'Maleficent’ Finds a Director

I hadn't noticed much news about this one recently, but hadn't forgotten. Apparently it is still under consideration. Excerpted from ‘Maleficent’ Finds a Director in Production Designer and VFX Supervisor Robert Stromberg by Angie Han:

Over the past two years, Disney’s Sleeping Beauty retelling Maleficent has attracted the attention of several high-profile directors. Tim Burton was the first one attached to the project, back when it was first announced, and Darren Aronofsky, David O. Russell, and Guillermo del Toro are among the other names who’ve been rumored or who have expressed interest in the film.

The man who’s actually landed the job, however, is somewhat lesser known. Disney has tapped visual effects supervisor and production designer Robert Stromberg to helm the film, which will mark his directorial debut.

Scripted by Alice in Wonderland scribe Linda Woolverton, Maleficent follows the Sleeping Beauty tale from the villainess’ point of view. [Angelina Jolie] has been attached to star as the self-titled “Mistress of All Evil” since 2010. Maleficent falls neatly into the revisionist fairy tale trend that’s hot in Hollywood at the moment, along with such movies as Snow White and the Huntsman, Mirror, Mirror, and Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.

Ritemail Picdump — 40 Pics

Ritemail Picdump  — 38 more images after the break...

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Richa Gangopadhyay at Silk Stores

Richa Gangopadhyay at Silk Stores, 16 more images after the break...

The Largest Domesticated Animal Population Countries

01. Largest Dog Population in the World, USA

 Photo Link

The american people are the greatest dog lovers on the planet. USA has a dog population of more than 70 million dogs. 06 more after the break...

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Fascinating Facts about US Military

The United States spends more on its military than rest of the top 15 nations with the highest military expenditure. The rest of the list includes China ($119 bn), UK ($59.6 bn), France ($59.3bn), Russia ($58.7bn), Japan ($54.5bn), Germany ($45.2bn), Saudi Arabia ($45.2bn), India ($41.3bn), Italy ($37bn), Brazil ($33.5bn), South Korea ($27.6bn), Australia ($24bn), Canada ($22.8bn) and Turkey ($17.5bn). The US spends $698 billion. (Figures courtesy Stockholm International Peace Research Institute).

The total known land area occupied by US bases and facilities is 15,654 square miles — bigger than Washington DC, Massachusetts, and New Jersey combined. 11 more after the break...

The Phenomena of Images of Saints

"These images are not immediately obvious, but some people may never consider them. Maybe the whole thing in the faith of people. But that's exactly it - with a beard and thorns wreath. And God only knows why he appeared on the tube is my home. I hope this does not begin to blame the crowd of pilgrims, "- words of a woman found in her home image that resembles the face of Jesus Christ.

This collection is devoted to the phenomenon of holy images of ordinary people.

1. Posh Pizza Pizza in Brisbane boasts the image of Jesus on his pizza, discovered in April 2011. Some people, according to Mary Phelan, called this pizza "cheese icon." Pizza was placed in a vacuum package and sold at a charity auction for £ 98. (Rex Features)

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9 Unusual Deserts

Kilometers of sand, rocks, sandbanks, and sceneries evoking lunar landscapes are all about a journey in a desert and are certainly, a unique adventure. All the deserts are not the same. Here are the most unusual deserts of the world.

01. A Desert With Lagoons - Lencois Maranhenses, Brasil

 Photo Link

Amazingly stretched in Brazil, it is almost impossible to believe that the desert where water has no word is full of lagoons. Situated in the State of Maranhao on the north shore, this desert is in the Lencois Maranhenses National Park where white dunes and blue lagoons have a contrasting match. 08 more after the break...

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France Month: Tristan et Iseult by Anne Jonas (Auteur) Anna et Elena Balbusso (Illustrateurs)

Tristan et Iseult by Anne Jonas (Auteur) Anna et Elena Balbusso (Illustrateurs). So, no, this is more folklore and legend than fairy tale, but we don't have many Tristan and Iseult picture books in English, so this one in French caught my fancy.

