January 5 - 6th, 2009

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Fedoras and Vintage Threads: Henri Takes a Bite Outta the Big Apple - Announcing the Penman hat company update 12/22/08 -  - Penman hat co. customers - Art Fawcett - Vintage Silhouettes - The Fedora Lounge and the exit of some hatters.  - How Many Hats Do You Own, & What Brands are They? - Vests? - "What's up at VS?" News about Art Fawcett's products. Best Fedora Vendors - The Wind in the Fedoras - - The Marlo - Random Pictures of other people in fedoras? - T-shirts? -

Movies: - The Worst Movie Ever Made? - The Greatest Western- Trivia Question for January 4, 2009 -  Remembering Eartha Kitt. Dark Horse: Indiana Jones and the Tomb of the Gods. - 1940's heartthrob Van Johnson dies at 92 - 3 new hats Best Moment for Classic Movie Fans - The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953)  -   Doctor Who - Guns n' Roses Chinese Democracy

News And Current Events -  Next New York City Summit 2009 - The Latest from Zahi Hawass - That Crazy Gaza Tread (Merged Topics)  - Virtual summit...? -Anyone use Skype? - Deep Throat' Dead at 95 - Three Pigs story ruled ‘offensive to Muslims’  - Mixed it around...  Suzanna Gratia-Hupp Moose wandering down my alley tonight.  New Years Plans And Retro Resolutions. - "New NASA report details final minutes of Columbia," Britain Opens Up Secret UFO Files WWII album cover.

December 31st, 2008 "Dynastic Senatorial Appointments?" by Eric 'Renderking' Fisk, "If you're looking for someone to heap praise on Governor Peterson's choice for US Senator, and gushing over Washington's return to "Camelot," don't read this rant. "There's just so much to discuss here, this one single appointment is so ripe with opportunity for political commentary and satire, it just can't be left alone. I've scrapped everything else I wanted to discuss and do for the rest of 2008 just for this one rant." Read More...

Holiday Themes On The Electric Speakeasy: "Favorite Christmas Traditions." Do you have a favorite Christmas tradition you would like to share with us? - "How Retro/Vintage do you go for Winter?"  Question is: How Retro do you go for this snow and ice season? -  "Merry Christmas and..." June Blanchard gives us unexpected movie titles to watch this holiday. "It's A Wonderful Life..." what is it about this movie we love so much?

Posted December 20th, 2008: “Good-Bye, Majel,” by Eric 'Renderking' Fisk She and I were on the same page about Trekkies needing to "Get A Life" and take part in making the future depicted in "Star Trek" a reality, rather then passively obsess about it. She just happened to say it better. This very regal, forth-right lady care about the fans, and glowed about those of us who took the message seriously - glowed about those fans who accomplished something as if they were her children or grand-children. Sadly, she died late this past week of pneumonia. She will be missed. Here's why..

December 17th, 2008: “Playing It Safe In The Face Of Disaster?” by Eric 'Renderking' Fisk: "If you are easily offended by harsh language or would like to perpetuate your believe in the Fairy Tale that your local government officials are looking out for you and your best interest and will be there when disaster strikes, skip this rant..." Read More...

“Nackles,” or "Dark Christmas Nostalgia," by Eric 'Renderking' Fisk. "What's going to happen to all of us? What's going to happen to individual families and the country as a whole? There are troubling news about bail-outs, inappropriate corporate spending, political officials being arrested for corruption, and the clarion call to all us to spend more because sales are down. There's a lot of anger out there. And maybe, just maybe we should postpone Christmas. What's there to celebrate? Why even have Christmas when nobody's really in the mood? Things are pretty dark, aren't they? My response to that is, what better time when times are dark to celebrate a holiday that's supposed to be about Light overcoming Darkness? Let me explain."

Posted December 4th, 2008: "Red Robin" Review: Somewhere on The Electric Speakeasy there's a quote that might become our motto for a short while: "Everyone gets knocked over: The measure of a man is how well he gets up again." The same holds true for eating establishments; from one of a kind sole proprietors, hot dog stands and even chains. Everyone deserves a second chance, no matter how badly they fouled up. This review is one great example.

