Vampire Hunters

Check out this website for the United States Vampire Service.   Yes, you read that correctly and it's pure ridiculousness.  I love the F.A.Q. section which answers the pressing question, "What should I do if I see a vampire?" 

"If you feel there is a threat of any kind in your neighborhood, you should call the police.  We exterminate less than ten "bugs" a year, meaning you have a better chance of being hit by lightning while a shark is eating your leg."

He's One Bad Mother

I've always had a special place in my heart for Bollywood films.  It's not that I think they're spectacular, it's just that they try so hard to be and there's something very endearing about that.  *insert snobby laughter here*  

Case in point:  Robot.  It includes what can only be described as the most insane ten minutes of action ever witnessed in a film.  Most of it is physically impossible which only adds to the fun.

Move over Bond, there's a new hero in town!

A Rooftop Becomes A Canvas

Australian artist Buff Diss has this video up on YouTube.  Some of the still life photos of broken-down, urban dwellings are hauntingly beautiful.  The fact that he's able to completely transform a landscape using nothing more than a roll of tape is absolutely awe-inspiring. (Hat tip: Neatorama)

The Blue Fawn

I wanted to take a moment to let everyone know about my sister Jessica's new Etsy store, The Blue Fawn.  She's always been one to express herself through art and her latest venture does not disappoint.  Combining her artful abilities with a little elbow grease, she's managed to breath new life into ordinary old things like buttons and bottle caps.  She also has a gorgeous collection of vintage brooches for sale.  Check it out!

Any Pitch Goes!

Given the amount of garbage out there in the movie theaters as of late,  this comic strip from See Mike Draw seems quite fitting.

Is This Seat Taken?

Behold a bird's-eye view of lunchtime stereotypes broken down by geographic location.  In the cafeteria of life, I'm pretty sure I've skewed toward the lower left of the map time and time again.

Oh Coffee, How I Love Thee!

The Oatmeal has a colorful little post up about the history of coffee.  Apparently the term "Americano" originated during WWII.   Also included in the post is a funny comic strip detailing how the human brain and caffeine interact.  Very clever!

Sculpting Ashes

Is it a cigarette or an upside down city?  You be the judge.  Either way, it's pretty neat!

Eat Your Heart Out, Ogilvy

Behold the power of ad agencies!  I love the factoid about the birthday attendance being 40% lower than the previous year.  Brilliant.

We've All Been There...

Ever watched somebody use the internet in ways that make you want to pull your hair out?  If you answered yes, then you might enjoy this! (hat tip: Neatorama)

Southwest To The Rescue

It's being reported today that a Southwest Airlines pilot delayed take-off for a flight so that a passenger who was late to the gate could board and get to Denver to visit his dying grandson.  This is the kind of thing you only see in movies!

In another touching twist to this story, after the grandson passed, his organs were donated and helped to save the lives of 25 people.

Fun With Food

Check out these stylish Babybel cheeses!  I remember Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes when I was a kid, but art out of cheese is the bees knees!

Prepare To Be Amazed

Interested in reading the most amazing press release ever?  It's the coolest PR stunt I've seen in a while. Pretty dang clever if you ask me!

Sudoku Champ vs. Google

If you like Sudoku, you'll love this!  Amazing what we can do with technology.

A Carrot A Day...

A carrot could hold the key to attractiveness, according to a recent UK study.   (While complete details of the study are not yet available, they will be published in the popular science journals, Evolution and Human Behaviour, sometime this March.)

I love that this particular article calls out the fact that people tend not to eat fruits and vegetables just because they're healthy, but are suddenly more inclined to eat them if they know it'll boost their aesthetic appeal.  I don't know whether to laugh or be appalled over the notion that a culture could value preventing a wrinkle more so than preventing a heart attack.

Having Fun With Snow

It's short, but brilliant.  Star Wars fans, enjoy!


Snowy trench run from Aaron Dabelow on Vimeo.

In The Company of Heroes

It's years old by now, but if you haven't watched HBO's Emmy Award-winning mini-series, Band of Brothers, you're missing out.  It follows the story of Major Dick Winters, a decorated American military officer, who bravely leads his men through D-Day and temporary occupation of the Eagle's Nest,  Hitler's secret retreat in the mountains of Germany.  I highly recommend renting this series through Netflix or what have you.  I guarantee you will laugh, you will cry, and you will likely more fully understand what our men had to endure during World War II.  I know I certainly did.

Sadly, the Washington Post reports today that Major Dick Winters has passed away at the age of 92.

He is and always will be one of America's finest...


(Clip provided by Band of Brothers/YouTube; Major Winters weights in on whether or not he's a hero.)

Future Politician?

At some point during the fifth grade, I'm pretty sure I could recite all of the Presidents of the United States without hesitation, but little Charlotte is only two years old!   Watch as she's quizzed by her father and fires back (most of the time) with complete confidence.

The End Of The Pint?

Cheers!

If British lawmakers have their way, pubs across the UK will soon be serving "schooners" of beer in addition to traditional pint and half-pint sizes.  A schooner is essentially two-thirds the size of a regular pint, or similar to a "grande" in coffee-speak.  The decision to switch things up is apparently based on growing consumer demand, but not everyone is happy about it, particularly wine lovers.

I don't know about you, but "Let's stop for a quick schooner" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "pint."

Read on...

Visual Voices

Capitalizing on the idea that each person's voice is both powerful and unique, VoicePrints has come up with a brilliant way to bring one of a kind pieces of artwork to the masses, all at an affordable price.  Check 'em out!

Old Becomes New

This is truly a unique piece of furniture, for history and aviation buffs alike!

Second Chances

The story of Ted Williams is all over the internet this week.  He's the homeless, ex-radio announcer from Ohio who fell into hard times with alcohol and drugs over the last few years. I've read several stories covering Ted's plight, but this one by CBS News digs the deepest into Ted's past and the struggles he has ahead of him.  It's always uplifting to read a real-life story of redemption and I hope he sticks with this newer, cleaner way of living. 

Seizing The Moment!

Sketch artist extraordinaire, John Cuneo, posted this interesting cover of a new children's book on his website.  It appears to be a parody of one of my childhood favorites,  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  Witty indeed!

Lending Hands

After a bicyclist was hit and run over by a car in Atlantic City last month, at least 40 bystanders immediately sprang into action, joining forces to lift up the car and free him.  With so many instances of Genovese syndrome being covered in the news today, it was touching to come across a stand-out story like this. 

Vandermemes!

Love a guy who is willing to make fun of himself! Watch as James Van Der Beek pokes fun of his many faces.

What A Boy Wants

I saw this floating around on the interwebs a few months ago and now it looks like one of my favorite United Kingdom-based rags has also picked it up.

Dyson is your typical five-year old -- he loves playing games, climbing trees and spending time with his older brother.  What makes him unique is his passion for wearing princess dresses.  While other children his age like to dress up in superhero costumes, Dyson much prefers to wear party dresses in vibrant, girly colors. 

Obviously this has stirred up quite a bit of controversy, not only in Dyson's hometown of Seattle, but also across the nation.  I've included this in today's post not to make a stand on the subject, but to express how deeply moved I am by the things Dyson's mother has been willing to do for her son.  It's all been in an effort to teach him and others about the importance of unconditional love and friendship, and in the process, she's even had to question her own dedication to those things.  

What A Find!

Cave explorers in Vietnam recently discovered what is believed to be the world's largest network of caves.  Amazing!