Freelance Consultant's Diary

We can only speculate but this hypothetical question definitely makes us all think. I have to admire the marketing strategists who have done a terrific job in associating Christmas (and for that matter almost all holidays all the way from Memorial/Columbus/4th of July Day to Valentine's Day and Thanksgiving ) with shopping. I wouldn't be surprised if future generations might even not realize that Christmas originally was a day to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, and thus, a time to reflect on his message of love and peace. To the best of my knowledge (I am not a Christian and have only limited knowledge of the Bible), there is no mention of shopping or even exchanging gifts in the Bible. The story of Santa Claus comes much later and it was all about helping the poor, and certainly not about giving yet another sweater or tie to someone who already has 10. I am really not expecting that our shopping patterns will change in any way due to this movie (they better not ...

If you don't like the idea of reading those articles about how not to gain weight during the holidays , then you just need to remember one simple thing: eat in moderation . It is OK to eat almost everything as long as you keep the overall calorie consumption during the day unchanged. If you still want to eat more calories, you can burn the extra calories by exercising more than usual. And as I said about Thanksgiving side dishes , here is a nice video to try a slightly different set of dessert recipes.

One of the easiest ways to celebrate Thanksgiving is to simply stick to the rulebook and do what has been done for ages, but when you make minor changes in your menu or how the day plays out, you are putting your personal stamp on the holiday. As far as we are concerned, we always need to make minor changes in our menu to take care of our friends and family members who are increasingly either vegans or vegetarians plus our reluctance to eat turkey for the rest of the year. If you want to stick to the traditions, that is fine too, but one of the simplest things to personalize your holiday is to try a new side dish. Here are some great recipes to try.

We love the idea of watching movies as a family but it is rather sad that so many family movies have way too much violence. I wonder if these movies can actually be made in two versions: one for adults and then an edited version for the kids. While this is a great movie, we thought that parts of the movie could be scary for young kids - so I suggest that the parents watch it first and then decide how to prepare their kids for it and how to watch with them. They will love it but some of the horror is rather unexpected. Alan Parrish (played by Robin Williams) finds a board game (Jumanji) and decides to play it with a friend Sarah Whittle without really knowing what it was. Very soon unexpected things happen and without warning Alan disappears into thin air and Sarah is chased out of the house by scary looking bats. 26 years later, two other kids in the same house (Judy Shepherd played by Kirsten Dunst and her brother Peter played by Bradley Pierce) play the same game after they fin...

I became a fan of Aitana Sanchez Gijon after watching her in Femme de Chambre du Titanic and that was the sole reason I chose to watch Boca a Boca (Mouth to Mouth). It stars Javier Bardem (who plays the role of Victor Ventura, a struggling actor) who takes a job as a phone sex operator to pay his bills before he appears for a casting call for a Hollywood movie . He ends up answering a phone call from a plastic surgeon (Bill or Ricardo played by Josep Maria Flotats) who is a down-low man (people like Ted Haggard who are supposedly happily married to a woman but are secretly gay ) and in his desperate attempt to make as much money as possible, he makes Bill think that they are in love. But Victor is actually in love with Bill's wife Amanda (played by Aitana Sanchez Gijon) who sleeps with him to take revenge on her husband . The plot gets complicated after that and I will not give you any more details but you have to wait till the end to figure out who was trying to kill who ...

Whenever we go to New York City , we spend a lot of time in SoHo , The Village, and Fifth Avenue. We also make a point to visit a few art galleries. You never know what you will find. It was on one of those adventures of ours that we ran into Skye Ferrante, who is not only a great artist, but also a very charming man. Fortunately, he was present at the art gallery when we were there and was kind enough to chat with us showing his work to us and explaining how he comes up with ideas and how he makes his art pieces. He basically takes a piece of wire and then makes magic happen by molding it into shapes that tell a beautiful story. What fascinated Lorena and myself, apart from his artistic talent, is his story (he was a ballet dancer). He literally started on the streets of New York selling his art to tourists for amounts that had only two digits. Just to give you an idea, the pieces that we liked from his collection on sale were all in four digits. What we continue to ask ourselve...

