Be Careful What You Specifically Don't Ask For...

Sometimes I have a reader ask to send me something via the post office. I've gotten more than my fair share of random fun stuff this way: fan art, an old typewriter, capsule toys, and even some handmade jewelry and toys. (Who has two thumbs and is insanely lucky? This girl.)

When readers e-mail us for the address, John and I like to jokingly inform them that shipments of poo are frowned upon, since John still anticipates a disgruntled baker sending us poo patties some day.

So last week, we got...this:

In addition to a cute pile o' poop notepad, flying poo cellphone charm, and monkey poo stickers, Obsidian from Australia *also* wrote my letter on "genuine roo poo paper," made from - you guessed it - kangaroo poop.

I bow before your snarky greatness, Obsidian.

She also sent me an adorable little bracelet and light saber earrings. *squee!* (Next on the agenda: get my ears pierced. Or, since I'm a wimp: get more clip earring backs to convert these. Heheh.)

Hmm...I wonder what I shouldn't ask for next? ;)

Geek Girl News to Make You Feel Good

Meet Epbot reader Katherine H.:

Katherine is a proud geek girl college student who's just a *little* Star Wars crazy. (Note awesome Boba Fett t-shirt & Droid phone.) In fact, this is Katherine's college backpack:

One day, Katherine found the following in her campus newspaper, filed with all the other anonymous messages students leave for each other:

D'awwww.

Katherine was/is engaged, so she never responded to the message. However, if that doesn't encourage you geek girls out there to let your geek flag fly with pride, I'm not sure what will.

(Oh, and Katie? Hang on to that water bottle! You may need it in college.)

Next, meet the top three winners of Google's inaugural Science Fair:

Yep, Lauren Hodge, Naomi Shah, and Shree Bose beat out over 10,000 applicants from 90 different countries to snag those snazzy LEGO awards. Rock on, ladies! Who says science is for boys?

(No, really. Who says that??)

(And thanks to Betsy H. for the link!)

And finally, everyone who followed geek girl Cyril's Tumblr blog knew her dream was to someday play a princess at the Disney theme parks. So when a nasty troll named "anonymous" posted a public message saying Cyril would never be pretty enough, an artist named Alice (who didn't know Cyril personally) decided to show her support by painting Cyril as Rapunzel:

Not only is it a gorgeous painting, Alice's efforts really show what a beautiful thing online community can be. Kudos, all of you. (Well, except "Anonymous," of course.)

Have any feel-good geek girl news to share? Then share in the comments, or e-mail me!


[UPDATE: Yikes! Sorry about the link mix-up for Cyril's blog, guys - it appears the first link I had was hacked to go to an anti-Harry Potter site. Thanks to the commenter who gave me a revised address; it should all be fine now. (phew!)]

Fun Friday Videos

I know a lot of you are excited about the coming Hunger Games movie, so...have you seen the animated movie poster yet?

(You can see the animated poster at Slashfilm.)

This is just the coolest thing EVER, don't you think? I first saw it over at SuperPunch, who mused that someday soon all posters will be animated. As long as they're this amazing, I'm totally ok with that.

John and I both loved this video making the viral rounds today:

25 celebrity impressions in under six minutes. His Morgan Freeman gave me chills. So good!


In honor of San Diego Comic Con this weekend, here's anther viral hit that'll make you smile:



Speaking of which, I'll be spending the weekend living vicariously through everyone at SDCC via Twitter and the rest of the interwebz. I'm both jealous and glad I'm not a sweaty human pancake right now. Heh. (Can't wait 'til Dragon*Con!)

Which leads me to this week's Yahoo exclusive on Victoria Schmidt, geek girl and cosplay enthusiast:

(thanks to Missy & Maria for sharing this on the Epbot FB page!)

Love her SO MUCH.


More upcoming movie greatness: the third Hobbit production video has been released! This one focuses on the 13 Dwarves:

And finally, a bit of random awesomeness: know Penn & Teller? The magicians? I love their performances, and I especially love Teller. Maybe it's a kindred introvert thing. (Penn will often say in interviews that Teller is the real brains behind their illusions, and is the perfectionist of the two, spending hours every night after every performance, practicing new routines.)

Anyway...wanna hear him talk? :D

I found this via BoingBoing:

(skip to about 1:15, and turn your sound way up; it's not a great recording.)

When I met Teller after a performance last year I was so struck by his voice that I think I could have listened to him read the phone book, but this really is a fascinating explanation of the use of diversion and repetition in a magic trick.


Ok, I think I've wasted enough of your Friday night already. Now, go have a great weekend!