On this month’s episode of the Geekadelphia Podcast Jo and Dan sit down with Chipocrite to discuss his journey into the 8 bit musical world. Chipocrite also shares some music with us, including an exclusive track premiering just for The Geekadelphia Podcast.

You can also right click and save as the file, here. Listen to it on the go, while you’re jogging, whatever. Enjoy!

Chipocrite:
www.chipocrite.com

8static:
www.8static.com

Cheap Dinosaurs:
www.filefreakout.com/cheapdinosaurs

How I Became Invisible:
www.HowIBecameInvisible.com

Follow Jo Pincushion @JoPincushion
Follow Dan Tabor @danthefan

Stem Cells, Photo via the Wagner Institute

Next Thursday, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is hosting a special lecture with Dr. John Gearhart, the Director of the Penn Institute for Regenerative Medicine. He’s giving a talk entitled Instructing Our Cells to Rebuild Our Bodies.

According to the Wagner, “Gearhart will discuss the evolution of stem cell research, the current status of the field of regenerative medicine and what lies ahead for clinical applications.” For more information on Gearhart and the talk, visit the Wagner’s official website.

As always, the event is free. Its called the Wagner Free Institute of Science for a reason, kids.

Wagner Free Institute of Science
1700 West Montgomery Ave (191210
(215) 763-6529
www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org

In connection with the awesome From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen exhibit, the National Constitution Center is hosting a special screening of The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town on Wednesday, March 14th.

In the 90 minute documentary, Emmy award winning filmmaker Thom Zimmy follows Bruce and the E Street Band through the entire process of making the album.

According to the NCC, the “documentary debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010 and combines rare archival footage of Springsteen and the E Street Band shot between 1976 and 1978, including home rehearsals and studio sessions, shots of young Springsteen and Steve Van Zandt at the piano, as well as interviews with Springsteen, band members, manager Jon Landau, former manager Mike Appel, and others closely involved in the making of the classic album.”

Tickets to the screening are $20… and while that might seem like a steep price, admission also includes access to the Springsteen exhibit. You can score tickets via the Constitution Center’s official website.

The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town @ the NCC
Wednesday, March 14th, 5pm

National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street (19106)
(215) 409-6600
www.constitutioncenter.org

Yesterday, Indy Hall’s Alex Hillman gave me the heads up that Brady Dale, who we know and love from his webcomic, is currently selling his massive collection of nearly 7,500 comic books.

And as you can see, there’s a video.

You’ve got to appreciate Dale’s organization and sorting skills, bordering on an almost High-Fidelity-esque obsessiveness that I seriously admire.

Head over to his website and scope out the details. And if you’re so inclined, buy his collection.

The other day, Jeff Lyons and his crew over at Used Wigs invited me to be a special guest on their hilarious podcast. The show recorded live upstairs at L’Etage in Queen Village, featured celebrated local artist Yis Goodwin, and was an absolute blast.

Topics range from New Orleans prostitutes to horrible weight loss tips, tertiary Star Wars characters to disbelief in penguins. I chatted about my famed Master Chief armor and gave away a few Quirk titles. All in all, a fabulous evening.

Give it a listen! And thanks for having me on guys!

Used Wigs Podcast: 93
www.usedwigs.com/podcast-93

The Pollinator’s Corridor, a self published graphic novel by Aaron Birk that was funded through Kickstarter back in December, is finally hitting publication. You might have heard about it when the Citypaper covered it and had this beautiful front page illustration. Now that it hit the press, Aaron wants you to come celebrate with him at Studio 34 this Saturday.

The graphic novel tells “the story of three friends in their attempt to connect watersheds, city parks, and forest fragments via the corridors of flowering plants, restoring biodiversity to the streets and awakening communities to the soil beneath their feet.” They have to convince bees and butterflies to cross the industrial wasteland and help save the environment.

You can scope out Aaron’s Kickstarter video here. It’s full of images from the book, and Aaron talks about the project far more eloquently than I.

Guests at the release party can look forward to shaking it up to Balkan, Bollywood, funk, soul, and hip hop all night long. Admission is free, and Aaron is selling copies of the graphic novel for $20.

Go support a talented local writer and artist. Congrats, Aaron!

The Pollinator’s Corridor Release Party
Saturday, March 3rd,, 7:30pm

Studio 34 Yoga
4522 Baltimore Ave
www.studio34yoga.com

Likes crepes? Drinks? Giveaways? Podcasts? Then stroll over to L’etage next week.

Our good friends Used Wigs are recording their annual live-podcast at L’etage, and have kindly asked Geekadelphia to be a special guest. I’ll hit the stage with celebrated local artist NoseGo, and chat about… well, whatever it is they want us to talk about. Video games, art, movies, generally geekery. Should be a good time.

