Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 482

November 22, 2012: Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone celebrating today with friends, family, loved ones, and their respective peculiar dates.  Here in Canada, we already celebrated back in October (approximately two days after Canadian Christmas) but that didn’t stop me from enjoying a good old-fashioned American style Thanksgiving complete with football, sweet potato pie, and the traditional post-meal vow to eat nothing but fruit and vegetables for the next two days.

My day went something like this:

Watched the first game of the NFL triple-header.  A great game marred by yet another ridiculous rule that saw the Houston Texans awarded a touchdown on a run that should have been blown dead at mid-field. Usually, all scoring plays are reviewed but because the opposing team’s coach threw a challenge flag on a “non-reviewable play” (even though all scoring plays ARE automatically reviewed), his team was penalized 15 yards AND the play was not reviewed.  Why the hell not? Out of spite?  I understand the need to penalize a coach for delay of game but his team is already losing 15 yards.  By not reviewing a play that, in all other circumstances MUST be reviewed undermines the very point of having a replay system in place.

As much as I would love to lay the blame for the Lions’ loss on that bizarre rule, I have to give discredit where discredit is due.  With the ball deep in Houston territory, the Lions coach calls two successive running plays, and then goes for the field goal…on third down!  There wasn’t even an attempt to try and get the first down.  Of course, the Lions ended up missing the field goal – and the Texans promptly marched down the field and kicked their own field goal.  This one was good.

My buddies Ivon and Rob arrived for the second game of the double-header:

Who’s ready to take on some wings? Ivon!

Ivon was in high spirits despite the fact that his team, The Running Dead, are a longshot to make our fantasy football league’s playoffs (for the second year in a row).  There’s still faint hope but he’ll need to win his last two games – and hope some other teams suffer a loss or two. I’m rooting for him of course.  It would be a pleasure to beat him in the post-season.

Hey, look at what Rob brought! Sweet potato pie!

In keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, Rob baked a sweet potato pie.  We served it up with our main course:

While we were at the butcher, I made the mistake of asking Akemi her thoughts on how many wings I should pick up per guy.  She suggested five.

I ended up closer to 25.  Had a hard time getting them to crisp up, roasting them in the oven at 400 for 20 minutes, then raising the temperature to 500, then switching the oven to broil, then raising the rack to its uppermost level which finally succeeded…in setting fire to the parchment paper beneath the wings.

In the end, the wings were unimpressive.  But that sweet potato pie! My oh my!  THAT was the highlight of the night:

Top with a dollop of sour cream and, voila, you’re ready to go. Wings optional.

We watched the second game of the double-header pitting the Dallas Cowboys against the Washington Redskins.  Now either the Cowboys are VERY predictable or Rob and Ivon somehow managed to travel in time to watch the game in the future, and then return to the present in order to accurately predict that: a) The Cowboys would get blown out early and, b) Romo would engineer a comeback that would fall short by c) exactly three points!

It’s tough to be a Cowboys fan and, while I would normally sympathize with Rob, my Snow Monkeys are playing his Landsharks in fantasy football league play this weekend with a playoff berth on the line, so it was very hard to feel that sorry for him.  Especially after the third game of the triple-header.

BUT before we took in the New York Jets/New England Patriots game, we had a little dessert compliments of Akemi:

Man, that be some dense chocolate mousse!

While the first two games were entertaining and fairly close (in the end), the third game was an unwatchable disaster – unless you’re a Patriots fan or enjoy watching those old football follies collections NFL Films used to put out.  Oh, the hapless Jets, bumbling and fumbling their way through a nationally televised stinker.  At one point, Jets QB Mark Sanchez scrambled upfield – directly into the backside of one of his own offensive lineman, dropped, lost the football, and the Patriots defense ran it in for a touchdown.

(http://cinemagr.am/show/52952401)

It would have been downright hilarious if not for the fact that Rob was playing the Patriots D.

My buddy Lawren was a late arrival.  By that point, the overall mood had already soured.  My Snow Monkeys season was in jeopardy!  Rob’s precious Cowboys had lost!  One of Ivon’s starting WR’s had been lost to injury!  And Akemi was disappointed her mousse didn’t turn out fluffier!  Lawren, oblivious, ate reheated wings.

We ended the night by sending him off with some leftovers.  Well, ALL the leftovers.

