Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 95
March 9, 2023
March 9, 2023: More Unusual Deaths!
#UnusualDeaths
When Charles II of Navarre fell ill in 1387, he was prescribed a "body wrap" of bedsheets soaked in spirits. After sewing him in for the night, his maid used a candle flame to sever the thread – accidentally igniting the bedsheets and the cocooned king. pic.twitter.com/U3gCNO6q5o
— Joseph Mallozzi
(@BaronDestructo) March 1, 2023
#UnusualDeaths – The London Beer Flood
On October 17, 1841, an accident at the Horseshoe Brewery released a 15 foot wave of porter into St. Giles Rookery, killing 8 (not including those rumored to have died of alcohol poisoning trying to make the best of a bad situation). pic.twitter.com/i3GQZaygg5
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – The Molasses Flood
On January 15, 1919, a storage tank explosion sent 2.3 million gallons of molasses weighing 13 000 tons sweeping through Boston at a speed of 35 mph, covering the North End neighborhood with its sticky deliciousness. And killing 21 people pic.twitter.com/oW3498oPP2
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – Knocked on the Noggin Edition
334 BC – The Greek comic poet Antiphanes, killed by a pear.
June 6, 1217 – Henry 1 of Castile, killed by a floor tile.
March 20, 1751 – Frederick Prince of Wales, killed by a cricket ball. pic.twitter.com/fKJMLJCQJi
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
On November 17, 375 AD, Roman Emperor Valentian I was so outraged by the attitude of some visiting foreign envoys that he yelled at them with such intense fury that he suffered a stroke and dropped dead on the spot. pic.twitter.com/PavV2yLe8z
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – Mind Your Head edition
On August 5, 882, Louis III of France hit his head on a doorway and died while chasing a girl into her father's home.
On April 7, 1498, Charles VIII of France hit his head on a doorway and died while rushing out to catch a tennis match. pic.twitter.com/eVh6Z6TJeX
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
On October 13, 1601, while attending a banquet in Prague, Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe refused to leave the table and relieve himself because he considered it rude. Eleven days later, he died of a burst bladder. pic.twitter.com/ie4vLKOPMG
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
François Vatel was the maître d'hôtel in charge of a lavish banquet for over 2000 diners in honor of Louis XIV on April 24, 1671. Upon learning that a seafood delivery would not be arriving in time for the meal, a distraught Vatel ran himself thru with a sword. pic.twitter.com/hvVWKBLbM8
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
On November 6, 1816, Gouverneur Morris died from an infection and internal injuries suffered after using a piece of whale bone as a catheter to clear a blockage in his urinary tract. pic.twitter.com/DqmXULlwdx
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post March 9, 2023: More Unusual Deaths! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 8, 2023
March 8, 2023: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Silver Surfer: Ghost Light #2 – cover art by Alex Maleev
X-23: Deadly Regenesis #1 – cover art by Aka
X-Men #20 – cover art by Alex Ross
Avengers #66 – cover art by Alex Ross
Black Panther #15 – cover art by German Peralta
Fantastic Four #5 – cover art by Alex Ross
Dejah Thoris #1 – cover art by Rebeca Puebla
Dejah Thoris #1 – cover art by Jung-Geun Yoon
Unbreakable Red Sonja #4 – cover art by Lucio Parrillo
Batman #133 – cover art by Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
Batman & The Joker: Deadly Duo #5 – cover art Whilce Portacio
Gotham City: Year One #6 – cover art by Jorge Molina
Poison Ivy #10 – cover art by Jenny Frison
Poison Ivy #10 – cover art by Joshua Middleton
The Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #1 – cover art by Rafael Sarmento
The Joker: The Man Who Stopped Laughing #6 – cover art by Kendrick Kunkka Lim
Black Tape #2 – cover art by Dan Panosian
Gretel: Seeds of Despair – cover art by Josh Burns
Gretel: Seeds of Despair – cover art by Lobos
Judge Dredd: Regicide – cover art by Andy Clarke
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post March 8, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 7, 2023
March 7, 2023: Unusual Deaths!
