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13 Creatively Themed Bars and Restaurants

Morgen Jahnke — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:27:44 +0000

Recently, a restaurant in Taiwan has been making headlines because of its interesting marketing gimmick; at the eatery known as the Modern Toilet Diner, its customers sit on toilet chairs, eat from toilet-shaped dishes, and use toilet paper in place of napkins. While its theme may be extreme, it’s not the only restaurant or bar out there with an interesting gimmick.

Moscow

Gogol: Located in an underground bunker, this restaurant uses an air raid siren to alert customers when their orders are ready to be picked up.
Petrovich: Decked out in Soviet memorabilia, this restaurant pays ironic homage to Stalinist Russia.
The Real McCoy: This club models itself after a prohibition-era speakeasy, complete with a hard-to-find entrance and 1930s design elements.
Shinok (Moscow): Shinok evokes rural Ukraine, circa 1600, with traditional food, music, costumes, and even real barnyard animals on display.

Taiwan

D.S. Music Restaurant: A restaurant with a hospital theme, visitors sit around “beds” while their drinks drip from IV tubes into their glasses.
The Jail: Keeping with the jail theme, diners here are served by waiters in black-and-white-striped prisoner garb.
Modern Toilet Diner: As strange as it may seem, customers are flocking to the Modern Toilet Diner and its toilet-based decor.

Tokyo

Alcatraz: Diners are led to their table in handcuffs and their food is delivered through a slot in the barred “cell” wall.
Alice in Wonderland: Customers go down the rabbit hole to this “Gothic and Lolita” style tribute to Lewis Carroll’s heroine.
Christon Cafe: There’s nothing sacrilegious about a Christian-themed restaurant decorated with crucifixes and featuring menu items such as the “Small Devil” cocktail, right?

USA

Cereality: A restaurant devoted to cereal seems like a strange idea, but with its large menu of cereals, toppings, and cereal-related items like bars and smoothies, this chain of restaurants is taking off in the U.S.
Heart Attack Grill: This Phoenix, Arizona restaurant has its own resident “doctor,” whose prescription calls for the house special, the “Double Bypass Burger.”
Quark’s Bar and Restaurant: Part of the Las Vegas Hilton’s Star Trek Experience, Quark’s Bar serves drinks and food with names that would sound right at home on the Enterprise.

29 Incongruent Christmas Ornaments

Morgen Jahnke — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:42:44 +0000

There are three main things you need to properly trim a Christmas tree: lights, garland, and ornaments. There’s only so much you can do with the first two, but there are literally thousands of options when it comes to choosing ornaments. Every year it seems ornament makers get more creative with their products; now you can make a statement about your favorite sports team, TV show character, or Hogwarts quidditch team. But do they go too far?

Anti-Santas When I think of Santa, usually considered a jolly sort of fellow, these characters aren’t the first to come to mind.

Armament Ornaments Nothing says “Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All” quite like these ornaments.

Fabulous Foods Who needs eggnog and turkey?

Great Moments in Sci-Fi Ornaments “Khan” you feel the Christmas spirit?

Ornaments for the Holidays (other than Christmas) Why not multitask and celebrate as many holidays as possible at one time?

Santa in the Off-Season Making and delivering toys to all the children of the world can be a tough job. That’s why Santa needs his me-time.

18 Truly Scary Halloween Costumes for Kids

Morgen Jahnke — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:54:11 +0000

When I was a kid, our choice of Halloween costumes reflected those things that really scared us–like ghosts, goblins, and Ronald Reagan. These days, kids seem to be at risk of suffering from an increasing number of ailments, from the life-threatening to the merely irritating, and it seems like costume manufacturers have responded to these scary developments with a whole new set of costumes. Read on, if you dare, about the costumes that might really frighten kids (and their parents) if they thought about the threat behind them. Here is a great site for more Halloween costumes.

