Geek Culture

I could have bought a Warhammer 40k army with the
amount of hockey gear I own.

  Geek culture is by far one of the most unique ones in existence; however, that does not make it flawless. Geek, by definition, means: a person who is very interested in and knows a lot about a particular field or activity. In other words, nearly anyone walking the face of this earth is a geek! 

  I, personally, have a myriad of interests. I am a: video game, car, art, film, and hockey geek just to name a few. Through all walks of life there are many geeks among us. In this post, I’d like to explain a few negatives that geeks should all work to improve. On the other hand, I aim to shed some light on fantastic features of the geek community. 

  As with any culture, it has its share of imperfections, although I will focus on a select few. Ethnocentrism ( judging another solely by the values and standards of one's own culture) remains a hindrance in the acceptance of new geeks. A demonstration of Ethnocentric behavior would be the judgement of another player of an MMO because they did not play since Beta or long time Doctor Who fans treating newer fans differently because they have started with the Ninth doctor as a opposed to the First. While a common interest is present, the person who has dedicated more time perceives themselves as a ‘true geek’.

  Elitism (a person having, thought to have, or professing superior intellect or talent, power, wealth, or membership in the upper echelons of society) runs along the similar lines.I have, as many of you as well, have faced elitism first hand. My experience began in high school for theater in my freshman year. My naive mind lead me to believe that I would be accepted with open arms. This was not the case. No matter the acting prowess any underclassmen had shown, they were merely cast as extras and smaller speaking parts. While freshmen tried to integrate themselves into the the group that they finally felt they belonged within, seniors wanted nothing to do with them. The notion being that the freshmen weren't worth a moment of their time.

  Additionally, an issue I am personally knowledgeable on is sexism (prejudice or discrimination based on a person's sex or gender). For example, “Your boyfriend must be playing the game for you” for women to “You've probably never even been on a date” for guys. Countless jabs have been taken at many geek’s intelligence, skill, or life experience based purely upon gender. Finding enjoyment in both prancing around in pumps and lacerating locusts on Gears of War is possible. Likewise, your local Dungeon Master may go home to his long-term girl(or boy)friend after a long day of placing players in turmoil. 

  Switching gears, an abundance of wonderful traits exist to contrast the negatives. Camaraderie blossoms in geek culture unlike any other. A simple common interests sparks some of the most intense and intriguing conversation. Likewise, geeking out over a subject can subsequently lead into obtaining a new friend or more. 

The day after I learned Magic The Gathering, I
destroyed my teacher.

  Ever wonder what it’s like to play Dungeons & Dragons? Or if Wolverine’s adamantium claws would pierce the Hulk’s skin? (They would, by the way.) Find someone who’s passionate about it! Geeks find gratification in teaching or explaining things to an interested party. Rambling on about a passion is an absolute delight. Let them teach you how to play a new tabletop game, or explain the inaccuracies in the latest blockbuster hit from it’s source. Furthermore, incredible creativity emanates from geeks. Fan art, cosplay, and fanfiction are prime examples. 

  Fan fiction takes a story beyond the author’s intent. Harry Potter continues on beyond book seven; however, not written by J.K. Rowling. Devoted and imaginative fans envision a continuation and invite fellow Potter lovers to take a peek into the possibilities. Meanwhile, those who fell in love with the characters of their favorite anime or video game, show tribute by creating costumes. 

  Cosplay has blossomed into an art form of it’s own. Traditional versions of the a character are shown in meticulous detail, or original and inventive ideas are displayed. With examples of steampunk Link from Legend of Zelda to gender-swapped Han Solo it goes to show the creatives minds that lie inside of geeks. 

  In conclusion, geeks are an extraordinary and unique bunch. A post such as this is not meant to serve as a blanket list of traits that all geeks possess, but instead look at the culture as a whole. My advice to any of you who know fellow geeks or you yourself participate in any of the negative traits is this: Instead of condemning the person who adores the Eleventh Doctor because they have yet to watch Nine or his predecessors, hear them out or accept their opinion. Take enjoyment in the fact that other Whovians exist and then decide who will be the companion. A healthy debate is always an option as well, as long as it doesn't evolve into cheap insults. 

Hippy time. ♥

Let’s just all get along, and live side by side in harmony with thy fellow geek.

Archery!

Disclaimer: In no way, shape or form am I an expert in the way of archery. (Even though I shot a zombie in the head as if I were Hawkeye. Continue reading for more information...) This merely details my first experience.

Last weekend I channeled my inner Link, Legolas and Mulan (post-training) to learn archery!

Let me begin with the path leading to this grand experience. I purchased a Groupon for an archery lesson for one or two people at Archery Headquarters in Chandler, AZ which included an ‘Intro to Archery’ lesson, no equipment fee, and a bit of free time to shoot.The going rate of the class I attended is $25 for one person, seeing as how Tauriel, and Link are some of my favorite characters, making the decision to pay the fee was an incredibly easy one. The overall experience with this business was marvelous. The instructor was phenomenal, the equipment and facility was clean and well kept, and making the appointment was easy.

