Pass the Mushrooms Please

Plastic People

2011-06-09T07:18:00.004-04:00

New job.
No more haikus.
A haikuless job.

Dolly Alter Ego

2011-02-07T15:53:00.002-05:00

Hataraki Man Haircut

2011-02-07T08:37:00.007-05:00

As you can tell, I'm in need of a haircut...

After having obsessively watched Hataraki Man (10 episodes, one week), I now have a serious crush on Kanno Miho, and I want her hair. Good? Bad?

Mango!

2011-02-07T08:35:00.005-05:00

On her way.

Absolute Boyfriend

2011-01-18T07:05:00.005-05:00

Start watching this TV Dorama and you'll be hooked.
3 days in and I'm already on Episode 8.

Perfect Blue

2011-01-16T09:13:00.006-05:00

Just saw Perfect Blue for the first time, and loved it. I think I may even have prefered it to Paprika... Not sure about that yet, may have to watch it again.

Lots of R&D will be needed re: Japanese classes. Speaking of which, I'm in the mood for a couple of episodes of Lain... How sweet it is to finally be taking classes that actually rock my boat.

We're Back!!

2011-01-15T11:53:00.001-05:00

New favourite website: Daily Puppy

Cutest Book Cover EVER.

2010-10-01T08:07:00.004-04:00

Bang on a Can rehearse 2x5 w/Steve Reich

2010-08-26T14:18:00.001-04:00

Satoshi Kon 1963-2010

2010-08-24T19:44:00.007-04:00

*How incredibly sad. I loved Paprika and Tokyo Godfathers and was looking forward to his next picture. Here's his obit in today's Times.

Craving Korean Seafood Pancakes

2010-08-13T09:42:00.002-04:00

Good thing I'm heading to Hwang Kum after work tonight with friends & husband!

Random

2010-08-12T21:14:00.003-04:00

New Apartment Looking Good (at long last)

2010-08-12T21:10:00.007-04:00

Kurosawa Centennial

2010-08-12T21:04:00.009-04:00

There's an Akira Kurosawa centennial celebration being held all through the month of August at Cinéma du Parc and we're going to go see Seven Samurai on Saturday, which I've never seen. I'm excited and anxious at once - I want to LOVE it because if I don't, it's not the kind of thing you can admit, now is it? Sort of like telling anyone who will listen that YOU HATE ALL OF ALMODOVAR's movies...

Oups.

Note * I am most definitely not equating one director to the other btw.

Update: Just started Yoshida's Villain - so far, so good my friends.

Update #2 I LOVED Seven Samurai! It was funny and sarcastic - perfect. Villain was a great read, but so sad...

Shuichi Yoshida's Villain

2010-08-06T09:54:00.005-04:00

Shuichi Yoshida is being billed as the new Stieg Larsson by the WSJ. Read the article here. The book in question, Villain, has been made into a movie and will be shown at the Montreal International film fest in September. I've just ordered the book on Amazon... Will let you know my thoughts as soon as I've read it.

In the meantime, in other Japan-related news, let's all get together and try to coerce Evokative Films (using charm - nothing kinky please) into distributing Yoshihiro Nakamura's films on DVD here in Canada.

Evokative Films Website.
Their Facebook page.

We saw Fish Story and Golden Slumber this summer and were completely hooked. We want more!!

Ari Love

2010-08-04T20:00:00.001-04:00

Ari Mashup

Dr. Seuss Chuck Taylors

2010-07-02T08:13:00.004-04:00

Summer 2010's Must Read

2010-06-23T11:20:00.001-04:00

14 Days and counting!!

2010-06-23T10:12:00.002-04:00

Captain Ultra

2010-06-22T14:21:00.003-04:00

Should I?!! They have one at Toy Tokyo... And I'll be there in July...

Neko Ramen!

2010-06-21T10:43:00.004-04:00

TokyoPop has a new manga out about a cat who owns a ramen shop. Only problem is that I didn't think of this first.
素晴らしい. (Subarashii, brilliant).

New Dominique Fortin paintings @ Galerie Saint-Dizier

2010-06-20T22:34:00.009-04:00

In the next two or three years - after we've traveled some more - I am going to buy my first piece of art. It will be a Dominique Fortin painting for sure. I find her work hopeful - a reprieve from the often shitty world we live in.
Her website here.

