Cool Beans's New Writeupshttp://everything2.com/?node=New%20Writeups%20Atom%20Feed&foruser=Cool Beans2007-08-14T12:57:59Zsome summers they drop like flies (thing)http://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans/writeups/some+summers+they+drop+like+fliesCool Beanshttp://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans2007-08-14T12:57:59Z2007-08-14T12:57:59Z<p><a href="/title/Some+Summer%2527s+They+Drop+like+Flies">Some Summer's They Drop like Flies</a> is a beautiful track from the album <a href="/title/You+wouldn%2527t+know+it%252C+but+I+think+you%2527re+achingly+beautiful">Whatever You Love You Are</a>, <a href="/title/2000">2000</a>, by Australian band <a href="/title/The+Dirty+Three">The Dirty Three</a>. This past month, which each passing day the title of the song seemed to refer to the summer of 2007, more and more, with a growing list of <a href="/title/death">deaths</a> of influential figures in modern <a href="/title/cinema">cinema</a> and popular <a href="/title/music">music</a>:</p>
<p><b><a href="/title/July+30%252C+2007">30th July</a></b>: was indeed a dark day in the history of European cinema when two of its most influential directors died
<br><ul><li>Revered <a href="/title/Sweden">Swedish</a> <a href="/title/The+Seventh+Seal">director</a> <a href="/title/Ingmar+Bergman">Ingmar Bergman</a>, commonly regarded as one of the most <a href="/title/Woody+Allen">influential</a> directors in <a href="/title/Cries+and+Whispers">modern cinema</a> died peacefully in his sleep.</li>
<br><li> Revered <a href="/title/Italy">Italian</a> director <a href="/title/Michelangelo+Antonioni">Michelangelo Antonioni</a>, who was one of the most important directors in <a href="/title/L%2527avventura">Italian cinema history</a>, bringing<!-- close unclosed tag --></li><!-- close unclosed tag --></ul><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…Fado (thing)http://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans/writeups/FadoCool Beanshttp://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans2007-07-25T16:48:05Z2007-07-25T16:48:05Z<p>Fado is also an Irish-language (<a href="/title/Gaelic">Gaelic</a>) word meaning "a long time ago". Indeed many Irish folk stories begin "Fado, fado, fado...", meaning "<a href="/title/once+upon+a+time">once upon a time</a>".
<br>The <a href="/title/Irish">Irish</a> <a href="/title/story-telling">storytelling</a> <a href="/title/living+history">tradition</a> is intrinsically linked to the Irish language, and although it has waned a lot with the decline in the usage of the Irish language, a vibrant <a href="/title/oral+history">storytelling</a> tradition still remains, particularly in <a href="/title/Gaeltacht">those areas of Ireland</a> where Irish is still fluently spoken. Beginning a tale with "Fado" is very traditional in setting the tone which will allow all kinds of tales of <a href="/title/leprechaun">magic</a> and <a href="/title/banshee">mythology</a> to flourish. Very much like prefacing a story with the disclaimer "a long time ago, in a place far, far away...". Fado is an important <a href="/title/literary+device">literary device</a> in the Irish <a href="/title/storytelling">storytelling</a> tradition.</p>Carrot and Leek Lasagne (recipe)http://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans/writeups/Carrot+and+Leek+LasagneCool Beanshttp://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans2007-07-22T17:41:48Z2007-07-22T17:41:48Z<p>At a close friend's <a href="/title/wedding">wedding</a> last week, I didn't have <a href="/title/high+hopes">high hopes</a> for the food, as, having told the waitress that I was a vegetarian, I was first brought a chicken dish to start, and when I politely refused, re-stating that I was a <a href="/title/vegetarian">vegetarian</a>, was then brought a chicken <a href="/title/Caesar+salad+is+not+vegetarian">Caesar salad</a>! As most vegetarians will know, this is an all-too common experience for the vegetarian diner.</p>
<p>However both myself & my vegetarian friend were both surprised by the deliciousness of the main course, a Carrot and Leek lasagne. So impressed, that I have spent the week trying to figure out the <a href="/title/recipe">recipe</a>. I think I finally cracked it today though! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.</p>
<p>It's a <a href="/title/It%2527s+Easy">cinch</a> to make, and with not a sight of a tomato-based sauce for miles, is unusual enough to impress even your most tired vegetarian friends with this <a href="/title/vegetarian+meals+that+aren%2527t+just+brown+gack">variation on a classic</a>.</p>
