Saturday, December 15, 2012

Now Is the Winter of our Disinterment

Carpark skeleton will be confirmed as Richard III - Telegraph

Song of the Day

Santa and the Touchables - Dickie Goodman 1961 - YouTube:

Today's Vintage Ad


Or Maybe Not

THE 10 GREATEST APOCALYPSE MOVIES

iTunes reveals top sellers of 2012

iTunes reveals top sellers of 2012

PaperBack



Judith Merril, S-F The Year's Greatest Science-Fiction and Fantasy, Dell, 1956

Harlan Ellison Update

Sci-fi legend Harlan Ellison teams up with DC Comics | TG Daily: Now GiantFreakinRobot tells us that Ellison is working with artist Paul Chadwick on a new comic for DC that’s called Harlan Ellison’s 7 Against Chaos. An official description of the comic calls it "singular, powerful and unpredictable," an "extraordinary odyssey of mystery and adventure [that] will take you to the rim of reality and beyond."

Dying rock stars' famous last words

Dying rock stars' famous last words

10 Ancient Cities Still Around Today

10 Ancient Cities Still Around Today 

There Should Be a Wing Named for Seepy Benton

Museum of Math opens in NYC

I Miss the Old Days

Product Capsule: Someone Somewhere Wants a Letter from you 

Not in My Lifetime, but I'm Glad I Was Around for the Glory Days

We left the moon 40 years ago today. Will we ever return?

30 great cars in films and TV

30 great cars in films and TV

Warning: Slideshow

The Outsider

The Outsider (1961) trailer - YouTube:

Friday, December 14, 2012

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

Woman Cited For Shopping Cart Rage Outside Walmart 

Uh-Oh

Modern-day Zorro arrives at USA Network - Variety: Set in modern-day Los Angeles, "Z" will chronicle the rise of Diego Moreno from an orphaned teen and raising his sister with little supervision, to an infamous hero fighting to save the city.

Interview with Publisher Kate Stine of Mystery Scene Magazine

Sisters in Crime: Interview with Publisher Kate Stine of Mystery Scene Magazine

Or Maybe You Did

5 Things You Didn’t Know About “The 12 Days of Christmas” 

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

FL police: Man shot roommate over how to make pork chops 

Song of the Day

"Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer" - The Cadillacs - YouTube:

Today's Vintage Ad


The 11 Most Important Guns in History

The 11 Most Important Guns in History 

Warning:  Slideshow

PaperBack



Marvin H. Albert, All the Young Men, Cardinal, 1960

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

Police: Man Tries To Drown Wife In Dog Bowl After Fight Over Frozen Pizza 

I Think I'm In Love

The Best of... Huh? #11

Gator Update (Infiniti QX Edition)

Infiniti QX Wrapped in Alligator Skin: Let us start the story by telling you that even though we wouldn’t want one as a pet, killing alligators for their skin seems a bit cruel. No scaly, slimy, cold blooded animals were killed in the making of this car. It’s all synthetic!

A Couple of Snapshots from 2001

Scott Cupp, James Reasoner, Bill Crider, Joe Lansdale

Bill Crider, Joe Lansdale.

The Only Christmas Song to Hit #1 on the Charts

The Only Christmas Song to Hit #1 on the Charts

B.O.L.O.

Sock thief still at large in Japan

Finding the Books of the Lost Generation

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway AbeBooks: Finding the Books of the Lost Generation: The Lost Generation was coined by Gertrude Stein to describe the group of expatriate authors and artists living in Paris after Europe had been torn apart by World War I. The story goes that a young Parisian mechanic failed to repair Stein’s car and she voiced her displeasure. The older owner of the garage shouted at the young man "génération perdue,” or lost generation.

Forgotten Books: When the Killing Starts -- Ted Wood

When the Killing Starts (Reid Bennett, Bk 6)Reid Bennett is the entire police force in tiny Murphy's Harbour, Ontario, Canada.  Of course he gets a lot of help from his German Shepherd, Sam.  While he's on vacation, he's approached by a woman who asks him to find her son, who's joined an outfit that supposedly trains mercenaries.  Bennett is a little reluctant, but he agrees.  Before long, he's on a wilderness adventure that involves lots of shooting and a serious wildfire.  He recovers the son, but that's just the beginning, as Wood starts springing the plot twists.  

