Natalie.ayerdis

When James' roommates offered him storage space in their shared bathroom, they had no idea how passionate he was about rubber ducks...(Read...)

It’s ironic that I hate shaving, yet I’ve ended up with a shaved head and a Van Dyke, which requires me to continue shaving despite the fact that I have a beard.

The alternatives (a ring of hair around the back of my head with a wispy poof of fuzz on top and a full neck-beard, or remaining clean shaven) don’t look good on me. All of the cuts and spots of razor burn don’t either, but at least they make me look tough.

 

 

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"Goodnight Moon" as read by LeVar Burton to Neil deGrasse Tyson at #ArtemisonAudible event for Andy Weir’s new book at #NYCC2017 @Audible..(Read...)

President Donald Trump (Alec Baldwin) speaks with Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Aidy Bryant), Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz (Melissa Villaseñor) of San Juan, Jeff Sessions (Kate McKinnon) and Senator Chuck Schumer (Alex Moffat)...(Read...)

Really, if there’s ever a time in your life that you shouldn’t need to make any effort to improve your appearance, it’s when you’re a baby. Humans are wired to find them adorable.

I know what you’re thinking: “What about ugly babies?”

Yes. There are ugly babies. But it’s not like that baby is getting passed over for promotions, or having trouble making friends. A baby doesn’t care about any of those things. The only impact being unattractive has on a baby’s life is fewer strange people invading their personal space, making kissy faces AT THEM. I doubt that the baby would see that as a problem.

Also, if a baby is ugly enough that it does impede their social interactions, I don’t think giving the baby earrings will help.

 

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Dr. J. Steven Abernathy from Jonesboro, Arkansas digitally added himself to clips from the original Star Wars film to create this hilarious promo video his laser dentistry services...(Read...)

'The LEGO Ninjago Movie' stars Jackie Chan and Olivia Munn use the power of Twitter to answer some common martial arts questions. Jackie also teaches Olivia how to karate chop some pieces of wood and defend herself from knife attacks...(Read...)

This comic was inspired by the official portrait of Steve Jobs, in which he holds his hand in a way no human ever does unless they’re getting their official portrait taken.

I think it’s meant to look like he’s thinking deep thoughts, but to me it looks more like he’s deriving pleasure from tugging his own beard hairs. Or, it kind of looks like he’s smelling his own fist, and he recognizes the smell.

This is why I’ve always related more with Bill Gates. In every Picture of Bill Gates, especially the official pictures he posed for, he looks self-conscious and uncomfortable. I suspect he’s often self-conscious and uncomfortable in real life, so the pictures look more genuine. They look bad and awkward, but genuinely bad and awkward.

 

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Yeah, when my brothers and I started taking an interest in pop and rock music, our mother was deeply concerned about what kind of messages the music in question was sending to her impressionable young boys. I understand her concern, but I was primarily listening to Phil Collins. The main message of his work in the ’80s was that when the woman you love eventually dumps you, try your hardest to win her back, by groveling. Not a great message, but it’s pretty much the opposite bad message of the one she was worried about.

She, meanwhile, loved Johnny Paycheck, and played his music constantly around the house. Here are two of her favorites.

15 Beers – An uptempo number about binge drinking because your girlfriend dumped you for a wealthier man.

Billy Bardot – the stirring tale of a group of friends murdering a narcotics officer.

 

Hey, just so you know, all through the month of September (2017, in case you’re reading this in the far distant future), the Kindle edition (See, in this time period, eBooks are still locked in a format war, and their prices are set differently in different regions, as the global economy has not yet unified under the singular global currency, the “Gleuro.”) of my latest book, Run Program (As of this time, I have not yet written my later works, including the multi-volume series about my as-yet uninvented character, the hard-boiled detective Victor Lamaze. How quaint this primitive version of the world must seem to you.), is on sale in the US for only $1.99.  (Roughly three hundred Gleuro, adjusted for inflation.)

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Haha!..(Read...)

Here it is, the core of the team has assembled! Sure, we’re still missing Mr. Everywhere, and Stabby, but that’s like saying that the Super Friends aren’t really assembled because Robin and Gleek the space monkey aren’t present.

Although, again, I could make the argument that Mr. Everywhere is present, just out of frame, in every panel of the comic.

