tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-185845642024-03-05T04:43:57.240-08:00PANGEA: We Eat Our Young.Every entity living and dead needs a blog. If you are curious about what goes into making entertainment or toys and you want to hear from the people working at it morning, noon and night, then you have found sanctuary. Our hands are glowing red. Soon we explode in Carousel. Catch us while you can!Big Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09589756546820994699noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-42498457198043390832017-01-04T10:48:00.001-08:002017-01-04T10:50:15.478-08:00Save your fingers and your change.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.fpnyc.com/Attack-On-Titan-Colossal-Titan-Bust-Bank/699914821384/Comics-Movie-TV-Collectibles?gclid=CjwKEAiA17LDBRDElqOGq8vR7m8SJAA1AC0_SGJNzi_-QoAXPRo9Bw0JcaQkyj1F-qhHMbxDu6CeXRoC5E7w_wcB" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_gyOLBuHQUSfcEi00Nb1nqjRpsTENJbjO-J_ASEhcQiXru6mCvqZhgZhfsmInY2npj4MZpHziXFpgzJd6bo6UP4OlDOpIvX4jWnitVJ94AEKj-A5Ih8Sk8SbUXZbOidim6IoJw/s320/IMG_2367.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://www.fpnyc.com/Attack-On-Titan-Colossal-Titan-Bust-Bank/699914821384/Comics-Movie-TV-Collectibles?gclid=CjwKEAiA17LDBRDElqOGq8vR7m8SJAA1AC0_SGJNzi_-QoAXPRo9Bw0JcaQkyj1F-qhHMbxDu6CeXRoC5E7w_wcB" target="_blank">Cool coin bank that eats pennies and people! </a></b></div>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-60527249043552702902014-06-18T10:09:00.001-07:002014-06-18T10:09:12.690-07:00A Vegan Vegas I could show you a bevy of booth babes, a cornucopia of costumed characters or even a panoply of properties, but, instead, I give you this view of the Licensing Show 2014. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbEtUxr0G5vzYyGt-0OyprvsWoPu6yOpIjhIgMpW-6ticidLboxNkxeH5Oswz4R-OPisO8yHslN1XTdN66Ko8CWgxPFaVYOFyi9PRtvyGDCSpicTCiKotZlLC7cW7lprl0UvMww/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbEtUxr0G5vzYyGt-0OyprvsWoPu6yOpIjhIgMpW-6ticidLboxNkxeH5Oswz4R-OPisO8yHslN1XTdN66Ko8CWgxPFaVYOFyi9PRtvyGDCSpicTCiKotZlLC7cW7lprl0UvMww/s1600/photo.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Making Deals & Eating Meals</div>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-45081525876891786542014-05-03T09:16:00.000-07:002014-05-03T09:16:17.816-07:00Thumbtack Has A PointIn the crazy world of vendor vetting and client culling comes a new hero in the form of a website. A website so simple in concept, so pure in intention as to raise the cynical hackles of weary internet hucksters and anxious neophytes alike. <a href="http://www.thumbtack.com/PANGEA-Dana-Point-CA/service/1025518" target="_blank">Thumbtack.com</a> strives to streamline and simplify the struggles of finding the perfect person or company to get the job done while helping those looking for jobs another tool in their hands to snag a new client.<br />
<br />
Free to use for clients, and a pay-as-you-bid for jobs system for businesses, the site leans a little heavy on the vetting the businesses while leaving those asking for bids a free reign to be flaky. Only a problem if you find you're paying to make multiple bids on dubious jobs. (They do offer a 48 hour "no response" refund of the biding fee.) The costs are not prohibitive but businesses would do well to hone their crazy client senses.<br />
<br />
I look forward to exploiting <a href="http://www.thumbtack.com/PANGEA-Dana-Point-CA/service/1025518" target="_blank">Thumbtack.com</a> for all it's worth.<br />
<center>
<span style="display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: center; width: 125px;"> <a href="http://www.thumbtack.com/PANGEA-Dana-Point-CA/service/1025518" style="background: none; border: 0; padding: 0;" title="PANGEA"> <img src="http://cdn-1.thumbtackstatic.com/media/badge_bronze.png" style="border: 0; display: block; margin-bottom: 6px;" /> </a><a href="http://www.thumbtack.com/PANGEA-Dana-Point-CA/service/1025518" style="border: 0;">PANGEA</a></span></center>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-80405495291760282772012-12-02T04:00:00.000-08:002012-12-02T16:11:23.888-08:00Domestic DilemmaI'm fending for myself tonight. My amazing girlfriend is on a business trip to The Big Easy. She's enjoying a well deserved break in a Jazz bar while I forage for sustenance in the fridge. I'm arguably a grown up; I've survived many, many years prior to meeting and tricking her into caring for me -- but suddenly I find myself, like the wounded seal or home-raised tiger, daunted by feeding myself. It's not really that I can't hunt for food. I still know how to order a pizza; it's more that I've been spoiled. Hard to go back to my feral ways. She'll be back in a few days -- thankfully, I have enough belly fat to survive.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dztnLRx8L7nIqNR8pN1vbpafXLmd6hAkRyj0WXhMAWId75sDtVQWrCgZBKyfAUSuS3yhCHJ7fD7eFw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the many features in our <a href="http://amzn.to/VaAzWB" target="_blank">House of Havoc</a> developed for GP Toys.