Dumpster Diving!

If you're visiting New York this August, you may have the chance to do a little dumpster diving. Literally. Pools made from dumpsters will be lined up on Park Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets. Each pool will be eight feet wide, five and a half feet deep, and twenty-two feet long. (Those are some big dumpsters.) There will even be lifeguards, changing rooms and portable showers!

I gotta say, this sounds pretty awesome. Though that particular stretch of street is literally the last place on earth that I'd want to be spotted in a bathing suit. (I used to work around there.)

Read more here!

Do You Expect the Unexpected?

According to a new study (actually a twist on a very old study), people who "expect the unexpected" aren't necessarily more likely to SPOT the unexpected.

Here's the scenario. Study volunteers are told to watch two groups (one group in white shirts, and one in black) pass a basketball from person to person. The volunteers are asked to count how many times the people in white pass the ball.

At some point, while everyone is counting, a person in a gorilla suit walks right through the action. The volunteers are so focused on counting that only half notice the gorilla.

Simple enough, right? Well what if volunteers are TOLD a gorilla might be stopping by? Then things get interesting.

First, test your own skills with the video below. Then click here to read more.

(This should be mandatory training for all future Irregulars.)

Ninja Monkeys!

(Illustration: CS Jennings)


"The monkeys made their bid for freedom [from a Japanese research facility] by using tree branches to fling themselves one by one over the high voltage electric fence located nearly three metres away.

However, despite the intelligence shown in their great escape, the primates appeared unsure as to what to do with their newfound freedom: the monkeys remained by the gates of the research centre and were lured back into captivity by scientists armed with peanuts."

If there is a fourth Kiki Strike, these monkeys will definitely have a role. Mark my words.

More here. Thanks for the tip, Big K.

Bloodcicles and Frozen Insects

These are just a few of the ways zoo creatures here are beating the heat. Want to see a panda eat a popsicle? Your wish is my command.

Washington DC Covered in Vomit-Smelling Goop

The East Coast is sweltering. It's been over 100 degrees for a few days now. So what do we need to make our lives even less pleasant? How about vomit-smelling goop.

According to this article, a truck carrying restaurant oil sprang a leak sometime on Wednesday morning. Soon, U Street was coated with rancid grease. What kind of rancid grease, you ask?

"In some areas, the goop had the texture of what's left in the bottom of the pan when you fry chicken." Mmmmmm!

Cars, pedestrians, and bicycles were sliding all over the street. People who'd fallen were covered in muck.

As nasty as that sounds, I bet it was pretty amazing to see. You can't tell me some foreign government isn't responsible. I blame Liechtenstein.

I've Seen the Future, and It Is Awesome

This video is meant to show some of the things that can be done with 3-D projections onto buildings. Oh my is it awesome. (The water projection! I love it!) It's just a demo video, but some of the actual projections have been videotaped and are pretty durn cool as well.

Who Is Horse Boy?

A man with the head of a horse has been popping up on Google Street View. He wanders the streets of Aberdeen, Scotland, and everyone there has a theory about who he might be. But to this day, nobody knows for sure. And that's the way it should stay.

Read more here.

P.S.: Happy Fourth of July everyone!

A Personal Invitation to Teens and Adults

I'm going to be spending a lot of time over at the blog for my new book, The Eternal Ones, which comes out on August 10th! So please drop by, and I'll be happy to tell you who you were in a previous life! (It's a little nuts but a lot of fun.)

The new book and the blog are not intended for anyone under 14. Those of you who haven't quite reached that mark, hold tight. I'll still be posting here regularly, and there will be a new Kiki Strike book soon!

What Are People Saying About The Eternal Ones?

(Above: Somehow I always think they're talking to me.)

Those of you who know I served some time in the ad industry may have a hard time believing this, but I find self-promotion incredibly challenging. I'm posting these awesome quotes (gathered by my wonderful publisher) not only to pique your interest, but to give me the faith to keep chugging away on the sequel to The Eternal Ones. (Almost done!) So please, indulge me . . .

