SkyMall is dead. Long live Skymall

To misquote the late, great, Mark Twain "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated". 

Happily this isn't in connection to me, but about the beloved and adored, if not respected, SkyMall catalogue.

Whenever I have gotten onto an internal flight in the beautiful US of A, I have always searched for the SkyMall catalogue. It fills me with wonder at the ludicrousness of the items in it. 

Do you want a Bigfoot garden ornament? They have it.

Or a glow in the dark toilet seat? They have it.

Whats that? I didn't quite hear you. You want a Bigfoot garden ornament for Christmas? They have it.

In light of all of the above, do you know anyone who would appreciate, let alone pay for, an Armadillo Beverage Holder? Well, they've got that too.

Thanks SkyMall. 

http://www.skymall.com/

You rock. 

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Star Wars or Star Trek?

'And yea, for the internet was created. Thusly the Geeks and the Nerds did celebrate. And they asked, forsooth, one timeless question; Star Wars or Star Trek?'

Its the age-old question that still needs answering! So where can we get answers? We can go to Wikipedia, the place where all answers are stored, with the page 'Comparison of Star Trek and Star Wars', or if the World's Encyclopedia doesn't give you the answer, we can go to Business Insider, and their article about why supremacy goes to Star Wars.

Still not satisfied? Gizmodo.com has a great article about the different warring abilities of each side. I think the real answer is actually in each of us, and that is where Science Fiction wins!

Some awesome fan fiction video footage that sheds a visual light on the argument:



Personally, I'm off to read MHI another time, its may not be Star Wars or Star Trek related, but it is awesomeness in print.


kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Hi-Tech and Not So Hi-Tech

A wearable defensive exoskeleton is the stuff of science fiction in some of our greatest stories. These garments are as varied as Batman's cape, King Arthur's armour and Iron Man's... well, whatever it is he wears.

So why can't our brave soldiers have such awesomeness when they go into battle? Now they can:



And then we have the sad demise of Radio Shack. A store I frequented even though I have never lived in America!

John Oliver, a fellow Brit, has an interesting view on how the fall of such a great company has been taken by the American media. NSFW!!



And then, after all this technology, a man flies from up on high and lands without a parachute. Exceptionally low-tech...



kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Cody Lovaas - Still A Rising Star

A while back I wrote about the very talented Cody Lovaas, and that he was a rising star. After last weeks post about music stars of today having a decent head on their shoulders, I decided to look him up on YouTube.

His new, original songs seem to be as good as anything else out there, if not better, so I am surprised that he isn't getting more attention:







What do you think?


kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

I'm No Rocket Surgeon

Kids today don't know how good they have it;

They do get some things though, and I'm impressed to see that their cynicism against the fashion and advertising industries is more than a flash in the pan.

Colbie Caillat - Try, 38,350,678 views on YouTube



And of course, All About That Bass - 'every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top'



Meghan Trainor, All About The Bass 567,890,447 views on YouTube.

Yes,

Half a BILLION views. Her message is definitely getting across.

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Super Bowl 2015 Lip Sync

The Super Bowl is over and we each have our own feelings about who on, and how they won. To me, nothing sums up the Big Game better than this awesome lip sync battle.

Will Ferrell is wearing the required slouch-on-a-couch wear whilst Kevin Hart is still casual, but respectful in jeans and a t-shirt. Jimmy Fallon, as a true elder statesman of late night TV, is wearing a suit.

With a mere 185,000 views so far, I'm happy to sit back and watch it go sky-high.





And then there is this little gem of an advertisement. A call to 'wham bam thank you dam' all the dams in America.

Weird, but interesting nonetheless:



Oh, and if you want to see a lip sync fail of somewhat epic proportions, please allow me to introduce to you, Ms M Carey:



kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

I Don't believe in Coincidence

I smiled when I saw the title of this youtube film and then smiled a lot more when I got to see the whole thing:



So that was fine, and I nearly moved on to other pointless things, when i saw this cartoon in my inbox:

Which made me think that there was a sign out there for me to share it with you all.



kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Happy New Year, 2015

Well it is finally here, 2015 has touched down, so as we always do, lets look back to see what happened in the past on 1st January...

