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Monthly Archives: January 2010

NFL Conference Championships: Yea Saints!

24 Sunday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in Sports

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Jets, Saints

Congrats to both the Colts and The Saints for their wins today. It should be a good Super Bowl.

I, of course, was disappointed in the Jets losing today. They are the team I’ve pulled for the second longest time, forty-one years. The ‘Skins hold the lead at forty-five plus.

The Saints held on at the end of regulation, picking off an errant Favre pass, to send the game into overtime, then winning the toss(The Vikings called heads; seems like everybody always calls heads in these things). They drove down into field goal range, then ended it.

I will pull for them in the Super Bowl.

I’ll close with one thought:

Charles, hoist one for me tonight! Well, maybe later. You have school tomorrow I suppose.

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Breakheart Pass

24 Sunday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in movies

≈ 1 Comment

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Alistair MacLean, Charles Bronson

I’ve somehow managed to miss this 1975 western starring Charles Bronson and based on the Alistair Maclean novel(which I’ve missed as well). MacLean wrote the script for the film also. Bronson is backed by a stellar cast of actors that enhance this tale.

The film is set on a train on a mercy mission to a fort beset with an outbreak of diptheria. It’s also carrying troops to replace the ones that have died or are dying of the disease. The mission is led by Governor Fairchild(Richard Crenna). He’s escorting the fort commander’s daughter, Marica(Jill Ireland), who wants to be with her father before the death takes him.

At a stop in a small settlement, Marshall Pierce(Ben Johnson) wants aboard to pick up a captured outlaw,Levi Calhoun, in a town by the fort. Troop commander Major Claremont(Ed Lauter) won’t allow it until wanted outlaw John Deakin(Bronson) is caught cheating in a card game and arrested by Pierce. He’s wanted for murder and theft, arson(burning down a town that left seven dead), and had been a man of medicine.

The train sets off toward the fort with two officers missing, and not located, but the mercy mission can’t be delayed.

This sets off the long trek across a winter landscape and things start to happen. The doctor is found murdered. When the train stops for a load of wood for the boiler, the settlement they left can’t be reached by telegraph. The cars carrying the troops somehow come uncoupled, starting to roll backwards downhill, the brakes failing, until it jumps the tracks in a curve, killing all aboard except the major, who is in the main car with the Governor.

Who’s murdering people on the train? And why? From his actions, we quickly suspect Bronson’s character is more than just a wanted murderer. Who is he and why is he aboard the train? What is businessman O’Brien(Charles Durning) got to do with all this? A reverend soon disappears and we find out he’s not a reverend, along about the same time we learn about Bronson.

There’s also a band of Indians led by Whitehand waiting for the train at journey’s end along with outlaw Calhoun and his band. There’s a fine fight atop a box car between Bronson and boxer Archie Moore.

It makes for a tense little thriller. Directed by Tom Gries, with original music by Jerry Goldsmith, it’s worth seeing if, like me, you hadn’t previously. Turner Classic Movies ran it yesterday and I”m sure it will come again soon.

Forgotten Music: Running Jumping Standing Still – Spider John Koerner & Willie Murphy

21 Thursday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in music

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Forgotten Music, Spider John Koerner, Willie Murphy

This may not be forgotten. RUNNING JUMPING STANDING STILL was re-released in 1994 by Red House. I’m not even sure of the original release date. One source says 1967, another 1969, though the re-release is supposed to be the twenty-fifth anniversary. It’s been around a good while any any rate.

I first became aware of it reading one of Spider Robinson’s Callahan’s Bar short stories where characters sang it’s praises. I was intrigued enough to track it down. The Round House release certainly made it easy to find.

And I loved it.

In 1963, Spider John Koerner, along with Dave Ray and Tony Glover, changed folk music, bringing a blues edge to their music. Their album, Blues, Rags, and Hollers, was different, decidedly from The Kingston Trio or Peter, Paul, and Mary of the era.

RUNNING JUMPING STANDING STILL combined the musical talents of Spider John and Willie Murphy, producing an album crossing folk with that old hoedown style and John’s distinctive voice made a delectable combination with Willie Murphy’s(one of the three charter members of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame along with Bob Dylan and Prince) piano and bass set the tone for an album still remembered in certain circles.

The first clip features Spider John with Tony Glover and Dave Ray twenty years after that 1962 release, in 1982. It highlights that distinctive voice mentioned earlier.

and the second is a clip of Spider and Tony from 2007.

The final is a very short clip of Murphy & Koerner, the only thing I located with them together.