Book description:

Une des plus grandes histoires d’amour de tous les temps portée par les illustrations originales d’Anna et Elena Balbusso et la spécifi cité éditoriale des albums classiques Milan (mise en pages élégante, papier de qualité, etc.). Un texte de la tradition orale qui, retranscrit par différents auteurs dans le courant du XIIe siècle, annonce la naissance du roman moderne. Une très grande aventure, composée d’errance, de guerres, de loyauté, de jalousies, de culpabilité, de tolérance et d’AMOUR FOU!

New Book: Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists

Nursery Rhyme Comics: 50 Timeless Rhymes from 50 Celebrated Cartoonists made the NYPL's Children's Books 2011: Graphic Novels list. There weren't many other fairy tale or folklore related books on any of their lists this year, other than Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu which I think ended up the most recommended fairy tale retelling in the end of the year lists. It certainly appeared on quite a few of them. Perhaps Disney should look to it for their Snow Queen interpretations.

But back to why we have this post:

Which reminded me that I hadn't featured the book on SurLaLune yet.

I am a Nursery Rhyme fan and I admit a soft spot for Hickory Dickory Dock, so the illustrations for it sold me on the book. But I have more to share which I will let speak for themselves along with the usual publisher description and such.

Book Description:

First Second is very proud to present Nursery Rhyme Comics. Featuring fifty classic nursery rhymes illustrated and interpreted in comics form by fifty of today’s preeminent cartoonists and illustrators, this is a groundbreaking new entry in the canon of nursery rhymes treasuries.

From New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast’s “There Was a Crooked Man” to Bad Kitty author Nick Bruel’s “Three Little Kittens” to First Second’s own Gene Yang’s “Pat-a-Cake,” this is a collection that will put a grin on your face from page one and keep it there.

Each rhyme is one to three pages long, and simply paneled and lettered to ensure that the experience is completely accessible for the youngest of readers. Chock full of engaging full-color artwork and favorite characters (Jack and Jill! Old Mother Hubbard! The Owl and the Pussycat!), this collection will be treasured by children for years to come.

Nursery Rhyme Comics cartoonists:

Nick Abadzis; Andrew Arnold; Kate Beaton; Vera Brosgol; Nick Bruel; Scott Campbell; Lilli Carre; Roz Chast; JP Coovert; Jordan Crane; Rebecca Dart; Eleanor Davis; Vanessa Davis; Theo Ellsworth; Matt Forsythe; Jules Feiffer; Bob Flynn; Alexis Frederick-Frost; Ben Hatke; Gilbert Hernandez; Jaime Hernandez; Lucy Knisley; David Macaulay; Mark Martin; Patrick McDonnell; Mike Mignola; Tony Millionaire; Tao Nyeu; George O’Connor; Mo Oh; Eric Orchard; Laura Park; Cyril Pedrosa; Lark Pien; Aaron Renier; Dave Roman; Marc Rosenthal; Stan Sakai; Richard Sala; Mark Siegel; James Sturm; Raina Telgemeier; Craig Thompson; Richard Thompson; Sara Varon; Jen Wang; Drew Weing; Gahan Wilson; Gene Luen Yang; Stephanie Yue; and an introduction by Leonard Marcus.

France Month: Cendrillon by Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur), Princesse Camcam (Auteur)

Cendrillon by Agnès Lestrade (de) (Auteur), Princesse Camcam (Auteur) looks rathering generic from the outside which is emphasized when one realizes this is part of series from the publisher. But then one looks at the interior and sees some charming illustrations with--wait for it!--a BRUNETTE Cinderella. I'm in love. So, tell me, is it slightly jarring for you to see the traditional Cinderella story with a dark-haired beauty? I'm used to non-white Cinderellas, but not non-white and non-blonde. I feel like I stepped into the wrong fairy tale.

Book description:

Une nouvelle collection de grands contes classiquespour les 4-7 ans! Un conte de toujours, des personnages merveilleux, des illustrations pour rêver et une fin comme vous ne l’avez jamais vue… Bienvenue dans la forêt des contes.

