Everything I know about acting I learned from Sir Ian McKellen on "Extras"...

Insanely Easy Penne Sausage Alfredo

I got hungry tonight, but didn't really know what was around to eat. Rummaging around, I found a few things and decided to chuck 'em together and hope for the best. What came out was not too shabby. So I decided to post the recipe.

Stephen's Insanely Easy Penne Sausage Alfredo

Ingredients:

• Salt (to taste)
  
• 3/4 to 1 lb. penne pasta (Rotini or shell macaroni could work as well.)
  
• olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 2-3 Italian-style sausages, sliced (I used some chicken sausage, which worked out great!)
• 1 jar prepared alfredo sauce (I used Bertolli brand)
• 2 tsp. red chili flake (or less, depending on your tastes)
• 1 tsp. fennel seeds (optional - for Emilee)
• 1 tsp. rosemary
• freshly ground black pepper (I like to use a lot but understand that not everyone likes that much pepper - so season it to your tastes.)
  
• 1/4 c. pasta water (reserved)
  
• Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated

Preparation:

1. Salt a pot of water and bring it up to a rolling boil. Add pasta. Cook according to the directions on the box.
2. Coat skillet/pan with olive oil and saute garlic until just browning.
3. Add sliced sausage and brown on each side. (If needed, add a bit of water to deglaze the pan.)
4. Add alfredo sauce and reduce heat. Add spices and allow the sauce to heat through and give the flavors a chance to marry together.
5. When pasta is just shy of al dente (still just a bit firm), reserve the 1/4 c. of pasta water and drain pasta. DO NOT RINSE! Add the pasta to the sauce and stir together. Add the pasta water as you combine to give the sauce and pasta a chance to bond together better.
6. Bring to the plate. Grate fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano onto the pasta. Garnish with some fresh parsley if you have some laying around.

Serves: 3 (or 2 hungry 20-something males)

• NOTE: To serve four, add another sausage and another 1/4 lb. of pasta. Everything else should be the same.
  

Enjoy!

Melodic Monday - "Ruby's Arms"

A new feature (which, like the others, will likely be semi-regular), "Melodic Monday" will spotlight bands, artists, albums, or individual songs that I'm really getting into at the moment and will also highlight my incredibly eclectic taste in music.

A number of months ago, one of the students at the school I teach at asked me if I'd ever heard Tom Waits. While I am familiar with Waits' acting achievements (from films like Short Cuts, Mystery Men, and Domino), I had to plead ignorance as to his musical career, which is why he's famous in the first place. I was subsequently gifted a data disk filled with Waits' music - about seven or eight albums worth - and began to listen.

The man definitely has a very distinct sound. He is known for turning everyday objects into bizarre musical instruments. He has a way of incorporating various styles of music into his sound - vaudeville, blues, folk, early rock & roll. His low, gravelly voice is often filled with emotion and his dark sense of humor really comes across in songs like "Frank's Wild Years".

I'm not entirely sure how I stumbled across the gem that is "Ruby's Arms," as it was not on any of the albums I was gifted... but ever since listening to it, the song has absolutely haunted me. The lyrics tell a heartbreaking story of a young soldier who leaves behind his girl - presumably to join the military. A combination of raw emotion, poetic imagery, and Waits' own surly voice really make this song one of the most poignant and moving songs that I've ever heard.

Give it a listen:

I am...

My good friend Dan and I met in college. He roomed with me for a semester, was on the campus improv team (Spoons 4 Forks) with me, and ended up marrying my good friend Mary Kay before heading back home to Texas. Currently, he works at Six Flags drawing caricatures for various passersby, which he chronicles on his blog. You should check it out. Awhile back, I asked for a caricature of Paul Giamatti he did that I really enjoyed as a Christmas gift and he graciously offered to just do one of me. Above is the result, which I am totally thrilled with!

Dan really managed to really capture the essence of who I am in a number of ways. Just about everything in this picture represents some aspect of my personality. I know that was something that was a bit difficult for him, but I really think he did a fantastic job! Let me walk you through the different 'in-jokes'...