Bat: Rabies
Bee: Bee sting allergy
Car Air Freshener: Fragrance sensitivity
Chili Pepper: Capsaicin intolerance
Fish: Seafood allergy
Hot Dog: Listeria
Humpty Dumpty: Egg allergy
Ice Cream Cone: Lactose intolerance
Lobster: Shellfish allergy
Monkey: Monkeypox
Peanut: Peanut allergy
Pirate: Scurvy
Pizza: Childhood obesity
Scarecrow: Hay fever
Spiderman: Spider venom allergy
Superman: Kryptonite sensitivity
Tootsie Roll: Diabetes
Wonder Bread: Celiac disease.

Six Depictions of Shakespeare Using Inanimate Objects

Morgen Jahnke — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:36:01 +0000

We’ve all heard about or seen creative takes on classic Shakespearean plays (e.g. A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in the Roaring 20s), but these videos take that creative impulse one step further. This is Shakespeare like you’ve never seen it.

Anakin Caesar: The climactic scene of the play Julius Caesar gains new inspiration when Star Wars action figures substitute for human actors. Plus, I think the voices provided by the kids who made this video are adorable.

Macbeth Act 1, Scene 1: I used to play with Playmobil toys when I was little, but I never reached the artistic heights shown in this video.

Richard III (with vegetables): A lime, a bulb of garlic, and a knife. What could go wrong?

Old Audition Notice: The character of Caliban from The Tempest is usually a bit intimidating, but this puppet version of the wild man is oddly engaging in this casting call.

The Scottish Play (Macbeth) Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets: The name of this clip pretty much says it all.

William Shakespeare’s Pingu: Imagines Romeo and Juliet as star-crossed penguins, of the stuffed animal variety (Sorry, embedding isn’t available for this clip).

Six Groups That Make Music with Unlikely Objects

Morgen Jahnke — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:29:32 +0000

It’s likely that early music making evolved from objects found in everyday life, natural materials like rock, animal bones, and wood, but the creation of instruments has gotten much more complex since then. Of course, a folk tradition of homemade instruments has continued, with instruments ranging from the jug, to the spoons, to various stringed contraptions. In the 20th century, composers and musicians refined the idea that music can be made with a variety of objects. The groups listed below take this idea to the extreme; using materials most of us wouldn’t think could produce musical sounds, they make us think differently about the objects we see everyday.

Bash the Trash: This group performs for kids and teaches them how to make musical instruments out of recycled materials.
Blue Man Group: A phenomenon around the world, this performance art group creates instruments out of PVC pipes and boat antennae.
Car Music Project: Founder Bill Milbrodt, with the help of various musical and mechanical experts, turned his 1982 Honda into a set of unique musical instruments, which include a bass made from the car’s gas tank, 55 percussion instruments, flutes made from tubes, a huge drum created from the trunk of the car, and an “air guitar” made from the car’s air cleaner.
Scrap Arts Music: Scrap Arts Music is a Vancouver-based group that makes music with instruments made from scrap metal.
Stomp: First started in the early 90′s in Brighton, England, the theatrical production Stomp has been popular ever since. Cast members perform intricate coordinated rhythms using objects such as garbage cans and lids, and matchboxes.
The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra: Using only fresh vegetables, this Austrian musical group creates unique sonic experiences for its audiences, and ends their performances with free helpings of vegetable soup.

Eight Coffee-Related Songs on iTunes

Morgen Jahnke — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:13:26 +0000

Starbucks recently announced that one of my favorite musicians, Joni Mitchell, would release a new album through its record label Hear Music. This announcement inspired me to come up with a list of songs I think would be well suited to a coffee drinking environment, all of which I found through the iTunes Music Store.

