After watching ABC’s Primetime hour about Bob Woodruff, I realized that this story was not just about Bob Woodruff and the horrible thing that happened to him on that day in Iraq.
I watched the program, taping it at the same time. When it was over, I watched it again. I plan to watch it again today. For the benefit of anyone who didn’t see the report, it was quite different than I had anticipated. Although the first half hour was dedicated to documenting the IED explosion that injured him and his cameraman, and the subsequent miracle about his *ongoing* recovery...the story goes much deeper than that. The story is about something called T.B.I., Traumatic Brain Injury, specifically in our returning soldiers from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat areas who are experiencing the effects of this.
Most of the program concerned our troops who have experienced this kind of injury. Although T.B.I. is a relatively common injury in civilian life resulting from falls, traffic accidents, and assaults...the focus of the Bob Woodruff story is about combat-related head injuries. And herein lies what viewers should take away from that Primetime report called Bob Woodruff: To Irag and Back.
The medical treatment that soldiers receive now, compared to World War II, Korea, or even Vietnam is so much more advanced. These advancements have enabled a higher percentage of wounded soldiers to survive their injuries and return home. But, it has also made the medical community more aware of the issues surrounding T.B.I. Many traumatic brain injuries that used to be fatal are now survivable...but then what? Woodruff’s story centers on American soldiers and their challenges after surviving these injuries.
The personal feelings and emotions I felt during and after the program are mixed. On one end, I felt inspired. On the other end, I felt guilty. And this strange feeling of guilt is something I have carried with me since I returned from duty in the armed forces in 1973...that included a tour in Vietnam. Why guilt? Maybe it was because I came back uninjured, physically whole. Even though I also returned with three combat air medals and an array of other Vietnam era awards, perhaps I didn’t sacrifice enough...perhaps I should be more grateful. I don’t know. I was so fortunate to get through all of that unscathed. And as I watched that Bob Woodruff program last night, seeing a few of the brain-injured and physically (and mentally) maimed soldiers...it lead me to tears. It’s difficult to explain to anyone who hasn’t been personally touched by the trauma of war and combat. Most of my tears were for the plight of these forgotten victims of this military-industrial conflict going on, again, half a world away.
The general public does not want to see this part of what’s going on over there. To most of us, it’s just numbers. But to the soldiers themselves and their families, it is a daily challenge. A challenge to get out of bed (if they are able)...a challenge to feed themselves...a challenge to speak...a challenge to simply go on.
One of the soldiers interviewed last night said it all. This young man was shot in the head, and survived his injuries. And when Woodruff asked him about his feelings now, he said very confidently with a slight smile on his face, “It sucks!”
If you missed the program last night, you can watch it again on line at ABC.com. There have been other documentaries of late about the war in Iraq including one on HBO about the trauma centers there. It’s not for the faint of heart or squeamish. But it is something everyone should see.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The Rain, the Park, and Other Things...
As I sit here in front of my computer editing some old photographs, a new round of storm clouds have darkened the skies around the Central Valley. It’s about 3:30 in the afternoon, and the billowy white clouds and deep blue sunshine from earlier today are giving way to a dark blue, almost black firmament. I can see the rain coming down just a few miles to the west of us...it will be here soon.
My new favorite website is displayed directly under this Appleworks page. It’s a live webcam from Ahwanee Meadow, aimed directly at Half Dome in Yosemite. Although this webcam image is in color, there is no color displayed right now. There is the white, snowy meadow just below the pine forest at the base of the granite monument. The top of Half Dome itself is completely obscured by a thick blanket of grayish clouds. It will be snowing at the top shortly I’m sure. The temperature there is 38 degrees at Yosemite Village. It’s much colder farther up the mountain, 27 degrees and snowing according to the webcam broadcasting images from there. This is a photo I took from the Ahwahnee Meadow area last Spring. Click here to see the same view from that live webcam.
I never really used to care about the weather forecast growing up in Southern California. The San Fernando Valley is really a moderate desert, not too hot or too cold. The temperate climate of the L.A. basin rarely gets very extreme in either direction. Winters can get a bit rainy as the Pacific Ocean is right over the Santa Monica Mountains from where I grew up. Summers are mild, but can get hot on occasion. We were raised in a house with a swimming pool. The Mojave Desert proper is just a half hour drive or so east.
But, living up here in the Central Valley of Northern California, I’ve just become more aware of what mother nature has in store for us. San Francisco is just 70 miles west of here. Lake Tahoe is 150 miles northeast. The Sierra Nevada itself...only a hour or so east. So, I’m more aware of the weather forecast now. Not that the forecast is ever very accurate. The T.V. weather people around here tend to predict rain and snow much more than it actually happens. Better to be safe than sorry I suppose.
They closed Highways 80 and 50 last night for a few hours during the worst of that storm. Those are the roads leading to Tahoe and Reno, up and over the summit. Truckers, and skiers, and commuters either turned back toward Sacramento, or spent the night in their vehicles on the side of the road. Cal Trans managed to get those thoroughfares open again in short order...life went on through the mountain passes. The storm that is passing over us here in the valley this afternoon will reach the mountains by tonight. The ski resorts are elated about the new snow, although none of them were able to open yesterday because of the severity of the snow storm...white-out conditions, road closures, etc.
So, I’m checking the extended forecast for Yosemite Village the next few days. They’re expecting a few days of rain down in the valley, snow on the peaks. Next week, it is supposed to clear up, giving way to cloudy skies with high temperatures in the mid-60’s in Yosemite. It’s open to vehicle traffic all year, except during severe storms. Loretta and I will plan a day trip there on Monday. We haven’t been there since last Spring.
In the meantime, I check the live webcams for Yosemite most every day now. It’s very surreal looking at real time, live images from Ansel Adam’s stomping ground. I can’t imagine what he must have had to endure getting his photographs in the 1920’s. Our journey in the Grand Cherokee will be much easier...and faster.
It’s raining now. This brief period of blue skies and high, billowy clouds has ended for the time being. Our little Boxer, Lucy, and our long and lanky Greyhound, Sammy are sleeping on our bed just a few feet away. They don’t care about the weather today...or what it will be like on Monday in Yosemite. All our dogs do require a bit more persuasion to go outside when it’s too cold, or too wet, or too hot outside. That’s just the way we raised them. They’re spoiled. Just like we are.
If I had to choose between Winter and Summer...I would probably choose Winter here in the San Joaquin Valley. It’s much easier to get warm when it’s cold outside, then to get cool when it’s sweltering. When we finally make a move back to the coast, Monterey or San Francisco our locales of choice...Summers will be preferred. It’s always mild, and mostly sunny near the Northern California coast that time of year.
That reminds me, I should give a look to that Monterey Bay Aquarium webcam as well. They have them everywhere!
