February 26, 2010
My brother and I went to see one of our favourite comedians, Jeremy Hotz, at Massey Hall this evening. We have been to many of the Just for Laughs festivals in the past, which have featured Jeremy a number of times. His quirky and unique stand-up style is what I find hilarious! He tends to find misery in the most everyday tasks and delivers his commentary on the brink of either laughing at himself or on verge of tears. Jeremy got his start in little comedy clubs around Canada, but in 1997, he performed at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal and received a standing ovation after his debut performance at the festival’s prestigious television gala. Today’s question is: when did the Just for Laughs comedy festival start?
A: Just for Laughs comedy festival started out as a humble two-night French language comedy show in Montreal in 1983. Twenty- seven years later, it has turned into a powerhouse of comedic film, television, theatre and touring comedy festivals. The company has expanded from Montreal to Toronto, then adding Chicago and most recently Nantes, France.
Sources:
Jeremy Hotz
Just for Laughs: Jeremy Hotz
Just for Laughs Comedy Festival
Travel Lady: Just for Laughs
Friday
Hannah and Her Sisters
February 25, 2010
For Valentine’s Day, I rented Annie Hall (see entry VD) and it reignited the desire to see Woody Allen films. On recommendation, I rented Hannah and Her Sisters, which turned out to have amazingly rich and complicated characters and wonderful plot. The storyline that I was most fascinated with was that of Eliot, Hannah’s husband, and Lee, her sister. Eliot had become enamoured with Lee and decided that he wanted to have an affair with her - to find out what happens I suggest that you go out and rent it. There is a fabulous scene in the film, where Eliot is first trying to get Lee to notice his affections, which takes place in a bookstore. Eliot tells Lee that he read a poem that reminds him of her and he wanted to buy her an anthology book that contained the poem. The featured line from the poem is “nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands”, which I immediately recognized as e. e. cummings, noting that it is also used as the epigraph from Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie. Today’s question is: what is the name of that e. e. cummings poem?
A: The book that Eliot gives Lee in the bookstore is the Complete Poems 1913 – 1962 by e. e. cummings. Eliot tells her that the poem he wants her to read is on page 112 of the book, yet in actuality the poem entitled “somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond” is on page 366.
somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
e. e. cummings
somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
any experience,your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near
your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose
or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully ,suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;
nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing
(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands
Sources:
Academy of American Poets
Internet Movie Database: Hannah and Her Sisters
For Valentine’s Day, I rented Annie Hall (see entry VD) and it reignited the desire to see Woody Allen films. On recommendation, I rented Hannah and Her Sisters, which turned out to have amazingly rich and complicated characters and wonderful plot. The storyline that I was most fascinated with was that of Eliot, Hannah’s husband, and Lee, her sister. Eliot had become enamoured with Lee and decided that he wanted to have an affair with her - to find out what happens I suggest that you go out and rent it. There is a fabulous scene in the film, where Eliot is first trying to get Lee to notice his affections, which takes place in a bookstore. Eliot tells Lee that he read a poem that reminds him of her and he wanted to buy her an anthology book that contained the poem. The featured line from the poem is “nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands”, which I immediately recognized as e. e. cummings, noting that it is also used as the epigraph from Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie. Today’s question is: what is the name of that e. e. cummings poem?
A: The book that Eliot gives Lee in the bookstore is the Complete Poems 1913 – 1962 by e. e. cummings. Eliot tells her that the poem he wants her to read is on page 112 of the book, yet in actuality the poem entitled “somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond” is on page 366.
somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
e. e. cummings
somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
any experience,your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near
your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose
or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully ,suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;
nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing
(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands
Sources:
Academy of American Poets
Internet Movie Database: Hannah and Her Sisters
Vay-cay
February 24, 2010
For more than 10 years, I have been talking about visiting Belize. I initially wanted to go there on my honeymoon, but with my husband being from another country and not all of his family able to attend the wedding, things didn’t really work out and our honeymoon was spent visiting with those that couldn’t make it to see our nuptials. Then, I wanted to go for my fifth anniversary, but things didn’t really work out in general. So, in the midst of a divorce, I figure I’m going to go on vacation to Belize. Being part Guatemalan, my matriarchal family never lets me forget that Belize used to be a part of Guatemala. My former husband maintained that Belize was a British colony. Now, much like me, Belize is an independent nation. Today’s question is: when did Belize achieve independence?