#UnusualDeaths
Around 600 B.C., Athenian legislator Draco delivered a speech in the Aeginetan theatre. As was the custom of the time, his audience showed their approval by showering him with items of clothing – cloaks, hats, shirts – inadvertently smothering him to death. pic.twitter.com/F6pRYh1Mfp
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – Death by malmsey
In 1478, George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, was executed for treason by his brother, King Edward IV. It is said he was taken to the Tower of London and summarily drowned in a butt of malmsey, a pricey sweet wine. Cheers! pic.twitter.com/sCquRGL1BY
— Joseph Mallozzi
Days later, a man attempting to demonstrate how Vallandigham accidentally shot and killed himself accidentally shot and killed himself. 2/END
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
According to legend, Christian martyr Marcus of Arethusa met his sweet, sweet end after being slathered in honey, hung in the sun, and covered in bees. pic.twitter.com/FkXHATdjL2
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
According to legend, the Greek philosopher Heraclitus died while attempting to cure himself of dropsy, an accumulation of fluids in the body. After covering himself in cow dung, he lay out in the sun to dry – only to be devoured by dogs.
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
The Greek philosopher Empedocles hurled himself into Mount Etna's active volcano to prove he was an immortal god.
Spoiler alert: He was not.
According to legend, the volcano demonstrated its disdain by belching up a lone bronze sandal. pic.twitter.com/ZHAiTsrULk
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – A pair of pears!
Ancient Greek comic poet and playwright Antiphanes was purportedly killed by a pear. It's unclear whether it fell on him or was thrown at him by an unruly spectator passing judgement on one of his productions. 1/
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – A pair of pears!
Claudius Drusus, the eldest son of Roman emperor Claudius, choked to death after tossing a pear into the air and trying to catch it in his mouth. 2/END
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths
Byzantine Emperor Basil 1 died of fever following a hunting accident that saw him dragged for 26 miles after he snagged his belt on a deer's antlers. pic.twitter.com/8tzFq1u4lU
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – Death by Beard
Hans Steininger was the proud owner of the world's longest beard at 4 feet 2 inches. On September 28, 1567, amid the panic of a fire in the town of Braunau am Inn, Hans tripped over his own beard, fell down a flight of stairs, and broke his neck. pic.twitter.com/JOpZ0ADwKp
— Joseph Mallozzi
[Edit: That should be 892]
#UnusualDeaths
In 1892, the second Earl of Orkney, Sigurd the Mighty, defeated his rival Máel Brigte the Bucktoothed in battle. He kept Máel's head, strapping it to his saddle – then developed sepsis and died after Brigte's infamous buck tooth scratched his leg on the ride home, pic.twitter.com/ntankEmazt
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – The Erfurt Latrine Disaster
On July 26, 1184, during an informal assembly of European nobles in Petersburg Citadel in Erfurt, the second floor of the building collapsed, dropping everyone into a ground floor latrine. 60 nobles drowned in liquid excrement. pic.twitter.com/WcZT9JliKV
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post March 7, 2023: Unusual Deaths! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 6, 2023
March 6, 2023: Films #196-200 of our Horror Movie Marathon!
These Final Hours (2013)
A self-obsessed young man makes his way to the party-to-end-all-parties on the last day on Earth, but ends up saving the life of a little girl searching for her father. Their relationship ultimately leads him on the path to redemption.
My thoughts: An apocalyptic thriller with a lot of heart. Amidst the end-of-world chaos, there’s a very human story at its core.
4/5
Meandre/Meander (2020)
A woman finds herself locked in a series of strange tunnels full of deadly traps.
My thoughts: Shades of Cube in this claustrophobic horror/sci-fi/thriller that proves undeniably intense but one can’t help but question the point.
