You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Nerdy Thing Thursday’ category.
There aren’t many things I remember from my childhood. The memories I do have come in bits and pieces. While some people can remember the names of their earliest teachers and childhood friends I’ve never had such an ability. At best I get a feeling here, a small recollection of a trip there, just enough to assure me that my childhood did happen. Here’s the story of one such snippet.
There was a summer during my elementary school years when I had a great morning routine. My sister was taking care of my brother and I while mom worked and every morning it was wake up, get breakfast, pop in a video. Our apartment was a place of joy and wonder as each morning I got to spend some time with my favorite animated movie. It was the summer of Aladdin, which also makes it the summer of friggin’ awesome. I loved that movie and watched it over, and over, and over, and over. Eventually I grew up, became a man, and bought Aladdin on DVD so I could watch it over, and over, and over. This happy time led to me being able to recall at least 95% of Aladdin word for word. Every song, every scene, all of it. If you’ve ever wondered why I proudly call myself a geek I give you exhibit A.
Aladdin and The (equally as awesome) Lion King hold very special places in my heart. While they stand as the cherry toppers on the sundae of my childhood my whole past is littered with scoops of goodness with one consistent label: Disney. I love Disney. Or as the kids of today would say, I <3 Disney. It was with this love that I came to be interested in a new documentary titled Waking Sleeping Beauty.
(Image from www.entertainmentgeekly.com)
There was no way I could have known about the issues plaguing Disney when I was a kid. I didn’t care about anything beyond the stories and songs. Beauty and the Beast, the aforementioned Aladdin and Lion King, even The Little Mermaid, my love for Disney in its golden era (which I believe it was) runs deep. Through interviews, home videos, and many other first hand sources Waking Sleeping Beauty shows us the drama behind the magic. Have you ever wondered what Michael Eisner or Roy Disney thought about their work? As a kid I didn’t. As an adult, hell yes.
So who wants to go to San Francisco with me to see this? Documentaries aren’t exactly known for their widespread theater distribution so knowing that I am only two hours away from a screening fills me with glee. March 26th can’t come soon enough. <3
“On second thought, let’s not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.”
As much as I love 1,000 different parts of this movie I have to disagree with this one line. Silly places, like Camelot, are exactly where I want to be. I am a silly bastard. For sure. I love it so very much.
If I were forced on pain of death to choose my favorite thing to do in the whole wide world I would say I love to laugh. Nothing is better than a really deep laugh. The kind that comes from down in your gut. The kind that makes my abs hurt and the muscles in my face sore from the force of my smile. It looks something like this.
Mostly.
So of course when I find something nerdy AND amazingly funny I just have to share it. In the grand tradition of Monty Python And The Holy Grail, with its watery tarts and such, and countless games/books/D&D-ish dorkiness I bring you Doraleous and Associates.
I don’t know how I came to this site. I surf through all kinds of nerd/geek/dorky sites regularly so I can only assume that I found a banner at one of those that led me to this phenomenal place. Like an island of amazing in a sea of crap (aka: celebrity gossip) I have been able to land safely on a shore of geeky goodness. However it happened I’m so amazingly glad it did.
From Victor Frankenstein (who was the SCIENTIST people, not the monster) to Topher Brink from Dollhouse, people have always loved the mad scientist. The crazy genius who creates what he wants, when he wants, all in the interest of pushing the scientific limits as far as they can possibly go. While I wait for the day that a Dr. Horrible comes along to change the world in an amazing way I feel so much better knowing that there is a mad scientist out there tackling the things that I love right now. Namely, alcohol.
What is that right there? What is that picture of? It’s a COCKTAIL MIXING ROBOT. Score. Until this site and this picture I didn’t know such things existed. Turns out, there’s a competition and everything. Who knew? Anyways, this is just one of the many projects that this amazing person has come up with. Ever wanted to have your own tabletop Pong game? There’s a project for that. From some character coasters for the house to simple LED garden lights, this guy lets his mind move at the speed of science.
I know what you’re asking yourself right now. You’re thinking, “Self, how can this get even better?” I know! Let it never be said that a scientist has to keep his head firmly planted in a box of circuit boards and microchips. Sometimes, scientists end up in the kitchen as well. Mmmm….asteroid cookies…
If you haven’t already clicked on one of the links above, CLICK NOW AND BE AMAZED!
YAY SCIENCE!
This post gets a little more personal then most Thursdays. Not in the I-cry-at-such-and-such-movies personal. More like the this-is-something-private-yet-not-embarrassing sort of personal.
