http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omnivoracious.com%2F2008%2F05%2Ffriday-night--1.html&token=B8B689126FEA59009227B495194AEDFDE25F2877 Welcome once again to Friday Night Videos, where we aim to give you the kind of match-ups you deserve for hanging out here on the weekend. Tonight, in honor of his guest posting right here at Omnivoracious, it's James Frey talking about his new book Bright Shiny Morning (May 13) versus Chelsea Handler talking about Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, which just hit the NYT bestseller list. Frey you already know about from his posts. Handler, who has a show on E! every weeknight at 11:30, is a little newer to the spotlight, but very talented. She's got incredible comic timing and has a great blend of irreverent, self-deprecating humor and biting satire. The Q&A from a bookstore gig displays her sharp wit and her quick-thinking approach to comedy. (More videos here.)
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aldenteblog.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmothers-day-r-4.html&token=DB1158FD3C7B58B124BF6D9FC1BC93A0F2942CB4  I don't really know why this recipe is called Orange Bread Barbados, except maybe that it's so zingy and fresh it makes you feel like you're on a tropical isle. What I do know is that this is a tried-and-true recipe of my mom's, and a can't-miss component of a winning Mother's Day brunch. The bread smells divine while baking, and comes out as a dense, buttery, citrusy tea cake, perfect slathered with butter. Extra bread (if you have any!) is terrific toasted for breakfast or a quick snack. Enjoy!
Orange Bread Barbados
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. Warm orange juice to room temperature or above (this will keep the butter from resolidifying). Whisk in butter, then egg and zest.
3. Fold wet ingredients into dry. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 30 minutes, until set and golden brown around the edges.
Makes 1 loaf.
--KitchenMaus | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carlustblog.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fcar-lust--porsc.html&token=C4B3BE58C558011DA817C05CFB7001EC51C8F343  It is inconceivable to me that the Porsche 928 doesn't have a more glorious reputation than it does. What was one of the all-time great cars of the 1980s (with some spillover from the 1970s and into the 1990s) is remarkably often regarded as a bloated, fat, ugly failure of a car, somehow barely worthy of the Porsche name.
Bah! The 928 was a fantastic car that helped define the sports GT category, marrying supercar performance with comfort and everyday practicality. The 928 had such an embarrassment of ability that it captured the imagination. Considering the standard of its time, it had incredible top speed and high-speed cruising ability; married to its relaxed nature and natural comfort, that made the 928 the perfect choice for bombing along the Autostrada at triple-digit speeds while listening to Chopin, or for compressing a trans-Montana drive from five hours into three. Think of it as an executive Lear Jet for the road. Porsche purists, conditioned to rear air-cooled engines, never seemed to warm up to the 928; its water-cooled V-8, front-engined configuration, and relaxed athleticism made it an anethema. What they never seem to remember is that while the 911 was unique for its ability to make an outdated formula work, the 928 was unique for being dramatically ahead of its time. In many ways, the 928 provided similar performance without the 911's hard-edged compromises. The 928 offered one of the first truly modern high-performance V-8s in the late 1970s and, by the end of its run in the early 1990s, the 928 S4 was one of the fastest cars on the road. All this and a hatchback to boot!
The 928 doesn't have a great reliability record, and parts are expensive. Plus, its bloated styling came in for some abuse; some uncharitable folks compared the 928 to a bar of soap left in the shower too long. It should come as no surprise that I find the 928 unique and beautiful--its zaftig lines are aggressive without looking like every other car on the road, and the laid-down headlights give the car a unique personality it would not otherwise have had.
 The 928 continued to get faster and more refined through its life, but from a stricly aesthetic perspective, I think the early 928s are the prettiest. Later in the car's life, Porsche seemed to try to flatten and sculpt the 928's characteristic soft curves, and for me that goes counter to the car's basic appeal.
But early or late, I'd proudly drive a 928, and to heck with the people who just don't get it. The amazing thing is that older 928s are remarkably affordable for what they are--thanks no doubt to the lack of public respect for the car and their evil reliability reputation.
All of these fantastic photos came from Flickr. The first two came from user Gwagenrally, the third from aMT, and the gorgeous moon shot from joscii.
The video is an original Porsche marketing video for the 928 S4, with typical 1980s marketing flair. A few of my favorite moments:
 - I love the unsubtle elitism at play in this video. "Since good taste and exlusiveness have always had a cosmopolitan flair, Porsche's sucess is international. ... the car is an expression of exclusiveness and individuality." The car is later pictured driving at about 20 mph into a mansion's driveway. Way to play up the car's capabilities, guys.
