How To Grow Your Geek: Parenting and More!

 

 HTGYG Show #73: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days!

Hi everyone! This time, I have a whole lot of great voicemails from Gary and Tim about a lot of recent topics. Gary tells us about his gardening experience with his kids, bemoans the popularity of SillyBands, and calls me out on using the kids as an excuse to collect American Girls stuff and Galactic Heroes figures.  Then I compliment Darcy on the great batch of stuff she sent the kids for Amanda’s birthday, and let her know I swiped the Girl Genius comic (It won a HUGO!).

After that, Tim discusses what kids are really good for, and thanks Darcy for reminding him of his and Jenny’s first wedding anniversary (Congrats to you!). After I wistfully discuss the oil drilling disaster in the gulf, Tim lets us know of a great opportunity to catch Jacques Cousteau’s great documentary on the oceans, “Under the Sea,” on June 11.

Call or email me if you have any opinion on which video game franchises you think need a break, or just need to die. Wyatt has a rant on this subject that I am going to do a special episode on soon, and we would love your opinions!

Don’t forget – you have until June 1 to nominate your favorite podcasts for a Parsec Award! I’m not eligible, so I’m not asking for me – I’m asking for all those other great shows that you listen to and love!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309   and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: MilkCartonTV and The Parsec Awards

Hey Guys,
Got a quick one for you this time around, more will be coming this weekend. Maybe even something I have never done before. Hmmmmmm, maybe.

Some of you may know Rowan Atkinson from the Black Adder series, which is wicked funny. But is geared more towards teens and adults due to the humor. But he also did a tv series where it was just him playing the main character, who seldom talked; but always got into some type of trouble. I am of course talking about Mr Bean. Here are a couple clips you might like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS1ePEZZCDY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=717G-A0N4Zo&feature=channel

Funny huh? This reminds me of all those old silent film stars I love like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. He takes the simplest things and makes them funny. The TV series is clean and everyone in the family can sit down to enjoy it together. Oh! When you do watch the show, be on the lookout for a little blue car, it shows up time after time and something always happens to it. The best one I saw was the one where he went down to the store to buy a new lounge chair. The car he has is so tiny the chair would never fit into it. (He drive a tiny mini cooper.) Wait until you see how he was able to dive home with the chair, you will be rolling, hehe.

Read more… »

 

 HTGYG Show #70 [30:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days!

In this episode, I review the classic PBS series “Nova,” and discuss some of my favorite episodes, which leads me to talk about GalaxyZoo, the Astronomy Cast, the 365 Days of Astronomy and Pluto. Which then leads me to discuss the book “The Pluto Files” by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and the Nova episode based on it. Also, you can follow Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Pamela Gay and Mike Brown on Twitter!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309  and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: The Parsec Awards and Podculture

 

 HTGYG Show#69: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days!

In this episode, we review a card-based game Amanda got for her birthday, Incan Gold. I recommend it for kids – it is quick, easy, and you can work on their simple math skills without them complaining much! Next, I review the Science Channel show Meteorite Men, which I recommend for hardcore rock hounds and meteorite buffs. Finally, Wyatt calls in with a discussion of motion control platforms in gaming, a commentary on  Army Men, and a comment on Bioshock.

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: The Parsec Awards and the Safe Haven Podcast

Hey Guys,
As I said earlier, Jenny and I watch a lot of you tube. I wanted to share something really cool I found. We was flipping though stuff and we found this.

http://www.youtube.com/v/jEjUAnPc2VA

It’s a animated movie called Pigeon Impossible, and it’s really funny. It’s real short, like a few minutes, so can’t say too much without spoiling it. Let’s just say this is one spy who is having a really bad day. hehe. And one greedy pigeon.

Hope you guys like it.

Darcy

 

 HTGYG Show #50: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoAssist Express free for 30 days!

This episode, I review one of our favorite new shows on the SyFy channel, Warehouse 13, and Gary also helps to review it! Then Gary tells us his favorite things about DragonCon, Tim warns Darcy what happens if she gets out of line, and Gary reminds us all that cooler weather is coming, at least in the Northern Hemisphere where I live!

