Akemi: Wow. You really like to sleep in.

Me: it’s 7:00 am!!! pic.twitter.com/s70NOvIkJf

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) December 9, 2023

By the time I had dragged myself out of bed, brushed my teeth, and changed, it was 7:30 a.m. and Akemi had already worked out, gone for a walk, and researched and booked our day’s outing.  We walked around for a couple of hours, checking out the local Family Mart convenience stores (There seems to be one on every block) and the surrounding architecture…

Interesting mail box

The library looks closed.

The smoking fishbowl

Buy your curry here

I grab breakfast at venerable salary man-haunt Yoshinaya –

Then sample some of those sake chocolates…

Every one of them a delight.

Akemi was hankering for coffee so, after some research, found this place called Glitch in the Conrad Hotel.  A refined but relaxed space.  They take their coffee seriously.  Unlike me who was looking for a mocha or a latte.  They instead suggested one of their dozens of coffee selections, an Ethiopian brew.  It was excellent, probably the best coffee I’ve had in recent memory.

Pricey though.  The two coffees came out to a grand total of $25.

Akemi in her new dress and boots.

After that, still buzzed, we made a brief stop at the hotel to recharge my phone, then headed back out for lunch.  Today, it was sushi at the Osaka outpost of Yamashiro…

We walked off lunch with some more strolling (averaging about 20k steps/day on this trip).

Cat-themed teas (Ocha-chat?)

On Akemi’s insistence, we check out Mister Donut for the regular mochi donut and the double chocolate mochi donut.  The former was excellent and slightly less sweet than the version I’m used to back home.  The chocolate version was quite a bit less sweet.  Maybe a little too less sweet.

Of course it wouldn’t be a two week vacation without emails notifying me of immediate actions that need to be taken in relation to my finances, like sorting out the overpayment to my utility company, paying my tax installment prior to year end, and filling out the complex paperwork related to the delisting of one of my stocks owned on the LSE.

We had time to kill before dinner, so we did a lot of walking…

I checked out the uniquely customized Osaka manhole covers  –

Akemi stops off at the local Life grocery shop to stock up on essentials.

While I am drafted into basket duty.

Then, it was soba dinner with the in-laws…

I went with the roast duck broth despite this picture adorning the restaurant window…

Interesting choice.

By the time we got back to our hotel, night had fallen and the Christmas illuminations were on full  display.

Akemi and I ended our night with a couple of Dassai chocolates.  My favorites!

A great final day in Osaka, marred somewhat by the fact our pocket device abruptly stopped working.  Sent off an inquiry to the company to find out what’s up.  In the past, they’ve been great at responding quickly and general troubleshooting, so we’ll see how this goes…

Well, no sooner do I finish writing that sentence than an email pops into my inbox with instructions for a work-around.  GlocalMe has never let us down.

The post December 10, 2023: Osaka Day #2! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Another fitful night’s rest, this one due to the stomach issues I experienced as a result of…

That greasy heat lamp fried chicken?

The “healthy” side salad with the pure red vinegar dressing I had for lunch?

The late night pistachio cake snack?

Whatever it was, I was NOT feeling great this morning.  But there was no time to wallow (or recover) as we had to catch an early morning train to Osaka!

We arrived at Tokyo Station with plenty of time to pick up something for the trip.  Originally, I had planned to pick up a medley of bentos and assorted treats but because I was feeling a little under the weather, I opted to go easy…

This Berkshire pork bento.

Deliciously rich and fatty.  Served on a bed of rice and accompanied by some ginger (I ignored) and a square of tamagotchi.  It was also nice of them to include that single tiny shishito pepper to help balance out all that meat with some veggie.

The bullet train was surprisingly smooth, roomy, and comfortable.  It stopped at Nagoya along the way, a place, according to Akemi, that is famed for its eel.  Thinking we should do a day trip the next time we come to Japan.

Upon our arrival to Osaka, we checked into the Zentis, a surprisingly nice (and relatively inexpensive) three-year-old boutique hotel.  Then, we took a stroll –

I was feeling munchy, so we stopped off for a beef tend curry pan –

Then we stopped by one of my favorite chocolate shops, Palet d’Or, where we picked up an assortment…

• of mostly sake-flavored chocolates.  Akemi picked up her favorites, the dark chocolates flavored with honey and maple syrup instead of sugar, using soy milk over regular cream and sesame oil instead of butter.

