About US|Disclaimer|Home

This is a daily reminder why we like it here!

Archive for January, 2008

The alphabet according to Gorey!

admin January 31st, 2008

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

 

a is for amy falling down stairs

Edward Gorey must have been a fascinating person. By looking at his disturbing narrative illustrations, one would easily assume he was a twisted, deranged character; however, according to people who knew him, he was actually a wonderful man, an absolute opposite to the characters and settings he consistently conjured.

You see, Gorey’s graphic stories evoke the most ominous and terrific feelings, even though they could easily be mistaken for children’s books. The themes he addresses in his body of work are dark and gruesome, even as they are seemingly natural. Within this apparent paradox, we find the brilliance of a remarkable and influential 20th century illustrator.

For a good example of what I’m talking about, I’ll show you a famous alphabetized poem he produced, titled “The Gashlycrumb Tinies”. You can check it out both as a series of 26 drawings here, or through the following video:


The Gashlycrumb Tinies from Labyrinth13 on Vimeo.

Oh, I almost forgot… when people asked Gorey how come such a nice guy would always produce such disturbing stories he was known to reply something like “That’s because I’m mostly interested in the real world”. Go figure! :)

Popularity: 3% [?]

Bored with politics? You might as well go watch a rodeo!

admin January 31st, 2008

I’m not usually into animal cruelty, but there’s something about rodeos that really turns me on - I suppose it reminds me of politics. Think about it: in a rodeo, you’ve got cowboys making all sorts of incredible stunts while trying to ride a bull. In politics, you’ve got a bunch of scheming politicians doing their best to ride the public opinion, using all sorts of crazy PR tricks. In the end of the rodeo, the bull is most likely to get bruised; in the end of the elections, the public is most likely to get screwed: see, it’s just the same thing!

rodeo

All in all, I must say I actually favor rodeos over politics, even though both things are representative of our primitive, aggressive roots. Why? At least the rodeo people are honest about what they’re doing: having fun at the expense of the bull. Myself, I’ve never been to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), but it sure sounds like an interesting event - after all, many people refer to it as “super bowl of rodeo” (and not many people refer to the elections as “super bowl of the manipulations of the masses”, although they could). So if you’re looking for shelter from all the political madness later this year, why not consider getting some National Final Rodeo tickets; I guarantee you’ll be better off!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Home is where you put your heart, and heart is where you put your feelings!

admin January 30th, 2008

If you’re looking after homes for sale, you might want to check the San Antonio Real Estate - that’s a prime internet real estate service, in case you don’t know. They have everything a regular well-balanced person could possibly look for. Now, if you happen to be an eccentric cook looking for a unique habitation, you may want to check this brilliant list of strange houses around the world! On the other hand, if you want to help raise funds to actually provide help for a homeless guy by doing nothing but watching an online video, you must definitely check this out! Either way, keep enjoying life, and do your best to help the good people around you! Home is where you put your heart, and heart is where you put your feelings! Put your feelings in your house and you’ll be more likely to be happy!

Popularity: 2% [?]

This article proves the Internet can be used to make a better world! Want in?

admin January 30th, 2008

It was a day like any other, mid-January in Port Maillot on the periphery of Paris. As usual, Lucchina strolled along, always looking for interesting subjects she could use in her videos. That day, she noticed something particularly interesting, underneath a bridge… something she would appropriately refer to as “The amazing homeless house” :


The Amazing Homeless House

After having uploaded this video and engaged a healthy dose of social marketing, this inspiring internet video producer was able to come up with $150 (so far), which she could have easily kept to herself. That’s possibly what many people would have done. But not this girl. Do you want to know what she has done with her profits? Simple! Just watch the follow-up video:





Thank you, Metacafe!

She could have offered the homeless artist Diego a mere scrape of her profits, but she actually opted to donate all of the money she earned from the videos that lonely homeless person whose soul brims with dignity and creativity, even though his house lacks in walls. Besides having released this campaign, Lucchina is actively trying to get him a dog to keep him company. So if you happen to live in the neighbourhood and you think you can help Diego in any way, don’t be shy about it and make sure to stop by.Most importantly, even if you don’t live in the neighbourhood, you can also help - and it’s a lot easier than you might think!




