Saturday, March 22, 2014

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee

92-Year-Old Man Dies After Nursing Home Fist Fight: . . .it all started when another resident cut in line at dinner.

Ten Famously Gruesome Murders

Ten Famously Gruesome Murders 

I Want to Believe!

New Big Bang evidence also hints that we may exist in a multiverse

Song of the Day

Mel Gadson - Comin' down with Love - YouTube:

I Miss the Old Days

Forgotten Hits: 50 Years Ago This Weekend

Today's Vintage Ad


The Popeye the Sailor Story

The Popeye the Sailor Story 

PaperBack



Alan Burgess, The Small Woman, Pan, 1959

The Names Behind 12 Famous Food Brands

Real or Fake: The Names Behind 12 Famous Food Brands 

50 Books You'll Never Read The Same Way Again

50 Books You'll Never Read The Same Way Again

The Defining Science Fiction Books of the 1980s

The Defining Science Fiction Books of the 1980s  

Link via SF Signal.

And the Winner Is . . . .

The Oddest Book Title of the Year 

Readers of this Blog Will Not Be Surprised

8 arrested with guns, drugs and an alligator

Manhunt of Mystery Island

▶ Manhunt of Mystery Island - Serial Trailer - YouTube:

Friday, March 21, 2014

25 Quotes That Will Inspire You To Be A Fearless Writer

25 Quotes That Will Inspire You To Be A Fearless Writer

Harlan Coben Interview

Harlan Coben: By the Book 

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee

Senior citizen arrested and two others hurt in North Carolina ‘early bird’ buffet brawl 

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee

Denied permission to see family cat, man bit parents 

Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Sundial’ as True American Gothic

Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Sundial’ as True American Gothic 

I Miss the Old Days

28 Nostalgic Photos Of New York In The 1980s

Song of the Day

So Rare-Jimmy Dorsey-1957 - YouTube:

Yet Another List I'm Not On

10 Actors Who Should Be Cast as Authors   

Hat tip to Doc Quatermass.

Once Again Texas Leads the Way

Bank Robbery Suspect Grabs Loot, Gets Away on Kiddie Bike: They're calling him the BMX Bandit.

Photos at the link.

Today's Vintage Ad


49 Products You'll Never Look At The Same Way Again

49 Products You'll Never Look At The Same Way Again

PaperBack



F. A. Mitchell-Hedges, Danger My Ally, Pan, 1956

Real Sherlock Holmes revealed

Real Sherlock Holmes revealed: Victorian investigator Jerome Caminada was master of disguise: The real Sherlock Holmes revealed: Historian finds Victorian investigator 

Jerome Caminada who was a master of disguise and even had a foe like Moriarty 

Jerome Caminada captivated Manchester in 19th century with detective skills 

Became known for eccentric disguises, logical reasoning and crime figures 

Now, investigator has been revealed as possible inspiration behind Holmes

29 Treasures You Need To Buy At The Houston Rodeo

29 Treasures You Need To Buy At The Houston Rodeo

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee

Walmart Weirdo Sought In Toe Sucking Scheme 

The Tale of Beatrix Potter

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)AbeBooks: The Tale of Beatrix Potter: As you all know, Beatrix Potter (1866-1943), was an English children’s book author and illustrator, primarily. She was also a farmer, a conservationist, and a natural explorer fascinated by science and the wonders of the natural world around her, be they flora or fauna.

A Forgotten Book and Writer

His Name is Vengeance: Kellory the Warlock by Lin Carter

Vintage Treasures: The Dunwich Horror and Others

Vintage Treasures: The Dunwich Horror and Others by H.P. Lovecraft

Another Forgotten Book

Year of the Unicorn by Andre Norton

Vintage Treasures: Doc Sidhe by Aaron Allston

Vintage Treasures: Doc Sidhe by Aaron Allston

Two Forgotten Books

Swords and Edgar Rice Burroughs

FFB: The Best from Fantasy and Science Fiction, Third Series -- Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas, Editors

So now we come to the third book I got in my first order from the Science Fiction Book Club.  Is it any wonder that I was hooked after three such great books?  Well, I was hooked before, but you know what I mean.  The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction was probably my overall favorite of all the SF digests I was reading in the '50s, but I loved them all.  

