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.
Ghostly Sightings—Or Ghastly Aging?
I partake of my morning walk at least 5-6 times a week, covering 2-3 miles each time. I’ve done this for many years, and I cannot recall encountering anything of a “paranormal” nature. Until recently, that is.
Throwback Thursday: What Is The Wilhelm Scream?
One of my favorite movies is the 1954 sci-fi/monster thriller, THEM! One thing about it that always struck me as funny was that the scream uttered by the sailor being mauled by a giant ant aboard a ship sounded exactly like the scream uttered by co-star James Whitmore as he is being mauled by a giant ant in a storm drain, which sounded exactly like the scream uttered by a soldier when a wooden beam falls on him in the same storm drain. Well, guess what, they were all the same. Let me tell you about the Wilhelm Scream.
““It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over”—Memorable Yogi-isms
Sure, I’ve been a San Diego Padres fanatic even before moving to SoCal in 1973. But I grew up in The Bronx, and as a kid I lived and died with the Yankees. My heroes were Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Elston Howard, Roger Maris—and the great Yogi Berra, a catcher with a non-athletic body who was capable of some amazing athletic feats.
Throwback Thursday: Myths And Legends—The House Of Death
I grew up in the Big Apple and I didn’t even know about this! I first presented this post in 2022.
JAWS: Half A Century, And Still Scary
Last Friday, in addition to it being the Summer Solstice, Steven Spielberg’s classic thriller, JAWS, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its 1975 release. Naturally, I had to watch the awesome movie for the…let’s see, 783rd time, give or take. I never get tired of what is considered to be the first summer blockbuster.
Throwback Thursday: Hear A Parishioner’s Confession, Then Solve A Murder
Despite our affection for British mysteries, my bride and I had passed on FATHER BROWN for quite some time. I mean, a Catholic priest who acts as an amateur sleuth, solving all manner of crimes, mostly murders? It just didn’t sound like our cup of Earl Grey. Wow, were we wrong!
King Kong Had A Kid?!
With rare exceptions, a sequel to a popular movie seldom lives up to the original. There is one main reason why sequels are even made: money. It is true these days, and it was true back in 1933, when SON OF KONG was released barely nine months after the insanely popular KING KONG.
Throwback Thursday: Nice Folks…So What If They’re All Dead?
I’m happy to report that I am writing again! The new book is titled, THE MAGIC OF THE BIKE PATH and is the sixth entry in my comedy-science fiction series that began many years ago with BICYCLING THROUGH SPACE AND TIME. In the meantime, enjoy a scene from my Sword & Planet spoof, THE HORRORS OF HARRMEL.
A Mighty Good Movie
In my misspent youth, when I wasn’t outside playing with the dinosaurs, I would watch these newfangled things called movies. One of my absolute favorites was the 1949 fantasy-adventure, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, a story about a ginormous gorilla taken from its habitat to be displayed in America for the edification of the masses. Wait, does that sound familiar? Well, it should.
Throwback Thursday: “Never Argue With Stupid People…”—More Gems 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 more of his best and most meaningful quotes.
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