- The Amiga-era computer graphics--especially the slow-motion animation of the combustion cycle that kicks off around the 3:30 mark--is just fantastic. You know that cost Porsche a pretty penny.
- There's a truly puzzling sequence that begins at 4:21; a guitarist and flamenco dancers take center stage and begin a musical number, with only an occasional shot of the car behind the dancers. There's no narration, no context, and no focus on the car. It lasts 30 increasingly confusing seconds and is completely inexplicable.
- That's immediately followed by an equally long dissertation on the history of Spain--the country where "all roads lead to the sun. ... The hardships of travel even in recent times, and the comforts one enjoys in a Porsche 928 S4 are worlds apart. A simple comparison of costs and time spent on the road would probably help even a time traveler to choose the century in which to visit Spain."
 Um, yeah. Not enough car companies use that kind of language today to sell their cars.
- At the very end, after waxing eloquent about Spain and the safety and comfort of the 928 S4 (no comment on its performance), the narrator concludes, with a significant tone of voice, the non sequitor "Driving in its purest form knows no bounds."
Not only is that maddeningly vague, but it's also completely out of character with everything else in the video. I imagine some enterprising copy writer came up with the line, and the marketing team liked it so much that they threw it in as the final line even though it didn't really fit.
--Chris H. | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carlustblog.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fbuick-gnx.html&token=3BE5C2C6904878A286A8B0540D6E4634B39637A8  Sorry, all, for the slow posting this week--I'll make it up to you with a two-pack today, with one Car Lust this morning and one this afternoon.
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I'm a fan of turbochargers. It's easy to be seduced by the thrust of horsepower they provide, of course, but I'm even fond of aspects of turbocharging that other people don't care for.
Turbo lag, for instance--it's not great at a race track when you're trying to time your power application coming out of a corner, but for me that split-second delay before the wall of power hits is a delicious bit of suspense. The car feels as if it's gathering itself for a sprint; and the short delay only makes the strong pull that follows even more entertaining. The characteristic whistle of a turbocharger spinning up also annoys some, but for me it's the auditory signal that something special is going on under the hood. That whistle activates a Pavlovian response in me; but fortunately rather than a craving for dog food, it triggers a craving for horsepower.  Turbos have also made possible some great cars that would not otherwise have been so stellar--a fact that is more true of the turbocharged Buick 3.8-liter V-6 than any other stock turbocharged engine. The 3.8 turbo and, later, the supercharged 3.8, transformed a surprising variety of sow's ears into silk purses for more than a decade.
One such beneficiary was the Buick Regal--one of the first mass-production cars to ever benefit from turbocharging. It might sound surprising to modern ears, but in the dark ages of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Buick stood alongside Porsche and Saab aas one of the leading acolytes of turbocharging and helped lead the industry's wide acceptance of the technology in the 1980s. The idea of a turbocharged Buick Regal might lead to some cognitive dissonance, but at the time it was a truly innovative car.
Like a heroin addict, Buick quickly got hooked on boost and soon needed larger and larger doses to keep the thrill. The mild Buick Regal Turbo of the late 1970s turned into the hot Buick Regal T-Type, which begat the hero-car Grand National, which eventually spawned the grandaddy of them all, the most exotic Buick Regal Turbo ever, the 1987 GNX.
The Regal wasn't a great car--it was a thoroughly pleasant but average soft two-door luxury coupe with ultra-formal lines. The GNX, however, was the Regal's evil twin with a demonic cackle and plans for world domination.
 The Regal's chrome grille received blackout treatment, the car itself was painted deep black, the suspension and tire package were beefed up, and the stock powerplant was replaced by a turbocharged and intercooled V-6. That powerplant was very conservatively rated at 276 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque, and made the Regal the fastest car in the General Motors lineup. At 0-60 in less than 5 seconds, it was significantly faster than the contemporary Corvette, and in the same class as a late-1990s Corvette, or even the heroic early 1990s Corvette ZR-1.
Some conspiracy theorists have whispered that the GNX was canceled after only one year because GM didn't want the supremacy of its Corvette flagship threatened. While that's possible, the nearly-as-potent Grand National had been around for years; my opinion is the GNX was canceled because the rear-wheel-drive Regals were replaced in 1988 with the new GM10 front-wheel-drive Regal chassis. That car was not a good home for the 3.8 turbo, so that howitzer of an engine went on to star in a variety of other unexpected GM cars, most of which will eventually wind up featured in this space.
