Flips Audio Headphones + Speakers Review

Oh noes! I went on vacation (*gasp*) and am super late with this review.

As much as I was crossing my fingers that I would get to review these, I was also wondering just how much I would end up using them. As a gamer, I end up using a headset a lot…but that means I’m using a device that has a microphone more often than a regular pair of plain headphones.

I'm also prone to getting headaches from big, bulky earphones, so I wanted to try them….but I also knew I may have to gift them away to someone else after I was done with the review, by no fault of theirs.

Instead, though, these turned out to be pretty awesome. I did have a friend try them, too, who is much pickier about sound quality than I am, just for the sake of making sure I wasn’t oblivious to any possible issues with them, and they were actually impressed!

Now I guess I really need to tell you the most important part about these headphones:

THEY ARE ALSO SPEAKERS!  

The whole idea before “flips” is that you can wear them as headphones and block out all the sound around you….and then with a flip of the earpieces, they face out and become speakers. No buttons to click. No swapping cords or sound devices in order to turn your speakers on instead. Just FLIP!

Again, I wasn’t sure how much I would use this feature because I already have a nifty little device that lets me swap out my cords quickly right on my desk (instead of on the back of my computer). Turns out, the weekend after I got these, though, I visited some friends and still had to work while I was with them, so I took a limited amount of equipment with me. I took these with me so I could try them out and sure enough, while I was listening to a video, I realized I wanted my friends to hear it. I didn’t have speakers to turn on for them, but I didn’t need them! I just flipped out the ear pieces and suddenly sound filled the room. They hadn’t seen anything like these either, so it was nice to show off a cool gadget. ;)

Oh, and while I know this is NOT the point of the product, one of my favorite parts is actually that black and green case up there. I’ll admit, even during a review like this, I didn’t carry the headphones in the case. Instead, I put all my other little cords and gadgets in it because it was a hard plastic that would protect them, hehe. While my Flips are hanging on rack next to my desk, the case is on the other side, holding things like my camera and flash drives.

Special deal for you (valid until July 16th…sorry I was late getting this to you!):

Purchase online at: http://www.flipsaudio.com/ and use the code FA0010INT. You’ll save 10 bucks and get upgraded rush shipping for no extra cost.

Disclosure: Obviously Flips sent me these, via FuelMyBlog. All of the standard stuff about opinions being my own can be assumed. After all, if they were Flips’ opinions, they probably wouldn’t have admitted to putting other gadgets in the case, nor would they have been so crazy late getting it to you!

8 Ways to Entertain Your Children (Guest)

Today's guest post is brought you by Angelina Lawson. Thanks! 

When you are blessed with a family, you are always searching for different ways to entertain your children. You want to enrich their lives, make sure they enjoy themselves and have quality time together. If you find yourself in London, there are a host of things you can do to occupy your children. Plan ahead and use a little creativity to keep everyone actively engaged.

1. Take a look at the box office and discover what the London theatre has to offer. There are many excellent theatres in London and family-oriented shows are always part of their productions. Currently, "The Wizard of Oz," "Lion King the Musical" and "Shrek the Musical" are only few of the most popular choices that are intended for children but it is no surprise to find that it will be enjoyed by the entire family also.

2. When planning your visit to the London theatre, make a day of it. Stop in at the Harrod's to do a little shopping before the show and then find a place to enjoy a meal to finish off your experience.

3. Try a London theatre scavenger hunt or I Spy. When everyone is settled in the theatre, waiting for their Box Office show to begin, ask your children to find different things in the theatre. You may be thinking of a particular movie poster, a person in the audience or something at the concession stand but your kids will find things that might have skipped your notice.

4. Take a Thames River tour. If your box office show is in the evening, you'll have an entire day ahead of you. A journey on the Thames will give you an entirely different perspective of Britain's capital.

5. Go on a walking tour of the city. There are so many highlights such as the Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Be sure to stop and visit all of your favourites.

6. Pack a picnic and head to the park. Your picnic can be before or after the show at the London theatre. The children will enjoy the fresh air, can have some physical activity and then settle down for a bite to eat.

7. Take a trip on the train. Choose a destination that everyone has always wanted to visit and do a little exploration on the railway. Tickets are inexpensive and there is so much of interest to see.

8. Spend the night in a hotel or bed and breakfast. Children love the excitement of an overnight.

Dr. Seuss battles Shakespeare - Who would win?

