Coming Soon...

School has been out for awhile, I've been busy being married, living outside of college, and learning to stand on my own feet with the support of my loving husband.

I'll be updating again pretty soon, as I want to make this a bigger part of who I am and what I do.

I might start using a different blogging platform, but we'll see. I'll experiment.

A New Year, a New Day

As you might already know, since last June I've been engaged. During this time I've been updating my blog over at http://steamynight.blogspot.com instead of teaching you all. No regrets, just letting you know that I still exist.

Now, as for the lesson -

I received an iPad from my mother for Christmas this past holiday season. It's not the 3G or anything special (apart from being a frickin' iPad!), but it was one of the highlights of last year.

I love it, it hardly leaves my side and I constantly am checking my feeds at school to make sure I'm staying up-to-date with the latest in technology and, well... anything, really.

However, apart from this love affair I'm having (I've always said I would make Cyborg babies with Lieutenant  Data from Star Trek TNG) with this piece of technology, it's necessary to look at what all is available to consumers out there.

Through a conversation via facebook with one of my professors and several of his facebook friends, one of them shared this image of comparisons:

Honestly, to me the LG Optimus Pad looks more favorable to me than any of the other non-iPad variants. The screen size throws me off, since its more widescreen than the iPad.

Actually, it might beat out the iPad for me as far as specs are concerned. I love that it has microSD card capabilities and that it has 3D recording. 3D isn't necessary, but it sure is fun! Also, I have to admit that anything that supports (or, as the LG doesn't say yet, "capability to support") flash is a HUGE plus for me as a web designer/developer.

I'll definitely be interested in seeing how much that will go for when it's released.

I haven't experienced Android 3.0 yet, but currently my smartphone runs on 1.6... honestly, based PURELY off of my experience - as I know with newer versions comes more apps and more high-quality interfaces, etc. - as of 1.6 I'm unimpressed with the app market and the general user interface with android. I love android, however. If anything because I love the more rugged feeling of technology as opposed to using an apple product.

Don't get me wrong, I love apple, including because it's so clean and streamline. Sometimes I just want to get something done, so I don't mind the OS telling me exactly what I can and cannot do - while android and windows wave themselves around, "do whatever you want! I'm all yours!".

So I will probably stick to my iPad. I won't be upgraded to iPad 2.0, but will probably attempt to get 3.0 when they release it next year. How do I know there will be a 3.0? Because Apple will make money off of it.

Under Construction

Re-designing my main site, http://www.brittanyklopfstein.com, so this one will also be redesigned shortly. Eat... I mean Pardon... my Dust.

Long Overdue

I honestly feel like this should have been implemented awhile ago. However, we're glad it's here now! It's a great step towards a new online shopping experience!

YOUReality is a 3D modeling service that companies online can used so costumers can upload spaces in their household and then copy 3D renderings of furniture and decor into those images, depth of field and lighting included. Just take a look at the video:



"YOUReality gives cool technology relevance in the world of commerce by driving retail sales through increased conversion rate," says YOUReality founder Michelle Fallon. "Retail Visualization takes the guesswork out of the visual aspects of shopping, making the buying decision faster and easier. Retail Visualization for ecommerce allows product visualization in a web store and then adds the selected items directly to the shopping cart or wish list," she says.

Fellow students and teachers, this is cool. I've done my fair share of taking pictures of rooms in my house that I want to decorate and photoshopping them, adding in images off IKEA and Google search, so this new service makes me excited. You should be too!

It's a bird, it's a plane,... it's an Advertainment.

Hot off the press:

In a recent PR Newswire report, we're going to be seeing a lot more interactive and attractive advertising on airplanes.

This is coming to us in the form of free food. Well, free so long as you pay the often outrageous price for a plane ticket.

This food (a lunch/snack as it's described) will be in containers that are sponsored by ad space. This new "Air Advertainment" is described as "the back of a cereal box for the 21st century".

Now, it's going to be hitting us where it hurts. When we're flying, sitting next to that child psychologist who is why too interested in knowing why you're by yourself and had just gotten back from a foreign country when I was 13 years old. Or that really hot guy that you can't say anything to because you have bad breath. The list goes on...

It's all the same, though, when we're flying we have fewer distractions and, especially on longer flights, are constantly looking for forms of entertainment (the ocean can only be entertaining for so long before you forget what land looks like). So, free food covered in ads? Why not? I'd take a gander.

It was this morning, May 24th, that passengers of a Horizon Air (flight 2631 from Seattle, WA to Portland, OR) will be the first to experience Advertainment. These initial ads are sponsored by Creative Labs, which is using a Facebook contest to name it's new video camera as it's promotion.

"With certain airlines cutting services and adding charges, this program is a welcome addition for passengers and operators alike," said Mary L. Macesich, co-founder and Vice President of Air Advertainment. "Passengers are thrilled to receive a snack or bite to eat, the airlines are excited to be able to provide it at no cost, and the brand finally has the ability to connect with the public in captive environment where they are spending time, largely undistracted. All with a social media kick."

The report states that the passengers will be enjoying a delicious snack of Stacy's Pita Chips and Hershey's chocolate (among other snacks, but apparently that must be the highlight, which I am not impressed).

There is a lot to consider, but all in all, I think this is brilliant. As far as marketing goes, couldn't be better. This company is determined to make it's consumer spend more than 15 minutes considering and being exposed to the brand being advertised. I don't think it's a bad message, and while I do genuinely dislike advertisements, I think this is different. It isn't an interruption like commercials or billboards. They aren't making you go out of your way to understand something.

They are giving the consumer something to do, and it involves interactive experiences and food. I really do think it's brilliant, and I would love to work for this company someday. If more advertisers took consideration of the consumer's time like this, we wouldn't need as much advertising because users would be spending more time looking at ads because they want to - rather than gaining subliminal messages.

I hope the next flight I take involves these treats, but so far it seems Horizon Airlines is the inaugural carriers of Air Advertainment.

Why Research is Important When Job Searching

For those of us living in the digital age and making our careers out of it, researching what the market looks like, and what it's predicted to look like, and what it wants, is very extremely important.

Things like what employers are looking for in who they are hiring, what companies are planning their budgets to be regarding digital mediums (social networking, web sites, marketing), and how the economy is agreeing (or disagreeing) with agencies.

Researching these things can be easy, especially if you know where to look.

My first experience with understanding what the digital job market wanted from me, should I start applying, involved looking at job ads on Craigslist. It was very noticeable (even with the scams) that there would be expectations of the applicant that I didn't have any experience with yet, like ASP.net and jQuery, and as a result of seeing these trends, I've started researching the things I know and fiddling with them. Gaining a "working knowledge".

While this doesn't mean I'm an expert at something, it means I have the drive and ambition to learn new things that are expected of me for a job, and that I'm passionate about what I do.

Conferences/Conventions are a luxury for those of us that can be sponsored or can afford it themselves. South by Southwest (SXSW), which is a convention split into Music, Film, and Interactive, with the Interactive section focusing on technology and the digital age, is a popular one. I've mentioned it before, as I know a lot of people that have had the benefit of attending it. I, however, am not one of them.

If anyone has 1k sitting around, I'd be thrilled to go next year!

The most recent research device I have found comes from a 2009 Digital Marketing article from the Society of Digital Agencies. Well, it's not really an article, it's more of a report. Well, it's not really a report, it's more of a... anyways.

This is one of the diagrams in the report. To me, this is one of the most helpful pictures of what the current job market is looking for. Know how I got connected to this? Twitter. Awesome, right? I'm personally so sick of defending myself as to why I love Twitter. But that's another story.

The image to the right links to the site the diagram came from. Well, it's where you can get the report the diagram came from. You have to sign up for a free service to download it, but I recommend it since it's 70 pages and there are a lot of charts that I recommend getting a really good look at.

I haven't had a chance to read the entire thing, but I'm probably going to print it out and read it at the gym, so I'll talk about that later.

