Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Geneva, Switzerland (TNR) - At 7:35:05 UTC this morning, the Large Hadron Collider was tested, sending photons in a complete circuit of the 17 mile (27 km) long particle accelerator for the first time. The test was without incident, and contrary to some predictions, Earth was not consumed by a black hole created by the LHC, which in fact created no black holes at all.
The test this morning sent photons in one direction around the circuit. The next test will send photons the other way around the accelerator before the first collision test next month. Widespread fears that the accelerator experiment would destroy the planet, fed by a theory by physicist Stephen Hawking that the collision experiment may create miniature black holes, have led to lawsuits in European courts to stop the planned experiments. The resulting hysteria has prompted the satirical Earth Advisory Board to report Earth's destruction by the initial test, while at least two other websites have been created with the sole purpose of answering "No" to the question of whether the planet has yet been destroyed by the collider.
The initial test this morning was not expected to produce black holes in any event, since it was not a collision test. If the first collision test in the coming weeks does produce a miniature black hole, however, it will not have enough mass to either sustain itself or destroy the planet; Hawking's theory that the experiment would create miniature black holes also states that they would dissipate nearly instantaneously by emitting Hawking radiation before they could draw in more matter.
German chemist Otto Rossler has voiced concerns that this may not occur, and that a black hole may grow and consume the planet, but Professor Hawking and other leading physicists dismiss these concerns, with Hawking observing in an essay written to Newsweek that "The LHC is feeble compared with what goes on in the universe. If a disaster was going to happen, it would have happened already."
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Pageantry in the Park a great success
Monday, July 14, 2008
Evansville, IN (TNR) - With the clash of swords and clang of armor, Sunday saw the Society for Creative Anachronism's annual Pageantry in the Park public demonstration at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve in Evansville.
Put on by the SCA's Shire Riviere Constelle of the Midrealm kingdom, the demonstration included showings of fencing (in the round, that is, not the line fencing of modern sports), heavy armored combat, and Medieval and Renaissance era arts and crafts.
The majority of the afternoon was taken up by fencing demonstrations in several different styles, including single sword, sword and buckler, and Florentine two weapon style. One combatant, going by the moniker of Lady Calivorri, went nearly undefeated while The Nerd Report was on the scene, losing only one single combat fencing match throughout the two hours observed.
The heavy fighting matches were less one-sided in victories, and included their own assortment of weapons, including sword and shield, axe and shield, and large two-handed axe.
All participants wore heavy protective gear, and it is not recommended that these activities be tried by the untrained without the necessary protection.
In addition to combat demonstrations, there were displays of medieval arts, jewelry, arms, and armor, as well as a short demonstration of period music.
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international educational group that focuses on preserving and reenacting Medieval and Renaissance history. More information is available at http://www.sca.org
Evansville, IN (TNR) - With the clash of swords and clang of armor, Sunday saw the Society for Creative Anachronism's annual Pageantry in the Park public demonstration at Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve in Evansville.
Put on by the SCA's Shire Riviere Constelle of the Midrealm kingdom, the demonstration included showings of fencing (in the round, that is, not the line fencing of modern sports), heavy armored combat, and Medieval and Renaissance era arts and crafts.
The majority of the afternoon was taken up by fencing demonstrations in several different styles, including single sword, sword and buckler, and Florentine two weapon style. One combatant, going by the moniker of Lady Calivorri, went nearly undefeated while The Nerd Report was on the scene, losing only one single combat fencing match throughout the two hours observed.
The heavy fighting matches were less one-sided in victories, and included their own assortment of weapons, including sword and shield, axe and shield, and large two-handed axe.
All participants wore heavy protective gear, and it is not recommended that these activities be tried by the untrained without the necessary protection.
In addition to combat demonstrations, there were displays of medieval arts, jewelry, arms, and armor, as well as a short demonstration of period music.
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international educational group that focuses on preserving and reenacting Medieval and Renaissance history. More information is available at http://www.sca.org
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Judge recommends Jack Thompson be permanently disbarred
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tallahassee, FL (TNR) - Judge Dava Tunis, the appointed referee over Jack Thompson's ongoing bar trial, has recommended the permanent disbarment of the anti-video games attorney, The Nerd Report has learned.
The Florida Bar Association is seeking Thompson's disbarment for a period of ten years, but the Judge Tunis has declined to follow this recommendation, instead taking the precedent-setting step of permanent disbarment, noting that Thompson "does not proceed within the guidelines of appropriate professional behavior, but rather uses other means available to intimidate, harass, or bring public disrepute to those whom he perceives oppose
him" when engaging in litigation, and that there is "no evidence whatsoever to indicate that [Thompson] is amenable to rehabilitation, or even remotely appreciates the basis upon which a need or purpose for such rehabilitation is warranted."
Mr. Thompson has engaged in extensive litigation against the gaming industry for over a decade, claiming that violence in video games teaches children to engage in violence themselves. Throughout this time, he has treated those opposing him with disdain and even open mockery, at one point submitting a document to the court in picture form, claiming that the court couldn't understand him without the visual aids. The court in question was Judge Tunis' own, during the proceeding that has led to the recommendation for his disbarment.
