Recently I received a comment from one of you asking if I could change the theme every now and then of my web site because they are tired of seeing the same thing all the time. I am not bashing this person for he did state that he wasn’t sure if this is a simple task or not, but the answer is it is indeed not just like swapping out your wallpaper on your desktop. My site is completely coded by a computer programmer and I personally do not know how to program sites. So, unless I want to pay a graphic designer and a computer programmer to change the layout of my site on a regular basis it is going to stay like this for a while. I do have some new shoots coming up and always do my best to keep you updated with fresh, new content. ..For those of you who are bored with my site .. my apologies! I can only be me. Love you all anyways!
Before we told stories through novels or sitcoms, we sketched our lives on stone columns and cave walls. For centuries, it was how society taught its truths and delivered its lessons. The pictures we made were extensions of us in an almost magical way.
For over seventy years—most recently with the release of Shrek Forever After—we’ve experienced a bit of that magic through full-length animated films. Whether they’re drawn by hand, crafted by computer, or shaped through stop-action, these movies charm us, inspire us, and teach us lessons in ways that live-action films—limited by the pesky shackles of reality—sometimes struggle to do. From Disney’s beautiful classics of yesteryear to today’s CGI masterpieces, animation in many ways represents cinematic storytelling at its best: Few other art forms can bridge generational differences and inspire young and old with timeless lessons of hope, courage, and love.
Here are eight of our favorite life lessons from animated films.
1. Pinocchio (1940): Listen to Your Conscience People, particularly little wooden people, face a lot of temptation. It’s so very enticing to skip school and find a Pleasure Island all your own, where you can drink and play pool to your heart’s content. It all seems so enticing—until you start to grow longer ears and a tail and hee-haw like a donkey.
For $2, you can upgrade to the HD package, which adds options for Lossless audio (24-bit 44.1kHz WAV and 16-bit FLAC and Apple Lossless) and the music video for “The Space in Between” in 1080p and 480p.
An immediate download of the HD package is included FREE with any merchandise purchase.
Everyone knows the postcard-worthy landmarks in their city, but ever think that people could be some of the most exciting and sought-after tourist sights around town? Street performers are an integral part of any urban landscape; they offer social commentary, perform impressive stunts, add cultural flavor, and create some pretty hysterical photo ops. Certain street performers are such prominent local figures that they’ve become almost like icons of the city or neighborhood where they set up shop, delighting (or just plain scaring the pants off) locals and tourists alike.
1. The Bush Man, San Francisco, California
The Bush Man usually sets up camp on the sidewalk of Fisherman’s Warf, a classic San Francisco tourist spot, where he spends his days frightening unassuming tourists from behind a homemade “bush” that consists of leafy tree branches. Although his costume is makeshift and pretty minimal, he has a huge impact. Clueless passersby often jump and scream (and then give the Bush Man a few dollars) with surprise. Cut to the 0:53 mark in the video to get a sense of how convincing Bush Man can be playing a bush!
2. The Naked Cowboy, New York, New York
This isn’t your average cowboy … he’s hunky, has long hair, plays the guitar, and hangs out in the center of Times Square practically naked. Wearing only tighty-whities that say “Naked Cowboy” on the tush, this guy lures female tourists with his good looks and charm as they line up to take pictures with him. He’s become such a Times Square landmark, M&Ms made a cartoon commercial with the Blue M&M dressed up like the Naked Cowboy.