My new favorite website is displayed directly under this Appleworks page. It’s a live webcam from Ahwanee Meadow, aimed directly at Half Dome in Yosemite. Although this webcam image is in color, there is no color displayed right now. There is the white, snowy meadow just below the pine forest at the base of the granite monument. The top of Half Dome itself is completely obscured by a thick blanket of grayish clouds. It will be snowing at the top shortly I’m sure. The temperature there is 38 degrees at Yosemite Village. It’s much colder farther up the mountain, 27 degrees and snowing according to the webcam broadcasting images from there. This is a photo I took from the Ahwahnee Meadow area last Spring. Click here to see the same view from that live webcam.
I never really used to care about the weather forecast growing up in Southern California. The San Fernando Valley is really a moderate desert, not too hot or too cold. The temperate climate of the L.A. basin rarely gets very extreme in either direction. Winters can get a bit rainy as the Pacific Ocean is right over the Santa Monica Mountains from where I grew up. Summers are mild, but can get hot on occasion. We were raised in a house with a swimming pool. The Mojave Desert proper is just a half hour drive or so east.But, living up here in the Central Valley of Northern California, I’ve just become more aware of what mother nature has in store for us. San Francisco is just 70 miles west of here. Lake Tahoe is 150 miles northeast. The Sierra Nevada itself...only a hour or so east. So, I’m more aware of the weather forecast now. Not that the forecast is ever very accurate. The T.V. weather people around here tend to predict rain and snow much more than it actually happens. Better to be safe than sorry I suppose.
They closed Highways 80 and 50 last night for a few hours during the worst of that storm. Those are the roads leading to Tahoe and Reno, up and over the summit. Truckers, and skiers, and commuters either turned back toward Sacramento, or spent the night in their vehicles on the side of the road. Cal Trans managed to get those thoroughfares open again in short order...life went on through the mountain passes. The storm that is passing over us here in the valley this afternoon will reach the mountains by tonight. The ski resorts are elated about the new snow, although none of them were able to open yesterday because of the severity of the snow storm...white-out conditions, road closures, etc.
So, I’m checking the extended forecast for Yosemite Village the next few days. They’re expecting a few days of rain down in the valley, snow on the peaks. Next week, it is supposed to clear up, giving way to cloudy skies with high temperatures in the mid-60’s in Yosemite. It’s open to vehicle traffic all year, except during severe storms. Loretta and I will plan a day trip there on Monday. We haven’t been there since last Spring.
In the meantime, I check the live webcams for Yosemite most every day now. It’s very surreal looking at real time, live images from Ansel Adam’s stomping ground. I can’t imagine what he must have had to endure getting his photographs in the 1920’s. Our journey in the Grand Cherokee will be much easier...and faster.
It’s raining now. This brief period of blue skies and high, billowy clouds has ended for the time being. Our little Boxer, Lucy, and our long and lanky Greyhound, Sammy are sleeping on our bed just a few feet away. They don’t care about the weather today...or what it will be like on Monday in Yosemite. All our dogs do require a bit more persuasion to go outside when it’s too cold, or too wet, or too hot outside. That’s just the way we raised them. They’re spoiled. Just like we are.
If I had to choose between Winter and Summer...I would probably choose Winter here in the San Joaquin Valley. It’s much easier to get warm when it’s cold outside, then to get cool when it’s sweltering. When we finally make a move back to the coast, Monterey or San Francisco our locales of choice...Summers will be preferred. It’s always mild, and mostly sunny near the Northern California coast that time of year.
That reminds me, I should give a look to that Monterey Bay Aquarium webcam as well. They have them everywhere!
The Heartbreak of C.R.S.S.: It happens to the best of us.
I can’t remember when I first heard someone say that they had C.R.S. Of course, that goes without saying since C.R.S. stands for Can’t Remember Shit*. It’s a somewhat whimsical condition, usually associated with getting older whereby one cannot remember what happened five minutes ago, but can describe in great detail little things that happened many years or even decades ago.
I feel the actual medical term for this malady of memory should more accurately be C.R.S.S., the Can’t Remember Shit Syndrome, since C.R.S. also stands for everything from Catholic Relief Services to the Congressional Research Service to the Center for Resource Solutions. In addition, a syndrome refers to several signs or symptoms occuring together. More on the other symptoms of C.R.S.S. in a moment.
And of course C.R.S.S. is not soly a human condition. In fact, I am quite sure that it may have been initially identified as something shared by all canines. Dogs are the creatures that pretty much corner the market on this. How many times a day does your dog walk into a room, stand there for a moment with a confused look on its face, then turn around and go right back to where it was laying? Fido has no idea, or simply can’t remember, why he got up from his nap in the first place. Our greyhound, Sammy, has it bad. He will wander into the living room (from his perpetual resting place on our bed) and stand between us and the plasma...and just stare at us. The interval of time between his arrival and departure can last anywhere between a few seconds and several minutes. Fortunately, we took this into account when purchasing our latest TV stand. I had to place the television high enough to keep him from blocking our view (greyhounds are quite tall). Unfortunately, the cable box is much lower. So when Sammy does stand there in a stupor (which can occur many times during an evening), the remote doesn’t work!
Some of the other human signs that may indicate one has C.R.S.S. are , the blank stare, the furrowing of the brow, and the scratching on one’s head with one hand while placing the other hand on one’s hip. This is usually followed by turning one’s head around, in the direction from where one came...then a retracing of one’s footsteps leading up to the “attack” of C.R.S.S., in a attempt to jog the memory as to why one found oneself in that room or location in the first place. My R.S.R. (Recovery Success Rate) from a C.R.S.S. attack is about 50%. I have no research indicating what the average “norm” is on R.S.R., but I will look into it.
Take care not to misdiagnose C.R.S.S. One must be careful not to confuse it with some other common societal, and exclusively human, conditions with similar symptoms. One such malady is called S.H.M.S., or Selective Hearing Malfunction Syndrome. This occurs mainly in husbands while their wives are speaking to them about something the husband has no interest. For example...
Wife: “Honey, I had a lousy day at work today”
Husband: (Watching a ball game on T.V. or reading the newspaper) “Yes, dear”
Wife: “Yeah, you wanna hear about it?”
Husband: “Yes, dear”
Wife: “A homicidal maniac came into our office and beheaded all of us with a chainsaw”
Husband: “Oh, yeah? That’s nice, dear”
Wife: “On top of that...he followed me home”
Husband: “Hmmm. Wow!”
Wife: “In fact, he is standing right here in the kitchen with me now”
Husband: “That’s great!”
Wife: “Shall we invite him for dinner?”
Husband: “Yes...dear”
This husband’s S.H.S. was triggered by the first line in the conversation. But may have in fact been active the moment his wife walked in the door. Sadly, S.H.S. may be a genetic trait present in all males from birth. Females can have it as well, but that is not as common.
Females are more susceptible to R.T.T.S....the Resort To Tears Syndrome. Which, by the way, often occurs in women after a particularly severe attack of C.R.S.S. A related condition in males called L.U.O.T.F., Liberal Use Of The F-Word can occur after a C.R.S.S. attack in them.
My latest attack of C.R.S.S. came at the supermarket last week. I couldn’t remember my PIN at the check stand! The same PIN I’ve had for eight years and use almost every day. It was not only embarrasing, it was quite disturbing and bothered me the remainer of the day.
