He is a man with one name. He is a thief and a killer, and the protagonist of 24 hard boiled novels written by prolific author Donald Westlake (previously) under the pseudonym Richard Stark. He is Parker, and he is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. [more inside]
posted by dortmunder on Jun 30, 2009 - 39 comments

Neale Donald Walsch, author of the best-selling series “Conversations With God,” recently posted a personal Christmas essay on the spiritual Web site Beliefnet about his son’s kindergarten winter pageant. During a dress rehearsal, he wrote, a group of children spelled out the title of a song, “Christmas Love,” with each child holding up a letter. One girl held the “m” upside down, so that it appeared as a “w,” and it looked as if the group was spelling “Christ Was Love.” It was a heartwarming Christmas story from a writer known for his spiritual teachings. Except it never happened — to him. [more inside]
posted by tatnasty on Jan 10, 2009 - 95 comments

Donald Westlake is dead. This prolific novelist wrote more than 100 books and several screenplays under many names, creating one of the most memorable comic caper series and hard violent fiction under his psuedonym, Richard Stark. John Banville called Stark and Georges Simenon "two of the greatest writers of the 20th century."
posted by ed on Jan 1, 2009 - 35 comments

WHITE NIGHTS. Russia After the Gulag. Photographs by Donald Weber.
posted by chunking express on Dec 13, 2008 - 19 comments

In the wake of The Scarlet Pimpernel, countless figures have flamboyantly stalked the night. Among them were the scofflaw Arsene Lupin and his more violent contemporary, Fantomas. So influential was the latter that imitators soon arose, plying their merciless wiles on others. Among them were Fu Manchu, the nefarious Dr. Mabuse, the hooded Diabolik, and Matt Wagoner's Grendel. Not even Donald Duck was immune from the seductive lure of crime. [more inside]
posted by Smart Dalek on Aug 8, 2008 - 9 comments

The Donald Duck animated short film anthology. Donald Duck's family tree. More Donald Duck family trees. Donald, Donald, Donald. Quack, Quack, Quack.
posted by Effigy2000 on Sep 28, 2007 - 30 comments

It's National Yo-Yo Day!
Forget about all this satanic stuff, June 6th every year is National Yo-Yo Day (in the US) when children of all ages pull out their yo-yos and find internal happiness in the state of yo. The yearly day of recognition celebrates the birthday of of Donald F. Duncan Sr, the man who made the yo-yo popular in the US (You do know your yo-yo history don't you?). Of course, that isn't all that Duncan did in his life. He also founded the Good Humor ice cream company, invented the parking meter and made the concept of the premium incentive a popular marketing tool on top of founding the Duncan Yo-Yo Company.

On National Yo-Yo Day yoers celebrate their skill toy of choice, cheap or expensive, simple or complex, by doing tricks ranging from the easy to learn to the completely mind boggling.
posted by DragonBoy on Jun 6, 2006 - 14 comments

Donald Trump Can Boost Your Book Sales. Just piss him off and watch your Amazon sales rank climb. [a new yorker link]
posted by adrober on Feb 13, 2006 - 11 comments

The latest troubles at Trump World Tower just reaffirms what the neighbors have been saying since day one.
posted by tamim on Sep 2, 2000 - 8 comments