IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

A number of you have asked how to participate in the Readergirlz myspace chat with Kirsten Miller that kicks off Friday night at 8PM Eastern time. Here are five easy steps.

1. If you're a member of myspace, log on.

2. Click on this link: groups.myspace.com/readergirlz

3. Scroll down until you see "Forums"

4. Click on the Forum Topic that says: "October19: Kirsten Miller"

5. Chat away!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T MEMBERS OF MYSPACE

You can still view the chat. (Just follow steps 2-4.) Unfortunately, you won't be able to ask questions through Myspace. So if there's a question you'd really like answered, send it to kikistrike@gmail.com before 8PM (Eastern time) tomorrow night! Kirsten Miller will answer it during the chat!

Questions?

Toilet Snakes are Real!

This is EXACTLY the sort of thing that I worry about.

On Monday, Brooklyn resident Nadege Brunacci felt the need to pay an early-morning visit to the bathroom. She'd finished her business and was washing her hands when she happened to look down at the toilet. There, looking back at her, was a seven-foot python!

(I'm impressed Ms. Brunacci kept her cool, but I wonder what would have happened if she'd "discovered" the snake just a few seconds earlier.)

After slamming the toilet lid and weighing it down with a heavy box, Brunacci waited for the Fire Department to arrive. New York's Bravest were forced to cut through the pipes in a neighboring apartment to capture the snake, which had slithered out of sight. Nobody knows where the snake came from. Let's just hope there aren't more of them lurking in New York's sewers!

Read the whole story here.

Create Your Own Chimera

The Bronx Zoo has a great new game on its website that allows you to create your own chimera (a beast composed of parts of many different animals).

Try it out here.

Don't Forget!

This Friday is the Readergirlz chat with Kirsten Miller. Tomorrow, I'll post instructions for those of you who aren't members of myspace!

The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo

Every year, the Capuchin monastery in Palermo, Sicily attracts hordes of visitors. Most have little interest in the monastery itself--they come to see what lies beneath it. Lined up on the walls of underground crypts are thousands upon thousands of the most remarkable mummies in the Western world.

It all started in 1599 when a monk by the name of Silvestro de Gubbio was mummified and placed in the monastery's catacombs. Soon, having your corpse preserved and hung on the wall was all the rage, and Palermo's big-shots paid good money to be put on display in their finest duds.

Inside the crypts, there are separate halls devoted to the mummies of professionals, priests, women, and men. Many of the deceased still sport the hats, hoop skirts, or neckerchiefs that were fashionable in their day. There are also a remarkable number of children to be seen. In fact Palermo's most famous mummy is that of Rosalia Lombardo, who died in 1920 at the age of two. She's so perfectly preserved that she's known as the "Sleeping Beauty."

Rosalia (shown below) was one of the last to be interred in the Capuchin catacombs. She lies surrounded by more than 8000 of her fellow mummies, and you can pay your respects to all of them by clicking here.

World's Weirdest Moths

Moths. Not the most interesting subject, you say? Well until today, I might have agreed. Then I discovered this list of the top ten weirdest moths. There's one that looks exactly like a hummingbird (see below), a "vampire" moth, and even a moth that appears to have a human skull on its back. And the best thing is . . . there's nothing cute about them.

Check the rest out here.

Finally a Reason to Go Camping

This is the coolest tent I've ever seen. (Though how are you supposed to get inside?) Designed by Dutch artist Dre Wapenaar, it's one of the many innovative outdoor dwellings he's created.

Now you can purchase the Treetent at Neiman Marcus for the bargain price of $50,000! That's one expensive camping trip.

The Littlest Piglet

Yeah, I know. What is it with me and teensy animals? Believe me--I'm not one of those people who ooooh and ahhhh at every adorable creature I come across. And I'd rather jump off the Brooklyn Bridge than participate in the LOL cats craze. But something about little dogs, frogs, or pigs fills me with glee.

And I have to say, finding this picture of little Tetley made me practically giddy. No bigger than a teacup, this miniature pig will never grow past the size of a cocker spaniel. See more pictures here.

No more cute animals for a while. Back to the strange, bizarre, and disturbing!

I Smell Dead People!

New York City is not the best-smelling place on Earth--to say the least. But apparently the Bronx (an area that lies north of Manhattan), is particularly stinky. In recent months, residents have been complaining about odors ranging from the sweet stench of sewer to the unmistakable fragrance of fresh cadaver.

