Digital Dream Machine

Banff 2007 - 36, originally uploaded by macjeep.

Exterior of the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building at The Banff Centre.

Banff 2007 - 32, originally uploaded by macjeep.

Some of the many pieces of art around The Banff Centre.

Banff 2007 - 31, originally uploaded by macjeep.

View of the main dining hall at The Banff Centre.

Banff 2007 - 27, originally uploaded by macjeep.

Structures surrounding the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building at The Banff Centre.

Banff 2007 - 21, originally uploaded by macjeep.

Inside the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Building at The Banff Centre.

Banff 2007 - 18, originally uploaded by macjeep.

Today’s view from the office. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Banff 2007 - 16, originally uploaded by macjeep.

View from my office in Glyde Hall at the Banff New Media Institute. That was later in the afternoon.

Banff 2007 - 14, originally uploaded by macjeep.

Here’s the view from my office at the Banff New Media Institute.

Banff 2007 - 10, originally uploaded by macjeep.

A shot of my office in Glyde Hall at The Banff New Media Institute.

Banff 2007 - 08, originally uploaded by macjeep.

Another view from my room at The Banff Centre. Click to go to the Flickr photo page.

Banff 2007 - 07, originally uploaded by macjeep.

View from my room at The Banff Centre.

Banff 2007 - 01, originally uploaded by macjeep.

On my way to the Banff New Media Institute to work at a Program Coordinator, Accelerator.

This is just in the Canmore area. You can check out more in the Banff - 2007 Flirkr photoset.

Snow. Plenty of it.

We didn’t receive as much as they have lately in some parts of the U.S.A. (April’s relatives in Colorado have been stuck inside for quite a while) or across the Canadian prairie provinces, but we’ve received enough to make one really start thinking twice about living here.

Of course, it makes the outdoors look somewhat clean and magical, and it’s great to ski and play around in, but at these amounts (and temperatures), it’s definitely no fun to shovel or work in! Thankfully, the snowblower is able to clear out large portions before we get down to the actual shoveling - which is one of the most physically exercises one can do. We’ve had snow since November 2006, so we’ve already gotten accustomed to it this season, but compared to last year’s mild (even warm) winter, this one certainly is one of the more frigid ones.

I was outside about 2.5 to 3 hours getting the sidewalks, driveway, and road portion clear enough to drive cars through.

One of the best things about Halloween is working your way through the candy and treats throughout the year. In addition to this year’s haul, be sure to check out my 2005 blog post for a bunch of tasty Halloween leftovers from last year!

AUDIO GOODIES:

Characters © Mike Mignola. Art © 2006 Starz Media, LLC and Revolution Studios.

An audio interview with Hellboy and The Amazing Screw-On Head creator, Mike Mignola, can be found over at Word Balloon. Mike discusses the upcoming Hellboy Animated films, working with Tad Stones, more Abe Sapien and BPRD adventures, and the big red character’s beginnings. *Contains potentially offensive language near the end. (via Hellboy Animated.)

The Nocturnals © Dan Brereton.

What’s Halloween without Dan Brereton’s The Nocturnals? The Gunwitch, Doc Horror, Halloween Girl, Polychrome. Great names. Great characters. Great stories. Great art. Check out another great Word Balloon audio interview…this time with the creator of the fascinating Halloween-style characters himself.

Note to movie and TV producers: Where’s the Nocturnals movie or animated series we’re all waiting for? These easily-translatable characters, if handled properly, could potentially be a box office tentpole film or series!

Tunes for Ghostbusting: Ghostbusters Project:Remix. Use the free Switch application to convert the WMA files to MP3 or other format. Flip4Mac (also free) is also required for conversion.

VIDEO LOOT:

The Skeleton Dance © Disney.

Tune in to Disney’s classic Silly Symphony animated short, The Skeleton Dance (1929), on YouTube.

Lonesome Ghosts © Disney.

One of my all-time favorite Disney animated shorts, Lonesome Ghosts featuring Mickey, Donald, and Goofy, can also be found over on YouTube.

“Bustin’ makes me feel good!” - Ghostbusters by Ray Parker, Jr.

SWEET GRAPHICS:

Art © Bruce Timm.

Arglebargle has a blog post on Bruce Timm’s monster art as well as influential poster artist Reynold Brown. Some really fun images! (via The Ward-O-Matic.)

Art © Merrill Rainey.

Merrill Rainey has posted some fun icons, desktop wallpaper, and PDF coloring book at this link. (via Drawn.)

Scarloff. Art © Matt Putnam-Pouliot.

Matt Putnam-Pouliot has posted some fun wallpaper at this link. (via Drawn.) Be sure to check out his fantastic art gallery filled with fun ghouls and beasties!

Art © Mars, Incorporated.

Guess the titles of 50 Dark Movies hidden in imagery in this Hieronymus Bosch-like painting at the M&M’S Dark Chocolate website.

Art © Vera Brosgol.

“Everyone Loves Mummies” is a fun wallpaper for your desktop by Vera Brosgol. (via Boing Boing.)

TASTY TREATS:

Photo © theprojectmaker.

Hosting a Halloween gathering? Check out this fun set of instructions for creepy but consumable foods for supper! (via Boing Boing.)

Photo © Bakerama.

Mmm-mummy cupcakes.

GHOULISH CRAFTS:

Photo © Spooky Blue.

Carve your own decorative tombstones. Create fear with the wicked scarecrow!

Art © www.origami-club.com.

Use the leftover candy bags to make your own Halloween origami! (via Monsterama and Paper Forest.)

FREAKY LINKS:

The League of Robots and Monsters
BlueSky Studios Challenges - Halloween!
BlueSky Studios Challenges - Classic Movie Monsters
Smooky Ghost Story. (via Cold, Hard Flash.)
Flickr photos: Jack O’ Lanterns, Halloween, Pumpkin, Pumpkins, Ghosts, Monsters, Monster, Spooky, Costume
Monstrous.com - “The largest site about monsters.”

Photo: Copenhagen, Denmark. © Warren Leonhardt.

Warren Leonhardt’s ”abra macabre!” Flickr photoset. Be sure to view his fun blog with other spooky postings!

Happy Halloween Boils & Ghouls!!