archshrk

Making Money (the fun way)

archshrk — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:31:20 +0000

This 1966 Muppet ad campaign for La Choy Chow Mein brings real flavor with DRAGON FIRE!

Jim Henson produced a series of eleven TV commercials for La Choy from 1965 to 1969. The series included 6 sixty-second commercials and 5 twenty-second commercials. A 5½ minute presentation reel was also created in 1966.

The star of the campaign was Delbert the La Choy Dragon. Loud and clumsy, the Dragon bullied his way through the ads, proclaiming the virtues of La Choy products, and cooking everything with bursts of dragon fire (which, in some cases, set the filming studio on fire).

There were two sets of ads produced for the campaign. One set featured a hand puppet version of Delbert, interacting on a studio set with Mert, a timid Muppet in a suit. In the other set of ads, a large full-bodied Muppet version of the dragon interacted with real humans. – Muppet Wiki

H.T. TMBGSimilar Posts:

Making Money (the fun way)

Train Table 2.0

archshrk — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:08:30 +0000

So a couple of weeks ago I realized (again) that there are just certain limitations to the track layout options for Corbin’s wooden trains. He has enough pieces to make all sorts of designs but there are only so many ways you can make straight and curved pieces fit together on the train table. We got bridges, trestles and even the ability to make a spiral, corkscrew kind of thing. So I decided it was time to expand.

And expand I did.

Since I couldn’t afford to pay retail, I did the only thing I could – I tuned to Craigslist. And I wasn’t disappointed, well, not entirely.

So here’s what I found. The Imaginarium Sound & Light Railroad Train Table – that’s right, I said train table.

“But archshrk, don’t you already have a train table?” you ask.
“Why yes, yes I do” I reply.
“How many train tables does one kid need?” you continue

And so on, and so on. But here’s the deal. I picked up this table, complete with train set and all accessories (minus the motorized engine) for a really good price. A really good price. So good in fact that I was able to re-sell the train table by itself for the same price I got everything. Yup, the train set was free.

And what a cool train set it is. It has segments of track that make various sounds when the train passes over them (tiny buttons in the track grooves), an elevator for various wooden cars (included), a boat, helicopter and plane, as well as several train cars, a working crane (similar to the one he already has) and misc accessories to create a city (buildings, street signs and lights, and of course – trees) This train set has everything I could want – except the one thing I wanted.

This set has zero switch tracks. Switch tracks are those Y-shaped track pieces that allow you to split one track into two tracks which can add diversity to any layout without adding too many track pieces. I also wanted a couple adapter pieces that allow you to connect two male ends or two female ends (comes in handy with some layouts).

So the hunt is still on for these pieces but if you’re feeling generous, you’re more than welcome to get the Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway – Figure 8 Set Expansion Pack. Corbin would really appreciate it.

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Train Table 2.0

James Mason vs the Pirate

archshrk — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:07:20 +0000

As you know, Corbin is really into playing pirates right now (which means I am too) and I’ve always loved They Might be Giants (despite their current evolutionary tendencies) so is it any wonder that this video would bring a smile to my face. I hope it gives you a little chuckle too.

Flansburgh & Linell perform Why Does The Sun Shine at The Royal Festival Hall with pirate accents and a James Mason impression. June 26th 2010

The sun is a mass of incandescent gas
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees
Yo ho, it’s hot The sun is not
A place where we could live
But here on Earth there’d be no life
Without the light it gives
We need its light
We need its heat
We need its energy
Without the sun
Without a doubt
There’d be no you and me
The sun is a mass of incandescent gas
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees
The sun is hot
(It is so hot that everything on it is a gas – Iron, copper, aluminum, and many others)
The sun is large
(If the sun were hollow, a million Earths could fit inside and yet, the sun is only a middle-sized star)
The sun is far away
(About ninety-three million miles away! And that’s why it looks so small)
And even when it’s out of sight, the sun shines night and day
The sun gives heat
The sun gives light
The sunlight that we see
The sunlight comes from our own sun’s atomic energy
(Scientists have found that the sun is a huge atom-smashing machine The heat and light of the sun come from the nuclear reactions of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and helium)
The sun is a mass of incandescent gas
A gigantic nuclear furnace
Where hydrogen is built into helium
At a temperature of millions of degrees

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James Mason vs the Pirate

Random Pictures

archshrk — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:55:49 +0000

I haven’t had much to say lately (you can stop cheering now). I’ve started a new website project which will likely keep me busy for a while and raising two boys fills up my “spare” time pretty quickly. So I thought I’d just share some recent pictures to keep you from thinking I’ve forgotten all about you.

