Saturday, August 30, 2008
Will the Persecution Never End?
<em>Paris</em> Screenings Pulled :: Hollywood Elsewhere: "Some kind of intense drama is happening with Toronto Film Festival screenings of Adria Petty's Paris, Not France, a documentary about Paris Hilton. Two out of three public screenings have been cancelled, and both press screenings have also been jettisoned."
Coming Soon to a Cover Near You
E-Commerce News: Technology: Esquire to Put Digital Moving Pix on Mag Cover: "To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Esquire magazine, the publication's editors plan to release 100,000 copies of its October 2008 edition with a cover made of electronic paper.
E Ink, an electronic paper developer, has taken the technology it used in devices such as the Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) Latest News about Amazon.com Kindle and Sony (NYSE: SNE) Latest News about Sony eReader to develop a version of the technology for use on the Esquire cover.
The resulting cover, hitting newsstands in September, will feature words and images that scroll across the flexible electronic page. In addition, the inside cover will offer readers their first e-paper advertisement, with automaker Ford pitching its new Flex vehicle in a double-page ad."
Hat tip to Gerard Saylor.
E Ink, an electronic paper developer, has taken the technology it used in devices such as the Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) Latest News about Amazon.com Kindle and Sony (NYSE: SNE) Latest News about Sony eReader to develop a version of the technology for use on the Esquire cover.
The resulting cover, hitting newsstands in September, will feature words and images that scroll across the flexible electronic page. In addition, the inside cover will offer readers their first e-paper advertisement, with automaker Ford pitching its new Flex vehicle in a double-page ad."
Hat tip to Gerard Saylor.
Hari Puttar Update
Bollywood producers defend 'Hari Puttar' film: "The makers of Bollywood film 'Hari Puttar,' which has prompted a lawsuit by Hollywood studio Warner Bros, say the flick has nothing in common with the Harry Potter movie series.
The Hollywood studio, which owns the rights to the boy wizard movies, has taken the Indian producers to court over the film's title, which it says sounds like Harry Potter.
'Our film bears no resemblance to the Hollywood film Harry Potter and it is a completely different story,' said Munish Purii, chief operating officer of Mumbai-based production house Mirchi Movies Ltd, late on Friday."
The Hollywood studio, which owns the rights to the boy wizard movies, has taken the Indian producers to court over the film's title, which it says sounds like Harry Potter.
'Our film bears no resemblance to the Hollywood film Harry Potter and it is a completely different story,' said Munish Purii, chief operating officer of Mumbai-based production house Mirchi Movies Ltd, late on Friday."
Friday, August 29, 2008
A Review
I don't mention reviews often, but this one over at Gravetapping pretty much gets to the heart of what I try to do in the Sheriff Rhodes books. I couldn't have put it better myself.
Gravetapping: RED, WHITE, AND BLUE MURDER by Bill Crider: "Red, White, and Blue Murder is the first of Bill Crider’s novels I have read and it was better than I imagined. It is a unique blend of whodunit and American style hardboiled—probably something like 75% of the former, and 25% of the later. The whodunit part is the comfortable setting, the townspeople—pestering, conniving, kind, and likable. It is a place the reader would love to visit, and in a literary manner, it is a place you have been before, but not for a very long time."
Gravetapping: RED, WHITE, AND BLUE MURDER by Bill Crider: "Red, White, and Blue Murder is the first of Bill Crider’s novels I have read and it was better than I imagined. It is a unique blend of whodunit and American style hardboiled—probably something like 75% of the former, and 25% of the later. The whodunit part is the comfortable setting, the townspeople—pestering, conniving, kind, and likable. It is a place the reader would love to visit, and in a literary manner, it is a place you have been before, but not for a very long time."
Summer Issue of PWG is Now On-Line
Crimedog One: PLOTS WITH GUNS GIVES YOU AN ATOMIC WEDGIE: "Blistering skin, hurricane warnings, and melted ice cream all over the concrete. Despite the sun and the waves, summer can be ugly, too. Sublimely ugly. Just like the eight new stories in the Summer 2008 issue of PLOTS WITH GUNS, now live online.
Some sick tales ready to bust out like they were left in a car with the windows rolled up on a hot-as-balls afternoon: Tony Black, Kyle Minor, Jedidiah Ayres, Kent Gowran, Glenn Gray, Mark Joseph Kiewlak, Fred Snyder, and Garnett Elliot. Yeah, smells funky, right?"
Some sick tales ready to bust out like they were left in a car with the windows rolled up on a hot-as-balls afternoon: Tony Black, Kyle Minor, Jedidiah Ayres, Kent Gowran, Glenn Gray, Mark Joseph Kiewlak, Fred Snyder, and Garnett Elliot. Yeah, smells funky, right?"
Memoir Update
News from The Associated Press: "WOBURN, Mass. (AP) -- An author who fabricated a best-selling memoir about surviving the Holocaust by living with wolves asked a judge Thursday to affirm a $32.4 million jury award in her favor.
Misha Defonseca said her publisher is too late to try to overturn the 2001 verdict the author and her ghost writer won in a fight over the book's profits."
Misha Defonseca said her publisher is too late to try to overturn the 2001 verdict the author and her ghost writer won in a fight over the book's profits."
Zodiac Update
cbs13.com - Zodiac Killer's Identity And Weapon Uncovered?: "Reporting Kris Pickel
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ― The Zodiac Killer attacked at least eight people, terrorizing the Bay Area and taunting police in the 60's and 70's. Thursday, the FBI confirmed to CBS13 they are now running laboratory tests on some items that may link a suspect to the killer.
