Like in 2007, each audience got back home with camcorder, luxurious watch, refrigerator, and plenty other things. She didn't have the usual Oprah's Favorite things on 2008 and 2009 due to the economic recession in the US (I bet any company would do multiple thinking before giving up hundreds of free products, even for THE Oprah).
Yet in her very last Oprah Show (she won't be doing this show anymore next year), we expect nothing but the best. Luckily, so did she. That's why in this season she had 2 episode of Oprah's Favorite Thing. Among the list: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. Yes, baby, everybody gets the car!!
Maybe economic condition in the US gets better. Maybe Oprah's tired of giving away crappy things like downloadable CDs. Though, of course, as long as it's free and coming from Oprah, it's no crappy at all. This last two episodes of Oprah's Favorite Things (or Gifts) are extraordinaire.
Here's the complete list, as reported on TVSquad.
Limited-Edition 25th Anniversary Oprah watch by Philip Stein ($2475.00)
Nikon camera ($699.95)
Ralph Lauren Oprah Cashmere Sweater and Throw ($1093.00)
Judith Ripka earrings ($525.00)
Tory Burch tote ($250.00)
Andre Walker hair products ($65.00)
Lafco candles ($990.00)
Breville Panini Press ($99.95)
Kyocera knife set ($74.95)
Beecher's mac & cheese ($29.00)
Baker's Edge brownie/lasagna pan ($89.40)
'A Course in Weight Loss' by Marieanne Williamson and 'Decode' by Jay-Z ($59.95)
Nikon camera ($699.95)
Ralph Lauren Oprah Cashmere Sweater and Throw ($1093.00)
Judith Ripka earrings ($525.00)
Tory Burch tote ($250.00)
Andre Walker hair products ($65.00)
Lafco candles ($990.00)
Breville Panini Press ($99.95)
Kyocera knife set ($74.95)
Beecher's mac & cheese ($29.00)
Baker's Edge brownie/lasagna pan ($89.40)
'A Course in Weight Loss' by Marieanne Williamson and 'Decode' by Jay-Z ($59.95)
Netflix membership (5 years)
Kiva/Groupon gift card ($100.00)
Reva Ballerina shoes ($195.00)
Elfa closet system ($1000.00)
Oprah final season t-shirt ($35.00)
Lululemon pants ($98.00)
Black-Eyed Peas CD ((17.98)
Nike shoes (four pair: $340.00)
Apple iPad with Scrabble app ($500.00)
UGG boots ($175.00)
Sophia Satchel by Coach ($398.00)
Magaschoni tunic and leggings ($558.00)
Kiva/Groupon gift card ($100.00)
Reva Ballerina shoes ($195.00)
Elfa closet system ($1000.00)
Oprah final season t-shirt ($35.00)
Lululemon pants ($98.00)
Black-Eyed Peas CD ((17.98)
Nike shoes (four pair: $340.00)
Apple iPad with Scrabble app ($500.00)
UGG boots ($175.00)
Sophia Satchel by Coach ($398.00)
Magaschoni tunic and leggings ($558.00)
Hope in a Jar by Philosophy ($38.00 and up)
Nordstrom lingerie ($500.00)
Herb Savor by Prepara ($29.95)
Centerville chicken pie ($20.00)
Garrett's Limited Edition Favorite Things tin ($135.00)
Le Creuset cookware ($599.00)
Miraclebody jeans ($110.00)
Sophie jewelry box ($179.00)
Jessica Leigh diamond earrings ($1900.00)
DonorsChoose.org gift card ($100.00)
Nordstrom lingerie ($500.00)
Herb Savor by Prepara ($29.95)
Centerville chicken pie ($20.00)
Garrett's Limited Edition Favorite Things tin ($135.00)
Le Creuset cookware ($599.00)
Miraclebody jeans ($110.00)
Sophie jewelry box ($179.00)
Jessica Leigh diamond earrings ($1900.00)
DonorsChoose.org gift card ($100.00)
Williams-Sonoma mini croissants ($39.95)
Talbott Teas ($150.00)
'The Book of Awakening' by Mark Nepo ($18.95)
'Illuminations' by Josh Groban ($12.99)
'Let It Be Me' by Johnny Mathis ($12.00)
Sony Bravia 3D TV and Blu-ray player ($3600.00)
2012 Volkswagen Beetle (it won't be announced until May 2011 but Oprah got a sneak peek)
Talbott Teas ($150.00)
'The Book of Awakening' by Mark Nepo ($18.95)
'Illuminations' by Josh Groban ($12.99)
'Let It Be Me' by Johnny Mathis ($12.00)
Sony Bravia 3D TV and Blu-ray player ($3600.00)
2012 Volkswagen Beetle (it won't be announced until May 2011 but Oprah got a sneak peek)
I've been sick for 3 days now, high fever followed by feels-like-never-ending-stomach-cramps. The genius Aji told me I probably caught 'masuk angin'. But yesterday night the pain was excruciating that my aunt finally took me to an internist.
