The Blaisdell Blog

  One of my favorite science fiction movies is Forbidden Planet.   This 1956 sci-fi stars Walter Pidgeon, Leslie Nielson, Anne Francis and Robbie the Robot.   It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and is considered one of the best sci-fi movies ever made, frequently referred to as a modern version of Shakespeare’s The Tempest .   The stars of this movie got along quite well and enjoyed their time together.   Walter Pidgeon was noted as keeping the company laughing off set with his constant, ribald limericks. Leslie Nielson described Anne Francis (5’8” tall) as one tall, cool drink of water, and the descriptor stuck. But it is the story that has kept me and many others coming back for yet one more look at this movie.             In Forbidden Planet a wondrously advanced civilization (the Krell) has done away with want, need, bigotry, crime and disease.   But on the eve of their greatest invention (conversion of energy to matter by thought alone) they are all

  I once taught with a great woman who was Irish to the core.   She had asked me when I was going to put up my St. Patrick’s Day decorations and, was appalled when I asked her when St. Patrick’s Day was.   I knew it was coming up in March, but could never remember the date.   Everyone agreed that not being Irish didn’t make up for my blatant ignorance.               This brings to mind a much larger question.   Why does the whole country celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (March 17, as it turns out) but nobody celebrates St. Olaf’s Day (July 29)?   I am mostly Norwegian (though on St. Patrick’s Day I am allowed to be Irish through the use of large amounts of green and/or beer).   I know a little about St. Patrick, and a great deal more about St. Olaf and I can think of no reason for the lack of celebration for one and too much celebration for another except, maybe, good press.             Olafr Haroldsson (995-1030) was also known as Olaf the Fat, though now days he is called Olaf the H