The Morning News

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Currently: leaving you in a K-hole to go play Halo
Today’s Feature: “The Hot ______ of the Summer” by The Writers
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Todd Levin

Todd Levin
TMN Contributing Writer Todd Levin has written for Salon, Glamour, Esquire, The Onion, and RADAR. He can be seen performing standup comedy throughout New York City and heard on Public Radio International’s Fair Game. You are encouraged to visit his very old web site, tremble.com.

The Hot ______ of the Summer

In times of respite, the mind settles, focusing on what’s really relevant. Here are the TMN READERS’ AND WRITERS’ hot picks: the jam that fueled parties all summer long, the show we turned down the A/C to hear, and more. (Of Recent Note | August 28, 2008)

Second Place Is First to Lose

The current war between console makers is bloody, and sides must be chosen. Concluding his series on the video games that have formed him, TODD LEVIN looks to the next generation. (Consoles I Have Known | August 21, 2008)

Tilt

In his fifth tour through modern gaming, TODD LEVIN looks back to the dot-com boom years when money grew on trees, dreams were cast, and happiness could be delivered via Urbanfetch. (Consoles I Have Known | June 4, 2008)

Things We’re Denying Ourselves

A recession looms at the door—before it arrives, we have an opportunity to improve our minds, bodies, and wallets. Though we may soon be denying ourselves more than pleasures, this is what we’re omitting right now. (Of Recent Note | April 30, 2008)

Praystation

Continuing his series on the games that made him a man, TODD LEVIN discovers Chinatown’s black market for gaming, and risks his dating life and his career for long nights of back-alley entertainment. (Consoles I Have Known | April 9, 2008)

The Last Great Thing You Downloaded

From movies to music to graphic novels and Spanish lessons, here are some of our recent digital world discoveries, as downloaded by our writers and readers. (Of Recent Note | March 21, 2008)

Three Thousand Head-Butts

Strong men also play video games: TODD LEVIN continues his memoir of gaming systems with the Sega Genesis, and the story of how a young depressed man became a bear, dragon, tiger, and man-wolf. (Consoles I Have Known | March 4, 2008)

The Most Competitive Man Alive

Continuing his saga through the gaming systems that formed him, TODD LEVIN recounts the lessons found in his first Nintendo, particularly as taught by the highs and lows of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out. (Consoles I Have Known | January 31, 2008)

Exercise Gear

How many fitness-inspired New Year’s resolutions does it take to beat down the average individual? How many recommended items of exercise paraphernalia from THE WRITERS does it take to rebuild one’s spirit? The answer is: never enough. (Of Recent Note | January 24, 2008)

A Very Weird and Blocky Future

How many video games does it take to make a man? TODD LEVIN begins an epic new series to trace his life in gaming systems. Part one: paddles to jump-start your heart, and the end-all, be-all red fire button. (Consoles I Have Known | January 9, 2008)

Nonfiction Books

You’ve stocked up on bookmarks, ordered the bookplates, and now you’re ready to fill the shelves. Next time you’re shopping, pass over the fiction and pick up something with an index. THE WRITERS offer a selection. (Of Recent Note | October 23, 2007)

Bottled Drinks

With Labor Day gaining fast, summer is almost over. Rather than mourn its demise with a sack of hooch, we should toast our memories with a bottle of something special. THE WRITERS have some suggestions. (Of Recent Note | August 28, 2007)

Television: How Novel

People who hate television love to talk about it, not realizing they could be spending their time improving their minds—with novelizations. TODD LEVIN looks at the best of the oeuvre, with and without Steve Urkel. (Spoofs & Satire | July 30, 2007)

South by South-BEST!

Every year for South by Southwest, thousands of creative visionaries descend upon Austin, Texas. And TODD LEVIN could have met some of them, too—if only he weren’t at the Interactive portion of the festival. (Letters From Austin | March 14, 2007)

Red, White, and You

Experts answer what they know. The Non-Expert answers anything. This week TODD LEVIN comes up with a handy guide—tips, lists, and charts—to choosing wines and playing the connoisseur. (The Non-Expert | January 19, 2007)

This Is Not a Eulogy

This is an appreciation. Our friend, writer, editor, and teacher LESLIE HARPOLD recently died. A memorial for a woman who was difficult to describe—and who couldn’t stand sentimental bullshit. (Profiles | December 18, 2006)

Metro Crisis

Mike Bloomberg has been kidnapped and the rest of the city is threatened—by the cutest gang of lovable forest-sprite fairy thugs to ever take New York hostage. TODD LEVIN attends the ransom hearing. (New York, New York | November 16, 2006)

The Vanishing Date

Halloween: time for stories of headless horsemen, escaped psychos with hooks for hands, and ghosts other than the white-sheet variety. But the same stories year after year can get a little dull. THE WRITERS retell a scary tale. (Spoofs & Satire | October 31, 2006)

Mel Gibson’s Project Redlight

Given his recent legal troubles, Mel Gibson may want to put some of the upcoming projects from Icon Pictures, his film production company, on hold. TODD LEVIN looks at some of the movies we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see. (Spoofs & Satire | August 4, 2006)

May 2006

It’s the last Wednesday of the month, so it’s time for another episode of what THE WRITERS have recently been loving: restaurants in California, television in Japan, vitamin-laced candy, and more. (Of Recent Note | May 31, 2006)

A Word of Advice

‘Tis the season of graduation ceremonies, when many will be told it’s the first day of the rest of their lives. THE WRITERS disagree, and offer the ultimate commencement speech. (Spoofs & Satire | May 4, 2006)

April 2006

It’s the last Wednesday of the month, so it’s time for another page of what THE WRITERS have been watching, reading, eating, hearing, quaffing, and loving oh so much. (Of Recent Note | April 26, 2006)

How to Hang a Cabinet

Nothing satisifies quite like home improvement, especially after you’ve ripped the wall out of your bathroom. A short guide to avoiding complete catastrophe by TODD LEVIN. (Personal Essays | April 11, 2006)

Brushes With the Law

Who knew what evil once lurked in the hearts of THE WRITERS? Arsonists, accomplices, troublemakers all, here are nine lives of crime, cut short. (Personal Essays | March 22, 2006)

We Didn’t Start the Fire

The winter 2006 tour journal of the Piano Men, North America’s only five-member Billy Joel tribute band (as written by TODD LEVIN, Cold Spring Harbor-era Billy Joel). (Spoofs & Satire | February 7, 2006)

Wish You Were Here

Corporate wilderness retreats and fat camps have a few things in common: mediocre food, sleeping in tents, and lustful bloodthirsty competition. Todd Levin and Bob Powers report from their summer destinations. (Stories | May 10, 2005)


TODAY’S FEATURE

The Hot ______ of the Summer

In times of respite, the mind settles, focusing on what’s really relevant. Here are the TMN READERS’ AND WRITERS’ hot picks: the jam that fueled parties all summer long, the show we turned down the A/C to hear, and more.

Heat Stroke

ConEd and Hobbes

Non-Expert Dennis Mahoney explains the rules and regulations of those pesky utility bills.

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DIGEST

A Partisan’s Daughter

Louis De Bernières’s new novel confirms suspicions of his narrative gifts. In a good way.