Robert B. Parker R.I.P.

19 Tuesday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in authors

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Robert B. Parker

The death of Robert Parker has been a shock to us all. I was a late comer to his work, only beginning to read him a half dozen or so years back. I’ve never even seen the Spenser: For Hire series with Robert Urich.

I’d been aware of his books for a number of years, but had never tried them. There was a time when I’d become unable to work and had applied for disability. It took me two and a half years for it to go through and no new funds were entering the household at the time. Living alone, spending what money I’d saved had to go for essentials.

Book money didn’t qualify so I started visiting the library after an absence of a number of years. Robert Parker was one I finally decided to try and being as anal as I was, I started with The Godwulf Manuscript, working my way through the Spenser series in order. Over the space of a summer, maybe into September, I went through all of them, the Jesse Stones, the Sunny Randalls, two Marlowes, Appaloosa, and several standalones. Everything available at that point.

I became a fan, following him ever since. I know he’d fallen out of favor with some, but I knew I’d get a fun book every time out. Some I liked better than others, but was never completely disappointed in any of them.

Parker came along, for me, at a tough time in my life. Reading all his books helped me get through those times. Spenser and Jesse and Sunny became like friends. I loved visiting with them every now and then.

There will only be a few more already completed. Then it will be over.

He will be missed.

A Man Called Sledge

19 Tuesday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in movies

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

James Garner, spaghetti western

James Garner stars in this 1970 spaghetti western as Luther Sledge, a notorious outlaw with a price on his head. It’s a bit off-beat from the usual likable rogue he plays so well. This one is also a bit different from your typical spaghetti oater in that it’s loaded with American actors and crew.

Dennis Weaver is his best friend. Claude Akin is a member of the gang and John Marley is the “Old Man” who drives the plot. Actor Vic Morrow is one of the writers and also directed it.

Early in the movie while Sledge is dallying upstairs with a hooker at a saloon, his partner is killed during a poker game and he defends himself, exacting revenge before leaving. He’s followed from the saloon by an old man(Marley) who entices him with a tale of gold.

He’d been a convict for years and knew of a regular gold shipment that paused at the prison overnight on each run, placing the shipment in a safe next to his cell. He’s so convincing Sledge rounds up his gang and lays out a plan to take the gold.

Dennis Weaver poses as a Marshall taking in the notorious Luther Sledge and needs a place to rest overnight. Of course it just happens to coincide with when the gold shipment comes through.

They succeed where so many before have failed, starting a prison riot to cover their own activities.

However Dennis Weaver’s character is killed in the escape and that’s when things start to go wrong. Greed splinters the group, led on one side by the old man, Luther suddenly pitted against his gang over control of the gold.

Bloody and violent, it should satisfy most fans of the genre. Going in, I wondered if I could buy James Garner and Dennis Weaver in this type of western. Not to worry. I found a quote by Brian Garfield from his book Western Films as “brainless but well acted.”

Good fun. Recommended.

NFL Playoffs: Conference Semi-Finals

17 Sunday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in Sports

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Jets, Saints

Saints-Cardinals

The opening round of the conference semi-finals yesterday didn’t go at all like I imagined. The Saints-Cardinals game I thought would be a high scoring affair after the previous weekend.

The Saints’ week off and the three game losing streak didn’t seem to bother them nearly as much as I’d feared. The Cardinals were a different matter.

They had a fine year and, after last week’s shoot-out with the Packers, I figured we would see something similar. I think I’d forgotten how good the Saint defense was and how much that might have taken out of the Cardinals. The final score was 45-14.

Everyone wonders what Kurt Warner’s plans are for the future. At thirty-eight, he still seems to be producing at a high level. But one has to stop at some time and his faith may lead him to other avenues of expression. He’s a lock for the Hall of Fame and one wishes the best for his family and him whatever their plans for the future.

Colts-Ravens

Peyton Manning showed why he might be the greatest quarterback of all time. After winning his fourth MVP(a record), he led his Colts to a 20-3 win over a game Ravens team. There was a bit of rust there. After all, it had been a month since they’d had a meaningful game with all their starters. But his will brought them through.

Now we just have this evening’s games to go.

Vikings-Cowboys

I was ambivalent about this game. As a Redskin fan for three quarters of my life, hating the cowboys was as natural as breathing. On the other hand, I no longer care anything about the Favre led Vikings after Favre’s lying, repeated retirements and comebacks until he got what he wanted: the Vikings. One could tell last year that he didn’t wanted to be with the Jets. He didn’t lay down or anything. That’s not him(I’ll give him that). But his heart wasn’t in it.

