The San Diego Union Tribune has posted a Google Map that shows in real time where the fires are burning, Estimated Advisory Evacuation Areas, and evacuation destinations. Link -via Metafilter

The Los Angeles Times also has a map of the fires around the Los Angeles area, updated every few hours. Link

Young children will get a kick out of seeing themselves in an ABC Adventure! Upload a photo, enter a name, and watch your video. Link -via the Presurfer

Ken and Linda Smith of Sebring won a recent Underwater Pumpkin Carving contest in Key Largo, Florida. That can’t be easy!

"The pumpkins want to float so that makes it difficult," said Smith, a retired electrical engineer. "So you're working against your own buoyancy and the pumpkin's."

Link (with video) -via Arbroath

You may remember the quiz Stationery Movies that was quite popular here last year. Now the same folks have launched a sequel! The quiz still features office supplies in prominent roles, but now the clues are video clips, some with people. Can you guess what movie is depicted in each? Link -Thanks, Becki!

A horde of zombies descended on Manhattan for ZombieCon NYC 2007 over the weekend. Gothamist gives us a report. Link -via YesButNoButYes

A team from Technische Universität Darmstadt won the Solar Decathlon competition with a house designed to run totally on sunlight. The Darmstadt Solar Decathlon house has movable solar screens around the outside that power both active and passive solar energy systems. The furniture is tucked into the platform floor that is also used for storage. The roof is insulated with layers that are ten times more efficient than the same amount of conventional insulation. Link. Also see other Solar Decathlon entries. -via Metafilter

Aw, man, look at this poor kid. The costume was clever twenty years ago, but he/she obviously hasn’t seen the movie yet! Found at Funny-Potato -via My 2 Second Shelf Life

Suppose you could drill a hole through the Earth and then drop into it. How long would it take you to pop up on the other side of the Earth? The calculations are not simple, but the answer is 42 (minutes). Link -via Reddit

Penguin Poop candy can be a cute gag gift, but Neatorama readers know that the reality is quite different (see item #3). Relax, this is chocolate! Link
-via Penguins!

In 1704, Alexander Selkirk was left on a small island hundreds of miles off the coast of South America when he argued with his captain about the seaworthiness of the ship. He was right about the ship, but Selkirk spent four years and four months on the island, eating goats and plums and making friends with feral cats. Read the story of the man who inspired Daniel Defoe to write Robinson Crusoe at Damn Interesting. Link

6-year-old Bentley Green sings a tribute to his Mama and all the single moms on the block. Push Play or go to YouTube. Hear more at Green’s MySpace page. -via My 2 Second Shelf Life

This World Wildlife Foundation paper towel dispenser gives a graphic reminder of the effect paper use has on the environment. Link -via Dump Trumpet

If you’ve had just about enough office stress this week, this game will help. Maybe. Link -via b3ta

Now you can have your own remote-controlled rubber duck! Uses six AA batteries. Because it’s never too early to teach your kids how to use electronics in the bathtub. Link -via Arbroath

With all the decorations and gift items in the stores already, you may ask yourself the question, “Is it Christmas yet?” Link -via Reddit