#wht!

The Uncanny Counter (경이로운 소문)

Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Thriller TV show

Originally aired on OCN (2020). Distributed by Netflix in the U.S.

Written by: Yeo Ji-na (여지나)

Directed by: Yoo Seon-dong (유선동)

Rating: 4.5 bingsu’s

This post CONTAINS spoilers for The Uncanny Counter.

Content Warnings for The Uncanny Counter: violence, bullying

Summary: Based on the webtoon with the same name*, this show follows SoMun’s adventure where he transforms from a high school student to a Counter. The Counters have the power to sense and fight against evil spirits. They work as a team to tackle evil spirits who try to capture human bodies.

I absolutely enjoyed this Korean superhero show. The show differs itself from traditional superhero shows to the point that I’m a bit hesitant to call it one. While the characters have the usual elements of other superheroes such as being selected to serve the common good and living with the painful past, many of their aspects are new and unique.  

To give a brief background about the show, there are evil spirits who have the power to detect people who are evil spirited, take over their body and soul to strengthen their power. I found this perspective interesting - that they are not after innocent beings, but rather it follows the like-attracts-like design. The more people they possess, the stronger they get. 

The Counters are essentially brought back to life from death. They were all in a coma (except for SoMun, watch the show to find out how he becomes a Counter!) but are given consciousness and strong power in exchange for accepting the destiny of being a Counter and using their power to fight the evil spirits. They are connected to their partner spirits who reside in Yung, where heaven, hell, and afterlife coincide. 

It was refreshing to see a superhero show that is set in a non-Western world, Korea to be specific, and own all the Korean-ness as well. It didn’t feel like the show was trying to imitate the superhero archetype set by the Western media. The Counters run a mom-and-pop noodle restaurant when they are not fighting against evil spirits. They are not famous or even known to the public, and actually, one of their priorities is to not get discovered by the lay people. And they wear full-on sweats to their missions - not the fancy kind, but the kind that resembles the PE uniform worn by Korean students, the kind that the Korean media usually portrays ‘lazy unemployed people’ in. I’ve put quotation marks there because I believe it is problematic to portray them in that stereotypical manner without addressing the societal and structural barrier, but that’s a whole other story. 

What makes the show really special is that the sentiments of 정 and 한 run through the whole show. (You can read more about Jeong/Jung 정 here, and more about Han 한 here.) The feelings of deeply tangled affection and sorrow dictate the storyline, not only giving the plot validity but also inviting the audience to really empathize with the Counters.

I also loved the strong female superheroes, Hana (played by Kim Se-jeong 김세정) and MaeOk (played by Yeom Hye-ran 염혜란). What I appreciated is they were strong, compassionate, and powerful female superheroes who do not wear tight suits or show off their sexiness. There is nothing wrong with doing so, but often female characters are sexually objectified and the sexiness is added without adding any depth to the story. I felt much pleasure watching women who seem like they could be my own mother or sister, or my next door neighbor, fully being their ‘regular citizen’ selves but also doing all the superhero stuff.

And I loved loved loved how they redefined the meaning of family. Especially in the Korean culture, families related by blood matter a lot. However in the show, people who lost their loved ones, who are struggling with their own grief or who are isolated from the community come together and develop new familial bonds. They define their own living family, who they can depend on and who they can trust with their lives.

One shortcoming I felt was that this new family still resembles the traditional ‘normal’ family, the only form the Korean society (and many others as well) seem to be comfortable in accepting. One that consists of a father figure, a mother figure, and children. At some point I would love to see media that imagines families beyond this ‘normal’ structure and show how deep, inseparable, and beautiful such families can be. 

 CoreaMod

Easy Homemade Pita Recipe

Media Type: Recipe 

Source/Author: The Mediterranean Dish/Suzy Karadsheh

Skill Level: Beginner

5/5 Cinnamon Buns

After a dinner from a Mediterranean restaurant featuring their scrumptious homemade pita, I was determined to make my own. It’s very easy and comes together so quickly. I can’t believe I have never made pita bread before! This is a basic, easy-to-follow recipe I will definitely come back to over and over again. My family and I finished the entire batch in one day.

Cinna-Mod’s Alterations:

Used table salt instead of kosher salt, reduced amount slightly. Recipe calls for 1-2 tsp, I used a scant 1tsp

Used non-stick pan instead of cast iron

The Experience:

The recipe calls for the dough to be rested for 10 minutes after it just comes together. Waiting that 10 minutes really makes a huge difference in the kneading process! The dough is much easier to work with.

