Three years ago, we set out to design and build an entirely new class of device—a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The result is Amazon Kindle.

We designed Kindle to provide an exceptional reading experience. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen.

[ Amazon.com: Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device: Kindle Store ]

This device seems to be getting panned in the comments on its page on Amazon.com, but I think the way millions of people have fallen in love with their iPods, this is the device for me. I have some concerns:

1. What is Sprint coverage like? At my house?
2. How long will the Sprint coverage be free?
3. What if the books I want never find their way onto the device?
4. Do I have to email files to be converted? Will I be able to USB transfer them?
5. How much does an SD card hold?

1. Free wireless access to Wikipedia!
2. Includes a Dictionary!

Just for those 2 items I'd carry this thing around everywhere and irritate everyone with my constant research on all sorts of minutia.

Update: It has arrived. Review to follow shortly.

[ Don't be a Jerky... ]

Zack & Wiki Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure Nintendo Wii Capcom USA Everyone C

Bizarre. I generally like Capcom games. After Nintendo and Ubisoft they are probably my next favorite game studio. I generally agree with critics, when they all agree. But apparently in this case it's the sales that I agree with.

What's right about Zack and Wiki? The graphics are nice, the sound is top notch, the game engine even seems pretty decent. The puzzles aren't so easy that it's just a clicking game. What's wrong with Z&W? It's cutesy, cutesy, cutesy. Zack's sidekick Wiki makes seriously irritating noises and just won't shut up. The puzzles? Too easy for me, and the universe is too "childish" to not get irritating quick. So it's a great title for kids? I don't think so. I think the world will appeal to 5-7 year old, perhaps, and based on how difficult the puzzles were getting, they'll never get too far in the game without resorting to "try everything until something doesn't kill me" and back that up with "use the hint/cheat book" or they'll never finish it. This means that it's "wrappings" are targeted toward one age group, but the difficulty and fun is targeted toward a much older group. And for me that means, I'm glad I rented it, and I'm not playing this one past the first couple of levels.

The new 3D Mario Platformer is here. Each Nintendo console gets some sort of Mario Platformer game, and staring with the Nintendo 64 they've been 3D. Super Mario Galaxy plays very similar to Super Mario Sunshine, but everything is kicked up a notch. The worlds are also now wrapped around little planets making for some brain bending requirements when jumping around. Unlike Sunshine you aren't paired up with F.L.U.D.D. but with a Luma (that's the little star guy on the game cover) that allows you to fly through outer space and to spin around and break things.

So far? I've already found myself playing longer than I had allotted. It's hard to put this game down. Day 2 and I've already completed all the basic requirements in the first Galaxy (though I still have to go back for bonus items when the opportunity presents itself). And I've already been to a planet where Mario gets to wear a suit ala Super Mario 3's Tanooki Suit, though I won't tell you what the suit is (play the game to find out...).

There are also some special levels that really test your platforming skills. As is usual for a 3D Super Mario platforming title, you don't need to get all of the items to complete the game, but as is usual I will attempt to get every last item. I'm not yet ready to score this title, since I haven't completed the game, but unless you are Dari, and you own a Wii, you should be buying this one.

Update: Rating this one A. Haven't finished yet, but I have rescued the princess...

Back in the day Dari wrote up a little piece about this time of year, but everyone who had it lost it. This year Dari has resurrected the piece in spirit, so read it, laugh, and then make copies!

Upon entering your local Starbucks, stride purposefully to the counter to place your order. You want a Gingerbread Latte, and you shall not be denied. Whether that latte be venti, decaf, or skim be sure to project your order with certainty and pride. Let all the other customers know what you are about to do. They will admire you.

[ Getting the Best Out of Your Starbucks Gingerbread Latte ]

Image Courtesy of georgie_grd on Flickr.

I have two daughters, and hope to have more, but at some point they are no longer little girls, and head off for higher education. Every parent has aspirations for their children, whether it is to follow in their footsteps, or aspire to bigger and better things.

Nate sent me a link today that helps me to know what direction to push my children. A comparison of universities around the world? Nope. A comprehensive breakdown of the best programs by subject? Nope. An article on the earning potential of the top universities? Nope. It was this:

the Cal marching band performed a slew of videogame related songs during the half-time show of this past weekend’s football game, starting with the Tetris theme.

[ Capcom US - The Blog » Blog Archive » Cal (Berkeley) Marching Band Plays Video Game Music ]

Too cool.

Vimperator is a free browser add-on for Firefox, which makes it look and behave like the Vim text editor. It has similar key bindings, and you could call it a modal web browser, as key bindings differ according to which mode you are in.

[ Vimperator :: Firefox Add-ons ]

But I do love vim. I may just have to switch to FireFox as my default browser...

Props to Nick.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Nintendo Wii Nintendo Teen A

I'm four hours into the game and since I know that some of you are dying to find out, here's my impression so far: it's everything I hoped and possibly more.

The back story seems to have greatly expanded in this one, some of the hunters from the DS Hunters game are in this one as well, which makes Samus seem less like a lone champion for good and justice and more like a lonely champion who prefers to work alone. We've seen a bit of that in her GBA games, but in MP3:C we see her interact with more Federation troops and the other hunters who seem to know her reputation rather well.

Since I only finished about 98% of the last game, and was unable to successfully kill the next to last boss, I may be missing some important story elements because early in the game it would appear that Dark Samus (or Shadow Samus or whatever her name is) is still alive and quite active in the universe.

There are new worlds and new civilizations as well, and each is well thought out and fun to explore. Once again there is tremendous amounts of scanning to be done, which at times is frustrating. I know that they'll have something that unlocks once my knowledge reaches certain amounts, but constantly thinking of scanning things is bringing me out of the game and feels like a chore.

