GeekDad

Plugged Crown Headphones: A Solid, Extremely Comfortable Option

March 1, 2016Jenny Bristol2

Plugged’s object was to create a new headphone offering with style, quality, and performance but at a price that most people can afford. Did they succeed?

Go on an Adventure to Find ‘The Wrong Wrights’

February 22, 2016December 16, 2017Jenny Bristol

The great folks at Smithsonian Books have begun a new series of graphic novels for the 9-12 age range called ‘Secret Smithsonian Adventures.’ The first book in the series, ‘The Wrong Wrights’ by Chris Kientz and Steve Hockensmith, and illustrated by Lee Nielsen, comes out this week, and I can tell you that it is an entertaining read. Here’s my slightly spoiler-y recap, but I’ll refrain from spoiling the really important stuff.

Use the New Boogie Board Jot 8.5 eWriter for All Your Doodles

February 16, 2016Jenny Bristol

When I was a kid, we entertained ourselves with those waxy board things with plastic pull-up covers. When my kids were little, it was the Magnadoodle. Now, there is the Boogie Board Jot 8.5 eWriter.

9 Reasons Why Cats Are an Introvert’s Perfect Pet

February 6, 2016December 14, 2017Jenny Bristol6

I’m an introvert. I also love cats. Cats are my favorite type of pet. And I’ve had plenty. Dogs, cats, dwarf hamsters, rats, snakes, bunnies, and even a hedgehog. (Audrey. She was the cutest.) But I’ve found that cats fit in best with my lifestyle. They basically take care of themselves, with a small bit of work on my part. I believe that cats are an introvert’s perfect pet. Here are some reasons why.

Spruce up Your Writing With ‘Style: an Anti-Textbook’

February 1, 2016Jenny Bristol1

Reading through ‘Style: an Anti-Textbook’, I felt that Lanham was taking us on a tour of writing and style, on a Disney dark ride-type adventure. “And in this room, you will find Shakespeare…” Each chapter and portion of a chapter shows us example after example of getting to know writing styles.

GeekDad Review: 'Lionel City Builder 3D: Rise of the Rails'

January 25, 2016Jenny Bristol

Newly out for the Nintendo 3DS is ‘Lionel City Builder 3D: Rise of the Rails’ made by Big John Games. This downloadable game is affordable and fun. With both structured and freeform elements, there’s something here for every level of player.

Fun With a Macro Lens

January 19, 2016April 10, 2020Jenny Bristol

I first heard about macro lenses–oh, I don’t know when. But from the very beginning, I knew I wanted one. Close-up shots are great fun to take and to look at, to see small things large, to see all the minute detail. Beauty in the every day.

Defend Your Bits and Bobs With Bitdefender BOX

January 15, 2016Jenny Bristol

Even if you have virus protection, your home network and devices can still be vulnerable. Lucky for us, Bitdefender BOX is available to keep our network, home automation, computers, and devices safe by wrapping our whole house in a blanket of anti-virus and anti-malware protection.

Enjoy Pearls of Wisdom in 'The Writer Who Stayed'

January 11, 2016Jenny Bristol

Writing can be a utility, but it can also be an art. The best writers are those who make it both, simultaneously. I’m already of the mind that William Zinsser is one of those best writers.

Self-Education With ‘The Trivium’

January 4, 2016August 12, 2024Jenny Bristol2

What do you think of when I say “logic” or “grammar”? How about “rhetoric” or “syllogism”? Unless you’ve had a decent liberal arts education, you may be a little lost on the second two, and your definitions of the first two will vary. Though if you’re a classical homeschooling family, this is likely all familiar to you.

My Favorite Google Doodles from 2015

December 27, 2015Jenny Bristol

Google constantly ups the ante for doodles on their page. The Google Doodles began with static artwork replacing the iconic letters G-o-o-g-l-e, but they’ve lifted it to its own art form. For quite a while now, we’ve expected great things from the doodles. The pressure is on, and Google continues to deliver.

GeekMom Holiday Gift Guide #8: Movies, TV, and Music

December 22, 2015Jenny Bristol

Holiday break is a popular time to binge watch movies and television shows, and to play music while people are off school or work. What are some of the GeekMoms’ favorite media?

Take a Trip to ‘American Places’

December 21, 2015Jenny Bristol2

Traveling and American history are two of my biggest passions. So visiting locations that are important in history pretty much sums up glee for me. And William Zinsser, author of ‘On Writing Well’ among other books, pulls that all together in his book, ‘American Places.’

