For those of you in the Ann Arbor area, take a look in your December Ann Arbor Observer for an article by Lara Zielin entitled "Geek Chic." It's a look at how geek's are "the new black", with a focus on geeks in the Ann Arbor area, with a good part of the article being about me.  As of this writing, I haven't received my copy, but I believe there's a photograph in there as well.  I have received a copy of the text, though, and have already determined my favorite part of it is where Zielin describes me:

"... round face and glasses and frizzy light brown hair. Were his hair a little longer and a little grayer, one could call it Einsteinian."

OK, I'll take that!

For those of you who came to my blog after seeing my blog mentioned in the article, here are answers to some questions others have already asked:

• The Ann Arbor Computer Society meets the first Wednesday of the month. The web site is ComputerSociety.org.
• If you are interested in the sport of Curling in Ann Arbor, contact me to let me know. I am currently gathering information from interested persons, and some time in the next few months we'll meet to form a strategy for moving ahead with the process of creating a club in the area.
• If you are interested in my educational work with LEGO, check out Bricks for Brains.

Brick Bash is an annual public LEGO-building party and exhibition for all ages. It's held every March in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and this year it's on Saturday March 24. The location is the Ann Arbor Academy, and the times are 11am to 6pm.

There's some real slick stuff there, and also hands-on educational exhibits. There are even free robotic lessons given by the people at Rocks and Robots summer camp. Check out the Brick Bash Web site for more information, and to see an example of things that have been ther ein the past.

The other day I got a message from a Casting Producer for ABC's Wife Swap show.  She found me on LEGOFan.org, which is a site where LEGO hobbyists discuss our hobby. Yeah, I know -- GEEKS.  Anyway, she told me she was looking for, "... families who are avid adult Lego hobbyists."

The funny thing is that she's been trolling/spamming discussion forums all over the Internet looking for potentially quirky people who will subject their family to great conflict and confrontation for $20,000 and a few minutes of fame. Below is an entertaining sample of some of her posts; notice her pandering to each group like a bad politician.

• In the Roofing and Construction forum at roofing.com: "... I’m actually seeking parents, preferably moms, who are roofers. (It would be great to feature parents who aren’t afraid of hard work and getting their hands dirty!) "
• In the forum at RealityTVRules.com: "Do members of this forum know that perfect family that should be on the show? ... I am currently seeking families for our third season who embrace appearances, looking nice and the finer things in life!"
• In the Livestock and Farming forum at MotherEarthNews.com: "I’m actually seeking moms for our show who work with livestock. It would be great to feature a mom who’s not afraid of hard work and getting her hands dirty!"
• In a comment on Frugal Veggie Mama's blog at blogspot.com:  "I wanted to write to you after I came across your blog entry on ways to live frugally. Loved it! I am currently casting families for our third season and I thought you would be an ideal candidate. Showing a family with your values would be a positive influence on another family who spends money lavishly and wastefully."
• In the San Francisco Forum at Topix.net: "I am looking to feature a San Francisco family for our third season that enjoys shopping and spoiling the family with the finer things in life!"
• In the forum at TheMagicCafe.com: "I am looking to feature a family on our show with one or all family members who work in the circus for our third season."
• In the forum at 2Old2Play.com ("The Older Gamer's Paradise"): "...currently looking for families that have any or all members who love and/or are addicted to playing video games. Time to show the world why we love gaming!"
• In the Republican Forum at simpilot.net: "I am looking to feature a family on our show with good morals and conservative values. As an avid Republication myself, I would like to share the lifestyle of a conservative family with the national public."
• In the General Video Games Discussion forum at RottenTomatoes.com: "I saw you on NintenDojo. I am currently looking for families that have any or all members who love playing video games. I would like to show the world that gamering [sic] doesn’t equal violence, that that family can actually bond and grow closer through gaming!"
• In the forum at 1Branson.com (A web site about Branson, Missouri): "ABC’s hit show Wife Swap is seeking Branson families for the third season!"
• In the forum at XBoxOverheating.com: "I am currently looking for families that have any or all members who love playing Xbox. Time to show the world that families can actually bond and grow closer through gaming!"
• In the Freebies & Contest section of the forum at BargainShare.com: "I am looking to feature a family on our show who have the “hangout” house. Specifically, this house is Fun and laid-back, The kids are allowed to have sleepovers, friends over, etc, The kids run the household, Mom does the chores (ie. cooking, cleaning, shopping)"
• In the Balloon Entertainer's Post & Tips forum at mbd2.com: "I would like to feature a family on our show with one or all family members who work as professional clowns!"
• In the Belly Dance forum at OrientalDancer.com: "I am looking to feature a family on our show with one or all family members belly dance!"
• In the forum at Families.com: "I am currently looking for families that hold high standards in education (ie. Ivy league for the children) and are involved in associations of excellence (either parents or children). Showing a family with those values would be a positive influence on the American public!"
• In the message boards at PartyPop.com: "ABC's hit show Wife Swap is seeking fun, unique, interesting and quirky families and it's members for our third season!"
• In the forums at CSCDRA.com (Central States Compact Drag Racing Association): "I am interested in featuring families where one or all family members are drag racers. Female and teen drag racers would be ideal, though my search is not limited to those scenarios."
• In the Vampyre forums at Darkness.com: "I would like to feature a family on our show who is a non-mainstream, non-traditional family and share their way of life. Thought this site would be a great way to meet potential applications who would be willing to share their gothic/satanical/vamyrical lifestyle."
• In the forums at Discovery.com (The Discovery Channel): "I’m seeking moms for our show who work in "dirty jobs". It would be great to feature a mom who’s not afraid of hard work and getting her hands dirty!"
• In the forums at iTulip.com (The Contrary Market View): "... looking to feature a family on the show who is non-mainstream, anti-consumerist and anti-materialist, to share their way of life and raise awareness on how people can reduce waste in their everyday lives."
• In the Denver Broncos forum at TheRedZone.org: "I am currently looking for families that love and are addicted to football. As a born and raised Coloradoan, I am biased I would love to have a Denver Bronco family on, and show some nationwide love for the Big Orange."
• In the forums at the Web sire for the 11th At-home Dad Convention: "I am seeking families for our third season with SAHD [Stay at home dads] and career moms."
• In the Talk About Your Kids forum at GamerDads.com: "I am currently looking for families that have any or all members who love playing video games. Time to show the world why we love gaming!"
• In the forums at SENGifted.org (Supporting Educational Needs of the Gifted): "I am currently looking for families anywhere along the lines of the following: holding high standards in education, involved in associations of excellence (either parents or children), and/or children who are leaders in some way (gifted and talented)." She also added, "... our intentions would be to match them with families that may not emphasize those values and could learn from this family."

You just have to love reality TV, eh?

The Great Lakes Modeling Association has posted an article about my LEGO model of the STEWART J CORT, which was the first 1000-foot ship to sail the Great Lakes. I recently went to show it at a Great Lakes modelers show, and while I was there I was amazed at the real models I saw there. Those guys have an amazing level of detail that I could never accomplish with the LEGO medium, like ship-board workers, little tiny capstans, and complex 3D curves. However, I do have one advantage over them: when my model experiences damage during transit, I can just press it back together!

You can see the article, and more pictures, here:
http://www.greatlakesmodeling.com/museum/dc_stewart_j_cort.htm.