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Hiatus

2008-01-03T17:33:00.000-08:00

As is probably obvious from my rather inconsistent posts recently (even my beloved Holiday Gift Guide wasn't as well-fleshed-out as I had hoped), a combination of busyness, business, and boredom have led me to the conclusion that it's time for another blogging hiatus. So I'll only post occasionally for a while, if anything seems particularly post-worthy.

See you when I see you.

Christmastime Horrors

2007-12-28T00:49:00.000-08:00

Am still on holiday vacay, hence the lack of posts. If you celebrate Christmas, I hope it was just lovely. Now prepare to claw out your eyes while simultaneously clutching your sides from laughter. Gah!

Green Gifts

2007-12-19T10:52:00.000-08:00

I've always been a fan of saving the environment, and now the general populace seems to be catching on. (Thanks, Al Gore!) There are tons of green gift options being circulated this year; here are some of my faves.

For the kids, there's the nifty Power House: Sustainable Living in the 21st Century Science Kit or the equally awesome Fuel Cell Car and Experiment Kit. Both seem like they could be edutaining. And I mean that in a good way, not in the way that edutainment usually resembles neither education nor entertainment.

These solar chargers would make practical, useful, and relatively inexpensive gifts for, well, anyone with a mobile phone/iPod/DS/other gadget. If you feel particularly generous, of course, you could give one of these Voltaic Solar Backpacks/Bags. That'd be nice, too.

For environmentally friendly stocking stuffers, try Clif Bar Cool Tags: For every $2 Cool Tag you buy, Clif Bar invests $2 in a wind farm.

And perhaps the coolest green suggestion yet: Adopt a sheep in the Abruzzo region of Italy. There are three price options ranging from 80-190 euro, but I think the 140 euro option sounds pretty excellent. For the approximate equivalent of $201, you get not only the satisfaction of knowing that you're helping fund organic farming, cheese-making, and sheep-herding (and becoming the adoptive parent of a little Italian lamb—baaaa!), you also get:
1) adoption papers and photos of your sheep
2) 3 kilos of pecorino cheese
3) 1 kilo of juniper-smoked ricotta
4) 1 kilo of sheep salami (or caciocavallo cheese if you’re vegetarian)
5) 1 pair of 100% virgin wool hiking socks

You know you want the cheese. I know I want the cheese. I've always wanted to adopt....

Cycle in Style

2007-12-12T15:59:00.000-08:00

Apparently many people know how to ride bikes. I'm not one of those people, but I greatly respect them and their balance. Anyway, I've stumbled across some cool bike accessories that I thought I should share with the cyclists out there.

If you think a delicate, ladylike bike is in order, deck it out with one of these lacy "Carrie" baskets. Very sweet. At the other extreme we've got this awesomely badass skull helmet. Now, in truth, it's meant to be worn by motorcyclists. However, if you can pull this off on a bike or scooter, you are way more hardcore than most. And probably have a highly developed sense of humor. And likely idolized Skeletor during your formative years. Between badass and girly lie the stupidly named Hokey Spokes, light-up gewgaws for your spokes. People will see you in the dark! You can spell messages! Fun for the whole family! Finally, these wing bike clips are a) a great idea and b) really cute. They keep your pants from getting caught in the pedals or chain or whatever it is that your pants can get caught on. Plus they're reflective, which can again help with the whole riding-at-night experience. And they look like wings! Come on—what more could you want?

O Tannenbaum

2007-12-10T18:42:00.000-08:00

If you're in the market for a new tree this year, you've got a ton of options. Of course, you could get a real tree, but that always seems wasteful (of time, money, and natural resources) to me. You're cutting down a tree, probably getting gouged on the price, it'll shed needles like nobody's business and die soon, it's not pre-lit, and you're just going to have to buy a new one next year. Nah. Not for me, especially when there are so many fabulous artificials out there. (Oh, and a word to the wise: Always get pre-lit; it'll save so many headaches. And if you think it needs more lights, you can always add an extra strand or two.)

For example, you could get one in any number of funky colors. Or what about a tree that does a permanent headstand? It's unconventional nowadays, but is part of a long tradition of upside-down trees (and apparently displays your ornaments much better). And then there's the tree of the future, as envisioned in the 1950s. Perfect if you want to have a very Jetsons Christmas. If you're okay with the idea of dropping just over a grand on a tree, check out this beauty. I know, flocking and glitter sound tack-o-rama, but look gorgeous in person. (Unless they're applied shoddily, I'd imagine.) But be forewarned: Glitter sheds like a biotch.

Or perhaps you're a minimalist and find that none of these trees please you. If so, I've got one more suggestion up my sleeve: this acrylic model. Again, though, be prepared to part with a good chunk o'change.

Holiday Hooch

2007-12-07T14:20:00.000-08:00

Just had to post a link to this adorable holiday cocktail, the Mistletoe and Holly. I'm not sure how it tastes—I'm somewhat skeptical about the flavor combination of cranberry juice, peppermint schnapps, and matcha powder—but it looks so horribly festive that I'd be tempted to give it a whirl anyway.

