07/04/2005 Entry: "LodgeNet! (Bored in Atlantic City.)"

Happy 4th. There's a new article in town, detailing my experiences bored and alone in an Atlantic City hotel room with only a television pay-per-entertainment interface called "LodgeNet" to entertain me. It's the story of bad movies, porn, video games and hotel guest surveys.

Chestnuts roasted by Evin @ 07/04/2005 04:07 PM EST

Sounds like a quality XE adventure. The kind that may have been forgotten in 4 years if not properly chronicled. Still, I don't know which is worse, living the busted weekend or reading about it...
The saucy part of the article was reminiscent of the time my buddies and I were in the La Quinta Inn in Savannah for St. Patrick's Day and SOMEBODY hit the "Order Porn" button but never confessed. "Dude, I swear I was trying to adjust the volume." Whatever pervert.

Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 07/04/2005 04:16 PM EST

My parents never let me use theese things

Chestnuts roasted by Fetus @ 07/04/2005 04:40 PM EST

Mario Kart 64 and smash bros. are the shit. Even at $6.95 an hour....

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 07/04/2005 04:43 PM EST

Happy 4th of July!

Still no baby...

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 07/04/2005 05:07 PM EST

Barely legal nymphs? Latex housewives?

Like my boss needed another reason to think X-E is a porn site....

Chestnuts roasted by Mr mango @ 07/04/2005 05:12 PM EST

Just shows that quality articles can still come out of the most depressing parts of life.

$7 an hour for n64? My younger brothers got an n64/2 controllers/6 games on ebay for $14 including shipping. Those Atlantic City bastards.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 07/04/2005 05:32 PM EST

As a service to you and yours, Erik, may I help in my own way? Turn your wife toward te screen........ *ahem*

HEY! C'MON OUT!! WE'RE WAITING FOR YOU! WE GOT KOOL-AID!!! HELLO! WE'RE ALL YOUR AUNTS AND UNCLES OUT HERE!! WE GOT TOYS!! UNCLE MATT HAS OLD CANDY!! OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!!! DON'T MAKE ME SEND YOUR DADDY IN THERE TO GET YOU!!

Either the Mini-Majorwitz will come out, or stay in another month.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 07/04/2005 05:35 PM EST

I was in A.C. over the weekend too. Matt, you should have come over to the Marina to try and win a 2005 Mustang Convertible. Alas, 4 of the winners were women with "old lady" names (my boyfriend said they had to be old ladies), and the 5th was a guy from my town. Needless to say, no luck. My boyfriend and I awaited the last drawing by going over to Borgata to hang out in an Opus room (suite) that my boyfriend's cousin had for the weekend. We hung out with his parents and his cousin.

"Super Smash Bros." is a great game. I have "melee" for Game Cube. I'm pretty good at it--Matt, I would challenge you to a duel. Pikachu v. Link. Or it would be more fun w/Pikachu v. Jigglypuff.

That was a strategic place for the quarter. My mom walked by and saw it, and asked what it was. She even thought that was Matt in the picture of the woman's legs!!!!!! Oh jeez. Hope that brightens your day.

Have a great 4th everyone, and hope your workweek goes good (and fast!!). I'm seeing Jay Leno at Harrah's on Saturday. Yea!! The week at CBS-3 will go quickly.

Have a good day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 07/04/2005 06:03 PM EST

Given what my weekend's been like, Matt, you might be happier being bored. In the last two days on the Five Mile (Wildwood) Islands, we've had an all-day shootout that ended with the perpetrator killing himself on the top of a garage in a residential neighborhood, a stabbing in a local nightclub, at least one more shooting that I know of, and several car accidents. Rumors are flying around the Wildwoods faster than the helicopter ride over Morey's Piers. Yup, it's summer at the Jersey Shore.

Matt, you might be safer with "Latex Housewives" and Pikachu.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 07/04/2005 06:13 PM EST

Two thoughts:

1) As much as I like 32-hour workweeks thanks to holidays where stuff gets blown up for public view, I don't like 32-hour paychecks. I think this is a good working definition of "poor".

2) I'm surprised nobody's asked yet...but what was the total charged to your room for LodgeNet? That shit looks like it adds up FAST.

Chestnuts roasted by Monster Dog @ 07/04/2005 06:58 PM EST

Good Stuff, Matt!!

