GAMES. nintendo Wii

this is not exactly what i expected. when i heard that nintendo had finally announced the name of their latest console, i quickly hunted down the websites to hear the latest news. and this is what they announce: the nintendo revolution will now be called the nintendo wii.
hmm, really?!? i wasnt quite sure what to think. at first i wondered how one would go about saying 'wii'. is it like 'we', or is it like 'why'? after reading a bit more i saw that its pronounced 'we'.
its still i bit shocking to me. ive been really pumped about this console for a long time now (yes, i am a major nintendo fanboy) and each new surprise they announce has left me very stunned. the ideas they are coming up with are just so different that it takes a while for them to sink in. the first sight of the box itself, the first look at the controller, and now this.
im not really going to make a judgement on the name itself, yet. when i first saw the controller it took me a few days to understand what it could mean and the changes in would allow. i hated it at first and thought nintendo had blown it, but i quickly began to understand and get really excited about it. im thinking i should wait and allow this name to sink in as well.
i need to try it on for a few days and see if it fits.

by the way, here is what Nintendo has to say about the new name:

Introducing ... Wii.As in "we."
While the code-name "Revolution" expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer.
Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else.Wii will put people more in touch with their games ... and each other. But you're probably asking: What does the name mean?Wii sounds like "we," which emphasizes this console is for everyone.Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.Wii has a distinctive "ii" spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play.And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart from the crowd.So that's Wii. But now Nintendo needs you.Because, it's really not about you or me.It's about Wii.And together, Wii will change everything.

COMIC BOOKS. understanding comics

i just rediscovered a website that i used to visit fairly regularly. back when i used to teach art this one came in handy a lot for coming up with new ideas and interesting concepts.
its the homepage of a guy named scott mccloud. he is a comic book writer and illustrator who wrote a book called 'understanding comics'. it is a really amazing book, it looks at the structure and rules of the comic book art form. what makes it even more fun, is that it is actually a comic book itself! scott mccloud draws himself to the book as a guide through the world of comic art, its really quite ingenious! he goes into a bit of depth about the history of the illustrated cartoon. he discusses the real definition of art. he breaks down the rules of comic books, such as pacing, iconography, what happens between the panels, etc. it is an incredibly interesting read. it will totally change your view of what a comic book is and what it can be. in fact, when i used to teach art i would do a unit on comic books and i would use a chapter out of this book as a textbook of sorts.

TV. the office

i totally love this show, and just yesterday i discovered this. it is a bobblehead of dwight schrute. for sale here.
must purchase now...

TV. american inventor

man, this show really sucks. ive watched it a few times hoping that it would get better, but it doesnt, it just keeps sucking.
the show has such a great premise, the idea of finding the next great invention. when i first heard about the show i was excited because i thought it might be cool to see new crazy inventions or fun new gadgets and stuff. thats what i hoped for, but that is not what the show gives us. here is the problem: instead of focusing on the cool inventions they focus on the sad story of the person who created it. the show is just one big long sob fest with short breaks to take a second or two to show the invention. and dont even get me started on the judges... they seem to be looking for a sad story to sell instead of a good invention that they could make money on. im sorry, but i dont buy a product because the guy who made it gets choked up and cries like a wussy when he talks about how excited he is to share his invention. just give me a show about the cool stuff being invented and leave the emotional manipulation to extreme makeover: home edition.

TV. attack of the show

i know most of you have never heard of 'attack of the show,' but its one of my favorites. and last week there was quite a shocker! for clarifications sake, let me explain the show: its an hour long show about the latest tech, gaming, and internet news. it covers movies, comics, and music too. its just an all around pop culture news type show. and on the show there are a few hosts. my favorite is kevin pereira, but i also really like sarah lane, brendan moran, and will oneal. the four of them are quite witty, really funny, and have a great chemistry together. but on thursday that all came to an end. sarah and brendan announced that they are leaving the show. it turns out sarah and brendan got engaged (i had heard they were dating, but they never let on on the show) and decided that they are going to take a year off and travel the world. crazy...
i guess its really great for them and i know they will have a great life, but what about the show!?! i know kevin can handle himself, but i wonder how much things will change? guess i could just watch it when it comes on in about an hour and find out for myself. yeah, i think ill give that a try.

GAMES. settlers of catan

ive never much liked strategy games. for me, 'risk' is about as complicated as i like to get. some of my friends in high school would always like to play axis and allies but i was never interested. another game they would play was settlers of catan. i figured this one was to complex for me too so i never tried it.
this weekend robb convinced me to give it a shot. i really liked it! i was wrong, this game isnt complex at all, it just looks like it is. in case youve never played, ill give you a quick rundown: you need to try and build towns, roads, and cities by collecting cards with different materials like clay and wood. its very fun and the gameboard changes each game which allows for a totally different game each time you play.

AUDIO BOOKS. teeth of the tiger

another book on cd i listened to on my trip to minnisota was 'teeth of the tiger' by tom clancy. i dont have any particular interest in clancys books, but i picked this one up for a different reason. one of the most important parts of a book on cd is the reader. the reader has to be good- after all, im going to be listening to his voice for the next six hours! one of the first books on cd i had ever heard was read by a guy named stephen lang and i really loved his voice. now i go to the library looking for what ever he read- not even caring who wrote it or what its about! if you dont know who stephen lang is, let me tell you: he played pickett in the movie gettysburg, and he was 'stonewall' jackson in gods and generals (both of which i really loved).
anyway, about the book: it was pretty good. i havent really kept up with the story of jack ryan at all, but the last book on cd of his that i heard (also read by stephen lang, go figure) jack was about to become the president of the united states. this one talkes place a few years after ryan is already out of office. the main characters are two of jack ryans nephews and jacks son (which i didnt even know he had one). it was about a group of terrorists who plan four attacks on middle america to scare us, and the three guys try to track down who was responsible and take them down. the story was interesting and kept me awake- which is really what it was for...
the one annoyance is that the book ended before the story did. but, i guess thats how tom clancy keeps people buying his next book.

AUDIO BOOKS. nothing's sacred

i did a bit of traveling over the weekend. i was planning ahead and figured id get a few books on cd at the library (it always makes driving time just fly by). the selection was limited, but i did find the book 'nothing's sacred' by lewis black. about my only familiarity with lewis black is from his occasional segments 'back in black' on the daily show. i really like his bits on that show and i figured id give it a shot. also, the book is read by lewis himself, which is absolutely necessary- most of the humor in his jokes comes from his delivery.
the book was quite interesting. its more of a biography/opinion type of book. he goes into the people in his family as well as his life in college and theater, but he also digs into his opinion about everything from religion to candy corn (the bit about candy corn is hands-down the funniest part of the whole book!). now, i dont often agree with his opinions, but his perspective is certainly unique and interesting. it made for many laughs, some thoughtful insight, and a very quick drive to minnisota, what more could i ask?