In this anthology, my favorite story was "Vandy, Vandy," the first of Manly Wade Wellman's Silver John Stories that I read, but certainly not the last.  I love the whole series, and one of the highlights of the first convention I ever attended was getting Wellman to sign my Ballantine collection of those stories.  I was also impressed by Bester's "Star Light, Star Bright," Ward Moore's "Lot," and Boucher's "Snulbug."  And probably others at the time, but those are the ones I remember.  I was never as fond of the "Tales from Gavagan's Bar" as I was of other stories by De Camp and Pratt, but I probably got a kick out of this one.  And you'll notice that there's a story by William Lindsay Gresham of Nightmare Alley fame.  I was in love with short stories in the middle '50s, and the three collections I got from the SF Book Club were truly wonderful stuff.  Here's the ToC:

· Introduction · Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas · in
· Attitudes [Father John Carmody] · Philip José Farmer · nv F&SF Oct ’53
· Maybe Just a Little One · Reginald Bretnor · ss Harper’s Aug ’47; F&SF Feb ’53
· Solar Systems... · E. D. B. · pm F&SF Feb ’53
· The Star Gypsies · William Lindsay Gresham · ss F&SF Jul ’53
· The Naming of Names · Herman W. Mudgett · pm F&SF Oct ’53
· The Untimely Toper [Gavagan’s Bar] · L. Sprague de Camp & Fletcher Pratt · ss F&SF Jul ’53
· Some Facts About Robots I · Leonard Wolf · pm F&SF Nov ’53
· Vandy, Vandy [John] · Manly Wade Wellman · ss F&SF Mar ’53
· Experiment · Kay Rogers · vi F&SF Feb ’53
· Lot [David Jimmon] · Ward Moore · nv F&SF May ’53
· Manuscript Found in a Vacuum · P. M. Hubbard · ss Punch Dec ’52; F&SF Aug ’53
· The Escapist · E. D. B. · pm F&SF Feb ’53
· The Maladjusted Classroom [C.P. Ransom] · H. Nearing, Jr. · ss F&SF Jun ’53
· Child by Chronos · Charles L. Harness · ss F&SF Jun ’53
· The Antiquary · Winona McClintic · pm F&SF Jul ’53
· New Ritual · Idris Seabright · ss F&SF Jan ’53
· Devlin · W. B. Ready · ss F&SF Apr ’53
· Two Voices · Winona McClintic · pm F&SF Jun ’53
· Captive Audience · Ann Warren Griffith · ss F&SF Aug ’53
· Snulbug · Anthony Boucher · ss Unknown Dec ’41; F&SF May ’53
· Shepherd’s Boy · Richard Middleton · vi The Ghost Ship, Unwin, 1912; F&SF Mar ’53
· The Unquiet Grave · Winona McClintic · pm F&SF Aug ’53
· Star Light, Star Bright · Alfred Bester · ss F&SF Jul ’53
· His Master’s Voice · Winona McClintic · pm F&SF Jun ’53
Link to source for ToC.

Mysterious Mr. M

▶ Mysterious Mr. M - Serial Trailer - YouTube:

Thursday, March 20, 2014

6 "Hardy Boys" Covers Starring "True Detective" Characters

6 "Hardy Boys" Covers Starring "True Detective" Characters

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee

McDonald's Patron Pointed Gun At Drive-Thru Worker Over Missing French Fries (Or Dipping Sauce) 

#6 Is the Important One

44 Facts About United States Presidents That Will Blow Your Mind

But Maybe You Think You Are

Despite what you've been told, you aren't 'left-brained' or 'right-brained'

Song of the Day

The Beatles - I'm A Loser - YouTube:

I Miss the Old Days

19 Impeccable Style Tips From "Dynasty's" Alexis Carrington

Today's Vintage Ad


















Hat tip to Laurie Powers.

I Found a Penny Last Week

Scrap metal dealer becomes a millionaire thanks to Faberge Egg

And Keep Off Her Lawn!

Dame Vera Lynn, 97, to release new album: Dame Vera announced the release of the record, Vera Lynn: National Treasure - The Ultimate Collection, today, March 20, her 97th birthday. The collection will include recently discovered tracks which are yet to be released, as well as some of her most memorable and morale-boosting songs as the Forces' Sweetheart.