(And to all of you bloggers out there, THANK YOU! I don't know if you realize how much your praise means!)

“Kristen Miller writes beautifully. Having grown up in the South, I have many happy and horrifying memories about rural southern life, and Miller captured them both with flair… Miller’s voice was spot-on.” – Forever Young Adult

“[Haven] she has a strong character and personality, trying to make sense of what her brain and her heart and everyone else is telling her. Romantics will love this because of the resolved ending, and it's a new twist in the "love conquers all paranormal adventure story" genre.” – Afterthoughts

“This book pulled me in from the beginning and I got so into it that I was up till 5 am reading it without realizing it was so late! It was something different than I have read before and will appeal to both YA and adults.” – Froggarita’s Bookshelf

“The story itself was just what I was looking for. A fairly easy and light read with a nice little love story that didn't feel completely recycled from ten thousand love stories before it. I thought the reincarnation stuff was kind of fun and I loved that I was still rather unsure about who to trust until close to the end.” – Ad Absurdum

“What a wonderful story! Don't throw anything at me, but I liked this better than Twilight. It is full of intrigue, romance and mystery. You have to stay up late just to read all of it in one night. Haven starts out as a blah character but quickly develops into one you will miss when you put down the book. Her romance with Iain spans centuries and you won't believe how magically Miller weaves this tale. There is that great Kirsten Miller dialogue that I loved so much in the Kiki Strike series.” – BookHounds

“There were many things that got me hooked to this book, but what I mostly adored was the character development that Miller made happen in this book… I also loved how Miller actually kept me on the edge of my seat during the whole book. When I started to read it, the first couple of chapters made me feel like I already knew how it was going to end. But Kirsten absolutely blew my mind with all of the damn mystery and drama! I found myself literally screaming at it at one point! This is the kind of book where you have to put it down for a minute while you stomp around your house, having a complete hissy fit over something frustrating, like the romantic tension. Honestly, words cannot describe how kick ass this book was, so all I'm going to say is that when The Eternal Ones come out in August, you better be one of the first to get it! You will not be disappointed.” – Naughty Book Kitties

“I was totally and utterly engaged…” – Bookworming in the 21st Century

“I must say I really loved the book. It spoke to me. I soaked in the settings, lived the history, the mystery and the main protagonists…it is rare that a book stays with me so long and deep after I close the pages.” –Fire and Ice

“I loved it… there is great action, and great pacing… I kept thinking I had the twists and turns figured out, but it turns out I am just not that clever. The Eternal Ones kept me guessing.” –Rachel Bateman

“Twilight fans will fall for this addictive story of reincarnation and love through the ages… Miller keeps you guessing right up to the end about Iain's true intentions and leaves the reader hoping for a sequel.” –Examiner.com

“I have to admit that I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed this book… Haven is very interesting - no shy wallflower… I enjoyed The Eternal Ones very much and give it 5 out of 5 stars.” –Michelle’s Book Blog

What Should You Do With Your Old Books?

Artist Nick Georgiou creates these amazing sculptures out of newspapers and books and puts them in public places. I'd love to have one crafted out of gently-worn copies of Kiki Strike.

The Psychic Octopus

(Art by Kozyndan)

Apparently an octopus in Germany has been correctly predicting the outcome of World Cup games. (Even the upsets.) Check it out here.

Did the octopus see the US winning its group this afternoon? If so, he's better than some England fans I've met, who informed me we didn't stand a chance.

Pride goeth before second place, as they say. (Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

Ghost Story Du Jour

I was up in Washington Heights (just north of Harlem) today, doing a little research at the old Morris-Jumel mansion. (The mansion and the surrounding grounds are one of my favorite places in New York City. If you ever have a chance, take a bag lunch and enjoy it in the garden. It's lovely, quiet, and just a little bit creepy.) While I was there, I heard an interesting ghost story.

I was speaking with a woman who has worked at the mansion for decades, and I jokingly asked her if the building had any ghosts.

She pointed to the clock shown below, and said, "About fifty men have heard a woman speak to them from inside that clock."

