Cable boxes, cell phone chargers, television sets, gaming consoles, computers and laptop stations, speakers – all of these things create a tangle of wires that are an eyesore.

But you can declutter your house using recycled objects that are likely just laying around. Look at these six creative and fun ways that people have been able to reduce their unsightly wire tangles around the home.

1. DIY Headphones Organizer

This person made an awesome owl wrap for their iPhone earbuds using a piece of wood and a laser cutter. This could be done in any standard woodworking class, and any material would suffice. Notice the way it wraps and then settles, nice and clean. It is an immediate fix to the evils of daily headphone untangling that we all know and dread.

2. Long Cord Toliet Paper Roll

Can you imagine a simpler idea for cords? This one was done using a toilet paper roll, but it could also be done with a paper towel roll. That would keep multiple cords bunched together and in place, without tangling all over the place.

3. Cable CD Spindles

This is one I have been using for years. Now that everything has moved to flash drives and external hard drives, CDs are less popular. But the plastic cases the spindles come in are useful for a number of things, this being one of them.

4. Fork and Cream Sauce Cable Organizers

An adorable idea, this is as much a decorative choice as it is a functional one. The plastic fork has been used to twist the cord like spaghetti, and the “plate” allows it to stand so as to be easily removed when the cord is needed. It would only work for thinner cords, such as for media players and mobile phones, however.

5. Credit Card Organizers

I rather like this idea. You take a credit card or old store/gift card and drill holes at different areas with space between each. Then thread the cords through to keep them separate from each other – simple but useful and free.

6. Binder Clip Cord Holders

This is my favorite cable-sorting idea. They took a simple binder clip and put it on the edge of the desk. Then they looped the cables through each, letting it keep them separated. This would have unlimited potential and be very cheap to do.

There are plenty of ways you can use average household items to declutter your office, living room or bedroom. What are some of your own ideas? Let us know in the comments section.

Annie is a geeky blogger for Life Insurance Finder, the free resource of free Life Insurance Calculators and other finance-related tools.

The former Daniel Knox-Hewson and Kelvin Borbidge

You think you’re a geek? Okay, but are you willing to put your money where your mouth is? A pair of British geeks did, besting the world record for the longest name — and they did it by renaming themselves after famous superheroes and supervillains.

Daniel Knox-Hewson has legally renamed himself “Emperor Spiderman Gandalf Wolverine Skywalker Optimus Prime Goku Sonic Xavier Ryu Cloud Superman HeMan Batman Thrash.” His friend Kelvin Borbidge has taken the villian names “Baron Venom Balrog Sabretooth Vader Megatron Vegeta Robotnik Magneto Bison Sephiroth Lex Luthor Skeletor Joker Grind.” Knowledgable geeks will notice that the order of duo’s multiple names correspond to pairs of archenemies. Spiderman/Venom, for example, or Batman/Joker.

It cost the two about $23 each to change their names with Britain’s Legal Deed Poll Service just last week. Both chose names with 16 words each, enabling them to easly beat the previous record of 13. The prior record holder was another British geek who legally changed his name to “Captain Fantastic Faster Than Superman Spiderman Batman Wolverine Hulk and the Flash Combined.”

Borbridge, in one of the most “duh” statements of all time, told the Coventry Telegraph, “Our families were shocked and thought that we were crazy.”

Would-be record breakers take note: a 17-word name is all it will take to blow these two out of the water.

Now you can just click on that link and get started on your lessons.  This could be the end of my post.  Then again, I don’t think I can just sit here and not say anything.  Now, don’t get me wrong – I could very well be one of the last ones to go all gung ho about feminism/sexism – but there is something about the “lessons” that didn’t quite seem right to me.

Let’s summarize the points:

1. Learn the language.
2. Hang out where the geeks hang out.
3. Ask questions.
4. If you don’t love the gadgets, love the content.
5. Ignore his clothes.

Lady geeks – aren’t your eyebrows just going through the roof right now?  Now our male FG readers are either snorting or rolling their eyes in derision – that, or they might not even be reading this anymore.  I know Leslie’s probably geekier than most women in my circle.  She’s the corporate VP of Product Marketing at AMD after all, but did these points really work for her?  Am I missing something here?  I am seriously at a loss.

I shall leave you with what’s been on repeat in my head for the last hour (since I read the post): why do you need to get a geek in the first place? And, if you have a justified answer for that, why would you go through all the trouble of pretending (which is what this seems like to me)?

Can anyone help me make sense of this?  Otherwise, I’ll stick to my original thought: this is one big fail.  (Then again, I just might have missed the sarcasm that could be all over the place.)

You know how some people have bucket lists? Well, I’d like to call this the Geek Frak List – things that I will not do again in relation to gadgets, toys, and other geeky stuff.  I have been sitting here for hours thinking about items to put on the list (not continuously, of course), and here is what I have come up with. It’s not as long as I would like it to be, but this should do for now.

