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April 27, 2008
once
I just watched ONCE.
I bought the album from itune before I saw the movie. I thought the movie could be good, but never thought it could be this good, because obviously I missed that primal show time in theaters and now have to rent a DVD to watch it.
At the movie rental place I was debating among the Darjeeling limited, miss potter and Once. Now I am pretty sure that I made the right choice. The first time I heard him singing "say it to me now", I had tears in my eyes. That was the beginning of the movie. I don't know why, maybe the music is really touching. Watching the movie totally gave me a new definition of the songs from the soundtrack. There wasn't much dialog in the movie probably because the music was a perfect fit.
I like the girl better than the guy in the movie. Obviously, he is talented at what he is doing. I absolutely respect him for that. But, I just feel he is more blunt and probably a little more interpersonal skills would be helpful. The girl on the other hand is strong, kind, and positive. I kinda like the ending. I don't quite agree the movie is more about their romantic relationship, instead, I think they have a good friendship - a better understanding and mutual help/support for each other. The girl did not display her intense emotion as frequently as the guy, but this didn't mean she's not talented. Actually when I listened to the album first, her two solos were my favorites. I remember when they got the oscar reward - he was really passionate and almost neglected his partner so as not to give her a little time to say something. I was happy that John steward (or someone else) asked the girl to come back later.
Other things I really like about the movie - you fight for your dream and put your heart and soul into it, then you would get help on your way pursuing your dream: "let me show you something" and the loan manager pulled out a guitar and started to sing; the other street musicians joined the group; the studio recording guy started to record seriously; "it's f brilliant" said Da.
Posted by renh at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2008
strange days on planet earth
all right, I have to say I watched it because EN is the host. But I am glad I watched the program. It's not the typical preaching environmental protection style.
Ghana's wild life population change is linked with the fishing?! It's hard to perceive at first, but I thought the data was pretty convincing. The graphs correlate with each other very well. In the end, it makes sense the more fish was available the less bush meat was in demand. The person who conducted the research was a biology PhD from Berkeley, " a doctor, but not the kind who helps people." lol
I watched "bag the bag". I am happy that I have already started to re-use the paper bags for grocery shopping. I don't think it is necessary to get new bags each time. The bags are pretty durable, and the stores actually give you back a dime or two for re-using the bags. At the beginning, it's easy for me to forget to bring the bags with me. After some time, I figured that I wouldn't forget the bags if I put them into the trunk of the car. I am happy that I can contribute a tiny bit for saving the planet. But I guess I probably would hesitate if I have to curb my appetite or daily activity. I like seafood. To conserve the natural stock of fish, we have to limit the amount of the catch, and thus the price will go up. I, the consumer, wouldn't be happy to see the retail price creeping up. Another thing I've noticed was I could hardly get halibut at the grocery store nowadays. Is it because the halibut is vanishing from the ocean or merely a seasonal variation thing? I would feel the pain for ocean conservation thing as a consumer, but I would support this, because once species are gone they are gone.
Posted by renh at 09:24 PM | Comments (0)
7 seconds
°Yousou N'Dour singing in his mother tongue;
Boul ma sene, boul ma guiss madi re nga fokni mane
Khamouma li neka thi sama souf ak thi guinaw
Beugouma kouma khol oaldine yaw li neka si yaw
mo ne si man, li ne si mane moye dilene diapale
°Neneh Cherry taking over here;
Roughneck and rudeness,
We should be using, on the ones who practice wicked charms
For the sword and the stone
Bad to the bone
Battle is not over
Even when it's won
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin is living in
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting X3
°Youssou N'Dour again, singing in french(translated in english by "The SenSeï");
-j'assume les raisons qui nous poussent de changer tout,
I assume the resons that lead us to change everything,
-J'aimerais qu'on oublie leur couleur pour qu'ils esperent
I wish we could forget their color so they can hope
-Beaucoup de sentiments de races qui font qu'ils desesperent
lots of feelings for races which make them lose hope (despair)
-Je veux les deux mains ouvertes,
I want the two hands opened,
-Des amis pour parler de leur peine, de leur joie
(and) friends to talk about their life penalty, about their joy
-Pour qu'ils leur filent des infos qui ne divisent pas
so they can give'em infos that do not divide(scatter)
-Changer
change
°Neneh Cherry as lead vocals henceforth;
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting X3
And when a child is born into this world
It has no concept
Of the tone the skin is living in
And there's a million voices
And there's a million voices
To tell you what she should be thinking
So you better sober up for just a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
It's not a second
7 seconds away
Just as long as I stay
I'll be waiting
Posted by renh at 11:16 AM | Comments (0)
April 22, 2008
Most admired companies
1. Apple
2. Berkshire Hathaway
3. GE
4. Google
5. Toyota
6. Starbucks
7. FedEx
8. Procter & Gamble
9. Johnson & Johnson
10. Goldman Sachs
Posted by renh at 12:40 PM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2008
last lecture
I watched it on youtube. It is definitely a VOW.
