BuzzSugar

Buzz In: What Acclaimed TV Classic Do You Just Not Get?

BuzzSugar — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:30:01 PDT

30 Rock made a M*A*S*H joke this week, and my friend practically threw a fit telling me all about her hatred for that show. She said every time her parents turned it on and she heard that famous theme song, she wanted to cry from boredom. I actually know quite a few people who feel that way, even though M*A*S*H is considered one of the best shows of all time.

Maybe it's an age thing - do teenagers love Mad Men as much as I do? Then again, I know plenty of people my own age who think Mad Men looks boring despite all its critical acclaim. And even though I'm a huge fan of The Wire, I know there are lots of folks out there who don't get it and don't care to.

I'm wondering: What critically acclaimed show - whether now or in the past - do you just not think deserves all the fuss?

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Buzz In: Which Series Have You Hated to See End?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 06:30:00 PST

HBO's The Wire - many a critic's pick for the best show ever on television - will end its series on Sunday after five gut-wrenching and unabashedly bleak seasons. I sped through all the early seasons on DVD so I could be caught up in time for the finale, but now that it's here, I'm looking at Sunday with equal amounts of excitement and dread. While the show's only been part of my life for a short while, I have a hard time with the fact that it will just end.

I remember feeling the same thing when another great HBO series, Six Feet Under, ended its run in 2005; I believe its ending was utterly perfect, but even thinking about it can make me cry. There's just a special, can't-miss quality to a series finale: The BBC version of The Office needed a couple of specials to wrap up its story, and the 1983 series finale of M*A*S*H is still the most-watched US TV program of all-time.

So tell me, Buzz readers: Which favorite series have you hated to see go? Which could have wrapped up better than they did? Which got the endings they deserved?

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Movie Night: War Satires

BuzzSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:53:30 PDT

Memorial Day is not a time for cracking jokes, but wartime itself often requires humor as a matter of survival. So in honor of this weekend's holiday, I've put together a Movie Night featuring some thought-provoking but entertaining war satires. These three films utilize dark humor while also recognizing and respecting the horrors of war.

Dr. Strangelove

It's remarkable to think that Stanley Kubrick's classic satire of nuclear holocaust was made back in 1964, because not a year has passed since when Dr. Strangelove wasn't eerily relevant. To me, this is not only one of the greatest war satires of all time but also one of the most expertly crafted satirical films overall. That's because it manages to put forth a subtle yet clear critique of deadly serious issues while also delivering laugh-out loud laughs that make you just uncomfortable enough. George C. Scott and Peter Sellers handle their one-liners ("precious bodily fluids," anyone?) with the care one would afford a nuclear warhead, making them infinitely quotable even now.

For two more war satires,

read more MASH Amid the martinis, intramural football games, and madcap practical jokes, it's sometimes easy to forget while watching Robert Altman's brilliant satire that the colorful characters are in the middle of a war. But when the horrors of combat surface, it's a sinister reminder that the dark comedy is merely a coping mechanism. The arrestingly odd pace of MASH only enhances the stellar performances by Donald Sutherland, Sally Kellerman, and the rest of the cast, who will make you think as much as they make you laugh.
Good Morning Vietnam Based on a true story, Robin Williams plays Adrian Cronauer, an American radio deejay who takes to the air waves in Vietnam in 1965, entertaining the troops with his racy commentary. Recent Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker also stars. Williams is his usual clever, funny and raunchy self, breathing fresh air into a dismal situation. The movie highlights the human need for connection during times of difficulty and also asks the question: Is it better to be just entertained and in the dark, or to hear the truth?

What to Netflix: Robert Altman Retrospective

BuzzSugar — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 11:53:33 PST

Today, the Sundance Channel is hosting a tribute to Robert Altman, the groundbreaking director who died this November. So next time you're reordering your Netflix queue, why not plan your own Altman tribute? It's hard to pick from so many masterpiece films-from Nashville to The Player-but here are three to get you started.

