Hey kids, it seems i’m now the official French correspondent for eurotrash, “chronicling the historic leap and the ensuing chaos” of the rapidly approaching euro. Check out my first peevish post. Note: I find it very strange to have my name followed by “, France”
I used to hate having my birthday so close to Christmas because i’d get shafted on the presents (“dual present” my ass), but now that i’m older the presents aren’t as key. Although the electric toothbrush my mom gave me this year has changed my life. It is soooo amazing. Anyhoo, now, the double whammy of my birthday and the new year intensifies the whole “life-examination” thing to unbearable levels. This duo did me in last year. It had it’s upside, like i moved out of the decrepit loft and quit smoking. But the downside led to months of hibernation/depression. Bah.
This year leaves me with way too much to think about. Twenty-five feels sort of like a milestone, and one that i don’t have enough to show for. I had this 25 crisis a month after i turned 24. I was like “Shit i’m gonna be 25 in a year, wtf?”. I’m precocious that way. I had three separate full on neurotic mid-twenties crisis attacks last year. The last one driving me here to the land of cheese. I can say with confidence that the immediate panic is out of my system. Instead there’s just the lingering confusion. Maybe i’ll get into specifics later. But shit, i hope not.
My dad is visiting now, which is good. We’re doing touristy things, monuments and such. I will spend the birthday evening in Bastille probably, and we’ll hang with the throngs on the Champs Elysees on New Years Eve. I’m kind of looking forward to opening a bottle of champagne from my backpack in the middle of the Grand Avenue with my pop.
Note to self: Don’t go to the very top of the Eiffel Tower on a frigid holiday weekend in December. And if you somehow do go anyway, make sure that you’ve charged the batteries in your camera.
LA Weekly: Cover: 10 Reasons to Make Lists
And then all the following lists are pretty funny, especially Tiresome Things: 2001 and Beyond and Pussy Galore : Year of the Vagina which prompted me to remember a gem my bud and always gracious host, erickson, once dropped casually, “The two best things in life are pussy and bacon, not necessarily in that order. ”
So it’s new years, make lists lists lists. A hint which didn’t make it into the Weekly is that when yer making a particularly tedious list of the variety “To Do”, always include one or two things you’ve already done. After you are done making the list, cross them off (in a different color so it doesn’t look like you cheated). Now doesn’t that help?
I love lists. This is just more proof i’m slowly turning into my mother.
Eben Moglen whom i read, wide-eyed and with hope, that intellectualism *can* be relevent (err… maybe).
This lecture, The dotCommunist Manifesto: How Culture Became Property and What We’re Going to Do About It is dense, and intellectual, and gooooood. Think capitalism, entertainment, art, the odd thing that is “a superstar”, participatory culture, and free software; And think about the morality of these things.
If you have a half hour and some actual attention to spare, it’s really worth it. Actually, even if you have no time, no attention span, and no bandwith, listen to it anyway. Really.
– and on a similar note, i’ve been mesmerized by Elliot Smith since the day before yesterday. Take “Everything Reminds Me of Her” in Downloads…
Chronicling the leap into the Euro : EUROTRASH
“We don’t care about macroeconomic theory. We just want to know if the Coke machines are still going to work.”
Just a few days away my friends…
Ever notice how whenever anyone talks about their own wedding dress (or one they like), it’s always described as “simple”? Always always always.
Merry Christmas loyal readers! Here’s your present. You know what they say, give a man a fish, he can eat for day. Teach him to fish, he overfishes and depletes the fish population, becomes overweight and watches a lotta TV. Ok, on to the show. I could buy you a drink, but with this recipe you can drink for a lifetime of winters.
Recipe for Vin Chaud (Hot red wine)
1/2 stick of grated cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons of lemon juice
100-150 grams of sugar (2 tablespoons apx??)
1 bottle of red wine
i guess you can put some port, brandy, water, or OJ in also. Hell, i dunno pick one and pour.
Heat, but don’t boil for about 20 mins. Serve with a slice of lemon in each mug if yer feelin fancy.
Ingredients-wise, i haven’t actually made this recipe but i’d like to give it a try either tonight or tomorrow. On the last ingredient(s), i say keep tastin until your satisfied. Let me know how works out.
A santé mes amis!
New Angeles Monthly, June 2008
Weekend America, March 30, 2008
Los Angeles Times, March 13, 2008
Los Angeles Times, March 6, 2008
Nil by Mouth is written by Neille Ilel. Neille is a writer, reporter and user interface specialist in Los Angeles. If you think that's a lot, she's also got a host of meandering sidelines including improv comedy, tennis, cooking, drawing and thinking about learning to play the guitar.
Nil is her given name. It's a long story.
E-mail her here:
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