Lawren lugs home the leftover wings.

Thank you to everyone who forwarded me pics of their Thanksgiving feasts (check ‘em out in the comments section).  If YOU happen to have an leftover, you know were to send ‘em!

Today’s entry is dedicated to Janet.

Tagged: Dallas Cowboy vs. Washington Redskins, Houston Texans vs. Detroit Lions, New England Patriots vs. New York Jets, NFL football, replay, Thanksgiving

November 21 2012: My gal!

My gal

“You two are always so happy,”noted the woman at the counter, wrapping up our olive oil purchases.  ”Whenever you come in, you’re always laughing and smiling.”

I thought that was very sweet of her to say even though she was clearly mistaking my lunacy for merriment.  Happens all the time. Still, I suppose I am a generally good-humored sort, the type of person you’d like to talk to at a party or be on hand to lighten the mood during the final alien assault.  Yes, being slightly cracked helps. So does having a houseful of funny dogs.  And, oh yeah, a girlfriend that never fails to make me laugh – intentionally or not.

Like earlier this morning for instance when she quietly walked into the living room from the kitchen, took a seat and, eyes downcast, informed me: “I saw something terrible.”  She appeared shell-shocked.  What had she witnessed?  A bird fly into one of the back windows?  Our neighbors in a fist fight?  Graphic CNN war coverage?  No.  As it turned out, she peeked into a container of expired sour cream and beheld a sight so horrific that she was in shock.

The Scream

She has still yet to adjust to our Vancouver winters which, evidently, a lot colder than Tokyo winters (but, I can assure you, a lot warmer than the Montreal winters I grew up with).  This afternoon, we took the dogs for their daily walk.  Before heading out, Akemi bundled up with the warmest jacket she could find – one of my old Stargate crew gifts.

Akemi: “I look like a human boneless ham.”

Not exactly fashionable, but warm.

And yet, fashion is important to her.  Especially kitchen-fashion, as evidenced by this video:

Via her blog: http://peasnatch.wordpress.com/

And yet, the video that never fails to make me laugh was the candid one I took of her back in Osaka.  At okonomiyaki lunch, Akemi at her kooky best:

She admits that, before coming to Canada, she wasn’t really a dog person.  All that has changed, especially when it comes to her second boyfriend, Bubba.

Soooo jealous. How come I don’t get tummy rubs?

Hanging out with Lulu.

Every time I try to snap a photo of her, she starts moving – waving her hands, turning, posing – so that fully half of her is a blur.  She can’t help herself.

And eventually…

In this particular pic, I ask her to NOT move. This is the result. Kanashii as the Japanese would say.

And, best of all, she LOVES to cook:

A girl after my own heart!

November 20, 2012: Culinary Catastrophes! Hits and misses!

Look at the above-pictured masterpiece compliments of my buddy, Ivon – the bacon on the inside gloriously crispy, the chicken meatloaf on the inside delectably juicy.  This, my friends, is tasty perfection, something we all aspire to every time we search out a recipe, track down unique ingredients (what’s a galangal?), or don that dainty apron your significant other insists on your wearing for fear you’ll get your jeans dirty.   Oh, I’ve exulted in my fair share of triumphs – amazing ice creams, delectably delicate fish,  mouth-meltingly tender pork chops – but have also anguished over tragedies as well.  There was the time I mistakenly substituted baking powder for baking soda in the very first chocolate cake I attempted when I was a kid (thankfully, the experience left no lasting emotional scars).  And there was the butter-fried shrimp I made once that were equivalent to feasting on soggy balsa wood nuggets.  And then there was this Sunday’s attempt at ice cream sandwiches…

Remember these sad little things?

So many things can go wrong, hubris can scuttle the surest of seabass recipes, and, sometimes, even if you do everything right, the fates may conspire against you and you end up with crumbly chocolate chip cookies.

Today it’s time to come clean.  Unburden yourself.  What was your greatest culinary catastrophe?  Have pictures? Even better.

Some of the hits and misses from Casa Mallozzi:

Crispy oven-roasted quail. HIT!

Why is the salmon so white? And why are the onions so blue? MISS!

Akemi’s balsamic roast onions. HIT!

The first (and last) time I made pizzza at home. MISS!

Jalapeno corn bread. HIT!

Crimes Against Spaghetti. Exhibit A. MISS!