The decision in the case is not yet final, but the appointed referee's recommendation makes it highly likely that Jack Thompson's days as a practicing attorney are numbered.
Tallahassee, FL (TNR) - Judge Dava Tunis, the appointed referee over Jack Thompson's ongoing bar trial, has recommended the permanent disbarment of the anti-video games attorney, The Nerd Report has learned.
The Florida Bar Association is seeking Thompson's disbarment for a period of ten years, but the Judge Tunis has declined to follow this recommendation, instead taking the precedent-setting step of permanent disbarment, noting that Thompson "does not proceed within the guidelines of appropriate professional behavior, but rather uses other means available to intimidate, harass, or bring public disrepute to those whom he perceives oppose
him" when engaging in litigation, and that there is "no evidence whatsoever to indicate that [Thompson] is amenable to rehabilitation, or even remotely appreciates the basis upon which a need or purpose for such rehabilitation is warranted."
Mr. Thompson has engaged in extensive litigation against the gaming industry for over a decade, claiming that violence in video games teaches children to engage in violence themselves. Throughout this time, he has treated those opposing him with disdain and even open mockery, at one point submitting a document to the court in picture form, claiming that the court couldn't understand him without the visual aids. The court in question was Judge Tunis' own, during the proceeding that has led to the recommendation for his disbarment.
The decision in the case is not yet final, but the appointed referee's recommendation makes it highly likely that Jack Thompson's days as a practicing attorney are numbered.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Opinion Column: An Open Confession
Thursday, June 26, 2008
There is no easy way to do this, but it must be done. I have broken my vows, and the first step to amends is to air my transgressions and motivate myself to not allow it to happen again.
I should explain before I go further. When I was in college, I was in the Society for Creative Anachronism. This is the world's largest medieval reenactment organization, and it is highly organized into kingdoms, baronies, and so forth.
As befits medieval reenactors with that kind of organization and scale, the Society has titular kings, lords of various grades... and knights.
I confess, I dearly wished to earn knighthood in the Society when I was still active, but it takes years of participation and dedication, years that I didn't have. Partly I wanted it for the sheer, nerdy glory and fun of it, but it was also partly because my temperament is such that it needs a restraint upon it that I care about, and I felt that the vows of knighthood would be just such a one.
As I said, I never earned the authority and responsibility of a knighthood, but as I knew the time when I would have to move away, too far away to feasibly participate any longer, was drawing near, I took the vows regardless, not bound to any lord or king, because none knighted me, but binding myself to the virtues of knighthood, as a safeguard against the fouler side of my temper.
The vows are many, but at their essence, they are outlined in this, the statement made by a knight before he is invested:
I swore to "ever be a good knight and true, reverent and generous, shield of the weak, obedient to my liege-lord (which I interpret as loyalty to my country and my vows, since I swore to no lord), foremost in battle, courteous and truthful at all times, champion of the right and the good."
I do my best, but I have of late failed and failed miserably at one: Courtesy. After a hard and frustrating day at work, I allowed my temper to gain the better of me and, without provocation, flamed a non-native English speaker for his poor spelling. I was mortified afterward, but pride motivated me to keep my silence for a time.
No more. I have made amends to him and obtained his forgiveness, but I have thought long and hard on it and realized that if I do not make a stand with myself, give a motivator to stop it here and now, I will continue to slide, and eventually what I promised to myself will mean nothing to me. I know of no better way than to write an account of my failure and place it up as a reminder that I expect better of myself, and shall keep a level head.
At the end of a knighting ceremony in the Society, it is traditional for the king to strike the new knight hard upon the chest after he has risen a knight, and to tell him to let the blow remind him that knighthood will bring him pain as well as honor. It has brought me pain these last two weeks, and I hope to return to honor. It may seem silly to people reading this, but this is important to me; I must reestablish shamefastness, the fear of shame, to keep myself from straying like that again. I renew my vow, and go forward with the virtues of chivalry at the forefront of my mind.
Cross-posted to the Nerd Report from my personal weblog because the subject matter may be of interest to the readership.
There is no easy way to do this, but it must be done. I have broken my vows, and the first step to amends is to air my transgressions and motivate myself to not allow it to happen again.
I should explain before I go further. When I was in college, I was in the Society for Creative Anachronism. This is the world's largest medieval reenactment organization, and it is highly organized into kingdoms, baronies, and so forth.
As befits medieval reenactors with that kind of organization and scale, the Society has titular kings, lords of various grades... and knights.
I confess, I dearly wished to earn knighthood in the Society when I was still active, but it takes years of participation and dedication, years that I didn't have. Partly I wanted it for the sheer, nerdy glory and fun of it, but it was also partly because my temperament is such that it needs a restraint upon it that I care about, and I felt that the vows of knighthood would be just such a one.
As I said, I never earned the authority and responsibility of a knighthood, but as I knew the time when I would have to move away, too far away to feasibly participate any longer, was drawing near, I took the vows regardless, not bound to any lord or king, because none knighted me, but binding myself to the virtues of knighthood, as a safeguard against the fouler side of my temper.
