10 underrated movies I love

10. Charlie's Angels
This movie was just FUN. The action, the humor, the self-parodying nature of it...it's just a pleasure to watch, albeit a guilty one.

9. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
God help me, I love Robert Downey, Jr. In this movie, he plays his charming self in a wacky, dark detective movie.

8. Down With Love
Again with the self-parody and fun. This movie was pretty much universally panned, but it always makes me laugh. It's sharp, cute, and there's great chemistry between the lead actors.

7. Mamma Mia!
I just saw this on DVD and bought it for my iPod. Yes, the singing is bad. Yes, the plot is thin at best. But it's got ABBA and Pierce Brosnan, and sometimes, that's enough for an enjoyable afternoon.

6. The Three Musketeers
Granted, this movie hit theaters when I was in my impressionable, hopelessly-romantic early teens, but it holds up even today. It's got action, humor, romance, and lest we forget...men in puffy shirts. (*swoon!*)

5. The Sweetest Thing
File this one under "guilty pleasure" too, as it's a raunchy chick flick, but the amusing banter between the three female leads and the sheer goofiness of this movie make it one of my quick go-tos when I'm feeling down.

4. Bridget Jones' Diary (and the sequel)
Again with the "guilty pleasure" filing. Yes, they're chick flicks. But they're genuinely FUNNY chick flicks that are brilliantly written and cast.

3. Oscar
This is one of those movies I love that almost nobody else has seen. Sylvester Stallone plays a mob boss who's going straight amidst a day full of vaudevillian mishaps in this film set in the roaring '20s.

2. Sneakers
This movie's dry wit and complex plot - not to mention an all-star cast, including Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, River Phoenix, and Mary McDonnell - make this a movie I go back to again and again.

1. Dark City
Think of it as "The Matrix" before "The Matrix" in terms of the overall plot and philosophy (things are not as you expect; we're being controlled by non-humans, etc.). I did my senior thesis on this movie and still think it's amazing. We just bought the Director's Cut and it's even better than the original (which I didn't think possible!).

What are your favorite underrated movies?

Add social media to your job-hunting toolbox

If you're job hunting, you know how important it is to take a multi-pronged approach and have as many job-hunting tools at your disposal as possible. Have you considered adding social media tools to your job-hunting toolbox?

On a very basic level, you'll want to be sure to have your resume up on LinkedIn, probably the most vital online tool for job seekers today. Though it's certainly possible to use Facebook to manage professional as well as personal contacts, LinkedIn is actually built for, well, professional networking. You can not only post your resume, but share it with all your contacts, figure out who you want to connect with and if they know anyone you know, etc. If you're job hunting, or even if you just need an easy way to manage your network, this is the #1 social media tool you cannot ignore. If you're already on it, here are some ways to take your usage to the next level.

If you've been following the news, you'll know that Twitter can both help and hurt your job search, depending on how you use it. This article can help you use it to your advantage. And as I mentioned in my post on South by Southwest, another way to keep your network engaged is to hold regular meetups of people who are in similar industries, and Twitter can help you do that, too.

Managing a job search while traveling can be tricky, but now you can even use your iPhone to keep up with your search.

And if you're not sure about diving headfirst into social media, NPR's "All Things Considered" talks more broadly about using technology, including niche websites, to find a job (listen to the story - there's more content beyond what's printed on the page I link to), and Lifehacker has some handy tips for landing a better job.

More resources:

• Top 10 social sites for finding a job
• HOW TO: Build the ultimate social media resume

ABC show addresses homophobia in Jersey sports bar

ABC decided to use their show "What Would You Do?" to address homophobia in a sports bar in New Jersey, where they tested folks' acceptance of a gay couple being openly affectionate. A straight couple was also used as well as another actor making homophobic remarks to see how patrons would react.



I found this video surprisingly heartening. By and large, folks were not only tolerant, but actively defending the gay couple's right to be there. Aside from the reporter using the word "lifestyle" — which wrongly infers that one chooses to be gay — this was an overall welcome insight into America today.

SXSWi: Top takeaways

It's been nearly two weeks since I returned from South by Southwest Interactive, but work has been very busy since I returned, so I'm just now coming up for air.

So what did I learn? Lots. Here are my top takeaways.

• Smaller, intentionally-cultivated online communities equal more signal, less noise.
• Social networking sites are moving away from profiles as being the primary point of interaction and more toward status messages (basically, Twitter is the future).
• Someday, not too far from now, which social network(s) you're on will mean as little as which email provider you use. You'll be able to see and interact with all your friends' info, regardless of what platform they use (or we'll all be using Facebook). Activity should belong to the user, not the platform.
• "As people take control over their data while spreading their web presence, they are not looking for privacy, but for recognition as individuals. This will eventually change the whole world of advertising" -Esther Dyson
• If you want to be good at marketing on the social web, focus on your operations first rather than a campaign. How you do business is what people will talk about - not what messages you're pushing.
• When you're doing a PowerPoint presentation, "Don't put the script of the film up on the screen." (In other words, don't spell out your points, illustrate them somehow.)
• To know your users and get a good sense of how to improve your site, don't do a random focus group of folks off the street. Instead, engage the people who are already on your site through surveys and other means. You need both qualitative (surveys) and quantitative (Google Analytics) data to be able to make sense of things.

I also wanted to share some takeaways specifically from a panel entitled, "What Do I Do With Myself, Now That the Economy Has Collapsed?" It was geared more toward folks who were job hunting than those who are gainfully employed, like myself, but I think the advice was good no matter where you are in your career.