I did not need to dust with the remaining ½ cup of flour during this process.

Using this method, it took me about 3 minutes to cook each pita. Lay rolled out dough in the pan for 30 seconds, flip and cook the other side for 1.5 minutes, and flip again for another minute. Some of my pita stayed flat, some of them bubbled, and a few of them fully puffed up! 

I was not the best at controlling the heat so my pita browned, but I don’t believe this negatively affected the taste. Next time, I will try this with a lower heat setting.

 The Taste/Texture

Very tasty! Not too bland or too salty. 

Perfect to eat by itself or with hummus

For Next Time:

Use a lower heat

Test this recipe in the oven

Make with falafel <3

-CinnaMod-

Media Type: Recipe Source/Author: Skinnytaste/Gina Homolka Skill Level: Beginner

4/5 Cinnamon Buns

Cooking or “baking” using the microwave has always intimidated me a little bit. There seems to be such a slim margin for error because it cooks so quickly! It feels like a few extra seconds in the microwave is the difference between just right and overcooked/rubbery. However, it does have the major benefit of providing a delicious warm dessert within 5 minutes! These banana bread muffins in a mug are not quite like baked banana muffins, but did come together very quickly and were very satisfying! I also love its versatility.

CinnaMod’s Alterations:

Add cinnamon

Exclude sugar (sugar is optional--I prefer a less sweet banana bread)

Double recipe to use entire banana

The Experience:

In a bowl, mash the banana and mix in vanilla and oil (the oil was optional, but used it here).

Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, then add the banana mixture. This mixture is a little wetter than banana bread batters I’ve previously made.

Because I doubled the recipe, I divided the batter into two small bowls before topping one with pecans and one with sprinkles.

Microwave until the center is no longer wet. For my 1000-watt microwave, this took about 90 seconds as the recipe says. During this process, my muffin rose significantly in the microwave then sunk back down after resting for one minute.

Do not skip resting for a minute! It will be very hot!

The Taste/Texture:

The taste was spot on! I prefer the muffin with the pecans more than the one with sprinkles. The sprinkles looked nice before microwaving, but they got stuck to the side of the bowl and left a little staining. I found this still very sweet without the sugar.

Texture was a little bit more chewy instead of the tender crumb I’m used to with banana bread, but I did not mind. I do not believe the muffin was supposed to sink back down, but my baking powder is a little older.

I would still make this dessert again. It’s not quite like banana bread, but is very banana-y which I enjoy.

For Next Time:

Use new baking powder

Exclude oil

Top with chocolate chips

~CinnaMod~

Media Titles: Jambo Means Hello, Swahili Alphabet Book by Muriel Feelings; K is for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford; Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang; and Feast For 10 by Cathryn Falwell Reviewed By: MargeMod Content Warning/Spoilers: None Rating: Full Bouquet out of Full Bouquet

How many alphabet, counting or first word books are on your child's bookshelf? Now, how many are in a different language or show people that don't look like you? Don't be shy, in fact be aggressive in making sure that these simple learning books contain representation of people and places that are like your family as well as those that are not like your family. What can be more basic in forming your child's view of the world than learning the alphabet, counting and language? This review includes four books that show African-American heritage, language and faces.

Media Title: Jambo Means Hello, Swahili Alphabet Book Author: Muriel Feelings Pictures By: Tom Feelings Media Type: Soft Cover Children's Book (ISBN: 0-14-054652-9) Genre: Alphabet, Swahili people, Kiswahili language, East Africa

Summary: Adults are failing their children if we do not expose or teach them a second, or third or even fourth language. What better way to introduce another language than through the alphabet? The full-page Introduction explains where Swahili is spoken and how there are no Q or X sounds in Swahili. Each letter presents a word in Swahili, and gives the pronunciation and a bit of explanation. This book is wonderfully illustrated with everyday scenes of activities that happen in an African village and in a child's life. Just about any age group would find something to catch their interest.

Review: The illustrations are superb. At the end of the book there is a "A note about the art." The end result of the seemingly complicated process is stunning. Having traveled in East Africa myself in 1974, I can say that Tom Feelings' illustrations perfectly convey the look, feel and experience I enjoyed during my trip. Some of the Swahili words selected for the alphabet seem familiar (baba means father) and anyone who has seen Lion King should not be surprised that rafiki means friend.

