"Frankly, I'm happy with the status quo. The status quo works for me. Hey, I make about a half a million a year and get to sail my boat 6 months out of the year. Frankly, that works for me." Mr. P on the social change platform of the U.S. democratic presidential candidates.
"I go to demos to meet guys." Young woman we met at a recent rally to end...
" Inspiring messages didn't inspire me. So, now I'm on Prozac." Sad girl we met at a demo.
"I reuse, I recycle, but I don't reduce." Guilt ridden citizen.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70 % fun
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Quotable politicians
Last night we we were entertained by CNN democratic debate and especially by the inspiring words of Mr. Gravel (Where did he come out of?) :
"These people are not going to change anything . " (directed at other candidates)
or,
Inspiring "we're going to change the world " video song of the Obama camp : $ 10 000
"The best man for the job is a woman" video of the Clinton camp : $ 10 000
Gravel' s cynical outburst : These people are not going to change anything : priceless.
Pinkgrapefruit
30 % fun, 70 % conscientious
30 % conscientious, 70 % fun
"These people are not going to change anything . " (directed at other candidates)
or,
Inspiring "we're going to change the world " video song of the Obama camp : $ 10 000
"The best man for the job is a woman" video of the Clinton camp : $ 10 000
Gravel' s cynical outburst : These people are not going to change anything : priceless.
Pinkgrapefruit
30 % fun, 70 % conscientious
30 % conscientious, 70 % fun
Monday, July 23, 2007
United Colors of College - In this we seek knowledge
United Colors of College:
The post modern ( and important) approach to educational inclusiveness.
A vignette -
A panel discussion in an undisclosed university.
Panel member 1: God is a woman
Panel member 2: God is a black man
Panel member 3: God is a black woman
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
The post modern ( and important) approach to educational inclusiveness.
A vignette -
A panel discussion in an undisclosed university.
Panel member 1: God is a woman
Panel member 2: God is a black man
Panel member 3: God is a black woman
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
Friday, July 20, 2007
Busting our porc chops - In this we are stalked by live stock
Busting our porc chops:
Being given a hard time for eating meat.
A vignette -
I met my three friends at the latest dinner hot spot. We ordered meat. And a big bottle of red wine. Friend number 1 had a great big porc chop. Friend number two had a great big steak. Friend number three had a great big hamburger. The appetizer was foie gras. We felt very naughty. We were bad. We wondered out loud whether our meat had been slaughtered humanely. "Isn't that a little oxymoronic?" friend 1 asked. "No, I've seen the documentary Abattoir, it's nasty!" said friend number 2. "If the French can't even make it sound good, you know it's got to be bad."
Ouside, a demonstration seemed to be forming. A crowd of people taped a poster of a cow with a severed head oozing blood to the window. These days, anti-meat demos were routine.
"Are we at a pro-choice rally?" said friend 1. "It reminds me of the days at the clinic," said friend 2.
We heard them chanting: "They're butchers ! "
We ordered dessert.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% conscientious, 70% fun , or
30 % fun, 70 % conscientious
Being given a hard time for eating meat.
A vignette -
I met my three friends at the latest dinner hot spot. We ordered meat. And a big bottle of red wine. Friend number 1 had a great big porc chop. Friend number two had a great big steak. Friend number three had a great big hamburger. The appetizer was foie gras. We felt very naughty. We were bad. We wondered out loud whether our meat had been slaughtered humanely. "Isn't that a little oxymoronic?" friend 1 asked. "No, I've seen the documentary Abattoir, it's nasty!" said friend number 2. "If the French can't even make it sound good, you know it's got to be bad."
Ouside, a demonstration seemed to be forming. A crowd of people taped a poster of a cow with a severed head oozing blood to the window. These days, anti-meat demos were routine.
"Are we at a pro-choice rally?" said friend 1. "It reminds me of the days at the clinic," said friend 2.
We heard them chanting: "They're butchers ! "
We ordered dessert.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% conscientious, 70% fun , or
30 % fun, 70 % conscientious
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Atelier Renée Normandin - a profile
If you happen to find yourself on the Plateau Mt-Royal in Montreal (which if you are visiting, I would strongly recommend), stop by the atelier-boutique Reliure Artisanale Renée Normandin at 371 Roy st E. You can watch bookbinding artisans at work and pick up the cutest little hand made notebooks.
