It has been super cold the last couple days! For the first time I need to turn the heat on in the apartment. It makes me want to stay in and not to go anywhere. It's a dramatic change since last weekend. Only a few days ago, it was a beautiful warm weekend like any summer day!

Yup! That was a picture I took on Saturday when I woke up. I spent almost all day in Marin Headlands the next day. Lying on the beach and feeling the soothing sun from above and the warm sand from below, I didn't want to touch my computer or doing anything else. The best part about it is that I didn't have to travel anywhere, just a short bus ride.

After a day in the nature, I cooked something I always enjoy: scallion pancake (葱油饼).

I have been thinking this question recently: how long will blog survive? My RSS feed gets less and less updates, and I have not been blogging more than once a week, compared to almost everyday in the past.

I think it's many people's instinct to seek instant gratification. When Facebook or Twitter are around, people prefer to write one or two sentences, rather than a lengthy (or even a short) blog entry. It's quick and dirty, and it reaches to everybody instantly.

But writing a blog, as well as reading it, requires some attention spins longer than the period of an orgasm.

Time has changed. Things have changed. Maybe my luck is changing too.

Over the last three weeks, I have won three times in lottery tickets, in the amounts of $12, $1, and $3. Considering that I only buy $2 each week for two drawings, that's over a 50% successful rate. Let the big win hit me soon. That hope is the only fun in playing lottery, until winning the jackpot.

I have been trying to cook more when I am not going to film screenings in the evenings. Especially I have been cooking a lot rape (油菜). Some people ask me, why suddenly I am so crazy about rape. Well, there is no special reason really. Besides I like the texture, the color, the taste, and the nutrition value, the most compelling reason is that it's in season!

I like to cook vegetables that are in season. Not only they are fresh and prime, they are also very cheap. The latest rape is cooked in shiitake mushroom sauce.

However, I am thinking to get some fish tomorrow to cook some sushi. I need my instant gratification.

Time for bed.

Everybody's Fine

One tradition during this holiday season is family reunion. Most people make extra effort to gather with their families, even sometimes it sets the stage for some drama. Many parents are delighted for their children to return home and they can enjoy their companies and relive relive the old memories. But, what if none of the children show up? Robert De Niro superbly plays such a heartbroken parent in director Kirk Jones's touching drama "Everybody's Fine" (USA 2009 | 100 min.), a remake of Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore's 1990 film "Stanno tutti bene." Frank Robert De Niro losts his wife recently and gets lonely around the house by himself. He is looking forward to his four grown children's visit for the holiday. Well, one call after another one, he is told that none of them can make it. He decides to take a trip and to give each of them a surprise visit. During the long journey, not only he surprises his children, he is surprised by his children's secrets. Robert De Niro pitches the perfect note in almost every scene of the film. His character, Frank, is at the center of this sentimental, even poignant at times, story about reconnecting, reconciling, and rediscovering with family members. De Niro brilliantly expresses Frank's frustration—Frank loves his children, but fails to realize the distance between himself and his children, both emotionally and physically. The film is entertaining and captivating, despite that the second half lacks both energy and humor. It reminds us to tell our own families: "Tell me the bad news as well as the good news from now on," even what we really want to hear is "Everybody's fine." "Everybody's Fine" opens on Friday, December 4, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

To better understand the world, I have been reading a The Straight Dope book, that I checked out from the library. It gives me a few chuckles when I am on an elliptical machine in the gym. So far, I have not fall off a machine yet, but I did learn a thing or two. For example, I have learned the answers for questions like:

• If you burp, fart, and sneeze at the same time, will you die?
• Which end of the egg comes out of the chicken first?
• How did "gay" come to mean "homosexual?"
• What is the term for people who lack the sense of taste? Tasteless?
• ......

However, I am not sure if my question gets asked or answered yet: Can somebody sneeze or fart in his sleep?

I will sleep on that tonight.

I spent the Thanksgiving at Tony's (another Tony), overlooking the foggy city from Twin Peaks. I had a lot fun. At one point, I said to Calvin:

"When I touch mine, it is fun. But when I couch yours, or touch my friends', there always a problem."

People started to laugh, because they didn't realize that I was talking about the touch screen input on my phone and on their iPhones. I will keep my hands to myself.

I had plenty to drink and eat at Tony's, even I didn't cook on Thanksgiving Day at all. I thought about making mash potato, but then I changed my mind. Because if I carried the mash potato over, it would be cold. Reheated mash potato is just not the same as the freshly made. I want to retain my reputation. Scratch that. I was lazy and didn't want to make things complicated.

However, that doesn't mean that I have not been cooking. Even I almost going to movies every night, I still manage to make some kimchi the other night. All from scratch, inspired by a recipe.

Being myself, I can never really follow a recipe entirely. So, this is MY version of kimchi.

I blend garlic, ginger root, onion etc in a food processor.

Then add chili powder, sweet rice paste, and chop all the vegetables such as cucumber, turnip, chive, and kohlrabi.

Mix together, and put in the big jar. There I have it. Next to my kimchi is a big jar of salty eggs I made couple days earlier.

Now I am like a squirrel, stock up all the goodies and ready for the winter.

However, one disappointment I have is that the kimchi I made (on the left) doesn't seem as red as the kimchi I bought from a store (the right). It's either the chili powder I got is not red enough, or the one I bought has added food color.

Luckily, they all taste delicious and very spicy.

This morning, when everybody else going crazy shopping, I was sleeping and got up really late. That's what I call a day off. I didn't do much either except going to the gym and shopping for groceries. I love it. At night, I made some chicken wings I marinated last night. It was delicious.

It's great that after two days off, the weekend just started. I hope that it will be warm and clear on Sunday so I can hike in Marin Headlands and lie down on the beach before I head to the screening of "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" (staring late Heath Ledger as Tony) in the evening.

Time for some action.

Red Cliff (赤壁)

Almost every Chinese has heard, if not read, the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义) which was written in the 14th century. The novel is about the civil war among three war lords that took place more than a thousand year ago—at the end of the Han Dynasty (汉朝 206 BC - 220 AD). After the novel, those historical figures become household names, such as intelligent Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮), boorish Zhang Fei (张飞), sensitive Liu Bei (刘备), devoted Guan Yu (关羽), bright Zhou Yu (周瑜), and arrogant Cao Cao (曹操). They have appeared in numerous plays and literatures for hundreds of years, and everybody seems have his own images in mind about them. If the novel is made into a motion picture, anything short of a grand epic is unjustified. Legendary director John Woo's (吴宇森) "Red Cliff" (赤壁 | China 2009 | in Chinese | 148 min.) takes up the challenge and tells the thousand-year-old story to the world audience. With a budget more than $80 million, this is the most expensive film ever made in Asian. It is impossible for one feature film to tell all the stories in Romance of the Three Kingdoms (CCTV's TV serial has 84-episode). John Woo chooses the best known Battle of Red Cliffs (赤壁之战) to make his film. Actually, he made two films: "Red Cliff" (赤壁 | China 2008 | 140 min.) and "Red Cliff: Part II" (赤壁 : 决战天下 | China 2009 | 142 min.). However, John Woo wants to tell the story to audiences in the entire world, even they are not familiar with that period of Chinese history and with those war warriors. Therefore, for the Western world, including the US, he combines these two films into one "Red Cliff" to be released, cutting the running time into half. The combine version is faster paced and the story line is easier to follow, without losing any spectacular battle scene. In 208 A.D., ambitious Cao Cao (Zhang Fengyi), the Primary Minister of Eastern Han Dynasty, leads millions of well-equipped soldiers to invade much weaker warlords Sun Quan (Chang Chen) and Liu Bei (You Yong). In order to fight Cao Cao, Liu Bei sends his chief advisor Zhuge Liang (Takeshi Kaneshiro) to convince Sun Quan that making an alliance is the only way to confront Cao Cao. Relying on intelligence, opportunities, the higher morale, and the art of war, even with smaller army, the alliance defeats Cao Cao in this historical battle. John Woo is a master of choreographing splendid fighting sequence, even in the most chaotic settings. Although Battle of Red Cliffs is a great story to begin with, John Woo magically brings that piece of history to the modern world one more time with fantastic art design and vivid imagination. One should see this film only on a big screen to fully appreciate its magnificent scale. (In that regard, playing any film on a tiny screen in an aircraft should be a crime.) "Red Cliff" opens on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

I have never been to this theater, so I looked it up on Google Map, but the stupid Google Map points me to this wrong place! I turned around and went home.

I think I mentioned this before that Google's service has been lousy lately. The annoying java scripts on their pages are getting out of hand, they are causing more trouble that good. I completely quit using Google Calendar because of it. Now I know that I need to double check on Google Maps' answers from now on. On Sunday night, I am positive that I will find this theater for another screening.

President Obama picked a gloomy day walking on the Great Wall in China. I definitely had a better weather when I climbed the Great Wall. I also think he picked the wrong section to go as well. That's not his fault—it's all arranged by his Chinese host. I am glad that he is able to see the magnificent Great Wall in person, and visit China in person. I want to visit China too.

When I was watching Obama having state dinner in Beijing with Chinese President on TV, I don't understand why no journalists bother to take a picture of the food! I want to see what they are eating. Although I didn't see the food at the dinner, but I saw a clip of the stunning performance by Cai Yong (蔡勇), an actor from Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe Circus. This 13-year-old-boy is absolutely amazing. How could somebody have so much strength yet so elegant?

I found a clip where he won the championship in an international competition last year.

No matter how many years I practice yoga, or practice whatever, there is no way I can be remotely near to his ability.

Even I have been busy watching films this week, I still need to eat, but something quick and easy. The other night, I bought a (humanly killed - I hope so) young chicken (童子鸡), and let it comfortably rest on a nest of rape. Then I made a bunch teriyaki tofu to hold a vigil for the chicken.

It was so good, I mean the food. I am sure the service for the chicken is not bad either.

I ran out of flour last week. Finally Sandy helped me to get 50lb of rice and 50lb of flour. Now I am fully armed with ample ammunitions, it's time to cook. I have been craving for dumplings for a while, therefore, I made dumplings tonight for dinner.

I boiled some rape, and used most the stem portions for the dumpling fillings. The rest, I drizzle some oyster sauce as a side dish.

Then one by one, roll the wrapper, stuff in the fillings.

With some garlic sauce and kimchi, I am completely content with my freshly made and boiled dumplings.

