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Happy Geek Pride/Towel/Memorial Day

On May 25, 2020

Geeks everywhere salute those that paid the ultimate price for our freedom

Geek Pride Day (also known as Towel Day) is the closing bookend for this geek filled holiday month. This is the second biggest geek holiday in May. Geek Pride Day is the anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars film (A New Hope) and Towel Day (in honor of Douglas Adams, author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). However this day has become more meaningful than the coinciding of those two events.

An important reminder, that today is also Memorial Day and the celebration of Memorial Day should be paramount. After all, if it weren’t for those that made the ultimate sacrifice we wouldn’t have the freedom to express our “geekery”.

After remembering the fallen, this day can also be a reminder to all of us that we shouldn’t be ashamed of being a geek. If Stan Lee taught us anything its that we should be proud and embrace it. I know most of us were probably picked on in school. We were probably often labeled a geek or nerd because we were smarter than most. It was a moniker of shame, a negative connotation for those that were studious and socially inclined. But not anymore.

The meaning has changed.

Now geek is a moniker held in high esteem. In some way or another, we are all geeks about something. You could use geek interchangeably with enthusiast or expert. It doesn’t have to be Star Wars, or comic books, or video games. You could be a geek about cars, a fishing geek, sports geek, fitness geek. It isn’t just about intellectual pursuits anymore. It’s just about loving something that makes you happy.

So today we salute:

First and foremost, the fallen! (Many of them were geeks too)
The Star Wars fans
The Trekkies
The book worms
The comic book nerds
The computer geeks
The gamers
The whatever-your-hobby-is geeks
The whatever-interests-you geeks

Never be ashamed of your heart or your mind!

/MTFBWY

“When I was a kid, it was a huge insult to be a geek. Now it’s a point of pride in a weird way.” – J.J. Abrams

The Clone Wars Series Finale

By Biggs

On May 11, 2020

In Geek Culture, Star Wars

We finally got to see the end of Dave Filoni’s Star Wars masterpiece. We’ve been waiting since April of last year. Of course if you’ve seen Solo, read E.K. Johnston’s book or you’ve seen past the first season of Rebels, you know a little bit about how it ends. There are 12 episodes in the Clone Wars series finale (i.e. Season 7), broken up into three 4 episode story arcs.

In the first story arc we meet “The Bad Batch” which is a group of genetically mutated clones. A spin-off series of these guys would be fun to watch. Then we meet a pair of sisters that befriend Ahsoka as she helps them out of a nasty situation with the Pykes. Of course Ahsoka’s return is the most anticipated story arc.

Ahsoka Returns!

The ninth episode is when Ahsoka is reunited with the 332nd, her battalion of clone troopers. My favorite part of the final four episodes is that they coincide with the events of Revenge of the Sith (up to and including Order 66). I love how well Filoni merged the the episodes into the movie’s story, including voice reprisals by Samuel L. Jackson and Silas Carson. The final moments of episode twelve were amazing and heart wrenching.

You know the saying “Go Big or Go Home”, well Filoni definitely “went big” to cap off this amazing series. I love that he invited Ray Park back so they can use motion capture for the fight sequence between Maul and Ahsoka. This really adds an awesome level of commitment to properly finishing the series. In fact these last four episodes were among the best in the series, second only to the Mortis story arc.

Thank you to Dave Filoni and all the amazing voice actors that make this series so amazing.

/MTFBWY

The Force. It calls to you. Just let it in.

Happy Star Wars Day 2020

By Biggs

On May 4, 2020

In Geek Culture, Star Wars

Today is the biggest holiday of the month. I always wondered why the 25th wasn’t “Star Wars Day” since that is the anniversary of the release of A New Hope. However the clever and aptly named “May the 4th” is sufficient credence. I will begin my Star Wars re-watch of the 11 movies today (in chronological order). Also happening today is the epic conclusion of Dave Filoni’s Clone Wars series and the release of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, an eight episode documentary about the making of The Mandalorian (only available on Disney+). The year is off to a horrible start so Star Wars Day 2020 is the perfect opportunity to forget about it for a while.

Of Course There’s Merchandise

To be fair, the deals on all things Star Wars is what I look forward to the most on Star Wars Day. The Star Wars website already has a post of the available deals. Here are a few of the notable deals (some of which started a few days ago):

Best Buy – a percent is not mentioned, just a general sale on entertainment, toys and collectibles
Target – the new go-to spot for Star Wars merchandise. 20% off (except LEGO)
Her Universe – Ashley Eckstein’s (aka Ahsoka Tano) fashion line for girls. 30% off
GameStop – Up to 50% off merchandise including The Mandalorian Funko Pops!

The most disappointing “deal” this year is LEGO. They are not offering any sale on Star Wars LEGO items, instead they are giving away a Death Star II kit but you have to spend $75 in order to receive it. I’m also mildly disappointed, though not terribly surprised, that the Disney Store doesn’t have any specials.

If anyone spots other deals for Star Wars Day 2020 that are not listed in the StarWars.com post please feel free to leave a comment with a link to said deal. I’m especially interested in apparel and books.

/MT4thBWY

Breathe. Just breathe. Now reach out.

I Still Respect the Trek

By Biggs

On April 8, 2020

In Geek Canon, Geek Culture

April 5th is “First Contact Day”; for those of you unfamiliar with geek canon, First Contact Day is a Star Trek holiday. It’s the day Earth launches its first warp-capable rocket, in 2063. So the actual First Contact Day is still 43 years away. So now you’re probably wondering why I’m talking about Star Trek. I am an avid Star Wars fan after all. Despite my loyalty to “a galaxy far far away”, I still respect the Trek.

How Do I Respect the Trek?

