Nerd girl fashion continues with Disney & DC Comics at Hot Topic

The realisation that adult geek women exist and have money to spend is a relatively new one but now everyone is chasing Her Universe money.

Hot Topic have always been happy to take the money of the weird and wonderful and they've been partnering with licensed character goods like Harry Potter, Dr Who, Marvel, DC an Disney on wearable cosplay.

Gearing up for Summer is this amazing Disney swimsuit collection of wearable 2 piece suits that actually fit and flatter curves. Even better news is that they're not all Disney Princesses! Villains like the Queen of Hearts, Star Wars characters and fan favourites like the Cheshire Cat are all included.

If Disney isn't really your style then you might be interested in this amazing DC Comics Formal wear range just itching for Prom Season.

Highlights include Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy dresses and Batman or Joker Tuxedos. The range is excellent for both genders which is a lovely surprise. There's also a matching character swim range based on DC Bombshells and Ant Lucia designs featuring Wonder Woman, Joker, Harley and Batgirl.

Free Mythical giveaways to celebrate 20 years of Pokemon

Nintendo are celebrating 2 decades of Pokemon games with free official mythical pokemon events throughout 2016.

Each month from February there will be a new Mythical available for download at various events. Many of these Pokemon are almost impossible to get a hold of so this is an exciting time for those trying to finish the National Pokedex.

Mew is available until February 24th by visiting a Gamestop location and receiving a gift from your Pokemon card. Be sure to take a couple of games with you so you can get more than one! Pokemon X, Y, Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby cards can all accept these mythical pokemon.

More instructions and a release schedule can be found on the Pokemon 20th Anniversary website. Gotta catch em all!

New Hello Kitty DS coming to Japan

In a press release Nintendo Japan have announced the must have new item for the girl gamer - a new Hello Kitty themed DS due to be released in November.

The Japan exclusive will feature the new generation 3DS body and hardware specs along with a memory card and exclusive Hello Kitty Kisekae theme software.

For those who already own a DS or don't want to commit to the JP region device - which is software locked to Japanese regional games - a matching cover plate will also be released.

At 17000Y for the console or only 2000Y for the cover this is a reasonably priced accessory for the Hello Kitty fan in the know. Be sure to check out Ebay and Rakuten after the release to snag your own!

Project Mc2 - Stand back I'm going to try science!

Not since the Software Engineer Barbie have I been so happy to see a toy that encourages positive views on women in STEM. Bonus points because Project Mc2 is actually also a learning toy.

Project Mc2 is a multimedia campaign to encourage girls in science and technology and give them some adorkable role models to aspire to.

Netflix has started a straight to streaming video series where 3 young girls use science to solve problems and save the day. The girls are cute and savvy and excellent role models for young girls - the group are well dressed and well spoken. There's no dungeon geeks or lab coat tropes here just tween stars in a familiar youth programming format. There might possibly be a touch of manic pixie dream girl fashion sense... 3 episodes are available on Netflix and included with a subscription the service.

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Along with the series an app and a toy series have also been released. The app is an investigator point and click adventure that challenges the user to act like an Mc2 girl and solve mysteries. Sadly only for iOS so far you can download it on the Apple Store



The toys are a wonderful range of the characters from the series that combine just about everything one could want in a toy - fashion doll, science experiment and a range of interests including chemistry, tech and fabrication.

These dolls offer the recipient the chance to experience what interests them in the toy rather than dictating what element should be of interest. Child safe chemistry ingredients included but adult supervision probably advised. Additional experiments can also be bought independent of the dolls including a lab kit, interactive devices and more. Buy them on Amazon or at your local toy store.

Managing bias with free resources

Unconscious biases are those triggers that without our control influence our actions. They might be the job you expect someone to have because of their appearance or the intelligence you anticipate a candidate has due to their accent.

For under represented minorities in the work place biases have real and lasting negative affects - work is attributed to another colleague, skills are down played and interviews are unsuccessful. This can be due to any manner of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, appearance, age or other diversity dimension.

When we move away from seeing diversity as more than just a pipeline issue bias management is an effective tool in finding the unfair and negative actions people commit due to their biases. For many companies today it is one of the most important trends in people management.

At Google unconscious bias training is taken very seriously with over 25000 employees having attended training. The Google bias workshop is available for free on YouTube:



Facebook is also now releasing all of it's managing bias training online. You can watch from their page via Vimeo at http://managingbias.fb.com/ Their online training is comprehensive and covers stereotypes, likeability, performance expectations and the business case for inclusiveness.

A wild cross stitch appears!

I've been looking to increase the amount of time I spend doing something that's not staring at a screen. That means real books and a lot of crafts. I'd forgotten the joy of making something physical and feeling accomplished, it sure beats heavy refreshing on Facebook.

One of my childhood joys was cross stitch and I've discovered that thanks to the internet this is now a cheap hobby that lends itself perfectly to 8 bit artwork. With some cheap thread and a hoop from the craft store and some digital downloads we're away!

