The Know-It-All - AJ Jacobs

The Good:The title's a little long but this chronicles the journey of AJ Jacobs, a man who sets out to read the entire Encyclopaedia Brittanica. AJ felt he needed to brush up on his world knowledge, believing his education at an Ivy League school (Brown University) was out of date.

As you might not be aware, the Brittanica version contains 33,000 pages and 44 million words. I picked this book up because I have a minor obsession with trivia. The book is organized alphabetically but interspersed with interesting tidbits. For example, did you know that a "haboob" is a hot wind in the Sahara Desert, or that an "oyster" can apparently change its sex depending on water temperature or that Rene Descartes had a thing for women with crossed eyes? Jacobs incorporates comedy and real life with his quest for knowledge. A decision that keeps you entertained from beginning to end.

He`s fighting jealousy of his father, a lawyer who tried reading the Brittanica but stopped somewhere around "Borneo", which by the way is an island in the Malay Archipelago and his brother-in-law, Eric, a literal smartass who likes rubbing his intelligence in Jacobs' face.

The Bad: It was difficult to believe some of the situations Jacobs was involved in and put himself in. They seemed to fit so perfectly into the story and alphabetical style of the book, I wondered whether he hadn't taken some poetic license with the truth. For example, under the word "Christmas" he diverges into the office Christmas party. I think some liberty was taken with the timeline. And some moments, like the Mensa meetings were uncomfortable to read because I felt embarrassed for Jacobs, as if I'd walked in on him on the toilet.

Rating: 3.5/5

Happy Winter Solstice!

This is one of my favourite days of the year. It's also the longest night of the year. But that means tomorrow, the days start getting longer. Yay!










This scary looking chap is "Invierno" (winter) 1573 by Giuseppe Arcimbaldo. It's currently housed in the Louvre. I like the name Giuseppe. It's just asking for you to pronounce it with an accent don't you think? Come on, try it with me. Giuseppe! Now kiss your fingertips to your lips as if it's bella bella.

"It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)

I went to the last movie of the season up on campus. They were showing "It's a Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore on the big screen. They show it every year and every year I miss it. But considering I'm graduating this spring I thought I should finally see it.

I invited friends but they weren't interested. Another was certain it was going to be shown in colour (that's an example of blasphemy right there). I phoned to double check about this. Turns out they asked for a colour version but were sent a black and white version instead. All is right with the universe. It was too late to contact her so I ended up going alone.

I find that I really like seeing movies alone. I went to see "Superman Returns" alone and found the experience strangely satisfying. But back to the black and white version. One of the theatre's employees came down to explain what had happened and you should have heard the cheers and clapping.

Then the lights dimmed, the curtains parted and the movie started. I can't tell you how amazing it was to see an old classic on the big screen. I noticed things I've never noticed before. Bert the cop is reading a paper when George walks up to him. The front page reads "Smith Gains Nomination". Now, if you're a total nerd like I am you'll have realized this is a nod to another Frank Capra film with Jimmy Stewart "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". I managed to keep from yelping in the quiet theatre. As well, there's a butterfly collection on the wall when the Bailey's are polishing off dinner and they show up later in George and Mary's house. How I love props!

The strangest thing by far was the audiences reaction. They were laughing throughout the movie. And yes, this movie has quite a bit of comedy in it. It's weird and wonderful how funny a movie can be more than 60 years later.

And you know what? I think I've finally decided on a favourite movie. I've always been finicky when it comes to being definitive about favourite songs and colours and food. But now, having seen this movie in all its glory, the way it was originally seen, I just can't say no.

I've seen it more than a dozen times and I never get tired of it. It did take me quite a while to realize Mr. Potter was Lionel Barrymore. I mean, he was a big cheese when it came to the early years of movies and I didn't recognize him at all. He plays the curmudgeonly miser perfectly.

From a very young age I wanted to do something extraordinary with my life. Not necessarily become an astronaut and travel to Mars but something special. I'm slowly realizing that this may not happen and that's why George Baily's story is so close to my heart. George never left town, never even went to college and yet look at the impact, the difference he made in the lives of the people around him. Despite just being just a movie, it has a very inspirational message.

Happy Holidays everybody and have a great New Year! I know I will.

7 Things About Me

I was tagged by Writer's Blog to provide you, my wonderful readers, seven facts about me.

Seven things you don't know about me:

1. I really like the feel of new soap out of the package. There's just something about square soap before it gets worn down. Weird huh?

2. I save spiders when I find them nesting inside. As creeped out as I am by them, I can't bring myself to kill them. Also, spiders eat mosquitos. By the way, did you know there's a spider in the Amazon Rainforest that's as big as your head and eats birds and small monkeys?

3. I have an obsession with classic movies and classic movie stars that no one my age seems to understand. My current fixation is "Golden Boy" William Holden. I mean, just look at him. What's not to like? Watch "Stalag 17" or "Sunset Boulevard" if you don't believe me.

4. I have a problem with books. I buy them faster than I read them. Thus I have over 1000 books in storage that I've never even touched.

5. I am not a morning person. Don't get me wrong. I like mornings but I like sleeping in more.

6. I sing in the shower.

7. I love shifting gears in my car. There's just something about it I can't explain. Granted when I was learning to drive a stick shift I cursed every small hill and intersection but now it's all good.

This stuff is like shoveling wet sand!

So this is what it looked like outside yesterday. Look at all that snow! Usually I like now but this is the wet kind that's a pain to shovel and scares everyone into staying home. But not me. I had to go to work.






This is what it looked like on the way to work. Kinda dreary.












This is what I love about snow, what it hides and what it reveals. See, I would never have known that a cat used this trail or that anything had walked along here before me that morning.













I wasn't having the best day. I was sick and had to go to work. And it snowed. But on the way home I saw this. There's this guy downtown I call Chalkman! who does beautiful pieces. This is "Girl with a Pearl Earring".













And this is "Head of a Girl". It's strange how some things can just make your whole day seem better.

Here's hoping you don't have to shovel wet snow any time soon.