Settle for the next best thing when it comes to gadgets.

I have absolutely no EQ when it comes to buying “toys.” For some reason, though, there are times when I would hold back and not get what I want because it’s too expensive. The classic example is the iPhone. Ever since that came many years ago, I have wanted one. Each time I would have a chance to buy it, I’d end up buying some other phone that “works just as well.” Several years – and many gadgets – later, I am still lusting after the iPhone.

Torture yourself by visiting stores to play with toys that you have no way of buying then and there.

Reading that sentence again, I realize that I will probably struggle with this item over and over again. How many times have you experienced agonizingly yearning for something that you’ve actually held and played with, only to have to wait till you have enough money to purchase it? (I’m sure I’ll forget the torturous moments as soon as I pass by the Apple Store again.)

Avoid watching a TV series (or movie even) just because you adore the book and are afraid of having it ruined for you.

Or the other way around, actually. This is exactly what happened to me with The Legend of the Seeker. I think I had only gotten to Book 2 of The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind when I gave up. It just didn’t suit me, and that’s why I avoided watching the TV series for the longest time. When I finally got bored and had nothing else to watch, I ended up trying out The Legend of the Seeker. Let’s just say I spent a couple of sleepless nights finishing it.

Go out (during rainy season) with your netbook – without an umbrella.

No matter how sturdy and waterproof your case may be, all that rain will get to your gadget soon enough. I hate umbrellas, but I have learned my lesson. If I have to go out, I’ll leave my laptop at home and feel lost for a couple of hours.

Argue with hardcore geeks while intoxicated.

If you like avoiding confrontations and arguments, then this should definitely be on your list. Try it one time and you’ll know what I mean. (Unless you’re THE geek who likes shooting everyone down.)

What’s on your Frak List?

It seems that countless other people have found a better use for Venn diagrams – to make your work day more bearable. Take that diagram up there (via Next Round). It’s been making the rounds for some time now and I am not certain that it’s accurate, but it sure will take your mind off whatever’s bothering you! At the very least, you’ll be assessing your social aptitude (or ineptitude), obsessive tendencies, and intelligence. And, if you take any of that stuff seriously, then you really do deserve to be called one of those labels!

Here’s one from Despairwear.  You can actually get a shirt with this design if you feel like it.
I don’t use MySpace all that much – except to check out new music – so I don’t get why it excludes stalking.  And, do stalkers really use Twitter that much?

No one can deny that Scarlett Johansson is hot. This Venn diagram sums it all up.

So that men won’t feel left out (as subjects of these diagrams), here’s one of Vin Diesel.
I have to strongly disagree with the tag “shitty movies” though. Yeah, his movies may not be Oscar-worthy, but they are not all shitty! How can that specimen ever produce anything shitty? Tell me! (Could use some support here.)

Are Venn diagrams useful or what?  My math professor in university would be raising his bushy eyebrows if he were to read this…

The Chinese geeks were what came to mind when I found out about a group of four young men from Fudan University; and unlike the characters in the TV series, these guys are for real. Wang Xinyu, Xu Jian, Zhang Kan, and Lu Yuanda have become celebrities in their country and have even been dubbed as the “Chinese Big Bang Theory” guys.

I am not surprised in the least bit. Someone was bound to do a Big Bang Theory thing one of these days…

They started out making videos of themselves giving “lectures,” called Room 5023 Lectures. Obviously, that’s the number of their room at the dormitory. Their room is typical of what you’d expect from four young men living together in school – messy, cramped, and cluttered. There’s something special about it, though – everything can be controlled remotely. In a dorm where there is no cable TV access, these men somehow have their own cable TV (thanks to a computer they configured). They also have all sorts of inventions lying around.

So what has made them famous (in China, at least)? I watched some of their video series on their web site i5023, and I have to admit I didn’t understand a thing despite the translation that Google Chrome offered me. It seems that they are having a lot of fun, though, and I actually found myself chuckling every now and then even if I didn’t understand a word they were saying. They’re definitely not Sheldon and Leonard, though!

I would really love to understand their videos. Anyone here speak/understand Chinese???

Geek The Library Week is basically an awareness campaign that aims to promote the local library. While there are people who totally get how important libraries are in education and self development, not everyone really gets involved. Indeed, in this age of instant information (via various media), hardly anyone ever goes to the library on a regular basis. Local libraries are in serious need of funding and might even be in danger of “extinction.”

The driving force behind the campaign is the famous couple Bill and Melinda Gates. Their foundation has partnered up with the OCLC as well as Leo Burnett USA. The former is a non-profit consortium of libraries while the latter is a marketing agency. With these kinds of players in the game, I have high hopes for the campaign.

So how can you get involved in geeking the library? The campaign is basically an awareness program and a chance for YOU and ME to show our support to the library. Whatever you do, it doesn’t have to be a big thing. Visit their web site at Geek The Library to find out various ways by which you can participate. When you visit the site, start by answering the questions in the pop up box. It won’t take you a minute, and you just might make a difference!

