Commonplace Book

*Updated 03 March 2009*

I started a commonplace book a while back. I write miscellaneous things in it: quotes I like, a list of books I intend to read, things I want to accomplish, recipes I want to try, various tidbits of information to remember, etc. It's a way to track and organize the hodgepodge of stuff that endlessly swirls around in my head.

Since this blog is also a sort of commonplace book, I figure it makes sense to keep some of that stuff here. So that's what I'm going to do. I've created a permanent link to this post in the "More About Me" section to the right, so I'll update it periodically to add new things and note which items have been completed.

THINGS TO DO:

• Go SCUBA diving
• Be an extra in a movie
• Sing the national anthem at a sporting event
• Run a 5k
• See the sun rise at West Quoddy Head, Maine
• Write a musical
• Visit the Louvre
• Take ballroom dancing lessons
• Put a toe in the Mediterranean
• See the Himalaya
• Go on an Alaskan cruise
• Go on safari (DONE! August 2007)
• Ride an elephant (DONE! May 2006)
• Visit the World War II Memorial (DONE! April 2006)
• Tour the National Holocaust Museum (DONE! April 2006)

PLACES TO VISIT:

• All 50 states (To do: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin)
• Chichén Itzá, Mexico
• Cairo, Egypt
• Angkor, Cambodia
• Rome and Florence, Italy
• Paris and Provence, France
• Chiang Mai, Thailand (DONE! May 2006)
• London, England (DONE! May 2005)

READING LIST:

• Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey
• Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
• STET, Damnit! by Florence King
• The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (DONE!)
• Thomas Jefferson: A Life by Willard Sterne Randall
• Cosmos by Carl Sagan (DONE!)
• Night by Elie Wiesel (DONE!)
• The Future and Its Enemies: The Growing Conflict Over Creativity, Enterprise, and Progress by Virginia Postrel (DONE!)
• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (DONE!)
• Reflections in a Jaundiced Eye by Florence King (DONE!)
• With Charity Toward None: A Fond Look at Misanthropy by Florence King (DONE!)

WISHLIST:

• Build a Bridge - Audra McDonald
• The Passion of Joan of Arc - Criterion Collection
• Coach Legacy Stripe Tote (Got it! Thanks, Mom!)
• Polar F4 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Ice Blue) (Got it!)
• Made with Molecules - Serotonin Necklace (Got it! Thanks, Santa!)
• Stephen Sondheim's Passion DVD (Got it! Thanks, JD!)
• The Lark in the Clear Air (Got it! Thanks, Santa!)
• Eileen Farrell Sings Torch Songs (Got it! Thanks, JD!)
• L.L. Bean Mission Corner Desk, light stain (Got it!)
• Red - John Stevens (Got it!)
• Fodor's Thailand, 9th Edition (Got it! Thanks, Lee!)
• Bangkok Inside Out (Got it! Thanks, Mom!)
• Cuisinart Chef's Classic Non-Stick Hard Anodized 10-Piece Cookware Set and Open Stock (Got it! Thanks, Mom and Dad!)
• STET, Damnit! (Got it! Thanks, Mom!)

Life Without The Chicks

Ever since I heard the song "You Were Mine," I've been a huge fan of the Dixie Chicks. They are excellent musicians, writing most of their own music and playing various instruments extremely well. In the world of popular music, they have a unique sound, combining bluegrass, country and a dash of rock and roll.

In 2003, the Chicks found themselves in the throes of controversy. During a performance in London a few days before the invasion of Iraq, Natalie Maines, Lubbock, TX native and lead singer of the band, said, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas.” This sparked massive criticism and, even after several attempts to clarify the statement and apologize for being disrespectful to the President, their music was boycotted by fans and radio stations. (See Wikipedia for more details on the controversy.)

Making a statement like that in a foreign country when the U.S. is on the verge of war is reprehensible. Don't get me wrong – I fully support the Dixie Chicks' First Amendment right to say what they want, when they want. But when you exercise that right, you have to expect consequences, even when (especially when?) you're famous. Granted, some of the unpredictable consequences they have faced (radio promo events to crush the Chicks’ CDs, vandalism of one of the Chicks’ homes, threats on their lives, etc.) are disgusting and inexcusable, but they brought the rest on themselves.

