Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Andrew Leal's LiveJournal:

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Friday, January 12th, 2007
10:23 am	Bah humbug Well, I've pretty much forgotten about or been avoiding LiveJournal in general, but felt compelled to popst briefly. Just got back to Syracuse to start final sesmester of the MA program, to find my DVD/VCR combo and more importantly my PC had been stolen, with all of my school docs and dossier drafts, none of which were backed up. Someone had broken down the door. Well, it could have been worse, and that's all they took, but not exactly a sterling start to the term or the new year. Eesh. Current Mood: blah (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, September 9th, 2006
10:41 pm	As a means of combatting headaches, death, and laundry... Muppet TV est le titre fonctionnant courant de la nouvelle exposition française de Muppet. Contrairement à Le Muppet Show plus tôt (quel titre a été également employé pour le pilote), la série comportera la nouvelle longueur du Muppets agissant l'un sur l'autre avec des célébrités françaises plutôt que re-doubler de l'original. Les ressorts de série d'une affaire 2005 que le comédien/producteur par radio français controversé Sébastien Cauet et le réseau français TF1 ont faite avec la compagnie de Walt Disney. Les marionnettes réelles ont été envoyées en France, et Cauet a fourni la voix de Kermit (employant un mélange de voix de Kermit Roger Carel français et de caractérisation de Jim Henson). Autre des collègues par radio de Cauet a fourni des voix de caractère, alors que les marionnettistes français, menés par Yves Brunier, fournissaient le puppetry réel. Le pilote 15 minute (le temps de fonctionnement prévu pour la nouvelle série) debuted TF1 fini en novembre 2005, avec l'acteur/humoriste français Franck Dubosc en tant qu'invité décrit. Les segments ont inclus une parodie du lundi français Incroyable Fiancé de série de TV (réintitulé lundi Incroyable Muppet) et Mlle Piggy, toujours sensuel, poursuivant l'invité tiennent le premier rôle Dubosc. L'exposition a été placée sur une étape d'exposition d'entretien, plutôt qu'un théâtre faible. Une pleine série est actuellement prévue en automne de 2006. Avec Voix: Sébastien Cauet comme Kermit Franck Sportis comme Mlle Piggy Marc Duquesnoy comme ours de Fozzie et Gonzo (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 1st, 2006
9:14 am	Thither and sundry and various and such Well. Haven't really been using this thing (my own journal in more than a year, and LJ in general for at least 6 or 7 months). First year at Syracuse was hectic, spent more funds on unncessary hospital visits than I'd have cared to, was thrilled when Animated Movie Guide came out, funding has been renewed for next semester but they're not letting me teach, been recuperating in El Paso, addicted to Muppet Wiki (http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/).... And El Paso has just been flooded. Not my side of town, fortunately, and folks I know seem to be safe, but widespread flooding, leading to a declaration of a National Disaster Area... in a *desert* climate. The mind, as they say boggles. And that is it for now, I suppose. If anyone actually reads this, hi to the many folks I lost touch with while struggling with academia and internal distress! May the avacado pits of life never spoil your summer salads. (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, August 5th, 2005
4:48 pm	Heigh ho, heigh, to Syracuse I go Trying to load up, finish work on the computer to finally pack it in a box, we leave tomorrow morning. Early. What brave new vistas open up to one and so forth. Possible update after I arrive and get settled in. (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, May 27th, 2005
4:02 pm	Soon I'll Be a Stranger in a Strange New Place.... It's settled. I'll be moving to Syracuse the first week of August. Managed to find an apartment for just 500 dollars per month, including all utilities sans phone and net! Nearest supermarket is five miles away and accessible only by bus, though, so we're trying to stock up and take as much canned and non-perishable food (my mother's a whiz at finding dollar store sales) as will fit in the U-Haul. Still looking at how many books and DVDs and such I can take, and managed to find most of the appliances I need, again thanks to Mom. Where would one be witrhout them? I'll be teaching two units of Freshman composition the first semester, and taking two courses myself (haven't received the catalogue yet). The apartment has good heating, but I'll probably need to invest in another fan for the summer, as they lack air conditioning. It was a bit of a shift to come back from 50-60 degree days in New York state, to 105 in El Paso! Of course, now it's been raining all day. Perhaps nature wants to make the adjustment easier on me. So busy busy busy, including catching up with friends in town and communicating with those online. Again, note that I'll be abandoning the AOL e-mail after August, so if anybody needs to contact me, use blandings5@despammed.com More as warranted and as time allows, but very chuffed by everything. Current Mood: chipper Current Music: "Ohm Sweet Ohm"- Cheap Trick, from Rock and Rule (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 17th, 2005
