Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine

New Story at BEAT to a PULP

2009-11-21T11:56:00.000-06:00

BEAT to a PULP :: They Come from Above :: Cormac Brown

The Decade in 7 Minutes

2009-11-21T09:03:00.007-06:00

I Love the Smell of Old Books in the Morning

2009-11-21T08:39:00.000-06:00

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Sniff test to preserve old books: "The key to preserving the old, degrading paper of treasured, ageing books is contained in the smell of their pages, say scientists.

Researchers report in the journal Analytical Chemistry that a new 'sniff test' can measure degradation of old books and historical documents.

The test picks up and identifies the chemicals that the pages release as they degrade.

This could help libraries and museums preserve a range of precious books."

At Least He Didn't Have a Croc

2009-11-21T08:34:00.000-06:00

Customs agents foil suspected reptile smuggler at LAX | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times: "In an apparently cold-blooded attempt at smuggling, a Lomita man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport this week with more than a dozen wriggling lizards strapped to his chest.

Michael Plank, 40, was detained by U.S. Customs agents after they discovered 15 live lizards stuffed into his money belt, officials with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said Friday.

Plank was returning from Australia on Tuesday when agents found two geckos, 11 skinks and two monitor lizards in his possession."

Croc Update (Texas Leads the Way Edition)

2009-11-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

Cranky croc finds new home in Texas - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "It has taken several planes, a crane and good dose of valium, but a giant Northern Territory crocodile named Errol has made it all the way to Texas Zoo.

At 4.7 metres, 50-year-old Errol is so long that he could not fit into a crate that would meet airline requirements.

He did not take kindly to being moved out of the pen at the Darwin Crocodile Farm where he has spent the past 28 years.

But with the help of some sedatives, Errol was put in a specially built box with his tail wrapped round to make sure he fit within airline cargo limits.
[. . . .]
Dr Britton says Errol should draw lots of visitors because he will be the largest saltwater crocodile in North America."

It's Hard Inside for a Ripper

2009-11-21T07:46:00.000-06:00

Yorkshire Ripper nearly blinded after Broadmoor killer stabbed his face five times
| Mail Online: "Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe was repeatedly stabbed in the face by another killer in a frenzied attack inside Broadmoor, a court heard yesterday.

Patrick Sureda screamed 'I'll teach you, you b******, for killing all those women' before grabbing 63-year-old around the neck.

The paranoid schizophrenic repeatedly lunged at Sutcliffe's only good eye using a blunt 7-inch table knife as horrified nurses at the top security hospital tried to pull him off."

Another List I'm Not On (Which is Okay)

2009-11-21T07:30:00.000-06:00

Moviefone's UnSexiest Men Alive - Inside Movies: "Yesterday Johnny Depp was officially named People's Sexiest Man Alive 2009, which got us thinking -- who are the UNsexiest male celebs in Hollywood?

The following fellas are the least in danger of causing a female stampede -- no matter how much Axe body spray they put on."

The Ape Man

2009-11-21T07:15:00.000-06:00

Under the Dome Update

2009-11-20T14:08:00.000-06:00

Spielberg, King team on 'Dome' - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety: "It's a potent combination: Steven Stephen.

Steven Spielberg and Stephen King are joining forces to develop a limited series based on King's just-released supernatural thriller 'Under the Dome.' DreamWorks TV has optioned the book and is looking to set it up as an event series, likely for cable."

No Comment Department

2009-11-20T10:03:00.002-06:00

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

2009-11-20T09:57:00.000-06:00

Guard charged with paying ex-inmate for sex | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "A federal prison guard has been accused of paying a former inmate and resident of a halfway house $440 after two sexual trysts.

Robert Louis Zeigler, 39, is charged with improper sexual activity with a person in custody, a state jail felony that carries a maximum penalty of two years behind bars if he is convicted.

The Texas City man is accused of cultivating a relationship with an inmate while she was in custody at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Houston."