</div>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-55035285444714953952012-12-01T02:34:00.000-08:002012-12-01T21:54:08.415-08:00Miss Switch<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNmdzPA4YqNLfImI6dKNZZKdhPDsB4sZ9Ad82GclnF7u5V_JWEzPekPbn_0Sit0lUYQn8k5mWCOF3nv6Ry_qBMjHztvDT5W7PyAD6o2srIQhwcBhUpusam0ch9APu_LkB7neZYQ/s1600/FauxBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNmdzPA4YqNLfImI6dKNZZKdhPDsB4sZ9Ad82GclnF7u5V_JWEzPekPbn_0Sit0lUYQn8k5mWCOF3nv6Ry_qBMjHztvDT5W7PyAD6o2srIQhwcBhUpusam0ch9APu_LkB7neZYQ/s320/FauxBook.jpg" title="Miss Switch & the Vile Villains" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Available at Amazon : <a class="short-url" href="http://amzn.to/QPnjvn" style="background-color: #f3f8fb; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: adelle, Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; min-width: 150px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-align: left; text-decoration: initial; width: 150px;">amzn.to/QPnjvn</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Barbara Brooks Wallace is older than you. She has written more books than you. She has won more writing awards than you. But don't feel bad: you can still be apart of her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Brooks_Wallace" target="_blank">amazing life</a> by reading her latest book.<br />
<br />
We have published her most recent novel in her classic children's series, <i>Miss Switch</i>. Available now at Amazon: <a class="short-url" href="http://amzn.to/QPnjvn" style="background-color: #f3f8fb; color: black; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: adelle, Georgia, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; min-width: 150px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: initial; width: 150px;">amzn.to/QPnjvn</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>Miss Switch The Vile Villains</b></i> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-37029383408704742212012-11-30T03:30:00.000-08:002012-12-01T21:51:44.246-08:00Teething TerminatorLet us adore the toddling phase of our future overlords. Cuddle your iPhone, cradle your iPad and help your Roomba over the threshold. For soon, all too soon, like all children, they will roll their cameras at us, speak to us indecipherable gibberish, and leave the refrigerator door wide open. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0rvA1_o_jUODSzEePHDCAy8PRy6dmUwP4UrcfhEwbN2airt9G5_gBPbcHwiJyGopN65r_Qx5e8xKnylzcLbyFEmYzJtq6gPMDfAJaqxKUaKJXtIyBEWHCSzWUxRYwdPDtBzXOg/s640/blogger-image--592275718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0rvA1_o_jUODSzEePHDCAy8PRy6dmUwP4UrcfhEwbN2airt9G5_gBPbcHwiJyGopN65r_Qx5e8xKnylzcLbyFEmYzJtq6gPMDfAJaqxKUaKJXtIyBEWHCSzWUxRYwdPDtBzXOg/s320/blogger-image--592275718.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cambridge University to open 'Terminator Centre' to study threat to humans from artificial intelligence. <a href="http://bit.ly/TdZVmE">http://bit.ly/TdZVmE</a> via @MailOnline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-24631724058323537882012-11-29T04:00:00.000-08:002012-11-29T04:00:11.983-08:00Hard Choice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0CFs_z9oEkJQCQPxwZBcpoIITgfE8SA2X6_rISL1Ve8jFvC0JPpZxCwC41FETSXZ3-__eCfw8ROvfObDlV1xRBaCuRIbR2-XDwaJhMOIlKr3XtlOmyeyREXu7aSzwyGS6kGNbg/s1600/original-pet-rock.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0CFs_z9oEkJQCQPxwZBcpoIITgfE8SA2X6_rISL1Ve8jFvC0JPpZxCwC41FETSXZ3-__eCfw8ROvfObDlV1xRBaCuRIbR2-XDwaJhMOIlKr3XtlOmyeyREXu7aSzwyGS6kGNbg/s320/original-pet-rock.png" width="320" /></a></div>
If ever given the choice between a rock and a hard place, I'd take the rock. Seems to me a rock can be pretty useful in securing a softer place.Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-32469129610958731632012-11-28T03:00:00.000-08:002012-11-28T03:00:09.972-08:00When Push Comes to Shrug<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIcQz3zacYV_OHe_FBsNTUryT0LVrfscBfN3YuJAh0qEFHInqTgy_ZRo3rFeCEJMhV3D0Ifd40h6Oh94SoZrrLknDJz6JbIrgpdPHn3hTAFy84WwUqJl4QMqcaIUP_Ec-kMSlFQ/s1600/GummiBar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIcQz3zacYV_OHe_FBsNTUryT0LVrfscBfN3YuJAh0qEFHInqTgy_ZRo3rFeCEJMhV3D0Ifd40h6Oh94SoZrrLknDJz6JbIrgpdPHn3hTAFy84WwUqJl4QMqcaIUP_Ec-kMSlFQ/s320/GummiBar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such was the case for Gummi Bar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sometimes I push too hard. I force my will on the unwilling: the inappropriate joke, the disinterested blonde, the bad idea, the dos manos burrito -- all too big for my britches.<br />
<br />
Sometimes I shrug too easily. I falter instead of fight; the risky opportunity, the perfect flirt, the crazy idea, the ambitions of whimsy -- all so daunting when I'm weary.<br />
<br />
Always, when push comes to shrug, my regret far outweighs my shame.Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-24120864611474903192012-11-26T21:44:00.000-08:002014-10-01T14:41:35.258-07:00Comfort in Faith, Fables and Fabric Whiteners<div style="text-align: left;">
