January 6, 2012

The Epic List of Awesomeness – 01.06.12

Filed under: The Epic List of Awesomeness — Tags: , , , , — Brad @ 12:19 pm

Click on the image above and inspect it closely. If you wonder why fellow DH editor, Brad Ellis, has a necklace made of plastic bags around his neck or why my head is wrapped in toilet paper, maybe the cards in the middle will give you some indication of how fun this (new to me) board game is. Quelf could be the new definition for the word ‘random,’ as that is all this board game is based on. If you like getting yourself in bizarre situations (such as having one person to your left speak to you through their hands about the dark side using a Darth Vader voice AND having a person to your right whisper to you like they are a golf commentator)….all while you are trying to play your turn, then this game is for you. – Beccy Harris, DH Picture Gal

 

Cards Against Humanity – You like the game Apples to Apples? Of course you do. Are you a horrible person? Most likely. Then you’ll love Cards Against Humanity. It plays a lot like Apples to Apples, but instead of your traditional cards, your cards may read something like, “8 oz. of sweet, Mexican, black tar heroin” or “The KKK.” Is that horrible? Absolutely. But as their tagline says, it’s “A Party Game for Horrible People.” Not for the easily offended (actually, not for the offended at all) this game just doesn’t go over the line, it’s so far past the line, that the line has become a dot on the distant horizon. I haven’t laughed this much (out of shock and humor) in a long time.   – JR Tschopp, DH Word Guy

 

Fact: I write (and talk) about reading and books frequently, quite possibly too frequently.  I’ll be honest; I’m not going to spare you any of my preaching this week. However, I am going to mix up my program a bit. I am going to get my booky chitchat on about something surprising that has transpired in my life over the past year. When I graduated from library science school a little over a year ago I was primed to go out and get a job. Bring on the ability to pay off these student loans, world! Due to my pressing need for a reliable federal loan repayment plan, I cast my job-snagging net wide.  I did this with one hesitation in mind: I kind of didn’t want to work in a public library. I fancied myself more academic, corporate, or government librarian. Public libraries were great, but they just weren’t my bag. Then a funny thing happened–I got a job in a public library. Now you can’t beat me down from my public library soapbox. I love my job, so bear with me as I tell you why public libraries are epically awesome.

The value of public libraries extends far beyond reading and entertainment. Libraries are not only a cornerstone of knowledge, but ride alongside social welfare organizations as a great democratic equalizer. Libraries open doors to everyone, and bridge the digital divide for individuals that would otherwise not have access to technology. Libraries house literacy and ESL tutors, genealogists who can help you unlock your past, and some of the best storytellers I’ve ever seen. Love knowledge? Be a geek @ your library.  – Karly Steele, DH Word Gal

 

Not feeling overly awesome. A bit more eh rather than epic? Ditto. Enter the Standard Process Purification Program. I’ll pause so you can make all your diaper and poop jokes. All done? The folks at SP have put together a 21-day plan that involves a hefty dose of their supplements plus and even bigger amount of fresh vegetables and fruits, plus lean proteins toward the end of the program. Yes, because of an increase in fiber, you’ll experience some poop variations, but nothing requiring an Occupy Restroom campaign. But you do pee a lot. And you’ll likely have some “derail your day” headaches at the beginning, but that’s just your body asking, “What happened to all the sugar and caffeine?” I know what you’re thinking: “Strange poop, pee all the time, and killer headaches … What’s the upside?” Let me tell you a few of the benefits I’ve personally experienced: lost weight, improved my diet, increased energy, clearer skin, better sleep, and the disappearance of chronic headaches. The last one was a HUGE deal for me. I’m currently in the midst of my second SP Purification, and I plan to do this twice a year to serve as proper diet course correction. I know this (or any other kind of cleanse or purification) isn’t for everyone, but I much prefer to get my kicks from greens than some five hour energy drink.   – Brad Ellis, DH Picture Guy

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December 30, 2011

The Epic List of Awesomeness – 12.30.11

Filed under: The Epic List of Awesomeness — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Brad @ 9:20 am

Westhavenbrook Productions – When it comes to no-budget, independent action cinema, there’s no one out there doing it as well as Westhavenbrook Productions. John Soares, Justin Spurlock and crew have got it down. From their Battle Jitni series (complete with an appearance by actor Doug Jones — Abe Sapien from Hellboy and both Pan and the Pale Man in Pan’s Labyrinth) to the Sockbaby series that they produced with Earthworm Jim creator Doug TenNapel (again with an appearance from Jones and also one from Napoleon Dynamite himself, Jon Heder), their fight choreography is excellent. I was fortunate enough to buy a few DVDs that they used to have available on their site but which have since been removed (Tao of the Meteor Serpent, Battle Jitni and the Gauntlet of Sorrow, and Sockbaby), and as long as I’ve got money to throw their way, I’ll continue to support these independent creators in their endeavors.  – JR Tschopp, DH Word Guy

