My technology wishlist

I've started developing a mental technology wishlist. So far, it contains two things:

• A desktop Twitter app that combines the functionality of SpliTweet, Tweetdeck and Digsby. I want to be able to monitor multiple accounts simultaneously, be able to easily see replies and DMs, and follow several search terms simultaneously. So far, no single app gives me this power. Developers? Who's up to the challenge?
  
  
• My whole DVD collection digitized into a single box that has a customizable "random" function. This happens to me a lot: I'm channel surfing and come across a movie I already own on TV. But I'll watch the edited-for-TV version with commercials instead of just pulling out the DVD and popping it in. Why? Well, laziness for one, but mostly I just didn't realize I wanted to watch that movie then, and finding it randomly is delightful. So I'd like to have all my movies on one little box and be able to say, "Little box, please pull up a comedy film from the 1990s," and have it randomly choose one for me and start playing it. Wouldn't that be cool?

What's on your technology wishlist?

CONvergence 2009: Proposed panel rundown

After formatting the looooong list into a mere 14 page-long Excel spreadsheet with half-inch margins and 8-point font, we have devised our list of panels that intrigue us for this year's CONvergence. Behold!

The Marvel Masterplan
With the obvious exception of "The Dark Knight, " Marvel is winning the super hero war at the box office. How does DC close the gap?

Cinematic Titanic & MST3K
Making fun of movies for fun and profit. Cast members discuss the job we all wish we had.

Watchmen - The Movie
We know you saw it. We know Alan Moore Doesn't approve. How about you? (Josh is going to volunteer to serve on this panel.)

Geek Haiku
Come to this panel
Express your geek through haiku
Nerd serenity

Martial Arts Workout
Get your kicks off of Route 66! Join us on Saturday morning for a fun and stress-relieving workout! Wear your ninja jammies or comfortable clothing! And please shower afterwards, thanks!

Let's Make a Deal
Looking for a set of panelists to run a "Let's Make a Deal" game show at CONvergnece, similar to "The Match Game" last year.

Blogs and Other Independent Media
Exploring the expansion of legitmate media sources. (Josh is going to volunteer to serve on this panel.)

Charity Auction
We're starting a new tradition on Sunday morning! We'll turn the silent auction into a full auction in hopes of raising more money for MISFITS!

How Facebook Got Me Out of Going to My Class Reunion...
Discuss ways to avoid going to your class reunion, how people look now, why photos can lie, and the best excuses for avoiding your reunion. Appetizers will be served in Atrium 12.

Sunday Morning Yoga
Join Cleo for a relaxing and exhilirating hour of yoga, co-sponsored by the MISFITS geek physique group.

Hypnosis Panel
Look into my eyes, you will enjoy this panel. You want to attend. This panel interests you more than any other this weekend. You can hear the sound of my voice as you read this. You are becoming relaxed...

Science Museum Panel
MISFITS is sponsoring the Science Museum to come out and teach us about SCIENCE!

Geek Bingo Returns
And boy is it better than ever! Remember, it's just a game!

Panels and Programming 101: The Meta-Panel
Being an expert on a topic doesn't mean you know how to talk about it. Come and hear some tips and tricks for giving good panel and how to avoid common pitfalls. Perfect for a first-time nervous panelist or a nice refresher for the seasoned veteran!

What's In Your Reader?
Share your favorite RSS feeds. What internet sites did you have to visit daily that are now delivered directly to your blog?

Meet My Invisible Friends
Are you replacing your real friends with virtual ones? What are the RAMifications of social networking websites? (I'm going to volunteer to serve on this panel.)

Epic Storyline Fatigue
From Infinite Crisis to Final Crisis, 52 to Countdown, the Civil War to Secret Invasion, comic publishers feel the need to up the stakes each year with massive storyarcs. Are readers becoming numb to the apocalypse-of-the-week? (Josh is going to volunteer to serve on this panel.)

Motion Comics on DVD
This new medium, filming comic panels and releasing them online or DVD has attracted a new audience. Is there enough popularity to sustain motion comics?

Battlestar Galactica and Caprica
The great Battlestar journey continues. Caprica is in the works and "The Plan" has aired. Come together and discuss the momentous series finale. Were you happy with how it all turned out?

Killer B's Spectacular Improv Movie Show
(This was AWESOME last year.)

Iron Artist
(This is AWESOME every year!)

Buffy Sing-Along
Like the Dr. Horrible sing along, only Buffy.

Dr. Horrible Sing-Along
Like the Buffy sing along, only Dr. Horrible.

Video Game Mascot Smackdown
(Josh is volunteering to serve on this panel.)

My Lunch Can Beat Up Your Lunch
How to pack a Bento box. Run by the Bento box queen.

CONvergence 2009 panel list is now online!

Josh and I are poring over the list this morning. We're considering offering ourselves as panelists this year.

BTW you totally need to go to CONvergence. It's going to be awesome!

I have four words for you: Dr. Horrible Sing-Along.

Josh's latest: "A good idea, in theory."

From the Washington Blade Blog:

It was a good idea in theory.

The congressional LGBT Equality Caucus assembles a group of experts on lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender issues, invites the many new Capitol Hill staffers to an hour-long briefing on a slow Friday, and gives them a crash course on GLBT legislation. Hearts are won, minds are convinced and the Defense of Marriage Act comes crashing down!

Or not.

One of the happiest days of my life

I'm planning to bring this picture to CONvergence and have several of the show's cast members sign it.

