Notes on life, art, photography and technology, by a Danish dropout bohemian.
When you drink the water, remember the river.
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
Disney recycling
As Cheech said (or maybe it was Chong): "there's a saying in Hollywood: if you have a working formula, don't change it". Cheech and Chong certainly took that to heart, and so did Disney.
So you think that's bad. Check out the films "A Song is Born" and "Balls Of Fire".
The only difference between the two is that one is a musical. They recycled everything, even most of the production cast. It's not even like remaking the film in a different language.
Then watch "The A Team". I'm not sure how many times you can see the same three helicopter crashes from Capricorn One in a TV show before it gets old. Actually, The Fall Guy also re-used film footage too, including the bridge leap from Capricorn One.
"And Now for Something Completely Different". 'Nuff said.
I once watched a stupid beach-party film (for the girls of course). It showed the same clip of a girl throwing herself to catch a volleyball, three times!
Alex said... "Anyway, yesterday was Earthday. Maybe we all need to recycle a little more."
Good point, Alex. And...go watch this beautiful film that just happens to be created by Disneynature: Earth. Can't WAIT to go see it! Should be wonderful! :-)
TC said... "Good point, Alex. And...go watch this beautiful film that just happens to be created by Disneynature: Earth. Can't WAIT to go see it! Should be wonderful! :-)"
UPDATE: just saw this movie, last night. It is really good. Go see on the big screen, if you can. And...they are already advertising next year's. Looking forward to it, already. :-)
When we look at them through young eyes they are being seen for the first time. We adults have enjoy them many times and the films always remind me of child hood memories.
These movies are not intended for critical review. They are what they are. A simple distraction to tell a simple story. Joe
I had completely forgotten about the first movie I ever saw in a theater: The Aristocats. This compilation reminded me of it. :-)
The weekly Disney show was also something I looked forward to, every Sunday night @ 7PM, as a child. :-) I keep having vague memories of adventures the kids had at a lighthouse. Do you remember any of those, Joe (or anyone else)? I used to want to live in a lighthouse...for years...and WISH I could watch those episodes, again! lol! :-)
I recently read a great book which did involve a girl growing up in a lighthouse with a blind lighthouse keeper. The book is "Lighthouse Keeping" by Jeanette Winterson.
JW is a very interesting writer, the first book of hers that I read was "Sexing the Cherry", and later I read "Oranges are not the only fruit". She has a wonderful way with language, and makes some quite compelling characters.
TC said... "UPDATE: just saw this movie, last night. It is really good. Go see on the big screen, if you can. And...they are already advertising next year's. Looking forward to it, already. :-)"
If TTL reads this: I forgot to mention that you would probably really enjoy your *big cats* in this film. There was some pretty rare footage there. And...quite some time back, I had posted a link that I don't know if you saw. I am posting again. :-) http://www.liger.org/
When we look at them through young eyes they are being seen for the first time. We adults have enjoy them many times and the films always remind me of child hood memories.I disliked Disney even as a kid for being too cutesy. I prefered Warner Bros. Much more fun.
These movies are not intended for critical review. They are what they are. A simple distraction to tell a simple story.Oh, I don't know, Joe. They should be criticized for santizing classic fairy tales. Even though I don't like Disney movies, as a fan of animation I admire the quality. They have something that today's cartoons, being mostly computer-generated, lack.
Variety is the spice of life. If every one liked the same thing it would be a dull place.
"They should be criticized for santizing classic fairy tales."
All the classic fairy tales are retelling of stories passed down from long before they were ever written down. They have already been altered before they ever got to us.
If you want a blood and gore movie to take children to then that is your choice. I would prefer something that would not cause my younger kids nightmares. Joe
Joe... "I would prefer something that would not cause my younger kids nightmares."
That was exactly my intention w/my kids and...in 11 years, neither one of them have woke up from a nightmare. Pretty difficult to do, when they only watched PBS Kids and...now they're pretty good at determining whether they, themselves, deem a movie *inappropriate* or not. :-)
When my daughter was 3 years old, my brother-in-law rented *Spirit* and...she couldn't tolerate several scenes. She walked around saying "not working" and was visibly upset. Of course, everyone (but me) thought it quite humorous to continue. And then he introduced our kids to 'Shrek' which he and my other in-laws really enjoyed *getting under my skin* with! Family! No respect for the efforts (nor reasons) why things are done a certain way to raise kids w/as healthy a mind as possible. Kids don't need to be desensitized to violence and lack of self- (nor other) respect via movies; they'll get that soon enough...in school and society, or even as close as within one's own family, sadly. :-(
If you want a blood and gore movie to take children to then that is your choice. I would prefer something that would not cause my younger kids nightmares.
