We Have a Winner!

(Art by Mark Jenkins.)

And that winner will be announced tomorrow at noon.

LAST UPDATE! THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT.

OK, I'm making a new rule. Because I can. While I don't mind friends and family voting, I think it has gotten a little out of control.

So the only votes that will count will be:

Those from people who regularly visit/comment on this blog. (Yes, I know who you are.)
Those from people who also entered the contest.

Sorry, but that's the way it has to be.

Another Update!

(Isn't this exciting!)

VOTING WILL END AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. COMMENTS ON THE VOTING POST WILL BE TURNED OFF.

And since I'm a sucker for popular demand, I'm happy to post some of the other entries! If you sent one and you'd like me to post it, please send me an email at kikistrike@gmail.

And maybe I'll even tell you guys which shirt I might just make for myself. (And no, it wasn't one of the finalists!)

Update!

Sorry for the delay in posting comments. I had to get my hair done! (I know, not a good excuse.)

I see we have a lot of ANONYMOUS votes. Please, if you did not give a name, vote again. I'm afraid anonymous votes won't be counted! (To avoid voter fraud.)

And the Finalists Are . . .

The panel of experts wants you to know how difficult this decision was! There were over sixty entries in the 1000 Contest, and they were all amazing. You guys should start your own t-shirt company. (And then use the proceeds to take over the world. Mwwahahaha.)

Alas, only five t-shirts could be chosen as finalists. The experts looked for designs that were creative, fashionable, and different from anything else they had seen.

Now it's your turn! Comment on this post to vote for your favorite. One vote per person only, which means PLEASE DO NOT VOTE ANONYMOUSLY. If I suspect cheating, I will contact the FBI. Then I'll figure out what to do. But you can rest assured that CHEATING WILL MAKE ME VERY UNHAPPY.

Also, please use your imaginations. Some of the designs are rougher than others, but all the shirts will look great in the end!

ENTRY #1




ENTRY #2





ENTRY #3





ENTRY #4





ENTRY #5

Are You Thinking?

Remember, all entries in the 1000 Contest are due no later than midnight on Friday!

Aww. You GUYS!

(Above: You will feel the same way when you're my age.)

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! You have amazing memories. Today is the day!

I'm taking a little trip this weekend, so I may not have the chance to post for a few days. So if you have questions about the contest, ask them now and ask them here!

BTW, the entries I've seen so far are amazing!

Happy Valentine's Day & Chinese New Year!

(Above: Just a random cute picture.)

Happy Alligators in the Sewer Day!

Yes, it's a real day! Seventy-five years ago today, a teenager discovered an 8-foot alligator at the bottom of a manhole in Harlem. The event was even written up in the New York Times (see below).

According to a former superintendent of New York sewers (a man once known as the King of the Sewers), that 8-footer wasn't alone. When the man went down into the sewers see for himself what was there, he found . . .

Alligators serenely paddling around in his sewers. The beam of his own flashlight had spotlighted alligators whose length, on the average, was about two feet. Some may have been longer. Avoiding the swift current of the trunk lines under major avenues, the beasts had wormed up the smaller pipes under less important neighborhoods, and there Teddy had found them. The colony appeared to have settled contentedly under the very streets of the busiest city in the world.

Is the story true? Only the King of the Sewers knows. (And I don't think he's taking questions any more.)

Read more here.

THE 1000 CONTEST!!!

(Above: Mom and Dad)

To celebrate this blog's 1000th post, we will be holding a very special contest.

The challenge is to design a Kiki Strike t-shirt. (Thanks for the idea, AWB!) The t-shirt does not need to show Kiki Strike, but it must be in the spirit of the books. The design can feature an illustration, photo, or even a phrase. So it doesn't matter if you prefer to write or draw--your talents can be put to work!

A panel of experts will choose five finalists. Those five t-shirt designs will be posted on the blog. The winner will be chosen by YOU!

Entries must be sent to kikistrike@gmail.com no later than midnight on February 26th. The five finalists will be posted at 9am EST on February 27th, and the winner will be declared on February 28th!

