My horoscope for this week, compliments of Creative Loafing and Rob Brezny:

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Big rivers don't travel in straight lines. Their paths are curvy and complicated, with periodic turns and bends. In some places they flow faster and in others they're slower. Their depth and width may vary along the way, too. Your own destiny is like one of those big rivers, Cancerian. In some years, it meanders for long stretches, slowing down as it wanders along a crooked course. It may even get shallower and narrower for a while. But I expect that in 2014, you will be moving more rapidly than usual. You will be traveling a more direct route, and you will be both wide and deep.

http://clatl.com/atlanta/free-will-astrology/Content?category=1222985

It seems spot on for how I've been feeling the last few months and even for the past year or so.

A history lesson for Christmas Eve.

Hope all is well with you and yours this Christmas Season.



I stumbled onto this video over at www.Treehugger.com

A few bull sharks were trapped in a freshwater lake at golf course when flood waters receded.
They seem quite happy and have even had young bull sharks there.
These are not small sharks - they're 8-10 feet long!
And have no problem at all in the fresh water and have been there over a year.
Scary!

Treehugger also had this doc from the BBC on the great white shark. (below.)
Fantastic stuff.
And included a lot on The Birkenhead Disaster.

http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/1661to1966/birkenhead/birkenhead.html

A British troop ship, The Birkenhead, was on its way to Port Elizabeth from Cape Town when it struck a hidden reef.
643 people were on board when the ship sank in roughly 20 minutes.
When the captain gave the order to abandon ship he ordered the soldiers to stand fast on the deck so that the women and children could use the 3 life rafts.  All of them did.
This was the birth of the "women and children" first tradition of sailing.
And because 600 men went into the water and over 400 died, many taken by great whites, it was here that the great white earned it's fearsome reputation and became nicknamed "the Tommy shark" after the British troops taken that night.

Worth a watch if you've got a couple days off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Birkenhead_(1845)



The "Birkenhead drill" is mentioned in a poem by Rudyard Kipling.
Everytime I read I Kipling I remember how incredible his work is.

Soldier an' Sailor too 

(The Royal Regiment of Marines)

AS I was spittin’ into the Ditch aboard o’ the Crocodile,
I seed a man on a man-o’-war got up in the Reg’lars’ style.
’E was scrapin’ the paint from off of ’er plates, an’ I sez to ’im, “’Oo are you?”
Sez ’e, “I’m a Jolly—’Er Majesty’s Jolly—soldier an’ sailor too!”
Now ’is work begins by Gawd knows when, and ’is work is never through;
’E isn’t one o’ the reg’lar Line, nor ’e isn’t one of the crew.
’E’s a kind of a giddy harumfrodite—soldier an’ sailor too!

An’ after I met ’im all over the world, a-doin’ all kinds of things,
Like landin’ ’isself with a Gatlin’ gun to talk to them ’eathen kings;
’E sleeps in an ’ammick instead of a cot, an’ ’e drills with the deck on a slew,
An’ ’e sweats like a Jolly—’Er Majesty’s Jolly—soldier an’ sailor too!
For there isn’t a job on the top o’ the earth the beggar don’t know, nor do—
You can leave ’im at night on a bald man’s ’ead, to paddle ’is own canoe—
’E’s a sort of a bloomin’ cosmopolouse—soldier an’ sailor too.

We’ve fought ’em in trooper, we’ve fought ’em in dock, and drunk with ’em in betweens,
When they called us the seasick scull’ry-maids, an’ we called ’em the Ass Marines;
But, when we was down for a double fatigue, from Woolwich to Bernardmyo,
We sent for the Jollies—’Er Majesty’s Jollies—soldier an’ sailor too!
They think for ’emselves, an’ they steal for ’emselves, and they never ask what’s to do,
But they’re camped an’ fed an’ they’re up an’ fed before our bugle’s blew.
Ho! they ain’t no limpin’ procrastitutes—soldier an’ sailor too.

You may say we are fond of an ’arness-cut, or ’ootin’ in barrick-yards,
Or startin’ a Board School mutiny along o’ the Onion Guards; (1)
But once in a while we can finish in style for the ends of the earth to view,
The same as the Jollies—’Er Majesty’s Jollies—soldier an’ sailor too!
They come of our lot, they was brothers to us; they was beggars we’d met an’ knew;
Yes, barrin’ an inch in the chest an’ the arm, they was doubles o’ me an’ you;
For they weren’t no special chrysanthemums—soldier an’ sailor too!

