Happy Halloween!

I carved this at work yesterday! It's a Power Pumpkin!



Also, a special Halloween treat for all of you (thanks to Melissa for posting this on Twitter yesterday!)...10 Horror Films You Can Watch for Free Online.

The doctor is in

Per my earlier post, Dr. Horrible (Rick Klau) meets Captain Hammer (Eitan Bencuya) at Google's Halloween party. Let us all pause to admire the awesome.

The doctor is out

Longtime readers will recall that I dressed for Halloween last year as Dr. Horrible, the lead character in the amusing musical starring Neil Patrick Harris.

The costume was a hit during that and ensuing outings, and now I'm excited to see how it's received on the left coast. Rick Klau, a friend who works at Google, is wearing the outfit into his workplace today. He's got my entire ensemble, including the coat my mother-in-law made, the boots and gloves I bought, and the goggles I spray painted to better match those that NPH sports in "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." I'm anxiously awaiting reports on the reactions he receives. I hope — and expect — that the recognition factor for Dr. Horrible will be better at Google's offices than in downtown Washington.

Although this doesn't exactly leave me sans costume, I'm taking a more relaxed approach to this Halloween. I might hit a local bar and party with friends, but I'll probably save the cosplay for another day.

How about you? What are your Halloween plans?

So, in other words...there is no spoon.

I never LOVED science class, but I did really enjoy physical science in 9th grade. Our teacher was awesome and we got to watch these fun Canadian videos about the various concepts of physics. This one is about molecules. Enjoy.

Ha!

God bless FailBlog.

Wait, I can be a DJ?

I'll admit, as a huge club and remix music fan, this is pretty tempting...

Actual conversation

Me: (Looking at picture on the right.) "It's a hedgehog!"

Josh: "Why isn't he moving? He's not blue! Where's Tails? Why isn't Tails flying? Where's the Eggman?"

Me: O.o

Mantis style for the win!

From the always awesome icanhascheezburger.

Fiendishly difficult? I'll pass

I was disappointed this week to learn that the next Mario game is "fiendishly difficult" and is prone to "have even the most die-hard Mario players cursing at times."

This letdown follows the great anticipation Annie and I shared for "New Super Mario Bros. Wii." The game is the first four-player Super Mario game, it features the nostalgic return of the Koopa Kids first seen in "Super Mario Bros. 3" and it boasts Nintendo's first in-game walkthrough system. All together, these traits had placed the game squarely on my "must get" list.

But the new revelations about the game's difficulty have killed my enthusiasm. I'm a casual gamer these days, looking for no greater challenge than an occasional boss fight in "The Legend of Zelda." To think that "Super Mario Bros. Wii" will be as brutal as "Mega Man 9" is no motivation for me to buy it.

Truth be told, I regret buying "Mega Man 9" because its fierce difficulty is no enticement to keep playing. Fool me once, shame on you and so forth. I expect not even the "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" in-game walkthrough system would effectively blunt the pain, since my character must die eight times on one level before I see some help.

Call me a wuss, but I'm going to stick with the likes of "Guitar Hero: World Tour" and "Lego Batman." If I get any Mario game this fall, it'll be the critically acclaimed and far more forgiving "Super Mario Galaxy."

Watch KaBOOM! on "Parks and Recreation"

Here's last night's episode, in full! I thought it was really good. What did you think?

Great t-shirt for an English major

*ahem*

"Keep on keeping on, evolution!"

The quote above is from our friend Ozzie, who shared this little gem on Google Reader. This toad is AWESOME.

Rocking out for cheap

Prowling the clearance sections at Target doesn't often yield much. An old video game here, a lackluster board game there. But sometimes you strike gold.

I was lucky enough to recently find a "Guitar Hero: World Tour" package with the game and two guitars for $23. The unbelievable deal represented a pretty hefty discount from the game's original price of $90 and was something I just couldn't pass up. And it only got better once I found "The Touch" by Stan Bush, best known for its inclusion in the animated "Transformers" movie, was part of the deal.

I've since been keeping an eye out for deals on the game's optional drum set and microphone, which would turn the game Annie and I enjoy into a nice party treat. Just finding the drums are a challenge, though, never mind locating a deal.

Methinks this set is destined for my Christmas wish list. (Yes, I still make those.) But in the meantime, there are plenty of songs in the game to keep Annie and I busy. And if anyone wants to join our band, I could be persuaded to set down my guitar. For a couple of songs, at least.

Transformer costume that actually transforms

My friend Melissa K. posted this on Facebook this morning and MADE MY MORNING.

Watch "Parks and Recreation" tonight!

Tonight's episode of NBC's "Parks and Recreation" is called "KaBOOM!" and features, well, the organization I work for. Sort of. It's really an over-the-top caricature.

But be sure to check it out - it promises to be really funny. It's on at 8:30 EST/PST and 7:30 CST on NBC. Enjoy!

Great article about one of Josh's coworkers

I read this on my way to work this morning. Lou Chibbaro, who is not only a reporter but an institution at the Washington Blade, was profiled in today's Washington Post. His story is compelling and it's truly amazing how very long he's been chronicling the struggle for gay rights in this country. For what it's worth, Lou is not only as knowledgeable as the article claims, he's also a really nice guy. The article actually made me a little misty-eyed. It's a really touching profile of a really great guy.

