I dont know what depressed me more perusing the most excellent boingboing.net  site this morning. The fact that there is an epidemic-like surge in bird deaths up and down the Pacific Coast which scientists are attributing to super low plankton levels and they don’t know why…

  Or this piece about oil painting "factories" in China:

China’s oil painting industry

Today’s New York Times has an interesting article about the mass production of oil paintings in China that are exported for sale in Western stores like Pier 1 and Bed, Bath & Beyond. Groups of artists crank out the paintings based on postcards, Internet images, and in some cases, art monographs about masters like van Gogh. From the article:click HERE for full article

  But I did like JG Ballard’s take on the state of television:

Television today is an ageing theme park, which we visit out of
habit rather than in hope of finding anything fresh and original. At times I think the era of television is over, but then it suddenly comes up with something rich and strange.

  I would definitely put the Sci-Fi channel’s Battlestar Galactica in the fresh and original category–dark, well acted, and realistic space sequences. Though I usually call it the Sci-Fi Chummel, as in chum for all the HORROR films they show. You now, on the SCI-FI channel. And I still can’t forgive them for cancelling Farscape–this is one thing they’ve done right. Everything else they do just copies the plot of Alien or Aliens, insert absurd monster here. Season premiere of Battlestar Galactica tonight. That makes three reasons to watch TV, the others being Jon Stewart and the new Stella. If you love the movie The Jerk with Steve Martin, watch Stella.

  Oh, didn’t know I was a geek? All people who are into wine are geeks about at least one other thing. It’s a geeky crowd. Truth be known, a big wine tasting stinks way geekier than ComiCon, even though nobody dresses up in costume. Usually. Hmmm… As far as I now

What I’m drinking tonight:

  Domaine de Martinolles "Le Berceau" Blanquette de Limoux AOC (importer: Wine Traditions)

    Sounds fancy, looks fancy. Costs $9. Ish. One of the AOCs to look for when you want cheap bubbles. Cremant de Limoux AOC has different rules that pave the way for fancier (read: pricier), but still excellent valued bubbles. I like the importer that brings me the Le Berceau. The wine has an herby/flowery componant and a creamy bubble that keep it a head above the pack. It’ll kick ass with my yam and Walla Walla sweet onion frittata.