18 Days and counting!!

2010-06-20T22:20:00.003-04:00

Judgement Day, in a perfect world

2010-06-10T21:58:00.003-04:00

Fuck you BP

2010-06-04T15:05:00.014-04:00

I’ve just seen pictures of what the BP oil spill is doing to the wildlife in Louisana and Alabama – birds, dolphins, sea turtles, and on, and on. It's absolutely heartbreaking. Nauseating. I’m so angry I can’t breathe.

Why should innocent people and even more, innocent animals (they don't *need* to own any goddamn cars last time I checked) pay for the stupid and greedy losers who let this happen? How exactly should BP and its employees be punished? And what about Haliburton, who did the cementing job on the well? Is sending them to prison enough? Forcing them into bankrupcy certainly isn't. How about identifying the motherfuckers responsable for sleeping on the job by straying from standard industry practices and charging them with a felony? Let's make their faces PUBLIC and their lives HELL. Let's drag them to court and have a jury of their peers JUDGE them.

It’s going to take years and years to clean this up. Millions of animals will have been killed, thousands of jobs lost. Obama and Attorney General Holder MUST prosecute the criminals responsible. Any other alternative would unacceptable.

This is precisely why I prefer animals to humans. Unfortunately, they ALWAYS end up getting screwed. What a sick world we live in.

I can find solace in one thing: in a couple of years from now, when we dumbass humans will have poisoned ourselves to death and will have eliminated ourselves from the planet, animals will be able to roam free yet again, and with a little luck Earth will have healed herself from our brutal passage.

In the meantime - at the risk of repeating myself - Fuck You British Petroleum. May you burn in hell. Or better yet, may you drown in oil.

Sound Advice

2010-06-02T21:24:00.002-04:00

Arcade Fire's The Suburbs

2010-05-27T13:11:00.001-04:00

Release date is August 3rd.

Bear Hug

2010-05-24T20:53:00.001-04:00

My Liberty Scarf

2010-05-21T14:20:00.009-04:00

With a little luck we’ll be going to New York City in July, and so, well obviously, I’ll be going to Purl Soho! I'd like to purchase these fabrics to make a Luxury Liberty Scarf as seen the Purl Bee... Seeing as I’ll be an expert once I've taken the Sew Basics workshop at Emeline & Annabelle and all... How hard can it be to sew a square?! (See last blogpost).

Anyways, here’s hoping we get to make that July trip to the Big Apple! And maybe – just maybe – I’ll pick up this Charley Needlepoint Canvas:

Or this one:

And perhaps this yellow tote from The Strand:

Yes! Quince = Coings

2010-05-08T13:47:00.002-04:00

French Wiki
English Wiki

Manchego Cheese, Quince, and Walnut Crostini

2010-05-08T08:21:00.009-04:00

Off to the Market to buy some bread and some Manchego cheese - this is all I want to eat all week.

Is quince coings in French?

Recipe over at Brooklyn Farmhouse.
Yum.

Emeline and Annabelle Couture Café

2010-05-08T08:07:00.010-04:00

Emeline and Annabelle's is a new sewing café/lounge in town where you can sip coffee while finishing your projects (with or without help). They also sell beautiful quilting cottons, and offer sewing workshops.

Little sister Isa and I will attending 'Sew Basics' in June (I got lucky and won a free workshop for 2)! Montreal's West Side desperately needed a craft lounge like this (in addition to Mouliné Yarns, Ariadne Knits and Effiloché, who all rock). Purl Soho eat your heart out!

Their Flickr account has great photos.

NOMA - Best Restaurant in the World!

2010-04-30T10:41:00.004-04:00

Best restaurant in the world is in Denmark! I must go... See the complete list here.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

2010-04-29T10:08:00.002-04:00

Opens May 7th in MTL.

Bushed. No Typo.

2010-04-24T21:45:00.010-04:00

I am so sore from painting our kitchen, cleaning our lovely Korean neighbour's bathroom last night because I let my tub overflow, restraining an incredibly neurotic dog who freaked out at the vet's this morning, and packing boxes and yet more boxes... I feel broken! So tired I can't even write a haiku about it - now that's tired. Pew. I mean that - Pew, not Phew. Not a typo.

