Disney Journal - Day 1 (Part 1 of 2)

(Note - the photo album appears to be working now.)

Sept. 23

Soarin'
When we arrived at Epcot, we made a beeline for Soarin', one of the park's most popular new attractions. We didn’t even have to wait five minutes to board. The ride put us inside a giant swing of sorts, raised us into the air, and then projected around us scenes from California as seen from a hang glider's perspective. The swing moved as we careened over the landscape, and air blew at us as if we were riding the wind.

The Living Seas
We then went to The Living Seas pavilion to check out all the Finding Nemo goodness. If you know Annie, you know how much she loves tropical fish. The fun began outside the pavilion, where animatronic seagulls from Finding Nemo rested on a rock. Every few minutes, the seagulls would say "Mine." "Mine!" "Mine."

Inside, we rode through a series of aquarium scenes featuring Finding Nemo characters that were magically shown swimming alongside the real fish. We then came to an open area ripe for exploration. The highlight: "Turtle Talk with Crush," where kids could interact with Crush the turtle from Finding Nemo. We couldn’t figure out how the trick was done, but an animated Crush actually interacts with the kids there, responding spontaneously to their questions and comments.

Innoventions
We poked around the Innoventions areas, which unfortunately are in need of overhaul. There were several video game stations, but though they were billed as "video games of tomorrow," they were actually games for yesterday's consoles: PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Whee. A lot of the games had serious control problems, too. We tried one that looked promising – an IBM-sponsored game where you build a ship and then compete against others in a treasure hunt – but the controls were so wonky that it was almost impossible to play.

The lone highlight was the Home of Tomorrow (or whatever it's called). Annie drooled over the next-generation kitchen appliances, and got to play a set of electronic drums.

Test Track
Our last stop before heading to World Showcase was "Test Track," another popular attraction. We almost didn’t ride it because the lines were long, but then we found a shorter "single rider" lane, and were able to board almost immediately. It was pretty cool – almost like a rollercoaster. There were twists and turns, and near-misses. In one part, you turn into an area labeled "collision testing," which positions you before a big wall. Then, at the last possible moment, the wall opens and you head outside for the final, speedy component of the ride along an outside track. We were lucky to ride Test Track when we did, because it started to rain almost as soon as we exited, causing the ride to be temporarily shut down.

After pausing to try on some silly hats, it was time to go to World Showcase...

Image Event is temporarily down

Figures. I open an account on Image Event and as soon as I upload the pictures and tell everyone about them, the site goes down. I've contacted support, so hopefully the problem will be resolved soon. Keep trying, everyone!

Shinobi's back! And so are we!

We have returned from the Most Magical Place on Earth^TM. We've posted our many, many pictures online at Image Event. You'll need a password to view them. If we haven't already e-mailed it to you, e-mail us to get it.

We'll be posting highlights and amusing anecdotes from the trip over the next week, so stay tuned. In the meantime, though, enjoy the pictures!

RIP DS

In a disheartening postscript to the death of our Game Boy Advance units earlier this year, now our Nintendo DS has died.

It's the same problem all over again. The specially designed rechargeable battery refuses to charge, effectively killing the machine. But I'm more willing to accept this expiration, as I've owned the DS for a longer time, and bought the unit on clearance after it lingered on store shelves a while.

I'll probably purchase a new battery for the unit, which will set me back $15 plus shipping, because I'm itching to play the new "Chibi-Robo" game that comes out next month. A sequel to an earlier game that I played almost non-stop to completion, "Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol" looks to be every bit adorable and endearing as it predecessor. I must have it.

So here's hoping for the best from my new battery. Don't let me down, Nintendo.

More timeliness: Josh's latest articles

Sept. 14

Heartbroken couples vow to fight on
Maryland marriage battle moves to legislature after high court’s ‘shocking’ ruling upholds ban

Legal analysis
Experts call ruling ‘troubling’

Sept. 21

Thompson seeks to ‘stop gay marriages’
GOP candidate advocates new constitutional amendment

Majority oppose anti-gay job discrimination: survey
Results come amid consideration of ENDA in Congress

Lambda Legal joins Maryland curriculum fight
Group to back Montgomery’s gay-inclusive sex ed plan

I'm a chaotic good what?

I'm a chaotic good, half-elf bard. At least, that's what this web site claims.

For those not in the know -- much as I was before this month -- bards who are half elf and chaotic good are found in Dungeons and Dragons. Annie and I recently started dabbling in the classic game, joining a group that has a riotously good time playing. Their enthusiasm is contagious, and we're looking forward to spending more time with them in the months ahead.

