Tree of Codes

"[A]n extraordinary journey that activates the layers of time and space involved in the handling of a book and its heap of words. Jonathan Safran Foer deftly deploys sculptural means to craft a truly compelling story. In our world of screens, he welds narrative, materiality, and our reading experience into a book that remembers it actually has a body." — Olafur Eliasson, artist

Tree of Codes, is a haunting new story by best-selling American writer, Jonathan Safran Foer. With a different die-cut on every page, Tree of Codes explores previously unchartered literary territory. Initially deemed impossible to make, the book is a first - as much a sculptural object as it is a work of masterful storytelling. Inspired to exhume a new story from an existing text, Jonathan Safran Foer has taken his favourite book, The Street of Crocodiles by Polish-Jewish writer Bruno Schulz and used it as a canvas, cutting into and out of the pages, to arrive at an original new story told in Safran Foer's own acclaimed voice. Tree of Codes is the story of 'an enormous last day of life'. As one character's life is chased to extinction, Safran Foer multi-layers the story with immense, anxious, at times disorientating imagery, crossing both a sense of time and place, making the story of one person's last day everyone's story. The book has a broad appeal: to both literary audiences, intrigued by Safran Foer's new way of writing and to design and art audiences who will revel in the book's remarkable and unique visual experience.

Jonathan Safran Foer is the author of the novels Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and a work of nonfiction, Eating Animals. His books have won numerous awards and have been translated into 36 languages. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

There was a long period in my life where I listened to this song, on repeat with my headphones on, every night while falling asleep. It's so Euphoric, as are many of Orbital's songs.

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within. ~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Sweet new ring.

These brat pack mashup's of Pheonix Lisztomania make me smile :)

Best. comics. ever.

*via http://www.pbfcomics.sciesnet.net/

Grilled Flank Steak with Tomatillos Two Ways and Sweet Potato Fries

For tomatillo salsa:
4 pasillas de Oaxaca (dried smoked chiles), wiped clean
1 pound fresh tomatillos, husked and rinsed, then quartered
1 cup packed cilantro sprigs
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon molasses (not blackstrap)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup vegetable oil

For steaks and tomatillo salad:
1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 3/4 pounds skirt steak, halved
1/2 pound fresh tomatillos, husked and rinsed
1 cup cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons finely chopped shallot
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
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Preparation

Make salsa:
Slit chiles lengthwise, then stem and seed. Heat a dry heavy skillet (not nonstick) over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles, opened flat, turning and pressing with tongs, until more pliable and slightly changed in color, about 1 minute. Cover chiles with hot water in a bowl and soak until softened, about 20 minutes, then drain.

Purée chiles, tomatillos, cilantro, garlic, brown sugar, molasses, cumin, and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth, about 1 minute.

Heat oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then cook salsa (it will spatter), stirring occasionally, until slightly thicker, 5 to 8 minutes.

Grill steaks:
Prepare a grill for direct-heat cooking over hot charcoal (high heat for gas); see Grilling Procedure.

Whisk together 2 tablespoons oil, cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1 tsp pepper, then coat steaks.

Oil grill rack, then grill steaks, covered only if using a gas grill, turning once, until grill marks appear, 4 to 6 minutes total for medium-rare. Let steaks rest on a cutting board, loosely covered with foil, 10 minutes.

Make salad while steaks rest:
Chop tomatillos and toss with cilantro, shallot, lime juice, remaining 2 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

Cut steaks into serving pieces and top with salsa and salad.


Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon Chilie Powder
Zest and Juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon course sea salt
2 tablespoon minced cilantro
Olive Oil for tossing
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch long slices, then 1/4-wide inch strips

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Line a sheet tray with parchment. In a large bowl toss sweet potatoes with just enough oil to coat. Sprinkle with seasonings and cilantro. Spread sweet potatoes in single layer on prepared baking sheet, being sure not to overcrowd. Bake until sweet potatoes are tender and golden brown, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

I opened up IE this morning, per usual, to check my mail and right at the top was "The 5 worst celebrity haircuts." Normally I wouldn't even bother clicking the link, but there was a picture of the adorable Emma Watson and her super short pixie cut. She was number 5 in a list of varying different do's.


Since when did the classic pixie cut turn into a "bad haircut?"

Okay. I understand the sexual and anthropological importance of hair is well-documented as an indicator of health, beauty and desirability; and while long, lustrous hair is equated with youth, femininity and wanton sexuality; and short hair is sometimes perceived as asexually androgynous or even manly.

Here is a quote from a very intelligent (cough) and deep (cough) man on the subject of short hair on a woman "The more feminine female looks - the more attractive she is. And short hair is understood by men as a sign of masculinity. The dream girl always has long and beautiful hair. As far as they themselves already have short hair, they want to touch the long ones, they like to play with it and be proud of their beautiful and, what's the most important, feminine girl." - What Men Hate about Women http://www.jurgita.com/articles-id2222.html


Short hair is actually LOVED by many, and also on the other spectrum hated by many. And some people hate long hair. And some could give a rat's ass.

I think Miss Watson looks stunning with her pixie cut. It screams confidence and, to me, makes her look mature and super sexy.

While I'm at it, here are a few more pictures of this super cute "bad haircut."