Let it sink in. Let it really sink in...

Wii are the revolution.

This just in, Nintendo has just released the official name for their up coming system (code-named Revolution). It will be called "Wii", pronounced 'we'. That's right, W, i, i, Wii. Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. It's kind of a kooky name and they have their crazy Japanese reasons for it:

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 videogame 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 the 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 playing it. And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of videogames 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.

So, the Nintendo Wii. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that I like the name, it feels futuristic, it's a little bizarre but that's what I've come to expect from Nintendo.. just a little bit funny. (Not ha-ha funny, but odd funny). I'm really looking forward to the Nintendo Wii, and if you are too I think wii are going to have some fun with it. (sorry, I just had to make a pun. Peter would have.)

The Office [US].

I love uncomfortable, slightly dark, awkward humor and that's what the Office delivers. I don't normally laugh out loud at TV shows, instead, when I find something funny I tend to laugh them off in my head. This show, however, along with The Daily Show gets me laughing my ass off. It is brilliant. It's been a few weeks since a new one has come out, so between sessions of GalCiv2 I've been watching past shows on my computer. Thankfully there is a new one on tonight at 8:30 cst so I'll get my fix. Don't let anyone fool you, the U.S. Office is just as good as the British Office, and in my personal opinion, better.

Prudence, indeed.

This is an article that I wrote and posted on newsvine.com, a social-voting news site where people like you and me write articles and other users vote on what they agree with. It's a cool site, this article I wrote only got 5 votes and never got to the front page but I thought it had something important to say.


Prudence, indeed. A Question for all Americans to answer.

There should come a time in every American's life when they look towards their Government and ask this question quietly to themselves: Has this Form of Government become destructive towards the equality, the life, the liberty and the happiness of its people? It is a soul searching question, one full of frightening and upsetting possibilities. Prudence, it is said, should be taken when even considering the duty of the governed to throw off a long standing, yet abusive Government. It is no simple matter to undertake, and in the Modern age seemingly almost impossible. Yet when will the people know they have been prudent enough? Will their be signs from heaven to guide them? Will they be able to make the correct decisions without the helping hands of the Founding Fathers and their seemingly eternal wisdom?

In an era of endless war against Terror the American Government has chosen to go down a dangerous path. One of lies and aggression. And while the American people continue to be prudent in the face of this fact there are those Americans among us who are quietly asking themselves that single question, and searching for their answer.

Will it be any good?

With Heroes of Might and Magic V just around the corner I decided to give the demo a try, hoping that it would be better then Heroes IV (I don't remember why 4 was so distasteful but I do remember sitting in Han's basements in awe of how they could go from the brilliant 3 to something less captivating). Anyway, so I downloaded the demo from gamespot, willing to give it a fair try, installed it, and played a good 20 minutes in order to get a feel for the game (I'll play a little bit more, later). Now I might be a little bit biased, but Heroes 3 was such a freaking awesome game because it felt so intuitive. Everything just flowed so nicely and even the new player could just "get it" after 10 minutes of play. Heroes of Might and Magic V, while it has a lot of the same flavor and feel of III, doesn't seem to have the same elegance. I of course will have to play the game a little bit longer, but it DOES seem to be a hell of a lot better the IV. What I want is your opinion, I know some of you are big fans of Heroes III, even playing long stretches of hot seat into wee hours of the morning, high off caffeine and crazy laughter. Those were good times. If you've got the time, download this demo, try it out, and let me know what you think. The jury's still out for me.

This is what I'm talking about.

Maybe some of you already know about this website, I didn't until Amanda's Dad brought it to my attention. Lulu.com is a print on demand publishing website that allows you to create your own books, cds, and other media without having to come up with the capital first. In other words, you upload a word document of the book you have written, a cover and a back cover, set a price point and it's published. Then when someone buys your book, the folks at Lulu will print it for the buyer and send it off. That way the buyer is paying for the printing cost and the author doesn't. Lulu makes 20% of what you profit, and everybody's golden.

Something like this could be used to publish Peter's comic book he's writing. I know I'd buy a copy.. or when the Prynn Story or perhaps the Ashitaka story are finished, we could publish those too. (Books part of the "Groven Myth Series") This way we wouldn't have to come up with all that much money, and then we would have solid physical books of our work. How cool is that?

And then if we could figure a way to have our books catch on (the tricky part).. well that would be sweet too.

There are a few ideas of books that I'd like to see in physical form... a comprehensive book on the Groven Myth Setting for one. Maybe a children's illustrated book on Cobalt's murder of Apple-Tree-Man or how he escape the fists of Quercus and was captured by the Dwarves. And since D20 is an open license we could even put together some sort of D&D book.. (or maybe Han's could publish Swordcraft)... or we could publish a rule set of a totally different Table top game. The possibilities are endless. Lulu.com seems like an amazing service.

To bad Brain Snacks is no longer with us cause I'd bet we could've gotten permission to sell our books there too... :)

So young authors, what do you think?

Quick post.

For those who might have missed it. The Galactic Civilization 2 Demo has been released. I haven't tried it out (obviously, cause I own the game) but I trust Stardock to make a great demo that'll give interested folk a taste of what GalCiv2 is like. Enjoy.