More Quizzes

I'm tired today, so this is what I have been up to. Here are a few quiz results:

These two go together, I think.

You Are an Excellent Cook

You're a top cook, but you weren't born that way. It's taken a lot of practice, a lot of experimenting, and a lot of learning. It's likely that you have what it takes to be a top chef, should you have the desire...

Are You A Good Cook?

I LOVE to cook.

Your Inner Retro Girl Is

1950s Domestic Diva

What Retro Girl Are You?

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You Are a Classic Beauty!

You have a timeless beauty that looks great in every decade Instead following trends, you stick to what works And this means you never skimp on your beauty routine Upside? Your classic looks tends to attract gentlemen - not boys.

What Type of Beauty Are You?

I don't know about having any beauty, but bring on the Gentlemen!

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You Are Winter!

Intelligent Serious Cozy Calm Shy

What Season Are You?

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"At Worlds End"

According to ComingSoon.net,

Screenwriter Terry Rossio has confirmed to fans at the Word Player forums that Disney is going with Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (no apostrophe after World) as the full title for the anticipated third installment, opening in theaters on May 25, 2007.

The studio was deciding between "At Worlds End" and "Worlds End," and the former prevailed.

Interesting news! I am looking forward to POTC3. POTC is one of my absolute favorite movies, with POTC:DMC coming close.

You can read my review of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest here.

If you haven't seen it, get to the theater!

Buy Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl here and support my blogs! :)

Technorati Tags: Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Movies,

Specialist Subject: Jane Austen

Take the BBC's Mastermind: Jane Austen quiz here.

Here is what I got:

At the end of the specialist round you scored 21

You seem to be a real Jane Austen fan. Well done!

I should hope I seem a "real Jane Austen fan," as I am one! By the by, the score is out of 24.

Curtsy to AustenBlog.

Technorati Tags: Jane Austen

New Old Bach Work Discovered

I love Bach's music, so this is a very exciting discovery.

AP: Previously unknown Bach work discovered---

BERLIN - A previously unknown work by Johann Sebastian Bach has turned up in a crate of 18th-century birthday cards removed from a German library shortly before it was devastated by fire last year, researchers said Wednesday.

Experts say the work for soprano and string or keyboard accompaniment, composed for a German duke's birthday, is the first new music from the renowned composer to surface in 30 years.

Researcher Michael Maul from the Bach Archiv foundation found the composition, dated October 1713, in May in the eastern city of Weimar. The Leipzig-based foundation said there was no doubt about the authenticity of the handwritten, two-page score.

"It is no major composition but an occasional work in the form of an exquisite and highly refined strophic aria, Bach's only contribution to a musical genre popular in late 17th-century Germany," said Christoph Wolff, the foundation's director and a professor at Harvard University.

More about the piece:

Bach composed the work for a solo soprano, to be accompanied by strings or a harpsichord, to mark the 52nd birthday of Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxony-Weimar, whom Bach then served as court organist, the foundation said.

The soprano was to sing a 12-stanza poem beginning with the duke's motto "Everything with God and nothing without him" written by the theologian Johann Anton Mylius.

The work was Bach's only known strophic aria, in which several stanzas are set to the same music, and the precise date made it valuable to researchers studying the development of the German composer's style, the foundation said.

It was not clear if it was played at the time, but the foundation said English conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner is preparing to record it.

Gardiner last month received a medal in recognition of his performance of Bach music from the Saxony city of Leipzig, where Bach was cantor of St. Thomas Church for 27 years.

I hope I get to hear it some day.

Do you like Bach? If yes, what piece is your favorite? I adore the Brandenburg Concertos.

More at the Bach-Archiv Leipzig and J.S. Bach.

Technorati Tags: Johann Sebastian Bach, Classical Music, Bach-Archiv, Leipzig, Germany,

Lady Washington

The ship that served as the Interceptor in Pirastes of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl is actually from Washington State and is named Lady Washington.

Lady Washington has docked in Olympia:

Lady Washington, the brig that shared billing with Johnny Depp in “The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” has docked in Olympia in time for the annual Olympia maritime celebration Harbor Days.

