After someone comes out of the closet, it can be difficult to find other gay people to date, especially if you live in a small town. If you're a gay man, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Luckily, the advent of the internet has made it a lot easier for gay people to find one another.
But not all dating sites are created equal when it comes to the homosexual community. Many popular sites have very few gay users, and one of the most popular dating sites doesn't even allow gay people to use their service (more on that later). After some careful searching, I've compiled this list of the top 3 dating websites for gay men.
Number Three--Match.com. Match.com was one of the very first internet dating sites, and recently began a widespread marketing campaign geared specifically towards the gay community. There are lots of gay men to choose from in the Match community, but be forewarned-you probably won't find just a casual date or "one night stand" on Match.com, as nearly all of the men I found were looking more long-term and serious commitments. This might have something to do with the somewhat expensive membership fee, as it probably keeps out those who are less serious.
Number Two--ManHunt.net. On the other hand, if you are looking for something less serious, Manhunt.net just might be the place for you. Manhunt has the distinction of being one of the most popular and fastest growing gay sites on the net. A lot of the men on this website are just looking for a quick hook-up or a very casual date, but then again, probably so are a lot of the men reading this article. Be prepared for some guys to have R-or X. Rated profile pictures as well. Every once in a while you will find a guy looking for a friendship or more serious relationship on Manhunt. But this site is worth checking out if for no other reason than its immense popularity.
Number One--PlanetOut.com. At the top of my list is this popular internet portal for the gay community. PlanetOut has been around for a long time and has attracted a widespread and diverse user base. I hear that guys from very small towns have particularly good luck with this site. From the quick fling to something a bit more romantic, PlanetOut.com is a great place to start your search for Mr. Right.
Dishonorable Mention--eHarmony.com. It seems like you can't look anywhere these days without seeing an ad for eHarmony.com. The site claims to have some secret formula to help you find true love, but apparently it only works if you're straight. That's right--eHarmony won't let you join their site if you're searching for a member of the same sex. Not too surprising for a company who markets heavily through James Dobson's virulently anti-gay "Focus on the Family'' ministry. Until eHarmony.com decides to step out of the dark ages, do yourself a favor--avoid the eHarmony.com website and encourage your straight friends to do the same.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Moviebeam: A New Way to Rent Movies On-Demand from Your Couch
Americans like convenience, as can be seen by the stunning success of "pay-per-view" and "on-demand" movie rentals. People enjoy the convenience of being able to rent the newest movies right from the comfort of their own living rooms without having to make a trip to the video store. Satellite TV companies don't offer "on-demand," however, meaning that if you have satellite, you have to watch your movie on someone else's schedule. Also, companies generally aren't offering their movies in high-definition, and some consumers are wary of investing in high definition DVDs before the HD-DVD vs. BluRay battle is finally settled.
Attempting to solve all of these problems is a set-top box called Moviebeam, which is a device which promises a library of up to 100 of the newest and most popular films available to rent whenever you want. Moviebeam isn't exactly new. The service debuted in 2002 and was owned by Disney for a while, then was operated as an independent company, and was just recently bought by Movie Gallery, the parent company of Hollywood Video. However, the service has not been marketed very intensively, so most people have never heard of Moviebeam.
The Moviebeam unit is about the size of a VCR, and connects to your television just like any other component. The unit attaches to an external antenna, which is typically placed in an unobtrusive place like a bookshelf or end table. This antenna is the key to the Moviebeam service. Moviebeam constantly receives a digital, over-the-air signal that refreshes the content on your box. You'll also need to hook your Moviebeam box up to a landline telephone, as the unit dials-in periodically for billing purposes.
The menus on Moviebeam are very user-friendly, and are strikingly similar to the Tivo interface. You navigate the menus using a simple, 13-button remote control that easily fits in the palm of your hand. Moviebeam allows you to sort your library of movies by title, actor/director, or arrival date. Each movie has a full preview that you can watch before renting. When you find a movie that you want to rent, just select the appropriate menu option, confirm your selection, and you can start watching right away. New releases are $3.99 (which is the same price as my local Blockbuster) and older titles are just $1.99. About 10% of the movies on Moviebeam are in true high definition, and the cost for an HD movie rental is $4.99. (Also, I should note that after you buy the Moviebeam box, there is no subscription fee-you just pay for the movies you rent.)
