The Super Bowl ads of 2010 seemed to have a strange common theme running through a few of them: the normal life (of a man) is boring. Thanks TV, for confirming my decision to not live the normal life. I only hope these commercials work to inspire men instead of depress them. Videos below:
Example 1: Super Bowl Dodge Charger Commercial Moral: Being a man, you must do whatever your girlfriend/wife says (and these will all be things you won’t want to do)… except when it comes to the type of car you drive, which will make everything else bearable.
Rocket launched by Elon Musk's private space transport company, SpaceX.
Though, it sounded exciting, NASA’s Constellation Program, which planned to put astronauts back on the Moon by 2020, relied on outdated technology and was an unsustainable path for space exploration. Finally, NASA is moving past its role as “space station trucker” and Moon-traveling glory-story teller. President Obama announced today that rocket technology will be privatized and NASA will pursue a more flexible path into other more exciting parts of space (ig. nearby asteroids, a lunar moon, or a lunar orbit). Read the rest of this entry »
If he didn’t deserve the name, it wouldn’t be his name. This is how he got the name.
Setting: Earthquake-ravaged Pisco, Peru circa July 2008.
The mission: To build earthquake-resistant sanitation units which included a toilet, shower, and large sink for the less-fortunate residents of Pisco. The unit had been designed, and prototypes had been built. However, documentation containing information on how to construct such units was scarce. The deadline for completion was approaching and plumbing needed to occur on a fast and efficient basis.
Enter: one British and one American voluntario. Mike (aka Mixto) and I had been given the task of organizing a list of all of the materials needed to plumb a sanitation unit. We had a drawing of the unit with no parts labeled, a list in Spanish that may or may not be parts that were bought for previous units, and no experience plumbing. Read the rest of this entry »
Don’t watch the trailer of James Cameron’s new film Avatar. Don’t listen to your friends when they try to explain the plot or why they loved (or hated) the movie. Just look at the poster here, develop your own ideas of what to expect, know that the movie runs 2 hours and 40 mins and go see it in IMAX 3D.
Most people, I take their opinions of movies with a grain a salt. There are few friends whose movie recommendations I hold in high regard. One friend, in particular, has high standards for a five star rating. In his Netflix account, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a movie he has rated over 3 stars (out of 5). So, when he mentioned to me that he saw Avatar a few days earlier, I was curious his opinion. Not having lived under a rock for the past 4 months, I had inevitably seen some of the reportedly $400 million worth of promotion posters and images.
Generally, I was interested in seeing the movie, but I hadn’t heard any reviews and had purposely refrained from watching the trailers as the clips often tell the entire story in the ridiculous hopes of convincing movie-goers that there is more to see. However, I knew that the movie had recently been released and I happen to be more of a $2-movie theater guy, preferring the 80% discount to being one of the first 10 million people to see a movie.
“Tell me it’s good,” I said, hoping he would confirm my gut feeling that this movie would be worth the hype.
“You should see it,” he replied.
“Is it worth the $10 ticket or should I wait for the $2 theater?”
Wrap a gift worth $10 or LESS! You can buy something, or simply bring something from your house. It can be a good gift, a horrible gift, for a girl, a boy, funny, or whatever you want. Funny and ridiculous gifts make the game fun!
All the gifts are placed together on the floor (in “the gift pool”).
Each person playing gets a random number.
#1 chooses any gift, unwraps it, and shows it to everyone.
#2 chooses any new gift, OR can STEAL the gift from #1
If #2 STEALS the gift from #1, then #1 chooses a new gift from the gift pool.
#3 chooses a new gift, OR can STEAL the gift from #1, or #2!
If a gift is stolen from you, you can then STEAL a gift from one other person, but NOT the gift that was just stolen from you, OR you can choose a new gift.
This continues until all the gifts have been distributed to each person playing.
SPECIAL RULE: A gift can only be STOLEN 3 times, and then it cannot be stolen anymore!
In the news, we constantly hear about tragic gun homicides and it seems as though it is increasing every year. The issue of gun control is inevitably discussed when a gun homicide occurs and often stricter gun control laws are proposed as the solution to future such incidents. However, with stricter gun control, can we truly protect ourselves from those who are a threat to our life? In this world, guns are necessary to protect citizens not only from internal threats but also from external enemies.
Gambling, hookers, booze, and staying up all night. That’s the stereotype of Vegas that the Tourism board wants you to live out. Hence the endorsed motto: What happens here, stays here.
Rule #1:Two nights max. Never stay in Vegas more than 3 days, and 2 nights. A) Your body can’t handle, B) Your mind can’t handle it, and C) Your wallet (or purse) definitely can’t handle it. The first day and night are fun. Soak up all the lights, the action, the excitement, and gamble a little. The second day and night are either a crazy blur, or a chance to see what you missed the first day. The third day you’re either hungover, or simply over it. Go home.
Rule #2:If you’re not willing to lose it, don’t gamble it. That’s the only gambling rule you need to stick to. The rest is up to you. Set aside an amount of money you plan to lose in Vegas and don’t gamble a dime more. If you lose it all in the first night, you’re done. Watch your friends or go see a show. If you’re smart, you’ll pace yourself and enjoy the money you spend on the various games that you probably can’t enjoy back at home. Whether it’s $100, or $5,000, set your limit and stick to it.
Rule #3:Stay near the strip. Vegas isn’t cheap, don’t try to do it cheap. Now, you don’t have to spend $300 for a room at the Bellagio, but you definitely want to be close to the strip. I recommend the Tropicana or maybe Hooters. Hooters is a dump, but it’s a comfortable bed a half block from the main area. Tropicana is the cheapest hotel/casino actually on Vegas Blvd. You should be able to get a room for under $80 on a weekday.
If you follow these three simple rules, you will have done Vegas right. Thousands of people regret their time in Vegas for one reason or another. Of the ones I’ve met, it’s because they broke at least one of these three simple rules.
All of the ECP stories are from my unforgettable time spent volunteering in Pisco, Peru with the organization Burners Without Borders. I received an e-mail from one of the main organizers updating us past volunteers on Pisco. If you’re looking for future vacation ideas, I can tell you the 6 weeks I spent volunteering in Peru were 6 weeks that changed my life significantly.
Below is the message from our organizer, Jimmy and the accompanying letter from Harold, the new Director of Pisco Sin Fronteras. Harold is a local tour guide turned community volunteer after the earthquake of 2007. He’s an amazing person not afraid to give completely of himself for the benefit of others.
Hello Pisco Volunteers,
Burners without Borders is off to a great start in 2009. We are confident our impact this year will surpass the amazing accomplishments of 2008.
With all the wonderful accomplishments of last year, the formation of Pisco Sin Fronteras (PSF) is allowing volunteerism to continue in Pisco. One of the largest voids seen in disaster assistance is local long-term reconstruction assistance. PSF was formed from our energy and our efforts. Let’s show our support and keep that Burner energy alive in Pisco!
Harold and the PSF crew have been busy, Harold’s written a letter that we have to pass along. Efforts like this just prove this community is unstoppable.
Don’t watch the trailer of James Cameron’s new film Avatar. Don’t listen to your friends when they try to explain the plot or why they loved (or hated) the movie. Just look at the poster here, develop your own ideas of what to expect, know that the movie runs 2 hours and 40 mins and go see it in IMAX 3D.
If a gift is stolen from you, you can then STEAL a gift from one other person, but NOT the gift that was just stolen from you, OR you can choose a new gift.
SRoeCo Solar