So here it is, the big Summer 2009 movies list. Summer and Fall tend to be my two favorite movie times of the year, spring is always painful with never much choice. Summer usually brings with it a handful of Huge Blockbuster hopefuls, lots of special effects, and a variety of comedies. Fall movies tend to also have some pretty good comedies and it’s when you’ll find some of the best dramas of the year. My list jumps all over the place from predictable Blockbuster to independent comedy, there’s even a dark ScFi on the list this time. If you watch any of the below movies, please share your comments as we all figure out what to watch this summer.

5/15 - Angels & Demons (trailer | RT)
5/29 - The Brothers Bloom (trailer | RT)
6/5 - Away We Go (trailer | RT)
6/12 - Moon (trailer | RT)
7/1 - Public Enemies (trailer | RT)
7/10 - Bruno (trailer | RT)
7/10 - Weather Girl (trailer | RT)
7/17 - 500 Days of Summer (trailer | RT)
7/19 - Whatever Works (trailer | RT)
7/24 - Adam (trailer | RT)
7/31 - Funny People (trailer | RT)
8/7 - Cold Souls (trailer | RT)
8/14 - The Goods (trailer | RT)
9/4 - Extract (trailer | RT)

The combination of social movements or advocacy and music isn’t anything new…. as long as there have been causes people are passionate about, someone will be right there to write a song about it.  Sometimes though, the meaning behind a song as the original lyricist wrote it isn’t always the way it will be most remembered.

For my birthday this year Lydia got me tickets to “The Killers” concert in Seattle coming up later this week.  The Killers have become a favorite of mine over the last few years, often being my “go to music” regardless of mood or setting.  If you haven’t heard the band’s newest album “Day in Age“, go take a peek, every song stands on its own and is fun to listen to. It should be a great show…. you’ll have to ask me how it goes!

The social justice movement “Invisible Children” is focused on exposing atrocities around the world, specifically the exploitation of children in third world countries.  One of their main focuses and subject of the film that initially launched the whole organization is regular abduction of children in northern Uganda by a local terrorist group. This group then uses these children as soldiers in their long running conflict with the Ugandan government. As a response children between the ages of 3 and 17 will walk up to 12 mi daily from internally displaced person camps to larger towns in search of safety. In 2006 Invisible Children organized an event across the United States in order to draw US Foreign Policy attention to this issue, thousands of people in over 40 cities commuted to a central location in their town and slept outside. The demonstration drew significant media attention and was a powerful kickoff to the groups new voice in advocacy.

Merging the two: After the 2006 event Invisible Children created a online video to connect with those who participated, and recap what had been done. The video features a Killers song entitled “All These Things That I’ve Done” in which the anthem line ‘I got soul but I’m not a soldier’ is lip-synced by students in the US, along with children in Uganda. It takes the song from being background music to becoming the driving force behind the video, giving new meaning to the lyrics as it goes - making the song about the children in Uganda who struggle every day to avoid becoming a soldier in a war they don’t want to fight. Watching this video on the Invisible Children website a few years back was the first time I had heard the song and was thrilled a few months later when listening to “Hot Fuss” and realized what the connection was.

Take a look at the video below, its pretty sweet.

links:

(click here) for more info on Invisible Children, their movie and upcoming events

(click here) for full lyrics to “All These Things that I’ve Done” by the Killers

(click here) for more info on the band “The Killers”

I seem to have hit some type of internet treasure cove of comedy this evening, lots of quality stuff….  why not share?

“Look Around You” (Video)

A 2005 BBC comedy that poses itself as a 1980’s science and technology educational program… It’s like the Office meets “321 Contact”.  It’s been shown recently on Adult Swim as well.

“Dynamic Pawn” (Video)

A hidden web gem, this amazing Pawn shop commercial must be from another decade itself, but don’t take it’s advice on how to choose a gift for your loved one. (Crazy Bruce’s Liquor also gets a nod for amazing commercial).

“You Look Nice Today” (Website)

It’s always good to find a quality podcast, and I think this one might be going on heavy rotation on my iPod soon.  The website describes the show this way; “You Look Nice Today is an audio-based Journal of Emotional Hygiene… The three hosts met on Twitter.com, and soon realized that none of them had anything better to do than this. And Twitter.”  If this just sounds like a few nerds recording a podcast, you’re right… but its very funny, and occasionally/regularly features John Hodgeman.

“Stuff That Insists On Being Looked At” (Website)

A Cool photoblog

Funny Newspaper Ad Parody (Video)

Ok, this one somehow makes me very happy, and is incredibly funny…. but it isn’t a video about “Kittens inspired by Kittens” so I don’t get it.  Maybe its because I want to have a snobby East Coast sense of humor - I think this might fall into that category. Regardless, it makes fun of newspapers - and features Michael Ian Black, along with Paul Rudd… so it must be good.

“Japanese Dole Banana Commercial” (Video)

Late addition to this evening’s list - but talk about hidden internet jems, this video probably isn’t even very searchable in YouTube because the entire description and title are in Japanese…. but its one of the greatest commercials in all time.  If all retailers in the US could advertise like this, there would be no recession.

Man, more food posts - it really has been a fun month experimenting with cooking at home more and messing around with recipes.  We made this latest meal for our small group bible study on Tuesday night because we had most of the ingredients already at home. Good thing it worked out and tasted great… otherwise we might have been banned from bringing dinner again.

