Saturday, February 09, 2008
Phyllis A. Whitney, R. I. P.
Over on Mystery*File, Steve Lewis reports that Phyllis Whitney has died at the age of 104. She had a long and highly successful career.
Paris Is Undeterred
In hot pursuit of a Hottie interview | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "Paris said she was especially excited about her next flick, Repo! The Genetic Opera, a horror opera directed by Darren Lynn Bousman of Saw fame, due out this spring.
'It's basically about organ repossession in the year 2056,' Paris said. 'People's organs can fail, and you have to get an organ transplant. But if you can't pay for it, then a repo man will come and like rip it out of you.'
'It's like really scary. Creepy. Gory.'
Paris said her character uses plastic surgery to change her face every day. 'You'll never recognize me from scene to scene.'"
'It's basically about organ repossession in the year 2056,' Paris said. 'People's organs can fail, and you have to get an organ transplant. But if you can't pay for it, then a repo man will come and like rip it out of you.'
'It's like really scary. Creepy. Gory.'
Paris said her character uses plastic surgery to change her face every day. 'You'll never recognize me from scene to scene.'"
A Sad State of Affairs
Hat tip to Vince Keenan.
• Hollywood Elsewhere •: "The weekend's biggest disaster, however, is unquestionably Paris Hilton's The Hottie & The Nottie, Mason reports. It opened yesterday on 111 screens 'and managed only $76 in ticket sales per location. That means that approximately 10 people showed up and bought a ticket at each of those 111 theatres today. Hottie will sell only an anticipated $23,000 during the 3-day weekend for a $207 perscreen average. That's about 26 ticket buyers per location for Friday-Sunday.'"
• Hollywood Elsewhere •: "The weekend's biggest disaster, however, is unquestionably Paris Hilton's The Hottie & The Nottie, Mason reports. It opened yesterday on 111 screens 'and managed only $76 in ticket sales per location. That means that approximately 10 people showed up and bought a ticket at each of those 111 theatres today. Hottie will sell only an anticipated $23,000 during the 3-day weekend for a $207 perscreen average. That's about 26 ticket buyers per location for Friday-Sunday.'"
The Accidental Time Machine -- Joe Haldeman
I've enjoyed Joe Haldeman's work for many years. I even have a couple of his Attar the Merman books written under some pen name or other. So when a friend recommended this book, I picked it up.Matt Fuller is a grad student at MIT and kind of a loser. He's never going to finish his dissertation, which he realizes isn't much good, anyway. But then he accidentally discovers a time machine. It works only in one direction, and each time it leaves, it goes farther into the future. He tries it with a turtle, and then, when things go downhill for him, he goes himself. After that, he lands in a number of different futures, and in one of them he falls for Martha, who accompanies him on his next trip and gives him a chance to grow up a little. What Matt really wants to do is get back to his own time, but no society he lands in has the capability to send him there. At least not until he lands in a far-distant future.
I wouldn't want to spoil the fun by telling you what goes on, but I'll give you one thing: Matt has a troubling encounter with Jesus. There are more surprises along the way, too.
I saw this novel on the Locus list of recommended books, and Haldeman's effortless prose and satirical take on the various futures makes if fun to read.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
The Herald-Zeitung: "The San Antonio area has been found to be in compliance with the Clean Air Act, becoming the only major metropolitan city in the country which can make that claim.
“I think it’s a monumental achievement for the San Antonio region,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Jay Millikin, who also serves as chairman of the Air Improvement Resources Committee for the Alamo Area Council of Governments."
“I think it’s a monumental achievement for the San Antonio region,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Jay Millikin, who also serves as chairman of the Air Improvement Resources Committee for the Alamo Area Council of Governments."
Croc Update (Eye Surgery Edition)
winnipegsun.com - Winnipeg News - Rare surgery saves croc eye: "You don't need to shed any crocodile tears for Dirk -- the little guy is on the mend.