3.5/5
Infinity Pool (2023)
James and Em Foster are enjoying an all-inclusive beach vacation in the fictional island of La Tolqa, when a fatal accident exposes the resort’s perverse subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence and surreal horrors.
My thoughts: Squanders a fascinating sci-fi premise in its over-the-top exploration of themes related to ego, identity, and wretched excess. The closing is surprisingly thoughtful though.
3/5
Baby Ruby (2022)
The tightly scripted world of a vlogger and influencer unravels after she becomes a mother, in noted playwright Bess Wohl’s feature debut.
My thoughts: The mother’s postpartum-related breakdown mirrored my own mounting frustration with her increasingly unhinged, borderline comic behavior. And it all ends with a whimper. Honestly? Kind of annoying.
2.5/5
The Deep House (2021)
A young and modern couple who go to France to explore an underwater house and share their findings on social media undergoes a serious change of plans when the couple enters the interior of a strange house located at the bottom of a lake and their presence awakens a dark spirit that haunts the house.
My thoughts: A very clear twist on the haunted house tale. Captivating visuals and an excruciatingly suspenseful build make for a riveting 80 minutes.
4.5/5
And that rounds up movies 101-200 in this horror marathon.
Prepare for My Horror Marathon Top 10 (Part 2) list coming your way this week!
The post March 6, 2023: Films #196-200 of our Horror Movie Marathon! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 5, 2023
March 5, 2023: Suji Sunday!
Braving the elements with dad…
Pics from a years back…
Getting all the attention…
The post March 5, 2023: Suji Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 4, 2023
March 4, 2023: Concluding the Stargate: SG-1 season 6 concept art and episodic insights!
Paradise Lost
Robert Cooper’s long-standing distaste for arugula is finally revealed. The mysterious plant Jack and Maybourne eat in order to survive apparently tastes horrible – not unlike arugula. Not only that but, at episode’s end, we realize it’s the cause of the frightening hallucinations that almost get them killed. Rob’s aversion to spicy leaf plants isn’t restricted to arugula alone. Back in the day, we used do our annual trips to Vegas to celebrate our respective birthdays that all used to fall in the same month (Rob, Chris Judge, John G. Lenic, and myself). I remember going to The Cheesecake Factory with him once and, when our two orders of corn tamales arrived, having him look down at the heavily cilantro-topped tamale he’d received and lamenting: “Hey, why do I get to have all the cilantro?” as if to imply I’d been left out because my tamale was relatively cilantro-less. A clever bit of reverse psychology.
Metamorphosis…
And the award for Most Awkward Seduction scene in an episode of Stargate goes to… Whenever I see the Nirrti’s Bedchamber scene, I vacillate between squirming and laughing out loud. “Mrs. Nirrti, you’re trying to seduce me!”. Poor, simple, innocent Jonas.
Another thing I recall about this episode was the gratuitously gory shot of the mutant exploding on the hospital gurney that ended up being cut.
Disclosure…
No concept art 
When Paul and I learned SG-1 would be doing a clip show in its sixth season, we lobbied hard and eventually won the opportunity to write it!
Juuuust kidding. When we were first handed the assignment, we were less than enthusiastic. But, as we started writing, it became, if not exactly fun, then certainly interesting. It’s Stargate 101 as the series deals with an issue that would plague it for years to come: How the hell can the government possibly keep the existence of the Stargate program a secret? Sure, there were past incidents that required some fast-talking (“Exploding spaceships? No, no, no. Those were Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Er, yes, in November.”), but the apparent crash of a spaceship into the Pacific Ocean was going to be tough to cover up. And so, rather than even try, we come clean. Of course it stood to reason that our allies would be annoyed at being kept in the dark for so long, so Rob Cooper suggested an appearance by Thor, the ever-affable Asgard, to smooth things over (and put the conniving Kinsey in his place). I love the sequence where Kinsey raises his finger to interrupt only to have Thor trump him by raising his finger (shut up) and continuing.