Considering these were stories written for children, I have a feeling they could take it. It would be a pretty dull child that can't tell fantasy from reality.
That was exactly my intention w/my kids and...in 11 years, neither one of them have woke up from a nightmare. Pretty difficult to do, when they only watched PBS Kids and...now they're pretty good at determining whether they, themselves, deem a movie *inappropriate* or not. :-)
Things are a bit different in the Flanders household.
Kids don't need to be desensitized to violence and lack of self- (nor other) respect via movies; they'll get that soon enough...in school and society, or even as close as within one's own family, sadly. :-(
Your logic is seriously flawed there. Try looking at some images of real-life casualties from Iraq, which are available on the web. Civilian casualties are especially horrific. Or take a look at some footage of Nazi bulldozers dumping bodies in mass graves. Watch that, if you can, and you'll see how viewing fake violence in no way desensitizes us. You can instantly tell the real thing, and the only reason people are convinced by Hollywood's fakery is because they haven't seen the real thing. All you're doing is raising kids who will be unable to cope with the unpleasantness of real life when they get out into the real world. That's a real shame.
My eldest used to have nightmare when he was about 4. We cut out TV (PBS-Sesame Street) and the nightmares went away.
Plenty of kids have nightmares without being exposed to anything that might conceivably be nightmore-inducing. There is something called "night terrors" which have no known cause. Don't blame TV and movies. You guys are as bad as people who unfairly blamed comic books in the fifties for the problems of a minority of children.
Me, I had to leave the cinema for Alice in Wonderland (Caterpillar toking on hookah) and Pinoccio (swallowed by the whale)
You never know, but a child's mind is also not as fragile as a lot of people seem to think.
Variety is the spice of life. If every one liked the same thing it would be a dull place.I wasn't saying whether that was good or bad, just that I didn't care for them.
I wonder, wouldn't a witch plotting to kill someone be nightmore-inducing for the Flanders children?
Sure DS has other things going on, but there seemed to be a correlation. It wasn't like "Oh, he had a nightmare, lets stop TV". There was a gap in his viewing, nightmares went away, started SS again, and nightmares came back. It was only after a few times of this that we saw that SS was the constant.
And I know why I left the cinema crying, that stuff just scared the crap outta me. I wanted to leave. I don't think I had nightmares about it afterwards, but the Cinema was meant to be fun. That wasn't fun, it was scary.
Jimbo said... "Considering these were stories written for children, I have a feeling they could take it."
Actually, most cartoons & movies, *back then* (and even now), had much adult satire in them.
"Try looking at some images of real-life casualties from Iraq, which are available on the web. Civilian casualties are especially horrific. Or take a look at some footage of Nazi bulldozers dumping bodies in mass graves. Watch that, if you can, and you'll see how viewing fake violence in no way desensitizes us. You can instantly tell the real thing, and the only reason people are convinced by Hollywood's fakery is because they haven't seen the real thing."
I have watched a lot of that, myself, as an adult. My kids don't need to sit and look at that at the ages they are. Fortunately, they are not growing up in a region of the world where they have to experience it firsthand, either. They will get to know about all these things, not to worry.
"I wonder, wouldn't a witch plotting to kill someone be nightmore-inducing for the Flanders children?"
Ooohh...if you're talking about 'The Wizard of Oz'...my kids watch that, now, and know that that is not real. So...uh...no...they are actually mature enough to dicern fantasy from reality, now.
Joe said... "You have to understand that a young child does have trouble sorting real from fantasy. They lack the experience to separate them."
I'm suspecting the Jimbo is not a parent. Parenting is what responsible people do with the children given them, giving them direction and education...according to their age, mental, and emotional maturation. I didn't just plop my kids down in front of whatever movie was available and have Hollywood raise them. I actively participate in all aspects of their lives and...don't waste time on crappy television programming like the likes of 'The Simpsons'.