Let’s get our geeks on and support local libraries!

Here’s the top 10 list:

1. Has facial stubble
2. Is a bit geeky
3. Has a hairy chest
4. Avid book reader
5. Cries at soppy film
6. Sings along to a song while dancing to it
7. Grey hair
8. Sweaty after workout
9. Wears glasses
10. Has a passion for sports

Now why am I NOT surprised to see the work geek high up on the list? Come on, everyone knows that a little geek (or more than a little geek) is just irresistible, right? Think about Chuck (as in Chuck the guy from Buy More who is a secret agent spy). Think about Dr. Sheldon Cooper. That guy in Numbers. Why do you think the bigwigs in Hollywood are suddenly coming up with shows that feature guys with more brain power than muscle growth?

On the flipside of the coin, I am wondering what the secret list for guys would be. I am pretty sure facial stubble will NOT make it! I think there’s a fair chance that geeky would also be high up in that list. Guys, what say you? Anyone care to come up with his own list?

Here goes…

1. Finally get myself an Apple iPhone for my birthday. I have been wanting one since it came out. I am so proud of myself for exercising an immense amount of self-control, but I fear I cannot wait any longer. I have three months – let’s see if I can give in and indulge myself this one little purchase in the first quarter of 2010.
2. Organize my files better. I am a hoarder, a packrat – whatever you want to call it, it’s BAD. I have files from 15 years ago, and I can’t make myself get rid of them even though I don’t even open them at all. My documents, photos, music, etc. are all over my hard disk. I can’t seem to finish putting them in order. I vow to start doing this in January. Oops – it’s January 4! Better get started…
3. Pay my bills on time. I am enrolled in all sorts of online banking and bill payment systems. That’s supposed to make things easier, right? Unfortunately, I still keep getting distracted with all the other fun things you can do online, and I end up paying some – alright, a LOT – of my bills late. This year, I will make use of the tools that I have and be a good consumer.

I think I have more I can put on this list, but these three things I am pretty sure I can achieve. Care to share your geek’s resolutions?

Photo courtesy of www.zazzle.com

I actually found the article to be very informative and funny at the same time. A professor from Bennington College takes on a slightly different view, though. David Anderegg, a professor of psychology says that instead of trying to reinvent “geek” into “cool geek,” we should just stop using the term altogether. He likened the terms to racial slurs that are more damaging than one might think.

Damon Darlin wrote a blog post on this, as he got in touch with the professor. I like what he said about the labels changing meaning depending on the context. That’s exactly how language is anyway – it evolves over time! His example:

I noted that in Manhattan’s elite high schools being called a “cool nerd” is a compliment these days — denoting someone with intellectual and academic chops, unself-consciously so, and other interests as well.

I don’t even need to go far for more examples. At the office, people tend to call techies “geeks” in a fond manner. And no one is offended! I am sure that you have similar examples in mind right now. I don’t really see the problem in “cool-ifying” these terms, do you?

Photo courtesy of http://geeks.pirillo.com/

Don’t get me wrong – I still am a HUGE fan of The Big Bang Theory (no one can come close to Sheldon Cooper) – but Glee is a different kind of show for a different kind of geek altogether. Last week, they showed the season finale, and while it was a bit disappointing compared to other episodes, it was still fun to watch.

Glee is about this mixed group of high schools students who find themselves – for one reason or another – in the glee club. Headed by Mr. Schuester, a geeky guy himself, the club meets all sorts of adversities along the way. What really gets the attention of viewers, in my opinion, is the music. You just can’t help but be entranced while these “kids” sing their hearts out.

To be honest, the plot just seems to be half-baked. There are too many stereotypes and the combination of characters has a “trying hard” effect. If you overlook these things, though, and just enjoy the music and try not to be critical, Glee can make you forget about the crappy stuff that you have to deal with on a daily basis.

The verdict? You’ll be filled with glee – at least temporarily. You have to at least give it a try!

I actually got the idea from Matt Blum over at Geek Dad, who came up with a list of 10 Geeky Things To Be Thankful For. It inspired me to create my own list – albeit a shorter one, with a couple of items similar to his. Here goes.

1. Online shopping. It’s not just for geeks, but those of us who love to buy gadgets and other geeky stuff (TOYS!) can do so without having to leave the comforts of home. We can find practically anything and everything that we want at a few clicks of the mouse.

2. Easy access to the Internet. Connectivity is the word. I still remember having to go to Internet shops about 10 years ago. Slow connections, sucky computers – that’s what we had to put up with. Today, I can go online anywhere and everywhere, thanks to wireless networks!

3. Gadgets are so much cheaper. I have always been a sucker for electronics, but I never thought that I would be able to afford a lot of things that I have now. From gigantic (storage space wise) hard drives to mp3 players to cameras – practically anyone can afford any gadget these days.

What’s on your geeky Thanksgiving list?

