The Top Viral Videos of 2008

Wishing You a Happy New Year.

Digging out Originally uploaded by wackystuff

The Atomic Eye Wishes You a Happy New Year, 2009.

First Day of Winter Stirs Zombie Snowmen

Winter begins and thousands of snowmen attack! It seems that the recent bout of snowy weather across the U.S. has led to the building of snowmen across the fruited plain. Suddenly, as Winter begins today, thousands of snowmen seem to have come alive, killing anyone within reach, including each other!

Season's Greetings from our outsourced technical team

Miniature Monster Truck Destruction

Keith Loutit, Artist - Clive Featherby, K.C. Fireworks, organizers of Monster Trucks: Tour of Destruction.

Music: Robot High School (In Digital Form Remix)
by My Robot Friend
robothighschool.com
(thanks again to Eddie Bezalel).

Artist Info @ keithloutit.com

Ashley Olsen to be the next Kojak

American actor Ashley Olsen is being considered for the role of Detective Kojak in the remake of the television series Kojak.

Get Kojak Season One 1973 on DVD

Friday is Buy Nothing Day

The day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday in retail circles. It's the day that retailers offer deep discounts that attract large numbers of shoppers. The same day is also known as Buy Nothing Day, a reaction to mass consumerism in America.

from wikipedia:

Buy Nothing Day is an informal day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists. Typically celebrated the Friday after American Thanksgiving in North America and the following day internationally, in 2008 the dates will be November 28 and 29 respectively.^[1] It was founded by Vancouver artist Ted Dave and subsequently promoted by the Canadian Adbusters magazine.

The first Buy Nothing Day was organized in Vancouver in September of 1992 "as a day for society to examine the issue of over-consumption."^[2] In 1997, it was moved to the Friday after American Thanksgiving, which is one of the top 10 busiest shopping days in the United States. Outside of North America, Buy Nothing Day is celebrated on the following Saturday. Despite controversies, Adbusters managed to advertise Buy Nothing Day on CNN, but many other major television networks declined to air their ads.^[3] Soon, campaigns started appearing in United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway. Participation now includes more than 65 nations.^[2]

While critics of the day charge that Buy Nothing Day simply causes participants to buy the next day,^[4] Adbusters states that it "isn't just about changing your habits for one day" but "about starting a lasting lifestyle commitment to consuming less and producing less waste."^[2]

Happy Birthday Harpo Marx

On this day in 1888, Adolph Marx was born. Later, he was known as Arthur Marx, and he was popularly known as Harpo Marx.

Harpo was one of the Marx Brothers, a group of Vaudeville and Broadway theatre entertainers who later achieved fame as comedians in the Motion Picture industry. He was well known by his trademarks: he played the harp; he never talked during performances, although he often blew a horn or whistled to communicate with people; and he frequently used props - one of his most commonly used props in films was a walking stick with a built-in bulb horn. source: wikipedia

Why didn't Harpo speak?
According to HarpoMarx.net :

During the Marx Brothers' early days in vaudeville, their Uncle Al Shean (of Gallagher and Shean fame) wrote some new material for the brothers, the show "Home Again". Harpo was rather upset that Uncle Al neglected to write any speaking parts for him. When Harpo questioned his uncle, he told Harpo that he thought it would add wonderful contrast to the act if he played it in pantomime. Harpo hated the idea and told him that he was going to ad lib all the parts he wanted to, and Uncle Al said "Ok, ok, go right ahead."

But then when they played in Champaign, Illinois, Harpo received some unfavorable reviews about his speaking parts, but very favorable reviews about his pantomime.

Here is what the review said:

"The Marx Brother who plays 'Patsy Brannigan' is made up and costumed to a fare-thee-well and he takes off on an Irish immigrant most amusingly in pantomime. Unfortunately the effect is spoiled when he speaks."

So from that point on, Harpo never uttered another word, onstage or in front of a camera.

Marx Brothers Collection - 7 Classic Marx Brothers movies.

LIFE Photo Archive now available on Google Image Search

Official Google Blog: LIFE Photo Archive available on Google Image Search

Only a very small percentage of these images have ever been published. The rest have been sitting in dusty archives in the form of negatives, slides, glass plates, etchings, and prints. We're digitizing them so that everyone can easily experience these fascinating moments in time. Today about 20 percent of the collection is online; during the next few months, we will be adding the entire LIFE archive — about 10 million photos.

Why Wait to Take a Laxative?

Why Wait To Take A Laxative?

Pluto will make you feel worlds better in one hour!

Swift... Gentle... Thorough Relief!

Thousands of busy people everywhere depend on Pluto - the laxative you can time! A Pluto highball thoroughly cleanses the intestinal tract *usually within one hour and no unpleasant after effects! Get Pluto at any drug store. Three sizes: 10c, 25c, 50c or Pluto highball 10c at fountains and bars.

PLUTO Water

From Famous French Lick Springs, Ind.

WHEN NATURE WON'T - PLUTO WILL!

Man's 174-mph sneeze blows wife's hair off!

MIAMI - Reginald Kaulman has the world's most powerful sneeze - a gale-force 174-mph scorcher so intense it literally blew half his wife's hair right off her head!

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Happy Birthday Jonathan Winters

Jonathan Winters as moving van driver, Lennie Pike in a scene from It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, 1963

On this day in 1925, Jonathan Harshman Winters, III was born in Bellbrook, Ohio. At age 17 Winters enlisted in the Marines, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. After his discharge, he studied cartooning at Dayton Art Institute, where he met Eileen Schauder, whom he married in 1948.

He started doing comedy routines while in college, and became a radio personality under the name Johnny Winters. His big break occurred (with the revised name of Jonathan) when he worked for Alistair Cooke on the CBS Sunday morning show Omnibus.

As a stand-up comic with a madcap wildness, Winters recorded many classic comedy albums for the Verve Records label, starting in 1960. Probably the best-known of his characters from this period is Maude Frickert, the seemingly sweet old lady with the barbed tongue.

Winters has appeared in nearly 50 movies and several television shows, including particularly notable roles in the film It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and in the dual roles of Henry Glenworthy and his dark, scheming brother, the Rev. Wilbur Glenworthy, in the film adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's The Loved One.

In Iran, it's normal for wedding guests to bring their guns

In this video we see that in Iran, even toddlers pack heat at family gatherings.

Monster Size Monsters

Just in time for Halloween, Monster Size Monsters, just $1.00!

CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW

Small Fine vs. Jail Time

G.W. Bush Halloween Vampire

This year for Halloween, President George W. Bush will take a bite outta Liberty.

A Darling Pet

A DARLING PET
A human-like pet to caress and play with, this golden-haired SQUIRREL MONKEY makes a cherished gift for both adults and children. Brings fun and companionship into your life with its heart-shaped face and very lovable eyes. Easy to train and care for, eats what you eat, needs only understanding and affection. Comes to you 6 months old, grows 12 inches tall. It's an education just owning one. Free cage and instructions with each monkey. Guaranteed Live Delivery.
Only $19.95 express collect.
Send check or Money Order for $19.95 to

JUNGLE PETS, Sexton Bldg., Dept.SM-1
MINNEAPOLIS 15, MINNESOTA

Book Selects: The Golden Age of Advertising - The 70s (Taschen 25) [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

The Golden Age of Advertising - The 70s (Taschen 25) [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)
by Jim Heimann (Editor), Steve Heller (Introduction)

Read the reviews on Amazon.

Discofunkalicious: an overview of the decade that spawned glam rock and The Brady Bunch...

Both eclipsed and influenced by television, American print ads of the 1970s departed from the bold, graphic forms and subtle messages that were typical of their sixties counterparts. More literal, more in-your-face, 70s ads sought to capture the attention of a public accustomed to blaring, to-the-point TV commercials (even VW ads, known for their witty, ironic statements and minimalist designs, lost some of their punch in the 1970s). All was not lost, though; as ads are a sign of the times, racial and ecological awareness crept into everything from cigarette to car advertisements, reminding Americans that everyday products were hip to the modern age. By the end of the decade, print ads had begun to recoup, gaining in originality and creativity as they focused on target audiences through carefully chosen placement in smaller publications. A fascinating study of mass culture dissemination in a post-hippie, television-obsessed nation, this weighty volume delivers an exhaustive and nostalgic overview of 70s advertising.

About the Author
The editor: Jim Heimann is a resident of Los Angeles, a graphic designer, writer, historian, and instructor at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He is the author of numerous books on architecture, popular culture, and Hollywood history.

The author: Steven Heller is art director of the New York Times Book Review and co-chair of the MFA/Design program at the School of Visual Arts. He is the author and editor of over 80 books on graphic design and popular culture, including The Graphic Design Reader, Paul Rand, From Merz to Emigre and Beyond: Avant Garde Magazine Design of the 20th Century, and Citizen Design: Perspectives on Design Responsibility.

Click here to get this book.

Man's Wig, $7.95 - No Need To Pay $50

Stretch Wig Completely Covers All Your Hair and Sideburns
Stays in place on all size heads - easy to put on. Thinned and razor cut - handsome tapered look and full sideburns. Cool and lightweight. Made of modacrylic fiber - looks and feel like real hair - has luster, rich body and bounce of human hair. Can be washed & shampooed - never loses its shape - can be combed, trimmed and restyled if you wish.
Specify color desired: Black, Off Black, Chestnut, Dark, Medium or Light Brown, Dark Blonde, Grey and Black mixed, Brown and Grey Mixed. Mention Style M-105. Send $1 deposit and pay postman on delivery balance plus C.O.D. postage. Or send only $7.95 and we will pay postage, Money back guarantee if not satisfied.

