Passamaquoddy

Unexpected Storm Strikes Passamaquoddy.
Coast Guard dispatched to search for S.S. MINNIE.

Following last nights record setting storm, the Passamaquoddy Coast Guard has been searching for the S.S. MINNIE. According to Ben Cooper she was tacking to the Southeast when he spotted her from the lighthouse terrace sometime around 7:50PM.

“When I saw the clouds gathering I sounded the foghorn to warn them of the approaching storm. They must not have heard it.”

The storm Ben Cooper mentioned came up unexpectedly and carried winds gusting up to 60 miles an hour. Down at the weather office assistant meteorologist Clark Drizzle was shocked.

“Never have I seen such a storm develop out of nothing. It’s like this storm was on a mission.”

The full time meteoroligist, Mel Strumm had no comment except to say he just finished “Dude Looks Like a Lady” on “Difficult”, whatever that means.

Dark clouds were seen forming in the skies around 8:00, by 8:45 we had a full blown tempest on our hands. The Coast Guard was monitoring the harbor radio and recorded what is believed to be the last known transmission from Captain Grumby at 8:35 last night.

Transcribed from an audio recording.

…(Static)…MINNIE to Coast Guard…S.S. MINNIE to Coast Guard…S.O.S. we are in trouble…waves (static) higher than Scopa Towers…the weather (static) getting rough…our (static) ship is (static) tossed…if not for the (static) of my (static) crew I believe the MINNIE would be lost…Steamboat, watch what you’re doing with that!!! (static)…

Transmission ends.

Last night started off peaceful as the S.S. MINNIE set off on it first cruise.

Scheduled to leave at 6:00 the departure was delayed after Mayor Backus sent Old Salt back to the tavern to bring back a case of premixed Manhattans.

Old Salt says the Mayors last words to me were “Thank goodness you remembered the little umbrellas”

According to the dock log maintained by Captain Slippy the S.S. MINNIE left her berth an hour late at precisely 7:00PM.

Missing are:

Captain: Jonas “Scopa” Grumby
First Mate: Willie “Steamboat” Mongello
Mayor: Jim Backus and his wife Natalie
Entertainer: Ginger Spice
Talk Show Chef: Rachel Ray
Professor: Doc Terminus

This photograph was taken this afternoon on the shores of Passamaquoddy as powerful storms head inland. What is most strange about this storm is that we’ve had no hint of any system for the past three days. That aside, please keep indoors for the next day or so until we get more information. We’re going over to local meteoroligist, Mel Strumm to see what is up.

UPDATE: After an hour of knocking we found out why we hadn’t heard about this storm. There were several Fed-Ex delivery notes on the door so we knew we were not the first to travel this way. When Mel Strumm came to the door he yelled “How Dare you Come Here” and then commanded that we “Disappear! Disappear!” At first we agreed and backed out of his driveway. Then we returned.

As we got back to the door Mel finally opened up. He apologized for acting like a troll, but he’s had lots of invaders of late. When I asked about the storm he showed me that he had been busy since last week when he purchased a game called ROCKBAND. He knew nothing about the storm but he could get all the way through “Suffragette City” by David Bowie without a mistake.

So, until he finishes, stay vigilant.. and stay dry.

Of all the countries represented in World Showcase, I have spent the least amount of time eating in America and Great Britain. It is faulty logic, but they never felt as exotic to me as the other offerings. Then recently, I saw the error in my ways and was suddenly obsessed with experiencing Great Britain’s Rose & Crown Dining Room.

Although it was mid-January, I still had to get an Advanced Dining Reservation. Open seating is getting more and more difficult to maneuver as park attendance steadily grows. Upon entering the dining room, I was enveloped in the wonderful theming of the English Countryside. From the elaborate carpeting to the gorgeous mahogany wood furniture to the frame mold ceilings, there are no corners cut.

They brought us out some nice rolls served in a basket lined with a London newspaper. It was a nice touch and the rolls didn’t last long.

We started the meal with the “Fruit and Cheese Plate” ($8.99) from the Starters menu. While the fruit offerings were basic, all three of the cheese presentations and taste were exceptional. Other starters were available ranging from a $5.49 Potato and Leek Soup to a $8.99 Scottish Smoked Salmon.