As a college student, and as someone entering the digital job market, knowing what is expected of me when really get "out there" is my top priority. When a person has all the tools they need to excel in the job market, the world can be open to them. One of the reasons I'm excited about my future and the job market I'm going into is that I have opportunities all over the world, I don't have to be bound to a building, and I don't have to be bound to just where ever I can get a job.

So, as a main point, researching is a vital part of preparing for the job market. It tells you what employers are expecting of their applicants and it grows you as a professional in the digital age. It keeps you one step ahead of your peers, allowing your resume to be just that much better - and it can increase your job security if you're already employed.

Part of being a geek, which a lot of us are, is the ability to be a student of life - constantly learning. There is so much in life to know and understand, and so much that we will never know or understand, why wait? Get on it! You're on the Internet! It's your job to know the world you live in, so continue onwards and upwards.


Cheers,
Klopfstein

Give your face some privacy

It's been a long few months, students of mine, but it's good to see your smiling faces!

Today's order of business is this discussion and boycott against popular social networking site: Facebook.

These are the things to consider when decided whether or not to forgo facebook for all eternity are the following:

           - if you are concerned about your privacy, you shouldn't be social networking in the first place. Unless you are giving away credit card information, social security numbers, or anything of that nature - there is nothing you can't tell people that, if they really wanted to know, they couldn't find anyways through phone books, directories, your friends, public information, etc... I use to believe that my house would be broken into, a family member murdered (if not myself), or something bad along those lines would happen if I so much as tell someone my real age online, let alone an e-mail address or phone number. Heaven forbid an address. If you want these things to be private, don't social network. It's important to understand that social networking involves talking to people, and sharing information with them, especially if you are doing it right (and getting job offers).

           - privacy is the main concern for most people considering giving up facebook, which is silly since you give just as much information (while not as directly) away through myspace, twitter, linkedin, etc. However, another issue people have with Facebook is the bugs/errors. So the chat doesn't work every now-and-then, and pages sometimes don't want to load, but if you are letting these things distract you from the benefits of Facebook and social networking, then you're doing it wrong.

            - Giving up Facebook, if you are a part of that community and not just updating your status every now-and-then, will essentially hurt your social life as it stands now. Because I don't know you very well, let me explain what losing Facebook would do to me currently: I would lose friends. I have friends that are graduating college and moving away, and in only a year or two I will be doing the same. Keeping in touch with these people is important to me, and Facebook and social mediums are the easiest and most efficient way to do that. Cell phones only go so far with conversation, especially when you have 50 good friends that you want to keep tabs on. Another thing, I've gained opportunities through Facebook that I wouldn't have known about otherwise. I was an extra in an Indie movie, I've learned about sites/movements like couch surfing, I've become a part of communities involved with my interests - like Doctor Who and Steam Punk, I've organized parties, and the list goes on.

If it's not obvious by now, my stance on this issue is that I will NOT be deleting my Facebook account, and I've yet to fully understand why any self-respecting social-network-user would.

That's all for now, class. What is your opinion on the issue?

On to the Bigger and Brighter

I understand it has been nearly a year since I've taught you all a lesson, I had experimented with Wordpress for that duration and realized I would like more freedom with my movements than a CSS stylesheet with set perimeters could give me.

So my website is currently under major construction for probably the next month while I work out exactly what I want my site to do.

Right now it's just one huge .jpg and it upsets my soul.

However, I am back, and I will continue to post under this alias instead of "kaida" because I've grown tired of using fake Japanese names that I enjoy. I'm proud of my last name and will use it. "Brittany" I'm not so found of. I've never considered myself to be a "Brittany", all the Brittanys I've met in my life have had flaws I didn't like - too preppy, too flaky, too non-committed, too egotistical, the list goes on.

Anyways,

That is the update on my return. More important things to follow.

Continue with your homework,

Cheers,
BK
Burgers not served here.

Observations

Okay, I decided to youtube SXSW videos because frankly, I wish I had been there. When I came across this video, I was introduced to a topic that I was not familiar with.

Having been a Graphic Design major for almost three years before switching to Photography and Media Informatics, I have an opinion on this.

