I've been reading Marion Nestle's Pet Food Politics, a book that details the mass 2007 tainted pet food recall and its far-reaching implications. For those of you who don't know, back in 2007, cats and dogs started dying under mysterious circumstances. Panicked pet owners contacted the FDA which, in turn, contacted pet food companies. Ensuing tests…
March 30, 2012: Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! And chocolate.
So I was in bed last night, dreaming about the end of the world (don't recall the details but I do remember we only got a days advance warning - fairly typical of the government), when I was awakened by the sound of something hitting the floor - kerplunk! I sat up, assuming it had come…
March 29, 2012: In Japan, the dogs go “waan waan”, the cats go “nyan nyan”, and the sheep go “meeeeeeeeh”!
Since returning from Tokyo in early February, I've set aside about an hour every day to study hiragana and katakana, two of Japan's syllable-based writing systems. Each contain about 48 characters, some frustratingly similar in appearance (like many of you, I occasionally have trouble distinguishing between シ and ッ,or ザ and せ), others so downright bizarre you would think they…
March 28, 2012: Shooting the horror trailer!
Former Stargate Special Features Producer Ivon Bartok is helming the trailer that will accompany my horror script when it eventually goes out. He's been at it for weeks now - shooting, sourcing, editing. The trailer, as envisioned, breaks down into five section (and subsequent sub-sections) and we've got two of four done. Of course, depending…
March 27, 2012: Pugs on the Beach!
With the warm(ish) weather upon us, I decided to treat the gang to a morning at the beach. Coincidentally, the last Sunday of every month is Pugs at the Beach so it worked out perfectly - minus the biting wind and fact that only about a dozen pugs showed. Bubba, impatient as always, couldn't wait…
March 26, 2012: The Supermovie of the Week Club Reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Batman (1989)!
Finally, a supermovie dat not completely suck. Only partz involving wet noodle main charakters, a butler who can't keep a sekret, and bad guyz dancing to Prince. Movie star wit family lost in big city. Dad say he know where dey going. Yeh. Me know too. Straight to Hell! He lead dem down desserted alley…
March 25, 2012: Last Dinner at Refuel!
This was the message that greeted diners on Refuel's final night of service last evening. Akemi and I showed up for our 6:00 p.m. reservation to find the place packed. We were greeted by the friendly staff, then welcomed by the ever-affable Katherine who informed us it would be a big curtain closer on account…
March 24, 2012: Dogs eating ice cream!
The sun is out, spring is in full bloom, and that can only mean one thing. It's THAT time of year, time for...DOGS EATING ICE CREAM:
March 23, 2012: Needy pugs! A beautiful partnership! And Happy Belated International Macaron Day!
"Nothing ruins a dog walk like a hole in a poopy bag." - Me, yesterday. Back when we first moved to Vancouver twelve years ago, we looked into adopting a pug from a local pug rescue, but the process proved so difficult and time-consuming that we gave up and went the breeder route instead. And it's…
March 22, 2012: Top 10 Natsukashii T.V. Themes!
The Japanese have a word: "natsukashii". There's no direct English equivalent but the closest I can come up with is "nostalgia", a fond remembrance of things past. They say that smell is one of the biggest memory triggers - which is why I dedicate a different cologne to each chapter of my life: John Varvatos…
March 21, 2012: A mini Stargate reunion! Last lunch at Refuel! NFL update! Sucker Punch! AND a mailbag!
Another Stargate mini-reunion of sorts the other night. I got the chance to catch up with some old friends over nachos and ale, several of whom you'll no doubt recognize from such places as twitter, Stargate behind-the-scenes features, and this very blog. It's good to hear everybody's keeping busy - but hopefully not too busy…
March 20, 2012: Odd Eats!
What's the oddest thing you've eaten recently? Now when I say odd, I'm talking about odd "to you". For instance, some of the food I've eaten over the course of my travels to Asia would be considered odd by many while I would consider the same items singular at worst. Whether its lamb neck, sea…
March 19, 2012: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Superman IV: The Quest for Peace!
Wow. Superman IV VERY impressive. It achieve someting not even General Zodd and Leks Luthor able to do = kill off Superman. After dis movie, Hollywood say: "Okay. Time for Superman V!" and audiencez everywhere say: "Aaah, don't bodder. We good. Tanks." And Superman go to sleep for twenty years until someone else get…
March 18, 2012: Another Dog Day Afternoon! Checking the spam bin!
So, what's the weather like in your neck of the woods? Here in Vancouver (it being Vancouver) it's been mostly overcast, cold, and rainy. But yesterday, there was a rare break of sunshine, a sneak peek at the summer weather to come. My dogs, of course, were quick to point out that it was perfect…
March 17, 2012: Kitchen triumphs! Out and about! How to treat a migraine?! And a mini mailbag!
So, while I've been busy writing, rewriting, pitching, re-pitching, doing meetings and conference calls, Akemi has been taking English classes, taking care of the dogs, and cooking cooking cooking! Last week, she made siu long bao's for the first time. Then, last night, she tried her hand at a Chuck Hughes (owner of my second…