Saturday, April 18, 2015

Outrage at Blanco is Currently a Bestseller!

Outrage at Blanco: An Ellie Taine Thriller - Kindle edition by Bill Crider. Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) 
#6 in�Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Crime Fiction 
#8 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery > Women Sleuths #8 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Women Sleuths

I'm Sure You'll All Agree

The Top 30 12-String Guitar Songs of All Time

A Podcast of Interest to Geezers

Utterly Immortal Billboard Hits From 1965  

The good stuff starts around 2:50 and lasts about 12 minutes.

Song of the Day

Ray Price - Under Your Spell Again (1959) - YouTube:

Today's Vintage Ad


The Weird Week in Review

The Weird Week in Review 

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Bayard Kendrick, The Murder Who Wanted More, Dell 10-cent Book #32

20 Emojis All Texans Wish Existed

20 Emojis All Texans Wish Existed

Lynn Kostoff Interview

Short, Sharp interview: Lynn Kostoff 

Croc Update (Bubblegum Edition)

Maurizio Savini - Philadelphia Zoo: A jaw dropping 8-foot long crocodile made of chewing gum stretches the boundaries of repurposing. Chewing gum is a worldwide problem, costing businesses and taxpayers millions of dollars per year to clean up if not properly disposed. These sticky sculptures have been exhibited all over the world, including London, Edinburgh, Rome and Berlin, demonstrating a creative way to repurpose a material that cannot typically be recycled or composted.

Photo at the link.
Hat tip to Jeff Segal.

Friday, April 17, 2015

You Know You Can't Wait

Archie Comics teams up with... 'Sharknado'?

First It was the Thin Mints Melee

Southwest flier booted for jabbing snoring flier with pen

First It was the Thin Mints Melee

And now it's the Smartphone Debate!

Smartphone Debate Ends With Stabbings 

What Happened to the Venus De Milo's Arms?

What Happened to the Venus De Milo's Arms?

Song of the Day

MARK LINDSAY (Arizona). - YouTube:

Or Maybe You Did

15 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About 'Animal House' 

Today's Vintage Ad


26 People Who Failed So Hard At The English Language They Almost Won

26 People Who Failed So Hard At The English Language They Almost Won

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Geoffrey Household, Delilah of the Back Stairs, Dell 10-Cent Book #29

9 Celebrity #TBT Photos You May Have Missed This Week

9 Celebrity #TBT Photos You May Have Missed This Week

I'm Sure You'll All Agree

The 20 Best Hollywood Comedy Movies of All Time 

Uh-Oh

NBC Reorders a 10-Episode First Season of ‘Emerald City,’ a ‘Game of Thrones’-y Reimagining of Oz

FFB: Death on the Cheap: The Lost B Movies of Film Noir -- Arthur Lyons


This is a rerun from July 12, 2004.  I thought that after more than 10 years, it might be time for another look at it.

Lately I've been browsing the capsule movie summaries in Arthur Lyons' book called Death on the Cheap: The Lost B Movies of Film Noir, and I find them highly entertaining. 

But here's something that's really bothering me. It has nothing to do with the movies or the book itself. It's a sentence in the blurb from Robert Crais in the front of the book. Here it is: "Written with the sure hand of a gifted novelist, Arthur Lyons has opened an entertaining treasure chest that will have you racing to your local video rental joint." As a former English teacher, all I can say is, "Arrrgggghhhh!" And to think that Crais out-sells me about a million to one. 

Since I'm far from a film noir geek, or even a film geek of any kind, I don't have too many nits to pick with Lyons himself. However (you knew there was going to be a "however," right?) there's this on page 122 in Lyons' comment on THE MYSTERIOUS MR. VALENTINE (1946): "This film was a new kind of role for Linda Stirling, who up to this time had spend most of her time at Republic dressed in a leopard cat suit and beating up bad guys in THE TIGER WOMAN serials (sic). Tristram Coffin, in contrast, was right at home, having been a staple minor villain in many a Republic feature. In 1951, he finally got a taste of what it was to play a good guy when he starred as Commando Cody in LOST PLANET AIRMEN, Republic's feature release of its serial KING OF THE ROCKETMEN." 

As I said, I'm no expert, but this wrong on so many levels. 

As far as I know, for example, there was only one TIGER WOMAN serial (Lyons is right about the leopard costume, though. Why they didn't call her the Leopard Woman is a still-unanswered question.) She certainly hadn't spent all her time at Republic in that one serial, either. How can one forget her sparkling performance in another serial, ZORRO'S BLACK WHIP? (Alas, I'm pretty sure it wasn't Linda wielding the whip in several scenes, which sort of takes away the fun of it if you know what I mean, and I think you do.) Or THE PURPLE MONSTER STRIKES, for that matter? 

