Blog Posts Miss Cellania Likes

If Classic Children's Books Were Written Today

Arnold Lobel wrote Frog and Toad Are Friends in 1970, which was thankfully a different world at the time. What would the most famous works of children's literature be like if they were written in 2015? Kristi Olberding of Distractify has 9 photoshopped covers to show you. I can't even . . . .

Continue reading

A Beautiful Star Wars Piano Medley Played on a Star Wars Piano


(Video Link)

Player: Piano is pianist Sonya Belousova's and filmmaker Tom Grey's ongoing series of performances of geeky music on ornately decorated pianos. In the past, we've seen her play the Tetris theme and the Akira theme. Now, in her most extraordinarily elaborate performance, the concert pianist treats us to a beautiful mixture of Star Wars music arranged for the keyboard.

The outside of the piano appears to be modular. As she plays, it variously resembles Darth Vader's suit, the Millennium Falcon, and R2-D2. Belousova herself changes costume appropriately, looking at times like Princess Leia, Lord Vader, and Han Solo.

Simeon Cortezano of Nerd Bastards interviewed Belousova and Grey about their work. Grey described the creation of the pianos:

Nerdbastards: Can you tell us about the custom pianos used for the shoot?

Grey: As the crazy person who comes up with the idea to makes these custom pianos, I can answer this one. It started with our very first video, the ‘Walking Dead.’ We didn’t really customize that piano like we do now, but for that video we had a heavy upright that we bought off of craigslist that was the biggest pain in our side. It was incredibly difficult to transport, I cut my hand on it at one point, and it even broke the ratchet strap holding it to the truck and fell over onto a bunch of our equipment. Naturally when we finally got it on set I asked my production designer, Megan Burns, to go to town on it and rip it to shreds. We hadn’t planned on actually doing that, but I really hated that stupid piano. But ultimately it looked really cool and part of the scene we were creating. After that, it evolved and Megan at this point has become a wizard at modifying pianos.


Delightfully Quirky TV Commercials Directed By Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson has one of the most distinct visual styles in Hollywood, and it's easy to tell when he's behind the camera because shots start looking more symmetrical and characters become more charming.

Although he's known for his films Wes has also directed over a dozen TV commercials, often dragging some big names from Hollywood along for the ride:

(YouTube Link)

Many of his commercials look like the company paying for the ad said "Here's some cash, give us the full Wes Anderson" which he always delivers in a most delightful way, like this homage to movie smart cars for the Hyundai Azera:

(YouTube Link)

See 13 Awesome And Quirky Commercials Directed By Wes Anderson at mental_floss


Some Of The Most Savage Things Grandmas Have Said To Their Grandkids

(Image Link)

Some people become more timid and introverted as they get older, their fear of the world growing by the year, while others grow bolder and more brazen, feeling like they can do or say anything due to their advanced age.

They are the old folks without filters, the grandmas who gave up editing their thoughts before spitting them out long ago, and sometimes the things they say really stick with you.

BuzzFeed asked their Community to share the most things their grandmothers have ever said to them, and they received some rather hair-raising responses:

My brother came out as gay to my grandma and she said, “I knew girls weren’t going to like you from the beginning.”

devthcvt

I was painting my nails one time, and my grandma leaned over and said, “That’s a nice shade of whore red.” Then walked away.

m485495eba

My (very Catholic) grandma told me she hopes she dies before I get married so that she doesn’t have to attend my secular wedding.

lisag46659949f

Read 21 Savage Things Grandmas Have Actually Said here


8 Fun Alternative Christmas Trees

There's somethig delightful about a beautiful Christmas tree, but not everyone has the space, time or money to commit to a traditional tree whether artificial or real. For those looking for something a little different this year, we rounded up some of the greatest and most fun alternatives to the traditional pine look.

Some of the trees can be made at home, some need to be purchased online and some are simple things you probably already have at home. So if you're looking to ditch the pine tree this Christmas, don't miss this great Homes and Hues list: 8 Awesome Alternative Christmas Trees


There's Still Time To Give The Gift That Keeps On Giving- A NeatoShop T-Shirt!

Arendelicious by Nemons

Holiday shopping mania is in full effect, and those who still have gifts to buy are starting to scramble to buy them all while there's still time.

But you don't have to run around town to bring home the greatest gifts, just head to the NeatoShop and grab tees or hoodies for all the special people on your list!

Whether you're looking for something totally specific

You Go Glen CoCo! by Oneskillwonder

A tee that will make everyone laugh

Angry Elf by Fishbiscuit

Or something out of this world, the NeatoShop is the one stop shop for the greatest wearable gifts!

Christmas Awakens by Stationjack

Continue reading

Catalonians Really Know How To Have A Crappy Christmas

The holiday we know as Christmas has been celebrated for centuries by many different cultures, but nobody has a crappy Christmas quite like the Catalonians.

They introduced a strange and stinky new element to their holiday traditions, one that many other cultures would find too crass for Christmas- poop.

Poop factors in to a few Catalonian Christmas traditions, including putting out El Caganer (The Crapper), a figure of a man defecating that is often put in with the standard Nativity set, like the giant example above.

Many modern Caganer figures are made to look like characters from pop culture and celebrities, here are a few crap-tastic examples:

(Image Link)

There is also a cuter (yet just as crappy) tradition of putting out the Tío de Nadal (Christmas Log), also known as the Caga Tío (Crapping Log), which stands on two legs and has a painted on smiley face.

(Image Link)

Kids are told to feed the Caga Tío every night so he can crap out candy and presents on Christmas Eve, after the kids beat it with a stick and order it to defecate with an adorable song:

(YouTube Link)

So if you're having a crappy Christmas (but not in the fun way) take a note from the Catalonians and embrace the crappines of the holiday season and surround yourself with things that make you smile!

