Now these r yr shadow puppets

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Image from Wikipedia

Tim Noble and Sue Webster are British artists who have taken the childhood pastime of shadow puppets to a whole different place.

They like to pile up trash in mysterious ways (to me) and spotlight it to cast shadows on the wall they use as their canvas.

What is extraordinary (to me) is that the shadow images actually look like the artists themselves. I can’t help but stare at the trash and back again to the projected image in a vain effort to figure it out.

In fact I almost miss the pretty loud statements on consumerism and a society in decay, oh and the ephemeral joy of the artistic expression ’cause I’m so involved with how-did-they-do-it?  I’m also pretty sure that I’ll stick to a rabbit or the occasional barking dog.  If you want more, go to Environmental Graffiti.

Dirty White Trash with Gulls, 1998 (Photo pashasha)

Dark Stuff, 2008 (Photo Jose LuisRDA)

It’s Interesting

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Here’s the deal, this watch-like thing gives the date, time and — a coach and  monitor that records the intensity of your physical activity. Unlike a pedometer, the S2H Replay (could they think of a Better name?) calculates activities such as running, dancing and sports.

There is an unusual tie-in that makes this whole thing much more interesting than you’d think at the outset.

The S2H Replay costs $19.95  plus shipping and handling. But once you’ve bought one and started using it, you can accumulate points from doing your favorite activities for an hour and cash them in for rewards from merchandisers including Target and K-Mart.  Every 60 minutes, reset the device and earn some more.

Pretty painless. Ignore the blatant external rewards hook for a minute, and buy a bunch for your sedentary friends and family. (Though if I were you, I’d be ready for a backlash or two.)

Incompatible

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Woodland Creek Furniture makes this table. I can see myself giving the dried flower arrangement away and then sitting around it with a bunch of friends having dinner that is laid out on a groaning sideboard.

The top is hand hammered copper in a very dense pattern with a very nice red and black molten patina.

According to the catalog this densely patterned technique causes the hilltops but not the valleys to wear down enhancing the overall design. Inferior copper tops end up with indelible scars. What this all means is anyone’s guess.

The description leaves significant gaps: How heavy is a hand hammered copper table?  What its price?  Well, the groaning sideboard just weighed in, “Betcha way too much.”

I just don’t think they are going to get along.

Wowsa

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Let’s suspend reality for a minute or two and imagine that Sarah Palin is a bona fide candidate for the highest office in the land. Let’s imagine Sarah sees herself in the oval office holding tight to the reins of country bringing the dog sled home, a capable and competent Chief Executive.

Photo by Charles Krupa, AP

Mrs. Palin, if this is true, then permit me a small word. You HAVE GOT TO STOP blaming the questions when your answers get unfavorable press. Far be if for me to tell you that this is the dress rehearsal. But this is a DRESS REHEARSAL.

When you go on tv and say, defend a silly, inaccurate observation of Paul Revere’s motive for his historic midnight ride, you look anything but presidential. When you then declare the topic (Paul Revere?) was a grenade lobbed by your media enemies, frankly, I’m thinking it’s none too soon to be setting yourself up in real estate in Arizona.

Yuck it Up

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My criterion for passing along you tube videos that are supposed to be funny is I have to laugh out-loud while watching it by myself. This made the cut.

I sure hope Clark’s dog dish will have some meat in it this weekend.

Mix it Up

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Cake mix has turned many of middle-of-the-road cooks into rock stars. It happens when a competent cook comes across a recipe and says, “This has got to be really good and better yet, it’s amazingly easy, I’m claiming it.”

I saw it in action when a friend of mine offered me biscotti that she had made.

I said, “Biscotti?”

She said, “Yeah, it’s better than the biscotti you used to get from Kay.”

“Really,” I said. That biscotti was pure grade Italian issue, with a lot of time devoted to cooking, drying and cutting. But I was game. She had given me a full zip-lock baggie, I reached in, grabbed a hunk and bit down.

So this is a keeper.  Change it up if you want different flavors, butterscotch chips with caramel frosting, or walnuts for almonds, for instance. But here are the basics:

Image from Holiday Gourmet

Almond Chocolate Biscotti
1 pk chocolate cake mix
1 cup flour
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1/4 cup  chocolate syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 pk (10 to 12 oz) vanilla or white chips
2 TB shortening

1) Beat cake mix, flour, butter, eggs, chocolate syrup and extract until well blended. Stir in almonds, chocolate chips. On un-greased pan, half dough,  shape into a 12 x 2 log.
2) Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until firm to touch. Cool on rack for 20 minutes.
3) Transfer to cutting board cut diagonally with a serrated-edge knife into 1/2″ slices. Place cut sides down on baking sheets. Bake 10-15 minutes until firm. Cool.
4) Melt chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over biscotti; store in air tight container.