| Kent Slocum's Official Newsletter | 2019 in Review |
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Hidden Treasures Dear Reader, It's hard to believe that we've entered 2020! And what better way to start the new decade than to take a look back at 2019? If you've been following along with me over the last year, then you know that a LOT of things have happened. However, it would be repetitious to simply review the things that you can read in my archive of previous newsletters. So instead, I'm going to briefly cover the highlights of my November and December before diving into something very different, but far more eccentric. In fact, I'm the kind of person who will feel guilty if I leave a museum without reading every word on each display. To me, knowledge is extremely valuable; something to be treasured deeply. That's why I love learning new things, and this month, I've learned some very unusual things indeed. Join me as we dive into some of the most interesting things that you never knew you needed to know. There's a lot of content in this edition of my newsletter; for the best experience, view it in your browser or click the link in my archive of newsletters. Here we go! -Kent |
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"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill - |
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Legal Disclaimer The views, information, and opinions expressed in this newsletter, as well as those sources linked within this newsletter, are solely those of the individuals and author involved and do not necessarily represent or reflect the official policy or position of any other entity whatsoever with which I have been, am now, or will be affiliated. This includes any agency, organization, employer or company and their employees. Assumptions made in this newsletter are not reflective of the position of any entity other than the author - and, since I am a lucid, critically-thinking human being, these views are always subject to change, revision, and rethinking at any time. Please do not hold me accountable to them in perpetuity. |
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Knowledge #1: Galaxy's Edge Keeps Getting Better |
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"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work." - Steve Jobs - |
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For most of 2019, there wasn't much to do in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, except build a lightsaber or fly the Millennium Falcon. And at first, it was understandable why guest were underwhelmed by the much-hyped attraction. However, Imagineers have been hard at work improving Galaxy's Edge. On January 17, 2020, the impressive Rise of the Resistance attraction opened to guests, unlocking new missions via the Disney Play app. New pins are now available as rewards for in-land accomplishments, and R2-D2 himself is now rolling around the land. Large playmats permit droid races and challenges. Soon, a colorful guidebook will help younglings explore the tracks and footprints left by the many creatures of Battuu. Don't give up on Galaxy's Edge yet; it's only getting better! |
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"Generosity with strings is not generosity; It is a deal." - Marya Mannes - |
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Despite its rather rocky start, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland Park is steadily coming into its own. New droid-driven beverage carts are stationed around Black Spire Outpost, and I recently had the incredible opportunity to ride the immersive new attraction, Rise of the Resistance. Without a doubt, Galaxy's Edge is becoming a much more exciting place to visit. |
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I am one of those rare individuals who derives greater pleasure from films and experiences that make cohesive, logical sense. And to me, it makes a lot of sense that the Millennium Falcon, in its current iteration as a vessel for smuggling cargo, is incomplete. Click the button below to read a tantalizing description of how the Millennium Falcon was originally intended: | | |
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"If we all did the things we are really capable of, we would literally astound ourselves." - Thomas A. Edison - |
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Knowledge #2: Time with Friends |
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"There are three ways to ultimate success: the first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind." - Fred Rogers - |
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The day after Thanksgiving, I had the incredible honor of spending time in Disneyland Park with some close family members. Although it was cold outside, the sun was shining, so we spent a full day experiencing all of the Park's holiday offerings, including my personal favorite: the Holiday overlay of Small World! While in line for Small World, we were able to experience the enchanting Christmas parade, which gave us more time to visit the Haunted Mansion (with its seasonal overlay, too) and to ride Pirates of the Caribbean. It was nice to be able to simply relax, without having a particular agenda or task. We stopped to eat snacks in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, because there are so many places to sit down and rest your feet. |
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"The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again." - Charles Dickens - |
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"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively." - Bob Marley - |
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As I mentioned previously in a past newsletter, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge barely recognized or celebrated any holidays in 2019. After all, most celebrations in Star Wars are simply the result of winning a decisive battle against an oppressive regime. However, this may change in 2020. Coming off the success of the original Star Wars film in 1977, a holiday special was released direct-to-TV in 1978 that featured a Wookie holiday known as "Life Day." Now officially recognized and celebrated across the Star Wars universe, Life Day may be celebrated in Galaxy's Edge in 2020. In the meantime, I celebrated Life Day in my apartment with a small tree and blinking lights! |
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"Integrity combined with faithfulness is a powerful force and worthy of great respect." - Gordon Atkinson - |
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"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend." - Thomas Jefferson - |
