Zack's Blog

Hand Sanitizers Don't Really Work:

2011-04-22T11:55:00.005-04:00

Well...according to the FDA, they don't completely. Hand sanitizers do kill some germs, but when it comes to protecting you against things like E. coli, salmonella, H1N1, staph infections and the flu...they aren't as useful as you think.

On their website, the FDA wrote, "Consumers are being misled if they think these products you can buy in a drug store ...will protect them from a potentially deadly infection. The FDA has not approved any [of these] products."

They state that washing your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds is still their recommended method for avoiding bacterial and viral infections.

FDA

Lost Luggage:

2011-03-31T18:16:00.014-04:00

Even though almost all of the airlines charge baggage fees now, that doesn't mean they're doing any better at actually making sure you and your luggage arrive in the same place at the same time. In fact they're getting worse. The data is in from 2010 and lost luggage went up 6% from 2009. Worldwide, airlines lost 29.4 million bags plenty of which people paid $25 and up to check. That's the equivalent of 12 mishandled bags for every 1,000 passengers or, they lost the equivalent of one bag for every person in Texas and Kentucky combined. (ABC News)

Five Random Facts About St. Patrick's Day:

2011-03-17T17:27:00.002-04:00

#1.) St. Patrick Wasn't Irish. We've said it before and we'll say it again, St. Patrick wasn't actually Irish! He was born in Scotland or Wales, and brought to Ireland as a slave. Also, his name wasn't Patrick, his given name was Maewyn.

#2.) Until 1970, Irish Bars Closed On St. Patrick's Day. In 1903, St. Patrick's Day was named a national holiday in Ireland. But in Ireland, bars have to close on national holidays. That was overturned in 1970.

#3.) America Is Far More Irish Than Ireland. There are more than 35 million Americans with Irish ancestry. The population of Ireland is 4.2 million.

#4.) Four Out Of Five Americans Wear Green Today. And about 20 million, or about one out of 13, go to a bar.

#5.) It's Really Easy To Dye The Chicago River. The Chicago River is dyed green for St. Patrick's Day, and it only takes 40 pounds of green vegetable dye to do it. That green lasts for a few days.

You can get the full list HERE.

Five Ways to Save Money on Gas:

2011-03-14T10:10:00.006-04:00

Gas has gone up more than 40 cents in the last month, and according to AAA, the national average is $3.54 a gallon.

You probably know that having enough air in your tires is important, because it can improve your gas mileage by about 3%. But here are five more sneaky ways to save money on gas according to Readers Digest.

#1.) Buy Gas at Night or Early in the Morning. Gas stations store their gas underground, and it's denser when the ground is cold. So you actually get slightly more gas for your money if you pump before the sun comes up.

#2.) Try to Hit the Pump Midweek. Gas prices tend to rise on Thursday, then drop back down on Tuesday or Wednesday.

#3.) Don't Get Gas Until You Need To. It's heavy, so driving with a full tank burns more fuel. But don't drive around on fumes either.

#4.) Don't Use High-Octane Gas If You Don't Need It. It seems obvious, but apparently some people still think high-octane gas is good for their low-octane cars. Unless you're driving a high-performance car, a motorcycle, a truck, or an SUV, the higher octane won't improve your car's performance, and it's a waste of money.

#5.) Don't Drive Aggressively. According to the Department of Energy, 60 miles per hour is the most fuel-efficient speed on the highway for most cars.

And according to a recent article on MSNBC.com, speeding can cost the equivalent of between 21 and 71 cents per gallon.

NASA Finds Solution To Global Warming:

2011-03-02T09:48:00.002-05:00

This seems just a little short-sighted to me. According to researchers at NASA, in theory, we could completely fix global warming with a Nuclear War. Not a big one. Doesn't have to be big, a small one will do.

They say that a small nuclear war would lead to so many atmospheric changes that it would reduce the planet's temperature by an average of 2.25 degrees.

Sideffects are that it would lead to widespread famine because it would ruin the world's crops, and also probably lead to widespread disease because of all the waste released...but atleast we fixed Global Warming.
(Full Story)

10 Things Showing The Econonomy is Turning Around:

2011-02-23T17:50:00.003-05:00

Kiplinger.com just put out a list of indicators that the economy is on the way back up, and the big one is that people are finally replacing their old underwear. When the economy started tanking, underwear sales fell. Now they've finally stabilized.

Here are some more of the signs that things are very slowly getting better . . .

People are buying desserts, appetizers, and Starbucks again. When money gets tight, people tend to order just entrees at restaurants and ACTUALLY brew their own coffee. Now appetizers, desserts, and Starbucks are back.

Fewer depressing Google searches. The number of people Googling things like "unemployment benefits," "Social Security," and "unemployment office" spiked in July of 2010, and has been going down ever since.

People are golfing again. When the economy went down, so did the number of people playing golf around the country. The number isn't going up again yet, but it's stopped going down.

Breast implants are back. Elective cosmetic surgery went way down during the recession apparently most people deemed buttock implants less important than paying the gas bill. Now breast implants, nose jobs, and lipo are going back up. Hooray!

Full List

It's Official Email Is For Old People:

2011-02-08T10:54:00.002-05:00

Every time you send an email, just realize this: When you hit the send button, you might as well eat dinner at 4:30 P.M., hitch up your pants, and move to Florida to play shuffleboard. Because email is now officially for Old People.

According to a new study, between December of 2009 and December of last year, the amount of email use by people aged 12 to 17 dropped 59%. For 25 to 34 year olds, it dropped 18%.

In fact, email use dropped for every age group except people over 55. People 55 to 64 spent 22% more time emailing. For people 65 and over, email use went up 28%.

Instead of emailing, younger people prefer to communicate every other way. Except actually talking to each other, naturally. Facebook, instant messaging, social media, and texting all went up as email use went down.

(TechCrunch)

Big Game Myths:

2011-02-01T09:49:00.007-05:00

There are a lot of myths out there about the Big Game. Like it leads to heart attacks! It leads to domestic violence! It leads to people gorging on avocados? Well here are some of the myths you may...or may not have heard of.

1. Everyone flushing the toilet at halftime does not cause sewer problems. It's been at least a century since sewage systems could be overwhelmed by something like a halftime bathroom rush. We're in the clear.