Yes, that’s a Palet d’Or chocolate vending machine.

After picking up a black buta bun from the local 7-11, we relaxed in our hotel room (where I mostly updated this blog) before heading off for dinner with Akemi’s mom, sister, and brother…

This place looked promising.

Finally, we went for unagi dinner with Akemi’s mom, sister, and brother…

Akemi went with the crispy shiro unagi while I went with the classic mahogany lacquered.

The Aotas.

What follows up barbecued eel better than waffles and custard.  Just a peach tea for me though as I don’t want a repeat of last night.

And that’s a wrap on Japan Day #4 – Osaka Day #1!

The post December 9, 2023: Osaka Day #1! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

This morning, we slept in, waking up at 7:00 a.m. and then heading over to nearby Tokyo Station to purchase tickets for the Saturday’s Shinkansen (bullet train) trip to Osaka.  While there, we browsed the massive station and perused the seemingly endless food stalls offering everything from bento boxes to butter-themed sweets…

I really these exhibited minimal effort…

Tobacco-themed teas…

The works of local artists…

We arrived in Meguro two hours before our scheduled lunch.  Having skipped breakfast, I was feeling a might peckish so stopped by local convenience store Family Mart so I could try their spicy fried heat lamp chicken…

Over-battered with pockets of fat and oil that fairly oozed out when squeezed, Akemi was grossed out, but I found it kinda tasty.  I look forward to checking out the spicy fried heat lamp chicken versions of Family Mart competitors 7-11 and Lawson in the coming days.

Is your room drafty?  Well why not pick up this “draft stopper” to stuff beneath your door.

Meguro

In retrospect, I should have had a couple of more of those greasy fried chicken things as lunch proved less than satisfying.  For me anyway.  Akemi and Dr. Blackjack enjoyed their sesame soy broth and  chicken meatballs as well as their matcha-themed desserts.  My pork tonkatsu and matcha desserts (not pictured) were underwhelming.

So I consoled with a melty white Starbucks pistachio.

Watch your step, drunk Japanese salaryman!

Maybe next time.

We then headed to dog-friendly Daikanyama where we picked up some fancy dog treats at Green Dog.

Dinner was sushi at Sushi Takumi Makoto in Shinjuku.  Sadly, the quality of my pictures on my iPhone are craptastic and, while Dr. Blackjack was kind enough to forward her far better shots, I  can’t seem to find a way to transfer them from the Line app so you’ll just have to trust me that the meal was spectacular.

No photos of the sushi, but here’s a photo of the Cremia soft ice cream I grabbed on the way back home.  Apparently, it’s 25% cream and 15% fat.  The remaining 60% is, I assume, pure deliciousness.

The post December 9, 2023: Tokyo Day #3! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

As expected, a somewhat fitful night’s sleep on our first night in Tokyo.  And, as expected, I slept better than Akemi who woke up at 2 am and stayed awake until 4 am before dozing off for another hour.  In any case, we were both up and 5:30 a.m. and, by 6:00 a.m., heading to Tsukiji Market.

By the time we got there, at 6:30 a.m., there was already a line-up for my favorite breakfast place – a little shop that serves up, among other things, a horumon-gutsu bowl (aka offal stew on rice).

Dr. Blackjack had hers with an onsen tamago.  Akemi went with the nikku-dofu bowl instead.

We spent the next couple of hours strolling through the relatively quiet fish market, Akemi taking note of all of the dried mushrooms, bonito, and sea kelp she wants to pick up before our return flight.

There’s a place that offers five different types of sea urchin.  I wanted to check it out, but a tour group beat us to the seating.  I didn’t feel like waiting so we ended up grabbing one of these instead, a milkshake made with egg yolk, white chocolate, and vanilla beans.  Pretty tasty!

The shops wouldn’t open for another two hours, so we strolled back to our hotel, admiring the sights along the way.

