Archive for August, 2009
In this week’s mail, the first message was found not in an envelope or in a package, but neatly typed on the back of an old Playbill cover from an early performance of Nosferatu. It’s a shame really, because without the letter on the back, the cover itself might have been worth something.
Dear Mr. Bon Nuit,
We, your biggest fans, have this to say:
Your portrayal of Falstaff in President Kennedy Goes To College was masterful.
Your rendition of President Kennedy in One Returned was beyond compare.
As John the Baptist in Krishna Saves the World (Again) you sincerely wowwed us.
In Shakespeare in Teheran you impressed us as Bloody Jim the Flower Vendor.
No one has ever brought the stage such honor as your Po in Henry IX Part 3.
Your King Bill in Driving Miss Daisy was an utter delight.
And truly, your version of the great F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Walking Entrails was nothing short of thrilling.
But…
We, your biggest fans, are disturbed by the recent portrayal of Ragdnovich in Poor Little Pope. Ragdnovich was notoriously right-handed, but your left-handed version suggests a subtext that could get a person hanged in some countries. Fun is fun, and all that–but really… why take such risks?
We remain your servants,
The United Fans of Bon Nuit, Actor Extraordinaire
Along with this came the always-familiar rag paper missive written in crimson ink. It’s not often I find a connection between my mysterious, but vigilant friends and my other mail, but… well, as you’ll see:
To Whom It May Concern,
We might have missed your signal. For this we apologize. Normally we are quite vigilant, but we all wanted to catch the recent performance of Poor Little Pope at the Good Night Theater and the debate that followed after was a little intense.
If you have sent the signal, please do so again. We await, breathlessly.
signed
(unsigned)
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Today’s link goes to an old favorite: Classic Johnny Quest - the webpage. Why? Because even in my 40s I’m still a fan of the old Johnny Quest series. If there’s a better animated adventure series, I don’t want to know about it.
Cheers!
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It’s been a while since I’ve done one of the Facebook memes (is that even the correct term for these?) in a while. I got tagged recently on one featuring love music acts one has seen. Here are the rules:
Ok, here are the rules. Test your memory and your love of live music by listing 50 artists or bands (or as many as you can remember) you’ve seen in concert. List the first 50 bands that come into your head.
Copy these instructions: Click on “notes” under tabs on your profile page. Select “write a new note” in the top corner. Paste the copy in the body of the note. Make your list. Change the number at the top, and add our title. Once you’ve saved, don’t forget to tag friends (including me) on the right
My list didn’t make 50, which surprised me as I used to go to a lot of live shows back in the 80s and 90s–mostly punk, folk, and R&B acts. I’m probably forgetting a couple of notable shows, but I’m more likely not remembering a lot of minor acts at small venues. Ah well. I’ve added a few notes.
- Gaelic Storm (1)
- Todd Rundgren
- Lou Reed
- Meatloaf
- Spinal Tap (2)
- The Smithereens
- Fear (3)
- Ed’s Redeeming Qualities
- Roomful of Blues (4)
- The Fabulous Thunderbirds (5)
- NRBQ
- Velvet Crush
- The Grateful Dead (6)
- John Hiatt
- Cherish the Ladies
- The Neo-90s Dance Band
- Pendragon
- The Mighty Mighty Boss-tones
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Big Joe Turner
- Toots and the Maytals
- The Young Adults
- Coat of Arms
- Minor Threat
- Duke Robillard
- Bonnie Raitt
- Judy Collins
- Arlo Guthrie (7)
- Leon Redbone
- Evan John and the H-Bombs
- The Band
- Paul Geremia
- Greg Brown
- X
- Jimmy Foetus (8)
- Jewel (9)
- The Skimatics
- Leo Kottke
- Janis Ian
- Billy Bragg
- Neon Valley BoysAnd a host of spark-in-the-night bands at dozens of small punk and folk venues.
(1) Pretty Maggie and I always see these guys when they’re in town and we always manage to get pretty damn close to the stage. A great band to see and one of the few live acts that are as good as they are on CD.
(2) Their opening act was a puppet show (The Big Nazo Band)
(3) Probably the best punk show I’d been to–also, I think, the last time I went into the thrash pit.
(4) I used to roadie for these guys. Good times.
(5) Met Steve Ray Vaughn backstage at this show.