HBO Is Not Enough

Game of Thrones aiming to become multiple movie franchise: Multiple movies set in the Game of Thrones universe could be coming to the big screen, creator George RR Martin has revealed.

PaperBack



D. H. Lawrence, The Virgin and the Gypsy, Berkley, 1956

Staggering Library Ebook & Audiobook Stats

JOAN REEVES aka SlingWords: Staggering Library Ebook & Audiobook Stats

10 Most Misunderstood Villains in Literature

10 Most Misunderstood Villains in Literature

86 Films You Will Never Be Able To Look At The Same Way Again

86 Films You Will Never Be Able To Look At The Same Way Again

JRR Tolkien Update

JRR Tolkien translation of Beowulf to be published after 90-year wait 

Dino Update

New dinosaur called ‘Chicken From Hell’ 

And of course Chickens from Hell WBAGNFARB.

Lucius Shepard, R. I. P.

Lucius Shepard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Lucius Shepard (born August 21, 1947 in Lynchburg, Virginia; died March 20, 2014[1]) was an American writer. Classified as a science fiction and fantasy writer, he often leaned into other genres, such as magical realism. His work is infused with a political and historical sensibility and an awareness of literary antecedents.

Mysterious Doctor Satan

▶ MYSTERIOUS DOCTOR SATAN 1940 SERIAL TRAILER - YouTube:

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Croc Update (O, Careless Love Edition)

Rare female crocodile suffocated during mating in Dutch zoo

The 101 Most Insane Things That Have Ever Happened In Florida

The 101 Most Insane Things That Have Ever Happened In Florida

“It Don’t Come Easy” by Greg Herren

“It Don’t Come Easy” (by Greg Herren) | SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN

12 Evil Carnival Movies That Beat "American Horror Story"

12 Evil Carnival Movies That Beat "American Horror Story"

And while it's not a movie, let us not forget this.

Writers on How They Deal With Criticism

Writers on How They Deal With Criticism 

Song of the Day

the spotnicks valentina save the last dance - YouTube:

77 Facts That Sound Like Huge Lies But Are Actually Completely True

77 Facts That Sound Like Huge Lies But Are Actually Completely True

Today's Vintage Ad


Really Harsh Early Reviews of 20 Classic 20th-Century Novels

Really Harsh Early Reviews of 20 Classic 20th-Century Novels

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee

Two accused of hurling PVC pipe, plastic bottles, and ice during road fight

PaperBack



Agatha Christie, The Case of the Moving Finger, Avon, 1952

Think therefore on revenge and cease to weep.

Man Gets Revenge on Scammer by Texting Him Entire Works of Shakespeare  

Hat tip to Doc Quatermass.

I Miss the Old Days

Guns, Babes And Testosterone Tales: 1970s Manly Action Paperbacks

A Look at the National Police Gazette

Western Fictioneers: A Look at the National Police Gazette

Gator Update (Crusin' Edition)

Alligator Fat to Be Converted Into Car Fuel 

Mystery Mountain

▶ MYSTERY MOUNTAIN 1934 KEN MAYNARD SERIAL TRAILER - YouTube:

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee

www.wftv.com: Woman allegedly set car on fire after man refused to buy her a McFlurry

17 Things That Would Only Get Reported In British Local Newspapers

17 Things That Would Only Get Reported In British Local Newspapers

Song of the Day

Duane Eddy - Deep In The Heart Of Texas - YouTube:

Or Maybe You Do

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Jack The Ripper

Today's Vintage Ad


10 Strange And Obscure Secret Societies

10 Strange And Obscure Secret Societies 

PaperBack



Frank Kane, Grave Danger, Dell, 1960

I Miss the Old Days

Retrospace: Vintage Style #40: Partridge Family Fashions

33 Reasons Why You're Addicted To Books

33 Reasons Why You're Addicted To Books

The 5 Most Realistic TV Show Families of All Time

The 5 Most Realistic TV Show Families of All Time 

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee

Suspect sought after S.C. man attacked for belching

In Defense Of The 'Impractical' English Major

In Defense Of The 'Impractical' English Major

Yet Another List I'm Not On

The Long Goodbye by Raymond ChandlerAbeBooks: The Best Authors of Crime Fiction: Crime fiction, detective fiction, suspense, mystery, and thriller - these are all genres that mix and mingle and overlap considerably. But no matter what you call it, readers can't seem to get enough of crime, criminals, and the dedicated professionals - private eyes, cops, FBI profilers, lawyers, medical examiners, psychologists, and forensic anthropologists - who tirelessly pursue justice.