Each week, the Moviebeam unit automatically receives up to 10 new movies, replacing the oldest titles in the library. You'll also find that Moviebeam continuously receives new previews for movies that are about to be released both in-theaters and on the Moviebeam service. Parents will also like the fact that the unit has a comprehensive set of parental controls, allowing you to block movies above a certain rating, set a weekly spending limit, or lock the unit completely.
The selection on Moviebeam is very good. Most of the major motion picture studios (with the exception of Sony) have signed deals with Moviebeam, so most popular new releases are available through this service. However, some studios won't allow Moviebeam to release the movie until other "pay-per-view" operators get the rights to show it, which is typically 30 to 45 days after the movie is released on DVD. While this may bother some people, I found that with 100 movies to choose from, there was always something I wanted to watch and I didn't mind waiting for certain titles.
When you rent a movie through Moviebeam, you have unlimited access to that movie for 24-hours. You can rewind, fast-forward, or re-watch as much as you want during that time, which I find is generally more than enough time. The picture quality is great, and it's just so convenient. The best place to get a Moviebeam is straight from their website (see the featured links below), since they are usually running a promotion and will send you a box pre-loaded with the latest movies. A new Moviebeam unit will probably cost you anywhere from $100 to $200, although people have been known to get them for free through very special offers. Also, Moviebeam isn't available in all areas (check your zip code at the website to find out), but if you live near a major city, chances are Moviebeam is ready for you. If you love movies, this is a neat little device that you should definitely check out.
Attempting to solve all of these problems is a set-top box called Moviebeam, which is a device which promises a library of up to 100 of the newest and most popular films available to rent whenever you want. Moviebeam isn't exactly new. The service debuted in 2002 and was owned by Disney for a while, then was operated as an independent company, and was just recently bought by Movie Gallery, the parent company of Hollywood Video. However, the service has not been marketed very intensively, so most people have never heard of Moviebeam.
The Moviebeam unit is about the size of a VCR, and connects to your television just like any other component. The unit attaches to an external antenna, which is typically placed in an unobtrusive place like a bookshelf or end table. This antenna is the key to the Moviebeam service. Moviebeam constantly receives a digital, over-the-air signal that refreshes the content on your box. You'll also need to hook your Moviebeam box up to a landline telephone, as the unit dials-in periodically for billing purposes.
The menus on Moviebeam are very user-friendly, and are strikingly similar to the Tivo interface. You navigate the menus using a simple, 13-button remote control that easily fits in the palm of your hand. Moviebeam allows you to sort your library of movies by title, actor/director, or arrival date. Each movie has a full preview that you can watch before renting. When you find a movie that you want to rent, just select the appropriate menu option, confirm your selection, and you can start watching right away. New releases are $3.99 (which is the same price as my local Blockbuster) and older titles are just $1.99. About 10% of the movies on Moviebeam are in true high definition, and the cost for an HD movie rental is $4.99. (Also, I should note that after you buy the Moviebeam box, there is no subscription fee-you just pay for the movies you rent.)
Each week, the Moviebeam unit automatically receives up to 10 new movies, replacing the oldest titles in the library. You'll also find that Moviebeam continuously receives new previews for movies that are about to be released both in-theaters and on the Moviebeam service. Parents will also like the fact that the unit has a comprehensive set of parental controls, allowing you to block movies above a certain rating, set a weekly spending limit, or lock the unit completely.
The selection on Moviebeam is very good. Most of the major motion picture studios (with the exception of Sony) have signed deals with Moviebeam, so most popular new releases are available through this service. However, some studios won't allow Moviebeam to release the movie until other "pay-per-view" operators get the rights to show it, which is typically 30 to 45 days after the movie is released on DVD. While this may bother some people, I found that with 100 movies to choose from, there was always something I wanted to watch and I didn't mind waiting for certain titles.
When you rent a movie through Moviebeam, you have unlimited access to that movie for 24-hours. You can rewind, fast-forward, or re-watch as much as you want during that time, which I find is generally more than enough time. The picture quality is great, and it's just so convenient. The best place to get a Moviebeam is straight from their website (see the featured links below), since they are usually running a promotion and will send you a box pre-loaded with the latest movies. A new Moviebeam unit will probably cost you anywhere from $100 to $200, although people have been known to get them for free through very special offers. Also, Moviebeam isn't available in all areas (check your zip code at the website to find out), but if you live near a major city, chances are Moviebeam is ready for you. If you love movies, this is a neat little device that you should definitely check out.