Holiday Geekery

2007-12-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

Check out this geek tree. I've heard of themed trees before (a Disney tree, a Barbie tree, a shoe tree, etc.), but this is the first geek tree I've seen. Not a bad idea, though I think I'd be a bit more restrictive with what's considered geeky. (Harry Potter? Not so much. That's a different kind of geekery.)

Anyway, should you want your own geek tree, I've got some suggestions for you. Here you can buy a Flying Spaghetti Monster ornament and tree topper, or a Cthulu ornament. (I'm rather crafty, so I made my own FSM ornament.) Here's a different Cthulu ornament—Cthuluclaus. For some cuter, cuddlier (yet no less geeky) ornaments, how about Mario or Yoshi? Also handmade, though not quite cuddly, are these nifty robot ornaments. Or what about a Firefly ornament? If you're particularly hardcore, I suppose you could go for an alternate Firefly ornament, which features the ship in its bloody Reaver disguise. If you're a literary-type geek, you might consider an ornament like this one made of Scrabble tiles. Think of the possibilities: names, initials, WTF, STFU, ROFL, LOL, RTFM, XMAS, NERD, GEEK, whatever. Then there are this year's Hallmark ornaments: three Star Wars (here, here, and here) and two Star Trek ornaments (here and here). I know it's not specifically geeky, but I also like this bomb ornament, which is sorta suggestive of Looney Toons, sorta suggestive of the Mario games. Then there's this super-simple (but still pretty funny) iPod click wheel ornament. Cute chessboard and laptop ornaments, too.

For additional suggestions (there's a bunch of overlap, but she suggests some that I don't and I suggest some that she doesn't), take a peek at the relevant blog posts by Alice of Wonderland (Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4).

For Your Amusement

2007-12-04T17:11:00.000-08:00

Know how I have an unnatural love for the song "Rock Lobster"? Yeah, well, so does this guy:

Now here's another funny video that fans of The Simpsons will definitely want to check out. It's Hank Azaria talking about some of the many (many) voices he does for the series.

A Roundup of Pop-Ups

2007-12-03T14:51:00.000-08:00

Despite not actually owning any, I'm a big fan of the pop-up books of Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart (they don't always work in tandem, but many of the following suggestions are their joint publications). I know, you're probably thinking that pop-ups are just for kids, but no. I would only entrust very trustworthy, very careful kids with these books. The pop-ups are phenomenal—sometimes there are pop-ups within pop-ups within pop-ups. Here's a roundup of some of the best.

This one's for the Star Wars fans (and, frankly, anyone who appreciates extreme coolness): Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy. Dude, it contains working lightsabers. Tiny illuminated lightsabers.

If your bent runs more to classic children's stories, check out Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: A Commemorative Pop-up, and Cinderella: A Pop-Up Fairy Tale.

Less stereotypically girly—but no less intricate—are the Encyclopedia Prehistorica books, a set of three: Dinosaurs, Mega-Beasts, and Sharks and Other Sea Monsters. I've only seen the one about dinosaurs in person, but it was quite impressive. The trio would make a great present.

For the Narnia fan, there's The Chronicles of Narnia Pop-up: Based on the Books by C. S. Lewis.

And, on a darker note, there's always The Pop-up Book of Phobias. I don't recommend it, but

Toys for (Spoiled) Tots

2007-11-28T16:29:00.000-08:00

If you have a) oodles of cash and b) a certain little someone who you long to spoil, I've got some awesome suggestions.

Let's face it: We all want a Pleo of our own. At least I know I do.

Alternately, if Pleo's out of your price range, you could opt for one of the FurReal Friends. Some of them are pretty cute. The pony might be a bit much, though.

If you want a beautifully constructed, classic stuffed toy, you can't go wrong with Steiff. My pick is Admiral the Penguin.

For a more active sort of kid/kid at heart, check out this rad folding sled; it's nuts (and looks like the Terminator).

And if you must encourage the budding geeks, how about a authentic(ish) lightsaber?

Just don't get this scary-ass Robotic Panda. Eek.

For Problem Drinkers

2007-11-27T16:13:00.001-08:00

Let's kick off this gift guide, shall we?

No, that's not just a euphemism for lushes. I'm talking about anyone who must have a beverage of some sort at all times...you know who you are. Whether they're coffee fiends or just trying to stay well-hydrated, they need that mug/bottle/whatever in hand constantly. Consider how wasteful it is, then, to buy and then dispose of cardboard coffee cups and plastic water bottles, when a reusable container would serve quite well. Here are my picks for the beverage junkies on your Christmas list.

For the tea lover, this travel mug with infuser lets you brew loose tea on the go. Very handy.

Practically any travel mug will do for coffee, provided it has a tight-fitting lid (preferably screw-on), is rugged enough to stand daily wear and tear, and won't leach chemicals into your drink (quick guide: recycling codes 2, 4, and 5 are safe). The steel mugs may look all industrial and sleek, but I find they scratch easily. Why not go for something spiffy but utilitarian? I like the sparkly kind like this one (though the sparkles don't show up in the photo, it's very snazzy in person).