I am not sure if Obama is eating something better than I do. However, at least I have pictures to remember my enjoyment. Now, I want to make dumplings for the president. Will he come?

Thanksgiving is next week, so I will have a short week at work. I am so looking forward to it, even I have so much on my plate to do, besides to eat.

Let's have some Italian for a change, shall we?

Vincere

Italian director Marco Bellocchio's "Vincere" (Italy/France 2009 | in Italian | 128 min.) is a visually stunning biopic about the little known tragic life of Ida Dalser (1880 - 11 December 1937), the notorious dictator Benito Mussolini's first wife. At the turn of the last century, Ida Dalser (Giovanna Mezzogiorno) opens a beauty salon in Milan. After she meets the ambitious and magnetic Benito Mussolini (Filippo Timi), she passionately falls in love with him. She sells everything she has to support him, and gives birth to a boy Benito Albino Mussolini in 1915. After Mussolini returns from World War I, not only he abandons socialism and founds fascism, he also marries to another woman Rachele Guidi and shuns Ida and their son Benito Albino Mussolini. Heartbroken Ida refuses to compromise and stubbornly demands the right as Mussolini's wife, even when Mussolini becomes the dictator of Italy and she can only see him in movie theaters or in newspapers. Eventually, she is interned in a psychiatric hospital away from her son. Love can bring happiness, it also can crush the heart and mind. Even Ida knows this too well, she continues her courageous fight, to the very end. She never gives up. The film seamlessly blends vast amount of historic footage into its beautiful cinematography, and constructs a fantastic visual rhapsody. Adding the haunting music and the terrific performance from Giovanna Mezzogiorno and Filippo Timi, the film is nothing short from a grand opera. "Vincere" is an excellent representation of Italian cinema. It is a perfect choice to be the closing night film at this year's New Italian Cinema, co-presented by the San Francisco Film Society, the New Italian Cinema Event, and the Italian Cultural Institute. New Italian Cinema celebrates the rich cinematic tradition of Italy and brings the country's newest directors and films to audiences in San Francisco. New Italian Cinema presents eleven films (six of them are directed by a director whose first name is Marco) at Landmark's Embarcadero Center Cinema in San Francisco, November 15-22, 2009.

However, AT&T's signal sucks! They are much worse than Sprint I used to have. Luckily, I can get by most of the time.

A few days ago, when I stop by the store in Chinatown to get this phone, I saw a very old Chinese lady, perhaps in her 70s if not 80s, digging a trash can for food. Her exposed legs were so thin that they are probably thinner than my wrists. It is extremely sad.

I dug into my bag, all I could find was an apple. I handed the apple to her. She took it and replied with a perfect "Thank you!" Her pronunciation tells me that either she is an American born Chinese or she has been in the US for decades.

Her image stayed with me for a long time. I wonder if she is warm tonight. I also wonder why there are so many homeless people in this richest US of A. China is poorer and have more people, but I have never seen as many homeless people as in the US. What gives? I wonder what would happen if the Chinese lady were in China. I doubt that she would have to dig a trashcan for food.

Okay, that's depressing.

Couple days ago, I read something ridiculous. Remember the guy who drove too fast on the Bay Bridge and flew off the bridge and plunge to his death? The family of this guy now blame the Caltrain for the accident. How predictable! Of course, people never take responsibility for their own action. If they drive exceed the speed limit, they blame on no extra measure is taken to slow them down.

WTF?

Why are these people drive so fast anyway? Hurry for what? To death?

The most irritating drivers I see every day on streets are those who run yellow lights, sometimes, red lights too. They see the light is changing, they slam on the gas to beat the light. Very likely they fly over the intersection risking of hitting a few pedestrians. What happen after they beat the light? They immediately slam on the brake so they don't hit the car that is stopped at a red light. So all they are rushing to is to stop behind a stopped car, but risking other's lives?

Enough rant. Let me change to something inspiring. Couple days ago, I was watching news when I was having breakfast, and I was moved to tears when I heard this: 45 Japanese orphans returned to Harbin to visit their adopted Chinese parents.

When Japanese invaded China, they committed horrific acts to Chinese people, especially to people in Harbin (哈尔滨), my hometown. When the War is over in 1945, many Japanese orphans are abandoned. Chinese people took these orphans in, and raised them as their own children, despite what the Japanese just did to the Chinese people during the war. That's humanity and empathy! After 1972, thousands of these orphans returned to Japan and started new lives. Now these orphans returned to Harbin to visit their Chinese parents who saved their lives and raised them.

Okay, that's also not very cheerful. So, let's cook.

Cooking something at home always make me happy. I am out of rice last week. With hesitation, I bought a big 50 lb bag of Thai rice from the shop outside the apartment. I took a chance hoping that I would like it, because it's very convenient. All I need is to get in the elevator and come up stairs. It's not the short grain I like. Despite its sweet aroma, I don't like the texture. However, they are very good for stir-fried rice.

Tonight, instead of normally stir the eggs in the rice, I put them outside for a change. I want to be different.

Ops! I forgot to sprinkler some seseme seeds.

There! Ops again, I dropped some rape. It looks like I need a maid.

The Maid (La Nana)

Chilean director Sebastián Silva's second feature "The Maid" (La Nana | Chile/Mexico 2009 | 95 min.) is an absorbing character study about a fascinating maid. The film wins the Grand Jury Prize (World Cinema Dramatic) at 2009 Sundance Film Festival and continues to collecting trophies around the globe. The film opens with the awkward celebration of Raquel's (Catalina Saavedra) 41st birthday. She appears to be shy, unhappy, grumpy, mysterious, and haggard. After 20 years as a live-in maid in a wealthy family and taking care of four children and the two adults in the family, she disappears in this family's life as if she is part of the family. Or is she? Despite her falling health, she refuses to allow any new maid to step into her territory or to share the domain that she fiercely guards. She becomes the most difficult maid to work with. As a result, none of the new maid can work with her long, except an upbeat and free spirited Lucy (Mariana Loyola) who inspires her to find her life again. Catalina Saavedra gives an outstanding performance as the intriguing protagonist. Her expressive eyes reveal her mind every time when she looks into the camera. She intelligently creates a rich and complex character—Raquel. Like Raquel's employer, the audience might be perplexed about where to place her in the heart. Appreciate her work? Love her dedication? Pity her life? Condemn her behavior? Admire her strong will? There is simply no easy answer. Raquel is perhaps the best maid in the world when it comes to keep a house tidy. However, actually having her in the house as a maid may not be as blessed as it sounds. One thing is certain though—she will be the maid that no one can easily forget. "The Maid" opens on Friday, November 13, 2009 at Landmark's Embarcadero Center Cinema in San Francisco, Shattuck in Berkeley, and Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.

"That would be great!"—I giggled when I replied.

I appreciate more about her small effort to bring me smiles than her little humor. I enjoy the tiny little pleasant things when I interact with people around the city. Since people's attitude can be contiguous, I normally enjoy being around happy people more than grumpy ones. Maybe I am one of those who always see half glass full.

Here is another example. On Halloween night, on the bus to Castro, I saw these two cheerful couple who worn fabulous costumes made by that lady. They act like two love birds even they are quite mature in terms of age, and they are definitely happy, so are everybody else on the bus—maybe somebody else could hold a straight face when seeing these couple. I can't. My mouth was stretching from my left ear all the way to the right ear.

Speaking of Halloween, the party is indeed over. Since last year, the City is determined to crash the block party in Castro. They certainly succeeded. The crowd was quite small, if there is any at all. The fun is all gone. Oh, those old good days!

Although the Halloween is no longer fun on the street of Castro, luckily, the City still have plenty to offer. For one thing, the weather has been gorgeous like the true summer days.

Yesterday morning, I walked to a neighborhood cafe and sat outside on the sidewalk, just like traveling in Europe. I ordered my breakfast under the bright sunshine and the relaxing atmosphere.

Then I heard the lady at the next table describing her dog at her feet to her friend: "He is awesome, and he is pain in the ass." I wasn't sure she likes her dog or not, but I surely liked my egg and green.

I think it's a crime to stay indoors under this kind of weather.

Last Sunday, I spent like 5 (if not 6) hours in Marin Headlands. Not only I hiked very long distance, I also baked in the sun lying on the warm sand for a long time, reading a book, among other things.

Today, it looked like a carbon copy of last Sunday. I began to repeat the same route, and planned to lie on the beach again.

Well, to my surprise, the beach was missing. The giant wave and high tide pulled the spots where I used to lie down into the water. The wave was loud and powerful, as if it is very angry for my taking its spot last week...

It's spectacular!

After staring at the tides for awhile, I marched on to the top of the mountain, to see the City on the other side. Suddenly, everything is calm and peaceful again, without any trace of violent waves. The Golden Gate Bridge is just as elegant and fabulous as usual.

After each hiking, I am not tired. Instead, I am recharged and exuberant.

However, that doesn't mean that the entire week has been like this beautiful. On Wednesday night, it was quite chilly. I was craving for something warm. Besides, I was in a rush to go to a film screening, naturally a big bowl of noodle came to my mind. Since I had some leftover broth of winter melon, carrots, frozen tofu, tomato, and pork, so I poured it on top of the noodle and garnished with boiled egg, scallions, and jalapeno pepper.

That was delicious. I have to cook it again sometimes. Tonight, I cooked some juicy buns (小笼汤包), braised eggplant with black bean garlic sauce (豆豉蒜汁煸茄子), white fish miso soup, Japanese sweet potato 红地瓜. Darn! I think I ate all the calories back after I burned them today during the hiking.

And, I also ate so much yesterday after Jason and I cooked dozen dishes. It was a feast.

With all these food in my stomach, I hope I will have a good dream tonight, because I have a lot dreams lately. Hello, new week! And, hello November! (Do I really update so infrequently now?)

It has not been a good week for the Bay. The Bay Bridge falls apart first, and it's still closed. Then oil spills into the Bay. Our mayor quits running for the governor. What else is gonna happen?

Speaking of governor, there is something in politics in California that provides a comic relief. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano from San Francisco yelled at the governor: "Kiss my gay ass!" However, Arnold didn't quite kiss his ass, he "fucked" it. He vetoed a bill that Tom Ammiano wrote and in his veto letter, "I fuck you" is imbedded in the first column. That's pretty funny. In respond, San Francisco Chronicle hides a message "Grow Up GirlIE man" in its Editorial piece. That's just so lame. It's not as direct, effective, and informative as "I fuck you." Plus, it's a shame for a newspaper to mess up its copyedit.