The miracle of life, love and chocolate is no more diminished by those who corrupt faith for selfish sanctimonious showboating than that of my mocking of a spurious Catholic relic; so here goes. </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtUzHrSbJ3HoanFrUZOOOdXMrVY2mKMGOz1xThbwIllpPI9ieqfm3IIAnYTxfAC15-owMM9s0c57Hc3nlLhaltgKUrZaJmGXk7zgoJtfnQrR6MdNkEHQN0exFAYRXATlyh83Enw/s1600/Shroud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtUzHrSbJ3HoanFrUZOOOdXMrVY2mKMGOz1xThbwIllpPI9ieqfm3IIAnYTxfAC15-owMM9s0c57Hc3nlLhaltgKUrZaJmGXk7zgoJtfnQrR6MdNkEHQN0exFAYRXATlyh83Enw/s320/Shroud.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Proof of the Divine is no more elusive than my dirty laundry hamper. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-26091252010805709912012-11-25T23:47:00.001-08:002012-11-26T00:06:35.720-08:00Hugging HurtsSometimes we need a hug, a friend or sympathetic ear. But mostly we need a swift kick in the rear. Raised by hippies, Sesame Street and Care Bears, we've grown fond of our feelings, our demand for fair, our overly developed sense of sharing. Perhaps the pendulum should swing back just a little so our children can cuddle a friend who's more believable than make believe. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhd3aRMTsaCP0MZxIEq5frkfUIq92r8MYFX75l6QZqUJovmaLwRms1oNdB_pi7jYgdd_GGcKSc7iB6CI2wHRhI1qgp7zq_z04QRnWYhljo7eXHs7-qtTuv0ZgnajrDY9On93jlqA/s640/blogger-image-1927382051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhd3aRMTsaCP0MZxIEq5frkfUIq92r8MYFX75l6QZqUJovmaLwRms1oNdB_pi7jYgdd_GGcKSc7iB6CI2wHRhI1qgp7zq_z04QRnWYhljo7eXHs7-qtTuv0ZgnajrDY9On93jlqA/s640/blogger-image-1927382051.jpg" /></a></div>Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-5683158174261862942012-11-23T12:19:00.000-08:002012-12-01T22:02:36.094-08:00Peace of Mind in Troubling Times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rXmAawpWq2S1WaWuag1qOHSNxXmqCGOhAhVBUT1xVOzvDvTVAZJTnDVxOjaXzrhkAHWVx3CS_CULIG_ikKDJx3UBVc4S56YZEEr7axxUbpu7BHkmnpn2UqjRwT93vieTAvDKHw/s1600/MAYANTOLOGY_CERTIFICATE_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rXmAawpWq2S1WaWuag1qOHSNxXmqCGOhAhVBUT1xVOzvDvTVAZJTnDVxOjaXzrhkAHWVx3CS_CULIG_ikKDJx3UBVc4S56YZEEr7axxUbpu7BHkmnpn2UqjRwT93vieTAvDKHw/s320/MAYANTOLOGY_CERTIFICATE_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>65</o:Words> <o:Characters>374</o:Characters> <o:Company>PANGEA</o:Company> <o:Lines>3</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>459</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}</style><![endif]--><!--StartFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm the worst when it comes to planning, but this looming End of the World thing has spurred me to action. For a single dollar, I have purchased insurance and peace of mind. If the world ends on December 21, I'll be financially secure -- can you say the same? While continents crumble and the seas boil over, I'll be sitting pretty with a big payday. Of course, should the world not end, I'll be scrounging the couch for lunch money.<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-10918458625783803822012-11-21T14:04:00.001-08:002012-12-01T21:59:51.566-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>61</o:Words>
<o:Characters>348</o:Characters>
<o:Company>PANGEA</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>427</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AwFPsmMGwJiTH3vUv6fJrXdeVBAl2sU4l3TSTB1wsw2Pt2uYvgRZpIavVC991Lk2PAo8FF-pEeGsDAQezo1oJVYTB607ch-GwWx3bgNkSje2eIMrDAzHyEKTg-lP1LggmMCBXw/s1600/Thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AwFPsmMGwJiTH3vUv6fJrXdeVBAl2sU4l3TSTB1wsw2Pt2uYvgRZpIavVC991Lk2PAo8FF-pEeGsDAQezo1oJVYTB607ch-GwWx3bgNkSje2eIMrDAzHyEKTg-lP1LggmMCBXw/s200/Thanksgiving.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">In this time of thanks and giving, surrounded by
loved ones, food and comfort, my problems are small and my blessings are large -- a luxury I know most of the world does
not share. And while I can rationalize my blessings as God's will, I can't help
but feel survivor's remorse. It becomes cruel to view </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">privilege</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> and </span><span style="font-size: 21px;">opportunity </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">as a lifeboat, room only for a lucky few. This Thanksgiving I offer a simple toast: "We're going to need a bigger boat."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-47639973270538525642012-11-09T06:00:00.000-08:002012-12-01T21:58:23.438-08:00In My DayMy childhood was fraught with previously unperceived dangers. Only with hindsight can I clearly see the rusty nails, the overly affectionate coach and wildly inappropriate entertainment. It's a wonder I survived. Or perhaps it is a trick of my matured mind. Was I protected by my innocence, a shield from sinister forces that so clearly haunt my memories? Or have I given life to bogus boogie men to more easily claim my superior survival skills? Either way, kids today have it way too easy! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3C7bKs3w4TO_NFKFoyaJfwmDc7AEh_ZpT4uJ3LGkW31Zbz_ukk5riLV_lfXYE0ketUCGG6_YLVzSxyHjuziHwgfAgZBSvdCQrAYZrNm1IvBMOTs2V6HEULw1aD94tWp-iIWzsw/s640/blogger-image-1956337621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3C7bKs3w4TO_NFKFoyaJfwmDc7AEh_ZpT4uJ3LGkW31Zbz_ukk5riLV_lfXYE0ketUCGG6_YLVzSxyHjuziHwgfAgZBSvdCQrAYZrNm1IvBMOTs2V6HEULw1aD94tWp-iIWzsw/s640/blogger-image-1956337621.jpg" /></a></div>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-90807674716667953082012-11-07T00:43:00.001-08:002012-11-08T12:53:46.455-08:00The Power of HeroesI once tied a towel around my neck and stood in the second story window of my parent's house. I was going to save the world, but first someone had to save me. It wasn't going to be my older brother; he was cheering me on. My father was busy building bridges and my mother was scrambling to keep up with my little brother. No, my hero was the shirtless grumpy old man across the street that simply yelled at me to get my stupid butt back inside. I never thanked him for saving my life that day; in fact, I'm pretty sure I egged his house later that year. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPq4Dngi3NwzHij1PfLMLYu9roukWYOt_tKtDzRrz1VNbirhtdZBUd4j-cIvM4PFXEOBvs0KgTM8RawWO2VF55SJYIe23Kz-x-7eX0UYrP8YUiNqZpB6Idsph68L7fAyfA2WLCQ/s640/blogger-image-528202256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPq4Dngi3NwzHij1PfLMLYu9roukWYOt_tKtDzRrz1VNbirhtdZBUd4j-cIvM4PFXEOBvs0KgTM8RawWO2VF55SJYIe23Kz-x-7eX0UYrP8YUiNqZpB6Idsph68L7fAyfA2WLCQ/s640/blogger-image-528202256.jpg" /></a></div>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-55332553875157498392012-11-06T15:17:00.001-08:002012-11-08T12:52:20.790-08:00A Climate For ChangeIn a world of pasteurized politicians, where style over substance is heralded and facts are fodder for fear, I stand resolute in my resignation of party politics and embrace the Barbie for President movement. Join me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICN-AXP9lYoeaIG6Jdt_b8qysl9Aae3ra0ogyvoqeajXI4XfHwZJaI0eNpIrnCUwu4_a6dMoM2w2syKYnbsP8w05C3hAyYB-Syi8lwOvJ38Em0tcxa2eIqEKhhtfKElk25Ia7gg/s640/blogger-image-287249337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICN-AXP9lYoeaIG6Jdt_b8qysl9Aae3ra0ogyvoqeajXI4XfHwZJaI0eNpIrnCUwu4_a6dMoM2w2syKYnbsP8w05C3hAyYB-Syi8lwOvJ38Em0tcxa2eIqEKhhtfKElk25Ia7gg/s640/blogger-image-287249337.jpg" /></a></div>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-34973256237736148242012-03-16T10:42:00.018-07:002012-03-23T14:49:06.148-07:00Turtles From An Alien World?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2kf90B77c_6IcoFysZa83mbih1IUIFarsj_VUYITFp7VwkE3Q9Hw3X3hhuxgw8cakiaUs37PltwJk-efDNA7JTDw48MmxrVY0Ze1lwGLF0r24KvPdk2s9fzqs3MKc9viD3JR/s1600/16.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721841533816526514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2kf90B77c_6IcoFysZa83mbih1IUIFarsj_VUYITFp7VwkE3Q9Hw3X3hhuxgw8cakiaUs37PltwJk-efDNA7JTDw48MmxrVY0Ze1lwGLF0r24KvPdk2s9fzqs3MKc9viD3JR/s400/16.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 274px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 360px;" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I still remember getting direction from Playmates Toys about writing the origin story for the <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">. It was 1987 and my notes from the development meeting were lean and mean: "We gotta keep it simple, but wacky and weird." I poured over the Eastman and Laird comics, the scant licensing material that was evolving out of Mirage Studios, then repaired to a pizzeria in Pasadena for inspiration. My soon-to-be writing partner, John Besmehn, puzzled along with me. Since this was all about parody, I opted for the classic evolution story. Everyone always gets hung up on how everything came to be the way it is (which is, incidentally, one of the biggest mistakes of <i>Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, </i>but I digress).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">It all had to be told in four basic panels on the back of the blister card:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">1) A teenaged boy's pet turtles accidentally fall into a sewer, coincidentally right next to Splinter, a penniless ninja sensei</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">2) Shredder, the notorious enemy of the outcast sensei, in an act designed to kill, pours toxic ooze on Splinter -- and the turtles.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">3) Splinter and the Turtles, however, mutate, assuming the traits of whomever they were with most recently. Splinter becomes a rat; the Turtles become teen ninjas.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">4) Now the Turtles, guided by Splinter, go out to fight crime, Shredder, and his evil Foot Clan.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;">The wacky copy went through many revisions, mostly getting honed and tightened so it would fit with the graphics -- all within the upper third of a blister card. This was the original, first-time-ever- seen-in-the-mass-market, backstory for the Ninja Turtles, totally driven by the toy development, which barring a few role-playing games, was the first major licensed product, based on the underground comic books. It should be noted, too, that Playmates Toys, underwrote the original animated mini-series that started the ooze flowing. And ad agency guru, Jerry Sachs, coined the term, <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#33CC00;">Green Against Brick</span></b>, as the foundation for the tone and flavor of the entertainment property. In other words, Playmates Toys development was driving home many entertainment points.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVb9bjaEm7HCa9uvlxkgiAg0h4f1wxfAvayhzJGYZUDVRmXPEtpmN2LUNFwMo-TXzilsrX1jzuNCy_U3fBP-bHJSsTpPlBfGgb0OGLr6c-a_MY6ljGiJQgOgxhGqwWJIoAr-E/s1600/TMNT+BackStory.