Black Coffee, Peggy Lee: This bluesy number from the soulful singer is a classic.
Café, Gipsy Kings: I love this upbeat tune from France’s flamenco favorites.
Java, Al Hirt: Master trumpeter Hirt shines in this fun and funky instrumental.
What I Want Is a Proper Cup of Coffee, Trout Fishing in America: Who doesn’t want a “proper cup of coffee, made in a proper copper coffee pot” (try saying that three times fast)?
Java Jive, The Ink Spots: The Manhattan Transfer also does a great version of this song, but I especially like the slow harmonizing of this legendary vocal group.
Afternoons and Coffeespoons, Crash Test Dummies: I’m a sucker for the lyrics of this song, based on T.S. Eliot’s poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.
Coffee Mornin’, Duke Ellington: A classy and mellow tune from the Duke.
La java de Cézigue, Edith Piaf: I don’t know exactly what “Java” refers to in this song, but I love the Parisian vibe of this kicky chanson.

Seven Alternate Spice Girls

Morgen Jahnke — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 07:00:23 +0000

A few weeks ago, the former members of the pop group the Spice Girls announced that they would reunite for a world tour this winter. I’m sure they’re all committed to this reunion tour, but I have a few suggestions for back-up members in case any of them get cold feet.

Three Titles for Die Hard/James Bond Crossover Movies (and then some)

Joe Kissell — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:32:52 +0000

I just got back from seeing Live Free or Die Hard (in France: Die Hard 4—Retour en Enfer), and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I can’t believe it’s been 19 years since the first Die Hard came out, with Alan Rickman as the excellent bad guy. But I also just finished reading Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale (book/movie), since I figured it was about time I got a taste of the literary James Bond and not just the cinematic one. So that got me thinking: what if the two franchises joined forces—John McClane and James Bond saving the world together? We could have:

Die Hard Another Day
Live and Let Die Hard
Tomorrow Never Dies Hard

But then, there are all sorts of other crossover possibilities too, if Bruce doesn’t want to share the spotlight with 007:

To Die Hard For
To Live and Die Hard in L.A.
Never Say Die Hard
A Kiss Before Dying Hard

I’m just saying, the whole not-dying thing could live on forever.

11 Well-Regarded British Actors Who Do Not Appear in the Harry Potter Films

Morgen Jahnke — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 07:01:59 +0000

The new Harry Potter movie has just been released, and as with the other films in the series, this one features an incredible cast of actors, most (all?) of them British. The newcomer in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is Oscar nominee Imelda Staunton, who plays the by turns ferocious and sickly sweet Dolores Umbridge. In his review of the film, Globe and Mail movie critic Rick Groen comments on this bounty of acting talent and asks rhetorically, “…is there an admired British thespian who hasn’t toiled in Potter’s field?”

Although he makes a good point (and in a clever way), there are in fact many admired British actors who haven’t yet made an appearance in the Potter films. While there are obviously only a certain number of parts available, it is interesting to imagine other actors becoming part of the cinematic representation of J.K. Rowling’s world of magic.

In a 2005 poll conducted by the wine label Mouton Cadet, 6,000 people were asked who they considered to be the 10 greatest British actors and actresses of all time. Of these top 20, only three of the women and none of the men have appeared in the Harry Potter films. Of those who are living, here is a list of those yet to tapped to don wizard or witches’ clothing. (Note: The three actresses from the list who have appeared in the movies are Julie Walters/Mrs. Weasley (#2); Dame Maggie Smith/Minerva McGonagall (#4); and Emma Thompson/Sybil Trelawney (#7)).

Actors:

Actresses:

16 Recent Competitive Eating Contests in the US

Morgen Jahnke — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:00:59 +0000

Every July 4th since 1916, Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs has hosted its annual International July Fourth Hot Dog Eating contest in Coney Island, NY. This year promises to be exciting as six-time champion Takeru Kobayashi of Japan defends his title from last year’s second place winner, Joey Chestnut of California. While the Nathan’s contest is probably the best-known eating competition in the US, there are many other competitive eating events that take place every year. Here are just a few of the contests that took place in the year since the last Nathan’s competition.