2. Domestic violence does not increase. This is an old myth that says the combination of drunkenness and disappointment leads to an increase in men attacking their wives. No statistics have ever backed this up.

3. We don't eat half of the country's avocado supply on Big Game Sunday. There's a popular rumor that Americans eat half of the avocados consumed in a year as part of their game meal. It's not that high, but it is a 3% of the total.

4. Tens of millions of viewers will watch the Big Game, but is it the world’s most-watched TV event? The NFL describes it as the “most-anticipated annual event in the world,” but the key word is “annual.” The NFL reports audiences around 150 million in the U.S. But according to the Nielsen Company, 4.7 billion people tuned in to the 2008 Games in Beijing, including 214 million Americans.

5. It would seem to make sense to visit Disney World while millions of Americans are glued to the tube. But is it true that Disneyland is deserted on game day? Not according to Mike Hyland, director of public relations for Disneyland Resort. The park is still busy on Big Game Sunday, and has plenty of big-screen TVs to show the game.

6.The outcome of the Big Game predicts the stock market’s performance for the coming year. The Big Game Indicator says that if a team from the old American Football League wins, stock markets drop; if one from the old National Football League wins, the markets rise. Things get tricky when expansion teams or teams that have relocated make it to the big game, but many still have links to former AFL or NFL teams or cities.

7. It might cause heart attacks. There's a new study that just came out that hasn't been debunked yet that states the Big Game might lead to more heart attacks. The study analyzed heart attacks in L.A. from Big Game Sunday 1980, when the L.A. Rams lost and from 1984, when the L.A. Raiders won. After the loss, there was a significant increase in heart attacks after the win, there wasn't.
You can read more about the study here.

The Snow Day Calculator:

2011-01-31T11:24:00.004-05:00

If you're like me are tired of waiting until the last minute to find out whether if you have a snow day, I may have your answer. It's called the "Snow Day Calculator."

Enter your zip code, your type of school, the number of snow days you've had so far this year, the leniency of your school's administration, whether there's a special event the next day, and whether you're in a mountainous region.

There's also something where you enter the level of 'hype' for a snow day . . . meaning how much kids, teachers, administration, and the media are talking about a possible storm. Then click 'Calculate,' and the site grabs data from weather.gov.

The site was built by a 16-year-old 11th-grader in Watchung, New Jersey named David Sukhin. He came up with the algorithm when he was in the sixth grade, and he says it's never failed him once. I guess we'll find out in the next day or two how accurate it is.

Your Boss Is Judging You By Your Messy Desk:

2011-01-26T13:03:00.002-05:00

As you let a mountain of papers, supplies, and empty Red Bull cans pile up on your desk at work, just know this . . . they're judging you. They're all judging you. According to a new survey by OfficeMax, having a messy desk could actually be holding back your career.

53% of people surveyed say they think negative things about coworkers who have messy desks.

40% . . . including managers and bosses . . . say that they think a messy desk is a sign that the person is lacking in other aspects of their job too.

13% of people say they have a lower overall opinion of their messy coworker as a human being. 4% say it's a sign you're really bad at your job. And 3% think a messy desk is a sign that you're not smart.

46% of the people surveyed said that they're planning to try to keep their work space cleaner this year than they did last year.

77% say that when things are messy or cluttered, it hurts their productivity. And 9% say that being surrounded by a mess makes them Gain Weight.

(PR Newswire)

People Would Rather Give Up Eating Than the Internet

2011-01-25T17:18:00.008-05:00

Internet addiction isn't just for those of us stuck on World of Warcraft and chat room anymore. According to a new Nielsen survey, if you had to give up cable, your cell phone, the Internet, or FOOD . . . you'd do anything to keep your Internet.

49% of people said they'd give up cable. 37% said they'd give up their cell phone. 8% said they'd stop eating rather than give up any of the three. And only 6% said they'd give up the Internet.

I know the Internet and technology is addicting and hard to step away from sometimes...but really? Well at least you'll have pictures of food to stare at online while you slowly starve yourself.

(Full Story)

Things Children Born This Year Will Never Know:

2011-01-07T16:10:00.005-05:00

Hey, who's in the mood to feel TRAGICALLY OLD? Here's a list of 12 things that children born this year will NEVER know.

#1.) Video tapes.

#2.) Travel agents.

#3.) Movie rental stores.

#4.) Paper maps.

#5.) Wired landline phones.

#6.) Paying for long distance.

#7.) Newspaper classifieds.

#8.) The evening news.

#9.) CDs.

#10.) Film cameras.

#11.) Yellow Pages and White Pages.

#12.) Catalogs.

(MoneyTalks News)

FOUR WEIRD THINGS AMERICANS BELIEVE:

2010-08-26T07:42:00.002-04:00

#1.) THAT HUMANS AND DINOSAURS LIVED TOGETHER. We don't have the NATIONWIDE stats on this, but according to a recent survey by the University of Texas, that's what 30% of Texans believe.

#2.) THAT THE SUN REVOLVES AROUND THE EARTH. Hopefully this has gone down in the last ten years, but in a 1999 Gallup poll, 18% of Americans said the Earth was the center of the universe. In case you're keeping track . . . Galileo proved that wrong about 400 years ago.

#3.) ONE-THIRD OF AMERICANS BELIEVE IN GHOSTS. That's according to a poll the Associated Press did for Halloween in 2007. One-third of people ALSO said they believed in UFO's, and 19% believed in WITCHCRAFT.

#4.) THAT THE MOON LANDING WAS A HOAX. It's been over 40 years since NASA landed the first man on the moon, and polls consistently show that 6% of Americans still think they faked it.

RIDE UP NORTH:

2010-08-11T09:36:00.018-04:00

So this past weekend went for a ride to the old stomping grounds of Littleton. Was a beautiful ride, had a lot of fun, even ran into Border Patrol. Turns out they were looking for Fronk...not sure why exactly. Something about counterfeit Canadian Bacon. Anywho, here are some pictures from the trip.

10 THINGS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS BUY USED:

2010-07-01T17:37:00.003-04:00

According to U.S. News And World Report a lot of things are a much better deal if you buy them used . . . so that's what you should always do. They suggest 21 things, but here are the Top Ten . . .

