K.A.C. 2025 - T - 18 Days ... [2004]

     Like what you're reading? Well, as Google mentions, 'Mark Zuckerberg launched "The Facebook" on February 4th [2004], initially as a social networking site for Harvard students.' And Gmail launched on the poorly thought out date of April 1st, leading many to believe it was a prank!    

      

     What was running loose at Christmastime was something considered by many to be even WORSE than a prank. Two words entered the lexicon that year: 'Uncanny Valley', courtesy of director Robert Zemeckis and star Tom Hanks in the film The Polar Express. The effect, described as 'a hypothesized psychological and aesthetic relation between an object's degree of resemblance to a human being and the emotional response to the object.' (Wikipedia) Or, to put it more simply, it looks human, it sounds human, but it is most definitely giving off NON-HUMAN vibes! Before we continue, pause and take a look at the trailer to get an idea of what was unleashed on innocent children and unsuspecting parents this year:

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0oyHtZiJJs 

     While it was a theatrical hit, the critics savaged the look of the film - here's an 'uncanny' smattering of their thoughts: 'Peter Travers of Rolling Stone gave the film 1 star out of 4, and called it "a failed and lifeless experiment in which everything goes wrong". Stephanie Zacharek of Salon gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5 and said, "I could probably have tolerated the incessant jitteriness of The Polar Express if the look of it didn't give me the creeps." Geoff Pevere of the Toronto Star stated, "If I were a child, I'd have nightmares. Come to think of it, I did anyway." Paul Clinton from CNN called it "at best disconcerting, and at worst, a wee bit horrifying". (Wikipedia)

      Our son was 7 at the time this came out and I remember going whole hog to see this holiday special, in IMAX and 3D, and horrifying only STARTS to describe it. You know SOMETHING is off, but you're not sure what ... and the gnawing horror grows on you as it chugs along. The best way I can describe it is like watching Mannequin Theater - and did I mention I get SKEEVED OUT by mannequins? It says something that I don't think anyone in our family sat down to watch it again! 

     

     I was trying to find something online to give readers the same frisson, and while nothing can match the original (thank the Gods), this little ditty from 1981, Hokey Cokey by 'The Snowmen' will be coming back to visit you around 3AM for many nights to come - an ear(and BRAIN)worm for you to spring on other unsuspecting souls!

     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzQ9K7-J_PM 

     And with that, our mission is done for another day. See you tomorrow!