10/31/07
Thriller in Prison
Now this is just weird. For some odd reason, a prison has replicated the very famous Michael Jackson video, "Thriller." They even have some guy playing the "girlfriend." What the hell!? I thought I'd post this, since the original Thriller reminds me of Halloween, so the post is somewhat relevant. Anyway, check it out here. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
Alex Juel
10/30/07
YouTube's Next Competitor
News Corp. and NBC have created a new video service called Hulu and it debuted last night. It is in public beta right now, and if you go to the site, you can sign up to get an invite to try it out. The new video service will carry plenty of well known shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Scrubs, Heroes and one of my favorites, Attack of the Show. There will also be movies and much more content from big hitters of the industry such as MGM and Sony.
I have signed up, but I haven't received my invite yet, but the service sounds like it should be pretty good. They have stated that they aren't trying to compete with YouTube, but we all know how bad they want to. Definitely keep an eye on this one.
Alex Juel
10/29/07
Excuses to Get Out of Anything
Do you need a day off? If you find it hard to ask for those extra days off from work, just to relax, go skiing or go to the beach, there is a new option out there for you. The Excused Absence Network will provide you with authentic looking doctors notes, fake jury summons, funeral service programs and more for the price of $20.
You better be very careful using these notes though. If you're caught for something as serious as using a Jury Duty summons and having your work pay for it, could lead to legal issues or you losing your job. One lady used a doctors note to skip a court date for a traffic ticket and was caught and arrested after the doctor on the note was contacted and found to know nothing of the woman.
Alex Juel
10/26/07
Free Taco From Taco Bell
If you aren't watching the World Series you might not know this, but Taco Bell has decided to give away a free taco to everyone in America if a base is stolen during any of the games in the series. Well, that time has come. Jocoby Ellsbury of the Boston Red Sox was the first person of the series to steal a base in the bottom of the fourth inning in Game 2. So on October 30th, you can pick up a free taco between the hours of 2pm and 5pm. It should have been a Colorado Rockies player though, dammit! GO ROCKIES!!!
Alex Juel
10/25/07
Become a More Educated Alcoholic
If you're anything like me, you love to drink with friends or go to the bar and enjoy the nightlife. You also might not know a whole lot about drinking other than drinking beer, doing shots, and playing pool. Well, there's more than that to keep your drinking days much more exciting. I recently went to the Great American Beer Festival here in Denver and realized that I have really been wasting my time with Budweiser, so I've decided to find something more. BarMeister is the result of my Google searching. This site contains everything from all of the recipes that you can think of and bar reviews to drinking games and a forum to chat with like-minded individuals. I will definitely be putting this website to use.
Alex Juel
10/24/07
A Blind Painter?
I've always said that if I go blind (being an art major), I'll become a masseuse. How could I enjoy art the way I do now if I were to become blind? I couldn't see it, I couldn't do it... or so I thought. John Bramblitt became blind due to his condition, epilepsy. It was just a random "what if" that got him thinking about painting. Well, he may as well try it; if it doesn't turn out well, he doesn't have to look at anyway, right? That was his view on the situation, and to a big surprise to himself and others, his paintings came out glorious.
This is why art is so incredible; it's such a release of a person, it's awe inspiring. It's a revelation that if you do become blind, you don't have to give up on your passion. Take a look at the video here and become witness to something absolutely remarkable.
Michelle Brown
10/23/07
Roasting Pumpkin Seeds
With Halloween so close, you've likely already purchased a pumpkin or two. Well carve that baby up, and get those seeds ready for cooking. Check out the recipe below.
- Scoop the insides out of the pumpkin and place in a bowl
- Separate the seeds from all that gross slimy stuff
- In a strainer or colander, rinse off the seeds in cold water
- Fill a large bowl about 2/3 with water
- Add salt to the water until it is saturated
- Place seeds in the salty water and let soak for about 2 days
- Drain the water and dry off the seeds with paper towels
- Season the seeds (look below for seasoning tips)
- Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet
- Preheat oven to 300º F
- Roast seeds until browned (45 - 55 minutes)
- To prevent burning, shake them around every 5-10 minutes
- Set aside to cool, and enjoy!
Seasoning Tips
If you want the seasoning to stick better, you can toss each cup of seeds in a tbsp. of vegetable or conala oil, or melted butter.
- Toss seeds in a sauce such as hot sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, etc.