(6) Barely remember the music. I went for the (ahem) cultural experience. Twice. Found it culturally bereft. There was no third experience.
(7) Actual quote heard in the audience: “I’ll catch up with you guys later. I’m listening to Bob Dylan!” (Bob Dylan was not there.)
(8) Also known as JG Thirwell - currently does the score for The Venture Bros.
(9) She played at a small club in Providence maybe a year before she got big enough to play stadiums.
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Today’s link goes to Mad Peck Studios–home of the Providence poster, classic concert posters–and my personal favorite: the musical commentaries and mixed-tape goodness of the Masked Marvel, IC Lotz, and Dr. Oldie.
Good stuff!
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In honor of the newest addition to the Teehan family, today’s Rumors edition features claims about dogs that you probably hadn’t heard before.
Dog drool was used by ancient Sumerians as an ingredient to beer, as a stomach medicine, and as a glue.
Supposedly, one version of Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” shows a dog sleeping at the feet of Judas. The phrase “Let sleeping dogs lie” originates with this legend and suggests that Judas was innocent or that, at the very least, there is more to the story than the current version of the Bible states.
Dog hair burns at a higher temperature than any other mammal hair which is why it was often used as insulation in the 18th century.
The smartest dog in history was Palimor, a six year-old boxer-mix, who received a BA from USC, and an MBA from Harvard Business. He sat on the board of directors for Mobil for three months before an untimely end involving a bar of chocolate.
The largest dog to have ever roamed the Earth is the extinct Irish Rover which, according to remains discovered in peat bogs, was as tall as a horse, but with the relative leanness of a greyhound. Scientists estimate it could have had a running speed of over 70 miles per hour.
It’s not that dogs know how to swim as it is they don’t know how to drown.
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I’ve recently heard that author Lois McMaster Bujold has turned in the next Miles Vorkosigan book to Baen and that it is scheduled to come out in late 2010. I’m a huge fan of these books and am very excited at this news. Today’s link goes to her official homepage: The Bujold Nexus. If you’ve not read any of her work, you can get an excellent preview at the Baen Free Library.
Cheers!
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And here we are with this Friday’s mailbag. Item number one comes in a manilla envelope. The return address is nothing but a rusty-brown smear and the letter inside smells of spices I cannot name and of scents I cannot remember.
The letter itself reads:
Greetings New Member!
We welcome you as our organization’s newest member. In a separate nailing [sic], you will receive the following:
- laminated ID badge with photo
- bell
- book
- candle
- ceremonial needle
- ceremonial dagger
- a human heart
- a salamander’s tail
- a salamander’s tale
- 12 virgin sheets of Egyptian papyrus
- detailed instructions
Make sure to also return the confirmation postcard included with your welcome package, and we look forward to seeing you at the next gathering atop the hill, within the circle, under the elm, on the 2nd full moon of the month.
Oh, and best of luck. You’ll likely need it.
(signed)
The Cabal
Okay. I’ll keep my eye open for that “separate nailing” but I doubt I’ll actually open the box. (If indeed it does arrive in a box.)
Also in today’s mail was the familiar-looking rag paper note with crimson ink. This week’s message reads thusly:
To Whom It May Concern:
It’s not as if we’ve been following you, but we do note with some concern your lack of signal and the frequency with which you fraternize with the Enemy. We understand the purposes of reconnaisance. And we understand you may be studying their weaknesses.
But we remain concerned nonetheless. We expect to see your signal soon.
Quite soon.
(signed)
Unsigned
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Today’s link takes you to a page at the BBC with a short history and summary of the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby road movies (The Road To Singapore, The Road to Zanzibar, The Road to Bali, and so on). I need to see if there’s a book on this topic. Anyway, check out the short summaries and then go look for the movies themselves.
Cheers!
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The Teehans now have a dog!
Yep. Meet Daisy, a 7 year old Irish Setter courtesy of the fine folks at the Friends of Attleboro Animal Shelter in Attleboro, MA. We really got lucky, in my opinion. She’s not a barker. Very calm, in good health, and likes other animals. The previous owners took decent care of her and she handles a leash well once she gets used to you, can sit and lay down on command. Knows her name. Is very friendly. This kind of dog can be a rare find at animal shelters, but we got a tip last Sunday or her existence and went to go see her through the cage (it wasn’t an adoption day). Yesterday we were there half an hour before adoption hours started to stake our claim and meet the dog. I don’t think there was any question on anyone’s part how the day was going to end.
