Revenge of the Nerds
A dry, sunny San Diego day, with brisk ocean chilled breeze – but only on the outside. Inside the San Diego convention center though, the sweltering wet warmth of unbathed bodies left you feeling, well, sticky. It was a dank, humid, swampy affair of nerds, Klingons, cellulite super-heroines and some kind of Japanese goth renaissance space fantasy.
That humidity to be sure, is that special kind of trapped in human sweat streaming from heavy, fluffy costumes. I overhead a teenage girl on her way out of the convention center exclaim “stop touching me geeks!”
I think that best sums up the San Diego Comic Convention International: nubile young women shrieking in fear of the wet touchy palms of a bustling crowd of geeks.
Various “television and movie personalities” were about, most charging exorbitant fees for an autograph or a photo (Ernie Hudson, how could you?). Fortunately, there were plenty of other astonishing photo opportunities walking about. Not everyone was charging me. This lovely girl was even flirting with me!
We bumped into Ray Bradbury in the main convention area, that’s right, the Ray Bradury! Not to say Ernie Hudson wasn’t exciting, but Ray Bradbury taking time to meet people and chat without asking for money was quite the thing. Definitely a true gentleman, and one of the few speakers at the convention that was memorable for all the right reasons. My girlfriend, on the other hand, missed the entire Ray Bradbury discussion forum because she wanted Starbucks. The aspiring writer passing on the opportunity to hear one of the most influential writers of all time, instead opting for overpriced carmel caffeine. I wish I could tell her she didn’t miss anything, but there were several young writers watching in tears listening to Ray Bradbury speak of the inspiration and passion he has for his craft.
I also listened to the Simpsons’ creators as well as the Adult Swim panel. In both cases, I realized I’m not as much of a fan as I thought. Don’t read me wrong, I love Adult Swim and I love the Simpsons and Futurama. But really, they’re just shows, get over it, people! If watching Aqua Teen Hunger Force changed your life, I don’t think I want to hear about your life, and maybe it’s time to move out of your mom’s house!
Please check out the photos, here’s some incentive!
