Amusing from the streets of Paris. This guerrilla artist replaces advertising with classical art. Thank god there are still people that reject the corporate materialism that we are forced to consume.
My Favorite Zen koans :)
I love these two especially:
Keichu, the great Zen teacher of the Meiji era, was the head of Tofuku, a cathedral in Kyoto. One day the governor of Kyoto called upon him for the first time.
His attendant presented the card of the governor, which read: Kitagaki, Governor of Kyoto.
“I have no business with such a fellow,” said Keichu to his attendant. “Tell him to get out of here.”
The attendant carried the card back with apologies. “That was my error,” said the governor, and with a pencil he scratched out the words Governor of Kyoto. “Ask your teacher again.”
“Oh, is that Kitagaki?” exclaimed the teacher when he saw the card. “I want to see that fellow.”
And my other favorite:
A Zen student came to Bankei and complained: “Master, I have an ungovernable temper. How can I cure it?”
“You have something very strange,” replied Bankei. “Let me see what you have.”
“Just now I cannot show it to you,” replied the other.
“When can you show it to me?” asked Bankei.
“It arises unexpectedly,” replied the student.
“Then,” concluded Bankei, “it must not be your own true nature. If it were, you could show it to me at any time. When you were born you did not have it, and your parents did not give it to you. Think that over.”
Engrenages saison 4
So after binge watching the amazing third season after yoga on Sunday, I was told that a fourth season had also already aired.
I’m watching episode 1 now. Looks like Breaking Bad season 2 is on hold. 🙂
Moveable images. Impressive technique!
Wow. Check this out.
I’m guessing that it is using artificial cameras (After Effects?), layer selections, and blending techniques in Photoshop (Smudge/warp tool?) on amazing works of classical western art to create an affective moment of beauty. Impressive enough to watch twice.
More binge watching, Danish style
I just finished season 1 of Borgen. I really enjoyed the French series Engrenages and this was recommended as another foreign language gem.
Essentially the Danish version of The West Wing, this one hour drama is some damn good tv! There are three seasons and I just got back from hot yoga and may just start the second season and stay on my couch. The weather outside is truly frightful: slippery and wet, trending toward freezing rain.
Violation of Spatial Integrity
I love media. All sorts of media. So nothing pisses me off more than crappy stories, shitty characters, poor production, or crappy editing. I vowed that I would seriously reduce my watching of crap, even if that means I am a late-adopter of a great movie or two. I do like to watch B movies, amateur films, documentaries, whatever. As long as there is a story or a character or even the way it is shot strikes me as novel, I will consume it. One of the things that I would love to have more time to do is to deconstruct my favorite movies and narrate their goodness. This guy has done an excellent job of the opposite: deconstructing a shitty scene. In this case the chase scene from Batman: The Dark Knight. This scene probably bugs you as much as it does me but here is shot-by-shot narrative as to why.
Margaret MacMillan: The War That Ended the Peace
Margaret MacMillan, arguably Canada’s pre-eminent historian (who teaches at Oxford), has recently released another grand narrative concerning the First World War. Her earlier work, 1919, combined a fascinating subject with solid archival work and a really great narrative style: the trifecta for the historian.
The War that Ended the Peace re-casts the traditional narrative of World War 1 from the “War to End All Wars” to the title of her latest work, an end to peace. Many historians see the period from 1914-1945 as a second Thirty Years War, but on a grander scale. If this is so, how could Europe have gone nearly a century without war (the revolutionary activities of the 1848 period notwithstanding) and then careen into three decades of war? Starting with the World’s Fair in Paris in 1900, MacMillan traces the lines that would lead to war a decade later. MacMillan weaves together stories of changing technology, national prejudices, cynicism, brilliance and stupidity that would hurl Europe toward destruction and herald the emergence of new Powers. MacMillan takes a traditional Canadian approach recognizing that the diplomatic peace that was established early in the 19th century allowed economic development but that this was precarious and not inevitable. Peace meant continuous State management. Negotiations and discussions were they key to managing the Balance of Powers. The “balance” was artificial. Progress was not inevitable. The peace that allowed for the economic and material growth in Europe necessitated cool heads willing to negotiate and practice Power Politics. This was what was lost along the way, MacMillan argues.
More here.
Canada Post: Why Canada needs Postal Banking
In all the huzzah over the holidays, I forgot to post this link from the CCPA on why introducing a banking feature to Canada Post would save the institution, provide a cheaper alternative to the major banks, and contribute profits to the Public Purse.
Meaning that it is the best possible alternative that will be summarily dismissed since it runs counter to the political imperative to privatize Canada Post.
Merry Christmas!
Sherlock is back 🙂
Early Christmas Dinner :)
I have been really busy, hence the lack of posts.
The snow has fallen! It really looks like Christmas now! I cannot wait to grab some photos!
I had a fantastic time over at T&Ks last night! We had an early Christmas dinner with Darren, Katie and family, and another friend in from Toronto (who totally lucked out on his choice of days to visit T&Ks!!)
we started in the early afternoon… see photos below… and early apologies for the shaky iphone images… ill blame the wine 🙂
Marion made a hearty soup made from roasted winter squash with almonds and sunflower seeds.
That was for us while we prepared for dinner!
The starter was a warm beet salad on baby arugula and toasted almonds. Beets were, as usual, a pain to cook and Tristan’s idea of a pressure cooker is on point for next time.
I decided to cook a Beef Bourguignon. Go big or go home.
That’s right. I channeled my inner Julia Child and downloaded a few recipes and watched some videos. I made a point of reviewing the stages and planned out each step. It paid off!
I got 5 pounds of beef from the butcher and asked him about the salted pork needed. He called in the back for his grandmother who happily explained the process and key points of perfect Beef Bourguignon and sauce. It pays to be nice and ask questions!
Anyways, on to the photos!
This is the three of us busy in the kitchen. We had christmas carols playing and wine flowing. The snow was already beginning in the early afternoon so it was nice to be inside!
Yup. That was the hunk of beef prior to Tristan’s samurai skills with possibly the sharpest knives ever.
#Best.Bacon.Ever.
and then the diced beef was added to cook in the bacon grease (and butter) …. yeah…. my friend RP was probably pleased with how healthy my cooking was last night 🙂
That is me hard at work!
Tristan and Marion starting on the desert (I did take some of that home!). Amazing!
And in went the meat. That process itself took almost 25 minutes to cook the beef sections in multiple rounds, carefull not to crowd the meat!!
Oh… thats the soup that we had during the prep!
Then the cook down with the wine and the carrots. Pearl onions. Several hours of cooking. Beef Bourguignon, complete:)
I had a fantastic night! It was really great to cook with my friends and laugh while eating WAY too much. Merry (early) Christmas!
Ho Ho Ho!
