Stargate Universe

I love science fiction, or more accurately I love good science fiction and so far Stargate Universe isn't it. Though the show technically has aired 4 episodes, not a single thing has happened so far, aside from the cast mindlessly walking around the massive alien ship bitching and moaning about their condition. Which is the fact that the ship they are trapped upon is swiftly running out of resources and power, which really is not all that interesting if you ask me. Especially when you realize that this show is just a different version of Star Trek Voyager, as they were stranded in a foreign Galaxy with no apparent way to get back home.


As for the overall level of acting on the show and the respective cast. The characters themselves are really not that interesting and a few of them are almost indistinguishable from one another, in both looks and feel, which let me tell you does not make for exciting television. And like I said, since all they do every episode is whine, moan and argue with one another, there has not any significant plot developments or character building/growth. Even film actor Robert Carlyle's presence has done nothing to improve the lackluster show, as he just appears to be an insane, argumentative megalomaniac for the time being.


The only point of interest so far has been that a previously undiscovered scout/spy ship was seen leaving the larger alien shipped named Destiny for points unknown. Whereas we can only assume some sinister plot has been set in motion, but as of yet we have no idea since nothing exciting has happened. There hasn't been any contact with any alien species as of yet either, and aliens have always played a large part of the Stargate TV and Movie franchise.

BIG SHOW at CSUN

Big Show, the 9th in an ongoing outdoor concert series for CSUN students hosted Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, DJ Felli Fel and a multitude of far East/cultural movement to CSUN this past saturday October 3rd (2009). Now I have personally never gone to a single Big Show, even when I was still a student at CSUN. Though the fact that I have not been a student there in the past 9 years might have a little something to do with that, seeing as I graduated in early 1997. Still it is something as a CSUN alumni I have been meaning to attend for awhile now, especially since the tickets used to be 100% free for CSUN students. Though this year they appear to be a mere $5.00, which is still not bad ( it is teh 1st year that CSUN charged it's students to attend). It also appears that other non CSUN students can attend as well, though they have to pay $15.00 for the festivities. Which aside from numerous live bands also feature exotic foods, crafts, merchandise for sale, ice cream, and even a ride or two. That is if you happen to consider a giant inflatable bouncy castle and slide as a ride. Though I imagine that is actually more for the kids who might attend with their parents or older siblings respectively.

Secret Santa: Oh how I hate you!

A few years ago my lovely step sister in Law ( I know modern family relations can be somewhat confusing), instigated Secret Santa for the entire family. Without really asking family members ahead of time what their feelings regarding the matter were, or at least I was never asked what my opinion was. Actually come to think about it, I am never consulted about any family issues. So that might just be my family's disfunctionality at work. Either way I absolutely hate Secret Santa, no matter what the reason behind it! For Secret Santa is something that co workers or strangers do, not actual family members. And to add further insult to injury the supposed reason behind my family's change over to Secret Santa was to save money, but aside from my my extended family is pretty well off if not moderately wealthy. Although they could

Transexuals: You are not fooling anyone!

Lately I have noticed quite a lot of Transsexuals in my neighborhood, more specifically while I am going to and from school while riding the bus/shame train. Which makes sense since a lot of Transsexuals cannot legally drive because their sex change status may or may not be legally recognized, especially if they went out of country to get their sexual reassignment in the first place ( I am not too familiar with the legalities or cost in the US, but apparently it is easier and cheaper outside the US). Normally I do not notice such individuals as I have some understandable prejudices against such individuals but recently the Transsexuals I have seen are not exactly what you would call lady-like in appearance. Nor are they what is called passable in any sense of the word, as some of them are 6 feet tall or taller and have nothing even remotely feminine about them. Which has always made me wonder why someone would go through something as expensive, drawn out and painful as a sex change all for the purpose of a masquerade you can't successfully pull off to begin with. It's not like they're fooling anyone, if anything they draw even more attention to themselves. Though I guess that is their intention, or at least partially.

Halloween Costume: Do I look like a little girl?

About a month ago I ordered my Halloween Costume. I plan to be a pilgrim for three separate Halloween or Halloween themed (costume) Parties. About a week ago I got a package from the costume company I placed my order with and the above picture is what I actually received. Now I don't know about you, but personally I don't think I look even remotely like the little white girl who would wear let alone fit into something like this! I mean I don't even think I could get it around one of my legs, much less wear the thing. Plus I am not into cross dressing at all, as I just do not see the appeal, even just once for Halloween ( I also happen to think I would make a very scary woman as large as I am and unlady-like in general appearance).


