We're a geek culture podcast and blog covering video games, music, food and more. We are the kinds of people who evangelize whatever we are into - it could be anything - but it's usually pretty geeky. We're casual, conversational, NSFW and hopefully interesting. We hope you enjoy it.
posted by Chris on August 30, 2010 5:21 PM in Podcast
Learn some amazing new facts about earwax on this week's podcast! Join me, Jinny, Ross and Ryan for an intense discussion about Pax Prime 2010 and earwax buildup. Oh, sure we talk about other things like the new Xbox Live Gold membership rate hike, and what kind of tech we brought with us on our most recent camping trip, but you really want to stick around for fascinating insights on earwax consistency between the races. It's truly enlightening.
posted by Chris on August 23, 2010 9:20 PM in Podcast
This week we have me, a drugged-up Jinny, Ross and Ryan discussing PAX, the surprise Deathspank sequel, Mass Effect's new DLC, more Scott Pilgrim stuff, first-timer games, Rock Band 3 tracklist and more.
posted by Chris on August 16, 2010 5:57 PM in Podcast
This week we've got Jinny, Ross and Ryan joining me in a discussion of the new Scott Pilgrim film. We manage to avoid spoilers, I think! We also discuss the Scott Pilgrim game, the announcement of Bioshock: Inifinite, Fallout: New Vegas voice actors, more Borderlands DLC and a few other video game related tidbits. We've even got a track from the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack at the end of the show for you to check out. It's a pretty great soundtrack overall. And don't forget to rsvp for the Weekly Geek community meetup if you're coming to PAX!
Last night, Jinny and I were able to check out an early screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which if you pay attention to the podcast at all, you'd know we've been obsessing over for the last year or so. No worries if you haven't seen it yet, I'll try to avoid spoilers as much as possible.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The Hype
It took me a little while to get into the Scott Pilgrim books. I was aware of them, but was turned off by the manga style. Or what I thought was manga style. Eventually my friend Wynn wore me down by explaining that I was Scott Pilgrim. I read the first book and was hooked not only by the video game and music references, but by the interactions between the characters. Brian Lee O'Malley was able to capture how people really talk to each other, and I always appreciate that when it comes to comic books. I enjoyed the world he created, full of magical realism and intense action sequences. It was a world I felt instantly familiar with.
When I heard there was going to be a movie made, I was cautiously optimistic. The cast looked decent (Kieran Culkin as Wallace felt especially apt, Jason Schwartzman as Gideon was spot-on and I have no hate for Michael Cera like most people seem to) and Edgar Wright is a director I trust. More news came out about the movie, including artists attached to the soundtrack. O'Malley listened to a lot of indie rock while creating the books and peppered references to music all throughout, so it made sense that people like Bec, Broken Social Scene and Nigel Godrich were involved.
The final book of the series was released and kind of felt lackluster to me. It felt like O'Malley was tired of the franchise and just wanted it to end, and while I was relatively satisfied it kind of felt hollow.
It's the hype that kills things. It's expectation that will lead to your disappointment in things 90% of the time. That's the problem with geek culture today, we expect everything to be mindblowingly awesome. Which is sometimes ok! You should expect quality from the things you consume, but you should also set your expectations. We have this incredibly robust vetting process for determining what deserves our attention, and hype is a big part of that. But I think the hype surrounding the Scott Pilgrim movie left me a little flat.
Here's the thing: no movie based on a book will ever, ever live up to your expectations. If you're an avid book reader (comic books and otherwise) you know that imagination is an incredibly important part of the reading process. We fill in the blanks between panels (for more on this specific topic, I recommend reading Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics) and have our own ideas of inflection and character voices cemented in our heads. No movie can ever expect to live up to the book you've personalized in your own brain. There are always going to be parts left out, or jokes that you feel should have been done better or emphasized differently. The best a movie based on a book can do is augment your initial book experience in a sensory fashion.
If I were to critique the movie on the merits of living up to the book, I'd say they did a great job. It was a fantastic adaptation. Was it a good movie? Sure. Was it the best movie of all time? Definitely no.
Scott Pilgrim vs. Comedic Timing
One of the main issues I had with the film was the pacing. Edgar Wright did a bangup job on the action sequences, making them kinetic, frantic, and incredibly similar to the atmosphere the comic books created. The fight scenes were a visual treat, like nothing I've ever seen before. The other parts of the film that used comic tropes such as onomatopoeia felt forced. Like they had to incorporate this stuff because, well, it's a comic book movie.
