Jailhouse Tattoo Billy Cook John Gilmore and Hard Luck, Two Fisted Writing NOT for the Faint (or Kindle)

Amplify’d from dulltooldimbulb.blogspot.com

Dull Tool Dim Bulb Jim Linderman blog about surface, wear, form and authenticity in art, antiques and photography. Dull tool and dim bulb were the only swear words my father ever used. Items from the Jim Linderman collection of vernacular photography, folk art, ephemera and curiosities. (Note: if anyone believes an image contained violates their rights or insults their intelligence, simply point it out and I will remove)

Jailhouse Tattoo Billy Cook John Gilmore and Hard Luck, Two Fisted Writing NOT for the Faint (or Kindle)

Every picture tells a story, but this one didn't have one for me. I found it at a flea market. It is a small original glossy press photograph dated on the reverse 1951, with a brief note that the hand belonged to one William E. Cook. I never tried to find out who Mr. Cook was, nor why his apparent jail number was written in the margin of the photo. Obviously, his jailhouse tattoo had been embellished with a pen before publication to make the letters, and the drama, more clear...I knew I could find out who he was when I needed to.

Imagine my surprise a few years later coming across a different picture of THE SAME HAND in a book by John Gilmore! John Gilmore is one of those guys who seems to have been everywhere. I mean, everywhere. Name me anyone with a sleazy Hollywood connection from the last 50 years and I'll bet you Gilmore either met them at a party, slept with them or knew their murderer. He met Kerouac. He met Bettie Page. He met James Dean and may have even boffed him. He knew Hank Williams, Janis Joplin, Jack Nicholson, Dennis Hopper, Brigette Bardot, Jean Seberg and Jayne Mansfield. I can't even begin to describe him to you, but if you think James Ellroy is tough, if you thought Hunter S. Thompson had a pair, if you imagine Charles Bukowski let his hang low on the pavement and scrape it a bit with each step... get a load of Gilmore. There are a half-dozen books and I have read them all. Real books though...his work is too good and graphic for Kindle.

Gilmore's Wiki entry calls him a Gonzo Journalist. True, but you might find his official website a bit more entertaining. This is some dark stuff, my friends.

By the way, the hand gets its own page on Gilmore's site, it was indeed Billy Cook's claw and he was a no good drifter. The site has an excerpt...and leads you to Gilmore's other books. You are warned. Anonymous Press Photograph, embellished by hand, 1951 Collection Jim Linderman Read more at dulltooldimbulb.blogspot.com

 

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/geqh

http://gawker.com/5603572/

FBI Demands Its Logo Be Removed From Wikipedia

The FBI is hopping mad at Wikipedia! Apparently they've threatened Wikipedia with legal action if the online encyclopedia doesn't remove a picture of its official seal from the FBI entry at once. Wikipedia's lawyers, while squelching laughter, have replied "no."

The FBI's lawyers claim that keep a high-resolution image of its official seal violates federal code banning the manufacture, sale or possession of items bearing the insignia of federal offices.

The New York Times explains Wikipedia's response, which is essentially "oh shut up FBI."

The problem, those at Wikipedia say, is that the law cited in the F.B.I.'s letter is largely about keeping people from flashing fake badges or profiting from the use of the seal, and not about posting images on noncommercial Web sites. Many sites, including the online version of the Encyclopedia Britannica, display the seal.

You legal nerds out there might enjoy a brisk, pleasant read of Wikimedia general counsel Mike Godwin's entire letter to these FBI trolls. Godwin, a sassy fellow, accuses the FBI of deliberately misrepresenting the law:

Finally, while I sympathize with your footnoted desire to claim that "the plain meaning" of the statute supports your broad view of Section 701's scope, we note that you specifically removed the language that communicates the plain meaning of "other insignia." In context, this seems an ironic stroke.

The FBI is definitely going to raid their offices, like, tonight.

Send an email to Jim Newell, the author of this post, at newell@gawker.com.

Posted via email from ttexed's posterous

Ian Fleming interviews Raymond Chandler plus a great L.A. 1930's crime documentary

In 1958, Ian Fleming interviewed Raymond Chandler for the BBC in London, here in 4 parts. Plus a great documentary that includes lots of 1930's street scenes and news footage, in 3 parts. Thanks to David B. Metcalfe for the referral...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj6cc0T1z7I


Interview with Raymond Chandler [1 of 4]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxJJo79e00o


Interview with Raymond Chandler [2 of 4]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sS2DBBrOY8


Interview with Raymond Chandler [3 of 4]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9i00flBWuQ


Interview with Raymond Chandler [4 of 4]


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIbFzcdOKUo


Los Angeles History 1930's Crime Raymond Chandler Pt 1 of 3


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSizY0Pul8Y


Los Angeles History 1930's Crime Raymond Chandler Pt 2 of 3


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppopg39jKTY


Los Angeles History 1930's Crime Raymond Chandler Pt 3 of 3