Entertaining Miscellaneous Topics

Given how heavy some other threads have gotten, I thought some fun and thoughtful interest needed to be injected into the forum.

I'll add a few, and welcome contributions from others, to see if anyone likes the idea.

Here is my first, a clip previewing an new BBC One special about the flight from the perspective of actual birds. The clip itself is stunning. I hope BBC America or Discovery will pick this up for broadcast in the States.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DHuH7KaPbLc

Oh, that's stunning, jcoates!

I think this thread is very promising. While it's been absorbing to throw ourselves into the heavier discussions of feminism and religion, it's nice to have light material as well.

Here are a few more quirky videos, which are actually quite thought provoking and entertaining. The vid on the various definitions of continents was the first I saw from this poster. He has a truly unique talent for explanation in just a couple of minutes time. Warning, the level of detail he gets into may make your head spin.

What are continents?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uBcq1x7P34

Daylight Savings Time Explained
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84aWtseb2-4

The True Cost of the Royal Family
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhyYgnhhKFw

The Difference between the UK, Great Britain and England
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10&feature=channel_video_title

How Scotland Joined Great Britain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3HnMLq8m9U

A Brief History of Santa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbUVKXdu4lQ

They look fascinating, jcoates. I hope to watch them this weekend when I get the time. They reinforce my name for YouTube, which is YouTube University. So many people use it as a place to share informative things, not just awful stuff. I think I once found a geometry lesson on it. (I really need to hunt for algebra to brush up.) And of course, when one is feeling blue, one can find cat videos to lift the spirits, like that Yoga Cat one that Scrufflet dug up the other day. For some reason it's hard to make a link, but if you type in yoga cat, it's maybe the first one on there. Unbelievable, and complete proof that cats are exceptions to the law of gravity.

That's true. There are plenty of tutorial vids on youtube, some for complicated things like installing electronics and some for simple life skills like ironing a shirt (I'm not kidding). It's amazing how many people don't know how to do certain tasks. That's how I discovered the cost saving benefits of using basic household ingredients as cleaning supplies: baking soda (fantastic for cleaning tubs, sinks and toilets); lemons (natural disinfectant and, when mixed with baking soda, a terrific substitute for cleaners like Soft Scrub); vinegar (a natural disinfectant and great substitute for multi-purpose cleaners; just pour in a spray bottle either straight or in a 1-to-1 mixture with water). There are tons of the other great secrets if you really get deep into that kind of thing. I've save so much money on cleaning supplies since I made the switch, plus it's greener and and non-toxic.

BTW, here is another posting.

Over the last few years I've become fairly obsessed with something called the small house movement. It combines many of my passions, social and economic justice, green living and design. I live in a relatively small apartment and have found an increasing need to live with less since I was laid off a few years back. It's both practical and emotionally cleansing. A few months back I discovered a couple of terrific websites that profile the creative small housing choices that people around the world have made. Very often the ingenuity and practicality of their choices are just mind-boggling. Some are more extreme than others. Could any of you live this way?

http://tinyhouseblog.com/

This is my favorite
Garage Renovation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBYS3ZsC-cY

Lego Apartment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juWaO5TJS00&feature=relmfu

Origami Apartment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RbxkrmuQ5E

Transformer Apartment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg9qnWg9kak&feature=related

78 sq ft apartment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4FoAr8i26g&feature=related

90 sq ft apartment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZSdrtEqcHU&feature=relmfu

89 sq ft house
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJLSoUkh1Vs&feature=relmfu

500 sq ft apt for family of four in Spain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx-GF_oaJTM&feature=relmfu

House built from salvaged car parts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwE1XkDWIUY

Cube Houses (different builders)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM0vpsP-Bmg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXtMpQk9Iyw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGeppkckVeo&feature=related

Laneway Houses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNq3THBP2lI

Eco Cheap Recycling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1PNDuv6kvY

Creative transportation prototypes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd2z...xt=C3c5bb11UDOEgsToPDskJALBBVPImTywR6blahLhVU

There's also a whole youtube channel dedicated to loading full episodes of an old HGTV show called Small Space Big Style. A great way to waste a Saturday afternoon.

http://www.youtube.com/user/hajimenoipposong/videos

I like the idea of living more with less, though I am a packrat when it comes to books and such. I'll check those videos for ideas on how to reform.