FRANKLIN FASHIONS, Dept. M233

378 S. Franklin St., Hempstead, N.Y. 11550

Slender Ankes Can Be Yours

People Admire Dainty Ankles
Thick or swollen ankles can quickly be reduced to dainty slender shape by new discovery of special processed rubber.

THICK ANKLES SPOIL YOUR APPEARANCE

Say Hello To The Obama Youth

These Obama campaigners will be coming to your neighborhood any day now. Please have some candy and soda pop ready for them.

Wall Streeters Ponder Jumping

Photo by Clearlight1971

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.

— Thomas Jefferson, Letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin (1802)

LAPD 1978 Plymouth Fury

LAPD 1978 Plymouth Fury
This V-8 powered sedan was the LAPD's patrol car of choice during the late seventies and early eighties. It was equipped with power steering and air conditioning. Mobile computers had not yet come along. The rooftop lights, with the forward-facing red and flashing amber to the rear, were retired from service in 1984. The influx of international visitors for the Olympic games required the addition of blue lights as this is the internationally recognized color for stopping vehicles. LAPD replaced the roof lights with light bars that included both red and blue lights. The roof number on the patrol car features the last three digits of its shop (fleet) number. The large white numbers on the trunk lid identify the station to which the vehicle is assigned. In this case the patrol car belonged to West Valley area.
source: Behind the Badge - The LAPD Experience
PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE TOLUCA LAKE CAR SHOW
100_4105

Happy Birthday Groucho Marx

On this day, 1895, Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was born in New York City.

"Groucho Marx was the best comedian this country ever produced. [...] He is simply unique in the same way that Picasso or Stravinsky are." —Woody Allen

Nancy Pelosi, Techno Chicken

Nancy Pelosi Techno Chicken from wreckandsalvage on Vimeo.

The Second American Revolution

Timelapse: Transamerica "Pyramid Building" vs. San Francisco Fog

Melbourne docks timelapse

Timelapse of MAGIC Telescope on the Canary Island La Palma

MAGIC Telescope - Time Lapse from Michael Rissi on Vimeo.

Helicopter Crash in the Ocean

Helicopter Crash

Cooking and Driving with Gasoline

childhood15 Originally uploaded by modern_fred

In what might look like an accident waiting to happen, little Jimmy Williams of Kankakee, Illinois has resurrected a long forgotten method of powering automobiles... with gasoline!

Today we use gasoline for cooking and cleaning greasy messes in the kitchen, but way back in the last century gasoline was used to power cars. Later, steam was used to power cars, and gas powered vehicles were largely forgotten.

In recent history, steam reserves were diminished around the globe and the price of steam has skyrocketed.

Enter Jimmy Williams, a studious little fella who entered the Kankakee Science Fair with his idea of bringing back gasoline powered automobiles in an effort to take the country back from the steam hoarding Ayatollahs of the Mid East.

Jimmy Williams explains. "This country has huge oil reserves that have been sitting untapped since the Spanish War. Most of that oil was going to be refined into gasoline for use in cleaning mess halls of our military bases, but after a Senator from New York made a sweetheart deal with Prestige Brands of New York and the Pentagon's Cleaning Authority, gasoline was deemed dangerous for use in sensitive areas. Shortly after, Comet Cleanser was found in mess halls from Guam to Diego Garcia, and Gasoline was out. Now we find ourselves sitting on a huge supply of oil that could power automobiles for the next 10 years."

Interestingly, Jimmy also sells an eBook that illustrates how a steam powered engine can easily be converted to run on gasoline with parts readily available from the plumbing section of your local hardware store.

Jimmy Williams, we salute you, and we thank you for being a true American hero.

Monkeys on Mini Motorcycles

Mr. Merkley's Gigapickle Photos

merkley??? - Birthday #41 Self-Portrait on Friday The 13th In Green Sharkskin, White Velcro Retard Sneaks & Eighties Golden Ray Bans In The Living Room On a Thronish Type Deal With Hundreds and Hundreds of Megapickles
Originally uploaded by merkley???

Shocking, surreal, and astonishing are some of the words that people are using when describing San Francisco artist Merkley??? - the 3 question marks are part of the artist's identity. Check out his flickr stream to see more of his work, much of it featuring naked ladies.

New iPhone may cause seizures

They said it couldn't be done, but two young men have figured out how to wear their iPhones. However there is just one problem... seizures!

New Election 2008 video from Jib Jab

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

A Batman Bedroom Fantasy

Holy collapsing closets, Batman!

