Nerd News in Brief

As if losing Bea Arthur and Dave Arneson this month wasn't enough, Matt’s just told me that everybody’s first free (shitty) Web host, Geocities, is also shuffling off this mortal core. Death appears to be the order of the day.

Or maybe I’m just being paranoid. I mean, the rest of us are still in our veritable prime, right? We’re young and healthy and indestructible.

Wait; swine flu.

Damn it!

So once again I end this weekly intro in a state of panic. Palms sweating. Knees knocking. Mind reeling. But at least we have Nerd News in Brief. It'll keep us safe.

• Pray to the Geek Gods: During times of such great duress, we mere mortals typically look to a higher power for guidance. Thankfully, as Church points out, we nerds finally have our own deity.
  
• Would that be Wrilk?: Also from Church comes this link to a spirited discussion from the filk community. Filker meltatum ponders the question: Is Wrock filk? The breadth of the ensuing discussion probably won’t surprise you, nor will the varying answers and attitudes. Still, it’s a fascinating read for those in either camp, and I personally have to give it up to happyfunpaul for referencing the obvious commonality between traditional filk and more modern movements (like Wrock, nerdcore and VGM) early on.
• Special Request: Will the attendance of Sangriaa’s birthday Dork Party please keep me in the loop as pictures and videos of the event become available? I couldn’t make it down, but I needs to see that shit.
• And Another: Also, if anyone would care to nominate Radio Free Hipster in the Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast category of this year’s Parsec Awards, I would be most appreciative. I can’t see as I’ve got a snowball’s chance in Hell of actually winning, but I reckon it couldn’t hurt to try.
• He Has Arrived: Our own MC Lars recently earned a nice pop from Crossfire concerning his latest release This Gigantic Robot Kills. And while others were less impressed, everything seems to be coming up Lars, as revealed in this recent tweet. Nas, Luda and Lars!
• Holla@chaboy: Wanna make it onto the next mixtape from your boy Random? It’s easier than you might think. Just record a little shout out to Mega Ran and you’re already half-way there. See his official board for full details. 
• Continued Resistance: Sadly for those of us in the Carolinas, the Protomen cancelled their proposed Ashville, NC show. Thankfully, the band will be playing this year’s Bonnaroo Festival in Manchester, TN. The fest runs from June 11th to 14th, with news of the band’s exact play time forthcoming.
• Hipster, please!: Geek Studies' Jason passed this link along the following summation: "As hipsters appropriate nerdy dress and affectations, so too do they inherit the ruthless mockery." Well said, my brother. Well said.
• More Sociable Than You'd Think: My pal Antisoc has finally released the long-delayed 2.0 iteration of his 2007 album Depressed Nerd. This polished version of the album is now freely available in various bitrates from Soc’s own site. 
• Game Music 4 U: There have been lots of exciting things going on over at GM4A. It’s official unofficial podcast Letters vs. Numbers has been resurrected with the help of a pair of special guests -- Brian of 8 Bit Revenge and Thugmasta J of Magitek -- and with MisterB’s triumphant return to the Internet, there’s more podcast-y madness yet to come. The site itself recently featured a new interview with the brains behind chiptune netlabel Pause, and also acquired a new staff writer known simply as Ma. So it’s looks like good stuff abounds for Ant and the crew!
• Now with More Awesome!: Did you see the latest round of confirmed Nerdapalooza acts? This summer’s fest will be welcoming back Devo Spice (formally known as Sudden Death) and my Ohio-based brother int eighty of Dual Core, as well as debut acts Superpowerless and I Fight Dragons! For those keeping score at home, that’s 4 more great reasons for you to attend.
• As in Beer: Speaking of IFD, you can now register for free tickets to the May 7th I Fight Dragons Metromix Rock'n'Vote Finals at LaSalle Power Co. And once those have been secured, be sure to head over to YouTube to peep the new video for their track "Money" by Boram Encargado Kim.
• The Closer: Lastly but not leastly, here’s another fine bit of YouTubery. It’s the videof or 8 Bit Weapon’s "Closer (Bitpop Mix)," which was directed by Sterling Silva and Jeff Allen. Enjoy it in all its frenetic, robot-laden glory.