lucky strike.

Last month, toy company Mattel announced its plans to sell Mad Men Barbie dolls. As an avid fan of the TV show about life, love, and advertising in the 1960s - and an avid fan of Barbie - I was excited.    

Initially, these dolls are classy. Putting them in context, you can distinguish by dress and hairstyle which character each doll represents. And even though Joan's figure is obviously too small and Don's face is extremely feminine-looking, I can forgive Mattel for wishing to construct these characters following Barbie's ostensible standards of anatomy. However, there is something missing...there is no alcohol or tobacco in sight.


In an article featured in the NY times on March 9, Stuart Elliott writes, "But for the sake of the Barbie image, her immersion in the 'Mad Men' era will go only so far: The dolls come with period accessories like hats, overcoats, pearls and padded undergarments, but no cigarettes, ashtrays, martini glasses or cocktail shakers." In an era where society is extremely sensitive to the vulnerability of children, it makes sense that Mattel would decide to leave out items associated with "grown-up" behaviors like drinking and smoking. Yet, these behaviors - and others, including lying, cheating, and adultery - are important elements to the show. These characters manifest them so gracefully and tactfully that they seem glamorous; this presentation of vice and debauchery gives off a certain beauty that cannot be attained in real life.


So in response to Mattel's inability to capture the entire essence of Mad Men, I sketched a series of pastels of different characters smoking.* Overlooking its usual stigma, I've attempted to illustrate the seductive aspect of the habit. And it gave me an excuse not to work on homework. 

Joan Holloway 

Don Draper

Betty Draper

And even though I don't have the money, I'm still considering spending the $74.95 for a doll. 

*More sketches may soon be added. 

where you lead, i will follow.

Inspired by Liz's previous post, I thought I would do my own top ten list. Instead of shining stars of hollywood, I am going to bring you shining stars of French history. (Yes, roll your eyes, I don't care.) Yet among all the writers, artists, and thinkers, it is difficult to choose from such a wide array of talent and magnificence. Therefore I present to you, dear reader, the top ten hottest leaders in French history.

10. Clovis I


In the fifth century C.E., Clove was the first king of France (Gaul), uniting the all the Frankish clans under one rule. He was a Catholic convert and held his coronation in the sacred cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims, setting the tradition for all the other kings that followed. He is a true go-getter and he even looks good without a shirt on.  

9. Vercingetorix


Before Clovis united the Franks under a monarchial rule, Trixie united the Franks in revolt against the evil Roman Empire in the 50s B.C.E. With his golden locks and his long flowing beard, he was a courageous and determined leader. Although he fell victim to the Roman menace and was brutally executed by Caesar, he has since been seen as a great hero of France, and a hero of mine.

8. Maximilien Robespierre


Max has charm and brains, which makes him worthy of my list. Yes, he may have been the demagogue of the dreadful Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, but he had his reasons. He truly believed in a new and better France to the point where he even gave his head for it. That is true dedication...and he has a nice smile.

7. Charlemagne


Charlie is possibly the greatest ruler in all of French history, overseeing and expanding the vast Frankish Empire in the late 8th century. He was bold, strong, militant, and highly valued education. Having started the first public schools and translated important books into the vernacular, French school children have both glorified and cursed his name throughout the centuries. But as we know, I would fall into the former category.

6. Cardinal Mazarin


Although Italian in origin, Mazi was the chief minister of France in the mid-17th century. With the toddler king Louis XIV and his mother, Anne of Austria, Mazi steered the reins of the French monarchy until his death in 1661. He was sharp and attractive; and with that mustache, not even Anne could resist him. There are rumors that the two were lovers and from what I've seen on French television, he was very good in bed...

5. Louis XIV

Taking after his mentor above, Lou #14 was a captivating fellow. He had a refined taste for culture, taking up ballet, theatre, equestrianship, as well as building the exquisite palace of Versailles. So dashing with his auburn curly locks and his long chiseled legs, he just lights me up...no wonder he is called the "Sun King."