If you're looking for villainous villains, lots of action, a little sex, and a very cool dog.  You've some to the right place.  There are a few plot problems, not the least of which is the faithful Indian companion deus ex machina, but Wood's writing is strong and his pacing is exemplary.  Bennett is a hero like Jack Reacher, tough, strong, and sure of himself.  I'd think Reacher's audience would like him a lot.

Ted Wood is a Canadian author who had a good bit of success in the U.S. with this series.  I believe there were ten books in all.  He wrote a couple of others as Jack Barnao, and I liked those, too.  He might not be completely forgotten, since I believe the books are available for Kindle.  Cheap copies of the paperbacks abound, too.

Roarin' Guns

1936 ROARIN' GUNS TIM McCOY TRAILER - YouTube:

Thursday, December 13, 2012

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

Argument over phone leads to child abuse charges

Free Today for Kindle

The Complete Sherlock HolmesThe Complete Sherlock Holmes: Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Ryan: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: The complete collection of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes tales, both long and short, compiled together for the first time by Simon & Schuster for free! 

This fantastic collection is accompanied by an exciting new introduction from Robert Ryan, a writer who's own book has been fully endorsed by the Conan Doyle Estate. A big Holmes fan himself, he will undoubtedly provide a fascinating new look at the detective and his bizarre ability to read both people and objects, in order to discover who dunnit.

Leaphorn & Chee Update

Mystery Fanfare: According to the Albuqueque Journal, Anne Hillerman, the daughter of the late Tony Hillerman plans to continue her father's Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee series.

Song of the Day

(I Saw Santa) Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - The Beach Boys - YouTube:

I Miss the Old Days

Retrospace: Album Covers #31: Sci-Fi Records

Today's Vintage Ad


Gene Wolfe Named Damon Knight Grand Master Recipient

SF Signal: Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America 2012 Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Awarded to Gene Wolfe

PaperBack



Joseph Nathanson, See Naples and Die, Manor, 1979

Archaeology Update

2012 in Review: 9 Important Archaeological Discoveries

Link via Neatorama.

SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN

“Something Is Going To Happen” (by Cheryl Rogers)

Maybe Florida Leads the Way

The 40 Most Insane Things That Happened In Florida In 2012

12 Essential American Cartoons

12 Essential American Cartoons 

Once Again Texas Leads the Way

Nude Man Steals Refrigerator, Torches Own Apartment, Police Claim 

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

Husband arrested for urinating on wife

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

The 8 Weirdest TV Christmas Specials of All Time

The 8 Weirdest TV Christmas Specials of All Time

The Man In The Moon

1991: The Man In The Moon Trailer HQ - YouTube:

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Todd Robinson Interview

10 Questions with Thuglit's Todd Robinson

Nothing More American: On James M. Cain

Los Angeles Review of Books - Nothing More American: On James M. Cain

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . . .

Naked biting spree forces three-drink limit at German pool complex 

Song of the Day

Merry Twist-mas By The Marcels - YouTube:

31 Awesomest Fast Food Inventions Of 2012

31 Awesomest Fast Food Inventions Of 2012

Today's Vintage Ad


Or Maybe Not

Music in Film: the 10 best Christmas movie soundtracks of all time

Nazca Lines

New light on the Nazca Lines: The first findings of the most detailed study yet by two British archaeologists into the Nazca Lines – enigmatic drawings created between 2,100 and 1,300 years ago in the Peruvian desert – have been published in the latest issue of the journal Antiquity.

The photo is one I took when we flew over the Nasca lines a few years ago.  I'd been curious about them for a long time, and getting to see them was a highlight of our trip to Peru.

No Comment Department

Beer and Bacon Battered Deep Fried Doritos

PaperBack



Eric Fyhrlund, Hasington, Manor, 1979

The Best Burritos in America

The Best Burritos in America 

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Bizarre Creature Update

Bizarre creature found in 200-million-year-old cocoon

Book ads from 19th-century France

Book ads from 19th-century France

A Patricia Highsmith 1950s and '60s Corgi and Pan Paperback First Edition Cover Gallery

Existential Ennui: A Patricia Highsmith 1950s and '60s Corgi and Pan Paperback First Edition Cover Gallery

A Worthy Cause

CHRIS GRABENSTEIN’S FUND RAISER

How Many Have You Seen?

The 10 worst-reviewed movies of 2012

Once Again Texas Leads the Way

10 Texas Christmas Ornaments from Etsy You May or May Not Want on Your Tree

Gator Update (Kardashian Edition)

Kourtney Kardashian gets to grips with an alligator as she takes Mason to visit swamp 

Ravi Shankar, R. I. P.

Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar dies: With an instrument perplexing to most Westerners, Ravi Shankar helped connect the world through music. The sitar virtuoso hobnobbed with the Beatles, became a hippie musical icon and spearheaded the first rock benefit concert as he introduced traditional Indian ragas to Western audiences over nearly a century.

7 Things To Do Before I'm 30

7 Things To Do Before I'm 30- Trailer - YouTube:

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Christmas Shopping?

Stark House has what you're looking for:  Happy Holidays from Stark House Press! 

Earlier in the season we offered our first ever Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale to our newsletter subscribers. In an effort to reach out to all our readers, however, we're now making a similar buy 2 get 1 free sale on all in-stock titles from now until midnight on Christmas Day, 2012. And did we mention the FREE SHIPPING? 

Details and a complete book listing are available here. Happy Holidays, everyone!

TCM Remembers 2012

TCM Remembers 2012

Link via Martha Wells.

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

Woman, armed with a hammer, attacked hubby's truck at his workplace, deputies say 

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Rock On

Rush, Heart, Public Enemy, Donna Summer, Randy Newman, Albert King get nod as 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees

Chutzpah Update

Myrtle Beach woman calls 911 during chase, offers to stop for $300k, deputies say 

Nic Cage Update

Nic Cage As Every Hobbit Character

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

Naples Daily News: During a beachfront wedding on Marco Island, police said a drunken local disrupted a couple’s nuptials by running back and forth behind the altar, shouting obscenities and lobbing unopened beer cans, at one point hitting the best man in the back, police said.

Today's Vintage Ad


Hollywood's Most Overpaid Actors

Hollywood's most overpaid actor

PaperBack



William S. Ruben, Murder: Love Story, Manor, 1977

Or Maybe You Did

12 Sequels You Probably Didn’t Know About

Link via SF Signal.

The 4 Craziest Moments in the History of Christmas Specials

The 4 Craziest Moments in the History of Christmas Specials

So It's Come to This

How Ernest Hemingway's cats became a federal case: The descendants of Ernest Hemingway's cats – dozens of them – freely roam the writer's former home, now a museum. In a controversial court case, a judge says the felines must be regulated under federal law.

More Than You Ever Needed To Know About Mistletoe

More Than You Ever Needed To Know About Mistletoe 

Oops

Forget Extinct: The Brontosaurus Never Even Existed

Doc Savage: A Hero from the Golden Age of Pulp

The comics & books of Doc SavageAbeBooks: Doc Savage: A Hero from the Golden Age of Pulp: Heroes don’t come more heroic than Doc Savage. This superhero was so special that he didn’t need any special powers. Created by Lester Dent, who wrote as Kenneth Robeson, in 1933, Doc Savage has entertained several generations of comic and paperback readers with his thrilling battles against evil.

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

Bar Stabbing, Fecal Flinging at Wrigleyville Bar Crawl

Overlooked Movies: Operation Petticoat

 Here's another WWII military comedy that I enjoyed long ago.  Check out the cast, and you can see that it would be a lot of fun.  It's even based on true events (including the pink submarine and the toilet paper shortage).  Grant is the sub's commander, and after it's seriously damaged in an air attack, Tony Curtis is assigned to it, though he's never been on a sub before.  The sub struggles along toward Australia, trying to avoid the Japanese and picking up five army nurses along the way.

Curtis is a con man, not at all devoted to his military service, but he proves so adept at providing needed supplies and in making money when necessary that Grant's happy to have him around.  As the movie goes along, Curtis begins to change his attitude, and the ending of this one is like the ending of Soldier in Rain in that respect.

Since this was made back in the late '50s, you can imagine that there are a lot of sexist jokes that might not play too well these days.  They seemed amusing enough at the time, however.  I haven't seen this one in years, but I have a feeling it would make me laugh if I saw it again.

Operation Petticoat

Operation Petticoat - Trailer - YouTube:

Monday, December 10, 2012

Blowback -- Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Blowback is the latest book in Rusch's "Retrieval Artist" series, but Miles Flint has moved way beyond being a retrieval artist by this time.  The book picks up shortly after the events in the previous book (Anniversary Day) in which most of the domed cities on the moon were bombed by clones in an orchestrated terror attack.  Flint is helping his former partner on the police, Noelle DeRicci, investigate the attacks, trying to figure out the how and the why.  Meanwhile he's dealing with the problems of his daughter, Talia, who is herself a clone.  As it happens his daughter and her school are more closely tied into things than it might first appear.  The big fear of DeRicci is that there might be another attack, even worse than the first, so there's also the problem of finding out what it is, if it exists, and trying to stop it.  

