GregHowley.com

I've decided to showcase today four individuals whom I'll classify as "Geek Idols". They're individuals who have all - at least in part - garnered their fame from the internet. They're individuals whom I admire, and who are all definitely geeks.

Cory Doctorow - Cory is a former EFF employee, and is still involved with that organization. Now, he is primarily an author. I read his first novel, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, back in 2005, and blogged about it. He's an outspoken opponent of DRM, and a really good author. You may remember me recently blogging about his latest book, Little Brother.

Lore Sjoberg - Lore Sjoberg is one of my favorite internet humorists. I'm consistently reading what he's written and wishing that I wrote it. And he writes about geeky topics like Dungeons and Dragons, Video Games, Superheroes, Second Life, and Time Travel. One of my favorites he's written, which I mentioned recently to PMD during a phone conversation, is titled "Test Your Brain With Trivial Security Questions", and makes fun of how overboard the security in online banking has gone.

Wil Wheaton - Granted, his initial fame - or rather infamy - came from his role as the much-maligned Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but circa 2008, he's distanced himself from that character as much as Will Smith has distanced himself from his Fresh Prince persona. Plus, you know, he was pretty good in Stand By Me and Toy Soldiers. Many of you may remember his speech at PAX 2007, which in itself qualifies him as a huge geek. He tweaks Linux, plays serious Poker, and he's very well written. Just seems like a pretty damn cool guy.

MC Frontalot - It wasn't too long ago that I first wrote about MC Frontalot, but since then I've become quite the fan. I mean, the guy raps about Zork, Penny-Arcade, pr0n, and Doom .WADs. Long live nerdcore!

Jonathan Coulton - I've written about Jonathan Coulton more times than I can count. In the same vein as MC Frontalot, Coulton is a geek musician, writing songs about programming, evil mad scientists, and pluto being declared "not a planet". Plus, he's from Connecticut, like me, and he's formerly a programmer, like me.