Saturday, November 19, 2016

10 Ruthless Women Who Secretly Ruled Rome

10 Ruthless Women Who Secretly Ruled Rome 

Song of the Day

Man with No Name - YouTube:

Backstage Fakery at Universal City in 1963

Backstage Fakery at Universal City in 1963

Today's Vintage Ad


10 Natural Landmarks That No Longer Exist

10 Natural Landmarks That No Longer Exist

PaperBack



Alan Garner, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, Ace, 1978

Uh-Oh

‘Valley Girl’ Movie: Rachel Goldenberg To Direct MGM’s Musical Redo

The Weird Week in Review

The Weird Week in Review 

Zadie Smith: By the Book

Zadie Smith: By the Book 

Friday, November 18, 2016

Sharon Jones, R. I. P.

The New York Times: Sharon Jones, the soul singer and powerful voice of the band the Dap-Kings, died on Friday of pancreatic cancer that had been in remission but returned last year. She was 60.

Dr. Denton Cooley, R. I. P.

Dr. Denton Cooley, pioneer of heart transplants, dies at 96: HOUSTON - Dr. Denton Cooley, a Houston native and a pioneer of heart transplants, died Friday. He was 96.

Lisa Lynn Masters, R. I. P.

AOL Entertainment: Lisa Lynn Masters, a model and veteran television actress who had appeared on Ugly Betty, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and most recently Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, has died while on a model assignment in Peru. She was 52.

Then and now: The aesthetics of the mystery genre

Then and now: The aesthetics of the mystery genre

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee. . . .

Charge: Upset over no shopping carts, woman set fire to Kent strip mall

Or Maybe You Did

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Oscar Wilde

Song of the Day

Kim Wilde - Kids in America (Original Version) - YouTube:

“Houston, We Have Another Problem”

“Houston, We Have Another Problem”

Today's Vintage Ad


Mentor Williams, R. I. P.

Rolling Stone: Mentor Williams, the award-winning writer of "Drift Away," the easygoing pop classic recorded by Dobie Gray in 1973, died Wednesday morning, according to the Taos News. A longtime resident of Taos, New Mexico, Williams was the younger brother of songwriter-actor Paul Williams and was preceded in death by brother John Williams, a distinguished NASA engineer. He was 70.

Rakotzbrücke Devil's Bridge

Rakotzbrücke Devil's Bridge: This jaw-dropping 19th-century bridge uses its reflection to form a perfect circle.

PaperBack



Gerald Gardner (drawings by Frank Johnson), Miss Caroline, Gold Medal, 1963

The Nation's Oldest Chinese-American Restaurant

The Delicious History of the Nation's Oldest Chinese-American Restaurant

I'm Sure You'll All Agree

Leonard Cohen’s 20 best songs . . . in order of chronology, not quality.

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee. . . .

Woman charged in porcelain elephant attack  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

FFB: Hard-Boiled -- Bill Pronzini and Jack Adrian, editors

Hard-Boiled is an excellent anthology.  You can see why just by looking at the table of contents down below.  Most of the writers are probably well known to fans of hard-boiled fiction, so you know what a treat the stories are.  A good many of them haven't been reprinted often, so it was especially good to be reading them for the first time.  There were a couple of writers I wasn't familiar with (James Hannah and William Cole) and one I knew under another name (Michael Kerr, who's also Robert Hoskins, a name I was familiar with from science fiction).

The introduction to the volume is excellent, as are all the introductions to the stories, whether by Pronzini or Adrian.  This is a book that anyone interested in the history of crime-fiction fan should own, and since it's from Oxford University Press, it's probably still in print.  It's over 500 pages, but the stories are so much fun that I read it in a couple of days. You can't go wrong with this one.

UPDATE:  Some people (including one of the editors) have mentioned in the comments that the book isn't in print and that there's no e-edtion.  But the Oxford University Press site is selling the book at this link, and they mention that an e-edition is available.  I don't know if you can actually get the book if you order it, but it might be worth a try.