A "mom and pop" shop (as it is mentioned) can't always afford the price of what these people would call "professional" designers. Spec work is a service to small companies and designers that want to get their foot in the door. Amateurs always have to start out somewhere, and just because some "professionals" are getting miffed that newbies are stepping foot on their turf is no reason to disown those that use the services.

Like I said, I don't have a whole lot of knowledge on this topic, but I find this discussion to be a bit uneasy. I mean, Graphic Design (and design in general, really) is already a hell of a competitive field, and I know people that go into it because they believe they actually have original talent to offer and that it will be easy money for them. Fools.

I want to create web sites and take pictures for a living, and while I am absolutely sure I will be able to find some sort of job, I'm not daft enough to believe my ideas are original. And frankly, I don't give a damn. If my ideas are used in a way that WORKS and that get the information my client (or myself) has to offer across in the EASIEST and most APPEALING way, then I have done my job and I have done it well. A simple color scheme and a clean design. The content is more important than the design, so that is all you need.

Not even that, I mean, if the client has a product or set of information that is enticing, a design isn't needed at all. At that point, simple, basic, HTML tags will get the job done with a couple of headers, body text, with black text on a white background will sell an item.

That is why this job is competitive. That is why it is hard. Because anyone willing to learn the basics can -eventually- do it. For goodness sake, the vast majority of the classes I've taken have simply been about how to use different programs in the most effective way.

I can now work the hell out of Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Frontpage, Flash (as far as websites, not animation, goes), and most of InDesign, but that doesn't mean I have the stamina to be a Graphic Designer.

And for the record, I opted out of graphic design for the following reasons:

1- I had personal issues with a couple of the professors. I cannot learn from someone I don't respect

2- I enjoy photography. It allows me to get away from the computer and experience my art. I also find that I enjoy making a composition out of already-manifested-objects rather than create something from scratch (graphic design "scratch" IS different from web design "scratch").

3- You have no idea how much I enjoy carrying a camera around with me everywhere I go. If I had a large enough bag, I would carry around my camera (Sony a100 10MP DSLR) and my video camera just to be sure I would catch every interesting and beautiful moment of my life.

So, while I may be way off base with my Spec work observation, I believe I still make a valid argument for some point or another.

Dissect you later!

Watch and Listen closely, students

This next item is particularly geeky and highly interesting!

I've always had a fascination with the idea of dimensions, the idea of dimensions as different worlds (time lines) completely, and also of the matter of planes in which we live. Which is why I was extremely excited to find an easy-to-follow, entertaining, and informative video describing all ten dimensions. The website is Imagining the Tenth Dimension.





I've watched these videos at least three times now, twice by myself and once in order to show my test subject, I call him my boyfriend, and every time I watch it I feel like I learn something new. However, being able to wrap my mind around the possibilities of the universe is insane. Now, I must say that as a doctor I do not believe in the big bang nor the evolution of monkeys --> humans. I'm rather found of intelligent design, and who is to say that that intelligent designer did not create thousands of hundreds of infinities? For me, this is a very exciting concept. When I'm finished reading the current texts I'm working on, I plan on buying the book this video is based on.

Enjoy dissecting the video! I will enjoy dissecting this endangered species... it would be a shame if it went out of existence before I got my hands on it...or in it.

Get to know a bit of me, Just for fun

ANIME/MANGA NERD
[x] You watch anime.
[x] You read manga.
[x] You buy/collect anime DVDs or manga volumes.
[x] You own some other form of anime/manga merchandise.
[x] You have referred to an anime character as 'hot' before.
[x] You have cosplayed.
[x] You have done so in public.
[x] You have been to an anime/manga convention.
[x] You have created/joined a fanclub for an anime/manga character.
[x] You have created/joined a hateclub for an anime/manga character.
[x] You have squealed when you found out somebody had the same name as an anime character you knew.
[x] You enjoy drawing anime.
[x] People you know know you as the 'anime' person.
[x] You know that it is pronouced 'mawnguh' and not 'manga' like it is spelled.

