A grab bag of miscellany
The Office 5.19 - "Two Weeks"
One thing I really love about this show is that the writers follow through on the big moments. So Michael quit, and he really is leaving. And, being a dreamer with an extremely limited imagination, he's got few options. He could go work for Prince Family Paper, except that he kind of destroyed their business. So he's going to start his own paper company, despite the fact that the industry is dying, despite the way everyone in the office sincerely warns him off his idea. They work in the industry too, and they're oddly good at their own jobs, and they don't see the future. But it makes perfect sense for Pam, the other dreamer who's trying not to be afraid of making big changes in her life, to go with him, to take a chance on moving up. What has she got to lose, besides her receptionist's salary and possibly the remaining shreds of her dignity? She has looked into the future, and the best she can hope for at Dunder Mifflin is to be able to triumph over a never-ending series of new copy machines. That's as good as it's going to get, and you could see the look on her face when she realized that.
And, of course, Charles Minor is right that Michael is behaving completely inappropriately, and in having Hank the security guard escort him out, he's following standard business protocol. He has no way of knowing that being a professional just doesn't work in that office; he was mean to Michael, wouldn't even let him give a farewell speech, and made himself look petty and cold as a result. And then put Kevin on the phones and made Stanley the productivity czar. They're already starting to hate him.
Toby made the best analogy ever: "Michael is like a movie on a plane. It's not great, but it's something to watch. And then when it's over, how much time is left on this flight?"
On the other hand, I have to say that Parks and Recreation looks profoundly unfunny. I love the format of The Office, but I am not particularly interested in seeing it applied elsewhere, so that's the first big hurdle. But the promos make it look awful in its own right.
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In other TV news:
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For laurashapiro, super-easy Greek food:
Serve with warm pita bread and a big Greek salad. I made a salad of mixed greens, toasted walnuts, feta, and thinly sliced radishes and zucchini with a lemon/olive oil dressing that went beautifully with the souvlaki and took about 5 minutes to put together.
Souvlaki
* 2 pounds of lamb, beef, chicken, or pork, cut into 1" cubes
* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 1/4 cup wine
* 3 tablespoons lemon juice
* 2 teaspoons dried oregano
* 1 teaspoon dried thyme
* 4 garlic cloves, crushed
* Salt and pepper
Combine all of the ingredients in a nonreactive bowl and mix well, making sure that the meat is covered. Marinate for at least 2 or as many as 24 hours.
If you want to make kebabs, thread the meat on skewers (soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes ahead of time) before cooking. Grill or broil, turning occasionally to cook evenly.
Tzatziki
* 1 cup Greek yogurt
* 1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
* About 4" of cucumber, cut into very small dice
* Salt and pepper
Combine all ingredients, mix well, and let sit for at least an hour.
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Random:
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I am SO READY for this release to be over so that I can focus on some new, different problems. *counts the days*
One thing I really love about this show is that the writers follow through on the big moments. So Michael quit, and he really is leaving. And, being a dreamer with an extremely limited imagination, he's got few options. He could go work for Prince Family Paper, except that he kind of destroyed their business. So he's going to start his own paper company, despite the fact that the industry is dying, despite the way everyone in the office sincerely warns him off his idea. They work in the industry too, and they're oddly good at their own jobs, and they don't see the future. But it makes perfect sense for Pam, the other dreamer who's trying not to be afraid of making big changes in her life, to go with him, to take a chance on moving up. What has she got to lose, besides her receptionist's salary and possibly the remaining shreds of her dignity? She has looked into the future, and the best she can hope for at Dunder Mifflin is to be able to triumph over a never-ending series of new copy machines. That's as good as it's going to get, and you could see the look on her face when she realized that.
And, of course, Charles Minor is right that Michael is behaving completely inappropriately, and in having Hank the security guard escort him out, he's following standard business protocol. He has no way of knowing that being a professional just doesn't work in that office; he was mean to Michael, wouldn't even let him give a farewell speech, and made himself look petty and cold as a result. And then put Kevin on the phones and made Stanley the productivity czar. They're already starting to hate him.
Toby made the best analogy ever: "Michael is like a movie on a plane. It's not great, but it's something to watch. And then when it's over, how much time is left on this flight?"
On the other hand, I have to say that Parks and Recreation looks profoundly unfunny. I love the format of The Office, but I am not particularly interested in seeing it applied elsewhere, so that's the first big hurdle. But the promos make it look awful in its own right.
* * * * *
In other TV news:
- Most episodes of 30 Rock have at least one running joke that fills me with glee, but I just about fell out of my chair when they showed the world through Kenneth's eyes, and everything looks like Sesame Street to him. Puppet Jack! SO AWESOME.
- I'm continuing to have a lot of fun with Castle. The murder plots aren't anything special, but I adore the fact that Rick Castle is kind of a formulaic hack, and he knows it, and Beckett mocks him for it. And I don't blame her in the least for being appalled at the name Nikki Heat. Good lord.
- Obama Depressed, Distant Since Battlestar Galactica Series Finale. Heh.
- I think I'm going to start rewatching Farscape with farscaperewatch when it starts next week. It's been too long.
- PBS's Cosmos series is up on Hulu. I'm excited; I have very fond memories of watching it as a child, and starting to think about the way the world worked, and the role of science in human progress, and also of my father imitating Carl Sagan saying "billions and billions."
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For laurashapiro, super-easy Greek food:
Serve with warm pita bread and a big Greek salad. I made a salad of mixed greens, toasted walnuts, feta, and thinly sliced radishes and zucchini with a lemon/olive oil dressing that went beautifully with the souvlaki and took about 5 minutes to put together.
Souvlaki
* 2 pounds of lamb, beef, chicken, or pork, cut into 1" cubes
* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 1/4 cup wine
* 3 tablespoons lemon juice
* 2 teaspoons dried oregano
* 1 teaspoon dried thyme
* 4 garlic cloves, crushed
* Salt and pepper
Combine all of the ingredients in a nonreactive bowl and mix well, making sure that the meat is covered. Marinate for at least 2 or as many as 24 hours.
If you want to make kebabs, thread the meat on skewers (soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes ahead of time) before cooking. Grill or broil, turning occasionally to cook evenly.
Tzatziki
* 1 cup Greek yogurt
* 1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
* About 4" of cucumber, cut into very small dice
* Salt and pepper
Combine all ingredients, mix well, and let sit for at least an hour.
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Random:
- I had a wildlife sighting in my neighborhood this weekend! On Sunday afternoon, a group of people were out on the sunny sidewalk working on a bunch of life-sized papier-mache steer. I assume they were getting ready for Burning Man, though it's a little early; perhaps they have plans for an entire herd? And that's about as wild as it gets in my neighborhood, aside from the odd coyote sighting.
- In my quest to blog about disturbing pet costumes, I bring you this.
- I read this story about Legos that siljamus linked to with great interest, but it should come as no surprise to anyone that knows me that the first thing I thought when I saw it was: LEGO SHARKS. My two favorite things, together at last! To repeat: lego sharks!
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I am SO READY for this release to be over so that I can focus on some new, different problems. *counts the days*