Grow 7 Plant Creature Monsters

OFFER: ALL 7 FOR $1.00

D65's New Book -- Workflow not Workslow with Lightroom 2.0

The Photoshop Lightroom Workbook: Workflow not Workslow with Lightroom 2.0

Book Description
Renowned gurus give the insider's guide on how to get the most from Lightroom as part of a seamless digital photography workflow.

As co-founders of the renowned and hugely popular photography training and consultancy company D-65 (D-65.com), Seth Resnick and Jamie Spritzer are the perfect guides to lead you through the maze technical problems and practical challenges that stand between you and a seamless digital workflow with Lightroom at the core. Keep the lens cap on until you've read the essential pro tips in this new Lightroom book from Focal Press!

*The essential guide to setting up an efficient workflow with Photoshop Lightroom from two of the industry's most respected photography trainers

*Insider tips and tricks explain not only how to use Lightroom but also how best to work pre-capture to ensure you get the best out of Lightroom post-capture.

*Packed with essential advice and stunning images to illustrate and inspire, Seth and Jamie explain technical concepts with ease in a way only pro trainers can. Buy the book and see why their workshops sell out in a flash!

Photoshop Lightroom is the new software from Adobe aimed specifically at photographers and it's taking the photography world by storm. This no-nonsense guide to setting up an efficient workflow in Lightroom offers all the advice you need to master Adobe's clever workflow tool and make it work for you.

Buy the book: Click Here.

The book can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

About the Authors
Seth is one of North America's most prolific corporate, editorial and stock photographers, and is greatly in demand for his beautiful graphic images in both natural and created light. He has been published in the world's most prestigious magazines and is one of 65 photographers worldwide named as a Canon Explorer of Light. He has given hundreds of lectures to industry organizations such as American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), Advertising Photographers of America (APA), Professional Photographers of America (PPA), Advertising Photographers of New York (APNY), and is also an alpha and beta tester for the Adobe Photoshop engineering team. Seth also produces workshops and training specifically designed for photographers through his company, D-65. Jamie Spritzer has worked as a Photographer, Studio Manager and Photo Editor (Elle magazine). She produced the highly acclaimed Photo Mentor Series Workshops at American Photo and Popular Photography Magazines. Jamie founded Blue Productions which produced advertising campaigns, product launches and special events for top market leaders. As co-founder of D-65.com, she creates innovative and essential programs for photographers and digital image makers. More info...

NBC Universal, Burbank, California

If you can't see the 360 degree image above, you need to upgrade your Java, click here.

View Larger Map

Hackers can turn your home computer into a BOMB

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The Crazy Ray-Ray Show

In episode 3 of the Crazy Ray-Ray Show, Ray-Ray takes on the Night Creature of Skid Row. You'll laugh and giggle as Ray-Ray fends off the human cockroach, and later burns the cookies in a kitchen mishap. After their airplane crashes in the Pacific, 7 disparate survivors are forced to adapt to life on a deserted island. As they get to know each other, some become friends, others enemies and some stories remain to be told. Each survivor seems to harbor their own secrets and dark pasts and confront their own personal demons on the island. Ray-Ray makes friends with a group of bottle nosed dolphins who speak English telepathically. Redd Foxx guest stars. CLICK THE PHOTO TO ENLARGE

1980's Vintage High Tech Airport Security.

High Tech
Originally uploaded by Lost America

This gem of a photo takes us back in time to the 1980's when this equipment was the state of the art in airport security.

Adult star Kelly Madison at Fetish Photographer, Ed Fox's smash book signing party, Taschen, Beverly Hills

Adult Star Kelly Madison talks about her appearance in photographer Ed Fox's book, "Beauty from the Ground Up", at the Tashen book store in Beverly Hills, California.

Ed Fox

Develop a Strong He-Man Voice!

Ad from Inside: Exposing People and Headlines, Vol. 3, No. 3, March 1958.

Develop a Strong He-Man Voice! Originally uploaded to flickr by Paula Wirth

FREE - One Million $ Cash $

"Fool all yours friends."

There is an Elephant in my front yard.

We found them! Now you can get your own Elephant Nose

Stupid 911 Calls

Slow Motion Ignition

Slow motion ignition of a lighter.

Iraqi Street Justice

He who draws first, wins.

George W. Rolls with his Homiez

Join Us Sunday

Saturday Night Zombie Rave

Click here for fantastic Zombie Gift Items

American Manbaby

SEE MORE AT ManBabies.com!

The terrorists want to take your corn. They're corn haters.

The terrorists want to take your corn. They're corn haters.
via: andymasteroffish.com

On this day: 1923 Richard Avedon is born

On May 15, 1923, Iconic American photographer, Richard Avedon was born in New York City. Avedon capitalized on his early success in fashion photography and expanded into the realm of fine art.In The American West
stands as a fascinating look at people in the American West.

read more about Richard Avedon at wikipedia

Click here to get the DVD that catches this American Master.