We have discussed the possibility of moving to Japan for a few months.  In that case, maybe I would get a part-time job.  I wonder if Dandy House is hiring.

Check out the absolutely adorable Peanuts-themed luggage.

Alas, the carry-on case I have my eye on would set me back a cool 250 000 yen (roughly $2500) so I think I’ll stick with what I got.

Following a brief stop at the hotel so that Akemi could do her stretches while I started up dating this blog, we headed out for more shopping (Akemi has her eye on some dress which is a big deal as she rarely ever buys herself nice things) and lunch at Sushi Taichi.

But first, a quick stop to check out the Police Museum…

20 pieces of sushi at Sushi Taichi…

Followed by a double chocolate Mannekin pre-dessert…

Followed by dessert at Toshi Yoroizuki…

After heading back to our hotel for a little R&R, we set out once again as Akemi needed dress boots to go along with her new dresses.  She picked them up at the nearby Takashimaya and then we grabbed dinner – oden for her, scallop tempura and soba for me.

We walked the Tokyo Station basement…

Came across this rice gallery that was, unfortunately, closed for the day…

Came across this ice cream shop that features five flavors of sake ice cream…

And finally headed back to the hotel for the night…where we sampled this rich pistachio dessert we purchased at Takashimaya’s Pista & Tokyo…

Sharky, meanwhile, has settled in nicely at his vacation home and is being all sorts of spoiled.  He may went to extend his stay!

The post December 7, 2023: Tokyo Day #2! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

It’s 9:00 p.m. here in Tokyo, 6:42 a.m. back home, and we are exhausted and heading to bed.  But first, a quick blog update!

Checking out the doggy station at Pearson Airport

The 14 hour flight was fine.  I slept on and off for a total of five hours.  Akemi less so.  AND, she was sick.  My wife is NOT a good traveler.  BUT…we’re here!

Our friend, Dr. Blackjack, is also visiting Tokyo at the same time, so we met up for yakitori dinner…

We enjoyed a medly of grilled skewers – chicken hearts, thighs, and butts – some pickled veggies, onigiri for Akemi, and two grapefruit sours for yours truly.

Then, we stopped by 7-11 to pick up a bottle of water and THIS frozen brulee dessert…

Its impenetrable caramelized top defied our flimsy plastic spoon’s best efforts, so we just picked it out of its container and ate it like an ice cream sandwich.  It was delicious!

Can’t believe it’s been over five years since our last visit.  It’s great to be back, especially this time of year…

The post December 6, 2023: Tokyo Day #1! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

And here are a few of the things I’m looking forward to checking out when we get there…

Cafes!

Our top 3 cafes in Azabudai Hills, Tokyo’s newest and possibly swankiest shopping complex

This whisky bar/bookstore…

There’s a Tokyo bar with Japanese whisky inside bookstore inside Japan’s tallest building

Some low-key sweets shops…

Hidden in plain sight, low-key sweets shop surviving in Tokyo’s street market is a tasty treasure

Lacquer-black cheesecake ice cream bars…

Japan’s lacquer-black cheesecake ice cream bars, shocking to see, but delicious to eat?【Photos】

This department store rooftop Monet oasis…

Hidden oasis on a Japanese department store rooftop is home to Monet’s Pond in Tokyo

The Tokyo Revengers exhibition…

https://tcv.roppongihills.com/en/exhibitions/tokyorevengers/

Christmas cakes…

https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/shopping/best-christmas-cakes-in-tokyo

The post December 5, 2023: Tokyo-bound! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Tokyo Vice (2022) Season 1

A Western journalist working for a publication in Tokyo takes on one of the city’s most powerful crime bosses.

My thoughts: The setting is interesting as is its true life source material, but this series is hampered by cliches,  lethargic plotting, and the fact it is padded with too many uninteresting sub-plots.

3/5

The Night Of (2016)

After a night of partying with a woman he picked up, a man wakes up to find her stabbed to death and is charged with her murder.

My thoughts: A solid and compelling series that does a great job of exploring the notion of reasonable doubt, but it leaves us with a not wholly satisfying conclusion.

