Adios 2010!!

Out with the old, and in with the new. 2010 was a rough year for me: non-stop career insecurity, total destruction of family relationships, the amazingly bad end to what I thought was going to be a life-long romantic relationship. 2010 can freaking bite it, so far as I'm concerned.

But with the new year just hours away, I have a positive outlook on 2011. I know what I want and need from 2011, and I'm going to get it. I have great friends I'm planning to see, and a good man I'm planning to smooch at midnight. For good luck, naturally.

So where did that tradition come from? Where did my intense superstition about being smooched at 12am on January 1 originate? Turns out, I'm not alone. There is a specific, scientific answer. While this superstition has no basis in reality, I'm looking forward to participating.

Happy (?) Penguin

I've always loved penguins. At the zoo, ANY zoo, they're always the most entertaining animals. Well, except for those chimps that fling poop.

But this penguin is exceptionally happy. I'm hoping it's not due to the Xmas music, but more due to an itchy ass.

I don't get it. At all.

Twitter is like the hottest thing since sliced bread. Personally, I don't understand why people need/want to know what time I brushed my teeth, or ate lunch.

Honestly, aside from a useful marketing tool for independent Internet businesses, I really don't see the purpose of Twitter. Studio MacKenzie posts on Twitter periodically, and the site hits go up by at least 50%, but if I, personally, was Twittering, I can't imagine what good that would do for me.

But in this over-connected social experiment called "life between 20 and 30", Twitter appears to reign supreme. (Sadly spoken as a new iPhone user.)

So rather than drop antiquated Post-It notes on a co-woker's desk, drop a manual Tweet. Hopefully they have a sense of humor.

Okay, seriously??

There are some stupid board games out there: Mousetrap, Pictionary Man, Life, and others. But this one takes the cake. What kind of sick, twisted mind bases a board game on dog shit? While, I have a "poop service" (that's not a joke, I am that lazy) whose owner is fond of doo-doo jokes, even this one is beyond him.

Xmas is for family

The holidays are a time when we remember what's important to us, share our time and energy with our most loved ones, and pay homage to the love we have for our family and friends. Most importantly, it is a time to get absolutely shit-faced.

Which I did. In abundance. Surrounded by friends and family, I sucked down booze from 3pm well into the night. Merry Xmas to all and to all an econo-sized bottle of Advil.

Up next: Happy Booze Year. Hide your boyfriends, 'cause Mama's got a new cocktail dress.

Cats are NOT fond of trampolines

I know that this is probably shocking news for most of you. I'm guessing they're not terribly fond of kids either. Evidence below.

Fun with Food

Ever find yourself bored in the kitchen? I sure do, 'cause cooking sure ain't entertaining. Check out this neat trick brought to you by Scientific Tuesday. Why drink milk when you can play with it instead?

How do you want to be remembered?

I think my ideal passing would go as follows:

Cremated. Definitely no wake, those things are creepy and antiquated. Tiny funeral for the family that still thinks those ceremonies are important. Ashes scattered in Lake Michigan at the "cool, hangin' loose spot." (Read Stuart Dybek, you'll understand.) HUGE party. No matter how I died, I want people to remember how I lived: happy, nerdy, regret-free, and lightly buzzed.

I don't want some monument in a field full of other dead people. I want people to visit the "cool, hangin' loose spot" to remember me, not some stodgy crypt or somber grave yard. But to each his own. There are others that wish to be immortalized in stone sculptures. Some respectful, some ridiculous. Enjoy.

All the other kids will be jealous of your mad skills

Personally, I lack a number of basic skills: baking, Microsoft Access, nunchuckery, the list goes on and on.

Two of my most woefully missing skills are sewing and soldering. I can't sew on a damn button, and I think the last time I used a soldering iron, I (accidentally) set something on fire. So, unfortunately, I will not be able to construct this badass Tron tribute laptop bag.

If someone would like to make it for me, it would look awful good under my tree on Saturday...

How neat is this?

It hasn't happened in almost 400 years, but is happening TONIGHT: the incredibly rare combination of a full moon, the winter solstice, and a full lunar eclipse. 1638 was the last time the world saw this phenomenon. And I'm betting they thought it was witchcraft or something

Locally, it is supposed to be between 2AM and 3AM. Get yourself some hot (spiked) cider and some mittens, and catch the universe putting on a light show. Er, I guess a "lack of light" show.

Serbian badass stomps shark

In America, being a badass means having neck tattoos, riding a sick motorcycle, and spending your weekends base jumping. Apparently, the Serbs get liquored and stomp sharks to death.

Dragan Stevic, told his pal to hold his beer and took a jump into the sea, only to come out complaining that he sprained his ankle (and later claiming that he doesn't remember the incident at all). Turns out the "not too soft" water he landed in, contained a large shark that had been stalking along that beach.