One visitor told her that he had come to the mansion on a school trip when he was fifteen years old. His teacher had asked that each student pen a 200-word essay about an object he/she found interesting. This particular young man chose the clock. As he was scribbling notes, the little door on the front of the clock opened, and he heard a woman's voice say, "Come closer." Then the clock began to shake. The kid's teacher assumed that he was the one shaking the clock and yelled at him from across the room. Just then, the woman said, "I want you."

It took the young man twenty years to work up the courage to visit the mansion again. He came with his wife, who refused to set foot inside the building. He ventured in alone and stood in front of the clock for over an hour, but he never heard the woman's voice again.




Here's a video of another Morris-Jumel ghost story . . . enjoy!

What Do You Suppose They Were Serving That Day?

Why didn't they ask the big question? How the heck did it get in there in the first place? (I hope it wasn't via a toilet. I have enough to worry about.)

Good Karma Available Here

Check it out.

The New York Times Doesn't Know Jack About Rats

This morning, the New York Times reported on a new scientific study of the rats in New York's subway system. The article, while interesting, is riddled with inaccuracies!

Here are just a few of the mistakes I discovered! . . .

"City Hall is now aiming its technocratic lance at a problem so ancient as to predate the city itself: rats."

FALSE. The ancestors of most of the rats in New York were brought here on ships from Europe. They do not predate the city.

" . . . any New Yorker who has screamed at the sight of a hairy critter slinking along the tracks."

FALSE: No self-respecting New Yorker would scream at the sight of a rat on the tracks. If one did, he/she would be forced to leave town immediately.

"The legend of teeming rat cities tucked deep into subway tunnels is, in fact, a myth."

FALSE: Hahahahahahahaha! Fools.

"But befitting a creature that has evaded annihilation for centuries, officials found no obvious solutions [to the rat problem]."

FALSE: May I introduce you gentleman to a handy device known as the Reverse Pied Piper? Or perhaps you'd prefer a bottle of rat-repelling perfume?

“We’re no match for them, as far as I’m concerned. Man does not stand no chance.”

TRUE: Actually, men don't stand a chance against rats. Six delinquent girl geniuses? Absolutely.

Keep Warm This Winter with Rat Fur!

(Above: A "rat.")

I've come across a number of stories in the past couple of weeks about "rat fur" growing more popular among fashion designers. Well it's not rat fur--it's nutria fur. There's a difference. A big difference.

But it brings up an interesting question about fur. I, personally, would never wear fur. I think it's gross. And I live in a climate that allows me to get away with wearing wool coats all winter. (As a rule, I don't judge people who live in Siberia. Their lives are hard enough already.)

However nutria are not minks or chinchillas. They're pests that destroy the wetlands around Louisiana. (If there are still wetlands left after the oil spill. How impossibly sad.) So is wearing nutria fur okay? I need to know! That vest (below) would look awfully cute on me. (JK)

Read more here.




(Above: Oscar de la Renta's "rat fur" vest.)

Who Knew Dormice Were So Interesting . . . and Delicious?

(Above: Is that HONEY in her hand? What kind of sick, twisted movie IS this?)


Things I already knew about dormice:

1. They're awful cute.

2. The Romans ate them dipped in honey.



Things I learned about dormice from this article:

1. Slovenian legend has it that dormice are herded by the devil himself.

2. Dormouse comes from the Anglo-Norman word for "sleepy one." (Which explains the sleepy dormouse in Alice in Wonderland.)

3. During the time of Queen Elizabeth I, it was believed that consuming dormouse fat could help a person fall asleep.

4. They're delicious cooked in red wine with vegetables. (I'll just have to take his word for it.)

Undercover Shrub

Oddly enough, I can think of a MILLION uses for this handy shrub mobile.

Quiz Time!

(Above: I want this mosaic in my bathroom!)

Summer vacation is here. It's time to begin your REAL education. So let's start with a quick quiz . . .

