I sit in JFK Airport as I write this, Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee in hand, laptop at the ready. My Burbank flight on JetBlue awaits. Ahead of me is a solid week in Los Angeles, covering video games for Maxim. Along the way I'll attend Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony press conferences, rock out at some parties, possibly receive a free phone, have dinner with Dolby, and listen to Will Wright wax poetic on his upcoming wacko-cool game, Spore.
I'll also be interviewing Shigeru Miyamoto and Hideo Kojima, creator-gods of Super Mario/Zelda/All Things Nintendo and Metal Gear Solid, respectively.
Didn't bring my PSP, as Sony recommended, but my DS sure as heck is here. Sorry, Sony...Nintendo's games are just much more fun right now. Kirby Canvas Curse is the best game I never played last year.
By the way...car rental in Los Angeles is so much insanely less expensive than New York. $150 for a week, as opposed to nearly $100 a day.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Imaginary dwarves?
From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12608034/:
A man got fired even though his IMAGINARY TRIO OF MYSTIC DWARVES didn't tell him.
This only proves one thing. Dwarves are BULLSHIT, man.
A man got fired even though his IMAGINARY TRIO OF MYSTIC DWARVES didn't tell him.
This only proves one thing. Dwarves are BULLSHIT, man.
Soft, cake-like toilet paper
I just borrowed (or, if you will, took) a roll of toilet paper from my family's house in Long Island, and carried it back to my toilet-paper-deprived apartment in Manhattan, because I was too lazy to just buy more at Duane Reed.
But when I used it, I was disturbed by its cake-like, puffy softness.
I had gotten used to more whispery-thin, crackly-crisp paper...the kind that has 1000 sheets per roll, but none of that nonsense quilting going on. I had gotten into this as a way of saving money, avoiding paying too much for my toilet experience. But now, I realized as I was using what felt like a slice of angel food cake covered with a duvet, I had gotten used to the tough love. I liked it. And this felt as plush as Marie Antoinette.
I'm not sure I can ever use this cottony mush again.
Is my ass getting stronger?
But when I used it, I was disturbed by its cake-like, puffy softness.
I had gotten used to more whispery-thin, crackly-crisp paper...the kind that has 1000 sheets per roll, but none of that nonsense quilting going on. I had gotten into this as a way of saving money, avoiding paying too much for my toilet experience. But now, I realized as I was using what felt like a slice of angel food cake covered with a duvet, I had gotten used to the tough love. I liked it. And this felt as plush as Marie Antoinette.
I'm not sure I can ever use this cottony mush again.
Is my ass getting stronger?
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
This actual email arrived for me today. Subject? "HOW SWISS IS AMERICA? swissroots.org Sends Ben Roethlisberger To Switzerland"
New York, May 2, 2006 - Later this week, Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will embark on a journey of a lifetime, traveling to Switzerland to uncover his family’s ancestry in the Bernese Emmental region (the cheese capital of Switzerland). Not only is Ben making a ‘pilgrimage’ to the land of his forefathers, but he’ll also be promoting American football and officiating at a local Swiss league game. Ever since Ben became the spokesperson for swissroots, ‘Roethlisberger fever’ has hit Switzerland in a big way and the quintessential U.S. sport is suddenly generating a lot of attention.
You may think Switzerland’s greatest exports are cheese, chocolate, fine watches, Saint Bernard dogs and army knives but if you look at contemporary U.S. culture, Swiss influences are everywhere. The Swiss have left their mark on the food we eat and the people we admire, like Superbowl 2006 MVP quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, automobile pioneer Louis Chevrolet, and Adolf Rickenbacher, the inventor of the electric guitar. Actress Ren?e Zellweger, prolific film maker George Lucas, singer Jewel, chocolate maker Milton Hershey, President Herbert Hoover, museum magnate Meyer Guggenheim and singer Cyndi Lauper all have Swiss Roots.
