Author Archives

Monday, March 24th, 2008 • Features

Easter? Easter!

Easter is a widely celebrated holiday with some bizarre traditions. Holiday expert Kevin Nguyen explains the connections between Jesus, Peeps, and Yahtzee.

Monday, March 10th, 2008 • Features

The iPhone and My Demise: A Cautionary Tale

Apple fanboy Kevin Nguyen runs into trouble when his reliance on the iPhone grows to unmanageable proportions, and his favorite device becomes self-aware.

Monday, February 11th, 2008 • Features

Please Consider That You Could Be Wrong

Kevin Nguyen talks reincarnation, Cheetos, and dwarf stars with a personified religious pamphlet.

Friday, February 8th, 2008 • Arts

Why Authors Should Understand Typography

Though writing and layout have traditionally been separated, McSweeney’s fanboy Kevin Nguyen discusses the importance of typographic elements in modern fiction.

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 • Features

Anyone Can Play Guitar: “Rock Band” Makes Videogames Social

And we don’t mean “trash talking through your headset” social. Pseudo-rockstar Kevin Nguyen sees Rock Band, the unofficial, full-band successor to Guitar Hero, as the future direction of videogames: a social activity.

Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 • Features

Everything You Need to Know About Dating

Known for his “Don Juan” vanity license plate, Kevin Nguyen shares his surefire tips for a successful date.

Friday, December 21st, 2007 • Travel

Czech Republic: Christmas Time is Here

This is the eleventh installment in a series of essays by globe-trotter Kevin Nguyen, who is currently studying at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. With good holiday spirits, Kevin attempts to wrap his head around Czech Christmas traditions, which involve rope, blackface, magical pigs, and the Second Coming.

Friday, December 14th, 2007 • Travel

Czech Republic: Bankrot

This is the tenth installment in a series of essays by globe-trotter Kevin Nguyen, who is currently studying at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Suffering from the falling U.S. dollar, Kevin goes Christmas shopping at the country’s strangest chain of bargain stores.

Friday, December 7th, 2007 • Travel

Czech Republic: Rock ‘n Roll Revolution or How a Psychedelic Rock Band Freed a Country from the Tyranny of Communism

This is the ninth installment in a series of essays by globe-trotter Kevin Nguyen, who is currently studying at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. Many bands sing about change, but few ever really impact the country’s political climate. Inspired by a simple desire to make music, Czech psychedelic rock outfit the Plastic People of the Universe accidentally became directly responsible for the Velvet Revolution.

Friday, November 30th, 2007 • Arts

Back to the Future

Animated sci-fi sitcom Futurama made its triumphant return last week in the form of a direct-to-DVD movie. Kevin Nguyen discusses the show’s brilliance and its critiques of our modern world.