We ate out almost every night which is very unusual for us these days. I mean I cooked a couple of times and the Cali people enjoyed a good old-fashioned Italian feast now and again. They were very good about driving us around but one night they were all busy so we were on our own and decided to go out to eat.
Now the first day we were there we went to this hipster place called Misfits. Mainly because in our research we found that they had a lot of gluten-free stuff. It was similar to the shit you get in Brooklyn. Lots of young people. Fancy overpriced cocktails. Weird shit on the menu. But it was acceptable, I guess.
I recommend this series. I generally don't like serial killer shows but this one is well done. They interview various serial killers like Manson and Son of Sam. I think some of this is fascinating.
This interpretation of Manson seems to be right on the money. The last post with Tom O'Neil made me think of this episode.
Check out the series on Netflicks. It is pretty good.
One of the best things about Netflixs is that they have TV series from other countries. I know that most of you have seen some British shows since they are often on PBS. But you seldom get to see stuff from France or Germany or Sweden. Lately I have been watching some of them with English subtitles. I saw a pretty decent cop show from Denmark and an interesting show about a terrible fire in 1880 in France. Currently I am really enjoying a Spanish show called "El Ministerio del Tiempo" or the Ministry of Time.
It is a basic time travel story. A secret division of the Spanish government has a means to go back in time to make sure that no one tries to change history. It is basically a series of doors. Simplicity is best. There is no big tech or spaceships or crap like that. Just a door that you walk through, So one minute it's 2019 and then it is 1492. They set up a team of three who back in time. A hidalgo soldier from Flanders. A modern day paramedic.. A female college student from 1885. What is most interesting to me is that they are dealing with Spanish history. Spanish art and literature. Stuff that I am vaguely familiar with so when the wife turns to me to ask what it is about and I have to think about it for a minute. Usually when she turns to me for an explanation I have the knowledge at my fingertips. Spanish history not so much. So it is very intriguing to me.
In the first episode they go back to the Napoleonic era and the next they visit a famous Spanish author, Each week they visit a different era. Franco's Spain in WW2. Queen Isabella in 1492. The Spanish American War. Interesting stuff. At least to me.
The other amusing thing is that the producers of this show sued the producers of the American TV show "Timeless" for ripping off their concept. In "Timeless" three characters go back in time to make sure that the timeline doesn't change. A soldier. A professor. A pilot. They changed it slightly but it is still a rip off.
Anyway if you can stand subtitles I recommend it highly. If you are a history buff like me.
We are always looking for series to binge watch and we found a pretty good one in the Amazon Series "The Expanse." Originally a product of the SciFy channel it was picked up by Amazon Prime and is available for free. It is pretty good.
Based on a series of science fiction books it posits a three way conflict between Earth, it's militaristic independent Martian Colony and the slobs and lowlifes of the Belt who are people exploited by mining companies plundering the resources of the Asteroid Belt. It starts a little slow so you have to give it some time. But the political machinations and the real life parallels to human history are very interesting.
My favorite character is Amos who is a half a retard killing machine. Always brings it to any scene he is in.
Check it out. Highly recommended. Especially Season 3.
Do you guys watch Chicago Fire. I like it because of the neat rescues and unique incidents that they copy in the Law and Order style. It is made by same guy who did all the Law and Orders. Now he is focused on Chicago. He started with Chicago Fire. Then he did Chicago PD. Next Chicago Med. Actors in all of the shows do cross overs all the time. It is filmed on location so it is quite well done most of the time. The crossovers are fun. I reminds me of one of my old favorites Emergency from the 1970's.
The only problem is the Gabby situation. It is a Mary Sue deal all the way.
There aren't a lot to choose from these days. Unless you are talking about zombies or the undead or crapola like that. I don't care for that crap so I want to recommend "Orphan Black" on BBC America.
I don't know if I have already done a post on this show but I am catching up with the new season and want to recommend that you give it a try.
It stars one of the best actresses I have seen in a long time. Tatiana Maslany plays a clone so she has about ten different characters that she has to keep track of. From a tough criminal type girl to a cop to a lesbian scientist to a soccer mom. Every year they add new clones and new characters to make it dizzying. My favorite it the Ukrainian assassin with the bad table manners. Plus Maria Doyle Kennedy for a rockin' Irish rock babe from out of my past. There is a long involved story but luckily it is on Amazon Prime and On Demand so you can start from the beginning. The science fiction part is weird enough. This season they are featuring bio-alteration which seems like a sly commentary on trans-gender politics. There is a real lack of decent Science Fiction these days so I really enjoy this show. Highly recommended.
The last episode of “Call the Midwife” was quite enjoyable.
It is based as you know on a poor neighborhood in the East End of London where
a group of midwives who include both nuns and lay people help the poor give
birth in their home. It was just at the beginning of socialized medicine in
England so they paint a warm fuzzy glow over the government taking over health
care. Nostalgia covers up the cracks that lead to people suffering from
government run health care that they want to impose on us today.
Be that as it may the stories are the thing. This week
featured Nurse Phyllis Crane who was the subject our last “Whose that Girl.”
She is the tough no nonsense older nurse who brooks no nonsense from the
younger midwives. At first she was very tough and did not reveal anything of
her personal story but as time has gone on she has softened and given us more
of a window into her personal life.
Spoilers to follow if you didn't get to see the episode.