4/5

A Private Affair (2022 – ) Season 1

Marina Quiroga, a daring upper-class girl with a detective’s soul, sets off to catch the serial killer that has been terrorizing her town with her faithful butler Hector’s help.

My thoughts: Aura Garrido and Jean Reno are terrific in this fun high-adventure mystery series.

4/5

Kleo (2022)

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, a former spy killer is set free and embarks on a revenge spree against the people who conspired to betray her.

My thoughts: Too silly and self-aware.  The moment two combatants face off like sumo wrestlers was the point where this show went from fun to dumb and I tuned out.

DNF

Lyckoviken/Hammarvik (2020 – ) Season 1

When police officer Johanna Strand returns to her hometown Hammarvik to attend her mother’s funeral, she expects to stay only for a few nights but the body of a young woman is found and she decides to stay and investigate what happened.

My thoughts: The plot developments are annoyingly contrived and it’s all too pat and perfunctory.

DNF

The post December 4, 2023: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

With two days to go before we leave for Tokyo, we can finally rest easy having finalized our plans for Sharky.  During our time away, he will be spending time with friends of friends, in a home that has experience dealing with dogs suffering from separation anxiety whose owners are in most of the day .  I think Sharky will have a great ole’ time.

Visiting the new local dog-friendly cafe.

In holiday mode.

Sharky getting used to his taxi…

Sharky appreciates strawberries too…

Bubbie came for a visit…

A California pug ready for his first Canadian winter…

Making his pitch for joining us on our trip to Japan…

He insists he won’t take up much room.

My nickname or him is Little Bear.

The post December 3, 2023: Sharky Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Blazing through these crime shows as our trip to Japan fast approaches.  Five more for your consideration.  Or not…

Unbelievable (2019)

A teenager is charged with lying about having been raped, but two detectives follow the path to the truth.

My thoughts: Perfectly fine but it really feels like a bit of a ho-hum M.O.W. stretched to its narrative breaking point.  Would have made a better 90 minute movie over an 8 part miniseries.

3/5

High Season (2019-2020) Season 1

Two sisters discover disturbing family secrets after a string of mysterious deaths occur on a luxury ship traveling from Spain to Brazil in the 1940s.

My thoughts: Silly high seas melodrama.

2.5/5

In the Dark (2017)

As she deals with an unexpected pregnancy, D.I. Helen Weeks must return to the hometown she loathes, to help her childhood best friend who is in the centre of a media frenzy following the abduction of two teenage girls.

My thoughts: Not particularly compelling nor noteworthy.

3/5

ZeroZeroZero (2019 – 2020)

A cocaine shipment makes its way to Europe, starting from the moment a powerful cartel of Italian criminals decides to buy it, to its journeys through Mexico, to its shipment across the Atlantic Ocean.

My thoughts: One of those rare instances where the parallel storylines are equally gripping and compelling.  Terrific.

4.5/5

The Missing (2014 – 2016) Season 1

Tony and Emily Hughes’ vacation turns into a nightmare when their 5-year-old son Oliver disappears from a large celebrating crowd in Northern France.

My thoughts: Sets up an intriguing mystery that devolves into a ridiculous denouement.  The final sequence really hits home though.

3/5

The post December 2, 2023: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

And a sneak peek at what I may be checking out in Japan next week…

Grilled Chicken Tails? Yes/No pic.twitter.com/NAFpv48DtF

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 17, 2023

Spicy Miso Fried Chicken? Yes/No
KFC releases first-ever spicy miso chicken in Japan https://t.co/Mw9Yk4HysY via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 18, 2023

Grilled Cheese Nacho Fries? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/6OXnrSVjcq

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 19, 2023

Curry Pumpkin Pork Steak? Yes/No https://t.co/jF1dGlTz3D

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 20, 2023

Green Bean Casserole Sparkling Water? Yes/Nohttps://t.co/6RUER59xG6

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 21, 2023

Pistachio Frappuccino? Yes/No
Starbucks Japan gives us a pistachio Frappuccino for Christmas 2023 https://t.co/afN16vwflp via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 22, 2023

Giant Strawberry Maritozzo? Yes/No
120-year-old sweets store keeps Japan’s maritozzo boom alive with a massive specimen https://t.co/92zE8vtkzw via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 23, 2023