Short Cuts
I've never seen a movie quite like Short Cuts, which follows dozens of quirky and tragic characters in Los Angeles. Based on Raymond Carver's short stories, the movie deviates from Altman's usual interconnected ensemble formula by offering about a dozen very distinct plots, each of which could be a movie in itself. Nearly everyone in the enormous cast-including Tim Robbins, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Waits, Matthew Modine, and many more-gives a stellar performance.

To see the rest,

read more
A Prairie Home Companion Though not classic Altman, this entertaining and well-executed tribute to the longtime Minnesota radio show is a fitting last movie for the director. Kevin Kline is a riot as a throwback detective named Guy Noir, while Woody Harrelson and John C. Reilly take the stage as singing cowboys. But most impressive are the scenes between Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin, which contain possibly some of the best dialogue Altman ever filmed.
MASH This comedy set in a surgical ward during the Korean War is not only one of Altman's best but also one of the most impressive movies to come out of the 1970s. With quiet but uproarious performances by Donald Sutherland and Robert Duvall, the movie is groundbreaking in the way it presents a series of slice-of-life sketches, rather than one unified narrative. If your only contact with MASH was through the subsequent TV show, this movie is a must-see.

Robert Altman RIP

PopSugar — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 09:24:36 PST

The legendary Robert Altman, probably best known for MASH, Nashville and The Player has died. The cause of the 81 year-old director's death has not yet been disclosed. Hollywood will not be the same without this icon, he will be greatly missed.

Meet Me in Moscow: A Russian Food Primer

Lizzie Fuhr — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:45:20 PST

Whenever you're complaining about the ferocity of Winter, just remember things are much, much colder in other parts of the world. But while Russian Winters may be brutal, they've got plenty of amazing, comforting recipes with flavors designed to take that chill out of your bones. It's time to call up your babushka, put on your copy of Doctor Zhivago, and grab a tall glass of vodka, if you see fit! It's time to get reading about the delicious dishes Russian cuisine has to offer.

Dishes:

Solyanka: The base of the spicy and sour solyanka soup consists of pickled cucumbers with brine, cabbage, mushrooms, sour cream, and dill. It's either served with meat, fish, or mushrooms.
Pirozhki : Pirozhki are small buns that are stuffed typically with a savory filling and then baked or fried. Some typical fillings include meat, onion, eggs, mashed potatoes, or cabbage.
Stroganov: Beef stroganov, or stroganoff, is cooked up in many a cafeteria today, but this recipe originated in Russia. It's typically pieces of beef served up in a sour cream-based sauce on top of egg noodles.
Blini: These thin, crepelike pancakes are enjoyed with either a savory or sweet topping. As opposed to the French crepe, blinis are made from buckwheat and are part of traditional Russian cuisine.
Borscht: Soups are a staple of a traditional Russian diet. And borscht is the czar of these soups. While it's served up cold in many restaurants in the US, traditionally borscht, primarily made of beets, is served piping hot.
Vatrushka: This traditional Russian dessert is a big ring of flaky pastry dough with cottage cheese in the center. Similar to a delicious American-style Danish, it's typically topped off with raisins or bits of fruit.

Staples:

Smetana (sour cream): Blinis are topped off with it. Soups utilize its flavor. It's even used in dessert recipes! In short, expect to find fresh and delicious sour cream accompanying just about Russian ration you eat.
Black bread: The dark, crusty, hearty rye bread is served alongside many a Russian dish.
Ikra (caviar): Briny caviar is a definite splurge in the US, but in Russia, you can find caviar far more often on a table. It's often served with blinis or atop black bread.

Did I leave anything off? Any Russian foods you love to chow down on? Add your thoughts in the comments!