Asian Chicken Salad

Found this recipe in the latest Simple and Delicious magazine and it was really, really yummy. The peanut sauce reminds me of a mild version of the sauces used on chicken satay or chicken panang. The flavors are robust, it's loaded with vegetables and the best part is you can make it ahead of time. I can see myself making this for company in the summer, when cooler dishes are more in season.

Asian Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup reduced-fat sesame ginger salad dressing
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 to 3 teaspoons cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 packages (6 ounces each) ready-to-use grilled chicken breast strips
• 4 cups chopped cucumbers
• 1 cup chopped sweet red pepper
• 3/4 cup chopped green onions
• 1/4 cup grated carrot
• 8 Bibb or Boston lettuce leaves
• Chopped fresh cilantro, optional

Directions:

1. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the first seven ingredients; shake well. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cucumbers, pepper, onions and carrot. Chill until serving.
2. Just before serving, shake dressing and pour over chicken mixture; toss to coat. Serve on lettuce leaves. Garnish with cilantro if desired. Yield: 8 servings.

Jackson, Jackson, Jackson, Jackson, Jackson

Last month it seemed that Samuel L. Jackson might not again portray Nick Fury, the character he debuted in "Iron Man." But that was then. And this is now.

LOS ANGELES — Samuel L. Jackson is Marvel's man.

The actor, who just weeks ago was seemingly on the outs with the studio over reprising his role as Nick Fury, agent of spy outfit S.H.I.E.L.D., in the "Iron Man" sequel, has signed an unprecedented nine-picture deal to play the character in a series of Marvel movies.

In addition to "Iron Man 2," scheduled for release next year, the movies include "Thor," "Captain America," "The Avengers" and its sequels. Also on the table is the possibility of starring in a "S.H.I.E.L.D." movie, which is in development.

Yay! This is even better than the news that DC Comics is releasing a Green Lantern movie in December 2010!

P.S. Thanks to Interrobang Studios for the wonderfully appropriate graphic!

BUNNIES!

From The Daily Bunny

Behold the power of the Triforce: It's Linkfest '09!

Linky goodness all around! Zelda would be pleased.

Techy stuff:

• The best gosh-darn thing I've read all week: Seven habits of highly effective Twitterers: Kris Colvin
• The title says it all: Being a useful Twitter user (and receiving followers in the process)
• Mr. Tweet: ("Call Mr. Tweet, that's my name, that name again is Mr. Tweet.") Mr. Tweet is a Twitter service that helps you find people with similar interests, and people who your friends are following. It gives you handy stats about the people you check out. Very nice!
• Along the same line as Mr. Tweet is Twollo, a service that will find people tweeting about specific topics and will automatically follow them for you. The service demands you put in your Twitter username and password, which makes me a bit leery, but it's darn useful.
• Just Tweet It is a flippin' GOLDMINE of a Twitter directory. It helps you find people on Twitter by topic.
• WANT: Twitterati necklace

Of general interest:

• Just adorable: The Power of Messy
• Guess what? D.C. isn't one of the top 10 least affordable cities in the United States!
• Watch Hulu shows with only one commercial
• For those who want to visit us in the future: Best hotel bang for your buck in D.C.
• Speaking of Link...video game remake wallpapers
• Pac-Man oven mitts!

The Oscars rocked! Why doesn't anyone else recognize that?

I went into the Oscars last night with a blasé attitude - honestly, I was more excited about the snacks I had prepared than the telecast, and fully anticipated turning off the TV and heading to bed before "Best Picture" was announced. Of all the movies nominated in the major categories, the only one I'd actually seen was "Milk," and I knew it was going to get trounced by "Slumdog Millionaire."

But then Hugh Jackman came onstage and wowed us with a hilarious number highlighting the "Best Picture" nominees while still giving a tip of the hat to "The Dark Knight" (which arguably got robbed of a nomination). Josh and I actually laughed - a lot. I laughed harder at the opening number than I have at any Oscars opening number since Billy Crystal hosted in the early '90s.

Furthermore, we ooh'ed and ahh'ed at the beautiful set and intimate setting that allowed for more audience interaction with the host. (Sadly, though, the promised "The band is onstage!" concept didn't exactly pan out, since they were hidden behind the curtain almost the whole time.)

The writing seemed sharp and funny for the first time in a very long time. Instead of the cliché banter between two presenters who have a vague connection at best, we saw a mix of solo presenters, dual presenters, and a new five-presenter format for the actor categories, which truly did get across the point that it is an honor to be nominated.

We even loved the Baz Luhrmann musical number, and we ended up watching the awards all the way to the end. We both kept saying how much better and more enjoyable the Academy Awards have been in a long time.

But today, critics are totally hating on it. And I'll admit, it wasn't perfect - there were a few technical glitches and the blue-tinted "Kung Fu Panda" footage that kept playing beneath the nominees' faces was just plain weird and distracting. But I find it bizarre that people are so quick to slam what we thought was a fun and refreshing telecast.

What did you think?

Ah.

After the opening number, we now understand why Hugh Jackman was chosen to host the Oscars.

Well done, Academy.

Oscar night, brought to you by Wolverine

I'm still trying to understand why Hugh Jackman was picked to host tonight's Academy Awards ceremony. It's not that I have anything against Wolverine, it's just that this seems so out of character for the Academy. Oh well.

