You Want Toast with That?

The coolest collection of toasters HERE. It ain't just about burnt bread any more...

Stuff White People Like

A link to the original website StuffWhitePeopleLike, now also a paperback on the New York Times Bestseller List. What started out as a gag has turned into a popular website with its own following of 45 million+ visitors!

Some Cool Flash

Every once in a while, some one codes up a really cool, interactive Flash page. Play with Spider is not for those who are squeamish about spiders, Dude! But it's a lot more fun than messing around with the real thing. Drag it around the map by pulling its legs or just by moving your mouse around. Or try feeding it some insects by pressing on the spacebar.

How Much Could Your Carry in a Bank Robbery?

10 fun questions HERE.

Why Men are Attracted to Dodge Trucks

Fun Shopping at the Grocery Store

Nozzle Rage

Not always a good analogy but they do have a decent comedy clip. NozzleRage.

I Hate Telemarketers

I've been on the National Do Not Call List since its inception and legally, all telemarketers are supposed to consult and respect this list before calling a number. The Seattle Times and The Post-Intelligencer are among the worst telemarketers in this area.

Do you think these people even follow the list? And on numerous occasions, I've also told these people to make sure my numbers - ALL of them - are on their Do Not Call Lists. But the SOB's keep calling me at all hours of the day and night. Of course, when you call them back after hours to complain, there's never a manager to yell at. One of these days, when I have some extra time to kill, I plan on going after them for penalties and fines that they probably owe me and thousands of other people that they've been harassing for years.

Local Seattle geek, Chris Pirillo actually taped an 11-minute video on YouTube of his fun with one of the Seattle Times telemarketers.

How to Buy a New (or Used) Car

Probably one of the most unpleasant tasks you have to do at least once in your lifetime: Buying a car from a car dealer. I've generally used a lot of different tricks myself when buying - er, negotiating to buy - a new or used car. Most of them are common sense, meant to even the odds against the typical car dealer's bag of dirty tricks:

• Buy your car in the last quarter of the year (the new models come out then and everything depreciates a year more);
• When you go up to the receptionist, try to find out which salesperson is in second place for the month (he or she will be a lot more eager to close a deal than No. 1);
• Show up late on the last weekend of the month (particularly good if it's a drizzly and miserable day outside with no customers around and Superbowl Sunday is especially good);
• Go outside from time to time to make a phone call to consult with a nonexistent spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend, especially after each time your salesperson has to go back to "talk to his manager";
• Be prepared to walk out of the showroom without looking back if things reach an impasse.

Anyway, this is all a prelude to a 6-minute YouTube video by Rob Grule at the 2007 Ignite Conference in Seattle on the same subject. A lot of these ideas are basically Negotiation 101.

Hallelujah! The Farting Preacher

Grandma's Remote Control

From The New Yorker's enduring cartoonist, Roz Chast:

Whiteboard Music Video

Going for Gold in Beijing

With the record-breaking numbers of viewers as the Beijing Olympics has been drawing, it's hard to keep track of who's been winning what. Yahoo Sports has a real-time page with the current medal scorecard updated regularly. This clip's from Monday evening, August 11th, showing the USA leading with a total of 20 medals with China in second place with 16 but leading the States in gold 10-6. Russia's way back in 6th place right now, with no gold yet. Perhaps their best athletes are busy invading Georgia right now?

Redneck Flat Screen

Speaks for itself.

Art Meets Science

Simply beautiful. Sachiko Kodama bills herself as a ferrofluid artist and has recently been "discovered" and represented by an American gallery. Her unique pieces are like eye candy: you can't take your eyes off of them.

Proof Again that Americans Have Way Too Much Crap!

Just when you think you've seen it all... here's the $20 Goatee Saver. Trim that goatee to perfection and bring out the inner babe magnet, guys! Click HERE to see it (and order it, you decadent bastard!)

Soda or Pop?

When my kids and I first moved out to Seattle over 11 years ago, among the first subtle differences we noticed between the East Coast and the West Coast was the old Soda vs. Pop debate. We mostly called it soda back in Florida but it seems that most of my kids' friends called it 'pop' out here in Seattle.

Of course, someone's created a website devoted to the study of Pop vs. Soda HERE. It's definitely a regional thing.

Tire Gauge or Not?