The winner will receive two t-shirts featuring his/her own design and a little something extra from me!

GOOD LUCK

UPDATE: Each person may submit up to three entries.

This Is Post 999

Post 1000 will be uploaded at 8PM EST.

Invasions!

Thank you all for the stories about the giant squid currently invading California waters! The key words in this tale are: enormous, carnivorous, ink-blowing, mean, and delicious.

But allow me to tell you about another invasion. The other day, while sitting in my living room, I spotted a bug just like the one shown above. I picked it up and tossed it out the window. (Because I love all the little creatures.) Good thing I didn't squash it. Apparently, it was a stink bug--a particularly foul class of beasties which emit a terrible odor when stomped. And the one in my apartment may not have been alone! My neighborhood in Brooklyn is being invaded by stink bugs! The horror!

And to top it all off, there's a coyote loose in Central Park as I write! What is this world coming to? Giant squid, stink bugs, coyotes! AAARGH!

UPDATE! Pictures of the coyote here!

Happy Groundhog Day!

(Above: Don't be fooled by the dandelions. This is not a groundhog you'd want to mess with.)

I'm pleased to report that this year, New York's own groundhog, Staten Island Chuck, did not eat the mayor! AND he didn't see his shadow either, so spring is on the way. (Yeah right. This has been the most miserable winter in years.)

I'd like to take the opportunity to point out that this is post #997, which obviously means that post #1000 is coming up! What should I do? Any suggestions? (We're also approaching our FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY. Can you believe it?!?!?)

Secret Subways

I think it's time for Ananka's Diary to return to it's roots. Secret stuff. I found this amazing post over at Mentalfloss today. I thought I knew everything there was to know about America's secret subways. But guess what! I didn't! That ought to teach me.

Some of the secret subways have already been covered in this blog. However, there's enough new information there to keep you reading!

(Notice that the post only mentions American secret subways. If you really want your mind blown, look up some of the conspiracy theories surrounding the Tokyo subway system.)

BONUS SECRET STUFF HERE.

Yay! We're #6!

For years, New York boasted the nastiest hotel room in the country. Now, at last, we've been beaten. (You gotta love that shower curtain.)

Things I Would Like to Own: Giant Doll Heads

The giant doll heads shown above were made for a recent hair show. (Read more here.) I think one might look AMAZING in my living room. (There's not enough room for two.)

People always clap for the wrong things.

J.D. Salinger, the author of Catcher in the Rye died this week. I was a twelve-year-old living in the mountains of North Carolina when I first read the book, and I'm not sure I realized what a lasting impression it had made on me until I was a junior or senior in college. A college in New York City, I might add, not far from Holden Caulfield's stomping grounds. Anyone who's ever read my Kiki books knows I'm not a big believer in coincidence.

I must admit, I wasn't terribly upset by Salinger's death. He was, after all, quite old, and we all have to go sometime. However, I was surprised to find how many journalists took the opportunity to give his legacy a kick in the pants. It's almost like they'd been waiting with copies of his books and a can of gasoline hidden behind their backs.

My curiosity piqued, I took the time to read a few online reviews of Catcher in the Rye. Here's one . . .

"J.D. Salinger's style is redundant, his characters are unlikable, and the unrealistic episodes our protagonist engages in reek of bad sitcom humor and denouements."

She's talking about a book that--like it or not--changed YA literature forever. Kinda puts things into perspective. We're all entitled to our own opinions. But it's important to remember that sometimes our opinions are wrong.

Ladies and Gentlemen (if there are any out there), I Need Your Opinions!

Below are three potential covers for my new book. I would love to hear what you think! Please be 100% honest. I didn't create them, so I'm not going to cry my eyes out if you don't like them! (OK, maybe just a tear or two. JK) Tomorrow, maybe I'll ask a few questions, but right now, I'm just interested in hearing what your guts are telling you.

(If you like one--or all--what do you like? If you don't like them, why not?)