Media Title: K is For Kwanzaa, A Kwanzaa Alphabet Book Author: Juwanda G. Ford Illustrated By: Ken Wilson-Max Media Type: Soft Cover Children's Book (ISBN:0-590-18995-6) Genre: Children's alphabet book, Kwanzaa traditions, Swahili words

Summary: As the title clearly shows this book presents the traditions of Kwanzaa using the alphabet. The origin of Kwanzaa and its seven principles are explained in the first pages, and then the alphabet begins with A is for Africa. Some words highlighted are in Swahili and the short text on each gives its proper pronunciation. The book uses the familiarity of the alphabet to teach a tradition that began in 1966. Older children would enjoy the information provided and younger readers would like the vibrant colors.

Review: This lively book could be at home on a child's bookshelf or on a classroom reference table. Familiar english words like harvest and neighborhood are included with Swahili words like gele and lapa. The illustrations use bold vibrant colors that complement and support the text. I agree completely with the back page description that "the brilliant pictures bring to life all that is central to Kwanzaa: cultural heritage, family, and community."

Media Title: Ten, Nine, Eight Author: Molly Bang Media Type: Soft Cover Children's book (ISBN: 0-590-45583-4) Genre: Children's counting 1 to 10 book, bedtime

Summary: This bedtime countdown book is made up of only views in the child's bedroom. A friendly black cat and familiar items hold the reader's interest. The text is gentle and rhythmic. What family hasn't at one time or another said "1 big girl all ready for bed"? Intended for very young children, beginning readers would enjoy it as well.

Review: Because it was read so often and carried all over the house by my daughter, this poor little book is stained and torn. I've included it in this review because the colors and illustrations are soft, wonderful and the phrasing seems to come straight from the heart. I love all the room details from the flowered wallpaper to the chair upholstery pattern.

Media Title: Feast For 10 Author: Cathryn Falwell Media Type: Soft Cover Children's Book (ISBN: 0-590-48466-66-4) Genre: Child's counting book, shopping, meal preparation, inter-generational

Summary: This counting book is fun because it counts up to 10 twice! The first time the happy group goes shopping for the makings of a feast. The second counting is the preparation of the ingredients. Throughout it shows helpful children interacting in a common activity. Very young children would enjoy the drawings and how the children participate.

Review: Kudos to anyone who takes five children to the grocery store, but in this book it works. Any family with multiple children would enjoy seeing the hustle and bustle of a grocery shopping trip and then the meal preparation. A one-child family would be delighted as well. The white background allows the action and colors to shine and I particularly like the clear lines and wonderful detail.

Conclusion: I am a (very) white woman. In fact, I've been known to describe myself as alabaster. Truth be told, a more accurate description of my skin tone might be pink with lots and lots of freckles. But I loved and married someone decidedly not pink and our child has only two freckles. Her strength of character and tolerant, open world view, I believe was formed because she grew up with a large and loving family from many countries and cultures and with lots and lots of books.

The Collected Home: Rooms with Style, Grace, and History

By Darryl Carter

With Trish Donnally

Photographs by Gordon Beall

Clarkson Potter Publishers, 2012

“Forgo the immediate, and embrace the lasting.”

Darryl Carter is a sophisticated interior designer who champions blending the modern with the traditional. Last review, I looked at The New Traditional, in which Carter defined his style with shining examples and anecdotes from his personal experiences. Four years later, The Collected Home elaborates on Carter’s special approach to interior design, providing more concrete suggestions by room for readers who are on their own design journeys. Welcome to Part 2!

The Collected Home is successful in its generous plethora of ideas shared in an organized way, as well as its written voice which encourages the reader to follow her own preferences, goals, and intuition. In the end, the hard-cover merits 5 out of 6 treasured geese.

In the Introduction and throughout, Carter repeatedly rallies the reader to have fun during the process. Without forgetting to urge you to be thoughtful and careful in your selections, Carter promises that patience and excitement can coexist. The Collected Home is, in a way, antithetical to current DIY movements; both welcome creativity, but Carter’s approach favors discovery, planning, and listening. Reflection questions throughout the volume ask readers to consider how they use spaces from needs to style proclivity:What appliances do you use? 

Where do you anticipate needing electrical outlets? Step-stools?

How many people eat here regularly?

How often do you buy food? How do you store it?

Where do you want privacy? 

How frequently do you use things?

What’s important to access in your daily life?

I think reflection is key. Too often I see everyday people getting into interior design by coming into contact with a particular aesthetic they like and want to consume. This isn’t bad or good, but doesn’t allow for a few things to happen. 

