Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem...

Or...maybe not.



Via Daily Picks and Flicks

Stanley the Interactive Piano

Digital Kitchen introduced Stanley, an interactive piano, at Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party in mid-July.


Introducing Stanley from DIGITAL KITCHEN on Vimeo.

At the block party, people could tweet their requests. Clearly that date has passed, but  you can still enjoy Stanley online at stanleypiano.com

Sun Jars: Make Your Own

Because I know a couple of people who are on very tight budgets and need to be frugal, I'm a bit obsessed with reuse/remake/or make from scratch ideas lately. Here's one you may have seen bandied about a bit: making your own sun jars. We've seen them.

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Here's a link on how to make your own (read the Comments section. There are some good ideas there). And one more for good measure.

If you prefer a video how-to, here's one that shows you how to get a bit more decorative:

And one that focuses on Halloween lights:

Fitting Two Cars into a Shipping Container

This video isn't new, and it doesn't even deal with something I would ordinarily find all that interesting, but I just couldn't look away. Here the port workers refused to load the owner's trucks, so he and his crew decided to take care of the job themselves.



via Wimp.com

Walk and Talk

Lots of walking and talking in this supercut of television shows.

Man in a Cat

An utterly bizarre, somewhat gross but ultimately charming animation about a man who lives inside a cat...and falls in love.


All Consuming Love (Man In A Cat) from Dice Productions on Vimeo.

So...If You Hired Animals to Mow Your Lawn...

How many would it take to mow your lawn in a day? The people at Movoto.com, a real estate agency, have a way to find out (and they have kindly included an embed code). In a real world sense, it might be worth it just to see what the neighbors would say. Fun!

Reduce Animal Unemployment: Hire A Goat By Movoto Real Estate

Prince the Puppy Hunts for a New Owner

What can a poor puppy do when he loathes his owner?


The Emancipation of Prince - a short film directed by Gavin O'Grady from Forever on Vimeo.

All About Naps

Asap Science fills us in on some things we might not know about The Science of Naps. (I know. It sounds boring, but I found it interesting. And I learned a thing or two that will be useful down the line).

The Treadmill Desk

Treadmill desks are becoming more popular among those of us who spend far too much time sitting while we work. Here Hank at the Vlog Brothers shows off his new desk/treadmill.

Then and Now: A Photo Recreated

You may have seen this video. It's been around a bit, but it's intriguing, so I"m posting it. Here artist Maisie Broadhead recreates a video that will be hung on the wall of the National Gallery of Art in London next to the 1844 photographic print by Hill and Adamson that it references.


OdeToHillAndAdamson_Master_300512.mov from Whitehouse Content on Vimeo.

Here's a link to the J. Paul Getty Museum with the original photo.

It's Summer, the Perfect Time for Reading

But what to read? There are so many choices. For my own part, I just finished reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Very different. Magical. I recommend it.

And, of course, there are many wonderful romances. Summer is the perfect time for a good love story (isn't anytime a good time for a love story)?
Here's a Goodreads list of 2012 Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense novels.

The 2012 RITA finalists (if you're not familiar with romance, the RITAs are the annual awards given out by Romance Writers of America. They're our Oscars, so to speak). The winners will be announced on July 28th.

And RomanceNovels.me Top 1,000 Romance Novels of All Time.


But if romance novels aren't your style, here are some other lists:

Here's the longlist for this year's Man Booker prize.

Here's Brain Pickings Summer Reading List 2012: 10 Essential Books for Cognitive Sunshine.

10 Books Inspired by Paintings

The July 29th New York Times List.

USA Today's list of bestsellers.

NPR's Summer Book List

Recommended Reading from the American Library Association.

And this list, from the beginning of the year, is a preview of some of what's being published this year.

Whichever books you choose to read, have a wonderful time! Enjoy!

Can a Bus Do Push Ups? You Bet It Can!

Czech artist David Cerny remodeled a London double decker bus into an athlete doing push-ups to celebrate the Olympic games.