[Cue swirly background and hippy music from the '60s. Then realise that 1985 was but 30 years ago and realise just how old you are...]

January 1st 1892, the immigration station on Ellis Island in New York Harbor opened. The gateway to the United States for so many millions of hopeful immigrants, this would be the first landfall for the immigrants from wars in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

January 1st 1985, the UK's first phone call from a mobile phone.

Michael Harrison, the son of Vodafone's first chairmen Ernest, nipped out from a New Year's Eve party to make the historic call, using the mother of all bricks: the Transportable Vodafone VT1.

January 1st 2003, Joe Foss, the leading fighter ace of the US Marine Corps in WWII passed away. 

Mr Foss was a 1943 recipient of the Medal of Honor, recognizing his role in the air combat during the Guadalcanal Campaign. 

In October 1942, VMF-121 pilots and aircraft were sent to Guadalcanal as part of Operation Watchtower to relieve VMF-223, which had been fighting for control of the air over the island since mid-August.

On October 9, Foss and his group were catapult launched off the USS Copahee escort carrier and flew 350 miles north to reach Guadalcanal.

The air group, code named "Cactus", based at Henderson Field became known as the Cactus Air Force, and their presence played a pivotal role in the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Foss soon gained a reputation for aggressive close-in fighter tactics and uncanny gunnery skills. 

Foss shot down a Japanese Zero on his first combat mission on October 13, but his own F4F Wildcat was shot up as well, and with a dead engine and three more Zeros on his tail, he landed at full speed, with no flaps and minimal control on the American-held runway at Guadalcanal, barely missing a grove of palm trees.

On 7 November his Wildcat was again hit, and he survived a ditching in the sea off the island of Malaita. 

In postwar years, he achieved fame as a General in the Air National Guard, the 20th Governor of South Dakota, President of the National Rifle Association, and the first commissioner of the American Football League, as well as a television broadcaster.

What I find truly amazing about Mr Foss, is that he was a decorated fighter pilot who shot down 26 enemy aircraft. His name became folklore in wartime USA and still, all of his decorations when put together come to this;

So whenever you see someone strutting around your local mall or high street wearing much, much more than this, be aware that there is the faintest possibility that they are fakers - stolen valor merchants.

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

New Star Wars Film - Teaser Trailer Part 2

You think I'm crazy? Its a trailer for crying out loud! How many minutes in our lives can be dedicated to the new Star Wars Film trailer?

Oh my Padwan, have so much to learn, you do:

Stephen Colbert




This Star Wars fan has already inked one of the new characters onto their leg, forever

And then there is of course, the reaction to the new lightsabre:

kthanxbai! Jumblerant

Gangnam Style Breaks YouTube

You may have noticed that I have been a tad heavy on the posting of videos recently, and no, that is not going to change in the near future! In fact, as I was scrolling through my Google+ account today I stumbled across something that I found very interesting.

Gangnam Style by PSY has the highest number of views of any YouTube video. Ever.

So many views, in fact, that Google had to rewrite the code for the YouTube counter!

Whilst they rewrote the code they also put in a fun little 'doohickey' that spins the number like a one-armed bandit.

So Gangnam Style now has..... wait for it.... 2,151,949,101 views. 

Yes. 2 BILLION views and counting. 

That is literally phone number numbers where I come from.

Here is the video in case you want to go and check it out yourself;

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

New Star Wars Film - Teaser Trailer

Those of us  born in the late 60's and early 70's will no doubt remember the 'original' star wars series of 3 films with Mark Hamill, Sir Alec Guinness and that little known actor, Harrison Ford.

After many 'interesting' versions of what went before such as the sadly unforgettable Jaja Binks or the exceptionally appalling acting by Hayden Christenson as Darth Vader, we are apparently into a new generation AFTER Star Wars IV - VI.

Here is the UK trailer;



So here are some comments from friends of mine on Facebook, regarding the trailer:

LP: Just watched the new Star Wars trailer. Got a little over excited and wet myself.

AS: IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!

HR: MIND EXPLODING I AM A CHILD.





It's nice to have a major film launch that isn't out to sell itself, but let's the audience do that to itself!