This is Epic Rap Battle of History #12

The language is *not* completely clean, so careful if there are ears around that are only PG, but nothing too too major. Besides, it’s worth it to hear someone dressed as Shakespeare rap “ye hoebag, you’re an old white Soulja Boy who has no swag….egads, it’s so sad” :P

And come on, Cat in the Hat rockin’ it out with Thing 1 and Thing 2??

Okay, so it’s a little creepy actually, but still pretty good. Kudos to the rapper starting about 1:15 in…..I love Dr. Seuss, but go go Shakespeare!

Weird Tourist Destinations (Guest)

(Guest post from Heather here for you) 

Tourist attractions can bring life to otherwise dying towns, and the quest to find unusual sights can become a fun way to pass the time during family vacations. Here is a list of some of the top weird tourist destinations in the United States; next time you hit the road, keep these attractions in mind when the kids or the adults are looking for something different to do!

1. The Marfa Lights

What they are: Yellowish-green floating orbs that appear on clear nights and have even scientists stumped. Some people think they are mirages in the Texas desert, others think they are evidence that aliens are among us.

Perfect for: UFO believers, or anyone interested in the unexplained

Where to find them: Mitchell Flats, near Marfa, Texas

Cost: Free

When to visit: On clear nights to see the lights, or time your visit and go on Labor Day Weekend to visit the three-day Marfa Lights Festival.

2. Carhenge

What it is: A life-size Stonehenge replication built out of junked automobiles that have been painted gray to resemble the famous stones.

Perfect for: People who want to see Stonehenge but can’t afford to travel outside the U.S.

Where to find it: County Road 59, in Alliance, Nebraska

Cost: Free

When to visit: This attraction is open 365 days a year, but visit during daylight hours for the best view.

3. Toilet Seat Art Museum

What it is: A private home museum featuring over 1,000 decorated toilet seat covers.

Perfect for: People who are interested in strange collections or works of art

Where to find it: San Antonio, Texas

Cost: Free

When to visit: Call first, 210-824-7791

4. World’s Largest Ball of Twine

What it is: The biggest ball of twine in the world ever to be built by one individual.  There was a song written about it by Weird Al Yankovic, and Clark Griswold was keen on the idea of large twine balls in National Lampoon’s Vacation.

Perfect for: Fans of National Lampoon’s Vacation or Weird Al Yankovic, and people who like to look at really big things.

Where to find it: Darwin, Minnesota

Cost: Free

When to visit: Visit when it’s warm outside, because you’ll be standing outdoors to view the attraction; the second Saturday in August is Twine Ball Days.

5. Oregon Vortex

What it is: House of Mystery that was featured in a 1999 episode of the X-Files appears to defy the laws of physics, with brooms that stand on their own, things seem to roll uphill, and everything hangs at a strange slant.

Perfect for: X-Files fans, or anyone interested in things that defy the laws of physics

Where to find it: Gold Hill, Oregon

Cost: Children 5 and under are free; other prices range up to $9.75 for adults

When to visit: This attraction is only open from March 1 – October 31

Heather Johnson writes for HoneymoonDestinations.org, the best honeymoon research and planning website. Discover some great honeymoon ideas today!

Should you stalk your loved one? (Guest)

Miss A here with a guest post about stalking your loved ones. Are you a Facebook stalker?

Thanks to the World Wide Web and mobile phones stalking has become such an easy and accessible task. It has almost become the norm to invade your loved one's privacy.

Here are the most common forms of stalking:

Checking their phone: Reading through ALL texts, including drafts. Checking call registers, listening to Voicemails. A serious STALKER will want to keep on top of EVERYTHING, I have a friend who's love rat boyfriend used to cheat on her most weekends, he would save these girls numbers on his phone under various pseudonyms. But she was no fool! (See example below)

• HSBC: Was great to meet you on Friday, I have something of yours lol xoxo
• Roy Rugby: Apparently you and your "girlfriend" aren't on a break you d**k! Don't contact me ever again 

Facebook and Email: A true stalker will have the login details necessary to increase maximum stalking potential. First stop: Inbox. Second stop: Sent Items. But even without these you can get a lot of stalking done. Check every new friend request. Who is this new girl? Do they have friends in common? For extra stalking pleasure, you can check their Facebook history, where has been looking? Checking out scantily clad teens is stalker jackpot! I feel tears and tantrums coming!

Other Stalking Methods:

• Checking general Internet history- Has he been on inappropriate sites again?
• Go through his things- Pockets, draws, shelves...

What did one do before the invention of all this wonderful stalking technology?

