Happy Hallowe'en!!

Now, please go away while I'm having dinner...

SOUL SUNDAY

TRAILER OF THE THE WEEK

James MacArthur

I was very sad to hear yesterday of the death of James MacArthur. He had appeared in Disney's Swiss Family Robinson, one of the loveliest of that studio's live-action films, but of course he will be best remembered as Detective Danny Williams on TV's long-running Hawaii Five-0. Coincidentally, I have been avidly watching the DVD boxed sets of that great series just recently over the last few months, and I truly believe it is one of the best of the crime dramas from that terrific era of television. The character of Danny Williams was always such a sturdy and reliable second-in-command to Detective Steve McGarrett, and James MacArthur played the role with such a quiet dignity that he imbued the character with real integrity.

It's hard for me to watch so many actors, singers, and various performers from my cherished entertainment of the past being lost each year. The 1960's and 1970's were a special time for me, and so many of my favourite performers were at the peak of their popularity in that era. In my opinion, television was at its absolute best back then - nothing today appeals to me, I'm afraid. Out of pure curiosity, I watched most of the pilot episode of that new updated Hawaii Five-0 series that just debuted a few weeks ago, and I thought it was typical contemporary crap. Yes, I know it's meant to appeal to the MTV generation as evidenced by its youthful cast with their casual attire and unshaven mugs, but it is hardly a worthy successor to the original series. I'm just starting into watching season two of the original Hawaii Five-0 and I long for when TV featured lavish colour, jazzy music scores, and admirable and appealing actors like Jack Lord and James MacArthur. We'll miss you, Danno...

FOLLOW UP

One of our clients from Canada came through to add some more work to the piece dedicated to her son.

Kakashi vs zabuza

Kakashi vs zabuza

In typical troublesome fashion, Naruto sets a trap for their very tardy Jounin teacher, but Sasuke is not convinced that such a teacher could fall for an eraser trap in the door. The door opens, the eraser falls with a klunk right onto the head of Kakashi, and the students are disappointed. Is this Ninja really a Jounin? And what does Kakashi think of these kids. In a low voice and emotionless mutter he says, "My first impressions of you. I hate you." The kids are stunned!

They assemble outside to introduce themselves. Naruto wants his teacher to start. Kakashi gives his name, says he has no intention of telling them his likes and dislikes, will not remark upon any dreams, and says he has many hobbies. Sakura complains, "So all we found out was his name."

Naruto describes himself openly. He likes cup ramen, he hates the three minutes he has to wait for the ramen to cook, his hobby is to eat and compare cup ramens, and he dreams of becoming greater than all the Hokages before.

Orochimaru

Rock Lee

Stunning Disney Original

Listed in the latest Heritage Auction and credited to Hank Porter.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Deidara vs gara

Deidara vs gara

Naruto is a complex and delightful story of a difficult child who wants to be the greatest Ninja ever. Like many of the anime that were derived from their manga, it has developed a great and loyal following, not merely because of the complexity, but the intense emotions and deep motivations. Uzumaki Naruto is a child that many children his age can identify with. It is a story of heroes and challenges, with just the right amount of silliness, humor, and budding romance.

In the beginning, Naruto is a noisy, arrogant, troublesome child, who performs disrespectful pranks around his village. He thinks he is going to be the greatest ninja ever, yet when he is tested, cannot perform even the simplest of techniques which all the other students have mastered. Alone, without any parents to look after him, he is identified with by his teacher, Iruka-sensei, who has also been alone since he was a child. It is known to everyone in the village, but not to Naruto, that he has a monster nine-tailed fox sealed inside of him. Twelve years earlier, the demon fox had attacked the village, destroying it, and killing Iruka's parents. But the village recovered, and the demon fox was neutralized by sealing it inside the newly-born child, Uzumaki Naruto. It was forbidden for anyone in the village to ever reveal the truth to others, especially to the child himself.

STREET SCENE

Here is a flik of a piece from back in the day on the Homie Bear!

