Song and Dance Man

In praise of Spongebob

Man, the funny thing about having a kid, you realize how much cartoons are like crack for babies. Most of the time, it will settle them down, shut them up, and mezmorize them. At least in Carter's case. So of course, without letting him watch too much, I have to admit, Cartoon Network has become our friend. "Blues Clues" is Carter's absolute favorite, and he'll sit in front of it, slack-jawed, for the entire show. But it's a bit insipid.

I also find "Backyardagins" tolerable. Surprisingly, almost every episode they have a song that I think is pretty catchy (there is nothing worse than finding yourself humming a song for 3 year olds as the day progresses, but with Backyardigans sometimes I do.)

"Fairly Oddparents" is the one cartoon that just sets my nerves on each, as shrill and stupid and ugly and unfunny.


And, SpongeBob SquarePants has become a favorite. I know it's d pretty commercialized, but, goddamn, it has some funny stuff, almost every episode. Carter just likes it because it a cartoon, but I find myself watching it without him, just for laughs, and I have no doubt this is exactly the sort of show that college stoners zone out to every afternoon or morning-- I would have, anyway.

So, uh... point of this blog? SpongeBob Squarepants is way damn funnier than I ever thought it could be. I'm a fan.



So, here's a new addition to The Layman Lego Project. When I saw this in the stores, I had to snap it up. It's a great looking set, but I'm a little baffled about the mini-figure choices. Hitler seems like a bad choice to include in a children's cartoon Lego set. I don't even think he was in that particular episode.

A short week for...

The Layman Lego Project!!


Reggie got sick and I had to take him to the kitty emergency room, so I did not build a lot of Legos this weekend.




He's doing much better now, thanks for asking, but it cost $650 to unblock his blocked bladder.

RIP Roy Scheider, Steve Gerber

Man, Jaws scared the crap out of me as a kid. I was 9 years old, and my dad had to take me out of the theater, I was so goddamn terrified.


Comic writer Steve Gerber died too. He was best known for creating Howard the Duck, but my favorite thing he did was a comic called Sludge.

Test your knowledge of the animal kingdom...

...with this exciting multiple choice question:

Which is the most fearsome of all beasts in the animal kingdom?

A) The proud lion.


B) The graceful whale


C) The deadly shark


D) Reggie!!!



Now, an important follow-up question: Who killed a bird on the balcony the night before last??!?

Layman Richards? Layman Walnuts? WTF?!?!?

I have a staggering amount of grey hair coming in on the sides, like, all of the sudden. Every day I look in the mirror and I have another few grey hairs, even a little patch the other day, coming in on the sides, and at the rate I'm going I'm going to have wingtips by the end of the year.

God damn! I am old!

An early valentine's present for YOU!!!

Because I care--A MASSIVE update of The Layman Lego Project!!














Obviously, I'm starting to tackle the vast collection of Star Wars legos, which, in San Diego and Seattle, were built and displayed on several bookcases as a giant Star Wars Lego diorama.

This don't even scratch the surface, chums.

Aw, what the hell... Vikings

Not much going on, so here's a couple Lego Viking sets, all part of the ever-thrilling Layman Lego Project