Several months ago I had watched a documentary on the The United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Kentucky. By interviewing a few ex-employees and with the use of very limited publicly available information, the producers had tried to put together a story about the operations and the security there. However, I am sure that like the movie Air Force One , they must have gotten it only partly right. No visitors are permitted in the building. The documentary said that only once did a few members of Congress and media personnel were allowed to go in. No one from this movie team ever stepped inside Fort Knox or even its vicinity (actually that part of the film was not even shot in the US). Of course, one of the things that I remember from the documentary was the narrator saying that apart from being part of the plots in books and movies, the most remarkable movie that was based on penetrating the Fort Knox security was the "Goldfinger." So when the opportunity came to ...

Since we had watched both Shrek and Shrek 2 , it was very obvious that we would end up in a theater to watch Shrek the Third. Like other animation movies , Shrek 3 is a fun movie to watch with your family . It is also pretty obvious from the plot that all the fans will now await the arrival of next in series. This is how the plot develops. Shrek is destined to be the king of Far Far Away but that is not what he wants. He wants to go where he thinks he belongs: the swamp. When King Harold had died he had also mentioned the name of Arthur Pendragon, the nephew. No surprise then that Shrek sets out to find him so that he can take over as the new ruler. In the meantime, Prince Charming sees a window of opportunity to take over the kingdom. When Shrek and Arthur arrive in Far Far Away, they realize that the kingdom is in chaos, the royal family is in prison, and Prince Charming wants to kill them all. In the end the movie, of course, ends on a happy note, particularly, with Fiona an...

All the way from science fiction movies to space research to robots to robonauts , we devour anything with "science." That is why when the chance came up to watch "The Astronaut's Wife," we grabbed the opportunity. Plus, it had two stars that we love: Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron . Surprisingly enough, even though the movie is about an astronaut, there is really nothing about space. Actually, the real movie begins after Spencer Armacost (played by Johnny Depp) decides to leave NASA after a very tough mission in which for two minutes the spacecraft had lost communication with mission control and the mission was promptly terminated. He decides to work for a private aerospace company in New York. Jillian (played by Charlize Theron) suspectes something is not "normal" about her husband, especially in light of the fact that his colleague (Nick Cassavetes) on the mission died unexpectedly and his wife (Donna Murphy) committed suicide. Is she just...

If you are a parent of a teenager , please do watch " Dillo con parole mie " (marketed as "Ginger and Cinnamon" to English speakers). We know that virginity pledge or not, most Americans will lose their virginity in their teens. We might as well help them do it responsibly and safely. But no, the movie is not just about a teenager's desperate attempts to do it just for the heck of it. There is a more complex plot involving her aunt Stefania. Stefania (played by Stefania Montorsi) has just broken up with her boyfriend Andrea (played by Giampaolo Morelli) when her teenager niece Megghy (Martina Merlino) shows up after lying to her classmates and family about where she was going. She suggests that they both take a trip to the "Isle of Love" in Greece. Among all the cute boys crawling on the planet looking for the same thing, Megghy ends up with Andrea, who also is taking a trip after the breakup to concentrate on his hobby of drawing. Megghy gets ...

When I watched Wisdom (Starring Emilio Estevez and Demi Moore, it is the story of a modern-day Robin Hood who robs banks to help poor Americans ), I remember how the two main characters are being chased by cops as they are about to cross into Canada. While you know that they are criminals and broke the law, you also know that they helped a lot of people. You almost wish that they will not be caught. Sadly enough, they do get caught and killed. In "Heaven" though, the two actors are not caught and do manage to escape. The movie "Heaven" reminds one of " Spanglish " in some ways because the characters speak two languages (English and Italian ), which to me is a far better alternative than the ridiculous manner in which the characters in " Memoirs of Geisha " speak. The movie begins with Philippa Paccard (played by the always-brilliant Cate Blanchett ), an English teacher in Italy , who plants a bomb to kill a drug lord. Unfortunately, four inn...

