Where can I buy Super Mario All-Stars? [UPDATED]

That was the question I asked myself this weekend after Annie told me she really, really wanted to play the new Nintendo Wii game.

And the answer? Well, the answer is nowhere. Except online. At incredibly inflated prices. That's because "Super Mario All-Stars: Limited Edition" had such a small print run that seven weeks after the $30 game hit stores, there's not a copy to be found anywhere.

Believe me. I looked.

Best Buy and Target were the first stops in my search, but clerks at both stores informed me that the game was no longer listed in their system. "Super Mario All-Stars" had already been marked "discontinued," so any further efforts at those chains would be fruitless. Consequently, I turned my attention to specialty stores FYE and GameStop. The clerks at FYE knew exactly what I sought — because I was one of many people seeking the game. Although my local store didn't have the game, a clerk called four nearby locations to see if they might still have a copy. Alas, none had the game. GameStop was a bit more helpful, printing out lists of regional stores that supposedly stocked new and used copies of "Super Mario All-Stars." The clerk cautioned me, though, to call ahead because the lists could be out of date.

After an hour on the phone, I'd learned five things. First, I'd learned that the GameStop nearest me with a used copy of the game was 112 miles away in Mechanicsburg, Pa. Second, I'd learned that due to the game's popularity, the store manager rightly had no interest in shipping the game to my local store. Third, I'd learned that no GameStop locations within 200 miles of me had a new copy of the game. Fourth, I'd learned that copies of the game were indeed so limited that a GameStop in Norfolk, Va., was desperately trying to find some copies and make good on several customer pre-orders for "Super Mario All-Stars" that were yet unfulfilled. Fifth, I'd learned that asking whether a store had a copy of the game was a good way to make clerks laugh.

In desperation, I turned to Toys R Us and Walmart. A very helpful clerk at Toys R Us knew the futility of my request but checked anyway, noting that when he last looked, the closest store with a copy of the game was in South Carolina. His search yielded no results. Next, I had to use some trickery to find the now-hidden "Super Mario All-Stars" product page at Walmart.com, but was heartened to see three local stores claiming to have the game in stock. Alas, two trips and one phone call later, I learned those listings were wrong.

As a last resort, I called the Nintendo World Store in New York City. No dice. The clerk told me that they'd long since sold out. Sorry, Mario, but your princess isn't in any castle.

Given the high demand for and scarce supply of "Super Mario All-Stars," you'd think Nintendo would rush the game back into production. But no. The company told Wired that it was merely "exploring the option of bringing this item back at a later date." That's it. No move to help GameStop remedy those unfulfilled pre-orders. No desire to curb the online price gouging. And no inclination to strike while the iron is hot.

This seems like quite the missed opportunity for Nintendo. I and many other people across the nation clearly remain interested in buying this game. Why can't we, Nintendo?

UPDATE: Nintendo is reprinting the "Super Mario All-Stars" game! I pre-ordered my copy at GameStop on Feb. 10 and was told the $30 game will be available March 13. It's not clear whether the new printing will have the same "limited edition" goodies that accompanied the first printing, such as the music CD, but I'm happy regardless. Thank you, Nintendo!

Joshua Lynsen joins Chase Communications

Jan. 28, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joshua Lynsen, Former Freelancer, 301-202-7619

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Joshua Lynsen has accepted a position with Chase Communications, a public relations and marketing communications firm, as Account Executive & Social Media Manager.

Lynsen, who is currently completing his freelance communications and event planning obligations, will start at Chase Communications on Monday, Feb. 7. He is already attending client meetings and contributing to strategy discussions in the days leading up to his official start with the firm.

"I am very excited to be joining such a respected and effective firm," Lynsen said. "I know that my experiences in traditional and new media will help Chase Communications surpass the ambitious goals they have set out to achieve. I look forward to playing a key role in this smart team."

Chase Communications was founded in 1997 in San Francisco. It is a full-service communications firm with staff in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. The agency's expertise includes real estate, health care and consumer areas.

"As the nation continues to rebound from the recession, the real estate marketplace is again becoming a vibrant place," Lynsen said. "And a dynamic health care discussion is beginning again in Washington. There will be no shortage of messages to share, audiences to engage and events to plan. Just as I was during my time in newspapers, I'll be right in the middle of it all."

Lynsen, who graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., with a degree in journalism, previously worked at local, regional and national publications. He left the industry in August 2010 to pursue a career in public relations and performed various contract and consulting work in the field before accepting a position with Chase Communications.

Lynsen lives in Silver Spring with his wife, autographed copy of "G.I. Joe Comics Magazine #1" and 57 video games.

