Donald Duck in "Up a Tree"

High-quality version of the classic battle between a duck and two chipmunks. (Runs a little over 6 minutes.)

Thursday's This & That: Disney Style

As I massage my Wii muscles that have been overworked by video bowling and tennis, let me bring you the latest news around the web...

Get your t-shirts with inside jokes of Disneyland park. T-shirts read "Real Men Shoot Hippos" and "We Want the Redhead!" The t-shirt company that makes them, Cryogenically Frozen, refers to the urban legend that Walt Disney requested his head be frozen upon his death.

Mercury News reviews 3 new "Disney Treasures" released to DVD. I personally bought Disneyland: Secrets, Stories and Magic expecting some great insight in to the park that I haven't read about before. (A far stretch of the imagination with all I've read up on the subject.) But what really made me excited was the description of the plot on Amazon.com:

Steve Martin, a former Disneyland cast member, takes viewers through the history of Walt Disney's original theme park in Anaheim, California, while being constantly interrupted by the stubborn but hilarious Donald Duck.

Unfortunately Amazon's plot outline is completely inaccurate. So is their mention of stars such as Sammy Davis, Jr. making an appearance. There was nothing on either of these discs that featured Steve Martin or any big stars' appearances. Fess Parker and Buddy Ebsen are shown wandering through the park as it's being built, as well as Annette Funnicello singing at the park, but those have been featured elsewhere (another Disney Treasures DVD compilation entitled "Disneyland USA"). In fact, there's a lot of overlap between the two sets. Worse yet, it's a bit dated by some awkward screen time by Michael Eisner (ptooey ptooey!).

What it turns out to be is a great look back at Disneyland from the 50's to the 60's...with a great commentary by Leonard Maltin and imagineers and other creatives who worked on the project. But as far as any insight or a secret, behind-the-scenes look at the park, it falls short.

2008's This & That

2008 is guaranteed to be one helluva year. For one thing, it's a Leap Year, giving me one more day to drink and frolic with my low-cut tops and high-cut bottoms. But less importantly, there are a few interesting things that are supposed to happen this year:

Apparently the end of the world is this year. Yes, friends, once again the apocalypse has been prophesied. Hope you've prepared your souls, heathens.

According to Isaac Asimov's short story "Franchise," this year the U.S. president will be selected by a computer program looking for the "most representative citizen". Should be promising...

The wonderful show of "Futurama" has told us that suicide booths are invented this year, as well...maybe in time for people to escape Earth's destruction.

So there's a lot to look forward to! I hope you are excited about these events as I am!

Happy New Year!

My resolution? To drink more and work less!

See you in 2008!

Love, Sweepea

12 Days of Christmas

I know it's less than 12 days to Christmas, and this song is one of the most long, drawn-out carols of all time...but it's John Denver. And the Muppets. Need I say more?

Happy Holidays!

...and a very Merry Christmas!

Unfortunately it'll be a busy week...I'm trying to kick @ss with work so that I can take some much needed time off. If anything comes up, though, you'll -- of course -- be the first to know!

Love,
Sweepea

It's Been a Bad Week

Sorry about the lack of posts this week. I had to leave town for a death in the family. Hopefully things will be back to normal next week.

Love,
Sweepea

Talent and Looks are Inherited

Steven McQueen, the grandson of the late Steve McQueen, has been cast in the Disney Channel original movie "Minutemen," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The comedic science-fiction adventure centers on three teen outcasts who use a time machine to become popular and prevent other misfits from enduring humiliating situations, calling themselves the Minutemen.

This picture is of Steven when he was in the WB show "Everwood." Looks like his dad Chad.

Sweepea-TV: Better Than South Poles, I Guess

And the Award for Most Disgusting Holiday Candy Name goes to...
At least they're not cream-filled.
(Thanks to my co-worker M for the purchase.)

Happy Birthday, Walt Disney!

...and thanks for the magic.

"I am interested in entertaining people, in bringing pleasure, particularly laughter, to others, rather than being concerned with 'expressing' myself with obscure creative impressions."

"You can design and create, and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality."

"When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do. And one thing it takes to accomplish something is courage."

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."

"Laughter is America's most important export."

"Why do we have to grow up? I know more adults who have the children's approach to life. They're people who don't give a hang what the Joneses do. You see them at Disneyland every time you go there. They are not afraid to be delighted with simple pleasures, and they have a degree of contentment with what life has brought - sometimes it isn't much, either."