A Star Trek review May 13, 2009
Posted by Sara in Reviews.3 comments
In between explosions and ridiculous set pieces (I know the Romulans are a different race, but really, what is the point of a ship that has cliff edges every place you turn, so you could trip and fall to your death at any moment?), I counted the number of women who spoke at all in the new Star Trek movie. I got to 10:
- Kirk’s mother
- Her medical attendant
- Woman killed in the first Romulan attack
- Spock’s mother
- Uhura
- Girl Uhura spoke to in bar
- Uhura’s green roommate
- Officer on Enterprise
- Someone I can’t remember
- Someone else I can’t remember
Now, I like Star Trek. I’m glad they rebooted the franchise, and I think the alternate timeline story is great. I get that the story focuses on the original characters, and I’m not asking for a Battlestar Galactica/Starbuck gender switcheroo. But why on earth does this bright shiny future have every commander, instructor, and most of the officers as men? Gene Roddenberry wanted his wife to play the Enterprise’s first officer and the network made him recast; 40 years later and we’re in the same place. Don’t even get me started on the miniskirts: I want people to wear whatever they like, but you’re hardly likely to get picked to go on an away mission or be able to help Scotty fix the Enterprise’s engines if you’re running around in a miniskirt and high heels.
Le japonais February 6, 2009
Posted by Sara in Japanese.add a comment
It’s fascinating to study new languages. I’ve studied French, German, Spanish, and Italian, but none have been as exciting as Japanese. Learning Japanese means learning a new alphabet, and the feeling of being five again and figuring out what shapes convey which sounds is amazing (remember learning that “S” went like “ssss”?). I’ve studied the language in a class, which was helpful for pronunciation and having a fantastic teacher I could pester with questions. But studying on my own is also great–the sense of accomplishment when I can say and write “thank you” can’t be beat.
どうもありがとうございます
Le Superb Owl January 30, 2009
Posted by Sara in Mahalo.add a comment
I, proudly, have never seen a Superbowl–or, as Graham Norton and I like to call it, the “Superb Owl”–but I do enjoy the Puppy Bowl! Look at the cute puppies! If you’re more of a cat person, check out the kitty half-time show.
Meanwhile, I’m just wondering why they don’t show winning shows like “Survivors” for more than six episodes. And “Lark Rise to Candleford” is almost over! Bah.
Sara’s TV picks January 30, 2009
Posted by Sara in British TV, Reviews.add a comment
A few thoughts on my current TV viewing:
Being Human: A vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost are roommates. ‘Nuff said–it’s great.
Demons: Nearly unwatchable. Philip Glenister’s faux American accent is incredibly grating, as is any scene with Ruby in it.
House: Please let Thirteen die. Off-camera, so her annoying character doesn’t take up more airtime. If she takes Foreman with her, I’m okay with that. Olivia Wilde is very pretty, but she can’t act at all and she’s making me hate a show I once loved. Where are Chase and Cameron??
The Big Bang Theory: Sheldon is fantastic. I love this show–so much that I even tried to watch How I Met Your Mother since it’s on right afterwards.
How I Met Your Mother: Why do people like this show? I really tried, but these people are stupid, and not in a funny way.
Lark Rise to Candleford: A charming look at life in Oxfordshire in the 1890s. Imagine if “Little House on the Prairie” had taken place in Oxfordshire. I love it!
Spring Awakening November 11, 2008
Posted by Sara in Reviews.Tags: spring awakening
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It’s been over a week since I saw “Spring Awakening,” and I’m still discovering new things about its music. Plus at various moments during the day I can hear the cast singing, “Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.”
Everyone should go see the show, and the best seats are right on the stage, which is very, very cool.
Here’s a clip so you can see what you’re missing:
And it was West Beverly’s fall musical — what more can you ask for?
