Clap if You Believe

The last few days have been positively fraught with… Well, I don't want to say tragedy. Grievous inconvenience, maybe? Total pains in the ass?

Yeah, that'll do.

The last few days have been positively fraught with total pains in the ass for my music-making allies. First, Death*Star, who had a pretty sweet PAX weekend show lined up in their native Seattle, fell victim to last minute sponsorship complications. And then my brother Adam WarRock and his travelling companion lost their MacBooks in a wholly unexpected automobile break-in.

Of course, being the resourceful lads that they are, both camps have elected to approach their problems in unique and proactive ways. But, much like Tinker Bell, they could still use a little assistance from the audience.

Death*Star have elected to soldier on with the show their-own-bad-selves, haters be damned! If you're gonna be attending this year's Penny Arcade Expo and would like to party with C3, C0s, Bill Beats, Klopfenpop and Mega Ran – and trust me, you do – it would be positively decent of you to pre-order a ticket or three to their El Corazon gig slated for the night of Saturday, September 1st.

Meanwhile, Euge is planning an even more ambitious solution to his own woes. This Friday he will be conducting a 24-Hour Rap-A-Thon. He'll spend a full day writing, recording and producing original material – as much as he possibly can without forethought, preparation or sleep. All he asks in exchange for this hip-hop Iron Man competition is a little donation money. You can contribute a lump sum or pledge a dollar amount per completed track. After the Rap-A-Thon has concluded, Adam will send a signed burned copy of the results (and some other swag) to all his sponsors.

His friend K will be blogging and live-tweeting the whole event for your entertainment, and, should they surpass the $2,000 needed to replace the laptops, any additional monies will be donated to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

So there you have it folks. Please help those who help themselves.

All in the Family

Bomb-ass poster by Matthew Warlick. 

If you are reading these words it can be easily deduced that you already know this to be Nerdaplooza week. (It's kind of a big deal in our humble circle.) But it's my pleasure to hip you to some breaking tour news.

Internet rap sensations Jesse Dangerously, Adam WarRock, Mikal kHill and Tribe One are proud to announce 14 US dates for September 2012. Under the banner of the NOFRIENDS 2012 tour, these artists will be bringing their unique brands of geeky, indie hip-hop to the following cities along with some very special guests:

9/1 TBA
9/2 Chicago, IL - Burlington Bar
9/3 Pontiac, MI - Crofoot Pike Room w/ Sample the Martian
9/4 Cleveland, OH - Roc Bar w/ MC Cool Whip
9/5 Philadelphia, PA - M-Room w/ DevoSpice, Zilla Persona
9/6 Worcester, MA - That's Entertainment! w/ Shane Hall
9/7 Hartford, CT - Cafe Nine w/ Ceschi Ramos
9/8 Brooklyn, NY- Grand Victory w/ Schaffer the Darklord
9/9 Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery
9/10 Chesapeake, VA - Chicho's Pizza w/ The Nerdlucks
9/11 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
9/12 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
9/13 West Columbia, SC - The Conundrum
9/14 Charlotte, NC - The Milestone w/ Sulfur

Sponsored by Fat Kid Revolution Clothing, SIUniverse Media, The Variants, Word Realms, Rutgers GeekWeek, Agreeable Comics and *ahem* WIRED GeekDad, additional info regarding this musical meeting of the minds (and an inexplicable promo shot of Jesse D playing a ukulele) can be found at: http://adamwarrock.com/nofriends

Your Nerdapalooza is in Another Castle

A cursory glance at the calendar indicates that we're just a couple of weeks out from this year's (unseasonably late) Nerdapalooza. This time around your favorite nerd's favorite nerd festival has once again changed location – to Orlando's twin night spots The Beacham and The Social – and with that shift comes a few more rules and regulations than in previous iterations. But such is the price you pay for the pleasure of experiencing a musical event at a proper musical venue.

Event Director Aaron has gone to great lengths to compile a helpful list concerning rules of conduct and simple dos-and-don’ts. I suggest you give' em a gander, and pay special attention to the all important Rule 621. Learn it. Love it. Live it.

In case you haven't heard, I will not be in attendance this time around. I'm actually prepping for a journey to the fabled O-town with the whole famn damily in October, so I'm afraid as a result this visit had to be sacrificed on the altar of Conserving Annual Leave Days. Y'all know how it is.

Now that being said, my boys will be in attendance. (And in this instance "my boys" does not actually refer to my testicles.)

New homies Tribe One and Adam WarRock will both be there, performing Friday and Saturday evening respectively. I've seen 'em both rock the mic on numerous occasions, and if you happen to miss either set I'm afraid we can no longer be friends.

Sci-Fried is playing an afternoon slot on Saturday. Those cats are – and I don't use this phrase lightly – my brothers. I love 'em, and missing them hurts more than any other single act on the bill. Please scream extra loud for 'em. I know they've got some amazing stuff planned.

My hometown heroes The ThoughtCriminals are going on immediately after. It's their first official showing at Nerdapalooza-proper, as their hotel room gig last year was some hardcore underground shit that must not be spoken of in the presence of respectable ladies and gentlemen.

The TCs have just released a Bandcamp fundraiser project to help them scrape together gas money for next month's trip down Florida-way. The minimum price of The Game Changer EP is nothin', but anything you'd be willing to chip in goes to getting my crew to where they need to be.

I'll be with 'em in spirit, so think of it as a metaphysical donation to yours truly.

Nerd News in Brief

There was a time when I did these Nerd News in Brief segments with a nigh clocklike regularity, but alas that age has passed. With my recent shift to writing smaller dedicated posts about things like album releases and new videos – coupled with my adoption of services like Twitter and Tumblr, which lend themselves well to short, frequent blurbs – I've sort of abandoned this format. But looking back over my notes from the last couple of weeks it seems like an apt mechanism for the ensuing news blast.