The vows are many, but at their essence, they are outlined in this, the statement made by a knight before he is invested:
I swore to "ever be a good knight and true, reverent and generous, shield of the weak, obedient to my liege-lord (which I interpret as loyalty to my country and my vows, since I swore to no lord), foremost in battle, courteous and truthful at all times, champion of the right and the good."
I do my best, but I have of late failed and failed miserably at one: Courtesy. After a hard and frustrating day at work, I allowed my temper to gain the better of me and, without provocation, flamed a non-native English speaker for his poor spelling. I was mortified afterward, but pride motivated me to keep my silence for a time.
No more. I have made amends to him and obtained his forgiveness, but I have thought long and hard on it and realized that if I do not make a stand with myself, give a motivator to stop it here and now, I will continue to slide, and eventually what I promised to myself will mean nothing to me. I know of no better way than to write an account of my failure and place it up as a reminder that I expect better of myself, and shall keep a level head.
At the end of a knighting ceremony in the Society, it is traditional for the king to strike the new knight hard upon the chest after he has risen a knight, and to tell him to let the blow remind him that knighthood will bring him pain as well as honor. It has brought me pain these last two weeks, and I hope to return to honor. It may seem silly to people reading this, but this is important to me; I must reestablish shamefastness, the fear of shame, to keep myself from straying like that again. I renew my vow, and go forward with the virtues of chivalry at the forefront of my mind.
Cross-posted to the Nerd Report from my personal weblog because the subject matter may be of interest to the readership.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Interview: That Guy with the Glasses
This is an interview conducted with That Guy with the Glasses, formerly of YouTube, though alleged copyright troubles with some of his satirical works have prompted him to move his videos to his own site. The videos are well worth watching, though several are definitely not safe for work.
The Nerd Report secured this interview via e-mail.
The Nerd Report: What got you started doing videos? What was the inspiration for Five Second Movies, the Nostalgia Critic, and so forth?
That Guy with the Glasses: 5 Second Movies came about when my brother and I were making fun of all the goofy lines from Star Trek 2. We were quoting “Kahn!” “Kirk!” “Spock!” and I just said “Hey, that could be the movie in 5seconds. So I decided to make it and put it on YouTube. Then Star Wars in 5 seconds jumped in my head, and then Lord of the Rings, and so on. I didn’t think it’d be quite as big a hit as it was.
Nostalgia Critic came out of my love for things I grew up with. I noticed a lot of people around me liked talking about old shows and movies they grew up with and how silly they are today. I thought it’d be funny if I created a character who used to love these movies, but then was somehow betrayed by his aging and change of taste. I thought it’d be funny if someone took it really seriously and wondered how he could like so many ridiculous programs and films.
Chester A. Bum of ‘Bum Reviews’ just came out of me trying to find an excuse to use that voice. I used it first in my Cloverfield Review and I just fell in love with it. I don’t know why, it’s just a really fun voice to do. So I just turned it into a weekly character who seems to like any film that’s shown in a warm building.
TNR: When you started, did you believe that your videos would turn out to be as popular as they are?
That Guy: I had a feeling Nostalgia Critic would catch on, but I had no idea about 5 Second Movies.
TNR: Did you anticipate the movie companies' and YouTube's response to your Five Second Movies?
That Guy: Yes and no. I knew there was a lot of controversy with copyright and YouTube videos, but after I read up on copyright law, I thought I was safe. Obviously not though.
TNR: Did you intend to get your own website before the troubles with YouTube, or was it purely a reaction to their deletion of your material?
That Guy: I did it originally just to give them a place where they wouldn’t get deleted, but since then, it’s slowly turning into it’s own strange business, which I very much enjoy doing.
TNR: How is running your own website for your videos, as opposed to using YouTube's service, working out for you?
That Guy: Good, though I don’t really put the videos on, somebody else does that for me. I love having the site, but if you were to ask me ‘How does it work?’ I would have no idea how to answer.
TNR: Out of your videos, do you have any favorites that really stand out to you?
That Guy: My Favorite 5 Second Movie used to be Scarface, but now I think that’s been replaced with Million Dollar Baby. As for Nostalgia Critic, my favorite is probably The Wizard, that Lucas kid just kills me.
TNR: Given your chosen hobby, one can only assume you like movies; do you have any particular favorites?
That Guy: My all time favorite is a film called Brazil. I guess others would include To Kill a Mocking Bird, Amadeus, Batman, Eyes Wide Shut, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Good Night and Good Luck, Sweeney Todd, and a ton of others.
The Nerd Report secured this interview via e-mail.
The Nerd Report: What got you started doing videos? What was the inspiration for Five Second Movies, the Nostalgia Critic, and so forth?
That Guy with the Glasses: 5 Second Movies came about when my brother and I were making fun of all the goofy lines from Star Trek 2. We were quoting “Kahn!” “Kirk!” “Spock!” and I just said “Hey, that could be the movie in 5seconds. So I decided to make it and put it on YouTube. Then Star Wars in 5 seconds jumped in my head, and then Lord of the Rings, and so on. I didn’t think it’d be quite as big a hit as it was.
Nostalgia Critic came out of my love for things I grew up with. I noticed a lot of people around me liked talking about old shows and movies they grew up with and how silly they are today. I thought it’d be funny if I created a character who used to love these movies, but then was somehow betrayed by his aging and change of taste. I thought it’d be funny if someone took it really seriously and wondered how he could like so many ridiculous programs and films.
Chester A. Bum of ‘Bum Reviews’ just came out of me trying to find an excuse to use that voice. I used it first in my Cloverfield Review and I just fell in love with it. I don’t know why, it’s just a really fun voice to do. So I just turned it into a weekly character who seems to like any film that’s shown in a warm building.
TNR: When you started, did you believe that your videos would turn out to be as popular as they are?
That Guy: I had a feeling Nostalgia Critic would catch on, but I had no idea about 5 Second Movies.
TNR: Did you anticipate the movie companies' and YouTube's response to your Five Second Movies?
That Guy: Yes and no. I knew there was a lot of controversy with copyright and YouTube videos, but after I read up on copyright law, I thought I was safe. Obviously not though.
TNR: Did you intend to get your own website before the troubles with YouTube, or was it purely a reaction to their deletion of your material?
That Guy: I did it originally just to give them a place where they wouldn’t get deleted, but since then, it’s slowly turning into it’s own strange business, which I very much enjoy doing.
TNR: How is running your own website for your videos, as opposed to using YouTube's service, working out for you?
That Guy: Good, though I don’t really put the videos on, somebody else does that for me. I love having the site, but if you were to ask me ‘How does it work?’ I would have no idea how to answer.
TNR: Out of your videos, do you have any favorites that really stand out to you?
That Guy: My Favorite 5 Second Movie used to be Scarface, but now I think that’s been replaced with Million Dollar Baby. As for Nostalgia Critic, my favorite is probably The Wizard, that Lucas kid just kills me.
TNR: Given your chosen hobby, one can only assume you like movies; do you have any particular favorites?
That Guy: My all time favorite is a film called Brazil. I guess others would include To Kill a Mocking Bird, Amadeus, Batman, Eyes Wide Shut, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Good Night and Good Luck, Sweeney Todd, and a ton of others.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Genetically modified "bugs" eat waste, excrete petroleum
Monday, June 16, 2008
Silicon Valley (TNR) - LS9, a Silicon Valley-based firm, has managed to bioengineer microorganisms that eat organic waste material and excrete crude oil.
By genetically modifying yeast or E. Coli bacteria, the company's engineers have created strains that consume organic waste material, such as wood chips or wheat stalks, and produce crude oil as their waste.
The company claims that the process is carbon-negative, meaning that, plant to the exhaust pipe of your car, the plants and bugs that eat them take more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere than the refining process and the exhaust of the vehicle the fuel is ultimately burned in put into it.
The company is still in the testing stages, but the technology shows promise. LS9 hopes to have a demonstration plant open by 2010. Replacing the United States' entire weekly fuel consumption would require a facility covering over 200 square miles, and it remains to be seen how economically viable this is in the long term, though the company estimates that the oil they produce could be manufactured at a cost of around $50USD per barrel.
Silicon Valley (TNR) - LS9, a Silicon Valley-based firm, has managed to bioengineer microorganisms that eat organic waste material and excrete crude oil.
By genetically modifying yeast or E. Coli bacteria, the company's engineers have created strains that consume organic waste material, such as wood chips or wheat stalks, and produce crude oil as their waste.
The company claims that the process is carbon-negative, meaning that, plant to the exhaust pipe of your car, the plants and bugs that eat them take more carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere than the refining process and the exhaust of the vehicle the fuel is ultimately burned in put into it.
The company is still in the testing stages, but the technology shows promise. LS9 hopes to have a demonstration plant open by 2010. Replacing the United States' entire weekly fuel consumption would require a facility covering over 200 square miles, and it remains to be seen how economically viable this is in the long term, though the company estimates that the oil they produce could be manufactured at a cost of around $50USD per barrel.
2nd century A.D. d20 auctioned off at Christie's
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Internet (TNR) - From the old but obscure news department, the Romans apparently invented the d20 system.
From a lot sold at auction through Christie's back in 2003, a 20 sided die using the same perfect icosahedron (twenty-faced polygon) that d20s use today. The die was discovered in Egypt in the 1920s and has been dated to the 2nd century A.D. Other dice with similar symbols have also been discovered. The game they were used for is unknown.
The Internet (TNR) - From the old but obscure news department, the Romans apparently invented the d20 system.
From a lot sold at auction through Christie's back in 2003, a 20 sided die using the same perfect icosahedron (twenty-faced polygon) that d20s use today. The die was discovered in Egypt in the 1920s and has been dated to the 2nd century A.D. Other dice with similar symbols have also been discovered. The game they were used for is unknown.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
College age gamer elected mayor of Muskogee, OK
May 29, 2008
The Internet (TNR) - Earlier this month, 19 year old video gamer John Tyler Hammons was elected mayor of the town of Muskogee, Oklahoma, a large town of approximately 38,000 residents.
The Nerd Report does not have a correspondent in the area, so it has been unable to secure interviews. The Associated Press reports that his first priorities as mayor are to establish tougher campaign finance reporting rules and an independent ethics commission.
A registered Republican, Hammons served as president of both the Young Republicans and Young Democrats while in high school. His position as mayor makes him the youngest at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention from Oklahoma.
However, Hammons has pledged to leave politics at the door to City Hall, focusing on the needs of the city in his duties.
AP reports that Hammons has ambitions to run for governor of Oklahoma in the future, and if successful in that, to consider seeking the Presidency. There is no word on his position regarding the role of government in gaming, but TNR finds it safe to conclude that he would not be as restrictive as some current-day candidates for high office.
The Internet (TNR) - Earlier this month, 19 year old video gamer John Tyler Hammons was elected mayor of the town of Muskogee, Oklahoma, a large town of approximately 38,000 residents.
The Nerd Report does not have a correspondent in the area, so it has been unable to secure interviews. The Associated Press reports that his first priorities as mayor are to establish tougher campaign finance reporting rules and an independent ethics commission.
A registered Republican, Hammons served as president of both the Young Republicans and Young Democrats while in high school. His position as mayor makes him the youngest at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention from Oklahoma.
However, Hammons has pledged to leave politics at the door to City Hall, focusing on the needs of the city in his duties.
AP reports that Hammons has ambitions to run for governor of Oklahoma in the future, and if successful in that, to consider seeking the Presidency. There is no word on his position regarding the role of government in gaming, but TNR finds it safe to conclude that he would not be as restrictive as some current-day candidates for high office.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Interview: Zendulo of YouTube
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The following is an interview conducted with the fabulous Zendulo of YouTube fame. The Nerd Report caught up with her on AIM and had the opportunity to ask a few questions before we ran out of time. The names given for the interviewer and interviewee are not their actual AIM handles.
The Nerd Report: First thing's first. What got you started on vlogging?
Zendulo: A few of my friends in New York would get on iChat with me every few weeks and we'd just goof off and make each other laugh. They asked me to make YouTube videos. I didn't know anything about the YouTube community but I got on and found BenLoka and YourAverageAdam. They made it look really fun, so I gave it a shot. Now I'm totally addicted.
TNR: Okay. I know before getting started with YouTube, you did at least some amount of acting, with the Pizza Show and Daughter of the Dagon. What was your favorite role and/or sketch, if you have one?
Zen: Actually I just worked on a short film called The Communicators by Justin Boyes. I loved the script which was sort of a Mel Brooks take on 1950s scifi with a solid dose of political satire. I feel madly in love with the cast and now we're moving to LA together in the fall. Every time we see each other we end up writing sketches on napkins or leaving ideas for sketches on our phones. I loved Chloe from Daughter of the Dagon because I can relate. She's a big dork like me.
TNR: Hmmmm. Apart from Star Wars, which we already know, what's your favorite movie?
Zen: It's so hard to have favorites, I love so many movies! This question makes me hyperventilate. Last Crusade is my favorite Indiana Jones. I love most of the Bond Movies. I love Cloverfield. I think it's a milestone in filmmaking. Cool Runnings. Serenity. Um! Um! Army of Darkness. If I have to pick one, let's go with Army of Darkness.
TNR: Army of Darkness is good. You've attained some amount of popularity on YouTube since you started. Did you have any idea this would happen before you began vlogging?
Zen: Absolutely not. I was like, "WHAT? How many people watched that?! And they liked it? WHAT?! Awesome." It's inspired me a lot.
TNR: Well, what's not to like? You've got talent. Anyway, from what you've seen of your newfound fanbase, what do you think is the biggest misconception about you?
Zen: Wow! Interesting question! It's really strange to just be myself and have people interested in watching it. There have been a lot of people who think I'm acting like whatshername from LonelyGirl15. Especially after people found out that I teach, act, and direct as a day job. I try to take it as a compliment, but that's pretty weird.
TNR: You know, it's a reasonable suspicion, but the fact that your real name is easily found actually puts a damper on that; someone playing a prank would make it hard to find details on her. Okay, to wrap up, here's the big one: What drew you into nerd culture, so to speak? This may be too bold, but you frankly don't see many females of the species taking these kinds of interests. Was there any big influence towards that, or did it just sort of happen?
Zen: Hahaha! Great question. My Dad. My Mom too. But sharing Star Wars with my Dad as a kid was magical. I have amazing parents. I also have an awesome brother.
And I started noticing at a young age that there are different social standards for men and women. Girls do some ridiculous things sometimes because they are allowed to get away with it. Girls are encouraged to talk about their insecurities, while boys are taught to do something about it. Princess Leia was out there doing something about it. All the other women in movies that I'd seen were whining about something or some guy. Then I discovered a whole realm of bad ass women.
I decided I would rather know how to kick ass. I thought, "If Leia can still look good while coping with an interrogation droid - THAT would be something worth reading about in a women's magazine."
