You Go Geek Girl!

I realized that I sort of sounded like a pompous jerk when I said I read a whole book the other afternoon, but really when most of the pages have pictures and are a series of lists... I feel any competent reader could breeze through 200 pages in an evening. [check out the speed reading skills on erin]

http://geekgirlsunite.com/

But really... I read this book so you don't have to. Here are some of the things I found disappointing (mostly because of my own expectations and wishes... I know).

1. The introduction has 1 page describing the different terms that are generally used synonymously (geek, nerd, dweeb, dork etc). I felt this needed more explanation and historical context.
2. The introduction has one section (a little less than a page) talking about she-geeks vs he-geeks. I felt this was insufficient setup for why she wrote a WHOLE BOOK on women geeks. 
3. Most of the pages have pictures and are a series of lists (hypocrite for making my own list but whatever). I felt this work would have been more powerful if there was a more in-depth analysis of the history of each geek realm, the current landscape and perhaps even how feminism and current economic conditions have influenced girl geeks.
4. There are very few examples of women of color. 
5. The music geek chapter is basically only about one genre of music. I understand that you could write whole books on geek-ery about music with each genre covered (and people have, I've read a couple). And in an overview type book, you have to pick & choose... but it seems you could pick and choose over a cross section of music - not just pick several pixie singer/songwriter types. 
6. Zooey Deschanel is not a geek. 
7. Each chapter has a section about geek love. How to snag a geek girl that is interested in one of these geek specialties. Umm... please.
8. Each of these geek love sections describes a male-female relationship. How heteronormative... bleh.
9. The fangirl-geek section seems to not have an awareness of Henry Jenkins. 
10. It seems like the basic premise of the book was "Girls have interests! They are passionate and that is cool!" I wanted more. 
11. This is only a half disappointment - I wanted to feel like I belonged to one of these "specialties" of geek... but I didn't. There were bits and pieces of each that I felt spoke to me and the kind of person I am... and then I got to wondering if I am a geek at all... I always fancied myself one,  but maybe not because according to this book a geek is defined as "a person who is wildly passionate about an activity, interest or scientific field and strives to be an expert in said avocation" and well... while I think I am pretty passionate, it's not about 1 or 2 specific things and I am not an expert on anything. Guess I am not part of this club. sigh. peace out, sisterhood. 

All this being said, there were some interesting bits of knowledge and resources listed. Not a total waste and it is always refreshing to read something that makes you think that you'd like to expand upon this body of knowledge etc. 

And now for some quotes about music from movies. My pseudo-geek passion: 

What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery, and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music? - Rob Gordon High Fidelity

 They don't even know what it is to be a fan. Y'know? To truly love some silly piece of music, or some band, so much that it hurts. - Sapphire Almost Famous

You gotta hear this one song, it'll change your life, I swear. - Sam Garden State

Never let your friends tie you to the tracks

Some people are just heroin.

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life.

The high is amazing but the rest of the time you are sick and looking for your next fix (I am basing my entire analogy on this movie).

Barf.

Lessons from Leprechaun 5: In Da Hood

If a tree falls in the bathroom, stop to smell the forest. 

in da hood

Most of My Thoughts Recently...

Keeping Promises: Days 17-30

Day 17: Your thoughts on Ugg boots.

Boots, regardless of brand, are acceptable and can be attractive when they are worn practically and with a coordinating outfit.

Day 18: Do you drink soda more often than milk?

Absolutely, yes. I used to drink Dr. Pepper as if I needed it to live. I have since switched to Diet Coke. I anticipate a soda drinking related disease in my future.

Day 19: The initials of your crush(es).

I can say with confidence that I do not have a crush on anyone at the moment.

Day 20: Do you wear glasses? If so, what are they for?

Yes, they are for seeing. I am near-sighted (myopia).

Day 21: Your favorite subject to study.

Cultural studies.

Day 22: Do you play a sport? Tell us about it. If not, talk about a different

hobby you may have.

I played water polo and was on the swim team in high school. I then became fat and lazy and currently list reading blogs and thinking about doing great things but never doing them as my hobbies. I really miss water polo and am constantly challenged by the fact that I have seriously become so out of shape that I cannot bear to even try to get back in the water. It is a vicious circle that keeps me fat. I need to change.

Day 23: Your opinions on Lady Gaga.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&v=haHXgFU7qNI

Day 24: Tell us about the last movie you saw in theaters.

I saw TRON: Legacy in 3-d with my coworkers before I left for home and later London. I thought the film was quite entertaining and the lead actor was attractive. I spent a lot of the movie negotiating the fact that I was wearing two pairs of glasses.

Day 25: Tell us about the last book you read (for leisure or for school).

I read Love is a Mixtape a while back and am currently reading The Dharma Bums.

Day 26: Name one place you would love to visit one day.

