lacpunker

Opening night of The Tsarina’s Slippers at the Royal Opera...

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:39:42 -0500

Opening night of The Tsarina’s Slippers at the Royal Opera House

Tower Bridge

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:33:16 -0500

Tower Bridge

Now that I think about it, it was just about this time last year...

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:15:00 -0500

Now that I think about it, it was just about this time last year that this photo was taken.

I miss the acacia trees. And I miss my tire tread sandals.

The Hadza — National Geographic Magazine National...

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:59:30 -0500

The Hadza — National Geographic Magazine

National Geographic’s feature article this month is on the Hadza, a people of Northern Tanzania. I had the good fortune to be able to spend a day with a group of Hadza in the bush and go hunting with them. One of the most amazing experiences I’ll have in my life. The blood-stained bow and arrows sit in a corner in my apartment and collect dust and remind me. The Hadza are the real thing.

• sonic fabric • A textile woven from recycled audio cassette...

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:24:19 -0500

• sonic fabric •

A textile woven from recycled audio cassette tape.

"In the [Choose Your Own Adventure book], your concord flight is interrupted when you are beamed..."

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:48:00 -0500

“In the [Choose Your Own Adventure book], your concord flight is interrupted when you are beamed aboard a nearby spacecraft trolling the universe for intelligent life. Once aboard you discover your new captors, the U-TY, are interested in keeping you around only to the extent that you can help them find Ultima, the ‘planet of paradise’. The planet’s location is cloaked in mystery and you are only told that it’s a place that cannot be reached ‘by making a choice or following directions’. However this is all foreshadowing for when the reader finally becomes frustrated in the apparently impossible quest and begins flipping through the book hunting for that ending. In fact not choosing is the only way to reach Ultima…. You have found the planet, not by following the constraints of the system, but by going outside of them – a fitting moral to the story and an encouraging reminder that any game should be a starting point for the imagination, not the end.”

- http://samizdat.cc/cyoa/

The ultimate choose your own adventure.

(If you’re feeling nostalgic, you can play: “Zork: The Cavern of Doom”. Not to worry; it’s not the book referenced above.)

My Big List of Things I'm Going to Eat When I'm Back in the U.S.

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:38:00 -0500

ants on a log (celery + peanut butter + raisins)
whole wheat bread
cinnamon raisin swirl bread
hummous
brown sugar cookies (from Ms. Bright’s recipe)
soy yogurt
butternut squash soup
hot apple cider

Thinking about these foods right now makes me very happy.

Armistice Day: Remembering the Lafayette Escadrille Today is...

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:39:00 -0500

Armistice Day: Remembering the Lafayette Escadrille

Today is Armistice Day in France. It commemorates the signing of the armistice between the Allied Powers and Germany, ending the war on the Western Front during World War I.

Every Armistice Day, there’s a Franco-American ceremony held at the Memorial for the Lafayette Escadrille. The Lafayette Escadrille was the storied squadron of American fighter pilots who voluntarily joined the French Air Service prior to the US’s entry into the war. They were depicted in film most recently, in 2006, in the movie “Flyboys”, and prior to that in 1958, in “Lafayette Escadrille” starring a young Clint Eastwood.

I went to the ceremony this morning. During the speeches, old French men took off their caps and wiped tears from their eyes, and then there was a procession into the crypt, where French and American children placed roses on the tomb of each soldier buried beneath the memorial. I felt honored to be there.

Also, the stained glass windows that dot the crypt are amazing. I took a photo of each one. (Click on the photo above for more photos.)

Inspiring Celestial Suspension Lights By Bastien Carre |...

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:11:41 -0500

Inspiring Celestial Suspension Lights By Bastien Carre | Apartment Therapy Unplugged

The grown-up version of glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars? Someday, LED constellations will grace my ceiling. These ones are very elegantly done.

"If you decide you want to push a dump truck out of a window, this is the place to do it."

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:26:52 -0500

““If you decide you want to push a dump truck out of a window, this is the place to do it.””

- How Do You Put the Dump Into Dump Truck? Push It Off the Fourth Floor - WSJ.com

That might be one of the best descriptions of Detroit that I’ve ever heard.

The link above includes video of the aforementioned dump truck being pushed off the fourth floor of the Packard Plant. I know the Packard Plant well; it was just down the street from my dad’s office building, which is an abandoned building itself these days.

Revolver - Get Around Town

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:26:21 -0500

Revolver - Get Around Town

Tonight, I went to the opening night of Salomé at the Opera...

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:39:57 -0500

Tonight, I went to the opening night of Salomé at the Opera Bastille.

Afternoon spent writing postcards.

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:54:00 -0500

Afternoon spent writing postcards.

New Favorite Joke

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:38:10 -0500

Why did the ghost go into the bar?

For the boos!

(Thanks, Christa.)

Place de la Concorde (via lacpunker) More photos here.

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:04:00 -0400

Place de la Concorde (via lacpunker)

More photos here.

Vroom vroom

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:19:50 -0400

My baby brother’s going to drive from London to Mongolia this summer. In a used Michigan state trooper car.

Here’s their facebook group if you want to keep apprised of their planning or wish them luck. And if you feel so inclined, please support their fund-raising efforts for Mercy Corps.

Le Grand Tour d’Angkor Heritage Watch and Mouth to Source...

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:50:40 -0400

Le Grand Tour d’Angkor

Heritage Watch and Mouth to Source have created a map of the Angkor Archaeological Park with 360-degree photographic views. It’s pretty darn cool. For those unfamiliar with Angkor, check out: Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm, or the Bayon. (Note: ‘control’ zooms out.)

Kodama Gentarō - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Today, I...

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:09:00 -0400

Kodama Gentarō - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Today, I bought an original stereoscopic photo of this man, a famed Japanese General in the Russo-Japanese War, taken in 1904, two years before he died. In the photo, he is standing next to General Terauchi, the Japanese Minister of War at the time (who went on to become the Prime Minister of Japan several years later).

I spent today searching the Clingancourt Flea Market for stereoscope slides, and found some truly extraordinary ones. My favorite one that I bought today is this one, of which another version exists in the State Library of Victoria. It’s of the deck of H.M. Battleship Revolution, assembled with the rest of the British fleet for the Coronation Naval Review. (It doesn’t look it in that image, but the photo is very high quality, excellent condition with incredible detail— you can see all sorts of details on the boats in the distance, even.)

My other favorites that I bought today are a series of Prince Henry of Prussia’s visit to the White House on February 4, 1902. In one, he is sitting in his carriage and facing the camera (and wearing a ridiculous hat, I might add), and another shows the highly adorned state dinner (complete with a 45-star flag).

Those are just a few highlights. In all, I bought 24 slides today. I can’t wait to take a look at them through the stereoscope when I get back to the US.

Two Countries, Three Maps - China Real Time Report - WSJ

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:08:39 -0400

Two Countries, Three Maps - China Real Time Report - WSJ:

Google’s approach to disputed borders.

Truly Terrifying Fashion Accessories: Reid Peppard’s...

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:27:53 -0400

Truly Terrifying Fashion Accessories: Reid Peppard’s Rodent Taxidermy Jewelry - Los Angeles Art - Style Council

I think these are fantastic. Creepy and morbid, but also fantastic.