• 1.5 lbs bulk Italian sausage or lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or 2 dried)
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or 2 dried)
• 2 tablespoons crushed red pepper
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 Cans (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2 Cans (10 oz) tomato puree
• 1/4 cup water

• 2 eggs
• 1 container (15 oz) ricotta cheese (or 2 cups small curd cottage cheese)
• 1 Cup grated parmesan cheese
• 4 cups shredded mozzarella
• 2 tablespoons dried oregano

• enough lasagna noodles to make 3 layers in a 13×9 pan (8 or 12 noodles, depending on brand)

1. Cook beef, and onion in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until brown; drain, set aside
2. Brown garlic, Mix Tomatoes, tomato puree, water; stir.  Add 3 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, red pepper, and sugar, simmer for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
3. Combine half of tomato mixture with cooked ground beef or sausage.
4. Cook lasagna noodles as directed by the box (or set aside noodles that don’t need to be pre-cooked)
5. In medium bowl, beat eggs. Sir in ricotta, 2 cups of mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan, oregano, and remaining 1 tablespoon of parsley.
6. Spread 1/2 of the meat&tomato mixture (about 2 cups) on the bottom of a 13×9x2 baking dish. (Leaving 1/2 meat/tomato mixture, along with all of the “just tomato” mixture).
7. cover sauce with one layer of noodles (approx 4 noodles)
8. spread one half of the ricotta mixture over noodles, add 1/2 of the “just tomato” mixture, and sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella, add another layer of noodles.
9. spread second half of the ricotta mixture over noodles, add the second half of meat/tomato mixture, and add final layer of noodles.
10. spread second half of “just tomato” mixture over noodles, sprinkle with final cup of mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
11. Bake, covered with foil at 350 degrees, 30 minutes for boiled noodles - 50-60 minutes for uncooked noodles until bubbly.  Uncover, and continue cooking until cheese is melted.  Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.  Makes 10 servings.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 egg
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Sift the flour together with the soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in the oats. Combine the other ingredients and add them to the flour mixture, stirring thoroughly.
3. Drop by tablespoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 15 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool.

I ran into another quick, helpful introduction to twitter (if you don’t know what it is, thats what the video is for).  I think it does a good job summarizing the purpose of this service.  I think the video also makes an interesting comment on society and subtly highlights our dependency on instant communication and connection with others.

oh, by the way….. I’m @northslope

I keep seeing movie posters for this spring’s upcoming “Star Trek” Movie - and its been constantly driving me nuts, reminding me of something…..

I think I found it, take a look at these totally different actors:

(Left: Star Trek Poster - Right: Promotional Poster for Showtime’s Dexter)

I’m a big fan of finding great recipes online, and modifying/combining them with the best of whatever else I find out there…. the only problem is that once I do that, I can’t ever remember how to replicate it!  Today we made some amazing spaghetti & turkey meatballs by again pooling multiple internet recipes, but I had the idea to put the creation back online for my own finding later (and yours too I guess).

We can thank Martha Stewart for the base of this one, and a few different places (along with some improvisation) for the amendments…. enjoy!

Spaghetti Sauce
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups canned crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon marjoram
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 fresh red pepper, chopped
Salt and pepper
1 pound spaghetti

Turkey Meatballs
1 large egg
1 white onion, finely chopped
2/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano leaves
2 to 3 cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, for dusting the meat balls before browning
1 pound ground turkey

1. Make the sauce: In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook about 1 minute. Stir in tomatoes, oregano, thyme, and everything else - then season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer, covered, 20 to 25 minutes.

2. Make the meatballs: In a large bowl, whisk together egg, cream, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper with a fork. Stir in onion, breadcrumbs, cheese, oregano, garlic, and parsley. Add turkey, and mix until combined. Form mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls. Chill for 15 minutes.

3. Dust meatballs in a little flour, Place in baking pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Place meatballs on another baking pan to cool.

4. Cook spaghetti until al dente according to package instructions, about 12 minutes. Drain pasta, transfer to skillet, and toss gently with the sauce, then add cooked meatballs. Serve with more Parmesan.

Note: Keeping your hands wet when forming meatballs will prevent the meat from sticking, making the task much easier.

Note: I recommend you taste and test the meatballs as you go by making and frying a small patty before you begin to assemble the meatballs.

Note: there are many ways to cook the meatballs once prepared - sometime try browning them on the stovetop, then finish cooking them in the sauce….

Ed Sommerman

Jan 29 1928 - Jan 31 2009

Perfection Wasted

And another regrettable thing about death
is the ceasing of your own brand of magic,
which took a whole life to develop and market –
the quips, the witticisms, the slant
adjusted to a few, those loved ones nearest
the lip of the stage, their soft faces blanched
in the footlight glow, their laughter close to tears,
their tears confused with their diamond earrings,
their warm pooled breath in and out with your heartbeat,
their response and your performance twinned.
The jokes over the phone. The memories
packed in the rapid-access file. The whole act.
Who will do it again? That’s it: no one;
imitators and descendants aren’t the same.

John Updike

Pictures of our trip to Indiana with the Sommerman Family

More Pictures of Grandpa’s Trip to Nome in 2005

You’ve probably seen it already - BUT, in my favorite “akward” video clip of the week, VP Joe Biden tries to tell a joke at the expense of Supreme Court Justice John Roberts (who flubbed the Presidential Oath of Office last tuesday in front of millions of people).

Unfortunately for Joe, his new Boss didn’t really appreciate the joke.