spaceghostess

Oh, no. NO. I didn't even have to watch one second of the video to know exactly what this shit was because it's burned into my synapses. This spot ran incessantly when I was a preteen (you know: a tagalong tomboy making a scene). My brother and I are the same number of years apart as the creepy brother and his sister in the ad, and we both found it excruciating. My mom, however, thought it was adorable and charming and liked to remark that the commercial reminded her of us!? I wish I could say she was being blisteringly sarcastic, but no, she was completely, cluelessly serious. I'm happy to report that I was never homecoming queen, nor did I spend any meaningful life moments in McDonald's with my brother leering at me. Thus began my lifelong hatewatch of all McDonald's ad campaigns. My brother, after graduating from Tisch, became . . . a producer of t.v commercials. In his long and illustrious career, he's never had a hand in anything this hideous.

I also wondered why nobody was using parchment. I prepare the pizza on the parchment and deposit both on the super-hot stone. Bake, slide parchment and pizza off the stone, and we're in business! I was meh on Italian Week. Or maybe just frustrated by it because there isn't a chance in hell to get decent (or any) sfogliatelle where we live.

Wow. I was livid when I watched a documentary about what happened w/Franklin, Crick, and Watson a few years ago. I thought it was a worldwide thing that she wasn't credited for her contributions; now I find out that no, it may well have only been here in America that she was basically eradicated from history. Nice. And yup, my bio texts--both high school and college levels--were all Crick & Watson. On topic: We were thrilled when Liam won Star Baker. He's adorable; all youthful exuberance and just the right amount of sass in the face of Hollywood. Was a bit surprised when he decided to mold his pastry the "traditional" way after all, but it worked out for him in the end, so yay!

Yes! I keep expecting someone to find one of her hairs baked in, since they can fall out of the front of your head just as easily as the back. I host an Airbnb where I bake for guests, and I'm obsessive about tying back my hair and making sure there are no stray strands on my shirt before I get started. Shedding in food is a personal nightmare of mine; finding a hair in my food would be enough to put me off a restaurant forever.

PM'd you! :)

Heeee--I saw what you did there!

Yup, I noticed the side-eye there, too; I even rewound and watched her expression again. She was starting to get Amma's number.

Heh, that's a term recovering victims of narcissists use; FMs really do live up to the name, though! On topic: I also had issues with the construction of the show. Still, I thought they captured the mood of Wind Gap perfectly.

Me, too--but I was momentarily taken out of the scene by the fact that Camille wasn't recycling.

I'm not so sure about this. One of the things I thought both book and show got right was the portrayal of narcissism. Narcissists are expert at identifying those who will be sucked in by their charisma and subsequently provide narcissistic supply (i.e. continuous ego stroking and /or willing service) to the narc. Once secured, these followers (it's a very cult-like dynamic) will do all manner of seemingly uncharacteristic things, including: looking the other way as the narcissist commits heinous acts (Alan); lying to protect the narcissist (Alan) as they continue to be manipulated by the narcissist (Alan, Windgap residents, the Murderettes). The Murderettes were Amma's Flying Monkeys, i.e. the most aggressive variety of narcissist enablers. Because they've been manipulated to the point that they connect their sense of self worth to the success of the narc, Flying Monkeys and "regular" followers often exhibit very strong loyalty to the narc, to the point that they'll lie (and worse) to just about anyone to protect their leader. (Ahem. Not going into how we've been seeing this dynamic play out in national headlines for the past two years.) Don't mean to sound preachy; it's just that I was married to a malignant narcissist for 16 years. I was never a Flying Monkey for him, but I certainly grew to accept many of his bizarre and abusive behaviors as "normal", even as I rebelled against others. When I finally began pushing back hard, he became downright evil and, during our divorce, he and his monkeys came after me big-time. It was actually quite terrifying. The creepiest thing about it was that I later realized I'd provided such a good front of normalcy for him (which was, it turned out, my primary function--and I was GREAT at it, whoo hoo) that people would glimpse his true colors, only to wave away their suspicions because my very stable presence rubbed off on him. Several people--including his sister and his oldest friend--told me afterward that they thought I'd "changed him for the better". In other words he'd always been this variety of prick, but they thought he'd turned over a new leaf with me. Only a fly on the wall would know otherwise. Heh, the above lengthy tome was just to say that Alan might be a tougher interrogation subject than you think. :)

Seven months late to the party, but wanted to say that I hate Bud/love the Clydesdales . . . and they came to our town last March to appear in the annual week-after-St. Patrick's Day Irish Parade! They stayed at the Seaport Museum (one of our major local attractions), where a fancy, portable stable was set up for them. They had visiting hours when you could go in and I got a nice photo of my kids with them. Beautiful, immaculately groomed, and very chill animals. They look even better in person and seem to know it. :)

OMG, I didn't realize that was her son . . . I just assumed it was a character who was supposed to be her younger boyfriend. Oh *gag* no.