10:52 pm	Scratch that, reverse it.... Ah, sweet mysteries of life. Since my last post barely a week and a couple of days ago, situations have been completely altered, in a favorable sense, though it has been a bit hectic. Syracuse called on Friday, telling me that for unknown reasons (someone else dropped out? Massive donation? A moose fatally bit someone ahead of me?), they *were* able to offer me a teaching assistantship after all. Stipend is $12,490 (no cents), plus tuition for 24 credit hours per school year (though the apportionment is a bit odd), expected to teach 20 hours (time hours, not credits) per week (freshman comp, mostly). Thus, hastening off to Syracuse in the morning (7:20 am). Or rather to Albany, since Southwest Airlines won't go directly to Syracuse, *then* drive rented car. There to look at campus and discuss things in person with the coordinator and anyone else who might for some reason actually be lingering post graduation, and most importantly, look for housing, which could be tricky, but I'm optimistic. (If absoultely *nothing* can be found, then it's back to applying and waiting all over again, as far as funding goes). Downsides include adjustment to severe climate/culture change, cancellation of Comic-Con for this year, the fact that this limits my time in El Paso more than expected (have to cram in moments amidst planning and packing to watch old movies with Dad, catch up with my very few friends in town, time to transfer everything to Gmail account from bally AOL, etc.) Thus, I consumed Chico's Tacos today, and relished the cheap yet intriguingly irresistable sauce while I still can! Plus sides: new opportunities, chance to see an entirely different part of the country, finally getting out of parents house (which also has financial upside, but though I love them, it'll be nice to get out), possibility of obtaining passport and going to Toronto either for animation festivals or to see m00se and wolverines, and the relative close access, via Greyhound, to NYC, and thus such enticements as the John Canemaker Collection at the Tisch School of the Arts Library, Broadway shows, public muggings (allegedly), and fresh bagel places. So, we shall see what we shall see! More details as they arrive, and/or when we return! (Also, for the record, please send all e-mail to blandings5@despammed.com, *or* blandings5@gmail.com, *not* to the AOL address, as I hope to finally be free from its grasping, writhing, covetous clutches which hitherto threatened to extend to the crack of doom). Current Mood: optimistic (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, May 6th, 2005
3:42 pm	Dash and balder Long delayed and very brief update. Recent months have been a mixture of short periods of activity and interest, and longer periods of uncertainty, boredom, and inability to write, but news has finally come. Barring sudden, intense, unexpected changes in finances, grad school is delayed for another year. Despite being accepted by both Syracuse and UNM (UCLA rejected me), the former just called after weeks of suspense to say thet the possibly open slot, due to a student not responding and possibly attending elsewhere, has been closed, and UNM has no news whatsoever on TA positions, but not encouraging. Current music, from Sesame Street's blessedly brief "Disco" phase, is both oddly appropriate and strangely comforting. Current Mood: sad Current Music: "Lost Me Cookie at the Disco"- Cookie Monster- Sesame Street (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, December 25th, 2004
5:26 am	"When it's made with Crisco, you know it's digestible." A stomach virus was most certainly *not* on my Christmas list. However, it seems to have mostly worked its way out, though I know I'll have to watch myself today. Managed to keep some fruit salad down. I may risk a chocolate chip cookie in a bit, as now the queasiness is more due to hunger than illness. Merry Christmas and good digestion to all! Current Mood: tired Current Music: whirring of the heater... (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 16th, 2004
11:33 pm	"You can tell it's a hat because it has a marmalade sandwich in it." Busy busy busy. Finally mailed off or e-mailed all UCLA materials, with Syracuse, Yale, and UNM to go. Did one more entry for Jerry last Thursday, but that's it. Book's off to publisher now, probably be out some time next fall. Jerry obliged with a letter of recommendation, and looks like I'll even be receiving very small financial remuneration, once his advance comes in. Huzzah! New computer's doing well, though I'm still getting used to things. Plus, I find I'm unable to transfer my old AOL e-mail backups, so I'll have to copy and mail any truly vital missives to myself, before I can put wretched old machine in the garage. Also frustrating as I'm trying to catch up on old correspondence and such. Christmas decoration just about done, though my Coca Cola Christmas village, that magical land of obsessive caffeine consumption and corporate promotion with a Coke machine and billboard on every building, needs to be wired. (Coke... wired... that's almost a joke, son). Return dental appointment tomorrow, which shall not be unmixedly pleasant, as I have multiple cavaties and a severely chipped tooth to deal with, plus the tendency my gums have towards bleeding. In still other news, been slowly getting back into drawing groove, as recent post indicated. Today was experimentation with pens for shading, and though the result is rather "squiggly," as Napoleon called it, I rather like it for the face. Suit should probably be filled in through paint, though. Presenting Reverend Edward Everard, the ecclesiastical emu, and vicar of the village of Blotting-Rye (tentative name). Anteater butler will no doubt be on the way soon, and the next step is to try to create model sheets on limited typing paper space, and with scanner limitations. Plus find free software to insert text, since this machine's version of MSPaint refuses to let me paste words. Also also also, a bit late, but since others have mentioned it (and I should respond to it), if anyone wants a card from me, probably *after* Christmas, and featuring Bullwinkle or Woody Woodpecker and Curious George rather than holiday cheer (plus possibly a pen sketch of a cute wolverine), let me know, either here or through e-mail. Will try to catch up with specific personages at a later date. Shift ho for the nonce! Current Mood: artistic (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 8th, 2004
