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This link is too good to not have already traversed the well worn paths of the internet yet, but if you haven’t seen it, I feel it is my duty to provide for you what I consider to be one of the greatest achievements in mixing nostalgia with current pop candy. A guy bought those infamous singing animals from Chuck E. Cheese and programs requests into them for the viewing pleasure of the masses. Check out the band performing Usher’s “Love in the Club.”
Flossy reader Jill attended Comic Con this year, and has posted excellent pictures of some of the costumes on her blog. Check out the guy dressed as “Nurse” Joker (if anyone can’t tell by now, I’m a little Batman-obsessed).
Need a place to shack? You could try living in a dollhouse, or consider this other affordable living arrangement. If you’re the more paranoid type, you may want to pool your resources and invest in something a tad sturdier.
Let’s face it, technology is taking over our lives. So whether you’ve started to witness your desktop icons attacking one another or seen the cursor the Bill Gates uses to control the world, perhaps it’s just best to give in.

One thing I always like to illustrate in the Weekend Links is the concept that if you have enough time on your hands, you can create anything. Here’s another great example of that, in the form of a skeleton created from melted cassettes.
This site allows you to create your own kaleidoscope, which guarantees trippy fun. A more updated version of the site is available here (although it didn’t load as fast as the original for me).
TV may be called the Idiot Box and the Boob Tube for good reasons, but sometimes we can learn things from the shows we watch. For example, Animaniacs list the nations of the world in song. You can see how well you retain the information by trying a quiz. Or, on a less global scale, a song about the states and their capitals, after which you can try your hand at this flossy quiz. Did it help?
From Paul, a suggestion for how to experiment with one of the world’s most unnatural and resilient compounds … the Twinkie.
The Glass Armonica … an instrument banned for seeming to cause insanity, read more about it and listen if you dare.
For music that won’t drive you mad (mad, mad I tell you!), Rachel has sent in two great links this week. First, the beatboxing flute guy and his cello-playing friend never fail to impress. Also, everyone should appreciate how those familiar Pachelbel chords find themselves in so many popular songs, as illustrated by the excellent Pachelbel Rant.
From Slashfood.com, “We’ve had the naked chef who really wasn’t naked at all, but have you heard about naked dining? This clip is actually from last year, but it showcases a group who get together, rent a room, and dine in the buff together. Basically, while it’s cold outside, they shed their clothes, sit down, and chow down in their birthday suits.” (Thanks Jan!)
I promised last week to post some of the creations from your fellow Flossers via MrPicassoHead.com, and here they are:
“Maestro” by Nerak
“Confessions of a Red Hot Lover” by Anonymous (of course)
“Crescendo” by Rachel
“no. 3″ by sb22
“The Kiss” by the most excellent Ryan Anderson
Whilst searching for something entirely different on Mental Floss, I discovered a vintage Friday Happy Hour where Jason asked for links while I was out of town. Somehow these got lost in the vault, so I will be posting them, belatedly, next week. In the meantime, keep sending in your findings, pictures, shameless plugs, and whatnot to FlossyLinks@gmail.com!
Shhh…super secret special for blog readers.
Hey Allison, Not that I am one to be a fact checker, but the band playing the Usher song is not the Chuck-E-Cheese band, its the band from the old Showbiz Pizza Place.
Showbiz has since shut down, and there is quite a bit of a niche cult following of their animi-tronic band. Chuck-E- Cheese is, unfortunately, still around. My 3 year old is totally in love with the place. He feels he is warranted a trip every time he successfully makes a number 2 on the potty…
Captcha: War attracted
posted by RobVan on 8-2-2008 at 5:57 pm
Ok, I’ll ‘fess up… I am Anonymous.
The truth is - I MEANT to sign my name on the ‘Red Hot Lover’ artwork but I accidentally hit save before clicking the signature icon.
I personally find everyone else’s work so much better, but am flattered nonetheless for the inclusion.
posted by Amy on 8-3-2008 at 12:19 am
Thanks for the clarification, Rob! In my foggy formative mind, I remember the takeover of chuck e cheese being negligible, and keeping most of Showbiz’s original stuff. It’s possible I was just generally overwhelmed with flashing lights and loud noises, though.
And Amy, if I knew how to edit things in WordPress after they go up, I would totally rectify your “Anon” status. Although I DO kind of like the secret/revelation aspect, ha
posted by Allison Keene on 8-3-2008 at 9:34 am
There is going to be a documentary about the Rock-afire Explosion released later this year.
posted by Alareth on 8-3-2008 at 11:06 am
The guy who programs the animatronic band is actually from the company that created them originally. He’s not just some random person who bought them.
posted by LP on 8-3-2008 at 12:24 pm
The “most excellent” Ryan Anderson….haha, thanks.
posted by Ryan on 8-4-2008 at 11:27 am