Six Picks: Recommendations from the Monitor staff
Think small
Are you a "Bigfoot" when it comes to planet Earth? Check out the Ecological Footprint Calculator at www.earthday.net/ecofootprint, where you "build" a 3-D avatar and construct a virtual neighborhood based on your food, energy, and transportation habits, etc. The calculator then tallies up how many planets it would take to sustain human life if everyone lived as you do. The good news: You'll find out ways you can make a not-so-big "impression" on the world.
Bucking the blues
Listen to the lyrics of blues songs about money troubles and you'll hear dry wit ("People are raving about hard times,/ I don't know why they should,/ If they were like me,/ they didn't have money when times were good"), stinging political satire, and inspiring resilience. It's all on the new Ain't Times Hard: Political and Social Comment in the Blues (JSP Records, $28.98) – a four CD box set showcasing 100 blues songs about coping with American economic downturns between 1928 and 1953. So dance your blues away to the boogie-woogie of Big Bill Broonzy's "Unemployment Stomp."
Worth a visit
If you share your views of immigration with the Minutemen Border Patrol, you may want to skip this item. For everyone else, rent The Visitor, now on DVD. In the film, a bereaved widower from Connecticut visits his New York apartment only to find it occupied by two illegal immigrants. This tale about one man's reengagement with the world was written and directed by Tom McCarthy ("The Station Agent").
High School Humor
Working in the sly mockumentary style of "This is Spinal Tap" and "Best in Show," the upcoming Australian import on HBO, Summer Heights High, sends up high school life Down Under. Writer/star Chris Lilley plays all three main characters – a foul-mouthed teen rebel, a displaced preppy diva, and a high-handed high-strung drama teacher. The eight-part comedy series won a Logie award, the Aussie equivalent of an Emmy. Series debuts Nov. 9 at 10:30 p.m.
Now showing...
Got half a minute to watch a movie? In literally 30 seconds you can see "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Jaws" or "Titanic" reenacted by bunnies. The riotous parodies are the idea of animator Jennifer Shiman, who has "bunnified" many of the classics and won awards for her efforts. Hop to it! Go to www.angryalien.com.
To You.... From All of Us
Signing group cards for co-workers is easier than you think. Groupcard.com lets you "e-vite" people (telecommuters, too) to "sign" an e-card – and even contribute money to an Amazon gift card. Specify how long people can access the card, and then, at the appointed time, off it goes!
