Steve Martin has made some really bad choices, hasn't he? It's been more than 20 years since he convincingly knocked it out of the park and although there has been the occasional blip in his downward trajectory (I guess I'm just talking about Bowfinger), it has generally been two decades of below-par fare and a couple of truly baffling choices.
In 1996, he decided to take the role of Sgt Bilko - the character immortalised by the incomparable Phil Silvers 40 years earlier. Martin was rightly slated for the choice and hauled over the coals by the critics. History has been kind in forgetting. A decade later, lesson not learned, Martin made the frankly insane choice of stepping into Peter Sellers' shoes and taking over the role of Inspector Clouseau.
I never understood why a comedian so uniquely talented as Steve Martin would choose to turn his back on the brilliant deadpan moronity of his early career and opt to spend his autumn years trying to emulate the genius of his peers in roles they defined. Martin was at his peak in the 70s - his 'Wild and Crazy Guy' era - and that peak was validated in a rite-of-passage shared by anyone who was anyone in that era. He got to spend some time with the Muppets.
With the recent deaths of Bin Laden, Gadaffi and Kim Jong Il, there is officially nobody left on the planet who doesn't love the Muppets. You'd have to be a soulless idiot not to. Jim Henson managed to distill an unparalleled formula - unerringly optimistic yet tempered with a sardonic wit, fabulously silly yet unexpectedly poignant, simple and colourful enough for kids yet wry and witty enough for grown-ups. Few have come close to making work so accessible and well-crafted enough for an audience spanning entire generations.
For my part, there will never be another resident of the Muppet-shaped place in my heart. A couple of times a year, I'll flick through the DVDs to recharge my soul, I still proudly own my original Muppet Show LP (bought for the syrupy Halfway Down The Stairs, continuously appreciated for the melancholic whimsy of Bein' Green), a handful of books and, as I type this, a lifesize Gonzo replica watches me with open-mouthed joy from the shelf in my office.
I couldn't believe it when my dad scored tickets to take the family to the advance screening of the new Muppets film at the BFI last week, indeed seeing it with the family seemed strangely apt. For a 6.30pm screening on a Friday night, there were very few kids in the audience, but, as mentioned by the director in the post-screening Q&A, the current crop of four-year-olds aren't terribly familiar with Muppets.
The film's an odd 'un. Echoing 1979's The Muppet Movie which showed how the Muppets assembled and then made a film about it, this tells the story of a wannabe Muppet and his human brother who, on learning that the Muppet Studio and Theatre are to be destroyed by a greedy oil baron, put the Muppets back together again to stage a show which will raise the money to stop him.
It's a bold step away from the post-Jim Henson Muppet films, which have mainly been charming re-tellings of classic stories with a Muppet cast, overseen by his son Brian Henson. This time, the creative power has been handed to some well-meaning outsiders. Actor/writer/exec producer Jason Segel is probably the most Muppety of Hollywood's current brood, carving out a charismatic career of lovable 'manchildren' since his brilliant emergence as Nick on the TV show Freaks and Geeks (a one-season work of excellence, also responsible for kickstarting the careers of Seth Rogan and Judd Apatow) working with James Bobin - writer-director of The Flight of the Conchords. I've always been uneasy about Disney's ownership of the Muppets but I'm glad they took a risk with these guys rather than just handing it to a bland, safe team.
The resulting film is a curious piece of work. In essence, it's an homage to the Muppets, yet... starring the Muppets. The focus is a bit hazy. Although they have a lot of screentime, the Muppets themselves seem relegated to minor characters due to them being denied proper storylines of their own. That said, Segel, his faltering relationship and his Muppet brother also seem to fade into the background between a strong start and dramatic finish. It's a great conceit - the re-visiting of a faded pop-culture legend - I have an enduring fascination for the film Rocky Balboa for precisely this reason.
But Muppets can't age, so the poigancy of time passed and opportunity wasted can't ever really kick in. I'm critiquing a kids film. A Muppet film. Look, it's a lot of fun - it's silly and rousing and warm and funny and colourful and it's got funny celebrity cameos and some great songs in it. If you have kids, not taking them so see it would be an unnecessary cruelty, even if you don't, it's a great pick-me-up and you'd be hard-pushed to not grin like a loon, throughout.
On leaving the cinema, though, the grin faded quite quickly and I realised it had been more to do with the familiarity, the joy of seeing Kermit, Fozzie, Piggy and Gonzo on the big screen for the first time in 20 years (which isn't to say they haven't been on it, just that I haven't seen a Muppet film in the cinema since The Muppet Christmas Carol). It's a charming film but there is no escaping the fact that this is the first ever Muppet film without the name Henson in the credits. Frank Oz has long since jumped ship, Jerry Juhl who wrote most of what The Muppets ever said passed away in '05. Although the puppets still exist and the new generation of Muppeteers, led valiantly by Steve Whitmire and Eric Jacobson, do their best to uphold the quality, there is no escaping that these were more than just characters and cloth, they were the souls and personalities of their originators. That's why the Farrelly Brothers' forthcoming Three Stooges reboot is a horrible idea. That's why a brilliant comedian like Steve Martin can't just dress up as Bilko or Clouseau and make it work.
There was a lot of talk in the Q&A about introducing a new audience to the Muppets but this seemed shrouded in irony since the BFI is traditionally the place parents take their kids to introduce them to the brilliance of Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton... If something is of an incredible timeless quality, sometimes the most effective and respectful thing is to preserve and promote it rather than recycle and update it. The Henson Muppet material isn't going anywhere, there's loads of it and to introduce a new audience to it, you really just have to press play.
I did enjoy the film but can't help thinking how much better something Segel and Bobin might produce for a family audience today could be if left unsaddled by the demands of someone else's 30-year-old material.
2012年1月30日星期一
2012年1月29日星期日
nike wmns air max 1 – sail – celery – neutral grey
When the Nike Air Max 1 first debuted in 1987, it was released in two colorways – Sport Red and Sport Blue. Both featured a basic color blocking that combined each individual primary colorway with a hint of grey and white mesh uppers – a simple template that would continue to hold relevance today. We haven't [...]
When the Nike Air Max 1 first debuted in 1987, it was released in two colorways – Sport Red and Sport Blue. Both featured a basic color blocking that combined each individual primary colorway with a hint of grey and white mesh uppers – a simple template that would continue to hold relevance today. We haven't seen too many 'OG inspired' colorways of the Air Max 1 because the shoe itself is so versatile when it comes to colorization, but whenever we do get a taste of the original colorway, it's always worth notice. This new women's colorway of the Air Max 1 could have very well qualified to be an original, but fortunately it arrives now at retailers in store and online like from id4shoes on eBay.
When the Nike Air Max 1 first debuted in 1987, it was released in two colorways – Sport Red and Sport Blue. Both featured a basic color blocking that combined each individual primary colorway with a hint of grey and white mesh uppers – a simple template that would continue to hold relevance today. We haven't seen too many 'OG inspired' colorways of the Air Max 1 because the shoe itself is so versatile when it comes to colorization, but whenever we do get a taste of the original colorway, it's always worth notice. This new women's colorway of the Air Max 1 could have very well qualified to be an original, but fortunately it arrives now at retailers in store and online like from id4shoes on eBay.
2012年1月17日星期二
Romney steps into Gore's shoes
Following Mitt Romney on the campaign trail is a painful yet familiar experience.