Akemi’s okonomiyaki. Still #1. HIT!

Tagged: culinary catastrophes, kitchen hits and misses

November 19, 2012: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Sky High!

Monster can’t help but tink dat if Wonder Woman had been my high school principal, me could have accomplished so much more in life. Instead, here me is doing movie reviews to help support my cookie habit.  But me suppose it could be worse.  Monster could be reviewing Elektra again.  Instead, dis week, me watch Sky High, a film dat prove you CAN write a smart, funny, entertaining kids movie.  Take DAT Shark Boy and Lava Girl!  Hmmm.  Could be de peach schnapps talking but me really liked dis movie.

The Commander and Jetstream.  Coolest Parents Ever!  

Will Stronghold just a regular kid.  And dats de problem.  He just a regular kid wit no superpowers – but his parents be The Commander and Jetstream, celebrity superheroes.  Will keep his super-impotence a sekret from his famous folks, but it not going to be a sekret for long becuz he now a freshman at Sky High – a sekret floating high school for children of supherheroes (and de occasional supervillain).

Science class be a blast!

On his first day at Sky High, we introduced to Will’s classmates – and deir powers.  One kid glows in de dark.  Another can turn into a hamster.  Two more, de school bullies, have super speed and stretching ability.  At first gym class, kids demonstrate deir powers for gym teacher (Hey!  It’s Bruce Campbell!) who divide dem into “heroes” and “sidekicks”, Sky High’s version of de classic high school dichotomy of cool kids and losers.

She can tie monster up with her magic lasso anytime!

Will declared a sidekick and have to take classes wit his fellow second-raters.  One class taught by The Commander’s former sidekick, All-American Boy (Hey!  It’s Dave Foley!).  Another by big-brain professor (Hey!  It’s Kevin McDonald!).  Like most high school kids, he discover dat even tho dey not be “de cool crowd”, his new friends a lot more fun to hang out.  Especially so his cute best friend who, for some reason, he not seem to notice be mighty cute, Leila.

Sassy Leila.

Also attending Sky High is broody rebel kid, Warren Peace, son of superhero mother and supervillain father.  Warren take instant dislike to Will becuz his father (The Commander) put Warren’s father in jail.

Flavor = broody.

 

Will finally come into his powers – super-strength.  And, suddenly, he go from sidekick to hero.  He catch de eye of sexy/bitchy in-girl, Gwen. Meanwhile, poor Leila left to sulk – and hit it off wit broody Warren.

Tings come to a head when Will’s parents go away and he tricked into hosting a house party – and showing his new gal, Gwen, his father’s sekret inner sanktum!

Now dat’s a pretty big whatever-de-heck-it-is.

Will finally come to his senses and dump Gwen.  He decide to skip prom and hang around his father’s inner sanktum – where he diskover disappearance of “de pacifier”, a mysterious sekret weapon dat once belonged to de nefarious supervillain Royal Pain!

Royal Pain

At prom night, The Commander and Jetstream show up to be presented wit speshul hero award – only to get ambushed by Gwen who turn out to be…Royal Pain (in a clever twist dat involve her getting turned into a baby, den getting adopted and raised by her own henchman)!  She use de pacifier on dem, turning dem into babies.  Den, wit de help of some accomplices, she start zapping everyone in sight, turning DEM into babies too!

Will show up and, wit help of a bunch of sidekicks, have to prove himself hero-worthy by saving de day.

Prom Night: Last Stand

Movie full of great in-jokes, one-liners, charakter moments, and does terrific job of satirizing high school life and family dynamics.  And bonus marks for casting of Lynda Carter/Wonder Woman, as Principal Powers, who still lookin’ fiiiiiiiiine.

Verdikt: Great movie for kidz, comic book fans, and jaded monsters.

Rating: 7.5 chocolate chippee cookies.

Tagged: Cookie Monster, Cookie Monster movie reviews, Sky HIgh, superhero movies, superheroes

November 18, 2012: A Disastrous Day! Cheer me up by having me over for Thanksgiving Dinner!

There, there.

Today was a disaster on so many levels.  At the top of the list was the gut-wrenchingly disappointing loss my Snow Monkeys suffered in fantasy football league play.  It was an especially bitter loss since all the projections had me winning.  As a result, I ended up feeling like a Mitt Romney supporter on election night.  Wha – happened?  