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Sometimes we just need a little humor in our lives, and this heart-warming comic strip is exactly what I needed to brighten my Christmas. Of course, this isn't the real reason for Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh's attire, but I find it a tidy explanation nonetheless. When it comes to holidays, we often long for a much simpler, innocent time than the hectic insanity that holidays often become. That's why I find the following advice about making holidays matter particularly helpful: | | |
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"Ethics and equity and the principles of justice do not change with the calendar." - D.H. Lawrence - |
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As always, I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the Holiday version of Small World once again this year. This is one of the many blessings of being at the Disneyland Resort, as the Walt Disney World version does not receive the annual overlay. Another blessing of working at the Resort is the many people's lives I can touch. Recently, I had the incredible honor of helping a young man build a lightsaber at Savi's workshop. This man's incredible life recently served as the inspiration for a feature film. Follow the link below to learn more about his story: | | |
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"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Kahlil Gibran - |
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Downtown Disney always decorates beautifully for the holidays, and their unusual choice of theme this year looked especially striking at night. Neon rings suspended from the trees and black-lit Christmas trees made the holidays feel very retro-80's. This was appropriate, as the Resort will be hosting Disneyland After Dark: 80's Nite on January 29, 2020. I was able to work 90's Nite in 2019, but I have a feeling that 80's Nite will be a much bigger hit with park-goers. This holiday season, I added a little holiday flair and Christmas cheer to my apartment by hanging a beautiful wreath on the front door. | | |
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"Nobody else can live the life you live. And even though no human being is perfect, we always have the chance to bring what's unique about us to live in a redeeming way." - Fred Rogers - |
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"The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible." - Dwight D. Eisenhower - |
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One of the best things about the holiday season is the remarkable and delicious food. I've been incredibly blessed with cookies from my family and cookies from my co-workers. However, I also tried some food at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, purchased yogurt that was Starbursts candy flavored, and baked a variety of breads to complement my daily salads. One thing I was very thankful to enjoy this holiday season was meat: Turkey, Ham, and Beef. Unfortunately, not all people can enjoy meat. Thanks to an allergy spread by ticks, a growing percentage of the population is allergic to mammal meat. Read more about this allergy here: | | |
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"Plant kindness and gather love." - Proverb - |
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"Fairness does not mean everyone gets the same. Fairness means everyone gets what they need." - Rick Riordan - |
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Knowledge #5: Strange Historical Events |
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"Be Silly, Be Honest, Be Kind." - Ralph Waldo Emerson - |
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Back during high school, I remember attempting to read my history textbooks and trying not to fall asleep. Apparently, it's because history textbooks leave out the most exciting things that have happened in the past, such as the first eight American presidents! Here are some jaw-dropping and riveting stories that would keep any schoolkid interested in history. This is what we should be taught about in school: |
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The Great Boston Molasses Flood Information directly retrieved from this fascinating wikipedia article: "On the morning of January 15, 1919, in the North End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, a large storage tank filled with 2,300,000 US gallons of molasses burst, and the resultant wave of molasses rushed through the streets at an estimated 35 mph, killing 21 and injuring 150. Even after cleanup efforts, locals smelled molasses for years afterwards." | | |
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"Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are." - Benjamin Franklin - |
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The Niihau Incident Many describe the Attack on Pearl Harbor as a hit-and-run incident. However, accounts of Pearl Harbor often gloss over one Japanese pilot who wasn't able to get away. He crash-landed on a remote Hawaiian island and recruited locals to help him escape. This harrowing incident is worth a deeper look, and I encourage you to read the full account at the link below: | | |
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"You must accept that you might fail; then, if you do your best and still don't win, at least you can be satisfied that you've tried." - Rosalynn Carter - |
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The L-8 Blimp Mystery Most people know something about the tragedy of the Hindenburg dirigible's explosion and subsequent crash, but few know that the United States Navy used blimps and dirigibles as well during the World War II era. Perhaps the most disturbing story from the Navy's use of lighter-than-air craft is the sudden and mysterious disappearance of the crew of US Navy Blimp L-8. Although the blimp itself was recovered, the crew had vanished and was never found. Follow the link below to read more about this mysterious disaster: | | |
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"If we can share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can't survive." - Brené Brown - |
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Knowledge #6: Movie Theories |
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"Be a warrior when it comes to delivering on your ambitions. And a saint when it comes to treating people with respect, modeling generosity, and showing up with outright love." - Robin S. Sharma - |
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A Tangled Continuity If there's one thing that Disney films do better than make money, it's generate fan theories. Most of these theories remain purely speculative based on easter eggs hidden inside the films themselves, but that doesn't stop entire websites from being created in an attempt to connect multiple film properties together. One good example of this phenomenon is The Pixar Theory. I am certainly not immune to this tendency, as I have written a full blog explaining my personal theory of Tangled's economy. | | |