The Daily could herald Journalism 2.0

For all its strengths, the print journalism industry has never excelled at the whole "online" thing. When they're not giving away their content in some misguided attempt to compete or draw traffic, newspapers and magazines are letting antagonistic trolls run rampant in the comments section.

Yes, it's been a rough 15 years for newspaper and magazine websites. (I'm putting the unofficial start of print journalism's online era at 1996, when the New York Times and Washington Post launched their respective sites.) And there's plenty of blame to go around. Everyone from the naïve publishers who decided early that freely displaying bylined articles was smart to stubborn reporters who refused to write for the web played a role in this boondoggle. For too long, websites were considered in afterthought and seen as something less than the publication's oh-so-official printed version. Advertising departments shared this view, meaning that website ads were routinely sold far cheaper than the Macy's sale announcement you saw on Page 7. This attitude also meant that newsrooms were slow to hire dedicated online workers, such as videographers and community managers. Such people were seen as unnecessary luxuries rather than essential to strategic competition in an evolving marketplace.

Would newspapers and magazines do things differently if they could go back in time? Of course they would. As slow as it's been to adapt, the print journalism industry learned much in the last 15 years. It's just not doing publications a lot of good in their current form. The industry needs a fresh start. And that's what it could get from The Daily.

Set to launch sometime within the next couple weeks, The Daily is the brainchild of print media mogul Rupert Murdoch. It's an app designed exclusively for Apple's iPad and will provide, for 99¢ per week, news content written and edited by some notable veteran journalists. Although details remain somewhat elusive, The Daily is said to have "a tabloid sensibility with a broadsheet intelligence." That's the fancy way of saying it'll be fun to read, but sharp, too.

News Corp. is serious about the endeavor, reportedly budgeting $30 million and hiring 100 people to work in the publication's bullpen. That impressive roster includes newsroom director Jesse Angelo, the former managing editor of The New York Post; opinion editor Elisabeth Eaves, a longtime journalist who once wrote a first-person account of stripping; and culture editor Sasha Frere-Jones, an esteemed New Yorker music critic. It's also worth noting the former editor of The New York Post's infamous Page 6 will oversee The Daily's coverage of Los Angeles. There's a sensible match if ever there was one.

Add to the equation a solid approach to social media and direct support from Apple and it becomes clear that Murdoch is going "all in" on The Daily. If it fails, it clearly won't be for lack of effort.

But I don't think it's going to fail. The Daily has such fantastic potential that it could herald a new chapter in the annals of journalism. Providing customers with an experience that is as interactive as it is intelligent, Murdoch's new publication is well positioned for success. Boasting an enticing, first-of-its-kind newness, it'll draw many eyes on Day One. If it can give those eyes a unique experience and captivating content, if it can foster dynamic discussions and give customers reason to revisit the app multiple times each day, and if it targets ads wisely and effectively, then The Daily is the true next step the print journalism industry so desperately needs.

With my hat kindly tipped to Mark Briggs, I think The Daily could finally bring about a truly refined and codified Journalism 2.0. No more tentative steps. No more piecemeal solutions. No more stumbling through the darkness. The Daily has been designed from the ground up for today's world and today's audiences. I think it represents the future for a profession near and dear to my heart.

This is why I can't wait to see The Daily — and why I hope it succeeds.

CONTEST: Win a Yoplait Light prize pack

Update: This contest has ended; the winner has been notified. 


Happy Wednesday! It's time for another Think Lynsen giveaway. YAY!

This time around, we're giving away a Yoplait Light prize pack, which includes a coupon for a free Yoplait Light*, a gym bag, a reflective wrist wallet and a pedometer.

A brief word from our sponsor:

This year, Yoplait Light is giving folks a great new way to get fit with the launch of the new Two Week Tune Up plan. Visit Yoplait.com for study and full diet details.

How to enter the contest
Post a comment on this post about what you're doing to stay fit in 2011. Please note:

• Only one comment per person will be counted.
• You must comment by 8 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, January 27, 2011 to be eligible.
• You must provide your email address in your comment (unless I know you personally).
• I will notify winners by email that same evening and request your mailing address. If you don't respond with your mailing address within 48 hours, I will draw a new winner.

*strangely, the coupon is not valid in California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.

The prize pack is provided by Yoplait, and the information and and giveaway opportunity are provided by MyBlogSpark.

Holy downfall, Batman! Wizard magazine is dead!

My family and friends already know the tumultuous road that newspapers have trod the last few years. But the dailies are not alone.

According to pop culture news site ICv2, nearly 600 magazines closed in 2009. Another 176 were shuttered in 2010. And now? Two of this year's first casualties are Wizard and ToyFare magazines.

