Eeeeewwwwwwwww

I think the title of this post (or violent wretching) is the best way to describe the sculpture pictured below. If you haven't already heard, artist Daniel Edwards has created a life size sculpture of Britney Spears -- and not just any sculpture -- "The life-size pop princess is naked and pregnant, crouching face-down on a bare-toothed bear rug as the baby's head appears on the opposite end."

I honestly can't think of a sculpture that I would less like to see than the one described in the preceeding sentence. The statute is supposed to support the pro-life agenda, but to me, it seems to be more supportive of the pro-vomiting agenda. I mean, I would have been the first one to tell you how hot Britney was in 2001, but now, the absolute last thing I want to see is a fat, trailor-trash, baby-mama crouching on a bear skin rug with a baby half popped out of her special place. If that isn't enough to cause you not to eat ever again, I don't know what is. Enjoy the picture, I can only imagine what it looks like from the other end (read more here).

Everybody Wang Chung Tonight

Sorry, but I couldn't pass up posting this link. It contains a list of the Top 10 Movie Music Videos from the '80s, with hits like "Danger Zone" from Top Gun and "Who's Johnny" from Short Circuit. Classic songs from classic movies. Oh, and I didn't even mention the best part ... the list has the actual videos for each song. Check it out, there's no way you won't enjoy this one.

A Dream Come True

Finally, I can swim in beer. Not figuratively, I've always been able to do that, but literally. According to zeenews.com, the world's first beer spa has been opened in the Czech Republic. The spa includes huge baths where visitors can swim in beer while enjoying a pint poured at a poolside bar. Now that's just fantastic.

Also, I don't care how unsanitary it may be, you know you're going to drink from the pool. How can you not? And once you start, there will be no stopping. I will go to this spa.

A Doo Doo Story - It's a Doosey

I really wish that I had more time to write right now, because I'd like to add some commentary here, but alas, I don't. I'll try to add some this evening, when I'm most likely a little tipsy. It should be better then anyway. So, without further adooooo:

One of the better poo stories I have read in a long time. Eat your heart out DJ Skuggs.

An Entirely New Topic

Since one of the main themes of this blog is beating you over the head with how much it costs to go to Iceland, here is a recent article from CNN.com that says just that (many thanks to PostitiveMode for the link). Basically, the article can be summed up in the final sentence: "This country is beautiful, the people are wonderful, but the prices stop you in your tracks." Agreed.

Just to be fair, I should point out that for all of the crap I write, and articles I link to, about how expensive Iceland is, I no doubt think that it's worth it. Although expensive, it is perhaps the most beautiful place I've ever been to. Also, I had some of the best times of my whole European vacation there. My advice to you: go to Iceland if you ever have the chance. If you don't have the chance, make one. Just save up before you go. . . .

Google Idol

Go to Google Idol. Watch, vote, enjoy, watch again. It's everything that is right about the internet.

Personally, I recommend Anthony & Kelly, performing Since You've Been Gone, by Kelly Clarkson. It's gold Jerry, gold!

Sorry For the Absence

I apoligize profusely for not updating NegativeMode for the past week (save Steak and BJ day). I was in Chicago. Not that being in Chicago would necessarily prohibit me from blogging, but in this case, it did.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful St. Patty's day. I was lucky enough to spend mine in Kincade's with thousands of my closest, tightly packed in friends. I consider it a pretty good day when I can drink in a bar all day, watch March Madness, and do who knows what afterwards. Good times.

Maybe I'll write more about the trip later ... maybe not. We'll see. Let me tell you this though, and I can't be more serious about this statement: You have not lived until you've heard PositiveMode play Breakaway, by Kelly Clakrson on the accordion ... MINDBLOWING!

Important Holiday Today, VERY Important

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Pop Art: Love It You Ingrates

Time again for another NegativeMode installment of Obscure European Artist (who's art I think is cool ("OEAwaitic")). Today's OEAwaitic is Julian Beever. Mr. Beever is an English sidewalk artist who creates 3d illusions on the sidewalk using a strictly 2d medium (he also does some wall murals and fine art paintings, and while they're all well and good, they not nearly as cool/impressive as the sidewalk art).