A:
Belize was initially inhabited by the Mayans between 200 A.D. and 1000 A.D. The culture slowly declined throughout Central and South America with the conquering attempts of the Spanish and British. In preparation for colonization, The British-Guatemala Treaty over Belize was established in 1859 to settle the boundaries of the countries. In 1862 Belize became a colony of British Honduras, making Belize the last British colony on the American mainland.
1933 Guatemala reasserted its claim to Belize stating that the treaty of 1859 was an agreement of cession through which Guatemala would give up its territorial claims. The Guatemalan Governor General, Jorge Ubico, disputed the validity of the treaty under the grounds that Britain did not fulfill the terms and commitments of the document. Britain maintained that Guatemala had never exercised any authority over the area or protested British presence until the 19th century. A series of political negotiations began and continued well into the 1970s, yet the dispute was never resolved. In 1975 Britain allowed the colonial government to internationalize its case for independence, so Belizeans participated in international diplomacy even before the area became a sovereign nation. The stalemate in the protracted negotiations between Britain and Guatemala over the future status of Belize led Belizeans to seek the international community's assistance in resolving issues associated with independence.
In 1981 Belize became an independent nation, through the support of Central American and Caribbean countries who campaigned on Belize’s behalf.
Sources:
BBC News – Belize Country Profile
Belize – Decolonization and the Border Dispute with Guatemala
History of Belize – Chronological Table
Anus?
February 23, 2010
My roommate and I subscribe to an organic fruit and vegetable delivery service. The company, called Mama Earth, delivers seasonal, organically grown produce to our home. This week, we had a fennel bulb delivered and my roommate asked me if it was an anus.
Now, let me provide some background… Both her and I worked in family-run grocery stores when we were younger. Both of the stores stocked fennel but labelled it as anise. My roommate always thought that it was pronounced anus.
But back to our organic fennel, I didn’t know how to answer her. So, today’s question is: is there a difference between fennel and anise?
A: There seems to be a common misconception that fennel and anise are the same things. Some cooking websites use the two words interchangeably, as both plants have a subtle liquorice flavour. However, it seems that anise and fennel are actually a different plant. The botanical name of anise is Pimpinella anisum while the botanical name of fennel is Foeniculum vulgare. Both anise and fennel belong to the Apiaceae family.
The whole plant (bulb, stalks, and fronds) of fennel can be consumed, while it is usually just the seeds from the anise plant that are eaten. Star anise or Chinese anise, which is often used as a spice, is not part of the Apiaceae family, which means it is not even related to anise or fennel. Huh.
So, the likelihood is that if you go to the grocery story and you see a plant-like vegetable labelled anise, it’s a good chance that is fennel – and not anus.
Sources:
Jamie Oliver Forum
Yahoo! Answers
My roommate and I subscribe to an organic fruit and vegetable delivery service. The company, called Mama Earth, delivers seasonal, organically grown produce to our home. This week, we had a fennel bulb delivered and my roommate asked me if it was an anus.
Now, let me provide some background… Both her and I worked in family-run grocery stores when we were younger. Both of the stores stocked fennel but labelled it as anise. My roommate always thought that it was pronounced anus.
But back to our organic fennel, I didn’t know how to answer her. So, today’s question is: is there a difference between fennel and anise?
A: There seems to be a common misconception that fennel and anise are the same things. Some cooking websites use the two words interchangeably, as both plants have a subtle liquorice flavour. However, it seems that anise and fennel are actually a different plant. The botanical name of anise is Pimpinella anisum while the botanical name of fennel is Foeniculum vulgare. Both anise and fennel belong to the Apiaceae family.
The whole plant (bulb, stalks, and fronds) of fennel can be consumed, while it is usually just the seeds from the anise plant that are eaten. Star anise or Chinese anise, which is often used as a spice, is not part of the Apiaceae family, which means it is not even related to anise or fennel. Huh.
