I was reading a interview with Todd Howard, a video game creator, yesterday - he was talking about how to make a good game.  One thing he said struck me:

The player experience should go: learn, play, challenge, surprise.  You should always give the player a challenge with a way out, even it is one they don't want to use.  As an example he talked about the nuclear bombs in Fallout 3.  The option is always there if you're in a pinch, but most people finish the game hoarding the mini-nukes.

This seems, to me, to be paralleled in life.  We have these obvious ways to get out of trouble, or make our lives better, but most of us die without ever using them.  I guess this could mean a lot of things, most of which I haven't figured out yet.

I also like the idea of learn, play, challenge, surprise.  I think this could be adapted to music.  I was telling someone the other day that I think good songs are familiar but surprising.  I want people to be instantly comfortable with my songs - and then take them on a ride.  I think my rides are a little more subtle than some others - but a ride nonetheless.

If you want to hear some music that takes you on a wild ride, check out my friend Jonathan's website.

Making Pasta in the oven with Joni

I dreamt last night that I hung out with Joni Mitchell for a day.  She knew every song she had ever written, and I seemed to know most of them too.  We talked about music and who she wrote her songs about - I don't remember the last time I felt so happy.

...the dream ended up with us cooking.  She made cinnamon rolls and, for some reason, pasta in the oven.  I made fun of her, so she took it out and put it on the stove.  I wonder if she's so easily swayed in real life?  I could go either way.

The Process

This made me puke, eat my puke, and then puke and cry at the same time.

Enjoy:

Songsmith Commercial

Handle Bar Mustache

I grew a handle-bar mustache for a party this weekend, because studies have shown that mustaches are fun for the entire family...      I waited over two hours for someone to comment on its majesty, and, finally, when no one did, I questioned the group as to why no one was interested in fun for the entire family.  They had all been too nervous to say anything, afraid of hurting my feelings.  

Do I come off as being that sensitive?  That my choice in (seemingly) hilarious facial hair is so embarrassing in the first place that this new direction was a serious part of my thing?  It has made me wonder if I am a handle-bar mustache kind of guy after all.  It seemed to be the most shocking temporary thing I could've done... but it ended up either being too awkward to be funny or to normal to be considered.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures to prove that the mustache existed.  Just the images burned into the minds of the attendies of said party.  Here, however, for your viewing pleasure, is what you may* have missed: