Random Thoughts or OT Chit-Chat Thread

Posts: 1886 · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:46 pm

Mashuptown has 2 CDs worth of mash-ups of Michael Jackson versus various artists. They are all pretty straight/serious remixes unlike the humorous mash-ups that I prefer:

. . . http://www.mashuptown.com/2009/06/with-the-passing-away-of-michael-jac kson-it-seems-like-its-the-end--of-an-era-the-king-of-pop-has-been-unp aralleled-in-his.html

Posts: 1886 · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:18 pm

serleran wrote:

Should not have told me about the octopus pan. Now, I must get it.

So as not to veer the other thread off-topic, I'll post these here:

. . . http://cgi.ebay.com/Mold-Market-Ollie-Octopus-Soap-Mold-TOP-SELLER-NEW -ITEM_W0QQitemZ140325410934

. . . http://cgi.ebay.com/Large-Art-Nouveau-Octopus-Spooky-Polymer-Clay-Push -Mold_W0QQitemZ370079091218

. . . http://cgi.ebay.com/Octopus-Divider-Cup-Jello-Mold-for-Bento_W0QQitemZ 260113583053

eBay is still good for some odd items. Very Happy

Posts: 2725 · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:38 pm

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/ylocalnews;_ylt=AgsSeC9zzEZwJu2MEPAiHy .UU80F;_ylu=X3oDMTFhZGMwZjVzBHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bl9yXzNzbG90X3ZpZGVvBHNsaw N2aWQtZWQtbGluaw--?ch=4226712&cl=14266040&lang=en

Posts: 4868 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:26 am

Gnat the Beggar wrote:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/ylocalnews;_ylt=AgsSeC9zzEZwJu2MEPAiHy .UU80F;_ylu=X3oDMTFhZGMwZjVzBHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bl9yXzNzbG90X3ZpZGVvBHNsaw N2aWQtZWQtbGluaw--?ch=4226712&cl=14266040&lang=en

I had to shut that video off as soon as the kids appeared.

Just the thought of being up in the Sears Tower freaks me out. A glass ledge is too frightening to even contemplate.

Posts: 211 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:59 am

The CN Tower in Toronto has a glass floor section at the top.
It's tough to walk on at first. The logical part of your brain knows that it's solid and you won't fall, but it's hard to overcome the survival instinct not to step over the "ledge" your eyes see on the floor. It's really cool.

Posts: 3427 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:22 am

FormCritic wrote:

I had to shut that video off as soon as the kids appeared.

Just the thought of being up in the Sears Tower freaks me out. A glass ledge is too frightening to even contemplate.

Then this would probably loosen your bowels:

http://zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~nwright/downloads/aztrip/05_grand_can yon_skywalk.jpg

http://blog.busbank.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/capt_5cb2fbef71a74d 218972da4dff26f086_grand_canyon_skywalk_azphp101.jpg

For reference:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42708000/gif/_42708593_grand_can yon_4_416.gif

Posts: 2725 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:49 am

WOWSERS!

Posts: 479 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 10:24 am

My friend at work, and her husband, took a vacation out to Vegas that eventually led them in that direction.

They had to wear a certain type of white slippers (probably not to scratch the glass?) while on there.

Posts: 7874 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 2:43 pm

talking about things that make you cringe...

the other weekend, i went for a power-walk up mount snowdon (part of my training), which i did in 1hr 47mins, ran back down in 54 mins - dont know exact height but its a decent climb, specially in fog and rain and pretty damn cold too...

anyway i digress..

about half-way up, i passed two guys, very jolly and chatty to all, who were also going up, the thing was....they were doing this in BARE FEET!

i kid you not as well....i was like WOAH!!! Shocked

they were doing it for the cancer research charity....sheesh i hope it was worth it for them...it would be no surprise to me if they suffered from mild-frostbite by the time they got down, it was really that cold at the top.

Al

Posts: 1264 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 5:22 pm

Grand Canyon is an interesting exercise in determining human intelligence because it's an upside down mountain. Mountains automatically limit how far a stupid person will hurt themselves because once they've gone too far, it's at least much easier to go back to where they started.

