Geek Girls Network Podcast #30 NYCC Wrap-Up

This week we wrap up all things #NYCC!! Crowds, Cosplay, Concerts and the GGN Geek-Out. Plus, we have our very first Moment of Dead now that the Walking Dead had finally returned.

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And for your comments and burning questions, ask the geek gals at podcast@geekgirlsnetwork.com

The GeekMoms Podcast #7 Halloween, Comics and Kids, GeekMom Book

This time I'm joined by Corrina Lawson, GeekMom Editor and Amy Kraft, GeekMom Core Contributor to talk about the fun of making unique Halloween costumes and our personal strategies for snagging the best treats.  We also discuss the DC reboot and how the portrayal of superheroes is important for our kids. Lastly, big book announcements for the site and for Corrina. Questions? Thoughts? Suggestions? Email us podcast@geekmom.com

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Corrina Lawson: Website and Twitter, Phoenix Rising for Kindle or Other Formats
Amy Kraft: MediaMacaroni and Twitter
Theme Music: Rebecca Angel

The D6 Generation Podcast #90 New York Comic Con

The guys say goodbye to Raef in his last episode as a host on the show and then wipe away their tears to talk about the new Games Workshop board game "Dreadfleet".  Meanwhile, I talk about the fun that was had at New York Comic Con and my favorite moment which involved puppets, felt and lots of glue.  Download the episode and head to the 2hr 14min mark to hear the Total Fan Girl segment of the show.

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South by Southwest Panel Announcement!

Next March 9th through 18th hordes of tech, film and music geeks will target Austin, Texas for South by Southwest. This huge event lasts for nine day and is full of parties, screenings and panels by experts in their fields. A few months back I asked for your help getting a GeekMom/GeekDad panel on the schedule. Well, I'm thrilled to announce our panel was selected for inclusion in the Film portion of the festival. I'll be joined by Jason Cranford Teague, Ruth Suehle, Andrea Schwalmstolz, and Anton Olsen to talk all about taking your family to the movies.

The GeekFamily Guide to the Movies

If there’s one thing geeks know, it’s movies. But how do you raise your geeky kids to watch the right movies? Join writers from Wired's GeekDad.com (named one of the top 10 Best Blogs of 2010 by Time Magazine) and GeekMom.com blogs as they discuss the ins and out of parenting, kids and movies.

Thank you to everyone who voted and helped make this happen. We could not have done this without you. Hope to see you all in Texas!

How Geeks Invented Halloween

Pumpkins!  Image: Nicole Wakelin

The going theory is that Halloween started with the old Celtic festival of Samhain which celebrated the end of summer, and morphed into the holiday we have now. Stories of the supernatural, trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving and dressing up in costume were added a bit at a time based on the beliefs and customs of many cultures. There's a lot of research out there about the whole thing, how it changed, who contributed what, but there is one crucial element that is missing from all of this documentation. The geeks.

In Defense of Cons and Cosplayers

Aimin' to Misbehave, Image: Nicole Wakelin

One of my favorite parts of attending a con is the cosplay. Seeing people dressed like Superman or Batman or Princess Leia is a big part of the experience. You don't have to wait in lines or hope they'll stop long enough for you to snap a picture because they want to have their picture taken and are happy to strike a character appropriate pose. Some spend months creating the perfect look, scouring stores for the right fabric for their shirt or the perfect buckle for their belt. These cosplayers stand out and draw lots of attention, but even the guy who just throws on a Superman cape is a part of the fun. It's all about celebrating the things we love, no matter how we look. Or is it.

The D6 Generation Podcast #89 Mouseguard RPG and Star Wars: The Old Republic

While the guys give a detailed review of the Mouseguard RPG, I muse about "the next big thing" in MMOs. That's right, Star Wars: The Old Republic is now just a few months away. It's been played at conventions and those in the Beta have been leaking tidbits about their experiences. Will it be as good as I hope? Can it possibly live up to my expectations? Download the episode and head to the 2hr 8 min mark to hear the Total Fan Girl segment of the show.

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New York Comic Con: Something for Everyone



Their hammers are their...

I've just returned from the geek extravaganza that is New York Comic Con, one of my favorite weekends of the year. Sure, it's not as big as San Diego Comic-Con and it doesn't have as many celebrity appearances, but that doesn't make it any less fun. In fact, by losing some of the Hollywood razzle-dazzle it feels more genuine. Not to say that there aren't celebrities, as Stan Lee, Mark Hamill and Robert Kirkman were there and if they don't count as celebrities in your book, well then, you're at the wrong convention all together. But more than the big names, big releases, and big movies, this one is about the smaller independent guys getting a chance to show their work.

The GeekMoms Podcast #6 GeekGirlCon, Women of Wonder Day

The show kicks off with an interview with Amber Love about Women of Wonder Day, an annual auction and in-store event where you can bid on beautiful art and collectibles in support of domestic violence charity programs.  Later I'm joined by fellow GeekMom Cathe Post to talk about her weekend with her husband and daughter at the first ever GeekGirlCon in Seattle, Washington. This new entry on the convention scene drew some big Geek Girl names to help promote a positive attitude toward all geeks, men, women and especially kids. And you'll also hear how the GeekMoms took a stab at the Google+ Hangout feature and ended up having a chat with Felicia Day.

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Cathe Post: GamerMom V1.0 and Twitter
Theme Music: Rebecca Angel

Star Wars: The Old Republic, You're My Only Hope

I have never been a fan of MMOs. It's not that I hate them, nor do I harbor any ill will to those that play, but I just can't seem to get drawn into one. My brother-in-law has been addicted to playing World of  Warcraft for years and I'm always amazed by how involved he is in the stories happening in that other world. He tells me all about his adventures with his guild and how he's meeting up with everyone for one thing or another and that he must have access to his laptop at a certain time or the world will end. No, really, he is one devoted player.

Geek Girls Network Podcast #29 Baker Street Babes

This week we have special guest Kristina Manente from The Baker Street Babes podcast with us to talk about all things Sherlock Holmes! And we give poor Benedict Cumberbatch, TV's latest Holmes, some cute nicknames he probably wouldn't appreciate as much as the three of us.

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And for your comments and burning questions, ask the geek gals at podcast@geekgirlsnetwork.com

Spock's Last Convention: LLAP

Photo by Gage Skidmore, 2011 Phoenix Comicon

I love Spock. He is my favorite Star Trek character ever. Across every series, every movie, every everything, he is my favorite. I had a ridiculous crush on Wesley Crusher and swoon every time I see Wil Wheaton at a con, but it's not the same thing because, well, Wesley was a bit annoying. Even the cuteness of Wheaton could not overcome that hurdle. Spock, on the other hand, was wonderful. The one raised eyebrow. The pointy ears. The Vulcan greeting. And of course, the words that belong to him more than any other Vulcan, "Live long and prosper." Sadly, Leonard Nimoy is retiring and made his final convention appearance last weekend in Rosemont, Illinois.

Play Games. Heal Kids.

My two girls are turning one of their bedrooms into a restaurant. There is a pink tea cart parked in front of the door with a sign that reads "Please Wait. Not Open." and I can hear the clinking of their Beatrix Potter tea set. I've been given a lovely appetizer tray of Wheat Thins and American cheese slices to tide me over until they open, but I must type quickly because at any moment they will call me for dinner on the bedroom floor. This is part of the fun of being a parent, and a child, but not every family is able to enjoy such simple pleasures.