The Vikings dismissed the Cowboys rather easily. Six or so sacks of Romo. He lost a couple of fumbles and one pick while I was still watching. The final score was 34-3.

It matters not. I think the Saints will finish them next week and move on to the Super Bowl.

Jets-Chargers

When this game started, my heart said jets, but my head said Chargers.

It was a slow first half with the Chargers taking a 7-0 lead. The Jets took advantage of two picks of Philip Rivers to take a 10-7 lead early in the fourth. then near the end, Shonn Greene broke loose for a fifty-three yard TD run that gave the Jets a ten point lead.

The Chargers came right back and scored with about two and a half minutes left. Then they made a mistake in trying an onside kick that left the Jets with good field position. When they went for it on a fourth and one, the game was over. If they’d just kicked off deep and held, the Jets would have been forced to punt and gave the Chargers the ball with well over a minute left.

Final score. 17-14. Here’s the kicker. Their field goal kicker missed three times. One was negligible; a fifty-seven yard attempt at the end of the first half, but the other two were inside forty yards.

On to the conference finals.

FFB: The Fallout: A Wyatt Novel – Garry Disher

14 Thursday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in Books

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Forgotten Books, Garry Disher, Wyatt

Garry Disher’s Wyatt is to Australian readers as Richard Stark’s Parker is to American crime fans. THE FALLOUT was published in 1997, the sixth and last to date(a new one titled WYATT comes out sometime early this year).

Wyatt is that tough, unsympathetic character who works out his jobs meticulously, knows them in and out before making a move, and tries to cover all his bases going into a robbery. He’s careful who he works with and has been known, on more than on occasion, to walk away in the middle of an operation if something doesn’t seem right.

He’s a man with a reputation in both law enforcement and criminal circles. But not many know even what he looks like, no photos are known. He will carry a gun on jobs and will use it to protect himself if things go bad. But he doesn’t kill unless it’s unavoidable.

The novel takes off where the previous book, PORT VILLA BLUES, ended, Wyatt and policewoman Liz Redding on a boat with crooked cops and a fortune in stolen gems. Apparently Wyatt and Liz had established a relationship and she wanted him to give himself up, take the consequences, and serve his time.

He was having none of it though and drugged her from a hidden stash on his boat, then made a hasty retreat.

While all that is happening, Wyatt’s nephew, Raymond, who he hasn’t seen in fifteen years since his brother’s funeral, has been forging his own criminal career as The Bush Bandit, a cool criminal who hits banks with a shotgun, moving in and out swiftly, and escaping easily each time. He’d pulled half a dozen jobs.

The kid is offered two jobs by a crooked lawyer, breaking a stone cold killer from the gaol-jail-or steal a hundred million in art from a museum. He decides on both for he has a need of money.

There are several plot threads running through the novel that all neatly tie up at the end.

Wyatt and his nephew run into each other quite by accident and Wyatt has a moment of weakness. He’s a man on the run. Liz Redding is looking for him because she’s been suspended, suspected of helping him and, after all, he drugged and deserted her. The police are after him. And the brother of a partner killed on a job wants his head.

Wyatt sees him as a young man much like he was and decides to partner up on the art theft. He doesn’t know about the jail break and Raymond keeps it quiet. Steer, the man he broke out, is an old enemy of his uncle’s.

But as they get further into the job, Wyatt sees that his nephew is not what he thought. He’s much too careless, likes to keep little trophies of his jobs, and he’s a braggart. When things start to go wrong, he doesn’t seem bothered, thinks his uncle is too much of a worrywart.

Wyatt knows it will end badly. He just doesn’t know how bad.

This was the first Wyatt novel I’ve read. I have another and a third on the way. The other three are kind of pricey, But if one can find them, they are very good.

Recommended.

Time Travelers Never Die – Jack McDevitt

12 Tuesday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in Books

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Jack McDevitt, Science Fiction

I’ve only read a few of Jack McDevitt’s novels, Ancient Shores, Omega, and Polaris come to mind, before TIME TRAVELERS NEVER DIE. I much enjoyed this one and should read more of his work somewhere down the line.

The prologue opens with Dave Dryden returning from his best friend’s, Michael Shelborne’s, funeral. He’d been found dead in his bed after his house had burned down during a thunderstorm. At first thought an accident, it was determined he’d been murdered, his skull crushed and the fire a result of arson.

Dave is sitting in his living room when he hears someone walking around upstairs. Michael Shelborne comes walking down the stairs. Dave is not surprised.