- Sprinkle with additional salt
- Season with sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg for a sweeter flavor
- Chili powder, garlic powder, cajun seasoning, or other similar seasonings
Alex Juel
10/22/07
Wii Fit
Just in time for the holidays, Nintendo Wii is releasing an innovative "Wii Fit" home fitness game. It's due out on December 1st at around $75 in Japan. No word yet on when it will hit the shelves here in the states. The new game features a pressure-sensing mat called the Wii Balance Board; that looks similar to two bathroom scales. The board can sense when the player moves and leans, permitting them to lead in virtual soccer and experience ski jumping right there in their very own living room. So, indulge in some second and third servings of green bean casserole and pumpkin pie this season, and let the Wii take care of those extra holiday pounds.
Michelle Brown
10/19/07
Get a Website and Keep People Informed
Do you look at my website and think to yourself, "Damn, this website is good! I wish I had my own website as good as this one." Well if you go to freewebs.com they have made creating a website easy and simple. I guess it's not really too much different from other "free website" offers out there, but I think the designs are really nice. They don't look like they are just slapped together. The content management system is fairly easy to use as well. Too bad you have to use their URL though, so your website will be at www.freewebs.com/yourname. Oh well, it's free. Get blogging.
Alex Juel
10/18/07
"Filipino Med Schools"
One of my favorite shows, Desperate Housewives, has encountered a problem that developed in the season opener. It was a short scene from the hit show that poked fun at the medical education in the Philippines. After the show aired, many people called in to complain (cry) and petition (bitch) about what they have just heard. The scene dialog goes as follows:
"Listen, Susan, I know for a lot of women the word 'menopause'" has negative connotations. You hear 'aging,' 'brittle bones,' 'loss of sexual desire,'" the gynecologist tells her.
"OK, before we go any further, can I check these diplomas? Just to make sure they aren't, like, from some med school in the Philippines?" Susan fires back.
Kevin Nadal, a Filipino-American college lecturer said, "I had to rewind it over and over again to make sure I heard it right." He watched the episode online later, after hearing about this incident from a friend.
ABC and the producers of Desperate Housewives did go on to say their apologies, "The producers of 'Desperate Housewives' and ABC Studios offer our sincere apologies for any offense caused by the brief reference in the season premiere. There was no intent to disparage the integrity of any aspect of the medical community in the Philippines.
My two cents: Okay people... For all of you who were offended by the remark that was scripted from writers of a fictional television show... It's just a show! A TV series. If one's mind is so simple and diminutive that it can molded from what was heard on a television series, then they have bigger problems. The statement in the show was a punch line. Geeze, stop taking little things like this so seriously, and just calm the hell down. Why do people have to whine about every little thing that's "politically incorrect," if that? It's just a show, stop crying about everything.
Michelle Brown
10/17/07
GO GET A DOG!!!
Sadly, dogs are killed (euthanized) daily, and the numbers are up to about 4 million a year. Holy crap! That's a lot of innocent dogs that could, or should have a home. Did you know that one of the biggest reasons that these dogs don't have a home isn't because people can't afford them or that they already have too many pets, but that the shelters don't have the resources or necessary programs available to find them new homes.
This is where Dogs in Danger comes in. Dogs in Danger is a nonprofit organization that uses the money raised only to help shelter dogs find new homes. So, visit their website to find a new doggie or donate some money to keep some of these dogs alive long enough to be adopted.
Alex Juel
10/16/07
Today is National Boss's Day
Haven't you always wished that there was a day in the year that you could go out and buy your boss a present? No?! Well anyway, today is your boss's day. Nations Boss' Day started on October 16, 1958, so that employees could acknowledge and show their appreciation of their boss's hard work. Um...yeah. You know, I just don't think I could bring myself to kiss that much ass.
Alex Juel
10/15/07
Blog Action Day
From all over the world, we have one thing that connects us all; the internet. So, on October 15th, we will use this tool, bloggers from all walks of life, to communicate one topic. One topic that affects us all, a topic that can easily go unnoticed, a topic that, if we don't do anything now, later, it will be too late...read more
10/12/07
Brightly Colored War Photographs
When you think about war photography, you think black and white, decapitated soldiers on the war field, the Red Cross, and dog tags being searched for in end. It's is a grim sight that we see all too often nowadays. So, when you see a bright colored photograph with almost an amusing stare coming from the subject, you may be a little confused on the comparison to war.
Thomas Dworzak established a series of photographs in just this matter. These Taliban men and boys had passport photographers photograph them covertly in some effeminate manners. The photographs were shortly abandoned, leaving for Mr. Dworzak to discover then later display at Magnum.
