Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 64
January 6, 2024
January 6, 2024: Today’s Blog Entry!
When we were kids, my sister and I dreaded our annual family car trips to Toronto. It was a roughly 350 miles trek. Six and half hours, of tedium, occasional nausea, and egg salad sandwiches with overly large chunks of raw white onion that my mom would prepare for the ride.
Whenever my sister and I would complain my father would admonish us by reminding us why we were going. “It’s your grandmother’s birthday. She turns 98 this year. This may be the last time you see her.”
And “It’s your grandmother’s birthday. She turns 99 this year. This could be her last one. ” And “Your grandmother turns 100 this year and this is probably the last birthday she’ll celebrate.”
My grandmother lived to 112. That was a lot of egg salad sandwiches.
Today’s Yes/No….
Coke Salad? Yes/No
Coke salad is the Southern 'salad' your potluck spread might be missing https://t.co/0H7SSb2971
— Joseph Mallozzi
(@BaronDestructo) January 6, 2024
Happy Belated Birthday, Ponytail!
Tammy – Akemi shares your disdain for cilantro.
The post January 6, 2024: Today’s Blog Entry! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 5, 2024
January 5, 2024: Recent Yes/No’s – Best and Worst!
Ramen-coated Fried Chicken? Yes/No
Instant-ramen coated fried chicken appears in Tokyo, instantly makes us hungry, happy【Taste test】 https://t.co/O9OZHvFmS5 via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Gingerbread Milkshake? Yes/No https://t.co/Bh7TA1WkiS
— Joseph Mallozzi
Gratin Croquette Burgers? Yes/No
Japan’s Great Gratin Croquette Burger War begins: McDonald’s vs. Lotteria【Taste test】 https://t.co/ltleyydvGB via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Melty White Pistachio Mocha? Yes/No
Starbucks Japan’s new Christmas Frappuccino: festive fantasy or festive fail? https://t.co/xSgBJe3Xfs via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
String Cheese Waffles? Yes/No https://t.co/P4fpb1foys
— Joseph Mallozzi
Corny Cheese Ribs? Yes/No https://t.co/3RmDvx1ULW
— Joseph Mallozzi
Butter Aroma Hotcake Buns? Yes/No
Hotcake-man steamed pancake buns make their heroic return to Japanese convenience stores https://t.co/1F5IRwZMIO via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Spicy Ice Cubes? Yes/No
Thanks (?) to @SteveKi00989506 for the tip. https://t.co/Jtnpm5BCV6
— Joseph Mallozzi
Fried Fugu? Yes/No pic.twitter.com/6U21crKma0
— Joseph Mallozzi
Nacho Cheese Liquor? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/F6FvojBfte
— Joseph Mallozzi
No Men? Yes/No
Introducing Nomen: Ramen without the noodles【Taste test】 https://t.co/X4NEdqMwnA via @RocketNews24En
— Joseph Mallozzi
Best: The fried fugu (which I had on my recent trip to Japan).
Worst: Nomen. It’s just…broth!
And you?
The post January 5, 2024: Recent Yes/No’s – Best and Worst! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 4, 2024
January 4, 2024: Back on the Crime Binge!
Spiral/Engrenages (2005 – 2020) Season 2
Follows criminal investigations in Paris from all the different points of view of those involved.
My thoughts: One of the smarter shows I’ve watched as part of this Crime Binge. I’m hooked!
4/5
La Foret/The Forest (2017)
Sixteen-year-old Jennifer disappears one night from her village in the Ardennes. Captain Gaspard Deker leads the investigation with local cop Virginie Musso, who knew the girl well. They are helped by Eve, a lonely and mysterious woman.
My thoughts: This is another one that tosses logic out the window and leans into police incompetence to advance its narrative.
2.5/5
Hinterland (2013 – 2016) Season 1 A
noir crime drama set in Aberystwyth, Wales, where troubled DCI Tom Mathias solves murders while searching for redemption.
My thoughts: Heard good things and wanted to like it, but found this rural crime drama overwrought.
3/5
The Investigation (2020)
Copenhagen Police’s Homicide unit, headed by Jens Møller, tries to solve the murder of Swedish journalist Kim Wall.
My thoughts: This at times painfully slow 6 part miniseries would have probably made a really great 2 hour movie.
