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.
““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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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?
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.
Latest Release