To take your chance in the thick of a rush, with firing all about,
Is nothing so bad when you’ve cover to ’and, an’ leave an’ likin’ to shout;
But to stand an’ be still to the Birken’ead drill is a damn tough bullet to chew,
An’ they done it, the Jollies—’Er Majesty’s Jollies—soldier an’ sailor too!
Their work was done when it ’adn’t begun; they was younger nor me an’ you;
Their choice it was plain between drownin’ in ’eaps an’ bein’ mopped by the screw,
So they stood an’ was still to the Birken’ead drill, (2) soldier an’ sailor too!

We’re most of us liars, we’re ’arf of us thieves, an’ the rest are as rank as can be,
But once in a while we can finish in style (which I ’ope it won’t ’appen to me).
But it makes you think better o’ you an’ your friends, an’ the work you may ’ave to do,
When you think o’ the sinkin’ Victorier’s (3) Jollies—soldier an’ sailor too!
Now there isn’t no room for to say ye don’t know—they ’ave proved it plain and true—
That whether it’s Widow, or whether it’s ship, Victorier’s work is to do,
An’ they done it, the Jollies—’Er Majesty’s Jollies—soldier an’ sailor too!


(1) Long ago, a battalion of the Guards was sent to Bermuda as a punishment for riotous conduct in barracks.

(2) In 1852 the Birkenhead transport was sunk off Simon’s Bay. The Marines aboard her went down as drawn up on her deck.

(3) Admiral Tryon’s flagship, sunk in a collision in 1893
\

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marines

It has returned from Chicago and is once again safely ensconced in "the lattice factory".
Always good to get home from a long trip.

My place was being painted while I was gone so it looked like the holocaust when I got in from the airport.
I immediately had an OCD induced panic attack and paced around in circles for 53 minutes and 37 seconds, trying to figure out whether I should start cleaning, re-hanging all of my photos, putting away my luggage, or just set off the booby-traps I have carefully placed in case of:

A.)     Zombie Apocalypse
2.)      Alien Attack
L15.)  Return of Hellbeast

Eventually, I came to my senses and went for a beer.

All better.

As Thanksgiving Day looms ever present, I thought I would share some random cool things that I've found jumping about on the interwebs.

Hope you all have a good day and hug your people for me!

A very cool narrow house in Japan.

http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/now-what-you-call-narrow-house-3.html

A very cool small wooden home.

http://tinyhouseswoon.com/tiny-wooden-house/

ESPN sponsors these short documentaries.  Great stuff.

http://espn.go.com/30for30/index

Treasure maps in Paris from Messy Nessy.

http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/11/26/10-treasure-maps-to-secret-paris/

Interesting people from Vimeo, posted by Nessy.

http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/06/21/the-sole-resident-of-the-worlds-largest-abandoned-building-other-tales/

I'll add as I find other cool stuff to share.

Luvulongtime,

EPPdF

I've been in Chicago for the last couple weeks working a large project.
Gotta say - I love this town!
Almost everyone I've met here has been really friendly and pleasant to interact with - there was one cabbie that irked me so much that I wadded up a $10 and threw it at his head - but outside of that it's been a great experience.

"The Source of the Trouble" arranged a couple of condos for the month for me and the guys which has been pretty awesome.  Staying in a hotel for a month stinks, even when it's a nice one.
Renting a condo lets have a bit more space and you blend in with the locals a little more.

Places we like:

http://www.thefrontierchicago.com/
Whole smoked alligator.  For Reelz.

http://doritedonuts.com/
I know I've gained 5 pounds eating these little bits of heavenly cakes.

http://www.delilahschicago.com/
Great dive bar.

http://stocksandblondesbar.com/
Ditto.  And right under the stairs to the L.

http://www.chicagobluesbar.com/
Love this joint.  Like Northside Tavern in Atlanta.

http://www.hugosfrogbar.com/
A little more upscale than I normally go for but the bartender was entertaining as hell.

http://bavetteschicago.com/
The guys and I had 2 fantastic meals here.  Order the bone marrow.  Seriously.  Incredible.

http://www.thefryecompany.com/frye-flagship-stores/
The Frye Company Chicago Flagship store on North Rush Street.

http://shop.nordstrom.com/st/nordstrom-michigan-avenue
Turns out that the high price you pay at a store like this is worth it when you also get excellent service and a friendly, helpful staff that will find just what you need.

