So many episodes, so little time.
I’ve never been much of a television watcher. I don’t like the idea of wasting copious amount of my life in front of the boob tube. That being said, I have enjoyed my fair share of shows over the years, despite not watching as much television as most folks. Almost every show I have been fond of has been comedic in nature. Notable exceptions being Jeopardy! and This American Life. If it involves crime scenes investigations, cheating spouses, singing high schoolers, or any combination thereof, I’m not interested. Don’t even get me started on the contemptible genre known as “reality” television.
Suffice to say, I have not been keeping up with the good shows on television for a long time now. There are shows that I want to get caught up on. The following are shows that I have seen, but not in their entirety:
Additionally, I’ve heard good things, from smart people, about various shows. If I’m going to watch television, it should be good, and so little of it seems so these days. Of course, my preferences aren’t quite the norm, either. These are the shows that I have not seen, but would like to check out.
And in case you’re curious, here is a sampling of my favorite shows over the years, with an emphasis on over the years. It appears as though I didn’t watch any television for 15+ years:
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Flight of the Conchords
- Cheers
- All in the Family
- The Cosby Show
- Are You Being Served?
- Three’s Company
- Night Court
- Frasier
- Mama’s Family
- Saved by the Bell
- Salute Your Shorts
- The Adventures of Pete & Pete
- Seinfeld
Book Review: The Final Solution
I came across this book during a recent trip to the beloved Recycle Bookstore, in San Jose. I had heard of Chabon’s more famous works, such as The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay and The Yiddish Policemen’s Union. However, I wasn’t in any hurry to read his work, since I had plenty else to read anyway. Then I came across this book, which was a new title to me, and short enough that I decided to give it a whirl. Perhaps it would serve as a good introduction to Chabon’s work.
I’m not sure if it served that purpose in the end, but I do know that I’m going to avoid anything by Chabon for the time being. Weighing in at a scant 131 pages, it seemed a good way to start off the new year. I could get in my first book of the year, and read a new author at the same time. In fact, I plowed through most of the book in a couple of days, and almost had it polished off within the first week of the year. However, I wasn’t enjoying it, and lost interest about thirty pages from the end. Then the book sat on my nightstand, and wasn’t picked up for another two weeks.
It’s supposed to be a lighthearted detective story, supposedly reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes. I am not much of a mystery person, so I won’t claim to have any significant amount of experience in this genre. I will, however, state that I think this could have been far more interesting and entertaining. The premise wasn’t the problem, but the storytelling was. This is a book I was glad to finish, only because it meant I could read something else.
Chabon seems to enjoy going off on tangents, talking about items that are of little to no significance to the story. For this reason, some of the book feels like filler, rather than actual story. Over-description is another annoyance with this book. While proper and thorough description is largely important in any story, Chabon doesn’t seem to know when to stop. Also, the sentences that go on and on are not only unnecessary, but obnoxious. Some of the sentences must have been in the forty to fifty word range. Ridiculous. Maybe the brevity of the story led the author to engage in the above writing behaviors, in order to lengthen it?
Some brief research on Chabon has indicated that his style of writing has changed over the years. Apparently, his earlier work can be classified as contemporary novels. Since then, he has taken to writing genre fiction, and he seeks to eliminate the bias against certain genres of fiction. The Final Solution was one of such latter works. I’m not sure what all of this means, except that it’s going to be a while before I give Chabon another chance, and it will likely be one of his earlier titles.
The Final Solution by Michael Chabon: 2/5
Should I Eat That? Ice Cream Edition.
I recently had the pleasure of making a nifty new friend. That person is none other than the lovely Zeena, who also happens to enjoy writing. Since we both enjoy writing, as well as eating ice cream and being silly, it seemed a good idea to combine these into an activity. We put our heads together and came up with the idea of reviewing ice cream. After the review session, we decided that expanding the idea to include other foods sounded equally fun. Without further ado, here is the first installment of our food review series, Should I Eat That?
Safeway’s Super Premium Blackberry Chocolate Cookie Swirl
Description: Delicate blackberry ice cream, swirled with a crumble of crunchy chocolate cookie.
Trevor: This is quite tasty. I wouldn’t have immediately thought of this flavor combination myself, but it works well. The cookie pieces are the right size, and the texture is just right. They aren’t too big or crunchy, and complement the smooth blackberry ice cream. However, while the flavor is delicious, it’s on the wimpy side. It’s clearly a blackberry flavor, which is good, but I do wish it had more potency.