And if Tristam Coffin played Commando Cody in the feature release of KING OF THE ROCKETMEN, wouldn't he have played good-guy Cody in the serial itself? (You'd think so.) But wait. Since the title of the serial is KING OF THE ROCKETMEN, wouldn't Coffin have played a guy named "King"? (Darned right. Jeff King.) And wasn't Commando Cody in a completely different serial? (Darned right: RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON. He was played by George Wallace [not the Governor of Alabama]. And by some other guy in COMMANDO CODY: SKY MARSHAL OF THE UNIVERSE.) 

Sort of makes a fella wonder about the rest of Lyons' commentary.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Who Says TV Is Out of Ideas?

CBS Dusts Off — and Colorizes — ‘I Love Lucy’ Episodes For May Sweep Tryout 

Cartoon of the Day

Link

Archaeology Update

Egypt archaeologists find pharaoh chapel: Archaeologists excavating an ancient temple site in Cairo have discovered part of a chapel used by a pharaoh about 2,300 years ago, Egypt's antiquities ministry said on Tuesday.

Song of the Day

Baby Scratch My Back Slim Harpo - YouTube:

It's National Library Week!

How Libraries Are Transforming Into Community Anchors

Today's Vintage Ad


Yet Another List I'm Not On

TIME: The 100 Most Influential People

Yes

Are You Actually Smarter Than A 5th Grader

PaperBack



Ronald Kirkbride, The King of the Via Veneto, Pan, 1964

My Hometown Is Included

14 Texas Cities and Words Everyone Says Wrong

I Miss the Old Days

What Hamburgers and Milkshakes Cost at McDonald's in 1955

13 Bewildering Questions From The Daily Mail That Can't Be Answered

13 Bewildering Questions From The Daily Mail That Can't Be Answered

Bill Crider's Shelves

pattinase: Bill Crider's Shelves

And Keep Off Her Lawn!

Great-grandmother, 92, hits mugger with mobility scooter

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Rudy Nappi, R. I. P.

The Rap Sheet: An Artistic Star Fades Out

Uh-Oh

Matthew Vaughn in Talks to Direct 'Flash Gordon' 

I Know Writer #3

33 Writers Share The Books That Inspired Them To Write

Criminal Genius of the Day

And once again Texas leads the way: Suspected Burglar Accidentally Shoots Self with Stolen Gun in Texarkana   

Hat tip to John Duke.

STORYTELLER’S 7: RON SCHEER, A LITERARY LEGACY � Tom Rizzo

STORYTELLER’S 7: RON SCHEER, A LITERARY LEGACY 

21 Shocking Ways Life's Changed In The Last Century

21 Shocking Ways Life's Changed In The Last Century 

Song of the Day

Robert Mitchum sings The Ballad of Thunder Road - YouTube:

Forgotten Hits: April 1979

Forgotten Hits: It's Time For Another Edition Of Our New Record Research Monthly Play List Feature: This month we venture back to 1979 ... when THESE 25 songs were the most popular tunes throughout the land ...

Today's Vintage Ad


First It was the Thin Mints Melee

Man Set On Fire In Fight Over Bar Tab

The 10 Most Complained About Books in 2014

The 10 Most Complained About Books in 2014 

“Hold That Thought” (by Dandi Daley Mackall)

“Hold That Thought” (by Dandi Daley Mackall) | SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN

PaperBack



Arthur La Bern, The Big Money Box, Panther, 1963

I Found a Penny Last Week

7 Incredible Hoards Discovered in the Past 7 Years 

John D. MacDonald: "The Big Contest"

The Trap of Solid Gold: "The Big Contest"

Future Science Fiction, July 1953: A Retro-Review

Future Science Fiction, July 1953: A Retro-Review

Once Again Texas Leads the Way

First all-female quintuplets in U.S. history born in Houston  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

NOMINEES for the Fifth Annual (2015) Peacemaker Awards

Western Fictioneers: NOMINEES for the Fifth Annual (2015) Peacemaker Awards

Return to the Witch World: The Crystal Gryphon by Andre Norton

Return to the Witch World: The Crystal Gryphon by Andre Norton

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Google has patented the ability to control a robot army 

Magnolia

Judy's sense of smell was pretty much destroyed by her years of chemo,  but for some reason she could still enjoy the scent of magnolia blossoms.  There's a huge magnolia tree in the front yard (it was tiny when we moved here, a scary thought), so from the first bloom in the spring until the last one in the summer, there was usually a blossom in a vase in our living room.   When I went outside today, I saw the first new blooms on the tree, and now one of them is in the usual vase on the usual table.  There it is on the left.  I wish Judy were here to enjoy it with me, sentimental old guy that I am.

