So nerd love. It's hard to find, and once you find it, it's hard to keep. With all your priorities going to leveling your wow character, reading the new Harry Potter ( or nowdays waiting for the movies), your significant other can tend to fall by the wayside. Many nerds have resigned to the fact they are going to be alone in the nerdosphere. Then the other day, I heard a cow-worker talking about her success on okcupid.
Now, I may be a bit nerdy, but I often find myself behind the times on the new trendy internet sites. SO I had never heard of this Okcupid. I asked her what it was. She said it was a dating site built for the younger community. Free. The judgmental part of me wanted to scoff at the fact that 22 year olds should not have to use a dating site. We should be casually dating, not looking for a life mate. But the curious side of me was wondering just how many college aged students are looking online to find a connection. So I decided to do a little social experimenting. I got on, made a profile(with limited information), and started the questions.
What I am hoping to find is
1. Do these sites really work
2. Will they match me with people I truly would be compatible with
3. Are there really cool attractive youngsters, or is this site a breeding ground for creepers.
I gave myself a set of rules as well.
1. I will not meet anyone in person
2. I have to answer every match whether I think they are attractive or not ( to test for personality compatibility)
3. Delete profile after 10 matches are pursued online for 3 days.
Now, personally, I am not one to use dating websites. I like to get out and socialize. But this blog is in no way a judgement on anyone who does! So if you're on there please don't be offended! Stay tuned for results
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Shoutout to my nerd allies
This post is just a quick shout out to my fellow friends and nerds from The Best Damn Nerd Show. A radio show started here at our very own KSFS, it is now a weekly podcast on iTunes that has gathered quite a following. Discussing topics from Star WArs to the latest video game competition, you can find your weekly dose of nerdism here. They stream live every Tuesday 9-10. James Kincaid has proven over time to be one of the greatest host a nerd show could ask for. The fellow hosts all contribute their mastery of certain topics as well from Harry Potter to World Of Warcraft. so Please show your support for you BECA alumni and tune in! Ill include the links to below to their facebook and website. Feel free to look them up on iTunes as well! subscribe to their podcast! Thanks!
The Best Damn Nerd Show Website
Best Damn Nerd Show Facebook
The Best Damn Nerd Show Website
Best Damn Nerd Show Facebook
Monday, December 13, 2010
and then there's Rockband
Rock Band
Mid-night Release of Cataclysm
I had been waiting for this day since My ex-nerd boyfriend had mentioned an expansion was coming out. I had never experienced an expansion release as a WOW player, so I did not know what to expect. The part I was looking foward to most were the new race choices, goblin (horde) and worgen(alliance). My original plan was to go out to a midnight release and interviewplayers who were waiting in line to buy Cataclysm at midnight, rush home, install and play. Then I saw you could buy a digital upgrade, and play the minute the servers went live....um yes please! I was logged on minuted before midnight, the chat alive and buzzing with excited players all waiting to buy flying to make it to Mt. Hyjai, the new leveling zone to take your formally totally leveled 80 character to the new top of 85! 11:59
MIDNIGHT!....12:01
Prompted to log off and on again to receive CAtaclysm data, The servers were on overload. I couldn't log on for half an hour....I had brief moments of nerd rage. Finally, I log on, but my flying, and head to Mt Hyjai. Upon arrival, I am swarmed by Horde and Alliance alike. The area is more crowded that Dalaran on a busy day. I can't tell what is what from who is who...after completing one quest, and being killed twice, as well as experience sever in-game lag, I log off at 1:15. Anti-cliamtic is the word I will describe as the release of Cata.
HOWEVER
I did log on the next day, created my goblin ( Toatsmagoats) and started levelling. This process renewed my faith in WOW. The new are of Kezan is amazing. THe quest, fun and short. Leveling is a much easier process than what I went through with Xandrina ( my first character, lvl 65) and Giles (my pride and joy lvl 80). I was highly impressed with the graphics, the quest originality, and the perks they made for leveling in Cata. I am actually finding questing being a fun process rather than a tedious race to 85. However, me and Toatsmagoats are still in the honeymoon phase, I be reporting back when Im mmid-way at lvl 43.
MIDNIGHT!....12:01
Prompted to log off and on again to receive CAtaclysm data, The servers were on overload. I couldn't log on for half an hour....I had brief moments of nerd rage. Finally, I log on, but my flying, and head to Mt Hyjai. Upon arrival, I am swarmed by Horde and Alliance alike. The area is more crowded that Dalaran on a busy day. I can't tell what is what from who is who...after completing one quest, and being killed twice, as well as experience sever in-game lag, I log off at 1:15. Anti-cliamtic is the word I will describe as the release of Cata.