But I'm finding there's a lot to learn about these dragons and dungeons. I thought I might gain some insight to this complex, fictional world by completing a survey I stumbled across: What Dungeons and Dragons character are you? It was marginally helpful, expressing my personality in terms relative to the game.

Here are some excerpts...

Alignment: Chaotic Good characters are independent types with a strong belief in the value of goodness. They have little use for governments and other forces of order, and will generally do their own things, without heed to such groups.

Race: Half-Elves are a cross between a human and an elf. They are smaller, like their elven ancestors, but have a much shorter lifespan. They are sometimes looked down upon as half-breeds, but this is rare. They have both the curious drive of humans and the patience of elves.

Class: Bards are the entertainers. They sing, dance, and play instruments to make other people happy, and, frequently, make money. They also tend to dabble in magic a bit.

I think it's interesting to note that my scorecard put me so strongly in the "good" category that I actually scored negatively in the "evil" category. I also was just barely assigned "chaotic" rather than "neutral," but overwhelmingly was classified a bard.

So I suppose the next time you feel like hanging with a fun guy who's guaranteed not to steal your wallet, drop me a line.

Oh my goodness it's timely: Josh's latest articles

Iowa briefly permits gay mariages
One couple weds before court halts ceremonies

Italian doctor predicts rise in bisexuality
American experts, activists reject controversial claim

Montgomery County to consider trans bias bill

Baltimore candidates pledge gay support
City residents head to polls next week

We're number one!

Here's a neat trick. Hop on over to Google and type in Lynsen. What's the first thing you see? Think Lynsen! We're number one!

I'm not sure where that falls on the scale of accomplishments, but it's probably below learning how to tie your shoes. When you have a name as obscure as ours, it doesn't take much to rise to the top of Google's hit pile. But take what you can get, right?

At the moment, here's what a Google search for Lynsen yields...

1. Think Lynsen.
2. Washington Blade, my employer.
3. A page at Find Articles that lists articles written by Annie.
4. Southern Voice, the Blade's sister publication in Atlanta.
5. Annie's article on ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History.
6. Some page discussing a Lynsen that lived in the 1700s.
7. Annie's listing at The Lutheran, the ELCA magazine.
8. Several albums of work photos taken years ago by Annie.

The top 10 hits include duplicate links -- two links each to Think Lynsen and the Washington Blade -- so the eight links above comprise the entirety of what Google finds most notable about our name.

I could delve further into the results and see what oddities lay within, but perhaps that's a task best left for another day.

Spider-Man 2099

As promised, here's the sketch of Spider-Man 2099 that Jim Calafiore drew for me Saturday at Baltimore Comic-Con. I think it's a beautiful rendition of the character, and will always treasure it.

You can click on the picture at left to see a larger version. Feel free to download it and put it on your desktop at work. I know that's what I'm going to do.

For more information about Marvel's somewhat obscure and sadly defunct 2099 universe, check out its entry at Wikipedia, or chat with the few remaining fans at the 2099 Underground Message Board.

Annie's "Find of the Con": Mail Order Ninja

My usual Con MO is a bit different from Josh's. He tends to focus on getting sketches, signatures, and buying original comic art from the Big Names, which involves a lot of standing in line and a lot of waiting in general; but I take the strategy of buying up as many independently-published titles as I can to support those artists. Advantages of this strategy include finding unexpectedly great stuff, keeping my budget to a minimum, meeting the actual authors and artists, and not having to wait in line. Ever.

Last year this effort paid off in a big way - I discovered the joy of Love and Capes and have been a subscriber and fan ever since. (Check out their web site - you can even read the first issue online.)

This year, I toured the indies again, and particularly enjoyed talking to the guys behind Sidekicked!, who have nicknamed me "First Fan" because I was the first to buy their new comic last year.

But in addition to indie-touring, I also paid particular attention to those who write and draw comics for kids, which was a special emphasis this year at Baltimore. There was even a whole "kids area" with kid-friendly comic creators, coloring stations and face painting. I checked out some of the comics in that area, and was pleased to grab a free issue of Owly, which has always been a fun comic.

And I discovered my Find of the Con in this area: Mail Order Ninja (a TokyoPop title, if you can believe that).

Mail Order Ninja is every young boy's dream come true. Imagine having an all-powerful ninja do your bidding! Well, little Timmy has one—and the bullies better watch out! Josh and Erich have created a wonderfully humorous and satirical story about friendship, awesomeness, and sweet revenge.

