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.
Images Of Hate: The Number People Revisited
I’ve run this post before. But with our beleaguered country, as well as the rest of the world, undergoing a much-needed reboot, I felt that the time was right to run it again. THE NUMBER PEOPLE, although presented in fictional format, is a true story right out of my childhood in The Bronx.
Throwback Thursday: Quotes From Writers—About Writing
As I noted when this post first ran in 2016, writers have never shied away from sharing thoughts about their craft, among other topics. In this occasional series we will have a look at some of their insights. I’ll begin with one of my favorite quotes EVER.
The Fly: An Exercise In Barf-Baggery
Until recently I had not watched the excellent 1986 remake of THE FLY in many years. This is my excuse for forgetting that I should not have viewed the film so close to dinnertime. Appetite gone!
Throwback Thursday: Righting Old Wrongs—Totally Done
When this post first ran in 2016, the title read, “Almost Done.” I’ve long since finished what I set out to do, as you’ll see in this revision.
Guilty Pleasures: The Mummy (2017)
This Tom Cruise-fueled reboot, THE MUMMY, is a serious contender for the guiltiest of my Guilty Pleasures. It lost a chunk of change for the studio, and it has an anemic 16% rating on Rotten Tomatoes due to its brutal reviews. And if that’s not enough, the film garnered eight Razzie nominations, with one win for Worst Actor—yep, Tom Cruise.
Throwback Thursday: Is “Outstanding Remake” An Oxymoron?
This post is about one of the best movie remakes of all time. It first ran in 2016.
Curious Possessions III
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.
Throwback Thursday: Myths And Legends—The Angry Ghosts Of Japan’s Suicide Forest
Who knew? Until I saw a film titled THE FOREST earlier this year, I had not heard of Aokigahara. Research revealed something shocking: this vast forest, located near the base of Japan’s sacred Mt. Fuji, is a place where thousands of people have come to take their own lives.
The Lord Of The…Dust Bunnies?
Report from the Sirota Quarantine Cave: Jacqueline and I are doing fine. We’ve both been “sheltering in place” since she got back from a trip to Utah in mid-March. I suppose we’re more cautious than most, but hey, when they refer to “high-risk groups” they’re talking seniors (check) and people with underlying health conditions (double check).
Throwback Thursday: Films About Books—You’ve Got Mail
This 1998 romantic comedy stars Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, one of the most popular couples in that genre. But YOU’VE GOT MAIL offers another sobering reality from that era: the Big Box discount store pushing out the Mom and Pop shop of days gone by. In this story we’re talking about bookstores.
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