Krugman wins Nobel

Sadly, I'm way more excited about Krugman winning the Nobel than I ever have about any sports team winning anything. I've long been a fan of Krugman, read his blog, recommended him to people, etc. And best of all, he drives the Right nuts. :)

Over-educated nerd humor

Dude, if you actually get this _and_ the reference it's making, you are way, way, WAY over-educated. (and yes, I do, and yes, I am)

Death Star over San Francisco

Damn. You know, I would have thought I would have noticed the Imperial armada while I was in SF, but I guess not...

I am a cliche

It's 1 am. I'm starting to work on my research project. My computer science research project. To one side of me is a can of Mountain Dew. To the other is a pair of Hot Pockets.

I think all I need now is a pocket protector and the phrase "hot elf action" in my search history, and my nerdery would be complete...

Science fiction projects and their actual cost

An interesting little list compiled by Wired on a few sci-fi-ish projects and what they would actually cost to do. Example: a maglev train that could "beat an airliner" from New York to LA would be $70 billion. (I suspect it's really more than that considering the terrain sculpting, testing, etc. that would be entailed).

Flux capacitor

I am mildly embarrassed to admit I kinda want one.  Not $200 kinda want one, but kinda want one.

Oh, and while we're at it, I kinda want a TriForce, too...

I'm gonna shut up now...

A sentence summary of all the Star Trek films

Because I was accused of sending a nerdy email today, to which I indignantly respond, "I have no yet begun to nerd!" Also, primarily for the benefit of my girlfriend, who has, perhaps fortunately, never seen a single one.

Some of these aren't even full sentences!

1. Take some acid, wig out on the trippiest special effects the late 70s had to offer, and be amused by the twist ending. (memorable quote: "V'Ger!")
   
2. A battle of overacting between James T. Kirk and an over-the-top, Shakespeare-quoting villain. (memorable quote: "KKHHHHHHAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!")
   
3. Steal a spaceship, battle some Klingons, and go revive an essential cast member. (memorable quote: "That green-blooded son of a bitch! It's his revenge for all the arguments he lost.")
4. Whales and time travel...'nuff said. (memorable quote: "We are looking for da nuclear wessels.")
   
5. The crew of the Enterprise join a cult and go looking for God in the center of the universe. (memorable quote: "Be one with the horse.")
6. A moon blows up, Klingons realized they're fucked, peace talks begin, and certain parties are none to happy about it. (memorable quote: "You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon.")
7. Malcolm McDowell zealously pursues the happiest, sparkliest zipper in the universe. (memorable quote: "Actually, Captain, I am familiar with history. And if I'm not mistaken, you're dead. ")
8. Bill Gates...sorry, I mean a group of insect-like cyborgs...try to fuck up the drunk who built the first warp drive by traveling back in time. (memorable quote: "Definitely not Swedish...")
   
9. Ugly people take out their frustrations on less ugly people. (memorable quote: "The Son'a wish to negotiate a cease-fire. It may have to do with the fact that we only have three minutes of air left.")
10. The Enterprise fucks with a big fuck-all tank of a spaceship built by angry people in desperate need of a tan. (memorable quote: "Ladies and gentlemen and invited transgender species...")
11. ???

...and for the record, 6 is still my favorite. And I'm still angry that all the Next Generation movies (7-10) sucked so incredibly badly. The series finale was better than all of them, probably combined.

God help you, J. J. Abrams, if you end up adding yet another shitty movie to the franchise.

Cal's halftime show

I like to call this, "When Two Forms of Nerdery Combine"...

Minority Report-ish nerdery

How to make a Minority Report-like interface with a Wii remote, some reflective tape and some infrared LEDs.

Why you can't cite wikipedia

A really nice article on why a history professor at Middlebury College does not allow his students to cite Wikipedia.

Boat elevator!

I'm sorry, but this French boat elevator is really cool.

Yes, I am a giant nerd.

Foundation?

I'm just curious...have these people read Isaac Azimov's Foundation series?

Concept cars for 2057

This is so utterly nerdy, but these concept cars are awesome. And, I think, far more creative than anything that's been in any of the sci fi movies lately.

lolcat Bible?

Wow...if ever there were proof that people have too much free time on their hands...

Severed corpus collosum

A crazy video of what happens to someone who has had their corpus collosum (a part of the brain that connects the two hemispheres) severed. The right brain can see the word "saw" in the left visual field, cause the left hand to draw a picture of a saw, and yet if you ask the guy why he drew a saw, he'll have no idea.

Really makes you wonder about our perception of consciousness...

Random nerdy thought

I really miss the Cartoon Network's Ghost in the Shell series (both Stand-Alone Complex and 2nd Gig). Both were by far the best cartoon series to be put on television, and I looked forward to them every week when they were out. (Oh wikipedia...you just reminded me of the weirdly adorable Tachikomas!) The episodes are also probably my favorite shows of all time behind Battlestar: Galactica (aside: why must I wait until fucking January for new episodes?! Cruel, cruel world...and what the fuck am I supposed to do after next season when the series ends?! *whine*).

Sadly, I've heard no suggestion that a third series is in the works. Nor, for that matter, have I heard any suggestion that there will be a third movie since I suspect the last one (best cartoon basset hound ever! And it even played an important symbolic role in the plot! Apparently Oshii has a basset named Gabriel...I knew I liked him) was rather a flop.

(fyi, the reason I was thinking about it is because I have the theme song in my mp3 collection. Yes, I am _that_ much of a nerd...)

Moan my IP address

A horrifying, unnecessary collision of technology and sex...(nsfw)

A terrible visual math pun

If you actually get this, you're over-educated. If you think it's funny, there's something wrong with you.

3D projector

Goddamnit...how much longer must I wait for a holodeck?

Awesome piece of Star Trek trivia

Awesomely nerdy, of course.

"...Hawking was on the Paramount lot for the video release of the film "A Brief History of Time". He was given a tour of the set, and when they reached the bridge set, he began tapping out something he wanted to say through his voice synthesizer. After about a minute, it said "Could you take me out of my chair and put me in the captain's chair?" Now, Hawking *never* asks to be taken out of his chair, so this was clearly a very big deal. Someone did, and a few days later the idea of a quick cameo came up for "Descent"

Hee. Also:

"...The transporter effect is accomplished as follows:

• 1) Fill a canister with water. Add glitter and shine a light through it. Stir briskly and tape.
• 2) Film the scene, first with the actor, then without. (Or vice versa)
• 3) Transfer the scene to tape, and use video technology to matte the glitter over the actor.
• 4) Use a video wipe to 'streak down' the glitter."