{"id":5978,"date":"2014-06-27T06:54:50","date_gmt":"2014-06-27T06:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/?p=5978"},"modified":"2024-02-29T09:17:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-29T09:17:12","slug":"ask-a-nerd-girl-3rd-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/2014\/06\/27\/ask-a-nerd-girl-3rd-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cAsk a Nerd Girl\u201d \u2013 3rd Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ask a Nerd Girl<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a year and a half since the last \u201cAsk a Nerd Girl\u201d \u2013 yikes! I tried to answer all of the questions, I apologize if I missed any.\u00a0Thank you so much to everyone who participated. Y\u2019all asked some great questions and it\u2019s been a lot of fun answering them. You rock my socks.<\/p>\n

Stuart E:<\/strong>\u00a0What do you consider to be the difference between a nerd and a geek?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I wrote an\u00a0entire blog\u00a0about this AND we discussed it during our most recent episode of\u00a0Podthingy. I recommend checking them both out!<\/em><\/p>\n

Samuel S:\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0is there a point where you feel that you are extremely angry at everyone for no reason and is it healthy for the mind?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: At everyone? Not really. I certainly get frustrated about certain events going on in the world. To be honest, I don\u2019t get mad very easily, I don\u2019t really see the point in holding on to anger. Like Yoda said,\u00a0\u201cAnger leads to\u00a0hate.\u00a0Hate\u00a0leads to suffering.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Joe D: A train leaves LA at 10a.m. traveling north carrying toxic chemicals while another leaves SF at the same time traveling south carrying high powered explosives. They are going to crash somewhere in between. Which super hero arrives first to save the day and why?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: The only superhero I can think of who could foresee the crash happening is Dr. Manhattan. That might be a big enough deal that he would care enough to stop it. Superman and The Flash could reverse time and prevent it from happening.<\/em><\/p>\n

Margaret K: I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve been in situations where you\u2019ve been the only nerd girl around, hot or otherwise. In those cases, how did you deal with it and what did you do during the times you just wanted to be girly?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019m a tomboy so it\u2019s very rare that I want to be girly. For most of my life I either didn\u2019t have many friends (I was a Navy brat) or I had a group of guy friends that I hung out with and one or two girlfriends. That changed when I went to college and even more so after college. I have more girlfriends now than I\u2019ve ever had in my life and I adore them to pieces. I don\u2019t really know how to be anything other than myself, take it or leave it. For a long time I was one of the few girls at the conventions I went to and, being awkward around other awkward people it was, well, awkward. I\u2019ve witnessed the surge of the nerd girl and the cosplay revolution and it\u2019s been a fascinating and delightful journey.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jeremiah F: Who is your favorite character in the Star Wars expanded universe that does not appear in the first 6 episodes?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I haven\u2019t spent much time in the SWEU but I do like Mara Jade and I like the idea that the Skywalker\/Solo kids are flawed characters.<\/em><\/p>\n

David D: What are you allergic too?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Blueberries. Horribly allergic.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sean K: What\u2019s your degree in?<\/strong>Did you like the cookies?\u00a0<\/strong>Have you studied swordplay?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG:\u00a0Theatre. (yeah, THAT really came in handy)<\/em>\u00a0YES!<\/em>\u00a0Only insofar as I did for theatre\/stunt\/staging fighting classes. I would like to study it for real, if for no other reason than to be prepared for the inevitable zombie\u00a0apocalypse.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ben R: Are you a football fan? If so, who\u2019s your team? If not, whynatte?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Yes! My favorite team is the Chargers (it\u2019s a hard team to be a fan of) but I also root for the Niners and the Packers due to family tradition.<\/em><\/p>\n

Byron W: This may seem like an obvious one, but why \u201cHot Nerd Girl?\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: To be honest, I\u2019m not a fan of the moniker. And if you ask anyone who knows me personally, they\u2019ll tell you it\u2019s an odd title for me. Not because it isn\u2019t true, but because it\u2019s not how I act and\/or see myself. I\u2019m quite a prude and I\u2019m very laid back so the \u201chot\u201d part doesn\u2019t really fit my personality. The \u201cnerd girl\u201d part does though. The moniker is entirely my\u00a0HNG Podcast\u00a0and college friend Darcy\u2019s fault. He came up with it and talked me into it. I didn\u2019t think anyone would ever read my blog or care about anything I had to say so I agreed. Joke\u2019s on me\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Ivan O: Do you play any instruments?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I wish! Only my voice. I did years of musical theatre.<\/em><\/p>\n

Robbie E: How many yoyos is too many?\u00a0<\/strong>#<\/strong>tacklingthebigquestions<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: One can never have too many yoyos. I own two, an old Rusty Surfboards neon yellow one and a Yoda one.<\/em><\/p>\n

Steve N: Is it that you don\u2019t like to cook or you don\u2019t know how? I\u2019m happy to offer lessons.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Both. It\u2019s not something that interests me. A few people have tried to teach me but I\u2019m pretty hopeless. I am good at making alcoholic beverages though\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mike S:\u00a0i have two questions \u2026 one \u2026 how would you suggest i go about robbing a bank without leaving forensic evedence so i can afford to plan my wedding and the second .. .can i get an autographed 8\u00d710 ?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! The first question really isn\u2019t my area of expertise, as much as I would love to be badass enough to know how to do something like that. I could probably help you out with the second question though. Is there a particular picture you want from one of the photo shoots? Email me at princesstrek@hotmail.com<\/em><\/p>\n