 

Hey, just so you know, all through the month of September (2017, in case you’re reading this in the far distant future), the Kindle edition (See, in this time period, eBooks are still locked in a format war, and their prices are set differently in different regions, as the global economy has not yet unified under the singular global currency, the “Gleuro.”) of my latest book, Run Program (As of this time, I have not yet written my later works, including the multi-volume series about my as-yet uninvented character, the hard-boiled detective Victor Lamaze. How quaint this primitive version of the world must seem to you.), is on sale in the US for only $1.99.  (Roughly three hundred Gleuro, adjusted for inflation.)

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).

iHome has unveiled a iHome Alexa alarm clock iAVS16, includes a 10-watt speaker, far-field microphones for always-on listening, an LCD display for telling the date, time, and weather, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for streaming music. There’s also a built-in USB port so you can connect a charging cable for your phone. One interesting twist here is that all alarm functions are handled by Alexa, too. You’ll set alarms by asking Alexa or going through a companion app, and you’ll be able to control the alarm with phrases like, "Alexa Snooze. That means you'll need to ask Alexa to set the alarm instead of button-mashing like in olden days. " The product is supposed to launch soon and sell for $149.99, putting it at the top of iHome’s alarm clock range...(Read...)

This is the Bleeding Hand Candle made and sold by Etsy shop CreepyCandles. As it burns, red wax "blood" drips down the fingers, revealing a metal skeleton hand underneath...(Read...)

I was a runner at one time. I was up to three miles a day. It was when I was living deep in the farm country of Eastern Washington, during my brief stint in radio. I would run a mile and a half out then turn back, jogging past the fields of grapes and asparagus, and pretend not to notice the irritated glances of the field crews.

One day, when I was within sight of the mile and a half mark, I stepped in a hole and badly rolled my ankle. I tore loose all of the ligaments on the left side of my left ankle. I then got to limp the mile and a half back and pretend not to notice the open mockery and laughter of the field crews.

For some reason, I never went back to running.

 

Hey, just so you know, all through the month of September (2017, in case you’re reading this in the far distant future), the Kindle edition (See, in this time period, eBooks are still locked in a format war, and their prices are set differently in different regions, as the global economy has not yet unified under the singular global currency, the “Gleuro.”) of my latest book, Run Program (As of this time, I have not yet written my later works, including the multi-volume series about my as-yet uninvented character, the hard-boiled detective Victor Lamaze. How quaint this primitive version of the world must seem to you.), is on sale in the US for only $1.99.  (Roughly three hundred Gleuro, adjusted for inflation.)

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).

This comic is based directly—l mean word-for-word directly—on an actual moronic conversation I had with a friend. He really felt this way about the first Abrams Star Trek movie, for the reason listed here, and admitted to not liking Bond movies either. The guy is still a friend, and is actually proud of this conversation, which I think proves that some people are just born fundamentally wrong.

 

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).

Video from Houston before and after Harvey shows devastating flooding, with water concealing some of the surrounding area and deluging highways...(Read...)

This one was inspired by a trip to McDonald’s, where I saw little plastic pouches marked “Fancy Ketchup.” Good to know they weren’t putting any ol’ low-quality tomato pulp in plastic packets and serving it to their patrons, like Burger King would.

On a semi-related note: a long, long time ago I worked at a Skippers (a chain of fried seafood restaurants that used to be everywhere in the western United States, but now seems to be down to 14 locations). The manager would occasionally bus tables himself when it was busy (which was good). If, on the table, he found paper sugar or salt packets that were soaked with water, coffee, pop, or any other unidentified fluid, he would lay them out on a table in the back room to dry out so he could put them out for other customers to use (which was bad).

 

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The newest licensed Buffy the Vampire Slayer tabletop game was released last year to much cheering from the fans, and for good reason. It’s a pretty game that looks and quickly feels loyal to the source material. Fans of the series old and new have good reason to celebrate a great addition to their collectibles shelf.

But here’s the thing, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Board Game is actually one of the best cooperative games around. Somehow through the magic of keeping the game feeling like a series of Buffy episodes, with the gang working together to solve mysteries and fight baddies, a game emerges that shines as a wonderful example of the best that co-op can be.