Top 5 'The Facts of Life' Videos on YouTube
I really like watching sitcoms from the 70's and 80's, and The Facts of Life was one of my favorites. You never quite knew what to expect with Mrs. Garrett and her crew of girls from the Eastland Academy, but you could always count on a lot of laughs. Recently, The Facts of Life has been released on DVD (at least the first 3 seasons), and I've had fun re-watching all of my favorite memories from the show.
Today, I decided to do a search on YouTube to see if I could find any clips from The Facts of Life, not really expecting to find too much. Boy, was I surprised when over 1600 video results were returned. I took the time to watch some clips, and I've compiled this list of my five favorite video clips from YouTube about The Facts of Life.
5. The Facts of Life Theme Song - "You take the good, you take the bad. You take 'em both and there you have..." Ahh..who could forget the wonderful theme song from The Facts of Life? Many people aren't aware that the theme song was actually written by Alan Thicke, who is probably best known for playing "Jason Seever" on the show Growing Pains.
4. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" Tribute Video - Featuring some absolutely great clips of Jo, Blair, Natalie, and Tootie from the show, this music video is a "fan tribute" set to Cyndi Lauper's fabulous song Girls Just Want to Have Fun. I can't think of a better song to sum up The Facts of Life...it really was about a group of great girl friends growing up and having fun together.
3. Blair and Mrs. Garrett Reunite - Throughout the years, it has been very rare for the cast of The Facts of Life to appear together in public. However, at the 2006 "TV Land Awards," fans got a big kick out of seeing Lisa Whelchel and Charlotte Rae reunite on-stage to sing the theme song from the show. Watch this clip and see for yourself!
2. Facts of Life Parody by ITTV - Brought to you by the folks at It's Twisted Television, this comedy sketch is absolutely hilarious. When the girls need to cook for a bake sale, Jo talks the gang into selling "pot brownies." Things are looking bad for the bake sale, until Cousin Gerri saves the day. The actors in this sketch really nailed the idiosyncrasies of the original cast members, which makes this clip even funnier. And the top video is...
1. The Facts of Life Girls Get Stoned - Speaking of pot, most people don't believe me when I tell them that in the first season, two of the show's main characters got stoned. While I'm sure the show was considered very progressive and educational at the time, looking back at it is just down right laughable. (Oh, and if you're curious to see the aftermath of the marijuana, you can watch this clip from later on in the same episode.)
The Facts of Life was a great show, and I'll probably never get tired of watching the reruns. Now, thanks to YouTube, everyone can access these (and many more) great clips from this hit television program.
Today, I decided to do a search on YouTube to see if I could find any clips from The Facts of Life, not really expecting to find too much. Boy, was I surprised when over 1600 video results were returned. I took the time to watch some clips, and I've compiled this list of my five favorite video clips from YouTube about The Facts of Life.
5. The Facts of Life Theme Song - "You take the good, you take the bad. You take 'em both and there you have..." Ahh..who could forget the wonderful theme song from The Facts of Life? Many people aren't aware that the theme song was actually written by Alan Thicke, who is probably best known for playing "Jason Seever" on the show Growing Pains.
4. "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" Tribute Video - Featuring some absolutely great clips of Jo, Blair, Natalie, and Tootie from the show, this music video is a "fan tribute" set to Cyndi Lauper's fabulous song Girls Just Want to Have Fun. I can't think of a better song to sum up The Facts of Life...it really was about a group of great girl friends growing up and having fun together.
3. Blair and Mrs. Garrett Reunite - Throughout the years, it has been very rare for the cast of The Facts of Life to appear together in public. However, at the 2006 "TV Land Awards," fans got a big kick out of seeing Lisa Whelchel and Charlotte Rae reunite on-stage to sing the theme song from the show. Watch this clip and see for yourself!
2. Facts of Life Parody by ITTV - Brought to you by the folks at It's Twisted Television, this comedy sketch is absolutely hilarious. When the girls need to cook for a bake sale, Jo talks the gang into selling "pot brownies." Things are looking bad for the bake sale, until Cousin Gerri saves the day. The actors in this sketch really nailed the idiosyncrasies of the original cast members, which makes this clip even funnier. And the top video is...
1. The Facts of Life Girls Get Stoned - Speaking of pot, most people don't believe me when I tell them that in the first season, two of the show's main characters got stoned. While I'm sure the show was considered very progressive and educational at the time, looking back at it is just down right laughable. (Oh, and if you're curious to see the aftermath of the marijuana, you can watch this clip from later on in the same episode.)
The Facts of Life was a great show, and I'll probably never get tired of watching the reruns. Now, thanks to YouTube, everyone can access these (and many more) great clips from this hit television program.
