AUTHOR: Adam TITLE: Nature's Own Realm DATE: 1/01/2008 03:38:00 PM ----- BODY: Click on Nature's Own Realm for the accompanying slideshow after reading this....or just view to the right. I'm watching a selection of Walt Disney TV shows from the 50s and 60s. The introduction says the following which I find to be very provocotive. *** [Welcome to Disneyland...] Frontierland: Tall tales of true from the past; Tomorrowland: Tales of things to come; Adventureland: The Wonderworld of Natures Own Realm; Fantasyland The Happiest Kingdom of them all. *** These words are such a tremendously inspiring summary of the world. It is a myopic summary - but there in lies its beauty - It seems to objectify the world as though it isn't filled with billions of pairs of eyeballs hard-wired to individual brains. This is the world as it exists via the collective perception of all conciousness - the world as percieved by humanity perhaps. Did that portion of humanity without TVs or Radios subscribe to the studio's summary? No need. Surely an individual's perception is legitimate - if collective consciousness isn't public domain what is? I love "Peter and the Wolf" the cartoon. It is so very beautiful. Variations on a theme - and amazing color schemes. The animators match Serge Prokofiev's musical themes to the characters with audio-visual imaginations that are indeed a fantastic interpretation of Humanity (Peter) as we exist in our tireless witch hunts and wars (Wolf). As a note of interest, "Peter and the Wolf" is the first non-war (WWII) effort production from the studio after V-day. The effort was purely entertainment, but no less war oriented - fair enough. Peter and Wolf is beautiful. given the opportunity given the opportunity why not create a narrative of peace without it being at any other's expense...Fantasy or Tommorrow Land? How can Fantasyland be the happiest land of all when it results in Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland should be the happier land of all and Fantasy land should be the land of happy today. The background color choices are an intrinsic zeitgeist; practically radioactive, flourescent - how appropriate to the atomic age man vs nature, yet true to the Russian Folkart patterns and to the Russian Tomorrowland: Chernobyl (sorry....not my fault if grotesque). I love the colors. God Bless Chernobyl....my entire ancestory comes from a 500 mile radius of Chernobyl - I won't be making any Eastern European pilgrimmages ala "Everything is Illumniated" by Jonathan Safran Foer (mad brilliant author). Cherished is the memory of playing a clarinet duet of "Peter's Theme" with Stacey Weber in 6th Grade at Erwin St. Elementary School in Van Nuys, California 1979. We played it in two parts with harmonies and everything. Rob and I celebrated our 8th Anniversary and New Year's Eve. We watched Broadway's Lost Treasures III. I love musical theatre more than anything in this entire world. Yesterday in the mail, Robs Mom received my holiday card to her in Texas...the Red Hat with Purple Ribbon charm bracelet. She loves that poem "When I Grow Old, I Shall Wear A Purple Hat...." you must have heard of all that I'm spending my childrens inheritance jazz....I received a thank you Playbill and Refrigerator magnet from the man who I sent Orchestra tickets to XANADU on Broadway since Rob and I had to forgo our trip to our NYC timeshare this year. sniff. We're alive and thriving. Pray tell that you saw 'Into the Wild'. What a tremendous insightful cinematic experience. It was extra inspirational to me because I saw it just after visiting Los Altos for a family reunion. The main character was born two weeks apart from me the same year so there was a kinship there. Definetly check it out. Also...ever seen "Winter Kills" with Jeff Bridges from the 1970's? Brilliant DVD re-release....put on your Netflix list or what have ya. Yes still ever the cinema and broad way musical freak. John Houston is in it too all old and crusty with red banana hanger underwear and untied silk robe, cigar - ewwwww. Houston's character is quoted as having said: "Moses lied when he came down from Mt. Sinai. There was only one commandment; G-d said: 'Do what you like...but don't get caught!'." How crotchety-John Houston can you get.? And for that matter what's up with him directing the film version of "Annie"? Can you imagine him bolstering that poor little girl before her big scenes. Yuk. Another film NOT to be missed: "The Devil and Daniel Webster" (1941)(Criterion 2002). The screenplay is by Dan Totheroh, Who grew up in early 1900's Marin County. The Devil is played by Walter Houston, John's dad (Rob prefers to say Angelica's Grandfather). In any event the Winter Kills Houston is clearly an homage (if not mere mimicry) of the Daniel-Webster Houston. You'll see (that's in the imperative)! I've invented a word: thralive. (pronounced Thruh-lih'-vuh) Verb to denote a state of material satisfaction while spiritually exceeding mere satisfaction. To be basically healthy and surviving while spiritually thriving. Ex. I'm thralive, you're thralive, he she it thralives ....we're thraliving. Thraliving and Traveling are so close....but sisters, not twins. Oh and Rob and I have contrived a word of Yiddsh etymology: Kvelmensgedank. It is a noun Appriciative Joy at Witnessing the Good Fortune of Others. It is the opposite of 'Schadenfreude' (Germ. Damage - Joy ): Malicious Joy at the misfortune of others. Example sentence: Money flows easily effortlessly and frequently into our lives, righting our keel so that our income exceeds our expenses greatly, magnificently, and wonderously to the kvelmensgendansk of all. *** Foucault Pendulum Purple Sage Rider Pisces. Crash, Burn, and Phoenix Arise! Dowels of wood in the atrium pit of Griffith Observatory Fall. Time or Space or Frames of Reference; Pharaoh or Moses both make deference. (Adam Odnert, 2007) *** We Wish You A Happy 2008 Rob and I - the sunrise here was magnificent at 7:30am. Whatever and Wherever you are make your tommorow this instant in fantasyland. 2008 will be terrific. After all we are conscious and thriving in the world along with our loving communal earthlings. What could be better? Exit to Striesand's 1974 recording of Bowie's "Life on Mars". ----- --------