The basic skills are the ones most needed on YouTube, because a lot of people are too embarrassed to ask for help with those. Things like tying a tie are skills your father should have taught you, but what if you didn't have a father, or he didn't ever wear suits or uniforms?

I've also been exploring alternative cleaning supplies or the simplest traditional products, such as Bon Ami cleanser (less abrasive and less fume-y than other cleansers, and good old Clorox. I agree about the usefulness of baking soda, lemon, and vinegar. Toothpaste is a great metal polish, and one already has it around the house anyway. For one's own skin, witch hazel is a nice astringent that's not as irritating as alcohol. I need to learn more, though, and I'll look around online.

jcoates said:

Could any of you live this way?

Click to expand...

I got claustrophobia from watching the videos.

A friend of ours is an architect who is pretty well-off and yet lives in a very small apartment (less than 500 sqft). At first, I couldn't understand why some people with all that money would rather live in a crammed space. One day it just hit me that he was single. A big space makes one feel lonely. Then I remembered that when I was in college, all I needed was a room where I could cook, eat, sleep, study, watch TV and entertain my friends. It was efficient and convenient and easy to clean.

Those are all valid reasons for living small. Another is that some people simply can't justify constantly collecting more stuff. Having more stuff means needing more space to contain it. If you keep material accumulation to a minimum, you need less space and learn to better appreciate the space you have. You also tend to remember where things are much more easily.

What's the latest, uhhhhh, exciting Katya Gordeeva news? HEE, HEE! Is it as much fun as a year or so ago, when there were videos on uhhh, a certain website showing her looking much older and skating in Russia with a Russian who was not the Russian she is, or was(?) married to? Is she Russian things a bit? What are her 2 daughters and Ilia doing? I mean, it was quite a shock to see all of that, I tell you.

Don't exagerate my meaning here. I'm just curious about why things in E.G.'s life seem to be radically different after a mere 10 years (!)

jcoates said:

That's how I discovered the cost saving benefits of using basic household ingredients as cleaning supplies: baking soda (fantastic for cleaning tubs, sinks and toilets); lemons (natural disinfectant and, when mixed with baking soda, a terrific substitute for cleaners like Soft Scrub); vinegar (a natural disinfectant and great substitute for multi-purpose cleaners; just pour in a spray bottle either straight or in a 1-to-1 mixture with water). There are tons of the other great secrets if you really get deep into that kind of thing. I've save so much money on cleaning supplies since I made the switch, plus it's greener and and non-toxic.

Click to expand...

I discovered these things years ago and have used them. The only brand name I will buy is Lysol...toliet & bathroom cleaner, I think that's what it's called. I think they are great products and when bought with a coupon, not that expensive.

I had a rather messy oven over the holiday one year. My problem with using over the counter oven cleaners is I am short and I have to practically get into the oven to clean it. The OTC oven cleaners are very harsh. I put on a long sleeve shirt, shower cap and rubber gloves and would scub. I had read where baking soda would clean your ovens overnight. I sprinkled the baking soda over the bottom of the oven and spritzed with water in a spray bottle everytime I thought about it, which would activate the baking soda. When I went to clean the baking soda from the oven, I wanted to shout.... Alleluia....it's a miracle!!! I couldn't believe the baking soda cleaned that oven to look just like new.

My cleaners consist of ammonia, baking soda, vinegar and the lysol products I listed above.

One word of caution, I've heard that people have poured baking soda & vinegar down the kitchen drain to deodorize and clean. I did it once and even though I ran lots of water, it clogged my drain where it made a paste and globs of it had to be pulled from the drain. So I caution you about it.

I use vinegar a lot in my wash. One it sets color and two it's a natural softner. Also if you have static cling even if you used a dryer sheet, roll up a ball of aluminum foil and toss in the wash...no more static clean.

I also keep a wire hanger in the closet just in case there is static cling, just run the hanger down the article of clothing, no more static cling.

One thing I haven't found yet is a good deordorizer for the closet. I would take dryer sheets and hang up in the closet but that only last for a short period of time.

Itsh fshvery harf to apfologshize wif my foof in myf shmouf. - I was very wrong about Katya yesterday before seeing the Pandora Special. I was miserably wrong and off base. I am very, very sorry. Please forgive me.

I found this recipe for fake Febreze...I'm going to try because I use it all the time. I can't believe the savings.

http://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com/2011/07/fake-febreeze.html