Article by: Hunter Etherington

This week I will be describing the processes I used to distress and stain the shield. This portion of the project has actually spanned two weeks but can be done in one. The reason it took more time for me is because I forgot how long it takes to stain wood. Once again the materials needed are very easy to get a hold of.

Materials:

• indoor wood stain (Ebony)
• paper towel

Tools:

• sander
• wire brush
• chisel or multicrafter (oscillating blade tool)
• paint brush

I really wanted to achieve an authentic look to the shield and to do that I had to distress it. I first attached a wire brush to an electric drill and went over most of the shield with it. In some spots I used pressure to create more texture. From there I wanted to replicate the appearance of a weapon strike. To do that I used a Multicrafter with an oscillating blade and started taking out chunks of wood.

From there I went on to staining; this is where I misjudged my time. If you haven’t done any staining, it’s a pretty simple process. The first step is to apply an even coat across the entire surface. Once that is done you have to wait for 10 to 15 minutes and then use paper towels to wipe off the excess. After it’s wiped off, it will take 4 to 6 hours to fully dry. While it’s drying it’s okay to flip it over and do the other side. Just use gloves or a paper towel to flip it and place it on a raised surface like a paint can. Repeat the steps on the back side and leave it to dry. When you come back, check if it’s as dark as you would like, if not add another coat. Repeat until you achieve the desired color. I only needed two coats and it turned out really well.

Next week I am going to paint the main yellow color and the emblem onto the front of the shield. If you need any directions clarified or have any other questions just leave a comment and I will answer you.

A few days ago I met up with an old friend of mine. Since I’m your standard Polack from Cleveland, Ohio we naturally chatted over a few pints of beer at one of my favorite bars. As the conversation drew on we wandered from topic to topic until we landed on how excited I was to see Beauty and The Beast in 3D.

“Typical,” he muttered under a soft chuckle, “a girl whose heroes are Disney princesses…”. As his sentence faded into a fresh sip of beer I found myself aggressively denying his accusation. How could he possibly think a Girl Among Geeks could find any real inspiration from a Disney character?

Our actual heroes? Well… they pack a bit more punch.

As I explained to my bud, it’s not that I don’t appreciate a good Disney movie. In fact, as a child of the late 80s/early 90s I grew up during the heyday of the Disney musical. I knew every word to every song, and in my more tender years I would dance and sing around my house pretending I was a beautiful princess.

However, over the years I have come to see that while Ariel and Belle may be strong protagonists, they are by no means formidable role models for young girls.

At this point in the conversation my friend and I ordered another round and began to go back and forth naming Disney princesses that, while generally headstrong and each possessing unique character traits, all eventually made decisions that in real life would be the foundation for a typical Lifetime movie.

Ariel is willing to undergo life altering permanent physical changes and agrees to give up her family and voice (aka her greatest talent and joy) to go after a man she’s never even spoken to. Jasmine is treated as a commodity by her father, is easily duped by the men around her, and has no true power besides her sexuality to impact any change on those who control her future. And Belle, the very princess I was dying to see in 3D, is a victim of Stockholm syndrome who falls for her emotionally and physically abusive captor.

I’ll spare you the remainder of the list that continued to grow. Essentially we discussed that every Disney princess is an example of how Hollywood and society in general has valiantly attempted to teach girls two things. First, that they can and should vibrantly be their own person, and second, that they will never be complete without the approval of their neighbors and a man, the latter of which must be won over at any cost so that he can swoop in and save them from their lives, making it so they never again have to be the strong individuals that made them unique in the first place.

It’s fairly depressing when you sit down and think about it. Especially when one realizes that many young girls view these beautifully drawn characters in fantastic far off places living heightened lives, and naturally want to be them. They may not be the heroes that we want our young girls looking up to, but unfortunately they are the heroes that we give them first access to, and sadly for many they seem to be ones that stick.

Eventually my friend and I let the conversation move on. We finished our drinks and went our separate ways. As I drove home, though, I found my mind wandering back to the princess portion of the night and my wheels started turning. Yes, I was one of the girls that started out worshiping Disney princesses, but at some point I ditched those role models and grew into new heroes. But who were my Girl Among Geek heroes? And what does that say about myself and my comrades?

The fact is that most every individual needs role models to look up to. Naturally we all have family members, friends, and historical figures that can fill these roles, but many of us also look to fictional characters as examples of the people we long to be but don’t necessarily see in our day-to-day. In general, this goes double for the geekier members of society that tend to spend their younger years standing on the fringes. We grew up saturating ourselves with pop culture references, so it only stands to reason that the characters that we most identify with come from TV, film, and comics.

For Girls Among Geeks, finding strong female characters is of vital importance. If we don’t want our lives to be exercises in changing who we are to appease those around us we need to find examples of women who refuse to compromise their character to be our beacons. Our heroines need to be intelligent, quick-witted, physically capable, enigmatic individuals who can stand up to the most daunting of opponents and not bat an eye. In short, they need to be truly badass.

This is where characters like Sarah Connor from the Terminator series come in. She’s a rough and tumble woman who is literally taking on other worldly creations in order to protect her child. She is physically impressive despite her size, and she regularly shows that she can outwit her competitors in a brilliant illustration of how one can utilize all of her strengths to defeat the toughest of foes.

Which leads me to the iconic Star Wars heroine Princess Leia. Like Sarah Connor she is a fighter, and both women refuse to compromise their missions for anyone or any reason. Over the course of three movies she proves a warrior, a military strategist, and overall an amazing leader. However, we do get to see her softer side when she mourns the loss of her home planet and gradually falls for Han Solo, which has proven to many young girls that one doesn’t have to ignore their emotions in order to be a true badass.

Not that Girls Among Geeks need those pesky emotions at all. Catwoman aka Selina Kyle requires neither an excess of feelings or morals to be one of my role models. True, she breaks the law on a very regular basis with little to no concern for the effect it will have on others. She is undoubtedly a villain. Despite that, though, she is a beautifully complex woman that is rarely found in the male-oriented comic world. When one removes her illegal activities from her character traits, she still stands as a fit, intelligent, crafty individual whose feminine wiles are developed enough to capture a piece of Batman’s heart, even if she will never do anything more than toy with it.

And then there’s Buffy. The iconic Vampire Slayer may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I can tell you that for myself and many of my friends Joss Whedon’s most iconic character is a perfect example of how a strong young woman can grow out of a literally hellacious childhood. Over the course of seven seasons we see Buffy juggle the same growing pains that many young girls will experience (i.e. dealing with relationship woes, friendship drama, and the difficulty of fitting in) with the responsibility of being chosen to defend her town, and more than once the world itself, from utter destruction. She combines all the common traits that the previous women did with a tenderness that is highly identifiable for young women, making her resilient strength all the easier to identify with and therefore seem more reachable for those that look up to her.

These vividly-drawn dynamic women are my fictional heroes. Unlike the Disney princesses that possess individuality but are willing to compromise it for the approval of others, my role models are definitively who they are at all times. In the face of adversity they neither shrink away nor bend their character. Growing up as a Girl Among Geeks I needed role models that aren’t afraid to be their true selves regardless of the circumstances to help me to feel more comfortable being the same. I’m truly grateful for how they have shaped me.

So, my fellow Girls Among Geeks, who are your fictional heroes? And how have they helped to shape who you have become?

Alpha Brain is a dietary supplement from Onnit Labs. Here’s how the company describes their product:

The idea behind the Alpha Brain dietary supplement was to create the first ever fully balanced nootropic. GPC choline and Huperzia Serrata maximize acetylcholine levels while other ingredients assist in elevating dopamine and GABA levels, crucial components to remaining calm, focused, and mentally driven. Our vinpocetine assists in delivering oxygen and nutrients to the brain via increased blood flow, and the combination of neuro-specific antioxidants, led by our proprietary AC-11® helps to clear away mental fog and reduce free radical burden. The result experienced by many of our satisfied customers is an extraordinary combination of lucid dreams, mental drive, focus, memory, and mental acuity.

As someone still feeling the aftereffects of a 2-year battle with vertigo (the condition, not the Batman villain), I was very curious to try out a product that promised some mental clarity. Onnit Labs was kind enough to send me a 30-capsule bottle to take on a trial basis so I could report my results.

I should also note that I’m straight-edge, meaning that I’ve never taken alcohol, tobacco, or recreational drugs. The reason Alpha Brain looked safe to me is that it’s an all-natural supplement and the ingredients are all water-soluble, so if any side effects surfaced they would soon wash out of my body.

These are the instructions for usage according to the Alpha Brain bottle label:

Suggested Use: For enhanced mental performance take 1 capsule in the morning with food. Depending on body size and tolerance you may increase this dosage to a maximum of 3 capsules. For enhanced dream state, take 1-2 capsules 6 hours prior to sleep. Do not exceed 3 capsules in any 24 hour period unless otherwise directed by a physician.

With only a 30 capsule supply and knowing that a body can take some time to adapt to a new supplement, I opted to use the following schedule:

• 1 capsule daily with breakfast for about the first three weeks
• if no effects are noticed in that time, increase to 2 capsules daily with breakfast for 3 days
• on the last day take no capsules in the morning, but two in the evening in hopes of encouraging lucid dreams

I proceeded with the planned schedule and these are my findings:

• Week 1: no effects noticed, no negative side effects
• Week 2: a less foggy mind when waking up the following morning, no negative side effects
• Week 3: a less foggy mind when waking up the following morning (same level as Week 2), no negative side effects
• After increase to 2 capsules daily: a less foggy mind when waking up the following morning (same level as Week 2), no negative side effects
• After evening dosage: no change in sleep, no negative side effects

Conclusion: After taking Alpha Brain for the roughly 3 weeks that I did, the only benefit I received was waking up with a slightly clearer mind. I didn’t notice any lasting effects throughout the day, even after increasing to 2 capsules in the morning. Taking capsules at night lead to no change in my quality of sleep. I’ve read other reviews where people felt positive effects after increasing their dosage to 3 capsules in the morning and 2 later in the day, thus surpassing the recommended dosages. I was not willing to attempt this. I also didn’t feel it beneficial to increase my dosage to the maximum 3 capsules a day, as that would make a 30-capsule bottle last only 10 days. At a price of $34.95 for a bottle of this size, you’d have to shell out a ridiculous amount of money for the month, not to mention the year. While Alpha Brain didn’t live up to my hopes, I’m happy to report that there were never any negative side effects either, so if you’re curious to try it out for yourself you can get it at the Onnit Labs online store.

Source: DC Universe: The Source

DC Entertainment, home of the world’s greatest super heroes, has unveiled an unprecedented giving campaign to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. This multi-million-dollar commitment over the next two years will be supported across all Warner Bros. Entertainment’s and Time Warner’s businesses and feature DC Entertainment’s iconic Justice League characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, issuing the call to action, “We Can Be Heroes.”

We Can Be Heroes will support the efforts of three humanitarian aid organizations working in Africa—Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps—as part of the global effort to fight the current hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. The region is suffering its worst drought and famine in over 60 years, with 13 million in need of critical assistance and 250,000 facing starvation in Somalia alone. Each partner organization was chosen for its track record of effective and expeditious humanitarian aid efforts in Africa.

We Can Be Heroes will be supported via promotional exposure across all of Time Warner’s divisional advertising platforms (Warner Bros., Turner Broadcasting, Time Inc., HBO), generating millions of consumer impressions and creating crucially needed awareness of this crisis worldwide. Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps will equally share a corporate donation of at least $2 million over the next two years comprised of cash donations, employee matching funds and consumer matching funds.

“Warner Bros. has a long history of corporate philanthropy and outreach, and this campaign proudly continues that tradition,” said Meyer. “We are a global company, and this is a global issue. By marshalling our expertise in consumer and fan engagement and creating global awareness, we hope we’re able to inspire others to join us in becoming ‘heroes’ and make a difference in the Horn of Africa.”