For those of you who haven't yet spit your morning coffee onto the screen in shock, allow me to explain. Wizard is the premier magazine covering the comic book industry. And what Wizard does for the comic book industry, ToyFare does for the collectible toys market. These are the magazines where companies often debuted their newest offerings and teased upcoming projects. The magazines, which rose to prominence during the 1990s, worked closely with major industry players to mutual benefit. Wizard could help increase the fortunes of already popular books, like X-Men, or turn obscure independent titles, like Madman, into instant sellouts. And I must admit that ToyFare wielded similar power, fueling my nostalgia-driven purchases of updated G.I. Joe, Transformers and He-Man toys several years back. To calculate how much money I've spent across the years on comics Wizard deemed cool and action figures ToyFare trumpeted as perfect would yield an embarrassing sum. So to see these once-powerful magazines disappear is jarring.

The plan is apparently to relaunch Wizard magazine online next month as Wizard World. That new product will cover comics, toys, superheroes and pop culture in general. I suppose this could work, but it takes a lot of effort and support for digital publications to succeed financially. And considering how many established online destinations are already offering said content, I don't envy the writers and editors who are being asked to scale that wall.

It's sad, but it's times like this that I can't help but wonder if the era of print news is truly coming to an end. What do you think?

How to make awesome fruit smoothies

Originally posted on the Good Easy Eats blog.

I love making fruit smoothies for breakfast on the weekend. Here's my formula for smoothie success. Feel free to mix and match fruit as you will. It's fun to experiment!

Ingredients:

• Liquid: I usually go with either unsweetened apple juice or a can of coconut milk. You can usually find the coconut milk in the international foods aisle. They sell it pretty cheap at Trader Joe's, too. Soy or regular milk works pretty well, too, and you have the option of also adding vanilla or plain yogurt.
• Banana: I always find one or two bananas give the smoothie that delicious thick, rich texture akin to a milkshake, so I rarely make a smoothie without bananas on hand. Preferably overripe ones.
• Other fruit: I always use frozen fruit. I think it makes the smoothie sweeter, colder, and definitely easier to make than fresh fruit. Canned fruit is another option, but tends to add a bit too much sweetness to the smoothie for my taste.

Directions:

1. Toss your banana and fruit into the blender, then add your liquid. As to how much, I usually go with an entire can of coconut milk (usually enough for 2 large smoothies), or if I'm using apple juice, enough to cover about 1/2 the fruit. 
2. Blend first on a lower setting to chop up the fruit, them on the highest speed to get a nice, silky texture.

Troubleshooting:
If your blender starts complaining, one of three things is likely the culprit:

1. Your smoothie is too thick: Add more liquid.
2. An air bubble has developed in the bottom of your blender: Stop the blender and stir the mixture to break up the air bubble.
3. Your blender sucks: Buy a better one. If your blender can't handle ice well, it's going to have trouble with frozen fruit, too. I've had good luck with this one.

Other possible problems:

1. Your smoothie is bland: Are you using fresh or frozen fruit? I recommend frozen.
2. Your smoothie is too sweet: When buying frozen or canned fruit, don't get the kind packaged with syrup. Get the kind that come in a bag. Trader Joe's has lots of different ones for cheap.

A few good fruit combinations:
Banana, mango, pineapple (especially with coconut milk)
Banana, strawberry (especially with apple juice)
Banana, strawberry, mango, pineapple, blueberry

Happy blending!

It's a Lego life for me

May your Friday be so awesome that you don't get to bed until 1:43 a.m. tomorrow.

Batman's going to fight Catwoman and Bane. Again.

One of the things I most like about Batman comics is the wide array of villains in the hero's rogues gallery. So why Christopher Nolan, director of the forthcoming "The Dark Knight Rises," chose to reuse villains we've already seen on screen befuddles me.

But choose he did: His third and final Batman movie will feature Anne Hathaway as Catwoman and Tom Hardy as Bane. Longtime fans will recall that Catwoman was the central villain in 1992's kooky "Batman Returns" and Bane played a supporting role in 1997's deplorable "Batman & Robin." Of course, it's little surprise that Nolan went for Catwoman. The director has gone to great lengths to humanize Bruce Wayne, and given the prominent role that Catwoman plays in Wayne's life, her inclusion was almost inevitable. That we'll see Bane, though, surprises me for many reasons. His poorly conceived appearance in "Batman & Robin" did the character no favors. It's also arguable whether Bane, a character who's immense power comes from his use of some super-steroid called venom, is in keeping with Nolan's generally grounded approach to the Batman mythos. And why conjure memories of the most reviled chapter in Batman's cinematic history?