I had never seen a Danish movie before and it took me a while to figure out where the movie was based since the characters talk (in Danish and Swedish) so much about going to Rome. But that was just a small thing. The whole movie is even more intriguing and incomprehensible at times. "Reconstruction" is a psychological drama involving a mature woman , adultery , and mind-bending events. The plot is simple: A married woman (Aimee, played by Maria Bonnevie) in a sexless marriage to an always-busy writer August (played Krister Henriksson) gets attracted to a younger, passionate man (Alex, played by Nikolaj Lie Kaas) who sees great chemistry in her and has no hesitation in leaving her girlfriend (Simone, also played by Maria Bonnevie). But not everything is so simple and straightforward. Director Christoffer Boe has made a movie in which if you feel dizzy, consider that normal. It is hard to figure out what is real and what is just the imagination of the characters. For ...

If you have always "hated" Adam Sandler, I would have called you a friend prior to watching "Spanglish." Any time I got to watch him, I found him so juvenile, almost someone acting like an imbecile. This movie may not make you fall in love with him, but you will agree that a good actor becomes what the story and director wants him to be. In this movie, I have seen him act like an adult for the first time. I just hope that he gets to act in a few more good movies. "Spanglish" has a special meaning for me because, despite being with Lorena for over 10 years, my Spanish langauge abilities are dismal. While I do get by with my Spanglish, to have a meaningful conversation, I need someone to translate for me. In this film, however, Adam Sandler (John) and his wife Tea Leoni (Deborah) do pretty good managing a maid Flor Moreno (played by Paz Vega, who for some reasons, kept reminding me of Penelope Cruz ), who does not speak English at all. In no time, she a...

Despite the Hispanic paradox , most Hispanics eat those delicious but deadly Latin dishes . The result: obesity and diabetes are widespread among them. That is not the way things used to be. In fact, during my travels to small towns in Latin America , I found that the food was fresher, healthier, and delicious, without the calories. In other words, the Latin people are cooking the wrong way. Lorena and I have come up with healthier versions of almost all Latin dishes , but a group Latino Nutritional Coalition has put together not only a new Latin Diet Pyramid but has also produced an excellent guide to healthy eating . While sponsored by food companies, the guide also has some healthy recipes for traditional Latin dishes. Yes, you can go once in a while to Rosa Mexicano type restaurants, but if you are trying to eat right and be fit , then you will need to make significant changes in your diet . Please, if you are a Latin person, download the Camino Magico guide for yourself an...

I have never understood the rationale for paying someone to chitchat with you. If I feel like talking to new people, there are so many avenues for doing so without spending a penny (except maybe paying for a drink or meal). My experience living in Japan , however, tells me that it is the norm in Japan. I have visited so many bars in Tokyo and Osaka with my ex-colleagues and friends where not only did you pay for your drinks, you also spent a fortune on a companion who does nothing more than pour drinks, giggle at your stupid jokes, and try to make you feel important. While geisha is supposedly an artist (neither a hostess nor a prostitute, though she can become a mistress in some cases), her more important role is to make a man feel what he aspires to be and what his wife may not find credible. For these reasons and to understand the world of geishas in Japan, the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" is a must watch. It might seem like a documentary on the life of a geisha, but ...

So often we take what others do for us for granted. While impolite, it is not so bad. What is really bad when we take for granted even when others risk their lives for us. Yes, police officers, firefighters, and women and men in the armed forces, risk their lives every day so that we can be safe. If you are one of those people who just think of firemen when there is a fire in your house, we strongly suggest that you watch Ladder 49. This is a very depressing movie; so don't plan on being entertained. In fact if it were not for its movie stars, it could very well be categorized as a documentary about the life of Jack Morrison (played by Joaquin Phoenix) as a firefighter. After starting his career as a firefighter, Morrison takes on the job of search rescue because he wants it, despite being warned about its dangers by his boss and mentor Mike Kennedy (John Travolta) and his wife, Linda (Jacinda Barrett). The film traces Morrison's life in flashbacks as he lies unconscious ...

