Category Archives: books/film

Peter Benchley's "Jaws," the Novel, as Toothsome Holiday Reading

Posted on December 23, 2010 by williamjcobb

One thing good about the holidays, and about being away from home and routine, is Weird Reading. I have a first edition hardback of Peter Benchley’s “Jaws” (1973) on my bookshelf in Colorado, and picked it up to pass the … Continue reading →

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On Chuck Closterman's Zombie Analogy and Stephen Graham Jones's "The Ones That Got Away"

Posted on December 5, 2010 by williamjcobb

It seems everyone is trying to deconstruct and decode the recent zombie craze, including Gail Collins in the NY Times, who wrote a funny piece about the zombie Congress, and this morning Chuck Closterman has a good(ish) piece in the … Continue reading →

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New Harry Potter Film Promises to Change Your Life

Posted on November 20, 2010 by williamjcobb

This week Jon (Sometimes Funny) Stewart had an amusing riff on the Palin brats in the news, dancing and otherwise, and mocked putting a gun in his mouth to end it all due to the absurdity of attention to such … Continue reading →

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"Avatar" as Metaphor for the Fantasy Craze

Posted on November 10, 2010 by williamjcobb

So a year ago it seemed every acquaintance I bumped into asked the same thing, “Have you seen Avatar yet?” With chagrin I’d admit that, no, actually I had not, any minute now though, I can’t wait. They would frown. … Continue reading →

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"127 Hours" in Theaters Now, But Not Everyone in Utah Loves Aron Ralston

Posted on November 6, 2010 by williamjcobb

Last summer I stayed a few days in Green River, Utah, at the River Terrace Inn, a cool hotel right on the river, with a pool and hut tub, plus great birding: Scott’s Orioles, Western Tanagers, and Bullock’s Orioles, all … Continue reading →

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Sneak Peak at Susan Orlean's new book

Posted on September 26, 2010 by williamjcobb

So in the shameless-namedropping category I have to dish that this last week I was in the company of Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief (1998) and many others, not to mention being a terrific writer for The New Yorker, … Continue reading →

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Rare Photos of Famous People

Posted on July 26, 2010 by williamjcobb

A friend of mine sent me this link (Thanks, Paul!), and I thought it was pretty cool, so I’m sending it along: http://www.cracktwo.com/2010/01/rare-photos-of-famous-people-125-pics.html I don’t know anything about the site, but the Dylan/Sonny & Cher pic is worth it, plus … Continue reading →

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117 Degrees in Phoenix

Posted on July 23, 2010 by williamjcobb

In the parking lot of my local supermarket, I overheard a woman talking on her cellphone, saying, “It was 117 degrees when we left Phoenix!” (It was, by the way, around 75 here in Custer County where we were, and … Continue reading →

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A New Todd Solondz film! "Life During Wartime"

Posted on July 20, 2010 by williamjcobb

To note that summertime is a wasteland of stupidfilm is an understatement, but to read in the NY Times this morning that Todd Solondz has a new film coming out, well, that puts a smile on my face. Happiness (1998) … Continue reading →

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The Influence of the Beatles on Impressionable Children

Posted on July 9, 2010 by williamjcobb

Here’s Rocky Raccoon in the wild.

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