After two incredibly successful and acclaimed Batman films, I can truly say that in Nolan I trust. But this seems a missed opportunity for "The Dark Knight Rises." There are so many other characters that would have played well opposite Catwoman. Take, for example, the Black Mask, a former businessman who's hatred of Batman and Bruce Wayne would have made the villain a dual threat. Or Harley Quinn, an Arkham Asylum psychologist turned psycho with ties to the Joker, who would have followed nicely on the last film. Another great choice would have been Hush. I think Wayne's manipulative former childhood friend would have fit well with Nolan's storytelling style.

On the bright side, the casting for "The Dark Knight Rises" leaves these and many other interesting villains untouched for whoever follows Nolan in the director's chair. I just hope we're not obligated to see new versions of Penguin, Riddler and Mr. Freeze before other villains appear on screen.

No, the Nintendo 3DS won't destroy your eyes…

…but it might make you nauseated. At least, that's what the Japanese press would have your believe.

As we get closer to the March 27 release of Nintendo's newest handheld device, we're seeing all sorts of articles that have nothing to do with its capabilities or game lineup. Last month, the reports focused on how Nintendo would package the device with a warning that children age 6 and younger shouldn't play 3D games because their eye development could be adversely effected. The concern, according to one New York University vision researcher, is that the games could derail the brain's innate ability to reconcile binocular disparity. But other eye specialists have questioned the warning's necessity. One professor of ophthalmology at Harvard University said there's scant evidence that 3D imagery will hurt anyone's eyes. So are the warnings really necessary? Probably not. Will the Nintendo 3DS destroy your eyes? I doubt it. But it's a good way to fend off potential lawsuits.

The likelier outcome, according to new reports from Japan, is that the Nintendo 3DS will make you dizzy and cause eye fatigue. The report, based entirely on anecdotal information, quoted one man as saying playing 3D games on the system left him feeling woozy. He equated the dizziness he experienced to "like being seasick." That's the kind of experience that really makes you want to play Nintendo 3DS games, huh?

I'm hoping the dizziness — while understandable as the outcome of prolonged gameplay — is not a common or frequently experienced Nintendo 3DS side effect. Because considering all the marketing challenges associated with effectively selling a 3D system, the last thing Nintendo needs is bad word of mouth from early adopters.

Is the iPhone coming to T-Mobile?

Are you a T-Mobile user? Are you sad because all your Verizon friends are talking about getting an iPhone? Fear not. You might soon be joining the fun.

An article in eWeek.com describes T-Mobile as "the next logical company to offer an iPhone." It notes that T-Mobile already sells the iPhone in Europe; the company's new CEO, Philipp Humm, was the chief executive at T-Mobile Germany when the iPhone was introduced there; and there are very few technical hurdles to running the phone on its existing network. The article also reports that T-Mobile said in a statement that the company "wants" to start selling iPhones. So things are looking promising.

Of course, this begs the question as to whether I would upgrade if T-Mobile offered the iPhone. That's a tough question to answer.

I generally like the T-Mobile My Touch that's been in my pocket since late 2009, even though it has a tendency to drop calls and bite off more than it can chew. It's worked well for me overall, though, so I'm not racing to the upgrade line. But there are some signs that my phone's battery is starting to fade. And my phone hasn't digested the massive Android 2.2 update as well as I'd hoped. It's run slower and crashed more often since I installed that recommended update. These complications mean I might end up having to upgrade my phone before I would otherwise.

So if I'm backed into that proverbial corner — or my phone survives long enough where I'm upgrading on my own — what will I do? I'll probably go iPhone, since it'd just be so convenient to have my phone, iTunes collection and favorite apps all in one place. But I can't do that until T-Mobile starts selling the thing.

Hint, hint.

You say Aries, I say Taurus

You've doubtless heard by now that there's a new zodiac on the block. Boasting a new, thirteenth sign identified as Ophiuchus, this caused quite the calendar kerfuffle.

Why? Because it was reported that to make room for Ophiuchus between Scorpio and Sagittarius, the zodiac you've long known has been rearranged. Starting and ending points for each sign publicly shifted last week, causing people like Annie and I to purportedly fall under entirely new signs. No longer a Taurus, I was said to be an Aries. Annie, meanwhile, shifted from the Sagittarius to Scorpio column.

Of course, this was no big deal for either of us. We both feigned outrage at the change, laughed and then moved on with our lives. Some people, however, did not treat the news so cavalierly. One of my friends was so against the changes that she rationalized they only affected people born after a certain date. Another simply demanded that we cease this silly discussion and continue using the real zodiac.