Punchlines and jokes in comic books are processed differently than jokes in movies, as well. Scott Pilgrim the movie was able to replicate a few of the better visual gags, as well as some of the text-based gags (such as the little labels that appear next to characters giving their names, ages and a short sample of their personality) but many of the subtler jokes get bowled over. When you're reading a comic book and you get to a punchline or a visual gag, you're able to soak in the frame. You can sit there and contemplate the joke for an eternity if you'd like. The pacing of the book sets these kinds of jokes up very very well. There is no concept of "blink and you'll miss it" in comics. In the movie, these jokes are not only delivered flatly, they're bowled over by the transition to the next scene. There's literally no way for these jokes to work properly on screen. That said, it was a valiant effort.
The comedic timing of these jokes was off, as well. The comic uses a lot of hyperbolic dialog and reactions to illustrate emotion in an exaggerated fashion. You don't really need to do this in a movie, because you're able to convey emotion a little easier. Scott Pilgrim the movie keeps these hyperbolic reactions, which feels like overacting to me. The entire time I felt like I was watching a high school stage performance of Scott Pilgrim. That's not to say the acting was bad, but the dialog felt stifled at times, and there were strange silent moments that felt forced.
Scott Pilgrim vs. Nostalgia
This is the first real movie meant for people of our generation. We get the references, and they never play coy with them. The references are all right there, down to literally using music and sound effects from Zelda games. It is intimately familiar, and for that it is unique. But for something so lovingly crafted, I felt like I needed more meaning. More emotion. The books were full of emotion. I genuinely related to Scott and felt for him as he pined for Ramona. There was very little of that chemistry in the movie. It was busy being flashy, which is understandable I suppose. The action scenes were set up wonderfully and really felt like a video game. But for all the flash, I miss the emotion.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The Comic Book Ending
The movie was written and filmed before the last book in the series came out. O'Malley was a consultant for the movie and did provide them with some direction on how the story wraps up, but the ending to the movie is completely different than the books. Which was better? It's hard to say. I can honestly say that I didn't feel enthusiastic about either ending. It ended. I am not sure how it could have ended better. The movie also changed a major reveal in the last book which I believe really could have been incorporated, and the movie would have been better for it.
Would I see it again? Probably. Would I recommend it to friends? Not as enthusiastically as I hoped to be able to recommend it. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a completely decent movie with some incredible visuals. As a companion to the book series, it does it justice. As a movie on it's own? It's a strange thing indeed.
Dudes! It's almost time for PAX Prime again (what!) and that means we're having a Weekly Geek community meetup that you should totally attend. Last year was pretty big and we kind of took over the bottom half of Six Arms, so this year the plan is to take over the whole upper section of Six Arms. Join us at this awesome McMenamins pub, just a short walk up the hill from the convention center for beers and burgers and various good times. Yes, this is a 21+ event which means that some of you will have to stand outside in the cold, shivering for our amusement (both with feebleness and also because it's been incredibly cold and lame in Seattle this summer.)
THE DEETS:
Weekly Geek Community Meetup September 3rd - 6PM to 8PM
Six Arms
300 East Pike Street
Seattle, WA
posted by Chris on August 2, 2010 6:39 PM in Podcast
It's a full house this week with Qais, Jinny, Ryan, Ross and I as we discuss Starcraft II. Ok, we talk about a few other things but mainly it's Starcraft II and the iPhone jailbreak news. But mainly Starcraft II. We also talk about Limbo and Deathspank. But mainly Starcraft II. Blerf.
posted by Chris on July 26, 2010 6:36 PM in Podcast
Attention, nerds! We have a new podcast for you this week, talking about the various events that happened at Comic-Con! Actually we spend a bit of time telling you why if you missed Comic-Con this year you probably weren't missing much. But we do cover the shizz we feel was important from the event, including some Scott Pilgrim news and other geek culture ephemera. We also discuss Inception (but no spoilers!), StarCraft 2 releasing this week, Limbo, Deathspank and the new Castlevania. We also discuss (in length) the DMCA verdict that Jailbreaking your iPhone is legal. Then we play a song from the new Arcade Fire album. All in all, a good podcast. Check it out.
posted by Chris on July 19, 2010 5:55 PM in Podcast
Tons of stuff to cover this week, from cooking for engineers to Deathspank to Crackdown 2. Join Jinny, Ross, Qais, Ryan and I in discussing this week's big video game and geek culture news MOST NOTABLY the crazy awesomeness that was the Old Spice guy. We'll miss you, nutty Old Spice guy. We also discuss Mega Man Universe, Scott Pilgrim, Plants vs. Zombies, Limbo and death on Facebook. We wrap it all up with a song. As you do. Enjoy!
Hi guys! Sorry we are such jerks! Due to a scheduling conflict and various minor acts of god, we won't be recording a podcast this week. Next week, though. Oh what a podcast we will give you next week!
