2/24/2002

 Argon - Editor

Mouser Talking Shinies Invade Rose Garden; Residents Mystified
 
The Rose Garden was recently invaded by a trio of talking shinies, according to Mouser, local Fursnake, and Ringo, local Raccoon.  The mysterious brightly-colored objects, calling themselves the "Solar Talisman", the "Dark Moon Talisman" and the "Rainbow Talisman", explained to the Rose Garden regulars (in between attempts by Ringo to use them as skipping stones in the Fountain) that they were on a mission to rescue Arkitah, local sometimes centaur-kin and possible time-traveling madman.  According to the shinies, Arkitah has been kidnapped by militant Care Bears from another time and space.  The shinies are therefore on a quest to be turned into a necklace by a normal Care Bear, the result of which somehow will thwart the militant ones' plans.  A discussion on how one could tell the difference between
militant Care Bears and the ordinary ones and whether militant Care Bears were a bigger threat than talking shinies lead to no conclusions.  Mouser, however, did learn how to skip stones from Ringo.
 
Whether all this is another manifestation of Arkitah's recurring madness or he has in fact been kidnapped by militant Care Bears from another time and space has yet to be determined.  Rose Garden residents are advised to take note should their shinies start talking back at them.
Gilead Eocentaur (Part 3)

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In last week's SpinDizzy News, Gilead, local otter scientist, described how fossil evidence of injuries proved that Eocentaurs, primitive ancestors of the modern Centaur, were unable to escape predators by running into thick brush, as their Hyracotherium (fossil horse) bodies would otherwise have been adapted to do.

"However, when the lemur part of the body tried to get away from danger its own way," continued the otter, "the results were perhaps even worse for the poor Eocentaurs."

Electron microscope examination of the fossil bones showed clear evidence that their lemur upper bodies were prone to extensive muscle pulls and tendonitis. Gilead belives the pattern of these injuries suggests they were contracted by attempting to climb trees to escape danger.

Continuing with the Good Idea / Bad Idea theme of last week's paper, the accompanying artists rendering illustrates these injuries.

Gilead chirped, "Good Idea: Lemurs climbing trees to escape danger. Bad idea: Lemurs trying to climb trees while carrying the body of a horse attached to their spinal column."

He continued, "While the fossil evidence clearly contradicts this theory, it is tempting speculate that both lemurs and horses evolved as a direct result of an Eocentaur ripping in two while trying to climb and run into brush at the same time. However, this didn't happen, as funny as it may be to see in cartoon form."

More likely, Eocentaurs were forced to evolve rapidly into plains-dwelling runners, relying on speed for escape. Indeed, horses probably made an identical evolutionary change specifically to keep up with their lemur-enhanced siblings. Ultimately, as lemurs evolved into monkeys, then apes, then humans, they made a similar transition, albeit some tens of millions of years later.
Argon Megacon Sci-fi Convention
 

     This reporter attended the ‘MegaCon’ comic book convention in Orlando, Florida, Friday to see the goings-on at the event and to verify the geek quotient that Mavra, fiancée’ to this reporter and local centaur proclaimed that would be present.  While she was reluctant and too fatigued to attend, this reporter was able to confirm that there were geeks at the convention.  Surprisingly, there was an absence of odor that normally accompanies geeks, but being comic book geeks, a subtle yet significant difference, they were well-washed, not wanting their body oils and unwashed skin to come into contact with an issue of Superman #1.  Even the purchase of comic books itself was possible, although the sums asked for certain issues were outrageous and then turned down. 

     A pleasant side-event that took place was the signing/autograph session for numerous actors and actresses from an even larger number of motion pictures.  The most significant ones being June Lockhart, the ‘mother’ in the ‘Lost in Space’ series in the 1960’s, as well as Mark Goddard and Bob May, who played the roles of Maj. Don West and ‘The Robot’, respectively.  Other attendees were the small in size but huge in capable acting Kenny Baker, R2-D2’s performer, and David Prowse, the man behind the mask of Darth Vader.  Finally, the voice talent of ‘Space Ghost, Coast-to-Coast’, George Lowe, was present, signing many cards and pictures.  There were other actors and actresses there from other films and television shows that this reporter won’t further elaborate upon. 

