Annoying brothers and sisters affect even the greatest heroes and villains of comic book world.  These pairs (and quartet) of spandex wearing freaks make sibling rivalry a moral lesson for us all, and page filler until the next battle.  These are the siblings worth watching fight and frolic, no matter the awkwardness.

7. Starmen, Jack and David Knight

The original Starman, Ted Knight, had two loving sons with different take’s on their father’s career choice. David quickly followed his father into super heroics while Jack looked down on the colorful profession. After their father’s old foe, the Mist, murdered David did Jack take over the Starman mantle. With the Cosmic Staff and a pair of goggles, Jack Knight fought crime with the annual assistance of his brother’s ghost, who imparted wisdom from the beyond to help Jack foil the doers of evil.

6. Northstar and Aurora

Canadian super-siblings Northstar and Aurora spent most of their youth separated after their parents’ death. The two coincidently reunited as members of Canadian super-team Alpha Flight, discovering they earn bonus super powers when in physical contact. When the two touched, they emitted a beam of light that made people feel happy and peaceful. How sweet. The power didn’t work on themselves, however, since they had a falling out leading Aurora to augment her powers so she never needed to touch her gay brother again. Homophobe.

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I’m a big fan of instant messaging - I find it the most efficient communication tool. It’s instant (obviously), share files and links, and I can do other things at the same time (which is harder on the phone). I’ve always over analyzed proper manners when IMing someone, and just when I’m getting the hang of it, Facebook comes along and messes up the whole rules system.

Facebook released their own instant messaging service two months ago, built into its social network, meaning if you have a Facebook account, you have Facebook IM. Unlike AIM or Google Talk, you just have to sign into Facebook and all your also signed in friends are shown as available in a taskbar. There’s no need to trade addresses, it’s all simple and automatic.

As a result, I don’t know who wants to use it and who doesn’t, making it hard to know who to IM and when.

Facebook Chat comes readily available on Digsby, my favorite IM client, so I can use the service just like any other instant messenger. Most of my friends use the taskbar on Facebook pages, requiring they keep the page open so as not to sign off. It also makes it hard to see when you get a new IM since your browser doesn’t flash announcing the new message. I’ve often tried sending messages to people who never saw them - they just closed their browser.

Thus even friends I ask about IMing miss IMs. And people I didn’t check with in advance is such a crap shoot - I never know if they saw my IMs and were so offended they ignored me, or if they just never saw them. That’s very stressful on my fragile social psyche.

The other challenge with Facebook Chat is simply knowing who you want to talk to. I have so many friends from high school, camp, and college that I lost touch with on purpose, not to mention the people I’m friends with just because. All these people show up on my friends list. I don’t necessarily want to de-friend them, but I certainly don’t want to talk to them. At least on Facebook they were buried with the other faceless faced masses. On Facebook Chat, I have a constant list (Facebook says they are working on this feature). Unfortunately, not being able to block specific people leads to people IMing me I don’t want to talk to. And since I use an IM client, I always see the IM.

Facebook Chat is still young. Hopefully as more people discover its features and value, it will become a great way of connecting with people, above poking them (which is still fun). But until Facebook Chat becomes valuable, we all need to learn how to use it. Starting with answering your IMs.

There are many factions within the geek community, most viciously opposing and plot the death of other factions. Just try to get a Star Trek fan to agree with a Star Wars fan on anything. The truth is there is a hierarchy of geeks, and geeks in higher parts of that hierarchy are well in their power to look down on those lower in the hierarchy, the same way jocks and cheerleaders look down on all geeks. This list ranks the geekiest of geek hobbies in, well, order of geekiness. Enjoy one of these doesn’t make you a bad person. Just really, really geeky.

7. Star Wars geek

When it comes to sci-fi geekdom, Star Wars wins. It’s just huge, with every comic book, novel, action figure, and video game to collect, memorize, and horde. No other single franchise can match this insanity.

