Sabering a Champagne Bottle

I had only recently heard of this method using a knife or saber to open a champagne bottle.  It would is a dramatic way to open your bubbly on New Years Eve, but also have the potential to send somone to the ER if not done properly.

"What God Wants For Christmas" by Darius Rucker

You might not recognize him, but once you hear him sing, the voice will probably sound familiar if you have listened to a top 40 radio station since the mid-90s, he is the former frontman of "Hootie and the Blowfish", or a country station in the past 10 years as he launched a successful career as a country singer with his album  Learn to Live going triple platinum.

The Christmas song has a sort of old-school 40's jazz sound with his smooth vocals bringing us back the reason for the season that can be forgotten when scurrying about trying to find those last minute presents and everything prepared for Christmas day when he ponders what God wants for Christmas.

Mini Singing Skeleton

One to file under things you don't see every day.

 Actually, the skeleton is a puppet, but for most of the time you don't see the strings it is a bit realistic, making it both cool and creepy all at the same time.

9 Unique Halloween Lights Display

Good evening boys and ghouls and welcome to Day 5 of Countdown to Halloween.

Scary Shadow Scenes - interesting to watch, but not sure I would want to be their neighbor!

Lights Synchronized to Marilyn Manson's "This Is Halloween"



Although more amusing that scary, lights synchonized to "Party Rock" by LMFAO


Here is a singing killer clown theme


Not scary, but kinda cool Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"


Time for a Halloween "Light-o-Rama"


How about a light show atop of the Empire State Building in New York set to Halloween Music


Haunted House flickering to a DJ Mix


And of course, no collection would be complete without Michael Jackson's "Thriller"...check out all detail in the front yard...just amazing.



Do you have a unique light display to share?  If so, please leave a link in the comments section.

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you tomorrow.

Be sure to check out the other Cryptkeepers for Countdown to Halloween...link to the list of participating blogs is below.

Happy Haunting!



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The future was then...1979 Commercial Where Cars Were Built by Robots

While this might be a yawn by today's standards, as robotics is commonplace in many manufacturing processes, keep in mind this commercial was made over 34 years ago,  pre "Terminator" with its predictions five years later in the movie that Skynet will take over the world 8/4/1997.

"Open Your Mouth"

This is a new ad campaign for Miracle Whip done in the "We Are The World" spoof with multi-generational and former stars from different genres asking you to open your mouth for Miracle Whip.

Tiffany (80's pop singer), Lance Bass (Late 90's-early 00's pop boy band NSYNC), Wynonna Judd('80's Country), The Village People (70's Dance), Susan Boyle (00's "Britan's Got Talent" contestant) and a few others I am not sure of...the homeless looking dude conducting sort of looks like Joaquin Phoenix and the older short guy might be John Williams, 70's songwriter/actor/singer.

All I can say is watch at your own risk.   There is something screechy and a bit creepy about it with the sort of double entendre with Lance Bass and the Village People.  If I hadn't gone to the Miracle Whip site, I would have no idea what they were promoting...maybe a fundraiser to help aging singers?

 I have to admit the only reason I watched this was to get a $1 coupon on Miracle Whip on Facebook and was not happy when it was over and the option to print the coupon never popped: I guess they ran out..

I love Miracle Whip, used to eat it by the teaspoonful as a kid, and nothing against any of the singers who individually sound ok but in this video is just a hodge podge hot mess.  Sort of like when you are a kid and their is a soda machine with a dozen or so different drinks and you put a little of each in your glass and it tastes awful.  They nicknamed that a "Suicide for a reason my friends and apply that same concept to an ad campaign in this case to me is the same thing.  

I wish they would have invested their promotional money instead giving out coupons than paying a dozen or so former 'it" singers and given out more $1 off coupons.
 

Arm Knitting

I had never heard of this before, but it does create and interesting look and it can be made in about 30 minutes - no knitting needles required!

For more information visit "Simply Maggie" and click on the Knit and Crochet tab.   She also has some scarves for at  The Velvet Cove on Facebook under "Shop"  cost $27.00

Facts About Seahorses

I have long been a fan of Ze Frank, who is a digital media whiz, musician and sometimes dancer with a fun sense of humor.  The facts about the sea horse in this video are for the most part true, but conveyed in an amusing way.

Retribution of the Technologically Tormented Frog

A former co-worker posted this on Facebook and I laughed when I was this poor little frog is being tormented trying to eat virtual ants on a phone and exacts his revenge.

Cute & Clever to Creepy Cat Commerials

As I am an avid cat lover, any thing kitty will grab my attention and I thought I would share this compilation of cute and clever to downright creepy commercials featuring our furtastic feline friends


This commercial is for Hanes "kitten soft" Men's T-shirts


Who would have think this funny and clever commercial for EDS would feature cowboys rangling cats?


In this commercial they love him so much they cling to him because he feeds them Whiskas Temptations cat treats


This commercial for Sprint 4G Nexus touts it speed can give up more cats on the internet


This Toyota Corolla commercial is like what I would imagine a bad acid trip would be like, melding the heads of kittens on fighting thugs.


In this one for Skittles the cat is cute, but the guy is downright creepy

Do you know of any cute, clever or creepy cat commercials other than the above?  Please feel free to share them in the comments section:)

Caine's Arcade - Mady by 9 year old boy out of cardboard and packing tape

Caine's Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.