Way too much press on tire gauges and not enough on the real issues. But does keeping your tires properly inflated really make a difference? Inquiring minds want to know. So I checked on Edmunds.com, the car site, and here's what they came up with on fuel economy myths and facts. I was surprised by a couple of them.

Stopping Rain at the Beijing Olympics

No other country has gone as far in trying to control virtually every aspect of the presentation of the Olympic Games, from minor details like uniforms all the way to the weather. China has placed an incredible amount of its prestige and standing in the global community and the Olympics in Beijing are the grand finale to China's entry as a world leader.

My brother, Albert, was among the first Western photojournalists allowed in certain parts of China in the 80's and he's been getting requests for many of his shots taken in Beijing in 1985. Albert's Beijing shots are being used as part of many Before & After photographic essays documenting the dramatic changes the city has undergone over the past two decades.
Portfolio Magazine has posted an interactive graphic detailing how a special Chinese Olympics group in charge of the weather plans to ensure that it doesn't rain on their parade.

What Crack Does to You...

The Worst Face Painting. EVER!

Dilbert: The Early Years

Judge PWNs Dumbass Second-Year Law Student

Hey, I don't spend a lot of time watching any of those stupid Court reality shows (especially Judge Judy!). But this one was actually rather gratifying. Judge Milian on Peoples Court loses it with this young wannabe attorney and completely rips him a new one. Can't say I'm sorry for him...

Interactive Bridge Map

MSNBC has posted an Interactive Bridge Map for those of you still rich enough to handle a road trip for your summer vacation. The map even includes filters so you can pick and choose what to include in your search (kind of like GoogleMaps mashups).

I loaded up the Seattle to Portland route and was surprised to see the condition (and the number) of bridges along the way.

How Much is Your Soul Worth?

If you've ever wondered, find out at: HowMuchisYourSoulWorth.com.

$153,080 Soul Dollars

At Last! Online Dating for Zombies!

ZombieHarmony.com. Says it all!

BMI Calculator

The New York Times has an online interactive BMI (Body Mass Index) calculator HERE. (Yep - mine's 21.8 so I'm not too worried about it right now.)

There's also a decent article on ways you can reduce your weight and bring your BMI back to a normal range.

Reverse Magazines

Showing what a popular magazine might look like in a parallel universe. Reverse Magazines.

When Pigs Can Fly...

From Russia with love - during the early pre-Sputnik era. Incredible pictures.

The Ronald McDonald Chronicles

So who knew? Ronald McDonald was actually a real person with a real life. Check out his life story at the Ronald McDonald Chronicles.

I Want One! Full-Size T-Rex $100,000

You can buy your very own full-size T-Rex replica, cast from one of the most complete fossilized skeletons ever found! From the Black Hills Institute in South Dakota. Each one is custom-made to order and a mere $100,000. But does that include assembly?

The Billy Letters

RADAR Magazine just published a 10-page article detailing a series of "pen pal" letters that Bill Geerhart sent to several famous and infamous people, including serial killers Charlie Manson and Richard Ramirez. Of course, Geerhart posed as a 10-year old so most of the responses are all that much more interesting. Check out the story HERE.

And yes, Charlie Manson SHOULD be locked up! (read his letters to Billie!)

P.S. - And the comments are just as fun to read.

How Glasses Can Change a Person

Yowch!

Mr. Lee's Cat Cam

Check out a day's worth of the images from the Cat Cam (can also be used as a spouse cam!) at Mr. Lee Projects for Cats and Pets (no relation).

So Much for Blowing Up a Building the Old Way

I still remember when they imploded the old Kingdome Stadium in March 2000. We had front row seats downtown at The Harbor Club and witnessed the perfectly-timed demolition of Seattle's old Mariners' Stadium to make room for the new Safeco Stadium. Although it went down perfectly, it still left a lot of dust and debris all over the downtown area for months.



I was just reading about a new approach to demolition in Japan: They take it out one floor at a time... starting from the bottom up!

Incredible to watch and you can read more about it HERE on Freshome.com.

Joker vs Joker (Jack Nicholson vs Heath Ledger)

Paul Allen's Brain Map Project

When you live in the Seattle area, you can't help but pick up on the general love-hate relationship people have with Bill Gates and Paul Allen. From the success-envious wealth redistribution fanatics to the most passionate lifelong Microsoft geeks, most everyone has something to say about two of the richest men in the world. Of the two men, Paul Allen remains the more enigmatic and that's what probably leads to some of the undeserved ill-will so often directed at him.

