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.
Go Climb A Rock…Or Not
I finally figured it out. I finally understood why, given my fear of heights and an even greater phobia about falling, I watched just about every mountain-climbing movie out there. It was because—from the safety of my couch or the theater seat—I wanted to understand the mindset of people who risked their lives to reach a summit.
Throwback Thursday: The Last Dinosaur (Movie?)
Well, since this post first appeared in 2022, another dinosaur film is on the horizon. JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH will be out in July.
Guilty Pleasures: INFESTATION
At this stage of my life it’s nice to discover a new Guilty Pleasure, and the 2009 comedy/horror movie, INFESTATION, fits the bill. My usual parameters—box office and reviews—don’t actually apply here, because I’m not even sure it had a box office, and the only reviews I found were on IMDB—and they were pretty good.
Throwback Thursday: “Dinosaurs Eat Man…Woman Inherits The Earth”
JURASSIC PARK is not only the best film in the classic series, it also has many of the best lines. This post first ran in 2022.
From Concentration Camp To Film Stardom
The late actress, Ingrid Pitt, gained a great deal of notoriety while starring in a number of 1970s horror films from Britain’s Hammer Film Productions and other studios. But no fictional movie could match the unthinkable, real-life horror she experienced as a child.
Throwback Thursday—Myths And Legends: “America’s Most Haunted Hotel”
What? The MOST haunted? That is what the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas perceives itself to be. And whether we believe it or not, there is an extensive history of paranormal activity at this venerable building.
“Ode To Joy”—Exercising To The Oldies
A question: does Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” which is the fourth movement of his Symphony #9, qualify as an oldie? Well, he wrote it between 1823 and 1824. Old enough for you?
Throwback Thursday: Cannot Hit Curveball? Jobu Maybe Help…
My Padres are doing well this season. Maybe Jobu is helping. This post first ran in 2022.
Who Was Moses Fleetwood Walker?
Sixty-three years before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier during MLB’s so-called modern era, a professional baseball catcher was credited with being the first black man to play in the major leagues. His name was Moses Fleetwood Walker.
Throwback Thursday: FROZEN HELL—The Novel That Formed The Basis For THE THING
This sci-fi thriller amazed readers nearly ninety years ago. I first presented this post in 2022.
Latest Release