And also - the Blade turns 40 this month. Their first issue was published in 1969 and they've published continuously since then. A lot of people ask me what it's like to be married to someone who works at the Blade, and I have always been proud that Josh works for such a long-standing publication that deals with such important and interesting subject matter in an honest and authentic way.

Dear CBS,

(The following was what I recently submitted to CBS.com's comment form.)

My husband and I are loyal fans of "The Big Bang Theory," and have blogged about its awesomeness a couple of times on our website, thinklynsen.com. But why aren't you putting the episodes anywhere online since season 1?

We're busy people. We lead busy lives. Switching the program to 9:30 has been bad enough (we keep forgetting the time change and last night completely forgot to watch it, to be honest), but the fact that we have no way to watch the episodes we missed is absurd. We don't have TiVo or DVR. We would pay $1.99 an episode on iTunes, no problem...but that's not even a possibility.

If ever you had a show whose target demographic was heavily online, "The Big Bang Theory" is it. Please start offering the episodes online so we can keep up with the show. Thank you.

(Oh - and more special features on the DVDs, please. Commentary would be great!)

Epic Mickey tidbits

It's no secret that I'm jazzed about the forthcoming "Epic Mickey" game for the Nintendo Wii. The conceptual art alone was breathtaking, but the new info released last week ratchets my excitement up another notch.

Thanks to GoNintendo, which summarized recent reports on the game, we now know:

• That the game is being used to 'reinvigorate' Mickey Mouse as a character
• The game world is similar to Walt Disney World, but twisted
• Players used the Wii controller to paint buildings, platforms and more
• We can create and destroy the world as we go along
• The game will be both frightening and funny
• There are elements of platforming, exploration and role-playing
• We can explore the inner-workings of some levels and rides
• And that Jim Dooley of "Pushing Daises" fame is doing the soundtrack

An awesome start. Now we just need to see some gameplay, so I won't suffer another disappointment, a la the "The Conduit." What started out looking fantastic there turned into something decidedly less so.

Come on, Disney! Don't let me down!

Craziest installation process ever

My boss gave me a DVD to watch today, and I've had a terrible time getting it to work on my computer. Windows Media Player won't play it, Quicktime doesn't recognize it, and so I resorted to trying freeware.

The first download I tried only played the first 5 minutes of the video before demanding $30 to continue. The second wouldn't recognize the DVD at all. And the third...well, the third was just amusing. For what it's worth, this received a 3-star editor's rating on CNET. But when I got to this point in the installation process I immediately stopped. Here are the screenshots...and my reactions.

Food for thought on the future of social media, technology

10 abandoned Disney projects

I thought this was a pretty neat article from Mental Floss. Enjoy.

10 Abandoned Disney Projects

Happy International Coming Out Day!

Happy Coming Out Day, everybody! Those who know Josh and me well know how near and dear LGBT issues are to our hearts, for a variety of personal reasons. Here's hoping that one day, nobody in the world will have to be afraid to be OUT and PROUD. Be who you are and live your life in all its wonderful (rainbow of) colors!

Annie's going to BlogWorld...are you?

Hey everybody in the blogosphere!

Once again, Annie will be attending BlogWorld Expo in beautiful Las Vegas this year! (We tried to get Josh to come, but stupid airline prices didn't cooperate. Bah!)

If you're going to be there, too, be sure to say hi! I'll be attending lots of panels and parties.

Hope to see you there!

Print? Check. Radio? Check. TV? Check.

Rarely do I step outside the confines of my print journalism sphere. But sometimes you just have to take one for the team.

At my supervisor's request, I responded Friday to appearance requests from a Russian television station and D.C. radio show. My first stint was for Russia Today, the nation's state-owned, English-speaking channel. Their offices are just a couple blocks from my Washington Blade desk, so I arrived early for a live interview that was first set for 2 p.m. and then bumped to 2:17 p.m. I met some staff members, exchanged a few laughs, then got wired for the show. The whole segment, which lasted about three minutes, was a cursory look at President Obama's handling of LGBT issues. It was timed to coincide with his appearance at tonight's Human Rights Campaign dinner. I just wish they hadn't thrown an unexpected Nobel Peace Prize question into the mix.

I next went to WPFW Radio in Northwest D.C. to speak alongside two other guests on News Views, a segment within Spectrum Today, which offers news analysis and commentary. Everyone involved was very pleasant and quite encouraging when I told them it was my first time doing a radio show. We spoke about a range of issues, including Obama's Nobel Peace Prize win, some local political issues, and a bill that's expected to establish same-sex marriage in Washington.

This segment is a bit trickier to find, and will only remain online for one week, but you can hear it by visting http://wpfw.org/archive, then playing the "Spectrum Today 10 09 09 Comp" show. My segment begins about halfway through the hour-long show, at the point shown in the graphic above.

Despite a tendency to grow quieter as I ended my sentences on television, and my mixing of Clark Ray's first and last names on the radio, I thought both experiences went fairly well. Your feedback would be welcome, though, just in case I do this again.

