Nerd Rock

Another playlist, lucky you. This one is for you nerds.
Again, I tried to make a playlist that I would actually want to listen to, and hopefully introduce you to some cool music you might not know. Also, best picture.

BEST.


1. Fett's Vette - MC Chris A rap about Boba Fett's hard life and fiscal plans? Yes please.
2. We are 138 - The Misfits "But Tony! The Misfits aren't nerds!" Oh really? This song is a reference to George Lucas' first film, THX 1138. Bam!
3. Bikeage - Descendents One of my favorite songs by the punk-nerd godfathers. I don't think I have to run down their nerd cred, but one look at their logo should be plenty.
4.C'Est Super - Daedelus I was lucky enough to meet "Daedelus" once, when I nerdily asked him if he was named after the mythological Daedelus, or the literary Daedelus from James Joyce, I was shocked to find out it was even nerdier than that. Apparently he is named after some giant robot from some giant robot show. Not my nerd forte, but unbelievably nerdy anyway.
5. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 - Coheed and Cambria This song kicks of the narrative of a sweeping and embarrassingly nerdy concept album about robots and space and all sorts of geeky shit. Their first album is certainly better, but this one fits better here. Also of nerdnote, an homage to Rush's homage to scifi, 2113.
6. Holiday Song - Pixies For a band who all look like high school teachers, they made some incredible music - a victory for those of us who look the part.
7. The Temple - The Afghan Whigs A cover of a song from Jesus Christ Superstar. Yup.
8. Hold the Line - Major Lazer You need to watch the video to fully appreciate how nerdy Diplo got with this. This song/band is based on a fictional character who lost his arm in the "zombie wars" and had it replaced with a lazer gun. Bonus points in the video for action figures.
9. Punk Rock Academy - Atom and His Package THE nerd punk anthem. Bonus points for Philadelphia!
10. Guitar and Video Games - Sunny Day Real Estate I couldn't leave out an incredible and beautiful song called Guitar and Video Games
11. The Devil and Maggie Chascarillo - Lucero One of my favorite bands doing their song about Love & Rockets.
12. Thought I was - Rainer Maria Naming your band after a German poet who died almost 100 years ago is pretty nerdy.
13. Flight of Icarus - Iron Maiden Tons of their songs are nerdy, but I had to go with the one about Icarus.

Thursday Taste Lesson

I have been obsessed with root beer lately. I am on a vision quest to find my favorite. I've tried many kinds. I have even tried sparkling green tea root beer. Which was, surprisingly, pretty tasty. Also got root beer popsicles and I am currently trying to make root beer ice cream. I am obsessed. To this point, my personal favorite and first recommendation to you today is Virgil's.



Delicious! Spicy and creamy, just how I like it. Plus look at that bottle! Pop top! That picture on there didn't hurt Virgil's appeal to me either.

I'm always on the lookout for a better root beer, so feel free to suggest.


Another blog I check daily:

GIZMODO

Keeps me current on tech, gadgets and cool science stories. I am a nerd. I have embraced this.

Next suggestion:

Muad'Dib!

Kittens! Hooray! Especially Fremen kittens. Fear is the mind killer.

Oh that reminds me. Read Dune. Seriously. One of my favorite books ever, transcends its nerdy sci-fi ness by being supremely well written and compelling. Or maybe I'm just a nerd, but it is truly excellent. Don't watch the movie, it is terrible. Awesomely terrible.


Shai Hulud!

I also suggest you guys give me a new job. I could use one. Thanks.

Any of you like Kid Dynamite? I am suggesting a band called the Shook Ones. They sound so much like Kid Dynamite it is almost embarrassing, but still, hey! new Kid Dynamite.
Rock!

Their later stuff is a little more Lifetime / Saves the Day, but still awesome. Highly recommend.

That'll do it for today. I hope these things make you a better person.

Addendum

This is the greatest picture of all time. Even better than this one



Just found out that "The Boys", which I recommended earlier, is being made into a movie. Today's lesson: If you want your graphic novel made into a movie, have me read it. Also: Please make this work for Preacher, thanks.

AND! Today's Bitch of the Day!

The power went out today from those wicked thunderstorms that rolled through. I live next to a nail salon. Where I moonlight. Ok, only the first part of that is true. Anyway - so my power's out, their power's out. That didn't stop some wobbling main-line troll from getting her nails done. "I don't care if you have to dry my finger and toe nails with one of those old fashioned paper fans! I can't miss this appointment, my Pomeranian needs to get to the groomer!" I imagine her shouting. Being ever industrious and kind, the nail workers obliged. They fanned her freshly painted hand and feet sausages with old fashioned paper fans. Way to go lady! You're the bitch of the day.

Thursday Taste Lesson

Heyyyy the Indians, stop running into walls, dummies.

Holy crap it is hot today. First day I am running the A/C in my living room. My job shouldn't be sweat inducing.

I wish Whole Foods was open 24 hours, so I could go in there late at night to avoid the murderous desires that place's customers inspire in me. Get out of the way. Seriously. Don't chat in the foyer. If you're talking to your five year old's tennis coach in an aisle, don't stand abreast of your cart full of free-range bee honey and 80$ dog food so I can't get to my delicious hummus. I hope you choke on your vegan free trade naan and clif bars.

On to the suggestions!

First up - the new iPhone.



Just kidding. Enjoy your line, suckers.

I'm gonna keep it real today. Nerds, get stoked - today's suggestions are for you.

Comic books!



Everyone is getting all excited for the Michael Cera acted, Edgar Wright directed movie due this summer. Which does look awesome, but if you are planning on seeing the movie I highly recommend reading the books too. They are awesome and unique. They are the funniest comics I've ever read and really appeal to nerds like me. They are cheap and short and fun to read. Do it!



This is Garth Ennis' current project. Everything he writes is brilliant. Preacher might be the greatest self-contained comic ever and his Punisher stories are the peak of that run. "The Boys" is basically a satire, a scathing one at that, of super heroes. It's gory and dramatic and funny and refreshing. It's also where I got the name of this blog.





I am currently re-reading this. Which is almost necessary with this book. Calvino's challenging the novel structure again with this one with really charming results. It's a somewhat tricky read, considering every other chapter is basically from a different book, but worth it. He writes very well, it's a light read with an excellent rhythm. The book feels complete and connected - it flows - which is a testament to his skill as a writer of a book which should come off as a disjointed mess. What Calvino shows here is that there is a lot more to connecting with a reader and story telling than just story telling.




All of these games are way too much fun. I play them more than any of my other video games. Immensely replayable and curiously addictive, everyone loves Katamari. Plus it has the best soundtrack of any video game ever.

Well, there you go nerds. Enjoy.

Weekend Rodeo Roundup

Well, another weekend in the books. I was looking forward to this one because I had a pretty hellish week last week. Turned out pretty well.

Friday

Friday was pretty tame, worked way too much, got my car back, got dinner with my sister, played too many video games. Glad to have the car back, even if they forgot a piece I have to go back and pick up. It is kind of jarring to see my dash without that little glowing light of shame that was my check engine light for so many months.

Saturday

Saturday was a good day. We headed down to CBP to tailgate for the Phils-Red Sox game. Tailgating isn't usually my bag. Being the teetotaler I am, tailgating usually means "sit around and sweat" - but I had a good time. The game was a little disappointing as a Phils fan, but we had great seats and great company. Also, the Flyers winning earlier in the day made the loss a little easier to swallow. Finished up the day at a beach party at the local bar that was the expected shit show. Good times.

Sunday

Sunday was basically for one thing. The Lost finale. We had a mini lost party with dharma soda and food and cupcakes. Good looking party.



Nice spread, eh?

Ok - my thoughts on the finale. A good sci fi vehicle has two elements, excellent characters and excellent sci fi. This show had both, and the writers obviously felt the characters were the important part. I felt this was an ending for girls and not boys. They left the island and her mysteries intact and brought together the characters for their goodbye. That's their prerogative and I can respect that. As far as a finale based on characters and relationships I thought it was a good one. I personally would have enjoyed more sci fi, but hey, I'm a nerd.

My bone to pick with the last episode is also a nerdy one. Great sci fi is basically regurgitated classics. Classic stories told on space ships or mysterious islands. Replace gladiator swords with light sabers and medusa with smoke monster, bam. Recipe for success in my book. In the classics, the better a character, the better his death. If you're awesome you die an awesome death, at the hands of a worthy foe. The reason the Iliad is a tragedy is because Achilles dies at the hands of a bitch instead of the badass Hector. So with Lost, I was expecting something good for fake Locke/Man in Black/Smoke Monster. Darth Vader goes out to the most badass man in the galaxy in an effort to save his son. Locke/MIB/SM gets SHOT IN THE BACK BY A WHINY PAIN IN THE ASS GIRL. So upsetting. He deserved better. Maybe if it were Hurley or Ben that shot him I would have liked it better. Although, them going straight old school with the rainy cliff face off was awesome. Jack yelling LOCKE!! was gold. Nerd rant over.

Well, all in all a pretty solid weekend after a pretty crappy week. Let's get going on a good week today, shall we?