Don’t dismay if you are experiencing C.R.S.S. it happens to all of us, young and old. If you are middle-aged or older, feel comfortable that you may be past the age at which C.R.S.Y.C.S. happens, Can’t Remember Shit and You’re Clueless Syndrome, will arise. This can be quite common for people under the age of 30...but not always.
I personally won’t start worrying about this syndrome until I start walking into a room, not remembering why I went in there, and find myself standing in front of the television...on all fours. Then, I may call someone.
For some reason, I can't remember the point of this blog!
*For the salty-language-sensitive: substitute the word stuff.
I feel the actual medical term for this malady of memory should more accurately be C.R.S.S., the Can’t Remember Shit Syndrome, since C.R.S. also stands for everything from Catholic Relief Services to the Congressional Research Service to the Center for Resource Solutions. In addition, a syndrome refers to several signs or symptoms occuring together. More on the other symptoms of C.R.S.S. in a moment.
And of course C.R.S.S. is not soly a human condition. In fact, I am quite sure that it may have been initially identified as something shared by all canines. Dogs are the creatures that pretty much corner the market on this. How many times a day does your dog walk into a room, stand there for a moment with a confused look on its face, then turn around and go right back to where it was laying? Fido has no idea, or simply can’t remember, why he got up from his nap in the first place. Our greyhound, Sammy, has it bad. He will wander into the living room (from his perpetual resting place on our bed) and stand between us and the plasma...and just stare at us. The interval of time between his arrival and departure can last anywhere between a few seconds and several minutes. Fortunately, we took this into account when purchasing our latest TV stand. I had to place the television high enough to keep him from blocking our view (greyhounds are quite tall). Unfortunately, the cable box is much lower. So when Sammy does stand there in a stupor (which can occur many times during an evening), the remote doesn’t work!
Some of the other human signs that may indicate one has C.R.S.S. are , the blank stare, the furrowing of the brow, and the scratching on one’s head with one hand while placing the other hand on one’s hip. This is usually followed by turning one’s head around, in the direction from where one came...then a retracing of one’s footsteps leading up to the “attack” of C.R.S.S., in a attempt to jog the memory as to why one found oneself in that room or location in the first place. My R.S.R. (Recovery Success Rate) from a C.R.S.S. attack is about 50%. I have no research indicating what the average “norm” is on R.S.R., but I will look into it.
Take care not to misdiagnose C.R.S.S. One must be careful not to confuse it with some other common societal, and exclusively human, conditions with similar symptoms. One such malady is called S.H.M.S., or Selective Hearing Malfunction Syndrome. This occurs mainly in husbands while their wives are speaking to them about something the husband has no interest. For example...
Wife: “Honey, I had a lousy day at work today”
Husband: (Watching a ball game on T.V. or reading the newspaper) “Yes, dear”
Wife: “Yeah, you wanna hear about it?”
Husband: “Yes, dear”
Wife: “A homicidal maniac came into our office and beheaded all of us with a chainsaw”
Husband: “Oh, yeah? That’s nice, dear”
Wife: “On top of that...he followed me home”
Husband: “Hmmm. Wow!”
Wife: “In fact, he is standing right here in the kitchen with me now”
Husband: “That’s great!”
Wife: “Shall we invite him for dinner?”
Husband: “Yes...dear”
This husband’s S.H.S. was triggered by the first line in the conversation. But may have in fact been active the moment his wife walked in the door. Sadly, S.H.S. may be a genetic trait present in all males from birth. Females can have it as well, but that is not as common.
Females are more susceptible to R.T.T.S....the Resort To Tears Syndrome. Which, by the way, often occurs in women after a particularly severe attack of C.R.S.S. A related condition in males called L.U.O.T.F., Liberal Use Of The F-Word can occur after a C.R.S.S. attack in them.
My latest attack of C.R.S.S. came at the supermarket last week. I couldn’t remember my PIN at the check stand! The same PIN I’ve had for eight years and use almost every day. It was not only embarrasing, it was quite disturbing and bothered me the remainer of the day.
Don’t dismay if you are experiencing C.R.S.S. it happens to all of us, young and old. If you are middle-aged or older, feel comfortable that you may be past the age at which C.R.S.Y.C.S. happens, Can’t Remember Shit and You’re Clueless Syndrome, will arise. This can be quite common for people under the age of 30...but not always.
I personally won’t start worrying about this syndrome until I start walking into a room, not remembering why I went in there, and find myself standing in front of the television...on all fours. Then, I may call someone.
For some reason, I can't remember the point of this blog!
*For the salty-language-sensitive: substitute the word stuff.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Our Oscar Party "A" List...we are the Party Nazis!
I don’t think a year has gone by when I didn’t tune in to the Oscars for at least a look or two. As I have mentioned in a previous blog post, I’m not that into watching Hollywood-ish awards shows, ie, the Grammy's, the Golden Globes, the People’s Choice Awards. Although this year I did watch the Grammy's a few weeks ago.
So, Loretta and I planned to watch the Oscars, aka, the Academy Awards. In fact, we even invited over a couple of friends, and I planned to whip up some special “Oscar” snacks, ie, Hot Wings, Chips and Guacamole, Mozzarella-stuffed Taquitos, a 12-pack of Tecate...just some fun, fattening fair to make this occasion a bit more, well, special. After all, like other events such as The Super Bowl, it’s the party, the food, the banter, and the socialization that makes the show interesting...right?
Well, the people we invited over told us that a little “Oscar Party” sounded like fun, “Sure, that’s sounds like fun!” was their exact response, “What time shall we be there? Do you want us to bring anything?” “You don't need to bring anything, I’ll take care of the food and drink", I said, “The pre-Oscar show starts at 5:30...why don’t you get here by 5:30?”
Our guests flaked (again). And since we had invited people who hadn’t ever been invited to our house for dinner or other party-type happening previously, those people are now on our “B” list...one step away from the dreaded “C” list.
Here is how this list works. Everyone we meet and feel might be someone to invite over for dinner, a party, or other social gathering starts out on the “A” list. Any potential invitee who is “invitation worthy” gets the benefit of the doubt at the outset. “Hey, honey”, I exclaim, “they would be fun to have over sometime!” Loretta and I like to entertain, we’ve always had small dinner parties throughout the year as well as a bigger seasonal party or BBQ or three. We’re certainly not party animals or social butterflies...we just enjoy having folks over once in a while. And, I have a lot of fun planning and cooking for these things. I am the social director for this fun-loving twosome called “Skip and Loretta”.
So, how does one get on the “B” list or (worse) the “C” list? It’s simple. If someone expresses an interest in “getting together sometime”...we extend an invitation. If they refuse an invitation two times, they are moved from the “A” list to the “B” list. If they refuse three times, they are now on the “C” list. If they “flake” once, ie, accept an invitation then don’t show up once, it’s onto the “C” list, thus moving from the “A” list directly to the “C” list...otherwise known as “The Waste of Time List”. You’re done! You’re outta here! No invitations for you for two years!
