Howard Chaykin: 2 Out of 3

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Normally when I post a piece of art:

1]  I tell you who drew it…

2] What the art was for and…

3] Why I’m posting it.

Not today.  Today, I can tell you that…

1] The piece is by Howard Chaykin…

2] I’m not sure what it was for.  My guess is something to do with Cody Starbuck, but I’m not sure…

3] I’m hoping someone reading this will know and fill me in.

Neal Adams, John Beatty & Conan

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The sketch above comes from the Zablo vault with a bit of a story.  The sketch was a copy of a Neal Adams original.  The colors [by John Beatty] were done on a copy of the sketch.

I was at an OrlandoCon back in the late 70’s.  I was just starting to collect original art.  I was approached by a guy about my age who had a pencil sketch of Conan by Neal Adams that he was offering me.  The sketch was in a mat covered by acetate.  It was a really nice sketch, even if it was a bit costly.  I showed it to my buddy John Beatty.  John looked at it and then took a closer look.

“It’s a xerox.  It’s a good copy, but it’s definitely a copy.”

The guy acted surprised… with acting being the key word.  I couldn’t swear that he knew the piece was fake, but you’d be hard-pressed to convince me otherwise.  Needless to say, I didn’t buy the piece, but I think the guy gave me a copy because I’m pretty sure that’s it posted above.  The colors were added to the copy on one of Beatty’s visits to my apartment in Orlando when I was still in college.

At least that’s how I remember it.

Dave Wachter’s Rocky

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Dave Wachter joins us this week with his take on Sly pounding the beef from Rocky. I’m a huge fan of Dave’s art and own several pieces [and hope to get more in the future]. He’s a tremendous artist, but more importantly an all-around decent guy. You can see more of Dave’s art at his site. – Craig

UFC 129 Results

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United States Nate Diaz lost to Canada Rory MacDonald – MacDonald dominated all three rounds and won a unanimous decision.
Prediction: Diaz by decision made me 0-1 for the night.

Canada Mark Bocek lost to United States Ben Henderson
Prediction: Henderson gets the decision made me 1-1 for the night.

United States Randy Couture was KO’d in the 2nd round by a front kick to the face from Brazil Lyoto Machida
Prediction: Couture by decision made me 1-2 for the night.

Brazil José Aldo defeated Canada Mark Hominick in a war the went the distance but earned Aldo a unanimous decision.
Prediction: Aldo by TKO or KO made me 2-2 for the night.

Canada Georges St-Pierre won a unanimous decision over a very game United States Jake Shields
Prediction: GSP by decision made me 3-2 for the night.

Final Thoughts:

  • Nate Diaz didn’t know what hit him.  Rory MacDonald is a fighter to watch!
  • I hate that Randy Couture got KO’d in his last fight.  Machida said in a post fight interview that Steven Seagal taught him the front kick that he used to KO Couture.
  • GSP did what he needed to do to defeat a very game Jake Shields.  After the fight GSP headed to the hospital to be checked out and missed the post-fight interviews.  I was of the opinion that GSP, if he won would go up in weight and fight Anderson Silva.  I’m not so sure about that now.
  • Next up UFC 130 on May 28th: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard // Matt Hamill vs. Quinton Jackson // Frank Mir vs. Roy Nelson

 

UFC 129 Predictions

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United States Nate Diaz vs. Canada Rory MacDonald – Both Diaz and MacDonald are tough.  I’m not a fan of either of the Diaz brothers, but they sure come to fight.  This should be a good one.
Prediction: Diaz by decision.

Canada Mark Bocek vs. United States Ben Henderson – Ben Henderson may be the best fighter that nobody knows.  That should all change now that he’s in the UFC.
Prediction: Henderson gets the decision.

United States Randy Couture vs. Brazil Lyoto Machida – Randy Couture is one of my favorite fighters.  How can you go against Captain America?  The only thing that worries me is that Couture has said, “Win, lose, or draw, this is my last fight.”  THAT bothers me.  Still, I think that Couture will be able to force the action and if he gets Machida down or against the fence, the battle is won.
Prediction: Couture by decision.