Zeena: It reminds me of black forest cake, but in a good way. While I like it, I am getting a sense that it is the cookie that makes this particular flavor what it is. The flavor of the berry needs to be more enhanced. The blackberry takes the backseat a bit on this one.
Ben & Jerry’s Dublin Mudslide
Description: Irish Cream Liqueur with chocolate-chocolate chip cookie and a coffee fudge swirl.
Trevor: The description made it sounds delicious, but the truth was less pleasant. This ice cream is just too busy. While eating it, I kept referring back to the description, attempting to identify the flavors. There’s simply too many flavors happening at once. There’s not enough Irish cream flavor, and instead, you’re assaulted with chocolate. It’s not bad, but it’s definitely not a favorite. It would probably be better if it wasn’t trying to be so many things.
Zeena: If they had balanced the sweet with something that was perhaps more savory, maybe a nut, it might be a bigger hit for me. It’s chocolate overload, for something that’s not a chocolate ice cream. It needed something to provide a little bit of contrast. I understand it’s a “mudslide” but why coffee-fudge? Why not just coffee, since it already has chocolate chips and chocolate cookie in it?
Ciao Bella’s Blood Orange Sorbet
Description: Refreshing and overflowing with blood orange flavor, a perfectly balanced sweet and tart citrus fruit sensation.
Trevor: I’m a bigger fan of ice cream than sorbet, though I can also appreciate their tart deliciousness. I’ve had a variety of orange sorbets in my time, and this one doesn’t stand out. It just tastes like a standard orange sorbet, and while the flavor is certainly enjoyable, it’s not interesting or distinctive to me.
Zeena: It has a wonderful aftertaste—a tinge of tartness after the orange flavor subsides. This to me is the epitome of what a sorbet should be. I’m especially blown away by the texture of this one. I want to even say that the texture outweighs the taste. People should write literature about this texture.
Gelato Classico’s Crème Brulee Gelato
Description: Inspired by the dessert, Creme Brulee has a custard-like gelato with a swirl of burnt sugar. This all natural gelato has a taffy-like texture and intense flavor…almost too good to share!
Trevor: They didn’t take any risks with this flavor, and I’m not impressed. It’s an incredibly vague ice cream. It’s delightfully sweet at first, but I’m sure I would have grown tired of it quickly. The sweetness should have been toned down a little. I suppose it would be okay if you were just having a bit, but the flavor is still indistinct, and in the end, forgettable.
Zeena: This tastes way better than it looks! It’s so smooth that I could eat it all day. The creaminess really complements the sweet taste. However, it does taste like any other vanilla caramel ice cream, or a pralines and cream flavored ice cream. They almost had me. Taste-wise I could enjoy it, but you’re right—it’s forgettable.
Ben & Jerry’s Bonnaroo Buzz
Description: Coffee and malt ice creams with whiskey caramel swirls and English toffee pieces.
Trevor: Meh. This one won’t be on my shopping list again anytime soon. I had high hopes for it, given that I love coffee flavored things. I especially adore coffee ice cream to no end. While you can taste the coffee, it’s a strange flavor and seems as though it’s old or stale. I think it was ruined by the introduction of the malt flavor.
Zeena: This is….I can’t believe you. This is where we are divided. I can’t be with you on this one. I don’t understand you at all. The coffee and whiskey flavors are the perfect pairing. You can really taste the whiskey essence come through. And the technique in which the malt ice cream is layered on top of the coffee ice cream…it just folds together without tasting muddy. I’m taking this one home!
Bottom Line:
Trevor’s Pick: Safeway’s Super Premium Blackberry Chocolate Cookie Swirl
Zeena’s Pick: Ben & Jerry’s Bonnaroo Buzz
We hope you’ve enjoyed this tasty little diversion. Please let us know what you thought of this entry. We would like to conduct more food review sessions. If you have any fun ideas for foods to review, please let us know. Thanks!
Hitchcock would be proud.
My bedroom decor has been taking shape as of late. I’ve been meaning to make decorative changes to spice it up for some time, but just didn’t get around to it. The walls have been bare for a long time, and flair was desperately needed. I recently added a number of fowl shapes to my room to liven it up a bit. The main piece can be seen in the first photo.
This wall decal set was found at Target, and I’d link to it, but it seems to be missing from the website. It came with several extra birds, so I placed some on the wires, and the rest around the room. Now they are perched atop my light switches, closet, and mirrors. Oh, and I put up my Christmas lights, which will remain in place all year. I like to think of it as romantic mood lighting, though I’m likely alone in this.
More decor plans are under way, and I’ll be updating the blog as my bedroom evolves. I know you’re all just dying to find out what I do with my living space. Right?