12:20 am	MIGHTY! MISTER! TITAN! Been trying to get back into the drawing groove gradually, and tonight the muse struck, recalling one of the delightful horrors of Jerry's "Worst Cartoons Ever" screening at the 2004 Comic-Con. It's been awhile since I've rendered any "Class Menagerie" characters, so I'm a bit rusty, and had trouble with the inkflow of my pens, but still, Mikey certainly fit the role. For those of you who've never seen Mighty Mr. Titan... Go to this year's Comic-Con and don't miss Jerry's screening. That is all. ( One! Two! Three! ) In other news, the screencap feature on this new machines DVD player is *very* addicting. The credit transcribers new best friend! Hooray! Current Mood: chipper Current Music: Mighty Mr. Titan theme in my head (Comment on this)
Sunday, December 5th, 2004
3:17 pm	Whew.... Been a hectic few weeks, and will continue to be no doubt. Brief post just to note that GRE subject test in literature was taken (did quite well indeed), finally finished work for Jerry Beck (book will probably be out in the fall), struggling to get info to give profs to obtain letters of recommendation to attend the grad school which lives by the mouse which ate the cheese that Jack curdled. Most importantly, I'm typing this on a new machine. The 98 Dell I was using was on its deathbed, taking ten seconds for typed words to appear, crashing three times ore more a day, unable to shut down since 2003, and generally giving every indication of potentially giving off smoke and cincers at any second. New machine is an HP, which already seems to be working much more smoothly, and should make it easier to do work, as well as catch up with innumerable people who I haven't e-maile dor otherwise communicated with in donkey's years. Only severe snag is that now the speakers seem to have, possibly, shorted out, but we'll cross that bridge when the well runs dry, as they say. Current Mood: optimistic Current Music: blessed lack of loud disturbing machine humming (Comment on this)
Monday, October 4th, 2004
11:33 pm	General Brief Notes Prior to Retiring.... Never seem able to catch her online these days, alas, but happy birthday to the inimitable Kristy Borkes, webmistress supreme of Voicechasers.com, and the first friend (or even "shared interest" person) I made online. (Too many friends have October birthdays, I really need to invest in a pocket calendar so I can keep up with them better). Still very busy, though Jerry's asking for an extension on the book deadline (I've only committed to two more entries until we know for sure, and until I see how this month's going to shape up). School experience continues to be just that, an experience, to put it kindly. Most of the students are really good kids, but with a lot of problems. One student has a self-laceration tendency, another can't divide and seems seriously backwards, and yet another has been pushing my buttons as hard as she can. I finally lost it on Friday, when she kept claiming either "I know this already" or "I dunno, I can't do that," instead of actually paying attention, making it harder for me to engage the entire group. I finally raised my voice (louder than I meant to), and she then, after being taken out for a conference with my supervisor (her class teacher), came back in teary-eyed, and apparently now claims she was terrified I was going to hit her. Come again? Dash it all, she's the one who hurled a paper box at me while I was working at the board! (Claimed her hands slipped). Not sure if she really *does* think that, is using this as an excuse, or *what* is going on, but a conference is planned for the morning. Hope it goes well. *Still* hoping to get my book proposal done (cover letter sounds good, outline's almost finished, though hoping to get feedback from a person or two before I send the thing in). My self-set deadline is now OCt 15th at the vary latest (as response time to proposals tends to be a month at least), then need to get back to the Chuck Jones chapter in the meantime, which I've fallen behind on. If McFarland gives me the go ahead by early NOvember, I'll need to call UCLA (maybe even call them before I hear back, just in case, as it's a simple matter to cancel) to schedule a viewing appointment so I can fill the gaps in my George Pal section, and make plans to do any other LA centered research, interviews, contacting fellow scholars, etc., during December, as it seems Dad's funds will allow us to do so then. Still no idea when I'll be getting my salary. Oh, and I now have a Nike logo on my arm (burned myself on the corner of a hot oven rack). Maybe they'll give me money for promotional services. Current Mood: tired Current Music: irksome whirring of this machine (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 29th, 2004
