Early reviews are coming in on Richard Linklater’s A Scanner Darkly and they’re not promising.

The Book Standard: “Visually, this Scanner is no phantasmagoria, unlikely to inspire comparison to great animated head-trips of the ’60s past. The film’s muted pallet of pastels, while immensely suited to bath soaps, is less dynamic as a filmic eye-grabber.”

Eric Synder: “I think some people will be tricked by the unusual visual style into thinking the film is more interesting than it is. I say look beyond that at what’s actually happening and you’ll realize that without the rotoscoping, the movie would be completely undistinguished, competent but only mildly entertaining.”

Tim Ryan: “…if ‘A Scanner Darkly\ doesn’t match ‘Waking Life”s wonderfully fluid meditation on the nature of existence, it’s still a remarkable visual experience and an involving drama…”

I have no idea what I did to earn your good graces, but..

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the package.

At Gonzaga University, to celebrate L. Frank Baum’s 150th birthday, an exhibit entitled “Oz and Beyond” is on display in the library rare books room.