Painful because of all the wince-inducing moments when you realize that, for all of Romney's efforts to imitate human attributes, there remain glitches in the matrix that reveal him to be different from the rest of us.
In the past week alone, he claimed to take pleasure in firing people, expressed his phony fears about getting a “pink slip” from the job that swelled his wealth to nearly a quarter-billion dollars and asserted implausibly that he worked an “entry-level” job after Harvard Business School.
Romney further alleged that “I never thought I'd get involved in politics” — even though he has been in politics for two decades. And he claimed he didn't seek re-election as Massachusetts governor because “that would be about me” — as if running for president, which he did instead, was a gesture of sacrifice and altruism.
Romney, conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg argued last week, has an “authentic inauthenticity problem.”
And that is precisely why Romney's struggle is so familiar. He is the political reincarnation of Al Gore, whose campaign I covered with an equal amount of cringing a dozen years ago.
To see Romney, in his Gap jeans, laughing awkwardly at his own jokes and making patently disingenuous claims, brings back all those bad memories of 2000: “Love Story.” Inventing the Internet. Earth tones. Three-button suits. The alpha male in cowboy boots. The iced-tea defense. The Buddhist temple. The sighing during the debate.
It's familiar, as well, to Michael Feldman, a longtime Gore aide who watched his boss get undone by the inauthentic label. “When an impression like that hardens, you're communicating into a stiff wind,” he told me. “These caricatures can form impressions that are really hard to turn around.”
If anything, Romney's problem is greater than Gore's because it is rooted in his frequent repositioning on issues such as abortion, gay marriage and health care. In substance, Romney's troubles might turn out to be closer to John Kerry's: As my colleague Greg Sargent has written, the undermining of Romney's business acumen by the attacks on his work at Bain Capital is similar to the undoing of Kerry's record as a Vietnam War hero by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
Romney, with his multiple homes, also shares certain rich-guy vulnerabilities with Kerry. Newt Gingrich, in his scorched-earth assault on the GOP front-runner in South Carolina, used an image of Kerry windsurfing in an ad last week that closed with a supposed insult: “Just like John Kerry, he speaks French, too.”
But in temperament and style, Romney is closest to Gore, another politician's son from Harvard with pedantic tendencies who, in public, never quite seems comfortable.
The media tend to assign each candidate a character flaw as a form of shorthand (John McCain was volatile, George W. Bush was dopey, Barack Obama is all talk). Ominously, Romney's descriptions are the same applied to Gore 12 years ago: assuming “personas,” going through “makeovers,” attempting “regular-guy” traits, exhibiting “robotic” behavior and issuing new versions, such as “Romney 3.0.”
For Romney, the problem now becomes that reporters, and opponents, are perpetually on the lookout for new examples to add to his dossier of awkwardness.
“It's a self-perpetuating cycle,” explained Chris Lehane, who tried with limited success to help Gore defy his “wooden” image. “You're trying so hard to think through what you're going to say that you get mental handcuffs every time you speak. You're so nervous about the archetype that you fall into the archetype.”
In Romney's case, there is already abundant support for the archetype: his belief that “corporations are people,” his talk about hunting “small varmints,” the story about driving with the family dog in a kennel strapped atop the Romneys' car, his attempted $10,000 bet with Rick Perry, his singing “Who Let the Dogs Out?” his pretending to be pinched on the behind by a waitress, his bizarre jokes about Hooters and Hollandaise sauce, and his tendency to ask debate moderators for protection from his opponents.
None of those is, by itself, disqualifying — and, as in Gore's case, not all the examples are fair. But combined with Romney's frequent fluctuations on the issues, his awkwardness has left an impression that he is a phony and not to be trusted. Romney isn't necessarily doomed — Gore, after all, received more votes than the other guy — but this much seems clear: Over the next 10 months, Romney's every move will get the Gore treatment.
Painful because of all the wince-inducing moments when you realize that, for all of Romney's efforts to imitate human attributes, there remain glitches in the matrix that reveal him to be different from the rest of us.
In the past week alone, he claimed to take pleasure in firing people, expressed his phony fears about getting a “pink slip” from the job that swelled his wealth to nearly a quarter-billion dollars and asserted implausibly that he worked an “entry-level” job after Harvard Business School.
Romney further alleged that “I never thought I'd get involved in politics” — even though he has been in politics for two decades. And he claimed he didn't seek re-election as Massachusetts governor because “that would be about me” — as if running for president, which he did instead, was a gesture of sacrifice and altruism.
Romney, conservative columnist Jonah Goldberg argued last week, has an “authentic inauthenticity problem.”
And that is precisely why Romney's struggle is so familiar. He is the political reincarnation of Al Gore, whose campaign I covered with an equal amount of cringing a dozen years ago.
To see Romney, in his Gap jeans, laughing awkwardly at his own jokes and making patently disingenuous claims, brings back all those bad memories of 2000: “Love Story.” Inventing the Internet. Earth tones. Three-button suits. The alpha male in cowboy boots. The iced-tea defense. The Buddhist temple. The sighing during the debate.
It's familiar, as well, to Michael Feldman, a longtime Gore aide who watched his boss get undone by the inauthentic label. “When an impression like that hardens, you're communicating into a stiff wind,” he told me. “These caricatures can form impressions that are really hard to turn around.”
If anything, Romney's problem is greater than Gore's because it is rooted in his frequent repositioning on issues such as abortion, gay marriage and health care. In substance, Romney's troubles might turn out to be closer to John Kerry's: As my colleague Greg Sargent has written, the undermining of Romney's business acumen by the attacks on his work at Bain Capital is similar to the undoing of Kerry's record as a Vietnam War hero by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
Romney, with his multiple homes, also shares certain rich-guy vulnerabilities with Kerry. Newt Gingrich, in his scorched-earth assault on the GOP front-runner in South Carolina, used an image of Kerry windsurfing in an ad last week that closed with a supposed insult: “Just like John Kerry, he speaks French, too.”
But in temperament and style, Romney is closest to Gore, another politician's son from Harvard with pedantic tendencies who, in public, never quite seems comfortable.
The media tend to assign each candidate a character flaw as a form of shorthand (John McCain was volatile, George W. Bush was dopey, Barack Obama is all talk). Ominously, Romney's descriptions are the same applied to Gore 12 years ago: assuming “personas,” going through “makeovers,” attempting “regular-guy” traits, exhibiting “robotic” behavior and issuing new versions, such as “Romney 3.0.”
For Romney, the problem now becomes that reporters, and opponents, are perpetually on the lookout for new examples to add to his dossier of awkwardness.
“It's a self-perpetuating cycle,” explained Chris Lehane, who tried with limited success to help Gore defy his “wooden” image. “You're trying so hard to think through what you're going to say that you get mental handcuffs every time you speak. You're so nervous about the archetype that you fall into the archetype.”
In Romney's case, there is already abundant support for the archetype: his belief that “corporations are people,” his talk about hunting “small varmints,” the story about driving with the family dog in a kennel strapped atop the Romneys' car, his attempted $10,000 bet with Rick Perry, his singing “Who Let the Dogs Out?” his pretending to be pinched on the behind by a waitress, his bizarre jokes about Hooters and Hollandaise sauce, and his tendency to ask debate moderators for protection from his opponents.
