Leslie's Omnibus: culture

Showing posts with label culture. Show all posts

Sing Along

In a sad book centered a little British girl dying of cancer was a reference to "Ging Gang Goolie." Of course, I had to look it up:

Since I'm now stuck with an ear worm from hell, I thought I'd share it with you.

World Tour

Mongolia -- that's a new one!

Did you know...

At 1,564,116 square kilometres (603,909 sq mi), Mongolia is the 19th largest and the most sparsely populated independent country in the world, with a population of around 2.75 million people. It is also the world's second-largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan. The country contains very little arable land, as much of its area is covered by steppes, with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south. Approximately 30% of the population are nomadic or semi-nomadic. The predominant religion in Mongolia is Tibetan Buddhism, and the majority of the state's citizens are of the Mongol ethnicity, though Kazakhs, Tuvans, and other minorities also live in the country, especially in the west. About 20% of the population live on less than US$1.25 per day.

Here's a form of music you're not likely to run across in the States -- Mongolian Throat-Singing:

(There's a droning quality about it that reminds me of dulcimers and bagpipes.)

Drive-Bys

When you laugh in the face of the Fates...

Diner suffers cardiac arrest while eating a Triple Bypass Burger in restaurant called the Heart Attack Grill

... the one named Karma can be the biggest bitch of all.
_____

So that's why I re-read my faves over and over again:

The first time people read - or watch - through, they are focused on events and stories.

The second time through, the repeated experience reignites the emotions caused by the book or film, and allows people to savour those emotions at leisure.

George R.R. Martin, Nancy Atherton, Jacqueline Carey, Karen Miller, Gary Jennings, Janet Evanovich (books 1-10, anyway), and many, many more are all old and dear friends of mine.
_____

Today's Chicago Tribune advocates discussing problems with your neighbors before calling in the police:

Calling the cops almost has become a default solution, one that's not especially productive.

"No one likes having the police called on them," said Will Reimers, a neighborhood contact officer with the Boise (Idaho) Police Department. "Oftentimes that makes things worse, when suddenly police show up and start talking to you. People resent that. So it's not the best first step."

What is the best first step? Try talking to each other.

"It seems today that talking to your neighbors is something that has fallen out of fashion," Reimers said. "It's just not done as much anymore. But it's an old technique that should be resurrected."

Which all sounds good until you realize that today's Daily Mail illustrates the flip side of that solution:

Franklin Santana, 47, allegedly went to his neighbour's home in the Tacony region of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to complain about his dogs.

The neighbour, Tyrirk Harris, 27, was licensed to carry a gun and had it in a holster as the two talked on the front porch on Tuesday, police said.

‘I (saw) them arguing, then from there a little scuffle,’ neighbour Miguel Rivera told the Philadelphia Daily News. ‘Then I heard the shots.’

Mr Santana was found dead outside the Torresdale Avenue home after confronting Harris about the mess constantly left by his dogs, police said.

I'd say you really need to pick your battles -- and you might want to let the police handle the ones that involve an armed and angry neighbor after all.

Drive-Bys

Cloud Gate (a/k/a "The Bean") + animated light show = Omnibabe needs to recharge the batteries for her camera and get her butt down to see Luminous Field before it closes!
_____

If you haven't already seen this viral video of a pissed off papa's response to his darling daughter's humdinger of a Facebook post dissing her parents, give it a gander:

Apparently some helpful folks figured that the local authorities ought to be called in.

The former Marine wrote on his Facebook page that Child Protective Services officials came to his home in Stanly Co. on Saturday and interviewed him and his daughter — separately — after viewers of the video called with concerns about his actions.
He said the police also stopped by.

And what happened next? (Not what you think!)

“The police by the way said ‘Kudos, sir,’ ” Jordan wrote. "I actually had a "thank you" from an entire detectives squad. And another police officer is using it in a positive manner in his presentation for the school system.

Is he at all repentant?

In the Saturday Facebook post, Jordan said he does not regret making the video and stands by his decision to post it.

Here's my favorite bit:

Jordan's post also said if he had to do it again he would, "Not be smoking a cigarette ... not have used the word "ass" in my comment directed at my daughter ... would have worn my Silverbelly Stetson, not my Tilley hat if I'd known that image was going to follow me the rest of my life and I'd probably have cleaned my boots."

That's my kind of guy!
_____

Seeing this article about a woman who collected so many salt & pepper shaker sets that she had to open a museum to house them reminded me of The Princess Mom.