You're an archaeologist working in Northern England. You discover an ancient graveyard filled with dozens of skeletons. All the bones once belonged to strapping young men. The bodies were beheaded before they were buried. At least one of the young men was mauled by a large animal--most likely a bear, tiger, or lion.

Who have you discovered?

Answer here.

What Do You Suppose is Down There?

An anonymous reader recently alerted me to the remarkable sinkhole that opened up in the middle of Guatemala City on Sunday. (Thanks, Anonymous!) It's sixty feet across. And THIRTY STORIES DEEP. And it could get bigger! I've posted about this kind of phenomenon before, but the National Geographic's pictures of the latest sinkhole are absolutely amazing.

According to the experts at NG, "Sinkholes are natural depressions that can form when water-saturated soil and other particles become too heavy and cause the roofs of existing voids in the soil to collapse."

OK, I kinda buy it. But what's an "existing void in the soil?" Are we talking underground caverns, here? Enormous natural chambers thirty stories underground?

'Cause if that's what we're talking about, I have one simple question. How do we know they're empty?

Al & Me: Best Friends Forever

Here's the video! In all seriousness, that Al Roker is one nice guy. I'm so thrilled to have been a part of the book club!

And thanks to all the book club kids. I've never worked with a finer bunch of show biz professionals!

Zombie Meat for Sale in Japan!

More at Pink Tentacle. (Someone pointed out that it should come in a twin pack--zombie meat and BRAINS!)

But What Do They WANT?!?!?!

The Japanese town of Bibai is known for its asparagus. But until recently, the asparagus tended to stay on the farm. Now "power asparagus" stalks are breaking through the asphalt all over town.

I'm quite curious to see how far this goes. Will they start breaking through the floorboards of houses? Will they crack concrete dams and sewage treatment plants. What will end their reign of destruction?!?

UPDATE: Girl genius and long-time friend of the blog, Hazel, may have exposed this picture as a fake! Stay tuned for more!

Gramercy Park: The Creepiest Place in Manhattan?

I came across the poster shown above just the other day. It's an artist's view of Gramercy Park in Manhattan, and it was part of a subway ad campaign a while back. I really wish I had found the image while I was writing The Eternal Ones, because it does a great job of capturing my feelings about the park. (Though I can't quite understand the kitty. Anyone know what that's about?)

I have a feeling that the artist intended the park to look like a sunny, green oasis in the center of the city. But it comes off as a wee bit sinister, wouldn't you say? Almost as if it were luring unsuspecting visitors into a trap. (Once again, the kitty doesn't help.)

For those of you unfamiliar with New York City, Gramercy Park is one of the only private gardens in town. It's circled by a tall, wrought-iron gate, and in the very center of the greenery is a statue of a man whose brother killed Abraham Lincoln. But the really creepy part? It's always locked, and there's almost never anyone inside. I've lived in New York for almost 20 years. I've never known anyone with a key to Gramercy Park. And I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone strolling the garden's paths.

The mansions surrounding the park only add to the ambiance. Years ago, I attended a memorial service at the National Arts Club. The experience made such an impression that I kept the building in the back of my mind for over a decade, waiting for a chance to use it. Some readers may have noticed a few similarities between the National Arts Club building and the mansion that houses the Ouroboros Society. Let's just say that it's not a coincidence.

I hope I haven't scared you away. Next time you're in New York, you really should pay a visit. Lost City did an excellent guide to the Gramercy Park neighborhood. Check it out here.

Announcement

(Art by Catherine Ledner.)

Katy, your anonymous friend would like to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

A Few Helpful Travel Tips

If you're heading to Berlin this summer, be sure to check out the super-creepy fence shown below. When viewed straight-on, it's just an average iron fence. But from the side . . . mwahahaha. I might just get one of these installed outside my house. I can't think of a better way to scare off potential burglars. (Aside from a guard guinea pig.)













And if you're traveling to Naples, you might want to avoid the pizza. Apparently some pizza shops there have been caught digging up coffins in the local cemeteries and burning the wood in their brick ovens. Gives the pizza a little something special, I hear. (Don't believe me? Click here.)

