I got so much inspiration from the presenters and other attendees at the conference; getting back to basics and realizing that you need to be the driving force behind ideas is what it’s all about. Don’t wait for the requirements of your projects to innovate, you’ll never get what you want out of that, unless you get lucky with a few here and there. What I really learned was that the fun lies in the exploration of new concepts and teqhniques, not in the “this doesn’t fit my current project, so I wont look at it” attitude. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve skipped over something just because I didn’t think I could use it right then and there. Keeping the big picture in mind – innovation, integration, and imagination – is key for me.

Here’s a link to the talks that were there. You can follow the links to get back to phparchitect, and all the awesome presenters that were there! If you’re a coder, you have to go to this thing next year, it was quite alot of fun!
http://cw.mtacon.com/schedule/city/new-york

InfoMania is a program that airs on Current TV, and it is where Sarah Haskins quests to ridicule and expose ridiculous marketing trends aimed at women in her segment entitled, “Target: Women.”

The segments are usually 3-4 minutes long, and subjects have ranged from beauty products, plastic surgery, television programming, advertisements, and politicians. Sarah, through her awkward humor and willingness to make fun of herself, focuses on the insulting trends of today’s media as they prey upon gender stereotypes.

“What women want,” seems to be a frequent theme, all too readily answered with a WetJet, some Botox, and a piece of chocolate. This week, Sarah tackles the marketing trend surrounding womens’ hair. Enjoy:

There are so many things to do online! Shopping, chatting, browsing, learning. Naturally it is a place in which people can interact on a much broader scale. Observing the growth and interaction in fan-based communities has developed into a hobby of mine throughout the years, until I created a community of my own dedicated to Kaiju (Japanese Giant Monsters). It was always my passion to create a forum where people could talk and interact regarding topics like Godzilla, Mothra, Ultraman, Gamera, and many other fantasy-oriented topics.

Another thing I dreamed of creating was a site that focused on fan fiction, fan art and other fan-made creations revolving around that specific genre of science-fiction/fantasy. Since writing fan fiction has been a pass time of mine for the past several years, I figured it would be practical if I found some way of integrating both Kaiju and Fan Fiction together into one website. And that is how Kaiju Galaxy came into existence.

As the years passed, both myself and my staff decided to aim Kaiju Galaxy not only in the direction of promoting Kaiju and artistic endeavors, but to help people improve their writing skills by allowing them to post their work on the message board and receive critiques from other writers and artists.

Here is the mission statement of the website that backs up what I previously stated:

“Creativity extends beyond reality as our talents and passions allow us to concoct magnificent pieces of imagery and emotion. Kaiju Galaxy is a website dedicated to Kaiju (Japanese Giant Monster) fans’ desire and aspiration to create wonderful pieces of work whether it be fan fiction or fan art aimed at both improving their writing and/or artistic skills as well as receiving a chance for others to review their accomplishments.” - written by, myself.

Kaiju Galaxy is a fan-base of growing avid monster enthusiasts, so if you’ve ever been a fan of movies like Godzilla, Gamera, Ultraman or Mothra—feel free to join. The site as a whole has an area dedicated to fan fiction and fan art (which is still under construction) not to mention a blog where individuals contribute pieces of writing analyzing the movies or other concepts relating to the various franchises. It is a site created by the fans, for the fans.

Watch as the interactive community grows—I will post updates every now and then about events taking place!

Main Site

Forum

Blog

When most people hear the words “technology” or  “anime” I’m fairly sure the first thing that comes to mind is the country Japan. We all know that they are a hub for massive amounts of new technology as well as an exciting source of many forms of medial entertainment.

Ever since I was a small child I’ve dumbfounded people with my passionate affinity for Japan. That desire for knowledge and excitement allowed me to enhance my ability to instruct people about the many facets of the country that they were not aware of. People always viewed me as some sort of nerd with no mission in life; however, I valiantly continued on my course—soaking up every piece of information I could regarding the country I adored.

Japan seems to be underestimated, not to mention criticized, for its history despite having a very rich culture that dates back far beyond the legacy of our own country. With the slightest grain of salt people assume that Japan is some sort of horrific nation that is ruining our economy and brainwashing our people with their newest forms of technology. Granted most of those ideals are adopted by older generations who were present during World War II, it doesn’t change the fact that their ideals are slightly misplaced.

People need to see that there are some good aspects to things that seem evidently bad. People need to understand that there is so much more depth to something than just what the rumors say. It is similar to how a person views a relationship based two-dimensionally on how an individual looks and how successful they are. They do not look beyond that, at the depth of the person in question.

There are always fun and exciting things to learn about any given country or culture. Whether it spans from their technology, their entertainment, or even something as simple as their history. The thing is, I’m not afraid of learning something new everyday, the question is, are you?

Stay tuned to the pages of Japandamonium for fun and exciting snippits about Japan!

As promised, here is a snap judgment look at some female profiles found on OKCupid.com.

The men were much easier to judge because they were fairly straightforward. Women are complicated, and this shows in their online dating ventures.

One thing I noticed far more often in the women’s category than the men’s was the term “Bisexual” being thrown about. My question is, are there really that many more bisexual women than men trying to find love online? And why are they searching for straight males?

Take Jennbot900 – (Her profile picture is in zombie face.)