For dinner, I chose “Harry Ramsden’s Fish & Chips” for $15.99. I don’t eat Fish and Chips very often but these were nicely flavored and I’ve gotten cravings ever since. I was also impressed in the size of the meal, definitely filling my stomach and appetite. My friends got the “Bangers and Mash” and a very tender pork loin, which they enjoyed as well.

” I’m telling ya thars to many Captains in this town. Just as our peaceful hamlet is recovering from them Verny days. I get asked to help point would be applicators down to Captain Jonas “Scopa” Grumby’s  slip. Seems this would be Captain is lookin ta hire a  little buddy to help with sumpin called excursions. Wants to take folks out and feed them lunch whilst showing them the sites. I hear Mayor Backus has already reserved the first three hour tour for his lovey wife and himself.”

Playbill Radio will offer an encore presentation of the “Virtual Opening Night” of Disney’s new Broadway musical The Little Mermaid.

This played on KWDY back on Opening Night of the show.  Its playing one more time to celebrate the release of the Original Cast recording.  Get a free listen to the CD ahead of schedule.

The broadcast will include the original cast album — in full — on Feb. 25 at 2 PM ET exclusively on PlaybillRadio.com

Another “Verne Week” has gone off to its final Mysterious Voyage. Our little town of Passamaquoddy returns to its regular lives. Banners are folded and stored for another day. Merchants have restocked their shelves with their wares and the Temporary Motel is back to full vacancy. “Spot’s Playful Pooh” has been fully restored atop the 20,000 Leagues lagoon and finally, Jeffrey C. Salt got his cellphone back from atop the monorail track. We still can’t figure out how he dropped that there, but that is Salt for you.

Plans are already in the salmon net for next year’s celebration which promises to be a bigger and better celebration. Rumor has it that over on the West Coast, Nemo has returned to a submarine ride, unfortunately, it was the wrong Nemo. Here are some pictures from that attraction.

 

We hope you have enjoyed your week with Jules Verne. Please let us know if you enjoyed yourself or of anything you would like to see next year.

Please visit our sponsors. We can’t thank them enough:

All About the Mouse

All About the Corn

Many people consider Walt Disney to have been a visionary much like Jules Verne. It is therefore appropriate that many of Disney’s adventure films were based on Verne’s work and that the first big budget live action feature was built from Verne’s most popular novel, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. With Walt close to the production, the risky film went wildly over-budget, making the film’s success crucial to the longevity of the studio.

Verne’s novel is an astonishing examination of future technology, but like his other works, the story is basically a series of events connected by a thematic structure. This was the first thing that Disney addressed in bringing the Nautilus to life. They hired a screenwriter who built a more cohesive arcing story that became a template for hundreds of Disney films to come. To helm the picture, Disney hired Richard Fleischer, the son of one of Disney’s most venomous competitors from their early animation days. Not only did that hiring mend many wounds between the two moguls, it delivered a wonderful film.

The Disney story follows a Professor Arronax, a scientist interested in disproving the existence of a killer sea monster. Teamed with his assistant played by Peter Lorre and an adventurous Kirk Douglas, the find the sea monster is actually a fantastical water transport. A submersible laboratory commanded by the phenomenal brain, Captain Nemo. At first Arronax is taken under Nemo’s scholarly spell, but eventually learns to understand where the megalomaniac has gone astray. The story takes them into battle with natives, into the belly of Nemo’s private hideout inside of a volcano, and most excitingly – into battle with a giant squid.

Bringing the squid to life as well as all the fantastical locations fell to the special effects team including the beautiful matte painting work of Peter Ellenshaw. With a sweeping musical score by Disney composer Paul Smith is nicely heroic and mysterious, a good click track for the film in general.

Kirk Douglas’ tongue in cheek portrayal begins a long line of Disney heroes, following his well designed character template. But it is James Mason’s powerful performance as Nemo that keeps the Nautilus afloat and the fantastical story somehow believable.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a wonderful film in the studio canon, well worthy of study or just an evening’s entertainment. There are great behind the scenes elements available that are well worth hunting down, most interestingly –footage of the squid battle done on a clear day with a beautiful colored sunset.

I swear by my tattoo.