AP Was There: Original AP report of Lincoln's assassination

AP Was There: Original AP report of Lincoln's assassination

First It was the Thin Mints Melee

Woman breaks up with boyfriend by hitting him with bat  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Milton Delugg, R. I. P.

NOLA.com: Milton Delugg, an accordionist and composer who conducted the "Tonight Show" band for a year when Johnny Carson was its host, died April 6 of heart failure at his Los Angeles home, The New York Times reported. He was 96.  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

2015 Philip K. Dick Award Winners Announced

2015 Philip K. Dick Award Winners Announced

April 14, 1935

Black Sunday: The Storm That Gave Us the Dust Bowl

Percy Sledge, R. I. P.

CNN.com: (CNN)Percy Sledge, the R&B belter whose biggest hit, "When a Man Loves a Woman," became a cornerstone of soul music, died Tuesday. He was 73.  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Motivating Yourself To Write, No Matter What

Flavorwire: 20 Great Writers on Motivating Yourself To Write, No Matter What

Song of the Day

The String Alongs Wheels - YouTube:

11 Important Facts You Need To Know About The Cat Circus

11 Important Facts You Need To Know About The Cat Circus. Yes, The Cat Circus!

Today's Vintage Ad


Making Air Travel Safe -- and Fun!

TSA Screeners At DIA Manipulated System To Grope Men’s Genitals 

The world’s 10 scariest roads

For daring drivers only: The world’s 10 scariest roads

PaperBack

Ward Moore, Bring the Jubilee, NEL, 1977

How WWII Saved 'The Great Gatsby' From Obscurity

How WWII Saved 'The Great Gatsby' From Obscurity 

I Miss the Old Days

21 Super Cute Style Tips From The '40s

First It was the Thin Mints Melee

Woman glues boyfriend naked to a chair with waxing strips  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Save the Movie Palaces

Save the Movie Palaces: Why the Old-School Movie House Is Worth Fighting For

Overlooked Movies -- Cellular

A couple of weeks ago, I repeated my review of Red Eye, and frequent commenter Dan mentioned Cellular.  Since I'm seem to be on a Kim Basinger kick for these posts and since i reviewed Cellular way back in 2004, I thought I'd repeat that short review here, with a slight alteration.

Vince Keenan and I don't agree on Sky Captain, but we do on Cellular. (Vince's review is here. You may have to scroll down to find it.) Judy and I went this afternoon (that is to say back in 2004), and we both enjoyed it. I must admit that you have to be willing to say to yourself, "It's only a movie" and not ask for logic and/or common sense, but after you do that, you should have a great time. Chris Evans is appealing in the lead, Kim Basinger is, well, Kim Basinger, and William H. Macy plays the cop who's about to retire a little bit differently from everyone else who's done it before him. Jason Statham makes an effective villain. 

Cellular

Cellular trailer - YouTube:

Monday, April 13, 2015

Bill Arhos, R. I. P.

Rolling Stone: Bill Arhos, the founder of the long-running PBS performance series Austin City Limits and the inspiration behind the Texas capital's now-annual music festival, passed away April 11th at the age of 80, the Austin City Limits site reports. A longtime executive at Austin's KLRU, Arhos helped create the Austin City Limits concept in 1974. That same year, the show's debut episode, featuring a performance by Willie Nelson, aired on the public television station.

Skateboarding Taco WBAGNFARB

Skateboarding Taco Hit By Car  

Hat tip to Art Scott.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Researchers to drill below the Chicxulub crater in Mexico to find out if asteroid killed off dinosaurs

GBH -- Ted Lewis

GBH is one of those books that I'd heard about for a long time but didn't think I'd get a chance to read.  It was published in Britain in paperback and Internet prices were, to say the least, scary.  There was no U. S. edition.  Until now.  Soho Press has put out a nice hardcover, and I've finally gotten to read it.  The question is, does it live up to its reputation?  The answer: Absolutely.

It's the end of the '70s, and George Fowler is a wealthy man.  He makes and distributes porn films.  He also distributes the occasional snuff film, though he doesn't make them, which is surprising, given the kind of man he is, the kind who can (and does) torture and kill without giving it a second thought.  He's living the good life until it appears that someone in his organization is ripping him off.  Naturally he has to find out who it is.  He uses very direct methods but doesn't get anywhere.  He becomes more and more paranoid, and bad things happen.  Very bad things.  GBH stands for "grievous bodily harm," so you can't say you weren't warned.