Rhubarb Pie: Winner ate 7.9 pounds of rhubarb pie in eight minutes; North Dakota State Fair, July 2006
Horseshoe Sandwiches (Two pieces of toast topped with ham, French fries, and cheese sauce): Winner ate 6 pounds, 5 ounces of sandwiches in 10 minutes; Illinois State Fair, August 2006
Gyoza: Winner ate 212 gyoza; Nisei Week, Los Angeles, August 2006
Waffles: Winner ate 23 waffles in 12 minutes (7.5 pounds); Atlanta, GA, September 2006
Cannoli: Winner ate 26 cannoli in six minutes; 79th Annual Feast of San Gennaro, New York, NY, September 2006
Fried Okra: Winner ate 9.75 pounds in 10 minutes; Oklahoma State Fair, September 2006
Jalapeno Peppers: Winner ate 247 pickled jalapenos in eight minutes; State Fair of Texas, October 2006
Whole Turkey: Winner ate 4.8 pounds of turkey in 12 minutes; Artie’s Deli, New York, NY, November 2006
Meatballs: Winner ate 9.97 pounds of meatballs; Tropicana Hotel, Atlantic City, December 2006
Date Nut Bread and Cream Cheese Sandwiches: Winner ate 29 sandwiches in 10 minutes; Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, December 2006
Chili Cheese Fries: Winner ate 5.44 pounds of fries; Long Beach, CA, February 2007
Deep-fried asparagus: Stockton Asparagus Festival, April 2006
Corn on the cob: Winner ate 34 3/4 ears of corn in 12 minutes; 7th Annual Sweet Corn Fiesta, Palm Beach, FL, April 2007
Strawberry Shortcake: Winner ate 15.25 pounds of strawberry shortcake in eight minutes; Mattituck, NY, June 2007
Shoo-Fly Pie: Lancaster, PA, June 2007
Pigs’ Feet and Knuckles: New Jersey State Fair, June 2007

Source: International Federation of Competitive Eating

10 “Summer” Songs

Morgen Jahnke — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:00:27 +0000

The Summer Solstice will take place in a few days, and to get in the mood for summer, I’ve rounded up this list of “summer” songs.

Summertime: From the opera Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin, first staged in 1935
Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer: A 1963 hit from Nat King Cole
Summer in the City: From The Lovin’ Spoonful’s 1966 album Hums of the Lovin’ Spoonful
Hot Fun in the Summertime: A 1969 single from Sly and the Family Stone which was later included on their Greatest Hits album
In the Summertime: Mungo Jerry had a hit with this song in 1970
Summer Side of Life: The title track from Gordon Lightfoot’s 1971 album
Summer Nights: One of my favorite songs from the musical Grease
Boys of Summer: A classic summer song from Don Henley’s 1984 album Building the Perfect Beast
Summer of ’69: This enduring song by Bryan Adams’ first appeared on his 1984 album Reckless
Summer of Love: From the B-52′s 1986 album Bouncing Off the Satellites

11 Father-Related Movies

Morgen Jahnke — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:00:36 +0000

Father’s Day is around the corner, and to celebrate, I’ve compiled this list of movies that are somehow or other father-related.

Big Daddy: Adam Sandler stars as a self-absorbed man who pretends to adopt a kid to impress his girlfriend, but who ends up getting attached to his charge.
Daddy Day Care: A comedy featuring Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin as two guys who open a daycare center.
Father of the Bride: This classic movie from 1950 stars Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor as father and daughter, and was directed by Vincente Minnelli.
Father of the Bride: The 1991 remake of the original, starring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton.
Father of the Bride 2: Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and Martin Short once again appear in this sequel.
Father’s Day: Robin Williams and Billy Crystal star in this movie about two men searching for a boy who both believe to be their son.
Flags of Our Fathers: Clint Eastwood directed this Oscar-nominated film about the lives of the soldiers who raised the flag at the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
Ghost Dad: This 1990 movie directed by Sidney Poitier stars Bill Cosby as a father who is, you guessed it, a ghost.
In the Name of the Father: Set in 1970s Ireland, in this film Daniel Day Lewis portrays a man wrongly imprisoned by the British government.
My Father the Hero: This comedy features Gérard Depardieu as the father of a mischievous teenager, played by Katherine Heigl (of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Knocked Up”).
The Courtship of Eddie’s Father: Ron Howard stars as a kid who tries to play matchmaker between his father (Glenn Ford) and their next-door-neighbor (Shirley Jones).

