Month: September 2015

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1218

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Bruce

1218When news of Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm first came out I remember drawing Obi Wan with mouse ears saying “I feel a great disturbance in the Force” I probably wasn’t the first one to come up with it, but I thought it was clever. Since that time we’ve seen what happens when the full might of Mouse is a part of something… They bought Marvel Comics & we end up with a bunch of good superhero movies. They bought Star Wars & we end up with the same feeling I had when I was waiting for Empire or Return… As Han Solo said in the trailer “Chewie were home.”

This doesn’t mean that I’m not scared. I waited in line to see Phantom Menace and was disappointed, with each prequel. Someone online recut all three films into one, and people said it was actually good. J J Abrams rebooted Star Trek and while some disliked the whole alternate timeline bit, it made some sense to be able to ditch all that continuity and return to the core. But if the Death Star goes into a wormhole to emerge at the beginning of Star Wars… I’m out.

This really isn’t about Star Wars, its about Disney’s influence over pop culture… While it causes kids to sing “Let it go!” for months, is it really that bad?  Sue and I used to go to Disneyworld pretty much annually.  My first Lilly Fellowship involved spending close to a month at Disneyworld learning the art of animation.  We attended the first Mickey & MINI and few more after that. Anytime we felt down, we’d pick up the phone and call 1-407-WDISNEY and make reservations. Disney does it right, more importantly treats you right, and as long as you go with the expectation that things will most likely be overpriced, you can enjoy yourself.  We slowed down on Disney trips when we came to the realization that you could fly to Europe for the cost of a Disney vacation.  Does that mean we’ll never go back?  No way.  When the Star Wars Land opens I’ll be there, staying at whatever hotel they build close to the park, basking in the atmosphere created by Imagineers to help me forget the troubles I have in the real world and enter a galaxy far, far away…

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0301

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Bruce

0301I’ve gone fast (for me), usually on a race track. I have discovered that after a certain speed, I don’t feel like I’m completely in control and I slow down to where I feel comfortable. There’s a point where I’d suggest turning interstates into autobahns where there is no speed limit. Darwin will prevail. Then again, that might be the first step to turning thing into something like “Along the Scenic Route” by Harlan Ellison, so maybe not.

I recall finally getting to drive (a few feet) on the Bonneville Salt Flats, it wasn’t fast, but the pictures were nice.

MINI Takes The States 2012- the somewhat damp salt flats.
MINI Takes The States 2012- the somewhat damp salt flats.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1946

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Bruce

1946Besides the Lunch Lady Comic Series which my students love, almost everyone complains about school lunches. I don’t really remember school lunches until I was in 4th grade and they served what seemed like cardboard with ketchup and cheese and called it pizza. As I teacher I see the balancing act in the cafeteria of trying to meet Federal guidelines, and creating something that kids would eat. They try, but kids, are kids- most don’t want to try anything new, so chicken nuggets win out.