Category: Geek Cred

Athenae, Geek Cred3 Comments

Apologies

Either you’re slingin’ crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot. So at some point between unloading our last, shitty domain company and taking on the new, hopefully less shitty domain company, the chinchillas who run our servers saw a sliver of daylight under the door and made a run for Tijuana. When Jude caught up to them they were blind on the cheap shit and one of them was nuzzling Karl Rove’s leather slave. Jude sobered them up, I posted their bail, and the best road trip ever would have ensued but for the border patrol, who objected … Continue reading Apologies

Athenae, Geek Cred6 Comments

Claire Supported First Draft Before It Was Cool

Allison Hantschel

Supporting your favorite blogs is so mainstream nowadays. (Yes, those are actually glasses on her, though we ‘shopped out the weird-ass decor going on at Casa Athenae these days in favor of this fine photo studio background. People make little glasses for dolls. I am glad we live in a world where this is the case.) WE DID IT! Doc will be posting a picture of his lizard shortly since you maniacs can’t be stopped! Thanks to everybody who contributed to First Draft, who hit up the tip jar, posted about the drive, retweeted and commented in support! I’ve tried … Continue reading Claire Supported First Draft Before It Was Cool

Athenae, Geek Cred6 Comments

Claire Supported First Draft Before It Was Cool

Supporting your favorite blogs is so mainstream nowadays. (Yes, those are actually glasses on her, though we ‘shopped out the weird-ass decor going on at Casa Athenae these days in favor of this fine photo studio background. People make little glasses for dolls. I am glad we live in a world where this is the case.) WE DID IT! Doc will be posting a picture of his lizard shortly since you maniacs can’t be stopped! Thanks to everybody who contributed to First Draft, who hit up the tip jar, posted about the drive, retweeted and commented in support! I’ve tried … Continue reading Claire Supported First Draft Before It Was Cool

Athenae, Geek Cred6 Comments

First Draft Fundraising Day Four: The Bribery Begins

Allison Hantschel

All right, we’re nearing the midway point of the drive, which is usually when I have to remind everybody of what you can get when you generously donate to First Draft: That’s right. You get a ferret in an outfit. If we reach our goal by Friday, we’ll give you a Claire, or a Bucky, or maybe even a Chicken-Riot, in a hat. Or a hoodie. Or a fetching pair of earmuffs. Because that’s how we roll around here. Other websites may give you more trenchant observations on the human condition, or funnier cock jokes, but we pimp our pets … Continue reading First Draft Fundraising Day Four: The Bribery Begins

Athenae, Geek Cred6 Comments

First Draft Fundraising Day Four: The Bribery Begins

All right, we’re nearing the midway point of the drive, which is usually when I have to remind everybody of what you can getwhen you generously donate to First Draft: That’s right. You get a ferret in an outfit. If we reach our goal by Friday, we’ll give you a Claire, or a Bucky, or maybe even a Chicken-Riot, in a hat. Or a hoodie. Or a fetching pair of earmuffs. Because that’s how we roll around here. Other websites may give you more trenchant observations on the human condition, or funnier cock jokes, but we pimp our pets for … Continue reading First Draft Fundraising Day Four: The Bribery Begins

Athenae, Geek Cred10 Comments

This Ain’t No Freepathon: First Draft Fundraising Day 3

Allison Hantschel

No, I’m not going to shut the site down and send the whole Internet home without its supper if we don’t get our way. That isn’t how this works. I can’t scare you with tales of server expenses and, I dunno, a new gas grill because mine got knocked over in the rain or something. What I can tell you is that your contributions are a vote of confidence in what we’re building here. An independent place for commentary, discussion, fun, and good. A place for people who don’t just want to bitch about stuff. A place for people who … Continue reading This Ain’t No Freepathon: First Draft Fundraising Day 3

Athenae, Geek Cred10 Comments

This Ain’t No Freepathon: First Draft Fundraising Day 3

No, I’m not going to shut the site down and send the whole Internet home without its supper if we don’t get our way. That isn’t how this works. I can’t scare you with tales of server expenses and, I dunno, a new gas grill because mine got knocked over in the rain or something. What I can tell you is thatyour contributions are a vote of confidence in what we’re building here. An independent place for commentary, discussion, fun, and good. A place for people who don’t just want to bitch about stuff. A place for people who want … Continue reading This Ain’t No Freepathon: First Draft Fundraising Day 3

Athenae, Geek Cred

First Draft Fundraising Day Two

Allison Hantschel

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the drive so far!  If you haven’t hit the tip jar, please consider doing so. In an election year, I know there are lots of other places asking for your donations and attention, and it means a great deal to know that you value the commentary and the coverage we provide here. Your contributions make this place what it is, and I’m immensely proud of what it’s become over the years.  Keep the crack van running!  A.    Continue reading First Draft Fundraising Day Two

Athenae, Geek Cred

First Draft Fundraising Day Two

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the drive so far!  If you haven’t hit the tip jar, please considerdoing so. In an election year, I know there are lots of other places asking for your donations and attention, and it means a great deal to know that you value the commentary and the coverage we provide here. Your contributions make this place what it is, and I’m immensely proud of what it’s become over the years.  Keep the crack van running!  A.    Continue reading First Draft Fundraising Day Two

