Half of the Geek 16 has been decided, and now it’s time for the Jor-El Region to represent–voting is now open, and will close on Sunday, February 1st at 7 pm, at which point the next round (Lobot Region, Round 2) will begin. All results to-date are on the main Geek Madness page.
Review all the matchups and go vote, after the break.
click for larger image
MATCH #1:
Wil Wheaton vs. Wesley Crusher 
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.
Wesley Crusher: Teenage Star Trek TNG character portrayed by Wil Wheaton.
Notes: Despite being a minor, substantively contributed to mission of the USS Enterprise; smarter than his years would normally indicate; left Enterprise to literally travel to alternate planes of reality; seemingly universally disliked by hardcore Star Trek fanbase. Defeated Dilton Doiley in Round 1.
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MATCH #2
Stephen Hawking vs. MC Frontalot 
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.
MC Frontalot: Rap artist; originator of term “nerdcore.”
Notes: Rapper laureate for webcomic Penny Arcade, and regular performer at PAX; not the originator of the nerdcore genre, but certainly one of its brightest stars. Defeated Merlin Mann in Round 1.
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MATCH #3
Steve Wozniak vs. Dr. Carl Sagan 
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.
Dr. Carl Sagan: Astronomer, scientist, and author widely known from PBS series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage, novel Contact and other works.
Notes: Brought traditionally nerdy interests to billions and billions (well…certainly millions). Champion of the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Involved with the U.S. space program since its inception. Hard core. Defeated Hermione Granger in Round 1.
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MATCH #4
Jamie & Adam vs. Veronica Belmont 
Jamie Hyneman & Adam Savage: Techno-savvy special effects gurus and hosts of “Mythbusters” on the Discovery Channel.
Notes: Scientific approach to proving/debunking urban and pop culture myths is unabashedly geeky; represent the traditional duality within all geeks of methodical study and over-excitement at blowing shit up. Defeated Penn & Teller in Round 1.
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.
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35 Comments
First!
1) Will – I will go with real > fake.
2) Hawking. He proved that 2+2=5 in a cartoon once. Plus, I mean he’s a genius. Who’s he up against? A rapper… wow…
3) Sagan, no question about it. Woz gets points for being a geeky inventor type, but loses those points and a whole lot more for liking Jobs who I find very unlikable, having never met him but looked at everything he and his company have ever done.
4) Jamie and Adam of course. Sorry Vernonica, bros before hos. Mythbusters would be enough to put them over the top, but that whole situation with Adam and Twitter and your concert, and such REALLY put them over AND gave 20 points to Gryffindor. Actually I always thought of Paul and Storm (myself too) as more of the Ravenclaw type. Hmm….
1) Wesley… Wil Beat Bruce Campbell… I’m still bitter…
2) Hawking… he’s more geek than Frontalot (this was where it started getting tough)
3) Woz. He’s who I aspire to be. Yeah the whole Jobs thing Roman said but he invented my first computer… This one was getting lots harder.
4) Arg DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE!!! I would vote for either of you but, Veronica, I’m sorry, I’ve known Jamie and Adam longer. Though I find your geekiness adequate, I just gotta go with length of service to the geek community. Come back in a couple years up against maybe a Natalie Del Conte and we’ll talk.
1) Wil because the his part in Criminal Minds smashed any vestigial connections to Wesley that might have lived this long.
2) Hawking…because he’s freaking Stephen Hawking!
3) Sagan. Got people to actually talk about science in general public.
4) Veronica. I salute Jamie and Adam but I have to send the love to the girl geeks. Pearls beyond price.
1) Wil Wheaton – because as much as I adored Wesley back in the day, Wil’s PAX keynote was outstanding.
2) Stephen Hawking, duh. Sorry Front – much love though.
3) Sagan, my first science love. Speaking of which, why isn’t Neil DeGrasse Tyson in the running?
4) Seeing as I’ve recently discovered Adam Savage is my soul mate, this was no contest. The man made his own dodo skeleton out of Super Sculpey, just because he just friggin’ felt like it. That’s the stuff that dreams are made of! Well, my dreams anyway.
