| A big part of the dissolving of the nerd insult is the | | | | needle in a haystack? If anyone could find the |
| fact that we, as a society, are really wired now. | | | | answer, it's these guys. |
| From iPods to iPhones and Wi-Fi for everyone from | | | | For an even more wired show, it doesn't get more |
| punk rockers to businessmen, the influx of modern | | | | high tech than Time Warp, a hugely popular program |
| technology has, in a way, made nerds out of us all. | | | | where, through the use of high-speed HD cameras, |
| So unlike the time when it wasn't cool to know | | | | viewers are treated to a number of interesting acts, |
| things about science or other nerdy pursuits, you'd | | | | all in super, super slow motion. The cameras were |
| be likely to get laughed out of town if you didn't | | | | created by MIT scientists and artists, and allow |
| know how to work an iPhone or post a digital picture | | | | viewers to watch everything from large explosions |
| from last night's party on your Facebook. Instead of | | | | to dogs drinking water in slow motion to see how |
| keeping up with the Joneses based on the car in | | | | things really work. One of the most impressive shots |
| your driveway, friendly competition between | | | | of the first season was an arrow putting out a |
| neighbors is now more based on the size of the | | | | candle temporarily, only for the flame to re-light. This |
| high-definition flat screen hanging on the living room | | | | particular program has gotten exceedingly popular |
| wall--or in recent times, the HD-tvs on the | | | | with the late-night Cheetos munching crowd, as well |
| refrigerator or built into the kitchen counter! | | | | as earnest young aspiring scientists. |
| The nerds haven't just triumphed over the | | | | But there were warnings that the geeks would inherit |
| mainstreaming of exciting gadgets. They've also had | | | | the earth. From its humble beginnings on cable |
| a huge impact on the sort of programming that's | | | | television to its literal domination of satellite TV for |
| considered cool. Take for instance the show | | | | one week each year, there's the long-running Shark |
| Mythbusters, on which two zany guys and one | | | | Week. Originally watched by wide-eyed youngsters, |
| woman who is a source of romantic feelings for an | | | | it's managed to become a part of the culture, with |
| entire generation of science geeks go out of their | | | | so-hip-it-hurts 20somethings dropping the bored |
| way to prove or disprove "common wisdom" that | | | | posturing act to rave about Air Jaws and NBC |
| everyone believes but no one knows where it came | | | | breakout 30 Rock featuring the famous inspirational |
| from. Will sitting too close to the television hurt your | | | | quote to "live every week like it's Shark Week." |
| eyes? Absolutely not. How difficult is it to find a | | | | Truer words have never been spoken. |