Few people outside of the tech community will remember that Paul Allen dropped out of Microsoft at an early point when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease in 1983, enduring radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant to finally recover from his near-fatal illness. But he never returned to Microsoft full-time, opting instead to follow his own pursuits backed by the wealth generated from his massive Microsoft stock holdings.

Seattle has benefited from a lot of Paul Allen's good fortune including The Experience Music Project and The Science Fiction Museum. But I think among his most enduring contributions will come from his generous support of numerous research projects. His most recent project was just announced to great fanfare: The Allen Institute for Brain Science has been mapping out the mouse brain and spinal cord in unprecedented detail and is finally up online for free public access. This remarkable research is his first step in the ongoing study of the human brain (they're working on that now).

Even after all these years, I still remain in awe at the growing base of knowledge and how it continues to be easier to find online. And yes, I like Paul Allen.

Latest Jib-Jab Political Cartoon

Like 'em or hate 'em, JibJab has been producing some of the best animated political parodies for a few years now. They always manage to poke fun at everyone without being too nasty. Hmm - bipartisan comedy. What an original concept!

Best Mug Shot T-shirts

I'm sure most of you have already seen the story about the idiot who got busted setting up a hookup with what he hoped was a 14-year old girl. If you're going to do stupid stuff like that, at least think about what you're going to wear when you get there! (Kinda like your Mom telling you to wear clean underwear in case you get in an accident and have to go to the hospital.) His mug shot became one of the most popular news images a few days ago.

So The Smoking Gun posted up a collection of other t-shirt mug shots that might top that one.

The Evil Version of Highlights Magazine

How many of you are old enough to remember Highlights for Children Magazine from school? Or your dentist's office? Those pre-Sesame Street "educational publications" were full of connect-the-dots drawings and vanilla stories guaranteed not to offend Mom. The folks over at Holy Taco took some time to re-make a nasty version for those us who endured pages and pages of that old classic. Check it out HERE.

How NOT to Make a Withdrawal at the Drivethru

Best Headstone

Says it all...

New York Street Art

From New York Magazine: A different take on inflatable animals using garbage and shopping bags on the streets of New York. And unintended side story: This is also a real statement on the viral nature of the Internet.

Road Sign Romance

Stumbled across this road sign legend. OK - NOW I get it!

Dumbass of the Month Award

How Not To Fake A Heart Attack:

Slo-Mo Baby Laughing

I Love It!

Slow Motion Baby Laugh

Do Some Days at the Office Feel Like This?

Best Fathers' Day Ad

How To Be The Best Dad In The Galaxy

Messing with Drivers Ed

How Much Radiation Does Your Cell Phone Emit?

c/net just published a decent study on cell phone radiation levels complete with Top 10 and Lowest 10 lists. Where's your phone on the list?

How They Make Bacon

Oh No! Mr. Bill Makes a Comeback for Mastercard

...and he doesn't even get completely mangled! (BTW - Mr. Bill's been around now for 30 years!)

Read the New York Times piece Mr. Bill Returns (in One Piece) to Pitch a Debit Card HERE.

Visit Ocean City NOW Before the Ocean Evaporates

...in a billion years or so.

50 Incredible Shots from Up There

One of the best collections I've seen in a while.

Optimistic Google News

The mainstream news media seems to constantly thrive on negative news. The folks at Fugue.com decided to mock up a Google news page that was actually all positive HERE.

The Age Of The Millenials

From CBS' Morley Safer. A 12-minute clip well-worth watching. Be scared. Be VERY scared.

From Break.com: Chick Gets Revenge On Construction Workers

Still Studying Chemistry?

An interactive elemental chart I wish we had in school HERE. (nice Flash coding)

The Planet Earth Animal Guide

Brought to you by The Discovery Channel.

Don't Look Down Now...

Hiking along El Camino del Rey...

Church Ladies with Typewriters.

Thank God for those church ladies with typewriters.



The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth Into Joy."

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

A t the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies' Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church Please use the large double door at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."

Trash as Art

This artist couple manages to take trash and make bigger piles of trash. Or so it seems until you look at it silhouetted on a wall... Click HERE to see more.

Senior S*x Prank

Best Apology Note Ever Left on a Car

What Else Can You Do with a Backhoe?

