Geek Shit Wednesday Vol. V

This Wednesday we have two stories about how geek shit can save lives after a disaster, as well as a story of one woman who loved the iPad so much her boyfriend skipped an engagement ring and went straight to the Apple store.

Pakistani Floods Displace Arachnids, Post-Disaster Disease Curbed

The unprecedented floods which plagued Pakistan in the latter half of 2010 had some unexpected results: the regions arachnid population took to the trees.  They are so concentrated in some parts of the countryside that the local flora has been blanketed in dense webs, bringing us this amazing image:

Okay, it made my skin crawl a little bit.  But putting aside your case of the heebie jeebies, this development has had unforeseen benefits.  One of the problems of floods, earthquakes, etc. in developing countries is that disease is rampant-- stagnant water breeds mosquitoes carrying malaria and other diseases which prey on survivors.  However, with these increased pockets of arachnid activity, the expected rise in malaria cases hasn't happened.  Rad.

[Wired]

Jobsians In Love

There's nothing more heartwarming than geeks in love.

Ok, I lie.  When hanging out with my bestie Duncan and his boyfriend Atom, I often get annoyed by their twin iPads that never get put down.  Seriously!  They both have one and cannot seem to figure out how to live without the damn things in their hands.  This guy, however, takes the cake.

He took his girlfriend on a romantic vacation in the redwoods.  Stopping underneath a tree, he presented her with a gift:  A brand new iPad 2.  Cute, right?

It gets cuter.  He proposed marriage to her-- by engraving "Will you marry me?" on the back of the iPad.  Her response?  "Yes.  Now give me my iPad!"

At least she's not like Duncan and Atom-- she isn't likely to immediately log into Grindr as soon as the gadget gets in her hot little hands.  Uh, I assume.

[Mashable]

Geek Auction To Benefit Japan

Gaming collectibles sure to make any gamer drool are being auctioned off in order to raise money for post-earthquake Japan.  Included are the guitar used while composing the Silent Hill soundtrack, a copy of StarCraft II signed by the development team, a sketch used as concept artwork for Batman: Arkham Asylum.

This is some pretty cool shit.  Click on over to Ars Technica to find out more ways to help Japan rebuild.

[Ars Technica]