None of those is, by itself, disqualifying — and, as in Gore's case, not all the examples are fair. But combined with Romney's frequent fluctuations on the issues, his awkwardness has left an impression that he is a phony and not to be trusted. Romney isn't necessarily doomed — Gore, after all, received more votes than the other guy — but this much seems clear: Over the next 10 months, Romney's every move will get the Gore treatment.
2012年1月16日星期一
Nike Air Max Nomo – Blue / Volt
The Nike Air Max NM is a distinctly 90′s flavored sneaker that has had quite a resurgence in the past year. We have seen several colorways including Nike Air Max NM white / obsidian and Nike Air Max NM pro blue / varsity red but none have been quite as vibrant as this model.
This time Nike decides to lace us with a model that kicks things up a notch with the help of blue and volt for a very hard to miss colorway. The volt mesh underlay looks pretty sweet laying next to the blue nubuck upper that zig-zag’s its way across the sneaker while a white outsole forms a solid foundation for the shoe to sit atop. Expect to see these later this year.
This time Nike decides to lace us with a model that kicks things up a notch with the help of blue and volt for a very hard to miss colorway. The volt mesh underlay looks pretty sweet laying next to the blue nubuck upper that zig-zag’s its way across the sneaker while a white outsole forms a solid foundation for the shoe to sit atop. Expect to see these later this year.
2012年1月15日星期日
The Downsides Of Barefoot Running: Stress Fractures, Mean Looks And More
Whether you love or hate the way these ultra-popular barefoot-style running shoes look, they’re a sign of the times–and for some, a status symbol of sorts, signifying their desire to live a more natural lifestyle. But when people become too focused on the fad–and not enough on the technique or potential for injury–they can get hurt in a hurry. Is it bad for you? No. But while barefoot and minimalist running is great for some people, it comes with more than a few caveats.
Declared the “most popular footwear trend of 2011,” runners in barefoot and minimalist shoes (defined by those with next to no support or incline) have begun cropping up on trails, in gyms and just about everywhere else. Many were encouraged by Born to Run, a wildly popular 2010 book about–you guessed it–barefoot running, while others have jumped on because they wanted to know what the hype was about.
Long-time runner Ryan Holiday, a strategist for the likes of Tim Ferriss and Robert Greene and director of marketing at American Apparel, has eschewed the barefoot running trend, despite the fact that he’s passionate about evolutionary fitness, for exactly that reason: the hype. For Holiday, running naturally makes sense, but for many, it seems more about a statement than a style of running.
I understand it. I understand the science. The worst pair of running shoes I ever had was the Nike Shox, because it’s about the least natural thing you can imagine. But I think to go the other direction is more about status or attention, and not about what’s best for the foot or best for running.
The Shox that Holiday mentions were part of a long line of ultra-cushioned kicks that were super-popular in previous decades, and that trained a lot of people to run heels-first. But those unnatural shoes have slowly been disregarded as unnecessary–and potentially problematic. Holiday, who sticks to a paleo diet and attends evolutionary health and fitness conferences, says he tries to be as close to what’s natural as is possible (i.e. by not wearing giant, shock-absorbing shoes), but says he also understands that we’re not exactly in the cavemen era anymore:
I live in New Orleans and in Los Angeles and you see people not only running in Vibrams, but without shoes at all. And it makes me wonder–what is natural about running on this grass, or even on concrete, that’s full of trash and glass? Being natural is important. But we also live in 2012.
Declared the “most popular footwear trend of 2011,” runners in barefoot and minimalist shoes (defined by those with next to no support or incline) have begun cropping up on trails, in gyms and just about everywhere else. Many were encouraged by Born to Run, a wildly popular 2010 book about–you guessed it–barefoot running, while others have jumped on because they wanted to know what the hype was about.
Long-time runner Ryan Holiday, a strategist for the likes of Tim Ferriss and Robert Greene and director of marketing at American Apparel, has eschewed the barefoot running trend, despite the fact that he’s passionate about evolutionary fitness, for exactly that reason: the hype. For Holiday, running naturally makes sense, but for many, it seems more about a statement than a style of running.
I understand it. I understand the science. The worst pair of running shoes I ever had was the Nike Shox, because it’s about the least natural thing you can imagine. But I think to go the other direction is more about status or attention, and not about what’s best for the foot or best for running.
The Shox that Holiday mentions were part of a long line of ultra-cushioned kicks that were super-popular in previous decades, and that trained a lot of people to run heels-first. But those unnatural shoes have slowly been disregarded as unnecessary–and potentially problematic. Holiday, who sticks to a paleo diet and attends evolutionary health and fitness conferences, says he tries to be as close to what’s natural as is possible (i.e. by not wearing giant, shock-absorbing shoes), but says he also understands that we’re not exactly in the cavemen era anymore:
I live in New Orleans and in Los Angeles and you see people not only running in Vibrams, but without shoes at all. And it makes me wonder–what is natural about running on this grass, or even on concrete, that’s full of trash and glass? Being natural is important. But we also live in 2012.
2012年1月12日星期四
Priceless Cartier jewels and exquisite Dior dresses...The real stars of Madonna's Wallis movie
Madonna has never been someone who does things by half.
So when she married film director Guy Ritchie and moved to England - 'At first I felt sort of lost and a little bit like an outsider', she admits - she decided to work her hardest to fit in.
'I thought, OK, if I'm going to make myself more comfortable in this country, I'm going to have to learn some of its history', she says.
'I began with Henry V111 and worked my way up to Edward V11, and I stopped there because I was so struck with what he'd done.
He gave up his throne for the woman he loved..
'I was intrigued and mystified. Why would he do this? Men since the beginning of time have fought to get on the throne. Men are power-seeking animals, so why would this man run away from it?
Why would he give it up? What did this woman have that would inspire him to make such a great sacrifice? I wanted to know more about her.'
The more Madonna learned about Wallis the closer she felt to her. They were both Americans struggling to fit into the British Establishment.
They were the most famous women of their day and style icons who constantly had their characters pored over and demonised. Both were criticised for their ambition.
'I became completely and utterly swept up in the subject. I developed an unconscious attraction to Wallis. She'd come to England from the USA and found herself being treated like an outsider.
'That was the connection between us, although in time I realized I was welcome here, unlike Wallis, who was never accepted.'
Madonna became obsessed with the story and her fascination with Wallis far outlasted her eight-year marriage to Guy.
When she learned that Wallis had once lived around the corner from her home in central London when her affair with Edward started, although she was still married to businessman Ernest Simpson, Madonna says she would sit outside the apartment 'like a stalker', as she tried to put herself in Wallis' shoes.
She decided to see if it would be possible to make a film of the story, but - in spite of her superstar status opening many doors for her - she found the odds were stacked against her.
When she was turned down from buying the rights to a new Wallis book she was thinking about ending the project until a chance coincidence.
Answering a knock on her front door one night, she found nobody there - but parked outside was a van with the name Montague Removals on the side. Montague was Wallis's maiden name. 'I thought, "right, that's a sign", recalls the singer. So she persevered.
The result is W.E., Madonna's cinematic re-telling of the Wallis story, which she calls 'a three-year labour of love'.
The title - which Madonna pronounces as 'we' - comes from the way Wallis and Edward always ended their letters to each other, binding their initials.
'I never saw it as a simple love story', explains Madonna.' Nor is it particularly sentimental. I think love is impossible to describe or explain - it's like trying to understand the nature of God, or the laws of the universe.
'What I do know is that it's the force that moves us all and without it we couldn't exist'.