No stones were left unturned- Through using careful listening and thorough investigation techniques.

• He said he is going out with friends but you can't come. So, what do you do? A drive by or sending in your girls are full proof checking up techniques.
• You call the land line and ask to speak to your loved one and are shocked when his mum says: "Sorry love, who is this?" WHO IS THIS?? Is she mad, why it's you of course! Time to do some serious investigating... Where is that itemized phone bill?

Am I a stalker? Go through the following steps and work out whether you are a stalker of love:

Despite my knowledge of stalking I would never call myself a stalker of love. However, through reflection I have seen that I have been through the process of a "stalking learning curve" where I have learnt to reel in my stalking urges.

Exhibit 1: Passed Relationship ending 3 years ago. My gut reaction was to say that I never stalked him. On second glance however, things look different:

• Q: Did I have his Facebook and email login details?
• A: Yes.

• Q: Did I read his Inbox and sent items?
• A: Yes.

• Q: Did I check his Mobile phone?
• A: Yes.

• Q: Did I check his Internet history?
• A: Yes

So, why did I think I never stalked him? Because all of my stalking amounted to no results. He was one of the good guys. Note to self, stalking is not result based.

Exhibit 2: Passed relationship ending 8 months ago. Immediate reaction is that I was involved in slight stalking.

• Q: Did I have his Facebook and email login details?
• A: No.

• Q: Did I read his Inbox and sent items?
• A: Yes.

• Q: Did I check his Mobile phone?
• A: No.

• Q: Did I check his Internet history?
• A: No

Growing up and deciding that invading your loved ones privacy is wrong had made me an advocate for non-stalking. However, my gut instinct informed me that this man was a rat, I checked his Facebook inbox one time only and had all the evidence of foul play that I needed. Should I have been stalking this man? The answer is that I should never have been dating this man.
 
After discussing stalking techniques from the past and present and learning from mistakes with slight hiccups, I have arrived at the important question. Should you stalk your loved one? My answer on the whole is NO. You stalk because you are insecure and want to trust but how can he trust you if you stalk him? When stalking goes wrong you can end up feeling like a fool as well as getting a name for yourself that starts with Crazy... A good friend of mine ruined a loving relationship through her love staking ways. She was doing her usual stalking method of looking through her boyfriends emails, when she found that her boyfriend had been enquiring about Bridal Sets convinced that he was going to propose she set herself for a huge fall when it turned out that he had been helping a friend of his out, this ended in humiliation, tears and a broken relationship.

When Love stalking is acceptable: There are different levels of stalking, the above techniques that I have been through are only acceptable in extreme situations, such as if your relationship has come to an end and you need confirmation that this man is wrong for you. If you are with a lovely man, do not stalk him, it just isn't fair or kind! Other acceptable stalking methods include; initial check ups, for example you have met a new man so where is the harm in getting a better feel for him through checking his Facebook? Check his photos, wall, info and friends. That should be enough to get a good picture. Other than that try and refrain.

Warning: Love stalking is not good for the soul, it can cause pain.

Miss A is a Fashion Consultant for Kranich's Jewelers; browse through for great gift ideas, including Mothers Rings and much more!

An Interesting Species: The Die Hard Fan (Guest)

Alright, alright, so I’m not the biggest sports buff, but every year I get a first-hand look at the wild animal we call the “Die-Hard Fan”. Wives, family, and friends know what behaviors begin to take control as they retreat to their natural habitat when the playoffs approach. For anyone who’s not familiar with this species, there are certain signs to watch out for to catch a die-hard fan out in the open.

1. The Uniform

One surefire way to recognize a wild DHF is by studying the patterns on their fur. The fur’s texture is unlike another other animal, the best way to describe it is jeans and a jersey, most likely belonging to their favorite player. They’ll have several jerseys, as well as t-shirts, so they can shed their skin exposing a different one every day during the playoffs. As they add more of their team’s gear, it might almost look as though they’re wearing football costumes. Die-hard fans may also have one outfit that they’ll wear every Sunday as a ritual when they prepare to watch the games.

2. The Decorations

Another way to spot a die-hard football fan is to drive by their house, carefully, some can be territorial in the wild. There will be banners and flags hanging near the front entrance of the cave to displaying their favorite team. There may even be other items sporting the team’s colors around the cave like a trophy case with team memorabilia. The collection may include bobble heads, footballs with team logos, and even autographed footballs if the fan was lucky enough to acquire one.