In the spirit of Halloween, on Monday night I joined the Ghost Walk At City Hall.

It was entertaining and fun, but of course, I don't believe a word the host was saying, holding a "Book of the Dead." I don't believe in ghosts, nor God.

Next week is the election day, which is a boring one. Just a few measures on the ballots, so I mailed in my ballot long time ago.

• A: Budget Process YES. Whatever might improve this mess, do it.
• B: Board of Supervisors Aides NO. The city hall is already bloated, they want to hire more aids? Hell no!
• C: Candlestick Park Naming Rights YES. If you can make some money for the city by naming a park that nobody goes (I don't go), why not?
• D: Mid-Market Special Sign District YES. It's a ghetto full of homeless and drug addicts, so if they want to make it another Time Square, great!
• E: Advertisements on City Property NO. I know it's kinda contradict to D, but we don't want every street corner to be like a NASCAR.

I already said, it's a boring election. But, I voted! I believe every single vote counts, and I won't waste my power.

That makes me wonder how I will vote next time when it comes to issues related to the bicycles. I was annoyed by Critical Mass today. They not only provoke drivers on the streets, they also block buses deliberately. WTF?

I have been a supporter for cyclers, and I don't drive a car to fight roads with them. But, when they purposely block a bus, that's turning their backs to their allies and turning their friends into their enemies. They lost my sympathy and support, right there. I will no longer support their causes because of their stupidity. They ask for it.

However, I won't be violent as Bronson.

Bronson

Fame has become such a hot commodity for some people that they are willing to go extra miles to be in the spot light. Remember the hoax about the 6-year-old boy flying away in a balloon a few weeks ago? However, how to explain the phenomenon if the fame does not involved appearing in talk shows but staying in a prison cell? That famed person is Charles Bronson, the most famous and violent prisoner in Britain. Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn's operatic film "Bronson" (UK 2008 | 92 min.) might not provide answers to the question why Bronson behaves so violently through out his life, but it certainly presents a truly fascinating and deeply troubled individual, brilliantly (not British usage for this word) played by Tom Hardy. The film begins with Bronson's fights with classmates at school. Before the "Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves" finishes playing in the background, Bronson grows up into a young man (Tom Hardy) and is sentenced to seven years in prison for armed robbery of only £26.18 at a post office. His forgiving mother comforts him: "Don't worry son, you'll be out in four." That's not quite the way it turns out. After almost 35 years and a few hostage taking episodes in prison, Bronson is still in prison up to this moment, mostly in solitary confinement. In between jail cells, he is only freed twice, for 68 days and 53 days respectively, before being sent back to jail. In most scenes in the film, he is extremely violent and fighting with anybody in his sight. During rest of the time, he makes art. Who exactly is Bronson? What's in his head that makes him acts violently and peculiarly? Nobody seems to know. For any sane mind, certainly fame is not a plausible motivation for Bronson's behavior, although he has certainly achieved that status. Bronson has a personality that his body is too small to hold, and he must explode whenever he is with another human being. Perhaps that is also his unique way to express himself and his art. You might have different interpretations about Bronson, but everyone can certainly agreen on one thing—you are fortunate to learn about him through a film, not in person. And, he indeed is somebody that you cannot forget easily. "Bronson" opens on Friday, Oct 30, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

I have been writing documentations at work, which requires even more concentration during editing. Therefore, I easily get irritated by noises others make. Or is that perhaps due to the fact that my mind is not at ease? Thinking too much?

I am really happy to get my new pair of "Monster Beats by Dr. Dre headphones." They do a decent job to block the noise and any sound that I don't want to hear—I have really sensitive hearing.

I think my agitated mind might due to some stress. But I cannot even figure out what is stressing me out, and I have been going to the gym regularly, this is very strange.

So, I am thinking about taking a vacation. I called the travel agent for tickets to Taipei and Manila, but they have not called me back to quote me a price. While I am waiting, the current H1N1 flu comes to mind which gives me a second thought about traveling. I called my doctor to see if I can get a H1N1 vaccine, they don't have it yet. I guess I will sleep on the idea of traveling till next week to figure out where and if I should go for a vacation.

On the other hand, I don't really need travel to relax. I can just take the bus and hike in the mountains in 20 minutes! Last Sunday, when I was walking on this quiet trail, suddenly that little dirt road profoundly moved me into tears. It's a very strange moment that nature connects to my emotion in such a direct fashion. I pulled out my camera and took a picture (of the road) to capture the moment.

I am glad the raining season is coming, so the mountain and the trails can be greener. Actually we've already got fair amount of rain. Last Monday, when I came home, I was pleasantly surprised how clean the exterior window in my living room is! The blue sky doesn't show any sign of heavy storm earlier.

Actually not only the storm washed my window well, it also caused severe flooding in some areas around the City. That night, this flooding video at the Van Ness station on Market was on every local TV station.

I am not sure if it's the latest storms related, Google's services have been lousy lately. Picasa always confuses Gmail to recognize who I am. Last night, Blogger was down unexpectedly. I found it ironic that the outage status was announced on Twitter instead of, say Google's home page. Although regardless where, it's embarrassing. More and more I feel Google is becoming another Microsoft. Their services start to lose the edge and cool, but mostly, lost common sense. Functionalities begin to behave stupidly. Is that what an evolution look like? When it gets big and overweight, it can hardly move efficiently.

It has been very evident from Google's products anyway, without requiring any deep thoughts.

Speaking of deep thoughts, today, when I was walking to my office, I fathom out a conclusion about myself:

When I do something as a hobby, I enjoy doing it enormously and find every opportunity to do it enthusiastically. However, if I do the same thing for a living or due to obligations, the enjoyment vanishes quickly.

Why is it?

I was a math wizard when I was a little kid, and I wanted to be a mathematician after I grow up. However, after I became a statistician, I started to buy lottery tickets—hopefully one day I can win and I don't have to sink in deep thoughts on the way to work.

Take the example about cooking. I love to cook, for family, friends, and for myself. However, if I were cooking in a restaurant for a living, I would hate cooking right the way.

Actually, I was about to write something about cooking in today's entry, but it gets too long so I will save it for next time.

Another example is film. I used to go to most of the movies I was invited. However, now I become more and more selective. Although I've already watched about 170 films so far this year, it's a significant drop compared to the last couple years. Also, after three years in a row on the Feature Screening Committee for the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, I am sorta glad and relieved that I am taking a break from that for next year's festival. My life is less hectic and less stressful, and I can save the time to watch some good films instead of some lousy submissions.

That being said, couple films I watched lately are somehow disappointing, even I already skipped a bunch comedy and horror films, which I know that I won't like them.

So, here they are.

Ong Bak 2: The Beginning

Thai martial art blockbuster "Ong-bak: Muay Thai Warrior" is not only a smashing hit, it also makes Tony Jaa a super star. Building on its success, Tony Jaa goes both in front and behind the camera in his directorial debut "Ong Bak 2: The Beginning" (องค์บาก 2 | Thailand 2008 | in Thai | 98 min.), a spectacular showcase of kung fu fights with little else in it. This "Ong Bak 2" is supposed to be a sequel to "Ong-bak" (in case you miss the "2" in the title). However, the story and the time line obviously are not thought through when "Ong-bak" was made. As a result, this sequel becomes a prequel, because it is push back hundreds of years in time. Perhaps to indicate this detour, the phrase "The Beginning" is added to the film's title (why not just take the number "2" out?). Does it matter? Not really. The film looks pale on both its story and characters, which can be replaced pretty much by any kung fu flick. What the film is really about is to show off all the carefully choreographed impressive fighting sequences, one after another one, from beginning to the end. The film begins with Tien's escape from a genocide becoming an orphan. He falls into the hands of bandits who teach him martial arts. After Tien grows up (Tony Jaa), he seeks his revenge and fights off his enemies like a superman. In the film, Tony Jaa appears to posses superpower. No matter how many enemies he is facing and how many times and how hard he gets beaten up, he will not only rise up miraculously, and he also can still fight like a "hero" during a pro wrestling performance. And the show must go on, as well as the fighting. Although it is hard to predict the next "Ong Bak 3" will be a prequel or a sequel to this film, one thing is quite certain: there will have plenty glorious fighting, no matter who beats up whom. "Ong Bak 2: The Beginning" opens on Friday, October 23, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

Motherhood

Can you imagine that Sarah Palin being a stay-home-mom wrestling with babies and house work or being a writer in front of her computer? No? What about let Uma Thurman put on a pair of glasses looked like Sarah Palin and playing that role? If you still cannot imagine it, you are in luck. That's what happens in writer/director Katherine Dieckmann's new film "Motherhood" (USA 2009 | 90 min.). In this comedy about big city moms, Uma Thurman tries exhaustively to convince us that she presents one of those moms, but she shows us anything but. Eliza Welsh (Uma Thurman) is a fiction writer turning into blogger and cares her two young children at home. On her daughter's sixth birthday, she scrambles around the New York City to prepare her birthday party, and absolutely nothing can go smoothly. She constantly arguing or fighting just about with anybody she encounters during the day: agitated shoppers, snobbish neighbors, annoyed best friend (Minnie Driver), absent husband (Anthony Edwards), and of course, others moms in the playground. Will she be able to pull her daughter's birthday party off while reevaluating her dream and the meaning of her life? Try to predict the outcome before you watch the film, and I bet you will be correct. The film could have worked if the casting were different. Uma Thurman tries very hard to be funny and to be an everyday stay-home-mom. However, I cannot shake off the image of her waving a sword in "Kill Bill," just like I can only see Sarah Palin shooting a defenseless deer instead of stuffing gift bags for a little girl's birthday party. I don't see much chemystry between Eliza and her husband—perhaps because they have been married for a while as the movie suggests. Everybody seems memorizing the lines and speaking those words simply because they are in the script. One exception is the handsome mail delivery man, who stands out as the most convincing and charming character in the film, before he starts to dance. After the film, I want to say one thing to Uma Thurman, badly—what ever you do, don't be a stay-home-mom. "Motherhood" opens Friday, Oct 23, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

The weather is also playing a trick on events around the city. Last Saturday, the low fog made Blue Angels to abandon their air show. I am quite happy about it—not only less noise in the sky, also much less pollution. I was actually at the water front on Saturday, so I walked over to the Pier 39 to visit sea lions.