The film is a two handed look at Wallis; the story is told through the prism of a modern American, Wally Winthrop (her mother was such a fan that she was named after Wallis) who - as her marriage collapses around her - becomes obsessed with the story of what she considers the greatest love affair of the 20th century.
Like Madonna before her, Wally becomes entranced with the minutiae of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's lives as their possessions go on sale at Sothebys (in 1998 a sale of just some of their possessions reached ￡15million) and discovers the prosaic truths behind their romance as she reads their private letters.
With Madonna - a self-confessed control freak - micro-managing as director, writer, and with a producer credit, filming did not get off to a good start.
So when she married film director Guy Ritchie and moved to England - 'At first I felt sort of lost and a little bit like an outsider', she admits - she decided to work her hardest to fit in.
'I thought, OK, if I'm going to make myself more comfortable in this country, I'm going to have to learn some of its history', she says.
'I began with Henry V111 and worked my way up to Edward V11, and I stopped there because I was so struck with what he'd done.
He gave up his throne for the woman he loved..
'I was intrigued and mystified. Why would he do this? Men since the beginning of time have fought to get on the throne. Men are power-seeking animals, so why would this man run away from it?
Why would he give it up? What did this woman have that would inspire him to make such a great sacrifice? I wanted to know more about her.'
The more Madonna learned about Wallis the closer she felt to her. They were both Americans struggling to fit into the British Establishment.
They were the most famous women of their day and style icons who constantly had their characters pored over and demonised. Both were criticised for their ambition.
'I became completely and utterly swept up in the subject. I developed an unconscious attraction to Wallis. She'd come to England from the USA and found herself being treated like an outsider.
'That was the connection between us, although in time I realized I was welcome here, unlike Wallis, who was never accepted.'
Madonna became obsessed with the story and her fascination with Wallis far outlasted her eight-year marriage to Guy.
When she learned that Wallis had once lived around the corner from her home in central London when her affair with Edward started, although she was still married to businessman Ernest Simpson, Madonna says she would sit outside the apartment 'like a stalker', as she tried to put herself in Wallis' shoes.
She decided to see if it would be possible to make a film of the story, but - in spite of her superstar status opening many doors for her - she found the odds were stacked against her.
When she was turned down from buying the rights to a new Wallis book she was thinking about ending the project until a chance coincidence.
Answering a knock on her front door one night, she found nobody there - but parked outside was a van with the name Montague Removals on the side. Montague was Wallis's maiden name. 'I thought, "right, that's a sign", recalls the singer. So she persevered.
The result is W.E., Madonna's cinematic re-telling of the Wallis story, which she calls 'a three-year labour of love'.
The title - which Madonna pronounces as 'we' - comes from the way Wallis and Edward always ended their letters to each other, binding their initials.
'I never saw it as a simple love story', explains Madonna.' Nor is it particularly sentimental. I think love is impossible to describe or explain - it's like trying to understand the nature of God, or the laws of the universe.
'What I do know is that it's the force that moves us all and without it we couldn't exist'.
The film is a two handed look at Wallis; the story is told through the prism of a modern American, Wally Winthrop (her mother was such a fan that she was named after Wallis) who - as her marriage collapses around her - becomes obsessed with the story of what she considers the greatest love affair of the 20th century.
Like Madonna before her, Wally becomes entranced with the minutiae of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor's lives as their possessions go on sale at Sothebys (in 1998 a sale of just some of their possessions reached ￡15million) and discovers the prosaic truths behind their romance as she reads their private letters.
With Madonna - a self-confessed control freak - micro-managing as director, writer, and with a producer credit, filming did not get off to a good start.
2012年1月11日星期三
When the 'Gladiator' met the 'Angels & Demons.'
As we slurped big scoops of gelato on waffle cones, we debated, should we or should we not… Finally we decided that we would throw a coin on Trevi Fountain that would ensure our return to the eternal city. Honestly, I don’t believe in these legends but as I stood in front of the Fontana di Trevi and watched hundreds of people tossing a coin into the waters, I thought may be its worth giving a try and if it doesn’t work till the last day of my life, I can tell people ‘It’s not going to work.’ Trevi fountain square in Rome is just a scene straight out of any of India’s festivals; teeming with people of all ages, dressed in their best and posing for photos from different angles of the fountain. Wonder how many actually see the unique fountain and the figures that adorn it.
We had planned that we must see the places that had been shown in films so gloriously and first in the list was ‘The Gladiator.’ So, next day, off we went to meet Russell Crowe, we had a date with the Gladiator at the Colosseum. My daughter was very disappointed to know that even though the film Gladiator had lot of scenes in the Colosseum; the film was not shot here in Rome but at Malta where a replica of this amphitheater was built.
Once again, the structure is gigantic. With tickets to go inside we started climbing up the stony flight of stairs. A word of caution for those who plan to visit this unique piece of Roman architecture, the stairs are big and high and once inside there‘s lot of walking and climbing up and down. Wearing a sturdy pair of shoes is a must.
It would be unfair to just term the Colosseum as huge; everyone is sure to fall short of superlatives, such is its grandeur and size. Built to accommodate about one lakh spectators, the theater was mainly used for gladiator fights, animal shows and fights and even enactment of mythological dramas.
There are three levels and each has its own unique style of showing the amphitheater from different angles; especially the arena and the hypogeum (underground corridors). The original wooden stage is no more there but the hypogeum is clearly visible. In fact there is also a separate tour that allows visitors to go to the hypogeum and visualize how gladiators and animals were kept in the tunnels and cages before the fight began. I generally find this idea of ‘fights’ and ‘hunts’ quite barbaric so I skipped this tour even though my family went for it. The entire complex was so huge and was so elaborately laid out that I could probably end up writing a book on the Coliseum, as it is called in Italian.
We had planned that we must see the places that had been shown in films so gloriously and first in the list was ‘The Gladiator.’ So, next day, off we went to meet Russell Crowe, we had a date with the Gladiator at the Colosseum. My daughter was very disappointed to know that even though the film Gladiator had lot of scenes in the Colosseum; the film was not shot here in Rome but at Malta where a replica of this amphitheater was built.
Once again, the structure is gigantic. With tickets to go inside we started climbing up the stony flight of stairs. A word of caution for those who plan to visit this unique piece of Roman architecture, the stairs are big and high and once inside there‘s lot of walking and climbing up and down. Wearing a sturdy pair of shoes is a must.
It would be unfair to just term the Colosseum as huge; everyone is sure to fall short of superlatives, such is its grandeur and size. Built to accommodate about one lakh spectators, the theater was mainly used for gladiator fights, animal shows and fights and even enactment of mythological dramas.
There are three levels and each has its own unique style of showing the amphitheater from different angles; especially the arena and the hypogeum (underground corridors). The original wooden stage is no more there but the hypogeum is clearly visible. In fact there is also a separate tour that allows visitors to go to the hypogeum and visualize how gladiators and animals were kept in the tunnels and cages before the fight began. I generally find this idea of ‘fights’ and ‘hunts’ quite barbaric so I skipped this tour even though my family went for it. The entire complex was so huge and was so elaborately laid out that I could probably end up writing a book on the Coliseum, as it is called in Italian.
2012年1月10日星期二
Kate Middleton Gives A Serious Boost To The UK Economy
The Duchess of Cambridge has helped give the economy a serious boost by ￡1 billion because of the girls trying to get their hands on copycat outfits, dresses, tights, jewellery, shoes and more.