Ron M: What are your favorite comic book characters? Does that work?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: That works\u00a0\u00a0My favorites are Thor and X-Men. I discovered comics after a particularly painful military-related move in the middle of my 5th<\/sup>\u00a0grade school year. I had no friends but my brother and I discovered a comic book store down the street. I had been watching the X-Men cartoon so I got really into the X-Men comics. I grew up listening to my Norwegian relatives talking about Norse mythology and I was always really fascinated by it. The day I discovered there was a comic book character version of Thor I was hooked and he became my favorite.<\/em><\/p>\n

Chris S: I see that you do a lot of volunteer work to support the Armed Forces. If you had to pick a favorite branch of service, which would it be and why? And as a follow on (though not meant to influence), have you ever personally witnessed a Marine Corps Ball? Thank you for entertaining through your Facebook page!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I grew up a Navy Brat so it would be hard for me to choose another branch; however, my brother is an active duty Marine which certainly complicates my loyalties! I have great love and respect for all branches. I have never been to a Ball for any of the branches. My brother almost took me one year when my SIL couldn\u2019t go but he opted to go solo.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

For anyone who is interested in how I volunteer, I work with an AMAZING organization called\u00a0Operation Gratitude.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Glad you enjoy the facebook page!<\/em><\/p>\n

Chris S: What is your favorite \/ funniest story from attending a convention like ComicCon or WonderCon (or any others)?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I met Brent Spiner at San Diego Comic Con in 2012 and he was the sweetest guy. He waved me over and we chatted for a few minutes and he helped me take a picture on the sly with him (which he wasn\u2019t supposed to do it because he was technically \u201csold out\u201d of pictures with the fans). I was ecstatic but also really bummed because I have a TNG book that I\u2019ve been collected signatures in but I didn\u2019t have it with me and he was only there that day. So I brought the book with me to SDCC in 2013 just on the off chance that he\u2019d be there. He was. Once again he waved me over and when I started telling him that he probably wouldn\u2019t remember me he stopped me and said that he absolutely remembered me and that I was a hard person to forget. Now, this was hugely meaningful to me, not just as a Trekkie, but as someone who has always done my best to blend into the background and not be noticed which resulted in a lot of people from my past not remembering who I was later on, the fact that he remembered me was a really big deal. He signed my book and I was a happy camper. I forgot to tell him that we share the same birthday though (Groundhog Day) so I\u2019ll have to see if he\u2019s there again this year. And hopefully he doesn\u2019t think that I\u2019m stalking him \u2013 ha!<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

John P: What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen sparrow?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rick S:\u00a0What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrew D:<\/strong>\u00a0African or European ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bruan A:\u00a0AAAUGH!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brandom E:\u00a0Must be on metric system!<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG:\u00a0<\/b>Airspeed can be predicted using a published formula. By inverting this midpoint Strouhal ratio of 0.3 (fA\/U \u2248 0.3), Graham K. Taylor et al. show that as a rule of thumb, the speed of a flying animal is roughly 3 times frequency times amplitude (U \u2248 3fA).5<\/em><\/p>\n

We now need only plug in the numbers:<\/em><\/p>\n

U \u2248 3fA<\/em>
\nf \u2248 15 (beats per second)<\/em>
\nA \u2248 0.22 (meters per beat)<\/em>
\nU \u2248 3*15*0.22 \u2248 9.9<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2026 to estimate that the airspeed velocity of an unladen Swallow is 10 meters per second.<\/em><\/p>\n

You have to know\u00a0these things\u00a0when you\u2019re a nerd, you know.<\/em><\/p>\n

Tom M: I cannot beat the unladen swallow question.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>HNG: Sure you can.<\/em><\/p>\n

David H:<\/strong>\u00a0Why in Toy Story does Buzz stop talking when adults come in the room, when he thinks he\u2019s an Astronaut not a Toy ?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Uhhhhh\u2026..because they are so much bigger than human children and he\u2019s not quite sure how to react to them? Instinct? Storytelling convenience?<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrew D: If it was you who\u2019s mind was read and spawned a creature ala ghostbusters what would appear?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Ugh. Something to do with zombies and the Violator. A zombie Violator. That\u2019s my worst nightmare. Stay Puft I can handle, no problem.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dane P: What\u2019s the meaning of life, the universe, and everything?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shawn D:\u00a0What does the answer to life the universe and everything mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: 42.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mike C: How did my daughter become a clone of you? Not a bad thing, but really spooky thing\u2026\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Obviously I don\u2019t know your daughter (she sounds awesome!) but if I had to give a generic answer, I think it has to do with it becoming more socially acceptable to be a nerd. The lines are so much more blurred than they were when I was a kid.<\/em><\/p>\n

Scott M: Why is Star Wars considered SciFi when it is really a mythological hero tale set in space?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: We\u2019ve discussed this on\u00a0Podthingy\u00a0a couple of times and I don\u2019t consider Star Wars sci-fi, I consider it fantasy. Since it takes place in space and has weapons like lightsabers and blasters, it\u2019s easier for the masses to consider it sci-fi. Despite the very first words you see \u201cA long time ago in a galaxy far, far away\u2026\u201d I think that most laymen think of it as taking place in the future. Drives me nuts too\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Charlotte J: Will you marry me!!?? Mmmmmmmwahahahaha!!!! Xxx<\/strong><\/p>\n