• Make time to learn new skills (especially programming languages) to build up your resume.
• Be a generalist. The more different kinds of things you can do, the better positioned you'll be for your next job.
• Pursue your passions. Learn about the things that interest you, even if you don't see a direct connection to your career now. It may come up in the future. (For instance, one person on the panel was very interested in wine and took a two-month class on wine tasting and pairing. Not directly related to what she's doing, but if there's ever an opportunity for her skills in that industry, she has an edge.)
• Work through stress by working. In a down economy, buy an option on yourself. Invest in yourself. Take that stress and burn through it in a productive way to invest in your self, your skills, your network, and what it takes to get to the next thing.
• Organize small, weekly dinners with local people in professions like yours. Bounce ideas of each other, get inspired.
• If you're looking for work and you have a blog, make sure you mention that you're looking for work on your blog. You may have fans out there looking to hire somebody that fits your skills.

I had a really great time, learned a lot, met Felicia Day, went to some great parties, spread the gospel of KaBOOM!, and met some great people who I hope to remain in touch with.

If you want a taste of the event, check out their podcasts of the various panels. I particularly recommend these:

• Social Media Marketing
• Career Renegade: How To Make A Great Living Doing What You Love
• The Ecosystem of News

Back to the future, part 3

It sure didn't take Marvel long to mess up a good thing.

Once elated at the return of the 2099 universe, I'm now concerned that old tales might be best left alone. "Timestorm: 2009/2099," the four-part miniseries that debuts next month, is already off track. The third issue, presumably set to publish in June, is not on Marvel's release schedule for that month. I'm pleased to see slated two standalone "Timestorm" issues starring Spider-Man and Wolverine, but the lack of followthrough on the miniseries is disheartening.

This is sadly typical for Marvel and it reminded me of why I so rarely buy monthly comics. The company has a chronic inability to meet deadline. Among the most egregious examples in recent years was Marvel's performance during the "Civil War" storyline. I'd hoped that the company had learned it's lesson from that fiasco — during which issues were repeatedly delayed — after I chided Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quesada at Baltimore Comic-Con. (The persistent questioning mentioned paragraphs six and eight of this story? That's me.) But the trend continued. "Marvels: Eye of the Camera" is seeing an insufferably long delay between the fifth and sixth issues. And that's after writer Kurt Busiek told me the series wasn't going to be published until all the artwork was done. And now there's a gap in the "Timestorm" schedule. Will this never end? Sigh.

I refuse to sign up for another series that's going to see delays. I think I'll just wait for "Timestorm" to be collected in trade paperback form. I'd like to support sales of the monthly title and show my interest for more, but I'm more interested in reading my story in a timely manner.

Avert your eyes while you still can

I'm a man who makes his living as a wordsmith, but words cannot adequately describe the absolute revulsion I'm experiencing right now.

The picture at left is Cobra Commander as he will appear in the upcoming "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra" movie. Far worse than the highly stylized image that surfaced last month, this final costume bears so little resemblance to any of the past Cobra Commander action figures that I can only theorize that Hasbro's entire staff was sick the day Hollywood needed a yea or nay.

This fugly mask seems as though it was intended to instill fear by vaguely resembling a skull. But the only thing it's instilling in me is utter contempt for the people behind this movie.

Folks, did we learn nothing from the "Dark Knight" and "Iron Man" movies? The truer you are to the source material, the more your product will be embraced by the filmgoing public. (And don't go invoking "Watchmen" on me as an example to the contrary. "Watchmen" is a niche publication that has nothing on the name recognition of "G.I. Joe.") I can already hear audiences laughing at the sight of this insipid costume. And you know what? I'll be laughing, too.

I'll be laughing because if your Cobra Commander had looked more like a believable threat than a chrome-plated baboon heart, your movie likely would have made twice as much money. Gah!

Help us find 100,000 playspaces in 100 days!

Hello, friends. (Shameless self-promotion to follow.)

My organization, KaBOOM!, is currently running a special promotion with an extraordinarily ambitious goal. We want to get 100,000 new playspaces added to the KaBOOM! Playspace Finder in 100 days.

To help us achieve this, we've gotten some great partners, including Julianne Hough of "Dancing With the Stars." For every playspace you add during the promotion, she'll donate $1 to one of the six charities we've partnered with (you get to choose which one). Think how much good you could do for your local YMCA, National Wildlife Federation, or other organizations by taking a weekend to go out to find and photograph your local places to play. To make it extra easy, you can even submit playspaces via Twitter.

Learn more about the campaign by clicking the image below. I'd really, really appreciate it if you could spread the word! Thank you!

Go, train, go!

It turns out that Link and I share something in common. We both like trains.

I never thought I'd see the day when Link, the hero from "The Legend of Zelda" series, was conducting a train. But that day has come. Announced yesterday at the Game Developers Conference, "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks" puts Link behind "a steam locomotive to travel around the world." Watching the trailer, I couldn't help but think, "Go, train, go!" Why such silliness? Because I recently said those words to Annie during a lighthearted moment aboard Metro. I found the repetition yesterday rather suitable. Let's hope the game mechanic is as enjoyable as the 6-year-old in me wants it to be.

The new game wasn't the only thing Nintendo announced at the conference. To remedy the long problematic Wii memory constraints, the company is rewriting the system software to allow the use of High Capacity SD cards. This particularly benefits frequent WiiWare shoppers and essentially remedies the problem.