How it Plays Out

Buffy is a game that plays as an unfolding story, where lesser foes are taken down to reveal the “big bad” at the end. As the first three monsters of the week are sequentially dealt with they leave behind clues which are be examined to reveal part of how the big bad can be defeated. Characters move about the board fighting vampires and demons in order to defend innocents, but this protection business is complex. Demons can’t be easily fought without special weapons and both types of foes move independently on their turns, coming after new prey. At its most fundamental level this is a game about knowing your enemies and their behavior because lives are on the line. The deaths of innocents stack up against your team on the board’s Apocalypse Track, just as damage does, potentially spelling your doom.

From the night-to-night of defending the weak, to the larger problems of taking down the emerging threats, the game has a hectic feel. Things are made worse at the end of some player turns as event cards are revealed, amping up the tension after each little victory. Add to all this the fact that taking down the bigger bad guys comes down to having just the right items and getting lucky on draws and the game at first feels almost unwinnable and cruel.

Cooperation: The Only Way to Win

The main reason the game works as a compelling co-op is that it requires players to choose from a range of ways to help fight the madness that is this game’s natural state. From beating up baddies, to defeating monsters of the week or big bad villains, to healing the group, searching for needed items, or just trying to dig up a useful magical artifact, players are given almost too much to do. Characters can even head over to a useful spot on the board to take advantage of the location’s unique special ability. One really important mechanic here is the ability to pass items to other characters. This makes spending time unearthing just the right item needed to solve the current conundrum work, since your friends are able to come over and reap the fruits of your labor.

Ultimately, skill at the game comes down to coordinating your efforts between all of these helpful activities. The game is fun because even in a few rounds of play you begin to realize that winning is about knowing when it’s a good time to fight and when it’s a good time to hit the books, preparing for the next big showdown.

Why is This So Fun?

There are a number of reasons this game just works as a cooperative tabletop. The aforementioned plethora of options means that nearly everything you do is about assisting someone else. While there are moments of individual glory, there are often far more that are just about setting the next person up for their own moment to shine. What’s more, winning means carefully navigating these choices, because help isn’t really helping when it’s not all that useful. Cooperation really is the game.

Buffy really feels like a collective, rather than personal experience. Individual characters do not have their own health tracks. Instead, each level of damage is inflicted against the whole group as it pushed them closer to losing. Add to this the mechanics of collective winning and the game the strong sensation of a team effort.

It’s also a blast because at every opportunity the game attempts to build suspense and tension. Each player turn and game round ends in the potential for bad stuff to happen. Each action feels important, as time is always of the essence.  Another example is the main mechanic to determine success in endeavors, which is the draw of a card and the consultation of an arcane symbol at the bottom. While there are only three symbols that can come up, there’s still a bit of hunting for the icon and checking to see if it’s the one you need. This moment can get super tense, with deafening silence as anticipation of win or loss builds, particularly near the end of the game.

The game’s general feeling is one of danger. The group often gets hurt, innocents die, and you never know what the next card will inflict on Sunnydale. Magical artifacts, which are the most powerful items in the game, are sometimes cursed, making gearing up a bit risky as well. While each choice can be a careful calculation of risk vs. reward, the game generally has the feel of a group plunging into the abyss and seeing what happens. Some will be bold, others will be doubtful, but that interaction is the fun of co-op.

Overall, this is a top notch game if you’re up for some intense cooperative fun, where every success (and failure) is suspenseful and allies really feel like they’ve made an important effort towards taking down the bad guys. Plus if you’re a fan of the series, this is probably a must play anyway. Win, win.

If you’ve had fun with the Buffy the Vampire Slayer tabletop game too, let us know about your experiences in the comments!

Image Credits: Fox Television Classics

Tina Fey reacts to the events of Charlottesville and offers a plan for how to deal with future Alt-Right protests. Colin and Michael tackle super orgasms and two ninety-year-olds getting married...(Read...)

When you look at my family what do you see? You probably note a mom, a dad, and three little boys. Along with the genders and relative ages I’m sure you note the different skin tones. My family is a rainbow. And it is our mixed colors that make us beautiful. Can you imagine a rainbow that was all red or all blue or all green? It would be pretty in its own way because each individual color is beautiful. But a color on its own is not nearly as spectacular as the whole spectrum streaming the sky. It’s the same with people. We are all beautiful in our own individual way. But together, the results are remarkable. I am grateful for my family’s diversity & for the diversity that graces our country. Our unique external and internal colors are what make this world spectacular.