• Dogs and Cats Living Together: Last night I was able to control my Microsoft Xbox 360 with my Apple iPhone. I'm just saying that this is some crazy shit. 
• Spider, Man: Kirby Krackle recently dropped a new single about a soon-to-be released reboot of a beloved comic movie franchise. You can pick up "Web-Slinger/Hope-Bringer Single" right now for a buck, and you may or may not hear it on tomorrow's podcast. #noncommittal
• What a Horrible Night: News from the crew at MAGFest revealed that, among the regular grocery list of kick-ass guests and featured acts, Castlevania composer Kinuyo Yamashita will be in attendance at next January's event. You should probably be there too. 
• I've Been Slimed: Speaking of gamer culture, musical collective Pterodactyl Squad just dropped an amazing new chiptune EP from Slime Girls entitled Vacation Wasteland. With surf rock and reggae-tinged melodies, it's a ready-made summer soundtrack.
• When It's Time to Pony We Will Pony Hard: Okay, that line is actually from my pal Steve, but it's soul-brony number 1, Church H Tucker, that hipped me to the news that musician, motivational speaker and party aficionado. Andrew W.K. will be speaking at the Canterlot Gardens My Little Pony convention in Cleveland this September. Apparently he is Pinkie Pie. 
• From the Ruins: If you dig Dethlehem you likely also dig Diablo 3. But just because you missed the boys on their recent tour stops doesn't mean you're doomed to never hear their epic cover of the Tristram theme. That's what YouTubes are for. 
• Where's My Flying Car: In one last bit of hot new YouTubery, my country cousins Sci-Fried have just dropped a brand new video single. "Looking Back at Today," from last year's Future Tense, was animated by the one and only Betsy Lee (who'll you'll likely remember from her work with Kirby Krackle.) Enjoy!

BKNY

Remember last Friday's gig at Brooklyn's Grand Victory featuring Adam WarRock, Mikal kHill and Schaffer the Darklord? Well, now you can relive all your favorite moments via the following helpful video!

It's also worth noting that Adam, kHill, Tribe One and MC Stealth will be playing tonight -- in a just couple of hours, in fact -- at Charlotte's Milestone. Go check 'em out if you're in the area. Just, y'know, be sure to use the bathroom before you leave the house.

THE HORROR!

I can't pretend to know what your weekend plans entail, but if you're in Redmond (or the greater Seattle area) I will simply assume you're headed down to the Big Picture Theater tomorrow for the 2nd annual BoneBat Comedy of Horrors Film Fest.

Features films include zombie road movie Dead Heads and Robert Englund vehicle The Moleman of Belmont Avenue, not to mention tons of shorts and live music from prog metal act Burning of I and local nerdcore legends Death*Star. Organizers Steve and Gord will, of course, be on hand to officiate all this madness, and tickets are still available for $30.

This is a 21+ event, as alcohol will be in no short supply. And with films like Monster Brawl on the menu, I imagine drinking is actively encouraged.

Gatos Luchadores (Or: A Grand Don't Come for Free)

I didn't realize it until I finally sat down to pen a missive, but this is my 1000th post at Hipster, please! And I reckon that is a fitting enough occasion given the subject matter.

I talk a lot around here about music, obviously. About new songs and albums. About artists and shows, but this bit concerns something that's, well, uniquely personal.

Early next month five outfits that represent – and I don't say this lightly – some of my very favorite live performers as well as some of my very favorite human beings will be conducting a southern mini-tour. The kick-off's in Roanoke on the 2nd, and it wraps up in our own hip-hop mecca, Atlanta, on the 4th. In-between, on that Saturday the 3rd, this little travelling sideshow will come through my own backyard of Charlotte, NC. At the World Famous Milestone Club, to be exact. A place that is – and, again, I'm speaking without hyperbole – my favorite local dive.

The bands in question? Well, as the song says they ain't my friends, they're my fam.

There's int eighty of Dual Core, whom I've been down with since the very dawn of time. (Now he ain't exactly from around here, but we give him a pass 'cause he's our boy.) He's joined by The ThoughtCriminals, my neighbors to the north, who are, for those not already in the know, the rural, East Coast answer to the question what am I supposed to listen to now that Optimus Rhyme broke up.

Holding up the high end of the former Confederacy are the Illbotz, that rare modern confluence of comedy rap that contains ample doses of both actual comedy and real rap. And rounding out the lineup are Adam WarRock and Tribe One, a pair of amazing MCs, consummate performers and two guys that I've only recently met but I feel like I've known forever.

Now this is, admittedly, not a huge affair. These are small club shows, I'd even go so far as to say intimate in most cases, but I'll make you a promise internet; if you're within driving distance, head out to one. It will be worth whatever meager door price you have to pay to get in. Shit, I'll go so far as to say that you'll have such a great time that you might even feel led to pick up a t-shirt!

I guarantee it.

Radio Free Hipster Ep. 114: Fear and Loathing in Orlando

I have come to realize that the more nice shit you say, the less likely others are to actually believe it. Over-hyping something, even retroactively, is a cardinal sin. So I shall reign in my post-Nerdapalooza bliss.

I mean, I wouldn't go so far as to say Nerdapalooza 2011 was a religious experience, but it was extremely enjoyable and ultimately impressive. As a hardened critic, I was rather surprised when I sat down to collect my thoughts and everything that seemed to pour out was positive. But hey, I've already made that known.

This episode revisits the festival as an audio experience for all to (hopefully) enjoy. It boasts many of the acts from the event's expansive lineup, as well as my take on what each brought to the show.

It also features some live audio that I captured. It's far from perfect, but, given that I made zero effort to ensure audio fidelity, I think it came out surprisingly well.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 114: Fear and Loathing in Orlando [hosting provided by Antisoc] Size: 63 MB Running Time: 48:44

Show Notes:

Intro: Baddd Spellah – "Radio Free Hipster Theme (feat. Beefy)"
The title of this episode is actually a reference to a running joke between my friends GeekDad Curtis and funky49.

Track 1: Shael Riley drop / The BossFights - "Conspiracy Theory"
If you listen closely, you'll hear my friend Josh say something about Coast to Coast AM at the end of Shael's drop, thus the decision to start things off with "Conspiracy Theory." Though the fact that I love Bishop's riff certainly didn't hurt. 

Z's 1st interlude: "What I do remember recording was some bootleg audio."
I carried my H1 field recorder with me the entire weekend. Sadly, I only managed to turn it on a half-dozen or so times. 

Track 2: Inverse Phase - "Song 6502"
I've seen very few live chiptune performances -- so it's not like I have a lot to compare it to -- but I have to say Inverse Phase killed with his set.

Track 3: Dual Core - "Invaders Must Die (feat. Remington Forbes) [Live at Nerdapalooza 2011]"
That fucker that keeps screaming "Reeeemmmaaaaayyy" and ruining the audio levels? Me.

Track 4: The OneUps - "Something about Koopa Beach"
My 6-year-old recently discovered Mario Kart (thanks to a DS Lite promo bundle from Nintendo), so we've been listening to a lot of cuts from this particular OneUps album.