Also, the "Final Fantasy IV" sequel I wrote about earlier this week was confirmed as coming to WiiWare later this year. Available alongside it on WiiWare will eventually come the first six entries in the "Final Fantasy" series. Square Enix promised only the first installment for this year, but I'd imagine at least one or two other games will appear before year's end. And if this sets the stage for a re-release of "Final Fantasy VII" or "Final Fantasy IX" on Wii, all the better.

Nintendo made another effort to plug the DSi, too, but I'm passing on that. My thin pocketbook can only take so much. They don't exactly give away "The Legend of Zelda" games.

'Wii Fit' > 'Halo 3'

Back in July 2007, I wrote about how some people were reacting to an unusual game called "Wii Fit." Most longtime gamers naysayed the title, calling it worthless next to such games as "Halo 3." But some defended it.

"People outside of the generic hardcore gaming male just don't care about Generic First Person Shooter #47437934," said NeoGAF member Cool Trick, one of the few who saw the merit of Nintendo's quirky exercise title. "Wii Fit was the most interesting thing to come out of the E3 press conferences, especially to the masses."

Fast forward 21 months to the news that "Wii Fit" has sold more copies than "Halo 3." If you scroll down the linked page to read the comments, you'll see the haters are still sniping away at the title. But you know what? I've logged more than 20 enjoyable hours with "Wii Fit," and I'll take it over Generic First Person Shooter #47437934 any day.

We got a new book in the mail today

It's a horror novel.

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: It's back!

Has it really been three months since I did my last "thumbs up, thumbs down" compilation? Egads! It's time to fix that!

Thumbs Up to Promising Leads: It appears that Chris Pine, the new James T. Kirk, could play Hal Jordan in the upcoming "Green Lantern" film. He's said to be atop the short list of actors that Warner Bros. is pursuing for the role. I approve.

Thumbs Down to Spidey Nonsense: Three mediocre "Spider-Man" movies apparently weren't enough. Now a fourth is being made. And it's pushed back the release of the "Avengers" film I so desperately want to see. Bah!

Thumbs Up to Second Chances: Hot on the heels of the impressive "Wonder Woman" animated feature comes news that the live-action film might be getting a second chance. Hopefully this attempt will fare better than Joss Whedon's doomed rendition.

Thumbs Down to Obscure Villains: I understand that Iron Man doesn't have a great rogues gallery, but is Whiplash really the best Marvel can do for the sequel? Apparently so. Mickey Rourke is already preparing for the part.

Thumbs Up to New Hope: When it comes to "Star Wars," my hope springs eternal. That's why I was excited to learn the long-discussed show has begun casting. Let's just hope for something better than "The Ewok Adventure."

Thumbs Down to Conclusion Jumping: Because ticket sales fell 67 percent during its second weekend and another 62 percent during its third weekend, "Watchmen" could be the last R-rated superhero flick we see. I can't help but wonder, though, if the rating isn't the problem. ("V for Vendetta," another R-rated film based on the works of Alan Moore, fell 52 percent during its second weekend.) Perhaps studio expectations were too high, the audience too frontloaded, or the runtime too long. It seems that Warner Bros. might be jumping to conclusions here. What do you think?

From blackest night to brightest day?

When last we left our heroes, it seemed that HeroClix had a fighting chance of survival. It now seems fairly certain that the brand will live on.

A newly formed company is acquiring the game and is already making plans to release the next set. The upstart Save HeroClix group is not getting the game, but they apparently will help keep the brand viable as it moves ahead. They're working with the new owners to bring the Hammer of Thor set to market as quickly as possible after the game relaunches. Still no promises that new game pieces will be fully compatible with WizKids Games products, but I'd be shocked to see the new company forsake the game's remaining fans.

I'm waiting to see exactly what the future holds for HeroClix before I decide to give these developments a "thumbs up" versus a "thumbs down," but I'm hopeful. Maybe we'll even get some crazy awesome JLA/Avengers set in the near future. I know a set like that would win my love.

Listen to Annie being interviewed about KaBOOM! by a Scotsman in a kilt

I got interviewed by Ewan Spence of the Tech Conference podcast while I was at South by Southwest Interactive last week - you can listen to it here. The interview is about five minutes long.

What's that on the horizon?

It's been rather slim pickings lately on the Wii Shopping Channel. Even the addition of Commodore 64 games haven't tempted me to open my wallet.

But there's something enticing on the horizon. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board, known for occasionally spoiling surprises, has rated the sequel to "Final Fantasy IV" for the Wii. "Final Fantasy IV: The After Years" debuted last year in Japan as an upscale cell phone game and it's now poised to hit America as part of the WiiWare collection. Considering my adoration for "Final Fantasy IV" is second only in the series to "Final Fantasy VII," this is fantastic news. Methinks another playthrough is in order to properly prepare for this forthcoming sequel.

Should the game fare well as a WiiWare download, I wonder if other old games could get sequels. Do you have any favorite games that you'd like to see get this kind of treatment?

That was nice, now let's move on

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the series finale for "Battlestar Galactica" was relatively heavy on the religion. After all, the series once invoked Leonardo da Vinci's famed painting of "The Last Supper" in promotional art.

I'll be a good sport, though, and go along with the many invocations of angels and "God's plan" and the like. It all seemed a bit deus ex machina, but the series as a whole remains a shining example of how to do quality television. I'll buy the final set on DVD when it releases next month and will enjoy watching the series again — this time without the 51 week wait between seasons. Less we forget, it took us five and a half years to reach the final episode.