In the meantime, check out this upcoming Child's Play charity event called For The Kids. It's a community curated game marathon taking place this Thursday. Looks pretty neat. And, you know. It's for the kids.
posted by Chris on July 5, 2010 7:13 PM in Podcast
There is a podcast this week where before there was only a cold, dark void. Join me, Qais, Ross, Jinny and Ryan as we discuss the Hulu Plus pricing announcement and how it may or may not affect our TV viewing habits. We also discuss our rising interest in The Social Network, the new Facebook movie. Then we gush about Deadwood coming out on Blu-ray and answer some mailbag. Enjoy.
posted by Chris on June 28, 2010 5:47 PM in Podcast
Hi guys. Would you like to listen to a new podcast? Good. Here's one. It has me, Jinny, Qais, Ross and Ryan in it. We talk about video games. We also talk about movies. Then at the end we talk a little about food and our new chameleon. It's a typical Weekly Geek episode, and we hope you enjoy it for that fact.
posted by Chris on June 21, 2010 6:35 PM in Podcast
Join us this week for the best of the rest from E3 2010. We're talking Nintendo's big press conference with the 3ds, and all their new iterations of beloved franchises as well as Sony's obsession with glowing colored balls. We run down the list of the stuff we think was the coolest that came out of the convention this year, as well as some advice for novice home cooks in our mailbag segment. Enjoy!
posted by Chris on June 14, 2010 6:17 PM in Podcast
It's the start of E3 week, and we've got the first day covered on this episode of The Weekly Geek. Join me, Jinny, Qais and Ross in discussing Microsoft's Natal name change as well as the slew of Kinect launch titles and the brand new slim Xbox 360 console. Is the new information about the Kinect enough to get us to accept its place in the living room of the future?! We also discuss Fable 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Rock Band 3, Child of Eden and more. Stay for mailbag where we talk about what movies are on our "so bad it's good" list, and a song from the new album by The Books.
posted by Chris on June 7, 2010 6:04 PM in Podcast
It's that time of year again - time to be surprised when Apple announces a new version of the iPhone. Join Jinny, Qais, Ross and I in discussing the iPhone 4 and all of it's magical properties which you will be sure to love/hate. In addition to creaming ourselves over all things Apple, we also discuss the deluge of luddite articles about multitasking and distraction, an easy to use molecular gastronomy kit and Red Dead Redemption's amazingly fun multiplayer. Stay 'till the end, because we have an excellent song of the week for you.
We've also finally fixed comments on the site! So that's good.
posted by Chris on May 31, 2010 6:35 PM in Podcast
Making things, fixing things and tinkering with things is one of the things that makes geeks like us tick, and this week's podcast is pretty much all about that. Well, besides the stuff about video games. That's inevitable. Join me, Jinny, Ross and Ryan in discussing maker culture, the future of near-field iPhone/hotel interaction, the new Scott Pilgrim Trailer and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Stay tuned to the end of the show for the song of the week.
posted by Chris on May 24, 2010 5:52 PM in Podcast
We're back this week talking about the biggest cultural event of the year - the Lost finale. Spoilers galore, so watch out! Join Ross, Jinny, Qais, Ryan and me in discussing the end of 6 years of your geeky life. What we liked and what we hated, it's all laid out on the table. In addition to spoiling the crap out of Lost, we also obsess a bit over Red Dead Redemption (buy this game), Mario Galaxy 2, Google's Pac-Man logo, a few new iPad/iPhone apps we're loving and Mark Twain's 100 year secret. It's an action-packed show with a bonus song at the end. It's like a box of cereal with a toy in it. In podcast form.
You know when you get back from a trip and you're completely exhausted and all you want to do is sit and watch Star Trek and play with your new iPad? That's where we're at today. Podcast for tonight is postponed until next Monday. Apologies to those of you who need to listen to the podcast like a diabetic needs insulin. Additional apologies to all diabetics who I might have just offended. See you next week!
This week's episode may seem like it's all about the recent Deadliest Catch convention, but it's so much more! Join me, Jinny and Ross as we discuss CatchCon 2010 and the events surrounding this esteemed event. We talk about one boy's wish to be a superhero for a day (and how the Deadliest Catch guys were involved!), Starcraft 2's multiplayer beta, brand new Fallout 3: New Vegas info, free culinary school and a few notable video game releases this week. Be sure to keep your fork, because there's pie (in the form of the song of the week at the end of the podcast). Enjoy this week's barely edited podcast! It's in a near-raw state. It's like hearing how sausage is made. Podcast sausage.
posted by Chris on April 26, 2010 5:59 PM in Podcast
Oh yeahhhh! We're here this week to talk about the continuing saga of Apple's lost iPhone prototype and the recent news of Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's computer confiscation. We also got our hands on an iPad and talk about why you may not find an exact need for it in your life, but you will want one regardless. We give you recommendations for some of our favorite apps, which you can also find links to at the bottom of this post. Download it now and subscribe in iTunes! Listen to it on your iPad! That would be CRAZY!