What a shame: you have a wild drunken escapade, which results in the death of a shark, your being named a national hero, and you were too plotzed to remember it.

I wonder how Jaws would have turned out if Roy Scheider has just drank more.

This must be what happens when you don't drink

There are no words for the hours and hours of work it must have taken to create this video. Probably months of adjusting coins on black velvet. And so far as I can tell, it hasn't gone any further than the Internet. (So, what's the point?)

I paint stuff, but I don't have to be sober or connected to technology to do it. And it certainly doesn't take nearly as much time and concentration. I've been toying with the idea of doing a time lapse video of making a painting, but the equipment and time involved are crazy, and ultimately hinder the process.

Kudos to the guys at Dreamhack for making such a brilliant video.

Enjoy!

Blockbuster Video discriminates

Against dinosaurs. Jerks.

Stay warm...and well armed

Show those zombies who's boss. Maybe they'll leave you alone if they think you've already been attacked. Oh no, wait, that's sharks...

"You've got red on you."

Pet photos with power

I used to have a cat: Kenny. He was a nightmare. 23 lbs of rage and attitude. We fought constantly. He fought my roommate even more. We eventually started calling him the "Secret Shitter" because he started refusing to use the litter box, pooping on the bathmat, and using the corners to cover it up. Kenny, after months of making adjustments, and calling vets/pet therapists, made a quick exit to the ASPCA.

Photographer Kam Kahn seems to have similar problems with his cat. While I'm fairly certain it's not Kenny, his cat is equally difficult.

And the rest of his photos are stunning too.

When life hands you lemons...

Find some vodka!

But when life mercilessly hands you snow, what do you do? It's going to get stuck in you wheel wells, it's going to lengthen your commute, and if you don't shovel, some genius is going to fall down in front of your house and sue you.

So, take a page from designer Hongtao Zhou's book: take that excess snow and make it something beautiful. Snowmen are so 1987. And carrots ain't cheap...

Too cute for words

Sid Caesar, proposed to his girlfriend, Sara Prindeville, via Muppets. This is even more adorable than the guy that proposed in a crossword puzzle.

Nerds in love. *sniffle, whimper*

Creative Xmas Trees

I'm not a huge fan of Xmas. Between tragic family Xmas episodes, and the incredible difficulty of running errands in December, Xmas is totally lost on me. I buy gifts for the people I care about, but as far as decorating and making a scene, I'm out.

This year, I'm having a holiday party for my motorcycle club AND my brother will be in town for Xmas, so I started to feel guilty, and caved and bought a tree. (And ornaments.) Fortunately for me, Target carries a tree that's perfect for me.

But others seem to share my pain and have created their own versions of non-traditional Xmas trees. Check them out!

Only in Canada

Oh, Canada. You bring us Hockey, ham that's called "bacon," and Dave Coulier. Now for more new and exciting things from our neighbors to the North.

I've seen dogs riding skate boards, chickens playing tic-tac-toe, and pigs on people's sofas. But this is certainly a new one for me. I like having pets I don't have to modify me vehicle for...

Finally, a realistic image of women by Mattel

Barbie has been controversial FOREVER. There have been studies of how her proportions match up to real women, indictments of her taste in men, and when she finally had her own voice, she responded, "Math is hard." Tisk.

Barbie has never been a good role model for girls. She drives unrealistic vehicles, has a spotty career record, and her wardrobe embarrasses the Kardashians.

Mattel has made some adjustments to her measurements, and quit letting her talk. Smart move. Even smarter? Tattoo Barbie! Yes, it's perfectly acceptable for women to be tattooed. In fact, women are just as likely to get tattooed as men.

Speaking as a tattooed woman (heavily tattooed, I might add), I totally dig this.

Ever wondered if those mail in gold services work?

Well, one guy took on Cash4Gold.com, and lost. He painted several rocks with gold paint and demanded over a million dollars for the faux gold. In the most hysterical corporate retort, the folks from Cash4Gold lash back at a big dummy.

Hysterical!

Tiiiiiny housing

The economy is tough. People are being foreclosed out of their homes, and downsizing is par for the course. Why mortgage yourself out of reasonable nutrition, when you can live in style and comfort with everything you actually *need*.

Growing up finds me with more "stuff" than I really need, in more space than I really need. But I guess that's the curse of the homeowner. (Or is it?) But I remember a time when I could comfortably fit everything I needed into a tiny studio on the north side of Chicago. 1 closet, 1 teensy kitchen, 1 tiny bathroom, and one "general" room that housed my bedroom, entertainment, and office space.

Now, I'm drowning in books, furniture, entertainment apparatuses, and various bits of decor. A single woman in a 3 bedroom house, and "not enough space" somehow.

Oh, for the days when all I needed was some clothes, and a bed. If I hadn't bought a house (a real big house), I would have bought one of these. Imagine taking your studio apartment on the road with you. How great would that be?!

Jay Shafer has the right idea.