Phillip M: Single?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Martin N: Dinner?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scott N: Can I get your number?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jeanne W: Clearly people on this page are reaching for the stars by requesting marriage. How about a date? Or more appropriately what would someone have to do to get a date?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eric C: Will you marry me?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam E:\u00a0if i could ask you anything, it would be\u2026 inappropriate.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scott G: \u201cWanna?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zack H: Ummmm yeah Imma shut up<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pete M: Wanna hang out?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel D: On a date.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pope T:\u00a0Without getting smacked?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jon T:\u00a0Will you marry me?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris L:\u00a0Want to go grab a beer or glass of wine<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sid W:\u00a0Would you like to get coffee if you ever are in seattle-bellevue, WA?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jorge A:\u00a0When r u coming to Chicago to visit me<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>HNG:\u00a0Y\u2019all are so sweet and I\u2019m very flattered but I\u2019m spoken for.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Michael W:\u00a0<\/span>Will you be my date to Dragoncon this year<\/span><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Not sure I can afford to get out to Atlanta. Mama Jedi and I looked into going to the most recent one and it just didn\u2019t work out money-wise. It\u2019s in my Top 5 list of Cons that I want to go to though!<\/em><\/p>\n

David B: Seeing as you\u2019ll get at least a dozen proposals . . . Do you want to go on an adventure? Do you want to do weird things with strange people?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I always love adventure! I wish I could go on more of them. It depends on what the weird thing is\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Dire F:\u00a0do U want to go on an interdimensional treasure hunt?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Sure. You set it up and I\u2019ll happily join in.<\/em><\/p>\n

Charlotte J: Would you ever consider going on a one way mission into space? X<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Yes. Most people I know have a hard time with this. They would like to go to space but aren\u2019t willing to make that sacrifice. I would do it. I wouldn\u2019t even have to think about it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Blair C: Do you like to travel, and if so where\u2019s your favourite place you\u2019ve ever visited? (Technically two questions, but I only used one question mark so I think that\u2019s fair!)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I haven\u2019t been to many places outside of the Continental US. I\u2019ve been all around the US, Hawaii, Cancun, and Aruba. I would say favorite so far was Cancun because I got to see a lot of pyramids and archaeological sites and I really wanted to be an archaeologist when I was a kid. I would love to go to Europe.<\/em><\/p>\n

Bub V: Where\u2019s my sandwich?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Wherever you put it after you made it for yourself.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jonathan T: What *does* the fox say?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Oh, you like that show? CANCELLED!\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matthew G: Why do hot dogs come in packs of 8 and the buns in packs of 6?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: So that you\u2019ll have to spend more money. Bastards.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ryan H: Hao murican bohltz \/\/?? L O L WILD<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: *smiles and nods*<\/em><\/p>\n

Rickyroo R: You think michelle fairley is bluffing about the omission of lady stoneheart?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Part of me hopes so and part of me hopes not. I was surprised Lady Stoneheart wasn\u2019t in the finale but it wasn\u2019t my favorite storyline so it wouldn\u2019t bother me greatly if it wasn\u2019t included. After Arya and the Hound\u2019s final run-in with them, the show has pretty much dropped the entire Brothers Without Banners storyline anyways.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bradley S: Do you ever rub your feet together when you\u2019re tired? If you have not tried it, you should!\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Can\u2019t say that I have, at least not intentionally. But I\u2019ll try it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Matteo A: Why is america more accepting to comic\/nerd culture than we british are?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Having never been to Great Britain, I\u2019m not sure I can answer this properly. That being said, Doctor Who has been a cultural staple over there for 50 years now. That\u2019s pretty darn nerdy.<\/em><\/p>\n

Matthew R: If I could ask you anything, I would merely ask for a photo with you!\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I go to pretty much all of the SoCal conventions and I\u2019m starting to branch out a bit. Where are you located? I\u2019ll happily go to any Convention that invites me as a guest. It\u2019s the plane tickets\/hotel rooms that add up and make it so that I can\u2019t go unless I\u2019m invited.<\/em><\/p>\n

Arnab L: Do you play football(soccer)?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: It\u2019s one of the few sports I never played (outside of PE). I dabbled in a lot of sports, basketball, baseball, street hockey, gymnastics. But I primarily focused on track and dance.<\/em><\/p>\n

Becky S: Wheres the beef?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam R: can you pass the pepper??<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Believe it or not, I don\u2019t eat either of those foods so no, I can\u2019t lol<\/em><\/p>\n

Kevin M: Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Do you ask that of all your prey?<\/em><\/p>\n

Michael G: Do you even lift<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Weights? Only when I go to the gym which is rare with my schedule.<\/em><\/p>\n

Gavin S: Where am I?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Ellensburg, Washington<\/em><\/p>\n

Angela B:\u00a0I can\u2019t resist this one, and my husband suggested it- Do you want to build a snowman?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: YES!<\/em><\/p>\n

Jim M: What is your favorite fandom? If you were put on the spot and had to name one, what would it be?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Star Trek.<\/em><\/p>\n

Daniel B: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck of a woodchuck could chuck wood?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ryan N: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, IF a woodchuck could chuck wood?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bryan A: He would chuck, he would, as much as he could,
\nAnd chuck as much as a woodchuck would
\nIf a woodchuck could chuck wood.<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: What Bryan said.<\/em><\/p>\n

