Archive for December 2009
by Claudine Zap
It may not be chic, like Ms. Pacman, or been featured in a Seinfeld episode, like Frogger. But Tetris did something in the '80s that made it a hit for the ages: It jumped from computer game consules onto Game Boys (remember those?) and became a portable game that is now, really, everywhere: on your mobile, laptop, iPhone: Wherever you are, there Tetris is.
The completely mesmerizing game goes way beyond a cult following, too: Yahoo! searches in the last 30 days are up over 400% on the old-school hit. Lookups are also big for "play tetris for free," "tetris game for blackberry," and "tetris plug in for tv," to name just three. See, we told you it's everywhere.
To recap: the puzzle video game was developed by a Soviet scientist three decades ago. It involves four-segment pieces that cascade down the screen in different shapes. Your job is to rotate them to create a level line with no gaps. As you move up, the game speeds up until the screen fills up and no more pieces can be added. In short: highly, highly addictive.
Just when you thought nothing more could be said for the game that is everywhere — your watch? your calculator? your MP3 player? probably — a buzzy video from College Humor of the "Tetris God" imagines exactly how the game works. Check it out, game fans.
by Mike Krumboltz
Cats are cute. Kittens are even cuter. And the "surprised kitty" may be the cutest creature to ever walk the face of the earth. Period.
Starring in a viral video that's taken the Web by storm, the surprised kitty is the hottest pet since Bizkit the sleepwalking dog. In the video, the kitten lies on its back while a person tickles its stomach. Whenever the person pulls her hands away, the kitten mimics the movement. Even the most jaded teen would find it adorable, never mind little kids and grandmas.
Since being uploaded to popular video sites like Yahoo! Video and YouTube, the clip has garnered millions of views. News outlets like CNN have also covered the story, making the newly famous cat a bonafide celebrity. Check out the 17 second clip below. If you can watch it without saying "awwww," check for a pulse immediately.
Sometimes revenge is a dish best served musically.
Country musician Dave Carroll recently had the last laugh with United Airlines, after a protracted battle with the airline that apparently went nowhere. United baggage handlers allegedly damaged Dave's $3,500 guitar during a flight, and following an unsuccessful nine-month crusade to be reimbursed for the damages, Dave finally told a United customer relations manager that his last resort was to make a music video about his ordeal. ...