Take a look at this photo essay revealing such outlandish pictures with some interesting commentary in the background. After viewing it, I felt like it was a guilty pleasure- interesting photographs with an idiosyncratic story.
Michelle Brown
10/11/07
Cheap: Radiohead's "In Rainbows"
If you haven't heard yet, Radiohead's seventh album "In Rainbows" was just released. The band has recently made headlines everywhere since they announced that their newest album would be released online and at a price that their fans would be choosing. They are able to do this since they are no longer bound by a record contract. They have also created a box set (pictured above) that you can purchase for $82, but you'll have to wait a few weeks for it to be shipped before you can get that. Check out the official In Rainbows website to learn more or to download the album at the price of your choice.
Alex Juel
10/10/07
Recreate the Message from
Subterranean Homesick Blues
If you like Bob Dylan, and who the hell doesn't?! Then you'll love this little Bob-Dylan-message-creator-thing... from one of his most memorable songs, Subterranean Homesick Blues. This is actually to promote Dylan's latest greatest-hits cd, Dylan. You get 10 cards to personalize a message - so make it good.
Michelle Brown
10/9/07
Don't Panic!
Don't Panic is a great site for the up and coming graphic designers worldwide. Although based in the UK, designers from all over can submit to their ongoing competitions and be rewarded noteworthy recognition Don't Panic provides and bragging rights. The winning poster will be printed 80K copies and distributed in the UK at bars, galleries, concerts, restaurants, whatever and you'll get 20 copies as well... AND Don't Panic will sell over 200 copies from their site, splitting the revenue with you. Great right? The current competition now is to design a poster representing, "Stress." It doesn't look to me that many people know about this site- or at least don't sign up and vote; only 270 votes have been tallied so far since about a week ago. So, sign up, submit, and vote for your favorite poster.
Michelle Brown
10/8/07
Tattle On Your Neighbors
There is a new site that can help you find the right neighborhood to move into or where you can tell other people not to move into. Everybody hates moving into their new home and finding out that their neighbors are really assholes, so Rotten Neighbors has made a site that can help everyone out. Enter your zip code and read about who you live near or where you want to live. Even if you aren't moving, some of the descriptions are interesting...and funny. To bad you can't stop rotten neighbors from moving in to your neighborhood though.
Alex Juel
New 7 Wonders of the World
We recently posted about the new 7 Wonders of the World and I just happened to come across this article. If you want a different view, check them out in Google Earth. Download the program and visit this site for the file and more information.
Alex Juel
10/5/07
Strobe
Go to the site and stare at the screen for 20 seconds. Take your eyes away from the screen and look around. It will really mess with your eyes. Makes me feel a little dizzy just thinking about it.
P.S. - That isn't me in the picture above. I don't know who it is.
Alex Juel
10/4/07
World's Smallest Dog
Boo Boo, a tiny long haired toy Chihuahua, has been named the worlds smallest dog in the world according the Guiness Book of World Records, coming it at an amazing four inches in height and weighing a meager 1.5 ounces. Wow! Proud owner, Lana Elswick has said that Boo Boo was only the size of her thumb when she was born and had to be fed with an eye dropper at first. I bet you have to be really careful walking around that house.
Alex Juel
The Art of Creating Creatures
Theo Jansen's creatures are pretty amazing; using man-made wings to be moved by the wind and even being able to survive on its own all the while taking in the salty breeze of the ocean. These "living" things are made up of plastic tubing and lemonade bottles.
Take a look at this video and see just how amazing these little creatures are. They move so flawlessly, I can't help but feel like that are, in fact, real creatures. I don't even want to think about how much planning, trail & error, and thought process this took.
Michelle Brown
10/3/07
Celebrate Brewfest in WoW
If you are an avid fan of World of Warcraft, you may already know about Brewfest hitting the servers sometime in October. Well, wait no longer because that time is now. At Brewfest, the Alliance and the Horde can put aside their problems, stop the feudin' and just have some beers together. In all of the major cities, beer will fill the tables, and will be available in unlimited supply so have as much as you want. Right on!
I suggest that everyone who participates, drink one in real life for every one you down in the game. What better way to celebrate the month of October and the Oktoberfest. Drink up!
Dancing Robots
It's really amazing what robots can do these days. It's only a matter of time before they take over the world and destroy humanity. For now we'll just enjoy their dancing though.
Japanese Robot Dance