So, What Happened to Me?

(Photo: Ben Aqua)

Nothing. I've been working, working, working! I'll get back to posting more regularly soon. I promise!

In the meantime, check me out on the Today Show. I'll be there on May 27th between 9:30 and 10:00am to discuss the wonderful world of Kiki Strike.

Watch, and you'll learn the answers to the following questions . . .

1. Is she really as unbelievably charming as everyone says?
2. Did she finally have that parasitic twin removed?
3. Will she be able to form coherent sentences while in the presence of HER PERSONAL HERO, Mr. Al Roker?

Questions that may not be answered . . .

1. Is that REALLY her?
2. Is that a disguise or does her hair always look like that?
3. What's up with the strange foreign accent?

(If you happen to be attending the BEA, I'll be there later that afternoon. Stop by and say hi!)

Don't Mess With the Bronte Sisters

Are You Being Watched?

You've been receiving threatening texts from an anonymous number. Every night, someone prank calls your house. You have gotten numerous notes warning you're going to be attacked. And you've started to sense that an evil clown is watching your every move.

If you live anywhere other than Switzerland, you should start practicing your kung-fu, hire a squad of girl masterminds to act as your personal bodyguards, and consider phoning the police. If you're Swiss, check your parents' credit card bills. It might just be your birthday present.

Dominic Deville has started a new birthday service in Lucerne, Switzerland. For a reasonable fee, parents can hire him to slap on some evil clown makeup and scare their birthday girls and boys senseless. He'll stalk each kid until he has a chance to deliver a "present"--a birthday cake smashed in the kid's face.

Most people think it's sick. But I kind of feel sorry for Dominic. One day, he's going to end up stalking the WRONG kid.

More here.

Comments

(Above: Can't remember where I found this, but it's too awesome to leave in a computer folder. Sorry, fabulous artist.)

Hi Everyone,

I've heard that many of your comments aren't being posted on the blog! So sorry about that. I assure you it's not a new censorship campaign. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure it's a problem with Blogger, so we'll just have to wait for them to fix it. Don't give up!

Kirsten

The Terror of the Toilet

If you ever have the chance to travel to Japan (or if you're lucky enough to live there), you would be wise to avoid the third bathroom stall on the third floor of any school building you visit.

That particular stall is said to be haunted by a ghost with bobbed hair and a red skirt. Known as Toire no Hanako-san (“Hanako of the toilet”), she's the spirit of a girl who met a tragic end at the hands of a demented adult.

If you're in a bit of a spot, and the stall in question is your only option, knock three times to see if Hanako-san answers. If she does, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR, unless you fancy being pulled into the toilet and joining the ghost girl in her foul-smelling grave.

(The information above comes from Pink Tentacle, which should really publish a travel guide.)

The Metropolitan Etiquette Authority

Jayshells, you are my favorite person of the week. The artist has created a new "Subway Etiquette" campaign designed to address passengers' most common complaints--about other passengers. Posters will soon be up in trains throughout the city.

Believe it or not, nail clipping (as mentioned above) is a fairly common sight on New York City public transportation. And there's always some dude with a finger up his nose. Come on, people!

There Must Be a Logical Explanation, Right?

Okay, here’s the story. A teenager in Croatia wakes up from a 24-hour coma. Doctors soon discover that she’s lost the ability to speak Croatian. She does, however, speak perfect German.

According to the girl’s parents, she’d been studying German (an incredibly difficult language to learn) but was by no means fluent. (This all reminds me of another story I heard several years ago.)

Interesting, right? But the most fascinating thing about this article in the Telegraph was the following quote from psychiatrist Mijo Milas:

There are references to cases where people who have been seriously ill and perhaps in a coma have woken up being able to speak other languages – sometimes even the Biblical languages such as that spoken in old Babylon or Egypt . . .

Wow. I’m sure there could be a logical explanation. But maybe, just maybe . . .

There's a Really Good Story Here . . .

