Now a few more things to make you smile:
How would you like to have THIS in your room?
Steve Moseley made this for his son, and he even has instructions over at Instructables if you want to try making one of your own. So fun! (Thanks to allybobble on Twitter for the link.)
In the same "who cares if it's practical, this looks AWESOME" category, have you seen the Fluid Dress making the rounds lately?
Yay for eye candy!
Check out this quote from the article:
“Girls aren’t as interested as guys in fights,” Dan DiDio is quoted as saying. “They’re more interested in relationships, romances, emotional drama. We’re taking the focus off crime-fighting and putting it on the more everyday questions women face, like - how can you put on enough muscle to do your job but still fit into a size 10?”
Now some geek news that caught my eye: According to Longb'ox, DC is planning to release a special new comic "for girls only," called - get this - Capes and Cakes. The super heroine will be a baker by day, crime fighter by night!
(Image found on Zazzle)
(Image found on Zazzle)
Or...not.
Check out this quote from the article:
“Girls aren’t as interested as guys in fights,” Dan DiDio is quoted as saying. “They’re more interested in relationships, romances, emotional drama. We’re taking the focus off crime-fighting and putting it on the more everyday questions women face, like - how can you put on enough muscle to do your job but still fit into a size 10?”
Um. Yeeeeah. So it's more "baker by day, dieting drama queen by night?" Huh. I'll be very interested to see how my fellow geek girls weigh in on this one. No pun intended. (Well, maybe a little. And thanks to kmp_zxcv on Twitter for the link.)
And finally, I'll leave you with a five-foot-tall cardboard Epbot 'bot, made by Kelsey of Geekishly Apropos:
Just 'cuz.
(I'm diggin' the 3D flower and antenna.)
What's your cool thing today, guys? Share your links in the comments!
And finally, I'll leave you with a five-foot-tall cardboard Epbot 'bot, made by Kelsey of Geekishly Apropos:
Just 'cuz.(I'm diggin' the 3D flower and antenna.)
What's your cool thing today, guys? Share your links in the comments!
Well, I sent you an email on this, Jen, but I'll include it here since you asked for cool things in the comments. I discovered this cool thing last night.
ReplyDeleteI am reading a book by David Morrell (the author of First Blood, the story of Rambo) called Creepers. This book is about a group of people who go into an abandoned building to study it and take photos. They call themselves Infiltrators and sometimes Creepers. Their goal is not to take anything--it's just to document the building before it's torn down and leave nothing but footprints. I am only a few chapters in right now, and it's a horror novel so I think something scary is going to happen once they get in this building. So you might not want to actually read the book! :)
However, Morrell actually has researched this as there are people who really do this. Of course it's against the law because it is trespassing, but it's still being done. In fact, he used this website as part of his research: Infiltration.org There are some awesome photos on there as well as information about their newsletter, findings, resources for more information, stuff like that.
I had fun perusing it and enjoyed the cool pictures. Hope you enjoy it as well!
Okay, off to read about Katie!
~ Andrea
Very cool things, especially the update on Katie! My cool thing today is my Cricut Imagine projects; I'm loving all the crafty goodness I can get from technology. I'm leading off a blog hop starting tonight at http://savingmine.blogspot.com !
ReplyDeleteFor Dec 10, Star Wars Day, we shall put our hair up in Princess Leia buns; and talk like R2-D2 and C3PO.
ReplyDeleteThat marble run is soooooo cool for boys AND girls.
Regarding DC comic advisor that states that girls aren't interested in fighting for good, consider the following: Xena, Wonder Woman, Relic Hunter, and Super Girl to name a few.
wv topreb: women make the best Top Rebels!
I've spent the better part of the evening trying to convince my mom that she needs to knit me these TARDIS socks
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Dan Didio?? What an incredibly stupid thing to say. I read comics for many reasons, and I would much rather see an awesome fight scene than watch SuperCupcake worry about fitting into her jeans. Grrrr...it's attitudes like his that make me so stabby and frustrated with the comic book industry!
ReplyDeleteOh, my very cool thing for today has to be Supergran! http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/grandmas-superhero-therapy-18 A French photographer dressed his 91 grandma up as a superhero to help cheer her up, and then took a series of amazing photos. I can't stop smiling everytime I look at them. :)
Sherlock on PBS.org. It's a new series based on the Sherlock Holmes stories and set in the 20th century, so everything is modern. It was created by some of the writers from Dr.Who, so it's geeky and funny and smart and snarky. Free on PBS.org until Dec. 7th.
ReplyDeleteHIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!
Hmmmm. The Nightowl strikes and gets to be first for the very first time ever! Ahem, anyway, the liquid dress was tres cool except for the little bugs that appeared every so often. That was creepy. And the baker/superhero - not so much.
ReplyDelete~physicsmom
I don't have any specific links, but I wanted to tell you that your blog brightens my day and makes this geek heart happy. :)
ReplyDeleteMy cool thing of the day is almost always teefury.com They have a different awesome (usually read as dorky) t-shirt each day, and only sell it for 24 hours! There are lots of Star Wars, Dr. Who,and other pop culture references, so it's a fun way to add to a nerdy t-shirt collection.
ReplyDeleteCapes and Cakes sounds awful sexist. Is it so hard to write a comic with interesting characters that appeals to both sexes, rather than have some foolish "girls only" bs that only reinforces sterotypes? And I like fights!
ReplyDeleteThe "Capes and Cakes" thing is apparently a fake. THANK GOD,; now I can get back to being mad about other things.
ReplyDeleteUgh. Capes 'n' Cakes? REALLY? What DC really ought to do if they want women to read their books is hire good writers and put out more interesting books than the same old superhero dramas. Capes 'n' Cakes is NOT what I mean by that. Gag.
ReplyDeleteI totally got choked up watching that video. Good job, Girl Geeks (and all geeks everywhere) Things like this really restore my faith in humanity.
ReplyDelete333 ways to get kicked out of walmart
ReplyDeleteMy daughter picked her own backpack for kindergarten in 2005 and she choose an all black Darth Vader backpack. I'm glad to say no one brought it up as bad for a girl even once.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing the same things if we get fast food and they ask boy or girl, we see what the toys are and my girls can pick whichever one they want.
About the DC comic......Really so all women are interested in is dieting and drama, oh an of coarse cooking. Chauvinism is not dead it just moved to DC comics I guess! I dont know about other women/girls but I really am offended by that, and I am not one of those people who get up in arms about every little thing trust me. Thank you Jen for posting that so I can know what idiots the guys at DC really are!
ReplyDeleteThat story wanted to make me cry!! I'm so glad Katie has no fear anymore about her love for Star Wars. :)
ReplyDeleteI prefer my romance and emotional drama as an aside to the butt-kicking, myself. :P
ReplyDeleteUsing your presense on the Internet to help Katie is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThat baker-by-day thing has my blood boiling. As a little girl, I owned three pairs of superhero pajamas: Batman, Robin, and Superman. They even had little capes that velcroed to the shoulders. And I LOVED those pajamas. I'd still wear them, honestly, except that they're way to small. I use them as dog costumes instead, and let me tell you, a white spaniel in Superman PJs looks a LOT like Krypto.
ReplyDeleteI know more about superheros than most of the boys I know. I've had multiple arguments in my time, both with boys AND girls, about whether Superman is better than Batman or vice versa. I'm totally on Team Batman and I'm willing to throw down against any who disagree!
Romance is all well and good, don't get me wrong, but I HATE when it's the central plot. There's more to life than falling in love! And seriously, who doesn't like the idea of fighting crime? Why does this guy think Bones is so popular?
In other, more cheerful news, I plan to do my hair in Leia buns on December 10th. We'll see if it works out.
What does he mean girls don't like to fight? His whole comment/ summary of the book came across very condescending. Also, it reminds me of a story in my kids elementary school readers.
ReplyDeleteAww the Katie update made me cry (again).
ReplyDeleteI don't have a link yet but once I get my hour glass collection displayed properly I'm sending a pic.
Sadly I don't have a Star Wars shirt (I'm not much of a t-shirt wearer) but I'll put my hair in Leia buns and donate a toy.
To those of you attempting Leia buns: ladies, that hair-do defies physics. I have had very, very thick, butt-length hair in the past, and attempts were made, but I didn't have enough hair for it. Even with enough hairspray and hairpins to choke a horse, it falls out almost immediately. You could probably do it with extensions, though.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I read about Capes and Cakes the other day. I'm not a big comics reader (but I have read all of Cerebus the Aardvark). As far into super hero comics as I ever got were the very early years of X-Men, and my favourite comics are Watchmen, Sandman and Bone. There is no way that I'd even consider picking that up.
MY cool discovery of the week...
ReplyDeletehyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com
Will make you laugh till you cry, or pee yourself, fair warning. :-)
so, in exciting news, my mother made me buy the 10 crochet patterns for the adorable star wars figures, and I've now printed them and am bringing them home tonight for Thanksgiving. She wanted a project, so I can expect a few of them in my Christmas Stocking! More cute geeky stuff for my office direct from Epbot!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad Katie got such a big response...well done Jen!
Buuut I like fights... I just don't like gore. A fighting female superhero who doesn't splash blood and organs around would be just right.
ReplyDelete@Jeskalee
ReplyDeleteOMG WANT. I need my little sister to teach me how to knit so I can make those!!
The Katie update had me close to crying, and I don't cry easily! My cool thing of the day must be experimenting with pumpkin pie recipes. And researching a paper on volunteering at libraries. :) Can't wait for Dec. 10!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.harkavagrant.com/
ReplyDeleteAwesome literary cartoons.
my jell-o americans
ReplyDeleteIt's cooool.
oi, someone already said Hyperbole and a Half. LOVE her. Also, I checked out teefury.com, and it's a Star Wars shirt today! You girls are definitely my people. :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I WANT that marble run for serious. That had to have been a tremendous amount of work and I'm sure that little dude just loves it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, kudos to you and the other Epbot girls for stepping up to the plate and leaving such awesome notes for Katie. I thought it was great that you provided a place for that, since when I originally saw it, the ChicagoNow site had been overwhelmed.
Call me anal, but shouldn't it be baker by night and crime-fighter by day? Don't bakers work at night??
ReplyDeleteYah for the Katie update (and way to go Jen too for exponentially increasing the attention to the story). Thanks for linking the update.
ReplyDeleteMy cool thing...well, not just today, but it's our new wood fired cookstove. Okay, so not really technology geeky, but old school awesomeness! We're starting to play with learning how to regulate the oven temperature (it looks like hardwood will be key) and I'm hoping to do some Thanksgiving baking in and on the stove this week! I'm super excited (and not to mention, we've got tons of snow now too).
I'm all over 12/10 - though I'll limit myself to a Star Wars pen or something since I have to be at work. But, I'm definitely going to donate a few Star Wars toys. They have these awesome mini Lego sets at Target right now for a couple bucks. I think those will be PERFECT!
Okay, how cool is it that:
ReplyDeletea) the link for the fluid dress says "Charlie Bucket"...
and
b) the reality show "Who Wants to be a Superhero" had a hero named "Fat Momma" - Nell Wilson, 42-year-old online sales specialist, catchphrase "saving the world, one doughnut at a time." Her character's costume had Twinkies in her utility belt. 'Cause you never know when you're gonna need an emergency Twinkie. ;)
And by the way, I just love being a Geek Girl.
Carmen, the Un-Stalker
I read comic books. I like the action and the fights. And I find a well-written comic book includes more than enough emotional drama for me. A comic book about a girl baker worried about building up too much muscle to fit into a size ten? That just sounds like the same old sexist claptrap. I'll stick to Batman, thank you (with Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Oracle, Batgirl...)
ReplyDeleteHave you seen this? http://www.flickr.com/photos/thinkgeekmonkeys/3466103051/
ReplyDeleteNot mine but oh what fun.
My Birthday is December 10th, so yesterday, after weeks of deliberating whether I could afford it or not, I finally decided I deserve a present and bought myself the most awesome Boba Fett shirt I have ever seen! Now, thanks to you Jen, I learn that my birthday has now been announced as wear Star Wars Day. AWESOME!!
ReplyDeleteThis is the awesomest bank ever. ThinkGeek.com is my main source of awesome stuff.
ReplyDeleteJust had to throw in my two cents about the DC comics.
ReplyDeleteReally? REALLY? I mean, I'm not a huge fan of comics just because the medium bugs me (personal opinion), but I do like some of them. And I would like more of the "boy" comics if they just covered up the females a bit more (I really don't need to see most of a girl's boobs when I'm reading).
And I do agree with the sentiment that women, in general, like a good drama BUT that doesn't mean that it should be the ONLY thing in there. Someone mentioned Bones as being a great show. That's the perfect example of blending the drama/character based plots with the amazing crime fighting of the two main characters.
But don't these guys realize that there is a good general mix of character based plots and crime fighting action already there in the "boy" comics?
And yes, of course we should continue to spread the message that women should worry constantly about their size and appearance instead of being confident in what they look like and instead worrying about the one thing that truly matters - their health.
Ugh. So annoyed. I wish those kinds of people could meet my parents. My dad was the one bugging my mom to go see the latest romantic comedy, while my mom was the one begging to go see the latest blow 'em up movie.
