Getting more graphic

As promised from the previous post, here’s a continuation of those awesome yes-I-believe-it’s-true representations of this crazy world we live in…

Fortunately for me, I can pretty much fall asleep anywhere. I once fell asleep during a rock concert. Don’t ask me how those annoyingly blinding strobe lights didn’t faze me. Well, maybe keeping your eyes shut is better as those intermittent bright lights are really tough on the eyes, especially after sitting in the dark for a good hour. I can get sleepy drinking a Red Bull and can probably sleep sitting up.

I always hear people saying that and it really must be true. I ended up eating chicken gizzards thinking it was popcorn chicken! Still can’t believe it!

I’m not a regular “CSI” watcher but the movie that comes to mind is “Salt” with Angelina Jolie. I was so impressed with her skills that I told myself I should train myself to be that lethal. But now you’re telling me not everything I saw in the movie can actually happen? Reality sucks!

Don’t think I ever read about any alien communication happening. Well, now I know why.

Yup, this is another instance of seeing people’s stupidity or lack of respect for others. I once remember seeing a guy at Safeway who was in the express line ahead of me with 11 or 12 items. The guy had the club card so you knew he was a regular. When the cashier explained to him he was in the wrong line WHILE still ringing up his items, he played stupid like he couldn’t understand English. Another time, I was in line with some ice cream that was on sale. The couple in front of me saw that and wanted to also get the ice cream. So the guy sends the girl to “run” and pick out a couple cartons. He tried to thank me for waiting while I sarcastically and sweetly made a comment back about my ice cream starting to melt. He didn’t get the hint.

Heh heh. Why why why???

All you IT guys, can you explain this? Does this mean there’s no job security?

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Speaking of computer geniuses, it’s time to wish a very special happy birthday to anklebiters!! Wonder if he’s planning to make his regular trip to Hawaii next month?

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O&E ODD image of the day: How BBDs comment on O&E?

Is this graphic enough for you?

There’s nothing like a picture that can visually simplify data on ODD and interesting trends. I recently received an e-mail with the following graphics that had me chuckling the whole time. So it’s my pleasure to share them with you. Add your thoughts about each issue and see if you’re in the norm!

This is a good one. I would definitely say the majority of my FB friends are “actual friends” who I’ve done “business” with at one time or another. There are a handful I vaguely remember but put two and two together by our list of mutual friends…

Despite losing a good job, I still like to think I’m climbing upward with the new opportunities my current job brings…

Gotta agree on this one though one minute seems awfully long when you have to do the mouth rinse at the dentist. Swishing liquid in your mouth that you cannot swallow seems to go on and on forever…

Still don’t know why there are so many updates (ODDly enough got the request every day this week) because I don’t even know what the update is for. Oh well, it can’t hurt, right?

This one always leaves me in a pissy mood. At first I kill time by doing other things. Then my neck starts to cramp and I think I should put them on speaker phone. After a ridiculous amount of hold time, I think that they are playing me for a fool and making me wait while they just goof off at their computers. I picture them staring at some blinking light indicating a call and just laughing at how some people actually wait for an answer. Seriously, how can it take nearly 15 minutes just to get through? Aren’t these workers who handle customer-service calls doing this full time?

Yup, those car alarms are very annoying, some more than others. And I do wonder how many random passersby would stop a thief from breaking into SOMEONE ELSE’s car…

Are there any other words (or letters) in that song? We need some help from those MLCers who probably know the whole song…

I’ll leave this one to the married folks…

How sad…I thought it was to admire the color coordination and theme. I also like to see how many weddings have those chairs with the fancy seat covers and bows! Speaking of weddings, I’m attending two this weekend. It’s the coveted 10/10/10 date that some couples booked way in advance.

Since these graphics are so entertaining, I decided to split this post in half and post the rest later. Please add your insightful and ODD comments to each of those graphics!

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O&E ODD image of the day:

Hands-down ODD!