If you want a break down of the trailer and what we can assume or learn from it, look at what Empire magazine has written about the teaser trailer or what io9.com call A Shot for Shot Dissection

Here is the Lego stop motion option, with added, humourous subtitles:



Let me be the first to state categorically that I am sure there will be people sleeping outside cinemas soon for the release of the film itself, in December.

2015.

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Longmire Lives!

Longmire, the modern-day cowboy film that was A&E's second most popular show last year (after Duck Dynasty), is going to have a new lease of life under the most auspicious of hosts, Netflix.

I doubt very much that anything I wrote had anything to do with it, but hey, I can dream!

Netflix, by the way, now have at least one new customer - moi - who will be paying a lot of attention to whatever adverts Netflix puts my way.



According to Engadget.com:

"the show's demographic is much older than most A&E shows, but Longmire had the highest viewership of any scripted series on the channel. If you aren't familiar, the plot centers around rural Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire and his crime-fighting chronicles based on the novels of Craig Johnson -- including a series-spanning search for his wife's killer. The set of new episodes will air in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand when they stream next year."

So I'm getting old I guess...

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Man Kills His Girlfriend

Its the age old story; boy meets girl, girl likes boy, they start going out against their parents wishes, girl jilts boy, boy savagely murders the girl and hides the corpse.

So whats the story here? Why do we care? Quite simply, because it just doesn't add up.

From those amazing chaps at NPR who brought us This American Life, we have a new show, a weekly updated serial, called Serial, that instead of being a self contained hour of interesting stuff, continues from week to week.

In my mind, this is in the finest traditions of story-telling, going back to Chaucer's tales which flowed into one and another, or to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, where there was one chapter a month in a magazine. Books could, and did, go on for years!

In 'Serial' Sarah Koenig reports on different aspects of the murder, the way the case was handled, the things that were missing from the trial and tries to jog peoples' memories, 15 years after the fact.

It truly is an interesting series and one that I cannot recommend highly enough.

As always there are those who would try to take away from the hard work, and they are quite funny too! Why not make up your own mind by downloading the series so far here and listening to it on your non-brand MP3 player?

You can also see maps, letters and photos of the story so far - here.

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Post publish prose: Further reading about the Serial serial can be found here on Mentalfloss and on Mashable

Life-changing Technology

Just looking around my desk at work I have my iPhone charging, my laptop charging whilst running on 3 screens, my Pebble smart watch charging and of course, my cappuccino which is recharging me!

Where is technology taking us? Nobody knows. Some claim to know but even they can be exceptionally wrong so here is a variety of people's uses of modern technology. FOr what they want to use it for;

Google Glass everyday use:



The amazing new uses for GoPro cameras:



And of course - my last blog post, below, about how plastic technology is slowly choking the planet to death - you know, to keep this light and fun...

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Go - OK Go - Go!

Technology and it's impact on us, as a human race, has been the basis for my last few posts, both in how it is improving our lives (below), and how it might be killing us off too, but here is technology used for no other purpose than make an epic (and I use that word advisedly) music video.

OK Go is a pop group that I have been following since their first video way back when. Now they have not only used cutting edge technology in their video, in this case with Honda branded self stabilising unicycles, but they have used a drone to do the filming!

The artistry and imagination needed by so many people to not only make it work, but work so well, shows us all that not only is OK Go a band to follow, but restores my faith in the music industry!

Go - OK Go - Go!

Oh, and after 1 day of going online, they have over 4,452,000 views. That is pretty amazing in anyone's books.



kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

If You Can't See It, It Doesn't Exist

There is an online news agency called Vice that I have new found respect for. I’ve heard of it before, even watched a few of their bulletins, but the name put me off. 

Now let’s get things straight, I watch the news, I live and work on the internet, get immediate SMS to my phone in time of war or terror, and I even get a newspaper delivered to my door every day. 

The clip below is something that I feel is very important. It’s not new, it’s not sexy, and in fact it’s downright "un-sexy". It is something that is important to our lives, and will affect us, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it will somehow have an impact on each of our lives.

Let’s stay informed:

As the Captain says so poignantly in part 2, below, "there is no answer book – we’re writing the answers".

The saddest part? This was made in 2012 and its only getting airtime, in my head at least, now.

kthanxbai!
 Jumblerant

Save Longmire!