Our Annual Thanksgiving Thread - Same question every year... what are you thankful for this year? - We would like to know your answer... feel free to sign up and post if you're not yet a member!

Posted November 21st, 2008 - by Doug Palumbo - Big Apple Comic Con - “The National” November 14-16, 2008 - "I feel as though the show’s organizers could have done a better job of sprucing up the area (which looked like a dingy, neglected basement) by hanging posters or decorating the walls in some other fashion. The signs pointing you to the right area looked hastily hand written. A little work to print out some signs would have gone a long way to make it look more organized and professional. The room I went to (for the war comics panel) had the standard set up of chairs for the attendees and a small stage and some long tables for the guests. It worked well enough but again, a little more effort towards design could have made the experience much nicer." Read The Entire Review...

Posted on November 21st, 2008 Review by Eric 'Renderking' Fisk - "Life As We Knew It" by Susan Beth Pfeffer is perhaps the most "horrible" book I've ever read on two levels. It's harsh, raw and often bitter with a few sweet moments to barely keep your faith in humanity. "Life As We Knew It" is a difficult read, but is well worth the effort as a preview of what might happen if we're ever truly in a "worst case scenario" ...if you're a "young adult reader."

Posted on Monday, November 10th, 2008: This week on The Radio Show, Doug Palumbo and I discuss fan reaction to a much awaited sequel and his up-coming appearance at a comic show in the New York area. The music we featured on this time was from the soundtrack to the 1974 motion picture "Farewell My Lovely" Composed by David Shire. We also featured off of "the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull Soundtrack" "Mutt's Theme" Composed and Conducted by John Williams and released earlier this year. Listen Now

Posted on Monday, November 10th, 2008:“Watching the Election,” by Kira Schiavone: It’s been a while since you’ve had something from me; most of what I would put up here tends to get redirected to Live Journal now. But since I’m The Fedora Chronicles’ resident liberal democrat columnist and I knew there would be about a hundred other columns on this subject with a very different slant, I thought I’d add my two cents. Read More...

“In 2009, Kiss Your Fedora Chronicles Goodbye,” by Eric 'Renderking' Fisk: "..."The Fairness Doctrine" is the same as the FBI or CIA checking with the Library or book stores to see what you're reading... There will be the "Fairness" committee to make sure your speech is "Political Correct." You  think this is funny until "they" take a look into what you're saying and they don't like it. The Fairness Doctrine would also tell you what you can't listen to, simply by killing it at it's source. You're either for censorship and "The Fairness Doctrine," or you're for free speech. For Speech to be free, it has to be free for EVERYONE, not determined by some bureaucracy in Berlin after 1932 or Washington after 2008." Read the whole article here...

Flicks To Hold You Over:  “Bridge to Terabithia,”   review by Eric "Renderking" Fisk - "Bridge To Terabithia" takes you to a place in all of our imaginations, and then further into the depths of your very soul just before it rips your heart out with it's bitter-sweet ending. This is a wonderful movie that handles heavy concepts in a not too heavy handed way. Mostly, "Terabithia" is about those awkward early teen years when you're almost old enough to understand love and mutual attraction, not quite old enough to stop playing make-believe. It's also about making quantum jumps into adulthood while facing the bitter realities of life before you're actually ready.  ... Read More.

Announcing The Penman Hat Company - Penman Hats are hand made using the finest quality materials. Many detailed hours of craftsmanship goes into making each hat. Using pure beaver felt, vegetable tanned sheepskin leather sweatbands, satin liners and grosgrain hat ribbon. My sweatbands are hand-stitched, which allows the hat to be re-blocked several times over. Although this is not a "rain" hat, Penman Hats durability will stand up when caught in the elements and continue to give you the sleek look you desire. My hats are made with the care and style of the vintage fedoras of the Golden Era.

Comfort and elegance is what I strive for when making each and every hat. Penman Hats are made to have a perfect fit for each individual.

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