Paul and Storm » Geek Madness

GEEK MADNESS: Congratulations, Mr. Secretary

Paul and Storm — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:14:09 +0000

After a long campaign against the best and brightest geek luminaries, Wil Wheaton has emerged as the people’s choice to hold the office of the (yet to be officially recognized) Secretary of Geek Affairs.

Nearly 90,000 total votes were cast in determining the Geek Madness Tournament outcome, and Mr. Wheaton vanquished an impressive list of geek luminaries on his march to victory: Bruce Campbell, Wesley Crusher, Stephen Hawking, Steve Wozniak, Gabe & Tycho (Penny Arcade), and Joss Whedon.

Learn more about your new Secretary from his wikipedia entry, and from the man himself at his site. Click on the Department of Geek Affairs emblem (above right, created by the entirely excellent Len Peralta) for a full-size version.

GEEK MADNESS: Final Battle! Whedon vs. Wheaton

Paul and Storm — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:59:06 +0000

We started with 64 entrants, and after a series of brutal and bloody campaigns, only two survive for the final, alliterative battle. Winner of the Final Battle will be recommended to President Barack Obama to fill Secretary position of the as-yet created Department of Geek Affairs. All results to this point can be found on the main Geek Madness page.

As a refresher (or primer, for those who might be seeing this tournament for the first time), here are the qualifications for the position:

Advise the POTUS on matters concerning, affecting, and/or of interest to geeks (as well as nerds and similar constituencies);
Implement POTUS policies generated by first responsibility; and
Act as liaison on POTUS’ behalf between the greater U.S. geek community and other national and international stakeholders.
Not required to be a U.S. citizen, because we say so.

Now do your patriotic duty and VOTE!

Joss Whedon: Writer/producer/director; creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film/TV), “Angel” (TV) “Firefly”/Serenity (TV/film) and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (interwebs)
Notes: Has strong track record of creating television shows marked by clever dialogue, smart and interesting characters, fantastical elements, and extremely short lifespans; ridiculously devoted following; as if geek cred wasn’t strong enough, was one of the co-writers of Toy Story. Defeated Ken Plume, Doctor Who, Jonathan Coulton, Felicia Day and Kaylee Frye.

Wil Wheaton: Writer, actor; blogging pioneer; most widely known for roles as Wesley Crusher (Star Trek TNG) and Gordie LaChance in Stand By Me.
Notes: Parlayed his much-maligned portrayal of Wesley Crusher into a multi-platform second career; blog/website is a hub for geek discourse; poker player and fan; has his own tag on Fark.com. Defeated Bruce Campbell, Wesley Crusher, Stephen Hawking, Steve Wozniak and Gabe & Tycho (Penny Arcade).

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GEEK MADNESS: Geek 16, Part 2

Paul and Storm — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 02:00:42 +0000

The culling continues, and decisions only get tougher as the second half of Geek 16 voting begins, ending next Sunday, February 22. Survivors graduate to the Reasonable 8, and all four battles to determine the Penultimate Four will then commence.

All results to-date are on the main Geek Madness page.

Review all the matchups and go vote, after the break.

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MATCH #1:

Wil Wheaton vs. Stephen Hawking

Multi-platform phenom, or Visionary physicist?

Wil Wheaton: Writer, actor; blogging pioneer; most widely known for roles as Wesley Crusher (Star Trek TNG) and Gordie LaChance in Stand By Me.
Notes: Parlayed his much-maligned portrayal of Wesley Crusher into a multi-platform second career; blog/website is a hub for geek discourse; poker player and fan; has his own tag on Fark.com. Defeated Bruce Campbell in Round 1 and Wesley Crusher in Round 2.

Stephen Hawking: Theoretical physicist and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge.
Notes: Best-selling book A Brief History of Time brought advanced cosmology and mathematics to the masses. Masses might learn a thing or two if they actually dusted it off and read it. Defeated Cory Doctorow in Round 1 and MC Frontalot in Round 2.

[poll id=78]

MATCH #2

Steve Wozniak vs. Veronica Belmont

Innovative, good-natured billionaire, or Hot geek media princess?