At the same time, Iniko Zagrando is conducting a dangerous undercover operation for the Earth Alliance.  As the investigation progresses, we can see that it has major implications for the one Flint is conducting.  

Besides that, there's DeRicci's own investigation, along with that of Jin Rastigan among an alien race, and they too begin to point in the direction that Flint wouldn't have thought possible when it all begain.

There's a lot going on in Blowback, and Rusch makes the details and the characters absolutely convincing.  This is fine entertainment if you're a fan of mind-stretching SF.  I have to warn you, however, that the ending is just the beginning.  There's closure, but at the same time you know there's a lot more to come.  Check it out.

Song of the Day

FALCONS -CAN THIS BE CHRISTMAS.wmv - YouTube:

Today's Vintage Ad


A Texan at The 5-2

The 5-2 : Crime Poetry Weekly: Monty Jones

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

Cuckolded man suffers mob justice in Kisii

Or Maybe Not

38 People Who Had a Much Worse 2012 Than You Did

PaperBack



Ned McCune, The Gateway, Dell, 1973

And Keep Off His Lawn!

80-year-old banned from owning weapons after pointing a gun at hunters to get them off his land

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

Toronto lunch lady allegedly attacks group of students

If Norman Rockwell Was From Gotham City

If Norman Rockwell Was From Gotham City

Okay, Old Guys -- How Many of Them Did You Buy?

Top 10 Albums of 1967

Keep off His Lawn!

Burglar picks wrong house, boxer fights back 

100 Hilarious College Courses that Really Exist

100 Hilarious College Courses that Really Exist

Hat tip to Doc Quatermass.

Marnie

Marnie Official Trailer #1 - Sean Connery Movie (1964) HD - YouTube:

Sunday, December 09, 2012

Song of the Day

Cameos - Merry Christmas - YouTube:

Sir Patrick Moore, R. I. P.

BBC News: British astronomer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore has died, aged 89, his friends and colleagues have said. 

He "passed away peacefully at 12:25 this afternoon" at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, they said in a statement. 

Sir Patrick presented the BBC programme The Sky At Night for over 50 years, making him the longest-running host of the same television show ever.

Link via Boing Boing.

Today's Vintage Ad


4 Scandals That Prove We'll Forgive Celebrities for Anything

4 Scandals That Prove We'll Forgive Celebrities for Anything

PaperBack



James Lee Burke, Two for Texas, Pocket Books, 1982

The 10 Best Films You Didn't See In 2012

The 10 Best Films You Didn't See In 2012

I've seen two of them.
It's an annoying slideshow.
Hat tip to Walter Satterthwait.

10 Best Calendars for Book Lovers

Book Dirt: 10 Best Calendars for Book Lovers

Once Again Texas Leads the Way

Texas A&M’s ‘Johnny Football’ Is First Freshman Heisman Winner

Hey, Y'all

Why Does a Southern Drawl Sound Uneducated to Some?: Stereotypes based on accent are deep rooted and they have profound consequences. Accents influence who we select as friends, who we respect with authority and leadership, where we prefer to live, employment, and to the very real extent our personal aspirations in life as a consequence of self-perception directing ambition in education and other endeavors.

The Heyday of A&C Black

The Head of Kay's by P.G. WodehouseAbeBooks: Wodehouse to Who’s Who: The Heyday of A&C Black: A&C Black, founded in 1807 by Adam and Charles Black, is best known for spotting the talent of P.G. Wodehouse. It published Wodehouse’s first book, The Pothunters in 1902 and continued to publish his work, including notable books like the Psmith series, into the 1950s.

New Story at BEAT to a PULP

BEAT to a PULP :: Pulp of the Week: The True Story of Boy Kaleen Patti Abbott

Sjalvklart

‘English is a Scandinavian language’: New linguistic research has concluded that residents of the British Isles didn’t just borrow words and expressions from Norwegian and Danish Vikings and their descendants. Rather, claim two professors now working in Oslo, the English language is in fact Scandinavian.

Link via Neatorama.

Croc Update (Excess Baggage Edition)

ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Passengers on a flight from Darwin to Brisbane today were blissfully unaware they were sharing the aircraft with a monster crocodile.

Frenzy

Frenzy Official Trailer #1 - Bernard Cribbins Movie (1972) HD - YouTube: