Hello I’m Sammie and I’m a nerd.

I may not have a love of Star Trek or Star Wars or Starbursts that includes costumes and fan fiction, but I am a nerd, nonetheless.  I am a pop culture and politics nerd.  My versions of insane celebrities are Glenn O’Brien and Jim Himes.  If I meet these people, I’m reduced to a shell-shocked super loser who can’t stop smiling like Jack Nicholson from “The Shining” while my blank mind tries to come up with something witty (it never does).  I recently saw Graydon Carter exit an elevator, and it took every sane bone in my body to not be Creepy McCreepstein and follow him to his destination.

I have a desperate love for all things politics and pop culture, with knowledge of things so obscure, even my closest friends have to reel me in sometimes (“GUYS this is just like in that episode of Four Kings when-”  “Sammie.  Shut up.  No one gets that reference.”).  But I will say this, I am proud of my nerdness.

Historically, nerds have always been given a bad rap (Urkel, Screech, Carlton from Fresh Prince, every Star Trek superfan on the planet, that creepy blogger kid from Glee), but recently, it has become the cool thing (the other Glee kids, Ugly Betty, Dwight Schrute, and Carlton…I love him).  Because, let’s face it, everyone’s got a little nerd in them. Even those “jocks” that were responsible for Glee-style dumpster flingings.  Have you ever seen one of them meet a sports idol or rattle off statistics of the Giants from their 1973 post-season?  Because I have, and I have to say, that “bro” crap melts away when they’re giving the same creepy look to the members of State Radio that you were giving that Lucky editor that one time you recognized her in the street.

What I’m saying here is there is no better time to be a nerd!  Embrace your inner geek!  The feeling of joy I get when I find something like the Sam Adams remix of “Heads Will Roll” is comparable to what I imagine seeing your child for the first time is like.  I love all things music, movies and sports, so why do I have to be ashamed of my geekiness?  Honestly, if everyone just embraced their little quirks that they think are so embarrassing, the world would be a much happier place.  Trust.

After all, being passionate about something (no matter how geeky) is way more fun and interesting than just sitting there trying to fit in.

So bring on the suspenders and the huge glasses (but in a non-ironic sense.  I’m a nerd, not a hipster), and live long and prosper, fellow nerds.

Every week I count backwards from ten. I know, I’m kind of a big deal. Usually these countdowns have a theme like which phrases really grind my gears (“grind my gears” should be mentioned) or how I’m I heart not drinking (which is a hard list to replicate cuz I’m really loving beer right now), but this week I’m leaning to my geekier side.

This week, I’m counting down the ten craziest technologies. Whether they’re crazy in the “what the f&!# way” or crazy in the “I need that NOW” way, I’m listing them all, from social media to iPhone apps. Gen-Y has access to the wackiest and most innovative technology right now and here’s my “Weekly Ten” take on all of it:

10. Twitter Peek
How have we reached this point? A device solely for Tweeting? The end is near.

9. Last.Fm
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: if you’re a music junkie like me you MUST get last.fm. You can download an app for your computer that scrobbles (crazy jargon!) whatever you’re playing and can show the world what you’re listening to. I love seeing what my friends are jamming out to. Last.Fm also creates a personal radio station for you that kicks Pandora’s butt by a mile. Love it.

8. Skype
Phone calls, video chat and texting. All in one and it’s international. You can even place calls thru Skype via the wifi on your iPhone. It’s a little buggy, but still pretty cool to call your friends abroad. FOR FREE. Read More »

Attention geeks, nerds, dorks, and fangirls of the world: prepare yourselves, because Comic-Con International kicks off  this Thursday, July 23! (Yes, I know it’s exciting. Grab a paper bag and breathe.)

For those not in the know, the San Diego Convention Center becomes a mecca every summer for fans of comics, science fiction, fantasy, and a lot of stuff in between. But even if you’re not a fan of any of those things (or a self-proclaimed geek like me!), Comic-Con has expanded over the years to encompass whatever’s hot in pop culture.

So if you’re going to be in SoCal from July 23-26 and can get yourself a pass, here are some reasons why you should check out Comic-Con (and if you can’t go this year, definitely mark your calendars for 2010):

1.   Check out upcoming films way before they’re released and hear from the filmmakers and cast.
The movie panels are a big hit each year, and 2009 isn’t going to be any different. Dozens of movies are going to be previewed at Comic-Con, but here’s just a sampling of what’s on the schedule next week: Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Avatar, Zombieland, 2012, The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus (Heath Ledger’s last film), Astro Boy…and, of course, Twilight. Yes, the cast is going to be there. Including RPattz.

Cue fangirl screams.

2.    Sit in on discussions and upcoming season previews with the cast and crew of your favorite TV shows.
Get the scoop on TV’s most popular shows from the writers themselves (and the hott-with-a-double-“t” cast members!). Shows that will be represented include Smallville, True Blood, Heroes, Dollhouse, Family Guy, Chuck, Lost, 24, and Dexter. If I could just see Stephen Moyer, Milo Ventimiglia, Joss Whedon, and Kiefer Sutherland, I would be able to die a happy, happy woman.

3.   It’s not just about the shows, movies, and comics – there’s intellectual discussion to be found!
Comic-Con will be hosting several discussion panels with college professors, writers, and other experts on everything from parody in art to the anthropology of Star Trek. There are a number of panels relating to women in pop culture and comics specifically, so put your thinking caps on, ladies! Read More »

Today, July 13th, is “Embrace Your Geek Day.” Here are the top 10 totally embraceable things that we geek out for. And we’re not ashamed to admit it. Online.

10. Harry Potter
Ugh, is there anything sexier than a wizard in glasses? I literally screamed when I saw the preview for “The Half Blood Prince” in theaters.

9. Arrested Development
Seriously, I know every single line to this show. Points if you can do every family member’s imitation of a chicken. (Yeah, I can do that too.)

8. Twilight
Okay, admittedly, I’m not a twi-tard, err, I mean “twi-hard,” but I can’t resist drooling over Robert Pattinson’s perfect hair. Read More »

So it’s the season of love. Yay! Love! But now you’re down to the last minute and you don’t know what to get the special geek in your life. You know he’d love a new 42 inch Plasma, but your budget isn’t really there. That doesn’t mean he (or she) has to be stuck with the crappy card/teddy bear combo. There are plenty of great geek-friendly gifts out there that are cheap and special.

Here are a few ideas:

Handy?

If your Sig other is a tinker then a new Swiss army tool set could be just thing. I am constantly trying to find a screwdriver to take something apart. I imagine boys do it more often than me. This little beauty is small, it fits on your keychain and isn’t silly and bulky looking. Pair it with their favorite candy and your sweet smile for a great gift.

Retro Gamer?

Try some sw33t wall stickers! These decals will make any geek think of the hours they spent in front of a screen mashing buttons and killing enemes growing up. Plus they are really freaking sweet. Who hasn’t wanted to live in Mario land?

Something more Traditional?

Maybe you want something a little less unique and a little more mainstream. How about a wallet? It’s something they’ll use and yet still maintains that certain nerdy quality to it. Read More »

Post-college geeks aren’t the same as in-college geeks. These aren’t hipster boys who wear horn-rimmed glasses or cardigans with elbow patches. These boys aren’t geek chic. Post-college geeks are a special breed of boy. They are the freaks from Freaks & Geeks, and not in an ironic way. They played Dungeons & Dragons in high school (and maybe still secretly do) and can name all the aliens that appear in the Mos Eisley Cantina in “Star Wars.”

And they’re surprisingly date-able.

I sat down the other night with two of my geekiest friends, Patrick and Jeff (not their real names), to discuss geek love. I asked them why a girl should date a geeky guy, and they gave me an intricate look at the geek lifestyle and how it translates into relationships.

First, we lay down the definition of a geek. They explain to me the difference between a nerd, a geek, and a dork. In their opinion, dorks and nerds are both socially awkward beings –– dorks because they’re too dumb and nerds because they’re too smart. A geek, on the other hand, is the perfect specimen.

“How do you approach a girl you have a crush on?” I ask.

“I do that?” Patrick asks back. Jeff explains to me that geeky guys don’t approach girls they like in order to ask them out. Out of a fear of rejection, they try to be friends first. I ask the guys how well this works out, they agree: not well. Read More »