This past week I had the pleasure of rediscovering one of my favorite graphic novels while sifting through the piles that constitute my overly stuffed bookcase in my overly stuffed one bedroom hobbit house. It takes an extreme concoction of storyline plus killer graphics to win my heart, but Laika by Nick Abadzis has had my number dialed for years. It is one of the few books that I have reread numerous times in my adult life. Laika is based on the story of the first living passenger launched into space by the Soviet Union. Laika, originally known as Kudryavka, was a stray dog who attained international stardom during the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States. Abadzis has created a smart and sincere story based on the life of Laikia, her impact on the world, and the lives of several people that personally knew her. The visual depiction of Laika conveys so much personality and depth that the pages just ooze spunktastic cuteness. Abadiz’s visual talents extend to the human characters and settings; every frame flows expertly into the next making Laika a swift, rewarding read. This lovable dog and Abadiz’s commentary on the depth and consequences of human ambition will stay with you long after the pages stop turning.  – Karly Steele, DH Word Gal

Have you ever wished you could distinguish every facial movement a human makes? Or do you often fantasize about ways to keep livestock off of railroad tracks? Maybe you even ponder what a ventriloquist, an artificial heart, and non-bulging garter fasteners have in common? These answers and much, much more can be found on the Improbable Research website.  According to the website, improbable research is research that makes people laugh and then think. And in many cases, the site does exactly just that. The organization collects dubious research, publishes a magazine about it, and administers their version of the Nobel Prize, the Ig Nobel Prize. The Twenty-First 1st Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony was conducted this past September. Prizes were given to researchers who celebrated the unusual, honored the imaginative — and spurred people’s interest in science, medicine, and technology. – Beccy Harris, DH Picture Gal

If there’s one recent Christmas tradition I fully embrace, it’s the annual gift of a little green tin from my in-laws. In this tiny treasure chest are 9 delectable square of chocolate. And each little square has a creamy milk chocolate center, with a kick of jalapeno covered in dark chocolate and sprinkled with black sea salt. It’s a mild heat, but it works nicely with the sweet and the salt. As tasty as they are, the Jalapeno Meltaways from Crate and Barrel are not an everyday treat. Not by choice, but by availability, as these show up for purchase before the holidays and sell out by mid-December. So if you’re itching to try one right now, you’re out of luck. Well, I have three left, but I don’t see me sharing.  – Brad Ellis, DH Picture Guy

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December 23, 2011

The Epic List of Awesomeness – 12.23.11

Filed under: The Epic List of Awesomeness — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Brad @ 6:39 am

Dream all you want Bing, but in these parts, we’re going to have a gray/green/brown Christmas. Rather than get all mopey about stuff beyond your control, you do what millions do and you bake your way to holiday cheer. Because the one thing we all need is another plate of cookies and treats being handed around. But hey, that’s what the New Year cliche is for, right? Gorge in December, purge in January. In our house, there is but one cookie recipe to rule them all: Eileen’s Spicy Gingerbread Men courtesy of allrecipes.com. The strong molasses aroma hits you first, then cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg get at you with first bite. We make mountains of these things. My wife’s co-workers panic if they think they might be out of the office when she totes in the box full of cookies. The recipes says, “Frost or decorate when cool.” We’ve yet to put icing on these, opting instead for a generous sprinkle of chunky red sugar before they go in the oven. The sweet crunch and the heavy spice are perfect.   – Brad Ellis, DH Picture Guy

 

A few weeks back, while trolling the cereal aisle at my local grocer for tasty breakfast selections, I found myself fantasizing about the strawberry cream of wheat that populated many of my childhood mornings.  While browsing the possible selections I spied series of skinny little boxes featuring the snazzy moniker “Oat Revolution.” I scanned the wee boxes and discovered—bah dah!—strawberries and cream instant oatmeal.  Sold! What I didn’t know at the time was that I would soon return to purchase all the other varieties of Oat Revolution available for sale. I have been converted into a daily oatmeal eater. Blast those cute boxes and their snarfable contents for permanently aging my diet to one more fitting of a Golden Girl. I am sure the logo features a heart because it is “heart healthy,” but I like to think the heart is there because they know their product is so deliciously addictive it will soon eclipse all other breakfast possibilities. So long, tasty but cold health cereal. I’ve got a new go-to.  – Karly Steele, DH Word Gal

 

At the risk of possibly duplicating last week’s post, in some form or fashion, I’m going to talk about maps anyway, because they make me soooooo giddy. Along my internet travels, I stumbled across this gem: The US Highway System as a Subway Map. It screams my name as it is the perfect balance between informational graphics, maps (which goes hand in hand with my never-ending case of wanderlust) and my secret (…or not so secret) love for British inspired awesomeness. After a suitable amount of time oogling the map, I found the artist’s, Cameron Booth, website and gadzooks! to my amusement, found many more maps he has made over the years.  Someday I hope to curb my excitement long enough to tackle my own version of an info map and I should be able to with Cameron’s handy tips.   – Beccy Harris, DH Picture Gal

 

The Game – So, one of the websites that I read regularly is Gutsy Geek. In one of his posts, he mentioned the book The Game by Neil Strauss, so I headed over to Amazon to check it out. While I’m not really interested in becoming a pick-up artist (but hey, who among us doesn’t want to be better with the ladies?), the description intrigued me enough to pick it up. And man, am I glad I did. Yeah, sure, Strauss goes a bit into pick-up artist theory, but what really got me is that the thing is more of a memoir filled with random stories, some of which include celebrities like Tom Cruise and Courtney Love. The story of Strauss’ time with the pick-up artists reads like a novel, filled with all sorts of dramatic tension, and more than a few humorous anecdotes. I thoroughly enjoyed it, enough that I’m going to track down other examples of Strauss’ work.  – JR Tschopp, DH Word Guy

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