Christopher B: If I had a TARDIS, I\u2019d ask what Eleven asked Amy at the beginning: \u201cAll of Time and Space. Everything that happened or ever will. Where do you want to start?\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: The future, anytime in the future. I just really want to know what\u2019s going to happen and I hate spoilers.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yaseen Z:\u00a0why on earth would you ask that?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel K: Why do you ask?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Evelyn L: W H Y ?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Why not?<\/em><\/p>\n

Brandon E: If the world was ending, would you rather do a Video Gaming marathon or a TV\/Movie Marathon? More specifically?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: TV\/Movie Marathon. I have a very bad right wrist and ridiculously small hands so it\u2019s quite painful for me to use a gaming controller for more than a few minutes at a time (bummer, I know). Star Trek.<\/em><\/p>\n

Michael S: If you could go on holiday for a month to a science fiction \/ fantasy universe, which one would you choose?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: The Federation. Or Middle Earth.<\/em><\/p>\n

Benjamin F: Who would you like to have as your enemy? The Empire or Klingon?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: The Klingons. The Empire\u2019s reach is far too vast. Klingons are more contained.<\/em><\/p>\n

Joshua K: Ever hear of the Iron Druid Chronicles?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Yes, but I have not read them.<\/em><\/p>\n

Epochil I: Star Wars or Star Trek?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jose G: Star Wars or Star Trek?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Star Trek. But I love both.<\/em><\/p>\n

Paul F: At what age did you consider yourself \u201chot\u201d, besides being a nerd?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I still don\u2019t consider myself \u201chot.\u201d In fact, growing up I didn\u2019t think about my looks much at all until people commented on it every once in a while in High School. Except on HNG, my looks really don\u2019t come up very often and if it does, it\u2019s usually in passing or as a joke. And even on HNG, I think people realize pretty quickly that that\u2019s not my focus.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cal O: What was the name of that one guy? You know, the one that owned that car\u2026<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Doc Brown? Batman? Michael Knight? James Bond?? Dean Winchester?? The Ghostbusters???<\/em><\/p>\n

Ben J:\u00a0What makes you happy?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Being by myself. I\u2019m an introvert all the way. I\u2019m happy spending time with the people I love but then I have to go back to being by myself for a while. Socializing drains me even if I\u2019m having the time of my life.<\/em><\/p>\n

Tony A: Are these the droids I\u2019m looking for?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: These aren\u2019t the droids you\u2019re looking for. Move along.<\/em><\/p>\n

Steve H: Wow what a loaded question, but I will play it safe: If you had to chose to have known only one of these Franchises which one would it be: Star Wars, Star Trek, Firefly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rick S: Pretty sure we already know the answer to this one. Lol<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019m sure Rick is thinking about Star Trek and he\u2019d be right. It\u2019s my first love. I truly do love all three of the choices though.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Otis: What is your opinion of rabbits?\u00a0Follow-up question: Do you share a common distrust of turtles as I do?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: \u201c<\/em>Bunnies aren\u2019t just cute like everybody supposes. They got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses, and what\u2019s with all the carrots? What do they need such good eyesight for anyway?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Depends, are the turtles teenage mutant ninjas or koopa troopas?<\/em><\/p>\n

Jason F: Are you happy with the sound of your own voice on\u00a0Podthingy?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: It\u2019s the happiest I\u2019ve been with my voice on anything recorded so far. I do think I sound weird whenever I hear my own voice and sometimes I laugh weird and it makes me cringe. But we use really good mics on\u00a0Podthingy\u00a0so my voice doesn\u2019t come across too bad.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ian S:\u00a0Why can\u2019t I find anyone local as cool as you?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019ve met soooo many cool people. Male and female. Rarely do I meet someone I don\u2019t like or who rubs me the wrong way. They are out there!<\/em><\/p>\n

Benjamin W: Will you come to Awesome Con DC next May?!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: If I get invited as a guest I would love to\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Stephan V: How do you take your coffee?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I don\u2019t drink coffee. I drink tea. Earl Grey. Hot.<\/em><\/p>\n

Visakha S: how geek is your bedroom?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019m not allowed to put much geeky stuff in my bedroom; however, I do have one bookcase packed full of nerdy books. My office is where all of my posters, collectibles, etc. are. I love my office.<\/em><\/p>\n