I’ve openly admitted that photography isn’t what I do day to day. Yes folks, I am an office monkey. A Dilbert like peon wrapped in the comforting fuzz of gray fabric that comprises cubicle walls. It’s really not as bad as that sounds, but I love pretending that it is. Mostly for the funnies and to better relate to some of the more subtle jokes in shows like The Office. Anyways, in the daily grind that I get to enjoy there is one fantastic silver lining. There is one constant thing that makes me smile. It makes me laugh, makes me think of fun nerdy things that I appreciate outside of work, and just generally keeps me much happier at work then I would otherwise be.
It’s computer wallpapers. Yup.
Please don’t let that be as anti-climatic as it might seem on the surface. I’m very serious about this. What do I, and those who work in offices like I do, look at all day long? Our computer monitors. This piece of equipment is very important to my daily duty (hee hee, duty) and to my sanity. Unlike some others who just choose the typical Microsoft bit to adorn their screens I actually take a little time (a really little, I’m very good at doing Internet searches) and find something that suits my tastes better.
Marvel wallpapers are always a great start. That is, if the current things they throw up for free are from a series I love. Then there are steampunk wallpapers. With steampunk being my current obsession (and the subject of my next cosplay outfit btw) I regularly use some of my brains back end processing power to think of prop ideas. Lastly, but most assuredly not leastly, I make frequent use of the free items available at Alex Ross’ website. I mean come on, look at this man’s work:
I promise you that this scaled down image that I got from his site doesn’t do his work justice. His style is really amazing and it’s unique in the comic world. Alex Ross creates beautiful work that feels like Renaissance paintings of comic characters. And this is exactly why I love looking at his work and so many other images.
When I see something that fantastic on my desktop it makes me think of art. A well done wallpaper has all the elements that I feel connected to: color, spacing, composition, etc. Being able to see these interesting pieces of art on a daily basis keeps my brain grounded in an artistic world that the usual daily work I do doesn’t touch. By having art in my sight along with the logical workings of my work I am able to stimulate both sides of my brain. This is who I am, and I love it, and I need to feed all of it. Most people probably don’t think this much about the image that stretches itself on their computer screen but I do. It’s like I said: wallpapers, as simple as they are, make me smile, laugh, and generally feel nerdy. Why wouldn’t I appreciate them?
The thing itself isn’t very nerdy. The thing is just sort of a thing, a thing people do, a thing that falls under the category of body modification. Are you tired of me using the word thing? Yeah, okay, I am too.
The item in question is a tattoo. That’s right, I got ink done. Last Saturday was my birthday (woooo party!) (not really) and the Friday before that I went to Sideshow Tattoo to get some work done. The artist, Matt, was really excellent and worked with me on an idea and then was great enough to do the work. So, without further ado, here’s a quick picture of it:
At first glance, do you know what it is? If you don’t I’m not surprised. It’s a variation on the X-Men symbol. That’s right everyone, my first tattoo is a comic book reference. I wrote briefly in a previous post about my long-standing interest in the X-Men comic series, but please allow me to expand now.
When I was kid I didn’t get a lot of reading in my life. I didn’t grow up in a home full of books and there really wasn’t anyone around to draw me into the world of literature. But then, in third grade, I found myself at a KB Toy Store and picked up my first comic book. With that I opened the door to a whole new obsession. At that young age I started reading things that were far beyond what most of my peers were getting into. The stories in X-Men showed violence, deception, sacrifice, acceptance, prejudice, racism, and above all else, family. Through those stories I fell in love with reading and with the stories that were available first in those cheaply printed pages and later in novels. I have no doubt that my ability to read pushed me further in school. I was always a great student and I trace this back to my level of reading comprehension, which comes from me always having my face in a book, which comes from me having first loved to read by exploring the world of the X-Men.
This tattoo is an expression of that. This tattoo represents my love of reading, my love of the X-Men, my pride in the dedication I put into my schooling over the years. It is a constant reminder that I can always learn new things, explore new worlds, be moved by the trials and triumphs of characters that aren’t even real outside of some pages and my imagination. This tattoo is a reminder of so many things that make me who I am. Yay me! 
So, if you’ve been following the news and you know me then you will already know what I’m going to talk about today. What’s that? You don’t really know me? That’s why you read this? Well then, in that case, let me make one thing abundantly clear: I love Apple. I love apples too, but that’s tied to my general love of fruit. This past week, Steve Jobs, the guru, the master, he-who-makes-dreams-happen, (I’m just kidding with all the ass kissing by the way) (kinda) gave one of his usual presentations and dropped the latest shiny toy for all the geeks out there. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the iPad.