12 Mother-Related Movies

Morgen Jahnke — Mon, 14 May 2007 13:00:14 +0000

In honor of Mother’s Day (albeit a day late), I’ve compiled this list of “Mother”-related movies.

All About My Mother: This 1999 film from Spanish writer/director Pedro Almovodar features a transvestite father and Penélope Cruz as a nun.
Big Momma’s House: The first of the Big Momma’s House movies introduces Martin Lawrence as an FBI agent in drag.
Mommie Dearest: Based upon the book by Christina Crawford (adopted daughter of Joan Crawford), Mommie Dearest became a cult hit.
Mother: Debbie Reynolds stars as the eponymous mother in this 1996 film by Albert Brooks.
Mother, Jugs, & Speed: The “Mother” of the title is actually the name of Bill Cosby’s character, a highly competitive ambulance driver (the role of “Jugs” was played by Raquel Welch).
Mr. Mom: This ground-breaking 1983 comedy starred Michael Keaton as a stay-at-home dad, and Teri Garr as his wife.
My Stepmother Is an Alien: A geeky scientist (Dan Aykroyd) is romanced by a beautiful alien (Kim Basinger).
Stepmom: Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon square off in this 1998 tearjerker.
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot: It’s hard to say who’s scarier: Sylvester Stallone, or Estelle Getty as his mother.
The Good Mother: Leonard Nimoy directs, and Diane Keaton and Liam Neeson star, in this courtroom drama.
Throw Momma From the Train: Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito lead the cast in this 1987 film.
Your Mother Wears Combat Boots: Barbara Eden (of “I Dream of Jeannie” fame) stars as a mother who follows her son (Hector Elizondo) into the Army.

Top 5 Superheroes Whose Secret Identities Are Introverts

Joe Kissell — Thu, 10 May 2007 07:05:58 +0000

After watching Spider-Man 3 last weekend, Morgen and I were discussing how Peter Parker is an introvert. And it occurred to me that this is true of most superheroes’ secret identities. In fact, that seems to be almost mandatory—more than glasses or an unfashionable haircut, an introverted demeanor can effectively deflect unwanted attention and help to disguise the superhero’s super nature. So here’s my list of the top five superheroes who, in my estimation, are introverts—at least until they slip on the old mask or cape, and sometimes afterwards too. (A disclaimer: I’m not a comic book guy, so my opinions were formed based on TV and film portrayals.)

Batman: Not only is Bruce Wayne somewhat of an introvert, but Batman himself is arguably the most introverted superhero of all time. Unlike some, he stays out of the spotlight as much as possible, and is quick to return to the seclusion of the Bat Cave.
The Hulk: Bruce Banner (especially as played by Bill Bixby in the 1970s TV series) is as quiet and reflective as any stereotypical scientist. And the Hulk? It’s just not easy being green.
Superman: Two words: mild-mannered. No, wait…three words: Fortress of Solitude. Yep, Clark Kent is a solid introvert, and even Superman gets away from it all to recharge.
Spider-Man: Although Peter Parker’s personality has undergone numerous changes, he always seems to like spending time alone, and obviously puts a lot of his energy into mental (as well as physical) gymnastics.
Jean Gray: My favorite X-person, and not just because she’s hot and can levitate things. On second thought…no, that’s exactly why. But also: there’s clearly a lot more going on inside her head than she lets on outwardly.

Five Video Clips of Royal de Luxe Performances on YouTube

Morgen Jahnke — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:00:57 +0000

I recently wrote about the French street theater group Royal de Luxe on Interesting Thing of the Day. Known for their large-scale productions featuring giant marionette figures, there are many videos of their performances available for viewing on YouTube. Here are just a few of them:

The Little Girl Giant: This video is very popular, having been watched by well over a million viewers. It shows a portion of the production, The Sultan’s Elephant, which ran for four days in May 2006 in London.