12:29 am	"Bakshi added pizza to the menu..." Well, clearly my stint of unemployment did nothing to increase my activity on LiveJournal or most other places. Still, as the month of September draws to a close, as I sit here fighting severe internal discomfort prior to turning in, a few general notes are probably in order, commemorating a very hectic month. A substantial portion of this month has been spent writing entries for Jerry Beck's book, due from A Capella Press, currently titled Animated Feature Films: A Complete Guide to All US Releases. Frankly, I over-committed myself on the first batch, as I had to rent several movies I hadn't seen in awhile, and which I had a hard time writing about. This time I limited myself to films I liked or at least found mildly interesting and/or owned, and have still been pressured. Three entries to go, plus four re-writes from Toonjunkies pieces, which is good. Just yesterday, Jerry sent a massive list of titles to be covered for October. Gah! He did mention the possibility of obtaining a deadline extension, but otherwise, I've decided to politely decline from doing more than one or two additional entries. The current total of contributed entries, around 300-500 words a piece, including those taken from Toonjunkies, is at 27 or so, plus supplying credits extensively, so I think I'm justified in limiting myself for the remainder, unless time and energy levels allow me to do more. Which brings me to the GRE Subject Test. The sign up date is next weekend, so need to drive up to NMSU, and the actual test date is November 13. After purchasing the practice test book, I've realized just how rusty I am on so many of the poets (Jonson, Donne, and others) and modern American literature (never read anything by Salinger, Angelou, or Walker, and very little by Saul Bellow, not having taken Dr. Cappell's course). In addition to numerous flotsam and jetsam which I need to brush up on. Dr. Minnick, my mentor, reminded me that generally, supposedly, as a rule, grad schools don't give the GRE scores as much weight as your grades, writing samples, etc., but I'm still a bit pressured, trying to find time to plow through all of this stuff. Then there's my new job. Since the first of the month, I have been working as a tutor for the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination; don't blame me, I didn't name it!) program at Rio Bravo Middle School, in the Ysleta school district. From the first day, when we were suddenly caught in the midst of school pictures (self and fellow new hire unexpectedly found ourselves posing for the yearbook), it has been an experience, as my first real exposure to the public school district. These are mostly mid-level students, but some of them are in dire straits. One poor girl, who I really think needs to be tested for a learning disability, can't divide into three digit numbers. Others are fairly bright, but easily bored and refuse to do anything. Two days a week, self and Rudy (the other tutor, a former UTEP classmate) have been tackling this motley group of eight graders, taking separate halves, trying to explain math one day and other concepts the other. The entire program is built upon essential note taking skills and especially Bloom's Taxonomy, and the three levels of questioning have proved unusually difficult to get across. In addition, the grant has been delayed, so no idea when I'll actually get *paid*. Financial issues in general, as I'm trying to apply to grad school and for various grants have been worrying me a bit. Trying to see if I can land any free-lance *paid* writing/editing jobs, but no luck so far. Plan to call up "Hogan's Alley" (a rather nifty print magazine covering comics and animation, recent and historical) to see if they'd be interested in a piece on comic/cartoon characters starring on the radio (a phenomenon which has always fascinated me). I'd also been expending a great deal of time and energy working on a class called "Teachers as Text: Representations in Film, Fiction, and NOnfiction" with Dr. Minnick: poring through texts, finding useful articles or quotes, discussing what material to use, locating and ordering various DVD and VHS copies of pertinent films and TV shows (room 202, Goodbye Mr. Chips, To Sir with Love, etc.), personally compiling and editing clips from older films and numerous cartoons to lighten things up (Mr. Ray from Finding Nemo and an old Archies clip in which Miss Grundy has her own dance especially delighted the class), etc. Plus actually sitting through the audited class, from 6-9pm every Thursday! Fortunately, Dr. Minnick has absolved me from all pressure, so I'll be taking at least two or three weeks away from the class, to try to work on GRE, teaching techniques, etc. In addition, I still need to get my book proposal together and into McFarland, finish transcribing my May interview with Mike Barrier and send it into him for approval (and to ask for his thoughts on my thesis), do some (unpaid) articles for a new online animation magazine, Skwigly Animation, try to send out some letters to various animators for research, work on getting more new entries up for Toonjunkies, maybe post some news to Voicechasers.... I need sleep! On top of all the above, on Saturday, AOL temporarily locked me out of everything, as apparently a spammer some how hacked into Dad's e-mail account (on my machine) and spammed 500 people. Took two hours to get straightened out. Hopefully be able to afford a new computer (and maybe a different service provider) soon. Dr. Minnick recently brought up, not as a direct comment, the problems of the isolation of the scholar. How easy it is to get caught up in research, reading, etc. and lose contact with people. Sadly too true, though *hopefully* I'll be able to work on that when I get some of the more important tasks above taken care of. At least send postcards to people. Oh, and I received my comp copy of the book I contributed to last week. Badly dented, but at least it was free. Cover still creeps me out, but the material inside, most of it anyway, is excellent (the range of writers, including self, is wide, and some pieces are better written, better argued, or better researched than others. *Definitely* disagree with the sections on how aShrek looks like a "gorgeous storybook come to life.") In about a month from Friday, the more adventurous can take a look for themselves. Amazon has details (but not the list of 25 authors, and a foreword by Jeffrey "That Little Midget" Katzenberg of all people!) here. (Comment on this)
