Forget 2010. Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1999.

Prince's album, 1999, was released way back in October 1982, when 1999 seemed, like, a million years away.

Yet, like Prince himself, I think the album, and particularly the title track, "1999," have held up surprisingly well, don't you?

08.Prince.-.1999 from Mauricio Onate on Vimeo.

So, in honor of Prince, instead of partying like it's 2010, I'm gonna party like it's 1999 tonight*, by sharing some classic videos from that year.

First up, Cher's "Believe," which I cannot believe is from 1999.


Followed by a little Ricky Martin, "Livin' La Vida Loca"...



(Ricky, we hardly knew ya.)

And who could forget "Smooth" by Santana, featuring Rob Thomas?



I know I can't.

And before Bieber Fever (and glee), there was... Britney, whose debut single, "...Baby One More Time," from her debut album of the same name, went to Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1999.



Man, I feel old.

To find out what other songs were topping the charts way back in 1999 (I know: cringe), click here.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year...

*Btw, by "party" I mean make and eat some homemade pizza, drink some sparkling wine, watch a bad movie (or two) and be in bed by 11 p.m.

White House bans topless photos

Of the President. Killjoys.

This makes zero sense to me. Unless President Obama (like the rest of us) isn't looking as good as he did a couple of years ago (when the infamous pic to the right was snapped). And this is a clever way of hiding the fact that the only six-pack on him these days has a "Budweiser" label.

Still a ban on taking shirtless photos of President Obama while he's on vacation in Hawaii seems a bit extreme.

What's wrong with showing a little Presidential skin? Does he now have to wear a shirt when he goes swimming?

I think a buff Commander in Chief is a good thing.

So what do you all think? Do you think photographers should be banned from taking pictures of President Obama in swimming trunks (and nothing else)? Even if it's on a beach in Hawaii? Playing with his kids in the ocean? I mean, it's not like he's entertaining heads of state in the Oval Office in board shorts.

I got over 12 inches last night

And let me just say, it's overrated. (Also, my back is killing me.)

















That, btw, would be our deck. Or what you can still see of it. With all the drifting snow, I think we accumulated over 18 inches of snow out there in the last 24 hours, maybe more.

You guys knew I was talking about snow, right? ;-)

(Note: We shoveled our front walk and around the driveway, which took around 45 minutes, a little while ago. But we're going to let Mother Nature deal with the deck.)

Oh yeah, and the funny weather guy on NBC 4 this morning reported that they got "0 inches of snow in Ft. Lauderdale overnight." Hardee har har. :-(

UPDATED: OMG, check out this amazing time lapse video of the blizzard, which covers 20 hours in 40 seconds. (Nicely captured, Mike Black.)

December 2010 Blizzard Timelapse from Michael Black on Vimeo.

Felix Navidad (or How to Put a Cat in a Santa Hat)

So for Christmas this year, we (okay, the daughter and I) thought it would be hysterical to take a picture of our black cat, Felix, in a Santa hat. Why? So we could wish our friends a Felix Navidad.*

Get it? Felix Navidad! It's a riff on José Feliciano's Christmas song, "Feliz Navidad" -- "one of the most downloaded and aired Christmas songs in the United States and Canada," per Wikipedia.

Easier said than done.

Let me just say, when it comes to putting a cat in a hat, unless you are Dr. Seuss (or these guys), good luck. Though we came close, as this photo and video (our third attempt at capturing getting Felix to wear a Santa hat) attest.



Note: No humans were injured in the making of this video. And, this evening -- wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles -- the daughter managed to get the Santa hat on Felix!

















Wishing you a Meowry Christmas...



*Also, we were totally jealous of all those rabbit owners who kept flaunting their Christmas outfit-wearing bunnies over on Disapproving Rabbits. And wanted to one up them by putting a cat in a Santa hat.

Funniest ads of 2010

As we look back on 2010, let us take a moment to review -- and chuckle along with -- some of the year's funniest ads (some of the funniest of which only appeared on YouTube).

Near (or at) the top of my list of favorite funny commercials from 2010 is this ad for GEICO, on why a former drill sergeant makes a terrible therapist. (Note: It is also why I would make a terrible therapist.)



Though this ad for Axe, titled "Axe Cleans Your Balls Press Conference," is right up there. I just love how the female reporter explains double entendre. (Again, I can so relate. Also, be sure to check out the original "Axe Cleans Your Balls" ad on YouTube.)



I also love the Bud Light Swear Jar ad, which cracks me up every time.



And while I am not a Minnesota Vikings fan, this NFL Mobile Redzone Ad, for Verizon Wireless, featuring Vikings wide receiver Adrian Peterson, totally cracks me up. (If I only had a dime for every time a football announcer said the words Adrian Peterson, I could have retired this year. Btw, even funnier than the ad are the comments on YouTube.)



Similarly, while not a New England Patriots (BOO! HISS!) fan, nor a Miami Dolphins fan, this ad for DirecTV, titled "Mass Fans," also cracks me up.



Ditto DirecTV's "Opulence, I has it" ad.



And although this ad, titled "Return to the Doghouse," came out in 2009, albeit late 2009, it may be my all-time favorite ad, so I've included it here.



Got a favorite funny ad from 2010 that I did not include here? Post a link in the Comments.

This Nativity scene is definitely not kosher

I heard about this bacon-and-sausage Nativity scene while listening to The Splendid Table this weekend on NPR -- and kept muttering "bacon-and-sausage Nativity scene" to myself while shopping so as not to forget to Google it when I got home.

Behold, the power of pork products!

For unto us a cocktail wiener is born?

We three kings of sausages are?

















(Apparently these people did not know that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were Jewish -- or have an interesting sense of humor/irony.)

JibJab's annual review of the year that was ("So Long to Ya, 2010")

Another year, another JibJab year in review.

"So Long to Ya, 2010!"

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Note: to see how JibJab's 2010 Year in Review video, "So Long to Ya, 2010," was made, click here.