There are thousands of them!

I know there are unusual number of sea lions showing up at Pier 39, but I am not expecting that many. I stood there for a long time watching them roaming on top of each other and smelling the fishy air. They just made me smile. I shoot a video as well, but I failed to load it to Youtube, because of "unknown error."

The next day, it was still cloudy, but the clouds were higher. Since the fighter jet were supposed to fly low to show off, so that worked. It's funny that year after year, even I hate the noise of these airplanes, but when they pass me over my head, I can help but to take pictures.

I cannot explain why. Although they are annoying, they are still cool. I actually began to take pictures since Friday from my office. On Sunday, I just looked out from my apartment window watching them come and go. At one point, they flew so low that my windows and floor were all shaking like during an earthquake. All the cars parking on the street started to scream after they passed. I just hope they are not burning tax payer's money.

As if that's not enough excitement, many streets were also blocked on Sunday for Italian Heritage Parade.

I enjoyed the parade and took these pictures till my camera ran out of battery, but I never think I celebrate Columbus Day, and never get this day off at work. I think there is nothing to celebrate about Columbus. I think one day, this "holiday" will be removed.

It has been a busy week. I have to skip a few films to be able to catch my breath and attend a few other things.

I was supposed to go double features on Thursday when Obama came in town for a visit—GQ cocktail reception at GUESS first then go to a film screening. I ended up having too many drinks at the event, where I met Brandon. So, the movie became a casualty.

I really enjoyed "New York, I Love You," although many critics think the characters are not diverse enough, and some other neighborhoods are underrepresented. I don't get it. This is not an election. Why should this movie cover every corner of the city or even represent the "true" New York City? It simply tells love stories, and I am a sucker for love stories, especially when they are entertaining.

New York, I Love You

Unlike many other tourists, I never bought a T-shirt or a coffee mug that prints: "I ♥ New York." To me, New York City is indeed exciting and fun to visit. However, I simply cannot associate this sleepless city with the word "love," because the city gives me the impression that everyone is in a hurry and they are too busy to slow down for love. That impression is changed by a delightful film "New York, I Love You" (France/USA 2009 | 110 min.). Following "Paris, je t'aime", this film is the second installment of a series of "City of Love" that tells love stories in each city. New York City will be followed by Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai next year, then Mumbai and Jerusalem the year after. Eleven directors (Jiang Wen, Mira Nair, Shunji Iwai, Yvan Attal, Brett Ratner, Allen Hughes, Shekhar Kapur, Natalie Portman, Fatih Akin, Joshua Marston, and Randy Balsmeyer for the transitions) and an all-star ensemble cast tells a sequence of love stories that happen in these neighborhoods of New York City: Central Park, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, SoHo, TriBeCa, Upper East Side, Upper West Sides, and Brighton Beach. Each director has 48 hours to shoot a short story about 10 minutes long in a neighborhood. Each story tells a love story that could be touching, or surprising, or charming, or poignant, or witty, or poetic, or enchanting, or simply fun. Although not all stories hit the mark, they certainly entertain me and change my view about love in the big apple. Chinese director Jiang Wen's (姜文) segment opens the film with a story about a thief. Ben (Hayden Christensen) not only tries to steal a wallet, he tries to steal the heart of Molly (Rachel Bilson), but he ends up in a skill match with Molly's boyfriend Garry (Andy Garcia). The segment is sharp and precise, as if the characters are performing a three way tango. French director Yvan Attal's segment brings back the talkative Ethan Hawke from "Before Sunrise". He plays a writer who tries to seduce Maggie Q's character when they share a smoke on the sidewalk outside a restaurant. Somehow I think this might just happening on the sidewalks in San Francisco, even people might not talk as these characters do. The film closes with a heartwarming and hilarious story directed by Joshua Marston. Both over 80 years old, Eli Wallach and Cloris Leachman terrifically play an elderly couple who struggle to walk to the beach to enjoy their quiet moment. It truly tells me what a lifetime partner is like. I am particularly delighted to hear Zhou Xuan's (周璇) "The Wandering Songstress" (天涯歌女) is played in director Fatih Akin's segment about an artist an artist's encounter with a young girl (Shu Qi) in Chinatown. The song strikingly transforms the Chinatown neighborhood back to Shanghai in 1930s. Unlike "Paris, je t'aime," segments and characters in "New York, I Love You" are loosely connected throughout to make the film more like a feature film instead of a collection of shorts, even these segments have different styles from different directors. It works because it makes me feel like the city is connected by love from these neighborhoods. After all, New York is a city filled with love, according to this film. The film makes me want to buy an "I ♥ New York" T-shirt while it warms my heart. "New York, I Love You" opens on Friday, October 16, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

It's ironic that all of these happen on John Lennon's birthday, while the Blue Angels tearing up the sky over the City all day long, for fun.

What a joke!

John Lennon would have been 69 years old, and we would have been singing with him to celebrate:

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

Imagine that!

Instead being given to John Lennon, this so called Nobel Peace Prize is given to Obama, who is fighting two wars at this very moment.

Well, it's their money and they can give to anybody they want to express their political viewpoint, even they use that sacred word "Peace" to label the award. If I had that much money, I would give out awards and call them whatever I want.

Sadly, the world is still on a roller coaster, even our daily life at home is never at peace.

Couple days ago, somebody walked up to a cop to report that he saw an unattended bag at Kearny and Post right underneath our office building. Immediately, cops, firefighters, robots are all called in. Streets were blocked for couple hours, and MUNI buses were disrupted.

And all they found was a bag of tomato. That was a bag of very expensive tomato!It must be organic.

Speaking of MUNI, bus is a line I almost take daily. On Wednesday, a black lady provoked a Chinese lady by putting her legs on an empty seat and refused to let the Chinese lady to sit. The Chinese lady fought back verbally. When the black lady threw the first punch at the Chinese lady, the Chinese lady hit back, hard. Somebody took a video about the incident and immediately the clip became the talk of the City.

I should feel sad about the "peace" at home. But, I have to confess that I was laughing pretty hard when I was watching this.

Life goes on, season changes, and things will be okay.

The fall season is definitely here. Not only the day light gets shorter, the fresh fruits and vegetables at the market also indicate the change. After I figured out how to get the seeds out of a pomegranate (石榴), I bought more. I put some of them in a sealed jar and put in the freezer, so I can use them later in my cooking.

Just by looking them, I already feel that they are cleansing my system.

It's an easy week on film. I only saw two films this week. I didn't even write about the 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival, because most of the films I saw at the press screenings are on the list for hold reviews. I figure that I just don't bother. I have enough on my plate already anyway.

However, next week will be crazy. Almost every day there is a screening, if not two. I am looking forward to a few high profile films, such as "New York, I Love You" and "The Road." I probably won't have time to cook dinner at all, so I made some chive dumplings yesterday.

I have peace on earth, at my little nest!

However, the fair does seem getting repetitive, and I feel like that nothing can shock me any more. I might just as well skip next year—I have been overdosed with bare asses (and uncovered penises) already.

Even today, when the annual San Francisco LovEvolution (aka Love Parade) took place on Market Street, I saw more naked people!

It has a lasting effect on me.

Tonight, when I was at Smuin Ballet's performance at Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, the second section is "Medea" when male dancers wear nothing more than a G-string. The full round butts immediately remind me Folsom Street Fair. That was not supposed to be.

The performance was pretty good, despite the fact that Kevin left Smuin Ballet. I wish I had seen him dancing "Medea" in a G-string. Actually, dance anything would be fine with me if he wears that.

It was very very windy on this full moon night of Mid-Autumn Festival, but the sky was clear and I could see a full moon in the sky. I miss my family. It was too windy to take a picture of the moon without a tripod, so I took a picture of the Palace of Fine Art instead, around sunset.

On Wednesday night, I went to the California Academy of Science for Mayor's "Filipino American History Month" kickoff celebration. I know, I am not a Filipino, but that doesn't mean I cannot join a party and see those fish inside. Indeed, I saw the ugliest fish.

There are so much celebrations going around these days. October 1st is the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China . I watched the spectacular parade at Tiananmen Square, although I am still puzzled why they design a human rainbow in the parade, which is really nice.

I cooked a few dishes to celebrate. It's my first time to make two of them. I was taking the bus thinking what's for dinner. Those dishes just came to my mind and I created these dishes from nowhere. Of course, no recipes.

One is the pickled cucumber salad with ginger and seaweed. It turns out crispy and colorful. Of course, healthy too. I have to make it more often.

The other one is pan fried miso tofu. After marinated the tofu in miso paste, I use very little oil to pan fried them. Delicious. I have to cook this more often as well.

So here is my celebration of the "Red October."

I am so hungry now, but it's too late to eat. I am looking forward a new week beginning with Sunday's Castro Street Fair, if Rommel's flight won't get delayed.

There is no way I will buy a condo like that...

On Tuesday evening, I went to Infinity for the reception hosted by the Academy of Friends. Between the drinks and hors d'oeuvre, I took a tour of the models at the condo.

The view was good, but I wasn't impressed by the condo and the location. It was small and noisy, and of course, expensive. I wonder why in the world I would even consider to get a place at that price at this location.

People always ask me why I don't buy a place in San Francisco. I think the reason is too obvious—it's not worth it. Why should I put money in some over priced boxes hoping that there won't have an earthquake, the property value will go up, and nothing is gonna break in the house? Even the property value does go up, so what? Am I going to sell the place to cash in and then move into a hotel?

I want to live a worry free and relaxed life. Let somebody else deal with the uncontrollable ups and downs, even a plumber problem.

Even I know the result by instinct, couple years ago, I input a few numbers at the online tool from New York Times: "Is It Better to Buy or Rent?" The answer was just as I have expected: NEVER BUY.

So there, case closed.

Dim sum is good

On Thursday, I had a dim sum party at work. We turned our conference room into a private dinning room, with beer and champagne. Although we probably should not drink at work, wait, says who?

I hope we will do it again, soon. I am always up for a party.

New bathhouse?

When I got home on Friday evening, I noticed the fog was making a scene lingering underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. I decided to change the routine to go for a walk before dinner.