Dirk the crocodile will soon see things much clearer thanks to veterinary surgeons who performed a rare eye operation this week at the Assiniboine Park Zoo.
Doctors removed an ulcer from the 14-year-old African dwarf crocodile's cornea and stitched the reptile's third eyelid shut to protect the affected area from harm during the healing process."
Dirk the crocodile will soon see things much clearer thanks to veterinary surgeons who performed a rare eye operation this week at the Assiniboine Park Zoo.
Doctors removed an ulcer from the 14-year-old African dwarf crocodile's cornea and stitched the reptile's third eyelid shut to protect the affected area from harm during the healing process."
James Reasoner Update
I'm moving this up as a reminder, and maybe some of you missed it earlier. If you want to send books or money to James, here's how.
Longtime Western writer and WWA member James Reasoner and wife Livia lost their house and studio, and all their belongings, in a fire earlier this week. They're OK, as are their dogs and children, but got out with only their clothes they were wearing. Books, pulps, comics, everything else, gone. "This is totally overwhelming," James says.
To help the family, Western Writers of America and Kensington Books have agreed to make sizable contributions and ask anyone who would also like to contribute to send cash donations to the WWA Executive Director's office in Albuquerque, N.M. Make the check out to Western Writers of America and put in the memo that the money is for the James Reasoner Emergency Fund.
Checks should be mailed to:
WWA
MSC06 3770
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Since James and Livia also lost their sizable library, donations are also being sought to help restock their bookcases whenever they have a new home. Kim Lionetti, Livia's agent at BookEnds, has generously agreed to accept any BOOK donations and keep them until the Reasoners have a place to put them. Books should be sent to:
Kim Lionetti
BookEnds Inc.
136 Long Hill Road
Gillette, NJ 07933
Our thoughts and prayers are with James, Livia and family during this trying time. Thanks for your help.
Johnny D. Boggs
WWA Vice President
Longtime Western writer and WWA member James Reasoner and wife Livia lost their house and studio, and all their belongings, in a fire earlier this week. They're OK, as are their dogs and children, but got out with only their clothes they were wearing. Books, pulps, comics, everything else, gone. "This is totally overwhelming," James says.
To help the family, Western Writers of America and Kensington Books have agreed to make sizable contributions and ask anyone who would also like to contribute to send cash donations to the WWA Executive Director's office in Albuquerque, N.M. Make the check out to Western Writers of America and put in the memo that the money is for the James Reasoner Emergency Fund.
Checks should be mailed to:
WWA
MSC06 3770
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Since James and Livia also lost their sizable library, donations are also being sought to help restock their bookcases whenever they have a new home. Kim Lionetti, Livia's agent at BookEnds, has generously agreed to accept any BOOK donations and keep them until the Reasoners have a place to put them. Books should be sent to:
Kim Lionetti
BookEnds Inc.
136 Long Hill Road
Gillette, NJ 07933
Our thoughts and prayers are with James, Livia and family during this trying time. Thanks for your help.
Johnny D. Boggs
WWA Vice President
Friday, February 08, 2008
Anna Nicole Smith Update
Anna Nicole Smith's death -- one year later -- chicagotribune.com: "HOLLYWOOD - It's was one year on Friday since Anna Nicole Smith was found unconscious in her room at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino near Hollywood.
The former Playboy centerfold later died the same day at a hospital. Her sudden death started a tabloid frenzy in a Broward County courtroom over her body and the paternity and custody of her infant daughter.
California officials and the Seminole Police Department continue to investigate the numerous prescriptions written for Smith by her doctors. An autopsy showed she died of an accidental overdose."
The former Playboy centerfold later died the same day at a hospital. Her sudden death started a tabloid frenzy in a Broward County courtroom over her body and the paternity and custody of her infant daughter.
California officials and the Seminole Police Department continue to investigate the numerous prescriptions written for Smith by her doctors. An autopsy showed she died of an accidental overdose."
