Shawn Likes

Shawn likes making it official

2008-05-01T17:01:00.000-07:00

As you can see by the image above,

it is official that I AM now a member

of The Super Friends.

Having a written document ALWAYS makes it true!

If you feel that you could be a Super Friend,

be sure to get your copy of Super Friends #2.

Shawn likes The Disney Channel - circa 1986

2008-04-29T14:09:00.000-07:00

This is a Disney Channel Magazine from October 26 - December 6, 1986.

Back when this guide was published I didn't even have The Disney Channel, as I lived in such a rural place, we couldn't even get cable until the early 90's.

I found this magazine when I was working at a movie theater. After one of the movies I was clearing out the theater and someone had left this on their seat. Since they never came back for it, I kept it - as I was fascinated with The Disney Channel.

Okay - Let's go over what I want to watch:

Donald Duck Presents, The Mouse Factory, DTV, Walt Disney Presents, Mouseterpiece Theater, The Adventures Of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Blackbeard's Ghost, The World's Greatest Athlete, The Making Of Disney's Captain EO, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, The Parent Trap, and Mary Poppins!

Whew! - I better get a 20 pack of VHS tapes!

Shawn likes refridgerator magnets

2008-04-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

I bought these great looking refridgerator magnets when I was at Walt Disney World back in 1999. I really love the villains and think that both magnets look great!

Shawn likes great comic book covers

2008-04-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Action Comics #469

Just in case you can't read the dialogue -

Terra-Man: Doggone if you ain't the most rambunctious bronc I ever rode, Superman!

But I aim to break you! Wa-Hoo!

Shawn likes Disney Music

2008-04-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

Growing up I had several Disney book and record sets

which included the songs from the various films.

Those LP's (in addition to 'The Wonderful World Of Disney' TV show),

are what started my great love of Disney and specifically Disney music.

This 78 song, 3 CD collection of Disney music,

"The Music Of Disney - A Legacy In Song"

was released in 1992, and without a doubt -
it is the 'Holy Grail' of my music collection.

Although The Little Mermaid and Beauty And The Beast

were on CD before this set was available -

this was the first chance I had to amass

a great amount of Disney music on CD.

I remember being at work and reading the the USA Today that this was available.

I literally put down the paper, left work, went to the record store and bought this.

It has a great collection of all of the big Disney hits

and a lot of the lesser-known songs.

It includes music from the animated features,

the live action movies, the various TV shows and even the theme parks!

For me though, the item that really puts it over the top is the lavishly illustrated 60 page book that comes with the boxed set.

It's jam packed with information about the songs, the movies,
the composers, and the voice talent.

I think it's a conservative estimate to say that I've listened to this set 2,481 times,
and I can't wait for the 2,482 time!

Shawn likes Maleficent

2008-04-20T14:18:00.001-07:00

I think this figure looks SO good. The regal look in Maleficent's eyes is captured so well in this piece.

Shawn likes FIZGIG!

2008-04-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

FIZGIG! is a fun game that you can play

if you head on over to Game Show Network's website - www.GSN.com

As seen in the helpful hint above -

you move different firework icons into groups of three.

Once they match up - the tile behind the item disappears.

Then, all of the items that are left on the screen fall down -

and other icons take their place.

But of course - it's not SO easy
because you have to do all of that before the 'timer countdown bar' disappears.

Once you clear ALL of the tiles
(including the very last one on the right hand side.........)

Your level is complete.

By the way - that isn't a 'flash reflection' on the screen - it's your celebratory fireworks display!

Now that you know HOW to play - GO and play!

http://www.gsn.com/minigames/minigame.php?id=23

Shawn likes singing superheroes

2008-04-17T06:01:00.001-07:00

Shawn likes Anderson Cooper

2008-04-16T14:08:00.000-07:00

... because he's very intelligent! ;-)

Shawn likes Mother Goose

2008-04-15T15:49:00.001-07:00

The photo above is the parking lot of the store where I work.

Look to the right of the tree.

What do you see there?

It's a goose - and not just ANY goose.

It's Mother Goose.

You see, she decided to lay her eggs right on the 'island' in our parking lot.

I love seeing her there during my workday- tending to her motherly duties.

In the first photo you'll notice that we put up some traffic cones

around her so she won't be disturbed.

On the rare times when she's not sitting on her nest ,
I've seen at least 4 eggs, so I can't wait to see the goslings when they hatch.

