Review: "Pushing Daisies" Season One

Fantastic! Very very funny. Bizarre, but brilliant. I watched the whole season in two sittings, and wished that I had season two waiting on the shelf. It's a show about murdered people. People that can talk, if only for sixty seconds. After that, it back to that land of the dead. I know the premise doesn't sound funny, but it truly is. It's a fairy tale like story, about a man named Ned, and a woman who's not dead (Her name is Chuck, and he's a pie maker.) and the very, er, distant relationship they have while he runs a pie shop and helps a Private Investigator solve mysteries. Murders mostly.

Please excuse me, while I go add seasons one and two to my wish list...

Reviewing "Stargate Atlantis" Season Three

I've just completed watching the third season of "Stargate Atlantis" on DVD. It was fantastic.

Although the Wraith were not as prevalant in this season as in times past, when they did show their ugly, pale faces, they presented unique and interesting challenges for Weir, Shepard and company to overcome.

The time not spent on the Wraith was filled with character development, new people introduced (Meredith's sister ) old enemies revisited (the Jenni), new enemies encountered (a new breed of Replicators) and some out-of-this-universe conundrums.

WARNING: Big Spoiler!

My biggest complaint of the season was, and it's a real doozy, the manner in which Dr. Carter Beckett died. The fact that he died at all, I object to because I liked everything about him; from his accent to his manner, to -well, everything.

I could have lived with his death if only he had died in a worthy manner. Worthy meaning he spent his last few minutes removing an exploding tumor from a person. I don't count Little Nobodies whom you've never seen before, and will never see again, as people. (In the context of fiction.)

Dr. Beckett ought to have been given the honor of giving his life for someone whom we, the audience, actually care about. Tala, Ronan, Zalanka. Even Lorren would have been OK. But to cut off his life for a faceless man? I call it a waste and a shame.

Red Eye Freeze

I spent the night at my Grandma's house last night. I stayed up too late, again. TVs really are insidious devices. This time it was the fault of "Star Trek Enterprise" and JustOneMore-itus.

So there I was this morning, dragging myself out of bed at 06.00 hours {6am} red eyed and yawning my head off. I don't normally have trouble getting up in the morning, but when you add a late night on top of a two strikes weekend, it adds up.

On the few occasions that I've tried coffee I have been highly disappointed. The stuff smells great, but it's just so bitter. I decided that if I was going to be operating a motor vehicle it would be best to do it while awake. (I know I've read somewhere that those who sleep while driving have a higher death rate than those who drive while awake.)

My grandma has instant coffee at her house, but it's been just as bad as the regular beverage. I decided to try an experiment. I mixed ice cream, banana a few shots of cream (which my Grandma got from "Jack-In-The-Box" last time she was there, for my breakfast. She only drinks non-fat milk. Ugg.) and a super strong shot of coffee.

I could barely taste the coffee. Perfect! It made a good breakfast all by it's self too. I'm happy to be able to inform you that I made it to work in one piece this morning. Thank the LORD for caffeine.

Here's what I did, in detail.

• Ingredients

  
  
• 1 cup ice cream (I used spumoni, but pure chocolate would have been better)


• 3 creams from J.I.T.B.


• 3 Tbl. milk (I used non-fat but would prefer whole.)


• 1 Tbl. instant coffee


• 1 ripe banana



• Directions

  
  
• Nuke (er, heat) milk in microwave for 20 seconds. Add instant coffee and mix well. Place in freezer.


• Smash banana to a chunky pulp.


• Place ice cream and banana in cup. Mix well. Use creams to aid the mixing process.


• Add the coffee. Mix more.


• I didn't have time, but if you put it in the freezer for a few minutes (maybe 1-3), I think it would enhance it.