Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Where tasty lettuce and good mustard aren’t elitist.

Yes we did.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

I showered with Rahm and all I got was this shitty blog.

I thought we were promised Infrastructure Week

What fresh hell is this?

Good luck with your asparagus.

Word salad with all caps

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment…

We Survived Breitbartpocalypse!

Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack!

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

Shock troops for the Unitarian Jihad.

A snarling mass of vitriolic vicious jackals

Usually wrong but never in doubt.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Lighten up, Francis.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity.

Wetsuit optional.

This is how realignments happen…

Reality always wins in the end.

Not all heroes wear capes.

You are here: Home / Archives for Let's Make Our Own Fun

It’s a stressful, complicated time, and we all need a break sometimes.  Let’s have some fun, and find the fun stuff that’s out there.

Dear WaterGirl: Did You Know That...Let's Make Our Own Fun 1Let's Make Our Own Fun

The Contest: Haikus, Limericks, Six Word Memoirs, and One-Act Plays

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I don’t know how many of you remembered, but tonight is the contest for:

Best Haikus
Best Limericks
Best Dirty Limericks
Best One-Act Plays, 10-minute variety
Best Six-Word Memoirs

But before we get to the main event, I have to share this.  If I didn’t grow up with this guy, I could have.

I can’t get enough of this guy!

Posted by Julie Viernow Siebel on Friday, March 27, 2020

Entries already submitted  are in the comments under Anonymous to keep things anonymous until voting is complete.  If there are further submissions in the comments, then I will change the nyms on the existing entries so we have a level playing field.  You may vote in the comments, by text (if you have my number) or  email.

*If someone submitted an entry and I missed it somehow, please let me know.

Edit: You’ll see that we have gotten started on the links in the sidebar that we talked about last weekend. I have not yet incorporated everything that was sent to me – but I will continue to fill out the list and the items on the list for anything that is still of interest.  It’s been quite a week for all of us, so speak up if you think that was a good idea at the time, but there is no interest.  Or if you are still interested!

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Free Online Concerts

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As you guys become aware of online live concerts that are coming up, please add them in the comments.

Jimmy Buffett – Cabin Fever Virtual Tour

Well, live touring may be temporarily paused as we all do our part to socially distance, but we’re all still desperately in need of some fun! Starting this Wednesday at 8PM Eastern/7PM Central (with an encore at 8PM Pacific) when we will be re-broadcasting a show from the archives “live” like we would from a night on the tour! Watch on Margaritaville.tv or listen on Radio Margaritaville on Sirius/XM.

Berlin Philharmonic

Berlin Philharmonic giving 30 days free after making a free account: https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/news The nice thing is that it’s a “ticket,” so they don’t sneakily charge you if you don’t cancel within 30 days, it just lapses.

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie

Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie has been doing a daily performance (4 pm PST) on YouTube. Just him on acoustic guitar or piano working through the DCfC catalog with a cover or two or three. He suggests a charity to donate to each show. Worth checking out.

 

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Streaming Services That Are Free for 30 Days

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If you guys want to identify the URLs for signing up for these free streaming services, please add them to the comments and I will update the thread.

Also, if you are aware of any additional streaming services that are free for the time being, please add that to the thread also.

*****

Netflix continues to offer a 30 day free trial.
Broadway HD now has a trial period now of 7 days.
Playster (ebooks, audiobooks, music) – 30 days
Pantaya (Spanish language movies & TV) – 7 days
Indieflix (indie films) – 7 days
Amazon Prime – 7 days
Fandor (non-mainstream films) – 7 days
Screambox (B- and C-level horror movies) – 7 days
Curiosity Stream (documentaries) – 7 days
Gaia (yoga, meditation) – 7 days
NFL TV – 7 days
Eurosport – 7 days

*****

From Slate on March 20:

The Streaming Services You Can Watch for Free While You’re Stuck Inside

In a gesture of generosity for those in quarantine (or perhaps as a way of nabbing a captive audience), several streaming providers have decided to lift their paywalls and offer temporary extensions on free trials. These trials, which provide access to shows and movies across a wide range of genres and networks, are a small gift for everyone facing the possibility of weeks stuck at home. Here is a complete list of the networks offering free trials or extensions for those stuck at home.