Track 5: The Protomen - "The Fall"
Am I the only one who gets confused as to when to first pump and when to heartbeat clap at a Protomen show?

Track 6: Schaffer the Darklord - "Battlefont"
In case you missed the related Twitter conversation, I have asked STD and Nelson Lugo to host my wake. And they have agreed to do so. Best. Death. Ever.

Track 7: I Fight Dragons - "Money (feat. Klopfenpop) [Live at Nerdapaloza 2011]"
After all these years I finally got to meet Brian from IFD! Admittedly it was only for about a minute and a half, but it still totally counts.

Z's 2nd interlude: "I hung out with him and Stevo and Larry Oji."
Though it lacked the foam sword fighting and booth babes of some other installations, the OC ReMix table was easily the most entertaining at Nerdapalooza 2011. Simply by virtue of including these three amazing cats.

Track 8: Adam WarRock - "I Believe in Harvey Dent (feat. Tribe One) [Live at Nerdpalaooza 2011]"
Early on in the weekend Adam WarRock became my true-blue homeboy. He's relocating to my region later this year, so I imagine we'll start having sleepovers and painting each other's toenails. #pillowfight

Track 9: Illbotz - "Transform"
Let it be forever known that DJ Samson runs shit!

Track 10: The ThoughtCriminals - "Return of the Antagonist (featuring Illbotz) [Untested Methods Remix]"
kHill and Sulfur drove down from Charlotte on Saturday and, though they also had to cut out a bit early, they more than made their mark on Nerdapalooza 2011.

Track 11: Insane Ian - "Harry Potter"
When I think back on the FuMP sets from this year's festival the first words that my mind conjures are "impeccable comic timing." These are followed shortly by "multiple guest star."

Track 12: Shinobi Ninja - "This is How We Do It"
If you get a chance to catch Shinobi Ninja while they're on the road promoting Rock Hood, by all means take advantage of the opportunity. They blend metal and hip-hop and soul and reggae rock, but mostly they exude an infectious brand of stage energy.

Z's final interlude: "I just wanna say thank you to everyone who hung out with me at Nerdapalooza."
It was so amazing to meet all of you! 

Track 13: Sci-Fried - "Fett's Vette [Live at Nerdapalooza 2011]"
I actually managed to record the entirety of the Sci-Fried set. I'm gonna clean it up and see what I can do with it.

Alright, I think I've said all I can and rightly should say about Nerdapalooza. I mean, except for revisiting that Adam WarRock interview I recorded. I should really do something with that.

But for the foreseeable future, at least, I'll shut the fuck up about it.

Because if you were there you already know what a magical weekend it was. And if you weren't then I kinda feel sorry for you.

Nerd News in Brief

Man, October really came and went! And now it's, like, November? Seriously?

In that case it appears as though 2010 is all but spent. Which I reckon means you are owed another edition of Nerd News in Brief.

Y'know, nerd news. Presented briefly.

Thus the name.

• Meeting of the Minds: MC Lars is on tour throughout November with some other cats you may have heard of. Names like mc chris, YTCracker & Schäffer the Darklord. Oh shit yeah! Check the tour page to see if they're coming to your neck of the woods.
• Everything's Bigger: Speaking of gigs, Texas's Antisoc has a show lined up for year's end. Catch him in Fort Worth at Club Aardvark on December 30th.
• Impactful: Last month Mega Ran's "Splash Woman" was used in a promo for TNA wrestling. And they may or may not have done so with his permission. Peep this video for the offending clip (featuring Elijah "The Pope" Burke) and to hear Random's humorous retort.
• Dropping English: On the subject of Ran, the Philadelphia Daily News featured him in a lengthy interview/profile piece early next month. It's an interesting, powerful tale about a guy who's only now being properly recognized for all he does both on and off the mic.
• Mmm, Mmm Good: Some things just can't be described. Like these Jude Buffum 8-bit butcher charts. Don’t worry – they're less gory than you'd think.
• BAMF!: My pal Brux was kind enough to pass on a link to this Gizmodo piece explaining how comic book sounds are translated for film. Not to spoil the surprise, but there are animal carcasses involved.
• In Plain Site: Likewise, my blogging brother Jason (of Geek Studies) shared his fascination re: this story from an October edition of The Escapist. It's a Jane Goodall-flavored satire about how elder geeks hide their passions. Sadly, it totally overlooks the myriad of modern examples to the contrary.
• Beater Scholarship: Church, Matt and I have been joking about NCAA Quidditch for ages. So imagine our surprise when this popped up at the NPR site earlier this week.
• Your Biggest Fan: Church once again came through with the video hotness. In this case it's an 8-minute fan film featuring Superman and The Joker. Check out "Die Laughing" by user blinky500. It may start a little slow, but it gets real good real quick.
• Love is in the Air: Early this month comic book artist Leigh Gallagher proposed to his long-time girlfriend Niki via his blog. In panel traditional form, no less. She said yes, thus proving that all is right with the world.
• Old World Wisdom: Attention UK-based nerdlingers - Jonathan Ross wants you to geek out. And not just on Friday Night. (See what I did there, Brits? I made a reference to his BBC One show. You are so very lucky to have me!)
• It's Our Year: And on a related note, here's more info from The Guardian regarding their Geek Calendar. Definitely worth watching.
• All About the Eyewear: And in case all that relevant exposition concerning geek culture from our European brethren has left a bad taste in your mouth, here's a particularly vapid showing from our own E Online. You're welcome.
• Badge of Honor: On a more appropriate note, Pennsylvania's The Reading Eagle pulled together an interesting feature on nerd culture's current mainstream appeal. Not exactly a groundbreaking exposé, but a fun read nonetheless.
• In Conclusion – Brits are Awesome: And one more from across the pond. It's a Suite 101 interview with Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer. It's actually a piece I forgot to include in my September NNIB, but B's far too gentile to hold a grudge.
• Dare to be Stupid: Also from Church comes this Austin 360 interview with geeky music luminary Weird Al. It's a surprisingly nerdy offering. Until you remember that it came from Austin.
• Who Charted?: Last month Flowtown charted geek evolution in their own indubitable fashion – via a flow chart. Take a look into our distant past and marvel at our pointlessly segmented present.
• Shocking: From the who'd've-fuckin'-thunk-it file, Church busts out a pair of totally believable revelations. First, KISS's Gene Simmons doesn't understand file-sharing, hackers or the nature of DDoS attacks. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Internets, Something Awful (still) hates you and all that you hold dear.
• Two for the Road: And since this edition is a week late, I will shock and delight you with not one but two closing videos. The first, another find by Brux, is the Lando Calrissian edit of R. Kelly's "Real Talk." The second is from rapper A-1's After School Special mixtape, and it pulls its instrumental hook from a cartoon with which you're likely familiar.

