The Broken Chair

Writing is like a sickness. Some people, its genetic, terminal, they're taking it to the grave and most likely it'll be the death of them. Poor sons of bitches, they never saw it coming.

Then there's the ones who get it like a cold. And even then you can get it real bad. Tears you up inside and kicks your guts in. But one day, you wake up and it is gone. They knew that was coming, thought it never would, but they knew it.

Lastly, there are the ones who get a cold and it splits, but like hypochondriacs, they refuse to admit it. They think they're sick all the time. They're inventing illnesses. But everyone else knows it just ain't so. Ninety-nine percent of the people who put words on paper are like this. God knows they think they got it, but baby, they don't.

Posted by Ed Z at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It isn't a very good picture but after months of staring at the metal scaffold the water has finally turned on.

It is part of an art exhibit simply called New York City Waterfalls, which consists of four man-made waterfalls located around the city.  They are the creation of Danish artist Olafur Eliasson.

Posted by Ed Z at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Gary Gygax, co-creator of D&D died Tuesday, March 4, 2008.

I spent many hours of imagination filled fun playing D&D with some of my best friends.  Thank you Gary for giving us geeks an outlet,

Posted by Ed Z at 03:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Peter Boyle, the actor who played Ray Barone's father in Everybody Loved Raymond, died at the age of 71 today.

I will always remember him for his role as Frankenstein's monster in Young Frankenstein.

Posted by Ed Z at 01:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I went to see the new James Bond move, Casino Royale, and I have to say I was impressed. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives, the latter only being the length of the movie and sections that seemed to drag on a bit too long. Otherwise, it had a solid story, amazing action sequences, dialogue in a Bond tradition with out being corny, and most important, fantastic acting.

Daniel Craig makes an excellent Bond, playing Bond rough around the edges as opposed to the more refined recent portrayals. For the record, I believe Sean Connery was the best Bond, and I'd like to see Craig string together several 007 performances like the one in Casino Royale before I can truly judge him, but he is off to a great start.

If you're a fan of James Bond, I recommend this movie.

Posted by Ed Z at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

In the spirit of Halloween, I have decided to give you my top 10 horror movie list.  If you haven’t seen some of these, you might want to take a visit to your local rental store.  Let me know what your top horror movies are.

10. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

What would you do if everyone you knew was suddenly changing? They became cold and unfeeling images of the people you cared about. A great look at the individual against the masses.

9. Hellraiser (1987)

What makes this movie work so well is they set up a history that you could believe. Violence with a purpose and a disturbing look at what our sins may cost us.

8. The Thing (1982)

I love this movie for its feeling of suffocation. The severe cold lends to the icy feeling between the characters. The ending is a wonderful departure from the norm.

7. The Shining (1980)

Is there any better movie that shows the downward spiral into insanity? All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. That scene alone is better than most movies.

6. Jaws (1975)

Generations have had their days at the beach ruined because of this movie. Honestly, can you go swimming in the ocean without thinking of the music? I can’t even take a bath without thinking of it. Also, Shaw’s monologue about the Indianapolis is masterful.

5. Alien (1979)

This movie single-handedly brought horror back to Sci-Fi. How many movies have copied this formula since? This is the complete opposite of the clean hospital look of Star Wars. The sets are like oil drilling platforms in space.

4. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The birth of the modern slasher movie. Low budget, but that makes it even more believable. Tame by today’s standards, however quite disturbing in the images of the grotesque.

3. Evil Dead II (1987)

What happens when you mix the Three Stooges with Night of the Living Dead? You get the Evil Dead series. This is by far the best of the three. Its clever use of camerawork and awesome character, Ash, makes this a classic. Groovy.

2. The Exorcist (1973)

The deep seeded Christian beliefs in the American psyche were the launching pad for this incredible movie. Brilliant imagery coupled with idea of Satan manifesting itself in a 12-year-old girl is an endless source of chills.

1. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Everything that every zombie flick wants to be is based on this movie. In fact, any movie where the characters are trapped somewhere while the antagonist looms about is based on this movie. What is so frightening is the realism, that this could happen somehow. Also, I love watching the psychology of the group trying to survive. Makes you wonder who is more dangerous, the zombies or the people right next to you.

Posted by Ed Z at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Karol at Alarming News has tagged me, and to be honest, I was clueless.  I thought to myself, "Cool, I was tagged...wait what the hell does that mean?" Fortunately for you I figured it out, so here it goes.

1. One book that changed your life?

I mentioned once that Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse was a launching pad for my young adult life, but in hindsight I must mention Narcissus and Goldmund, also by Hesse.  I read both books in succession, and I have to say it was the latter that spoke to me and drove me to read more.

2. One book you have read more than once?

Post Office.  Quintessential Bukowski.  Never gets old.

3. One book you would want on a desert island?

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. Yeah, well I don't want to be on a deserted island.  The serious answer would be I Am Legend by Richard Matheson.  Why?  Cause it's just a kick ass book and the whole last man on earth theme would fit well.

4. One book that made you cry?

The Perfect Storm had a very detailed description of drowning coupled with real people you got to know along the way on the Andrea Gail.  It brought a tear to my eye.

5. One book that made you laugh?

The writing is a bit disjointed, sort of like a music video in written form, but Et Tu, Babe by Richard Leyner had me getting more than a few strange looks on the R train.  In sorts, it is a satire on celebrity culture where the next big thing is the visceral tattoo, not outside on your skin, but on the internal organs.

6. One book you wish had been written?

Nothing comes to mind.

7. One book you wish had never been written?

If it was written, it should remain so.

8. One book you are currently reading?

I'm about to start The Painted Word by Tom Wolfe.

9. One book you have been meaning to read?

Requiem for a Dream by Hubert Selby Jr.  I was first introduced to Selby by reading Last Exit to Brooklyn then learned of and saw the movie version of Requiem.  I just never got around to reading it.

10. Now tag five people…

I barely know five people in real life let alone with blogs.  I'll have to work on that.

Posted by Ed Z at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)