popplers

Pope-on-a-Rope!

From an article in the New York Times on how the Archdiocese of Washington is trying to defray the costs of Pope Benedict's upcoming visit:

[…] The retail chain Build-a-Bear is offering, online and at its stores in the Washington area, a “tiny tee” for its bears with the visit’s logo and the pope’s picture. A company spokeswoman declined to say how much money had been raised by the sale of the shirts, which cost $6, but part of it will go to Christ Our Hope. […]

Get your papal merchandise at popevisit2008.com! (Sadly, no Pope soap.) Bonus: "Fun" Facts about Pope Benedict XVI. (Or should that be Fun "Facts"?) The Pope-a, he's a nice-a guy!

Wow. Just wow.

Sonya offers the following for your stunned amusement. You must watch this all the way through to experience the surrealism in its entirety.

On a related note, prepare to have your mind blown by the The Hasselhoff Recursion.

Who thought this was a good idea?

We found this in Florida. 'Nuff said.

Those Wacky Japanese

Somehow, I think that in the U.S., this wouldn't prevent you from being beaten up. Quite the opposite, I fear.

These elaborate defenses are coming at a time when crime rates are actually declining in Japan. But the Japanese, sensitive to the slightest signs of social fraying, say they feel growing anxiety about safety, fanned by sensationalist news media. Instead of pepper spray, though, they are devising a variety of novel solutions, some high-tech, others quirky, but all reflecting a peculiarly Japanese sensibility.

Take the “manhole bag,” a purse that can hide valuables by unfolding to look like a sewer cover. Lay it on the street with your wallet inside, and unwitting thieves are supposed to walk right by. There is also a line of knife-proof high school uniforms made with the same material as Kevlar, and a book with tips on how to dress even the nerdiest children like “pseudohoodlums” to fend off schoolyard bullies.

You don't have to be a weatherman

Oh bother
Originally uploaded by popplers.

Still, it could be worse.

A 117-mile stretch of the Thruway between Syracuse and Schenectady has reopened this morning after flooding from torrential rain swept away homes and businesses and forced mass evacuations in New York and Pennsylvania on Wednesday. […]

[…] Thruway Authority engineers and maintenance employees inspected and used equipment such as snow plows and sweeper trucks to clear the Thruway of mud and debris, including lumber, tires, barrels and railroad ties. […]

Spagettimått!

I picked up the mail today, and found a fairly heavy FedEx envelope. I opened it and realized that it was basically a Val-Pak from some of the vendors who will be exhibiting at the DIA trade show. Most of it was unremarkable: postcards and info cards and requests for contact info. The oddest freebie was a round piece of white plastic with several holes in it. I was wondering, 'What the heck is this for?' and I flipped it over. Of course— it's a Spagettimått!

TANSTAAFL

I went out for a free lunch today. Just wondering: would you entrust your money to a financial advisor who leaves his wallet behind at the restaurant?

Ahead of the curve

Although I recently wrote about terrible costumes for dogs, I didn't know of the existence of Beedogs.com. Fortunately(?), bOING bOING is there:

Beedogs collects and posts photos of dogs in bee costumes. Dogs. In. Bee. Costumes.

Tetsuo!

I've always wanted anime hair!

Now 99% clam-free

After discussing SPLENDA® and Clamato in the same weekend, chrism invents CLAMDA®.

What makes CLAMDA® an ideal no-calorie clam substitute?

* Made from clams, so it tastes like clams
* No calories
* Suitable for people with shellfish allergies
* Can be used in any food and beverage
* CLAMDA® Granular measures and pours like sand
* Stays clammy during cooking and baking

Cubicle humor

Things that I haven't yet tried at my new job… (although my boss is out for the rest of the week). The keyboard is my favorite.

Aieee! Aieee!

Thanksgiving is still more than two weeks away. More things that I'm not ready for:

• I went to the hardware store on Sunday to get a set of Garden Hands for leaf clean-up. There were already half-a-dozen different Christmas trees on display.
  
• The neighbors already have Christmas lights up, on the shrubs in front of their house.
  
• It snowed last night. On my way to work this morning, there were places where the accumulation (less than an inch) was still visible.
  

And I won't even have to move

Via BoingBoing: I completely agree with C. B. Shapiro's Modest Proposal.

Amazon recommends… huh?

Sometimes you have to wonder about the logic involved in Amazon Recommendations.

I don't even know where to begin.

Googling for seaside.games inexplicably leads me to this:

HAGGIS HURLING

A TRADITIONAL SCOTTISH SPORT REVISED

Once a popular sport throughout the country, Haggis hurling will reappear at this year's games after a gap of too many years.

(Here's where I'm wondering exactly what they mean by hurling…)

The ancient Scottish sport of haggis hurling has it's origins in the village of Auchnaclory which is close to the Falls of Dromach in Sutherland. While the men of Auchnaclory worked in the fields, the women would prepare and cook lunch for them. Instead of wading across the cold water, the women would call to their man and then throw or hurl his haggis lunch to him. […]

(Ahh, that makes perfect sense… if you're insane.)

Gnome wanderlust

So, our friends gave us a gnome for New Year's. Not your garden-variety garden gnome, but an electric stick-the-light-bulb-up-his-bum genyoowine glow-in-the-dark 110V A/C gnome. His name is Norm. When we returned from our travels, we filled his hollow plastic base with pennies (to keep him from blowing over), sat him down on the front steps, and plugged him in. He's on a timer, so he happily lights up around dusk and turns himself off in the wee hours of the morning.

We realized that we'd never brought in today's mail, so Chris went outside to get it. A few moments later, he came back in and asked if I'd moved the gnome. I said that I hadn't, and asked him if it had gotten knocked over. He said, "No, it's more interesting than that." I put on my shoes and stepped outside to take a look.

Norm had reached the end of his tether (the extension cord) and was standing on the front lawn, gazing wistfully at the coach light. Maybe it's just those damn commercials, but I have to wonder if he's contemplating a better life elsewhere. Maybe he's tired of standing on the steps, and feels a deep need to have his boots touch the soil. There are those who advocate an end to oppressive gardening and those who claim that garden gnomes are happy where they are. While I want to encourage him to spread his wings, I do worry-- he could meet a terrible end. It's February in New England. Maybe Norm just needs a vacation.

Lovecraft or love craft?

Denis brings the Callgirl of Cthulhu to our attention. I think she should have more (or longer) tentacles, but maybe that's just me.

Via mimi smartypants:

This is just wrong.

Novus Ordo Seclorum

I suppose that I should have suspected as much.