I today's high tech society it is refreshing to see a kid use his imagination to make something to entertain themselves. 

Some of my son's favorite "toys" were made out of boxes and packing tape, just like the 9 year old boy named Caine who spent a summer vacation make an "arcade" out of cast of items from his Dad's used auto parts.  He not only did it to entertain himself, but in true American entrepreneurial spirit, to start his own small business and entertain others next door to his Dad's shop.

He did not get much traffic until the filmmaker happened by the shop to look for a part for his car and visited the arcade and made Caine's dream of having a lot of customers come true. 

On the website the goal had been to raise $100,000 towards a college education and from the tracker, over $155,000 has thus far been raised. 


For more information visit http://cainesarcade.com/


via MAKE


Caine's Arcade Online:
facebook.com/cainesarcade
twitter.com/cainesarcade

Film Credit:
Directed by Nirvan
twitter.com/nirvan

Cat Vs. Printer

Which do you think will win?

Want to make your wine taste better? Run it through a blender.

If you want to class up that boxed wine before a party, you might want to putting it in a blender first.

An article on Lifehacker Former Microsoft CTO and master chef Nathan Myhrvold, who takes a scientific approach to cuisine, indicated in his book "Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking"  (which retails for over $400) that frapping wine in a blender for 30 to 60 seconds and allow the froth to subside improves the taste.   He calls this method "hyperdecanting" and indicates is works best on young, red wines.  

This could be a fun blind taste test to try at your next soiree and let your guest judge it the "hyperdecanted" wine tastes better than the before it was blended.

RIP WHITNEY HOUSTON

It is saddening to hear that one of the top selling recording artists of all time, Whitney Houston, 48, passed away at 3:55PM on 2/11/12.

From the late 80's to mid 90's she ruled the airwaves with hit after hit, starting with "You Give Good Love and Saving All My Love for You" to "I Will Always Love You" and other hits from the motion picture The Bodyguard.


I would always like to remember her as happy and vibrant with a strong voice as she is in the above 1987 video "I Wanna Dance With Somebody".

RIP Whitney and my condolences to her family, friends and fans.

How Glowsticks Are Made

via:  Boing Boing

If you have a bit of mad scientist in you the above geeky cool video on the science behind making glow sticks will pique your interest. They show you what chemicals are used and how the different colors are made.

SUPER MARIO BASSOON QUARTET

A friend's daughter s hared this on Facebook and I normally cringe at the mere mention of the word "Bassoon" (they don't call it the "clown" instrument for nothing) as my brother played on when he was in band in Junior High, but this is geeky cool.

The narrative indicates it is by the Oberlin bassoon quartet and there are 12 samplings of different Mario games tunes.

8 DESIGN PROJECTS IN LESS THAN A MINUTE EACH

 In preparing for the New Year you can create a cool unique decoration in around a minute for minimal cost. Several most are re-purposed items so they are also a green projects.  Instructions by Pierre Lota Designs

via Chic Steals

3 FUN FESTIVE HOLIDAY HAIRSTYLES

How can you not get in the mood for Christmas with the above adorable hairstyles by Princess Piggies?  Below is a video tutorial for all three.  I love the reindeer one the most and thinking I might do this style for Christmas day. 

You would not need to have long hair to make these styles either as you use a bun donut (available at Sally Beauty or other hair supply stores or DIY your own with an old sock or stocking) to achieve the fullness.



Happy Holidays!


Photos and video: Princess Piggies

REAL MOM RAP

This is actually a promo for Fazoli's, but it is clever and I've joked with my son that when he goes off to college if he is missing Mom's meals, all he has to do is go to Fazoli's.  When he was young, one of our weekly splurges was to the .99 cents kid's night on Tuesdays between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and back then for a little over $5 both of us had meal, he got a toy or some little gizmo, he did a craft activity and created a fun memory for both of us.

While their prices are a bit higher now, if you sign up to receive offers via email here you can get discount coupons emailed to you, and they also some times have coupons in the Sunday paper.  The current email discount through 11/28/11 is $5 off any Family Meal to-go (but you have to take it to go) and prices start at $14.99 for a Pasta Duo (choice of Spaghetti with Meat or Marinara or Fettuccine Alfredo) with a choice of a Garden or Caesar Salad with choice of dressing and eight bread sticks and is intended to feed 4 people.  With the coupon, it works out to be $2.50 a person, which is cheaper than many frozen dinners but is fresher and tastier.

Disclaimer:  I have no affiliation with Fazoli's and I am not receiving anything consideration or remuneration for this post - I am just a long-time fan of Fazoli's.

FASHION CATS

 

Photo:  Amazon.com
 
"Fashion Cats" is a book by author/photographer Takako Iwasa  that is for sale on Amazon.com
which touts "Feline couture from Japan's #1 Cat Tailor"...I wonder if they have a competition for that title, perhaps a TV show, "Project Fashion Cat"?

As I am a cat lover,  it does look like a cute coffee table book but I know from personal experience in dressing up cats when I was a kid that they don't take too kindly to it.   Usually if they saw me coming towards them with a doll dress they scampered under the dresser to hide, and you can see the same look in the eyes of the cats in the behind the scenes video for the book below.    It says "I will pay you back for this; I will climb your curtains, claw your furniture and paw cat litter all over the floor.   I will lie on any book you are trying to read and pounce on you stomach in the middle of the night...just you wait and see".