Always on the Ran

Everyone's favorite Teacher-Rapper-Hero is on the move and coming to a venue near you. Yes, that Mega Ran - this time with his Forever Famicom partner in crime DC's K-Murdock - is on tour across the southern expanse of our great nation throughout the month of November.

For more information we'll cut to our live tour correspondent, guy-who-can-copy-and-past-a-press-release.

Take it away, Guy!

PHOENIX, AZ– Hot off the heels of their successful album Forever Famicom, Teacher/rapper Random and producer K-Murdock are taking their show on the road.

The Bits and Rhymes Tour will feature Ran and K doing what they do best, rocking crowds with their 8-bit beats and high tech vocals, and will feature guest artists, such as YouTube favorite Brentalfloss, TX rap group Crew 54, videogame cover band The One Ups and many other nerdcore and hip-hop stars. Random’s high-energy set always contains some surprises, such as his mind-blowing freestyle, where crowd participation drives the length and theme of the song.

Ran and K’s innovative album Forever Famicom released on June 1, 2010 and has managed to tap into a fanbase never before explored on such a large scale, the gamers and the hip-hop fans. The album has garnered high praise from top Hip-Hop sites all over the world, as well as the top videogame sites and publications, including Nintendo Power magazine.

The fan support has been phenomenal, and thanks to their donations through Kickstarter, Ran and K are planning a vinyl and DVD release of the Forever Famicom album and sprite videos. The tour will begin on 11/12/10 in Austin, TX, and ends 11/21/10 in Miami, FL.

Since the release of Forever Famicom, Ran and K have each dropped new solo releases. Random’s HEROES vol. 1 and K-Murdock’s DECADENSE are available now. For additional info or radio or interview requests, please contact random.megaran@gmail.com or learn more at http://megaran.com and http://neosonicprod.com

Tour Dates:

Nov 11, 2010 @ Headhunters, 720 Red River St, Austin, TX, w/Crew 54 and more, FREE 21+
Nov 12+13, 2010 Yule Con @ American Airlines Training Center, Ft Worth, TX w/Brentalfloss and more! $15-25
Nov 14, 2010 @The Highball, 1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX $7 21+
Nov 16, 2010 8PM @ Super Happy Fun Land 3801 Polk St Houston, TX $7 all ages w/MC Router and more
Nov 17, 2010 2PM @ Bedrock City Comics 4602 Washington Ave, Houston, TX all ages (performance & signing)
Nov 18, 2010 9PM @ Smoke And Barrel Tavern 324 W Dickson St, Fayetteville, AR w/The One Ups FREE 21+
Nov 19, 2010 8PM @ 331 Nightlife Cafe, 331 W Forsyth St Jacksonville, FL $5 21+
Nov 20, 2010 @ A Comic Shop 114 South Semoran Blvd.Winter Park, FL w/Krondor Krew and more $10 all ages
Nov 21, 2010 @ TBA, Miami, FL

Sadly, it seems my own rural locality didn't quite make the cut on this outing, but that shouldn't stop you from having a good time. I'm serious – go to the show. I insist!

Nerds in Texas and Florida are particularly blessed with regard to The Bits and Rhymes Tour, and, with two amazing co-headliners and a cadre of fantastic openers on-tap, this is not one to be missed.

To whet your appetite for all things Random, I'll even favor you with a little light reading. Peep Ran's recent interview with Searching for Chet Baker for more talk on the upcoming tour as well as an astute observation re: the mainstream. As properly illustrated by George Michael and Bubba Sparxxx, if you can believe it.

Nerd News in Brief

Given the recent unfortunate developments in the nerdcore scene, it makes sense that certain events from other communities may have stayed off your radar due to the, y'know, pressing drama. However, before I delve into another edition of Nerd News in Brief, I'd like to pause to mark a genuinely unfortunate passing from within the stylistically adjacent Wizard Rock/Nerdfighter community.

Earlier this week, 16-year-old scene staple Esther Earl passed away due to cancer-related complications. In lieu of flowers, the family has instead requested memorials donations, including those made to a charity organization that bears her name. A fall tour featuring friends The Whomping Willows and Lauren Fairweather will also be collecting donations specifically to help her grieving family with the various related medical bills.

Just a little something to think about.

