Saturday, December 23, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
NPR Re-Broadcasts David Sedaris' Experiences as Crumpet the Elf
Twelve years ago, humorist David Sedaris recounted his experiences as Crumpet the Macy's department store elf on Morning Edition. We [NPR] rebroadcast Sedaris' reading from his Santaland Diaries.
Photo, David & Amy Sedaris with designer & novelist Chip Kidd lurking in the background.
The 50 Best Cartoons of All Time, via Cityrag
via boingboing.net.
"Cityrag has compiled video links for a list of The 50 Greatest Cartoons as voted on by the animation industry in 1994. Here's an excerpt:
1. What's Opera, Doc? (1957)
1. What's Opera, Doc? (1957)
People Doing Stuff: Kevin Suspects...
via boingboing.net.
This is a really interesting way of finding bizarre/obscure photos via Google Images. Every time you hit "New Name & Verb", the page reloads a Google Image search of [Someone's First Name][doing something]. The image here is "Kevin Suspects"...
Thursday, December 21, 2006
World's Coolest Wrapping Paper: Montage-a-Google
This is the third time since July I have linked to this site, which should give you an idea of a) how much I love it, and b) how many cool applications you can find for it.
For example, say you're getting someone a fine art gift book about Japanese woodcuts, and you want to make the world's coolest wrapping paper:
Groupe Image Buzz Peels Back Some Layers of Compositing to Show Their Gorgeous Magic: "Brokeback Mountain"
Montreal's Groupe Image Buzz (via metafilter) has some before-and-after scenes from "Brokeback Mountain" online, with 'onion-skinning' peeling back layers, so that you can see just what a huge difference their work made to "Brokeback Mountain", among others. They altered and changed skies, cloned CG sheep by the thousands, erased walls and lakes, and did some very moody, beautiful colour correction.
Loyal stony_curtis Reader in Northern Canada: Is That You, Giovanni~?
The stony_curtis blog has a very loyal reader who appears to live in Northern Canada, perhaps near Hudson's Bay, or perhaps closer to Fort McMurray: check the map in this post. The IP address doesn't show which town they're in, and I'm just curious: is that you out there, Giovanni? Please drop me a line or something in the comments--say 'hi' or something--it must get boring up there~! (Or maybe not: maybe your town is the most adventure ever. Don't assume.)
LATER:
OK, never mind, that dot is nowhere NEAR Fort McMurray. So who is that reader? Listener: are you there?
I Love You, Montreal! / Je t'aime, Montréal--FARINE FIVE ROSES SIGN
There are the urban presences, whether in signage or in representative form (such as the Guaranteed Milk-Bottle Water Tower) that aren't especially pretty, in the normal sense, but which are highly-memorable and which are attached to so many souvenirs that they become not only part of the physical landscape, but part of Montrealers' emotio-socio-cultural memories as well. The FARINE FIVE ROSES sign is of the latter type.
- The website for "Save Farine Five Roses Sign" [LINK]
- Article in Maisonneuve magazine [LINK]
- Article in ExpoLounge @ Blogspot [LINK]
- Picture on Flickr [LINK]
- Photograph (c) expolounge.blogspot.com
I Love You, Montreal! / Je t'aime, Montréal!--GIBEAU ORANGE JULEP
Fast food, a giant orange, vintage cars, cute waitresses, off Decarie Blvd.: what more could you want?
Google search on the Gibeau Orange Julep [LINK]
Review Guys [LINK]
Endless Banquet [LINK]
Metroblogging Montreal [LINK]
Photograph by Geneviève Lauzière of Cowansville, Quebec
Winter Solstice Celebrations--21 December, 2006
Welcome to December 21st, in the Northern Hemisphere the shortest day of the year. Which means it'll only get sunnier earlier and stay sunnier later from now on.
Wikipedia on winter solstice celebrations
Bibimbap
"Bibimbap is a popular Korean dish. The word literally means "mixed rice" or "mixed meal."
Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with sauteed and seasoned vegetables, beef, a fried egg, and gochujang (chile pepper paste). The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating."
Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with sauteed and seasoned vegetables, beef, a fried egg, and gochujang (chile pepper paste). The ingredients are stirred together thoroughly just before eating."
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Two Female Komodo Dragons to Have 'Virgin Births' This Holiday Season
via boingboing.net via msnbc.
"CHESTER, England - As Christmas approaches, a virgin mother is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her offspring. She’s Flora, the Komodo dragon.
In an evolutionary twist, Flora has managed to become pregnant all on her own without any male help. It would seem the timing is auspicious: The seven baby Komodo dragons are due this festive season.
“We were blown away when we realized what she’d done,” said Kevin Buley, a reptile expert at Flora’s home at the Chester Zoo in this town in northern England. “But we certainly won’t be naming any of the hatchlings Jesus.”
In an evolutionary twist, Flora has managed to become pregnant all on her own without any male help. It would seem the timing is auspicious: The seven baby Komodo dragons are due this festive season.
“We were blown away when we realized what she’d done,” said Kevin Buley, a reptile expert at Flora’s home at the Chester Zoo in this town in northern England. “But we certainly won’t be naming any of the hatchlings Jesus.”
Ask Yoda: #5 in a Series
Dear Yoda--I tend to focus on two times of the year, as do most people I think, for my introspection and looking at the future: birthdays and Christmas/New Year's. Although this may seem a little arbitrary, since I have a June birthday, it splits my year into two "what have I done since the last introspection?"-style chunks. While some periods in retrospect are chock-a-block full of character-building experiences, others seem to be fallow periods--perhaps compost, so to speak, for more fertile periods?
Also, I know people are generally harder than they should be on themselves ("Why didn't I go to that gym more than twice?"), but if we're not hard on ourselves, who is going to be? (I mean, besides our mothers?) Do you have any suggestions, proactively, for fixing things from this end, so that next time I do the introspection, I'm happier with what I see?
Should I relax more and realize that life is a work in progress? Should I try a month or so of rigid self-discipline (i.e., an hour a night on the exercise bike?) or will that just make me fed up with myself? The fact that it is so dark these days and I am getting almost never-ending carb cravings (Seasonal Affective Disorder: sniff) is not helping with that extra 20 pounds either.
Ideas?
Dumpy, Indolent, And Lachrymose
- - -
Dear D.I.A.L.:
Here's my suggestion: stop yer yappin' and get to steppin'--or in other words: if we did a lot less thinking and a lot more moving, we'd be able to shed those 20 pounds that come creepin' up outta nowhere.
Seriously though, it's good to take stock of ourselves twice a year, if not more, so long as you use the discontent wisely. Wallowing in self-pity is not going to help anybody and it will only increase your pacifist boyfriend's inclination to want to smother you in your sleep.
Being pro-active about what makes us unhappy steers us in the right direction, by making sure we walk 30 minutes a day come rain, sleet or snow, or by writing that book even if it kills us in the process. Irritation can be the source of an ugly pus-filled pimple, or it can be the genesis of a gorgeous pearl: You decide.
Hope that helped.
The Gotta-Get-Back-on-the-Treadmill Yoda
What I'm Buying Alex For Christmas If I Win a Brazilian Dollars
"Music Thing's Tom Whitwell had told us to be on the lookout for a new product from Moog -- the first one following Bob Moog's untimely death from a brain tumor -- and although the legend might not approve of calling this tribute edition "Little Phatty," he would certainly appreciate the style and reasonable $1,475 price tag. The Little Phatty features a 37-note keyboard, 2 ultra-stable oscillators, a Moog low pass ladder filter, and 4-stage analog envelope generators, all wrapped up in an attractive package."
Slate's Explainer Goes Through The Bottom of The Mailbag
via gawker.