Just as disastrous was my attempt at making chocolate-covered ice cream sandwiches.  I followed the recipe to the  letter and ended up with these:

Wha- happened?

Well, unless you’re using an industrial freezer, I don’t know how you can dip frozen ice cream sandwich in hot chocolate without having the ice cream melt out.  Or end up with a dauntingly thick chocolate shell.

On the bright side, Ivon provided the main course: slow-cooked pulled pork shoulder tacos.  The sole highlight of my day:

Lawren makes some last minute adjustments to his line-up.

 

Lulu registers her displeasure with her patented “nutcracker step”.

 

Lulu showers Ivon with kisses. And some gas.

Rob is all business when it comes to his two greatest passions: football and lunch.

Pulled pork tacos!

For dessert: blueberry pie (a la mode, of course).

And my Sunday Morning Ice Cream delivery compliments of Genevieve.

I can look forward to spending the rest of my night parked in front of a laptop, trying to finish the third act of this script.

Sigh.

You know what would help?  A delicious Thanksgiving dinner.  On the one hand, Canada has already celebrated Thanksgiving – in typical Canadian fashion, with maple eggnog and a nice stuffed beaver.  On the other hand, I have all of you.  So, come this Thursday, I’m inviting myself over to your place.  While I’ll be watching football over here, I’ll be enjoying what you’re preparing over there.  Post pics (or links to pics) of what you’re serving on the big day.  No pressure, but I’ve always wanted to try one of those roasted TurDuChiPheaCorSquaQuail (quail inside a squab inside a cornish game hen inside a pheasant inside a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey).

P.S. I also like a good pecan pie..

November 17, 2012: Shao Bing and scriptwork! Another rainy afternoon!

Welcome to mid-November, Vancouver-style.  Cold, wet, and rainy.  But that didn’t deter us from checking out the winter farmer’s market today outside Nat Bailey Stadium.  Less fresh fruit, more fresh root vegetables, several baked good stands doing brisk business, and the the food trucks were out in force.  I counted five in all, including one I tried for the first time: Le Tigre Cuisine offering “scrumptious modern Chinese delights”.   I was expecting good and got even better:

Braised pulled pork shoulder bun.  A lot of the time, even a low, slow cook may still hield dry results – which is why I tend to prefer the belly, neck, or jowl meat.  Well, not sure what the secret is but this shoulder meat was probably the tenderest I’ve ever eaten.  Outstanding.   

The Shao Bing = flakey puff pastry sandwich with braised beef, pickled cabbage, cilantro, green onion, and Schezuan chili sauce. Again, the meat is incredibly tender. The pickled cabbage provides a nice crunch.

The roasted beet fries with plum powder and 7 spice mayo.  Brilliant.

My sole disappointment was the fact that I was too full to try the “Kick Ass Rice” – cooked in sake, with butter and dash, and topped with a poached egg, fresh herbs, and thai chili.  You can have it with either pork belly or popcorn chicken.

My new favorite food truck.  You can check out their facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/LeTigreCuisine

After that, it was back home for my favorite rainy day activity = agonizing over a script.  I wrote the tease last weekend, Paul forged ahead and wrote the first act and a half this past week, and I ended up spending most of this afternoon trying to craft the scene in the mental institution.  Amusingly enough, this is the third “mental institution scene” I’ve written in recent memory.  And, in spite of what they tell you, they don’t get any easier.  I’m pleased to report, however, that I got it done, ended the act, and am now trying to figure out how to attack the ensuing scene which involves, pictures, diagrams, and a (hopefully) clear as day explanation of a complex worst-case scenario.

By the way, thanks to everyone who weighed in the last couple of days with: a) suggestions for my insomnia, and b) weird J-pop/K-pop recommendations.  I am officially enlightened.

So, what’s the weather like in your neck of the woods?  And how go your various weekends/secret projects/scripts?

Tagged: food trucks, Le Tigre, Le Tigre Cuisine, Vancouver Food Trucks

November 16, 2012: Dark Matter! Mystery Projects! More J-pop and K-pop videos! And the mailbag!