And You Should See His Lawnmower

2009-11-20T09:18:00.000-06:00

101-Year-Old Man Buys a 426-Horsepower Camaro - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com: "Eight months older than General Motors, Virgil Coffman clearly is not whom Chevrolet had in mind when it decided to bring back the Camaro.

But a bright yellow, 426-horsepower Camaro SS is exactly what Mr. Coffman, who turns 102 in January, wanted when he went to a Chevy dealership near his home in Decatur, Ill., in September. He ordered a “Transformers” special edition model, which is adorned with black stripes to resemble the character Bumblebee from the blockbuster movie."

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.

Bad Sex Award Shortlist

2009-11-20T07:45:00.000-06:00

Bad sex award shortlist pits Philip Roth against stiff competition | Books | guardian.co.uk

And Keep Off His Lawn!

2009-11-20T07:35:00.000-06:00

Naked Florida Homeowner, 91, Holds Intruder at Gunpoint - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com: "Justice may be blind, but it also might be missing a pair of pants. According to the Associated Press, World War II Veteran Robert E. Thompson held a drunken intruder at gunpoint outside his house in Lake Worth, Florida early on September 19. Alerted by his dog, Thompson retrieved his gun, but he neglected to slip on a pair of trousers. When police arrived, they found the naked homeowner holding the 26-year-old burglar at bay."

Forgotten Books: THE GIRL ON THE BEST SELLER LIST -- Vin Packer

2009-11-20T07:30:00.004-06:00

I've made no secret of my fondness for Grace Metalious's Peyton Place, and I've also mentioned Vin Packer's The Girl on the Best Seller List. Packer might be best-known for her lesbian-themed fiction for Gold Medal, but she wrote a number of quality crime novels for the line. Sometimes the novels might be based on actual cases (The Evil Friendship). In this case, it's the author imagining what might happen if someone in a small town wrote a sexy fictionalized tell-all account of life there.

There's a lot to like about The Girl on the Best Seller List, starting with the cover. I've put the back cover with the famous photo of Grace Metalious so you can make the comparison. Jeans? Check. Shirt with big squares? Check. Typewriter? Sure. Overflowing ashtray? Check. And look at the shoes. Now admittedly the woman on the cover of Packer's book is a bit more glamorous, but, hey, it's a paperback original.

People whose secrets were exposed in a best-selling book might not be too happy with the whole thing, right? Why, some of them might even want to kill the author. Everybody has a motive.

Packer was an expert at multiple POV, and she shows it here. Lots of characters, all individualized and distinct, and each chapter begins with an excerpt from Population 12,360 (the best seller) that gives you further insight into the characters. I've read a number of Vin Packer's books, and this one remains a favorite. If you can't find it, try another.

As an aside, Packer is also the author of The Damnation of Adam Blessing, which you might not think would be a good name for a rock band, but it was. I may be one of the few who remember that.

And as another aside, Kurt Vonnegut has a story (not a very good one) based on the same sort of idea in his new collection, Look at the Birdie.

Here's the Plot for Your Next Noir/Horror Mash-Up

2009-11-20T07:17:00.000-06:00

BBC News - 'Fat for cosmetics' murder suspects arrested in Peru: "Four people have been arrested in Peru on suspicion of killing dozens of people in order to sell their fat and tissue for cosmetic uses in Europe.

The gang allegedly targeted people on remote roads, luring them with fake job offers before killing them and extracting their fat."

Hat tip to Fred Zackel.

The Voodoo Man

2009-11-20T07:15:00.000-06:00

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

2009-11-19T14:43:00.000-06:00

Texas' gay marriage ban may have banned all marriages - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com: "Texans: Are you really married?

Maybe not.

Barbara Ann Radnofsky, a Houston lawyer and Democratic candidate for attorney general, says that a 22-word clause in a 2005 constitutional amendment designed to ban gay marriages erroneously endangers the legal status of all marriages in the state."

Hat tips to Nancy Golladay and Seepy Benton.