Longmire is an awesome TV show. It is was A&E's most watched scripted series of all time with 6 million viewers in Season 2 and an average 5.6 million in Season 3.

And then A&E dropped it.

Now I'm no rocket surgeon, but when the Arts and Entertainment Network get rid of what many people are calling the best mix of a modern western and a crime drama. ’I'm not going to claim that this is the best show on TV, but it’s a quality production that deserves another season at least'.

The scenery is stunning with summer colours and winter snow playing equal parts in the story that is being told. The characters are complex and deep, bringing a new dimension that most other crime shows search for.

Longmire is A&E's 2nd highest rated show, to the reality show 'Duck Dynasty', so why was it cancelled? Some people argue that the audience was 'ahem' too old for their sponsors, others say that it doesn't fit in well with their other shows.

If you've never heard of Longmire - then shame on you - I wrote about it here last year! Well, if you need a refresher course, here are a few fine reasons (stolen from Rachel Weingarten at Parade)  to keep Longmire alive:

1. Its a good old fashion Western

Who doesn't love a Western? For crying out loud he's killed a baddie with his folding hunting knife and it doesn't get any more Western than that

2. The scenery is just fantastic.

Filmed in New Mexico, it is real scenery, no CGI, no fuss, no muss.



3. You can watch it with your Mum

Unlike my other favorite show of today, Games of Thrones, , this does not have graphic sex scenes or beheadings or bits of bodies being lopped off. It's wholesome fun for the whole family! Actually, it reminds me of another of my all-time favorite TV shows, MASH, just with less laughs.

4. Your family is as Crazy as This

I was just chatting to a friend about this very subject yesterday, wishing that I'd known at 14 that everyone's family was special!

** As a man, I can only quote Ms. Weingarten on this, and the next point **

5. Unlikely sex symbols:

Sure, Longmire the man is super-studly with his gruff voice and tormented soul. And Branch is probably the most sizzling-hot-rich-boy-rebelling-by-going-into-tiny-town-law-enforcement character ever. But sweet as a puppy Ferg, played by Adam Bartley, is one of the most crush-worthy male characters on TV in a long time. By turns bumbling, at others fiercely loyal and brave, he represents a completely different type of male character than I can remember seeing on a TV drama. And I’d really, really, like to ask him for a hug.

6. Women of every age and every stage: When is the last time that you saw a woman of a certain age, playing someone sassy and wise without  playing the requisite grandmother role? Louanne Stephens (formerly of Friday Night Lights) as Ruby, the sheriff’s office dispatcher, adds a quiet grace to a role that might seem tiny if inhabited by any other actress. And Vic and Cady as the younger females in the cast don’t ever quite do what we expect them to.

7. Villainous Villains

Unlike 'black hats' versus 'white hats' in other shows, these villains have a story, they have a unique way of looking at things. Oh, you don't get to like them, you just 'get' them.

8. Friends

No, Rachel, Joey and chums aren't a scratch on Walt Longmire and Henry Standing Bear! Their bromance can definitely show some guys today what true friendship is.

9. Lou Diamond Phillips

As Henry Standing Bear he has perfect diction. We just need to have him answer the phone stating “It is a beautiful day at the Red Pony and continual soiree”

10. It Ain't Perfect, but it's ours

I'm not sure what describes this TV show more than the people who come together for 2 days of Longmire fun:

I recommend starting 5.30 minutes in

And this kind of sums up the show:

Maybe we should just change A&E's name to what I thought it first stood for, where drunken brawlers end up on a Saturday night - Accident and Emergency...

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Its Payback Time

There have been a few pretty awesome short films shown in my Facebook stream recently. My favourite is the 3rd one. Which is yours?

1. Meet the Meat


MEET MEAT from GOBELINS pro on Vimeo.

2. Why King Arthur pulled the sword from the stone


FOL'AMOR from GOBELINS pro on Vimeo.

3. Payback Time



4. Epic Nerf Battle





kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

When Worlds Collide

I grew up in the wilds of Essex, England, learning about 'cookies' and 'aqua sin gas' by Sesame Street.

For many years now I have been listening to the podcast 'The Bugle' by two fun chaps in the UK.