Slate online has this feature called The Explainer, where people write in all sorts of interesting, bizarre questions, and Slate answers them. Now it is the end of the year, so they have all the hysterically funny questions left over like these:
What would happen to the stock market if a meteor impacted the earth? What would happen to the global markets and the U.S. market? Say a meteor hits inside U.S. borders and takes out two states.
- Is it possible to collect all the cookie dough in Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream and actually bake cookies from it?
- How clean is bar soap in a public bathroom? Is it "self-cleaning," since it's soap? It seems like a health hazard to me.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
R.I.P. Joe Barbera: co-Creator of Flintstones, Jetsons, Josie & the Pussycats
We here at the stony_curtis blog heaved a heavy sigh today, as a great entertainment industry luminary passed. In particular, our blog has connections to The Flintstones and Snagglepuss. May you rest in peace, Joseph Barbera~!
Gung Hay Fat Choy~! February 18th, 2007 is the First Day of the Chinese "Fire Pig" New Year
"There are many stories about the origins of the Chinese lunar calendar, but it is claimed that the calendar dates back to 2637 BC. Legend has it that Buddha, on the turn of the New Year, summoned all the animals to come to him before his departure from earth. Only 12 came to bid him farewell, so Buddha honored them each with the designation of a year. The order was taken from the sequence that they appeared to him. First was the Rat, who is said to have ridden on the back of the Ox. When they arrived, the Rat jumped off in front of the Ox. Second was the Ox, followed by the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. A fully astrological cycle takes 60 years, when each of the 12 animals has occupied one full year 5 times."
Mild Alcohol Presence in Blood May Aid Trauma Injuries, But You Shouldn't Get Drunk, Because That's How You Get Trauma Injuries
via medbroadcast.com.
And here's the part where the doctors will complain and say that everyone misunderstood what they said:
In fact, lead author Dr. Homer Tien expressed concern the message of his study would be misunderstood.
"Alcohol increases your chance of dying if you drink and then you do whatever you're going to do. [sic--what?!] There's no question and we're not making any comment on that," said Tien, a trauma surgeon at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
"We're just looking at the possibility that after injury it might have a benefit. Or not." [sic--so does it, or not?!]
The study was published Tuesday in the journal Archives of Surgery.
It's well established that drinking alcohol significantly raises a person's risk of being involved in an accident, whether it's a car crash or taking a serious fall.
"The number 1 cause of death for people under the age of 49 is injury, and your risk of having an injury is humongously increased if you're drinking alcohol," said Dr. Tarek Razek, director of trauma at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal.
"Alcohol increases your chance of dying if you drink and then you do whatever you're going to do. [sic--what?!] There's no question and we're not making any comment on that," said Tien, a trauma surgeon at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
"We're just looking at the possibility that after injury it might have a benefit. Or not." [sic--so does it, or not?!]
The study was published Tuesday in the journal Archives of Surgery.
It's well established that drinking alcohol significantly raises a person's risk of being involved in an accident, whether it's a car crash or taking a serious fall.
"The number 1 cause of death for people under the age of 49 is injury, and your risk of having an injury is humongously increased if you're drinking alcohol," said Dr. Tarek Razek, director of trauma at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal.
Milan Bans Ultra-Skinny Models
via cnn.com and Ioanna~!
NOTE: This image is an illustration that has been Photoshopped, and is not an actual model.
I'll Just Stick With The Non-"Befouled" Oil & Vinegar, Please, Thanks...
ewww: from smokinggun.com:
"According to Wheaton police and school officials, the 17-year-old senior ejaculated into a bottle of ranch salad dressing on December 6 and returned the befouled condiment to the Wheaton North High School cafeteria. It is unclear if the dressing was used by any students before the container was cleaned and refilled the following day."
Oh please~! I have eaten at ALL SORTS of public & corporate cafeterias, and these people are hallucinating if they think that that salad dressing container got cleaned out from one day to the next. Gross~!
Illustration from toothpastefordinner.com.
