Geeky Dancing: Where is My Mind?

So, I'm thinking about starting a series of videos where I dance to songs that have "geek based" background to them. For my first video of the series, I'm dancing to a song that you probably heard from the movie, "Fight Club" featuring Ed Norton and Brad Pitt. If you haven't seen the movie, but still know this song as a great Pixies song, more props to ya!


Song: "Where is My Mind" by Pixies


This is just a little improv I whipped together in a day.  Send me as much feedback as possible!  Thanks!


~Liz

Genres, Basically: Rock Music

With all these different sub-genres of rock music floating around, it is quite easy to get confused.  Allow me to help you clarify the meaning of some of these genres.

Rockabilly

Elvis, and all those other cool cats in the 1950s that your great grandparents probably hated.


Blues Rock

Take Muddy Waters.  Add Jagger.  John Mayer also creeps in.  The Black Keys make it delicious.


Hard Rock

A loosely defined group of music.  Makes you nod your head and go "Ungh!  Yeauh!"


Soft Rock

Opposite of Hard Rock, supposedly.  Also known as "Easy Listening".  Basically Fleetwood Mac.


Classic Rock

Anything before the 90s.  What your parents probably listen to.


Alternative Rock

Any rock music made after 1989.  Slowly being killed by Chicago radio.


Industrial Rock

Guitars, bass, and drums featuring the construction workers of America.  Sometimes band members reach their mid 40s and compose award-winning film scores.


Christian Rock

Guitars plus Jesus.  Handled with care, it can actually pass.


Folk Rock

I'm telling you a story...with guitars.  Fact:  Everybody, and I mean everybody loves at least one folk song.


Psychedelic Rock

alexross.com

It's exactly what you think it is.  Just watch Yellow Submarine...




Grunge

The 90s.  Garage bands.  Nirvana.  Flannel shirts.  Daria.


Glam Rock

I...I really don't think it's about the sound of the music.  The 'Lady Gaga's' of their day.


Rap Rock

kobun04.deviantart.com

Rock music with rappers.  Don't give me that look.  It's more frequent than you think it is.  I'm looking at you Linkin Park...Beastie Boys...Rage Against the Machine...Red Hot Chili Peppers...  The list goes on.

Heavy Metal

Loud.  Distorted.  Impressive screaming vocals.  Extra-long guitar solos.  Cool fast drumming-thingy.  Aggressive.  Whiplash.  Overcompensated masculinity.


Nu Metal

Love child of grunge and metal.  Hip hop sometimes visits on the weekends.  Here's looking at you, Korn.


Punk Rock

Anti-establishment influenced rock conceived in the 1970s.  Short songs, and simple riffs.  Went from The Clash to Green Day to Blink 182.  Keeps claiming that it is not dead.  Possibly may be in a state of denial.  Evidence shows that the Irish may still have it.


Ska Punk

thematicsradio.com

Combination of ska and punk rock elements.  Usually contains a brass section.  I'm thinking of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, but you're probably thinking of Sublime.  I'm okay with that.


Pop Rock

Mainstream, commercial, often unauthentic, but catchy.  Actually gets played on the radio.  Even the white kids can sing along.


Party Rock

Spoilers:  It's not really rock music.


I'd like to take this time to thank Wikipedia.com for all their scholarly help.  You truly are a student's dream.

Awesomely Bad Baby Names

Somewhere in the world, there is a person named Superman.  I know this not only because I read the news from time to time, but because people are crazy.  Even though it may seem as though I'm generalizing here, I am betting that you can relate.  Everyone has their beloved pop-culture symbols that they claim will one day be the namesake of either their future pets or children (or Sim characters, just to play it safe).

I think I'll name you Dr. House 

(sims3updates.net)

I am also one who is guilty of thinking up horrible little names to name my children and/or pets (True story: I have a fish named Gerard Butler).  However, when it comes to naming children, I think a little bit deeper.  If a person's going to keep their name for the rest of their life, it has to be good.  This is why I'm making a list (in no particular order) of some geek-inspired names that are a bit ridiculous but fantastic at the same time.

Constantine (as a boy's name)

I've loved this name ever since the first time I heard it.  I really don't know why.  It's nice as a girl name, but as a boy's name, it's just so unique and fresh.