Athenae, Geek Cred4 Comments

Support First Draft Week

Allison Hantschel

Hey all, it’s that time again. Once a year, we ask that if you value what you get from the site, to please hit up the tip jar for us.Your contributions keep the site running, support the coverage we provide and the commentary you take part in, and we value your investment here. Next year’s our 10th anniversary, and we’ve got some big things planned. Be a part of it.Contribute to First Draft today. Continue reading Support First Draft Week

Athenae, Geek Cred4 Comments

Support First Draft Week

Hey all, it’s that time again. Once a year, we ask that if you value what you get from the site, to pleasehit up the tip jar for us.Your contributions keep the site running, support the coverage we provide and the commentary you take part in, and we value your investment here. Next year’s our 10th anniversary, and we’ve got some big things planned. Be a part of it.Contribute to First Draft today. Continue reading Support First Draft Week

Athenae, Geek Cred, Immoral Values5 Comments

On Not Being Creepy

Allison Hantschel

Basically, this boils down to TAKE THE HINT: 10. Someone doesn’t want you around? Go away. Here are some subtle hints: When you come by they don’t make eye contact with you. When they are in a group the group contracts or turns away from you. If you interject in the conversation people avoid following up on what you’ve said. One of the friends of the person you are interested in interposes themselves between you and that person. And so on. When stuff like that happens, guess what? You’re not wanted. When that happens, here’s what you do: Go away. … Continue reading On Not Being Creepy

Athenae, Geek Cred, Immoral Values5 Comments

On Not Being Creepy

Basically, this boils down to TAKE THE HINT: 10. Someone doesn’t want you around? Go away. Here are some subtle hints: When you come by they don’t make eye contact with you. When they are in a group the group contracts or turns away from you. If you interject in the conversation people avoid following up on what you’ve said. One of the friends of the person you are interested in interposes themselves between you and that person. And so on. When stuff like that happens, guess what? You’re not wanted. When that happens, here’s what you do: Go away. … Continue reading On Not Being Creepy

Athenae, Geek Cred, So Called Liberal Media, Television

Just This Side of a Snuff Film: The Newsroom Thread

S1E4_1208

TWO PHONES, ONE HEAD, MOTHERFUCKER.

Dan Rather, from a while back:

Things I especially liked (and know to be true based on my own experience): How a newsroom springs to life when a big breaking story hits. (The example they used is the Giffords shooting in Arizona.) How it’s nearly always true that some good reporter gets fixated on some “way out” story (The example for this is the “Big Foot” story that won’t die.) The sleepless nights of anchormen (and women), who, if they are any good, have more of them than most people—sometimes for good reasons, sometimes for trivial ones.

Because that’s it, you know? The passion’s right. The rest of it, forgivable, fixable, whatever. But this gets the dynamic right.

Continue reading “Just This Side of a Snuff Film: The Newsroom Thread”

Athenae, Geek Cred, Television5 Comments

YOU’RE A FUCKING NEWSMAN, DON: The Newsroom Thread

Allison Hantschel

S1E3_678

MAGGIE.And other women I love:

Alison Pill’s meek Maggie, who is pushed around by her newsbeau on the show, and once hid under a dorm-room bed while the guy who stashed her there had sex with an old girlfriend — is a more annoying version of Donna from Sorkin’s West Wing, someone we’ll get to watch grow, and who will probably grow on us.

Or must all the women on the show be strong as well as brave? To those who complain about how often the male characters tell their female counterparts what to think and do, I’d just say that’s been known to happen in real newsrooms, too.

Not every female character must carry the banner of the sisterhood in just the same way, be a heroine or a villainness, but always strong. I remember the same complaints about Donna and CJ (who is my motherfucking homegirl) and especially Dana Whittaker because of what a train wreck her personal life was, but they were all exponentially more interesting than anybody on the Walking Dead.

Continue reading “YOU’RE A FUCKING NEWSMAN, DON: The Newsroom Thread”

Athenae, Geek Cred, Television5 Comments

YOU’RE A FUCKING NEWSMAN, DON: The Newsroom Thread

S1E3_678

MAGGIE.And other women I love:

Alison Pill’s meek Maggie, who is pushed around by her newsbeau on the show, and once hid under a dorm-room bed while the guy who stashed her there had sex with an old girlfriend — is a more annoying version of Donna from Sorkin’s West Wing, someone we’ll get to watch grow, and who will probably grow on us.

Or must all the women on the show be strong as well as brave? To those who complain about how often the male characters tell their female counterparts what to think and do, I’d just say that’s been known to happen in real newsrooms, too.

Not every female character must carry the banner of the sisterhood in just the same way, be a heroine or a villainness, but always strong. I remember the same complaints about Donna and CJ (who is my motherfucking homegirl) and especially Dana Whittaker because of what a train wreck her personal life was, but they were all exponentially more interesting than anybody on the Walking Dead.