I’ve never been one of those girls who had to paint their nails. In fact, I can’t recall ever getting a manicure. On the other hand, my sister likes to go regularly and just the other day was showing off her colorful flower-decal nails and matching toenails. She pays nearly a hundred bucks each time, but says it’s her way of treating herself. It is actually quite pretty, but it’s just not for me.

Personally, I don’t like long nails for a variety of reasons and I’ve found painting your nails with regular nail polish — which is, gasp, different from the polish my sister gets professionally applied — is a hassle because as they grow out, the color on your nails is garishly obvious.

So I wonder what my sister would think of the fantasy nail art that was showcased in this Nailympics event…

Nailympics: Hands-down the oddest contest
news:lite

Hundreds of manicurists have battled it out in an odd annual event where they are judged on the quality of their fake nails.

The Nailympics 2010 saw teams from 24 countries compete in events ranging from nail sculpture and fantasy nail art to nail embellishment.

news:lite photo

Some of the entries even saw intricate sculptures and figurines attached to the nails of contestants.

Competitors say the elaborate faux nails show amazing quality of a nail technician’s craft… and mean they never get asked to do the washing up.

Now in its sixth year, the Nailympics was part of the Olympia Beauty Show at London’s Earls Court and organizers hope it will encourage more Brits to compete.

news:lite photo
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Not sure where I stand on women with painted nails. Should women of a certain age not go with such fancy artwork on their fingers? What about professional women? Does it change your opinion of them if you notice it at the office?

Yet, nails that are taken care of speak to a woman’s standards and even personality. Same goes for men. Should men not have long nails? What about guys with dirty nails? Is that a sign of a man’s man who works hard? Or one that just doesn’t wash his hands good?

I won’t even go into what your opinions are of a man with soft hands…

And speaking of one of our male readers (who I don’t know if he has soft hands or not!), it’s Ocean Lover‘s birthday today!

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O&E ODD image of the day:

New meaning to skin-tight clothes

Finding the right outfit can be a nightmare for some folks. It’s not just a matter of randomly picking out a shirt and pants to wear. Wearing a tighter pants often means a longer top might be required to “hide the butt.” On the other hand, a looser type of pants requires careful selection of a complementary top. If not, everything could look too sloppy and baggy.

So what’s the solution? Besides having a personal dresser or custom-made clothes, how’s this novel idea? Spray-on clothes!

Spray-on clothes in a can could soon go on sale
news:lite

Boffins have created a cotton-based material that can be sprayed onto your body to create instant clothes, from T-shirts to trousers.

Fabrican —  literally a fabric in a can — is the result of researchers who have spent years with the aim of developing an instant, sprayable, nonwoven fabric.

news:lite photo

Spanish designer Dr. Manel Torres — who worked with Imperial College London — says the resulting sprayed clothes can even be taken off, washed and worn again.

However, as the material is sprayed directly onto the body from an aerosol, it means all resulting garments are skin-tight… and we don’t know what happens to any stray hairs that get caught.

news:lite photo

The science behind Fabrican is a mixture of short fibers, which are combined with polymers to bind them, and a solvent, which delivers the fabric in liquid form.

As the spray makes contact with the body the mixture evaporates, leaving the cotton fibers, which are cross-linked, to produce the garment.

news:lite photos

A spokesperson for Fabrican said: “The product was developed through interdisciplinary research, linking the subjects of engineering, material science and design.

“The fabric is formed by the cross-linking of fibers, which adhere to create an instant non-woven fabric that can be easily sprayed on to any surface.”

But Torres doesn’t think the product will be limited to fashion uses. He says he also expected it to be picked up by the medical industry where it could be used to make instant wound-healing products, dressings and patches.

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Anyone interested in trying this new fashion trend? Think of all the designs that could be made to enhance certain areas of your body. Wonder how long it takes to put a top or pants together…

Speaking of fashion, let’s take a short survey:

• Favorite designer?
• Neutral colors or bright colors?
• Tight-fitting or loose form?
• More eye catching on the opposite sex: tops or bottoms?