And here, John Oliver from The Bugle and Mr C Monster himself, meet and have fun.





kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

About Time Too

I've never been skinny, even when I did extreme manual labour when I worked on a farm and ate only fruit and veg. Now, as I enter my 5th decade on earth I find that I need to decrease my belly to that of a normal human, so more exercise, less food and I'll get there.

But what is a chubby hubby to do? I don't have much time as we have 2 kids under 5 and I can't really allow myself to pay for a gym.

And then I found Neila Rey and that was a game changer.

I can see myself doing a Neila Rey exercise regime, 3 or 4 times a week, after the kids have gone to sleep in the computer room with a Formula 1 race or crappy comedy on the computer, and not have to worry about running into doggy-doo or a reversing car as I do out there, on the street.

The 90 days of action is my poison of choice, and I don't follow it religiously, but I do what I can, when I can. So go on over to Neila Rey's website and see what the options are to make your life better, and longer.

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

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Cover Up!

Sun tanning (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As you might already know, I currently reside somewhere in the Middle East, and it is August. So it is HOT HOT HOT, or as they said in The Fast Show, 'scorchio, scorchio, scorchio':



So what do we do in this weather? We still go to the parks, play on the bicycles and scooters and of course, play in the paddling pool.

Until now I hadn't given much thought to sunscreen. Thats for girls isn't it?



The only time I had ever seen anything used for sunbathing was Hawaian Tropic which my mum used to get a deep dark tan.

In the army I had a farmer's tan which was, in all honesty, half grime and cam cream, half sun-tan. Now though, with new technology, we can see just how bad sunbathing can be, and what we can do to combat its effect on us:



Good luck - and stay safe!



kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Related articles

• Scorchio! Temperatures set to hit 25 degrees this week
• Scorchio
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• What To Do When You're All Alone?
• Skin cancer rates spike after generation of sunbathing, tanning beds
• Another Day Off

Its A Sad Day

So many people have written about the untimely death of Robin Williams. One of the smiley, happy guys, but like many clowns, there were tears behind the mask.

Such a comic genius, he even blew one of my comedic heroes, Craig Ferguson, out of the water and Craig even acknowledges it at around the 13 minute mark:



You know whats amazing? I'm watching clips of Robin on YouTube and I see just how much he made us laugh. A comedian that can make other comedians laugh is definitely special.



Such a giving, caring, funny genius.

I think the Huffington Post's headline says it best:

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Bigger and Better

The EMS units here have changed their emergency tones from a wail to the European undulating racket so as not to scare the public.

In the office where I work, we keep the window open a crack so that we can hear the siren.

We had a siren again yesterday morning, and another one today, at around 10 am.

It doesn't make my blood boil. It doesn't drive me into a rage of hatred. It simply makes me sad that in 2014 ANYONE has to be in their bomb shelter or protected area.

We should be bigger than this, we should be better than this.

If you want 'facts' about Gaza, you can find them below / here.

If you want opinion about the war, here are some videos:

From the US Senate:



From a famous US Jew (parental consent is advised):



In all honesty, I'm just tired of it all. "You killed 3 of ours so we're going to get 33 of yours" who are we? The Crips and the Bloods from West Side Story?

Peace and love guys, peace and love.

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Rugby, NFL and GoT

In between the air raid sirens and news alerts on my facebook stream, there are a few posts that are little nuggets of goodness and fun. Just whats needed in Casa Jumblerant these days.



And for all of you NFL fans out there, here is a neat comparison of American Football vs. Rugby.



I'm not sure who wins there, but at least we get to see some impressive smashes!

Talking of some serious skills, here is the Queen's Guards playing GoT theme tune, and I believe it is outside Buckingham Palace (or Buck House as Aunty liz like to call it).



This game of Thrones remix is awesome. Just a genius at work. Enthralling to an extent that I kind of forgot what it was about and watched him at work.



More of his work can be found here and on SoundCloud here

kthanxbai!

Jumblerant

Grammar

"Yo Grammer so bad it don't make no sense!"

Yes. Quite.

Having been schooled by no less than a Booker Prize judge, I can assure you that my grammar is quite good.

Even "Weird" Al Yankovich would agree:



He spoofs "Happy" by Pharrell too, joined by a plethora of famous people:



kthanxbai!

Jumblerant