posted by Chris on April 19, 2010 7:01 PM in Podcast
We're back from an extended break this week with me, Ross and Qais talking about the recent iPhone 4g leak and how it feels like we peeked at our Christmas gifts early. We also talk Starcraft II and Blizzard selling horse armor to World of Warcraft players. While making ass-tons of money. There's also a bit in there about Super Mario Galaxy 2, some stuff about the iPad, Deadly Premonition, Mass Effect 2 DLC and we answer some mailbag questions. Download it!
posted by Chris on April 5, 2010 6:33 PM in Podcast
This week is catch-up to old news week as Jinny, Ross and I discuss the iPad, PAX East, Goozex trading retro games, the Scott Pilgrim movie trailer and the awfulness that is April Fools' Day. Ross dies halfway through the episode, and Jinny and I somehow manage to pull it together enough to discuss the home made soda maker we got recently and what games we've been playing lately. HEY did you know that t-shirts are 10% off until April 16th? GO BUY ONE and enter "boobees" at checkout. Seriously. It's not an April Fools' joke.
Sorry friends. Jinny and I have come down with some sort of nasty illness and do not wish to infect anyone. You could probably get the flu by just listening to our nasally plugged-up voices. We'll be back next week! Hopefully.
posted by Chris on March 22, 2010 6:57 PM in Podcast
Join us this week for a discussion about the super-violence of God of War 3 and the line between anti-hero and villain, a follow up to the Final Fantasy 13 storytelling conversation, the beauty and innovation of Heavy Rain and Jinny's new photography obsession. We answer a lot of mailbag, as well!
posted by Chris on March 15, 2010 6:43 PM in Podcast
This week, join Qais, Jinny, Ross and me in discussing GDC 2010, Emerald City Comic Con, Crackdown 2, Puzzle Quest 2, NBA Jam, indie gaming, Pac-Man and iPhone games like Words with Friends. Lots of gaming stuff in this episode, and tons of mailbag! Thanks for sending in your questions, peeps.
Did you know that you can actually interact with our glorious podcast instead of just sitting there passively listening? It's true! Say you hear something on the podcast that really gets your brain juices flowing, or Qais says something horribly racist and you'd like to give him an earful of "what-for". What do you do? You could always try yelling really loud, but it's likely that we won't hear you (note: we will always try to listen in case this happens. We have listening posts all over the world.) There are multiple ways for you to interact with us.
Mailbag - Send us a question and we may read it on air at the end of the podcast. Questions usually range from "hey, what do you think about this video game" to "hey, I have an opinion about something!". Sometimes people email us just to say hi, or that they love us. Those mails are good too, but they usually don't get read on the air. Some people have even recorded audio mailbags! You can send us those, too. We will play them if they aren't horrible.
Delicious - We use Delicious.com to bookmark things we'd like to discuss on-air during the week. If you use Delicious and would like to send us a link to discuss, just tag it with "for:weeklygeek" and it will drop into our inbox.
Twitter - Our twitter names are on the left side of the webpage. We obsessively check replies, because our lives are wholly meaningless without attention.
The Forum! - Tons of geek-minded individuals like yourself are conversing RIGHT NOW at THIS VERY MOMENT in our official forums. Drop in and say hello. They're nice people.
posted by Chris on March 8, 2010 10:01 PM in Podcast
This week we're changing formats to an all-Valve podcast, only discussing Half Life, Portal and Left 4 Dead related news. Okay, maybe we'll also throw in a little God of War 3, Final Fantasy 13, Fallout: New Vegas, Rock Band Network and Mass Effect 2 stuff in there as well. Do please join Ross, Jinny, Qais and I for this most excellent of podcasts.
posted by Chris on March 1, 2010 6:42 PM in Podcast
On this week's episode we discuss the PS3pocalypse, Mass Effect 2, Borderlands DLC, Resident Evil 5 DLC, Portal patches that hint at Portal 2, new Metroid: Other M info, and a few other things I forgot to write down as we said them. ENJOY.
posted by Chris on February 22, 2010 6:41 PM in Podcast
Please to be joining Jinny, Ross, Qais and myself on this week's podcast, where we discuss the usual assortment of things. This week we talk about Civilization games and the announcement of Civilization 5, the new Borderlands DLC, Mass Effect 2, Bioshock 2, Plants vs. Zombies for the iPhone, the new Venture Bros toys, and privacy concerns raised by the website PleaseRobMe.com.
posted by Chris on February 15, 2010 7:33 PM in Podcast
This week's podcast has Ross, Qais and Jinny joining me in a heated discussion about Google's imminent takeover of humanity, and how social networking is the most efficient form of human communication. We also discuss lighter topics such as new games for the iPhone, Mattel's new "Computer Engineer" Barbie, Mass Effect 2, Crackdown 2, Bioshock 2, and the swanky party Jinny and I threw this past weekend, which featured a neat DIY photo booth you can make yourself! The song for this week is "Harmonix" by Surfer Blood. Enjoy!