Intentional Farting Update
Bangor Publishing Company: "The original newsletter article, published the week of Feb. 4, was erroneous, she said. 'I learned about it the day after, on Thursday.'
Libby said the headline, 'Farting is banned from CRMS?' was wrong.
'We didn’t ban anything,' she said."
Libby said the headline, 'Farting is banned from CRMS?' was wrong.
'We didn’t ban anything,' she said."
No Comment Department
Sheriff: Cross-dressing driver 'unsettling' | Portland Press Herald: "The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is searching for a man who has a mustache and has been seen wearing women's underwear, a garter belt and black high-heel boots.
Since last spring, the sheriff's office has received six reports that a motorist wearing that outfit has pulled in front of female drivers, jumped out of his vehicle and modeled his attire in the roadway."
Since last spring, the sheriff's office has received six reports that a motorist wearing that outfit has pulled in front of female drivers, jumped out of his vehicle and modeled his attire in the roadway."
These are the People Who Keep Our Country Safe
U.S. military loses records for bin Laden's driver - Yahoo! News: "GANTANAMO BAY U.S. NAVAL BASE, Cuba (Reuters) - The U.S. military has lost a year's worth of records describing the Guantanamo confinement of Osama bin Laden's driver, a prosecutor said at the Yemeni captive's war court hearing on Thursday.
Lawyers for the driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, asked for the records to support their argument that prolonged isolation and harassment at the Guantanamo prison have mentally impaired him and could affect his ability to aid in his defense against war crimes charges.
'All known records have been produced with the exception of the 2002 Gitmo records,' one of the prosecutors, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Timothy Stone, told the court. 'They can't find it.'"
Lawyers for the driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, asked for the records to support their argument that prolonged isolation and harassment at the Guantanamo prison have mentally impaired him and could affect his ability to aid in his defense against war crimes charges.
'All known records have been produced with the exception of the 2002 Gitmo records,' one of the prosecutors, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Timothy Stone, told the court. 'They can't find it.'"
100 Best Movie Soundtracks?
The first movie soundtrack album I ever bought (in 1958) is on this list. The movie was based on a book by a writer I didn't know at the time but who became a huge favorite of mine only a few years later. The movie was The Big Country, and the writer was Donald Hamilton.
100 best movie soundtracks - Telegraph: "From 'A Fistful of Dollars' to 'Some Like it Hot', from Mozart and Wagner to Rodgers & Hammerstein... may we present cinema's greatest scores."
100 best movie soundtracks - Telegraph: "From 'A Fistful of Dollars' to 'Some Like it Hot', from Mozart and Wagner to Rodgers & Hammerstein... may we present cinema's greatest scores."
Gator Update (Fence Repair Edition)
Local News - Driver Slams Into Alligator Farm: "ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- Crews at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm quickly worked to repair a fence after a driver on A1A slammed into it Thursday morning around 6:30.
'The first thing we did was make sure all the animals were in place,' Alligator Farm Director John Brueggen said.
The driver tore through the exterior fence on the north side of the park, knocking the large 'Alligator Farm' sign down."
'The first thing we did was make sure all the animals were in place,' Alligator Farm Director John Brueggen said.
The driver tore through the exterior fence on the north side of the park, knocking the large 'Alligator Farm' sign down."
Thursday, February 07, 2008
More Bad News
I've just heard from Lynn Meyers that the wife of Wayne Dundee, author of the Joe Hannibal series, passed away Sunday night. She was 58 years old. My sympathies to Wayne and the families.
Waco Doesn't Lead the Way
Mexia Daily News - Waco council downs statue: "WACO, Texas (AP) — The City Council rejected a proposal for a giant statue of a Texas Ranger lawman designed to loom over Interstate 35 and the Brazos River, citing a lack of public support.
The council voted 5-1 Tuesday against allowing the 65-foot concrete statue to be erected on city land in front of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum."
