10 snowmen from around the world

by Jamie Rhein on

Here’s a bit of winter fun you can do wherever there’s enough snow to make a go of it. Build a snowman. Even if you only have enough snow for a small snowman, go for it. One group of guys advocates building the biggest snowman you can make in a friend’s yard in the middle of the night. Your creation will be a big surprise in the morning. (Click here for picture.)

One of my favorite memories is going to the Great Wall in China right after it had snowed. There was a whimsical snowman greeting people at the top of one of the sets of stairs.

Here are some snowmaking tips. The one I thought was a great idea was to use three different size buckets as molds for the body. You add snow to the bucket shape to create the roundness. For snowman inspiration, here’s a sampling of snowmen from around the world.

MGShelton, who took this picture, said this fella was in her neighbor’s backyard in Birrmingam, Alabama.

This snowmen crowd was shot by showbizsuperstar in Japan at the Sapporo Snow and Ice Festival.

Last January, NINJ4 and a friend built this snowman on the lawn of Andersen Hall at Kansas State University. It looks like this one is hanging in as the snow is melting.

This snowman in Glascow, Scotland looks like a character in a children’s book or something. I think it’s the hat and scarf combo. Hodgers took this picture in his front garden.

According to thisisbossi who took this picture in Altoona, Pennsylvania, his aunt’s snowman frightened the cat. I think it’s sweet.

This leaning guy was at Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. before the snow melted. I’m impressed by the jaunty hat and smile. Joe in D.C. took this picture.

Although this snowman probably saw better days, it’s background is truly international. ericaflynn, who took this picture in China, said that it was made by two Scandivanvian children.

This snowman in Tokyo, Japan should win the darling prize if there was such a thing. I love the expression that OiMax captured with just the right angle.

This snowman overlooking his kingdom in Denmark was made to sit in a flower box on metal-dog’s balcony.

If you have more time on your hands build a snowman grouping like bgilliard did in Ontario, Canada. He titles this David’s and Goliath. One commenter noted that Goliath looks like a penguin.

If you build a snowman, take a picture of it, post it on Gadling’s Flicker photo pool, and tell me where it was taken in the comment section of this post, I’ll create a Gadling reader’s snowman post where you can share your handy work.

Scotland wants you to come home

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Even if you don’t have Scottish blood charging through your veins, you’re still invited to Homecoming Scotland. In 2009, the country will host more than 200 events … and yes, you can expect whisky to flow at a few of them.

The year kicks off with the Homecoming Burns Supper, part of an entire weekend (January 23-25, 2009) to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Scotland‘s national poet. Down some haggis and pour a few glasses of The Famous Grouse while celebrating what you didn’t bother to read in high school (or in college).

If dead writers don’t turn you on, there are plenty of other reasons to head across the Atlantic in 2009. You can track ancestry, watch people toss very large poles or take in 18 holes. You may even want to register for some free giveaways.

Need a place to stay? I’ve hit the Dakota Forth Bridge in Edinburgh and had a great time (the duck eggs for breakfast are a must), and rooms are available in January for less than $200 a night. If cities don’t work for you, head out to Loch Tay and spend a few nights at Ardeonaig (the owner and chef is an absolute madman, the genius kind) – you’ll have to call to find out the rates.

Just remember: Scotland isn’t easy on smokers, as I learned the hard way.

Fruitcake: Where does it come from?

by Brenda Yun on

While those chestnuts roast on your open fire, it might be time to open Grandma’s fruitcake that you forgot to eat last year. Maybe it’s on your closet shelf, just waiting to be devoured. You don’t have to worry about it going bad, either. It’s probably even tastier now that you’ve waited year. As you unwrap it and prepare it for your plate, it might be a good idea to understand just where the famous Christmas fruitcake comes from, and just how it landed in your hands this Christmas Day…

This famous Christmas cake is probably made from a combination of chopped and candied fruit, nuts, and spices, and likely soaked in brandy or rum. Fruitcake actually originated in very much the same form we see today way back to ancient Rome (so you could be holding a real historical artifact)!
Hundreds of years ago, Europeans would make these cakes using pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins, and some fruitcakes were traditionally made and saved for the annual harvest the following year.

Germans called their special fruitcake “Dresdner Stollen,” which looks like a bread loaf. It is served with icing at Christmastime. Italians call theirs “panforte.” Theirs was made famous in Siena over 500 years ago, and is baked in a shallow pan. In the UK, they like their fruitcake moist and serve it with marzipan and a thick layer of icing. Finally, we Americans like our fruitcake with lots of colorful fruits and nuts.

Now it’s time to unwrap that final Christmas present and satisfy that sweet tooth. Enjoy your Christmas and that candied fruitcake from your closet!

[information on fruitcake compiled from Wikipedia]

Starlings in flight

by Brenda Yun on

A popular video popped up on the internet recently of a spooky looking bird formation and, being the curious person I am, I had to know where the video was filmed and what kind of birds offer this fantastic sight.

I found a better informational video dated nearly two years ago that explains the gorgeous natural sight of winter starlings in flight. These marshy birds dance in the air by the thousands, taking flight for social position in the air.

As you can tell, these starlings prefer open fields where they can take advantage of the wintry air stream to “commute” and warm their bodies in the cold weather. According to this video, these birds do their lovely dance in the late afternoon at dusk all over rural parts of the UK (this video was filmed at Otmoor near Oxford) and Scotland. Quite a sight to behold, and yet another way to enjoy the winter months.

Worst luck ever: couple vacation in New York, London and Mumbai just as terrorists attack

by Karen Walrond on

The Sydney Times Herald is reporting the uncanny story of Mr. and Mrs. James and Jenny Cairns-Lawrence, a young couple from Dudley, United Kingdom, who seem to have a knack for choosing vacation spots where terrorists are about to strike: they have found themselves in New York, London and Mumbai during the exact times that each of the three cities were viciously attacked by terrorists.

Says Mrs. Cairns-Lawrence, “It’s a strange coincidence. The terror attacks just happened when we were in the cities. I shouldn’t be laughing about it, but it is a strange coincidence.”

Dude, remind me to check where these two are the next time I plan an international trip. And as one of my Gadling colleagues said, aren’t people like these usually called “persons of interest”?