Detroit Diva

Some things I'm loving right now:

Book:  Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz.  The second in the Spellman Family series.  Start with the first - they're fun.

Music:  Sia's Some People Have Real Problems.  Beck was heavily involved in this album.  She reminds me somewhat of Tori Amos.

TV:  Shows are finally coming back with new episodes now  and I'm looking forward to Big Bang Theory on Monday.

Blog:  Petite Anglaise - a British woman living in Paris.

Food: Everybody's Nuts Pistachios.  I'm addicted to these things.

Mark, from Coffee Break French, left a comment after I wrote the previous post.  He said: "Glad you're enjoying Coffee Break French! Hope our accents aren't too difficult to understand, but please know that I don't speak French with a Scottish accent!!"  My apologies to Mark - He doesn't speak French with a Scottish accent. He sounds exactly like a Frenchman when he speaks French.   What I meant was that, in addition to  learning French, I would have the bonus of speaking my native English with a Scottish accent.   It was a very lame attempt at humor and I'll try to make myself clearer in the future.  In the meantime, I think you should all listen to Mark on Coffee Break French and join me in Paris next year.

This time next year I will be taking my 15 year old niece to Paris (Note to self: do not make off the cuff remarks like “When you’re 16 I’ll take you to Paris” to 6 year olds who love Madeline books.  6 year olds, like elephants, never forget and they turn 16 much sooner than you expect).  So, in preparation, I’ve started brushing up on my French (it’s been a loooooooong time since those years of learning the language in high school). I’ve been downloading podcasts of French lessons from itunes and have been having some fun listening to them.  My favorite is Coffee Break French with Mark and Anna. What’s great is that Mark and Anna are Scottish with pretty thick accents.  I’m thinking that after a year of listening to them, not only will I know French, but I’ll be speaking with a Scottish accent as well. Bonus!

In other news, an AP investigation has found that there are traces of prescription drugs in the drinking water of 24 major metropolitan areas (including Detroit).  I knew there was an explanation as to why 59 million people voted for Bush in the last election. 

The Vatican released a list of new sins today.  They are:
1. "Bioethical" violations such as birth control
2. "Morally dubious'' experiments such as stem cell research
3. Drug abuse
4. Polluting the environment
5. Contributing to widening divide between rich and poor
6. Excessive wealth
7. Creating poverty

Yeah, ok, whatever. My question is where is the sin regarding stupid politicians.   Seriously, whether it's the embarrassment known as the Mayor of Detroit  or the one known as the Governor of New York.  C'mon guys - sex scandals? Can you be any more cliched? Sad, just sad.

In more advancement for women news

The Gothamist had this quote from Gwyneth Paltrow

“People who have a lot also often feel like they have a lot to give. I have a good friend who always says that if you’re a person of means at all, then you have to adopt because there are so many kids in the world who need homes.

We might get one from Brooklyn. No baby is more helpless than another baby. And I'm a New York girl."

Wow, you're a true humanitarian, Gwennie.  I may cry.

Saudis to execute woman for witchcraft.  Hello, Salem 1692?  and they say history doesn't repeat itself.

Mary turned me on (how 70's of her is that) to a website called What Would Tyler Durden Do. It's a celebrity dirt kind of site but it's hilarious.  This is what Tyler had to say about the Grammys last night:

"It's not a coincidence that the Grammy statue is of a horribly outdated record player, because that's probably what grammy voters use to listen to music. Herbie Hancock got the top prize, Album of the Year? Who? What? Where am I? What year is this? If Herbie Hancock is actually even still alive, I will eat my hat.  Amy Winehouse won for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocalist and Best Pop Vocal Album for her single "Rehab" and the album "Back to Black."   She sucks too but at least she doesn't have to be dug up out of a grave.

I don't know even know who else was nominated for record of the year, all I know is that this is why people ignore the grammys.  Because in no way does it reflect what's going on in music.  They do this every year.  Best rap artist will be like Lupe Fiasco, Jedi Mind Tricks, Young Jeezy and Will Smith.  And everyone who wasn't in "Wild Wild West" shouldn't even bother to show up.  Granted, if you're looking for 15 songs about basketball and staying in school, there's no one more qualified than Will Smith, but banging that shit in your Impala will just get you shot."

No kidding! When they were announcing the nominees for Album of the Year and they named Herbie Hancock - I was like what? The "Get Happy" guy has a new album out? Yeah, wrong guy. And when he won  - I was like "Are you kidding me? Herbie Hancock?"  Puleeze - shouldn't they nominate people whose albums have sold at least one copy.  Seriously, find one person who has bought the latest Herbie Hancock. Good luck.

It was the 50th anniversary of the Grammys so that explains all the moldy oldies. Some of which I really liked such as Tina Turner and of course, Aretha.   Overall though, ick.  You know it's not going be all that great when the celebrity highlight is Yoko Ono and Ringo. Yawn.

The Senate has passed the measure that will send us a tax rebate check in May.  You may want to bank it though - they'll be deducting the amount from next years tax refund.  You get $300 in May 2007 and in 2008, you give it back.  In the meantime, the Government wastes even more of our tax dollars by printing and mailing us a paltry sum of money.  Always thinking, those feds.

I was listening to one of the Pop Candy podcasts today and she played a song by a band called Carbon/ Silicon and the whole time I was listening to the song I kept thinking "Man, this sounds like the Clash".  Turns out it's Mick Jones' new band.  Not bad at all but now it makes me wanna go listen to Big Audio Dynamite.  Too bad I have them on cassette.  Yeah, I'm old school.  LOL.