The final chapter?

How Harry Potter really ends.

At least, according to Dan Kois. Whom I trust wholeheartedly because he use to write the LOST recaps on TWoP.

Fast Times at Hero High

It's Wednesday, which is normally new comic book day for me, but I won't have a chance to go by the store. Stupid work. Luckily, I found this very funny video to help me deal with the pain of waiting a day for my comics:


Fast Times at Hero High
Posted Dec 24, 2003

Superheroes weren't always super. See what they were like in high school!

Recipe Tuesday: Salmon Barbecue, Smokey Dipping Sauce, and Gourmet Vegetables

Salmon Barbecue:

Ingredients:
2 ounces baby Swiss cheese (1/5 bar)
1 1/2 pounds fresh salmon (ask for skin to be removed)
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon roasted garlic

1. Preheat 2-sided tabletop grill George Foreman grill. Cut cheese into 8 thin slices.
2. Cut salmon into 4 portions; then butterfly salmon. (To butterfly, lay salmon flat. Slice through center of salmon, leaving 1/2-inch uncut to hold top and bottom slices together.) Place cheese inside salmon; fold closed (wash hands). Combine barbecue sauce, olive oil, and garlic in shallow bowl.
3. Dip bottom of salmon into barbecue mixture; place on grill (wash hands). Spoon remaining barbecue mixture over top of salmon. Close lid and grill 3–4 minutes or until cheese melts and fish is opaque and separates easily with a fork. Serve.

Smoky Dipping Sauce:

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
1 teaspoon roasted garlic
1 green onion

1. Combine all ingredients (except onion) in small bowl.
2. Chop green onion finely; stir into mixture. Chill until ready to serve.

Gourmet Vegetables:

Ingredients:
1 (12-ounce) bag fresh snipped green beans
1 (12-ounce) bag fresh microwaveable baby carrots
3/4 cup water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt

1. Place beans, carrots, and water in microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on HIGH 8 minutes, stirring once, or until vegetables begin to soften.
2. Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Place oil in pan; swirl to coat. Add sesame seeds; cook 2–3 minutes, stirring often, or until golden.
3. Drain vegetables thoroughly and add to pan; sprinkle with seasoned salt. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until vegetables are tender. Serve. (Makes 6 servings.)

This is probably the greatest meal I've ever made. Mom liked it so much, she made it for dinner tonight. I'm taking the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I might even make it again on Friday (my next night off). It is SO GOOD. Even Ralph liked it, and he usually hates his salmon to have anything other than lemon juice and Mrs. Dash on it. The customers loved it so much, I ran out of food the first time I made it. THAT NEVER HAPPENS - after 30 minutes, I'm supposed to toss whatever is left. Usually, that's half the pan. Today, I ran out of food while people were still waiting in line to try it. My mind = blown. Mind Explosion!

And now, some sad TV news...

One of my childhood heroes, Mr. Wizard, died today. That is too sad. I remember going to a science museum when I was younger (Fernbank, or possibly Sci-Trek, which was awesome and should never have closed) and actually getting the chance to meet him. I still have a copy of the book he autographed and gave out that day - a collection of science experiments you could perform in your kitchen using household chemicals. Good stuff.

Two great tastes that taste great together!

Veronica Mars being canceled? Craptacular.

Reading that DC might be publishing S4 in comic book form? Awesomeness!

I'm guessing we can thank the success of the Buffy S8 comic for this second chance. I'm wondering if more beloved-and-canceled TV shows will be resurrected as comics. There was a Firefly 3-parter to fill in gaps between the show and the movie, but I'd love to see that as a monthly.

I haven't been this excited about anything VM-related since I was flipping channels a few nights ago and realized that Jason Dohring played that obnoxious kid who told Elijah Wood he was going to be getting lots of sex after discovering the comet that was going to destroy the world in Deep Impact. This almost makes up for the fact that the CW is basically forcing me to watch Gossip Girl by casting Kristen Bell to do the voice-overs.

Spins a web, any size...

Interesting article found on Slashdot: New nanoglue shrinks chips and sticks like Spiderman:

A new inexpensive nanoglue that becomes stronger as it heats up could redefine the way computer chips are made and even pave the way for Spiderman-esque web-shooting devices in the near future, according to its creator.

I can just imagine all the trouble kids would get into with something like that. Cool idea, though.

Silver quarters

To promote the new Fantasic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer movie, 20th Century Fox and The Franklin Mint "color enhanced" 40,000 California statehood quarters with an image of the Surfer, and are releasing them throughout the country during Memorial Day weekend. And now, the government is getting involved, saying that neither the studio nor the Mint got the government's permission to alter the quarters (and also, that it's illegal to use currency for advertisement purposes), meaning they could both face fines.

Well, I think it's pretty crass to slap an advertising gimmick on our money, but I'm also a hypocrite and a comic book geek, so I'll be on the lookout for one. I also find it ridiculous that the government has waited until now to get involved with The Mint and their nefarious altering of our precious quarters. Aren't these the same people who offered "color enhanced" versions of the statehood quarters? Was anything done about those?

After searching their site, I couldn't find the color enhance quarters, but I did find this "special edition" "Season's Greetings" Silver Eagle dollar, which costs $39.95. For a $1 coin with a crappy paint job, protective cover, and display box. I can't believe people actually buy this stuff.

So, the studio and the Mint may face fines, or some other slap on the wrist penalty, for altering US currency and using it to advertise a movie. But look at all the free advertising they're getting!

I'm pissed about it, but more because my chances of actually getting my hands on one have significantly decreased. But I have placed the cashiers at the store on full alert, so there's hope someone may come across one...

Potato Wave

When I was in high school, Pearl Jam was my favorite band. I was in love with Eddie Veder and I had that "9 out of 10 kids prefer crayons to guns" t-shirt which I used to wear at least once a week (with my flannel, of course). So that's probably one reason why I find this video so amusing:



Another reason it that it reminds me of this other video:



'Cause Fall Out Boy is unintelligible, get it? Hee.

Girl en mode groovy

This video is oddly hypnotic:

GIRL EN MODE GROOVY
Uploaded by fabr77

Red Rover

So now NASA's discovered evidence of water on Mars. Between that and the "Goldilocks" planet, I hope we're not headed for a real-life reenactment of Mission to Mars. Mainly because that movie sucked. Except for that part at the end, when a fellow audience member yelled out, "Spoon!" - that was actually pretty funny...