Pet Rock: The Pop Culture Blog

Are you getting tired of chasing those fortunes in Nigeria or the Czech Republic?

Me too.

I was almost ready to give up, until I logged on to my Google Mail account this morning and saw the newest invention: GMail Autopilot.

I can now communicate with my girlfriend, make plans for Friday night and chase those foreign fortunes without the stroke of a key -- I call this the future of communication!

Don't believe me? Here's the link.

So Google is in the prank game. Touche, brilliant coders.

April Fools.

Got a good prank planned? I want to hear about it.

--Abramson

More than 10 years ago Damon Albarn (of alt rock band Blur) and Jamie Hewlett (co-creater of comic book Tank Girl) created the virtual cartoon band, Gorillaz. Two albums have been released since to great critical and commercial success. For six years Ceri Levy shot behind-the-scenes footage of the band as they exploded on the scene. On April 20, the subsequent documentary, "Bananaz," hits the Web via Babelgum, a free Flash-based Internet and Mobile TV platform.

So why is this news?

"Bananaz" will be the first ever global online movie premiere. The theatrical and DVD release will follow. As we all know, it normally goes the other way. Just another way the internet is changing the entertainment landscape.

While I can't post the trailer here ("contains strong language"), I can post the video for "Feel Good, Inc.," the first single from 2005's "Demon Days." Go to the Babelgum site for the trailer, plus clips and other fun stuff.

Hey, remember the Palm Pilot was the coolest phone/PDA invention out there? Well, they've got a pretty slick-looking new phone coming out some time year called the Palm Pre. It has both iPhone tendencies, but includes a slide-out keyboard so you can actually push buttons like a normal human instead of touch-screening your emails and texts.

Engadget.com top dog Joshua Topolsky showed it to Jimmy Fallon on Monday's "Late Night." The phone looks mad cool and seems to have all the necessary features to help Palm stay in business (P.S. I'm a huge fan of the wireless charger thingamajig). According to Topolsky, the Palm Pre will start out on Sprint's cellular network.

Hard to believe it's been five years since Facebook spread across the Virginia Tech campus like wildfire. But that's exactly how long it's been.

Facebook turns 5 years old today. And what a five years it's been. The Web site has really evolved, but maintained its simple, highly organized layout.

Sure, they've given everyone the capability to join (five years ago, it was only for colleges), and they've added the apps, news feed, etc., but Facebook has become the forefront for social networking.

Instead of getting Facebook a gift for its birthday, it's giving you one -- literally.

Today you can give out a free gift to a friend. Instead of it being a robot equipped with a dozen roses, it's a thank you card. So, say thanks to a friend. Or make a complete joke out of it like I probably will with about 15 of my friends.

Cake will not be served.

The "Now I'm single" half-cropped photo!

You know the ones I'm talking about. The girl who loves the way she looks in that dress in that photo of her and her ex-boyfriend from some big party. Or the one of the guy who cropped out the ex-girlfriend but still wants to show off his muscles and free chest hair to future potential mates.

Continue reading "My new favorite thing about Facebook" »

Admit it. You've watched "The City" on MTV. I've also watched "The City" -- scratch that, I've watched every single episode and actually DVR it just in case I'm not in front of the TV when it comes on. Gotta love the drama provided by bitchy Olivia Palermo and overly-blunt Kelly Cutrone and the blank model stares from Adam. Whitney and her BFF Erin are okay, too, but there's something about Whit's love interest, Jay, that's not quite right. But I digress.

Newsweek launched a spoof of "The City," "The District," which follows our new prez, Barack Obama, as he moves to D.C. and tries to make those changes he's been talking about. In my opinion, it's hilarious. Love how they incorporated the throbbing soundtrack and pensive, silent moments with the camera darting back and forth. Watch for yourself, below.

While others are stuffing their faces and watching Super Bowl XLIII, I'll be watching Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl V. Yes, you heard right! Adorable puppies will be tearing up the turf -- playing, rolling around and tugging on toys -- in this annual canine showdown on Sunday at 3 p.m. EST. The best part is that all the "free agents" are available for adoption. For cat lovers, don't miss all the frisky kittens in the hilarious Kitty Half-Time show.

Check out a couple clips from past Puppy Bowls to see all the action!

I went to YouTube to seek Amy for an upcoming post, and got caught in the "Videos being watched right now."

