What is StreetPass DC?

StreetPass DC is an independent, grassroots effort intended to benefit Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS owners in metropolitan Washington, D.C.

Basically a meetup for local gamers, StreetPass DC was something I created this month so that gamers can fully enjoy the StreetPass and Tag Mode functions that some games for those systems offer. The effort is intended to foster a certain sense of community among participants while they work together to unlock new content in games like "Dragon Quest IX," "Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition" and other games for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS systems. So that gamers of all ages can participate, the meetup locations rotate among public locations, such as the U.S. Navy Memorial or the reflecting pool just west of the U.S. Capitol. Participants need only bring their system and look for me in my Mario hat. The automated StreetPass and Tag Mode functions take care of the rest.

So where did the idea come from? Its origins can be traced back to my November trip to Japan. On that trip, I brought my copy of "Dragon Quest IX" and kept the game's Tag Mode active as much as possible. While the function failed to do much for me in America, I got a lot out of it during my time in Tokyo. That experience demonstrated to me the true potential — and fun — of games with Tag Mode functionality. I want to share that sense of joyful discovery with my fellow gamers as much as possible and see StreetPass DC as the best way I can go about it. And because the release of the Nintendo 3DS system is just around the corner, I think now is the best time to start the effort.

(Just to be clear: StreetPass DC does not solicit or accept compensation for its efforts. This is not a commercial venture. I'm paying all costs out of pocket.)

If you want to join the fun, please like the StreetPass DC Facebook page for all the latest meetup info and community discussions. It's starting small, of course, but hopefully will grow in the weeks and months ahead.

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Not Dead Yet Edition

Just like a zombie, you can't keep some ideas down. That explains why the items in this edition of Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down are back from the dead.

Thumbs Up to Robocop's Return: No sooner had Detroit's mayor dismissed the idea of erecting a statue recognizing the fictional character than a private effort collected $50,000 to make it happen. Once completed, the statue will be donated to the city, which will decide where to place it.

Thumbs Down to Artistic Misinterpretation: If you haven't yet seen it, the newly cast Wonder Woman's audition tape will make you cringe. The Amazon Princess rolls her eyes, uses air quotes and talks about her breasts being too small. Seriously.

Thumbs Up to Improved Efforts: Building upon the fun but limited Tag Mode featured in some Nintendo DS games, the Street Pass system in the Nintendo 3DS is getting cooler all the time. Street Pass Quest and Street Pass Puzzle, two games built into the system, should help get things off on the right foot.

Thumbs Down to Poor Choices: Not that I expect the sequel to last year's "G.I. Joe" flick to win an Academy Award, but the leading candidates are incredibly lackluster. That the franchise could land in the hands of the director of "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" makes me sad.

Thumbs Up to Connected Clix: Once on the brink of death, HeroClix is back with a vengeance. And that resurgence includes an online version of the game set to debut no later than this summer. It's a smart move to recapture interest from lapsed players.

Thumbs Down to Facebook's Monopoly: For all the right reasons, I'm much busier now than I have been in months. So why did Facebook have to pick this month to debut an embedded Monopoly game? Must… Resist…

Thumbs Up to Universe Defenders: The legend of Voltron, Defender of the Universe, cannot be denied! Video game publisher THQ is crafting a game based on the '80s series for release later this year. King Zarkon, you've been served!

Playable Angry Birds birthday cake

I know, everybody's seen this already. But I have a good reason to repost it!

Today is my mom's birthday, and I recently gifted her the game "Angry Birds" for her iPad. She's totally addicted now (which means my work here is done). So as a way to say, "Happy birthday, Mom!" here's a playable "Angry Birds" birthday cake I wish I had the skill to replicate.

Want some recipes?

In case you hadn't heard, I maintain a recipe blog called Good Easy Eats. I've posted some yummy stuff there lately, including:

• Spicy cheese swordfish
• Slow cooker ham and wild rice soup
• Super easy chocolate fudge

Also, I recently tried my hand at making homemade truffles, thanks to a recipe from my favorite baker, Marie Porter. Her book, "The Spirited Baker," has all kinds of great recipes for desserts you can make with various types of liqueurs. I made truffles with rum, and it was surprisingly simple to do. 