Yeah. The iPad. In case you haven’t already heard the jokes flying around you only have to turn your brain back to third grade (which for some people may not be so hard…) or just speak to any woman to know what the basic LOLz are all about. IT REMINDS US ALL OF TAMPONS. PADS. FEMALE HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Damn it Apple, and damn you Steve Jobs.
I loved the iMac, the MacPro, the Macbook (which I’m typing on now), the iPhone (which is sitting next to me) and so many other things that they have created through their vision and their influence. With that, I was READY for this next toy. I was practically frothing at the mouth. But now, I just feel let down. Did you notice the part where I had my iPhone on one side of me and my MacBook in my lap? Between the two of them I already have all the features that I would get with the iPad. So, what’s the incentive to buy one? Is it faster then my laptop? No. Is it more convenient then my iPhone? Not if I want to get up and, I don’t know, run errands. The only way I could see this working out for me is that having one would keep me from having to bring my laptop down from my room upstairs. And what do I pay for that convenience? At least $500. No, thank you. Shove it Apple.
And how about this. If I want to, I can totally take the iPad to go and search/type/play/whatever anywhere I want. How awesome is it that they just add this on like another phone to my cell bill and let me use the 3G network I’m already paying for! OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WAIT! They don’t. That’s another $30 a month if I want to do that. So I’m expected to pay hundreds for this item, $30 a month for the rest of my life to keep it really mobile, the $60+ a month for my iPhone bill, plus replace my laptop, phone, and tablet whenever they may break. On top of this, they are trying to push people to purchase books and newspaper subscriptions through this device. I believe that the future of newspapers is closely tied to subscription services but when all of the costs piled on top of this one delivery device are taken into consideration I’m afraid this will just end poorly. In case you couldn’t tell, I really don’t see myself buying into this. I have a feeling many others won’t either.
BUT…it IS a really cool looking device, and while I wouldn’t pay money for it I’d love to some day get one as a gift. I am a nerd, after all.
Here’s one more thing for you all to know about me: my imagination runs hand in hand with my near constant state of day dreaming and together they jaunt happily through various trails carved into my brain. Sounds really weird right? Imagine living with it. Imagine, for example, that I’ve created a person in my brain who I named William. He’s a simple country boy, he loves his family, he works on a farm and doesn’t care to consider the world outside of his home town. He doesn’t think about losing weight, managing all kinds of loans, finding directions in a new city or spending his free time connecting with people from around the country (and possibly the world). He’s a simpler man from a simpler time.
Oh, to be him.
But I’m not. My interests as well as my issues are all across the board. Thankfully, unlike our simple friend William, I live in an age that is more complicated in so many ways but which is also filled to the BRIM (yes, THE VERY BRIM) with websites to help me along. Oh goodness, how I love the Internet.
From websites to track my running, my finances, and my friends (as if you didn’t all know this one) all the way to sites for me to mix the perfect drink, read up on my biggest obsession, and most definitely waste some time laughing.
But wait, there’s more! Don’t forget about the interesting people I read about, the amazing commentaries on our world, or the fantastic new ways to travel it.
Yes people, this is but a small sampling of my Internet travels. I have yet to find the problem which couldn’t be helped along with the ingenuity of all those dreamers who put their thoughts online. To all of them, to anyone who has added their own web page and a bit of themselves to the Internet, this is my heart-felt thank you.
And I didn’t even MENTION my beloved iPhone and the apps I’m obsessed with! I assure you, whatever you’re in to, there’s an app for that.
This is how I roll on the Internet. How do you?
On this, the eve of a new year, I am still here to bring you exciting things from the nerdy depths. Huzzah for me! Let me ask you all something: have you ever wanted to live in a galaxy far, far away? Have you ever dreamed of flying an X-wing? Throwing things across the room with, I don’t know, some sort of force? Do you have no idea at all what I’m talking about? If you don’t just stop reading this right now and go rent Star Wars: A New Hope. Or Empire Strikes Back. Or Return of the Jedi. But NOTHING ELSE with the “Star Wars” name. Especially nothing that claims to be Episode 1, 2, or 3. Okay, let’s move on…
For those of you who dream like me, those who wish for a life among the stars, I’m sorry. I’m not here to tell you that someone built a functioning x-wing. No one has discovered the force as depicted. There is no Echo Base. But fear not! We can now dress a bit more like we belong in that fabled world.
(For those of you with pretty fast Internet, this is basically the same thing but more of a resource hog.)
I’ve been a fan of fashion for a long time. Not fashion like the experimental things that march down the Paris catwalk, fashion like what I find in the pages of Esquire. Which I love dearly, BTW. And while fashion in those pages can be several hundreds of dollars and be geared towards todays professional man I always try to create my own style and would never turn my back on something so amazingly nerdy. Something so deliciously creative. In short: let’s get some shoes!