Forsaken…
Tiny nitpick but, in the opening scene, O’Neill peers through Carter’s telescope and remarks on the fact that he can’t see anything. She points out that, no, he wouldn’t because it’s daytime. Amusing and all if not for the fact that the show had already established Jack as a guy who likes to check out the stars at night through the telescope in his backyard. Was Jack being purposely dense? Perhaps. In fact, as the series went on, O’Neill became increasingly “intellectually relaxed”. After some six years of playing the role, I guess Rick wanted to have a little more fun with the character. And that was fine with us, the writers, since it allowed us to do something we always enjoyed doing – bring the funny. Less so some of the fans who began to derisively refer to the new and improved(?) O’Neill as Dumb Jack.
The Changeling…
Actor Chris Judge tries his hand at writing with surprising spectacular results. I say surprising because, while I had no doubt it would be a solid script, I was mighty impressed by how good it turned out (this despite the fact that he neglected to include act breaks in his first draft – “I leave that sht up to you, mthrfcker.”). From what I remember, Chris really enjoyed the process and was quite proud of the final product.
Memento…
What was this episode about again?
Prophecy…
This episode turned out to be one of my biggest disappointments of the season. I thought the script was solid but the entire episode rested on the final twist, the moment in which O’Neill hears the horn and calls out to Pierce. It’s meant to be the episode’s big, defining moment but it’s so casually underplayed that it loses any dramatic impact.
Full Circle…
h, another series finale. Executive Producer Robert Cooper wraps up SG-1 in fine style – except that, as we learned late in season 6, this season would not be the show’s last. After six seasons, SG-1 was still going strong, much to the delight of our new broadcaster, SciFi, who were more than happy to pick up the series for one more year. Which, of course, we assumed would be its last…
The post March 4, 2023: Concluding the Stargate: SG-1 season 6 concept art and episodic insights! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 3, 2023
March 3, 2023: Shock! Ambivalence! Chicken feet!
Yesterday, I completed my blog entry, clicked “publish”, checked the post, and was greeted with this…
I checked the connection, then switched browsers, updated my plug-ins…an hour later, my blog was still down. And I was feeling…ambivalent. On the one hand, I was found the prospect of losing the chronicled details of the last 15+ years deeply disappointing; but on the other hand, there was a sense of relief. 15+ years of daily blogging can get a little taxing after a while. It was a feeling akin to hearing there was a chance twitter could go down permanently. On the one hand, I would lose a crucial industry and information lifeline. On the other, I would free up A LOT of free time.
Anyway, the blog was restore and twitter never went away after all. So here we are again!
Today’s Yes/No…
Korean-style Chicken Feet? Yes/No pic.twitter.com/T2c1HJpn6g
— Joseph Mallozzi
Spoiler alert: They were delicious. But very labor intensive. After the prep and blanching, I brought them to a boil and then simmered them for an hour with sauteed onions, garlic, pepper, salt, chilis, bay leaves, anise, and sake, then chilled them overnight before tossing them in kochujang, mirin, soy sauce, garlic powder, Korean spices, and sugar and finishing them under the broiler for about ten minutes.
A lot of work.
Next time, I may just stick to chicken butts.
The post March 3, 2023: Shock! Ambivalence! Chicken feet! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 2, 2023
March 2, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues with five more bullet reviews! And a horrifying ice cream flavor!
Shutter Island (2010)
In 1954, a U.S. Marshal investigates the disappearance of a murderer who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane.
My thoughts: What starts off as a riveting mystery devolves into a flabby and meandering second act which ultimately culminates in a preposterous twist that takes twenty minutes to fully explain. The big screen equivalent of “It was all a dream”.
3/5
Project Wolf Hunting (2022)
Follows dangerous criminals on a cargo ship who are transported from the Philippines to South Korea, as they unleash a sinister force after an escape attempt leads to a riot.
