Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 370

September 29, 2015: Win a Stargate: SG-1 compact!

Win this Stargate: SG-1 compact!  All you have to do is be one of the first to correctly answer the following five SG1-related questions!  The quicker you respond with the correct answer, the greater your chance of winning the grand prize!  As per LineNoise’s suggestion, I’ll hold off on approving comments to ensure a level playing field.

On to today’s questions…

Which script had the early working title: Ad Infinitum?

What was the German title for Forever In A Day and what is it’s English translation?

The characters (and one referenced expedition) in season 4’s The Curse were named after what exactly?

What does N.I.D. stand for?

Name two U.S. Air Force Chiefs of Staff who appeared on the show.

Congratulations to the winner of yesterday’s Stargate caps giveaway, Tom C.!

Tune in tomorrow for more!

September 28, 2015: Stargate caps giveaway! SG-1! SGA! SGU!

Another day, another giveaway!

Up for grabs in today’s blog entry, the above-pictured caps from all three Stargate shows.

I’m posting early so that readers in the U.K. can participate as well.

To win all three caps, all you have to do is be one of the first to correctly answer the following six questions…

Match the Stargate: SG-1 characters with their Farscape parody counterparts from 200.

What were the names of the warring countries in Stargate: Atlantis’s “The Game?”

Which crew member does Eli end up settling down with in Stargate: Universe’s Epilogue?

Where was the Stargate: SG-1 episode Nightwalkers shot?

Which Stargate: Atlantis episode had the place holder title: “The Grapes of Wraith”?

What was our endearing nickname for the Stargate: Universe alien race known as The Nakai?

That’s it!  I’ll announce the winner in tomorrow’s blog entry.  Good luck to all!

The winner of yesterday’s SG-1 coasters is…gforce.  Gary, do I have your mailing address?

September 27, 2015: Stargate SG-1 coaster giveaway!

At Akemi’s behest, I am getting moving on those Stargate giveaways I promised a while back.

First up are these lovely matching surprisingly heavy Stargate: SG-1 coasters!

All you have to do is be one of the first to correctly answer the following five skill-testing SG-1-related questions..

What was the first script Paul Mullie and I wrote for the franchise – the one that landed us a staff job on SG-1’s fourth season?

What signature item did director Wil Waring sneak into his episodes as a visual calling card?

Name three of the generals who ran Stargate Command during the SG-1‘s ten year run?

What play does Teal’c unwitting attend at the end of Family Ties?

What parting advice does AU Cameron Mitchell offer our Cam at the end of Ripple Effect?

I’ll answer the winner in tomorrow blog entry.  Good luck!

 

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September 26, 2015: Talking to Strangers!

We were walking back to the car after dinner when I happened to notice the two women vacillating outside of La Taqueria, peering in at the menu, brows furrowed, discussing.  “It’s great!”I assured them. “Best tacos in Vancouver.”

They turned, all smiles, clearly delighted someone had taken the time to engage them.  “What’s good?” asked the one on the right.

“My favorites are the beef cheeks and the tongue.”

“Lengua!”enthused Righty.  “I love lengua!”

Akemi has often accused of being too friendly, critical of my  propensity for chatting up complete strangers at restaurants and supermarket checkouts – but, on this night, even she had to admit I’d done gone, helping out this poor, hungry duo in need.  Hell, if not for my timely intervention, they could have ended up at that Mongolian grill place!  “Damn,” I thought, throwing Akemi the most self-satisfied of smiles,  “I’m awesome.”.  I imagined a scenario where, after a more involved discussion on food and, possibly, literature, we would exchange emails.  They would contact me after their return home and thank me for the terrific suggestion and I would ask them how their trip went.  “Wonderful!  If only all the locals were as friendly as you!”they’d write back.  Over the course of many months, our friendship would grow and, next year or the year after, they’d have occasion to offer up their own list of restaurant recommendations when I’d take the opportunity to visit their home town.  Chicago?  Boston?  Maybe Charleston?

“Are you in town long?”I asked.

“No,”said Lefty.  “We’re just here for the convention.”

“What convention?”I asked.  And it was then that I noticed their name tags – and titles: “MISSIONARY: CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF THE LATTER DAY SAINTS”. And before I could wrap things up – or fake an injury – it was ON!  They immediately stepped forward, introducing themselves (I’m not sure if they were sisters or referred to themselves as Sister), deftly dividing and conquering.  Lefty took Akemi and I while Righty took my sister and Daisy.  In hindsight, a brilliant strategy because, whenever I would try to wind down our conversation and step away, my sis was actively engaged preventing any sort of retreat – and vice-versa.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I’m delighted to converse with anyone regardless of  religious or political affiliation – so long as the topics of religion and/or politics never come up.  When you strike up a conversation with a missionary, however, you can expect the subject to come up.  Are you religious?  Are you spiritual?  Do you believe in a higher power?  Here’s my card!