It's peaceful and pretty as always. There were some crazy swimmers in the freezing cold water. They were wearing wet suits of course, otherwise they would be freezing to death. I think that's too much trouble to swim in the bay. I would just go to a swimming pool.

Then I notice a giant sign for a bathhouse!

There is a bathhouse here? How come I never heard about it?

Learning science

It has been a while since I visited The Exploratorium. So, on this beautiful warm Saturday, I went to visit, taking advantage of Smithsonian's Museum Day.

What a fantastic time! I feel like being a kid again. Not only that, I feel I am so clueless about so many things in this world.

A few things I learned today:

• My left eye is the dominant eye.
• Sea urchin has the safest sex: the guys release the sperm to the ocean and girls release the eggs into the ocean as well. Then, the eggs and sperms are on their own.
• Feeling cold and warm is pretty much an illusion from the brain.
• Constant width doesn't have to be a circle object.
• It's easier to balance if the weight is higher—those amazing acts in a circus, such as put a table on the top of a long stick, prove that.
• Organisms are restless when they can be observed under a microscope. Do they ever sleep?
• A turban snail releases sperms into the ocean and a sperm keeps swimming until it finds an egg. Talking about tough life, what if it never finds an egg? It must be exhausted.
• ...

There are so much that I need to learn. But first, my body needs some water:

This entry is getting awfully long, I will post the dinner pictures next time, and I have a few films to finish. Here are couple more reviews.

The Burning Plain

Guillermo Arriaga is well known for his nonlinear and fractured story telling as the writer of "21 Gram" and "Bable." He continues this style in his directorial debut "The Burning Plain" (USA/Argentina 2008 | in English/Spanish | 111 min.) to tell love stories which are filled with pain and suffering. One should not be surprised when sitting through a good portion of the film and getting lost in the multiple threads of the story. As expected, of course, these subplots will all come together, if one is patient enough. The film opens with mysterious Sylvia (Charlize Theron), who is a house manager at a fancy restaurant. Before one can make any sense of Sylvia, other subplots already jam the screen as if they are competing with each other for screen time. One story is about a K-mart shopper mama's (Kim Basinger) burning urge to carry out an adultery affair. Another story is about forbidden love between teenagers Mariana (Jennifer Lawrence) and Cristobal (Diego J. Torres). Meanwhile, the film also travels to Mexico to shows the life of a little girl, which counts for another story. These stories shuffle together like a deck of cards in a magician's hands, even everybody already knows that the shuffling just to create an illusion for the audience—the magical truth behind the shuffling is already there. However, a magician does not reveal that truth in the end; otherwise he would ruin the magic. Unfortunately, when a movie reveals everything in the end, the shuffling of these subplots leaves an impression nothing more than ostentation. While many characters in the film are unconvincing and uncomprehended (Sylvia should immediately comes to one's mind), the love story surrounded between Mariana and Cristobal is the most captivating and best performed. It would have been better if their story did not get interrupted randomly and constantly by other subplots, despite how relevant they might be. When style of story telling overpowers the story, it becomes a distraction to the story. It would have been different if it were a magic performance. However, this is a motion picture and it reveals most the secrets in the end. "The Burning Plain" opens on Friday, September 25, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

Five Minutes of Heaven

Is it possible to reconcile with a man who causes tremendous lose and suffering? Based on a true story, British film "Five Minutes of Heaven" (UK 2009 | 90 min.) exams two men's extraordinary journey to meet each other in hoping of seeking the truth, finding a closure, and reaching a reconciliation. Although the film is the winner of World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award and World Cinema Screenwriting Award at 2009 Sundance Film Festival, it also deserves to be awarded in acting categories for finely calibrated performances from lead actors Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt. The story begins in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, in 1975 during the conflict between the IRA and the British government. 17-year-old Alistair Little (Mark David) becomes a foot soldier and kills a 19-year-old Catholic James Griffin, witnessed by James's 11-year-old brother Joe Griffin. This tragic incident has a lasting impact on the lives of both the killer Alistair and horrified Joe. Three decades later, through a social service program and documentary crew, Alistair (Liam Neeson) decides to meet Joe (James Nesbitt) for the first time after the killing to reconcile. The meeting becomes an intensely emotional ordeal for both grown men. German director Oliver Hirschbiegel ("Downfall") masterfully creates incredible suspensions in each scene. It is both gripping and terrifying. Two great actors Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt give brilliant performances to reveal both characters' complex emotional struggles. It is quite operatic. The film does not answer the question if or how two enemies can reconcile; it simply shows the fascinating development in the minds of these rich characters. That makes the film a human story regardless which side one stands during that period of unsettling British history. "Five Minutes of Heaven" opens on Friday, October 2, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

The annual Mid-Autumn Festival Street Fair was held in Chinatown in this perfect weather. Although it's mostly a commercial event with vendors spreading around the closed streets, the festival continues to bring the community together and to celebrate the Chinese heritage.

Yesterday, after my gym routine, I went to Chinatown to check out the festival. There were tons of people. I was amused to see a guy singing Karaoke on stage passionately as if the huge crowd around him had disappeared. On another stage, a Chinese guy was wearing a cowboy hat and singing country music.

I have to admit that street fairs like this do encourage people to buy more stuff they might otherwise not purchase. I ran into Eric with his parents and they bought three big boxes of raman. Why? I bought two dinner plates myself, even though I have enough plates in my cabinet to serve an army.

That must be the festival spirit, I guess. Shanghai now even has a Shopping Festival. Shopping needs a festival?

After picking up a few DVDs from the library, I came home and opened my refrigerator to see what I should cook for dinner.

I saw that big bag of organic baby green. It was given to me by a farm boy at the farmer's market downstairs from my office. I think the boys from Happy Boy Farm didn't want to take the leftovers back to the farm. They picked me as the lucky one to have a bag. I will eat plenty baby greens the next few days.

I also saw some spareribs, so I made a salt and pepper spareribs. I also cooked some tempura with eggplant and broccoli for the first time. It wasn't as successful as I would have hoped, probably because I normally don't deep fry food. Nevertheless, it was a delicious dinner to finish the day, and I really loved the color, shape, taste, and texture of the eggplant.

Well, that meal wasn't the end of the day. After dinner, I headed to Ballpark for San Francisco Opera's Il Trovatore. A little bit dramatic, but a great opera.

How can a day be more lovelier? I said it before, and I am saying it again: I love San Francisco.

Last Sunday I didn't go hiking in Marin Headlands due to Wayne's visit. There is no way I am going to miss it again this week. This morning, I headed to the beach.

I got wet a few times by sudden high waves, because I was collecting colorful rocks on the beach. The waves toy with me by giving me a huge splash once a while. It was very playful, even at one point, my shoes are completely wet. No worries, they dried out a moment later under the warm sun and gentle ocean breeze. And, I collected a sink full of rocks!

Now I can have my zen moments without have to buy them in a store. Just get them directly from the beach!

What's next? Cooking dinner of course! I am hungry! I made salmon, a baby green salad, stir-fried broccoli, and brown rice.

What a perfect weekend! I am sure I can repeat it again next week. I am hearing a heat warning on Tuesday, whatever...

It's time to finish another film review before next week's screenings.

Jennifer's Body

Wouldn't it be great to see Juno (pregnant or not) making smart alec remarks while running for life from a vampire? That is perhaps everyone's expectation from Academy Award winner Diablo Cody's new script for a horror flick "Jennifer's Body" (USA 2009 | 102 min.). However, as if a ghost has put a curse on her Oscar win, the teenagers in this film can hardly say anything even remotely as funny as those high schoolers in "Juno." Director Karyn Kusama ("Girlfight") crafts a few girly fights even a girly kiss in the movie. However, these acts only show how desperately the film seeks for attention. The film still looks lifeless as if a vampire sucks out of its flesh and blood, and definitely all of its funny bones. Needy (Amanda Seyfried) is a nerdy teenager. Although she might not be a popular one at school, she not only gets herself a mellow boyfriend Chip (Johnny Simmons), she also has the most popular girl Jennifer (Megan Fox) as her "best friend forever." After a night out in a local pub goes bad, Needy realizes that Jennifer is "actually evil, not high school evil." Needy goes to the the shabbiest and direst places to have a cat fight with Jennifer. There will be blood. Despite a few sickening scenes, the film lacks the excitement and extremity other fun gore flicks have. That makes this horror film less campy nor scary. The film's title might suggest that Jennifer's body is a main attraction. However, the most revealing part is just Jennifer's plumber's crack. Finally, when the film is only mildly amusing, there is really not much left to see in "Jennifer's Body," even when Jennifer is not hungry. "Jennifer's Body" opens on Friday, September 18, at Bay Area theaters.

Although we normally has no rain, there is plenty fog. Pretty fog.

Yesterday morning, when I woke up and looked out my apartment window, the bridge was still sleeping with a heavy white blanket.

I wish I didn't have to go to work and just go back to sleep, like the bridge does. So on my way to work, I bought $1 lottery. Who knows, that day might come soon.

Meanwhile, I should just go with my routines and try to find some fun at work. Otherwise, who is gonna pay the rent and food?

Speaking of food, few days ago, I was craving for some moo shu pork (木须肉—I just realized that the picture on this wikipedia page is taken by me couple years ago). Actually I was missing my mom's spring pancake (春饼), which I never learned from her how to make them. I decided to make some for the first time, to remember her.

They turn out pretty well, except the spring pancakes are not as soft as mom made. I didn't figure out why until yesterday.

Yesterday morning, I was heating up some breakfast in the microwave, but when I took the food out, it was still cold! Oh! My microwave was broken! I was heating up water with the microwave when I was making those spring pancakes while mixing the flour. I thought the water was really hot, but actually I was mixing the flour with room temperature water! That's why the pancakes are not soft enough.

The puzzle is solved. It also means that I need a new microwave. I bought one today and it will be delivered next week. I also bought two Calphalon non-stick pans for my cooking pleasure.

Tonight, I cooked some eggplant with the new pans, with very little oil. It turns out pretty well. I love these new pans.

I made those shaomai (烧卖) for the first time as well, this time I bought the potsticker skin to be quicker, but they are just not as good as I made myself and not very sticky. Well, since it's the first time, I can always make them better next time.

I can't wait to try some new dishes with my new pans.

Tomorrow, I will go hiking, even there is a thunderstorm!

I feel very productive today, because I finish a few film reviews as well, and this is one of them.