Anyhow, overtaxed and watching Extract, which is weirdly neither good nor bad... Or maybe I'm just bushed ;-)

Priceless - How Did I Miss This?!

2010-04-23T13:45:00.001-04:00

Totem!

2010-04-13T18:00:00.007-04:00

Tickets Purchased -
Heart All A Flutter -
Can't wait!

10 Simple Google Search Tricks

2010-04-09T21:07:00.003-04:00

Mastering the Google in today's Times.

Overweight Hedgehogs Go On A Diet

2010-04-08T18:02:00.003-04:00

When you find yourself unable to roll up into a tight little ball, you know it's time to cut back on the fat & sugars. Read more here.

All Set For Fall!

2010-04-07T06:13:00.010-04:00

Horaire détaillé Automne 2010

CRI1511G Délinquance et facteurs criminogènes (3 cr.)
Section A
THÉORIE Mer. 19:00 22:00 1 sept. - 8 déc.

CRI3900G Justice des mineurs (3 cr.)
Section A
THÉORIE Jeu. 19:00 22:00 2 sept. - 9 déc.

** Registered for fall classes this morning. I am ready to go and looking forward to September after a semester off - I'm bored!

Sumo Ramen Does the Trick

2010-04-04T21:46:00.004-04:00

Montreal finally has a decent ramen shop and it's amazing. Will be back soon for sure... Maybe tomorrow?! Miso broth is delicious, pork belly is divine, and the waiters are adorable. Give it a try: 1007 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, MTL.

Happy Easter Everyone & Don't Forget Your Hat!

2010-04-04T09:08:00.002-04:00

Iris

2010-04-02T08:05:00.003-04:00

Iris Apfel is my role model - this is what I want to look like when I'm 86... I'm actually looking forward to being an old lady!

Self-Control Instantly Replenished by Self-Affirmation

2010-03-25T11:24:00.002-04:00

On PsyBlog Today.

Coming Soon: New Beginnings

2010-03-12T09:45:00.001-05:00

Kitsune

2010-03-11T09:57:00.004-05:00

In the last couple of years, it seems that the red fox (or kitsune in japanese) has elected to be a guide for me, as I've spotted one each and every time I've felt scared or anxious - and in the most unusual places to boot. If anybody out there knows of a book of legends or a nice photography book on red foxes, let me know because I can't seem to find anything.

Happy Woman's Day (& Oscar Night Recap)

2010-03-08T10:08:00.003-05:00

As a gift, here's a nugget of wisdom, from me to you:

If you're a lady-director pining for an Oscar Award, here's what you do: make a testosterone-ridden film about war, conflict, violence, and bombs! Yay War!

Greatest Monday Morning EVER.

2010-03-01T09:45:00.003-05:00

Cheburashka Picture of the Day

2010-02-25T10:22:00.003-05:00

*Puck You Shiitake! Russia lost to Canada 7-3 last night.

God I Love Japan

2010-02-24T17:16:00.003-05:00

In today's Times, Snackbots cook Okonomiyaki for you, just like Mombot Used to Make.

Cheburashka Picture of the Day

2010-02-24T08:20:00.005-05:00

*Puck You Shiitake, this is just too hard!

Cheburashka

2010-02-23T14:34:00.005-05:00

Watching the Olympics has made me fall in love all over again with Cheburashka, the whimsical Russian forest creature, also know as team Russia's mascot and good-luck charm.

Smørrebrød

2010-02-23T11:06:00.006-05:00

Well, I think we'll have to move Denmark up a couple of notches on our Travel WishList. Last night, I had an overwhelming craving for a breaded fish/open faced sandwich (I know! WTF?!). And so this morning - in a completely unrelated moment of yearning - I wikipediaed Copenhagen just... because. And what do I learn? That the national dish is a breaded fish/open faced sandwich! This is no coincidence.

Élégie en rouge

2010-02-23T08:26:00.009-05:00

Red Colored Elegy is finally being released en français by les Éditions Cornélius, who make the most beautiful books. No date set for a Canadian release yet, and no one is anwsering my emails at Renaud-Bray (nice going RB). Will I have to wait until our next trip to Paris in 2011?

