When Hollywood Comes Knocking (Don't Answer the Door)

This post is about Paula Gosling's first novel, A Running Duck, 1978, MacMillan. This book has several claims to fame: It won the John Creasey Award for best first novel. It ranks 63rd on the Crime Writers' Association's list of all-time great mystery novels. It was adapted by Hollywood twice, in...

Continue reading →

The Modern Wonders of the World, Circa 1912-1914

I've always been fascinated by old surveys. They were neither rigorous in their sampling techniques nor authoritative in their findings, but they do provide a window into the mind-set of a specific period of time. August 1912, Popular Mechanics In their August 1912 issue, Popular Mechanics presented...

Continue reading →

Tesla Versus Hitler

Tesla could be imperious and condescending. In his later years he spoke favorably of eugenics. Although he regularly spoke favorably of all mankind, he made occasional anti-Semitic remarks.  He was, however, consistently anti-Nazi, supporting the anti-Nazi leaders of his homeland. Tesla was...

Continue reading →

Tesla Versus Edison

In the past months, I have written a series of Tesla Versus . . . posts. And now for the biggie: Tesla Versus Edison. Previously: Tesla Vs. the Nobel Prize. Tesla Vs. the Martians. Tesla Vs. Einstein Tesla Vs. Adrian Monk Tesla Vs. Sherlock Holmes Tesla and the Alienist I have avoided Tesla versus...

Continue reading →