I love and respect those that are like me, and I love and respect those that are different. And until lately I thought that was enough. Growing up in a very diverse area of California I didn’t encounter much racism until I was an adult. I am grateful for the loving, accepting environment I was raised in, but because of this limited upbringing I have been naive and possibly even apathetic about the issue of race. I truly thought racism was just an ugly part of our past. Now I know that is not the case. I cannot stand idly by anymore. The world needs more than happy thoughts and good intentions. It is time to fight racism and it is time to embrace diversity.

It is time to act, to work together to build a society founded on equality, love, and respect. A society that not only tolerates or accepts diversity, but a society that empowers and depends on each individual’s unique differences. This is a world with limitless possibilities. This is the world that I want my children to be a part of.

Today’s world is much more global than the world I grew up in. Issues are no longer contained to the ideologies and behaviors of our family, friends, and neighbors. We are affected by the thoughts and actions of others world wide. Because of this our impact must be felt not just locally but globally. There’s always the question of what to do in this battle against racism. Knowing how to handle this delicate topic can be confusing and a little overwhelming. Let me reassure you, doing something is always better than doing nothing. It is the lack of action that allows and seemingly encourages racism.

How to Fight Racism and Embrace Diversity

Teach the Children:

If our children are the future than the best way to build a better future is by raising aware, sensitive, and unbiased children. If you want to fight racism than you must teach your children. Kids are sponges. They so quickly absorb the ideologies, beliefs, customs, and traditions of those around them. If you demonstrate racial tolerance and openly celebrate diversity it will spread like a wild fire.

Celebrate Diversity:

One way to introduce the topic is by celebrating what makes each person unique. Start by pointing out the what makes your child unique. Then highlight the differences within your own family and among others you know. Allow your child to recognize the different sizes, shapes, and colors that people come in. Then point out the beauty in each variable. Also, note the internal differences that contribute to our diverse rainbow, our varying tastes, interests, hobbies, passions, and personalities.

Embrace New Cultures:

The more you expose your children to diversity the more they will grow to love it. Celebrate your own culture while embracing other cultures in your home. My family celebrates St. Nick’s Day as part of my Swiss heritage and later in December we celebrate Kwanzaa to recognize my husband’s African heritage. We have also embraced Boy’s Day from Japan, Cinco de Mayo from Mexico, Hawaii’s Lei Day, Samoa’s White Sunday, and China’s Hey Fat Choi. When we celebrate these holidays we talk about the cultures, we make traditional dishes, and we locate the country of origin on our globe. This is a fun way to make the worlds seem a little smaller.

Learn About New Places and New People:

Another way we teach our diversity in our home is through travel. Before we visit a new place we educate our children on its location, language, and culture. As we travel we make a point to get to know the place we are visiting and its people on more than a superficial level. We try to speak their language, eat their food, go in to their neighborhoods, and adapt to their ways of life. My children don’t usually go on these getaways but we always bring back gifts and food that are unique to our destination. These simple acts help our children feel connected to the places we travel and to the people that live there.

Offer Support:

It’s great to love diverse peoples but it’s even better to let those people feel your love. Let your friends and family know you support them and you love them. Being the minority can feel so lonely and scary. You don’t always know exactly who you can turn to. Offer comfort and support, be a shoulder to cry or a hand to hold din times of need, if nothing else, let them know that they are loved.

Speak Up:

Don’t hide your voice and don’t hide your convictions. I’m not asking you to jump on a soap box and preach your idealogies but don’t be afraid to let others know how you believe. When topics of race come up in natural conversation you can defend your convictions and defend those who need defending. Look for opportunities to promote diversity and a love for all people.

Social Media:

Social media is one of the easiest and least intrusive ways to show support for a good cause and help fight racism. You can share that awesome article you read, or publicly like that accurate meme you saw or update your profile picture with a message of peace.

Watch Your Words:

Be mindful of your words. Just because you don’t use derogatory terms doesn’t mean that your language doesn’t hide misleading content. Make sure that the way you speak about people coincides with your beliefs and sends a clear picture of how you feel regarding diversity and racism.

Don’t Tolerate:

If you hear someone using racist language, even in humor, please stop it. It isn’t funny. Such words are hurtful and they open the door to hate. It can be hard to make a moral stand but it is incredibly important that you do. You can be kind and loving while firmly stating that you do not approve of derogatory language. Many times, people aren’t aware of the offense their words cause and they appreciate the awareness.

Link Up:

Anti-racism groups are spreading all over the country and online. Connect with like-minded people to show your support, fight racism, and offer help in any way you feel comfortable.

