Doomsday (2008) [+] A zombie virus ravages Scotland, which is isolated behind a wall and its people left to die. Almost three decades later there is incipient zombie outbreak in London. A small team led by Major Eden Sinclair (Rhona Mitra) is going into Scotland because it turns out there are survivors which means there must be a cure. Mad Max-style action ensues… I watched this in the theaters and a couple of decades later watched it again. I liked it before and still like it. The film holds up well because it keeps to the Mad Max paradigm (other than the beginning scene there are no zombies in the main part of the film) and has a kick-ass lead heroine.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) [/] Animated action movie. Plumber brothers Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) step though the wrong New York sewer portal and end up in the Mushroom Kingdom, though Luigi actually ends up in the shadow land and is soon captured. Mario arrives just in time to help Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) in her quest to form an alliance against Bowser (Jack Black) and his army bent on conquering her Kingdom. Mario games action ensues… It’s a fine kids movie and animated is better than live action version (which I love for it’s corny-ness).

My Happy Marriage (2023) [-] Anime with 12 half-hour episodes. Set in maybe pre-WWI Japan. Miyo Saimori (Reina Ueda) grew up in a noble family but as the daughter with no magic talent she was abused and treated like a maid. She is sent off to possibly marry Kiyoka Kudo (Kaito Ishikawa) if he doesn’t drive her out like previous wife candidates. But it turns out that Kiyoka likes Miyo because she’s so different, and then later it also turns out that Miyo has powers (Kiyoka himself is a powerful magic wielder)… I guess I was expecting more romance and maybe the first few episodes are like that but the second half is more standard people with magic powers fighting spirit monsters except the characters are uninteresting.

The Science of Discworld II: The Globe (2002) [/] In the first book (which I haven’t read) the wizards of Unseen University created a tiny simulated universe with a round world that has no magic: Earth. Now the wizards have to save Earth’s ape creatures from Elves. In between the chapters of that short story the authors, with British humor and condescension, expound on what makes civilized people, which eventually boils down to imagination and the ability to tell stories. A mostly good read.

Vicky’s Kitchen - Broccoli Cheddar Stuffed Chicken Breast [-] This is from Costco. Two 1 lb plastic wrapped packages which you can microwave or take out, wrap in foil and bake. It could be mine was two years past expiration (though frozen all that time) but when I baked it it’s very dry and I guess all the liquid seeps out. The cheddar broccoli is a mushy mess and doesn’t have much taste while the chicken breast is soft but dry.