Anime/manga nerd = 14

ART NERD
[x] You like art.
[x] You actually consider yourself an artist.
[x] When using art supplies, the brand of them matters to you.
[x] You have a favorite brand.
[x] You have asked for art supplies as a Christmas/birthday gift before.
[x] You give people your drawings as gifts.
[x] People actually ask for your drawings.
[x] You are/were known as 'the art person' at your school.
[ ] Instead of just 'brown' or ' pink', you'd be specific; it's 'sienna brown' or 'blush pink'.
[x] You have taken an art class outside of school.
[x] You have considered a career as an artist.
[x] Your school papers are always covered in doodles.
[x] You have a favorite artist.
[x] Your drawings have been framed.
[x] You carry a sketchbook with you everywhere you go.

Art nerd = 14

MUSICAL NERD
[x] You play a musical instrument.
[x] You play more than one instrument.
[x] You actually really enjoy playing your instrument.
[x] You've given your instrument a name.
[x] You've participated in an extracurricular activity for your instrument.
[ ] You are known by what you play.
[x] You listen to classical music.
[x] You have a favorite composer.
[ ] All of your friends are from your band/orchestra class
[x] You write music.
[x] You've had discussions with your friends about music; your favorite composers/instruments/musical time periods/key/etc...
[ ] You have considered a professional career with your instrument.
[] You are never nervous playing for other people.

Musical nerd = 9

VIDEO GAME NERD
[x] You play video games.
[x] You own more than 4 different video game systems.
[x] You've had debates over which system is the greatest.
[x] You play video games every day.
[x] You have played a video game for over 10 hours.
[x] You have songs from your favorite video games on Cds.
[x] You love to talk about video games.
[x] You memorize the dates for when a new game is being released.
[x] People know you as the 'gamer' person.
[ ] You spend more time on video games than you do hanging out with friends.
[x] Your gaming system is in your room.
[x] You have preferences when it comes to what company your game came from.
[x] You've had debates over which company is the best.
[ ] You keep playing a game until you beat it.
[ ] It makes you angry when you found out somebody looked up cheat codes on the internet to beat their game.

Video game nerd = 12

COMPUTER NERD
[x] You use the computer every day
[x] You have an account/username on some sort of social website.
[x] You go into random internet chatrooms. (I'm careful on this one, however)
[x] You spend at least 2 hours a day on the computer.
[x] You use computer faces.
[x] It is hard to go a day without using the computer.
[x] You spend time in online forums.
[x] In the forum/chatroom you use, you are known there by everyone else.
[x] You have friends you have only met online.
[x] You have actually met an online friend in person.
[x] U cn ezly rd 'txttlk.'
[x] You have said 'lol' or 'omg' in speech that is not online.
[x] You can type really, really fast. (125 wpm)

Computer Nerd = 13


So I'm slightly lacking in the video games and musical nerd areas. I'm okay with that, a lot of doctors have specialties!

Dissection Rules

The coolest thing I have personally found on the Internet so far is Twitter. And so far, the best thing on Twitter has been following congressmen and news groups.

Being informed is the greatest gift the Internet can give us, so long as the source is admirable. The Internet will really take us places, but don't mind me - I'm gushing.

The Internet makes me (almost) wish I had less interest in the world, because it is so exhausting to feel so driven to find out everything I can about any subject I have the slightest curiosity about. I've seen a horse castration (granted, that was at a panel at Ikasucon last year, but it was still provided by the internet!).

There have been, however, the few things that compelled my interest to an even greater extent as I was researching it. Scientology, for one. Progressive Rock and Concept Albums (researching Coheed & Cambria). Black holes and space. I want to spend more time researching things I don't know a thing about - like chemistry.

Which brings me to a point: Why do I call myself a doctor?
Because I'm practicing nerdication. Real doctors are certified to "practice medication". I'm placing the essence of "nerd" and "geek" into these posts in varying amounts, and as you are reading you are taking it in and being affected.

Plus, it sounds cool. And I have a thing for mad scientists... or really professions where the guy is wearing glasses (scientists, researchers, teachers, writers, etc...).