I like the cookbook because it has a surprisingly laid-back approach to things. The truffle recipes, for example, are built on a mix-and-match principle, allowing you to easily swap out liqueurs and "stuff to roll them in" (and yes, it's a technical term). And forget buying fancy baking chocolate - good-quality chocolate chips work just fine.

The truffles were quite popular, too. Everyone who tried them demanded the recipe and paged through the cookbook, drooling at the various recipes. 

I also like Marie because she's a geek like me - she attends CONvergence and made the con's 10th anniversary cake last year (and it was impressive, to say the least).

And as a shameless plug, she also has a new cookbook coming out called "Evil Cake Overlord." Check it out - you can save $3 by pre-ordering before March 3.

The Daily is definitely not Journalism 2.0

I was so hopeful The Daily would be something different. Something fresh. Something that changed the journalism industry and pointed the way toward a brighter tomorrow. But it's clear now my hopes were too high.

Just weeks after the iPad newspaper launched, it's making some big mistakes and taking a public beating. Among its worst mistakes is allowing subscribers to freely "share" the paid publication's articles. This has led to the formation of one website that indexes each and every story so that anyone can read The Daily without paying a penny. Whoops! And you can add to that blunder a leaked internal memo that last week told The Daily's reporters that "Egypt is over" and it's time to "get out there and start finding more compelling stories." Among the lead editor's "different, exclusive and awesome" suggestions? Articles about "the oldest dog in America" and "the richest man in South Dakota."

I could exasperatingly explain how this memo encapsulates much of what's wrong with journalism today, but that's no fun. Let's instead give Steven Colbert the podium:

The Daily had best come up with a new game plan — fast — or else the $30 million project could soon go the way of General Butterbean.

How to rawk SXSW and 11NTC: A survival guide

Convention season is coming up, so I thought this would be a great time to whip out my convention survival guide tip sheets:

Annie's convention survival guide: Part 1
Annie's convention survival guide: Part 2
Annie's convention survival guide: Part 3

Personally, I'll be going to South By Southwest (SXSW) and the Nonprofit Technology Conference (11NTC). If you're a fan of the blog and want to meet up at either conference, drop me a line on Twitter.

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Take Another Look Edition

One of the best things about the internet is its ability to breathe new life into old ideas and diversions. Of course, it also breaks your heart when you stumble across news that old favorites are being mistreated.

Thumbs Up to Global Pursuits: Back before we had things like "the internet" and "that Wikipedia thing," we had almanacs. And to play "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" you had to have one handy. Methinks it'll be much easier now to play the game's newest version on Facebook, but that doesn't make the global chase any less enjoyable.

Thumbs Down to Fantastic Flops: Because there's no good thing Marvel Comics can't screw up, the Fantastic Four is no more. Following the recent death of the Human Torch, the team is bringing aboard Spider-Man and rebranding itself as the Future Foundation. That's a story I want to read. Not.

Thumbs Up to Battlestar 101: Lackluster third season aside, "Battlestar Galactica" is one of the better shows Hollywood's given us recently. But its intricate mythology is somewhat confusing. This handy timeline from Billy Ray Stephens Jr. can help ease the brain strain.

Thumbs Down to Missed Opportunities: Detroit needs all the economic help it can get these days. So I was surprised to see the city's mayor dismiss so quickly an idea to erect a statue honoring Robocop. Not only does the city need this statue, it needs a theme park dedicated to the schlocky franchise.

Thumbs Up to Preserved Integrity: That somebody — anybody — thought the idea of "Road Warrior Style" action figures for Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman was worth exploring makes me weep. That DC Comics vetoed the idea gives me hope for humanity. Check out the recently unearthed concept art here.

Back on the horse

A few days before Christmas, I came down with a cold.

It got a bit better Christmas weekend, then relapsed the Monday following.

It got a bit better New Year's Eve, then relapsed again the Monday after that.

Then it got worse. It became a sinus infection, then a nasty cough.

I went to the doctor a few times and tried two rounds of antibiotics, a nasal spray, an inhaler, and...you know what? I'll stop there. Because I not only got sick of being sick (for eight weeks!), I got sick of whining about being sick.

I only say all this to explain why my usually-diligent exercise routine has lapsed in a big way these past couple of months. Last week I finally got back on the horse...no easy task, and it's still hurting, but I am determined to get back to working out five days a week.