We stumbled upon it one night when it was closed but were enchanted by the little cahiers she had displayed in her window. We spoke to Renée Normandin over the phone briefly to find out a bit more. The interview was conducted in French and is a translation.
In the atelier which she took over from another owner-artisan four years ago, Normandin applies the skills she has mastered as a binder.
"We repair old books, fill custom made orders, make blank books, geneologies, marriage books..." says Normandin.
They do all the work inside their boutique, therefore customers are invited to watch artisans at work. A real treat.
"The customer sometimes has to be patient, because we might be working on a more complex binding, but we will eventually answer their request," she explains.
One of the types of paper they use is cotton paper. We asked if there was an advantage to using cotton paper?
"It is of a higher quality, lasts longer and is acid free ," she says.
They also work with leather, marble, cloth, Nepalese paper.
She adds, "customers come in asking for their books to be printed with paper they have brought in . People come in with doctoral thesis, video game scripts."
They also use techniques of protection and conservation, work on collections, and work on covers ranging from supple to rigid.
They offer workshops and courses. The workshops are one day, usually a Saturday and provide the opportunity to work on a specific project. They cost between 75 $ - 95 $.
A course is 10 classes of 2 hours each where a specific technique can be perfected. They are $ 350.00.
Reliure is the French word for binding. She shares her space with Josée Roberge, an artisan who has been binding for 20 years and is still learning techniques.
"It has a long history and tradition ," she says.
You can find a web site if you look up Atelier Soleil or relieur.ca on the net.
Phone number: (514) 849-8626
Closed Sunday and Monday.
We stumbled upon it one night when it was closed but were enchanted by the little cahiers she had displayed in her window. We spoke to Renée Normandin over the phone briefly to find out a bit more. The interview was conducted in French and is a translation.
In the atelier which she took over from another owner-artisan four years ago, Normandin applies the skills she has mastered as a binder.
"We repair old books, fill custom made orders, make blank books, geneologies, marriage books..." says Normandin.
They do all the work inside their boutique, therefore customers are invited to watch artisans at work. A real treat.
"The customer sometimes has to be patient, because we might be working on a more complex binding, but we will eventually answer their request," she explains.
One of the types of paper they use is cotton paper. We asked if there was an advantage to using cotton paper?
"It is of a higher quality, lasts longer and is acid free ," she says.
They also work with leather, marble, cloth, Nepalese paper.
She adds, "customers come in asking for their books to be printed with paper they have brought in . People come in with doctoral thesis, video game scripts."
They also use techniques of protection and conservation, work on collections, and work on covers ranging from supple to rigid.
They offer workshops and courses. The workshops are one day, usually a Saturday and provide the opportunity to work on a specific project. They cost between 75 $ - 95 $.
A course is 10 classes of 2 hours each where a specific technique can be perfected. They are $ 350.00.
Reliure is the French word for binding. She shares her space with Josée Roberge, an artisan who has been binding for 20 years and is still learning techniques.
"It has a long history and tradition ," she says.
You can find a web site if you look up Atelier Soleil or relieur.ca on the net.
Phone number: (514) 849-8626
Closed Sunday and Monday.
Sweetery - In this we find sweet inspiration
Sweetery:
A bakery, shop, grocer, restaurant, etc. , that sells a dessert we love to eat.
We feel we must bring to you our most treasured morsels. So here, one of our writers will attempt to bring you a weekly installment of Sweetery, to share with you some of her sweetest inspirations.
It is one of life's great gifts (proof there is a god - or proof that the human condition is not entirely inhuman) that we can enjoy life's wonderful sugary confections. Having been enlightened by several books on the origin of sugar ( we are university graduates after all), I must inform you that sugar has its roots in the slave trade (Many of you may already be aware of this fact). Not exactly what you want to hear before reading about or biting into your most yummiest of pastries. Yes, sugar goes way, way back. You can check Amazon, you'll find books on the subject. There's more than one reason many people refer to sweets as guilty pleasures. If you want to find out more about humanizing sugar, you might want to read up on the fair trade movement (It does not only apply to coffee).
But this column is about eating sweets. So sweets we shall eat and write about.
The first dessert I'd like to write about is a cake I ate prepared by my mother for a birthday party. I asked her what it was because it was simply delicious. She said it was called a Plum Joulu and a guest piped in with "Yes, it is a cake made in Finland". Hence, my mother now calls it the Finnish Plum Joulu. We are not Finnish.