Annie and I are getting ready to watch the award ceremony, setting up camp in front of the television with snacks and blankets. It should make for a fun evening, even if our picks fall short. (I've come to expect as much from the Academy. I was born the year before "Star Wars" got trounced by "Annie Hall" for best picture.) I'm hoping "Milk" takes best picture, but I fear the momentum "Slumdog Millionaire" inexplicably has going for it — as reflected in the CNN poll that I captured a few minutes ago — cannot be overcome. And that's a pity.

At least it seems certain that Heath Ledger will win an award for his amazing performance in "The Dark Knight." I'm hopeful that Sean Penn will get the Oscar he deserves for his portrayal of Harvey Milk. And in the animated feature category, I support the win of either "WALL-E" or "Kung Fu Panda." I tell you now, though, I'll weep if "Bolt" tops either of those wonderful movies.

Which nominees are you most routing for?

Post 1000: Best of Think Lynsen

It started as a humble blog that nobody read.

And, well, it's still a humble blog that nobody reads (well, except you, Tony, God bless you). Only now it's a blog with a lot more posts and a lot more people coming to "borrow" our images who we like to call "visitors."

Anyway, in recognition of this -- the blog's 1,000th post -- we at Think Lynsen have compiled the following not-so-humble list of highlights. Enjoy.

Our first post: Josh's newest articles

A few old posts that that still amuse us:

• AAAUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH! (2006)
• Is this a silent rendition of a classic Shakespearean tragedy I see before me? (2007)
• Bratz: Girly word Girly word (2007)
• The post in which we witness Josh's descent into madness (2007) (And Josh's retort)
• EAT this, Better Homes and Gardens (2007)
• Don't talk back to Darth Vader, cuz he'll get ya (2008)
• Pirate Ducky Reviews Captain Dan & the Scurvy Crew: Authentic Pirate Hip Hop (2008)
• Pirate Ducky rants about TV shows on DVD (2008)
• An actual conversation (2008)
• 17 Fabulous Prequels to Broadway Musicals (2008)

Remember these?

• Josh's posts on his Pluto obsession (2006)
• Annie's (2006) and Josh's (2008) Clothes Surveys
• Birthday surprises galore! (2007)
• Baltimore Comic-Con coverage (2006, 2007, 2008)
• Our trip to Disney World (2007)
• CONvergence coverage (2008, 2009)
• And now, a special announcement (2008)
• The Super Smackdown series (2008)
• An Open Love Letter to Piratz Tavern and Pirates for Sail (2008)
• Kung fu awesome! (2008)
• The Silly Smackdown series (2008)
• "Things are going to be OK" (2008)
• Josh's trip to cover the Democratic National Convention in 2008, including his brief encounter with George Lucas
• Annie's trip to BlogWorld Expo (2008)
• Our two mentions in the Washington Post Express (2008 and 2009)
• Annie reflects on her digital upbringing (2008)
• Josh's experience at a Proposition 8 protest rally

Also, want some recipes? You can find all the ones we've ever posted here.

Got a favorite post we missed? Link to it in the comments.

And in all seriousness, thank you for reading and for giving us the motivation to keep writing. You are all, as the kids would say, "teh awesomez."

Crisis of faith

From CNN’s Jack Cafferty: How concerned are you about the nation’s banking system?

I'll be honest with you: The only reason I'm not stuffing cash under my mattress is because of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Take a look at the lengthy list of banks that have failed in 2008 and 2009. One from Maryland died last month. One from Minnesota foundered in May 2008. Seven from California are on the list. Compare that to how many banks failed in 2005 and 2006. What's that you say? None failed those years?

Yep. My point exactly.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't expect that the nation's banks are collectively going to fall off the cliff like lemmings anytime soon. The banking system — having finally sobered up from its drunken loan rampage — is sound. But I don't think we've seen the last of the bank failures. As the economy continues to sputter, there's doubtless more pain ahead. And the only thing that's letting me sleep at night is the FDIC and the $250,000 in peace of mind in brings.

Not that I need more than a tiny fraction of that insurance…

The views expressed in this and other entries represent Josh's personal feelings at the moment of its posting. The text is provided for entertainment purposes only and should be considered wholly separate from Josh's professional work.

Barbie cakes are just plain wrong

Especially this one:



There are no words.

Also...just wow.



More fun on Cakewrecks.

10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know

Very useful.

Read it here.

(Thanks, madthoughts!)

OMG I just ate a cake from Charm City Cakes!

UPDATE: New - better - pictures of the cake can be found here.

I had to restrain my fangirl glee in this post, but I can't keep it in any longer.

So today was the last day of our staff retreat at KaBOOM!. We were all tired and happy and were getting ready for our last session when we were instructed to gather at the front of the room, where a mysterious screen was set up to hide something. They pulled away the screen and revealed what I immediately recognized as a cake from Charm City Cakes in Baltimore! (For those of you who are not Food Network fanatics, that bakery is the subject of a reality show called Ace of Cakes that Josh and I enjoy.)

The cake was in honor of our staff retreat and of our CEO's birthday, and it was soooo cool-looking. Here are the pics I took with my cell phone:





To answer what I'm assuming are burning questions for the fans of the show:

1. Neither our staff nor the cake will be featured on the show (sigh).
2. We did not get to meet anyone from the show.
3. Yes, the cake is delicious. It was vanilla with a raspberry filling, fondant, plus the engineered wood fiber on top was made of chocolate shavings. Nom nom nom.