Steve Wozniak: Co-founder of Apple Computer.
Notes: One of the original Geeks Who Made It Big. Engaging personality and contributions to the early development of the personal computer more likely to elicit shouts of “Good on ya!” than sour, jealous comments. Defeated Ira Glass in Round 1 and Dr. Carl Sagan in Round 2.

Veronica Belmont: Internet personality; co-host of Tekzilla podcast and Qore (Playstation3).
Notes: Strong credentials with stints at CNET and former host of Mahalo Daily; 40,000+ Twitter followers can’t be wrong; “hot chick” factor cannot be discounted, may help get agenda passed by old-boy network in Congress. Defeated Professor Frink in Round 1 and Jamie Hyneman & Adam Savage in Round 2.

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MATCH #3

Jonathan Coulton vs. Joss Whedon

Singer of songs about monsters and robots, or Creator of shows about monsters and robots?

Jonathan Coulton: Singer/songwriter known for tech-savvy music with high geek appeal, most notably through his “Thing A Week” project and the end credits song from the video game Portal (“Still Alive”).
Notes: Earned title of “Internet Superstar” by gathering a large, loyal following by employing online tools to enable his audience to find him; among his viral hits are “Code Monkey” and an acoustic cover of Sir Mix-a-lot’s “Baby Got Back”; major advocate of Creative Commons. Defeated Angus MacGyver in Round 1and Bill Nye in Round 2. [FULL DISCLOSURE: Tournament hosts often tour with Mr. Coulton.]

Joss Whedon: Writer/producer/director; creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film/TV), “Angel” (TV) “Firefly”/Serenity (TV/film) and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (interwebs)
Notes: Has strong track record of creating television shows marked by clever dialogue, smart and interesting characters, fantastical elements, and extremely short lifespans; ridiculously devoted following; as if geek cred wasn’t strong enough, was one of the co-writers of Toy Story. Defeated Ken Plume in Round 1 and Doctor Who in Round 2.

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MATCH #4

Stan Lee vs. Felicia Day

Comics elder statesman or Newly-minted Internet idol?

Stan Lee: Comic book writer, editor and former driving force of Marvel Comics.
Notes: Co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Daredevil, Doctor Strange; pioneered new storytelling forms throughout his career; major player in transforming a format previously written off as “kids’ stuff;” also, “Excelsior!” Defeated Danica McKellar in Round 1 and John Lasseter in Round 2.

Felicia Day: Actress/creator/writer of geek-centric internet show “The Guild“; broadened recognition with role in Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.
Notes: A genuine gaming enthusiast (not some Hollywood pretender) whose geek profile exploded in 2008; a genuine grass roots new media success story of a “homemade” internet show that, offered for free on YouTube, garnered a large following and eventual media sponsorship that manages to maintain a geek-friendly distribution model; also an accomplished violinist; has noticed us. Defeated Ernie Kovacs in Round 1 and Tom Servo & Crow T. Robot in Round 2.

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GEEK MADNESS: Geek 16, Part 1

Paul and Storm — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:27:56 +0000

Now it really starts to get cruel.

After eight grueling weeks, sixteen remain to tussle it out for the title of Secretary of Geek Affairs. All results to-date are on the main Geek Madness page.

Yes, we’re well aware that many of you will find it impossible to decide. But you must. Be brave! Review all the matchups and go vote, after the break.

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MATCH #1:

Simon Pegg vs. Randall Munroe

Comedy or comics?

Simon Pegg: Actor/writer; co-creator/star, “Spaced“, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz.
Notes: Portraying “Scotty” in upcoming Star Trek reboot; staunch opponent of Star Wars prequel trilogy; no danger of influence from powerful zombie special interest groups. Defeated Peter Parker in Round 1 and Linus Torvalds in Round 2.

Randall Munroe: Creator of webcomic xkcd.
Notes: Has graduate degree in physics; captures the nuances of geek life by investing his rudimentary stick figures with keen and often poignant observations; occasional stick figure sex. Defeated Kevin Smith in Round 1 and Patton Oswalt in Round 2.

