Short Note: Studio Ghibli

Today I have accomplished many things, but it's already 9:41pm and I haven't published a blog post.  Because one of the things I accomplished today was finishing volume five of Girl Genius online, I will keep this post short so I can go and read volume six (which I was pleasantly surprised was in the library).

I was going to tell you all about the dvds I (FINALLY) received from Amazon UK on Friday, but I haven't finished all three of the Sinbad movies I was going to talk about, only two of them.  So instead I will give you this link, and hope that you are as excited about anything Studio Ghibli as I am.  I love their movies, there's something in them that (even though Ghibli movies seem a lot more grown up) Disney almost had when I was a kid, but is totally lost now.  Don't get me started on Disney and their focus on graphics and merchandise over story...  Anyway, as the author of the post says, it makes me sad to think that we could have had another mystical adventure movie from Studio Ghibli, but perhaps if this one were finished, we would have missed out on Nausicaa instead.

Links of the Week - August 6

Craft:  A Boy's Best Friend...  at Feeling Stitchy

The moment I read the title of this post I thought of the song "A Boy's Best Friend" By the White Stripes, for which the last line is "A boy's best friend is his mother or whatever has become his pet".  That's not what this embroidery is about, but I'll have that song playing in my head whenever I think of Hitchcock for a while now, I'm sure.

Steampunk:  Mad Hatter's Tea Party at Geek Crafts

Usually steampunk is very...  punky.  But this is beautiful whether you're into steampunk or not.  And I am.  So it's extra beautiful.

Science:  Facial Recognition at Io9

Yes, I have sneakily popped two links into this one entry.  The first is all about how facial recognition software could allow facebook to invade your privacy even more (or allow people to use facebook to invade your privacy themselves) and the second is about a neat phenomena that means that we don't process oddities about faces when they're upside down.  Both are interesting to me, despite my having studied this stuff for my masters.

Recipe:  Sugar Plum Crepes with Ricotta and Honey at Smitten Kitchen

Does anyone need any convincing to go and check this out?  No?  Good, I will tell you a little* story instead then.  We had an amazing plum tree at our old house.  Every year about Christmastime we would have a glut of plums, they would be tart when not quite ripe, then sweet when ripe, then rich when a little overripe, but edible at all three stages.  When we moved, we thought it would be okay not to take a cutting or any plum stones because my uncle (the one with the puppies) had lots of little baby plum trees on his farm that we'd given him, and he'd just dig one up for us.  No luck - he lost them (it's a farm, it's big!).  But I bumped into our old neighbours recently and they say the plum tree is still there, and the new owner is lovely - she'd be happy to have me call to collect a few plums to grow a new tree from.  So there is hope!

Art/Webcomics:  The Final Episode of FREAKANGELS at FREAKANGELS.com

I can't read it.  I just can't.  It can't be over.  I hate Warren Ellis.  I love Warren Ellis.  Waaaaahh.

 Art:  Keep Calm and Carry On...

(Wait, what?  That's not right...)

*Since when have I ever told a little story?

Links of the Week VI

Because a picture's worth a thousand words, I'm adding one extra link to the Links of the Week from now on:  Image of the week.  :-)

Maths:  Champernowne's Constant at Io9

This is a really short article, and easy to understand, so don't be put off by the title!  This simple number confused early computers.  I think it's awesome when people fool computers, therefore, this constant is awesome.

Music:  Robbie Williams Flashes Crowd at TVNZ news

Yes, I know I'm juvenile, but this made me laugh.  Robbie is such a dood.

Marine Biology:  Penguins and Populations at TV3 and TVNZ news

I wish I could go visit the penguin, I mean from a distance, obviously, but how cool would it be!?  And then a very sad story about the fate of the ocean's biodiversity.  It makes me really mad to think that the people in political and corporate power care more about money than about the future of...  Sorry, I won't start a lecture.  I couldn't even finish the article without getting really mad, so if you feel strongly about this too, you are warned; but this might cheer you up a bit.

Inspiration:  Quote from Mae Jemison at No Country for Young Women

I love the pearls of wisdom that come from people who were the first to do something or invented something.  I think this quote is something we all must keep in mind when we listen to the wisdom of others, to "reevaluate the world for [ourselves]".

Fabulous Fashion:  Red Shoes at Kris' blog

Kris used to work with my Mum and she's awesome.  This is an example of why.  Her blog mostly talks about plays that she's been to, but this month she's posting at least once a day for a challenge, so her posts have varied to awesomeness like this.

