Robert Hampton

I found this article a while back. I was going to Tweet a link to it, but thought that it was worthy of inclusion here on the blog proper. The headline is “The Scariest (True) NYC Sublet Story You’ve Ever Heard”:-

After living with Jack for a few months, Doug was running home through the middle of a raging rainstorm, and noticed that Jack’s window was wide open, water pouring into the room. He rushed up the stairs, still dripping wet, and knocked on Jack’s door … Neatly piled into stacks were Chinese food containers, some 10 boxes high, some already toppled, with their half-eaten contents strewn on the floor. The cartons covered all the available area on the floor except for a narrow walkway to the bed and the desk.

Please note, the above is NOT the horrifying part. Read the rest of the story if you dare.

This is either terrible or brilliant, depending on your point of view. I think it just about makes it into the latter category, despite a dodgy rap about halfway through. The woman at 2:15 is my favourite part of the whole thing. Bonus points for using the Calvert font for the titles and credits.

Hat tip to @TwopTwips on Twitter for alerting a grateful nation. Now, who’s up for Merseyrail: The Opera?

Christmas is a time for the whole family, but it can be difficult to keep everyone entertained for the whole day.

Fear not, for help is at hand to bridge the gap between the Christmas puddings and the Doctor Who special. Have fun with my printable Super Fun Christmas Activity Pack, full of puzzles and games to entertain everyone!

Download (1.32 MB PDF file)

Here is a short coda to my Brighton trip. On the train home I was listening to more Adam & Joe XFM podcasts from 2006. Unbeknownst to me, this included this hilarious discussion of R Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet album, which caught me unawares and induced helpless laughter in me.

Aware that I was getting strange looks from my fellow passengers, I tried to stifle my laughter. My attempts only resulted in a coughing fit, which earned me even more strange looks.

Adam and Joe must be two of the most entertaining people on the radio. I really wish they’d hurry up and return to their 6 Music show.

So the X-Factor final is tonight. I’m not particularly interested since the main reason to watch the show exited a few weeks back.

I’m completely over the whole TV music show thing, mainly because it rarely delivers on its premise. For every Will Young and Leona Lewis there is a Michelle McManus, Leon Jackson or Steve Brookstein. Simon Cowell and his mates rake in the cash and everyone else gets trampled in the process (remember when the Christmas number one wasn’t a foregone conclusion?)

So rather than dwell on it, I’ll post this video from the BBC Comedy site, featuring Mr Saturday Night Telly Voice Man himself, Peter Dickson.

I think this is my favourite Christmas-related news story ever: a kids’ musical toy has been recalled by the manufacturer because concerned parents thinks it sings “paedophile” instead of “jingle bells”.

The Today Programme reported on this important issue this morning and the audio clip is worth listening to, if only for the reaction of John Humphrys.

1. Send lots of text messages
2. Run out of credit
3. Buy top-up
4. Receive message from 3 stating: “as a thank you for topping up, you now have 600 free texts”

I really didn’t think that through beforehand.

Keyboard Cat has gone mainstream!

Is there anything creepier than the elderly having sex?

The Saddest Male Models In The World, modelling clothes you won’t find in your local Primark.