Starting today, visitors can tour the Lady Washington, a replica of the vessel that Capt. Robert Gray helmed in the 1790s to trade with the Pacific Northwest Coastal Indian tribes, while it sits at the dock of Percival Landing. The boat will also sail around Budd Inlet for three hours starting at 6 p.m. during its stay in Olympia, but tickets for the sail are sold out this year, said Stephanie Talevich, spokeswoman for ship’s owner, the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority.

I would love to go for a sail on Lady Washington (though I don't know how to sail).

Some interesting facts about Lady Washington from the article:

-- Though the Lady Washington stood in for a military ship in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” it is actually a replica of a merchant ship. The ship’s other credits include “Star Trek: Generations” and the IMAX movie “The West.”

-- Capt. Robert Gray, who helmed the original Lady Washington, discovered Grays Harbor, his namesake, and the Columbia River during his travels to trade pelts with the Pacific Northwest Indians. He also was the first American to circumnavigate the globe.

-- The ship traveled to the Caribbean to film the “Pirates of the Caribbean;” the second disc on the collector’s edition DVD has a short feature about the journey.

-- The replica ship was launched in 1989 by the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority as an educational tool for students to learn about global trade, sea travel and Washington state history.

Technorati Tags: Lady Washington, Pirates of the Caribbean,

Dublin for Me!

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

The "go wild on a pub crawl" is certainly not me, but I have long wanted to visit Dublin. Some of my ancestors were Irish.

A Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino

Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino

Smooth and sweet, you fit in to almost any crowd. No one would suspect you of being a coffee tweaker!

What Flavor Frappuccino Are You?

Well, I don't know about that description, but I do love vanilla!

The 2006 Quill Book Awards

If you love books like I do then you might want to vote in the 2006 Quill Book Awards. Use the link to learn about the nominees and see if you have read any of the books nominated.

If you prefer to just vote, you may do so here.

Shameless

Dear Readers,

I know it is rather vulgar to speak of money, but I just wanted to bring this to your attention.

A few months ago I decided to join Amazon.com's Associates program. That meant that when someone used one of my links/ads from Amazon to purchase anything from Amazon, I would receive a small, small bit of revenue. Recently, the Associates Program has developed Associate Stores. This is exciting because I got to pick some featured items (some of my favorite things!) and the basic look of my "store."

You can find my store, "Lady Jane's Diversions," here. If you plan to buy from Amazon, please consider visiting through one of my links. It does not cost you anything extra and gives me a little bit of money. The same goes for any of the Amazon ads I might display on the sidebar or in posts.

Thank you. End of shamelessness.
Lady Jane

Season 2 of House on DVD!

The Season 2 DVD set of House came out today. My sister bought it and we look forward to re-watching all the fabulous episodes.

Included as bonus features are, according to Amazon.com:

An Evening With House" panel discussion at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with the cast and executive producers
Commentary by executive producers David Shore and Katie Jacobs on the episodes "Autopsy" and "No Reason"
Alternate takes from the episodes "Daddy's Boy" and "Sleeping Dogs Lie" with Lisa Edelstein (Cutty) and Jennifer Morrison (Cameron) performing, like, Valley Girl style
"It Could Be Lupus..." - A montage of clips highlighting the shows oft-repeated diagnosis
Blooper Reel

The blooper reel will probably be hilarious.

The 3rd season of House premieres on 5 September at 8pm. If you haven't seen any episodes, I suggest renting (or buying) the dvds. Hugh Laurie is hilarious as Dr. Gregory House.



Technorati Tags: House, Hugh Laurie, DVD,

Do you want to be a Pirate?

Apparently a lot of people do.

Reuters: Pirate scene hooks recruits---

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shuhe Hawkins wanted to be a pirate when he grew up. Apparently, he was not alone.

Hawkins is part of a subculture of pirate lovers across the globe, a growing tribe that encompasses history buffs, musicians, actors and hipsters.