I usually try to enjoy such services, but the last time I stayed in a hotel, I officially had the worst night of my life and 3 horrendous days. All awake, btw.
It's hard to enjoy yourself when you're worried about the your safety, that of others and your mental health.

The time before that, someone was shot.

I used to have great times in hotels, I swear. It's just been a bad run.

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 07/04/2005 07:12 PM EST

$7.00 US to play Super Smash Bros. Melee for one hour? Yikes.

Chestnuts roasted by Al Creed @ 07/04/2005 07:22 PM EST

I say, yous being the correct. So being so so expsensives!

Chestnuts roasted by Tom No Like @ 07/04/2005 09:34 PM EST

Always forgive. Never forget.

(Thanks to J for relating this teaching to me)

Sincerest apologies, Tom No Like.
And I'd like to officially acknowledge our newest member: Goob!!

Those pitchers are so poplular and trendy

Chestnuts roasted by Hall Moniter @ 07/04/2005 10:13 PM EST

I find that people complain too much if you pick Kirby, so I've had to beef up my Pikachu skills. Nothing trumps that thundershock.
(speaking of porn, anybody watched HBO's Cathouse yet?)
I think my favorite part of this article is imagining the tantrum that led to the self-imposed banishment. I like to imagine Matt drop kicking a bucket of nickels or something equally over the top.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 07/04/2005 10:53 PM EST

I salute you back.

Chestnuts roasted by LodgeNet @ 07/05/2005 12:07 AM EST

Nice 4th of July present to us, Matt...another great article.

Yeah, I've used those Hotel systems before, and they suck.

I noted the TV had RCA jacks...Next time, just bring your own entertainment! You can hook up whatever you want...

Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 07/05/2005 12:32 AM EST

I finally got a TV back in my room (I deliberately kept it out while I was in college) and had to get a RF converter.

Why in the world do you need to plug those things in? Isn't it just like a very big, very expensive adapter to switch RCA to Coaxial?

I don't remember having to plug in the adapters that switch a 3 prong plug to a 2 prong.

I majored in psychology, not Electricianology, can ya tell?

I know how to calculate how powerful an amp you can connect to a given speaker. I'm not a total idiot.

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 07/05/2005 01:25 AM EST

Hah, this was a great one. I had no idea this kind of system existed, actually....I've never been in that fancy a hotel. Until now, if I had waltzed into a room and seen this service, I would have gone absolutely nuts with rapture (has nothing to do with the porn). You just proved that it stunk badly, and thank you for that. Now I don't ever have to find out the hard way, with my own money.

Downloadable N64 games is the only plus, though they were too cheap to unlock Falcon and Ness for you. It'd also be good if that internet feature played everything on the Homestar website, but I'm guessing it can't even handle Flash 1.0.

They should have left in the SNES downloads. That stuff rocks. Hey, Nintendo knows--that's why they'll be offering that very feature in their next console.

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 07/05/2005 02:26 AM EST

Hey Everybody!

Hope everyone had a good 4th of July! Wife and kids enjoyed the Army's fireworks show, but I think it would have been better with real ammunition, but I digress.

Thanks kingklash, I wonder if that will work.

Good news here in Deutschland: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is here!!! Yes, the movie I've been bitching about for almost two months is finally at my little dumpy theater!

Please, no spoilers! Then again, just my luck, Brett will decide to come out tonight and the theater is only showing it this week. Methinks God hates me if this occurs.

Also, any of you have NCAA 06 Football yet? Doubtful that will arrive here in Germany until Spring Training!

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 07/05/2005 03:01 AM EST

Glad you will finally get to see it, Erik!

Can't wait to read this article....I could use some cheering up today!

Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 07/05/2005 04:32 AM EST

i had a shitty time in A.C. this weekend

Chestnuts roasted by Shannon @ 07/05/2005 10:42 AM EST

Saw REALLY old sugar free cherry jello at a corner market while out of town last week. It was pre nutrition facts and bragging about the nutrisweet it was made from. . . thought of XE

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 07/05/2005 10:58 AM EST

Never been in a place with such a thing. Sound like a great way to waste time/money. But usually I lug around many varied things like a mini TV, a GBA, portable DVD player, or whatever I feel can allieviate bordom. Latex Housewives? Throw in some spanking with a Hot Wheels track, and you have my interest.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 07/05/2005 11:58 AM EST

Oh man, this article was the best. I used to frequent AC with my parents as a child - and being the only child, when alone, I sure fuckin' hit up their PPV services. Porn and shitty movies indeed.

Word.

Chestnuts roasted by Redladder @ 07/05/2005 01:13 PM EST

too bad the trip sucked. sounds like half the trips i go on.

Chestnuts roasted by matt g @ 07/05/2005 02:05 PM EST

I've never actually tried using that crap. I suppose I will have to. And soon. Like right now.

Chestnuts roasted by Travis @ 07/05/2005 02:08 PM EST

Yeah. I hear ya, Matt! I once had to check into a hotel at the Vancouver Airport. It was a damn nice hotel,but there was nothing to do. So what else could I do? I went to the hotel bar for awhile, drinking $12 maragaritias. After that place closed, I went back to my room and drank $6 SMirnoff Ices from the mini-bar and watched crap on the LodgeNet, including porn (yeah yeah, I was bored).

However, I gotta say, I enjoyed the fact that bathrrom doors were set up in such a way that you could see the TV from the luxurious bath tub (this was a DAMN nice hotel; expensive too).

During the day at this hotel, I either watched regular TV or explored the airport (or at least the parts which they would let me explore without a boarding pass).

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 07/05/2005 02:27 PM EST

OUTSTANDING article. Back in the day, this used to be called Spectravision, which, of course, we dubbed Spanktravision. Yeah, the Borgata's not all it's cracked up to be, plus they raise the minimum bets to $20 at the craps tables early in the afternoon, which is too much for me. The Old Homestead Steakhouse, though, is just . . . unbelievably delicious

One comment:

Why were you making tacos in the hotel room? Looks like a bottle of Tanqueray next to the tube in Main Menu picture, then in later pictures the bottle's gone and there's a Taco Bell taco kit in it's place. Or is that an Ultimate Nachos kit? Either way, seems like a weird product to bring to a hotel. :-)

Chestnuts roasted by Pedro @ 07/05/2005 02:28 PM EST

Shannon, too bad you didn't have a good time. I went on Sunday, and had a great time. We went to the beach bars and then the new Havana district at the Tropicana. It was very, very nice, and a lot of good bars. Way, way too crowded though.

Chestnuts roasted by Y2JB78 @ 07/05/2005 02:52 PM EST

Didn't you talk about the LodgeNet before?

As for the video games being old, nope, can't complain. I play SNES games all the time. Not for 7 dollars an hour. I can complain about that.

Chestnuts roasted by Yama the Space Fish @ 07/05/2005 03:17 PM EST

Yes!!! Finaly saw Episode III!!!

What can I say? Hmm...The "nooooooooooooooooooo" thing wasn't too bad, but it certainly was corny.

The lightsaber duels were pretty cool, but I think Dooku and Grevious should have fought better. Oh and Windu went out like a sucka...through that window.

Okay, I'll admit, I cried at the end. But I have an excuse, my son is coming soon, so perhaps I was getting practice. Oh hell, I can't hold it in, I'm a crier. Simon Burch, Steel Magnolias, when the Terminator lowers himself in the lava in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, even when Jean Claude Van Damme loses his best friend in Bloodsport I start the waterworks.

The best thing about Star Wars is that by introducing them to my stepdaughters, I believe I have grown closer to them. Plus, they do some cute things.

1. Kaitie (4 years old) walks around in her underwear and sticks the lightsaber in them. She then tells her sister that she is in fact, Darth Vader.
2. Kaitie is a Master with the Yoda's (she calls him Yoga) lightsaber. I have welts to prove it.
3. The best exchange so far:

(I walk into the room. Kaitie is banging the Electronic Yoda lightsaber against the wall).

Me: What are you doing?
Kaitie: Trying to make Yoga talk.
Me: Who?
Kaitie: Yoga, the little green guy! (Bangs it harder)
Me: Kaitie...(I take it away and switch the lever and give it back to her. She swings away).
Yoda: Powerful you are...
Kaitie: Yoga!!! (keeps banging away)
Me: There you go...(as I turn to leave she stops)
Kaitie: Okay, now go get your lightsaber...(comes flailing away with the lightsaber in my direction and hits me).
Me: Owww
Kaitie: Hee hee hee!!!
Yoga: You are reckless!
Me: You can say that again!!! (I retreat up the stairs.

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!!! Oh, and pray the baby comes soon, wife doesn't want to take no pay maternity leave!!!

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 07/05/2005 03:58 PM EST

I seem to remember being tempted by not necessarrily LodgeNet, but something like it in a dull Pensylvanian hotel. My parents, unfortunately, were'nt the money having type so I just had to sit there and look at that beautiful NES controller resting on the dresser next to the TV. My newly acquired capsules that grew into sponge animals were hardly good enough to take my eyes off of it either. *sigh*
Hope you all had a Great 4th!!!
-Lucky

Chestnuts roasted by Redlightbulbs @ 07/05/2005 04:09 PM EST

Have any of you seen the new Corn Pops commercial with the hip-hop music video parody?
Funny stuff. Reminds me of the cereal commercials from the early 90s.
It's a pops thang! Sweet crunchy blang-blaaaaang!

Chestnuts roasted by Ekkostar @ 07/05/2005 04:44 PM EST

Matt, what did your parents do that had them having comped hotels?

Also, that Strobe firework from last years fireworks article? Have you used it yet?

Chestnuts roasted by JLAJRC @ 07/05/2005 05:28 PM EST

geez Matt, I think you ended up spending more money in the hotel room renting porn, movies, & games

Chestnuts roasted by celery @ 07/05/2005 06:54 PM EST

i was at a red roof inn last night, and they have the same system, only even lamer. there was no internet, but i could play SUPER NINTENDO for seven bucks an hour. solid value.

Chestnuts roasted by paulo @ 07/05/2005 07:21 PM EST

Hey Matt? Your worst nightmare has come true.

Chestnuts roasted by Kitsune Sniper @ 07/05/2005 08:14 PM EST

Kitsune Sniper: "NOOOOOOOOOO!"

Erik-When is the due date again?
Also, I am proud of you for admiting to crying during BLOODSPORT. Although I think most would cry thinking about the time spent watching the movie that they can never get back.

Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 07/05/2005 10:03 PM EST

Majorwitz- Dang. All this talk about your arriving baby, and still no baby. Try punching her in the stomach. Maybe that'll cause her to vomit the baby. Just kidding. I'm generally against abortion.

Maybe it's just that he's a boy, but his "you know" needs some more growth, so he's gotts stay in a little longer.

Okay, I seriously think I'm on crack right now, cuz I'm thinking up all these weird ideas. I need a drink.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 07/05/2005 10:55 PM EST

Well.... At least it's widescreen, eh?
I'll go hide now.

Chestnuts roasted by Joy @ 07/06/2005 12:08 AM EST

I don't like to admit that there are good points to Ep. I, but the whole "will I ever see you again" bit tore me a new one.

Ep. III I was too freaked out to emote anything other than regret over my personal bouts of holding onto things I fear to lose.

But I lose it over Neo and Morpheus' farewell and Trinity's Death. So, there ya go.

"No the honor is still mine"
"Not without you"

sigh *sniff*

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 07/06/2005 12:25 AM EST

Never been to A.C. but I dont much care for gambling.

Now old video games? There's something I can get behind.

I was never allowed to play the games they had in hotel rooms... I mean, admittedly, the prices are ridiculous. I remember once or twice bringing my Sega Nomad along to keep me entertained, though.

That was before... the Accident. The screen busted (though the backlight still works) and I've never been able to play it since. Rest in peace, good buddy

I was one of those kids who wouldn't think about ordering porn on a hotel television. Not because I wasn't interested, but because I knew a trail would lead back to me.

So flash forward several years, and there's free porn for everyone online! I'm still not sure that's going to prove a good thing in the decades to come when they conduct studies on our generation.

Garbage Pail Kids on DVD, and I STILL don't have my ONE FUCKING SEASON of Nowhere Man? QUIT DRAGGING YOUR FEET!

Chestnuts roasted by Night_Trekker @ 07/06/2005 12:36 AM EST

Constantine on the 19th!!!

Our Lady Peace--Healthy In Paranoid Times on August 30th. Finally.

The Ataris--Welcome the Night

sometime soon supposedly. I haven't been this amped up for something since Nimrod. But Kris won't even speculate a date

Chestnuts roasted by Hall Moniter @ 07/06/2005 12:44 AM EST

that was by far one of the tightest and most well written posts anywhere. Kudos to you. Oh, and my Pikachu can beat down your Pikachu. I played SMB endlessly as you did. Happy posting! (no, I'm not gay. straight people say that too.)

Chestnuts roasted by Xexeter @ 07/06/2005 01:28 AM EST

That was by far one of the tightest and most well written posts anywhere. Kudos to you. Oh, and my Pikachu can beat down your Pikachu. I played SMB endlessly as you did. Happy posting! (no, I'm not gay. straight people say that too.)

Chestnuts roasted by Xexeter @ 07/06/2005 01:28 AM EST

Hey, Great article man. I always get a kick out of the trip reports.

Chestnuts roasted by D-Roc @ 07/06/2005 03:16 AM EST

Manimal,

I'm just an emotional guy I guess. Oh the due date? Well, in Germany, they never change it, though originally it was July 25th. We are currently almost 39 weeks. The "new" due date is July 11th, but we aren't sure if he will come then. Seems like they don't like to induce around here.

I'm ready for her to have him, because...how can I put it nicely? She is just plain mean nowadays. Hard to live with I guess.

Her other two babies (my stepdaughters) were eary (10 days and three weeks) and both babies were nearly 8 lbs. She is also freaking out as school starts again soon and you don't get paid maternity leave around here.

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 07/06/2005 07:24 AM EST

EMajorwitz-
If your wife is as anxious to get JR out as you are tell her to take a walk, not like a stroll, like a 5 hour walk. That kickstarted my labor 11 days before my due date. It's not a myth either, I heard it from my midwife and it worked.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 07/06/2005 08:24 AM EST

I'd like to commend Mr. Clever over in the Cherry Cracker entry for his snooping skills.

But you didn't have to wait for that totally blatent post above to figure it out.

All you had to do was look at the simultaneous rise in the use of smilies.

The answer was always there, smiling at you knowingly.

Chestnuts roasted by Hall Moniter @ 07/06/2005 09:29 AM EST

"When I was going up the stairs, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, I wish, I wish he'd go away"

Grade School law enforcement personnel don't get a second chance!

Okay, that stupidity is done. Sorry Guys

Hall Moniter R.I.P.
(June '05-July '05)

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 07/06/2005 10:30 AM EST

Not that it matters much now but I think the demise of the "Hall Moniter" persona owes much to his inability to spell monitOr.
P.S. no running in the halls!

Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 07/06/2005 10:39 AM EST

Um...that was a deliberate choice. yeah. That was part of the act.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude two months ago and I still can't spell. Higher Education is so proud of me.

That's not to brag. That's to make a point. Degrees do not equal intelligence. I can't even spell my name right

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 07/06/2005 10:59 AM EST

Knegative, what the hell are you babbling on about?

Chestnuts roasted by not kidneyboy...wait yes it is! @ 07/06/2005 11:08 AM EST

EMajorwitz, Congrats on FINALLY being able to see Ep III!

Can't say I ever had the slightest notion of crying during it...but I sure did get a few good laughs at some of the acting/writing. "Annie, Hold me like you did back on Naboo..." HA!

Chestnuts roasted by bad karma @ 07/06/2005 11:42 AM EST

Bad Karma: That's one of the best lines. I almost wet myself laughing. My brother and I still walk up to each other and shriek "You're breaking my heart, Annie" about 5 times a day (I think the line was worded a little differently, but that's how it has exolved over the weeks).

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 07/06/2005 12:16 PM EST

Oh, and might I add that this Full Metal Alchemist ad is the worst one I've encountered yet? The giant pop-out part just comes back every time I hit close.

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 07/06/2005 12:17 PM EST

I like how Yoda's attitude was,"Oh, great! This all going to hell, gotta find a place to hide until Ep. V!" then he gets into the Capsule Corp. rocket pod.
Get ready for a slew of suggestions for inducing labor, Erik. Making her laugh long and hardy always seemed like a good idea to me. Babys come when they want, how they want, I've observed. Just use this time to go over all your checklists and such. Or to take up a new hobby.

Chestnuts roasted by and I remain, as always, kingklash @ 07/06/2005 12:32 PM EST

I was astonished when I first read the website a long time ago and noticed that people still go to Atlantic City out of desire to... I live in Trenton and still I have the irrational fear that if I go to AC I'm going to come home less of a person either due to dismemberment or self-induced injuries trying to escape an even worse predicament. And broke is a definate.