Cauliflower Sheep and Cheerios Sheep

Even if you're not a fan of cauliflower (or Cheerios), sheep made from olives and cauliflower are cute (sorry I can't show you the image of the cauliflower sheep. The photo is adorable and all over the internet, but it comes from a book called Food for Thought and I don't want to infringe. I guarantee that if you Google cauliflower sheep you'll see it right away).

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Basically, you take a piece of cauliflower and with toothpicks add legs (pear stems seemed to look best, cut black olives need support or you can use baby carrots or carrot sticks). For the  head. cut little flaps (ears) in the side of a black olive, attach black eyed peas to the olive for eyes and pin the olive on the cauliflower with a toothpick for the head. So cute!

So...I can't show you the image for that, but I can show you the video on how to make Cheerios sheep. Enjoy!

Pool Illusion

An illusionist drains his pool and creates an illusion in the process (using blue tape).

The City of London (Part 1)

Another awesome video by C.G.P. Grey

The Power of the Internet...and Persistence

This story is from March, but it's nonetheless timely. It tells the story of how a post on Reddit helped save a man whose medical condition was getting worse and whose doctors...weren't very helpful.

A Good Samaritan Helps Out

How often do you see people stepping in to help like this? Not often enough.

A Father Sings Let It Be to Raise Money to Cover His Child's Treatment

When Mike Massé's 11-month-old son was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, the Cover Cows suggested that he record a song to raise money for the cause.

If You Like Fireworks...

I'm not a major fireworks fan, but this one would be something to see in person.

10 Facts About Google

You may already know most of these. I only knew a few.

How's Your Danish?

Visitors to Denmark often have difficulty with street names, so Momo Miyazai and Andrew Spitz at the Copenhagen Institute of Interactive Design created street signs complete with audio, then placed them in areas tourists frequented. Here's a brief video of how this turned out.


WTPh? - What the Phonics from Andrew Spitz on Vimeo.

via Nag on the Lake

For Those of Us Who are Still Young at Heart

Jest Comedy created this fun parody of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." (Because admit it, just because we grow up doesn't mean that we stop having fun).



via Viral Viral Videos

Birdbox is at it Again

This animated video is simply titled Wildebeest.

Who Knew a Piano Could Be This Versatile?

The Piano Guys give a piano a workout when they all join to play One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" on a single piano.

I Could Spend the Day Here (Library Chronicles)

This is the reading room at the Suzzallo Library (at the University of Washington). The photographer used the caption, "Welcome to Hogwarts." Love it!

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From the same room

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Another shot of the same place

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We Are All Connected

Sometimes we get so caught up in our modern world that we forget how connected we are to nature. This message from the World Wildlife Foundation reminds us of that fact...in a very nice way.

The Larkville Legacy is Here - New York Meets Texas in a New Harlequin Romance Series!

Recently, I took part in writing a series called The Larkville Legacy. Now the first book is out (Patricia Thayer's The Cowboy Comes Home). I love the combination of Texas cowboys and New York sophistication. This series will sweep you from Texas ranches to Australia to Hollywood and back. The books will be released one a month from July 2012 to February 2013. We hope you enjoy the show!
Lark Ville Legacy

 Here are all the books with links to Amazon (the first is available now. The rest are available for pre-order).

The Cowboy Comes Home by Patricia Thayer

Slow Dance with the Sheriff by Nikki Logan

Taming the Brooding Cattleman by Marion Lennox

The Rancher's Unexpected Family by Myrna Mackenzie (okay, yes, that's me)!

(There's no Look Inside the Book or excerpts up for this one yet, so here's the back cover copy:


One Stetson needed…baby size!
It’s well-known in Larkville that “no” is pretty much the sum
total of cowboy Holt Calhoun’s vocabulary ever since his
marriage ended.
Single mom-to-be Kathryn Ellis won’t take no for an answer.
She needs Holt’s influence, as head of the town’s most powerful
family, to save the local clinic before her baby is born!
But an early arrival with Kathryn’s sparkling eyes and heartmelting
smile makes it impossible for Holt to turn on his spurred
heel and walk away.…

The final four books are His Larkville Cinderella by Melissa Mcclone, The Secret That Changed Everything by Lucy Gordon, The Soldier's Sweetheart by Soraya Lane, and The Billionaire's Baby SOS by Susan Meier (images and excerpts aren't up for these yet, and Susan's book isn't on Amazon yet, but rest assured that I'll be back with more information on these as it becomes available).