The Justice League characters were chosen by DC Entertainment both for their global recognition as well as their demonstration of strength in unity and numbers. The campaign’s graphic identifier features the iconic Justice League characters—Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg—outlined in silhouette against the African continent. Each of these characters is a super hero in his or her own right, but when they band together as the Justice League, they become an unstoppable force for good and right in the universe—a key message of the We Can Be Heroes campaign. While many individuals may feel powerless to effect change on their own, as part of a global campaign such as this, their efforts, combined with those of other donors, can create a world of change.

A key launch element of We Can Be Heroes is the campaign’s website, www.WeCanBeHeroes.org. Here, consumers can make donations which DC Entertainment will match 100 percent (up to $1 million in donations), purchase specially branded merchandise, with 50 percent of the purchase price going to fight the hunger crisis via We Can Be Heroes, sign up for newsletters and updates, and join the We Can Be Heroes online community. The site will also feature information on each of the partner organizations and updates on current conditions in the Horn of Africa.

“This campaign goes straight to the heart of our core competency, as Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment both have a rich legacy of telling socially relevant, compelling stories with characters embraced by global audiences,” said Robinov. “The fact that we’re able to take what we do and use it to raise awareness—and inspire action—around a cause as important as this is gratifying. With the support of the entire Studio and our Time Warner sister companies, this campaign, like the DC Comics super heroes, will make a great impact on an important issue.”

“The members of the Justice League are an international team of super heroes beloved by a broad range of fans, including men and women, young and old. This makes them the perfect ‘spokescharacters’ for this campaign,” said Nelson. “Their dedication to social justice and commitment to band together to defend the helpless brilliantly supports the ideals of the We Can Be Heroes campaign. The hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa is something we can reverse if we all work together. I’m proud and grateful we’re able to harness the power and standing of the DC Comics brand and iconic characters as well as for the support from both Warner Bros. and Time Warner that has allowed us to pursue this unprecedented initiative.”

“This is a tragic situation affecting millions and millions of people. Everyone has the ability to be a part of the solution and efforts such as We Can Be Heroes help bring us closer to that goal,” said Dr. Jill Biden, who visited refugees in Kenya in August and has worked to raise awareness of the crisis. “I commend the efforts of DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. and other organizations who are using their global reach to help raise awareness of the crisis.”

For more information on We Can Be Heroes, visit www.WeCanBeHeroes.org. For more information on the campaign’s partner organizations, visit their websites: www.savethechildren.org (Save the Children); www.rescue.org (International Rescue Committee) and www.mercycorps.org (Mercy Corps).

Chris Gore joins us for a new episode this Monday, January 23rd!! He spent tons of time with us, but the highlight of the episode might be when we played F/Marry/Kill and put his co-workers Olivia Munn, Sara Jean Underwood, and Alison Haislip on the chopping block.

Here’s a little taste of what you can hear on Monday: [See post to listen to audio]

Article by: Hunter Etherington

As the new year was approaching I realized I was talking a lot about how much I love DIY projects, but I have never really tried one of my own. So I decided that in the new year I was going to build my own custom costume. While playing Skyrim, I have spent a lot of time using the zoom function in the inventory to examine nearly every item I have picked up. While doing so I noticed that some of the items would be fairly easy to replicate. In particular, the guard outfits seemed like the easiest and would work as a good costume, especially if I placed an arrow in my knee.

So last weekend I started working on the shield portion of the outfit. For anyone who would want to know how to make it themselves I will outline my steps each week.

This is what the shield looks like.

When looking at the shield I realized I could make it with only a few materials that can be picked up at any hardware store.

Materials:

• 2 Pine boards 6x1x4 feet
• wood glue

Tools:

• scroll saw or jigsaw
• table saw or circular saw
• clamps or duct tape

I had previously estimated that the maximum diameter of the shield was going to be around 2 feet. The first thing I did was saw the two boards in half to create four two foot long pieces. When laid out side-by-side it creates a two foot by two foot square. From there, I was walking around my parents’ garage trying figure out what was the best way to create the circle I needed to cut out. I found an old garbage can lid which ended up being the perfect size for the final shield so I traced it onto the boards.

To cut it out I was thinking of using a jigsaw but I found that a scroll saw was much easier to create the shape I needed. It wasn’t perfect, but I will be covering the edge eventually anyway.

After the pieces were cut out I had to decide what was the best way to fasten it together while making sure it looked like it’s from the game. I found it best to just use wood glue as to avoid any visible hardware. When I started to get ready to glue the pieces together I couldn’t find my clamps so I ended up having to use duct tape. It was crude, but it worked really well.

One problem with the duct tape was that the glue application was a lot messier than it would have been with clamps. Because of that I had to spend some extra time sanding and this is how it turned out at the end of the day.

There are a few things I would have done differently. I would have used dowels to help keep the planks together as well as use a table saw to cut the planks in half.

Next weekend I will be distressing the wood and then staining it. If you have any questions about what I did so far, or any suggestions for the next phase of the project, please let me know in the comments below.

Chilean artist Fabian Gaete Maureira is amazingly talented. Check out these videos to see him paint beautiful landscapes in a matter of minutes.

A ‘Macho Men’ mod brings the fury of Randy Savage-like dragons to the world of Skyrim. Oh yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!

Get the mod here: skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=5518

As we recently announced on our latest episode, G4 and Attack of the Show‘s silver-haired cinephile Chris Gore will be podcrashing us for an upcoming episode!

Our time with Chris is currently scheduled for Sunday, January 15th and the boys couldn’t be more excited. We’re also very excited that this is one of the first times we have a guest with enough notice to ask for fan questions. So, if there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to ask Chris Gore, make sure to send us your questions using one of the following methods and we’ll do our best to crowbar it into the show:

• Post it as a comment below.
• E-mail it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com
• Tweet it to us @GeekGeneration

Sidenote: Make sure to check out our collection of tweets inspired by a Gore-created hashtag: #thingsivesaidduringsexrelatedtostarwars

Also, check out Chris’s new podcast, PodCRASH with That Chris Gore.

During a recent bout of insomnia, I found myself flipping through channels, mindlessly hoping I would either find something interesting to watch or something dull enough to help me fall asleep. Eventually I settled on a showing of 27 Dresses on FX. After I watched Katherine Heigl pretend to be a pleasant human being for 90 minutes, I was both no closer to sleep and filled with a momentary hatred with myself.

I have over 300 movies in my Netflix queue and a healthy DVD collection to choose from at any given moment, and yet this borderline tomboy, self-described cinephile (who earlier in the same night watched the 1920 classic silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) chose to watch a movie that showcases, to the point of celebration, the very damsel-in-distress female stereotype that in real life she normally cannot stomach. The idea that a Girl Among Geeks like me would actually enjoy any movie as sappy and against the modern feminist mentality as 27 Dresses would be laughable if it hadn’t actually happened.

Here’s the thing though – I totally enjoyed myself. After a fierce internal battle I must admit defeat and finally say it: “I love chick flicks.”

And I’m not even talking about the ones that most guys can admit are good on some level, like Mean Girls or Love Actually. No no, I enjoy the ones that make my male friends want to puke from the sugary overload of melodrama. I may put up a front that I can’t stand these films, but in reality when I’m hanging with my girls and they decide to put on The Devil Wears Prada I get just as excited as when I see that Blade Runner is playing on AMC.

So this begs the question – why do I truly enjoy subjecting myself to films that on paper I should hate? Since I believe in the notion that people generally do things that bring satisfaction on some level, I must be getting something out of these pieces of cinematic cotton candy. But what could possibly be nurtured by them? And further more, what does it say about me?

Like many of my chick friends, I’m a girl who doesn’t do weak. I worked my ass off in school to get into a great university where I proceeded to take way more credits than I needed while working a nearly full-time job and completing four internships. Since graduation I’ve worked a number of jobs where I’ve put in extra hours and have gone above and beyond my job descriptions to help my companies succeed. Outside of the work realm I’m a dedicated friend and family member who finds a way to make myself available to as many people as possible in as many ways as possible. I volunteer, regularly hit the gym, write, game, watch way too many movies, and craft in my far-too-little spare time. Needless to say, I’m a busy girl.

I list all of this about me not to brag in any way. On the contrary, I know I am completely the typical American 20-something female. As members of Generation Y, my peers and I were raised to be strong and to strive to be as self-sufficient as possible. We were taught that we could and should be everything we want to be. Collectively, we strive to be at the top of our game at home, at school, and at work, and over time we’ve come to understand that there isn’t an option to not do it all. We’re smart, witty, together people who are productive, amazing members of society.

And frankly… it’s exhausting.

Spending any given day with many of the women I know is like running a marathon. Even if they aren’t physically moving from place to place, they mentally are juggling enough different tasks that by the end of the day they sleep like a rock. Occasionally I find myself looking at my ladies and wonder, “How are we able to do so much and still be such steady, balanced, pleasant people to be around?”

The answer: we find small ways to escape. Amid our over-filled schedules we seek out a few minutes here and there to break away from our stresses and let our minds wander. For myself and many others one of the simplest and most satisfying ways to achieve this escapism is to periodically indulge in two hours of chick flicky goodness. And it’s glorious.

When I turn on Dirty Dancing I’m not thinking about the bills I need to pay, or how I didn’t quite meet my goals at work this month. Instead, I’m thinking about how indeed Johnny won’t let anyone put Baby in a corner, because he loves her dammit and that’s all that matters! The worlds created by chick flicks aren’t realistic in their plot lines or depictions of how women think or act, but that’s exactly what makes them great. In reality we may not need a man to complete our lives, and we aren’t going to go on grand wild, sexy adventures, but after a week of 18 hour days its nice to fantasize that all of our stresses will melt away after one dramatic kiss.

My fellow Girls Among Geeks and I may not have and don’t necessarily need a male partner, but when we watch chick flicks the little girl who was read fairy tales about knights in shining armor riding into town and saving the pretty young girl from her dreary life starts to stir again. That little girl begins to remember playing house with her Barbie dolls and having weddings for her stuffed animals, and she won’t shut up about how great she thought that was until even the toughest broad can’t resist sinking into the comfort of a rescue parable.

We hate to admit it, but even the strongest women sometimes wants that little girl’s imaginary world to be real, even if it only meant someone to share in our stressors. To put it in Sex and the City terms, even the Miranda girls sometimes want their Charlotte fantasy, and naturally Hollywood is more than willing to oblige that for the cost of a movie ticket.

So, what does my love of chick flicks ultimately say about me? Essentially, that I’m a normal woman. It doesn’t diminish the elements of my personality that make me a vibrant, self-reliant individual. Rather, I’ve come to see it as my means of maintaining them. Chick flicks are my mini mental vacations from the plethora of stresses that fill up my days, and for that reason alone they are something that I value deeply. My late-night self-hatred has lifted, and my internal judgment is gone. Now excuse me while this Girl Among Geeks turns on Pretty Woman: it’s been a long week, and I’m in need of a healthy serving of Julia Roberts.

2011 was certainly a monumental year in the comic book industry. It will undoubtedly be talked about for years to come. Lots of big stuff from both Marvel and DC Comics this year. I have chosen to only cover Marvel and DC here, so if you feel angry I included no indies, don’t. I had to scratch Buffy Season 9 from my list!

