The Modern Materialist

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• Geek Out: One Terabyte of Matryoshkus

  Trust Art Lebedev Studios to make the geekiest Russian Nesting Dolls of all time. The awesome studio has built these “dolls” out of Russian linden tree wood, and each has a steadily decreasing amount of memory, from terabyte, to gigabyte, megabyte, kilobyte, byte, and bit. Hit up the jump for a totally awesome pic of the dolls in “motion,” as well as pricing. Read More... Posted May 08 2008, 03:30 PM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: toys, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Chat Plates

  Now here’s a real conversation piece… Guh. I think I need to shoot myself now. Will Alex live? Will he die? Find out, after the jump...  Read More... Posted May 07 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: plates, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Marc Ecko Star Wars Hoodies

  Is Star Wars cool at all anymore? I know Spike TV would certainly like you to think so, as they’re currently playing all six movies back to back. In fact, I would say that their well done add campaign is winning back a lot of nostalgia for the series; that is, as long as you don’t sit down and actually watch it. There’s also been some pretty cool products lately, not least of which is the R2-D2 projector I mentioned a few days ago. That being said, I don’t know if the world is ready for a Marc Ecko designed line of Star Wars hoodies. These are a little bit old news, as they were announced a few months ago. But since I haven’t actually seen anybody wearing ‘em, hey, I bet they’re news to you. More nerdy goodness, after the jump...  Read More... Posted May 06 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: clothing, Geek Out, star wars

• Geek Out: Piranha Plant Undies Return With Friends

  Thanks to Ryan Urico of Last Action Cowboy for dropping us a note that his wicked line of Super Mario Piranha Plant underwear is back, now with several other geek-friendly compatriots. For those of you not up to speed, we previously found some black tighty-blackies featuring the fire breathing piranha plant from Super Mario Brothers about to bite off your Little Luigi. More pics, after the jump...  Read More... Posted May 05 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: clothing, Geek Out

• Geek Out: R2-D2 Projector

  My little geek brain just melted. How did this happen? Well, it’s easy: - Take one dash of Star Wars - Add in as much hardware as you can. - Make it totally frakkin’ awesome. Details, after the jump...  Read More... Posted May 02 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, Geek Out, star wars, projectors

• Geek Out: Super Mario Singing Glow Star

  Every job has its low points. Even when you’re working a high-powered blogging job for Nerve, jet-setting to locations all across the globe to track down the best and rarest gadgets for a slavering audience hung on your every word, you need a little pick-me-up. Some of us reach for coffee. Some of us reach for… other substances*. But there’s only one thing that can make you feel invincible… Read More... Posted May 01 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: toys, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Mighty Kong Shirt

  Ah, Donkey Kong. You are a game that I can never, ever play. By which I mean, it took me years to get past the first level, and then, once I did, I never got past the second level. And yet… I love you, Donkey Kong. Find out what else I love, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 30 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Shirts, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Batman Mp3 Player

  You know how Batman has all of this Bat-stuff? Like his Batmobile, and Batcycle, and Bat-blender? Well, he has a Bat-Mp3 player as well. Turns out, there's one kep Bat-thing the dark avenger of the night lacks that you, oh lucky one, can have:  Read More... Posted Apr 29 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Music, mp3 Players, Geek Out

• Geek Out: New iMacs

  Yesterday I was walking down the street, and there was an Apple G3 desktop sitting in the trash with the note, “Works! No hard drive,” on it. I almost took it home, which shows how much I love Apple stuff, cause I really don’t need a slow computer with no hard drive, plug, or software. Or, you know, a monitor. But I could definitely use one of these: Read More... Posted Apr 28 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, Apple, computers, tech, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Stitch CD Player

  The Disney Nerd is a very specific type of nerd. Whereas the regular nerd may have knowledge of areas beyond that of their expertise (Star Wars, video games, comics, etc.), the Disney Nerd only knows about Disney. And they know a LOT about Disney. Also, they don’t realize they’re nerds. A whole new world, after the jump... Read More... Posted Apr 25 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: gadgets, Music, Geek Out, Disney

• Geek Out: Zelda Sounds Keychain

  I don’t think there was any game I played more as a child than The Legend of Zelda. When it came out, I remember having conversations with classmates every day about all the secrets we had found, and all the secrets we pretended we had found… Sometimes kids make up stuff to seem cool, you know? More terrifying tales of my childhood, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 24 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: video games, toys, Geek Out, Keychains

• Geek Out: Mii Wedding Toppers

  What’s four inches tall, looks like you and your spouse, and tastes delicious? If you answered “our baby,” then you’re sick. TOTALLY SICK! Also, why is your baby four inches tall? The surprising answer to this question, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 23 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Food and Drink, Geek Out, weddings

• Geek Out: Cantina Band Shirt

  There’s a pretty simple crib sheet to figure out the sort of stuff I like to post here under the heading “Geek Out." What's on that crib sheet, after the jump: Read More... Posted Apr 22 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: video games, Movies, Shirts, Geek Out

• Geek Out: DOSugus Pillow

  My parents bought some of the first available PCs, when they came out. Suffice to say, it wasn’t long before I was programming in DOS like a pro. When Windows was released, it actually took me a while to adjust to the idea that I didn’t have to configure everything in random strings of code, but instead, just click, and I was ready to go. Some days, I actually dream that I could go back to DOS. More DOSy goodness after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 21 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: pillows, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Technics vs. Marvel

