Author: Craig

Just to let you know, I’m participating in “National Not Writing a Novel Month.” Excpect not to see any updates about my progress, or samples of my work. I’m so excited!

Well stated, from Entertainment Weekly:

About “The Pearl” station:

…I wonder if what Alvar wastrying to do was teach human beings one simple behavior that could savethemselves from self-destruction. That behavior?

Becoming self-aware.

And then, after enlightenment — action.

Consider again the Pearl video, which begins with a quote from Dr. Karen DeGroot, one of his Dharma collaborators:

”Careful observation is the only key to true and complete awareness.”

Alvar’s hope was this:

The Pearl occupants would grow increasingly curious about the things they hadn’t been told, and more than that, concernedabout the test subjects in the Swan, especially as they ”struggled tocomplete their task.” In fact, I think Alvar hoped the observers inthe Pearl would become appalled by what they saw happening inThe Swan, and feel guilty about their own participation in theexperiment. Hanso hoped that the Pearl-based watchers would revoltagainst the system, free the Hatch inhabitants, and reveal to them thehidden structures that govern their lives.

In other words, what Alvar Hanso was trying to do was upload intothe MG Field a bold new biological imperative that would change theworld, a new appetite to replace the appetite for destruction:

The drive for ENLIGHTENMENT.

A desire for CHANGE.

But it didn’t work.

WHY?
Because The Pearl observers didn’t become curiousabout the alarming mysteries of their endeavor. They didn’t becomeconcerned about the struggles of The Swan occupants.

No, like good little worker bees, they just did their job, as instructed by the dubious dude in the video.

And like good little TV watchers, they just sat back and enjoyed the show.

Silly Alvar. He thought watching TV could actually save the world.But if he knew then what we know now, he would know that could neverhappen. Why?

Survivor. Big Brother. The Bachelor. Wife Swap. Temptation Island.

Inother words: the guys in The Pearl were your average REALITY TV FANS.Watching people suffer… well, that’s just funny! And those journalsthey were keeping?

BLOGS.

Television without pity, indeed.

Fortunately, we have Lost. Because Lost is all aboutpromoting introspection and redemption; about taking a journey thatreveals that truth of our lives, and inspiring us to live our livesdifferently, and for the better.

Right?

RIGHT?!?

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to watch Survivor exploit some racial stereotypes. HILARIOUS!

Succinctly my view on LOST’s satire of survivor, in specific and general. It’s a great article.

So Halloween was fun even if I was feeling Mr. poopy pants.

So, I’ve decided to extend Halloween to this weekend. I’m going to attend a friend’s wedding that is day-of-the-dead themed, plan to carve pumpkins, and will put up decorations.

Besides, I’ll get in trouble if I don’t produce some Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Tonight is the first LOST night where we’ll have Blair & Sara over. Reminds me of the old ST:TNG nights we would have once at Heather’s (or Leslie’s) house when I first met heather. We also had Buffy nights at our place when we lived in Petaluma, but it wasn’t quite the same since it was pretty much Heather and myself.

I’m still loving LOST with both hands, as it were.

I sure am tired today at work, though.

Just not feeling it this year. House is not decorated – boxes aren’t even down from storage.

Peer pressure is making me don a costume: Devil. I’ll have on my Tux with a red shirt, my goat horns, and Eevil Makeup. I’ll be tempting children to run into traffic.

Bah!

So, I’m taking a consensus.

What do you think I should be for Halloween?

I’m purposely trying to avoid this Borat idiot and still I cannot. I wish there was a killfile for life. I couldn’t stand him as Ali G, I can’t stand him as Borat. It was marginally funny the first time, when Mahir said “I kiss you!” Bah! Die in a fire, Sacha Baron Cohen.

Pumpkin Pie “Martini”
———————–
1/2 oz Pumpkin Pie Spiced Syrup*
1/2 oz Egg Nog
1 oz Vanilla Vodka
1 oz Vodka

Shake with crushed ice and pour into cocktail glass rimmed with graham cracker crumbs.

You can purchase a pumpkin pie syrup if you wish – I find these to be vile, but I’m a huge flavor snob – YMMV

* Pumpkin Pie Spiced Syrup
——————————–
2 C Sugar
1 C Water
3 Cinnamon Sticks, broken
4 Cloves
2 Tbsp Allspice
1 Tbsp Nutmeg
3 oz Grated Fresh Ginger

Combine all ingredients in saucepan, slowly bring to boil. Gently boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let the mixture steep for at least 2 hours. Pour through mesh strainer and promptly refrigerate.

Ah, another nice weekend.

On Saturday, , Noel and I went to see The Nightmare Before Christmas in 3D. Superb. The 3D was not over-the-top, nor were there any added in-your-face gags. It was merely well-done and subtle. Being digital projection and 3D, I saw so many things I never before noticed in all my home-viewings. (I am assuming they were not added, which I suppose they could have been.) The mayor has painted fingernails, there are a bunch of penguins in Christmas town, etc. The movie is perfect.

Funny thing too, I remember 13 years ago (when and I were only a 6-month dating couple) playing hookey from Fullerton JC to hit the premiere at the El Capitan in Hollywood. H got her Jack cookie jar (that is currently on our Kitchen table), I think it was the first time Heather met my sister. Great fun was had in our usual L.A. style of Hollywood and Melrose. Thirteen years.

In other news I successfully made spiced syrup(s) this weekend – I made a cinnamon syrup and a ginger-clove-nutmeg-allspice syrup. I combined them together to make my own (real, with actual spices) Pumpkin Pie Syrup. I’m using it in drink recipes. I am almost near perfection on a Pumpkin Pie Martini for Cyn’s Birthday Party (and our own enjoyment). Yum. The syrup also works well in Tiki Drinks. It still has some particulate matter that I’d like to strain out, though. Perhaps I’ll processs it through some finer mesh. If that fails, I can always do cheesecloth (though that will likely be a huge mess).

Next weekend sees and moving up here to the great PNW. Hooray!

Ok, time to look at what I’m going to accomplish this week here at work. Ta!

So, we decided to TiVo* “Heroes” because I thought it looked interesting and it seems to be getting some traction in entertainment news.

Damn, does it suck. The writing is embarrassing. The acting is amateurish. Production values are nice, the Plot points would be fine if dealt with in a more talented way (Whedon, Abrams, etc.). It’s M. Night Shamalingadingdong-bad.

I watched the whole episode, but that’s it I’m afraid. Heidi Klum says “You’re Out!” of my TiVo line-up.

I didn’t really need another show besides LOST and BSG anyway.

Just embarrassing, I tell you.

—
*Yes, I’m using TiVo as a verb, so there.

The Mystery bowl at the Mai-Kai. Mysterious!