Thanks!

Kirsten




Kidding! I've taken down the potential covers for now, but I will post the chosen cover as soon as I know what it is! Thank you so much for your thoughts and advice. You guys are the best!

Look Smart

Go to a school that uses video games to teach everything from English to history.

Make a magic phone call.

Master some of the tricks the CIA used during the cold war.

Use your discarded hair to save the world.

Learn how to collect tasty salad ingredients . . . in Central Park.

But don't worry if you can't spell. (You can add me to that list.)

Turn water into marbles (below).

The Buckshaw Beast

This is far more interesting than the Maine Ape, I think. The beast pictured above has been attacking deer around Buckshaw Village in northern England. Some witnesses say it's a cross between a boar and a wolf, while others claim that its movements are far too cat-like for a boar.

What the heck is it? Read more here.

Just In Case

If you ever design a time machine, you might want to put this poster inside it. Then give me a call.

(Poster designed by Ryan North. Available here.)

Non-Human Persons

Finally, science is giving dolphins their due. They are now recognized as the second smartest creatures on the planet. Smarter than dogs. Smarter than chimps. Smarter than three-year-old humans! Heck, they're probably smarter than most of the people I know! That's why some zoologists are arguing that they should be classified as "non-human persons." (Read more here.)

In all seriousness, I have a feeling that one day in the future, the human race will wake up and realize that there are many species that are far more intelligent than we ever imagined. Almost every day I read something amazing. Elephants mourn their dead. Chimps can learn sign language. Dolphins can not only learn amazing tricks--they can teach their friends, too. Pigs are plotting to take over the government of Liechtenstein. (Okay, I made that one up.)

So let's start taking dolphins (and other creatures) more seriously! If we don't there's always a chance they'll stop showing up to save our rumps (literally).

UPDATE: Video narrated by my personal hero, one of the greatest men who ever lived, Sir David Attenborough.

The Maine Tree Ape

According to the youtube description, this video was taken by a group of friends hiking through the woods of Maine. (Sure.)

As is often the case with videos of Bigfoot-like creatures, it generates more questions than the standard, "What IS it?"

I would like to know:

1. Why it didn't move.
2. What happened after the end of the video?
3. Why did some woman announce she was going to climb the tree?

What do you think?

The Mysterious Beasts of Antarctica

For years, the crews of Japanese whaling boats have returned to land with stories of strange creatures spotted at night in the freezing waters off Antarctica. Known as the ningen, the beasts are extremely long (up to 30 meters) and a pure, snow white. They're also said to have a human-like shape. And if they resemble the picture above (created by an artist), they're very, very creepy.

Read more and see pictures and videos here!

(They kind of remind me of the mook I have hanging on my wall.)

No Comment

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

They Call Him the Monkey King

This morning I found a video of a man in India who has all the makings of a parkour legend. I couldn't embed the video, so you'll have to view it on the youtube site. And I apologize in advance for the ad at the beginning. But the move this guy makes around the :35 mark is one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen.

P.S.: I wish there were a few more monkey queens out there.

Here's a video of some traceuses (as female practitioners of parkour are called) in action.

Just What I Needed!

(Above: That's how I felt yesterday.)

Thanks for sending me weird news! You guys are the best. I thought I'd share some of the highlights . . .

Will Russia save the Earth from a killer asteroid? (Thanks, AB!)

The world's biggest cave has been found in Vietnam. (Thanks, CS!)

What's the strangest thing a passenger has ever left behind on a train? (Thanks, EK!)

Take a peek at the comments on the previous post and you'll find lots more! (Thanks Trickster Queen, Anonymous, Amanda, Anonymous Weekly Bloggers, Rileydog, CA, Lioness, Anna, Gamma, Nellie, and all the rest!)

P.S.: Kiki, I found your link both weird and hilarious! But given the content, it's probably best to keep it between the two of us!

P.S.S.: AmberStarGem, I'm looking forward to reading your story!

I might as well add my own recent discovery to the list. Two NY high school students have identified a new (and extra disgusting) species of cockroach! Check it out here.