Moist Matcha S'more Brownies? Yes/No https://t.co/619cWWdtdb

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 24, 2023

Sugar Butter Tree KitKats? Yes/No
New Japanese KitKat flavour, Sugar Butter Tree, is like cracking a chocolate tree branch https://t.co/n6zXclWm7R via @RocketNews24En

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 25, 2023

@BaronDestructo Nanaimo Bar Porter, Yes/No. pic.twitter.com/Kjq1QQ3idn

— eriq49@bsky social (@eriq49) November 26, 2023

Best: The chicken tails (which will be my first meal upon landing in Tokyo).  That said, a lot to look forward on this list including the Pistachio Frappuccino and Spicy Miso Fried Chicken.

Worst: Don’t love the look of that pumpkin curry cutlet, but would have to go with the green been casserole sparkling water.

The post December 1, 2023: Recent Yes/No’s! Best and Worst! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

The Green Glove Gang (2022 – ) Season 1

After a failed robbery, three elderly female thieves hide out in a quiet nursing home. While the police are on their heels, they continue their activities at the center, giving its elderly residents a second youth.

My thoughts: At turns funny, incisive, and heartfelt in its commentary on growing older with dignity.

4/5

Lilyhammer (2012 – 2014) Season 1

A New York mobster goes into hiding in rural Lillehammer in Norway after testifying against his former associates.

My thoughts: Never have I looked forward to checking out a show more – and been so roundly disappointed.  Paint by numbers plotting and dialogue.  A disappointingly uninspired execution of a brilliant idea.

2/5

My Name/Undercover (2021)

The story about a woman who joins an organized crime ring and infiltrates the police as an undercover agent in order to find out the truth about her father’s death.

My thoughts: Action, violence, betrayals and plenty of melodrama in this solid Korean outing.

4/5

Babylon Berlin (2017 – ) Season 1

Colognian commissioner Gereon Rath moves to Berlin, the epicenter of political and social changes in the Golden Twenties.

My thoughts: Looks great but I had no idea what was going on.

DNF

Dirty John (2018-2020) Season 1

Tells the true story of how a romance between Debra Newell and the charismatic John Meehan spiraled into secrets, denial, manipulation, and ultimately, a fight for survival for an entire family.

My thoughts: The subject matter is maddening, but absolutely riveting.  A pleasant surprise.

4/5

Not a bad stretch!

The post November 30, 2023: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

A few that caught my eye this week…

Captain America #3 – cover art by Bjorn Barends

Captain America #3 – cover art by Jesus Saiz

Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #4 – cover art by Chris Samnee

X-Men Blue: Origins #1 – cover art by E.M. Gist

Amazons Attack! #2 – cover art by Dani

Power Girl #3 – cover art by Guillem March

The Flash #3 – cover art by Mike Deodato Jr.

Titans: Beast World #1 – cover art by Bjorn Barends

Titans: Beast World #1 – cover art by Bruno Redondo

Assassin’s Creed: Visionaries #1 – cover art by Rafael Albuquerque

Basic Instinct #1 – cover art by Patricia Martin

Belle: The House of Glass Slippers – cover art by Cedric Poulat

So, which were YOUR favorites?

The post November 29, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Manhunt (2019 – ) Season 1

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton tracks down a serial killer.

My thoughts: A well-written but dry exploration of the bureaucratic side of criminal investigations.

3.5/5

Dark Heart (2016 – 2018) Season 1

DI Will Wagstaffe and his team investigate horrifying and brutal attacks.

My thoughts: A little silly, a little cliche, a little cheesy.

2.5/5

Giri/Haji (2019)

A detective from Tokyo scours London for his missing brother, who’s been involved with the Yakuza and accused of murder.

My thoughts: Overly stylized and, at times, downright silly.  Aims for Pulp Fiction but ends up more Boondocks Saints.

3/5

Craith/Hidden (2018-2022) Season 1

Police investigate when the body of a girl is found in a lake.

My thoughts: I found this one painfully slow-moving and generic.