4. Jean Moulin


Perhaps the most handsome of all the men featured on this list, Jean is also the most audacious. A recognized leader of the French Resistance during World War II, Jean Moulin fought and gave his life to free his beloved country from the hands of a despotic regime. Calm, cool, and collected, he demonstrates a sort of bravery that makes my heart melt.

3. Napoléon I


I couldn't have a top ten French leaders list without Poléon here. He is the epitome of what a French leader must possess...brawns, talent, smarts, patriotism, and a hefty ego. Within the chaos of the French Revolution, he was clever enough to gather the wits and loyalty of the French people to follow his lead. And to top it off, he was even able gain enough fervor to crown himself emperor. He is truly one who cannot be beat...and I can forgive him for Waterloo.    

2. Gérard Depardieu


Okay, Gérry here is not officially a leader in the political sense, but come on...he has probably more fame and more stamina than most French leaders have ever had. He is known - and liked - all over the world and has appeared in literally hundreds of films over the course of his lifetime. He truly has a nose for leadership. And let's face it, he is hot.

1. Charles de Gaulle


France wouldn't be what it is today if it weren't for CDG...the man of the twentieth century. Having  known from the very beginning that France was getting itself into trouble once defeated in World War II, he rallied up the Free French who ultimately overcame the Vichy government and the Nazi occupiers. Once granting France's freedom, he was the chief organizer in rehabilitating the French government, eventually serving as the first president of the Fifth Republic. Tall, strong, and tough, CDG does not take bullshit from anyone while invigorating the minds and hearts of the French people with magnificent speeches: "Car la France n’est pas seule! Elle n’est pas seule! Elle n’est pas seule!"  

mmmhmmm...

So, spring is nearly here. In the college world ring by spring fever is beginning to settle. People who were once sane and care free are beginning to plan out their marriages, families, and lives. Four years of hard work, sweat, tears boils down to finding a mate and following them to med school. I personally, am waiting for all of the marriage offers to begin pouring in. I have to admit, I'm pretty picky. I'm not going to accept a ring from just anyone. In fact, I've complied a list of acceptable candidates. Each of these gentlemen would be good for me at this point in my life where I'm mostly focused on physical beauty, muscles, and the ability to write a quality French novel.

Here's my list if you see any of these guys point them in my direction!

10. Matt Damon

I hear all of this talk of people f***ing Matt Damon. He's definitely hot right now.

9. Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake is just such a cutie! And he seems nice, I bet he's nice! Oh and funny, funny is good!

8. Jude Law

Hey, every list has to have a bad boy on it. Perhaps I can change him... And he has the accent. There is nothing better than a good accent!

7. Albert Camus

Ok, so Camus isn't exactly among the living any more, but that's just a technicality. There is nothing more existential than no longer existing.

6. James Marsden

Let's face it he's prince charming.

5. Leonardo Dicaprio

I have to tell you, I've loved Leo since Titanic. This guy is just so talented. He could talk me down from the stern of a steam-liner any day!

4. Mr. Darcy

Ok, who could say no to the charm of Mr. Darcy. Hey I know he's a fictional character, but who really cares. It's hard to find a real life guy this wonderful.

3. Johnny Depp

One of the best looking pirates out there... you understand the appeal ;)

2. Ryan Reynolds

I don't know where the heck he came from, but I am glad he has appeared. Ryan just seems so nice... and he has a nice body. Well rounded niceness is much appreciated.

1. Orlando Bloom

Ah yes, I love Orlando. He is just sooooo nice to look at. A lot of times people forget how much of a stud Orlando really is, this is the same dude that went skydiving while filming LOTR.

the refrigerator of tomorrow!...

I once bought a 1950s advertisement for a refrigerator at the Place St. Anne, the downtown plaza of Rennes, for five euros.

Always ahead of technology, "FRIGIDAIRE" launches, on the French Market, the refrigerator that, by unsuspected advantages in Europe, has responded to all the demands of the American public:

• The largest capacity under the most reduced cluttering
• The possibility to go to the market no more than once a week, even for a family of 6-8 people
• A consumption incredibly reduced thanks to the rotating compressor ECOWATT
• ...and all the other perfections of "FRIGIDAIRE".

