Best of 2005.... (1)

- best invention (adapted without permission from the Washington Post) -
Spanish designer Pep Torres developed the "your turn" washing machine, which helps frustrated couples where only one partner does all the clothes washing. Owners register their fingerprints and the machine will only function if the same set of prints are not used twice in a row.(BBC News, May 1). What happens when one partner is on vacation? Or if the couple gets a divorce?

US "spy court" judge quits

Read the original story in the Washington Post if you are subscribed or a poorer version on CNN.

Why is it that everything Bush says is predictable, especially related to his administration's latest scandal? The issue is not about spying on Americans per se, it's about doing it without the checks and balances on the executive. See Daniel Benjamin's piece in Slate for a perspective on this issue.

yummy holiday food 1

Living in a country obsessed with Good food (as opposed to Any food), I am blessed with the ability to partake in the enjoyment of said foods. I am not a vegetarian, nor lactose intolerant, nor concerned about animal's rights in the food production industry. Well, to some extent. Foie gras poses the most difficult conundrum for me. I LOVE the stuff. Seriously, it is so good that I can not imagine a holiday season without it. But I do pity the geese and duck which live in horrendous conditions to provide this feast on my plate. I guess I'll just have to drink more champagne to absolve myself. I am not a cruel person, but foie gras is sooooooo delectable.

The treatment of the animals was the subject of a recent debate in the French Senate. The conclusion was that "Le foie gras fait partie du patrimoine culturel et gastronomique protégé en France." Another example of the exception culturelle en France.

Christmas lights

- Les Galeries Lafayette et le Printemps boulveard Haussmann exposent leurs vitrines de noël depuis le 4 novembre. Malgré un nombre supérieur d'animations de la vie d'une princesse, les GL perdent le match cette année. Le Printemps, sur le thème anglais, animent ses vitrines avec des peluches très British.



- Aux US, les maisons individuelles dans les banlieues ou à la campagne ont l'habitude de décorer leurs maisons avec des gigantesques statues sur leur pelouse ou avec des lumières qui adornent leur toit, fenêtres, etc. The left hand column of this website has a great list of excessive displays.


- Voici un exemple inouï (de l'année dernière avec plus de 16000 ampoules) de la maison de la famille Carson à Mason, près de Cincinnati, Ohio. Ne ratez pas vidéo 1 et vidéo 2!


La famille Carson devant leurs illuminations de cette année

- L'hôtel de ville de Philadelphie décoré pour les fêtes

- Longwood Gardens dans la banlieue de Philadelphie

stealing off other blogs for humour...

i am being lazy in not thinking of my own humourous topic (although that guy in the metro drooling while AWAKE could be the subject of one). so i will share this one. There's no sound, so don't be shy and wait till you get home to read it.

Face implant story

In May, a 38-year old woman was attacked by her labrador-mix dog, while she was alseep or drugged out on tranquiliers (suicide undetermined) and stepped on the dog. After losing part of her nose, chin and mouth, she tried to lead a regular life but was frustrated with being teased and taunted despite the surgical mask that covered her scars. She followed the regular advisory path for transplant patients (ie psychological testing, information, future health concerns) before French doctors to perform the world's first partial face transplant in late November. The patient appears to be recovering well. Yet, critics, including the National Consultative Ethics Committee (Comité consultatif national d’éthique - CCNE) and doctors working on the technique, believe that the surgery was premature for both medical and psychological reasons and should not have been conducted. The ethics committee had rejected a full facial transplant but left open the option of a partial transplant.

Another media ball game is in play. Doctors tried to keep her identity unknown but the British and French press revealed photos from before, during and after the operation.

A few takes:
- NPR
- NYT "Ethical Concerns on Face Transplant Grow"
- Apparently reports that the donor (who had to have the face removed before she was taken off ventilators) was brain dead because she tried to hang herself might not be true.
- Dr. Dubernard - also a French member of parliament - defends his team's stance.

On a personal note: I find that the dog part of the story seems flaky. Labs are supposed to be the sweetest dogs - maybe it was mixed with a Belgian shepherd? Can people stop making fun of the fact that I am afraid of chihuahuas? The dog was put to sleep and, apparently, the woman bought a smaller dog.

For bébémoche

ID the NYT columist...

Fun little quiz here.

Found it while looking for a NYT password to read the op-eds. I can't seem to bother people directly for one. Feel free to send one along...

NO update

Death of an American City

I missed the 100 day post-Katrina mark by a few days.

Here's a non-times select op-ed contribution by a person I respect: 7 December 2005.

cynicism

maybe this is how a good blog works (or at least gets read more often)...
i (along with many others) receive an email from a friend:

If you're receiving this e-mail it's because I miss you deeply. That or I need a favor, right?

Okay, you got me. My friend Dave and I just started a blog and we need lots of visitors and feedback. We'd love it if you visited: theapollocreed.blogspot.com

Let us know what you think of the site. Give us story ideas and tell us if you'd like to contribute. We're looking for more writers!!!

Google video excludes France

So a friend of a friend blogger has this link which I will now obsessively want to see. http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=hung+up cannot be viewed in France and they really appreciate my patience.

Attack of the kitchen sponge in mid-town

Fruitcake #1 present

Adding to Bebemoche's entry on fruitcakes, I declare that the fruitcake is the number 1 Christmas present this year offered by people from the South. My father, a former Texan, has been a faithful fruitcake purchaser for his siblings for 15 years running. The Collins DeLuxe (sic) Fruitcake from Corsicana, TX. is world-famous thanks to him - it has been shipped all over the world to follow my aunt's moving cycles.

Bangalore - brasserie capital of the world

Bangalore, India is a hip, happening city according to latest news reports. Religion, hard work and beer guzzling define the average Bangalore inhabitant. Women wear a veil, but also spend their weekend nights in libation overload. Hotel rooms are amongst the most expensive in the world and $80 will get you a mosquito-blood-stained wall cubicle.