Royal de Luxe: Elephant: This video shows the movements of an enormous mechanical elephant, as it sprays the crowd with its trunk, trumpets loudly, and parades down the street.

Royal de luxe 2005 à Nantes: The Little Girl Giant and the Elephant meet in Nantes, France.

The Sultan’s Elephant. The Grande Finale: Video from the finale of The Sultan’s Elephant performance in London, which features a giant rocket ship.

The Little Girl Giant in Chile: In January 2007, the Little Girl Giant visited Santiago, Chile, as part of the production The Hidden Rhinoceros.

18 Famous Actors and Actresses Who Are Introverts

Morgen Jahnke — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 08:30:49 +0000

I’ve recently started a blog about introverts; in addition to sharing my own experience, I write about various topics pertaining to introverts in general. In a recent post, I brought up the fact that there are many famous actors and actresses who are introverts, a phenomenon I can’t fully explain.

I can’t prove that there is something about being an introvert that gives aspiring actors and actresses an advantage, but judging from the illustrious names on this list, it can’t hurt.

Source: The Introvert Advantage

Five Light-Hearted Celebrations in March and April

Morgen Jahnke — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 14:00:38 +0000

In Western countries, April 1st has long been celebrated as April Fools’ Day, an opportunity to play tricks on others and to suspend seriousness for a short period of time. As it turns out, there are other holiday traditions that nearly coincide with the beginning of April; some have suggested that the start of spring in the Northern hemisphere may have an influence on these playful and light-hearted celebrations.

Holi (March): This festival in India is dedicated to the Hindu Demoness, Holika, and is marked by celebrants throwing colored powder and water over each other, and the usual social distinctions of caste, sex, status, and age are set aside for its duration.
Purim (March): Purim is a Jewish holiday celebrating the triumph of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai over the evildoer Haman, and often involves games, costumes, and joyful noisemaking. Christopher Guest’s 2006 movie, For Your Consideration, focuses on the making of a fictional film called “Home for Purim.”
Hilaria (March 25): On March 25th, ancient Romans observed Hilaria, a day marking the resurrection of the god Attis and also honoring his mother, Cybele, on which Romans conducted games, masquerades, and other revelries.
Poisson d’Avril (April 1): Literally, “fish of April,” this French version of April Fools’ Day involves pinning paper cut-outs of fish on other peoples’ backs, thus making them the “Poisson d’Avril,” or a fish so young and foolish that it is easily caught.
Taily Day (April 1): Also known as “Hunting the gowk” in Scotland, those who are tricked are known as “April-gowks,” or cuckoos.

Six YouTube Videos Featuring Entertaining Automatons

Morgen Jahnke — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:00:48 +0000

I first fell in love with automatons when I visited the famous Musée Mécanique in San Francisco. At that time it was housed in a dark, low-ceilinged hall right near the beach, but has since moved to the more tourist-oriented Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s a great place to visit; for a few quarters you can see how the technology of the past brought these mechanical figures to life. For a virtual version of this experience, check out these YouTube videos of automatons from museums around the world.

Sausage Automaton: Watch this clip from the Museum of Automatons in La Rochelle, France, to see poor porkers being made into sausages.

Skeleton Automaton: Marvin’s Marvelous Museum in Farmington Hills, Michigan is a popular destination in the area; check out the creepy insides of this macabre skeleton.

Silver Swan Automaton: At the Bowes Museum in North East England, this historic silver swan, created in 1773 and mentioned in Mark Twain’s book, The Innocents Abroad, is put into operation twice daily, at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Hookah Bar/Opium Den: One of the more gritty scenes brought to life at the Musée Mécanique in San Francisco, California, this mechanical tableau features tiny figures conducting shady business in an undisclosed location.

Bimbo Box: Also from the MusÃ©e MÃ©canique, these highly entertaining monkeys with maracas perform a great number from West Side Story.

Laughing Sal: Although I find a little bit of Sal goes a long way, many people love her infectious and distinctive laugh. A survivor of the long-gone Playland-at-the-Beach amusement park, Sal is now a permanent fixture at the Musée Mécanique.