That said, I went up to Canada a couple years ago, where a similar service was much more shoddy. The only thing of note was Tekken 3, and since two controllers were handy, my friend and I could duel. Even though we could have left the hotel and went two blocks to a real arcade in Chinatown where charming and friendly young asian girls could beat the tar out of us at a less expesive rate, we sat there, stone faced, eating abysmal room service pizza and hitting buttons that worked only 30% of the time.

And also, poutines.

Chestnuts roasted by oh @ 07/06/2005 01:41 PM EST

Wait a second.. ExciteBike 64 and Latex Housewives? I'm so there!

Chestnuts roasted by Review the World @ 07/06/2005 02:02 PM EST

LodgeNet? Is that how Veronica tries to catch Archie?

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 07/06/2005 04:40 PM EST

Like I said, maybe because I'm about to be a father is why I teared up for Star Wars, but man, I so wanted to kick Annakin's ass.

The most hilarious part was when he got his ass handed to him by Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan: I have the high ground.

Two seconds later: Annakin loses three limbs.

Mark Hamill as Cocknocker: Don't f**k with the Jedi Master son!

If only Obi-Wan uttered that, it would have been the best Star Wars movie ever!!!

Oh, still no baby...and I've yet to see Star Wars Episode VII.

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 07/06/2005 04:47 PM EST

SUPER SMASH BROS!!!! Thats game rocks. That and Perfect Dark was all me and 3 of my friends did for a year. Sometimes i still break them out.

Chestnuts roasted by Gorm @ 07/06/2005 06:14 PM EST

Better wash that quarter...

Chestnuts roasted by The Yeti @ 07/06/2005 07:56 PM EST

EMajorwitz, in my family there are two tried and true ways to send someone into labor. One is spicy food, and the other is water volleyball.

I wish you and your wife luck and congratulations.

Chestnuts roasted by Rose Arcana @ 07/06/2005 09:00 PM EST

Erik, sex works to start labor. It may not be the most fun you've had in bed, what w/ the big belly and flouncing hormones, but there's a chemical in the semen that will kickstart the cervix if it's ready. Just think, you won't be able to do it for 6 weeks after the baby is born (or even longer, if you're both too tired), so get it while you can.

I'm dying to know how much your room charges were, Matt. What did your friends say when they saw the bill? Did you gamble w/ the Found Fiver?

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 07/06/2005 09:45 PM EST

To the person who asked earlier: Getting a comped room in AC isn't hard at all, really. This one was comped. Since most players use a card (which you get for free - it looks like a CC and goes into the machines/tables), the casino can track your play. Based on how much you put in (lose) and how much you play (use what you've won), you're granted rewards ranging from room comps to restaurant comps in varying degrees of goodness. Getting a free room Thurs and Fri night (I had off Fri, friends took off) took some of the sting out of our losses. Plus, we had about 100 bucks worth of food comps, so we got to eat nice for (almost) free, too. Don't get me wrong, it's still a waste of money, but there are efforts made to make it feel not so much like a waste of money.

Traj: An Atlantic City tradition in my group of friends over the past few years has been: If we go, I'm getting an article out of it. That takes some of the sting out of the losses, too. And sure enough, I've been to Atlantic City only about 2-3 more times than I've posted about it since starting the site.

The Borgata is pretty far from the boardwalk though, and to be honest, I wasn't in the mood to do the big trek, and if I'm not in the mood, there's no point in doing the article. So I chalked up our bill to the need for an article. Obviously, I wouldn't have these pictures if I didn't plan to write about it. I'm just hoping nobody realizes that the charges outweigh the amount "spent" within the article. Let's keep that to ourselves.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 07/06/2005 09:56 PM EST

Um...that was a deliberate choice. yeah. That was part of the act.
Posted by Knegative @ 07/06/2005 10:59 AM EST

Erik,
They also say that Oil of Evening Primrose works but I can't verify that since the wife tried it but she probably would have gone into labor anyway. Remember, E. Claire was 9 days late so it is best not to go over too much.

Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 07/06/2005 11:14 PM EST

Yep, that was just for you Manimal.

A teacher correcting me, imagine that. I'm used to it

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 07/07/2005 12:46 AM EST

I certainly hope they find those responsible for the tragic events in London today and punish them accordingly.