Amreeka

It is no secrete that life is extremely difficult for Palestinians living in Israeli occupied West Banks. However, will their struggle be easier if they immigrate to the US? Writer/director Cherien Dabis's semi-biographical first feature "Amreeka" (USA/Canada 2009 | in English/Arabic | 96 min.) humorously gives an insightful look at new lives of Arabic immigrants in the US. Amreeka means America in Arabic. To a divorced Palestinian mother Muna (Nisreen Faour) and her teenager son Fadi (Melkar Muallem), Amreeka is a wonder land for a new life full of hopes. They abandon their middle class life in their homeland and come to a small town in Illinois to escape the difficult life in West Bank under the Israeli occupation. However, in the backdrop of the First Golf War, Arabic immigrants' lives in America are anything but easy, in additional to the struggle every new immigrant must face. Despite Muna's two degrees and ten years of experience, she cannot find a job other than flipping hamburgers in a fast food joint (with a "Support Our oops" sign outside). Meanwhile, Fadi is experiencing academic and culture challenges at school. Even they all understand that "a tree pulled out by its roots and placed elsewhere, it doesn't grow," they are determined to build a new life and let the tree grow. At a certain level, the story in this film echoes every new immigrant's struggle, regardless their origins. Under the current political atmosphere, Arabic immigrants' stories particularly need to be told. Although the dramatic development of the story is somehow familiar and predictable as seen in a television drama, the light humor and the embedded political commentaries make the film interesting. In addition, Nisreen Faour's terrific performance as the charismatic mother Muna is delightful to watch. "Amreeka" opens on Friday, September 18, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

The weather couldn't be better. I would be stupid if I had not headed to the beaches and mountains. Kevin and I almost spent the whole day in the wild. What a fun and invigorating time!

Although it is a little foggy in the City, but it is completely sunny in Marin Headlands. The tide has dramatically changed the landscape on the beach since hte last time I was there. There are very few people on the secluded beach, only the sound of the ocean and touch of the sand.

It's surprisingly warm lying on the sand. As if the energy is transferring into my body from the vast ocean. I become part of the nature. I feel that I've never been so alive. I can't wait to go back there again next weekend.

I was overly joyful waking up late on Monday knowing that I didn't have to go to work. I did some shopping and then went to swimming. A very handsome guy came to the pool, wearing a nice speedo. He has the perfect curve and toned body, with a decent complexion (he probably should have worn sunscreen). Then the tregedy happened: he pulled out an ugly pink swimming cap and put on his nice hair. That cap totally ruined his image. I continued with my laps, trying to ignore that pinky swimming cap.

After I got home from swimming, while watching the other Tony tasting food around the world on TV, I started to bake more spareribs in my kitchen. I marinated the ribs in the morning before I headed out the door, so by the evening they were ready to go. However, I don't have a grill. I miss my grill. All I have got is an oven, which I don't like and use very little. It's a price to pay living in the City—cooking without fire on a grill.

The spareribs turned out not bad. I cooked some fish miso soup, and steamed some buns (馒头), and stir-fried some veggies, and Labor Day dinner is ready.

Today is 09/09/09/. But to me, I am just glad that it's already Wednesday, so another weekend is right around the corner. Even it's not gonna be a three day weekend, I don't mind. I should not be greedy.

I have so many projects that I can never seem to get a chance to finish, although I think my main problem is not procrastination, but I am easily get distracted. When I am doing something, I already start something else.

I should learn how to do one thing at a time, except in my kitchen, where it requires serious multithreading.

I have realized that I should always have hearty breakfast. My hearty means content, delicious, and comforting. Not fatty bacon, sausage, and butter. Last weekend, I made some porridge and cooked some kimchi egg pancake. I dug out a salty egg yolk, and put the egg white on boiled bok choy, fermented tofu on cucumber, and a little sliced roasted pork. I felt like an emperor.

After my caffeine fix and "hearty" breakfast, I headed to the Marin Headlands for my weekly dose indulgence of nature.

It was cool and a little foggy. I chose a different route and went to a beach on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. I found some cute smooth rocks that I have not seen before on other beaches. I picked a few to use as chopstick resters. I even picked up a piece of pretty stone and made a necklace.

Then I walked back to the city across the bridge. The hiking always makes me happy and puts me in very good mood. I can forget about all the drama in life, just enjoy the moment with the ocean, the mountain, the trees, and the fog.

After I got home, the fog really started to roll in and it became a little chilly. So a bowl of soup was perfect to finish the day, I also I made some meat pancake (肉饼) to go with the soup.

That's what I call a perfect day.

It seems that I can only find peace when I am in the kitchen or in the wild. Last week, I was irritate at work almost the whole week because there are so many people on the floor, and they kept talking! Normally very few people in the office, but somehow last week they decided all came to the office. I had a hard time to concentrate. So I got up and look out the window to check out the guys washing exterior window.

Oh boy! No matter how much they pay me, I am not gonna take this job! I will be scared to death!

On Tuesday, perhaps my mind was not at peace to begin with, I couldn't stand other's talking in the office any more. At lunch hour, I got up and went to San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, as soon as I see this piece of art, I couldn't stop giggling.

I call it "love urinal," as in "love seat."

This city never fails to amuse me, that's why I love it so much.

Yesterday, I was craving for spareribs. I went to a store bought some today, but the butcher refused to cut it into small pieces. Fine, I just cook the big piece!

The spareribs came out perfectly tender and flavorful. I did manage to cut off the top part of the rib because that part is better in a soup, with some frozen tofu and bok choy.

Of course, that's not enough vegetables. I stir-fried woodear with bitter melon, with mixed rice. Now, that's plenty for dinner.

It's absolutely lovely that the weekend just gets started. I am looking forward to hiking tomorrow again.

Life is good.

As for movies, I still have two more reviews to finish during this long weekend. But these are couple reviews I wrote recently.

Extract

From the creator of "Office Space" and popular TV shows like "King of the Hill" and "Beavis and Butt-Head," writer/director Mike Judge's new comedy "Extract" (USA 2009 | 91 min.) is a humorous and entertaining film on the expense of some people's misfortunate. Joel (Jason Bateman) is a soft hearted guy who owns a small food extract (or any other product, because it is irrelevant) factory. He is frustrated with his wife Suzie's (Kristen Wiig) lack of interest in sex. A freaking accident in the factory puts Joel's business in jeopardy, and it also brings a beautiful criminal drifter Cindy (Mila Kunis) into Joel's neck of the woods. To deal with his frisky mind toward Cindy, Joel takes on the advice (among other things) from his bartender friend Dean (Ben Affleck) and hires a gigolo Brad (Dustin Milligan) to seduce his wife. But, Joel's misfortunate only seems getting worse. Writer/director Mike Judge has the ability to cleverly imbed humor into witty dialogues. He creates a group of colorful characters, and most of them have distinct and genuine personalities. The terrific performance by the ensemble cast makes these character to alive. Ben Affleck wears beard and long curly hair, like Jesus (is that how Jesus looks like?), provides all sorts of wacky ideas through smooth talking. Dustin Milligan brilliant plays the dumb gigolo and makes one giggle whenever he opens his mouth. However, the comedy does not exceed the level of a television drama. One has to keep an eye closed on some details and avoid asking hard (or easy) questions about Joel's behaviors. Otherwise, the story might fall apart and the fun would be spoiled. One would miss the point of this film, because the film simply wants to have some light hearted fun, therefore, there is no need to get anything too serious. "Extract" opens Friday, September 4, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Der Baader Meinhof Komplex)

"If one person throw a stone, it's an offense. If hundreds and thousands throw stones, it's a protest." This statement remains to be true and relevant in today's world, decades later after it's written by Ulrike Meinhof, one of co-founders of Germany's terrorist group Red Army Faction (RAF). Based on a book by Stefan Aust and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, "The Baader Meinhof Complex" (Der Baader Meinhof Komplex | Germany 2008 | in German | 150 min.) is an epic recount of RAF's activities in the '70s. Through a grand production (123 speaking parts, 52 minor parts, 6300 extras, 140 filming locations) and without imposing judgment, director Uli Edel remarkably tells a compelling story about a group of fascinating historical figures and their radical actions In the late '60s, many young people in Germany and throughout the Europe are actively involved in anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism, and anti-war (Vietnam) movements. A group of activists founds an organization called RAF to carry out serious of violence acts including bombing and assassinations. The brain of the group is a left-wing journalist Ulrike Meinhof who gives up prominent career and her children and fights for her ideology. Almost like a documentary, the film chronicles the major events through RAF's history in the '70s. It focuses on a few leaders of the RAF, including the title characters: Andreas Baader (Moritz Bleibtreu, "Run Lola Run") and Ulrike Meinhof (Martina Gedeck, "The Lives of Others"). It describes their resistance struggle to their imprisonment and trial. It is brutally violent, realistic, and thought provoking. RAF is recognized as a terrorist organization, but the RAF members think themselves as revolutionists for a greater cause. Isn't it true that every political act has completely opposite views depending on which side it's looked at? RAF's history is not an isolate occurrence, and it's one tragic episode that has been repeated many times in human history. This film is particularly interesting not only for its honest look at this important period of history, but also for its relevance to today's war on terrorism. It is an extraordinary history lesson, on the big screen. "The Baader Meinhof Complex" opens on Friday, September 4, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

I went to shopping, although I don't think I need anything besides food. I am used to be a shopaholic for kitchen ware, but I forced myself to stop buying useless stuff, especially when I was packing for moving few years ago. I realized how much junk I have accumulated. Many of them went to the charity.

However, I think my old habit is coming back. When I saw this spoon rest in the store, I picked one home. It's great on the stove when I am cooking. I also picked up a garlic press for $16.

I don't really need that garlic press, because I can smash, cut, and slice any garlic on my board the way I want. I just think it might be convenient to have one. Then on the same day, in a store in Chinatown, I saw a similar garlic press (even with the same red/black color) for only $7. Why?! Just to show me that I should not have bought it at the first place? Probably so, because after I smash the garlic, I have to use chopsticks to get the garlic off the garlic press. Yuk! Should have just used my knife and save all the trouble.

When I was shopping, I notice that people are everywhere. I guess it's still the tourist season in this hot weather. Actually even it's not this hot, there are a lot people anyway in the City. People are constantly watched by others without noticing it. Here are a few examples I observed.