  Comics and DJing are, in their own ways, very nerdy pursuits. Comics is an obvious one. DJing, not so much, until you consider that DJs usually spend all their time either DJing, or, more likely, talking about DJing. I scratch out another line or two, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 18 2008, 11:00 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Shirts, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Konjoined Kitty

  I don’t know if you guys know this about me, but I’m kind of into geeky stuff. You know, like video games and comics and things? Anyway, today is the start of New York Comic-Con, and I’ll be parking myself there for three days. I’m actually going to be super busy in my other life as a comic book fundit, though I will be taking some time off to chat with Jenna Jameson. No joke. An explanation of the above picture, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 18 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: toys, Geek Out, comic-con

• Geek Out: Marvel vs. DC Custom Air Force Ones

  How do you take shoes that used to be super cool, and strip all the cool out of them? Why cover them with graffiti-esque pictures of super heroes, of course! Don’t get me wrong… They’re totally awesome, and with New York Comic-Con hitting tomorrow here in the city, I’d be the awesomest kid in town if I snagged a pair of these. If you want to wear a pair, then you’ll have to head over to eBay quick, as the auction ends tomorrow. A few more shots, after the jump: Read More... Posted Apr 17 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Comics, Geek Out, shoes

• Geek Out: Pac-Man Belt

  Recently, my pants started falling down. Now, let’s not freak out and thinking I’m getting super skinny… I have been eating nothing but paper and paper clips lately, but I think that’s unrelated. I just like the taste of ‘em. I think it actually has to do with the elastic in my pants… You know what, this post went off the rails before it even started. Let’s try this again, from the top, after the jump... Read More... Posted Apr 15 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: clothing, Geek Out, Belts

• Geek Out: Enterprise Bottle Opener

  Hello all, and welcome to Alex’s Lessons in Impressing the Ladies, Part Sixteen. There are ways to super impress ladies. One of those ways is always carrying a bottle opener, and then opening a bottle of beer for said ladies. Ladies love it, because you are being a gentleman. You also look like you are responsible, as you don’t forget to bring a bottle opener to a party, unlike your totally irresponsible host. Right? Also, you get to give your lady beer, so she gets drunk and then will have sex with you. These are all true, accurate statements of facts. After the jump, find out what else ladies love...  Read More... Posted Apr 14 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Food and Drink, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Piranha Plant Underwear

  Two things I did as a kid: 1) Played a lot of video games. 2) Wore super hero tighty-whities. More, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 11 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: clothing, Geek Out, Underwear

• Geek Out: Hobo Fight T-Shirt

  Did you know that LOL Cats, the internet meme that is still being passed around like hotcakes, was actually inspired by a 1920’s cartoon strip? It’s true… Or at least, it’s mostly true, if you believe that Adam Koford’s sublime daily web-comic Laugh Out Loud Cats was actually created by his grandfather, and not by Koford himself. Check out more after the jump...    Read More... Posted Apr 10 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Shirts, Geek Out, Cartoons

• Geek Out: Stargate Mirror

  There are very few things that are more shameful that being a Star Trek fan. Being a Star Wars fan occasionally falls into that category (though they keep switching levels back and forth). Babylon 5 fans are lower on the geek scale, though they would argue they’re smarter and cooler, which only makes them geekier. Battlestar Galactica fans, of course, are actually cool. Cough. However, it takes a special kind of person to admit that they are a die-hard Stargate fan. Now, 100% honestly, and I know you guys won’t believe this, but I am NOT a die-hard Stargate fan. I know, it’s like the one thing I don’t geek out about, right? After the jump, discover my shameful secret...  Read More... Posted Apr 09 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: mirrors, Geek Out

• Geek Out: VG Controller Pillow

  I think we all have a good sense here of what sort of things we like, right? Steph and Wendy like delicate assemblages of tasteful furniture and clothing, while I like video game pillows. At least, that’s what I assume Wendy was telling me when she e-mailed me this particular item, saying she thought of me when she saw it.  And I’d get super pissed about it too, except, well, she’s totally spot on. More deets after the jump...   Read More... Posted Apr 08 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: video games, geeky, pillows, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Customize Your Guitar (Hero)

  It’s Guitar Hero’s world, and we just live in it (or something like that). So why not take your controller for a customizable spin with Colorware? More info, after the jump… Read More... Posted Apr 07 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: video games, Geek Out, Guitar Hero

• Geek Out: Baltar Is My Homeboy

  Hey, you guys know what today is? At 10 PM tonight, Battlestar is back, baby. I’ve previously talked about my undying love for the show, and Sci Fi Channel is pulling out all the stops for the premiere of the very last season. More Battlestar Galoodness, after the jump...   Read More... Posted Apr 04 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Television, Shirts, Geek Out

• Geek Out: Star Wars Poker Set

  I know there’s a “going over to the Dark Side” joke (among others) to be made about a Star Wars themed poker set, but I refuse to make it. So there. More deets, and perhaps a few Dark Side jokes, after the jump...  Read More... Posted Apr 03 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: games, Geek Out, star wars, poker

• Geek Out: Nintendo Family Tree Shirt

  I’ve decided to change the title of this particular feature to Geek Out, rather than Retro Arcade. Mainly because there’s way more geeky products out there than old school arcade stuff, but also because I need a place to just, you know, hang and be myself. You know what I’m talking about my fellow Geek-burgers. In any case, let me know what you think… If you guys were digging the retro stuff*, I’ll bring it back. But otherwise, get ready to… Geek out! We kick off the geek out, after the jump...    Read More... Posted Apr 02 2008, 09:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Nintendo, Retro Arcade, geeky, Shirts, Geek Out