• Harry Potter and the Prisoners of Gitmo: On a (very slightly) happier Potter-related note, check out this list of primarily geek lit books popular among prisoners at Guantánamo Bay. Reading truly is fundamental.
• Defense Against the Dark Arts: A UK university is currently offering a course focused on the world of Harry Potter, with special emphasis on the societal implications of the work. But how long before you can major in Muggle Studies?
• Behold My Buying Power: Late last month my blogging brother Jason Tocci passed on a piece from Ad Week. It concerns consumers "embracing geekdom," and even goes so far as to innumerate geeky traits. Everybody wants a piece of that nerd dollar!
• We're Doing it Wrong: Shael Riley and my boy Church both recently unearthed this 7-year-old internet gem - The Five Geek Social Fallacies. My only complaint is these apply to non-geeks as well. GSF4, for example, has become my mother-in-law's veritable calling card.
• Bad Advice is Still Free: Shael also provided me with some helpful, if second-hand, advice from 4chan's Advice Dog. In song, no less.
• Dance, Clone, Dance!: From my old pal Larry comes news of the newly released "special edition" of Danny Choo's Tokyo Stormtrooper dance. Like all special editions, it comes complete with ridiculous CGI.
• Conspicuous Consumption: Also from Larry comes this handy list of geek/tech-inspired products. Because who doesn't need a Twitter-themed throw pillow?
• Tag and Release: The Nerdcore For Life documentary is finally available on DVD! Experience the highs and the lows of early Rhyme Torrents-era nerdcore hip-hop like never before. I mean, unless you were there to experience it the first time.
• Itty Bitty: Reader Jim hipped me to this amazing chiptune symphony, which he originally found via NPR. The single microchip mounted in the CD case literally "performs" the minimalist, electronic composition for you!
• KLLS PXLS DED: Other news on the chip music front concerns a fresh release from I KILL PXLS. His incredibly funky self-titled album is available via Bandcamp as a digital release for a mere $5, or with a limited edition t-shirt for $15. Give it a listen, and hit Marques with some money!
• Under Cover of Darkness: While you're Bandcamping, don't forget to check out the new Retrocovered album from Inverse Phase as well. I all but guarantee that it'll contain your new favorite instrumental chiptune cover of The Cars classic "Just What I Needed."
• Chip on His Shoulder: Antisoc was one of many readers to point me toward this homemade chiptune synthesizer. The "Chipophone" is truly a miracle of personal ingenuity. Not to mention a nice way to skirt the UK's new rules concerning homebrew game copiers. 
• Never Too Early: Those in adjoining localities to my own humble burg will want to know that Dual Core will be joining hometown heroes ThoughtCriminals at Charlotte's Milestone on September the 24th. That's a Friday, so please come out and get drunk with us!
• Back in Blue: Though not as innovative as some of their other video projects, Seattle's Kirby Krackle has released a minimalist sing-along video for their Mega Man-inspired track "On and On." Peep the hotness.
• Now They Really Do: And speaking of retro video game goodness, have you checked out the interactive flash game at the official I Fight Dragons web site? It's further (nerdy) proof that success hasn't changed 'em.
• Coder Girl: Another pointer from Church led me to this Tech Crunch article about Lady Java, an unholy blend of Lady GaGa and the Java programming language. It's… certainly something.
• Geek Couture: I have long joked that my friend Jarvis and I should start a blog called FashioNerd. If we ever did, this shit right here would be our first post.
• The Art Wants What it Wants: While the games as art debate still rages on, the Smithsonian has decided to throw its weight behind gamer culture. To that end a special "Art of Video Games" exhibit will run March 16 through September 30 of 2012.
• What the Fuck: By now everyone has likely experienced contemporary YouTube classic "Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury." What you probably haven't seen is this. It's okay to laugh. Really.
• Join my Guild: Church also kicks in this Psychology Today piece on geek community. It actually contains some interesting observations concerning our tribe and its sacred rites (ie: Comic-Con.)
• You Can't Resist the Force: The Guardian weighs in on the fact that we, apparently, run Hollywood. Not sure how the recent Scott Pilgrim flop plays into this theory, though.
• Until it Sounded Like a Symphony: Oh, and we also run the orchestra pit. No, not really.
• Dare to be Stupid: Church's nerd ink round-up features some fine selections from Comic-Con, not to mention tattooed LEGO minifigs! Oh, and also this.That is some serious dedication to Weird Al.
• Tyler Durden: This last discovery from Church – a CNN post about potential nerd exploitation – could well go into our growing "geek chic" file. Although considering that it opens with references to D20s and The New Mutants, I'm sort of beginning to wonder if… maybe I wrote it?
• Soft Rocked by Him: For those who may have missed it, Big Think recently conducted a great interview with nerd rock troubadour Jonathon Coulton. It's in video form. With full frontal beard.
• See It, Believe It: Other videos of note include a live MC Frontalot/Wheatus collab, MC Sex's bawdy tribute to the classic NES and the age-old pastime of boning and a musical meditation on the girls of Comic-Con. (Yeah, I'm getting all those long-delayed post-Comic-Con news items out of the way here.)
• The Year 4153: In other YouTubery, I have been enjoying Rappy McRapperson's channel a lot of late. Don't get me wrong, I totally don't fucking understand Rappy a good bit of the time, but it still makes for some entertaining watchin'.
• Nerd Lust: Closing out this edition of NNIB is the oddly appealing "I Kissed a Nerd." It's the perfect companion piece to another recently discovered tribute to nerd love. Watch it in good health, and then lip-lock your dream dork.

The Coming Gamepocalypse

Contrary to popular belief, Nerdapalooza isn't the only charitable musical geek-out going. In fact, next Saturday, August 14th, my friends from Extra Life Houston are pulling together games, music and madness for the best of causes in the form of Video Game Armageddon.

Yes, kind of like "Video Armageddon" from The Wizard. Only with more awesome. And less Fred Savage.

Part retro game tournament, part concert and all party, VGA is an 18-and-up event hosted at Houston's Numbers, sponsored by Extra Life and benefitting The Children's Miracle Network and the Texas Children's Hospital. Doors open at 7 o'clock in the PM, with the music kicking off at 7:15. And, when I say music I fuckin' mean it!

Local legend and nerdcore pioneer MC Router will be on-hand as will Shoelace, Jus Coz, Sievert, Dirk Strangely and the Hatchetmen, and my main man Jonny Nero Action Hero. All leading up to the night's headliner, my other main man Dr. Awkward.

All this for the crazy-low price of 10 bucks, and the first 250 people in get a free $5 gift card from the fine folks at Games Plus.

And speaking of the games, the preliminaries of the gaming tournament kick off this Friday at Joystix from 9:00 PM to close, and continue Saturday at Player 1 Video Games from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. The semifinalists will duke it out at the event-proper leading, of course, the triumphant conclusion wherein the finalists will face each other on stage with a secret game.

To the winner go the spoils, and in this case said spoils are provided by ThinkGeek and Geek Soap. I believe we can safely assume our winner will be both properly entertained and sweet-smelling as a direct result.

As for regular attendants, costumes are encouraged, with the best one netting tickets to an as-yet unnamed upcoming music festival. So clearly there is something for everyone.

Please come out, support a good cause and give proper love to all my peeps (Jonny, Awk, Jesus from Space City Nerd, et al.) Oh, and take lots of pictures. I have a working theory that everything is actually the exact same size in Texas as everywhere else in the world, and I need photographic evidence to back up my claim.

The Good, the Bad and the Noisy

"Hi, Hex!" image by @datavortex

I've already shared much of my experience from this year's Nerdapalooza festival, but now it's time to get down to the all-important brass tacks. Nerdapalooza 2010 managed to succeed on many levels, but it was not without its shortcomings. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these stand out as the very elements that will likely define the event in years to come.

So, y'know, I'm going to talk about 'em.