So yeah. Total fangirl moment for me. I *heart* the Food Network and this was almost like being a part of it for a moment, in an indirect way.

Game time

As the economy remains on life support, I find my interest in video games increasing. A little escapist entertainment is welcome when you're fretting about dollars and cents. So I was heartened some by the following developments...

• The renowned iPod Touch game "Rolando" has dropped in price and is now tagged at $5.99. I just downloaded the free demo and could make it my first Touch game purchase if it lives up to the hype.

• LucasArts has heard the cry of gamers clamoring for reissues of their old adventure games, but I think the request reached the company by way of some convoluted telephone game. LucasArts is including an old "Indiana Jones" adventure game with an upcoming Wii release. That's great, but I'd rather own a compilation disc that includes "Maniac Mansion," "Monkey Island" and others.

• Speaking of adventure games, "Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People" is apparently making the leap from WiiWare to retail stores, and "Sam & Max" will see a second season. Huzzah! Who else is game for a second adventure game Renaissance?

• My inner 7-year-old jumped for joy last week when it was revealed that Electronic Arts is making a G.I. Joe video game. Intended as some nostalgic trip, the relatively simple game apparently will let players "re-live the greatest moments from the film, cartoon series and action figure toy line." Yes, please. Thank you.

• Total Access, the Blockbuster competitor to Netflix, is expanding its service to include video games. I'll wait to see how it fares among users before I jump ship, but this has got me seriously considering dropped the Big N.

Apocalypse now?

From CNN’s Jack Cafferty: How important is it to save America’s newspapers?

How do you think Josh the Journalist is going to answer this question?

Consider that the press is the only profession mentioned by name in the Constitution, serving as the unofficial watchdog of government. Consider that the press is the Fourth Estate, an institution standing alongside clergy. Consider that the press is among the few industries to touch your life each day, informing and enlightening your life. Now consider what you'd do without it. That's a rather startling notion, isn't it?

I fundamentally and wholeheartedly disagree with any suggestion that newspapers have outlived their usefulness. You might not see a daily newspaper land on your doorstep, but that doesn't mean you aren't consuming its content. When political blogs comment on current events, where do the links lead? To newspapers. When you want the most comprehensive reporting that mass media offers, where do you turn? To newspapers. When dubious public officials are held accountable, where is their ire most likely directed? To newspapers.

The newspaper industry is soldiering through a difficult time, suffering unprecedented staff cutbacks and struggling to formulate a plan for tomorrow. Will that tomorrow include the continued distribution of printed editions? Perhaps not. There might come a day when newspapers go fully digital, delivering its daily or weekly product through e-mail, Apple iPhones or Amazon Kindles. And as much as it would pain me to see newspapers drop the printed product, I'd accept such a development. I think iTunes has shown the days of physical media products are numbered.

But just because the physical paper might one day disappear doesn't mean that newspapers should. Newsrooms are needed. Reporters are required. Editors are essential. So the next time you hear someone forecast the death of my livelihood or question the usefulness of print journalism, feel free to set them straight. Does this nation need newspapers? Absolutely.

The views expressed in this and other entries represent Josh's personal feelings at the moment of its posting. The text is provided for entertainment purposes only and should be considered wholly separate from Josh's professional work.

Tee hee

I wonder what the faculty, students and alumni of my old Catholic university thought when they saw this item on Page 56 of the most recent edition of the St. Thomas Magazine.


In case you can't read it, the listing under my graduating year of 1999 notes that "Joshua (Lynch) Lynsen was promoted from reporter to news editor at the Washington Blade newspaper in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1969, the Blade is a national newspaper covering gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues."

This passage perhaps marks the only time this decade that the words "gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender" will appear in the St. Thomas Magazine. My old stomping ground has taken a rather reserved approach to GLBT issues, so I take no small delight in making someone in the alumni office type (or at least copy and paste) those key words into the university's official magazine.

In all seriousness, though, I wonder if I should contact Allies and see what, if anything, I can do to help. I'd imagine UST's gay-straight alliance could use a hand.

Recession? Depression? Potato? Potahto?

From CNN’s Jack Cafferty: Is the world economy in a “depression”?

This question is tricky to answer as the U.S. has no codified definition for depression.

Wikipedia says depressions are "characterized by abnormal increases in unemployment, restriction of credit, shrinking output and investment, numerous bankruptcies, reduced amounts of trade and commerce," and other factors. We've got that in spades. But a proposed definition — that depressions are "a sustained recessionary period in which the population is forced to dispose of tangible assets to fund every day living" — doesn't seem to apply to most Americans.

So are we in a depression? Is this a recession? Or is this no big thing? I think it depends on your situation. I know people who are looking for work. But I also know someone who bought their spouse season baseball tickets for Valentine's Day. I'm glad to see some people are still skipping merrily along, but I, for one, will be glad when this economic situation, whatever you want to call it, is nothing more than a memory.

The views expressed in this and other entries represent Josh's personal feelings at the moment of its posting. The text is provided for entertainment purposes only and should be considered wholly separate from Josh's professional work.

It's about time!

I know I'm in the minority here — and this 80s nostalgia geek is accustomed to that — but I was thrilled to learn that "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" is finally coming to DVD!