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Random Pictures

Corbin Beard strikes again!

archshrk — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:06:08 +0000

One of Corbin’s favorite games is “pirates!” or “swords”.
Here’s a little sample of his swash buckling ways.

Watch the first video, then hit play on the second video immediately afterward.

Corbin Beard, aka Captain Corbin, has become legendary in his 2-1/2 years on the high seas. Thankfully, he is one of The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything.

“We are the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything!
We just stay home and lie around.
And if you ask us to do anything,
we’ll just tell you …

We don’t do anything!”Similar Posts:

Corbin Beard strikes again!

Another Bag of Crap

archshrk — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 01:30:23 +0000

Came home to a nice surprise…

Another Bag of Crap. Not familiar? Read this post first, then come back here or see what I got last time. Usually, I miss getting the BoC because of a simple mistake like forgetting to enter all my credit card info or my paypal email, but not this time. This time, I was prepared and this is what I got for my $8.

(1) Reusable Lunch Bag – the proverbial BAG of crap (as promised)

(1) Giant Gold Limited Edition Musical Charlie Brown Washington Nationals Pez Candy Dispenser by Brand New Products

Giant Pez Limited Editon Pez Candy Roll Dispenser stands over 12 ” tall and plays “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. Charlie Brown is shiny gold and wears a Washington Nationals Baseball Cap. This Giant Pez opens just like the smaller version, but dispenses rolls of Pez Candy. Two 1.5 volt batteries and 12 packs of Pez Candy are included. For ages 4 years and up. An officially licensed product of the MLB.

(1) TrueFire Gourmet Cedar Grilling Plank – 12 Pack. Environmentally Responsible – Planks are 100% natural Western Red Cedar from sustainable and renewable sources

(2) Argus Bean Sprout Digital Camera Li-on Battery

This bundle features two Argus ‘Bean Sprout’ Carabiner Digital Cameras in Yellow and Blue. Kids can take this camera with them everywhere they go. The carabiner design allows it to be clipped to anything, while the rubberized grip makes it easy to handle. 0.3-megapixel CMOS sensor captures images up to 640 x 480 pixels 0.25″ status LCD; Real Image viewfinder Functions as a Web cam 3-image burst mode allows you to capture high-speed shots Autofocus with auto white balance modes Movie mode lets you record videos 2MB of internal memory for storing images and videos USB interface allows you to connect the camera to your computer Carabiner clip design and rubberized grip for easy handling Includes Arcsoft PhotoImpression 4 and camera driver software for storing, editing and arganizing your photos Includes USB cable, lithium-ion battery and wristband

Not that exciting but not a total waste either. Check out my site for the video soon.
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Another Bag of Crap

archshrk on YouTube

archshrk — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:44:28 +0000

Did you know you could subscribe to the archshrk channel on YouTube? You can. And it’s easy.

In order to subscribe:

1. Create/Sign into your account.

2. Go to either a user’s channel page, or on the video watch-page, look to the right hand side of any video. You’ll see a yellow “Subscribe” button.

3. To subscribe to that user’s videos and/or activity, click the yellow button. You’ll receive a confirmation that you successfully subscribed to the user.

4. Once you’ve subscribed, you can customize your subscription options. On the user’s channel page (next to their profile icon), you’ll see “Edit subscription”. When you click “Edit subscription” various subscription options will appear. These include:

5. Select option(s) that you’d like to see in your subscription updates.

6. Click the “Update” button. You’ll now be subscribed to the user uploads/activity.

Please note: your email address must be confirmed and you must be signed into your account in order to subscribe to other users or videos.