Thanks to Slate's handy guide to reusable water bottles, I've come to two water bottle-related conclusions: Sigg for the gym, Platypus for everyday/everywhere else.

Okay, and if you are a lush, here's a witty little flask (note: I said witty, not cheap) that should serve your drinking needs. Though an intervention may be a healthier option.

Green Giant

2007-11-26T16:24:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not just referring to the color of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree—this year it'll be strung with 30,000 LEDs to make for a more energy-efficient holiday season. It's a start....

A Pre-Thanksgiving Message From the Pinup

2007-11-20T14:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've been AWOL, but the real job has been unbelievably busy. I was beginning to feel like I should have just been sleeping in the office. For reals. Anyway, the work-related insanity is over...and the Thanksgiving-related insanity is about to begin. So there will be no posts for the rest of the week. However, I shall use the lull to dig up some truly excellent goodies for the gift guide.

So have a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the tryptophan; it's okay to be lazy post-turkey-consumption, as this li'l guy will remind you.

Ho Ho No

2007-11-15T19:01:00.000-08:00

Surely this is a joke: Some Australian Santa Clauses have been told to say "ha ha ha" instead of "ho ho ho," as the latter may be offensive to women. You've got to be freaking kidding me. The only way I'd take offense is if Santa pointed at me and said, "Bitch, you're a ho ho ho." And even then I'd probably forgive him if he gave me some really good presents.

Family Matters

2007-11-14T21:39:00.000-08:00

So I'm confused: Who wrote these Seth MacFarlane-less episodes of Family Guy? And if Seth MacFarlane's not involved, who the hell is providing the voices for, oh, half the characters?

Oh, and the baby's not named Stewis Griffin, people. Not sure who to blame for that typo, but my inner spelling Nazi won't let it slide.

The 25 Most Baffling Toys From Around the World

2007-11-13T12:54:00.001-08:00

Okay, I'm not sure these are the 25 most baffling toys ever, but they're certainly on the list. Needless to say, don't buy them for any impressionable children. I can think of a few adults who might appreciate them, but only ironically, like how most of us enjoy Journey.

My Goodness, My Guinness!

2007-11-09T17:28:00.000-08:00

Boy, Guinness adverts have come a long way since that toucan balanced a beer on his beak. Check it out.

New in Frivolous Lawsuits

2007-11-08T17:40:00.000-08:00

Let's get this out of the way: If you wear your hair covered and you refuse to remove said covering (be it a hat, a headscarf, or a frickin' Viking helmet), don't expect hair salons to clamor to hire you. They won't. And then, after you've been passed over by 24 salon owners, don't sue the 25th when she doesn't hire you either. Oh, and don't pull the "I'm being persecuted because of my religion!" act. How a stylist wears her own hair is one of the best indications of the quality of the salon; if I don't want to go to a hairdresser with a bad '80s perm or a mullet, I sure as hell don't want to go to someone whose hair I can't even see. Sorry, lady. Maybe you should apply for a job in a salon whose clientele wears headscarves.

Recombobulation

2007-11-06T16:12:00.000-08:00

Returned from a mini-vacation on Sunday and have totally not recombobulated myself yet. Just yesterday I thought to myself, "Ooh, it's nearly time to start the Holiday Gift Guide! But not until November." I then realized that it was already November 5th. So I guess I'd better get in gear. How else will you know what you want for Christmas?

While I start sorting through the present possibilities, dividing the covetable from the craptastic, you get to watch this: the worst way to learn English ever.

Truly Scary

2007-10-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

If you're ready for some good old-fashioned Halloween frights, check out the most recent Cat and Girl. Talk about chilling.

Mmm, Pumpkiny

2007-10-25T15:36:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the infrequent posts, but work has been insane. And weekends have hardly been less nuts. However, I just saw this divine recipe and wanted—nay, needed—to share it with you. Commence Homer Simpson–esque drooling.

Sparkly Pumpkins—Why Not?

2007-10-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Hah! I love this blinged-out pumpkin riff on Damien Hirst's pretentious (though compelling in its sparkly excess) bejeweled skull, entitled "For the Love of God." Project!

Incidentally, this Hirst skull–related prank was awesome. I was positive I'd already blogged about it ages ago, but apparently I forgot.

Deborah Kerr, 1921-2007

2007-10-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

Oh no...Deborah Kerr died two days ago. She was so good in...well, everything. We should all raise a glass of pink Champagne in her memory.

Technical Issues

2007-10-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

In case you couldn't tell, this blog has been MIA for...hm, a bunch of days now. The server went down. But it's back up, so now we return to your regularly scheduled program.

Star Trek: The New (Old) Generation

2007-10-12T15:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know it's dorky, but I'm still excited about the upcoming Star Trek movie. I was thrilled that they cast the adorable Antonin Yelchin as Chekov (let's hope there are no lines about "nuclear wessels"), and now they've apparently cast John Cho (Harold from Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle) and Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) as Sulu and Scotty, respectively.
I can see Simon Pegg being a completely awesome Scotty. 'E's workin' as fast as 'e can, Captain. 'E's only human.