Best Collection of De-Motivational Posters

And they're all available for download! But the site is incredibly slow. Click HERE.

Chinese Circus Act: PETA Would Have a Field Day

Born to be WIld: The Baby Boomers

Japanese Version of The Office

Don't know how long this clip will stay up but it ran on SNL this weekend when Steve Carell was the guest host:

Slow Motion Water Balloon

...at 1000 frames-per-second to be precise!

Nasty Costumes No. 21...

Split It Down the Middle

In going along with the " There can only be one" Democrats' Presidential nomination process, SNL splits it down the middle. One of their rare gems in recent years of mediocrity.

Red Army Hip-Hop

And this was done during the Cold War, way before Hip Hop came on the scene in America. Here's a Red Army dance done to Run DMC's It's Like That.

My New Diet

I didn't write this, but it definitely sounds like something I WOULD do. The next time someone asks you a dumb question, wouldn't you like to respond like this:

Yesterday I was buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for Athena, my wonder dog, at Wal-Mart and was in the checkout line. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had - an elephant? So since I like to stir the pot, I told her that no, I didn't have a dog and that I was starting the Purina Diet again.

I probably shouldn't, I continued, because I'd ended up in the hospital last time. I awoke in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. However, I did lose 40 pounds on the diet, so I was giving it another go.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is you load your pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete and I needed to lose a few more pounds.

(I have to mention here that by now practically everyone in the line was enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, this woman asked if I ended up in intensive care because I'd been poisoned by the dog food. I told her no, it happened because I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's ass and a car hit both of us.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack, he was laughing so hard!

WAL-MART won't let me shop there anymore.

The Cure for ADHD on South Park

Redneck Calamari Seafood Dinner

Too good not to post on the blog! They even have eyes. Don't forget to eat your veggies!

A Fine Animated Short Film

I LOVE This Site! Man Babies.

ManBabies posts Photoshopped pictures of Dads and their kids with heads swapped over.

Archived 9/11 Television Coverage

I still remember sitting in my office in Bellevue on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. For most of us, it was an eerie event that most of us will never forget, much like the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 (I was 12 and had just walked home from school).

The Internet Archive, in conjunction with the Television Archive, has posted up a growing collection of links to recorded television news coverage of the day from 2001. Check out the page HERE.

Hillary's Hand Gestures Revealed by Rosemary Watson

She's incredibly good.

Homeless James Bond

OMFG: Fat Kid Cardio Work Out

Fat Kid Cardio Work Out - Watch more free videos

Have to Share This Short Video

The awards and nominations speak for themselves:

O Kyklos tis Zois - The Circle of Life by Ilias Sounas

"Life constantly changes, as it comes full circle..."
Allegoric flash animation

Recognitions:

• 1st winner in The RealTime Film Festival at Flash category in Stuttgard, Germany 2006
• a 2nd place winner in the Greek music channel MAD video contest 2005,
• official nomination in the Bitfilm Festival. Hamburg, Germany 2005
• official nomination in The Greatest Story Never Told Flash Contest III 2006
• official nomination in Animatu Festival at Shorts 2D Category, Beja, Portugal 2006
• official nomination in Castelli Animati Festival (international short film category), Roma, Italy 2006
• official nomination and "Mention of Quality" recognition in Torino Flash Festival, Turin, Italy 2007
• official nomination in Kino Festival, Bucharest, Romania 2007
• official nomination in Platforma Festival, Athens, Greece 2007
• official screening in Cao Amarelo event, Pihnal Novo, Portugal 2007
• official screening in PaperBag event, Brighton, UK, 2008

Commercial of the Week: Best Coca Cola Ad

More an animation than just a 60-second commercial, this fantastic piece runs 3-1/2 minutes long. Animation is HERE.

The Myth on Who Gives More

From John Stossel on ABC News; the findings may surprise you:

Automated Phone Hell

From the website of the same name:

Worst Luncheon Meat

I don't even know why I'm sharing this FlickR image other than the fact that it's just plain wrong! My brothers and I grew up with strange sandwich meat and it still brings back some interesting memories. (Especially when the stuff is wrapped in a sandwich early in the morning and packed for your lunch to be eaten several hours later after a long hike in the summer sun without the benefit of a cooler and washed down with a warm can of soda - Yuck!)