This book is hilarious. I read it last night, giggling all the while. I must have volume 2!

Due to my minimalist budget, though, my biggest Con Disappointment was running low on funds before I discovered the plush Chocobos for sale. Yes, I know, I'm too old for stuffed animals, and it would only take up valuable space in our tiny apartment, but it was soooo cute. That particular retailer also had a stuffed Moogle for sale...and, much to my surprise, a plush Yuna from Final Fantasy X-2 (the video game best known for sucking up 200+ hours of my life to date).

One of the best things about Con this year, though, was getting to attend with two friends. Our friend Rob came along, and I also brought my new friend Quinn. It was Quinn's first comic con, which made it even more fun. I got to show her the ropes and help her pick out some good trade paperbacks to check out, now that she's getting back into comics. We had so much fun running around together.

The Con was great, and I particularly appreciated the expansion of the showroom floor - it made for hours of enjoyment. The staff, retailers, and artists put on a great show. I can't wait for next year!

Baltimore Comic-Con rulez!

Annie and I had a blast Saturday at Baltimore Comic-Con, the region's premier comic book convention. The event, held at the Baltimore Convention Center, is a sprawling geek fest that one almost must see to believe.

There are scores of retail tables where stores and individuals sell books both old and new, sometimes absurdly overpriced and other times heavily discounted. There are other spaces where people are hawking popular old Star Wars, Transformers and G.I. Joe toys, and still others that push statues, collectibles or clothing.

But the highlight, for me at least, was the long lineup of artists and writers that were available to meet and greet. I was able to interact with Andy Kubert, who drew the inspired "Marvel 1602," Dick Ayers, an industry veteran who began his professional career more than 40 years ago, and Jim Calafiore, who I best knew from his work on "Exiles." In that book, he helped bring an old favorite character of mine back into the mainstream after a nearly 10 year absence.

I commissioned from him a sketch of that character, the Spider-Man of year 2099, and was blown away by the result. It will be posted tomorrow for all to see and enjoy.

I also bought from Calafiore two pages of his original artwork from the "Exiles" story arc that marked the return of Spidey 2099. Pages 17 and 18 of issue 76 would make little sense if I showed them to you out of context, but suffice to say they mark a critical point in the evolution of the character, are a joy to own, and would make other fans insanely jealous.

Overall, this year's event, which was two-and-a-half times larger than last year's convention, was exhausting but enjoyable. Annie and I had a great time exploring the event with two of our friends, but our eyes are tired and our feet are sore.

Yes, Baltimore Comic-Con was a joy, but it's times like this that I'm glad it only comes once a year.

Blade omnibus

At long last. Josh's articles from the past three months. I believe this is comprehensive, but the Blade web site is suffering some glitches, so it's possible a couple articles may have been omitted.

August 31
Dean asks gays to 'vote Democrat'
DNC chair says ENDA remains ‘on the ticket’ for current Congress

Activists fear marriage equality trumping AIDS
Epidemic got little attention during gay issues forum

August 24
Civil union supporters lead White House race
Polls: Democrats could win if election held today

Baltimore mayor opposes marriage resolution
Candidates divided on symbolic gesture, as state awaits court ruling

Gay candidate in Baltimore race wins endorsements

August 18
Settlement reached in gravesite battle
Body of Baltimore man’s partner won’t be moved

Rove resigns, leaving long anti-gay record
Key Bush adviser used marriage as wedge issue in campaigns

War depresses turnout for World Pride
Just 400 brave Israeli-Hezbollah conflict to attend Jerusalem event

Richardson does damage control
Apologizes for 'It's a choice' remark during presidential forum

August 10
Head of Stonewall Democrats to depart
Wyrick was named executive director last year

Md. GOP lawmaker wants to impeach pro-gay judges
Dwyer targeting those who rule in favor of same-sex marriage

National conservative group to fight Mont. Co. sex ed plan
Thomas More Law Center calls gay-inclusive lessons 'hedonistic'

PlanetOut sees improvement in second quarter
Gay media company trims losses to $5.6 million

August 3
Democrats prepare to face the gay nation
Critics say Etheridge unqualified to grill presidential candidates

July 27
Democrats tackle marriage in debate
Upcoming HRC forum offers chance to press candidates on gay issues

Clinton cancels plan to visit gay business
Campaign cites logistical problems for W. Va. stops

July 20
Conservatives seek voice in gay therapy review
APA asked to respect clients' religious views

