Think Lynsen

Of two minds on the subject

2009-11-08T10:42:00.000-05:00

About three years ago, I noted in my first blog post that "my good, old fashioned DVD player suits me just fine" and there was no reason to make the HD leap.

But fast forward 39 months and now you find me considering my options. Specifically, you find me considering whether I should invest in some physical DVD successor, such as some Bly-ray Disc player, or look to some digital delivery option, like Apple TV.

There are certain appeals to the physical solution, most notably that it requires no massive hard drive to store purchased content and isn't subject to Internet hiccups or down time. And the gamer in me can't help but notice that the PlayStation 3 plays Bly-ray Discs.

Still, the digital delivery option is enticing as the space investment to content gain ratio is fantastic. When your apartment is limited to one bedroom, the importance of such things cannot be overstated. Besides, isn't investing in some Bly-ray Disc player foolish? As quickly as we're moving to digital delivery of TV shows and movies, aren't such players soon to be obsolete? On the other hand, the PlayStation 3 now streams Netflix movies, so it offers both the HD disc upgrade and the steaming content option.

I'm as frazzled on this as poor Two-Face in the photo above. Your counsel would be much appreciated.

What's your social media plan?

2009-11-07T10:23:00.005-05:00

I'm going to step off my entertainment soapbox today — please stop applauding, Jason — and pick your brain about social media.

I'm curious to know more about your personal social media plan. And if you have no set plan, as such, how do you approach the one or more social media tools that you use? Has your use changed over time? How? Why?

Do you use one tool, perhaps Facebook, primarily for networking and communication, and another, perhaps Twitter, to stay abreast of news developments? Do you actually peruse sites such as YouTube and Flickr recreationally, or do you only go there when you're referred by friends to shared items of interest? Why did you join a particular social media tool? And what did it do to make you more engaged? Has your interest in any tool ever waned? Why?

I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I'm really interested in your answers. Whether you're using one tool or several of them, I'd love to know more about how you approach social media. I'm looking for some new perspectives and I'd love to have yours!

Today's xkcd was deep.

2009-11-06T20:02:00.000-05:00

Don't you agree?

Back in black

2009-11-06T07:59:00.004-05:00

Is it just me, or does it feel like the Fourth of July was a couple weeks ago? I mean, seriously, where did the year go? One minute there's fireworks and the next, it's Black Friday.

In case you haven't seen the early info trickling out regarding Nov. 27, there are some notable deals on video games. Kmart is offering a mysterious $25 "Nintendo Gaming Coupon" with the purchase of any Nintendo DS system. Old Navy, oddly enough, is offering two gaming deals. With any $20 purchase comes a free copy of "Lego Rock Band," and the purchase of "Rock Band 2" nets you a free Rock Band Guitar. Many other deals are listed — and more will be posted as word leaks out — at BlackFriday.info.

If you just can't wait to stand in line, though, you should know that Walmart is offering tomorrow only a deal on the Xbox 360 Arcade system. Included with the $199 system is one $100 gift card to Walmart.com. That's an impressive deal, but still not enough to turn my apartment into a Wii60 household.

I guess the "V" stands for vapid

2009-11-05T07:59:00.001-05:00

My hopes weren't exactly high for the new "V" series, a remake of the mediocre 1980s show. But to describe it as passable, as I initially did on Facebook, is somewhat charitable.

The more I think about the first episode since it aired Tuesday, the more I find myself getting frustrated that the show didn't do better at posing what could and should have been some worthwhile questions. Rather than explore issues of mass delusion and media manipulation, the episode all too quickly devolved into formulaic conventions and a regurgitation of the tired "Battlestar Galactica" game, "Who's a Cylon?" I'm not interested in playing "Who's a Visitor?" I'm interested in further discussion from the two priests about the significance and repercussions of First Contact. For the record, I'm also not interested in taking an entire episode's subplot worth of time to explain the "sleeper cell" concept and that a mom and her teenage son have a strained relationship. These are necessary ingredients to what appears to be the "V" recipe, but they're mixed in the wrong amounts.

Things likely would have started better had the pilot episode been a two-hour (rather than one-hour) presentation. That would have given the writers and actors more time to develop their characters before the chaos began. But it is what it is. And as such, I'm not sure whether I'll be back for more.

Good night, Marvel, and good luck

2009-11-04T07:59:00.005-05:00

A couple months ago, Annie told you that I might have some thoughts to share regarding Disney's acquisition of Marvel. And indeed I do, albeit from a different perspective than you might expect.

At this point, it's fair to say that Marvel has lost my business. I'm still in the process of selling my Marvel paraphernalia, but my days of buying their comics and products are over. I've suffered too much as a customer and a fan to open my wallet for them again. Just this week I was reminded that leopards can't change their spots when I learned that "Marvels: Eye of the Camera," a miniseries I considered the company's last chance at redemption, faced new delays and wouldn't conclude until next year. I'd say this was the straw that broke the camel's back, but to be honest, that camel's back was broken long ago. I'm only now coming to terms with it.

Still, this prolonged processing has given me enhanced perspective on Disney's acquisition of Marvel. So as I bid the comic book publisher adieu, I offer these parting words of advice to Disney as it considers how to best manage and make profitable the House of Ideas.

1. Scale back operations. Simply put, Marvel is publishing too many comics. The publishing universe that some say is grand I say is bloated. The vast library also is off-putting to new customers. Take a long, hard look at the bottom line returns and lob off the lackluster performers, even if they're critical darlings or fanboy favorites. It's for the best to streamline things.