[poll id=73]

MATCH #2

Kaylee Frye vs. Steve Jobs

Scrappy, adorable mechanical genius or tenacious, temperamental captain of industry?

Kaylee Frye: Character, Joss Whedon’s TV series “Firefly” and film Serenity; ship’s mechanic.
Notes: Prototypical geek girl who has a great love of and intuitive talent with technology; feminine without being entirely “girly;” only partially aware of how stupefyingly attractive she is. Defeated The Professor and was top vote-getter of Do’Urden Round 1 and Tricia “Trillian” McMillan in Round 2.

Steve Jobs: Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of Apple Computer; former CEO, Pixar Animation Studios.
Notes: Fearless competitor, constantly leading market in technology and design innovation; don’t know what he was thinking with the whole NeXT thing; allegedly kind of a dick in person. Defeated Cast of Revenge of the Nerds in Round 1 and RMS in Round 2.

[poll id=74]

MATCH #3

John Hodgman vs. They Might Be Giants

John or Johns?

John Hodgman: Author (The Areas of My Expertise; More Information Than You Require); actor/TV personality (“PC” in long-running Apple Computer Mac ads; “The Daily Show“).
Notes: Bookish, likable manner and quirky, tweedy humor have made him a major breakout minor celebrity, crossing over beyond geek circles; near-ubiquity in 2007 and 2008 could lead to “Dude, you’re getting a Dell”-style backlash. Defeated Ben Stein in Round 1 and Spock in Round 2.

They Might Be Giants: Grammy Award-winning alt-pop duo John Flansburgh and John Linnell.
Notes: Extremely popular in geek circles for their catchy, melodic, humorous and intelligent music; frequent collaborators on TV, movie, literature and other projects (geek and non-geek); probably most widely known for “The Boss of Me”, theme song to Fox Television’s “Malcolm in the Middle“. Recent Dunkin’ Donuts commercial work may provoke cries from hardcore fans of “selling out.” Defeated Ponder Stibbons in Round 1 and Tom Lehrer in Round 2.

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MATCH #4

Gabe & Tycho vs. Douglas Adams

Heroes of today or legend of all time?

Gabe & Tycho: Webcomic alter egos of Penny Arcade writers/creators Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik
Notes: Multiple weekly strips are a touchstone of gaming and gamer culture. Characters also help promote the PAX gaming festival and Child’s Play charitable effort. Defeated Sarah Vowell in Round 1 and Alton Brown in Round 2.

Douglas Adams: Author best known for his The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series.
Notes: Tremendous champion of technology; wrote several “Doctor Who” episodes; appeared briefly in two episodes of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus“; 42. Defeated Bill Gates in Round 1 and “Weird Al” Yankovic in Round 2.

[poll id=76]

GEEK MADNESS: Lobot Region, Round 2

Paul and Storm — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:06:52 +0000

Can you feel the heat from the fever, currently hovering around 312 K??? (Check it and see!) Well it’s about to get even hotter as the last four members of the Geek 16 are decided—voting is now open for Round 2 of the Lobot Region, and will close on Sunday, February 8th at 7 pm. All results up to this point are on the main Geek Madness page.

Review all the matchups and go vote, after the break.

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MATCH #1:

Jonathan Coulton vs. Bill Nye

Notes: Earned title of “Internet Superstar” by gathering a large, loyal following by employing online tools to enable his audience to find him; among his viral hits are “Code Monkey” and an acoustic cover of Sir Mix-a-lot’s “Baby Got Back”; major advocate of Creative Commons. Defeated Angus MacGyverin Round 1.

[FULL DISCLOSURE: Tournament hosts often tour with Mr. Coulton.]

Bill Nye: Science educator, mechanical engineer, and comedian popularly known for his television show “Bill Nye the Science Guy“.

Notes: May not have made science “cool”, but his humorous and engaging techniques at least showed kids that science did not have to be dreaded. Defeated Seth MacFarlane in Round 1.