Don't remember this gem? Allow the fine folks at Wikipedia to sum it up in five sentences: The series depicts the tribulations of the title character Parker Lewis, a Santo Domingo High School student, for whom nothing is impossible. Parker often narrates in shows. Just like his best friends, Jerry Steiner and Mikey Randall and his girlfriend Annie Sloan, his prime concern is achieving and maintaining "coolness" during the turbulent years of puberty. However, their efforts are often thwarted by Parker's little sister, Shelly, and principal Grace Musso. Apart from various aspects of teenage life, embedded in a surreal, living-cartoon-like quality and the clever camera angles and filming techniques (dissolves from one scene to the next were done by ever larger pixels), an episode regularly contains more or less subtle references to movies, politics, and celebrities.

Just to make sure those Rose Colored Glasses of Nostalgia aren't playing tricks on me, I'll be renting this before I buy it. (I haven't seen the show since it went off the air in the early 90s.) But if it's anything like I remember, "Parker Lewis Can't Lose" is destined for my DVD collection!

The only way I'd ever consider playing "Halo"

And even then, I make no promises.

Homemade chicken noodle soup

Josh is down with a nasty sore throat, so as a treat I tried my hand at making chicken noodle soup from scratch last night.

I used this recipe from Tyler Florence. I should note that I saved a lot of time by using pre-made stock (Emeril brand, to be specific) rather than making it from scratch per the recipe's instructions. I thought the fresh thyme was a really nice flavor enhancer and the heartiness and density of the soup was really satisfying.

My top seven love songs

People who know me know that while I can be very romantic, I'm fairly hard to please when it comes to romantic songs, movies, books, etc. Most "I love you" Hallmark cards make me want to yak, for example (rhyming couplets = teh suck).

So as an individual with picky, I mean discerning, taste, here are my favorite love songs:

1. "L-L-Love" by Astaire - A fantastic dance song with compelling lyrics that evoke a James Bond movie.

2. "Some Fantastic" by the Barenaked Ladies - Perky and fun with deeply amusing lyrics, it expresses longing for the one who got away.

3. "Shameless" by Billy Joel - This one does fall into the realm of "sappy" but it somehow gets to me.

4. "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim - I love how this song is simply about appreciating the one you love, even after you've "come a long, long way together/Through the hard times and the good."

5. "My Freeze Ray" from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog - Expresses yearning in such a simple, quirky way, from the perspective of an aspiring mad scientist.

6. "Summer Rain" by Belinda Carlisle - This is one of those rare songs that gets me misty-eyed. It's about a woman missing her boyfriend/husband who was killed in battle, remembering when she said goodbye to him for the last time.

7. "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor - One of the few instances where the remake is better than the original, Sinead's breathless singing on this song really evokes the sense of loss and love the lyrics express.

Your turn! What are your favorites?

My new Dell Mini 9 is here!

My new toy finally arrived!

I haven't had a ton of time to play with my new Dell Mini 9 yet, but so far I'm pretty jazzed about it. The keyboard is workable (with my only complaint so far being that the quote mark key is way at the bottom - that takes getting used to). It's fast enough for what I need it to do. Basically I'm just working out the quirks of navigating the Ubuntu operating system, which up until now I've had exactly zero experience with. It is satisfying, though, to know that I now work regularly with all three major operating systems - Windows at work, Mac at home, and Linux on the road. Woohoo!

I'll really be putting my new toy to the test starting next week at our staff retreat (which I'm actually jazzed about, because KaBOOM! knows how to run a staff retreat that's fun, informative, and inspirational). I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh, and here's the bag I mentioned I made - I crocheted it and my mom helped me by lining it so the fuzzy yarn doesn't clog the ports. Spiffy, huh? It's nice to know that even though I can't yet afford a cool decal for it to make it stand out from the crowd, at least I can have a one-of-a-kind bag for it.

Another Valentine for you, our readers!

Happy Valentine's Day

From ICanHasCheezburger.com

Do I know you?

The first images of Cobra Commander and Devastator styled as they will appear in the upcoming "G.I. Joe" and "Transformers" movies appeared online this week. I found them — sigh — passable.

Realize that the image you see at left of enemy leader Cobra Commander is taken from the childish "Combat Heroes" line, which is intended for children ages 3 and up. So it's a highly stylized version of the Cobra Commander costume you'll see on film. Nonetheless, it gives you an idea of what to expect. More helmet than hood, the costume seems most comparable to the Cobra Commander figure from 1987. And that's fine. This wouldn't have been my first choice, but I found it passable.

The image at right of Devastator, the massive Decepticon fighter that'll appear in the "Transformers" sequel, is much closer to what you'll see on film. Of course, like most of the Transformer designs done for Michael Bay's exercise in testosterone and explosions, it bears little resemblance to the source material. After my disappointment with Megatron, I was better prepared to behold this rendition of one of my favorite Transformer characters. It doesn't mean I like it, but I was better prepared to see it. And as such, I found it passable.

You'll have to forgive me if I seem lukewarm to these designs. I don't mean to be overly critical, but it's jarring to see characters I knew and loved as a child being revamped for Hollywood. It's a sometimes painful process to behold. Much like the creation of laws or sausage, this isn't a process one should watch too closely. I would say I hope all this is worth it, but apparently it is.

Thought for the moment

You can buy it here.

Yu-Gi-Uh Oh!

You know those counterfeit Yu-Gi-Oh! cards you see in stores? The ones that are copying a game that saw its popularity wane about the same time that John Kerry lost his presidential bid? You'll never guess who's accused of making them.

