The End of a Decade

As 2009 draws to a close, bloggers, artists, and journalists everywhere are scrambling to reflect upon the past ten years. Naturally, in this decade of the Blog, of Google, of YouTube, and of Facebook (it's hard to believe that none of these concepts existed ten years ago), this reflection is taking many diverse forms.

First, there's the usual collection of different lists of favorites (videos, music, theater, etc.) from the year. As usual JibJab released a comical video immortalizing 2009 in song and dance. Dave Barry wrote his annual year in review.

My favorite 2009 tribute goes to DJ Earworm, who created this clever mash-up of the top 25 pop songs of the year:

However, reflections on the decade as a whole present additional challenges. To start with, what should we call these past ten years? We've had ten years to decide how to pronounce the '00s, and with perfect procrastination, we failed to reach any consensus. Personally, I'm a fan of reviving the term "aught", which was used to describe the years of 1900-1909. (For example, '05 was pronounced "aught five"). Paul Krugman argues reflects on all the negative trends between 2000-2009 and thus suggests that the decade should be remembered as the "Big Zero".

The past decade certainly did bring a lot of challenges, and it bears careful remembrance and reflection. For those with only a few minutes to spare, Newsweek released a comical fast-talking review of the decade in seven minutes through headlines and old news reels. For those with a bit more time to spare, the Daily Show released a fantastic year-by-year review of the decade through old Daily Show clips to sum up the main events.

NYT is again seeking photographs from readers, this time in order to document the images of the decade. (EDIT: Here's the collection of a decade of photos). Paste considered fashion and examined the evolution of the hipster in this past decade through images.

However, my favorite tribute so far is the You Aught to Remember blog. This blog has been posting an entry a day for the past hundred days in order to reminisce about various events and (pop) cultural phenomenon that were quintessential parts of 2000-2009. Though this blog will be completed in the next few days (only 4 more entries to go!), the archives provide a comprehensive look back over the past years.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

Happy 2010.

'Tis the Season

I loved this article on Weihnachtsmärkte in Germany. Such Christmas markets can be found across Germany, but the Berlin markets have especially specified and diversified. The NYT offers examples of a market for kids, a market for GLBT, and a market for environmentalists.

Hurry, because these markets traditionally close by Dec. 24!


Can't get to Deutschland or Österreich this year? A number of U.S. cities have adapted the tradition and added their own Christkindlmärkte.

Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes Neues Jahr!

Rust Belt Tourism

USA highlighted Buffalo today and its efforts to regain its place as a city of architectural grandeur. As one who enjoyed architecture and an amateur urban explorer, I found the images intriguing and the building listed probably worth a visit, even if not fully restored.

Some more images of Buffalo, courtesy of Flickr.

Souvenirs

As one whose favorite souvenirs are often a pebble from a beach (Cinque Terre) or a collection of napkins and coasters from bars and restaurants (across Europe), I find the Frugal Traveler's essay on souvenirs to echo my sentiments exactly: Souvenirs on the Road

Velvet Revolution

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the beginning of peaceful student demonstrations against communist rule in Prague, Czechoslovakia. These demonstrations culminated to become the Velvet Revolution, which achieved its ultimate goal of overthrowing the communist government on December 29.

Unfriend

Facebook has truly permeated our culture. The OED announced today its Word of the Year for 2009: "Unfriend" (or "defriend"), that is, a new verb to describe the act of breaking off Facebook connections with someone and de-linking profiles.

Antonym: to friend (someone), i.e. "Sue friended the girl she met yesterday." Also see: to facebook (someone), which is sometimes used as a synonym for friended but also implies facebook-stalking.

In other Facebook news, the social networking site now offers language options that include English (upside down) and English (Pirate).

20 Years - Die Berliner Mauer

By this hour, 20 years ago tonight, the Wall had opened and East Germans flooded into the West. They say that most simply crossed in order to say they did, in order to walk on Western streets, in order to buy something from a Western store; then, after wandering for a few hours, they crossed back over the barrier that no longer carried any meaning.

The commemorations and reflections have been almost exhaustively numerous on this historic anniversary. (Also check out the concert by the Brandenberg Gate). It was a time to remember the images of the day but also consider the boundaries and debated legacy that remain.

Lest Americans forget, Ronald Reagan's famous words were uttered more than two years before the Berlin Wall opened, and he played next to no direct role in the opening. However, his relationship with the reformist Gorbachev epitomized the thaw of the Cold War. Gorbachev did not attempt to crush revolutions, as his predecessors had, but instead embraced reform even as the hard-line East German leaders dug in their heels. Poland had already elected a democratic government, Hungary had torn the Iron Curtain by opening borders with the West, and the Czech Republic would soon follow. However, in the end, it was a mistaken word at a press conference that caused the Wall to open so suddenly, unleashing the flood of humanity into the streets of West Berlin on the night of November 9-10.

The rest, as they say, is history.

A Step Toward a United States of Europe?

... or perhaps just a breath of fresh air to make the unwieldy EU structure a bit more manageable. Either way, the Lisbon Treaty has now been signed by all 27 EU member states and may take effect as soon as December 1. The Lisbon Treaty updates the original 1992 Maastricht Treaty, which formed the European Union, and provides a permanent presidency and foreign minister.

