LAFFING SAL (#fridayflash)

Please click play for some mood music To this day, I hate boardwalks.It was Halloween weekend and the last place I wanted to be was at the shore. It was the year my folks took their sweet time closing up the beach house. Instead of hanging out with friends embarking on more tricks than treat, I was stuck wandering the cold and damp planks of a boardwalk that's seen better days.And man, nothing creepier than a boardwalk off season. The first thing...

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MAD MEN MOMENTS...

Nothing like a giddy gal announcing that she's on the make... Any takers?Tw...

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I WANT A NEW WRITER NAME ...

... Or at least one as cool-sounding as "Spike Morelli."How cool, right?But who in the eff was Spike Morelli? Good luck finding that one out. Little is known about the guy. Was he American? British?The post-war books are said to be British. The titles are pure pulp with names like "Death for a Doll," "Coffin for a Cutie," "This Way for Hell," "More Than Kisses, Baby," "Deal me Out" and "Take It and Like It."Fantastic Fiction says Morelli was a pen...

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'SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE': WHAT HAPPENED TO SUPES?

Man, they gotta mess with everything...Most of the buzz on Superman these days is the recently announced Christopher Nolan-produced David Goyer-written, Zack Snyder-directed tentpole flick, set during Big Blue's "early days" where young reporter Clark Kent walks the Earth to see where he fits in.This week, though, DC Comics will release "Superman: Earth One," a new graphic novel not related to the upcoming film. That said, it will give new insight...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP: CAPONE AND JIMMY GET CHICAGO-STYLE REVENGE

Another week of excitement from "Boardwalk Empire." Some key events:• After the brazen robbery of one of his Ward Bosses, Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) turns up the heat on Lucky Luciano.• An emboldened Margaret Schroeder (Kelly Macdonald) stands up to Lucy at the dress shop, and then accepts an offer from Nucky to change her circumstances.• In Chicago, Al Capone's (Stephen Graham) frustration over family issues spills over into his relationship...

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THE SAD BRIDE (#fridayflash)

Please press play for some mood music As I vacuumed the hallway at The Hotel Traymore, a gorgeous woman in a wedding dress ascended the stairs to the landing where I was. She was breathtaking but at the same time seemed so sad. I asked her if she was okay.She sniffed back a few tears. "I'll be fine," she muttered. "I just need to find Franklin. Have you seen him?"I shook my head. "No one but you...""Oh dear, we're set to start soon," she said. She...

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LET'S WISH DIZZY GILLESPIE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY...

... Enjoy his tune "Groovy Man" circa 1947.Tw...

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WHAT A PIC... CATHY O' DONNELL...

So much to love about this picture of actress Cathy O'Donnell... What a beauty.In 1945, while under contract with Samuel Goldwyn, she made her debut in an uncredited role as a nightclub extra in "Wonder Man." The next year she had her first major role in "The Best Years of Our Lives," playing Wilma Cameron, the high-school sweetheart of double amputee Homer Parrish, played by real-life World War II veteran/amputee Harold Russell.She was loaned out...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP: MARGARET GETS NUCKY'S ATTENTION. FINALLY

Lots going on in "Nights in Ballygran," Sunday's episode of "Boardwalk Empire." The highlights? On the day of the annual St. Patrick's Eve dinner, Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi) deals with his jealous brother Eli's oratory ambitions. Adding insult to injury, he also must deal with a group of disenchanted "Leprechauns."In New York, Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg) worries about his involvement in the fixed World Series, while in Chicago, Jimmy...

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SOMETHING BRAND NEW (#fridayflash)

Please click play for some mood music My five year-old daughter Lexi and I were making a fresh start.With her mother finally out of the picture, I wanted to make sure she had nothing but tranquility around her. We needed to get out of our urban jungle and enjoy our newfound freedom.There needed to be trees and grass. I wanted her to smell wet leaves in the fall and charred wood from cozy neighborhood hearths all winter long. I managed to find a an...

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NOMI MALONE GAVE ME AN AWARD

Here's a new one. Nomi Malone gave me an award. Who woulda even thought she was in the blogosphere? And if you just happen not to know who Nomi Malone is, check out the video below.Actually, Malone comes in the guise of blogger Micael Chadwick. While I don't know how I stumbled across his blog The Journey, all I can say is that I did. And I'm glad. Why? Because it's probably the most brutally honest blog that I read - pound for pound. He's feral,...

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LENDING MY VOICE: CAST MACABRE

Blogger and fantasy writer Barry Northern recently asked me to lend my voice to a poem at Cast Macabre, the meticulous online project and podcast he curates. And what a production it is...It's official description: "New horror audio fiction. At Cast Macabre we showcase new talent in the horror, whilst revering the classics. Look out for new works of short fiction, flash fiction, and maybe even the odd classic public domain reading. Old meets new...

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'BOARDWALK EMPIRE' RECAP: ANASTASIA

Another Sunday, another pretty damn decent episode of "Boardwalk Empire" ... perhaps the best of the season.The theme of duality or being on the run was pretty apparent in last night's episode "Anastasia." Named for the Russian princess who may or may not have been on the run (and settled anonymously in America), we see shades of her in Margaret Schroeder, perhaps wanting to adapt to a lifestyle seemingly like Nucky Thomspon's girlfriend Lucy. Then...

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WHO SHOT SAM? (#fridayflash)

Click play for some mood music Edith saw him walk in to the roadhouse. The Wurlitzer blared what Wurlitzers usually blare as she sipped her scotch and adjusted her skirt.He was alone. Then again, so was she, but this was her bar and she was out with friends so it was on the up and up. And plus, the only reason she was stag to begin with was she eighty-sixed Martin when she found out his bowling night was really a rum-and-coke night with some strumpet...

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I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

The great Jen Brubacher who blogs from the blog scribo ergo sum has tagged me with a bunch of fun questions. Check out her blog, it's a great portal of her own creative writing as well as musings on all things literary. That said, with this virtual tag, I have to answer eight questions and tag five other bloggers. So here goes: 1. If you could have any superpower, what would you have? Why?I'd would absolutely love to time travel. I'd live it up...

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BOARDWALK EMPIRE RECAP: MEET CHALKY WHITE

There's a new bootlegger in town and his name is Chalky White. Chalky is the ex-boxer who runs Atlantic City's African-American community and goes into business with Nucky Thompson... Read my scene-for-scene recap with historical footnotes and video from the show HE...

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