But since I'm a southern gentleman, we'll kick this off on an encouraging note. I know I've already gushed well past the point of propriety, but to hell with it. Here's more:

While the event has always been strongly linked to the nerdcore hip-hop movement, Nerdapalooza 2010 was all about the rock. From the stripped down guitar pop of returning act Marc with a C and the rock star swagger of local legends Sci-Fried to the more exotic flare of Seattle's Kirby Krackle and the undeniable genius of The Protomen, the guitarist-to-MC ratio was much more favorable than at 'Paloozas past. And to say that everyone rocked the fuck out at this year's show would be… well, fairly accurate. Even ZeaLouS1 got in on the action with his new rap/rock fusion group The Bossfights, a sonically staggering blend of hip-hop and thrash that only sounded sweeter with the added vocal prowess of Dr. Awkward.

This latest iteration boasted a more diverse lineup than ever before, and not just with regard to geek rockers. Chip music, dementia music (compliments of the always-inspired FuMP) and even Wizard Rock were well represented alongside the stellar grock and nerdcore of Nerdapalooza 2010. This variety, a hallmark of Hex's original vision, finally found fair footing, and with it came an undeniable sense of textural satisfaction, a genuine feeling that nerd music was represented across the full breadth of its beautiful spectrum. And woven into a quilt of sonic awesome.

But the bands themselves are only as impressive as their performances. Luckily, the most remarkable element of the entire weekend was the sets themselves. From fledgling nerdcore rapper MC Cool Whip at the pre-party and early-risers HDninja at the show proper, all the way to closing sets from the likes of the venerable MC Frontalot, the music was truly at the center of the Nerdapalooza experience. And many of the acts never sounded better, in spite of a number of notable obstacles.

The first logistical hurdle with which nearly every Nerdapalooza artist was forced to contend was the event's unfortunate scheduling delays. When I tell you that day one was, at one time, over 3 hours behind schedule, do not mistake that statement for my trademark embellishment. Still, in what could have been a really bad scene, the Nerdapalooza crew, the legions of fans and the artists themselves pressed on in a showing of genuine nerdy brotherhood.

Unfortunately, things were further hampered by sound issues of the highest order. Faulty mics, tinny backing tracks and flaky monitors were just a few of the problems that sought to sour otherwise phenomenal performances. The sound man is truly the punching bag of rock 'n' roll, and longtime musical allies like The HT and Marc with a C were forced to bear the weight of knowing stares as they attempting to coax the master mixing board back from the brink on numerous occasions.

Possibly the only thing more disturbing than the sound problems themselves were the mixed reactions they elicited from attendees. First-timers were shocked and a little perturbed, but returning fans often seemed to pass both this and the scheduling delays off as unfortunate but expected elements of the overall Nerdapalooza experience. That is a genuinely unfortunate association for such an esteemed event.

Still, my take is slightly different; I see these issues as (admittedly lingering) growing pains. As the event continually matures in size and scope, there are certainly apt to be unfortunate side effects. Nerdapalooza as we know it has undergone such growth that much of the spontaneous, informal nature evident in the early years has dissipated, but well before opportunities for flawless, patently professional execution have become readily available. It is as if you and your Tuesday night poker buddies suddenly found yourselves managing a Vegas casino. You have the heart and potentially the know-how, but the resources and true tricks of the trade only await at the end of a long chain of hard-fought battles of trial and error.

Please don't misinterpret the above statement as allegations of the dread sellout syndrome. The sense of community is still alive and well at 'Palooza, but a measure of that intimacy has been necessarily bartered for a somewhat broader appeal. And while Nerdapalooza 2010 may have presented more new faces than old friends, it still managed to be the geeky lovefest it has always promised.

And to return from my recent sojourn into ham-fisted metaphor and imaginary compound words, let me simply restate that Nerdapalooza has grown. And it should continue to do so. But it is impossible to grow without changing.* This was evident even in the most pedestrian elements of Nerdapalooza 2010: the venue layout itself.

The Orlando Airport Marriott convention center was perfectly sized for this year's crowd, but its setup was telling of the transformation inherent in the event. Easy access to restrooms, smoking areas and chill space were welcome additions, but they smacked of the old-style convention.

You see, bands play at a convention, but it is not their scene. It is noisy and oppressive with its poor sound and droves of passersby, and this year's Nerdapalooza had a distinctly con-style layout. With 2 stages situated on opposite sides of a large room bisected by a healthy merch area, it was a fan's dream come true. You could easily wander around unfettered by concerns of when, who or where and simply drink in the experience. Unfortunately, it was significantly harder on the performers. The one-room setup and back-to-back performances left little opportunity for sound checks and, worst of all, it encouraged listeners to abandon a set early so as to snag prime floor space for the following act. This unwittingly played against the unifying element of Nerdapalooza by putting bands in an odd and indirect form of competition with each other.

Now, I certainly don't have all the answers to these woes, and if I sound critical in this final analysis it is only because I am a critic. I cannot stress this enough.

I'm certainly not knocking the job that the Nerdapalooza crew – from coordinators like Hex and Masu all the way to the volunteers that are the life's blood of the event – did at this summer's festival. Anyone with even the vaguest comprehension of the kind of work that it took to literally make a weekend of unbridled nerd culture appear out of thin air has got to appreciate the institution that Nerdapalooza has become on nothing more than the sheer will and slick sweat of these fine men and women. But it is here that we arrive at the underlying question of this missive.

What is the shape of the Nerdapalooza of tomorrow?

As it currently exists Nerdapalooza is part concert, part convention and part family reunion. It is a happy hodgepodge of disparate elements that is as messy as it is memorable. But how long can it exist unfettered by more conventional confines? Trapped in some odd limbo between the overwhelming vigor of PAX and the understated community of MAGfest, Nerdapalooza is in a class by itself. And whether the scales shift one way or the other (or continue to defy definition by splitting the difference) is anybody's guess.

All that I can say is that I look forward to Nerdapalooza 2011 and beyond. Not because it affords me my one weekend a year free from domestic obligation or even because it continually showcases the bands I want to see in an environment free from pretension or ego, but because I know there will always be a place for me. As a journalist. As a minister of the nerdy gospel. As your average geek on the street.

Nerdapalooza is a circus funhouse of energy and noise and excitement. It is scarcely controlled chaos tempered with the occasional bought of tedium. But, most importantly, it is home.

*Check out Wil Wheaton's recent Techland missive concerning Comic-Con for keen observations concerning the difference between the evolution of the nerd spectacle and the perceived devolution of nerd culture.

Above & Beyond

I fucking hate award shows. Seriously.

All those lame-ass setups and the institutionalized hyperbole: they just aren't for me. And don't even get me started on the generally unworthy recipients!