According to a new report, sales of nude tights similar to those worn by the Duchess have increased by 65 per cent at Debenhams, that also sells copycat versions of the bridal and bridesmaid dresses that Sarah Burton designed for the Royal wedding.
High street shops have become to sell replica sapphire rings similiar to Kate's engagement ring, and nude patent court shoes similar to the L.K. Bennett 'Sledge' that the Duchess favours.
According to The Mirror, sales of sapphires have gone up 300 per cent, with M&S revealing that its ￡18 replica is its best-selling item of jewellery ever.
Not only are women trying to get their hands on Kate's dresses - with her high street numbers selling out all over the country - but women are also copying her hair colour too with sales of hair dye rocketing and showing no signs of slowing down.
Yesterday, we wished Kate a happy 30th birthday with some of her best moments from the past year... have a look through and tell us which was your favourite - aside from 'the kiss'!
According to a new report, sales of nude tights similar to those worn by the Duchess have increased by 65 per cent at Debenhams, that also sells copycat versions of the bridal and bridesmaid dresses that Sarah Burton designed for the Royal wedding.
High street shops have become to sell replica sapphire rings similiar to Kate's engagement ring, and nude patent court shoes similar to the L.K. Bennett 'Sledge' that the Duchess favours.
According to The Mirror, sales of sapphires have gone up 300 per cent, with M&S revealing that its ￡18 replica is its best-selling item of jewellery ever.
Not only are women trying to get their hands on Kate's dresses - with her high street numbers selling out all over the country - but women are also copying her hair colour too with sales of hair dye rocketing and showing no signs of slowing down.
Yesterday, we wished Kate a happy 30th birthday with some of her best moments from the past year... have a look through and tell us which was your favourite - aside from 'the kiss'!
2012年1月9日星期一
Austin author looks ahead to book signing, European tour
If you got your dream job or won the lottery, what would be one ridiculous item that you "just had to buy"?
For me, it would be the auto-lace-up Nike shoes from "Back to the Future II."
For author Amanda Hocking, of Austin, it was a life-size replica of Han Solo, from Star Wars.
"It's not the real deal, but the replica is pretty awesome," she says.
Hocking, 27, has sold more than 1 million copies of her self-published e-books. Now she's hitting another milestone in her career: her first print book and a $2 million book deal.
Following a book signing of the first book in her Trylle Trilogy at Barnes & Noble, 15 First St. S.W., Rochester, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Hocking will head off on an international tour to England, Italy, Spain and Ireland.
"The only 'book signing' I've had so far was sitting outside my mom's garage sale selling books and signing them, trying to raise money for a new pool in Adams," Hocking says. "My very first official book signing was this week in New Jersey, but I'm even more excited for the book signing in Rochester."
The Trylle Trilogy is coming out in print this year, and has also been optioned for film by Media Capital Rights with Academy Award Nominee Terri Tatchell adapting the screenplay.
To learn more about Hocking and her other upcoming books, go to www.worldofamandahocking.com.
It's official!
Alexander Skudlarek, 17, first broke a world record in October after playing "Dance Dance Revolution” for more than 16 hours. Now it’s official!
The Century High School junior recently received the official letter and certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records.
How much dance-danc-ing does it take to break a world record?
Skudlarek danced for 16 hours, 18 minutes and 9 seconds (with a 10-minute break every hour). The previous record was 15 hours, 17 minutes and 44 seconds set by Carrie Swidecki of West Virginia.
Skudlarek says he hasn’t played the game since he broke the record; he just wanted to beat a world record for video games and figured this was one he could beat.
Silly Santas
Rochester resident Ryan Mihalak and his 5-year-old German Shepherd, Jade (a rescue dog he adopted in 2007), recently appeared on a website for a national magazine, The Week, for a slideshow of silly Santas.
Only seven pictures nationwide made it into the slideshow! Mihalak said the shot took about 15 tries, and even then, Santa still looks a little scared of Jade.
For me, it would be the auto-lace-up Nike shoes from "Back to the Future II."
For author Amanda Hocking, of Austin, it was a life-size replica of Han Solo, from Star Wars.
"It's not the real deal, but the replica is pretty awesome," she says.
Hocking, 27, has sold more than 1 million copies of her self-published e-books. Now she's hitting another milestone in her career: her first print book and a $2 million book deal.
Following a book signing of the first book in her Trylle Trilogy at Barnes & Noble, 15 First St. S.W., Rochester, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Hocking will head off on an international tour to England, Italy, Spain and Ireland.
"The only 'book signing' I've had so far was sitting outside my mom's garage sale selling books and signing them, trying to raise money for a new pool in Adams," Hocking says. "My very first official book signing was this week in New Jersey, but I'm even more excited for the book signing in Rochester."
The Trylle Trilogy is coming out in print this year, and has also been optioned for film by Media Capital Rights with Academy Award Nominee Terri Tatchell adapting the screenplay.
To learn more about Hocking and her other upcoming books, go to www.worldofamandahocking.com.
It's official!
Alexander Skudlarek, 17, first broke a world record in October after playing "Dance Dance Revolution” for more than 16 hours. Now it’s official!
The Century High School junior recently received the official letter and certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records.
How much dance-danc-ing does it take to break a world record?
Skudlarek danced for 16 hours, 18 minutes and 9 seconds (with a 10-minute break every hour). The previous record was 15 hours, 17 minutes and 44 seconds set by Carrie Swidecki of West Virginia.
Skudlarek says he hasn’t played the game since he broke the record; he just wanted to beat a world record for video games and figured this was one he could beat.
Silly Santas
Rochester resident Ryan Mihalak and his 5-year-old German Shepherd, Jade (a rescue dog he adopted in 2007), recently appeared on a website for a national magazine, The Week, for a slideshow of silly Santas.
Only seven pictures nationwide made it into the slideshow! Mihalak said the shot took about 15 tries, and even then, Santa still looks a little scared of Jade.
2012年1月8日星期日
French label names shoe after Bollywood
The French seem to be soaked in Bollywood, right from tip to peep-toe. French luxury shoe designer Christian Louboutin's latest line has two staggeringly tall designs named Bollywoody and Devidas — both inspired from Indian films.
“I love Bollywood and all those films. The women there are
very feminine. And I love saris,” the designer had said recently. The embroidered shoes that seem to have incorporated typically Indian motifs, beads and strass embellishments are high on the kitsch factor, and their presence has created a stir in global fashion circles. He now plans to enter the Indian market with stores in Delhi and Mumbai.
Fashion experts back home are thrilled. Shoe designer Swati Mehrotra says, “I am a huge fan of Christian Louboutin, and it's very exciting to see international labels getting inspired by our country.” Mumbai-based designer Archana Kochhar adds, “Such designs put India on the global fashion map.” Delhi-based Nancy Minhas, 22, an assistant at fashion house Gemma Carver, says,
“Everybody is doing it, even Chanel, Hermes and Victoria's Secret. I like how they blend worlds.”
Others see it as a mere business move. Designer Narendra Kumar says, “Designers abroad have done India-inspired collections before. Just because it's made by a foreign brand does not make it special. It is what has been done with the inspiration that counts.”
“I love Bollywood and all those films. The women there are
very feminine. And I love saris,” the designer had said recently. The embroidered shoes that seem to have incorporated typically Indian motifs, beads and strass embellishments are high on the kitsch factor, and their presence has created a stir in global fashion circles. He now plans to enter the Indian market with stores in Delhi and Mumbai.
