A Bit of Explanation

Dear As-of-yet-non-existent readers,

Sunday is going to be my "day off" for blog posts. Why? Well, I have several good reasons. There's the good ol' day of rest excuse, seeing as I am a college student who stays in bed a little too late on Sunday mornings. And then there's the fact that my weekly articles for the school paper are due every Sunday night, and they must take priority.

But since I'm writing anyway, here's a teaser list of topics to expect to pop up in my posts over the next few weeks...

-Why Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace has more merit than you might think...
-10 Films that I discovered a few years (or decades) too late...
-Hobbit v. Hobbit: A Tolkien nerd's take on the first two films in Jackson's trilogy
-A review of BBC's Merlin (provided I finish the final season)

Are these exciting topics? I think so. And I hope that you, non-existent readers, thing so too.

-TMN

Welcome, One and All

This is the moment, ladies and gentlemen. The moment when I take initiative and kick my lazy butt into action. For a while now, I have been planning on beginning my own "nerd&geek culture" blog, and here, finally, it is. 

I suppose that I should tell you all a little about myself before I begin. My name is Alanna (aka "The Masked Nerd") and I am a soon-to-graduate college senior. A good chunk of my non-academic time is dedicated to rulin--I mean, running the school Science-Fiction club, writing for the Arts & Entertainment section of the school paper, and playing D&D with my friends. I spend the rest of my time playing the harp and singing. 

It's a good life. A good life that will soon be thrown into disarray by the looming behemoth of graduation.

One thing I will miss a lot about college is getting to write for the newspaper, which over the years has provided me with many invaluable things: new friends, journalistic writing experience, several coffee mugs, and a shiny press pass to New York Comic Con. More importantly, I know that, by writing for the paper, I brought joy to other people; I received many emails from students and teachers who had found their new favorite films because of my recommendations, or who were happy to know that someone out there shared their interests. 

This blog will allow me to continue writing about the things that I love--things that I am sure other people love, too. Even if there's only one person who reads it regularly, I will be content in knowing that my words are having the desired effect. 

There are several features that I have planned, and I hope to post at least five or six times a week. Expect reviews of new and throwback books and films, recommendations of Netflix Instant Queue gems, pictures of the most nerdtastic merchandise the web has to offer, and of course, top ten lists. I love making lists. Get used to it. 

In return for sort-of-objective-but-let's-face-it-it's-a-blog posts, I will ask that if any of you decide to comment on anything, follow the golden rule: do not say unto others what, deep down in your heart, you would not want others saying unto you. Constructive criticism and friendly debates are always fine, but those who insist on mean-spirited remarks and trolling will have houses fall on their heads. 

I hate trolls. Except for Detritus. 

(Anyone who gets this reference deserves a cookie.)

Anyway, that is all that I have to say in this introduction post. You'll hear from me again tomorrow!

-TMN