Continue reading “YOU’RE A FUCKING NEWSMAN, DON: The Newsroom Thread”

Athenae, Geek Cred, Television4 Comments

Be Grateful You Weren’t Facing The Other Way: The Newsroom Thread

Tumblr_m5z58rym561qbqac0o1_500

First of all, I have to talk aboutthis, because I spent the first part of last week being actually really upset and ill about it:

“Listen here, Internet girl,” he says, getting up. “It wouldn’t kill you to watch a film or pick up a newspaper once in a while.” I’m not sure how he’s forgotten that I amwriting for a newspaper; looking over the publicist’s shoulder, I see that every reporter is from a print publication (do not see: Drew Magary). I remind him. I say also, factually, “I have aNew York Timessubscription and an HBO subscription. Any other advice?”

He looks surprised, then high-fives me. Being not a person who high-fives or generally makes physical contact with interview subjects, I look more surprised.

“I’m sick of girls who don’t know how to high-five,” he says. He makes me try to do it “properly,” six times. He also makes me laugh; I’m nervous, and it’s so absurd. He loves it. He says, “Let me manhandle you.” Then he ambles off, hoping I’ll write something nice, as though he has never known how the news works, how many stories can be true.

Continue reading “Be Grateful You Weren’t Facing The Other Way: The Newsroom Thread”

Athenae, Geek Cred, Television10 Comments

I Remembered, I Run A News Division: Newsroom Thread

Allison Hantschel

Mchale

I mean it, it’s different this time. It’s really special. You wouldn’t understand.

I’m going to take a page from Aaron Sorkin’s book and tell you why smarter people than I am are absolutely wrong.Pierce:

Cronkite did his famous “We are mired in a stalemate” in 1968, which was about six years at least after said stalemate was obvious to people like Neil Sheehan. A year after Cronkite’s broadcast, a solid plurality of Americans polled were still in favor of “total military victory,” whatever the hell that meant, and the war groaned on for four more years, more than 20,000 more dead Americans, and god alone knows how many more dead Asian peasants. Murrow certainly contributed to Joseph McCarthy’s downfall, but not as much as Joseph Welch did, and Murrow did it while still hosting a show where he had to ask Liberace when he was planning to get married. Sorkin is so attached to his own personal Great Man theory that he applies it retroactively to events most of his audience is old enough to have lived through, and, at those moments, he seems to be relying on the general American historical amnesia so many of his characters spend so much time decrying.

Spoilers within.

Continue reading “I Remembered, I Run A News Division: Newsroom Thread”

Athenae, Geek Cred, Television10 Comments

I Remembered, I Run A News Division: Newsroom Thread

Mchale

I mean it, it’s different this time. It’s really special. You wouldn’t understand.

I’m going to take a page from Aaron Sorkin’s book and tell you why smarter people than I am are absolutely wrong.Pierce:

Cronkite did his famous “We are mired in a stalemate” in 1968, which was about six years at least after said stalemate was obvious to people like Neil Sheehan. A year after Cronkite’s broadcast, a solid plurality of Americans polled were still in favor of “total military victory,” whatever the hell that meant, and the war groaned on for four more years, more than 20,000 more dead Americans, and god alone knows how many more dead Asian peasants. Murrow certainly contributed to Joseph McCarthy’s downfall, but not as much as Joseph Welch did, and Murrow did it while still hosting a show where he had to ask Liberace when he was planning to get married. Sorkin is so attached to his own personal Great Man theory that he applies it retroactively to events most of his audience is old enough to have lived through, and, at those moments, he seems to be relying on the general American historical amnesia so many of his characters spend so much time decrying.

Spoilers within.

Continue reading “I Remembered, I Run A News Division: Newsroom Thread”

Athenae, Geek Cred

Nothing But LOLCATS!

Allison Hantschel

Apparently it’s Be That Guy Who Deplores the Tone in the Room Day. Lucky me. There’s been a lot of talk in the navel-gazing media about the fact that the New York Times is partnering with Buzzfeed to cover the conventions later this summer. Here’s what I don’t get with all the condescension towards Buzzfeed and Gawker: in what world is having your work featured beside Honey Badger mash-ups and side-boob shots more damaging to your journalistic reputation than kissing up to Joe Scarborough and Hugh Hewitt and Laura Ingraham? All these serious journalist motherfuckers (Tapper, Fineman, Halperin, Allen, etc.) … Continue reading Nothing But LOLCATS!

Athenae, Geek Cred

Nothing But LOLCATS!

Apparently it’s Be That Guy Who Deplores the Tone in the Room Day. Lucky me. There’s been a lot of talk in the navel-gazing media about the fact that theNew York Times is partnering with Buzzfeed to cover the conventions later this summer. Here’s what I don’t get with all the condescension towards Buzzfeed and Gawker: in what world is having your work featured beside Honey Badger mash-ups and side-boob shots more damaging to your journalistic reputation than kissing up to Joe Scarborough and Hugh Hewitt and Laura Ingraham? All these serious journalist motherfuckers (Tapper, Fineman, Halperin, Allen, etc.) are … Continue reading Nothing But LOLCATS!