Small Fish, Big Pond

Kat Hannaford at Gizmodo wants to take the words Geek and Nerd back.

I agree, everybody who uses a computer claims to be a Geek now which is a bit tiresome since most are just morons trying to not to be morons (but hey at least they’re trying). So here’s the definition I’ve been going by for the last few years on what is a geek and what is a nerd.

Nerd = Somebody who goes to Star Trek conventions in full Klingon regalia and/or Spock Ears. May also be a WoW addict or other shut-in. Japanophile versions refer to themselves as “Otaku” thinking it’s a compliment or Japanese for “Geek” (see below).

Geek = Somebody who goes to E3 and tech conventions. Builds computers for nerds and morons. May also program their own apps and software. Usually pompous and feign exasperation when asked to help fix computers although it’s what they live for.

Moron = Person who thinks the internet was invented sometime around 2000 by Google. Refers to a computer tower as the “Hard Drive”. May be a Facebook or twitter addict but simple html is a foreign concept. May own an iPhone or other smartphone but only because it’s trendy, they need a geek to help them get it working.

Kat’s post was inspired by a story that David Anderegg a professor at Bennington College says that the words Nerd and Geek should be avoided saying that they’re akin to racial epithets.

I couldn’t disagree with him more, for one thing it’s not that big of a deal, I mean saying that nerd is on par with the n-bomb?! Even in the 80’s when being a nerd guaranteed an atomic wedgie or a beating by jocks it wasn’t as bad as spewing racial hatred.

I’d equally consider myself Nerd, Geek, and Moron depending on the situation and circumstance (although I aim for Geek). I don’t think that the problem is in calling a person a nerd, I think the problem is in thinking that that person is ONLY a nerd.

Maybe if we took the time to get to know them a bit more we’d see that’s just one facet of who they are, and maybe even learn why being a nerd, dressing up and going to a sci-fi conventions isn’t always a bad thing.

This Australian Toyota commercial pushes the limits of sexual innuendo. Apparently too far, alot of people want it removed. I can see why people object, I’m frankly amazed it got this far (although I’m sued to the US’s much more sexually repressed* ideals).

Doesn’t make it any less funny though.

Toyota “She can take a good pounding in any direction” ad at “The Age”.

*US objects to sex but seems to lead he world in gratuitous violence in media.

I am the original DJ Hero

Currently only 5 episodes and here’s hoping that all episodes are put on hulu in the future.

It’s hard and expensive getting all the Rhino releases… Assuming you don’t resort to torrents.
Space mutiny is my personal favorite. The hero “Big McLargehuge” keeps screaming like a girl for no apparent reason.

And remember December 16th Rifftrax is live in theaters for Christmas Shorts-fest, I already have the day off.

Thanks to giz.

Quote of the day:

I used to make fun of the Green Lantern for being vulnerable to the color yellow. Then I choked on my orange juice one morning and nearly suffocated.

…

*sigh*

BTW I’m wearing my Quantz failure shirt today. I like his comic so much I should permanently add a link to it and boost his google rank by an infinitesimally small amount.

I always get tons of comments from people while wearing his shirts.

Pink Tentacle(via Gizmodo) has an awesome old set of magazine illustrations from Japan predicting what life would be like in the future.

I love this kind of stuff because it’s always so overblown, like the Jetsons which aired in 1962 and takes place in 2062.

2062 seriously?!

Anyway these 1969 images (of life in 1989) from Japan are even better because the majority of the predictions have actually come true (roombas, personal computers, laptops, computers in the classroom, telecommuting, remote surgery). There may not be 1960’s styling but this guy basically saw what life would be like us today (minus the flying car); technically he was 20 years off but still pretty good considering that “computers” in his day took up an entire room, and by “computers” I mean big calculators.

Be sure to check out all three images broken down on the site.

Thank You Mario!

Just a reminder, since I forgot and just now barely remembered; the day after tomorrow is the live broadcast of Rifftrax doing “Plan 9 from Outerspace”
Get your tickets for your local theater now.

If you don’t know what Rifftrax is: It’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 except they’re doing it now with current big budget movies, not old episodes from the 90’s with B movies that are out of copyright. And it’s the same cast of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett (Mike, Tom, and Crow). Head over to the Rifftrax link above to get a feel for it. The Empire Strikes Back riff was one of the best!

If you’ve never heard of Rifftrax or MST3K I pity you. The good thing is that you have tons of hilarious entertainment to catch up on now.

Also if you’ve never heard of either and you’re about to skip to another webpage take this opportunity to go out and see Plan 9 from Outerspace, widely regarded as the worst movie ever. Not only is this a chance to see it on the big screen, it a chance to see it made fun of by people who have been doing this for nearly two decades.
What better way to spend a Thursday night? (I mean for those of us who are single)

Watching some leftover Japanese programs reminded me of this clip. Mari Yaguchi is cute/funny with her reactions in it but I really want this game to come overseas. It looks hilarious; an entire generation of 8-bit gamers over here love the old games, seeing something new that has the 8-bit feel with a bit of comedy would be great.

No embed for this youtube, links only, click the picture.

This show is probably the best entertainment put to screen. US, Japan, I don’t care where; nothing beats it.
However it’s a PITA to find copies of it. I guess people in Japan can stream the show on demand, good for them, but the rest of the world is missing out on all the greatness. By the way there are some interesting things you can do with computers nowdays.

Satoda Mai and the FUJIWARA duo are the only people I’m rooting for here; and seriously what’s up with the Animals? They always have interesting missions, but this is just weird.

Half the fun of this show is watching TARANTO run thorough places I visited when I was in Japan. Although I remember Ameyoko being shoulder to shoulder with people buying produce and meat. I always wonder how they get famous places like that so empty, the bit at the end of the show mentions the cooperation with the local police for safety and permission to shoot but I think they’re shooting in the early morning since Tokyo buisness doesn’t seem to “wake up” until about 9am. That also explains why most of the people in the background are delivery men, and a few early birds in suits aren’t showing up until the end of the show.

What a let down!

I was watching the Hexagon 3 hour special tonight when my minimal Japanese heard the part that there was an audition online for people to be on the show!! But I missed the part that it’s just for the creation of a musical group, which became quite clear when I started reading the submission forms (the “demo tape” and “lyrics” tipped me off). Although I wouldn’t mind dancing onstage with Satoda Mai; the new music video is hot!

Skip 4 minutes in, Akina’s song is lame (I don’t like her… or gay pirates).

Just as well I guess, I can only guess three or four answers per episode due to poor translation abilities so I get the feeling if they had one of their 50 question tests I’d fail miserably. Too bad though, that show looks like a blast!

But what is Suzanne doing Kinoshita’s dress in the background… Besides fulfilling my fantasies?
Sorry, no video. Boycott youtube and find a copy of the “Quiz! Hexagon II – 09.13.06″ three hour special online to see for yourself.

And after watching that show I always have that “Ganbare Nippon” song in my head.

EDIT:
Sorry, I forgot Youtube sucked. Here’s an entertaining clip from the spring special via Veoh.

Watch hexagonâÂ�¡ super quiz parade miyakojima gasshuku 3hour special woman limitation dokkiri in Celebrity & Showbiz  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Wooooooo Hoooooo!!!!!
Futurama is coming back for 26 new episodes next year!

Ever since Family Guy was revived by DVD sales (why!!!) I’ve been chipping in to get Futurama back on. I did my part getting all the episodes and movies, do you part now: Futurama Movies Collection
It’s well worth it.

I’m not sure if it’s because they had Al gore in it but all 4 movies were made carbon neutral too. Hence the weird cases.

I have a range of online cartoons I scan through regularly, this is a fun one to check out.
It’s Garfield comics with all the Garfield removed. They’re usually quite surreal, often bizarre, and always funnier than the original.
Check it out: garfieldminusgarfield.net

Social comment, that.

tags: comics,, unique