Description:

I’m Jenn. I like books. I like movies. Pooping is my favorite. Vincent Price is my dream guy. I’m embarking on a radical change in my life, and I have the best support system anyone could ask for. I love sushi. I don’t know how to ride a bike. Top Chef is my favorite show. Summer is my least favorite season. My birthday is on Valentine’s Day. I collect tattoos. I love Anthony Bourdain. I stopped using AIM/Yahoo when I was 17. I think mayonaise is the devil’s semen. I have three dogs and one pretty awesome niece. Radio rock is awful. I voted Obama. I do not celebrate christmas. I love the Cavs. I see potential in almost everyone.

What this says about her: She’s unafraid of the viceral and of lists. She is defined by her likes and dislikes.

Favorites:

Books-HARRY POTTER SERIES,Coma Therapy,The Bell Jar,World War Z,Anything Chuck Palahnuik,The Rum Diary,Cannery Row,Alice in Wonderland,A Clockwork Orange,Insomnia…I could name alot.I enjoy anything that can hold my attention long enough for me to finish the damn book.

Movies-Pi,Boondock Saints,Secretary,Spun,all the CKYs,Alice in Wonderland, Rear Window,Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory,Young Frankenstein,The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,Donnie Darko,Clockwork Orange,The Shining,Problem Child 2,all the Harry Potters,Dogma,Pineapple Express, Disney movies,Orange County,Shaun of the Dead,Detriot Rock City,The Shining,Predator,Animal House,Drop Dead Fred, Indiana Jones triology,Star Wars trilogy,Ghostbusters,The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Fight Club,Beetlejuice,Reservior Dogs,The Jerk, Sin City,Camelot,Evil Dead Series, etc..

Music-i can honestly say i listen to a wide variety,at any given time. current and long standing favorites are as follows-beck,everytime i die,chiodos,protest the hero,flogging molly,modest mouse,heavy heavy low low,at the drive-in,mewithoutyou,david bowie,billy talent,patsy cline,the black keys,fear before the march of flames,john legend,say anything,marvin gaye,radiohead,tears for fears,peter frampton,he is legend,muse,kanye west,the decemberists,pig destroyer,queen.That’s just a few.Heh.

Food-I’m a foodie. Does that help? I’m pretty open minded when it comes to food. And I’m always the friend that eats shit no one else will. Current and long standing favorites-sushi,greek and lebanese food,a nicely cooked medium steak,lemongrass and chile noodles.mmm.i’m a fatty!

What this says about her: Yes, she likes food, and yes she’s chunky, but she doesn’t give a damn. Also, she loves lists.

Final Impression: Jenn has a wide interest in things, but I’m not sure that it includes finding love.

Rox_My_Sox_2009 – (Also bisexual. And scantily clad)

Description:

Hello there. I’m an easy-going gal who just loves to have a good time. I love partying with my friends and I’m always up for anything. I’m always willing to try new things because let’s face it. Life is too short. I can be shy around people I don’t know but once you get to know me, I’ll be the loudest and silliest person you know. I also love surprises. I guess it’s just that feeling of not knowing what’s going to happen and when it’s going to happen.

I’m a very honest person. If there’s something I don’t like, I will say it.

What this says about her: She’s not that into commitment. Let’s take a glance at what she’s looking for from OKCupid: ”New Friends and Short-Term Dating.” Yup, that about says it.

Favorites:

I love books, basically mystery books and books that I can relate to. As for movies, I love romantic-comedies, horror movies, and action movies. MUSIC IS MY LIFE! I love music, playing it and listening to it. I listen to mostly alternative/rock but occasionally I can get caught up in the pop scene. Food is also my life! I love eating and I’m always willing to try new foods. The only thing is, I’m not particularly fond of dairy products.

What this says about her: It’s very vague. No specifics, just genres. How is a person supposed to take her to a movie or concert if he doesn’t know what she’s into?

Final Impression: This one is a bit unpredictable. If you’re in it for love then you ain’t gonna’ get too far. (Thank you Hall and Oates.)

Sariswati – (Seriously, are all the women in the “Nerd” search bisexual?!)

Description:

i love all kinda silly things. usually i’m working on some silly performance art and yammering about nothing in particular

i also frequently nerd out on a new (or old) topic of interest which i then add to (or update in) the dillitente resume

oh and the more i think about it the more the the following has a lot to teach us all

“Well, art is art, isn’t it? Still, on the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west, and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce, they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now, uh… Now you tell me what you know.”

What this says about her: Great vocabulary.

Favorites:

A) authors: Chuck Palahnuik, David Sedaris, Leonard Shlain, Karen King, Salman Rushdie, Elaine Pagels, Timothy Freke & Peter Gandy, Isabelle Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, ok i’m totally blanking more names later…

B) Maya Deren, Marx Bros, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Bollywood, Superfreak! All About Eve, Sunset Boulevard, Philadelphia Story, *Auntie Mame*, The Call of Cthulhu, Two Women, Confessions of a Superhero, The Flower of My Secret, Southland Tales, The Tiger and the Snow, Unconscious

C) right now in my car i’ve got Rupa & the April Fishes, the new Madonna (and other Madonna albums, i’m totally a gay man trapped in a woman’s body), the new Atmosphere, the best mix CD of silly old school hip hop (think Parents Just Don’t Understand) that a friend made for me, Barry White, Dr Dre, various Ani, MIA, Mylanie Farmer, MC Solaar, Mika and Lady Gaga

D) i cook and i really like trying new things, so this is super hard to answer, but for you i’ll try: Thai, Indian, Balinese, Japanese, Korean, BBQ (it’s all about the sauce), homemade croissant & baklavah, anything can be good as long as it’s made with love though

E) TV – Freaks and Geeks, Simpsons, Futurama, Sopranos, In Living Color, Dante’s Cove, Venture Bros, Degrassi, Jacob Two Two

What this says about her: She’s got a wicked sense of humor, as well as a love for spanish-language novelists (I, too, share a love of Allende and G.G. Marquez). This girl is also unabeshedly enamoured of cartoons.