2. Don't release a miniseries until it's finished. Whether it's something as minor as the 2099 relaunch or the crossover event of the summer, don't publish the first issue until the last is done. Monthly comic buyers have been burned so often that many now "wait for the trade." Stop the trend by making this pledge: "We promise to be on time. Really."

3. Assert sensible editorial control. It might sound good to say that you're taking a "hands off" approach to handling Spider-Man and Wolverine, but the truth is these key properties are far too valuable to let go unmonitored. Have a corporate rep at story meetings. Prudently veto plot points when necessary. You must protect these characters and customer respect for them.

4. Tap into the casual market. And by casual, I don't mean kids. Look at what Nintendo has done to draw women and working adults into the video game industry with Wii Sports and Wii Fit. Consider how you can replicate that success in the monthly comic format, drawing new or lapsed customers into comic shops across the nation to buy cheaper, self-contained reads.

5. Identify and groom new leaders. Joe Quesada is quickly becoming Marvel's longest serving editor-in-chief since Stan Lee. But unlike Lee, Quesada's editorial track record has more blemishes than accolades. Look now for the younger blood to succeed Quesada and chart a transition so that Marvel can move boldly into a new era.

Marvel has lost my interest, but it need not lose the interest of others. I submit that by taking these steps, Disney could right the ship and sail into more editorially sound and profitable waters.

It's a me, Mario!

2009-11-03T07:59:00.001-05:00

Nintendo has redefined "happy hat" for me. Thanks, Big N, for the treat!

When awesome people move away

2009-11-02T07:24:00.001-05:00

One of the things I love about DC is the diversity. There are folks from all over the country, all over the world, all with different perspectives and lives and stories.

The flip side of this coin of awesomeness is that the population is in a constant state of flux. There are D.C. natives and lifers, sure, but most of the people I tend to meet and befriend are those who come from somewhere else. And all too often, those people tend to leave for greener pastures, a move that makes me scratch my head because, frankly, I can't imagine living anywhere else. (Then again, I'm not paying property tax or trying to find a good school to send children to.)

So basically, Josh and I have gone through the following scenario about five times now since we moved here four years ago:

1. We meet really awesome person/couple
2. We get to know said awesome person/couple
3. We hang out a lot with awesome person/couple and they become the type of people that we automatically invite to any gathering we have
4. Awesome person/couple moves away

This whole process is heartbreaking, to say the least. When we moved out here, we knew absolutely nobody. My birthday in 2005 was spent only with Josh. We went to dinner and a movie. For a lot of people that seems like a perfect celebration, but I am a freaking extrovert who LOVES to go out and host parties, especially birthday parties, so it was actually kind of depressing for me (much as I love spending time with Josh!).

The entire first year or two we lived here was awfully lonely, and it seemed we would never meet people like us, despite our best efforts to attend Meetups, comic and gaming conventions, work happy hours, and the like. We made a few false starts with folks who - surprise - ended up moving away almost the second we started to hit our friendship stride with them.

The latest installation of the now-you-see-them-now-you-don't friends has my heart aching as I type this. I'm fortunate now that we have a fairly broad circle of folks to hang out with, but it is So. Damn. Hard to see yet more awesome people leave. I can't even tell you how tempting it is to let cynicism take over and not get close to anybody else for fear of being hurt like this again, but I'm determined not to let that happen.

And yes, I know...they're in another part of the country, they're not dead. We can still keep in touch, we can still see each other at CONvergence, this move will mean positive changes for them, etc. And honestly, we left a lot of awesome people behind in Minnesota when we moved out here, so I suppose in a way all this pain is a fitting retribution for that. But right now all those thoughts are but a thin balm on the selfish ache of grief I feel.

Long story short, I'd like take this cat up on his offer. If you see me in the next couple of days, I welcome any and all hugs.

Kris is neither sound nor light, but she's obviously the Doppler Effect.

2009-11-01T21:46:00.007-05:00

Big ups to Think Lynsen superfans Kris and Tony for sending us these Halloween photos that are full of awesome and WIN.

And I was extra pleased to read Tony's words that, "In the second picture, she is saying Nyeeeeowwwwwm!"

(Wondering what in the Sam Hill we're talking about? Check out the Halloween episode from the first season of The Big Bang Theory. I'd link to it...but...confound CBS!)

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T12:25:00.004-04:00

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

2009-10-30T21:36:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-30T07:59:00.002-04:00

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.

2009-10-28T07:41:00.001-04:00

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!

2009-10-27T07:13:00.000-04:00

God bless FailBlog.

Wait, I can be a DJ?

2009-10-26T20:55:00.004-04:00

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

Actual conversation

2009-10-26T20:11:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-10-25T10:40:00.000-04:00

From the always awesome icanhascheezburger.

Fiendishly difficult? I'll pass

2009-10-24T11:13:00.000-04:00

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"

2009-10-23T13:36:00.003-04:00

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

2009-10-23T07:31:00.001-04:00

*ahem*

"Keep on keeping on, evolution!"

2009-10-23T07:03:00.001-04:00

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

Rocking out for cheap

2009-10-22T07:59:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-22T07:19:00.002-04:00

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

Watch "Parks and Recreation" tonight!

2009-10-22T07:12:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-21T19:50:00.005-04:00

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.