December 26th, 2008 § § permalink
I was reading an article this morning judging President-elect Obama’s geek creds and reaized something scary. I am a fake, a poser…I am not a real geek. Now some people might be relieved by such a revelation but personally I am terrified. I feel like the walls are crumbling and I don’t know who I am at all. Perhaps I have been living a lie all this time!
GeekDad contributor Matt Blum, a software engineer in Reston, Va., defines geeks as having high intellects, embracing technology, “getting excited about things in the future especially, particularly fiction,” having a science viewpoint and being steeped in the geek culture of science fiction and fantasy.
Geeks know and use references from “Star Trek,” “Dungeons and Dragons” and comic books. And, he added, they are nit-picky, unafraid to correct mixed science fiction metaphors, such as confusing Star Trek’s Andorians with “Star Wars” Iridonians.
Wow. I had it wrong this whole time. Unfortunately I am not a sci-fi addict, I can count all the comic books I have purchased in the last 20 years on two fingers and I haven’t played Dungeons and Dragons since it was an interesting excuse to drink in high school.
Wikipedia says “The word geek is a slang term, noting individuals as “a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things including those of intellectuality, electronics, gaming, etc.” Now that definition is much more friendly and I think it’s the one that has started the new geek chic movement that has geek wunderkinds like Kevin Rose in the social spotlight.
Being a geek is pretty simple. You are a techie. No, not a trekie, a TECHIE.
Don’t let anyone tell you that if you can’t recall episode numbers for Star Trek or know what George Lucas was eating when he thought of the AT-ATs in Star Wars (man I was stretching for that reference) that you can’t be a geek. I for one am a geek, no, a power geek..and I just can’t get into sci-fi, don’t collect comics, don’t know jack about D&D and I don’t live in my mom’s basement……anymore 
October 20th, 2008 § § permalink
You know the drill, there was the guy that was kind of dweebish in high school. Not too many friends, got picked on for his forward thinking style (Chucks before they were cool kind of thing) and his penchant for out of mainstream music and insisting on listening to vinyl instead of CD.
Fast-forward to your fifteen year reunion and he is a successful stock broker at Ima, Asshole & Stien, and he shows up with his obviously an ex-stripper girlfriend and status quo BMW 3 Series M model macho dick car.
Do I sound angry? Sorry about that, I am one of the few people around the office that like and support Apple, but being that I do work for Microsoft, some of the latest “Mac vs. PC” ads are starting to work my nerves a bit.
First it was the “Screw you Windows, we can run Office too.” Conveniently forgetting that WE write office for them and if we stopped they would be in a serious disadvantage. Second came the iLife commercial advertising that while the Mac comes with all this cool software, Windows comes with stuff like Calculator. Nevermind the bundle of games that are included now, or the video editor, photo catalog and editor, really all the stuff in iLife except Garageband.
The latest is this monster that seems to be making fun of Microsoft for spending money on advertising? Seriously? How many ads do you see Apple put out that are specifically targeted to badmouthing Windows, not really advertising their own product. I would be willing to bet that Apple spent more on music licensing for Cold Play than we spent on ad production entirely!
So that’s how I am starting to feel about the Apple marketing machine, you were cool and chic when you were the underdog, now that you are building momentum, it’s starting to come off and arrogant and, most of the time completely not true.
August 28th, 2008 § § permalink
Apparently it is impossible to believe that someone could not want XM Radio. I mean, my car is capable, obviously I would want to pay for radio, who wouldn’t? 4 or 5 months ago I bought a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu that is capable of Satellite radio and came with 3 months of service. It also came with an MP3 player input which I use exclusively, daily and without fail.
I have a 160GB iPod with over 130GB of music on it that completely satisfies my music listening needs. The only problem is that XM Radio is apparently unable to admit that I might not need their service. I just hung up from the dozenth call at least, in which the last 4 or 5 I have been remarkably rude to no avail.
As soon as the poor victim, I mean lady, said she was with with XM Radio I said, “Ma’am, I don’t want XM Radio, I don’t use it, I don’t need it and I want you guys to quit calling me about it.” To which she quickly responded “But we are offering 5 months for $19.99.”
If I am so tired of them calling, and I have refused it nearly a dozen times, why would they still think it’s the cost that’s keeping me from re-subscribing? If you want to argue about cost, get OnStar on the phone to talk about the $60 for 100 minutes of phone service. I would use that but refuse to pay that kind of money for it.
As far as Satellite radio goes, I just don’t want it. I don’t use it, need it or care about it. Please, for the love of God, leave me alone. lol
July 30th, 2008 § § permalink
June 16th, 2008 § § permalink