Yes...we have become the “Party Nazis”. We are the Modesto equivalent of that outrageous, iconic soup kitchen owner of Seinfeld fame. When it comes to planned socializing at “Casa de Skip and Loretta”, we don’t take any crap any longer!
I was recently reading an article about entertaining, especially bigger gatherings. The writer advised that party planners should count on about 20-30% of their confirmed guests not showing up. You would use this theory to determine the amount of food and drink to have on hand. With larger parties, people (in general) seem to think that they won’t be missed if they simply don’t show up. We’re talking bashes with 30 or more invited. To me, this is totally unacceptable! I remember having parties years ago, and the rule of thumb was “Plan on 15 to 20% more than you invited”. And you know what? That’s exactly what happened. I was always paranoid that I would not have enough food or drink. And you know what else? More often than not, that was the case. And you know why? Because more people showed up at, or “crashed” , the party than you originally invited.
So, with all of this mind...what conclusion should I come to regarding our parties, and/or our social standing?
1. Our parties stink!
2. We stink!
3. People stink!
4. At 57 years old, I am still painfully naive about a lot of things in life (a given).
5. Times have changed (a given), ie, common courtesy, manners, drinking and driving laws. Refer back to number 4.
6. I’m living in a fantasy world (a given).
7. I’m too sensitive (a given).
8. I’m inviting the wrong people. Find some new friends.
9. I should stop inviting people over. This is actually what has happened the past two years or so. Our social gatherings have dwindled considerably.
10. I should stop obsessing over this sign of the times!
Just a few years ago, we put together a “Dinner Club” of sorts. It consisted of about 8 couples we knew who were interested in getting together for dinner once a month. Each couple would plan on having all of us over at their house for a themed dinner party. In the six months this Dinner Club was in existence, it was at our house twice, and at another couple’s house once. The other three months, it didn’t happen, ie, the scheduled couples flaked at the last minute! They didn’t offer to change the date, they just canceled at the last moment. Our Dinner Club faded into nonexistence. Unfortunately, half of those couple are now divorced and/or have moved away. The others don’t seem interested any longer...and, by the way, have become permanent residents on our “B” or “C” lists.
Back to the Oscars. I actually picked the Top 6 winners. The Departed (Best Picture), Martin Scorsese (Best Director, The Departed), Forrest Whittaker (Best Actor, The Last King of Scotland), Helen Mirren (Best Actress, The Queen), Alan Arkin (Best Supporting Actor, Little Miss Sunshine), Jennifer Hudson (Best Supporting Actress, Dreamgirls). Ellen DeGeneres was mildly entertaining as the host. No one will ever top the Johnny Carson years. The highlight was a little song and dance number performed by Jack Black, Will Ferrell, and John C. Riley about comedic actors not getting the recognition they deserve. It was a crackup. The low light was a boring, drawn out montage of foreign films past and present. The two most poignant parts of the broadcast were Forrest Whittaker’s heartfelt acceptance speech, and the tribute they always offer about movie industry icons who passed away during the previous year.
Our little Oscar “party” was very enjoyable with just the two of us...so be it. I think the whole Academy Awards extravaganza can be summed up in the words of my best friend. He called me from Albuquerque during the middle of the show. “Yeah, I’m watching it”, he said, “ it’s on with the volume turned off while I’m cleaning the baseboards in my kitchen.”
So, Loretta and I planned to watch the Oscars, aka, the Academy Awards. In fact, we even invited over a couple of friends, and I planned to whip up some special “Oscar” snacks, ie, Hot Wings, Chips and Guacamole, Mozzarella-stuffed Taquitos, a 12-pack of Tecate...just some fun, fattening fair to make this occasion a bit more, well, special. After all, like other events such as The Super Bowl, it’s the party, the food, the banter, and the socialization that makes the show interesting...right?
Well, the people we invited over told us that a little “Oscar Party” sounded like fun, “Sure, that’s sounds like fun!” was their exact response, “What time shall we be there? Do you want us to bring anything?” “You don't need to bring anything, I’ll take care of the food and drink", I said, “The pre-Oscar show starts at 5:30...why don’t you get here by 5:30?”
Our guests flaked (again). And since we had invited people who hadn’t ever been invited to our house for dinner or other party-type happening previously, those people are now on our “B” list...one step away from the dreaded “C” list.
Here is how this list works. Everyone we meet and feel might be someone to invite over for dinner, a party, or other social gathering starts out on the “A” list. Any potential invitee who is “invitation worthy” gets the benefit of the doubt at the outset. “Hey, honey”, I exclaim, “they would be fun to have over sometime!” Loretta and I like to entertain, we’ve always had small dinner parties throughout the year as well as a bigger seasonal party or BBQ or three. We’re certainly not party animals or social butterflies...we just enjoy having folks over once in a while. And, I have a lot of fun planning and cooking for these things. I am the social director for this fun-loving twosome called “Skip and Loretta”.
So, how does one get on the “B” list or (worse) the “C” list? It’s simple. If someone expresses an interest in “getting together sometime”...we extend an invitation. If they refuse an invitation two times, they are moved from the “A” list to the “B” list. If they refuse three times, they are now on the “C” list. If they “flake” once, ie, accept an invitation then don’t show up once, it’s onto the “C” list, thus moving from the “A” list directly to the “C” list...otherwise known as “The Waste of Time List”. You’re done! You’re outta here! No invitations for you for two years!
Yes...we have become the “Party Nazis”. We are the Modesto equivalent of that outrageous, iconic soup kitchen owner of Seinfeld fame. When it comes to planned socializing at “Casa de Skip and Loretta”, we don’t take any crap any longer!
I was recently reading an article about entertaining, especially bigger gatherings. The writer advised that party planners should count on about 20-30% of their confirmed guests not showing up. You would use this theory to determine the amount of food and drink to have on hand. With larger parties, people (in general) seem to think that they won’t be missed if they simply don’t show up. We’re talking bashes with 30 or more invited. To me, this is totally unacceptable! I remember having parties years ago, and the rule of thumb was “Plan on 15 to 20% more than you invited”. And you know what? That’s exactly what happened. I was always paranoid that I would not have enough food or drink. And you know what else? More often than not, that was the case. And you know why? Because more people showed up at, or “crashed” , the party than you originally invited.
So, with all of this mind...what conclusion should I come to regarding our parties, and/or our social standing?
1. Our parties stink!
2. We stink!
3. People stink!
4. At 57 years old, I am still painfully naive about a lot of things in life (a given).
5. Times have changed (a given), ie, common courtesy, manners, drinking and driving laws. Refer back to number 4.
6. I’m living in a fantasy world (a given).
7. I’m too sensitive (a given).
8. I’m inviting the wrong people. Find some new friends.
9. I should stop inviting people over. This is actually what has happened the past two years or so. Our social gatherings have dwindled considerably.