The Parsons Chicken & Fish El Camino.

http://www.parsonschickenandfish.com/
Excellent fried chicken and butter-beans - north of the Mason/Dixon line!!

http://www.speakeasycustomtattoo.com/
I met the owner, Patrick, and talked to him about getting another piece.  Nice guy and amazing artist.  The shop itself is gorgeous too.

If you come to Chicago, the area around Wicker Park is pretty amazing.  Wander around; you'll find something.

Contemplating Those Ancient Japanese Masters of Haiku While Remembering a Dream About Taking Communion with My Mother as I Gaze out on a Crisp Fall Day in Atlanta and Eat a Peanut Butter and Jelly Lunchable Under a Dogwood Tree:

I feel there must be some trickery
under those ceremonial kimonos.
After giving you the time, location, the weather, and sometimes the meal of the day,
all in the title,
even I could guess their emotional state
with just 17 syllables.

In what must seem like a lifetime ago to you,
I made a simple request as we gazed up at the moon
from our singular places, in our singular times:
"Take me with you under the moon
and let me run thru your dreams
as you run thru mine".

But the weight of my wanting was too much
and I watched with increasing horror,
that heavy moon sink into the darkest of seas,
never to be heard from again.

And me, from my watery bed,
still looking up saw only the light
and could not know that I was gone.
I could not understand why the sailors crossed themselves
when I approached to ask if they knew you,
had seen you,
would let me follow them back home.

And even now, when time is of no more use to any of us,
I am still gazing thru this carnival glass
seeing only the reflection of what once was
and the wanting moon that keeps me under.

News from our friends in Croatia tells sad story of marital bliss gone wrong that becomes sweeter with the taste of frosted icing.

http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/Business/2013-10-07/34642/Divorce_cake_is_a_hit_in_Croatia

From our close associates in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania comes this story of an unfortunate decision to honor the deceased by dedicating a high school homecoming after him.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/10/07/parents-upset-after-trayvon-martin-day-planned-during-local-homecoming-week/

And, in a battle where winner is a fairly loosely applied term, "Tanning Mom" gets into a catfight with Porn Star Jenna Jameson at Exxxotica Expo 2013.

From London, our fire fighting friends free a man's willy from a toaster.
(Don't ask questions.  You really don't want to know.)

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/firefighters-rescue-mans-penis-toaster-2346520

Meet Klaus

Klaus Stortebeker was a 14th century German privateer/pirate.  Originally privateers were government approved pirates who only harrassed and stole from their home country's enemies.
It was a way to disrupt commerce and weaken the other guys chance for winning a lengthy war.

Klaus was a fairly good pirate and saw no reason to stop when his country officially asked him to.
They had been happy with his performance when he was focused on the Danes (f@#ing Danes) but when he started screwing with the Hanseatic League, who were the wealthy trading merchants of the area, things got tough.

Eventually, Klaus & Crew were captured and sentenced to death.
Klaus, in an attempt to save some of his crew, made a last minute bargain with his captors.

They would free however many of the men that Klaus's headless body could walk past after the axman did his deed.

He walked past eleven.

More here at Atlas Obscura -

http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/impaled-skull-of-klaus-stortebeker-pirate-walking-corpse


There's even a dramatic reenactment (in German) here.  Pretty cool stuff.

http://www.myvideo.de/watch/5711742/Stoertebeker_2_teil_part_11_11


http://www.executedtoday.com/2010/10/20/1401-klaus-stortebeker-victual-brothers-pirate/

There's even Stortebecker poetry!