Across the United States, from New York City to Portland, Oregon, the pirate movement has spawned pirate bars, social circles, bands, festivals, magazines and apparel.

Devotees are attracted by pirate fashions, the spirit of rowdiness and the opportunity to engage in anti-establishment behavior. It's unclear where it began, but pirates are clearly in vogue.

"We are in the throes of its real peak," said Hawkins, 35, who performs as pirate Luc the Lucky in Portland. "Pirates are like the new cowboys."

Modern pirates fall into several categories. There are the re-enactment crews, which perform in staged battles at parks, yacht clubs and festivals.

There are music groups, like Portland-based Captain Bogg & Salty, that have adopted the pirate as their symbol, dress the part and typically attract a pirate-centric crowd.

And then there are the non-performers, who simply like to dress as pirates.
[. . .]
The huge success of the summer movie sequel "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" underscores the subject's broad romantic appeal. But the subculture emerged long before the original movie in July 2003, with some experts dating the trend back to the mid- to late-1990s.

Of course, Johnny Depp as a pirate doesn't hurt. I have seen POTC: DMC four times and my "review" is here. If you haven't seen it or the first one yet, I highly recommend both.

Technorati Tags: Pirates of the Caribbean, Captain Jack Sparrow, Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Movies,

P&P: HP Style

If you like Harry Potter AND Pride and Prejudice, then you will most certainly enjoy this little video:



Brilliant!

(You'll also find it here.)

Technorati Tags: Pride & Prejudice, Harry Potter, Video,

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?"

I love Shakespeare. What could be better for a summer day than this sonnet?

Sonnet 18

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed,
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course untrimmed:
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st,
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Read the 1609 Quarto version and commentary here.

Lots more about the Bard:
-Shakespeare Resource Center
-Shakespeare Online
-Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
-Shakespeare Collection at Bartleby.com
-Folger Shakespeare Library

And, for fun, the Shakespearean Insulter.

Technorati Tags: Shakespeare, Sonnets,

Coming Soon: 21 November 2008!

My goodness! This is quick!

Reuters: Potter No. 6 claims Thanksgiving '08---

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," the sixth installment of the lucrative franchise, will come out in theaters on November 21, 2008.

Now, Warner Bros. just needs to hire a director and confirm the cast. The fifth installment, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," bows in July.

The "Prince" date will mark a return to the Thanksgiving period for the sorcerer series. Of the four "Potter" films to date, only the third installment, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," has been released during the summer.

What exciting news! I am quite looking forward to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as it is my favorite of the six novels already out. I hope it is fantastic.

Movie 6 is just over 2 years away. Is anyone in line yet?

And in related news, E Online has a story on "Harry" Woos Helena , about Helena Bonham Carter, among others, joining the cast of HP5 as the horrid Bellatrix Lestrange. She'll be perfect.

Very Selective Book Meme

I found this meme at Tea Reads and thought it would be interesting. I absolutely adore books.

If you would like to participate, feel free! I'm not going to tag anyone.

Now, on to the questions. I believe I could use the same book for every answer!

1. One book that changed your life:
What a difficult question! I have read so many books, but my absolute favorite is Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It has bettered my life in so many ways. First of all, it brings me such joy to even think about, let alone read, it. Every time I pick it up, I find new insights, new clever lines, new witticisms, and new joy. I want to be Elizabeth Bennet and find my Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth has such a lovely way of looking at life.

2. One book that you've read more than once:
Pride and Prejudice, of course! I have already read it twice this year and I daresay I shall read it again. One could never grow tired of such a book.

Since I already put P&P, I'll add another book:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. It simply seethes with passion and emotion and turmoil. I read it every October, as that month seems to fit perfectly with the tone of the book. While one cannot really love any of the characters, one cannot help but feel for Heathcliff and Catherine.

3. One book you'd want on a desert island:
Pride and Prejudice Seriously, I will never tire of reading this novel and can really think of nothing better to have on a desert island. Mr. Darcy: need I say more?