Can you imagine a movie called " Scen t of a Woman" with no women? Indeed, there is a pivotal sequence in the movie in which Al Pacino takes beautiful Gabrielle Anwar to the dance floor at the Waldorf Astoria for an impromptu tango performance , but other than that it is a movie about men. I enjoyed watching this movie even more because it reminded me so much of my days at the Birla Public School in Pilani. Retired (and blind) Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (played by Al Pacino for which he got the Oscar) is a man with a very complex and powerful personality. When his daughter hires Charlie Simms (played by Chris O'Donnell, who is a student from a poor family at a prep school in New Hampshire) to take care of him over the Thanksgiving weekend , he is in for a roller-coaster ride. Within moments of the daughter leaving for a family reunion, Slade and Simms are on a plane to New York City . Slade's plan: stay at the Waldorf Astoria, eat at the Oak Room, dance and...

Horror is a genre that I tend to explore occasionally (and mostly alone) and I have enjoyed some good movies during recent months ( Vampyros Lesbos , Night of the Living Dead, etc.). But when I received the press kit for Marcus, I had no idea what the movie was about. It didn't take me long to find out. Within seconds, it was obvious that it was a horror film. In my opinion, there are two types of horror movies. The first category includes movies with monsters and ghosts - these don't scare me because I know that they are unreal and more often than not include just computer-generated characters. The second category includes sick human beings (or animals) - these do manage to scare me because they are depictions of real people and without our knowing it, they might be around us. Marcus belongs to the second category. You would not dream of any monsters or imagine that there are ghosts in your bedroom, but the image of this heartless killer will stay in your mind. Here is ...

Lorena was disappointed from the get-go that "America's Sweethearts" was not the movie she expected - that there was no humor so typical of Billy Crystal. On the contrary, this is a very light comedy that reminded so much of what Woody Allen ( Shadows and Fog , Casino Royale ) comes up with. There are some comic moments, but at no point are you falling off the couch, or as is typical of Woody Allen movies, smiling at the cleverness of the joke or the subtlety of the dialogue. The plot is essentially a satire on Hollywood relationships . Estranged couple Gwen (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Eddie (John Cusack) have no choice but to come together to promote their latest movie (which is otherwise and may not do much to lift the sagging career of Gwen), and only some drama at the press junket at a luxury resort in the Nevada desert can get good reviews from the media. Billy Crystal, who is an experienced publicist, takes charge and produces situations that will delight fans of...

Whether it is Pinky or androids or Stepford Wives or robonauts , we will soon see robots the way we look at pets: friendly, helpful, and part of the family . Will that be in 2035? That is the premise of the movie I, Robot, which like The Day After Tomorrow is a visual masterpiece full of special effects. In Chicago of the future, robots are everywhere and definitely that is good news for US Robotics, the company that manufactures them. If the robots were simply to follow our orders and make life easy for us, everything would be great, but what if robots could evolve or even have emotions? Even worse, what if robots could also try to protect us from ourselves, which is not inconceivable considering that by not fighting global warming , we are deliberately destroying the chances for survival of the human race? If you are a fan of science fiction movies and get excited by robotics, this is an excellent movie to watch. Will Smith delivers a remarkable performance but we thought t...