The evidence was given to the FBI by a Pollock Pines man who also claims he recently found the disguise worn by the Zodiac Killer during one of his attacks."
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ― The Zodiac Killer attacked at least eight people, terrorizing the Bay Area and taunting police in the 60's and 70's. Thursday, the FBI confirmed to CBS13 they are now running laboratory tests on some items that may link a suspect to the killer.
The evidence was given to the FBI by a Pollock Pines man who also claims he recently found the disguise worn by the Zodiac Killer during one of his attacks."
Blogging Texas
Will Howard has created TEXAS BLOG NOTES, which "is a storage place for the e-book Texas Historical and Literary Blogs - 2008, and a place for further notes or discussion of blogs of meaningful contribution to quality life, understanding, and literature of Texas. My blog is included in the list (which has links), along with many others on many Texas topics (literature, history, art, and so on). Some great stuff. Take a look.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Identity Theft: WHH Ranch Company Uses Shredded Checks As Package Cushioning: "A Texas cannery has been using shredded checks from the local bank as packing materials for the past twenty years. The WHH Ranch Company claims that Michelle McBride of Kansas is the only customer to ever complain about the checks, which plainly displayed routing and account numbers for hospitals, medicare, schools, businesses, and personal accounts."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Angry telemarketer calls back, berates man after he hangs up: "AUSTIN, TX (NBC) - Randall Whited got quite a surprise when he recently hung up on a telemarketer.
The telemarketer called the Austin, Texas resident back and unleashed a tirade of verbal abuse.
'If you don't want to get contacted if somebody wins, then don't put your name in it. That was just such a girl thing to do. Wimp,' the telemarketer yelled."
The telemarketer called the Austin, Texas resident back and unleashed a tirade of verbal abuse.
'If you don't want to get contacted if somebody wins, then don't put your name in it. That was just such a girl thing to do. Wimp,' the telemarketer yelled."
You Can't Get a Burger at the Bug Bistro
globeandmail.com: How to eat fried worms: "HALIFAX — It's the kind of revelation that would have Howard Hughes turning in his grave: The average sleeper ingests four insects a night.
But Mary MacDonald, who offered up this surprising fact, has quite the opposite reaction.
'People have been eating insects for a very long time,' says Ms. MacDonald, a naturalist who works with the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History. 'You're already eating bugs, and they're a great source of protein. So why not try them?'"
But Mary MacDonald, who offered up this surprising fact, has quite the opposite reaction.
'People have been eating insects for a very long time,' says Ms. MacDonald, a naturalist who works with the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History. 'You're already eating bugs, and they're a great source of protein. So why not try them?'"
Forgotten Books: BRIDGE OF BIRDS -- Barry Hughart
Bridge of Birds is likely to have been overlooked by mystery readers because it's a fantasy novel set in "an Ancient China that never was." But it's a lot more than that. It's also an adventure, a quest, and a mystery. Its narrator, Number 10 Ox, is the Watson to Master Li's Holmes. Li is a master of deduction, albeit with "a slight flaw in his character."Love, death, myth, monsters, mayhem (lots), and wonderful writing all combine to make this book, for me, unforgettable. I was reminded of it recently because I received an e-mail from Subterranean Press, which is about to release an omnibus volume that will include all three novels about Master Li and Number 10 Ox (Bridge of Birds, The Story of the Stone, and Eight Skilled Gentlemen). While the latter two aren't quite as wonderful as the first, they're still well worth your time.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Gatorfest!
The Anahuac Progress: "Come to Texas GATORFEST 2008 where a weekend of family fun, food and entertainment awaits one and all at historic Fort Anahuac Park. Texas GATORFEST is truly the most unique festival in the state, combining the alligator and family fun for a good old Texas two-stepping good time! Witness the Great Texas Alligator Roundup, take and airboat ride or a river boat tour, enjoy four stages of entertainment, Texas Artisans, merchants and the scenic waterfront beer garden.
Take a whirl on the adult carnival rides and treat the kids to the kiddie rides, pony rides and petting zoo. On Saturday and Sunday, witness the Great Texas Alligator Roundup and visit the Alligator Education Tent to get an up close and personal view of live gators, which outnumber Chambers County citizens by almost 3 to 1.
Texas GATORFEST 2008 kicks off Friday night, September 12th with the festival gates opening at 6 pm. A variety of attractions and entertainment including a street dance featuring Al White and Chaparral that will continue until 12 midnight. The festival continues on Saturday, September 13th from 10 am until 12 midnight with a main stage entertainment line up including Casey Donahew, Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers Band. Sunday’s GATORFEST opens from 12 noon until 6 pm with head liners The Zydeco Dots, Hunter Hayes and Wayne Toups taking the main stage."
Take a whirl on the adult carnival rides and treat the kids to the kiddie rides, pony rides and petting zoo. On Saturday and Sunday, witness the Great Texas Alligator Roundup and visit the Alligator Education Tent to get an up close and personal view of live gators, which outnumber Chambers County citizens by almost 3 to 1.
Texas GATORFEST 2008 kicks off Friday night, September 12th with the festival gates opening at 6 pm. A variety of attractions and entertainment including a street dance featuring Al White and Chaparral that will continue until 12 midnight. The festival continues on Saturday, September 13th from 10 am until 12 midnight with a main stage entertainment line up including Casey Donahew, Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers Band. Sunday’s GATORFEST opens from 12 noon until 6 pm with head liners The Zydeco Dots, Hunter Hayes and Wayne Toups taking the main stage."
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