Ensight – Jeremy Wright

For any author /publisher, “earning out” is a huge milestone. Most books don’t “earn out”. Earning out is basicall when you pay off your advance and start earning royalties. As of this morning, the book has earned out.

Sorry, too tired for more analysis. Time for a snack and lots and lots of sleep.

It’s been too long since my last video. Not for lack of inspiration though, as my music library continues to grow fairly steadily these days. Today’s song is one that’s been in my head for the last few days. Ironic then then that when it came time to write this I had to Google for the words “move along” to actually remember it

So here’s the video:

While the lyrics might seem a little down and depressed (no, I won’t call it emo as it’s a bit too rock / vanilla punk).

In my head, this song is “okay, life sucks, but you can take it one step at a time”. It tends to appeal to me when I’m under the most stress. But when I sing it (and, yes, I’ve been known to blast it at full volume screaming my head off in the car (alone,heh)) I always go well beyond the “just take another step”. I get to the “hell yeah, I can thrive on this” place which is critical to actually succeed in difficult tasks.

Another song that does this for me is Eminem’s Lose Yourself (lyrics, as I might do this as a video another week).

Anyways, no, I’m not depressed, just going through one of those times where you have to keep your head up, your energy up and your wits about you even if you’re working 20 hour days for weeks on end. So energy’s a good thing. Speaking of which, I need Red Bull…

So Nintendo’s new console, the Wii, now has a launch date and price.

$250USD, November 19 (Dec 2 in Japan), including Wii Sports, a new Wii controller, the second Wii controller (each person gets 2), receivers and batteries for the receivers.

Launch games include (thanks Joystiq): The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Excite Truck, Trauma Center, Madden 07, Need for Speed: Carbon, Elebits, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, Metal Slug Anthology, Rayman: Raving Rabids, Red Steel, Barnyard, Cars, Avatar, Blazing Angels, Far Cry: Vengeance.

So that’s the facts. Some folk are angry that the console isn’t “less than 250$” as Nintendo had promised, at least not really. Some are angry that it isn’t being released before the PS3 (launches 2 days earlier).

Personally, I won’t be buying the Wii at the pricepoint that it’s launching at. For 100-150$ I might think about it. But not at 250$. Sure, the 250$ includes a game. And sure the game’s worth 50$. But I would never buy it, so the game’s worthless to me. Besides, an Xbox 360 is only 50$ more. Yeah, it’s the cut down version. But the cut down version compares nicely with the Wii (except that the 360 is more powerful and will have 100 more games).

That’s not to say it won’t do well. The Wii will launch with about 2M consoles, more than 1.5M more than the PS3. And I’m confident they’ll sell out of those (as will the PS3). My biggest concern is the launch lineup for both systmes. Besides Legends of Zelda, Rayman and Red Steel, nothing even vaguely appeals to me.

Anyways, the Wii will do well. I’m pretty sure the new controller system will even go over well. But, once that initial rush is over, it could be tough going. Fighting against the 360, without real online play, less games, less “classic” games, a nearly identical price point, less high profile games… Really the only saving grace for the Wii after that first rush is the new controller and some of the games that go with it.

I only wish Nintendo the best. I’ve been a huge Nintendo fan since my first NES and Mario. I’d never want Nintendo to pull a Sega. I’m just really concerned that they aren’t doing anything this generation to position themselves as a leader. And considering Sony’s doing everything in their power to ensure that the PS3 fails, that really only leaves the 360. And my concern is, as always, that given a leadership position, that Microsoft will stop innovating.

In short, while I won’t buy a Wii at first (or until there are games I must, must have), I’m pulling for the little guy to make a big enough mark to pressure Microsoft, inspire developers and lay another nail into the PS3.

I’m like the worst geek in the world. I had my RAZR for a year, and never once used the bluetooth on it… So, until today, I was a Bluetooth virgin.

During my recent trip I took lots of pictures and video, and I’m trying to get those off of the SLVR onto the Vaio… But I have no idea how. I *think* I managed to pair them. I can now use the Vaio to do dial-up networking through the phone (not that I would).

But I can’t get pics off or anything… Anyway, if someone wants to help me pop my bluetooth cherry, that’d be great

I’ve enjoyed showing some videos lately. Mainly because it should (over time) start to show off of my weird musical tastes. The only way to really describe my taste is it has to have good rhythm, great melodies, and generally has to make me feel something. As a result you’ll see playlists that range from Eminem to Evanescence to Coldplay to Moulin Rouge…

Anyways, Flyleaf is my personal sequel to Evanescence, and here’s one of their better videos