We eventually disengaged, said our goodbyes and quietly resumed our walk back to the car.  Our silent trek was eventually broken by my sister’s: “You didn’t notice the name tags?”

“Your brother talks to everyone,”said Akemi.  It sounded more like an exasperated admission than a simple statement of fact.

I sincerely hoped they would enjoy La Taqueria.  But I would not, I decided, be visiting them in Charleston.

September 25, 2015: Foodly developments!

Daisy, Akemi, and sis having a grand ole time.

My sis and Daisy are in town for the week and, of course, whenever we get together, it’s all about the food.

Like this kouign-amman they brought me from Montreal’s Patisserie au Kouign Amann.

Or mom’s Russian teacakes (aka Mexican wedding cookies).

Or mom’s home made biscotti, perfect for Akemi who is a huge fan of dry crumbly stuff.

And, while out and about today, sis and Daisy brought back some donuts from Cartem’s Donuterie.  From left to right: London Fog, Lemon Meringue, and Coconut Cream Pie!

Tonight, we’re off for hand-cut noodles and beef rolls at Peaceful Restaurant!

Oh, and this –

I will NOT be sleeping tonight!

September 24, 2015: The L.A. Wrap-up!

I’m like that classic character of greek tragedy, the one who’s forever doomed to choose the wrong airplane meal.

Fortunately, lunch softened the blow. For our last meal in L.A., Akemi and I hit up Spago where we enjoyed…

The crunchy complimentary bread basket!

Their trademark tuna tartare cones!

And one of the best schnitzels I’ve ever eaten.

Akemi had the lobster salad, but that was a mere antipasto to the entree: a table side visit by Chef Wolfgang Puck. Akemi, a longtime Top Chef enthusiast, was thrilled.

By far the high point of Akemi’s L.A. trip was our afternoon visit to Trader Joe’s where she picked up cookies for the dogs, Kona cookies for her dad, caramel-cheddar popcorn for me, and some quinoa pasta – definitely for her.

I capped things off with two more meetings today.

I have to say – it’s going to be a very tough call…

September 23, 2015: Plotting my future! With Special Guest Star…Carl Binder!

Today was Day #1 of my whirlwind seventeen and a half hour Hollywood tour.  I’m in town looking to lock down a new U.S. agent and have lined up meetings with three terrific prospects.  First up was a duo with a breathtaking literary background, connections in the comic book world and, perhaps most importantly, a surprisingly thorough appreciation for whiskey.  In fact, I’d say fully half the meeting was spent discussing bourbon.  A great, great sit-down.

And while I was out working it, Akemi was out and about re-familiarizing herself with the neighborhood.

Apparently, her trip to Whole Foods was a colossal disappointment.

Akemi displays her trademark Japanese anger, taking her frustrations out on an art installation.

Hopefully, tomorrow’s visit to Trader Joe’s will perk up her spirits.

The last time we were in town, I let Akemi decide the restaurant.  She had a choice between Ink and L.A. Farm.  She chose (unwisely) the latter.  We rectified that grievous error this time out by going to Ink where we were joined by longtime Stargate Executive Producer (and weird food taste tester) Carl Binder – and enjoyed a splendid meal.  Some of the highlights…

The egg yolk gnocchi with hen of the woods mushrooms.

Salt and charcoal potatoes with sour cream and black vinegar.  Tasted like camping!

Apple, caramel, shortbread with burnt wood semi-freddo.  No, really.

Tomorrow = two more meetings, Trader Joe’s, Spago’s, and an ice cream sandwich!

Meanwhile, back on the home front…

 Fear not.  They’re in good hands with sis and Daisy!

September 22, 2015: The Devil’s snack!

Throughout my life, I’ve been fairly consistent in listing the three things I don’t eat.  They are, in no particular order: popcorn, candied fruit, and Shepherd’s Pie.

In the case of Shepherd’s Pie, it’s a bit bewildering as I do enjoy its ingredients separately – ground beef, mashed potatoes, corn – but there’s something about the sum of its parts that trigger my gag reflex whenever.  Popcorn is just bland – annoyingly so – with those little bits that always get stuck in your teeth.  And then there’s candied fruit.  Do I even need to explain why that’s on the list?

Anyway, these three have made my culinary don’t-go-to list for as long as I’ve been compiling lists and then, last week, the very foundation of my reality was rocked by this –

“I know you don’t eat popcorn,”said Robert Cooper, “but this stuff is great.  I can’t stop eating it.”