[poll id=69]

MATCH #2

Doctor Who vs. Joss Whedon

Doctor Who: Time-traveling character of self-titled BBC television sci-fi series.
Notes: An alien “time lord” who travels the universe righting injustice and fighting cheaply-rendered monsters, The Doctor’s intellectual curiosity and eccentric fashion sense have long been a favorite of British geeks, and then American geeks when the series was rebroadcast on PBS stations in the 1980s; has a cool ride. Defeated Larry Lessig in Round 1.

[poll id=70]

MATCH #3

John Lasseter vs. Stan Lee

Notes: Led the charge in making computer animation a viable, profitable medium for major motion pictures—and, more importantly, continually emphasized quality and entertainment value above all other considerations, leading to a nearly-unbroken streak of award-winning, universally-acclaimed films. (The jury is still out on Cars.) Defeated Lisa Simpson in Round 1.

[poll id=71]

MATCH #4

Tom Servo & Crow vs. Felicia Day

Tom Servo & Crow T. Robot: Wise-cracking robots from “Mystery Science Theater 3000“.
Notes: Personal development of an entire generation of geeks likely influenced by these smart, snarky characters’ observations and delivery style; unafraid of esoteric references and show tunes. Defeated Eddie Deezen in Round 1.

[poll id=72]

GEEK MADNESS: Lobot Region, Round 1

Paul and Storm — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:57:34 +0000

Voting is closed for Jor-El Region, Round 1—results are posted on the main Geek Madness page, along with the Bombadil and Do’Urden Region, Round 1 results.

And now the last of the Round 1 brackets, Lobot Region is now open for voting, and will close on Sunday, Jan. 11th at 8 pm EST. Next up, Do’Urden Round 2, the winners of which will move on to the Geek 16.

Read about all the matchups and go vote, after the break.

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MATCH #1:

Jonathan Coulton vs. Angus MacGyver

Angus MacGyver: Television action hero from 80′s/90′s show MacGyver.
Notes: Solved problems and got out of jams using technical knowledge; capable of creating WMDs from common household objects; Bouvier constituency extremely loyal and vocal.

[poll id=47]

MATCH #2:

Bill Nye vs. Seth MacFarlane

Bill Nye: Science educator, mechanical engineer, and comedian popularly known for his television show “Bill Nye the Science Guy“.
Notes: May not have made science “cool”, but his humorous and engaging techniques at least showed kids that science did not have to be dreaded.

Seth MacFarlane: Writer/actor/comedian/composer/singer best known for cartoon series “Family Guy“.
Notes: Sprinkles episodes with pop culture references, many of them sci-fi/fantasy; has participated in the Star Trek, Hellboy, and Adult Swim franchises; nomination would open up possibilities for self-lampooning administration.

[poll id=48]

MATCH #3

Doctor Who vs. Larry Lessig

Larry Lessig: Academic and activist, founding board member of Creative Commons.
Notes: Vocal proponent of the “Free Culture” movement; was a colleague of Obama’s when both were teaching law at the University of Chicago; would be disqualified if actually selected to head the FCC.

[poll id=49]

MATCH #4

Joss Whedon vs. Ken Plume

Ken Plume: Internet nabob; runs Quick Stop Entertainment website; co-host of The Ken P.D. Snydecast.
Notes: One of the better-connected people you’ve probably never heard of (sometimes referred to as “The Nexus”), Plume’s fabled Rolodex is filled with contact info many geeks would sever a limb to have; has X-Men-like ability to compel people do his bidding; as the operator of a big media company, has large megaphone with which to broadcast agenda. [FULL DISCLOSURE: we are in Ken's Rolodex.]

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MATCH #5

Lisa Simpson vs. John Lasseter

Lisa Simpson: Elder daughter and brainy middle child of cartoon family The Simpsons.
Notes: Expresses the soul of geekdom in every aspect of her life; brilliant though often misguided by her own compassion; watching her cope with her own social awkwardness can be cringe-inducing yet reassuring to the similarly inflicted.