Hmmm, "Jacuzzi Girl: Peel her a potato" sounds interesting. Within the first 30 seconds of the 60-second bit, I was ready to deem this the downfall of American YouTube. Then I hung with it through the end and realized these people are YouTube geniuses. It's a pretty cool use of annotations in YouTube, as Special Sauce TV basically recreated the Choose Your Own Adventure books from when we were kids. (Remember those "turn to page 153 if you want to go through the tunnel" or "turn to page 83 if you want to keep walking along the river" books? Loved those.)

Just play along with the game and let's see how far you get. Ah, if only real-life relationships were this easy.

If you were a kid growing up during the 1980s, you probably raced home from school to watch cartoons like I did, namely "Thundercats" and "He-Man." I've been waiting for a long time for a "Thundercats" movie and after watching this fan-created movie trailer, I think we finally have a case for it's debut on the big screen! Rumors have been swirling in the blogosphere that Warner Bros. is working on a CGI-animated flick to debut summer 2010, but seeing is believing in my book.

YouTube user WormyT has created a live-action "Thundercats" movie trailer, starring Brad Pitt as Lion-O, Hugh Jackman as Tygra, Vin Diesel as Panthro, and Garfield as the feline sidekick Snarf!

The "Thundercats" movie trailer is a fake, but we can dream can't we? Watch the "Thundercats" clip and tell me what you think!

"This looks like a job for ... THUNDERCATS HOOOO!"

President George Bush has seen it all ... the war in Iraq, a sagging economy, and most recently, the bottom of a dirty shoe courtesy of one fed up journalist. This dude is a true American hero! Well, now you too can live the dream of showing Bush how much you care to send the very worst. Click here to throw a shoe at Bush!

-Click here to see photos of the shoe incident, and follow-up demonstrations in Iraq

Curious to know what keeps Beyonce up at night? She's addicted to watching her fans impersonate the dances from her music video for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It). "It's beautiful, it's amazing and I love it! I stay up all night watching them," the singer told OK! magazine.

Beyonce's inspiration came from a 1960s Bob Fosse dance routine called "Mexican Breakfast" (see clip below) after watching it on YouTube. Yo B, don't lose any of that beauty sleep, just come to Pet Rock and watch our "Put a Ring On It " clips each Wednesday!

Frequent Pet Rocker Blastmaster sent this our way the other day: peoplewhodeserveit.com.

This site is rich! Just take a look at its tagline: "Socially responsible reasons to punch someone in the face."

The on-its-face beauty here is that we all have wanted to punch these people in the face. My favorite so far is No 55: No Umbrella Etiquette Lady.

Back in the day when I worked smack in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, I knew this lady . . . and her friends. You know, those people who walk three-across on the sidewalk with their big golf umbrellas in the rain so the bottom of their shoes don't get wet. They were awful people. So, I used to sneak underneath their umbrellas and walk with them until they either yelled at me long enough or I got to my building. Usually, it was the former. What did I know? I was 22.

But the under-the-skin beauty of People Who Deserve It is reading through the blog to find out which of these people we have been on occasion. Any man reading this blog who claims he's never been No. 38 is blatantly lying.

Go ahead, it's your birthday! We're gonna party like it's your B-Day!

If you've spent any time on YouTube, then you know there's been an explosion of Beyonce impersonators (drag queens, cheerleaders, crazy kids) dancing to her hit song "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)." And to my surprise, some of them are quite good and others are downright hilarious! (See a photo gallery of Beyonce through the years.)

I've scoured the 'net to share a few of my favorite YouTube clips and I'll post 'em on Pet Rock every Wednesday until I get bored and move on to something else. Ha! Watch out Van Damme Wednesdays ... it's time for Put a Ring On It Wednesdays!!

First up, a well-choreographed version of "Put a Ring On It" done Alaskan style! Note to Beyonce ... you may want to try dancing in the snow. I bet Rihanna would do it!

First, I discovered that my beloved Shina Inu Puppy Cam is no longer online, and now, the 'Saturday Night Live' skit featuring Justin Timberlake dancing in a black leotard and high heels with Beyonce is gone too! This is too much for me to take on a Friday afternoon. Where will I go when I need a cute puppy or funny Timberlake fix?

Justin Timberlake is clearly one of the funniest hosts in 'SNL' history, right up there with Christopher Walken (More Cowbell) and Alec Baldwin (Schweaty Balls). Sure, there are other hosts that are way better than Justin, but this guy's a singer and manages to incite fits of laughter with ease.