Table of Contents
                    Introduction 
                    The Scorched Face 
                         By Dashiell Hammett
                    Round Trip 
                         By W. R. Burnett
                    Mistral 
                         By Raoul Whitfield
                    Backwash 
                         By Frederick Nebel
                    Trouble-Chaser 
                         By Paul Cain
                    Fruit Tramp 
                         By Daniel Mainwaring
                    Brush Fire 
                         By James M. Cain
                    Human Interest Stuff 
                         By Brett Halliday
                    Waiting for Rusty 
                         By William Cole
                    I'll Be Waiting 
                         By Raymond Chandler
                    Marijuana and a Pistol 
                         By Chester Himes
                    Who Said I Was Dead? 
                         By Norbert Davis
                    Nor Iron Bars 
                         By John D. MacDonald
                    Dock Walloper 
                         By Benjamin Appel
                    Three-Ten to Yuma 
                         By Elmore Leonard
                    The Bobby-Soxer 
                         By Jonathan Craig
                    Black Pudding 
                         By David Goodis
                    Guilt-Edged Blonde 
                         By Ross Macdonald
                    Mama's Boy 
                         By David Alexander
                    The Screen Test of Mike Hammer 
                         By Mickey Spillane
                    Home 
                         By Gil Brewer
                    So Pale, So Cold, So Fair 
                         By Leigh Brackett
                    A Piece of Ground 
                         By Helen Nielsen
                    The Merry, Merry Christmas 
                         By Evan Hunter
                    Forever After 
                         By Jim Thompson
                    The Old Pro 
                         By H. A. DeRosso
                    The Saturday Night Deaths 
                         By Michael Kerr
                    Graveyard Shift 
                         By James M. Reasoner
                    Deadhead Coming Down 
                         By Margaret Maron
                    To Florida 
                         By Robert Sampson
                    It's a Hard World 
                         By Andrew Vachss
                    Junior Jackson's Parable 
                         By James Hannah
                    Bonding 
                         By Faye Kellerman
                    Gravy Train 
                         By James Ellroy
                    Batman's Helpers 
                         By Lawrence Block
                    The Long Silence After 
                         By Ed Gorman

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Bad sex in fiction award 2016

Bad sex award 2016: the contenders in quotes 

'Keeping Up With the Joneses'

There Was an Actual Jones Family Behind 'Keeping Up With the Joneses'

Song of the Day

Smokey Robinson. I Second That Emotion. - YouTube:

Maybe I Don't Always Miss the Old Days, After All

Protective suits against the fallout II, New York,...  

Link via Messy Nessy.

Today's Vintage Ad


The Oddest Job Elvis Presley Ever Had

The Oddest Job Elvis Presley Ever Had

PaperBack



Robert C. Dennis, Conversations with a Corpse, Ballantine, 1976

Author Colson Whitehead wins National Book Award

Author Colson Whitehead wins National Book Award for ‘The Underground Railroad’

Bob Dylan Update

Bob Dylan to Nobel Prize Committee: I'm Too Busy to Pick Up My Award  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

I Miss the Old Days

Retrospace: The Elegance of The 50s Through Magazine Covers

Mexico City’s New Day of the Dead Parade

Mexico City’s New Day of the Dead Parade is Based on a James Bond Film:  There was only one problem: the tradition depicted in the movie was completely made up. There are many traditions across Mexico that are associated with Day of the Dead, but a parade through downtown Mexico City has never been one of them. 

The Trap of Solid Gold: From the Top of the Snow Covered Hill

The Trap of Solid Gold: From the Top of the Snow Covered Hill

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Melvin Laird, R. I. P.

Ex-Pentagon chief Melvin Laird dies, architect of ‘Vietnamization’ policy: Melvin Laird, who as defense secretary under President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973 helped extricate U.S. forces from the morass of the Vietnam War in a policy he dubbed “Vietnamization,” has died at age 94.

60 Is the New . . .

60 Is the New . . . (December 2016) | Trace Evidence

Who Are the Literary Brat Pack

Who Are the Literary Brat Pack - Meet Authors Donna Tartt, Jay McInerney, and Bret Easton Ellis: A generation of readers loved them. Critics largely despised them. And for a time, they were celebrated for their youth as much as their work. But they also helped change the course of American literature—and looked great doing it. "I think we made fiction fun again," says McInerney.

Song of the Day

Marching To Pretoria - YouTube:

Oxford Dictionaries Announce Their 2016 Word of the Year

Oxford Dictionaries Announce Their 2016 Word of the Year: “Post-Truth” 

The World's Oldest Restaurant

Sobrino de Botin In a world where a restaurant existing for as long as a decade qualifies as a small miracle, Spain's Sobrino de Botin, which has been serving for over 200 years, is almost unbelievable.

