bring the franchise, bring the funk!
by roy.strang on Jul.29, 2010, under Debate
Alright, kids: We can debate the merits of scantily-clad-hillbilly-rebel-chicks-who-make-out-with-their-brothers v. scantily-clad-green-alien-chicks until we’re blue in the face. We can dissect the coolness factor of those aboard the Millennium Falcon v. the U.S.S. Enterprise until the proverbial space cows come home. Hell, we can even argue epic hero’s journey/space opera v. dramatization of the socioeconomic power plays between capitalism, communism, fascism, socialism, imperialism, expansionism… wait, is there really that much of a difference?
But despite the constant back-and-forth (or perhaps because of it), there’s one question that remains to be asked: Which franchise has contributed the best music and inspired the largest number of culturally relevant spin-offs? Or, in simpler terms…
Star Wars v. Star Trek: Who can claim the greatest share of ROCK?
There’s more, so make like Van Halen: Go ahead and JUMP! (continue reading…)
Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Now a Fashion Blog
by Riker on Jul.28, 2010, under General
Hot on the (sexy high) heels of our first “Ask a Hot Chick” post, I see this over at my second-favorite* nerd blog:
If this doesn’t win Star Trek back some style points, I don’t know what does. Oh, and if I keep worrying about things like ‘Star Trek Style Points’, I don’t know what hope** this blog has left…
* – Sorry, Geekologie; you’ve been replaced by www.geekypleasures.com
** – No Episode IV jokes for you! Come back in one year.
Ask a Hot Chick #1
by ForceSlinger on Jul.27, 2010, under Ask A Hot Chick
Olesya Shayda’s Website
her Facebook!
I recently had the privilege of interviewing the very attractive Olesya Shayda from New York City, NY. No seriously, this is not a trick! I really did! She is the lucky one to be the first subject for our new blog series where we interview beautiful women to get their vote on which is better: Star Wars or Star Trek. Olesya is 100% Ukrainian, born and raised. She currently works as a stylist at Bebe while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology. She was so cool during the interview that I had to refrain from my usually snarky (and sometimes downright reckless) mode of blogging.
ForceSlinger (that’s me!): Tell us a little about yourself first, Olesya.
Olesya Shayda: It’s my dream to become a famous, well-known fashion designer. My hobbies are working out, playing field hockey, volley ball, or anything competitive. I love fashion, so I’m always out buying things I absolutely don’t need or sewing and drawing. Eating is a huge hobby because on the inside I’m a little fatty = ) and since I’m Ukrainian, I’m definitely a party girl and someone who can show you an amazing fun time.
FS: So here’s the big question: Star Wars or Star Trek?
OS: Between Star Wars and Star Trek, I’d have to pick Star Wars. Chewbacca is freakin’ awesome! And I wish I could have Yoda as a little pet that can protect me at any time; he’s just too adorable. Overall, Star Wars just has more interesting characters and action. You don’t watch people sitting around a spaceship for 30 minutes straight like in Star Trek.
FS: If you actually could have Yoda as a pet, would he be an indoor or outdoor Yoda?
(continue reading…)
SW vs. ST visits w00tstock 2.4: Megapost
by Riker on Jul.26, 2010, under General
~~~~NOTE: Some footage from the show is still being processed; as parts become available I’ll edit this post to include them.~~~~
Each July, thousands upon thousands of geeks and nerds flock to a temporary Mecca established in the heart of downtown San Diego, CA. It’s a wonderland that concentrates producers and consumers of myriad geeky and nerdy media, be they print and online comics, TV shows, movies, videogames, or any other artistic expression of geeky nerdy joy, into a four-day somethinggasm of pop-culture celebration. There are also hot chicks in absurd costumes.
I’m talking of course, of Comic-Con… and since we’re too small a blog to cover an event of that scale, I now direct your attention to a spot just down the road. In a small theater known as 4th and B, located (in an incredibly fortunate coincidence) on the corner of 4th Ave and B Street, w00tstock 2.4 blew peoples’ minds last Thursday.
