Thompson's protege. Just posted the following review of Jason Starr's Cold Caller on Amazon.



If Jim Thompson were a Yuppie, he might have written this book.



Bill Moss is a failed advertising exec living in Manhattan. Restarting his career as a telemarketer (for a lot less money), he and his co-workers are routinely humiliated by a petty and racist supervisor. But things get more tolerable for Moss when a chance lie he tells to the company's President results in a surprise promotion. Then he gathers enough courage to live out his long-time fantasy of an encounter with a 'lady of the evening'. Feeling guilty afterwards, Moss batters the woman.



Then, when his boss threatens to fire him over an unrelated manner, Moss snaps. Now he's got a dead body in his office and a bunch of violent pimps chasing him. And things go downhill from there.



_Cold Caller_ is a seductively easy read that has several exquisite plot points. If you liked Thompson's _The Killer Inside Me_, I can almost guarantee you'll think as I do about _Cold Caller_: it's deliciously good.



Cold Caller, by Jason Starr



Cutaway Drawing #403




In my ongoing series of links to cutaway drawings, the above depicts a 19th century sailing vessel used by privateers and even some navies. Worth noting are the location of the magazine, the infirmary and the Captain's quarters. Click on the drawing to expand the image if you can't make out the captions.



Preparing for a Hospital Stay? Helpful Tips from The Onion!



The Onion has some excellent advice for those preparing for a hospital in-patient experience. My favorites:



- If you are going to the hospital for treatment of a severed limb, remember to bring the limb.

- Be forewarned: Hospitals apply a vast mark-up to the items in the in-room minibars.

- Wear clothing that is loose-fitting and comfortable, yet appropriate to bleed in.

- Whatever you do, don't check into any facility called "General Hospital." That place is full of back-stabbing, narcissistic lunatics.

- Pack several extra pairs of slippers. Slippers in the hospital are like cigarettes in prison.

- Bring $500 in fives to "grease the wheels," if you get my meaning. The good mashed potatoes.

- If bruised, find a hospital known to have a good bruise ward.



Preparing for a Hospital Stay



What changes have been made to the refurbished Statue of Liberty?







The Onion