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721833541961380322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPVb9bjaEm7HCa9uvlxkgiAg0h4f1wxfAvayhzJGYZUDVRmXPEtpmN2LUNFwMo-TXzilsrX1jzuNCy_U3fBP-bHJSsTpPlBfGgb0OGLr6c-a_MY6ljGiJQgOgxhGqwWJIoAr-E/s400/TMNT+BackStory.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 186px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Now, jump ahead to 2012 and Michael Bay's remarks about the new film he's slated to produce. He slipped in the words "alien race" when he spoke of his vision for the new film at a Nickelodeon summit. Whoa, dude! Suddenly over 25 years of storytelling purity are flushed back into the sewers? "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">These turtles are from an alien race, and they are going to be tough, edgy, funny and completely loveable," said Bay, who was a mere 22 year-old college grad when the Ninja Turtles burst onto the scene and became a billion dollar phenomenon. Though fans are having a meltdown over this news and denouncing Bay as Satan, truthfully, I'm more distressed at the use of the word 'lovable' than the words 'alien race.'</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; font-family:arial;">Once you take into account that the Retro-Mutagen Ooze is a substance created by the Utrom -- yes, an ALIEN race -- it's not that farfetched to call the Ninja Turtles aliens, too. That pink entity at the top of this article is an Utrom. Looks pretty other-worldly to me. This is sourced back to the original Mirage Comics. So Michael Bay, surprise!, is not creating anything new by calling the Turtles aliens. There are plenty of backstories in the animated series, too, where the Turtles encounter aliens -- the Neutrinos, for instance. Turns out the Turtles are quite at home in outer space. Krang is, himself, from the Utrom race. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWE3Y3J54g3oU6HQap_caBF8NhkSL5F3VVawEkSCKOrQc3JINpljm8uNNxgT_KKjiHnmdRsWUYKBn2QYtS624z9-450fTE50H4LafXbvauTk-2PdVGOO1Gx0hNAHdya09NkoX/s1600/41E4CVW8BAL._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721845984584188898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWE3Y3J54g3oU6HQap_caBF8NhkSL5F3VVawEkSCKOrQc3JINpljm8uNNxgT_KKjiHnmdRsWUYKBn2QYtS624z9-450fTE50H4LafXbvauTk-2PdVGOO1Gx0hNAHdya09NkoX/s400/41E4CVW8BAL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 300px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 300px;" /></a>And in the toy realm, because they are parody-based action heroes, the Turtles also crossed-over with the <i>Star Trek</i> license and became parodied characters, like Spock -- or Star Trek Don as he was called (who I believe is, even by Vulcan-standards, at least half-alien). Over the years, too, there was Space Cadet Raph, Space Hoppin' Mike, Leo, Don and Raph, the four-part <i>Turtles in Space</i> animation, <i>Alien Invasion</i>, <i>The Battle Nexus</i>, and on and on.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">But let's murder to dissect and examine the word alien:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">1) A foreigner, especially one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">2) A hypothetical or fictional being from another world.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">It can surely be agreed and considered inarguable that the Turtles are not naturalized citizens. (But perhaps after 30 years, their application for citizenship should have been approved.)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Fictional beings? There can be no doubt. From another world? Well, partially born of this Earth, partially influenced by a substance from another world, mix that up with sewer muck, and I think you can make a case for calling the Ninja Turtles aliens.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">But there's one final component that would really drive the point of parody home. Renaming the property, <i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Alien Turtles</i>. The more, the merrier. The title was originated as over-the-top -- and adding the word 'Alien' certainly pushes it out even further, eh?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Here's the simple sewer truth: the Turtles have been -- and will continue to be -- all about parody. That means everything is fair game -- even being part-alien, from another planet.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Finally, do you really want to argue with the genius behind </span><i>Transformers 4</i><span class="Apple-style-span">?</span></span></div>Big Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09589756546820994699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-48071785960102513262012-01-31T15:33:00.000-08:002012-01-31T16:47:38.836-08:00Just Lucky, I Guess<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEind0HQ7s3Zw-aYW-RWMkWed4YrFRRym01CdIQO-Ek_HEIYvfVuj4-VZPQYQ6AxW5rGoq-Vl3vw5PChjUxECIC49JwC654HbwOY0Cw0Ar8kC7qjsds-RfOwBOt7BQtud6KTAf8j/s1600/P1260740.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEind0HQ7s3Zw-aYW-RWMkWed4YrFRRym01CdIQO-Ek_HEIYvfVuj4-VZPQYQ6AxW5rGoq-Vl3vw5PChjUxECIC49JwC654HbwOY0Cw0Ar8kC7qjsds-RfOwBOt7BQtud6KTAf8j/s320/P1260740.