I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: THE AMOEBA PEOPLE Kickstarter Campaign (2013).

If you don’t know Kickstarter, it is a site for creative types to raise money for projects.  On the whole, the site seems to work, although of course there have been failures as well.  For a detailed look into Kickstarter, check out this Fast Company article, the crux of which says that artists’ projects like films and CDs seem to work quite well, whereas more technologically sophisticated projects seem to be prone to glitches.  I have funded three projects on Kickstarter–I have not seen results from them yet, because none of them are due before the end of the year.  Thus I can’t guarantee the success of any of them (most of my pledges were quite small).

All of this is a caveat that while I am endorsing this campaign, please don’t take my word for its awesomeness or its reliability or anything like that–if you don’t think it’s a good idea I won’t try to persuade you otherwise.  But if it seems like a worthwhile investment (and they don’t charge you unless the whole thing is funded), then I’m happy to point this out.  And, the nice thing is that unlike some campaigns, in this case the “gift” you get for pledging is a CD, something they already have, so there’s no issue with the items not being made.

So what the hell is it?  To quote the campaign:

We are creating the greatest MUSICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM ever produced on Earth. We are asking for your help to fund PHASE ONE.

We are trying to raise $4,000 dollars to help us shoot a 10-minute “sizzle reel” which we will use to pitch our TV show idea to humanoid programming executives.

We have already recorded the music, enlisted the help of musical thespians to fill all the roles, built a massive computer console for the set and now all we need is some human currency to shoot and edit it. We are calling this first step toward television PHASE ONE.

Our series will have a strong emphasis on geology and the earth sciences as well as cosmology, biology, and the stories behind some of the greatest scientific discoveries in human history.

The premise: The Amoeba People, musical ambassadors from the planet Crouton, have been sent to Earth to investigate the source of radio signals sent from that planet. Their mission: to gather scientific data about Earth and its inhabitants and to transmit that data back to Crouton in the form of über-awesome and highly danceable songs.

Not heard of The Amoeba People?  Well, that’s hardly surprising.  They are a children’s music band from California, whose song “Cosmology, Your Futon and You” is wonderfully smart and funny.  I’m a fan of their stuff and I’m excited at whatever this sizzle reel might result in.  So check out their campaign, and if it sounds appealing, chip in.  And if it sucks, I apologize, but they should apologize more.

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[READ: October 10, 2013] Mermin: Book One

I brought this book home for the kids and wound up enjoying it quite a lot myself. It was only after reading it that I realized it was from the awesome Oni Pres.

The story starts with a squat green amphibian-looking creature waking up on the beach.  Some humans find him and start wondering what he is . But before he can answer them he is excited to feel that he is on dry land!  The excitement is short-lived because the kids really need to know what he is.  We learn that he is named Mermin.  He seems friendly enough so the kids start playing with him.  But when he punches the beachball it goes rocketing up into space.  Which the kids think is awesome.

Shortly after, when one of the kids goes in for a swim, a shark chases after him.  Mermin sees this and comes to the rescue, kicking the shark in the snout. Before swimming away the shark talks to Mermin—he knows who he is–and says that the whole village is looking for him.

Happy with Mermin for saving their friend one of the boys brings him home.  His parents are mostly confused about the creature but Mermin is polite enough so they don’t press the issue too hard. Mermin is very curious about everything and can’t wait to go to school (although he refuses to have a bath).  The teacher is not too keen on the creepy dude (although again, his manner save him, especially when he is said to be the boy’s cousin).  However, during gym class, when Mermin goes swimming, things gets really weird—fish start to fill up the swimming pool.  And as the chapter ends, three sea creatures have climbed out of the sea to find him.

Later, a small fish (all of the sea creatures are clothed hilariously, and the small fish (which is round) is wearing a jump suit of some sort) named Benni, says that he came to bring Mermin back because his father is really mad that he left.  And that’s when the other creatures come in.  And they are mad and kinda mean.  My absolute favorite is the whale who has legs, wears long shorts and has boxing gloves on his “hands.”  An epic battle ensues on the seafront, and when the kids’ lives are in danger Mermin once again comes to save them (and one of the adults, too).  This leads to the adults allowing Mermin to stay with them, as long as it is alright with the sea creatures.

And that seems like a story for another Book.  I’m really looking forward to reading the next in the series.  I enjoyed the art style very much–it’s very simple and cartoony which made the goofy sea creatures all the more enjoyable.  And yet despite the simplicity of the designs, the creatures are very expressive (and the scene with all of the fish was drawn very wonderfully).  Weiser makes great use of the style and the whole book is really fun.  C. also enjoyed this a lot and also can’t wait for book two.