geek

These days I don't have much time for reading. More accurately, I don't make much time for reading as XBL and P90X take up any extra time I may have. This year, however, I vowed to read two books per month. Having only completed three so far, I'm a bit behind.

So imagine my disappointment surprise when Crave Senior Editor Leslie Katz barges steps lightly into my office and forces politely suggests that I write a blog on a couple of books she'd just received. Seriously, how could I say no to that?

So, yes. I didn't seek out the "The Manga Guide to Electricity" and "The Manga Guide to Statistics" myself, but I'm thankful they were forced down my throat came across my desk.

So far, I've only read through the first few pages of "Electricity" and the first chapter of "Statistics." Based on my limited exposure, I'm impressed by the $19.95 books' ability to inspire me to want to want learn more about two subjects I previously had little to no interest in. Kinda like having the hots for a Trekker in high school inspired me to learn Klingon. Or at least try.

The books are part of a series of manga guides by No Starch Press, a publisher of geek entertainment. Each book tells a story in the manga (Japanese comic book) style of a young girl being educated about the book's subject. If you've ever seen anime or manga you'll know what to expect here: huge eyes, gaping mouths, and of course, young girls in schoolgirl outfits. The art, however, never gets what I would call racy.

The real strength of the art is in its simple, clean lines that assist in the very pragmatic approach to teaching. … Read more

Over the past few years, I've been amazed at the attention the tech industry has received in the single realm that some thought it wasn't fit for--the mainstream.

The video game industry has become a multibillion dollar industry that rivals film. The Nintendo Wii is being played by people aged 1 to 100. The iPhone has transformed the cell phone industry. The Amazon Kindle, a device that some believed was a niche product, is selling faster than even Amazon expected. And everywhere you turn, someone who you thought had little knowledge about computers is discussing the differences between a Mac and PC.

But it's not just hardware. Sites like Facebook and MySpace are attracting millions of people to their pages each month. And celebrities--the leaders of the mainstream--have recently made Twitter, once a destination for the geek, almost a household name.

Most of those products were once reserved for the "Geek." But now, the mainstream has entered the Geekdom, and conquered it. It's getting harder to find a real geek.… Read more

It takes a total geek from out of this world (think the nerds from "Big Bang Theory") to cough up good money (about $45) for this, let alone wear it on a date. If this were April Fool's, we'd have thumbed our noses at it as a gimmicky gag. As it is, we'll leave you to decide if this portable lie detector is what you really, really need.

The literature takes some wading through, specifying this as a wearable device that "dynamically reflects your psycho-emotional response to the world, promoting internal states to be … Read more

Hoodie. Check. Headphones. Check. Soldering iron, wire cutters, conductive thread. Check, check, and check. Now if I can just figure out how to wield those last three items, I'd have me a handmade headphone hoodie. As the title suggests, that's a jacket with the speakers built in to the hood--and wearing one would be extra cool if I could say I made it myself.

And I might just be able to, with a new book from fashion designer Diana Eng. Some will remember Eng as the adorably nerdy contestant from reality TV show "Project Runway" who … Read more

This is a story about Jerry Jalava, a Finnish software developer who lost part of his finger in a motorcycle accident last July. According to his friend, Henri Bergius, when the surgeon assigned to work on Jalava's prosthetic finger discovered his hacking history, he made a clever suggestion: incorporate a USB key into the new digit.

The prosthetic finger contains a 2GB USB key, and Jalava also loaded it with Billix distribution, CouchDBX, and Ajatus to run off the drive, throwing even more geek cred into the mix.

When Jalava needs the drive, he simply pulls it off his … Read more

AUSTIN, Texas--I'm in Austin for the South by Southwest Interactive Festival, finally. And I'm exhausted. Last night, some friends convinced me that it would be a good idea to watch the Syracuse-University of Connecticut basketball game on TV until the end, and if you read the sports section this morning, you'll know that it went into six overtimes. I was able to get, oh, three hours of sleep.

Apparently, "nerd bird" is SXSWi slang for an Austin-bound plane coming from a city like New York or San Francisco, where there would be plenty of geeks … Read more

I cannot come up with a practical reason why I'd need these reproduction medieval gauntlets. I just want them. Think of all the people I could be! These are the last pieces I need to complete the following outfits: Destro, Sir Galahad, Drs. Klaw and Doom, and Optimus Prime (after a paint job).

I think, though, that I'd just keep them in my bag at all times. I imagine that next time I get into an argument with a drunk dude-bro at a bar I can get him to back down without violence simply by putting them on. … Read more

When you're old like me (creak, creak), you tend to accumulate a metric crap-ton of stuff that you don't really need but don't want to get rid of. You know, like tax returns, canceled checks, and a heaping stack of old TV Guides.

OK, maybe that last one is just me.

Another thing I'm running out of room for is video game consoles. That's why when I saw the Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System on Think Geek, I was immediately intrigued. Technically, I don't really have room for this one either, but I … Read more

I just can't get behind the concept of waterproof gadgets. An iPod Shuffle that you can submerge is kinda cool, but you still need waterproof headphones. Maybe you can use it in the shower with these speakers. But do you really need a waterproof mouse?

Your wallet says no, but USB Geek says yes. This five-button USB optical mouse is made with sealed silicone, making it completely waterproof. Despite how uncomfortable you feel about mixing water and lasers, USB Geek claims the optical sensor maintains precision on any surface. So in case you misplace your waterproof mouse pad, feel free to use that sea turtle's shell next time you're scuba diving and simply must check out what's new on CNET.

The mouse will also come in handy if you suffer from hyperhidrosis, no sweat. More pics after the jump.… Read more