Steampunk:  Monsters of the Sky at Steampunkr

Links of the Week IV

Geology Porn:  (Part of) White Terraces Found at New Zealand Herald and Stuff.co.nz

When they found some of the Pink Terraces in February I was so happy I almost cried.  For some reason they have always fascinated me, and I couldn't believe that in my life time they may be visible again.  Now they've found part of the White Terraces and the story just gets cooler!  There are awesome pictures of the Pink Terraces and even a video.

'80s Geekery:  Behind the Scenes at Ghostbusters at Io9

I love Ghostbusters.  I love both of the movies, but because the second movie was on (what felt like) every school holidays from when I was 8 until I was 14, I go against the gran and prefer it to the first.  Don't get me wrong, I can't think of anything cooler than a huge exploding marshmallow man raining sticky yummy evil from the sky...  Except Lady Liberty blasting uplifting music while walking through the streets.  Anyway, this article has some behind the scenes videos, including one of the actress who plays Slimer practicing the scene in the bus.  More of the videos can be found at the special effects guy's youtube channel.

Food Psychology:  Lie to Yourself at Io9

Io9 is on the ball this week.  This article shows that lying to yourself can help you control the amount and type of food you eat.  So, take the calorie count on food and mentally add a hundred calories and you wont feel compelled to eat more.

New Zealand Blog:  Food NZ

I've decided to seek out New Zealand blogs to see who else is out there!  This is easier said than done because the way I have found interesting blogs is through other blogs...  And they're all American.  So I was so excited when I found the Lovely Blogs website all about New Zealanders blogging.  Many of the links no longer work (not all that surprising as the last post on Lovely Blogs is from 2008), but this one does and it looks really cool.  I mean, what blog could be uncool when there's a little love letter to a Trumpet (icecream, not instrument) on the front page?

Links:  Misc. at Not Martha

Not Martha's blog is about everything I love.  Craft, DIY, cooking, photography (I'm getting there...  Just need a camera!), and links.  This week's include book recommendations, and how life can be made more like games, and more.

Links of the Week II

This week I found six links, but two are almost on the same topic, so it's not really cheating...  Really.

Craft:  Scientifically Accurate Trilobite Sampler

I had never thought of trilobites as a subject for needlepoint before seeing reference to this post on geekcrafts, but they are going on my list of things to do (after the embroidery, longstitch, another three canvases, knitting, crocheting...  I really have to finish something soon, or I'm going to go crazy!).

The Rapture:  10 Recent End-Time Predictions that Didn't Come True (D'uh)

Well, even with all of the confusion of the exact time the world was going to end on Saturday, by now I think it's safe to say it didn't.  But that crackpot guy who made the prediction shouldn't feel too bad, he's not the only one who got it hilariously wrong.

Literature:  And the Nebulas Go To...

The Nebula awards have been announced and it's time for every science fiction fan to add to their 'must read' list.

Game:  Bloxors at Miniclip

There are so many addictive little games on the internet.  This is one of them!  I just refound the game, and can't remember where I got up to...  I'm going to have fun figuring that out.

Archaeology:  Robots and NASA help us find out more about Ancient Egypt!

A robot with a 'micro snake' camera has been sent up one of the shafts inside the Great Pyramid to look past the door that stopped the last robot in 1993 (I remember how excited I was then!), and have found hieroglyphics that might help us figure out why the odd shafts were built.  And, with one mystery possibly solved, another (up to) 17 pyramids and even more tombs and other buildings have been rediscovered by a NASA satellite.  I hope they keep them buried, at least until we learn to bloody look after stuff!  BTW, Zahi Hawass is awesome!

Links of the Week

I go to so many brilliant websites in the course of my internet ambling, so, in order to educate you all on the brilliantness out there, I am going to sum up my week with five great links (this is for last week because I only decided to do this yesterday)!

Recipe:  Mughli Chicken, Nigella Lawson

I've been wanting to try this for ages, and finally did this week.  We omitted a few things (namely cream and slivered almonds) but found it a lovely mild but flavourful curry that I think I could eat at least once a week.  We are huge fans of sultanas in savory food, so this really hit the spot!

Craft:   Carry Me With You, Jenny Hart

This is so pretty, I think someone's going to get these for Christmas...  Just don't know who yet!

Competition:  Not Martha

Not Martha is celebrating her blog's birthday month with a new prize every weekday!  Go win you some swag!

Spoiler:  The Plot of Monsters Inc 2, Io9

Monsters Inc is my favourite animated movie, hands down.  I went through a phase of watching it at least once a week for a few months.  I like Nemo, I like Toy Story, but Monsters Inc is my absolute favourite.  I am nervous for the sequel because sequels are usually not at good as the original, but I'm willing to give it a chance!

Geek (craft):  Trilobite Friday Roundup

Who knew how many gorgeous things you could make with trilobites as your inspiration?  I'm currently downloading the free patterns from the first one!