Another Forgotten Movie

Jerry Lewis' The Nutty Professor 

Overlooked Movies: Halls of Montezuma

When I saw this movie at the age of 9 or 10, I thought that it was the best movie ever made, that Richard Widmark was the greatest actor in the world, and that the "Marines' Hymn" was the greatest song.  In fact, I loved war movies in general, The Sands of Iwo Jima being another great favorite of mine at that time.  The advantage of that one is John Wayne (who, I admit, I liked at least as much as Widmark and maybe more, but not while watching Halls of Montezuma) and the advantage of this one is Technicolor.  It looks terrific.  

Widmark plays a lieutenant who's been fighting for way too long.  Only seven men are left in his platton, and Widmark's taking it hard.  He's having severe headaches and has to take heavy meds for them.  The battalion is going ashore on a Pacific island (a long way from the halls of Montezuma and the shores of Tripoli) with orders to take prisoners to get information.  While there's plenty of action, the main focus is on the characters, and a partial cast list will tell you that there are some good ones in the movie.  Besides Widmark, there are Karl Malden, Walter (Jack) Palance, Jack Webb, Neville Brand, Robert Wagner, Martin Milner, Skip Homeier, and Richard Boone.  Every one of them does a great job, too.  

This is one of those movies when anyone can die at any time, even the ones you like a lot.  I loved this kind of thing as a kid.  Not so much now, but then a lot of my attitudes have changed (see the first sentence above).  I still think this is a dandy war movie, though.  The final scene (which is shown in the trailer, by the way) still gives me a chill.  If you want to see big-time Hollywood movie-making from the old days, check this one out.

Halls of Monetzuma

1951 HALLS OF MONTEZUMA TRAILER WWII RICHARD WIDMARK - YouTube:

Monday, March 17, 2014

Free for Kindle Today Only

Amazon.com: The Zen Man eBook: Colleen Collins: Kindle Store

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee . . .

. . .  and of course Texas leads the way.

Argument over movie ending turns deadly in theater parking lot

Here's the Plot for Your Next Old Folks' Home Thriller

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-mobster Harold Konigsberg, 88, shows up at Fla. old folks' home, where he breaks rules and bullies neighbors: The legendary hitman was released from prison two years ago, where he was serving 20 to life for strangling Teamsters official Anthony (Three Fingers) Castellito with a Venetian blind cord.  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

The Origins of 10 Famous Movie Catchphrases

The Origins of 10 Famous Movie Catchphrases

Fantastic 120-Year-Old Color Pictures of Ireland

Fantastic 120-Year-Old Color Pictures of Ireland 

An Appreciation of Andre Norton

You Should Read This: An Appreciation of Andre Norton   

Link via Martha Wells.

The Chase -- Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

the chase by evanovich and goldbergAre you looking for a book that's all action, all the time?  This is that book.  Are you looking for a book that has a laugh on every page? This is that book, too.  Not to mention explosions, car chases, and six or seven capers, cons, and heists, large and small.  Plus romance, twists, and fights to the death.  This book has it all.  If some studio's not working on the movie version right now instead of the 19th remake of Beau Geste, Hollywood really is hopeless.

Kate O'Hare and Nick Fox go all out in another globe-spanning thriller that this time involves art thefts. Several of them.  Carter Grove, former White House chief of staff, has one the greatest collections of stolen art in the world. He's now the head of Black Rhino and its mercenary army.  Want to take over a country?  Grove is the man to see.  He's also the man O'Hare and Fox have to steal from, and he's an implacable enemy.  Can O'Hare and Fox survive?  Sure, but how they do it and what happens afterward is where all the fun is.  