Book Review: The Giver
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Normally, I wouldn’t be the type to read a book labeled as young adult fiction. However, it came highly recommended to me, along with a couple of others that fall under the same category. I checked it out on GoodReads and saw that it had very positive reviews. With less than 200 pages, why not give it a whirl?
I dropped by the library after class and picked up a copy. I read it in three sessions, over a period of three days. On that note, it was my first book where I used a neat new app called ReadMore. I look forward to using the app more to get a better look at my reading habits and pace. Anyway, onto the review.
It’s apparent from the beginning that this is a dystopian novel, which is another reason I was willing to check it out, as I’ve taken a liking to such works. The main character is Jonas, and he is nearly twelve years old in the beginning. He and his “family” live in an intensely structured place known as the Community. Their every need is taken care of, each decision made for them. Everyone’s life is planned out, and nobody stands out in any discernible way. Doing so would be considered inappropriate. There are no deep feelings, memories, anguish, or pain. Above all, there is no love. Their way of life is known as Sameness, and it is all they have ever known. The exception to this is the Giver, who holds the truth, in the form of memories. Jonas was chosen to replace the Giver, and thus his tutelage begins.
(Spoilers follow)
Spring 2012 courses.
I’m officially registered for classes next semester. Spring semester starts on January 25th, which will be beating on my door in no time. Given my difficulties, I reconsidered my schedule planning. Instead of four courses, I will be taking three, and all are in my major this time around.
Given that I’m receiving financial aid, in the form of federal loan money, I must retain my status as a full-time student. Thus, I cannot be registered for less than 12 units in a given semester. Well, each of my major courses is four units, so that works out nicely. Theoretically, the workload should be about the same, but arguably, one less class to focus on should make it more manageable. So, what am I taking?
Spring 2012, as it stands:
COMM 116P: Mediation: Theory and Practice
Theoretical background and communication skills training in Mediation Practice. Basic 40 hours of training includes readings, analysis and role plays as well as some observation.
COMM 133F: Ethical Problems in Communication
Examines current and historical theoretical approaches to ethical problems across communication contexts, including workplace, interpersonal, and mediated settings. Explores the role of cultural and societal practices in ethical communication.
COMM 169I: The Media: Response and Criticism
Examination of media as a locus of meaning making. Critical analysis of communication practices and content in a variety of venues, such as television, film, radio, social networking, and other sites of web-based communication.
An interesting tidbit about next semester’s schedule is how flexible it appears to be. This comes in the form of what looks like minimal physical classroom time. One starts early, to get it out of the way. Another is only once a week, in the evening, and is a hybrid course that meets online and in-class. The other class meeting time still says TBA, and the last this happened, it turned out to be a fully online course. I’m not the biggest fan of taking classes online, but I’ve done it before, and I can manage it again. Regardless of time spent on campus, it’s still 12 units, so I’ll have to make sure I’m keeping myself on track.
Goodbye Mazda.
I’m rolling around in a new whip these days. Not new from the factory, but new to me. As much I had come to love my Mazda, I needed a clean slate. Truth be told, I had my share of troubles with it. That’s not to say it was a complete headache of a car that was in the shop more than on the road. There were certain issues that would crop up though, and I had grown tired of putting money into fixing it, only to find there was still a problem. Granted, it was obviously a modified car, and I’ll never deny that. I’m quite sure that part of the blame can be attributed to me. However, how much is unknown, and I don’t care to know. It was becoming a liability, so I did what I needed to do.
I’m going to be a busy bee these next two semesters. Between, classes, internships, and my regular job, I’ll have a full plate. If at all possible, I’d like to avoid dealing with any car issues during this time. I need something affordable and reliable, with good gas mileage. The original plan was to get a new car, but more thought indicated that would be a foolish idea. About a year and a half from now, I’ll have to begin paying back my school loans. Do I really want to deal with two loans at once?
In the end, I procured a 2008 Nissan Sentra for a good price. I owed a little on the Mazda, so selling it private party wasn’t an option. Nonetheless, the Nissan was worth less than the Mazda. Thus, I have lowered my monthly car payment by $80, and should have the car paid off within a year. I hate silver cars, and unfortunately, ended up with a silver one. On the bright side, it’s got some features I like. It has actual alloy wheels, and not hubcaps, the bane of my existence. It’s smart key all around, so I can get in and out of the car and trunk, and start it, without ever taking the key out of my pocket. There’s are also the bluetooth, upgraded factory stereo, moonroof, and fog lights. In memory of the Mazda, I kept the “Zoom-Zoom” license plate frame and put it on the Nissan. Some of my Mazda pals were not amused by this.