The new controls are nice. They ease you in so you can get used to them, which I'm still doing, but they work really well, and are giving the best 3rd person shooter interface I've yet to see on a console or a PC (I never could get that whole mouse+keyboard thing straight in my head). There are fun new weapons and gadgets as well, plus lots of old favorites.

It goes without saying that Metroid is a large part of Nintendo Fan Boy-ness and MP3:C does not disappoint. With a solid Zelda game, this outstanding Metroid, and the much heralded future Super Mario 3D platformer soon to arrive, I'm happy with my Wii even if they just stop making games at that point (though I'm not remotely suggesting that they should do that). If you've ever played a Metroid game and enjoyed it, you must pick up a copy of this one.

Update: Finished. This was the easiest of the 3 Metroid Prime games, and it seems to wrap up the trilogy. Hopefully Retro won't take too long a break before making another Metroid game, certainly the time and trouble they put into this game engine should be used, as it was a fully enjoyable first person shooter experience, especially since it was also heavy on platforming elements.

Dead Head Fred Sony PSP D3 Publisher Mature D

Still waiting for a PSP game worth putting up with the PSP to play. Dead Head Fred comes with a compelling story, a unique game play dynamic (you wear different heads that give you different powers), and even good voice over (courtesy of Dr. Cox from Scrubs). So why isn't this the PSP game that makes me thankful I bought a PSP? A load screen every 10-30 seconds. Why? Perhaps D3 just didn't have the time or money to finish their game engine? Perhaps the PSP just doesn't have the power required for a full game? Or perhaps the load screens miraculously disappear 10 min after I just gave up on the game, I'll never know. If load screens don't bug you (and I can't imagine why they wouldn't) you may like this game, but otherwise this is a good title to skip.

We're back from Indonesia, and I've finally renamed and commented on my photos. Yaty's a bit slower on her photos, but I'm sure they're coming.

It was a great trip, a bit too long to be away from "life", so much to catch up on with mail, and bills, etc. Way too short a trip to really enjoy. In three weeks I learned a ton of Bahasa Indonesia, I'd love another month or two to finish learning. It was a joy to get to know the family better, and Za really loved meeting everyone, but three weeks flies by so quickly, wish it was three months.

We are all now nursing sicknesses and injuries, traveling 1/2 way around the world really can take a toll on you, especially when you ignore the sores on your feet...

It's no secret. I like to eat out. You get different food all the time, everyone can get whatever they want, there is no prep or clean up. Eating out is great! But expensive... And doesn't always work well with babies... And gets really expensive with kids...

I know how to cook, but can't get motivated. Not sure why, I used to cook quite a bit, but now I'm just to lazy or demotivated to do it. I did previously get gifted a "private chef" where a chef-lady came to my apartment and cooked a bunch of food which was promptly frozen and then I had yummy food over the next few weeks. I liked the idea, but that has got to be pretty expensive.

Then I noticed a couple places around town:

• Dream Dinners
• Let's Dish

The basic idea is that they prep the food for you, put it in a restaurant style work center, you rotate around the stations (one for each recipe) and in 2 hours you can make 12 meals with 6 servings each for a lot less than eating out, and even decent value compared to a super market since they purchase in bulk and you only use what you need. After assembling the meals, you pack them up with instructions, take them home and over the next few weeks you prepare them to the directions and eat 'em.

There is a thread on "My Money Blog" that seems to have quite a few people happy with the concept, and Dream Dinners in particular (the largest chain of these this concept that I have found), plus they mention a few other chains that aren't convenient to me.

So, anyone tried this? Thinking about it? Just the thought of no clean up is enough to get me excited.

Haven't flown in a while, here's the skinny on the new regulations:

3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3 ounce bottle or less; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.

[ TSA : 3-1-1 on Air Travel ]

For the Hijabi Jet-Set there are new-new guidelines for head coverings:

All members of the traveling public are permitted to wear head coverings (whether religious or not) through the security checkpoints. The new standard procedures subject all persons wearing head coverings to the possibility of additional security screening, which may include a pat-down search of the head covering. Individuals may be referred for additional screening if the security officer cannot reasonably determine that the head area is free of a detectable threat item. If the issue cannot be resolved through a pat-down search, the individual will be offered the opportunity to remove the head covering in a private screening area.

[ TSA : Religious and Cultural Needs ]

And the TSA is kind and gentle with the kiddies:

We specially train our Security Officers and they understand your concern for your children.  They will approach your children gently and treat them with respect.  If your child becomes uncomfortable or upset, security officers will consult you about the best way to relieve your child's concern.

[ TSA : Traveling with Children ]

And the big thing I need to do? Psyche myself up for the hurry-up-and-wait, hurry-up-and-wait, hurry-up-and-wait that modern travel by airplane has become. But don't feel sorry for me, feel sorry for Yaty, she's got to put up with me.

Yo Gabba Gabba! is a fun live-action program for young children ages 1 and up. Join our host DJ Lance Rock as he introduces us to friendly toy monsters in a magical land full of music, dance, colorful cartoons, and simple life lessons that will get you and your children up off the floor to learn and dance along. Just say the magic words! YO GABBA GABBA!!

[ Find Out More About Yo Gabba Gabba! ]

So says Nick Jr, I think it's more of a mass hallucination. I guess the Ska band "The Aquabats" were tired of not getting their music played on Baby Einsteins, or they decided the world was ready for a hip-hop kids show, any which way I'm not sure if it's the craziest thing I've seen since the '70s, or my new favorite show...