On May 23rd, the Dixie Chicks will release their first album, TAKING THE LONG WAY, since this whole debacle occurred three years ago. As much as I'd love to own this album and listen to it obsessively until I know every word and can belt each song as I'm driving or cleaning, I won't buy it.

I’m a firm believer in the power of the dollar and being conscious of who and what you’re supporting when you spend your dollars. It’s not that I’m a Bush supporter by any means. Yes, I voted for him, but only as a vote against John Kerry. Now I’m counting the days until Bush is done (589 to go). The comment made during the Chicks’ London concert was a stupid mistake; mistakes are forgivable. But pile on the fact that the Chicks performed in the MoveOn.org concerts supporting John Kerry’s election and that's no mistake.

I do respect the fact that, even though they have alienated many of their fans in the red states, the Chicks haven't cowered at the threat of losing money and haven't backed down from their beliefs. But, respect or not, I can't support a band that supports a group like MoveOn.org. So, unless I happen to win the Dixie Chicks new CD in some random contest or the DNC offers it as a free download (hey, you never know), I'll make do without it.

No one said having principles has to be fun.

U.N.'s Disappearing Propaganda Poster

Yesterday was International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. How did the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights celebrate? By posting this on the website:














So what does this mean? Well, obviously the joined puzzle pieces represent racial tolerance. And the red LEGO? LEGO is a Danish company. Denmark's flag is red. Is there any doubt what this poster is trying to say? Keep in mind that this isn't the U.N.'s first attack on Denmark.

The graphic was available in English and Arabic and was prominently posted yesterday morning on the U.N.'s website. So where is it now? It has since been removed without comment or explanation.

I've said it before and I'll say it again:








(Via Michelle Malkin.)

Mission: A New Bed

I desperately need a new bed.

The mattress set I have is ten years old, was purchased at Montgomery Ward on sale – maybe even on clearance – and feels more like a torture device than a bed. With my chronic back problems (especially since I left behind my beloved chiropractor when I moved to Frederick) and occasional bouts of insomnia, a good mattress is a necessity.

After yet another morning of waking up in pain and feeling like I had slept on a pile of rocks, I've decided to go mattress shopping tonight. Hopefully by the end of the evening, I will have purchased a new mattress and, instead of sleeping on this, I can look forward to sleeping on this.

Update: Mission accomplished! My new bed will be delivered on Wednesday, so the pile of rocks will be moved into my guest bedroom. So...who wants to come for a visit?

DNA Shape Found in Space

This is amazing.

Magnetic forces at the center of the galaxy have twisted a nebula into the shape of DNA, a new study reveals.

The double helix shape is commonly seen inside living organisms, but this is the first time it has been observed in the cosmos.

"Nobody has ever seen anything like that before in the cosmic realm," said the study's lead author Mark Morris of UCLA. "Most nebulae are either spiral galaxies full of stars or formless amorphous conglomerations of dust and gas—space weather. What we see indicates a high degree of order."

It truly boggles the mind and compels us to consider the most complex questions of all. Of course, many folks were similarly compelled by a grilled cheese sandwich.

Sleeping Bertie

Here's Bert at 2:00 a.m., sound asleep in my parents' bedroom.

Shamrock Fields Forever

St. Patrick's Day. The one day each year when it's acceptable to wear a big, green tophat, kiss a complete stranger, and drink countless pints of green beer.

More traditionally, Irish families would celebrate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who died on this day in the fifth century, by attending church in the morning and feasting on Irish bacon and cabbage in the afternoon. (Lenten prohibitions were lifted, so eating meat, dancing and drinking were permissible on this one day.)

My great grandparents on my mother's side were gardeners in County Cork, Ireland. I like to think they had something to do with creating the beauty in those pictures.

So, as you raise your green beer this evening, be sure to share a traditional Irish blessing:

May the roads rise to meet you,
May the winds be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

And save this one for the sixth or seventh pint:

May those who love us love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.