Robert L: Would you like soup or salad with that?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I usually go for the salad. Gotta get veggies in there somehow.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anthony G: If you could write a graphic novel using any character you wished, what would it be?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG:\u00a0Delilah, the superhero character I created. Or Maggie from my short story \u201cMontaku\u201d.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mike M: How do you feel?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Exhausted. All the time. I don\u2019t sleep much.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael B: Are you going to the Star Trek convention in SF in December?\u00a0Are you going to the Evolution Expo this weekend in Oakland?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: No to Evolution Expo, I\u2019ve got my two BFF\u2019s in town this weekend. I used to attend that Star Trek Con when I lived in San Fran and I\u2019d love to go back some day. Probably won\u2019t make it this year though\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Emily H: What do you consider to be the most annoying and\/or horrible thing about geek culture right now?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Hmmmm\u2026..I\u2019ll tell you what USED to annoy me was the fact that movie studios thought they could make shitty superhero movies and that nerds would just take it and spend all their hard earned money on crap. Now they\u2019ve realized that the movies have to be good and they are making them accordingly, even if they do veer from the comics, as least the spirit of the story\/characters is intact most of the time.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ron S: What is six times seven?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: The answer to life, the universe, and everything.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Heather H: Out of all the series\/fictional universes you like, if you had to live in one (as a protagonist, meaning a powerful being not like a random peasant in Star Wars), which would it be and why?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I would love to serve in Starfleet. Be the Captain (or, perhaps even better in terms of getting to go on away missions, First Officer) of a Starship. And I would REALLY like to have magic or a superpower so what does that say about my love of Star Trek? Ha!<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael B: My favorite trek is DS9. What\u2019s yours and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Deepak R:\u00a0<\/span>Voyager, DS9, TOS, TNG?<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: That\u2019s a tough one for me, I like all of the series (yes, all of them) for very different reasons. Gah. Probably TNG.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Zechariah B: Favorite graphic novel?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Right now I\u2019m digging\u00a0Taking Eden\u00a0and I\u2019m really enjoying\u00a0Devil Inside.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dustin B: Of everything you like, what do you like the most?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I know I sound like a broken record, but Star Trek.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clifton R: How does awesome feel?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I don\u2019t know, you tell me!<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Joseph B: If you could have dinner with one fictional character, who would it be? Why?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Galadriel. I want to hear her talk about everything she\u2019s seen. The War of the Silmarils, migrating from Valinor to Middle Earth, the rise and fall of Morgoth and when she realized that Sauron was a threat. Etc.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Craig N: In honor of his recent 50th bday, what\u2019s your favorite Joss Whedon story (single episode\/comic arc or issue\/film\/sing-along blog) and why?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Oh man, it would be hard to choose one just for each series, let alone lumping them all together. I\u2019m going to maybe surprise everyone and say his\u00a0Astonishing X-Men Omnibus. My friend let me borrow his and I fell in love with it and two years later I still haven\u2019t given it back to him. I feel kind of guilty about that but I just keep going back to it. One of these days I\u2019ll get my own copy.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to cheat and pick a second one. The episode of Firefly in which Malcolm is slowly suffocating to death and it flashes back to when he met each of the characters. That was a brilliant hour of television.<\/em><\/p>\n

Eric S: Who would you rather bang , Han Solo or Luke Skywalker ?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Han Solo.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ben B: Considering myself a very imaginative and creative person, I always like to ask this of other people like that\u2026. What inspires you?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Rain inspires me. I love rain. I miss the Pacific Northwest.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jason D:\u00a0<\/span>How did u become so awesome?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019m not so sure that I am. I don\u2019t really know how to be anything other than myself and I\u2019m actually pretty dorky.<\/em><\/p>\n

Shawn D:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Favorite author and favorite book (not necessarily the same)<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: oooOOOooo\u2026tough one. My favorite poet is easy. Robert Service = brilliant. Favorite author\u2026.. probably JRR Tolkien. Favorite book\u2026\u2026 ugh. I don\u2019t think I can do it, I can\u2019t choose.<\/em><\/p>\n

Michael C:\u00a0<\/span>Captain Kirk and Captain Picard\u2026. Unarmed mortal combat. Who wins? Go!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Kirk. He\u2019s been in more brawls. He\u2019s got street cred.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jason M:\u00a0What is your favorite color<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Green.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thomas S:\u00a0How old are you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Old enough that I can do anything I want.<\/em><\/p>\n

David R:\u00a0How much money do you make? Not being snarky, I\u2019m genuinely curious about internet celebrity and how lucrative it is. Or isn\u2019t, as the case may be.<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I don\u2019t really make any money from HNG. I don\u2019t have any ads on the blog or anything. I do sell some calendars each year but any profit on that (which isn\u2019t much) gets wiped out by Comic Con tickets. I get asked every once in a while if this is my job and I wish it was but it isn\u2019t. I work full-time and do this on the side which is why my blog posts aren\u2019t always consistent.<\/em><\/p>\n

Jessica D:\u00a0How do you afford your amazing trips<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I don\u2019t take amazing trips but I wish I did! I\u2019m actually pretty broke in real life. 99% of the Cons that I attend are local to where I live in SoCal. I went to Las Vegas Comic Con once. Anywhere else I go it\u2019s usually for a reason like a wedding or a family reunion.<\/em><\/p>\n

Kevin L:\u00a0If their was a new Star Trek tv show how could you see it being done ( in the future past deap space 9 or before enterprise ) not necessarily one of these 2 just your thoughts thanks<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019m enjoying the reboots and I liked Enterprise, but I\u2018d like to see something in the \u201ccurrent\u201d \u2018verse. I\u2019m excited to see Tim Russ\u2019 Star Trek: Renegades.<\/em><\/p>\n

Greg B:\u00a0What was the first song you ever danced too?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: At a dance recital? I vaguely remember a dance about ladybugs and a dance about getting ready in the morning. My brother and I had a cassette tape of the TMNT movie soundtrack that we listened to constantly. Our poor parents. We were obsessed.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sean E:\u00a0What kind of music do you like? Name some of your favorite bands.<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Favorite band of all time is Queen. Freddy Mercury was the ultimate. I\u2019m mostly a rock chick but my tastes are pretty eclectic. I tend to like individual songs more than artists. I listen to a lot of musicals. The only thing I don\u2019t really get into is hardcore country or hardcore rap.<\/em><\/p>\n