First, you end up robbing yourself of the joy of collecting, which takes time. Of course, most interior designers recommend starting with mood boards or inspirational images to brainstorm goals and envision ideas. But if this stage is done in one afternoon, or after watching one YouTuber, the result is rarely a style you will truly treasure, let alone one that will last. Changing and growing is to be expected (and celebrated!), but Carter’s idea of home is to be an assemblage of meaningful treasures, and a gathering of all things personal. Basically, not something you can replicate from elsewhere.

“The home should be oriented toward your personal use and enjoyment.”

The second incentive to reflect deeply before transforming your space is because often we do not listen to what the house tells you, about itself and about you. I really appreciate when designs recognize that the home has a voice, and that the particularities of the space are one-of-a-kind! This includes materials in walls, light coming from outside, proportions of doors and closets, everything! Carter insists on process as play: upcycling or reclamation, contributions from everyone in the household, and envisioning multiple possibilities can say a lot about how the home wants to be inhabited. In his price-range, Carter recommends collaborating with tradespeople, architects, and others who can provide a solution you may not have thought of-- or even how to make a limitation work better than the original idea. Does the house offer natural lighting instead of needing to buy a fixture? Would durable floors serve residents better than a fancier floor, thus allowing something else in the space to shine? Can you repurpose cabinets as children’s desks? Or reuse an old door as a pony wall for a bit of separation? Are you able to retrofit furniture into existing architectural elements, like shelving? Knowing and building relationships with craftspeople and experts will only enhance your experience creating your home.

“Often, intangibles define the experience of a home.”

Carter clearly has years of experience and an extensive network in his field. My main critique of The Collected Home is in being way out of league for many readers. Most people don’t collect antique Han dynasty figurines to learn how to display, or own a cast-sculpture of a carousel horse to orient in a foyer. Carter uses lots of terms I had to look up. He also shared swatches from his own paint line that he developed. He’s clearly involved in the art world and has a sophisticated relationship with artists, sculptors, and antique vendors. Furniture designer George Nakashima is featured for embedding an antique work table into a ‘frame’ to actually function (below left). It’s actually really cool. The book just seemed out-of-reach at times.

This is not for lack of encouragement and really clever ideas! I particularly like his vision to buy furniture pieces that can translate into different uses over time. A lot of projects he described leaned into a chance find at a flea market, or pre-existing architectural features, such as staircases or windows. All of his nuanced and well-trained advice is great for people who have the resources to hire experts. Any of his inspiration can be ‘dialed down’, especially because Carter included so many concrete questions to ask and possibilities to consider. For example, he acknowledges the more affordable but high-impact option of ‘try painting it’. He repeats that nothing should be too precious to use, which is an excellent sentiment. 

The Collected Home showcases impressive and high-quality interior design, exactly what it says it does. 5 of 6 sensible geese.

With loving curiosity, 

The New Bohemians: Cool & Collected Homes By Justina Blakeney Photos: Dabito Abrams, 2015 

This year I am committing my exploration of interior design books to non-white authors. I noticed that last year I reviewed media only authored by white women. The industry in the US is dominated by this demographic, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any other voices to be heard! Justina Blakeney describes her multiculturality through her parents: her father is African American and Native American of the Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes; her mother descends from Eastern European and Jewish peoples. Blakeney is one of many talented creatives, and I look forward to correcting my narrow view and sharing her work.

The New Bohemians depicts a design and lifestyle that is truly cool and collected, as the subtitle suggests. This heavy hardcover is full of vibrant photographs and just begging to find home on a coffee table. The organization of the content is smart and neat, and the details are creative and inspirational. Bohemians is a personal collection, an anthology of select homes and their residents. I really liked this book, and with one tiny critique, I rate it 5 of 6 free-spirited geese. 

In her introduction, Blakeney vividly describes the philosophy behind the book and the new bohemian style she captures within it. I appreciate how she first roots the conversation in the roots of 19th century French bohemia, in which artists and other creatives would reject bourgeois standards for cheaper Romany housing and impassioned investigations of beauty. When I hear the word “bohemian,” I personally think of the region Bohemia or Čechy, today a part of the Czech Republic, from which many different peoples have been displaced. Regardless, I was pleased to hear that there was substance behind her understanding of the word, too often appropriated simply as eclecticism by those who never confronted poverty or never thought about rejecting convention. 