John Lasseter: Animator; director/co-director, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Cars; chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Principal Creative Advisor for Walt Disney Imagineering.
Notes: Led the charge in making computer animation a viable, profitable medium for major motion pictures—and, more importantly, continually emphasized quality and entertainment value above all other considerations, leading to a nearly-unbroken streak of award-winning, universally-acclaimed films. (The jury is still out on Cars)

[poll id=51]

MATCH #6

Danica McKellar vs. Stan Lee

Danica McKellar: Actress best known as Winnie Cooper from television’s “The Wonder Years“; author of New York Times bestsellers Math Doesn’t Suck and Kiss My Math.
Notes: Survived childhood acting career (as a surrogate “first girlfriend” for thousands of late-1980s adolescents), eventually graduating summa cum laude with a mathematics degree from UCLA; has written two books encouraging the fight against the stereotype that girls can’t/shouldn’t do math; co-author of her own theorem.

[poll id=52]

MATCH #7

Tom Servo & Crow T. Robot vs. Eddie Deezen

Eddie Deezen: Actor known for portrayals of nerdy characters in ’70s/’80s films, notably in Grease and WarGames.
Notes: While arguably more “nerd” than “geek,” unmistakably marked an evolution from the Arnold Stang/Jerry Lewis “Nutty Professor” type towards a character more unapologetic about and proud of his braininess and obsessiveness; also, appeared in both “Dexter’s Laboratory” and “The Weird Al Show“, either one of which would earn him ample (un)cool points.

[poll id=53]

MATCH #8

Felicia Day vs. Ernie Kovacs

Ernie Kovacs: Early television/comedy pioneer known for oddball humor.
Notes: Pushed the envelope of television technology and surrealist humor to make people laugh; influenced future geek-appeal programs and individuals including Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, The Uncle Floyd Show, Saturday Night Live, Captain Kangaroo, Sesame Street, and David Letterman.

[poll id=54]

GEEK MADNESS: Bombadil Region, Round 1

Paul and Storm — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:12:58 +0000

Voting is closed for Do’Urden Region, Round 1—results are posted on the main Geek Madness page.

But the Battle for Secretary of Geek Affairs rages on and voting for Round 1 of the Bombadil Region is now open, and will close on Sunday, Dec. 28th at 6 pm EST, at which point the next round (Jor-El Region, Round 1) will begin.

Read about all the matchups and go vote, after the break. Spread the word!

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MATCH #1:

John Hodgman vs. Ben Stein

Ben Stein: Actor (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off); television personality (“Win Ben Stein’s Money“); political & economic commentator; former speechwriter for Nixon administration.
Notes: Uses dry, professorial style to great comedic affect; brilliant concept of competing in his own game show was well-executed, and displayed serious chutzpah; advocacy of intelligent design theory may have harmed his credibility among greater geek community.

[poll id=31]

MATCH #2:

Spock vs. Vint Cerf

Spock: Half-human, half-Vulcan character from Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek universe.
Notes: First introduced as Science Officer/First Officer under Capt. James T. Kirk on the USS Enterprise.
Logical outlook meshes well with Obama’s “no drama” style; vetting will determine if tenure will overlap with his Pon farr.

Vint Cerf: Computer scientist; technology futurist; co-author of TCP/IP; one of several people widely credited as “Father of the Internet.”
Notes: Though there are many alleged “Fathers of the Internet,” Cerf can rightfully claim passing on many of its traits; has continued to promote its evolution, and is currently a VP and Chief Internet Evangelist at Google.

[poll id=32]

MATCH #3

They Might Be Giants vs. Ponder Stibbons

Ponder Stibbons: Wizard from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.
Notes: Expert in a wide range of fields that could be described as scientific. Often compared to Harry Potter, but appeared in literature seven years before J.K. Rowling’s better-known character.

[poll id=33]

MATCH #4

Ze Frank vs. Tom Lehrer

Ze Frank: Online creative juggernaut widely known for his 365-day video blog the show with ze frank.
Notes: Pioneering use of online and other creative tools demonstrates a mindset that is well suited to establishing and defining a new cabinet position.