Carl A:\u00a0If you were writing a sci-fi book, how would you go about coming up with new, unheard of, and cool sounding names for the alien beings?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: When I write fantasy I like the names of my characters to mean something so I keep my old baby name book nearby and I have a couple of etymology apps on my phone. When I write sci-fi I\u2019ll sometimes go there but usually it\u2019s whatever name pops into my head. If it\u2019s something I made up I\u2019ll usually google it really quick just to make sure it\u2019s not a company name or a product or bad word in another language or something.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Chris L:\u00a0How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: It took me 127 licks once when I was a kid. No joke, I counted.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chuck A:\u00a0Ok here\u2019s your question. If you had one bottle of polyjuice potion to use. Who would you spend an hour being?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Neil deGrasse Tyson<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Jared S:\u00a0Three questions in one. All superheroes\u2026you can marry one, one night stand one, and kill off only one? GO!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Thor, Gambit, Razorback<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael P:\u00a0\u201cThe ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don\u2019t,\u201d\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.can you explain this to me! and why while reading that sentence for the first time 20 odd years ago I pebbledashed the kitchen wall with sugarpuffs!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: It\u2019s Douglas Adams so I\u2019m not sure that it\u2019s supposed to make sense so much as it\u2019s supposed to mindfuck us lol. However, I kind of always interpreted it as \u2018sometimes stuff doesn\u2019t make sense but that\u2019s kind of awesome.\u2019 Ships float, bricks sink\u2026but WHY? You have to look beyond the surface and dig deeper to find out and if you put in the effort to do that, you\u2019ll discover more than you ever dreamed you would.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Nicholas P:\u00a0If you could be a dinosaur what kind of dinosaur would you be?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: One of my many nicknames is \u201cT-Rex\u201d so I\u2019ll stick with that. Also,\u00a0I Like Dinosaurs.\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Larry R:\u00a0What do you do for a living?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Deryck D:\u00a0What\u2019s your day job?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Administration.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nick C:\u00a0Can you sing the Superman, Star Wars & Raiders of the Lost Arc theme songs with out getting them mixed up?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Of course! What self-respected nerd can\u2019t?!<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

James C:\u00a0If you could be in a Star Wars fan film, would you be and if you could choose, what role would you like to play?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Sure, why not! I think it would be pretty awesome to play Mara Jade.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eric J:\u00a0Do you have any calendars left? I keep meaning to get one.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I do! I had to order a few for Long Beach Comic Expo and I have a few left. Once these are gone I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be ordering any more though. You can order it here:\u00a0https:\/\/www.shoplocket.com\/products\/GZgn7-2014-hng-calendar<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clinton J:\u00a0What do you think of Michael Bay\u2019s TMNT?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019m very weary of it. I prefer to reserve judgment until I see the final product but I\u2019d be lying if I said I wasn\u2019t concerned.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scott S:\u00a01) What is your NAME? 2) What is your QUEST?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: 1) Tracy 2) To nerd harder.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Jerry B:\u00a0well aside from the non stop barrage of questions that have no meaning and I do not need insight to be a nerd girl\u2026 Marriage proposals are a dime a dozen\u2026 Have you ever considered doing a charity auction to benefit make a wish or something auctioning a date? Yes there are plenty of nerds on here that would pay you just to talk to them!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I do have a significant other so probably not a date; however, I would be totally down to do some kind of hang out, go to a Con, go to a movie, hang at a party type of thing. I think that would be a lot of fun and if the profits went to something like\u00a0Operation Gratitude\u00a0than I would be thrilled to do something like that.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

William S:\u00a0What is the correct spelling of Iago Montoya?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: You mean Inigo Montoya? From The Princess Bride?<\/em><\/p>\n

Jonathan Q:\u00a0Favorite Babylon 5 character!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jamie R:\u00a0Your take on Babylon 5 over all vs Deep Space Nine. GO!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I never really got into Babylon 5 so I don\u2019t have a favorite character and I would choose DS9 over it any day. Sorry, B5 fans. However, I was in a stage version of the episode \u201cIntersections in Real Time\u201d and it was pretty awesome, torture and all.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Matt S:\u00a0What do you think of the direction that DC is going with their \u201ccinematic universe\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Gah. I don\u2019t know. It makes me really nervous that they are sort of putting this in Zack Snyder\u2019s hands. I really like the look of Snyder\u2019s movies but there\u2019s always something fundamental missing. My\u00a0Podthingy\u00a0cohost\u00a0John Mulhall\u00a0says it\u2019s that his movies lack soul. DC needs someone like Kevin Feige to keep everything consistent and en pointe.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

John J:\u00a0Who\u2019s the better Captain Kirk, Pine or Shatner? Do you think Firefly would be ruined if it was brought back?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: That\u2019s tough because they play the character so differently. I guess I\u2019ll go with Shatner just because he is the original and the archetype, even though\u00a0he was an ass\u00a0to me in real life.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve answered this question about Firefly before and no, I don\u2019t think it would be ruined. I think some of its magic lies in the fact that it died far too soon and I really dig the EU in the comics. If you haven\u2019t read the\u00a0comic about Shepherd Book\u2019s past, READ IT. But I selfishly always want more.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

