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May 27, 2007
sentimental dish - dad's pasta
for some reason, i felt sentimental at the kerrytown market. the shell pasta reminded me of a dish my dad used to make for me when i was a kid. i decided to make it by myself this time.
boil one cup of shell pasta for 7 min. it's not necessary to season with salt at this time.
some chicken breast from a roasted chicken (this is another good way to use up the roasted chicken meat in the freezer). cut the chicken breast really fine (it's easier when it's frozen). dice some garlic, ginger, and green onion. sautee ggg, add in the chicken, soy sauce, italian seasoning and black pepper. combine with pasta.
in dad's original recipe, the chicken was organic/very lean; and there was no italian seasoning and black pepper.
the smell brought me back to my childhood.
Posted by renh at 05:38 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2007
finding neverland
i don't know, but for some reason i watched some video at youtube about finding neverland.
pirates of the caribbean 3 just came out. a lot of people like the pirates movies, including me. but i just cannot forget finding neverland. it's understated, but i happy to find out that it's in the top 250 imdb movies.
it's a movie about the author of peter pan and a family and the creation of peter pan. it's a very sad movie. the little boy's performance was impressive. toward the end, when he finally let the emotion out, he looked at the Jonny Depp with tears in the eyes, it's heartwrentching.
it's good to stay forever young. it's impossible, but it's feasible to keep a young mind. to be happy, positive, find new hobbies, make new friends, be creative, active, and imaginative. and the real young ones, it's equally important to enjoy the childhood, because it is a wonderful thing.
Posted by renh at 12:38 PM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2007
run
-by snow patrol
I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done
And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here
Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear
Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say
To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbye
I nearly do
Light up...
Slower slower
We don't have time for that
All I want is to find an easier way
To get out of our little heads
Have heart my dear
We're bound to be afraid
Even if it's just for a few days
Making up for all this mess
Posted by renh at 09:16 PM | Comments (0)
May 17, 2007
gifts
to find the perfect gift can be a daunting task. but i think what's important is not the gift itself, what matters the most is the thoughts that come along with it.
i ventured into the beads gallery by chance and found several pretty beads. one of them is a bright pink tear-drop shaped and slightly twisted glass bead with sliver pattern on it. i asked the salesgirl to put a pinhead through it and made a circle on one end. this would make a pretty pendant, i thought. a couple of days later, i went to the briawood mall and got a white gold chain to match it. the chain is very thin and flexible, but shiny and solid. i want to create the flow for the tear-drop bead. the chain came with a black box. this made a mother's day gift for my mom. i remember i talked with the salesperson at the jewery shop in the mall. she asked me what kind of the stone it was. i said it's worth nothing but means a lot to me.
i bought wilco's new sky blue sky album as a gift for myself.
when it comes to gifting, one has to think on the behalf of the recipient, culture, age, gender and personal taste. it's funny to think about the "embroidery" story.
Posted by renh at 01:18 PM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2007
flowers
lilacs
dandelion
daffodil
magnolia
iris
peony
geranium
dahlia
Posted by renh at 07:31 PM | Comments (0)
motherless brooklyn
i finished the book on Monday. I knew I had a meeting to prepare for the next day. I still decided to finish the book first.
the book is a thriller/suspension kind of story. It was a little slow to begin with, partly because somehow the story was watered down by the tourette's syndrom. as the story developed, the book became more intense and interesting to read. i like how the author tells the story from the perspective of Lionel, free human freakshow. the story itself is rather simple. two brothers, italian gang, japenese yakusa, two confused women, four orphans, policemen. the characters are well portrayed and have layers.
now, why did i pick the book up at the first place? it's because edward norton is going to translate the book into a movie. i like this idea. the book is good, but i can see it as a great movie. i'm a little concerned about the tourette's syndrome and how it is going to be portrayed. i hope edward does the book justice. the best scences i can picture in my mind are the beginning and the ending. the beginning part, they were driving to the hospital with minna wounded badly, while Lionel telling jokes. the ending part, the light house scence, i was kinda shocked with whole book ended. it was sad for him to figure everything out. with those dead, the LL became cleaner, everything took a turn for a new direction, so i felt good for him to go through all these emotional ordeals. what has been revealed will never be concealed back. what's done is done, there is no way to undo it. to stand up and face the truth can sometimes be very hard, at this moment, it might be easier if the person can gaze into the open ocean and breathe the salty air.
i am expecting it to be made into a movie by edward norton. i don't know how long we have to wait. thinking about it took him 7 years to put the painted veil into production is a little...
i can see this movie, if ever made, will be good for edward to play this very challenging character. one thing i think i think we all ought to learn from this actor is that he researches/studies and seeks roles/movies that he wants and actively pushes the project forward. having listened to several his interviews on youtube, i realized that he had good understanding about the movie, sometimes politics, sometimes religion, sometimes relationships. an actor with vivid vision about the movies that he was involved in, ie knowing what one is doing, is good a thing for the audience.
