‘Arts’ Archives
One Story, Two Endings
By SHELIA BLAND FIRST ENDINGRain plays rhythms on my coat and hood as I make my way to the inevitable meetup. I use these beats to block out any thoughts of the approaching confrontation. Puddles jump up in surprise and protest as I rudely slam the weight of my feet down in the midst of their watery realities. I hurry, unfazed by these reactive pushbacks.The target location is just in sight. I steel myself lunging forward. The fight is on. I arrive. Though the place is lit outside, inside seems dark. This is the assigned location. Ground zero. It should be open for business.If necessary, we have this showdown in the street. There is no going back.I push the door. It opens. I move in. In the darkness I see bodies seated around the room.I’ll wait here…Mid-thought, my opponent is upon me.“Let’s do this.”“Yes, lets.”Suddenly, there’s light and…“SURPRISE!!!”“What…”Laughter and glee ring out. I am surrounded.“You are so easy to play. I knew the best way to [...]
Movie Corner: Oppenheimer
5 Stars Universal Pictures 2023 Biography/History/Drama By HOWARD MCQUITTER II Howard McQuitter II To tell the story of Robert Oppenheimer in a book, in film or on stage is to tell the story of a very complicated man. Director Christopher Nolan gives the viewers more than just a caption of Oppenheimer in his new film. The man, J. Robert Oppenheimer, was a physicist, genius, doctorate, father of the atomic bomb, victim of the “Red Scare”. Indeed, I thank Nolan for making a film about a man whose atomic bomb (advanced into the hydrogen bomb, then to the nuclear bomb) changed the entire outlook of modern warfare since 1945.The film doesn’t start with Oppenheimer’s childhood years, but starts circa 1925 when Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is at Harvard about to graduate with a physics degree. He then does his postgraduate work at Cambridge University only to become frustrated by his overbearing tutor Patrick Blackett (James D’Arcy) who insists that his student stick [...]
A Walk in the Park
By DANETTE BILLUPS As I walk the trail around the park I hear the scrape of the jump rope and patter of feet on the ground. The children giggle as they take turns jumping, in an attempt to have the most consecutive jumps without tiring or becoming entangled in the ropes.I hear the bouncing of a ball on the basketball court. I see the ball tossed towards the rim, but it did not make it through the hoop. The sound reverberates as the ball bounces off the backboard. A crowd is gathering to watch the game. The leaves rustle as the wind gently gently caresses them. Birds are chirping and ducks are quacking in the pond. Light taps can be heard from the fountain of water springing forth in the middle of the pond.As I round the curve on the trail, I hear the ever so occasional airplane pass by overhead. A dog barks and the owner jogs along the trail with their furry friend.Children squeal with glee as they roll down the hill amongst the dandelions. There is another swift breeze of wind, [...]