Showtime

Friday morning Showtime announced that it will begin offering a 30-day free trial to new customers effective today. Viewers who sign up before May 3 will have access to the network’s full portfolio of television series, specials, and movies online. Highlights include: Ray Donovan, Dexter, and Homeland, which will continue to air new episodes of its final season through April 26.

Sundance Now

Sundance Now, the streaming service best known for its large selection of true-crime, thrillers, and dramas, is now extending its seven-day free trial to 30 days, with the code SUNDANCENOW30. Owned by AMC Networks, Sundance Now also offers a variety of documentaries and television series, including the acclaimed miniseries The Little Drummer Girl and the show McMafia.

Acorn TV

For all the anglophiles out there, this U.K.-centric streaming service is now offering a 30-day free trial to customers who use the code FREE30 when signing up. (The free trial is usually one week.) The streaming service, which is currently only available in select countries, specializes in British programming including titles like the popular series Midsomer Murders and the medical dramedy Doc Martin.*

Met Opera

The Met, like many live performance venues across the country, closed its doors and canceled all upcoming shows in an attempt to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. But, beginning this week it began streaming for free encore presentations of its Live in HD opera series. “We’d like to provide some grand opera solace to opera lovers in these extraordinarily difficult times,” said Met general manager Peter Gelb.

Sling TV

Dish-owned TV streaming service Sling TV announced it’s making a selection of its content available to stream for free, no credit card or account required. “Stay in & SLING,” as the free service is called, includes thousands of shows and movies including ABC News Live, content for families, as well as lifestyle and entertainment programming.

Starz

In an gesture of generosity for those in quarantine, the network subsidiary of Lionsgate is making select titles from their library available for free to non-subscribers. Shows available for free streaming include the first full seasons of Black Sails, The Girlfriend Experience, American Gods, and Vida, along with the pilots of a number of their original shows. At this time, the free deal will be available until the end of March, though it could very well be extended.

Vid Angel

The family-friendly streaming service that allows viewers to skip “objectionable” content like profanity, nudity, sex, and graphic violence, is now available for free use until March 30 (it’s usually $10) with the caveat that users must agree to practice social distancing. The platform, which boasts “the world’s largest library of clean comedy,” can be particularly helpful for parents working from home, who may have a hard time closely monitoring what their children are watching.

Shudder

Horror junkies, rejoice! This gore-and-suspense-centric streaming service just extended its free trial to 30 days with the code SHUTIN. If the current reality wasn’t scary enough, it is now possible to binge free-of-charge on classic horror flicks like Night of the Living Dead and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Shudder is currently available in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Ireland.

Correction, March 22, 2020: This post originally misidentified Midsomer Murders at Midsomer Mysteries.

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Zoos, Aquariums and Wildlife – Webcams!

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To help get us started, here’s a short list of Aquariums and Zoos who are sharing webcams with us while they are closed.

If you are aware of others, please add them in the comments below.

Aquariums

Shedd Aquarium: OTTERS!

Shedd Aquarium: PENGUINS!

Shedd Aquarium: BABY SEAHORSES!

Monterey Bay Aquarium:  Live Webcams

Maui Ocean Center:  Outdoor Webcam

Georgia Aquarium:  Webcams

Georgia Aquarium:  Sea Otter Webcam

Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach:  List of Webcams

Atlanta Georgia Aquarium:  Live Camera

Zoos

San Diego Zoo: Live Webcams

Philadelphia Zoo:  Webcams

Elmwood Park Zoo:  Eagles Cam

Houston Zoo:  Webcams

Smithsonian National Zoo:  Webcams

Oregon Zoo:  YouTube Videos of Tiny Goat Visits

Kansas City Zoo:  Penguin Live Stream

Wildlife

National Arboretum: Eagle Cam

Institute for Wildlife Studies: Bald Eagles & Falcons Cams & Videos

Decorah (IA):  Bald Eagle Cam

Alaska Wildlife Webcams:  https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewing.webcam

Explore Live Nature Cams:   Tons of Live Cams

Explore Live Nature Cams:  on YouTube

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology:  Webcams

Hohenwald’s Elephant Sanctuary:  Webcams

Adventure Journal:  Animal Cams

Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary:  Crane Camera Live Stream from Nebraska

Makov Rescue Station in the Czech Republic:  Pond

Makov Rescue Station in the Czech Republic:  Bird Feeder

Arconic Eagle Camera:  Webcam

CritterVision:  3 live-streaming backyard wildlife streaming cams

I’m still working out the details of where these threads will go in the sidebar, but there’s no reason we can’t get started anyway.