My heart goes out to those injured or killed and their families.

Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz

Chestnuts roasted by EMajorwitz @ 07/07/2005 08:26 AM EST

Any English out there that check out X-E: All of us over here across the pond wish you the best.

Chestnuts roasted by jhnnywalkr @ 07/07/2005 09:10 AM EST

Just heard the news about London here in Korea (11:41 PM now) Horrible stuff. Thank God there are things like XE that make you forget about the real life crappy things going on. Sometimes it's better to ignore reality.

Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 07/07/2005 10:42 AM EST

Do we have any Londoners here? I have no idea who any of you all might be from London, so I don't know if I should be worried if you don't check in. *scratches head*

Well, at least you got a free steak out of it, Matt. And, a pretty gold bag. Maybe you could cut it up and make karoake stage for all of the new Star Wars figurine additions?

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 07/07/2005 12:55 PM EST

We have "family" over in Tor Point, Cornwall, and I expect them to call some time soon. Just to let us know they're doing all right. When they were here in the States a couple of years ago, they were amazed by the weather.

Saw Batman Begins last night. Pretty good film. So, how does one pronounce "Ra's" anyway? Roz or Raysh?

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 07/07/2005 03:00 PM EST

If you were a fan of the 90's animated series, you'll pronounce it "Raysh".

Chestnuts roasted by The Yeti @ 07/07/2005 05:13 PM EST

Lodgenet doesn't have an option for SNES any more? Atlantic City was the first place I ever played Lost Vikings. Too bad the closest we can ever get to it again is Sonic Heroes. For shame, Sega, for shame.

Chestnuts roasted by Garaxy Conboy @ 07/07/2005 05:31 PM EST

I do pronounce it "Raysh," but in the movie, I kept expecting a diner waitress to come out and call Wayne "Detective." Roz Al Ghul, she runs the noodle shop at the base of the mountain. "Want coffee with your Beef Bowl, hon?"

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 07/07/2005 06:25 PM EST

Matt, on the pay-per-play music system, how much was it per song? And how much were the music videos per play?

I love those mimiature condiments. Where did you get those? The restaurant you got the gold doggy bag?

Chestnuts roasted by Destro @ 07/07/2005 07:36 PM EST

No, they came with room service. They always do.

I can't remember how much the songs went for, but it was absurd enough not to try.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 07/07/2005 07:38 PM EST

Matt, I'm in Redmond. I was just at the Nintendo Employee Store & Museum yestarday, and let me tell you, that hotel is not out of date. Nintendo hasn't made a GCN version of the Gateway system.

Chestnuts roasted by "MR. GAME & WATCH" @ 07/08/2005 10:31 PM EST

Brings back memories from when I used to play Street Fighter II at the Comfort Inn.

Chestnuts roasted by CheezNapkin @ 07/10/2005 05:46 PM EST

Smash Bros. is the best! My friends and I would play the 99 minute matches and we would lose nights doing that. One of my friends always used Pikachu (with party hat Pika ) and kicked our asses. One 99 minute match he had 54 kills and we all had -60. Ahhh...the good ol' days. Both games are good, but the first will always be the best!

Chestnuts roasted by kos22mos @ 07/12/2005 10:48 PM EST

Oh and one more thing Matt-if you listen to the background music on the Yoshi's Story level in Super Smash Bros. for N64, it sounds like they ripped it off from the theme for Garfield and Friends!

Chestnuts roasted by kos22mos @ 07/12/2005 10:56 PM EST

Classic trip How could you NOT go for the latex ladies?

Let's see...

Bad movies...
N64 Smash...
Pikachu...
Porn...

Seems like your friends missed all the fun!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Xhadoe @ 07/13/2005 12:01 PM EST

I heard about the attacks in London when I was getting ready to begin my commute to Philly for my internship. Needless to say, every time I say that nothing exciting happens when I'm interning, something does happen. Too bad its always something bad.

Chestnuts roasted by Allison @ 07/13/2005 02:00 PM EST

Allison, I'm starting to agree with you. I heard about the attacks on London at - no joke - Damion's Bar and Grill in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. My mom, brother, and I were making a shopping trip to the big malls and stopped at Damion's for a late lunch, where we saw the news on their big-screen TVs. I hope all bloggers who live in England are all right, and know that our hearts are with you.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 07/14/2005 08:24 PM EST