I Can't Take It Anymore!!!!!

It's too cold. This morning I went out for a bagel. I was gone for ten minutes, but it took my toes half an hour to thaw once I got back home. And I was wearing snow boots! I am miserable. I hate being stuck inside.

So I've decided to post this picture of the world's smallest horse. And here are some more photos of cute animals. They did absolutely nothing to cheer me up. Someone send me some weird news, ASAP!

Happy New Year

I hope the unexpected finds us all this year!

Japanese Giants

I know I've written about this subject before, but I thought this video was particularly interesting. I've always been fascinated by Japanese giant salamanders. Perhaps it's because North America's only giant salamanders can be found in the mountains where I lived as a kid. The Appalachian Mountain salamanders are called hellbenders, which has to be the greatest name ever given to a creature. Sadly, thanks to pollution, they may not be around much longer.

You Can't Hide from the Namahage

Allow me to introduce you to the Namahage. Three hundred and sixty-four days a year, these knife-wielding demons with a penchant for straw coats wander the wilderness on the peninsula of Oga in Japan. But every New Year's Eve, they leave their mountain lairs and go looking for a little human company.

The Namahage visit nearby villages, bursting into homes in search of lazy children. The head of each household must then negotiate with the demons (the negotiations apparently involve lots of sake) and attempt to convince them that the children of the house have been both hard-working and obedient.

If the Namahage remain unconvinced, the little boys and girls are dragged back to the mountains and forced to lead a life of drudgery.

Okay, now to my main point. The twenty-first century is a good time to be young. A kid today might squeal a bit at the sight of a Namahage or Krampus, but few would ever take them seriously. But go back a hundred years or so, and I'd bet that these demons were pretty good at scaring the snot out of children.

Imagine it. It's 1909. You're a kid in Oga, and your parents warn you that there are terrifying creatures called Namahage living deep in the woods. (And you can't go online to see if it's true.) Then on New Year's Eve, a hideous demon bursts through your door . . .

Merry Christmas

And I have a cold! I'm going back to bed, and I'm not getting up until tomorrow morning.

Yes, I'm Here

Reading your comments. Planning the perfect post.

UFO Hovers Over Red Square

Two videos taken by amateurs can be found here. Wow.

Is it real? Who knows. You can do some amazing things with a computer or two.

Octopus Wrestling

Want to know what your grandparents did for fun? According to the Wikipedia entry, Octopus wrestling was all the rage in the 1960s. (Really?) Divers would plunge into the ocean, grab an octopus and attempt to drag it to the surface. Anyone who took the sport seriously accomplished this feat without the help of an artificial breathing apparatus.

It wasn't easy. The octopus is stronger and smarter than one might imagine. (How smart? Click here. Thanks, Cailey!) Octopuses have been known to grab divers and hold them underwater until they drown. Still, I think one octopus wrestler took it a bit far when he declared:

I realize it all sounds like a loathsome sport but it’s really more fun than hunting some poor harmless creature. When you wrestle and kill an octopus, you’re ridding the marine world of a treacherous enemy. And you’d better watch your step, too. For there’s no such thing as a reckless octopus hunter. You’re either careful or dead.

A treacherous enemy? I find them rather cuddly!

Bleeding Bananas

I have tons of work to do today (yes, really), so I'm going to keep this short.

Bananas in New Zealand have started bleeding. Isn't that the fourth sign of the apocalypse? (JK!)

Check it out here.

Another Unnecessary Post

This may come as a surprise to some people (including you, dear Anonymous), but posting on my blog doesn't stop me from writing books. I am capable of doing both. Just like you are probably capable of showering AND finishing your homework. Or eating your Wheaties AND getting to class on time. Or writing testy notes AND flossing your teeth before bed.

In fact, in the course of writing this blog, I often come across interesting ideas, events, or images that later make their way into my books. Take, for example, the photo above. It's not the product of Photoshop. This is what people all over Norway saw a few nights ago.