Nerd culture believes in people living to their fullest potential. There is a hero in everyman. There is an epic love in every block of carbonite. There is a happy ending. You just have to be willing to fight for it. If you're not willing to fight for it, then you're probably asking someone else to justify it for you, and that is a waste of time.
The dorks, nerds, and geeks - we just know how to live. We know how to believe. How could you not love it?
The following is an interview conducted with the fabulous Zendulo of YouTube fame. The Nerd Report caught up with her on AIM and had the opportunity to ask a few questions before we ran out of time. The names given for the interviewer and interviewee are not their actual AIM handles.
The Nerd Report: First thing's first. What got you started on vlogging?
Zendulo: A few of my friends in New York would get on iChat with me every few weeks and we'd just goof off and make each other laugh. They asked me to make YouTube videos. I didn't know anything about the YouTube community but I got on and found BenLoka and YourAverageAdam. They made it look really fun, so I gave it a shot. Now I'm totally addicted.
TNR: Okay. I know before getting started with YouTube, you did at least some amount of acting, with the Pizza Show and Daughter of the Dagon. What was your favorite role and/or sketch, if you have one?
Zen: Actually I just worked on a short film called The Communicators by Justin Boyes. I loved the script which was sort of a Mel Brooks take on 1950s scifi with a solid dose of political satire. I feel madly in love with the cast and now we're moving to LA together in the fall. Every time we see each other we end up writing sketches on napkins or leaving ideas for sketches on our phones. I loved Chloe from Daughter of the Dagon because I can relate. She's a big dork like me.
TNR: Hmmmm. Apart from Star Wars, which we already know, what's your favorite movie?
Zen: It's so hard to have favorites, I love so many movies! This question makes me hyperventilate. Last Crusade is my favorite Indiana Jones. I love most of the Bond Movies. I love Cloverfield. I think it's a milestone in filmmaking. Cool Runnings. Serenity. Um! Um! Army of Darkness. If I have to pick one, let's go with Army of Darkness.
TNR: Army of Darkness is good. You've attained some amount of popularity on YouTube since you started. Did you have any idea this would happen before you began vlogging?
Zen: Absolutely not. I was like, "WHAT? How many people watched that?! And they liked it? WHAT?! Awesome." It's inspired me a lot.
TNR: Well, what's not to like? You've got talent. Anyway, from what you've seen of your newfound fanbase, what do you think is the biggest misconception about you?
Zen: Wow! Interesting question! It's really strange to just be myself and have people interested in watching it. There have been a lot of people who think I'm acting like whatshername from LonelyGirl15. Especially after people found out that I teach, act, and direct as a day job. I try to take it as a compliment, but that's pretty weird.
TNR: You know, it's a reasonable suspicion, but the fact that your real name is easily found actually puts a damper on that; someone playing a prank would make it hard to find details on her. Okay, to wrap up, here's the big one: What drew you into nerd culture, so to speak? This may be too bold, but you frankly don't see many females of the species taking these kinds of interests. Was there any big influence towards that, or did it just sort of happen?
Zen: Hahaha! Great question. My Dad. My Mom too. But sharing Star Wars with my Dad as a kid was magical. I have amazing parents. I also have an awesome brother.
And I started noticing at a young age that there are different social standards for men and women. Girls do some ridiculous things sometimes because they are allowed to get away with it. Girls are encouraged to talk about their insecurities, while boys are taught to do something about it. Princess Leia was out there doing something about it. All the other women in movies that I'd seen were whining about something or some guy. Then I discovered a whole realm of bad ass women.
I decided I would rather know how to kick ass. I thought, "If Leia can still look good while coping with an interrogation droid - THAT would be something worth reading about in a women's magazine."
Nerd culture believes in people living to their fullest potential. There is a hero in everyman. There is an epic love in every block of carbonite. There is a happy ending. You just have to be willing to fight for it. If you're not willing to fight for it, then you're probably asking someone else to justify it for you, and that is a waste of time.
The dorks, nerds, and geeks - we just know how to live. We know how to believe. How could you not love it?
Opinion column: Susan Estrich blasts Rockstar Games for GTA 4
Thusday, May 8, 2008
In her column released today by Creators Syndicate, columnist Susan Estrich lambasted Rockstar Games and its employees for creating Grand Theft Auto IV, saying she writes from the perspective of the mother of a gamer.
Well I write from the perspective of a gamer, the brother of a gamer, the friend of many gamers, and, incidentally, a sane, rational, and mentally sound person. And I say she's wrong.
To explain: I find the Grand Theft Auto series distasteful; there are plenty of other ways to get in a good gaming fix without playing a mobster. But where she's wrong is when she says Rockstar's designers are wasting their talent, in essence. The thing is, they're not.
Why not? Well, as Ms. Estrich so astutely points out, Rockstar is rolling wheelbarrows of money to the bank off of the GTA series, and have a large segment of an American generation playing their games. She says they're wasting their talent because they could be using this influence for other things (presumably designing more wholesome games), but this ignores one fact: They have all this money and influence because of the kinds of games they produce. If they were making games with GTA's graphics and complex level design but with a different premise, would they have such a wide audience? Probably not. Grand Theft Auto is a proven game concept, like it or not, and as a for-profit company, it is not a waste for Rockstar to profit by capitalizing on it. Saying that they should use their money and influence to make different, less violent games is putting the cart before the horse. In games, violence sells. Whether this is a bad thing or not is up for debate, but as Ms. Estrich also notes, there is no proven correlation between playing violent video games and an increased rate of actual violent crime.
