For the Weekend Warriors, Weirdos & Whackjobs - Issue #103
Bad gas travels fast in a small town
As I tip tap on my laptop, outside the window, we’re having our first snowfall of the season. On the record player is Jerry Reed’s “The Bandit.” These things make no sense together, and that’s ok. We’re just a bunch of bandits trying to find sense together, right?
Looking for your new winter listen? The first five episodes of Witchgrass: A Small Town Investigation are live on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music.
What We Wrote
Out to everyone this week is the seventh in a series on Commonwealth v. Russ. Some Lawyer continues to examine testimony in the trial of Oscar Russ. This series has been done with the exact consideration, care and intrigue the bullshitters need. Look forward to the next instalment in the series, coming later this month.
To our paid subscribers, Pump Up the Panic with Justin this week. We have a long history of outsourcing our fear to boogeymen and unexplainable bumps in the night. But what about the horror just down the street? In our towns? Our judicial systems? Find catharsis with us today.
Thanks to the Decrypting a Defense newsletter for the shoutout this week. If you’re not already reading their Substack, you must. We are big fans.
What Justin Recommends
Podcast | The Devil You Know with Sarah Marshall - Arguably, Sarah Marshall of “You’re Wrong About” fame, is one of our biggest podcast-journalista-crushes at Permanent Record Research. This new release from Sarah is a fresh take on an old problem that still plagues our society today: the devil. Revisit the Satanic Panic in a way you never will have before, and with a storyteller you’re sure to love.
Book | Attract Mode by Jamie Lendino - If you’ve ever walked past an arcade cabinet that seems to be possessed, playing Ms. Pac-Man or Galaga, seemingly all by itself. It beckons to you to dig into the lint of your Levi 501s (just play along) and put a quarter in. This cabinet, is in what’s called ‘attract mode’ in the coin-op biz, and it’s also the name of this incredibly well researched, fun, and eye-opening book by Jamie Lendino. I loved this book for its detail and just the sheer size of the bibliography is worth it alone. A must-have for gamers and non-gamers alike.
Movie | Hell House LLC: Lineage (Shudder) - If you’re a fan of the Hell House LLC franchise, then you will no doubt be under a certain amount of compulsion to watch this latest instalment. If you’ve not yet had the buttclenching pleasure of having watched a Hell House LLC movie before, then I beg of you to go watch at least the first movie in the series — because Lineage is different than the others. Abandoning the found footage foundation for a cinematic backstory/explainer, this movie pulls together the history and the frights behind them, with a new lens. While it might not be for all fans, I still remain a big one of this series.
Fill your pipe, or your laundry machine, whatever speak to you most today. Enjoy some down time and pick up a book, listen to a podcast, watch a movie and take it easy.
Until next time,
Your Bullshit Hunting Crew