3/5
The Valhalla Murders (2019 – 2020)
Police profiler Arnar is sent back home from Oslo to his native Iceland to investigate the country’s first serial killer case. He teams up with the local senior cop Kata.
My thoughts: A solid Nordic thriller.
4/5
The post January 4, 2024: Back on the Crime Binge! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 3, 2024
January 3, 2024: Amazing Covers!
A few that caught my eye this week…
Black Panther, vol. 1: Reign at Dusk – cover art by Rahzzah
Marvel Meow #1 – cover art by Doaly
Batman #141 – cover art by Jorge Jimenez
Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #5 – cover art by Stjepan Sejic
Poison Ivy #18 – cover art by Inhyuk Lee
The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos – cover art by Nick Robles
So, which were YOUR favorites?
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January 2, 2024
January 2, 2024: Massive Dark Matter sale!
Prodigy Pictures won’t be renewing its lease on the studio space it has held all these years and, as a result, they are having a massive sale on a bunch of production-related items including a mess of Dark Matter stuff…
January 6th, running daily from 9 am – 5 pm at 124 The East Mall, Etobicoke, Ontario
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=690855309866027&id=100068246913840&mibextid=ox5AEW
I’m sure that the question on everyone’s mind is: “How does this sale affect the chances of seeing anymore Dark Matter”. The answer: It doesn’t. I have a bunch of Dark Matter items (costumes, props, construction layouts, etc.) from wrap, more than enough to establish a great base for any future productions. But who knows what the future holds?
So if you’re in the area, go check it out. Sure, there’ll be an enormous amount of crap for sale. But, amidst the crap, there are more than few gems you’ll be able to get your hands on for a song. Let me know how you do!
***
Akemi and I nicknamed the new concierge Columbo because at the end of every conversation with him, there’s always “one more thing”, an additional thought or non sequitur that invariably traps us, halfway out the door or by the open elevator. Akemi eventually admitted she had a hard time understanding him because of his tendency to mumble his words. So now we call him Comumblo.
***
Today’s Yes/No…
Cottage Cheese Ice Cream? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/GzwsFpvlBf pic.twitter.com/tVd8alnlPH
— Joseph Mallozzi
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January 1, 2024
January 1, 2024: Happy New Year!
We ushered in the New Year as is the tradition in our household – by being asleep when midnight rolls around.
Then, today, we celebrated New Year’s day in the Japanese way – with TWO types of ossechi compliments of Dr. Blackjack:
The menus…
The ossechi…
With special guest star…bottarga!
The desserts were Italian-style: pistachio cornetto, almond cornetto, and a sfogliatelle…
Now, onto the New Year’s Resolutions! This year…
Read one book a week
Start reading comics againWatch an anime episode 1 dayPractice Hiragana/Katana dailyOne Japanese lesson a dayLearn chatbotRe-read the Culture seriesWork outEat better***Kicking off that first resolution with a Grimdark marathon. First up…
GrimDarkMarathon Week 1 – Book 1: Prince of Thorns by Mark__LawrenceFrom being a privileged royal child, raised by a loving mother, Jorg Ancrath has become the Prince of Thorns, a charming, immoral boy leading a grim band of outlaws in a series of raids and atrocities. The world is in chaos: violence is rife, nightmares everywhere. Jorg has the ability to master the living and the dead, but there is still one thing that puts a chill in him. Returning to his father’s castle Jorg must confront horrors from his childhood and carve himself a future with all hands turned against him.***So, how did you all ring in the New Year? And what are YOUR New Year’s Resolutions.
The post January 1, 2024: Happy New Year! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
January 1, 2023: Happy New Year!
We ushered in the New Year as is the tradition in our household – by being asleep when midnight rolls around.
Then, today, we celebrated New Year’s day in the Japanese way – with TWO types of ossechi compliments of Dr. Blackjack:
The menus…
The ossechi…
With special guest star…bottarga!