I have to commend Ms. Estrich for refusing to blame GTA for real violence in society, but on the whole, she has completely misunderstood the gaming market.
In her column released today by Creators Syndicate, columnist Susan Estrich lambasted Rockstar Games and its employees for creating Grand Theft Auto IV, saying she writes from the perspective of the mother of a gamer.
Well I write from the perspective of a gamer, the brother of a gamer, the friend of many gamers, and, incidentally, a sane, rational, and mentally sound person. And I say she's wrong.
To explain: I find the Grand Theft Auto series distasteful; there are plenty of other ways to get in a good gaming fix without playing a mobster. But where she's wrong is when she says Rockstar's designers are wasting their talent, in essence. The thing is, they're not.
Why not? Well, as Ms. Estrich so astutely points out, Rockstar is rolling wheelbarrows of money to the bank off of the GTA series, and have a large segment of an American generation playing their games. She says they're wasting their talent because they could be using this influence for other things (presumably designing more wholesome games), but this ignores one fact: They have all this money and influence because of the kinds of games they produce. If they were making games with GTA's graphics and complex level design but with a different premise, would they have such a wide audience? Probably not. Grand Theft Auto is a proven game concept, like it or not, and as a for-profit company, it is not a waste for Rockstar to profit by capitalizing on it. Saying that they should use their money and influence to make different, less violent games is putting the cart before the horse. In games, violence sells. Whether this is a bad thing or not is up for debate, but as Ms. Estrich also notes, there is no proven correlation between playing violent video games and an increased rate of actual violent crime.
I have to commend Ms. Estrich for refusing to blame GTA for real violence in society, but on the whole, she has completely misunderstood the gaming market.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Free Comic Book Day in Evansville a smashing success
Saturday, May 3. 2008
Evansville, IN (TNR) - Comic Quest was jumping today, with Free Comic Book Day in full swing. Much of the free stock was already gone by the time TNR arrived on the scene, but the sale, 20% off all in stock items, as well as several ongoing games, had area gamers and comics enthusiasts still packing the store into the afternoon.
Store owner Jim Jones told The Nerd Report that the store had been even busier earlier in the day.
Elements of the 501st Stormtrooper Legion, Vader's Fist, were present at the store, though Lord Vader was not available for an interview.
The Comic Creators' Alliance was also on hand, set up in Comic Quest's game room to show off their members' creations. Several outstanding independent comic books and graphic novels were on display at the many tables occupied by the group.
The staff at The Nerd Report hopes all of our readers who cared to enjoyed Free Comic Book Day.
Evansville, IN (TNR) - Comic Quest was jumping today, with Free Comic Book Day in full swing. Much of the free stock was already gone by the time TNR arrived on the scene, but the sale, 20% off all in stock items, as well as several ongoing games, had area gamers and comics enthusiasts still packing the store into the afternoon.
Store owner Jim Jones told The Nerd Report that the store had been even busier earlier in the day.
Elements of the 501st Stormtrooper Legion, Vader's Fist, were present at the store, though Lord Vader was not available for an interview.
The Comic Creators' Alliance was also on hand, set up in Comic Quest's game room to show off their members' creations. Several outstanding independent comic books and graphic novels were on display at the many tables occupied by the group.
The staff at The Nerd Report hopes all of our readers who cared to enjoyed Free Comic Book Day.
Free Comic Book Day today, May 3
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Evansville, IN (TNR) - Free Comic Book Day, a day where many participating comic book stores across the world give away comic books to anyone who comes in their doors, falls today, May 3.
Started seven years ago by Joe Field, owner of Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California, the day has grown into a larger event each year as more stores participate and more events are planned on the day.
New Nerd Report staff reporter Renegade Paladin will be on hand at Comic Quest in Evansville to report on the happenings at the city's premiere comics and games shop, and will post his report later in the day. To find a participating store near you, visit http://freecomicbookday.com/
Evansville, IN (TNR) - Free Comic Book Day, a day where many participating comic book stores across the world give away comic books to anyone who comes in their doors, falls today, May 3.
Started seven years ago by Joe Field, owner of Flying Colors Comics in Concord, California, the day has grown into a larger event each year as more stores participate and more events are planned on the day.
New Nerd Report staff reporter Renegade Paladin will be on hand at Comic Quest in Evansville to report on the happenings at the city's premiere comics and games shop, and will post his report later in the day. To find a participating store near you, visit http://freecomicbookday.com/
Friday, May 2, 2008
Contributors Wanted!
From the Desk of the Editor - As noted in the news story-style opening post, we're looking for contributors. News reports and editorials are both welcome; we simply ask that editorial content be marked with the word "Editorial" before the title, i.e. "Editorial: Why Jack Thompson is wrong," or similar.