Anyways, here are the top ten moments I feel shaped 2011 in the world of comic books:

#10 - Mark Waid on Daredevil; Relaunched with a new #1

Oh Matt Murdock, the last couple of years have not been kind. From having your identity almost revealed, your wife getting driven insane and institutionalized, being put in prison and finally going nutzo and declaring yourself the new Kingpin of the underworld. After that where do you go? Enter Mark Waid, one of the most respected and best writers in comics history. He decided enough is enough, Matt had been through enough and famously said at a convention “I want to make it so you don’t feel like you need a stiff drink after you read an issue of Daredevil.” Waid’s idea was to bring Matt through to the other side, bring out the swashbuckling, more colorful Daredevil. After a decade of Bendis, Brubaker and Diggle putting Matt through high hell, its refreshing to see this side of Matt, but the undertones are still there. This book is a joy to read every month, with the amazing throwback art of Marcos Martin and others. It really is just a fun, well written super-hero book and in this industry right now what more can you ask for? Issue #7 is out now and the hardcover for the first six issues comes out on Feb 8, 2012. [Get the hardcover here]

#9 - Scott Snyder on Batman 

Scott Snyder IS the next Geoff Johns. That’s what many people are saying and I am inclined to agree. With the launch of DC’s New 52, Scott Snyder got to take the reigns of the main Batman title and start it with a new #1 (which hasn’t been done since 1940). Batman #1-4 (what’s been released so far) are far and away the best Batman stories written in years. It washed the horrible taste of Grant Morrison out of my mouth. Yes, he acknowledges Morrison’s stuff, but Batman goes back to being a ‘Dark Detective’ instead of a multi-colored leader of an army of Batmen. Each issue is better than the last. Snyder, who got his start on American Vampire and Detective Comics for Vertigo and DC respectively, is an AMAZING writer. Add to that the gorgeous art from Greg Capullo (Spawn) and you have THE best Batman book on the stands and one of the best in a long time. Bottom line… check out Batman #1-4 at your nearest comic retailer. Trust me.

#8 - X-Force: The Dark Angel Saga

First of all, if you are not reading Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender than do yourself a favor… kick yourself and go buy every issue! Seriously. It’s probably, if not the best X-book published, but one of the very best comics period. Every issue will kick your ass! One of the big storylines from 2011 which just finished was the The Dark Angel Saga. Basically Archangel has now taken over where Apocalypse left off and feels the need to cleanse the world of the weak. In order to help their teammate, X-Force must travel to the Age of Apocalypse (a famous alternate reality where Professor X died and instead Apocalypse took over) to find the dark entity that has his soul. While they are there, they encounter familiar friends who may no longer be alive in their own reality, and at the end of it a team member is killed and lost for good. A fantastic thrill ride. You can pick up the storyline split into 2 hardcovers. Book 1 is out now and Book 2 will be released on March 14th.

#7 -  War of the Green Lanterns

War of the Green Lanterns was DC’s big attempt to cash in on the excitement for the Green Lantern movie in June. (We all know how that movie turned out.) It was a ten-issue storyline that crossed over between Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, and Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors. It was spearheaded by keeper of the GL lore, Geoff Johns, and a multitude of talented artists. The story is how the Green Lanterns become mind controlled by the rogue guardian Krona and leaves Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Guy Gardner and John Stewart left to deal with this. The cool twist is since they can’t use their Green Lanterns anymore, they have to choose one of the other Corps to join (Red Lanterns, Blue Lanterns, Indigo Lanterns, Sinestro Corps, Star Stapphires) and some of the choices are SHOCKING. At the end, the main Green Lantern of Earth (Sector 2814) is NO longer Hal Jordan. It’s a huge event with obvious long lasting effects to the mythos. You can pick up the collected hardcover right now!

#6 - X-Men: Schism/X-Men: Regenesis 

2011 was a huge year for the X-Men universe, with X-Men: First Class rejuvenating the franchise in film and with Schism and then Regenesis retooling the X-Men in time for next year’s HUGE “Avengers vs. X-Men” event. Before X-Men: Schism began this past summer, Cyclops had united all the X-Men in San Francisco under a new island to live on called Utopia which was basically a safe-haven for all mutants. At the beginning of Schism #1 a major anti-mutant attack is unleashed on Utopia and it tears the X-Men right down the middle on what to do. It ends up with Cyclops and Wolverine facing off and having a huge parting of the ways. With X-Men: Regenesis, the X-Men are split in half. Half of the team decides to stay in Utopia with Cyclops and continue to try to live in peace, while the other half follow Wolverine off Utopia to New York where he’s had the X-Mansion rebuilt in tribute to Jean Grey and decides to reopen the school for young mutants with him as headmaster. X-Men: Schism has been collected into a hardcover that will be released on Jan 11th, 2012 and X-Men: Regenesis has two main titles: Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen and Carlos Pacheco and Wolverine and the X-Men by Jason Aaaron and Chris Bachelo, both of which are up to issue #3.

#5 - The New Ultimate Spider-Man

In one of the most controversial stories of 2011, Marvel Comics decided to kill off Peter Parker. Wait… not THAT Peter Parker. The Peter Parker of the Ultimate Universe (think of it as an alternate Marvel Universe, cause it is). Nonetheless, this character had been around since 2000 and was written by Brian Michael Bendis every step of the way. But, finally, Bendis decided to end Parker’s story and start a new one with a new Spider-Man. A Spider-Man who is multicultural. Enter Miles Morales, who is African American/Hispanic. Then enter the internet cracking in half with controversy. To me, Spider-Man is all of us and I can see the point Bendis was making. The way Parker dies and becomes the Uncle Ben in Miles’ case to influence him to become the new Spider-Man is an absolutely seamless and beautifully told story. Bendis masterfully pulls a full circle story. I won’t get into the specifics, but it’s a definite must read. To read the demise of Peter Parker, check out the Ultimate Spider-Man: Death of Spider-Man hardcover that came out on November 2nd. To start and keep up with the new adventures of Miles Morales as Spider-Man, check out the monthly Ultimate Spider-Man comic, of which issue #5 just came out. Or, if you are trade-waiter… the hardcover of the first 6 issues comes out in February.

#4 -  Fear Itself

Fear Itself was Marvel’s “event” for 2011, and the first line-wide crossover they have done since 2008′s Secret Invasion. Written by Matt Fraction with art by Stuart Immonen, the story deals with the rise of an Asgardian fear deity named “The Serpent” who causes global panic on Earth. The twist is the Serpent, we find out, is attempting to reclaim the throne to Asgard he lost by his brother Odin. The entire Marvel Universe is faced with fear and doubt including the Super-heroes themselves. Obviously, like past Marvel events like Civil War, this is Marvel’s way to touch on the real fear going on in the world right now. The series goes through many twists and turns in its seven issues and there was also multiple tie-ins and miniseries that deal with pretty much every Marvel character. Some heroes don’t make it out unscathed, and it does have lasting impact on the Marvel Universe. The event itself is being collected in a hardcover available on Jan 18, 2012, with the minis and tie-ins to follow shortly after.

#3 -  Spider-Island

Spider-Island was the Spider-Man mega event of 2011 that ran through Amazing Spider-Man, Venom and numerous one-shots and minis. It is a basic story of what happens when… all the people in Manhattan gain Spider-Man’s abilities. The core bit to the story is that not all have been taught “with great power comes great responsibility.” Can Spider-Man keep the peace or will havoc ensue? As you read that I’m sure you are thinking what everyone thought: “This is going to be silly and terrible.” In fact, it was quite the opposite, as it was a really strong character piece about what makes Peter Parker special and why not just anyone with spider-powers can be Spider-Man. It is written by Dan Slott, who has been hitting it out of the park on Amazing Spider-Man for the past couple years and is without a doubt one of the BEST writers of all time on Spidey. It features some great moments such as seeing what J. Jonah Jameson and more importantly Mary Jane would be like with the powers of Spider-Man. This comes highly recommended and is without a doubt my favorite “event” of 2011. It’s currently being collected in hardcover for release on Jan 25, 2012.

#2 - Flashpoint

Flashpoint was supposed to be just DC’s big summer event for 2011. It turned out to be much, much more. Flashpoint was a mini-series that ran from May-Aug 2011 with a 5-issue main series and tons of tie-in minis and one-shots. The basic plot is that Barry Allen wakes up in an altered reality where the Flash never existed, Captain Cold is Central City’s protector, Wonder Woman and Aquaman have been married, Batman exists but kills and is it even Bruce Wayne?, Superman and the Justice League don’t exist and Cyborg is the world’s greatest hero. Everyone believed it would be a standard alternate reality thing where Barry has to find his way back to his own world. It was then revealed that this IS the world now. Everything has changed. Half the fun is finding out what changed, how it did and WHY. Finally, even when things end… the world isn’t restored to how it was before. Highly recommended. Geoff Johns is the best Flash writer and Andy Kuburt kills on the art duties. You can pick up the Flashpoint hardcover now.

#1 -  DC Comics 52 Reboot

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about this… even the non-comic book readers have. In the biggest move in more than a decade, DC Comics decided in August to reboot their entire comic book universe (for the most part) and start 52 comics at issue #1. While much speculation and guessing was thrown around, it turned out to be a MASSIVE success, the likes of which the comic industry hasn’t seen in some time. It got people reading comics again, people talking about comics again, and an influx of new readers as a result. For the first time since sales estimates have been recorded, DC Comics won the market share over competitor Marvel Comics. Marvel has since laid off many employees and is underway in cancelling a number of their lower selling titles due to this. The dominance of Marvel Comics in the comic industry was over. In September, the first full month of the new 52, they had an outlandish 20 out of 25 of the top selling comics for that month. It was unheard of. The reboot itself brought with it many changes to the DC characters, some major and some minor. The biggest announcement was the all-star creative team on Justice League of Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. The most effected was DC’s flagship character Superman. Wiped away was the marriage of Clark Kent and Lois Lane that had existed since 1996. Gone was Jonathan and Martha Kent being alive. Gone was the familiar costume. Reestablished was the love triangle of Lois Lane, Clark Kent, and Superman, with Lois’ knowledge of his secret gone. Other heroes were majorly changed as well. Barry Allen, The Flash, was no longer married to Iris Allen (is there any comic marriages intact now besides Reed and Sue Richards?). Probably the most controversial change to a character was that of Barbara Gordon no longer being the wheelchair-bound Oracle and instead walking and re-donning the cowl of Batgirl. The two characters least effected by the reboot were Batman and Green Lantern. Pretty much it was seen as if it ain’t broke, so don’t fix it. Geoff Johns would continue the story of Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps from where he left off. Batman was given a new creative team but all previous continuity had still happened. DC Comics dominated the comic industry from September 2011 to the very end of 2011. The question now is… will their reboot still bring them the market share in 2012 or will Marvel have a major league comeback in store for them? To check the reboot out (they are on issue #4 of all 52 titles) go to your local comic store or check out the AMAZING New 52 Hardcover that contains all 52 #1s in one ginormous 1000 page hardcover.

Article by: Dan Clark

With the release of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I thought I’d look at other American remakes of foreign films. Looking back on the list I realized it’s full of less than stellar titles. There are plenty of films that have long been forgotten, or simply remembered for their wretched quality. Even with that I attempted to form a list of the Top 10 American Remakes of Foreign Films. Here goes nothing…

#10 – The Next Three Days
Remake of: Anything for Her (French Title: Pour Elle)

I understand we aren’t starting off on the strongest foot here, but I was actually a fan of The Next Three Days. This film stars Russell Crowe as a man who attempts to break his wife out of prison for a crime he feels she was wrongly accused of. With all of his real life issues, Crowe does make it hard to like him at times, but you cannot deny his talent. While this won’t go down as one of his greatest roles, he does a solid job of playing a man who has simply run out of options. Elizabeth Banks, who plays Crowe’s wife, is capable in her role as well. She is able to ride that line of innocent victim and secret psychotic . You wonder if her character is actually innocent, or if she has the ability to take the life of another person. In addition to the main leads, the director’s final climatic escape was full of well designed sequences that really ratcheted up the tension. Perhaps low expectations allowed me to enjoy this film more than I should have, but in the end I felt it was good enough for the 10 spot.

