Did I ever mention I designed my undergrad thesis on Science Fiction? All of the other kids would make fun of me, but at the end of the day, only one of us ended up with an awesome timeline chart of robots in pop culture since 1940. And that person was me.

My thesis broke down an academic text on the genre and made it accessible to people who normally wouldn’t think twice about sci-fi… like my parents and professors. I compiled a giant list of events in science and history that influenced the literature of the time, and then made a chart of all of the sci-fi publications starting in the 1700s. Pretty nerdy for a girl getting a BFA in Graphic Design… especially when some other people did their thesis on things like… fashion.

Anyway, I found this amazing graph on io9 on how sci-fi television has changed since 1970. For those of you who tripped and landed on this blog by accident, that’s pretty much everything after the original Star Trek series aired in the early 60s. It’s nothing short of chart porn, it’s done so well. Enjoy.

I’ll be honest. I’m not a fan of protesting. I know I should be. I’m young, I’m a minority, and I can be quite the angry liberal. I’m also lazy, and playing video games sure does beat holding a sign up, or signing petitions, or holding up a petition to sign.

However, Philadelphia’s B.A.N.G. (Ban All Nukes Generation) have managed to steal my attention away from video games (where I happily use missiles). Calling themselves the “Millennial Generation”, their mission is clear. To “ban all nuclear weapons, and do it in this generation.” Every aspect of their work is “based on this core mission.”

Some aspects of this work? Dressing up as nukes. Sexy nukes, I might add.

Check out their official website for more information on what they’re doing. They throw events, from classroom video conferences to their recent Summer Film Series, the guys and gals (hi Kim!) do some really great work. They even create YouTube vids. This one stars our own Bianca Cevoli as a Nuclear Bombshell. Did you see that? Did you see what they did there?

Read up.

Bang USA
www.bang-usa.org

Photo lovingly stolen from Technically Philly

McGillin’s is turning 150 soon, and to celebrate, they’ve invited a number of authors, all of whom have mentioned the famous pub in their works, to come back to Philadelphia for a special reading. One of these authors, has particular interest to us geeks. Duane Swierczynski.

So what’s the big deal about Duane? His latest work with Marvel comic’s The Punisher series brought Frank Castle’s escapades to our fine city. The late, great, Stephen Wells covered Duane’s story back in February. Read about it here on the Philly Weekly’s website.

Next Tuesday, August 25th, Duane visits Philly, and will be signing and reading his recently published paperback with fans. Awesome. In his comics, Duane created a historic tavern called the Interesting Times Pub, modeled after McGillin’s.

There’s no cover at the event, and pints of McGillin’s 1860 IPA are reduced to $2 for the party.

See you there, geeks!

McGillin’s
www.mcgillins.com

Just yesterday I had read Comic Book Resources article on Robert Kirkman‘s Comic-Con International panel where he was asked whether or not his zombie epic The Walking Dead, would ever become a film or tv series. While he confirmed there were talks about a tv show, nothing was concrete. Less than 24 hours later it’s been confirmed that AMC, who’s been on a roll with their original content such as Mad Men and Breaking Bad, have acquired the rights to make The Walking Dead a television series. I have read maybe half of the series at this point, but it’s easy to see that this is a great decision. The comic is well written, suspenseful, scary, and just all sorts of awesome. Plus it will be on cable, where all the best television lives!

In the Hitfix article,  AMC won out over NBC to make the series. NBC, for anyone not keeping track, is in bad shape at the moment. Besides 30 Rock and The Office, the network has been taking a beating in ratings and popularity. Sure Law Order is still gets viewers, but it’s Law and Order. They will always be around. They need more original hit shows. At the very least, one original hit show. While the Joel Mchale starring comedy Community, whose pilot can be watched by joining their facebook fanpage, has been getting good buzz, they definitely need a hit drama more than, say, five nights of Jay Leno at 10pm. Who knows, maybe their fortune will turn around.

Also worth noting is that Frank Darabont, director of “The Shawshank Redemption“, will write and direct the pilot. This means that maybe, just maybe, Morgan Freeman might narrate the story. Since this is all just happening, I doubt there will be anything to see until next year. Maybe a San Diego Comic-Con debut next July? Until then, catch up on The Walking Dead like I will. Either pick up the trades, or the ridiculous murder brick they released recently.

What do you guys think of this development? Good idea? Bad idea? Are you happy it’s not more vampires? Let us know.

Via Hitfix, Variety, CBR, and Entertainment Weekly

The voice of Professor Farnsworth saying “Good News, Everyone!” is now stuck in your head. You’re welcome.

I love Futurama. I own the entire series on DVD and I loved all four Futurama movies. In fact, I drove Tim crazy at the New York Comic Con earlier this year, insisting that we watch the world premiere of the fourth and final film. “But Eric, they’re giving away plasma TVs in the next room!” Didn’t care. I needed my dose of Bender.

I heard rumors about Futurama’s triumphant return, then heard rumors about the characters being re-cast. Now, it seems like everything is in order, and the show is set to return with 26 new episodes in 2010. Futurama is the… what, second show to be revamped by Fox after cancelation, due to the demand of the fans? We saw it happen with Family Guy. We’ve seen shows other Fox shows like Firefly become cult hits and find success in feature films.

So can we please bring back Arrested Development? PLEASE? A feature film is on the way, and it’s one of the most popular shows on Hulu. Come on guys.

Anyhow, expect a serious Geekadelphia party in 2010 in honor of the first new episode. I can’t wait.

Thanks to Crunchgear for the tip. Don’t worry, you guys will be invited.

Projection on Buildings from NuFormer Digital Media on Vimeo.