3/5

Sommerdahl (2020 – ) Season 1

A love triangle between Dan Sommerdahl, his wife Marianne Sommerdahl and their best friend Flemming Torp occurs as they try to solves killings in Helsingør.

My thoughts: I can see how it might appeal to some, but I found it too soapy

The post November 28, 2023: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Well, that’s it.  It finally happened.  I accidentally replied-all when I should have sent a direct email.  Mildly embarrassing but, I suppose it could have been worse.  Much worse.

Has something similar ever happened to you?  Answered reply-all and included recipients you really wish hadn’t received your email?  Do tell.

Well, we’re almost into the Winter deep freeze and I am pleased to be leaving Canada next week, albeit for only two weeks, and only to come back in time to head to the winter wonderland that is Montreal.  Still, it’ll be nice to get away somewhere the wind shear won’t make my ears feel like they’re on fire.

Unlike previous years where I’ve booked most of the restaurants, I’ve left this year’s Tokyo/Osaka itinerary to Akemi.  So, instead of back to back to back to back Michelin-starred meals, we’ll be mixing it up – a few high-ends, a lot of casual fare, and a few open lunches and dinners where we’ll be playing it by ear.  I’m especially looking forward to any of the pistachio-themed desserts and seasonal specials they’ll be rolling out in December.  As in previous years, I’ll do my best to update my blog with my daily culinary discoveries – and occasional mishaps.

Could it be?  Are my Snow Monkeys about to pull the upset and live to fight one more week in my fantasy football Guillotine League?  All I need is 7 points from Minnesota tight end Hockenson and I’ll be duking it out in the finals next week for all the marbles!

The post November 27, 2023: Snow Monkeys poised to pounce on an unlikely victory? appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

He’s like a real live teddy bear.

Getting into the holiday spirit.

Coffee outing

A total momma’s boy

Sweet dreams

Started a new video series: Sharky Savors!

Sharky Savors roasted maitake mushroom…

Sharky Savors egg yolk…

Sharky Savors broccoli…

Sharky Savors short rib…

The post November 26, 2023: Sharky Sunday! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Wow.  Hard to believe that in ten short days, well be boarding a flight for Japan.  It’s been five years since our last trip and we are looking forward to checking out our old haunts – Pizza Serinkan, Butagumi, Esquisse, the basement dessert floor of Ginza’s Mitsubishi – as well as all of the new places we’ll discover.  I much prefer the flight from Vancouver as it’s shorter and the time difference not as great but, all the same, it will be great to return to my home away from home.  The only drawback will be not having Sharky around.  In the month+ we’ve had him, we’ve really grown to love the little guy and I know we’ll miss him, just as I’m sure he’ll miss us.  Not too much I hope as he’ll be spending the two weeks with our amazing vet tech and accompanying her to work every day where he will, no doubt, become the clinic’s defacto mascot.

Things are slowing down considerably as we head into the year’s end.  I’ve got that new pilot rewrite to hop on, a couple of scripts to review, a contract to close, and still awaiting notes on the comic book project that, alas, probably won’t be addressed until the new year as I have no intention of working while in Tokyo, Osaka, and Montreal.  Meanwhile, my other two pilots are out and making the rounds.  Everyone is in the post-Thanksgiving pre-Christmas holiday mode so I don’t expect to hear anything from them either, but I’m willing to be happily surprised.  A fairly relaxed week ahead will include a zoom session with a friend who is now an executive at a horror studio, and a Friday lunch with another friend.

Goshdarnit!  My Snow Monkeys are in danger of falling out of playoff contention in one of my fantasy football leagues, barely holding onto a playoff spot in another, and face elimination this week in my Guillotine League where only three teams remain from the initial nine that started the season.  I’m going to need big games from Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, and Michael Pittman in addition to whoever I decide to play at RB2 be it Rachaad White, Kyren Williams, Jaylen Warren, Rhamondre Stevens, or Deandre Swift.  But I suspect it will all come down to TJ Hockenson on Monday night.

So, how does this upcoming week look for all of you?

The post November 25, 2023: What lies ahead! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Outlaws (2021 – ) Season 1

Seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a community payback sentence in Bristol.