• In a hot afternoon, an old lady was walking on the sidewalk, wearing a short skirt and VERY HIGH heels. She has no idea that two teenager boys walking behind her were not only making comments about her, one of the boy was shaking his butt to mimic that old lady's walk in her high heels. And, the two boys didn't notice that I was watching what they were doing.

• Couple days ago, in the morning, an old Chinese man was blowing his nose loudly to the sidewalk ground, using his bare hand. Afterwards, he cleaned his fingers by smashing them on a utility pole. He has no idea that everybody on the cable car witnessed everything he was doing and were all moaning in disgust.

• A woman (I think that was a woman, I didn't look carefully) was giving a handjob to a black guy in a parked car on Polk Street in bright daylight. They didn't notice that I could see them when I passed their car on the sidewalk, or perhaps they knew, but didn't care.
• People were jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge to their death. They didn't realize that cameras are capturing their moves, including their fatal moments. Oh, I didn't observe these suicide acts, but the lenses of the documentary "The Bridge" did.

• ... ...

It makes me wonder if I should close my curtains when I get home. I always assumed that people cannot see this far from their windows blocks away. But, maybe they can after all.

Well, it's still hot, and there is no air conditioning in most San Francisco's apartments. Even it's not hot, I won't bother. If they want to peek, go ahead.

I finished two reviews last couple days, and two more to be finished before next week. However, even it's hot, I am going to go hiking tomorrow. I need to set my priority straight.

Bliss (Mutluluk)

Based on Zülfü Livaneli's best selling novel, "Bliss" (Mutluluk | Turkey 2007 | in Turkish | 105 min.) tells an extraordinary tale about the conflicts between blind faith in ancient tradition and compassion in modern society. At the beginning of the film, 17 year old Meryem (Özgü Namal is found unconscious on a river bank. Being a victim of rape, she is ordered to die according to the tradition mores in the village. Meryem's cousin Cemal (Murat Han) is giving the order to carry out the sentence en route to Istanbul. Meryem is torn between obeying the order and following his own heart. They meet a free spirited professor Irfan (Talat Bulut), who is traveling in his boat escaping the real world. With Irfan's help, Cemal breaks off from the tradition and begins a new journey. The dramatic yet predicable plot unfolds in front of a breathtaking landscape. The cinematography terrifically captures the beauty of the nature, which gives us a welcome relief from the perplexed character development. Due to untold reasons, Cemal is able to change his mind swiftly. Cemal seems to be a good natured guy to begin with, it is unconvincing for him suddenly to abolish his belief in the old moral code. After all, he is the one who agrees to carry out the death sentence, even though it's obvious to everyone that he will fail his task. Hornor killing is a crucial element of the film's story. But, why should a rape victim be blamed for what happens? Why does the ancient tradition want to kill the victim instead of capturing the rapist? If everybody (including Cemal and Meryem) seems firmly believe in this code even the logic sounds absurd, it must be very hard for them to break off from this belief. Unfortunately, the film does not explain either why they believe in it or how they break away from it. Once they get to Istanbul, that belief begins to crumble. Must be the fantastic scenery. "Bliss" opens on Friday, September 4, 2009 at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco.

Still Walking (歩いても 歩いても)

An old Chinese idiom says: "Every family has its own dilemma (家家有本难念的经)." A dilemma not only makes each family unique, it also creates precious memories. Family stories are cherished by family members and get passed on from generation to generation, for better or for worse. Award winning Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda (是枝裕和) gently tells a family's story in his new film "Still Walking" (歩いても 歩いても | Japan 2008 | in Japanese | 114 min.). Through an ordinary dysfunctional family, this beautiful film inspires us to reflect love and resentment in our own family lives, and perhaps some secrets too. On a summer day, Ryota Yokoyama (Hiroshi Abe) and his sister Chinami Kataoka (You) bring their families to visit their elderly parents on the 12th anniversary of their brother Junpei's death. Everybody in the Yokoyama family still lives in the shadow of that tragic event, and Ryota's father Kyohei (Yoshio Harada) remains feeling bitter about Ryota's refusal of becoming a doctor to carry on the family clinic. Ryota's mother Yukari (Yui Natsukawa) continues to cook family's favorite meals while making sarcastic remarks about almost anybody. The reunion brings out fond family memories, as well as unresolved hard feelings. This seemingly uneventful day becomes an endearing family portrait, and it forever brings back the nostalgia sentiment that bonds a family together. Like his previous acclaimed films such as "After Life" and "Nobody Knows," in this new family drama, Kore-Eda's tells an engrossing story with deep affection. He develops characters through daily activities that are nothing dramatic. He fills each scene with ample details that enrich the story and characters. This is a film that deserves multiple viewings (I have already watched three times), because each viewing reveals more details that might have been overlooked previously, and each viewing roots the story deeper into the heart. Everyone should be able to identify oneself with some of these characters, because as ordinary as the Yokoyama's story appears, it is profoundly universal and extraordinary. "Still Walking" opens on Friday, September 4, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

I was paying the price the next day. On Monday morning, I could barely get off my bed because of sore muscle on my butt due to the uphill hiking. I feel good though because it indicates that I had a good workout, although I should have stretched a little bit afterwards. I forgot.

Besides indulging myself in the nature, I have been trying to cook more lately. On Saturday, I bought some roasted pork in Chinatown. I just don't feel right to dump it into a plate. So, I made it look a little prettier with tomato and purple onion.

Now, I feel I can double the price to resell it. I am not sure if that changed the taste of the pork, but it surely makes me happy.

Today I was talking to a co-worker about a chef who has the same name as mine: Tony. I recommended her to read Tony's terrific book "A Cook's Tour."

Since I had to return a DVD to the library, I volunteered to check out that book for her. On the same shelf, I picked up another cookbook that is filled with wonderful pictures of food. It inspires me to cook something tonight. I know, it's a Tuesday night, but who says that life can only be enjoyed on a weekend?

But, I have no idea what to cook.

On my way home, when I saw sole in a store, I picked up one. Yup, that poor sole will be my dinner!

With just a little salt and oil, the fish turned into golden quickly in a pan. I carved a tomato flower and cucumber butterfly to decorate the fish, blended an avocado with wasabi powder as dipping sauce, cut one garlic eggplant I made last week, stirfried some veggies, pour a cup of sake, and a bowl of mixed rice—I feel my Tuesday is almost as good as weekend.

Alright, two nights in a row, I have been staying up late writing about films. I should go to bed early tonight, and dream about what to cook tomorrow.

I think that woman definitely needs to get a clue. Arguing with a sharp tongued old gay man? What was she thinking? She needs to take classes to learn from gay men living in Castro to learn how to be bitchy! Plus, this shouting game doesn't get the dialogue, I mean the shouting, to anywhere, except on the internet and on television.

I have not read Obama's health plan, except some reports in the news. I have to say that I don't have faith in this health care reform. If I were voting today, I would have to vote no. Not because it's a bad intention, but it's something doomed to fail.

Of course it would be nice to provide everybody with health care. But, when you have nothing to pay for it, you simply cannot do it. Plus, don't we already have examples that government run health services that don't work? For example, money is taken out from each my paycheck to pay for Medicare, as well as for Social security. Haven't I been told for years that these programs are all broke and don't even think about getting benefit from these government programs?

How in the world that when we face a living example of failed government run health care program, the politicians want to create a new one and they claim that this one will work?

How? Living in another country, if not another planet? If they can make this new one work, how come they cannot fix the old ones that are failing?

Every responsible person should not spend the money that he doesn't have, well, except Americans. Even though the Unite States is broke, the government is spending like no tomorrow, and wants to achieve a utopia that everyone's health is taken care of. I believe that it will remain a dream if we don't fix the fundamental rotten roots of our health care problem.

To reform the health care, some drastic changes must take place. Here are a few things I can think of right off my head:

• Set a limit on how much lawyers can sue doctors, so the medical bills don't have to include the expensive liability insurance.
• Let patients spend their own money for health care like they buy food. If I go to a restaurant, I don't file paper work to let some insurance company to pay my food later, right? Then why should that be the case for health care?
• Buy health insurance like buying home owner insurance which only pays when the house gets burnt down. If it's a small problem in the house, fix your house with your own money. Same should goes to the health care.
• Reform prescription medicines, they don't have to be that outrageously expensive.
• Impose very very high tax on sugar and sweet soft drinks, so people will actually start to drink water, instead of taking in empty calories.
• Mandatory more vacation days to all Americans like those French, Dutch, or Danish. Americans will be much happier and less stressful, therefore, much healthier if we get to play more instead of working more.
• .... (I can go on and on forever) ...

See, this is why I am not a politician, because the common sense (of course, nonsense to many others) won't fly in our government.

Speaking of maintaining good health, I think to have a decent real breakfast must be good for me. So, I set up the timer on my rice cooker to cook some fresh porridge automatically when I wake up in the morning. Especially those salted eggs I made are about ready to eat.

Yesterday, when I woke up in the morning, I didn't smell any porridge. When I looked at the rice cooker, it's still counting the time. Oh no! I set the time to PM instead of AM! Don't I hate these AM/PM stuff. Why can't the rice cooker display 24 hours format?

I reset the rice cooker again correctly. This morning, I was woken up by the porridge aroma floating in the air. That's what I am waiting for! It really brings me appetite in the morning when I wake up!

On Wednesday night, I went to the Castro Theater and watched "Inglourious Basterds" for the second time. But this time, I watched it with direcor Quentin Tarantino sitting in the audience with us! After the movie, he gave an Q&A session to the audience. He is really a down to earth guy with great talent. I wrote a review about this film last night, in my freshly customized Emacs!

