Detroit Diva

I just finished watching the Spanish movie, Pan's Labyrinth.  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.  If you saw the previews when it first came out and thought it was a kid's flick, like I did, you will be surprised.  The movie is set in Franco's Spain and it follows  the story of a little girl whose mother marries a sadistic colonel and all that that entails.  The girl and her belief in fairies plays a huge part in the movie and the interplay between real world and fairy world makes the movie very interesting.  I'll warn you there are a few violent moments - you don't get to be a sadistic colonel in Franco's military for nothing.  I'll also warn you - you'll need kleenex.   Let me know how you like it.

What is this? It's a Billiken -  St. Louis University's mascot.  Again, what is it.  They don't seem to know either.  Very weird.

Crazy love indeed.  This couple, now in their 70's & 80's, got married after a long courtship. A courtship that involved Linda breaking up with Burt and Burt hiring someone to throw acid in Linda's face, which disfigured her. Burt did 14 years in jail and continually stalked Linda until she apparently lost her own mind and married him.  Ahhh, so romantic.

As I'm sure you all know Paris Hilton was released from jail today and allowed to finish her time at home wearing an electronic tether.  Well, she may be going to jail because the order from the judge expressly said she was not allowed work release, work furlough, electronic monitoring, weekends out of jail or allowed to do her time at the city jail.  She goes back to court on friday as the City Attorney investigates why the order was violated.  Raise your hands - how many of you actually thought she'd do her full time in jail. Me neither.  I do think she should be sent back and made to do her full 45 days.  She continually drove on a suspended license and apparently thought the  laws were not meant for her.  So what if she cries her self to sleep every night.  Hello, Paris, this is your wake up call.  She was let out because she supposedly has a medical condition. Yes, I believe it's called poor little rich girl can't handle the real worlditis.  As they commented on the news tonight, there are many prisoners in our jails with all kinds of medical conditions but they are not sent home.  Paris should take a lesson from Martha Stewart - do your time with some dignity and class.

From the latest issue of The Week, some tidbits:

Saudia Arabia has  a governmental unit called the Department for Combatting Beggary.   Yes, a whole department for combatting beggers and how does this illustrious department do that?  Well, "the easiest way to end beggery is to stop paying beggers any money."  Hmmm, ya think? 

Sly Stallone was busted in Australia for bringing in testosterone and human growth hormones.  Sly needed the hormones because he's filming Rambo 98 and "This stuff gives your body a boost and you feel and look good."  Dude - I'm going to need a whole lot more than hormones in order to sit through a new Rambo movie.

Jimmy Carter dissed George W. Bush, saying "as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history."  I've said it before and I say it again - President Carter, you're my hero!

And finally, since I know you can't get enough Paris in Prison.  You'll be happy to know that prior to checking into prison, Paris stopped at a bookstore (I know, I know, I'm as shocked as you that she can read) and bought a copy of the Holy Bible.  Is taking the Bible to prison good PR or what?

I'm watching Creature Comforts right now and who knew it would be soooo funny to watch claymation animals talk about sex and relationships.  Such as the Toucan saying, "I'm bi-sexual. I like to buy sex." or the 2 dachshunds talking about how rough it was on them when they found out the female one was taller. Ok, you probably have to see that to appreciate it.  From the same people who do Wallace & Gromit so you know it's going to be good.

Eating local lesson No. 1 - Simply rinsing the spinach under the tap will not get the dirt out.  Yum, nothing like a little grit sauted in olive oil, garlic, and shallots.

Lesson No. 2  - do not buy bread and rolls.  One or the other.  Damn those corn bread rolls.

Yesterday, in my quest to eat local food, I went to the farmer's market.  It turned out the it was buy a plant for your garden day so the farmers that actually sell edibles were few and far between.  I did get some fresh spinach, apples, and locally baked bread.  Not exactly a meal, but it's a start.  I also picked up the book Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan at the library, another book that discusses the local food/organic issue among other topics.  The more I read the more I feel I need to be committed to buying as much local as I can for my own well-being and that of others.  Cat pointed out a website called Eat Wild, which has a state-by-state listing of farmers who sell grass-fed meat, eggs, and other dairy products.  Some of the farmers also sell chicken, turkey, and other food.

Ooo, ooo, ooo, I'm sooo excited. One of my favorite bands from the 80's (God, how long ago was that?), Squeeze is reuniting, well, the lead singer and one other guy, and touring.  The U.S. part runs from July 30-August 14th.  Detroit's in there, right? RIGHT?