On Her Majesty's Olympics Service

How awesome was this clip of James Bond (aka Agent 007 aka actor Daniel Craig) escorting Queen Elizabeth II -- via parachute -- to the opening of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London?!



Brilliant! And loved the corgis. (More about that video clip of 007 and the Queen here.)

They should use it as the title sequence in the next James Bond film, Skyfall (come to theaters in the United States November 9!) 

"Your mom is calling" relaxation ringtone

OMG, where has this ringtone been all my life  -- or even an hour ago when my mother called me on my cell phone in a panic (after calling the home phone and not getting an answer) to ask which kind of Bass Ale she should get for a party she is having tomorrow?!

Unfortunately, I was unable to embed the Your Mom Is Calling Relaxation Ringtone here (click on the link above to check it out), but here is what the soothing voice says:

"Your mom is calling...
but she can wait.
First, let's relax our shoulders and take a deep breath in...
and out.
In...
and out.
Now, you may answer your phone."

I could listen to that ringtone all morning.

[H/T to FOB Larissa. Thank you thank you thank you.]

The Man Aisle

Attention all male supermarket shoppers: Introducing one-stop shopping for all your manly needs.

Because apparently having separate "beer" and "snack" aisles was too labor intensive:

“If you’re going to have some guys over to watch a game, you can pretty much stand here — not move two feet — and get your beer, barbecue sauce, chips, whatever*. It’s all right here!” Ian Joskowitz, 43, chief operating officer of Westside Market NYC, told the New York Post.

(I rest my case.)

While the idea of a Man Aisle is amusing, do guys really need more distractions when supermarket shopping? Also, how old is the target audience, nine? Frosted Flakes, Cap'n Crunch, and Doritos? And what's with the lame beer selection? Bud Light and Coors Light? At least include some real beer, guys.

*whatever being code for condoms

Back-to-school ads? In July?

While the teenager is already pining to go back to school (strange girl), I am still enjoying summer. And I was totally unprepared to see back-to-school ads in the middle of July. School just ended June 22! But I have to admit these back-to-school ads from Target, which all feature parodies of some of my favorite 1980s songs, are pretty awesome.

First up Target's "Science Teacher" ad featuring Thomas Dolby's "She Blinded Me With Science":



Next, Target's "English Teacher" ad featuring The Go-Go's "We Got Beat":



And finally Target's back-to-school ad titled "Music Teacher," which does a riff on Cameo's "Word Up!":



Makes me wish we had a Target close by (though I am so not ready to go back-to-school shopping).

UPDATED: And this just in from Staples, a commercial titled "It's back to school time!" featuring  Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough":



Seriously, what is with all the 1980s new wave music in these back-to-school ads? (Not that I'm complaining.)

Which model would you rather test drive?

One (or both) of these two hard bodies (courtesy of Hollister), like this woman here*...

Or this sexy little number (courtesy of Lamborghini)?

Or, better yet, being chauffeured by one of those fine young men in this fine Lamborghini Gallardo.

Ah, the joys of sightseeing in New York City.

*I tried to get my friend, A., to pose with the lifeguards, but she refused. In retrospect, I should have done it. Next time.

10 Things I Love About Summer

How do I love summertime? Let me count the ways....

1. Sunny, warm weather (though I don't like it when it stays above 90 degrees for more than a day or two)

2. Setting the alarm to go off after 7 a.m. (even though I'm usually up by 6:45 a.m. anyway)

3. Longer, lighter days

4. Everything is so green and leafy

5. People are nicer (especially me)

6. Summer vacation

7. Long bike rides and walks on the beach (that is when I can get to a beach)

8. No complaining about homework

9. Grilling (and chilling with a beer, on the deck)

10. Driving with the sun roof and windows open and the radio blasting (though I probably haven't done this with any regularity since the summer of 1991)

So what do you all love about summer? Let me know via a Comment.

Bastille Day + Caturday = French cat videos

In honor of Bastille Day falling on a Caturday, I give to you ze most famous of French cats (at least in the last few months), Henri.

For those of you unfamiliar with Henri, he is a (pseudo) French cat suffering from ennui.

The first Henri le chat (cat, for those of you who do not speak French, the language of love -- and hep cats) video is titled "Henri 2, Paw de Deux."



Next up, "Henri 3, Le Vet":



Nous vous souhaitons un bon week-end -- sans imbéciles.