I have to vote for Wesley just for the irony
I am proud to say I don’t know most of these people. But I did vote for Dr. Carl Sagan he’s my 5th grade crush!! Also, Veronica! Ya I like them boys that blow up things but what …..do you really need them? Veronica helps us! We need her 🙂 U go girL .. 🙂
Maybe I made a mistake, but too late.
My first thought was Jamie and Adam were just inches outside the “geek category” and Veronica is clearly in it. But on thinking about it– what are they if not geeks, right?
Hard to choose– like Grant and what’s her name Byron and the other guy too.
M.C. Frontalot… Really? Optimus Rhyme’s on whole nother level Yo!
Belmont FTMFW!
The first two were obvious, no discussion needed.
Woz v. Sagan, that was tough, though. Gotta give the edge to Sagan for making Geek palatable for the masses, though. Woz got the hardware out there, Sagan made us understand how it runs.
Mythbusters v. Veronica – I leaned toward Veronica, if only because she does her own stunts. The Mythbuster apprentices make me want to claw my eyes out with all their posing and trying to look cool. Veronica gets style points for just being herself. Edge, Veronica.
Wil Wheaton, because I was one of those fans back in the day who disliked the character even though I have come to respect him since.
Hawking. Its not even close.
Sagan by a freaking landslide. Woz did a lot for computers in general, but Sagan was the *ultimate* back in the days of the Cosmos series. Hell, a lot of you younger geeks weren’t even BORN when he was ruling the roost.
And Veronica, firstly because I cannot stand the MythBusters crew, secondly because the lady knows her *$&@.
@Haley I absolutely second the fact that Neil deGrasse Tyson should be in the running.
@roman v. @ haley Thirded (is that a thing?)
one – I take the same approach as @roman – real wins.
two – see above.
three – I went with Woz because a) he was the inspiration for a character on Code Monkeys and b) with the passing through of other geniuses with nasty personalities, I’d like to see a genuinely nice guy get through as well. This was definitely not an anti-Sagan vote, simply a pro-Woz vote.
four – Jamie & Adam, not their show, are the candidates here and for me they have proven that geek knowledge can be eminently practical. If congress or other cabinet members start promoting bad ideas, they’ll be able to demonstrate the catastrophes that would result. Boy howdy do we need that.
Wesley – Whil Wheaton is just too vulgar – we have enough of that verbal trash in the world.
Ok. I’ve just seen something that makes me wanna scream. We REALLY need our Secretary of Geek Affairs sooner rather than later. Or at least a Geek Laureate?
Apparently, there is a House Resolution to make all Camera Phones make a sound when taking a picture. And to enforce it as a safety feature, like seat belts. Good luck with that.
Arguments for: Sounds like a good idea.
Arguments Against: Completely unworkable, and won’t accomplish what you think it will.
How do we deal with older phones?
What about Cell phones that can take video? Will those need to beep constantly? That’d be fun.
Can’t you just put your finger over the speaker if you are trying to be sneaky?
Here’s the link to H.R. 414
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR00414:@@@L&summ2=m&
Sorry, but I needed to vent to a peer group. (That’d be you all 🙂
@ken kopin, Plus, anyone who really wants to be sneaky, will just desolder their speaker. Now, you’ve got your spy cam back. Don’t want to ruin your phone? Put a piece of scotch tape over the speaker and cover the tape in hot glue, you’re not hearing a click then!
Wow, this one was EASY.
1. Wheaton. Crusher was a more annoying version of Adric. Wheaton? Bloody awesome.
2. Hawking. Obviously, the man’s a friggin’ genius.
3. Sagan. It’s almost ENTIRELY because of him that I got the confidence to start studying science properly as a career. He’s my hero and my role model and he has GOT to win!
4. It’s Science meets Blowing Shit Up. Plus, they’ve done a LOT to promote scientific skepticism! How could you NOT love them?
“Whil Wheaton is just too vulgar – we have enough of that verbal trash in the world.”