#1.) DVDs and CDs: Because they'll play like new if they were taken care of. And if they're NOT perfect, there are still ways to remove the scratches and make them playable.

#2.) Books: Because . . . why not? Nothing really changes from a new book to a used book. Also, there's this thing called the LIBRARY.

#3.) Video Games: Since kids get sick of them really fast, or beat the game quickly, you can find cheap used versions online right after the release date. And most video game stores have a 'used' shelf.

#4.) Clothing For Special Occasions: Most people take really good care of formal clothing, but only wear it once or twice. It might sound strange, but if you hit up thrift stores, yard sales, or go online, you can get sweet deals on used formal-wear.

#5.) Jewelry: Jewelry is marked down a TON when it's re-sold . . . even diamonds. It's actually pretty ridiculous. You just have to be willing to hit estate sales or half-way reputable pawn shops.

#6.) Ikea Furniture: Don't bother assembling that crap on your own. Pick it up for dirt cheap . . . or even free . . . on Craigslist. Right now's a good time too, since college students are changing apartments and cities, and ditching their stuff.

#7.) Toys: Just like the video games, it's pretty rare these days for a kid's toy to amuse the little guy for very long. So go online, or just ask neighbors, friends, and family to trade with you.

#8.) Maternity and Baby Clothes: This one's sort of like the formal wear. There's such a brief window when the stuff actually fits, and you can save a ton of money. If the 'used' part freaks you out, friends and family may be the way to go.

#9.) Musical Instruments: When you're a beginner, there's just no reason to shell out for a new instrument. Because the lessons aren't cheap either.

#10.) Pets: Professional breeders and pet stores are expensive. You're looking at several hundred dollars, or even several thousand dollars. And occasionally, those places are shady.

New Ink

2010-06-21T20:23:00.004-04:00

Here is the the tattoo I got from Asylum Studios Live on the air. Check them out online or better yet if you're ever near Boston you can stop in at
Boston Harley in Everett, MA and see them. They do an amazing job and they got my tattoo all stenciled up and ready to go in no time at all. Big thanks to Marco and Eric for helping to make Bike Week 2010 amazing.

Before You Were Hot:

2010-06-07T17:11:00.003-04:00

Yes, back in the day I had huge coke bottle glasses, horrible yellow and red striped shirts, and a rat tail or bowl cut depending on which decade it was . . . but as an adult, I actually turned out not half bad. And for many of you who were plagued with the inability to look good at a young age, you can now show the world your attractive face via the internet.

The site's called Before You Were Hot, and lets you submit two photos: One of how bad you used to look . . . and one of how good you look now. The creators take the best before-and-afters and post them for the world to see.

You can check out the website here.

CRAZY DRAMMER:

2010-06-02T14:44:00.005-04:00

Here is a cover band called Rick K. & The Allnighters, and their drummer likes to go nuts. The sound of the drumming doesn't sound that crazy, but his facial expressions and movements are enough.

Click Here if the video doesn't load.

NEW BIKE:

2010-05-19T11:05:00.010-04:00

So I finally upgraded and got a "real bike" according to Fronk. No more training wheels for me.

Up until now, I had been riding a 94 Suzuki Intruder 800. Was a great bike to learn on and I had a lot of fun getting used to being on two wheels. What to do...what not to do. Overall it was a great bike, but it was time for an upgrade.

So Fronk & I headed down to National Powersports in Pembroke to take a look at some bikes. I had been to National Powersports plenty of times before, but not as a customer. The entire staff is amazing. I felt welcome, comfortable, and at ease. At no point did I feel like someone was going to try and coax me into something.

Walked around and looked at a bunch of bikes...and they have A LOT of bikes. Don't believe me? Stop in and check it out. Looked at some Suzuki’s, Victory’s, Yamaha’s. Glanced at a Harley, remembered what my salary was and kept walking.

And then I saw her, shinning sleek and sexy...Honda VTX 1300S. Plenty of chrome to keep me distracted, spoke wheels, after market Cobra Pipes...such an awesome bike. Sounds mean, a lot more comfortable, runs great and it's definitely everything I wanted. Put some saddle bags on her and she was ready to go. Been riding everywhere since I got her.

BIG thanks to Nate, Davey, Chris and everyone over at National Powersports. I'm looking forward to a long summer of riding on my new (kick-ass) bike. More pictures & videos to follow.

CALCULATE HOW RICH YOU ARE:

2010-05-13T17:06:00.003-04:00

Good news everyone...if you think you're broke, there's a good chance you're actually pretty rich compared to the rest of the world. According to an online calculator called the Global Rich List, it generates your worldwide wealth ranking based on your annual salary.

For example, the average American household earns $52,000 a year. It doesn't sound like all that much, but it makes the average American about the 58,000,000th richest person in the world.

According to the website, the purpose is to, "help people understand, in real terms, where they stand globally. And make us realize that, in fact, most of us who are able to view this web page are in the privileged minority." In other words, next time you're feeling like you don't have enough money, just be glad you aren't as poor as most people who earn an average yearly salary of just $5,000.

CELL PHONE ELECTRIC RAZOR:

2010-04-29T17:06:00.003-04:00

A company in China has invented a cell phone that ALSO has a built-in electric razor on the bottom. It's called the Shave Mobile and has a detachable bottom that comes off to reveal the shaver.

I never pictured both of these things actually being combined, but it I guess it does make sense. I mean, we always have our cell phones with us, and sometimes we're so hard pressed for time we forget to shave. What do you think?

It's selling for about $100. There's no word on whether this could ever make its way to the U.S.

IS RONALD MCDONALD A BAD INFLUENCE?

2010-03-29T09:59:00.004-04:00

As far as corporate spokesmen go, Ronald McDonald is one of the creepier choices. But is he a bad influence on your kids? According to atleast one group, he is.

On Wednesday, officials from Corporate Accountability International will ask McDonald's to "retire" Ronald McDonald as its spokesman.

The group claims Ronald McDonald is a bad influence on kids because he contribute to what they consider the "fast-food-industry childhood obesity crisis."

