Fun-Sized Candy Bars: Not Fun!

I'm just gonna flat-out say it: what is so fun about fun-sized candy bars?! I don't know about you, but when my candy bar is a quarter-of-an-inch long, I'm not having a good time. One bite, and BAM! The candy is gone. One taste is all you get.

Not that I think fun-sized candy bras themselves are bad. Since they're very small, you can have quite a few. Even weight-conscious people will think nothing of having two or three. And you can easily buy them in bulk for Halloween. There is a time and a place for fun-sized candy bars in this world. I just think we need to rename them.

How 'bout "bite-sized"? Or "mini"? Or better yet, "micro-scopic"? Yeah, I like that one.

So next time you need candy in bulk, head to your local warehouse store and pick up a bag of handy dandy micro-scopic candy. Because little candy bars aren't fun.

S'long
T.H. Excellence

Film Fest Friday - Ewok in an Elevator

Hi everyone. I just got my wisdom teeth out today, but I'm still feeling dandy enough to post a short film for y'all. This week's selection is "Ewok in an Elevator", a short look at what happens when a busy businessman encounters and Ewok during his day.

This film is rated PG by ME, but only for a minor four-letter word quietly uttered by a lead character.



Okay, that's all. I have to get back to my low-activity entertainment. Getting teeth pulled is incredibly limiting.

Good-bye for now
T.H. Excellence

So Old It's New

Today I drove out to a small zoo in Santa Ana for a little photographic excursion with a friend from school (look for those pictures soon). I passed Disneyland as I drove down the 5 freeway, and as I looked towards the Magic Kingdom, I caught a glimpse of something that made me very excited: the brand new Mark VII Monorail, as seen in the concept art above.

So why does this make me excited? Well, for one, it looks flat-out awesome! More important to me, however, is the retro design. It's a wonderful homage to the younger Disneyland of the 50's and 60's. Walt Disney was still alive in those days, and the park was truly his park. Walt's original vision for the park was to be a place where parents and children could have fun together as imagination and reality were joined. While that original vision was still maintained for a very long time even after Disney's death, I think recently more and more effort has gone into making Disneyland a bit more of a commercial success.

A good example of this is the recent addition of the smarmy "Year of a Million Dreams" promotion. This poorly marketed event has turned the park into a sweepstakes destination, planting cheap banners and displays all over the resort. Even the monorail trains suffered when their sleek white exteriors were done over with a dreamy blue paint job, complete with clouds, pixie dust, and the "Year of a Million Dreams" logo, transforming the elegant vehicle of the future into another means of cheap advertising. The park may still be a place of imagination and fantasy, but the addition of commercialism such as the "Year of a Million Dreams" makes it reek in places.

Needless to say, I was thrilled to hear that Disney was adding a new fleet of monorails, each with a spiffy retro design. Not only does this mean the end of the cheap advertising, but it could be a herald of many great things to come into the park, things that may fall into line more with Walt's vision and less with commercial success. I cannot wait to see these new monorails traveling through Disneyland's highway in the sky.

So long, everyone
T.H. Excellence

PhotoBlog - Snowy Edition

I'm back! Actually, I've been back for several days, but I had some things to do after returning from vacation, so I'm writing just now. Anyway, the day after I went snowshoeing, I left the lodge and went to visit some friends nearby, but not before a quick excursion to see the magnificent General Grant tree. Along the way, I captured more dazzling shots of the snow-covered forest, as well as shots of the tree itself. Come along!

Another peek outside my window. A bit overcast today.


I love how great winter shots look after you crank up the contrast a little.





This is like a rock slide waiting to happen. No, not really. It's just a photographic trick.



Fun angle.


I thought this would make a good shot, but unfortunately I had to take it really quickly and didn't get the desired coloring and exposure. Drat!




I gotta give my dad a little credit for this shot - he's the one who pointed it out to me.


And there she is - the General Grant tree.


She's a beaut, ain't she!


And one more shot will close this post.

Ah, it's good to be back home. Hope you enjoyed these two sets of winter pics I've posted. It's been fun experimenting with shooting in the snow.

I also must apologize for the recent disappearance of Film Fest Friday. The Friday after Christmas I chose to refrain from posting a film, feeling that everyone would be too busy to log on and watch it. As for last Friday, I simply wasn't home and had no Internet access. But fear not! The Fest will resume again this Friday!

That's all - 'bye now!
T.H. Excellence

PhotoBlog on Snowshoes

Right now I'm sitting in a snowy mountain lodge, surrounded by a ton of people who have come to enjoy the winter wonderland. Some people are here to sled. Some people are here to snowboard. I didn't do either. I went snowshoeing. And, true to nature, I took pictures as well.
I didn't actually get as many pictures as I usually do - I was trying to preserve my camera from the cold weather. Even so, I managed to capture a fair amount of decent shots, so on we go.

Before we look at the snowshoeing trip, however, let's backtrack a bit. Here's the view out the my room's window.


John Muir Lodge - our accommodations.


The back end of our accommodations.


Moving on, this is the museum, and the starting point for our trip.


I thought this lamp was really cool, so I got a ton of pictures of it.


Sequoia!


And now the trip begins!


My footwear of choice.


Ah, the hazards of photography. A photographer in a group always brings up the rear. I almost lost everyone else at one point.


At this point I'll hush up so everyone can take in the color.













AFter a delightful snowshoe romp, we retreated to the car and embarked on the road home.


However, we didn't make it home before stopping to get a few shots of the spectacular sunset.



And with this beautiful portrait, I close.

That's all, everyone. Stay tuned for more pics. And remember, if you like what you see, please comment to let me know.

Ta ta for now
T.H. Excellence