Naturally I called the customer service for the costume company regarding the mistake and had to wait for more than 5 minutes before actually having my problem addressed after the initial telephonic greeting. The customer service rep, who I am not even sure resides in the US, initially suggested that I ship the item back at my cost to the company before a replacement could be sent. I of course found this completely unacceptable and demanded that they correct their mistake at their cost, and thankfully they did. Sending me an email containing a postage paid mailing label as well as sending out correct costume item at the same time, which I am happy to report arrived yesterday and it actually fits! So now I am all set for my three Halloween parties and looking forward to being a pilgrim, albeit a rather large pilgrim. The only drawback is the Pilgrim top has Velcro clasps and the pants do not contain pockets, so I am not sure how I will carry my wallet and cash.

Cell Phone Updates: Number 3

Religion, recruiting at school, bus stops, costume arrived, zombieland, artists corner, movie review, ibk bars, bogen, frequency, music festivals. More later.

Dream a Little Dream: Part 2

Last night I had another rather bizarre dream. It seemed to take place on some sort of Zoo-like compound, with animals running around in the open and naturally able to speak. This was a dream after all. There were actual dormitories and open faces cages, where lions, elephants, giraffes and hippos roamed the compound freely, spoke perfect English and walked around upright. In this dream there was either a somewhat malicious hippo or an evil elephant in charge of everyone. I am not sure exactly as you know how characters and character details in dream can often change at random or for no discernible reason. The evil elephant (or hippo) in charge apparently could write changes into effect via some sort of computer key pad or palm pilot thing. Kind of like a super real life editor that would let him edit out or change anything he didn't like by simply changing the spelling of words. Like if you were about to hit him with a Brick, he could re write it to you had a nervous Tick and so on...I know, I know, but it's a dream after all and you can't always read too much into them.


In the dream I was also friends with a fly, which was rather bizarre as the fly never talked. Yet I was able to understand what the fly meant for some reason which was rather odd, but like I said it was a dream after all. At some point we both decided to go up against the malicious Hippo, and I think there was someone else there too. I just can't recall who it was, and if they were a real person or another animal?

Oven Baked Onion Rings

All recipes posted here are a composite of random recipes found online, in various cookbooks, taken from family, friends, neighbors and dishes/creations I have tried and/or made myself. Any similarity to people's personal or unique family recipes is purely coincidental, and no one actually owns the rights to any food combinations if you think about it. No matter how unique. Food for thought?!





INGREDIENT:
4 to 6 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg , at room temperature
1/2 cup buttermilk , at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
30 Saltine crackers
4 cups kettle-cooked potato chips , crumbled into smaller pieces
2 large yellow onions , cut evenly into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
6 tablespoons vegetable oil


See Illustrations Below: Deep-Fried Coating without the Deep Fryer

1. Adjust oven racks to lower-middle and upper-middle positions and heat oven to 450 degrees. Place 1/4 cup flour in shallow baking dish. Beat egg and buttermilk together in medium bowl. Whisk remaining 1/4 cup flour, cayenne, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper into buttermilk mixture. Pulse saltines and chips together in food processor until finely ground and place in separate shallow baking dish.

2. Pull apart the rings in each round, discarding any that are less than 2 inches in diameter. Working one at a time, dredge each onion ring in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in buttermilk mixture, allowing excess to drip back into bowl, then drop into crumb coating, turning ring to coat evenly. Transfer to large plate and repeat with remaining onion rings.

3. Pour 3 tablespoons oil onto each of two rimmed baking sheets. Place in oven and heat until just smoking, about 8 minutes. Carefully tilt heated sheets to coat evenly with oil, then arrange onion rings on sheets. Bake, flipping onion rings over and switching and rotating position of baking sheets halfway through baking, until golden brown on both sides, about 15 minutes. Transfer onion rings to plates lined with paper towels to drain briefly. Serve immediately.

MAKE AHEAD
Oven-Fried Onion Rings can be breaded in advance and refrigerated for up to an hour. Let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking; if baked straight from the fridge, the onions will not soften properly and will remain crunchy.

Crazy Talk

I have decided that I am going to have a separate section of my Blog for some rants that are pretty far out there or that for the most part will seem to be pretty insane or pure Crazy Talk if you will. With a multitude of posts that feature some pretty extreme opinions or beliefs that don't really fit into one of the more typical blog categories. Now the vast majority of these Blogs will be tongue in cheek, kind of like that whole Eat the Rich work of literature, so please do not take what I will have to say too seriously. It will only upset you and drive you crazy! And with that please enjoy the future posts in this new section and category!

Slightly Mature