Talk Nerdy To Me
Dec-Jan Issue
Featuring : Joy Anna
Cover photo by: Ernesto Sue
TALK NERDY TO ME Tear-Sheet November, 2013 Model: Joy Anna Stylist: Marsha Green
Warrior Princess Model Joy Anna Photographer: William Harris Hair: Crystal AnnJae Styles MUA: Madinah Frederick
Tali Model: Joy Anna Photographer: Ernesto Sue H/MUA: Marsha Green Hoodie: Knitful Dezigns
Warrior Princess Model: Joy Anna Photographer: Marcie Huffman Hair: Crystal AnnJae Styles MUA: Madinah Frederick
Dragon Tattoo Model: Joy Anna Photographer: Roderick Gooden Hair: Quiana Ferguson MUA: Katie Su Henna Tattoos: Mara-lee Stricker
Kill Bill: O-Ren Ishii Model: Joy Anna Photographer: Blythe Crady H/MUA: Alexandria Gurganus
Kill Bill: O-Ren Ishii Model: Joy Anna Photographer: Eddie Harris
~ patiently watiting for makeup ~
Top 10 Matches of 2013
#8 - Daniel Bryan vs. Antonio Cesaro- Gauntlet Match (Raw- 7/22/13) On this episode of Raw, Daniel Bryan was forced by The Authority to have a gauntlet match, where he’d faced Jack Swagger, Antonio Cesaro, and Ryback (in that order). Daniel Bryan had a good match with Swagger. Even his match with Ryback was solid, but when he faced Cesaro, magic happened. Given Written by Rusheena Boone Bryan and Cesaro’s history in ROH (Ring of Honor) and their exceptional skills in the rings, fans already knew that they were in for a treat. The match was random, being that Cesaro and Bry2013 has been an amazing year for pro wrestling. We’ve gotan were in completely different storylines; so, no one ten a revival in the tag team division and women divicould have predicted that such a random match sions, and Pay-Per-View quality matches on free TV. The WWE, in particular, has one of the most talented would’ve turned out so amazing. It was a technical brawl that caught everyone off guard because rosters (wrestling-wise) that it’s had in about a demost wrestling fans today aren’t used to PPV qualcade, and continue to step their game up every night. There was a long list of match of the year can- ity matches on free TV anymore. Nonetheless, the didates to choose from, but we narrowed it down to crowd adapted very quickly, and they couldn’t get enough of it. 10. So, without further ado, here are TNTM’s top 10 matches of the year: #7 -Gail Kim vs. Taryn Terrell –Ladder Match for the Honorable Mention: Tag Team Championship Triple Knockout’s Title Contendership (Impact- 7/11/13) Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell tore it up again in a ladder Threat Match (HIAC) match for a shot at the Knockout’s Championship. The Shield, The Usos, and The Rhodes Brothers With all of the hype from their Last Knockout Standbrought the house down again at Hell in a Cell. Aling match, fans were more than eager to see the though this match wasn’t even mentioned on Raw two knockouts go at it again, and the match didn’t as one of the matches of the night at HIAC, it was disappoint. Taryn Terrell definitely wasn’t intimidated unquestionably the best match on the card. Also, by Gail Kim’s experience in ladder matches, and there was a superplex to the outside of the ring! both women showed that they could be just as bruEnough said. tal with ladders as any male wrestler (who’s not a high flyer) could. Now, the knockoutsare tied 1 to 1, #10 - The Shield vs.The Usos-Tag Team Championship and any who’s ever seen either one of their matches are anxious for them to face off again. Match (MITB Kickoff) At the Money in the Bank Kickoff show, The Shield #6 -Gail Kim vs. Taryn Terrell- Last Knockout Standing and The Usos commanded attention in their epic battle for the Tag Team Titles. The Shield has been in Match (Slammiversary) the main event scene since their debut at last year’s In an era of wrestling where main stream women’s Survivor Series; so, most fans were initially upset when wrestling is almost obsolete, the Last Knockout The Shield weren’teven booked on the main card. It Standing brought life back into the division. Although was rumored that they were put on the kickoff show Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell had faced each other, prior to their Last Knockout Standing Match, it was as punishment because Reigns and/or Rollins may nothing compared to what they would pull off at have been in the “doghouse,” but that wouldn’t Slammiversary. Most fans were expecting an averstop them and The Usos from starting off the night age 5 to 10 minute women’s match, but what they on a very high note and delivering one of the best matches of the night. Nevertheless, it’s too bad that got was an Attitude Era-style brawl. Gail Kim and Taryn Terrellheld nothing back and the entire home audience didn’t get to see Roman beat the crap out of each other for about 15 minReigns turn a double superplex into a power bomb utes. Taryn Terrellwas more aggressivethan anyone because it was one of the most unforgettable mocould’ve ever imagines, and she definitely held her ments of the year. own with the seasoned veteran and had her fair share of memorable spots in the match. A chair was #9 - MITB“Rising Stars” (Smackdown) Match (The used, figures four around the ring posts, and there Real Americans vs. Fandango vs. Wade Barrett vs. was even a piledriver tease on the ramp. Team Rhodes Scholars vs. Dean Ambrose) If the crowd wasn’t already going crazy for this Another match of the year comes from this year’s match already, they completely lost it when Taryn MITB, and it featured seven hungry up-and-comers Terrell did a diamond cutter, which she turned into that actually showed up the veterans in the Raw a bulldog off of the ramp!The crowd showed their MITB match. This match had everything you could ask for: storytelling, brutal spots, good commentary, appreciation with a “This is awesome” chant, which hasn’t been chanted in a women’s match (particuand even some comedy. Each superstar had their moment to shine, which they took full advantage of, larly in TNA or the WWE) in almost a decade. The like Fandango doing a sunset flip over a ladder and Last Knockout Standing Match lit a fire under the Dean Ambrose “skidding the cat” on a ladder, as he women’s division this year, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the divisionin 2014. tried to grab the MITB briefcase. These guys gave it their all and proved why they are the future of the #5 - Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton (Raw- 12/16/13) WWE, but we’ll have to wait and see if their hard Most fans felt that Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan work pays off.
