britain's got talent

subtitle: Simon's "favourite dance act ever"

Tonight Dean and I are doing something we never do: watching primetime UK television. Halfway through the finals of Britain's got Talent and frankly, in awe/laughing our butts off.

By now Susan Boyle and Shaheen Jafargholi (my predicted winner) have made it around the world on YouTube, but not nearly enough attention has been paid the most entertaining of all the acts: Stavros Flatley. It would be a shame if all of you north americans were deprived of the privilege of watching the most charming father and son in Britain, so here you are! watch the final performance here, but pee first.

they're watching me...

England wasn't always the personal security/terrorism obsessed nation it is today, but before CCTV cameras popped up on every city street corner, there were other means of keeping the baddies at bay: gargoyles.

Now, in popular culture we think of these stone monsters as building guardians, ensuring no evil may trespass church walls. But, and I hate to break it to you all, gargoyles are actually just a beautiful, and sometimes frightening, drainage system: they are essentially elaborate water spouts.

Oxford is full of gargoyles of all sorts: hippos, wrestlers, camels, you name it - I'm inclined to think the city's stonemasons were having a bit of a laugh most of the time. They are a big part of this town's charm.

These little guys keep an eye on me as I walk past the Bodleian library every day on my way to the bus. When I finish at the business school (in just over a week!!!) I'll miss seeing their, errr, leering faces each morning.

a taste of paris

my big sister has been here for a week now. I planned a world-class itinerary for her including 3 days in Paris, a visit to Bath and Stonehenge, 2 days in Brighton, and last night a date with Rowan Atkinson in the West End of London.

Between the walking, the shopping, the antiquing and the art-ing, I managed to snap a few pics in Paris.

free music archive

It does what it says on the tin. Free legal downloads. yippee!

According to Flavorpill, who kindly had the link in their Daily Dose email:
"The Free Music Archive is an expertly curated virtual library of legal music downloads. The site is directed by WFMU, New Jersey's beloved, listener-supported, freeform radio station. FMA picks up the copyright slack."

awesome. now get downloading.

to Paris and beyond

Still haven't posted photos from Prague (partly because I shot mostly film!) and already I'm off on another weekend adventure. My (not-so) big sis Natalie is taking 9 days off from the perils of full-time motherhood to spend a few days gallavanting with me around Paris and then taking in some sites UK-side.

While she's trying to keep up with getting three kids to School, Taekwondo, lacrosse and music lessons, I've been indulging my inner travel agent by creating her a detailed itinerary. Maybe I've missed my calling.

If Paris and Prague weren't enough, it so happens we're actually cramming 2 years worth of euro travel (bussing between London and Oxford don't count) into 2 months. Four weeks from today we'll be in Barcelona with my bestest buds and a few days after that I've got a girlie jaunt to Edinburgh with Jules. yeehaw.

paper heart

darn it. what are the chance of this coming to Britain? Guess i'll have to wait to see it on an airplane (that's where I get my bi-annual fix).



ps. last month I picked up the latest issue of McSweeney's (because it was half the price of most editions) which features adorable short fiction by the adorable Michael Cera. Don't ya love him?