Beautiful, ominous, and ridiculously fast, the GNX was an instant oddball classic, and a car I'd love to have. Unfortunately, there were only around 500 made, so they are more collector car than muscle car now. I'd be thrilled with a Grand National, but even so it's difficult to find high-quality survivors that haven't been flogged into oblivion.
The top photo is a press photo I've seen all over the web; the second is a gorgeous photo of a GNX die-cast model by Flickr user Muscle Car Freak. Yeah, I know it's cheesy to run a photo of a model, but hey--good photos of the GNX are surprisingly hard to find. The third photo is of a Grand National lighting up its tires. I'm including it here not just because it's a good photo, but also because I'm hugely intrigued by the white station wagon in the other lane. It's the same car as my 1983 Malibu Wagon, but from what little I can see of the front, it might be the Pontiac version. I love the idea of my Malibu Wagon in a horribly one-sized drag race against a Grand National.
--Chris H. | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNK3KI3KFZZL7L1E  One of my favorite eco-friendly items is my well-used push reel mower. I began using a push reel mower in 2003 and haven't looked back. Yes, I have had small lawns, which makes it even more practical, but I love it for other reasons too. When I first started using the push reel mower, my daughter was a toddler. She was still napping and going to bed early. Before the push mower, my husband and I had to limit the loud gas mower to times when she was awake. The push mower gave us the freedom to mow at any time of day with no fear that she would wake up. But even better than that, I could mow while she played in the yard (keeping careful eye that she was a safe distance away of course). I would never have used a gas or electric mower with her in the yard because of all the debris being thrown out the side.
Now, not only can I mow with her in the yard, she begs to help me! A push mower is a good work out and I have to stand behind her to help push, but we both enjoy it. I also have fond memories of push mowers as a child. I liked the fact that they weren't scary, loud machines, but more like quiet manual yard tools. The engines in gas and electric mowers seem out of harmony with a yard to me. Anything that can scare away every living thing in sight seems antithetical to having a yard. I've never liked the fact that everything I wore when running an engine mower stunk like gas. And, last, but not least, even the newest, best gas lawn mower still pumps out pollutants like crazy. In 2007 The Daily Camera wrote:
"Traditional gas-powered lawn mowers are responsible for 5 percent of
the nation's air pollution, according to the Environmental Protection
Agency, which recently created emission regulations for small engines
like those that lawn mowers use. One gas mower running for an hour
emits the same amount of pollutants as eight new cars driving 55 mph
for the same amount of time, according to the Union of Concerned
Scientists."
So my recommendation for the day: if you have a lawn, consider getting a push reel mower. They are great exercise and much friendlier to the environment, your health, and your hearing!
- B. Norlander | | |
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Every Friday, Omnivoracious will turn the spotlight on one or more graphic novels, with future installments also including news, relevant links, and interviews. You can let me know who or what you'd like to see featured by commenting on this post.
Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa (First Second) - A rich allegory in which a man and his son embark on a journey to save their family, while haunted by three shadows. Their trip takes them to many strange places, and although the underlying symbolism is at times obscure, the emotional pay-off is definitely worth the experience.
The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation by Siku (Doubleday) - To me, there's something crazy about trying to render the Bible in graphic form to begin with, given that the rich texture of the language provides much of its power. A manga Bible seems perhaps even crazier, given the stylizations of the form. The results, though, seem much weirder than even that, which I mean as a compliment. Either the Bible was always odd or Siku has chosen to dramatize the stranger bits. I'm not sure the standard manga approach really adds anything new to the experience, but it's a worthy experiment that manga fans in general should consider checking out. Heavenshield by Ryu Blackman (Tokyopop) - I like this new manga because of the premise: "In a post-meteor age, humans and human-like reptile descendents have struck a delicate peace accord based on a dark new religion called Sancrosanct. So when a psychotic general escapes prison and plots a military coup, the government hires saucy racer girl Sepulveda Ramos and her dysfunctional crew of mercernaries" to stop him. This is pretty trippy stuff.
Tonoharu (Part 1) by Lars Martinson (Pliant Press) - Earnest and lovingly detailed, this account of a Western English teacher living and working in Japan has a quiet and telling power to it. The little details of Western-Eastern culture clash and the precision of the accompanying artwork combine to make this more than a graphic novel gloss on a topic already dealt with in nonfiction and movies. A gem of understated storytelling that belongs on any bookshelf.