So, what happened to the skit? The 'Single Ladies' skit has been pulled from the 'Saturday Night Live' Web site and replaced with another video featuring Justin and cast member Andy Samberg talking backstage. If you watch it, you'll see there's only a glimpse of last week's skit and some commentary. Sorry NBC, but this just won't do it! I need more Justin!

NBC publicist Michael Liepis offered this statement to the Los Angeles Times: "The reason that sketch isn't online is a simple music clearance issue."

Luckily, I saved the skit in my DVR and will be able to watch it at home this weekend.

My mom once joked with me that I don't know how to love because I said I didn't want a dog. I've never had a dog, nor have I ever planned on getting one -- until now.

"SFShiba" on UStream.com is responsible for me turning over a new leaf. I, along with 14,709 viewers as I type this, are looking in on six Shiba Inu puppies over in San Francisco.

It's become quite the phenomenon on Facebook and blogs (like this one). I have to say that I've had it on my side monitor much of the day.

I'm also thinking about proposing that the U.S. military use this live stream as an interrogation tactic against international terrorists. Soften 'em up a little bit.

How can you not love these dogs? Anne doesn't (she's warming up) ... Mark does -- he's watching it, too.

And, obviously, I do.

Happy, Mom?

This Friday, Oct. 17, Jeopardy will feature a "Mad Men" category inspired by the Emmy Award-winning AMC show. While I love "Mad Men" and think Jeopardy is one of the more interesting game shows, there's no way I'll ever be home in time to watch it.

Thankfully, the smart people at Sony Pictures thought ahead and designed an online version of the game. The categories? Fads & Fashion, Ad Slogans, In the News, Popular Culture, New York Nightlife and 1962.

After answering every single last question and over-wagering on both the Daily Double and Final Jeopardy, I ended up with $4,000. Not great, but not too shabby either. Wouldn't mind having that much real money in my pocket now.

Try it yourself and then post your score.

While relaxing this weekend, I delved into the latest issue of Wired, and right away, the article on Hulu caught my eye. What's hulu you may be asking? It's a way to watch full episodes of some of your favorite TV shows online and totally free of charge. No downloads on iTunes. No searching through YouTube imposter videos for the real deal.

Back when it was just in Beta form I checked out the Web service, a partnership between NBC and FOX, and wasn't impressed with the selection of shows offered or the site's usability. Fast forward to today. Totally different story.

Not only were some of my favorite shows, like "The Office" and "Heroes," offered. Great shows that have been cancelled, like "Arrested Development," are also there.

Best of all? Childhood favorites like "Silver Spoons," "The A-Team" and "Alf" (yes, you read that correctly) are available and easily accessible for your streaming pleasure.

There are hilarious clips from "SNL" and even special categories, like "Great Moments in Facial Hair," a literal festival of mustache clips. Good times.

Sure, they only have the rights to post certain episodes and not full seasons, so I could only view the first episode of this season's "Mad Men," but I have a feeling that will change.

And I haven't even listed any of the movies you can watch...

If you're already a Hulu devotee, I know, I'm preaching to the choir. But to everyone else, you're welcome.

Photo from Hulu.com

While scanning the Web for free music to download at work (I know, don't judge me!), I discovered this cool Wu-Tang mixtape, "14 Deadly Secrets" by Germany's DJ Derezon. It's free to download! Hear some of your favorite Wu-Tang Clan songs along with commentary from RZA about how the group got put on the map, why they use acronyms like C.R.E.A.M., his thoughts on Biggie and more. It's pretty hilarious and interesting if you're into the Wu. Stop what you're doing and click here to download this now!

And while you're waiting, check out "Ice Cream," one of my favorite Wu-Tang songs and the first time the Wu ever put girls in their video. Enjoy!

Dude, Michelle Obama just e-mailed me!

OK, so it was part of a blanket e-mail to anyone who signed up for such alerts on democrats.org. (NOTE: Pet Rock remains politically neutral in its bloggage. The only reason my e-mail was submitted to that site was because Pet Rock covered the DNC and needed to stay in the loop. Pet Rock wholeheartedly believes in not using its voice to push any political agenda, ever.)

She wanted to inform me (and the masses) about Debate Watch Party. Hmmm, I've heard of the "Party of Five" drinking game, am preparing for tonight's "Grey's Anatomy Guessing Game," and once watched Lawyer friend Steve drink a beer an inning during a playoff baseball game, but what exactly is a Debate Watch Party? Seems to me we'd want to stress coherency for this type of event, no?

In the latest use of the Internet to reach the masses, the Barack Obama people have created a Debate Watch Party. As have the John McCain people at McCain Nation.