• The toga and column (table): As a philosophy major in college, I love thinking about deeper issues and the like. I particularly like the works of Plato and Nietzsche. The toga and Grecian column acting as a table for the chess game are both homages to my love for philosophy (particularly the thought of the aforementioned Plato).
• Batman: I've been a comic book fan since high school. I read them when I was younger, but didn't become a true 'fanboy' 'til high school. Batman has always stood out to me as one of the best-written characters in the medium and decidedly one of my favorites. I love that I'm besting the Dark Knight Detective in a game of chess!
• Chess: I used to be on the chess team in elementary and high school. I was never very good, but I used to love the mental stimulation of the exercise. I probably still would if I sat down to play again, but I'm afraid I'd be too rusty. Nowhere near the caliber I'd need to be to beat the Bat! :)
• Cutlery: Ah, the spoon and the fork. Emblems of the greatest improv comedy troupe in Olivet Nazarene University history - Spoons 4 Forks. As mentioned above, Dan and I were both members (as was Dan's brother Matt... and several other good friends as well) and we had a lot of fun with that! (I also like to think the utensils double to cover my love for cuisine, food, and cooking... but it's probably just S4F!)
• Walrus: My Internet handle used to be "Chewy Walrus," so walruses used to be an obsession of mine. (I had a collection of stuffed walruses in high school and had my senior picture taken with it.) This is an obvious homage to that.
• The bush: ...i have no idea...

This is one of the first Christmas gifts I've received so far and, to this point, it's one of my favorites! Thanks, Dan!

Friday's Top Five - Christmas Movies

Once again - "that time of year." And, on the last Friday before the 'big day,' I've decided to lay out my top five favorite Christmas movies. This list will be decidedly controversial, but then I've never been 'typical' in terms of my tastes in... well... anything really. Enjoy!

5. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
"B-but this is the best Christmas movie of all time! How can you rank it so low on your list?!" Invariably, whenever I tell people that I don't think Frank Capra's perennial holiday classic is the "best," I get this reaction, just as I'm sure I'm getting it from you right now. I suppose, for me, the over-saturation of this movie over the course of the last fifty years has worn this movie thin. Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy it. But, for me, this film has become such a classic that it doesn't pack the same punch it used to. Still, I love the character of Clarence ("Heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves!") and find George Bailey's character arc to be one of the most fascinating in cinematic history. So, there!

4. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964)
As a kid, I used to love the old Rankin-Bass Christmas specials, characterized by the wooden puppets and fun little sing-alongs. (These are the guys who are also responsible for "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "The Year Without Santa Claus," "The Little Drummer Boy," and the animated "Frosty the Snowman".) "Rudolph," though, always stood out to me as something special. The fantastic characters - the elf who wants to be a dentist, the Abominable Snowman with a toothache, the singing snowman, the eccentric prospector, an island of 'misfit toys,' and, naturally, the red-nosed reindeer with a heart of gold - coupled with the memorable songs, the fun animation, and the vocal talents of Burl Ives (as Sam the Snowman) really helped to make Christmas a memorable time for me as a child.

3. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (1966)
I actually prefer this animated version to the live-action Ron Howard-Jim Carrey from 2000 for a number of reasons. Firstly, I get awfully nostalgic when watching this version, mainly because it's the version I loved so well as a child. Secondly, I think that 26 minutes of the voice talents of Boris Karloff do more to establish the Grinch as one of the nastiest creatures in all of literature than Jim Carrey does in 104 minutes. Finally - and what I feel makes the whole movie - is the Grinch's theme ("You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch") sung by Tony the Tiger himself, Mr. Thurl Ravenscroft. Better in every way (in my humble opinion).

2. Scrooged (1988)
In my mind, there are few comedians alive who can square with Bill Murray. The man has been doing deadpan for ages and been doing it well-enough to have made a career out of it. One of my favorite roles - largely for sentimental reasons - is his turn as a spiritless television executive in Richard Donner's retelling of Dickens' classic book, A Christmas Carol. Taking on the 'Scrooge' role (as does Buddy Hackett), Murray is surrounded by a host of magnificent talent, including Carole Kane as the sadistic Ghost of Christmas Present, Alfre Woodard as the female Bob Crachitt, Karen Allen as Murray's big-hearted lost love, and Bobcat Goldthwait as the disgruntled laid-off employee. A fabulous film that I don't see nearly as often as I'd like!

1. Elf (2003)
I know, I know. "A Will Ferrell movie at No. 1?! Stephen, you're slipping!" And that may well be true. It seems, however, that Ferrell's honest turn as the lively, unassuming human-turned-elf Buddy strikes a chord with me and stands as a modern Christmas classic. Masterfully acted (including some standout performances from Ed Asner, the lovely Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, and Bob Newhart - with great cameos by Amy Sedaris, Faizon Love, Leon Redbone, John Favreau, Kyle Gass, Andy Richter, and Peter Dinklage), wonderfully written, and unendingly charming, Elf stands as a great film about the child-like wonder of Christmas that gets so easily lost this time of year.