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O&E ODD image of the day: Creative bridal fashions or fashion crazy?

Carlashes and crafts with pads

Here’s a video promo of a product called Carlashes.

watch?v=Z2rYOkBh0cc

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Oops, I just realized this post published and I wasn’t finished with writing it up! But since NaPueo already commented, I’m going to leave it up.

I just thought this product was so ODD that I had to share it. Seriously, who in the world would want Carlashes??

Then again, what’s ODD to one person can be normal to another. What ODD items do you have on or in your car for whatever reason?

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O&E ODD image of the day: From pads to slippers (Sent in by chawan_cut but not necessarily tested…)

What a big head!

Safety is critical, especially while traveling on what can seem like dangerous and deadly roads. With motorists, bikers and pedestrians all in a hurry to get to their destination, many tend to ignore the rules of the road.

But when passersby get a glance at these ODD head protectors, they might end up swerving off the road as they do a double take…

Designers to launch range of wacky helmets
news:lite

You might not see Hells Angels’ sporting these crazy helmets any time soon, but if Borat took up biking, you might see a walnut speeding down the motorway.

That’s because tennis balls, haircuts and a globe are the latest in bicycle helmet fashion designs to come out of Kazakhstan.

news:lite photo

The wacky helmets are the creation of a marketing agency who admit they initially created them as a laugh… but now they’re set to go into production.

Designers say they were inundated by would-be customers wanting the wear the off-beat headwear and they should be on shelves (and shoulders) by 2011.

Rimma Fhevtfova, of GOOD! Agency, said: “We wanted to make something unusual. We wanted to make something that is outside the box and to try and think differently.

“There is a growing cycling scene in Kazakhstan. It is much better than it was two years ago so we want to tap into that,” Fhevtfova said.

“In the market, there are limited designs and producers and very few customers are using handmade or tailor-made helmets of different styles.”

But while bikers in Central Asia and Kazakhstan can get their gloves on the helmets early next year, the rest of the world will have to wait.

“Ideally, we would like to take them to Europe and America but we are still working through the costings. We are looking into a few proposals.”

news:lite photo

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Story says these fashionable helmets are not coming to America anytime soon…is that such a bad thing?

Should bicyclists have a little fun or do you think these helmets might cause more of safety distraction? If you had to pick an ODD design for yourself, what would it be?

Any other wacky ways you have seen people engage in just to stay safe?

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O&E ODD image of the day:

I went hiking at Koko Head this past weekend. On my way down, I noticed this girl who was starting up the trail was wearing pumps. I was wondering who the heck wears those kinds of shoes on a trail that just involves uneven wooden steps? I was so intrigued I sneakily went up behind her just to snap a few photos!

Before the big day…

Tomorrow is a big day for me. I’m starting a new job!

I’ll be an account executive at Communications Pacific in Downtown Honolulu. CommPac is one of Hawaii’s largest PR firms and I’m excited to see what the job holds. This job will be only my second full-time job I’ve ever had since graduating from college 10 years ago.

And like the day before a new school year, I’m a bit nervous. Working at one company for a decade put me in a very comfortable position. Now it’s all about starting all over to build relationships and my work credibility.

Got any advice for new-job jitters? Thanks in advance!

Boob brushes?

What’s your secret talent? Or ODD talent as nowadays that seems to be the only way to stand out to claim your 15 minutes of fame. I’ve only had the opportunity to catch a few amazing talents in the NBC Minute to Win It show and was thoroughly entertained.

But wait till you see what this one lady can do … with her breasts. It probably won’t ever make the cut on a prime-time TV show, but it sure is different. Would you call it talent? Is it something you could stare at and appreciate? You be the judge…

Artist uses boobs vs paintbrushes
news:lite

A U.S. artist says she produces her artwork using an unusual method – covering her 38DD boobs in paint and pressing them against the canvas.

Kira Ayn Varszegi says she first started breast painting almost 10 years ago and that her works can sell for £600 each.

The 24-year-old from Connecticut creates each painting by coating her breasts with various colored paints and then pressing and dragging them on the canvas.

