Yeah, I'm alive! Thought I'd ease into blogging by dropping some linkage.

• New York options are simply overwhelming. To assist with that issue are sites like the handy dandy Yelp, which is much like Citysearch but not as jam-packed with ads. It's not just for big big big mondo cities; there are reviews for establishments where you guys live too.
• Almost to the point of being wack is the mass transit system here. Helping out is HopStop which I first heard about on CNN or somesuch. Just type in where you are and where you want to go, and the site will churn out the best way to get there, using what bus, what subway line, and when to just walk.

If you're a fan of Dave Sedaris, you're going to love this radio program: Americans in Paris. From last week's This American Life program. La Coquette gave her favorite moments from the program:

"1. David shops at the hardware store. “Hello, I am looking for a stick, that make the water hooot hot, today.” [Note from Parker: In France, my friend Dave had to ask the building manager of our dorm for "the thing for the electric thing in which you put your hats" meaning tokens for the laundry room.]

2. David and Ira see Judge Judy at the Puces de Clingnancourt. David loves Judge Judy, thinks she should run for mayor of New York, so when he sees her he goes “Oh. my. God.” in the most genuine, 15-year-old girl way possible. Making me feel that of all the soul bearing he has done up to this moment, this is possibly the most raw connection with him I have ever felt."

I have to add my own:

3. David's story about the German hotel and having a little misunderstanding about breakfast. I had a lovely German family take pity on me in Berlin and trade me cash for coin money so I could buy a ticket from the train system machine that only took coins (bless them for knowing what I needed just from my holding up the paper money and looking sad).

4. The surprisingly low-low cost of paper-mache body parts if you know where to look in Paris. And the surprisingly high cost of a taxidermied ostrich.

Need an official seal? (And really, who doesn't?) Look no further.



Link via 43 Folders