Final Impression: Hell, I might date her!

So-called “normal people” have the preconception that people who try online dating are a.) weird and b.) socially inept. They believe these things because a.) sometimes this is true and b.) well, sometimes this is true, too.

But it’s not all bad. Some people don’t like to go to bars, or parties, or friends’ weddings in order to meet people. And you can’t just date that really hot Paladin on WoW for too long before people start wondering if your girlfriend is really a G.I.R.L.

It’s getting close to Valentine’s day, so I bring you my impressions of some nerdy online dating profiles, provided by one of the best, in my opinion, places to meet people online: OKCupid.com. I will not post any pictures or personal information, just trying to give you a sense of these dudes that have turned to a website in order to find love.

(Keep in mind that it’s difficult to distill a person into a few paragraphs, but these guys have given me some pretty good ammo.)

Underclockeduse -

Description:

I am a professional computer nerd who likes searching for non computer related things to do when I get home from work. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don’t. I enjoy photography, a lot. Recently I have also taken to hunting around my apartment for things to spray paint. So far my trash can and recycle bin have fallen victim.

What this says about him: He’s really, really bored. And he likes photography and vandalism.

Favorite Books, Movies, and Music:

The Harry Potter Series, the discworld series, Ender’s Game, The Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy….

Star Wars, Back to the future, Comic book movies, Kevin Smith movies, The Shawshank Redemption, Fallen, Stranger Then Fiction, Ghostbusters,…

Green Day, The Beatles, Nirvana, and a bunch of other stuff. My taste is in flux right now but I will always like those three.

What this says about him: The guy is into fantasy and science fiction, but he also has a sense of humor and the depth of character to appreciate good films and music.

Final Impression: Sounds like a good guy with a steady job, and fairly laid back.

Kresnik_42 –

Description:

yO! How to describe my self… I’m that little circle peg that doesn’t quite fit into the square hole. I enjoy learning, studying, DOING, and tasting life as much as possible. I’m quick to lend my hand or experience to those in need – both friends and complete strangers. I really enjoy learning about other cultures, languages, their customs.. and of course their food – presented in traditional manner, NOT Americanized! I love to think and act spontaneous: I don’t like to be dull and into the same routine every day. I don’t do well with Über structure; I need space to breath! I love video games, I have a huge collection but I am NOT a gamer – figure that one out.

What this says about him: yO! Don’t try to label him, man, because you’ll never figure him out! He’s too quick for you losers.

Favorites:

Books: Bible, Hagakure, Musashi: Go Rin No Sho, Sun Tzu: The Art of War and engineering, do-it-your-self and science related non-fiction.

Movies: Ghostdog, Mortal Kombat I, The Matrix, Kevin Smith Series:Clerks, Dogma, etc.; Terminator Series, and anything with Jacky Chan, Jet Li or Sho Kosugi.

Music: Sound Tracks: Mortal Kombat, Metroid, The Crow, Pulp Fiction (I’m a proud nerd! ), Dino Merlin, Rammstein, My Dying Bride, High and Mighty Color, Billy Idol and The Offspring.

Food: Traditional Chinese – most American/Chinese is disgusting to me – Thai, Japanese, Mexican, Indian, Taiwanese, Italian, Bosnian and Subway.

What this says about him: He’s not into American stuff, you imbeciles. He’s into Rammstein and Billy Effin’ Idol. He’s hardcore, he’s cultured, he’s judgemental.

Final Impression: Wow, what a douche.

Marc_1979 -

Description:

I’m a total nerd and proud of it. I like videogames, movies, anime, and cars. I enjoy these things when I’m not slaving away at work or trying to catch up on the sleep I missed because I was up until 3am watching adult swim on cartoon network.

What this says about him: He’s sort of shiftless and lonely. But he’s not afraid to embrace nerd-dom.

Favorites:

a) the star wars new jedi order series, anne rice’s vampire books, Michael Crighton, Trying out Xanth series now but haven’t gotten hooked yet so its slow going

b) children of men, kiss kiss bang bang, V for vendetta, super troopers, the 5th element, 12 monkeys, the professional (leon), star wars, fight club, wasabi, azumi, the game, 300

c) gorillaz, korn, anime soundtracks, videogame soundtracks, smashing pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Modest Mouse, Queen, David Bowie, oasis, garbage, live, white stripes, rammstein

d) Pizza, random fast food (No Onions!!!), good steak, chicken alfredo, pop tarts, salad as long as its got french dressing, chicken teriyaki

What this says about him: He has nice breath and likes Bruce Willis. Not much of a reader, but can get into a book now and again.

Final Impression: Doesn’t appear too passionate about anything (apart from hating onions), but might be nice to hang out with and watch movies. Any dude that likes Super Troopers can’t be all bad.

Next Time: The Ladies.