Photographer extraordinaire and all around awesome guy, Steve Weinik, sent this video over to me… and oh man, does it have my imagination reeling. 3D projection on buildings?! Awesome. From the video’s description…

Impressive and stylish projections on buildings, a renewing way of communicating. For those who want to carry out a message in a striking and visually attractive way with guaranteed exposure: 3D Projection on buildings is the communication tool of 2009, and what an impact!

NuFormer Digital Media develops high-skill 3D video mapping projections. These 3D projections will be custom-made to fit any specific building and will be exposed by a battery of powerful projectors.

Can’t you just picture this on some of the buildings down in Old City? Let’s get this here. Come on. It’ll be fun.

3D Production on Buildings
www.vimeo.com/4238052

If you swing by the Franklin Institute next Friday, July 31st, you can meet Avery Brooks, the man who played Benjamin Sisko, the African American captain on the Star Trek television show Deep Space Nine. You might also remember him from television shows like Spencer For Hire, or from movies like American History X. We prefer not to remember him from his performance in The Big Hit, however.

The event kicks off at 7PM in the Franklin Theater, with Samuel Delany, a professor from Temple University and a noted science fiction author, discussing race, sci-fi, and other themes with Brooks. Will they discuss what Star Trek captain has the best face to palm technique? Brooks’ is good, but I dunno… Patrick’s Stewart’s is legendary.

Admission to the event is $5. Bail money to get Dustin out of jail when he tries to charge the stage and hug Avery Brooks, is set at a significantly higher amount.

Avery Brooks @ The Franklin
Friday, July 31st @ 7PM
www.fi.edu

I don’t play World of Warcraft. I have no intention of playing it. Just not my cup of tea. However, if Sam Raimi is making a movie based on that franchise, I may go see it. Although Dan has pointed out the flaws of game to movie adaptations. The story first broke by Harry Knowles from Aintitcool last night. I’d expect more information to come out of Comic-Con. What is known is that Raimi will shoot WoW after Spider-Man 4 so we have a couple of years to go before we see anything.

I can’t wait to see how people react to this. Some people tend to get really emotional about their World of Warcraft.

Via Aintitcool

And now, an actually Gchat conversation with myself and Chris Wink of Technically Philly.

Me: You know, I hate when I find something that looks like a cool story… but I have no idea what it is!
Christopher: Like?
Me: Check this out. Look at that. I know I should write about it on Geek… but what is it, exactly?
Christopher: Oooooh.
Me: I know, right?
Christopher: That is your post!
Christopher: “I don’t know what this is… but how do I not post it?”
Me: Great idea!

I’ll be honest, dear readers. I really don’t understand art. This isn’t to say I don’t think it’s awesome. Because it is. Especially when our boys (and girls) in the Autumn Society are making it. And this piece of work, while I don’t fully grasp the concept behind it… is still seriously awesome.

Working with Philadelphia Fabric Workshop and Museum, artist Jean Sean used 22,528 recycled computer keycaps and 192 custom keycaps to create this unquestionably geeky sculpture. The keys spell out, line by line the email correspondence between the artist and fabricators regarding the creation of the piece. As a result, the sculpture documents its own making. Now THAT is awesome.

“The project speaks to the pervasiveness of email in our lives, while commenting on the fact that, despite the modern technology of virtual communication, our written language is linked to the tactile sensation of moving our fingers over an outmoded typewriter system.”

… neat!

Check out some more snaps of the piece here, and read up about the artist on the official website.

Sweet Keyboard Art
www.sweet-station.com/blog/?p=4938

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was one of those shows that I grew up on, even though it had a somewhat loose schedule on the Sci-Fi channel, or is it SyFy now? Anyway, after MST3K ended, the minds and voices behind everyone’s favorite hecklers moved on to RiffTrax. Where MST3K commented on some of the worst movies ever with personal favorites including The Final Scarifice,  Space Mutiny, and Merlin’s Shop of Mystical Wonders, RiffTrax isn’t confined to just bad movies. There is commentary on all types of films from The Bourne Series, Lord of The Rings, and even Twilight. Okay, it’s true that I only mentioned Twilight to link to that hilarious image.

On August 20th, RiffTrax will do a live simulcast in theaters all around the country. One of those theaters happens to be the Riverview Theater hear in Philly! The film to be graced with the commentary of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett will be Ed Wood‘s Plan 9 From Outer Space in color.  Tickets can be purchased here.

I will definitely be there and I hope to see a few of our readers there too. Maybe we could even have a group meetup if enough people are interested.  I can’t wait.

Image and Information via rifftrax.com

This is what the editor of Crunchgear looks like, when he descends upon Philadelphia

Our boys over at Crunchgear (hey guys!) have an awesome list up detailing their ultimate Geek weekend in Philadelphia. It’s a part of their new series, where they show off sweet places around the country… for geeks.

From sweet places to visit (Mutter Museum), places to shop (Brave New Worlds, yes!), and places to eat (Pod, National Mechanics, etc), they’ve got quite the impressive list up.

Peter, John, Doug… next time you cats are in town, beers are on us at National Mechanics. And yes, Peter, we’ll even get you one of those Beefeater martinis you like so much. Yeah, that’s right. I remember.

Go give the article a read.

Crunchgear’s Weekend in Philly
www.crunchgear.com/2009/07/10/geek-weekend-philadelphia-pa

In related news, women all over South Philadelphia let out a collective dreamy sigh heard all the way across the river in Camden, New Jersey.

Recently, Chris Wink and Technically Philly wrote up a pretty wild story, about how computers from the Philadelphia School District popped up in a massive e-waste landfill in Ghana. Give it a read, check out the videos. It’s intense.

As a result, Fox News gave the story some coverage, and there’s our boy, on television. Lookin’ good Chris. Lookin’ good.

Fox News: Philly Computers Wind Up in Africa
www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/070809_Philly_Computers_Wind_Up_In_Africa