They encourage people to gather as one (preferably within your own party, I'm guessing) to watch the debate, the discuss the issues and all that jazz. There's even a ZIP code finder to search for parties in your area. Impressive use of technology to reach the masses.

Again, Pet Rock doesn't care who you vote for. Pet Rock cares that you cast an educated vote.

Of course, whether or not this debate actually happens on Friday, that's a whole other story.

Rock the vote!

Debate schedule

Sept. 26: Presidential debate with foreign policy focus, University of Mississippi (Oxford)
Oct. 2: Vice Presidential debate, Washington University (St. Louis)
Oct. 7: Presidential debate in a town hall format, Belmont University (Nashville)
Oct. 15: Presidential debate with domestic policy focus, Hofstra University (Hempstead)

I really hate when headlines spill over to two lines on this (or any) blog, but I felt it was necessary to get both concepts into this headline.

Seriously, the new Facebook design is a hot mess. Please tell me that you're like me and the rest of America and you agree with that sentiment.

It's even harder to navigate and find stuff and use stuff than the previous version. Plus, half the tabs don't work. If someone knows a way to get the video tab to actually load videos in less than 3 days, please tell me.

In the meantime, if you want to override Facebook's forced redirect to the new look, here are some steps I found (and used, successfully) in Firefox. Disclaimer: I don't know when you'll find this post and when Facebook will figure out a way to override this override, so don't hate on me if these two forces of Internet nature collide before you get there.

Here's what to do:

Here is yet another way to revert back. [Firefox users only]

1. Click the link below and add-on Greasemonkey

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748

2. Click the next link below and on the top right click "install this script"

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/33638

3. Get her to open the box!

Oops, sorry. Just kidding. Here's the real step 3:

3. Restart Firefox

The new Facebook will load first but then this will give it a quick redirect to the old version. Anyone who knows of any other tricks, be it in Firefox or IE or even Crumb, post them in the comments.

. . . complete and total embarassment on an international scale.

Take, for example, this photo that has circulated the world on more than one occasion.

Sometimes it comes under the email header of "Funny Posters" or "Don't be this guy" or whatever witty little subject line your friends come up with to indicate that a bunch of funny photos are awaiting your perusal.

This should be reason enough to look through all the photos. That, and you just may be in one of those photos one day. These folks in this pic are likely nice people. Maybe they're young folks in love and wanted to take a picture to cherish the moment. Maybe it was their spring break. Maybe this is the spot where they first met. Granted, maybe none of that is the story here.

However, someone put him on blast. (Of course, he does have four collars popped, as if one wasn't good enough). Now all the world knows this kid as the non-stop collar-popping kid. Tough break.

Remember those photos your friends took of you when you passed out on the floor in college? Or the four highlighters you burned through when that kid you hated on your freshman floor came home drunk for the first time? Or those photos you put on MySpace or Facebook that you think are silly and harmless? Yeah, good luck on that.

Just some cautionary food for thought this morning.

Here's a little gem of a paragraph I came across Sunday afternoon while Googling Lindsay Lohan news.

"Meanwhile, according to reports Ronson has recently changed her Facebook relationship status to 'in a relationship.'"

I nearly hiccuped at the absurdity of that statement. OMG! OMG! OMG! All the reports must be true! Facebook's relationship status is the beacon of all that is true and accurate.

Somewhere, journalism professors are throwing empty Coors light bottles at the hair they've already pulled out of their heads about how celebrities and the Internet have developed this new world of "journalism."

A quick review of Facebook:

- My profile has a photo of Mark Wahlberg on it. I look nothing like him. (I'm taller, but he's got bigger guns than me.)

- There are at least eight Lindsay Lohan/Lohan Lindsay profiles that I found.

- There are at least Samantha Ronson profiles that I found.

So, seriously, it's one thing to take third-level hearsay from a friend of another friend whose daughter walked her dog past a restaurant where a waiter said he saw Lohan and Ronson walk by an hour ago and report it as fact. It's a whole other thing to claim Facebook as a source.

Understand that we're not discussing the veracity or non-veracity of the rumored LiLo-SaRo relationship. We're discussing the use of Facebook as a source.

People need to truly look at everything they read online or hear on television in its true context. It's scary how reality gets morphed like a bag of chocolate chips in a microwave for two minutes then becomes the public's reality. Does anyone know how hard it is to unGoogle something?

