Ballardian

The new book Sweet and Savage: The World Through the Shockumentary Film Lens, by Mark Goodall has just been published by Headpress in the UK. The only blurb comes from Ballard and Goodall conducts a short interview with him on the subject:
‘An Exhibition of Atrocities’
excerpt:
Goodall: Can you recall any critical or other ‘professional’ reactions to [...]

Am I reading too much into these bits of news that catch my imagination? I’m reminded of HELLO AMERICA. Why? Because Vegas itself is more of a theme city than a real city. And terror in theme parks anywhere carries along an extra whallop since one has already taken a step into a different world.
Man [...]

Reading this article my mind went all Ballardian.
Giant patch of ocean debris carries ghost nets, trash onto Island shores
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer
A massive oceanic debris gyre has drifted south into Hawaiian waters, driving loads of derelict fishing gear and plastic trash onto Island beaches.
For Hawai’i beachcombers, it means better chances of finding [...]

Ballard wrote a fascinating review about CSI that was posted on this board. He called the TV show one of his favorites. Here’s what the “experts” say:
Experts Blame Cop Show For Educating Criminals
POSTED: 11:32 am CST January 31, 2006
CLEVELAND — When Tammy Klein began investigating crime scenes eight years ago, it was virtually unheard of [...]

A head-on collision Monday sent Sen. John Ensign and an aide to the hospital.
Ensign and the aide who was driving were taken to Sunrise
Hospital with minor to moderate injuries, police said.
A hospital spokeswoman said there was no record of Ensign being
admitted.
Ensign spokesman Jack Finn said the Nevada Republican and a
Senate staffer, who was not identified, [...]

Whale spotted in central London
A seven-tonne whale has made its way up the Thames to central London, where it is being watched by riverside crowds.
The northern bottle-nosed whale, which is 16-18ft long and is usually found in deep sea waters, has passed Parliament and is moving upstream.
A rescue boat has been sent [...]

Artist Accused of Vandalizing Urinal
Jan 06
PARIS
A 76-year-old performance artist was arrested after attacking Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain” _ a porcelain urinal _ with a hammer, police said.
Duchamp’s 1917 piece _ an ordinary white, porcelain urinal that’s been called one of the most influential works of modern art _ was slightly chipped in the attack at [...]

It started Monday when their first plane blew a tire on takeoff, dumped fuel over the ocean and circled back to Los Angeles International Airport to land in a spray of sparks, shedding 200 pounds of rubber and metal on the runway.
45-Hour Delay: Nonstop Plight
Passengers on an Air India flight endure hours on the tarmac, [...]

http://www.darkpassage.com/gate.htm

http://www.burj-al-arab.com/tennis

BEATTY TRIES TO CRASH SCHWARZENEGGER RALLY
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD
Associated Press Writer
SAN DIEGO
Actors Warren Beatty and wife Annette Bening tried to crash a campaign appearance Saturday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as the governor sought to drum up last-minute support for a group of statewide ballot measures.
The Hollywood couple strode side-by-side to the entrance of an [...]

What might have happened if J.G. Ballard had used his medical training to its fullest potential and become a doctor rather than a writer? Well, there would be no pen name for a start; ‘Jimmy Ballard’ would be a different man indeed, as Johnny Strike discovers. In this fascinating snapshot into an alternate Ballardian universe, [...]

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/brad/medill/pernkopf.html
The History of Eduard Pernkopf’s Topographische Anatomie des Menschen
by David J. Williams
“Frequently misunderstood because of the history of the time in which it was produced, Eduard Pernkopf’s Topographische Anatomie des Menschen nevertheless represents the pinnacle of color anatomic illustration. The more than 800 magnificent watercolor paintings of human anatomy found in Pernkopf’s atlas occupied a [...]

In the ongoing battle between the two movie stars: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Warren Beatty, there has already been a number of Ballardian moments. If Beatty actually throws his hat into the ring for the governors race, we’ll surely be witnessing something that will appear to be more fictional than set in reality. Here’s the [...]

San Diego group promotes floating airport
A local group is promoting a plan to replace Lindbergh Field with an international airport off the coast of San Diego.
Courtesy of Yoshiyuki Inoue.
Updated: 09/24/05
ESCONDIDO, Calif., Sept. 23 (UPI) —
A local group is promoting a plan to replace Lindbergh Field with an international airport off the coast of San [...]