The way my mother prepared it was a little different than the original recipe which requires plum jam - she used cherry jam. She could not find plum jam. We are plum jam deprived in these parts.
I googled Finnish Plum Joulu and I have to say, not much came up; I was a little disappointed. There were a few entries which seem to suggest that yes, they make it Finland and it seems, they make it at Christmas. The exact recipe I have not, but I will continue to look for a pastry chef (or a Finnish person) who is an expert on the plum joulu, its history and tradition. Do they make it elsewhere? I know not. I need an expert. So if you know anybody...
I looked for a Finnish restaurant in the phone book, and nothing. But I will not give up. I will not rest until I have fully understood the plum joulu. Incidentally, you must try it, if you haven't already. To die for.
The plum joulu is made of a white cake with almond cut into four layers with whipped cream and plum jam in between. But a more precise recipe is to follow.
We hoped you liked our first installment of Sweetery.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70 % fun
A bakery, shop, grocer, restaurant, etc. , that sells a dessert we love to eat.
We feel we must bring to you our most treasured morsels. So here, one of our writers will attempt to bring you a weekly installment of Sweetery, to share with you some of her sweetest inspirations.
It is one of life's great gifts (proof there is a god - or proof that the human condition is not entirely inhuman) that we can enjoy life's wonderful sugary confections. Having been enlightened by several books on the origin of sugar ( we are university graduates after all), I must inform you that sugar has its roots in the slave trade (Many of you may already be aware of this fact). Not exactly what you want to hear before reading about or biting into your most yummiest of pastries. Yes, sugar goes way, way back. You can check Amazon, you'll find books on the subject. There's more than one reason many people refer to sweets as guilty pleasures. If you want to find out more about humanizing sugar, you might want to read up on the fair trade movement (It does not only apply to coffee).
But this column is about eating sweets. So sweets we shall eat and write about.
The first dessert I'd like to write about is a cake I ate prepared by my mother for a birthday party. I asked her what it was because it was simply delicious. She said it was called a Plum Joulu and a guest piped in with "Yes, it is a cake made in Finland". Hence, my mother now calls it the Finnish Plum Joulu. We are not Finnish.
The way my mother prepared it was a little different than the original recipe which requires plum jam - she used cherry jam. She could not find plum jam. We are plum jam deprived in these parts.
I googled Finnish Plum Joulu and I have to say, not much came up; I was a little disappointed. There were a few entries which seem to suggest that yes, they make it Finland and it seems, they make it at Christmas. The exact recipe I have not, but I will continue to look for a pastry chef (or a Finnish person) who is an expert on the plum joulu, its history and tradition. Do they make it elsewhere? I know not. I need an expert. So if you know anybody...
I looked for a Finnish restaurant in the phone book, and nothing. But I will not give up. I will not rest until I have fully understood the plum joulu. Incidentally, you must try it, if you haven't already. To die for.
The plum joulu is made of a white cake with almond cut into four layers with whipped cream and plum jam in between. But a more precise recipe is to follow.
We hoped you liked our first installment of Sweetery.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70 % fun
Fart mart - In this we go shopping
Fart Mart :
A shopping mart that sells farts.
We found a fart mart on the outskirts of Jersey. We spoke to the manager.
"What kind of farts do you sell?"
"We sell all kinds. The scented ones are very popular , of course. We have lavender farts, rose scented farts , mint scented farts. But the best seller is the unscented fart. It is a completely odorless fart; a real revolution in farting. It outsells the Coco Chanel fart by a mudslide."
We say, thanks for sharing ! Fiy - we don't mind the smell of farts at all!
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
A shopping mart that sells farts.
We found a fart mart on the outskirts of Jersey. We spoke to the manager.
"What kind of farts do you sell?"
"We sell all kinds. The scented ones are very popular , of course. We have lavender farts, rose scented farts , mint scented farts. But the best seller is the unscented fart. It is a completely odorless fart; a real revolution in farting. It outsells the Coco Chanel fart by a mudslide."
We say, thanks for sharing ! Fiy - we don't mind the smell of farts at all!