The brainchild of Milo Yiannopoulos, this calendar showcases the IT pioneers of London. There are 24 of them, all stripped down to their skins. Of course, laptops and cables have been strategically situated in order to cover up some areas – leaving things to the viewer’s imagination. Yiannopolous says that, with the release of the calendar, he aims to debunk the popular misconception that geeks are unattractive people. (I say preach it Milo!)

He also aims to help a specific charitable organization in India, called Take Heart India. This group provides funding for training in IT and business for disabled people in the said country. While it started out as a joke, the idea bloomed into reality, and Yiannopolous is now aiming to sell 5,000 (at least) copies of the calendar.

The calendar comes at a very affordable ₤10 at Firebox. I was going to buy a dragon calendar (maybe for another post) but perhaps I should get this one as well. You can never have enough calendars anyway, right?

Photo courtesy of The Telegraph

Anyhow, so what else do I have to say about the show that I need to write a second post about it? For fellow Big Bang Theory lovers, you know that Penny (the hot blonde chick who lives across the hall and who has become one of the guys somehow) and Leonard (the geeky physicist who lives with the geekiest guy in the world, Sheldon) have hooked up. It happened right after the geeks came back from a 3-month expedition on the North Pole, courtesy of a study of Sheldon’s. I guess the separation made them (or Penny, rather) realize that there is something going on between the couple.

This brings me to my question: would anything like this actually happen in real life? Come on, while we have to admit that being a geek these days has become a rather cool thing, it’s still the hunky looking guys that gets the girls at the bar. If you don’t believe that, try going out tonight and hitting on some girls. (I am assuming you’re one of us.)

The Penny-Leonard thing is definitely one of the interesting plot points in the show, but I just can’t help but wonder if the writers are making a mistake on this. What do you guys say?

While selecting these cars it was imperative for us that we chose only modified cars, so no Eleanor (Shelby GT500).

Gadgetmobile

The Gadgetmobile is based on a 1964 Lincoln Continental Convertible and designed by Brenda Bradford. The Gadgetmobile can speak, track Inspector Gadget’s location, camouflage itself and move its tires upwards, among other things and thinks its stands above the laws (and does not need to respect speed limits).

American Graffiti Hot Rod

Millner’s yellow hot rod in American Graffiti is a ’34 Ford Coupe, carrying custom “THX 138″ license plates, which refer to THX 1138, George Lucas’ first movie.

Fab1 Thunderbird

The Fab1 in the 2004 Thunderbirds movie was a heavily modified Ford THunderbird and provided by the company itself. The Thunderbird on 6 wheels is completely road legal and has been featured in Top Gear. The car has bullet-proof, run-flat tires but ca not fly.

Minority Report Lexus 2054

The Lexus 2054 in Minority Report is a concept car running on fuel cells, with advanced safety features, including biometric security systems.
The car, painted in blue this time, also features in Micael Bay’s The Island.

I, Robot Audi RSQ

Built on the chassis of an A4 this Audi concept car, designed for product placement has 2 reverse butterfly doors and the Multi Media Interface (MMI) driver-to-car control system.
This collaboration was a first for Audi and similar to the previously mentioned Lexus concept car in Minority Report.

Judge Dredd Land Rover

22 Land Rovers 101 Forward Control were converted with fiberglass bodies for the movie Judge Dredd and only one had a functional interior for inside shots. The NY Cab is not road legal and had no floors. To see out the windshield you had to tilt your head to one side or the other and lean forward, this basically requiring a second person on board to look out for traffic.

Star Wars Land Speeder

Luke Skywalker’s Land Speeder actually was a modified car. Numerous problems hiding the wheels were encountered. Easiest was to photograph the car from angles not showing the wheels. In longer scenes the Land Speeder had a reflecting skirt, mirroring the sand beneath.

Blade Runner Spinner

Sinners have been used in several movies (See also The Fifth Element Taxi further in the list). Main characteristic is that the cars can take off vertically. In Blade Runner the Spinners are mainly used by the police to patrol the city. The Blade Runner spinner has been designed by Syd Mead.

Tumbler Batmobile

When Warner Bros decided to reboot the Batman franchise with Christopher Nolan at the helmet, the Batmobile was reinvented. Contrarily to previous Batmobile, the Tumbler was made around functionality. Instead of being one beautiful car with many gadgets, now it was a practical vehicle with rather ugly looks.

1990 Batmobile

When Batman made his first box office appearance on the widescreen, he needed a new car. Much meaner and darker than the 1954 Lincoln Ventura used in the TV series. Gotham was darker and so was the car.

The Batmobile in “Batman” (1990) was built on the longer platform of a Chevrolet Caprice, while producer Tim Burton opted for the platform of a Buick Riviera for “Batman Returns” (1992). The exterior of both Batmobiles was similar and all built-in gadgets were functional.