Still, I love the concept of recognizing excellence, in whatever form it may take. This is why I will now outline my personal picks for Nerdapalooza 2010's Best in Show. Of course, since this is Hipster, please! I won't be relying on your more pedestrian categories.

No, this time around we're keeping shit nerdy with plenty of allusions to Xbox Live.

On with the show:

The Nerd Up Award: HDninja
"Hey, HDninja, you guys get to kick off Nerdapalooza with the very first set of the festival. Y'know, no pressure or anything. Just you guys. On stage. In front of a crowd that's expecting you to set the pace for the entire event to follow. Also, um, due to some scheduling problems we are gonna put you on a couple hours late. So folks might be kinda antsy. Oh, and one of your mics isn't gonna work. That's cool right?"

EMPulse Record's HDninja had the deck stacked against them – they were the very first performance of the festival on a day that had already proven itself a logistical nightmare. Plus, pretty much everyone in the crowd, myself included, were zombified from a late night of partying. Yet somehow, when the first note of the hook from "Carformer" hit, suddenly everything was okay. Well played, my ninjas. Well played.

Best Merch: T-Shirt Bordello / Nerdapalooza / Scrub Club
Nerdapalooza 2010 succeeded on a number of levels, not the least of which involved sponsors and merch. Both were in abundance this year, and added an interesting classic convention feel to the proceedings. So much so that's it's hard to quantify who did it best. In the end, I have to recognize a trio of fine merch-slingers.

The first is easily Jacksonville's T-shirt Bordello. Not only was their booth stocked to the nines with amazing tees – I managed to snag one of their swank TARDIS shirts myself – but owner Don Myers actually rocked a full zombie ensemble for the entire first day.

Not to be outdone, Nerdapalooza's own merchandise output was once again uniquely satisfying. Again relying on the talents of the one and only MadKiwiX, this year's logo design revealed an amplifier array behind the classic logo that, as hex put it, "looks like they've been back there the whole time."

And the first of many props to the Scrub Club family comes as a direct result of MadHatter's amazing (and unexpected) bead sprite art. Amongst the anticipated stickers and sampler discs, Hatter presented a fine selection of tributes to classic 8-bit gaming as well as pieces commemorating comic and nerd television icons.

Worst Merch: Those Goddamn Foam-Ball-Missile-Thingies
I love you, Cloudspace. Really I do. I mean, not only do you provide both hexWarrior and Nina with day jobs, but you also pulled out all the stops to support Nerdapalooza proper. Unfortunately, your choice of swag – those weird hybrid Nerf footballs/heat-seeking missiles – were like some kind of biblical plague on the show floor!

Show me a man who wasn't beaned in the noggin by a Cloudspace-branded foam ball, and I'll show you a dude who wasn't at Nerdapalooza 2010.

Chillest Set: Kirby Krackle
When I heard that Kyle from Kirby Krackle was doing a solo acoustic set at this year's festival, I was a little bummed. How could it possibly live up to the cranked-up, full-on comic book rock of their two studio albums?

Even with my undying faith in Kyle's skills, I could've never dreamed how effortlessly the Kirby Krackle bangers translated to this minimalist interpretation. KK wound down a hectic evening in style, and without losing any of their trademark geek rock substance.

The Iron Man Award: Marc with a C
Marc with a C is a longtime Nerdapalooza staple, and this year he proved himself to be a genuine trooper to boot. Somehow between working the sound boards, guesting with other artists and otherwise running about the event like the proverbial headless chicken, Marc was still prepared to rock a solid Sunday evening set for us. What he wasn't prepared for was to take a spill two songs in and sever a tendon. Live on stage.

Miraculously, not only did he finish the show, but this slightly less mobile than usual Marc still managed to keep the crowd entertained. "Bounce! Bounce! Bounce!" indeed.

The Rock Out with Your Spock Out Award: Sci-Fried
Sci-Fried transitioned from one of my most anticipated acts of Nerdapalooza 2010 to one of the brightest highlights of my festival experience within the span of about a song and a half. And while I was a little worried that their style would be lost on a crowd of nerdcore hip-hop heads, they easily commanded the audience with their blend of balls-out arena rock and southern-fried geekery. But their true claim to fame – even more so than their earnest, irony-free enjoyment of sci-fi schlock and Motley Crue-style antics – was the moment when they literally brought the house down.

In a nod to their rock 'n' roll roots, the band distributed beach balls to the audience and encouraged them to bat them around with extreme prejudice. Half a set and one broken chandelier later the inflatables were retired, but a nerd rock story for the ages had already been written.

Breakthrough Artist: The Bossfights
I can't exactly tell you what I expected from ZeaLouS1's new hybrid outfit The Bossfights. All I can say is that as high as my hopes were, even those paled in comparison to the grandeur of the actual listening experience. Blending searing vocals, machinegun guitars, punk rock energy and the slightest hint of funk rhythm, they are truly the breakthrough artists of 2010.

From the moment the guys hit the stage, under cover of darkness with the sounds of helicopters in pursuit, I was mesmerized. In a set that included everything from plasma grenades to a special MC Frontalot tribute track, it's hard to pick a defining moment. So instead I'll say that if you missed a second of the action you did yourself a grand disservice.

Best Stage Energy: Scrub Club and Emergency Pizza Party
When funky49 told me the Emergency Pizza Party set slated for early Sunday morning was church-themed, I told him he was full of shit. And then I saw the choir robes. And the pizza box crucifixes. And Sir-Up's bible.

In an event that could only be described as a musical conversion, EPP blessed us with the power of shine. But when they turned the stage over to their Scrub Club brethren, I assumed the sermon was over. That is until MadHatter unleashed the "Christian Side Hug" upon and unsuspecting audience.

What followed was a spiritual experience, to say the least.

Best Worst Cover Song: "Wannabe" as performed by MC Cool Whip
I was both congratulated and chided throughout Nerdapalooza weekend for my cover song challenge. It seems that tracks like the aforementioned "Christian Side Hug" were both the highlight and the bane of many an audience member's festival experience.

But surely no track was more divisive than MC Cool Whip's pre-party rendition of The Spice Girls' "Wannabe."

Tell us what you want, Whip. What you really, really want.

Best Best Cover Song: "Mr. Roboto" as performed by The Protomen
On the other side of the coin, of course, were the covers that everyone loved. And among them all none stood so high as The Protomen's impeccable interpretation of this Styx classic.