Honorable Mentions: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), "Frosty the Snowman" (1969), "A Garfield Christmas Special" (1987), "A Claymation Christmas Celebration" (1987), "The Little Drummer Boy" (1968)

Hot Topic Tuesday - Consumed with Consumerism

Though you'd imagine that it goes without saying, I've changed a lot since my childhood and teenage years. Now, granted, I still have a lot more growing to do (something that will also go without saying), but at the moment, I find myself looking around and feeling a bit dissatisfied. It sounds like a terrible thing to say, particularly in the middle of the Advent season with Christmas less than two weeks away... but I cannot help the way I feel.

I think I started noticing it when I was young, though I did not recognize it then. It almost seemed as if, the older I got, the less magical Christmas became. For awhile, I equated that feeling with my growing up. Now, however, I think I attribute this lack of 'magic' to the over-commercialism and saturation of Christmas with the capitalistic manifesto.

To a degree, we all buy into this attitude - we lavish presents on friends, family, and co-workers... and, even this year, I've done just that. It's one way to express love for those around us. In a consumer-driven culture, like the one we all live in, it is often the easiest and most convenient way, though not necessarily the best.

Having a conversation with a couple of my fellow teachers yesterday over lunch yielded some interesting tidbits about the differences between Europe and America - particularly as urban areas are concerned. In Europe, most cities exist only over the course of a couple of miles... and the larger ones have excellent public transport. Most everything is within walking distance. Not so in the States. Cars are a necessity. I live at least 20 minutes driving distance (if not more) from both my place of employment and my place of worship. Seems absurd, no? (Perhaps the scary thing is that it really doesn't seem all that absurd...)

One of the teachers mentioned that this space was largely in part to the culture of consumerism we've fostered in America. Rather than keep everything intimate, we've spread out, consuming land and resources as we've gone until we are scattered from one another, losing our sense of community and comradery.

Christmas has no remained unaffected. In an effort to show our love for one another, we find ourselves bustling all over town (or, in my case, all over the Internet) in search of the best deal rather than spending time with those loved ones. It seems a pity, no?

Here's a video I saw a few weeks ago at Indy First's Fall Retreat. It's definitely stayed with me since I've seen it. Check it out:




Definitely something to think about. Times are tough all over, not just here. I, for one, have committed to giving a sum of money to this charity. I hope that you can find it in your heart (if you have the means) to give as well. Check out the Advent Conspiracy website at www.AdventConspiracy.org.

Luke 12:48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." We live in the wealthiest nation on Earth. If you have access to a computer, chances are you're living in the wealthiest 1% of the world's population. So... you've been given much. Are you living up to His expectations?

Shopping for me last minute?

Need an idea? I saw this today (a day late, sadly) on Neil Gaiman's blog (he's one of my favorite authors, in case you're new here) and thought, If I had some loose cash lying around, I'd pick that up. As I don't, I figured I'd post it here, knowing that you all love me enough to buy me stupid things (he says, laughing all the while).

"The Day the Saucers Came" is a truly funny poem about the nature of obsession. A talented artist has illustrated it. There will be 500 copies. They are $45 each. Help a brother out?

EDIT: Here's a picture from Gaiman's website. Click for a larger view.

Friday's Top Five (Saturday Edition) - Favorite Christmas Carols

Well, it's that time of year again - the "most wonderful time" as it were. With finals rapidly approaching next week, that means that Christmas time is almost upon us. As such, it's that time when we start hearing those old familiar songs and carols over and over and over again. I heard quite a few of them last night performed by some very talented high school students at CCHS' annual Christmas music concert. It got me thinking... what are some of my favorite Christmas carols? (For the purposes of this list, I'm opting to choose more traditional carols that truly capture the meaning of the season. This is not to say I don't enjoy the novelty carol - quite untrue, in fact. But traditional carols are traditional for a reason - they're timeless.)

5. "What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)"
What makes a beautiful Christmas song? Start with some beautiful music... and 'Greensleeves,' a traditional British folk song about unrequited love, certainly does the trick. Whether played on piano, violin, saxophone... whatever, the song is more widely known as an instrumental piece these days. The Christmas overtones were added by William Chatterton Dix in 1865, making this song a gorgeous holiday classic that has and will continue to stand the test of time. I'm a big fan of the Sarah McLachlan version from her Christmas album 'Wintersong,' released a couple of years back.

4. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
Another fantastic song. This one has got a lot of meaning - the lyrics speak of the ransom of a "captive Israel" and speaks of the nation in exile, desperately in need of both Savior and Messiah. While the composition of the song seems haunting and dreary, the words evoke a note of hope amid suffering. A powerful tune that has been synonymous with the Advent season since its writing. Beautiful. Sufjan Stevens does a good version of this song - worth checking out.

3. "The Ukranian Bell Carol" (a.k.a. "The Carol of the Bells")
Probably the newest of the songs on this list, this song was first performed in 1916 as a New Year's anthem and, ironically enough, was meant to be sung a capella. The irony, of course, is the fact that the most popular versions of this song today are instrumental (most notably performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Having heard this song performed both by instrumentalists and a capella by a choir (like Straight No Chaser from IU), I'm not sure which version I enjoy more... but I do know that this is assuredly one of my favorite carols!

2. "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"
This is a great song that remains a favorite of mine. Speaking again of the need for a Savior, this song definitely possesses the 'peace' elements of the Christmas season - Christ has come to save mankind and, as such, there is no longer any need to fear, worry, or fret. Magnificent. Of all the fabulous versions of this song out there, I love either the version the Trans-Siberian Orchestra does before "Carol of the Bells" (link above) or the version the Barenaked Ladies recorded with Sarah McLachlan (which includes a version of "We Three Kings" - icing on the cake!). It's fun and poignant all at the same time.

1. "O Holy Night"
Easily my favorite Christmas carol of all time! The powerful crescendos, the moving lyrics, and the swell within everyone in the place when the choir encourages all to "fall on your knees" at the awe and majesty of the miracle of Christ's coming. While solo versions of this song can be exquisite (like those from Josh Groban or the incomparable Luciano Pavarotti), for my money, nothing beats a good choral arrangement of this piece (which are apparently hard to find on YouTube).

Honorable Mentions: "We Three Kings," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Little Drummer Boy"

So... what are some of your favorite Christmas carols?

Retrospect

Some details concerning the last few weeks, which I've not posted mainly due to busy-ness more than anything else. Finally, I indulge you.

• The fall play was a smashing success! For those new to me or my inane ramblings, I teach freshman Bible at my alma mater, Covenant Christian High School where I also assist with the drama program. Mid-November, I was given the opportunity to direct my first show - I chose John Patrick's "The Curious Savage," one of my perennial favorites. My cast was superb, realizing visions I didn't even know I'd had. Fantastic!My incredibly talented cast! They were absolutely amazing!
  
• Our youth group also had our annual fall retreat the weekend after the play. As always, it was a great time, with great speaking, worship, and fun. Our speaker was Larry Mitchell, a man who I've always found inspirational and challenging. Music was done by my good friend Sean Rose and his band Defining Rose (they're a relatively new band, but very talented - check 'em out!). Unfortunately, I was sick most of the weekend - NOT FUN!
  
  One of the highlights for me was our "Saturday Night Live" where students put together skits and performed them. The highlight of the night was two of the high school girls dressing up like the youth pastor and I and doing fake announcements. Brilliant!The Scotts (Scott & Kelsey) and the Stephens (Bethany a.k.a. 'Danger' and I)
  
• Thanksgiving, as it usually is, was fantastic! I ate far too much (yet not as much as I would be known to eat in years past - guess this diet's working after all) and got too goof off with my wonderful family! Loads of fun!As promised, the (in)famous picture of me demolishing the turkey leg
  
• Black Friday was also my father's birthday. I was up and at the comic book store at 7:00am for my comic book guy's door-buster sale. It was great! I picked up a couple of trade paperbacks I'd been wanting, as well as a Batman statue - all at severe discounts! Who says it doesn't pay to be a nerd sometimes?Batman, guarding my computer (along with 'Iron' Spidey)
• After the escapades of the morning, the family went out for sushi to celebrate Dad's birthday. Dad had never had sushi before, so I suppose it was an experiment of sorts. Dad tried some non-raw sushi and seemed to enjoy it. My mom, on the other hand, had a tuna roll and about gagged. *Sigh* Ah, well...Mmm... sushi... (note the octopus on the tray in the background - tasty!)
• Then, Saturday. I went out with my friend Anita for some more sushi - can't get enough! - and we watched Waiting for Guffman which may very well be one of the best comedies in the history of ever. I went home about 11:30... and managed to total my car on the way home. This was only the beginning of my trauma. Fortunately, I was the only one involved and was not hurt at all (thanks to the beauty of German engineering)... but unfortunately, my insurance had been cancelled earlier in the month due to nonpayment. So, I was basically out a car... and my license is getting suspended for three months (starting whenever the officer on the scene files the paperwork). I figure, if that's the worst of it, then I'm getting off rather light. God is good and continues to bless - I'm a walking testament to that - but let it never be said that some lessons are learned the hard way.
  