Ooohh...if you're talking about 'The Wizard of Oz'...my kids watch that, now, and know that that is not real. So...uh...no...they are actually mature enough to dicern fantasy from reality, now.
I was thinking of Snow White, actually, since we were talking about Disney movies.
I have watched a lot of that, myself, as an adult. My kids don't need to sit and look at that at the ages they are. Fortunately, they are not growing up in a region of the world where they have to experience it firsthand, either. They will get to know about all these things, not to worry.
I very much doubt that. But you missed the point again. I merely observed, correctly, that TV and movie violence does no harm because it in no way resembles the real thing. I should have been quite obvious that I was not suggesting you expose your kids to images of real-life violence.
I'm suspecting the Jimbo is not a parent.
Ah, because I don't believe in raising them in a bubble, insulated from the real world.
I didn't just plop my kids down in front of whatever movie was available and have Hollywood raise them.
That's great, but again it should be obvious that I wasn't suggesting anyone do that.
I actively participate in all aspects of their lives and...don't waste time on crappy television programming like the likes of 'The Simpsons'.
It's too bad The Simpsons is beyond you, but I can't say I'm surprised.
I'm suspecting the Jimbo is not a parent.P.S. ad hominem: (of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.
I used to love The Simpsons. Lately not so much, but it still has its moments. The show debuted when I was 11. I was never tempted to emulate Bart, as was the fear of a lot of people at the time. I recall then-President George H.W. Bush even mentioning the show in speeches, saying that families should be more like The Waltons than The Simpsons. Anyone ever seen Pleasantville?! Oh the humanity!
as was the fear of a lot of people at the time. Just to clarify I mean it was the fear of some people that kids in general would want to emulate him, not that anyone actually feared I would.
All the classic fairy tales are retelling of stories passed down from long before they were ever written down. They have already been altered before they ever got to us.
A lot of people think this but the reality is different. Cinderella is a story that appears to have originated in China and apart from some details is the same down the centuries.
If TTL reads this: I forgot to mention that you would probably really enjoy your *big cats* in this film. There was some pretty rare footage there. And...quite some time back, I had posted a link that I don't know if you saw. I am posting again. :-) http://www.liger.com
I just watched the trailer. Looks glorious. Yeah, I love the big cats. Apparently there's fantastic footage of so many species in this film. I gotta see it.
I've seen the liger site before. The concept of lion tiger hybrids bothers me a little, but there's some fascinating material on the site.
ttl said... "I just watched the trailer. Looks glorious. Yeah, I love the big cats. Apparently there's fantastic footage of so many species in this film. I gotta see it."
Yes...it really *is* an awesome documentary. I think that it is best to catch it on the big screen...if at all possible.
I'm already looking forward to next year's. :-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ and... "I've seen the liger site before."
Yeah...I can't remember where I first ran into it but...I posted on the blog where Eo posted some of my animal pix...after the fact so...wasn't sure if you had seen my note to you on there. Been meaning to post it for some time. The subject of *big cats* never came up...until now! lol! :-)
"The concept of lion tiger hybrids bothers me a little,"
I know what you mean. Me, too.
"but there's some fascinating material on the site."
Yes. OMG those canines! ugh!
And...incidentally, I happened to stop and watch a documentary on one of our networks of 'Siegfried and Roy: The Magic Returns'. That was pretty interesting. Some great old footage of Roy clowning around w/the tigers. Pretty cool.
So you think that's bad. Check out the films "A Song is Born" and "Balls Of Fire".
ReplyDeleteThe only difference between the two is that one is a musical. They recycled everything, even most of the production cast. It's not even like remaking the film in a different language.
Then watch "The A Team". I'm not sure how many times you can see the same three helicopter crashes from Capricorn One in a TV show before it gets old. Actually, The Fall Guy also re-used film footage too, including the bridge leap from Capricorn One.
"And Now for Something Completely Different". 'Nuff said.
I once watched a stupid beach-party film (for the girls of course). It showed the same clip of a girl throwing herself to catch a volleyball, three times!
ReplyDeleteOh my God, not Disney? Gasp. I'm shocked. My whole world is falling apart. Not..Disney! Why? Why? Why?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, yesterday was Earthday. Maybe we all need to recycle a little more.
ReplyDeleteAlex said...
