This video highlights Yvette Fielding at her best.
September 2006 Archives
I finally got around to watching the TOS episode "Balance of Terror" which was the first episode that aired over the weekend with the new special effects and the re-mastered opening theme.
What worked: The seamless integration of the effects. Had I not seen the episode the hundreds of times that I have over the last 20 years since I started collecting episodes, I never would have known that they changed anything. Granted with my Trek history, some of the effects shots were a bit jarring. The only effects shot I really didn't care for was the cloaking of the Romulan Bird of Prey - I think it should have looked more like the TNG cloaking effect rather than the one they chose.
What didn't work: The re-mastered theme song. Granted it was the original Alexander Courage arrangement, but it just sounded weird - especially considering the rest of the music is the original stuff. I think this "enhancement" was superfluous and not needed at all. Maybe as a bonus feature on a DVD, but that's about it.
What didn't work part 2: Editing for time. I HATE the syndicated chopped versions. I wish they were running the full-uncut 50+ minute episodes and not the 45-ish minute ones.
I don't plan on reviewing all the episodes, but I will point out certain things when I see them. Personally, I am looking forward to The Corbomite Maneuver and The Doomsday Machine. People probably think I am looking forward to Arena, but there are not very many effects shots that would be upgraded - unless we see the Gorn ship!
What is better than one?
Originally uploaded by Club Josh.
Two Mousecars! The left is the one that I won in 2005 for Trainer of the Year for Tomorrowland Attractions. The one on the right is the one presented to Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters for 2006 Disneyland East Side Attraction of the Year. This is the only time the two will be together as the Attraction of the Year goes to permanantly live at the ride.
For the first time since the 50th Anniversary Spectacular started in May 2005, we finally have an off-season at the park. I never thought I would make it since it seemed that the people just kept coming and coming. Actually, this past summer was nice - I think because it was a normal summer. I look back on the first few summers I spent in Fantasyland thinking how busy it was, I had no idea what busy really was.
For the first time in my Disney career I do not have to worry about hours in the slow months of September and October. Being a lead and also working on the project I am pretty much set for hours. I am eagerly awaiting going full time to the project. I think my replacements are ready to take over and sometimes I just feel like I am in the way and they should be given the reins. I am there to help and guide them, but I think its time for them to soar. Then again, maybe I am just impatient and want to dive into the next thing.
One thing I would like to do sometime at Disney is their new Adventures by Disney program. It seems to be the perfect fit for what I decided five years ago when I left Edmunds - be a tour guide. I have commitments for the next year and if things go well I could be on my way to bigger and better things. I just hope when the time is right for me they are still around.
In the meantime things are slow at home as well. I did some baby viewing over the weekend in San Diego with Isabella, Sarah, and Ray. Dad and Dianne took great delight in taking photos of me holding the baby. I didn't hold Kameron until he was 3 months old and it was a big difference holding a 2-week-old baby. It was also funny that Granny and Dianne were naturals with the child, having been through many themselves.
Hard to believe that one year ago I was in Hong Kong! David is there now and I hope he is enjoying the squid and the heat.
As I was noodling around on my laptop, I discovered breaking news that the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin is dead. Apparently he was off the Great Barrier Reef near where I was in October when a stingray barb went through his chest killing him. The first thing that went through my mind was that it could have been me swimming out on the reef. I also wish we had the time to go visit his Australia Zoo when we were in Brisbane.
Steve always worked for conservation and helped people understand animals such as crocodiles that scare most people. I do feel deep down inside that this is the way he wanted to go.
Crocodilehunter.com is down due to heavy traffic, but I am sure it will come back up soon so you can learn more about the work they did.
