Saturday, December 26, 2015
Steampunk 101: From Sci-Fi Sub-genre to Cultural Phenomenon
Steampunk 101: From Sci-Fi Sub-genre to Cultural Phenomenon on AbeBooks: The creation of the ‘steampunk’ term is usually attributed to the science fiction author K.W. Jeter, who used it in a letter to Locus Magazine. He was trying to find a way to describe Victorian fantasy novels like those written by himself (Morlock Night and Infernal Devices), Tim Powers (The Anubis Gates) and James Blaylock (Homunculus).
Words (Not to) Live By, 2015 Edition
Words (Not to) Live By, 2015 Edition: Attempts by dictionary publishers to appeal to the millennial generation have, sadly, lent legitimacy to words like "fleek" and "hangry."
William Guest, R. I. P.
Gladys Knight and the Pips member William Guest dies at 74 - AOL: William Guest, a member of Gladys Knight and the Pips, has died. He was 74.
Guest performed throughout the lifespan of the Grammy-winning group from 1953 to 1989. He performed background vocals on hits such as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight Train to Georgia."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Guest performed throughout the lifespan of the Grammy-winning group from 1953 to 1989. He performed background vocals on hits such as "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight Train to Georgia."
Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.
Conversation with Steve Binder, Director of the Star Wars Holiday Special
Conversation with Steve Binder, Director of the Star Wars Holiday Special: What does the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special have to do with improving race relations and Elvis getting his groove back? Steve Binder. So this holiday season, I sat down with the legendary director to talk about Wookiees, Hound Dogs and some of the other highlights from his career.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Star Wars!
Working on the theory that nobody would be at Star Wars on Christmas Eve, Angela, Allen, Tom, and I decided to go. It worked out fine. There weren't more than thirty people in the theater, which is about how I like it. We all got a big kick out of the movie, which we saw at a Cinemark with XD, which just means a bigger than usual screen, and 3D, which, well, you know what that means. We all enjoyed the movie, and I was encouraged to dig around in the back of the closet and bring out the t-shirt that I bought back in 1977 to wear. Since it was 82 degrees, a t-shirt was the right kind of apparel. As for the movie, Harrison Ford stole the show as far as I was concerned, not that Daisy Ridley wasn't terrific. John Boyega was good, too. But Ford looked like he was having a wonderful time. All the old friends were there, and I'm ready for the sequel. At my age, I can only hope they get it made soon.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
First It was the Thin Mints Melee
SanDiegoUnionTribune.com: SAN DIEGO — A man was stabbed by a 400-pound, bearded woman soon after asking a group of people for a cigarette in East Village Wednesday night, police said.
TBT: Christmas, 1965
In 1965 Judy and I were living in our little apartment on Normal Street in Denton and having our first Christmas together. We bought our little tree (that's it on the left) at an A&P grocery store and immediately decided that would be our Christmas tradition. I don't know how many years after that we bought our trees at A&P, but the tradition lasted for all our Austin years and extended into the Brownwood years for a while. The decorations on that tree are some of the ones on our tree this year. Eventually we decided it was time to get an artificial tree because the real ones were causing problems. The needles they dropped on the carpet were bad enough, clogging up the vacuum and almost burning up the motor. The tree was so dry by the time Christmas rolled around that it was a serious fire hazard.
We found a plastic tree on sale at T.G.&Y. after Christmas and bought it to use the next year. It wasn't long afterward that the A&P in Brownwood closed its doors forever, but I'm sure there was no connection.
The artificial tree inspired me to poetic heights I've never reached since. I may have posted this poem before, but here it is again:
PLASTIC XMAS
Underneath my plastic tree
are plastic presents, wrapped with glee
and plastic tape as you can see.
Nearby there's a nativity
(made of plastic, naturally)
with its plastic babe fast asleep
and plastic shepherds that quietly creep,
as plastic angels from the rooftop peep.
Beside it stand my plastic wife,
my plastic children . . .
my plastic life.
First It was the Thin Mints Melee . . .
. . . and now it's the alleged urine attack! Indiana Woman, 69, Stockpiled Her Urine So She Could Dump It On Neighbor's Home: Jackie VanTyle was charged Monday with a pair of misdemeanor criminal mischief counts for the alleged urine attack on the property in Lynn, a town about 80 miles east of Indianapolis.
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