Nintendo names its console...a little wanker

So I'm not sure what Nintendo execs are smoking over across that pond to the left, but damn that must be some heavy shit. Who the hell names a console a Wii? I mean, that's not even close to a word. They claim the name is intended to be universal and not abbreviated anywhere. My theory? Maybe they thought they could really accomplish their goal of opening gaming up to new markets...children learning their first words, perhaps? Ma, Da, Wii. Makes perfect sense. The parents aren't going to know if the kid is making his Christmas wish or hosing down his drawers. In reality, perhaps they can save money on marketing or something. But there better be some redeeming feature, because otherwise I give it a thumbs down. Even if they did want to call it something dumb in Japan, there was never anything wrong with naming systems differently over here than there. Everyone knew what it was anyway. Well, chalk it up to another misstep at the once-king-now-pauper of gaming. What early 80's child would have thought that Nintendo would be an afterthought in the gaming community?

On the eve of 1L completion...

Well, tomorrow will somewhat silently mark a milestone in the lives of about 65 people between about ages 20 and 30. As we leave our LAPP exam tomorrow, battle-worn and arguably wiser than we were on August 22, 2005, we will be able to come home, leave town, work, not work, sleep, not sleep, and just flat out not think about class until the September sun is nearly upon us. In any case, I don't really know if I can think of a "fitting" end to this crazy 8+ month incursion into the real world. Perhaps we would best be served by recalling that while most soon-to-be 2Ls are celebrating the fact that they will have plenty of tee times and midday benders to look forward to in the next two years, we have just entered the lion's den of writing assignments, nonstandardized course curriculum, and PC insanity. How Baylor-esque.
Indeed, we have learned to deal with the challenges that have come and gone, and perhaps they have actually helped prepare us for what lies ahead....but if the bar exam is where we are supposed to shine and make it all worthwhile, is it really worth the ~5% difference in bar passage rates? I imagine there must be more...

Google: Savior of Humanity or That Weird Bump Near Your Ankle?

Ok...I think it needs to be said for Johnny-come-latelies like myself. The Google Maps API is quite possibly the greatest invention of recent times. With enough programming gusto and sheer will, I could easily map the way to a destination beyond the far reaches of the galaxy. Or so it feels. This is going to require some fiddling, but I'm pretty sure I can get this thing to dance the (non-horizontal) mambo...or just work in fairly effective ways that even PDF maps could not. Unfortunately, I'm still also working on my other, unrelated project: overcoming the human condition. Since that is still a ways from fruition, this must wait until tomorrow. If only sleep really was just for the dead...