Tom Lehrer: Songwriter/satirist, best known for humorous songs written for TV’s “That Was the Week That Was” and “The Electric Company“; taught political science and mathematics at MIT and UC Santa Cruz.
Notes: Pronounced influence on many other subsequent parodists/satirists, including “Weird Al” Yankovic; unafraid of tackling controversial topics; had the conviction to stop writing and performing once he felt like he had nothing new left to say; can turn a tub into a tube.

[poll id=34]

MATCH #5

Alton Brown vs. Encyclopedia Brown

Alton Brown: Food Network celebrity chef (“Good Eats“; “Feasting On Asphalt“; “Iron Chef America“).
Notes: Workaholic, detail-oriented personality; noted for his creative and entertaining science-oriented approach to food and cooking; also a cinematographer and pilot; abhors single-use kitchen gadgets.

Encyclopedia Brown: Boy detective in Donald J. Sobol series of children’s mystery books.
Notes: Recognized by his fictional peers for his intelligence and cleverness; a positive role model who encourages children to use their brains to solve problems.

[poll id=35]

MATCH #6

Gabe & Tycho (Penny Arcade) vs. Sarah Vowell

Sarah Vowell: Author (Radio On; The Wordy Shipmates); and NPR personality (This American Life); voice of “Violet” in Pixar’s The Incredibles.
Notes: Favored guest on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien“; has intellectual and geeky but polarizing love/hate persona.

[poll id=36]

MATCH #7

“Weird Al” Yankovic vs. Weezer

“Weird Al” Yankovic: Musician, parodist; released 17 albums (7 platinum and 4 gold) since 1983; writer/director/star, UHF.
Notes: Rose to fame in the early 80′s as a favorite of The Dr. Demento Show; has exhibited greater longevity than most artists he’s parodied; has directed many of his own music videos, as well as for Ben Folds and The Presidents of the United States of America (among others); “White & Nerdy” YouTube music video has accumulated over 41 million hits; once had a bitchin’ mustache.

Weezer: Alternative rock band especially popular in geek circles.
Notes: Mix of musicianship, geek-quirky songwriting sensibilities, and internet savvy help preserve their place on playlists around the world. Best known for song “Undone – The Sweater Song” and song & video for “Buddy Holly.” Recent song “Pork and Beans” spawned an internet meme.

[poll id=37]

MATCH #8

Bill Gates vs. Douglas Adams

Bill Gates: Co-founder, Microsoft; number one on Forbes list of “The World’s Richest People” from 1995-2007; went “part-time” in 2006 to concentrate on his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Notes: Led company to become a cornerstone of the current worldwide IT reality; also known for his short film Man Hit in the Face with a Pie; virtual exit from Microsoft shortly before release of Vista operating system supports the theory that Gates is the World’s Smartest Man.

Douglas Adams Author best known for his The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series.
Notes: Tremendous champion of technology; wrote several “Doctor Who” episodes; appeared briefly in two episodes of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus“; 42.

[poll id=38]

GEEK MADNESS: Do’Urden Region, Week 1

Paul and Storm — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:13:13 +0000

Let the games begin! Our first sixteen competitors jump into the fray for the inaugural round of the Battle for Secretary of Geek Affairs. Voting for Round 1 of the Do’Urden Regon is now open, and will close on Sunday, Dec. 21st at 7 pm (a completely arbitrary stop time, as is our wont), at which point the next round (Bombadil Region, Round 1) will begin.

Read about all the matchups and go vote, after the break. And tell your friends!

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MATCH #1:

Linus Torvalds vs. Mr. Peabody

Linus Torvalds: Founder of the Linux kernel; notable standard-bearer of the Open Source revolution.
Notes: Extra points for coming from off the beaten path (Finland); married a Finnish national karate champion.

Mr. Peabody: Time-traveling talking dog featured in “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show“; genius.
Notes: Time machine could be useful for policy implementation; might face Congressional scrutiny during confirmation hearings over possible NAMBLA associations.

[poll id=23]

MATCH #2:

Simon Pegg vs. Peter Parker

Peter Parker: Real identity of superhero Spider-Man; amateur scientist and freelance photographer.
Notes: Wise-cracking nature and proclivity for violence may undermine policy implementation efforts.