France Month: Jack et le haricot géant by Sébastien Mourrain

Jack et le haricot géant by Sébastien Mourrain (Auteur), Joseph Jacobs (Auteur) is a charming Jack and the Beanstalk picture book.

Book description:

Un classique de la littérature enfantine proposé dans une édition de grande qualité. L’auteur est retourné aux sources du texte d’origine, pour réaliser une traduction fidèle et très contemporaine de ce conte tra-ditionnel britannique. Les illustrations de Sébastien Mourrain s’accordent parfaitement à l’esprit espiè-gle et merveilleux du récit, dans un style graphique très personnel et résolument moderne. Menacés par la famine, Jack et sa mère décident d’aller vendre leur vache au marché. En chemin, Jack fait la rencontre d’un étrange personnage qui lui propose, en échange de l’animal, une poignée de graines magiques… Jack décide de lui faire confian-ce. Il en sera grandement récompensé : une fois plantées, les graines donnent naissance à un fabuleux haricot qui grimpe jus-qu’au ciel. Cet étrange escalier va lui donner accès à la maison de l’ogre et à ses trésors. Ainsi, après avoir triomphé de plusieurs épreuves, Jack s’en retournera chez lui doté d’une fortune qui permettra à la mère et au fils de couler des jours heureux, libérés pour toujours des soucis et du besoin.

10 Adorable Beaches

It doesn’t really matter where a beach is located it is always beautiful. But it always remains a center of attraction for the visitors. People get spell bounded by the scenic beauty of the beaches. They simply want to lose themselves in the warm water of the beaches and some beaches are exceptionally adorable. Here are some of the most unique and magnificent beaches of the world.

01. Glass Beach

no one ever considered that a dumping place for the deteriorated materials of the 2nd world war would become so colorful and exceptionally beautiful of the current modern time. This wonder happened in California. 09 more beaches after the break...

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Ritemail Picdump

Ritemail Picdump  more images after the break...

8 Unusual Walls Around the World

Walls have been built since ancient times, to mark borders, protect kingdoms and settlements, or keep out unwanted people. In more recent times, walls have also been built to serve as memorials and structures of art.

01. Chewing Gum Wall, Seattle, US

Photo Link

Not all walls are controversial and divisive. Seattle's gum wall is the place for any unwanted chewing gum, a tradition which was started by people queuing for the theatre. Currently the gum on the wall stretches to several inches thick and is a slightly alternative location for wedding photographs. 07 more walls after the break...

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Hohenzollernbruecke Bridge — Bridge of Love

Photo: Dennis Grombkowski/GETTY IMAGES

 Thousands upon thousands of locked padlocks can be seen affixed to the fence across the unpronounceable Hohenzollernbruecke bridge in Cologne, Germany. The phenomenon called Love Locks (or Love Padlocks), which many believe to have originated from Italy, is a new kind of vandalism where lovebirds lock padlocks bearing their names against fences, gate, bridge or similar public place to symbolize their everlasting love.

According to Wikipedia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_padlocks), Love padlocks have existed for quite some time, though there are no certain sources for their origin. In Europe, love padlocks started appearing in the early 2000s. In Rome, the ritual of affixing love padlocks to the bridge Ponte Milvio can be attributed to the book I Want You by Italian author Federico Moccia, who later made it into the film-adaptation Ho voglia di te. 06 more images after the break...

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10 Most Expensive Books In The World

01. "Leicester Code," Leonardo da Vinci (The Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci)

$ 30.8 million in 1994, the auction Christies ($ 44,6 million in current prices *).