#9 – EDtv
Remake of: Louis 19, King of the Airwaves (Quebec Title: Louis 19, le roi de ondes)

Canada is still considered a foreign country, right? I think being made in Quebec makes it a safe choice. If South Park has taught me anything, it is a completely foreign land that can easily be blamed for all the world’s greatest problems. Besides being a remake of a Canadian film, EDtv also has the pleasure of being in the “Double Movie Club”. You know, when two films come out that are extremely similar. This year Friends with Benefits had No Strings Attached, Tombstone had Wyatt Earp, and EDtv had The Truman Show. Then next year we have the dueling Snow White films Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman. It always seems strange to me how often that occurs. Though EDtv was a disappointment at the box office, it has gained fans as the years have gone by. It helps that the hyper reality that was shown in the film has become truer today than ever. In a world filled with Kardashians, Hiltons, and Real Housewives, the idea of EDtv seems like a relief from that insanity.

#8 – Three Men and a Baby
Remake of: Three Men and a Cradle (French Title: Trois homes et un coufflin)

I’m not going to lie, I was surprised myself to find out that Three Men and a Baby was actually a remake. It was in fact a remake of a French film that had pretty much the exact same story. While the original was unknown to most of America, the remake was huge at the box office. To be fair, the original French version didn’t have the greatness that is Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg, and Ted Danson. I mean, when you have those three aces in your deck why would others even bother playing a hand? The possibility for them to compete was washed away the moment Selleck and his mustache walked onto the set. Even with those amazing three, it does feel dated when you watch it today. Luckily enough you can still find some harmless fun in there. The three main leads are not surprisingly very likeable. Each plays the part of “clueless guy not ready to be a father” quite well. Plus, you have to give a film that was directed by Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy, some major geek cred. Sadly enough, there are rumors that this too will be remade by Adam Sandler’s production company. I can see it now… Adam Sandler is attempting to put on the kid’s diaper with Rob Schneider standing in the corner yelling; “You Can Do I!” Then, wait for it… the baby craps onto Sandler’s face. Then, in a stroke of directing genius, the camera pans back to Schneider who then says, “He did it!” (Otherwise known as your basic instant hilarity.)

#7 – Let Me In
Remake of: Let the Right One In (Swedish Title: Låt den rätte komma in)

This is when I feel like we hit some really good movies. Let the Right One In was looked at as a game changer in the horror genre. Injecting a vampire into a coming of age tale seems like a gimmick on paper, but it ended up really working. The filmmakers were able to establish a huge sense of heart that made the horror even more effective. Aiding in their effort were the strong performances they received from their two main leads. It’s not often that you get such strong performances from child actors. Of course, when an American remake was announced there was a huge amount of apprehension. Why remake a movie that came out so recently? It had struck a chord with a lot of the American audience already making a remake even less necessary. Matt Reeves answered that question by directing a tremendous film. Reeves made the film his own, but was able to stay true to the vision of the original. Some do argue that Let Me In is a basic carbon copy of Let the Right One In, however I disagree with that assumption. I felt it differentiated enough from the original to more than legitimize its existence. One way was in Reeve’s ability to build tension. That ability really aided the pacing throughout the early portion of the film. It helped avoid some of the lagging the original was guilty of. In addition, the child acting Let Me In was on par, if not better, than the original. Most notably I felt Kodi Smith-McPhee was a better lead than the original. Let Me In did exactly what it set out to do. It made a great film that would easily appeal to the American audience.

#6 – 12 Monkeys
Remake of: The Jetty (French Title: La Jetée)

This remake is a little different than the rest of the list so far due to the fact that it was based off of a short film. That fact gave the filmmakers a lot more leeway with their own vision. That leeway also creates a new challenge though. Taking a short story and expanding it to feature length is a tricky endeavor. Think about TV shows that attempt to do a movie version of their show. Very rarely does it lead to success. Sometimes changing the format is too much to overcome. Interestingly enough, even with that challenge 12 Monkeys is easily one of the more underrated films of the last twenty years. When people think of the best Science Fiction of the 1990’s, you hear Terminator 2 and The Matrix, but rarely is 12 Monkeys mentioned. It’s a shame because even though 12 Monkeys didn’t redefine the genre like those films, it was able to achieve what all great Science Fiction hopes to accomplish. That is to create a narrative that goes beyond a simple fight of good and evil. It uses a decent amount of social commentary to hammer in the film’s theme. While the idea of a bleak future isn’t new, it was done with great effect. Throw in a number of great performances and you have one high quality remake.

#5 – True Lies
Remake of: La Totale !

At this point in his career, we have come to know James Cameron as one of the biggest innovators in all of cinema. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the guy is a masterful visionary. Even a filmmaker of the caliber of Cameron didn’t shy away from remaking a foreign film. In True Lies, Cameron took the story of the original and added in plenty of American special effects to make a true blockbuster. There was the perfect combination of fun, action, and comedy that you want in a summer film. Action sequences were well choreographed and the use of both special and practical effects allow the film to hold up today. A great cast that includes Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jame Lee Curtis, Bill Paxton, and in one of her first major roles, the geek icon that is Eliza Dushku. True Lies was simply the total package that proved sometimes America does do it better.

#4 – A Fistful of Dollars
Remake of: Yojimbo

Sergio Leone is one of the greatest names in the Western genre. His “Man with No Name” trilogy has stood the test of time, and is still looked at as one of the greatest movie franchises of all time. That trilogy actually started with the remake of Akira Kurosawa’s classic Yojimbo. With two of the greatest movie icons attached to a film, it’s hard for it not to be great. Both Leone and Kurosawa are masterful at creating an amazing atmosphere. The cinematography, score, and pace all compliment each other to great effect. When Leone created A Fistful of Dollars he didn’t dictate his vision based upon the rules that were already established in the western genre. He took what former western greats did, like John Ford, and completely made it his own. Besides Leone’s direction, you also have the icon that is Clint Eastwood, in what may still be his most career-defining role. Spaghetti westerns changed the film industry forever, and A Fistful of Dollars helped begin that revolution.

#3 – The Ring
Remake of: Ringu

Every so often, a horror film comes out that helps redefine the genre. Duplications shortly follow that attempt to piggyback on the success of the previous blockbuster. For example, Halloween helped inspire the 1980’s slasher phenomenon. While in the 1990’s Scream’s breakout success invigorated the genre once more. Then in the early 2000’s The Ring burst onto the landscape. A remake of the Japanese film Ringu, The Ring provided American audiences an eerie imagery style they hadn’t seen the likes of before. That style, as well as the story format in which it was placed, made it an instant horror classic. Even today you can hear people whispering “Seven Days” into a phone. Of course, like all horror staples before it, The Ring inspired a slew of imitators. While films like The Grudge managed to find success, none quite hit the mark like The Ring. The Ring even inspired people to state that it surpassed the quality of the original. Some may scoff at that notion, but being able to even argue that fact is a great accomplishment.

#2 – The Magnificent Seven
Remake of: Seven Samurai (Japanese Title: Shichinin no Samurai)

Seven Samurai is clearly one of the greatest films ever made. A statement that is true for pretty much every Akira Kurosawa film. Most of the world’s greatest filmmakers point to his works as one of their largest inspirations. His knack for storytelling crosses all borders. The plot may be simple, but the message is universal. That is one reason Seven Samurai has be consistently remade. Out of all the remakes that have been created, The Magnificent Seven has steadily held its ground as the best of the bunch. It’s not hard when you have the direction of John Sturges and the likes of Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bronson starring in your film. The Magnificent Seven is one of the best examples of how to properly Americanize a foreign film. You instill what made the original successful. For example, The Magnificent Seven established quality characters that were dynamic and easy to root for, just like the original. That alone is a huge accomplishment. Establishing one quality protagonist is hard enough, so to expand it beyond that is nearly impossible. It kept the same story and themes as the original, just changed the location. It seems easy enough, but at times when remakes are done you get a lot of changes for change sake. Sometimes a change of scenery is the only major alteration you need.

#1 – The Departed
Remake of: Infernal Affairs

One thing I quickly noticed when creating this list was that some of the greatest names in cinema history have taken part in remaking a foreign film. Greats like Cameron, Sturges, Leone, and of course the director of The Departed Martin Scorsese have all created a film based upon another’s work. With remakes, like with all films, the outcome of the quality of it is greatly dictated by the inspiration of its creator. If that inspiration is purely profit, you will most likely wind up with a less-than-stellar film. However, if someone legitimately feels a great movie can be made from another you can be left with a rare gem. Call me gullible but I tend to believe Scorsese is a man who makes films without profit in mind. His mindset is what helped make The Departed such a great film. Not only was The Departed the only remake of a foreign film to win Best Picture, it was also Scorsese’s first Best Director win. Though that may do more to delegitimize the Oscars then legitimize this movie. The Departed was full of some of the greatest actors of this generation and past who all provided first-rate performances. Like all Scorsese films, it was also accompanied by an amazing soundtrack. To me “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys will always be linked to this film. Scorsese is a man known for his New York routes so it was surprising how authentic this Boston felt. While this may not be Scorsese’s best film, to me it is the best foreign film remake ever created.

Tonight’s the night, geeks!! For the first time ever, I’ll be hosting what I hope to make a regular holiday tradition, The Geek Generation’s Xmas Rock & Comedy Spectacular!!

The show will air LIVE on Friday, December 23, 2011 from 7-9 PM EST. You can listen in by going to thegeekgeneration.com/live.

Make sure to follow along on our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates.

Article by: Hunter Etherington

I have already expressed my love of 3D printing, and to that effect I found this amazing article. It was written as a gift guide for DIY enthusiasts interested in 3D printing, but it also works as a comprehensive guide to desktop publishing. I won’t go into a terrible amount of detail about the contents of the article, but I will go over the main points.

It first goes over websites that offer custom 3D printing and elaborates on the processes that they use for printing. The article provides a great starting point for anyone interested in the multiple methods of 3D printing. Next, it describes 3D modeling which is the starting point for all 3D printing. The article goes over the pros and cons of the three most popular modeling programs. After that point the author starts to discuss the “ying to the 3D printing yang”, which is 3D scanning. From there the author describes some of the most inexpensive and easy-to-assemble 3D printers. Finally, for comparison, there are examples of not-so-affordable professional 3D printers and scanners.

This is a great article to find a gift for the Do-It-Yourselfer on your Christmas list, as well as a great resource for someone who wants to learn where to start with 3D printing.

The article: MAKE | Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Santa Claus Machines

Article by: Hunter Etherington

A few months ago I became very interested in the DIY movement. I started seeing a variety of images and videos of homemade projects. There was every shape and size. I was really impressed and in awe of the people who can create these marvels.

While watching Attack of the Show, they had a segment cleverly called “Sneaker Heads”; they highlighted an automatically lacing shoe called Powerlaces. At this website there is a video and detailed instructions on how to make your own. This project was the first time I realized that I could replicate a project that I saw online.

Once I knew it was possible to create my own DIY projects, I began to search for a good place to start. There are many different types of projects. The most typical types for beginners are: arts and crafts, robotics/electronics, costumes, and 3D printing.

Arts and crafts projects can range from custom paper dolls to knitting, sewing, and crocheting. Such projects are relatively low tech; however, this is not to say they are any less elaborate than a high tech project. Some of the projects I have seen are a crocheted TARDIS, a crocheted space shuttle, and a felt Star Trek book.

It is hard to categorize what can be done with electronics and robotics. This is because of the sheer amount of things that can be created with a custom circuit board. I have seen everything from full robotic beer fridges to an IR sensor that will mute your TV with every mention of the Kardashians.