A brief history of w00tstock is as follows: Comedic musical duo Paul & Storm wanted to plan a series of shows but felt they lacked the star power and following to do so successfully. A phone call to their friends Wil Wheaton* and Adam Savage rectified that problem, and a vaudevillian geek-culture variety show was born. After attending w00tstock 1.1 in Los Angeles last year, I knew that the show’s second-season finale would be something to behold.
I brought my trusty iPhone 4 with me, confident that I wouldn’t be making any calls,** and dedicated its use to capturing as much footage of the event as possible. Here is the majority of the show, cut into palatable snippets and hosted graciously at Julia Sherred’s Geeky Pleasures youtube channel:
Click past the break for piles and piles of video!
SW vs. ST @ w00tstock 2.4 – The Report
by Riker on Jul.23, 2010, under General
There was way too much Star Wars culture represented.*
* – Just kidding, folks. The show was awesome and after things calm down a bit there’ll be a full writeup and pics / footage from the event.
Come see the new look!
by ForceSlinger on Jul.21, 2010, under General
We’ve done some page spring cleaning! We now have fewer ads, a more readable color scheme, and a copyright infringing header banner (shhh!). Let us know what you think. Also don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!!
An Intergalactic Inter-Franchise Battle of Intergalactic Proportions and Rollerskates
by Riker on Jul.20, 2010, under General
I'll be telling EVERYONE that I have a picture of me next to LeVar Burton and Wil Wheaton.
Yesterday I experienced a three-way nerd convergence* on Twitter. Four-way if you count the fact that my experience occurred on Twitter as nerdy. But then again, you’re reading an article at a website whose URL is www.starwarsvsstartrek.com; Twitter is hardly nerdy to you.
Anyway, the text of the tweet to which I’m referring, originally posted by @wilw, is reproduced below:
RT Oh, dude. Star Wars is going DOWN. @Mickipedia @wilw Rollercon next week in Vegas! I’m skating for Star Trek vs. Star Wars in your honor!
Forgiving them for getting our website name backwards, this single message is the most concentratedly awesome thing I’ve read all month. The three things about this tweet that blew my mind:
- Wil Wheaton (@wilw)
- Micki Krimmel (@Mickipedia)
- Roller Derby
- Star Trek vs. Star Wars
- Wil Wheaton and Micki Krimmel conversing on Twitter about a ‘Star Trek vs. Star Wars’-themed Roller Derby bout.
I’m sure you can guess why I geeked out about Wil. The other two I’ll have to explain.
Read on for said explanation.
Improv Everywhere Shows Their Good Taste
by ForceSlinger on Jul.20, 2010, under General
If you haven’t seen Improv Everywhere perform before, you really should check out their other stuff. However, I’d like to take this opportunity to point out that they didn’t choose a scene from Star Trek for this stunt. If they had, I think there would be fewer people laughing and more people looking at them like they were loony (or since it’s the New York subway, just ignoring them altogether)! When Darth Vader walks onto your subway car, you know who he is and what he’s there to do. He’s hunting rebels, so you’d better quickly hide the plans to the Death Star in your iPhone and throw it out the window! If you’re lucky, your long-lost brother who’s been bumming the streets will find it and run into an old family friend that’ll… well, you know the rest.
New Season of The Guild!
by ForceSlinger on Jul.13, 2010, under General
New season of The Guild starts today (#felishadayowesmefortheplug)!! Now it may not seem like this is directly related to the conversation, but it has recently got me thinking. You see, I’ve only recently watched the first three seasons of this wonderful streamy (a little obsessively, I might add) and was very surprised to see none other than Wil Wheaton in season three (spoiler alert… wait… damnit). Together with his awesome blog (#wilwheatonowesmenothingurwelcome) and appearances on my new prime time guilty pleasure, Big Bang Theory, I put Wil at the top of my list for noteworthy geek celebrities. It’s just too bad he chose the wrong franchise… sigh…
Nimoy Ruins LotR
by ForceSlinger on May.12, 2010, under General
Now I know this is an old video. I’m very surprised that this hasn’t been brought up already in this discussion. Star Wars gets 2 points for this one. Not only is Spock ruining his own franchise, but he takes down Lord of the Rings as well. Shame on you! We all die a little inside while watching this. I apologize in advance.
