Buzz
It's my birthday! As promised, here's a post about my favorite things. Following a recent suggestion by bassbait, I'm listing things I love, along with some things you might not know about me. (Also, shout-out to witcharachne for suggesting this list!) While I adore many things, like raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens aren't my cup of tea. So, here's a look at ten of my top picks.
10. A List
The Winner: Top 10 Places You Definitely Don’t Want to Visit. The Runners-Up: Everything Else on This List, and Top 10 Clowns You’d Rather Not Mess With
Choosing between the clowns list and the places list was tough, but ultimately the places list takes the win because it sparked a bit of a controversy. After its publication, I received a call from a Canadian newspaper based in one of the towns listed (the one known for the Asbestos Mine) – they were quite upset that I suggested their town should be avoided. My personal favorite on the list is the Alnwick Poison Gardens, a fascinating blend of the strange and forbidden – two topics I adore.
9. Composer
The Winner: Alfred Schnittke The Runners Up: Charles Ives, Bach, Verdi
Alfred Schnittke, a Russian-German composer, was someone whose music I first encountered during my teenage years in music school. I came across his Concerto Gross 2 and was immediately captivated by its power and unique style. Interestingly, Schnittke shares similarities with Charles Ives, particularly in his use of pastiche and polytonality. The clip above exemplifies his style. Schnittke passed away in 1998. I have a deep admiration for Ives as well, especially for his innovative and groundbreaking music. One of my favorite pieces by him is the Concord Sonata, which I try (unsuccessfully) to play on the piano, with only limited success in one of the movements. As for Bach, I appreciate his music because, in his time, there were no established rules, yet he created timeless masterpieces that continue to resonate.
8. Website
The Winner: Rorate Caeli The Runners Up: Basenotes, eGullet, BBC News
I don't spend much time on the web for entertainment – the majority of my internet usage is spent on Mytour (which is my favorite but not counted here) and handling our accounts for marketing and advertising. The runners-up are the sites I frequent when I do use the web for leisure. As for my top pick, Rorate Caeli, I visit it every morning. I skim the articles and read the comments if any particular article grabs my attention. It's a news site for traditionally minded Catholics, often first to publish interesting or new global stories. The writers are straightforward and consistently cover topics I find fascinating. Interestingly, the title 'Rorate Caeli' is derived from the opening words of the Book of Isaias: 'Rorate coeli desuper et nubes pluant justum', which translates as 'Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just'. The clip above features a Gregorian chant version of this.
7. Actor
The Winner: Marlon Brando The Runners Up: Jared Leto, Christian Bale, Edward Norton, Leonardo DiCaprio, James Dean
Marlon Brando is often regarded as the greatest actor in film history – his talent was so extraordinary that James Dean sought him out for training. Brando’s performance in A Streetcar Named Desire is nothing short of incredible, and he continued to impress throughout his career. His portrayal in The Godfather is undeniably one of the finest in cinema. As for my runners-up, Jared Leto impresses in every role – even in the rather dull film about the man who killed John Lennon. Christian Bale showed his brilliance even as a young actor in Empire of the Sun. Leonardo DiCaprio is a fantastic actor, even if his personality or choice of films (particularly Titanic) might not be everyone's favorite. James Dean is simply charming, and Edward Norton has a quirky yet captivating presence.
6. Car
The Winner: Bentley Mulsanne The Runners Up: Chrysler 300C
Crafting a Bentley Mulsanne takes over two months, with half of its assembly done by hand. This year’s Mulsanne takes over from my previous favorite, the now-discontinued Bentley Arnage. For those who can afford the steep $350,000 price, the car offers a remarkable range of customization options, including 114 paint choices, 21 carpet hues, nine wood veneers, and 24 leather options, plus the ability to create a bespoke color scheme. I've always been drawn to Bentley’s newer models and dream of one day owning one. Meanwhile, I’m satisfied with my current ride, the runner-up Chrysler 300C.
5. Aftershave
The Winner: Lonestar Memories by Tauer The Runners Up: Millesime Imperial By Creed, Attar Homage by Amouage
One of my favorite websites is Basenotes, a community where people share their thoughts on aftershaves and perfumes. As a child, I admired my older brother’s interest in different aftershaves, and it sparked my own fascination. Through Basenotes, I’ve discovered many new scents, including these three that I adore. Lonestar Memories is a polarizing fragrance – it’s very potent and masculine, but over time, it softens considerably. Millesime Imperial, the first one I ever purchased from this list, offers a much fresher scent, perfect for a workout. Meanwhile, Homage is the priciest, at $350 for a small bottle, and it’s crafted from an entire field of roses. It might just be the most exquisite fragrance in the world, but it’s my third favorite, as it requires a special occasion to wear. It exemplifies the new wave of French-style perfumes emerging from the Middle East, featuring exotic ingredients.
4. Movie
The Winner: Anything by Michael Haneke The Runners Up: All entries on this list
Currently, I'm diving into the films of Michael Haneke, the renowned Austrian director. Recently, I bought a box set of his DVDs after watching the US remake of his own film, Funny Games. I haven’t been disappointed by any of the movies in the set so far. My favorite is Code Unknown (starring Juliette Binoche), which tells the story of various characters whose lives intersect – a common theme in his work. Haneke's most famous film is probably The Piano Teacher, though. If you haven’t watched any of his films, I highly recommend you do. Here is the box set I bought, and here is Code Unknown for you to check out.
3. Food
Winner: French Cheese Runners-Up: Roast
I surprised myself when I realized there are only two foods I absolutely adore – the ones mentioned above. I've always been a fan of French cheeses, especially Roquefort, a tangy blue cheese, and Pont L’Eveque, a stinky, brie-like cheese. When I'm on a diet, I can easily avoid most foods (I haven’t had takeaways in six months), but cheese and crackers are my ultimate weakness – I can never resist them. On my cheat days, I indulge in a roast meal, typically chicken, beef, lamb, pork, or veal, served with all the traditional sides like gravy, roast potatoes, pumpkin (or carrots), and a green vegetable – Brussels sprouts are in season right now. I’ve even had a roast every single day of the week (which might be why I originally had to start dieting!).
2. Band
Winner: MGMT Runners-Up: The Script, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Muse
I can't recall exactly when I first heard MGMT, but once I did, I instantly connected with their sound. Their music is incredibly catchy, quirky, and fun to sing along to. If you haven’t listened to them before, make sure to check out the clip above – they’re really fantastic. I first heard Arctic Monkeys and Muse on the UK show Top of the Pops and instantly liked them, so I downloaded their albums. Nowadays, I listen to Muse more than Arctic Monkeys, and I wasn’t too fond of the latest AM album, so I haven’t bothered purchasing it. And just to clarify, I buy all my music through the iTunes store – no free downloads for me :)
1. TV Show
The Winner: X-Factor (UK) The Runners Up: Great British Menu, Masterchef (UK), Glee, The Sarah Silverman Show
Wow – did I just admit that Glee is one of my favorite shows? The X-Factor is Simon Cowell’s British counterpart to American Idol, and it’s been airing since 2004. It was the platform that launched Leona Lewis’s career. I actually prefer X-Factor to American Idol because the judges (and the audience) let through a much wider variety of quirky contestants, and once selected, the contestants are sent to the judges' homes for a bootcamp – giving us a peek into how Cowell and the others live. The list of TV shows above is pretty much all I watch these days – I either record what I want to see or download it, and that’s the only time the TV’s on. So this entry covers not just my favorite TV shows, but my whole current TV-watching habit. The clip above features my favorite contestant this year – she’s absolutely wild! Note: on X-Factor, contestants perform for the judges and a massive audience.
