Category: Enjoyed

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The Endless Struggle Between Good And Evil

Recently, I meander back to my computer and see this in an IM window:

o0sonny0o (11:10 PM): HEY!
o0sonny0o (11:10 PM): I want to talk to you.
o0sonny0o (11:10 PM): My friend, KirbyKirbyKirby told me about you
o0sonny0o (11:10 PM): I know everyone believes about your cat being able to play IIDX, but you have to admit, its all a hoax.
o0sonny0o (11:10 PM): Its actually the most untrue thing I’ve ever heard in my whole life.

You may recall, many months ago, I posted some alleged photos of my cat playing Beatmania IIDX. They become one of those nice inside jokes in the US IIDX community.

Forgive me, friends, for I have sinned.

Dan Dickinson (11:30 PM): Uh…
Dan Dickinson (11:30 PM): Okay.
Dan Dickinson (11:30 PM): Anything else?
o0sonny0o (11:31 PM): Well, I’m just wondering.
o0sonny0o (11:31 PM): Is it true?
o0sonny0o (11:31 PM): Seriously, tell the truth.
Dan Dickinson (11:32 PM): Is it so hard to believe?
o0sonny0o (11:32 PM): Yes.
o0sonny0o (11:32 PM): Could you just tell me?
o0sonny0o (11:32 PM): like…..For me, would you be able to take video footage or your cat actually playing it? Not just 4 pictures of its face?
o0sonny0o (11:32 PM): or pictures of it actually playing it
Dan Dickinson (11:33 PM): If I had a camcorder, sure.
Dan Dickinson (11:33 PM): Unfortunately, I don’t.
o0sonny0o (11:33 PM): well, could you take pictures?
Dan Dickinson (11:33 PM): The next time he plays, sure.
o0sonny0o (11:33 PM): -_-
Dan Dickinson (11:33 PM): Right now he’s a little busy licking himself.
o0sonny0o (11:33 PM): lol
o0sonny0o (11:33 PM): How is it possible for a cat to work a turntable?
Dan Dickinson (11:33 PM): He’s got nails, he just digs them in. It’s only plastic.
o0sonny0o (11:34 PM): Hmm…
o0sonny0o (11:34 PM): But
o0sonny0o (11:34 PM): Cats are colorblind.
Dan Dickinson (11:35 PM): What difference does that make?
o0sonny0o (11:35 PM): Well, how would it know which buttons to press (since their colored) if he was colorblind?
Dan Dickinson (11:35 PM): Color blind means you don’t see color. You see greyscale. The keys are black and white.
o0sonny0o (11:36 PM): oh.
Dan Dickinson (11:36 PM): The notes on the screen, I’d imagine, look white and somewhat dark.
Dan Dickinson (11:36 PM): Colorblind isn’t the same as totally blind. �Sheesh.
o0sonny0o (11:36 PM): Yeah I know
o0sonny0o (11:36 PM): I just thought they were colored for some reason
Dan Dickinson (11:36 PM): Do you actually play IIDX?
o0sonny0o (11:36 PM): No.
Dan Dickinson (11:36 PM): Ah.
o0sonny0o (11:36 PM): But I know how it works
o0sonny0o (11:36 PM): Hmm…
o0sonny0o (11:36 PM): How would a cat be able to move his hands so fast?
Dan Dickinson (11:37 PM): Aren’t cats reknown for having quick reflexes?
o0sonny0o (11:37 PM): Yeah but, that must be a pretty damn smart cat.
o0sonny0o (11:37 PM): If it can match whats on the screen to the actual buttons.
Dan Dickinson (11:38 PM): We’re very proud of him.
o0sonny0o (11:38 PM): =
Dan Dickinson (11:39 PM): Any more questions?
o0sonny0o (11:39 PM): K, whatever, I still dont believe it unless I see better pictures, but no, I do not have any more questions.
Dan Dickinson (11:39 PM): Alright, well, I’ll see what I can do.
o0sonny0o (11:39 PM): Thanks for your time.
Dan Dickinson (11:39 PM): Oh no, thank you.

