Disney FX Wiz Robert Broughton Dies at 91

Pioneering camera effects artist Robert Broughton, who worked on almost every Disney movie from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) to The Black Hole (1979), passed away recently at a nursing home in Rochester, Minn.
Read the entire story by clicking on the title of this post.

Mardi Gras Presentation at Mobile Museum of Art

I will be participating in The Mobile Museum of Art's Mardi Gras Family Fun Day at The Museum next to Municipal Park on Saturday, February 14 in the morning.
I was asked to give a short speech/presentation about Mardi Gras floats and floatbuilding. I will be detailing my involvement in the design process, and show examples of the drawing from rough sketch to tight pencils to finished & inked artwork.
Carnival Artists will provide me with a few sculpture props for visual impact.

Recession Hits New Orleans

This photo was sent to me by a friend originally from Louisiana. At least this guy's trying...!
And HOPING for CHANGE....!

Roll Tide ANYway... And Happy New Year!

Well, The Crimson Tide lost to Utah in The Sugar Bowl to finish 12-2 for the season. We were flat and distracted, and The Utes were fired up about the bowl, about lack of respect, and for playing The Tide. I am proud of our team for getting this far and honestly surprised that they were as successful, as I figured BAMA would go 9-3, optimistically 10-3.
The BAMA Twins, Cole and Wade Ellis were treated to the best year The Tide has had on the field in a while, and the highlights were many (36-0, anyone...?). Some of our regular attendees to our weekly football gatherings didn't show for the last two games (you know who you are...!), and it is apparent that this disruption of our 'mojo' cost us victories.
Coach Saban has the boys ahead of schedule, and Andre Smith notwithstanding, look to be even better next year. If recruiting plays out like projected, we'll finish with another top-5 haul. Let's see how many coaches get 'Sabanized' next year...!
Happy New Year, and ROLL TIDE!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays! Been pretty busy with work, family, holidays and such. Here's a treat from the Rankin-Bass classic "Year Without a Santa Claus", one of my personal favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KL08TCU6Z8

This clip also includes a new version of the song from the new "Miser Brothers Christmas".
The Miser Brothers song was (and still is) one of my all-time favorite tunes from the many holiday specials I waited all year to see when I was a youngster. I didn't really appreciate the stars who voiced these characters then, but now I realize they must have had a blast recording.
Can't honestly say that I ever out-grew those shows. I must admit that I will still sit and watch them whenever they air.

And I sing along.

If I had a straw hat and cane, I'd probably be doing the dance.....

Nice, Accurate Auto Ad

The Man Behind The Mouse

You can read a good article about Walt Disney by clicking on the title of this post. It was interesting to me, anyway.....!

Above is a picture of Walt Disney and his partner Ubbe Iwerks, along with their iconic creation.