One Of My Favorite Writers...!

One of my favorite fictional characters of all time is Sherlock Holmes!

Therefore, it stands to reason that the person who created that character would become one of my favorite authors, don't you think? It takes a special mind to create the people, places, and the puzzles that mystery writers can put together! Very special!

Oct 31, 1892:

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes published

On this day, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle, is published. The book was the first collection of Holmes stories, which Conan Doyle had been publishing in magazines since 1887.

Conan Doyle was born in Scotland and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where he met Dr. Joseph Bell, a teacher with extraordinary deductive power. Bell partly inspired Doyle's character Sherlock Holmes years later.

After medical school, Conan Doyle moved to London, where his slow medical practice left him ample free time to write. His first Sherlock Holmes story, "A Study in Scarlet," was published in Beeton's Christmas Annual in 1887. Starting in 1891, a series of Holmes stories appeared in The Strand magazine, and Conan Doyle was able to give up his medical practice and devote himself to writing.

Later collections include The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1894), The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905), and The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes (1827). In 1902, Conan Doyle was knighted for his work with a field hospital in South Africa. In addition to dozens of Sherlock Holmes stories and several novels, Conan Doyle wrote history, pursued whaling, and engaged in many adventures and athletic endeavors. After his son died in World War I, Conan Doyle became a dedicated spiritualist. He died in 1930.

If nothing else, you have to admit this ol'boy was a very interesting individual! Certainly multifaceted, I would say!

Oh, and just in case you were wondering...my favorite writer of all time...BAR NONE...is Stephen King! I offer this information while reminding you that Christmas is just around the corner, and books make great gifts!

Now, my friends, I have some fresh coffee to share out on the patio. It's a little cool, but the coffee is hot!

They Call Me "Count Dracula...!"

Probably very few people are as recognizable as Bela Lugosi, the original Dracula!

When you think of what an impact this man had on the horror film genre, you would expect that he must have made a lot of money. Not true!

The fact of the matter is, he died a pauper! In fact, Frank Sinatra paid for his funeral! You can read his entire bio here!

I thought you might like to see just what kind of money he made for his films, just as a matter of history!

Salary

Glen or Glenda (1953)
$1,000 (flat rate, 1 day)

Vampire Over London (1952)
$5,000 (flat rate)

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) 
$1,500 per week with ten week guarantee

Genius at Work (1946)
$5,000

The Body Snatcher (1945)
$3,000

The Return of the Vampire (1944) 
$3,500

You'll Find Out (1940) 
$3,750

Son of Frankenstein (1939) 
$4,000

S.O.S. Coast Guard (1937) 
$1,500

Postal Inspector (1936)
$5,000 (flat rate)

The Invisible Ray (1936)
$4,000

The Raven (1935)
$5,000

Phantom Ship (1935)
$10,000

Mark of the Vampire (1935)
$3,000

Gift of Gab (1934) 
$250 (1 day)

The Black Cat (1934)
$3,000

Chandu the Magician (1932)
$2,500

White Zombie (1932) 
$800/week

Dracula (1931) 
$3,500

Not much money for such a well known icon, wouldn't you say? Certainly not by today's standards!

Just a little halloween history for you today!

Now let's have some fresh coffee on the patio, OK?

Great Vintage Halloween Cartoons...!

You all know that Halloween is just around the corner, and I thought that today would be a good time to watch some vintage cartoons.

These are old! When I say old, I mean even older than me! Actually, these are from 1933! That means both of these were from the time we all call the "good old days!"

Believe it or not, these were almost banned at the time because some of the images were considered too disturbing! Boy, how times have changed, huh?



Another from long ago!



It's nice to know that before all the craziness of modern days started, this time of the year was actually fun for many folks! Hayrides, Fall festivals, harvest dances...just good old fashion fun!

Might be nice to experience a little of that again, don't you think?

Coffee in the kitchen this morning. Almost too cool to sit on the patio, but I sure like this weather!

The Start Of A Lawless Time...!

Often the best of intentions can lead to terrible results. As the old saying goes "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions!"