I imagine that most Villaintech readers are a little too old to be trick-or-treating. Still, the allure of dressing up for Halloween never truly goes away, and there are still parties and office shenanigans to be had, right? I searched the Interwebz for some of the nerdiest costumes ever, and boy have I succeeded…

Since dressing up over the age of 14 is inherently nerdy anyway, I attempted to stay away from the uber-corny online store offerings. There are some truly hilarious homemade costumes out there, and the ones I am showcasing are conveniently divided into several categories, for your viewing enjoyment.

Gaming

Figured I would start with a little Lego dude that I picked up. Sure, the paint’s coming off in places, but that’s some real styrofoam craftsmanship! Even the hands are spot-on…

Aww, now this is a couple’s costume done right! Who wouldn’t want their spouse/girlfriend as a slave that they could keep in a tiny, chuckable ball that they can pocket whenever they don’t feel like listening to their incessant whining?

Now, I have seen a few impressive Half-Life headcrabs in my day, but this one is fantastic. He’s even got the jerky movements down.

L-Block FTW!

Mario World

It’s an early-Nintendo family! They’ve even got Link. Impressive.

It’s always cute when babies get in on the action.

Now, you often see Mario and Luigi running around at parties and such. But how often do you see the vastly underrated Wario and Waluigi?

Movies

I love lamp. And I love this Brick Tamland costume.

Don’t you just feel warm and fuzzy when you see this costume? Makes me wonder what other people at the party were thinking…not everyone has seen Dogma.

More kiddlywinkies. Altogether now…”Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.”

Another fairly successful group costume, though the lady on the far right is supposed to be Poison Ivy. She doesn’t even have red hair. Pshaw.

Miscellaneous

Ha! Haha! Hahahaha. Nice.

The late, great Bob Ross is a favorite of mine. Seriously random, yet seriously funny.

Gotta’ love the lap-over in spandex. Oh, and the boxing gloves.

…Tom Petty?

And now, my two favorite costumes that I came across (the Facebook page is a close third):

Tobias Funke: Never-nude. There are literally dozens of them!

Drumroll please?

Every 80′s girls’ dream boyfriend ever, Lloyd Dobbler. How long did it take to make those arms? haha.

Hope you enjoyed this little stroll through cyberspace, and maybe get a few ideas for your own costumes?

About the Author: Anna is a self-described nerd who enjoys movies, gaming, and writing for her favorite website, Villaintech. She is currently pursuing a degree in Editing.

Tonight is part one of the finale of my beloved “Project Runway.” Since the show is caught between Bravo and Lifetime (which would be its inevitable downfall), I figured I would take the time to highlight some of the more memorable, and nerdy, personalities to grace this excellent bit of reality television.

For those of you unfamiliar with the show, it concerns a selection of fashion designers who are brought to live and work at Parson’s School of Design in New York City. There, the contestants compete for a prize that usually consists of $100,000 to start a line, a car, and some kickass publicity. Their task is to fulfill each episode’s challenge; the winner gets a perk, the loser gets an “auf” from supermodel Heidi Klum.

But since this is Nerdology, my focus is going to be on what else? The nerds! I will be sampling a handful of the dorkier personalities; you might not agree with my choices. Feel free to comment and add to (or subtract from) the list! Don’t forget to say why.

Season One –

The season that started it all. Overnight, it seemed, everyone was abuzz about the little fashion show on Bravo. Combined with the dramatic set-up of the show, the tight time schedules, and the actual need for talented contestants, “Project Runway” was all about personalities.

Daniel Franco (Also seen in Season Two):

He was the first eliminated, because he couldn’t keep his game show host antics to a minimum. Bliss this, and bliss that. Oh, and he designed an ugly trash bag dress with an even uglier paper bag coat.

Starr Ilzhoefer:

Sad, sad Star. With her big Japanese schoolgirl eyes, Strawberry Shortcake fashion sense, and the infamous Tumor dress, she’s one contestant I’ll never forget.

Austin Scarlett:

Austin was a fan favorite of Season One. Some people might argue that he’s not a nerd at all, but rather a fashionable man-about-town. I say, any guy that isn’t afraid to sport that coiffeur has to be a tad on the geeky side.

Wendy Pepper:

She was like the evil scientist. The villain. The woman in superfluous rouge and Mimi Bobek blue eyeshadow. With thick glasses and a horrible penchant for frumpy clothing, it was a wonder how Wendy made it to the final three, let alone without having received a barrage of swirlies.

Season Two –

Following the success of the first season, Season Two had even more drama, and even more fun characters!

Daniel Franco:

For whatever reason, he was given a second chance. The audience soon discovered that he deserved to be there, if only for a little while, with his interesting use of fabrics. Daniel’s ultimate downfall was his inability to finish a garment in a timely manner (mostly due to the “Franco Shuffle”), and his sacrifice of himself during the Lingerie challenge. More than one heart melted for him that day.

Marla Duran:

Marla was like a mother. A mousy, frumpy little homemaker who didn’t have a fashion-forward bone in her frail little body.

Diana Eng:

Perhaps one of the nerdiest contestant in Project Runway history. She was the engineer who bred fashion with science, creating interesting outfits with splashes of technical design. I favored her because she found a way to blend her personality with her outfits: witty, fun, and scientific.

Season 3 –

This season was also great, though it is the beginning of the end in my opinion. This is when the show began losing its steam.

Kayne Gillespie:

Four words, “No.More.Wire.Hangers!”

Vincent Libretti:

Four more words, “It gets me awwwf.”

Angela Keslar:

This is the arts and craft fleurchon woman. You remember her? The one with the nutso hair and the little rosettes that she plastered on everything?