New Symbol Warns Public About Dangerous Radiation Sources
Since the Cold War, most Americans have been familiar with the trefoil, the international symbol for radiation. The radioactive trefoil prominently appears on "Fallout Shelter" signs and can be seen to this day on schools, libraries, and other public buildings throughout the country. While the symbol is easily recognized by most people in developed nations, there is nothing inherent in the radioactive trefoil that would explicitly communicate the dangers of radiation to someone who had never seen the symbol before.
This lack of recognition can pose a real safety threat to workers in countries like Indonesia and China, especially those who work in the ''scrap metal'' industry. There have been numerous cases in which workers were injured or killed as a result of processing metal "scraps" that contained high levels of radiation. In some of these cases, the metal objects were clearly stamped with the radioactive trefoil, but the workers did not know what the symbol meant and so they handled the dangerous objects anyway.
Two regulatory bodies, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Organization For standardization (ISO), recently recognized this serious problem and developed a new supplemental symbol that is being used to warn people about the most dangerous radiation sources. This new label is meant to more effectively communicate the dangers of radiation, with the traditional trefoil at the top with radiating waves protruding outwards. At the bottom of the label is a skull and crossbones as well as a running man. You won't see the new symbol on buildings, doors, or shipping containers. Instead, it will primarily be used on industrial sources of radiation like food irradiators and cancer treatment machines-- equipment that sometimes ends up in junk yards when proper disposal procedures aren't followed. Also, the new symbol won't replace the old symbol, rather, it will be used in addition to the traditional trefoil.
According to the IAEA, ''the new symbol is aimed at alerting anyone, anywhere to the potential dangers of... ionizing radiation" and is the result of more than 5 years of research (IAEA, New Symbol Launched to Warn Public About Radiation Dangers, http://tinyurl.com/2jw8du). The symbol was carefully designed by a team of researchers, radiation experts, and graphic artists and was tested by the Gallup Institute. This testing revealed that the new symbol's message of "Danger--Stay away" was recognized by people of all ages, educational backgrounds, and nationalities.
The new symbol has already gained wide-spread acceptance among manufacturers of radioactive equipment, and the process of retrofitting older equipment with the new label is already underway. Hopes are that this new symbol will actually save lives. According to Carolyn MacKenzie of the IAEA, "We can't teach the world about radiation, but we can warn people about dangerous sources for the price of a sticker." (IAEA, New Symbol Launched to Warn Public About Radiation Dangers, http://tinyurl.com/2jw8du)
This lack of recognition can pose a real safety threat to workers in countries like Indonesia and China, especially those who work in the ''scrap metal'' industry. There have been numerous cases in which workers were injured or killed as a result of processing metal "scraps" that contained high levels of radiation. In some of these cases, the metal objects were clearly stamped with the radioactive trefoil, but the workers did not know what the symbol meant and so they handled the dangerous objects anyway.
Two regulatory bodies, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Organization For standardization (ISO), recently recognized this serious problem and developed a new supplemental symbol that is being used to warn people about the most dangerous radiation sources. This new label is meant to more effectively communicate the dangers of radiation, with the traditional trefoil at the top with radiating waves protruding outwards. At the bottom of the label is a skull and crossbones as well as a running man. You won't see the new symbol on buildings, doors, or shipping containers. Instead, it will primarily be used on industrial sources of radiation like food irradiators and cancer treatment machines-- equipment that sometimes ends up in junk yards when proper disposal procedures aren't followed. Also, the new symbol won't replace the old symbol, rather, it will be used in addition to the traditional trefoil.
According to the IAEA, ''the new symbol is aimed at alerting anyone, anywhere to the potential dangers of... ionizing radiation" and is the result of more than 5 years of research (IAEA, New Symbol Launched to Warn Public About Radiation Dangers, http://tinyurl.com/2jw8du). The symbol was carefully designed by a team of researchers, radiation experts, and graphic artists and was tested by the Gallup Institute. This testing revealed that the new symbol's message of "Danger--Stay away" was recognized by people of all ages, educational backgrounds, and nationalities.
The new symbol has already gained wide-spread acceptance among manufacturers of radioactive equipment, and the process of retrofitting older equipment with the new label is already underway. Hopes are that this new symbol will actually save lives. According to Carolyn MacKenzie of the IAEA, "We can't teach the world about radiation, but we can warn people about dangerous sources for the price of a sticker." (IAEA, New Symbol Launched to Warn Public About Radiation Dangers, http://tinyurl.com/2jw8du)
Tips for Avoiding Illness on Cruise Ships
Millions of Americans embark on cruise ship vacations each year, and it's easy to see why. Cruises offer exotic destinations, fantastic entertainment, and top-notch dining at competitive, all-inclusive prices. As much fun as cruises can be, hardly a year goes by that there aren't media reports of at least one outbreak of gastrointestinal illness aboard an American cruise ship.