ORDER TODAY...

the MASTER 741, the genuine FRIGIDAIRE

Really, I just bought it for the woman pictured. We initially see an elegant woman donning a fancy dress,  proudly sitting in the fridge of the future. Yet she fools us. Actually, she was so ecstatic to own the Master 741, she had overestimated the amount of space it holds. In her one trip to the supermarché, she bought the entire store. Now trapped in by a cornucopia of food, she must eat her way out in order to escape the confines the fridge. Sheer brilliance.

na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na bald mouse man!

Ok… I’ll admit it… I’m kind of a… a…well, a nerd. Yes… yes it’s true… all because I love batman. (*note* batman would make it onto the ok to love list). I do know that I’m not the only nerd out there, and many more nerds have joined

our ranks since the release of the recent Batman franchise. Let’s face it, Batman is a bad boy; we ladies love him, and men want to be him. There is just something about batman that puts him far above all of the other super heroes… I’m guessing it’s the fact that he doesn’t have any corny super powers. (you know what I mean: the ability to fly faster than a speeding bullet, wield a magical lasso, talk to fish, etc). Batman is justan average Joe (not to be confused with Joe the Plummer…). Actually, I lied, the caped crusader is more than an average Joe… he’s a bad ass mother f***er! I mean, honestly, the man fills out a pretty impressive skin-tight, spandex singlet, drives a sweet (albeit sometimes phallic) car… in fact its more than a car it’s a…. mobile? That’s pretty sweet right!?! He also, in MacGyver fashion, relies exclusively on the materials he can carry in his utility belt (a little string here, a couple of steel hooks there, some screws, and hey we’ve got a grappling hook). Lets take a look at some of the accessories that make Batman the Dark Knight we all know and love… a lot…

The toys (because he’s just a normal guy who doesn’t possess any stupid super

powers):

The Batcopter

The Bat-sub

The Bat suit

The utility belt

The Batmobile

The Batboat

The Batplane

The Batcycle

…. In fact Batman has an arsenal that includes such "bat-" named items as the bat-computer, bat-scanner, bat-radar, bat-cuffs, bat-pontoons, bat-drinking water dispenser, bat-camera with polarized bat-filter, bat-shark repellent bat-spray, and bat-rope… hmmmm if you’re going to pick a theme, you probably better go all out.

Batman could rely solely on his super sweet toys, but he chooses to let some friends help him:

Supporting characters:

The Robins:

1. Dick Grayson: grows up, leaves his mentor and become the hero: Nightwing
2. Jason Todd: he is beaten and then killed in an explosion set by the Joker… but then somehow he returns as an adversary
3. Tim Drake: is the third Robin… and he eventually gets his own series!

Alfred

Lucius Fox (business manager and unwitting armorer)

Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon

Barbara Gordon (Batgirl): the Joker puts her in a wheel chair

Azrael the assassin

Cassandra Cain: the new Batgirl… you know to replace the injured one…

Ace the Bat-Hound!

And his super friends…. Bad pun…I know…

And just to try to make things difficult for Mr. Bat there are a couple of the world most creative villians ever invented....

The Villains:

The Joker: stands for everything B-man opposes... he's a crazy be-yoch!

Catwoman: the sexy feline love interest... do bats and cats mix? At least they rhyme

The Scarecrow: Boo!

The Penguin: Hahahah, Danny Devito!

Two-Face: don't trust a man with one side of his face ripped off

The Riddler: Maybe Johnny Depp will be scarier than Jim Carey... or at least more muscular...

Mr. Freeze: I'll be back!

Poison Ivy: Creepy plant lady!

Ra’s al Ghul: It's too bad he's never been in any of the movies, he's a pretty ba dude

And, as you know Bruce Wayne the millionaire playboy loves the ladies here is a list of some ofthe women he gets with:

Julie Madison, Vicki Vale, Silver St Cloud, Wonder Woman, Sasha Bordeaux, and Catwoman

Ok, so at this point you probably have a pretty vivid image of Batman in your head... but which image is it? You know there are so many versions of gothem's most wanted it's hard to keep them all straight!