The swissroots program, headquartered at the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York is a cultural phenomenon designed to engage people with ‘Swissaffinity’ to learn more about the country and to make contact with Swiss citizens. It also serves as a platform for an exchange between Switzerland and the U.S. in areas such as politics, economics, culture, education, research and tourism. The program’s flagship is an innovative community website - www.swissroots.org - developed in association with IgoUgo and Swissinfo.
Launched in March 2006, www.swissroots.org combines technology with icons of pop culture (like Ben Roethlisberger), cutting edge events and genealogy to create an interactive web community, bringing people in the U.S. and Switzerland together to share their interest and passion for Switzerland. Join Ben (virtually) as he gives www.swissroots.org users a daily account of his travels and experiences in Switzerland.
Different from other countries whose websites may help trace ancestry, only swissroots allows you to delve into the world of the Swiss, find out if your name or the name of the town you live in has Swiss origins, learn about exciting Swiss events taking place and how to connect with other Swissophiles. The swissroots website recognizes that it is human nature to seek out people with like minded ideas and backgrounds and even for non-Swiss, this offers the opportunity to explore Swiss culture and heritage and forge friendships. Easy access is available online to all who have a passing interest, a strong fascination or a cult obsession with all things Swiss.
There’s no neutrality when it comes to loving Switzerland. There are over one million Americans of Swiss heritage, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Americans who live in 5,000 American cities and towns with Swiss names like Berne, Indiana and New Glarus, Wisconsin.
In 2006, swissroots is participating in and hosting events such as the current Swiss Old Timer Postal Bus road show through U.S. states with the highest concentration of Swiss immigrants (California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin), the North American Swiss Saengerfest (June 15-18) with its yodeling competition in Toledo, Ohio, the William Tell Festival -Tell-Spiele (September 1-3) in New Glarus, Wisconsin and the Green County Cheese Days (September 15-17) in Monroe, Wisconsin. The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia is presenting a cultural program in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities that highlight contemporary Switzerland and the contribution of Swiss-Americans in the fields of music, film, architecture and visual arts. This program opened with “Reprocessing Reality,” a contemporary art show at PS1, the Queens affiliate of MoMA, New York and is on display until May 29. Two major events will include "Small Numbers-Big Impact" - a Swiss immigration exhibition opening on July 29 at the Ellis Island National Monument, New York, and the display of the Swiss Federal Charter of 1291, known as the Schweizer Bundesbrief at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center as part of "The Sister Republics" exhibition opening June 10. This is the first time that this historic document will be shown outside Switzerland. For further details and updates on these events please visit www.swissroots.org/events.
“The vision of swissroots is to motivate all Americans who feel an affinity with Switzerland to connect with our country and to network with the Swiss people," said Ambassador Raymond Loretan, co-Chairman of swissroots and Consul General of Switzerland in New York. “Through the website, visitors will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people and ideally will feel inspired to visit Switzerland.”
Share your ‘Swissaffinity’ with others and learn how the Swiss have influenced contemporary U.S. culture at www.swissroots.org.
swissroots is organized by the official Swiss representations in the U.S under the leadership of the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York and in cooperation with numerous local Swiss associations. swissroots is supported by entities such as Swiss Helvetia Fund, Swiss International Air Lines and Swiss Post and also by Switzerland-promotional agencies such as Presence Switzerland, Switzerland Tourism and Pro Helvetia. The swissroots website was developed by IgoUgo, based in New York and Swissinfo, based in Switzerland.
...you can't make this shit up.
You may think Switzerland’s greatest exports are cheese, chocolate, fine watches, Saint Bernard dogs and army knives but if you look at contemporary U.S. culture, Swiss influences are everywhere. The Swiss have left their mark on the food we eat and the people we admire, like Superbowl 2006 MVP quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, automobile pioneer Louis Chevrolet, and Adolf Rickenbacher, the inventor of the electric guitar. Actress Ren?e Zellweger, prolific film maker George Lucas, singer Jewel, chocolate maker Milton Hershey, President Herbert Hoover, museum magnate Meyer Guggenheim and singer Cyndi Lauper all have Swiss Roots.
