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 more to it than that, which is why I included “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.
Safe At Home
I’m writing this on what should have been Opening Day for Major League Baseball in general, and my San Diego Padres in particular. (Not to mention the start of the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA basketball tournament. Crap!)
They Had To Start Somewhere
One of the things I love about THE TWILIGHT ZONE was watching actors and actresses that were either famous at the time or were little known but would achieve fame in the future. The list is amazing.
Native American Film Gems: Thunderheart
The 1992 film, THUNDERHEART, has been described as a “contemporary western mystery,” but it is so much more than that. It is “loosely based” on what is known as the Wounded Knee incident, which occurred in 1973, and other instances of Native American resistance, such as the occupation of Alcatraz Island (1969-1971).
“Start Writing, No Matter What” – More Quotes From Successful Authors
Wisdom from well-known authors can be inspirational for wannabe writers. Or in some cases they can have the opposite effect. Here are some more gems to ponder.
Myths And Legends: The St. Louis Ghost Train
To be clear, we’re not talking about the city in Missouri, but rather a small town in Canada, located in the province of Saskatchewan. This rural burg put itself on the paranormal map a long time ago by virtue of an eerie phenomenon: the lights of a ghostly train that roll down invisible tracks nearly every night.
What Is Capgras Delusion?
In these two films about “pod people,” alien spores are duplicating humans and destroying their bodies as they take their places—fiction, of course. But you might be surprised to know that this is a real psychiatric disorder, first identified nearly a century ago, called Capgras Delusion.
Curious Possessions II
With seven-plus decades in the rearview mirror I’ve had plenty of time to collect a whole lot of “stuff.” Here is a look at some more “Curious Possessions” floating around my domicile.
“The Supreme Excitement Of Our Time!”
The above gaudy title was the tagline for THIS ISLAND EARTH (1955), a science fiction thriller from the “golden decade” of that genre. For generations raised on CGI, motion capture, and other high-tech wizardry, this film’s special effects might come off as laughable…
Likes His Basketball, Yoda Does—Hmm?
My bride and I (and a certain Jedi Master) are having a grand old time following our two teams during this college basketball season.
Outrageous Film Teasers
I happened to be drinking coffee last week as I read some film teasers on Amazon Prime. The coffee wound up shooting out of my nose after reading one teaser in particular. It will be the first one on the following list. (Don’t be drinking anything.) A few others will follow.
Latest Release