Posted by renh at 07:28 PM | Comments (0)
automobile industry
Toyota overtakes GM as world's top auto seller.
daimler divorced chrysler. 36 billion vs 7.4 billion. i wonder what's the problem for the american chrysler.
cerberus got the bid for the majority of chrysler. the private equity firm had participated in several american auto industry big deals. interesting.
Posted by renh at 07:22 PM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2007
pumpkin cookie - from Jackie
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp all-spice
1 cup sugar 1 cup pumpkin 2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
(optional: 1 cup raisins)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then mix together the wet ingredients
(butter, egg, vanilla). Mix in sugar and spices. Then mix in the flour, baking soda, and
baking powder. Mix raisins in last if you use them. Bake for 10-15 minutes. I usually
bake for about 10 minutes so that they are fluffy.
If you don't have all-spice, nutmeg also goes well in these sort of cookies.
Posted by renh at 01:26 PM | Comments (0)
some thoughts about a story
"All Things Considered, May 6, 2007 · The life of Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, a former illegal immigrant, may sound like a movie script, but it is no fiction.
Twenty years ago, he hopped a border fence from Mexico into the United States and became a migrant farmworker.
Today, he is a neurosurgeon and professor at Johns Hopkins University, and a researcher who is looking for a breakthrough in the treatment of brain cancer.
His remarkable journey began in a tiny farming community, 60 miles south of the U.S. border. Quinones-Hinojosa was born there, and by age 5, he was working at his father's gas station. His grandmother was a village healer and a midwife.
But in the mid-1970s, Mexico's economy collapsed, and his father could no longer keep food on the table for the family. Quinones-Hinojosa continued his schooling and became a teacher by the time he was 18, but he, too, was unable to provide for his family. So he made the decision — like so many relatives before him — to head north.
Quinones-Hinojosa picked cotton, tomatoes and cantaloupes, and lived in the fields in a broken-down camper he bought for $300. When his cousin told him he would be a farmworker for the rest of his life, he realized it was time to move on.
He signed up for English classes at a community college, where a teacher encouraged him to attend the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley on a scholarship, Quinones-Hinojosa developed a passion for the scientific method. He went on to Harvard Medical School, where he eventually delivered the commencement speech. It is also during this time that he received his U.S. citizenship.
Quinones-Hinojosa says he owes so much of his success to the many people who have extended a hand to him throughout his life."
--this is a remarkable story. kinda inspiring. what's more interesting was what i heard from npr later on about the people's comments broadcasted later.
1. "he was illegal immigrant. he broke the law first without being punished. ... shame on npr"
2. "he is hard working immigrant, who contributed to the country greatly"
my opinion, he was illegal immigrant. even the doctor himself admitted that. i remember during the interview, when the question was raised, there was a long pause, then he admitted the fact, but also
said "he owes so much of his success to the many people who have extended a hand to him throughout his life". as he mentioned before, when he came to USA, he just did not want to be starved.
Posted by renh at 01:10 AM | Comments (0)
wilco on prairie home companion
wilco as guest on GK's show.
good performance
Posted by renh at 12:35 AM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2007
spiderman 3 just broke the opening record.
about the hulk, i think it's not bad for edward norton. because good or bad, it will increase his publicity, which might help to fund his movie projects and/or get some award. it did seem odd to me, when i first heard the news. but i guess we will have to wait and see when the movie comes out.
for some reason, people like to see the super-hero fun movie. i think most times we, the general public still like movies for pure entertainment purpose. some great movies do press us to think, but they are not necessarily blockbusters. i had the same feeling, when comparing the painted veil with the illusionist.
Posted by renh at 08:18 PM | Comments (0)
summer dishes
1. peanuts with celery
boil peanuts (without shell) in "seasoned water" (salt, soy sauce, chinese spices - clove, cumen, prickly pepper, etc) and marinate at least overnight. drain it and mix with par boiled celery cubes.