Janet Hutchings, EQMM Editor: Reflections from a Reading Week

REFLECTIONS FROM A READING WEEK | SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN

Today's Vintage Ad


Elvis is My Favorite

The Japanese Museum of Rocks That Look Like Faces 

PaperBack



E. T. French, Never Smile at Children, Pyramid, 1959


Forgotten Hits: SWEET 16 - Oh Baby! (Part One)

Forgotten Hits: SWEET 16 - Oh Baby! (Part One)

15 Tips from Famous Authors to Help You Finally Write That Novel

15 Tips from Famous Authors to Help You Finally Write That Novel

9 Handy Facts About the History of Handwriting

9 Handy Facts About the History of Handwriting

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Mose Allison, R. I. P.

Rolling Stone: Influential blues and jazz pianist Mose Allison, whose songs were covered by an array of rock veterans, died Tuesday at the age of 89 of natural causes. Allison's daughter, Amy, confirmed the musician's death to Rolling Stone.

‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ in the Works at Syfy

‘Stranger in a Strange Land’ in the Works at Syfy

Holly Dunn, R. I. P.

Billboard: Country singer Holly Dunn, a San Antonio native who had several hits in the 1980s and '90s, including 1986's "Daddy's Hands," about her minister father, has died. She was 59.

Roger Hobbs: R.I.P.

Mystery Fanfare: Roger Hobbs: R.I.P.

Jerry Dumas, R. I. P.

Greenwich’s Jerry Dumas, comic artist extraordinaire, dies at 86 - GreenwichTime: Jerry Dumas, a story-teller in words and pictures who reached millions of readers through his adept observations of the foibles and flaws of human nature, died Saturday at his home in Greenwich from neuroendocrine cancer. 

He was 86. 

His spare drawings and punchy quips for “Beetle Bailey” helped make it the second most popular comic strip in the world. His handiwork extended far beyond the funny pages: as a writer, poet, raconteur, painter, athlete and essayist, Dumas reached the pinnacle of success in a number of fields.

Hat tip to Steven Levine.

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee. . . .

Woman Wanted for Throwing Hot Soup at Metrobus Driver

How a Wine and Cocaine Cocktail became Coca Cola

How a Wine and Cocaine Cocktail became Coca Cola: But lesser known is the story about how Coca Cola originates from an alcoholic drink based on cocaine and wine, Bordeaux wine to be specific– a particular combination which made for a distinctly more toxic beverage, known as Coca Wine. During the second half of the 19th century, everyone was drinking the stuff.

Song of the Day

Beverly Hills Cop Theme - YouTube:

Buckskin Frank Leslie

Buckskin Frank Leslie 

Today's Vintage Ad


Once Again It's Not Me

Sexiest Man Alive Announced 

Claire Labine, R. I. P.

The New York Times: Claire Labine, a nine-time Daytime Emmy Award winner whose dramatic plots and cliffhanger climaxes kept millions of television viewers returning day after day to “Ryan’s Hope,” “General Hospital,” “Love of Life” and other soap operas, died on Friday at her home in Somers, Conn. She was 82.  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

25 Things Kids Today Will Never Believe About Life In The '90s

25 Things Kids Today Will Never Believe About Life In The '90s

PaperBack



Sonia Pilcer, Teen Angel, Avon, 1979

I Miss the Old Days

Take a Step Back in Time into these Flower Power Fashion Comic Books

The Book Rescuers

The Book Rescuers

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee. . . .

Miami man smashed beer bottle into Key West tourist’s face because he ‘cut the line’ to the restroom, cops say  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Overlooked Movies: Martin & Lewis At War with the Army

When I was 8 or 9 years old, I was already a fan of comedy teams.   I liked Abbott and Costello, and and I was fond of the Three Stooges.  Then I saw a movie called My Friend Irma, and Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis became my favorites.  I especially liked Jerry.  He was skinny and goofy-looking and a klutz.  I could identify all too easily.  So naturally I went to see At War with the Army, which I thought was the very soul of sophisticated wit.  Watching it again the other day, I decided that I might've been wrong, but some of it's still funny to me, and I still love "The Navy Gets the Gravy and the Army Gets the Beans."

The idea is that Dean and Jerry are in the Army during WWII.  Dean is a sergeant, and Jerry is, of course, a private.  They were friends and partners in civilian life, but now Dean is a bully and treats Jerry terribly.  There's no reason for this at all, unless it's Dean's frustration with being stuck behind a desk when he wants to be in Europe, fighting.