Shawn likes The Shmuzzle Puzzle

2008-04-14T09:32:00.001-07:00

This is the Shmuzzle Puzzle and it it so cool!

I first saw The Shmuzzle Puzzle about 25 years ago

and have loved them ever since.

Every puzzle piece is shaped the exact same way.

One side is the picture of a puzzle (as seen above)

and the other side looks ...

... just like these two cute little salamanders.

They can fit together in so many different ways.

But when you put them together the correct way - you get this!

And you can now play with some Shmuzzles online at their website!

www.shmuzzle.com

Whoo-hoo!

Shawn likes playing Old Maid - in Spanish - with animals

2008-04-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

This is a set of Disney "Old Maid" cards that I found in some flea market - somewhere.
It's such an odd set - and I'm not sure if I really like it or not.
Most of the characters are SO far 'off model" that they really look bad ...

... but the set has so many characters that you don't really see in a lot of merchandising, so I think I'm ready to overlook it.
Look at Goofy up there - UGH!

But here it looks like they took Dutchess and O'Malley right off of the film frame.

And my gosh - Bongo and Lulubelle! Bongo! Lulubelle!
This might be the only mainstream piece of merchandise I have that has them on it!

Thumper? Too much time in the tanning bed?

Oh my - I guess maybe that's what 'Chop' looks like-
but it's not what Dale looks like.

Robin looks great - Little John - not so much.

Here are the 'Old Maid' card, directions and box.

Shawn likes luggage tags

2008-04-12T19:46:00.001-07:00

I like luggage tags because it means I'm going to Disney!

Although in this case, my next trip is gonna be in like

548 days or so.

Shawn likes being right

2008-04-11T19:02:00.001-07:00

Questions are courtesy of the incredible

Wonderful World of Disney Trivia game by Mattel:

Okay - be honest: how many did YOU get right?

Shawn likes throwing rice at superheroes

2008-04-10T18:57:00.000-07:00

As a kid, Batman Family was one of my all time favorite books.

I loved Robin and it was fantastic to have a book

with his adventures.

Sometimes solo, sometimes teamed up with Batgirl,

but always great.

And I've always loved anthology books.

I always felt so much better when I was getting

3 or 4 stories in one book.

Unfortunately, as is the case with so many comics -

the cover is slightly misleading.

Although Robin and Batgirl do 'get married' - - -

it's all an eloborate hoax to amass a bunch of

mobsters in one place -

all the easier to round them up

into the paddy wagons that are waiting outside the theater.

But the most upsetting part - is that in the actual book

they aren't wearing their "FAAAAAAAB-U-LOUS!"

updated matrimonial outfits

- and THAT'S a major crime!

*But Batgirl IS wearing white! ;-)

Shawn likes Discovery Island

2008-04-09T06:39:00.001-07:00

In December, 1994 I had my first

(and only) trip to

Disney's Discovery Island.

Although I'm not much of a nature boy,

I loved my experience there.

It was only accessible by boat and

becuase it wasn't teeming with tourists,

you felt very special being there.

As you'd expect, the theming was great

and it was like you were in a tropical forest.

The wooden walkways were wide,

and everywhere you looked

your field of vision was filled with

wildlife and incredible creatures.

This attraction is now closed

and most of the inhabitants moved over to

Disney's Animal Kingdom when that park opened in 1998.

Here are a few of the snapshots I took while on the island:

You'll see this beautiful flowing stream in the video below.

Luckily for us, it didn't rain the day

WE were there. (you'll see)

I loved seeing the Galapagos Tortoises.

As we were walking towards them

they came right up to us for attention!

I was worried that they would try to bite us,

but they loved being petted.

We were told that they were over

100 years old!

Shawn likes Discovery Island

2008-04-09T06:37:00.001-07:00

Shawn likes the DC Superheroes Picture Frame

2008-04-08T14:52:00.001-07:00

This is the GREAT looking DC Superheroes picture frame that was available from

the Warner Bros. Studio Store.

I think every character looks so good, even those who up to this point had not been featured in a "Bruce Timm style" animated show.

The sly way that Poison Ivy is looking at Catwoman is so in character with the animated version.

Shawn likes Rifiki

2008-04-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

In 1999

In 2007

... and he likes me!

Shawn likes The Super Dictionary

2008-04-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

Today it's time to talk
about the Super Dictionary.