But according to a McDonald's spokesman, Ronald McDonald is, "the heart and soul of Ronald McDonald House Charities, which lends a helping hand to families in their time of need.

"Ronald also helps deliver messages to families on many important subjects such as safety, literacy, and the importance of physical activity and making balanced food choices."

Even if you think this is ridiculous, you should know that Corporate Accountability International means buisness. They're the group responsible for retiring the super-cool Joe Camel of Camel cigarettes.

WEBSITE WHERE GUYS CAN PAY HOT CHICKS TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES WITH THEM:

2010-03-24T17:04:00.006-04:00

If you're a video game dork who has no chance with the ladies, I have some great news for you. A new website launched yesterday, and it allows lonely losers to play video games with hot chicks.

It's called GameCrush.com, and it seems to be a mix of an online gaming site and an Internet escort service. After signing up for the site, users can pick between "Play Dates" that are either "flirty" or "dirty." It costs $6 to play a simple Flash game for ten minutes with an attractive girl over webcam.

Users can also play Xbox Live, choosing between "Halo 3", "Grand Theft Auto 4", "Modern Warfare 2" or "Gears of War 2".

Over 1,200 "Play Dates" have been registered on Game Crush. The website is http://www.gamecrush.com/. It's been having some issues loading because of the massive amount guys logging online all at once.

STEVEN TYLER CLOSE TO DIVORCING AEROSMITH:

2010-03-19T10:09:00.005-04:00

In a recent paparazzi video, Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler said he thought keeping a band together was harder than keeping a marriage together. He also stated "I've been married to those guys for 40 years."

Click Here to see the video.

BURGER KING SELLING BEER?:

2010-01-25T17:12:00.005-05:00

There are two things Americans love, it's fast food and cheap beer. So why did it take so long to combine the two?

According to Burger King officials, certain restaurants are going to be outfitted with Whopper Bars, which will offer burgers along with Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors beer.

The first Whopper Bar with beer will open next month in Miami Beach. Burger King plans to expand the program to restaurants in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas as well.

So in other words, now you can indulge your junk food habit and your alcoholism all at the same time. God bless America.

Crazy Cat Lady:

2010-01-20T13:02:00.003-05:00

The Crazy Cat Lady is real, meet Nina Kotova from Novosibirsk, Russia. She has been collecting abandoned cats for 15 years and now cares for 136 felines. You can see the video here.

JIMMY KIMMEL ROASTED JAY LENO:

2010-01-15T17:28:00.000-05:00

Jimmy Kimmel was on "The Jay Leno Show" last night to do the "10 at 10" segment . . . where Jay asks some celebrity 10 questions.

Like much of Jay's show, this segment can kind of drag on and be really boring . . . but last night's was AWESOME, because Jimmy spent the whole time roasting Jay over this NBC late-night disaster.
Here's the Video

NEW CELL PHONE APP PREVENTS TEXTING WHILE DRIVING:

2010-01-15T16:59:00.001-05:00

Darcy Ahl of Concord, Massachusetts witnessed her teenage son completely ZONED OUT and started swerving all over the road while talking on his cell phone, she came up with the idea for something called the iZup.

The iZup is a brilliant new cell phone app that prevents teens from sending or receiving texts or phone calls when they drive. It will allow calls to 911 and the cell phone owner's parents.

All you have to do is install the iZup app on your teen's cell phone, and once the car reaches five miles per hour, the software kicks in. And it doesn't turn off if they stop at a red light or get stuck in traffic.

The iZup software starts at $5 a month, or $50 a year.

Official site

Crazy Big-Wheeled Skates:

2010-01-08T14:38:00.002-05:00

So while wasting time on the internet...like ya do...I saw this posting on my sisters facebook about some roller skates with HUGE wheels. So being something out of the ordinary and strange, I had to take a look. And you know what, they actually look pretty cool. I can't skate at all, but these things look fun and I might actually be able to stay standing while using them. Sure I'd look like a huge dork, but how is that different from any other day??

You can check out the website here.

10 THINGS ABOUT TO BECOME OBSOLETE:

2010-01-06T11:41:00.004-05:00

I don't know about you, but I always feel like I'm playing catch-up when it comes to new technology. Here are ten things you might not want to buy again, because they're about to become completely obsolete:

#1.) DVDs: By the end of the year, Blockbuster plans to close nearly a quarter of its stores, and you know why: The late fees are annoying, services like Netflix are ridiculously cheap, and your cable provider offers plenty of on-demand movies.

#2.) Home telephone service: You already have a cell phone, email, instant messaging and Skype to help you stay in touch. So why bother with a landline?

#3.) External hard drives: You need to back up all the music, photos, and other material on your computer. But online backup services like Carbonite.com and Mozy.com are already starting to replace traditional external hard drives.

#4.) Smartphones that aren't the iPhone or BlackBerry: Right now, BlackBerries account for 40% of the smartphone market, and the iPhone accounts for another 25%. Unless you go with the Google phone that just came out, don't bother with anyone else.

#5.) Compact digital cameras: The wave of the future is the single-lens reflex camera. They're a little bulkier, but they take much better photos.

#6.) Newspaper subscriptions: If you need to get your news, there's this CRAZY new invention called the Internet where you can get breaking news all day long.

#7.) CDs: Like the eight-track and the cassette tape before it, the CD is about to go the way of the dinosaurs. But you've seen that one coming for years, haven't you?

#8.) New college textbooks: There's really no point in shelling out for new textbooks when you can get them much cheaper used. Better yet, download your textbooks on the Internet, or rent them from a service called Chegg.com.

#9.) Gas-guzzling cars: It's finally happened . . . consumers are interested in buying cars that get good gas mileage, and manufacturers are interested in making them.

#10.) Homes and appliances that aren't energy-efficient: Thanks to all the new federal environmental standards, and the tax credits tied to energy-efficient home upgrades, anything that's not energy-efficient is about to become a thing of the past.

GET YOUR KID TO SMILE WHILE SITTING ON SANTA'S LAP:

2009-12-21T10:25:00.005-05:00

Getting your kid to hold still, look at a camera and smile is hard enough as it is. Now throw in a large, smelly, creepy stranger dressed in red with a large white beard...you'll have an easier time finding a cure for the common cold.