Here is how to download it.
go to itunes
on the left, find the "iTunes U" section among music, movie, podcast, etc.
find carnegie mellon university
in the experience carnegie mellon section, click "spotlight: Randy Pausch"
then you can find the link to download it.
Both RP and WB's lectures are life-benefiting, but one is in a more inspirational way, while the other is in a more pragmatic way.
some thoughts after watching "really achieving childhood dreams". RP did achieve some of his dreams, and he chose a career path that allow him to do something close to his dream - imagineer. My childhood career dreams - 1) criminal justice lawyer. not the corporate lawyer, not the patent lawyer, not the type who can just make big money. It has to be about restoring democracy and justice system in the society. It's more about my father's dream. There were two magazines I grew up with - Democracy and Justice & Environmental Protection brought home by my parents. 2) a career in movie industry. not director, not actor, not photographer, but computer-generated imagery. I got this idea after I saw a series of documentaries about how the movie titanic was made and computer technology involved in it. I chose not to watch the movie, because I felt it's hard to watch the "digitalized ocean". But I did think it's cool to create a "digitalized ocean". Now looking back, I find myself drifting from my childhood dreams further and further away.
Posted by renh at 10:09 AM | Comments (1)
April 15, 2008
re 红糟
I sort of tried a combination of the 3rd and 4th recipe. GOD! It's awful! The color is beautiful and very appetizing, but just wait until you taste the flavor and texture of the meat. It took discipline, mental resilience, and courage for me to finish the half country-style ribs cooked. I'll probably stick to marinating boiled eggs with 红糟.
Posted by renh at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)
bet on it
Everybody's always talking at me
Everybody's trying to get in my head
I wanna listen to my own heart talking
I need to count on myself instead
Chorus:
Did you ever?
Zac:
Lose yourself to get what you want
Chorus:
Did you ever?
Zac:
Get on a ride and wanna get off
Chorus:
Did you ever?
Zac:
Push away the ones you should've held close
Did you ever let go?
Did you ever not know?
I'm not gonna stop, that's who I am
I'll give it all I got, that is my plan
Will I find what I lost?
You know you can
Bet on it, bet on it
Bet on it, bet on it
(Bet on me)
I wanna make it right, that is the way
To turn my life around, today is the day
Am I the type of guy who means what I say?
Bet on it, bet on it
Bet on it, bet on it
How will I know if there's a path worth taking?
Should I question every move I make?
With all I’ve lost my heart is breaking
I don't wanna make the same mistake
Chorus:
Did you ever?
Zac:
Doubt your dream will ever come true
Chorus:
Did you ever?
Zac:
Blame the world and never blame you
Chorus: I will never
Zac:
Try to live a lie again
I don't wanna win this game if I can't play it my way
I'm not gonna stop, that's who I am
(Who I am)
I'll give it all I got, that is my plan
(That's my plan)
Will I find what I lost?
You know you can
(You know you can)
Bet on it, bet on it
Bet on it, bet on it
Bet on me
I wanna make it right, that is the way
To turn my life around, today is the day
Am I the type of guy who means what I say
Bet on it, bet on it
Bet on it, bet on it
Oh,Hold up
Give me room to think
Bring it on down
Gotta work on my swing
Gotta do my own thing
Hold up
It's no good at all
To see yourself and not recognize your face
Out on my own, it's such a scary place
The answers are all inside of me
All I gotta do is believe
I'm not gonna stop
Not gonna stop 'til I get my shot
That's who I am, that is my plan
Will I end up on top?
