A day at Enfield Tennis Academy

Meg — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:34:56 +0000

Today’s treasury was inspired by that lofty educational institution, Enfield Tennis Academy.

‘Enfield Tennis Academy’ by cherryonion

Need a break from pukers in the Lung?

Tennis Art Print Inspiratio… rawartletterpr… $22.00	Vintage 8mm Movie Canister R… corrnucopia $20.00	Modern Abstract Urban tennis… SylviaCPhotogr… $9.75	Milk to the Rescue spinadelic $400.00
HOMEWORK PLANNER- full sized… goofnutdesigns $4.00	Apocalypse for Adults – Red … bitteroclock $28.00	Personalized Tennis Racket S… lollipopstitch… $30.00	MARY JANE 4 20 green scene T… eastsidejessie $15.00
BOSTON neighborhood map art … JanuaryJonesPr… $12.00	SUPER ACE mens collection sl… camdenlockclot… $590.00	Recycled Tennis Ball Round/C… MANIkordstudio $18.50	Rebound Vintage Hardback Boo… RecycledReads $15.00
Run Jump Lift Sweat Puke Rep… GotFlair $1.35	vintage tennis racket mirror… greencricket $40.00	Vintage Apple II/e CRT Monit… machooctopus $100.00	Bolex Tote White on Black HeyBuddy $6.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

It was hard to narrow down exactly what I wanted to include in the treasury, I tried to stick to the basics here. It will probably be an effort to keep from making frequent Infinite Jest treasuries because the possibilities are so mind-blowingly endless.

I was excited to find this tool for posting treasuries on blogs and websites because screenshots are kind of a drag.

49 minutes of Christmas nostalgia: Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas

Meg — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:26:26 +0000

Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas, the 1977 Jim Henson television special, is on Netflix streaming right now. (I was young in the late 80s and I have the vaguest memories of Gretchen Fox and Mama Otter so I’m sure it was aired during subsequent holiday seasons.) It’s a sweet movie suitable for all ages based loosely on the Gift of the Magi story. If you’re interested in watching it, I recommend that you do so before you continue to read this post!

Watching it this year, the thing that stands out to me the most is the way that the ending is happy without being compromising or unrealistic. So often now I feel that I expect movie or television endings to be wrapped up too neatly – the bad guy pays, the good guy gets a reward. In Emmet Otter, the bad guys – the Nightmare - tear up the local music store and harass the practicing jugband. Nightmare shows up late to the talent contest (which should make them ineligible) and win the cash prize. Doc Bullfrog (the judge we know would be sympathetic to the Otters) says that the Nightmare have something (talent, flair for the dramatic) that the other acts can’t compete with, so ostensibly, aside from their late entry, they have won the contest fairly.

The movie is not concerned with the outcome for the Nightmare. So often the “bad guys” have to be punished for their actions in movies and television, but that’s not usually a realistic outcome. Were life ideal, Mama Otter or the jugband would have won the $50 and replaced the washtub or tool chest. Instead, the Nightmare gang acquired $50 to be used for who-knows-what devious adventures. Thankfully, and a little more realistically, the Otters & the jugband were able to find employment through their risk-taking and hard work. Their subsequent employment by Doc Bullfrog is not a handout or an act of deux ex machina. Even though it is a lucky break, it is a job and the Otters will have to work to support themselves.

I’m probably overanalyzing a sweet bit of Christmas entertainment but I found the ending of the movie to be quite refreshing. I recommend it, especially if you have kids.