PJ M:\u00a0Favorite moba position?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philip H:\u00a0Blizzard username, to play WoW?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jason R:\u00a0Horde or Alliance?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Sorry, I don\u2019t play WoW or other online games. I just don\u2019t have time\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Josh B:\u00a0If you could choose any secret from any story and the author of said story could explain it to you\u2026what secret would you choose to know? Ex: who is jon snows mother?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Jon Snow\u2019s mother is a good one! I\u2019ll steal it from you.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Alexander N:\u00a0What is your favorite trilogy? And along the same lines, what is your favorite \u201cUniverse\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: It\u2019s a close tie between Wrath of Khan\/Search For Spock\/Voyage Home and A New Hope\/Empire Strikes Back\/Return of the Jedi. Favorite universe id Star Trek.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mark Y:\u00a0Do you like anime?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Not particularly. I do like a few things, like Princess Mononoke and Fist of the North Star but anime was more my brother\u2019s thing.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Otis:\u00a0If you could marry, have kids, and live a life with one superhero, who would it be? and why?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Thor because I\u2019m a good little Norwegian girl.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chad S:\u00a0I posted earlier on your wall the pilots \u2026. Han Solo, Sulu, and Wash. So tell us who is the best pilot of the three and assuming they might actually exist in same space time to be able to have a practical and demanding test of skills against one another. Go! LOL<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: There is no way I could answer this! All three have proven their mettle. Random fun fact: in real life I have sat in both Sulu and Wash\u2019s pilot chairs. The actual chairs that their butts have been in. In fact, my butt was in Wash\u2019s seat on the set of Serenity before Alan Tudyk\u2019s was. Take THAT, Tudyk!<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mike S:\u00a0Who\u2019s your fav Firefly character ?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

HNG: Zoe.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel P:\u00a0What book\/series would you most like seen made into a movie\/series\/mini-series, which of those, and why?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I used to tell everyone that, if I worked in Hollywood, I would bring\u00a0Diana Gabaldon\u2019s Outlander series\u00a0to TV but now a bunch of the Star Trek: DS9 guys are doing that on STARZ so I had to scratch that one off my list. Now I would say\u00a0Naomi Novik\u2019s Temeraire series.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sean K:\u00a0If you could own one set of armour what would it be? One Melee weapon?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I can haz Mjolnir? Ok, there\u2019s a chance I wouldn\u2019t be worthy. Can it be superhero armor like Colossus? I always kind of liked the old Samurai armor and katanas.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sara C:\u00a0Are you in favor of marijuana legalization, at least medical if not full recreational?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I have no issues with marijuana, period. I personally don\u2019t use it but I have seen medical marijuana in action and I would like to have that option should I ever need it.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bill M:\u00a0Star Wars or Star Wars Special Edition?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I like some of the improved graphics (explosions in space) but I dislike or am indifferent to most of the add-ins so I\u2019ll stick with the original.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Scott S:\u00a0What was the biggest influence on your nerdom growing up? I\u2019m raising a little girl and would not mind it at all if I could get her out of the princess phase and into the Star Wars phase.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: You\u2019ve touched on my biggest fear about parenthood. What if I get a kid who\u2019s into princesses? I don\u2019t know what I\u2019ll do or how I\u2019ll cope. Girly things are so beyond me. I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll rise to the occasion but I\u2019d rather not have to\u00a0\u00a0I grew up with Star Trek. My parents watched it when I was a baby and TNG came on when I was really young so I have no memory of a time in my life without Star Trek. Also, The Goonies, The Neverending Story, Flight of the Navigator, E.T., The Princess Bride, Legend, Ladyhawk, The Last Unicorn, The Secret of NIMH, The Last Starfighter, etc. \u2013 these were all staples in our house. I was a tomboy so sci-fi and comics were a natural fit. My parents were really good about reading to me and teaching me to read at a very young age so I\u2019ve been a voracious reader all my life. I think a huge chunk of it was just my personality but my parents were really great about letting my brother and I follow our bliss. I think they also felt guilty for moving us around so much.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Daniel N:\u00a0Who\u2019s your Captain?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: ME!\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Michael B:\u00a0I\u2019m thinking of a number between 1 and 10; what is it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Nine. And if it\u2019s not Nine then it should be because it\u2019s my favorite number.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chessa H:\u00a0Who\u2019s your Doctor?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: 1) Ten 2) Four 3) Eleven 4) Nine 5) Five<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Craig S:\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>I figure this question should be helpful for lots of people, not just me. I had plenty of friends in a few different cliques in college, and in the years after when I stayed in town. Now, in the real world, in a new town, friends are hard to come by. My co-workers are alright, but not nearly nerdy enough, and we\u2019re not that close. I\u2019ve never been to a convention before, but would like to start. How do I start? It seems like conventions are not something to show up to alone. Meetup.com or something? I don\u2019t just need new acquaintances. I need new true friendships.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019ve mentioned before that I\u2019m painfully shy and I don\u2019t like going anywhere alone. I tend to keep a few trusted people around me, usually Mama Jedi, my friend Hayden (Geek Outlaw), and occasionally my sister-in-law or my friend\/HNG Podcast cohost Darcy. I used to be so shy that they would literally act as my protective wall against the world, a place that I\u2019m often terrified to venture out in. I\u2019ve gotten much better about this in the past few years which Mama Jedi and Hayden will gratefully attest to. Part of the reason for that is that I slowly started making friends with some of the artists and exhibitors that I would see consistently at all of the local Cons. If I started to get overwhelmed or panicky, I would make a beeline for one of their booths and hang out for a few minutes. In one case in particular, this resulted in teaming up with and becoming friends with Podthingy cohosts John Mulhall and Blayne Alexander. Oddly enough, if I sense that someone is even more shy and awkward than I am, I tend to rise to the occasion to make them feel more comfortable. As a result, I fare much, much better if people approach me and not the other way around. In fact, it is almost unheard of for me to do the approaching. That seriously way too long explanation was me saying that I don\u2019t go to Cons alone so I don\u2019t blame you for not wanting to; however, I have met people who do and, if you\u2019re ok with that, then there\u2019s no reason why you can\u2019t go alone. Sitting in panels and wandering around the Floor isn\u2019t very conducive to chatting anyways. Panels are hush hush and the Floor can be really loud. The artists like talking to people one on one, so you should be fine.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also made friends waiting in line for panels. The people in line with you are obviously interested in the same thing you are so talk to them! Usually Hayden starts the talking and I join in after a few minutes once I\u2019ve pumped myself up.<\/em><\/p>\n