This is our 50th episode, and if you would like to call or email your best wishes and favorite things to do with your little geeks, please do! I would love to do a special show soon! Thanks for all the input, and keep it coming!

Don’t forget to check out the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter!

Promos: The Dollhouse Podcast and Tuning in to SciFi TV!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week, I review the new reality/experiment show on the Discovery Channel, The Colony. Next, I have a great song for you from the group I Fight Dragons, who use old video game music in their songs. Their song is a cover of Jonathan Coulton’s “The Future Soon,” which I use as my theme song. Finally, we have an email from listener Joe, who recommends the following RPGs as being kid-friendly!

Mouse Guard Game and a Mouse Guard Review

Update – Mouse Guard recently won ENie awards for Best Production Value, and Product of the Year!

Misspent Youth

Inspectres

And don’t forget, our friend Doug is at sea on the JOIDES Resolution expedition, and is blogging and Twittering back his experiences as a science teacher witnessing lots of scientists studying the sea floor. Check out Doug’s blog!

Thanks for all the input, and keep it coming! And, if you have some time, I would appreciate a review on iTunes!

Don’t forget to check out the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast! We had a show on Aug. 18, all about helium and the Sun!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter!

Promos: The Dollhouse Podcast and Angel Between the Lines

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

 

 HTGYG Show #42: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this show, Amanda and I tell you about some of our favorite summer TV shows. First we discuss the Discovery Channel show Time Warp, then we wax poetic about So You Think You Can Dance on Fox, and finally we cover our guilty yet extremely helpful pleasure from the Style Network, Clean House. There are cool and interesting things about each of these shows that Amanda and I want to share with you!

Sponsor: Try GotoAssist Express free for 30 days!

Thanks for all the input, and keep it coming! And, if you have some time, I would appreciate a review on iTunes! And if you appreciate this show and other great Farpoint Media shows, please visit my website and contribute to the campaign to help Farpoint Media!

Don’t forget to check out the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter!

Promos: The Chronic Rift and The Weird Show

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

 

 HTGYG Show #36: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/tech podcast

Reviews Galore!  Today we have a review of the spelling program/software SpellQuizzer, with I found very useful in helping the kids practice their spelling words both for class and for the school spelling bee. You can visit their site and download a free 30 day trial to see if you find it useful too!

Next we review the new downloadable Popcap game, Plants vs. Zombies. This game is well worth the $10 price, as it is cute, entertaining, addictive, and offers many variations to make it replayable for a very long time.

Finally, we have my review of the TV show Castle, on ABC. It isn’t scifi or fantasy exactly, but it is a well-written, well-acted mystery/police drama, and portrays a great family relationship between the title character Rick Castle, played by fan favorite Nathan Fillion from Firefly/Serenity, and his teen daughter, as well as his mother who has moved in with them. Rick Castle is a best-selling murder mystery author who works with the police to get ideas for his novels, and his unique perspective helps Detective Kate Beckett and her team solve murders in creative, unconventional ways. I totally recommend catching it on Hulu.com or when it comes out on DVD this summer, and when it returns next season.

Also, Kevin Cumming’s son Evan has also written and is producing an audio drama, The Airship Diaries, and I encourage you all to check it out. Kevin is a proud dad, and Evan’s work sounds great!

Thanks for all the input, and keep it coming! And, if you have some time, I would appreciate a review on iTunes! And if you appreciate this show and other great Farpoint Media shows, please visit my website and contribute to the campaign to help Farpoint Media!

Don’t forget to check out the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums.And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter!

Bumpers: Love Long and Prosper

Promos:  The Parsec Awards and The One Tree Hill Podcast

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

 

 HTGYG # 15: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week we hear a few voicemails from Tim and Gary, and discuss how much tv, computer and video games is too much. Actually, I think you hear me tell that my kids watch too much! Anyhow, I would love to hear your take on this topic – I want to do a follow-up show with more comments!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. You can also see our super cute t-shirts, mugs and bags at our Zazzle store link, if you are interested. I love the logo so much that I thought it would be great on shirts, etc.!

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

Logo Art by Tim Coffey

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton
Sound effects and other music courtesy of pacdv.com