Geek Stuff Archives - Page 2 of 28

Sailor Freddie Mercury Rules!

My friend Justin knows that I adore Queen (the band, duh) and have enjoyed Sailor Moon anime. He thought that I would love this photo of a cosplayer dressed as Sailor Freddie Mercury…and he was right. This is such a nerdy-awesome mashup! It’s absolutely brilliant. Snapped at the Civic Center station of the San Francisco BART, the picture reveals an ingenious man that that looks (somewhat) like Queen frontman Freddie Mercury and is dressed like Sailor Mercury from the Sailor Scouts.

It got me thinking about other music-and-anime mashups. Unfortunately, all of mine suck. Dragon Ball Bob Marley? Definitely no. Lady Ranma? That’s terrible. Ugh.

Okay, I’m sure you guys and gals can do better. Please think of some anime-and-music mashups and kindly leave them in the comments section. If you whip up something really awesome, perhaps I’ll dress as your mashup character at E3 2014 (but don’t count on it)!

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FAA Removes Head From Ass: Electronics Use Allowed For Entire Flight

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finally allowed the use of consumer electronics during the takeoff and landing of airplanes. Travelers will be free to use their smartphones, tablets, and portable videogame consoles for the entirety of a flight. “Implementation guidance” has been given to airlines and the current restrictions should be lifted by the end of the year. It certainly took the organization long enough to get rid of this stupid restriction, but…

…the FAA still found a way to look silly. It refers to consumer electronics as PEDs. The group says that the acronym stands for “portable electronic devices,” but many people know PEDs as performance-enhancing drugs. Taking a clip from the FAA press release out of context, I found it terribly amusing that FAA administrator Michael Huerta said, “Passengers can use PEDs on airplanes.” I bet Alex Rodriguez got all kinds of excited about flying after he read that (yes, I know he has his own Gulfstream, but just go with it).

Here’s a straight-up clip from the press release:

The FAA based its decision on input from a group of experts that included representatives from the airlines, aviation manufacturers, passengers, pilots, flight attendants, and the mobile technology industry.

Passengers will eventually be able to read e-books, play games, and watch videos on their devices during all phases of flight, with very limited exceptions. Electronic items, books and magazines, must be held or put in the seat back pocket during the actual takeoff and landing roll. Cell phones should be in airplane mode or with cellular service disabled – i.e., no signal bars displayed—and cannot be used for voice communications based on FCC regulations that prohibit any airborne calls using cell phones. If your air carrier provides Wi-Fi service during flight, you may use those services. You can also continue to use short-range Bluetooth accessories, like wireless keyboards.

If you want the full skinny, including all the FAA’s definitions and the group’s top-10 list of “Things Passengers Should Know about Expanded Use of PEDs on Airplanes” then be sure to hit up the source link below. For now, (please) tell me how you feel about the FAA finally getting rid of its stupid rules on consumer-electronics use during takeoff and landing). Are you excited about the prospect of playing games, watching movies, and listening to music for an entire when you visit your loved ones this holiday season?

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Coffee Talk #602: First-World Nerd Problems

I’ve read several stories about people that have dropped their mobile phones in the toilet. A few of my friends have suffered this calamity. As mobile phones have become more powerful and apps have become more compelling, this epidemic seems to be spreading. It’s very much a case of a first-world nerd problem. While I don’t use my phone in the bathroom, several of you RPadholic revealed that you do (remember this poll?). Still, it puzzles me. Is it really that difficult to…continued

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, being baffled by politicians supporting A-Rod, excited by your first potential Internet vaping stalker (and hoping that she’s a vampire), or Amazon’s rumored Prime mobile phone by HTC, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve read several stories about people that have dropped their mobile phones in the toilet. A few of my friends have suffered this calamity. As mobile phones have become more powerful and apps have become more compelling, this epidemic seems to be spreading. It’s very much a case of a first-world nerd problem. While I don’t use my phone in the bathroom, several of you RPadholics revealed that you do (remember this poll?). Still, it puzzles me. Is it really that difficult to avoid dropping your Android phone or iPhone in the toilet?!?

Then again, I shouldn’t judge. I’m guilty of another first-world nerd problem — one that involves tablets. I’ve always enjoyed reading in bed. Until recently, it was a fairly safe thing for me to do. Dozing off with a comic book or paperback in my hands was easy to deal with. Even hardcover books were relatively manageable. Then, the iPad (and Comixology) arrived. That’s when reading in bed became hazardous to my head. Over the last few years, there have been dozens of instances when I wanted to keep reading, but my eyes and brain were telling me to go the hell to sleep. I’d doze off and — boom! — my iPad would smack me in the face.

This first-world nerd problem is certainly embarrassing — I’d briefly wake up, feel stupid, and quickly fall back asleep — but at least I can own up to it. How about you guys and gals? Have dropped your iPhone in the toilet or smacked yourself in the face with your iPad? Are you guilty of any first-world nerd problems? Please share your stories in the comments section.

Marina Shifrin Quits Like a Boss

This video by Marina Shifrin is one of the best, most creative, and smartest ways to quit your job. The clip is funny, tells a story, and generates a ton of sympathy. Good on her! Hopefully she can take advantage of her Internet fame and leverage the exposure into lucrative work that she loves.

I wish I thought of something similar after my beloved GameSpy was acquired by IGN. I loved the company when I started there and hated the post-acquisition changes. Quitting via interpretive dance would have been awesome, especially set to a song that uses “Brother Numpsay” in the lyrics.

Anyway, check out Marina Shifrin’s video below and dream up your own “I Quit” video. What song and dance style would you use to quit your job?

Star Wars Meets…Les Miserables?!?

Here’s an excellent video that mashes up Star Wars and Les Miserables. It features the confrontation between Valjean and Javert, but with lightsabers and Force powers. As a Star Wars nerd and a fan of Les Miserables (the musical, not the book…that I haven’t finished), I found the video utterly awesome. The actors sing well and the addition of lightsabers is hilarious! It makes you wonder though. How interesting would the Paris Uprising of 1832 have been if everyone had lightsabers?

As you know, most of the best fight scenes in cinema feature one of two things — music (see West Side Story) and lightsabers (Kenobi vs. Skywalker I). Combining the two is sheer genius. Check out the clip below and let me know what you think (please). What other musicals would benefit from lightsabers? How about Cats or A Chorus Line?

Taco Bell to Sell Waffle Taco (Why?!?)

Not content with selling you unhealthy foods for lunch and dinner, Taco Bell plans to annihilate breakfast with the Waffle Taco. The product was tested at five Taco Bell restaurants in California and apparently customers loved it. The Waffle Taco is now available at 100 Taco Bell locations, as of August 8, 2013. Here’s the description via Time:

The fast-food chain says the waffle taco, which includes scrambled eggs, sausage and a side of syrup.

While this sounds like typical fast-food breakfast dreck, at least it’s not as ridiculous as the KFC Double Down.

Are any of you intrigued by the Taco Bell Waffle Taco? Do you see it becoming a regular part of your diet?

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[Thanks to my pal Mike for the link!]

Elon Musk Posts 57 Pages of Hyperloop Magic (PDF)

Tesla Motors chairman, CEO, and product architect Elon Musk has posted a 57-page PDF detailing the company’s Hyperloop project. Touted as a groundbreaking form of public transportation, Hyperloop will (theoretically) be able to complete trips between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 30 minutes. It (allegedly) offers safe and comfortable travel at speeds higher than 700 miles per hour, using a system that’s described as a combination of a rail gun and an air-hockey table.

Other bonuses touted on the Tesla Motors site include Continue reading “Elon Musk Posts 57 Pages of Hyperloop Magic (PDF)”

Coffee Talk #598: Your Favorite Internet Grammar & Usage Errors

The other day, RPadholic smartguy posted a comment about social media making the world dumber because it ignores poor spelling and punctuation. In this particular case, Texas Rangers pitcher and chief misogyny officer Matt Garza was guilty of a common Internet mistake — using “there” instead of “their.” Garza meant to menacingly tweet, “Some people can’t shut their woman up!” but instead wrote, “Some people can’t shut there woman up!”

All of us have misused there/their/they’re, its/it’s, and your/you’re. Smartguy is absolutely right though — the Internet is making it worse. Instead of lamenting the fact, let’s celebrate it! What are some of your favorite Internet grammar and usage errors? Here are some of mine…continued

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, Alex Rodriguez selfishly refusing to donate $500,000 to RPad.TV, helping technophobes set up WordPress blogs, or the best cheese for grilled-cheese sandwiches, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Could Care Less: This is one I used to mess up frequently, until RPadholic N8R schooled me in the comments section of a G4tv story. People use this phrase when they’re trying to say that they don’t give a dman. What they should say is couldn’t care less.
All Intensive Purposes: This is one of my favorites. I see this one a lot on ESPN.com and various boxing forums. I rarely see it on comics, gaming, and tech blogs. My theory is that nerds that like sports are smarter people than sports fans that don’t like geeky things. Anyway, it should be all intents and purposes. A Doghouseboxing reader completely butchered the phrase and wrote, “All in tents and porpoises.” That gave me a three-day headache.
Mute Point: What’s that? I can’t hear you. You must be making a mute point. Bwahahahahaha!!! No, imbecile, (Don Keefer™) it’s a moot point.
Nip it in the Butt: I don’t understand why people get this one wrong. It’s nip it in the bud. If you equate a problem with a flower, then you nip it in the bud before it can bloom into something larger. Saying that you want to nip it in the butt is another way of saying you like to bite ass, which only makes sense if you’re Marv Albert.

Anyway, those are my favorite Internet grammar and usage errors. Kindly leave some of yours in the comments section!

Texas Rangers Matt Garza Attacks Opponent’s Wife…on Twitter

Texas Rangers pitcher Matt Garza is known for his fiery competitiveness. Against the Oakland A’s last Saturday, he was…displeased when opposing pitcher Eric Sogard laid down a squeeze bunt on him in the 7th. It was Sogard’s second successful bunt of the game and one of several made by Oakland. Garza pretty much sucks at fielding bunts and was frustrated. After the game, he took to Twitter to lay into Sogard and his wife, Kaycee Sogard. Check out some of his rant in the image above.

Yesterday, he issued an apologetic statement that wasn’t much of an apology. Here’s a snippet via ESPN:

I let my competitive spirit cross outside the lines, and that shouldn’t happen. I let my passion, my fire carry over, and that’s not how this game should be played. And for that I apologize to the Sogards for anything that was said through my Twitter.

Misogynistic tweets aside, there are several things that are funny/sad about this. First, it’s amusing that Garza believes that competitive spirit, passion, and fire are reasons to act like an immature dick. Second, it’s hilarious that he feels so macho about blasting an opponent’s wife on social media. I’m sure all of you have encountered Internet tough guys over the years, but a professional athlete that’s an Internet tough guy picking on a woman?!? That’s just lame.

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Behind the Scenes Feature on Jobs (Ashton Kutcher)

The latest behind-the-scenes feature on the upcoming Jobs movie starring Ashton Kutcher has me wary of the film. Be sure to check out the clip — featuring Kutcher (Steve Jobs) and Josh Gad (Steve Wozniak) — embedded below. On the plus side, Kutcher has Jobs’ awkward strut down (it’s almost like the nerd version of WWE Vince McMahon’s silly duck walk). He looks great as young Steve and looks decent as NeXT-era Steve. As for iPod-era Steve…ouchie. To me, he looked less like Steve Jobs and more like Will Ferrell playing James Lipton on Saturday Night Live. That’s not good.

Speaking of not good, I’m not digging Kutcher’s voice. While it’s true that a limited actor can only do so much to change the sound of his or her voice, cadence is something that can be mimicked. After watching several clips of the feature, it sounds like Kutcher wasn’t even trying. Perhaps I’m expecting too much from the guy from That ’70s Show, but considering his heavy involvement in the tech world and his obvious adoration for Jobs, I thought he would have tried harder.

Let’s be real though. There are many people that find Apple so fascinating that they’re going to see Jobs no matter what. (And yes, I’m one of those people.) How about you? How does the short feature on Jobs make you feel about the movie? Excited, scared, or ready to embrace Android/Windows?