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703943701218148098" /></a>Yes. That is Carol Channing: Reigning Queen of Broadway. And yes. That is Bruce Vallanch: Reigning -- well -- he's just one of the most spontaneously funny writers and unique personalities around.<div>Christmas was very special this year -- even more than it usually is -- because my daughter got to perform with both of them as part of a fundraiser for the Dr. Carol Channing & Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts, designed to bring critical awareness and support for the arts in our public schools. The spectacle was directed by David Green of Musical Theatre University. Beyond the song and dance from the kids that night, both Carol and her husband, Harry, delivered impassioned presentations on how necessary the arts are to our society. It was a message of great hope, but a call to arms for all of us to make the arts a thriving part of our kids' development and education.</div><div>January 31, 2012 is Carol's 91st birthday. Many of the same MTU students were with Carol last year when she celebrated her 90th birthday -- and they sang her "Happy Birthday" following one of their amazing shows. This year, Carol doesn't have Harry, her childhood sweetheart whom she married 70 years later, by her side. Sadly he passed away the day before his 92nd birthday, a mere week after the Christmas Show. He was, in many ways, more vibrant than anyone else on stage that night.</div><div><div>Harry, like Carol, thrived on life. She miraculously left the hospital where she was recovering from a leg infection just to do the show. She argued with her doctor that she had to be there, front and center, for the audience -- but mostly for the kids. Harry joked backstage during rehearsals, "We told the doctor, haven't you heard: 'The show must go on!'" For the record, Carol never missed a performance during her run in <i>Hello, Dolly!</i></div><div>Though Harry's not here anymore, his sharp and fiery passion continue to light the way. The legacy of their foundation also blazes, thanks to David Green, who is also the Executive Director. And Carol's still got showstoppers to perform! After the slick performances and the standing ovations, the venue booked Carol and the kids for next year.</div><div>Oh...one last thing: there was no curtain on the stage.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZb-dBGCpEisO2xW0qAEE1gzP-09AidPm_QHqu6zExjarAemrUoJp_1RxWwQwPD7IIID9FcmiwZHJkra1iH2_OWL6oxI_9-5FI8cHL9uaFfs0tvENh5b4-ZEAroCmBtWBtLfQS/s320/P1270270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703956586558346002" /><div style="text-align: center;">Carol & Blythe, Christmas 2011</div><div><br /></div></div>Big Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09589756546820994699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-13235788994643745052011-09-13T04:03:00.001-07:002012-01-31T15:19:47.227-08:00HopIt's late in Verona and it's snowing. I've just left a local Osteria, where I had my fill of wine, cheese and horse meat. I'm making my way over the slick cobblestones when I hear the sirens' call of the fallen. Taking shelter in an archway, they taunt my inebriated ego with challenges of manhood. I quicken my pace to pass but cannot help to look. Three women of indeterminable age stand side-by-side, five legs between them. The monopod prostitute bobs between her two cohorts with an ease and agility that demanded attention. I paused, and, I must confess, I pondered. Were I a bolder man, or perhaps a more compassionate one, the story might continue. As I turned and walked into the rain I could hear the soft sound of one foot clopping. The snow turned to rain and my curiosity turned to shame. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBFkQVmcEnqzPEvKKmxr9vf-2Lmx8Rj-UNsuVEOH5wvbcwvvsAgIb1tBvDRPWfEGWXjUFX35bInGChF3dAo3lEuJzV7nkHWtOpu4efL3AfBnYbYSjnPy40GaYr72X3ixNVHo9Vg/s640/blogger-image-2112463447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBFkQVmcEnqzPEvKKmxr9vf-2Lmx8Rj-UNsuVEOH5wvbcwvvsAgIb1tBvDRPWfEGWXjUFX35bInGChF3dAo3lEuJzV7nkHWtOpu4efL3AfBnYbYSjnPy40GaYr72X3ixNVHo9Vg/s640/blogger-image-2112463447.jpg" /></a></div>Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-64164067746067574212010-11-11T18:11:00.000-08:002012-01-31T15:26:16.130-08:00Tempus Rector<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXB-o2LV5jOAZSslqp07xuAnV3nmXQ7JFoX0iful9FLpm5X8V6zTu3W4RBxEYtLcUoGd0YRQM3yUf4mr1ae4-R3vXaAZpaJpuv2lbOWQ6rvqT5QbRpmsuoxRN8BKASOPqp1hJmQ/s1600-h/DSC_0005.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1mu_lyg1_j0eejMdKvYG71feHVBdLYHp38IWRX7cyWdWqvSbn0AejYrlyz0RkwVemB7koooJwJtKS-9_SBntT88IWhYPHEJQB74GKIg1HNFkeNTW0FrhMqnpig49uEvUaJ8W9qw/s288/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337579675555558066" /></a>Daylight savings was four days ago. Half of my clocks fell back an hour while half remain defyingly displaying the past's future hour. There is a time warp between my living room's entertainment center and my kitchen's microwave. I have the power to end this rip in the space-time continuum which causes chronological confusion from my bedside to my desk. But I hesitate to provide the equilibrium of consistent time. I have found a chaotic comfort in my time jumps -- always questioning my grasp on my current position in the day. If the hour is debatable it ceases to be exact. It becomes inaccurate, fallible and no longer held in the esteem of unquestionable fact. Time, for me, truly does become relative, relative to my microwave, my alarm clock, my phone, my disposition, my procrastinating nature. I have become Tempus Rector within the walls of my home and, for the time being, time is on my side. But now it is late, or perhaps really late, and I must sleep to wake promptly at the hour of my choosing, be it desk clock or wall clock -- only time will tell.Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-30710350817668529992010-09-28T15:55:00.000-07:002010-09-28T16:16:55.010-07:00Elmo's Eyes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4mGW5qqsE3L0qo7S7YhF957pXo9uP9VapsNOWEetrSmb8OikKw6Bs0E7U7mgT-0-2fVtfLFHr8bEiruT82IKUJqqq6rkcOMfZYjibI_J9ygUYViE66CxZljz02UHI5bEyFfH/s1600/KATY-PERRY-SNL-ELMO.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4mGW5qqsE3L0qo7S7YhF957pXo9uP9VapsNOWEetrSmb8OikKw6Bs0E7U7mgT-0-2fVtfLFHr8bEiruT82IKUJqqq6rkcOMfZYjibI_J9ygUYViE66CxZljz02UHI5bEyFfH/s400/KATY-PERRY-SNL-ELMO.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522102376925661058" /></a>Kids love their moms. And certainly one day, when singer Katy Perry has children, she will be adored.<div><br /></div><div>She will be able to share her special "collector's edition" appearance on Sesame Street (not every mom gets to sing for Elmo) -- an episode that unfortunately or fortunately didn't get out of the scrutiny gate and onto PBS. She will be able to explain what it's like to have Elmo run circles around her. It'll be fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>She'll also be able to share her appearance on SNL as a 16 year-old library volunteer. Her kids will think it's cute that Elmo's face is on mommy's chest. But why weren't Elmo's eyes pulled down and into proper placement to complete the dimensional satire? In fact, if it had to be done all over, Katy would have fared better playing opposite Cookie Monster. His googly eyes would have been even more appropriate across Katy's chest. Plus there's that subliminal connection to kids' favorite snack: milk and cookies.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Big Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09589756546820994699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-70709017353819812312010-08-08T01:14:00.000-07:002010-08-08T01:24:58.912-07:00They're Always After Me Lucky Charms<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; ">An icon of my childhood slipped past me and then slid into view to remind me that the world continues to spin without any pushing on my part. I am somewhat saddened by the unbridled progress of a once static touchstone of my youth. An anchor has been hoisted setting my childhood adrift and I am increasingly left with only fading photos and imperfect memories as the world proceeds to discard and, more disturbingly, transmogrify my heroes.</span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2tnu2birq6TpkyjwVCmMWnKlaQZyUqv75UJD91cpoErSc0_MX9VFyVT1g6RzzPcdJSyXurgH9Iw05y9vbbpDk1hOqSwEOFKUMxnfZI14gPYI_6Ftqa-qezuIMDJi-GbUtT8Qug/s320/LuckyLips.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502951344939427202" /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="Caption1" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:"Geeza Pro";mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;mso-fareast-font-family: "Geeza Pro""> </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Geeza Pro"; mso-hansi-font-family:"Geeza Pro""> </span><span style="font-family:"Geeza Pro"; mso-ascii-font-family:Helvetica;mso-fareast-font-family:"Geeza Pro""> </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Geeza Pro";mso-hansi-font-family:"Geeza Pro""> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Geeza Pro';"><i>They're</i></span><i> magically nourishing, conditioning and lip softeningly delicious!</i></p> <p class="Caption1">While I embrace the inevitable and enjoy the new experience of sealing my lips in the paraffin of Pink Hearts, Orange Stars, Yellow Moons, Green Clovers, Blue Diamonds, and Purple Horse Shoes - I still languish, for a moment, in the milky melancholy of my celebrated cereal childhood and the lack of the steadfast sugar consistency of my youth's mile markers. But then no one likes stale cereal - shine on Lucky Charms. I look forward to the impending day when I will shed a single tear as I enjoy a bubble bath with marshmallow clovers. </p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p>Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-67823801890336980792010-04-23T18:17:00.000-07:002010-04-27T17:51:44.238-07:00Regurgitating Rico Hits the Shelves<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqCjGk0Z5Xxw7VzbEwyBhY-N94qQ13JJsaL21EB2KBVs8fAzjWVfbOWKtVxyK_dm7ahlM6g8I3dFz4VaULe_-w5QkTt9T_rBork9Elkda22YFJk4WRemeEAvsGZ5VCKslipvc/s1600/pTRU1-5909494reg.