#49 Whatever Happened to Robot Jones? - A funny, new 'toon from Cartoon Network

Popular entertainment needs more robots and giant monsters. Whatever Happened to Robot Jones? adds three hilarious mechanized creatures to the pop culture pantheon. The title character, Robot Jones, is a 6th grade 'bot, whose voice is supplied by speech simulation software not unlike Steven Hawkings. Mom is pink gas pump, and Dad is a factory robot arm with a tie draped around his base.

Much of the humor in the show revolves around robot mayhem. When the mailman comes to the door, Dad barks in a frightening robot monotone, "STATE THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS." When the mailman falters, Dad uses his mechanical arm to lift the postman by the feet and shake the mail out of him while blaring, "INEFFICIENT! INEFFICIENT!"

Like most middle school kids, Robot Jones just wants to fit in with the other kids. So far, his peers include Socks (a pre-stoner who pronounces his buddy's name "robut") and the love interest, Shannon (a girl with an over-the-top orthodontic grill and a metal leg).

Now that the Cal Arts look of Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack is becoming the industry standard for US animation, it’s nice to see a show with a different visual vibe (think Schoolhouse Rock with an ‘80s retro fetish). Cartoon Network has only ordered six episodes of this show, so tune in on Fridays at 9:30 before its too late.

#48 Animal Crossing - Nintendo's New Communication Game

I'm sick of the whole anti-cute thing. Animal Crossing is blatantly adorable, and I never for one moment cared. The game allows you to move into and explore your own town. You have a house (complete with mortgage) where you can store all the neat stuff that you find. A lot of time can be spent customizing your clothes, home and even the music that plays in the game. I just figured out how to get the town bells to chime the opening riff of Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love."

What's enthralling about the game is that it's a sim that awards you for playing nice, and I'm not just talking in-game. Nobody dies or takes bonks to the head in Animal Crossing, but the really neat part of the game takes place when you visit your friend's village. Each village is stored on a memory card; by plugging both cards into the same Gamecube, you can take a trip to the adjoining town and explore (or vandalize) your pals home.

Mike and I have been taking jaunts between Meridan (Mike's) and Laputa (Mine) for the last couple of days. Yesterday I found a note in my mailbox saying, "Look near the Eye of the Sea." After a search of the shore, I found a treasure, left by Mike, buried in the dirt under the shadow of the lighthouse. I can't wait to figure out more ways to play this incredibly open game.

#47 Geek Weddings - That's not a typo.

I'm not talking about that dumb movie. I'm talking about the union between two science nerds or a pair of programmers, that, thanks to their common interests, is stronger than a covalant bond.

My sister and her fiance Ross, both studying planetary geology and astronomy at the University of Arizona, are due to wed in late October. One look at their geek-centric Amazon wedding registry brought joy to my heart. This looks to be a match made in heaven, or at least some resonably tranquil and beautiful region of outer space.

#46 Dublab - Relaunched with a snazzy new look.

If you love music and don't know Dublab, you're in for a treat. This genre-stretching stream is a killer source of new, interesting sounds and a great place to get schooled on rhythm and noise innovators.

The site redesign sees the return of Ten Elements, a must hear, now-sounds rundown from Dublab's live-in DJ, Frosty. Four Square features a quartet of killer guest spots from Dublab's vast collection - right now echoes Mr. Scruff, DJ Spinna, Four Tet and Cody ChesnuTT ring through the archives.

Check out the site and tune in. If you hear something you like, shop Insound through Dublab's Future Roots Collection link, and the Labrats will earn a cut of the sales.

Kudos to Rob, James, Mark and Jon for their hard work on the killer new site. Additional props go to all the DJs who make Dublab so vital. This is a team I'm proud to be a part of.

#45 Role Playing - Perhaps the geekiest of all pursuits

Laugh if you must, but pencil and paper gaming is not only still around, but it's experiencing a resurgance. Dungeons and Dragons, the venerable grandaddy of all role playing games continues to lead the charge. Wizards of the Coast, the company who absorbed TSR, has relaunched the game with a snazzy, open source system, dubbed D20. The system could eventually serve as a skeleton for hundreds of games such as Star Wars, Call of Chtulu and Wheel of Time. I for one am excited to try the new Hellboy game (powered by Steve Jackson's Gurps). I will probably DM the Hellboy game to help pass the time until my good friend Bryan decides to revive our killer Warhammer Fantasy Role-Play campaign.

There are those (they number in the millions) who just can't get over the idea of a bunch of nerds huddled around a darkened table, telling fantastic stories with the help of funny dice and caffeinated soda. For the rest of us, I rally you. "Sally forth, friends! Sharpen thy swords and harden thy hearts, for evil abounds, and none but us can smite it. Huzzah!"