posted by Chris on February 8, 2010 9:55 PM in Podcast
This week's all about game news - big announcements about Fallout: New Vegas and Sonic the Hedgehog 4, World of Warcraft's auction house app for the iPhone, Mass Effect 2, and a little game called Bioshock 2. We also discuss the new (final!) season of LOST (spoiler-free, for your sanity), faulty game consoles, soundtracks on vinyl, and the song of the week! Join me, Jinny and Qais for this week's dose of geekery.
posted by Chris on February 1, 2010 8:22 PM in Podcast
A new Apple product was released this week, and you all know we can't avoid talking about it on the show. Join me, Jinny, Qais and Ross in discussing Apple's new unfortunately-named product and what it means for YOU, the consumer. We also discuss the eternal blackness of space, Beethoven's skull, videogames new and old and much more. Oh! Don't forget to stay for the unrepentant misogyny. And the single of the week. I am sure you'll find it... truly magical.
posted by Chris on January 25, 2010 6:18 PM in Podcast
Welcome to yet another episode of The Weekly Geek! This week we have special guest Charles Vestal joining me, Ross, Jinny and Qais to discuss his project Year of Record. We talk in-depth about the value of vinyl and how we all tend to consume music differently. We also discuss people who make records out of chocolate, and this week's video game news. It's one big crazy hour-long tangent with a song tacked on the end like every week. Only this week, the song is Norway by Beach House off their new album Teen Dream. As always, we hope you enjoy it.
posted by Chris on January 18, 2010 6:22 PM in Podcast
This week please to be joining Ross, Jinny and I in our discussion about Grand Theft Auto for the iPhone, Google's response to China, America's geek shortage, Netflix on the Wii, Star Wars: Old Republic's release date, how you might not be actually watching IMAX when you go see an IMAX movie, buffalo wings, Friday Night Lights, music piracy, and more! Lots more. Download now, or subscribe using the links on the left hand side of the website. Right over there. No, there. You got it. Yes. Right there. Click that. Okay.
posted by Chris on January 11, 2010 6:29 PM in Podcast
It's still the future, and we're here again this week with a rundown of the best in news you probably didn't know you cared about. Join me, Jinny, Ross and Qais to discuss CES's ups and downs, as well as the overlap between attendees of CES and the AVN convention. We touch on sex robots, interesting new technologies such as cell phone projectors and wireless storage devices and hit you with a bit of video game news. We talk about new Fallout, NBA Jam and Zelda games, as well as such diverse subjects as old men with sword canes trying to get on airplanes (that almost rhymes!), Netflix and Warner Brothers' unholy agreement and other things. Listen, won't you?
posted by Chris on January 4, 2010 6:33 PM in Podcast
We're back from break to kick off 2010... the future! THE FUTURE, MAN! Did you ever think you'd live to see TWO THOUSAND TEN? Or, "twenty ten" as I was instructed is what you should call it. By Ross. Who is a jerk. This podcast features Ross, me, Jinny and Qais talking about Bayonetta, mainstream game ennui, homemade egg nog, Hello Kitty toast, refunds for digital downloads, Amazon Prime, 180g vinyl and the normal variety of tangental conversation topics you've come to know and love. Future style.
posted by Chris on December 22, 2009 9:56 AM in Comics
Here we see some excellent Weekly Geek fan art from ukku, a German listener/reader who perfectly captured the true essence of the good Doctor. Based on this Dr. Helmig comic, it truly is remarkable. Thanks, ukku! You can check out her website with all sorts of artistic thingies here.
posted by Chris on December 15, 2009 11:31 AM in Food
Sous-vide cooking is not a new concept, but since Top Chef and the rise of the hipster foodie (he says with self-depreciating smugness) it's been brought to light as a truly innovative and important method of food preparation. The concept is deceptively "boil-a-bag" simple: vacuum-seal your food and drop it into a controlled temperature water bath. It may sound like a fancy term for botulism incubator but as long as you follow general kitchen safety precautions (such as washing your hands after handling raw chicken, preventing cross-contamination, not letting the cats lick the butter, etc) you're golden. The benefits are numerous. For one, your food is more consistently heated throughout. Consider what it takes to cook a chicken breast. In order to be able to serve it legally the internal temperature has to be around 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The typical way to achieve this would be to either cook it on the stovetop at a high temperature, or cook it in the oven at a high temperature. You're brute-force heating the outside at 400+ degrees to achieve a fraction of that temp on the inside. It's not terribly efficient. With sous-vide, the temperature is completely consistent. Steaks cooked sous-vide can be cooked medium-rare easily, with a perfect pink color throughout.