Fashion experts back home are thrilled. Shoe designer Swati Mehrotra says, “I am a huge fan of Christian Louboutin, and it's very exciting to see international labels getting inspired by our country.” Mumbai-based designer Archana Kochhar adds, “Such designs put India on the global fashion map.” Delhi-based Nancy Minhas, 22, an assistant at fashion house Gemma Carver, says,
“Everybody is doing it, even Chanel, Hermes and Victoria's Secret. I like how they blend worlds.”
Others see it as a mere business move. Designer Narendra Kumar says, “Designers abroad have done India-inspired collections before. Just because it's made by a foreign brand does not make it special. It is what has been done with the inspiration that counts.”
2012年1月5日星期四
Shoe-in for a world record? Woman owns 733 pairs of Converse sneakers
For about the last eight years of a 20-year teaching career that ended with her retirement in June, Penny Gold would play a game with her students that started on the first day of school.
She would wear a brand new pair of her favorite sneakers, Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, and then wear a different pair of them every single day for the rest of the school year while her students would try to catch her wearing the same sneakers twice.
"The kids would have laptops or iPads and they would write a journal to try to catch me wearing the same ones,"she said. "They would joke that they got me, but they couldn’t fool me because I know I always had a different pair on."
Her former students may have another story to tell about their old teacher as that collection of Chucks, which is now up to 733 pairs, has the 63-year-old Florida woman in line to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest collection of Converse sneakers. On Thursday, she had help from family, friends and former students as she went through a crucial part of the process by publicly documenting her collection to be recognized as a Guinness record.
Her shoes were removed from their usual spot in her walk-in closet in her home, photographed in pairs of 24 and then loaded in plastic crates of 24 into a U-Haul rented by her husband. He and a friend then unloaded them in the multi-purpose room at the Jewish Academy of Orlando in Maitland, Fla., where she taught for 20 years. Part of the Guinness verification process is having a public showing where community members are enlisted as witnesses to a record. The only other alternative is if the person going for a record wants staff from Guinness to personally come to verify it, which Gold said can cost between $8,000 and $10,000.
Seven people helped officially count the sneakers, marking up tally sheets that are required to be sent to Guinness. The seven counters also have to submit handwritten notes to Guinness that they counted the sneakers and all came up with 733. The current record is 403 held by Joshua Mueller of Lakewood, Wash.
Behold, $19K for shoelaces... made of real gold
A spokesperson for Guinness said they have received the claim and are waiting on the evidence of the witness statements, photos and log books to verify each pair is different and a Converse shoe. It can take up to 12 weeks to verify after the documentation is received.
"It was crazy and so much fun,"said Gold, who jokingly autographed pictures of the sneakers for the students. "My family all thinks I'm crazy, but they love it, and they support it because I won't spend regular price on the sneakers. If you’re going to have to have a habit, this is at least a clean, healthy habit."
Gold’s infatuation with Converse Chuck Taylors started when she was a teenager growing up in Brooklyn in the 1960s, when Chucks were the signature shoe of members of the New York Knicks. The shoe fit, so she decided to wear it 700 different ways, with it officially becoming an obsession about 15 years ago after three Converse outlet stores opened in the Orlando area about 25 minutes from her home. Now she is on a first-name basis with employees at the three stores, who set aside several pairs of unusual new ones for her when they come in. Employees from two of the stores were there in person during the public showing on Thursday.
Every pair she has purchased has been done in person, as she has not bought any off eBay. She usually gets sneakers that are normally $60 for about $25 a pair, and the longest she can remember going without snatching up a new pair was a month hiatus this past summer.
Gold has pairs ranging from music-themed sneakers featuring Metallica and the Doors to comic-style Chucks with Batman and Robin on them to ones with a red-and-white tablecloth design and a 3-D fried egg on them. Her prized pair is designed with a map of the New York City subway system on them that shows the stops where she used to get on and off while attending Baruch College.
She would wear a brand new pair of her favorite sneakers, Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, and then wear a different pair of them every single day for the rest of the school year while her students would try to catch her wearing the same sneakers twice.
"The kids would have laptops or iPads and they would write a journal to try to catch me wearing the same ones,"she said. "They would joke that they got me, but they couldn’t fool me because I know I always had a different pair on."
Her former students may have another story to tell about their old teacher as that collection of Chucks, which is now up to 733 pairs, has the 63-year-old Florida woman in line to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest collection of Converse sneakers. On Thursday, she had help from family, friends and former students as she went through a crucial part of the process by publicly documenting her collection to be recognized as a Guinness record.
Her shoes were removed from their usual spot in her walk-in closet in her home, photographed in pairs of 24 and then loaded in plastic crates of 24 into a U-Haul rented by her husband. He and a friend then unloaded them in the multi-purpose room at the Jewish Academy of Orlando in Maitland, Fla., where she taught for 20 years. Part of the Guinness verification process is having a public showing where community members are enlisted as witnesses to a record. The only other alternative is if the person going for a record wants staff from Guinness to personally come to verify it, which Gold said can cost between $8,000 and $10,000.
Seven people helped officially count the sneakers, marking up tally sheets that are required to be sent to Guinness. The seven counters also have to submit handwritten notes to Guinness that they counted the sneakers and all came up with 733. The current record is 403 held by Joshua Mueller of Lakewood, Wash.
Behold, $19K for shoelaces... made of real gold
A spokesperson for Guinness said they have received the claim and are waiting on the evidence of the witness statements, photos and log books to verify each pair is different and a Converse shoe. It can take up to 12 weeks to verify after the documentation is received.
"It was crazy and so much fun,"said Gold, who jokingly autographed pictures of the sneakers for the students. "My family all thinks I'm crazy, but they love it, and they support it because I won't spend regular price on the sneakers. If you’re going to have to have a habit, this is at least a clean, healthy habit."
Gold’s infatuation with Converse Chuck Taylors started when she was a teenager growing up in Brooklyn in the 1960s, when Chucks were the signature shoe of members of the New York Knicks. The shoe fit, so she decided to wear it 700 different ways, with it officially becoming an obsession about 15 years ago after three Converse outlet stores opened in the Orlando area about 25 minutes from her home. Now she is on a first-name basis with employees at the three stores, who set aside several pairs of unusual new ones for her when they come in. Employees from two of the stores were there in person during the public showing on Thursday.
Every pair she has purchased has been done in person, as she has not bought any off eBay. She usually gets sneakers that are normally $60 for about $25 a pair, and the longest she can remember going without snatching up a new pair was a month hiatus this past summer.
Gold has pairs ranging from music-themed sneakers featuring Metallica and the Doors to comic-style Chucks with Batman and Robin on them to ones with a red-and-white tablecloth design and a 3-D fried egg on them. Her prized pair is designed with a map of the New York City subway system on them that shows the stops where she used to get on and off while attending Baruch College.
2012年1月4日星期三
Steve Jobs action figure is eerily realistic and unlicensed
Chinese toy manufacturer, In Icons, has unveiled a remarkably striking "action" figure which will both pay homage to and attempt to cash-in on the legendary Apple CEO. According to In Icons, their goal is to "honor the American icon and great visionary Steve Jobs". Now you can re-enact all of those heart stopping keynote moments from the comfort of your own home.
