Jack Skellington a la Lego

Artist: Cooksey - Talbott

This artist studied under Ansel Adams. I love the natural landscape in this format. Here is his website. This work is similar to Japanese ink on silk paintings - which I am huge fan of.

How to: Build A Mobile Bar a.k.a. BAR2D2

This is necessary - oh so necessary! I had posted before about a mobile bar, but now I can build one! Instructables has provided humankind a great service by giving us step by step instructions to create this wonderful behemoth. Link

For The New Year...

I should learn to f'ing relax. For reals. Some meditation advice from Motherearth.com:

How to Meditate

To elicit the relaxation response via meditation:

• Find a quiet place with a comfortable chair.
• Sit with eyes closed.
• Select a word or phrase — one, peace, ice cream — whatever. That’s your “mantra.”
• Silently repeat your mantra. Begin with a minute or two. Work up to 20 minutes once or twice a day.
• While meditating, try to empty your mind of other thoughts. Assume a passive, accepting, nonjudgmental attitude. When distracting thoughts intrude — they’re inevitable — notice them, accept them, then dismiss them as you refocus on your mantra.

In another type of meditation, breath meditation, there is no mantra. Practitioners focus on their breath. The other steps remain the same.

There's Probably No God So Stop Worrying About It.

I often feel shame for the way I believe. It's a natural response of humans to shun those who do not look, act or believe the same as themselves. That does not make it right. Many christians feel threatened or pity me if I speak of god not existing. It automatically makes me a devil worshiper. Quite the contrary. I have more compassion and understanding than most of the people who claim to be children of god. I have my moments and I'm not perfect, but Christians as a whole project more hate then most other groups I come across. Here's a cause I can believe. I am now a humanist.

The Urge To Win, Why Men Get More Reward From Video Games Then Women

I noticed a difference between the way I play video games and how my male friends play. When I play the same game as my male counterparts, it seems they want to win every time on the first try. It doesn't bother me to get a lower score or lose every once in a while. I'm in it for the experience. Finally, someone chose to investigate the matter.Here is an article from the Telegraph in which scientists explain male drive to conquer as triggering a reward center in the brain.

"Playing on computer consoles activates parts of the male brain which are linked to rewarding feelings and addiction, scans have shown. The more opponents they vanquish and points they score, the more stimulated this region becomes.

In contrast, these parts of women's brains are much less likely to be triggered by sessions on the Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii or Xbox.

Professor Allan Reiss of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research at Stanford University, California, who led the research, said that women understood computer games just as well as men but did not have the same neurological drive to win." Link

Monkey Bread

My mom used to make this when I was little except with garlic and butter. I can't wait to try it and add the bacon and cheesy goodness. Here is the link from Ridiculous Food Society of Upstate New York.