Posts written by John Tyson
Thursday, February 28 2008
Emm Tee, Eh?
Uhhh... Wha?
Have you ever had trouble with the T? You know, shuttles on the Blue line, slow trains on the Green line, delays due to icy tracks, etc? When you first arrived here, did you ever get on the wrong outbound Green line train accidentally? Well, next time something bad happens, just thank your lucky stars you’re not in New York.
I, like many others, had previously been under the impression that the New York subway was glorious, efficient, and convenient. I was proven hopelessly wrong on one fateful evening.
My girlfriend, Grace, and I were on our way back to Boston from DC after break. We elected to take Chinatown buses to cut down on expenses. After taking a bus from DC to NYC, we found (much to our dismay) that the last bus to Boston had already left. We were, officially, stranded in New York City with about 800 pounds of bags. After walking to a Popeye’s that was open late, at about 12:00 am, we decided to call my friend Marissa. She was the only person we knew in town, and she very graciously let us come over to wait out the 8:00 am bus. (Thanks again, Marissa!) There was only one small problem: we were on Canal Street, in Chinatown; Marissa lives in Astoria, way at the end of the N/W lines. No big deal, right? Just hop on the subway at Canal street, get an N or W train, and ride it to the end. Piece of cake, eh?
Well, as we would soon find out, not really. See, the New York Subway system is bogglingly large. Unlike most subways, it is organized by letter, number, color, AND shape. If that wasn’t enough, All of those things change depending on the time of day and day of the week. Also, the names of stops are not distinct - for example, there are THREE Canal Street stops, all in close vicinity to each other. (Yes, there are “St. Paul’s St” stops on both the B and C lines, but it’s understood that on those lines the stops are named after cross-streets of Commonweath and Beacon, respectively.)
Upon entering the station, we discovered the turnstiles are almost impossible to enter with bags. They look like something from a high-security prison. I know they used to have problems with turnstile jumping in the past, but COME ON. I was almost trapped in one when my bag wouldn’t fit through. Thankfully, a nice man came to help us. Jeesh.
Read the rest »
Thursday, April 5 2007
Classic Cocktails Vol. III
Welcome back, you alcoholics! This time around we’re going to take a look at three more classy cocktails; the Mojito, the Sidecar, and Pimm’s No. 1 Cup.
Once enjoyed by Ernest Hemingway, the Mojito is a traditional Cuban cocktail known for its crisp, refreshing citrus and mint flavor. It’s best enjoyed on a hot day. It’s also a little known fact that the Mojito is one of the most hated drinks by bartenders - It requires significant time and elbow grease to prepare, and when it’s a busy night with lots of people waiting in line, it can be a pain.
Monday, April 2 2007
The Espresso Royale Cafe: An Alternative to Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Okay, so we’ve all been to Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. They’re everywhere, open late, and are just generally convenient. But next time you have a hankering for an afternoon caffeine fix or a tasty snack, try stopping by the Espresso Royale Cafe.
They carry the standard fare coffeehouse stuff, such as espresso, lattes, various hot teas, pastries, and just plain old coffee (if that’s your thing.) They use only organic coffee and tea. They also have some really neat stuff that tends to be less common, such as Yerba Mate and Thai Iced Tea. Another plus is the fact that prices are noticably cheaper than Dunkin and Starbucks - and we all know how tight cash is for college kids.
Tuesday, March 27 2007
Rez: The Synthesis of Interactive Media, Electronic Music, and Auto-erotic Stimulation
In 2001, Sega released a game for the Dreamcast (and later for the PS2) called Rez.
On the surface it appeared to be yet another railshooter full of eyecandy; however, the unique aspect of the game was its use of music. As the player fought through the levels, each enemy produced a characteristic sound when locked onto and shot down. These sounds were sequenced in time with the throbbing electronic soundtrack, encouraging the player to experiment with building new musical elements in real time.
Friday, March 23 2007
Classic Cocktails, Vol. II
Welcome to part two in my series on cocktails. This time around we’ll be covering the Margarita, Manhattan, and Tequila Sunrise.
This one has been quite popular in recent years. Like the Whiskey Sour, this drink has suffered from companies that take advantage of people’s lack of knowledge and market cheap premade mixers. There is no reason to buy “Margarita Mix” - it’s quite simple to make one yourself, and far more tasty!
There are two main variations of the margarita - the traditional cocktail, and the trendy “frozen margarita.”
You’ll want some decent Tequila (try to get the kind that is 100% Agave - it’s pricier, but until you’ve had it you don’t know what Tequila is supposed to taste like. Try to get a gold Tequila, but white Tequilas will work as well.) Also make sure to pick up some Triple Sec (don’t skimp here - I prefer Cointreau or Curaçao, and some people use Grand Marnier, an orange liqueur made with cognac.) Finally, get some fresh limes, and Agave nectar (you can also use simple syrup, but the agave counterbalances the Tequila quite nicely.) You may also want to pick up some rimming salts, or just simple table salt. There are many types of rimming salts and spices you can find in specialty stores, give them a try.
Monday, March 12 2007
Classic Cocktails, Vol. I
Hey guys, this is (hopefully) the start of a series on classy cocktails. I’ll provide a bit of info on each drink, as well as my personal recipes. Impress your friends at parties!
You’ll want to pick up some basic supplies before you get started. First and foremost, you’ll need a cocktail shaker and a mixing glass.
About the Author
John Tyson is a place. Or maybe a sound. John talks to his friends in the back of the playground - he says "I'm young, I know, but so what I've been around - and I know there's a space between the plants and the ground I know the stretch between your shoes makes up eternity." See people only shine in death like street lamps coming on at dusk. Or maybe John was just the wind talking.