Then why "geek-chic"?
Because I'm a geek, and I try to dress and present myself as such. I'm not ashamed to tell people that I cosplay, am involved with my church, volunteer at an art center, am trying to teach myself Linux, carry a DSLR camera with me at all times, or likewise.

I am an open book, to say the least. So be careful, where there is an open book there is often someone reading... and if there is someone reading there is often someone learning.

Perhaps I will expand on a few of my well-researched interests in the next post and you can learn something.

Analysis: I wish I could afford a house

Take a look at this amazing video by Jonathan Jarvis on the credit crisis! Even if you already understand how the housing market got to where it is today, it is a very educational and entertaining 11-minute watch. He makes a somewhat very complex idea tangible for the masses to understand.


The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

Be sure to check out the rest of his website for some really awesome stuff!

I would also like to direct your attention to this article:

U2 songs downloaded before album release date, Last.fm hands over user data to RIAA

I don't know if I'm more excited about the U2 album, or more upset that a company handed over personal data without realizing the whole story.

It can't be over, I haven't sung yet!

The popular quote, "Everything that can be invented has been invented," by the Commissioner of the U.S. office of patents in 1899 is starting to cross the minds of people once again.

It seems like only a couple years ago when rich, important people were the only ones will cell phones, and before that car phones. Now there are 4-year olds sending pictures to their families of their goldfish.

I read in a powerpoint presentation that in 20 years, websites may be obsolete. It's hard for me to imagine anything quicker, simpler, and easier to acquire than a website, but the same could be said for when the telegraph was invented.

As for myself, I'm thoroughly excited about the future of technology. If you look at how far the world has come since the Internet became a mass media, it's obvious that there is more out there. The younger generations are more technologically knowledgeable than a good amount of the older generations, and as those younger generations get older and learn more, they will become responsible for how to make those things better and how to use them to their full potential.

That is how history has always worked, and the Internet is not the "end-all be-all" of technology.

However, my excitement is also of the morbid variety. I believe that there will be downfalls to how far the use of technology will take us. I don't mean downfalls like, "the post office will become obsolete," (because I do believe that will happen, but it may not be for several generations from now) I mean downfalls like, "the only reason I get out of bed is to use the restroom." However, I did mention that maybe the next generation of Apple computers will involve a toilet application where it processed your poo into a fuel that can be used for your flying car, space ship, or moped.

Imagine, if you will, a turn dial that controls the length of your grass so that you never have to cut it, but it you want long, luscious grass you can have that or even a mud pit for fun wrestling, football, farming, or building.

Maybe the food industry can take google's current idea of having a central "brain" that holds all the information for every computer so that a person can access all of their computer software, files, and internet settings from any computer. The food industry could someday have a central "brain" where all food, recipes, cooking, and related items stored so that all a person has to do to "shop" is go online to order what groceries they want, the plant will put the items into the person's individual "food bank", then the person can "order" anything they want to eat based on what groceries they have bought (or if they want to eat something specific, the program would give them a notice saying they don't have that item, but if they want to buy it they just need to press a button and it will be added). How the food would get to the person's house... I don't know, that is something for the creators to figure out. Of course we have things like Jenny Craig or NutriSystem and whatnot, but I'm talking about instantaneous-meals using recipes from homemade to Applebees to that expensive Japanese restaurant in Chicago (that I will not die happy if I never get to go to again).

What will this do to society? It will allow us to eat more creative things than mac & cheese or ramen noodles on a budget, it will allow us to need less storage space in a household, there will be less fires causes by kitchen mechanics, it will be easier to buy diet-specific foods without having to read every label, a person could buy foods from other countries (or simply hard-to-find foods) without having to find a specific store, and it will save money when it comes to shipping costs. More grocery buildings could be used as space for other stores also.

Downfalls? Of course! The art of cooking would be lost to a great extent! Creativity in creating your own recipes and ways of doing things would be difficult, having "virtual" food may give false impressions as to the quantity of food you actually have, so it would be easier to over-buy and over-eat. The restaurant experience is something that would either be lost, or would become even more of a treat, however the food would not be a treat so much since you can get it anytime.