A Story of Love Never Realized

All right, it's an Axe ad starring Kiefer Sutherland, but it was fun.

The Power of the Internet to Bring People Together

This young couple met on the Internet (a Halo 3 game lobby) 5 years ago. They became best friends via MySpace, Skype, video games and Facebook for 3 years, then dated online (not sure what that means) for 2 more years. Both in school and without enough money to travel to meet each other, this is their first meeting (in March of this year) after 5 years together online. (They're engaged now).

Paying It Forward - A Family Fulfills A Man's Last Wish

Aaron Collins was not a rich man, and when he passed away, his last wish was for his family to go out for pizza and give the waiter or waitress a $500 tip. And that's just what they did. They created the website AaronCollins.org to gather donations and then they passed those along to a waitress.



Since the story first aired, the response has been astounding. Heres an update.

Olympics Ad - 2012

You may have seen this ad already. It's been viewed by over a million people at this point in time. But like P & G's previous Olympics ad, this one brings a tear to my eye, so I'm posting it despite the fact that it's already gone viral (and beyond, if there is such a thing).

Open Air Bookshelves in the Vineyards of St. Peter's Abbey (Ghent)

This obviously isn't a practical application (and not good for the books), but I like the combination of art, architecture, history and landscape. Here, artist Massimo Bartolini built bookshelves in the shadow of St. Peter's Abbey (in line with the vines). Visitors can borrow or buy books.


MASSIMO BARTOLINI from TRACKGent on Vimeo.

I wonder what happens when it rains or how long the sculpture will remain there.

If You're a James Bond Fan

Here's the background on James Bond's appearance.


Designing Bond's Look from Barbican Centre on Vimeo.

The Inverted Bike Shop

I love learning about these shops where things are still very personal. This particular film is part of the official lineup of the 2012 Bicycle Film Festival in New York City.


The Inverted Bike Shop from Show Love on Vimeo.

Make Your Own Big Mac

A McDonald's chef shows you how.

Removing 50,000 Bees From a Wall

I'm not sure if the number is accurate, but watching the process was an amazing experience.



via Viral Viral Videos

Plastic Army Men Dance It Up

This video by David Fain includes music by the band Pink Martini (I've seen them in concert. They're awesome). A very creative endeavor. They actually look as if they're dancing.


Choreography for Plastic Army Men from David Fain on Vimeo.

Writing Jumpstarter: Concentrate on Visuals

One day last year while I was in the midst of writing The Rancher's Unexpected Family, part of the Larkville Legacy series, my editor asked me to submit artwork info for a Christmas novella I was scheduled to write. And there was a ticking clock.

I, of course, agreed. There was only one problem. The novella wasn't due to be written until after I was through with the Larkville book and I hadn't yet decided what it would be about...or what the characters would be like...or what their conflict was...or even what their names were. (I knew that it was about Christmas and that there would be a puppy in the mix. That was all).

 

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(Note: This isn't the puppy from the novella, but she certainly could have been. The point is that I can totally see looking at this photo and finding myself beginning a story. Images can be powerful story starters).

 So, I started looking at images. Puppy images, hero images, heroine images, house images, anything that I found remotely interesting. And that was when the magic began to happen. Now I had characters and a setting. I could give them names. I could explore their issues. And since this was for art purposes, I could come up with a few visually interesting scene possibilities.

With that as my starting point, I sat down and wrote a rough outline of the book. It was enough for the artist to work from. But the wonderful thing was that when I finished The Rancher's Unexpected Family I had a good starting place for what would end up being The Soldier, the Puppy and Me. Sure, some things changed. The book evolved as I was writing it, but then...books always do that (at least mine do). A story is fluid until the day I stop editing it and it finally "feels" finished.

But being forced to search for images before I was ready to even begin plotting was a novel experience for me. It's not the way I usually work. I like to at least have the basics nailed down before I go on an image hunt, but I certainly could see trying this again someday. In this case, having images to get the party started was just what I needed.