HOWEVER
Review of the New Sonic 4 for PS3
There is nary a Sega or Sonic fan that did not have eyes on Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. Some of the fanbase rejoiced at a new console 2D Sonic, while the ones who have been burned by the blue blur’s lackluster 3D outings met it with skepticism, burned by broken “returning to Sonic’s roots” promises before (not to mention shilling out $15 for a four-stage downloadable title). But it is here, and rest easy, because it is Sonic’s best console outing in over a decade.
As promised, it is a straight-up 2D Sonic offering harkening back to the Genesis days, although it is more akin to HD offering New Super Mario Bros. rather than the old-school Mega Man 9. The stages share that same old-design-HD-facelift with 3D models as NSMB did with its Super Mario Bros. 3 source material, and are similar to some of the most familiar levels in the first two Sonic games, right down to the original enemies. Splash Hill, Casino Street, Lost Labyrinth, and Mad Gear, while not going to blow any minds visually, are still nice-looking levels for a downloadable title, and features enough homages to the originals to stir up the nostalgic warm-n-fuzzies fans were hoping for, from the water slides in Lost Labyrinth to the machines pumping away in Mad Gear’s background, a la Metropolis from Sonic 2.
Sonic himself controls a little different than before. This may freak out diehards weaned on the old physics model (myself included when first starting out), but after time, it becomes second nature. Not bad, just different. It is more beneficial to run upright rather than rolling into a ball for speed (the game compensates by not often having enemies waiting in your path, like the old titles), and the Homing Attack from the Adventure series is nicely used here (by hitting the jump button in mid-air). It’s most often used to attack floating enemies to cross from one ledge to a far-away landing spot (the game also locks-on the enemies, so no messy misses like the 3D affairs), and even more helpful is the horizontal mid-air dash when not locked on an enemy. This will help you close ledges and gaps that would be more difficult to get to without it, and also helps you get back to top speed quickly. With a little hands-on time, you’ll be able to use this ability to whiz around the levels expertly, and shave off times to post on the online leaderboards, which is a simple yet addictive new feature for Sonic veterans, who will want to see how they stack up against their peers of the world. And let me tell you, when a few seconds means 20 or 50 spots up the ladder, it makes you want to go back and see if you can do just a little bit better, and try to perfect the stages. It adds a nice bit of replay value.
For those worrying about the level design, fear not, because the levels are well-crafted for the most part (more on that in a second). The levels offer a nice balance of speed and more methodical platforming, striking a style similar to Sonic 3, which makes sense consider the lead level designer from that game is in the same role for this project. Also, Sonic Team and Dimps wisely heard the fan criticism of the minecart mechanic from Lost Labyrinth shown in the trailer, and now it’s simply a brief, automated ride, like in the Game Gear version of Sonic 2. And while some fans initially balked at $15 for four stages, most of the Acts themselves are actually quite long, especially on the first playthrough while figuring out the best path through the level. It took me around an hour and a half on a straight playthrough (without retrying acts or Special Stages), which is about as long as it took most to get through the original games on their first go-round.
Speaking of Special Stages, they too are back in the fashion of the original game, in which you guide Sonic through a psychedelic, ever-rotating maze to grab an Emerald without touching an exit. There are two changes to adapt to; one of which is that you’re now under a time limit to finish and the stages are designed with this in mind, as you now must also grab time-extension orbs along the way to keep yourself alive (and boost your leaderboard time). The other is that unlike the original game, you are tilting the maze itself, and not controlling Sonic, which can be a bit disorienting at first for a Sonic vet, but once again, will come with a little practice.
The biggest misstep in Sonic 4 are the disappointing bosses. The unique bosses are a part of Sonic’s flavor, observing Eggman’s attack pattern and waiting for the time to strike. Here, Sonic Team played up the nostalgia too much, as almost every boss (including the final one) are taken from the originals, just with a new varied attack. This is a shame, as it not only takes out the discovery of how to beat a new boss, but also because the one truly new boss in Lost Labyrinth is well-done, a nice test of reflex and twitch skills. Another flaw is a holdover from Dimps’ Sonic Advance series, in that some Acts come with trial-and-error sections over bottomless pits, so expect to die at these points several times before figuring out the right way to go about it. The soundtrack is also a tad disappointing; Sega talked up music that sounded close to the originals, but Jun Senoue uses the same synthesizer-heavy beats as he has in the 3D games, and some of them turn up to be unmemorable. The last issue is once again length; this is a game that will not take more than a couple of hours to complete everything, and all you have left is trying to climb the leaderboards, which admittedly, is pretty fun as a self-motivating task, but may not be everyone’s cup of tea. And while it was nice to see Sonic Team and Dimps invoke our childhood memories, it would be nice to see some new, creative levels in Episode 2.
Nonetheless, Sega, Sonic Team, and Dimps for the most part delivered on their promise, a solid, 2D classic Sonic, not mucked up in annoying side characters, laughable stories, or terrible cameras that haunt the 3D offerings. It is a testament to how well the foundation of the Sonic sidescroller still holds up as a foundation for an entertaining platformer, and it will be interesting to see what chances the developers will take next time with the following episode.
Score: 8/10
My "coming out" as a bi-nerd
Most people are nerds straight out of the womb. I can say that my nerdism developed at a slow pace, mainly thwarted by what I felt would be social backlash of my ever-budding nerdy tendencies. Before I get into my coming out story, I should define what I mean when I say I am bi-nerdual. I mean that, while I do experiment what some would classify as"nerdy" activities, I have not completely gone over to the darkside. I can also still cover up much of my nerdy tendencies because I still participate in many non-nerdy activities.
Many could sense my bi-nerdism from a young age. I suppose my joining band at age 8 or being super excited about being let into the GATE program a year early were the first tip-offs. However, elementary school nerdism is often shrugged off. So despite these nerdy accomplishments, I was still able to acquire a high social life that would continue with me through-out high school.
My life at home is where my nerdism was able to really take flight. Having a full blown nerd for a brother, I was able to be myself and let all my bi-nerdy tendencies flourish. I spent hours playing video games with him. I practiced my flute for the mandatory hour, usually more, set forth by my teacher. I loved Star Wars. I got straight A's. I immersed myself in literature, rather than learning how to use make-up or practicing kissing on my hand.
High school turned out to be the most difficult age for me to keep my bi-nerdism in the closet. I decided I would quit band and join a sport. I finally discovered make-up, cleavage, the art of flirting, adn quickly discovered how choosing a sport like swimming where you show off your budding womanly figure was highly more acceptable than the boxy marching band uniforms. And although I ended up loving, and becoming quite skilled, in waterpolo; every football game I went too I felt myself longing to be on the field with the band.
Then it was time to leave for college. Junior year. I met a fellow nerd and fell madly in love. I can honestly say I owe my coming out to him. We shared many nerdy things in common from reading to our the way we excelled in music (he was 1st chair oboe). And he introduced me to my most naughtiest nerd fetish, World of Warcraft.
Now even as a bi-nerd, I knew WOW was on a whole ther playing field. I mean, i pictured Southpark, fat pimply Cartman yelling at his computer and at his mom for more hot pockets. I admit, I judged at first. Then he made me try it. At first, I still didnt get it, nor was I willing to give into being someone who played WOW (again, thinking of what my friends would say, they still had no idea of my nerdism). But, watching my nerd play, I was horrified to find I actually found it sexy! What was wrong with me?! Maybe it was that fact that he was so good at it. That he had WOW titles that made him respected by other players. Either way, I wanted a character of my own. It was all over from there.
I could no longer hide it from my roommate/ best friend, I played for hours. I could not hide it from my family, they saw the $14.99 a month on my statement. I was out. And it felt good. And Giles (my gnome death knight) became a second me. Did I ever fully crossover to playing all day everyday? No. I still cant let myself be that nerd. I still have the other me, the socially accepted, partying, flirting girl. But at night, I still get to come home to my lvl 80 Giles the Argent Champion
Many could sense my bi-nerdism from a young age. I suppose my joining band at age 8 or being super excited about being let into the GATE program a year early were the first tip-offs. However, elementary school nerdism is often shrugged off. So despite these nerdy accomplishments, I was still able to acquire a high social life that would continue with me through-out high school.
My life at home is where my nerdism was able to really take flight. Having a full blown nerd for a brother, I was able to be myself and let all my bi-nerdy tendencies flourish. I spent hours playing video games with him. I practiced my flute for the mandatory hour, usually more, set forth by my teacher. I loved Star Wars. I got straight A's. I immersed myself in literature, rather than learning how to use make-up or practicing kissing on my hand.
High school turned out to be the most difficult age for me to keep my bi-nerdism in the closet. I decided I would quit band and join a sport. I finally discovered make-up, cleavage, the art of flirting, adn quickly discovered how choosing a sport like swimming where you show off your budding womanly figure was highly more acceptable than the boxy marching band uniforms. And although I ended up loving, and becoming quite skilled, in waterpolo; every football game I went too I felt myself longing to be on the field with the band.
Then it was time to leave for college. Junior year. I met a fellow nerd and fell madly in love. I can honestly say I owe my coming out to him. We shared many nerdy things in common from reading to our the way we excelled in music (he was 1st chair oboe). And he introduced me to my most naughtiest nerd fetish, World of Warcraft.
Now even as a bi-nerd, I knew WOW was on a whole ther playing field. I mean, i pictured Southpark, fat pimply Cartman yelling at his computer and at his mom for more hot pockets. I admit, I judged at first. Then he made me try it. At first, I still didnt get it, nor was I willing to give into being someone who played WOW (again, thinking of what my friends would say, they still had no idea of my nerdism). But, watching my nerd play, I was horrified to find I actually found it sexy! What was wrong with me?! Maybe it was that fact that he was so good at it. That he had WOW titles that made him respected by other players. Either way, I wanted a character of my own. It was all over from there.
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