This has been a long time in coming; the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by all the EU member states has taken almost two years--one could argue that that delay itself emphasizes the need for such a treaty. (Indeed, the origins of the Lisbon Treaty can be seen in the proposed and rejected European constitution, which goes back to 2005). Will the creation of a permanent EU presidency and unified foreign affairs activity gradually rob member states of national sovereignty, as many fear? Time will tell.

Rumblings from the Rubble of the Wall

The anniversary of the Berlin Wall's opening is fast approaching, and rumblings of memory and warning are arising in the media. Today, the Times published a column written by Mikhail Gorbachev, reflecting on the momentous year of 1989 and the results of his perestroika and glasnost. Another opinion peace warns Americans to remember the facts of the day-- the sudden opening was an accident, a mistaken word that resulting in the quintessential image of the fall of communism and (from the US perspective) the perceived American victory.

2 for $22

Don't miss Open Letter's "2 for 22" deal. Choose any of two of their books from previous catalogs and pay only $22! Get them before they're gone.

A Piece of History

The New York Times is collecting photos and stories about the opening of the Berlin Wall and individual accounts of where you were and what you remember about that historic time.

Frankfurt Book Fair

The world's largest international book fair is held every October in Frankfurt, Germany. The 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair was this past week, featuring trade publishers from around the world and open to the public October 17-18. Every year, the Book Fair chooses one Guest of Honor in order to highlight the books and literature from that country; this spot can be controversial, and has previously been awarded to Catalan culture and Turkey. This year proved tense as well; China was the Guest of Honor and, according to the NYT, seemed to exhibit its struggle between desiring Western markets but despising Western dissidents.

A (Musical) Step in the Right Direction

Can we duplicate this in the US, please?

The Boy and the Balloon

Some stories do end happily. The nation held its breath as the events unfolded this afternoon regarding a Colorado boy and an escaped weather balloon, which he was playing inside of before its tether broke loose. It was scary to think of a 6-year-old thousands of miles up in the atmosphere, but when the balloon descended without the boy inside, many feared the worst. It was a relief to come home tonight and read that the boy was actually safely on the ground the whole time.

The Passing of a Polish Hero

The last surviving commander of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Marek Edelman, died this past Saturday. The Warsaw Ghetto was established by occupying Nazis 69 years ago this month.

Simple Instructions

For the wanderers, the children-at-heart, and those who simply desire straightforward instructions to a complicated world: "Instructions" by Neil Gaiman, which will be published with illustrations in the near future. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures to share of his book signing yesterday, as the auditorium was so full that the security guards would not allow me to enter. Ah, the curse of always running late.

So instead, an image of a word for all those restless wanderers and linguistic geeks out there (courtesy of C):

Butternut Squash

I adore butternut squash. It's definitely up there on my list of favorite vegetables, after asparagus, eggplant, and artichoke, of course. I love butternut squash ravioli and Mom's butternut squash soup. However, funny thing is, I haven't the foggiest idea of how to cook with it.

At the market last week, one of the farmers brought a truckload of his butternut squash. At only 50¢ and fresh from the local harvest, I could not resist convincing myself that I'd figure out how to cook it later and buying one.

Luckily, a woman from a neighboring stall saw my distress and recommended her favorite way to cook butternut squash as a side dish. Unfortunately, she did not give proportions, but this leaves more flexibility depending on your taste for sweetness. You will need the following:


1 small butternut squash
2 Tbsp butter
1/3 cup brown sugar (more if you have a sweet tooth)
water
Oven: pre-heat to 350

1. Cut the squash into cubes, removing the skin and seeds in the process. Set seeds aside. Cubes should be no bigger than 1 inch x 1 inch x 1 inch. (If you are in a hurry, cut smaller cubes as they will cook more quickly).
2. Place squash in a pan with high sides; if cooking for one, I recommend a bread pan. Be sure to spread out the squash evenly along the bottom of the pan.
3. Cut the butter into smaller pieces and place on top of the squash.
4. Sprinkle the top with brown sugar. (This could also be a delicious dessert treat, but if so, you may want to use more butter and much more brown sugar).
5. Pour water into the pan until the tops of the squash cubes are completely covered.
6. Place the pan into the oven at 350 F for approximately 30 minutes.
7. Let stand to cool. Serve, and enjoy!

Toasted Seeds: A simple healthy snack
1. Scoop out the seeds from the squash and spread them out on a sheet of foil.
2. Place seeds on foil in oven with squash for about a half hour or until lightly browned.
3. Drizzle honey over the warm toasted seeds and enjoy.

Why We Travel

The New York Times released this project today to display photographs (and chronicle stories) from around the work.
Why We Travel (Submit your photos here)

70th Anniversary of World War II

This is a year fraught with anniversaries. Not only did the Eastern Bloc open to the West 20 years ago this year, but World War II also began 70 years ago this month.

On this date in 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland. Sixteen days earlier, on Sept. 1, Germany had invaded Poland; this resulted in the declaration of war and the beginning of World War II in Europe.

By early October, Germany and the Soviet Union had divided and annexed the whole of Poland. This occupation continued until 1945 when borders were redrawn. World leaders have commemorated these historic anniversaries and apologized for the past, though some may argue, not enough.

My 1989 timeline has been a bit delayed, so keep an eye out as I go back to note the events of August and Septemeber 1989.

From Oppression to Opportunity for Women Worldwide

This week, the Times published the following powerful piece on the plight of women in poor countries, the success of microfinancing when directed toward women, and what this could mean for global assistance. It's long, but well worth the read.
The Women's Crusade