It's not an all-in-one Ronco™ style solution, however. It's just one step in the process. Most meals cooked sous-vide need to be seared or sauced after their water bath, but the results are phenomenal. Fancy restaurants have been using this technique to create consistently cooked dishes for years, but the equipment has been prohibitively expensive. In the past if you wanted to cook sous-vide you'd have to equip yourself with a Polyscience thermal immersion circulator, which would run you about a thousand dollars. There's a new solution in town, however, in the form of the Sous Vide Supreme. The first consumer-level sous-vide "oven", it's priced at a moderately more reasonable $400. We were lucky enough to get one loaned to us for a week, and we made some truly stellar dishes with it. I'm going to split up our experience with the SVS into multiple blog posts, cause this is going to get a bit wordy. I'm sure you don't mind.
In the past, Jinny and I would cook our steaks "ghetto sous-vide". This is actually a fantastic way to cook steaks (in particular). We've discussed this method on the podcast before, but I've never written it down for you guys to try at home. So! Here it is.
A Foodsaver or similar vacuum-sealer thingy (though to be honest Ziplock bags work just as well)
Our favorite cut of meat to use for this is a tri-tip steak. It's cheap, flavorful and the perfect thickness for this kind of preparation. Salt and pepper your meat and put it in your bag. Add a pat of butter (if you'd like, you can omit it) and seal the bag. If you're using a ziplock bag, seal it with your fingers all the way to the edge, leaving a small gap. Suck the air out and seal it quickly. Works in a pinch.
The temperature we're looking for is about 129-130 degrees for medium-rare. If you like your steak well-done, look elsewhere. You heathen. I've found that the water from my kitchen faucet comes out at around 125 at the hottest, so I'll fill up the pot with hot water, and anchor the probe to point near the middle of the pot. You want to monitor the temperature very closely. The acceptable range of temperature would be between 128-132 but don't go any higher. If your water starts getting too hot, pull it off the stovetop a little bit and pour some cold water into it until you get back to temp. It takes a bit of practice (and your results may vary) but after a half an hour your steaks should be done.
Get a cast-iron pan rocket hot. Take the steaks out of the water bath and remove them from the bag onto some paper towels. Pat them dry. The drier the better. Brown the steaks on both sides for 30 seconds or so, then remove them to a plate to rest. Rest at least 5 minutes. Then, enjoy the best steaks you've ever had in your life. Seriously. Outside of a good ol' fashioned outdoor grilling, sous-vide is hands-down the best way to treat yourself to beefy goodness.
The Sous Vide Supreme makes the process way easier. We cooked steaks in the exact same method we usually do, but no longer had to monitor the temperature. We just put them in and were free to prepare the other elements of our meal. It was wonderful. The consistency was the same but the process was much more streamlined.
In the next entry, I'll talk about the other dishes we made with the SVS, including scallops and halibut.
posted by Chris on December 14, 2009 8:40 AM in Podcast
It's the last Weekly Geek podcast of 2009! Join Jinny, Ross, Ryan and me for our 2009 retrospective. We discuss this past year in gaming, music, conventions, comics, movies and more as we look forward to 2010... THE FUTURE. We'll be on hiatus until the new year. Until then, enjoy!
posted by Chris on December 7, 2009 6:16 PM in Podcast
Dear Sir or Madame,
Please see enclosed one podcast ("podcast") featuring Jinny, Ross, Ryan, Qais and Chris discussing matters regarding the mysterious "Third Dimension", matters regarding charity and the information to donate forthwith, matters regarding cookery and applications for your iPhone Internet cell-phone device to expedite said cookery processes, matters of Jeff Bridges saying that Iron Man was totally made up on the fly and didn't even have a script, and matters regarding the CrunchPad internet device being rebranded as the "JooJoo". Please enjoy enclosed podcast.
posted by Chris on November 30, 2009 7:01 PM in Podcast
This week, Qais, Jinny and Ross join us to discuss the Thanksgiving break; what games we played, what we cooked and what we ate, along with this week's news. We've got an iPhone app that lets you play Pac-Man with your car, Okamiden for the DS, web games for the iPhone, the death of the Crunchpad and more. We also talk about what we're currently listening to and give you a few good recommendations for filling your iPod with goodness. And ham.
posted by Chris on November 23, 2009 7:01 PM in Podcast
Hello! Would you like a podcast? Is good, you like. This week Jinny and Ryan join me to discuss a few downloadable tidbits, Bioshock 2 Special Edition, Borderlands, Penny Arcade's new reality show, dropping off the radar for fun and profit, and the winner of our Tank Girl post-apocalyptic photo contest is announced! Enjoy.
Feeling a bit wary about the impending holiday season? Not really sure what to get your geeky significant other, or maybe you just inhereited a butt-load of money from a recently departed relative and need stuff to spend that sweet sweet cash on? Well then! We've put together a little holiday gift guide for the geek in your life, perhaps it will help. These are all products that either we have used or have some sort of informed opinion about. They've got the Weekly Geek stamp of approval.
