Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Workplace Pranks for April Fool's Day

It's never too early to start planning your April Fool's Day prank. Employment site Monster.com offers up some helpful "career advice" in the form of "Joking Around at the Office," a list of several jokes you can play on your co-workers.

The best: Swapping packing peanuts for Cheetos in a dimly lit room.

The coffeemaker was in the machine room where I worked, and the lights were never on, because people needed the room dark to see the projectors they worked on. So one time, I got an empty Cheetos bag and some Styrofoam packing peanuts shaped just like Cheetos. I dipped them in water, and then in the cheese powder from a box of mac-n-cheese dinner. I put them in the bag and left it open beside the coffeepot with a sign on it that said, "Do not eat, property of so-and-so."

I hid at the back corner machine and just kept quiet when anyone came in. I heard some interesting noises when people tried the fake Cheetos. Everyone agreed it was a good prank.

I'm guessing Monster posts these hoping some folks will try similar stunts and then be looking for new jobs April 2.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Video: Two-Handed Bowler Rolls to 'Bowling King'

Check out the video from a Today Show report: "Unique bowler puts new spin on old game." Pay special attention to the soundtrack.

Accordionize Your Home - Part IV



You just did laundry and somehow there's a bunch more to do again. Will this chore never end? Why not duct tape an accordion to your dryer's vent*? That's what some freshmen at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute did to their dorm's vent. Freshman Kyle McDonald explains more in the video's description.

*- Team TDA takes no responsibility for any damage caused by blocking your dryer vent. The above video has been blogged about for entertainment purposes only. But if you do anything cool like that, be sure to share the video with us!

Monday, March 9, 2009

The Janitor Knows

Greg Grant from Festival Radio sent me an email letting me know "The Janitor Knows" is currently in rotation. Thanks Greg! Here's a re-post of the story behind the tune.


Squeeze Machine Secrets: 'The Janitor Knows'

Some of you know that in my other life I am an electrician. I don't do much of it these days, but occasionally my wife will let it slip to one of her friends and the next thing I know I'm up on a ladder hanging a ceiling fan.

That's exactly what I was doing when I got the inspiration for "The Janitor Knows." I saw a photograph on a wall in the room where I was working and it intrigued me enough to stop and take a closer look. It was a photo taken in a gymnasium of a guy in the foreground in what I thought was a janitor's uniform and two younger guys shooting hoops in the background.

It immediately hit me that this janitor must be waiting for these guys to finish their game so he can clean up the place and go home. It was like two different worlds in the same room. I couldn't get it out of my head and by the next day "The Janitor Knows" was done. It's actually my favorite tune on Squeeze Machine, but I really had to fight to get it on. Some of the gals in the band thought it was about a peeping tom and too creepy, but that never occurred to me. I assure you it is not.

A couple of months later, I mentioned to the people that I was working for that I had written a song about the photo on their wall. It turns out it's actually their son, who is a prison guard, and he is watching two prisoners during their exercise break. They were mildly amused at my interpretation. Geez, if I'd known what was really going on, I think I would have been sent in a whole different direction. I'm glad I didn't!

BTW, this is not the first time I got a song inspiration on the job. I was cutting some conduit and I cut my finger in the process. I immediately had an image of my high school shop teacher laughing at me. Out popped "Mr. Slagle's Revenge," which we recorded for Amped. Oh, the things I do for the sake of art!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Embroidered Drew Carey Art


You've watched our pal Drew Carey on his many shows and you've sung along with him on our Squeeze Machine album. Now you can enjoy his presence in embroidery art courtesy of artist Sarah Horton. As part of an art show consisting solely of embroidered work, she created the piece seen here, "Lucky In Love." Her site is full of art where crafts meet pop culture.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

This Is Why I Love 'Hee Haw'



That's Jimmie Riddle and Jackie Phelps, aka "Eefen and Hambone."

They did these musical segments in every episode, and sometimes they got really weird, like when the slapped around Roy Clark as part of their routine. Other times, the crazy sounds got drenched in tons of reverb, making for one wild sonic trip.

Classic.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Kraftwurst: See the Sausage Sing



Singing sausage in a Kraftwerk homage. They should really be playing polkas on accordions.

[via BuzzFeed]

Bowling's Better When You're Dizzy



Spin yourself into a dizzy tizzy, then let that bowling ball rip. That's the idea behind this crazy Japanese game show.

The weird thing is, Suzanne bowls like that anyway.

[via BuzzFeed]