Tombstone Generator

Last Night's Project Runway

The challenge for last night was to create an ice skating outfit for skater Sasha Cohen.

The contestants were each given a really tacky ice skating outfit and taken to the rink where Tim introduced them to Sasha and gave them the challenge. It was hysterical watching their star-struck reactions to meeting her. Then they all got a chance to skate a little and have some fun before going back to work.

Everybody had $150 to spend on material and trim. After many trials, tribulations, and mechanical breakdowns the outfits were finished and ready for the runway - thanks to Andrae who got the overlap machines working.

Sasha Cohen was one of the judges, and the reward for the first place winner is that she will wear their outfit in an upcoming competition. Like I've said before, I don't really understand or care about "real fashion" but here is my take -

Zulema - her dress looked like a wedding cake to me. The design was cute, but too many white flowers! Her design was the winner.

Andrae - I know he can do better. Luckily he is safe because he is one of my favorite of the designers remaining.

Chloe - I didn't really like this at first, but the more I look at it the better I like it. The style is very innovative and the color quite striking. Chloe is my pick to win it all!

Daniel V - His outfit looked like a bathing suit to me.

Emmett - His outfit was nice, IMHO, but not terribly innovative. Also, it didn't fit the model very well. The judges said that it was both vulgar and dowdy. Emmett is out.

Kara - I rather liked her flapper style dress, unfortuately the judges didn't agree.

Nick - His outfit was stylish and innovative albeit rather lopsided. I like Nick and hope he stays around for awhile.

Santino - Absolutely hideous. WTH is he thinking? Does he ever listen to instructions?

I'm absolutely devastated that Emmett is out. I really like him and think he has a great future. He is much more artistic than he usually gets credit for. Santino should have been the one to go without a doubt. I truly think the only reason they are keeping him is because he is a drama queen and a shit stirrer. At least he did take Tim's advice and tone down his "attitude" a bit and didn't get so confrontational with the judges about his crappy dress.

Project Runway is on Wednesday nights at 10/9pm on Bravo.

Here's a great Project Runway Blog - Blogging Project Runway.

Free Census Bureau Publications

This is for everyone who don't believe that the government will give you something for nothing. It is also for people who are interested in getting their hands on some Census Bureau short reports from Census 2000. Many of these are also available online, but not all of them are.

Included on this web page is a comprehensive list of publications available along with ordering information and instructions on how to access other Census information through the web and via print-on-demand.

Related links -

Census Bureau Home
American Factfinder
Census 2000

Shakespearean Insult Generator

Thou rank folly-fallen canker-blossom!

'nuff said.

Project Runway

Project Runway is the only reality show, IMHO, that is worth watching. I say this not because I have any particular interest in fashion - as anyone who knows me can attest - but because the challenges are interesting and the contestants compelling.

In each episode, potential fashion designers are given a challenge and a certain amount of time to complete their garment whether it must be made from the clothes they are wearing at a particular party or a new outfit for My Scene Barbie. The challenge for last week's episode - design a day to evening outfit for the Banana Republic customer and then create a storefront window to display it - was particularly good. Diana and Marla really deserved to be cut, but the sooner they get rid of Santino the better. I don't think he will last long because he rarely listens to the challenge preferring to go his own direction, and his designs are always overdone to the point of tackiness. Plus, he's a jackass.

Project Runway is on Wednesday nights at 10pm Eastern Time.

Related links -

Tim's Take - Tim Gunn's Blog
Elle Magazine
Heidi Klum

JigZone

The most addictive site on the Internet. Bar none. Why don't they just sprinkle these online jigsaw puzzles with crack?

You can choose from a huge assortment of picture puzzles and make each one anywhere from 6 to 247 pieces, so you decide how challenging you want your puzzle to be and how much time you want to spend solving it.

Thanks to Ryk at Elmer's Attic Antiques for reminding me of this web page!

The Baby Hippo And The Tortoise

This is just too sweet!

Apparently, after the Tsunami, this orphaned baby hippo about 1 year old was found and taken to a wildlife enclosure. There he hooked up with a 100 year old tortoise and now the two are inseparable, and the tortoise has become like a mother to the little hippo.

Now, look at those pictures and tell me they aren't the cutest thing you've ever seen.

Read more at Owen's Care-Taker's Diary.

FAS Project on Government Secrecy

From the Federation of American Scientists, a web page detailing government secrecy and calling for greater public oversight.

Truth, or c-o-n-spiricy?

smallstep.gov

Wow! Diet and exercise information from the Federal Government!

When I first saw this website, the first thing that popped into my mind was, "Oh great! Now the government has joined the Cult of Self-Diminishment!" But this site is a lot better than I thought it would be. To their credit, the designers of the site emphasize healthy eating and exercise rather than "lose weight at any cost even if you don't need to so you can feel good about yourself."

So, check it out!

WMDC

This might be of interest. It is the official web page of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission and gives information about the Commission including its history and has an extensive research bibliography section.