Why does health care cost so much?

Health care costs a lot. That much is indisputable. But why does it cost so much? That's a tough question to answer.

But my hat is tipped this morning to National Public Radio reporter Alix Spiegel. Her report on the issue is — by far — the best explanation I have ever read, seen or heard on the issue. I strongly encourage you to read or hear her report to obtain a better understanding of how we, as a nation, reached this point.

It's also worth noting that Spiegel's report is the first of three pieces on the topic. So if the ending seems a bit abrupt, know that more's to come.

Let's take it down a notch

Thursdays can be stressful. What better way to de-stress than to watch crayons being made? It's almost hypnotic.

First, Mr. Rogers:



Then, Sesame Street's much faster, unnarrated version:



Enjoy.

Recipe: Parmesan Knots

This is probably the best recipe I've tried in a long time. I've started making it whenever I'm making a main dish I'm unsure of - because regardless of the outcome, Josh will love these so much it'll eclipse whatever else might go wrong. I've been making them with fresh shredded parmesan and freshly chopped herbs from my garden on the balcony.

Parmesan Knots

Ingredients:

• 1 tube (12 oz.) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (if you're making these for fewer people, I recommend getting the smaller tube of biscuits)
• 1/4 cup canola or olive oil
• 3 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried parsley flakes

Directions:

1. Cut each biscuit into thirds. Roll each piece into a 3-inch rope and tie into a knot; tuck ends under. Place 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet.
2. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
3. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; add the warm knots and gently toss to coat.

Simple idea to save paper

Attention all grocery stores and drug stores:

I appreciate the coupons. I really do. But honestly, your saver card program should be sufficient for my customer-loyalty and money-saving needs. Why do you still print paper coupons when I check out?

Most of the time, the coupons are for products I don't plan to buy. Ever. I mean, I bought a pack of gum at CVS and got a 4-foot-long receipt that included a coupon for a men's haircare product. Really? Seriously?

As someone who used to work in retail and commonly had to refill our cash registers with receipt paper, I can't even IMAGINE how much receipt paper these kinds of stores go through.

Here's my idea. At CVS, they have a little machine where you can scan your CVS card and print any relevant coupons. If they insist on continuing with the printed coupon route, at least let me decide which coupons I want to print and when I want to print them. Don't just automatically foist them on me at checkout.

If anyone in the retail industry can shed light on this practice, I'm all ears. But for now I stand my ground: These places should stop wasting paper and make printed coupons a selectable option rather than something that you get automatically.

Blogging about psychic superheroes

Sorry for the lack of blog post thus far today. If you'd like a little dose of Lynsen-ness, head on over to the KaBOOM! blog for Annie's latest, I want to be the PSYCHIC superhero.

Pirates for Sail: 2nd CD is out!

I just wanted to let everybody know - you can now order the second Pirates for Sail CD on CDBaby.com. It's called "Band on the Rum" (everybody groan now). I've been listening to it for the past couple of weeks and it's really solid. The sound quality is better than the last one and the harmonies are tighter. The song selection is great, too - and if "Mingulay" doesn't make you shed a tear you are not human.

OMG PANCAKE ROBOT

I just discovered this blog called Mental Floss, which apparently is also a magazine. I'm really enjoying it, especially for the quirky features like this video (to really enjoy it, I recommend reading the accompanying blog post first):



I've always thought marketing videos were pretty trippy. They remind me of the weird marketing video spoof in the Space Ghost: Coast to Coast episode called "Joshua." (I tried to find a clip on the Interwebs but couldn't. Sorry, folks.)

Anyway, back to Mental Floss...the site has lots of other goodies for those who like trivia, including a daily lunchtime quiz. Go check it out!

Customer disservice

I was going to write today about the cool phone I just got from T-Mobile. But instead, I'm going to write about something that appeared on the bill.

An unexpected and so-called "upgrade fee" of $18 was assessed during that transaction. The fee apparently started hitting customers in 2007, but this was the first time that either Annie or I saw it. So to get a better understanding, I called T-Mobile customer service.

I was told the fee is something that's sometimes assessed and other times, for competitive reasons, put on hiatus. (This would explain why neither Annie nor I had suffered it until now.) The upbeat customer service agent quickly noted, though, that T-Mobile's upgrade fee is actually the smallest among the major carriers, which generally assess $25 upgrade fees.

I learned later that's not true. AT&T, where all the cool kids are with their iPhones, assesses the same $18 fee. And Verizon, best known in D.C. for being the sole carrier to offer service in the Metro tunnels, apparently charges a $20 fee.

But back to the conversation with T-Mobile's upbeat customer service agent. I asked whether this fee was assessed to new customers or only existing customers. I was told it was assessed only to existing customers. So why then, I asked, are you penalizing your continuing customers? In response, I got the "I'm sorry you feel that way" brushoff. I decided not to push the point because I didn't want to lose an hour of my life appealing the matter to five different call center supervisors before I reached anyone with the ability to do anything about the matter.

Bottom line? T-Mobile got $18 more from my pocket, but lost far more than that in respect.