3. The Spectators

Watching the games can also give you a glimpse of this species we cohabitate with. You will see them lined up together. Each die-hard fan will be dressed in their team’s colors. But wait. There's more:

• Look for the markings of the beast, their skin changes color like a chameleon with their team colors!
• They’ll be carrying signs decorated with the team name and colors.
• Their hands morph into large fuzzy “number one” fingers, and banners.
• They won't stop howling encouraging thoughts to their team and growling put downs to the opponents.

4. The Party Goers

A ritual passed down from ancestors can be seen in parking lots before the game and is known among them as Tailgating. Contrary to popular belief, these “tailgaters” are not descendents of the Alligator, nor do they have tails. Similar to cave men they will be cooking on fire grills prominently displayed on small tables or the hatch of their car. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and bbq feeds their carnivore instincts. When the game is over, these fans may try to run down to the tunnels to cheer the players on as they walk off the field, especially if the team played a good game.

A die-hard fan can be house trained, but please do not attempt to do so without consulting a professional. Their behavior can be unpredictable to someone without a trained eye. Please contact a local DHF behaviorist who has thoroughly studied this species. If, on the other hand, you are interested in joining their pack, start to read up on football stats and start watching games. Join in on conversations that are taking place all over town to learn the language or find yourself a mentor who will teach you their ways.

5 Reasons Why Your Neighbors Hate You, and How to Repair the Relationship (Guest)

Hey look, it's Jennifer again!

Are your neighbors giving you the cold shoulder, or worse? If you have no idea why, check out this list to find out why your neighbors hate you:

1. But, It's A Classic!

Let's face it; you've been promising to fix up that old junker for years.

If your favorite ride is starting to sprout a garden of its own, it has got to go! There's nothing worse than a next-door neighbor with their own personal junk yard in the front. Even a covered clunker is an eyesore. If it makes you feel better, Old Betsy can go to a good cause. When you donate your old vehicle to Kars4Kids, you'll get the following advantages:

• Easy Online Donation Form
• Quick, Free Pickups
• A Valuable Tax Donation AND a Free Hotel Voucher

Best of all, your neighbors might not hate you anymore and won't try to plan flowers in your old clunker. Just maybe.

 

2. Everyone's a Music Lover, Right?

Sure, everyone loves music, just not your music! If you're just learning how to play the tuba, your neighbors don't want to hear that noise at all hours of the morning. The same goes for your garage band.

If you play rap or heavy metal until your over-sized bass amp shakes the window frames for a 10-mile radius, turn it down! The same goes for any other really loud noises that go on and on.

3. What Are You Waiting For? Next Christmas?

If your Christmas tree has been sitting at the curb so long everyone thinks you're waiting on it to grow legs and walk to the dump, it's a sure bet that you've gotten on more than one neighbor's last nerve.

Before next December rolls around, call a trash removal service to pick up that old, dried-up, tinsel-encrusted relic, along with any other unsightly debris in your yard. While you're at it, think about taking down the Christmas lights, too!

Image Source

4. My Dog Would Never Bother Anyone

Although you love your dog, your neighbors might not be so thrilled with him, especially if he does his thing in their yards each and every time nature calls or barks like he has rabies whenever they step outside.

Digging holes in their flower gardens and chasing their cats won't win any popularity contests, either. While no one is suggesting you get rid of Rover, keep him in your own yard and try some obedience classes to get the barking under control.

5. What Lawnmower?

If letting your grass grow past the two-foot mark is your idea of going green, think again. Of course, you are conserving energy -- your own and the lawnmower's -- but no one else appreciates this eco-friendly effort. Unless your entire neighborhood is planning on raising a herd of goats, each and every neighbor hates you and your yard.

Cut your grass, trim your bushes, and rake your leaves. You'll be amazed when people actually start to wave when they see you working in your yard!

Lucky for you, most of these issues are easy to fix. Make a few adjustments, no matter how painful, and you'll be nominated for neighbor of the year before you know it!

Instructions for properly hugging a baby

This came via an email from my mom, so I don't know the original source. It was too cute to not share with you guys, though. :)

 

1. First, find a baby. 

2. Second, be sure that the object you found was indeed a baby by employing classic sniffing techniques.

3. Next you will need to flatten the baby before actually beginning the hugging process.

4. The "paw slide": Simply slide paws around baby and prepare for possible close-up.

5. Finally, if a camera is present, you will need to execute the difficult and patented "hug, smile, and lean" so as to achieve the best photo quality.

Funny Myths: Determining Your Child's Gender (Guest)

Guest post here from Julee Russo.

