Today, November 18th, 2009, is Mickey Mouse’s 81st birthday, so be sure to enjoy a nice slice of mouse ear cake or take a ride over to the Magic Kingdom and wish him well. You have to admit, the old mouse looks pretty good for his age, and he’s come along way since his old black-and-white cartoon days.

But how did he get his birthday? Well, today marks the 81st anniversary of his famous cartoon ‘Steamboat Willie, though it’s worth noting that this was NOT Mickey’s first appearance. The iconic mouse appeared in two cartoons prior to that, the first being ‘Plane Crazy’ (which debuted about six months prior to ‘Steamboat Willie), which marked Minnie’s first appearance as well.

Still, it can be argued that ‘Steamboat Willie’ is the first true Mickey Mouse classic, and remains one of his best loved cartoons, introducing generations of fans to a big-eyed, whistling rodent who would ultimately become the most famous and celebrated cartoon character of all time.

Happy birthday, Mickey.

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Snow White is new and improved…now with antioxidants!

The Press Association reports that Disney’s classic animated diva Snow White has been reimagined in fruit form. Prudence Staite, identified as a “fruit artist,” used fourteen different types of apples to recreate six scenes from the classic film ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.’

“Snow White is the ultimate time enduring classic,” Staite told the Press Association. “So it was fantastic to play around with such well-known, iconic imagery. The apple is such a big part of the story, it seemed right to use it to recreate some of the Disney magic in the works.”

Perhaps this is the solution to America’s obesity epidemic. Make healthy foods more fun and artistic. If Ms. Staite can make the Jonas Brothers out of brussell sprouts, America’s teenage girls will be the healthiest on the planet.

According to eTravel Blackboard, Disney’s newest slim-figured creation, Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” (coming to theaters in December, just saying), will debut at the Magic Kingdom in November, in anticipation of the movie which is itself highly anticipated. But anticipations aside, I found the eTravel Blackboard article very fascinating. Why? Well, mainly it’s just this particular quote:

“The good times will roll as festively dressed, bead-tossing revelers lead Magic Kingdom guests to the Liberty Belle Riverboat dock,” said the amusement park in a statement.

Can amusement parks make statements? I understand that representatives can make statements, but parks? I sometimes hear voices when I’m at Disneyland, but the doctor gave me a prescription for that.

But I apologize. That has nothing to do with anything: The POINT is, starting in November, you can visit Disney World and have your picture taken with Princess Tiana, along with Belle, Ariel, the creepy fox from Pinocchio, or anyone else who strikes your fancy.

And it looks like there shouldn’t be a problem with jealousy among the other princesses. Said Aurora in a statement, “We’re really excited to meet our new sorority sister. As long as that bitch doesn’t get in my face, I think we’ll get along just fine.”

The United Nations has officially made TinkerBell an “Honorary Ambassador of Green,” this coming straight from the horse’s mouth.

Tink has long been outspoken with her left-wing politics, often inciting controversy with statements critical of the Bush administration, Fox News and the “Oppressive Capitalist Rape Machine that is America.”

This latest decision by the UN is likely to further fuel the furor of TinkerBell’s right-wing detractors. But perhaps Tink is just the right voice to bring awareness to important environmental issues. After all, she lives in the forest, her woodland friends depend on a healthy environment for their survival, and Tink has long been a supporter of the militant eco-group ELF (or was it…elves? I forget).

But anyway, congratuations to Tink for her new, Earth-saving responsibility. As a UN ambassador, she joins the ranks of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and former hot girl Angelina Jolie among others. But let’s hope that, unlike Angelina, Tink doesn’t become TOO compassionate and start adopting hundreds of children.

The LA Times reports that TinkerBell may be getting a makeover for her new film, “TinkerBell and the Lost Treasure.” The two curiously male filmmakers, director Klay Hall and producer Sean Lurie, have apparently set out to make a more boy-friendly Tink. According to Hall:

We are both guys, and both of us have two sons each. So we come from a boy/man angle on this thing. It was a great challenge. I really welcomed that challenge to take the iconic Tinker Bell and make a great movie with her. Adding the adventure aspect to the movie. And pushing her personality as much as we could. She’s a tomboy, and we went back to that.

So with that in mind, I thought…Tink could definitely become more masculine with a few tweaks. Here are some suggestions:

1) First and foremost, the name “TinkerBell” has to go. Definitely give her a more masculine name, like Llogan.

2) Make her wings more bat-like.

3) Make “Enter Sandman” her theme song. She can fly furiously into the sunset as James Hettfield growls the words “Take my hand…off to Never Never Land!”

4) Have her refer to Peter Pan as “Broseph.”

5) Put her picture on the Muscle Milk container…nothing says “power-lifting” like a blonde fairy in a green dress.

6) Pixie Hollow? I don’t think so. It’s now called The Pit.

7) Forget 1 through 6 and just pretend she’s David Bowie.