Come on out! Oh and Jeff, I don’t wear the Master Chief suit to pick up bagels. Cheesesteaks only, please.

Used Wigs @ L’etage
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 – 8:00pm

L’etage
624 South 6th Street (19147)

The Geekadelphia crew have been going to Drink Philly First Fridays since they’ve been having them. The guys (and gal) at Drink Philly dish out delicious food and a lot of great beer, and pair them with local art, music, and wonderful people.

It’s been a long time coming, and this March, we’re teaming up with Drink Philly to help curate the art. We’ve already booked the music. Guests will enjoy the sweet chiptunes of local game music superstar Chipocrite.

Beverages for the evening will feature Spaten and Franziskaner from Germany and Staropramen from the Czech Republic. As always there’s no cover charge. The event runs from 5pm to 9pm on Friday, March 2nd.

To RSVP, subscribe to the Drink Philly newsletter here.

Now, are you artsy types interested in showcasing your geek-tastic art? We’re looking for any art that’s geek or technology themed to showcase at the Drink Philly office. Shoot us an email at geekadelphia@gmail.com to show off your work.

The Academy of Natural Sciences’ annual Paleopalooza festival returns this weekend, bringing two days of family-friendly, dinosaur-related festivities with it.

Guests can look forward to browsing through the Academy’s “world-renowned collections as well as displays from the Delaware Valley Paleontological Society. Visitors will meet Academy scientists and learn what it’s like to reconstruct the past using fossils, imagination, and sound science.”

Other festivities include hands-on activities, arts and crafts, tours, interactive presentations (including a live show with Dr. Scott Sampson, star of the hit PBS children’s series Dinosaur Train), and more.

Tickets are a mere $7.50. For more information and to pick up tickets, visit the Academy’s official website.

Paleopalooza @ the Academy
February 18th & 19th, 2012
www.ansp.org/paleopalooza/advanced-non-members.php

Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1009
www.ansp.org

I love the Indie Humble Bundles. When it comes to picking up games off Steam for my Netbook, those discount packages are my go-to for scoring discount titles. And hey, proceeds go towards charity. You get games, help out some kids, everybody wins.

Well, thanks to local entrepreneur JP Toto, I found out about the Game Music Bundle, which is currently on its second package… and features a Philly based game!

Right now you can score the epic orchestral soundtrack to Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony, an award winning title from Philadelphia’s Final Form Games. You can pay-what-you-want for five awesome soundtracks (including Sword & Sworcery!), or pay $10 and pick up ten more soundtracks. TEN.

Definitely check it out, and donate what you can. A portion of the revenue goes towards the American Cancer Society.

When I was asked to review this, I had never watched an episode of Merlin before. I had come to understand it was a pretty good show but had never actually bothered to watch it. But I figured “What the hell” and sat down to see if it was as enjoyable as I had heard.

After watching all 13 episodes of season 3, I can honestly say I’ll be looking into buying the first two seasons as soon as possible. Wow, this is a really great show.

Without giving too much away, Merlin is the story of the young wizard with a destiny doing everything in his power to make sure it comes to pass. Along the way he has to deal with a traitorous Morgana, King Uther, who feels anyone with magic should be dead and Prince Arthur Pendragon, who lives to make Merlin’s life more difficult. Along the way there is high adventure, romance and the occasional dragon.

What really impressed me about the series is how well written it is. The Arthurian Legend is not dumbed down for television as each episode’s story is deep and rich with plot. Plus the special effects are pretty damn good for a television show and the acting is not half bad.

The 13 episodes are spaced out over 4 DVDs (alas, no Blu-ray) and also includes a 5th disc of bonus features, including commentaries, outtakes, a “Making of” special and more. The picture is crisp and clean and the packaging, something a lot of companies are skimping on nowadays, looks great and holds up over time.

Merlin: The Complete Third Season is a great was to kill a weekend. I highly recommend it and know any fan of the Lord of the Rings or Skyrim will enjoy it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to see how much Amazon wants for Season One.

(via someecards)

Not a fan of Valentine’s Day? You aren’t alone. First Person Arts could live without it too, and they want you to share in their collective disapproval at next week’s storyslam.

The Ex-Files, an annual First Person Arts Valentine’s Day tradition, hits World Cafe Live on Tuesday, February 14th. Ten storytellers will take to the World Cafe stage to share their true tales of love lost. Ranging from “the sweet to the sad, the hilarious to the ridiculous, it’s an unconventional night out on the most romantic day of the year.”

This particular Storyslam sold out last year, so you may want to get your tickets ahead of time. They’re only $10 for non-members, $8 for members of First Person Arts.

For more information, visit First Person Arts’ official website.

First Person Arts StorySlam: The Ex-Files
Tuesday, February 14th, 7:30pm, $10

World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
www.worldcafelive.com