The book is organized into “types” although Blakeney insists that there are no boxes. I wasn’t bothered by the sectioning, I think it’s helpful to readers who may have approached the book with certain design-terms in their minds, or perhaps for those already nuanced with the style and looking to articulate their own working vocabulary. The six iterations are: modern, earthy, folksy, nomadic, romantic and maximal. Each features 3 or 4 homes, a sampling of photos and testimonials, objects and stories behind the lifestyle. Residents’ names, occupations, ages, zodiac signs, and spirit plant or animal are shared. (I don’t know if spirit beings are a part of Cherokee or Chickasaw culture, but I always hesitate when these words are used, for fear of appropriation.) Blakeney also includes short DIY tutorials and other resources such as a plant dictionary.

The overall collection successfully defines Blakeney’s concept of “new Bohemian,” which exists at the intersection of play, creativity, resourcefulness, layering, and a strong sense of freedom. I only have two minor critiques. 

Firstly, the narrow geography of the homes surveyed. Los Angeles boasted 8 homes; there were 3 in Portland, Oregon; 2 in Manhattan and 1 in Brooklyn; 2 in Venice Beach, CA; and one each in Las Cruces (NM), Dallas (TX), as well as Joshua Tree and Berkeley (both CA). I wish Blakeney stated explicitly that the homes featured would be only from the US-- although even then, a huge acreage remains untouched. All of these cities host a lot of wealth, except for perhaps the two in the desert: Joshua Tree and Las Cruces. Even with an intended American audience, it’s important to not assume that the US is the default.

My second note is on the description of the objects of the home. Of course, being about decor and design, the book includes examples of possessions that particularly suit the new Bohemian style. It may have just been evident in the people Blakeley interviewed, but I’d be good if I never had to read the word kilim again (as beautiful as it is). At first, it was cool to hear about different types of textiles and other pieces from around the world, including: Mexican sarapes, Turkish fouta, Bengali kantha, Central Asian suzani, Indonesian ikat, and Japanese shibori dyeing and boro textiles. But then these italicised ‘exotic’ pieces were paired with West Elm and IKEA in the same sentence. I guess everyone traveled to the same places and got the same thing. Especially Morocco: there was a Moroccan table, Moroccan kilim, Moroccan pouf, Moroccan basket, and it kept going. Again, maybe those selected for the book all met in Morocco, and so of course they would all have things from there. One person conducts her business with Berber women. It still felt weird to hear the same materials in each home, as if they were products for consumption, rather than personal mementos. I wonder if we would have gotten a different perspective on these remarkable artisanal pieces by showcasing them in the homes of their indigenous creators, or at least by those with ethnic, geographic, linguistic, or familial connections to those places. 

Ultimately, I did enjoy the book a lot. I personally walk the line between collecting and hoarding, and I understand the importance of having physical things in your home, the impact they have on your mood and outlook. Bohemians does an excellent job of showcasing this design aesthetic in its many wonderful variations, incorporating elements of lifestyle, thus making the connection between people and space that makes home.

With loving curiosity, 

Media Type: Recipe 

Source/Author: Love and Lemons/Jeanine Donofrio

Skill Level: Beginner

4/5 Cinnamon Buns

I have really been enjoying a bowl of plain oatmeal for breakfast recently, but as temperatures rise, my motivation to turn on the stove and cook oatmeal decreases. Enter overnight oats. I rediscovered these oats a few weeks ago and have made them several times since! This recipe from Love and Lemons includes the “base” overnight oatmeal as well as four delicious topping suggestions!

Cinna-Mod’s Alterations:

Exclude maple syrup - my oatmilk was slightly sweet already

Replace blueberries with mangos for one of the toppings

Add vanilla in the base oatmeal recipe used for both topping options

The Experience:

This is probably the easiest recipe I have ever made! 

Cherry Berry/Mango: Yogurt, frozen cherries, frozen mango (or blueberries), chia seeds, and maple syrup (optional)

Chocolate Chip Cookie: Almond/Peanut butter (I used peanut butter here, but I generally prefer almond butter), chocolate chips, almonds, and vanilla.

The Taste/Texture

The oats have a very pleasant texture with slightly more of a “bite” than traditionally cooked oats.

Overall, the oatmeal is less “slimy” than cooked oats--I like the texture of both overnight and cooked oats, but those who do not like the texture of cooked oats may enjoy overnight oats.

Cherry Berry/Mango: These toppings are slightly tart and extremely refreshing! It took me a little bit to adjust to the taste of yogurt and oatmeal together, but I think I do like it. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie: While I don’t think this tastes like a chocolate chip cookie, this option is very good and feels extremely indulgent!

 For Next Time:

Try the Coconut Tumeric and Sweet Sesame Tahini options!

 -CinnaMod-