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.

Statistics show that 1 in 10 women over the age of 18 (which includes all of us college ladies) experience a decrease in libido.

Yeah, you read that right: a decrease.

Now, like you, I’m thinking that there must be some depressed, unemployed grads dragging down our reputation because most of us are ready to hop on it the minute we see some chiseled abs and bulging biceps. But that’s beside the point. The real story here is that in reaction to this statistic a new “desire drug” is being created to reawaken the sexual desire in women.

Researchers are arguing that a lack of sexual desire may not be caused by the fact that women aren’t attracted to their prospective partners (because men are never to blame for these sorts of things), but that it is a chemical problem in the brain. The drug, then, will work by lowering inhibition through triggering the release of Dopamine, which, among other things, helps stimulate desire. Read More »

When I saw the Star Trek preview several months ago, the first (and last) thing I thought to myself was, “Oh. No.” I sighed, irritated that Star Trek was back—hadn’t it ended years ago, and for a reason? I looked to my friends longingly for reassurance that this was a sad joke and certainly not something anyone would be paying $12.50 for. And I realized that I was alone in my sci-fi disgust.

Everyone else in the theater, including (who I thought were) my close friends, gasped, screamed, and even applauded. And not just for the hot lead actor. I could almost hear the nerds of the world rejoicing. I, on the other hand, sat there, quite uncomfortable, rolling my eyes obnoxiously at the “Trekkies” surrounding me.

Now, I have to admit, I have some nerdish tendencies myself. Obviously I enjoyed Twilight, and I get off on Harry Potter; I’m not completely against fantasy flicks. But when pointy ears and supernovas come into the mix, count me out. I mean, if Star Wars never suited my fancy, why would this?

On opening night, Stark Trek reeled in $75 mill. Ever since, the reviews have been raving, the movie goers have been talking, and I’ve been sitting here, sulking, wondering if there’s a (teeny, tiny, unbelievably unlikely) chance I’m actually missing out.

Should I suck it up and give planet Vulcan a shot? Should I try to let the new Captain Kirk rule my world? For now I think I’ll stay blissfully ignorant. Because I can’t help thinking…what if my greatest fear is realized? What if, (god help me), I actually like it?