THOUSAND PALMS - The little gator is a long way from the everglades.

But after being rescued from a backyard swimming pool, the 3-foot-long reptile dined on goldfish Monday while in captivity.

The alligator -- scooped out of a pool in Cathedral City over the weekend -- is in good health and will be turned over to the California Department of Fish and Game, according to veterinarian Susan Powell."

The Old "I Was Too Drunk to Mean It" Defense Works Again

Gun-Toting, Pro-Pot Lawyer Discusses Killer's Trial - News Story - WLKY Louisville: "LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A man who shot his drinking buddy to death was too drunk to mean it, a Lexington jury concluded. The attorney who swayed the jury, colorful Kentucky politican Gatewood Galbraith, spoke exclusively to WLKY.com after the verdict."

Gator Update (Frozen Head Edition)

Orlando burglar swipes frozen alligator head from repair shop: "Someone who burglarized an old auto repair shop got a big surprise - a frozen alligator head stuffed in a garbage bag.

The Prange family, which has owned a brake and alignment shop for 87 years, was storing the head for a friend who planned to mount it.

'We hope he jumps when he opens the garbage bag,' said Steve Prange, 55."

Will the Persecution Never End?

Judy and I are not the "married couple from Texas" mentioned in this article, sent along by the indefatigable John Duke.

Now We know Who's to Blame

Key that could have saved the Titanic - Telegraph: "It looks for all the world like an ordinary key but this unremarkable piece of metal could have saved the Titanic from disaster.

It is thought to have fitted the locker that contained the crow's nest binoculars, vital in detecting threats to the liner lurking in the sea in the pre-sonar days of 1912.

Catastrophically for the Titanic and the 1,522 lives lost with her, the key's owner, Second Officer David Blair, was removed from the crew at the last minute and in his haste forgot to hand it to his replacement."

Will the Persecution Never End?

Photo at link.

Jen's Fun Little Place: Paris Hilton Photographed Screwing by the Pool: "Paris Hilton Photographed Screwing by the Pool Just when you think it cant get any worse for Paris Hilton, she gets photographed screwing by a swimming pool."

I'm for It

Bigfoot May Gain Protection by Canadian Parliament - Associated Content: "A member of the Canadian Mounted Police by the name of Mike Lake has officially notified the Canadian Parliament that he believes that Bigfoot should be added to the Nation's, Species at Risk Act. This is similar to the Endangered Species List in the United States.

According to Mr. Lake, the creature that is also known as the Sasquatch is real, and is endangered. The reason, he says that there have not been more sightings in North America of Bigfoot is because the creature is endangered, not necessarily shy like many believe."

O’Bryan House Publishers, LLC is pleased to announce the first book appearance of W.R. Burnett’s hard boiled Depression Era novel, Dr. Socrates. Originally serialized in Collier’s Magazine in the spring of 1935, this is the story of young Dr. Cardwell who, after being forced at gun point to treat a wounded gangster, finds himself caught between the threat posed by gang leader Red Bastian and the suspicion of Federal Agents investigating a wave of bank robberies. Portions of the story line suggested by the saga of Public Enemy John Dillinger. First edition, first printing. The novel which served as the basis for the 1935 film "Dr. Socrates" starring Paul Muni, and Ann Dvorak and later the 1939 Humphrey Bogart film King of the Underworld.

W. R. Burnett is the author of Little Caesar, High Sierra and The Asphalt Jungle. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for best screenplay for Wake Island (1942) and The Great Escape (1963). In 1980 Burnett received the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. Dr. Socrates is published by O’Bryan House Publishers by exclusive agreement with the Estate of W. R. Burnett, no portion of this book may be copied or used without the express permission of the copyright holder. Book measures 5.5 by 8.5 inches, soft cover, 139 pages, ISBN 978-0-9769583-2-1. Limited print run of this title. Book includes a brief after word by the publisher entitled "Dr. Socrates and Hollywood." Dr. Socrates is available at Amazon.com or may be ordered directly from O’Bryan House Publishers LLC at rdoody@ix.netcom.com

Joe Hensley, R. I. P.

I just heard (from Steve Stilwell, who saw it on Harlan Ellison's Ellison Webderland) the news that Joe Hensley has died. A fine writer of both mysteries and SF. I have a feeling that few readers today know his name, and that's sad indeed.

Update: More info here.