This Week in Geek - 2012/07/09

A showcase of this week's finest geek and geek related activities for the week. Mark your calendars.

Longer Term

• Tech - Wikimedia Hackathon - Washington, DC - July 10 through July 11
• An intro period for the Wikimania event, this one is aimed at two main audiences: those with tech experience, and those without. The unifying thread is that they need to be interested in the use of the wiki tools and ideas. A two day series of intensive instruction and then workgroups, everyone who is willing to work is welcome.
• Tech - Wikimania - Washington, DC - July 12 through July 15
• Wikipedia’s official annual event, and it’s in DC this year. Registration on site is still possible, and presentations, workshops, and events centered on the practical, political, technical, social, and personal implications for information sharing technology are in abundance. Not to mention a series of parties, events, meet ups, and more during the evening hours. Take a look and then head over. Its at GWU, so fairly accessible to everyone in the region.

In the immortal lyrics of Weird Al, "I edit Wikipedia."
(image by Mike Perez)

• Entertainment - Cirque du Soleil - Washington, DC - July 13 through July 15
• Its the Cirque, which would automatically get the event placement here. Yes, we here as DCG have a weakness for live performances. Even better though, this is Cirque performing Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour. I... yes. The dead-but-not-gone godking of pop seeks a way back to the land of the living through the accrual of worship thanks to the efforts of his faithful priests and priestesses. I am going to run this game, and soon.
• Con - ConnectiCon - Hartford, CT - July 13 through July 15
• And for those of you seeking a roadtrip, an excuse to get out of the city, and perhaps some shelter from the recent heat, there’s the 10,000 member strong ConnectiCon this weekend. We’re talking gameshows with the characters of Archer to adult cosplay shows to gaming to panels to art to screenings to more. And you can still gets rooms at the con hotels.

You know who made an excellent Tesla? David F'ing Bowie
(image by Marko Cvejic)

Tuesday

• Science! - Tesla Day - Everywhere - All day, all night
• It's the birthday of the champion of energy to many a geek mind, the call is rising to make this Nikola’s Day (in the same vein as Yuri’s Night or Alan Turing’s birthday). Now, I’m not encouraging you to lick a wire or stick a penny in a socket. No. That would be an Edison level of stupid. I am going to say that if you can lay your hands on some gear to practically demonstrate the fun that is electricity and directed energy, then you need to go for it. And share it. Not convinced of Nikola Goddamn Tesla’s awesomeness? Check out The Oatmeal’s obscenity-riddled explanation.

Did we miss something? If you have an event you’d like to promote that isn’t on this list, leave a comment or email us. Other weekly reoccurring events are listed on our website (such as Rocky, CCG tournaments, crazy themed happy hours). For more information, check out the calendars at DC Geeks.