DeLorean Back to the Future

Who had ever thought that a car, based on a failure like the DLorean, could have become this iconic?
Although based on a fairly vanilla DeLorean, the BTTF car was a genuine flux-capacitor powered time machine. No one would have imagined the DeLorean could reach the needed 88mph to activate the time machine, but it really did (in the movies at least).

Lotus Esprit James Bond The Spy Who Loved Me

James Bond’s Lotus Esprit is probably the most understated Bond car but came with lots of special features: rear firing mud sprayers, full ‘underwater’ kit turning the car into a fully operative submarine, surface-to-air missiles, depth charges, underwater smoke screens and torpedoes. A Bond car as you’ld expect them.

Ecto-1 Ghostbusters (1959 Cadillac Ambulance)

The original Ecto 1 recently was listed on Ebay but with $45.100 the reserve was not met.

Motor Blade

Kaneda’s Bike – Akira

From the poplaur Akira movie, not much is known about Kaneda’s bike. Only very little information about the build and construction/design has been released. There is a big Japanese subculture, building replicas. You can often buy a customized replica.

The Fifth Element Taxi

The cab in The Fifth Element is a spinner car as well. All cars in this movie are spinners and there are very interesting trivia about the car designs and their decorations in the movie.

Speed Racer Mach 5

Speed Racer Mach 5 featured the same original button steering wheel as the car in the anime series. Most of time the car was hung from a crane and effects were computer generated.

Herbie

Although only a slightly modified VW Beetle, Herbie has managed to win the hearts of many kids and adults over the years.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Paragon Panther)

Bumblebee Transformers (1977/2009 Chevrolet Camaro)

Contrarily to in the series, Bumblebee is a Chevrolet Camaro in the 2007 feature Transformers and not a VW Beetle. According to Michael Bay, producer, Bumblebee stands at 17 foot tall as Autobot.

Honorable mentions

• Mini Cooper S – The Italian Job 2003
• KITT
• Doc Hudson – Cars (1951 Hudson Hornet)
• 14K’s 1980 Porsche 911 in Death Race

Space Robin

For the true-blue and hardcore geek no other country in the world would be the destination for a pilgrimage more than Japan and when in Japan, the geek will naturally gravitate towards Akihabara, like a pigeon sensing magnetic north.

Akihabara is the flashiest district in Tokyo and covers practically everything the geek will have any interest in. Akihabara is considered the technological district of Tokyo and with good reason. It is located in the eastern part of Tokyo and just a two stops away from the northern section of the main Tokyo Station. For the uninitiated, Akihabara is commonly known as Electric Town — a throwback from its earlier reputation as the center of electronics and home appliance retailers. But even though the area is littered with a wide range of shops that offer all of the gadgets and electronics you can think of, it has also acquired a new, much deserved, reputation as the place where geeks can go see the things that interest them.

Name the geek pursuit and Akihabara will most probably have it. What makes Akihabara a geek paradise is that it actually caters to all the kinds of geeks out there. Oh yes, there are many types of geeks and they have different pursuits, passions and obsessions.

One of the most common type of geeks are the gadget freaks that absolutely must have the latest and greatest gadget out there. Akihabara is the perfect place for these geeks because it enjoys a “pioneer” reputation for getting technologies and gadgetry fads way before it becomes popular or even hits the rest of the world. You will often see gadgets and electronic equipment there that will only catch the world’s attention after a few years. Just the thought of getting a gadget before everyone else boosts your bragging rights and makes you the ubergeek of your neighborhood.

Anime and manga geeks will also find their Shangri-la in Akihabara. The Tokyo Anime Fair is held near the area and there are many merchandising shops in the district that sell anime stuff — from OAVs, plush toys, replica weapons and action figures. Beware though, the hentai anime figures are also quite ubiquitous in the area so be vigilant if you’re going to visit with youngsters.

Of course, for geeks from the West, Akihabara has become synonymous with a particular geek pursuit — gaming. Electric Town is where you can find shops that sell all manner of gaming consoles (you can even get lucky and find the discontinued console you’ve been looking for). You’ll also find a dizzying array of games for sale for absolutely all kinds of platforms. Even games from discontinued platforms (even those that’s more than a decade old) will usually be available there. And the most insane thing is that they’re housed in huge places. You’ll find stocks in stores that are contained in several floors. All manner of games are represented in Akihabara. You’ll be amazed at the sheer number of games that have been developed in Japan that never got to see the light of day in the West — from RPGs to shooters to hentai type sex games.

Geeks that love music and movies will also find many interesting places to visit and shop in at Akihabara. Shops that sell second hand and brand new CDs and DVDs proliferate around the area. For non-music loving geeks here’s an interesting piece of information — Japan-pressed CDs have gained a reputation among audiophiles for having the best audio quality. Additionally, Japan-pressed albums usually contain additional tracks that are not usually available in CDs pressed in the US or the EU. These are the factors that make buying CDs in Japan a very interesting proposition.

Cinephiles will go nuts over the selection of Japanese movies that are the rage among movie lovers. From the wide array of horror movies to thought provoking dramas and in-your-face action — Japan offers films that are worth watching and collecting.