Inglourious Basterds

After more than a decade in the making, Oscar winning writer/director Quentin Tarantino presents his highly anticipated World War II epic "Inglourious Basterds" (USA/Germany/France 2009 | 153 min.), a glorious masterpiece with an Oscar worthy performance by Christoph Waltz as a Nazi officer. The film is divided into five chapters to tell a multithreaded interleaving story, but the plot is never confusing. Each chapter is jammed with witty and humorous dialogues, colorful characters, terrific performance, gore violence, and explosive climaxes. In the end, they come together gracefully. In Chapter One, "Once Upon A Time in Nazi Occupied France," a charming yet terrifying Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz), nicknamed "The Jew Hunter," comes to a farm searching for Jews in hiding. One of the girl in hiding is Shosanna (Mélanie Laurent), who later runs a movie theater in Paris in Chapter Three "German Night in Paris." Shosanna survives Hans's hunt and encounters Nazi Gefreiter Fredrick Zoller (Daniel Brühl). Fredrick is a German hero for killing hundreds of enemies by himself in a battle. Fredrick shows interest in Shosanna and wants to premiere a propaganda film based on his own story and played by himself. Shosanna once again needs to escape from Hans, "The Jew Hunter," because Hans is in charge of the security of the movie's premiere. The British intelligent also learns about the movie's premiere event, which appears to be a perfect target because the movie theater will be packed by the Nazis' higher ranking officers. Therefore, in Chapter Four, "Operation Kino," the British intelligent sends in Lieutenant Archie Hicox (Michael Fassbender), to blow up the Nazis with the help from the "Basterds." These "Basterds" are the protagonists introduced in Chapter Two, "Inglourious Basterds." Led by Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), whose name pays tribute to Aldo Ray, a group of American Jews infiltrate into France to kill the Nazis. They don't just kill the Nazis, they also take Nazis' scalps, as their signature (among other things) to terrify the Nazis. Director Quentin Tarantino seamlessly brings all these characters together and proceeds to the grand finale: Chapter Five, "Revenge of the Giant Face." He tells his gripping story with great precision and ample almost flawless details, just like how Hans ("The Jew Hunter") opens his pen and paper pad, gets ink for the pen, and writes on a piece of paper at the beginning of the film. Tarantino is not shy of showing his cinephile personality in this film. He uses soundtracks from 22 other films, and he plans to use cinema to end the World War II in his version of history. And, of course, only Tarantino can write those classic ingenious dialogues. When Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) wants to attend the movie premiere as a German, German actress Bridget von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) asks: "Can you American speak any other language other than English?" Ouch! To prove she is wrong, Tarantino lets Aldo speak hilarious broken Italian, with a southern drawl. On the other hand, both Christoph Waltz and his character Hans ("The Jew Hunter") are linguist geniuses who speaks at least four languages (German, French, Italian, and English) frequently. Christoph Waltz's exceptional performance already takes the Best Actor Award at 2009 Cannes Film Festival. It is very likely that he will win the upcoming Oscar as well. As Aldo Raine's last word in the film, it is not an over statement to say this film is a masterpiece from Tarantino. However, it should not surprise anyone if this brilliant director brings even a greater film to the cinema in the future. "Inglourious Basterds" opens on Friday, August 21, 2009 at Bay Area theaters.

What is the BART Union thinking? They simply make themselves an ass. They have the highest paying salary among the nation's public transit agencies; they have retirement pensions and generous health care coverage; they make more than $100K a year when counting overtime pays. Now they want to go on strike when the nation and state in deep recession and when many people don't even have a job. If the strike decision doesn't show how greedy the BART Union is, it simply shows how stupid BART union is.

And, I am always wondering just what exactly BART station agents do behind those booths. These are the people who are asking for raises and more benefits when BART budget is deep in the red, when the fare is raised, and when the service is cut.

Oh, wait, I know what those station agents do, they announce elevator status that we all hear quite often:

"Attention passengers, this is an elevator status update. All elevators are working at this moment. Thanks for your attention."

WTF? Those elevators are SUPPOSED to be working! Why do you have to interrupt the train arrival announcement and to tell us that nothing is broken? Oh, that's how they show us that they are actually working for over $100K a year.

If BART is on strike on Monday, I almost won't get affected. But my concern and sympathy go to folks who have to get to work to make ends meet via BART everyday. Not to mention that the pollution will get worse in the Bay area due to more cars on roads, all because the BART Union wants to hold the public hostage.

If I could, I would fire all of them who are on strike and hire people who are out of work.

Okay, I am done my ranting about BART. I am actually in a very good mood today and the last few days. I have been enjoying the nice summer weather. On Friday I went to the Ferry Building at lunch hour and took a picture of the high rises in the Financial District. It's so pretty.

I am also in the mood of cooking, my way of protesting BART. I had a few friends over last night for dinner. However, I was very disappointed about some dishes' presentation. Even they taste not bad, but they just look ugly.

Today, after the gym workout, I started to think about what to cook for dinner while shopping for fresh vegetables. I want to cook something today to undo yesterday's damage.

In order to decorate the plate, I carved a rose out of tomato. This probably shows that I really have nothing better else to do.

After the salmon is cooked, I place them next to the roses, sprinkled with some roasted pine nuts and green onion. I feel that I have put enough love into that dish.

Then I cooked stir-fried some woodears, mushroom, bok choy, and purple onion (木耳, 油菜, 鸡肶菇, 紫洋葱). I feel healthy already even before I take a bite of it.

In miso soup, I added some tofu and greens, and a tomato.

What else? Oh, a bowl of black and brown rice, some kimchi (the only thing I didn't cook from scratch) and garlic eggplant (蒜茄子). Now the dinner is ready.

I am so stuffed. But, it's not the time for bed yet, I still have more movies to finish. Before I start a new one, here are the reviews I wrote before the dinner.

Empty Nest (El nido vacío)

After kids grow up and move out, married couples tend to build a new life outside their empty nests and clinging on old memories, although it is not always necessary that they will build the new life together, especially when they have some issues that they have not gotten a chance to sort them out. Award-winning Argentine writer/director Daniel Burman told a bittersweet story about such scenario in his new film "Empty Nest" (El nido vacío | Argentina/Spain/France/Italy 2008 | in Spanish | 91 min.). A reputable writer Leonardo Oscar Martínez and his wife Martha (Cecilia Roth) face a new life when their three grown children move out. Martha goes back to school to explore her academic potentials, and Leonardo begins to daydream and blurs the line between reality and fantasy. Consciously or not, both of them take a closer look at both their relationship and the future. It takes some patience for me to get to know the characters. Leonardo, who still prefers a paper notepad over a computer, is not a very interesting individual by any stretch, regardless how he proactively tells others that he is a famous writer. However, he does have a pair of observant eyes that capture the happenings and people around him, including his young and beautiful dentist. How his dentist allows herself to be part of his fantasy is beyond my comprehension, or perhaps that is a pure fantasy after all. Oscar Martínez's impressive performance as Leonardo saves me from turning my eyes away from the unresting characters and jittering images. Like one's eye movement trying to solve a sudoku puzzle, the camera moves around as fast as the characters talk. This is not a war story in a battle field, so why not leave the camera alone still in the room? "Empty Nest" takes a glimpse at aging grownups' empty nests, without filling any goodies to make them less empty. "Empty Nest" opens on Friday, August 21 at Kabuki in San Francsico and Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.

Cold Souls

Which could be worse? Burdened by your own heavy soul or searching for your lost soul? That's the surreal dilemma the character Paul Giamatti, played by Paul Giamatti of course, has to deal with in Sophie Barthes's feature debut "Cold Souls" (USA 2009 | 101 min.). In the film, Paul Giamatti is a theater actor who is suffocated by the role he plays in the Russian play "Uncle Vanya." Desperately seeking for a relief, he takes on the advice of his agent and meets Dr. Flintstein (David Strathairn), who can extract his soul and put it in a storage, for a fee. Even though his troubled soul is as tiny as a chickpea, the almost soul-less (only 5% is left) Paul regrets after the extraction, and he wants to put that chickpea soul back to his body. However, he finds out that his soul is lost to a Russian black market soul-trafficking ring. His odyssey to recover his chickpea soul turns into an espionage mission in icy cold Russia. The plot has a refreshing and intriguing start. For example, Paul's initial visit to Dr. Flintstein's office is hilarious and well crafted. It is also the highest point of the film. The idea of living with or without one's soul is interesting and original. If this story line were developed intelligently, this film would have been more charming and funny. However, the story gets diverted into a wacky soul recovery drama. The story gets lazy and becomes conventional and formulistic. What a pity. If Paul's chickpea-size soul must be lost or get swapped with somebody else's soul, it would have been funnier if the chickpea were mixed with a box of wasabi peas and eaten by a Chinese in China. Since there are about 1.3 billion people in China, good luck to Paul for finding his soul. "Cold Souls" opens on Friday, August 14, 2009 at Bay Area Theaters.

Luckily, they don't know the secret that the bus actually goes all the way to the Marin Headlands. Most of them got off the bus at the Golden Gate Bridge, leaving us regulars alone to enjoy the peace and beauty in the mountains surrounded by fog. The fog travels betweens the mountains. I blended myself into the dreamy scenery.

However, before I reached to the top of the mountains, I was hiking on a trail on the opposite of the ocean. Therefore, not only there was no fog or breeze on the trail, the sun also was baking everything beneath it with full power, including me. I was sweating like in a gym.

Once I was on the ocean side of the mountains, everything became different. Fog floated underneath my feet and the vast familiar ocean completely went missing. Actually the ocean was hiding under the fog.

I feel it has been forever after I was away from this fantastic place just for a week. I am so happy to be back. I am inseparable from the nature, the ocean, the fog, and the city.

When I was waiting for the bus to Marin Headlands at a bus stop on Van Ness Ave., a #49 bus stopped. After the door opened, only one person, a very large old man, got off the bus. But the bus driver didn't close the door, and the bus just sat there idling.

I heard a voice from the back of the bus: "Early bird!" It implies that the bus driver was ahead of his schedule and he was killing a few minutes at the bus stop to be back on time. The bus suddenly shouted back with an angry voice: "NO! I am getting some fresh air! That guy (the old fat man just got off the bus) was a shitload, he smells like shit! Next time, I will let #47 to pick him up, I am not gonna pick take him!" Then he closed the door and drove off.

I was left giggling and shocked for what I just heard. I took another look at the old man walking down the sidewalk: does he really smell that bad? I love this city!

Like an addict suddenly finds his fix, I still feel thrilled to be home from my trip and to be able to cook myself a healthy meal. On Saturday, I made beef short ribs soup, with potato, carrots, celery, purple onion, and frozen tofu.

The soup has a hint of sweetness from the veggies (I didn't put any sugar). It's flavorful and delicious, yet very light and clear. It seems the perfect companion to serve the soup is scallion pancakes (葱油饼).

That night, I also made some garlic eggplant (蒜茄子). They should be ready to eat in couple days. I can't wait.

Life is good. I can't complain like the bus driver did.