Audrey De Montigny--"Take Me As I Am"--Touring Asia Starting December 24th
Do you remember the really pretty Quebecoise on Canadian Idol two years ago, and she had a gorgeous voice, but sang phoenetically, because she spoke no English, even though Ben Mulroney helped her out all the time? Well, starting Christmas Eve she is touring Asia with her new album to launch her international career--she has a gorgeous voice and a commanding stage presence. If you get the chance, go see her~!
Artkrush.com
"Artkrush is a bimonthly email magazine covering the key figures, exhibitions, and trends in international art and design. Sign up for Artkrush."
Thanks, Ioanna~!
Jennifer Holliday: "And I Am Telling You, I Am Not Going"
New Moon in Sagittarius: December 20th, 2006
from stariq.com.
New Moon in Sagittarius Wednesday, December 20, 6:01 am PST, 9:01 am EST
The New Moon in Sagittarius is usually an optimistic, forward-looking event filled with high hopes and expectations for a better tomorrow. But the conjunction of Pluto to this lunation turns minds inward and backwards to reflect upon the past. Missed opportunities rise into consciousness, stirring feelings of regret. Yet the purpose of Pluto's plunge is not to drown ourselves in sorrow, but to recognize that it's never too late to change. Dig deeply to recover lost resources, revive underdeveloped talents and let go of habits that stand in the way of fulfilling your heart's desire.
The New Moon in Sagittarius is usually an optimistic, forward-looking event filled with high hopes and expectations for a better tomorrow. But the conjunction of Pluto to this lunation turns minds inward and backwards to reflect upon the past. Missed opportunities rise into consciousness, stirring feelings of regret. Yet the purpose of Pluto's plunge is not to drown ourselves in sorrow, but to recognize that it's never too late to change. Dig deeply to recover lost resources, revive underdeveloped talents and let go of habits that stand in the way of fulfilling your heart's desire.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Luke II, 8-14, by Linus: Charlie Brown Christmas Special
This speech that Linus gives in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, is, in fact the text of Luke II, 8-14. Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown~!
OMG: stony_curtis Readers Around The World: Thanks~!
As the world map shows, some of the last 100 readers of the stony_curtis blog have been from Argentina, Vietnam, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, the Russian Federation, Albania, Peru, Columbia, and others~! Thanks for your support, and be sure to leave any requests in the comments for stories or ideas you'd like to see covered~!
I would soo love to buy the world a Coke [tm] right now~!
Everything Old is New Again: This Week, Pot
via dlisted via buzzfeed. Perhaps little gnome Nicole Richie (yes, I know, she's too thin) is onto something.
She quit heroin and booze (good news), and now she seems to be--according to the good folks at Buzzfeed--the poster child for psychedelia, Pucci prints, and pot. I'd rather have her take a few bong hits and eat a whole tube of chocolate-chip cookie dough personally, than have to watch her waste away any more. Just stay off the roads, Nicole~!
And I know this is the height of political incorrect-ness, but she looks *cute* in that booking photo from the DUI.
Draw a Line and Watch the Little Guy Sled Down It: Whee~!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
People of Viganella, Italy: Let There Be Light~!
For over 800 years, the people of Viganella, Italy have faced 3 solid months of shade every winter, as their town is hidden from the sun by a huge mountain. Well, no more, since a huge mirror has been installed, re-directing sunlight to the town. Illustration (c) bbc.co.uk.
I Love You, Montreal / Je t'aime, Montréal!--ANIMATRONIC CHRISTMAS WINDOW @ OGILVY'S
Every year the kids (and adults) line up along Ste-Catherine street near De la Montagne, and their breath steams up the window, full of animated woodland folk doing mechanized yet whimsical things. For years, Steif--the German stuffed bear manufacturer--has been helping with this unbearably cute panorama, and hopefully for years in the future, we'll be going back.
Christmas in Japan: For Many, It Involves KFC
from bigempire.com.
"I stumbled out of my office in the newsroom and headed for the printing department. There, I spied a senior linotype operator cleaning the innards of his machine with a rag.