So detailed it is creepy, the 1:6 replica of Jobs sports blue jeans complete with black leather belt, New Balance shoes and an oddly familiar black turtle neck. Also included are two pairs of glasses, an apple, three pairs of hands and socks. Sorry folks: iMac, iPad and iPhone miniatures sold separately.
If that were not enough, bundled with the figurine is a backdrop lovingly printed with the iconic phrase "One more thing..." Simply seat Jobs onto the included stool and stage an poignant discussion with the tech visionary any time you please.
Despite this particular plastic homage displaying the most uncanny semblance of Jobs to date, previous unsanctioned action figures bearing his likeness have been mercilessly crushed by Apple. This one may meet a similar fate as the doll appears to also be unlicensed. There is no question that both Apple and the Jobs Estate remain very protective of the iconic CEO's image, even posthumously.
While the Chinese government has cooperated with Western companies many times to stamp out past intellectual property violations, their resolve is not always judicious. Also, despite periodic crack downs on pirated software and products in China, it continues to be a well-known hot bed for such gray-market goods.
The action figure is set to be released in February.
So detailed it is creepy, the 1:6 replica of Jobs sports blue jeans complete with black leather belt, New Balance shoes and an oddly familiar black turtle neck. Also included are two pairs of glasses, an apple, three pairs of hands and socks. Sorry folks: iMac, iPad and iPhone miniatures sold separately.
If that were not enough, bundled with the figurine is a backdrop lovingly printed with the iconic phrase "One more thing..." Simply seat Jobs onto the included stool and stage an poignant discussion with the tech visionary any time you please.
Despite this particular plastic homage displaying the most uncanny semblance of Jobs to date, previous unsanctioned action figures bearing his likeness have been mercilessly crushed by Apple. This one may meet a similar fate as the doll appears to also be unlicensed. There is no question that both Apple and the Jobs Estate remain very protective of the iconic CEO's image, even posthumously.
While the Chinese government has cooperated with Western companies many times to stamp out past intellectual property violations, their resolve is not always judicious. Also, despite periodic crack downs on pirated software and products in China, it continues to be a well-known hot bed for such gray-market goods.
The action figure is set to be released in February.
2012年1月3日星期二
A holiday from books, but not from boredom
You might have heard it in recent days -- a collective sigh or snore from bored school kids with yet another day of free time to fill during winter break.
Maybe they'll head to the beach or mall. Or maybe they'll simply stay in bed and imitate Rip Van Winkle, getting up only to change a video game.
"Yeah, I'm getting bored. There's nothing to do around here," said Andrea Roberts, 14, a Calvary Christian Academy eighth-grader, as she left an Ormond Beach park. "I'm looking forward to going back to school."
But Zeke Lemos, a 15-year-old Seabreeze High School freshman, is in no rush to break out the books again.
"No, I'm good with this," he said of this year's almost three-week break, longer than usual by two days. "I've been sleeping in, catching up on my Z's and playing basketball."
Public school calendars are set two years in advance and shaped by many factors, including the mandate of 180 days of instruction, said Nancy Wait, Volusia County's school district spokeswoman. Because no inclement weather days were needed during hurricane season, she said Tuesday was tacked on to the end of winter break.
So, Volusia students return to school Wednesday. In Flagler, classes will start again Thursday.
As for other mini-breaks, Wait said some calendar juggling occurred this year to ensure a full week would be available in the spring for state mandated end-of-course exams. So April 30 also was added as a student holiday to break up the period between spring break and the end of the school year.
But that's then, and this is now -- winter break 2011/2012.
Van Truong, a Spruce Creek High School junior, said being able to drive a car this year opened up many options that lessened the tedium. One of the highlights was a replica of da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa painting she made of seaweed on the beach with a friend. The beach has been almost a daily stop during the break, offering a place for reflection and relaxation.
And artistic inspiration and expression for the young artist.
"Most people see seaweed as hideous. I wanted to make it enjoyable," she said. "The idea came completely out of the blue."
So she called up a copy of the painting on her iPhone and went to work with a friend. An hour later, people were stopping and gawking at the temporary piece of art.
"People were pretty amazed," she said. "One couple from Ohio told me they'd never seen so much seaweed."
There were no encores, given the incoming seaweed diminished in the days that followed.
"I do look forward to going back and finishing my junior year," Van said. "But at the same time, I wish there was more time off. But of course, it's a break for the kids, not the adults."
Rod MacIntyre, a Daytona Beach dentist and father of four, knows that long winter and summer breaks can impact a family's routine, especially when both parents work.
His oldest daughter is grown and his two sons attend Father Lopez Catholic High School, where one is a senior and the other is a freshman. They can be left on their own, unlike his 11-year-old daughter.
"Luckily, we can shuttle her between grandparents," MacIntyre said. "Otherwise, she'd have to come to work with us."
Hogan, his youngest son, said he's been spending a lot of time at home, watching TV or playing outside.
"I'm looking forward to going back to school," he said of the private school that reopens Tuesday. "There's nothing to do around the house."
But some high-school students are appreciative of the long break, and the additional hours and money that it brings during the holidays.
Sarah Liebman, a Seabreeze High School senior, works as a cashier at a Winn-Dixie grocery store in Ormond Beach.
"It's not too long. It's never too long. It's not taking away from anything," she said of the extended vacation this year. "I get most of my hours during the break."
In addition, Sarah said she was able to catch up on sleep and hang out with friends, especially Sophia Maia, 17, who visited for a few days from Rockville, Md.
Maybe they'll head to the beach or mall. Or maybe they'll simply stay in bed and imitate Rip Van Winkle, getting up only to change a video game.
"Yeah, I'm getting bored. There's nothing to do around here," said Andrea Roberts, 14, a Calvary Christian Academy eighth-grader, as she left an Ormond Beach park. "I'm looking forward to going back to school."
But Zeke Lemos, a 15-year-old Seabreeze High School freshman, is in no rush to break out the books again.
"No, I'm good with this," he said of this year's almost three-week break, longer than usual by two days. "I've been sleeping in, catching up on my Z's and playing basketball."
Public school calendars are set two years in advance and shaped by many factors, including the mandate of 180 days of instruction, said Nancy Wait, Volusia County's school district spokeswoman. Because no inclement weather days were needed during hurricane season, she said Tuesday was tacked on to the end of winter break.
So, Volusia students return to school Wednesday. In Flagler, classes will start again Thursday.
As for other mini-breaks, Wait said some calendar juggling occurred this year to ensure a full week would be available in the spring for state mandated end-of-course exams. So April 30 also was added as a student holiday to break up the period between spring break and the end of the school year.
But that's then, and this is now -- winter break 2011/2012.
Van Truong, a Spruce Creek High School junior, said being able to drive a car this year opened up many options that lessened the tedium. One of the highlights was a replica of da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa painting she made of seaweed on the beach with a friend. The beach has been almost a daily stop during the break, offering a place for reflection and relaxation.
And artistic inspiration and expression for the young artist.
"Most people see seaweed as hideous. I wanted to make it enjoyable," she said. "The idea came completely out of the blue."
So she called up a copy of the painting on her iPhone and went to work with a friend. An hour later, people were stopping and gawking at the temporary piece of art.
"People were pretty amazed," she said. "One couple from Ohio told me they'd never seen so much seaweed."
There were no encores, given the incoming seaweed diminished in the days that followed.