Was it a Russian rocket spiraling out of control (as some have suggested)? An alien encounter? A sign from a higher power? Who knows . . . maybe the answer will be found in my next book!

The Shame of Hello Kitty

I could spend days and days blogging about Hello Kitty craziness. She pops up in some pretty amazing places these days. Like Hello Kitty sausages. Mmmm. Delicious.





But this afternoon I received an email from an associate (thanks JA) which directed me to this article.

Apparently police chiefs in Bangkok are now punishing police officers who break the rules by forcing them to wear Hello Kitty armbands. (Photo below.)

I'm conflicted. I find it amusing, of course, but I'm also just a little offended. Why is it so shameful to wear a cute pink armband?

Bag Lunch, Anyone?

(Art by Andrew Bell.)

This post is going to make lab-grown pork seem appetizing by comparison. Brace your stomachs.

Here's the first paragraph of an article published in today's USA Today:

In the past three years, the government has provided the nation's schools with millions of pounds of beef and chicken that wouldn't meet the quality or safety standards of many fast-food restaurants.

What does that mean? Here are a couple of the article's many revelations:

1. US schools are often supplied with meat from chickens so old that they would otherwise only be suitable for compost or pet food.

2. Schools can serve ground beef that contains high levels of bacteria that often indicate the presence of fecal contamination. (Yes, that is what you think it is. And it's not a good thing. At all.)

This is serious! Read more here.

It's That Time of the Year Again!

Each December, blogs all over the world seem to hone in on the very same subject. Krampus. This year, I've decided to join the fun.

So what's Krampus, you ask? Krampus is a hideous demon-like creature that originated in the deep, dark, desolate forests of Northern Europe. He's said to accompany St. Nicholas on the jolly man's gift-giving journeys (shown above). But while St. Nick hands out presents to good little children, Krampus gives bad kids a good kick in the pants (or much, much worse).

According to Wikipedia:

Traditionally, young men dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December, particularly in the evening of December 5, and roam the streets frightening children and women with rusty chains and bells. In some rural areas the tradition also includes birching by Krampus, especially of young females.

Sounds like fun, right? (I never have to worry since I'm always very, very good.) It's hard to understand the allure . . . until you see a Krampus costume or two. A selection can be viewed here. Enjoy! (Actually, I find the old postcards a lot creepier.)

I Never Fully Trusted Tomatoes

I love tomatoes. But I've never really trusted them since I discovered (in the fourth grade) that they're members of the deadly nightshade family. Now, new scientific research has uncovered another terrifying truth about everyone's favorite salad ingredient.

TOMATOES ARE CARNIVOROUS!

That's right. Tomatoes eat insects. How? According to an article in The Telegraph . . .

Botanists have discovered for the first time that [tomatoes] are carnivorous predators who kill insects in order to "self-fertilise" themselves.

New research shows that they capture and kill small insects with sticky hairs on their stems and then absorb nutrients through their roots when the animals decay and fall to the ground.

It is thought that the technique was developed in the wild in order to supplement the nutrients in poor quality soil – but even domestic varieties grown in your vegetable patch retain the ability.

And they're not the only ones. Potatoes are also insect killers! In fact, according to researchers, "We may be surrounded by many more murderous plants than we think."

RELATED NEWS: Giant rat-eating plant found.

Sinister Suit-Sporting Rabbits Spotted in New York!

(Yes, I'm a big fan of alliteration.) Enormous rabbits wearing well-tailored suits have been reported throughout Manhattan today. And according to eyewitnesses, they're all as creepy as the one shown above. What's the meaning of this? Are they advertising a TV show as many have suggested? Or are the evil bunnies finally taking over--just as I have predicted they would lo these many years?

Giant Hamster Roams the NY Subway!

(Photos by Victoria Belanger.)

Little Edie is riding a subway model made for the trial of a subway bomber. (Her owner is an evidence photographer from the Manhattan DA's office.)

(via Gothamist)

Elsewhere in the animal kingdom . . . a real, living ouroboros!