Season 4 –

An extremely boring season for me, and sorely lacking in personality. Two people stood out to me and fulfill the criteria for this list.

Chris March:

A big drag queen that used human hair in his final collection. He was a fun teddy bear of a guy, and definitely a little on the nerdy side.

Christian Siriano:

The ultimate winner of PR4, Christian would not be considered a nerd by many people. His appearance certainly fits the bill: a sassy little Bishi-boy with a skinny frame and thick glasses.

Season 5 –

What might be the final season for the show, though they are currently filming Season 6 in Los Angeles. However, it won’t be the same, especially if it makes its home of Lifetime, and loses some of its major players such as mentor Tim Gunn, or judges Nina Garcia and Michael Kors.

Wesley Nault:

If you read the Nerdology column regarding the nerd aesthetic being a current fashion trend, then Wesley was a perfect example of this style. He likes short pants and tall socks. Enough said.

Stella Zotis:

Dubbed by projectrungay “Cheroine,” Stella is a rocker chick who indulges in leather. While not exactly the typical nerd, she does have the standard Bronx accent and I-don’t-give-a-crap attitude that makes her memorable. I had to include her here because…well, I just couldn’t leave her off.

Leanne Marshall:

Aka Lianimal. This is the designer that just might win it all this season. A slight girl, the librarian type, with scraggly brown hair and an interesting use of fabric swatches known as “noodles,” she created a fantastic final collection that just might take her to the top. Most memorable moment? She was dressed in a “hip-hop” outfit and, of course, did a thuggish runway walk, complete with gangster symbols and swagger. Hilarious.

I love this show. Hopefully my predictions do not come true (well, other than Leanne conquering!) and the show continues to rock the runway.

This show helped launch the careers of so many people. It is a lasting, ever-replenishing resource, and has produced some of the nerdiest people to hit the small screen.

Throughout my young adulthood, “Saturday Night Live” reruns populated much of Comedy Central’s lineup. I became intimately acquainted with the series, most notably the casts from 1985 through about 1999, which featured some of the funniest people in America. As a tribute to this incredible show, I have collected a few of my favorite skits, which I will distinguish with a Nerdology rating of 1 – 5, one being the least nerdy. Don’t worry, this is merely a sampling and not nearly an indication of my love for the series, so enjoy!

“Baba Wawa” – 1976

Key Players – Gilda Rader, Madeline Kahn

Nerdology Factor – 3: Gilda was, and remains, my favorite female SNL cast member of all time. Her special, “Gilda Live,” is absolutely hilarious, and definitely worth a look. This segment is a testament to her genius because…she’s aping Barbara Walters. This was simply a breach of etiquette; newscasters were off-limits, especially in a time when Barbara would have cut a bitch. Oh, and it has Madeline Kahn, who was always awesome.

“Pat Sajak” – 1988

Key Players – Martin Short as Ed Grimley, a portrait of Pat Sajak

Nerdology Factor – 5: Ed Grimley, I must say, is one of the dorkiest characters to ever emerge from Saturday Night Live. But this is kind of a misnomer, because Martin actually created the character for the Canadian show SCTV. Whatever the case, this sketch aired on SNL, and features a skinny, pointy-haired dude obsessing over Pat Sajak. Can’t get much nerdier than that.

“Celebrity Jeopardy” – Mid 90s

Key Players – Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery, Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek

Nerdology Factor – 4: Continuing on with our theme of game shows, this series of sketches pits the ever-feisty Sean Connery against the perplexed and annoyed Mr. Trebek. It’s an epic rivalry.

“Massive Headwound Harry” – 1991

Key Players – Dana Carvey. Also featuring – Linda Hamilton, Kevin Nealon, Chris Farley, and Phil Hartman.

Nerdology Factor – 3: This skit, I think, is one of the most underrated of the entire SNL catalogue. No, it’s not particularly well-done, and there are definitely much nerdier selections from Dana Carvey’s collection (George HW Bush, Church Lady, Garth), but I remember seeing this skit for the first time and almost throwing up. That says something about how special this clip is.

Phil Hartman – 1986-1994

Nerdology Factor – 4: Gilda was my favorite female performer. Phil is my favorite male SNL castmember. He just had a way of making every character, no matter how mundane or “straight,” into something interesting. I think it was the voice and his inherent sardonic nature.

No, that video’s not from SNL. I couldn’t find any good skits featuring Phil (and trust me, there are plenty.) But he was also a great part of the show “Newsradio,” so enjoy.

“Neil Diamond” – 1995ish

Key Players – Will Farrell as Neil Diamond.

Nerdology Ranking – 2: There’s a soft spot in my heart for Neil. I wish I could find the original “Storytellers” skit, but alas I simply have this Gap Commercial. It’s still a testament to how accurately Will could portray Mr. Sweet Caroline.

“Chippendales Dancers”

Key Players – Chris Farley and Patrick “The Swayz” Swayze.

Nerdology Ranking – 5: This is a notorious sketch. People love it, and for good reason. Unlike “Bruce Dickinson Needs More Cowbell,” there’s no tagline. It’s not about the dialogue. It’s about the roly-poly determination of Chris Farley, the Swayziness of Patrick, and the rocking beats of Loverboy. That guy simply went the distance to make people laugh. And I will always remember watching the skit and laughing until I cried.

