nehatiwari.com

So, I’ve talked in the past how I have been working hard on “Show #15″ here at Revision 3. Well, I am happy to say that it has finally launched!

Called Social Brew, the show is all about social networks and the people who use them. It has gone through a lot of modifications, and it still very much is a work in progress. Along with producing parts of the show, I will be your guide to Bay Area meet-ups, and do a weekly segment on new apps and social networking websites.

As you all know, I live and breathe this stuff, so I am really enjoying working on this show. Also, our senior producer, Eileen Rivera has done a smashing job on really refining the idea of Social Brew.

Check it out, and please let me know what you think. Constructive criticism, likes, and suggestions welcome!

Hey friends,

I’m just gonna come out with it–I love Star Wars, and any paraphernalia related to the films. I have 2 toy lightsabers [1 Anakin; 1 Obi-won] and have gifted a Yoda, Dooku, and another Obi-won to my closest friends…so technically, I have bought them all! I also have an old cardboard lightsaber that a good friend of mine painted–but none were nothing compared to this Master Replicas Force FX Saber.

As you can see, that item is beautiful but really expensive. Plus, a big part of Jedi training is learning how to do things by yourself. So, there was only one solution left: I had to build my own.

I read a lot of websites, but wasn’t quite sure where to start. I enlisted the help of someone known on the forums as Novastar…and was glad to find out that he was relatively local. Matthew Carrauddo from The Cutting Edge was kind enough to stop by popSiren and show me how it was done. Then, I spent some time building one on my own. Want to see how it turned out? Check this out, padawans (and stick around for the bloopers at the end, pretty funny)!

If you want to know how exactly to build it and get a list of materials, see the show notes here. Now for some pointers:

1. Take Matthew’s advice; Try to get a narrow tube
I learned that bigger is not always better. Because my tube was 2″ in diameter, I had to get larger parts to accommodate it. However, finding a cost efficient thin LED Flashlight would have been even tougher if I went with the thinner sink part. Pick your battle, I suppose.
2. Use light parts, your arms will thank you!
I ended up using plumbing parts because of my large and in charge tube. Sink parts are much, much, lighter making it easier to maneuver the saber. Although, I gotta say that my guns look pretty good after toting that bad boy around for a few days :)
3. Be patient and keep focus
Building lightsabers can take some time. Understanding how it all comes together, and tweaking it for yourself can be frustrating and time consuming. Also know that this will not be your last lightsaber.

On that last note, I have to say that it’s a bit of an obsession. I want one thats even more realistic, and with noise. I’ll be tooling away in my workshop, and I’ll keep you posted on what becomes with this project. Try it out, and show me what you make!

When I was a child, I loved playing with Barbie dolls. With their long-legged-scissor-like movements, luxurious hair, and 200-watt smile, they were ideal. Well, except for one thing: Why did Barbie ever like Ken?

Ken was not my type of guy. I appreciated that he took life with a smile, despite his anatomy, which is commendable. He also seemed stagnant, cheesy, and unrealistic. I knew even at that young age, men like Ken were the most impossible in the world.

As I grew older, I became increasingly interested in comic books. My older brother would let me tag along to comic book conventions where I would buy Catwoman, Batman and more. When I read about Batman, he looked a little like Ken, but was different. He had the good looks, suave mannerisms, a comfortable life, and as an added bonus, was smart and resourceful. Although I thought boys had cooties around that time, I knew men similar to Bruce Wayne were a-okay, but still not so tangible.

Then, as a teenager I discovered Marvel’s Amazing Spiderman. Here was a guy who had the weight of the world on his shoulders, geeky glasses, and no girlfriend. Not only did I relate to Peter Parker’s problems, but he slowly became the apple of my eye. This was the type of guy I wanted, and he wasn’t that bad looking either [geek chic anyone?]. Sure, he didn’t have it all together like Batman, and certainly didn’t take life with a smile like Ken, but he was living and breathing. Peter Parker was real, imperfect, and completely irresistible.

I know that for many guys, they look up to those I mentioned as archetypes of what women want. The truth is, flaws are attractive. From Ken to Bruce to Peter, there is a commonality: A positive attitude. Regardless of the whole womens movement thing, ladies still want a guy who they can lean on. Someone who has real issues and can handle them with conviction.

As for me, I am still trying to learn from Barbie, Catwoman, and Mary Jane–the ladies who to some extent got these different types of men. Sure, they all look picture perfect, but I believe there is more to them than that. Now, who wants to brush my hair and take me to kick boxing?

Even though my grammar has gone to shit since the arrival of these little guys, I still love them.

Lolcats have transcended to the next level. The Lolcat Bible which has been around since November of last year has finally populated to an amusing amount–a whopping 48% is now complete according their update yesterday. Since it’s a wiki type thing, everyone can add to it. Visitors can translate a verse, passage, or even a whole chapter. Like any wiki, the more contributors the merrier!