The swissroots program, headquartered at the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York is a cultural phenomenon designed to engage people with ‘Swissaffinity’ to learn more about the country and to make contact with Swiss citizens. It also serves as a platform for an exchange between Switzerland and the U.S. in areas such as politics, economics, culture, education, research and tourism. The program’s flagship is an innovative community website - www.swissroots.org - developed in association with IgoUgo and Swissinfo.
Launched in March 2006, www.swissroots.org combines technology with icons of pop culture (like Ben Roethlisberger), cutting edge events and genealogy to create an interactive web community, bringing people in the U.S. and Switzerland together to share their interest and passion for Switzerland. Join Ben (virtually) as he gives www.swissroots.org users a daily account of his travels and experiences in Switzerland.
Different from other countries whose websites may help trace ancestry, only swissroots allows you to delve into the world of the Swiss, find out if your name or the name of the town you live in has Swiss origins, learn about exciting Swiss events taking place and how to connect with other Swissophiles. The swissroots website recognizes that it is human nature to seek out people with like minded ideas and backgrounds and even for non-Swiss, this offers the opportunity to explore Swiss culture and heritage and forge friendships. Easy access is available online to all who have a passing interest, a strong fascination or a cult obsession with all things Swiss.
There’s no neutrality when it comes to loving Switzerland. There are over one million Americans of Swiss heritage, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Americans who live in 5,000 American cities and towns with Swiss names like Berne, Indiana and New Glarus, Wisconsin.
In 2006, swissroots is participating in and hosting events such as the current Swiss Old Timer Postal Bus road show through U.S. states with the highest concentration of Swiss immigrants (California, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin), the North American Swiss Saengerfest (June 15-18) with its yodeling competition in Toledo, Ohio, the William Tell Festival -Tell-Spiele (September 1-3) in New Glarus, Wisconsin and the Green County Cheese Days (September 15-17) in Monroe, Wisconsin. The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia is presenting a cultural program in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and other cities that highlight contemporary Switzerland and the contribution of Swiss-Americans in the fields of music, film, architecture and visual arts. This program opened with “Reprocessing Reality,” a contemporary art show at PS1, the Queens affiliate of MoMA, New York and is on display until May 29. Two major events will include "Small Numbers-Big Impact" - a Swiss immigration exhibition opening on July 29 at the Ellis Island National Monument, New York, and the display of the Swiss Federal Charter of 1291, known as the Schweizer Bundesbrief at Philadelphia's National Constitution Center as part of "The Sister Republics" exhibition opening June 10. This is the first time that this historic document will be shown outside Switzerland. For further details and updates on these events please visit www.swissroots.org/events.
“The vision of swissroots is to motivate all Americans who feel an affinity with Switzerland to connect with our country and to network with the Swiss people," said Ambassador Raymond Loretan, co-Chairman of swissroots and Consul General of Switzerland in New York. “Through the website, visitors will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people and ideally will feel inspired to visit Switzerland.”
Share your ‘Swissaffinity’ with others and learn how the Swiss have influenced contemporary U.S. culture at www.swissroots.org.
swissroots is organized by the official Swiss representations in the U.S under the leadership of the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York and in cooperation with numerous local Swiss associations. swissroots is supported by entities such as Swiss Helvetia Fund, Swiss International Air Lines and Swiss Post and also by Switzerland-promotional agencies such as Presence Switzerland, Switzerland Tourism and Pro Helvetia. The swissroots website was developed by IgoUgo, based in New York and Swissinfo, based in Switzerland.
...you can't make this shit up.
Night Walk
I came home at night. I had seen a movie in the dark, wandering alone in the city like the bags of trash that breezed around me silently. I had iPod earbuds on. Some music was consoling me.
The movie I had seen was one about a child molester punished for his sins, and a hysterical 14-year-old child that forced him to do it. It seemed like proper viewing for someone wandering alone in New York City at night, eating scraps of fast food as he ran into the theater at 10:45 pm. The theater, at the top of the majestic stairs and worn-down carpet, was still strewn with sloppy popcorn and half-drunk, mouth-smeared bottles from the show before. The few folks in there with me didn’t bother to talk silently or turn off their phones. I nearly drank the half-empty bottle in the cup-holder next to me, out of habit.
