There has always been a large difference between these two genres in my opinion, yet most people lump them into the same category. Everyone from large distributors such as Barnes & Noble down to my favorite local stores in Raleigh all lump them into the same boat.

Now, like most true nerds, I have a fondness for both genres. My childhood shaped my preference, and I never realized, or thought about, how much until I started listening to the Critical Hit podcast by Major Spoilers. This podcast takes several people through encounters in Dungeons & Dragons and tells the whole story based on the chance inherent in the dice.

When I was a just a nerdy little kid back in 5th grade, my friends and I started playing Dungeons & Dragons for fun. No consistency since we were quite young to really follow all of the rules and regulations, but the creation of our characters and playing on the school grounds while everyone was running around and playing was quite enjoyable! Now, take into account that this was in the 80s when the Dungeons & Dragons suicide story had hit the mainstream. My parents jumped in on the fear bandwagon and forbade me to have anything to do with the game. And as with all kids, that drove me to want to play more. So even though all my books and materials had been confiscated, I had to find a way to learn more. Now, I think this is where my preference in genres started showing up. I had a large C3PO case that held quite a few Star Wars figures (including the ones that I had sharpened the hands on with a pencil sharpener). I remember riding my bike for almost 2 miles to meet up with my friend who had Dungeons & Dragons manuals that he didn’t want. I made the trade and rode home on my bike with the biggest grin on my face. I hid those books really well, and my parents never found out. I would stay in my room and read every word in those books. So my parent’s fear in the unknown drove me to being a fantasy freak. I sacrificed my science fiction based Star Wars figures and delved deeply into fantasy.

That has now lasted far into my adulthood. I will not read nonfiction, general fiction or even science fiction. I can honestly say I have never read a science fiction novel. But any fantasy novel, and I mean ANY fantasy novel, I will pick it up and read it.

Now, just pondering, is there really that much difference between science fiction and fantasy? Both are imaginative fiction, both take place in a time other than now, both require acceptance in the unknown to enjoy…yet I can’t force myself to read science fiction. When I analyze myself, I feel that I should like science fiction more. I’m an engineer…a scientist at my core. Wouldn’t that lead me to preferring science fiction which is probably now based on things in the near future based on the rapidity of innovation nowadays? Yet I prefer the more liberal arts version of fiction and go with fantasy.

What is everyone else’s preference between the two and why?

And as a parting note, I would like to post again the YouTube video parody of “Like a G6″ called “Roll a D6″ (in reference to the 6 sided die used in Dungeons & Dragons).

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Since most of my friends and family know that I plan on dying at the ripe old age of 40, I have begun to think about how I want people to remember me. Then, I saw this come my way, the RosettaStone embedded granite information chip for headstones. As people walk by with an internet enabled cellphone, they can capture my information and anything I would like to share. In this technological age, I think this is an awesome idea!

From RosettaStone’s website:

There is very little difference in the appearance of the two headstones, but other differences are emotionally and historically significant. A wireless headstone interacts with a mobile device or cell phone providing current and future site visitors with an exciting discovery of information about the owner. It also introduces a product that can survive a remote data record for potentially thousands of years. The information that someone chooses to share with a future site visitor ranges from the simple to the elaborate including genealogical information, home town, profession, achievements and relationships. Some share quaint knowledge of recipes and fishing spots while others share philosophical lessons on living and giving and encouraging us to focus on what is important in life. It is specifically these types of stories that will turn a standard memorial into a treasured discovery of future generations and historians.

Product Page -RosettaStone-

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I saw this wonderful cake come across the wire today and just had to post it. I’m not the biggest of Star Wars freaks, but I love the movies all the same. This cake, commissioned by the bride Rebecca Dudeiros, was created by a chef named Teresa Ulrich. The cake shows a lovely cut of the movie where the AT-AT was taken down by the rebellion. It turned out wonderfully in my eyes, but the little Ewoks seem a bit freaky to me to eat. Let’s just hope they aren’t red velvet cupcakes, because that would just plain raise the creepy factor. Awesome job!

Courtesy of Bride Pop Magazine

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So it appears that the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi has an ATM machine that allows you to trade in your hard earned cash for bars of gold. Personally, I wish I had enough cash in my entire bank account to purchase one of these bars considering the value of gold has increased 6% in the months. That would be much more productive than my 401k has been.

Sounds like it is quite advanced in some respects. Every 10 minutes, it updates the value of gold to give you the most current exchange rates. On top of that, what would you think the ATM fee is for this?

Cash for Gold

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I’ve had my iPad for a week (in which this is my first time attempting to post via my WordPress app), and the one thing I’ve been lacking is a good background. I’ve always admired HDR photography and have my own amateur attempts at it myself, but Places2Explore has always been a great source for inspiration.

Just today I saw that they are releasing about 25 photos formatted for an iPad to be used as a background…for only $0.30 each! Now that is definitely a steal! Go buy and grab a few for your iPad, or if you don’t have an iPad, just take a look at some great photography.

Places 2 Explore

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This video shows how a woman on her 100th birthday enjoys her FIRST computer, an iPad. For someone who has never owned a computer, she seems to have picked up on it quite a bit. She has already read 2 eBooks and has written 12 limericks. Just a great story if you ask me. Hopefully when I get mine next Friday, I can put it to as good a use.

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What would happen if you had Space Invaders, Tetris, Donkey Kong and other 8 bit games rain destruction down on the planet? Watch the video to see! Patrick Jean is a genius!

PIXELS by PATRICK JEAN.
Uploaded by onemoreprod. – Watch original web videos.

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Almost every person has seen Michelangelo’s “La Pietà” created in 1499 depicting Mary holding Jesus after the crucifixion.

Now, nerds have their own version. Kordian Lewandowski has created “Game Over” showing Princess Peach holding a dead Mario. With as many times as I died playing the original Super Mario Brothers on the Nintendo, I can vividly imagine the feelings that the princess had. Oh well, glad to see nerds are being incorporated into culture. Everything from Optimus Rhyme, MC Frontalot and now this!

Retrieved from -Nerd Approved-

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It was the first day of the outward presentation of the nerd. This day, in 1947, Hurley Smith was awared the infamous patent 2417786…the POCKET PROTECTOR!

It only took him about 4 years to finally get his patent approved, but, he successfully had it filed. Manufacturing began on these originally PVC wonders that kept the pencils from harming the shirts of engineers and others.

So let’s all take a minute and have a brief moment of quiet respect for the man who created a social icon!

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