mshollie and I enjoyed seeing "The Princess and the Frog" yesterday. As a film with both New Orleans and frog themes, how could we resist going?

I was favorably impressed. I'm not a big fan of post-WWII Disney animation, but I think this is one of their best. The animation is excellent, with interesting effects such as different styles for sequences showing characters' fantasies. Interesting characters and pretty good plot, with a good amount of nuance to keep things interesting for the adults in the audience while entertaining the kiddies.

The use of sterotype "Southern" accents, as I've mentioned too common in films set in New Orleans was unfortunately not avoided, and at first was quite distracting.

I thought just a couple plot of twists were too incredible even after accepting the conceits of people changed into frogs and talking animals. The comic relief scruffy Cajun lightning bug and the Voodoo Shadow Man villian characters were overly broad.

Overall, however, very well done: fun, some genuine laughs. Reccomended.

Leap Day will mark the start of "The Year of the Frog"

I choose to take this as a good sign.

Meanwhile in politics:



Photographic proof! Calvin Coolidge actually a sleeper agent for the Red Menace!

One of the things I'm amused at is the Republicans attacking Obama as someone who glosses over complicated issues with optimistic generalities-- while at the same time the Republicans kowtow to the idol of Saint Reagan.

via fantasygoat

( Photo: Now with more crunchy frog! )

As some of you know, years ago I started "The True Church of the Great Green Frog" here in New Orleans years ago as a tounge (of frog) in cheek counter-protest to the Jimmy Swagart types who come to town to protest Mardi Gras.

Some early uptown converts moved out to the San Fransico Bay area, and started the Berkeley Mardi Gras Frog Parade there each Mardi Gras.

Thanks to the ever Frogtastic hyla_regilla, I have been made aware of the website:

BerkeleyMardiGras.org



Clearly the Berkeley Frogs have been flourishing wonderfully! I've long said that the only way I'd not be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras was if I was some other place that seriously celebrated Carnival, like Venice or Brasil. I see Bezerkeley now belongs on that list. Way to go!

More amazing pix of the 2004 parade

My friends in the Bay Area who can't make it to New Orleans this year are hereby told to be sure to attend this event (and to tell me about it afterwards). Now go forth, my children, and sin some more!

Via hyla_regilla:

the many hues of Frog

One positive side effect the unusually wet weather we've been having (even for New Orleans) is that for the past week whenever I go out into my back yard, day or night, I see dozens of little quarter-inch frogs hopping around in front of me.

May they eat every last mosquito in the neighborhood (and then make a start on the flies).

Happy Bastile Day. Celebrate by parading through the streets with the head of your least favorite politician impaled on a stick. (Offer void where prohibited by law. Sorry, Tennessee!)