When we were little, we bought a couple pythons from this slightly creepy guy who looked and smelled both of Indian and hippie...and somewhat cowboy for that matter. Anyway, he tied a string to ring and let it spin over one of the snakes belly's to determine it's gender, just like mentioned below. For someone who sold snakes, you'd think he'd know enough about them to actually determine the gender rather than try to convince us this was a fool proof method, pfft.

 

How to determine a child's gender is something that many parents are very interested in. They often want to know which gender their child is going to be, even before an ultrasound test can tell them. Some may use a baby gender predictor to get an early estimate of their child's gender. They also might want to do things a certain way in their efforts to conceive a child so that they have more of a chance of having a baby of a certain gender. Do any of those things really work? Well, it depends on who you ask. Either way, they're interesting to learn about. Here are some great myths about determining your child's gender.  

1. If you're carrying your baby low, it's going to be a boy. This has been said for years and years, and sometimes it proves to be true. Other times that's not the case, and people carrying their baby low have a girl. 

2. If you're carrying your baby high up in your stomach, it's going to be a girl. Just like the myth above, this one proves to be true about half of the time—which would make sense. Your guess is as good as the next person's as to whether this is true of false.  

3. If you're carrying in front, it's a boy. See the myths above. 

4. If you're carrying wide and "spreading out," it's a girl. Ditto. 

5. Carrying a girl will give you morning sickness all day, whereas carrying a boy will not. It's hard to tell where this one came from or whether there's any truth to it. Having morning sickness all day is lousy, no matter what gender of baby you're carrying.  

6. Check your baby's heartbeat. If it's beating faster than 140 beats per minute, it's a girl. If it's slower than 130 beats per minute, it's a boy. What happens if the heart rate is in between the two? Should you resort to flipping a coin at that point?  

7. Try hanging a wedding ring over your belly, using a strand of the baby's father's hair. If it ring spins in a circle, it's a girl. If it swings back and forth instead, it's a boy. This one just seems odd—and what do you do if the father is bald? It would seem like you'd really be stuck at that point when it comes to figuring out the baby's gender.  

There are also claims that say what you eat before you get pregnant can affect whether you'll have a boy or a girl, but there's no scientific evidence for any of that. It's best that you eat a balanced diet so that you and your baby can be as healthy as possible. That's the safest way to do things.  

There you have it. There are plenty of myths about a child's gender and whether there's really a baby gender predictor out there. It's always good to know what they are, in case you want to test any of them out and see if they could become reality.

5 Everyday Things that Make Me Nervous (Guest)

Here's a post from Nicolas D'Alleva about things that make him nervous.

There are some quirky examples in there and I especially love the kerosene story because I have my own "flammable liquid" incident. Here's the really quick version:

When I was working at a university front desk, we had someone piggyback into the building that shouldn't be there. He was older, dirty, likely drunk or at least mentally unstable, and started harassing my coworker. He opted to finally leave a message for the manager and agreed to leave. After writing down the message, he proceeded to wad up the paper and eat it. He left, though, and they were relieved, only for him to return a few minutes later with a bucket of oil that he flung across the counter, covering my coworker, the desk, the floor, everything. Holy cow! Fortunately he left for good after that.

Anyway, back to Nicholas. Do any of these things make you really nervous, too?

5. The Metal Detectors at Banks

I really don’t like those double door security entrances to banks. You know, the ones where you have to open a door, step through a metal detector, wait for the first door to close behind you, and then step through a second door. I seem to always have my laptop bag when I go to the bank, which always trips the detector, which makes me anxious for a moment. A few people in the lobby turn to look at you when they hear it, which can make you feel like you’re making other people feel nervous too. It must happen all day long, though, because the bank employees don’t give it much attention. I don’t really know what the purpose of these detectors is; they just indicate a person has something metallic with them, making the devices about as useful as if they detected wool or rubber or any other material.

Despite encountering this again and again, that beeping noise still makes me a bit nervous, so I might suppose their point is to deter would-be bank robbers from bringing in weapons. If someone has their mind set on robbing a bank, though; are they likely to be dissuaded by a device that reacts the same way to guns as it does to any number of harmless items? Is it really giving anyone a worthwhile heads-up to the possibility of someone with weapons in the room? Not if it just goes off all day long. I suspect there is more to this but, for me right now; they are just annoying and make me nervous.