Bedroom aids for the Satanist (NSFW)

Just when you thought your "alone time" couldn't get more entertaining, meet the Cuthulu "ladies man." If you're in need of a special man in your life, why settle for a real man when you can opt for man made of latex and evil, with tentacles? He's not going to criticize your style, he'll never bitch about your cooking, and he delivers more reliably than the postman.

For the bargain basement price of $200, your who-ha can be treated to the most evil pleasure possible. Yes, yes, YES!!

It's 9pm, do you know where your ho's at?

I'm a shoe junkie. I have everything from sneakers to stripper heels in every color imaginable. (We've covered this before.) A new(-ish) trend in shoes is installing a GPS, in case the wearer gets lost. Especially useful for small children and hikers.

But what if you were to take this technology and apply it to other folks likely to get inexplicably lost? Specifically, sex workers. The Aphrodite Project is doing just that.

Not only is there a GPS for emergency location, the sizable (pardon the expression) "hooker heels," also include audio/visual equipment for advertising, and what amounts to a tiny iPhone in your heel: post to message boards about problem clients, find local STD testing resources, and access email to schedule "appointments."

Not into the whole "doin' it for cash" thing, but kinda want a pair. Sadly, I'd probably just put photos of my stupid dogs on the heel display...

Lingerie for the serious tippler

May I remind you for the bazillionth time that Xmas is upon us? Oh good. Consider yourself reminded. Although it happens at the same time every year, it still seems to sneak up on us.

So with 12 shopping/shipping days left, I will offer you another suggestion on what to leave under the Baconista's tree: this little gem.

No more sewing secret pockets into purses. No more pretending that your Gatorade is *just* Gatorade. No more trying to casually/subtly crack open a Sparks in a crowded movie theater. Ingenuity and underwear collide in the "Wine Rack".

Oh, Papa Bert, you're a genius.

Stupid: the winter edition

Thrill seekers recognize no seasons, take no days off, scoff at gravity, and sneer at logic. So do Russians. So Russian thrill seekers are a special breed, for which intelligence is replaced with Vodka, and destructive hilarity ensues.

For the record, I don't actually have anything against Russians. But these kids need parents and a week or two in rehab...

Nothing says Jesus like bacon

Time to trim the tree, hang the stockings, string lights in every conceivable corner of the house, and put the youngsters on their best behavior for the arrival of Santa.

No matter what you believe, the nativity scene is going to pop up as a question from Junior. Just about every church with a lawn will have one, and if you hate your children enough to send them to Catholic school (12 year victim, right here), they're going to get the "official" story eventually.

Why not celebrate with class, and meat? For your viewing pleasure, the bacon/sausage/hash brown nativity scene. Educational and edible. Kudos.

This says a lot about what's important

2010 was a rough year: unemployment at record highs, natural disasters a plenty, tax cuts that don't do squat for me, and various personal tragedies/disappointments. I'm ready to see 2010 right on out the door.

So what was important to the people of America in 2010? Yahoo has some interesting (depressing) answers. Who the hell is Megan Fox?

Own a little slice of heaven

Life is stressful. You need an escape. Some woodland hideaway near the Missouri river. Plenty of hunting and fishing opportunities. And more than enough space to build pipe bombs.

Enjoy the majesty of nature, and the seclusion of the woods in lovely Montana. The property has just been reduced too. The former owner is a bit famous too...

Outdoor enthusiasts must be lining up for this one. And sociopaths.

How to be justifiably lazy

I've always thought that I wrote the book on being lazy. I can avoid stuff like nobody's business. I have a dog poop service for crying out loud.

This (totally crazy) woman is putting me to shame. No touching stuff, no cleaning, no activity whatsoever.

Cold, it is. Hat, you need.

While I usually try not to endorse Hot Topic in ANY way, this is pretty amusing.

Keep your ears and the force warm with this Yoda hat. Stylish, you is.

Nostalgia for Alcoholics

I learned once in a Psychology class that we are capable of unconsciously associating smells, with specific feelings. Consider the smell of pumpkin pie and how you immediately think of family. (Now, how you actually feel about your family is a whole 'nother story, and not in any way associated with your nose.)

I wonder if we subconsciously associate tastes with feelings too? Like the taste of chocolate milk immediately brings me back to grade school. Mom would send me with 50 cents to get a little carton of 2% milk to go with my lunch, but I always got chocolate milk instead. And lied about it, naturally.

So now, when I choose beer over fruit juice, I don't have to lie about it anymore, but wouldn't a trip in the way-back machine might be nice once in a while. Maybe this will help.

Well, damn

Tonight, I met the best salesman on earth. I went into the AT&T store seeking *information* on their new U-Verse TV and Internet service.

I walked out with TV, Internet, new cell service, and a brand new iPhone 4.

Damn you, James McCraw! (But thanks for all the help.)

Now I'm one of yoooooooou......