Getting to the point quickly, I asked, "Do all Japanese people eat at KFC for Christmas dinner?"
"No way!" he exclaimed, obviously insulted by the question, but not enough to stop his work.
"So what percentage of households would you say do?"
"Ah, maybe 10%," he mumbled. He made a final rub of one of the main levers with the rag.
"No way!" he exclaimed, obviously insulted by the question, but not enough to stop his work.
"So what percentage of households would you say do?"
"Ah, maybe 10%," he mumbled. He made a final rub of one of the main levers with the rag.
To me, 10% of 120 million people still represents a potentially hefty amount of grease for any one day, especially considering the popularity of the "Extra Crispy" variety over here. I left him to his task and ventured to the editing department where a copy boy sat at his desk smoking cigarettes."
I Love You, Montreal / Je t'aime, Montréal!--CHANTAL HEBERT @ ISSUE PANEL, CBC NEWS
Before I started researching this little blurb, I had no idea how influential Chantal Hebert had been, and the stories she had broken. My admiration of her is mostly based on the appearances she makes on the "At Issue Panel" on CBC news. She makes Andrew Coyne, who is in his 30s (?), look like a fuddy-duddy, and everyone else on the panel always starts their sentences by saying, "Well, I'd have to agree with Chantal..."
Commentator/Columnist at the Toronto Star, she just strikes me as really bright and well-spoken, and now my friend Marijose tells me she is on Bazzo.tv as well~! On vous aime, Chantal~! Keep on going girl, and don't feel you have to get dressed up for the camera or anything: we love you just the way you are...
Last-Minute Environmentally-Sound Gifts For The Kids, Each Other, &c.
Thanks again, Ioanna~!
What child (or adult for that matter) doesn't already have enough materialistic junk? And with Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" coming out this year, as well as freakishly-warm weather (+12 degrees in mid-December) in Montreal, you might want to adopt a Polar Bear, an Orca, a portion of the Arctic, etc.
photo (c) istockphoto.com.
The Foods That Pack a Nutritional Punch
Thanks, Ioanna~!
This list assembled by cnn.com is like a cheat-sheet for foods that are good for you, for various reasons. You may find it surprising, as I did, that marshmallows and gravy do not somehow figure on the lists...
Hottest Place in Canada, December 14th, 2006: St-Clothilde-de-Chateauguay
from montreal gazette:
"The hottest spot in Canada on Thursday was St. Clothilde de Châteauguay, where the mercury climbed to 12.3 degrees Celsius at 2 p.m. Think about it. The hottest place in Canada was just 35 kilometres south of Montreal."
Tonight is the 3rd Night of Hanukkah
For stony_curtis readers lighting the third candle of their menorahs tonight, may you have a festive Chanukah at this time of year when light is most needed.
FEATURED: The Jewish holiday known as Chanukah, Festival of Lights, as seen through the eyes of 6th graders at the Ramaz Lower School in NYC.
Montreal Landmark Deli Closes its Doors
from ctv.ca.
"MONTREAL -- A landmark deli where Pierre Trudeau and Leonard Cohen chowed down as eagerly as any other smoked-meat seeking diner closed Friday after a lengthy strike.
Ben's De Luxe Delicatessen and Restaurant has been a fixture on the city's fabled smoked-meat circuit since it opened in 1908, known for its heaping plates of fatty beef served between two slices of rye.
Former prime ministers Trudeau and Paul Martin, entertainment czar Ed Sullivan and singer-cum-ladies man Cohen were among Ben's patrons. But then so was anybody looking for something to eat after a night on the town."
Ben's De Luxe Delicatessen and Restaurant has been a fixture on the city's fabled smoked-meat circuit since it opened in 1908, known for its heaping plates of fatty beef served between two slices of rye.
Former prime ministers Trudeau and Paul Martin, entertainment czar Ed Sullivan and singer-cum-ladies man Cohen were among Ben's patrons. But then so was anybody looking for something to eat after a night on the town."
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