Re: I hate Disney!

In my quest to curtail false information, especially on my own blog, I feel the need to follow up my previous post with some clarification.

While I still hate Disney (contemplating a quasi-boycott) it seems that the Muppets line also suffered from lackadaisical support from larger retailers, thus making the cost of production impossible to justify. Bummer....

I am truly disappointed in these retailers' poor choice in regards to what they call "toys." Cheaply-made Barbies, G.I. Joe knock-offs, the latest, lamest Japanimation tie-ins, "re-imagined" vintage lines (y'know, all the familiar earmarks, none of the original charm and appeal), cheap-o toys that break in a few hours and all the other terrible things that kids just have to have. None of which promote using one's imagination. When I was a kid, I would actually push my Hot Wheels around with my hands, making the noises myself (car sounds, crash noises and little voices between all the characters).

God, how I loathe what society has done to children these days.

Later!

I hate Disney!

Ok, I know it's been a while since I posted and I don't really have an excuse. But I had to say something about an issue I was made aware of yesterday.

I realize that there are much more important issues to be concerned with, but I wanted to bitch about this one especially.

Robin (I love this woman!) and I collect toys. By that I mean we rabidly acquire toys from several different lines, either with sentimental value or pieces pertaining to favorites of ours. We collect Muppets, Star Wars, Star Trek, Superman, Batman, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Transformers (original generation only), DC Direct, Marvel Legends, PEZ, Anime characters, Spawn, the list goes on and on.

To the point, please....

I was aware that Jim Henson's family sold the muppet rights to Disney. It irked me then, but I was oblivious to the ramifications at the time. Disney has the tendency, as we all know, to buy well-established properties and mangle them in the interest of making money. But in the end they remove all the qualities that attracted customers in the first place.

So it goes with the Muppet franchise. As my readers may or may not know, Palisades Toys (palisadestoys.com) has been producing action figures based on the various Muppet endeavors for the past couple of years. Robin and I are great admirers of the line and own many of the figures. We delight in seeing the skill with which the accesories are designed not to mention the meticulous attention given the figures themselves. Kermit is the exact shade of green and Animal has that cuddly, ferocious look that made him so appealing to children everywhere.

Well, it seems that Disney has put the kibash on the latest line of Muppet figures that Palisades had coming. The items were already promoted, produced and in the warehouse. But Disney has halted the mass distribution of the figures. And although Palisades has the rights to produce this Muppet entity until the end of 2005, they can't fight Disney.

This really aggravates me. I know that there are many more collectors out there that we hoping to see a huge universe of Muppet items and now who knows?

Now that I've riled myself up some more, I'm going to end here and go find a corner to grumble in.

Later!

We decided to introduce the cats to snow the other night. Robin brought some in on a paper plate, put it on the floor and let the cats discover it. Callie was, of course, suspicious; Tori was eager to eat it and GoGo was willing to fight the other two to possess it. It was rather like catnip to them.  

This is how we spend a lot of our time. Watching the cats sleep and taking pictures of them for our amusement. 

Snow, snow, snow

Well, we had a bunch of snow dumped on us last night. And unfortunately, Harrison is full of hills, including the one we live on. We had no trouble getting down the hill, but getting back up will be fun this evening.

I had a thought this morning, as I was getting ready for work. I noticed Tori lounging at the window, as she so often does, and it occured to me that Tori may not know what snow is. Would a domestic cat who has never been outside know what all this lovely white crap is?

I know that cats can't see all colors, but snow (unless it's yellow) is white, so they can see that, right?

Also, would a cat like playing in the snow? Personally, the allure of playing in the stuff always escaped me. I often had to work in it but I didn't see the point in rolling in it.

I am in full on ramble mode today it seems. I'll spare what few readers I have the pleasure of that and end this here.

Later!

The answer to everyone's question...

I suppose I should take the easy route and use this space to answer everyone's question.

The question: What did I get for my birthday?

The answer: Robin got me a lifetime membership to Palisades Toys Collector's Club, the Special Edition Jim Henson Muppets figure from Palisades; Robin's mom gave me $50, which I put towards a new drill; and my co-workers used my special day as an excuse to have a mini-food day.

Then, Robin treated me to a weekend of special meals and, of course, the most awesome Superman birthday cake.

I've said it before and I'll say it here, too: Man, I love my wife!

Later!