Saturday, August 14th, 2004
11:53 pm	Random Post.... Still need to finish the Con report, but here's a little something for any Chopping Block fans: *Still* catching up on sleep, and today forced myself to watch Bakshi's Cool World so as to write on it The project I mentioned last post? Jerry Beck personally asked me to assist with his upcoming guide to animated features. In addition to using the credit info from Toonjunies, and certain write-ups, he asked me to help him with 300-500 word entries on several films (working on late B's through H right now), discussing production background, some critical assessment, the creators other notable works, bits of outstanding trivia, etc. These are due at the end of the month, with more to come (final project must be done by November). So far been doing re-screenings and any research, and tomorrow I shall sit down and try to crank them out. Anyway, I need to post this now, as Brian is currently intoxicated. and I want him to respond to this! (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 11th, 2004
11:37 pm	"If you like birds and animals, we've got music too!" Gad, but recent weeks (months!) have been eventful and exhausting. Currently looking for work, recently had a family visit, still trying to catch up on e-mail correspondence which piled up while I was gone, and numerous other projects. Thus a very belated report on the trip to California, amongst other things. We left a day early, at 4am (due to frenzied packing, and difficulty burning 31 CDs to take with me to save APAToons shipping, I had not slept a wink) and drove to Anaheim first rather than straight to San Diego. Trip was far more grueling than usual, perhaps due to the alterations, and took about 17 hours. What's worse, the borrowed vehicle we were using was beginning to overheat, so for several miles the air conditioner was shut off. Still, we made it. As always, large amounts of cheese were brought along as provisions, so between that, Canada Dry ginger ale, Mahalia Jackson cassettes (which vanished upon our return, sadly), and Wodehouse texts, the long drive was at least tolerable when I wasn't sweating profusely. In any event, the next day, we encountered some difficulty entering Disneyland. Simply put, finding the main parking structure was a chore. No wonder attendance has been down, people can't get in! Ahem. Well, we finally met up with our hostess, the wonderful Becky (currently employed in the realm of the demon mouse, operating Autopia and now moving on to Star Tours as well), who supplied us with free tickets (while I in return supplied her with a stuffed Uncle Scrooge and a balloon wolverine). Sadly, I misplaced mine when we had to move Dad's truck, and so I had to buy a replacement, thought at a discounted price; this would be the first in an inordinate number of losses this trip. I suppose the exhaustion was a major factor. In any event, despite this setback, a pleasant afternoon was spent. Becky accompanied pater and self on the Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, the new Winnie the Pooh ride (a bit cutesy, but has its merits, and besides we got to ride on the "Heffalump" car), Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, the Storybookland Canal Boats, and Pirates of the Caribbean, and provided a steady stream of cast member trivia and history (from the use of two fingers when pointing to the recent "landlocking" concerns). We also gazed at the lovely stuffed Zeros from Nightmare Before Christmas in one shop (sadly, they didn't actually light up). To Joseph: We did see Goofy, and Pluto too, but there were too many kids around. Otherwise I would have said hi, and tried to get his autograph for Allison (bastion of the tutoring center, who apparently loves Goofy). After lunch at Toontown, which is apparently the cheapest place to dine in Disneyland (hot dogs and chips for about 5 bucks apiece, or slightly less thanks to Becky's discount, plus drinks), we said farewell. In the remaining few hours, we saw the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room, rode It's a Small World, wandered about... The Disney gallery had some wonderful Haunted Mansion concept art and scupltures up... Aladdin asked Dad if we were having a good time... While I went into California Adventure just long enough to breeze through the animation building and see if their store had John Hench's book (later picked up for a third of the price at the Con), Dad enjoyed Mr. Lincoln. As a history buff and an admirer of the Ken Burns films, as well as Lincoln himself, I was sure he'd enjoy the new approach (sadly, I didn't have time to go back and sit through it myself). Finally, after doing the train ride all the way through (closed circuit to Kristy, they've replaced Thurl's voice with Earl Boen as the conductor/narrator) and doing some shopping at the Lego store in Downtown Disney, we hurried on our way to San Diego. We arrived about 2-3 hours later, due to traffic and having trouble orienting ourselves, and went to the convention center. Lines for registration were long as usual; finally, once we had everything, we went in for preview night, and had just a half an hour to wander around. Overall this year, I spent more time just visiting with people at the Con then at panels, and still wished I had chatted more with some folk. Thursday being a slow day, I