More Geek, Less Nerd!

So I've been told that since I've labeled myself the "Generic Geek" that I am no longer generic... The language center at Merriam-Webster OnLine gives the definition of "generic" as: Function: adjective Etymology: French générique, from Latin gener-, genus birth, kind, class Date: 1676 1 a : relating to or characteristic of a whole group or class :GENERAL b : being or having a nonproprietary name c : having no particularly distinctive quality or application 2 : relating to or having the rank of a biological genus - ge·ner·i·cal·ly /-i-k(&-)lE/ adverb - ge·ner·ic·ness noun The reasoning behind this assertion is, because I have labeled myself "generic" that I now have a particularly distinctive quality, and that I'm no longer truley "generic". I know I meet at least one of the criteria: Definition 2: Relating to or having the rank of a biological genus. If you look at the Biological Classification levels of the Linnean heirarchy: Kingdom Phylum (plural phyla) Class Order Family Genus (plural genera) Species Then, I am in the Family of Hominidae, and my Genus and species are Homo & sapiens, so does this mean that per the definition that everyone in a particular genus is "generic"??? But, Definition 1C is "having no particularly distinctive quality or application" I definetly have a distinctive quality, I'm a geek, so how can I be generic, if my distinctive quality is being "geeky"? And I have lots of applications, I've got MS Office, Photoshop, etc... too many to list right now.... So by using this definition, I can't be "generic".

The other night, after all the Christmas gifts had been opened, wrapping paper all over the floor, and toys (some in & some out of boxes) laying everywhere, my two boys were in their play room doing what they normally do.... Playing. But, they were not playing with any of the toys that they got for Christmas... They were "pretending"... The conversation I overheard went something like this: A - "OK, so you pretend to be the guy on the cliff." Z - "But, you should pretend to push that rock." A - "OK, but when I push the rock, you pretend that your shield protects you." Z - "OK, but you pretend that you accidently drop your shield and the rock hits you." A - "But, you pretend that when I push the rock, it has a secret weapon that can shoot you." Z - "OK, but you pretend.........." and on, and on, and on ......ad nausia......

I just happened to be searching GOOGLE the other day for "red eye". During the course of my job duties, I needed to know if this term should be hyphenated (for use on our online web site). So, after a few sites that didn't yeild any usefull results, I found This One. I thought it was really funny... No longer do you need Photoshop or even MS Paint, now you can get your very own Analog red-eye remover... Here is the blurb from their web site:

I know it's been awhile... I've had a lot going on, but things are slowly getting back to normal. I've got a whole bunch of interesting things to post, I just have not had the energy or the real motivation to publish them... But I wanted to talk a little bit about the new Lord of the Rings movie. I was fortunate enough to be able to get tickets to Trilogy Tuesday a few months ago. I kept my ticket in my desk drawer at work (locked) :) .... The first movie started at 2pm, so I figured, a few hours early, I'll get a good seat, no problem.... I showed up at the theatre about 20 minutes before noon... There were already about 150 people in line!!! I couldn't believe it. It was great though. In-line trivia contests, raffles, costume contest, $3.50 hot dogs!!! You name it, we had it.

It's almost 10pm and I'm sitting on a couch surrounded by familiar things. I have already gone into her room, knelt next to her and said my goodbyes between tears. I've held her hand, stoked her brow, and whispered in her ear. She is in pain, her breath is shallow, and she is ready to go. I have told her how much I love her and I have thanked her for always being there for me, many times when I didn't deserve it. I know she can hear me. I know she understands. I was never able to tell my grandfather the things I wanted to say to him. Whether I was too afraid to say them, or maybe I was too proud to say out loud what was doomed to stay confined within the fabric of my thoughts. I don't know. I have noticed that everyone is talking about her in the past tense, and I'm the only one in the room that still talks in the present. Is this slight difference the beginning of the grief process? I wish it was the end. I have not accepted the fact that she is going to die. Now I'm waiting, waiting for death to come and I'm sad. Sad that I didn't say the right things. Sad that I didn't spend enough time when I had the chance. Sad for the loss that makes me feel like I'm empty inside. But, I'm also happy. I'm happy that she will be with God. I'm happy that she will no longer be in pain. I'm happy that I was blessed with the chance to spend 29 years on this planet with a woman that loved me unconditionally. I am supposed to write her obituary and I don't know where to begin. Should I mention her family, the family that has not come to visit in months... years? The family members that visit next door, but never walk the extra 20 steps to visit and lift a spirit, or just show that they care. I think I'll write about her strong will to live and of her love for her familly. All of the other accomplishments, awards, and the trials of her life will fade with time. The love she gave to her family and her unbelievable fight for life will last until my family is sitting outside my bedroom door waiting for me to take my last breath. The nurse will be here in just under an hour... It's 9:30AM, the nurse was very understanding. Everything is still uncertain. I'm going to go home and get some sleep and change clothes. I don't really plan on updating in the near future. Take care.