But I need your help. What do you do to stay motivated when you're getting back into a workout routine?

A swan and an ugly duckling

It was an Oscar-contender kind of a weekend. Friday night, Josh and I saw "Black Swan," and then on Monday night we watched "The Social Network."

I should preface this by saying I stopped caring about the Oscars years ago. I haven't been excited about a Best-Picture Oscar nominee since "Return of the King." The best movie I saw last year was "Scott Pilgrim Versus the World," which was nominated for...nothing. I'm not saying all of this to be a pretentious hipster; I just have different taste than the Academy. Simple as that.

But I was intrigued by "Black Swan" and, frankly, felt obligated to see "The Social Network" given that my job includes a focus on social media, so here are my quick and dirty reviews of each.

"Black Swan"
If you like Alfred Hitchcock and classic Stanley Kubrick, you'll probably dig "Black Swan." Don't think of it as a ballet movie, but rather as a disturbing look into the mind of a woman slowly going mad while trying to come to terms with her conflicting desires for perfection and freedom. Both Josh and I were completely riveted. I recommend seeing it in the theater, not because of the cinematography or spectacle, but rather because you'll want to see it in an environment with no distractions so you don't miss any of the subtle and interesting things happening in the film.

"The Social Network"
Conversely, "The Social Network" follows the journey of a backstabbing jerk who...stays a backstabbing jerk. Surrounded by shallow, one-dimensional characters. I was really disappointed in this movie, since I typically love Aaron Sorkin's writing but it felt really dry and staid here. Josh described the plot as "paper-thin, one step above a newspaper article documenting what happened." And every female character depicted in the film was a cringe-worthy stereotype.

Have you seen any of the Oscar contenders? Which is your favorite?

Diminuendo: Farewell, Guitar Hero and DJ Hero

We've all had the daydreams. Playing a guitar atop the concert stage. Singing our hearts out to the roaring crowd. Drumming such a fury that you're sweating. Spinning the turntables as music and lights pulse around you.

Casting ourselves as the musical star — the musical hero — is such a common fantasy that it was inevitable someone tapped into it. And very successfully Activision did so with the Guitar Hero and DJ Hero franchises. The joy of playing pretend, often in concert with many friends in party environments, was too good an opportunity to ignore. They tapped the market well.

The first game, "Guitar Hero," made a killing. Crafted on a relatively thin, $1 million budget and burdened with an inflated price tag due to its unique controller, the game spoke to that musical dreamer inside many of us. It sold nearly 1.5 million copies and reinvented a gaming genre that most publishers had chosen to ignore. It was quickly followed by three sequels before it expanded to include drums and microphones in "Guitar Hero: World Tour." That step forward transformed the two-player fun into a four-player party game that remains so enjoyable Annie and I routinely fire up the game for visiting friends. In many ways, "World Tour" was the pinnacle for the franchise.

Future installments of "Guitar Hero" came far too quickly and lacked any originality. You didn't buy new games so much as you bought new playlists. Releases dedicated to acts such as Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen were unnecessary as one game quickly blurred into the next. The worst year was 2009, when Activision released no fewer than seven Guitar Hero games. It was an obvious cash grab for a company that could see the franchise's longterm prospects fading — and that misstep probably hastened the decline.

"DJ Hero" awkwardly debuted during this time. Winning heaps of praise from myself and critics who'd sought innovation in the music game genre, "DJ Hero" nonetheless received a lukewarm commercial reception. For a time, it was uncertain the game would even see a sequel. "DJ Hero 2" hit stores last year around the same time as "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock." But those two games would prove to be the final installments in each series.

Activision announced last week that it was abandoning the Guitar Hero and DJ Hero franchises, bowing to the harsh commercial reality that nobody was really interested in the games any longer. "Warriors of Rock" sold less than 100,000 copies and "DJ Hero 2" sold about 59,000 copies during their debut months.

I was initially shocked and angered by the announcement, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that both franchises had run their commercial course. Anyone who was going to buy into the Guitar Hero games had done so — and the franchise's lack of innovation did nothing to entice new customers. DJ Hero, by comparison, was a polarizing series. A few people embraced it. Most people ignored it. Its fall was inevitable.