If you’re a socially inept individual seeking some escapism on a lonely Saturday night, you need look no further than the Sci-Fi channel. They have the remedy for your boredom, delivered in the form of low-budget rubbish. Watching one of these cinematic masterpieces is the equivalent of sucking down a whole packet of Pop Rocks; the fun doesn’t really begin until your tongue goes numb.

Sci-Fi originated as a modest channel on basic cable in the mid-nineties. It offered classic programming such as “Dark Shadows,” “Night Gallery,” and “Star Trek” marathons. The occasional movie was thrown in for good measure, but it wasn’t until 2002, when the channel formed its own filmmaking studio, that the content really took off.

The films, which usually have a budget between one and two million dollars, are purposefully horrid. Sci-Fi.com even states:

SCI FI’s Saturday movie franchise is the Channel’s homage to the classic popcorn feature, a re-imagination of cinema’s most delectable sci-fi treats.

That is what’s so awesome about these movies. Every single one I’ve watched, from Mansquito to Sabretooth to Sasquatch Mountain, doesn’t take itself too seriously. No one likes to watch a bad movie that thinks it’s a good movie. Give me gore and give me laughs, dammit.

Better still? These films tend to star the most unlikely, and awesome, people you could think of. We’re talking David Keith (or is it Keith David?), Judd Nelson (Eat my shorts), perennial horror favorite Jeffrey Combs, Mr. Lance Henrickson, miscellaneous Baldwins, and even the man himself, Bruce Campbell. I particularly enjoyed his double feature, Alien Apocalypse and The Man with the Screaming Brain, both of which Mr. Campbell directed. In Bulgaria. At the same time.

If you have any kind of sense of humor at all and are bored out of your mind, you might enjoy catching a Saturday night showing of a Sci-Fi Pictures Original. Or, if you’re like me, you might eagerly anticipate it.

SciFi.com just released the 2009 line-up, which you can view here. Some notable additions:

Hellhounds – Hades and his hellhounds thwart a hero’s journey to the underworld to bring a princess back to life. Directed by Rick Schroeder (NYPD Blue). HAHAHA!

Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon – Stars Shannen Effin’ Doherty. Say no more.

The Immortal Voyage of Captain Drake – A group of pirates are bribed and blackmailed into searching for a mythical cure for a sultan’s dying son. Stars Highlander‘s Adrian Paul. Yes, you read that correctly.

Lake Placid 3 – ‘Cuz the original needed one sequel, let alone two.

Malibu Shark Attack – Stars Peta Wilson, you know, La Femme Nikita. My only question is, is this a prequel to the stunning piece de resistance, Shark Attack 3: Megalodon?

In this installment, I would like to recognize a few authors whom I feel have made outstanding contributions to the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy literature, yet are not considered among the very best. We’re not talking “Dungeons and Dragons” stuff here, folks.

I was inspired to write this post after perusing several lists regarding top Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels and finding very few female authors among them. Understandably, my haunches were raised, and my rabid feminism bubbled to the surface. What followed that immediate reaction was the sudden realization that, while there are more female writers in these genres than indicated by the lists, they simply have not, for whatever reason, produced great works as to rival the likes of Brave New World or 1984.

Sadly, this post would be mainly comprised of male writers had I not struggled to the contrary. However, there are a few female writers whose works have been recognized as, while perhaps not literary masterpieces, extremely worthy of mention in their own rights.

George. R. R. Martin –

The obvious choice for a Nerd Hero would be J. R. R. Tolkien. Well, I have decided to circumvent this option and shoot for, what I feel, is the author of the better series. Please don’t cry blasphemy. I am a fan of “Lord of the Rings,” just as well as anybody else. But the readability of the series is low; the stories are so dry. Yes, the man loved description and wasn’t afraid to include pages upon pages of it.

George succeeds in his ability to provide much more subtle description and maintain the readers’ interests. More importantly, twists, turns, plots, and subplots that interconnect into a web of intrigue define Mr. Martin’s work. He has fleshy characters, some of whom are admirable, others whose necks deserve to be wrung. It is not so easy to distinguish good from evil; nothing in the series “A Song of Fire and Ice” is spelled out for the reader. It is left for them to decide who is truly worthy of victory. At first I wasn’t a believer, but once I started in on A Game of Thrones, I started to understand just how good the book is: it’s a perfect blend of historical fiction, action, and fantasy.

J.K. Rowling –

She is not an extraordinary writer. Her prose is simplistic, her pacing uneven. Much of her subject matter is juvenile to say the least. For these reasons, she is often left off of the tops lists in Fantasy writing. Yet Ms. Rowling has a vast imagination, and that is one very important aspect of the genre. She has created a realm of magic and creatures, spells and mischief, good and evil. And she gets major points for the sheer financial success of her franchise. Hardcore nerds may claim that she rips off this series or that, but does it really matter? People forget that the “Harry Potter” series is aimed at shildren, and has captured the hearts and minds of kids everywhere; adults have just happened to latch onto it, as well. Read the fan fiction some time…I dare you.

Frank Herbert –

He must be included for developing one of the most imaginative science fiction chronicles ever written. Many people may disagree with me on that, but his gritty masterwork, Dune, is a major achievement. The desolate landscapes, rampant drug abuse, and ruthless characters elevate the novel from the standard droll of most sci-fi and fantasy.