I'd really like to visit the Survivor Tree in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Ideally this will be one stop on a long cross country road trip with a bitchin soundtrack. Let's do this friends.

Day 27: List your three favorite girls names, three favorite boys names, and your three favorite names for a pet.

I've always fancied the name Aubrey for a girl and haven't really contemplated naming a girl child anything other than that (take notes future husband). For boys I have always liked Aiden (but I think I'd have to marry and Irishman for it to make sense) and Anze (but that is a little out there). I also love the name Corey.

I think pets earn names.

Day 28: Your first celebrity crush.

I am not entirely sure who was first but I did love Leonardo DiCaprio after Titanic came out.

Day 29: Your opinions on the television show Glee

I think there should be a Mike Chang and Brittany S. Pierce spin off called Dance Club.

Game changer right there.

Day 30: Take a picture of yourself right now and post it, or post the most recent picture you can find.

The first is a really great picture of me (thanks Heather) and the second is how I think I look most of the time - big fat cheeks.

**EDIT**
For Day 27, I would also like to add that I like the name Luke for boys. I am not, however, particularly interested in the religious nature of this name.

Perspective

A point, he has one.

No One is Afraid of a Sparkly Vampire

there are no words for how lame I think this is.

Wanna Take That Ride With Me?

So I saw Public Enemies the other day and it was fantastic. I am not sure I understand why they are making John Dillinger a hero or if they do a good enough job with the other half of the story of his life and life of crime, but man, is Johnny Depp ever attractive. I guess it is the same old story of glamorizing violence and blah blah blah, but I was just blinded by his charm, wit, intelligence and dashing good looks. I would totally have dated a depression era public enemy.





My favorite reference to John Dillinger ever (though not entirely historically accurate):

High Fidelity

Rob: John Dillinger was killed behind that theater in a hale of FBI gunfire. And do you know who tipped them off? His fucking girlfriend. All he wanted to do was go to the movies.

Quotable

Check out this craigslist ad here. 

I love it.

And finally, my life is strangely like Fight Club in many aspects:

A house full of condiments and no food... how embarrassing. 

Maybe Your CDs Are In His Truck?

So I am currently in the library, waiting for my health center appointment. The guy next to me is listening to Blink 182 on his iPod way too loud.

There is a dude from my old apartment building here. He looks like a woolly mammoth.

Saturday before last I made an egregious error in judgment and did something I most definitely should not have. It is hard to deal with fucking up so huge. I may have ruined a very valuable friendship. I've never regretted anything more than that drunken action. I just hope my friends will forgive me. But even more so I hope that certain individuals will get their comeuppance. Though my error was terrible and I will never be sorry enough, I hope that the broader lesson is that I am not the first, the last nor the worst. He's done it before and he'll do it again. My actions are reprehensible and I will have to deal with that, but more than anything I hope she can see what a bastard he is to her for no reason other than it is a habit. Gah.

So yea... Cheaters never prosper, honesty is the best policy, etc etc.


In other news:

Maritza, Heather and I went to see Charlie Bartlet. Dan reviewed this film earlier and I agree that it is clever and humorous. I definitely recommend the film. It is a good way to spend some time.

Heather also introduced me to FatBurger today for lunch. She claims that it is a "taste revolution," which I found, after some googling, is a Miller Lite slogan. It definitely applies though. I really enjoyed my turkey burger and onion rings. Again, I most definitely recommend it to everyone. It might cost a lot of weight watchers point but it was well worth it flavor-wise.

Finally, after going through the Los Angeles Downtown News (Heather's copy, of course), I found an ad for Sumo Showdown in the City of Angels at the LA Sports Arena. I totally want to go! I am still trying to figure out what "contribution seats" are because otherwise I may be priced out of the event. As much as I want to go, I don't want to spend $35 for cheap seats to a sumo wrestling event. We'll see. Anyone else interested in going if I can find some tickets on the cheap (June 7 or 8)?

I have a doctor's appointment on Friday to have blood drawn for follow-up anemia testing and another battery of blood screening panels.

And Finally: There has been talk of maybe going to a couple baseball games here and there this season. I was even considering getting a package of tickets for the Angels (but I might could swing the Dodgers since we are in LA). Anyone want to go in with me on this? I am researching to see if there is a cheap seat package that would include lots of free giveaway nights.

*edit*
I went through the websites for the Dodgers and Angels. The Dodgers site wasn't loading the mini-plan page so I couldn't compare offers (I will see if it works later tonight) but the Angels have a 9 game plan that has seats for as little as $9/game. For $81 (plus parking and stuff) we could go to 9 baseball games. I think that is a pretty good deal. It'd be nice if the Dodgers had a similar plan (public transit to a closer location). I'd prefer to go to Angels games (OC, holler!) but there are some definite advantages to going to Chavez Ravine. We'll have to see if they offer something good.