THIS. They have him acting like some hard-sell PED/under-the-counter Viagra dealer. I have, unfortunately, suffered prolonged exposure to these spots because of my addiction to MST3K and Rifftrax reruns on PlutoTV. If I had to choose among the three different ads with ol' Frank hawking these "supplements", the one I hate the least has F.T.'s image coming to life, first on a bus and then a billboard, in order to convince some hapless guy in a car that he NEEEEEDS to buy and take this ASAP in order to fix himself. As cheesy as the original ad is, what I actually find disturbing is that the name of the product rhymes with eugenics, FFS. Nobody involved with this campaign, including Frank Thomas's agent, realized this? Yeesh. Heh, one of the 15-second spots came on as I wrote this post.

Yep, I cracked up at his distracted "Pigman" (TM Seinfeld) expression. Loved it; the editors must have, too--they showed it twice! Even with piggy face, John's just so pretty, and talented, and sweet. His partner's one lucky guy. As for digestives, I lived for years in Yonkers (NY), near McLean Avenue, a famous Irish neighborhood. We used to go to a store there that sold all sorts of British stuff, too, including McVities. The plain ones are great with cheese (or even cream cheese) and the chocolate ones? Mmm. Supermarkets in our section of the city also sold them. Alas, I can't get 'em here in Mystic--and now I want to try the Tunnock's tea cakes, too. Time to place an order, methinks.

As a lover of all sorts of foods other people find disgusting--including the southern Italian preparations of kidneys, chicken livers, tripe, and dried cod on which I was raised--I had no issues with either the eel pie or meat pie concepts and would be happy to try them. As the ex-wife of a Englishman, I've visited the UK many times and eaten all sorts of things, including Cornish pasties in Cornwall, scones with real clotted cream and strawberries in Devon, and haggis in the Highlands. (liked it!) Sure, I get it that tastes vary, but it felt like Paul was talking out his ass a bit with the generalizations about American pies. A couple of posters mentioned banoffee, and that's the first thing that sprang to my mind while watching the episode, too. I mean, sweetened condensed milk plus bananas plus toffee is really sweet, and he seems to like it just fine. Also, those many meringue-based desserts that he and Mary Berry seem to so enjoy? C'mon, Hollywood. A good pie--whatever its origins-- is, to me, a not overly sweet one, and I've had plenty of traditional American ones that strike just the right balance. I love pecan pie, which many people find too sweet, but I've had a couple of bakery ones that are just right. When I make it, I toast the pecans to the point that they'll *almost* get too dark during baking. I also use a savory crust, which balances out the sweetness beautifully. I wonder if there's a perception of less sweeteness in British treats because many use spices and dried fruit? My ex's favorite thing is Dundee cake (Scottish), which I used to make him for his birthday. It's got lots of dried fruit in it and almonds on top. Most recipes I've seen used glace (similar to maraschino) cherries, but I've always refused to add them or candied peel, which many recipes also feature. I use regular zests--lemon and orange--a variety of dried fruits, and the nuts, of course. The thing is, it's a cake with plenty of sugar, plus the sweetness of the fruit--but the way the flavors balance, it doesn't seem as sweet when you eat it, if you know what I mean? Also, the texture is a bit heavier than, say, a Victoria sponge--it has to be to support the fruit. Also, some traditional British puddings have lots of sugar, but also lots of spices (and booze) that may make them taste less sweet to people. So I wonder if that might have something to do Paul's harsh take? Mmm, getting the urge to bake a Dundee cake. Now that I'm divorced, the fruits of my labors would be ALL MINE (and the kids'). It's really just so nice with a cup of tea and some very sharp cheddar. :)

Heh, that's me with my favorite neighbor--except my offerings are more of the muffins, cookies, and slabs-of-birthday-cake-I-just made-for-kids variety. Also, I am far less charming and impecabbly dressed than Brandon as I shamble over the hedge in my sweats. I'm nowhere near bake-off caliber skills, but the kids get to choose any cake they want from TV, the internet, or whichever cookbooks/magazines I have lying around, and I WILL (with the exception of ice cream cake) make it. Upcoming this year: Washington Cream Pie (actually a cake) from America's Test Kitchen Great American Cakes mag for the older one; and a cake "that looks like a 2x2 Lego brick" for the little one. As for my neighbor, he returns the favor by giving me stuff from his garden and letting the kids play with his dog and helping me carry heavy things into the house. IOW, by being neighborly. :) We're farther ahead now with the episodes (yay, Passport!), but yeah, I was ready to see Stuart go a while before this. He got off easy in prior episodes by failing just marginally less than other contestants.

