The teaser poster for Matrix: Revolutions is out. Slick.

British illustrator William Heath Robinson is part of the British vernacular, defined in a British : American online dictionary simply as “Rube Goldberg.” Born in 1872, he aspired to become a landscape painter, but realized that a career in book illustrations would be more lucrative. Although he had success with book publishers, it was his magazine illustrations that brought him widespread fame. His depictions of fancifully practical inventions forever associated his name, in the British language anyway, with overly complicated and clever contraptions. Often his work imagined the absurdity of the human capacity for problem solving. Always his work was grounded in real world physics. According to his BBC biography, he died in 1944 after disconnecting himself from a contraption that was keeping him alive.

Last night we caught part of the rebroadcast of the Antiques Roadshow episode featuring the most valuable item ever appraised on the program. In 2002 a man brought a Navajo blanket to the Tucson visit of the popular PBS program. He wiped his eyes over and over as he learned that the blanket, which was in spectacular condition, was worth $350,000 to $500,000. In the followup article on the PBS website, the appraiser Don Ellis planned to put the blanket up for sale at the New York City Winter Antiques Show the following January. But there was no further follow-up. I found a mention of the fate of the blanket in the Maine Antique Digest. Don Ellis was unable to find a buyer at the show, and said it was the first time he had been unable to sell the feature object of his display. The fate of the blanket: “soon it will be presented to the trustees of an institution for consideration.” Where is it now???

I enjoy a research challenge. Ned makes note of the immensity of the upcoming Harry Potter book. But Amazon doesn’t list the hefty tome’s weight. The Canadian edition, printed on 100% post-consumer recycled, processed chlorine free paper, is 768 pages long and weighs 2.09 lbs. The Royal Mail in Great Britain is promising overnight delivery of the 1kg (2.2lbs) book, printed on extra-light paper, and is prepared to cope with the demand. In the U.S. the 896 page book tips the scales at 2.8 lbs.

Everything you could ever want to know about the history and making of butter is in the WebExhibit on butter. Who knew there was so much to know about butter? Farm wives would use butter as cash, exchanging their home-churned product for mechandise at the general store. Butter has been stored and shipped in wooden barrels, casks, tubs, and eventually paraffin paper and parchment. During the Yukon gold rush, butter was packaged in cans to keep fresh for shipment to Alaska. Of course there are butter collectibles: butter molds.

Last year I linked to news of a new tiny watermelon called the PureHeart. Patented by Syngenta Seeds, the PureHeart is now available in 30 states. But it has competition coming up. The Bambino, from Seminis Vegetable Seeds, is expected in stores by the end of the summer. These tiny melons were created the old fashioned way: crossbreeding. Other premium fruits and veggies are under development by the two companies like colorful carrots, sweeter canteloupes, and better tomatoes. (source: NY Times)

I’m on a business trip. Back next week.

A recursive weblog link
There was a “Garfield” Atari video game in the works in 1984, so writes the geeky person I married. Pick up lasagna and other foods, get fatter, avoid Odie and mice. Just like real life.

A tiny bit of sleuthing
Martha’s PR machine had marthatalks.com registered on June 2, 2003, all ready to go for her indictment. The domain is owned by Citigate Sard Verbinnen who provide “strategic corporate, financial and crisis communications counsel and services.” Meanwhile, Sandra Goroff, a publicist for authors had marthaspeaks.com registered on April 1, 2003. It may be a completely different martha, but I was intrigued by possibility that someone had registered a domain in hopes of making a bid to help out. The New York Daily News speculated that the FBI was checking out marthatalks for “juicy tidbits.” The article also claims that Stewart’s attorneys may be gathering information on the right types of people to select for jurors. It’s a strange world wide web sometimes.

It’s difficult to describe the difference between home-cooked ethnic food and typical ethnic restaurant food unless you’ve truly experienced both. I have to blame my mother’s cooking for making my best friend’s first experience at P.F. Chang’s her last. When I eat Indian or Thai food in a restaurant I always wonder what the real home-food experience would be like. Living in the Bay Area with its large population of Indian immigrants, we have a healthy selection and range of Indian foods to try. But even when the place is devoid of Caucasians, I have to wonder: is this anything like home? Even the very popular dosa restaurant we go to is a chain from India, which doesn’t translate to home cooking. Our local paper has pointed out three places that offer “home-style Indian comfort food.” One, Annadaata, is a delivery service offering “$5 meals on wheels.” Popular for lunch delivery to companies and “home before you are” dinners, the meals may not be just like mom’s, but the pricing and convenience make up for any difference.