The bad:  I'm guessing either two images popped into most of your heads upon reading the name:  Keanu Reeves from the movie of the same name, or that American Idol contestant who looks like he might be vampire.  The implications of giving a child this name will likely be a lifetime of extremely banal jokes about fighting demons and/or being pressured to audition for season 48 of American Idol.

"Yeah, Simon called me tone-deaf, so I shot him.  No big."

The awesome:  If you didn't automatically think of the movie or the American Idol contestant, then chances are you thought about the Constantine the Great, or St. Constantine, the Roman Emperor.  He signed the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, which proclaimed religious tolerance in the Roman Empire, thus lessening Christian persecution.  Yeah.  Just tell people he's the namesake of your child in case anyone asks.  Trust me; it'll reduce the awkward tension after a person asks, "Hey isn't Constantine the name of that Keanu Reeves movie", to which you will swiftly reply, "No.  It's a saint name.  How ignorant of you!"  Then you will briskly walk away with your stroller.

ALSO!  When you get angry and yell at your future child, Constantine, you will be able to say, "CON!"....  That was a Star Trek reference right there....

Ash

No.  I do not mean this in a "short-for-Ashley" kind of way.  I would never name my boy-kid Ashley.  I would however name him Ash.  Why?  Because I like it.

The bad:  I'm guessing that most of you have seen the popular children's television show, Pokemon.  Well, the main character of the show is named Ash, and he means well, but the kid gets a little annoying after a bit.  Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Ash Ketchum.  He was just a character that I never completely adored.  I was much more interested in Brock (even though he was a little over-sexed).  Long story short: You tell a person that your kid's name is Ash, and every teacher in the school district will be asking him this after roll call: "Do you want to be the very best...  Like no one ever was?  ...Then don't fail my class". 

"You think that's bad?  My sister's name is Snorlax."

The awesome:  Three words:  The Evil Dead.  You know who I'm thinking about.  Yes, it's Bruce Campbell's character of Ash from the Evil Dead movies.  This just might be one of the most bad-ass characters in all movie history.  He had a freaking chainsaw for a hand.  A chainsaw!  Not to mention, he has great one liners:

However, if naming your child after a movie character still isn't acceptable for you then, you can tell everyone it's just short for Asher.  It's a nice name, too.

And it's better than 'Bruce'.

Link

This guy probably has one of the most famous names in video game history.  He's also one of the most recognizable video game heroes.  His name is Link, and he doesn't talk (except for in the T.V. show, but let's not get crazy, now).

He's the ONLY character I use in Super Smash Bros.

The bad:  Upon introducing your child, Link, to society, he (or she if you're really cool) may be received with one of these reactions:

A#1.  Link's peers will forever ridicule him.  He will be pressured into sword fights and mocked when he speaks any word that isn't "AH".  Little annoying children with high pitched voices will follow him around constantly screaming "Hey!  Listen!", because they think it's so funny.  Upon reaching puberty, little Link will then try his hardest to avoid dating all females named Zelda, because he knows the wedding ceremony would be unbearably hilarious for all other attendees.

B#2.  People might say, "Hey your name is Link?  That's so cool.  I used to love that game!"

...Or "I still love that game", depending on the status of the franchise in 2020...

The awesome:  This name is lovely, and actually really want to name one of my children Link someday.  If you are also considering this as a baby name, don't worry about it being a name of almost empty meaning and origin (assuming that LoZ fandom is not enough ground for naming babies).  The name 'Link' can be short for 'Lincoln'.  I got this idea from the television drama, Prison Break, where the main character named Lincoln was sometimes referred to as 'Link the Sink'.  

As if the name wasn't awesome enough, you can also tell people that your kid is named after the 16th president of the United States.

Freer of slaves and also a great vampire hunter.

(screenjunkies.com)

And there you have it.  But these are only a few of the most awesomely bad names to give your children.  There are more to come.  So many more...

See MORE Awesomely Bad Baby Names: Part II HERE!

Another Update: Making Changes... Again.

Hello all!  I have a few changes I will be making to the blog.  First of all, I changed the web address and title of my blog.  I've decided to take a slightly different route with this and post content that related to more things than just dance.  Don't worry.  I will still write about dance.  It is a passion after all.

Second of all, I will be changing the layout sooner or later, so don't be too alarmed.

Remember, when you want to access the blog, the address is now lizwiththestuff.blogspot.com.

Thank you again for putting up with my randomness!

~Liz