Costumes are a very popular DIY project because it allows people to create custom outfits for cosplay that typically aren’t sold in stores. People make costumes with a variety of methods; the most common methods being sewing, vacuforming, and expanded foam in molds.

3D printing is what I am most excited to get involved in. Industrial and commercial 3D printers or rapid prototypers are prohibitively expensive for the hobbyist to get involved with. Luckily there is the Makerbot. a relatively inexpensive option for the DIY 3D printer. It’s an incredible open source machine that can print models designed in a multitude of different programs, such as the free Google SketchUp. There are other DIY 3D printers, but the Makerbot is the easiest to use.

From what I have found, there are a lot of places online to go for DIY information; however, many of these sites can be quite advanced for a beginner. The sites often believe that your base knowledge is much higher than it may actually be. In reality, the 20 step project ends up being a 50 step project. I have found a few websites that are very good at helping beginners understand projects, while also allowing them to find more detail if they want.

instructables.com has a huge amount of projects, all of them with detailed instructions to repeat their process. They also provide links to where the materials can be purchased; however, the materials cannot be purchased on instructables.com itself. Another downside to this website is that it requires a paid membership to read the entire set of directions for every project.

makezine.com is my favorite website. I subscribe to their RSS feed, which provides daily updates on inspiring projects. The website also manufactures a magazine (though I have not seen an issue). The website is an amazing resource; it has many step by step projects, a great forum and community, and a in-house store for components and kits. For the beginner I would definitely suggest using this website to get started.

Ah Geeks!  We’ve come a long way as a people since we were biting the heads off chickens at traveling carnivals, haven’t we? Now we’ve found a nice little niche in modern society as the intelligent, mildly obsessive, humorous people who generally know far too much about far too many random topics.

Or at least that’s how it is for Geek Guys.

Geek Girls, on the other hand, are a group that I’ve tried to distance myself from as much as possible. Rather than a Geek Girl, I consider myself a Girl Among Geeks. Why the distinction, you ask?  It comes from one simple idea – I am not, as many websites and accepted social idioms imply, socially retarded.

While doing research for this article I decided to look at websites that attempted to define a Geek Girl. In the process I came across website after website that set women in early 21st century America into two distinct categories: those that are flighty, moronic damsels in distress who can do little more than giggle while flipping through Cosmo and whimper at the sight of a game controller, and those that are pure social recluses who pound out code and study up on scientific theory by day only to retreat to their lonely Sci-Fi poster covered lairs at night to look out on the world passing by, sigh that they aren’t a part, and report to their nightly Buffy reruns while writing fan fiction. The former are your run-of-the-mill dames you meet around every corner.  The other is the summarized picture of a Geek Girl.

Needless to say, I was less than pleased at this characterization.

Now naturally there are some elements of the Geek Girl stereotype that chicks like me embody. I adore gaming and get a not-so-secret enjoyment when I take a guy down in Mortal Kombat (specifically, it involves smack talk and strutting around the living room a’ la Hulk Hogan entering a ring circa 1984). I’m straight-up obsessive about my pop-culture fixes, be they the latest episode of The Big Bang Theory, watching the audio commentary version of Fight Club, or searching for the latest clips from The Dark Knight Rises set. Most importantly, though, I’m intelligent and unafraid to show it, be it through a simple correction of a friend’s grammar, or by going into a fully uncalled for diatribe about a random scientific fact I heard about the Lyre Bird while watching a David Attenborough wildlife special from years ago on NetFlix. I own my inner geek fully and whole heartedly.

But I also am a normal female member of the lower-middle class. I go to the salon and blow $100 on my hair just for a chance to be pampered and flip through the latest Vogue. I will spend a night with my guiltiest of pleasures (aka bad reality TV) and be unashamed to talk about it the next day around the watercooler with coworkers. Most notably, though, I am a girl who likes to interact on a normal social level with a wide variety of people.

Which brings up another point of contention I had while performing my research: I was stunned at how many times I saw a Geek Girl defined with some, if not all, of the following terms: isolated, work-obsessed, over-weight, awkward, ignored, and temperamental. I read the words “Her best friend is her computer” a depressing number of times. While there were a number of sites I found that portrayed my kind more positively, it was not enough to remove the chip that had been firmly placed on my shoulder. This overwhelmingly negative tone perfectly exhibits the under-lying myth about a geeky girl: we’re a lonely brood who are obsessive about our genderless interests merely because we have nothing better to do with our time.

That is by no means a description of myself, and for that matter any of the geeky chicks I adore. I’m an active dame who, yes, puts a lot of time into work, but also puts in equal effort to play. I work out, cook amazing meals, and hit up local bars and clubs regularly. I go on dates with a wide variety of guys, and when I go to a party I can float between all of the social circles. My shoe collection rivals my film collection, and for the record my best friend is of flesh and blood, not RAM and CPU.

If this means I’m not the world’s definition of a Geek Girl, that’s fine by me. I’m a Girl Among Geeks, and dammit I’m proud.

So here’s my new mission: I’m going to use this format to dig down and define a Girl Among Geeks. And I’m not going to do this by spouting stereotypical and one-dimensional notions. Instead, I’m going to create a model of us over time by chronicling our interests, ranting about our hot button issues, and explaining our perspectives on the Geekiverse. It will be more of a long-term case study, and if I have my druthers it will be a wonderfully entertaining one at that.

And hey, fellas: take this as a chance to learn about some witty, super-awesome ladies that you would not only love to spend a night with playing Arkham City while splitting a six pack, but will actually say yes when you extend that offer.

So, Girls Among Geeks, declare yourself! I know you’re out there, so come and join my revolution!

Article by: Dan Clark

Well it’s that time of year again. That time of year that gets longer and longer each year. Pretty soon we’ll be putting up Christmas decorations right after the fireworks of Fourth of July end (that is if it hasn’t happened already). Even with the over-long celebration that the Holiday Season has become, you can’t help but get caught up in it. One of the biggest parts of Christmas are all of those classic Christmas films. Each family tends to have their favorite so I thought I’d count down the 10 greatest Christmas films of all time.

#10 – Home Alone

The movie that made Macaulay Culkin a household name. Home Alone was nothing short of a phenomenon when it was released. While it wasn’t adored by critics, it did find a place with families… especially with kids. Growing up with this film it was hard not to put it on the list. Sure the humor is crude and simple, but you can’t help but have some fun. Plus you have to give a lot of credit to Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci for being able to pull off the physical humor the way they did. It’s a lot harder than you may realize. (See the trailer of the new version of The Three Stooges.)

#9 – Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

If you were to count down some of the greatest Christmas movie moments, Miracle on 34th Street may have the greatest one. The iconic courtroom scene has almost become the thing of legends. Even as we have become more cynical as people you can’t help but appreciate the spirit in which this film was made. It may seem overly sentimental but that child-like need to believe in something greater than yourself has never better been put on display. With Christmas becoming more of an excuse to divulge into our materialistic nature it helps at times to look back to see what this day can actually be. Then after that’s done rip open your presents with no resolve… cause come on… you’re only human.

#8 – Bad Santa

On the complete other side of the spectrum we have Bad Santa. While Miracle on 34th Street celebrates Christmas, Bad Santa kicks it in the shin, steps on its toe, and spits in its eye. Though in the end it’s all for good fun. Billy Bob Thornton is fantastic in a role that helped redefine his career as the unfiltered bitter man who is a magnet for misery. Bad Santa combines all the annoyances Christmas can cause and unleashes against its oppressors with an unyielding vengeance. Its willingness to throw caution to the wind and challenge what is acceptable for all films, let alone one with Christmas as a backdrop, makes it a comedy classic. After a long day of shopping and dealing with annoying relatives, Bad Santa can be the perfect cure for the holiday blues.

#7 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Remember when National Lampoon movies meant something besides “direct-to-video”? Well if you do, you remember the classic Vacation comedies. Perhaps the only example of a comedy sequel that wasn’t horrible; Christmas Vacation, while made in the same spirit as the previous Vacation film, didn’t just rely on rehashing the same jokes as the original. It is the best example of how to do a Christmas disaster in movie form. Like all disaster films the key is to maintain a sense of reality in all that outlandishness. While you laugh and enjoy all the mayhem, there’s enough substance there to care about that actual outcome. I mean don’t we all wish for the Christmas bonus.

#6 – Love Actually

The one unfortunate thing about Love Actually is that it started its own sub-genre of movies. The idea of taking a well known holiday and throwing a bunch of stars together and calling it a day. You know the ones that have more stars in them than pages of script. While films like New Year’s Day share some similarities with Love Actually, they are far from the same movie. For one, Love Actually didn’t just cast hot-at-the-moment stars. They actually got people who can act like Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, and Andrew Lincoln. Andrew Lincoln who you can now find on AMC’s The Walking Dead playing Rick Grimes. While Love Actually has multiple stories, each one feels like it has a purpose. They establish characters and don’t just rely on someone’s real-life star power to make you care about them. Each story compliments the other without getting in each other’s way. So to make it simple, Love Actually is often imitated never duplicated.

#5 – The Nightmare Before Christmas

Amazing imagery, a tremendous score, and talented voice acting make The Nightmare Before Christmas one twisted holiday classic. While Tim Burton didn’t direct this film, his sense of style is all over it. Injecting an intense darkness into a day known for its merry cheer was genius. That juxtaposition really worked to perfection as we see Christmas turn into a day of horror and gloom. The stop motion was masterfully done and made for a great animation style. Burton himself has tried to recreate the magic that was captured here but hasn’t quite been able to pull it off.

#4 – Elf

Will Ferrell playing an overgrown childish elf may turn a few heads, but I couldn’t help but enjoy his performance. That over-the-top sincerity and naivete make for a character that is easy to route for and laugh at. While the fish out of water isn’t a new concept, Elf puts a new twist on the classic idea. Plus, Bob Newhart playing an elf… is there anything better? I think not. Throw in a cranky James Caan and a bubbly Zooey Deschanel and you have one of the best holiday films in recent memory. It also helps that the director of Elf, Jon Favreau, made one of the greatest comic book movies of all time.

#3 – Die Hard

Sure, this may be a cheat, but I couldn’t help but put it on the list. I mean Die Hard is able to make the corporate Christmas party something worth watching. It did take the likes of John McClane, some terrorist, and a multitude of explosions. Bruce Willis redefined what an action star was with Die Hard. He replaced the overgrown muscles with a sense of swagger and a huge dose of sarcasm. It wasn’t that he was an invincible fighting force, just a guy at the right place at the wrong time. Of course one of the greatest actions films of all time would be a Christmas classic.

#2 – It’s a Wonderful Life

We all know the story, the message, and all those famous lines. It’s a Wonderful Life may be over 60 years old but it holds up extremely well. In fact, the message may mean more now than the day it was made. Perhaps that is why we continuously see the story rehashed over and over. Though none can do it better than Jimmy Stewart did in the original. Stewart is a legend and It’s a Wonderful Life helped get him there. Sure, there is some overdone cheesiness and at times it can be excessively heavy handed, but that is part of what makes it great.

#1 – A Christmas Story

When it came to determine what the number one Christmas movie of all time was, I had to go with A Christmas Story. For me, no film better encompasses what Christmas is all about. From that childish need to receive the ultimate present, to the adult desire to look upon long lost Christmas memories, we see how Christmas affects us all no matter how young or old. We have all had our own version of a Red Ryder BB gun as children and as adults. That prize we long for that gets us through those horrifically long December days leading up to Christmas. It’s easy to see why A Christmas Story is played on an endless loop when Christmas finally comes. No matter what time you tune into it you are bound to catch a classic moment or two.

Honorable Mentions: Gremlins, Scrooged, Edward Scissorhands, A Muppet Christmas Carol

Icons of Star Trek and Star Wars recently took to the internet arguing that their franchise reigned supreme. When things got personal, George Takei–the only actor who has worked in both–stepped in to broker the peace by identifying a mutual threat.

