Jon Finkel is all right
So the internet has been pretty up in arms that a Gizmodo writer went on a couple of dates with former Magic: The Gathering World Champion Jon Finkel, and then dissed him on Gizmodo for not revealing in his online profile that he was a former Magic World Champion.
Just like you’re obligated to mention you’re divorced or have a kid in your online profile, shouldn’t someone also be required to disclose any indisputably geeky world championship titles? she wrote.
(The article has since been edited to remove some of the more scathing criticisms.)
Finkel has responded via twitter.
“For the record I wanted to state that not mentioning magic in my profile has nothing to do with wanting to hide it or being ashamed of it,” he writes. “In fact my accomplishments in magic are one of the things I’m most proud of in life. There just doesn’t seem to be a graceful way to say: ’10 years ago I was the best in the world at this game you’re only 50% to have heard of’ – plus it ensures every conversation goes that way.”
In the aftermath of the article, Finkel conducted a Q&A on Reddit, where he talked about Magic, poker, dating, hedge fund managing (his current job) and more.
I enjoyed what he said at Reddit about the skills needed to be a big-time Magic player, and something that’s pretty applicable to life:
“I think the biggest thing is the deep (seated) emotional understanding that the right play is the right play regardless of outcomes. The ability to make a decision 5 straight times, lose 5 times because of it, and still make it the 6th time if it’s the right play. Magic players have been developing that since their teens, and its just so applicable to poker, gambling, and life in general,” he writes.
So, I think overall, Jon Finkel is going to be all right.
- Matt Price
Matt Price’s Word Balloons column celebrates 10th anniversary
The 2000 film "X-Men," co-starring James Marsden, was among the inspirations for Matt Price's Word Balloons column in the pages of The Oklahoman
WORD BALLOONS
Every Friday for the past 10 years, readers have been able to find out about the world of comic books in the pages of The Oklahoman.
After starting at The Oklahoman in November 2000, my column about comic books, “Word Balloons,” was approved by Entertainment Editor Gene Triplett and began Feb. 2, 2001 — my birthday. While a lot has changed in newspapers over the past decade, one thing that’s remained constant is this weekly dose of comic book news and commentary.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 cake marks milestones
As I recently posted, the Nerdage blog recently hit 3000 posts. My wife Annette, a fine cakemaker, made the above Mystery Science Theater 3000 cake to celebrate. There’s even more to celebrate today. It’s my birthday, for one, and on this date 10 years ago – Feb. 2, 2001 – my first “Word Balloons” column about comic books ran in The Oklahoman
2,011 in 2011 comic-book challenge: Week 4
For this week, I fell behind the pace needed to hit the total for the first time, reading only 30 comics. Fortunately, the pace of the first 3 weeks keeps me ahead overall.
Post Number 3000!
This marks the 3000th post on Nerdage since its inception on Dec. 5, 2007. Thanks to everybody who has read, contributed, or spread the word over the past 3-plus years!
Feel free to celebrate with the “Mystery Science Theater 3000″ episode “The Rebel Set,” embedded below.
On a mission like Cable
New Mutants #91
On a mission today with limited internet connectivity. With any luck, I won’t run into Sabretooth. I am, however, working on a project on 1990s comics that should see the light of day on the blog in the near future!
- Matt Price
Like Iron Man, Nerdage is upgrading
Like Tony Stark’s armor, the Nerdage blog will be getting an upgrade today, so posting will be light. Happy and safe Tuesday to everyone!
Happy Geek/Nerd Pride Day!
If you’re a regular reader of Nerdage, you probably should be celebrating Geek/Nerd Pride Day. May 25 marks the annual celebration of the day, which is the date the first “Star Wars” film was released.
According to the Facebook page:
Apparently, it originated in Spain. You go Spanish nerds. In addition, it falls on the anniversary of the original Star Wars film.
In 2008, Geek Pride Day came to America and in 2009, Canada.
And if your particular brand of geekery is Douglas Adams-related, it’s apparently also Towel Day.
“Towel Day is celebrated every May 25 as a tribute by fans of the late author Douglas Adams. The commemoration was first held in 2001, two weeks after his death on May 11, and since then has been extended to an annual event. On this day, fans carry a towel with them throughout the day. The towel is a reference to Adams’s popular science fiction comedy series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
I won’t be rocking a towel, but I am planning to read some comic books and watch some “Star Wars” today. Hope you can similarly enjoy your own particular brand of nerdage today. If you’d like, share what you’re doing in the comments!
- Matt Price
Nerdage’s actors with geek appeal: Cast your vote!
Tom Welling
Tom Welling, who plays Clark Kent on “Smallville,” was named Nerdage’s #1 actor with geek appeal, based on pageviews and searches at the site. But now, share your thoughts! Cast your vote for who you think should have been Nerdage’s No. 1 actor with geek appeal, and feel free to share your reasons in the comments.
Nerdage’s top 25 actors and actresses countdown begins Monday
Scarlett Johansson (AP)
Everyone has seen lists that share one magazine’s particular take on who are the hottest stars of the moment.
Zachary Quinto (AP)
But what we at Nerdage are doing is turning that power over to you. Starting Monday, and for the five weeks following that, we’ll count down the top 25 actors and actresses of the nerd universe, as selected by your pageviews and searches here at the site.
As we head into the summer movie season, you’ll see which actors and actresses drove geeks into a frenzy over the past 12 months.
After all 50 are revealed, we’ll let you have your say again via a poll featuring all 25 actors and all 25 actresses. Who will win? Feel free to make your predictions for future bragging rights in the comments.
- Matt Price