But here's the thing: You can choose to accept or reject the change because there are two primary zodiacs. The zodiac that various news sources reported last week as having changed was the sidereal zodiac. That one is subject to periodic change because it's based on the Earth's relative position to certain constellations. It also is most popular in Eastern cultures. The zodiac that most Westerners recognize — the tropical zodiac — hasn't changed. At all.

And that's too bad, really, because it sounds like Annie would have more fun being married to an Aries man than a Taurus man. Oh well.

Did you know? Facto!

Earlier this week I wrote about Three Words, a site built so people can share three words that describe you. Turning things around, Facto! "is for sharing facts about yourself."

I gave it a try, on a lark. It was pretty fun and easy to set up - before you enter any contact information, it prompts you to share a fact about yourself, which is a neat way to set up a site like this. It gets you excited and ready to dive in!

You can post whatever you like about yourself. Not sure what to share? Facto! will prompt you with ideas like, "What's your favorite food?" or "Do you have any hidden talents?" Once you've added a few facts, you can share your page with your friends, and they can respond to your facts with buttons that say, "Knew that!," "Didn't know that," "Me too!," "Awesome," "Whoa," "Weird!," "Boring," and "No way."

But, much like Three Words, unfortunately, right now Facto! isn't set up in a way where you can build a real network with your friends. You can't import your friend lists from Facebook or Twitter and keep tabs on them, being informed when they add facts, which I think would be fun. So, like Three Words, it's really only set up for navel-gazing and showing off to your friends. But I'm sure if it does well, that kind of functionality will be added sooner rather than later.

Have you tried Facto!? What do you think?

Doesn't that belong in the Smithsonian?

You'd think the headset used to receive and transmit the first words between a man on Earth and a man on the moon would be in the Smithsonian. But no. It's up for grabs.

Starting today, RR Auction is making available for your bidding pleasure a host of classic NASA materials. The headset and one lunar map used during the Apollo 17 rover mission boasted the highest minimum bids: $5,000. Other notable items up for grabs include an American flag flown aboard Apollo 11 during its historic flight to the moon ($2,500), an Apollo Command Module instrument panel ($1,000) and a photo signed by each member of the doomed Space Shuttle Challenger crew ($500). Not every item is so expensive. About half the items up for bids start at $100. At that price, you can try for items autographed by Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Buzz Aldrin or even Richard Nixon. Heck, if you're lucky, you might for $100 be able to walk away with a lunar meteorite fragment recovered from Africa or some M&M's that were prepped for a Space Shuttle flight.

You can check out the full, awesome lineup here. Just know that if you want to bid on any of the items, you must complete the new bidder registration before 3 p.m. Eastern today.

My favorite Trader Joe's products

This one goes out to my buddies in Rochester, Minn. who just got their first Trader Joe's! If you've never been to a Trader Joe's or are looking for some new things to try, here are my favorite things they carry.

Jasmine Rice and Basmati Rice - I always, always have this on hand. It's seriously good, whole-grain rice. And now that I have my rice cooker and some fancy rice seasonings I bought in Japan, it's even better. Plus, it's a few dollars cheaper than comparable products at regular grocery stores.

Pork Bao - You'll find it in the frozen section. I bought some bao at an H-Mart, and though it was arguably more authentic, I think the taste of Trader Joe's bao is a lot closer to what I had in Japan.

Bagged Salad - Usually 50 cents to a dollar cheaper than comparable products at the regular grocery store, TJ's bagged salad is usually fresher, too.

Broccoli Slaw - I love having something to jazz up my salad, and the broccoli slaw is great for that. It's broccoli and carrots shredded up to add a bit of crunch and extra nutritional value to your salad.

Cheese - Their cheese is delicious, and so much cheaper than at the regular grocery store! My favorites are the triple creme brie and the double gloucester with chives and onion, but I've enjoyed pretty much every one I've tried.

Vitamins and supplements- Again, sooo much cheaper! And one thing I love is that a lot of their multivitamins have "green food product" in them to make them easier to take on an empty stomach.

Wild Mushroom Risotto - Do I need to say more? You'll find it near the rice.

Whole Wheat Gnocchi - A relatively new addition to their lineup, I LOVE their whole wheat gnocchi, especially with some of their pesto and a little freshly-shredded parmesan cheese. Pure comfort food.

Guacamole - They have a couple of kinds, but the one I get has two little packages of guac bundled together. I toss one in the freezer and use one in whatever I'm cooking when I don't feel like making fresh guacamole...then I have some to enjoy later. It's got a nice, slightly-chunky consistency and great avocado flavor.