So, the likelihood is that if you go to the grocery story and you see a plant-like vegetable labelled anise, it’s a good chance that is fennel – and not anus.
Sources:
Jamie Oliver Forum
Yahoo! Answers
Masa
February 22, 2010
This afternoon I got the chance to catch up with an old colleauge and friend. We went to a local sushi place called Masa, which offers an all you can eat lunch special for $10.99. I always enjoy eating here as the selection is quite extensive and the quality is great. I think my favourite roll is the spicy salmon skin roll - I know, it sounds a little off putting, but this definitely gets Mirelle's stamp of approval - it is delicious! Today's question is: what is the difference between sushi and sashimi?
A: Sushi and sashimi are both Japanese dishes consisting of raw fish. Sushi consists of vinegared rice with an overlay of raw fish or is rolled in seaweed with fish and/or vegetables. Sushi does not mean “raw fish,” but “vinegar rice.” While much of the fish used to make sushi is raw, some of the items are blanched, boiled, broiled, marinated or sautéed. Sashimi consists of different species of fish dipped in a mixture of wasabi and soy sauce that are sliced into thin pieces and then served raw.
Interestingly, sushi was originally developed as a snack food to serve at gambling parlours so the gamblers could take quick bites without stopping the action.
Sources:
Difference Between
Food Info Net
The Nibble
This afternoon I got the chance to catch up with an old colleauge and friend. We went to a local sushi place called Masa, which offers an all you can eat lunch special for $10.99. I always enjoy eating here as the selection is quite extensive and the quality is great. I think my favourite roll is the spicy salmon skin roll - I know, it sounds a little off putting, but this definitely gets Mirelle's stamp of approval - it is delicious! Today's question is: what is the difference between sushi and sashimi?
A: Sushi and sashimi are both Japanese dishes consisting of raw fish. Sushi consists of vinegared rice with an overlay of raw fish or is rolled in seaweed with fish and/or vegetables. Sushi does not mean “raw fish,” but “vinegar rice.” While much of the fish used to make sushi is raw, some of the items are blanched, boiled, broiled, marinated or sautéed. Sashimi consists of different species of fish dipped in a mixture of wasabi and soy sauce that are sliced into thin pieces and then served raw.
Interestingly, sushi was originally developed as a snack food to serve at gambling parlours so the gamblers could take quick bites without stopping the action.
Sources:
Difference Between
Food Info Net
The Nibble
Familia
February 21, 2010
Sundays usually consist of going up to the suburbs to visit my parents for Sunday lunch. This has been a long standing tradition, yet I sometimes find it to be quite torturous. My mother is very critical and has an opinion on everything I do. My father, as lovely as he is, tends to lecture about everything and is a little socially inappropriate with his questions. I don’t have any complaints about my brother, who has been supportive and kind, but things can change. I figure that everyone has their issues with their family, be it parents, siblings or extended family, at some point. Today’s question is: where does the word family come from?
A: The word family first referred to the servants of a household and then to both the servants and the descendants of a common ancestor. It comes from the Latin word familia, meaning 'household; household servants', which came from another Latin term famulus, or 'servant'. It was not until 1667 that the term was used specifically for the group of persons consisting of parents and their children. The word daughter is a very old English word, first recorded c. 1000 as dohtor. It descends from Old English and is related to words in many other Indo-European languages, such as Greek thugater. The modern spelling daughter was first used in a 16th century Bible and was popularized by Shakespeare. The word son is quite a bit older, found in Beowulf in 645. It also descends from Old English and is related to words in many other Indo-European languages, such as Greek huios. Mother is one of the surviving words from Anglo-Saxon (starting as modor), which are among the most fundamental words in English. Mother has many cognates in other languages, including Old High German muoter, Dutch moeder, Old Norse mothir, Latin mater, Greek meter, and Sanskrit mat. These words share an Indo-European root. Father is derived from Latin pater and has cognates in many other languages; the word entered Old English as feder and foeder.
