Notes from the N-Sider

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Posted 05/08/2008

Crap I Found on the Internet

Since The-Mary used Random Stuff Wednesday to talk about actual important things like the tragedy in Burma, the election, and teen pregnancy, I figured I'd tack on a Random Stuff Thursday and make it about crap I found on the Internet that will do little to help anyone or make the world a better place. So:

+ Here's a surprisingly enjoyable Flash thing called "Animator vs. Animation," in which a stick figure wreaks havoc in self-defense. The movie buffs amongst yinz might like to know that this is actually something of an update of a classic Looney Tunes cartoon that IMHO might be the best short film ever made. In fact, WTH: 500 creds to the first person to nMail me the name of that cartoon.

+ This wiener dog has a robot it uses to play fetch with itself. Yes, it's very cute, but the most interesting thing about this vid is that you can see canine psychology at work. Watch how he waits till he's ready to put the ball back in--sometimes he chews it a little first--and when he does reload it, he always waits until the robot finishes rising up before he runs to get the ball, like he knows that sometimes it might jam. I need a robot to play Rock Band with me.

+ Speaking of robots and how I wouldn't need any friends if I had enough of them, here's Titan the robot singing a song by Muse before walking off to parade through a shopping mall on its jet cart. I am not making this up, and it's so impressive it's frightening, like Titan might be just one power surge away from ripping down the Body Shop sign and using it to slice his way through the pesky humanoids. But fear not: some chatter on the Internet suggests that Titan might not be all that he appears, and he might in fact have a human tucked inside...

+ The-Emily stumbled across a lovely M & M made especially for us, probably by some dedicated fan toiling away for 12 hours a day in the candy-labeling plant, with his only outlet being secretive messages sent by subtly sabotaging the candy stamper in ways that only we understand, in the hopes that it might somehow reach us. Mission accomplished, toiler!

+ Okay, maybe this one will help someone: five snacks that will smash that afternoon groggy feeling. And none of them are octopus chips.

+ And here's a sheep wearing a diaper.

-The-Seth

Tags: nsider

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Thing du Jour

Posted 05/08/2008

Thing du Jour: Madras Wedges

Comfy, not-too-high, fabric wedges are my favorite summer shoe. They look cute with capris or dresses, plus they flatter your leg/ankle area, PLUS you can walk a mile in them. These ones are plaid. Therefore, they win.

Posted by The-Mary at 10:16 AM

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Tags: nsider thingdujour shoes

The-Mary

Posted 05/07/2008

Four totally unrelated things

So here, to the best of my knowledge is a short list of the things that are happening today, in general.

The cyclone that hit Burma (also known as Myanmar) last week may have taken as many as 100,000 lives, according to a U.S. diplomat there. The U.N. says a million people are homeless. Complicating matters is the fact that Burma (or Myanmar) has been under the rule of a military junta (an anti-democratic dictatorship basically) who may or may not cooperate with aid organizations trying to attend to the suffering. (Remember last year when they suppressed a democratic uprising by monks?) Basically the country was already enveloped in something resembling an ongoing civil war and now there's this on top of everything else. Whatever you have by way of thoughts and prayers to spare, I think Burma could use them. And here's Network for Good's list of organizations who are mobilizing to provide relief, if you have other things to spare.
A few more primaries have been held since we last talked election talk and we still don't know for sure who the Democratic nominee will be, but after yesterday's primaries in North Carolina and Indiana, it looks more and more like it will be Obama. Clinton could still win mathematically speaking, but to do so she'd have to take a really large majority of the remaining delegates and superdelegates. She hasn't dropped out though, so it's still on, for now.
Today is the National Day to End Teen Pregnancy -- this is just your friendly but important reminder that 31% of teenage girls (and their partners) deal with a pregnancy at least once before they turn 20. That's a little less than 1 in 3. In other words: it's not rare. At all.
Hi! We haven't had a creds contest in a while (as my nMail reminds me frequently). So let's have a creds contest! Let's make it a username contest, 'cause we haven't had one of those ever, I don't think. To make it juicy (and just a little bit more fair), how about this:
You have to nominate someone else's username for the prize -- no nominating yourself. Just leave a comment here by midnight EST Sunday night with the username you want to nominate. First prize will be 2,500 creds, second prize 1,000, and we'll do 5 "runner up" prizes of 500. And I'll announce a winner next Wednesday. And if you're about to write me a comment all about how you hate this contest and can't we do one that you could do better on, I promise we will do more contests, soon, and lots of different kinds, and we'll get to one that's right up your alley soon enough ok?

Luv,
The-Mary

Tags: nsider

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Thing du Jour

Posted 05/07/2008

Thing du Jour: For the Mom Who's Your Bestie

This is just like a "best friends" necklace, but for a mother and daughter. You each keep one half, and wear each other near your heart every day! What a sweetie pie way to tell your mom she's your bestie.