How to know if you are one: You have read anything Star Wars related outside of the 6 movies

Wastes money on: Anything Star Wars related outside of the 6 movies

6. Anime

Pokemon has helped turn anime into a less embarrassing hobby, as long as you are younger than 12. Once you his puberty, it’s time to hide those big-eyed cartoons and start watching South Park. But some geeks can’t break the habit. They just love the speed lines.

How to know if you are one: You understand anime

Wastes money on: Subtitle software and Japanese lessons

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Playing video games requires intense concentration, physical exertion, and mental strain. Being interrupted by hunger can ruin the experience or worse, your high score. Keeping a stash of efficient and fulfilling snacks can be the key to successful, marathon gaming. Important factors to consider are the food’s greasiness (no slippery fingers), healthy (the worse, the better), crumbliness (less is more), and the fullness factor.

Bagel Bites

Filling and bite-sized, Bagel Bites give you the awesomeness of pizza on a bagel. And when pizza’s on a bagel, you can eat pizza anytime.

Peanut M&Ms

They melt in your mouth, not in your hand. Plus, the peanut makes them healthy.

Pringles

The least greasy and best tasting (in this blogger’s opinion) potato chip. Stick with original over other flavors to limit finger discoloration.

Oreo’s

They can crumble and are better with milk, but if you solve lots of problems by keep them in the fridge, then eating each one in one mouthful. It’s challenging and fun.

Wheat Thins

A little healthy, but these cracker treats provide some fiber to offset the other crap you’re eating.

Foods to avoid

Buttery popcorn

Grease, messy, and it gets stuck in your teeth

Anything with a wrapper

Sadly, Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, Rolos, and other bite-sized candies lose out

A few weeks ago, I recommended the very helpful PageOnce service that collects all your email, social networking, and even financial services on one page. You can pick and choose between dozens of services. PageOnce is still in closed beta, but has provided Prodigeek with a special link to sign up. So try it out by clicking here.

Yes, Prodigeek is turning into the geek’s Dr. Ruth.  This may be a little more risque than my readers are use to (sorry Mom), but this is just a natural progression of the Geek Chic column.  Sexual fantasies are a fun and healthy way to "spend time" with your partner and us geeks have some creative ideas of our own (not me, I’m all about missionary style with a member of the same sex).  So for the more adventurous of you, it might be worth adding some of these ideas to your love play.  Remember costumes and props only add to the realism.  And plan your safe words ahead of time. 

Spider-Man upside-down kiss

While harnesses might be above your price range, you can re-enact this classic comic book movie scene by simply leaning over a couch or chair.  The key is begin kissing with your heads facing opposite directions and see where they end up…

Batman and Robin

Just read any Batman comic pre-1954 and you’ve got a picture book with more creativity than the Kama Sutra.  From bondage to black leather to spandex, Batman and Robin offer a large assortment of variation in just one fantasy.  And while this is great for gay couples, don’t forget there have been girl Robins…

Superman and Lois Lane

It’s the classic love story of comic books.  And while the really kinky fetishy stuff might be sadly ignored (Superman, the Blue Boy Scout did grow up in small-town Kansas with old people), you can still replicate the romance.  A nice spandex suit, a dainty reporter’s outfit, and who knows, maybe another harness.  How else are you going to go flying…

Slave Leia

A fantasy with the princess once involved flowing cloaks and hair in buns transforms into a skimpy bikini and chains.  George Lucas, you dirty, dirty man.  The big question for geeks is will you be Jabba the Hut controlling your slave, or Han Solo freeing her, cause I can see it swinging either way…

Angel and Spike

For the Buffy fans, Angel and Spike are two sides of the cliched coin.  You’ve got the soul-bearing and brooding hero and then the rocker, bad ass with a British accent.  So sure the accent might challenge some people, but who cares about talking, right?  Sadly, the two never hooked up (that we know of), so it’s up to our imaginations and fan fiction to make this happen (or you can always check out Spike’s appearance on Torchwood for some ideas).  Spoiler warning, but that might be a good thing here.