10. I should stop obsessing over this sign of the times!
Just a few years ago, we put together a “Dinner Club” of sorts. It consisted of about 8 couples we knew who were interested in getting together for dinner once a month. Each couple would plan on having all of us over at their house for a themed dinner party. In the six months this Dinner Club was in existence, it was at our house twice, and at another couple’s house once. The other three months, it didn’t happen, ie, the scheduled couples flaked at the last minute! They didn’t offer to change the date, they just canceled at the last moment. Our Dinner Club faded into nonexistence. Unfortunately, half of those couple are now divorced and/or have moved away. The others don’t seem interested any longer...and, by the way, have become permanent residents on our “B” or “C” lists.
Back to the Oscars. I actually picked the Top 6 winners. The Departed (Best Picture), Martin Scorsese (Best Director, The Departed), Forrest Whittaker (Best Actor, The Last King of Scotland), Helen Mirren (Best Actress, The Queen), Alan Arkin (Best Supporting Actor, Little Miss Sunshine), Jennifer Hudson (Best Supporting Actress, Dreamgirls). Ellen DeGeneres was mildly entertaining as the host. No one will ever top the Johnny Carson years. The highlight was a little song and dance number performed by Jack Black, Will Ferrell, and John C. Riley about comedic actors not getting the recognition they deserve. It was a crackup. The low light was a boring, drawn out montage of foreign films past and present. The two most poignant parts of the broadcast were Forrest Whittaker’s heartfelt acceptance speech, and the tribute they always offer about movie industry icons who passed away during the previous year.
Our little Oscar “party” was very enjoyable with just the two of us...so be it. I think the whole Academy Awards extravaganza can be summed up in the words of my best friend. He called me from Albuquerque during the middle of the show. “Yeah, I’m watching it”, he said, “ it’s on with the volume turned off while I’m cleaning the baseboards in my kitchen.”
Friday, February 23, 2007
Baja Style Crispy Fish Tacos
We’re talkin’ goooooood stuff here! It ain’t diet food...but you could do worse.
Let me tell you this at the outset. I have never been to Baja, Mexico. Not that I wouldn’t want to go there someday, I just haven’t been yet. True aficionados of “real” Baja food may want to get in my face and say, “That isn’t Baja food. You don’t know what you’re talking about, dude!” Maybe so. So, here is my disclaimer: "What’s your point, dude?” I've had fish tacos in dozens of restaurants and in several countries in my life...this is how I like them. You can find as many taco recipes as there are cooks who make them. But here is my little lesson in taco-making that may prevent you from visiting Taco Bell or Del Taco ever again.
Whatever fillings you decide to put in your homemade tacos...fry your own taco shells. Those pre-made things found in the grocery store aren’t worth the effort, especially if you are putting all that work into what goes into them. Besides, half of the shells are cracked and broken by the time you get them home.
Starting with the tortillas themselves, I buy small (6 inch) Mission brand White Corn Tortillas. The 36-count package runs about $1.30 and comes in a plastic bag sealed with a twist tie. You’ll pay more than that for the 12-count tortillas in one of those fancy-dancy resealable bags. You can freeze them, but make sure the bag is sealed tightly and try to use them within a couple of weeks or they will get a nasty, freezer-burn taste.
Here’s are two ways to prepare the white corn tortillas for tacos. Traditionally, Mexican cooks grilled them on a hot, flat grill “seasoned” with a little oil. Cook them until they begin to curl a bit, flipping them a couple of times. Try not to get them crisp on a flat grill, it will make them tough and also prevent you from folding them when the time comes. They should still be pliable. Store them between clean kitchen towels in a warm oven until ready to fill.
The other way to prepare them (the method I prefer) is in hot oil...fried, if you will. In a good, heavy-bottomed pan, heat about 1/2 inch of good, clean canola or peanut oil until just before it begins to smoke (about 375 degrees). Using tongs, fry them one at a time about 20 seconds on each side...longer if you want them crispy. The key to crispy, folded tacos is making sure you fold them before they get crisp. Remove from the oil, and drain the tortillas on a paper towel lined plate, standing them up like pup tents. It may seem a bit tedious this way, ie, don’t walk away from a tortilla in hot oil, but the results are worth it. A couple of tips: Make sure the oil is hot enough before frying your first tortilla. If if isn’t hot enough, it will just soak up the oil and take too long to cook. Keep the tortillas in the fridge (cold) until just before you cook them. They just come out better that way. And, hold the crispy fried tortillas on that paper towel lined plate in the oven, uncovered. They should stay nice and fresh and crispy for 30 minutes or so. After that amount of time, they will begin to get tough.
For my Baja Style Crispy Fish Tacos...you can use any mild, firm white fish like Cod. In recent years, I have preferred a fish called Basa (sometimes called Tra). This is a farm-raised species of catfish found in Southeast Asia, specifically, the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. You can use American-raised catfish fillets as well, but Basa is very mild, firm, and sometimes less expensive than other available white fleshed fish. Many cooks will tell you the preferred fish for Baja Tacos is Mahi Mahi, called Dorado in Mexico. Dorado is wonderful for this application, especially if you are going to grill the fish. But it is quite a bit more expensive. Fish species preferences aside...here’s the plan.
Start by cutting your fish filets into 1/2 inch wide pieces, about 3 inches long each. If you are doing this ahead, keep them in the refrigerator until time to cook. Also, make sure the pieces are dry, dab them with a paper towel. If they are wet with water when you coat them, the egg wash and bread crumbs won’t stick. Wet pieces of fish are even worse if you are using a tempura style batter. Here is what I used for the Crispy Fish Tacos in the photos.
The Coating:
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs
Salt & Pepper
My Special Seasoning
Chipotle-Lime Crema:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 chipotle peppers (canned, in adobo sauce), diced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt & freshly ground pepper
The other stuff:
1/2 pound of Basa, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, Cod, Halibut, or other firm white fish
6 white corn tortillas (6 inch size)
Canola oil or Peanut oil
2 cups shredded green cabbage
1/2 cup diced white onion
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped or chiffonade
Fresh lime wedges
For the Chipotle-Lime Crema, simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
For frying the fish, season the Panko crumbs with salt & pepper and place in a large, flat bowl or pie pan. Beat the eggs with the milk and place in a medium bowl, place along side the Panko crumbs, next to the stove. Heat about 2 inches of the oil to 350 degrees in a medium size pan. Make sure the oil is up to temperature before frying the fish.
Take the cut pieces of fish and lightly season with salt & pepper. I also use a small amount of my own seasoning at this point, I’ll post the ingredients at the end of this recipe. Coat the fish pieces in the egg and milk mixture, then coat them with the Panko crumbs. At this point, you can store the coated fish pieces on wax paper (keep them separated) in the refrigerator if you are doing things ahead of time. If not, drop the coated pieces into the hot oil and fry them until they are golden brown and crispy. Don’t let them get too dark, as it will change the flavor of the Panko crumbs and taste bitter. Depending on your salt preference, lightly salt the fish when they come out of the oil. Drain the fish on paper towels and hold them in a warm oven, not covered, until all of them are finished.