4. One book that made you laugh:
Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen really is hilarious. Her wit makes me laugh. As she wrote in P&P,

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbours, and laugh at them in our turn?"

Lots more great quotes here.

5. One book that made you cry:
Pride and Prejudice How can one not cry at such a great love story? Some people might think there isn't much of a love story in it, as Elizabeth and Darcy really aren't together that much, but it certainly is. I cry from the sheer joy of reading the novel. It is exquisite and I hate to see it end every time.

Another book that makes me cry is A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. Such a lovely sad story.

6. One book you wish you had written:
Pride and Prejudice Who wouldn't want to have written one of the greatest novels of all time? It is a masterpiece. Such unforgettable characters, which have served as the pattern pieces for countless other heroes and heroines. Such plot points. Such lines. It is simply brilliant.

7. One book you wish had never been written:
Hmmm, a difficult question. I don't really know. I'm sure there are countless political and disgusting books that I wish weren't written, but I'm not going to list them.

8. One book you're currently reading:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling. I have read this before a few times, but one can never tire of HP! I am re-reading the series and happen to be on HP and CoS. These books are great. Read them!

I am also reading Lost In A Good Book by Jasper Fforde. It is the second in his series of Thursday Next novels, following The Eyre Affair. I love recognizing the literary and historical allusions. Quite a challenge!

9. One book you've been meaning to read:
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. I am going to read it this week, on my train trip back from Seattle. I love Shakespeare, but have never read this play. I can't wait!

And, I'll have to say To Rule the Waves: How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World , which I received for my birthday in 2005. Looks quite interesting!

Technorati Tags: Books, Meme, Jane Austen,

Domesday Book Online!

This is absolutely fascinating. I'm quite glad that such a valuable resource is now available to anyone!

AP: Survey of 11th-century England goes online---

LONDON - The Middle Ages met the Internet age Friday when the Domesday Book — a survey of England conducted almost 1,000 years ago — went online.

The book, a record of the people and lands ruled by William the Conqueror, is the oldest record held by Britain's National Archives and one of the country's most valuable documents. Now anyone with an Internet connection can — for a fee — download copies of handwritten records that provide a picture of life in the 11th century.

"It is important that people of all ages should be able to read and use this national treasure," said Adrian Ailes, a Domesday expert at the National Archives, which in the past few years has placed millions of historical documents — from World War I records to 1960s public information films — on the Net.

How beautiful is this? I can't wait to peruse everything.

If you don't know about the Domesday Book, the article provides us with background knowledge:

The Domesday Book was compiled on the orders of William I, who became England's king when he defeated the Saxon king, Harold, at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. In 1085, he ordered a survey to determine the taxable value of his kingdom.

Officials fanned out across England to assess who owned the land and what was on it. The result is a detailed record that lists more than 13,000 places. Farmland, woodland, meadows, pastures, mills and fisheries are enumerated; there are estimates of the number of freemen, indentured peasants and slaves on each estate.

Many place names listed in the book are still recognizable, although the places themselves have been transformed. Holborn, now a central business district of London, was Holeburne, home to peasants and a vineyard. Islington — now a busy commercial and residential area of north London — was the rural settlement of Iseldone.

Kensington — now one of London's wealthiest areas — had "meadow for two ploughs, pasture for the livestock ... woodland for 200 pigs and three arpents of vineyard."

"I think people warm to the Domesday Book and its specific contents because it contains 13,418 place names," said Ailes. "Everyone is related in some way to this piece of history. It is very tangible."

The site allows surfers to search by place or a person's name. Summaries of the records are free, but the pages themselves — along with a translation from the original Latin — $6.60 each.

Isn't it simply fascinating? You can find the Domesday Book online here.

Technorati Tags: Domesday Book, England, William the Conquerer, Historical Documents,

I am Winter

You scored as Winter. You are WINTER. You're more introspective, thinking deeply, feeling deeply. You love nothing better than to enjoy one on one time with those who are important to you. You are cautious, and sometimes second guess yourself. Dreams, though you have them, are a luxury, because life is not a plaything.

What Season Are You?
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