The Jetsons are not far off. While some people are still looking for their flying cars, I think they are missing what is right in front of them and the possibilities there. While flying cars sound cool, I don't see the need. Society would still need a system to control the flow of traffic. In any case, I'm really hoping for the best, but expecting the worst to happen first.

What say you?

Diagnostic on Geek Dating

Valentines Day is coming up, and I'll tell you why I don't care.

I absolutely despise holidays where people do things out of obligation; however, I will not stop them from giving me gifts and if they ask for a list I will gladly give them the one I've been working on all year.

I would imagine it feels a lot more special when a person gives something to their other half spontaneously instead of on a day where: if you don't buy your girlfriend something, she gets pissed at you because all of her friends are getting stuff and she's not.

I've currently been going through a "getting to know you" phase with a wonderful man I met through my Japanese class. Just tonight, after class, we decided to go see both "The Tale of Despereaux" and "Madagascar 2" then to get shakes at Stake n' Shake. He asked if I wanted him to get me something for Valentines day, since we're trying to take things slow and all. I merely told him that I didn't want him to do anything he didn't want to do.

I'm convinced that the last man I dated (for 9 months) did 99% of everything he did just because he felt like he had to, or that was what was expected of him, or because I wanted him to, or some other similar reason. I hate that. I really do hate that, knowing full the use of the word "hate".

Now, for geek dating

From my personal experiences, here are some ideas:

-The "Bodies" Exhibit if it is in your area, but a general museum is great when both of you are interested in reading and understanding EVERYTHING
----I mention the Bodies exhibit in particular because that was a "date" I went on with my first boyfriend before we even started dating. We spent three hours in the exhibit making out designs in the veins of preserved organs.

-Going to a cheap theater and watching two movies in a row
----I'm saying this one mainly because it was what I did tonight, but it also wasn't the first time. You get the benefit of spending a lot of time together (and not talking that much, if that is what you are looking for), and it's like an extension on the classic date of "dinner and a movie". If you *cough*sneak*cough* buy snacks, dinner could just be ice cream afterwords (or may not need to happen, depending on time of day and situations).

-Going to a Tech Store
----Okay, so this is a highly specific preference that I fall under. Near my house, we have a place called "Microcenter" that has all the tech you will ever need, and it makes me happy just to go there. And if you are a nerd or geek, just going to a Best Buy and browsing movies, video games, and even computer-related items could be fun. Find a movie that neither of you has seen, buy it and either watch it that day or make another date (promising a second date!) Then, of course, since a lot of females may not appreciate a cheap media-browsing date... dinner... or dinner and a movie, easy and simple additions.

-Dress up like Lord of the Rings characters and go to a park (maybe not local... haha)
----HEY everyone has dreams

-Make a playlist together
----Seriously, with media nowadays this isn't just limited to music. Go on Hulu.com and make a playlist of the movies and/or TV episodes. And none of it has to be "romantic" or whatnot, maybe just one of her favorites and then one of his favorites. Whatever it consists of, when you listen/watch the playlist, you will be reminded of that other person.

-Jungle Jims
----For those of you who don't know, this is a grocery store near where I live. HOWEVER it is not just any grocery store! It is the grocery store of all grocery stores! A grocery giant! It holds foods from all over the world in vast amounts, chances are if you went to a foreign country and had a food that you can't find anywhere in the U.S., Jungle Jims will have it. It could take several hours just to wander around the store and take everything in. And don't forget to stop by the bathrooms! Jungle Jims won the award (in 2008 or 2007, the display is still up though, haha) for best restrooms in America, and for good reason! I'm not going to tell you why, because it spoils the fun!