She admits she was initially surprised by the level of commercial interest in the abstract breast works, and that she’s now created and sold hundreds of paintings.

However, not all of her fans are only interested in the final result… she admits she’s constantly being besieged with requests for photos of the “creative process.”

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Still can’t visually picture how she does it? There’s a video on YouTube that I can’t link to because you need to be 18 and over to view it and must sign in first. But click on the byline link above and watch the video on that site.

So do you think you have a bigger talent that can reach a wider audience than just the art community? What’s the most ODD skill or talent you have seen by someone else?

Quick survey:

• In the audience or on stage when it comes to talent shows?
• Favorite one-hit wonder?
• ODD talent you’d like to master?

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Just a reminder that there’s a blog party on Tuesday the 10th at the new Side Street Inn On Da Strip in Kapahulu. There is $5 valet parking or $5 self parking.

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O&E ODD image of the day:

Love my nuts…

Ssh! It’s supposed to be a secret, but I’m loving my time off as a formerly employed Advertiser copy editor. You never realize how many things you let fall by the wayside when you’re a full-time worker. Clothes that need to be ironed pile up. That closet reorganization never happens. Creative stacks of magazines form around the house, narrowing your pathway each week.

And while I have yet to go through those packages of odds and ends items I had to take home from the work desk about a month ago, I’ve also been trying to enjoy the time off. I revel in the fact that I don’t need to set an alarm each day and my biggest decisions are whether I should meet a friend for lunch or clear out months worth of my favorite TV shows on the DVR.

But my mind is still slightly in a working mode when it comes to this blog. As usual, I try to keep an eye out for ODD things. And as it happened, about a few weeks back I happened to see an infomercial in the middle of the day that immediately caught my attention.

A very entertaining salesman named Vince was promoting an item called the Slap Chop. It reminded me of that Magic Bullet food blender that I’ve always found appealing but never did buy. Don’t know if it was the amazing ease at which this Slap Chop diced, minced and chopped food items of all sizes in seconds or if it was the sales pitch itself. Here’s the beat-bopping version:

Slap Chop rap

Other YouTube videos highlight the “love my nuts” version in a variety of parodies.

I was so tempted to pick up the phone right away to place an order. But then another informercial on the same channel caught my eye. In the meantime I was getting slightly worried that this whole unemployment deal was affecting my ability to discern between products of actual value versus just those with commercial appeal.

But the Shake Weight claims to help women tone their flabby arms and lose weight by shaking this 2.5-pound weight just six minutes a day! I thought I could do this several times a day while watching TV, etc. So even though I didn’t buy it through a phone order, I did manage to find it at the As Seen on TV store in Ala Moana. The verdict? I can’t tell you. I didn’t even test it out since buying it a couple of weeks ago. Sigh…

So who has bought an item, preferably ODD, as seen on TV recently? What are some of your favorite infomercials? What is it about these sales pitches that make a product seem like the greatest thing since sliced bread?

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And we’re back with our O&E ODD image of the day. These next two come from this past weekend’s Korean Festival at Kapiolani Park.

It’s not shave ice, nor is it ice cream nor frozen yogurt! It literally tastes like snow. This was a passion fruit flavor. Its dry flakes sort of melt in your mouth like cotton candy and it has a half cold taste. The only thing I could think of was that it was just so ODD. The shop is in McCully Shopping Center and they supposedly have dozens of flavors.

Don’t ask what compelled me to take a photo being practically enveloped by my least-favorite creature! But for the record, I couldn’t find a lifesize cutout of some K-drama hunk to pose with as I did several years back…

Odds and Ends coming soon!

Hi everyone! Once my Odds and Ends blog on The Honolulu Advertiser website becomes inactive, I’ll start blogging here. I’ll continue with my theme of ODD and wacky stories from around the world.

In the meantime, please start sending me any ODD photos or video links that might make for an entertaining ODD feature of the day. You can send them to me at shaunagoya@gmail.com.