Municipal Elections

Well, the various municipal elections took place here in Ontario yesterday. Mississauga re-elected Hazel McCallion once again by a landslide, making her one of the longest serving mayors (32 years!) in Canada now at age 89. I like and admire "Hurricane Hazel" very much, but I must confess that I voted for another candidate, Peter Orphanos, as I feel that Hazel has had a great run but should let somebody else take the reins. Still, Hazel won again with 76% of the vote, so Mississaugans obviously love her. The illustration pictured above shows a caricature of "Hurricane Hazel" alongside the mayors of Waterloo and London, Ontario, that I did for a magazine cover a couple years ago.

Things are somewhat less rosy in Toronto today (in my opinion) after voters elected Rob Ford as their new mayor. Having observed this guy in news reports during the campaign, I must admit that I think he's going to be trouble for the city. Rob's style is confrontational and very much "in-your-face", as is evidenced in the following two clips showing him in his former role as Toronto Councillor. Still, he'll be a political cartoonist's dream, so it isn't all bad!

THE COLLECTION

DOWN WITH THE KINGS

Here is the most recent piece on our client Justus from Texas..

Rock lee gif animation

Rock lee gif animation

He is an Author of 2 books and it is unreal what else he is involved with and/or attached to on one level or another. Most of us would need to clone ourselves several times over to accomplish what this man as done for himself. To top it all off he is the President and CEO of his own company called Empowered Wealth, LC. I find it refreshing that such a successful individual would lend his thoughts and ideas to us and come across as a very humble and warm regarding human being. Lee is obviously a man of great distinction and sound character. He is the kind of guy anyone could look up to and I now have a new regard for his kindness and his story. He is someone I will now spend more time discovering on a deeper level- I find him quite fascinating in deed!

Rock lee Vs sasuke

Rock lee Vs sasuke

Lee was an exciting subject for me to research because prior to my writing this article about him I could only reference his brief contribution to The Secret because I knew nothing else of who he was or what he does for a living. As it turns out this guy has spent over 30 years advising businesses, celebrities, pro athletes, and many other types of peoples and organizations on how to empower their personal and financial assets as well as their other God given talents and attributes to do more for themselves, and their communities. This man is a real contributor and his business credentials are too many to list, as are his academic accomplishments! He is in the Who's Who In The West and in Who's Who Worldwide.

Gara vs neji

Gara vs neji

Neji is a member of the Hyuga clan and possesses the Byakugan. He is a child prodigy and a genius. But as a member of a branch family of the Hyuga clan he is ineligible to learn their most secret techniques. Despite this however, he has managed to deduce their workings simply through observation, and has learned many of them.

Neji is highly proficient with the Gentle Fist style of hand-to-hand combat, which, in combination with the byakugan is used to attack an enemy's Chakra pathway system (the network of vessels which carry chakra), thus causing internal injury.

On the third birthday of Hinata (his cousin) when Neji was four years old, he was branded with the Main family's Juinjutsu which serves two purposes. The first is to seal their byakugan ability when they die (shielding its secrets from enemies) and the second is to control the branch family members with the ability to destroy their brain cells with a secret hand seal.

Gara vs Rock lee

Gara vs Rock lee

Lee had no idea that such a simple gesture of appreciation would spread throughout the entire globe and wind up putting him on one of the greatest movies on self-advancement ever released! But that is what The Secret is all about in the first place now isn't it? Letting the universe take over and bring to you what it is that you most desire is the fun - and the very joy of it all. There is no need to be in the middle of everything attempting to influence the outcome -just trust that it is already on its way to you - do you remember that being repeated in The Secret several times over quite subtly by various teachers throughout the movie? If you are really in a place of believing that your dreams are being manifested right this very instant-you don't have to wonder if it will ever show up for you now do you? If your not doubting you are expressing faith and that moves mountains whereas doubting leaves only fear and questioning.

