I enjoyed Dan’s response to AA—it’s very important that AA not let others’ expectations ruin a lifestyle that could be extremely satisfying to him.

There was a beach version of the Juicy Fruit commercial that pubescent me remembers better: during the “pull it out” lyric they cut to a, um, vivacious blond woman pulling her shirt off slowly with her bathing suit underneath. 

I mean, you could certainly make the argument that all information serves a public good and that part of a journalist’s job is cutting through the marketing cycle instead of just regurgitating what publishers want said. But let’s say you don’t believe in that argument. Here’s a good example.

I’ve only accidentally aimed my gun at someone twice, and even then the system is forgiving enough that you can put it away and use the conversational “defuse” option to talk your way out of a fight. There are things I think they could improve on - UI has never been a Rockstar strong suit - but as complex as the game…

The first couple times I did it, it was pretty frustrating. My issue was that L2 is the talking button, and R2 is the shoot them dead for no reason button. After a couple accidental R2s, I got the hang of it. If players are still getting tripped up by it after a couple hours, that’s on them. I’d hardly call it a…

I can give you mine - its brilliant.  The guitar on Salt in the Wound is my new favorite thing.  It’s also funny the cover shot is a take on the first Crosby, Stills and Nash cover.

Cuz that table you want is in Carla’s section and Carla’s on a smoke break, but if Carla comes back and finds Denise waiting on a table in her section there’s gonna be a murder. 

“But I also hope that people are still allowed to be obsessive over passion projects, spend months tinkering over movies or music or art in the desperate hope that someone pays attention, and put great things out into the world.”

Where I differ from you here is that I don’t really see video game companies as being…

Last weekend, my wife and I went to a new breakfast place that opened up in our neighborhood. Being the alcoholic that she is, she of course ordered multiple mimosas, which the restaurant served in pilsner glasses. When placing her final drink order, she asked the server if they could cut the amount of OJ. She just…

I have occasionally enjoyed watching other humans masturbate, for no other reason than it made them happy and interested me. We weren’t, you know, going steady. They weren’t my fella or my special lady. We did not attend prom together. We never kissed. None of us were cheating on someone else. I don’t think it sent a…

Ehh, the server casually suggesting something that will triple the price of the pizza without taking the initiative to disclose the cost is a little different than asking for a substitution and expecting it to be free. Given that the server instigated it, I might actually complain to management about that.

No, you’re wrong for pairing buffalo chicken with Swiss.

Uncouth? Fuck that. As Salty said, this song and dance we do where we pretend everyone has unlimited money is stupid.

Here’s a lifehack. To avoid substitution charges, bring your own scallops hidden in your purse. 

Tiki drinks are making a roaring comeback, so I can see where “not too sweet” is coming from, even as someone who loves the things.

I’m confused, how is saying “ not too sweet” a bad thing. I love my booze and the only things I can’t stomach is vodka and peppermint schnapps. So I would probably like most things a bartender makes that isn’t overly sweet. Should I say “more sour” instead?

Just inferring here, but sounds like Tanooki means people are trying to give an impression of being “spirit forward” or “balanced” cocktail drinkers when they really just want stronger drinks.

I wondered the same thing. Maybe the bartenders are getting irritated by this question because they’re making their drinks too sweet. There’s a reason “cocktail bitters” are a thing.

Spectacular bit of reporting, thank you for preserving this corner of gaming history!

Fantastic reporting. I’d love to see some reporting on the early years of video game mags and fanzines after the market crashed and recovered. Like how video game mags were one part marketing and one part strategy guide in the early years, making them almost essential for the gamers and kids who wanted to fully enjoy…