Overtaken Fence

"Curiouser and curiouser..."

Nothing made me want an iPad until I saw this app. Sure, the book is entertaining enough on its own, but I really like what they've done with the original 1865 John Tenniel illustrations. The coloring is so rich and wonderful.

Marooned

Wii Streaming Movies

If you have a Wii (which I assume you already do in order to play your daily Mario), Netflix just made your life a lot better. Whereas before your instant queue was only watchable on your laptop, they're now offering streaming videos through your Wii for your TV. We just got our setup disc in the mail today and within a few short minutes I was being disappointed by Julie & Julia* on the big screen. Technology is a wonderful thing.

*Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci and the city of Paris were great. Amy Adams was unbearably annoying.

Image from here.

Uncomfortable Childhood Memories, Part 1

Orange You Glad You Didn't Say Banana

Although my childhood height and physique suggested I would be a great dancer, my coordination did not concur. Nevertheless, my parents enrolled me in jazz, tap, ballet (with private lessons!) and gymnastics classes over the course of several years. Based on the number and variety of classes, their theory must have been that the dance style I didn't completely suck at was just one genre away. "Perhaps hip hop," they must have said with palpable disappointment. When I was in 3rd grade (and, in the interest of full disclosure, Ist-12th grade as well) I was always cracking wise. My gymnastics teacher, let's call her Ms. Anderson, was teaching us the proper form for round offs and a girl in the class piped up, saying, "I remember learning that you should try to brush the imaginary cobwebs off the ceiling with your toes!" Without a moment's hesitation I said, "Who taught you round offs?! A BANANA?!" At this time the studio grew tense and quiet and the girl just squeaked out, "Actually, it was Ms. Anderson."

Image via Natalie Dee

Real Surprise

So I see a copy of the May 2010 Real Simple sitting on the table where my neighbors have an impromptu magazine exchange program going and I think, "I must steal this now before someone else takes this treasure!" I abscond with it and then, while reading it, got to wondering who in my building subscribes to Real Simple. I check the label and boom:

It turns out it's me! THANK YOU DANIEL! You're such a thoughtful friend.

A Los Angeles Smogset