We prefer to keep a light and occasionally humorous tone, though serious reporting is certainly allowed, if that's to our contributors' tastes. Subjects of stories and editorials should be of interest to those widely considered "nerds;" gaming, computers, technology, Internet topics, conventions, and so forth. The scope of stories can range from the international scale all the way down to local events or small websites.
I will not exercise much in the way of editorial control, though one word of caution: Plagiarism is taken very seriously. If I find that an article has been ripped from a news source, blog, or otherwise does not belong to the contributor who submitted it, the article will be removed and the contributor will have to either explain himself or face revocation of posting privileges.
Each contributor will have his or her own handle to post from. With the current setup, simply get a Google account (this is as easy as signing up for Gmail) or use your current one if you have one, contact me at thenerdreport@gmail.com, and ask to be added to the staff. I ask for a writing sample or two; it doesn't have to be anything fancy, but I at least want to know you know how to spell and construct coherent sentences. We also accept video reporting, though I ask that videos intended for use at The Nerd Report be done in something at least approaching newscast style. The Nerd Report has its own channel on YouTube, http://youtube.com/thenerdreport, for videos to be uploaded to. I will arrange for contributors who wish to do video reporting to transfer the video files to me so that they can be uploaded to the channel; trusted contributors may be given the password to remove the inconvenience of this step, but I don't hand out account passwords to just anyone who asks.
So if you wish to become part of this blog, please contact me. If not, just sit back and enjoy.
We prefer to keep a light and occasionally humorous tone, though serious reporting is certainly allowed, if that's to our contributors' tastes. Subjects of stories and editorials should be of interest to those widely considered "nerds;" gaming, computers, technology, Internet topics, conventions, and so forth. The scope of stories can range from the international scale all the way down to local events or small websites.
I will not exercise much in the way of editorial control, though one word of caution: Plagiarism is taken very seriously. If I find that an article has been ripped from a news source, blog, or otherwise does not belong to the contributor who submitted it, the article will be removed and the contributor will have to either explain himself or face revocation of posting privileges.
Each contributor will have his or her own handle to post from. With the current setup, simply get a Google account (this is as easy as signing up for Gmail) or use your current one if you have one, contact me at thenerdreport@gmail.com, and ask to be added to the staff. I ask for a writing sample or two; it doesn't have to be anything fancy, but I at least want to know you know how to spell and construct coherent sentences. We also accept video reporting, though I ask that videos intended for use at The Nerd Report be done in something at least approaching newscast style. The Nerd Report has its own channel on YouTube, http://youtube.com/thenerdreport, for videos to be uploaded to. I will arrange for contributors who wish to do video reporting to transfer the video files to me so that they can be uploaded to the channel; trusted contributors may be given the password to remove the inconvenience of this step, but I don't hand out account passwords to just anyone who asks.
So if you wish to become part of this blog, please contact me. If not, just sit back and enjoy.
The Nerd Report opens
Friday, May 2, 2008
The Internet (TNR) - The new nerd news agency, "The Nerd Report," opened today, with a mission of bringing news of interest to nerds together in one place, with a mildly humorous bent.
"This agency is starting out small, but we hope to become a part of many nerds' and geeks' daily news fix," said the Editor-In-Chief in a statement. "We are currently looking for writers and editors, willing to write and post articles for the site. We also hope to eventually open a video newscast division."
Subjects that The Nerd Report will cover include gaming, technology, Internet news, and sundry other geeky topics.
Asked about the intended tone of the agency's reporting, the Editor-In-Chief responded: "We don't want to just report dry facts; I personally would like to inject some humor into this. That's not to say we'll be like The Onion; while we have great respect for America's Finest News Source, we're looking to report actual facts here, not just make stuff up. We'll leave that to the professionals," he said with a smile.
Applicants for open positions on The Nerd Report's staff may contact the Editor-In-Chief. "Anyone with an interest in writing news stories of interest to geeks and nerds is welcome to apply. Contact information is listed on the Nerd Report's website, http://thenerdreport.blogspot.com/."
The Internet (TNR) - The new nerd news agency, "The Nerd Report," opened today, with a mission of bringing news of interest to nerds together in one place, with a mildly humorous bent.
"This agency is starting out small, but we hope to become a part of many nerds' and geeks' daily news fix," said the Editor-In-Chief in a statement. "We are currently looking for writers and editors, willing to write and post articles for the site. We also hope to eventually open a video newscast division."
Subjects that The Nerd Report will cover include gaming, technology, Internet news, and sundry other geeky topics.
Asked about the intended tone of the agency's reporting, the Editor-In-Chief responded: "We don't want to just report dry facts; I personally would like to inject some humor into this. That's not to say we'll be like The Onion; while we have great respect for America's Finest News Source, we're looking to report actual facts here, not just make stuff up. We'll leave that to the professionals," he said with a smile.
Applicants for open positions on The Nerd Report's staff may contact the Editor-In-Chief. "Anyone with an interest in writing news stories of interest to geeks and nerds is welcome to apply. Contact information is listed on the Nerd Report's website, http://thenerdreport.blogspot.com/."
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