Some of these items are so different than what I’m used to that I wouldn’t really know what to wear with them. They seem like they would fit more in a hip-hop wardrobe, which is not what I throw on. But some others, like the ones inspired by the Millennium Falcon and the X-wing fighters…well…those are just awesome. My nerdy credentials are already pretty obvious but this would be my shining beacon. Through a pair of these shoes I would flash a spotlight (from my feet up) that says, “Look at me world! I love Star Wars more than any of you! ADMIRE MY AWESOME!”
So there it is. My last post of the year. I avoided any talk of resolutions, any best of lists, and any of the typical things you’ll see all over various blogs and news sites at this time of year. I have nothing against them at all, but I’ll be honest: I’m just too lazy to write one of those. I would much rather talk about Star Wars shoes. Maybe I’ll lost some of this laziness next year.
Be safe tonight everyone!
That’s right Dear Reader. So recently after starting this little experiment in regularity I have already missed a Thursday. It isn’t as if I wasn’t aware that Thursday came and went but, being Christmas eve, I was pretty busy. In fact, this whole week was really busy with all kinds of things. From photo shoots and editing to hanging out (in person!) with good friends I hadn’t seen in a while there just always seemed to be something to do. So, to make amends, I wanted to find a way to combine my geekiness and my photo-ness. Photoness. Photographyness. Whatever. So, with that in mind, I give you:
LOL KITTIES YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!
Can you has cheezburgers? I know I can. Combining cute animals, funny captions, people’s personal photographs, and terrible grammar/spelling, this wonderfully amazing website was born. It’s in no way serious but I love that it makes me laugh. It makes me appreciate a photograph not because it’s a beautiful and artistic item with not a single technical detail out of place but because of the emotion captured in it. Whether it’s the look on a cat’s face, or the body position, or just the twinkle of their eyes, there is never a lack of visual clues that push a certain emotion which then gets reinforced by the terrible (but funny) caption. I could try to explain the dorky wonder of these images all I want but the old idea that a picture is worth a thousand words has never been more true than in this case. So please, Dear Reader, click the link above and enjoy the kitty wonder.
Go. GO ON. ENJOY IT NOW!
And oh yes, Merry Christmas!
Hello, Dear Reader!
It’s time once again for Nerdy Thing Thursday, and what a treat it is this week. I had something in mind a few days ago and was all set to throw it out there. It was going to be magical, wonderful, beautiful, and a lot of other things that end with the letter l. But instead, I saw a small note on Facebook earlier today, and now I’m bringing you something FREAKIN’ AWESOME.
Dear Reader, THE IRON MAN 2 TRAILER HAS ARRIVED!
Please, take a few minutes and go witness the epic glory of this trailer. I’ll wait.
Duu duu du du duu duu duuuuu du du du du DU da du du du du….. (can you name that tune?)
Alright, you should be back by now. Do you feel better? Refreshed? Perhaps you even feel like a better human being?
It’s been well documented in this blog that I’m a bit of a comic nerd. By a bit, of course, I mean a totally huge slightly obsessive comic book nerd. I started with the X-Men and they will always hold a special place in my geeky heart but over the last few years I’ve really come to enjoy Iron Man.
Captain America typically gets the credit for being the “ideal” American. It’s sort of written into his name, which just seems like cheating. He’s an upstanding citizen (most of the time, I won’t bore you with details of when he’s not), he’s immensely patriotic, loyal to his friends, always displays the highest level of manners and respect to those around him. He’s just a nice guy. Tony Stark is not.
Stark, a.k.a Iron Man, is a corporate man. A captain of industry. A man who uses his immense intelligence to create amazing technology and make mounds of money while also living a double life as a super hero. Alright, yes, Tony probably drinks too much, loves women a bit too much, and is a cocky jackass sometimes. But even with that, why isn’t HE considered the ideal American?! Tony Stark embodies the pinnacle of our capitalist society. For all of the good he does Captain America goes home at night to, I don’t know, pump iron or something. Tony Stark helps save the world then goes back to the office to run his company. A company that keeps thousands of people employed, well paid, and contributing to our society. He’s not perfect but perfection is an illusion. Trying to be perfect just makes it all the more devastating when the cracks in your lie start to show. Tony Stark doesn’t pretend to be perfect, he accepts who he is, accepts his greatness, and works on his shortcomings to be a better person. Everyone could use a little more of that goodness. On May 7th, 2010, we’ll finally get it.
Member!