Whew.  What a day!  It started with a doctor’s appointment and ended with a conference call about an exciting potential new project.  In between, I fielded texts, emails, and phone calls about Dark Matter, read what Paul has written so far on that “other” project, talked to a lawyer, met with my bank rep, and generally kept abreast of all developments on the football front as my Snow Monkeys face their toughest challenge to date, taking on the Mighty Molsons this weekend in fantasy football league action.

I went to see the doctor on Akemi’s (persistent) insistence today after experiencing a one-time pain in my left shoulder sometime during my Tokyo trip (while I was eating my second serving of foie gras and black pudding.  Hey, not my fault!  Akemi wouldn’t eat hers.).  My heart checked out fine and, given the details of my distress, he suspects it was merely an esophagal reaction.  Just to be on the safe side, however, I’m off to get a blood test and EKG on Monday.  The results should reaffirm the good doc’s prognosis.  If not, in the words of my buddy Ivon: “Well, you’ve had a good run.”

Dark Matter aint dead yet!  Those of you familiar with my SF comic book series about the amnesiac crew of a derelict spaceship and the mystery surrounding their interstellar mission (You can purchase the first four-issue arc here: Dark Matter #1 – #4 Bundle) know that I have my heart set on translating it to the small screen someday.  Well, after much back and forth, missed opportunities, lost causes, and blown deadlines, it appears as though – maybe, just maybe – there could be a deal in the works.  Or it could just be a precursor to a deal or some eternal optimist misinterpreting something somebody said.  Whichever the case, let’s call it positive news and leave it at that.  More information as it becomes available.  And if you hear anything before I do, let me know!

This year, Paul and I have focused on writing over producing.  While it pays significantly less, it has allowed me to work from home on my own projects while taking a much-needed year off after a most memorable (for all the wrong reasons) 2011.  Among the projects we’re working on is the development of a series pilot for a fantasy series that has garnered a fair amount of interest.  Paul sent me the first two acts this morning and it’s great!  We deliver at the end of the month and then, I expect, it’ll be smoooooooooth sailing!

Also, a good friend (and fantasy football league buddy whose team, sadly, has fallen on hard times) and ex-Stargate colleague has approached Paul and I about a fantastic personal project of his own that looks to have all sorts of potential.  Coming soon to a t.v. near you?  Things look very positive.  Next week, Paul and I will get together with him to discuss creative and what lies ahead.  Very nice of him to think of us.

Went to talk to a lawyer today about an outstanding issue that has plagued me for far too long.  I felt much better after talking to him and look forward to being a little more proactive starting next week as I take steps to finally resolve the issue. You can only be nice for so long…

Finally, an apology to a couple of individuals who are owed scripts.  I didn’t get a chance to send them before leaving for Japan and this has been a busy week, but I promise to give Richard Woolsey the go-ahead and he’ll dispatch the scripts, via jumper, first thing Monday morning.

What’s on your mind?  Let’s hit the mailbag and find out:

gforce writes: “It’s been a busy day or two – my step-mom wound up in the hospital again, this time with a subdural haematoma. They did an operation today to relieve the pressure today and the prognosis looks pretty good. Pretty stressful time, though.”

Answer: Hey, Gary, wishing your mom a speedy recovery.  And you a hopefully less stressful week ahead.

JeffW writes: “I’m over-nighting in London and found that ITV 4 is playing “My Super Ex-girlfriend”…I don’t really remember this one, but maybe Cookie would want to add it to his list?”

Answer: Yep, it’s on the list.

Randomness writes: “Hope you didn’t mind me posting a ton of JPop vids on your update post Joe.”

Answer: Not at all.  I’m always open to checking out new things – and new tunes, especially if it helps me get rid of an old tune stuck in my head.  Chewing chewing chewing chewing chewing cutie cutie chew-chew-chewing loooooooove!

noellam writes: “Here’s a question for Akemi: Why is the lead singer gal in Candy Candy running with a piece of toast in her mouth?”

Answer: Akemi isn’t sure.  I think it’s because she forgot her bento box.

PBMom writes: “It was $50 a plate and open bar (the facility fee, etc. would not have changed though). I think like 10 people did not show up. No one called to say, “Hey sorry I’m sick, I won’t make it.” Just no shows with no explanations.”

Answer: Hate that.  I recall inviting someone to one of my chocolate parties.  Since he had family visiting, I even extended the invitation to his out-of-town guests.  He not only didn’t show up  (meaning five dinners went uneaten and, most importantly, five seats that could have gone to other friends went unfilled) but the next day, at work, was totally oblivious to the inconvenience he’d caused.