And we're still not done. There's a hybrid epilogue/prologue set to air this September titled "Battlestar Galactica: The Plan." That movie is preceded by the opening chapter of the prequel series, "Caprica," which comes out on DVD next month. As this series is set a generation before "Battlestar Galactica," though, I have zero interest in the production.

Honestly, I've had my fun and I think it's time to move on. The last thing we need is for a good thing to be spoiled by inane attempts to keep the franchise alive. Please, Universal, just let it go.

What's IN those Corn Pops these days?

Got a minute? Check out the Corn Pops website. It is crazy trippy. Try the "Choose Your Own Adventure" video. I dare you. Also, use your browser's "back" button sometime while you're on the site. Whoa.

Fluffy!

From The Daily Bunny

Snack menu for Battlestar Galactica series finale

Yo, Joe?

It's been a mixed news week for G.I. Joe fans. Some fantastic news that materialized Wednesday was overshadowed by some ominous news Thursday.

The Good: The original "G.I. Joe" cartoon series is again being released on DVD. This is good news for many reasons, none the least of which is that the show's first DVD printing has been out of print for years and fetches insane prices on eBay. It's also good because the cartoon, which was released a chunk at a time, never saw the final episodes released. So three cheers for Shout Factory!

The Bad: Some early footage from the upcoming "G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra" movie was screened and received, well, less than stellar reviews. Dark Horizons said it looked the product of "Baz Luhrmann on speed." Apparently, the movie is "about as subtle as a sledgehammer," with everything "huge and explosive in a visually impressive but utterly over the top and often quite silly way." The screening lasted all of five minutes, so we can't judge the film quite yet. But still, the report was a bit dispiriting.

One step forward, two steps back? Alas, that's often the path a G.I. Joe fan walks. But the fun picture above by CzechMan helps make up for it.

This post is booktastic!

Sorry I've been away...let's talk books!

1. Which book has been on your shelves the longest?
This one's tricky, because I still own a bunch of books from my childhood, but they're in storage. So if we're only counting books literally (ha!) on my shelves right now, it's probably "Beauty" by Robin McKinley.

2. What is your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next?
Current Read(s): "I Like You" by Amy Sedaris and "CSS: The Missing Manual"
Last Read: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" for the third time
Next Book: Really need to finish "CSS: The Missing Manual" before I even think about reading something fun.

3. What book did everyone like and you hated?
Oh man, where to begin. "The Odyssey" comes to mind. "The Magus." "On the Road." The list goes on.

4. Which book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t?
Sadly, the couple of unread financial books sitting on my bookshelf. I'm sure they're perfectly good, but getting up the motivation to read them is tough.

5. Which book are you saving for “retirement?”
Heh. Probably those financial books. (Just kidding, Dad - I'll read them soon, I promise!)

6. Last page: read it first or wait till the end?
I never skip ahead.

7. Acknowledgments: waste of ink and paper or interesting aside?
I figure it's a nice shout-out to the folks who put up with the author during the tough times writing the book, so they deserve the space.

8. Which book character would you switch places with?
Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" books, or Thursday Next from the "Thursday Next" books by Jasper Fforde.

9. Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time)?
The "Anastasia Krupnik" books and the spin-off "All About Sam" books by Lois Lowry will always remind me of happy times spent with my mom. I remember all the specific bits we used to giggle about.

10. Name a book you acquired in some interesting way.
I bought "Mail Order Ninja" with my last $5 and a borrowed $1 from my husband at Baltimore Comic-Con, and have never regretted it.

11. Have you ever given away a book for a special reason to a special person?
Yes. Let's leave it at that.

12. Which book has been with you to the most places?
Probably my "Harry Potter" books. I bought some of them in Australia and due to all the rereadings, I've traveled with them a lot.

13. Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad ten years later?
I remember struggling with "The Three Musketeers" in late junior high but really enjoyed it in college. I've also had the opposite happen when I read "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier. Loved it in high school; can't stand it now. The main character needs to grow a spine.

14. What is the strangest item you’ve ever found in a book?
Hmm. Gum and receipts...not that strange.

15. Used or brand new?
Nothing beats a new book, but I've always loved libraries and have no problem buying used books.

16. Stephen King: Literary genius or opiate of the masses?
Generally not my cup of tea, but I admit his works are gripping.

17. Have you ever seen a movie you liked better than the book?
Yes - "Lord of the Rings."

18. Conversely, which book should NEVER have been introduced to celluloid?
"Neverwhere" (sorry, Mr. Gaiman) - which is a bad answer because it actually started as a miniseries and then became a book. I also have confidence that if it were remade with a bigger budget it would be way more awesome.

19. Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take?
Kathy Stecher. She's a librarian and one of my best friends, and she's recommended some marvelous books.

Thanks to Average Jane for pointing out this meme!

Rick Eddleman is a crook

With some exceptions, I generally try to keep things upbeat here at Think Lynsen. But there are days when I feel compelled to use this forum to publicly shame those who deserve it. And today is one such day.

I've been quietly following the embezzlement case against Rick Eddleman for a while now. Why? Because he once served as vice president of finance for Decipher, the company behind the enjoyable Star Wars CCG that I played throughout college. I was such a passionate fan of the game that I became a Squadron Member (Gold 69) and got to know several Decipher employees, such as Kendrick Summers and Jason Winter. Kendrick, Jason and their colleagues were such great folks that 10 years later, I still look back on my interactions with them fondly. So it angers me that Eddleman inflicted such harm on them and Decipher.

