Things To Give Us Pause

This summer’s must-buy gift for the deranged has to be actor Bruce Campbell’s next book, Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way. On his web site, the lantern-jawed horror film icon says, “I had originally pitched a travel book, but the publishers thought it’d be a good idea for me to write a book about relationships instead. And so, Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way was born. The only problem is that I don’t know the slightest thing about relationships.” The terror arrives in bookstores this summer.

But here’s something you can cringe at now. It has nothing to do with science fiction, fantasy, or horror, but anyone who has experienced the way fans can be manipulated by button-pushing advertisements can appreciate that it happens in other hobbies as well. Plus, this site sets off the Pretensionometer more strongly than any site I’ve run across in recent weeks — watch out for phrases such as “paracord safety tethering hole” and “covert deanimation activities” for a real linguistic treat. (It is to be noted that the knives shown on this site are identical to a few models offered by a legitimate Italian knifemaking company, but cost more.)

Thanks to BobQ for the heads-up on the Dark Ops knife site.

Insider #80

The next Insider, due in subscriber mailboxes somethime this week, features a cover article about the next round of Clone Wars cartoons, interviews with Samuel L. Jackson and Christopher Lee, a history of the Mandalorians and a tour of Jango and Boba Fett’s apartment set, as well as the usual Prequel Update, and all new photos (including a pic that’s already setting Anakin fangirls around the off in high-pitched squees of lust.) Non subscribers can expect the issue in stores by the end of the month.