The view from Austin

The storm is looking pretty serious. CNN is reporting that as many as 37,000 people may require rescue in the wake of Ike. 

And while things are legitimately scary on the coast, here in Austin...

... people are freaking out! Even if Ike were headed directly at us--which it isn't--the damage to an inland city would likely be very minor. There is a reason that evacuees from the coast are being sent to Austin.

But that hasn't prevented hysterical Austinites from evacuating, buying up all the gasoline, and even closing schools early today. I went to the store for a jug of water, only to discover that in the whole store, there were only two jugs of water left. 

So naturally I bought both jugs. You know, just in case.

To Wii or not to Wii

SVG:

But the reason I hate advertisers (while simultaneously maintaining terrified, Old Testament awe at their power) is because I'm a total hype sucker. I read somewhere, and I cannot recall where, that Nintendo spent more money on Wii Fit's marketing campaign than they've ever spent on anything. It seems to be working. It makes me excited, like when I call my Mom and tell her she ought to finally buy a Wii because she'll really like this game and she tells me, actually, she was thinking about it.

I'm sort of scared of Wii Fit. I mean, it'll know how much I weigh, and it'll make me look really stupid, like that lady in the picture up there. But everyone seems kinda scared of it, and kinda excited about it, and as much as I roll my eyes, hard, whenever I see news anchors "discovering" the latest game stuff on the morning news, it kinda, just a little, makes me happy.

So, are you getting it?

Yes, I'm getting one today.

(and yes, I know it's a meanie that calls little girls "fat")

i minus 2h31m...

...and the line in front of the Cingular store next door has grown to 32.