Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Middle Cyclone on NPR

Remember when I wrote that post about NPR previewing Andrew Bird's new album?

Well, they've done it again: They're previewing my indie-rock lady crush Neko Case's new album Middle Cyclone. I'm only on track 2, but I love her so much I already like it.

Listen here.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Juxtaposition

I'm ecstatic that Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture. It was the best movie I saw in 2008 (other than maybe Wall-E, which should've been nominated for Best Picture). I find the criticism somewhat warranted, seeing as the film was made by a mostly British crew.

In that context, I found this story/slideshow (and the comments) interesting. I'm happy to see people in Mumbai's slums celebrating this film, but there is a strange juxtaposition of such great poverty next to glitzy, glamorous Hollywood.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Saving the Suburbs?

I'm pretty much convinced that our American way of life will cease to exist within the next century. Hopefully, it won't be as desolate as Cormac McCarthy's depiction in The Road. Or as bad as those Canadian crackpots (or as I like to think of them, prophets) claim in the documentary The End of Suburbia.

But it looks like I'm not the only crazy one out there! New York Times blogger Allison Areiff has posted, not one, but two entries on saving the suburbs. I'm not sure such a feat is possible, but Ms. Areiff has offered some seemingly viable alternatives.

And props to KRDB Architects in Austin for getting a mention in the second post.

However: I still think the apocalypse is coming, folks. We need to learn how to garden.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Check Your Kid's Homework

This has made its way around the fowarded email circuit, but it's so funny, I had to share.



Note from the child's mother to the teacher:
Dear Mrs. Jones,
I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer.
I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot.
From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Smith