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
Hey, In Your Face - In this we are poets
Hey, In Your Face (accompanied by music, this poem is sung)
Hey, In Your Face
You're in my space
I can't reach my state of grace
When you're always trying to get in my face
I know you're on a mission
But please, ask for permission
When you want to get in my face
In my space
I'm not really in the mood for a can of mace
I'm trying to reach nirvana
But you had to follow me into the sauna
And now I can't get the nasty sight of you out of my head
It's a trauma !
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
Hey, In Your Face
You're in my space
I can't reach my state of grace
When you're always trying to get in my face
I know you're on a mission
But please, ask for permission
When you want to get in my face
In my space
I'm not really in the mood for a can of mace
I'm trying to reach nirvana
But you had to follow me into the sauna
And now I can't get the nasty sight of you out of my head
It's a trauma !
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
Thursday, July 12, 2007
What is Washi? - In this we interview
In this post, we bring you our first arts & culture interview. We set out to find out about Washi. What is Washi? Washi, we are told by Stan Phillips, co-owner of Au Papier Japonais at 24 Fairmount W. in Montreal, is Japanese Paper. (Wa for Japanese and shi for paper).
It is a hand-made paper made in Japan for over 1200 years consisting of the long inner-bark fibres of three plants indigenous to Japan - kozo being the main one used. The other two aside from kozo (Japanese mulberry) are Gampi tree and Mitsumata shrub. No forests are depleted in making washi as kozo is a farm crop and is regenerated annually. It is also acid-free or very low in acidity which is another one of its qualities.
His love of washi began when his co-owner and partner Lorraine Pritchard, an artist, stumbled into The Japanese Paper Place in Toronto and discovered the many uses she could put Washi to as an artist. Buying so much of it, she was offered a job and later they moved to Montreal and decided to open their own store, Au Papier Japonais.
"Artists like the translucency of Washi, the strength of it... the way they can intermix images... several layers can interact in interesting ways," says Phillips. "It is so thin, yet you can still do stuff on it... you can copy on it, you can pass it through a computer printer."
In fact, they offer many workshops, one of which is Photography on Washi. So photo enthusiasts can try their hand at 'marrying the high tech digital world with traditional craftsmanship.' Others include Lampshade Making taught by Phillips. We asked how the paper doesn't catch fire. He responded: " I teach some tricks of the trade like leaving enough space between the bulb and paper, circulate enough air between top and bottom, the paper never gets hot."
Phillips points out that people sometimes associate Japanese paper with rice paper but in fact he considers that a racial slur. This stereotype comes from the 1800's when a British official named the paper made in Japan, rice paper. As we explained earlier, Washi is made up of three fibres of three different plants.
Some of its many uses are: invitations, photo albums, collage, lighting, bookbinding,calligraphy, wall decoration, origami, cards, shades, shoji screens, gift wrapping, lampshades.
For more about the history and process of making Washi, you can consult their website. There are also several books on the topic.
We hope you enjoyed our little primer.
May your tissue no longer be an issue.
It is a hand-made paper made in Japan for over 1200 years consisting of the long inner-bark fibres of three plants indigenous to Japan - kozo being the main one used. The other two aside from kozo (Japanese mulberry) are Gampi tree and Mitsumata shrub. No forests are depleted in making washi as kozo is a farm crop and is regenerated annually. It is also acid-free or very low in acidity which is another one of its qualities.
His love of washi began when his co-owner and partner Lorraine Pritchard, an artist, stumbled into The Japanese Paper Place in Toronto and discovered the many uses she could put Washi to as an artist. Buying so much of it, she was offered a job and later they moved to Montreal and decided to open their own store, Au Papier Japonais.
"Artists like the translucency of Washi, the strength of it... the way they can intermix images... several layers can interact in interesting ways," says Phillips. "It is so thin, yet you can still do stuff on it... you can copy on it, you can pass it through a computer printer."
In fact, they offer many workshops, one of which is Photography on Washi. So photo enthusiasts can try their hand at 'marrying the high tech digital world with traditional craftsmanship.' Others include Lampshade Making taught by Phillips. We asked how the paper doesn't catch fire. He responded: " I teach some tricks of the trade like leaving enough space between the bulb and paper, circulate enough air between top and bottom, the paper never gets hot."
Phillips points out that people sometimes associate Japanese paper with rice paper but in fact he considers that a racial slur. This stereotype comes from the 1800's when a British official named the paper made in Japan, rice paper. As we explained earlier, Washi is made up of three fibres of three different plants.