Tour de Fat 2012

Sorry, I had to do this. Tour de Fat is coming to Chicago this year on July 21st (and Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 14th). Sponsored by the New Belgium Brewing Company, it's a combination of (as per a 2010 article in SFGate), "bicycles, beer, entertainment and do-gooding." People dress up in costumes, there are lots of unusual and inventive bicycles in a big parade, contests, a stage with entertainment and the culmination of the event, a car-for-bike swap in which one winner makes a commitment to go car-free for a year, turns in their car keys and is given a bicycle. The car is then auctioned with the money going to charity (actually, all the proceeds from the event goes to local bike advocacy programs).

The event uses only sustainable energy and compostable materials.

Here are some of the more interesting bikes from a 2010 event (this is the crazy bike rodeo).

R. J. Bruni's Vegas in a Day

I've set two books in Las Vegas and I've visited there a couple of times. It's unique, from its history to its focus, and in this time-lapse video, R J Bruni replays one day in Vegas.

Vegas In A Day from RJ Bruni on Vimeo.

Cookie Monster Gets in On the "Call Me Maybe" Craze

This video went viral earlier this week so you may have already seen it, but...I can't resist Cookie Monster. Here, he takes the song "Call Me Maybe" and makes his own version, "Share It Maybe."

A Challenging Vending Machine

I don't even really know what Fantastic Delites are, but I liked this vending machine video. The maker of Fantastic Delites put a vending machine in a mall, but money wasn't what was required in order to get the product. Instead a free box was offered...if a person was willing to work for their Fantastic Delites. And as each challenge was met, the stakes were upped and became more demanding and creative. I'd say the makers of Fantastic Delites achieved their goal. By the end of this video, a crowd had gathered (and they also got me to write Fantastic Delites a whole bunch of times in this post).

Summer Flowers You Don't Have to Water

I'm not usually a big felt fan, but these flowers by Rebecca of The Crafted Sparrow are just so darn cute! Plus, she tells you how to make them. How awesome is that?

How the Internet Works

This video sounds as if it would be...well...boring, but watch. It's intriguing (and not too long, either). I am always amazed at what we're able to do today (and how this would have been unthinkable not that long ago).

A Craftsman Makes a Work of Art From a Railroad Spike

This video is from 2008, but I'm guessing that a lot of people haven't seen it. Watch as a man takes a railroad spike and turns it into a gorgeous work of art (a knife). Fantastic music, too. (And yes, as several people in the comments said, he should be wearing eye protection).

Bored and Like Cats?

Well, you'd have to be really bored, but...if you go to Meowmania, you'll find an almost blank screen. Click anywhere on it and a meowing cat head appears. Click again and another cat head appears and...well, you get it. (I'd compare it to counting sheep, but staring at a computer screen tends to keep people awake so...Meowmania isn't really a very good sleep aid). Still, I have to admit that I did this several times.so it did hold some attraction as a time waster (there may be a way to start over, but I couldn't figure it out. I had to click the back button and then the forward button to clear the screen).

Kinetic Rain - Computerized Sculpture

The sculpture Kinetic Rain has just been unveiled in Singapore's Changi Airport. It's made up of copper and aluminum raindrops moving together in symphony. The first video below explains the background, the art, the technology and the process (it took 20 months and involved artists, programmers and technologists). The second video demonstrates the sculpture itself.

A LEGO Candy Machine

This is a LEGO candy machine that the builder created when he was about 12 or 13. I don't know what he's doing now, but if I had to guess, I'd say engineer or inventor (or entrepreneur).



Update: I don't know why I was assuming the video maker was an adult. I looked at his YouTube channel and he's still quite young. I'm sure he has a successful future ahead if he can build something this clever and detailed.

A Unique Table Made From Vintage Yarksticks

Beth Schaleben took her collection of vintage yardsticks and created this awesome and interesting table.

Visit her blog, Show & Tell to read about the table and more of her work. I love the look of that clever table!