ReplyDelete"Anyway, yesterday was Earthday. Maybe we all need to recycle a little more."
Good point, Alex. And...go watch this beautiful film that just happens to be created by Disneynature: Earth. Can't WAIT to go see it! Should be wonderful! :-)
Guess the saying "nothing new under the sun" is true.
ReplyDeleteJust repackage the product and send it out for another run.
Joe
TC said...
ReplyDelete"Good point, Alex. And...go watch this beautiful film that just happens to be created by Disneynature: Earth. Can't WAIT to go see it! Should be wonderful! :-)"
UPDATE: just saw this movie, last night. It is really good. Go see on the big screen, if you can. And...they are already advertising next year's. Looking forward to it, already. :-)
The Disney films were made for children.
ReplyDeleteWhen we look at them through young eyes they are being seen for the first time. We adults have enjoy them many times and the films always remind me of child hood memories.
These movies are not intended for critical review. They are what they are. A simple distraction to tell a simple story.
Joe
I had completely forgotten about the first movie I ever saw in a theater: The Aristocats. This compilation reminded me of it. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe weekly Disney show was also something I looked forward to, every Sunday night @ 7PM, as a child. :-) I keep having vague memories of adventures the kids had at a lighthouse. Do you remember any of those, Joe (or anyone else)? I used to want to live in a lighthouse...for years...and WISH I could watch those episodes, again! lol! :-)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTC,
ReplyDeleteI recently read a great book which did involve a girl growing up in a lighthouse with a blind lighthouse keeper. The book is "Lighthouse Keeping" by Jeanette Winterson.
JW is a very interesting writer, the first book of hers that I read was "Sexing the Cherry", and later I read "Oranges are not the only fruit". She has a wonderful way with language, and makes some quite compelling characters.
Alex
Thanks for the suggestions, Alex. I appreciate it. :-)
ReplyDeleteTC said....
ReplyDelete"I had completely forgotten about the first movie I ever saw in a theater"
The first movie theater show I can remember seeing, was Sleeping Beauty. I was about five years old and it still commands my attention.
It has beauty, a evil witch, fire breathing dragon and a price on a white horse. That is every thing you need to keep a child's attention.
Joe
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTC said...
ReplyDelete"UPDATE: just saw this movie, last night. It is really good. Go see on the big screen, if you can. And...they are already advertising next year's. Looking forward to it, already. :-)"
If TTL reads this: I forgot to mention that you would probably really enjoy your *big cats* in this film. There was some pretty rare footage there. And...quite some time back, I had posted a link that I don't know if you saw. I am posting again. :-) http://www.liger.org/
When we look at them through young eyes they are being seen for the first time. We adults have enjoy them many times and the films always remind me of child hood memories.I disliked Disney even as a kid for being too cutesy. I prefered Warner Bros. Much more fun.
ReplyDeleteThese movies are not intended for critical review. They are what they are. A simple distraction to tell a simple story.Oh, I don't know, Joe. They should be criticized for santizing classic fairy tales. Even though I don't like Disney movies, as a fan of animation I admire the quality. They have something that today's cartoons, being mostly computer-generated, lack.
Jimbo said.....
ReplyDeleteI disliked Disney even as a kid"
Variety is the spice of life. If every one liked the same thing it would be a dull place.
"They should be criticized for santizing classic fairy tales."
All the classic fairy tales are retelling of stories passed down from long before they were ever written down. They have already been altered before they ever got to us.
If you want a blood and gore movie to take children to then that is your choice. I would prefer something that would not cause my younger kids nightmares.
Joe
Joe...
ReplyDelete"I would prefer something that would not cause my younger kids nightmares."
That was exactly my intention w/my kids and...in 11 years, neither one of them have woke up from a nightmare. Pretty difficult to do, when they only watched PBS Kids and...now they're pretty good at determining whether they, themselves, deem a movie *inappropriate* or not. :-)
When my daughter was 3 years old, my brother-in-law rented *Spirit* and...she couldn't tolerate several scenes. She walked around saying "not working" and was visibly upset. Of course, everyone (but me) thought it quite humorous to continue. And then he introduced our kids to 'Shrek' which he and my other in-laws really enjoyed *getting under my skin* with! Family! No respect for the efforts (nor reasons) why things are done a certain way to raise kids w/as healthy a mind as possible. Kids don't need to be desensitized to violence and lack of self- (nor other) respect via movies; they'll get that soon enough...in school and society, or even as close as within one's own family, sadly. :-(
My eldest used to have nightmare when he was about 4. We cut out TV (PBS-Sesame Street) and the nightmares went away.
