Tuesday, December 21
holiday time-killas
there are two groups of workers this time of year: those trying to frantically spend their budgets before the end of next week, and those who are on hold awaiting a bounty of important and high-dollar phone calls "after the first of the year". if you're in the latter group, here are a couple of ways to while away your time for the next 10 days: build a snowman, make a snowflake, play in the snow, read something totally disgusting that will make you laugh really hard (and maybe gag a little). Merry Festimastkkuhwanza!
Monday, December 20
festivus, yes! bagels, no!
in a bizarre twist, it turns out that fesitvus actually predates its public debut on seinfeld. invented in the 60's by the father of a seinfeld writer, festivus has caught on as the ultimate anti-holiday holiday, with scores of celebrants rallying around an aluminum pole, airing grievances, wrestling and even break dancing. turns out that it really is a festivus for the rest of us. merry [holiday of your own choosing]!
Tuesday, December 14
a new spin on "rent-to-own"
i've been fascinated watching how netflix has revolutionized the video rental market, dominated so long (and so rip-off-edly) by blockbuster. the fallen giant's latest tactic: they've "eliminated" late fees. if you read the fine print on that, you'll find that - while you have a few more days' grace than before - the late fee has actually increased to the price of the movie! that's right - if you don't bring it back in a timely fashion, they'll save you the inconvenience by going ahead and charging the purchase price to your credit card. thanks anyway, but if i want to buy Barbershop 2 i'll go do it at wal*mart. godspeed, blockbuster.
Friday, December 10
serenity now!!
can't take the gum-snapping in the cube next door anymore? block it out with iserenity. no site registration, no downloads, just soothing sounds embedded in Flash that you can run in an extra browser window while you go about your business. roaring ocean, roaring fire, whatever floats your boat. and no gum-snapping. (via dailycandy).
Friday, December 3
choose the blue
this site peeks behind the curtain to tell you which companies donate democrat and which donate republican. so much for drowning my political sorrows in a big fat chipotle burrito. sigh.
thanks Carrie Nieman!
eat your face off (literally)
cool, cool, COOL! frosting that you can print with your (canon) inkjet printer. and really not as expensive as you might think (around $30 for a 24-pack of frosting sheets; around $50 for a 4-color edible ink set). could be just the thing for upcoming birthdays...
Wednesday, December 1
amazon theater
amazon has teamed with fallon worldwide and rsa (the production company of directors/brothers ridley and tony scott) to bring you amazon theater, a series of short films by up-and-coming directors (and one bizarro - but cool - silent flick from tony himself). the flims star real names like minnie driver and chris noth, and run very smoothly in a clean Flash format (no endless quicktime buffering here). cool.
barney fife for prez
a disturbing (but hilarious) short film paralleling don knott's film career with george w.'s political one. i laughed out loud (which is how i plan to get through the next 1,430 days)... enjoy!