I have a confession to make: I love movies. I love watching movies, talking about movies, seeing how movies are made, and poking holes in a movie’s logic. Namely, this is because of the way films appeal to my geeky side. Today, I’ve decided to compile a top-ten list of my favorite “geek” films. Please note that none of the Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter films appear in the list; this is purely intentional. Enjoy!

1. Street Fighter: Legend of Chun Li – Aside from the fact that this film is based on the immensely popular Capcom video game series, this film changes the way you look (and think) about your favorite classic Street Fighter characters.

2. Clerks II – If you thought that this film wouldn’t make the cut, you would be grossly mistaken. The way writer/director Kevin Smith (with the help of actor Jeff Anderson) rips into the “Lord of the Rings” film series is befitting of any geek who is a Star Wars fan that loves to poke holes in Hollywood’s logic.

3. A Beautiful Mind – Not only does this film cover conspiracy theories, but it also prominently features mathematics and its usage. In this film, John Nash (historical mathematician, played by Russell Crowe) uses mathetmatics to explain every mundane occurences, like the moving patterns of a pack of squirrels, making it perfect for geeks who find numbers interesting.

4. Independence Day – What film could be better for geeks than a film that has a geek for a hero? In this film, David Levingston (played by Jeff Goldblum) uses an old hacker technique to disable a communication signal by the invading alien swarm. Not only that, but the numerous references to advanced technologies and the paranormal make this perfect for any technology geek.

5. The Triangle – This Sci-Fi Channel original film, starring Bruce Davison (who you may know as Senator Kelly from the “X-Men” films) and Eric Stoltz, tells the story of five people charged with explaining what I consider to be the “mother of all paranormal phenomena”: the Bermuda Triangle. This film is perfect for geeks due to its use of government conspiracies and new technologies, such as a machine that can cause catastophic electromagnetic fields.

6. Minority Report – This Tom Cruise film, based on the novel by Philip K. Dick, features futuristic societies and innovations in technology, such as a machine that can detect crimes before they even happen. This film also makes you wonder just how far technology could go before it would be too far. Not only that, but it’s from the guy whose novels brought us “Blade Runner” and how bad could that be?

7. The Nightmare Before Christmas – I had to include this in the list, since it was basically created with large action figures and, as everyone knows, action figures are geeky. During one critical sequence, Jack uses the Scientific Method and a chemistry set in an attempt to figure out the whole “Christmas thing”, making it the perfect film for science (or science fiction) fanatics. It’s also perfect for horror fans, since it makes you think twice about how you view the numerous icons of the Halloween holiday.

8. Super Mario Brothers – The original geek film! Not only is this film based on the classic characters of the Nintendo universe, but it is also one of the few “game to screen” adaptations to stay true to its original inspiration (even if the dynamics of the characters were changed for dramatic purposes). I’ll admit that I found Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo hard to swallow as brothers (one’s white and the other is Latino), but their comedic timing and presenation are impossible to resist. Above all, however, is the geek pride one feels when pointing out the various characters from the “Mario” universe like Yoshi and the Koopa brothers, Iggy and Spike (all from Super Mario Bros. World).

9. Coraline – Yes, another stop-motion animated feature! Again, action figures are geeky, and this film was made with glorified action figures. And who can forget the character of Whyborn who, without a doubt, is one of the geekiest characters to come out of Hollywood since the nerds of “Revenge of the Nerds”! All you have to do then is add the voice (which, sadly, doesn’t appear enough in this film) of John Hodgman, better known as PC from the Apple TV commercials, and you have a full-blown, five-alarm geek emergency here!

10. Phenomenon – You probably wouldn’t expect this movie to be listed on a geek’s list of favorite movies, but this one is an exception. What makes this film geeky is that it deals with extrasensory perception, better known as ESP. Not only that but, during a pivotal point in the film, John Travolta makes a list of animals in alphabetical order, though he pokes holes in his own logic by pointing out that several of the animals are either mythical (meaning they don’t exist) or extinct. How geeky is that?