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Enjoyed

Tinkle

The first time I went to Tinkle, the musical guest was The Aisler’s Set – I still have no idea who they are, but hey.

The second time I went, it was the Christmas show last year. The musical guest was Yo La Tengo. They rocked. I started listening to them.

The third time I went, it was the Kerry benefit over the summer. The musical guest was Ted Leo. He rocked hard. I started listening to him immediately.

So tonight, at Pianos, there was another Tinkle show. Again, the signs said “Surprise Musical Guest”. I sat, somewhat curious, as Todd Barry and David Cross started into their band introduction. (Jon Benjamin was sadly ill, with career-destroying diarrhea.)

And then they said, “So here’s Wilco.” My jaw dropped, as again, here’s a critically acclaimed band I’ve been meaning to give a shot, and they’re playing a dirt cheap show in an intimate setting.

It apparently didn’t sink in with some people, and when they actually saw the band getting on the stage, at least five people went “HOLY SHIT IT’S REALLY WILCO”.

And then they covered “Love Will Keep Us Together”, by The Captain & Tennille.

And to cap off the surreal evening, David insisted on handing out candy g-strings to everyone who was in attendance. Katie and I both got one.

Line of the night goes to Eugene Mirman:

Hey, where’s the nearest A train? …Who wants to know? How about Secret Agent I’m Going To Kick You So Hard In The Dick You’re Going To Come FEAR?!

Finally, Todd – since I know you’re reading this, can I buy you a drink or a meal or something some time? You guys have been rocking too much.

RELATED: BrooklynVegan has some pictures.

Jen Carlson yields a double dose, providing both pictures on Gothamist as well as on her own blog. Jen also wins extra awesome points for posting a video of the Captain and Tennille cover

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Enjoyed

Chef’s Choice at Matsu

I raved about Matsu in my recently posted Restaurant Guide for the Winter. Katie and I had long ago decided we’d hit it up for her birthday (which was today – she’s 25. Be sure to wish her a happy birthday!), and go for the adventurous “Chef’s Choice” dinner for the two of us.

While I didn’t have the camera on me to continue the trend of photographing what I’m eating, I can textually describe the entire affair:

First: Seafood soup. Clear broth, with crab + shrimp + whitefish + mussel + scallop. Broth was delicious, fish was too.

Second: Baby clams (each half was about the size of a penny) in a soy garlic sauce. A little hard to eat but extremely tasty.

Third: Shark Fin salad. The delicate flavored of shark fin was matched with sesame, which helped bring down the strong flavour of the shark fin. (Anyone who’s watched Battle Yogurt on Iron Chef with me should get that.)

Fourth: Ebi sashimi with wasabi tobiko on top, and prawn tempura. The ebi was good, but I’ve never been much for prawns.

Fifth: Toro tartar, I think with a little bit of yellowtail in as well. Heaven, absolute heaven. My favorite on the night, because I’m a huge mark for toro.

Sixth: Scallops steamed in sake, and served cold. At this point we started feeling full – then were told that we had sushi coming and then the main course.

Seventh: Sex On The Beach Roll (shrimp tempura inside, rice, seaweed, grilled eel, tobiko, three kinds of sauces.), plus six giant pieces of sashimi (two salmon, two tuna, two something else).

Eighth: Tuna Teriyaki. Whole sushi-grade tuna steak, done teriyaki style, with vegetables and a bed of onions. I know I keep saying this, but man, this was good.

Ninth: The big surprise – one I had known about from Monday, but managed to hide from Katie and she was completely shocked. They had bought Katie a small birthday cake – sponge cake with white icing, and Gary had put fresh fruit on top.

Add on to that a few sodas, two free beers, and green tea – we are unbelievably stuffed. I am in a near food coma, and the bill came to $90 for the two of us (not including tax and the absurd tips we tend to leave).

I don’t think I’ll have a better Japanese meal than this one for the remainder of my life.