Obama and the Urkel effect: [link]
Obama seemed cool at first because he uses slang, dresses well and bumps fists. But a lifetime of dangerous undercover work makes it easy for me to spot a fellow nerd. Obama has done a good job passing, with his nice suits, easy smile and attractive wife. But those are just the over-30 nerd trappings of success. Have you seen him try to dance? It's like watching a white guy make fun of other white guys. Sure, he played high school basketball, but how many cool kids play indoor sports in Hawaii? The man is all superego. He never gets angry or flirts with hot chicks by asking them to be his Vice President.
Former TIME reporter Benjamin Nugent, author of American Nerd: The Story of My People, is also worried about the Urkel effect, though he thinks Obama is less nerd than nerd-adjacent. These are the types of terms you have to endure when talking to the author of American Nerd: The Story of My People. "He would be the guy the jocks didn't choose to towel-snap, but he would kind of stand there looking disapproving while they towel-snapped. Whereas McCain would be more likely to towel-snap you, and Sarah Palin would make out with the guy who towel-snapped you," he says.
It's the locker kids argument.
SO FUNNY.
I've decided I'm nerd-adjacent.
{{Barb}}
yay for a belt, allyson.
I think Consuela is upto date on spooks.
Put me in the nervous, but resigned catagorey. Vaugley wondering if revolution is real anymore.
I think Obama's kind of like Ben Browder: geekish, but far too charismatic and socially adept to be considered a true nerd.
Why isn't everyone up to date on Spooks? It's so great! It's TV with jeopardy (as opposed to Jeopardy, which is easier to come by). And apparently there's a spinoff (okay, there definitely is a spinoff) called Code 9, which seems to be the Sarah Jane Adventures to the Dr. Who of Spooks.
And if you don't follow British TV that might make no sense.
Okay, now that I've gotten my cable back up it's time to leave the house and head over to Barnes & Noble to read up on more networking. Then back home for more job applications.
oh, nerd-adjacent, I like it.
no British tv for me.
Was I merely a nerd-adjacent and not a true nerd? This is a disturbing thought. Let's see...
Liked Computers - Big nerd points
Picked on by Jocks - No, they was a brief flirtation with getting picked on, but it didn't take. Even played some backyard football with a jock or two. Nerd points lost.
Picked on the nerdier - No. Score.
Athletic Teams - No, not after Middle School where I played football and tennis. Nerd points scored.
Member of Math Club and College Bowl - Score and score.
Parties? - Yes. Many. Nerd points lost.
Played D&D - Yes. Score.
Dates - A few, went to junior prom and prom (with dates). Rejected a lot too. Wash. Rejected two girls who wanted to date. Nerd points lost.
Glasses - Yes. Small score.
Excellent Grades - Yes. Score.
Can I claim the nerd title? I think I manage to just qualify. Whew.
Parties? - Yes. Many. Nerd points lost.
Were they nerd parties? Because you could make up points there.
nerd-adjacent
There was a nerd quiz a while back, in which I scored as Nerd Friendly, with a good future as a translator between Nerds and Squares. "Tell the nerd we're going to need overtime this weekend." "Scotty, we need more power from the dilithium crystals!" "Och, I'm not a miracle worker!" "He'll do it, but he wants you to pay for the pizza."
I wonder what the criteria for nerd-adjacent would be?
Also, I love any article that mentions Encyclopedia Brown!
Hmmm, perhaps I have just answered my own question.
Special link for tommyrot: Neil Young converted his 1959 Lincoln Continental to run on electricity and natural gas. He's also created a business called LincVolt that will convert other cars.
