Top Ten Insights: Most Popular Blog Articles- Disney and More

With Disneyland's 60th Anniversary quickly approaching and the kick off to the summer celebration happening yesterday, I thought I'd take a look and see what articles on this blog had the most reads. I expected the results to be all Disney- and some were- but many were not. So here are the Top Ten Insights read on this blog - just ten among the almost 2,000 posts since I began writing over seven years ago:

Tangled Review

Frozen may be the reigning film among Disney fans of late, but back when Tangled was released, many viewers loved the film, especially the lantern scene. Here's my look at a great Disney animated film, one which opened the door for more to come.

Disney Park Countdown

I've been blessed to travel a bit around the world, and in the course of business and pleasure travel, I've gotten to experience Disneyland Paris in three different decades and in three different seasons. When I thought about my travels to many Disney parks, I started out writing a Top Ten Disney Park list of my own. The most popular is this post on the French Magic Kingdom. It's a park that is truly the "Theme Park as a Work of Art". Worth the read to see one of Imagineering's greatest pieces. 

The 650lb. Virgin and Chris Powell

This one surprised me. So many people love reading about the journey of David Smith (the virgin) and his rescuer / friend  / celebrity Chris Powell. The initial television show was riveting. The transformation of David into someone new and back again is a compelling story worth thinking about. Two parts.
Part One
Part Two

Thirty Years Without Karen Carpenter

It's somewhat ironic that the next popular article is about a beloved singer than suffered and died from anorexia, Karen Carpenter. Long my favorite songstress, I wrote this piece when she had been gone for way too long. Her legacy lives on- and it lives on in this blog as well. Over the years, I've reviewed each of her albums as part of Carpenters and also her solo disc, and I'm in process of adding new images, advertising pieces, and taking a fresh look at each disc. There's also plenty of one off posts with rarely seen photographs and more. Very befitting the 20th Century's most gifted female vocalist.

Disneyland Attraction Posters

It's taken me years to gather this collection! I've listed each individual post so the reader can search by each separate Disney land. Make sure to click on each image for a very large version. The combination of history and pieces of art make for a fascinating read.

Main Street U.S.A.
Adventureland
New Orleans Square
Critter Country
Frontierland
Fantasyland
Tomorrowland

Amazing Disappearing Disney

I hate corporate politics and big government where folks in charge think they have the right to pull a fast one over investors, citizens, and people they deem "smaller" than themselves. Here's a link to an article that has been pulled from the media. Robert Iger, head of the Walt Disney Company, was challenged by the writer regarding the Company's handling of their first theme park in Mainland China, Shanghai Disneyland. I'm proud to repost the piece as a protest to this kind of manipulation. Enjoy- and pass it on.

Jesus Scum of All

Let me say it upfront: This may be considered a controversial article. Jesus is the one person who most changed the history of man, so it may be considered blasphemous to depict him this way. If this article seem unbalanced to you, search the blog for other pieces under his name. Discover who he is for yourself.

Disney Dark Rides

For all the hits on this piece, I'm ashamed to say that right now, it is the only piece in the series. These small Fantasyland rides have a huge fan base (and I'm one of them). I'll get to finishing my post on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride one day, but for now, here's an in-depth look at Peter Pan's Flight- pre 60th anniversary upgrade.

Westcot

Three complete articles but also several other random pieces of concept art to be found throughout the blog. Just do a quick search.
This should have and could have been Anaheim's second Disney theme park in California. That is before the suits got scared and gave guests the cheap California Adventure. The Westcot park would have taken the best of Epcot, added the necessary fixes for better show and flow and brought new elements all its own. A grand and beautiful but missed opportunity. Thanks, Michael Eisner. You did some fantastic things in your first decade but clearly lost it in the second half.
Original Plan 
Asia
Europe

Dubai The New Pleasure Island

The eye-catching photo aside, this was another post that surprise me by its ongoing popularity. Dubai Disneyland could have been a reality (and yes, I pulled the concept art I had, but it's still out there on the web), but the rest of the country like all others, has a steamy backside that is rarely told. 

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These articles are just by the numbers, but runners up in the Disney category include my look at Space Mountains all over the world, a similar look at Indiana Jones attractions, an anniversary tribute to Pirates of the Caribbean, the 25 year history of the Disney Hollywood Studios theme park, the compelling story of the creation and evolution of Disney's Animal Kingdom, and the concept art behind California Adventure 1.0 and its ongoing transformation into a Disney quality theme park. Each has tons of concept art by the brilliant but often hands tied Disney Imagineers.

Beyond Disney, there's album reviews and histories of popular music, trip reports of visits to Europe, California and more, and various odds and ends. It's been a pleasure. Thank you for reading!

An Opportunity for Chris Powell

David Smith is a name you may not remember. But the "650 lb. Virgin" is one you've probably heard of before and never forgot. 

Years back, this young man worked with trainer Chris Powell long before he starred in Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Together, they saw David trim himself down by 400 or so pounds. Their productive partnership resulted in David working for Chris, and they shared their success story in every media outlet available to them.

All that hard work and discipline paid off very handsomely- and it built a bond of friendship between the two men that would seem to last a lifetime. Apparently, it hasn't. Sadly, there's been some sort of rift.

