Write Your Own Words #1Today’s post might seem silly — a whole lot of words about a word, and who gives a dang about a word? … [read more]

Leftovers & links & reviews without spoilers
♦ The Intruder (1962) is an open scab on the old American South. Ten black students are integrating an otherwise all-white high school, and the town’s good white folks don’t like it but they’ve mostly accepted it, until a reverse-rabblerouser tries to spark violence.  … [read more]

The Amusement Park is a lost-but-now-found early film by George Romero, best known for Night of the Living Dead and its zombified sequels. I’m a moderate fan of Romero, and The Amusement Park sounded interesting, but the only legal place to watch it is Shudder, a streaming channel that specializes in horror movies. … [read more]

Leftovers & links
You know what I love about writing? Not much. I kinda hate writing. I put it off like a chore, because I’d rather watch old movies, read zines, pet the cat, clip my toenails — hell, I’d rather take out the trash than write. … [read more]

Kirstin isn’t here, Slim is in the kitchen, and Harvey says, “Coffee, chief?” while I settle in at the counter.
“Orange juice,” I explain.
He walks to the mini-fridge, takes out the jug of OJ, and pours. … [read more]

Leftovers & links & reviews without spoilers  ♦  Taking yet another online customer-satisfaction survey, I quickly answered their questions, and then they surprised me with a free-form question at the end: “Is there anything else you want us to know?”Since … [read more]

Originally published on Reddit, a year ago today.

It’s the Fourth of July, America’s Independence Day. In my town, the
fireworks have been cancelled due to coronavirus and crowds, but I’m fine with
that. … [read more]

Leftovers & links & reviews without spoilers

♦ Jeff Koyen, long ago the creator of Crank, is briefly mentioned in this morning’s Pathetic Life entry from 1994, so I googled him and sent this email:

Holy crap, I’m impressed by you.In … [read more]

Leftovers & links & reviews without spoilers

♦  I peeked ahead and discovered that I’m missing most of Pathetic Life #7, the December 1994 issue. If anyone reading this has a copy, I would happily pay the cover price for a copy of your copy. … [read more]

Maurice says “Hello,” Phil looks at me and smirks, and Kirstin says, “Good morning, sweetie.”
“Howdy, howdy, and howdy,” I say, gregariously but a little annoyed about it. … [read more]