Extensive computer use or gaming can cause severe pain in the wrist and thumb area, now known as computer tunnel syndrome (trademarked!).  Many gadget users like myself joke that our wrist pain is carpal tunnel syndrome, but that is not technically true.  Long periods of repetitive motions like typing or gaming can lead to pain, such as bursitis and tendonitis, but are often more like cramps or stress.  The Mayo Clinic found that heavy computer use did not increase a person’s risk to developing carpal tunnel syndrome, but constant computer use can lead to physical pain.  Here are a few suggestions to keep your hands healthy so you can continue typing until everything is done telepathically.

Wrist guards

Pick up one or two wrist guards from your local drug store.  While typing or gaming, wear the guard to limit movement in your wrists and help limit any pain you might feel.  Can work preventively or help alleviate a current problem if you cannot take long breaks.

Take breaks

Take a good 10-20 minute break every hour if you can.  Stretch your wrists out (see below) to avoid cramping up in your locked typing positions

Stretch

Stretch before, during and after you type or game, just like a real sporting event.  Here are some good stretches to try.

Stop when it hurts

This sounds obvious, but is hard to do.  You have deadlines or just one more level to beat.  It’s hard to stop.  But if you’re body is telling you it hurts, listen and take a break.

Ergonomic keyboards, mic, pads, etc.

When you can’t avoid it, find the most comfortable keyboard and mouse.  I find the more ergonomic ones less comfortable, but it’s worth going to your local electronics store and testing them out.  Mice where your pointer finger is raised lessen stress and curved keyboards provide more natural hand placement.  Also make sure you have a comfortable workspace.  Proper keyboard posture expects you to keep your wrists about perpendicular to your hand.  Gel pads to keep in front of your keyboard help with this.

Most of friends try to play it cool and claim they prefer sports to video games, but once I have them over and they’ve had a few drinks, well, I don’t have to tell you what happens next.  The Nintendo Wii, Guitar Hero, and the casual gaming fad have made it so I don’t have to get my cool friends drunk just to play video games.  So here are things to make sure you have when throwing a video game party.

Maximize the number of players

Few of us can afford multiple HDTVs, but if you have a quality computer monitor, you can quality double your pleasure.  I keep the Wii hooked up to the HDTV in my living room and move the 360 to my computer monitor and speakers.  With the Wii on mute, four people could play Super Monkey Ball to the background music of Guitar Hero.

Batteries

Make sure you have tons of batteries for controllers.  Do I need to explain this further?

Know how to work everything

It sucks to waste time trying to figure out how to set-up multiplayer or not knowing how to play a mini-game or simply not knowing how many people can play something.  Be the expert so everyone else can just relax and make fools of themselves.  It’s less fun when you’re fool because nothing works.

Finger food

Just because you’re playing video games doesn’t mean you have to eat like a six year old.  Put together a cheese platter, cold cuts, and of course, junk food.  Just make sure to provide a balance.  Being a geek can still be classy.

Have a non-video game space

Even with two rooms of games, it’ll be hard to get more than 4-8 people playing at one time.  Assuming you have more friends than that, you will want to have space for socializing so people can just watch the gaming but still talk about non-geeky things.  Normal people aren’t used to 12 hour gaming marathons so be sympathetic.

With the coffee-sipping, café-hanging out culture of today, sitting around is the new cool. Now, as fun as people watching can be, sometimes you just need something to do. Whether at Starbucks, a job interview, the subway or the park, reading a book provides entertainment and reveals an inner layer about you to complete strangers.

Think about how you’d view the guy reading Ann Coulter’s new trash piece (also, it’s a guy reading Ann Coulter). Different books send different messages about you and the right message can affect how you’re viewed by an employer or a potential mate.

Mainstream unknowns

Award-wining, critically acclaimed authors write numerous books of excellent quality but lesser stature. From the classy film noir of Raymond Chandler to the crude sexual humor of Anthony Burgess, these kinds of books present someone intelligent but not a snob. Make sure you buy paperback. This makes your book less conspicuous. You don’t need a thousand page hardback proclaiming your intelligence (or lack thereof) right on your lap. Now your book has a well-know author but unknown title. This gives you wiggle room in perception. Someone who wants to find someone of intelligence would see an independently-minded individual who they would assume has read the better known books by the same author (whether or not you have).

