Christmas Isn’t That Far Away

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With only six months to go until Santa makes his annual appearance, it’s time to think about the true spirit of CHristmas: What I want people to buy me.

It’s been ages since I played (and usually lost, if my dad was playing, the competitive sod) the classic that is Monopoly. Since computer games have taken over my life, board games have not had much of a look-in; a noteable exception to this is Cosmic Encounter, which can now be played online.

Now that’s all about to change (if someone gets the readies out), with Nintendo Monopoly Nintendopoly Monopoly: Nintendo Collector’s Edition. No more fighting over who wants to be the hat, because all the figurines rock like Jon Bon Jovi doesn’t. Even the manufacturers are exulted, if their blurb is anything to go by:

The most recognizable characters in the video game industry – Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, Luigi, Ganon, Link, Kirby – team up with the world’s favorite board game to offer Nintendo fans of all ages a brand new risk-taking gaming experience. Includes 6 collectible Nintendo-themed pewter tokens: Donkey Kong barrel, Link’s Shoes, Koopa Shell, Mario Hat, Controller, and Hylian Shield. For 2-6 players ages 8 and up.

Their hearts are just not in it, are they? And after the millionth themed edition based on the same idea, who can blame them. I certainly wouldn’t trade my current employment to be a part of the Monopoly advertising/marketing team.

Still, rubbish text aside, I’d like to relive my (painful) Monopoly memories in a Nintendo suit. And since it’d be my game, my father is banned from partaking. Bwa-ha-ha!

N.B. Jo has pointed out that I have omitted Scrabble (amongst others), which I certainly do rate as one of the best non-computer games. However, Scrabble elevates itself from the realms of Monopoly and the like. Just because it is played on a board, does not, in my twisted mind, make it a board game.

How An Illness Should Not Be

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Jo and I have been suffering the last four or five of days from some strange virusey thing. Freya has also suffered a bit, though her white blood cells are more eager than ours, and didn’t appear to be in pain for more than a day or so.

In the beginning I thought I’d just burned the tip of my tongue, but after a day of tingling it spread slowly around the sides of the tongue and up to the roof of the mouth, leaving a trail of ulcers and spots in its wake.

The outcome of this has been that almost all food either tastes like a shodow of its former self, or worse, tastes disgusting and causes pain with each mouthful. This makes cooking a real pain in the arse, knowing that I’m spending time on something that I will not enjoy. Even wine tastes greasy and undrinkable (almost).

There are, however, certain things which seem to have retained their enjoyability: Soya yoghurt, coffee and snus. Not the most healthy of consumables, but I’m certainly glad for the addition of caffeine and nicotine in my weakened state.

I don’t know how I’m going to survive with both Sweden and England playing their first World Cup matches today, but I’m a trooper, so I’ll do my best to ignore the pain of beer-drinking for the greater good. Wish me luck!

The Numbers Game

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Man 1 : “I’ve got an XR8000.”
Man 2 : “What?”
Man 1 : “You know, the new Colgate electric toothbrush.”
Man 2 : “Err, no.”
Man 1 : “It came out yesterday. The X..R..800.”
Man 2 : Takes out knife and stabs his friend to death.

A Sonicare, but which one?

And so it shall happen, as the world of marketing goes as crazy as Man 2, or Edwin R. Ballestrade, as he shall be known.

You see, I get the idea that cars, motorbikes, computer components and a miriad other products need to have a product code. Toothbrushes, on the other hand, do not, and I have yet to find anyone that knows the difference between the Sonicare 5850 and the Sonicare 8300. And if that day ever comes then I shall consider becoming a disciple of the aforementioned (ficitious) Mr Ballestrade.

N.B. I didn’t make it clear, but Man 1 and Man 2 are friends. I mean, it wasn’t so that Man 2, after speaking to Man 1, turned to a third person (who was the friend) and knifed him. But perhaps you got that. Still, best to keep things clear in these matters.

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Coldplay

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We saw Coldplay tonight, with our friends Aleks and Jo. I went along because Jo wanted to go, not grudginly, but not exactly expecting to enjoy the show too much.

Just before the gig, we found out that Goldfrapp were supporting, which whet my appetite a bit. Whilst I do not consider myself an energumen of their music, it was enough to get my interested in seeing the evening’s show.

It was only after seeing Coldplay that I realised that I like them. Their songs are sufficiently depressing to suit my style, and the melodies in their songs appeal.

Goldfrapp performed well enough, without any real stage presence or show. Certain sounds they use came across well live, but the overall feeling was one of distance and nervosity.

I appreciate the way Coldplay handled ticket-sales. After my disappointment with Depeche Mode, it was nice to see a limited amount of tickets for the show made available through having already subscribed to the e-newsletter. This only applied to those who had subscribed before a certain date, cutting out the possibility for ticket-touters to make economic gains from the offer.

Find Of The Week

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Sticking the tongue out at the free market economy, and worrying both record companies and certain countries (i.e. America), Allofmp3 is a Russian site that offers an incredible range of downloadable music at ridiculous prices.

Either individual tracks or whole CDs can be purchased, the latter costing between $1 and $3. Yes, a whole CD for the cost of a maxi-single.

The current selection of music is typically American, British, French and German. For some reason there appears to be lots and lots of 80’s music, too, which is brilliant if you’re looking for obscure stuff of that time, like Nash The Slash or Klaus Nomi.

If this site continues to impress, then there may well be a feasible alternative to all this naughty illegal downloading that plagues society.

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