Congrats to our friend, Lou Anders, who is poised to make the leap from professional editor to professional author next year with the release of his first novel Thrones and Bones: Frostborn, "a fantasy inspired by Norse folklore involving a dead Viking sea captain, wyverns, and a 1,200-year-old dragon." The release date is August of 2014,…
August 5, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews The Dark Knight Rises!
Dis movie remind monster of Snuffleupagus after last year's Oktoberfest: a big, bloated, confused mess dat hang around way too long after party end.Movie picks up 8 years after last one. Harvey Dent be dead and Gotham be organized crime free. Batman be gone and Bruce Wayne now a bitter whiner who walk around wit…
August 4, 2013: Japan Fest! How Many…?
Today, Akemi and I (and Bubba!) took in the annual Japan Festival on Powell Street... Bubba enjoys some kasu-sake ice cream: How Many... Have you seen? http://www.listchallenges.com/50-must-see-science-fiction-movies?ref=share. I've seen 40. Have you read? http://www.listchallenges.com/hugo-award-winning-novels-1946-2012-in. I've read 43. Have you watched? 100 Best TV Shows of All Time. I've watched 48. Have you eaten? http://www.listchallenges.com/foodie-list. Whoa! I've eaten…
August 3, 2013: Yes. AGAIN! Far East T.V.!
My oven is broken. "Ho ho!"you say. "Joe is running out of ideas for his blog! He did the old "my oven is broken" blog entry five months ago!" February 28, 2013: The Not-So-Lonely Maytag Repairman! True, but my oven is broken again. "Ha ha!"you say. "Joe is REALLY desperate for writing material. He already did…
August 2, 2013: An Atypical Day! News of Note!
People are a constant source of disappointment, and its because they're either psychotic, opportunistic, or just plain stupid. Chances are, you'll have to put up with at least one of the aforementioned on a daily basis and learning to deal with them has become a necessary tool of survival in today's society. As time goes…
August 1, 2013: Quest for the Akemi Cup!
Akemi loves a good Starbucks cappuccino, but the taste of those foam-topped semi-espressos is invariably laced with a touch of (non-coffee) bitterness due to the fact that the baristas can never seem to get her name right. "Akemi,"she tells them. "A-ke-mi!". And they'll nod and head off to make her drink and then, when it's…
July 31, 2013: Upcoming Under the Radar Movies to Look Forward To! Or Not!
THE ARTIST AND THE MODEL Release Date: August 2, 2013 What it’s about: In 1943 occupied France, a beautiful young refugee changes the life of a famous sculptor. What it’s got working for it: Great reviews. What’s it’s got going against it: Potentially painfully pretentious. EUROPA REPORT Release Date: August 2, 2013 What it’s about:…
July 30, 2013: Upcoming Movie Releases to Look Forward to! Or Not!
2 GUNS Release Date: August 2, 2013 What it’s about: A DEA agent and a U.S. naval intelligence officer become unlikely allies in an off-book effort to take down the criminals who set them up. What it’s got working for it: Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington are the Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg of our…
July 29, 2013: Our Movie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews Stargate!
Monster not familiar wit Stargate series starring MacGyver and RuPaul so left somewhat confused by dis film dat be reminiscent of de old Crosby and Hope road movies - but wit more killing and androgyny. Movie open in distant past where revival of de musical Hair get awaken while sleeping on a giant soundstage. Wind…
July 28, 2013: Summer in Vancouver; Christmas in Tokyo!
Vancouver is beautiful in the summer and, given the choice, you wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Of course, a couple of months down the line, and things change. Mainly, the weather. September kicks off "the rainy season" here that runs through, well, most of the year, ending sometime in May, April if you're lucky.…
July 27, 2013: Books! Dogs! And foodtrucks!
My latest book haul. As I mentioned in yesterday's entry, my days of shopping at the local Indigo/Chapters mega-chain are a thing of the past. Instead, I'm supporting the smaller, independent bookstores - in this instant, White Dwarf Books (WHITE DWARF BOOKS - Dead Write Books) over on 10th Avenue. It's your one stop shop…
July 26, 2013: It’s simple really. Just don’t get on my bad side…
"How long are you going to be?"asked Akemi as I parked the car. "Ten, fifteen minutes,"I said. "Okay,"she said. "I'll wait in the car." "No, you'd better come with me,"I said and then proceeded to tell her about the article I read this morning concerning a woman who was charged with animal cruelty for leaving…
July 25, 2013: Six-Eyes, YoYo and The Spider!
Lately, Akemi, presumably too bothered to put in her contacts, has taken to wearing her glasses when she's out and about - and, on sunny days, her sunglasses as well. That's "as well" as in "in addition to" rather than "instead of". As a result, I've taken to calling her Six Eyes.Which brought me back…
July 24, 2013: Your embarrassing childhood photos!
When Akemi sent me the above pic, my initial reaction was: "Who's that goofy pudgy boy on the left?". Well, I'm sure you can guess. That goofy pudgy boy blossomed into this - not so pudgy though no less goofy girl: Yep. People change A LOT between ages 2-5 and 21+. A quick visit to…
July 23, 2013: Akemi on a culinary tear! And Cookie Monster’s next movie review will be…
This morning, I woke up to this: And, later, came home to these: These delectable chocolate ganache macarons are just the latest in the long line of culinary creations Akemi has put her little heart into. Check 'em out... I feel fortunate that her interests don't run to less delicious pursuits like macrame or the…