November 13, 2003
Train Typing
Back Bay
I really wanted to write a post today (Wednesday), but things were as usual really busy at work so I didn’t get a chance. It occurred to me that it might be interesting to try to write (and complete) a post on the ride home, which I usually don’t do. I started my computer after we left Back Bay so I am a little behind schedule
Ruggles
Gregor got to it first. I am a little embarrassed that a guy I met on Tuesday night was able to post about an event that I went to last Wednesday. I joined up with some new acquaintances from the Boston People Connection and headed over to the Harvard Center for Astrophysics to attend their monthly viewing of a classic sci-fi movie. They analyze these films and there are discussions in the group about the good and bad science, politics and culture of the time and just the plain silliness of some of the things they contained.
This week was Earth vs. The Flying Saucers. If you like V, Mars Attacks or Independence Day, then watch this one. It is chock full of all the skeletal plot lines that these and many other alien/UFO movies have generated throughout the years. While the information in this movie made me laugh at almost every scene, I wonder if I will be chuckling at movies like Signs and other similar movies in 50 years...
This was a great event, I was surrounded by geeks of all ages, and felt very much at home. I tried during the day or two before to get anyone else to come with me, but I would only get as far as saying; “So I am headed over to the Harvard Center for Astrophysics tonight and…” before they would start to chuckle. After that, their “Cool-Meter” would go on and there was no chance of them joining me. This surprises me because I work...
Readville
at a Biotechnology company surrounded by scientists, lab technicians and researchers. I assumed that they would be giddy at the chance to see an original episode of Flash Gordon vs the Mud People of Mars and make any excuse to visit the campus of Harvard. I have tried to get people at work to join me in some geeky ventures in the past, that all varied in their level of nerdy-ness with less than stellar results. This always surprises me. What many of my friends don’t realize is that eventually I will stop asking them to come with me. Partly because I don’t need to keep putting myself out there for that kind of rejection, but also because I am getting a bit tired of the “pick on the nerd” routine. I embrace who I am and what I enjoy. I proudly accept the title of Geek, Nerd, Dweeb, Dork, whatever.
Generally this means that if a game of Trivial Pursuit comes along, people will beg me to be on their teams, or trivia night at a bar, or whatever. I also find people coming to me for verification of random facts...
Endicott
...questions about their car insurance, student loans, legal issues, political events, etc, etc. Most of the time I just google whatever it is that they are curious about, read up on it and then provide the answers, it is really mostly just knowing where to go.
I can’t tell you how many resumes I get to edit and critique. My degree is in Plant Biology, and don’t put myself out there as the “resume guy”. On average over the last six months or so, I have at least one resume that I am editing if not more. Don’t get me wrong, I love doing it and helping my...
Dedham Corporate Center
...friends. Besides, they all seem to at least get called in for an interview when I work on their resumes and cover letters, so I must be doing something right!
The one area that I am getting a little tired of (and someone from outside the US, please let me know if this is the case there as well) is the constant degradation of people who are looking to better themselves. If you mention that you read, or that you like to study things outside of work, people will generally look at you like you have three heads...
Islington
...but if you tell them that you spent hours in front of the television, or that you drank yourself silly over the weekend, they almost beam with pride. It is a shame, this phenomenom seems to start with kids at a very young age and continue through our entire lives. Why, on the reality show “Average Joe”, a jock smashed an egg onto a “geeky” (I use the term lovingly) contestants head for no reason! Mind you, this guy was almost 30! When does it stop?
I think one way to improve the situation, and I have seen others do it, is to surround oneself primarily with people of similar intellect, or at least with others who are of the propensity not to fall into societal ridicule towards learning and intellect. Tara has done so quite a bit recently by joining some groups related to blogging and the web, and she seems quite happy with the results. Perhaps I will have to do the same
Norwood Depot
Well, my ride is almost at an end, so I should wrap up. If anyone wants to join Gregor and I for the next sci-fi screening, please shoot me an email. This next one is a classic and a must see for sci-fi fans, it is Plan 9 from Outer Space! Later.
Norwood Central.
Comments
What can I say? RUGGLES!
I'm definitely going tonight. I LOVE this stuff.
Maybe we'll get to say hello tonight.
Susan Popcorn