Mike Sirota's Blog – Swords, Specters, & Stuff
Welcome to My World
I started this blog in January 2012 for one simple reason: I love to write. I named it “Swords, Specters, & Stuff” because I especially love to write about writing, about books and movies in my favorite genres, about authors that mean a great deal to me. But there’s so much more than that, hence the all-inclusive “Stuff” in the title. It is “Stuff” that gives me carte blanche to write about anything, which is why you’ll see stories about special trips to Cooperstown, Sedona, and other places; about getting older; about baseball; about the otherworldly way in which I met my soul mate; about the loss of good friends, and so much more. Enjoy! And feel free to leave a comment.
“Suppose You Were An Idiot…”—Quotes From Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), known by his pen name of Mark Twain, is considered this country’s greatest humorist. William Faulkner even went as far as calling him “the father of American literature.” Here are some of his best and most meaningful quotes.
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Throwback Thursday: “Take The Cannoli”…More Great Movie Lines
There are countless memorable lines from movies both classic and not-so-classic. Here are a few more of them. This post first ran in 2015.
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Myths And Legends: The Island Of The Dolls
There is an otherworldly place not far from the heart of the sprawling Mexico City called La Isla de las Muñecas—the Island of the Dolls. It is located in one of the channels off Lake Xochimilco. For those of us creeped out by the “true” stories of Annabelle and Robert the Doll, or the fictional Chucky, this island can be a waking nightmare.
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Throwback Thursday—Films About Books: The Book Thief
“Books are life” may well be the theme for young protagonist Liesel Meminger in the 2013 drama, THE BOOK THIEF. There is only one problem: at the start of the story, Liesel cannot read or write.
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Is It TERMINATOR 3 Or TERMINATOR 6?
Wherever you want to slot it in the Terminator universe, TERMINATOR: DARK FATE has me guardedly excited in advance of its November 1 release date. Maybe that has to do with the fact that James Cameron, who wrote and directed the first two films—THE TERMINATOR (1984) and TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (1991)—is once again involved.
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Throwback Thursday: “I Can’t Wait Till”…Oh Yes I Can
Why wish TIME away? It moves pretty damn fast on its own. This post first ran in 2015.
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“B” Movies: Burial Grounds For Old Actors?
The 2008 made-for-TV (SyFy Channel) horror/sci-fi film, BONE EATER, which appears on many “Worst” lists, is notable for one thing. Its cast consists of a bunch of long-in-tooth actors that we knew from long-ago television shows. I guess it’s good to know that they’re still picking up a paycheck.
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Throwback Thursday: Why Remake A Scary Classic?
I’ve watched the POLTERGEIST remake a couple of times since this post last appeared in 2015. My opinion of it has not changed. But the original? Oh, classic!
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“The Obsolete Man”—A Warning
I recently got the chills—not in a good way, either—watching a nearly six decades-old episode of the original “Twilight Zone” titled, “The Obsolete Man.” Given the current disturbing state of politics in this country, if not the world, I think you’ll understand why.
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Throwback Thursday: Renowned Artists’ Colony Has Hosted Many Writing Luminaries
For well over a century the artists’ community called Yaddo, located in Saratoga Springs, NY, has nurtured creativity by giving talented people the chance to pursue their work uninterrupted within a supportive environment. The “Who’s Who” of its residents is staggering.
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