Yet here it is. We hope you enjoy “Here Come the Dinosaurs“, and if you can explain to the class what it means, feel free to share! Credits appear below the break.

All music, Flash animation, and start-motion handimation by Paul and Storm

Grumpy Cat played by Reinhold McPhee-DiCostanzo*

Gertie the Dinosaur (cartoon video clip) by Winsor McCay (1914, public domain)

Public domain images:

Skull by Silsor http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skull_and_crossbones.svg

Coloring book Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops and Pterodactyl from http://karenswhimsy.com/public-domain-images

Super-scary dino & building by Laura Scudder http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Senckenberg_mit_Dino.jpg

Car http://www.freeclipartnow.com/transportation/cars/car-Acura.jpg.html

Ceratosaurus by Joesph Smit http://www.copyrightexpired.com/earlyimage/prehistoriclifebeforekt/ceratosaurus_cood_1894_smit_1929.html

Subway station by  Daniel Schwen http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NYC_Wall_St_station.jpg

Iguanadon by Alice B. Woodward http://www.copyrightexpired.com/earlyimage/prehistoriclifebeforekt/iguanodon_iln_1895_woodward_1951.html

Basketball game by Greg Ma http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monta_Ellis_dunking.jpg

Basketball by Reisio http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basketball.png

Special thanks to Mike “Spiff” Booth and Jonathan Coulton for technical assistance

* Mr. R was not harmed during the filming of this video. In fact, he was fed treats.

You answered the call in droves (specifically, 62 of you; how many droves in 62?), and carried out the mission with the determination, guile, and creativity that is the hallmark of the Paul & Storm Brigade of Minions.

- You went forth and found or created a cheesy digital greeting card
- You deciphered the totally intentional riddle to guess Paul’s e-mail address
- You sent your card to Paul, cunningly signing it as “Joss Whedon”*

Some highlights from this wicked, dastardly task:

• This one
• Oh, and this one
• And who could forget this one?

All participating Minions should have been credited by now with a special citation, which appears as “COMMENDATION: Operation Blue Mountain” under their pictures in the Brigade of Minions flickr group. If you did not receive credit, you can stake your claim by writing us at “info at paulandstorm.com” (and in this way, we will also have your e-mail address for future missions); make sure to include your Minion name. If you claim credit and did not participate, we will know. We do not need to tell you that the penalty for Minion Fraud is painful and will be exacted WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT.

Not a certified Minion yet? Want to be part of future world domination plans that Minions often characterize as “fun”? Here’s the key.

* Our esteem in no way indicates a preference for Joss Whedon in regards to Geek Madness, pro or con. We also love and admire Wil Wheaton and appreciate all that he does for the geek community. Either will make a splendid Secretary of Geek Affairs.

In early 2008, in a sub-basement of the Yale University anthropological studies department, researchers unearthed a Betacam master video recording of the pilot episode opening credits. (Unfortunately, the remainder of the episode was apparently recorded over with footage of the Yale Whiffenpoofs “1991 Holiday Jamboree Sing-a-bration”) To date, this remains the only authenticated footage from “Monkey Shines”. (Reclusive star Coulton has not returned repeated requests for comment)

In the interest of science, history, and primate studies, we present the “Monkey Shines” opening credit sequence…

A good question. One that has been asked before. Several times over, actually.

Now, we ask it of the various attendees of Dragon*Con 2008. Who will win: good, evil, or celebrities?

When Dana became suddenly unavailable yesterday, Ken madly rifled through his Rolodex, desperately searching for a replacement. Not finding anyone "good," Ken was forced to swallow his pride and reluctantly ask Paul to step up to the mike.

The results can be found here. Lengthy discussions of Brian Blessed, hand ledges, angry kids’ show hosts, and terrible impressions shall be found within. Click on over and give a listen to Ken and Not-Dana.

The title above begs the question: is there a "Part II"? Stay tuned…

The duelling pensioners at Melbourne’s Catholic Homes Corpus Christi, most of whom are former priests and nuns, have spent nine months learning to lunge like Zorro – with a little help from their Zimmer frames and instructor Joseph D’Onofrio, 73.

It would appear that the fighting nuns have escalated to more advanced weaponry. Stop the madness!

"I am pleased to announce that the artwork for Gumbo Pants has been given perhaps the biggest honor in the illustration biz, inclusion in this years American Illustration Annual. A group of esteemed judges picked the piece out of 7,500 entries from all over the world to be published along with the other approx. 360 other winners."

Congratulations, Chris! We’re proud to have been able to prod your genius, and equally pleased that an artifact of Paul and Storm is going to be included in something genuinely classy.

In the meantime, we are all over the multiples of media these days.  Okay, maybe not "all over" them, but we make a couple appearances. First off, our good friend Len has made another visual interpretation of one of our songs—this time, it’s "Nugget Man", and we think it’s his best work yet for us. Click the image over there on the right for a larger version.

Second, don’t forget about Storm’s Left Arm Comix, which he updates regularly. It’s just like us, but in line-drawing form.

Lastly, we had a lot of free time in San Francisco, so we did what we do best: eat. Here’s a video we put up on the Youtubes chronicling Paul and Storm’s Big SF Dim Sum Adventure. Four whole minutes of us stuffing our big fat melons. (In widescreen, for no apparent reason) What more could you want on a Thursday morning?

It is in fact Omar Osama bin Laden, and you can learn lots more about his crazy adventures in this article about his mission to be an "ambassador for peace" between Muslims and the West.

One thing is for sure: if OObL ever becomes a major player on the world stage, Storm has a guaranteed slot waiting for him on Saturday Night Live.

They’ve just published an interview with us on their blog; I suppose this means that, since we’re on their blog instead of the radio show, our thoughts are awesome, but our voices are not. Anyway, we had a good time doing it, since they did revolutionary things like ask interesting questions. Special thanks to Jesse’s lackey pal Aaron Matthews, who actually conducted the interview.

• A nice write-up in the Alexandria Times. (Although we were gutshot by seeing ourselves described in print as "middle-aged;" I mean, we are, but it still kinda hurts to see it like that)
• Coulton got some great coverage (as in "on the cover") in today’s Washington Post Express, featuring some of his awesome new promo photos.
• Don’t forget last Friday’s feature piece about us on WAMU‘s Metro Connection, an edited version of which is apparently supposed to air sometime early tomorrow morning (we were told around 6:55 am, but don’t quote us on that)
• Coulton (and occasionally possibly we) will be making some media appearances on the Fox 5 Midday News and the WUSA CBS Evening News. Check your local listings.

So there’s that. See you all Friday, right?

Metro Connection’s host, David Furst, is the goodest of eggs. Big thanks to him for having us on, even if it is the liberal asp-hatchery that is NPR.