With frightening terms like "Norwalk virus" being thrown around, many people are scared and confused about the threat of illness aboard cruise ships. The truth is, Norwalk-type viruses are very common and more than 80% of Norwalk outbreaks actually occur on land. It is unfortunately very common for outbreaks of stomach illness (caused by Norwalk viruses) to occur in places where large numbers of people gather for days at a time, such as hotels, camps, convention centers, etc. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can follow to keep yourself healthy and "stomach virus" free while you're on your next cruise.
In order to protect yourself from illness, we first need to understand why stomach maladies seen to spread so quickly aboard cruise ships. Stomach viruses are typically transmitted via what scientists call a "fecal-oral" route. As gross as it may be to think about, the fact of the matter is that a lot of people don t wash their hands after they go to the bathroom. As I said earlier, the Norwalk virus is very common and it is not uncommon for someone to be infected with the virus and not even know it, since the symptoms are generally not extremely severe and self-limiting. All it takes is for a few infected people to start touching handrails, door knobs, lounge chairs and everything else on board, and before you know it, you have an "outbreak."
The best way to protect yourself from illness on a cruise is the tried-and-true advice of frequent hand washing. Studies have proven over and over that this simple step provides the most dramatic reduction in rates of illness. When you're on a cruise, get into the habit of washing your hands religiously. Certainly wash your hands before every meal and after using the bathroom. Also, carry a tube of alcohol-based "hand sanitizer" gel with you, and use it frequently, especially after touching potentially-infected objects like hand rails or door knobs.
Be careful at ports of call. While the food and beverages aboard your cruise ship should be perfectly safe, one of the most common ways people get stomach illness on cruises is by eating contaminated food in foreign countries when the ship is docked. When on land, be sure to only drink bottled beverages, as the tap water could make you sick. Make sure that any food you eat is thoroughly cooked, and avoid raw fruits and vegetables (i.e. salads) in particular as these items are commonly washed with tap water that could be contaminated.
If you do feel yourself getting sick with some sort of stomach illness, you should immediately report to the ship's infirmary, as it is very important that the medical personnel aboard the cruise ship have a record of your illness. If they do confirm that you are sick with a communicable virus, they may ask you to stay in your cabin for a few days. Please heed this advice...if more people did, outbreaks of stomach illness wouldn't be nearly as common.
Finally, if you are onboard a cruise and there is an announcement that there is an active outbreak aboard the ship, follow the instructions you are given carefully. Avoid touching objects in common areas, like serving spoons, magazines, or public telephones. You may also want to avoid gym equipment and shared restrooms. If you do get sick, don't panic. As stated earlier, cruise ship illnesses generally have a short course and chances are you'll be feeling better in a few days.
With frightening terms like "Norwalk virus" being thrown around, many people are scared and confused about the threat of illness aboard cruise ships. The truth is, Norwalk-type viruses are very common and more than 80% of Norwalk outbreaks actually occur on land. It is unfortunately very common for outbreaks of stomach illness (caused by Norwalk viruses) to occur in places where large numbers of people gather for days at a time, such as hotels, camps, convention centers, etc. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can follow to keep yourself healthy and "stomach virus" free while you're on your next cruise.
In order to protect yourself from illness, we first need to understand why stomach maladies seen to spread so quickly aboard cruise ships. Stomach viruses are typically transmitted via what scientists call a "fecal-oral" route. As gross as it may be to think about, the fact of the matter is that a lot of people don t wash their hands after they go to the bathroom. As I said earlier, the Norwalk virus is very common and it is not uncommon for someone to be infected with the virus and not even know it, since the symptoms are generally not extremely severe and self-limiting. All it takes is for a few infected people to start touching handrails, door knobs, lounge chairs and everything else on board, and before you know it, you have an "outbreak."
The best way to protect yourself from illness on a cruise is the tried-and-true advice of frequent hand washing. Studies have proven over and over that this simple step provides the most dramatic reduction in rates of illness. When you're on a cruise, get into the habit of washing your hands religiously. Certainly wash your hands before every meal and after using the bathroom. Also, carry a tube of alcohol-based "hand sanitizer" gel with you, and use it frequently, especially after touching potentially-infected objects like hand rails or door knobs.