A reader came across this sign while visiting Charlotte, North Carolina. A hot dog eating alligator. Love it! Thanks, C!

Kiki Strike is the Latest Pick for Al Roker's Book Club!

(Above: How can you not love this man? He has such excellent taste in books!)

It was just announced. Kiki Strike is the next selection on Al's Book Club for Kids. Which means yours truly will be on the Today show in May. Which means I get to meet Al Roker. Oh the joy! Oh the happiness!

I'll keep you all up to date!

Manhattan's Underground Cow Tunnels (of Death)

(Above: Art by Kaisu Koivisto)

More evidence of New York's vast underground world has recently come to light! According to experts, numerous tunnels were constructed here in the 19th century after the city made it illegal to herd cattle through the streets. The underground passages made it possible for cows to be driven from farms north of the city to slaughter houses in lower Manhattan without blocking street traffic.

Over time, the tunnels fell out of use, but GUESS WHAT! They may still be there!

The website Gothamist quotes an article written by author Brian Wiprud in 1997. Wiprud describes:

. . . watching a crew install a drainage basin on Greenwich Street when they came upon a wall of wood about ten feet down. A laborer went into the hole with a torch and came out saying it was an oak-vaulted tunnel ten feet wide by eight feet high that trailed off an undetermined distance in either direction. It was then that an old man from the neighborhood stepped up to the trench and said, 'Why, I see you found the cattle tunnel.'

So where are the tunnels? Gothamist thinks it's discovered the location of two of them.

[An official] document lists two historical underground cattle passages from the 1870s that are listed as still being in existence, one at West 34th Street and another at West 38th Street, both along 12th Avenue.

Awesome! Now let's go find them!

Sold: Unicorns, Yetis, and Flying Kittens

The Brading Experience, an unusual museum on England's Isle of Wight, recently closed for good, and the contents of the building were auctioned off yesterday. Which means that anyone in the market for a yeti or a flying kitten should have been in the UK. (Darn!)

According to legend, the unusual beasts were collected by a mysterious Professor Copperthwaite who traveled the world in the 19th century, searching for curious creatures. (My ideal job!)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Mother Nature Is One Cool Lady

(Photo by mdid. Looks good to me!)

Lightening makes mushrooms multiply.

The South American jabuticaba tree grows fruit on its trunk.

Looks like a strawberry, tastes like a pineapple.

Fifteen fingers, sixteen toes. If this kid doesn't grow up to be a superhero, I'll be really disappointed.

The mystery monkey of Tampa Bay.

The five-centimeter high ghost orchid is Britain's rarest flower.

The Little Mermaid Deboned

A statue of Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid (below) has long been one of the biggest tourist attractions in Copenhagen, Denmark. But for the next six months, she'll be visiting China, and her rock will be empty for the first time in almost a century.

So on April Fool's Day, some crafty pranksters decided to fill the void. Tourists who came looking for the Little Mermaid instead found her skeleton. I wish I could have seen their faces.

More here.

There's a Lesson Here Somewhere . . .

When nineteen-year-old Kevin O. went shopping for an animal companion, he refused to settle for the usual pets. No puppies or hamsters or capybaras for Kevin. Oh no. He needed a cobra.

He brought his cobra home earlier this month and placed it in a special terrarium. When Kevin returned to see how his snake was settling in, he found the terrarium . . . EMPTY.

Now the snake in question is quite venomous, perhaps even deadly. And Kevin lives in an apartment building with two other families. The authorities were called, and a massive snake hunt began. Floors were ripped up and walls were demolished. (See below. And see more pictures here.) The search lasted a week and cost more than $50,000, but the snake was never found.

So what happens now? Everyone in the building has been forced to leave. The house will be sealed off for eight weeks, which is as long as experts figure the snake might survive.

If I were Kevin, I don't think I'd go back. The cobra might be dead, but I have a feeling the neighbors are now far more dangerous than the snake ever was.

Happy April Fools Day, Everyone!

(Above: From the new Charles Addams exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York. I'm DYING to see it!)

Any good pranks to share?