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Christmas is coming. Gird yourselves well for its struggles with two essential nutrients: sugar and alcohol. Jelly Shot Test Kitchen designed this recipe, which uses flavored vodka, gelatin, frosting and sprinkles. Don't forget the sprinkles. People have suffered terrible kitchen accidents simply because they thought that sprinkles weren't absolutely necessary.
For many college students, this is a stressful time filled with exams and term paper deadlines. To help relieve stress and create an atmosphere conducive to studying, Cornell University laid sod inside two of its libraries. Gilad Meron, a recent graduate, conceived and executed the project:
This year lawns were placed in both the Mann and Olin libraries, as well as three other locations around campus, as part of the Cognitive Restoration initiative. The project is based on Attention Restoration Theory, which says that direct exposure to nature, viewing nature through windows, and even viewing images of nature are restorative.
To create the installation, Meron used a heavy duty tarp, fastened with duct tape, to protect the floor underneath. Sod, donated by Saratoga Sod Farm, was laid above the tarp, and the lawn only needs daily watering to last about two weeks. (Access to sunlight is the limiting factor.) Since the sod and work were donated, the lawn is very affordable: the only costs are for the tarp, tape, and transportation of the sod.
According to two library administrators, students thoroughly enjoyed the indoor/outdoor experience:
Ferretti and Tancheva agree, the lawns in both Mann and Olin libraries saw a lot of use, and got a lot of positive student comment. “We put up flip charts and invited patrons to comment. So far the response is overwhelmingly positive,” said Tancheva, and student comments indicate that they found the lawn useful, not just pleasant, with comments such as “Green relieves tension and eye strain,” “Keeps me sane,” and “The color and additional oxygen makes it more conducive to studying.”
Link | Photo: Library Journal
Here's a clever apporach to charity fundraising. A convention in Detroit next January is offering the chance to play Dungeons & Dragons with eight accomplished authors:
Join eight other fantasy authors in a classic game of D&D at Immortal ConFusion this coming January! The players include some of the best in the fantasy world: Pat Rothfuss, Peter V. Brett, Diana Rowland, Jim C. Hines, Mary Robinette Kowal and Sam Sykes. Authors Myke Cole and Saladin Ahmed will DM the game.
Proceeds from the event will go to Worldbuilders, which will then in turn donate funds to Heifer International.
Link -via Brian J. Noggle
By taking a picture every four seconds, photographer Jean-Michel was able to contract a time-lapse sequence of a spider constructing a web. The video covers an hour and a half of work. That's a hard -working eight-legged artist. -via mental_floss
The folks in the chemistry lab at Avans University of Applied Sciences have the Christmas spirit! Not only appropriate, but a fine example of making do with what you have. Link
Well, of course it was Finn and Fionna! I know: a lot of people (including, embarrassingly, me) predicted that Finn and the Hot Dog Princess would ultimately tie the knot. But ImSodaHyper guessed right and made this wedding cake topper out of polymer clay for the happy couple.
P.S. Check out our Adventure Time gear in the NeatoShop!
Buzzfeed has an impressive collection of geek-themed nurseries, all with fantastic details. I'm particularly big on the knitted Daleks in the Doctor Who room and the Nightmare Before Christmas mobile.
Link Via The Mary Sue
He might not look as intimidating as the full size Godzilla, but if you put him in your mouth all at once, you might be in just as much pain as one of the monster's victims.
Not only are they pretty and sparkly, but the gorgeous variety of backgrounds make these nails resemble a variety of space images showing galaxies from far, far away.
Jake the Dog from Adventure Time (who is voiced by the same guy as Bender) is breaking onto the scene with his new single - Bacon Pancakes New York. Well, not really, it is a mashup originally created by Soundcloud user Marcus Coronel. If you love Jake the Dog, consider checking out this super awesome Bow Tie.
~Bacon Pancakes, Makin' Bacon Pancakes.. In New York!~
Via Nerd Bastards
Simon's Cat tries to catch a squirrel, but he's not the skinny, agile, outdoor cat he thinks he is! Artist Simon Tofield teaches us to draw the squirrel, too. Continue reading for a short tutorial.
Is your little one a serious Whovian? Well then, maybe he or she would appreciate having a Docor Who themed party for their next birthday and if that's the case, you really should check out The Pixel Mom's post on just such an occassion for a few helpful ideas on throwing your own party.
I wish I was friends with her nine year old because that looks like one heck of an awesome party.
It is said that when a girl begins dating, she anticipates what to expect from a boy by the example set by her father. Therefore my daughters will grow up assuming that men are knowledgeable about My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
I will, of course, do my best to encourage this notion.
When my eldest daughter brings home a boy for the first time, I will, as you would expect, be cleaning my rifle. This is Texas; doing otherwise would be considered rude.
But I will at the same time interrogate the lad on MLP minutia, hopefully causing him embarrassment as he is unable to answer simple questions (e.g. "Why are muffins linked to Derpy?") in front of my daughter. Thus I will intimidate him from doing anything ungentlemanly to her.
Photo: LilMoon
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