More Nerd News in Brief

Is everybody truly working for the weekend? I'm just asking, 'cause, y'know, it's pretty much here. Is it okay if I just go ahead and stop working? Between you and me, I'm pretty much tapped.

Thankfully, I'll have a few days to recuperate. To recuperate and watch Go Diego Go Live!

I'm totally not joking about that.

While I ponder my fate, please enjoy More Nerd News in Brief.

• Farewell, old friend: Earlier this week we lost a beloved television icon. Under the guise of Mr. Wizard, Don Herbert instilled within a generation of American children a love of science and a genuine fascination with the world around them. In doing so he also helped to inspire the first wave of contemporary nerds. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.
• Penny Arcaded!: Congrats to int eight and c64 – collectively known as Dual Core – for their recent shout-out from Penny Arcade’s Gabe. As I stated previously, their debut album Zero One is a must-own, and I’m glad to know that others agree.
• BRAINS!: How did it escape my keen eye that this Wednesday was Blog Like It’s the End of the World Day? How did I possibly miss out on a quasi-holiday for bloggers centered around the eminent zombie apocalypse? I’d imagine the only person more pissed about missing this than I am is my boy ZeaLouS1.
• Epic Proportions: Speaking of, the BOSS FIGHT San Diego Comic-Con show I nigh finalized. Head over to ZeaLouS1’s site for the skinny including an incredibly impressive lineup!
• Up in smoke: For those of you worried that the Wizard Rock community would begin taking itself a bit too seriously following the recent MTV exposure, may I present Harry Potter and the Magic of Music. Oh course, all thanks for this one go to my boy Church and his uncanny ability to find startlingly weird shit.
• Gamers Unite: It’s no secret that I generally wrap up these posts with a video of the slap-nuts funny variety, but today I’m gonna break form. The guys at PBC Productions – the same folks who brought you The New Adventures of Captain S – have another project in the works. This one, however, is a bit more serious. Their Gamers Against Violence Documentary is a two-part mini doc centering on the events and outcomes of NYC’s recent Gamers Against Violence rally. If you’ve got a moment, take a look at the individual segments at the PBC Web site, and, if you feel so led, Digg the project. Gamer culture has taken many a hit of late, and it's always nice to hear someone from our side speak up.
  

Sink the Pink

Australians are fuckin’ crazy. I’m just sayin’.

Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that half of the country was settled by Europeans via penal transportation. Hell, maybe it’s due to the alarmingly high number of indigenous marsupials; being in close proximity to that many pouched critters could make anyone loopy!

Personally, I think it’s the beer, and, with that in mind, let me present exhibit A. It’s a video sneak-peak of some of the new material you’ll be hearing from Canberra’s own Grandmaster Pink and Diabolik on their forthcoming EP.

Notice the crazed look in Pinky’s eyes. Notice the startling nature of his meticulously calculated flow. Notice the wild gyrations. Notice the beer.

Still, as crazy as those cats are, I can't help but be excited for the new release. Rest assured that I'll do everything in my power to score some exclusive preview tracks for the podcast. I have ways - crazy ways - all my own.

Nerd News in Brief

I don't watch The Sopranos, so forgive my glaring lack of righteous indignation concerning the series finale.

I've heard the sordid tale, and I totally understand why people are pissed, but, frankly, my only concern is that “Little Stevie” Van Zandt won't be getting that steady paycheck anymore.

You've still got the Underground Garage, Steve!

And now, while I continue my one-sided conversation with the guitarist of the E-Street Band, please enjoy the Nerd News in Brief.

• News flash!: Apparently, fervently playing Nintendo Wii for hours on end can cause some discomfort. Who knew? Thanks, medical science!
• Not the only game in town: MTV recently unleashed upon its viewership that Wizard Rock piece we'd been waiting for. Honestly, it wasn't nearly as condescending as I'd anticipated. My only complaint? The omission of the simple fact that bands have, in fact, been thematically centering themselves around works such as Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings for years now. C'mon, people!
• It's Router's world, we just live in it: MC Router recently made the front page of YouTube with her Dan Lamouruex-directed video “Buggin' Out.” A heavily eye-lined Router also gave an exclusive interview to online musical community Made Loud. She's even got a couple of gigs lined up: June 15th at The Wreck Room and June 24 at Embargo as part of the FW Weekly showcase. In short, Router demands your attention.
• Worth a thousand EXP points: The fellows over at Game Music 4 All have posted some great picks of their recent Level Up event. You can also watch IllGill and ZeaLous1 drop some freestyle with game rockers Toploader right here. For those of us who couldn't be there in person, this is the next best thing.
• A sentimental observation ‘bout the moon: My pal Church recently came across a piece over at Zen Habits that put him in mind of a certain MC Frontalot track. Unfortunately, the track in question was not “Gonna Be Your Man.”
• Feel the burn: Church also turned me on to Dance Dance Emolation. “It's just like Dance Dance Revolution. But with flamethrowers. Pointed at you.”
• Little know fact: LogicOne is, in reality, Dr. Reed Richards. Don't believe me? Then why is the title of his forthcoming album The Fantastic Dr. Richards? I gotcha with that one!
• I've been a bad, bad boy: And lastly, last week's tardy edition of NNIB elicited some strange reactions. Not the least of which was a solid scolding from my pal Matt from Headphone Sacrament. Still, in spite of his disappointment he was nice enough to share the following vid, which I will now pass on to you. May the circle be unbroken.