The desserts were Italian-style: pistachio cornetto, almond cornetto, and a sfogliatelle…
Now, onto the New Year’s Resolutions! This year…
Read one book a week
Start reading comics againWatch an anime episode 1 dayPractice Hiragana/Katana dailyOne Japanese lesson a dayLearn chatbotRe-read the Culture seriesWork outEat better***Kicking off that first resolution with a Grimdark marathon. First up…
GrimDarkMarathon Week 1 – Book 1: Prince of Thorns by Mark__LawrenceFrom being a privileged royal child, raised by a loving mother, Jorg Ancrath has become the Prince of Thorns, a charming, immoral boy leading a grim band of outlaws in a series of raids and atrocities. The world is in chaos: violence is rife, nightmares everywhere. Jorg has the ability to master the living and the dead, but there is still one thing that puts a chill in him. Returning to his father’s castle Jorg must confront horrors from his childhood and carve himself a future with all hands turned against him.***So, how did you all ring in the New Year? And what are YOUR New Year’s Resolutions.
The post January 1, 2023: Happy New Year! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2023: Sharky Sunday!
Waiting for the bus.
“Okay, guess I’m walking”…
Coffee outings…
New glasses…
Sharky got a little sharky with the other dogs and had to be separated…
He doesn’t like other dogs (especially bigger dogs) getting all up in his grill. He did, however, get along with mom’s dog, Caramel.
Relaxing with dad.
The trip home…
Snuggling up with his Christmas gift. It’s a stuffed dog with a battery-operated heartbeat…
And finally, these adorable ghosts of Christmas Past…
Happy New Year!
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December 30, 2023
December 30, 2023: The Crime Binge continues!
Crime (2021 – )
When an Edinburgh schoolgirl is abducted, DI Ray Lennox investigates her disappearance whilst confronting his own past trauma.
My thoughts: Predictable, Overwrought. The social justice narrative elements really feel like pandering.
DNF
The Staircase (2022)
Tells the story of Michael Peterson, a crime novelist accused of killing his wife Kathleen after she is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home, and the 16-year judicial battle that followed.
My thoughts: Fitfully interesting, overly long true crime dramatization. I hear the podcast is great.
3.5/5
Sharp Objects (2018)
After treating her mental illness, crime reporter Camille Preaker returns to her hometown to solve the murder of two young girls. However, she is forced to face and deal with her own demons too.
My thoughts: Great ending, but a bit of a slog getting there.
3/5
Barrabrava (2023 – )
After a vicious internal fight, two brothers are expelled of their beloved team’s gang. Alone, without money or political protection, they will start a war that will put their brotherhood to the test.
My thoughts: Okay but unremarkable story about gangs feuding over a soccer team in South America.
Miss Sherlock (2018)
Inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic literary characters, the series follows Dr. Wato-san Tachibana and Sara Shelly “Sherlock” Futaba, an eccentric police consultant who uses deduction to solve strange cases in modern-day Japan.
My thoughts: Too over-the-top silly and far-fetched.
2.5/5
Yeah, I’m a hard watch. Better luck next time!
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December 29, 2023
December 29, 2023: Montreal Day #7!
Last night, we went out for our one and only restaurant dinner on this trip – and it was a great one: Montreal Plaza. To be honest, after our Tokyo trip, Akemi and I were somewhat dubious, but this place really delivered.
Akemi peruses the menu
Sis peruses
Cheers!
Beneath the endives = beef tartare with anchovy
The chicken liver tartelette, my favorite dish of the night
Akemi marveled over the crispiness of the mackerel
The veggie bourguignon with bone marrow
My cute wife
Following dinner, we drove over a little chocolate shop called M. & Mme Chocolat where we picked up a medley of chocolates (exquisitely thin-shelled).
A perfectly sweet conclusion to our evening.
Today, we visited another pet-friendly cafe on the West Island – Coco & Bean where I enjoyed a salted caramel latte and a chocolate lava cookie. While there, I ended up chatting with another customer. Turns out she is a writer working her first novel, a YA fantasy. We talked books, then the conversation switched to Vancouver. Turns out she had lived near me while I lived in Van. After learning Akemi was Japanese, she mentioned she had lived in Tokyo for four years and spoke some Japanese! It was surprising to meet someone with so many common interests. Then, to top it off, we ended up running into my long-time friend Theresa (who I’ve known for some 30 years!) who works across the street from the cafe and is a regular. Timely coincidences upon coincidences. time to play the lotto!
We fly back to Toronto tomorrow and will have one day to clean the place before Dr. Blackjack visits on January 1st, bringing with her some Japanese New Year osechi!
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