A People's History of American Empire by Howard Zinn with Mike Konopacki and Paul Buhle (Metropolitan Books) - Somehow this graphic novel version of the famous left-wing history text seems much less subtle than the original. Which is to say, it's powerful but shrill, gives a voice to the voiceless but no real greater context. It was always going to be controversial, and I recommend it for giving another side of history, but this version needs to be balanced with something more, er, balanced. Still, from the standpoint of adapting a written text to an illustrated medium, the creators have done an excellent job. It may just be an example of a type of book better suited to the capabilities of text alone.
 
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNK2T42JMNKGEI2W  Dear Mr. Grissom, Please know the intent of this letter is not to diminish your storied career or sully your well deserved reputation as the premier crime scene investigator on all of TV. I am motivated by only compassion and a lasting admiration. It is in this caring spirit that I feel obliged to point out that, in my humble opinion, the quality of your work has been slipping as of late. It is not yet shoddy, but it is headed in that general direction. My friend, consider yourself fortunate, as my obligation to point out your shortcomings (what others who are less charitable may characterize as a rapid, irreparable decline in your sleuthing), is accompanied by an obligation to help you get back on track. So, I’ve painstakingly created a list of 3 items that a crime scene investigator should have at his disposable in order to get back on top;
3. Finally, I noticed that in your home lab(the Divine Comedy episode) you have the kind of desk light that I had as a sixth grader in, what used to be called, grammar school. I’m surprised, frankly, that you don’t have more self respect. Take some pride, welcome yourself into the 21st century and re-outfit your home lab with this  Aven 26503-SIV MaxiMag Magnifying Lamp, Industrial Quality, 3-diopter, 32-watt, 45" Arm, Ivory OK, my friend, we’ll start here and see how you do. I’m always at your disposal, ready to help in any way I can. Yours, --Bill B | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.armchaircommentary.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fnew-clone-wars.html&token=D36499088FAE47354BEFD9F63CDD4ACDD65BC00F  Tonight at 7:58
p.m. in all time zones, five Turner networks--Cartoon Network, TNT, TBS, CNN, and Boomerang--will debut the two-minute world-premiere trailer of the upcoming animated theatrical film Star Wars: The Clone Wars. After that, the trailer will debut in theaters on Friday, May 9, and be available online at starwars.com. Wait, the trailer is going to be on Turner networks instead of Fox? Yep, the film is going to be released by Warner Bros. and the follow-up weekly TV series will be aired on Cartoon Network, a Turner/Warner property. Somehow, a Star Wars movie without the 20th Century-Fox fanfare is not going to be the same. --David
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aldenteblog.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmothers-day-r-3.html&token=D1424991D3CEB74EB2F2CA93B156C5F3849A0E6E  Start mom’s day right with these delicious (and easy to prepare) apple-cheese combos, the recipe for which comes from Hallie Harron’s fantastic new book Cheese Hors d'Oeuvres (which would make a lovely Mother’s Day gift if your mom enjoys the cheese and likes to entertain, by the way), published by the Harvard Common Press. Oh, if the Camembert sounds a little strong for a Sunday morning or afternoon, the author says “feel free to substitute a ripe Brie if you prefer.”
Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients:
One 7- to 13-ounce round ripe Camembert cheese, at room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Golden Delicious or Gala apples, cored and chopped (no need to peel)
1 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar
Directions:
1. Cut the Camembert into 3/4-inch chunks or wedges.
2. Melt the butter over medium heat in a medium-size skillet. Add the apples and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the apples just begin to soften. Sprinkle with the sugar, cook for 1 minute longer, and remove from the heat.
3. Spear an apple slice and a piece of cheese on a toothpick and arrange on a serving platter. Or, assemble a platter with the cheese pieces and a small bowl with the apples, and toothpicks on the side. Serve warm or at room temperature.