Mike A. writes: “Um, Joe, is it weird that I totally enjoyed all of these videos?”

Answer: Who am I to criticize?  I’m a Kyamy Pamyu Pamyu convert.  Here ya go.  Her new video:

So kawaii!

Mike A. also writes: “Are the dogs joining your schedule or have they been able to stay on their normal sleep routine?”

Answer: Nope.  The dogs are pretty oblivious to my issues but make me well aware of theirs.  Issue #1 (first thing in the morning): Where’s breakfast?

Tam Dixon writes: “Did you see any of the groups live?”

Answer: I’m not much of a concert-goer.  In my case, they invariably end up disappointing.  A friend, a life-long Bob Dylan fan, went to his concert the other night – and ended up leaving partway through, this after criticizing a friend who had done the same thing the previous night.

osirisoflight writes: “In my wandering around youtube i came across a group called Baby Metal. They are a half Metal half j-pop teen group. the music is oddly catchy.”

Answer: Bizarrely entertaining!  I found this clip as well:

sylvia writes: “Then…there is the Gangnam Style by Psy that went viral. It’s from Korea.
Once you hear it…can’t get the tune out of your head.”

Answer: Yep.  Even the hard-to-impress Ivon Bartok isn’t immune to the catchy Gangnam Style.  And, while we’re on the subject of K-pop, may I introduce Super Junior…

Tagged: Dark Matter, J-pop, K-pop

November 15, 2012: The weird and wonderful world of J-Pop!

It’s nice to know that, no matter where you go in the world, the local music scene is peopled with weird/annoying/colorful characters.  Just a different kind of weird/annoying/colorful character than what you’re used to in your neck of the woods.  Whenever I’m in Tokyo, I’m endlessly amused and, occasionally, mystified by the hot group/singer du jour.  Now I’m no expert on J-pop (Japanese pop)  and am admittedly not at all familiar with the Japanese music scene, but I know enough to know what I like.  And, more importantly, what I find kinDA strange…

EXILE

What I find strange about Exile is the fact that the “group’s leader” isn’t the lead vocalist.  Or lead guitarist.  Or xylophonist.  He doesn’t even play an instrument. He’s the 14-man group’s lead dancer.

“Not dancer,”Akemi corrected me this afternoon.  ”Performer.”

“Oh, what else does he do?”I asked her.  ”Play guitar?  The drums?  Do magic tricks?”

“He dances.”

“Right.”

KYARY PAMYU PAMYU

In a world of Lady Gaga imitators, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is a breath of refreshingly bizarre air.  The former fashion blogger, Harajuku model, and entrepreneur (launching a successful line of fake eyelashes),  hit it big when the video for her first single, PonPonPon,  went viral.  She followed up with her next big single, Candy Candy – the video for which I saw for the first time, appropriately enough, at a candy store in Vegas.  If you wanted to sing along to the chorus, the lyrics go: “Candy, Candy, Candy, Candy, Candy, Sweetie, Sweetie, Girls Love.  Chewing, Chewing, Chewing, Chewing, Chewing, Cutie, Cutie, Chew-Chew-Chew-Chewing Love!”

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is her first name by the way.

AKB48

Not to be confused with AK47, this all-girl group is made up of…well…a hell of a lot of members.

“Forty-eight?”I assumed.

“Oh, a lot more than forty-eight,”Akemi assured me.

As it turns out, more like 67 (They apparently hold the world record), split into three “teams” backstopped by a minor league system of young trainees (kenkyusei).

According to Akemi (who knows about such things), the girls are selected for various big events (ie. the recording of a new single) by a popular vote.  The purchase of every new single allows every fan the opportunity to vote for their favorite.  And vote they do, to the tune of over one million after their 2011 single, Everyday Katyusha.  ”But that’s not fair to the unpopular girls!”I’m sure you’re saying to yourself.  Well, fear not.  To ensure the unpopular girls get their fair shot as well, the participants on a second single is determined by a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament involving all 67 members.

Really.

HATSUNE MIKU

It’s finally come to this and, honestly, are you that surprised?  A 3D hologram plays to packed stadiums.  The brainchild of Cyrpton Future Media, Hatsune is a digital avatar and singing synthesizer voice application that has apparently taken the software (and music) industry by storm.  The whole Milli Vanilli scandal seems to unjust in retrospect.