Source:
Dictionary.com
Sundays usually consist of going up to the suburbs to visit my parents for Sunday lunch. This has been a long standing tradition, yet I sometimes find it to be quite torturous. My mother is very critical and has an opinion on everything I do. My father, as lovely as he is, tends to lecture about everything and is a little socially inappropriate with his questions. I don’t have any complaints about my brother, who has been supportive and kind, but things can change. I figure that everyone has their issues with their family, be it parents, siblings or extended family, at some point. Today’s question is: where does the word family come from?
A: The word family first referred to the servants of a household and then to both the servants and the descendants of a common ancestor. It comes from the Latin word familia, meaning 'household; household servants', which came from another Latin term famulus, or 'servant'. It was not until 1667 that the term was used specifically for the group of persons consisting of parents and their children. The word daughter is a very old English word, first recorded c. 1000 as dohtor. It descends from Old English and is related to words in many other Indo-European languages, such as Greek thugater. The modern spelling daughter was first used in a 16th century Bible and was popularized by Shakespeare. The word son is quite a bit older, found in Beowulf in 645. It also descends from Old English and is related to words in many other Indo-European languages, such as Greek huios. Mother is one of the surviving words from Anglo-Saxon (starting as modor), which are among the most fundamental words in English. Mother has many cognates in other languages, including Old High German muoter, Dutch moeder, Old Norse mothir, Latin mater, Greek meter, and Sanskrit mat. These words share an Indo-European root. Father is derived from Latin pater and has cognates in many other languages; the word entered Old English as feder and foeder.
Source:
Dictionary.com
Curl Ambassadors
February 20, 2010
Yet another eventful Saturday involving a lot of running around and completing errands! One of the highlights was getting my hair cut. Having naturally curly hair has left me with a number of bad hair cuts in the past including something that made me look like a poodle or constantly leaving the salon with wonderfully stick straight hair, in which I never have the time or inclination to try to reproduce the next morning. However, in the last year or so, I’ve been going to a place called The Curl Ambassadors, who only deal in cutting and styling curly hair. I have not been disappointed! Today’s question is: what causes curly hair?
A: The obvious answer is that genetics plays a major role in whether a person has curly or straight hair. Even if both parents do not have curly hair, they may have the genetic markers that can be passed on to produced curly-haired children.
One of the biological reasons for curly hair is the shape of the hair follicle. Hair follicles are the tiny sacs in the skin of people's scalps. These sacs hold the hair bulb from which hair grows. As the hair grows, it emerges from the top of the hair follicle. People with curly hair have hair follicles that are shaped like an elongated oval. The direction that hair grows out from the scalp also determines if it will be curly. Within the follicle, the hair bulb may lie at a certain angle. This angle will determine in which direction hair will grow when it emerges from the scalp. Curly hair grows out of the scalp at a sharp angle because their bulbs sit to one side within their hair follicles.
Yet another eventful Saturday involving a lot of running around and completing errands! One of the highlights was getting my hair cut. Having naturally curly hair has left me with a number of bad hair cuts in the past including something that made me look like a poodle or constantly leaving the salon with wonderfully stick straight hair, in which I never have the time or inclination to try to reproduce the next morning. However, in the last year or so, I’ve been going to a place called The Curl Ambassadors, who only deal in cutting and styling curly hair. I have not been disappointed! Today’s question is: what causes curly hair?
A: The obvious answer is that genetics plays a major role in whether a person has curly or straight hair. Even if both parents do not have curly hair, they may have the genetic markers that can be passed on to produced curly-haired children.
One of the biological reasons for curly hair is the shape of the hair follicle. Hair follicles are the tiny sacs in the skin of people's scalps. These sacs hold the hair bulb from which hair grows. As the hair grows, it emerges from the top of the hair follicle. People with curly hair have hair follicles that are shaped like an elongated oval. The direction that hair grows out from the scalp also determines if it will be curly. Within the follicle, the hair bulb may lie at a certain angle. This angle will determine in which direction hair will grow when it emerges from the scalp. Curly hair grows out of the scalp at a sharp angle because their bulbs sit to one side within their hair follicles.
Sources:
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