--A.J. Rathbun | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNK4EYTL9T0WCOE This week on Amazon Wire we're talking to singer and songwriter Mark Pickerel about his music and latest CD, Cody's Dream, that released in March this year. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Mark Pickerel served as the original drummer for Screaming Trees and played for the power trio Truly. He has recorded with a host of reputed musicians, including Brandi Carlile, Neko Case, Kurt Cobain and Chris Novoselic of Nirvana. Recently, Mark Pickerel and his band--His Praying Hands--released their second studio album, Cody's Dream, on Bloodshot records. Amazon's music specialist Shelby Earl sat down to chat with Pickerel about his music and creative process. Podcast Listening Options* Stream below with Flash player * Download the podcast* Explore more podcasts Thanks for listening! Receive this and other podcasts weekly via e-mail - subscribe now. | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNK19YFWEGDUJGEG  A co-worker swung by my desk yesterday and simply stated " Tom Ballhatchet." I pulled my headphones off, stared blankly at him and said, "Huh?" (It was late morning and I was in need of more coffee.) When he followed up with " Tom Ballhatchet--look it up," I asked "Is that Work Safe?" He just laughed and said "Yeah, let me know what you think." Needless to say, I got back in to my day and didn't look it up until this morning when said same co-worker came by (this time I had coffee) and again asked about Tom Ballhatchet. This time I did look Tom up and what do I find but an ingenious, reusable TV packing system made from expanded polypropylene (EPP) that doubles as a TV stand. The packing system even has wheels to make it easier to move your TV! From his website: "Television packaging that becomes a playful TV stand once you get home.
Made from expanded polypropylene (EPP) which can be molded in a whole
range of colors and with many surface textures. The upper and lower pieces of packaging lock together to formed a
wedged TV stand, with two shelves for electrical appliances and DVDs.
The
weight of the TV is supported vertically by the four white corner
pieces, which are a softer grade EPP for cushioning the delicate
electronics. Once you have got your TV home, these corner pieces are
moved to the center where they lock in place in the slightly higher
density blue stand/box pieces. Each shelf can accommodate over 40 DVDs or a range of electrical
appliances. Holes in the rear allow power and AV cables to pass through." More. Check out the video from Mr. Ballhatchet's website below:
We love it, love it, love it.
~ Amazon Green Scene | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omnivoracious.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fobsidian-murder.html&token=D864DFAB07D538C2DC2FC10F2FE9B1AB17518BFF 
Niche mysteries are very popular these days, and the New American Library Obsidian series has just released a bevy of them out into the wild this month. From haunted bookshop mysteries like The Ghost and the Femme Fatale by Alice Kimberly (aka Cleo Coyle) to garden mysteries complete with gardening tips like Perfect Poison by Joyce and Jim Lavene (authors of Poisoned Petals), no matter what your interests in life, you can find a novel you'll enjoy.
Dance enthusiasts may want to pick up Natalie M. Roberts' Pointe and Shoot, a Jenny Patridge dance mystery, while clay crafters and crochet hobbyists may flock to The Cracked Pot by Melissa Glazer (okay, now, c'mon, Obsidian--surely that's a pseudonym?!) and Hooked on Murder by Betty Hechtman respectively. Both books include interesting tips and projects in addition to the fiction.
Finally, if you like mysteries about mysteries, Selma Eichler's Murder Can Crash Your Party, featuring Desiree Shapiro, might be just your thing. When Shapiro is invited as a speaker at a mystery writers' convention, she receives a truly bizarre proposition from a special fan: read my unpublished novel and if you can solve the mystery between the covers, I'll give you $25,000. What follows is more sinister than Shapiro could possibly expect.
All of this is light, harmless fare for readers looking for some entertainment, especially on vacation--on the plane, at the beach, while getting a pedicure. Mystery purists and lovers of brutal noir fiction need not apply. But never fear--a Ken Bruen or Tom Piccirilli novel can't be far around the corner. In the meantime, have a little fun--read a niche mystery in your particular area of interest. You might be surprised at what you find. | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chordstrike.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fthree-to-write.html&token=7F3B4661A1ABDBA9CEC199FB1EC4E72E758C726C Not that you asked, but I often identify my favorite vocal songs (barring hip-hop and opera) by how well they'd sound preceding or following Sam Cooke on a well-planned mix for a really close friend. Enter the bold, British, blonder-than-thou singer Duffy. The newcomer's debut album opens with "Mercy," a soulful sashay of a song with all the aggressive abandon of a trench-coat flasher in a moonlit public park. Mercy, indeed.
And speaking of women, they've overtaken my player of late. The most ubiquitous, hands down, is Liliana Barrios. On her new Troileana, this leggy Argentinian evokes tangos both iconic and obscure (by stateside standards). The showpiece is a pair of takes on what Barrios calls a "National Tango Hymn," but between and after these two versions of "La Última Curda (The Last Binge)," this album paints an audible equivalent to huge, sad, bedroom eyes in deliquescent sonic strokes. As essaying as it is yummy, Troileana gives The Best of Sade a run for its place as an iconic audio aphrodisiac.
