Top Hat Sasquatch

Artist Dean Fraser’s Simpsonized Ghostbusters have been flying around the intertubes like crazy today, and rightly so. His blog Springfield Punx is awesome, and I wish I had found it earlier. He draws all kinds of characters in the Simpsons style, and browsing through his archives I found his (or Matt Groening’s) version of the Teengage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Be sure to check out the rest of his archives, he’s got everything from Arrested Development to Pee Wee Herman and GI Joe.

Well, this just sucks. The King of Pop, and the person I’ve always considered to be the most talented person on the planet died yesterday. This is the first celebrity death I’ve cared about in my life, and it’s hitting me pretty hard. Even though Thriller came out two years before I was born, it’s always been one of my favorite albums, and I’ve always loved Michael Jackson and his music. I think he had a tragic life, and was constantly crucified by the media.

For those of us who grew up with him primarily in the 90s instead of the 80s, this is how I’ll always remember him, how I discovered him.

Who can forget Black and White with Macaulay Culkin, or playing Moonwalker (my Dad had the arcade in his pizza shop). These are all memories from the 90s I have of Michael Jackson, and they mean as much to me as the 80s memories mean to my sisters.

His music was amazing. Someday I’m going to introduce my kids to his music and his videos, and I’ll look back and think of where I was when I heard he died. Like many people yesterday, I was on Twitter, hoping the reports weren’t true and trying in vain to access CNN on my phone.

I’m not going to go on and on or post a ton of YouTube videos because, chances are, you’re already doing that if you care. We’ll miss you Michael.

Last week I reviewed the WB DVD set of Tom and Jerry Greatest Chases Vol. 2, and this week Warner Bros. is continuing their quest for awesomeness with the release of the Tom and Jerry Chuck Jones Collection.

Chuck Jones is remembered most for his amazing work on Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and his Oscar winning short The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics, but from 1963-967 he gave the world his version of one of the longest running animated theatrical series; Tom and Jerry.

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Photo by Great Beyond

Growing up, I was never able to play board games as much as I wanted, party because my siblings were all 10+ years older than me and out of the house by the time I was six. Most of my games were strictly for kids, and that meant I only got to play them when someone came over. As soon as a friend or cousin would step foot in my room, I’d be busting out The Grape Escape or Bonkers like they were going out of style.

On the other hand, one game I did get to play a lot growing up was Parcheesi. This was a game my Mom would play with me. This was the Royal Game of India, and has always had an important place in my nostalgia.

Parcheesi Royal Edition

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If you’re like me, you’re always looking to add some classic cartoons to your DVD collection. Well, this week Warner Bros. is releasing a great title – Tom and Jerry’s Greatest Chases, Vol. 2.

This is of course a follow-up to Tom and Jerry’s Greatest Chases (which is a steal right now), and this collection adds another 14 shorts to the series.

These shorts were originally released between 1943 and 1951, and includes the Oscar winning shorts Mouse Trouble and Quiet Please! If you’ve ever watched Tom and Jerry, you know to expect the craziest 7 minute long cat-and-mouse chases money can buy, and this set doesn’t disappoint.

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