Category: Geek Stuff

Denny’s to Feature Food and Drinks Based on The Hobbit

You’ve seen the first television commercial for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, now wash it down with some Shire Sausage at Denny’s! The restaurant chain has announced a line of food of beverages based on the upcoming movie. I’m pretty sure the Hobbit Hole Breakfast was not what JRR Tolkien had in mind when he wrote the book, but let’s just go with it. Here’s a clip from the press release:

Denny’s new “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”-themed menu will feature a diverse selection of eleven new breakfast, lunch and dinner menu offerings including the “Hobbit Hole Breakfast,” “Frodo’s Pot Roast Skillet,” and “Build Your Own Hobbit Slam,” which includes new limited time holiday favorites such as “Pumpkin Patch Pancakes,” “Shire Sausage,” and “Seed Cake French Toast.”

Normally, I ignore restaurant tie-ins with movies, but this one is so cheesy (not in the dairy-product sense) that it makes me smile. I don’t even like Denny’s all that much, but I sure as hell am going to order some of these dishes when they become available on November 6, 2012.

Any of these Hobbit-themed concoctions sound good to you?

Source (PDF)

Still Man Fights Available in Paperback

Justin Leeper’s book Still Man Fights is now available on paperback! Many of you know Justin from his fine hosting in RPad.TV videos, while others of you know him from his days at Game Informer or as a jobber in the Minnesota independent wrestling scene. Give the brother some support and pick up his book. It has a sweet cover, is a fun read, and will only run you $7.99.

Ecko Unlimited Batman Arkham City Threads Available Now!

Ecko Unlimited has unveiled its limited edition Batman Arkham City threads. The crown jewel of the collection is the full-zip Batman hoodie pictured above. In addition to Batman clothes, the line includes t-shirts that feature Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn. The t-shirts list for $19.50, while the hoodie runs for $149.50. The shirts are available on Amazon if you’d like to support this site. The thing to do, of course, is to wear the Batman hoodie and randomly spout, “I’m Batman!” in the style of How It Should Have Ended.

Any of you going to pick any Ecko Unlimited Batman threads?

Internet Nerds Mock Mitt Romney on Amazon

Oh Internet nerds…you make me laugh. Liberals have been mocking Mitt Romney for using the phrase “binders full of women” during last night’s presidential debate. The joking has infiltrated Amazon.com. Check out the reviews for the Avery Durable View Binder with 2 Inch EZ-Turn Ring, White, 1 Binder. Here are some of the recent review titles:

A presidential candidate’s choice is the choice for me

Not as useful as the Trap Her, Keep Her

Mine did not come pre-filled with women

Holds All My Women

Keeps me in line, husband happy!

Here are some choice lines from the reviews:

I have a lot of trouble getting my women into most binders. It would be very helpful if this was bundled together with a heavy duty three hole punch.

Don’t get me wrong, when I was given this binder, it was chock full of women. I mean, I went out of my way to get people to bring this binder to me. However, after I was given this one binder, suddenly a second binder plopped on top of it. Now I had binders full of women. And with an EZ-Turn Ring, I could take women in and out of these binders. The color of this binder, white, is perfect, by the by. Gosh, I can’t imagine any other color my binders full of women might come in.

My grandfather ran businesses, and his father before him. We used to keep women in loose leaf folders.

Family harmony was threatened by my general inability to make good judgements and not be able to find Cabinets, so my lovely man thoughtfully bought this binder and he clips me into it whenever things get out of hand. We’re all SO much happier.

When I pile my binders full of women on top of each other, the weight causes the rings to buckle a little bit and misalign and then sometimes my women do get caught on the rings. But we all know how women are, right? Typically heavy and hung up on rings!

This binder has more than enough room to hold all of my women, some of whom cook dinner for me. I wish it came in pink, though.

As a woman, I was disappointed that the “gap-free” claim was in reference to the rings in the binder, not to gender equity in wages. But the trade-off is that the binder did let me leave work in time to go home and cook dinner.

The reviews are piling up. I encourage you to hit up Amazon and give them a read.

Source

Coffee Talk #525: The Geek Chic World of E-Cigs

Smoking is stupid. There’s no arguing that point. It’s really bad for you. I’m saying this as a former smoker and a current e-cig user. Many people are making the switch from smoking cigarettes to vaporizing (or vaping) e-cigs. With e-cigs, you inhale nicotine and flavor, but don’t inhale tar and carbon monoxide. Longterm studies are still being done on the longterm effects of vaping, but eschewing known carcinogens for a combination of nicotine, food flavoring, and water is probably better for you, don’t you agree? Here’s a look at vast world of e-cigs and an explanation of why they’re especially popular with tech geeks.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the NY Yankees not hitting worth a damn, Softbank possibly buying a majority share of Sprint, or Hulk Hogan putting Austin Aries over in the press, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Smoking is stupid. There’s no arguing that point. It’s really bad for you. I’m saying this as a former smoker and a current e-cig user. Many people are making the switch from smoking cigarettes to vaporizing (or vaping) e-cigs. With e-cigs, you inhale nicotine and flavor, but don’t inhale tar and carbon monoxide. Studies are still being done on the longterm effects of vaping, but eschewing known carcinogens for a combination of nicotine, food flavoring, and water is probably better for you, don’t you agree?

Many people start off with standard-looking e-cigs like Safe Cig or V2. They look like regular cigarettes and are relatively inconspicuous, allowing vapers to blend in with smokers. They’re also really easy to use. You have a battery that needs to be charged occasionally. You have cartridges with nicotine and flavor that need to be replaced. It couldn’t be simpler. The disadvantages of these types of e-cigs are that battery life is relatively short and the throat hit is weaker than conventional cigarettes. Still, for people that want ease-of-use and want something that looks like a “normal” cigarette, products like Safe Cig and V2 are a good choice.

For heavy smokers or those that want to get even nerdier with vaping, there are larger products that offer longer battery life and a heavier throat hit. The eGo-C is one of the most popular models out there. These types of products offer more flexibility, with different types of cartomizers and tanks that alter the vaping experience. They also make it easier to use e-liquids or smoke juice; buying e-liquids for refillable tanks and cartomizers is cheaper than buying single-use cartridges. While these products offer better battery life, superior performance, and more flexibility, most of them will make you look like you’re smoking a schlong. However, there are newer products like the Elips-C that offer a great blend of looks and performance.

Vaping is especially popular with tech enthusiasts. This isn’t surprise since there are electronics involved. Part of it is the appeal of new products replacing those that have been used for hundreds of years. Part of it is the modding aspect of vaping. There are products like the eGo-VV that let users change the voltage of the battery, resulting in different tastes and different amounts of vapor. Experimenting with different tanks and liquids is geek chic. Blending your own liquids is one step away from alchemy. With so many aspects of the vaping experience to experiment with, it’s no wonder tech nerds enjoy it.

In the near future, I’ll have some e-cig product reviews and comparisons. I know that RPadholics Big Blak and N8R have used e-cigs. I’d love to hear what those guys have to say about them. If you have an experience with vaping or any questions about it, please leave a comment.

Star Wars Eyeglasses Completely Rule!

I was going to save up for Lasik surgery…but then I saw this awesome line of Star Wars eyewear! Check out these eyeglasses inspired by Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, R2-D2, Boba Fett, and more. They completely own. These eyeglasses are set to ship at the end of the month and will run you $499.99. That’s expensive, but totally worth it to have The Force be with you, don’t you agree? More pictures of these awesome Star Wars glasses are below. Continue reading “Star Wars Eyeglasses Completely Rule!”

Today’s Poll: Adobe Flash and You

Adobe Flash has a mixed reputation. Some people find it a vital part of the Internet experience. Others think that it’s an annoyance that slows down system performance and drains battery life. Then there are people that install Flash on their web browsers and just don’t care. How do you guys and gals use Adobe Flash with your web browsers? Kindly vote in today’s poll and expand on your answer in the comments section.

As for me, Flash is an on-demand feature. I don’t use it with Firefox or Safari. It’s baked into Chrome, but I don’t use it unless I have to. For most sites, it’s treated as a “Click to Play” feature. There are some exceptions, like this site, where I always leave it on, but for the most part I try not to use Flash unless I have to.

Now it’s your turn! Please vote and tell me about your Adobe Flash usage habits.

[poll id=”165″]

Ichiro Suzuki’s Nerd Chic Baseball Bat Case

Like many great athletes, New York Yankees outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is a creature of habit. One of his nerdiest habits is the way he takes case of his baseball bats. It makes total sense — of course one of the greatest hitters in MLB history takes pristine care of his bats. Tech nerds will appreciate the great lengths Ichiro goes to in order to make sure his bats are protected from excess moisture. Here’s more from The New York Times:

While most players dump their bats in cylindrical canvas bags when they are not using them, Suzuki neatly stacks his best eight bats inside a shockproof, moisture-free black case that he keeps close by his locker at home and on the road.

The case, which looks like a mini trunk, not only protects the bats from jostling and banging during transports, it also serves as a dehumidifier, drawing moisture out of the bats during the hot, humid American summers.

For Suzuki, a preeminent scientist in the field of hitting, regulating the amount of moisture in his bat is critical to the touch and feel of it. A hard, dry bat with just the right amount of water content has helped Suzuki become one of the best hitters in the game.

I’ve been an Ichiro fan since his Seattle Mariners days. His obsessive and technologically-charged bat care makes me an even bigger fan of his. Honestly though, I’m surprised that this isn’t done by every baseball player (except for Adam Dunn, who will swing at a baseball with anything he can get his hands on regardless of its condition). Wood is a finicky substance and its properties can be drastically altered by changes in humidity. I’m sure that traveling musicians like RPadholic N8R know what I’m talking about; I’ve felt how humidity can change the feel of guitars first hand. Many people consider Ichiro a surgical hitter. Naturally, his precision hitting requires his tools to be in tip-top shape at all times. Props to Ichiro for nerding up his bat care!

Source via Daring Fireball

Coffee Talk #520: Your Favorite Viral YouTube Videos

Within the next month, Psy’s “Gangnam Style” music video will hit over 300-million views on YouTube. That’s phenomenal for a video that became popular virally. Numbers like that are usually achieved by established artists that attract millions of teenage girls (Justin Bieber) or millions of horny guys (Jennifer Lopez). A music video featuring a goofy dude singing in Korean and doing a ridiculous dance usually isn’t the type of video that catches on globally. It’s a testament to the power of the Internet (and possibly an indictment of the Internet’s taste-makers)…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Andy Pettitte turning back the clock, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. testing positive for marijuana, or Marissa Mayer’s big Yahoo! address today, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Within the next month, Psy’s “Gangnam Style” music video will hit over 300-million views on YouTube. That’s phenomenal for a video that became popular virally. Numbers like that are usually achieved by established artists that attract millions of teenage girls (Justin Bieber) or millions of horny guys (Jennifer Lopez). A music video featuring a goofy dude singing in Korean and doing a ridiculous dance usually isn’t the type of video that catches on globally. It’s a testament to the power of the Internet (and possibly an indictment of the Internet’s taste-makers).

The “Gangnam Style” phenomenon is unbelievable. I’ve stopped trying to figure it out. I’ve accepted it and started thinking about other YouTube wonders of the world. Out of all the YouTube videos that became popular virally, Tay Zonday’s “Chocolate Rain” is my favorite. After all these years, it still makes me laugh. The combination of his impossibly low voice, the Casio keyboard tone, the low production values, and the crazy lyrics cracks me up. I can always count on “Chocolate Rain” to cheer me up.

How about you? What are some of your favorite YouTube viral videos? Star Wars kid? The Leave Britney Alone dude? Please list, link, and discuss in the comments section!

LIFX: Lightbulb Controlled By Android and iOS Devices

LIFX is a recent Kickstarter project that has been getting a done of buzz and funding. As of this writing, the project has blown past its $100,000 goal with $1,107,996 in pledges. LIFX is an LED lightbulb that can be controlled with Android and iOS devices. Users can control the brightness and the color of the light with their phones and tablets. This is an energy-efficient product with an extremely high level of nerd appeal. Check out the video below for info on LIFX. Continue reading “LIFX: Lightbulb Controlled By Android and iOS Devices”