Nodds & Nends: NASA’s 3-D Printing Contest, Dear Hank & John, and A Little Cat Nap

NASA had a challenge where they awarded the top three designs of a 3-D printable habitat for Mars. The habitat design that won is called the Mars Ice House and was the brain child of Team Space Exploration Architecture and Clouds Architecture Office. You can read more about it here.

How do I know about this random Mars fact? Hank Green is how. I’ve been listening to the Dear Hank & John podcast. John Green is an author of some note.  (I have yet to read his books, they are all sad books from what I’ve heard, and I don’t generally read sad contemporary stories, mostly because that is just normal life. But I’ve heard great things and know I really should get out his stories. ) Anyway, I’ve watched some of his YouTube videos and when I found the podcast that he does with his brother,  I started listening to it. It is hilarious and sometimes a little sad. Hank is a huge science nerd and he has done little snippets about Mars at the end their most recent podcasts and that is how I heard about the printable habitat challenge. It’s just one cool thing after another in my life.

One recent Facebook find (and sorry, I can’t remember who originally posted it on my wall) is this illustrative take on what it is like to be inside the brain of an introvert. Introverts have given it several thumbs up and I think it can help extroverts understand the other side of things.  My favorite one was the bit on risk. “In other words, introverts feel less excitement from surprise or risk.” Yes. This. Also, this may help explain why people sometimes think I am similar to a cat.

Speaking of cats, check out this hilarious and adorable video of a kitten falling asleep while in a not so great position for doing so. I think what is so funny is that we have all done this (maybe not on a kitchen bar stool). [via George Takei FB page]

Nodds &Nends: Amazing Star Wars Mural, X-Files, and a Day in the Life of the Earth

You probably caught this already as it stormed across the internet, but a woman painted a very cool Star Wars mural in her daughter’s room and it is the best thing ever. Plus, if you go into her exorcisingemily deviantart site you can see more fabulous murals she’s painted, you might even catch a glimpse of the Doctor. I follow her on twitter now and she is funny and amazing. [via The Mary Sue]

The X-Files has hit the small screen again this week and my husband and I are trying to get through the last few from the 90s so we can catch up with the rest of the world. In the mean time we are indulging in videos like the one below which lists the top ten episodes of the series. I have to say, they actually picked some good ones to reminisce about. [via WatchMojo]

The below video is short, but stunning. A day in the life of the earth in seconds. I love it! [via io9 and Glittering Blue]

Nodds & Nends: Top TV 2015, Quidditch Beer Pong, Miniatures, and a Troll T-Shirt

Check out this article by NerdBastards for their Top Ten TV Shows of 2015. I have to say, the one’s I’ve watched at that list, I do love. I may need to check out the others.

You can buy a Quidditch Beer Pong set, once they manufacture more that is, they are currently sold out. Still. This is a thing, peeps. [via The Mary Sue]

I read this really cool article on WordPress Discover about Photographing Miniature Worlds and Jennifer Nichole Wells. A cool article and she makes some amazing scenes. I just love them! I’m totally into miniatures now after making so many cool things for my nieces. I may have to start my own haunted doll house or something.

I saw this shirt on Facebook and thought some of you all might like it. Another hurt only nerds/dorks/geeks/fandoms will feel. I definitely am going to need to add this to my collection. Here’s a link to buy this OMG It’s R2D2! I loved Him in Star Trek t-shirt. You are welcome.

Who will hate this?

Doctor Who Fans: That is a Dalek, not R2D2

Star Wars Fans: That is a Dalek, not R2D2, and R2D2 was in Star Wars, not Star Trek.

Star Trek Fans: The images on this have nothing to do with Star Trek. R2D2 is from Star Wars. For some reason these fandoms hate each other. The image is of a Dalek which is a Doctor Who icon.

Who will love this?

Me.

Anyone with a sense of humor.

People who like to troll the geek/nerd/dork/fandom community for being so uptight about their fandoms.

Nodds & Nends: i can’t even, artistic renderings, and compliments

One of the best Christmas Specials I came across recently was by the webseries “i can’t even.” If you recall, they were part of my webseries review fest last year. Their Christmas Special is titled The Doctor’s New Companion, and it is awesome. I had to pause the episode because I was laughing so hard I couldn’t hear what they were saying.

Saw this on Facebook and thought it was full of massive skill, both in the artistic quality and the ability to add reasonable outfits to a female character in a drawing rather than no-reason-for-the-lack-of-clothing that often happens in such drawings.

Also found on Facebook was this great video about giving compliments that do not have to do with a person’s appearance. I especially try to do this with my nieces. Little girls get told all the time how pretty they are, which is fine, but I think complimenting growing children on their accomplishments and who they are as people is extremely important as well. This is a good list to start with!

Nodds & Nends: Mario Console, Beards, and Minions

Check out this custom Super Mario World console by DeviantArtist Zoki64. That is some great detailed geeky work there. [via Global Geek News]

Don’t you just love beard and mustache competitions? I do. Well, I enjoyed the video of hairy highlights that Jezebel posted for this year’s competition.

