Oldest Maya Mural found in Guatemala
Topic: Guatemala
Wow

Nintendo Revolution
Topic: Video games
I like the angle that Nintendo is taking as a response to the "next-generation" console battles. Instead of trying to keep up with SOny and Microsoft by pushing for more CPU power and more lighting effects - they've decided to back off.

Instead, they're focusing on revolutionizing (again) how video games are going to be played - and it all starts with their truly one-of-a-kind controller. Check it out here and tell me that doesn't sound like something, not just next-generation, but beyond next generation.

Now that'sthinking outside the box.

The Red Sox are Stupid
Topic: Baseball
They continue to turn into the next Yankee team - the one you love to hate.

When they traded away Edgar Renteria they reminded us that they are a reactionary team at the whim of an over-obsessed fan base ruled by knee-jerk, emotional reactions. Which, as any rational person knows, is not a smart way to go.

They trade away their starting SS, a guy they JUST signed a big contract to last year. What? After a year it's clear that he wasn't what they thought? Watch the Braves prove them wrong.

But the stupidest part is what they got in return: Andy Marte. A stud 3B prospect. Great right? No. What are the Red Sox going to do with him? Play him?

No.

They'll do what they do to every prospect - play him at Pawtucket (AAA) until they can find a big, expensive name to trade him for.

Look at Kevin Youkilis: he's been ready to play every day at the big-league level for over two years. His position? 3B.

Plus they just acquired Lowell in the Josh Becket trade. Logjam, anyone?

This is so ridiculous, this idea that every position player on the team has to be an offensive force. What did it get the Red Sox last year? A high payroll.

Will they ever learn their lessons? Their best hitter is a guy they got off the scrap heap when Minnesota released him a few years ago. I remember they signed him to something like a one year deal for 1.75 million dollars. I remember thinking, "Why is Minnesota, an offense-starved team, doing simply releasing a consistent 20-homer guy?"

David Ortiz went on to become much more than that, a perennial MVP contender.

Of course, Manny is also on the team. He makes 20 million dollars a year and is probably the better pure hitter. But he knows what I'm talking about, and he wants out. It'll be interesting to see what they get for him - don't be surprised if it's another stud third baseman.

I Like Shaq
Maybe it's because he got his policeman's degree in two states while in the NBA or because he left the Lakers, but it has to do with stories like these:

Recently, Wade was asked if he ever had dunked on the 7-1, 340-pound O'Neal in practice.

"No," he said with a laugh. "When I did try once, Shaq told me, 'Don't ever try that again.'"

I like that kind of stuff.

Site Meter
I was just checking out how many hits I've gotten on my website (half of them are probably me checking to see how many people have come on) and I noticed that the usual trickle from guatemala is there, I appreciate that. My buddy Tollo in Atlanta is checking it out, thanks. And there was one a few days ago from wsu.edu - Washington State University. Could be a complete stranger, which is kind of exciting.

Occasionally there are some European contacts, could be people I met while in France.

But anyway, my point is I know I have to update more. The reading page is way behind (quick recap: some investment books, Best American Short Stories, Shutter Island, A Million Little Pieces, The Gunslinger, The SportsWriter, Independence Day, and so on.) and the writings section is pathetic (in my defense though, that's partly because I can't submit some things to publication if they're on the site).

And I've been meaning to redo the whole thing in Fireworks so it looks as nice as my buddy Andrew's page does - who by the way just left last week on another globe trotting excursion to South America, how sweet is that?

OK well that is all - it was just seeing the IP addresses and some Internet Providers' names that made it all a little more real and I felt I should put forth an explanation to those of you who actually check this site out.

Thanks

Consider the Lobster
Topic: Books
At 8:40AM this morning I got my copy of David Foster Wallace's new book (came out today), "Consider the Lobster."

Ahhh....

French headline: Nothing happened
I know my french isn't spectacular, but this article struck me as the kind of thing Jon Stewart would jump all over.

The headline itself says is all: The Loire-Atlantique Rave Party ends without incident

It goes on to tell at what time the party-goers gathered, when they left (after the music ended, they say), and that the police said there were "no incidents."

Thanks for the heads up!

Movies vs. Video Games
Topic: Movies
There is an interesting debate over on rogerebert.com about whether or not video games should be considered "art" in the same way movies and literature are.

In my view, it really doesn't matter what you want to "classify" video games as being. All I can say is that there are a few games out there that are capable of making you feel the same way you do after reading a great book or seeing a good film.

For me, I'll never forget the way I felt when I first turned on my brand-new N64 and powered up Super Mario 64. It was amazing. Then I remember playing Zelda:Ocarina of Time - and it was the same thing with that game. The story, the visuals, the characters and land you covered were so vast and epic, not unlike Lord of The Rings.

So if you want to call it art or not, I don't care, as long as it's acknowledged somewhere - perhaps at least here - that some video games are capable of doing to our spirit what the very best forms of "art" can do.

DFW new book out tomorrow
Here are some early reviews for "Consider the Lobster":

-1

-2

-3

-4


Of the essays in the book, I've read at least four and they are all fantastic.

Bill Hicks
I was doing some research last night and I got a hold of some old Bill Hicks audio and video files. Great stuff. In case anyone out there hasn't heard of him, go get one of his albums, you'll love it.

Oh he's a comedian by the way.

And he's dead.