met up with Harry McCracken in the lobby. Since the pater had to find a Western Union building to collect wired funds to *pay* for the remainder of our stay, I didn't reach the convention center until nearly noon. Harry and I talked and exchanged goodies (I now have my very own figurine of Madame Castafiore from the Tin Tin books, picked up when he was in France), and then walked to Horton Plaza for lunch. An extremely long train was in front of us (the crossing between the convention center and almost all eating places lies along the tracks), and took about half an hour. Then we finally dined ona pair of cheddar burgers. I was wearing my decorative Bullwinkle hat that day (which got me noticed and/or mocked several times). Back at the Con, saw a Tin Tin panel and part of the Silver Age panel. Both were informative but rather dry. I did some shopping and wandering around the vast dealer room. As always, Stormtroopers have right of way, and there was also a rash of Matrix chaps, Captain Jack Sparrows, and Lara Crofts, plus an inordinate number of toy booths (so much so that apart from Bud Plant and the like, I had difficulty finding very many comic dealers in the rather limited time I had to comb the floor). Then it was off across to Coronodo, by the seaside, to see a local theater group's performance of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap! Next morning, met up with CJ Garver (excessego on LJ, as I am too tired to mess with the link), whose Con badge I had been holding. We met up with Kristy briefly during an anime voice workshop, hosted by Crispin Freeman. However, as already mentioned in CJ's con report, the workshop was a mixed bag. M. Freeman was a good presenter, but as with several other events this year, the Con's maintenance crew had failed to prepare sufficiently it seemed. There was nobody to assist in working the machines, a TV which wasn't even needed for this event was blocking the moderator's view, light's had problems, etc. Plus the films chosen to dub weren't exactly gems. The process was interesting, but soon grew repetitious, and near the end, as one young woman valiantly kept repeating exertion noises and panting over and over, rather disturbing (apparently the actual anime, Boogiepop Phantom, culminated with the classic deadpan line, as the girl gazes at what she thinks is the ghost of her lost love, "I'm going to devour you now.") On the way out, I lost Chris... lost my phone card (or perhaps it went missing at the hotel).. found that I had lost my Henery Hawk cap... and lost my composure. Fortunately, the Mailboxes Etc. sold phone cards so I could contact the pater, but by then I was a bit worn out, so after a cold lunch from the cooler we'd brought with us when we parked, I took a break. To relax, I made balloon sculptures (photos to follow)! Took poppable versions of Argus from Greystone Inn and Butch from Chopping Block to the Keenspot booth (already had a nice but brief visit with their creators, Brad Guigar and Lee Herold respectively). Missed *both* the Chuck McCann panel and the one with Harvey editor Sid Jacobson, but was in a better mood for the Bob Clampett tribute. Too brief at one hour, but Ruth Clampett was present, discussing her father, and a lively analysis of his life and work ensued. Again, just too short. Milt Gray, fellow APATooner and member of the panel, who had met Bob, introduced me to Ruth (my piece on Bob's wartime work was included in the souvenir book). We stayed and visited as a group, soon joined by Harry McCracken, Jerry Beck, and Jerry's friend, the very funny Andrew J. Lederer (a coincidence which I would only fully appreciate the next morning). Jerry had previously handed me a copy of the mock-up for the book I had contributed to (and which he edited), the cover of which was frankly even worse in person. Also discussed a book project focusing on US animated features (more on that in another post, as my involvement therein has just recently expanded). Finally, after narrowly escaping being conscripted as part of an impromptu panel on animation strikes when the presenter, Tom Sito, failed to show up in time, I wandered into the dealer room again, chatted with the guy at the ASIFA booth, said hi to Scott Shaw! and bought an Oddball comics card set for friend mouse, who was unable to attend at the last minute due to family trouble, and most excitingly, met the one and only Alvin guy! Alvin Revilas Hernandez (or is that Hernandez Revilas?) is his real name, and for about 14 years now, he has been attending the San Diego Comic-Con dressed as Alvin the chipmunk. A real character. It's getting late, and still exhausted (had great trouble sleeping lately), so I shall have to finish this report, and other updates, tomorrow. Thus I leave you all with the smiling visage of Alvin: (Comment on this)
Monday, July 19th, 2004
11:10 pm	Quick post... Essentially to say I'm off to the San Diego Comic-Con (leaving in about 6 hours; we'll be spending a half day at Disneyland beforehand). So if anyone else is going to be there who I don't know about, or wants a small trinket, speak now. Hope everyone is doing well, and hope to have plenty to report when I return. Just being able to walk around the convention hall without a cane or leg pain will be a great pleasure in itself.! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, July 5th, 2004