Eddleman plead guilty last week to 12 counts of embezzlement. He stole a whopping $8.9 million from Decipher through various means, including paying himself double his scheduled salary, making improper loans to himself that he never repaid, and other nefarious methods. His inexcusable behavior ravaged the company. Decipher President Cindy Thornburg has gone on record saying that Eddleman’s actions contributed to several rounds of layoffs within the company, resulting in 90 employees losing their jobs. That's 90 lives that were thrown into turmoil by Eddleman's selfishness.

Eddleman, who'll be sentenced in June, faces up to 12 years in prison. He's been ordered to repay the $8.9 million he embezzled, but Decipher will see just a fraction of the money returned. J. Bradley Reaves, Decipher's lawyer, said that Eddleman spent the money on fancy dinners, golf rounds and other frivolous expenses. Only a pittance has been recovered from his 401(k). And there will be no wages to garnish should he spend the next 12 years in prison.

But spend them there he should. Eddleman is a crook and he must pay for what he has done. He showed shocking disregard for basic ethics, he embezzled money I paid for Decipher products, and he gravely injured the company his brother-in-law founded. Eddleman deserves every day he will spend behind bars.

Why pay for video games...

...when the demos are free?

In these fiscally lean times, we all have to do with less. And you can't get much less than "zero," which is the cost to download game demos from the iTunes App Store. Each demo for your iPhone or iPod Touch might only represent a bite-size gaming experience, but sometimes that's all you need. So with that thought in mind, here are some cool, free demos I found in the App Store.

• Rolando Lite: Everyone should try this quirky and adorable game built around the concept of rolling things. It nicely demonstrates the system's capabilities and offers a relaxed experience that anyone with a heart can enjoy.

• Star Wars - The Force Unleashed Lite: An interesting game concept built around a unique engine, this is refreshingly unlike any other "Star Wars" game you've ever played. It's worth a try, even if it does drain the batteries.

• Payback Lite: The closest thing you'll find to "Grand Theft Auto" on the App Store, this game is among the most ambitious yet offered for the iPhone and iPod Touch. If you like sandbox games, give "Payback" a look.

• Pac-Man Lite: Sure, it's only one level of the classic game. But with several control options — including one that allows you to tilt the system in the direction you want Pac-Man to move — you'll enjoy sampling this arcade classic.

• DDR S Lite: If you think free demos are beneath you because they're too easy, try this "Dance Dance Revolution" sampler on for size. The one level it includes will crush those who are unprepared. Crush them, I say!

• Crystal Defenders Lite: In this fairly generous demo, players must survive the first 20 enemy waves in "Crystal Defenders." A good way to fill 20 minutes, which happens to be my Metro commute time.

• Edge Lite: This bonus recommendation is being made sight unseen. This game caught my eye as I was sifting through iTunes in preparation for this post, but apologies in advance if the looks are deceiving.

Are there any game demos (as opposed to free games) that you particularly enjoy?

'Fantastic Four' redux?

I'm a pretty big "Fantastic Four" fan, but even I admit the two films that hit theaters earlier this decade are stinking piles of dung.

So I was heartened some to see that Fox finally realized the same and is going to give the franchise another shot. IESB reports that the studio is prepping a series reboot — basically the same as what happened with "The Hulk" films — with an eye toward a "less bubble gum" take on the heroes. And as part of this reboot, all the cast members have been given the boot. While I'll miss Chris Evans as Human Torch and Michael Chiklis as The Thing, I'm willing to jettison them both if that's what it takes to stop Julian McMahon from reprising his role as Dr. Doom. Never have I seen an established character more misrepresented on screen than when McMahon confused Dr. Doom with Lex Luthor. And not just in one movie, either, but two! Gah!

In the interest of getting a better film this time, here are some quick notes to Hollywood on this project. Feel free to add your own...

• Pattern your opening sequence after the one used in "The Incredible Hulk." If you're unsure how to do so effectively, see the opening pages of "Fantastic Four" issue 489. I'd loan you my copy, but it's signed by Wieringo and Waid.

• Let the good doctor sit this one out. Chose a new adversary from the team's long and colorful history. I might recommend the Skrulls, Namor or Annihilus.

• Use the villain that best fits the story you want to tell. If you want to focus on the importance of family and loyalty, consider incorporating the Skrulls. If you want the Four to be true explorers, poking around new and different dimensions, perhaps Annihilus is your best bet.

• As tempting as it might be now that Marvel has started doing cinematic crossovers, don't even think about it. If I so much as glimpse one adamantium claw, I'm out.

• Finally, do not make the team go bankrupt, do not launch the Baxter Building into space, and do not have Sue and Reed separate. These cliché plots are overdone in the comics. I don't need to spend $10 to see them rehashed on the big screen.

500 followers!

I hit 500 followers on Twitter today! WAHOO!



You can follow me here.

My meeting with Felicia Day - photographic proof!

Thanks to Josh for posting about the encounter accurately and speedily. I will only add that she was extremely nice and gracious...especially considering my cell phone kept taking blurry pictures and I had to enlist the help of volunteer Toya Bee, who took a picture with her camera and emailed it to me this morning. (Thank you again, Toya - I really appreciate it!)

NYT: Books with pictures worthwhile, too

The New York Times has tossed graphic novel aficionados a new piece of ammunition to use in arguments with hoity toity snobs that insist such volumes aren't real books.

Weekly lists of the nation's best selling "graphic books" will now appear on the publication's web site. Sales are broken down by category: hardcover, softcover and manga volumes.

It's gratifying to see such mainstream acceptance for a medium that's all too often ignored or belittled by the bookish crowd. Graphic novels are fine literature, offering uniquely visual tales that are fundamentally different than prose tomes. They deserve recognition in their own right, and I commend the Times for this nod.