You can bet on it, bet on it
Bet on it, bet on it
You can bet on it, bet on it
Bet on it, bet on it
I wanna make it right, that is the way
To turn my life around, today is the day
Am I the type of guy who means what I say
Bet on it, bet on it
Bet on it, bet on it
Posted by renh at 11:55 AM | Comments (0)
April 13, 2008
Life is not all about cooking. :)
Well, I got "sound" back on my mac. For a while I thought I lost it and all the wonderful music. I feel an ecstasy of joy. I felt most blessed when I got back what I thought I've lost. I watched/listened to 25th hour again. This time I can notice that I paid more attention to the music/score - it is beautiful.
I am very happy and grateful. Definitely no FV in the future.
Posted by renh at 04:49 PM | Comments (0)
April 08, 2008
custard
Refrigerator Pie
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown
Show: Good Eats
Episode: Egg Files II: Man with a Flan
1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
2 eggs
2 pinches kosher salt
Freshly grated nutmeg
For 1 Refrigerator Pie:
1 frozen 9-inch pie crust
Any one of the following combinations:
Cooked spinach, cheddar cheese, cubed cooked ham
Bacon, Sauteed leeks, and Gruyere cheese
Cooked spinach, canned artichoke hearts, and Parmesan cheese
Roasted chicken, goat cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes
Blanched asparagus and smoked salmon
Port Salut and Spam
In a nonreactive, stainless steel bowl, combine the cream or half-and-half and the eggs. Whisk until combined thoroughly. Add the salt and the nutmeg. Whisk to combine.
Refrigerator Pie Rules: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Evenly distribute the pie fillings in the pie crust. Do not overfill the crust with the filling ingredients. Do not pour too much royale into the crust. The eggs will expand upon cooking. Bake the pie until it is firm to the touch like set Jell-O, about 45 minutes. Cool the pie for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
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Flandango
Courtesy Alton Brown
Show: Good Eats
Episode: Egg Files II: Man with a Flan
Software:
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup half-and- half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
An assortment of jams, preserves, or dessert sauces such as:
Blueberry jam
Apricot preserves
Butterscotch ice cream topping
Hot fudge ice cream topping
6 eggs
Hardware:
Roasting pan large enough to accommodate 8 custard cups with at least 1-inch to spare around
8 custard cups
Glass or stainless steel bowl with a spout
Fine mesh strainer
Small nonreactive saucepan
A kettle boiling water
Whisk
Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
In the saucepan, combine the milk, half-and-half, vanilla, and sugar. Bring to a bare simmer over medium-low heat.
Next, place 1 to 2 tablespoons of each topping into each of the custard cups. The topping should come a few millimeters up the side of the custard cup.
Separate 3 of the eggs using the slotted spoon. Reserve the whites. (Note: Freeze the whites in ice trays. After the whites are frozen, place the frozen cubes into zip-top freezer bags. The frozen whites can be frozen up to a year.)
Place a mixing bowl on a rubber pad or a wet towel to prevent the bowl from spinning out of control. In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining whole eggs and the yolks. Whip the eggs with a whisk until slightly thickened and lightened in color. While whisking the eggs, drizzle in about a quarter of the hot milk. Now whisk the tempered eggs back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture.
Place a fine mesh strainer over a glass or stainless steel bowl with a spout. Pour the egg mixture through the strainer in order to catch any curdled egg bits or particles that may be in the mixture.
Place the custard cups into the roasting pan. Evenly distribute the custard into the custard cups, going short on the first pass. Place the pan on the middle rack of the oven and pour boiling water into the pan just under the level of the custard.
Cook the flans for about 40 minutes, or until they wobble slightly when the pan is wiggled, about 40 minutes. You can also insert a paring knife midway between the edge and the center. If it comes out clean, the flans are done. Using tongs, remove the cups from the pan to a towel-lined sheet pan. Allow the water in the roasting pan to cool before discarding. Cool, cover and chill.