So what does the city do when the complaints start rolling in? They send out odor inspectors--specially trained indivduals whose powerful noses can track down the source of the smells. These brave souls are willing sniff the foulest scents so the rest of us don't have to.

Read the original report in the New York Post.

(Below: The Post's map of the odors wafting through the Bronx.)

In the Future, Everything is Cute

Here are a few of the new "concept" cars unveiled by Nissan, Honda, and Toyota at the Tokyo Auto Show earlier this month. The Japanese are big on cute, which they call "kawaii." (Hello Kitty is practically a religion in Japan.) It's such a huge part of their culture that you'll even see burly construction workers walking around with cute little anime characters dangling from their cell phones.








Also, you might want to check out these photos of the world's smallest cars. They're far more interesting than you'd think!

Karate Nuns

"In 1991, a group of French nuns arrived in New York to open a mission. All of them were from the Order of Fraternite Notre Dame. Not one spoke English. Their first plan was to establish a soup kitchen for the poorest of the poor. They chose a storefront in Spanish Harlem and started working.

"Shortly after their arrival, they began to study the martial arts. Though they would never use the arts to hurt someone, a number of them have become quite good. Sister Mary, who is just over five feet tall, is the most serious."

Awesome.

The New York Underground Railroad

The New York Times has a great video tour of places in Brooklyn that many believe may have been stops on the Underground Railroad. These were buildings in which escaped slaves could hide as they traveled north to freedom.

Though it's not profiled in the video, Bialystoker Synagogue in Manhattan (shown above) is also thought to have played a role in the abolitionist movement back in the days when it was known as the Willett Street Church.

According to the synagogue's website, "In the corner of the women’s gallery there is a small break in the wall that leads to a ladder going up to an attic, lit by two windows. Legend has it that the synagogue was a stop on the Underground Railroad and that runaway slaves found sanctuary in this attic." Oddly enough, they don't mention what lies UNDER the building.

Evidence of Ghosts? You Decide!

The owner of the George and Dragon Pub in Phoenix, Arizona claims there's more to his establishment than meets the eye. According to David Wimberley, the bar is frequented by members of the spirit community. Guests have experienced, "glasses being thrown, names being called out, women being grabbed by invisible hands and bottles of beer exploding in midair."

Now Wimberley says he has proof of the haunting. Ghost hunters from West Coast Paranormal recently investigated Wimberley's claims and managed to record what they say are voices from beyond. Listen to the tape here. I don't know if it's "proof," but it sure sent chills up my spine!

Read the original story here.

(Below: The George and Dragon Pub)

Dissecting Hello Kitty

Artist Michael Paulus has managed to get underneath the skin of many famous cartoon characters. He's stripped them down to their very bones, revealing the bizarre skeletons beneath. His drawings are both beautiful and weird--and I'd love to have one for my wall! (I think I'd put it in the bathroom.) Check them out here.

Looking for Tales of Adventure!

This is your chance for fame, fortune and glory! (OK, maybe not fortune.) It's time to share your stories. So send us an account of . . .

1. An adventure you've had.
2. A ghost you've encountered.
3. Or a "case" you've solved using your Kiki Strike skills.

This isn't a creative writing quiz. The stories don't need to be long. Heck, they don't even need to be true. (As long as we can't tell the difference.) They just need to be exciting.

An independent team of experts will pick the most thrilling (not necessarily the most beautifully-written) tale. On November 1, the winning story will be posted on the blog for all to read, and its author will receive a special package, including a signed copy of the Empress's Tomb, a Kiki Strike T-shirt, and more!

Send your stories to talesofadventure@gmail.com

What Happened to That Fungus?

OK, here's something I'd never seen before today. The Hydnellum peckii, otherwise known as the "Bleeding Tooth Fungus" is supposedly quite common and can be found under conifer trees.

But I've spent a lot of time in the woods (don't ask), and I think I'd remember coming across a mushroom that looked like a crime scene.

I Guess It's Gross Food Day

Here's a little info about a food so disgusting (to Americans) that many people believe it's a hoax. It's NOT.

From Wikipedia.

Casu marzu is a cheese found in Sardinia, Italy, notable for being riddled with live insect larvae. Casu marzu means "rotten cheese" in Sardinian and is known colloquially as maggot cheese.

[Cheese fly] larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down of the cheese's fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as translucent white worms, about 1/3 inch long. When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 6 inches, prompting recommendations of eye protection for those eating the cheese. Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming; others do not.