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archshrk on YouTube

Boosters are a GO!

archshrk — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:43:59 +0000

Corbin is at the size where we need to consider moving him to a booster car seat. California Law allows children over 40 pounds to use a booster seat used with lap and shoulder belts. He can’t use just the lap and shoulder belts until he is 60 pounds. At his last appointment, he weighed in at 33 pounds and 37 inches. Now he is currently in the Britax Boulevard which is rated up to 65 pounds and a standing height of 49 inches, so he still has room to grow but Benjamin probably won’t last as long in his car seat.

Benjamin is using Corbin’s [now-discontinued*] Britax Companion infant carrier and while he easily fits, he doesn’t seem to enjoy it the way Corbin did. We’re not sure why, but we suspect he gets too hot because the material doesn’t “breath” enough for him. Corbin loved it when he had it but he was also a winter baby so the extra heat may have been good to him. Corbin also outgrew it around the 6 month mark so never had to use it in the summer heat.

So…
While they both have room to grow, I’m thinking it may be a good idea to move Corbin up to a convertible booster like the Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Car Seat now, and move Benjamin into the Britax Boulevard. This should address a couple things;
1) Corbin is big enough to get into his seat by himself, he just has trouble climbing up and over the high-based seat. The Frontier has a lower base and no “wings” on the sides, just armrests.
2) Since we don’t carry Benjamin around in the infant carrier anyway, putting him in and taking him out won’t be much different than it is now, plus he likes to be more upright than the infant carrier allows. But the real benefit is that the car seat’s fabric will be more comfortable (in theory) and thus keep him cool enough to enjoy the ride.

Of course, safety is priority number one (which is why we’re willing to pay a premium), so we won’t make the switch unless everyone is physically ready, including us. Corbin (33 lbs) can already make the switch since the Frontier is rated for 25 to 85 pounds as a 5-point harness and 40 to 120 pounds as a belt-positioning booster seat. The Boulevard is rated 5 to 35 pounds rear-facing and 20 to 65 pounds forward-facing (and 1 year old) so Benjamin should be ready too.

We’ll conduct a couple of usability tests this week and see if it’s practical to make the switch, then we’ll decide if we move forward or rethink our strategy. In the mean time, take a look at the multiple positions of the Frontier 85 below. Oh, and if anyone is feeling extra benevolent, we like the “Canyon” color best.

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Boosters are a GO!

It’s been a problem for some time

archshrk — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:21:01 +0000

The spelling of English is one of its most difficult aspect. It’s hard to say how many writers of English, native speakers or not, have at one time or another used one of the pair its/it’s in place of the other. – Education Bug

It’s is a contraction for it is or it has.
Its is a possessive pronoun meaning, more or less, of it or belonging to it.
And there is absolutely, positively, no such word as its’.

This has been the bane of my writing existence. Despite my earnest efforts to keep this rule, I have repeatedly failed to keep them straight. And as I’m sure you’ll notice (if you haven’t already) I typically get them wrong. In fact, I’m so confident that I’ve reversed this rule and almost never use the possessive form, that I could replace all my its with it’s and be 99% accurate – meaning I’m 99% wrong up ’till now. But have no fear I finally have the trick to remember them from now on.

The word “its” signifies possession, and needs no apostrophe, nor do yours, his, hers, theirs, and ours. So there you have it, a quick and easy way to check, if not remember, when to use its vs it’s (or is that it’s vs its). Either way, let me know if you catch me making this mistake so I can quickly cover up my ignorance.Similar Posts:

It’s been a problem for some time

Benjamin the Snake Eater

archshrk — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:24:48 +0000

Benjamin enjoys some personal time in the crib, chewing on an inch worm toy.

The Lamaze Musical Inchworm is a plush toy that’s perfect for playing and napping. Developed in conjunction with child development experts from Yale University, the Inchworm promotes mom and baby interaction, encourages tummy time fun, and supports healthy physical and sensory development.

In a strange twist of events, Benjamin later suffers the same fate as the inchworm.

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Benjamin the Snake Eater