Some have expressed dismay at this sudden move, questioning why I would swap a cool car for a frumpy one. The fact is that I don’t care about having a cool car at this point. I’m at a stage in my life where the economics of it all, and peace of mind, matter more than anything. I am not defined by what I drive, and as much as I like cars, having a cool one simply isn’t a priority now. Besides, the Nissan will give me more financial freedom in the end. There will always be time to have a cool car. You might consider it a downgrade, but I think simplification is a better term.
Since this is my sixth car, I thought it would be helpful to do a quick recap of my vehicular history. Here are the cars I’ve owned, in order of appearance, with links to photos:
1996 Honda Civic
2007 Toyota Corolla
2006 Lexus IS350
1995 Buick Century
2008 Mazda 3
2008 Nissan Sentra
Photo dump!
I was way behind on processing and posting photos from my various adventures. Well, I finally managed to go through and process them all, so it’s time to get them up on the blog. Rather than split them among several entries, I’m just lumping them all together in one big post. They include photos of San Francisco, SF Museum of Modern Art, a nature hike, Pescadero, Gilroy Garlic Festival, my car, and more. Hit the jump to see them all. Enjoy!
Free Hugs.
Image by See-ming Lee 李思明 SML via Flickr
Perhaps you’re familiar with the Free Hugs Campaign? If not, I’ll let you familiarize yourself with it by reading up on it at the link in the previous sentence.
I first saw the video that spurred the movement way back in 2006. The message was so simple, yet profound. Inspired, within days I had created my sign. Sadly, it took a long time before I finally got around to using it. Eventually, I dipped my toes in the water by holding up my sign on campus, during the rush between classes at West Valley. In the ten minutes of people scurrying all around me to their respective classes, I managed to give ten hugs. As I had expected, more women took up my offer than men. Three men and seven women was the official tally. People genuinely supported and appreciated what I was doing. I felt great afterward and looked forward to my next outing. However, it didn’t happen for a long time.
I really wanted to find a partner to give out hugs with. Ideally, a female, to even out the gender ratio and make people feel more comfortable. I talked about it to many friends, but while many liked the idea, the thought of them doing it was apparently out of the question. I had meant to do it again, bigger and better, at SJSU. The first two semesters went by, and it never happened. The third semester was rapidly approaching, and I didn’t want to let this one pass by too.
The plan was to stand in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, on the campus side, for an hour, on the first day of school. I was going to have a friend sitting in the vicinity, keeping watch over my camera, as it captured photos. That’s right: there was even going to be a time lapse video of my free hugs adventure. The “event” was going to be broadcast on Facebook, allowing the word to spread and giving people the opportunity to RSVP.
Unfortunately, I executed my plans poorly. I didn’t have the neutral density filters in the size I needed, so the time lapse video wasn’t possible. I didn’t make the Facebook event until the night before, giving very little time for it to be of much use. Once the time came, I found that the flow of people in front of the library was not as significant as I had expected. Jatinder had come along to hold my things, as well as watch and keep tally of the hugs. I got started about fifteen minutes late, and ended up standing in front of Clark Hall instead. We posted this to the event’s wall, but it was unlikely that people would see it by that point. Sure enough, some people I know showed up at the library for a hug, but I wasn’t there.
Despite being out there for around 45 minutes, I only gave out 16 hugs. This was a far cry from the hug-a-minute rate that occurred at West Valley. What I found especially surprising was the difference in gender ratio. Eleven men, and only five women. I’m not about to analyze this information to death, but rather, just find it interesting to make note of.
I can only blame myself for the poor planning and execution of this event. I was anxious to finally get out there and do it again, but in my haste, didn’t think everything through. I will plan the next event better. I am scoping out good spots on campus, have ordered the filters I need to make the video, and will try to post the next Facebook event a week in advance. Now, if only I could find someone else to do this with me. I do have an extra sign, after all…
Panorama photos.
Recently, I prattled on about the features of my new little camera. However, I have not been able to showcase any of the photos taken with it. I’ve used it on recent adventures with Jatinder, and now I’m quite behind on processing all the photos. We’ve been to the Gilroy Garlic Festival and took a trip to San Francisco. There’s also some experimental panorama photos taken on campus. I’d rather have them all processed and organized by adventure, but it’s not going to happen. Instead, I’m just going to show the panorama photos I’ve captured. As I make my way through all the rest, I’ll post them.
In unrelated news, I’ve changed the layout and title of the blog. I hope you like it as much as I do.