Dear Jen,
ReplyDeleteBecause you did something so awesome for Katie, I wanted to do something awesome for you. So when I saw the InstantRoku give away today, I nominated you as something awesome from the internet this weekend, for the joy of Cakewrecks, and for your awesome boosting of the Katie signal. Hope you don't already have one. I assume the will contact you directly: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Instant-Roku/148788915138868
The update on Katie is so heart warming. It's a bit of good news in a world full of bad news.
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow Geek Girl, I salute you, and all the other Geek Girls out there.
PS: I recently was told that I was "one of the guys" I'm totally taking that as a compliment.
Um, who's to say that guys are not interested in cakes and weight management? It's rude to say this comic is only for girls. :)
ReplyDeleteoh i LOVE it when men like Dan tell me what women are interested.. Heaven's forbid i should forget my place and find my mind straying from a local sale or my big fat ass.
ReplyDeleteCause we all know comics are already so female positive..the way they ensure women figures make their mark by really owning the physical boundaries of a page..with their tits.
this was my happy making..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHfqlI52Q8k
As a huge comic nerd I have found that every comic that has been geared towards women has annoyed me. Just because I have boobs doesn't mean I only want to read about relationships, shopping & how to stay skinny.
ReplyDeleteI do love all the positive attention Katie is receiving. I have a 4yr old niece who loves Star Wars but won't own any of the toys, mugs, shirts, etc because she says they're for boys. Its nice that I can show her thats its ok to like Barbies & Star Wars.
That Katie is just adorable!!
ReplyDeleteMy very cool thing of the day: a "Gaslamp Fantasy" (That is, steampunk but heavy on fantasy) online comic by the name of Girl Genius. It makes a rather nice rebuttal of this infuriatingly sexist "Capes 'n' Cakes" thing. I would try to describe, but it would take too long. Suffice to say that it involves mad science, robots (called Clanks within the series), romance, a genius heroine that's CERTAINLY NOT afraid of a fight, an EPIC plotline, INCREDIBLE art... It makes my geeky heart go pitter-pat. The website is Girlgeniusonline.com. One would definitely want to begin at the beginning of the comic, though- the plot's complicated enough you'd be dreadfully lost otherwise.
ReplyDeleteOooh, add this to your Cool Things, a bronze pocket sextant - GORGEOUS!:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.scientificsonline.com/bronze-pocket-sextant.html
1) That dress has an i.v.!
ReplyDelete2) Dan Didio and Capes and Cakes: - Well, I'll say this, at least he didn't conceptualize the every day woman working to fit into a size 2.
I've been spending way too much time watching videos of flash mobs, which exist merely to sponateously make people's day. PLEASE tell me you've seen this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKB7zfopiUA
ReplyDeleteWe got Epic Mickey in today, Jen - it looks pretty awesome!
ReplyDeleteI've been playing a different game for the Xbox 360 called Fable III. The other Fable games were more medieval, but in this one they've been pushed up to an industrial revolution and there's a slight steampunk flair in some of the art.
While I will not completely judge that comic until I read it, I'm already biased towards disliking it based on that guy's comments. I would prefer a girl superhero who FIGHTS for justice and is happy she can't fit into a size 10 because she's all muscular and kickass. It would be great if people would stop perpetuating the idea that all women must fit into certain size clothes or they are ugly/fat/too muscular/whatever. Superheroes are all about inspiring courage and self-confidence and all that. A dieting heroine just pisses me off.
ReplyDeleteLook at how awesome you are, changing a little girl's life like that Jen! This is obviously something that's going to stick with her. Well done, and what a great way to use all that awesome influence of yours for such a terrific purpose! You rock.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to find the guy who suggested that comic first and punch him in the face. :I
ReplyDeleteOh wait I'm a girl I can't do that.
Back to the kitchen. [/sarcasm]
GRR. After hearing all this wonderful, inspiring awesome stuff about Katie and Geek Girls (although some parts were hard to see because of the tears in my eyes), the thought of seeing Miss Super Cake bat her eyelashes and through hissy fits over her stupid jeans makes my blood turn cold. What kind of sexist idiot is that DC guy?? I'm a girl and growing up I adored watching superheroes kick butt. Comics are already sexist enough, what with the abundance of enormous boobs, and we really don't need more female heroines with fluff and romance and their perfect body. I will use my super ninja-attack on anyone who says girls are wimpy like that. DC, you have been warned!
