To Die For

Have you ever heard someone say "That was to die for!"? I subscribe to a LOT of recipe sites and it's something I see far too often. Here's one that I saw just the other day that made me realize it's a phrase that's in vogue to say:

Here's another one I saw just this morning, a re-post of an older recipe:








What's up with people saying that? Good grief, there are many things one could say they're worth dying for: your family and/or friends, your country, your core beliefs, your religion, but dying for food?

Yes, I realize it's just a phrase and not meant to be literal, but it's a stupid one.  There are other silly statements, like saying "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." but statements like that are just an exaggeration.  I suppose "to die for" is also an exaggeration, but it's one I wish people would quit using.

Dying for a dessert? Sheesh, there are people actually dying because they don't get ANYTHING to eat.

It's not something that "infuriates" me, but I think it's just a silly way to say something is delicious.

Saying a recipe is "to die for" doesn't make me want to try it.  I'd rather eat just bread and water than die. (and a diet of only that would eventually kill you)  OTOH, when I've seen recipes that say "Better Than Sex" (whatever) it does tend to pique my interest.

Missed the Quiz!

Spent so much time yesterday catching up on my reader feeds and reading and replying to emails that I forgot to play in the quiz!  I created it just after I did this blog and other than missing a few days due to computer troubles, have only failed to play it a couple of times.

Running Duck

pensée

pensée \pahn-SEY\ , noun:
A reflection or thought.

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One of the things I really loved about the Harry Potter series was the way J.K. Rowling cleverly turned a word or phrase, particularly about the spells ("Lumos" for light to come from a wand - "illuminate") and potions ("Veritaserum", a truth serum which is derived from Veritas, the Roman goddess of truth)  Then there were also main characters such as Professor Lupin, a werewolf (and lupine means wolf-like; the Latin term for wolf is "Canis lupus") or Harry's godfather Sirius Black (Sirius, the brightest star in the sky is also known as the dog star and Black could change into a dog). There are dozens more examples. (but you will have to read the books or see the movies if you haven't already)

This word was one I wasn't familiar with, but she used it for the Pensieve, the memory storage basin in Dumbledore's office and which featured prominently in several of the books, and particularly in the last part of the last book where Harry finds out the truth about Snape.

Yes, Rowling was very clever with these names and descriptions;  now she's rich!

Origami Shadow Art

Origami Shadow Art by Kumi Yamashita: In 2011, famed shadow artist Kumi Yamashita was commissioned by American Express to create a unique work of art for their Tribeca, New York office lobby.

She first invited all American Express employees to be a part of her installation by taking a photo of their profile. Since the size of the space only allowed for 22 pieces, Kumi then chose 22 employee faces. Then, right on site, she worked with shadows and light to create these origami style pieces that, when hit with just the perfect light source, reveal actual faces!








Via mymodernmet

Did You Know?

I certainly didn't, not until I read an article earlier this morning about where the stars of Animal House are these days. I never realized that the same actress  played Clorette DePasto, the wild daughter of the mayor in Animal House (on left on below graphic) as well as Maggie O'Hooligan in Caddyshack. (On the right)

Her name is Sarah Holcomb and according to some sources on the 'net, she's living a very private life in Connecticut.  She acted in four movies in a two-year span.  Both of these movies are among my favorites and I don't know why I never recognized her as being the same actress in the two roles.