Posted by renh at 05:52 PM | Comments (0)
April 07, 2008
红糟
剩下的红糟可也是个宝，可以做调料，春天炒蕨菜，煮笋的时候都习惯放一点。但我认为最好吃的是用来做糟蛋，在个小坛子里先铺点红糟，将鸡蛋鸭蛋裹点盐放入，一层蛋一层红糟，最后在洒点盐，蛋盐的比例我忘了。差不多四个星期，蛋就腌好了。带点红糟放在盘子里隔水蒸，用来配稀饭简直是绝配，比咸蛋好吃太多，流着油的红蛋黄，蛋白是玉色的也略带点红，酒香扑鼻。但是有个缺点，一定要趁热吃，要是隔顿吃，酒香就散了。这个糟蛋有很长时间没吃了，前年老爸到北京帮我装修房子的时候，除了带一个十几斤的大笋就是一坛子的红糟，把我给美的，可惜只能做两次糟蛋，红糟就不能再用了。另外红糟还可以加上点糯米粉和辣椒和成团，晒干，做成红糟饼，用油煎了吃，也是人间一大美味，只是要能吃辣不反感酒味。近年来，又时兴一种糟鱼，用红糟和盐腌咸鱼，我只看到没吃过，听妈妈说也很好吃，谁让我回家的时间太短，要吃的东西太多了。
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材料 ：中／大型带鱼一条（切粗块，刮去外表银膜），葱段，蒜，姜，辣椒。
调味料 ：红糟两大匙，米酒半大匙，蜂蜜半茶匙，生抽一茶匙。
做法 ：四大匙油烧热，放进葱段／蒜／姜／辣椒爆香后捞起摆盘。放进带鱼块煎至呈金黄色, 捞起滤干。所有调味料拌均，加两大匙清水烧开后放回鱼块拌煮至汁收干即可。这道带鱼味道鲜香，外酥内嫩，送粥最佳！
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材料 ：排骨（切条状用少许酱油稍腌），姜５－６片，八角一颗，葱数段，青江菜三颗切对半。
调味料 ：红糟两大匙（加米酒一茶匙／糖一茶匙／味精少许调均），酱油一大匙，高汤两饭碗。
做法 ：排骨入油锅炸至上色，捞起滤干。一大匙油烧热，放姜／葱／八角爆香，加高汤，酱油烧开后放进排骨以小火焖煮至汤收半（约４５分钟），加红糟继续煮至汤汁即将收干即可。青江菜烫熟摆盘，码上排骨，上菜！
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材料：
猪肉大里肌一磅、红糟三汤匙、地瓜粉约一杯、菜油二杯。
调味料：
绍兴酒 3/4 杯 、糖一汤匙。
做法：
(1) 里肌肉切成约 0.3 公分厚度的肉片。讲究点的，可将肉片包于干净的塑胶袋内，再加以拍打使之变嫩。
(2) 红糟、酒、糖倒入容器内，搅拌均匀。
(3) 里肌肉片放进去上述容器，让红糟酱涂摸两面，再泡浸(marinate)隔夜存放于冰箱里。
(4) 第二天取出肉片，每片去沾放在一个大碗里的地瓜粉(用手稍压紧粉及肉)，排放在一个大盘子上，准备油炸之。
(5) 菜油二杯在锅中，先用高温把肉一片片投入油炸一下，后转为中火才不会变焦。约两三分钟熟后，即可捞起置于纸张上吸油，而后切片盛于盘中上桌。
Posted by renh at 04:33 PM | Comments (0)
intrigue n. 1. a. A furtive maneuver or plan: plot.
rosary n. 1. a series of prayers. 2. A string of beads for counting prayers.
Posted by renh at 03:54 PM | Comments (0)
April 04, 2008
enchanted
I watched No Country for Old Man several days ago. I totally didn't get it. What the hell is the movie trying tell? I couldn't see the point.
Then I watched Enchanted yesterday. Actually, I felt it is the right movie for me. Why? because Robert is a divorce lawyer! When I saw the stats for divorce rate in US and China is climbing up, I thought it must be a good career. So, I mentioned this notion to several people. Their facial expressions varied - stunned, surprised, and confused. My reason is that when the couple go to a divorce lawyer, they are already done with their relationship, and you are just trying to help them to sort things out. I don't think this is an evil career to profit out of others' misery.
This is a charming Disney movie. It quite funny. It's a perfect ending that the couples swapped partners. It's just too painful to watch Robert and Giselle fell in love but couldn't express themselves. In reality, stories don't always get this kind of fairy-tale ending. I empathized with Robert at the beginning, but was happily delighted when he was changed by Giselle.
Maybe I don't have taste, but I really think no country for old man is pure rubbish.
Posted by renh at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)