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqCjGk0Z5Xxw7VzbEwyBhY-N94qQ13JJsaL21EB2KBVs8fAzjWVfbOWKtVxyK_dm7ahlM6g8I3dFz4VaULe_-w5QkTt9T_rBork9Elkda22YFJk4WRemeEAvsGZ5VCKslipvc/s400/pTRU1-5909494reg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463508944967535234" /></a>It took awhile, but he finally made it: <span style="font-style:italic;">Regurgitating Rico</span> from the hit show, the "<span style="font-weight:bold;">Penguins of Madagascar</span>" is now available at TRU (and eventually the other big boys too). So here's the back story: our client was anxious for a feature plush toy for the line (the 30 plus figures we designed weren't enough), so we started noodling over something that could be done that would be relatively inexpensive to deploy technically, make sense based on the character and be tons of fun to play with repeatedly. Well, since Rico vomits in the show all the time -- and one never knows what he might upchuck -- a stick of dynamite, a bicycle, a bowling ball, a portrait painted by Xavier Cugat -- the sky is the limit -- that made the most sense to pursue: a plush penguin that would vomit. It's a natural! We came up with a simple way to pass strange objects through Rico's beak and into his belly, where they would be stored until you reach in and pull them out. When you do, Rico makes a regurgitating sound. Well, you just have to see it and experience it and own one to fully appreciate the magical effect. So hurry on down to <a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3560056">TRU </a>and pick up a case of them for gifts and to place about your home. No cozy area in your house should be without a Regurgitating Rico! Our special thanks to Melinda Keane for helping us stitch up the beak and create an interior belly sack for the sample presentation Rico we made for Toy Fair. Aside from being a terrific friend, she's a very talented costumer and the wife of <span style="font-style:italic;">Family Circus<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span> cartoonist, <a href="http://www.familycircus.com/">Jeff Keane</a>.Big Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09589756546820994699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-26795182149126847462009-09-22T14:08:00.001-07:002014-10-01T15:16:44.225-07:00Pop Goes The Brilliance <br />
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another genius idea shot down in its prime. We pitched this as a merchandising extension for the Penguins of Madagascar product line. But alas it was deemed inappropriate and was rejected. So it lives here now.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvlm_C5ewC6TrinXHA8lwIJjE9GiCuj1SNf_JnruvKtOeAA5sJk-3spuL3S_UCiUiSbR2vWHg18QTUcfLKSzY_b1_Uz3-SL9LcOg00oUQLb0B2U7mxWGW8cO6LLWy4633S1V9GA/s1600/SimeonSoda-NEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvlm_C5ewC6TrinXHA8lwIJjE9GiCuj1SNf_JnruvKtOeAA5sJk-3spuL3S_UCiUiSbR2vWHg18QTUcfLKSzY_b1_Uz3-SL9LcOg00oUQLb0B2U7mxWGW8cO6LLWy4633S1V9GA/s1600/SimeonSoda-NEW.jpg" height="400" width="282" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-61076779350553983752009-08-06T15:14:00.001-07:002009-09-11T20:27:12.197-07:00<div style="text-align: left" id="w:b5"><img src="http://docs.google.com/File?id=dg7sq5xq_6crb8ctdt_b" style="width: 320px; height: 161.067px"></div>Remember when eating crayons was enough? Well, now you can drink them. Perhaps the paraffin that sticks to your teeth when you chew on solid crayons can be diluted, washed away and ingested with each fruity-flavored can of "all natural" Crayons drink. Select the proper color -- you wouldn't want to clash against the color of crayon that you've been gnawing on -- then knock one back and feel the color coat your throat. Once the chewed crayons and drink are in you, your stomach acids will go to work, mixing and churning the colors into a kaleidoscope of swirly bright belly juice. When it's time to evacuate your bodily waste, you'll want to open up your favorite coloring book and begin your own Picasso masterpiss -- uh, piece. Be sure to let it all loose and by all means, stay inside the lines. Cheers!<br>Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18584564.post-40667395814660590452009-05-19T09:54:00.000-07:002010-04-27T17:46:31.579-07:00Spanking King Julien<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXB-o2LV5jOAZSslqp07xuAnV3nmXQ7JFoX0iful9FLpm5X8V6zTu3W4RBxEYtLcUoGd0YRQM3yUf4mr1ae4-R3vXaAZpaJpuv2lbOWQ6rvqT5QbRpmsuoxRN8BKASOPqp1hJmQ/s1600-h/DSC_0005.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXB-o2LV5jOAZSslqp07xuAnV3nmXQ7JFoX0iful9FLpm5X8V6zTu3W4RBxEYtLcUoGd0YRQM3yUf4mr1ae4-R3vXaAZpaJpuv2lbOWQ6rvqT5QbRpmsuoxRN8BKASOPqp1hJmQ/s320/DSC_0005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337579675555558066" /></a>The Penguins of Madagascar toys are coming to a toy store near you. Be on the look out for Flightless Figures (except of for the pictured Spanking King Julien), playsets and plenty of plush.<div><br /></div><div>The show keeps getting better -- but the toys were great from the beginning! Because of the economy, buyers have been hesitant to take on too many new items, so the roll out on this line is slow, but steady. Try TRU and Target!</div><div>The entire line debuted at the October Toy Show in Dallas, Texas in 2008 -- well before the show had established itself. Since then, we've tweaked it accordingly and the stuff looks fantastic! Excellent follow through from Hooga Loo!</div>Little Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03844187098717108921noreply@blogger.com0