Here's some great online geek cross stitch resources for all your geek crafter needs:

• Cross Stitch Techniques and Basics
• Pokemon Cross Stitch designs (Makibird @ Deviantart)
• Harry Potter Cross Stitch designs
• Disney Cross Stitch
• Subversive Cross Stitch (for the naughty geek girls!)
• Sprite Stitch a Gamer Cross Stitch Blog
• Cross Stitch on Geek Crafts
• Capes & Crafts on Etsy 

Back from the dead...

I've been ignoring this blog to focus on other writing projects... and that's a shame. Time to fix it!

I'll start creating new content and am always looking for other writers to join in on the community.

Thanks

Amaya

The Brain Scoop discusses the trials and tribulation of being a female STEM Video Blogger

Unsurprisingly I have a lot of Nerd Girls on my social media and one of them pointed me at this simply excellent discussion from the host of The Brain Scoop, a YouTube channel I must start watching. Being a female content creator on the web can be a sometimes daunting but always fulfilling experience. So come on Ladies, ignore the haters and lets get some more STEM content rolling.

Celebrate Ada Lovelace day with a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon

Are you interested in doing something special for Ada Lovelace day? Wikimedia New England and the Pembroke Center for Women's Studies at Brown University are holding a Wikipedia editing party to edit and create Wikipedia entries on women who have made significant contributions to the STEM fields.

If you happen to be in Rhode Island they're conducting an in person party, but encourage women from around the world to contribute remotely.

They've included a list of Wikipedia entries that need to be created as well as some suggestions on entries that need editing or cleaning up.

You can read more about their plan on their Projects page.

Backbone Zone illustrate misappropriated sexist and homophobic words

Backbone Zone have created a campaign to remind people that misused words are still a violent form of insult.  What a great and imaginative campaign; as a girl, a gamer and an LGBT supporter all of these hit home for me.

More at http://www.mecasa.org/backbone/materials.html

Amazing GladOS Cosplay at PAX Prime

This effort was truly stunning, easily the most impressive Cosplay I've seen in a long time. Did you go to PAX or DragonCon? What was your favourite Cosplay?

Vogue gives Google Glass the Fashionista treatment

Wearable tech is *the* hotness of the moment, so it makes sense that a fashion icon like Vogue would like to get in on the trend featuring a fashion spread with models in Google Glass. The shoot is a paleo-future themed beauty with hard 60s tailoring lines and retro future backgrounds.

See more on Vogue.com

Hot Topic serves up super cute Super Hero dresses

As a goth girl in America going to the Hot Topic can be a little cliche but there's a seemingly endless array of GIR shirts, Portal toys and Batman socks that call me in time and again. This Summer they've added some very cute summer dresses for the Nerd girl at large (and on the beach!)

For the Whovians

Be your own Super Girl!

Be the Good Girl

Or the bad!

There are even more to be had including R2D2, Power Rangers, TMNT, Captain America and Toy Story. At the bargain price of $15 - 35 these could be the easiest convention outfit you find.

YouTube Geek Week: Girl Gamer Worship

If you're not following along YouTube is having a "geek week" special with SuperHeroes, gaming, blockbusters and more. This tribute to gamer girls tickled my fancy.

 

Retro future documentary The Power of Glove

If there's one thing I love more than computer games and documentaries it's documentaries about computer games. Throw in a healthy dose of 1980s retro futurism and this documentary on the Power Glove is sure to be the biggest hit since King of Kong.

Talks at Google: Pixar on Monsters University

Here at the Googleplex we get a lot of guest lecturers come and speak. Unsurprisingly many of them are from great geek culture icons. Here's a great conversation with some of the Pixar staff on Monsters University the new animated feature film.

Superman tells Warcraft anecdote on Leno

I'll take Batman over Superman any day of the week, but when geek hunk Henry Cavill - Superman in the new Man of Steel movie - tells a story about playing WoW on Leno he wins my heart over just a little more.

 

Lego movie may be more than just a product integration fantasy

If you're like me when you hear the words "Lego Movie" you're thinking "Battleship". Flashy Hollywood weirdness designed to destroy your fond childhood memories.

Think again.

The movie seems to tie into the humour and story telling success of the Lego video games and with a killer cast including Morgan Freeman, Will Arnett and Will Ferrell it looks like this is the next animated film to look forward to after Despicable Me 2.

 

Chief of Australian Army delivers amazing Anti Harassment speech

A fantastic public message; not only because diversity and a culture against harassment is important but presses on the idea that strength and power need not rely on putting down others. Sets a wonderful example for military service culture.

Game dev strikes back on Female Armour Syndrome

Today Gamer Girls are an accepted part of the nerd landscape. They school you at FPS and then somehow have time to make amazing costumes for conventions. Somehow though the art departments of most game developers have really never gotten over Female Armour Syndrome and the need to sell games using sexy ladies.

A female data scientist at Meteor Entertainment pulled a prank to make a great point about their Hawken mechanic poster - by working with an artist Sam Kirk to create an equally sexy poster starring a man. With a simple non violent protest she highlighted how women were being portrayed in their marketing material and convinced the CEO to listen to her voice. 

What a great story and the outcome is some great artwork. Kudos to you.

More at http://thehawkeyeinitiative.com/post/50432219744/special-guest-edition-the-hawkeye-initiative-irl