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"Two kinds of gratitude: the sudden kind we feel for what we take; the larger kind we feel for what we give." - Edwin Arlington Robinson - |
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A Frozen Heart With the recent release of Frozen 2, fans have begun re-analyzing the original Frozen film. One thing that remains shocking, even with repeat viewings, is Prince Han's sudden change of attitude near the end of the film. While it was clear that his change of heart was supposed to be played for maximum "wow" factor, many fans wondered how it was possible for Hans to make such a drastic transition from deeply in love to bent on murder. Click on the link below to read one clever and reasonable explanation for why: | | |
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"Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion." - Jim Rohn - |
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Making Movies Better Although I rarely have the opportunity to watch films, movies are the main point of conversation among my coworkers and friends. For this reason, I often find myself dissecting movies and listening to reviews. But unlike others, I find it difficult to separate my emotional and intellectual enjoyment of a film, which is the subject of my in-depth blog article linked below. However, I genuinely enjoyed watching Episodes V and VI, which have been painstakingly restored, improved, and remixed from the original copies. | | |
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"When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.' " - Lao Tzu - |
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Knowledge #7: Positive World News |
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"Generosity is not giving me that which I need more than you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do." - Khalil Gibran - |
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All-Electric Airline Over the past year, aviation news has been full of depressing news regarding the ongoing Boeing 737 Max debacle. But the news agencies often fail to report the positive news (perhaps because people feed off negative news?). I recently found out that a small Canadian regional airline has plans to convert its entire fleet of aircraft to all-electric craft. Although the airplanes are small and the routes are short, this is a remarkable development in an era where electric vehicles are still relatively few and far between, and relegated to the pavement. | | |
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"My dear friend, clear your mind of can't." - Samuel Johnson - |
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Sustainable Sawmill This picture of a truck being unloaded of its wood chips was taken in my hometown of Eugene, OR. The Seneca Sawmill about three miles from my house decided it would financially feasible to generate electrical power by burning the wood waste from its lumber mill and then use the power for its wood-drying plant. When the massive construction project was complete, most people had no idea that it had even begun operation, as it burned so cleanly that there was no visible smoke or steam. In fact, the process was so efficient that the mill sells extra power to the local electrical grid for a “Green Energy” initiative. In order to obtain the cleanest-burning mixture of wood waste, however, they needed to supplement their own supply with sawdust from other sawmills in the area. Semitrucks with open-top trailers full of sawdust (like the one in the picture, with a tarp over the trailer, of course) back onto a platform, and after the driver locks everything down and everything has been put into park, the driver gets down from the cab and the trailer’s contents are dumped into a giant hopper, to be carried via conveyor belt to the storage building. The operation is remarkably clean, efficient, and sustainable, which makes me glad to be from Eugene. | | |
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"It's amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." - Harry S. Truman - |
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Wakanda Forever Some of you may be familiar with the MCU, also known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe: a connected web of popular superhero films that all link together. You may know that one of the films, Black Panther, involves a fictional country called Wakanda. You may also now that an upcoming E-ticket attraction at Disneyland Resort will take guests to Wakanda aboard a Quinjet. However, you may not be aware that the government is a big fan of superhero films, too. At least, it appears that way, since they temporarily listed the county of Wakanda as one of our trade partners! | | |
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"The greatness of community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members." - Coretta Scott King - |
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The English Language I have been studying or practicing Spanish in some capacity for nearly six years now, and the more I interact with people for whom English is a second language, the more thankful I am that English is my first language. It's not just the pronunciation or sounds; it's all the strange anomalies and exceptions that American English has. For example, because of American English's crazy history and rules structure, complete sentences such as this can exist: "Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo." Yes, that's a real, grammatically-correct sentence, and it makes perfect sense if you study it. Phew! |
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"There are opportunities even in the most difficult moments." - Wangari Maathai - |
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Time Freeze Ever wondered why it's so hard to swat a fly or catch a mouse? Well, as it turns out, smaller creatures have faster reflexes because they experience time at a different rate than large creatures such as ourselves! Surprisingly, the 2013 computer-animated film Epic actually gets this mysterious phenomenon right. I discuss it briefly in my larger blog article about making sense through storytelling, but click the button below to read the original article describing the scientific theory. | | |
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"Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else." - Fred Rogers - |
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