New Beginnings

Town Crier: Herein and henceforth be it known that the beloved and belabored "Nate's DAAPer Digs" web log is no more!

Random Villager: The queen is dead, long live the queen!

Town Crier: (undaunted) In its stead stands thus blog anew: "NATE @ HOME & ABROAD." Let its updates be frequent and its wits razor sharp!

Villagers: (in unison) Huzzah!

Arrr! They're after me booty!

What's drunk, wears chiffon, and sports eyeliner? NO, it's not the new dancing queen at the local club, it's a PIRATE! It seems like there are pirates abound these days, especially since the ever-dreamy Johnny Depp swaggered onto the screen as Cap'n Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean. Avast, he joins the ranks of me fav'rite DVDs!

"BUT NATE, how can I bring the glamor and excitement of a pirate's life into my own sorry existence?" With a quick lesson from those clever lads at BlairMag, that's how! Check out their take on the dandies of the high seas in their cross-cultural survey: "FlashBucklers"!

Not enough? Still a bit rusty with your scabbard and scrimshaw? Then take the full course, at talklikeapirate.com.

At the very least, you should reacquaint yourself with Cap'n Crunch in Cyberspace!

...a curse on ye who click on Johnny!...

NEW YEARS TIMES SQUARE 2004

Oh man, you shoulda been there.

New Years 2004 was wild and crazy, filled with New Yorkers, outtastaters, confetti, fireworks, and lots and lots of standing. Isak, Danielle (friend from Boston) and myself made the decision this year to attend New Years in Times Square NYC.

OKAY so here it goes, LONG STORY SHORT...we planned...we stocked liquor into the backpacks...5:00pm...headed from 113th St to 47th St...corralled by police...entered mob-shaped "line" for security search...Isak splits up from group to scope out security...Nate: "oh no, they're gonna search us and find the rum!"...Danielle: "quick, loose the boose!"...Nate ducks into local deli and unloads three bottles of Bacardi into trashcan...asian shop owner chuckles...meanwhile, back in security line...Isak rejoins group..."oh no, no backpacks or duffel bags allowed in Times Square!"...Nate quickly rethinks his actions...Nate: "Well, if we're getting out of line, we should probably retrieve our alcohol"...Isak: "YOU DID WHAT?!?"...Nate swims salmon-style against the current back to aforementioned deli...tries to act cool as he makes it back to the aforementioned trashcan...fishes out three bottles of Bacardi...asian deli owner doubles over in laughter...regroup...vote to trek back to 113th street to ditch backpack and alcohol and try to make it back to Times Square in time to reserve a spot...half-jogging to next subway stop, group makes unanimous vote to begin drinking en route...make it back home...refill some 20oz Coke bottles with special concoctions...half-jog back down to subway...emerge above ground at 52nd street...rejoin masses...blindly led by the sea of people to next security check...bottleneck through police search scott-free!...run...turn...run...squeeze...run...BACK AT 47TH STREET, RIGHT WHERE WE BEGAN!"

Six hours of standing in place later...an aging Cyndi Lauper released an aging iron ball to drop high atop the south tower of Times Square, some 5 blocks away. Two tons of multicolored confetti is dropped from rooftops within a ten block radius. Crowds disburse. Commence after-parties.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! WOO HOO!!!

Special Update: Elijah Wood is Very, Very Gay

Pictures speak louder than words, folks. I really thought they pulled off the "brotherly affection" in the latest of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but this website shatters all boundaries.

Note to self: "Dammit, if only I hadn't used my "Return of the Queen" joke earlier this week!"

Oh man, is he gay.

Fall Review 2003

Merry Christmas to one and all! I hope Santa rewarded the good girls and boys... As for you, I bring photos of my latest work, fresh from the DAAP ID Fall Review! Enjoy!

Lord of the Bling: Return of the Queen

Yes my darlings...I have returned to you! It warms my heart to hear that some of you have been checking ever-so-diligently over the past few weeks, eyes hungry for the next fun-filled episode of everybody's favorite blog, fingers eager to click on every tempting link, sides poised to split at the next clever quip...

FOOLS! Do you not know the strains that the DAAP enduces? Do you not realize the stresses that we humble DAAPsters endure? Do you not remember what a procrastinator I am?

Which brings us up to speed. Everybody make it? Good.

DAAP Term 2: Son of DAAP

Oh man, what a term it has been! Autumn term saw my graduation from Foundation Freshmanto the ranks of Industrial Design Sophomore, complete with official classes, including Design Communications (aka drawing) and Industrial Design Studio (aka studio). My DesComm professor was the acclaimed Ms. Brigid O'Kane, famed GM car studio transplant and designer of the much-debated Pontiac Aztek. You remember that one, the car that was given away as the grand prize in the very first Survivor series. Man, those were the days...when a fat naked guy running around a tropical island was the worst thing we had to worry about

But I digress...looking ahead, my studio professor next term will be Soo Shin Choi, who recently joined DAAP faculty after working as Head Designer for Dean Kamen Research. DEKA, as it's known, is the team that brought us the much-heralded Segway Human Transporter, touted to reinvent the way people commute, the catalyst for the reinvention of cities, and the perfect gift for the typical overweight American who has everything. Cynical? Yes. Did that stop me from taking one for a test drive at the first opportunity? Hells no!

All in all my first term as an industrial design student went well...pics of some of my projects to come. More importantly, my blog got a new frock for the holidays - burgundy and evergreen, Christmas style at its finest!

Wine & Dine

Here it is folks, my pick for Value Red Wine of the Year. This coy lady came to me on a random run to the grocery store late night on a Sunday evening (love those midwestern liquor laws!). It is none other than Lindemans Bin 40 Merlot, Vintage 2002. This darling of SE Australia had a very good year, the strongest showing by this label I've encountered in the past two years. At a sale price of $6.99, it's well within my everyday, impulse-buy value range, while still respectable enough for a dinner guest or party invite. The bouquet is subtle, even understated, but once on the palate it's mid-to-full body performance is hard to beat. Dark red cherry and vanilla bean are countered by sharp blackberry flavors. I even tossed a few tablespoons in a beef and potatoes stir fry, and it added a dynamic zest to a ho-hum dinner.

In related news, I recently discovered the greatest thing to grace the coffee table since coffee, Wine-X Magazine. It's a new rag for/by Gen-X wine enthusiasts, without the pretentiousness of Wine Spectator or other stuffy old man mags. Visit their website and sign up for their free email newsletter...it's the only spam worth enjoying with a glass of Shiraz-Cab blend!

Word to the wise: despite former successes, I would avoid Rosemont Estate Chardonnay-Semillon blend, vintage 2002. 2000 and 2001 were choice picks, but apparently last year was not so hot! From my dining room table to yours, this is Nate's Wine Review!