Nuts and Trail Mix - When I made my sweet & spicy nut mix for Christmas this year, I did a lot of price-comparing and found I could get whole cashews and pecans about $2 cheaper per pound by buying them at Trader Joe's, even compared to some bulk stores online. Impressive! And I always keep some trail mix in my drawer at work for snack attacks. My personal favorite is the Happy Trek Mix, which includes chocolate chips, dried cranberries, and a few kinds of nuts.

Vanilla Almond Crunch Cereal - Josh loves this one! It is really tasty granola cereal.

Dynamo - We buy this a lot. It's a blend of five fruit juices (tastes mostly like orange) with added calcium and vitamins. It actually contains 100% of the recommended daily allowance of 12 vitamins.

Milk - About 50 cents to a dollar cheaper than at the regular grocery store.

What's your favorite Trader Joe's product?

No 'Ni No Kuni' for America?

About six months ago, I told you about a Nintendo DS game titled "Ni No Kuni." I'm smitten with the game and think it's one of the last great releases the aging system will see.

But now I'm increasingly concerned that we might not see the game in America. Why? Because despite some serious praise from the foreign gaming press, the game isn't doing so well at retail. Japanese stores collectively and optimistically ordered about 600,000 copies of the game for its debut, but only sold through about half that number during the crucial first weeks of sales. As a result, many Japanese stores have started discounting the game, marking "Ni No Kuni" down 30-44 percent from its suggested retail price. The discounts appear to have helped, with more recent retail totals showing 382,000 copies have sold.

Although it came to stores with a strong pedigree — "Ni No Kuni" is the product of "Professor Layton" developer Level 5 and "Spirited Away" creator Studio Ghibli — the game faced some significant retail challenges. Because it was packaged with a lovingly crafted tome, "Ni No Kuni" sported an inflated, $80 price tag. That somewhat bulky tome is necessary to play the game, making "Ni No Kuni" infeasible for Japan's many commuters who game on the go.

It's also worth noting that "Ni No Kuni" hit stores around the same time as "Monster Hunter Freedom 3" for the PlayStation Portable, a game that has gone on to clobber the competition by selling 3.8 million copies in its first month.

None of this bodes particularly well for Americans hoping to play "Ni No Kuni." Analysts and number crunchers are doubtlessly thinking that if the game can't do well in its native land, it's not worth carting overseas. And as much as it pains me, I have to acknowledge the weight of that argument. But it's too early, methinks, to make any final decisions. "Ni No Kuni" could become one of those games like "New Super Mario Bros." or "Mario Kart Wii" that just keeps selling. Also, the discounted price might be just what's needed to convince people to try the game.

Perhaps a more reasonably priced version of the game that hits stores during a slower release period is just what America ordered? Maybe.

A few words about ThreeWords.me

Describe me in three words.

That's all ThreeWords.me asks of you. You set up a profile, send your friends the link, and give them the opportunity to, anonymously or not, post three words they feel describe you.

I decided to check it out earlier this week, setting up a page for myself. (Go post three words, if you feel so inclined.)

It reminds me a bit of the "Honesty Box" app they used to have on Facebook, which was briefly amusing but a bit terrifying at the same time. People could post entire paragraphs of what they thought about you. By contrast, I like how "Three Words" limits how much you can say to just three words - to me, it feels safer. I'm sure there are people who abuse the system, but you can easily delete any comments you deem inappropriate.

Feeling a bit more adventurous, I set up a profile for my employer to see what people thought, and was pleasantly surprised by some of the things anonymous folks posted. People used words like "efficient, dependable, and friendly." That makes me smile!

So far the only thing I've found disappointing is that you can't find friends by connecting it to your Facebook, Twitter or email account...so you just kind of have to wait for people to set up a page and post the link somewhere. Which means that currently, the site is mostly built for navel-gazing.

Have you tried Three Words? What do you think of it? Bonus points if you sum up your opinion in just three words!

This snowstorm short deserves an Oscar

There are many ways to regard snowstorms. One is with humor. Another is with fascination. This video from Jamie Stuart of last month's blizzard in New York City is beautiful.



Roger Ebert says the short deserves to win an Academy Award. I agree.

"Greased Lightning" it's not

Before I begin, let me paint a little picture for you.

Gawky, 12-year-old Annie, with big plastic glasses and bad teeth, is having an awesome Friday night. "Awesome" is defined as tortilla chips, microwaveable nacho cheese, a can of Chef Boyardee Mini Ravioli, and a rented VHS of "Grease." Annie will consume horrible processed food, by herself, and memorize the songs from "Grease," which she also has on a couple of 45's and a cassette.