After a much-delayed, truncated set played sans-Panther on Saturday, attendants were delighted to learn that closing headliner MC Frontalot had agreed to push his performance up to allow for a second appearance by our favorite freedom fighters. As a result, "Mr. Roboto," though certainly no stranger to the band's setlist, was an unexpected surprise that closed out Nerdapalooza 2010 with a bang.

Best Support Artist: Kids / Bar2-D2
Nerdapalooza is about the artists and the fans, but often that blurry line between the two is all but ignored. You see, there are some individuals who are at once both and neither. They are the special guests. At Nerdapalooza 2010 this important position was held down by our most diminutive brothers and sisters.

Children played a delightful part in both the Emergency Pizza Party and Krondor Krew sets and a tiny back-up man of another kind – a special R2-D2 styled cooler – helped keep me and the Sci-Fried crew properly hydrated throughout a long, hot weekend.

The Gandalf the White Award: My Parents' Favorite Music / The Adventures of Duane and BrandO
This year's festival saw not one but two triumphant returns to the stage. Saturday afternoon, Steffo of My Parents' Favorite Music came out of retirement with an energetic set that incorporated dancing control pads, physical challenges and a Phoenix Wright costume. And Sunday saw a recently reunited The Adventures of Duane and BrandO tear up the stage to the mutual delight of nerdcore and VGFM fans alike.

FYI: If I was giving away an award for best hugs, these two acts would have to split that one too.

The Superfan Award: Datavortex
And while I'm celebrating the acts of Nerdapalooza, let me pause to also acknowledge a fan without peer. My boy Datavortex, a rabid supporter of nerd music and vigilant defender of our culture, deserves a special shout-out for all he brought to this year's event.

No, not what he literally brought! Although, now that you mention it…

I'm referring instead to the fact that not only did Data make a significant financial contribution directly Nerdapalooza (via their Final Boss program), but he also personally saw to it that both myself and Dr. Awkward could muster the scratch to make the trip down.

He's truly a pillar of our community.

The Schaffer the Darklord Award: Dr. Awkward
Each year, Nerdapalooza sees one artist show up everywhere. He's the guy rocks his own set, and then pops in for guest spots in practically everyone else's. Those of us in the know call this "pulling a Schaffer."

This time around, as STD himself made his mark (Aren't I clever?) between his own amazing performance, his hyping of the Epic Win burlesque crew and his brilliant guest spot on MC Frontalot's "Nerdcore Rising." And yet he was still somehow out-Schaffered by the one and only Dr. Awkward.

Doc commanded the stage during a solo set Saturday afternoon, brought the religion with his Scrub Club comrades MadHatter and Kabuto the Python Sunday AM and then knocked shit out of the park as part of The Bossfights that same evening.

The next generation of nerdcore has truly arrived. With a vengeance.

Missed Opportunities

Photo by: @awfulwaffle73

Let's assume for a moment that you are the one reader of this blog not already sick of hearing me go on and on about Nerdapalooza.

Yes, I fully understand that I am proceeding under a false pretense here, but the truth is I have an awful lot of shit to share about last weekend's event and only a handful of places at which to do so. Bear with me.

Just like in 2008, my post-Nerdapalooza coverage will be broken up into a number of posts. There's this introductory piece, of course, as well as a forthcoming GeekDad post wherein I examine what this year's festival tells us about the future of the franchise. In addition to these I also envision a special superlatives post, in which I'll shout out some of the festivals most epic moments and players, and a final piece of critical analysis where I'll break the thing down from start to finish.

But before I get mesmerized by my own grand schemes, let me cut to the chase here.

I experienced a lot of exciting and amazing things at Nerdapalooza 2010, but the further I get away from the event the more things I notice that I neglected to do. Some of them were things that merely eluded me at the time, ideas that I didn't even have until well after the fact, while others were on the proverbial list but never quite materialized.

I have selected ten specific examples. Like you do.

1. Big Up @starlainjury
   I expected to meet a lot of folks at Nerdapalooza 2010, but ThaSauce mainstay and regular Shael Riley collaborator Injury wasn't one of them. ThaSauce's table was located directly beside the GeekDad booth, but we only spoke briefly on day two and I didn't fully realize who she was until shortly before Shael and I went on our hot dinner date. At any rate, if you're reading this, Starla, yours is one of the most intriguing voices in the VGM scene.
2. Stooge it Up with @datavortex
   Are Data's folks big Three Stooges fans? Been meaning to ask him that shit for years, and planed to do so in person at this year's event. We actually spent tons of time hanging out over the weekend, but for some reason I never remembered to bring it up.
3. I'm @DKaine / You Know Me
   David Kaine does nerdcore karaoke. Hell, he even performed "I'm On a Boat" during the open mic. This is a fascinating idea which I planned to discuss with him at length. And then I totally flaked and forgot.
4. Hatcore
   I packed a pair of epic hats to wear at the event: my Cthulhu tuque from GrapevineFires and the cunning hat @freakapotimus made me. Yet I never even took them out of my suitcase. #hatfail
5. Play Matchmaker
   B-Type loves the States and wants to stay. My solution was simple: get hitched. I tried half-heartedly to find him a paramour over the length of the festival, but eventually I just decided on Colon:P. I mean, they were together all the time anyway.
6. Bring the Chain
   Finding out the Scrub Club Records table was located directly behind GeekDad's was a treat. Receiving my own Scrub Club medallion from MadHatter was a genuine thrill. Sadly, I could never find an appropriate chain, and thus I had to settle for carrying it in my pocket all weekend.
7. Swappin'!
   I got to talk a bit with both GeekPeekPost's @thelotech (who actually interviewed me) and my sister-in-arms Game Music 4 All's @chibi_ma on Sunday, but failed to orchestrate the meetings of the minds I had originally planned. Bottom line, ladies, I think we need to replace next year's Podswap with a Blogswap. :)
8. Mistaken Identity
   On the subject of GM4A, my pal Genoboost was conspicuously absent this year. I totally should've pretended to be him. I'm sure B-Type would have backed me up.
9. All These Damn Stickers
   I'm convinced that this last batch of Hipster, please! bumper stickers is multiplying. I kept giving the things away by the handful, but I swear I somehow have more now than I did when I left.
10. Sleep
    Yeah. I… uh… pretty much didn't sleep the entire weekend. Apologies to anyone who attempted to talk to me only to find me wholly incoherent. I'm an old man, and don't do well without 7 or 8 hours worth of regular sleepy-time.