The Secret Lair Episode 0009: No Fools Allowed

Due to an unfortunate accident, The Secret Lair’s official stenographer was eaten by a crocodile last week.¹ While our search for a replacement continues, it has fallen to me to provide show notes for The Secret Lair Episode 0009.² Unfortunately, I’m a very busy overlord lately and rather than delay release of the episode and further,³ I’m going to post the scraps⁴ I’ve got now and fill in the rest once I get an hour or so to myself.

April Fool’s Day

• Economic Stimulation Package. Did American Public Radio’s Marketplace play an April Fool’s Day joke on Chris?
• YouTube rickrolled everyone.
• So did Mahalo Daily.
• The Electronic Frontier Foundation is moving their headquarters.
• Twatr is an interesting new Twitter-clone…for your genitals.

WordPress 2.5

• …has a new administrator interface. Chris isn’t a fan.
• …has a new image/media management system…which doesn’t seem to work on The Secret Lair.
• …has a redesigned Write Post screen. We don’t much care for it.
• Kris has more to say about WordPress 2.5 on his blog.

Unquiet Desperation

• Unquiet Desperation is an online poetry ‘zine.
• It is also Chris’ blog and podcast.
• Awkward!

Minion Recruiting Board

• Thanks to P.G. Holyfield and Scott Sigler, we have a number of job openings at the Lair.
• Fill out our super-secret minion application form, if you can find it.

The Secret Library

• Our current novel is The Sky People by S.M. Stirling.
• Our current graphic novel is Shooting War by Anthony Lappé and Dan Goldman .
• NEW! At the request of our minions, we have decided to add a podiobook section to The Secret Library. Our first selection is The Pocket and the Pendant by Mark Jeffrey. Subscribe at Podiobooks.com.

RPGs

• The Dresden Files RPG bleeding edge beta continues.
• Gunnar scored some WarHammer RPG 2nd Edition sourcebooks and Half-Price Books recently.

Movies and Television

• Kris saw Spider-Man 3 and wishes he hadn’t.
• Chris says it was worse than Batman and Robin.
• Check out How It Should Have Ended. (YouTube)
• The Spectacular Spider-Man is on the Kids’ WB and is far more entertaining.

Housekeeping

• We have a feedback address, where you may send us feedback. At The Secret Lair. Dot Com.
• There’s also a contact form, which no one has used yet. Will you be the first?
• It is entirely possible to join our official community, should you be so inclined.
• Our theme music is “Skullcrusher Mountain” by Intertroubadour extraordinaire, Jonathan Coulton.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:03 — 40.3MB)

1. Let’s not be concerned with who may or may not have forgotten to engage the magnetic couplers in the holding environment. Pointing fingers isn’t going to get us a new stenographer and playing The Blame Game isn’t helping morale. [↩]
2. Writing the show notes is not punishment. As co-overlord, I’m above punishment, even if you could prove conclusively that it was me. Which you can’t. [↩]
3. What’s that? Maybe I should have delayed release of the crocodile? Oh, great. That’s very mature. How about this: maybe you should think twice before you go hiring your relatives, okay? People get eaten, gassed, disintegrated, mutated and shunted to other dimensions around here all the time, but when it’s your cousin it’s suddenly a big deal. [↩]
4. Shut up. Just shut up! [↩]

1. 

   Operative 42 Research Department says:

   April 13, 2008 at 5:12 pm

   As a loyal member of the research department I was glad to here that personnel had procured the paper work so that I can file all of the proper forms in triplicate. I know that the file departement is in the basement of my local city hall down the stairs with the missing middle third past the sign that says beware the leopard.

   But I can’t find the forms to fill out, bureaucracy. How am I supposed to get my .001% over ten year Sam’s Club Membership discount or +25% of costs to my health care provider if I cant find the forms.

   Yours in Tri-County Domination
   Operative 42
2. 

   Ranneko says:

   April 15, 2008 at 1:00 am

   With respect to the Osbourn Villain Factory, I actually quite liked that aspect.

   Considering we are talking about a Spidey continuity without other superheroes about, or at least mentioned thus far, then you need an explanation of supervillains showing up only after there is a superhero to fight, and this does help to explain a constant influx of new villains until they have a complete stable.

   And think about it from the Kingpin’s perspective, once Spidey is out of the way, he has a bunch of superpowered minions available for his evil schemes, and Osbourne has various superability treatments that he has tested out and improved. Everyone wins.
3. 

   Kris says:

   April 16, 2008 at 4:43 pm

   Ranneko – First of all, thanks for listening and taking the time to comment. As a reward for commenting, we have moved you into the “May Be Spared From a Painful and Humiliating Death” column on our master spreadsheet. Well done!

   Second, you make a very interesting point and—in doing so—display a keen insight and intelligence. Normally, this is something to be praised; to us, it marks you as a clear threat. You have been moved into the “Must Be Eliminated Quickly to Ensure He or She Does Not Interfere with Our Plans” column on our master spreadsheet. Bad luck!

   Note to self: review column headings on master spreadsheet; they seem overly verbose.