You know… it’s been nearly a year, since the realization dawned upon me that I could actually make a decent living off the Internet. Such realization would direct me towards many discoveries and adventures, one of which was the creation of this blog-like oddities webzine you’re reading just now. In the meanwhile, many other creative endeavours have gradually sprouted upon my virtual backyard, and I’m getting progressively convinced I’m in for a living. This has been a wonderful year we’re I’ve discovered astounding resources, curiosities, websites, and most importantly… people.

As chance would have it, I went on scouring the vast cyberspace land in my quest for profitability, and as I done so, I’ve come across some amazing dreamers who have come up with the most impressive concepts that prove the Internet is much more than something you have on your computers and use to check e-mails: the Internet is something that connects the world, and moreover it’s a powerful tool that can help make a better world into a better place, if only we put it to good use. Well, today I’m hopefully provifing you with a perfect real-life demonstration which clearly supports this claim.

Lucchina is a girl from Paris France. She may look like any other charming European girl, but she’s actually a very special person. She’s a person who loves horses, and she’s also a person who loves helping the unprivileged. Moreover, she’s a person who has mastered the art of monetizing her time spent online. Lucchina is a top user from the community of video producers who benefit from Metacafe’s revenue sharing program (they pay $5 per 1000 views). In the 9 months since she registered for the program, she has earned over $5k with her 30 videos; while this is admitedly impressive on its own, the story behind her latest videos is especially remarkable.

Needless to say, I wholeheartedly encourage all of you to add both videos in your favorite social bookmarks such as DIGG, StumbleUpon, Reddit, del.icio.us, MIXX, and any other potential source of traffic. Also, you should feel enticed to write a post such as this one in your own blogs. Starts chain newsletters, make forum postings, and use your imagination every way you can. Suggest both videos for inclusion in major sites such as BoingBoing and slashdot. Keep in mind that the more views both videos get, the more money Diego receives. Myself, I’m a hopeless dreamer, but I *really* believe that we could easily make money for Diego to actually get a house!

If both videos get a combined 2 million views, the profit would be $40k, which might be sufficient to set Diego on a whole new life path - one that would be staged beneath an actual roof, for a change. Granted, we cannot make a better world all at once, but we can make a better world for this homeless person, right here and now. Now wouldn’t that be something? We *can* easily make a difference, and this could easily become an outstanding demonstration of how the internet can positively be used to help as a powerful instrument for peace and compassion.

Lucchina has done her part by making the videos and coming up with this movement. I’m doing my part, as I write this post and put my best effort into alerting the largest possible mass of consciousness. This is something real, and it’s something that we can all be a part of. It’s something that can become huge, if only we let it! So, what are you waiting for? We’ve done our part - you can do yours quite simply: help spread the news! I’ll make sure to keep you posted on further developments, so stick around! Now more than ever, this is a honest down-to-earth reminder of why we genuinely like it here!

Popularity: 3% [?]

Picture of huge fish induces bizarre dream and unusual tuna sandwich cravings!

admin January 29th, 2008

The other day I read this interesting article about two British folks who caught this insanely enormous fish, while going on a fishing trip in Fraser River, Chilliwack, Canada. According to their fishing guide, the locals talk about some creatures in that river far bigger than this. I didn’t really pay that much attention to the article when I first saw it, but I think it must have really stuck in my sub-conscious mind; so, last night I had this strange dream where an old friend of mine e-mailed me with some coupons for free flights to Canada.

huge fish

Before I knew it, I travelled to Canada (Indiana Jones -style, I clearly recall at some moment in the dream there was a cartoon map with an animated dotted airplane) and I was sitting near the back of the river with a remarkably old couple. We were leisurely sipping some tea, and they were telling me about Continue Reading »

Popularity: 3% [?]