So Long, Mystery News

2009-11-19T14:01:00.002-06:00

Mystery News, the most complete, up-to-date, and entertaining guide to the latest mystery books, writers, and events: "Welcome to the web site for Mystery News, the most complete, up-to-date, and entertaining guide to the latest mystery books, writers, and events. Mystery News was published bimonthly by Black Raven Press, a partnership of Lynn Kaczmarek & Chris Aldrich - until November 2009, when we ceased publication. We'll keep this web site up at least until the end of 2009 - check back later to see what we are up to!"

Today's mail brought me the final issue of Mystery News. I've enjoyed this publication, its reviews, columns, and commentaries, almost from its inception. Once, long years ago, I was even the cover boy. It's hard to believe that I won't be seeing it anymore. Thanks to all who have been involved over the years. You've steered me to many good books I'd have missed otherwise and showcased writers I might not have considered reading until I saw their interviews. It's been a great run, and I'm sorry it's come to an end.

Croc/Archaeology Update

2009-11-19T13:57:00.000-06:00

The Associated Press: 3 new ancient crocodile species fossils found: "A 20-foot-long crocodile with three sets of fangs — like wild boar tusks — roamed parts of northern Africa millions of years ago, researchers reported Thursday.

While this fearsome creature hunted meat, not far away another newly found type of croc with a wide, flat snout like a pancake was fishing for food.

And a smaller, 3-foot-long relative with buckteeth was chomping plants and grubs in the same region.

The three new species, along with new examples of two previously known ancient crocodiles, were detailed Thursday by researchers Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago and Hans Larsson of McGill University in Montreal. They spoke at a news conference organized by the National Geographic Society, which sponsored the research."

Gator of the Day

2009-11-19T12:32:00.000-06:00

What Is It? Game 116 – Neatorama: "Today’s collaboration with the What is it? Blog brings us this …. alligator?! Actually, this object has a specific function. Do you know what it is?"

Check out this Blog Post

2009-11-19T11:49:00.000-06:00

POE'S DEADLY DAUGHTERS: The Gift of Murder Makes A Great Present: "The Gift of Murder is a book, and not just any book. It’s this year’s holiday crime anthology from Tony Burton of Wolfmont Press, all profits to benefit a worthy charity, Toys for Tots. This is the fourth annual such anthology, and it’s proven popular with both mystery writers hungry for good markets for their stories and readers happy to plunk down $15 for the combination of a good cause and a satisfying read."

Yikes!

2009-11-19T11:41:00.000-06:00

Navy finds lax behavior aboard sub in collision - USATODAY.com: "The crew aboard a U.S. submarine made dozens of errors before the vessel collided with an American warship in the Persian Gulf, an accident that exposed lax leaders who tolerated sleeping, slouching and a radio room rigged with music speakers, a Navy review found.
[. . . .]
The submarine had five known "sleepers," or sailors who would routinely nod off on watch, but no disciplinary action was taken, the report states. Two of the five sailors were working during the collision, but investigators found no evidence they were asleep.

During the hour before the collision, investigators say, sonar operators in charge of monitoring nearby ships were chatting informally; the supervisor left his station; the navigator was taking an exam while listening to his iPod; and the officer in command did not check the periscope."

The Story With No Name Continues

2009-11-19T11:37:00.000-06:00

Broken Trails: WILD BUNCH WEDNESDAY - Story With No Name

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

2009-11-19T09:08:00.000-06:00

Civil War cannon pulled from Texas City Ship Channel - 11/18/09 - Houston News - abc13.com: "It hasn't seen the light of day in nearly 150 years -- a Civil War cannon, lying deep in the waters of the Texas City channel.
[. . . .]
The artifacts were first discovered back in 2005 and have to be removed as part of the effort to deepen the Texas City Channel. The Army Corps of Engineers has commercial divers in the water to remove a sunken Civil War ship, the USS Westfield, and its contents, including a cannon."