Notebook entries by Leonardo da Vinci, made during his life in Milan in 1506-1510, respectively. The manuscript consists of 18 sheets of paper covered on both sides and folded in such a way that together they formed a 72-page book. Leonardo notes written in a special way, his own "mirror" type - they can be read only by means of a mirror. Entries are devoted to various events, mused about the nature of which Leonardo: why the moon is shining, why and how the water flows in rivers, where are the fossils of which are minerals and so on. Notebook also contains a large number of mathematical calculations, diagrams and drawings. "Leicester" code was named after the Earl of Leicester, who bought the manuscript in 1717. In 1980, the book's heirs Lester bought the famous industrialist, collector and friend of the Soviet Armand Hammer, after which he served for a short period called the "Code Hammer» (Codex Hammer). After his death in 1994 the code was put up for auction, in which was acquired by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and he regularly exhibited in museums in the picture. 09 more after the break...

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Grapes in a Volcanic Island

The island of Lanzarote (Lanzarote) refers to the Canary Islands (Spain). It is also called an "island volcanoes" - on a small island is about 60 wide and 15 km are about three hundred volcanoes. In autumn 1730 together with thirty craters began to erupt lava and ash. The eruption lasted for six years, and as a result of one-third of the island was covered with basalt and lifeless ash. This is a very negative impact on agriculture, Lanzarote, but did not stop the local growers, which in the end, successfully adapted to grow grapes right in a volcanic desert. 30 more image after the break...

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Street Food Around The World

We all know that you need to properly feed, but sometimes I feel like grab something tasty, but harmful in the street. In this collection are some popular "street" food from different countries.

01. Seviche, Peru.

Seviche - it is a common dish throughout Latin America. Typically, this snack is made from a mixture of raw fish with seafood marinated in citrus juice, in this case in lime juice. 09 more after the break...

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New Book: Magic Beans: A Handful of Fairytales from the Storybag

Magic Beans: A Handful of Fairytales from the Storybag is a recent book released in the UK with many short stories by well-known authors based on fairy tales. I missed this when it was released a few months ago and it is pushed primarily in ebook format here in the US. The ebook is $9.99 which looks like a bargain when one finds that each of the short stories are also available separately for $1.95 each in ebook format.

The best part--besides a stellar author list--is that many of these are lesser used tales for retellings. I'm not sure how much interpretation is in these versions or if they are more straightforward rewritings by the authors, but either way I am sure they are fun reading. I do know enough to recognize they are reprints of dollar books printed by Scholastic with each title. The illustrations appear to be included here, so this is a good way to collect them all if they interest you or a child in your life.

Book description:

Magic beans. Sow them. Plant them. Watch children grow.

'If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hoper, a prayer, a magic-bean-buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!' - Shel Silverstein, Poet

Each and every one of the stories in this anthology is a magic bean: a wondrous tale that will capture your imagination. Prepare to be dazzled by Rapunzel's golden tresses. Prepare to be moved by the suffering of the Little Mermaid. Prepare to laugh yourself silly as 'Mr Sultana' struggles to get the better of a little red rooster!

Lovingly crafted by the finest authors and illustrators, these 'magic beans' will delight, thrill and thoroughly entertain.

Table of Contents:

Adèle Geras
The Six Swan Brothers

Anne Fine
The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Henrietta Branford
Hansel and Gretel

Jacqueline Wilson
Rapunzel

Malorie Blackman
Aesop’s Fables

Philip Pullman
Mossycoat

Tony Mitton
The Seal Hunter

Alan Garner
Grey Wolf, Prince Jack and the Firebird

Berlie Doherty
The Snow Queen

Gillian Cross
The Goose Girl

Kit Wright
Rumpelstiltskin

Michael Morpurgo
Cockadoodle-doo, Mr Sultana!

Susan Gates
The Three Heads in the Well

Linda Newbery
The Little Mermaid

France Month: Peau d'âne by Jean-Pierre Kerlo'ch & Eric Battut

Peau d'âne by Jean-Pierre Kerlo'ch (Auteur), Eric Battut (Illustrations). Another Peau d'âne since I have her on the brain this week. I could only find two illustrations for this book, but they are interesting all the same.

Book description:

La délicatesse des illustrations d'Éric Battut met en lumière l'un des textes les plus fascinants et les plus anciens du répertoire français, adapté par Jean-Pierre Kerloc'h dans le respect de la langue de Charles Perrault.