Author Archives: Laura

Poetry Wednesday 03/04/09: Outside of a Small Circle of Friends

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Phil Ochs artist unknown Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends By Phil Ochs Look outside the window, there’s a woman being grabbed They’ve dragged her to the bushes and now she’s being stabbed Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain But Monopoly is so much fun, I’d hate to blow the game And I’m sure it wouldn’t interest anybody Outside of a small circle of friends. Riding down the highway, yes, my back is getting stiff Thirteen cars are … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday: Blow, Wild March Wind

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Windflowers, 1903 John William Waterhouse Oil on Canvas Blow, Wild March Wind by William Wilsey Martin Year written: 1885 Blow, wild March wind! In hollows of the lea, In copses low, thy bride awaiteth thee— The timid, saint-like, white anemone. She will not show her face, though woo’d by kings, Till o’er her beat the pulsings of thy wings. Blow, wild March wind! that we her face may see, Through pine-clad gorges by our northward sea, Through English woodlands where the blackcap sings. Blow, wild … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 04/01/09: April

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April by Amy Lowell (1874 – 1925) A bird chirped at my window this morning,And over the sky is drawn a light net-work of clouds.Come,Let us go out into the open,For my heart leaps like a fish that is ready to spawn. I will lie under the beech-trees,Under the grey branches of the beech-trees,In a blueness of little squills and crocuses.I will lie among the little squillsAnd be delivered of this overcharge of beauty,And that which is born shall be a joy to youWho love … Continue reading →

Autobiography of a Yogi

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One of my favorite books that I’ve read over the years was, “Autobiography of a Yogi”, by Paramahansa Yogananda. It is a classic book that was first written in 1946, and has been continually rediscovered by people all over the world for many years. Basically, it is one of the few books in English about the wise men of India, and it is written about yogis by a yogi. You can find copies of this book in the following languages: English, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi; … Continue reading →

Romeo and Juliet (1968)

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Romeo and Juliet (1968) is Florentine director Franco Zeffirelli’s beautiful modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s enduring, classic yet tragic love story of “star-crossed lovers.” Filmed on location in Italy, it was the most commercially successful Shakespeare film and its most entertaining, refreshing and natural rendition – a passionate celebration of young love. The film won four Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Director, Cinematography (Pasqualino De Santis), and Costume Design (Danilo Donati), winning two Oscars – Best Cinematography and Costume Design. Nino Rota’s evocative musical score, … Continue reading →

If I Did It

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As you may have guessed, this blog is about O.J. Simpson’s book, “If I Did It”. I didn’t want to use an actual photograph of him because I can’t stand the sight of him, so I used this Simpson cartoon shot. I thought that would be funnier anyway, after all, Simpson is a joke. I personally think that this new book he wrote is a true confession, but I guess you already figured that out. It’s a no-brainer, right ? I don’t see how anyone … Continue reading →

Miracle on 34th Street

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Miracle on 34th Street (also titled The Big Heart in the UK) is a 1947 film written by Valentine Davies, directed by George Seaton, and starring Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Edmund Gwenn, and Natalie Wood. The film won Academy Awards  for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Edmund Gwenn), Best Writing, Original Story  (Valentine Davies) and Best Writing, Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Picture, losing to Gentleman’s Agreement.  It was ranked ninth by the American Film Institute on its list of America’s most … Continue reading →

Edgar Cayce

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Edgar Cayce (1877-1945) was an ordinary guy. He was a husband. He had two kids. He was a photographer. He was a Sunday school teacher, and a gardner. So what was so special about him ? Edgar Cayce was probably the most powerful psychic of the 20th century. For 43 years of his adult life, he was able to put himself in some kind of meditative state while lying on a couch, closing his eyes with his hands folded over his stomach, and placing his … Continue reading →

To Serve Man

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To Serve Man” is an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone. This episode, which is one of many that I’ve seen, is one which I have always remembered as one of the most intense and also interesting episodes of The Twilight Zone.   The story is based on a short story To Serve Man  written by Damon Knight. The title of both the story and episode is a play on the word serve having the dual meanings “assist” and “provide as a meal”. Opening narration by … Continue reading →

Theater Thursday: Equus

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Equus is a play by Peter Shaffer written in 1973, telling the story of a psychiatrist  who attempts to treat a young man who has a pathological religious/sexual fascination with horses. Shaffer was inspired to write Equus when he heard of a crime involving a teenage boy who blinded six horses. He set out to construct a fictional account of what might have caused the incident, without knowing any of the details of the crime. The play is essentially a detective story, with the psychiatrist … Continue reading →