The last of the Nine Old Men, the team of original Disney animators, died at the age of 95 today. Ollie Johnston died of natural causes while in a long term care facility. Beginning in 1946, Johnston worked as a directing animator in almost every film until retiring in 1978. He drew characters for Mickey Mouse short films as well as contributing to classics such as "Snow White," and "The Seven Dwarfs." His accomplishments include being the only animator being awarded a National Medal of the Arts in 2005 and having a documentary profiling he and fellow Disney animator Frank Thomas in 1995. He was also considered a mentor at Disney. Disney Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter said, "He taught me to always be aware of what a character is thinking, and we continue to make sure that every character we create at Pixar and Disney has a thought process and emotion that makes them come alive."
Seeing how much Disney has influenced television and movies, I am surprised that there was not more publicity about the last member of the team dying. I would have like to at least seen a brief television news report done. Even on the Disney Channel, I believe that there could have been some sort of report done in a way that young children would understand, to help them appreciate those who paved the way for the creators of shows and movies that they enjoy today. Maybe the Disney World and Disney Land locations will have some sort of themed celebration or ceremony.
Do you believe that te media could have covered Ollie Johnston's death in a better way or do you believe it was sufficient? What do you think could have been done to improve if you think it could have been better?
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
A world of stress
Everyone has their passion and sometimes, a person's passion, could be the death of them. With the Internet bringing convenience and speed to everyone, people are able to work from their homes. Recently, two well known bloggers died and another survived a heart attack. Other bloggers suffer from weight loss, weight gain, and develop sleep disorders.
While there is no major "death by blogging" epidemic in place, it does call for raised eyebrows in the direction of a typical blogger's lifestyle.
The article states, "'I haven’t died yet,' said Michael Arrington, the founder and co-editor of TechCrunch, a popular technology blog. The site has brought in millions in advertising revenue, but there has been a hefty cost. Mr. Arrington says he has gained 30 pounds in the last three years, developed a severe sleeping disorder and turned his home into an office for him and four employees. 'At some point, I’ll have a nervous breakdown and be admitted to the hospital, or something else will happen.'"
Does being able to work from home still cause burdens for people? I believe it does, and at a serious price to pay. While society today is into instant gratification and flexibility to work when they please, a single second can make the difference.
The artilce says "'There’s no time ever — including when you’re sleeping — when you’re not worried about missing a story,' Mr. Arrington said."
That final quotation left me wondering, is what these people put themselves through healthy? Obviously it's not. The constant demands of putting out news in a timely manner is what is causing such serious side effects. We are always warned about participating in introverted activities such as television, video games, and Internet. It must be for our own benefit. I personally believe that people are aware of the strains that being under constant pressure can bring. So why not avoid it or at least minimize it? Is it because these bloggers want to make a successful career out of doing what they love? No amount of money can equal up to the value of one's health.
Do you think that these bloggers should become more aware of what can happen to them by living the lifestyles that they live? What do you think would be a good way to inform others?
While there is no major "death by blogging" epidemic in place, it does call for raised eyebrows in the direction of a typical blogger's lifestyle.
The article states, "'I haven’t died yet,' said Michael Arrington, the founder and co-editor of TechCrunch, a popular technology blog. The site has brought in millions in advertising revenue, but there has been a hefty cost. Mr. Arrington says he has gained 30 pounds in the last three years, developed a severe sleeping disorder and turned his home into an office for him and four employees. 'At some point, I’ll have a nervous breakdown and be admitted to the hospital, or something else will happen.'"
Does being able to work from home still cause burdens for people? I believe it does, and at a serious price to pay. While society today is into instant gratification and flexibility to work when they please, a single second can make the difference.
The artilce says "'There’s no time ever — including when you’re sleeping — when you’re not worried about missing a story,' Mr. Arrington said."
That final quotation left me wondering, is what these people put themselves through healthy? Obviously it's not. The constant demands of putting out news in a timely manner is what is causing such serious side effects. We are always warned about participating in introverted activities such as television, video games, and Internet. It must be for our own benefit. I personally believe that people are aware of the strains that being under constant pressure can bring. So why not avoid it or at least minimize it? Is it because these bloggers want to make a successful career out of doing what they love? No amount of money can equal up to the value of one's health.
Do you think that these bloggers should become more aware of what can happen to them by living the lifestyles that they live? What do you think would be a good way to inform others?
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