Who he is: video game designer; "the father of modern video gaming"
Why he rules: Why doesn't he rule? Miyamoto single-handedly created the Mario, Donkey Kong, Legend of Zelda, and Star Fox game series for Nintendo, making him perhaps the coolest geek alive today. As if that wasn't enough, this year at 55 he completed development of Super Mario Galaxy and Wii Fit, perhaps the first video game ever designed to actually improve kids' health rather than help diminish it.
Once an innovator, always an innovator.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
A holiday tradition
This little Christmas tradition reminded me of one my favorite quotes from novelist Nick Hornby:
1. The Album Leaf - The Light
2. Athlete - Hurricane
3. Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost
4. Travis - Battleships
5. Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running
6. Kings of Leon - Fans
7. Aqualung - Broken Bones
8. The Frames - Falling Slowly
9. Jimmy Eat World - Here It Goes
10. Slow Runner - The Sea is Never Full
“A couple of times a year I make myself a tape to play in the car, a tape full of all the new songs I’ve loved over the previous few months, and every time I finish one I can’t believe that there’ll be another. Yet there always is, and I can’t wait for the next one; you only need a few hundred more things like that, and you’ve got a life worth living.”I couldn't agree more. Happy holidays and enjoy!
1. The Album Leaf - The Light
2. Athlete - Hurricane
3. Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost
4. Travis - Battleships
5. Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running
6. Kings of Leon - Fans
7. Aqualung - Broken Bones
8. The Frames - Falling Slowly
9. Jimmy Eat World - Here It Goes
10. Slow Runner - The Sea is Never Full
Dear friends,
Happy holidays! What a time it is to be writing to you all. I’m only now beginning to figure out where I am lately. For maybe the first time in my life, I need to give the globe a full spin before I land back home, which is an equally frightening and exhilarating thought. I’ve spent the last two weeks remembering what it is simply to say “Merry Christmas” to people. Twenty-three suddenly feels shockingly young to me, but I think if I speak really loud and stretch the line at the end of my paper cup a bit maybe I won’t feel so far away.
How was your 2007? My life has more blurry edges than it has in recent memory, which makes the coming year all the more vital. There’s so much I still need and want to figure out. My five-year high school reunion is next week and all of a sudden five years seems like a remotely long period of time. Where will I be in another five? I visited an orphanage yesterday and it took me five minutes to remember what was important and another ten to realize that I don’t want kids of my own anytime soon. The rest is still cloudy, but I’m grateful to at least have a start.
I want to spend a little more time working on me this next year. I’ve developed a small gut and I discovered just last week that I make a pretty good pasta sauce, which was exciting for me. I’d like to see more live music. I want to go snowboarding and maybe pick up a few small injuries, just to give myself a scare. I want to kiss more people in 2008. I’d like to write more – as in actually write on a piece of paper – and I want my writing to be a little less clever and my speech to be a little more sincere. When I was eighteen I spent half a summer writing a screenplay that got shoved in my desk drawer. Here’s an honest-to-God excerpt:
What else? For all my whingeing and self-reverence, it’s been a special year. When the paint dries and the ball drops, I can’t imagine having had a better 2007. I am incredibly humbled by the opportunities I’ve had, but more importantly I’m just so thankful for those people, new and old, that I can call friends and family. I may not be able to give much in return, but I can at least offer to all of you this Christmas those things that I have been able to figure out. So here it is: Travel frequently. Stay close to the ocean. Say what you need to say, and say it loudly. Always choose to exercise before you turn down good food. Cheer for the Packers. Tell those you love that you love them in the moments that you love them the most. Feel and live. As for the rest, I haven’t a clue.
Happy holidays, and thanks for changing my life. See you next year.
Love,
Jeff
Happy holidays! What a time it is to be writing to you all. I’m only now beginning to figure out where I am lately. For maybe the first time in my life, I need to give the globe a full spin before I land back home, which is an equally frightening and exhilarating thought. I’ve spent the last two weeks remembering what it is simply to say “Merry Christmas” to people. Twenty-three suddenly feels shockingly young to me, but I think if I speak really loud and stretch the line at the end of my paper cup a bit maybe I won’t feel so far away.