This agenda of awesomeness, or some slight permutation of it, occurred multiple times between the ages of 10 and 15.

So when I say "Grease" doesn't live up to the nostalgia, you take the full effect of my meaning.

It all started when I learned (according to Josh, for the third time) that Josh hadn't seen "Grease." This time it stuck, and I resolved to rectify this situation as soon as humanly possible. To the top of our Netflix queue "Grease" went, and soon it arrived.

...Then a couple of weeks later, over New Year's weekend, we watched it!

It started well enough. I smiled through "Summer Lovin'" and "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee." But the more we watched, the more I realized "Grease" is a hot mess.

Sure, most of the music is good. And it's got tons of pop culture references...from the '50s. I struggled to explain some of the references to Josh, telling him Frankie Avalon was Frankie Valli (whoops). And I still have no idea who Troy Donahue was. But there comes a point where scotch-taping a bunch of cultural references together into a movie just becomes ludicrous, and "Grease" hits that point pretty quickly.

Here's a fun game I like to call "Count the number of plots!" (Spoiler alert.)

1. Sandy and Danny fall in love over the summer, but when she ends up at his high school she realizes he's kind of a jerk when he's in front of his friends. Can she (and honestly, should she) forgive him?
2. Sandy struggles to fit in at an American high school, questioning her goody-goody image when she's mocked by her peers.
3. Danny wants to impress Sandy, realizes she likes athletes, wrestles with his dislike for sports yet ultimately (secretly) joins the track team and (secretly) letters in it.
4. The school is the host of a national dance-off television program. (50s cliché #1 - check!)
5. One of the T-Birds owns a car that isn't cool. The T-Birds work to make the car cool enough to be accepted by their peers (which, apparently, requires them to steal most of the parts).
6. Rizzo believes herself to be pregnant, briefly. For the length of an entire song, she almost questions her choices.
7. A rival gang is in town.  (50s cliché #2 - check!)
8. ...and challenges the T-Birds to a drag race. (50s cliché #3 - check!)
9. Frenchie struggles with the eternal battle between career and school, first dropping out of high school to go to beauty school, then dropping out of beauty school to go back to high school (with the fantastic career prospect of "joining a steno pool").

Seriously. All of that in ONE movie. With LOTS of musical numbers. I felt even my attention span waning by the time we got to the 1:15 mark, and when we finally got to "You're the One That I Want" I told Josh, "OK, you know how everybody loves 'Dirty Dancing' and forgives all its flaws for that one dance scene at the end? Yeah, that's pretty much this number for 'Grease.'" And sure enough, it still packed a punch.

And then, at the end of the closing number full of rama-lama-lama, ka-ding-ity-dingy-dong's (50s cliché #4 - check!)...Sandy and Danny drive away into the sunset and WAIT A MINUTE, WHY IS THE CAR FLYING?

Seriously. The car FLIES at the end. With absolutely no explanation. I never noticed it before, until Josh pointed it out, because the effect is so half-assed you can barely tell it's intended to be an effect. The car sort of tilts, Sandy gets this crazy excited look on her face, the crowd grows a bit blurry and smaller, and then there's a random picture of the sky. Fade to credits.

So...yeah. "Grease" may be full of memorable music, but the nostalgia glow just couldn't carry it through for me into adulthood. Next time, I'll try watching it with some microwaved nachos and ravioli...and several martinis. (50s cliché #5 - check!)

Recycle your holiday cards

Wondering what to do with all those nice cards you got in the mail this holiday season?

Well, you can recycle them while helping a good cause!

Help kids learn entrepreneurship skills and raise money for St. Jude's Ranch for Children by sending your used greetings cards to:

St. Jude's Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude's Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

They'll remove the back of the card, attach a new back, and sell them to raise money for the ranch. Thanks to Marie for the tip!

P.S. They accept cards for all occasions - not just the holidays!

With great power comes great responsibility, Google

We've all heard the famous line from Spider-Man, "With great power comes great responsibility." Now it's time for Google to take heed as two maddening issues are hitting phones using its Android operating system.

The first issue has the potential to put text message senders into some downright awkward situations. ZDNet is reporting that Android phones, including the almighty Nexus One, are randomly sending text messages intended for one contact to another contact. And this isn't some hiccup where the default text messaging tool is mistakenly crossing conversational threads. No, afflicted users have noted misrouted texts have been sent to contacts they've not previously texted. Ever. Of course, this kind of problem could lead to unbelievably embarrassing moments from even the most harmless texts. Imagine texting a simple "I love you" to your girlfriend, but having your phone misdirect the message to your boss. Worse yet? Having the message sent to that crazy ex whose number is in your rolodex simply so you know when she calls and can ignore her. Yikes! That's the kind of perilous predicament you'd need a superhero's help to safely escape.