Here are 5 tips that will hopefully make this headache a lot easier for you.

#1.) Reverse psychology . . . the logic is that when you tell your kids NOT to do something, it increases the chances that they actually will.

#2.) Making funny faces

#3.) Telling Santa that your kid wants something ridiculous for Christmas like, say, a "ball of snot." The hope is that Junior then will chime in and tell Santa what he REALLY wants for Christmas.

#4.) Fart jokes

#5.) And, finally, when all else fails, you can always resort to bribery.

And now, please enjoy some photos taken with sketchy mall Santas here

THE "NECKY"?:

2009-12-15T17:22:00.002-05:00

If you love having a warm neck and chest, but you hate wearing a scarf, thanks goodness for someone with too much time on their hands. It's called the Necky and, according to the product website, it's, quote, "the world's first scarf designed to keep your neck and chest totally warm and protected."

Honestly, that's a terrible description of the Necky . . . for several reasons. Not the least of which is that it isn't really a scarf. It's like a fleece bib that covers your neck and chest. Do you really want to be known as the adult with an insulated bib? Atleast you'll be warm.

More info about the "Necky" here

20 DO'S AND DON'TS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY WORK PARTY:

2009-12-08T17:36:00.002-05:00

#1.) DO act as if you're being observed. Because you are.
#2.) DON'T talk about work. Well, okay, you can a little. But not a lot, and definitely not exclusively.
#3.) DO ask about a dress code. Typically, you'll be shooting for a slightly "fancier" version of your usual professional look.
#4.) DON'T spend the whole evening talking to the colleagues you spend all day with.
#5.) DO take this chance to get to know your other coworkers . . . and your boss . . . a little better.
#6.) DON'T drink too much. And if photos are being taken, put down your drink first.
#7.) DO act like you're happy to be there . . . even if you aren't. Your company is footing the bill, so try and act grateful.
#8.) DON'T flirt. With anyone. It's just a bad, bad idea.
#9.) DO take the opportunity to network with people in other departments, the higher-ups in the company, etc.
#10.) DO stay at the party for at least an hour. Otherwise, you'll give the impression that you didn't really want to be there in the first place.
#11.) DON'T be the last one to leave.
#12.) DON'T make a pig of yourself at the food table. You can eat later if you're still hungry.
#13.) DO speak and act in ways that make you appear intelligent, agreeable and sane.
#14.) DON'T talk politics or religion. And never tell dirty jokes, or use foul language
#15.) DO choose subjects that are cordial and uplifting . . . like hobbies, travel or books.
#16.) DON'T pull rank by, say, forcing your subordinates to get your drinks for you. That's really not cool.
#17.) DO hold your beverage in your left hand so that your right hand will be free and dry when you shake hands.
#18.) DON'T gossip. It's neither the time nor the place.
#19.) DO find out first if guests are invited. And if they are, only bring someone who will reflect well on you.
#20.) DON'T forget to thank the party organizers.

AN EGG THAT HAS A CROSS IMPRINTED ON IT:

2009-12-04T16:35:00.002-05:00

Tracy and Pam Norrell have a small chicken coop outside their home in Burleson, Texas. On Monday, Tracy went out to gather eggs from the coop just like he does every day, when he noticed an unusual looking egg that had the shape of a CROSS imprinted on its shell.

Is it a sign from God? Who knows, but it is pretty neat.

KISS STREAMING LIVE:

2009-11-25T17:30:00.004-05:00

KISS will stream a live concert online TONIGHT (11/25). The show comes from the Staples Center in L.A. It begins at 10:00 P.M. Eastern time. As you may recall, U2 did this last month on YouTube.

To watch it, click here.

MUST-HAVE HOLIDAY GIFT??

2009-11-12T16:31:00.003-05:00

So what do Cabbage Patch Kids, Tickle-Me Elmo and the Furby all have in common? At one point or another, they were all must-have holiday gifts and you'd have probably sell an organ on the black market to get one.

Well apparently this year's must-have toy is something called the Zhu Zhu Pet. They're little, motorized hamsters that zoom around a hamster maze complete with slides, cars, ramps and tunnels.

Zhu Zhu Pets were released last month and apparently have been flying off the shelves. If you want to take a look at the Zhu Zhu's, click here.

STEVEN TYLER IS NOT LEAVING AEROSMITH:

2009-11-11T10:31:00.001-05:00

It's been pretty obvious lately that Joe Perry is frustrated with Steven Tyler who caused Aerosmith to shut down their tour when he fell off a stage and broke his shoulder. For a little while, no one was sure if he was actually leaving Aerosmith. Even the other members of the band didn't have a defenite answer. Well we have one now.

Tuesday night Tyler made a surprise appearance at the Joe Perry Project, at the Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza. Tyler told the crowd, “I just want New York — New York, I just want you to know I am not leaving Aerosmith."

You can read the full story here.

CAFFEINATED BEEF JERKY:

2009-11-03T16:41:00.005-05:00

The next time you need a quick caffeine fix, you could grab a cup of coffee or a Red Bull. But if you're also hungry, why not pick up some Perky Jerky? It's the world's first CAFFEINATED BEEF JERKY.

That's right . . . caffeinated beef jerky.

According to the product website, quote, "Perky Jerky is the world's first all-natural performance-enhancing meat snack.

"We've combined the most tender and flavorful beef jerky, with an extra dose of energy to provide a jerky experience you won't find anywhere else."

Each package of Perky Jerky contains about 150 milligrams of caffeine. That's the equivalent of an 8-ounce cup of coffee, or about three 12-ounce cans of soda.

You can check the website out here.

TIME TO GET PSYCHED:

2009-10-13T17:36:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday, a Seattle Seahawks football player tried to psych himself up for the game by hitting himself in the face with his helmet, which wasn't a smart move. The result was a bloody gash that required stitches. Ouch!

Flagpole Sitta

2009-09-30T16:27:00.003-04:00

Two Fridays ago, an unidentified 21-year-old man forgot his ID and was turned away from a bar where all the local war veterans hang out in Valley Falls, New York.

He was so angry of being denied entrance, the guy took down the American flag from the VFW's flagpole and set it on fire.