Be careful at ports of call. While the food and beverages aboard your cruise ship should be perfectly safe, one of the most common ways people get stomach illness on cruises is by eating contaminated food in foreign countries when the ship is docked. When on land, be sure to only drink bottled beverages, as the tap water could make you sick. Make sure that any food you eat is thoroughly cooked, and avoid raw fruits and vegetables (i.e. salads) in particular as these items are commonly washed with tap water that could be contaminated.
If you do feel yourself getting sick with some sort of stomach illness, you should immediately report to the ship's infirmary, as it is very important that the medical personnel aboard the cruise ship have a record of your illness. If they do confirm that you are sick with a communicable virus, they may ask you to stay in your cabin for a few days. Please heed this advice...if more people did, outbreaks of stomach illness wouldn't be nearly as common.
Finally, if you are onboard a cruise and there is an announcement that there is an active outbreak aboard the ship, follow the instructions you are given carefully. Avoid touching objects in common areas, like serving spoons, magazines, or public telephones. You may also want to avoid gym equipment and shared restrooms. If you do get sick, don't panic. As stated earlier, cruise ship illnesses generally have a short course and chances are you'll be feeling better in a few days.
Top 5 Saved by the Bell Videos on YouTube
If you were born in the 80's and grew up in the 90's, chances are you have a soft-spot in your heart for "Saved by the Bell." I have fond memories of watching this show religiously every Saturday morning, and it makes me happy that they still show reruns to this day. I feel like Zack Morris, Jesse Spanno, and Screech are close friends of mine, and I probably have more fond memories of Bayside High School than I do my own.
Of course, now we're in the age of the internet, and it seems like quite a few people have been using the net to express their love for this popular teenage sitcom. From clips to reenactments, more and more "Saved by the Bell" videos hit YouTube every week. Luckily, I've taken the time to wade through them all and I've compiled this list of the top five "Saved by the Bell" videos on YouTube. Here's the countdown...
5. "Saved by the Bell - Brokeback Style" - One of the most controversial films released in recent years is the gay cowboy movie Brokeback Mountain. Always on the cutting edge of pop-culture, some "Saved by the Bell" fans put together this funny little movie clip which is a parody of the Brokeback Mountain preview. The author of the clip edited together various clips from the show to suggest a homosexual relationship between two of the shows main male characters, Zack Morris and A.C. Slater. Not the funniest clip I've seen, but clever enough to make it to the bottom of this list.
4. Zack and Kelly Break Up - Perhaps one of the most dramatic and poignant scenes from "Saved by the Bell" is when Kelly breaks up with Zack at the costume ball. Remember? Jesse & Slater are inside singing a duet of Michael Bolton's How am I Supposed to Live Without You? while Kelly takes Zack outside to tell him that she has feelings for someone else. I can barely hold back the tears every time I see it, and now I can see it anytime I want thanks to the internet.
3. Zack Proposes to Kelly - While I did love Saved by the Bell, I never really got into "The College Years" episodes. However, I always wanted Kelly and Zack to end up together, forever. While not necessarily what I was imagining, I was happy to finally get to see Zack propose to Kelly. Of course, Kelly says "Yes."
2. Reenactment of "Hot Sundaes" Workout Video - Just about any "Saved by the Bell" fan will tell you that the best episode of the series is "Jessie's Song," when the girls get together and decide to form a music group. Their music video is called "Go For It" and features the girls working out and singing in a gym-type setting. The video on the show is amazing, but what's even more amazing is that this group of girls has managed to reenact the entire thing on stage and make a video of their own. I was rolling on the floor laughing the first time I saw this.
(Another reenactment of the workout video, featured here, also deserves an honorable mention. Both reenactments are absolutely hilarious.) Which brings us to the number 1 "Saved by the Bell" video on YouTube...
1.Jesse's Music Video - Finally, who could forget when the seemingly infallible Jesse Spanno gets addicted to drugs. Her addiction to caffeine pills leads to the infamous line, "I'm so excited...I'm so...scared!" As if the episode didn't have enough comedic value all by itself, some clever YouTuber has made a strikingly funny music video revolving around Jesse's unfortunate predicament. Funny can't even begin to describe it...this one you have to see to believe!
Thanks to YouTube, many of my favorite "Saved by the Bell" memories are now ready for me to watch whenever, wherever I want. If you remember liking the show when you were younger, take a moment to check out these videos and take a little trip down memory lane.