As I arrived at the range and saw the targets, my excitement began to boil over like an unsupervised pot of ramen. I’ve always wanted to learn how to shoot a bow for either hobby, or survival benefit. When the zombie apocalypse happens, I’d like to know that I have the skill to wield a weapon that won’t make an echoing blast.

The instructor thoroughly explained the commands of the range and taught us the proper stance. After going over how to nock (or ‘load’) an arrow and draw, we were summoned to the line to begin shooting. As round after round went by and helpful tips were mentioned, we were given balloons to put on our targets.

Being competitive in nature, I had to massacre that little rubber housing of hot air. Soon, our quivers would be out of arrows and we began round two of attempting to slay the foul beast. I quickly realized that the only ones left with a balloon was myself and the seven year old to my right. Who, upon noticing the same thing, said,”I think they gave the big ones to the smaller people.” Eventually, that satisfying burst of air escaping it’s stretched out prison left me elated.

Was it time for my second rubber victim? Oh no. The instructor revealed our next targets to be zombie busts, and gave us a challenge after separating us into groups. The dream team assembled. While taking turns, as children’s shows have taught me since I was five, we released arrows into our braindead prey. Feeling accomplished after various headshots, we learned that we had lost the game. Did it matter? No. However, as with any sport, a bit of friendly competition is fun.

There are numerous tidbits of new information that came along with this fun filled day. While learning archery may seem like a daunting task, it is a lot easier than expected. That being said, don’t be deterred from giving it a go simply because you don’t believe you can do it. Archery does work your arm, back and shoulder muscles; however, take it from this noodle arm wielding blogger, don’t be intimidated.

I didn’t believe I’d be strong enough to draw a bow, let alone hold steady enough to aim; yet, above is the evidence that spaghetti arms can be lethal. Stance, follow through, and breathing are all vital elements to shooting well. At first I kept forgetting to follow through and once I released my arm fell limp, causing my aim to suffer. Having an absolute blast with this experience sparked my interest in archery a bit more, and in turn I began researching equipment. Compared to other sports, archery is fairly priced. Though a beginners bow will run you at least $150, and that’s just the bow.

The feeling of readying an arrow and letting it fly to witness your budding skill is one of a kind. Though I had a feeling this would be a great experience, I was unaware of how enjoyable and unique it would turn out to be. I was equally oblivious to the interest that would be launched to explore more about archery as a hobby. As I walked through the door of the range and back out into the world, I felt a little more prepared for survival situations and had a new hobby to research.

The Wolf Among Us Review

Price: $$$$

Rating: Mature

Platform: PC, Xbox 360, PS3, PS Vita

Replay Value: Moderate

Enjoyment: 4/5

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Not you, because you are him in The Wolf Among Us. This game from Telltale (the creators of The Walking Dead game) immerses the player in an entirely new view of some favorite fairytale characters. Notable appearances range from stories such as Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland and even Little Red Riding Hood. The story unfolds in Fabletown which is modern-day Manhattan, New York, during 1986. Fantasy characters, or “fables”, are not the only inhabitants. The native humans are known as “mundies”, and to hide their real identity every non-human looking fable must purchase enchantments to blend in. The protagonist of this game is Bigby, aka the Big Bad Wolf. Bigby is the local sheriff of Fabletown who helps maintains the town's normal appearance as to not blow their cover. All the while, trying to contain and move on from the monster he once was.

Most of this game at surface level is influenced heavily by the fantastic work that Telltale has done with The Walking Dead. The art has the same cel shading style which meshes well with this games comic book roots. The player is presented with dialog and combat choices as well as a countdown to create real-time reactions. As decisions are made, small text appears in the corner of the screen occasionally, to remind the player that their choices have an effect. Every decision changes the players relationships with other characters. At the heart of countless decisions you can choose to be a good cop or bad cop. However, at times the line becomes fuzzy and it comes down to the lesser of two evils.

There were numerous aspects which contributed to my falling head over heels for this game. Storytelling helped me fall further into the rabbit hole that is this game. The constant action means no looking away, even if only for a moment, and loving every minute of it. Instead of a shining, happy side of the characters from tales we all know, some gritty and dark versions are brought to light in a new way. Something that differentiates this game from The Walking Dead, despite it’s similarities, is the action. There is much more combat; yet, it does not take away from the story in the slightest but enhances it. The feeling of having a physical presence in game, as opposed to just your words, is exhilarating.

However, being enamored with this game did not take away from the few noticeable flaws. The game being episodic is one of the few cons to the overall experience, waiting for the release every month becomes torture for those ingrained in the story. Each episode begins with a refresher of the story so far, but at times it seems a little lackluster and unfulfilling. Another element that pulled me out of the in depth experience of this game was an issue with frame rate. Although this may be an issue on my personal computer's performance, after further investigation, I found that many others had issues with this as well. A skip here and there really took away from the story having a hold on me.

Overall, Telltale did a spectacular job of tearing this story from the pages of a comic book and bringing it to life. The action, story and unique view of characters that we all know from tales prior brings a new and refreshing experience to gamers. While frame rate and the inevitable wait for new episodes to be released (for those playing the game currently) are a downside, these minor drawbacks won’t ruin the game. I strongly suggest this game for anyone who enjoys an in depth story with rich characters and the ability to take action when needed.

Google Chromecast Review

Pros:

• Simple setup
• Wireless casting
• Cast a tab or desktop
• Multi-device support
• Numerous supported apps

Cons:

• No security
• Requires power
• Casting only from Google Chrome browser or supported apps

Price: $$$$

Bottom Line: Buy

Tired of being huddled around a computer or smartphone to watch that cute cat video? Well huddle no longer! For only $35, Google Chromecast is a small device that plugs into an HDMI port on whichever desired t.v. to stream video and audio wirelessly. After installing the app and some simple setup for the device, you’ll be streaming in no time.

Once you’re all set up you can begin streaming from various apps that support Chromecast (Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, Youtube, Pandora, and more). However, if you’re streaming something from another site while using the Chrome browser, there’s an option to cast your current tab. Currently, there’s an experimental feature in which you can cast your entire screen. As long as a device is supported and connected to the wi-fi network associated with the Chromecast, you can stream from it. Not to mention, after steaming begins you can start multitasking on your computer or smartphone. That means you can check out pretty nifty blogs while watching your favorite videos! Just sayin’.

Now that I’ve mentioned all the nifty features and uses, I’ll note on some things that you should know before getting this device. There is currently no security, anything connected to your wi-fi network can cast if it’s a supported device. Steaming will be affected by your internet connection and your device performance. In my experience, you cannot stream full screen games when casting the entire screen. There is no support for any browser other than Google Chrome. The device needs a power source, it comes with a USB cord. My television didn’t have a USB port in the back, but it also came with a wall adapter, so plan on having a plug free if you need it.

Overall, I really like this device and use it frequently. I stream Netflix while multitasking constantly. In fact, I’m watching Sherlock as I write this post. The ease of taking it from room to room and hooking it up to any t.v. is nice. It’s not as useful as I had hoped for streaming a game onto the television, but that really doesn’t put a damper on this device considering that’s not what it was made for. I find Chromecast to be wonderful for streaming at an affordable price. Now, back to building my empire in Minecraft while catching up on t.v. shows!

Nerdy Picture Frame

Materials:

• Frame ($1)
• Scrapbook paper ($0.30-1) 
• X-acto knife ($3) 
• Desired photo ($0.30) 
• Pencil 
• Ruler 
• Tape or glue 
• Circle cutter (optional) 
• Something to cut on

First and foremost, decide what your subject will be. I've always had a love for the Adam West version of Batman. So, what weighs six ounces, sits on my desk, and is dangerous? The finished product of this craft. Now, gather the supplies in your utility belt and let’s get rolling like the Batmobile!




To get started, you’ll need to cut the scrapbook paper down to the size of your frame. Either trace the size of the glass on your paper, or measure it. You could use any kind of colored paper, but I prefer scrapbook paper because it’s durable and comes in a variety of colors and textures.

Once you've done that, you need to trace out your design on the back of the paper. Make gridlines if this helps. Remember to sketch a vertically flipped version of the design if the one you've chosen is not symmetrical. My bat symbol made this easy.

Cut along the sketch lines with the X-acto knife or a circle cutter; make sure to have something under the paper that is durable. The first time I dealt with cutting through paper, my tabletop ended up slightly resembling the Joker’s face. Generally, I place a layer or two of craft foam that I have sitting around underneath. If the edges are rough when you’re finished, just smooth them out a bit with something rounded.






Next, to get your picture adjusted and printed. I couldn't find a good plain Adam West for the layout I was making. Resize or crop to what you think will work with the shape of the cutout you just finished. After you've found the chosen one, print it out! I've found that 4 x 6 prints sometimes work for 5 x 7 frames with a little positioning because of the cutout.





Almost done! Tape or glue your picture to the cutout. I like tape since you can re-position it if you don’t like the setting or even change the picture; however, if you do this keep in mind that the tape may leave residue, so try to make sure it’s at the edges where you can remove it if needed. You may need to snip off some edges if they spill over the paper so that it can fit in the frame.

Finally, place it into the frame and voila! You've got a new addition to show off your nerd passion. Even now, Batman is sitting beside me, watching on as I type. I may or may not wink at him from time to time while I’m being productive.







As always with crafts, don’t be afraid to expand this idea! Put your own art in the cutout instead of a print. I made a set of these involving each of the Lantern Corps. I’d love to know what you come up with!