Akihabara is a wonderful place to explore. If you’re a geek there is just so many things to do and explore there that you’ll get lost in your own mind just looking at the dizzying array of products and things that cater to your every desire. But non geeks will love it too because Akihabara is the perfect reflection of what Japan is — a place steeped in history and culture that is not afraid to embrace the new. Go book hotels in Japan and don’t forget to visit Akihabara.

Neumont University is one of the best schools for computer science today. To back this statement with figures, the LA Times recently noted that 90% of graduates from the university have jobs within 3 months of graduation. More so, many of them land jobs with big companies like IBM and Microsoft. So what seems to be the problem?

The grads are “addicted” to their computers. Some have a different smell. The Escapist details these complaints:

The smell’s just part of a bigger problem. Companies that have recruited Neumont graduates have been pleased with their computer skills, but have complained that the students lack basic social skills and suffer from computer addiction.

And the fix?

To fix this Neumont’s administration is taking drastic measures by forcing students to shut down laptops in class, start social clubs, and take at least three classes in interpersonal communication before they can graduate.

I just find the whole issue hilarious. Leave them geeks be. If they wanted to socialize, they wouldn’t be who they are. If they wanted to start social clubs while attending college, they would probably have gone to another university.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
California is known for its sunny beaches but did you know that it is also home to the country’s main center for studies on Mars? For those of you who are into space travel and the Red Planet, then the JPL is the place to be. The tours are free (yes!) for anyone who wants to go on one.

Tsunami Research Facility
Head on over to the Oregon State University in Corvallis if you want to understand how a tsunami wreaks havoc. It is no laughing matter but if you have that yearning to learn how this powerful force of nature works, then the country’s largest wave basin is the place to visit. You can even take a look at real life experiments here.

Great Ape Trust
Where did human beings come from? Were we created by God or did we evolve from apes? No matter what your personal conviction may be, interacting with the world’s smartest apes is something that you just cannot pass up on! Go to Des Moines, Iowa and visit the 13 apes living in a 230-acre preserve. This tour is not for free – you have to be a member of the Trust and shell out $50 for individuals or $100 for families. Not a bad price for the experience, I think.

What is your idea of a great geek vacation?

Here are some of the best ideas on where and how to get your geek gear for dirt cheap.

Clearance sales and refurbished sales
Clearance sales – everyone knows that they can yield the best deals ever. Way back when Circuit City was still my premier choice, their clearance sales were a must for me. Today, you can still find all sorts of clearance sales at various stores, both online and offline. Mind you, these sales can give you the power to buy some of the most expensive brands out there.

How about refurbished units? You mean geeks use them? Heck yeah! Refurbished does not necessarily mean bad. Many of these items are actually units which have never been used but have been returned. Naturally, manufacturers cannot sell them for brand new. Guess who can benefit? YOU!

Online stores
Seriously, these are some of the best places to look right now. There are countless stores online from which you can find the lowest prices there are. Just to point you in the right direction, start with these tried and tested sites: Woot, TigerDirect, CostCo, and Alien Ware. You will not regret paying them a visit every so often.

Where do YOU get your best deals for geek gear?

The first episode of the 8th season of Dancing With The Stars, The Woz paired up with professional dancer Karina Smirnoff. She was quoted as saying that she could “bring the sexy side out of any partner.” However, she also admitted to thinking that she and The Woz had tons of work to do when she first saw him try to dance.

As for the performance itself, the pair performed the cha cha to the tune of You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet. Indeed, I thought that it was not that bad, but hey, I am in NO position to make any judgments as I have two left feet as well. I did not think that he looked like a teletubbie dancing, though, as judge Bruno Tonioli remarked as soon as the performance was over.

I can’t help but wonder what possessed The Woz to do this but hey, geek that I am, I am going to support him. He is currently taking advantage of Twitter, Facebook, and technology in general to garner the support of geekdom. Geeks of the world, unite!

One, the first thing that I did when I was done checking in was to see the farthest that the WiFi signal would reach. Obviously, I figured it out pretty quickly as I am online now and posting, right?

Two, my Tweeter has been busy since I left early this morning for the airport. Sometimes I used my phone, sometimes I used my netbook. But from the airport to the ferry boat, I have been Tweeting the hours away.

Three, I actually found myself a nifty gadget, a USB modem that allows me to connect to the Internet wherever I may be, as long as there is a mobile phone signal. I got it because I know how WiFi availability is so unreliable outside the city and the prospect of having no Internet for a full work week was just too unpleasant.

Four, my camera has been used a lot - and it’s the just the first day! Now you may say that this is not unusual, right? I have to say, though, the main thought in my mind as I take pictures is how nice they would look in my blog….

Enough said. And I guess that’s what geeks do while on vacation. What do you do?

For Twitter fanatics, here is another great proposal by Sean Bonner to Tara Brown. Take a look at the screenshot to see for yourself. I don’t know about you guys but this is awfully cute, isn’t it?