My thoughts: Broad humors, cliche characters, and stock plotting.

DNF

Line of Duty (2012 – 2021) Season 6

AC-12 investigate DCI Jo Davidson’s apparent mishandling of the murder of an investigative journalist.

My thoughts: Not as strong as season 2-4 and the ending is a bit of a letdown, but still a superior crime show.

4/5

New Blood (2016)

The series follows junior investigators Stefan and Rash, who are brought together by a link between two seemingly unrelated cases.

My thoughts: The villains are arch, the direction clunky, and the humor mostly falls flat in this formulaic buddy-cop series.

DNF

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

A devout detective’s faith is tested as he investigates a brutal murder seemingly connected to an esteemed Utah family’s spiral into LDS fundamentalism and their distrust in the government.

My thoughts: Would have made a good movie.

3/5

Mare of Easttown (2021)

A detective in a small Pennsylvania town investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart.

My thoughts: Minor logic quibbles aside, it delivers superior character work, a great central mystery, and a rare surprise ending.

4/5

The post November 24, 2023: The Crime Binge continues! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Black garlic ramen

Dim Sum: chicken feet, steamed pork buns, sticky rice, pan-fried turnip cakes

SOMA chocolates

Pan-fried soft shell crab

Hummus

Nduja-stuffed olives and fried chicken

Lemon meringue pie and foie gras sundae

The post November 23, 2023: Recent Eats! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

A few that caught my eye this week…

Avengers Inc. #3 – cover art by Marc Aspinall

Immortal X-Men #17 – cover art by Phil Noto

Catwoman #59 – cover art by Tirso Cons

Green Lantern: War Journal #3 – cover art by Rahzzah

Harley Quinn: Black, White & Redder #5 – cover art by R.B. Warren Louw

Nightwing #108 – cover art by Mike Deodato Jr.

The Bone Orchard: Tenement #6 – cover art by Andrea Sorrentino

So, which were YOUR favorites?

The post November 22, 2023: Amazing Covers! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.

Akemi is trying to choose between the Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel 8, or the Pixel 7 Pro. Which should she go with and why?

(Drea, my wife is counting on your keen insights on this one!)

Short list of stuff I'm going to try when I'm in Tokyo next month:
Spicy Miso Fried Chicken
Cheesy Matcha Frappuccino
Lacquer-black Cheesecake Ice Cream Bar
Häagen-Dazs Brûlée Brûlée Brûlé
Butter Pudding
Butter Frappuccino
Uji Matcha Cinnabon
Tomahawk Tonkatsu pic.twitter.com/jjXg9eQ9FP

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 21, 2023

I’m especially looking forward to that black lacquer cheesecake ice cream bar.  Hopefully it’s still around in two weeks.

I'm doing my part for the environment by using those biodegradable dog poop bags my wife bought. You know, the ones that fall apart in your hands?

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 19, 2023

Also, those biodegradable straws that turn to mush after three sips and, it turns out, aren’t any better for the environment than their plastic counterparts.

If love the idea of eggnog more than I like actual eggnog. For some reason, I always expect it to be thicker and yolkier than it actually is. pic.twitter.com/jlhlWHG2a6

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 18, 2023

I want something more like the consistency of the Vietnamese egg creams (coffee, chocolate, and condensed milk) or the sabayon (beaten egg yolk and sugar) mom used to make for me when I was a kid.

SHOWBIZ TIP #37
Always assume everyone is lying to you even if there is no point in doing so or it works against their better interests. Consider it their default setting, and plan accordingly.

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 18, 2023

SHOWBIZ TIP #63
There will come a time when someone will take credit for your work. And this will not be the last time this happens.

— Joseph Mallozzi (@BaronDestructo) November 20, 2023

More often than not this is not an insidious action but simply part of the business.  In the writers’ room, for instance, a lot of the ideas you come up with will be contributions to someone else’s script.  Hell, I remember one Atlantis episode where I came up with the idea for the story, all the act breaks, and every gag – before the script went to another writer.  And then there are all the uncredited rewrites, occasionally page one full rewrites, that you do as part of your job as a showrunner.

The post November 21, 2023: This and That! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.