For the past couple of days, this music has been very close to the surface of my consciousness. When I hear it in my head, it’s always the Nintendo Entertainment System version, with it’s 16-note symphony.

Link’s theme hasn’t changed over the years, although these days it sounds as though a symphony plays it. (Sometimes, a symphony does play it.)

The reason this music has been so present lately is that I knew that today I’d be setting up a Nintendo Wii and trying out the new Zelda game, Twilight Princess, for the first time.

Knowing that was enough to get the theme playing on the internal soundtrack regularly.

The Osbournes led to The Simple Life led to . . . Entourage?

Entourage, the television show that is reportedly loosely based on the life of Mark Wahlberg, isn’t the first “fictional” show to have been spawned by a reality show trend.

It seems that our obsession with celebrities goes so far that we’ll watch something that is remotely associated with a mega-star.

Coming soon: Now I’ve Got You, a new show “inspired by” the life of Mimi Rogers when she was married to Tom Cruise.

Read more in this week’s Channel Changer.

It’s been a very busy month in the video-game industry, what with the release of the PS3 and Wii consoles last weekend.

While there were reports of fights in the lineups for the PS3, gamers in line for the Wii self-initiated a sign-up sheet. Both systems sold out, although I read reports today that Sony and Nintendo are restocking retailers as of today.

My roundup of last weekend’s launches of the PS3 and Wii published today in the Straight.

EDIT: 5:40 p.m.
I just noticed a typo in the column. The first quote from SCEC‘s Matt Levitan should read: “The more time people spend with the PS3, the more they realize it is worth the price.”

I’m not sure when it became traditional for metal bands to include ballads in their repertoire (Chuck Klosterman could probably tell me), but I find it interesting that so many bands that are supposedly all about thrashing it out are better known for their hopeless romantic blatherings in ballad form.

Especially the hair metal bands.

KISS? Beth.

Poison? Every Rose Has its Thorn.

Bon Jovi? Bed of Roses.

Def Leppard? Love Bites.

Guns N’ Roses? Don’t Cry.

For me, this morning, it was Nothing Else Matters, from Metallica’s eponymous album. I wouldn’t consider Metallica to be a hair band, but still . . .

One of the things I love most about the way the Internet is changing is that I can check in on what very smart people are thinking and seeing and believing.

Neil Gaiman was sent the following video by his friend, Jonathan Carroll, and I’m putting it here so I can seem as clever by association.

This is the most droll thing ever, and that it comes from Finland is quite appropriate. I dedicate this to my good friend, K, who showed me the beauty of Helsinki and the Finns.

I believe in the Helsinki Complaints Choir.