I've gone platinum

It's official. I'm a top-tier Nintendo geek.

As I wallowed on the couch this weekend, trying to overcome a cold that's left me an immobile blob, I returned to Club Nintendo to see if there was any new way for me to earn points toward their overpriced goodies. There were some new surveys I could complete, so I claimed a few more points. And as a result, I have graduated from gold-level geek to platinum-level geek.

This guarantees that I'll receive the as-yet-unannounced mystery gift that's given only to the most devoted Nintendo fans. But I'm still 200 points (or four Wii games ) shy of landing the prize I most want. And since the points expire at the end of June, my window of opportunity is starting to close. But somehow I can't bring myself to spend $200 on Wii games to get a deck of cards that I could buy on eBay for $35.

Oh well. Somehow, life will go on.

This intolerable wait is most illogical

Even before I saw the new "Star Trek" trailer in front of "Watchmen," I was excited about the movie that's hitting theaters May 8.

But the sheer awesomeness of the trailer cannot be denied and it's whipped me and the other Trekkies I know into a veritable frenzy. I think I'm actually more excited about the release of this film than I am for my birthday, which occurs four days later. And that's kinda crazy.

But my birthday seems somehow linked to "Star Trek" this year. On May 12, the studio is releasing two new DVD sets that highlight the best of "Star Trek" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." These "best of" sets make four top episodes available at rock-bottom prices. The old school set includes "The City on the Edge of Forever," "The Trouble with Tribbles," "Balance of Terror" and "Amok Time." The latter-day collection sports "The Best of Both Worlds" (parts 1 and 2), "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "The Measure of a Man."

I couldn't help but wonder, though, if these episodes truly are the best each series has to offer. Given the four-episode constraint, I would have been tempted to ditch "The Best of Both Worlds," add "I, Borg" to represent the unique villains and use the leftover space for a Q episode. Perhaps "Déjà Q" would be best, though I'm open to suggestion.

What changes to each disc's lineup would you make?

Annie just met Felicia Day!

You see that woman pictured here? That's Felicia Day. Annie just met her. And got her picture taken with her. And got her autograph.

Yeah, I'm crazy jealous, too.

They crossed paths at South by Southwest, where Annie is eating, sleeping and experiencing all things technologic until Tuesday. Amid the thousands of people in attendance, she randomly encountered the actress who portrays Penny in "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." It was a brief meeting, but Annie had enough time to (1) get her picture taken with Felicia, (2) get Felicia's autograph in the notebook Annie had with her, (3) tell Felicia that I was crazy enough to dress as Dr. Horrible for Halloween, and (4) tell Felicia about the greatness that is the KaBOOM! Playspace Finder.

I'm sure Annie will be more than happy to relay the details and share the picture upon her return home. In the meantime, though, won't you join me in turning green with envy?

Away with the fairies...er, techies...

I'm leaving this morning for the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. I'm preparing for my mind to be blown away with new ideas from panels with titles like:

• Everything You Know About Web Design Is Wrong
• User Generated Content: State of the Union
• Is Privacy Dead or Just Very Confused?
• What your Startup Can Learn from Barack Obama and Howard Dean
• Feed Me: Bite Size Info for a Hungry Internet
• Everything I Needed to Know About the Web I Learned from Feminism
• Suxorz '09: The Ten Worst Social Media Campaigns
• Making Whuffie: Raising Social Capital in Online Communities
• Social Media: If You Liked it, Then You Should Have Put a Digg on It...
• Presenting Straight to the Brain
• Grokking Bloggers: It's About Love and Underpants
• Ultimate Showdown of Content Management System Destiny
• Enough To Be Dangerous: Managing 'Expert' Clients

For those who want to track my progress, I'll be using Twitter like a madwoman. I'll also be putting my new smartphone to the test by posting pics with its built-in Flickr app.

I'll be sure to write a followup when I return. Until then, I'm passing the baton to Josh.

Hopes for this year's CONvergence

Just like last year, I am totally looking forward to this year's CONvergence. Here's a list, in no particular order, of my hopes for this year's con:

• I hope the following cosplayers return with their same costumes from last year: Guy dressed as Tony Stark, Guy dressed as Willy Wonka who worked at Connie's Space Lounge, and Guy dressed as Sora from Kingdom Hearts.
• I hope to see more people dressed as pirates this year. Especially the evening I debut my pirate costume (which has yet to be purchased).
• In my wildest dreams, I would love to see NPH make an appearance at the Dr. Horrible Sing-A-Long. But that's never going to happen.
• I hope to get my photo and hat signed by the MST3K cast members who will be attending.
• I hope Kevin Murphy from MST3K makes a surprise appearance.
• I hope the parties are even bigger and better.
• I hope my friends Tim and Melanie attend. (Hint, hint, guys!)
• I hope Josh's Dr. Horrible costume makes a big splash.

What are your hopes for the con?

Five online shopping hacks to save you time and money

Looking for a bargain? If you know where and how to shop, you can find tons of them online.

1. Looking for computer stuff? Newegg.com is probably the best resource to find insanely cheap memory cards and computer parts.
2. Woot.com offers one deal per day on something nerdy and cool. It's luck of the draw whether it's something you actually want, but through them I was able to get a gift for my husband at about 70% off the suggested retail price. Watch for "Woot Offs," days when they sell dozens of items, one at a time, until they're gone.
3. Red Tag Crazy is a new site that works like Woot, but for clothes and accessories.
4. Subscribe to e-newsletters of your favorite retailers to get the inside scoop on sales. I've been able to get cool t-shirts for only $10 through sales on Threadless.com, for example.
5. Etsy.com is a website where people sell hand-crafted items. Some sellers overcharge, but many are quite reasonable (better than what you'd pay for a hand-crafted item at an outdoor market, most times). My personal favorite artist sells hand-made video-game-themed jewelry.