The book is told in alternating sections, "The Sea" and "The Smoke."  The Sea sections take place in the present and are narrated by Fowler in present tense.  He's hiding out near a seaside town as a result of the bad things I mentioned and waiting for . . . something.  He drinks heavily and grows more and more paranoid.  The Smoke sections take place in the city, and Fowler narrates these in the past tense.  Did I mention that bad things happen?  These sections let you know what those things were.  This is where I warn you that this is not a book for the faint of heart.   It's also where I direct you to Otto Penzler's definition of noir fiction and films (which not everyone agrees with, although I do) because this novel is noir of the darkest hue.  There's no one in it to admire or even like, and nothing uplifting or hopeful happens in the end.  It's also a mystery novel, though not one with a lot of clues.  You might be able to guess some things, but probably not all of them.  And some mysteries are more than just the ordinary kind. 

I found GBH compulsively readable, and it's a book I'm not likely to forget for a long time.

Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 tips on how to write a good short story

Kurt Vonnegut’s 8 tips on how to write a good short story

Song of the Day

Warren Zevon - Lawyers, Guns & Money - YouTube:

Forgotten Hits: 50 Year Flashback - April 13th, 1965

Forgotten Hits: 50 Year Flashback - April 13th, 1965

Today's Vintage Ad


First It was the Thin Mints Melee

Woman slashes husband for not washing his hands after using toilet 

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Intimate Portraits of 50 Artists and Their Cats

Intimate Portraits of 50 Artists and Their Cats Compiled by Alison Nastasi   

Link via mental_floss.

PaperBack



David Balfour, The Glory Boy, Arrow, 1963

I'm Sure You'll All Agree

The best movie car chases of all time

Galveston Island Tree Sculpture Tour

Readerbuzz: Galveston Island Tree Sculpture Tour: During Hurricane Ike in 2008, lots of old trees in Galveston were inundated with salt water or were uprooted and died. Artists have taken the dead trees and carved them into fabulous art.

First It was the Thin Mints Melee

Neighbor forced man onto high-rise balcony, microwaved his wallet

New Poem at the Five-Two

The Five-Two: A.J. Huffman: MAN STALKED WOMAN HE BELIEVED WAS EX

Richard L. Bare, R. I. P.

Variety: Richard L. Bare, who wrote and directed hundreds of episodes of classic TV shows including “Green Acres” and “Twilight Zone,” died March 28 in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 101.  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Günter Grass, R. I. P.

CNN.com: (CNN)Nobel literature laureate Günter Grass, best known for his novel "The Tin Drum," has died, his publisher said Monday. He was 87.  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

What do American Pie's lyrics mean?

BBC News: When people ask Don McLean what does American Pie really mean, he likes to reply: "It means I never have to work again."

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Ron Scheer, R. I. P.

The Education of a Pulp Writer: Ron Scheer

A Monumental Day in the Fight Against Polio

Neatorama: Sixty years ago today, April 12, 1955, Dr. Thomas Francis of the University of Michigan made the announcement that a polio vaccine had been created. The nation immediately celebrated the life-changing news.

First It was the Thin Mints Melee

And keep off her lawn!

Woman, 87, arrested after allegedly biting flight attendant

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Dracula’s ‘hometown’ is hauntingly beautiful

Dracula’s ‘hometown’ is hauntingly beautiful

Song of the Day

THIS TRAIN - ROY ORBISON, JOHNNY CASH, CARL PERKINS, JERRY LEE LEWIS (FROM THE JOHNNY CASH SHOW) - YouTube:

The Golden Age: Strange Adventures a handful of stories from 1958-1963

The Golden Age: Strange Adventures a handful of stories from 1958-1963 ~ Art by Murphy Anderson, Russ Heath, Gil Kane, Carmine Infantino and Wally Wood

Today's Vintage Ad


How Many Have You Read?

100 Best Books of the Decade So Far

Link via mental_floss.

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George Harmon Coxe, Four Frightened Women, Dell, 1943

Uh-Oh

Deadline: ‘Gremlins’ Revamp Gets Scribe

Did You Matriculate at Any of These Colleges? And Is Matriculation Still Legal?

The 21 Most Beautiful College Campuses In America

50 Of The Most Beautiful Lines In "The Great Gatsby"

50 Of The Most Beautiful Lines In "The Great Gatsby"

First It was the Thin Mints Melee

Teen trashes mom's car after she takes cellphone away

Once Again Texas Leads the Way

Brinks spills cash, sending Texas drivers on wild money grab  

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

The 1000-Mile Hike That Shaped the National Park Service

The 1000-Mile Hike That Shaped the National Park Service