My thoughts: The violence is ridiculously over the top and while the premise is great, and the movie does have its moments, it’s hard to muster up much compassion for any of its depthless characters.
3/5
Gerald’s Game (2017)
A couple tries to spice up their marriage in a remote lake house. After the husband dies unexpectedly, the wife is left handcuffed to their bed frame and must fight to survive and break free.
My thoughts: An outstanding performance by Gugino and the movie goes where you expected it to given the circumstances, but the late twist did not land for me.
3/5
Re/Member (2022)
Six high schoolers stuck in a murderous time loop must find the scattered remains of an unknown victim to break the curse and finally see another day.
My thoughts: The kids quickly adopt a jovial, irreverent attitude in the face of a supernatural serial killer, pretty much snuffing out any suspense. Ghosts and time loops do not mix.
2.5/5
Beast (2022)
A father and his two teenage daughters find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the Savanna has but one apex predator.
My thoughts: It’s an interesting premise, but with few surprises – and a Lion Ex Machina ending I didn’t love.
3/5
My horror film bullet reviews not archived here:
https://letterboxd.com/BaronDestructo/films/reviews/
Speaking of horror…
Today’s Yes/No…
Cricket Ice Cream? Yes/No
German ice cream parlor offers cricket-flavored scoops https://t.co/mp1HHkYfIo via @SFGate
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post March 2, 2022: The Horror Marathon continues with five more bullet reviews! And a horrifying ice cream flavor! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
March 1, 2023
March 1, 2023: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Hallow’s Eve #1 – cover art by Alex Ross
I Am Iron Man #1 – cover art by Adebotun, Akande
Spider-Man: Unforgiven #1 – cover art by Nic Klein
Barbarella: The Center Cannot Hold #1 – cover art by Celina
Unbreakable Red Sonja #4 – cover art by Giuseppe Matteoni
Unbreakable Red Sonja #4 – cover art by Lucio Parrillo
Action Comics #1052 – cover art by Steve Beach
Batman: Gotham Knights – Gilded City #5 – cover art by Abel
Harley Quinn #27 – cover art by Alex Garner
The Human Target #12 – cover art by Greg Smallwood
The Riddler: Year One #3 – cover art by Ben Oliver
King Spawn #20 – cover art by Mark Spears
Red Zone #1 – cover art by Mike Deodato Jr.
So, which were YOUR favorites?
The post March 1, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
February 28, 2023
February 26, 2023: Unusual Deaths!
Sophocles…
The #UnusualDeaths of Sophocles
Alongside Aeschylus (brained by a falling tortoise) and Euripides (devoured by hounds), Sophocles was one of the three great ancient Greek tragedians. His cause of death is uncertain, but three apocryphal versions survive to this day. 1/ pic.twitter.com/FxIKmLCEzr
— Joseph Mallozzi
Food-related…
#UnusualDeaths – Food-related
In 1153, Eustace IV, Count of Bologne died after choking on a plate of eels. 2/ pic.twitter.com/MWeApg9DkL
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – Food-related
In 1784, French philosopher Denis Diderot was reaching for an after-dinner apricot when his wife admonished him for eating too much. He told her she was overreacting, ate the apricot, and dropped subsequently dropped dead. 4/ pic.twitter.com/C73VqT0whR
— Joseph Mallozzi
#UnusualDeaths – Food-related
Bandō Mitsugorō VIII, one of Japan's most revered Kabuki actors, consumed four servings of fugu liver in 1975, claiming he could withstand its toxic effects. Turns out, he could not. 6/END pic.twitter.com/l1Q5JR2Dtz
— Joseph Mallozzi
Today’s Yes/No…
Sakura and Matcha Donut? Yes/No
Starbucks Sakura and Matcha donut is a perfect Japanese springtime sweet【Taste test】 https://t.co/lPhY2UG6OI via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
The post February 26, 2023: Unusual Deaths! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
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