(Below: Behold the majestic maggot cheese.)

If You Can't Beat Them, Eat Them

Every year, parts of Australia are overrun by brown bogong moths. Now one chef is proposing a novel way to deal with the pests: He's encouraging Australians to eat them.

According to Paul Bruneteau, the moths (which can be gathered from most windowsills this time of year) taste a bit like hazelnut-flavored popcorn. He suggests plucking off their wings and frying them in canola oil--or (get this) putting them in a coffee grinder and sprinkling the powder over pancakes.

Of course if you're feeling a little lazy, you can always just toss a couple straight into your mouth. But try not to go overboard. You'd think something so gross would be good for you. But it seems 3 ounces of moth abdomen have as much fat as a Big Mac (oh, and a little arsenic from all the pesticides they consume.)

Read more here. Bon Appetit!

(Above: Dinner)

Blessing of the Animals

This Sunday, New Yorkers will line up at the cathedral of St. John the Divine for an entertaining (and possibly stinky) religious experience. They will go to have their animals blessed. It's the one day each year that people can bring their dogs, cats, monkeys, cows and elephants (no joke) to church with them.

Even those without pets or livestock can enjoy the parade that's scheduled to feature a white reindeer, a camel, two llamas, a black sheep, a golden eagle, a monkey and a boer goat.

Of course other churches around the world will be holding their own Blessing of the Animals. It's all in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who is said to have possessed the ability to talk to the animals.

(Above: The smallest frog in the world (just because it's cute). Below: A camel prepares for its blessing.)

Speaking of Asian Ghosts

From David Ho's Candice the Ghost series of paintings.

How to Feed a Hungry Ghost

In the past decade, some of the most successful horror films in America have been based on Asian movies and ghost stories. (The Ring, The Grudge, and The Eye to name a few.) There's a good reason for this. Most Asian cultures, including the Chinese, take ghosts very seriously, and the existence of spirits is simply taken for granted by much of the population. (By comparison, less than half of Americans claim to believe in ghosts.)

Though Chinese ghosts come in a remarkable variety of shapes and sizes, the most common image of a spirit is the one shown above--a pale young woman dressed in white, with long black hair hiding her face from view. (The photo is from the movie The Grudge.) So simple, so creepy.

Each year in late summer, China celebrates the Ghost Festival. In Chinese tradition, it is said that on the fourteenth day of the seventh month, the dead return to pay their relatives a visit. It's the living's job to make sure the spirits have a good time. Offerings and incense are burned and food is left at altars to appease what are known as Hungry Ghosts. These are the spirits of people who've died traumatic deaths or whose families did not provide them with supplies for the afterworld.

Should a Hungry Ghost be left uncared for, its revenge can be terrifying, as Oona Wong discovers in The Empress's Tomb.

Below: A woman burns "Ghost Money" in the hopes that her ancestors receive it in the afterworld and don't return to haunt her.

Seven Underground Wonders of the World

I've been very busy today! There's so much stuff to do. T-shirts, stickers, strange website additions. (All--and more--to come soon!) So I'm going to be a little lazy and point you in the direction of a very interesting post that I came across the other day.

The Seven Underground Wonders of the World (as listed on weburbanist.com) are pretty cool. (Though I'm not sure I agree with the sites they've chosen for their list. Where are the Terracotta Warriors? Or the Shadow City for that matter!)

Anyway, enjoy reading about the tunnels under Budapest (which I've visited) and Coober Pedy, which I'd love to see. And stay tuned, cause tomorrow's post will delve into the world of HUNGRY GHOSTS!

TODAY'S THE DAY!!!

I know you've been hearing about it for months, but the Empress is finally here!

And those of you in New York, don't forget tomorrow . . .

"Teen Authors Read @ Tompkins Square."
Date: Wednesday, October 3 Time: 6:00 PM


You want teen authors? We got teen authors! Come hear about the hottest and brightest voices in teen lit today. Meet Jessica Blank, author of Almost Home, Robert Lipsyte, author of Yellow Flag, Wendy Mass, author of Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, Kirsten Miller, author of Kiki Strike: The Empress's Tomb, Megan McCafferty, author of Fourth Comings, Adrienne Vrettos, author of Sight, and Melissa Walker, author of Violet On the Runway. David Levithan hosts. For ages 12-18.