More Hanami Dreams...

2010-02-16T13:40:00.004-05:00

*sakura photos by me! a couple of springs ago.

February Hanami Dreaming

2010-02-15T11:39:00.005-05:00

Because I haven't seen a flower in over five months...

Vancouver 2010 Haiku

2010-02-12T14:07:00.004-05:00

Games open tonight
For lovers of crunchy snow
Go Canada Go!

Bollywood and Politics Collide in a Red-Carpet Standoff

2010-02-12T13:33:00.007-05:00

Article in today's Times. My Name is Khan also opens in MTL today at the AMC.

And in a creepy 'Life imitates Art' incident, Shahrukh Khan was arrested at Newark this summer (this is the aforementionned movie's plot). WTF? Read about it here. I've been a BIG fan of King Khan ever since Devdas (read my glowing 2002 nano-review here, and me drooling over a Shahrukh cameo here), so how I missed this particular tidbit of American as(s)ininity I'll never know.

I think someone needs to go and get herself a new Google Alert.

Broadway Revamped from 26th to 31st

2010-02-12T11:25:00.005-05:00

In today's Times.
I'm not sure how I feel about this - I love that stretch of Broadway precisely because of the Canal St./Anything goes/Haggle-me-silly feel of it. It seems to me that it was one of the last places in Manhattan devoid of Starbucks and BlackBerrys. Give it a couple of years and it'll start to look & feel as generic as the rest of the city... Shame.

Ramen City

2010-01-30T03:40:00.006-05:00

One Noodle at a Time in Tokyo in today's Times. Saving up the cash for this trip (+ Paris) is taking some time - but will be well worth it. Siting down with a steaming bowl of Ramen... I can taste it already.

Serpico on Serpico

2010-01-25T10:08:00.004-05:00

A perfunctory profile on the 73 year old Serpico in today's Times!

Surreality

2010-01-21T06:26:00.000-05:00

Girl Crush

2010-01-12T08:56:00.005-05:00

I love, love, love IRM.
CG is my Nico for the 21st century.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle on Stage

2010-01-12T08:50:00.004-05:00

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - a multimedia theatre production - opens today in New York. Urgh!!! If only I could go... But we're moving to a new & better apartment in May and planning to travel (further than NYC) and so frugality has set in...

Playbill Article
The Play's Official Website

Stretch Your Brain

2010-01-04T07:34:00.002-05:00

How to train the aging brain in Sunday's Times.

Happy 2010!

2009-12-31T10:43:00.000-05:00

If Only I Had the Courage...

2009-12-26T10:07:00.002-05:00

Saying No, No, No to the Ho-Ho-Ho in Wednesday's Times.

Merry Christmas & Happy Festivus!!!

2009-12-25T08:18:00.001-05:00

Report Condemns Police Lab Oversight

2009-12-18T11:11:00.009-05:00

Times article on Garry Veeder, a forensic scientist for the State of New York in the Trace Evidence Section, whose shoddy work (couldn't properly operate a microscope from what I'm reading) and fraudulent reports were overlooked by the state for 15 years. Veeder retired in 2003 and then promptly hung himself in his garage.

The State Police superintendent states that he is certain that there were no wrongful convictions, but defendants whose cases were handled by Veeder will be allowed to file appeals.

Inspector General's Report of the Investigation

Octopus Finds Protective Shelter For Itself

2009-12-17T19:07:00.003-05:00

Octopi are so incredibly smart. And beautiful.
If only they didn't taste so good.

Fantastic Mr. Fox is Fantastic Indeed

2009-12-14T08:43:00.014-05:00

Went to see Fantastic Mr. Fox this weekend. A beautiful, twisted film, that feels somewhat like a fox-version of the Royal Tenenbaums. The self-centered, certified crazy, and strangely loveable father and the dreamy, artistically inclined, but detached mother that are so completely into each other that they seem more or less interested in raising the children... Resulting in viciously competitive siblings (or cousins in this case) that love each other to pieces and yet, can't stand the sight of each other.

Anderson certainly seems intent on depicting my, ahem, pardon, his family on film. And life is all the better for it.

Go see it - it's worth every fox-minute.

Well well...