Klaus Störtebecker is our master
advised by Godeke Michels!
Shoot through the waves like storm, just faster
The Flying Dutchman’s godfather
Gaffer is the ships goblin
Let’s tackle, crew!
Life is bauble!
We are the hell of Helgoland
Our bloody flag is cracking the mast
Rats scurrying on the floor
A skeleton is our guest
On the sail there are strange shadows
The mermaid is swimming in our wake
Laugh, crew!
Life is bauble!
Still ruling is the hell of Helgoland
And when our ship makes its last run
Laugh while like a coffin she goes down
We die an ancient pirate’s way
Today we fight, tomorrow we drown
In green algae and white sand
Land ho, crew, land!
Life is bauble!
Such dies the hell of Helgoland
-Folk song honoring Klaus Stortebeker



Also, Stortebeker is a "nom de guerre" which translates roughly to "one who can down a four litre mug in one gulp".

Another Vimeo Staff Favorite video selection:

http://vimeo.com/72844829

Written & Directed by Philip Sansom
Producer Richard Weager
Cinematography Ross McLennan

Staring Hande Kodja, Tracy Feith & Jeremy Mitchell

A down and out vagabond's luck is dramatically altered when he treads on a piece of glass outside the apartment of an arguing couple. You never know what fate is about to throw your way.

http://www.kitsune.fr/journal/2012/03/mode/kitsune-meets-hande-kodja/

NEWS 28 MARCH 2012, 12.03 | NO COMMENT - POSTED BY KITSUNÉ

KITSUNÉ MEETS HANDE KODJA

A fortunate occasion gave us the chance to meet the young belgian actress Hande Kodja, a name that sounds like a fairy tale and certainly reveals a bit of her candor. Her studies at the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique led her to star in a new movie called Marieke Marieke, where she plays a 20 year old girl trying to fill the emptiness left by her father’s death by having romantic and destructive affairs with old men…

Marieke Marieke directed by Sophie Shoukens is out today everywhere in France. For Parisians, tonight a special showing (+ discussion on the movie) at Saint André des Arts Cinema in the 6th district.

We met Hande for a little chit chat around cinema…and more! Photo series for Kitsuné Journal byBastien Lattanzio

Photos above : Hande is wearing a Belt Dress Pliss B from our Maison Kitsuné Spring Summer 2012 collection

A director who you would dream of working with?
Tim Burton – David Lynch… sorry I can’t choose

The last movie you saw at the cinema? 
Martha Marcy May Marlène from Sean Durkin

The best movie soundtrack?
All David Lynch‘s movies

A cult movie? 
“Brutti, Sporchi e Cattive” (Affreux , Sales et Méchants) ETTORE SCOLA

A movie scene you would dream of doing?
A cannibal scene

One thing you hate to play/act? 
Love scene

Your best memory on a shoot?
In the water, alone with universe

One song people should absolutely listen to?
Requiem of Verdi

Your Paris top 5? (restaurant, bar, things to do…) 
Le Shakespeare and Company, magic library in the 5th
La Filmothèque du quartier latin
Le Père Lachaise
Le Fumoir
Musée Rodin

Super bonus, your Brussels top 5 
Le Tram
Le bois de la Cambre
Les Sablons
Musée Magritte
Eating waffles in Waterloo

One thing you miss about Brussels and that you can’t find in Paris?
The Mist’s Melancholia…

What’s next for you?
Flying to the moon, working with Danièle Thompson and Severine Lathuilière for her next movie ‘Hope’…

Photos above : Hande is wearing the Classic Shirt Solid With Pocket and Army Jacket A – taken from Maison Kitsuné Spring Summer 2012 women collection and a clutch bag of Corto Moltedo for Kitsuné Parisien

All the pieces are available on our webstore or in our boutique Maison Kitsuné 52 rue Richelieu 75 001 Paris

MARIEKE : BANDE-ANNONCE VF Full HD par baryla

Interesting finds today Sept. 25th, 2013

The Railway Man, starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, is the true story of Eric Lomax, a young British officer captured by the Japanese in WW II and one of thousands of soldiers used as slave labor to build railroads for them.  Lomax was subjected to years of physical and mental torture - from his capture in 1942 to the end of the war.  His struggle to cope with the effects of his torture lasted his entire life.
He wrote a book about it, also titled The Railway Man, and about his struggle to forgive his torturers.


http://www.atlasobscura.com/places

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/horniman-museum-walrus-comes-home

http://www.darkrye.com/archive

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