What are your favorite bargain shopping tips?

Go Speed Bunny Go!

Building a following on Twitter: Strategies that work

I've been fortunate enough to experience some significant growth in both my personal and professional Twitter followings over the past month. My personal Twitter account has gone from about 175 followers in January to over 400 followers today (and growing - just overnight I got 10 more followers). My organization's account has also seen a dramatic jump - we had around 30 followers in September and are now quickly approaching 1,000. Over the course of 24 hours at one point last week, our organization's Twitter following increased by 150!

Granted, there are people out there whose follower numbers are growing by much bigger leaps and bounds - a lot of early adopters and celebrities - but I'm pretty proud of these follower increases and wanted to share some of the strategies I've employed that have made this happen.

1. Follow the standard Twitter rules: Be a person, be relevant, be social, be nice. Join the conversation, promote what others are doing, and have fun. Retweet useful links and ideas frequently.
   
   
2. Talk about what others are talking about and employ hashtags. For instance, during the Oscars broadcast, I sent this tweet:
   
   
   
   Especially during major events like the Oscars, some people like to follow what people are saying about it on Twitter and find new people to follow that way. By jumping on that bandwagon, you can help raise awareness of your brand. I've also made a point of finding trending topics specifically related to our organization and chiming in, i.e. #playoutdoors.
   
   
3. List your account in Twitter directories, like Just Tweet It.
   
   
4. Seek out people talking about issues that interest you, and follow them. You can do this in a few ways (and I recommend a multi-pronged approach). You can use Twitter's search function, whether on the website or with an app like TweetDeck, to monitor people discussing certain keywords. It's also a good idea to use Mr. Tweet, which acts as sort of a personal assistant to seek out and find relevant people to follow. And If you're pressed for time, you can try out Twollo, a service that auto-follows people who use certain keywords in their tweets. But be careful. Using Twollo too much can throw your following/follower ratio out of whack (since not everybody will follow you back), and the larger the number of people you follow, the tighter that following/follower ratio needs to be in order for you not to bump up against the limits set by Twitter.
   
   
5. Always thank others for retweeting your stuff.
   
   
6. Promote others on "Follow Fridays" - then they'll be more likely to promote you as well.
   
   
7. Use services like TweetLater to set up tweets in advance when you know you'll be away, and to auto-follow anyone who follows you. However, as tempting as it sounds, do not use the auto-DM feature to message everyone who follows you. The general consensus on Twitter right now is that people find that annoying.

I hope this information is helpful! What strategies have you used to get more Twitter followers?

Spoiler alert!

I hated the soundtrack. There. Now that I've got that out of the way, let's review "Watchmen."

Bear in mind that this review is coming to you from someone who read the greatly lauded graphic novel once. Seven years ago. And I didn't much care for it. The volume, while impressively crafted and remarkably thoughtful, was exhaustively overbearing and obnoxiously pretentious. Call me a heretic, but I've long thought "Watchmen" needed more than a bit of streamlining. So I was eager to see how the 338-page tome would look when turned into a 163-minute film. The short answer is pretty good. I'd give the movie a solid B.

This adaptation of Alan Moore's work, written by David Hayter and Alex Tse and directed by Zack Snyder, stays quite faithful to the original. The film retains much of the original story's dialogue, framing and tone. And by that measure alone, this is a better comic book movie than most of what you've seen on the silver screen. But is it better than "The Dark Knight," generally considered the best film of this young genre? No.

While some actors excel in their roles, "Watchmen" would have done better to recast some characters. Matthew Goode does not make a good Ozymandias. He fails to portray the character as disarmingly personable, thus tipping even the most ignorant of viewers far too early in the film to the fact that he's the ultimate villain. And by contrast to many of his fellow actors, Goode never seems to feel comfortable in his role. Also miscast was Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan. I guess I was spoiled by the "Watchmen" motion comic, because I found Crudup's voice completely wrong for the character. Considering that 90 percent of Crudup's work for the film was voice work, it's unfortunate that a better actor could not be found. Finally, though she provided a generally sound performance, Malin Akerman seemed too wet behind the ears to play Silk Spectre. I think a more experienced actress could have given a better performance.

To be fair, though, I should note that Jackie Earle Haley was a spectacular Rorschach and Jeffrey Dean Morgan was viciously effective as the Comedian. The argument could be made the film hinged on the performances of these actors, who were responsible for two of the story's most critical characters. The above-average grade that I give the "Watchmen" film is based as much on these performances as anything.

But in my opinion, the grade can go no higher because of some key choices the director made. I'm not sure what I should have expected from the man who's responsible for "300," but Snyder approached the "Watchmen" soundtrack with all the subtlety of the Kool-Aid Man bursting through a brick wall. When a gigantic Dr. Manhattan obliterates Vietnamese fighters, we hear "Ride of the Valkyries." When two characters end their flirtation and have sex, we hear "Hallelujah." When a montage sequence highlights Ozymandias, we hear "I'm Your Boogie Man." With almost every choice, it's as though Snyder is hitting his viewers over the head with a mallet, screaming, "Feel the way I want you to feel!" Granted, not all of his choices are misfires. "The Times They Are A-Changin" nicely reinforces the point of his opening credit sequence, and "The Sound of Silence" is appropriate for the Comedian's funeral. But there were more minuses than pluses on his scorecard.