Just to give you a preview of what’s contained in this web masterpiece, here is one of my favorite (real) segments from the New Testament, in Lolcat:

Luv is pashient n kind, luv haz no jelusniss or showin offz, luv no is stuck-up or r00dz. Luv no insistzes on doin it rite, itz not pisst off alla tiem or rezentflufflele.Luv izzn all happiez about doin it wrong, but is happiez about teh truthz.Luv putz up wiht all teh stuffz, beelivez all teh stuffz, hoepz for all teh stuffz. Luv putz up wiht all teh stuffz… i sed that areddy?

-1 Corinthians 13:4

Perhaps these nonlolcats should seek out Jebus, to bring joy to their nine cat lives. Can u haz a Happy Easterz? KTHXBAI!

This week on popSiren, I got the chance to combine my two loves together–snow and technology. It was a great opportunity for me to check out some great products that I could definitely use on the slopes.

If you have any questions about any of the gear that isn’t answered by our show notes, comment below and I will get back to you—promise!

The best thing in the world is working with smart, beautiful girls like these. Jess is one of them, but she wasn’t in the photo [or was in the country at the time]. I am so appreciative of all the great feedback we’ve been getting and am proud of the response overall. It was definitely worth all the hard work.

Keep watching!!

-Nerd Bird N

This video was super fun to work on! Mauricio did a great job editing, and Randi came up with a great concept. Scoble…was wearing glitter and a red boa. What more do you need for entertainment?

Let me know what you guys think!

:)N

Hey kiddies,

I have been under the radar a bit at Revision 3, and as I mentioned earlier, I have working on the development of a couple of new shows.

I am glad to announce that popSiren has been launched! Heather Frank, my friend and mentor, worked her hiney off on this show from concept to execution. I have to say, she did a great job and I am really proud of everyone who worked on this project.

Jessica Corbin is popSiren’s redhead ringleader, Sarah Lane is the Web Prowler, Dr. Kiki Sanford is the ever-so-cool Rad Scientist, Heather Frank is our zany gal who is on The Fringe, and I am your Nerd Bird. Sit back and enjoy something that is not only aesthetically pleasing but wonderful brain food. I guarantee you will learn something! Oh, and don’t forget to digg it and tell us what you think on our forums.

:)N, your Resident Nerd Bird

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of going to Wondercon, the little sister of Comicon. As always, there were wonderful forums with sneak peeks of upcoming media.

When I heard that there was going to be a panel on the new animated series, The Spectacular Spider-Man, I was more than ecstatic. I was a huge fan of the 1994 Spider-Man animated cartoon [watch here]. The way that it was drawn, the voice acting, and dialog was impeccable. I also am a huge fan of the comic book, so having a new cartoon from Marvel was just what the doc [Connors] ordered.

The not so Spectacular Spider-Man

Much to my dismay, I was dead wrong. The animation was sub-par and looked similar to the way Digimon was drawn. Peter Parker now has a mole [which, coincidentally, the artist “cheeks” possesses] and looks like he is five-years-old. The jokes were bad and lacking wit, while the storyline was scattered and unfocused. The only upside to The Spectacular Spider-Man was the voice acting of Josh Keaton as Parker/Spidey. He sounds quite similar to Christopher Daniel Barnes, who was the voice of my favorite web-slinger circa ‘94.

After that letdown, I was quite skeptical walking into the Justice League: New Frontier film by DC. Surprisingly, I was absolutely blown away by the animation, motion effects, voice acting, concept and writing. DC seems to know what they are doing with their comic properties; The New Frontier is aimed at the older demographic who are hardcore comic book fans. Marvel seems to be chasing the Pokemon pipsqueaks, while forgetting those of us who have grown up following Spidey.

DC takes animated media to a new frontier

Justice League: The New Frontier is worth buying on DVD and I look forward for more from the DC franchise. It’s available On-Demand starting today, and I would strongly suggest it as a comic book movie must see. If you would like to watch The Spectacular Spider-Man and weigh in with your own judgment, check it out on March 8 on the Kids WB.

As a producer, I am technically at the start of my career. Even though I’ve been involved with the world of broadcast for the last five years, I only feel now that I am really coming into my own.

When I started at Revision 3, I immediately jumped into working on Tekzilla. Each week was a new challenge that truly made me grow behind the camera, and on. I put together a number of segments each week, and although this was strenuous, it was similar to what I had done before at CNET.

At the beginning of this year, I left Tekzilla to focus on two projects that I will be working on–one of which I am mostly responsible for. A whole show, from start to finish…Holy Cow!!

Me hanging out in the new Revision 3 control room

This project, which for confidentiality purpose I will call “show number 15,” is something that I have built from scratch [with help from my peers, of course]. This is an awesome opportunity that I am totally psyched about. However, I never thought creating an entire online program would be so much painstaking work.

From finding the perfect host to painting the set, I’ve done it all. When I have stepped into built out shows, I would have never guessed how much effort went into naming the show, making the graphics, the music, the set, the talent. I think it may be similar to the experience of being pregnant–with a little less morning sickness.

So here I stand, knocked up with a show that will be launching sometime in the future.I’m tired, anxious, and excited. Will people like it? Will it be a success? Stay tuned on more from my new baby ;)