Credit Where Credit Is Due

Once again, the Mobile Press Register (or the parties from the Mardi Gras organizations) only gave me partial credit for this year's Mardi Gras float designs. In order to clear up any errors or misconceptions, I am posting here ALL of the floats that I design for each builder.

For Steve Mussell's MIRTHCO, INC.:

• Mystic Stripers Society
• Order of Polka Dots

For Craig Stephens and CARNIVAL ARTISTS:

• Order Of Inca
• Neptune's Daughters
• Mobile Mystics
• Knights of Ecor Rouge
• Maids of Jubilee
• Order of LaShe's (formerly built by Mirthco)
• Children's Floral
• Various others, including individual floats such as Shadow Barons title float, and upgrades to existing title or 'permanent' floats.

Usually, several parades that I design will roll more than once, since they are rented by other organizations and will parade on another date. For example, The Order of Persephone rents the Knights of Ecor Rouge floats, so they are seen twice on the Eastern Shore. The Stripers' floats are rented by a MAMGA organization, so they also roll on Fat Tuesday in addition to their normal route.

Once the floats roll, I post the designs on my website, http://www.brentoons.com/ , on the 'Mardi Gras Floats' pages.

"Les se bon ton roule!"

Defending ALABAMA's (and WalMart's) Honor

A couple of weeks ago, there were some bitter columns in the Mobile Press-Register, along with a cartoon by j.d. crowe, that kind of upset me. I sent an e-mail to the editor, and here is the e-mail in its entirety:

As a long-time subscriber to the Press-Register and a long-time supporter of The University of Alabama Crimson Tide, I feel the need to respond to both the article and the Crowe cartoon regarding Alabama and Wal-Mart.

Both Mr. Crowe and the obviously bitter and biased Kelso seem to take pleasure in belittling and ridiculing Bama fans who want to see (or be photographed with) the crystal championship trophy. First, let me say that many of these people are fans and supporters of The University, but probably will never be able to actually afford to attend a game due to the expense and logistical hurdles in doing so. Most folks can’t afford the price of a ticket, much less the cost of a day-long trip and the possible additional expense of food and/or lodging. They DO, however, support The University and the team by purchasing officially-licensed apparel, home decor and other items to show their loyalty. For many, this is the closest they will ever get to actually being a ‘part’ of history. With the unemployment, loss of industry and income, (plus the economy) pride in the accomplishments of the premier college in the state is one of the few things to make some folks feel good about themselves.

First, for mr. crowe: You really seem to delight in portraying ALL Alabamians as toothless, overweight hicks. While we do have our share, I must advise you that these people are EVERYWHERE. If one has ever travelled by ground to our nation’s capitol, you would see that ‘civilization’ up there also seemingly ends once you ‘turn off the paved road’. Trailer parks stuck on hillsides are prevalent throughout the entire Virginia landscape. As much as you seem to loathe your audience and the region in which you work, you should probably consider re-location. Your liberal, leftist views would be better suited to the Huffington Post or the fading New York Times.

For the ‘Austin American-Statesman’s john kelso, I can’t believe that ANYone from Texas would dare say ANYthing about ANYone ANYwhere driving a truck. Contrary to your uninformed and biased view, many in Alabama DO know what Waterford crystal is. Your obvious jealousy over your team’s defeat is displayed by your bilous vitriol.

While the First Amendment and your current employment give you the platform to spew your jealousy, nothing changes the fact that The Crimson Tide BEAT the Texas Longhorns 37-21 to win the BCS National Championship. Insulting the fans and supporters of Alabama only makes you look sad and petty.

Roll Tide!
Brent Amacker (Register Subscriber)

Here is her response, along with the edited version of the above message:
From: Coleman , Frances [mailto:FColeman@press-register.com] Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 9:57 AMTo: John B. Amacker - MobileSubject: RE: Negative Stereotypes

Hi, Mr. Amacker, and thank you very much for your letter. It was longer than we're able to accommodate, so I trimmed it some, and wanted you to look at the edited version and see if it suits you. I've pasted it on to this email. (And Mr. Kelso's columns DO make him look sad and petty!)

Frances

Frances Coleman
Editorial Page Editor
Mobile Press-Register
P.O. Box 2488
Mobile, AL 36652
251-219-5607

------------------------------------------------
¶
Both cartoonist J.D. Crowe and the obviously bitter and biased syndicated columnist John Kelso seem to take pleasure in belittling and ridiculing Bama fans who want to see (or be photographed with) the crystal championship trophy. ¶
First, let me say that many of these people are fans and supporters of the University of Alabama , but probably will never be able to actually afford to attend a game due to the expense and logistical hurdles in doing so. ¶
They do, however, support the university and the team by purchasing officially-licensed apparel, home decor and other items to show their loyalty. For many, this is the closest they will ever get to being a part of history. ¶
Mr. Crowe seems to delight in portraying all Alabamians as toothless, overweight hicks. While we do have our share, I must advise him that these people are everywhere. ¶
His liberal, leftist views would be better suited to the Huffington Post or the fading New York Times. ¶
For the Austin American-Statesman’s Mr. Kelso, his obvious jealousy over his team’s defeat is displayed by his bilous vitriol. ¶
While the First Amendment and his current employment give Mr. Kelso the platform to spew his jealousy, nothing changes the fact that the Crimson Tide beat the Texas Longhorns 37-21 to win the BCS National Championship. Insulting the fans and supporters of Alabama only makes him look sad and petty. ¶
BRENT AMACKER ¶
Mobile 

Nifty New Kiffin Song

This was sent to me by Wes Neighbors.