Brazil José Aldo (c) vs. Canada Mark Hominick – As Ryan Cody said: “Aldo is a beast. Beast! He wins via TKO…”
Prediction: Aldo by TKO or KO.

Canada Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. United States Jake Shields -This should be a great fight.  Shields is coming in as a 5 to 1 underdog.  I think that the odds are way off on this one.  GSP should win, but I’d lay a bet on Shields if I had 5 to 1.  If GSP can take Shields down [which I think he will], what then?  We’ll find out tonight.
Prediction: GSP by decision.

Want Some Real Cheap Yellow Medicine?

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I guess I’m old fashioned.  Or maybe just old.  You see, I like the books I read to be real… not some digital concoction that you read from a machine.  I love being able to read a great book and then place it in my collection on my bookshelf.  But that’s not what this post is about.

What this post is about is the fact that Anthony Neil Smith, the author of two excellent crime novels featuring bad cop Billy Lafitte is offering a super deal on the first, titled Yellow Medicine.  Starting May 1st at 2pm you will be able to get a copy of Yellow Medicine for just 99 cents.  The idea is to get everyone who wants a copy to jump on at the same time and get Yellow Medicine on the charts.

At 99 cents the novel is a steal.  Heck, I paid a lot more than that for my hardcover copy and the story was so good, I thought I got a bargain.  So if you read your novels from a screen, then give Yellow Medicine a try.  [And if you’re like me and want a “real” book then order up one here.]

America’s Weirdest State

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When we moved down from Indiana in 1973, Florida was known as The Sunshine State.  Families flocked to Florida to spend time in Daytona Beach aka “The World’s Most Famous Beach,” Disney World aka “The Magic Kingdom” & “The Happiest Place on Earth,” Marineland in our nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, etc. etc. etc.  Florida was considered such a family-friendly location that it was often the destination of high school students’ senior trips.

But those days seem to be long gone.  Maybe it’s because Florida: “The Sunshine State” motto has been replaced with Florida: “America’s Weirdest State.”

[Via Bill Crider]

Top 10 Movies People Lie About

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LoveFilm, a British video rental service, recently surveyed folks to find out if they’d ever lied and said that they’d seen movies that they really hadn’t.  Surprisingly, 80% admitted that they had.  Here’s the Top 10 Movies People Lied and Said They’d Seen…

  1. The Godfather – saw it many times and it’s one of my all time favs.
  2. Casablanca – saw it many times and it is also one of my favorites
  3. Taxi Driver – saw it and didn’t care for it
  4. 2001: A Space Odyssey – saw it and hated it.  Tried again years later and still didn’t like it.
  5. Reservoir Dogs – saw it many times… perhaps my favorite Tarantino film.
  6. This Is Spinal Tap – never saw it and really have no desire to.
  7. Apocalypse Now – saw it repeatedly over the year and like it more with each viewing
  8. Goodfellas – another film that gets better with each viewing
  9. Blade Runner – I’ve lost track of how many different versions of this I’ve seen.
  10. The Great Escape – I’ve never seen it but plan to some day… really, I’m not lying.

[Via Bill Crider]

Mike Torrance Presents: Sly as Dracula

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Mike Torrance aka The Krayola Kidd did this for me last year. I thought I had posted it, but…

Mike Torrance is an artist who does it all — he pencils, inks and colors. You can see more of Mike’s art at The Daily Sketch with The Krayola Kidd and his Deviant Art site. You’re also going to be happy to know that once a month Mike has a contest for someone to win a free sketchcard! Mike is available for commissions and his prices are very reasonable. Check him out.

CigarBox Guitar, Blind Willie Johnson & Thomas Boatwright

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I like something in almost every genre or type of music.  Pop, rock, blues, disco, gospel, oldies… you name it and I can tell you artists and/or songs I like.  Truth be told, I really didn’t know much of anything about cigarbox guitar music.  One thing I do know is if the genre as a whole is a good as “If I Had My Way: A Cigarbox Guitar Tribute to Blind Willie Johnson” then I’ve been missing out big time.

Oh, and by the way, Thomas Boatwright did the very cool CD Cover.  You can see more of Thomas’ art here and here.