should’ve main-evented TLC for the unified titles instead of Randy Orton and John Cena because their match didn’t live up to the hype, and it’s hard to disagree with them, after their match on the latest episode of Raw. After unifying the WWE and World Heavyweight title at TLC, Randy Orton had his first match as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion on Raw against his old rival and newest challenger for his unified titles, Daniel Bryan. There were a ton of stiff shots and amazing counters, like Orton’s attempt at a Thesz press that was countered into a half Boston crab by Bryan, blood, and biting (Yes, Orton and Bryan bit each other). This impromptu main event wasn’t a title match, but Orton and Bryan obviously didn’t get the memo because their aggression towards each was on another level. Since the match ended with a screwy (but warranted) finish, expect Orton and Bryan’s next match to be even more vicious.
every step of the way. Even though Bryan looked very strong in the buildup to this match, some fans still doubted that he would actual win, since John Cena rarely loses a match and always looks strong, regardless of the finish, but to everyone’s surprise, Cena finally seemed human. As anticipated, Bryan was in top form, showing the crowd why he deserved to be the face of the company, while Cena also showed off some impressive offense and counters. He sold his injuries well, and he put over the fact that Bryan was tough competition. You really felt like Cena’s title was at stake, and you had no idea who would come out on top by end of the match. Bryan winning the title is a historical moment within itself that made you proud to be a wrestling fan and brought back memories of the old school baby faces that finally got their due reward. This match will forever be cemented as one of the best underdog matches in WWE history, but you haven’t seen #4 - Antonio Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn - 2 out of 3 Falls the last of Cena vs. Bryan. They are currently feudMatch (NXT- 8/21/13) ing Randy Orton for the WWE World Heavyweight Every wrestling fan who hadfollowed or was even Championship, and with Wrestlemania around the aware of Antonio Cesaro and Sami Zayn’s past corner, you can bet that the future matches befeuds in ROH and PWG (Pro Wrestling Guerilla)knew tween all three competitors are going to be incredthat their 2 out of 3 Falls Match was going to be spe- ible. cial. Cesaro and Zayn had already gotten the best of each other in previous matches; so, it all came #1- CM Punk vs. Brock Lesnar “The Best vs. The down to their final one-on-onebout to determine Beast” - No Disqualification Match (Summerslam) the better man. It was the battle of strength against Not to be outdone by the main event of Summeragility, as Cesaro and Zayn exchanged heavy blows slam, CM Punk and Brock Lesnar stole the show and high flying maneuvers. witha showdown for the ages. This was truly a “slobCesaro looked like a monster in this match, “nober knocker” that showcased “ruthless aggression” selling” hard chops and forearms and throwat its finest. Punk and Lesnar were already beating ing Zayn around like a ragdoll. Zayn also looked the snot out of each other (with Punk taking the amazing,delivering counter after counter and a most damage) leading up to Summerslam, but their flurry of kicks and flips, but one of the most memora- No Disqualification Match was a sight to behold. ble spots of the night was Zayn running between the Lesnar dominated most of the match in the most turnbuckles to give a tornado DDT to Cesaro, who brutal fashion, and the two of them exchanged was standing outside of the ring. This match was a very stiff looking shots. While both took crazy bumps rollercoasterride that no one will soon forget. If Zayn throughout the match, some of them made you gets called up to the main roster next year, let’s wonder if Punk had a death wish. For instance, he hope that he and Cesaro cross paths, at least once. got tossed over the announce table, twice, he let Lesnar break the announce table cover over his #3 - John Cena vs.CM Punk (Raw- 2/25/13) back by jumping on it, and he took an F-5 onto a This was the instant classic that no one saw coming. chair. It was just a regular episode of Raw, when Cena and Punk were booked in a contendership match It goes without saying that Punk vs. Lesnar is the to face The Rock at Wrestlemania for the WWE most brutal match (mainstream wrestling) of the Championship.Everyone expected the main event year, but something should be said about what to be good, but they were thrown for a loop, as the didn’t take place. There were no sharp objects match progressed. Both competitors were breaking used,piledrivers off of top ropes, or a single drop of out the moves that they had in their arsenals, includ- blood, which means that a PG Era match can be ing a hurricanrana from Cena and a piledriver from just as hardcore as one from the Attitude Era. The CM Punk! wrestling and brawling was good enough to stand While few fans were looking forward to the possibilon its own. We haven’t seen Lesnar since Summerity of another Rock and Cena match, the majorslam, but it goes without saying that he and Punk ity of the crowd cheered him on throughout the have some unfinished business. Punk got the best match, which is rare nowadays for Cena. This match of Paul Heyman in their feud, which gives Lesnar a should’ve main-evented Wrestlemania, but we reason to exact some revenge on him. If round 2 of were lucky enough to get it on free TV. There’s no Punk vs. Lesnar ever happens, it’s guaranteed to be doubt that we’llsee another round of Cena vs. Punk an all-out war. in the future, but we’re hoping that it’s sooner than later.
#2- John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan (Summerslam) At Summerslam, John Cena defended the (then) WWE Title against the true underdog in the story of “The Wrestler vs. The Entertainer,” Daniel Bryan. The crowd was electric and was clearly behind Bryan
From Behind the Mask:
Nicholas Garcia
As
fans of different sci-fi worlds, comic heroes, genres, etc., we know there are different levels of ‘fandom’, and everyone has their own level at which they’re comfortable. Costuming is a whole level in of itself; one that has many different dimensions, and grows over time. Before entering the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers as an Imperial Gunner, I knew that the organization was charitable and there were nice people within it, but I couldn’t quite know just how much so until I was there. Throughout my costume building process I was very much focused on the character I was to portray, and the excitement of obtaining my own costume. However, it was on the day I set out in costume to meet the 501st at a local convention, with all but my belt buckle to complete my uniform, when I really got a glimpse of what was to come. To Star Wars fans, the magnificent Imperial March is a favorite piece of music. I still remember marching to the front of a group with the 501st as the music played over the loudspeakers. That day brought me to a new level. Eventually, my father and I would, both being in the Legion, would march to the front of a symphony crowd at Methodist University while the Imperial March was played by their orchestra. Since joining, I have been able to serve with both one of my best friends, who was my inspiration for joining the 501st, and my Dad. Conventions have not been the same! Among the other events we have attended officially as the 501st include hockey games, a charity run, and more. Though these events are
great attended both in and out of costume, it’s a great way to bring people together, both within the community and the club. People of any age can enjoy taking pictures and having fun with our members. The great people we encountered before we joined made an excellent impression on us, and we aim to project the same to others. When I had assembled my costume, I couldn’t anticipate how many different things I would enjoy beside just portraying a science fiction character. But, there’s much more to see from behind the mask. The costume can not only bring joy to the wearer, but to fans of the franchise as well. We find ourselves portraying the characters not only for our enjoyment, but for those of others. It is not always easy, with weather, travel, and troublemakers at some events, but that doesn’t stop many members from traveling long distances to contribute to the cause. Events range from small to large, with no monetary profit for the members, but donations for Make-A-Wish are gratefully accepted from anyone attending. Members across the world have done amazing things with their cosplay, visiting children’s hospitals and advancing the causes of their charities. Costuming takes the experience of Star Wars and community to a whole new level for us in the 501st, and is both a practical and beneficial application of personal interest and service to others.
Nicole Daniel e Photography and retouching: NDP 2013 Nicole Daniel e Photography M.U.A and Hair stylist: Keondra Atwater of Gifts from a Goddess Model: Monica Luisa Gonzalez
Nicole Daniel e Photography and retouching: NDP 2013 Nicole Daniel e Photography M.U.A and Hair stylist: Keondra Atwater of Gifts from a Goddess Model: Monica Luisa Gonzalez
Top 10 games of 2013 STEPHEN TOTILO
Monster Manor Wha? Who? It’s a 3DS StreetPass game that’s part Tetris and part turn-based RPG with random loot and lots of leveling up. I’m obsessed over here. Must paint the floor all one color... Papers, Please
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Not just the best game about stamping passports in the last five years, but the 2013 game Pirates! More modern-day stuff that only I and with the greatest number of difficult decifour or five other people seem to really like. sions—difficult decisions that might reveal Ship battles! Repetitious sea shanties... hmm. things about yourself, such as... why was I so No. Beautiful graphics! mean to all the reporters in the game? Personal runner-up for year’s most interesting controls. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons I know what you’re thinking: not as many playable characters as Grand Theft Auto V, but come on! Real emotion and the most interesting controls of the year. Bring on a sequel about triplets, please.
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Ridiculous Fishing: A Tale of Redemption A game that lets you machine-gun the fish that you just hooked and foisted in the air. That’s top 10-worthy enough, but this is also a popular mobile game that doesn’t involve physics puzzles or three-starring anything. Gotta encourage that.
War. Marriage. Children. More war. More mar- Rymdkapsel riage. More children. Fifty hours on the play clock and counting. Must not let anyone die. Take popular game genre. Cut out any exRestart! cesses. Cut out some more. And again. Wind up with minimalist real-time strategy and... my second vaguely-Tetris-influenced game on this list. Weird trend. Magnificent game. Grand Theft Auto V Polished. Rough. Gorgeous. Nasty. The best interactive ensemble drama I’ve played since... Trauma Team and/or Eternal Darkness. Excellent fun/minute ratio, if you want to be all scientific about it.
Bonus 2012 Game I Loved In 2013: Professor Layton & The Miracle Mask
The Last of Us
If a game you loved in 2013 didn’t make my list, you can assume it just missed making the cut.
The scenes in the snow. The bits in the college. The ending! The fact that I finally found a stealth game with an arsenal so specifically and finely varied that I actually used every tool in its arsenal. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Nothing’s better in my gaming world than an excellent Zelda dungeon. This game had a bunch of the best. Cool music, too. I listened to all of it.
The story’s silly, but the puzzles are a delight. Especially the extra daily puzzles. Grab all 365 before they shut the servers off.
10 Inventions of 2013
one-piece structure composed of multiple layers of Kevlar 29 ballistic fiber. The helmet of the near future, however, may contain something more than extra protection from flying shrapnel. An Arizona State University researcher, working under a grant from the U.S. by William Harris and Patrick J. Kiger Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is trying to develop a military helmet Is this gold vending machine, the first to be inequipped with technology to regulate soldiers’ stalled in the U.S., going to become a commonplace invention or one bound for the footnotes of brains. The technology is transcranial pulsed ultrasound, which delivers high-frequency sound history? waves to specific regions of the brain. Under the influence of these sound waves, neurons send imSome inventions are so ubiquitous that it’s difficult to imagine they started as an idea scribbled pulses to their targets, exerting control over them. On the battlefield, this has enormous implicaon paper and then a patent application submitted to, say, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office tions. Using a controller, a soldier could release ultrasound pulses to stimulate different areas of (USPTO). Aluminum foil, adhesive bandages, the brain. For example, he or she might want to the ballpoint pen, the computer mouse, the mibe more alert after being awake for many hours crowave oven -- these are just a few examples of or relax when it’s time to catch some shuteye. The great ideas that became indispensable products soldier might even be able to relieve stress or bewe now take for granted. come oblivious to pain, eliminating the need for Nevertheless, of the 520,277 applications that inventors filed with USPTO in 2010, chances are morphine and other narcotics. that not even half will be granted patents, and far Of course, some people think this type of neurofewer will become commercial successes [source: technology is pure science fiction. Others worry that Uncle Sam is trying to take over the minds USPTO]. For every new gadget that becomes a household name and changes our lives, there are of its soldiers. After all, it’s one thing to have a thousands of others that languish in patent office drill sergeant yelling in your ear. It’s another thing files, unappreciated except perhaps as curiosities. completely to have one inside your head [source: Dillow]. Some of them are ingenious, but plagued with small but fatal flaws. Others are too outlandish to ever gain widespread acceptance. A few are sim- A sketch of what the pencil-making device might look like ply ahead of their time. In that spirit, here are 10 of the most outré tech- HowStuffWorks.com U.S. businesses use about 21 million tons (19 nological advances from recent years -- inventions that push the boundaries of innovation, yet million metric tons) of paper every year -- 175 pounds of paper for each American, according to seem unlikely to gain widespread acceptance. Enjoy them with a caveat: There were people who the Clean Air Council. This has led to office rescoffed at the notion that the motorized carriage cycling programs, “please think before you print” e-mail signatures and printers that offer doublewould ever replace the convenience of having a horse, and others who figured that nobody would sided printing. Now a trio of Chinese inventors ever need or want to carry a telephone around in hopes to add another device to the cubicle environment: the P&P Office Waste Paper Processor, their pocket. Enjoy. which turns paper destined for recycling into No mind control for these U.S. soldiers on patrol pencils. The machine, looking a bit like a threehole punch crossed with an electric pencil sharp-- yet. ener, was a finalist in the 2010 Lite-On Awards, The helmet used by the U.S. military has changed an international competition that seeks to stimulate and nurture innovation. dramatically over the years. In World War I, the M1917/M1917A1 helmets, also known as “Doughboy” or “dishpan” helmets, protected the Here’s how the pencil-making gadget works: You insert wastepaper into a feed slot. The maheads of American infantrymen. They were rechine draws the paper in, rolls and compresses placed in 1941 by the M-1 “steel pot,” the stanit, and then inserts a piece of lead from a storage dard-issue helmet in World War II, the Korean conflict and throughout the Vietnam War. By the chamber located in the top of the device. A small amount of glue is added before -- voilà -- a pen1980s, U.S. military helmets had evolved into a
cil slides out from a hole on the side. It’s not clear how many pieces of paper form a single pencil, but you figure the average office worker could generate a decent supply of pencils in a month. And that seems to be the biggest drawback to the pencil-producing gadget. How many No. 2 pencils can an office really use, given that most workers take notes on their tablet PCs or laptops? And how much glue and lead core do you need to buy to keep up with the overflowing paper recycle bin? Too much, we would suspect, which is why you may never see this gadget in your office supplies catalog [source: Bonderud]. The PrePeat, minus its plastic paper Printing has come a long way since the computer landed on the desktop. First, there were daisywheel printers, then dot-matrix printers, then inkjet and laser printers. The problem with all of these output devices, of course, is that they require paper -- lots of it -- and expensive consumables, like toner. Why can’t someone invent an inkless, tonerless printer that allows the operator to reuse paper? As it turns out, this isn’t a new idea. Xerox has been working with so-called electronic paper since the 1970s. Its most promising solution is a type of paper called “Gyricon.” A Gyricon sheet is a thin layer of transparent plastic containing millions of small oil-filled cavities. A two-colored bead is free to rotate inside each cavity. When a printer applies a voltage to the surface of the sheet, the beads rotate to present one colored side to the viewer, offering the ability to create text or pictures. The images will remain on the paper until it’s fed through the printer once again. A Japanese company, Sanwa Newtec, is offering its version of inkless, tonerless and rewritable printing technology. Its product is called the PrePeat rewritable printer, which, like the Xerox solution, requires plastic paper. But PrePeat uses a different technique to produce an image. Each sheet of paper comes embedded with leuco dyes, which change color with temperature -- colored when cool and clear when hot. The PrePeat printer, then, heats and cools the paper to first erase an image and then create a new image in its place. According to the company, a single sheet of paper can be reused 1,000 times before it needs to be replaced. What’s the catch? A single PrePeat printer costs almost $6,000, while a pack of 1,000 sheets of paper costs more than $3,300. If you’re running
a printing-intensive business, you might be able to recoup your investment over time. But the average PC user likely won’t be willing to shell out that kind of money to replace a standard printer [source: Miller]. A NAV will be a lot smaller than the EMT Aladin airborne reconnaissance drone this German soldier is using for close area imaging during patrol on Oct. 17, 2010, in Afghanistan. Many people don’t know it, but USPTO can apply a secrecy order to a patent if patent office staff and their military advisers think the idea could be used to threaten national security. Once the USPTO decides that a technology is no longer a threat, it can publish the patent and pave the way for commercialization. Some patents may remain cloaked under a secrecy order for one or two years; others languish for decades. More than 5,000 patents -- inventions we may never know or see -- currently have secrecy orders attached to them [source: Marks]. That’s not the end of hush-hush inventions. Each year, the Pentagon sets aside billions of dollars to develop top-secret military weapons. This socalled “black budget” has grown tremendously since the Sept. 11 attacks, surpassing even the funds spent at the height of the Cold War. Some of that money has gone toward the development of nano air vehicles (NAVs), remote-controlled micro-drones that could easily infiltrate enemy territory. We all know how the U.S. military has used larger drones to conduct reconnaissance, transport supplies and even target individuals. Unfortunately, the larger attack drones, such as the MQ-1 Predator, can result in unwanted civilian casualties. Lockheed Martin’s Samarai micro-drone could solve that problem. Weighing a mere 5.29 ounces (150 grams) and boasting a 12-inch (30-centimeter) wingspan, the Samarai looks like a maple-seed whirligig, except this one comes with a miniature jet engine to provide thrust and a tiny flap on the trailing edge of the wing to control direction. In the near future, this nature-inspired micro-drone will snap photos using a camera mounted on the gadget’s central hub. But the longer-term goals are to turn the Samarai or other similar micro-drones into armed attack vehicles capable of killing a single individual with little or no collateral damage [source: Weinberger]. The BIOME, in all its far-out organic glory. Future, please hurry!
a bright LED flashlight, an HD camera capable Mercedes-Benz has been an innovator for deof transmitting pictures, and a charging slot into cades. You can thank the German auto manuwhich an iPhone apparently fits nicely. facturer for diesel and supercharged engines on We could see this gadget becoming an indispenpassenger cars, antilock brakes, electronic stabil- sible tool for law enforcement officers and bodyity systems and more. But nothing could be more guards of the future, but given that you have to innovative than the BIOME concept car, unveiled inquire about it to get a price quote, we’re guessat the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2010. ing that it’ll be too costly to make much of a dent Here’s how the official press release described the into the everyday suburban adventurer market vehicle: “The Mercedes-Benz BIOME grows in a [sources: Armstar.net, Inventionreaction.com]. completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery. Out on the road the car emits pure Wingsuit flyers need to jump out of an airplane or oxygen, and at the end of its lifespan it can be off of a cliff to fly. simply composted or used as building material.” Engineers from the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Have you ever wanted to leave the ground and Design Studios in Carlsbad, Calif., created the soar like a bird -- or perhaps a bat? In January car as part of the Los Angeles Design Challenge, 2012, a Connecticut-based inventor was granted which called for a safe and comfortable coma patent for what the application describes as “a pact car of the future that could accommodate completely dynamic human powered flying suit” four passengers, demonstrate good handling and that is modeled after the bat’s style of aviation. weigh only 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). The The inventor explains in the patent application BIOME represents the Mercedes-Benz vision. It is that bats are fellow mammals and the flying creamade from an ultralight material called BioFibre tures “most closely related to human beings.” so that the finished vehicle, though wider than The device consists of a pair of strap-on batlike a typical car, only weighs 876 pounds (397 kilowings with rigid and non-rigid portions that can grams). If you think that sounds too good to be be manipulated by the wearer once aloft. Initially true, then get this: The BIOME isn’t assembled. It getting off the ground is a bit trickier: Unlike bats, grows from two seeds -- one that forms the inte- who simply do what comes naturally, the wearer rior and one that forms the exterior. The wheels of the flying suit would have to be towed, or ride germinate from four additional seeds placed in on a bicycle, skis or rollerblades down an incline the nursery. and then assume a leaning-forward flying posture Of course, you won’t find the BIOME at your lo- and leap into the air at the appropriate moment cal Mercedes-Benz dealer. That’s because the [source: USPTO]. The question is: Would this refar-out design is a vision of the future -- a conally work? cept car that’s decades ahead of its time. As such, it couldn’t exist today. But it might be as comThink about it. mon as a Corolla after 20 or 30 years of innovative thinking and inspired engineering [source: Comedian Steve Martin used to have a routine in Leavitt]. which his pet cat figures out how to imitate his voice and orders $3,000 worth of cat toys from a The Armstar Bodyguard 9XI-HD01 looks a bit mail-order company. The bit certainly resonated like that scary black body armor that Christian with cat owners, who know how easily felines can Bale wears in the recent Batman movies. And it is get into mischief when they’re trying to alleviate kind of like that, actually. boredom. In 2009, a New York-based inventor The Bodyguard, which was patented by a Califor- was granted a patent for one possible solution: a nia inventor in 2007 under the title of “wearable fold-up “cat toy park” equipped with a scratchshield and self-defense device,” is designed to be ing post, a tunnel for crawling through, a hanging a shield, a non-lethal weapon and a communica- chew toy, and most ingeniously, a tube equipped tions device all in one [source: Justia.com]. The with a fan that blows colored balls around a mesh flexible arm, which is armored with Kevlar and tube, a game that’s “devised to occupy one or hard plastic, contains a rechargeable lithium bat- more cats” [source: USPTO]. tery pack that powers an “electronic deterrent” While cat fanciers may applaud the ingenuity of device built into the arm’s artificial skin. All the the concept, cats are notoriously fussy and capriuser has to do is pull a pin, and an assailant who cious, and there’s no guarantee they would choose grabs his or her arm is going to get zapped with to play with such a toy rather than, say, claw your electricity. The Bodyguard is also equipped with antique furniture. Also, the value of having a por-
table cat entertainment center is questionable, since we’ve never seen a cat who was a willing traveler. The Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in the film “Goldfinger” Remember James Bond’s tricked-out Aston Martin in the 1964 movie “Goldfinger” -- the one equipped with hidden machine guns, pop-out razor rims to slice pursuer’s tires and an ejector seat? Wouldn’t you love to outfit your Toyota Yaris with some of that stuff? The high-powered weaponry, alas, probably is a bit impractical, not to mention dangerous. But there is a company that offers an electronic license-plate flipper of the sort that Bond used to conceal his identity from prying eyes. The $79.00 Vehicle Plate Flipper doesn’t allow you to impersonate a Swiss or French driver, but it does flip down at a 90 degree angle at the press of a button to display a message on an underlying plate for the driver behind you. There’s also a special $74.99 version for motorcycles. We’re not sure that this gadget will ever become widely popular, though, in part because some of the device’s conceivable uses -- hiding your identity from red light cameras and police, or provoking tailgaters with taunting messages -- could get drivers in a lot of trouble. Indeed, the company that sells the device attaches a disclaimer to its Web site, warning that the gadgets are “STRICTLY intended for off-road use only” and informing potential customers that they take responsibility “for all liabilities associated with the use or misuse of our product” [source: Plateflipper.com].
An old-fashioned mouse trap At this point, robotic vacuum sweepers, singing androids and mechanical dogs are old hat. But British inventors Jimmy Loizeau and James Auger have made a quantum leap with the Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robot, an automaton that would stalk and devour mice and insects, and then eat them and digest their bodies to produce its own power.
They’ve come up with five different concepts, including the mousetrap coffee table robot, which is designed to lure unwary vermin onto its surface, which contains a trap door triggered by motion sensors. Rodent victims trapped by the device would be chemically dismantled and fed to a microbial fuel cell. A light on the side of the device would inform the owner of how much energy is being produced by the auto-extermination. Other configurations include the Lampshade Robot, which would lure flies and moths to their doom, a Cobweb Robot that would trick spiders into weaving webs and then extract and feed them into its fuel cell, and the Flypaper Robotic Clock [source: Scott]. Right now these robots are still just concepts, which you might say is good thing: Realistically, who wants to watch their coffee table devour a mouse?
Top 10 TV Shows of 2013 Kait Calabrò
10.Reign (The CW)
4. Veep (HBO) The second season of the HBO comedy series may have trumped the first. When someone asks me what Veep is like, I simply put it as “Parks and Recreation uncensored and on crack”. Yes, it is that good! I often find myself trying to figure out which character is my favorite because they are all amazing, even Selina’s ass of an ex is entertaining! Veep is set to return Spring 2014. Selina for President!
3. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)
I am a bit of a history geek, especially when it comes to the Tudor era, so I was all for a show being made about Mary Queen of Scots. But keep in mind this is the CW, so it is not entirely historically accurate. Reign very much reminds me of Sofia Coppola‘s Marie Antoinette, with the mixture of high fashion and pop music bringing this historical drama into modern times! Reign airs Thursday nights at 9pm.
I was not expecting much from this show but it has turned out to be one of the best new shows of 2013 in my opinion! I think what makes the sitcom work is that it is not all about Andy Samberg‘s character Jake Peralta. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a perfect ensemble cast. Clearly, I am not the only fan of the show. Both the series and Samberg are up for Golden Globes. Brooklyn Nine-Nine airs on Tuesdays at 8:30pm.
9.Derek (Netflix)
2. Game of Thrones (HBO)
If you told me that Ricky Gervais would make a show that made me cry (and not because Karl Pilkington made so crazy statement) I would never believe you. Derek really did surprise me. The whole cast protrays their characters with such heart. Plus, Derek is always googling cute cat pictures so that is a plus. Season 1 of Derek is streaming on Netflix right now and Season 2 just finished filming.
8. Super Fun Night (ABC) The new sitcom created by and starring Hollywood’s new funny girl, Rebel Wilson, truly is super fun! Once you get past the first couple episodes you begin to see the development of these quirky characters. Super Fun Night airs Wednesdays at 9:30pm.
7. Parks and Recreation (NBC) This show really just keeps getting better! In the season premiere, the gang heads to London and Ron Swanson in a foreign country is a boat load of laughs! Ben has an early 90′s themed birthday party and Leslie and Jam have a “Summer Nights” karaoke duet… if you are not watching this show, you are a Jerry! Parks and Recreation airs Thursdays at 8:30pm.
6. Orphan Black (BBC America) The BBC’s new supernatural show took the world by storm this year! Tatiana Maslany, who plays multiple clones on the series, was nominated for a Golden Globe. Oprhan Black is set to return in April 2014.
5.Doctor Who (BBC America) This was a big year for BBC’s most popular supernatural show, Doctor Who. We got to know Clara Oswald, we learned who 12 was going to be, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary with the return of 10 and Rose Tyler (though it was not really Rose Tyler), and we said good-bye to 11 (sad face!). Doctor Who will always keep us guessing…and we have a bit of a wait, Doctor Who is set to return not until Fall 2014! But that leaves plenty of time to catch up!
Do I really need to explain this one… Game of Thrones is perfection! Season 3 we see a lot more character development and story direction. But yeah, it is just awesome! Game of Thrones is set to return Spring 2014.
1. Bob’s Burgers (FOX) 2013 was the year I fell in love with Bob’s Burgers and my spirit animal, Tina Belcher! I do not want to imagine a world without Bob’s Burgers. The animated sitcom that follows this off-beat family that runs a seaside burger joint is dramatized yet realistic. There is nothing fancy about the show, no talking dog or alien living in the attic, just a group of quirky characters making burgers. If you are not watching Bob’s Burgers, you are missing out on some really great erotic zombie fan-fiction. Bob’s Burgers airs on Sundays at 8:30pm.
The best of: Must have geek gear of 2013! All items found at thinkgeek.com
Gamer life
We never understood those people who have “formal” living rooms. Who wants to be formal in their own house? Certainly not us! We want to hang out in our PJs, eat Cheetos, and play video games. We want to spill popcorn on the floor on purpose so our dogs can eat it. Living rooms are for living! Video games are a huge part of our lives and have been ever since we got our first console as wee geeks. We’d hug those consoles and cartridges, but they are hard and pointy and hugging hard and pointy things hurts. (Don’t ask how we know.) That’s when we knew what we needed to do: we created the Retro Video Game Cartridge Pillow Set! These cartridges are cuddly and soft and make perfect throw pillows, nap pillows, or butt pillows for wee geeks who are sitting on the floor starting their love affair with gaming. Product Specifications Set of two throw pillows inspired by retro video game cartridges Snuggle up with plush cartridges because plastic ones hurt Great for your living room or game room Materials: 100% polyester Care: Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent Dimensions: 14” x 12” x 3.5” each
Purr Purr Purr Leonard: Oh, a blanket. Penny: Oh, no, no, no, not just a blanket. See, it has sleeves. Yeah! So, you can, you know, be all snoodled up while you do your science stuff. - “The Monopolar Expedition”, Season 2, Episode 23 You don’t have to have an actual feline on hand to be soft, warm, happy, and sleepy just like our favorite kitty. This is especially good news for those of us with allergies. Not that it’s going to stop us from snorgling soft kitties, but at last we’ll have something soft and warm to cover us while we lay on the couch and snuffle as a result. Soft Kitty Blanket with Sleeves Measures 54” wide x 70” tall. Made of lightweight, soft, grey fleece - 100% polyester. Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low.. Not intended for children 12 and under.
Nothing wakes you up like the threat of extermination! There you are, cozy in your PJs dreaming about a new season of The Doctor, when it hits you - you are not alone. Looming out of the dark and nebulous reaches of reality you can hear them as they float towards you, giant toilet plunger manipulator appendages at the ready, gunsticks aimed for you. It’s them. They’re here. You run, but you can’t escape. Just as fear and panic put an icy grip on you, you sit bolt upright in bed, eyes glued to the ceiling, awake. You can still hear them. You can hear their hovering bodies approach, the sound of their gunsticks firing, that dreaded cry of “Exterminate!” Etched in glowing blue above your head is the time. Obey! Obey! O-BEY! Your alarm clock has done its job. Maybe the Red Shiny Robots of Vortis are a myth too. But for some of us, the constant threat of death by alien robots is what keeps us going from day to day. Start your day the Dalek way - because nothing wakes you like the threat of extermination! The Dalek Alarm Clock projects the time onto your ceiling and cycles through three sound effects - hover, exterminate, and gunstick - to try to wake you from your slumber. It’s the alarm clock Davros would use if he required an alarm clock. Product Specifications Cycles through three sound effects (hover, exterminate, and gunstick) Projects time onto your ceiling! Snoozes for ten minutes when depressed Speech indicators on head flash white Requires four AA batteries (included) Approximately 9.8” x 5.1”
Warm and fuzzy and algebraic. When the Ice King goes and showers (once every couple of years, or so we hear) or does his laundry (just as infrequent), he’s got to put something on while he dries off. Ironically, he chooses a robe that looks like Finn or Jake (he’s got one of each, so he doesn’t have to do laundry as much). And now you can wrap up in a little Finn and/or Jake by getting your own Adventure Time Fleece Bathrobe. Specs and stuff and specs Super soft plush robe - with a hood and character-y embroidery. 100% Polyester. Care Instructions: Machine Wash Cold. Tumble Dry Low. Measurements: Robe Length: 46 1/2” Sleeve Length: Adjustable 17-24”
Take your rightful place as kitchen warrior You buy really expensive kitchen knives and then you put them in a block of wood that exists for function, not form, and nobody ever sees them. This set of Samurai Kitchen Knives aims to correct that by adding some feudal Japanese theming to your kitchen. It contains the 4 essential chef ’s knives: paring knife, utility knife, bread knife, and chef ’s knife, each with its own saya (scabbard). Plus, instead of having to carry these around in your waistband, they come with a convenient display stand. Shouting things like, “You have insulted me for the last time!” while prepping or throwing vegetables up and slicing them midair is not required but highly encouraged. The symbol on the knives and stand can be translated as the words “Life,” “Fate,” or “Destiny,” depending on which one best fits your cooking skill set. Product Specifications
Punching your refrigerator will NOT give you milk! It’s late. You can hear the zombies outside the castle walls, but you’ve got to keep on digging because... Well, because digging is the whole point, right? But then you get hungry in the real world. Your stomach gurgles and complains. Now you’ll have to get up and walk all the way to the kitchen to get some food! You might even need to use the microwave, or worse, THE STOVE. Agony! Though we do offer a variety of caffeinated delights that might tide you over, we haven’t come up a magic porkchop to keep you fueled through hours of heavy mining and exploring. However, we can offer you some amazing Minecraft Refrigerator Magnets to help alleviate the drudgery of feeding your body. In each pack of Minecraft Refrigerator Magnets, you will receive two magnetic sheets packed with 80 colorful, classic blocks. Use the magnets to hold up printouts of treasured screenshots of your vacation on that island covered with snow. Share your schematics for your next fortress with the whole family. Or play a rousing game of “name that data value!” Just remember that no matter how tempting it might be, punching your refrigerator will not give you milk. You need a bucket for milk, silly! Product Specifications Official, licensed Minecraft product Two magnetic sheets with 80 1” square blocks each! Each sheet includes: 1 Workbench 1 Furnace 1 Chest 1 TNT 1 Bookcase 1 Jack-o-Lantern 2 Snow 3 Coal 2 Iron Ore 1 Gold Ore 1 Redstone Ore 1 Diamond Ore 4 Water 4 Lava 2 Clay 5 Grass 3 Trees 5 Leaves 3 Gravel 3 Sand 7 Brick 7 Wood 7 Stone 7 Cobblestone 7 Dirt Are you a game master who uses a magnetic surface for your RPG? These 1” squares will fit perfect and allow you to build cool maps and terrain for your game.
Samurai knife set with ceremonial display stand 4 essential chef ’s knives: paring knife, utility knife, bread knife, and chef ’s knife Great for fans of samurai movies or ninjas Standard kitchenware half tang Materials: blades are tempered stainless steel, saya (scabbards) are aluminum, presentation stand is wood Dimensions: Display - 11 1/2” high x 15 1/2” wide x 5 1/2” deep Bread Knife - blade 8 1/4”, knife 12 3/4” Chef ’s Knife - blade 8 1/4”, knife 12 3/4” Utility Knife - blade 5”, knife 8 3/4” Paring Knife - blade 3 1/2”, knife 7 1/2” Weight: boxed set 1 lb.
Little girl? Little girl...? The first few minutes of The Walking Dead television series really set the mood for what you can expect out of the show if you don’t already know. Sweet, little girl in bunny slippers turns out to want to eat Rick Grimes. Still with us? Good deal. We knew you were a fan. Our Walking Dead Animated Teddy Bear Girl stands 4 feet 5 inches tall and is wearing pajamas and a robe like Addy Miller’s character in the show. A dirty teddy bear dangles from her left hand, and she has the requisite bunny slippers that Rick first spies beneath the car. She features poseable arms so she can reach out for unwitting trick or treaters. The best part is that the animation is sound activated, so when they walk up on to the porch, she rolls out, literally, snarling and groaning. Product Specifications Life-size animated Teddy Bear Zombie Girl Officially-licensed Walking Dead memorabilia Materials: metal, fabric, vinyl Batteries: 4 AA batteries (not included) Dimensions: 55” tall x 18” wide (could be more, depending on how you bend her arms) x 18” deep, base 12” diameter Weight: 15 lbs. Can be displayed outside, but avoid extreme temperature, rain, snow Tip: Put her on a flat surface for best movement Ages 14+
Cleanliness is next to Americium How many times has this happened to you? You’re showering, lathering up your hair, and as you read the ingredients, you notice Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Of course, you know it’s a straight-chain alkyl benzene sulfonate (I mean, who doesn’t?), but you forgot what Laureth is! The horror! If only you had paid more attention to your Chemistry professor! This might not remind you what Laureth is (it’s a contraction for lauryl-ether, made from the sulfation of lauryl alcohol, but you knew that), but it’s hard to deny the Periodic Table Shower Curtain’s usefulness. All the time you spend in the bathroom, you might as well brush up on your transition metals, and your lanthanide and actinide series. Jog those brain cells with some steaming hot water, and a giant six-foot tall periodic table. The Periodic Table Shower Curtain is 71 inches square, and made from EVA Vinyl (Ethylene vinyl acetate and Polyethylene, but you knew that), and is semi-transparent with the Periodic Table of Elements printed in large friendly letters and colors.
I’m not impressed.
Grumpy Cat
10 Super Geeky Tips for the New Year 201from: Gwyneth Anne Bronwynne Jones The Daring Librarian 3
I was going to update this post from last year & add some new stuffs for 2013 because this IS the time of year that I do try to do my Geeky housecleaning. But dag...this post holds up! So..being sorta lazy anyway I’m going to re-post it with new commentary! 1. Change your passwords. Yes, ALL of them. According to CNN Tech an 8 digit password can be hacked in 2 hours but a 12 character password would take 17 years. Use this handy Comic Tutorial to create a really super new password for every website....don’t worry, there’s a trick! You don’t have to go to every site you use right away - just make a commitment that when you do go to a site that requires your password you take the extra 5 min to change your password - maybe using the suggestions in my Comic Tutorial. Basically, have a root password, a varying numeric addition (not the year or your B-DAY!) and add an ending that has something to do with the site. EX: for Huffington Post ---> H@PPyZ0mbiesEat24HuffPo. Twitter would be H@PPyZ0mbiesEat25TWEET etc. Oh and in the small print of my comic I said 3 important things - Change your passwords twice a year, have a different password for Facebook because FB’s security is notoriously craptastic, and a diff password from ANYwhere else for your bank that is randomly generated. Oh and here’s my Disclaimer - I’m not a security expert and nothing is foolproof. And geeks all over have different opinions about passwords - these are just mine. 2. Dump your cache, cookies, & clear history At least once a year (I try quarterly) go around to every computer you use public & private -and dump the cache, clear your cookies, & browsing history. 3. Consolidate your Flashdrives We all have a gajillion flashdrives floating around from 128mg’s to 16gb’s. Lazy Way: Gather them all up and create a folder on your external HD called flashdrive backups (or one folder per flashdrive) and drag all the stuff in there. Smart Way: Go through all those flashdrives & trash anything you really don’t need & save only the archive worthy stuff. While you’re at it - are those drives named? Do you have an .RTF doc on it that says “If found, Please Read” with your contact information? This might be a good time to get those on there. I give every new teacher & secretary to my school a new 4G flashdrive and yeah, sometimes they lose them (I’m looking at you Sue! LOL) So, even though it’s super easy to carry around & save stuff in a pinch, you wanna give yourself a chance to get it back if lost. Now... throw some of those old flashdrives away & go on to the next tip. dropbox.JPG4. Forget the flashdrive try the cloud! 4. Now that you’ve backed up your flash drives consider using Dropbox, Amazon Prime storage, iCloud, or Google drive to save your stuff! I’ve blogged about Dropbox before, but this past year after getting 3 new computers & a new mini iPad proves to me how vital having Dropbox is. When I go to each device I don’t have to transfer my documents because they are already there once I install the Dropbox! Boom! Don’t have Dropbox or joined & never DOWNLOADED it on your computer? Get it by using THIS SPECIAL SECRET SQUIRREL LINK to register for dropbox & use your school email account and you’ll get EXTRA FREE SPACE! (it’s a total geeky pyramid scheme but SO worth it!) Dropbox allows you store your files online, easily share files with others, and sync your documents with multiple computers and mobile devices once you Download Dropbox. I have it on my iPad and all my Macs both home and at school! This is a must have tool for educators! It’s Free, Convenient, and Saves Time! And you can increase your space for FREE if you Tweet about it & do a few other tasks (or blog about it using your referral link - wink wink) Seriously, it’s just downright awesome.Want to read more? My fav Auntie & blogging mentee Life With Lynn has written a new post Feelin’ (and sharin’!) the DROPBOX Looove! about how she uses Dropbox.
5. Edit your privacy settings & friendships Facebook is notoriously changing their privacy settings (that’s why I’ve had an on again and off again relationship with FB right now we’re broken up)- Google “latest facebook privacy settings” to read blogs with advice to double check that you’re sharing what you want to share. Consider what you share and who you share it with. Also, look at your friends - are you really friends with them? Do they add to the conversation? Have they contributed lately? “ While considering what’s private and public, take time to evaluate what a “friend,” “contact” or “follower” means to you and what types of information you share with different groups.” (Quoted from the super AWEsome Jolie O’Dell) 6. Be Transparent I’ve said it all year, but Transparent is the New Black! If you haven’t done it already, go for it! Though some still consider it a big leap for an educator on the intarwebs, I think that horse has already left the barn. I went transparent in 2009 after being inspired at NECC-DC. Sure, it’s a little scary but worth it if you’re building a PLN and wanting to make a “name” for yourself out there. And really? Our names are already “out there” best to craft how it shows up yourself & be a good role model for creating your own positive digital footprint. (Search this blog “digital footprint” to read more) So yeah, now I’m Gwyneth Jones here and on the Twitters in addition to my electronic portfolio and on my wikis. 7. Buy your name. For $10 bucks a year you can own your own domain through Google Apps. You don’t want to be the last person who has their own domain or let someone else get it. I was lazy in this, considered it back in the late 90’s - went with Angelfire instead. That was stooopid. Wish I had grabbed Gwyneth Jones before the Welsh Opera singer & the Sci Fi YA Author! Ahh well! Now I have 2 domains! thedaringlibrarian.com for this blog and daringlibrarian.com for my electronic portfolio. 8. Get Wikified Sure there are LibGuides & LiveBinders out there but nothing is so easy to use, flexible, FREE, & just a joy as a Wikispaces! So, if you’re not ready to buy a domain but don’t just want a school based web page? Create a FREE K-12 Wikispaces. Learn from my mistakes, when you sign up for the first time, use your own name or a variation thereof! I made the mistake back in 06 when I joined wikispaces of making it under my school name because my intention was for it to be a prof dev wiki... so I named it mhmsmedia for my wiki account -I’ve since changed it to http://thedaringlibrarian.wikispaces.com (Thanks Wikispaces!) 9.Build your PLN Build your PLN! Today, having a Personal Learning Network is essential to stay in tune with the trends and what’s going on. So whether you join a Ning or Twitter (even just for conferences!) Here’s a getting started Twitter 101 Flickr gallery so you can start talking to other excited educators about new ideas...crowdsource! Got a question? Pose it to the PLN and you’ll be amazed at the answers you get! See a question someone else is asking that you can help with? Contribute! (I try to give 95% and only ask for help 5%) GIVE, give, and give some more! Share shamelesly! Whatever you create think of your other educators out there who might benefit from it. Add it to your blog, wiki or slideshare! No one likes to re-create the wheel. Give your greatest works to our profession - it’s good ed tech karma! PS. Always give attribution! I know professional teacher thieving is par for the course, heck I do it all the time, but I ask permission whenever possible and link back and ALWAYS give attribution! 10. Back up your data. “Hacks and hardware failures happen. Before this year gets going, make sure as much of your data as possible is protected. From bookmakrs, calendars and contacts to blog posts and work projects, more and more of us are relying on networks of servers and startups to keep us running. Save anything that’s valuable to you and portable. Get a big external HD but also burn to CD or DVD the really important stuff because I’ve had externals die on me. And yeah, the cloud is awesome, but I’m not ready to give over yet completely! LOL “Think of it this way: You - or at least parts of you - live in the Internet. If the Internet caught on fire, what would you grab to carry with you out of the blaze?” (Quoted, inspired & adapted from the super AWEsome Jolie O’Dell) So, Ok...some of these things are stuff I preach about ALL the time... like a flippin broken record when it comes to shameless sharing I’m that passionate about it....but what did I forget?