ReplyDeleteYou'll never know what will trip them over the edge.
Me, I had to leave the cinema for Alice in Wonderland (Caterpillar toking on hookah) and Pinoccio (swallowed by the whale)
If you want a blood and gore movie to take children to then that is your choice. I would prefer something that would not cause my younger kids nightmares.
ReplyDeleteConsidering these were stories written for children, I have a feeling they could take it. It would be a pretty dull child that can't tell fantasy from reality.
That was exactly my intention w/my kids and...in 11 years, neither one of them have woke up from a nightmare. Pretty difficult to do, when they only watched PBS Kids and...now they're pretty good at determining whether they, themselves, deem a movie *inappropriate* or not. :-)
Things are a bit different in the Flanders household.
Kids don't need to be desensitized to violence and lack of self- (nor other) respect via movies; they'll get that soon enough...in school and society, or even as close as within one's own family, sadly. :-(
Your logic is seriously flawed there. Try looking at some images of real-life casualties from Iraq, which are available on the web. Civilian casualties are especially horrific. Or take a look at some footage of Nazi bulldozers dumping bodies in mass graves. Watch that, if you can, and you'll see how viewing fake violence in no way desensitizes us. You can instantly tell the real thing, and the only reason people are convinced by Hollywood's fakery is because they haven't seen the real thing. All you're doing is raising kids who will be unable to cope with the unpleasantness of real life when they get out into the real world. That's a real shame.
My eldest used to have nightmare when he was about 4. We cut out TV (PBS-Sesame Street) and the nightmares went away.
Plenty of kids have nightmares without being exposed to anything that might conceivably be nightmore-inducing. There is something called "night terrors" which have no known cause. Don't blame TV and movies. You guys are as bad as people who unfairly blamed comic books in the fifties for the problems of a minority of children.
Me, I had to leave the cinema for Alice in Wonderland (Caterpillar toking on hookah) and Pinoccio (swallowed by the whale)
You never know, but a child's mind is also not as fragile as a lot of people seem to think.
Variety is the spice of life. If every one liked the same thing it would be a dull place.I wasn't saying whether that was good or bad, just that I didn't care for them.
I wonder, wouldn't a witch plotting to kill someone be nightmore-inducing for the Flanders children?
did you say real enogh times jimbo?
ReplyDeleteJimbo,
ReplyDeleteSure DS has other things going on, but there seemed to be a correlation. It wasn't like "Oh, he had a nightmare, lets stop TV". There was a gap in his viewing, nightmares went away, started SS again, and nightmares came back. It was only after a few times of this that we saw that SS was the constant.
And I know why I left the cinema crying, that stuff just scared the crap outta me. I wanted to leave. I don't think I had nightmares about it afterwards, but the Cinema was meant to be fun. That wasn't fun, it was scary.
Jimbo said..
ReplyDelete" It would be a pretty dull child that can't tell fantasy from reality."
You have to understand that a young child does have trouble sorting real from fantasy. They lack the experience to separate them.
My son also had a fear that a monster lived in the closet and that something could come from under the bed and get him.
He got the idea from watching movies and TV. The special effects used now make everything look so real.
You also have to be careful when going to magic shows. When the woman is sawed in half it can be tough on children.
Joe
Jimbo said...
ReplyDelete"Considering these were stories written for children, I have a feeling they could take it."
Actually, most cartoons & movies, *back then* (and even now), had much adult satire in them.
"Try looking at some images of real-life casualties from Iraq, which are available on the web. Civilian casualties are especially horrific. Or take a look at some footage of Nazi bulldozers dumping bodies in mass graves. Watch that, if you can, and you'll see how viewing fake violence in no way desensitizes us. You can instantly tell the real thing, and the only reason people are convinced by Hollywood's fakery is because they haven't seen the real thing."
I have watched a lot of that, myself, as an adult. My kids don't need to sit and look at that at the ages they are. Fortunately, they are not growing up in a region of the world where they have to experience it firsthand, either. They will get to know about all these things, not to worry.