Robin Hobb –

I’m trying to be objective and provide acceptabe counterpoints to what could easily be a male-dominated list. So I did my homework. Though I have not read her work, she came about on my search for prevalent female authors. Fantasy fans continuously mentioned her name as the leading female writer of the genre. Robin Hobb is actually the pen name of novelist Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden, and her most famous works include: “The Farseer Trilogy,” “Liveship Traders Trilogy,” and “The Tawny Man.” Apparently all three are based in the same realm, and promise action, intrigue, and interesting characters.

This is such a slight list. I could write forever, especially on the works of Robert Heinlein, Philip K. Dick, Gene Roddenberry, and Douglas Adams and their influences on nerd culture. Maybe for another post…

This series of articles will be dedicated to champions of nerd-dom: people whose achievements in pop culture, literature, film, or simply life, have deemed them a Nerd Hero. Today, I celebrate John Hughes, master of the nerd protagonist, and an all around reminder of the good times of the 80s.

A triple threat writer, producer, and director of some of the biggest hits of the 1980s, John Hughes is perhaps most well-known for familiarizing the public with the plight of teenagers and their overabundance of angst. He created characters with hearts and souls, and yes, many times, glasses and acne. By putting vulnerable characters in the spotlight for once and not as merely comic relief, he developed movies that many people could relate to, not just the rich and beautiful.

Allow me to highlight some particularly fine achievements:

National Lampoon’s Vacation – Aside from Mr. Mom, this was one of his first successful screenplays. It is the epic tale of a nearly dysfunctional family and their fun-filled family trip to Wally World. By extension, I am awarding Anthony Michael Hall with the title of Nerd Sidekick; it was his harmless physique and metal mouth that helped secure Hughes’ place as a true Hero. This movie is the introduction of AMH as Rusty, teenaged boy extraordinaire. The squeaky-voiced, lanky-framed thespian would go on to appear in…

Sixteen Candles – While I wouldn’t necessarily call Samantha a “nerd,” she certainly does not fit in. But the scenery in this film is littered with social outcasts, from the aforementioned appearance of Farmer Ted, the panty-thieving geek, a random girl (played by Joan Cusack) in a rather inhibiting back brace, and, of course, the extremely misunderstood Long Duk Dong.

The Breakfast Club – In my opinion, this is the greatest teen flick of all time. But that’s not what is relevant here. It is truly an accurate portrayal of one young man, The Brain, as a nerd with complexities reaching far beyond chewing his pen out of nervous frustration of being trapped in detention. His heartbreaking revelation that he brought a loaded gun to school, albeit a flare, is one that feels genuine even today.

Weird Science – While I’m not particularly fond of this film, it is a shining example of what two utterly brilliant teenagers might do if given the right formula. And by formula, I mean a hot cyber chick.

Pretty In Pink – Duckie. Every nerd girl’s fantasy man. Why on earth Andie would give up that darling piece for Blain (sounds like a major appliance, not a name!) is beyond me.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Ferris is no nerd. He’s down with the sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies – they all adore him. They think he’s a righteous dude. The real nerd is Cameron, the wingman, the guy who always doubts the situation because, well, he has a bit of sense. But things turn out alright in the end for Cameron, because John Hughes, above all things, takes care of his nerds.

*This is not a definitive list of Mr. Hughes’ works, by far. For another excellent piece of teen cinema, might I suggest the highly under appreciated Some Kind of Wonderful, starring a young Eric Stoltz and Mary Stuart Masterson. No real nerdiness in the film; I just like it.

A sign of maturity is when one no longer finds boxes with half-eaten pizzas under their beds. Yes, pizza is awesome and tastes good and is easy to feed a group of raving gamers, but I have assembled a few recipes that just might impress your friends more than day old fare.

Mac and Cheese

The Blue Box may be tempting, but chances are it will take a few of them to really meet the appetites of hungry guests. Why not try this recipe for Pastitsio, a greek version of the old favorite. With thick, cheesy sauce, sauteed lamb and beef, and fresh tomatoes, this dish is delicious and filling.

A Big Mac or Whopper and Fries

In a pinch, running late to a Rush concert, this might do the trick. But for a more satisfying burger, try a Chedder Burger with Balsamic Ketchup and Carmelized Onions. Yum.

Pizza

Okay, even your friends might think a pizza-making party is lame. Well, it’s not. It’s easy and not time-consuming; they’ll still have plenty of time to raid in WoW.

Grilled Pizza with Spicy Italian Sausage: Three cheeses. Small and easy-to-manage. Grilled. How easy (and tasty) can it get?

Pizza Arizona: Southwest take on the old favorite. Also an easy base for experimenting with different kinds of beans, salsa, cheese, and meat.

Dessert

Everyone could sit around and eat Ding Dongs or cheetos. Or you could incorporate every hardcore nerd’s favorite beer into the mix. Guiness Cake!

Mountain Dew

I’ll admit that this is a great way to stay awake. And it tastes pretty good, too. But for a real kick, try Bawls G33k B33r. With far more caffeine, and a root beer flavor (!), you can enjoy this drink at any LAN party.

I’m not discouraging you from eating your favorite foods. Nor am I trying to push you into the kitchen for a marathon cooking round. I’m simply providing some fun, delicious alternatives to the everyday, mundane foods that you may be consuming.

Thanks to a friend and a fellow blogger from down under, I became aware of an article concerning management companies and their struggles to shrink once hunky models down to gawky, gangly beanpoles. The reason? To capture an elusive look that many publications and designers are striving to achieve; the nerdy look.

