- The biodiversity of publishing logos. It only covers the big trade publishers (Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, and Hachette), so the company I work for isn’t included, but this is really amusing. [via]
- Ever wonder what words readers of The New York Times look up most often? (If you click a word in any article on their website, it will give you a dictionary definition.) Apparently number one is sui generis, which means “of his, her, its, or their own kind; unique.” Most of these are not too surprising — and hey, people should be commended for looking up words they don’t know when reading — but I do find it weird that 1,964 people apparently needed to look up the word “swine.” For the record, it means “pigs.” [via]
- “So what’s the secret ingredient in KFC’s new grilled chicken?” asks Mark Evanier. “Apparently, it’s beef.
- A long, but fascinating, look at the making of The Godfather. Some major spoilers may follow. But seriously, if you haven’t seen The Godfather… [via]:
The magic was the lucky result mainly of a series of accidents—Coppola’s vision of the perfect cast and crew; misunderstandings between the director and the executives; the strange camaraderie that grew between the moviemakers and the Mob; and a number of priceless ad-libs by actors that turned what was supposed to have been a low-budget movie into a masterpiece.
- And finally, needlessly blurring the line between remake and reboot even further, a new Battlestar Galactica movie based on neither the old nor new television versions. I can’t see this getting off the ground, but I think we should make it a rule that you can’t reboot a franchise when your first reboot has just ended. (And with Caprica and The Plan both forthcoming, it’s debatable how “ended” Ron Moore’s Battlestar franchise is.)
Month: June 2009
Fixer-upper
If you’ve been following me at all via Twitter (or just following the feed from Twitter in the sidebar), you may know that my parents are remodeling the house. Carpeting in the downstairs hallway and living room, as well as on stairs and on the upstairs landing, has all been pulled up, and the wood paneling that was here when they bought the house (a year or two before I was born) has been removed. New stairs have been put in, and tile and wood floors have been put down in the downstairs and upstairs hallways, respectively. With new carpeting (for the living room) and painting (all over), we’re still probably looking at another couple of weeks at least — although maybe not back-to-back — but it does seem to be coming along. By and large I’ve missed out on the actual construction, seeing work crews arrive before I leave or, on a couple of occasions, being trapped downstairs or outside after work because they hadn’t yet finished when I got home. I’ve mostly seen their handiwork after the fact, and it’s been a little weird to come home from work every day with a new part of the house I grew up in either missing or changed. But it’s been more weird than inconvenient.
That, of course, was before one of the guys arrived this morning, unannounced, at around 7 am. My father, who let him in and start working, said he was probably here earlier, waiting outside in his car. My father would have let him in earlier, if he had known that, so it’s just as well he didn’t. Being woken up at 7 am to hammering and spackling and doors opening was annoying enough. I swear, there was a moment when I wondered if I’d made a mistake and it wasn’t actually Saturday. But even on weekdays, they don’t usually arrive until 8. I appreciate the guy’s enthusiasm for his work and desire to get it done as soon as possible, but when your construction site’s in an occupied house, maybe you should call ahead instead of dropping by when everybody else in the world is still asleep.
Friday Night Video
Stop motion with wolf and pig:
Via Maximum Verbosity.
Random 10 6/12
So…not so great last week. But maybe this week’s lyrics will prove easier to guess:
- “Jenny Says” by Dash Rip Rock
I got no reason for the things I fear - “Making Me Nervous” by Brad Sucks
I could tell you a thing about taking your time - “Three Gray Walls” by the Holmes Brothers
For forty years and counting, I’ve been put away - “The Clean Break” by Talking Heads, guessed by Occupant
In a minute I’ll wash that love away - “A Good Life” by Jill Sobule
The aliens land on the 105 - “No One’s Gonna Love You” by Band of Horses
We are the ever-living ghost of what once was - “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose its Flavor” by Lonnie Donnegan, guessed by Occupant
Hallelujah, the question is peculiar - “Lazybones” by Soul Coughing
Cameraman sways to remember how the eye dances - “Different People” by No Doubt
You don’t have to be a famous person just to make your mark - “Please Come to Boston” by Dave Loggins, guessed by Clayton
Now this drifter’s world goes ’round and ’round
As always, good luck!
Thursday various
- Former Illinois Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich says it’s difficult watching his wife, Patti, fill in for him on a reality show, but he appreciated the former Illinois first lady’s televised exercise in tarantula-eating as an “act of love. [link | via]
They should double-date with the Santorums!
- A fascinating discussion in The New York Times on the Uncanny Valley, the nature of forgeries, cover versions, and Vermeer. [via]
- Behind the Scenes: A New Angle on History — Twenty years later, a new look at that historic moment in China’s Tiananmen Square. It’s a little startling to see a historical moment captured from a completely different angle like this, especially when the earlier angles have become so iconic. [via]
- Watch season one of Veronica Mars for free online. Opinions vary on the later two seasons, but I think the first is generally considered the show’s best. You have until June 29, apparently, when the episodes will be replaced by season two. [via]
- And finally, Warren Ellis on the writing process:
The point is getting it all down, even if it’s crap or incomprehensible to anyone but you, so you can see it outside your own head. And then you can start adding to it. Expanding it, putting new layers on it, winding a new plotline around it, moving bits of it around. Just get it down.