What are you favorite geek films? What makes them geeky? Please leave your thoughts, insights, or even your own top-ten list in the comments below.

If there is one constant in the universe, it’s that old-fashioned board games have always had a place in the American household. These games, whether they are classics like Monopoly or modern games like Deal Or No Deal, have managed to entertain players of all ages, despite their simplistic game play (in comparison to video games created for the Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3) and minimalist story lines. Not to mention that board games have consistently managed to bring both friends and families closer together in ways that no other medium has even dared to duplicate.

From the time I was first able to read, I have enjoyed playing board games. As a matter of fact, some of my happiest childhood memories involve sitting around the living room at my grandmother’s house with copies of classic games like Monopoly, Clue, Battleship, and Sorry lying around. Of all the board games that have been released over the past 27 years (yes, I’m revealing my true age – so sue me), my favorite has been, and always will be, Scrabble from Milton Bradley.

Scrabble was my favorite simply because of the way it challenged me on the intellectual level. I was constantly having to learn new or longer words (which came in handy when I competed in spelling bees during grade school) which, despite my being at an early stage of development, expanded my vocabulary. Not only that, but it also gave me a sense of pride (and a load of laughs) to correct my family members whenever they used illegal word of misspelled everyday words. The only thing I didn’t like about the game: my stepfather always won.

So, what is your favorite board game and what did you like about it? Do you still play it to this very day. Leave your thoughts and insights in the comments below!

For the past several years, I have been frantically searching for a way to turn my love of technology and consumer electronics into a full-time career. I have tried everything from selling advertising on this site (which are still available for five dollars) to joining pay-per-post sites like SponsoredTweets and PayPerPost. I have also attempted to join numerous online programs, like those presented by Joel Conn in ads scattered around the Internet.

Unfortunately, none of them seemed to work, and the prospect of turning my hobby into a full-time career seemed to sink with each failure. That was, at least, until I applied to join the Electronics department of my local Wal-Mart Superstore.

I mean, it’s the perfect job for me! For eight hours a day, I am paid (by a corporate entity, nonetheless) to answer questions and give advice to consumers just like you and I. I also get a deep-felt satisfaction when I introduce users to new technologies, like Blu-Ray and the iPhone 3GS, that they never would’ve discovered otherwise. This is the same satisfaction that I get from helping consumers make wise decisions about their purchases and helping them make informed decisions about the numerous technologies that they introduce into their homes.

While this hasn’t been the job I originally envisioned for myself (I always thought that I would be the host of Call For Help, back when the TechTV television network still existed), I love working at my local Wal-Mart. My co-workers are a lively, energetic, and friendly group who are willing to help me out at even a moment’s notice. The pay is somewhat competitive, despite the recent recession that is occuring in the United States at this time (I am paid almost eight dollars an hour to be a geek – how cool is that?). And numerous benefits, like stock options and health insurance, simply sweeten the deal.

All in all, I believe I have found the perfect way to turn my hobby into a full-time career. So, my question to you is this: how have you managed to turn a hobby into something more? Leave your thoughts and insights in the comments below.

Let’s face it:  every so often, we all need an extra boost of energy. And, naturally, that extra boost can come from anywhere; caffeinated beverages like Mountain Dew, energy drinks like Rockstar and Red Bull, coffee from Starbucks, or dietary supplements (which, often, prove hazardous to the user’s health) from Stacker. Personally, I go the “energy drink” route.

As a matter of fact, I have sampled almost every known kind of energy drink that is available on the market today (Brain Toniq being one of the few exceptions I can think of). From larger corporate drinks, like Monster Energy, to more obscure products, like Whoop-Ass, and even novelty items, like the Duff Energy Drink (inspired by Homer Simpson’s favorite beer), I have had them all. And, of all the energy drinks I’ve had the pleasure (or displeasure, depending on how it tasted) of tasting, I have to say that my favorite is Amp Energy Drink, created by the makers of Mountain Dew.

So, my question to you is this:  how do you get your extra boost of energy? If it’s energy drinks, which one is your favorite? Leave your thoughts and insights in the comments section below.