To assemble the tacos, place one of crispy fish pieces in a tortilla. Slather on a little Chipotle-Lime Crema. Place a small handful of shredded green cabbage on top of the fish. Then add enough diced onions to suit your taste. Squeeze on the juice from a lime wedge. Then add another dollop of crema and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.
This recipe is portioned for two people (6 tacos). Three of these Crispy Baja Fish Tacos may not be enough for you. But, if you are serving Mexican Rice or Charra Beans as side dishes, that should be plenty for each person.
An alternative coating recipe would be any good tempura beer batter. If that is the case, you should plan on lightly dusting the fish pieces with flour before coating them with the batter...it will help the batter stick. Either coating method produces great results and tasty fish tacos. The beer batter thing is much more messy though!
The other fish cooking option would be to grill the fish on a mesquite wood BBQ. In that case, leave the fish fillets whole and cut them up after cooking. It’s a completely different flavor...but oh so goooood as well!
The Chipotle-Lime Crema is an incredibly smooth, slightly spicy topping for these fish tacos...though a good, fresh Pico de Gallo works just as well if you are not into the fatty-mayo-sour cream thing.
Beverage choices: Chardonnay, or Corona, or a real (non-blended) Margarita.
My Special Seasoning:
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp black pepper
2 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp ground cumin
Let me tell you this at the outset. I have never been to Baja, Mexico. Not that I wouldn’t want to go there someday, I just haven’t been yet. True aficionados of “real” Baja food may want to get in my face and say, “That isn’t Baja food. You don’t know what you’re talking about, dude!” Maybe so. So, here is my disclaimer: "What’s your point, dude?” I've had fish tacos in dozens of restaurants and in several countries in my life...this is how I like them. You can find as many taco recipes as there are cooks who make them. But here is my little lesson in taco-making that may prevent you from visiting Taco Bell or Del Taco ever again.Whatever fillings you decide to put in your homemade tacos...fry your own taco shells. Those pre-made things found in the grocery store aren’t worth the effort, especially if you are putting all that work into what goes into them. Besides, half of the shells are cracked and broken by the time you get them home.
Starting with the tortillas themselves, I buy small (6 inch) Mission brand White Corn Tortillas. The 36-count package runs about $1.30 and comes in a plastic bag sealed with a twist tie. You’ll pay more than that for the 12-count tortillas in one of those fancy-dancy resealable bags. You can freeze them, but make sure the bag is sealed tightly and try to use them within a couple of weeks or they will get a nasty, freezer-burn taste.
Here’s are two ways to prepare the white corn tortillas for tacos. Traditionally, Mexican cooks grilled them on a hot, flat grill “seasoned” with a little oil. Cook them until they begin to curl a bit, flipping them a couple of times. Try not to get them crisp on a flat grill, it will make them tough and also prevent you from folding them when the time comes. They should still be pliable. Store them between clean kitchen towels in a warm oven until ready to fill.
The other way to prepare them (the method I prefer) is in hot oil...fried, if you will. In a good, heavy-bottomed pan, heat about 1/2 inch of good, clean canola or peanut oil until just before it begins to smoke (about 375 degrees). Using tongs, fry them one at a time about 20 seconds on each side...longer if you want them crispy. The key to crispy, folded tacos is making sure you fold them before they get crisp. Remove from the oil, and drain the tortillas on a paper towel lined plate, standing them up like pup tents. It may seem a bit tedious this way, ie, don’t walk away from a tortilla in hot oil, but the results are worth it. A couple of tips: Make sure the oil is hot enough before frying your first tortilla. If if isn’t hot enough, it will just soak up the oil and take too long to cook. Keep the tortillas in the fridge (cold) until just before you cook them. They just come out better that way. And, hold the crispy fried tortillas on that paper towel lined plate in the oven, uncovered. They should stay nice and fresh and crispy for 30 minutes or so. After that amount of time, they will begin to get tough.
For my Baja Style Crispy Fish Tacos...you can use any mild, firm white fish like Cod. In recent years, I have preferred a fish called Basa (sometimes called Tra). This is a farm-raised species of catfish found in Southeast Asia, specifically, the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. You can use American-raised catfish fillets as well, but Basa is very mild, firm, and sometimes less expensive than other available white fleshed fish. Many cooks will tell you the preferred fish for Baja Tacos is Mahi Mahi, called Dorado in Mexico. Dorado is wonderful for this application, especially if you are going to grill the fish. But it is quite a bit more expensive. Fish species preferences aside...here’s the plan.
Start by cutting your fish filets into 1/2 inch wide pieces, about 3 inches long each. If you are doing this ahead, keep them in the refrigerator until time to cook. Also, make sure the pieces are dry, dab them with a paper towel. If they are wet with water when you coat them, the egg wash and bread crumbs won’t stick. Wet pieces of fish are even worse if you are using a tempura style batter. Here is what I used for the Crispy Fish Tacos in the photos.
The Coating:
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs
Salt & Pepper
My Special Seasoning
Chipotle-Lime Crema:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 chipotle peppers (canned, in adobo sauce), diced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt & freshly ground pepper
The other stuff:
1/2 pound of Basa, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, Cod, Halibut, or other firm white fish
6 white corn tortillas (6 inch size)
Canola oil or Peanut oil
2 cups shredded green cabbage
1/2 cup diced white onion
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped or chiffonade
Fresh lime wedges
For the Chipotle-Lime Crema, simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
For frying the fish, season the Panko crumbs with salt & pepper and place in a large, flat bowl or pie pan. Beat the eggs with the milk and place in a medium bowl, place along side the Panko crumbs, next to the stove. Heat about 2 inches of the oil to 350 degrees in a medium size pan. Make sure the oil is up to temperature before frying the fish.
Take the cut pieces of fish and lightly season with salt & pepper. I also use a small amount of my own seasoning at this point, I’ll post the ingredients at the end of this recipe. Coat the fish pieces in the egg and milk mixture, then coat them with the Panko crumbs. At this point, you can store the coated fish pieces on wax paper (keep them separated) in the refrigerator if you are doing things ahead of time. If not, drop the coated pieces into the hot oil and fry them until they are golden brown and crispy. Don’t let them get too dark, as it will change the flavor of the Panko crumbs and taste bitter. Depending on your salt preference, lightly salt the fish when they come out of the oil. Drain the fish on paper towels and hold them in a warm oven, not covered, until all of them are finished.
To assemble the tacos, place one of crispy fish pieces in a tortilla. Slather on a little Chipotle-Lime Crema. Place a small handful of shredded green cabbage on top of the fish. Then add enough diced onions to suit your taste. Squeeze on the juice from a lime wedge. Then add another dollop of crema and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.
This recipe is portioned for two people (6 tacos). Three of these Crispy Baja Fish Tacos may not be enough for you. But, if you are serving Mexican Rice or Charra Beans as side dishes, that should be plenty for each person.
An alternative coating recipe would be any good tempura beer batter. If that is the case, you should plan on lightly dusting the fish pieces with flour before coating them with the batter...it will help the batter stick. Either coating method produces great results and tasty fish tacos. The beer batter thing is much more messy though!