According to ICv2, Konami Digital Entertainment has alleged that Upper Deck is the source of the allegedly counterfeit Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG cards it found in packages distributed by Vintage Sports Cards. Go ahead, do your double take and read that again. Upper Deck, the U.S. distributor of the classic Japanese card game, is being accused of counterfeiting its own cards for sale under a different label.

Upper Deck has called the claim "absurd," according to ICv2, and I tend to agree. I mean, why would Upper Deck seek to undercut its own profits? Unless, of course, the collectible card game market were dying. But surely no. It's healthy as a horse. Isn't it?

Summer Glau to guest on "The Big Bang Theory"

Fanboys rejoice - everybody's favorite Terminator and blog-comment-posting-pseudonym Summer Glau is set to guest star on "The Big Bang Theory" Mar. 9...playing herself. Brilliant.

And in further good news, "The Big Bang Theory" just scored their best ratings ever Monday when President Obama addressed the nation and Josh and I assumed it was preempted. Turns out, it was just delayed, and we missed it. Boo.

Who would be on your "dream guest star list" for Big Bang? Provided they don't overuse or abuse the concept, I'd love to see...

1. Leonard Nimoy (playing Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock in the stinger)
2. Marina Sirtis or Wil Wheaton
3. Steven Hawking
4. Robert Downey, Jr. (just in a stinger, though - dressed as Tony Stark and saying "I hear you're looking for a new best friend")
5. Tricia Helfer

Link loves Think Lynsen!

Customize your own 8-bit message from Link, Zelda or Ganon here.

Happy-O-Grams.

Other books that could be improved by adding zombies or ninjas

The forthcoming release of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies got me thinking - what other books could be improved by adding zombies...or perhaps ninjas? (Because ninjas make everything cool.) I detailed my first few ideas in my previous blog post, but then I put the question to Twitter, and, well, here are the humorous results.

My ideas:
"Tuesdays With Morrie and Zombies"
"40 Days of Purpose...and Ninjas"
"How to Win Friends and Influence Ninjas"
"What to Expect When You're Expecting a Ninja"

A coworker's ideas:
"Seven Habits of Highly-Effective Ninjas"
"That Ninja's Just Not That Into You"

Some of the responses and other ideas I got:
@wendywoowho: "I think you're asking the wrong question. What classic books COULDN'T be improved by adding zombies?" (Touché.)
@datawench: "Much Ado About Zombies"
@kittykittybang: "The author sucks but I think 'The Purpose Driven Ninja' would rule..."
@onetake: "Getting Things Done... with Ninjas? I like it! :)"

Your turn! Sharpen your wits and post your ideas in the comments!

More box office mojo

I'm seriously going to have to get a restraining order protecting my wallet from Hollywood. In addition to all the projects I mentioned earlier this week, more attempts are being made to empty my pocketbook. For example...

• The Flash is getting prepped for the silver screen. Dan Mazeau is working on a script for the film. His first task? Determining which of the Flash's rogues is least embarrassing to the franchise.

• Perhaps a better sci-fi movie will come from the Green Lantern project that Martin Campbell is helming. There's an abundance of good stories from which the film can draw inspiration.

• Speaking of drawing things, it looks like the original "Watchmen" novel's side story is being made into an animated film. I'm not sure how well "Tales of the Black Freighter" will perform on DVD, but I suppose it's worth a shot.

• Also worth a shot -- for comedic value alone -- is the cinematic adaptation of board game classic Candy Land. This odd project has "Enchanted" director Kevin Lima attached to it, so I'm taking a wait-and-see approach.

• Waiting served me well on "The Spirit," saving me a few dollars on theater tickets. I'm anxious for the movie to hit DVD in April, though, because I want to mock it at home the same way I did "Speed Racer."

• But I might not be able to exercise such restraint with the "Transformers" sequel. If the Super Bowl trailer is any indication, I'll be mocking this flick in the theater. Mercilessly.

WANT: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Yep, an actual book. Coming this May. Described as follows on Amazon:

"'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' features the original text of Jane Austen's beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone crunching zombie action."

I cannot WAIT to see this. Seriously.

What do you think? Should more classic novels get the zombie treatment? I can see this spinning off into a whole series of classics...

"The Great Gatsby and Zombies"
Rich people become dead people. Then they become UNdead people.

"Of Mice and Men and Zombies"
"Tell me about the zombies, George."

"A Tale of Two Cities and Zombies"
"It was the worst of times...and then it got even worse."

"Moby Dick and Zombies"
Ahab chases whale, whale chases Ahab, whale becomes ZOMBIE whale and the book gets way, way better.

"Romeo and Juliet and Zombies"
The whole Capulets vs. Montagues feud gets put in perspective.

"A Picture of Dorian Gray and Zombies"
Oscar Wilde gone wild.

"Wuthering Heights and Zombies"
"Heathcliff!" "Catherine!" ... "Braaaiiiinnssss!" (Josh adds, "In Semaphore!")

"The Lord of the Rings and Zombies"
And you thought the Nazgul were bad!

"To Kill a Mockingbird and Zombies"
A metaphor becomes gory!

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Zombies"
Think "Zombie Oompa Loompahs." Now tell me you won't be having nightmares.

Bravo, DC Comics!

I was enjoying a relaxing day off work when DC Comics revealed that Batwoman, the publisher's highest profile gay character, would be taking over "Detective Comics." To this I say, "Bravo!"