Chris is now married with a wife and family. He's also authored a book, "Choose to Lose" which will be published this month. You can't help but be pleased for the guy. He's worked hard, and it has paid off.

As for David, he has regained the weight and is struggling again. Wouldn't it be cool for the two men to reunite and work together? Of course, the friendship between the guys is their own business, but I am all for another success story- reshape the nation and reshape a friendship.

650lb Virgin Revisited

What ever happened to the "650 lb Virgin"? David Smith (above left) is the young man that was miraculously transformed by his hard work with the coaching of Chris Powell.

At the beginning of this amazing transformation, David was direly in need of help.

Even after his weight loss, surgeons had to work hard to remove excess skin. Beyond the total transformation, something great also occurred: a deep friendship and a new business "Reshape the Nation".

It is the epitome of the great American Success Story. For a nation in midst of struggles, confusion, and a loss of identity, the story of David Smith inspires us to be better than we are! It all just goes to show that changing our ways as well as our words can lead to a better future.

(Note: If you have the photo credits, please pass them on and I will post them! Thanks.)

Fresh Determination

Take a close look at the picture. Pause and reflect.

I've gotta look at this with fresh eyes in light of my own struggles.

For the full story, Go here.

Photo and story at the Denver Post.

Off the Wagon!

Failing at my diet this week! I had lost so much, and I've recently gained back ten pounds. I was all inspired by the 650 lb Virgin, my weight loss left me feeling more energetic than I have in awhile, and the encouragement from my lovely wife kept me going! Of course in the midst of my relapse, I'm also discovering that I often use food as a crutch. Not good for a man with a faith in God and a heart to please him. Lord Jesus, change me please!

Randomness and Nothingness

A very random post today, catching up on things I've wanted to say...

American Idol: Michael Lynche was really good last night! My money is still on Lee DeWyze, but hey, I've been wrong before. Casey James was a washout. Good for Kara to redeem herself with an honest appraisal.

Yep, Karen Carpenter would have turned 60 yesterday. Go to the A&M Corner under the Carpenters tab, you'll find a link to some amazing photos. Ones I had never seen before. Her voice continues to bless me, her loss saddens me, too.

Disneyland and California Adventure: Nothing new it seems. Captain Eo draws a mixed bag of reactions, while the ongoing prep for World of Color is getting exciting.

This Sunday is the 2nd anniversary of the blog. Look for a special post then.

Work and life are busy, but God is good! I'll have much to say in the days ahead!Thanks for reading.

650 lb. Virgin

Mix equal parts circus sideshow, inspirational success story, medical drama and visuals of Grey's Anatomy, strong bromance, pursuit of sex with a hot young woman, and you've got David Smith and Chris Powell's story The 650 lb. Virgin. You've also got one great big fat advertisement for their company Reshape the Nation.

David Smith (above) is the morbidly obese young man desperately wanting to change. His long history of depression and friendlessness is triggered by childhood sexual abuse. David is finally at the end of his rope when doctors tell him he'll only live a few more years at the rate he's going. Wisely, he reaches out for hope through a personal trainer- instead of suicide or potentially dangerous gastric surgery.

Enter Chris Powell (above right), a personal trainer with compassion to boot and a heart to help David. As he undertakes the work of transforming him into someone healthy and happy, a very unexpected transformation does occur. David trains hard, eats right, and drops the pounds. The "after" visuals of a skin and bones David is shocking, and the resulting surgeries are there in graphic detail.

However dramatic David's part is, the story is also one of how Chris changes. He seems to grow up a bit as David slims down. A very strong friendship begins, growing into roommates then business partners. As David is transformed into the wanna-be hunk, he is overwhelmed and full of gratitude, but it is Chris who becomes smitten with his creation. Shades of Pretty Woman or a hundred other films. This show is tailor made for a generation of lonely adults who lack deep friendships and healthy marriages.
It's easy for those familiar with the Bible's Old Testament to think of the story of David and Jonathan. Like the men of old, the love and friendship between the two guys is strong and committed- and the women are secondary characters. However, for the camera, David and Chris' story even (intentionally?) flirts with the idea of potential sexual interest between the two men as David makes some comments about Chris' briefs when he drops his pants. And the camera is there to capture it all.

Unlike our Biblical heroes, the focus here is not on a spiritual pursuit to please God, instead it is on making sure David finally gets some sexual action- and gain viewers and potential clients for the company. Cynical? Maybe, but this is America in the new century. Shrewdly used, this idea and the pictures of David's transformation and Chris' shirtless poses make for product placement in the highest sense.


As in any good real life drama, David has setbacks. Despair and weight gain set in. David struggles to understand why he could be unhappy and unfulfilled when so much has changed. Chris keeps encouraging him to grow, and yes, David does eventually get the girl and the sex. All ends well. Or does it? What is next now that the sexual goal is met? In real life versus reality television, there is more to life than fulfilment of our desires.

The story of David Smith and Chris Powell is compelling and our lead characters very engaging. In a world of reality television, this ranks as one of the most intriguing stories I've watched. My wife and I were riveted to the screen. As much as this story is one big advertisement for their company, it is also a story of friendship and the power of someone who believes in someone else. In our world of distress and hopelessness, David and Chris' story is designed to inspire- and it does.