A long application and hefty money order later, we were taking her through the pet store trying to figure out what the hell to do next. Wow! Pet stores are expensive. Sure, we’ve had cats for years, but the level of cost for dog stuff is like tripled or more! We’ll manage, but the sticker shock–yeesh!
Oh, and the drool. She’s a messy drinker and a bit of a drooler–as my mousepad can attest to.
So we’re in for some fun.
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And in keeping with today’s theme of dogs, today’s link goes to a 2000 article regarding the dog star, Sirius, and the cultural contamination issue among the Dogon people of Mali in West Africa. It’s an interesting piece (an issue I first read about in Carl Sagan’s Broca’s Brain) and links will lead you to talks of the star itself, contellations, and a vast host of other astronomical info–provided by your friends at the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
Cheers!
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Rumor has it… electric fans rotate clockwise in the Northern hemisphere, and counter-clockwise in the Southern hemisphere. This is due to the coriolis effect.
Rumor has it… an early version of the Jimmy Buffet song “Cheeseburger In Paradise” included a stanza celebrating corn relish. Jimmy Buffet is allergic to corn relish, but he thought it would be amusingly ironic. Then he discovered that it was a childhood bully, not him, who was allergic and he had the stanza removed.
Rumor has it… the Marvel superhero Iron Man was originally conceived as being a female-shaped robot with the brain of Tony Stark implanted within it. Gender confusion was going to be a running theme with the character. The concept was dropped when the Marvel editorial board sobered up.
Rumor has it… bubble wrap uses air recycled from old soda cans and air conditioners.
Rumor has it… the surface of Mars not only has natural features which, from certain angles, resemble a humanoid face, but also a three-toed foot, a seven-fingered hand, and a three-cheeked posterior.
Rumor has it… the monster beneath your bed eats people who recklessly split infinitives.
Would I lie?
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Today’s link goes to a blog entry from comic book writer Steve Ahlquist and a project he and Chris Reilly worked on called Girl World which they are considering returning to work on. Included is a link to some of the early artwork and 20 pages of penciled art. A fun little thing to check out. If you’re a comic book artist or similar type of cartoonist/illustrator–give it a look-see.
Cheers!
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Welcome back to Monday–post-hiatus.
Time well spent, by the way. I got a decent amount of work done over this past week–and looking forward to getting more done. But it was nice to get some projects off the table–even if they’ve just gone out for proof. The Sondra Lee autobiography went off to the printer. Dracula’s Daughter (edited by Phil Riley) is off to the printer. The Dead End Kids/Bowery Boys book is off to the author for proof, as is still the Janet Gaynor/Charles Farrell book. Also out now is the second proof of The Musical Comedy Films of Grigorii Aleksandrov: Laughing Matters by Rimgaila Salys for Intellect Books. Nearly ready for the press–just awaiting one page of data–is the August-September issue of the SFWA Bulletin.
This week I’ll be focusing on some the next proof of the medical journal, some book covers, the movie book, a Hollywood gossip book, and a collection of letters by Louise Brooks.
All good stuff.
But that’s not to say it was all work and no play this past week. Friday we went to the Washington County Fair–something we try to do every year. Usually we only go for a few hours–plenty of time to check out the animals, various vendors, food, music, midway, and 4-H exhibits. This year we stayed closer to ten hours as we were joined by a bunch of friends–most of whom had never been to the fair before.Much fun was had and I’ve taken up the Teehan tradition (started by my father) of finishing off a Fair visit with a heaping bowl of strawberry shortcake. I didn’t see the Irish salt potatoes this year. Just means I’m going to have to make them myself, I guess.
And last night I played out again at Ward’s Pub. A fun night for tunes and friends. I’ve been trying to mix up my style of play a little bit–experimenting with dotted notes and trying to get some more “swing” into my rhythm. One thing I noticed as I was playing last night that as I found myself thinking about how I was going to play a certain set of notes later in the tune–I’d lose my place where I was currently (in the tune). Fortunately I recover quickly, but it’s not often I’m so conscious of a process like that.
And we’ve been dog hunting. No, you don’t get more explanation than that other than… “Tom Cruise’s performance during the closing credits of Tropic Thunder is an amazing piece of work. I’m just saying.”