"I wonder, wouldn't a witch plotting to kill someone be nightmore-inducing for the Flanders children?"
Ooohh...if you're talking about 'The Wizard of Oz'...my kids watch that, now, and know that that is not real. So...uh...no...they are actually mature enough to dicern fantasy from reality, now.
Joe said...
"You have to understand that a young child does have trouble sorting real from fantasy. They lack the experience to separate them."
I'm suspecting the Jimbo is not a parent. Parenting is what responsible people do with the children given them, giving them direction and education...according to their age, mental, and emotional maturation. I didn't just plop my kids down in front of whatever movie was available and have Hollywood raise them. I actively participate in all aspects of their lives and...don't waste time on crappy television programming like the likes of 'The Simpsons'.
Ooohh...if you're talking about 'The Wizard of Oz'...my kids watch that, now, and know that that is not real. So...uh...no...they are actually mature enough to dicern fantasy from reality, now.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of Snow White, actually, since we were talking about Disney movies.
I have watched a lot of that, myself, as an adult. My kids don't need to sit and look at that at the ages they are. Fortunately, they are not growing up in a region of the world where they have to experience it firsthand, either. They will get to know about all these things, not to worry.
I very much doubt that. But you missed the point again. I merely observed, correctly, that TV and movie violence does no harm because it in no way resembles the real thing. I should have been quite obvious that I was not suggesting you expose your kids to images of real-life violence.
I'm suspecting the Jimbo is not a parent.
Ah, because I don't believe in raising them in a bubble, insulated from the real world.
I didn't just plop my kids down in front of whatever movie was available and have Hollywood raise them.
That's great, but again it should be obvious that I wasn't suggesting anyone do that.
I actively participate in all aspects of their lives and...don't waste time on crappy television programming like the likes of 'The Simpsons'.
It's too bad The Simpsons is beyond you, but I can't say I'm surprised.
I'm suspecting the Jimbo is not a parent.P.S. ad hominem: (of an argument or reaction) directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
I used to love The Simpsons. Lately not so much, but it still has its moments. The show debuted when I was 11. I was never tempted to emulate Bart, as was the fear of a lot of people at the time. I recall then-President George H.W. Bush even mentioning the show in speeches, saying that families should be more like The Waltons than The Simpsons. Anyone ever seen Pleasantville?! Oh the humanity!
ReplyDeleteas was the fear of a lot of people at the time. Just to clarify I mean it was the fear of some people that kids in general would want to emulate him, not that anyone actually feared I would.
ReplyDeleteAll the classic fairy tales are retelling of stories passed down from long before they were ever written down. They have already been altered before they ever got to us.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people think this but the reality is different. Cinderella is a story that appears to have originated in China and apart from some details is the same down the centuries.
If TTL reads this: I forgot to mention that you would probably really enjoy your *big cats* in this film. There was some pretty rare footage there. And...quite some time back, I had posted a link that I don't know if you saw. I am posting again. :-) http://www.liger.com
ReplyDeleteI just watched the trailer. Looks glorious. Yeah, I love the big cats. Apparently there's fantastic footage of so many species in this film. I gotta see it.
I've seen the liger site before. The concept of lion tiger hybrids bothers me a little, but there's some fascinating material on the site.
ttl said...
ReplyDelete"I just watched the trailer. Looks glorious. Yeah, I love the big cats. Apparently there's fantastic footage of so many species in this film. I gotta see it."
Yes...it really *is* an awesome documentary. I think that it is best to catch it on the big screen...if at all possible.
I'm already looking forward to next year's. :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
and...
"I've seen the liger site before."
Yeah...I can't remember where I first ran into it but...I posted on the blog where Eo posted some of my animal pix...after the fact so...wasn't sure if you had seen my note to you on there. Been meaning to post it for some time. The subject of *big cats* never came up...until now! lol! :-)
"The concept of lion tiger hybrids bothers me a little,"
I know what you mean. Me, too.
"but there's some fascinating material on the site."
Yes. OMG those canines! ugh!
And...incidentally, I happened to stop and watch a documentary on one of our networks of 'Siegfried and Roy: The Magic Returns'. That was pretty interesting. Some great old footage of Roy clowning around w/the tigers. Pretty cool.