Eight New Year’s Rituals from Around the World

Morgen Jahnke — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:15:50 +0000

Next week, on March 19th, residents of Bali, Indonesia, will celebrate Nyepi, the beginning of their new year. Nyepi, sometimes called the day of silence, is a time when everyone remains indoors and refrains from their regular activities in order to reflect on the past year as well as the year ahead. Many other cultures have similar New Year’s rituals; some silly, some serious, all are concerned with putting the past to rest and ushering in the new year.

Nyepi (March 19, 2007): On this day, residents of Bali, Indonesia, remain indoors and maintain silence as a means of encouraging self-reflection.
Songkran (April 13-15, 2007): In recent years this Thai New Year’s celebration has been marked by people throwing water on each other and on vehicles in the streets, a mostly welcome practice since April is the hottest month in Thailand.
Rosh Hashanah/Jewish New Year (September 12-14, 2007): One of the traditions of Rosh Hashanah is to throw pieces of bread on flowing water to symbolize casting off one’s sins (known as Tashlikh).
Hogmanay (December 31, 2007): One important aspect of this Scottish New Year’s celebration is the tradition of “first-footing;” it is considered good luck if the first person to cross your threshold in the new year is a dark-haired male, preferably bearing gifts of coal (symbolizing warmth) and salt (symbolizing flavor).
La Festa di San Silvestro (December 31, 2007): Italians celebrate the new year with special foods and festivities, and sometimes with flying furniture; it is customary in some areas to throw old belongings out the window to symbolize making way for the new year.
Noche Vieja (December 31, 2007): A fun custom in Spain is to eat twelve grapes, one for each strike of the clock, at midnight.
Shogatsu/Japanese New Year (January 1, 2008): In Japan, much attention is paid to the “firsts” of the year, including the first sunrise, the first work of the new year, and the first dream of the new year.
Chinese New Year (February 7, 2008): There are many traditions and practices associated with the Chinese New Year season, which lasts for fifteen days after the New Year begins. One custom is to buy all new clothes to wear, often red in color, as red is believed to keep away bad spirits and bad luck.

Eight Ways to Find Serenity

Joe Kissell — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 14:00:25 +0000

As previously mentioned, Firefly is without any doubt the best thing ever to have been broadcast on TV. This outer-space western followed the exploits of Captain Mal Reynolds and the crew of the Firefly-class spaceship Serenity, and has attracted a rabid base of fans (or “Browncoats,” as we like to be called) far out of proportion to its brief time on the air. For those who just can’t get enough Firefly, here are eight things you can buy to help scratch that itch:

Firefly: The Complete Series (DVD): Start here, and watch all the shows in the order they were originally intended to be shown (which is different from the order in which they aired). And enjoy the wonderful special features.
Firefly (Original Television Soundtrack) by Greg Edmonson contains 25 tracks of music from the series, including the theme song, and is just the thing to have playing in the background while you do some reading…
Firefly Official Companion, Vol. 1 by Joss Whedon: This book contains scripts, photos, and a wealth of inside information on the show. (No word yet on Volume 2!)
Serenity: Those Left Behind: This graphic novel by Joss Whedon, Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad takes place between the TV series and the movie, which brings us to…
Serenity (DVD): Next, watch the outstanding sequel movie, which makes sense even if you’ve never watched a single Firefly episode (but is better still if you have). Then you’ll want to read…
Serenity Official Visual Companion: This book by Joss Whedon includes the shooting script for Serenity, an extended interview, and all sorts of other extras.
Done The Impossible: The Fans’ Tale of Firefly & Serenity: This unusually high-quality fan-produced DVD, hosted by Adam Baldwin (Jayne) and with voiceover by Jewel Staite (Kaylee), documents the life of the show and movie from the viewers’ point of view.
Finally, Finding Serenity: Anti-Heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon’s Firefly: This book of essays about the Firefly/Serenity phenomenon, including one by Jewel Staite, provides a different set of perspectives on the show.