Erin Go Bragh!

Idol: Week 4

Unfortunately, I can't make a prediction this week. I DVRed the performances last night and about halfway through, the sound decided to cut out, so I missed Jennifer, Kevin and Katharine. That being said, I'll make a guess and say that Kevin or Melissa will be going home.

Video of the Week: Whale v. Kayak

As my brother said, the only thing that would make this better would be if the kayaker held up a little sign that read, "Yipes!"

It's Not Just for Hopscotch Anymore

Check out these amazing sidewalk chalk works of art.

(Via Michelle Malkin.)

Billy Elliot - The Musical

One of my favorite movies of all time is Billy Elliot. Set in County Durham in northern England during the miners' strike of 1984, it's the story of a boy who discovers, much to the dismay of his miner father and brother, that he has a marvelous talent for ballet. The story is truly heartwarming (unlike every other movie that's been assigned this adjective by movie critics) and the acting is brilliant. The scene in which Billy shares a letter from his deceased mother with his ballet teacher is one of the simplest, most moving moments of all cinematic history. I tear up just writing about it here.

I had the opportunity to see the newly-staged Billy Elliot - The Musical when I was in London last May. Considering my general distaste for a lot of Elton John's music (he composed the music for the show), I was nervous about this production and had no idea what to expect. Looking past the socialist themes, which are to be expected in a show with the miners' strike as a backdrop, the show was really lovely. It didn't quite achieve the emotional impact of the movie (surprising and a somewhat disappointing when you consider the emotional power music usually adds to art), but there were some truly beautiful moments. The letter scene was handled perfectly with simple music and uncomplicated staging. One fabulous scene had the girls' ballet class sharing the stage with police in riot gear. It may sound hokey, but it was brilliantly staged and it worked.

So, what has prompted me to write about this now? Well, the cast recording for the musical was released recently, and listening to the show has brought it all back to me. Especially listening to "The Letter" and "The Letter - Reprise" over and over. Sniff, sniff.

Idol Prediction: Week 3

I'm sure you've realized that the four contestants who were voted off the show last week received the four lowest scores on this blog. Yes, I'm good at what I do.

This week I don't think the losers are quite as obvious. Of the girls, I'm sad to say that Kinnik is finished. I like her voice, but considering she was in the bottom three last week and she was horribly sharp on a very well-known song this week, she's a goner. The second girl who will go isn't as easy to predict. Personally, I think Melissa should go, but it may be Lisa.

As for the guys, I think it's pretty safe to say that Will and Kevin will be heading home, although Bucky could go as well and I wouldn't be heartbroken.

Whatever the results are tonight, the shows from here on out will be tough to predict. The singers' styles and strengths are quite varied this year.

"Stop looking at me, swan."

I'm not a fan of Adam Sandler's work, but I think "Billy Madison" is incredibly funny in an oh-my-God-that-is-so-stupid-and-yet-I'm-laughing-hysterically kind of way. Apparently, I'm not the only one who found something worthwhile in the film.

In what is surely a first for the federal judiciary, a Texas bankruptcy judge has quoted from the Adam Sandler film canon in a recent opinion. Dismissing a motion due to "incomprehensibility," Judge Leif Clark cited a scene from "Billy Madison," Sandler's 1995 comedy, in a footnote to a February 21 court order.

(Via VC.)

Bublé Concert Review

KB and I went to see Michael Bublé in concert on Friday night. You may recall that I gave his most recent CD a glowing recommendation. Believe it or not, the live performance was even better than the recording. As you know, this is not the norm nowadays. It’s amazing how many horrible singers are transformed to sound like actual musicians through the magic of modern recording trickery. But Mr. Bublé sounded phenomenal, while his humor and comfort on stage made the 3,700-seat DAR Constitution Hall feel like an intimate venue. And the band, my God, the band! Making a conscious effort not to jump up and start swing dancing, I could hardly sit still in my seat and didn't want the evening to end. Without a doubt, it was the best concert I've seen.