Well the members of VFW got pretty mad. So on Sunday, and they gave him three choices:

#1.) They could turn him over to the police.

#2.) They could beat him up.

#3.) Or they could Duct-Tape him to a flagpole for 6 hours, while wearing a sign around his neck identifying what he did.

The guy chose option number three and sat in the sun stuck to the pole outside of the VFW building. So far, no charges have been filed against anyone.

Here is a link to the news story.

HOW MUCH TV DO YOU WATCH?

2009-09-25T15:35:00.003-04:00

Let's face it, if there's one thing Americans love more than anything in the world, it'd have to be a tie between JUNK FOOD and TV.

In fact, we love TV so much that the average American household watches more than EIGHT HOURS of TV every day. That's TWICE as much as any other country in the world.

Click Here for a breakdown of the countries.

GUINESS RECORD:

2009-09-24T16:12:00.005-04:00

I've never understood the drive people have in certain situations. Yes, we all want to accomplish something and be recognized, but sometimes it just doesn't make sense to me.

Seventeen people in Ohio set themselves on fire for 43 seconds to get into the "Guinness Book of World Records". Really?? You light yourself on FIRE. Thats who you want to be remembered as? Maybe I'm the only one who doesn't think it makes sense to possibly maim or kill yourself just to get into a book.

Here's the video:

DATING VIDEO MONTAGE:

2009-09-22T17:42:00.001-04:00

These guys make me feel so much better about myself.

Dating Montage
Uploaded by smithy00101. - Arts and animation videos.

USING YOUR LOTTERY MONEY WISELY??:

2009-09-21T17:30:00.001-04:00

Whenever someone wins a huge lottery jackpot, I go through two phases. First, I feel crazy jealous. Then, I'm secretly happy when the massive influx of cash inevitably turns their life into a train wreck.

For example, two years ago, 21-year-old Jay Vargas become the youngest-ever Powerball winner, when he landed a $35.3 million payout in Gaston, South Carolina, at the age of 19.

With about $17 million after taxes, he vowed to spend his money wisely, and said, quote, "I just want to be comfortable." He says, quote, "I didn't have the temptation to go out and buy 15 cars or 50 houses, or a big mansion with 50-plus rooms."

So . . . he moved to Florida and launched "Wrestlicious": a bikini-wrestling TV show. He even filmed a pilot episode, hosted by Jimmy "Mouth of the South" Hart, and is looking for a network to pick up the show.

CAMERAS IN THE DRESSING ROOM:

2009-09-15T14:24:00.003-04:00

Here is the worst idea you'll hear all week.

Recently, officials for the Kfem department store in Stockholm, Sweden, announced that they'll be equipping one dressing room per store with several web-ready cameras.

The purpose is so that shoppers can upload photos of themselves trying on the "latest fashions" directly to their blog or Facebook wall.

According to a store spokesperson, quote, "Our aim is to catch up on different trends. The bloggers have a huge impact in Sweden these days, so it was an obvious thing to push through."

How long will it be until naked photos start "accidentally" turning up on the Internet? And, after that, how long before this department store gets sued and is shut down.

DRUNK DRIVER CRASHED THROUGH THE SECOND STORY OF A HOUSE

2009-09-08T15:16:00.007-04:00

Over the weekend, 20-year-old Adam Clark decided to get hammered and take his car out for a drive in East Moriches, New York

But as he was driving, Adam lost control of the SUV, launched his car into the second story of a house. That's right. The second story.
Adam was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

Click Here for the full news report

A WOMAN SHOPLIFTED CASE OF BEER BY STUFFING IT UP HER DRESS:

2009-09-02T15:51:00.005-04:00

On Monday, 42-year-old Lisa Newsome was arrested for stealing a 20-pound, 24-pack of beer from a convenience store in Zachary, Louisiana.

The sweetest part of the whole thing is that on the store's surveillance camera, you can clearly see Lisa shove the entire case of beer up her dress and waddle out of the store with it lodged between her legs.

As of last night, Lisa was still being held on $1,000 bond. The read the full story and see the video, CLICK HERE.

THE "ALL OVER" BODY DEODORANT:

2009-08-26T18:10:00.001-04:00

How can I put this delicately? Do you stink "all over" your body?

If so, you might want to pick up a bottle or two of Doc Bottom's A-Spray, which the company bills as an "all over" body deodorant.

So what exactly does that mean? Think of it like this . . .

According to the product infomercial, A-Spray can be used to deodorize your armpits and feet and . . . well, just watch the video.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES?

2009-08-17T16:05:00.007-04:00

Well, the summer is almost over and that means the kids are about to go back to school. But I have to ask: Are VIDEO GAMES and other electronic gadgets considered back-to-school supplies?

The reason I bring this up is because, recently, the state of New York started a new program giving low-income parents on welfare $200 for each school-aged kid they have, in order to buy back-to-school clothing and other supplies.

Well, the money was distributed last Tuesday, and almost immediately, the New York Department of Human Services was flooded with calls from Wal-Mart employees saying they thought welfare fraud was going on. Why?

Because as soon as the money became available, there was a run on VIDEO GAMES, TVs and other high-end appliances at the store.

For what it's worth, state officials say that the rumors of widespread welfare fraud are overblown and they expect the program to continue.

THE OFFICIAL TRAILER FOR THE GUITAR HERO: VAN HALEN

2009-08-11T16:50:00.007-04:00

HOW MUCH HAS SMOKING HAS SHORTENED YOUR LIFESPAN?

2009-08-08T15:54:00.004-04:00

Curious how much your lifespan has been shortened by your dirty smoking habit?

On the AOL Health website, there's an online calculator which determines just how much smoking has shortened your lifespan, based on the understanding that each cigarette you smoke shortens your life by an average of 11 minutes.

HOW MUCH ALCOHOL IT WOULD TAKE TO KILL YOU?

2009-08-05T14:46:00.005-04:00

Have you ever wondered just how much alcohol you'd have to drink before you DIED of alcohol poisoning? The reason I ask is because there's a website called Barstools.net where you can actually calculate just how much alcohol it would take to kill you.

