Musings & Thoughts for Saturday, May 6, 2023, or: Weekend Update, Part the First


“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” ― Anais Nin It’s Saturday, Yeah, But I Think I’ll Work Today It’s early afternoon in Lithia, Florida, on Saturday, May 6, 2023. For me, it has been a long day; I woke up at four in the morning, and despite my bestContinue reading “Musings & Thoughts for Saturday, May 6, 2023, or: Weekend Update, Part the First”

Counting Down to the Big Six-Oh: The Stuff that Helps Keep Me ‘Young at Heart’


“You’re never too old to be young.” ― Charles F Glassman As you know, I’ll be celebrating my 60th birthday in (as I write this) less than 29 days. This, of course, means that I have many of the responsibilities and some of the skills that a guy my age has. I pay rent. IContinue reading “Counting Down to the Big Six-Oh: The Stuff that Helps Keep Me ‘Young at Heart’”

Musings & Thoughts for Monday, January 16, 2023, or: A Quick Preview of Things to Come on ‘A Certain Point of View, Too’


Hi there, Dear Reader. It’s Monday, January 16, 2023 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day here in the United States – and here in Lithia, Florida, it is late morning. It’s chilly – 57°F/14°C under sunny skies – and even though it’s going to warm up to 67°F/19°F and the afternoon will be sunny andContinue reading “Musings & Thoughts for Monday, January 16, 2023, or: A Quick Preview of Things to Come on ‘A Certain Point of View, Too’”

‘Star Wars’ Collectibles & Toys Review: Star Wars The Black Series George Lucas (in Stormtrooper Disguise) 6-Inch-Scale Collectible Action Figure


“The Maker” Gets a Tribute Figure! The 6-inch-scale Black Series figure is detailed to look like George Lucas if he was wearing a Stormtrooper Disguise, featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation. – Hasbro’s product description in the George Lucas (in Stormtrooper Disguise) page on Hasbro.com On June 28, 2022 (45 years after theContinue reading “‘Star Wars’ Collectibles & Toys Review: Star Wars The Black Series George Lucas (in Stormtrooper Disguise) 6-Inch-Scale Collectible Action Figure”

‘Star Wars’ Collectibles & Toys Review: Star Wars The Black Series Figrin D’an Toy 6-Inch-Scale Collectible Action Figure


“Fiery” Figrin D’an On July 16, 2022, Pawtucket (Rhode Island) based Hasbro released Figrin D’an, a 6-inch scale action figure of the bandleader and kloo horn player who “fronts” Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, aka “the Cantina Band” seen in 1977’s Star Wars,[1] as part of the Summer 2022 wave in its ongoing StarContinue reading “‘Star Wars’ Collectibles & Toys Review: Star Wars The Black Series Figrin D’an Toy 6-Inch-Scale Collectible Action Figure”

Star Wars Toys & Collectibles Review: ‘Star Wars The Black Series – General Lando Calrissian’ 6-inch Scale Action Figure


General Lando Calrissian Lando Calrissian served as a general in the starfighter attack on the second Death Star, showing off his superb piloting skills guiding the Millennium Falcon into the Death Star superstructure. – Character description blurb on Star Wars The Black Series: General Lando Calrissian package On September 17, 2021, Rhode Island-based Hasbro, Inc.Continue reading “Star Wars Toys & Collectibles Review: ‘Star Wars The Black Series – General Lando Calrissian’ 6-inch Scale Action Figure”

Happy 45th Anniversary, Star Wars: A Fan’s ‘Love Letter’ to the Movie that Saved His Adolescence


Star Wars – both as the original film and as a multimedia franchise – is 45 years old today. On Wednesday, May 25, 1977, the space-fantasy film billed in its teaser trailer as the “story of a boy, a girl, and a universe” opened in a handful of theaters in North America (42 screens inContinue reading “Happy 45th Anniversary, Star Wars: A Fan’s ‘Love Letter’ to the Movie that Saved His Adolescence”

Musings & Thoughts for Wednesday, May 4, 2022, or: Storms, Books, and ‘Star Wars Day’


Hi, there, Dear Reader. It’s late morning in Lithia, Florida, on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. It is a warm, humid day here in the Tampa Bay area. Currently, the temperature is 79°F (26°C) under partly sunny skies. With humidity at 82% and the wind blowing from the east at 2 MPH (3 KM/H), the feels-likeContinue reading “Musings & Thoughts for Wednesday, May 4, 2022, or: Storms, Books, and ‘Star Wars Day’”

Star Wars Collectibles & Toys Review: Hasbro ‘Star Wars The Black Series – Admiral Piett 6-inch Scale Action Figure


Admiral Ozzel: [appearing onscreen with Captain Piett] Lord Vader, the fleet has moved out of lightspeed and we’re preparing to… [Ozzel stops, and suddenly begins to choke, clutching at his throat] Darth Vader: You have failed me for the last time, Admiral! Captain Piett? Captain Piett: Yes, my lord? Darth Vader: Make ready to landContinue reading “Star Wars Collectibles & Toys Review: Hasbro ‘Star Wars The Black Series – Admiral Piett 6-inch Scale Action Figure”

Star Wars Toys & Collectibles Review: ‘Star Wars The Black Series Han Solo (Hoth) Action Figure -Archive/Lucasfilm Ltd. 50th Anniversary Collection’


Ooh…I thought they smelled bad…on the outside! – Han Solo, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back On January 21, 2021, Hasbro  Hasbro released a 6-inch scale Han Solo (Hoth) action figure as part of its Star Wars The Black Series Archive collection.  Like other figures in the Archive subcollection, this rendition of smuggler-turned-Rebel hero Han Solo in his Rebel-issueContinue reading “Star Wars Toys & Collectibles Review: ‘Star Wars The Black Series Han Solo (Hoth) Action Figure -Archive/Lucasfilm Ltd. 50th Anniversary Collection’”