Finally, a heave-ho for Hilary Hahn. On her new Deutsche Grammophon disc, the violinist makes perfectly matched bedfellows out of a concerto each by Sibelius and Schoenberg. The former (piece) is a full-blown commodity, the latter rarely sees a professional program. Together, they're a few bow-strokes short of magical. (Aside: Outside of her Grammy-winning classical prowess, the unpredictable Hahn nearly stole the show accompanying indie-singer/songwriter Tom Brosseau at Seattle's homey Tractor Tavern last year, and she moonlights with rock acts, including And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead). Here, she's an apex soloist in rare form.
What are your three most recent musical binges? ~Jason K | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.armchaircommentary.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fin-appreciation.html&token=FEE5458FA1F77846DAC0586F9B3DEFEC26A30238 As my son's daycare reminded me, we're in the middle of Teacher Appreciation Week! So I thought I'd give my educational props to the bestest teachers of all time. After all, these instructors inspired and cared--really cared. So if you're in the mood for a little teacher-appreciation marathon, may we suggest:
Sidney Poitier, To Sir With Love: The best movies in this genre are the ones where the teacher brings gravitas and elegance, even if they're the ones breaking all the rules. Since this is Sidney Poitier in a nutshell, there's no one else we'd rather learn life's lessons from.
Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society: There are some, I am told, who found this movie uninspiring. They didn't wish for a teacher like Williams' John Keating, who asks his students to carpe diem, stand on their desks and "suck the marrow out of life." They weren't moved when he got Ethan Hawke to recite poetry in class and Robert Sean Leonard to follow his dream of acting. They didn't weep when the class saluted his farewell with "O Captain, My Captain." To these some, I say, you must have hearts of stone!
Edward James Olmos, Stand and Deliver: Now you know Edward James Olmos from Battlestar Galactica, but back in 1988 he turned in his career-defining (and Oscar-nominated) performance as Jaime Escalante, a teacher in East L.A. who made math fun. 'K, maybe not fun, but got his students to excel in it. "Math is the great equalizer," he says. Wise words indeed.
 Robert Donat, Goodbye, Mr. Chips: Coming out of the golden year of cinema (1939), Robert Donat beat Clark Gable for Best Actor at the Oscars with his performance in this film, about a teacher who reflects on nearly five decades of students. That he's disliked and unpopular after he arrives only makes the poignancy that much deeper when he reflects in his old age on whether he ever made a difference.
Morgan Freeman, Lean on Me: How does a principal bring calm to a school overrun by violence and drugs? With a baseball bat of course! He's not technically a classroom teacher, but if you're looking for a more upbeat teacher movie after weeping through the last four, watch one of the most beloved actors of all time carry the whole movie on his broad, proud shoulders.
Honorable mention
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kindergarten Cop: Who else spends the entire class making his kids practice the fire drill, play "police school," and interrogate them about their fathers in case one is the drug-dealing convict he's been chasing across the country, and still gets them prepared to recite the Gettysburg Address? Only Ahnuld.
Who are your favorite movie teachers?
--Ellen | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chordstrike.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fan-80s-moment-c.html&token=82D1EC6C50C85987F0D5C3C6334059CF6E28A9C3 When I was a kid, one of my favorite movies was the Val Kilmer vehicle Real Genius--a story of college student scientists trying to create the most powerful laser known to man. It's funny, smart, exciting, and in my mind still easily Val Kilmer's finest hour. It's one of those movies I've watched over and over and over again, to the point that I could probably recite it in it's entirety. It also has one of the greatest soundtracks ever gathered for a film--a soundtrack that is quirky, awesome, and criminally unreleased.
Obsessive music dork that I am, I scrounged around everywhere to find all the songs from the movie to compile my own soundtrack. Finding tracks like Carmen McRae's fantastic version of "You Took Advantage Of Me," which opened the film, and ending credits song "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" by Tears For Fears were a piece of cake. It's the obscurities that were hard to hunt down (and usually the better songs too).
Case in point: Chaz Jankel's brilliant "Number One," a song used during one of the film's "working" montage sequences. They just don't make them like this anymore--without a hint of irony, you witness the successes and setbacks of the young geniuses as they build laser after laser, while the powerful synths of Jankel's inspirational powerhouse pound in the background, pushing them to get it right. To this day, this song is an essential workout track for me, and whenever it comes on, I get that little extra boost I need to do one more lap. While this track is great for that practical purpose, it is also absolutely essential listening for any '80s fan, especially those who enjoyed the film.
