Tuesday, February 26, 2013

A's Analogies: Game of Thrones

True or False?

Game of Thrones : Men : Fifty Shades of Grey : Women


I just don't get it. I am officially three episodes into GoT and I remain undecided. So far the show has boasted a surplus Lord of the Rings inspired sex, which is okay, but not much progress in character development. I'm not yet rooting for or against anyone; which is curious because I normally overidentify with characters remarkably early on in my TV relationships (Peggy Olson, "Flynn" Walter Jr. [jk], Lisa Simpson).

Things Working in GoT's Favor:
- Somehow, on a cast list filled with larger than life kings, conniving queens and vengeful nomads--the show's biggest BAMF is a surly, yet shrewd, dwarf.
- 'White Walkers' as potentially deeper and more complex versions of the Walkers I'm accustomed to (The Walking Dead).
- Everything about Arya Stark.
- Adorable/loyal wolves.

I have to say--this list is disappointingly short. I know many people (albiet mostly males) who love Game of Thrones. I suppose I'll continue forth on this particular quest to quench my thirst for addictive TV, but GoT needs to step it up. Asap.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Sopranos Season Finale

You have just entered the Spoiler Zone.

Less than a week ago I finished binge-watching all 86 hours of The Sopranos. Today I'm here to talk about how I'm not sorry about being angry re: the ending.

If it is true Tony was shot to death at the end (and I'm fairly convinced he was thanks to this guy's analysis) then I am DISPLEASED. I really tried to understand the style behind how David Chase conceptualized and subsequently executed the ending. I totally realize the scene in Bobby Bacala's boat from "Soprano Home Movies" (and then flashback to the same scene during the final episode) drove home the suggestion that when you die you probably don't see it coming. I initially "oohed" and "ahhed" at the idea of something so deep and profound coming back to us during the final moments of the series. But then I came to terms with something:




As a proud NJ native with cultural and linguistic ties to North Jersey especially, I became engrossed in The Sopranos. I loved everything about it. At the outset of the final episode I was internally balancing both my sadness of the story being over and my excitement for how it would end. Further, as a novice television series aficionado I grew while watching The Sopranos. I am visually violence-averse, but I withstood -- no, soldiered through the Sopranos. By Season 6's end I was bloodthirsty, and my craving was met with just black

I feel that I more than earned the right to watch Tony Soprano's demise in all it's bloody, dramatic and Carmela-witnessing glory. Yet in a 2007 interview with the Star Ledger, David Chase attacked me (yes, ME) with this dagger quote:

"Anybody who wants to watch it, it's all there."

OKAY DAVID. Totally not all there, but I see I won't be getting my way.

Don't mind me. I'll just be here stewing about this until Mad Men comes back (April 7th!).


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

State of the Union Summary

Monarch processional.

Enter Obama. 20 minutes of handshaking and weak-kneed women literally bowing.

Raise the minimum wage and combat unemployment. It'll work...trust.

Veterans, women and elite pre-schools. Repeat after me.

Renewable resources: You can't afford them but do it for your children, k?

Apple will start making products here in the US. No, seriously.

Biden blinks. and blinks again. and hundreds more times per minute.

Cyber hackers. They gon' find you.

Boehner's pink tie with blue shirt (not a criticism, I heart his bold layering choices).

World Peace.

Legal immigration should be encouraged, but mostly what I'm saying is we need more Chinese and Indian students to stay here once we've given them our "corporate secrets".

My Healthcare Bill - 1, You - 0

Third term? Don't rule it out. 

Gun violence. 

Exit Obama.




Monday, February 11, 2013

Adios, Benedict

To the chagrin of the Pope Benedict XVI Fan Club, Roman Catholic leadership will need to select a new Pope. The process will preferably be completed before Easter, because the de facto religious leader on Easter Sunday in the absence of a Pope is the Easter Bunny--which hasn't happened in six centuries for a reason. I suspect bidding adieu to Benedict XVI isn't going to be ALL bad...



But really. It must take a lot of courage to admit you cannot adequately perform the duties of your job--especially when God is your supervisor. You do you, Benedict.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Newest VIP Member of the Cult of Domesticity

Two of my roomies from yester-summers are serious foodies (Hi, guys). The instagrams of their culinary creations are breathtaking. Truly inspiring. So naturally, when one of them asked me to blog about my contribution to the Superbowl Party I attended yesterday, how could I ignore it? If Tim Gunn were to tell you he was interested in knowing more about the process behind your fashion choices, wouldn't you oblige? It's called a "breakout moment."

This past weekend I decided to go beyond the call of snack duty and really try to make a truly delicious and memorable finger food. Despite my best intentions to produce something incredible I knew the competition for Queen of Domesticity at this particular Superbowl Party was going to be fierce. Football shaped pizzas and football cake calls were present--and they were amazing. Observe:




To help me on my quest, one of my #1 ladies at work gave me this recipe, and I'm convinced it has changed the way I will approach BYOS parties from this day forward:

Mac and Cheese Poppers

You will need:
Most of a Box of Elbow Macaroni
Most of a Bag of Sharp Cheddar Cheese (2% milk)
Most of a Bag of Mozzarella Cheese (Part Skim)
1 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs
1/4 Cup Skim Milk
2 Tablespoons Butter
2 Eggs (or just 1 egg if you get one of those alien eggs with two yolks...)

Pre-heat oven to 425F. Or whatever. Stir everything into a bowl except the macaroni. Then add the cooked macaroni to the mixture and scoop it into a greased cupcake tray. Fill the spaces generously because ain't nothin in this recipe gonna make it rise. Cook those b's for 22 minutes. Let cool for 10 mins for proper congelation. Eat those b's. Humble Brag.

Viola.



Having this recipe on a hand will undoubtedly prove to be a necessary coping mechanism to deal with me not winning a free Papa John's pizza coupon from the coin toss promotion.