Ha ha! So true, but it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of hillbillies! Ha ha! Go Viles!

Art Clokey, Creator of "Gumby", Dies

Gumby Creator Art Clokey Dies

Monday, January 11, 2010By: Thomas J. Mclean
Art Clokey, who turned a small clay figurine named Gumby into a worldwide sensation, died Friday at his home in Los Osos, Calif., at the age of 88.
Clokey and his first wife, Ruth, created Gumby and his orange horse pal Pokey in the 1950s shortly after Clokey had finished film school at USC. The idea began with an abstract claymation short called Gumbasia — a sort of parody of Disney’s Fantasia —that movie producer Sam Engel encouraged Clokey to develop by adding figures.

Read the entire article by clicking on the title of this post.

New Burger Joint

This is an old concept from a few years back that I finally drew out. Took me a while to scan & color it, since it's been languishing in my "Jungle OUT THERE" folder under some stuff....

The premise is one of a place where I would be afraid to eat....!
"Quick, Robin! The Bat-Antacid and Antidote!"

Nifty Simpsons Intro Parody

Pretty funny take-off of the opening segment from The Simpsons:

ROLL TIDE! UNIVERSITY of ALABAMA WINS BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

ROLL TIDE, people.
THE University of ALABAMA Crimson Tide rolled to another National Championship last night, beating the Texas Longhorns in Pasadena. The TIDE is back where they belong. On top of the college football world. In three short years, Coach Nick Saban has resurrected one of the most storied programs and placed us firmly where we belong.
The national media, partisan naysayers and bitter auburn types will say "What if...?" and "Well, if only....!", but BAMA did exactly as I thought they would. Take McCoy out. Now, don't get me wrong-- I'm not rooting for anyone to get hurt, and I love a hard-fought, evenly-matched game, but THAT'S THE JOB OF THE DEFENSE-- to take the opposition out of their game plan!
It was a clean hit, just one that pinched a nerve in the Texas qb's shoulder.
As my pre-game prediction stated: "POW! Right in the Kisser!"

This from the Denver Post: "It took Colt McCoy four years to return to the Rose Bowl for a shot at a national title. It took five plays for him to go back to his old spot on the Rose Bowl sideline.
An injury to his throwing shoulder on Texas' first drive turned the Longhorns' BCS championship on Thursday night into no more than a wing and a prayer. Yet with a wing from a freshman quarterback who overcame a horrid first half and a stout defense that dominated the second, Texas had a prayer before finally falling to top-ranked Alabama 37-21."
The Tide pounded backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert, like Eryk Anders demonstrates above. The Longhorns' backup qb kept plugging away, though. The Texas offense finally got on track, but BAMA bowed up and make some big plays to put the game away in the fourth quarter.

Above, Marcel Dareus scores a touchdown in the waning moments of the first half.

As usual, even after being ranked #1, and man-handling media darling and favored Florida Gators in the SEC Championship, ALABAMA was not given the proper credit due prior to this game. Many of the 'experts' and 'pundits', including Lou Holtz and USC coach Pete Carroll, picked the Longhorns to take the title. I KNEW we were going to win when Lee Corso also picked Texas.

That's okay. Let 'em hate. Let 'em keep rooting against us. Even with graduation and several probable early departures for the NFL, Coach Saban has stockpiled some talent, with more on the way. This looks like the beginning of another chapter of 'winning tradition'.

Two of My Favorite Things

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team travelled to Pasadena Friday to prepare for The BCS National Championship Game this Thursday night. After a few bouts of sightseeing and some promotional events, including a trip to Disneyland, BAMA will begin final practices before facing the Texas Longhorns and the bitter, Heisman-jilted Colt McCoy.

Photo by Bill Starling/Press-Register Nick Saban takes a moment to pose with Mickey Mouse during the Crimson Tide's visit to Disneyland in preparation for Thursday's BCS national championship game.

A perceived slight by Heisman voters will be the least of McCoy's worries, once the game kicks off and he begins to take the relentless beatings from the punishing attack of the Crimson Tide defense. Texas is no pushover, regardless of recent struggles, and Coach Saban is putting a stop to any possible over-confidence from this focused and purpose-driven BAMA unit. That being said, by listening to ESPN announcers Ron Franklin and Bob Davie one would think that the Longhorns are the team to beat. Good. Those pricks have no idea what they're talking about. Bama's played better competition all year, week-in and week-out. Coach Saban will have these young men prepared.

While watching the Sugar Bowl the other night, I was amused when - during Florida's blowout of Cincinnati- one of their announcers asked: "If this Gator team is this good, just how good is Alabama...?" This, of course, was in reference to the SEC Championship beatdown.

Thursday can't get here soon enough.

ROLL TIDE!