Little Britain returns! September 25, 2008
Posted by Sara in British TV.Tags: davith, little britain, vicky pollard
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I’m so looking forward to the premiere of Little Britain, the U.S. version. Here’s hoping Davith and Vicky Pollard both turn up — two of my favorite characters:
Money, money, money August 19, 2008
Posted by Sara in Mahalo.Tags: cheap gas, money saving tips
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The cost of everything is still sky-high. Whenever I think about how poor I am, I start humming ABBA’s “Money, Money, Money” to myself. Ah, ABBA–is there any situation you didn’t cover through the magic of song?
One thing I try to do to make ends meet is save money on gas–check out the link for a helpful Mahalo How To guide.
Baking August 19, 2008
Posted by Sara in Food.Tags: muffins
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I love baking, even during the summer. Of course it’s more pleasant to do so in the fall and winter than in the heat of summer, but I can always turn on the oven and then scurry back to another air-conditioned room. Muffins are great to make–they’re expensive to buy, so I can make a dozen muffins for the price of one from a bakery. Plus, when I make them myself I know exactly how good or bad they are (usually bad–muffins are not a health food, sadly).
For posterity’s sake, and of course due to overwhelming public demand, here is one recipe I’ve used quite frequently:
Cappuccino Chocolate Muffins
- 4TB softened butter
- 2TB grapeseed oil
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 cup egg substitute
- 1 TB coffee dissolved in 2 TB boiling wate
- 3 oz. plain yogurt
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup flour
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375. Mix butter, oil, and sugar together. Stir in egg and vanilla. Stir in dissolved coffee (let it cool a little before adding, to avoid risk of cooking egg). Put flours, salt and baking soda on top of liquid ingredients. Stir dry ingredients together, then fold with liquid ingredients. Fold in yogurt. Stir in flaxseed. Fold in chocolate chips. Distribute among 12 muffin cups and bake for 20-25 minutes.
Adapted from this recipe.
The BBC should live in the past August 3, 2008
Posted by Sara in British TV.add a comment
I love BBC period costume drama. I just saw North and South, and loved it. Loved it. Some people said that adaptation was better than the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice. I don’t know if I’d go that far, but it was pretty damn good. I also enjoyed their Robin Hood series (until they killed Marian, the bastards), Servants, and all the Dickens adaptations (last year’s Oliver Twist was spectacular, and don’t get me started on how good Bleak House was). Watch the ending of North and South and you’ll see how great it is:
But when I try to watch contemporary BBC dramatic series, I usually feel embarrassed for them. Take the two most recent series I’ve watched: A Thing Called Love and Bonekickers. A Thing Called Love was about some sap called Gary nattering on in an incomprehensible northern accent about how he can’t find love, even though about five minutes into the series, you could tell he should hook up with his best friend Paula. Five hours later, Gary realizes this too–but in the meantime the viewer is forced to watch Gary whinging, his handicapped brother get run over by a car, and his best mate Kelvin (who is married and straight) get raped by some guy he met at a pub peep show. Charming.
Bonekickers is something else entirely: a group of archaeologists who are constantly getting thrown into dangerous, politically murky situations. Paying no attention to death threats, flying bullets, and impending explosions, they keep going–all in the name of archaeology. So far they’ve discovered Jesus’ cross (which was buried near Bath, and which they quickly burned), an American conspiracy to hide the fact that George Washington wanted to share power with freed slaves, a Babylonian prophecy that will bring peace to Iraq (why didn’t George W. Bush and John McCain think of that?!), and the fact that the Celtic queen Boudica actually was in love with a Roman. I look forward to each week’s episode, curious to learn more about history from this trusted source.
P.S. Life on Mars was the exception that proves the rule–and a period costume drama in its own way. Comedies are another matter entirely.
PG Tips’ Monkey April 30, 2008
Posted by Sara in British TV.Tags: monkey movie
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I’m really enjoying the PG Tips Monkey ads. The best is the movie, and trailer.
Trailer:
A Tale of Two Continents… starring Monkey
Monkeys and tea… what more can you ask for?