Here’s another one on Twitter. The proposal:

The reply:

Ahuh – and who said that only men give proposals?

Last, but not the least, is the proposal to Kathleen Fent. This one took all of 15 minutes to get a yes, but get a yes it did!

And who said geeks were boring? Eat your words, people. These geeks have proven that proposing marriage the good old fashioned way doesn’t come close to what they can come up with with a little help from their friends (Twitter, Nintendo DS, and whatever other gadget or technology you prefer.)

140 Characters which have become a normal part of life for every geek now also are gathering really fast mainstream coverage and growing faster and faster non-stop.

Obviously I am speaking about Twitter. The Twitter leaderboard has undergone huge changes and tech-celebrities seem drop the rankings and it won’t last long anymore before the tech celebrities will end up where they belong on the Twitter scale of popularity: in oblivion.

I took a look at the geek _real_ celebrities using Twitter at this moment and why, if you should follow them. Obviously there are huge advantages at following an Oscar-winner. Believe me it makes much more fun to make fun of them than poking at blowhard like Scobleizer. ;)

So which geek celebrity uses Twitter today?

Geeks on Twitter

Stephen Fry · @stephenfry

It was obvious that we had to start with the British übernerd, owner of the 2nd Apple computer in Europe, loved by both techies and regular variety fans. Stephen is one of the biggest adepts of Twitter and uses it for everything from his daily walking exercise to announcement of his new man bag.
Stephen Fry’s followership has quintupled in less than 2 months and it seems that he soon will reach #1 and knock off the (then) electoral candidate campaign team of Barack Obama.

Money tweet: Tourette’s, you runty bastard. # (answering the question ‘if you were a patient on House, what disease/ailment/general unpleasantness would you prefer to have? DON’T SAY LUPUS!’)
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 3
Follow-worthy? Definitely. @stephenfry is a Twitter sitcom.

Jonathan Ross · @wossy

The British presentator and movie, Japan and comic geek has been on Twitter since little more than 2 months and is about to break the mark of 100.000 followers. Wossy’s tweetstream is mainly dominated by responses to followers and in the early days he was everyone’s help to find other British celebs on Twitter.
Money-Tweet: Must go to give wife support and make concerned and caring sounds while we try to get her ‘puter fixed. Bye. #
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 11
Follow-worthy? No, too much of twoise.

John Cleese · @JohnCleese

John Cleese needs very little intro and if you don’t know him, what are you doing reading here? John Cleese is a real gadget geek btw.
Money-Tweet: some people spout complete twaddle. they could be spouting incomplete twaddle and leaving the remaining twaddle for us. thoughtless! #
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 23
Follow-worthy? Obviously. Although his tweets often contain links, it’s John Cleese FTW! And don’t forget the Twitter Movie.

MCHammer · @MCHammer

Every geek mid-thirties will probably remember the Hammer (those who don’t know the Hammer, listen to U Can’t Touch This at last.fm). MC Hammer now also is an investor in a ‘Web2.0′ company DanceJam.
Money-Tweet: Next Life, I roam the Cosmos as an “Invincible” enforcing the statutes of God on the “dark invisible” and traversing upon a melody #
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 25
Follow-worthy? Depends. If you’re a fan of the Hammer or DanceJam addict yes. Otherwise not really.

Shaquille O’Neal · @THE_REAL_SHAQ

One could argue whether the Shaq a geek is or not, but his followers know that he is a real nerd! A nerd of txt speak!
Shaquille uses Twitter ,ainly from his phone and enhances a fun dialogue with his followers. He also asks them for advice.
Money-Tweet: Some rumors are planted for a reaction, i dnt react, i act , have u seen kazaam, i kno terrible, lol #
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 28
Follow-worthy? Absolutely. The Shaq is too funny not to follow. here’s another money-Tweet: ‘Ok i admit it i at performance enhancing frosted flakes 2 yrs ago, lol’#.

Dave Matthews · @DaveJMatthews

Another music nerd in our list is Dave Matthews from, yes the Dave Matthews Band. With more than 10 tweets/day on average Dave Matthews certainly is one of the more active celebrities on Twitter, even though the majority of these are answers to his followers.
Money-Tweet: it is great to be recognized. I would be lying if I said getting a Grammy didn’t feel good. But the best is so subjective. #
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 38
Follow-worthy? A must for fans otherwise too much twoise.

Ashton Kutcher · @aplusk

The reason why Ashton Kutcher made our list is because he majored in biochemical engineering. Ashton often has cosy chitterpatter sessions with Demi Moore (@mrskutcher) on Twitter. Sometimes he even surprises with the odd psychological statement.
Money-Tweet: is it odd that it’s illegal for people to urinate outdoors but not illegal for dogs? why do dogs get to have all the fun? #
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 48
Follow-worthy? Meh.