ReplyDeleteOn a completely different note, I think my cool thing of the day is Snapshot Mosaics, in Oakland, CA. It's this awesome store where they sell all this beautiful glass and they let you cut it and make your own mosaic project. I recently discovered it and became completely hooked. Plus, a ton of my friends who are girls go there and spend time cutting sharp objects. Take that, Super Wimp-Cake!
@ Kate - we have Fable 3 still in the plastic, waiting for the time when we have *enough* time to play it! John LOVED the first 2, and I've heard so many good things about #3 that I might just give it a spin, too!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first I've actually seen of the water bottle in question, and I must say that Katie's water bottle is really cool! Does anyone know where to get one?
ReplyDeleteI was at Target today and found Katie's exact water bottle. I couldn't resist buying myself one.
ReplyDeleteIf you want cooking, girls, and justice, skip D.C. and check out Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarret [Unpronouncable Last Name] (and I thought Scieszka was tough!)
ReplyDeleteShe serves justice... and lunch!
(P.S. My own Mighty Mite who is a Harry Potter, rather than Star Wars . I came back to print it out "my first 'net post!) but somehow it got eaten. Oh well.)
Steampunk R2D2 :)
ReplyDeleteCakes and Capes? Um, there are already plenty of chick comics written by WOMEN out there. We don't need no stinking man to write us a girlie comic! If I want girl comics, I'll keep up with Friends of Lulu.
ReplyDeleteStay Puft Caffeinated Gourmet Marshmallows!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
Wow, I couldn't watch the video of Katy you linked to. I was close to tears just reading the article.
ReplyDeleteI know bullying. I was bullied from year seven in secondary school, to when I finished school in Year 11. It culminated in two boys in my science class telling me repeatedly to kill myself, only months after my father had died. The entire class, including the teacher heard what they were saying and were fully aware of the situation. No one said anything.
I think if Katies story gets just one kid to think in class, and when someone is bullied, to stand up and say something, that it could change lives. I know it could have changed mine.
I LOVE that marble thing!!! That's just too awesome. I want one.
ReplyDeletemy boyfriend stumbled upon this and I thought of you :)
ReplyDeleteYour blog rocks my world as always, and I just wanted to say that the Katie interview had me bawling at the pure awesomeness...I only wish there had been an internet community to tell me when I was growing up that reading a lot, getting good grades and using big words didn't make me less than my classmates.
ReplyDeleteYou'll never guess what I saw at a black friday sale. A Star Wars lip balm shaped like a light saber that--get this--lights up! I had a tiny meltdown full of geek glee! I am definately doing the "Wear Star Wars, Share Star Wars". I love that idea! Special thanks to Katie!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad somebody recommended "Girl Genius" already. We LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteMy sweet 4 year old niece is a blond, blue eyed beauty, who looks like the angel on a Christmas tree. People keep giving her Disney Princess stuff, which really annoys her, since she spends her time being either: A Jedi Warrior, Indiana Jones or a Ninja Turtle (Rafael, actually)! I am so proud of her!
I am getting around to uploading my AWESOME "urban decay" pictures from the Mansfield Reformatory(the filming site of The Shawshank Redemption, and a really neat place all on it's own!). I hope I manage it soon. Sigh.
You're officially my favorite blog. EVER. Star Wars Katie to awesome marble thingy to liquid dress? My head is going to explode. I thank you for that ;)
ReplyDeleteHey Jen!
ReplyDeleteAny chance you could feature Etsy artists and others who have made Star Wars accessories that are professional workplace friendly? I work in a suit and tie environment but I'd still like to support "Wear Star Wars - Share Star Wars" Day.
Thanks!
About the "baker by day" comic strip: I am more offended than a nun at a strip club. Boo hiss.
ReplyDeleteMy cool thing for the day is this. I'm getting the plans for the Simplicity one.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say that I really enjoy your blog. I'm just starting to steampunk my spare bedroom - I love it as a decorating style, and you introduced me to it.
Thank you.
Oh, and another cool thing? Steampunk Mr Potato. I want to make one of those, too!
Williams and Sonoma has Star Wars cookie cutters, pancake molds, lunch boxes and cupcake decorating kits. Cool.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.williams-sonoma.com/search/results.html?activeTab=products&words=star+wars&cm_sp=OnsiteSearch-_-GlobalNav-_-Button
Thinking about Katie--my boy has had the same problem. When we went to McDonalds, he wanted the girl's toy because it came with a pet shop toy. And then, all excited, he went to show all his friends his new toy, and most of them told him it was a girl's toy and wouldn't even look at him. He was pretty near tears by the end.
ReplyDelete