Y'know what would be nice? What would be nice was if, while you're trying to get all the last loose ends for yr event/vacation wrapped up, you weren't also swamped up to yr eyeballs at work. I'm just saying...

Some linkage, then? Why not.

Bookslut has an interview w/ Anthony Bourdain. Which reminds me -- this week's episode of No Reservations went to Korea. That's waiting on the DVR. I should get around to watching that. One thing I found interesting in this interview is that Bourdain was very direct about the fact that he's not a chef anymore, that he in fact used the success of Kitchen Confidential to leverage himself into a new career. Also interesting to get Bourdain's take on why he left Food Network.

And, ay ca-frikkin-rumba! Henry "Nightmare Before Christmas" Selick is working on a film of Neil Gaiman's Coraline. I'm honestly at a loss for words. On his journal yesterday, Gaiman had a link to news that French and Saunders have been added to the voice cast for the movie.

Today's World Cup didn't bring anything like the hideous beatdown of yesterday's US v. Czech Rep. game, fortunately. I'm still bummed that I missed Australia v. Japan, so far the best match of the tournament, no doubt. France v. Suisse today was so dull that I even gave up following the live blogs. Not even the Guardian's mix of running jokes and crude ethnic humor could save that mess. I was hoping that Togo could hang on against South Korea, and only partly because every time Togo is mentioned, I immediately hear "and even the tiny republic of Togo!". Did get to see the last 20 or so minutes of Brazil v. Croatia. The men from joga bonita actually looked much better on defense than expected. Of the games I've seen (or followed) where a team scored a goal and then hung on to win 1-0, I think Brazil turned in one of the better efforts. Plus it's just fun to watch Brazil (unlike, say, England).
Tomorrow, frequent underachievers Spain finally get going, against Ukraine, about whom I know nothing. Then it's African Nations Cup champs Tunisia taking on Saudi (lost 8-0 to Germany in the last World Cup) Arabia. If Tunisia advances out of group, it sets up another colonialism throwdown, with France. Plus they have way better music than SA. And we wrap up the day with Germany v. Poland. Just don't mention the war...