The Grand Canyon is just the opposite. It sucks people in to thinking the climb is easy and then it's a nightmare getting out. Our family hiked 3 miles down and back in one day. I have actually hiked down to the bottom, spent the night and hiked back up the next day, so I was familiar with what it took. We were prepared with Gatorade, snacks and great footwear. We started very early in the morning, about 7:15AM, and reached the three mile mark(a water shed) about 9:30. My wife didn't make it back to the top until 1 o'clock and was wiped, but happy. We had a nice lunch at the Arizona Room.

We passed people going down about noon time in sandals. Crazy. I've read stories about people who died hiking the canyon because they didn't take simple precautions or thought they could make their own path. The Grand Canyon looks pretty, but it can kill you in many different ways. Respect the ditch. Cool

Posts: 7874 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:18 pm

back in 1994, when i was at the grand canyon (an amazing place if you havent been there - a must visit place)....i trekked down the canyon just after the rain there at about 1pm....i must have passed about 500 people going down and back up who didnt look like they were having a good time of things at all - totally unprepared for it in many ways - was annoying and amusing at the same time.

i dont remember how long it took me, but it wasnt that long truth be told, because i was back when it was time to go and eat....

its a great trek though. i wish i lived somewhere like that - would be amazing training for me.

Al

Posts: 771 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 6:51 pm

killjoy32 wrote:

i wish i lived somewhere like that - would be amazing training for me.

Al

Housing prices are cheap all over AZ now, especially Phoenix..probably Flagstaff too Smile

The euro/pound sterling to the dollar is in your favor ... you should go for it!

Posts: 4868 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:08 pm

killjoy32 wrote:

talking about things that make you cringe...

the other weekend, i went for a power-walk up mount snowdon (part of my training), which i did in 1hr 47mins, ran back down in 54 mins - dont know exact height but its a decent climb, specially in fog and rain and pretty damn cold too...

Wierd.

In my mind, Snowdon is this exotic and magical place, full of references to Merlin, Arthur, fog giants, Llewllyn ap Gruffwyth and prehistoric mystique.

And you go on power walks up to to the top. Mad

And that's another wierd thing....in Britain you can take a day hike and walk up to the highest point on the island. (I don't think it's Snowdon, but some place nearby...?) Shocked

Posts: 1264 · Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:55 pm

FormCritic wrote:

And that's another wierd thing....in Britain you can take a day hike and walk up to the highest point on the island. (I don't think it's Snowdon, but some place nearby...?) Shocked

I think it's near the Scotland and England Border on the westernish side IIRC.

Posts: 4868 · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:02 am

I'm pretty sure it's in Wales. Saw it on Rick Steves' travel show the other day.

Guess I could look it up......?

Posts: 970 · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 5:03 am

Hi,

Snowdon is in Wales.

Its one of the few mountains you can get a train to the top of, so it tends to be full of tourists milling about, tho there are some beautiful routes up there is you're walking. I've walked Snowdon in the snow - beautiful!

While we're on the subject, Tintagel is an unimpressive ruin.

Glastonbury Tor - unexciting, and the Tower is obviously used as a toilet.

But Dunwich - spooky, with weird light effects.

Also the stone circle near Keswick - CastleRigg - spent the night there once, very spooky.

Cheers,
malc

Cheers,
malc

Posts: 1930 · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 8:55 am

Years ago me and some friends decided to drive up to and around Loch Ness - which is as you might expect fairly full cheesy monster-souvenir stuff. But stopping by the ruined castle on the edge of the loch, Urquhart Castle, as dusk fell and wind starts to pick up - the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. You can really see how people have imagined monsters here. (pic. from Flickr).

Well worth popping along to.

Posts: 1324 · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:08 am

Avebury is a cool place to chill out, with a much bigger stone circle (diameter not height) than Stonehenge and not nearly as busy (plus you actually get to touch the stones!!).

Also nearby are Silbury Hill (largest manmade hill in Europe), West Kennet Long Barrow and other such like...

All good and generally ignored by tourists Cool

Posts: 1264 · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 9:36 am

red_bus wrote:

Years ago me and some friends decided to drive up to and around Loch Ness - which is as you might expect fairly full cheesy monster-souvenir stuff. But stopping by the ruined castle on the edge of the loch, Urquhart Castle, as dusk fell and wind starts to pick up - the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. You can really see how people have imagined monsters here. (pic. from Flickr).

Well worth popping along to.

Agreed! I was there several weeks ago. Fortunately, the clouds cooperated and added to the spooky feel. Cool

Posts: 3885 · Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:02 pm

I was there last October but it was during the day so not as spooky Smile