I know a few cosplayers who have made some of their best friends just by showing up at Cons in costume, finding people dressed as characters in the same universe, and they started meeting up at Cons and then hanging out outside of the Cons.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never done a meetup but I have a friend who does and he loves it! You could also put out a notice on Craiglist.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Jared F:\u00a0What are you PC\u2019s specs?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Well, now, that\u2019s getting a little personal, dontcha think?<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scott L:\u00a0What is your favorite meal you mom made for you growing up?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Plain pasta with melted cheese on top or bratwurst and sauerkraut.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dan H:\u00a0I\u2019d ask how to win your heart but I\u2019d want the answer privately, and I\u2019m not sure I\u2019d like the fact it involved changing the quantum frequency of the universe.\u00a0So instead I\u2019ll ask whether you have a favourite fan-fiction\/show\/writer.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019m not really in to fan fiction. I enjoy Steven Moffatt\u2019s TV show writing even though I want to punch him in the face sometimes.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Omar A:\u00a0Do you have any minions on the west side of Los Angeles? Would you like one my queen?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019m not really into minions haha! But thanks for the offer\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

David D:\u00a0Lemonade or Limeade?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Pop.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

David B:\u00a0\u201cAre you my mommy?\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: \u201cGo to your room. I mean it. I\u2019m very, very angry with you. I\u2019m very, very cross. Go to your room! I\u2019m really glad that worked. Those would have been terrible last words.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Ken H:\u00a0Who Shot First?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Han!<\/em><\/p>\n

Joshua A:\u00a0Crunchy or smooth peanut butter and what brand??<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Any kind that is smooth. Not into chunky.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mark G:\u00a0So you think the human race is doomed? If so how will we go out? Who could save us?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I hope not. I hope we have the collective smarts to prevent that from happening. But yeah, probably doomed. I would imagine we\u2019d exploit the planet\u2019s resources until it\u2019s no longer a viable ecosystem to support life and we end up in a situation like The Road or WWIII like in Star Trek. Maybe the Vulcans will spot us and introduce us to the rest of the galaxy.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marlon B:\u00a0best way to encourage a girl to explore her love of Sci-Fi\/Fantasy or Science & Math without seeming heavy handed or sexist.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Introduce her (or him, if applicable) to one thing at a time. Get them to watch Star Wars. Not their thing? Try Firefly or Harry Potter or Jurassic Park or Cosmos or Avengers. Try different things until one of them sticks and then go from there.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Julian G:\u00a0Biggest fear? if not already on here. Mine is that magneto was right\u2026<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: 1) Zombies 2) The Violator 3) Creepy dolls<\/em><\/p>\n

Honorable Mention: Fire Marshall Bill<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nolan S:\u00a0Who would win: Han solo or Malcolm Reynolds?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I don\u2019t know but I would REALLY like to see that. Shirtless.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Larry N:\u00a0Coke or Pepsi. Tpol or 7 of 9? Wars or trek? Is there life out there? Favorite Enterprise? Does Sam seem like a big baby to you? 3.5 or 4th? Obvious answer is Pathfinder. Should I go to Gencon?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Either, as long as it\u2019s brown, caffeinated, and not diet. Seven of Nine. Yes. NCC-1701-D (I mean, come on, the saucer separates! How handy is that?!) Sam Winchester? 3.5. Alrighty. Yes.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jeremy D:\u00a0What\u2019s your (1) super hero power of choice?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Ability to fly.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dennis Q:\u00a0What makes color-forms stick?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Adhesion.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Richard G:\u00a0Have you read Dan Simmons Hyperion?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: Nope, but I\u2019ll add it to my list!<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ola A:\u00a0If you wrote the next big sci-fi TV series, what would it be about and what would be the name of the show?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: I\u2019d base it on my short story \u201cMontaku\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Ange C:\u00a0What is your reason for being?<\/strong><\/p>\n

HNG: To nerd harder.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Thanks again for the great questions, everyone!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ask a Nerd Girl It\u2019s been a year and a half since the last \u201cAsk a Nerd Girl\u201d \u2013 yikes! I tried to answer all of the questions, I apologize if I missed any.\u00a0Thank you so much to everyone who participated. Y\u2019all asked some great questions and it\u2019s been a lot of fun answering them. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[84,442],"class_list":["post-5978","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ask-a-nerd-girl","tag-ask-a-nerd-girl","tag-hot-nerd-girl"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5978","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5978"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5978\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5978"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5978"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hotnerdgirl.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5978"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}