[poll id=24]

MATCH #3

Paul Allen vs. Patton Oswalt

Paul Allen: Co-founder, Microsoft; all-around geek entrepreneur.
Notes: Leading promoter and funder of tech through his cash-strewing venture, Vulcan Inc., as well as numerous charitable projects; is in part responsible for architectural monstrosity The Experience Music Project.

Patton Oswalt Comedian, actor; voice of “Remy” in Ratatouille; noted comic book and Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast.
Notes: Highly respected in comedy circles as “comedian’s comedian;” articulate, fervent, and unafraid to voice his opinion; diminutive, troll-like stature; will not rest until George Lucas is made to pay for Star Wars prequels.

[poll id=25]

MATCH #4

Kevin Smith vs. Randall Munroe

Kevin Smith: Film director/writer (including Clerks, Chasing Amy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno); guest writer for Marvel Comics (Daredevil, Spider-Man) and DC Comics (Green Arrow) .
Notes: Noted for his on-screen appearances as “Silent Bob;” characters honestly portray geekdom at its best (and worst), and his dialogue is in common use as a short-hand second language; unfortunately, is from New Jersey; also, Jersey Girl.

[poll id=26]

MATCH #5

Kaylee Frye vs. The Professor

The Professor: Character from TV show “Gilligan’s Island“. Complete name is Roy Hinkley (Martin), B.A., B.S., M.A., Ph.D.
Notes: A resourceful voice of reason in difficult situations; met the Harlem Globetrotters.

[poll id=27]

MATCH #6

Tricia “Trillian” McMillan vs. Rick Moranis

Tricia “Trillian” McMillan: Character in Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series; brilliant astrophysicist and mathematician; one of two remaining living Earthlings.
Notes: Keeps company with Zaphod Beeblebroz; eventually ends up with hapless, well-intentioned Arthur Dent, giving hope to similarly hapless, well-intentioned geeks worldwide.

Rick Moranis: Actor/comedian/writer, “SCTV“, Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, Little Shop of Horrors; known for his portrayals of nerd/geek characters; Canadian.
Notes: Smart, incisive satirist with extreme likability; was in Strange Brew. However, was also in The Flintstones.

[poll id=28]

MATCH #7

RMS vs. Gadget

RMS (Richard Matthew Stallman): Founder of the free software GNU project; software and political activist; hacker extraordinaire.
Notes: Extremely strong tech geek credentials; could be difficult keeping him “on message.”

Gadget: Mechanically-inclined mouse from Disney’s “Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers” cartoon series. Full name: Gadget Hackwrench.
Notes: Although quick-witted and resourceful, her solutions often do as much harm as good.

[poll id=29]

MATCH #8

Steve Jobs vs. Cast of Revenge of the Nerds

Cast of Revenge of the Nerds Film protagonists who form a college fraternity in order to thrive in an environment hostile to their kind.
Notes: Plucky, never-give-up attitude; strongly value and embrace diversity; known for clever, science-based solutions to difficult obstacles; will come stage tonight to do a show for you; several of them totally get to do it with chicks; potential hygiene issues.

[poll id=30]

GEEK MADNESS: Revised Brackets!

Paul and Storm — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:09:05 +0000

Our Geek Madness Tournament kicks off tomorrow; and just in time, we’ve posted revised brackets. Over the past week, we’ve heard your requests, suggestions, complaints and threats; we’ve ignored the vast majority of them, but a couple have made some degree of sense. Those particular ideas have been especially ignored; but we did indeed change a few things around anyway.

A few old favorites have been replaced with new favorites; some pairings have been switched up…the one thing we know for sure is that everyone will be disappointed and/or annoyed to some degree. Nonetheless, the revised brackets below are the FINAL, officially official ones. So, candidates, rally your troops, bring your “A” game, and get ready to battle it out for the right to become the first U.S. Secretary fo Geek Affairs…

(click the above image for a larger version, or download the Adobe Acrobat version)

You can also view the individual region brackets: Bombadil, Do’Urden, Jor-El, and Lobot.