Are we running out of water, or merely out of head-on practicality?

admin January 29th, 2008

This is something that always struck me as a little odd. How come the specialists keep saying we should save water, otherwise in a few years there won’t be drinkable water for everyone? I mean, our planet is like 3/4 water, and it shouldn’t even be called “earth”! How can we possibly be facing a potential threat of running out of water? Let’s face it, that’s outright wrong on so many levels it’s completely awkward.

polluter water

Granted, the reasoning I just enacted can easily be dismissed as overly simplistic. The real problem must be lack of drinkable water - which makes good sense, once we consider the levels of pollution in our so-called modern societies. Of course, this raises another question; with all the astounding technological developments we’ve achieved, how come we haven’t come up with some kind of machine that can recycle water and make it drinkable? Is it true that “filthy water can’t be washed”?

glass of water

Continue Reading »

Popularity: 2% [?]

A disgusting nation of animals! (actually, I’m talking about a cartoon)

admin January 29th, 2008

The following videos are the first entries in a funny and thought-provoking Flash animated series titled Animal Nation, which revolves around the domestic misadventures of a chicken, pig, cat and dog who are apparently room-mates. I mean this is though-provoking in the way the authors imply all of us regular modern people are actually animals, but I’ll leave that up for your consideration. Otherwise, don’t you think too much, and just make sure to be having fun. For more Animal Nation episodes, check here!

1)Finger Lickin’ Good:


Continue Reading »

Popularity: 3% [?]

Sometimes, don’t you wish a hurricane would just wipe your furniture away?

admin January 29th, 2008

hurricane blow your ugly furniture away

First of all, allow me to clarify: I’m aware that a hurricane is a terrible manifestation of nature’s wrath, one which is prone to cause a great deal of misfortune and grief. However, you must be honest, now… don’t you ever wish there was some kind of a - I don’t know - *peaceful* hurricane that would gently blow away your ugly furniture off to the land of Oz, while leaving your house unscathed, and providing you with enough insurance money to allow a full-blown redecoration? Well… if you’re really feeling so upset about your furniture, maybe it’s time you should taking a stand and getting yourself a reasonable plan. Never mind the hurricanes, and also never mind your bad furniture… just pace your wishes and allow yourself to dream after a modern, comfortable, revamped habitation.

Okay, so chances are you can’t simply afford to replace all of your furniture. But if you get organized, you probably can actually purchase some lovely bedroom furniture, (or maybe just a new bed-stand? pace yourself, don’t strain your budget!) and then you’ll think about the living room, the kitchen, and the remaining spaces in your house. Sooner than you know it, your house will look sparkling new, and you’ll be happy you’ve read this post and stopped wishing there would be a hurricane! How’s that for good advice, eh?

Popularity: 2% [?]

Bipolar disorder: as much of a drama as you let it be!

admin January 29th, 2008

Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Tim Burton and Napoleon Bonaparte… what do these people all have in common? According to legend, they are iconic representatives from an extensive group of notable people who have suffered with bipolar disease. Personally, I don’t think being bipolar is something to be ashamed about, and I’m actually convinced most people in our modern societies really do suffer from varying degrees of Manic depression. So, if this impairment is something many people can relate with, and the most troubled individuals are sometimes the most successful ones in the end, (once they come to terms with their inner demons) what is there to feel sorry about?

bipolar head

Continue Reading »

Popularity: 2% [?]

Car dealers are some of the most persuasive people in the world; here’s how to avoid getting tricked by them!

admin January 29th, 2008

If you happen to be one of our European readers and by chance you live in the UK, this post will specifically be aimed at your geographic location (even if you’re living in another location, feel free to keep reading, you might just learn a thing or two). Furthermore, if you happen to on the market for used cars, the following website will most likely come in handy in the near future. Just to make it clear - no, I’ve not found a website where you can order cars from the Internet and have then delivered to your doorstep. I don’t really think that sort of thing will be practical until they invent some kind of shrinking ray. However, there are some websites which can make your car shopping experience a lot more pleasant and less stressful.


Continue Reading »

Popularity: 2% [?]

Next »