I've come to find that there were a lot of great soundtracks in the decade of leg warmers and puff paint shirts. I've since become a bit of an '80s soundtrack nut, and am always on the hunt for some gem I've yet to discover. Help me out--what are some of your favorite '80s soundtracks?
~Alan Wiley
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/post/PLNK2PRDFE84ZLU59  Image Source: Richard Masoner on FlickrFound this " 6 Stupidly Simple Steps to Saving Billions of Gallons of Gas" article by Hank Green on ecogeek.org, a good destination for all you green guys and gals who want to geek out on green tech. Some excerpts: "1. Lose Some Weight - 900 M Gallons of Gas
Americans weigh about 24 more pounds per person than we did in the
1970s. That weight, when we're driving, has to be moved around with our
cars. Multiplied over the three trillion miles driven in America each
year, suddenly we need a lot of gas to move around our extra chub. 2. Intelligent Traffic Lights - 1000 M Gallons of Gas
Studies have shown
that altering traffic lights to ensure maximum flow can reduce gasoline
consumption in cities by between 10% and 20%. Already, lots of places
have traffic light systems that use sensors to detect whether or not
there are cars in certain lanes and when and how often to change
lights. 6. Increase Mileage to 35 MPG - 55,000 M Gallons of Gas by 2015
This needs to be said. The current average fuel economy of an American
car is 22 mpg. It would be lower if there was no law in place requiring
that efficiency. The auto industry has been fighting any increase in
that number for decades." More. And while your mind is on gas, check out our Green Auto page. ~ Amazon Green Scene | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-7581568-9525222?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aldenteblog.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmothers-day-r-2.html&token=469AAB73AE49B63973B66B53AF4CF71C4DDB4460  All of these lovely food recipes in honor of mom are delightful (and making me hungry throughout the work day), but we know that what mom wants is a nice, refreshing drink made just for her. I suggest a Pimm’s Cup, especially if the part-of-the-country your mom lives in has started to hit those higher late spring temperatures, because it’s such a swell cool down. I also suggest it because it’s a drink my mom’s really fond of, and one she introduced me to when we were visiting the United Kingdom when I was 14 (which means that it really started me on my love of cocktails and highballs and other beverages in their family).
Ingredients:
Ice cubes
2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1 Cup (“made to James Pimm’s original recipe, a closely guarded secret known only to 6 people”).
Chilled ginger ale
Cucumber slice for garnish
Directions:
1. Fill a large Collins glass three quarters up with ice cubes. Add the Pimm’s No. 1 Cup.
2. Top the glass off with ginger ale. Garnish with the cucumber slice.
A Note: Pimm’s is a gin-based, slight fruity, liqueur that’s readily available in liquor stores and online.
--A.J. Rathbun | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-2506198-1347664?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omnivoracious.com%2F2008%2F05%2Ffriday-night--1.html&token=B8B689126FEA59009227B495194AEDFDE25F2877 Welcome once again to Friday Night Videos, where we aim to give you the kind of match-ups you deserve for hanging out here on the weekend. Tonight, in honor of his guest posting right here at Omnivoracious, it's James Frey talking about his new book Bright Shiny Morning (May 13) versus Chelsea Handler talking about Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, which just hit the NYT bestseller list. Frey you already know about from his posts. Handler, who has a show on E! every weeknight at 11:30, is a little newer to the spotlight, but very talented. She's got incredible comic timing and has a great blend of irreverent, self-deprecating humor and biting satire. The Q&A from a bookstore gig displays her sharp wit and her quick-thinking approach to comedy. (More videos here.)
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-2506198-1347664?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aldenteblog.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fmothers-day-r-4.html&token=DB1158FD3C7B58B124BF6D9FC1BC93A0F2942CB4 I don't really know why this recipe is called Orange Bread Barbados, except maybe that it's so zingy and fresh it makes you feel like you're on a tropical isle. What I do know is that this is a tried-and-true recipe of my mom's, and a can't-miss component of a winning Mother's Day brunch. The bread smells divine while baking, and comes out as a dense, buttery, citrusy tea cake, perfect slathered with butter. Extra bread (if you have any!) is terrific toasted for breakfast or a quick snack. Enjoy!
Orange Bread Barbados
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup orange juice
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. Warm orange juice to room temperature or above (this will keep the butter from resolidifying). Whisk in butter, then egg and zest.