4. Really Loud Express Trains on the Subway

When on the platform for the local train, I’m always caught off guard by the express trains. Between trains, the subway tunnel can be as quiet as a tomb and, suddenly, an express train will roar through at high speed. I’ve witnessed this happening hundreds of times and it continues to surprise me.

3. Mentally Unbalanced Homeless People

For the most part, I don’t mind encountering homeless people. Although it might be kind of sad to say, they largely blend in to their surroundings once you’ve become used to them. They hang out in doorways holding cups and asking for spare change, they ride public transportation, and they sleep on park benches. Despite their appearance, they usually won’t cause you any more harm than anyone else out there on the street. That is, of course, unless they are mentally unbalanced.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine encountered this sort of person while waiting for a bus. First the guy started talking about how he’s been having bad luck lately, then he started talking about some sort of conspiracy directed at him, then he started talking about the weather. He continued, changing the subject frequently, not making a whole lot of sense overall. Finally my friend asks him “What do you want? You’ve been going on and on and I get the impression you’re leading up to something, so… what do you want from me?” After a moment, the man’s eyes got wide and his face lit up in a crazed expression as he gave his answer, “KEROSENE!” Meeting someone who, inexplicably, is asking strangers in your neighborhood for a flammable substance is sure to be unsettling.

2. Low Cell Phone Battery

In the same way I suffer from cell phone separation anxiety, I get anxious when the battery gets low and I don’t have an opportunity to charge it. The concern isn’t so much that there will be an emergency and I need to contact someone. I could just borrow a phone from someone or use a nearby landline for that. No, I get anxious because I’m out of touch. If my battery dies and a friend wants to tell me about something cool going on later that day, I’d be losing out. If someone needs to ask me something urgent, they’ll be inconvenienced until later when I can finally answer their text message. I know it’s ridiculous how attached society has become to their cell phones, but it is still uncomfortable when one of your main modes of communication is out of commission.

1. Icy Roads and Sidewalks

For a large part of the year, I don’t have to worry about slipping and falling suddenly on the sidewalk. Crashing my car is hardly a daily concern. This is, of course, unless it’s the winter and the roads and sidewalks have iced over. In that case, I make a point of walking more carefully, not driving as fast, and taking better notice of any ice in front of me. But no matter what, I end up wiping out on some steps or experience my car sliding when making a turn. At this point I get even more careful and end up taking even more time getting places. It’s worth it not to have an accident. Eventually the weather gets warmer, which tricks me into thinking the ice has gone; but then I make the mistake of riding my bike and skid sideways through some melting snow.

Nicolas is the owner of Specialty Answering Service, a nationwide toll free answering service that caters to both large and small businesses across the country. Specialty provides a Spanish answering service for those companies that need both English and Spanish support.

5 Funny, Strange and Overall Crazy Garage Sale Signs

This is a guest post by Annie Wallace, a mommy blogger who prefers to save money by clicking coupons. Her favorite site to find best coupons online is Coupon Sherpa - check out this page listing Snapfish coupons as an example.

It may be winter, but Spring is just around the corner. The habitual overhaul of our worldly possessions has become a rather traditional part of the changing season in the West, getting rid of all of the bunk that drove us crazy during the long days of November - February, and to make room for the gifts received during the holidays.

Along with that Spring cleaning craze comes the joint donation-selling part of the deal, which can only mean one thing: garage sales. Whether you are a newcomer to the fundamentals of bargaining for a $4 toaster, or you are a seasoned veteran who can battle up a customer up to $25 for an broken umbrella (a fixer-upper, I'm sure!), don't be like the people below and screw up when it comes to the sign. You can bet these babies are sure to catch the wrong kind of attention.

1. Garage Sale Fence Sign

Nothing says "We've been drinking heavily since dawn" like a garage sale sign made of plastic cups stuck in a fence.

On a serious note, did you know that "Cuprocking" (creating masterpieces using plastic cups stuck in chain link fence) is the form of modern street art? I don't know who actually coined the term but of you search Flickr, you'll find wonderful examples!

While in some situations this technique is known as a form of street art, and it can be a fun activity for the kids, you might want to stick with the better known fliers next time. Cool or not, it's still litter.

2. Brand New Dead Things

Well tie me down and beat me with a meat club! Look at that ma, they are sellin' brand new dead things! You just have to love such an enticing method of drawing the crowds to roadkill for sale, and if this was meant to be tongue-in-cheek it is pretty funny. That doesn't mean I would personally be seen speeding my car to get first dibs of the mangled skunk carcass.

