Nobody Knows Anything

Welcome to Diane Patterson's eclectic blog about what strikes her fancy

Archives for October 2003

That sound you hear is me purring

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Sure, my husband’s home sick, and he’s grumpy because the kids are all over him.

Me, I got a good thing going on. Look what arrived today!

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Diane’s crack supply arrives

Inks in both bottles and cartridges! Pen porn in the form of a calendar (from the crack supplier, Fountain Pen Hospital)! A new pen! (Hey, you try going shopping for fountain pen ink and resist buying a new pen! I double dare you!)

Simon is covered in chocolate and Darin is covered in Sophia. I’m going to go get covered in some ink.

Secret Spells Barbie

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Mark Morford has a column in today’s SF Chronicle about the new “Secret Spells Barbie,” a toy I hadn’t heard of because Sophia doesn’t watch shows where it would be advertised (yet) and we don’t watch commercials anyhow (gratuitous TiVo plug).

That’s right, it’s Mattel’s latest Wiccan-flavored mutation of the famous and famously obnoxious pneumatic blond dingbat, joining the likes of Barbie Loves Spongebob Squarepants and the Barbie Romance Novel Giftset and Princess of the Portuguese Empire Barbie and Spirit of the Earth Barbie (all genuine items, alas).

(Princess of the Portuguese Empire Barbie?)

When I read this entry I found myself thinking, Man, this is shooting fish in a barrel, but I had to say that I’m kind of happy that Mattel even came up with this idea. Why? Because it means the Fundies don’t control everything yet.

I would, however, recommend running out and buying this doll before the inevitable loud wailing starts and cries for boycotts and Mattel regretfully pulls the product from their shelves.

My Neighbor Totoro: the review

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Man, I love this movie. I loved it the first time Darin showed it to me (via laserdisc he’d brought back from Japan in 1992, no English subtitles or translation), and I love it every time Sophia watches it. She loves it too.

It’s the story of two young girls, Mei and Satsuke, who move to the countryside so that they can live nearer to the hospital where their mother is staying. Their new house is creaky and dusty—and filled with “dust bunnies,” which are little spirits. They soon discover there are a lot more spirits than that around, including the gigantic teddy-bearish Totoro! Sophia’s favorite is the Cat Bus, of course. Mei and Satsuke’s adventures with the spirits, while at the same time trying to cope with their mother’s illness (never stated, but I think it’s tuberculosis), is charming and fun.

Highly recommended.

Question: The first time I heard the American DVD, I was sure the father was played by Phil Hartman. I haven’t been able to find a cast list, but I have found that one of the voices is Kenneth Hartman. Anyone know if he’s Phil’s brother? (I haven’t found anything on the Web one way or the other, which is why I ask.)

Apparent answer: According to Julia’s stellar info, the Dad isn’t played by Kenneth Hartman, so I am clearly wrong and will now cease and desist.