Think it's nothing to fear? Think again. One person looking into the problem says analytics provided by Google's developer site show as many as 77 percent of Android phone users are at risk.

The second issue is affecting fewer users but has the potential to do even greater harm. Lookout, a mobile security firm, reports that a "sophisticated new Android trojan" called Geinimi can steal the personal data you keep on your phone. Even worse is that the malicious software has the potential to be commanded remotely, effectively allowing an evil mastermind to take control of your phone. The good news is that the trojan can currently only reach your phone if you download Android apps from places other than the default App Market. So keep to the beaten path and you should be fine. For now.

But concerns remain. Google isn't exactly racing the fix the bugs in Android's default text messaging tool, which was first discovered months ago, and Lookout admits they're uncertain what growing threat Geinimi might pose. It's time for Google to speak up on these issues, fix the text messaging bug and let us know how concerned we should be about Geinimi.

Because with 22 percent of marketshare comes great responsibility.

I'll be seeing a lot of movies in 2011

I'll admit that 2009 was spotty for Hollywood and 2010 wasn't much better, but things are looking up this year. Just look at some of the more intriguing movies slated to hit theaters this year.

January – March

Green Hornet: We'll be getting a host of superhero movies this year, but I'm particularly hopeful for this one staring Seth Rogan. Why? Because much like "Kick-Ass," the "Green Hornet" seems to walk that fine line of not taking itself too seriously without devolving into self parody. (January 14)

Rango: Don't let the Nickelodeon Movies tag throw you. "Rango," with its lead character voiced by Johnny Depp, looks like a sprightly western in the spirit of "Three Amigos." And if you've ever waded into waters too deep, you'll probably relate to its central theme. I know I sure do. (March 4)

Sucker Punch: A script that combines samurai, dragons and robots might sound like something your crazy friend penned in high school. But weave these elements together as the envisioned of one institutionalized girl trying to escape captivity and you've got very one interesting tale. (March 25)

April – June

Kung Fu Panda 2: As someone who studied kung fu for some time and owns "Kung Fu Panda," it's a foregone conclusion I'll be seeing this flick. Even the simple debut trailer made me squee. Here's hoping this sequel to one of the more refined animated tales of recent years is worth the squee. (May 27)

Super 8: I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for movie marketing campaigns that tease your interest without revealing much. "Cloverfield," I'm looking at you. But because J.J. Abrams did so well with that endeavor, I'm eager to see "Super 8," the next super-secret project he's directing. (June 10)

Green Lantern: He's not as iconic as Superman, but Green Lantern has been a rising star for DC Comics. And rightly so. Intelligent stories and compelling characters make for great reads. In the hands of the director who gave us "The Mask of Zorro" and "GoldenEye," this franchise could be a cinematic treat. (June 17)

July – September

Transformers 3: How do you win fanboys back from one of the most deplorable sequels in recent memory? By apologizing with the likes of Alpha Trion and Unicron. The story to Michael Bay's final franchise installment remains shrouded in secrecy, but his team has hinted at great surprises in this flick. (July 1)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: There's really no need to market this film. You're either in or you're out for the eighth Harry Potter movie. Nonetheless, here's my plug: It was done by the same team that did "Deathly Hallows Part 1." Nuff said. (July 15)

Cowboys and Aliens: Titled like the games that 5-year-old boys play in the backyard, "Cowboys and Aliens" seems laughable. Until you see it's directed by the guy who did "Iron Man." And it stars Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. So go ahead and admit it. You're curious. (July 29)

October – December

Three Musketeers: I can only imagine the pitch meeting for this movie. "We'll take the director of 'Resident Evil,' add Orlando Bloom, that beauty from 'The Fifth Element' and the kid from 'Percy Jackson and The Olympians,' mix it all together and see what happens!" Yes. Please. Thank you. (October 14)

The Muppets: Any excuse to get Kermit, Fozzie and Gonzo together again is good in my book, but this do-or-die tale featuring celebrity cameos galore is particularly exciting. Lady Gaga and Ricky Gervasis are just two of the faces who'll prove you're never too old for this, uh, stuff. (November 23)

Sherlock Holmes 2: How do you make an already great film franchise even better? By adding one of the greatest villains modern literature has granted us. Jared Harris of "Mad Men" fame will appear opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as the notorious Professor Moriarty in this sequel. (December 16)

So that's my list. What movies releasing this year have caught your eye?