11:48 pm	Balloonacy Also, for those of you who do not read "BoxJam's Doodle," or do but haven't checked recently, the latest installment is a guest strip by humble self, utilizing my meager skills creating air-filled rubber effigies: http://www.boxjamsdoodle.com This, in fact, had long been an interest of mine (as a handful of you, especially my fellow writing tutors, may be aware of). Off and on since fifth grade or so, I have been taken by the art of balloon sculpture. Latest revitalization of interest proved especially useful in keeping various nieces and second cousins subdued (and my sister's eldest was so taken, and paid close enough attention to Uncle Andrew's lessons, that she asked for a pump and balloons so she could make her own). Though far from professional caliber yet (the inestimable Kristy recently introduced me to the work of John Cassidy, which has inspired both awe and envy), an Italian book on the subject, with intriguing models based on classic cartoon and comic characters, inspired me to attempt more complex, multi-balloon figures. Such attempts have been limited in number thus far, not least by the pressures placed on the fingers by attempting to cut or tie in the middle and pop an inflated balloon in order to separate it into multiple parts (the first attempts also involved exhausting re-inflation and re-tying of deflated balloon halves). In any event, for those who haven't seen them yet, a sample gallery of familiar faces, mostly from web comics (Uncle Scrooge hasn't been developed yet, and haven't felt up to scanning the face of Yosemite Sam with its bulgingly eerie eyes). ( Image heavy section cut to reduce loadtime ) (1 Comment |Comment on this)
11:16 pm	"Can you take me to the minefields?" At long last, on Friday, after being informed on Wednesday that my recompense was on its way, my fee for the pieces for "Animation Art." A little over $300, just enough to make the trip to San Diego easier, coupled with my next (and one of my last) paychecks as a writing tutor (this week, need to look into proofreading jobs again; mayeven have to try the Hollywood Video down the street, and after all, that BA must be good for *something*, if only as proof that I'd have no trouble typing film titles into the computer or whatnot). Speaking of which, the cover illustration for the book (due in Britain in September, and here in the states, through Harper Collins, on October 26th, three days after my birthday) seems singularly inappropriate. The website (www.flametreepublishing.com) doesn't seem to be cooperating right now, but when it's up again, I hope to provide a link. A large eye against an oddly scaly red background, suggestive of either a Lovecraftian pastiche or one of those optical illusion books. Nobody involved, it seems, apart from the publishers and designer, are happy with it, but unless Harper Collins does something else for the US edition, we're stuck. *Still* need to finish that bally proposal to send off to McFarland before we leave, plus I need to try to get in contact with Dr. Minnick, my mentor on the project, who I am currently assisting in gathering materials and shaping the course work for a class on "Teachers as Text," covering representations of individuals and teaching methods in literature, memoirs, film, TV, and even animation. Since classes resume in September, though, and the good prof is now touring the states (promised to send me an e-mail with the phone number for his temporary residences during the sojourn), I'm becoming just a trifle concerned about making sure I don't fall behind in my duties before we leave. Plus things I feel I need to do re Toonhub, Voicechasers, etc. Had a pleasant fourth. Pater and I watched "1776" as has become a prescribed tradition. Consumption of comestibles was highlighted by hot burgers prepared with garlic powder, and a peculiarly satisfying variety of frankfurter. Unlike those meager wieners which taste like bologna which has been carefully compacted into a conveniently phallic shape, these tidbits were pure beef, plump and juicy, and went extremely well with mustard. All that was lacking was Canada Dry Ginger Ale (now being carried by the former Phillips 66 station close to campus) to complete the experience. Canada Dry is, after all, a one hundred year old brew, and one which is balm to the stomach, syrup to the throat, and nectar to the tongue. [Edited: Site's back up. Behold the dashed thing! http://www.flametreepublishing.com/ProductDetails.asp?id=506 ] (Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 29th, 2004
11:36 pm	"F. Dodson Gitch! The name itself is music." Well, been awhile since I've updated (assuming LiveJournal allows me to do so this time). Fair bit has transpired in the past couple of months. Spent a little less than two weeks in Arkansas. Visit was twofold. Primary purpose was to visit kinfolk, chiefly my maternal grandfather. Now approximately 85-87 (family doesn't quite agree on the point), he's my only surviving grandparent. Paternal grandmother, Lydia Leal, passed away in early March, before spring break. It came rather sudden, but was not unexpected. Since Aunt Rachel's passing, she had been decidedly down, and was ready to go. She was hospitalized, but went peacefully, and the entire family (self, parents, brother, and sister-in-law) were able to be with her that last night, praying and singing her favorite hymns. (I'm choking up again just writing this, even though I waited so long). Anyway, back to Arkansas. Visits with Grandpa were a pleasure, and though he had slight health problems while we were there, he really seemed to enjoy the visits. I enjoyed hearing so much of the family background which I was unaware of, as while as his own experiences in WWII. Since moving to a nursing home after his wife died, he's become increasingly reclusive, but segments of the clan (over twenty that we saw) were able to persuade him to come out for a family barbecue, which was probably the highlight of the trip. Rest of the trip was spent in dizzying succession visiting