The Minions get an honest trailer, because, well, Minions. Also, as always, the Screen Junkies peeps make some really good points. Spoilers of course. [via Nerd Bastards]

Check out this awesome website Nerds Of Color for some great reading material. I stumbled across it on the WordPress’s new Discover (their featured posts) link. I particularly liked the article How to Fall In Love with Your Writing by drupkins ( author Dennis R. Upkins Jr).

Nerdy Nodds & Nends: Book Fountain, Batman engraving, and the Pickle Index

My mother is forever sending me some of the coolest nerdy things that she finds on the internets. Like this book, that is a fountain. Whaaaahhht. So cool. Find out more here.

The “open book” fountain at the end of Henszlemann Imre utca, in Budapest, Hungary

The Pickle Index is storytelling with modern ingenuity. It uses a digital app, paperback book, and hardcover volumes to create an immersive tale for the ages. “Each is designed to be a standalone experience, but the combined effect is synergistic.” Read the Wired article on this amazing foray into a non-conventional and novel idea (pun intended). Plus, it’s about a circus! What more could you ask for?

This Batman wood engraving is just brilliant. Check it out on Etsy: FFCreativeImagery. [via Global Geek News]

 

Webseries Review: i can’t even

In August I received an email from Wendy, publicist for the “i can’t even” webseries about  “[o]ne apartment, two friends, and an exponential number of fandoms to argue about.”

Um, yes, please.

From the first this series made me laugh.  Louise Cox and Tiana Hogben, who star in the series, have great comedic timing. Every singe episode had me chuckling to myself until their were tears in my eyes.

“I’ve seen you talking to your Benedict poster.”

Their friendship is awesome and that they can live together and still be geeky friends is such a great model. They help each other out, when they can get through the fog of  obsession, and they share an interest in the geekdom while building each other up and supporting that interest.

The subject matter, background production, and sets ring true and add to every scene. I love the set up of all the different fandom posters and paraphernalia in the girl’s apartment.  Even the girls’ wardrobe is geeky. The homages to all the different fandoms are inclusive and wonderful. The lighting and sound production are really good and I thought the sound effects added to the production value of the series.

With 6 episodes on YouTube at only about 5 minutes an episode you can watch the entire series and it will go by as quickly as reading your favorite book on a rainy Saturday afternoon and leave you wanting more. Like, I really really want the second series, now.

Honestly, they had me at the Australian accents. This series is  just… I can’t even.

Ok. I had to do that. 😉

Geek lovers, dorks, and nerdy book worms, or people who love a good roommate comedy should check out this webseries! You can find out more about it by checking out their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts or read an article about the writer  and co-writer Alyce Adams here.   Watch the episode below, you wont be sorry.

 

Weapon of Mass Instruction

Found this gem on my Facebook page. It’s a tank mobile book give away vehicle from an artist in Argentina, Raul Lemesoff.  He gives away the books for free as long as people agree to read them. Honestly, he looks a little crazy, but also like he’s having the time of his life. [via Bored Panda]

Go to this link to watch a video about the making of the book machine and a little more about the artist himself. Unfortunately I can’t embed the video, but go to the link, you wont be sorry!

Nerdy Nodds & Nends: Life Hacks, Painting Reimagined, and the Nesbitt Nook

My mom is always sending me the best things. But I especially love when she sends me life hacks. Like this yarn re-spooling trick. the only issues i see are that the yarn must be completely untangled before beginning the new spool or it will go horribly wrong. Also, I’m one of those knitters that does not generally re-spool, ’cause I’m lazy. But the video is a lot of fun to watch. Thanks Mom!

Another fun find my mother sent me was this re-imagined painting of The Singing Butler by Jack Vettriano. I have a print of the original piece in my living room, and I love it. This is almost as good, I’m partial to the original, and a delightfully geeky rendition indeed. Apparently this is a series of classic paintings re-imagined in the Star Wars theme. Check them all out here. [via Ken Are]

Another one of my favorite paintings re-imagined, Nighthawks by Edward Hopper .

My husband and I love to find unique items and we had gotten such a collection that we decided to see if we could make it as antique dealers. So we set up the Nesbitt Nook in the Allen Antique Mall in Allen, TX in the Dallas/ForthWorth area. Here are some pics of pieces that we current have or had. You can check out our Facebook page and give us a like, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram! If you are in the area or know people in the area find our booth at the antique mall along with a lot of other cool dealers.

Nerdy Nodds and Nends: Super Hero Costumes, Lawyerly Advice Columns, and iZombie

This article talks about a comic series that mocks the costumes of females in super hero comic series. Its all pretty meta, and funny. Check it out here.

Read this ask-a-lawyer column. It is the best. thing. ever. Check it out.

Are you watching iZombie? Because you should be. It is amazing. I really need to write up a full review of the first season which I absolutely devoured (pun intended) on Netflix in the space of a week. It was a bad week. iZombie made it an OK week. (Caveat: I have not read the comic books that it is loosely based on.)

Check out some fanart I found on the internets.

So, this is amazing. Check out W. Scott Forbes website. More amazing work. [ via Pinterest]

This looks exactly like the actress, Rose McIver. Dang. [Via TanyaGrace on DeviantArt]

This is a cute picture. But why are people shipping them? WHY?????? Have y’all not seen Alias. Sigh. [via Elewings on DeviantArt]

My favorite three people on the show. [via pungang on DeviantArt]