Read more about The Turd Related Christmas Traditions Of The Catalonians here


Amputated Leg Contest Nets Over $2,000 for Charity

Peter Rowswell of Langport, Somorset, UK was born with a clubfoot. The muscles didn't develop properly, so he recently had it amputated.

To make the best of the situation, Rowswell invited people to guess the weight of his leg once it had been amputated. He donated the revenues from the contest to the Royal North Orthopaedic Hospital.

The winner of the contest was Rowswell's own father, who guessed 3 pounds and 10 ounces. That was the closest estimate to final weight of 3 pounds and 8 ounces. The BBC reports:

Mr Rowswell, who holds black belts in a number of martial arts, said he plans to get back to training and back on a motorbike as soon as possible.

He will be fitted with a prosthetic leg in a couple of months and aims to be back at work in six months.

"I was quite clear how I felt that this is it - the start of my better life," he said.

"I do look at where my leg was and think 'I can't believe I've actually done it - had my leg chopped off' but I don't regret it, never in the slightest."

Mr Rowswell said took the decision to have his leg removed due to needing a "stupid" amount of pain relief just to walk.

-via Nothing to Do with Aborath


Darryl Cox's Fusion Frames Look Like They're Still in the Tree

Darryl Cox says that his unique artwork "fulfills the part of me that says 'no' to convention." He begins by exploring the woods near his home in central Oregon, looking for just the right piece of wood. He then returns to his studio to merge it seamlessly into a wood picture frame. The result is a sculpture that juxtaposes the civilized and the wild. From an orderly and ornate frame seemingly living tendrils reach out beyond old borders.

Continue reading

Official Instructions for the Fourth Doctor's Scarf

Actor Tom Baker played the fourth known incarnation of the Doctor (below) from Doctor Who. According to an internet rumor that I cannot verify, this document is the BBC's official instructions for knitting the Fourth Doctor's iconic scarf. Get out your sonic needles and go to work.

-via FYGNK (NSFW URL)


37 Cheeses from 37 Countries

(Photo: Vlad Trifa)

Walking by the gourmet and exotic cheese section of the grocery store always gives me pause. If I want to treat myself, I may pick up Port Salut--my favorite. Now the blog When on Earth has presented even more temptations for me to indulge in. Here are unique cheeses from 37 countries around the world, such as Romania's Năsal, which is pictured above. Here's what it tastes like:

Coming from the village of Năsal in Romania, Năsal cheese is hard and reddish on the outside but soft and creamy on the inside. It is recommended to be served with dry red wine and be accompanied with slices of red onion, red grapes, nuts or crackers.

Which cheese on the list do you want to taste first?


NASA Roboticist Critiques R2-D2, C-3PO, and BB-8


(Video Link)

Brett Kennedy is a roboticist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He's worked on the Mars Exploration Rover the LEMUR-class robots, among many other projects. He has not worked on Star Wars, however, because otherwise he might have improved the droid designs.

In this video from Wired, Kennedy uses his professional knowledge to critique the designs of the most well-known droids in Star Wars. He rejects the adorable BB-8 as a poor choice of locomotion. A single rolling ball can't handle obstacles well. He's impressed with R2-D2, though, and says that it could probably be built today. What about C-3PO? Kennedy really likes Threepio's flexible spine, which is a challenge for modern robotics.

-via The Mary Sue


Krispy Kreme Turns Its Glazing Machines into Scannable Barcodes

Krispy Kreme's iconic glazing machines are a wondrous sight. You can stare and drool at them for hours.

So the company is putting your devoted attention to good use. It modified those drips to form a barcode. You can scan it with your smartphone and pull up a coupon for a dozen free donuts. Read more about this clever promotion at Ad Week.


(Video Link)

-via Foodbeast


Game of Thrones Improved with Star Wars Quotes

A long time ago in Westeros, an old master taught a young and impatient student how to control feelings and impulses. This is Star Thrones.

Robin Edds and Tom Phillips of BuzzFeed paired 14 scenes from Game of Thrones with dialogue from the original Star Wars trilogy. They work perfectly! And although both franchises have limb chopping and needless slaughter, only one--thankfully--has nudity.*

Question: does the Star Wars universe contain a Hodor equivalent?

*Except, of course, for Jabba the Hutt, who is nude throughout Return of the Jedi.


If You've Never Seen a Donkey With a Grin That Won't Quit, Check Out This One Rescued From a Flood



...and filed under stories that make you smile is this one that happened last Sunday in Kilorglin, Ireland. When Suzanne Gibbons saw that a donkey was stranded in a flooded river and was in desperate need of help, she put the word out on a local animal rescue Facebook page.

Thankfully, a man named Mike Fleming came to the rescue in his boat. Gibbons, who is unable to swim, was relieved to see Fleming pulling the animal to safety with a rope and a life preserver. 

But Gibbons and Fleming weren't the only ones who were happy about the rescue. The donkey burst into an ear-to-ear grin that could make even the coldest of hearts melt.

Read more about the donkey and see a number of heartwarming pictures of the rescue and the smiles afterward here.


Email This Post to a Friend
""

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window

Page 339 of 1,087     first | prev | next | last

Profile for Miss Cellania

  • Member Since 2012/08/04


Statistics

Blog Posts

  • Posts Written 37,221
  • Comments Received 107,997
  • Post Views 51,429,767
  • Unique Visitors 42,136,314
  • Likes Received 44,655

Comments

  • Threads Started 4,851
  • Replies Posted 3,571
  • Likes Received 2,489
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More