Concerning the different types of batman:

*The comic strip/book batman began in1943

*Lewis Wilson: was the first actor to portray Batman in 1943 as part of a 15 part serial batman series

* Robert Lowery started in a second movie serial- Batman and Robin in 1945

*The Adam West portrayed the winged one on The Batman television series premiering in January 1966. He also voiced some of the later cartoon adaptations of Batman

*Olan Soule voiced Batman on the cartoon series: Super Friends.

* Michael Keaton played the man bat in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), and Batman Returns (1992)

*Val Kilmer: was the Batman of Batman Forever (1995) directed by Joel Schumacher

*George Clooney: is best know for his role as Batman in the acclaimed film, Batman and Robin (1997) also directed by Schumacher

*Batman returned to television in 1992: Batman: The Animated Series, this sparked several more TV series starring: Kevin Conroy, Rino Romano, and Diedrich Bader as the Dark Crusader.

*Christian Bale: Brought Batman back (and maybe sexy too?) in Batman Begins (2005), and The Dark Knight (2008) directed by Christopher Nolan

*Il y avait aussi un certain mec français qui avait son proper costume Batman... mais on ne va pas parler plus sur ce sujet...

So, there you have it everything you wanted to know (and more) about one of the studliest dudes out there. If you'll excuse me I'm going to go put myself into dangerous situations and hope he comes and rescues me!

chicago style.

Kate L. Turabian was our trusted guide and mentor, the absolute authority, the one who knew all there was to know about the strange world of proper term papers… Our writing on term papers might be weak, our research haphazard, our insights sophomoric, but, thanks to Kate L. Turabian, our footnotes could always be absolutely flawless. 

 -  John Marshall, Editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer,

In a tribute to Kate L. Turabian on October 27, 1987[1]

Laura Kate Larimore Turabian was born 117 years ago on this day. What do we know about her? Not much, except that she is the name behind the style manual acclaimed by students and academics everywhere. Adapted from the Chicago writing and citation style, Kate Turabian has paved the course for successful academic writing. Forget MLA. Forget APA. You are no one unless you have a copy of Kate’s bibliographical bible, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations sitting on your shelf.[2]

Now, why is Kate so great? Her story, albeit brief, demonstrates that she was a dedicated and strong woman who didn’t let anything get in her way. [3] Diagnosed with an illness that prevented her from going to college, she took on a job as a typist at an advertising agency (Mad Men, anyone?). Eventually through her husband, she landed a job as a secretary at the University of Chicago. There she found her niche in life…proofreading and revising dissertations. She proved herself to be a brilliant and scrupulous woman, distinguishing herself as the University’s official “dissertation secretary” in 1930. It was at this time when she wrote a pamphlet that quickly became the paradigm of all style guides.

All good academics should at least understand the basics to Kate’s citation style. Screw endnote or whatever bibliographic generator you may have, knowing how to write footnotes and bibliographic entries by heart saves you time and effort. And also gives you a sense of fulfillment and worth. For example, everyone should know how to cite a book, such as Robert Paxton’s revolutionary work on Vichy France:

Paxton, Robert. Vichy France: Old Guard and New Order, 1940-1944. New York: Knopf, 1972.

All things considered, Kate is amazing. She has made students like me understand the importance and virtue of properly citing a paper. Although her rules may seem rigid and demanding, her citation formats allow the full appreciation of other scholars’ works in a neat and orderly fashion. She has saved my life on a number of papers, allowing me to make up in citations for what could be lacking in actual content. If only the rest of society could appreciate the worth of Kate L. Turabian. Imagine what life would be like if someone popular, like Lady Gaga, were to take as keen of interest in Kate as me…

Life would just be that much better. 

---

[1] See University of Chicago Press, “Who was Kate Turabian?” Kate L. Turabian: A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_who.html (accessed February 26, 2010).

[2] For the latest edition, see Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers, rev. ed. By Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams, 7^th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007).

[3] All biographical information is found at the aforementioned University of Chicago Press website. 

have it your way.

Aha, Obama is a royalist. 

For context, see: Obama's genuflection and the Burger King.