Play Me, I'm Yours: Pianos Bring Us Together

Play Me, I'm Yours is an artwork begun by British artist Luke Jerram in 2008 and still touring. Pianos are located, painted and put in public places where any member of the public can play them. Already the project has been all over the world, including London, New York and Sydney. This year even more cities are being added (Los Angeles; Toronto; Paris; London; Salt Lake City; Geneva; Salem, Oregon; and Hangzhou, China. When the projects are over, the pianos are donated or sold and the money given to charity.

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Here's a 2009 video about the concept and execution.

In case anyone is interested, I saw a clip about the New York exhibit. After the pianos were located, cleaned up and painted, a piano tuner was hired to keep them in shape. Each piano had a volunteer "buddy" whose job it was to lock the keyboard every night and put a tarp over the piano to protect the instruments as much as possible under the adverse conditions. I'm sure the pianos still suffered (weather is the enemy to a piano), but I'm sure the art and instruments provided a lot of joy to the people who stopped by to play. There are videos showing singers and bands trying to travel around and play as many of them as possible (New York had 60 pianos). Quite a feat. And fun!

Cute Panda Fun

Pandas at China's Chengdu Panda Base playing on a slide. Adorable.

What Would Monopoly Properties Cost Today?

Using market values, Movoto Real Estate takes a look at what Monopoly properties would have cost then and now in their Real World Monopoly post.

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A Little Praise for a Good (and Honest) Deed

An Australian credit card company (NAB) decided to reward people for being honest, so they planted a "lost" item outside a shopping mall, set up a phony lost and found desk and then proceeded to pass along the name and photo of the person returning the item to others in the mall. In no time, the good Samaritan's name and face was projected all over the mall, along with praise for their honesty. It's a cute video.

At the Factory: A Harlequin Book Gets Printed

Pretty basic stuff, but I'm always interested in how things are made. Seeing books printed is pretty exciting to me (it would be even more exciting if it was one of my own books, but I'd probably just start screaming and making a nuisance of myself if I ever saw that happening, so it's probably for the best that it's someone else's book).

We Are Young Mash Up

Just in case you didn't already realize what a hit "We Are Young" is, here's a mash up of 40 YouTube performances. There were some interesting clips (late in the video, a woman is playing a harp).

What's Your Favorite Place to Read?

I used to be able to read anywhere, and when I was growing up, we had this big armchair with fat arms. I would sit sideways and throw my legs over one of the arms, something my mother repeatedly warned me was bad for the furniture. It probably was, but it was soooo comfy that I would forget and resume my sideways reading. I've spent a lot of time reading in bed and I have a favorite wingback sofa with the perfect place to wedge myself into the angle of the wing, so that I can sit upright with my legs in front of me (it needs replacing, but just try finding a wingback sofa today that isn't hideously formal or overpriced). These days I tend to read while seated in a big recliner, although I seldom recline it. Here then are some places where people read.

This person uses a music stand and a weighted bit of metal to hold the book in place, so he can read while standing up.

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Under a shady tree (I love the thought of reading under a tree, but in practice it's seldom been very comfortable, at least for me).

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On the train (I know a lot of train readers).

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I've always wanted a window seat. This one (recently finished, according to the photographer) looks just about perfect. Add some cushions and I would be spending a lot of time reading there if it were mine.

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Or...this is the window seat from The French Lieutenant's Woman. Although the lighting washes out the colors a bit, you can still see that the lake is just outside the window. I'm not sure I'd spend much time reading with that gorgeous view!

The room above is also part of Broad Leys in the Lake District and belongs to the Windermere Boat Racing Club, so it can only be rented on weekdays and select weekends, but if you click on the website, you can see more images. 

A Cirque du Soleil Movie?

Intriguing. I've never been to a show, but this looks interesting.

So It's Not Just Me? (People Tripping on Subway Steps)

I'd seen this video circulating last week but paid no attention. This week when it was renamed on another site, I clicked through (yes, they caught me off guard). Nothing much to see but people tripping on a step, but the interesting thing is that it's the same step every time, and there's a reason for all the tripping. As a clutz myself, I'm glad that there's someone else to blame other than the people who are simply trying to walk up the stairs. Unfortunately, I don't see any immediate way to fix this. Maybe some engineers have a solution. (I have to say that part of the reason I posted this was because I liked the music).