Since her introduction in July 2006 during the monumental "52" series, Batwoman has been a character ripe with storytelling potential. That the publisher is now making her the star of "Detective Comics" is quite an impressive move, considering this places her at the forefront of one of longest running comic series. Batwoman will take over the series starting with Issue 854, benefiting from a lead-in story penned by fan-favorite author Neil Gaiman in Issue 853. In effect, DC Comics is doing all they can to make sure this endeavor succeeds.

As someone who was in the crowd at last year's CONvergence panel discussion regarding the mixed state of gay characters in comics, it was heartening to hear this latest development from DC Comics. Many people in that crowd feared DC was preparing at that time to hide Batwoman among Gotham City's crowded supporting cast. Sure, the character made headlines when she debuted in 2006. But plans for a solo miniseries quickly foundered, giving rise to concerns that DC was rethinking its choice to make the lesbian character so openly gay.

It seems, though, that the publisher was merely biding its time and readying the stage for what could be a stellar second act for the character. (Check out a preview of the issue via writer Greg Rucka's web site.) Here's hoping that the "Detective Comics" tale delivers a fantastic story, sells well and reminds us that sexual orientation is no big deal.

Hats. (And occasionally, matching vests.)

Box office mojo (or not)

Some of the movies I'm tracking have box office mojo. "Watchmen," for example, has geeks atwitter. But some lack that certain je ne sais quoi. So there's a mixed bag on my radar. To wit...

• Remember that "Captain Marvel" movie I maligned a while back? Like that parrot in the "Monty Python" sketch, it is no more. The writer on the project recently declared the film "dead" without much explanation. Oh well. I can't say it'll be missed.

• What could be missed are several key plot points that the "Watchmen" film was forced to drop in order to reach a reasonable run time. Don't get me wrong. I'm still going to see the film and I have high hopes for its success. But the purist in me is glad the "Watchmen" motion comics are coming to DVD so that each frame remains intact.

• Speaking of things I hope remain intact, I fear my love for the "Iron Man" movie franchise holds together. The first installment was a great film anchored by a lead actor who perfectly fit the part. So what, I ask you, is Mickey Rourke doing in the sequel? He's apparently going to play the Crimson Dynamo, thus marking the first time the words "Rourke" and "Dynamo" are used in the same paragraph.

• But if you thought that pairing was odd, try this one on for size: "The A-Team" and "front burner." Fox is apparently eager to get the old show remade into a film for a new generation. Produced by Ridley Scott, who you'll recall is oddly attached to a "Monopoly" movie, "The A-Team" movie is supposed to hit theaters next year. Uh huh.

• Personally, I'd prefer to see Hollywood fast track "He-Man." The on-again, off-again project finally has a director attached to it. John Stevenson, who helped direct the awesome "Kung Fu Panda," is going to helm a live action version of the animated classic. I just hope it'll be better than the 1987 movie starring Dolph Lundgren, which I must shamefully admit to owning.

• There is no shame, however, in my love for "Tron." Is it a cinematic masterpiece? No. But it's a great popcorn flick with some special effects that remain cool today. (Do I still wish Bit followed me around? "Yes.") So how did I miss the announcement that a sequel is forthcoming? I don't know. All I know is that makes me one happy camper. "End of line."

Marshmallow Krispies.

Coke in a bottle.

PR originality FTW!

Most of the dreck the comes from corporate communications departs is bland and unreadable.

So the creative writer in me was thrilled to see some of the recent statements from game publisher Atlus. Consider how the company revealed that one of their games -- which incidentally bears a title that might confuse English speakers -- would be late to stores.

"Atlus U.S.A., Inc., the only publisher that makes it look oh-so-Ys-ee, today announced that Legacy of Ys: Books I & II for Nintendo DS will ship two weeks later than originally scheduled, now slated to bump into retail stores on February 24, 2009. This was of course immediately accepted because this delay would allow for each and every launch copy of the game to magically transform into a premium boxed release, with the soundtrack CD-formerly intended as a pre-order bonus-to physically be included with each and every copy of the game’s first print run."

Not bad, huh? Check out another release announcing the rescheduling of several game release dates.

"Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today announced that its central supercomputer, tasked with planning and scheduling upcoming Atlus titles, recently suffered a critical hardware failure, rendering the planned launch dates for a small handful of Atlus games obsolete. As technicians scrambled to repair the mainframe, hoping to minimize fallout, they discovered that the machine had become self-aware and was plotting to take over the world."

Granted, this isn't a style for government agencies to emulate, but I must commend the creative writers at Atlus for having a bit of fun on the job.

Where I hang my hat

From CNN’s Jack Cafferty: Where would you live if you could live somewhere else?

There's a lot of places I'd like to live. San Francisco might be fun. Miami would be an experience. And under the right circumstances, I could be talked into moving to Australia.

But the problem is that my ideal location doesn't exist. There's no major metropolitan area with a slick public transit system, great options for free entertainment and located within reasonable driving distance of my closest family and friends. Oh, and there would have to be a decently sized comic book convention. Baltimore Comic Con has spoiled me and I have a new standard for awesome.

The only thing that even remotely fits the above qualifications would be Chicago, but I just don't see myself headed there anytime soon. I mean, I'm not sure how the L would stand up against Metro.

I guess I'm part of the silent majority that's not inclined to move. I like my home. I like my job. I like my life. Sure, things would be better if I at least shared the same time zone as my closest family members. And maybe one day that will change. But aside from that? Things are pretty good.