And she said I caught bronchitis.
I don't really understand the connections between lungs and bilge, but long story short, doctor order, I have to put on total rest for the rest of the week. Meaning: no class, no jalan-jalan, no exam. She said I was under a lot of stress lately, which is weird, I never feel like I was.
Anyway, so today I spent the whole afternoon blog walking. I'm always kind of curious with the blog of Tavi Gevinson. I mean, this 14-year-old fashion blogger had shoots for TeenVogue Magazine last year. And, as reported by NY Magazine, had turned down request to appear on Oprah and The Tonight Show. Man.., this chick gets the guts.
Almost as gutty as Anna Wintour, who ordered Oprah to lose 20 lbs before The Queen of American Talk Show could put her face on the cover of Vogue.
Style Rookie, that's Tavi's blog, may not be entirely different from any other fashion blogs. But the fact that a 14-year-old girl is writing these articles: Whoaaa.. I don't remember what I wrote when I was her age, but I'm pretty sure it's not something I could be proud of.
She wrote about Briney Spears' cover shoot for Japanese magazine, Pop. Adding some fine piece of her mind about lolita fetishes, she mentioned about how Spears was sold under pretense of virginal yet sexy school girl. She also compared the princess with Courtney Love, who (as Tavi said it) popularized the trend Kinderwhore.
I think I'm a fan.
This is Tavi's response to the possibility of people get bored of her after some years, when she enters adulthood, as reported by NY Magazine.
“I guess that’s sort of a worry of mine,” she said. “That I won’t be relevant anymore, and then I just won’t be able to do things like go to Fashion Week.” She went on, “If I lost all my readers tomorrow, I would still blog, just because it’s a place for me to get my thoughts down. As I get older, no one will be able to do the ‘Can you believe it? This kid’s thirteen!’ thing. That’s fine. I’d rather get attention for any credibility I have, and if I don’t get attention at all maybe that will tell me I never had any credibility. In which case I’ll just watch the live streams. The main thing is the clothes."
Dandelion goes from south to north, every winter day in the middle of the year. Tells you stories about lovers' longing and persistent devotees. How people met and how they said goodbye. Dandelion flies past your chest, digging old emotions and blurry remembrance.
Wood engulfed by fire, in one burning summer day. And he saw she never cared. And she never asked. Dandelion blows with monsoon, leaving behind the cold and into the warmth. Taking away silent plea and unspoken affection.
Words that he could not find, things that she failed to understand. Distant and cruel. Come with nothing, leave with nothing. Dandelion fades as the result of frictions. Closure is the time passing. Mending your heart and guide it open. Until next time, Dandelion goes from north to south.
Found this piece from watching Nodame Cantabile. I especially love the beginning and ending of the first movement. Reminds of me of Christmas and Santa's sleigh and toy land and joy ride.
Ah, so many talented people in this world. I'm feeling envious...
Ravel - Piano Concerto In G Major (1st movement)
Joseph-Maurice Ravel, a French composer and pianist. Born on March 17, 1875 in Ciboure. His works including Miroirs and the famous one-movement orchestral piece, Bolero.
Piano Concerto In G Major is Ravel's first and only piano concerto. This piece consist of three movements: Allegramente, Adagio assai and Presto, following the traditional pattern of fast-slow-fast. Influenced heavily by jazz, which was very popular back then in US as well as in Paris.
"The G-major Concerto took two years of work, you know. The opening theme came to me on a train between Oxford and London. But the initial idea is nothing. The work of chiseling then began. We’ve gone past the days when the composer was thought of as being struck by inspiration, feverishly scribbling down his thoughts on a scrap of paper. Writing music is seventy-five percent an intellectual activity."
(Maurice Ravel)
So much happened before Dorothy dropped in to Oz.
That is the tag line of the Broadway's musical, Wicked. First performed in 2003, this show was a huge success. Soaring the name of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who played The Wicked Witch of The West, Elphaba and Glinda The Good.
This musical is actually based on a novel by Gregory Maguire under the same title. While Broadway focused on Elphaba and Glinda's friendship and how Elphaba became the Wicked, Maguire wrote a biography-alike of the witch, starting from the day she was born.
Elphaba or Elphie or Fabala or Fae was born with father a minister of unionist (more or less like a modern day reverend) and mother a grand daughter of Descended Eminent Thropp, ruler of the Munchkinland. She was born green from head to toe and couldn't get near water. Her sister, Nessarose was a beautiful religious armless girl. While his brother, well let's just say he did not partake much of the story.