Bringing a Book to Life

I don't write for Random House, but I found this video on how Random House operates fascinating. As an author, I already knew a lot of this, but watching the process with all of the aspects of publishing and then seeing it all put together in one package was interesting.

I'm Always On Board for a Good Love Story

I don't have a list of all the shows in this video (I recognized quite a few but not all, and some of them go way back in time). so I hope you'll simply enjoy Flavorwire's TV's Best Confessions of Love. (I have to confess that the Colin Firth one is my favorite, but then I'm a major Colin Firth fan).


TV's Best Confessions of Love from Flavorwire on Vimeo.

This Bookcase is Awesome (and Colorful)

This bookcase by Orla Reynolds cleverly conceals a table and chairs. Fun!


As if from nowhere from Orla Reynolds on Vimeo.

via Nag on the Lake

Gorgeous Greece - Travel While Staying at Home

Greece may be having financial problems, but as you can see in this video by Stian Rekdal, it's just beautiful. So let's indulge in some armchair travel.


Greece from Stian Rekdal on Vimeo.

Is There Such a Thing as a Soulmate?

I'm not sure that I believe there is, but I do believe that it can be very difficult to find one person uniquely suited to another person. We all have our little quirks as well as line items that are important to us, and I can think of several things, had I not been lucky enough to meet my husband many years ago, that I would be unwilling to compromise on. That said, I do love it when someone says that they've met their soulmate. I think it means that they've at least thought seriously about what's important and found a person who meshes with their personality. In this video, written by Drake Martinet with illustrations and animation by Emanuele Colombo, Drake tells the woman he loves why she is his soulmate. Lovely (the part about not speaking English well made me cringe, but then I gave him a pass and decided he was referring to the fact that it would be difficult for two people who don't speak the same language to develop a relationship).

What an Intriguing Read!

I mentioned the other day that I was reading Margaret Powell's Below Stairs. I didn't intend to post about it again, but I just finished it and it was one of those "read it at one sitting" books. Not just because of the intriguing information about the life of a woman in service (she was a kitchen maid and a cook), but also because she was a very interesting woman with definite and sometimes amusing opinions about things. There's a bit of history here (the way things changed over the years for those in service) and some insight into the differences between the classes of the time. I highly recommend it.

I take it that Ms.Powell became a bit of a celebrity after she began writing and Upstairs, Downstairs (inspired by her book) became a hit. I would have loved to have seen her interviewed. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1984, and the only video I could find of her was in this ad for chicken.



She did write numerous books, most of them out of print, and I'l be searching for them.

An Optimistic View of the Future

This video is a tribute to those people who, by their big dreams, have changed the world. It's meant to inspire us to continue to dream.

I was a bit saddened and taken aback by a few in the comments section of YouTube who called it rubbish. Without the dreamers of the world, where would be be today? Thank goodness for those people who look to the future and make it better. (And no, I don't think all change is for the better. I know that sometimes costly mistakes are made, but...if the alternative is stagnation, I prefer the occasional mistake).

If Your Normal Weather Forecast is Making You Yawn...

Try watching this weatherman from Richmond, Virginia. I think you'll agree that you've never experienced this kind of weather.

Evolution in New York City

I find it alarming that there are those who still claim not to believe in evolution and, indeed, seem to dismiss science itself. I can't see any good coming out of that kind of denial, especially when there are mountains of evidence supporting the evolutionary process. Here, in this TED Ed video, is an interesting explanation of how quickly evolution is taking place (on a small scale) even within the boundaries of New York City.

Van Gogh's Starry Night in Dominoes

When I found the Van Gogh story posted yesterday, I had originally been looking for some biographical material to go with this video. However, once I found Van Gogh - In His Own Words it seemed too serious and somewhat melancholy to pair with a domino video. So here is Starry Night in dominoes. I rather like the fact that she shows us her mistakes, shows some different angles at the end and explains how this all went down.