A few years ago I read Timeline by Michael Crichton. It is a really good read... So good, that I've read it 3 times. I've been following the development of the movie since I heard it was in filming.. (1-2 years).. So, that being said... Steve and I went to see Timeline the Movie this evening. In one sentence, it was a total dummed down version. If you've read the book and thought the movie would be too heavy for your date... She'll get it, because there's nothing to get. They took out TONS of really interesting things.

The couple that (hits) the guy in the desert. (No longer a couple, just a dude that veers off trying not to hit him when he appears out of thin air in the middle of the road... No looking for his car, no interaction in the car with him on the way to the hospital... the entire first 2-3 chapters on-screen takes maybe 30 seconds.)

Checkerd Shirt and "Quantum Foam, Quantum Foam, Quantum Foam. (Gone)

The whole sub-plot of the police officer investigating the guys x-rays. (Gone)

The whole backstory of why the president of the company is buying up all the land around the world where these interesting archiological digs are going on in the present. (Gone)

Quantum computers, and all the cool stuff that makes going back to the past work. (Replaced by "It's a wormhole"... Total cop out. Their explination is that they just happened upon a wormhole that takes them not only back to the same year every time, but also takes them to the same place.... [I guess Deep Space 9 is easier to understand than quantum computers])

Shielding made from water-filled glass containers. (Gone, replaced by *I kid you not!* Smoke & Mirrors. BAH!)

Marine gets his head cut off, almost as soon as they get back. (Gone, he still dies, but head stays intact, and nothing is said about his marker)

Jousting. (Gone)

Seeing knights in full armor sword fighting (for fun). (Replaced by some drunk English soldiers swinging wooden swords!)

The Watermill, the explosion, and everything pertaining to it. (Gone)

The tunnel to the castle, the water, torches, falling in the water. (Replaced with a rock tunnel.)

The 2nd (prototype) machine that could bring them back. (Gone)

Sending the president of the company back, during a period of the plauge (obviously to kill him) (Gone, replaced by him being trapped by.... yes believe me, smoke & mirrors... and going back and getting killed by a knight.)

Since most people won't be working tomorrow, (myself included) and I probably won't spend much time in front of the computer, I want to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving. Tomorrow will be a true testament of my Atkins faith... I'm eating at my aunts house with 30+ family members. There will be sweets everywhere!!! Wish me luck! Anyway, I found a few links that may interest you, none are too geeky, but if you're stuck at work or have an uncontrollable need to search the web, and you've accidently landed here, take a look.

If you've enjoyed some of the parody Apple "switch" ads, this parody will tickle your funny bone.

This game kept me occupied for about an hour on my day off yesterday.

Milk and Cereal Guys I thought I had found the Biggest Dorks back in April when I found this picture, but thanks to... I think it's a german message board, I think I have really found the biggest dorks on the entire planet... These losers don't even get classified in the same class as geek..... oh, the humanity.......... Sound is a must... Check it out here.

Michigan beats Ohio State 35-21. Sue, you better give Steve hell on Monday!!!!

So, everyone has been asking what I want for Christmas. If you want to get me something, this is my wish list... Some are expensive, some are not. I don't plan on getting any of them (actually), but I'll put this out there anyway...

Rom 10 X card.

Xtreme PRO Programmer.

VIA EPIA 800 All-In-One Motherboard.

512MB PC133 SDRAM (Crucial.Com).

Morex Venus Cube Case (Silver).

Lilliput 7" XGA VGA Touch Screen LCD.

Western Digital Caviar 120GB Hard Drive.

Creative WebCam.

Wireless Compact USB Adapter.

10GB iPod.

Blue LED Binary Clock.

Black Slashdot Volatile Hyperlinkage TShirt.

Midnight blue geek glass.

Blue Neon Cold Cathode Cooling Fan.

VIA Mini-ITX 12v DC DC 120W PSU Power Sequencer.

David Lanz Piano Solos (Sheet Music).

UPDATE: Those of you who are not "everyone," meaning those who are reasonably in the realm of "some people" and may (with enough time, and enough people chiming in) get to "a relative few" may ignore this comment... Thank you D. Jones!