3. Too Weird to Be Sold

A weird sign at a garage sale apparently dedicated to selling weird things. At least they are being consistent. Though maybe it would have been a better idea to pop those behind a crate next to the lawn chairs you're swilling beer and counting money from, rather than displaying them where someone could mistake them for merchandise.

4. Awesome Yard Sale!

Remember what your mother always told you: honesty is the best policy. If you don't truly have a yard sale that is going to have the neighborhood talking for years, the vocab downgrade is probably a good idea. But why be so hard on yourself? That mediocre glass isn't half empty, it is half full! Gather together some fireworks, put in an open bar, hire a mariachi band and make this the most kick ass garage sale/neighborhood block party ever!

5. A Better Way to Advertise?

I can totally respect using lingerie to bring the masses running to your selection of broken Atari controllers and maternity pants, really I can. But if you are going to go with the "sex sells" adage, couldn't you have at the very least used a few bras that don't look like my 80-year-old bought for their feisty color and great support? This is the kind of underwear you would be ashamed to be seen in.

Doing it Long Distance- Tips for the Young LDR Couples (Guest)

Another guest post here from Jennifer. It's not the quirkiest of posts, but it is good info. :) Remember, if you have something quirky to share, shoot me an email.

Ninety percent of communication comes from body language, facial expression, energy you unwittingly throw, and tone of voice- and the basis of a relationship depends largely on physical energy- I don’t care who says otherwise.

Words are simply detail modifiers in an otherwise visual and energy based communication. Knowing this, it becomes clear just how dangerous communication can be in long distance relationships- especially if you’re both young and happen to be going out drinking with friends.

We all know phone calls after nights like those, in long distance relationships, generally don’t end well.
If “forced” into long distance communication (and I use the term “forced” loosely, because we really have a choice even if we don’t like to think so), there are factors that must be taken into account when using email and text.

Communication with loving intent must be a priority- that means no yelling, typing in all caps asking WHAT ARE YOU DOING AT THE BAR THIS LATE? or incessant phone calls when it’s clear they are out with friends.

1. Language base is critical.
If you are English speaking, dating another English speaking person, don’t be fooled into thinking you may not be talking two completely different languages to each other. The lack of tonal qualities, emoticons are critical. 

It may seem silly. It’s not. A single sentence that can be taken either as a joke or as an insult can take weeks to repair the long distance emotional damage caused by misunderstanding intent.
That also means no flat answers like: “Yeah. I’m fine.” (Said in monotone).
Don’t do it.

2. Add language differences into the pot and you have a stew ready to blow.
Are you an English speaking person dating someone from say…Borneo… who speaks English as a third language? No slang. No contractions. No exceptions. 

That will avoid a myriad of potential blowouts. In particular, English uses single words for multiple meanings unlike most other languages, leaving the foreign mate in total confusion over your true intent.
Subtle innuendos that Americans catch immediately will blow over the head of a foreigner. 

You know what you are saying and what you feel when you type. Your partner does not. Make your intent clear or risk being sworn at in another language.

3. Avoid, at all cost, having conversations of an emotional nature in text.
It will fail you every time. This one act will destroy a relationship before it even gets off the ground.

All personal conversations that have the potential to carry emotional responses must be on the phone and should be face to face whenever possible. That means if you’re having a “I can’t do this anymore” moment after 5 shots, do not text your partner frantically. 

You’ll regret it in the morning- trust me. Think it over, or wait until you’re in person and face to face.

4. Do not depend on written language as your main mode of communication.
It is altogether lacking of human affect. Your relationship is with a living being, not a computer screen.
Call her a few times a week. Laugh and have fun. Tease her in loving ways. Hear each other’s voices regularly and communicate daily.

5. Go out of your way to be extra kind to one another.
Long distance relationships are painful and can leave each partner hurting for attention. Extra kindness may not be needed during a normal relationship. Long distance is not normal. 
6. Taking turns visiting each other.
If you want this relationship to last, you must see one another face to face as often as humanly possible. 

That means that your partner is the number one force in your life. No exclusions. 
7. Make a habit of sending little notes of love.
This can be as simple as a single smiley face in text on the cell phone at intermittent times of day. Keep them unexpected and fun. Don’t feel ashamed about being so romantic either. It’ll be kept between you and her. 
8. Finally, no sarcasm, ever!
You are attempting to move ninety percent of communication into a ten percent mode. This takes effort, humor, open love and a willingness to go overboard in understanding your mate’s needs.
You love him, right? That being the case, make it your priority, no matter how far away you are from each other.

Reasons not to bring a camel to church

This is reason number 1...