Source: Flickr User Istelleinad & geishaboy500

4 Lazy Moves That Boost Your Health

Prevention — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:05:16 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

You don’t have to go on a deprivation diet or spend hours exercising to ward off disease and be your healthiest self! Instead, try these supersimple tips
By the editors of Prevention

Staying healthy can feel like so much, well, work (think: logging hours at the gym and whipping up nutritious meals from scratch). However, there are plenty of small moves that you can make in your everyday life that will have big health benefits. We’ve rounded up 15 practically zero-effort ways to fight disease, whittle your waist, lower stress, and more. Bonus: many of these good-for-you moves feel good, too. So say sayonara to the old adage “no pain, no gain” and try these tips today.

Lazy Move No. 1: Protect Your Ticker by Snoozing
Need a good excuse to grab your comfiest set of pajamas and hit the sack? Skimping on shut-eye may do more than make you cranky or unproductive - it also boosts your risk of a heart attack. According to one Norwegian study, people who reported that they did not wake up feeling refreshed in the morning had a 27 percent higher risk of a heart attack, those who had trouble staying asleep almost every night in the last month had a 30 percent higher risk, and those who had trouble falling asleep almost every night in the last month had odds that jumped to 45 percent.

Twenty Ways to Sleep Better Every Night

Some researchers speculate that insomnia might trigger your body to release more of the stress hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked with high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Plus when you’re exhausted, you may be more likely to make unhealthy choices that up your heart disease risk, such as skipping your workout or reaching for fatty or sugary snacks for a quick energy fix.

Keep reading for three more lazy ways to improve your health.

Reader Recipe: Healthy Layered Greek Yogurt Dip

Fit Community — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:06:13 PST

Super Bowl snacks don't need to be unhealthy! Take this recipe for a Greek yogurt layered dip from FitSugar reader NicoleCulver. She posted it in our Healthy Recipe community group. Don't forget to post your own recipes in the community; they may wind up here on our homepage!

Mini-Layered Dip

Small clear cups
3 avocados, mashed with a touch of salt and pepper
2 large tomatoes, diced
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed well
1 can refried beans
shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese
0% plain Chobani Greek yogurt

Layer the ingredients in the cup as desired. Enjoy with chips or with a fork!

For more information on this dip check out Making Good Choices!

6 Ways to Take Your Soup Up a Notch - Without Adding Actual Cream

Camilla Salem — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:25:13 PST

Clear-broth soups are delicious in their own right, but sometimes we just want something a little heartier and more indulgent. Cream-based soups are pretty simple to put together, but you can incorporate different elements - grains, lighter dairy products, or cruciferous vegetables - and end up with a delightfully creamy soup that doesn't actually contain a pint of cream.

Add a cup of almond milk to your recipe, as seen here with this lighter take on clam chowder.
Toss in some steamed cauliflower and mash or blend everything together.

Four more different ways to thicken up your soups, when you keep reading.

Warm Up With a Healthier Bowl of Oatmeal

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:13:41 PST

In celebration of National Oatmeal Month (I know, I had no idea January was devoted to this whole grain either!), here are some tips on how to whip up a healthy bowl of this whole grain.

To increase the fiber and protein: Choose rolled oats over quick oats. They'll take slightly longer to cook, but a half-cup serving offers five grams of fiber and seven grams of protein - the quick oats only offer four grams of fiber and five grams of protein.

To increase the protein: After your oats have cooked, stir in a tablespoon of almond butter, peanut butter, or half a cup of plain Greek yogurt.

To increase the fiber: Cut up some dried apricots, throw in some fresh or frozen berries, or toss in some diced fresh pear or mango. Chia seeds are also bursting with fiber - one tablespoon has over five grams.

To get your fill of omega-3s: Sprinkle on one tablespoon of ground flaxseed. It offers 1.6 grams of omega-3s (1.1 is the recommended amount per day).

To decrease the amount of sugar: Instead of adding maple syrup, brown sugar, or honey to your bowl, sweeten your breakfast with unsweetened applesauce, mashed banana, or pureed strawberries.

Source: Flickr User norwichnuts