"I do look forward to going back and finishing my junior year," Van said. "But at the same time, I wish there was more time off. But of course, it's a break for the kids, not the adults."
Rod MacIntyre, a Daytona Beach dentist and father of four, knows that long winter and summer breaks can impact a family's routine, especially when both parents work.
His oldest daughter is grown and his two sons attend Father Lopez Catholic High School, where one is a senior and the other is a freshman. They can be left on their own, unlike his 11-year-old daughter.
"Luckily, we can shuttle her between grandparents," MacIntyre said. "Otherwise, she'd have to come to work with us."
Hogan, his youngest son, said he's been spending a lot of time at home, watching TV or playing outside.
"I'm looking forward to going back to school," he said of the private school that reopens Tuesday. "There's nothing to do around the house."
But some high-school students are appreciative of the long break, and the additional hours and money that it brings during the holidays.
Sarah Liebman, a Seabreeze High School senior, works as a cashier at a Winn-Dixie grocery store in Ormond Beach.
"It's not too long. It's never too long. It's not taking away from anything," she said of the extended vacation this year. "I get most of my hours during the break."
In addition, Sarah said she was able to catch up on sleep and hang out with friends, especially Sophia Maia, 17, who visited for a few days from Rockville, Md.
2012年1月2日星期一
A busy month for popping the question
The heck with lovey-dovey Valentine's Day. Turns out December, with its holiday cheer, romantic winter backdrops and family gatherings, is among the busiest months for popping the question.
"It's a pretty time of year," said Jake Nyberg, 31, a video producer in Minneapolis. He chose Christmastime to drop to one knee in a gorilla suit while teetering on ice skates in front of his beloved. "You know you're going to be around a lot of family. You're going to be seeing all the people you'd like to see after something like this happens."
Sarah Pease, a professional proposal planner in New York, usually gets one or two inquiries a week from nervous grooms-to-be, but once Thanksgiving rolls around, it's more like one or two a day, with most guys looking to propose in December.
While she specializes in elaborate surprise proposals, she says the simple engagement-ring-under-the-tree trick is still popular. "That's a great way to have it as a family affair," she said. "It's dreamy. This is definitely the busiest time of the year."
Winikka's on board. Her fiance, Benjamin Bullington, proposed Dec. 20 by matching a fantasy she'd had "as a child that on my very first date ever I would wear a red dress and we would go to Red Lobster in a red car." Bullington sent a red dress and shoes to her office, then whisked her off in a red car to dine on red lobster.
With help from Pease, the wedding planner, Matthew Fowkes surprised his honey with an impressive yellow diamond on a romantic Christmas week getaway to New York.
"We thought it would be a magical time in the city with all the lights and everything - and it was," said Fowkes, 35, a website founder in Pittsburgh.
Fowkes took Melissa Barnickel, 25, to a French bistro in Brooklyn on Dec. 2 where they were the only guests. The evening included singers belting "Marry Me" by Train, a videographer and photographer recording it all, a tiered proposal cake and a bottle of wine identical to one the pair drank during their first trip together, to Canada.
Fowkes had the wine placed in a box made of Canadian wood, carved with their names. They'll fill it with remembrances at their Sept. 29 wedding and seal it as a time capsule to be opened on their 10th wedding anniversary. And they might just duplicate the proposal cake for their nuptials.
"I was completely surprised," said Barnickel, an analyst for an insurance company. "It was such a fairy tale. Everything was just so thought through."
Brad Carlson, 41, a production executive for Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles, went for the fake-out.
He and Allison Koeppe, 34, had been talking marriage for a while. She thought it might be nice to get engaged the weekend of Dec. 16, when he had business in New York, but he held her off, suggesting they wait until they could figure out a plan.
"She was, like, ‘A plan? What do we need a plan for?'" Carlson recalled. What she didn't know was he had hired Pease months before to make every moment meaningful when he proposed that Saturday.
They stayed at a fancy downtown hotel and strolled through Washington Square Park on their way to dinner at Babbo. Along the way they encountered a painter in the park whose easel bore a replica of a favorite photo Koeppe had taken on a trip to Italy. As she realized what was about to happen, a guitarist materialized and played "Reminiscing" by Little River Band: "How to tell you girl/ I wanna build my world around you/ Tell you that it's true/ I wanna make you understand/ I'm talkin' about a lifetime plan ... "
Carlson let Koeppe's closest friends in on the secret and presented her with a video featuring their congratulations back at the hotel. That gesture moved her to tears.
"It's a pretty time of year," said Jake Nyberg, 31, a video producer in Minneapolis. He chose Christmastime to drop to one knee in a gorilla suit while teetering on ice skates in front of his beloved. "You know you're going to be around a lot of family. You're going to be seeing all the people you'd like to see after something like this happens."
Sarah Pease, a professional proposal planner in New York, usually gets one or two inquiries a week from nervous grooms-to-be, but once Thanksgiving rolls around, it's more like one or two a day, with most guys looking to propose in December.
While she specializes in elaborate surprise proposals, she says the simple engagement-ring-under-the-tree trick is still popular. "That's a great way to have it as a family affair," she said. "It's dreamy. This is definitely the busiest time of the year."
Winikka's on board. Her fiance, Benjamin Bullington, proposed Dec. 20 by matching a fantasy she'd had "as a child that on my very first date ever I would wear a red dress and we would go to Red Lobster in a red car." Bullington sent a red dress and shoes to her office, then whisked her off in a red car to dine on red lobster.
With help from Pease, the wedding planner, Matthew Fowkes surprised his honey with an impressive yellow diamond on a romantic Christmas week getaway to New York.
"We thought it would be a magical time in the city with all the lights and everything - and it was," said Fowkes, 35, a website founder in Pittsburgh.
Fowkes took Melissa Barnickel, 25, to a French bistro in Brooklyn on Dec. 2 where they were the only guests. The evening included singers belting "Marry Me" by Train, a videographer and photographer recording it all, a tiered proposal cake and a bottle of wine identical to one the pair drank during their first trip together, to Canada.
Fowkes had the wine placed in a box made of Canadian wood, carved with their names. They'll fill it with remembrances at their Sept. 29 wedding and seal it as a time capsule to be opened on their 10th wedding anniversary. And they might just duplicate the proposal cake for their nuptials.
"I was completely surprised," said Barnickel, an analyst for an insurance company. "It was such a fairy tale. Everything was just so thought through."
Brad Carlson, 41, a production executive for Paramount Pictures in Los Angeles, went for the fake-out.
He and Allison Koeppe, 34, had been talking marriage for a while. She thought it might be nice to get engaged the weekend of Dec. 16, when he had business in New York, but he held her off, suggesting they wait until they could figure out a plan.
"She was, like, ‘A plan? What do we need a plan for?'" Carlson recalled. What she didn't know was he had hired Pease months before to make every moment meaningful when he proposed that Saturday.
They stayed at a fancy downtown hotel and strolled through Washington Square Park on their way to dinner at Babbo. Along the way they encountered a painter in the park whose easel bore a replica of a favorite photo Koeppe had taken on a trip to Italy. As she realized what was about to happen, a guitarist materialized and played "Reminiscing" by Little River Band: "How to tell you girl/ I wanna build my world around you/ Tell you that it's true/ I wanna make you understand/ I'm talkin' about a lifetime plan ... "
Carlson let Koeppe's closest friends in on the secret and presented her with a video featuring their congratulations back at the hotel. That gesture moved her to tears.
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