We certainly don’t consider ourselves a dirt sheet, in fact we rarely report on wrestling, but I couldn’t resist making this tweet from the best in the world come to fruition: “Soon to be dirt sheet headline: Punk jumps into volcano.”

G4 reveals this exclusive new clip from Twilight: Breaking Dawn where Edward explains to Bella exactly what will happen after they consummate their marriage.

The holiday season is upon us yet again, and let’s just say that 2011 has offered many items in the realm of video games, Blu-rays, and graphic novels.With so much to sift through this holiday season, you may be asking yourself: What is the best bang for my buck this holiday season, either for myself or fellow beloved geek? The answer is simple, if you follow our handy guide to all things geekish that have been released from September to late November. We here at The Geek Generation aim to make your holiday shopping as painless and irritant-less as possible. And, maestro, take it away…

Interactive Gaming

This holiday season, gamers with a limited gaming dollar are going to have some hard choices to make. The glut on the market of games this season is so substantial, one could find themselves easily out over $600 playing every A-list title that has been released. With that said, let’s delve a little deeper into the cream of the crop, and distill some of what I consider to be the banner titles, the must-plays of this Holiday season.

Batman: Arkham City (PS3/360)

Rocksteady studios has produced nothing short of the BEST superhero licensed video game of all time. A loft claim, I know. But Arkham City really does what a sequel to a former game of the year should; it builds upon the foundation of an already great game, and gives the player a more expansive world to play in. Truly a “sandbox” Gotham, Batman can grapnel, batarang, shock, and explosive gel his way through hordes of criminals trapped in the now penitentiary lie Arkham City. Think Escape from New York in Gotham! A vastly improved freeflow combat system makes combat a breeze after the half hour learning curve. Add in a bevy of side missions, over 400 plus collectibles, an improved challenge mode, unlockables, DLC available already… Riddle me this: Need I say more? Tack on (if you can score one) the Collectors Edition, and you definitely get an all-encompassing Batman experience with a Kotokubiya statue, Gotham Knight on Blu-Ray (for PS3 only), 2 DLC codes for a Challenge Map and alternate costume, and Arkham City the Album. That said, Arkham City should be at LEAST in your top 3 for possible game purchases this holiday season. I’m not full of shit. You can quote me on that.

Batman: Arkham City is MSRP $59.99 (Collectors Edition $99.99, or more from a 3rd party seller)

Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception (PS3)

Let’s face facts, Hollywood mega action flicks have lost their way these days. Rarely do I go to an action jam and really feel on edge and in the driver’s seat. The octane has been let out of the big rig, the gas leaking on the floor with no match to ignite it… As I write this, I am about 36 hours post-completion of Uncharted 3 and I have to say… but I don’t know where to start. If you played the previous 2 entries, you were probably amazed at the dialogue, story, visuals, gameplay. Uncharted 3 takes them to a whole new level. Naughty Dog has created visuals that look, as close as possible, to a real film. The writing of the dialogue and storytelling put most Hollywood movie scripts to SHAME. The run and gun, cover based gameplay is still there, and even more intense than every, along with the epic action set pieces. Every moment played, I was on edge. With over 1oo treasures to collect, 4 difficulties, MULTIPLAYER, already announced DLC, a SWEET Collectors Edition with a Sideshow toys Nathan Drake statue, wearable replicas of Drake’s ring and belt buckle, a sweet treasure chest style package, and steelcase for the game, Uncharted 3 may be 2011 game of the year. You will FEEL like an action hero, and you will not regret the purchase if you are holding out this holiday season. SIC PARVIS UNUM.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception is MSRP $59.99 ($99.99 for Collectors Edition, or more from a 3rd party seller)

The Legend of Zelda: The Skyward Sword (Wii)

As I write, I am staring at my copy I just picked up about an hour and a half ago. As a lifelong Zelda fan, and someone who witnessed the visuals and gameplay at New York Comic Con, Nintendo’s final foray into the Zelda franchise (at least for now) is sure to be epic. Boasting the true birth of the Legend, Link goes on a journey to save his childhood friend Zelda in a quest that takes full advantage of the Wii hardware (get out those component cables people for the best visuals!). Nintendo took time to add in great new gameplay elements, including weak spots to be exploited for almost every enemy, Wii motion+ support, where players can finally harness Link’s sword swinging powers and acrobatics, and the ability to upgrade nearly all items in the game. Fans can salivate at the fact that each game comes with a symphony soundtrack, as it is Zelda‘s 25th anniversary. With the Wii’s technology at the twilight of its life, fans can relish that it is going out with a bang. Zelda is a definite top pick for this holiday season. Get it with wisdom, power, and courage.

The Legend of Zelda: The Skyward Sword is MSRP $49.99 with a symphony soundtrack (A bundle edition is $69.99 and comes a Wii motion+ remote decorated gold with the Hyrule crest, and soundtrack. May be hard to come by in a few weeks though.)

Gears of War 3 (XBOX360)

Personally, my 360 was gathering dust until September when I picked up Gears of War 3, the final chapter of Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad. We find our hero in the midst of a shitstorm after the end of the last game, with Lambent and Locust running around causing more havoc than ever. We also discover… Adam Fenix may still be alive? That said, and without divulging too much story, Gears of War 3 is probably the last 360 exclusive that warrants a definite purchase. The story comes to a definitive conclusion, and secrets  are revealed, as well as some shocking moments I cannot reveal. Graphically and gameplay wise, the game has improved vastly, especially in the visuals department. They take full advantage of the aging 360 hardware and processors, giving the game a great polish. Once again, Gears of War 3 uses the cover system it pretty much innovated, with epic running, gunning and simple, tactical controls. (Feels more real to me than ANY Call of Duty game.) Tack on the multiplayer, with some new modes, including Beast mode, and you have a complete package for 360 owners. Other editions are available (a limited and epic edition) if you can still find them. Gears has been a defining 360 franchise, and if you have been playing it, complete the journey with this.

Gears of War 3 is MSRP $59.99 (Limited Edition is sold out, but epic edition may be available for $149.99 or more from a 3rd party seller, with a HUGE Marcus Fenix sculpture and the contents of the limited edition included.)

The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection (PS3)

The popularity of the remastered PS2 and PSP game collections such as God of War gave rise to what I consider one of the finest PS2 adventures crafted, Shadow of the Colossus. While I never played Ico on the PS2, it is definitely an experience. Two games that you NEED to have before The Last Guardian is released, are these. The epic, breathtaking scope of Shadow of the Colossus is not to be missed if you didn’t experience it on the PS2, with sweeping visuals, an isolated, lone hero on a lone island battling giants. With mysterious storytelling open to interpretation, Shadow of the Colossus is an adventure in every sense of the word. Let’s not forget Ico, an adventure, albeit short, that requires the player to think as it does not use any type of tutorial. An old school adventure with a story that is also open to players’ interpretation, Ico‘s puzzles defined PS2 adventure. While it shows its age, the remastered vision is endearing. Couple the games with some XMB themes on disc, and some great behind the scenes interviews and previews of Sony’s big time title The Last Guardian,do not miss this HD collection this holiday season, as it is breathtaking in scope.

The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection MSRP $39.99

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (PS3/360)

Twelve new fighters. New modes. New DLC skins. Need I say more. Yes, I do… Rocket Raccoon. Firebrand. Nova. Nemesis. Dr. Strange. Phoenix Wright. Ghost Rider. Marvel vs. Capcom 3 returns in the definitive package with all new fighters. If you missed it the first time, now is the time to get it. Heralded as one of the best fighting games of 2011, and containing 2 of my favorite companies, the classic 3 vs. 3 action should provide players hours of fighting experiences on and offline with friends. One for the ages at an unbeatable price, and better than Hawkeye’s arrow transporting Ant-Man to crush your opponent.

Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 MSRP $39.99

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (PS3/360)

The final chapter for both Ezio Auditore de Firenze and Altair Ibn Al’had comes to a conclusion before Assassin’s Creed 3 in a year or two. We find older versions of both Ezio and Altair both fighting the Templar conspiracy menace in Constantinople, in Turkey. Players can expect to play as Altair, Desmond, and Ezio as they uncover another chapter in the conspiracy surrounding the Apple of Eden. New gameplay enhancements such as the hook blade and den defense have been added to the game, and multiplayer returns as well with new characters. PS3 owners get a special installable version of the original Assassin’s Creed, obviously taking advantage of the Blu-Ray storage space. Gamestop buyers might still be able to score a signature edition with some cool extras for both systems. If you are a fan of the franchise, and want what is probably a cool addition to the story, pick this one up. It’s next on my gaming playlist. Requiescat in pace.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations MSRP $59.99

Honorable Mention:

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (360/PS3)

A collection of MGS 2, MGS 3, and Peace Walker, originally for the PSP. 100 plus hours of gaming. Need I say more? Metal Gear Solid has been a defining storytelling franchise, and for 50 beans, this one should provide you with a lot of gameplay for a long time.

Blu-Rays

Some great Blu-Rays have been released since September, and here is just a smattering of some of the ones that should be in your stocking:

The Crow starring Brandon Lee and Ernie Hudson, with Michael Wincott

At long last, The Crow flies to Blu-Ray. One of my favorite cult films based on the J. O’Barr graphic novels, the story of Eric Draven, a man murdered only to come back to life on the black wings of his avatar, a crow, to exact vengeance of the evil men who took his life and his fiance’s. This was a favorite of mind, even when I first saw it when I was 13 years old. The Blu-Ray release is warranted, and now for a steal you can get it.

The Crow MSRP $19.99

Captain America: The First Avenger starring Chris Evans and Hugo Weaving, with Tommy Lee Jones

Marvel’s final lead-in to next summer’s blockbuster The Avengers. A fantastic period piece about young military prospect Steve Rogers, who is injected with a Super Soldier serum to become America’s greatest weapon in the fight against Nazism, Captain America. A great cast and screen treatment make this a must-have, especially if you are collecting the whole “Avengers” lead-ins, such as both Iron Man films and our next important Blu-Ray purchase for you tree…

Captain America: The First Avenger MSRP $24.99

Thor starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, with Anthony Hopkins

The Mighty Avenger, Thor. Cast down to earth after his arrogance causes a great upheaval in the kingdom of Asgard. Learning to live with humans, and attempting to get his power back, Thor battles Loki and the evil frost giants to save Earth and Asgard. Another superb setup film for The Avengers, with the lesser casually known characters of Thor. Some great casting choices for this one make it essential viewing before next summer when The Avengers assemble.

Thor MSRP $24.99

Batman: Year One starring Bryan Cranston and Ben McKenzie, with Eliza Dushku

Arguably, the finest DC animated film released. This is an hour long look at the watershed Batman: Year One comic written by Frank Miller. It is a perfect translation from page to screen, and tells of Bruce Wayne’s return from the Far East, only to become the masked vigilante we know as Batman. The film also explores the budding relationship between he and a young cop, James Gordon, two men who will eventually work on opposite sides of the law to achieve justice in a corrupt Gotham City. A superb animated piece.

Batman: Year One MSRP $19.99 (with a special Catwoman DC presents short and DVD included)

Graphic Novel MUST-HAVES

With so many being released, it’s difficult to figure out what to buy for that comic geek. Here are a few they will definitely enjoy:

Marvel’s Venom Vol.1 by Rick Remender and Tony Moore

Venom’s reboot has been huge for Marvel, as Flash Thompson takes the mantle of Agent Venom, with the symbiote now in the employ of the U.S. government. The story takes Venom on harrowing missions, and an internal struggle of keeping his new life secret from his girlfriend, and struggling with being handicapped after returning home from the war. Rick Remender is a mad genius and if you like Volume One, the comic is on sale monthly from Marvel.