Together we can fight racism with consistent love, awareness, and by following these simple steps. By working together we can build a world worthy of our children; all of our uniquely beautiful children. Today, I commit to stand for all people. Will you stand with me?

The post How to Fight Racism and Embrace Diversity in Your Home appeared first on How Does She.

My brother came for a visit, saw the computer I was using to create the comic, and was so disgusted with it that he assembled a computer 10 times more powerful literally out of junk he had laying around his bedroom.  It was the most elegant combination of a very nice gesture and a tremendous personal insult I can possibly imagine.

 

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They say that every time the blues man John Lee Hooker performed, he would insist on getting paid before the show, in cash. Then, during the show, the whole time he was performing, he would keep his pay for the gig and a loaded pistol in his hat.

I’ve always chosen to believe that Abe Lincoln followed the same policy.

 

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Ric and I have discussed what we would be if the Mad Max future came to pass. The most realistic option seems to be, “Victim who perished in the first few hours of the ’poxyclypse.”

If we survived beyond that, we’d probably be either, “Pith helmet-wearing gyrocopter captain,” or “Guy in torn tuxedo who MCs Thunderdome.”

That said, I’d totally watch a movie about those two guys striking up an unlikely partnership and roaming the wasteland looking for food.

 

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Let’s be fair. It’s easy to poke holes in the design of Imperial AT-ATs, but we all know that they were made the way they were for one, and only one reason; because George Lucas thought they would look cool.

He was right.

 

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"San Diego Comic Con! One of the best events on the geek calendar so of course we had to make our pilgrimage and try to film with some of the best cosplayers & costumers celebrating their favourite characters!"..(Read...)

This is going to change your life. Having groceries delivered directly to your doorstep. Say hello to AmazonFresh.

It’s grocery delivery service and it’s as easy as pointing and clicking the items you want from their site and then selecting when you want the delivery. No more running around from store to store, fighting the crowds, or dealing with crowded parking lots. What a refreshing way to shop!

My first order was placed on a Monday afternoon at 2pm and my groceries were on my doorstep before 7am on Tuesday. If you order early enough in the day, they can often do same-day delivery.

Before 7am is the time I chose but there were a wide variety of times to choose from. You can choose to be present for your delivery (I was present, just not awake) if preferred. Shipping is free with all orders over $40 and a monthly subscription.

I realize not everyone is a food blogger and doesn’t go to at least one (but usually two or three) grocery stores every.single.day. but even before I was blogging, I was constantly running to the grocery store for odds and ends, things that I forgot, and when I’m at the store rather than sticking to my list, I impulse buy things that I don’t need. With summer upon us and San Diego being a touristy town, the less I am out driving around and fighting the crowds, the better off I am.

With AmazonFresh I ordered things that I know I always use and need, both as a baker and a mom. Among other things like paper products and pet supplies, I ordered Arthur Flour, C & H Sugars, McCormick Vanilla Extract, Pam Olive Oil spray for summertime grilling, and Mary’s Crackers, green apples, and strawberries for snacks. The AmazonFresh prices on flour and sugar were about half of what I usually pay in my local grocery store which was awesome.

I also ordered Happy Belly Eggs, an AmazonFresh exclusive, as a test. Would the eggs arrive broken? No they didn’t and were all intact – very impressive.

The Silk Cashewmilk had zero leakage and the fruit was perfectly fresh and not blemished. Everything was extremely well-packed on ice and was very cold.

To help spread the love to my readers, AmazonFresh is giving a $100 credit to use on anything you want! To enter, comment below telling me what your grocery store staples are or what you’d definitely order on AmazonFresh. Giveaway is open to all. Ends August 2, 2017. Winner will be contacted by email. If you don’t see your comment appear immediately, it’s because I have to manually approve all comments. No need to make a duplicate comment.

Post is brought to you by AmazonFresh. The text and opinions expressed are my own. #AmazonFresh 

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY EMAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

The post Amazon Fresh $100 Summer Sizzler Giveaway appeared first on Averie Cooks.

Star Wars but the Lightsabers Sound like Owen Wilson saying Wow..(Read...)

I seem to vaguely remember that I did have a dream about Tim Gunn building a submarine.

I do want to be thin, smart, successful, polite, well dressed, and dignified. I think, on good days, I manage to pull off polite.

 

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