“Travel writers can be so afraid to make judgments. You end up with these gauzy tributes to the ‘magic’ of some far-off spot. But honestly, not every spot is magical for everyone. Sometimes you get somewhere, look around, and think, ‘Hey, this place is a squalid rat hole. I’d really rather be in the Netherlands.’ And that’s OK.” My friend Seth Stevenson tries to make his peace with India, backpacker culture, and extreme poverty. Sounds like the beaches are helping.
Tag: Seth Stevenson
Scorn of the Sox.
“Dear Roger Clemens: Let me offer my hearty congratulations on starting the All-Star Game. Wow, that is really terrific. I’d like to note, however, that I hate you. Also: You are fat. They say you’ve got this hard-core training regimen, with calisthenics and whatnot. I’m not seeing it. You’re wicked fat.” Slate‘s Seth Stevenson exercises (and exorcises) his contempt for the Rocket.
The Colonel Demoted?
Slate‘s Seth Stevenson examines how Kentucky Fried became Kitchen Fresh. Hi-carb, lo-carb, no-carb, all-carb…call it whatever you want: I’ll still be a sucker for the popcorn chicken.
Bras of Spanish Leather.
Well, I see you got your brand new leopard-skin pill-box linens… Good friend Seth Stevenson holds forth on the Dylan Victoria’s Secret ad. I found this particular tidbit quite interesting: “Asked in 1965 what might tempt him to sell out, Dylan replied: ‘Ladies undergarments’.” Hmmm…Well, now that Bobby D has fallen for Victoria, will Ray Davies be next?
Gnome Run.
Slate‘s Seth Stevenson weighs in on Travelocity and pilfered gnomes.
Movin’ On Up.
MoveOn.org chooses the winners of the “Bush in 30 Seconds” contest, and the top vote-getter is a surprisingly subdued piece on the effects of the deficit. (My friend Seth, who’s commandeered Ad Report Card over at Slate, posted his take here.) Good choice, I’d say, although I do like the Animated Ad as well.
Chilling with Schilling.
My old friend Seth Stevenson discusses Curt Schilling and the Sons of Sam Horn. I’m not even much of a Sox fan, and I’ve been known to lurk on SOSH…It’s a funny place.
Dark Designs.
Fresh after making his pitch for the Sox, Seth Stevenson tries to wrap his mind around manga. “As for the animated porn I did watch in hopes of gleaning some insight into the Japanese id? I have this to say: Go away, Japanese id! You are scary! I am scared of you!“
A Plea for Beantown.
My friend (and inveterate Boston fan) Seth Stevenson makes the case for the Sox over the Cubs in the battle of underdogs.
The Road to Kashmir.
My friend Seth kicks off a new Slate column with a lousy flight into Leh.