Venom: Volume 1 is MSRP $19.99 (Amazon has it for $13.40 in TPB)

DC’s Flashpoint by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert

The ultimate story arc that lead into the big DC universe reboot. The Flash is caught in an alternate world, where everything is turned upside down. Bruce Wayne died. The Amazons control England. Superman is in a government facility. What the hell is going on? Read Flashpoint and find out if you missed it on comic shelves, as it is essential as we look at our next entry…

Flashpoint is MSRP $22.99

DC Comics: The New 52 Hardcover (released December 13) by Various

Call me hypocritical or blasphemous, but DC sucks. However, even I pre-ordered this oversized hardcover, containing a whopping 1216 pages! Every DC relaunch collected in one bookshelf edition. Some good, some bad, some ugly, some awful, who cares… this edition is a steal and then you can pick and choose what warrants a purchase monthly and what doesn’t. This volume should keep you busy at night during your time off this holiday season, and for a week after probably.

DC Comics: The New 52 is up for pre-order now on Amazon for $89.99

Thus concludes our Geekoliday Buyers Guide. Hope everyone has a happy holiday, and you get everything and anything geeky you want this year on your list. And remember, geeks don’t die, geeks multiply.

PETA has taken some extreme measures with their protests in the past, but their most recent attack makes me wonder if they’ve finally gone off the deep end.

The organization has posted a page titled “Mario Kills Tanooki” along with the following message:

When on a mission to rescue the princess, Mario has been known to use any means necessary to defeat his enemy—even wearing the skin of a raccoon dog to give him special powers. Tanooki may be just a “suit” in Mario games, but in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it’s OK to wear fur.

On the same page, the company went even further by creating a Flash-based game entitled Super Tanooki Skin 2D in which the goal is to reclaim your suit by catching the flying Mario.

In journalistic fairness, I gave the game a shot. It’s fucking disturbing. There’s blood everywhere, even dripping off of Mario. I don’t remember seeing that in any of Nintendo’s games. What’s worse is the message that the hypocritical PETA is sending with the game. It’s constructed so poorly that my Tanooki died a ridiculous amount of times in the couple minutes I wasted on it. To use PETA logic, it’s my belief that the company is implying through their game that it’s OK to let Tanooki die repeatedly for our amusement.

Nintendo has responded to PETA releasing the following statement:

Mario often takes the appearance of certain animals and objects in his games. These have included a frog, a penguin, a balloon and even a metallic version of himself. These lighthearted and whimsical transformations give Mario different abilities and make his games fun to play. The different forms that Mario takes make no statement beyond the games themselves.

I don’t work for Nintendo myself, but I’ve also prepared a statement on their behalf:

Nintendo would like to remind PETA that Mario is a fictional character who exists in a digital world of make-believe. If we are suggesting that through the use of the Tanooki suit Mario is encouraging people in the real world to wear furs, then we must also assume that we are suggesting that wearing such a suit would allow a person to fly and turn themselves into a statue of stone. I think it goes without saying that this is not our intent, as that would imply that we at Nintendo are bat-shit crazy like the people at PETA. Nintendo apologizes for any confusion, but we must now return to constructing our next Mario game in which we throw fireballs at plants and stomp turtles out of their shells.

To hear all our stories from New York Comic Con 2011, listen to The Geek Generation Podcast – #058 – NYCC 2011.

Genius. How has this not been done until now??

Look, we’ve all been there geeks. Think back to the time (OK, times, because I’m sure this happened more than once) when you had a crush on that really attractive girl in school. You were conflicted. Do you play it cool and renounce all things geeky so you’re not seen as some lesser being in her eyes, or do you embrace who you really are and geek it up? More than likely you did nothing out of sheer terror, but that’s not my point. Geek guys have always felt shunned and intimidated by the geeky stereotypes associated with their interests. Forever have we been shunned and picked on for going to a comic book or Star Trek convention, because who would gather with all those other people just to meet a celebrity or find that one collectible we’ve been looking for?

Well the tables have turned gentlemen, and it’s all thanks to that vampire abomination called Twilight. That attractive girl I mentioned above? She’s probably into that crap now. I’m officially pulling the geek-shunning card from their deck, because right now (Thursday, mind you) in Los Angeles, there are 700+ Twi-hards lining up just to catch a glimpse of the stars of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 as they walk the red carpet at Monday’s premiere. Let me repeat that for those of you who weren’t paying attention. These Twi-tards (not a typo) are lining up THURSDAY to see some celebrities walk the red carpet on MONDAY. They’re not even watching the movie!! They’re watching the people IN the movie walk on a rug!!

I think I’ve made my point. Game. Set. Match.

Thanks to all the fans that sent in pictures !! If you’d like your photo added to the gallery, send it to podcast@thegeekgeneration.com

Source: CNN

Andy Rooney at his desk in 1978, his first year as a commentator on 60 Minutes.

Legendary CBS News commentator Andy Rooney, known to millions for his witty essays on mundane topics, died Friday night in New York. He was 92.

He had been hospitalized after suffering complications following minor surgery last month.

“It’s a sad day at ’60 Minutes’ and for everybody here at CBS News,” said Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and the executive producer of ’60 Minutes.’ “It’s hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much.”

Rooney made his last regular weekly appearance on 60 Minutes on Oct. 2. A few weeks later, CBS announced he was in a hospital.

Rooney’s colleague and longtime 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer told CNN Saturday that Rooney worked to the very end and that he would not have wanted it any other way.

In his last regularly scheduled appearance on 60 Minutes, Andy Rooney says, “I’ve done a lot of complaining here, but of all the things I’ve complained about, I can’t complain about my life.”

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs passed away on Wednesday, October 5th at the age of 56 years old. He suffered from a rare form of pancreatic cancer.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” the company said in a brief statement. “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.”

Apple also posted the following message as an image on their site:

Steve Jobs’ family has released the following statement:

Steve died peacefully today surrounded by his family.

In his public life, Steve was known as a visionary; in his private life, he cherished his family. We are thankful to the many people who have shared their wishes and prayers during the last year of Steve’s illness; a website will be provided for those who wish to offer tributes and memories.

We are grateful for the support and kindness of those who share our feelings for Steve. We know many of you will mourn with us, and we ask that you respect our privacy during our time of grief.

Lucasfilm has announced that in celebration of the September launch of Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray, it is linking up with celebrities, eBay and Major League Baseball to ask fans to Use the Force for Good to support Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C). SU2C funds groundbreaking cancer research that will get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives.

“Lucasfilm joining with eBay, Major League Baseball and a wonderful group of actors is an amazing force for good being brought to bear in Stand Up To Cancer’s fight against this disease, and we are profoundly grateful,” said SU2C Co-Founder Sue Schwartz. “With one in two men and one in three women diagnosed in their lifetimes, cancer affects us all. SU2C’s mission is to persuade each and every person to support the scientists working to end cancer, and this initiative gives legions of Star Wars fans fun and easy ways to do that.”

The campaign has launched with a video featuring celebrity Star Wars enthusiasts encouraging fans to Use the Force for Goodand join Lucasfilm in donating to Stand Up To Cancer. SU2C Ambassadors Aziz Ansari, Zach Galifianakis, Bill Hader, Ed Helms, Ken Jeong, Jaime King, Seth Rogen, Andy Samberg and Emma Stone – along with Star Wars alum Samuel L. Jackson – will each Use the Force for Good as they recreate classic Star Wars scenes to raise awareness for cancer research.

Also, eBay will use the Force of its 97 million active members to give fans an online destination for browsing unique and special Star Wars items: ebay.com/usetheforceforgood. The destination will allow fans to bid on rare and exclusive items like a one-of-a-kind Star Wars edition 2012 Volkswagen Passat and a once-in-a-lifetime experience; dinner with prominent Bay Area filmmakers George Lucas, Chris Columbus, Francis Ford Coppola, Philip Kaufman and John Lasseter. All charity auctions began on September 16^th at 4:00 P.M. PDT, and continue until 4:00 P.M. PDT on September 23^rd.

Star Wars and SU2C have also created a Stand Up To Cancer line of Star Wars t-shirts. The tees will feature iconic Star Wars artwork alongside SU2C’s signature upward arrows, with slogans like “Blast Cancer” and “Use the Force for Good.” The exclusive tees are available now and can be purchased through the end of the year at store.standup2cancer.org/shop with proceeds benefitting SU2C.

Then, throughout the month of September, select Major League Baseball Clubs across the country will feature Stand Up To Cancer/Star Wars themed nights in their respective ballparks. The special events will offer Star Wars themed ticket packages with a portion of proceeds benefitting SU2C. Most packages will include appearances by Star Wars costumed characters, VIP fan photo ops, giveaways and the Star Wars Stand Up To Cancer exclusive t-shirts. For a list of participating Clubs, game schedules and ticket information, please visit MLB.com/StarWars. Since its launch, Stand Up To Cancer has grown significantly with support from players, fans and all 30 MLB Clubs. Major League Baseball was a founding donor to Stand Up To Cancer in 2008, and has donated more than $30 million to the groundbreaking research organization since its inception.

“We are thrilled to be using the launch of Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray as a call to action for our fans to Use the Force for Good,” said Kayleen Walters, Senior Director of Marketing at Lucasfilm. “We are happy to use the power of Star Wars to support this noble cause.”

The Challenge from RedBubble:

Fancy having your own design featured at New York Comic Con? Of course you do, so you need to get your concentration hat on and read these words:
Your task is to create your very own, highly original, comic book character. Superhero or villain. Splendidly powerful, embarrassingly weak, or just quite good at chess. Give them skills you’ve always wanted or defects you’ve always dreaded. Give them a snappy name and stick them on a t-shirt.

What would your character wear? What’s their calling card, weaponry or gadgetry? What’s their story? What are they fighting for or against? It’s up to you to answer these questions.

We’ll then whip the winning design into a limited edition, official RedBubble/NYCC 2011 t-shirt to be featured, praised, discussed and given to hundreds of adoring comic fans in New York this October.

Review by Mike Volpe

Synopsis via IMDB: “Decades-old found footage from NASA’s abandoned Apollo 18 mission, where two American astronauts were sent on a secret expedition, reveals the reason the U.S. has never returned to the moon.”

Written by: Brian Miller, Cory Goodman

Directed by: Gonzalo López-Gallego

Starring:

• Warren Christie – uncredited
• Lloyd Owen – uncredited

The Good:

• It’s treated as though it’s actual footage.
• Good amount of suspense.
• You’ll jump out of your seat at least once.
• The acting was good. You’ll feel what they feel.
• Creates a feeling of hopelessness right away and is able to hold it.
• When the film is over you think, “Could this be real”?
• Intriguing ending to the movie. Leaves you wondering, “Could something bigger be coming down the road?”
• Very unique look at what an alien could be.

The Bad:

• The entire movie is viewed through the usage of security cameras and hand held cameras. You’ll feel like you’re watching footage from the 70’s and this can be difficult at times.
• The first 30 minutes or so are slow but it does pick up pace at the end.
• When it ends, you’ll be left with a feeling of sadness.

Final Thought: The movie is played as if it’s real found footage and does it perfectly. This is a film worth seeing. I’m excited to see if they do anything with a sequel or if this is building to something bigger in the future. Go see this movie!

Rating: 7/10  

Review by Mike Volpe

Synopsis via IMDB: “A young girl is sent to live with her father and his new girlfriend discovers creatures in her new home who want to claim her as one of their own.”

Written by: Guillermo del Toro

Directed by: Troy Nixey

Starring:

• Katie Holmes as Kim
• Guy Pierce as Alex
• Bailee Madison as Sally

The Good:

• Katie Holmes and Bailee Madison’s acting ability shine. You can sense their curiosity, fear, and feeling of hopelessness.
• Set in a Newport, RI mansion. Very creepy and unsettling location.
• Special effects are well done.
• The back story of the “creatures” is intriguing.

The Bad:

• For a movie that runs 1 hour and 30 minutes it really dragged. I was expecting the final 15 minutes to be intense, but they were not.
• Guy Pierce is terrible in this movie. Did he ever take acting lessons?
• An opportunity to build a great back story on the origins of these “creatures” was missed.
• The ending is a let down.
• The creatures themselves are a bit of a letdown. Although different, they also felt familiar. Nothing new here.
• I never felt the suspense.

Final Thought: An opportunity to do something different and explore an untapped sector of horror and suspense was missed. Better luck next time.

Rating: 5/10  

Sure, we don’t usually report on food, but I’m pretty sure junk food is a part of geek culture in some way, right?

Kraft Foods has introduced the Triple Double Oreo, which combines a layer of classic vanilla cream, a layer of chocolate cream and three chocolate wafers.

“Our fans’ passion and enthusiasm has challenged us to raise our game,” Jessica Robinson, associate director of consumer engagement, Kraft Foods said in a statement. “We are looking forward to engaging with Oreo fans as they share their twisting, licking and dunking moments with the new Triple Double Oreo cookie.”

The cookies are available starting this week with a suggested retail price of $4.19 per package.

It should be noted that with a size increase like this, there are going to be nutritional repercussions. Each Triple Double cookie is a whopping 100 calories, as opposed to a single Double Stuf at 70 calories a cookie and the classic Oreo at 40 calories a cookie.

So have one and satisfy your curiosity, but quickly close the bag and back away.

Hollywood Records has announced a Greatest Hits collection titled Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin from their multi-platinum rock band Breaking Benjamin to be released today, August 16, 2011. The two-disc release features the band’s chart-topping hits including “Breath,” “So Cold,” “Sooner Or Later,” “The Diary of Jane” and “I Will Not Bow,” as well as an entire disc of rare recordings including never-before-released songs, live performances, rare acoustic recordings and remixes.

A remixed version of “Blow Me Away,” the lead track from the two-disc set, features the soaring vocals of Syd Duran of the band Valora and is already heating up the rock radio charts. The song is available for fans on iTunes now.

The songs on Shallow Bay are culled from the band’s catalog: 2002’s Saturate, 2004’s We Are Not Alone, 2006’s Phobia, and 2009’s Dear Agony. The second two—We Are Not Alone and Phobia—yielded spectacular results with each being certified Platinum.

Over the past decade Breaking Benjamin has amassed a sizeable and loyal diehard fan base both through their music as well as their electrifying live performances. For those fans, old and new alike, Shallow Bay will be a must-have collection. For more information on Breaking Benjamin, make sure to check out their official site, www.shallowbay.com, as well as their Facebook and Twitter pages.

SHALLOW BAY TRACK LISTING
DISC ONE
Polyamorous – Saturate
Skin – Saturate
Medicate – Saturate
So Cold – We Are Not Alone
Sooner Or Later – We Are Not Alone
Rain – We Are Not Alone
The Diary Of Jane – Phobia
Breath – Phobia
Until The End – Phobia
I Will Not Bow – Dear Agony
Lights Out – Dear Agony
Give Me A Sign – Dear Agony
Blow Me Away (w/ Syd Duran of Valora)

‘RARITIES’
DISC TWO
Ordinary Man (previously unreleased)
Water (remix version of indy EP track)
Who Wants To Live Forever (2011 remix of Queen tribute song)
I Will Not Bow (acoustic mix)
Better Days (previously unreleased)
Polyamorous (acoustic mix)
Lie To Me (previously unreleased)
Lady Bug (2011 remix)
Enjoy The Silence (2011 remix)
Until The End (live acoustic)
Breath (live acoustic)

Sources: CNN, VOA News

The future of cars has officially been cleared. Makers of the vehicle, which has been dubbed the Transition, say it’s a “roadable aircraft” designed to seamlessly shift from the road to the air and back again. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has cleared it for road use, and the FAA has cleared it as a “light sport aircraft.”

Carl Dietrich heads a company in Massachusetts called Terrafugia, who designed and built the Transition.

[See post to listen to audio]

He goes on to say that the Transition easily changes from an aircraft to a car.

[See post to listen to audio]

Terrafugia had to get special exemptions to use lighter-weight plastic windows instead of glass, and heavier than usual tires that could handle a landing and standard road-based driving.

Anyone with a valid driver’s license will be able to drive the car on the road, but if they want to fly the car, they’ll need at least a sport pilot’s license. The Transition can’t simply land right in front of your home. It has to be taken off and landed at the airport.

Currently, the cost of the Transition is about $250,000, and the company is taking reservations with a $10,000 deposit. About 100 cars have been reserved so far.

For even more information, visit the company’s official site at: www.terrafugia.com

To commemorate the 25th anniversary release of Peace Sells.. But Who’s Buying? reissue we are giving away a Dean “Peace Sells…” VMNTX electric guitar signed by Dave Mustaine as well as a “Peace Sells..” custom graphic, also signed by Dave Mustaine! The 25th anniversary editions of Peace Sells.. But Who’s Buying? are available on July 12th. For ordering information visit www.megadeth.com!

For more information on how to enter, visit this link or click the contest logo on the right.

All Time Low are preparing to hit the road for the “Gimme Summer Ya Love” Tour in support of the band’s recently released album, Dirty Work. All Time Low will be joined by bands such as The Starting Line, Cartel, The Cab and more. To celebrate the tour and the new album, All Time Low and The Geek Generation would like to hook up 1 fan on each date of the tour with a pair of tickets. 5 of those winners will receive a copy of the Sims Generations game which includes the band’s first single, “I Feel Like Dancin,’” sung in gibberish.

For more information on how to enter, visit this link or click the contest logo on the right. (contest ends on July 20th)

Fans can order Dirty Work over at iTunes now. Enter for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the “Gimme Summer Ya Love” Tour which kicks off July 28th and a chance to win a copy of the new Sims Generations game for PC!

J.K. Rowling has answered mounting speculation about the nature of her new project and announced Pottermore, a unique and free-to-use website which builds an exciting online experience around the reading of her hugely successful Harry Potter books.

Starting June 23, fans can submit their email addresses to Pottermore.com in order to be contacted by the site following the opening of registration on July 31, Harry Potter’s birthday.

On July 31, an online challenge will be launched on Pottermore.com. 1 million of those successfully completing it will be granted early access to the Beta version of the website, enabling them to help put finishing touches before it opens to all in October 2011. Details of the challenge will be revealed on July 31.

The full press release:

J.K. Rowling today, Thursday 23rd June, answered mounting speculation about the nature of her new project and announced Pottermore, a unique and free-to-use website which builds an exciting online experience around the reading of her hugely successful Harry Potter books, and is partnered by Sony.

The announcement today was heralded by the revealing of the website’s name via an online search for its letters, and a ‘coming soon’ holding page which received over a million visits within 36 hours of launching.

For this groundbreaking collaborative project, J.K. Rowling has written extensive new material about the characters, places and objects in the much-loved stories, which will inform, inspire and entertain readers as they journey through the storylines of the books. Pottermore will later incorporate an online shop where people can purchase exclusively the long-awaited Harry Potter eBooks, in partnership with J.K. Rowling’s publishers worldwide, and is ultimately intended to become an online reading experience, extending the relevance of Harry Potter to new generations of readers, while still appealing to existing fans. As the Pottermore Shop develops, it is intended that it should include further products designed specifically for Harry Potter fans, offering a potential outlet for Sony products and services related to Pottermore. In keeping with Harry Potter’s international appeal, the site will launch in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish, with more languages to follow.

In the new website, the storyline will be brought to life with sumptuous newly-commissioned illustrations and interactive ‘Moments’ through which you can navigate, starting with the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s (Sorcerer’s) Stone. On entering, you choose a magic username and begin your experience. As you move through the chapters, you can read and share exclusive writing from J.K. Rowling, and, just as Harry joins Hogwarts, so can you. You visit Diagon Alley, get sorted into a house, cast spells and mix potions to help your house compete for the House Cup.

At a press conference at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Rowling revealed some key features of the website. In an announcement which will thrill fans, she described how she has
brought to life both the Sorting Hat and Ollivanders experiences from her books for the first time on Pottermore, by revealing the questions asked by the Sorting Hat – which places newcomers into their Hogwarts houses according to their characteristics – and the magic behind the Wand Chooser – which finds the right wand for each user from over 33,000 possible combinations. She also revealed glimpses of the new information she has provided on some of the best-loved characters.

J.K. Rowling’s announcement on YouTube and sony.com today revealed that Pottermore (along with the Pottermore Shop) will be open to all users in October 2011. From today, 23rd June, fans can submit their email addresses on Pottermore.com in order to be contacted by the site following the opening of registration on 31st July, Harry’s birthday. Also on that date, an online challenge will be launched, whereby the first million people to complete their registration will gain early entry into the website, and help put final touches to the experience.

J.K. Rowling commented, “I wanted to give something back to the fans that have followed Harry so devotedly over the years, and to bring the stories to a new digital generation. I hope fans and those new to Harry will have as much fun helping to shape Pottermore as I have. Just as I have contributed to the website, everyone else will be able to join in by submitting their own comments, drawings and other content in a safe and friendly environment – Pottermore has been designed as a place to share the stories with your friends as you journey through the site.”

Pottermore has been made possible with the support and partnership of Sony.

Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Sony Corporation, commented:
“Sony’s association with J.K. Rowling’s Pottermore brings together one of the world’s most innovative brands with the most successful book series in history, in a pioneering partnership that will help shape the future of story-telling. We are proud to be a part of it, both at this momentous announcement, and as we collaborate on its development over the coming years.”

On Sony’s partnership of Pottermore, J.K. Rowling commented:
“As I think people know, I am very protective of Harry and have always been very selective with any new initiatives, but I am totally committed to making this partnership with Sony and this wonderful new website a success. There are many companies I could have worked with on this ultimate digital expression of Harry Potter’s universe, but it is Sony’s unique philosophy of creativity in harmony with technology that made them my first choice as main partner. The spirit behind Sony’s make.believe philosophy is one that rings true with Pottermore’s own values.”

The detailed creative execution has been led by TH_NK, a leading UK digital agency, under the supervision of J.K. Rowling and the Pottermore management team, in co-operation with Sony. J.K. Rowling’s publishers, Bloomsbury in the UK and Scholastic in the USA, as well as her international publishers worldwide, have been active supporters in the creation of pottermore.com and the Pottermore Shop. Warner Bros, the makers of the hugely successful Harry Potter film franchise, is also one of the partners who have worked to support the launch of Pottermore through a variety of marketing, promotional and other efforts, and will continue to collaborate as the project grows.

The storyline of the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, will go live on the site in early 2012. The Pottermore Shop opens when the site opens to all in October, selling complete ranges of the eBooks and digital audiobooks in a selection of languages, exclusively.

Designed for fans of all ages, the website has been created with child safety in mind, employing best practice and compliance with internet codes of practice in the UK, Europe and USA, and elsewhere.

It may not seem like a big deal to everyone, but I certainly consider our 1000th post on The Geek Generation a major milestone. Big thanks go out to all those who have written, recorded, or contributed to our humble little enterprise.

If you’re fairly new to the site, allow me to give you the grand tour:

• The handy little navigation at the top will help you find anything you want by category OR use the search bar to get more specific.
• Ever try looking for content by using tags? Our most commonly used tags can be found on the sidebar to the right. Try clicking one that interests you.

Want some audio entertainment? We’ve got that covered too.

• The Geek Generation Podcast: the flagship show that started it all, hosted by yours truly. Click here for an episode archive or subscribe in iTunes here.
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