Danny Boy marathon aims to break Guinness Book of World Records

by Jamie Rhein on

There are high hopes in Ferndale, Michigan. Opposite to Shaun Clancy of Foley’s Pub and Restaurant in Manhattan who is loathe to hear “Danny Boy” in March, A.J. O’Neil, owner of A.J. Café, has been hustling to get enough folks together to break the Guinness Book of World Records in a “Danny Boy” singing/playing the song marathon for a St. Patrick Day first.

Here’s how it will work. Starting at 3 p.m. today, various musicians will take turns belting out the lyrics or playing the tune “Danny Boy.” The goal is to have the singing and playing go non-stop for 50 hours. The end point is March 17 at about 5 p.m. [see article] The marathon is also a fundraiser. Gleaners Community Food Bank, Ferndale Youth Assistance, St. Patrick Senior Center in Detroit and Detroit Together Men’s Chorus will benefit from the proceeds. Ah, creativity at its finest.

A few days ago, 600 people had signed up to participate but a few hundred more were needed. Folks can rap, sing, play an instrument, whistle, hum, whatever it takes to keep the song going over and over and over again.

I hope Mr. O’Neil still likes “Danny Boy” once this marathon is over. I’m sure he’ll know the words. Let’s hope he has the luck of the Irish and gets the record for his efforts.

Where to sleep with Socrates

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Located in Amsterdam, the Sandton Hotel de Filosoof (Philosopher’s Hotel) is one of the more high-minded theme hotels in the world. The thirty-eight rooms are all dedicated to well-known philosophers, including Nietzsche, Spinoza, Confucius, and Thoreau (pictured).

The Thomas Hobbes room, I’ve heard, is a little “nasty“, while Plato’s room apparently has a lamp and a wall for perfect for making shadow puppets. Socrates’ room looks nice in the photos, but I’d avoid sampling any leftover drinks you find. Kudos to you if you got those references.

Check out some of the rooms here.

[Hat tip: Tyler Cowen]

Bring on the bubbly: France plans to expand Champagne region

by Anna Brones on

It’s easy to become a wine snob if you’ve ever lived in France. The thing that irks me the most is calling all various kinds of sparkling wine “champagne.” In France, only bottles that are produced in the Champagne region can be graced with the term that has become synonymous with luxury; anything else is just plain old vin pétillant, or sparkling wine.

But in a global society, even a stubborn Frenchman can only stick to his traditions for so long. Last year exports of French champagne bottles hit a record 150.9 million bottles and the growing global demand for champagne is forcing France to expand the region to include another 40 villages; just so the country can produce more bottles classified under the same name.

Wine experts from the Institut national de l’origine et de la qualité (INAO) have been debating on expanding the boundaries of the region for quite some time now. On Thursday a meeting was set to decide which villages should be included in the region, but a final decision — which will need to be made at the national level — will not be reached until 2009.

If I owned a vineyard, I would certainly be crossing my fingers. “If your vines fall on the wrong side of the divide, they will be worth 5,000 euros ($7,800; £3,800) a hectare,” said Gilles Flutet of the INAO, as quoted by the BBC. “On the other side they will be worth 1 million euros.”

It may seem strange to have to expand the physical region instead of just placing a champagne label on other bottles of sparkling wine from around the country, but then again, c’est la France and wine is much more than a drink; it’s a way of life.

Danny Boy banned because it’s too depressing

by Jamie Rhein on

When we were in India we went to some Irish festival for St. Patrick’s Day. I remember the soda bread, the corned beef, the beer and my husband belting out “Danny Boy” to the band that provided the accompaniment. Then there was the karaoke bar we went to in Hsinchu, Taiwan. A friend who was visiting us from the U.S. could hardly sit up straight she was laughing so hard. Let’s just say my husband has a way with “Danny Boy,” particularly in Taiwan where the video background doesn’t exactly go along with the lyrics. You could be singing “California Dreaming” to images of people on bicycles in Vietnam. No joke.

If my husband had the urge to belt out “Danny Boy” at Foley’s Pub and Restaurant in New York City, he’d be stopped in his tracks. The bar owner has banned it from being sung in the pub for the month of March.

The owner Shaun Clancy thinks “Danny Boy” fits a funeral more than a celebration, and that it has been over done. He may change his mind if he heard my husband’s version. All it requires is a few Guinness. He’s loud enough a microphone isn’t necessary. I wonder how Shawn Clancy feels about “Proud Mary?” It’s not an Irish tune, but my husband and I do this one as a duet. The last time we sang this one was at a wedding reception in Vietnam. Those were the days. [see article about the reaction to the ban]

Knitting for travelers: And you thought the craft was just for old women

by Anna Brones on

I admit it. I’m a knitter. Maybe not what you would have expected from a twenty-something travel freak, but it’s true. Knitting has gotten a bad rap over the years — trust me, you can do more than knit ugly sweaters — but fortunately, the craft is coming back into style. Why should you care? Because knitting is an excellent travel activity.

Kelley Petkun, the Vice President of Knit Picks, sent over this list of her top five reasons for knitting while traveling:

1. Knitting eases the strains and frustrations of travel. While everyone else is upset by delays, you see it as more knitting time!

2. A knitting project and an MP3 player are an extremely effective defense against an overly-chatty neighbor when cramped seating in airplanes can quickly cause claustrophobia.

3. Knitting is a good friend. Travel solo with confidence with a knitting project as a constant companion.

4. You can handle any situation with patience and grace if you have your trusty knitting to keep your fingers and your mind occupied. Your travel partner may want to walk around a museum longer than you. The historical site you planned on visiting opens an hour later than the guidebook stated. It’s pouring rain so you have to delay your walking tour. You’ll always have a back up plan in your bag.

5. You’ll meet new people. Knitting is an inviting activity that either fascinates those who have not had any experience with it, or encourages fellow knitters to welcome you into their world. I was in China, it was very rural, and most of the women knit. It was like there was no language barrier at all! We just sat and knit together.