Well, not all the fun.  Even the character names are fun.  Fox prefers to use the names of TV characters for his many aliases, but you might see some others you recognize if you watch for them.

If the long, gloomy winter has you down, read The Chase.  It's all sunshine, and it'll chase those winter blues away.

25 Noir Films That Will Stand the Test of Time

25 Noir Films That Will Stand the Test of Time: A List by "Noirchaelogist" Eddie Muller

Song of the Day

The Patriot Game - YouTube:

I Miss the Old Days

The death of the high school dance 

Today's Vintage Ad


The Closing Moment of Every Best Picture Winner

The Closing Moment of Every Best Picture Winner 

New Poem at the 5-2

The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly: Seamus Scanlon: Seamus Scanlon THE NEW IRELAND

PaperBack



Len Zinberg, What D'Ya Know for Sure?, Avon, 1955

How to Not Write Your Novel.

How to Not Write Your Novel.

I Miss the Old Days

A Collection Of Men's Hairstyles From The 1970s

25 Lovely Photographs Of Ireland To Celebrate The Feast Of Saint Patrick

25 Lovely Photographs Of Ireland To Celebrate The Feast Of Saint Patrick

In Case You Were Wondering

Mystery of Blarney Stone's heritage finally solved 

15 Delightful Facts About Saint Patrick’s Day

15 Delightful Facts About Saint Patrick’s Day 

Scott Asheton, R. I. P.

theguardian.com: Scott Asheton, founding member and drummer for proto-punk band Iggy and the Stooges, has died aged 64.

Bob Thomas, R. I. P.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Bob Thomas, the longtime Associated Press writer and dean of Hollywood reporters who covered a record 66 Oscar ceremonies, reported on the biggest stars, from Clark Gable to Tom Cruise, and filed AP's bulletin that Robert F. Kennedy had been shot, died Friday. He was 92.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Who is St. Patrick? 

The Quiet Man

The Quiet Man - Trailer - YouTube:

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Mitch Leigh, R. I. P.

MAN OF LA MANCHA Composer, Mitch Leigh, Dies at 86: The New York Times reports that Mitch Leigh passed away today at age 86. Leigh was born in 1928 in Brooklyn, NY. He came from a humble background with little theatre experience. However, while in his early 30s, Leigh received his big break when he was asked to compose the score for Man of La Mancha.  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Genghis Khan Update

How Rain Helped the Mongols Conquer Asia

First It Was the Thin Mints Melee

Gunman dressed like 'Rambo' tackled by restaurant patrons 

Seepy Benton Knows All This Already

Everything You Want To Know About Lucid Dreaming

New Story at Beat to a Pulp

You should read this introduction first.

AProfessionalJob: A PROFESSIONAL JOB Walter Tyrer

Song of the Day

The Golden Gate Quartet - Shadrack (VintageMusic.es) - YouTube:

"Not Knowing Any Better" Inexplicably Not Included

4 Good Reasons Why People Say “I Could Care Less”

Today's Vintage Ad


Peter Callander, R. I. P.

NYTimes.com: Peter Callander, a British songwriter who provided lyrics for hits of the 1960s and ’70s like “The Night Chicago Died” and “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero,” died on Feb. 25 in Haresfield, Middlesex, England. He was 74.

I Miss the Old Days

22 Photos That Prove The Oscars Were Ridiculously Fun In The '70s

Some Forgotten TV

Thrilling Days of Yesteryear: Sleuthathon: Johnny Staccato

PaperBack



Kyle Crichton, The Marx Brothers, Popular Library, 1952

Top 10 Romantic Love Poems

Top 10 Romantic Love Poems

Archaeology Update

Archaeologists find 3,000-year-old graves in Cusco, Peru: Excavators working in the city of Cusco have discovered a burial site containing five individuals from the Marcavalle culture, a pre-Inca society.

10 Puzzling Biblical Mysteries We'll Never Solve

10 Puzzling Biblical Mysteries We'll Never Solve

10 Unusual Crime Fighters

10 Unusual Crime Fighters 

Paging Marîd Audran

The Future of Brain Implants 

Sons of the Pioneers

▶ 1942 SONS OF THE PIONEERS TRAILER ROY ROGERS - YouTube: