Dammit, that means I need
to re-record the KarkensQuest promo.

KrakenThief and I grappled together on Twitter concerning the previous episode and miscommunication, but alas — I understand now what it was that KrakenThief was attempting to do. KrakenThief was sending me on a second quest, a quest for truth, for understanding, for inspiration…

And yes, I found my inspiration to carry on in my search for #68:

Who says you can’t learn something from great art?
Click on the image to view full-size on Flickr.

So we enter the new year with great expectations, and more challenges to fulfill.

Remember you can become a part of this Web 2.0 Adventure…

• Follow TeeMonster and the unknown Kraken Thief on Twitter.
• Watch Kraken Thief’s Flickr for latest sightings.
• Watch Tee’s own photostream for the challenges met.
• Enjoy the Bitstrips commentary entitled “The Jersey Saga”.
• Subscribe to this podcast. Now available on iTunes! (And feel free to post a review!)
• Call in your message for krakenthief or Tee at 703.791.1701

Please, don’t harm my jersey.

• Sexually frustrated woman meets a nice guy. Nice guy is into the kink. They get kinky. Woman discovers herself. And they all get their kink on happily ever after.
• Sexually frustrated woman meets a bad boy. Bad boy introduces sexually frustrated woman to kink. Woman discovers herself. And they all get their kink on happily ever after.

The characters  were forgettable, and I got the impression they were written to be that way because who wants real, three-dimensional characters in erotica?! Their development went about as deep as the dipping bowls for my salad dressing. There were some erotic offerings in both Science Fiction and Fantasy, and—

Allright, before I continue…I got friends who write erotica and friends who write Science Fiction and Fantasy erotica. I am not saying its all like this. I’m just saying this is the erotica I read in the mid-to-late nineties. Okay?! So if you want to drop snarky comments about how I don’t know any better, you all go right ahead but just track with me here. You’ll get your “happy ending” one way or another! Now…where was I? Oh yeah…

There were some erotic offerings in both Science Fiction and Fantasy, and I found it funny that the aliens, elves, and warlocks featured therein were all…

• Extremely pretty, buff, and chiseled
• Humanoid, ala the original Star Trek: Two arms, two legs, one head
• Into the kink
• Hung like Ron Jeremy

As I did when I burned out on Fantasy, I stopped reading erotica. My attempts to get back into it all met with the same disappointments, and listening to erotica podcasts also left me feeling hollow. Some episodes of Chris Lester’s Metamor City came close to capturing the darker, devious side of my imagination, but could I really call Metamor City an erotica podcast? No, it’s more a Science Fiction-Fantasy epic with the occasional erotic element. So, I would call Lester the podcasting equivalent of a tease. That saucy bitch.

However, award-nominated writer, blogger, podcaster, and Arch Enemy Pip Ballantine launched Erotica ala Carte, and she asked me for an opinion on it. I promised myself that I would not get too snarky (although that is so easy to do with Ballantine) and figured “Okay, at least this will be erotica with an accent, so I can enjoy it for that.” I got on the train for my commute to work, and listened to her first episode…and then listened to it again after I got to work. The next day, on the train ride home, I listened to it a third time. My thought was “This is the first episode? Sweet merciful crapbuckets!”

To add to the awesomeness of this podcast is the concept behind it. Pip puts on the Erotica ala Carte website a survey open to all. Much like you would at a sushi restaurant or an upscale steak house, you choose what you think should appear in a short story she has yet to pen. It is then up to Pip to take the most popular “ingredients” and whip up Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror in her creative kitchen, and then make the dish extra spicy with sexual situations that would make Kim Bassinger and Mickey Rourke blush. So without having an idea of where the story is going to go, our Naughty Chef of New Zealand comes up with sexy speculative fiction for our pleasure.

Take a look at what she has come up with in her first three months:

Pages of Madness. In her first survey results, the audience wanted a librarian in Occupied France. Oh yeah, and the story needed to have a paranormal feel to it. Oh, one more thing — the librarian had to be going insane. The story opens with Fleur who watches from the confines of her neglected library the Nazis stroll into Paris. Our librarian, however, does not care in the slightest as she finds herself caught in her own prison. Her library, she discovers after being there for a time, is haunted by some very possessive spirits; and these spirits — when pleased — do reward her…admirably. She can feel her grip on reality slipping, but a glimmer of hope appears when she meets Valantine, a member of the French Resistance…

Measureless to Man. The chef was then asked for a dish featuring a female protagonist on an orbiting space station, set in 24 hours of a civil war. In deep space we meet Io, a skin-native that discovers her lovers dead on account of a virus contracted on another space station. She has 24 hours before the virus takes her, so Io must brave the security systems of Darkling Station in order to discover its source. We not only get in this story the tension of time slipping by, we are also treated to some extremely delightful cephalopod sex. (And unlike out-of-control hentai where things get over-the-top ugly, there is some tenderness here.) “Measureless to Man” has the potential of becoming a novel, or even a series of novels. In a short span of story, Pip does some fantastic worldbuilding.

The Right of Princes. In her latest creation, Chef Ballantine takes us back to Dark Age Britain where we experience sexual karma from Prince Kenrik’s point-of-view. Let me say that again: Pip is writing this story from a MAN’S point-of-view. The audience wanted her to write from a horny, bored man’s point-of-view. She was also told to write this with a “Three’s Company” kink incorporated…but to tell you how she worked that into the story will give too much away. “Rights of Princes” has my favorite opening so far: “There are two pastimes that are acceptable pursuits for a bored prince, and I have never liked the Martial Arts as my brothers do.” We hear from the Prince himself of breaking his ennui by calling Prima Nocta on an unsuspecting maid. His desires come back to haunt him, and the story ends with poetic justice being served for dessert.

What makes Erotica ala Carte such a delight to listen to, and why I’m anxiously awaiting the next episode, is that this is erotica involving characters I really care about, even the contemptible ones like Prince Kenrik. As expected, you get plenty of nookie; but the sex in previous erotica, I remember, felt thrown in there because it had to be there. A bit contrived, extremely uninteresting, and unessential to what was happening in the story itself. Pip succeeds with Erotica ala Carte in creating compelling characters, intelligent stories, and extremely scintillating scenarios, all on the demand of her listeners. Even if you don’t like erotica, I would challenge you have a listen to this podcast. When you realize Pip does not know what the survey results are going to be from month to month, Erotica ala Carte becomes a wonderful exercise in creativity on-the-fly and on-demand. After three months and three stories (with a Christmas special coming up featuring a character from her podcast, Chasing the Bard), you can expect more surprises from this Top Chef of the South Pacific. My compliments, Miss Ballantine.

Now, the scary bit: Pip is talking about inviting other writers to participate in this “experimental sex” of hers. She has told me that I will be called upon to man the kitchen for a story. As I am the Uber-Nemesis (and I would not have become so had I not been so challenged by Pip) I constantly push myself to produce the best media content, be it podcast, the written word, or otherwise. When called upon by the Dark Kiwi Goddess, I will not flinch. I have chosen to rise to the challenge and see it to its ultimate climax.

Wow. I can’t believe I put it like that. I should be spanked.

Ummm, wait a minute… I mean, uh…

I’ll be in my bunk.

Heaven help us!

Featured Microbrews

• Stella Artois
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Concerning Clyde’s. Just take a look at this place…
(click on the images for a better look)

And just so you know what it is we are nomming on during the recording…

Some of the topics we hit:

• Clyde’s
• Is Stella Atois really a “microbrew” considering its history?
• The demise of Dominion
• What you can expect from Microbrewed?

Thanks for listening, and feel free to leave comments for Phil and myself here. Sláinte!

Seriously…how did I make the first cut?!

After a four mile walk, I got on Twitter and vented a bit. I asked “Why was I up for this job again?”

This was the reply from Adam Morey…

This desktop is available in the following dimensions:

1024 x 768
1600 x 1200

And this is why I remain positive. My fans are teh awesome. Thank you, Adam, for this (and other cool podcaster wallpapers) pick-me-up; and major thanks to my TwitterTribe for getting me through a very, very tough year…

Instead of a cup of coffee from Starbuck’s, do something different today. http://tinyurl.com/56yeuf $5 can have an impact. Make it happen.

Curious, you click on the link…

No, really, click on that link. I’ll be here when you get back…

…and you get a flashback to that little diddy from the 80’s. This is “Rick Rolling” and YouTube pranksters have it down to a fine art. This variation remains my favorite:

Its title on YouTube reads “Hilarious Muppet Bloopers”, but 14 seconds into the clip reveals that you have, indeed, been Rick Rolled. Brilliant!

Today, though, all Rick Rolling artists were trumped by singer Rick Astley himself. Even though the overly-perky dinks from the Today show foreshadowed what was to come, the surprise was genuine:

So why am I dropping one of the whitest guys in the music industry (seriously…have you WATCHED him dance in that video?!) into the “Geek Chic” category? For one, Rick Rolling is very much a part of geek culture. It started with YouTube and has evolved into automated services that will Rick Roll you over the phone. (It happened to me. It can happen to you.) If you know what Rick Rolling is, this is a clear indication you surf the Net for more than just work. You surf for the fun of it. So, regardless of what level of geek you are, Rick Rolling is part of the lifestyle.

Second, the reaction to this nationwide Rick Rolling has been nothing short of priceless. Already there are grumpy Twitters and bloggers who have proclaimed that Rick Rolling is now officially done on account of MCA (Mainstream Corporate America) staging this “canned, lip-synced, hollow, and uninspiring” prank just to show they are “hip”.

I say to that: “Wow, you are really pissed you got Rick Rolled!”

This was an extremely clever and downright funny “in” joke for the fans of Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends and geeks everywhere. If you were in a different time zone and on Twitter, though, the surprise was spoiled. (Sorry about that!) Judging from the flurry of tweets in my feed, no one saw this coming. It was the Uber-Rick Rolling, and the millions enjoying the 82nd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade fell victim to it. Nicely played, and damn funny!

But the Cool Whip on this slice of pumpkin pie, and what makes this truly Geek Chic, belongs to Astley himself who jumped in with both feet and performed “Never Gonna Give You Up” from the Foster’s Home float. It is obvious that he “gets it” and doesn’t mind playing on the trend that his pop hit of yesteryear is now the Internet’s version of flaming paper bags of poo left on the stoop, Vaseline smeared on doorknobs, and whoopie cushions left in vacant chairs. Instead of copping a diva attitude and sneering at what people are doing with his hit single, Astley is shrugging and saying “Sure, why the hell not? It’s the friggin’ Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and I get to be part of the ultimate Rick Rolling!” It took a lot of brass for him to perform in light of why his song is “popular” again. I admire that, and find it quite cool that even Rick Astley is getting a kick out of all this….

…and maybe that is another reason why some geeks are so mad now. Maybe — just maybe — they are coming to grips with the truth: This Rick Rolling is going to be hard to top.

This evening, I spent my 99 on iTunes for “Never Gonna Give You Up” to show my appreciation for this morning’s stunt. Good on you, Rick, and very Geek Chic! Here’s hoping this goofy fascination for your dance club hit nabs you a new recording contract. You already have an album title at the ready — “Rick Astley: Cause That’s How I Roll”.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I’m only “mostly unemployed” as of Tuesday. I’m still a freelance instructor. I’m still available for public speaking events. I’m still working as a consultant. A problem with the freelancer’s lifestyle is if I’m not working, I’m not getting paid. Over the summer, one of my best clients — EEI Communications — came to me with a part-time position working logistics for all the trainers. It was a “trained monkey” kind of job, but it was income. In the end, I took pride in the fact I accepted a job nobody wanted and fixed a system that was severely broken. I was let go from this part-time gig not because I couldn’t do the job, but because EEI needed to make cuts.

So now I’m working on booking speaking engagements, landing freelance gigs, and finding a creative full-time position that would provide security. In my search-and-surf of opportunities, I came across Magpie. This service, in brief, puts ads into your Twitter stream. You set up how it works (i.e. for every twenty tweets, one ad with a Magpie hashtag is sent), and then are paid based on the reaction to the ad and how often ads enter your Twitter stream. The site offers you an estimate on how much your Twitter stream can earn, so I punched “TeeMonster” into my iPhone to see what would happen. According to Magpie, I could make somewhere around $7000 a month.

Woah.

GeekMommy’s screenshot of Twitters using Magpie

I was all set to give this service access to my Twitter account; and then I thought for a moment about my last Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy, in particular my Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Moment. I had recently railed on an author for being a Twitter spammer. All this supposed writer does is pitch, pitch, pitch, and link, link, link in his tweets. This individual didn’t start out that way seeing as I block the TwitterBots that do nothing but spam TinyURLs. If it weren’t a hassle to weed through my followers, I’d drop this self-proclaimed weblebrity, but I’ve learned instead to tune him out. That’s how I regard Twitter if a post from this individual pops up. I zip by it because I know the tweet is simply pitching something and contributing nothing. This is an issue I’ve always talked about with Twitter and Social Media: If you want to use Twitter as a marketing tool, the secret isn’t pimping, but participating. You need to build a community, be part of the community, and actively contribute to the community.

That was bandying about in my brain as I thought long and hard about signing on with Magpie.

How would it look if every twentieth or, if I was feeling particularly aggressive, tenth tweet an ad related on something I was tweeting about suddenly popped up. How does that reflect back on me? This wouldn’t be like the free version of Twitterific where ads are interspersed throughout the stream. These would be ads with my handle, my face. Magpie is relying on the network and reputation I have fostered to help promote their sponsors, sponsors that I personally cannot vouch for. Did I really want to be associated with other free blogging sites or online services that I myself didn’t (or wouldn’t) use? Yes, when I call for sponsors on my podcasts, I pretty much will consider everyone and everything; but in those instances I know who is sponsoring me, I’m the one in charge of the ad, and I’ve got cash in hand. With Magpie, I’m offering up my stream and the frequency of ads, leaving the rest up to Magpie. That’s a lot of control I don’t have.

Apart from the mystery meat of sponsors that could latch onto my Twitter stream like remoras on to Great Whites, I lingered on how the Twitter community regards me. Let’s face it — I tweet. I tweet A LOT. I have, at the time of this posting, over 23,400 tweets. All that tweeting, and I blog, podcast, and do puppet shows for my kid’s school. (By the way, George and I are coming back for a Christmas show. I’m thinking a two-“man” Christmas Carol in twenty minutes or less…) I love Twitter, and those who follow me on Twitter know that. I don’t call my followers “Followers” but my network. It’s old friends, new friends, fans of my podcasts, and Social Media experts and enthusiasts. Yes, I get picked on a lot and tend to be the punch line to many jibes … but there is also a lot of respect out there granted to me. People ask me on both TeeMonster and ITStudios (my professional Twitter account) advice on podcasting and writing. The Crew (fans of MOREVI: Remastered) playfully pester me when the next episode is coming, and then give me assurance when things like my MacPro failing on me (yeah, that happened the day before the layoff…) occur. There was, at the time of my layoff, an outpouring of support, love, and — for a few in my network — resources offered freely and openly. My network respects me. In turn, I respect them. What is that respect worth?

I then returned to my WTF Moment from SGWF #41. Is that what I wanted to become? Less signal, more noise?

Magpie wants to put a price tag on my reputation and my name, and I am flattered that they put my potential worth so high. (I am confused, though, how my value dropped by $3000 when I performed their evaluation a second time on my laptop.) Even if I were to earn half of what Magpie estimates, it would be some nice fun money for me. I could travel a bit more with my books. I could take care of a few bills. I could spoil Sonic Boom with some fun tech toys. But is my reputation worth that? My Twitter Persona under TeeMonster can be described as many, many things, but the term “spam” has never been associated with my tweets. I tweet a lot, but it is always with my voice, my thoughts, my passions.

“What’s in a name?” my boy Will Shakespeare once asked. Quite a lot, it turns out. What’s a name worth to you?

The wait at the polls was made a lot shorter thanks to my iPhone and Twitterific. Wow! It wasn’t me going to the polls but me going to the polls…with a bunch of friends…from all around the world. I started sending photos to TwitPic, giving a play-by-play of the line status, where I was, and finally, when I was done. It is amazing how our personal tech (Social Media, iPhone, etc.) has changed the way we live. And this is why I am also filing this under Geek Chic. Even with my unkempt hair, my morning breath, and sleep funk, I was the sexiest voter there because I was tweeting from the iPhone.

Dead. Sexy. Geek.

Voting in Virginia is a terrific, orderly, and simple process. It is also quite geeky. First you show up with your license and registration. What’s handy is when you get your driver’s license or renew it, you are automatically registered to vote. Very nice. After you identify yourself by full name and address and you are double-checked by your photo ID (the afore mentioned driver’s license), you are handed one of these…

Feels kind of “Ye Olde School” but here’s where we go geek. After you pass the second checkpoint, you hand in your permit for an activation card (which looks like a tiny credit card) and then you wait for a hooded monitor to open up. When one is made available, you are ushered to one…

OHIO, FLORIDA, YOU’LL WANT TO PAY ATTENTION HERE!!!!

…and then you follow the instructions on the touch-screen. You are given a chance to review at the end, and then you vote. After a visual confirmation…

…you’re done. You hand the volunteer the card, get your sticker, and you go home. No dimples. No pull levers. All digital. High Tech Democracy. It can happen! (At least, in Virginia. I don’t know about elsewhere…)

What I was particularly impressed by was how many people on Twitter — especially those who were voting today — wanted to know where my votes were going. I was flattered and a little perplexed. Why would anyone really care how I vote? This is, after all, my choice. My voice. My opinion on who should be the representatives of America on the global stage. Would it change your opinion of me as a person or as a writer? Does it make me less skilled in my Podcasting (and now Blogging) Fu if I go against your political opinions? Will you deny me Halloween candy?

Sorry, that was yesterday’s post. I’m still a bit torqued over that one…

The polls are now closed in Virginia. If you want to know how I voted, here it is…

You may have issues with my choice and you know what — that’s cool! If you want to tell me here just how wrong I was in my choice, though, I will guarantee you those comments will not make it here. Why?

• I waited until the polls were closed before telling anyone how I voted.
• The choice is mine. I looked at both parties objectively, watched how they ran campaigns, weighed decisions they made on the road to the White House, and then I chose. This is what being an American is all about. Don’t tell me how to vote. Let me size up the options and I made the call.
• How I voted in the election isn’t the point of this post.

The point of this post is that I got up and I voted. Did you? And if you did, did you speak your voice, or the voice of others? Regardless of the outcome tonight, if you voted, then you did what was right. It doesn’t matter who wins or loses, it’s your voice, your vote. If you are in a different time zone and haven’t voted, you still have time. If you want to contribute to my vote or try and cancel it out, you can…but to do that, you will have to vote.

Otherwise, if it’s just not worth your time and effort, I refer you to this wise Patron Saint of Talking Heads…

]]> http://teemorris.com/2008/11/04/a-high-tech-voting-experience/feed/ http://teemorris.com/2008/11/03/with-liberty-justice-and-trick-or-treats-for-all/ http://teemorris.com/2008/11/03/with-liberty-justice-and-trick-or-treats-for-all/#comments Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:46:54 +0000 Tee Morris http://teemorris.com/?p=142 I will be so glad when this election is over. I remember the previous election was pretty intense, but both of W’s runs for the White House were nothing compared to this crossroads we are fast approaching…and I’m ready for this one to be over.

Everything I hate about politics has been put on display this go-round. Discussions between candidates, supporters, and mutual friends that resemble Monty Python’s Argument Sketch; political talking heads who have all the answers (which is why they themselves don’t run for office); and the name-calling and mudslinging from concerned political citizens that seem to crawl out from under rocks the month before the election.

What I really hate, though, are idiots who think they are making a powerful statement, and wind up hurting people in the process.

Boo! Supporting Obama? No treats for you

Yes, registered voter Shirley Nagel decided to make her statement about how scary she found Obama by denying Halloween treats to children of Obama/Biden supporters.

As a geek, I really disappointed by this.

Halloween is the coolest geek holiday. Why do I consider it a geek holiday? Because you get to play with motion sensors, fake blood, black lights, homemade brains, and sound effects to make your house the spookiest, scariest, wackiest house on the block. As George said, “It’s just like Christmas…only with ghosts, goblins, spiders, and haunted houses.” To add to the geek factor of working with D.I.Y. I.L.M., you are encouraged to cosplay. The same people that snicker and sneer at cosplayers during con weekends are the same people who go to elaborate lengths to pull of either clever conceptual costumes or replications of their favorite television or motion picture icon. This is the geekiest of geeky holidays where everybody can be a kid again.

Halloween is not — repeat, NOT — about politics. Halloween (and I’m talking Halloween in pop culture, not the literal holiday. Props to my Wiccan followers out there…) is about indulging in your goofier side, and no one casts judgment. They get into the spirit of the holiday. I friggin’ love Halloween. Turning trick-or-treating into a political platform is just thirty-one flavors of wrong, on all levels of Metamor City.

On a smaller scale, I had to deal with this kind of idiocy on Halloween. Sonic Boom and I went to a house that had a “McCain-Palin” Jack-o-lantern. (They even got the star’s dimensions right. A lot of love and care went into carving that pumpkin.) I almost said, “Now that’s the scariest pumpkin I’ve seen all night!” but I didn’t. Why? This was Sonic Boom’s night, dressed in her unicorn with basket in hand. Halloween was (and is) for her, and not for me to get snarky about how extreme some people are concerning their presidential choices.

As a geek, yes, I’m very disappointed. It is as a parent where I’m really pissed at this nitwit, Nagel.

Provided you are not stumped by the questions and rhetoric of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader”, Nagel, I’d just like to say to you as a parent: How dare you shun kids based on their parent’s voting choices! Halloween isn’t about you and your political affiliations It’s about the kids. The. KIDS!

I can only pray this idiot Nagel didn’t procreate. If she’s this way to the general public, what kind of ideals is she raising progeny by? Do you think a night at the Nagels would sound like this:

“Remember, my children, we live in a country where we are blessed with the freedom, but if people don’t think like you do, vote like you do, dress like you do, and pee like you do, then they’re freaks and you shouldn’t associate with them. Or their kids.”

Yeah, it might go something like that.

But wait, Tee, doesn’t she have the right to not give out her candy? (Thanks, @WilliamPall!) Of course. After all, Freedom of Choice is something we are blessed with in the United States. Sadly, much like another blessing — the First Amendment —  that freedom is easily prison-raped. Think about this scenario as a parent: Other kids are getting candy from this house. Your kid goes up and says “Trick or Treat!” The lady suddenly asks you “How are you voting this election?” You answer, and then she says to your kid “No treats for you. I now choose to keep my candy based on your parents’ political affiliations. Happy Halloween.” The child, lacking awareness or understanding of what just happened, looks up at you, tears welling up in the eyes, and asks “Other kids are going up there and getting treats. Why not me, dad?”

Turns out some kids did actually do this with their folks, and here is the final nail in Nagel’s coffin — her callous response to the press:

When asked about children who were turned away empty-handed and crying, she said: “Oh well. Everybody has a choice.” (from MSNBC.com)

Bitch, I sincerely hope there is a luxury suite in Hell reserved for you. Why? Because you turned a fun night for kids into a real-life horror show. You took out your frustrations and fears of a presidential race out on children who aren’t old enough to vote. And if you missed it earlier in this post — it’s not about you, it’s about the kids.

And if you stop to really think about it — what is the statement Shirley Nagel really made? She’s denying trick-or-treaters candy due to the kid’s parents political beliefs. Denied opportunity based on beliefs? Not very red, white, and blue, if you ask me. Sounds more akin to taking a constitution on The Constitution.

So please, registered voters in the United States — vote! Make the time tomorrow and vote. Instead of making statements around the water cooler, on Twitter, and during Halloween, go to where your voice will really sound its loudest: at the polls.

I was told to come up with something that the kids would enjoy, and following a History Channel documentary on Halloween, some shopping on the official store of TAPS and Puppet Universe, and a night of testing sound equipment and recording rigs, this was the end result. As I found myself flying completely solo in the morning, I can’t say this footage will be winning me a Parsec anytime soon…

…but it was a lot of fun, and it will probably not be my last trip there. Laugh with me, or laugh at me — you choose. Whatever the case, Happy Halloween!

Anyway…

Today, as you know, I’m about to head off to Anime USA for a weekend of geeking. When I tell co-workers about the weekend, I get the awkward smile, the nod of the head, and a quick “Well, you have fun. I’ve got to get back to…” accompanied with a quick scuttle off. Sadly, this is the assumption people assume about anything geek. It’s just…weird.

However, if you stop for a moment and took a look at who is attending (if not organizing) these geekfests, you might find that being geek is not only hip, it is drop-dead sexy.

Meet Carrie Seidman. Artist, scotch connoisseur, and anime geek…

She is also one of the organizers of Anime USA, as well as an organizer for Anime Boston.

Then you have performance artist, writer, and photographer, J.R. Blackwell…

Geek.

And do you remember when glasses were considered geeky? That was before “Specs Appeal”…

The geek on your left is a graphic designer who runs her own studio. The one on your right is an award-nominated author and podcaster.

This is the kind of stuff you will find in Geek Chic. This is my little corner of the blog dedicated to the sexy, savvy, and downright cool things found in a geek’s lifestyle. Whether it is tech, Science Fiction, new toys from Apple, or just something that makes me smile and embrace my nerdiness, you’ll find it here.

So, the next time you think geek can’t be sexy, I leave you with this image…

See you at the cons.

So what is Anime USA?

(from the website) In 1999 AnimeUSA began as a northern Virginia convention, started by fans, and in 2004 become a non-profit educational organization. Our mission is to educate the public about and promote Japanese arts and popular culture. Just as in the beginning, we remain a convention of fans, by fans, and for fans.

Where will I be?

Because of the craziness that has been 2008 and Double Trouble, I was not great in the communications department with AUSA so I have a very light schedule this weekend:

• Friday, 7:30-8:30 — Podcasting 101
• Friday, 8:30-end — Kabuki Ball (as DJ Pirate Boy)
• All Weekend — Artists’ Alley, selling books

I’m thrilled to be a returning guest to Anime USA. While I’m not as busy as I’d like to be at a con, I do plan on making myself readily available for whatever they need. I also hope to be kept in mind for their 2009 weekend as well. I hope to see you there this weekend. Stop by, say hi, and feel free to buy books!

I’ll say this much, though: I’m excited about the new look and feel for the site. It took a day’s worth of heavy duty work, but it was time well spent.

Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to hearing from you.