Let’s talk about anything but you know what.

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Homework Assignment Due One Week From Today: Haikus, Limericks and One-Act Plays

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Following up on last night’s Let’s Make Our Own Fun post, the following contests will be held:

Best Haikus
Best Limericks
Best Dirty Limericks
Best One-Act Plays, 10-minute variety
Best Six-Word Memoirs

Submissions are due one week from Today: Saturday, March 28.  8pm sharp, Balloon Juice time.
Anyone can play, and you may submit in all 5 categories, if desired.
Unless you have extra toilet paper or good dark chocolate, attempts at bribery will not be tolerated.

You may submit your entries in advance by sending them to me via email, or you can post them in the comments in the special thread next Saturday.

Haikus, limericks and dirty limericks are surely self-explanatory, and you can use the Google to learn more about six-word memoirs.

The One-Act Play, 10-minute variety, has special rules, as suggested by BGinCHI:

  1. It should have both male & female characters, one of which can be an animal.
  2. Adult themes and accidental violence are suggested, but not required.  Extra-light nudity is allowed, but not required. No Cole nudity.
  3. Winner gets his/her play acted out by Cole, filmed, posted as an Open Thread.

As to the third point for the 10-minute one-act play, I feel certain that BG has already cleared that with Cole. :-)

*****

If I receive enough pet pic submissions, Pet Picture Bingo can start in a couple of days.  I have about 10 so far.

*****

The following have been suggested as groupings for entertainment possibilities, with links in the sidebar so people can continue to add ideas and resources, which everyone can easily access as the days go by:

Starting with These
– Aquariums & Zoos
– Free streaming services while stuck inside
– Free online concerts
– Fun podcasts
– Political podcasts
– Books on tape
– Computer gaming thread
– Old-time radio
– Playlist of relaxing music
– Online puzzle sites
– Arts & Crafts (including Avalune drawing animals)
– Fun twitter

Books (by category)
– Biographies
– Fiction
– YA Fiction
– Graphic Novel / Manga

TV shows
– Lighthearted shows
– More violent, stressful shows

Movies (by category)
– Action/Adventure
– Animation & Anime
– Best Bad Movies (ex: Airplane)
– “Chick flicks” (yell at NotMax, not me)
– Classics (say, pre-1960, or a date to be named later)
– Comedy
– Detective/Mystery
– Documentary
– Drama
– Foreign films
– Guilty Pleasures
– Kids Fare
– History
– Literary Adaptations
– Noir
– Romance
– Science Fiction & Fantasy
– Silent movies
– Sitcoms (TV)
– Thriller/Horror
– Westerns

Note from WG: Chime in if you had an idea in last night’s thread and you don’t see it here.  I think I got them all but you never know.

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Let’s Make Our Own Fun

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Meet PupCake, a pie filter creation by Avalune.

Let's Make Our Own Fun

And Penelope DuckCake, another Avalune creation, also for the pie filter.

Let's Make Our Own Fun 1

Who’s up for making our own fun?

We could have a BJ contest for dialogue between Katie Porter and one of her children who pleaded (pled?) innocent after stealing cookies from the cookie jar.

We could have a contest for best Noir opening – someone did a great one in BG’s Noir post.  We have a lot of talent here; I’ll bet we could have some great ones.

A contest for best haiku!

We could have separate posts for each of the following entertainment possibilities, with links in the sidebar so people can continue to add to them and access them as the days go by:

– good TV shows
– biographies
– fiction
– movies
– fun podcasts
– political podcasts
– great books on tape
– free online concerts
– etc

You guys could send pet pics and we can make a photo grid of 25 pets and list 25 commenter names, and we can guess who goes with whom.  As someone guesses right we add the names to the grid. Everybody gets to yell “Bingo!” when we fill it all in.

I had a bunch more ideas as I lay in bed a couple nights ago… I’m hoping they come back to me as you all jump on the brainstorming bandwagon and come up with ideas for some BJ fun in the coming days.

Please tell me I’m not the only one who is up for some lighthearted fun. This has been a rough week and that would make me very sad.  Share you ideas below, please!

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