The council voted 5-1 Tuesday against allowing the 65-foot concrete statue to be erected on city land in front of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum."
A Hairy Deal
Report: Tom Jones has chest hair insured: "t's Not Unusual ... it's really unusual.
Ageless heartthrob Sir Tom Jones has reportedly insured his chest hair for almost $7 million.
Though the 67-year-old crooner's management told a British tabloid that Jones has been 'working far too hard in the recording studio' for such frivolity, media reports have confirmed the policy was taken out with the world-renowned Lloyd's of London."
Ageless heartthrob Sir Tom Jones has reportedly insured his chest hair for almost $7 million.
Though the 67-year-old crooner's management told a British tabloid that Jones has been 'working far too hard in the recording studio' for such frivolity, media reports have confirmed the policy was taken out with the world-renowned Lloyd's of London."
Shaq Attack
Sheriff's Uniform Waiting for Shaq: "Sheriff Joe Arpaio is excited that Shaq's coming to town.
Arpaio deputized Shaquille O'Neal, who became a Phoenix Sun on Wednesday, two years ago.
``Actually, I made him a colonel after he won the NBA championship (with the Miami Heat in 2006),' Arpaio said after learning of the trade.
``He's a great addition to the Valley. He's a good guy and likes law enforcement, and I hope he'll be good for the Phoenix Suns.'
The sheriff added, ``I'm glad he's coming out to my turf. I'm hoping we'll recruit him for our posse. Maybe we'll go after illegal immigrants and other crime.'"
Arpaio deputized Shaquille O'Neal, who became a Phoenix Sun on Wednesday, two years ago.
``Actually, I made him a colonel after he won the NBA championship (with the Miami Heat in 2006),' Arpaio said after learning of the trade.
``He's a great addition to the Valley. He's a good guy and likes law enforcement, and I hope he'll be good for the Phoenix Suns.'
The sheriff added, ``I'm glad he's coming out to my turf. I'm hoping we'll recruit him for our posse. Maybe we'll go after illegal immigrants and other crime.'"
James Bond/Amy Winehouse Update
Amy Winehouse to write & sing the bond theme tune - if she kicks the drugs | Showbiz Gossip, Showbiz News, Entertainment News - Showbiz Spy: "Troubled Amy Winehouse will get to write the theme tune and sing the theme tune for the new James Bond movie - if she can stay off the drugs for two months, it has been revealed.
The ‘Back to Black’ songstress - who’s currently battling her drugs demons in a London rehab clinic - has been told by film bosses she must clean up her act by April to make the record.
A source said last night: “That’s when the Bond people make a final decision on who sings the theme. If Amy is clean then, it’s hers.”"
The ‘Back to Black’ songstress - who’s currently battling her drugs demons in a London rehab clinic - has been told by film bosses she must clean up her act by April to make the record.
A source said last night: “That’s when the Bond people make a final decision on who sings the theme. If Amy is clean then, it’s hers.”"
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Will Texas Lead the Way?
Burnt Orange Report::: Will Texas Pick the President?: "Barack Obama's strong performance on Super Tuesday all but guarantees that Texas primary voters will play a key role, maybe the key role, in selecting the Democratic nominee for president of the United States."
How Pollution Created the Creepiest Movie Mutants
The second movie mentioned is a personal favorite.
Horrorhead: How Pollution Created the Creepiest Movie Mutants: "Back in the 1950s, it seemed like every monster was created by radiation: giant ants, a giant tarantula, and even a giant dinosauroid thing called Gojira. But ever since the 1970s, an even scarier byproduct of human invention has been creating gloopy crawlies: pollution."
Horrorhead: How Pollution Created the Creepiest Movie Mutants: "Back in the 1950s, it seemed like every monster was created by radiation: giant ants, a giant tarantula, and even a giant dinosauroid thing called Gojira. But ever since the 1970s, an even scarier byproduct of human invention has been creating gloopy crawlies: pollution."
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