Another selection of interesting things that I've come across in the last few days. Enjoy!
Spaghetti Stir-Fry and Hambagoo
Fascinating New York Times story about yoshoku, or “Western food,” in which European or American dishes were imported to Japan and then gradually changed to fit local tastes.
Abandoned Wooden Houses in Russia
Beautifully constructed, these elaborately painted and decorated wooden Russian houses were left to quietly collapse in remote forests.
One Hundred Best First Lines From Novels
The American Book Review compiles a list of their favourites. Via The Morning News.
Robot Mania
Great looking retro-style website with Flash design by Alberto Cerritenohas that has the cutest retro game of Space Invaders. In Spanish. Via digital thread.
Chronicle Books Blog
I just discovered that Chronicle Books has a great blog!
The Thoughtful Dresser
An intelligent blog about fashion by novelist and journalist Linda Grant, who won the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2000 and the Lettre Ulysses Prize for Literary Reportage in 2006. A much-loved daily treat.
Paper Cherry Blossoms
Martha offers instructions on how to make pretty paper cherry blossoms, to bring a bit of spring to your home (or yourself).
From Hell
Guardian reporter Joe Queenan writes about his quest to find the worst movie of all time. Funny and oddly enlightening at the same time — just what is it that makes a bad movie so bad?
P.S. The photo is by Shootspaces, via Purple Area.