OMG, yes. Both mentions of Manisha running home every day after work to cook for and serve the ADULT males in her family prompted pointed commentary from me to my two sons (ages 12 and 7).

The Upper West Side (original location, not the hipster knockoff) H&H made the best bagels I've EVER had, hands down. My dad, who was in the Met Opera orchestra, would stop over after a show and buy a couple big big bagsful of assorted. Then he'd drive the 20 minutes or so home and we'd be gorging at 12 a.m. on so-fresh-they-were-still-warm rings of crusty/chewy deliciousness. And then my mom would slice the remaining gazillion bagels in half and try to fit them in the freezer. Good times. My sons and I are enjoying this "classic" season. As far as this ep, there was much discussion--i.e., lecturing from me--regarding what's a bagel and what isn't. Def. agree with those for whom glazed/iced doesn't rate. Poor kids'll never get their teeth on a decent bagel where we live now (although we're lucky to live within walking distance of Sift, which is some consolation). I won't touch those weird, mutant pretenders in the supermarket. A few of the contestants produced things that looked right, at least. I'm such a snob about it, I don't even know if I trust Paul Hollywood to judge what constitutes a "real" bagel.

Re the scars, I saw them all over her, from neck to ankles, shoulders to wrists, and across her back--although I couldn't read what most of them said. My t.v is HD, but on the older side, and I really should be wearing glasses when watching. Of course, having read the book, I was waiting for them, so that may have helped my "focus". Maybe how much light is in the room where you watch might also have something to do with how easy/difficult the scars are to pick up? I actually really liked how most of them were very light in color, as old scars would (eventually) be.

Hee--I mentally cast Ruffalo while reading the book! I can take or leave Messina, based on other roles in which I've seen him. Not a lot for him to do this episode, so I'll reserve judgment for now.

Cracks me up that this, of all projects, is Adams and Messina's Julie and Julia reunion.

Heee! I, too, would be doomed. I don't even have a garage; I have a shed out back ("There's something nasty in the woodshed!"), which is hardly helpful, regardless of whatever I might have in there that could be used for protection. What's in there, anyway? A snow shovel, a rusty pair of manual hedge trimmers, and a manual lawnmower. My poor kids--we're all in deep shit if The Purge is scheduled during my custodial time. The fact that the car wouldn't break through the garage door(s) flummoxed me until I saw that it was iced shut. Running water in a home shut down for the winter bothered me more, but I was fan-waving stuff left and right--more than I usually would--for some reason.

Yes, I really enjoyed her work in Shetland. Loved that show (and the Welsh one, Hinterland. ;)) Give me a moody detective working a British Isles locale with "land" at the end of it, and I'm yours, apparently.

Yes! Thanks for that. :)

I somehow missed most of the Morse series back in the '80s & '90s (although I liked the ones I caught), but Inspector Lewis was my jam from minute one. Endeavour is moodier--and I love it so much that I squee whenever the previews for a new series pop up on my PBS stream. Agree with those who were okay with Joan in this first episode. I was really frustrated with her by the end of last season/series, but she seems on more solid ground now. The fact that Win is no longer suffering as a result of her daughter's disappearing act is also helping me be more patient with whatever Joan's current deal is. All Endeavour episodes grab me, albeit some more than others. This wasn't one of my favorites, but I did get a kick out of the new Thames Valley Constabulary because I happen to live in the Thames Valley myself . . . in southeastern Connecticut. The city of New London is at the mouth of our Thames, which flows into the Long Island Sound. But the river here is a mere 15 miles long. To me, "TVC" stands for Thames Valley Communications, our janky local cable operator. I also really enjoyed the Artemesia Gentileschi references, since I just happen to be reading an excellent historical novel about her. Oh, and I want Alan Cumming to introduce all the shows I watch because he is THE BEST. Diana Rigg was also great back in the day. Remember when Masterpiece Theater had an intro? I even remember watching Alastair Cooke when I was very small. Laura Linney did only a couple of intros for the revamp before she became a disembodied voice.