Jeffrey Westhoff's Blog: Culture Spy, page 65

Now that I’ve finished the Gary Gygax bio, I want to read...

Now that I’ve finished the Gary Gygax bio, I want to read David Ewalt’s “Of Dice and Men.” (at Palatine (Metra station))

Tackling this bad boy. Don’t know if you can see the...

Tackling this bad boy. Don’t know if you can see the bookmark, but I’m about halfway through this mammoth history of the 007 films. I’m on the “A View to a Kill” chapter and about to bid farewell to Roger Moore. Despite its size, the book is a fast read. But it is too big to read in the bathtub. I’m afraid I’ll drop it. #jamesbond #film #filmhistory #007 #somekindofhero #matthewfield #ajaychowdhury #whatiamreading #whatiamreadingnow (at Palatine Public Library)

Just started reading this biography of Dungeons & Dragons...

Just started reading this biography of Dungeons & Dragons creator Gary Gygax by Michael Witwer. While I played my share of D&D, I was a bigger fan of TSR’s spy role-playing game, Top Secret. I like that the inside cover of Witwer’s book is a D&D-style map of Gygax’s home base, Lake Geneva, Wis., a town I know fairly well. Having read the introduction, I wonder how many times I’ve gone past Gygax’s home without realizing it.

Finally caught up with the Melissa McCarthy comedy...

Finally caught up with the Melissa McCarthy comedy “Spy,” directed by Paul Feig. It’s pretty damned good. I wish some of the recent Bond movies had as solid a plot. #spy #paulfeig #melissamccarthy #spymovie (at Palatine Public Library)

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6DQ0...) There have...

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6DQ06m1KRE)

There have been many Buddy Holly tribute songs. This one by John Mueller is the best. If you haven’t seen Mueller perform as Buddy, you’re missing something special. RIP, 2/3/59

Some thoughts on Alan Rickman’s passing

The celebrity obituary pages have been relentless in the new year. David Bowie’s death a few days...

asecretrage: Countdown to Christmas | It’s a Wonderful Life...

asecretrage:

Countdown to Christmas | It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Clarence: You see George, you’ve really had a wonderful life. Don’t you see what a mistake it would be to just throw it away?

nitratediva:From Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).

nitratediva:

From Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).

browsethestacks:jeffdurham:OnTheTurntable: Spider-Man in...

browsethestacks:

jeffdurham:

OnTheTurntable: Spider-Man in “The Mark of the Man-Wolf”; Cap and the Falcon in “And a Phoenix Shall Rise.”

I got these for X-Mas when I was a tween-ager and I thought the comics were good but the record was pretty hokey. And now? Well, still a little hokey. The voice acting is a little over the top but otherwise very professional and solid.

I was probably annoyed by the little “ding” that lets you know when to turn the page. Hated that. It no longer bothers me,...

Book review: ‘Goldeneye: Where Bond Was Born’

After Andrew Lycett’s exhaustive biography of Ian Fleming (which is 20 years old, believe it...