Animation Wizard

Animation Wizard

Naruto is a complex and delightful story of a difficult child who wants to be the greatest Ninja ever. Like many of the anime that were derived from their manga, it has developed a great and loyal following, not merely because of the complexity, but the intense emotions and deep motivations. Uzumaki Naruto is a child that many children his age can identify with. It is a story of heroes and challenges, with just the right amount of silliness, humor, and budding romance.

In the beginning, Naruto is a noisy, arrogant, troublesome child, who performs disrespectful pranks around his village. He thinks he is going to be the greatest ninja ever, yet when he is tested, cannot perform even the simplest of techniques which all the other students have mastered. Alone, without any parents to look after him, he is identified with by his teacher, Iruka-sensei, who has also been alone since he was a child. It is known to everyone in the village, but not to Naruto, that he has a monster nine-tailed fox sealed inside of him. Twelve years earlier, the demon fox had attacked the village, destroying it, and killing Iruka's parents. But the village recovered, and the demon fox was neutralized by sealing it inside the newly-born child, Uzumaki Naruto. It was forbidden for anyone in the village to ever reveal the truth to others, especially to the child himself.

Rock lee vs kimimaro

Rock lee vs kimimaro

Most of us at one time have adopted something that we carried around with us to signify a special friendship, a valued memory or maybe even just to use as a type of good luck charm. Lee Brower took that initial concept and used a simple rock he found on the street to remind him of all that he had in his life to be grateful for! He says that the idea first hit him during a time of hardship when he was having problems in his family. He decided to us the rock as a reminder of what was right in his life. Every time he reached in his front pocket for change or at night before he went to bed and emptied out his pockets he'd see or feel the stone -depending and he would reflect on his many blessings. The idea worked so well for him during that trying time that he decided to keep the rock in his pocket on a permanent basis.

Ororchimaru vs sasuke

Ororchimaru vs sasuke

Uchiha Sasuke's sword made its debut in the popular manga Naruto Chapter 308 and the blade's name was highly debated among fans worldwide. In that chapter which was titled "Sasuke's Strength", Yamato Taichou tried to stop Uchiha Sasuke's sword with his kunai but failed. Instead his kunai was cut in two by Sasuke's sword. Sasuke later quoted "You see, the sword of Kusanagi I hold here is a little special. It's the kind that can't be blocked". This caused some confusion because readers who have followed the manga since the beginning would know that Orochimaru also had a sword of Kusanagi when he battled it out with the 3rd Hokage, only difference is Orochimaru's Kusanagi looked more like a katana.

SOUL SUNDAY

Itachi vs kakashi

Itachi vs kakashi

During their journey, Kakashi explains that not all villages have ninjas. There are hidden villages where ninjas exist, these villages being the equivalent of a country's military power. The countries that have ninjas are represented by the elements: fire, water, lightning, wind, and earth, and are known as the Five Great Ninja Powers. The first is their own village: the country of Fire's hidden village of Konoha ("leaf"), the second being the country of Water's hidden village of Mist, the third being the country of Lightning's hidden village of cloud, the fourth being the country of Wind's hidden village of sand, and the last being the country of Earth's hidden village of rock. Each has a leader known as Kage, yielding the titles: Hokage, Mizukage, Raikage, Kazekage, and Tsuchikage. These are the Five Kages who reign over the tens of thousands of ninjas in the world.

TRAILER OF THE THE WEEK

Rock Lee Vs Neji

Rock Lee Vs Neji

Neji is a member of the Hyuga clan and possesses the Byakugan. He is a child prodigy and a genius. But as a member of a branch family of the Hyuga clan he is ineligible to learn their most secret techniques. Despite this however, he has managed to deduce their workings simply through observation, and has learned many of them.

Neji is highly proficient with the Gentle Fist style of hand-to-hand combat, which, in combination with the byakugan is used to attack an enemy's Chakra pathway system (the network of vessels which carry chakra), thus causing internal injury.