with an assortment of aunts, uncles, and first and second cousins. The latter, and almost the entire trip, could best be termed "pleasantly exhausting," wanting "Uncle Andrew" (the parental figures are adoptive grandparents to several of them) to chase them, put together play sets which had been sitting since Christmas, or make balloon animals. One day was set aside for driving in to Little Rock (almost all the family live in Benton), and interviewing animation historian Michael Barrier. Spent so much time just conversing I was unable to get a closer look at some of his interview files, alas, but it was still a pleasant and productive meeting (need to get that interview transcribed for Toonhub). Which leads to the next notable development. Since very late April, I have been working with Craig Richardson, mastermind of Toonhub, submitting animation site links, typing up entries for the magazine archive section, and most significantly, incorporating my Toonjunkies site (Michael Roberts admitting that he didn't have the time he expected to work on the site). So those of you who have linked to it (both of you), the new URL is as follows: http://www.toonhub.com/toonjunkies/ Brushing up on my HTML coding and struggling with the antagonistic tendencies of CSS style sheet has not been easy (Craig was a great help in re-coding a large portion of the site, though; the majority, even), but greater flexibility is available in this way, and it helps to have a collaborator with an equal interest in animation and providing as much information about it as possible. Hope to do additional research (plus enjoy the simple pleasure of walking through the teeming crowds with two good legs, decent balance, and none of that bally stabbing pain, a far from unmixedly pleasant experience), at this year's San Diego Comic-Con (still waiting to learn whether my souvenir book submission was accepted). Also waiting for Flametree Publishing to pay me, if it comes to that, so things may be slightly tighter than expected (seriously going to see if I can get the necessary vendor's fee or find some other way to sell balloon animals to help make up the difference; more on that, with images, in another post). Though I know at least four people on my friends list are going for certain (and have been gradually trying to make contact with each), on the off chance that anyone else reading this is going to be there, or know's a mutual friend who's attending, please let me know so we can set something up. Now, as darkness has fallen and time continues to advance inexorably, and as I must depart for UTEP at 7am, I should be taking my leave, at least for the present juncture. I will note, however, that a large number of family, friends (online and off), and family of friends have been or will be coping with serious illness, surgery, and other circumstances, especially cancer (and one recent passing of a friend of several friends), or other troubling situations. In case I haven't had a chance to respond personally yet, sympathy and prayers go with you. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 27th, 2004
9:08 pm	T'hbey of Pigs In the writing room, typographical errors are a source of embarrassed pen scratching or defiant insistence that "privilege" contains a "d" and so forth. Through the medium of online conversation, however, they lead to a world of whimsy that boggles the mind, such as it is. emsworth [8:20 PM]: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/04/27/bc.giantsnails.ap/index.html napoleonherself [8:22 PM]: i saw; tbhey cute napoleonherself [8:22 PM]: i eating pizza so can't type emsworth [8:22 PM]: Cute and destructive and illegal! emsworth [8:22 PM]: Ah. napoleonherself [8:23 PM]: i want giant snails, tho i doubt theyt talk napoleonherself [8:23 PM]: or shapeshift emsworth [8:24 PM]: No, they just breed and ravage crops. napoleonherself [8:24 PM]: heh napoleonherself [8:24 PM]: not qwuite the same emsworth [8:25 PM]: They're not unlike relatives in that sense. napoleonherself [8:25 PM]: heeee napoleonherself [8:37 PM]: There, you no longer need fear my typing. emsworth [8:38 PM]: Hooray! napoleonherself [8:38 PM]: I wish I could eat pizza without getting one hand gloopy, but there ya go. emsworth[8:39 PM]: Tbhey frightened me. Not even a wolverine name so much as an evil Lovecraftian other dimensional entity. napoleonherself [8:39 PM]: Heeee. napoleonherself [8:39 PM]: I AM TBHEY, EATER OF SOULS napoleonherself [8:39 PM]: AND SANDWICHES napoleonherself [8:39 PM]: BUT MAINLY SOULS emsworth [8:40 PM]: I like it. napoleonherself [8:40 PM]: *Tbhey offers you a soul sandwich* emsworth [8:41 PM]: I can't quite tell. Is that the vital essence of life which vibrates through all human beings, or rancid mayonaisse? napoleonherself [8:42 PM]: A LITTLE FROM COLUMN A, A LITTLE FROM COLUMN B. napoleonherself [8:42 PM]: IT'S AN OLD FAMILY RECIPE. emsworth [8:46 PM]: I must say, I am impressed by the way the pickles resonate with the screams of the anguished, and yet still taste crisp and country fresh. napoleonherself [8:46 PM]: AW, NOW YOU'RE JUST FLATTERING ME. emsworth [8:51 PM]: No no, I mean it. I haven't seen pickled foods this tasty and diabolical since the Juarez Necromancer, Cultist, and Barbershop Society's jalapeno dinner in 98. napoleonherself [8:52 PM]: WHY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, OH HUMAN WHOSE SOUL I SHOULD PROBABLY GET AROUND TO EATING EVENTUALLY. emsworth [8:53 PM]: I'm flattered. It may not be the sort of soul which gets crowds cheering and marching in the streets, but it's decent enough in its way, and would probably make a fantastic dip. napoleonherself [8:55 PM]: MMM... SOUL DIP. (1 Comment |Comment on this)