USB Turntable - This Ion USB turntable is actually the one I myself own. It's inexpensive and attractive in your home theater setup, and is the perfect starter turntable for someone who's into music and wants to start collecting vinyl (the superior medium!) While most vinyl albums come with a little mp3 download code these days, having the USB turntable is a great solution. Buy an album, rip it, and feel superior in your versatility.
The Elements of Cooking - This book is like the bible for the hobbyist home chef. Full of professional kitchen terms and wonderful essays on the basics of cooking, Michael Ruhlman breaks it all down into easily digestible pieces. This is a great book for beginners to get their feet wet, but is also a fantastic resource for the experienced or semi-experienced home chef.
A nice chef's knife - This Chroma knife is actually the chef's knife I use on a daily basis. Having a high quality, super sharp knife is essential to your kitchen. There's nothing like having high quality tools. You'll cut yourself less and cause yourself less emotional pain with a sharp knife, and I haven't really found any better than these. Not only are they sharp, they are designed by Porche and are damn sexy. Spend the money on a nice knife and it will last you forever.
Achewood - There's no better gift than the gift of truly excellent literature. Introducing someone to a work that they'll relate to and cherish not only makes you an awesome friend, but it makes you the awesomest friend. Achewood is my personal favorite comic strip, and it should appeal to anyone who listens to the podcast or reads the site. It's a bit weird at first, but this hardcover volume is the perfect introduction. Beautifully printed and annotated, it's a great primer into one of the best imaginary worlds created in the last 10 years.
Tokyoflash Watches - Most people don't buy watches for themselves, and most nerds don't know from fashion. Tokyoflash watches are ridiculously cool. As a matter of fact, they are so cool that anyone who wears them instantly ascends into an energy being and lifts off this mortal plane. They are that cool.
V-Moda Vibe Earbuds - There's nothing like having a great pair of headphones. These V-Modas will last you a few years and are high-end earbud quality for a mid-range price. The nylon cord is a plus - it won't bounce like crazy while you walk, and is less prone to tangling. Love these earbuds.
360 Chatpad - With the new Facebook and Twitter Xbox 360 updates, you're probably going to need a better method to input text. We've got a couple of these chatpads for our controllers at home and they're pretty handy and unobtrusive.
Arduino Starter Kit - If your geek is interested in electronics, there's no better way to get them addicted to programming LEDs than with an Arduino starter kit. All the components you need to make flashy blinky things are right here. Careful though, it's a slippery slope. Pretty soon they're going to be hacking into all sorts of things around the house for the sake of "improvement". Your toaster will never be the same.
Wall Decals - These decals from Blik are an easy way to add art to your walls. They're large, restickable and quite clever. These Super Mario decals can turn your room into world 1-1 and honestly, who wouldn't want that?
Weekly Geek "Huzzah!" T - Clothe your loved one in the best geek apparel there is. And as a bonus, you get to support the best geek website there is. ;)
posted by Chris on November 16, 2009 6:44 PM in Podcast
This week's podcast features Ross, Jinny, Ryan and me discussing this huge week in game releases, with games like New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Left 4 Dead 2 and Assassin's Creed 2. We also talk about DJ Hero, in-game advertising, cute-ness, salt, sous-vide ovens, electronics workshops, maker spaces, and Modern Warfare 2. Won't you join us?
posted by Chris on November 9, 2009 6:59 PM in Podcast
On this week's podcast I'm joined by Ross, Jinny and Ryan as we discuss the release of the newest entry in the Call of Duty franchise, Modern Warfare 2. We also talk about the massive amount of new games coming out next week, including Left 4 Dead 2, the God of War collection, New Super Mario Bros for the Wii and more. We also ramble a bit about Americans spending too much real-life money on virtual goods, a replica Bioshock Eve hypo (which you can buy!), spherification Ferran Adria style and the Sous Vide Supreme, the first consumer-level thermal immersion circulator. Then Borderlands. Lots and lots of Borderlands. And to top it off, we all reveal our real-life professions. Meaty topics, these.
Every week we feature our community members' excellent photography (or art, or whatever) culled from our Flickr pool. Why not submit your own geeky or otherwise interesting photos to the Weekly Geek Flickr Pool? You'll get your photo featured on the site with the added incentive that I'll pick one photo a week to win a Weekly Geek T-Shirt. Runners up get some sweet Weekly Geek swag. Click here to join!
