¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Donald Duck!

Today marks the 80th birthday of my late father's favorite Disney character. Of course, I always liked him too -- and not just because of my father's influence.

Comic Book Image of the Week

What can I possibly add to this?

Spanish Birds

1. alondra -- lark.
2. avestruz -- ostrich.
3. águila -- eagle.
4. cacatúa -- cockatoo.
5. canario -- canary.
6. cenzontle -- mockingbird.
7. cisne -- swan.
8. correcaminos -- roadrunner.
9. cucú -- cuckoo.
10. cuerporruín -- whippoorwill.
11. cuervo -- crow; raven.
12. cóndor -- condor.
13. flamenco -- flamingo.
14. gallo -- rooster.
15. ganso -- goose.
16. garza -- heron.
17. gaviota -- gull; seagull.
18. golondrina -- swallow.
19. guacamayo -- macaw; colorful parrot.
20. guajolote -- turkey (Mexican word).
21. halcón -- hawk; falcon.
22. halcón peregrino -- peregrine falcon.
23. loro -- parrot.
24. mirlo -- blackbird.
25. paloma -- pigeon; dove.
26. pato -- duck.
27. pavo real -- peacock.
28. periquito -- parakeet.
29. picaflor -- hummingbird.
30. quetzal -- quetzal.
31. ruiseñor —- nightingale.
32. tecolote -— owl (Mexican word).
33. tucán -- toucan.
34. zopilote -- buzzard; vulture; black vulture (Mexican word).

¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my loyal readers. I hope this week finds you all in good health and in good spirits.

I doubt that I will be able to post anything until after this weekend so I'm placing this blog on hiatus until next Saturday. I really did mean to post some items last week but real life kept getting in the way.

Here's hoping that your life goes more smoothly than mine this coming weekend. Buena suerte!

In Rio, Romance Is for the Birds

I liked this movie well enough for the first ten minutes when it seemed like it would be the story of the sweetest relationship between woman and bird since Lesbia and her sparrow. But then they had go bringing another bird into the plot and then a guy.

They couldn't just leave female bookstore owner Linda Gunderson and her pet macaw Blu alone to find their own path; no, they had to go ahead and imply that both of them were missing something. Well, the two of them seemed just happy together. Happy, I say. And sure it's nice that Linda and Blu finally found happiness with others but jeez, all that trouble that they went through to find it. Frankly, Blu would have been better off had he stayed home in Alab -- er, Minnesota. Run, Blu, run. And for heaven's sake, ignore that Anita girl and don't stick to your own kind.

Hey, I Don't Remember This Show: Count Duckula

How did I ever miss out on a show like this? I suppose "just lucky, I guess" would not quite be the right answer...

Trailer of the Week: Howard the Duck (1986)

Alas, poor Howard, I knew him well. But I liked him much better as a comic book character than as a movie star.

Movie Song of the Week: “Three Caballeros”

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo weekend, it's the “Three Caballeros” song from the 1944 movie of the same name.

I guess I should be more than a little embarrassed by the fact that I'm more familiar with this tune than I am with “Ay, Jalisco no te rajes,” the Mexican song from which it is adapted.

But then I'm at least aware that there is such a song. And anyway, the tune itself isn't half-bad. Donald Duck and his pals, José Carioca (the parrot) and Panchito Pistoles (the rooster) aren't likely to be mistaken for the Three Wise Men, but they're still fun to watch.