Protect Your Photos, Video, Documents, and Data With Drobo

December 19, 2015Jenny Bristol

Drobo makes an extensive line of extremely easy-to-use external storage and network attached storage solutions that keeps your data safe. Perfect for anyone’s storage needs.

GeekMom Holiday Gift Guide #7: Clothing and Household Goods

December 15, 2015December 16, 2017Jenny Bristol

Geeks love to dress the part, regularly donning their ‘Doctor Who’ T-shirts or multi-pocketed Scottevests. They also love their household tools and goods, finding products that make their lives easier. What are the GeekMoms’ favorites for 2015?

Fun Scientific Books for Your Holiday Reading

December 14, 2015Jenny Bristol1

Want some light reading but prefer non-fiction? Here are two really engaging books that tackle deep math and science topics with an air of lightheartedness and curiosity.

GeekMom Holiday Gift Guide #6: Stocking Stuffers

December 8, 2015Jenny Bristol

Finding just the right stocking stuffers can be a fun holiday treasure hunt. What will you find in your stocking this year? Perhaps one of these items.

My Top 11 Holiday Cookies*

December 7, 2015Jenny Bristol

One of my family’s holiday traditions is to make seasonal cookies. From my mom’s early days of parenting to my ex-boyfriend’s mother’s marathon creations to our own favorites and traditions, a holiday plethora of cookies (and the like) seem to show up in our house every year. What are our favorite must haves? Here they are, in no particular order.

GeekMom Holiday Gift Guide #5: Video Games and Apps

December 1, 2015Jenny Bristol

Since Pong, video games have been of great interest to the geek community. The games and graphics have gotten much more sophisticated, but the appeal hasn’t waned. See what games the GeekMoms are playing this year!

Sights and Sounds of Yesteryear, Winter-style

December 1, 2015Jenny Bristol

The winter season is full of traditions, many of which go back hundreds of years or more and are often from other countries. Trees, poems, decorations, songs, lights, music, and food all contribute to the festivity of the season. Here are a few things from yesteryear that will help get us in the mood.

GeekMom Holiday Gift Guide #4: Toys and Lego!

November 24, 2015Jenny Bristol1

Now that we’re in the second half of November, I know I’m not the only one starting to really flesh out my holiday shopping lists. Toys are almost always on kids’ wish lists (and many adults’ lists, as well!), so here are some of our favorite toys that we (or our kids) are wanting this year.

Counter-Culture History, 1969-1972: ‘The Smith Tapes’

November 24, 2015Jenny Bristol

The 1960s were such a time of obvious change in the United States. Portions of society lost their innocence, while others were empowered. Music often made a statement, and drugs influenced lives. What was life like at the end of that decade, and at the turn of the 1970s? The boundless optimism of earlier in the ’60s had disappeared, and times, they were a’changin’. The best way to learn about a certain time is to go straight to the source.

The Davis Instruments Weather Box Fills My Need for Data

November 21, 2015Jenny Bristol

Weather stations can bring a lot of fun and education, as well as weather data, into your home. If your family is into science, a weather station is a great buy.

GeekMom Holiday Gift Guide #3: Tabletop Games

November 17, 2015Jenny Bristol

If tabletop games are on your loved ones’ wish lists this year, check out our recommendations! There’s something here for everyone.

Return of the Genealogy Geek, Part 5: Crowdsourcing: Preserving and Indexing Graves, Holocaust Records, and General Historical Records

November 17, 2015Jenny Bristol

In addition to having their own site and some sister sites, Ancestry.com has their hands in some additional worthy projects. These are available for free to everyone, and they need your help indexing information to make their resources be searchable.

Scottevest’s Sterling Jacket for Women (and Men)

November 12, 2015Jenny Bristol1

Geeks carry stuff. We carry enough stuff to usually require a bag to hold it all. But unless you’re carrying a laptop, oftentimes you can get by with a quality jacket that is well-outfitted with pockets. For that, Scottevest more than delivers.

GeekMom Holiday Gift Guide #2: Gadgets and Accessories

November 10, 2015December 16, 2017Jenny Bristol

Gadgets and accessories are well integrated into our lives. Find out which ones are the GeekMoms’ favorites.

Genealogy Geek, Part 4: Search for Veterans’ Military Histories on Ancestry’s Fold3

November 10, 2015Jenny Bristol

With Veterans Day this week, many of us are focusing on remembering those who have served in the military. Both of my grandfathers were in the Army during World War II, and I have other ancestors who fought in the Civil War, the War of 1812, and the Revolutionary War. But for people who don’t know how to navigate the system, it can be hard to find information to add to one’s family history about ancestors’ time in the military.