3. Fold wet ingredients into dry. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 30 minutes, until set and golden brown around the edges.
Makes 1 loaf.
--KitchenMaus | | |
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html/ref=exblog/105-2506198-1347664?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carlustblog.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fcar-lust--porsc.html&token=C4B3BE58C558011DA817C05CFB7001EC51C8F343 It is inconceivable to me that the Porsche 928 doesn't have a more glorious reputation than it does. What was one of the all-time great cars of the 1980s (with some spillover from the 1970s and into the 1990s) is remarkably often regarded as a bloated, fat, ugly failure of a car, somehow barely worthy of the Porsche name.
Bah! The 928 was a fantastic car that helped define the sports GT category, marrying supercar performance with comfort and everyday practicality. The 928 had such an embarrassment of ability that it captured the imagination. Considering the standard of its time, it had incredible top speed and high-speed cruising ability; married to its relaxed nature and natural comfort, that made the 928 the perfect choice for bombing along the Autostrada at triple-digit speeds while listening to Chopin, or for compressing a trans-Montana drive from five hours into three. Think of it as an executive Lear Jet for the road. Porsche purists, conditioned to rear air-cooled engines, never seemed to warm up to the 928; its water-cooled V-8, front-engined configuration, and relaxed athleticism made it an anethema. What they never seem to remember is that while the 911 was unique for its ability to make an outdated formula work, the 928 was unique for being dramatically ahead of its time. In many ways, the 928 provided similar performance without the 911's hard-edged compromises. The 928 offered one of the first truly modern high-performance V-8s in the late 1970s and, by the end of its run in the early 1990s, the 928 S4 was one of the fastest cars on the road. All this and a hatchback to boot!
The 928 doesn't have a great reliability record, and parts are expensive. Plus, its bloated styling came in for some abuse; some uncharitable folks compared the 928 to a bar of soap left in the shower too long. It should come as no surprise that I find the 928 unique and beautiful--its zaftig lines are aggressive without looking like every other car on the road, and the laid-down headlights give the car a unique personality it would not otherwise have had.
The 928 continued to get faster and more refined through its life, but from a stricly aesthetic perspective, I think the early 928s are the prettiest. Later in the car's life, Porsche seemed to try to flatten and sculpt the 928's characteristic soft curves, and for me that goes counter to the car's basic appeal.
But early or late, I'd proudly drive a 928, and to heck with the people who just don't get it. The amazing thing is that older 928s are remarkably affordable for what they are--thanks no doubt to the lack of public respect for the car and their evil reliability reputation.
All of these fantastic photos came from Flickr. The first two came from user Gwagenrally, the third from aMT, and the gorgeous moon shot from joscii.
The video is an original Porsche marketing video for the 928 S4, with typical 1980s marketing flair. A few of my favorite moments:
- I love the unsubtle elitism at play in this video. "Since good taste and exlusiveness have always had a cosmopolitan flair, Porsche's sucess is international. ... the car is an expression of exclusiveness and individuality." The car is later pictured driving at about 20 mph into a mansion's driveway. Way to play up the car's capabilities, guys.
- The Amiga-era computer graphics--especially the slow-motion animation of the combustion cycle that kicks off around the 3:30 mark--is just fantastic. You know that cost Porsche a pretty penny.
- There's a truly puzzling sequence that begins at 4:21; a guitarist and flamenco dancers take center stage and begin a musical number, with only an occasional shot of the car behind the dancers. There's no narration, no context, and no focus on the car. It lasts 30 increasingly confusing seconds and is completely inexplicable.
- That's immediately followed by an equally long dissertation on the history of Spain--the country where "all roads lead to the sun. ... The hardships of travel even in recent times, and the comforts one enjoys in a Porsche 928 S4 are worlds apart. A simple comparison of costs and time spent on the road would probably help even a time traveler to choose the century in which to visit Spain."
Um, yeah. Not enough car companies use that kind of language today to sell their cars.
- At the very end, after waxing eloquent about Spain and the safety and comfort of the 928 S4 (no comment on its performance), the narrator concludes, with a significant tone of voice, the non sequitor "Driving in its purest form knows no bounds."
Not only is that maddeningly vague, but it's also completely out of character with everything else in the video. I imagine some enterprising copy writer came up with the line, and the marketing team liked it so much that they threw it in as the final line even though it didn't really fit.
--Chris H. | | |
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