I’m flying back East for Christmas tonight. I decided at the last second to NOT bring my laptop (too much to carry on the plane) so I’ll have limited access to the Internets. Plus, some time off might do me good. Things I’m bringing on the plane include:

1. iPod filled to the brim with podcasts I need to catch up on
2. Archos 604 filled with episodes of Ali G and Firefly
3. Nintendo DS with Animal Crossing, Mario Kart and Nintendogs
4. My new copy of The Long Tail, and some terrible (awesome) fantasy book I’m reading

Hopefully, these things will keep me from going crazy on the trip.
I’ll be back in SF for New Years, though, so expect some photos of the trip up when I return. Then it’s off to CES!

New project in the works, by the way. Working out the details now, but I think you guys will like it. I’ll keep you posted! Have a great holiday, be safe, and have fun.

These colorful little piñatas have done a lot to keep my mind off of things lately. The game, for the XBox 360, reminds me a lot of Animal Crossing for the Nintendo DS. You’re in charge of tending a garden, and your actions determine which colorful characters take up residence. Hours and hours of limitless possibilities. Believe me… hours and hours and hours.

The object of every piñata’s life is to be sent away to a birthday party. It’s their highest honor (a little morbid, yes, but things are a lot different on Piñata Island) and your often asked to pack up a couple to send on their way. It’s all very PG: you don’t mate the piñatas, you “romance” them. If one is acting up, you simply whack him a few times with a shovel.

Not to mention that this game is achievement gold. I’m racking up the ‘ol gamer score!
Yep. This is all I can do. It’s better than real life, I swear.

Image courtesy of Joystiq.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been with us this past week, and for all your letters and messages. I cannot even fathom what the Kims are going through right now, it’s unimaginable.

This whole week has been a blur - caught between hope and dread, myself and my co-workers at CNET have gone through the motions everyday, waiting for any news that came through. In the middle of recording Buzz Out Loud today, we got the e-mail saying James was found, condition unknown. When we finally learned that he wasn’t with us anymore, it was like being hit with a sledgehammer.

I’ve always known, but truly realized today, what a wonderful company CNET is. For everything they’ve done in this whole process, from keeping us updated to making sure we had someone to talk to when things got really bad, I’m thankful to them. But I know CNET won’t ever be the same again. I still can’t believe I won’t see James everyday, or tease him for being late to a shoot, or laugh with him about some ridiculous gadget on Crave.

As many of you have said, James died a hero. I wish you had never left that car, James, but I’m grateful that I knew someone so brave and selfless that he would do anything to save his family.

Someone in my group at work was able to put together a tribute to James. I think it perfectly shows how passionate James was about his work, and how he made everything so effortless and fun.

I am going to miss the hell out of you.

OK, so I have this thing called my “default song.” It’s the song that automatically gets stuck in my head when there’s nothing else going on. Which, frankly… happens on occasion. That song is “Be My Lover” by La Bouche (please, refrain from any jokes on that title). I’m not sure why this hit from the mid 90’s is often in my head, but for some reason it has remained.

There are two other songs that are often in my head for no apparent reason: “The Funky Chicken,” and “Copacabana.” I am your worst nightmare if I ever start singing one of these in your presence. So the question is, naturally, what songs are often stuck in your brain? Am I really this crazy?