The views expressed in this and other entries represent Josh's personal feelings at the moment of its posting. The text is provided for entertainment purposes only and should be considered wholly separate from Josh's professional work.

It's "useful link" Thursday!

Hooray! Here are the most useful things I've read and found this week.

Learn how to rock at social networking:

• LinkedIn: 22 Ways to Dominate
• 8 Useful Tips to Become Successful With Twitter
• Online Community Manager: What Does It Take To Be Successful?

Food for thought:

• WSJ: The Economics of Giving It Away
• Blogger Relations (and Social Media Release!) Case Study
• 3 Reasons Super Bowl Ads Failed, and 3 That Worked
• Top 10 Social Networks of Generation-Y

Useful Twitter tools:

• Tweetvalue (I learned my Twitter account is worth $228. W00t!)
• TweetStats - which is basically what it sounds like (it's worth checking out just for the loading messages - if you don't have a Twitter account, just plug in "Thinklynsen"

Random:

• Washington, D.C. Twestival (coming up next Thursday!)
• And this just amused me.

Back to the future, part 2

I was obviously excited to learn that Marvel is going to revisit its 2099 universe. But my excitement for the project announced last month has only grown in the days that have followed.

It looks now like the "Timestorm: 2009/2099" miniseries could be the first step toward bringing 2099 back to life. According to a new interview with miniseries writer Brian Reed at Newsarama...

NEWSARAMA: How did you get involved with Timestorm 2009-2099?

BRIAN REED: Marvel Editor Bill Rosemann called me just before Christmas and said, “I might have a Christmas present for you!” Then he told me of the desire to bring 2099 back to life, and asked if I'd be interested. It sounded like a fun challenge ... so I said I'd love to take a crack at it and dove into a couple weeks worth of reading and research.

In the interview, Brian talks about the many ideas he's bringing to this relaunch and some of the major concepts that could differentiate this work should it continue past the miniseries stage, so it's worth a read. Also worth seeing are the 2099 character designs that Comic Book Resources has posted. The above sketch of Spider-Man 2099 comes from that page.

It's been interesting to see the initial reactions from longtime 2099 fans to this new project. Although mixed with some trepidation, people are generally enthused that this futuristic universe is returning to Marvel's publication schedule. Obviously, I share these feelings, so here's hoping for good sales and a promising future!

[Rocky] Again? [/Rocky]

It's been less than a month since our apartment complex had its last fire alarm. So you can understand why we were not amused when the klaxon sounded last night at 10:40 p.m.

Will our apartment complex ever learn that they need to insulate the pipes that keep bursting amidst these cold winter temps and triggering these false alarms? I honestly don't know. I honestly don't care. I just hope for a good night's sleep tonight.

Leftovers again?

From CNN’s Jack Cafferty: How tired are you of hearing about Rod Blagojevich, Norm Coleman, Al Franken and Sarah Palin?

How tired am I? Very. And who do I have to thank for that? Well, that would be you, CNN.

Cafferty is no fan of Stories That Will Not Die, and I'm right there with him. I tend to think the world would be a better (and more well informed) place if we had fewer talking heads on TV who do nothing but fill airtime by rehashing that hash that was first hashed yesterday. Do we need hourly updates for the ongoing ballot battle between Norm Coleman and Al Franken? No. Am I interested in what Sarah Palin's done since she returned the frozen wilderness from where she once emerged? Not particularly. And am I curious about what's next for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich? Hardly.

So why does CNN and other news outlets force feed us stories on these characters? Because it's easier to update an old story than find and break a new one. And ease counts for a lot when reporters are trying to do as much as they can as quickly as they can. In a world where 24-hour networks and newspaper web sites crave constant updates, you sometimes have to dish up reheated leftovers to simply keep the beast fed.

Do I wish there was a better system? Of course I do. It's rather boring (and dispiriting) waking up each morning to yet another round of poor economic indicators on CNN. But the system we have is the one we've brought on ourselves. Until we, as media consumers, develop some patience and an appetite for more thoughtful reporting, we're going to keep getting the content equivalent of pizza rolls.

The views expressed in this and other entries represent Josh's personal feelings at the moment of its posting. The text is provided for entertainment purposes only and should be considered wholly separate from Josh's professional work.

Hey, where did my wedding band go?

Much as I love seeing our blog mentioned in print (especially a print publication distributed to bajillions of Metro riders, like the Washington Post Express), I found it rather amusing that they assumed I was Josh's girlfriend, rather than his wife, when they were quoting him in today's edition. It's in the lower-right-hand corner of the image below:



Easier-to-read version here:



I wonder what the implication is here. Is it because being willing to see the G.I. Joe movie makes me so gosh-darn cool that I couldn't POSSIBLY be his wife? Are they assuming all wives are shrill, humorless harpies like they're depicted on most sitcoms, the type of women who couldn't possibly bring themselves to care about an action movie but will rush out to see the latest overhyped sob-fest?

Sorry. That ain't me.

Or wait...maybe they're inferring the opposite. Because Josh was SURPRISED I was willing to go with him, maybe it's actually a slam on girlfriends. Maybe they're assuming that every good wife would TOTALLY go to the G.I. Joe movie. Hmmm.

At any rate, rest assured, Mom and Dad - we are still married:



(P.S. to WaPo - I am more amused than annoyed. No worries. And I do thank you for telling folks about our blog.)