With the passing of North Korea's idiosyncratic dictactor, Kim Jong Il, it might be just the right time to give Guy Delisle's graphic novel, Pyongyang a read.

With its wonderfully simple pencil drawings, Pyongyang documents Delisle's extended stay in North Korea as a director for an outsourced animation team. Through humour and keen observences he explores the unique and often baffling society that is North Korea. With his trusty chaperone, Delisle experiences both the workplace and the "recommended" tourist sites, while doing his best to handle the culture shock. From amongst the backdrop of abandoned half-finished building projects and power outtages, endearing characters emerge...sometimes walking to work backwards as a form of exercise and other times hand-pruning grass in parks as a form of patriotism. Having gotten a glimpse behind North Korea's closed doors, something so few will ever get to do, Delisle does his best to pass on the experience, and Pyongyang does just that, in heartfelt and engaging fashion.

Watching the Canadian mystery show Murdoch Mysteries has got me me thinking about how cool the end of the 19th century was. It was an exciting time, with life improvements happening rapidly, and a sense of anticipation. Sure they didn't know a couple world wars and a depression were soon to come, but they had some sweet bikes. Science was blossoming with many time-saving devices but yet to be overwhelmed by automation, electricity was gaining popularity, travel was becoming easier and HG Wells, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Mark Twain were writing away. Perhaps the most striking signs of the time period is the clothing. Women wearing impractical layers upon layers of dresses with decorative hats and men always in 3 piece suits with bowler hats, greased up hair and pocket watches. And people were decked out in these fine garbs, even if just sitting around their house relaxing. No stretchy pants, no t-thirts, just your Sunday best all the time. I tip my hat to the classiness.

The key to avoiding winter blues and lack of sun, aside from using a SAD lamp, I find, is just curling up with a good book and falling asleep. The long winter's nap! If you're lucky you can dream your way through the entire winter. Bears are pretty bright with the whole hibernation thing. Which brings to mind one of my favourite Christmas books, The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas. Classic!

Last night I noticed there was actually a Grammy award nomination and concert show on TV. An actual event for just the nominations. And it featured the same group of performers who will no doubt perform on the actual awards show. It seemed obvious that it was just an excuse to try and boost pre-Christmas record sales, but what really sunk in, was how the majority of musicians present were costumed, gimmicky and talentless, which seems to be the most marketable combination. It probably vanished a long, long time ago, but where did the old days go, where people just wanted to listen to good music and appreciate a performer without some over-hyped circus show personality?