So the flu has struck the Weekly Geek headquarters, and we're quarantining the facility until the fumigation process can begin. Jinny is currently hooked up to an IV full of sugar-free strawberry Jello, and I will be reading arcane spells to her from this magic tome I got in the back of the used book store down the street. We'll be back next Monday! Go play some Borderlands.
posted by Chris on October 26, 2009 6:00 PM in Podcast
This week's podcast sees the return of Ryan to the land of the living. He joins Jinny, Ross and I in discussing Microsoft's new Apple stores and the (actual) innovations that brings, Halo Waypoint, dead people and social networking, sous-vide cooking and Ronco-style informercials (this podcast, by the way, can be obtained for three easy payments of $19.95) and Borderlands. Oh, to have a game like Borderlands to discuss on a podcast. Oh, yes. It is That Time.
Wind Waker-styled Adult Link Custom Figure by RandomCreations
Every week we feature our community members' excellent photography (or art, or whatever) culled from our Flickr pool. Why not submit your own geeky or otherwise interesting photos to the Weekly Geek Flickr Pool? You'll get your photo featured on the site with the added incentive that I'll pick one photo a week to win a Weekly Geek T-Shirt. Runners up get some sweet Weekly Geek swag. Click here to join!
posted by Chris on October 19, 2009 6:55 PM in Podcast
It's a relatively low-key podcast this week as Jinny and I tell Ross about how much fun we had without him in San Fransisco. We discuss Flynn DeMarco's production of Bride of Frankenstein, the Treasure Island Music Festival and the Flaming Lips, time travel and Higgs-Boson particles, hyperspace, Demon Souls, bit.Trip Void and more.
The Weekly Geek is done on a zero budget, with no funding other than ads and merch. Help support the site with a donation! Consider it like tipping your waiter. We also give gifts for larger donations.
) and have our own ideas of inflection and character voices cemented in our heads. No movie can ever expect to live up to the book you've personalized in your own brain. There are always going to be parts left out, or jokes that you feel should have been done better or emphasized differently. The best a movie based on a book can do is augment your initial book experience in a sensory fashion. 
by Arcade Fire
- preorder now on Blu-ray
On this week's episode we discuss the PS3pocalypse, Mass Effect 2, Borderlands DLC, Resident Evil 5 DLC, Portal patches that hint at Portal 2, new Metroid: Other M info, and a few other things I forgot to write down as we said them. ENJOY. 
- Yeasayer
- Yeasayer
">Bioshock 2
USB Turntable - This Ion USB turntable is actually the one I myself own. It's inexpensive and attractive in your home theater setup, and is the perfect starter turntable for someone who's into music and wants to start collecting vinyl (the superior medium!) While most vinyl albums come with a little mp3 download code these days, having the USB turntable is a great solution. Buy an album, rip it, and feel superior in your versatility.
The Elements of Cooking - This book is like the bible for the hobbyist home chef. Full of professional kitchen terms and wonderful essays on the basics of cooking, Michael Ruhlman breaks it all down into easily digestible pieces. This is a great book for beginners to get their feet wet, but is also a fantastic resource for the experienced or semi-experienced home chef. 
A nice chef's knife - This Chroma knife is actually the chef's knife I use on a daily basis. Having a high quality, super sharp knife is essential to your kitchen. There's nothing like having high quality tools. You'll cut yourself less and cause yourself less emotional pain with a sharp knife, and I haven't really found any better than these. Not only are they sharp, they are designed by Porche and are damn sexy. Spend the money on a nice knife and it will last you forever.
Achewood - There's no better gift than the gift of truly excellent literature. Introducing someone to a work that they'll relate to and cherish not only makes you an awesome friend, but it makes you the awesomest friend. Achewood is my personal favorite comic strip, and it should appeal to anyone who listens to the podcast or reads the site. It's a bit weird at first, but this hardcover volume is the perfect introduction. Beautifully printed and annotated, it's a great primer into one of the best imaginary worlds created in the last 10 years.
Tokyoflash Watches - Most people don't buy watches for themselves, and most nerds don't know from fashion. Tokyoflash watches are ridiculously cool. As a matter of fact, they are so cool that anyone who wears them instantly ascends into an energy being and lifts off this mortal plane. They are that cool.
V-Moda Vibe Earbuds - There's nothing like having a great pair of headphones. These V-Modas will last you a few years and are high-end earbud quality for a mid-range price. The nylon cord is a plus - it won't bounce like crazy while you walk, and is less prone to tangling. Love these earbuds.
360 Chatpad - With the new Facebook and Twitter Xbox 360 updates, you're probably going to need a better method to input text. We've got a couple of these chatpads for our controllers at home and they're pretty handy and unobtrusive. 
Arduino Starter Kit - If your geek is interested in electronics, there's no better way to get them addicted to programming LEDs than with an Arduino starter kit. All the components you need to make flashy blinky things are right here. Careful though, it's a slippery slope. Pretty soon they're going to be hacking into all sorts of things around the house for the sake of "improvement". Your toaster will never be the same.
