I am anxiously awaiting the new “Coyote vs. Acme” that will arrive in theaters on August 28th. The trailer reminded me of Saturday mornings in Pocatello. My mother, Laura, would come home from her night nurse supervisor shift at the hospital and always make a stop at the bakery for doughnuts. I would binge watch the cartoon shows. Looney Tunes provided our entertainment across many decades. Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner were a special treat. There was always a clear message, the bird is an ‘unstoppable force of nature, never harmed, and only speaks his signature Beep! Beep! The Coyote is a relentless pursuer who soon discovers he needs something more than his speed to get the bird. Imaginative writers made Acme the go to source for sure fire gadgets to attempt to kill the bird. None of the weapons worked exactly as advertised and left Wile E often falling from the heights of a desert cliff. Gravity is on display in each episode. Wile is a “tragic absurdity of human ambition and the relentless pursuit of unachievable goals”. As an historical reference, Wile is like Sisyphus, as Greek mythology describes, bound to roll the rock uphill never reaching the pinnacle. I don’t think I got that message in my childhood but now I see a dedication that is fanatical but arguably admirable for its persistence.
The movie is a hybrid, live action animated film. It is a legal comedy that treats cartoon physics like a real world product liability lawsuit. Wile has had it with years of malfunctioning Acme products and he is represented by an underdog accident lawyer. The trailer looks very entertaining in the genre of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I draw a comparison to the real world we live in today, a Governmental Regime that continually floods the zone with distractions from their culture and actual wars while undermining our Constitution and freedom. I consider ‘We the People’ as the Roadrunner in this race for our democracy.
The picture this week is a pileated woodpecker I met in Ponderosa Park. The creature and the life mate were busy making holes in trees in search of ants and beetles. This is one of the few birds who are not considered endangered as their numbers have steadily grown. That adaptability sets an example for each of us in our battle for our country.
Keeping with Looney Tunes. Woody Woodpecker was modeled by iconic animator Walter Lantz after the pileated bird. Awakened by a woodpecker’s knock-knock-knock while on his honeymoon he created Woody. The ‘chaotic, unhinged nuisance appeared in 1940 and earned a loyal following and his own series. Woody’s first line is always, “Guess Who?” I found a montage of memorable lines from the iconic characters. At a loss for words to describe the Orange Wanker, how about “thufferin thuccotash” as called out by Sylvester the Cat. I imagine the current leadership would want to deport Speedy Gonzalez, he is brown, “andale! Andale! Arriba!, Arriba.” Yosemite Sam would be cartoon hunting the Mango Felon because he is ‘a rackin’ frackin varmint’. And finally Daffy Duck got it exactly right—“you’re despicable” spewed with the signature lisp and saliva as he throws the insult.
I met Andy Hawes, he is running for Boise School Board. Andy was on the Board during the Covid challenges and proved his leadership skills. A new job moved him away and he is now back working in Boise. I have cast my mail in ballot for Andy and encourage you to check out his credentials and take the time to vote in the upcoming election. This is a typically low turn out event and every vote will count. I also met John Stegner who is running for Governor as an Independent. I liked what he had to say on a diverse group of topics and his heart felt desire to make Idaho a better place to live and work.
Enjoy the week end. Mike
Gravity works