Of course, now we're in the age of the internet, and it seems like quite a few people have been using the net to express their love for this popular teenage sitcom. From clips to reenactments, more and more "Saved by the Bell" videos hit YouTube every week. Luckily, I've taken the time to wade through them all and I've compiled this list of the top five "Saved by the Bell" videos on YouTube. Here's the countdown...
5. "Saved by the Bell - Brokeback Style" - One of the most controversial films released in recent years is the gay cowboy movie Brokeback Mountain. Always on the cutting edge of pop-culture, some "Saved by the Bell" fans put together this funny little movie clip which is a parody of the Brokeback Mountain preview. The author of the clip edited together various clips from the show to suggest a homosexual relationship between two of the shows main male characters, Zack Morris and A.C. Slater. Not the funniest clip I've seen, but clever enough to make it to the bottom of this list.
4. Zack and Kelly Break Up - Perhaps one of the most dramatic and poignant scenes from "Saved by the Bell" is when Kelly breaks up with Zack at the costume ball. Remember? Jesse & Slater are inside singing a duet of Michael Bolton's How am I Supposed to Live Without You? while Kelly takes Zack outside to tell him that she has feelings for someone else. I can barely hold back the tears every time I see it, and now I can see it anytime I want thanks to the internet.
3. Zack Proposes to Kelly - While I did love Saved by the Bell, I never really got into "The College Years" episodes. However, I always wanted Kelly and Zack to end up together, forever. While not necessarily what I was imagining, I was happy to finally get to see Zack propose to Kelly. Of course, Kelly says "Yes."
2. Reenactment of "Hot Sundaes" Workout Video - Just about any "Saved by the Bell" fan will tell you that the best episode of the series is "Jessie's Song," when the girls get together and decide to form a music group. Their music video is called "Go For It" and features the girls working out and singing in a gym-type setting. The video on the show is amazing, but what's even more amazing is that this group of girls has managed to reenact the entire thing on stage and make a video of their own. I was rolling on the floor laughing the first time I saw this.
(Another reenactment of the workout video, featured here, also deserves an honorable mention. Both reenactments are absolutely hilarious.) Which brings us to the number 1 "Saved by the Bell" video on YouTube...
1.Jesse's Music Video - Finally, who could forget when the seemingly infallible Jesse Spanno gets addicted to drugs. Her addiction to caffeine pills leads to the infamous line, "I'm so excited...I'm so...scared!" As if the episode didn't have enough comedic value all by itself, some clever YouTuber has made a strikingly funny music video revolving around Jesse's unfortunate predicament. Funny can't even begin to describe it...this one you have to see to believe!
Thanks to YouTube, many of my favorite "Saved by the Bell" memories are now ready for me to watch whenever, wherever I want. If you remember liking the show when you were younger, take a moment to check out these videos and take a little trip down memory lane.
Real Men like to Scrapbook
I have a confession to make: I'm a guy and I like to scrapbook. When I tell my female friends, they usually think its pretty cool and are eager to look at my albums and crop with me. But when I share my love for scrapbooking with my guy friends, its not such a warm reaction. I've been made fun of on more than one occasion because I like to make photo albums. This article is my attempt to appeal to more of my male counterparts to pick up the camera, the scissors, and the pens and start getting your memories into archival quality albums. Read on...I promise I won't tell the guys at the bar...
The fact is, more and more men are taking an interest in scrapbooking. The Wall Street Journal recently published an articled called "Wanted: A Few Good Men (with Scissors)," which highlights the growing number of men that are actively pursuing this hobby. But let's get a few things out of the way first, okay?
One of the reasons that scrapbooking has traditionally been perceived as a woman's hobby is because most people's idea of a scrapbook involves lots of ribbons, stickers, and bright pastel papers. But guys, it doesn't have to be that way. The whole point of scrapbooking is to get your memories, primarily photos and paper memorabilia, into organized, photo-safe, archival quality albums.
So many of my friends, male and female, look at my albums and tell me that they really wish they had taken the time to get all of their memories organized. Many of my guy friends tell me about all the cool trips they've taken and experiences they've had, but they never even thought to take any pictures or save any souvenirs. Taking a picture every now and then does not make you less of a man, I promise, and if those pictures are worth taking, they're worth preserving.
Even the guys I know who do take pictures are content to just have them stored in a shoebox in the attic. If you're just going to leave them in a box, you might as well not even take the picture. Here's where scrapbooking comes in...the absolute safest place for your pictures to be are in a photo-safe album. The best "albums" out there are made by scrapbooking companies (my favorite is Creative Memories).