Anyway, here are two galleries of his pavement work. Maybe you've seen his work before (it's been floating around the internet on various webpages), but I think it's worth looking at again. I doubt this will cause as much of a brouhaha as the last OEAwaitic I posted about on here (although this OEAwaitic is named Beever), but enjoy nonetheless. Here are two of my favorites:

(the above one is made all the better by the guy wearing a Tony Blair mask)

Black, White

Did anyone else here watch Black, White last night on FX (aside from those of you reading from Afghanistan)? I did. For those of you who don't know what it is, it's a reality show where a white family from California is dressed up/painted to look like a black family, and a black family from Georgia is dressed up/painted like a white family. The families then live life as the opposite race in L.A. While this is going on, they actually live together in the same house (they aren't in costume while living together), share their experiences, and coach each other on being a member of the other race.

First, the make-up warrants mentioning. I'm really on the fence about how well "disguised" these people actually are. I think the kids are definitely passable. As for the parents, I'm not so sure. The black dad, in white-face, looks an awful lot like Eddie Murphy on that famous SNL skit where he dresses up as a white dude ("White Like Eddie"). It's really hard to judge what you would think in "real life" though. It's not like you'd actually walk up to a complete stranger and say "Hey, you look a whole lot like a black guy pretending to be white." So, I guess the make-up works.

As far as the show itself, I thought it was very interesting. I'm sure it's highly edited and contrived, but nonetheless, to me, it was an interesting look at race relations in the United States (even the confrontations between the two families when they aren't dressed up). As a cracker myself, I was downright embarrassed by the white parents. They seemed particularly out of touch to me. Their daughter, on the other hand, had a great attitude, really trying to immerse herself into a new culture. As far as the black family, I haven't really formed an opinion about them yet.

Finally, the thing that really stood out to me from the first episode was the differences not between the races, but between the generations. The children seemed much more accepting of all people and all cultures, while the adults, although not "racist" were certainly more aware of race. It seemed like the kids (18 and 16) were much more indifferent about race, saw past skin tone, and focused on people as people. Of course, that's a product of the vastly different times that both generations grew up in.

I could go on for a while, but I'm just rambling now, so I'll end with this: check out the show, at the very least, you'll be entertained. If you watched it last night, I'd love to hear your comments. . . .

EDIT: Here are the metacritic reviews of Black, White.

Singing the News and Interest Free Boobs

The Plastic Assets credit card, offered by the Bank of National Credit, allows aspiring young women to earn credit on all of their purchases towards a new set of breast implants. What a fantastic reward system. Those airline miles are so hard to redeem, why not work towards something we could all use, like bigger boobs? And it's not like this would in any way signify the end of civilization as we know it. Really, it's just a great new credit card for husbands to give their wives, college students who don't have any real income, or big spending hollywood stars. I think I'll apply for one for the future Misses ASAP. Make sure you read the testimonials for this great new card. (The site is a joke, but I, for one, think it's a fantastic idea.)

While we're on the subject of fantastic ideas, check out The Aural Times. It presents the day's top news stories in song. Now, I don't know about you, but I just hate reading the news, or worse yet, listening to those droll news announcers on TV and radio. Singing news makes all the difference. As a good example, listen to this song about the german cat that was found to have a deadly strain of the bird flu. Talk about a deadly melody!

Hammertime

MC Hammer has a blog. It's at www.mchammer.blogspot.com. It really is Mr. Hammer and he is incredibly verbose. I didn't take the time to read it, as I have actual stuff to do, but I think you should ... and then tell me what he has to say. I don't know what it is, but there's something that I like about that dude.

Another Time Waster -- You've Been Warned.

Apparently, this week NegativeMode has turned into a forum for spreading the joy of various time-wasting flash games. Sorry, but I've been too busy to really write anything. Anyway, here's today's addictive, time-wasting flash game: Splash Back.

Enjoy. We will return to our regularly scheduled programming shortly.

A Mayor For the Ages

I don't have anything to say again today, but in my never-ending quest to entertain, or, at the very least, provide a break from the monotony in your days, here's a picture of one of my favorite characters of all time, Mayor McCheese. I don't really know what happened to him, but man, was he cool. He'd have my vote in any election (I wonder if he was Democratic or Republican -- probably not Green).

If you're really bored, play this game. I thought it was stoopid at first, but man, like all flash games, it's pretty addicitve.