2009-12-14T08:40:00.006-05:00

I give better gifts than I receive??
Does Barack suffer from a touch of narcissistic personality disorder?!
Nah. Couldn't be. Not Barack!
Maybe he's just a dandy.

Mishka Loves You

2009-12-11T17:31:00.002-05:00

It's starting to look bad for Man in the Dog vs. Man debate... ;-)

Amazing Pool Dog

2009-12-11T14:22:00.001-05:00

Purl's Christmas Goodies for Knitting Rainbows

2009-12-03T07:05:00.005-05:00

I really really miss Purl in NYC...

Right and Left Join Forces on Criminal Justice

2009-11-25T17:13:00.003-05:00

In the next several months, the Supreme Court will decide at least a half-dozen cases about the rights of people accused of crimes involving drugs, sex and corruption. Civil liberties groups and associations of defense lawyers have lined up on the side of the accused. Read more in today's Times.

Arthur C. Clarke on Space Elevators, Space Tourism

2009-11-19T07:15:00.001-05:00

Go Godzilla!!!

2009-11-05T06:30:00.001-05:00

Matsui Goes Wild and So Do His Fans in Japan

Smile, It's November!

2009-11-02T19:15:00.003-05:00

Rotties Rock.

2009-10-23T06:03:00.002-04:00

Rottweiler becomes surrogate father to an abandoned wolf cub

Sadness.

2009-10-14T14:25:00.002-04:00

How it this even possible??! November will never be the same. Gourmet Magazine Shuts Down.

US spacecraft set for Moon crash

2009-10-08T22:01:00.003-04:00

*via BBC.

Nao

2009-10-05T20:10:00.002-04:00

I Heart Dr. Carolyn Porco

2009-09-22T11:58:00.004-04:00

An Odyssey From the Bronx to Saturn’s Rings in today's NY Times

Once Slave to Luxury, Japan Catches Thrift Bug

2009-09-21T17:14:00.002-04:00

Not long ago, many Japanese bought so many $100 melons and $1,000 handbags that this was the only country in the world where luxury products were considered mass market...

Live Long And Prosper

2009-09-18T20:05:00.003-04:00

My birthday is August 22nd.
Click here to order & thanks in advance!

Happy One-Year Anniversary!

2009-09-14T09:34:00.002-04:00

New Pictures From Hubble

2009-09-11T20:54:00.001-04:00

Sweet Jesus, I've Been Killed By Cuteness.

2009-09-06T21:25:00.002-04:00

Sensible Advice for Sensible Gals & Guys

2009-09-03T10:36:00.002-04:00

Buying a Ranch & Moving Out of the City.

2009-08-31T21:53:00.003-04:00

I Wish.

Japan Prepares for a Change as Voting Begins

2009-08-30T08:01:00.005-04:00

Recent polls show that the main opposition Democratic Party is likely to win well over 300 of the 480 seats being contested, giving it the majority needed to choose the next prime minister. Such a victory, which would be driven by voter discontent with Japan’s long economic and political stagnation, would unseat the incumbent Liberal Democrats for only the second time since 1955... Read more in today's Times.

Bracelet Love

2009-08-26T19:25:00.006-04:00

She's been around for quite a while from what I gather, but I've only just recently discovered Anne-Marie Chagnon, jeweler extraordinaire. Needless to say, I'm smitten. Head-over-heals. Bonkers. And I cannot wait to get my hands on one of these at the Salon des métiers d'art in December.

Obama's Summer Reading List

2009-08-24T18:52:00.006-04:00

Richard Price's Lush Life, Friedman, McCullough, Pelecanos... Sigh. What a guy.
The complete list is in today's Telegraph.

The Wrong Guys by Jeffrey Toobin

2009-08-18T18:19:00.005-04:00

In the New Yorker: John Grisham helps spring the Norfolk Four from prison.

Ponyo in Theatres Today!!!

2009-08-14T17:00:00.002-04:00

1001 Pots

2009-08-14T10:04:00.003-04:00

Italian Food, June 2009

2009-08-14T09:47:00.004-04:00

Rimouski Modern

2009-08-14T09:39:00.002-04:00

2009 Vacation, part 5

2009-08-14T09:31:00.004-04:00