<p><b>Ingredients:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>5 medium-<!-- close unclosed tag --></li><!-- close unclosed tag --></ul>…Butter Beans in sesame (recipe)http://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans/writeups/Butter+Beans+in+sesameCool Beanshttp://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans2007-01-28T18:13:17Z2007-01-28T18:13:17Z<p><b>INGREDIENTS:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Two tablespoons <a href="/title/vegetable+oil">vegetable oil</a></li>
<li>One large red <a href="/title/onion">onion</a>, <a href="/title/haphazardly+chopped+onions">finely diced</a></li>
<li>One teaspoon <a href="/title/cumin">cumin seeds</a></li>
<li>One large tin <a href="/title/roma+tomatoes">chopped tomatoes</a> (425g)</li>
<li>One teaspoon <a href="/title/paprika">paprika</a></li>
<li>One teaspoon <a href="/title/chili">chilli powder</a></li>
<li>200g white <a href="/title/sesame+seed">sesame seeds</a></li>
<li>Two large tins (425g) <a href="/title/butter+bean">butter beans</a>, drained</li>
<li>Two teaspoons <a href="/title/sugar">sugar</a></li>
<li>salt (to taste)</li>
</ul>
<p><b>PUTTING THEM TOGETHER:</b></p>
<p>This dish is probably the quickest dish I know to make, and is also very tasty. As all the ingredients are basic store-cupboard ingredients, it's a really handy dish to prepare if you need to feed people unexpectedly. It's packed full of flavour, is <a href="/title/nutritious">nutritious</a>, and <a href="/title/vegetarian">vegetarian</a> too!</p>
<p>Heat the oil in a large pot, add the cumin seeds and fry gently until the seeds begin to pop , releasing their natural oils. Add the onions and fry for a couple of<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…Sweet potato, spinach and goat's cheese risotto (recipe)http://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans/writeups/Sweet+potato%252C+spinach+and+goat%2527s+cheese+risottoCool Beanshttp://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans2007-01-23T00:38:18Z2007-01-23T00:38:18Z<p><b><b>INGREDIENTS:</b></b></p>
<blockquote>
<li>5 cups (2 pints) <a href="/title/Vegetable+Stock+For+Soups+And+Sauces">vegetable stock</a>
<li>2 tbsp. <a href="/title/butter">butter</a>
<li>1 tbsp. extra virgin <a href="/title/olive+oil">olive oil</a>
<li>1 large red <a href="/title/onion">onion</a>, finely diced
<li>1 1/4 lbs. (20 oz) <a href="/title/sweet+potato">sweet potato</a>, peeled & <a href="/title/dice">diced</a> in 1/2" cubes
<li>2 cups (16 oz) <a href="/title/arborio+rice">arborio rice</a>
<li>1 cup (0.4 pints/8.3 fl oz) dry <a href="/title/white+wine">white wine</a>
<li>220g (8 oz) young <a href="/title/spinach">spinach</a> leaves, washed and drained
<li>1/4 lb. (4 oz) firm <a href="/title/goat+cheese">goat's cheese</a>
<li>1 tsp. salt
<li>Freshly cracked black pepper
<!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li><!-- close mismatched tag --></li></blockquote>
<p><b><b>Cooking time:</b></b> approx 20 – 30 mins from the first addition of stock. 1 hour total.
<p><b><b> Serves 6 (generously)</b></b>
<p><b> <b>HOW TO MAKE THEM TASTE GOOD TOGETHER:</b></b></p>
<p>Heat the stock to a <a href="/title/simmer">simmer</a> in a saucepan and keep it hot. Heat the butter & oil in a large heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. <a href="/title/Saute">Saute</a> the onions in the butter & oil mixture until soft.
<p>Add the rice and cook, stirring, until all<!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…January 1, 2007 (review)http://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans/writeups/January+1%252C+2007Cool Beanshttp://m.everything2.com/user/Cool+Beans2007-01-01T13:14:13Z2007-01-01T13:14:13Z<p>It's that time of year again, so it's out with all my <a href="/title/hoarder">ticket stubs</a> for the year to do my semi-annual cinema round-up for the year.
<p>Although it was, again, a pretty bad year for cinema attendence on my part - only 26 films over the course of the year. There were some great films in there though. However, I did exhibit over 150 short films over the <a href="/title/Sunday+Ghetto">course of the year</a>, so I think that lets me off the hook a little.
<p>The highlight of all the films I saw this year was without a doubt the heartwarming & hilarious "<b><i><a href="/title/Little+Miss+Sunshine">Little Miss Sunshine</a><!-- close mismatched tag --></i></b>" (directed by <a href="/title/Jonathan+Dayton">Jonathan Dayton</a> & <a href="/title/Valerie+Faris">Valerie Faris</a>). It’s one of those films that I think needs to be seen in a cinema to fully appreciate the offbeat feelgood factor the film evokes. The film is wonderfully acted throughout, and hugely entertaining. I highly recommend it.
<p>Iranian film "<b><i><a href="/title/Offside">Offside</a><!-- close mismatched tag --></i></b>" by <a href="/title/Jafar+Panahi">Jafar Panahi</a> comes in a very close second, for my film of the year. The film exposes the plight of <a href="/title/Iranian">Iranian</a><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p><!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…