More Nerd News in Brief

During times of tragedy, there are many mechanisms employed to help the fragile human mind cope. Some folks turn to religion. Others switch off their televisions and attempt to remove themselves, however, briefly from the unfolding calamity. I, myself, drink bourbon and play Nintendo. Others, still, make a desperate and gratuitous grab for publicity.

Guess which group Jack Thompson falls into?

But while other sites recount the horrors that happened at the hands of a disturbed young man (and the ensuing shamefully self-serving actions of an angry old man), the departure of that Sanjaya kid from that show he was on, and where to go to find a really old-assed tree, I will favor you all with some Nerd News in Brief.

Because it's been a long week, and I think you deserve it.

• Throw up your hands: The trailer for nerdcore documentary/your new favoritest film of all time ever Nerdcore For Life was chosen as a “featured video” on MySpace earlier this week. If you want to get in on the ground-level of the flood of new friend requests, I suggest you sweet talk Dan into putting you in his Top 8 immediately. Mr. Lamoureux was also nice enough to post a handful of new, raw pieces of performance footage for your continued viewing pleasure; ‘cause he's cool like that.
• All the way live: On the subject of performances, let me reiterate that MC Frontalot, MC Lars, and Optimus Rhyme are, in fact, still on tour. What's more, they'll be in Portland tonight (at Dante's), at Stoneys in Reno tomorrow, and in San Fran come Sunday at Cafe Du Nord. Check out Front's tour page for more info on upcoming gigs, and peep Penny Arcade for a recollection of an event that will surely be remembered as The Great Nerdcore Ping-Pong Massacre.
• He's at home washing his tights: Sadly, Beef Thompson: Private Dick will NOT be the title of Beefy's forthcoming album. Instead, Mr. Moore has settled upon the more pedestrian (but no less compelling) Fighting Crime . I can only imagine that Jones will be Robin. I'm just sayin'.
• Rise from your grave!: mc chris has also let slip the title for his next album: Six Feet Under and Rising . This record, slated for release before Christmas of this year, is the monster-themed project he alluded to in his Hipster, please! interview earlier this year, and it appears to be squarely focused on the subject of zombies. I can hear Dennis and Denika from Vagrant Aesthetic rejoicing from here!
• Ah, the joys of college radio!: Nerd-Music has a nice piece up about getting your music played on college radio. Glenn was the Chief Engineer of his college's student-run radio station, so he's speaking from experience. Take a read and make some notes.
• Bean counting update: I have the nigh final results from the Nerdcore Top 10 project. I'm not going to share them yet, though, as this would ruin the surprise. The list itself is actually pretty eclectic, and I, for one, am happy to see many flavors (and eras) of nerdcore well represented.
• In other news: And lastly, since I began this post bitching about the news, I feel it only proper to share with you my two favorite headlines of the day. The first, from Discovery reads “Robot Surgeon Tested Underwater.” The title alone renews my flagging faith in humanity. The second, from BBC News: “Wang's riches 'for feng shui man'.” What can I say? I am a ridiculously immature man-child.