Keith B. Darrell's Blog, page 49
June 9, 2012
Requiem for a Welterweight
I seldom write about sports. I lack interest in baseball, football, basketball, soccer, or golf. But I make an exception for two sports: horseracing and boxing. Both were favorites of my grandfather, who put himself through law school by boxing. His name was Manny P. and he was the father figure in my life. He was born today, June 9th, so it seemed an ideal way to celebrate his birthday by attending his favorite sport tonight: boxing. Another Manny P -- Manny Pacquiao -- was defending his WBO...
May 26, 2012
American Exceptionalism: George Washington & the Deerskin Torah
There’s a lot of talk these days about American Exceptionalism. Tea Partiers jingoistically assert America is the greatest country in the world with a divinely inspired manifest destiny, while Progressives counter America cannot claim such a title when it does not lead in the world in educating or providing healthcare and social justice for it citizens. They are both wrong.
Many countries have surpassed America in the criteria used to measure “greatness”. Our disappointing education system has...
May 21, 2012
Guns or Puppies?
I was in Walmart today observing a mother interacting with her little boy, who was about four or five. The boy had already tossed a toy gun into their shopping cart and was now clutching a stuffed animal. The mother insisted the child could only have one toy, and of course, the boy wanted both. I counted at least 10 refrains of “Which one do you want, the gun or the puppy?” Each time I heard the question, it sounded more surreal.
If I had a five-year-old child, would I want him running around...
May 18, 2012
The Best Seat In The House
“They don’t make ‘em like they used to!” You’ve heard it before, but it’s true. Quality and craftsmanship are things of the past. Fortunately, some examples have survived into the 21st century. The historic Vista Theatre on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles is one of them.
The Spanish-style facade belies its ornate interior. Built in October 1923 by architect Lewis A. Smith, the Vista Theatre is a one-of-a-kind movie theater notable for its Egyptian-themed décor. The 638-seat theater, origi...
May 11, 2012
Johnny Depp's Lie & Other Dark Shadows Observations
I’m writing this blog on the plane after wrapping up a 48-hour whirlwind excursion to Los Angeles, California for a premiere party of Tim Burton’s movie version of Dark Shadows, starring Johnny Depp. As regular readers of this blog know, Dark Shadows has been a life-long passion of mine – unlike Johnny Depp, I really did run home from school every afternoon to watch Dark Shadows. Depp turned three years old on June 9, 1966 and Dark Shadows debuted two weeks later; it went off the air in April...
Johnny Depp Is A Liar And Other Dark Shadows Observations
I’m writing this blog on the plane after wrapping up a 48-hour whirlwind excursion to Los Angeles, California for a premiere party of Tim Burton’s movie version of Dark Shadows, starring Johnny Depp. As regular readers of this blog know, Dark Shadows has been a life-long passion of mine – unlike Johnny Depp, I really did run home from school every afternoon to watch Dark Shadows. Depp turned three years old on June 9, 1966 and Dark Shadows debuted two weeks later; it went off the air in April...
May 10, 2012
"Best of Blog" Posts
It's a good thing I'm not married to my blog or I'd be sleeping on the couch. A reader has just reminded me I forgot my blog's anniversary. March marked the one-year anniversary of the blog you're reading. Yes, I know it's May. Like I said, I forgot. In my defense, it has been a hectic first year. I published the 6th edition of Issues In Internet Law: Society, Technology, and the Law; Halos & Horns Book Two: And A Child Shall Lead Them; and my mammoth 542-page short story collection, Shar...
May 8, 2012
An Excerpt: Lucifer Rebuilds Hell
- an excerpt from To Hell In A Handbasket to be published in May 2012. "Halos & Horns" Book 3:
Lucifer rose from his ivory throne of bones to address the demon contractor before him. "Abraxas, when I hired you as general contractor to oversee the rebuilding of Hell, you promised the job would be nearly completed by now. Instead, you've hardly begun."
The cock-headed demon slithered to the throne's side on his serpentine legs. "Lord Lucifer, that was merely an initial estimate. At the time,...
May 7, 2012
An Excerpt: Real Vampires Don't Sparkle!
- an excerpt from To Hell In A Handbasket to be published in May 2012. "Halos & Horns" Book 3:
She glanced across the room and saw Pandora reclining in a chair, absorbed in a book. “What are you reading?”
Pandora folded her page and looked up. “It’s the new Paige Turner Nightfall novel. It’s wizard!”
Sharon sighed. “How can you read that drivel, Panda?”
“Everyone reads Nightfall. It makes it cool to be a sucker.”
“As if!” Sharon rolled her eyes. “That dreck’s not about suckers. All her vampire...
May 6, 2012
An Excerpt - Meet Siofra... or Not!
Siofra (pronounced Shee-fra) is a 13-year-old Irish changeling: a cruel, evil supernatural creature. Kaya is a naive 10-year-old Japanese girl with a dark secret. A pair of bullies have just made a big mistake targeting them. Tori Amos isn't the only one who can write about strange little girls...
Siofra stepped between Kaya and the bullies. She spoke in a calm, yet firm tone. "Kaya, run down the path and wait for me. Dinnae turn around and dinnae come back. Understand?
"But-" Kaya began.
The c...