Some of its many uses are: invitations, photo albums, collage, lighting, bookbinding,calligraphy, wall decoration, origami, cards, shades, shoji screens, gift wrapping, lampshades.
For more about the history and process of making Washi, you can consult their website. There are also several books on the topic.
We hope you enjoyed our little primer.
May your tissue no longer be an issue.
Monday, July 9, 2007
6 degrees of separation - In this we ask, why go to college?
Six degrees of separation:
A world in which the more university education you have, the more you find yourself separated from your dream job.
-----
"I was so close to landing my dream gig after my first degree, because of an acqaintance who knew the editor at Daily Variety," said a friend of ours. "But that fell through, and after a long slog I went back and got a second degree in photojournalism and now I'm a barista at Starbucks. I'm thinking if I go Ivy League for my third, maybe they'll promote me to manager. "
----
A special poem inspired by Just Getting By (Elizabeth Sheperd - Jazz musician)
6 degrees
If I had only gone Ivy league
maybe I wouldn't be holding this squeegee
I make coffee for a living
It's never really a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
A world in which the more university education you have, the more you find yourself separated from your dream job.
-----
"I was so close to landing my dream gig after my first degree, because of an acqaintance who knew the editor at Daily Variety," said a friend of ours. "But that fell through, and after a long slog I went back and got a second degree in photojournalism and now I'm a barista at Starbucks. I'm thinking if I go Ivy League for my third, maybe they'll promote me to manager. "
----
A special poem inspired by Just Getting By (Elizabeth Sheperd - Jazz musician)
6 degrees
If I had only gone Ivy league
maybe I wouldn't be holding this squeegee
I make coffee for a living
It's never really a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Fort Knox , Canada - In this we warn the rodents
Fort Knox , Canada:
A garden, somewhere in Canada, heavily protected by a miniature wire electrical fence capable of delivering an electrical jolt to small rodents (namely squirrels and groundhogs), thereby keeping them out of aforementioned garden and protecting vegetables.
This in no way harms the rodents (they might actually get a little buzz).
We think this is the more eco-friendly alternative.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
A garden, somewhere in Canada, heavily protected by a miniature wire electrical fence capable of delivering an electrical jolt to small rodents (namely squirrels and groundhogs), thereby keeping them out of aforementioned garden and protecting vegetables.
This in no way harms the rodents (they might actually get a little buzz).
We think this is the more eco-friendly alternative.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious, or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Dead Earth - In this we ask, will the Earth survive Live Earth?
Dead Earth:
The state of the Earth post Live Earth.
"They trampled humans, they trampled wild life, it was a mad house!" said one festival attendee.
" One guy tossed his cookies right next to me!" said another.
"Several dogs got confused by a frequency used by a musician, and they went rabid!" said a third.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
The state of the Earth post Live Earth.
"They trampled humans, they trampled wild life, it was a mad house!" said one festival attendee.
" One guy tossed his cookies right next to me!" said another.
"Several dogs got confused by a frequency used by a musician, and they went rabid!" said a third.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
pop coma - In this we ask,"who is Harry Potter"?
Pop coma:
State of being characterized by a total ignorance of pop culture and its references.
Who is Harry Potter? asked one friend to another over coffee.
You really do live in a permanent state of pop coma, don't you? replied the other.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
Soon, bringing you a new way to think about tissue.
State of being characterized by a total ignorance of pop culture and its references.
Who is Harry Potter? asked one friend to another over coffee.
You really do live in a permanent state of pop coma, don't you? replied the other.
Pinkgrapefruit
30% fun, 70% conscientious or
30% conscientious, 70% fun
Soon, bringing you a new way to think about tissue.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Flour Power - In this, we think dessert, not desert
Flour Power:
The eco need to try to find renewable sources of biofuel in everything we eat, prompted by the ABC report on Twinkie, Deconstructed. Notably, we see a wealth of potential in sweets.
"Those twinkies contain enough petroleum to power a small generator," says one expert. "Fructose is the new gold," says another (not seen on ABC).
We say, stuff those pastries in our gas tanks.
The eco need to try to find renewable sources of biofuel in everything we eat, prompted by the ABC report on Twinkie, Deconstructed. Notably, we see a wealth of potential in sweets.
"Those twinkies contain enough petroleum to power a small generator," says one expert. "Fructose is the new gold," says another (not seen on ABC).
We say, stuff those pastries in our gas tanks.
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