Followers of subculture take to streets Maybe it's the tight black jeans and dark makeup. Or the moody poses, one eye peering out from under a shock of fuschia or jet-black hair.

Rennies appreciate most of those in their Renaissance Festival pecking order whether they're weekenders, playtrons or patrons. The sheeple? Well, not so much.

Are nerds born or are they made? The author of "American Nerd" discusses the history of the geek, from greasy-haired overachiever to Dungeons & Dragons lover to blogging hipster.

By Scott Timberg (c) 2008, Los Angeles Times Maybe the time for revenge really has come: ``American Nerd: The Story of My People,'' by Benjamin Nugent, is one of the season's most talked-about cultural studies. A New York-based music journalist and the

At Somerville High there is diversity in the honors programs, the sport teams, the clubs and in the friends with whom my children choose to associate at school and bring home. I write about this plain fact because it is indeed a rare occurrence in much of