-Make a music video
----Get a video camera, get a song you both like, and write a script. Outline what you want the video to display at every lyric line and music break, be as specific and detailed as you want to be. Then spend some time taping it. Now, this can get pricey depending on what you're doing. A song I did this for a long time ago mentioned "Ohio has the flavor of a water chestnut..." to which we just bought water chestnuts and showed me eating one, then it said "...it's not too crazy, and it's not the best but/we're not setting forest fires just outta boredom/I'd rather see a movie if in fact I could afford one". For the forest fires, we bough a tiki torch and had me running towards the woods in my backyard with it lit, and for the movies we just had us walking into a movie theater.
If neither of you are good video editors, or if you don't know someone, talk to me and I will do my best to edit the video together for you. (Just for bothering to read this blog, you deserve that much, however longer videos may need a small donation charge, haha)

-Create something together
----This goes along the lines of the music video. Paint, draw, sculpt, whatever. Go somewhere and have both of you take pictures, then make a "His & Her" scrapbook or website. When a couple creates something, it brings them together in the process because they are aiming for a common goal by working together. Then at the end you can both sit back with a feeling of accomplishment in yourself, your partner, and your status as a couple.

-Movie marathon
----Seriously, watch all three Lord of the Rings movies (I recommend the cast commentaries on the extended editions if you're really into it), watch all the Star Wars Movies, or a Star Trek season, or a Dr. Who season *cough*tenthsoI'mtold*cough*, or even Monty Python movies. There are also short anime seasons you could watch entirely, or maybe watch four episodes of an anime then switch it to a different anime (repeat as necessary).

-Bake a Cake and Eat it Too
----I recommend Funfetti

-Have a Picnic
----Don't forget frolicking... you gotta have frolicking with a picnic.

-Go to a Bookstore
----Seriously, browsing a bookstore can get interesting... especially if you both pick up something like a book full of Chuck Norris jokes and start reading them off to each other. Find an interesting book on science, or how-to-do, computers, or something of the like; something that you both want to know more about. Buy two and have your own mini-bookclub.

-Hanging out at a house
----Because I'm in college, it is important to note that I am writing this in a perspective where I am still living with my parents, and so are the men I have dated. My room is in a corner of our basement where I have no windows, just a single door across from the door that leads to our garage. So, when hanging out at my house: I have a bed, a futon (in couch form), a television, a computer, and currently a small table (square, in the middle of my room). The man I'm currently dating came over the other night and met my parents (lucky him). We preceded into my room where I sat on my bed, he sat on the futon, and we watched youtube videos and such for a couple hours (my computer is on a desk at the foot of my bed, so I can lay down and such).
Other things you can do: play video games (next time he is over, I intend to play mario party, katamari damacy, or guitar hero with him), put in a movie and play a board game or put together a puzzle (or cuddle, whatever), see "create something".

This is where I should mention that sex is not an option here. At least for me and the type of men I date. I've made the choice to save sex for marriage, and so has all the men I've ever considered going out with. It's a very strong point for me.

I'm also going to end my list there. If anyone has anything to add, please feel free to comment!

Now, what if you don't have a date?

Look at me, talking like I know so much about the dating world. That's all really basic stuff, actually. I'm sure ya'll could think of a lot more creative things to do than I can.

In actuality, my previous boyfriend was my first boyfriend ever, which means I was single for the first twenty years of my life. I have more experience being single than in a relationship, so I'll tell you want you can do when your single on valentines day:
1- find a singles bar or somesuch event
2- hang out with single friends
3- Keep busy
4- Lock yourself in a closet

I typically picked option #4. Yes, yes I speak out against the idea of Valentines day... but the side-effect of Valentines day is that every single couple in the world can be seen in every restaurant, sappy movies are on TV, and I'd rather pretend like I'm locked in a closet then realize I'm spending another entire year alone. I know, totally emo, right? That is a result of having so much freetime that I had nothing to do but loathe myself.

SO! That's in the past, I'm...a... "normal"... now. However, I'm just trying to express that I understand if your really depressed on days like Valentines day or over the holidays because you're single or in a bad relationship.

I want to wish all the nerds and all the geeks a wonderful valentines day! Single nerds and geeks, don't worry, I'm sure you're awesome and everyone else is just not noticing. I would recommend everyone else needs to find another doctor as well, haha.

Dissect you later!