Marylanders intensify lobbying efforts
Outreach campaign comes as prelude to court ruling on same-sex marriage

New archbishop led anti-gay 'witch hunt'
O'Brien, opposed to gays serving as Catholic priests, to head Baltimore region

July 13
Nat'l groups endorse gay candidate in Baltimore race
Mason wins support of Victory Fund, NBJC

Gates helps bail out PlanetOut
$26 million stock sale stabilizes financially troubled gay company

July 6
Congress closer to allowing D.C. needle exchange
House maintains ban on federal funds for DP program

'08 hopefuls at odds over gay issues
Task Force report shows stark divide between Dem, GOP candidates

Md. rejects challenge to gay sex-ed lessons
Montgomery County curriculum to be taught this fall

July 29
Gay issues in D.C. budget bill trigger veto threat

2 gay men vying for Baltimore Council seat
11th District post vacated by mayoral candidate

Bloomberg faulted for mixed record on gay issues
New York mayor failed to lobby for state marriage bill

June 22
Mass. lawmakers kill amendment
Historic outcome preserves same-sex unions in Bay State

June 15
Gay veterans slam GOP over ban
War, '08 campaign put spotlight on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

General who called gay sex 'immoral' to retire
Planned successor backs 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell'

Thompson opposed ENDA, hate crimes bills in Congress
Buzzed-about GOP contender barred anti-gay job bias in his office

Gay-inclusive sex ed plan wins approval
Mont. Co. teachers may tell students that homosexuality is not an illness

Summer's adieu?

For as long as I can remember, Labor Day has signified the end of summer. So it's odd that this year's holiday fails to mark that milestone.

Summer for me will not end until Annie and I return from our upcoming trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. This is a trip that's been long in the coming, and one we're both excitedly counting down toward. But for many purposes, summer is already waiving farewell. Back-to-school sales are done, Halloween merchandise is hitting shelves, and it's technically fashionable to wear black fedoras again.

So this weekend's calendar flip spurred me to look back at our highlights from the last three months. Among the best from our (admittedly sparse) summer entries:

Annie saw Mika in concert and raves about the gig to this day (June 14); I won an award from the Society of Professional Journalists (June 25); I bought a Nintendo Wii and found the joy of gaming all over again (July 23); Annie devoured the final "Harry Potter" book, loving every page (July 27); I contributed to a remembrance of artist Mike Weiringo (Aug. 13); and we watched the Twins trounce the Orioles at Camden Yards (Aug. 26).

We've also enjoyed many other diversions this summer that we haven't blogged about, such as visiting Annie's family in South Dakota, discovering the impressive Arundel Mills discount mall and watching the stellar action movie "Hot Fuzz."

All this plus our hectic work schedules has made our summer a busy one, and I apologize for the two of us having fallen off the map from time to time. Sadly, things are only going to get busier as we ramp up for our trip to Florida.

But on this final summer's eve, it's nice to kick back, relax and smile on fond memories. Won't you commiserate with us, and share your own summer highlights in the comments section?

The post in which Josh defends his MRE consumption

Annie poked much fun yesterday at my consumption of an Army surplus MRE, or "Meal, Ready to Eat." I confess that it was a unique if not humorous experience, but I ate the military meal for several legitimate reasons.

1. My father was in the armed forces. Lord knows how many military-issue meals he consumed during his basic training and ensuing deployment to Vietnam. Obiviously, the MREs of today are a far cry from what was issued 40 years ago, but I wanted to get a glimpse of what he was subject to.

2. I know someone who recently served overseas. I consider my MRE consumption a very small way by which I can relate to his training and deployment. And it can give us both something to rant about.

3. I might be remembering wrong, but I believe that Congress a few years back had a day where all members ate an MRE for lunch. (I couldn't immediately find an article to verify that, but I did come across an article discussing the reaction of Senate staffers to trying new MREs. Said article, approved by the U.S. Department of Defense, noted one staffer "liked" the chicken and found the MRE contents to be "unbelievable.") I figure if Congress can grin and bear it for one meal, I can, too.

For the record, my MRE featured a rather bland chicken and pasta over rice as the main course, with crackers and stawberry jam on the side. The pound cake made for a good dessert, but the lackluster gum was only good for a minute or so. The overall experience was one, honestly, that I would not be eager to repeat.

My heart goes out to the men and women in our armed forces who must consume these meals each day. Here's hoping you all return to the U.S. soon for a good, homecooked meal and some decent gum.