I remember my dad introducing me to Star Wars but I can honestly say, I don’t know how or when I was introduced to Star Trek. If I had to wager a guess I probably stumbled upon an episode of The Original Series or The Next Generation while watching TV. It probably wasn’t until I met my good friend Nathan (around middle school) that I began to appreciate Star Trek more. He is the proverbial “Trekkie”. I hadn’t seen any of the movies in the theater until he and I met. After which I’m pretty sure I saw several movies starting with Star Trek Generations.

He and I were roommates in college where we often binged on Deep Space Nine. Ultimately DS9 became among my favorite of the Star Trek television series. The recent Picard series is now a close second. I own all the movies and I love the music, though I’m not as inclined to listen to it as often as I listen to a Star Wars soundtrack. I enjoy the action and adventure of Star Wars however its more about the science that I enjoy in Star Trek. Lightsabers are not scientifically possible however warp drive and even teleportation have more real life credence. I also happen to share a birthday with the late Leonard Nimoy (RIP).

While I will often wear a Jedi robe and wield a Force FX Lightsaber, just for fun, I still enjoy celebrating Star Trek. First Contact Day is one one example. I often try to squeeze in a few Trek movies, but I almost always watch First Contact (for obvious reasons).

#LLAP

“When I was a kid, it was a huge insult to be a geek. Now it’s a point of pride in a weird way.” – J.J. Abrams

RTotD: A Star Trek Interlude

By Biggs

On January 6, 2020

In Geek Culture, Random Cogitations

We are in a Star Wars lull now. We are between movies and television series. Amid this well deserved break, what is a Star Wars geek to do? We do have the Clone Wars finale season coming up in February so watching the other seasons is an option. There is also Rebels and Resistance I could catch up on. However, much sooner than Season 7 of The Clone Wars is the new Star Trek series Picard premiering on January 23rd. It has almost perfect timing.

I know what you are probably thinking. It’s blasphemous that a Star Wars fanboy, such as myself, would condone Star Trek. The fact of the matter is, I enjoy Star Trek. A lot. I am, and always will be, a bigger Star Wars fan, but Trek still holds a special place in my heart. I did not watch a lot of the original series, but I did watch quite a bit of The Next Generation. Deep Space 9 will always be one of my favorites; I spent my formative Purdue years watching it.

I tried to watch Enterprise but I lost interest. I haven’t watched Discovery yet, but I’ll get to it eventually. However, a Picard series? Yes, I am very interested in a Picard series. I’m not going to play the “which Captain is better” game but Sir Patrick Stewart is such a wonderful actor. I’m very excited to see him reprise one of his most iconic roles.

In fact, a Star Trek movie marathon might be in order. Engage!

/LLAP

The things that go through my mind when I’m alone with nothing but my thoughts for entertainment is dangerous. Some might even say eccentric. Consider this your warning about today’s Random Thought of the Day

Star Wars Is More Than A Movie

By Biggs

On January 3, 2020

In Geek Culture, Movies, Star Wars

This Is Not A Review

I’m not going to write a review for The Rise of Skywalker. My loyalty to the franchise creates a bias which doesn’t provide you with accurate incentive. The only suggestion I have is to ignore everything you read on Facebook and Twitter. As with any movie you need to try to go in with open eyes and open expectations. I know that’s hard to do with so much toxicity from myopic fans and critics. Also, as with any Star Wars film, I think this movie falls under the “critic proof” classification. It wasn’t made to win an academy award.

It wouldn’t matter to me if this movie only made a million dollars or if it makes a billion dollars; I love it. It’s an extremely satisfying end to a sublime saga. Regardless of the box office tally, the critics and the dissenting fans, Star Wars is more than a movie to me.

Star Wars Goes Beyond The Movies

There are fans that just watch the movies and there are fans that indulge beyond the movies; I am the latter. I was about 8 years old the first time I saw Star Wars, and I don’t think my parents quite realized what they had started when those yellow words first appeared on the screen. These films not only fuel my fascination with how movies are made but also my love for science fiction and fantasy.

Star Wars is also a unifying bond between family and strangers (assuming we can all agree to disagree on controversial subjects). When I attended the Star Wars Celebration last April, I felt welcome in a sea of strangers. However, we were all there for a common purpose, to celebrate the franchise we all love. In fact I would go so far as to say I was more comfortable among 10,000 strangers than I am among 30 members of my own family. It’s an indescribable sense of community.

It’s Relatable, Like Sports and Politics

I’m trying to put into words why my enjoyment of Star Wars goes beyond the movies. I’m struggling to explain it in more relatable terms. It’s like talking about sports. You cannot control the outcome of any sporting event (as a spectator), but you can regale about the past or imagine possible futures. Also, the more knowledge there is between folks the greater the enjoyment and a more interactive dialog.

I’ve played many of the games (video games and board games). I’ve watched many of the other series and I’ve read many of the books (novels and comics). There is so much to enjoy about this franchise than what you see in the theaters. Perhaps this is the reason I can find so much enjoyment even in the movies other folks like to disparage. Perhaps this is why I enjoy involving my family, including my daughter, who is just beginning to experience it herself. The amount of official canon outside the films is almost endless (I’m excluding fan-fiction and fan theories).

The divisiveness of the fanbase now is practically a microcosm of our country’s political state. We are too busy trying to tell the other side what is wrong with their point of view. Nobody seems interested in digging deeper into the details to find there might actually be common ground and facts to support it.

I invite anyone who has canonical issues with any of the movies to reach out to me, especially if your knowledge is limited to just the films. I’d love to have an open and honest dialog about it and see if we can’t come to some kind of mutual appreciation. I’m not going to try to change your mind, but I do hope you will see why I love Star Wars to the most minute of details.

/MTFBWY

Confronting fear is the destiny of the Jedi.

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

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