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Today’s link goes to 2009 Hugo award winner for Best Fanzine: Electric Velocipede. (Actually, I’m not sure how this qualifies as a fanzine–as it seems more like a semi-prozine. I’m sure the topic has already been debated hotly and I’m coming into the discussion very late in the game… but life is a banquet and I’m sometimes still down by the appetizers.) Anyway, check out the free fiction you see here, and if you like–consider subscribing.
Cheers!
Filed under: Blogosphere, Book layouts, Fanzines, Layouts, Magazine layouts, Music, Publishing, Writing | |No Comments
As much as I hate changing my schedule–especially when it’s cutting out a daily writing exercise (of sorts). But seeings how I am behind on a couple of projects, I’ve decided this week requires another brief hiatus. I’ll be back for Friday’s mailbag (to make up for the absnece of last Friday’s mailbag).
Anyway, thanks for your patience, and let me send out a quick congratulations to all the Hugo winners and nominees. Wish I could have been there.
Cheers!
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We’re settling in nicely. It’s been about a month now since we’ve officially taken up residence and while we’re not really living out of boxes anymore, and haven’t for a while, there is still a lot left to unpack–mostly books, DVDs, and clothes. Having a washer/dryer set right in the house is a life-changing experience. No more hauling stuff down to the neighborhood laundromat. I’ve set up some shelves, but I need to set up a lot more, both upstairs in the living area, and down in my basement office. But all in all, I can get used to this living like civilized people thing.
I can cook several parts to a meal all at once without fear of blowing any circuits. Hell, I can run the breadmaker, dishwasher, washer, dryer, and coffeemaker all at once, and still run two computers in the basement and a TV and air conditioner. I’m tempted to really see how much abuse the electrical system can take before I trip something. I have a set list of chores I do each day that don’t take up too much time, but go a long way in keeping the place looking nicer than any other place I’ve ever lived. I think part of the difference is me working from home now. Before, I’d get home, Pretty Maggie would get home… and neither one of us would want to do any chores. We were pooped enough. I didn’t mind doing the cooking because I usually got home first and I like to cook–but who wants to clean?
Well it’s all different now. I can integrate keeping the house clean in the midst of my workday, and because it takes less time to prepare dinner I have an easier time keeping on top of the cleanup. This really is nice.
Of course we’re going broke–the various expenses one accrues while moving in to a new home have been crippling, but once I get some payment in for some of the bigger typesetting gigs, and Obama’s first-time home buyer tax credit comes in–we’ll have our buffer back and feel a lot more secure.
But every fairy tale needs a dragon and mine is going to be the friggin’ lawn.
(Don’t be fooled by the pic… it’s an older one. Maybe I’ll chronicle the battles with the lawn, but for now… let’s assume I’m winning (but I’m not)).
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I recently watched Word Wars on Netflix–a documentary on tournament Scrabble players. Hence today’s link which takes you to the official Scrabble website. Here you’ll find history, faqs, tips and tricks, and a bunch of other stuff of interest to fans of this classic word game.
When will there be a documentary about people who play Chutes & Ladders?
Cheers!
Filed under: Home ownership, Writing | |No Comments
The Ogre has too much work to do today, so we’re going to skip today’s mini-review.
Actually, because I was going to call today’s entry “The Ogre Picks His Nose,” I was just going to go with a pic of the character named Picknose from the comic book series Elfquest by Richard and Wendy Pini and call it done. Instead, I’ll take a couple of minutes to and go and recommend Elfquest to dear readers one ‘n all. Okay–I can recommend the original series which started in 1978. I can’t speak for any of the sequels or spin-offs. I’ve looked at them, but was never drawn to them like I was with the original series. Good story, incredible artwork. All in all, an imaginative romp that’s been copied by others. If you can, try to find the four Starblaze graphic novel editions from 1981. They’re a little rare now, but the quality of the colors and overall condition if my copies (and I’m hard on books) are still great after 25 years.
Instead, let’s just call this a mini-mini review and keep it our little secret.
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There’s some great art to be seen at Ben Samuel’s Classic Golden Age Comic Book Cover Gallery. There are some fun images here. Check out the three galleries: Super-Hero and War Comics, Good Girl and Romance Comics, and Crime and Horror Comics. A lot of this stuff is prior to the CCA ratings.
Cheers!
Filed under: Comics, Ogre's Pick, Reviews, Writing | |No Comments
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