How was your 2007? My life has more blurry edges than it has in recent memory, which makes the coming year all the more vital. There’s so much I still need and want to figure out. My five-year high school reunion is next week and all of a sudden five years seems like a remotely long period of time. Where will I be in another five? I visited an orphanage yesterday and it took me five minutes to remember what was important and another ten to realize that I don’t want kids of my own anytime soon. The rest is still cloudy, but I’m grateful to at least have a start.
I want to spend a little more time working on me this next year. I’ve developed a small gut and I discovered just last week that I make a pretty good pasta sauce, which was exciting for me. I’d like to see more live music. I want to go snowboarding and maybe pick up a few small injuries, just to give myself a scare. I want to kiss more people in 2008. I’d like to write more – as in actually write on a piece of paper – and I want my writing to be a little less clever and my speech to be a little more sincere. When I was eighteen I spent half a summer writing a screenplay that got shoved in my desk drawer. Here’s an honest-to-God excerpt:
Wil: (laughs) Never mind him…Here, try this. (Wil picks up a movie off the shelf and hands it to the girl) When in doubt, go with Cusack.Classically bad, isn’t it? It’s awful, but the point is - I wrote it! I actually cared little enough to try and do something potentially embarrassing and grossly beyond my reach. I’d like to get back to that.
Girl: Hmm, Say Anything. The incompatible and overmatched bottom-dwelling nice guy who pursues the beautiful valedictorian, no?
Wil: Well, I prefer to think of Lloyd Dobler as a hero for the misunderstood, but sure, that’s one way to put it.
Girl: No offense, but don’t you think it’s kinda stupid? I mean, he goes against all of his nay-saying friends and family just for the sake of a girl he doesn’t actually know.
Wil: Well, it takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile.
Girl: Hmm, profound.
What else? For all my whingeing and self-reverence, it’s been a special year. When the paint dries and the ball drops, I can’t imagine having had a better 2007. I am incredibly humbled by the opportunities I’ve had, but more importantly I’m just so thankful for those people, new and old, that I can call friends and family. I may not be able to give much in return, but I can at least offer to all of you this Christmas those things that I have been able to figure out. So here it is: Travel frequently. Stay close to the ocean. Say what you need to say, and say it loudly. Always choose to exercise before you turn down good food. Cheer for the Packers. Tell those you love that you love them in the moments that you love them the most. Feel and live. As for the rest, I haven’t a clue.
Happy holidays, and thanks for changing my life. See you next year.
Love,
Jeff
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Giving thanks
It may be December, but better late than never to post up some pics from this year's Thanksgiving celebrations. Figures that it would take a move to Japan to facilitate a double dip on the Turkey Day festivities.
11.3.07
Thanksgiving in Tokushima - A full on authentic dinner at Hirada-sensei's house, complete with real gravy, stuffing, and two kinds of pie. Something so special about spending an early Thanksgiving with an international crowd of first timers and those who came with their belts already half unbuckled. The customs may get shuffled in the translation, but the message rings true.
11.23.07
Thanksgiving in Sydney - Roo, chicken, and wine galore. Such a beautiful relief to sit down with an old friend to enjoy a good meal. Naturally, we rang in the dawn of the American holiday with a post-meal screening of Rocky Balboa. Four stars for the dinner, two for Rocky.
So much to be thankful for this year that I don't know where to begin (humility breeds wordlessness). Let's try this - if you're reading, thank you. Love, love, love...and thank you. See you soon.
11.3.07
Thanksgiving in Tokushima - A full on authentic dinner at Hirada-sensei's house, complete with real gravy, stuffing, and two kinds of pie. Something so special about spending an early Thanksgiving with an international crowd of first timers and those who came with their belts already half unbuckled. The customs may get shuffled in the translation, but the message rings true.
11.23.07
Thanksgiving in Sydney - Roo, chicken, and wine galore. Such a beautiful relief to sit down with an old friend to enjoy a good meal. Naturally, we rang in the dawn of the American holiday with a post-meal screening of Rocky Balboa. Four stars for the dinner, two for Rocky.
So much to be thankful for this year that I don't know where to begin (humility breeds wordlessness). Let's try this - if you're reading, thank you. Love, love, love...and thank you. See you soon.
Monday, December 10, 2007
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