I was, of course, dubious.  Chicago Mix?  A caramel corn and cheddar cheese combination?  Urgh.  It sounded terrible but, just for a lark, I decided to try a couple, popping one of each kernel into my mouth.  My initial reaction: “Weird, but not bad.”  And then: “Actually, kind of interesting.”  And then: “Help me!  I can’t stop!”  Five minutes later, I was shoving fistfuls into my mouth while pleading with Ivon Bartok to hide the bag.

Chicago Mix popcorn is the Devil’s snack!

Joining this list of Foods-I’ll-Just-Keep-Eating-Until-They’re-Finished-Or-Taken-Away:

An avowed chocolate snob, I love my Amedei Chuaos and Porclenas,  Pralus Papouasies, and Patrick Roger’s pralinés – but nutella always takes me back to my youth.  I can eat it straight out of the jar or, preferably, on a bowl of Haagen-Dazs french vanilla.

I discovered Hattendo Cream Buns in the Akihabara subway station in Tokyo a couple of years back.  The ultra-soft buns are served chilled and stuffed with a variety of creams – from matcha to chocolate.  I can’t eat just one!  Any doubt to the relative guilt-inducing prospects of this delicious dessert should be dispelled by the following photo of me eating one:

I bet you couldn’t envision a more guilty-looking eater.

The last time my sister visited Vancouver, she brought me a tin of kouign-amman from Patisserie au Kouign Amann on Mont Royal East.  I could barely pronounce the name but one bite of the butter and sugar-infused layered puff pastry with its crunchy caramelized crust and top, and I was hooked.  I’ve had other versions but none come close to these.  Thank goodness they’re located on the other side of the country.

If you’re ever out to dinner with me and see a chocolate chip skillet cookie a la mode on the menu, you can be damn sure I’ll be ordering it – with an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream because the ice cream to cookie ratio is always off.  There was a burger place in Toronto that used to serve them and I used to love the place, suffering through the mediocre burgers just to get to the dessert.

And you?  What’s your culinary Kryptonite?  Your Devil’s snack?

Tagged: #guiltypleasures, guilty pleasures

September 21, 2015: Blindspot! And a Dark Matter season 2 update!

Tonight’s the night!  The premiere of Blindspot!  For those of you not-in-the-know, there’s a Stargate connection here.  The series creator, Executive Producer and showrunner is none other than Martin Gero who many of you may remember from such productions as Stargate: SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate: Universe, The L.A. Complex, Bored To Death, and, most recently, a little something called Dark Matter.

Tune in tonight!

In other-show-related news, I’ve completed a rough first draft of Dark Matter Episode 202.  Paul is presently working on 201.  A late curveball thrown our way last week necessitated some minor re-juggling, dropping the story we had planned for Episode 209 into the Episode 205 slot and pushing everything forward. We’re also flopping 210 and 211.  On the surface, it may not seem like a big deal but given the serialized nature of the show and all of the developments we have planned for season 2, it was a challenge (to say the least).  But it looks like we’ve got it all sorted out and now I can finally turn my thoughts to more pressing matters like the shuttle shot, the Randroid, and Titch.

Call today with Dark Matter Production Designer Ian Brock to discuss the first four episodes!

Tagged: #Blindspot, #DarkMatter

September 20, 2015: The bitter taste of defeat! And sweet, sweet taste of porchetta!

What a difference a week makes.  Seven days ago, my Snow Monkeys were riding high, celebrating their first win of the young fantasy football season.  Today, they’re on the verge of tasting their first loss – unless, of course, the Packers D totally nuts down Marshawn Lynch AND Andrew Luck has the 6-TD game of his life tomorrow night.

On the bright side, Sunday football host Robert Cooper roasted up a delicious crispy-skin porchetta to help take my mind off my Snow Monkey’s sub-par effort.

Defeat may have been bitter, but this pork roast was savory, sweet, salty, succulent and crunchy!

In better news, it looks like we finally got a place in Toronto.  Sight unseen, but the pics look promising.  Well-located, dog-friendly, with a balcony I’ll never step out onto but my dogs will surely make great use of, especially this winter when the temperature drops to minus 30 degrees and the two block walk to the green space may as well be two miles.

Thanks to all who offered some great suggestions regarding what I should do with the Stargate swag I featured in yesterday’s blog post.  Ultimately, I think that rather than offer them up for auction, I’d like to give everyone a chance to win the individual items…and show off their Stargate knowledge.  So watch this blog for more details on how you can win by answering some skill-testing Stargate-related questions!

Big week upcoming.  My sister is coming to visit – and I’ll be heading to Los Angeles for a couple of days.  Got some interesting meetings lined up.  And more than a few interesting restaurants as well!