The Super Dictionary was published in 1978 when I was 10 years old and I remember
that I thought it was the greatest reference book ever!

Before I got this book I'm not sure how I managed
to know the definitions of words.

But with the superheroes help - I believe
that my vocabulary improved dramatically.

In fact, I think you should go

to eBay and bid on a copy for yourself - do it right now!

Shawn likes when lions get cut

2008-04-05T13:15:00.001-07:00

Here we have some Lion King Band-Aids - - - oh wait - no we don't.

Here we have some Lion King Adhesive Bandages. I guess Johnson & Johnson didn't want to be a part of this.

I like this tin becuase of the great, bright colors and the promise on the back that these Band-Aid's, oh, errrrrrr, uhhhhh, I mean - adhesive bandages are so much fun that they'll seem to take the pain out of your children's little cuts and scratches. But why the weird italics?

The other thing I wonder is why Simba would ever NEED these?

Oh - I guess THAT'S a good enough reason.

Shawn likes Fantasmic!

2008-04-04T11:44:00.001-07:00

This is a license plate for the GREAT Disney show Fantasmic!

I love the colors used on this plate and think the villians used here are superb. Pictured are: Ursula, Scar, Maleficent (in dragon form), Chernabog (from Fantasia), and Hades.

I first saw Fantasmic! when I went to Walt Disney World in December of 1999 and then again on my next trip in October of 2007. It was (and still remains) amazing. The effects in this production are incredible.

During Fantasmic!, enorormous "walls" of water are used as a 'movie screen' to project images from tons of Disney films. The show has two two main themes - Disney songs and Disney villians, so as you can imagine, I'm very happy whenever I get to watch it.

The first time after I saw the show, I wanted the soundtrack so much that I spent the next days of my vacation going into every gift shop to see if they had it. Luckily, someone at the World Of Disney store at Downtown Disney looked it up on their computer and found out that they still had some copies left at the Contemporary Resort, - so a quick bus trip and monorail ride later - I had the soundtrack!

Shawn likes the Batman bank

2008-04-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

You remember Batman Cereal, right?

Batman Cereal (although I wish they would have called it 'Batman: The Cereal') came out in 1989 during the marketing onslaught that was the "first" Batman movie*.

*Many people believe that the 1989 Michael Keaton Batman movie is the first Batman movie - they are wrong - there were several serials in the 40's and even the Batman TV show from the 60's had a feature length film release.*

Batman Cereal was basically left over Cap'n Crunch cereal reformed into bat shapes. I remember eating box after box of it just to get these super-cool (errrrr, uhhhh, Bat-cool, I mean) coin banks. And boy, did I suffer to get each bank. For whatever reason, Batman Cereal REALLY used to cut up my cheeks and gums - but I was so Bat-crazy that I didn't care and now I have about 20 of these things up in my attic right now. Mission: Accomplished !!!!!

I never did send away for the soft glow night light (man, I should have - that could have been tomorrow's post!) but looking at the sticker on the back of the bank now - since there is no experation date it MUST still be valid. (... and yes - I really do think that way!)

Shawn likes Happy and Grumpy

2008-04-02T12:31:00.000-07:00

Isn't this the cutest toy ever?

Happy and Grumpy riding on an old time-y pump car!

And .... YES, they go up and down as the wheels go 'round and 'round!

I have to say - I'm very impressed with this McDonald's Happy Meal toy. I think they both look great. Each face captures the character perfectly - and I love the 'wood carved' squirrel featured in the middle of the car, a nice detail carried over from the dwarves cottage.

Shawn likes the new Kylie Minogue album X

2008-04-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

How do I begin to say how much I love Kylie Minogue?
Hmmm - let me think ................
Take the statement "Shawn loves Kylie" - cut and paste it 12,479,551,359 times and it would only be a fraction of the amount!
Short of family and friends, nothing has brought me as much joy in my life as the music of Kylie Minogue.

Today Kylie's new album, X, is released in America and I'm ecstatic.
X is Kylie's 10th studio album and a welcome addition to her body of work.

It's also her first album after her bout with breast cancer, and a few of the songs actually touch on her experiences while still retaining the glossy style and upbeat manner that people expect from Kylie.
The songs No More Rain, The One, and Cosmic delve into her situation, yet remain positive.