After wincing for two hours and walking home alone to the sounds of John Williams’ soundtrack for Munich, I came across my local 24-hour newsstand. I peered into the window at the magazine I’ve worked on. And I remembered that I had written a short piece recently. So I went in to look for it.
The magazine wasn’t on any regular shelf. It was stocked in the back, near the bad mags. I bought it with the last pieces of change in my pocket, and carried it home in a black plastic bag. I opened the wrapping as I walked, gingerly. I was excited, but not for the magazine’s content. I still felt a thrill at seeing my name in print, even if it might not even be there, even if it might be a pseudonym. I felt like Charlie looking for the Golden Ticket, in a mangy 42nd-street flophouse version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
As I entered my building up the street, turning the key, I let the magazine fall open to the table of contents. And I saw a familiar face. An old friend, who had written a feature in the magazine. His face was prominent, and the feature was headlined. They touted the book he had written.
The elevator doors opened onto my hallway. What had I been looking for, again? I lost track. My article, my name. A 100-word piece of sales copy, a bubblegum wrapper. And meanwhile an acquaintance younger than me had written a feature. And he probably didn’t consider it anything particularly special.
I entered my tiny apartment, stacked with dirty clothes and piles of magazines I had written little piece for, little bits here, little bits there. I sat down on my bed. I took off my shoes. I looked around. I felt small.
I feel small. And I make this promise to myself, to finally rise up. To become that writer. To wipe that embarrassing feeling off the back of my neck. It’s a low feeling, a scavenger feeling. Maybe I need to delve into that feeling, in order to understand what I need to write about, and where I need to go.
I write this as a reminder of that feeling. I post it so that I’ll see it. I guess, so will you.
The movie I had seen was one about a child molester punished for his sins, and a hysterical 14-year-old child that forced him to do it. It seemed like proper viewing for someone wandering alone in New York City at night, eating scraps of fast food as he ran into the theater at 10:45 pm. The theater, at the top of the majestic stairs and worn-down carpet, was still strewn with sloppy popcorn and half-drunk, mouth-smeared bottles from the show before. The few folks in there with me didn’t bother to talk silently or turn off their phones. I nearly drank the half-empty bottle in the cup-holder next to me, out of habit.
After wincing for two hours and walking home alone to the sounds of John Williams’ soundtrack for Munich, I came across my local 24-hour newsstand. I peered into the window at the magazine I’ve worked on. And I remembered that I had written a short piece recently. So I went in to look for it.
The magazine wasn’t on any regular shelf. It was stocked in the back, near the bad mags. I bought it with the last pieces of change in my pocket, and carried it home in a black plastic bag. I opened the wrapping as I walked, gingerly. I was excited, but not for the magazine’s content. I still felt a thrill at seeing my name in print, even if it might not even be there, even if it might be a pseudonym. I felt like Charlie looking for the Golden Ticket, in a mangy 42nd-street flophouse version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
As I entered my building up the street, turning the key, I let the magazine fall open to the table of contents. And I saw a familiar face. An old friend, who had written a feature in the magazine. His face was prominent, and the feature was headlined. They touted the book he had written.
The elevator doors opened onto my hallway. What had I been looking for, again? I lost track. My article, my name. A 100-word piece of sales copy, a bubblegum wrapper. And meanwhile an acquaintance younger than me had written a feature. And he probably didn’t consider it anything particularly special.
I entered my tiny apartment, stacked with dirty clothes and piles of magazines I had written little piece for, little bits here, little bits there. I sat down on my bed. I took off my shoes. I looked around. I felt small.
I feel small. And I make this promise to myself, to finally rise up. To become that writer. To wipe that embarrassing feeling off the back of my neck. It’s a low feeling, a scavenger feeling. Maybe I need to delve into that feeling, in order to understand what I need to write about, and where I need to go.
I write this as a reminder of that feeling. I post it so that I’ll see it. I guess, so will you.