Location:
Tompkins Square Branch
331 East 10th Street
(212) 228-4747

China's Diva Mummy

Say hello to Lady Dai. She may not be much of a looker anymore, but many scientists insist that she's one of the best-preserved "mummies" ever discovered. You see, though Lady Dai was already more than 2000 years old when she was unearthed in 1971, her skin remained moist and there was said to be blood still left in her veins.

Thirty-six years ago, a group of Chinese workers were digging an air raid shelter when they uncovered an enormous underground tomb. It turned out to be the final resting place of the Marquis of Dai, a Chinese nobleman, and his wife Xinzhui, who died in the year 168 B.C.

Archaeologists found Lady Dai's burial chamber filled with precious goods--fine fabrics, bizarre delicacies (such as caterpillar fungus), and opulent furniture--as well as painted figurines of the servants who would tend to her needs in the afterworld. Inside four interlocking coffins lay the remains of a middle-aged woman. Once a renowned beauty, a life of overindulgence had left her sickly and obese. An autopsy revealed that she had died of a heart attack at age fifty.

While she may be the most famous mummy discovered in China, Lady Dai is by no means the loveliest or most impressive.

That honor belongs to a young woman known only as the Traitor Empress.

Yes, Virgina, Giant Squirrels DO Exist

The Empress's Tomb will be out on Tuesday, so I figured I should spend the next few days answering some of the questions that are bound to arise. I'm labeling this series of posts, "Things You Should Know."

For instance, a few people who've read the latest book have wondered if I "invented" a species of rodent known as the Malaysian Giant Squirrel. I assure you all that I did no such thing. (As if!!) Intrepid travelers who've explored the rainforests of Southeast Asia often report spotting enormous rodents perched in the treetops. Though they look much like American squirrels, these beasts can measure more than three feet in length. Imagine finding something like that in your backyard!

Need more proof? Click here.

I've also heard from certain people who believe that cute, fluffy squirrels (even giant ones) could never be responsible for all the mischief they cause in The Empress's Tomb. For the education of these naive individuals I've provided the following evidence of squirrel-related crimes around the world.

1. The Iranians recently arrested 14 squirrels as spies.
2. Many squirrels have become master thieves.
3. Though they appear innocent, they can attack when you least expect it.
4. Squirrels regularly plunge the world into darkness.
5. They're all masters of disguise.

Read enough?

Befriend Kiki Strike on MySpace

The World's Smallest Park

From Wikipedia:

"Mill Ends Park in Portland, Oregon, United States, is a small park that was created on St. Patrick's Day, 1948, to be a colony for leprechauns and a location for snail races. It is the smallest park in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records, which first granted it this recognition in 1971.

The small circle has featured many unusual items through the decades, including a swimming pool for butterflies (complete with diving board), a horseshoe, a fragment of the Journal building and a miniature Ferris wheel (which was delivered by a regular-sized crane)."

Chat with Your Favorite Authors!

Including Kirsten Miller!

THIS is very cool. Every day in October, the Readergirlz Myspace forum will feature a chat with a different teen author. Some of the biggest names in the world of books will be sitting by their computers just waiting to answer your questions!

All you have to do is go to groups.myspace.com/readergirlz at 8PM EST/5PM PST.

Here's the calendar of chats. See if any of your favorites are on the list. AND MAKE SURE NOT TO MISS THE CHAT ON OCTOBER 19TH!

10/1 Meg Cabot
10/2 Tiffany Trent
10/3 Brent Hartinger
10/4 Lorie Ann Grover
10/5 K.L. Going
10/6 Nikki Grimes
10/7 Ellen Hopkins
10/8 Justina Chen Headley
10/9 Chris Crutcher
10/10 Ann Brashares
10/11 Sarah Mlynowski
10/12 Cecil Castellucci
10/13 Kirby Larson
10/14 Tanya Lee Stone
10/15 John Green
10/16 Sara Zarr
10/17 Deb Caletti
10/18 Rachel Cohn
10/19 *******KIRSTEN MILLER******
10/20 Mitali Perkins
10/21 Sonya Sones
10/22 Lisa Yee
10/23 Carolyn Mackler 2
10/24 E. Lockhart
10/24 Janet Lee Carey
10/26 Gaby Triana
10/27 Lauren Myracle
10/28 Holly Black
10/29 Cynthia Leitich Smith
10/30 Dia Calhoun
10/31 Stephenie Meyer

Where Do You Think He's Heading?

This enormous statue was erected on the banks of the Thames River in London to promote a new television show . . . about tattoos of all things. Strange. But fun to look at.