Olive Riley, who was dubbed the world's oldest blogger, died at the age of 108, according to the Associated Press. Her final days were spent at a nursing facility in Woy Woy, New South Wales, Australia where she continued to chronicle her life growing up in the Outback, raising kids, and working as a bartender and farm cook on a her blog, "The Life of Riley." Upon news of her death, her blog received a flurry of hits and experienced technical difficulties. You may view her temporary blog - http://worldsoldestblogger.blogspot.com/

Here's an excerpt of one of her final posts:

Hello again to all my friends.

You 21st century people live a different life than the one I lived as a youngster in the early 1900s. Take Washing Day, for instance. These days you just toss your dirty clothes into a washing machine, press a few switches, and it's done.

I remember scratching around to find a few pieces of wood to fire the copper for Mum. Sometimes I'd find a broken wooden fruit box that I'd split with a tommyhawk. Sometimes I'd gather some twigs and dead branches, and use them for firewood.

When the water in the copper began to boil, Mum would add a cupful of soap chips, and throw in a cube of Reckitt's Blue wrapped in a muslin bag to whiten the clothes. Then she put in all the dirty clothes, first rubbing out the stains with a bar of Sunlight soap. She used a corrugated washing board for that. ....

It's nice to see an older generation take hold of technology to share their own stories. Plus, Olive Riley showed everyone that you're never to old to blog! May she rest in peace.

Photo credit: http://www.allaboutolive.com.au/

We all know the rules of forwarded e-mail jokes: Some are funny, most are stupid, and a few need to be forwarded on to others.

This is one of those few that needs to forwarded on to others, compliments of Crazy but in a good way friend Bernadette.

Beware of Old Men

An older, white haired man walked into a jewelry store one Friday evening with a beautiful young gal at his side. He told the jeweler he was looking for a special ring for his girlfriend.

The jeweler looked through his stock and brought out a $5,000 ring.

The old man said, "No, I'd like to see something more special."

At that statement, the jeweler went to his special stock and brought another ring over. "Here's a stunning ring at only $40,000," the jeweler said.

The young lady's eyes sparkled and her whole body trembled with excitement.

The old man seeing this said, "We'll take it."

The jeweler asked how payment would be made and the old man stated, "by check. I know you need to make sure my check is good, so I'll write it now and you can call the bank Monday to verify the funds and I'll pick the ring up Monday afternoon."

Monday morning, the jeweler phoned the old man. "Hey, there's no money in that account."

"I know," said the old man, "But let me tell you about MY weekend!!!"

How ever did we function as a society before the text-based, smiley face emoticon came into existence?

How did people know when we were joking in an email or a text message?

How is that comedy ever existed without the :)?

Were we just considered rude neanderthals who made insensitive comments to people?

Fresh off my stint on ExploreTV at the Riverhead Raceway, videographer friend Serra sent this my way.

Apparently, he's a big fan of the fake tattoos I had "inked" on to my arms for the show.

Follow these instructions and enjoy the hilarity that the Internet allows:

1. Go to http://www.tatuagemdaboa.com.br

2. Type your first name on the 1st line (instructions are in Spanish)

3. Type your last name on the 2nd line (instructions are in Spanish)

(Skip your e-mail address.)

4. Click on 'Visualizar' and watch what happens.

Seriously, this is hilarious.

Wu-Tang Clan's Rza (aka Robert Diggs) has come out with WuChess.com, a new Web site devoted to chess for the hip-hop crowd.

If you've ever heard a Wu-Tang album, you know the lyrics are heavy on chess moves, so this Web site is a natural fit for the Wu. WuChess.com may even entice young kids and hip hop heads who are unfamiliar with chess to learn this game of strategy.

Here's more about their Web site: "At Wuchess.com you can log-on to watch chess clans do battle and check out exhibition matches with Rza, other Wu-Tang members and stars from across the planet."

Wu-Tang loves the kids and so a portion of the site's revenue will be donated to the Hip Hop Chess Federation's scholarship fund, according to WuChess.com.

Aside from sports scores, buckets of email and free unmentionables, click the T-Pain-Akon artwork below to learn why the Internet was invented. Nice work, repcodes.

See that pic over there on the left side of this blog, the one that identifies Adam Abramson?

Yeah, well, he won't look like that in about 12 minutes after I get done with him. That freakin' little punk just Rick Roll'd me!

For those unaware of Rick Rolling, it's an Internet phenomenon where you send someone a link that indicates one thing, but points you to Rick Astley's video for "Never Gonna Give You Up."

