Nerds are talking about the "return of the Start Menu" in the next version of Windows after today's Windows 8.1 news from Microsoft.

Microsoft included a screenshot with their news. This screenshot also features their mapping application as well. As the fake comments in the screenshot correctly note, yes, the Beatles stayed there. So have many other famous guests. That's not what the Edgewater Inn is best known for, though.

The Edgewater Inn will be forever famous because it's the site of Led Zeppelin's legendarily depraved "shark episode" in 1969. I'm not really even sure how to describe it; you're just going to have to read the Wikipedia article. Choice quote from Zep's tour manager:

"But the true shark story was that it wasn't even a shark. It was a red snapper and the chick happened to be a [...] redheaded broad..."

Yowzers.

We missed this last month: Sturmwind can now be purchased and it's a solid contender for Dreamcast game of the year. We must say: in the year 2013, not many things make us happier than typing "solid contender for Dreamcast game of the year."



Check out a positive review here at Hardcore Gaming 101 or buy the sucker from Red Spot Games or Play-Asia. Or check out developer Duranik's almost-impressively spartan Sturmwind homepage.

Nerds rule. Sometimes. As Wired reports,

“Arya made a massive leap from #711 in 2011 during the first season of the show to #413 in 2012, during its second season. Its first appearance on the list, which only includes the top thousand names for both boys and girls, occurred in 2010 when it clocked in at #942”

Not bad at all.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, via Wired

I'd like to wish a happy birthday to Jake "Trabus" Bixby, one of the people directly responsible for BootyCon and one of the best human beings I've ever known.

Without people like Jake, sparkledonkey, Bullgod, Tulip O'Hare and Riker's Beard there would be no BootyCon. It's no coincidence that these are also basically the best people I've ever known. (Note: I always find BootyCon thank-you's difficult because there about fifty other people who've been totally crucial as well)

Hartelijk gefeliciteerd!^*

___________
^* Dutch for "birthday congratulations" or "my cat walked on my keyboard" (informal)

The best thing about OtakuBooty is our members. Ultimately, what separates this place from any other place on the Internet is the amazing human beings who hang out here.

Our members are involved in all kinds of interesting pursuits: "AAA" big-budget video games, indie games, YouTube broadcasting, bellydancing, working on animated series you'd recognize, launching Kickstarter campaigns to fund their art, and just being interesting people in general.

Today we're excited to bring you the first in a series of interviews with our members. Meet Akinola, known as Ak on OtakuBooty. everybody's favorite party person and video blogger extraordinaire. After the interview, check out his exploits on YouTube.

OtakuBooty: It looks like you got some really interesting things going on at your YouTube account, Blakinola, I believe? Tell us about what we should prepare ourselves for before we feast our eyes on your videos.
Ak: Oh man! I can't believe you found me. I'll play nicely- There, you'll see the innner workings of the black mongoose, or what I like to call my brain. It's a gaming related channel. It started with some let's plays and voice acting on whatever I felt like. Right now it's fully focused on the popular MOBA game, League of Legends. You'll see voiceover work, character impressions and even a motivational speech to raise your spirits if you're on a losing streak! Like Draven, the Glorious Executioner, I do it all! With style!

OtakuBooty: What is the hardest thing about getting to the point where you are a successful video blogger?
Ak: I feel the hardest thing is being your own worst critic. I constantly feel like what I think of won't be good enough for the audience I release it to. It causes delays in coming up with ideas and sometimes even releasing episodes. I freak out at the last minute. Everything can always be improved upon or changed until you think..."yeah! YES! This is totally acceptable!" And the views speak for what is working and what's not working. I remember when I threw myself a mini party for getting 500 subscribers. People keep finding me and it keeps motivating me to put out great content.

OtakuBooty: Any up coming projects you want us to get super duper excited about?
Ak: Agata and I have been hard at work in the studio working on a song for League of Legends called "Boots and Pots", a parody of the famous Justin Timberlake song, "Suit and Tie." Video game characters and me in a black-tie, black and white nerdy affair. It's coming along really well and it will release when it's all done. I'm so excited to show everyone.

OtakuBooty: Tell us one random thing about yourself, you know the late night doodling of unicorns while eating bags of fermented Cheetos random facts. Yeah, we want to go there.
Ak: I am constantly practicing my ability to sing 90's boy band tunes. They are always a treat at karaoke and the ladies love someone who can bring the house down. That sounded better in my head.

Absolutely perfect. At least if you're me. Which, let's face it, you wish you could be.


Edit: Wow, apparently this isn't Uno Morales' work. It really looks like it, too. We were confused because it was posted on his blog, which is written in some crazy language we can't read. Hat tip to Joe Luster for the correction. Hopefully, Uno Morales feels like shit for not making this video.

You fucked up ecause you didn't buy the new Ninja Sex Party album yet. Now that they've apparently cured all of the sexually-transmitted diseases they acquired following their performance at BootyCon 2011, they've released Strawberries and Cream which is -- holy balls, you're still reading this instead of downloading it? Buy it already at Amazon, iTunes, CDBaby, eMusic... or fucking somewhere.

Whoever's running the Metropolitan Museum of Butts Tumblr is doing important work.

Also of possible interest: John Booty's Butthole Safari

You've all seen the amazing first episode of School of Thrones, created by OtakuBooty alum Matt Mercer and Zach Grafton, right?



No? That makes you abnormal. Abnormal in a "doesn't wash their hands after doing a number two in the bathroom" way -- not in a cool, rebellious James Dean kind of way.

The second episode of School of Thrones will premiere in a few days on Sunday, March 17th. We're psyched.