This this is pretty fun to mess around with and try different drinks. But I can't stress enough, do not try to beat the test. That's just stupid and you'll be putting yourself in harms way.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED BACON-ON-A-STICK:

2009-08-03T17:13:00.002-04:00

America, we're a proud nation of the morbidly obese. Here's why:

The Wisconsin State Fair opens this Thursday in West Allis, Wisconsin, just outside Milwaukee. And if you attend, you can purchase a delicious new treat made especially for the fair, courtesy of the Machine Shed, a nearby restaurant. What is it?

It's: Chocolate-Covered-Bacon-On-A-Stick.

And it's just what it sounds like: hardwood-smoked honey-cured bacon, that's been put on a stick and covered in milk chocolate. 20,000 sticks of chocolate-covered bacon are being shipped to the fair, and you can buy two strips for $3.

A BRITISH MOTHER AND HER 4 DAUGHTERS HAVE SPENT $65,000 ON 9 BOOB JOBS:

2009-07-14T09:04:00.003-04:00

50-year-old Chantal Marshall of Kirkby-in-Ashfield, England, and her four daughters, 18-year-old Ripley, 22-year-old Tara, 25-year-old Terri and 28-year-old Emma.

Between them, the Marshall women have spent a total of $65,000 on NINE BOOB JOBS.

Now, these lovely ladies are all sporting massive cans which range in size from 34DD to 32GG. Sure glad these girls have their priorties in order and are attempting to stimulate the economy.

JEANS WITH TWO WAISTBANDS??

2009-07-09T15:05:00.006-04:00

Maybe I was never hip growing up, but I never understood the whole fashion of wearing your pants really low so that your boxers were showing way above the belt loop. Apparently I'm not the only person confused by this.

Three years ago, 56-year-old Thomasina Clarke of St. Louis, Missouri, decided she was fed up with all the young punks walking around in sagging jeans.

So she went home and created a NEW type of jeans called Bagg'ns which have two separate waistbands.

#1.) One that goes around your waist.

#2.) And another that hangs low around your butt to create the ILLUSION that you're "sagging" . . . even though you're not.

Thomasina says, quote, "I've just always liked fashion and style. And I like saggy pants, just not when they show off underwear.

WHY YOU SHOULD STAY IN SCHOOL!

2009-07-01T08:04:00.006-04:00

Recently some road workers in Miami, Florida painted a "school crossing" sign on the street outside of Goulds Elementary school. But they screwed it up and misspelled the word school as "S-C-O-H-O-L". Wow, that's some kind of special.

YOU CAN BUY SHOES FROM A VENDING MACHINE?

2009-06-30T14:49:00.005-04:00

Ladies, you've spent all night dancing in high-heels. And now your FEET are killing you and all you reawant or flat shoes for the ride or walk home.

Well, a company called Rollasole has come out with a solution to just that problem. A vending machine for shoes.

According to Rollasole's website, quote, "When you're all danced out, just slip one of our vending machines a fiver and it'll sort you out with a pair of roly poly pumps and a shiny new bag to slip your slingbacks in.

That's right. You can now buy SHOES from a vending machine.

FROZEN POPCORN ON A STICK???

2009-06-25T17:31:00.004-04:00

People will eat all sorts of weird things.

For example, the "Taste of Chicago" food festival starts tomorrow, and a vendor called Garrett Popcorn has set up a booth in order to sell its latest creation . . . the POPCORNSICLE.

What's a popcornsicle?

Basically, it's a ball of popcorn on the end of a stick . . . that's been flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen.

SKYDIVING TOPLESS FOR CHARITY:

2009-06-18T12:04:00.011-04:00

A lot of people help out with charity, and some go above and beyond in some cases. So I'm pleased to introduce 24-year-old Charlotte Robinson of Catterall, England

Charlotte has size 36 double-G breasts and on Saturday, August 1st, she's going to unleash herself and skydive TOPLESS for charity.

The full story is here.

SMART SQUIRREL

2009-05-27T14:13:00.003-04:00

A very smart squirrel finds his way through a man-made obstacle coarse to get some food.

THE HOMEWORK BALL-AND-CHAIN

2009-05-21T11:15:00.004-04:00

Parents if you have a hard time getting your kids to sit still and do their homework, there's a product on the market you might find useful.

It's called the Study Ball, and it's basically an old-school, prison-style ball-and-chain that you can attach to your kid's ankle, in order to get them to sit down and study.

The Study Ball, which weighs 20 pounds, has a digital timer on it that can be set for up to FOUR HOURS. Once the timer has expired, the Study Ball automatically unlocks.

And just in case you're worried that shackling your kid is a fire hazard or something, the Study Ball also comes with a key which allows parents to "free" their kid at any point.

The Study Ball is available for purchase here.

MORE THAN ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS TEXT WHILE DRIVING

2009-05-21T10:58:00.002-04:00

As you're driving to or from work today, I want you to take a look at all the other drivers on the road and think about this...

According to a survey released yesterday, more than ONE in FOUR Americans, or 26% admit they send text messages while driving.

That includes TWO in THREE teens between the ages of 16 and 19 and 42% of people who live in Tennessee which is the highest of any state in the U.S.

Which is crazy and dangerous. Not only are they putting themselves at risk, but everyone around them as well.

AWKWARD FAMILY PHOTOS WEBSITE

2009-05-05T10:44:00.006-04:00

Just like you I've been in awkward family photo's. But did you know there is actually a site where you can post them? Or you can just check it out and laugh a little.

Check out all of the awkwardness in all of its glory here.

NINE JOBS THAT ARE PROBABLY COOLER THAN YOURS:

2009-04-29T16:41:00.002-04:00

#9.) Pet psychologist (Average salary: $19,220)

#8.) Cruise director (Average salary: $21,219)

#7.) Doll Doctor (Seriously, there are people who get paid to sit around all day and fix old dolls. Average salary: $24,413)

#6.) Video game tester (Average salary: $44,600)

#5.) Voiceover actor (Average salary: $47,000 . . . but you could make much more if you have a highly recognizable voice)

#4.) Foley artist (These are the people who create and record noises for movie sound effects. Average salary: $55,959)

#3.) Food critic (Average salary: $58,704)

#2.) Storm chaser (Average salary: $60,968)

#1.) Shoe designer (Average salary: $67,247)

TEN GREAT JOBS FOR NIGHT OWLS:

2009-04-21T16:50:00.004-04:00

According to the National Sleep Foundation, 41% of Americans are NIGHT OWLS, meaning they're MOST productive at night. Here are TEN jobs ideal for Night Owls.