TPM loved to meander through ~~junk~~ resale shops, yard sales, rummage sales and flea markets in search of the perfect salt & pepper set for my sister and I for Christmas gifts -- on top of the dolls and other collectibles (anything with a cat (for me) or Cairn Terrier (for my sister) in it, on it or for it, whether it was to our taste or not) she was already buying for us.

After I got out of college I had no room to display this unwanted collection, but every year another set popped up in my stocking.

Shortly after I got married I casually mentioned to TPM that I really didn't have any place to display the S&P collection, and that I would rather not receive them as gifts any more.

I completely forgot that the fastest way to get TPM to dig in her heels and do her best imitation of a mule was to tell her you didn't want something she wanted you to have.

Yes, I got another set for Christmas. And the Christmas after that.

And the Christmas after that?

I started re-gifting those S&P shakers right back to her.

It only took three more Christmases for her to finally give up the battle... and I still have most of the original collection.

Yes, I could sell them on ebay... but then I wouldn't have this goofy connection to her, now would I?

Saturday Ramblings

Now I've heard everything:

Winner's attorneys argued that punishment was too harsh, according to court papers.

Winner's attorneys also asked that his emotional problems and difficult childhood, including physical and psychological abuse at his father's hands, be taken into consideration, court papers show.

And what exactly is he guilty of?

An Illinois man was sentenced Friday by a federal judge in Rhode Island to more than three years in prison for shipping unwanted penis enlargers to diabetes patients as part of a larger fraud scheme that prosecutors say bilked $2.2 million from Medicare over four years.

He's a real winner all right.
_____

Looking for another place to get designer-looking prescription specs at a fantastic price? Try Warby Parker. Not only will you be getting a great value, you'll be doing a good deed, as well.

(I like the look of these, and at only $95 for frames and lenses, I just might have to get them!)
_____

6 tips for avoiding speeding tickets -- besides not speeding in the first place, that is.
_____

An unexpected consequence of the current economy? The ruin of the current generation.
_____

Giggle of the Day:

Quick Stop

I swear this is blasphemy:

America, let's be honest on this point: It is not so great to have pie. For decades now, this confection of fragile dough and chunky cooked fruit has been invading our dessert menus and national mythology, trying to persuade us of its honored standing among baked goods and the gods. Pie is delicious, we are told. Pie is an honest treat. Pie is what we call those who are dear to us ("sweetie pie") and those with a place in the nation's history ("American as"). In an age of gruesome culture wars, pie remains temperamentally Swiss, doing business with all quarters and reaping the rewards of broad acceptance.

You can have your cake and your cupcakes and your brownies and your cookies.

I. Like. Pie.

Raspberry, cherry, apple, pumpkin, banana cream, pecan, chess, vinegar, rhubarb, strawberry, blackberry, Key Lime, lemon meringue -- all of 'em. (Did I mention raspberry? I really, really love raspberry.) With homemade flaky and delicious crust, especially.

I love the contrast between sweet, tart and a bit of salt from the crust. The crunch of the fork through the crust. The layers of flavor and texture.

I love baking them. I love eating them. Plain. Ala mode. With country cream.

The best foods in the world are either messy to eat or use every pot and utensil in the kitchen to make. Who wants neat food, for cripes sake??? Yuck.

Nathan Heller is a Philistine. And has no taste buds. So there.
_____

Update: 11 Irresistible Chocolate Pies -- yum!

Weekend Rambles

When my pal the Norwegian from the North Woods comes for a visit, it's always a cultural whirlwind.

Yesterday:

Long wander around the Chicago Botanic Garden, including a visit to the Model Railroad Garden (wonderful for kids big and small)
Shokran, a fabulous Moroccan restaurant in the Old Irving Park neighborhood (If you go, be sure to order the Chicken Bastilla appetizer. Most yummy!)
The Shadow of a Gunman at the Irish American Heritage Center
Cocktails at Jimmy's -- a local Greek-owned restaurant

Today:

Lunch at Jimmy's
Drive into the city and park in the West Loop
Walk from West Wacker Drive to East Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue
Walk down 3 flights of stairs to riverwalk level
Attempt to take the Architectural Foundation 3 p.m. river tour
Are informed that the next tickets available are for 9:30 a.m. tomorrow
Walked back west along the river walk under the Michigan Avenue Bridge
Stumble across the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
Develop buns of steel and thighs like Tina Turner by climbing to see all six levels of the bridgehouse museum, then climbing back down again
Cool drinks and fruit plate at O'Brien's Riverwalk Cafe
Up two flights of stairs to street level
Back east, cross the bridge north and down two flights of stairs to the Wendella boat dock
River and lakefront architectural tour
More buns/thighs workout -- up two flights of stairs, through the middle of the Wrigley Building towards Trump Tower, back down three flights of stairs
Take the Water Taxi to Chinatown (What a cool way to get there -- and cheap! $4/person to get from Michigan and the river to Chinatown. It would probably be close to $40 by taxi!)
Dinner at Lao Shanghai (Try the most excellent... everything. There isn't a bad choice on the menu.)
Red Line train to State & Lake
Shorter than usual forced march to the parking lot
Crazy GPS-directed trip home (if there was a long way to be found, it found it)

I love being a tourist in my own back yard-- especially with a good friend who is undaunted by my singular ability to drag him from pillar to post and back again.

Quick Stop

Giggle of the Day:

Watch the whole thing. It gets better and better!

Drive-Bys

True confession -- sometimes instead of doing laundry I'll buy new undies to get me through the week. (Tell the truth now. You've done it, too.)

A couple of months ago I rushed through a mall and grabbed two packages of underpants in what I thought was the correct size off a sale table in a store that I visit once or twice a decade, and put the brand new packages in my undies draw for just such an emergency.

A few weeks later I was running low and had no time to do laundry, so I hauled out and opened a new package of panties. When I unfolded them, I immediately realized I had made a mistake and bought one size too large.

Unlike Bridget Jones' gigantic granny pants, which were made of spandex, the ones I'd bought were made of cotton -- cheap cotton with elastic at the waist and leg bands.

Urk.

It was the giant pants or going commando.

I opted for the giant pants.

Do you recall the tale of me and the self-destructing pantyhose? Sometimes my foundations and I simply do not get along.

The giant pants, like the pantyhose, fit just fine (okay, a little loose -- but not so bad) just out of the package. But as the day went on they started expanding in all directions, except for the waistband and leg bands.

The waistband ended up scooching northwards, missing my bra band by a mere inch.

The butt boofed out like a gangsta's boxers.

The sides expanded until it looked like the plastic pants my mother used to cover my cloth diapers as a baby.

And I had no time to do laundry or go shopping for at least three more days.

Yes, I should have thrown them out. I've laundered, then binned them at least three times but my penurious Yankee conscience just won't let me let go of them.

And I'll probably end up wearing them again, too.
_____

The Chicago Air & Water Show starts tomorrow, but we've had fighter jets buzzing the city for a couple of days now in practice. Ear worm of the day?

_____

Yes, this is extra naughty. Yes, it made me laugh and laugh and laugh some more.
_____

Not only are her photographs beautiful, Jen McKen's ethics are, too:

Last night I posted on facebook the following: “If I’m wrong, please speak up. I came across a page on facebook that was created (by someone under a ficticious name) thats purpose is to bully, ridicule and say mean and hurtful things about their class mates. While visiting the page, I found several teenage girls that have scheduled sessions with me for their senior pictures. I am emailing them tomorrow to cancel their shoots. I do not want them to represent my business and I am beside myself at how MEAN and CRUEL they were on that page.”

You go, girl.

(A tip of the cap to Her Primordial Majesty.)
_____

My down home girlfriend Paula kicks Tony Bourdain's arrogant ass:

“My good friends Rachael, Guy and Sandra are the most generous charitable folks I know. They give so much of their time and money to help the food-deprived, sick children and abandoned animals. I have no idea what Anthony has done to contribute besides being irritable.”

Go read the whole thing here.
_____

Drive-Bys

I have another political crush -- Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford. I don't suppose we can cajole him into running in the next gubernatorial race, can we?
_____

Before I head out to see Gavin Coyle at the Irish American Heritage Center this Saturday evening, I'm going to spend the day at the Printer's Row Lit Fest. The line-up of workshops, authors and speakers looks fantastic.
_____

Knee-Slapper of the Day:

"[S]he’s a very natural girl."

Sorry. That should have come with a spit-take warning.
_____

Have you bought your ticket to come help Seanachai Theatre Company party with Frazier's dad yet?

No?

What are you waiting for? June 13th is right around the corner and it's not every day you get to hoist a pint with a celebrity!
_____
_____