John Hodgman · @hodgman

Many will think who the frak is John Hodgman, but if I tell you ‘I’m a PC’ from then you all say ‘Aaahhh!’.
Hodgman is not only actor in the popular ‘Get a Mac’ ads from Apple but also a genuine BSG nerd (He appeared in last night;’s episode ‘No Exit’ – Oops it has not aired in the UK yet :S) and has written many satire and appeared several times on TV. He also is the starter/creator of the internet hobo meme.

Money-Tweet: Silver said in 4 words what some people are currently taking 18 minutes of flash powerpoint to say: The predictable is designable. #
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 65
Follow-worthy? If you’re a Mac-head it is obligatory to follow @hodgman.

Sheldon Cooper, PhD · @sheldoncooper

Sheldon Cooper, PhD is *THE* Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon is an übernerd and if you understand all his jokes, you are reading the correct site.
Sheldon is on Twitter exactly as he is in the series: snarky, sarcastic and ad rem.
Money-Tweet: I will NOT join you on Blip.fm and it is NOT like Twitter for music. #
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 2306
Follow-worthy? Following @sheldoncooper is a must!.

Agent M · @Agent_M

Agent M is a Marvel writer, editor and blogger. His Twitter popularity has shown tenfold growth over the last month, also helped by a give-away of Marvel items some weeks ago.
Agent M is a very active Tweep with on many days more than 100 tweets.
Money-Tweet: Caught up on the Office…and wine…and now very sleepy. Time to pass out. #
Twitterholic rank on 02/15/2008: 49
Follow-worthy? Following Agent M would be compulsory for every geek if it weren’t for the incredible twoise Agent M creates.

Honorable Mentions

• @michael_phelps: Swim and pott nerd;
• @algore: he of ‘I have invented the internet’ fame and user of 3 30″ Mac screens on his desk. Co-owner of Current.com;
• @freddurst: Another music nerd. Leader of Limp Bizkit.

Obviously you should also follow Forever Geek on Twitter. :)

1. Magic is just stuff science hasn’t made boring yet

2. Get Real, Be Rational

3. I am not a geek

4. There goes the neighborhood

5. Shirt of Invisibility

6. Snailbot

7. 2600: A Video Game Odyssey

8. I’d Hit That T-shirt

9. I Am Away From My Computer Right Now

10. Firefox Logo T-shirt

Oh, and if you’re curious, I found all of these t-shirts using the geek t-shirts search over at Teenormous.

1. Your place or my Mom’s? #
2. If I ever got stuck time traveling you would always be my constant. #
3. baby, if this were a bar would SO [command+tab] over to you and [option+command+w] everyone else. #
4. All you need is a shell and baby, you can get access to my root #
5. hey want to rm -rf /some/frustration? #
6. I got my own big bang theory that I would like to teach you #
7. My heart gets +12 celerity whenever you come out of obfuscate… #
8. Wow I love your User Interface #

Read more pickup lines after the jump.

1. I want you… up against my Facebook wall. #
2. A search for you on launchpad.net turned up zero results because you’re perfect. #
3. we can reach each other better if you disable your firewall.#
4. Should I DM you in the morning or nudge you? #
5. If I said you had a beautiful would you let me verify your xml? #
6. Baby, I’ll make your buffer overflow. #
7. You’re the largest word in my tweet cloud. #
8. Your beauty has pwned my heart. #
9. Id like to play with your touch interface #
10. I haz multi-touch #
11. Hey… @hotdogsladies starred my tweet. You know… Merlin Mann. From You Look Nice Today. No? 43Folders.com? Fuck. #
12. I’m the droid you’re looking for. #
13. Hey baby, whats your favorite position?.. mine’s 90°/ -90° #
14. I was hoping you wouldn’t block my pop-up. #
15. I own a $20 million startup. Make that $2 million. Make that $2,000. #
16. I’d like to mixx myspace with your facebook and see what wiki get? Then fark your tweet twits. #
17. Why don’t you remove those resistors and let me discharge my capacitor into your ground loop. #
18. my seed ratio is 6.9 #
19. My user agreement is tattooed on my inner thigh. Push the button labeled ‘I agree’ and submit. #
20. I’ll you give you a laptop dance. #
21. You’re so much cuter than your avatar #
22. I don’t even need F5, you’re so fresh. #
23. Baby, you;re hotter than (CH3)2CHCH=CH(CH2) 4CONHCH2C6H3-4-(OH)-3-(OCH3) #
24. You’ve got +5 charisma and I’ve got +5 stamina, let’s assemble a horde. #
25. Would you like to be the denominator to my numerator? #
26. :10 get it on
    :20 sleep 5
    :30 goto 10 #
27. In bed, i last longer than a twitter meme. #
28. Do you mind if I qik your unboxing? #
29. If looks could kill, your face would be the Cylon attack on the 12 Colonies, except your face would kill the fleet, too. #
30. Come back to my place, I’ll mount your disk and fsck you all night long #

If you want to read more, just look the hashtag up.