#10.) Protective Service Worker. That means prison and jail security officers, police officers, correctional officers, fire fighters, security guards and private investigators. The average salary varies by position.
#9.) Health Care Worker. This includes nurses, doctors, aides, paramedics and surgical staff. Again, the average salary here is going to vary by position.
#8.) Casino Dealer. Average salary: $11,442. But when you include tips, a dealer can pull TWO or even THREE times that much.
#7.) Taxi Driver. Average salary: $25,264
#6.) Photo Journalist. Average salary: $26,351
#5.) Clinical Lab Technician. Average salary: $31,159
#4.) Computer Operator. Average salary: $34,000
#3.) Pastry Chef or Baker. Average salary: $35,415
#2.) Funeral Director. (???) Average salary: $87,383
#1.) Air Traffic Controller. Average salary: $117, 240

AVERAGE BEER DRINKER CONSUMES 44,200 EXTRA CALORIES A YEAR, AND PUTS ON 12 EXTRA POUNDS

2009-04-20T11:42:00.004-04:00

If you're trying to lose some weight . . . (and who isn't?), then the first thing you might want to cut out of your diet is, ALCOHOL. Why?

Because, according to Britain's Department of Health, the average wine drinker takes in 2,000 extra calories a month, or 24,000 extra calories a year, just from alcohol.

Over the course of a year, those extra calories add up to SEVEN extra pounds of FAT.

And drinking just FIVE BEERS a week adds an extra 44,200 calories a year from alcohol, which is the equivalent of eating 221 doughnuts.

Overall, that adds up to 12 extra pounds of fat a year, or one pound a month. And listen to this,

If you drink an average of two glasses of wine every day, which is about one bottle every two days, then by the end of the year you'll have packed on an additional 28 POUNDS in fat just from alcohol.

10 THINGS YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE 20, THAT YOU'LL REGRET WHEN YOU'RE 40

2009-04-16T17:34:00.007-04:00

Granted I'm still young, but I've got the where-with all not to go crazy and do TOO many things to myself that I'll end up regretting later. With that said, here are the top TEN things people do in their 20s . . . that they end up totally regretting in their 40s.

#10.) Body piercing: It might seem cool to have crazy stuff sticking out of your face when you're 22. But when you're 42, and you have a half-inch ring stretching your earlobes, you'll feel like a moron at a business meeting . . . if you can get a job where there are business meetings.

#9.) Sexy Internet photos: Here's a scenario for you . . . 20 years from now, your kids are surfing the Interweb, and they stumble across pictures of YOU, their mother, doing body shots off a random, sweaty Latin guy. Need I say more?

#8.) Tattoos: Remember how much you loved "Sesame Street" . . . before you got older and outgrew it? Well, that's how you're going to feel in 20 years about all the stuff you like now.

#7.) Choosing the "ho" over the "bro": Yes, she was smoking hot . . . and she actually let you get with her. But when she cheats on you in 20 years, you're going to wish you'd chosen your buddy . . . who is now long gone . . . over the "ho".

#6.) Getting married too young: You can get married any time. But your days of young and fun expeirences has a shelf life. So you might as well live a little . . . before you throw it all away.

#5.) Not traveling enough: It's hard to travel in your 20s . . . because you're so poor. But do you really think it's going to be any easier when you're 40 with three kids, two mortgages . . . and a 50-hour-a-week job?

#4.) Not finishing school: You thought you were smart pulling down a fat paycheck while your friends were paying off student loans. But you won't feel so smart when you're still making the same amount at 45 . . . and they are cruising around in new BMWs.

#3.) Smoking: It's the coolest thing in the world when you're young. Too bad you may be dead by the time you're 50.

#2.) Bad credit: That 50-inch plasma TV was pretty sweet in your bachelor pad. But you won't think it's so sweet when you're still paying it off . . . in the year 2025.

#1.) Not spending more time with your parents: Hanging out with your parents isn't that hip when you're 20. But let's face it: Your parents love you WAY more than they should, they're always there for you . . . and they aren't going to be around forever.

ARE SMART CARS SAFE TO DRIVE???

2009-04-15T17:42:00.001-04:00

Last summer, when gas prices skyrocketed to $4 a gallon, all kinds of people immediately ran out and got SMART CARS . . . which are those tiny, fuel-efficient cars.

And, yes, Smart Cars are good on gas. But according to new crash test data released yesterday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety . . . they're not very safe.

#1.) Researchers simulated a head-on crash between a Toyota Yaris and a Toyota Camry . . . at 40 miles per hour.

The Yaris sustained damage to the door and front passenger area . . . and the crash test dummy showed signs of head injuries, a deep gash on its right knee and extensive damage to its neck and right leg.

#2.) The second test involved crashing a Honda Fit head-on into a Honda Accord at 40 miles per hour.

While the Accord was nearly undamaged, the Fit's dummy driver hit its head on the steering wheel . . . THROUGH THE AIRBAG . . . and also suffered serious leg injuries.

#3.) The final test involved crashing a Smart "Fortwo" . . . which are those really tiny two-seater cars . . . head-on into a Mercedes C Class at 40 miles per hour. Get this . . .

After the test, the Mercedes had barely a scratch on it . . . while the Smart car went AIRBORNE and spun 450 degrees in the air. And the crash test dummy in the Smart car suffered severe . . . maybe even life-threatening . . . head and leg injuries.

BIG PROMOTION

2009-04-14T17:34:00.002-04:00

If you're hoping for a big promotion at work, you might want to be careful what you wish for. British researchers have found that when people get promoted, they suffer on average about 10 percent more mental strain and are less likely to find the time to go to the doctor.

They say that the mental health of managers typically deteriorates after a job promotion. Not only that, they say there are no indications of any health improvements for promoted people. Other studies have found that stress can be deadly, raising the risk of everything from the common cold to cancer.

And I thought promotions were supposed to help people.