Heartbeat Rock and All I See (the first American single and a great choice for the US, I think) are stand-out tracks - but the penutimate song for me is WOW!, which after the first time I heard it, rocketed to #3 on my list of all time favorite Kylie Minogue songs - - - it's that good, great, fantastic!

Below, I've posted the first three UK singles from X, and you can also listen to samples of the album through iTunes.
I'm eager to hear what YOU guys think of the album! ;-)

Shawn likes the Kylie Minogue - Wow video

2008-04-01T09:56:00.003-07:00

Shawn likes the Kylie Minogue - In My Arms video

2008-04-01T09:56:00.001-07:00

Shawn likes the Kylie Minogue - 2 Hearts Video

2008-04-01T09:55:00.001-07:00

Shawn likes Ra's Al Ghul

2008-03-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I loved and hated this comic! I remember standing in the newstand in Spring Grove (where as a kid, I got about 90% of my comic collection), looking at this cover and being so sad that they actually killed Robin! How could they do that? He was my favorite hero! But that amazing artwork by Neil Adams MADE me buy it. Most comics are 10 inches in height and 6 1/2 inches wide - THIS book - a treasury edition - was 13 inches high, by 10 inches so it was MASSIVE!

Of course, comics being what they are - this scene doesn't actually appear in the book at all.

This book is a reprint collection of stories featuring Ra's Al Ghul (pronounced Raysh Al Ghoul - which I wish they would have gotten correct when they filmed 'Batman Begins') and his fight against Batman. As a kid - I couldn't really grasp why Ra's was doing what he was doing to Batman and Robin or what his endgoal was, but I knew that he wasn't just some guy who wanted to rob banks.

The ever-incredible 'Batman: The Animated Series' actually adapted this story in a two part episode (The Demon's Quest), and it was GREAT! The animated series didn't do a lot of comic book adaptions, preferring to tell original stories, but they hit a home run with this one!

*Another thing about this comic - I can still remember being really, really fascinated that I could see the upper collar of Robin's tunic, which was usually obscurred by his cape. LOL - yeah, I know - all these years later it makes SO much sense, now!

Shawn likes The Incredibles

2008-03-30T17:40:00.001-07:00

... and they like me!

Shawn likes the Smurfberry Crunch Cereal Commercial from 1981

2008-03-30T08:07:00.001-07:00

Shawn likes the memory of Smurfberry Crunch

2008-03-30T07:39:00.001-07:00

Oh, how I spent many a morning eating bowl after bowl after bowl after bowl of Smurfberry Crunch, the best cereal EVER!

I'd like to think that if tomorrow I found a box of the 30 year old cereal I would stop for a minute, realize that the cereal probably isn't still edible and I wouldn't eat it - - - but we both know better!

Shawn likes The Super Friends Lunchbox

2008-03-30T06:10:00.000-07:00

Super Friends would have to be my all time favorite TV show of all time - yes, even beating out Fame! ;-)

As you'll see - time and time again, I love group shots and this is a superhero lovers dream! 16 (16!) characters all packed on a metal lunch box with a hot purple plastic handle. Things suddenly make so much more sense about me and my future life.

Although I love this so much it always bothered me / worried me that on my thermos Batman's face is green. Wasn't my thermos doing it's job?

I could also never decide if, on the back of the lunchbox, Flash was trying to hit Batgirl - or hold her hand.

Although this wasn't my first lunch box (that honor goes to the 2-in-1 lunchbox of Inch High Private Eye / Goober and the Ghost Chasers), this was my favorite lunchbox by far!

When I first saw it in the store I wanted it so much, but couldn't get it. I can still remember the Saturday when Mom came home from work and said that she stopped at the store (probably Hills or K-Mart) and got it for me.

I was so happy to have it that I hugged it tight and then ran around the outside of the house, still hugging it and singing that I love it. What a dippy little kid I was, LOL - okay - still am!

Shawn likes Disney Park Merchandise

2008-03-29T07:36:00.000-07:00

Hey gang - I wanted my first post to be something from my very first Disney trip waaaaaay back in 1984.

This is a round tin that originally held hard candy when I bought it at WDW, but now holds all of my pocket change.

I love this item because it has lots of Disney characters (I love group pictures) and quite a few of them, while not being obsure, very rarely turn up on Disney merchandise.

Merlin, Dumbo & Timothy, and Gus aren't exactly big name stars in the Disney world so I'm awfully glad that they're there.

And looking over this piece now, I just realize that only two of Donald's nephews have shown up for the fun!