     To conclude this presentation on MegaCon, this reporter as well became the target of autograph hounds, and questions as to what will be happening in the future with the ‘Hercules’ and ‘Xena’ series, and whether or not more centaurs would be present in them.  Comments were made as to the quality of the costume as well as pokings and proddings until this reporter decided that enough was enough and a hasty exit was made, amidst the jostling of many a surprised fanboys and clatter of hooves.
Rown Ark-in-a-box!
 

     After splitting into three pieces, Arkitaur local… whatever he is, claimed to be on the side of good until it was learned that he had abducted one of the other pieces of himself called Seirahlee, a mouse shaped piece of the original Arkitah and power source.

     After hearing that Arkitaur had abducted Seirahlee local Centaur and Spindizzy reporter Rown (me, Heh!) stepped in to try and negotiate a release. Arkitaur expressed a genuine interest in the secrets Centaurs keep since we are all good by nature so while the negotiations went on Rown dropped a little black box he had been carrying around innocently and explained that some of the secrets were hidden in the black box.

     Arkitaur produced an evil radio device and spread pamphlets with gibberish and lyrics to hippie music all over the place then threatened to turn on the radio and play 70’s hippie music nonstop 24/7. Of course with many from the 70’s in attendance that was more or less the promise of a treat instead of a threat and all waited for the radio to turn on so they could listen to replays of the Cowsils and ram munchies down their throats like a pile driver. Unfortunately Arkitah not being much of an electronics wiz, forgot to put an “on” switch on it.

    Meanwhile, Shoe, who had asked the Centaurs as well as others to make Arkitaur release Seirahlee, inspected the box thoroughly before exiting and leaving it open for Arkitaur to investigate. When he realized that he might learn the secrets of the Centaurs he entered and was immediately locked inside after Rown closed the box.

     After protesting the evilness of the trap, Arkitaur finally admitted that he was truly evil. He then threatened to never let Seirahlee go so Rown decided to leave Arkitaur in the trap because, after all the residents in the Rose Garden worked to free it, it was perfectly clear that “Nobody doesn’t like Seirahlee”. :-p

     For a short time Spindizzy was the proud owner of an Ark-in-a-box till he finally recognized the errors of his ways and agreed to release Seirahlee as per agreement, Rown opened the crank on the side of the box and turned it. The tune “Pop goes the weasel” rang out prophetically before the top of the box popped open and Arkitaur sprung out.

    He immediately went to work deceiving everyone by draining Seirahlee of it’s power the discarding the remains with the “slingshot of sorrow”. The amber that was Seirahlee flew off into the distance while Arkitaur grew in strength.

     Arkitaur was then caught off guard by Terra who observed that he wore Underoos but that was immediately refuted by Arkitaur who claimed that he wore nothing at all. WemblyFox thought it looked like a “G” string but Arkitaur claimed that his skin bent light and he needed no cloths. At that point Rown then stated that it must be a garter then Argon suggested slipping a ten spot into it to see what would happen. Turned out it wasn’t a garter either and Rown was out a ten spot.
CNN  Cartoon legend Chuck Jones dies
  LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Chuck Jones, the creator of some of Warner Bros.' most famous characters, including the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, and Pepe Le Pew, died Friday at the age of 89, the Orange County Coroner's office said.

The animator died at home of congestive heart failure with his wife of 20 years, Marian, by his side, his family said.

"He was never rich, but he was paid enough to ... do what he loved," said Craig Kausen, Jones' 39-year-old grandson, who worked with him for the past decade in the family's art business.

Born September 21, 1912, in Spokane, Washington, Jones grew up in Hollywood, where he observed Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton while working as a child extra in silent comedies.

After graduating from Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles -- now the California Institute of the Arts -- Jones drew pencil portraits and sold them for a dollar each on the street. In 1932 he got his first job washing cels, or transparent sheets of celluloid, in the fledgling animation industry.

