Floyd,

Thanks ... and I've been regularly visiting your blog for a couple of weeks.

I really liked your entry about going to Ollie's old office as a way of honoring him. I was very touching and a quiet, solemn way of reflecting on him, animation, life -- I'm sure it felt a bit like being in church or visiting hallowed ground.

I also enjoyed your column on the ATM experience and your reasoning for backing Obama. I agree, but think it's his multicultural black and white background, his experiences in this country and aboard that makes him my favored candidate.

It's a shame you and your son had to go through that. In some ways it reminded me of the Bruce Springsteen song "41 shots"

"Lena gets her son ready for school

She says 'on these streets, Charles

You've got to understand the rules

If an officer stops you

Promise me you'll always be polite,

that you'll never ever run away

Promise Mama you'll keep your hands in sight'

"Is it a gun, is it a knife

Is it a wallet, this is your life

It ain't no secret

It ain't no secret

No secret my friend

You can get killed just for living in

Your American skin."

Finally, Floyd, keep it up. Who can ever get enough of Mr. Fun?

Hi there Floyd! I have been reading your blog today. I knew that you would probably mention Ollie Johnstons passing. I first heard about Ollie Johnston the same way I heard about Ward Kimball. That was through Trains Magazine. I wish I had met him. I was also saddened to read about the ATM experience. Being white, I have never experienced that but I know many people who have. I hope you told the cops what you do for a living and they may now never live this down due to an uncomming scene in a future film.

The "musical concrete" (musique concrete) title reminded me of a reported experiment at Walt Disney World. The imagineers laid narrow raised strips of asphalt across a road --- similar to the ones that sometimes warn drivers they're approaching a stop sign --- in such intervals so that when driven across at a constant speed, the vibrations of a car's tires would sound a tune -- "Small World" comes to mind. It didn't go far, partly because it's often impossible to drive anywhere on property at a constant speed.

I don't remember where, but I seem to recall reading that the inventor of the idea pitched it to Disney and was turned down.

I also read recently that the plan was scrapped because it didn't work well with two-axle vehicles.

The song in most accounts was "Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah", though.  I think "When You Wish Upon a Star" might have been mentioned as well.  =)

Nice article... as always.

I just checked out your blog... GREAT stuff!

Thanks.