Sunday, December 12, 2010

The fall of the House of Vikings 12/12/10

At 5:00 Sunday morning, the weight of 16-odd inches of snow accumulation finally pushed the roof of the Metrodome—Minneapolis' pro football stadium—past its structural limits. The good news: Security cameras caught this awesome moment as it happened. The bad news: This is probably not going to stop the Vikings from whining about how much they totally need an outdoor stadium.

8th Police Academy Movie a Possibility for 2012

Michael Winslow - who played "Motor Mouth" in the Police Academy films - says there may be another Police Academy in the works. This would be the eighth Police Academy movie. Winslow says Steve Guttenberg is also up for an eighth film. Take a look:

How to Get Your Spouse Excited About Holiday Shopping 12/12/10

How to Get Your Spouse Excited About Holiday Shopping

Every mall has them—benches full of old men waiting for their wives to finish shopping. Instead of dragging your spouse to the mall, it would be a whole lot nicer if they were willing participants in gift selections. Want your significant other to get excited about the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping? Here are some tips.

Involve Them in the Process - Some couples divvy up chores: he takes out the trash, she buys the groceries, he rakes the leaves, she unloads the dishwasher. And often gift buying seems to fall on the female’s shoulders. Try changing that by engaging and involving your spouse in the process. Ask for ideas on what to get certain family members for Christmas. And when they give an idea—go with it. It may not be what you would have picked out, but who knows, it may go over even better.

Choose Less Busy Times - Usually people who are anti-holiday shopping really just dislike the crowds. They don’t want to be shoulder-to-shoulder with angry shoppers and exhausted cashiers. Try to select a shopping time that’s not quite as busy like a week day, or when the stores first open on the weekends. Keep in mind that the Saturday before Christmas probably isn’t a good time to drag a hesitant spouse to the mall.

Lure Them with a Treat - Do they love the pretzel shop in the food court? Or the soft serve near Sears? Keep them motivated and focused by offering a reward once the hard work of gift buying is complete. Sure it sounds a little childish, but there’s nothing like food to keep a person motivated.

Appeal to Their Interests - Does your spouse really love a good bargain? Then you may want to take them to an outlet mall. Do they have a thing for gadgets? Then head to an electronics store to knock out some holiday gifts. Involve them in the areas they’re most interested in and you may have better luck getting them to be a part of the whole process.

Don’t Overload Them - Only seasoned shoppers can handle marathon mall trips. Don’t overload your spouse with an eight-hour shopping shift. Instead, take them along on a shorter excursion. If you’re goal is transformation into a shopping fan, keep in mind that it could take a few more holiday seasons to make that happen.

By Alison Storm

Bust the windows out your car for some chicken 12/12/10

Mom, Is This the Clean or Dirty Laundry? 12/12/10

By Not That Mike The Other Mike on Pups

And where are my lucky Spiderman underpants?

(sigh) I keep telling her; no bleach on Spidey!

Behind the Scenes at Starbeaks 12/12/10

By Not That Mike The Other Mike on Birds

Yeah, you can order the grande half-caff cappuccino, or the mocha espresso latte…

… or the triple-caff hazelnut-caramel Peruvian roast, but I’ll let you in on a secret:

It’s just one guy in the back dumping stuff in your coffee.

But I have a hard time holding those little plastic stir-sticks.

Says Caren O.: “This is Magoo, also known as Gooey. He’s our favorite birdie EVER and is ten kinds of awesome. He talks, loves everyone, gives kisses, and makes a darn good cup of coffee.”

Some People Can Be So Rude 12/12/10

Excuse us? Why that is just the most offensive thing we’ve ever heard! How dare you call us sweater puppies!

Hello? We got ourselves a "127 Hours" situation here. A little help?

The cats’ meows, Stephen A.

By Prongs on Matchingks

Worse Than Polyester 12/12/10

He had seen some interior design catastrophes, but this was too much to take. A rattan kitty litter box? Clawse felt as though he had to put on a flowered muumuu just to do his business.