Friday's Top Five (Saturday Edition) - Comic Book Movies

As crazy as life's been lately, it's been difficult for me to update with any amount of regularity. Unfortunately, this is likely going to get worse with Christmas right around the corner and J-Term and the musical happening almost immediately after that. Still, now seems as good a time as any to talk about a subject near and dear to my heart - comic book movies. With the almost electric buzz surrounding the upcoming Watchmen film, there's been a lot of talk as to what the best comic book movies are/have been. So, here's the list of my top five.

5. Superman II (1980)

While 1978's Superman: The Movie let Hollywood know that superheroes could legitimately be done on the silver screen (by making us all believe a man could fly), it was the sequel that really perfected the series. Expanding the Superman mythos by including a trio of Kryptonian killing machines as well as the genius of Hackman's Lex Luthor, Superman II answers the question, "What if the world had no Superman?" Better than the original and far better than its three predecessors (and, yes, I'm including 2006's 'should-have-been-a-relaunch' Superman Returns), Superman II is the beacon of the Superman series.

4. X2: X-Men United (2003)
Yet another sequel that surpassed the original (which seems to be a trend on this list), X2 took everything that was good about the first X-Men film and made it bigger! From the opening sequence involving Nightcrawler 'porting through the White House to the first appearance of Colossus to Wolverine going berserker... X2 has it all. Of course it helps that Nightcrawler - one of my favorite mutants - finally got time on the big screen. X2 also did what the first film couldn't do in terms of story - it fleshed out the characters even more and created some truly unforgettable moments. It's a shame that Brett Ratner had to come along and ruin the whole franchise...

3. Batman Begins (2005)
After the horrid Joel Schumacher renditions from the late 1990's, Batman needed a Hollywood makeover... so thank heaven for Christopher Nolan, critically-acclaimed director of Memento and Insomnia, who gave the Batman franchise the shot-in-the-arm it desperately needed. Defying convention, Nolan concentrated on the origins of the Caped Crusader only putting Christian Bale (in my mind, the best Batman to date) in costume for little over a half an hour. He also opted to focus on some lesser-known Bat-villains like the Scarecrow and R'as al Ghul rather than bigger names like the Joker or the Penguin. All these risks paid off in full as Batman Begins reminded moviegoers of just how awesome the Dark Knight really is.

2. Iron Man (2008)
Marvel has had a lot of hits on their hands ever since the first X-Men movie in 2000, but none have been quite as well-done as this year's summer smash, Iron Man. The elements of story, direction, effects, characterization, and score fit together so well. Robert Downey, Jr. owned the film as the charismatic billionaire industrialist Tony Stark. Jeff Bridges was villainous perfection as Obadiah Stane (a.k.a. the Iron Monger) while Gwenyth Paltrow lit up the screen as the sweet Pepper Potts. The biggest weak point of the film was Terrance Howard's far-t00-subdued performance as James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, making me happy to see Don Cheadle stepping into the role for the sequel. With the Nick Fury cameo leading to an Avengers movie and the fact that this is Marvel's first film as their own independent studio, I would say that Iron Man is Marvel's greatest achievement to date.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
If Superman: The Movie proved that Hollywood could do a superhero film well, then The Dark Knight proved that a superhero film could be an Oscar-caliber event. Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, and the rest of the cast of Batman Begins returned to pit the titular Dark Knight against his greatest foe: the Joker, masterfully played by Heath Ledger. I'll admit, I was as skeptical as anyone when I heard Ledger was going to play the Joker... but, like so many other comic fans and moviegoers, I was blown away by the caliber of his performance. Ledger was a runaway freight train, bowling over every other character in the film and giving audiences a new vision of horror and villainy. Now, with The Dark Knight being re-released in theaters to remind the Academy of Ledger's performance, it seems legit that some Oscar attention might finally be paid to a superhero movie... and, in my mind, it's long overdue!

Honorable Mentions: Spider-Man 2 (2004), Sin City (2005), X-Men (2000), 300 (2006), Spider-Man (2002), Superman: The Movie (1978)

So... what are some of your favorite comic book movies?