Quiddity

Dining with Dexter

Check out this Dexter inspired dining room.  Am I the only one who becomes physically ill after watching the opening credits?

Link via neatorama.

Rich people are disgusting

Check out this list of gross things rich people buy.  

Karakul lamb's foetus

£3,000 per coat

Resembling crushed velvet, the fur comes from lambs that haven't even been born. It takes 26 lamb foetuses to make just one coat, and the cloth has featured in catwalk collections by Dolce & Gabbana and Prada. Madonna recently came under fire from her friend (and animal welfare supporter) Stella McCartney, after wearing a jacket made from the controversial material.

 

They Draw & Cook

I hate people who can draw and cook, but I love this blog featuring recipes accompanied by art.  Very cool.

Link via ullabenulla.

Battlestar Chocolactica

Battestar Galactica + chocolate = awesome!

Link via web-goddess.

60 1st-graders learning in one classroom

Have you read this article about a classroom in New York that has 60 first-graders and 4 teachers?  OMG, I would either lock myself in the bathroom and cry during lunch or turn to drink.  There's no way that could work.  Not if you have a group of kids where one or two like to throw screaming fits or knock over desks. 

The challenges have been considerable. Faced with out-of-control classroom situations, Waronker, 42, had to rethink his idea that his model could work for even the most disturbed children. By January, three children who were violent had been moved to more-structured environments; seven other first-graders moved away or withdrew, reducing the class size to 50.

I subbed once in a classroom that contained two 2nd grade classes.  It wasn't so bad because the kids were actually very well-behaved.  However, it did get really loud.  I also had an issue with a kid who would literally cry every 15 minutes whenever something upset him, but I solved that problem by sending him to the crying room.  When he was done crying, he came back to class and got back to work.  

Personal libraries of the rich and famous

Check out this gallery of libraries owned by famous celebrities.  I love Diane Keaton's library.  I want to be her when I grow up.

Link via violins and starships. 

What I'm Watching

The Orphanage (2007)--I've been wanting to see this movie for a long time and I loved every minute of it.  It was suspenseful, creepy, and didn't rely on cheap gimmicks to produce a scare.  And it was nice to see Geraldine Chaplin as well.  I hope Spain continues to make more quality horror films because I'm loving them.  4 1/2 Stars.

Easy A (2010)--Emma Stone rocked this role!  She was brilliant as Olive, the girl who is chastised by the other students at her school for having an interesting fake sex life.  The only thing I didn't like about this movie was Amanda Bynes because her face bugged me so much.  What happened to her face?  Um, and I want Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson for my cinema parents.  They were so adorable in this film.  4 Stars. 

The Young Victoria (2009)--This movies centers around the beginning of the Queen Victoria's reign and her love affair with Albert.  There's not a lot to say about it.  It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.  The best part of the movie was Miranda Richardson as Queen Victoria's pathetic mother and Mark Strong as the scheming, power-hungry Conroy.  3 Stars. 

Good (2008)--I only watched this movie because it has Jason Isaacs in it.  My love of Jason Isaacs has forced me to sit through the likes of The Patriot, The Tuxedo, Sweet November, and now this.  Skip this movie.  There is nothing good about it.  The play it's based on might be good, but the film is not.   1 Star.

Canned Ham Diorama

How to make a ski slopes diorama out of a ham can.  

Practice Babies

Did you know, that in the early 1900's, colleges would use orphans as "practice babies" to teach students about motherhood in home economics?!  It's true!  After the program was over, they would return the babies back to the orphanage to be adopted.

In 1919, the first practice baby, named Dicky Domecon for "domestic economy," came to Cornell. Cornell secured infants through area orphanages and child welfare associations. Babies were nurtured by the students according to strict schedules and guidelines, and after a year, they were available for adoption. Prospective adoptive parents in this era desired Domecon babies because they had been raised according to the most up-to-date scientific principles.

Link via mind hacks.

Death wears a snuggie

Here's a strange article about what it's like to work as a missileer in a nuclear silo.

Missileers learn that on alert, comfort is as important as humor. One enterprising fellow liked to string a hammock between the two command chairs and stretch out for his long shifts at the console. Videogame systems are forbidden, a rule that was mocked until it got out that wireless Nintendo Wii controllers could cause the system to detect a false electromagnetic pulse attack and shut down.

Link via neatorama.

Star Wars Jungle Gym from the 80s

You gotta love this Star Wars jungle gym from the 80's.  I also love that dog in the ad.

Link via gizmodiva.