Cartoons

I love cartoons. Not just old cartoons, I like a lot of the new cartoons, too. Adult Swim really feeds the need, because they have shows like Family Guy, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Full Metal Alchemist, Venture Brothers, The Boondocks, dang I am rambling. But Nick has Sponge Bob, Ren and Stimpy, Angry Beavers, Prometheus and Bob. Then we also have Boomerang which has Pink Panther, Dexter's Laboratory, Scoobie Doo, Bugs, Daffy, Tom and Jerry, Two Stupid Dogs. The king of cartoons (thanks PeeWee) is of course Cartoon Network which shows Billy and Mandy, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Ben 10, Teen Titans.

As a kid, I spent a lot of time watching cartoons. My earliest favorite was Kimba the White Lion, the cartoon Disney "based" the Lion King on. I also remember a crazy cartoon with Rick Springfield in it, Mission Magic. Saturday mornings brought such a crazy mix of animation and live action shows that I would sit and watch all morning. Dusty's Treehouse, Mario and the Magic Movie Machine, Dr. Shrinker, The Osmonds and The Jacksons, Super Friends, Josie and the Pussycats. Heck I would even stick it out for those weird foreign films on Kukla, Fran and Ollie after Fat Albert. When my kids were little, we loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Real Ghostbusters. I even own ALL of The Real Ghostbusters on DVD.

Movies that are cartoons have really come into their own. I really want to see Monster House and Barnyard. They look so funny and the CGI is amazing. It is a long way from the old live action favorites like Land of the Lost. I have all of them on DVD. My students love them, although they agree they are cheesy. My students also LOVE PeeWee's Playhouse, which was recently resurrected by Adult Swim. Finally!!!! Who cares what Paul Rubens does with his private time! This summer I introduced them to Dinosaurs, which they find totally amazing.

I know there are so many more I love and I am sorry I was too lazy to put links to all of these. It's Saturday and the cartoons are on.

Another Week

Well it's Friday, and the clock is slowly ticking towards noon. My summer school students and I went to the next classroom to watch Akeela and the Bee, a pirated version, because the quality is caca. The students are more interested in playing Cat's Cradle, which I taught them yesterday. I cannot believe how much they love it, boys and girls, both! I also showed them the Witch's Broom. Next week, I will show them the Tea Cup and the Tower and we will all work on Jacob's Ladder, which I have never mastered. I love that all the skills and other silliness I learned in grade school can be handed down to these new kids. I think next, I will revitalize the Chinese Jump Rope. =)

Kyle XY

What is up with ABC Family Channel? They have come up with the most excellent new show and it is my new favorite, called Kyle XY. It is about an alien, perhaps, who finds himself lost in the woods. He has no belly button and is a genius. He must adapt to the real life and all of its craziness. It is a bit like 3rd Rock, but more serious. It is on Mondays on ABC Family and replayed Fridays on ABC. So, please watch, because if not, it will go the way of all the shows I like, it will be canceled.

Hanging with the Kids

After summer school, three days a week, I spend time hanging out with the kids. This week, we are watching a Dinosaurs marathon. This show is just old enough that no one has seen it. I just let them wander in and out, so it is just a relaxed place to come and hang out. I can't decide if next week to do Land of the Lost or Pee-Wee's Playhouse. There are other activities for the kids, but this is my small contribution.