Ohhhh the Japanese...

They sure know how to cook! This is one of the strangest recipes I have come across in a while, and the video is stranger still. It's taijaki, a fish-shaped cake with a bean filling. Mmm?

Check it out, via DListed.

Crush of the Day: David Nail

Mad props to Libby on this one.

I've never been a fan of country music, and, to be honest, I don't think I ever will be. However, I will say that there are a few country artists I like: Shania Twain, Rascall Flatts, (some) Garth Brooks, and, most recently, David Nail.

Nail's debut album came out in 2002 with not much critical or commercial success; his sophomore album, "I'm About to Come Alive," has produced a few hits, most notably the title track and "Red Light." His songs are fun, upbeat, musical, and easy to listen to, even for us non-country lovers.

Did I mention that he's dreamy?

This is mean.

But it's also hilarious.

We're playing Apples to Apples at my parents' house right now, and talking about how there are a few "trump cards" in the deck: AIDS, choir boys, Anne Frank, Hiroshima, and, most notably, Helen Keller.

Check out this link for the Helen Keller Simulator.

My birthday is just around the corner...

...and if you're looking for a gift idea, this would probably fit the bill.

The Gilles Marini 2010 calendar. Yum.

It's available on Amazon.com.

Via OHLALA Mag. Fiercely.

Delicious! Haha.

This is one of the funnier videos I have seen in a while; I literally laughed out loud, and it takes something pretty funny to make me do that.

Let me just say that I love Sandra Lee; I think her cooking show on Food Network is truly unique. She offers up easy meals that just about anyone can make, and she does it with attention to detail and her own personal style. However, she is one crazy lady!

Via DListed...

A funny thing happened on the way to Chicago...

Well, quite a few things, actually. I wish I had been able to take some pictures, but I was furiously driving a record-setting time from Bellaire to Chicago: five hours and 16 minutes. Fierce.

Anyhow, while on my drive, I saw quite a few funny things that I'd like to share.

1. A gypsy camp. I left Bellaire and followed my iPhone GPS to Kalkaska to pick up the highway. I was driving down dirt roads that I'd never seen before, and it was awesome. Lots of beautiful hills and valleys, creeks and ponds, all kinds of nature. But the best thing I saw was this gypsy camp... I came around a corner and there was a trailer home parked on the side of the road. After that, there was a cleared out section in the woods filled with run-down cars, grills, lawn furniture, and a few dogs. I've always heard stories about how there were gypsies in Northern Michigan: the kind that travel around but have a base camp and rob houses when you're at the grocery store, etc. Anyways, I honestly think I stumbled across one today, and it was pretty cool.

2. Just before passing the booming metropolis known as Cadillac, MI, I saw a turtle crossing the road. Seriously. He was almost to the berm on the left side of the road, so he was pretty much home safe. I was concerned, humored, confused, and worried all at once.

3. Down towards Grand Rapids, I passed a semi-truck with the following message inscribed in HUGE letters:

JESUS CHRIST IS LORD

Not a Swear Word

It was funny at first, but then I started thinking about who it was who was driving that truck... Where was he (she?) driving? What cargo was being carried? Maybe it was a cover-up for an illegal drug operation or a child porn ring, but I'm not really sure. It was curious, to say the least.

43? No way!

Happy Birthday, Matthew Fox! You're 43 and looking fierce!

I'm letting the pic speak for itself... Wow.

Crush of the Day: Joe Mauer

I'm coming out of left field for this one. Hahahahaha.

Tonight I had the privilege to watch the MLB Home Run Derby. It's this thing in baseball where they get some of the best batters together and throw them some easy pitches and see who can hit the most home runs. Pretty boring, really, especially because after it's over they show highlights of them hitting the home runs over and over again.

Well, I'm glad I watched because I became familiar with Joe Mauer, a catcher for the Minnesota Twins. It's funny, really, because my brother called him "Handsome Joe Mauer," and I immediately asked, "well, is he a pitcher or a catcher?" fully intending the double entendre. Without hesitation and with a bit of irony, Casey informed me that he is a catcher. Score one for the home team!

Upon further investigation, I found out that Joe has done some modeling work (duh) for Perry Ellis and has done some commercial work for ESPN and Pepsi, among others. In the sports world, he's a pretty big deal, too.

I mostly just think he's cute.

Hahahaha!

This is what video games are doing to the youth of America.

Backstory: some kid's mom got sick of spending a fortune on his World of Warcraft obsession, so she cancelled his account. Little brother (I think) decided to film his reaction. I totally think it's legitimate, too.

Via OMGblog, which has been throwing some GEMS my way lately!

Don't eat a Hershey's bar any time soon...

What a way to go!

A young man recently fell to his death while at work in New Jersey, which is extremely sad and tragic... He was working at a chocolate factory and fell into a vat containing melted chocolate, which is extremely strange and wild.

Via CNN.com...

Just get her to bed!

One of the funnier (and sadder) videos I have seen in a while, via OMGblog... Hahahaha! If I was 109 years old and someone was literally shouting in my ear, I'd be pissed too!!!

Jersey Girls

This clip is a bunch of highlights from a documentary shot in 1994 called Wildwood, N.J. It is amazing. It makes the Real Housewives of New Jersey look like angel food cake.

My favorite quote, from one of the first girls:

"It's different every night... And... Every night it's different. You can stay together forever or it's different... And... Whatever happens happens, but it's different. Every night. And you meet new people and it's summer, and I think........."

Via DListed...

Hahaha

Wikipedia has an article concerning (just about) everything!!!

I recently came across this page, sharing more information about jungle juice than I ever thought existed.

Funny, no?

Sears Tower Skydeck--Crazy!

The Sears Tower opened a new attraction on the 103rd floor today--a Skydeck with a glass floor! Visitors can ride the elevator up, up, up and go out on the balcony to watch the streets, river, people, and other city things below... Amazing pics and the whole story here!

A video from the Chicago Tribune below...