Also unpleasant — and arguably unnecessary — was Snyder's decision to make the movie surprisingly violent. It seemed that at almost every opportunity, he chose the more gruesome path, even when his point could have been made every bit as eloquently with a modicum of restraint. Nowhere is this more evident than during the street fight sequence in which Silk Spectre and Nite Owl take down a group of thugs. It was wholly unnecessary for one crippled fighter to have his snapped arm's bone break the skin in slow motion. It was an ugly moment that my theater's crowd reacted negatively toward.

I know I've dwelled on the negative in this review, but I don't want that to be your lasting impression of "Watchmen." That's why I'm going to conclude with these recommendations. "Watchmen" is a good film. It really is. It could have done some things differently, but most of what it does, it does right. It thins a bloated graphic novel into a slick film. It revises a nonsensical ending into something that works much better for mainstream audiences. And it does all this with great affinity for the source material.

If you know and like "Watchmen" the graphic novel, see this film. If you don't, see this film. It's a good murder mystery with science fiction trappings. You don't need to be a comic book geek to enjoy this movie — and that, ultimately, is the film's greatest strength. It's a good story. Enjoy it.

10 Gnome action movies

1. Toadstool Impact
2. Die Now, Frolic Later
3. Fatal Buttercup
4. Bluebird: Down!
5. Soldier of Merriment
6. Death Wears A Pointy Hat
7. Honeydew Velocity
8. Sudden Cottage
9. Twinkle With Extreme Prejudice
10. The Chipmunk Who Came In From The Cold

From Woot.

Mad scientist cooking: Breakfast fried rice

This was my bleary-eyed thought process this morning:

1. Want breakfast.
2. Not oatmeal.
3. Kinda want fried rice.
4. But with bacon.
5. And hash browns.
6. Hmm.

So I put on my Mad Scientist hat and whipped up breakfast fried rice. Here's how I did it (or, rather, how I wish I had done it - I cooked the hash browns before the bacon and they got a bit overcooked):

Breakfast Fried Rice
Ingredients:

• About 1/4 cup grapeseed oil
• 2 slices of bacon
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup frozen hash browns
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 Tbsp soy sauce

Directions:

1. Heat skillet over medium-high heat. Add a couple Tbsp of oil.
2. Snip bacon into 1/2" pieces with kitchen shears and drop into skillet to begin cooking.
3. Once bacon is beginning to crisp, add hash browns and onions to skillet; cover. Let cook a couple minutes, scrape brown bits on the bottom of the pan and stir; cover and repeat until onions are tender and hash browns are crisp. Add more oil if things are sticking too much.
4. Stir in rice. Cover and heat another couple of minutes.
5. Push rice mixture to one side of the skillet, add a couple more teaspoons of oil to the empty side and then add eggs to the empty side. Cook like scrambled eggs, stirring almost constantly, until nearly cooked through but still shiny; mix with rice mixture and heat another minute or two until cooked through.
6. Stir in soy sauce and serve.

Messing around with self-portraits

I really love the Photo Booth feature on my MacBook Pro. I took these awhile ago and decided to compile them into something reminiscent of what you'd produce in an actual photo booth. Enjoy.

Facebook Meme: Album covers 4

Original post

Where to watch the Watchmen?

Not at an AMC theater, that's for sure.

Earlier this week, I purchased "Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic" on DVD. Although I consider my money well spent, I'll admit the reason I bought it this week was so that I could use the enclosed "movie money" to see the movie this weekend for free. It turns out I was wrong. You see, movie money is good "at participating theaters only" and certain "restrictions apply." What kind of restrictions? The kind you can only read after you buy the DVD, because it's a "details inside" scenario.

So what are those details? The coupon expires March 28. Participating theaters are listed at www.hollywoodmoviemoney.com. And it's not valid at AMC theaters. So that wonderful Uptown Theater on Connecticut Avenue is right out. What's in? My best bet is the Regal Majestic 20 in downtown Silver Spring. That's a decent theater, but it's neither regal nor majestic. I was hoping for a better way to experience "Watchmen" than to bear through cell phone conversations and obnoxious teenage chatter.

I'd say let this be a lesson to you all, read the fine print, yadda yadda yadda. But since the fine print wasn't available to read until after the product is purchased, I say shame on Warner Bros. How hard would it have been to put that "Not valid at AMC Theaters" line on the packaging sticker? Seriously.

Facebook Meme: Album covers 3

Original post

Facebook Meme: Album covers 2

Original post

Feeling very silly tonight

I just finished crocheting Rudy the Rectangle...and he just can't stop DANCING!

Snowocalypse!

For those watching CNN this morning, you know we're getting some "weather" on the East Coast today.

They've closed all public schools in our county over this today:





Granted, it is still coming down pretty hard and we're supposed to get an extra inch of accumulation over rush hour. But seriously...they said we'd get 4 to 8 inches of snow (8 inches is enough to shut down Metro), and as usual, we only got a couple of inches. Sigh.

Facebook meme: Album covers

This is a fun Facebook meme going around now. I might post a few more, a la KittyKittyBangBang.

CREATE YOUR BAND NAME & ALBUM COVER:

To Do This

1 - Go to Wikipedia. Hit “random”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to Quotations Page and select "random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 - Post it to FB with this text in the "caption" or "comment" and TAG the friends you want to join in.