Why not get paid to be a gamer?

 Guest poster Loren here again:

With the recent years of economic decline, people have been forced to explore different career options. Where once, people may have been otherwise stable in their job, comfortable with the price of cars, and stress-free when it came to paying their bills - given the realities of today, they are being forced to look elsewhere for employment and education.

Not only are people looking for ways to pay the bills, but they are also looking for ways to relax and unwind; to escape from the frets and worries of their day-to-day lives. Many times, people escape to the tune of an iPod, computer screen or personal gaming device. You can see why escaping to this virtual world is so appealing. You can be in a completely different realm with the switch of a button.

With all this “escaping” going on, have you ever said to yourself, “For as much time as I spend playing these games, I should be making them!”

Well, why not?

Your current job is mediocre, at best. You’re barely paying the bills. Life as you know it has become one big ol’ ball of stress. 

WHY NOT!?!

Why not do something that you enjoy? Why not take charge of your own life and career, instead of having your career take charge of you? Why not live to play and play to live?

If this is sounding like one of those two o’clock in the morning infomercials, taunting you to call the 1-800 number in the next 30 minutes or you miss your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…rest assured, it’s not.

All this is is an opportunity to ask yourself “why not?”

Why not turn all those hours spent escaping your reality into your reality? 

The best (or worst) part is, you won’t even have to quit your day job. There are many ways you can pursue a career in the electronic gaming industry. One of which, is an online education. 

The online world has an amazing array of subjects and degrees available. You can study anything from art and healthcare, to criminal justice and technology, all while earning an Associate's, Master's or Doctoral degree.

Even within the world of electronic gaming, there is an abundance of career choices. There are coders and programmers, artists and designers, testers, musicians and even producers. 

What you need to do is decide what you’re good at and what you enjoy. Then pair that up with a career option. Take for instance, a programmer. Programmers need to have a long attention span, knowledge of computer programming languages and a background in physics and trigonometry. If math isn’t one of your strong suits, then being a programmer may not be your cup of tea. However, if you organize well, communicate effectively and have a strong knowledge of marketing ideas and concepts, then job as a producer may be a better fit for you. 

The fact is careers in the electronic gaming industry are on the rise. The momentum has sped up and doesn’t look like it’s taking a downturn anytime soon. By taking courses online, you can jump into your studies and continue working your “day job” to cover your necessities; all while moving toward the job of your dreams.

A whole bunch of links

Okay, so I haven't been posting much here obviously and it's partly because I'm putting so much time into Quirky Cookery. Outside of that, though, I've also been swamped with birthday parties and putting off doing everything I need to do to go out of town for a few weeks....which I leave to do in 2 days and I haven't even done laundry, much less packed.

It doesn't mean I don't have a thousand and one links for you, though. No, I'm not exaggerating. Here's several for you and it doesn't even make a dent in what I've found and loved. There's a huge variety here, too, so a little bit for everybody.

http://features.cgsociety.org/newgallerycrits/g34/304034/304034_1210791847_large.jpg October 8, 2010 at 9:16 PM 26 reviews A 20-year-old model photographed as if she were 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 years old & PICDIT October 8, 2010 at 7:27 PM 161 reviews 45 Obvious Photoshop Mistakes That Could Have Been Avoided - Pxleyes.com Blog October 8, 2010 at 6:49 PM 6 reviews string spin - zefrank.com October 8, 2010 at 6:34 PM 17 reviews http://www.shitmykidsruined.com/ October 8, 2010 at 6:32 PM 9 reviews Mark Jenkins // Street Installations October 8, 2010 at 6:20 PM 1812 reviews Memorable Outdoor Advertising October 8, 2010 at 6:18 PM 0 reviews 3 Steps that Transform Sibling Conflict into Sibling Camaraderie | Psychology Today October 8, 2010 at 6:10 PM 1 reviews http://img1.socwall.com/Nature/General/201026031846-17202.jpg October 8, 2010 at 6:07 PM 9 reviews 25 Most Shocking Mom Confessions - Toddler Slideshow on The Stir by CafeMom October 8, 2010 at 6:07 PM 0 reviews Professor Longhair, Big Chief October 8, 2010 at 12:38 PM 0 reviews G.A.Y.S. (Guys Against You Serving) from Thomas Lennon, Sarah Silverman, John Cho, Dave Holmes, Alex Fernie, Justin Donaldson, FOD Team, and Shauna OToole October 8, 2010 at 11:59 AM 1 reviews