Why choose a "scrapbook" over a cheap, off-brand photo album from the discount store? Two reasons, really. First off, a lot of the albums out there on the market will destroy your photographs faster than you would believe. They contain chemicals and materials that will actually eat through your pictures, whereas scrapbooks made by reputable companies are guaranteed to be photo safe. Second, scrapbooks provide a space for you to write your memories down.
The hardest part of scrapbooking for guys is "journaling." My male friends have told me they don't want to get all "mushy" and write their feelings down. But do whatever you feel comfortable with. Did you go on a cruise with a girlfriend and buy one of those professional photos? Just jot down her name and a date underneath the photograph...something as simple as "Me & Mindy - June 2003." In 20 years, you'll have no clue what her name was and will be glad you wrote it down. Did you win a bowling tournament? Write 2 sentences about the practice you put in and how it felt to win. You'll be creating an album that will preserve your memories but that you won't be ashamed to show to the guys.
Even if you're not into designing layouts and using papers in your scrapbook, you may find that a trip to your local scrapbooking store yields some surprising finds. I've been able to find "beer" stickers, Penn State football paper, and a whole line of grilling/BBQ embellishments at my local store. These simple elements can make your pages more visually appealing without making your photo album any less masculine.
You can choose a darker colored album, like navy or black, and concentrate on earth tones inside to give your album even more of a masculine touch. Everybody has memories, and memories are worth preserving, even if you're a guy. Nothing beats the feeling of completing an album and realizing that years worth of your memories are safely preserved forever. Plus, I'll let you in on a little secret, chicks really do dig a guy who scrapbooks.
The fact is, more and more men are taking an interest in scrapbooking. The Wall Street Journal recently published an articled called "Wanted: A Few Good Men (with Scissors)," which highlights the growing number of men that are actively pursuing this hobby. But let's get a few things out of the way first, okay?
One of the reasons that scrapbooking has traditionally been perceived as a woman's hobby is because most people's idea of a scrapbook involves lots of ribbons, stickers, and bright pastel papers. But guys, it doesn't have to be that way. The whole point of scrapbooking is to get your memories, primarily photos and paper memorabilia, into organized, photo-safe, archival quality albums.
So many of my friends, male and female, look at my albums and tell me that they really wish they had taken the time to get all of their memories organized. Many of my guy friends tell me about all the cool trips they've taken and experiences they've had, but they never even thought to take any pictures or save any souvenirs. Taking a picture every now and then does not make you less of a man, I promise, and if those pictures are worth taking, they're worth preserving.
Even the guys I know who do take pictures are content to just have them stored in a shoebox in the attic. If you're just going to leave them in a box, you might as well not even take the picture. Here's where scrapbooking comes in...the absolute safest place for your pictures to be are in a photo-safe album. The best "albums" out there are made by scrapbooking companies (my favorite is Creative Memories).
Why choose a "scrapbook" over a cheap, off-brand photo album from the discount store? Two reasons, really. First off, a lot of the albums out there on the market will destroy your photographs faster than you would believe. They contain chemicals and materials that will actually eat through your pictures, whereas scrapbooks made by reputable companies are guaranteed to be photo safe. Second, scrapbooks provide a space for you to write your memories down.
The hardest part of scrapbooking for guys is "journaling." My male friends have told me they don't want to get all "mushy" and write their feelings down. But do whatever you feel comfortable with. Did you go on a cruise with a girlfriend and buy one of those professional photos? Just jot down her name and a date underneath the photograph...something as simple as "Me & Mindy - June 2003." In 20 years, you'll have no clue what her name was and will be glad you wrote it down. Did you win a bowling tournament? Write 2 sentences about the practice you put in and how it felt to win. You'll be creating an album that will preserve your memories but that you won't be ashamed to show to the guys.
Even if you're not into designing layouts and using papers in your scrapbook, you may find that a trip to your local scrapbooking store yields some surprising finds. I've been able to find "beer" stickers, Penn State football paper, and a whole line of grilling/BBQ embellishments at my local store. These simple elements can make your pages more visually appealing without making your photo album any less masculine.
You can choose a darker colored album, like navy or black, and concentrate on earth tones inside to give your album even more of a masculine touch. Everybody has memories, and memories are worth preserving, even if you're a guy. Nothing beats the feeling of completing an album and realizing that years worth of your memories are safely preserved forever. Plus, I'll let you in on a little secret, chicks really do dig a guy who scrapbooks.
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