THE BAWDIES

Is “bawdies” the Japanese word for “beatles”?  Just wondering.

Tagged: AKB48, Exile, Hatsune Miku, J-pop, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, The Bawdies

November 14, 2012: Sweet, sweet, elusive sleep! News of note!

Hmmm.  I seem to have lost my grasp on this whole sleeping thing.  After a relatively promising first night back from Tokyo, I’ve been unable get back into a west coast rhythm.  Last night, I lay awake until 3:00 a.m., trying to remember what, exactly, it felt like to fall asleep.  I envy people who can just shut their eyes and drift off through sheer force of will, like William Shatner according to that interview I once saw with the actor many years back (or, conversely, it may have been his character James T. Kirk in the novelization of a Stark Trek episode as relayed to me by my cousin when I was a kid).  There’s nothing quite as sad and frustrating as lying in bed, desperately trying to salvage those dwindling precious few hours of darkness.  Okay, all is not lost.  If I fall asleep in the next twenty minutes, I can still get in three hours sleep!  I remember reading a research article (or it may have been a true or false question on the old Hollywood Squares show) that claimed people fall asleep faster by actually trying to stay awake.  So I tried that.  And reading until I was tired.  And counting sheep.   Nothing worked.  I ended up popping a melatonin tablet and that did the trick.  Tonight, I’d rather not rely on the pill so I’m looking for a natural solution.  I recall reading a research article (or it may have been an episode of Food Detectives) that suggested chamomile tea had yielded positive results with test subjects.  I’m going to try a cup tonight before turning in. Will let you know how it goes.

Please post your surefire insomnia remedies.  It will give me something to read while I’m up late tonight.

Some interesting links:

“Things should improve, Moonves says, as Nielsen begins to count the growing number of viewers who watch shows on digital gadgets including smartphones and tablets.”  Yep, things should improve.  Eventually.  For some shows anyway.  Les Moonves Urges Industry Watchers To “Stop Looking At Overnight Ratings”.

I read this while I was in Tokyo and thought it mighty brilliant – and incredibly touching.  The short story, “The Paper Menagerie”, by Ken Liu, won the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award, the first work of fiction to ever sweep all three. Read it here: Read Ken Liu’s amazing story that swept the Hugo, Nebula and – Io9 and then head on over and tell Ken how much you enjoyed it here: 

A much as I enjoy Guy Fieri’s down-home buffoonery on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, I couldn’t help but savor this NYT critic’s extended lament to Guy regarding his new Times Square restaurant: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/dining/reviews/restaurant-review-guys-american-kitchen-bar-in-times-square.html?_r=0 .  Some of the highlights: “Why is one of the few things on your menu that can be eaten without fear or regret — a lunch-only sandwich of chopped soy-glazed pork with coleslaw and cucumbers — called a Roasted Pork Bahn Mi, when it resembles that item about as much as you resemble Emily Dickinson?” and “At your five Johnny Garlic’s restaurants in California, if servers arrive with main courses and find that the appetizers haven’t been cleared yet, do they try to find space for the new plates next to the dirty ones? Or does that just happen in Times Square, where people are used to crowding?”  Ouch.

From the gang at cracked.com: 6 Iconic Movie Scenes That Happened by Accident.  Poor, poor, Viggo.

Tagged: cracked.com, Guy Fieri, Ken Liu, The Paper Menagerie

November 13, 2012: Dogs! Dogs! Dogs!

To be perfectly honest, there was only one thing I missed during my trip to Japan.  And it wasn’t the food or the television or the general comforts of home.  It was the dogs.  Even Akemi, who admittedly never “got” dogs before coming to Canada, could think of nothing but her dear Bubba those last few days in Tokyo.  It was nice to know that they were in great hands.  Our dog-sitter, Christine, stayed at the house with them, sending us daily updates and, occasionally, photos.

As I struggle to readjust back to Pacific Standard Time and scramble to tend to the 101 things that magically did not get done while I was away (This isn’t like Stargate where I could always rely on the infamous script elves), I thought it might be nice (and relaxing) to dedicate this entry to the gang – in pictures (most of them compliments of Christine):

Tagged: Dogs, french bulldogs, pugs