I'm sure that if the folks in the government had known what the passing of prohibition was going to lead to, they would have done things differently. At least, I would certainly hope so!

Here is a little history of what turned out to be the start of the most crime-ridden times in our history!

Oct 28, 1919:

Congress enforces prohibition

Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Prohibition Amendment.

The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for national liquor abstinence. In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes," was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. In January 1919, the 18th amendment achieved the necessary two-thirds majority of state ratification, and prohibition became the law of the land.

The Volstead Act, passed nine months later, provided for the enforcement of prohibition, including the creation of a special unit of the Treasury Department. Despite a vigorous effort by law-enforcement agencies, the Volstead Act failed to prevent the large-scale distribution of alcoholic beverages, and organized crime flourished in America. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, repealing prohibition.

Many gangsters and crooked politicians made a lot of money during the time of prohibition, and the flow of booze was never totally stopped. Only when booze was legal and taxed did the crime slow down...and the money from the taxes could be used for some much needed "public works" programs. Sort of the lesser of two evils!

Nice and cool this morning, so let's have our coffee on the patio. No 'skeeters out that I can see!

How About Some Fun With Puns...?

I started to skip posting today, but I decided to share some puns instead.

I have no idea why, but I guess I'm just getting a little nuts after the last week! Believe me, you don't really want to know!

Let's just take things lightly today and maybe have a little grin...OK?

PUNS

The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out it was only an optical Aleutian.

She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.

No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center read: "Keep off the Grass."

The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you'd be in Seine.

A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, "I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."

Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: to transcend dental medication.

Sorry, I know some of these are pretty lame, but sometimes when you read them again and again...lame becomes funny! Who knew?

I'm thinking I may need a vacation! Ya reckon?

How about some fresh coffee on the patio? Actually, the coffee is in a mug and we take the mug to the patio...just wanted to clarify that!

Idiots With Guns...!

It never ceases to amaze me at how stupid some folks can be about the proper handling of guns.

This couple could use some very basic education in safety around the home as well! Looks like it's time to add a little more chlorine to the gene pool!

Kalispell couple thankful to have escaped blast

Associated Press | Posted: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 2:16 pm |

Fire officials in Kalispell are investigating whether a stray bullet accidentally fired from a new hunting rifle may have struck a natural gas line, eventually leading to an explosion that destroyed a house over the weekend.

No matter the cause, Art and Diane Wright feel very fortunate they were not home at the time of Saturday's blast.

Art Wright told the Daily Inter Lake (http://bit.ly/v8N7Rg) he was familiarizing himself with the rifle at about 5:45 a.m. Saturday when he accidentally fired it into the floor of his house.

Kalispell Fire Chief Dave Dedman said until investigators find the natural gas pipe, he can't say if the bullet punctured it. But he says it's possible.

Diane Wright said after her husband left to go hunting she smelled an odor, but thought it was from the gun. She took a shower and then left the house to run some errands.

She's convinced an unplanned stop at the grocery store saved her.

"If I had been home instead of going to the grocery store, I would have opened the door," she said, adding that a firefighter told her that action alone could have set off an explosion.

"If she had turned a light switch on, it could have been a whole different story," Dedman said.

The couple was able to recover some tools from the garage "and some of my jewelry blew up onto the roof of a neighbor's house, oddly enough, so we were able to get to that," Diane Wright said.

Neighbors the Wrights didn't even know offered to let them house-sit their home while the homeowners are out of state.

Information from: Daily Inter Lake, http://www.dailyinterlake.com

I'm thinking these people certainly had an angel looking out for them on this day!

Let's have some fresh coffee on the patio this morning!

How About Some Popcorn And Coffee...?

Years ago, back in the dark ages when I was a lot younger, we had songs that needed no words to make them sound great!

No fancy titles were needed, either! So often the one word title said it all.

Many of the old timers will remember these songs, and actually they still sound pretty good for their age! Sorta like us, I guess!





Just something a little silly for a Tuesday! After all, can't be all serious all the time! Besides, I'm old and need all the smiles I can get!

Fresah coffee on the patio this morning. Pass the popcorn, please!