Global warming is a hot topic and there are a whole bunch of movies that use it in various forms. Some that I have seen and reviewed are Ice Age The Meltdown and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind . If you are still in denial about global warming ( How to fight global warming ), we recommend that you watch The Day After Tomorow, especially if you work for a polluter . The movie is very dramatic and is only meant to highlight what is possible, not necessarily what will really happen (unless a catastrophic event like a nuclear war or an asteroid hitting the planet raises the temperatures quickly). Even a fifth grader now knows that climate changes slowly, not within a matter of days, as the movie shows, but the point is made. The Day After Tomorrow tells the story through the eyes of Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid), his son (Jake Gyllenhaal) and friend Laura Chapman (played by Emmy Rossum). While New Delhi gets it first snowstorm ever and grapefruit sized hailstones drop in Tokyo, the Un...

I was really hoping that Mario Lopez - Karina Smirnoff romance would lead to a real relationship but it seems that it did not go farther than a vacation in Mexico and family visit. But I do have some good news from Cheryl Burke (the two time champion is responsible for Dancing With The Stars trophies for Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith ). She has found love with Matthew Lawrence, the brother of Joey Lawrence (who himself was a contestant earlier). Cheryl Burke (photo copyright: ABC) is busy with Ian Ziering of Beverly Hills 90210 hoping to turn him into a champ.

Global warming was the last thing on our minds when we watched "Ice Age The Meltdown," but the message was loud and clear: we have to fight global warming , even more because so many idiots are in denial about global warming . If you enjoyed the original movie "Ice Age," you should find the familiar characters (Scrat, Sid, Manny, Diego, etc.) even more adventurous and funny. Again, I wish this movie was rated G since it is a beautiful movie to watch with your family. And while we were not particularly impressed with the sequel " Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest ," this sequel is a good one. Like so many people who refuse to believe that climate change is for real , the movie starts off with many animals who just can't seem to accept the reality that what they had known their whole lives would change right before their eyes. Fortunately, there are no dead-enders and almost everyone listens to the warning and decides to escape. After a...

Not far from Rosa Mexicano Union Square location is the University Place area, popular among NYU students as a place to find good, inexpensive food. Being from the Boston area (that has so many students from all over the world), we know that the chepeast (and often with great good) places to eat are around the campuses. After doing some research, we decided to eat at L'Annam restaurant (at 13th Street) during our trip to New York . We are not new to Vietnamese food and often eat at Le's (formerly Pho Pasteur), that has several locations in our area. What we like about Southeast Asian food is that if you pick the right dish, you can eat a meal with lots of fresh ingredients with little to no fat . We were not disappointed at L'annam either. It is obviously a neighborhood eatery and at dinner time you see both a lot of students and families (we were told that during lunch time, it is popular place among the office workers). The portions are big for the price and all di...

As a followup to our article " How to be healthy ," we also wanted to share more tips that come from AP9 At Home Rewards. We follow all of them, except the one on eating garlic. While we love the flavor and occasionally use it for most of our Italian dishes, the flavor is a bit too much later on during the day/night. So our tip for garlic: avoid it on warm days and when you know you will be intimate . Use olive oil . An essential ingredient of Mediterranean cuisine, olive oil contains polyphenols, the potent antioxidants that have been shown to help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The extra-virgin is the best kind. Switch to brown rice . The taste is great, and it's a whole grain, which makes it an excellent source of fiber. Brown rice is also rich in vitamins, manganese, selenium and magnesium, elements that help produce energy, improve the health of the nervous system, and help reduce the risk of colon cancer. It's a little bit chewy but you wil...

As anyone who has ever watched a sequel knows, the sequel is almost always less interesting, though that does not mean you shouldn't watch this one. When we watched the "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," we were mesmerized by the costumes, the sets, and some excellent acting by Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley . In "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," you will not be disappointed - just not as fascinated since the novelty is not there any more. That does not mean the plot is not engaging or the acting is poor or the cinematography unimpressive. In fact, the movie improves upon the previous one in all of these. This time, the search is on for a chest that is linked to a key which is linked to a compass that Jack Sparrow has. Actually the plot is even very confusing, espcially if you saw the first movie a long time ago. But like any fantasy, don't get too involved with the plot or don't think too hard...