"He thought he was going to be cleaning in a prison," Kausen said.

Four years later, he became an animator for the Leon Schlesinger Studio. The studio later was sold to Warner Bros., where he was assigned to the team that made "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" cartoons. AOL Time Warner is the parent company of Warner Bros. and CNN.

He directed his first animated film, "The Night Watchman," at age 25. The six-minute cartoon used 5,000 animation drawings.

Later, he moved to MGM Studios, where he created new episodes for the "Tom & Jerry" cartoon series, co-directed and co-wrote the full-length feature "The Phantom Tollbooth" and directed the Academy Award winning film, "The Dot and the Line."

In his 60-year career, Jones made more than 300 animated films -- including the Peabody Award-winning special "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" -- and won two other Oscars, according to his Web site.

"Animation isn't the illusion of life; it is life," Jones once said.

Whatever the technical quality of the animation, Jones felt character development was the most important element in any piece, according to Kausen.

His grandson said the animator had no regrets about some of his now controversial portrayals of certain ethnic and racial groups -- including World War II-era films depicting Japanese with buck teeth and a small black boy named "Inky" who lived in the jungle.

"He looked back and said that was part of the time," Kausen said. "He wouldn't agree that is appropriate not to show them, because it is part of history. ... He never portrayed anybody as a lesser of a person."

Two years ago, Jones set up the Chuck Jones Foundation to encourage the proliferation of classic animation and art and provide promising art students with scholarships and grants.

A memorial for the animator is planned in Newport Beach, said a statement from Linda Jones Enterprises, a company run by Jones' daughter, Linda. Private services will be held for family members only.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Jones is survived by three grandchildren.

Editor's Note:  With the number of SpinDizzy residents who owe their existence to, are based on, or enjoyed the work of  Mr. Jones, or inhabited a place called Toons Fur and Fluff, I expect many will feel a tug at their hearts as the last representative of an era and style passes on.  Now it can truly be said, 'They don't make cartoons like they used to."  

But imagine the cartoons they'll have in Heaven!   ~Argon

Argon Weekly Survey
  Argon asked in this week's survey, "I'm doing a survey to be published in @Action News.  The question is,  'What would you do if you could travel back in time and change history?'
Arkitah says quietly, "I would travel to the middle ages and take this kid away from his father, the king. Then I would tutor him and make him King, so that he could bring chivalry and order to the world. Of course, this would be order from my point of view, and I would teach the young king everything he knows."
Alex says, "Make sure that I exist or otherwise I'd....*pooof*"
Darwin pages, "Dangerous question, any kind of tweak might render us all non-existent."
Muse pages, "Muse would make it where furries ruled the world. n.n" to you.
Salem pages, "I would prevent Abraham Lincoln from getting assassinated."
Eliahn pages, "Prevent the Norman conquest of Saxony :)"
Morticon pages, "That's easy. I'd interfere with evolution and make Wallabies the dominant species the world over."
BlueJaey pages, "i would write the chronicles of Nikoli Tesla."
Spin chitters, "If I could travel through time, I'd take my notes and the best computer I could get my paws on, then give them to me 10 years ago. =^.^="
Terry chitters quietly, "I'd warn Abraham that his so-called god was an evil demon that would cause untold suffering and misery.Then *I'd* be his god, instead, and cause untold suffering and misery!"  "
Argon The Doze Garden 
 

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  Submitting a story or artwork for @Action News is easy!  Just send it to newspaper@spindizzy.org, or qmail or page Argon about it.

Most any type of story or article will be accepted.  Generally, we'd prefer things that aren't out and out lies or flames about other folks, and have a basis in the reality of SpinDizzy. Things that occur in public areas are fair game. The things reported don't have to have actually happened, (Any more than anything that happens here does.) but make sure you don't overstep the social boundaries and rules of interaction that we have.  These are pretty broad guidelines, but we expect good sense to apply. 

Thanks!