… Just wanted to note that this is the most ridiculous statement I have ever read. Thanks for the belly laugh, David!
““Whil Wheaton is just too vulgar – we have enough of that verbal trash in the world.”
… Just wanted to note that this is the most ridiculous statement I have ever read. Thanks for the belly laugh, David!”
And yet, I could not agree more with David’s statement. We may be in the minority, but true geeks don’t like trash mixed with our geekyness. Vulgarity is for the double digit IQ geek wannabes of the world.
Guys, I beg of you, *beg*, please don’t be swayed by your penis. I know I’m being a gender traitor here, but come on, Jaine & Adam have the job every geek wants.
edit: Jaime, Sorry
Jamie and Adam are going to rebound.
Other Picks: Wheat, Hawk, Woz.
Woz has a date with the Hodgemank!
Did I vote already? Whah? There’s another Colleen? Are you my evil Mirror Mirror twin, or am I yours? 😉
1) ST:TNG fangirl that I am, I have to say that Wil Wheaton is a much better geek than Wesley could ever hope to be.
2) Stephen Hawking. Yeah, I’ll go for the scientist over the rapper any day.
3) Carl Sagan. Carl effing Sagan.
4) Veronica Belmont, because the world needs more geek girl role models. 🙂 (And geeky girls are HOT.)
bros before hos
I don’t want to turn this into a thing, but I have to say, that’s really awful and offensive.
1. I thought this one was going to be a pain and a half to decide for me, but it was almost as soon as I saw the vote buttons, something in me said “they’re just about equal, but one is real, the other isn’t”. Wil gets the vote.
2. THIS one, though, THAT’S a pain. Dr. Hawking is one of the very pillars of geekdom. Front is becoming such, but in the end, Hawking has MAD amounts of seniority. A brief history of my vote: Dr. Hawking. Now, if it were MC Frontalot versus MC Hawking…
3. Sorry, Woz, but you’re against Carl Sagan. CARL SAGAN. Just unfortunate for you the way the brackets turned out.
4. After last round’s comments whereupon Mrs. Belmont got reams and reams of praised heaped upon her for being a geek girl and hot and all that, I STILL don’t have the foggiest clue who she is or what all the big fuss is about. Granted, maybe the latter is because I hang out in a rather geeky game with a strong female population already, so maybe I’m just desensitized. Jamie and Adam, however, have managed to put the scientific method, the very HEART AND SOUL of all science, into a popular TV show, AND they blow stuff up, AND they’re incredibly geeky to boot. I’d call that Plausible, at the very least.
Definitely Woz over the BHA. Aside from the fact that he is smart, incredibly generous towards his fans and the community at large, has a great sense of humour and prior experience with international diplomacy (he gave the same GameBoys to both Gorbachev and Bush) and the Secret Service, and is just generally awesome, I would love to see the pranks he would pull on Obama and the rest of them.
Stephen Hawking over MC Frontalot, because he actually does science rather than singing about it.
The others, I’m not familiar with.
How is Woz beating Carl Sagan????????? Nothing against Woz, but that’s just not right! Are most voters here too young to remember Carl Sagan? It doesn’t make any sense.
1: Wil. I prefer real people, and looking at the numbers, he seems to be the real crusher.
2: Stephen Hawking. There’s just no contest.
3: Woz. I prefer living people.
4: V. I gave up television about ten years back; hence, I only know Adam Savage by reputation.
The Wil Wheaton photo is with me at PAX 07. But I am CROPPED OUT!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8bitjoystick/1245634603/
Wil FTW. Yes!!!
Can’t believe that Carl Sagan is losing, though. 🙁
Just watched Pirates of Silicon Valley, Woz rules!
I wonder how many people voted that way in Round 1 just so it could be Wil Wheaton vs. Wesley Crusher.
1) Wil Wheaton
2) Stephen Hawking
3) Dr. Carl Sagan
4) Veronica Belmont
1.-Will Wheaton
2.-Stephen Hawking
3.-Dr. Carl Sagan
4.-VERONICA BELMONT
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