Elphaba met Glinda, or Galinda at the time, when she was schooling at Shiz. Under the order of Headmistress Madame Morrible, they were forced to become roommates. They didn't get along, of course. Galinda, a social climber, queen of popularity. While Elphaba was an awkward green living thing.
But perhaps it was Elphaba's idealism of rightness. Perhaps it was Glinda's clear minded. But after series of tragedies, including the death of an Animal professor, Dillamond, and the down of Glinda's caretaker, Ama Clutch, they gradually became best friends.
The girls were the last generation of Oz that had some lectures taught by Animals. These Animals (with capital A) were almost like mankind, except that they looked like animals. During the reign of Wizard of Oz, they were banished from society, forced to be living in country side, along with ordinary animals.
After the funeral of Ama Clutch, both Elphaba and Glinda seek for audience with the Wizard of Oz. Elphaba suspected the death of both the Animal and Ama was linked to Dillamond's hypothesis of the substantial alikeness between human and Animal. They tried to convince the Wizard about Dillamond's work and thus restore the rights of Animals.
But the Wizard wasn't amused. He insisted that evicting Animals from mankind's community was the proper way of living. Elphaba was beyond mad. She vowed to bring the Wizard's down. She then decided not to go back to Shiz with Glinda and stayed in Emerald City of Oz.
Living in disguise, Elphaba always wore her ridiculous cone hat, black gown, and a shawl around her neck to hide her immediately-would-be-recognized green skin. From then on, her destiny as the Wicked Witch of The West was sealed.
The essential difference of musical Wicked and book Wicked was that in the novel, Elphaba is never much of a witch. While Madame Morrible did foresee the three of them (Elphaba, Glinda and Nessarose) to be living with sorceries, Elphaba refused to even learn.
Another difference was musical Wicked seemed to be allocated for general audience, while the book is at least rated PG. From the blur of who's actually fathering Elphaba and Nessarose to Elphaba's own affair with once-classmate-now-married-man, Fiyero.
This affair was also the one to lead Elphaba into make a home out of a Vinikus castle in Kiamo Ko, where she waited for Dorothy to kill her.
It's a series of unfortunate events, what happened to Elphaba. She, of course, had never asked to be born green. As green as sin, some may say. She did not know a thing about sorcery but because of her look and her given magical broomstick, she took the name. Her sister Nessarose was a witch, ruled as a tyrant thus Elphaba's associated with cruelty. She might scare the hell out of Dorothy, even more of the Lion, but all she wanted were the shoes Dorothy wears.
She wouldn't have guessed it was her death people were celebrating so merrily.
So much happen before Dorothy dropped in to Oz. So much about the Wicked Witch of The West we have yet to understand.
I never much a coffee lover, though I drink it regularly. I don't know the difference between Sumatra or Java or robusta or anything. The only thing I know is that Java Chip Frappucino uses Javan coffee.
So I was thrilled when a friend gave me this famous coffee, Kopi Luwak, from his vacation to Bali. Night after nights the coffee powder remained unconsumed because I wasn't sure how to make a drink out of it. It was about to change this evening.
After mixing it with hot water (yeah, right genius) the coffee's supposed to be ready. I didn't put sugar in it because the packaging says the coffee is better served without sugar. But it's bittttteeerrr..! My.. I spent couple of minutes thinking what I did wrong. Isn't this coffee supposed to taste heavenly? I mean, hello? Price tag??
Finally I gave up. To hell with original taste, sugar's going in. And then... it tasted really good. Seriously. I googled to find some people says Kopi Luwak is almost like a syrup and it tastes 'clean'. It is and does.
Kopi Luwak is probably the most interesting coffee and especially rare because this coffee is actually made from the beans of coffee cherries which come out from civet's other end after they've been eaten. Gross. But enticing.
According to great-grandfather Wikipedia, civet cats eat the cherries from the freshly pulp. In the stomach, enzymatic reaction takes place. Using proteolytic enzyme, the reaction makes shorter peptides and more free amino acid. Then the beans are defecated but still keeping their shape.
Kopi Luwak is also known as the most expensive coffee beans in the world. The civets could only eats certain amount of cherries, then the very morning the coffee farmers have to search for their 'poops' and wash it clean thoroughly.
I remember last semester I took this class, Food Industry. The lecturer once said his opinion about optimizing production of Kopi Luwak. He opted instead of going traditional and depend production on the civets, we could use research on the proper condition of civet's stomach in which the enzymatic reaction of coffee cherries takes place. By knowing the exact enzyme used and temperature of fermentation, we could produce Kopi Luwak without the civets. It also would cut the time and cost and thus multiplying production.
I don't know if this would work. Because for me, the 'magic' of Kopi Luwak lies on the fact that it's actually come out as undigested product of a living civet. While maybe high-tech Kopi Luwak tastes the same as traditional Kopi Luwak, it's lost the romanticism.
Then again, these cute little civets would lose their jobs.
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