Conversely, if someone is looking for someone less academic, they would look past “Farewell, My Lovely” when “One Hundred Years of Solitude” might scare them away.

Airplane paperback

Mostly the Fabio romance novels, these are the trash they’re made to be (but a boon for starving writers). You can finish them in a plane ride and they will never start a conversation. The higher-end toss-aways like Patterson and Grisham at least
show you follow pop culture, though you are no connoisseur. If you care what people think about you, don’t read these where those people can see you.

Critical acclaim

The key to remember here is that smart people don’t just read the classics – they’ve already read them. Now no one has read all the classics, but if you’ve read one some arrogant know-it all has, you will not hear the end of it. Alternatively, classics tread the fine line of being a smarty-pants or a knowledge seeker. If you’re reading this for school, then bring a highlighter and notebook. If you want to be seen as that smart, then go all-out.

As for the more current award winners, these work similar to Mainstream Unknowns as those interest in smart books will know smart books. These books are less original, though books don’t succumb to being trendy like other aspects of pop culture.

Non-fiction

From biographies to political editorials to self-help books, non-fiction instantly reveals the readers interest and certain aspects of their intelligence. The meanings can be quite obvious. Diet books to biographies of Benjamin Franklin can be
surprisingly fun, certainly educational and always provide party fodder conversation. Though more academic books present the same images of arrogance, non-fiction at least reflects your preference instead of the I-desperately-want-to-be-viewed-assmart-so-I’m-reading-William-Faulkner-on-my-three-day-weekend. Just make sure you 1) like the topic you’re reading about and 2) be careful with political books. You don’t want to be stopping in Lynchburg, Virginia reading about how vital Stonewall was in the gay rights movement.

Graphic novels

Being a huge comic book fan (surprise), I have my biases, though even I rarely read comics in these public settings (opting for non-fiction). Nevertheless, even I give in on my subway ride home from the comic book store with the new shipment. So back to the article. The fastest growing section at your bookstore is the graphic novels. While you may shrug at the thought of reading Spider-Man in your Gucci suit
en route to your six-figure salary job. While as a young college student, conversations of super-heroes have more prevalence, someone wishing to be less nerdy may prefer something without spandex.

Graphic novels cover every genre from Blankets by Craig Thompson, a memoir of Thompson’s rigid Catholic upbringing and meeting his first love, to 300 by Frank Miller (the author of Sin City), the retelling of the 300 Spartans who prepared a suicide mission against the Peloponnesian army. Another downside, though – graphic novels are big and heavy and not often made for traveling. Still, try reading some. I’m not biased.

(Originally published on EDGEBoston.com)

I recently broke up with my boyfriend of about ten months.  In that time, we shared some great memories.  And like all memories, they have to immortalized on my Facebook and Myspace pages.  I list myself as in a relationship; we share photos of us together; we give Facebook gifts; and we post on each other’s Facebook walls.  So now we break up.  What do we do with all this baggage?

Dealing with physical gifts is easy - you just throw it out a window and tell them your ex-significant other to come pick it up.  But the digital world has change this.  Suddenly, my break-up is very public.  When I change my relationship status, all my Facebook friends are notified on the News Feed.  Friends I didn’t speak to for months suddenly want to talk.

But first I have to ask, when do I change my relationship status?  Right away or is that rude?  Should I delete our photos?  Should I delete the gifts and posts?  These aren’t simply love letters hidden in a shoe box.  Any changes I make are open for the public to see.  My ex can see any changes I make to my profile and vice versa.  Now it’s like we have to break up all over again online and this time all our friends are watching.

My advice is treat this part of the break-up like a band-aid and just finish the job quickly.  The break-up itself, obviously, can be a mature discussion, but come on, nothing about Facebook and Myspace is meant to be mature. Break-ups are hard enough, but to have constant reminders every time to go online would be masochistic (unless you’re into that sort of thing).  Even if you think you might get back together, most of this stuff can be recreated so it’s not a huge loss - that’s usually the reason you’d want to keep stuff around, for the just in case.