The other fish cooking option would be to grill the fish on a mesquite wood BBQ. In that case, leave the fish fillets whole and cut them up after cooking. It’s a completely different flavor...but oh so goooood as well!
The Chipotle-Lime Crema is an incredibly smooth, slightly spicy topping for these fish tacos...though a good, fresh Pico de Gallo works just as well if you are not into the fatty-mayo-sour cream thing.
Beverage choices: Chardonnay, or Corona, or a real (non-blended) Margarita.
My Special Seasoning:
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp black pepper
2 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp ground cumin
Caprese: A great change of pace "salad"...and no lettuce!
Not too long ago, I was listening to my favorite radio station where I live. That, in itself, is a rare thing for me since I deplore all commercial radio stations these days! Too many commercials, untalented, uninformed, obnoxious DJ’s, and poor, repititious playlists. But, this particular station is our only local Smooth Jazz radio. It’s broadcast and produced locally (versus the syndicated, satellite messes now more common). The live announcer was reading live commercial copy for a local restaurant. Part of the copy involved a menu item called Caprese Salad (pronounced kah-pray-zay).
DJ: Try (this restaurant) for lunch today, where the lunch special is their popular Caprese Salad. You’ll get fresh, sliced, vine-ripe tomatoes...covered with slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. (pausing) Hmmm...I guess the copywriters left out lettuce. After all, it is a salad! So...and lettuce.
Me: (Shaking my head in disgust...and thinking) Another fine example of what it’s like to live in an area where ignorance and apathy toward anything that isn’t deep fried, barbecued, or slathered with nacho cheese sauce continue to infest the population...even on my “hip” Smooth Jazz radio station. For any foodies out there, I haven’t even been able to find a loaf of brioche anywhere in this town.
Believe me, I am not the coolest hipster on the planet. In fact, I have become very comfortable with the fact that I am somewhat of a dork! But wouldn’t you think that someone hosting a radio jazz program would take a little more care about coming across a bit more informed...especially when it comes to fairly common modern cuisine?
So, as a public service...here is what this elegant, fresh, and healthy “salad” is all about.
First, the ingredients. Enough for four.
2 large, vine-ripe Beefsteak tomatoes. (If you can’t find big ones, any medium size, vine-ripe tomatoes are just fine. Make sure they are not mushy already).
1/2 pound of fresh mozzarella. (Buffalo if possible. Fresh mozzarella comes stored in water. The dried up, vacuumed-packaged commercial stuff doesn’t compare in flavor or texture).
6 large, fresh, basil leaves.
Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper (Please buy a pepper mill if you don’t already have one!)
Extra-virgin olive oil.
And NO LETTUCE!
Simply cut the tomatoes into thick slices. Place them slightly overlapped on a serving plate. Cut the mozzarella in nice, thick slices...and place one slice on each tomato slice. Place a basil leaf on each stack. I prefer to chiffonade the basil first (roll up the leaves real tight, then slice them). Add salt and pepper, then drizzle with the extra-virgin olive oil. The quantity of each ingredient will depend on your individual tastes...have at it!
Caprese Salad is such a great appetizer, salad, or any course during your meal. If you are doing “courses”, serve it in between the heavier dishes...it works well in any application. And, goes very well with a light, crisp Chardonnay.
How simple can one dish be?
By the way...I still enjoy a cold Corona with lime next to a nice, big, hot, pile of tortilla chips, slathered with refried beans, sliced jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, and nacho cheese. Life’s too short not to indulge yourself once in a while. I’m not a food snob!
DJ: Try (this restaurant) for lunch today, where the lunch special is their popular Caprese Salad. You’ll get fresh, sliced, vine-ripe tomatoes...covered with slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. (pausing) Hmmm...I guess the copywriters left out lettuce. After all, it is a salad! So...and lettuce.
Me: (Shaking my head in disgust...and thinking) Another fine example of what it’s like to live in an area where ignorance and apathy toward anything that isn’t deep fried, barbecued, or slathered with nacho cheese sauce continue to infest the population...even on my “hip” Smooth Jazz radio station. For any foodies out there, I haven’t even been able to find a loaf of brioche anywhere in this town.
Believe me, I am not the coolest hipster on the planet. In fact, I have become very comfortable with the fact that I am somewhat of a dork! But wouldn’t you think that someone hosting a radio jazz program would take a little more care about coming across a bit more informed...especially when it comes to fairly common modern cuisine?
So, as a public service...here is what this elegant, fresh, and healthy “salad” is all about.
First, the ingredients. Enough for four.
2 large, vine-ripe Beefsteak tomatoes. (If you can’t find big ones, any medium size, vine-ripe tomatoes are just fine. Make sure they are not mushy already).
1/2 pound of fresh mozzarella. (Buffalo if possible. Fresh mozzarella comes stored in water. The dried up, vacuumed-packaged commercial stuff doesn’t compare in flavor or texture).
6 large, fresh, basil leaves.
Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper (Please buy a pepper mill if you don’t already have one!)
Extra-virgin olive oil.
And NO LETTUCE!
Simply cut the tomatoes into thick slices. Place them slightly overlapped on a serving plate. Cut the mozzarella in nice, thick slices...and place one slice on each tomato slice. Place a basil leaf on each stack. I prefer to chiffonade the basil first (roll up the leaves real tight, then slice them). Add salt and pepper, then drizzle with the extra-virgin olive oil. The quantity of each ingredient will depend on your individual tastes...have at it!
Caprese Salad is such a great appetizer, salad, or any course during your meal. If you are doing “courses”, serve it in between the heavier dishes...it works well in any application. And, goes very well with a light, crisp Chardonnay.
How simple can one dish be?
By the way...I still enjoy a cold Corona with lime next to a nice, big, hot, pile of tortilla chips, slathered with refried beans, sliced jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, and nacho cheese. Life’s too short not to indulge yourself once in a while. I’m not a food snob!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Double Feature: The Prestige & The Illusionist
Last year there were two big-time movies released about magicians. I’m talking about the two big studio, big stars theatrical releases, not the DVD’s that are available teaching you how to do magic found on the back of matchbooks.
They were The Illusionist and The Prestige. Loretta and I saw both of them in the theater. Before I attempt to describe the differences between the two (and, yes, the story lines were quite dissimilar despite the similar material)...neither one of them were great flicks. But one of them was not as bad as the other, and both may be worthy of being on your Netflix lists. The Illusionist has been out on DVD for a while, The Prestige is available now.
The Illusionist had Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel. The Prestige had Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Cane, Scarlet Johanssen, and David Bowie. Decidedly, from the lists of stars, The Prestige was kind of a “bigger” movie. But let us not judge the merits of these films by the star-power alone. And...I’m quite a fan of Giamatti!
The Illusionist is set in turn-of-the-century Vienna and concerns a magician (Norton) using his abilities as a magician to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing. The Prestige is set in turn-of-the-century London and concerns the rivalry between two magicians (Jackman and Bale) and the lengths to which one of them will go to secure the other’s “trade secrets”.
