Zacherley "The Cool Ghoul" lives!

Almost every major city had a "horror host" who would introduce b-movies on a local TV station. Boomers who were lucky enough to grow up in New York during the 1960's, fondly remember our favorite fiend, Zacherley. I couldn't wait for the weekends so I could watch Zacherley host another schlocky late night horror or sci-fi movie on "Shock Theater" or "Chiller Theater". The movie itself didn't matter because we all tuned in to watch him do his stuff in between the commercial breaks. Wearing ghoulish make-up and looking like a low-rent Dracula, Zach would perform some kind of weird experiment in his dusty laboratory, talk to his dead wife or play with his pet "Phyllis the Amoeba" (actually Jello in a nylon stocking).

On the eve of another Halloween, I'm happy to report that John Zacherley is alive and well at the scary age of 94. The New York Times recently paid him a visit at his Manhattan apartment.

NYT:Once A Ghoul, Always A Ghoul

Visit Zacherley on the web: http://zacherley.com

The best Wizard of Oz synopsis ever written

Best Wizard of Oz Synopsis Ever Written via FishbowlNY

Is it time to ditch the Electoral College?

Mo Rocca (CBS Sunday Morning) has made a very entertaining and thought provoking documentary about the electoral college called Electoral Dysfunction. It takes an irreverent and nonpartisan look at voting in America. It will be broadcast on PBS during October and November. Click here for air dates and stations.

I'm still not sure if I'm ready to get rid of the electoral college, but perhaps it's time to try electing a president by popular vote and see how it goes. I'm getting tired of seeing candidates giving all their love and attention to the so-called "battleground states" and ignoring the others. In this current election, it feels like Obama and Romney are running for president of Ohio, not the United States.

The first 3D-printed acoustic guitar

Remember the replicators on Star Trek? They were computer driven machines which could turn ideas into solid, functioning objects or even edible food. Although we are a long way from asking a computer create a mug of "tea, Earl Grey, hot", as Captain Jean-Luc Picard frequently did, 3D printers are becoming more mainstream and will soon be the next must-have household gadget. Truly a geek's dream come true.

This is the world's first 3D-printed acoustic guitar and it actually works. You can read all about how it was created in this excellent article via Business Week. 

This was CINERAMA

Before CinemaScope and IMAX, there was Cinerama, the legendary and now sadly defunct wide-screen motion picture format. On September 30, 1952, the first Cinerama movie, This is Cinerama premiered at the Broadway Theater in New York City. It was an instant sensation and played continuously at the same theater for 122 weeks . 

In celebration of Cinerama's 60th birthday, here are two articles which will put this great achievement in motion picture history and technology into perspective.

The Wayward Charms of Cinerama by David Bordwell

This is Cinerama by Bruce Handy via Vanity Fair

There is also a wonderful feature-length documentary called Cinerama Adventure, which was produced and directed by David Strohmaier in 2002 and was recently show on Turner Classic Movies. The documentary, which is now available on DVD, details the history of Cinerama and how it forever changed the way we watch movies. This film is a must-see. You can find out more about Strohmaier's film and his efforts to preserve Cinerama for future generations to enjoy at cineramaadventure.com.

Germs faster than "5 second rule"

Most people are familiar with the famed “five second rule,” which states that if dropped food is picked up off the floor within five seconds of contact, it is still safe to consume.

Though a popular belief, a new study has found that germs often win the race.

The study, co-funded by Clorox and conducted by researchers at San Diego State University, found that germs do in fact attach themselves to edible items within that amount of time

Read more via CBS Atlanta

It's True: Alfred Hitchcock did not have a belly button

Although born with one, as it is essential for early human development, at some point in his life Alfred Hitchcock's belly button was surgically removed. It is said that during one of the many operations done on his belly a doctor had stretched skin over the area where the belly button used to be. 

Via http://www.randomfaq.com