Um, sure, if you read some highly intellectual articles about this film either before or after viewing, you can get some insight into the technique and “message” - though the symbolism and “message” are crassly apparent enough that you don’t really need to- but even then what would the point be? Do we really need another american-culture-is-rooted-in-violence film? Do we need another dissolution of human body into landscape film? Another freudian sex/power/gender/violence portrait? Another make sure the audience is dis-entertained, uncomfortable, shocked, and unrewarded film? There are no new ideas here, and no new cinematic techniques.

I’m bewitched by the Franklin Fountain. I just don’t know what it is about that place. Every visit I’m sure to get their superlative pistachio ice cream, and this time a phosphate, which is such a perfectly refreshing beverage. That’s candied orange rind in there.

In Pittsburgh, at Dave & Andy’s, these two flavors of ice cream, together, are known as a Purple Cow. Apparently there are other concoctions known by this name too, but none could be so delicious as this. It is especially good with Dark Chocolate ice cream.

btw, the photo of the Purple Cow cone is provided courtesy of Fresh Peth at flickr.

I can’t say enough good about this but to say that I keep coming back to it over and over again.

Pistachio cholocate marble bundt cake is my favorite cake of all time. It is one of those retro recipes that uses ingredients like pudding mix, so it is pretty easy to make. It is very moist and flavorful. It has become my official birthday cake. Standard recipe can be found here.

Been on a muffin-making kick lately. These, made from a recipe here, are delicious!

For what its worth, I’ve really enjoyed most of Apatow’s other films/shows, so this was a real disappointment. Sure, there were some laughs, but the overall tone is needlessly crude and mean spirited. I can’t believe people think this movie is “sweet.” It was remarkably dismal and sad if you take it at face value, and a total jerk off fantasy if you take a more cynical view. Was it supposed to be some kind of unsentimental gander at the harsh realities of getting laid in California? A sympathetic look at unsympathetic, miserable, shallow characters? A cloying laugh-with-us-or-else gender fuck, I think. I laughed, but the laughs weren’t worth the sick feeling in the gut.

I am actually relieved to have finished this korean tv series. It was alarmingly addictive. Through the first six episodes I thought I’d throw in the towl – after all, its a pretty ludicrous premise – orphan gangsta guy with a bullet in his head goes back to korea to find the mother who gave him up and unleashes a most convoluted and implausible mish-mash of love triangles and hospitalizations. Then it got really oddly good in the middle. The constant parting and reuniting of paramours is at once hilariously silly and yet also excruciating. The actors all really grew on me, and the formula used by these shows, once you succumb to it, is very effective. And, as my husband needlessly points out, everyone is super cute. I did not like the end however. It made little sense, and the heroines actions were very out of character. I could go on, but I’ll save it for the next one.

My first dim sum… we skipped all the golden grandeur of the big joints in Chinatown and went instead to the very humble looking Lakeside Chinese Deli. The food was EXCELLENT, and dirt cheap. Service was fast and friendly. Awesome homey vibe in the place. Dishes I’ve disliked in other places were born anew for me here.

I am completely obsessed with this korean soap opera and would really love to hear recommendations for more that are similar. I’ve tried some others but they seem more geared to teenagers. If anyone can recommend another Korean melodrama similar to My Sweetheart My Darling please let me know!