The movie's based on a play, and the first half is very stage-bound.  Some of the stuff is funny, and the jokes even reminded me a little of Catch-22.  Unfortunately, Jerry makes a jaw-droppingly tone deaf joke about concentration camps.  It might have gotten by in 1950, but it's really a flop now.

The second half of the movie opens things out, and if you've ever wanted to see Jerry Lewis in drag, this is your chance.  I'll bet this part cracked me up in the old days.

Dean and Jerry do a few bits together, and the best one is their impersonation of Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald.  Both of them are dead on target.

I'm not 8 or 9 years old anymore, and I don't laugh at the same things now that I did when I was young, but I still got some amusement from this movie.  I'm not sure anyone else would, though.

At War With the Army

At War With the Army trailer - YouTube:

Monday, November 14, 2016

Supermoon 11-14-16




First It Was the Thin Mints Melee. . . .

Wife injures husband with sword after fight over drugs, Clay County deputies say   

Hat tip to Deb.

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee. . . .

Ex-Con Arrested For Ramen Noodle Attack On His Boyfriend

Tom Neyman, R. I. P.

Fandom powered by Wikia: In 1966 Neyman took part in Warren's production of Manos: The Hands of Fate, playing the role of The Master. His daughter Jackie Neyman Jones played the role of Debbie. Neyman was also responsible for the set design on the film as well, and built the rigging that Reynolds used to portray Torgo as a saytr.  

Hat tip to Deb.

Gwen Ifill, R. I. P.

abc7ny.com: Gwen Ifill, the veteran journalist and co-anchor of PBS' "NewsHour" with Judy Woodruff, died on Monday of cancer, the network said.  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Cartoon of the Day

Link

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee. . . .

IHOP customer returns to restaurant to stab his server in North Miami

To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.

Moby-Dick published - Nov 14, 1851

Song of the Day

Otis Redding - Try A Little Tenderness - YouTube:

How Novels Came to Be Written in the Voice of Coins, Stuffed Animals and Other Random Objects

How Novels Came to Be Written in the Voice of Coins, Stuffed Animals and Other Random Objects 

Today's Vintage Ad


I'm Sure You'll All Agree

Top 10 Spine Tingling Short Story Collections 

PaperBack



Jay de Bekker (Stewart Sterling), Keyhole Peeper, Beacon, 1955

This is Great

Photographer Tracks Down People He Snapped In His Hometown Almost 40 Years Ago To Recreate The Remarkable Images  

And if that link doesn't work, try this one.

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee. . . .

Man fires BB gun at woman who spurned him, lawmen say   

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

It's Science!

A beer a day helps prevent stroke and heart disease, new study suggests

State Capitals Trivia: Why is Lansing the Capital of Michigan?

State Capitals Trivia: Why is Lansing the Capital of Michigan?: Lots of states have placed their capital city in their largest metropolitan area (Denver, Colorado) or in a place of strategic importance (Juneau, Alaska, is closest to the U.S. mainland). Others are a little more mystifying. Here’s why a lot of the less logically-placed state capitals are where they are.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

The Strange Perils of Running a Novelty Item Empire

The Strange Perils of Running a Novelty Item Empire: Handerpants, underwear for your hands! The internet's favorite horse head mask! The librarian action figure with “Amazing Shushing Action!”

YouCaring: Memorial for Dave Nunn Jr (Son of PJ Nunn)

Kevin's Corner: YouCaring: Memorial for Dave Nunn Jr (Son of PJ Nunn)

Song of the Day

Leon Russell -- Back to the Island - YouTube:

10 More Of The Most Important Works Written In Prison

10 More Of The Most Important Works Written In Prison 

Lupita Tovar, R. I. P.

Houston Chronicle: Mexican screen siren Lupita Tovar has died at the age of 106. The actress starred in the 1931 Spanish-language version of “Dracula,” which was filmed simultaneously with the popular English-speaking version with Bela Lugosi.

Today's Vintage Ad


For over 40 Years, This Guy Photographed the Same Buildings as he Watched them Decline

For over 40 Years, This Guy Photographed the Same Buildings as he Watched them Decline

PaperBack



Jack London, The Call of the Wild, Pocket Books, 1959

Leon Russell, R. I. P.

The Independent: American musician and songwriter Leon Russell has died at the age of 74. The artist, who is best known for the songs "Shine a Light" and "A Song for You" died in Nashville on Sunday.

I'm Sure You'll All Agree

The 10 Best Kurt Vonnegut Books

Why Do Criminals Go “On The Lam”?

Why Do Criminals Go “On The Lam”?