Of course, it didn't hurt that Mr. Bublé happened to visit the section in which KB and I were seated. Before doing so, he commented that the folks up front had a great view, but the folks in the back paid good money and should get an up-close view as well. So, he leapt off the stage, ran down the center aisle, disappeared momentarily, and re-appeared right in front of us! KB and I instantly turned into 12-year-old girls, screaming like maniacs and launching ourselves across the couple between us and Michael. He touched KB's hand as he ran up the stairs and grabbed my shoulder as he went back down. I managed to snap a picture with my cell phone, but haven’t been able to download it because of some problem with the service. (Damn Sprint!) Don't worry. I'll post the picture as soon as I am able. I know you'll be waiting with bated breath...

Update: Check out his zany video for "Feeling Good" and his ultra-cool version of "Spider-Man" here.

Obligatory Oscars Post

I tuned in for the Academy Awards last night as background noise while I did stuff around the house, i.e., cleaned the bathroom after giving a certain stinky dog a bath. BTW, he's incredibly soft and so shiny it looks like I polished him! Anyway, I was going to post some random thoughts on the Awards, but after reading Dave Barry's comments, I'll defer to his hilarious summary of the evening's events with the following additional observations of my own:

Jon Stewart was entertaining, yet underappreciated by the Hollywood elite.

The score for "Pride & Prejudice" should have won over "Brokeback Mountain".

Best Actor or not, Philip Seymour Hoffman still looks like a child molester to me.

40 Days Without Chocolate

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. Though I am not religious in traditional ways, I like the Lenten tradition of giving up something you enjoy. It's a good way to rekindle some self discipline and remind ourselves that we should not be slaves to pleasure.

This year, I've decided to give up chocolate. Chocolate is not a daily indulgence for me, but it's definitely going to be a challenge to resist it for forty days. Especially when the Trader Joe's chocolate-covered blueberries I have locked in my desk drawer are calling my name and it's only the second day.

Homer v. The First Amendment

How many of the five Simpson family members can you name? Now, how many of the five liberties protected by the First Amendment can you name?

According to the AP:

Americans apparently know more about "The Simpsons" than they do about the First Amendment.

Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half can name at least two members of the cartoon family, according to a survey.

The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just one in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms.

God bless America.

Idol Thoughts: Week 2 - The Guys

Taylor, “Easy” – He’s definitely an acquired taste and I’m buying. I would have liked to see him to take it a little easier, maybe sit on a stool to sing, but it still worked. He’s a natural at this. 8

Elliott, “Moody’s Mood for Love” – Great voice, but those teeth? Oy! He handled the difficult changing tonality of the song impressively well. I loved the performance, but I don’t see a “star” in him at this point. 9

Ace, “If I’m Not Made for You” – Yeah, he’s hot, there’s no denying it. I despise this song, but it suits his wimpy voice and will certainly woo the girls who vote. 7

Gedeon, “A Change Is Gonna Come” – First of all, I hate hearing this guy speak. And Simon was right: his smile is disconcerting; way too many teeth. But the singing? That was really good! 8.5

Kevin, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” – He’s a 40-year-old-man in a 16-year-old body. Let’s face it: he got here because of his personality. As much as I like him, the singing just isn’t up to par. 6

Sway, “Overjoyed” – Ick. I don’t like the tone of his voice at all. Everything seems so effortful and he’s got serious pitch problems, just like last week. 5

Will, “Lady” – I can’t help but laugh and think of Lee’s version of this song: “I’m your knight in shining armor. It’s so shiny.” But, I digress. I didn’t realize how beautiful his voice is. It may be more suited for Broadway, but who cares? Any way you slice it, he sounded really good. 8.5

Bucky, “The Thunder Rolls” – Oh, Bucky, you’re as real as it gets. Not bad, not bad. I didn’t see anything special about it. Seemed somewhat karaoke-ish to me. 7.5

David, “The Way You Look Tonight” – God knows I love good crooning and that was NOT good crooning. Very pitchy and very dull. And the head shaking to create vibrato makes me crazy! 5

Chris, “Hemorrhage” – That could have been straight off the radio. He's got a great voice and that song really worked for him. I think the judges said last week that he’s got a great recording voice. No doubt about that. 9