2. tofu thin slices with green onion
soak the dried tofu skin with boiling hot water until it's soft. thinly slice it to make long strips. mix with finely chopped green onion. season with seaseme oil, salt, suger, vinegar and soy sauce.
3. egg and smoked salmon
scramble three large eggs; mix it with smoked salson (need to break into pieces). put in fresh chopped cilantro. season with salt and pepper.
4. wheatberry-fruit salad
modify wheatberry salad recipe, leave out the fresh onion, put in extra mango, apple, grape, carrot.
5. mint tea
mix fresh mint with suger, try to mince the two ingredients together to bruise the mint and bring out it flavor. put into green tea.
Posted by renh at 07:56 PM | Comments (0)
farmer's market
I went to the farmer's market last saturday. This was the first time I went to the Farmer's Market (FM). I always love FM. the weather was very nice. there wasn't much produce for sale, but there were a lot of flowers and herbs for gardening. I got asparagus, eggs, garlic, cheese bread, chewy brownie, and baby spinach. then I went to the kerrytown shop and got avocado and red onion. rose was only $1 per stem. I can feel the impulse to buy one, but somehow i suppressed it.
Posted by renh at 07:16 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2007
new words
bane: 1. cause of harm or ruin, 2. poison
baneful adj
slacker: someone who shirks work or evades responsibilities
consternation
Posted by renh at 03:37 PM | Comments (0)
my wish
Artist/Band: Rascal Flatts
Lyrics for Song: My Wish
Lyrics for Album: Me & My Gang
I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.
But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
Posted by renh at 03:14 PM | Comments (0)
edward norton (continued)
movie list finished, reviews to be followed.
1. the painted veil
interesting movie, i wouldn't say 10 out of 10 though. the story and the message it delivered were intriguing. edward norton's accent was ok, and did look like a scientist. i wouldn't elaborate here again.
2. american history x
great movie. i like it. it makes the audience think. a lot of times, there is no absolute right or wrong. one thing can be both the reason and the consequence. "hate is bagage, life is too short to be pissed off all the time." "United by hate, divided by truth" "See reality in your eyes when hate makes you blind"
some thoughts about the justice system. derek killed two people and got three years in prison. lamont stole a TV and got 6 years. remember when derek and devina argued over the table about the race/crime statistics. when derek heard this from lamont, denial was his first response and then silence followed. ... actually, i think what would happen if he's got a "capable" lawyer.
3. fight club
I like the message the movie conveyed. mordern days, the prevalence of consumerism is ever increasing. i remember some talks with friends before. some people say to buy stuff is essential to keep them happy. I don't necessarily agree. the sad part is that this opinion is more popular with girls. just look at the market, the products targeted for female consumers generally have more varieties and higher prices. "girls" and "shopping" are two concepts often tied together. to make this happen, it must take generations of efforts to educate and influence the female consumers to establish this unhealthy consumer metality. the same logic can be applied to the narrator's type - corporate white collars. to work the job one doesn't necessarily like, to buy the stuff one doesn't necessarily need. i don't think destroy the financial district or the credit card companies is a reasonable solution. often, the problem is caused by the devil resided within a person. delusions can only be fixed when it is directly faced.
4. illusionist
it is interesting to compare the painted veil with the illusionist. both are good movies. the illusionist was a sleeper hit, a clear success at the box office. the painted veil did not do nearly as well as the illusionist. the illusionist tells a more intriguing story. but the the painted veil will hunt you long after the movie was viewed, which i think it's more like the norton movie.
5. 25th hour
of all the movies listed here, this is the only movie that made me cry inconsolable. yes, i was sympathetic for monty, the drug dealer going to prison. but, that itself wouldn't make me so emotional. the exact reason why i wasn't sure. just remember, two years ago i went back. i met my family and friends. i had a good time and also a complicated feeling. "7 years is a long time". 7 years later i may come back. but i know i won't be same person they once knew.
6. primal fear
good movie as a thriller. i liked it. one thing interesting though, edward norton was norminated for oscar twice, each time his nomination was the only one for that particular movie.
trivia: there was an interesting question in the IMDB edward norton board. "what will you do when you meet him?" there were answers: passionate, fervent, cool, reasonable, ... i thought for a while, and decided my answer would be "i am going to start my residency in the neuro-oncology branch at Johns Hopkins University".
Posted by renh at 02:18 PM | Comments (0)