As grateful as I am for those last two games and the limited number of downloadable songs that are forthcoming, I am sad. I'm sad that two franchises that once showed such potential are coming to an end. I'm sad that Activision chose to ultimately exhaust rather than excite the music game genre. And I'm sad that our party playlists will now be forced to loop.

But our plastic beat goes on. We might not get more games to throw into the mix, but what we have is very entertaining. And it was more than enough to make those musical daydreams we've all harbored come true.

No matter what happens…

If the love of your life enjoys video games, there's new better way to say "Happy Valentine's Day" than with these sentimental 8-bit cards at Etsy. The lineup features Mario, Link, Kirby, Mega Man and more. Enjoy.

And have a very happy Valentine's Day.

Smithsonian Highlights Tour #10: Freer Gallery

Did you know there's no single Smithsonian museum? There are actually several. With so much to see, the options can be overwhelming for first time D.C. visitors. This guide offers a very brief highlights tour for the various museums to help your planning process. Also, feel free to ask any questions about the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery in the comments and we'll do our best to get you an answer.

With a heritage of cultivating appreciation for the world's cultures through art, the Freer Gallery focuses its exhibits on Asian art. Works drawn from South Asian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese regions are on display. The two figures above, the Guardians of the South and West, come from Japan.

Perhpas the most notable work in museum, though, comes from England. The Peacock Room bears an amusingly controversial history, but is an enveloping and beautiful exhibit unlike anything else in the Smithsonian collection.

The gallery's high ceilings and wide corridors, while inviting to visitors, belie the detailed treasures inside. One small room presents several amulets recovered from Egypt; another room displays several intricately detailed Japanese scrolls. A close examination reveals the careful work invested in each creation.

Be aware that this museum grants visitors tunnel access to the Smithsonian's three underground galleries, giving you an easy way to visit the Sackler Gallery, Ripley Center and African Art Museum. These three stops and the Freer Gallery see much less foot traffic than other Smithsonian museums, so remember this network if you're looking for something off the beaten path.

How to get there: Short walk from the Smithsonian Metro.

Time to view: About one hour.

When to go: If you're an Asian art afficianado, make it a priority. Otherwise, view it on your return trip.

Dude.

Via KittyKittyBangBang

Smithsonian Highlights Tour #9: Air and Space Museum

Did you know there's no single Smithsonian museum? There are actually several. With so much to see, the options can be overwhelming for first time D.C. visitors. This guide offers a very brief highlights tour for the various museums to help your planning process. Also, feel free to ask any questions about the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in the comments and we'll do our best to get you an answer.

Recognized as the world's most visited museum, the National Air and Space Museum attracted 6.1 million visitors in 2005. And for good reason. Its inspiring collection of objects includes some of the most important and recognizable crafts in existence. This lunar module on display at the building's east end is just the tip of the iceberg.

The museum nicely divides its ample floor space between the many airplanes and spacecraft in its collection. It does well to recognize those first aeronautic steps mankind took before making that "giant leap" to the moon. Among the many craft on display is the original 1903 Wright Flyer. Other highlights include the Spirit of St. Louis, one of Amelia Earhart's planes, the Apollo 11 command module and an unused Skylab Orbital Workshop segment.

One of the museum's greatest cultural treasures is easy to miss. This model of the U.S.S. Enterprise, which Paramount Pictures donated, was used in filming of the original "Star Trek" series. To see it, enter the museum's gift shop, take the escalator down one level and walk to the far side.

The National Air and Space Museum offers an incredible lineup of craft, but realize it doesn't display every such object in the Smithsonian's collection. Some of the most iconic vehicles — such as the Space Shuttle Enterprise and the SR-71 Blackbird — are located at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. That facility isn't as easily reached as the National Air and Space Museum, but well worth the drive.

How to get there: Short walk from L'Enfant Plaza Metro.

Time to view: About three hours.

When to go: On your first trip to Washington, if you can manage it. It's one of the top three Smithsonian museums.

Please?

Smithsonian Highlights Tour #8: Underground galleries

Did you know there's no single Smithsonian museum? There are actually several. With so much to see, the options can be overwhelming for first time D.C. visitors. This guide offers a very brief highlights tour of the various museums to help your planning process. Also, feel free to ask any questions about the Smithsonian's Ripley Center, Sackler Gallery and African Art Museum in the comments and we'll do our best to get you an answer.