Both movies are filled with many twists, turns, red herrings, and the obligatory surprise ending. Originally, I was going to include “spoilers” in this blog post, but have decided to leave them out. I think they both deserve your attention from a fresh perspective.
With that in mind, here are some of my complaints about these two good, but not great, films.
I just couldn’t “buy in” to the faux-Austrian accent from Giamatti. It sounded more like a English accent with a touch of Colonel Klink thrown in occasionally. Norton’s inflections were similar, but even less pronounced...with his usual high, lispy voice...it wasn’t believable for a “period piece” set in Austria. I don’t recall Jessica Biel having any type of European accent at all. Maybe I was distracted by her sometimes hot/sometimes homely face...I still haven’t decided which side of that coin she resides. The cinematographic style of The Illusionist involved the washed out color of sepia tone. And the flashbacks were made to look like daguerreotype newsreel footage, ie, dark framed shots with even less color and pinwheel transitions.
The surprise ending in The Illusionist wasn’t much of a surprise for me, as I figured it out about halfway through the movie. But, the journey to that reveal was kind of fun. I always get some satisfaction from actually solving a puzzle. The same can’t be said for ending of The Prestige. I tell you why in moment (sans spoiler!). The Illusionist is a decent murder/mystery/love story set around the life of a dedicated magician.
The Prestige. By the way...the prestige is the element of a trick that comes at the end of it...the actual trick itself, the audience is amazed, “how’d they do that?” Herein lies Robert Angier’s (Jackman) obsession through the whole movie: to discover Alfred Borden’s (Bale) secrets...the prestige of his tricks. And this compulsion leads Jackman on a journey that ends with a foray into science fiction. And herein lies my biggest complaint about The Prestige. Without giving away the climax of the move...the sub-climax is all H.G.. Wells. The final climax is more “down to earth”, and quite satisfying. But...it wasn’t difficult to figure out about halfway through. The Prestige is a decent murder/mystery set around the lives of two dedicated, and obsessed, magicians.
Scarlett Johanssen seemed to be thrown into the mix for window dressing, not much of a part for The Sexiest Woman Alive. Hugh Jackman is in his usual hunky/deep mode here. Michael Caine is always good, this time playing another “Man Friday”, ie, as in Batman Returns. Christian Bale, in my opinion, is probably the best actor in the business today. Since Empire of the Sun, I have been a big fan of his work. "...P-51...Cadillac of the Sky!!! Horsepower! Horsepower!"
The Prestige and The Illusionist are very different movies, despite the fact that they were released within weeks of one another and they both involve the world of turn-of-the-century magic. It really makes one wonder how this close proximity happened. Of all the scripts and movie ideas out there, why would the mega-powerful powers-to-be choose this route? Two major studio releases about magic within weeks of each other.
If I had to choose between the two, I would go with The Prestige...but only by a thread. Neither one of them rocked my boat. In fact, when we rented The Illusionist (Netflix) a while back, we napped through most of it. The Prestige is on our DVD list for another go around.
More often than not, the Special Features are far more interesting than the movie itself!
They were The Illusionist and The Prestige. Loretta and I saw both of them in the theater. Before I attempt to describe the differences between the two (and, yes, the story lines were quite dissimilar despite the similar material)...neither one of them were great flicks. But one of them was not as bad as the other, and both may be worthy of being on your Netflix lists. The Illusionist has been out on DVD for a while, The Prestige is available now.
The Illusionist had Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel. The Prestige had Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Cane, Scarlet Johanssen, and David Bowie. Decidedly, from the lists of stars, The Prestige was kind of a “bigger” movie. But let us not judge the merits of these films by the star-power alone. And...I’m quite a fan of Giamatti!
The Illusionist is set in turn-of-the-century Vienna and concerns a magician (Norton) using his abilities as a magician to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing. The Prestige is set in turn-of-the-century London and concerns the rivalry between two magicians (Jackman and Bale) and the lengths to which one of them will go to secure the other’s “trade secrets”.
Both movies are filled with many twists, turns, red herrings, and the obligatory surprise ending. Originally, I was going to include “spoilers” in this blog post, but have decided to leave them out. I think they both deserve your attention from a fresh perspective.
With that in mind, here are some of my complaints about these two good, but not great, films.
I just couldn’t “buy in” to the faux-Austrian accent from Giamatti. It sounded more like a English accent with a touch of Colonel Klink thrown in occasionally. Norton’s inflections were similar, but even less pronounced...with his usual high, lispy voice...it wasn’t believable for a “period piece” set in Austria. I don’t recall Jessica Biel having any type of European accent at all. Maybe I was distracted by her sometimes hot/sometimes homely face...I still haven’t decided which side of that coin she resides. The cinematographic style of The Illusionist involved the washed out color of sepia tone. And the flashbacks were made to look like daguerreotype newsreel footage, ie, dark framed shots with even less color and pinwheel transitions.
The surprise ending in The Illusionist wasn’t much of a surprise for me, as I figured it out about halfway through the movie. But, the journey to that reveal was kind of fun. I always get some satisfaction from actually solving a puzzle. The same can’t be said for ending of The Prestige. I tell you why in moment (sans spoiler!). The Illusionist is a decent murder/mystery/love story set around the life of a dedicated magician.
The Prestige. By the way...the prestige is the element of a trick that comes at the end of it...the actual trick itself, the audience is amazed, “how’d they do that?” Herein lies Robert Angier’s (Jackman) obsession through the whole movie: to discover Alfred Borden’s (Bale) secrets...the prestige of his tricks. And this compulsion leads Jackman on a journey that ends with a foray into science fiction. And herein lies my biggest complaint about The Prestige. Without giving away the climax of the move...the sub-climax is all H.G.. Wells. The final climax is more “down to earth”, and quite satisfying. But...it wasn’t difficult to figure out about halfway through. The Prestige is a decent murder/mystery set around the lives of two dedicated, and obsessed, magicians.
Scarlett Johanssen seemed to be thrown into the mix for window dressing, not much of a part for The Sexiest Woman Alive. Hugh Jackman is in his usual hunky/deep mode here. Michael Caine is always good, this time playing another “Man Friday”, ie, as in Batman Returns. Christian Bale, in my opinion, is probably the best actor in the business today. Since Empire of the Sun, I have been a big fan of his work. "...P-51...Cadillac of the Sky!!! Horsepower! Horsepower!"
The Prestige and The Illusionist are very different movies, despite the fact that they were released within weeks of one another and they both involve the world of turn-of-the-century magic. It really makes one wonder how this close proximity happened. Of all the scripts and movie ideas out there, why would the mega-powerful powers-to-be choose this route? Two major studio releases about magic within weeks of each other.
If I had to choose between the two, I would go with The Prestige...but only by a thread. Neither one of them rocked my boat. In fact, when we rented The Illusionist (Netflix) a while back, we napped through most of it. The Prestige is on our DVD list for another go around.
More often than not, the Special Features are far more interesting than the movie itself!
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