You believe that? My colleague. My friend. My fellow Pet Rocker. Please, my dear readers, email adam.abramson@newsday.com and let's teach this young Fredo Corleone wannabe know that you just can't do that to people.

Web Scout, a blog by the LA Times, talked to Rick Astley about this Rick Rolling phenomenon. I promise this link takes you to the actual interview.

Remember when you were a kid and your parents subscribed to National Geographic magazine for you? Or when you'd ask your elementary school teacher to go to the library to read it?

Yeah, they all knew what you were doing: You wanted to see the topless ladies. It's cool, no one will rat you out anymore.

Well, here comes the National Geographic Channel's Web site with another awesome reason to check them out. And this time - surprise! - it once again includes people who don't wear shirts.

The show is called Fight Science, a show that analyzes the science behind the strength and techniques of mixed martial artists from the UFC, Special Ops and self-defense. Randy "The Natural" Couture, Tito Ortiz and Bas Rutten are among the UFC fighters in this show, which debuts Sunday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m.

But it's the online Fight Science game that you really need to peep ASAP.

It's freaking awesome!

The people at the NG's Web site built an amazing online game (and free, too!) where you can test your skills. Everything from force to balance to strength to reflexes. One minute, you're punching a dummy to build up your strength, the next you're sticking your hand out trying to catch the katana sword on the handle instead of the blade. It's very "Miyagi, chopsticks and the fly," and very cool.

Create your own profile and challenge your friends. Or log in as me (UN: petrock; PW: petrock) and let's build an uber fighter to conquer the rest of the Internet world. Help me out on the balance beam thing. It's very "Flash Gordon vs. the Baron played by Tim Daly on that crazy labryinth platform thing with the spikes" and I stink at it. Strange, seeing how much I enjoy that movie still.

Either way, just click here and play.

This has nothing to do with our political beliefs, but rather our belief that just about everything in life can have a funny angle, at least for a few minute. Go go, Obama girl!

By Mark La Monica

Short of receiving an email from Bruce Willis with an attached photo of Chuck Norris caught in a sleeper hold from Sylvester Stallone while in the background Steven Seagal and Frank Vincent kill a pig by hand for a luau, this is just about the manliest email one could ever receive.

Thank you for ordering from OMAHASTEAKS.COM, Inc.! Just a quick e-mail to let you know that your package has shipped and will be delivered to the following address:

Mmmm, beef. Mmmm, beef being delivered to my doorstep!

Let's break it down:

1) Meat
2) Top-notch meat
3) Someone else instructing me that the meat I purchased with my own money is ready to be delivered to me so I can eat it.
4) Being delivered to my home where I am master of my domain.

Thank the good people above for having invented the Mach 3 razor, otherwise I'd go through an entire box of blades just to shave after that email.

Insert your best Tim Allen early '90s bear growl here.

By Mark La Monica

See that pic of Adam Abramson over there on the left side of this page? Around the Pet Rock cubicles, we call him "Big Cat."

Right now, though, I'm calling him just about every name in Billy Bob Thornton's book of never-before-strung-together curse words.

Why such hate toward the amicable fella? Because this jerk sent me this IM earlier tonight:

www.stickam.com
freak show
i made a free account
and wasted 2 hours of my life watching people video chat

And guess what I've been doing since that IM?

Yep, wasting my life away watching other people talk to each other online.

Stickam is this free video conference Web site that lets you talk to anyone anywhere, provided they've got a web cam. To make matters worse, you can choose just to watch other people talk.

Word on the street is that Stickam.com has been around for slightly more than a year. In case you were wondering when and how the world would end, my guess is soon and via video chat.

Intrigued, confused and scared, I watched the killscene "show." It was the first one in the featured chat section, so I rationalized that it's OK to do this since, technically, i didn't click anything. That way, I could argue passivity in the "Am I really doing this?" Court trial I will deal with in my mind for the next few days.

It was two girls talking to their web cam, and supposedly anyone in the world could enter their chat room and ask them questions. I've seen things like this before, except they were usually clips from HBO's "Real Sex" series.

These girls were fully clothed, though. They started discussing and showing their tattoos. That's when these gems entered the landscape of my permament memory:

"I have a 'Nghtmare Before Christmas' scene tattoo on my leg." "It's gonna be hard to show you because my pants are so tight."

Maybe now you understand why I will steal the Big Cat's phone cord and then call him all night at work so he can only use the speakerphone.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some watching to go do. And no, it's not "Grey's Anatomy."