Tips for Wasting Productive Time on the Internet
A Dummy's Puppet's Ramblings - from Chip Martin, Puppet
Mannequin American views and guidelines on marketing/PR trends, news from the world of puppets and ventriloquism, bits of humor and other interesting but useless information. I post every Tuesday and Friday. For information on this puppet's background, go to http://www.dale-brown.com/.
Entertaining Holiday Cheer from PC vs. Mac
Last year Apple charmed us with an unexpected Mac vs. PC holiday ad, produced in the style of seasonal classics like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
This year the animated Mac and PC characters return in "Tree Trimming" and "I Can Do Anything," two spots with low-key cheer reminding us how petty PC is, and how Mac just can't help being awesome and warmhearted.
What's Wrong With This Picture?
Wendell's inability to wrap his mind around the concept of 'curtains'... sadly ruined the illusion for most... and badly hindered his career as a professional puppeteer.
(Submitted by Doug Preis)
My Recommendations for the Best Ways to Waste Time on the Web During the Holidays (or at your office)
If you're reading this you're probably seeking ways to waste some time during these sluggish holiday times. Trust me, it's difficult to go to any of the sites listed below without stopping to waste what otherwise could be valuable, productive time. But they're fun.
1. TRAVELER'S IQ
My newest favorite way to waste time and learn how bad I am at geography. Quick, can you point to Bucharest on a map? Traveler's IQ, from Travelpod is really worth a visit. Be warned, it's addictive.
2. SOMEECARDS
Someecards dishes out daily humor in the form of e-cards, such as this heart wrencher: "You'll know I'm your Secret Santa if you don't get anything."
3. MISTLETOE MAKEOVER
Hours can be wasted on trying new looks at Sephora's Mistletoe Makeover. Here's the latest version of my most feminine side.
4. YOUTUBE
A classic choice, YouTube continues to be the leader for user-generated content. Click on the link to see some of my favorites.
5. COLLEGEHUMOR
Despite IAC's paring back its content division, CollegeHumor appears safe -- and that's a good thing, considering it's been one of the more consistently funny online-video programmers in a crowded category.
6. FAIL BLOG
Sometimes you just need to feel good about your own minimal competence. That's when Fail Blog comes in handy. Photos and videos of things that went wrong.
Viral Videos You Should Have Seen
As long as I'm supplying you with fun ways to waste time, check out these videos if you haven't seen them yet.
1. 'WASSUP 2008'
12.5 MILLION; UPLOADED OCT. 24
This video reassembled the cast of the original Budweiser ad for a pro-Obama spoof that went viral. I'm not political ... but this ad is very funny, (I laughed out loud) so I included it among my '08 favorites.
2. 'WHY EVERY GUY SHOULD BUY THEIR GIRLFRIEND WII FIT'
10.6 MILLION; UPLOADED MAY 5
One ad-agency couple, a handicam, a "Wii Fit," and a deplorable trend is born.
3. AWARENESS TEST
MORE THAN 10 MILLION; UPLOADED MARCH 10
This brilliant PSA for Transport for London encouraged motorists to start seeing cyclists. It truly is a "brilliant" ad.
4. 'CHRISTIAN THE LION'
34.4 MILLION; UPLOADED JUNE 28
A video from the 1970's of the reunion of a wild lion with the men who raised it got well over 30 million views 30 years after the incident was filmed.
5. ‘JINGLE BOMBS"
More than 20 million hits made this holiday tune an instant classic from Jeff Dunham and Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Interestingly, according to Dunham, the majority of hits come from outside of the U.S.
No Blog on December 26
Although I'll be in the office on December 26th, I will not be making a post to this blog ... primarily because I know that you, my readers, will probably be in Cancun, or Ft. Myers, or Paradise Island, or some other place that is definitely not your office. So I'll be working on my December 30th post. But don't expect much, because I plan to be drinking and feeling sorry for myself while developing material for that post.
Christmas on Sesame Street
Tough economic times won't stop the Sesame Street gang from enjoying a festive holiday meal.