I was a little taken aback by the article at first. Most magazines still feature tall, angular men with ripped abdomens, carelessly tousled hair, and pouty lips. However, mixed in the pages upon pages of useless advertisement, one may come across the rare individual who stands out. They are usually still hunky models, but the beefiness has been erased, leaving behind scrawny, sad looking men who are willing to bend and break themselves to fit whatever their employer demands of them. It’s almost as if they’re working under the same conditions as female models.

Whatever the case, the outcome is nearly always artificial; it’s as if the advertisers don’t have an actual clue about nerd culture. This article is my feeble attempt to categorize it for them, and for anyone else who needs to be enlightened on a few nerdy fashions.

The Classic
This is perhaps one of the longest running trends, dating back to the 1950s, and it is easily spotted. Men who fall into this category are often programming professors, accountants, and can be found in most offices in general. It is comprised of a white button-down shirt of a cheap, flimsy material (often worn over a white t-shirt), a thin, black tie, horn-rimmed glasses, and a lined pocket filled with an assortment of capped pens and calculators. The look alone begs for a wedgie.

Conversely, the female version of this aesthetic is The Librarian. While still maintaining similar elements, such as the assortment of writing materials and horn-rims, the Librarian also contains the unfortunate addition of frumpiness. Often the hair is bushy, unruly, or unkempt, the woman is adorned with a slumping shawl or sweater, and she basically has the appearance of someone who owns more than a few cats.

The Natural
While what the specimen is wearing bears some insight as to whether they will fit into this category, the Natural simply, and effortlessly, exudes nerdiness. It could be genetics, it could be environment, but nerds in this category are inescapably stuck there. This can be attributed to body type, part of which the fashion industry is determined to replicate. The Natural nerd can be extremely thin (with very little muscle mass), or they can be on the obese side (also with very little muscle mass). This type of nerd carries a healthy wet sheen: a nervous sweat as they attempt to navigate the halls of high school, or merely leftover from a rigorous round of D&D.

Geek Chic
This can be defined as the exact opposite of the previous category because the entire look is contrived, a reflection of what an outsider believes the actual culture to represent. Geek Chic is a product of those obsessed with pop culture and a fashion industry that answers to it. An entire section of the hideous retail chain Hot Topic caters to consumers who enjoy Tim Burton and headbands.

It is not uncommon of someone attempting this look to be extremely attractive by normal standards. They make an effort to nerdify themselves by wearing thick glasses (with or without prescriptions), t-shirts with Nintendo or Monty Python references, and a good pair of newly purchased Chuck Taylors. Some may even wear suspenders for that extra splash of irony. One important thing to remember is that this look is a fabrication; they spend way too much time on their appearance to be considered actual nerds. You may think I’m being a little hard on people who dress this way, and perhaps I am. There’s a different take that you can read about here.

It’s too bad that this new trend in fashion is just that, a trend; I prefer seeing people attempting to be nerds in magazines over the glamourously unattainable. And it’s also a shame that models have to starve themselves in order to achieve either appearance. I suppose I’ll never understand how this stuff works, but I certainly have made an effort. Trust me, I’ve seen all ten seasons of America’s Next Top Model.

Some people give me the sympathy face when I tell them that I’m kind of a nerd. You know the look; lips pinched, eyebrows knitted together in feigned concern.

“But Anna,” they say in their sugary-sweet voices, “why would you want to be called that? It’s so…ick.”

I know what they’re thinking and why they might want to rescue me from such a label. They imagine poor hygiene, extra large craniums, a Japanese comic in one hand and a collection of Star Wars action figures in the other. It is difficult, however, to convince said people that being a nerd is not necessarily a bad thing; in fact, I consider it a state of mind that deserves to be embraced.

In Mike Judge’s film, Idiocracy, the world’s gene pool has become so clogged by moronic genetic material that people with normal brain function are considered freaks. Those with what would presently be considered a higher level of intelligence are extinct. While the movie is hilarious, I can’t help but think that there is some level of truth lingering beneath its comedic surface. Though it’s true that nerds are not as harshly condemned as they once were, they still are not considered breeders. If they are, it is usually by others in the same situation, or extremely attractive people with nerd fetishes, but we’ll cover those people at a later time.

So what does it mean to be a nerd? We throw this word around to describe almost anyone who differs from the normal American sports-and-fashion-worshipping gender division. Many feel that the ostracism begins in high school, and I tend to agree. Teenagers recognize their differences and employ them as means of determining their best matches in order to make friends. This is known as the Lunch-Table Phenomenon.

A person who is relegated to a certain lunch table with their fellow nerds can be defined as one whose IQ outweighs their body mass. In the event of a nerd of considerable size, a more apt description is one who devotes their lives to the accumulation of knowledge, sometimes entirely in one subject area. The first example that comes to mind is computers, but this can also apply to anything from board games to film to the endless pursuit of historical artifacts. That’s right fanboys; Indiana Jones was a nerd.

It is because of this thirst for knowledge that nerds sometimes acquire a bad rap. Most simply neglect, or are deficient in, the social skills necessary to mingle with those whose focus has taken on a different direction. However, a movement has formed to enlighten the culture about the essential contributions of nerds. Hell, you wouldn’t even been reading this blog right now if it weren’t for the development of the Internet by, you guessed it, a rampant nerd.

Chances are, since you’re reading a blog in the first place, you are probably a nerd yourself. Don’t fight it. I am not ashamed to admit my nerdliness, even to those giving me the anti-nerd sympathy face; I’m not in high school any more. I don’t need to be cool.