The three galleries located behind the Smithsonian Castle could be collectively referenced as the "underground galleries" because their main corridors and displays are literally beneath the grass. These galleries are also joined by their international themes and evolving nature. The chained artwork from the Sackler Gallery shown above, Monkeys Grasp for the Moon, is among the few permanent works on display in these galleries.

Since the exhibits in these smaller museums are constantly changing, the environments are likelier to yield hidden surprises. On display during my visit to the African Art Museum were several masks and other artifacts the Smithsonian received from the Walt Disney Corporation. Originally intended for permanent display in Epcot Center, plans for that gallery were never realized and Disney donated the 525 objects to the Smithsonian in 2005.

It's also worth noting that while the galleries mostly feature historical pieces, some modern works are on display. Perhaps the most prominent is Brave New World II, a 35-minute video shown on one screen that's surrounded by several mirrors. The angled mirrors create an enticing, reflective illusion that must be seen to be fully appreciated.

While it's easy to overlook these three subterranean galleries, they're well worth the visit. The African Art Museum beautifully humanizes nations too often in the news for all the wrong reasons; the Sackler Gallery highlights a wide array of Asian art styles; and the Ripley Center boasts a constantly changing lineup.

How to get there: Short walk from the Smithsonian Metro.

Time to view: About 90 minutes.

When to go: When there's a temporary exhibit that appeals to you. If nothing on the calendar entices you on your first trip, wait for your return trip.

One morning across the world

If this gorgeous video illustrating a morning in cities across the world doesn't make you yearn to travel abroad, there's something wrong with you.

Guilty.

Via CollegeHumor

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Entertainment Edition

Now that I'm back on Google Reader, I'm stumbling across even more interesting things to share with you.

Thumbs Up to Easy Play: Sony is embedding a one-button play option in its next Major League Baseball game. The mode, designed to accommodate disabled gamers, lets players control basic functions while the console handles more complex aspects. That's an incredibly thoughtful thing to do and a practice I think other game makers should follow.

Thumbs Down to Uncertain Fates: I've written previously about the lackluster sales of "Ni No Kuni" in Japan, but a recent interview with the developer's chief executive seems to cast even further doubt on an American localization. Akihiro Hino said he'd hoped for better sales. That's the nice way of saying he's disappointed. Still, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Thumbs Up to More Kombat: Did you ever see the wickedly impressive "Mortal Kombat" short a Hollywood director created simply to sell Warner Brothers on his vision of where the franchise could go next? (It's here, if you missed it, but this violence is not for the faint of heart.) Well, WB gave the man a green light to make a 10-part web series. I can't wait to see it.

Thumbs Down to Exclusive Apps: Two mobile phone apps that recently caught my attention are EpicWin for iPhone and Noborizaka for Windows Phone 7, which give your to-do lists RPG themes. I'm sad no similar app is yet available for the Android operating system. Maybe that's to blame for my unenthusiastic approach to dish washing. Yeah, we'll go with that.

Thumbs Up to Invisible Jets: Believe it or not, Wonder Woman is returning to network television. NBC has picked up a pilot script from "Ally McBeal" creator David Kelley, which casts the world's greatest female superhero in two roles: successful corporate executive and vigilante crime fighter. There's no word yet whether we'll see truth-telling lassos or invisible jets, but hey, anything is possible.

Thumbs Down to Borders Breakdown: If you've got a Borders Group gift card, the time to use it is now. The bookseller recently retained bankruptcy counsel, delayed vendor payments and laid off 45 people at its headquarters office. Whether the troubled chain lives to see 2012 is anybody's guess.

Thumbs Up to Happy Reunions: The band is together again as "The Hobbit" gets ready for filming. Ian McKellan is returning as Gandalf, Andy Serkis and Elijah Wood will reprise their roles as Gollum and Frodo, and Christopher Lee is back as Saruman. I'm disappointed that Ian Holm won't again portray Bilbo, save for perhaps a cameo, but relieved so many actors are returning.

Dot Dot Dot: A sloppy game review read verbatum

Josh and I can't stop watching this video. It's hysterical. Enjoy!



Note: Start around the 37 second mark to skip a bunch of lame logos and "trailer-ish" stuff.