Neither should we.

There begins the tale.

When Michael Shelborne’s physicist father missed their dinner date, he wasn’t alarmed at first. Then a week goes by and worry sets in. No one has seen him. Then his father’s lawyer calls and has an envelope to be given to him if his “father died or dropped out of sight.”

The envelope holds a brass key to a UPS box with a letter telling him to destroy the contents completely, disassemble them, smash them flat, burn them, weight what’s left down, and drop it into the ocean. No other explanation.

The box holds what resembles, for lack of a better description, ebook readers. No brand names. Three of them. Quite by accident, Michael figures out they are time machines, invented by his father, and remembers conversations.

Recruiting his friend, Dave Dryden, a linguist, the pair begin a hunt through time for Michael’s father. Something must have happened to him to prevent his return.

They visit Galileo, the civil rights marches of Selma, Alabama, Socrates, and the Library of Alexander looking for him. The lure of visiting famous times, places, people, becomes addictive. They record a number of Sophocles’ lost plays, anonymously sending them to a Greek expert of the period. They visit a young Michaelangelo to commission a couple of sculptures.

They meet each American President when he was a young man, they visit Tombstone and meet the Earps. Edison. The Wright Brothers. Every famous person in history that they can easily locate.

One thing they agreed on was never to visit the future, not wanting to know of their ultimate fates. Until, separately both did. Dave to get some race results to make money on betting. Michael to establish a residence in the twenty-second century. And Michael googles himself.

The paradoxes pile up. Michael knows he’s going to die in that fire. How, why, he goes there knowing the truth he doesn’t understand. But dire consequences will result in changing what has already happened. He understands that and plans to visit as much of history that he can before whatever gets him back to his home.

A wonderful tale this romp through history. All of us, I’m sure, have wanted to see these places, to be a part, somehow, of these major events. Just to witness these things, McDevitt vicariously lets us savor how it might be.

Loved this one. Recommended.

New Information On David McDaniel’s The Final Affair

11 Monday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in Books

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

This came in on my post on The Final Affair and I thought I’d move it up here. Many thanks to Alan Winsron for the heads up and the new information:

“Just ran across this. I knew David McDaniel(his real name, but he went by “Ted Johnstone” in science fiction fandom, for some reason) in the 1970s, and still remember my shock when I heard about his early death. In any case, Gavin Claypool’s Extequer Press(he was a Cal Tech grad, thus the ex-Techer), which had brought out a set of Jerry Pournelle columns, was supposed to publish_ The Final Affair _: he’d gotten as far as typesetting, producing a cover design, making T-shirts(I have one) – and, if you’re right, assigning an ISBN number. Then – as I understood it – he got a cease-and-desist letter from MGM, and while Gavin hoped to work through the issues, I never heard of the project going any further.

“It always seemed to me that McDaniel was wasting his talent for invention and storytelling on an inherently-short-lived TV spinoff, but that ended up being most of his published writing. (He did have an indifferent sf novel-“The Arsenal Out of Time”-published, but that was it as far as I know.)”

Thanks again for the information, Alan. That was more than I’d been able to find out.

2009 NFL: Wild Card Weekend

10 Sunday Jan 2010

Posted by Randy Johnson in Sports

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Jets, Saints

Well, the wild card weekend is done and what a weekend!

The Jets took down the Bengals Saturday 24-14. They had to wait for their opponent of next weekend, pending the outcome of today’s AFC contest between the Ravens and the Patriots. That one finished up with the Ravens swamping their rivals from New England 33-14.

That sends the Jets out to San Diego to play the Chargers and the Ravens to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. Should be a good pair of games.

Go Jets!

The Cowboys continued their late season surge by handing the Eagles a second thrashing in two straight games, defeating them by a score of 34-14. They go to Minnesota next week to face the Vikings and I’m not sure who to pull for. As a forty-five year ‘Skins fan, the Cowboys are just natural antagonists. I’m not very fond of the Vikings either.

The Cardinal-Packers game today was a defensive nightmare for both teams as neither could seem to stop the other offense. The two teams rolled up forty-five points each in regulation and you just knew whichever team won the coin toss was going to win.

Oops!

The Packers correctly picked tails and accepted the kick-off. On the third play, I believe, Rogers was stripped of the ball, inadvertently kicking it into the hands of a Cardinal lineman who waltzed into the end zone for the win.

After rolling up the most points in history in a playoff game, a defensive play won the day.

That sends the Cardinals into New Orleans next week to face the Saints. Expect a lot of fireworks.

Go Saints!

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