Posted by The-Mary at 11:14 AM

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Tags: nsider thingdujour gifts accessories

The-Mary

Posted 05/06/2008

Gossip Tuesday

Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds are engaged (truth, not rumor!) Very exciting... me and The-Emily are heavily in favor. And yourself?
Also, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon are not just engaged, but full on http://www.usmagazine.com/nick-cannons-family-confirms-mariah-carey-wedding" target=new>MARRIED. I keep thinking it's a publicity stunt -- there's some suspicion that the ring was a re-gift from that other girl he was engaged to and the timing with her album is so suspicious... but apparently the marriage license really exists, and there is some concern over the fact that there was no prenup. Holy crap!
Jen Aniston and John Mayer are hitting it off famously (ha, literally!), and he sounds very chipper about it and he either is or isn't still flirting with other ladies. But most importantly, he got a new haircut and he wants everyone to know "how important this haircut is."
I am decidedly pro-Taylor Swift, and I can articulate why. It's cause when you see her on video in interviews, she reminds you of basically like a country music geek... by which I mean, a person who is so obsessed with country music that they geek out on it. And people who geek out on things make the world go round. Plus she writes good songs and seems wise about the reality of human nature in response to geekiness and she smiles a lot and yeah. I'm pro-Swift.
Mark Ronson says Amy Winehouse is "not ready to record any music" and I believe him.
LOOK! SHIA! Now, in this picture, My Shia is wearing an Emerson Lake & Palmer T-shirt. And I personally am not really into Emerson Lake & Palmer. But you know, me and My Shia, we can't agree on everything. It's little differences like this that give our love that special spark.
I wonder if Heidi a) just straight up makes this stuff up, b) really believes that this is what happened and somehow missed the part where Spencer pretty much admitted he spread that rumor AND the part where Heidi herself apologized to Lauren and sort of acknowledged that Spencer had spread that rumor, or c) is the most misunderstood reality show character in the history of reality show characters.
Jenna Bush's dad built a limestone altar on the ranch for her wedding. So sweet. Oh, also, I totally forgot to put this in last week, but she also totally suggested to Larry King that she might vote for a Democrat in this election.
If you are waiting for the Jimmy Kimmel/Sarah Silverman wedding, wait no longer: it will probably never happen. Says Sarah: "I don't want the government involved in our love ... When my friends get married I think it's romantic, I cry, whatever... but it's not for me."
Usher doesn't believe in selling his baby's pics for millions of dollars; Lindsay Lohan is being accused of stealing some girl's heirloom mink coat; and Miley is short for Smiley. I did not know that.

Luv,
The-Mary

Tags: nsider celebs my shia

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Thing du Jour

Posted 05/06/2008

Thing du Jour: A "Mom" Tattoo She Won't Mind

Love this white leather cuff embossed with Mom and Dad tattoo art. If you have a "cool mom" maybe you can get a matching set for you and her! If not, maybe you can just wear it to show her how much you care (and help Dad not feel left out while he waits for Father's Day). [Oh poo! The cuff sold out, but at least you can still get the belt.]

Posted by The-Mary at 10:13 AM

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Tags: nsider thingdujour accessories gifts

The-Mary

Posted 05/05/2008

Say hi to yr mom.

Happy Almost Mother's Day to all the moms out there... here are just a few examples of the fabulous ladies out there who have raised you right.

	"In this pic: 3 generations of beautiful women... My mom, now a grandma, my sister and I (I'm on the left), and my mom's first granddaughter (my niece!). ... My mom is great, and always has been there for me and my siblings, and now she gets to be a grandma! Plus, her birthday is always right around Mother's day, and now her anniversary is too... She gets like a triple whammy." - ohhwhyso
	"my mom is ... the best person in the world. If you disrespect her or leave her and want to come back, she will accept your apology no matter how bad the situation. She's always positive and optimistic and never lets that go. She has been through A LOT in her life and she never lets that get in the way. She is basically my best friend. I come home from school and tell her everything that went on through my day. She will give me the best advice i would ever get no matter what the situation is. She is the ultimate role model. She will never let you down. " - melmelbby
	"My mom is a single parent and I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for her. She pretty much helped me as much as she could. She works a 2nd shift job which means I don't see her much. She did so much for me. She funded me doing Colorguard and if she didn't then I wouldn't have found the thing I love the most!!! She is just my biggest hero." - BandGirlCG
	"You know when most people turn a certain age they grow apart from their mother. They slam their doors. They shut their eyes. They clench their fists. I'm not saying I never did any of that but my mom just sat there through it all until I opened my heart and she was there, her and her best-mom-ever smile. My mom has never left my side and she won't no matter what happens. She has the heart of an angel, the mouth of a sailor, and the hugs of a teddy bear. My mom is a character, a tomboy, a hottie. My mom is my mom. I love her. She loves me. And that's all I can really ask for." - righteous1
	"My mom truly is one of the best moms in the world. She has done so much for me. She always says "I would do anything for my kids" and it's true, she really would. If you couldn't tell by her ninja turtle hat, she is ridiculously funny for a 45 year old. Haha, she can always make laugh and I can tell her anything. I looove my mom, she's one of my best friends " - iluvutoo
	"I love my mom to death. Of course we have our oh-too wonderful fights, but honestly, who doesn't? She always says how I'm her rock, her angel face, her best friend, and she is the same for me. <3 She works two jobs: real estate agent & substitute teacher, yet still makes time to pick up my sister from school, cook dinner, do laundry, and get errands done. She really is a super mom, and I'm so lucky to have her as mine. I'm a senior in high school this year, so I know once I move out, it's going to be really hard to be away from my mom for so long. I do hope that I become at least half the mother that she is because even that would be phenomenal. :] HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!!!" - Sk8erBabi5

For next week: Ummmm show us your bedrooms! Anything awesome that's going on in your room, we want to see it. Décor you're particularly proud of, a pillow arrangement on your bed that you just had to photograph for posterity... let us in your rooms! (Just upload your photo on your photos page, check your account privacy settings to make sure your photos aren't friends-only, and shoot me an nMail or comment right here.)

Luv,
The-Mary

Tags: nsider show us parents

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