Name That Turtle

Come on. How many chances will you have in life to name a two-headed red slider turtle?

Cast your vote here. (Scroll down to see the options.)

Stock Your Witch's Kitchen

Aranamuerta recently posted instructions for making your own "Witch Kitchen Jars" for Halloween. (Or all year round if you're a little ghoulish.) Some of the jars are extremely easy to make, and all are downright creepy. (Oozing Grubs, Bat's Blood, and Nightmare Larva to name a few.) How unbelievably creative and inspired! I love it!

Anne Frank's Secret Annex

For those of you unfamiliar with the story Anne Frank, I'll give you just a little background. In 1942, when Anne was thirteen years old, she and her family were forced into hiding by the Nazis. In German occupied Holland, Jewish people like the Franks were being rounded up and sent to concentration camps throughout Europe. Rather than endure the horrors of the camps, the Franks and four other people spent more than two years hiding in secret rooms inside the Amsterdam building that had once housed Mr. Frank's office and warehouse.




The "Secret Annex," as Anne called it, could only be accessed by means of a door that was cleverly disguised as a bookcase. Behind it lay a few small chambers and an attic. Every day, the Franks walked on tiptoe and spoke only in whispers, afraid that someone might hear them in the warehouse below. For two years, the Franks and their friends lived without sunlight or fresh air in the hope that the Allied forces (including the Americans) would eventually arrive to drive the Nazis out of Amsterdam. When the Allies finally did march into Amsterdam, it was already too late for Anne and her family. The Nazis had discovered their hiding place in the summer of 1944.




Throughout her years in hiding, Anne wrote at great length in her diary. She documented the daily life of her family (including the many quarrels), kept track of the war, and confided her secret thoughts and desires. After World War II ended, her father--the only member of the family to survive the Holocaust--worked hard to have it published. The resulting book is funny, sweet, thrilling, horrifying--and ultimately heartbreaking. In the more than sixty years since it was written, The Diary of a Young Girl has become one of the most famous books in the world.




On Monday, I visited the house where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis, but I didn't take any pictures. Some rooms seem to remember what's happened in them, and it didn't feel right to snap photos in a place that had witnessed such terror. But I was so inspired by what I'd seen that started rereading The Diary of a Young Girl. It's even better than I remembered--and I recommend it to everyone. Anne was just a teenager, but she managed to create something that has inspired the entire world.

Greetings from Amsterdam

Sorry for the quality of the photo above. I took it with my blackberry. I just arrived in Amsterdam, and I'm completely charmed. Everything about this city is just cute, cute, cute. (In a good way.) It's also quite interesting to see what New York (formerly New Amsterdam) must have looked like before the English showed up and renamed the place.

As luck would have it, I'm staying two blocks away from the Anne Frank House. I plan to visit in the next few days, though the lines are remarkably long. I walked by this afternoon. I'm not sure what I expected, but it's really rather ordinary from the outside. It's hard to believe that it was the site of such hardship and terror.

I'll take more pictures when I pay my respects to one of the greatest girls (and most moving writers) who ever lived. If there's anything you'd like to know about Anne, send me a note, and I'll do my best to find out!

Get That Girl a Reverse Pied Piper!

From designer Gareth Pugh's 2008 Spring collection. Lovely.

If You're in New York . . .

"Teen Authors Read @ Tompkins Square."
Date: Wednesday, October 3 Time: 6:00 PM


You want teen authors? We got teen authors! Come hear about the hottest and brightest voices in teen lit today. Meet Jessica Blank, author of Almost Home, Robert Lipsyte, author of Yellow Flag, Wendy Mass, author of Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, Kirsten Miller, author of Kiki Strike: The Empress's Tomb, Megan McCafferty, author of Fourth Comings, Adrienne Vrettos, author of Sight, and Melissa Walker, author of Violet On the Runway. David Levithan hosts. For ages 12-18.


Location:
Tompkins Square Branch
331 East 10th Street
(212) 228-4747

How to Learn English: The Easy Way

Sometimes, there's nothing like a good old blow to the head, as an 18-year-old Czech racecar driver found out recently. After surviving a potentially deadly crash, Matej Kus woke up speaking fluent English--with an English accent. What's strange about that, you ask? Well, before the crash, Matej could barely make sense of the language, and his friends described his abilities as, "basic at best."

As he recovered, Matej's English skills deteriorated. So any of you looking for a way to make it through French class . . . put the sledgehammer away. It's just not worth it.

Read more here.