Backyard Blog

You know you've had too many when the Christmas trees start standing on their heads.

Wait a minute. You're not tipsy. They're meant to be that way.

In the US, pre-lit upside-down Christmas trees are all the rage for the season.

According to USA Today, Hammacher Schlemmer can't even keep its $599.95 pre-lit model in stock. It's already sold out.

"We increased the amount we ordered from last year, but ended up selling all of them already," says Joe Jamrosz of Hammacher Schlemmer.

Not to be left behind, Target has three such upside-down trees ($299.99-$499.99) on its website, touting their best attribute: "Leaves more room on the floor for gifts!"

Similar trees are also available at ChristmasTreeForMe.com in the 5-to-7½-foot range ($280-$504).

The artificial trees are hung from the wall or ceiling, or come with a weighted base to provide extra stability to prevent tipping and leaning.

Sheryl Karas, author of The Solstice Evergreen: The History, Folklore and Origins of the Christmas Tree, isn't quite sure what's going on with the resurgence of upside-down trees, a 12th-century tradition in Central Europe.

"But it's the question I get more often than any other on my website," says the Santa Cruz, Calif., author (sherylkaras.com).

Karas believes it's purely a decorative thing this time around, a way to better display ornaments so they don't get lost in the foliage. She doesn't want to put a damper on the holidays, but she suspects "there's something sinister, almost bad, about it."

Because the shape of the tree is symbolic (pointing to heaven), "if they thought about it, they wouldn't turn it upside down," she says.

"Many of the people have been using them as their second tree. A novelty," Jamrosz says. "They also find the bigger gifts don't fit under a traditional tree."

Hanging a tree from the ceiling also ensures a smaller footprint for less-spacious areas. You can put it between two closely placed chairs, for instance.

But not everyone is head over heels about the trend. Tree Classics Inc. of Lake Barrington, Ill., claims to be the top seller of artificial Christmas trees on the Internet - up 30% this year alone - but not a one of them is upside down.

"That tree makes no sense to me whatsoever," says Tree Classics president Leon Gamze, who sells 59 styles of upright trees. "I just look at them and laugh." But would he ever join the upside-down trend?

"Never. Wouldn't even consider it."

Probably a good thing. He'll never have to ponder whether to put a star at the top, or bottom, of such a thing.

MORE.

Producer Sylvester Stallone is set to revive the Rambo and Rocky franchises with a new unknown Asian actor starring in both roles.

Sources close to the famous actor said that he is currently in negotiations in Kuala Lumpur with Backyard Pub owner Jerry Chong - who is known for making a killing with two acts in one night.

"I think Jerry is a shoo-in for the part," said the source, only known as Ram. "He's got the looks, the biceps and the street-wise likeability that mirrors the movie characters."

Chong when contacted today just laughed off the rumours.

Regulars at the pub confirm they have seen him practicing lines in his office to the soundtracks of Rocky and Rambo -- none of which was legible.



Links: Stallone to make 4th 'Rambo' film

Producer says Sylvester Stallone to revive Rambo franchise

Stallone back for fourth Rambo

A news report says magician David Copperfield plans to impregnate a girl on stage - without even touching her.

Speaking to German magazine Galore, the illusionist rejected the theory that there were only seven different kinds of magic tricks.

He said: "Bull s**t! There is a great deal of new territory to conquer. In my next show I'm going to make a girl pregnant on stage."

He added: "Naturally it will be without sex. Everyone will be happy about it, but I'm not telling you any more."

The magician is currently on tour in Germany with his show, An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion.

Now to be outdone our very our homegrown Sentul magician The Great Jerry Chongfield, a man of many grander illusions, says he can do it via the Internet.

So all regular readers of this blog who may be seeking fulfillment of a child -- minus the messy process involving the male species -- please lean forward and stare at pic below for at least 30 seconds. Satisfaction guaranteed. If unhappy with outcome after nine months, come back to this blog and stare at pic some more so the Great Jerry can remove 'paternity suit' from your vocabulary.



Links: David Copperfield to magic girl pregnant

A chain-smoking chimpanzee in a north-west China zoo has quit smoking after 16 years in favour of pop music and dumplings.

The Xinhua news agency reports that zoo staff, worried about 27-year-old Ai Ai's declining health, weaned the chimpanzee off ther nicotine habit by distracting her with entertainment and a tastier diet.

"The zoo keepers tried every way to divert the chimp's attention from cigarettes: a walk after breakfast, a music session after lunch, and gym after dinner," Xinhua reported.

One zoo keeper said the chimpanzee also got dumplings and fried dishes, as well as the usual diet of milk, bananas and rice.

"I also put earphones on her so that she could enjoy some pop music from my walkman," he said.

"In the first few days she squealed for cigarettes every now and then, but as her life became more colourful she gradually forgot about them altogether."

Xinhua attributed Ai Ai's habit to solitude and grief. Living in a safari park in Shaanxi province, the chimpanzee took up smoking in 1989 shortly after her mate died.

She then became a chain-smoker after her second mate died in 1997 and her daughter was moved to another zoo.

The Xinhua report did not say why zookeepers started giving the animal cigarettes.

NOTE: This proves one thing. If you are locked up in a zoo all your life, you can quit anything.

Breaking news, Sat, Oct 1: A giant squid was caught live tonight at the Backyard.

Backyard staff pounced on the critter when they noticed it was sneakily pouring Tiger draft for itself using one of its 20-foot tentacles.

The 12-foot tall squid had sneaked into the pub incognito about an hour earlier and was mingling unsuspiciously with the regular clientele.

Seeing an easy prey, Backyard pool sharks lured the squid to the pool table to play a game.

"He looked like a new guy, so I invited him to the table," said regular pool player Fam later.

"I should have known something was amiss when he signed his name on the whiteboard as Sotong, but I was distracted by the music – which was too loud," he added.

'Sotong' took on all comers, with its complete coverage of both tables deftly using two cues at the same time.

It also downed beer after beer, and replenished its glass - without ordering - before insisting on going on stage.

Luckily, eagle-eyed customer Justin Wah spotted the squid's indiscretions near the draft machines, and shouted out a warning "Hey the f***ing squid is stealing my beer!"

At the time of its capture, when staff Ram, Muru, Kamsah and Tina, pounced on it, manager Justin Lee noticed one tentacle had even made it into the till.


Many of the customers and staff interviewed later said they hadn't noticed the Giant Squid because it bore an uncanny resemblance to owner Jerry Chong.

"I guess that old maxim is true," said one regular who broke into song: "Indian one very long, Bai one very strong, Melayu one kena potong and Jerry's one like sotong."

Instead of calling the police, the staff of Backyard thought it was best the slippery squid be handed over to Auntie Ruth in the kitchen.

The squid was de-commissioned and immediately consigned to the freezer where it could do no more harm to innocent Backyarders.

Note: The Backyard kitchen is offering free fresh calamari with all orders this week.

Links:
Live Giant Squid Photographed for First Time
Scientists Capture Giant Squid in Photos
Holy Squid! Photos Offer First Glimpse of Live Deep-Sea Giant

Too much "hot air" in the pub lately? How about a pub that is actually made from it?

Airquee, the company responsible for the first inflatable church, has now made a fully-working inflatable pub.

It's 40-feet long, 19-feet long and 22-feet high and has room for a bar and 30 customers.

It can be erected in around 10 minutes with two small blowers and can be put on any firm, level surface. Installing a system to serve beer adds to set up time.

Of course, you wouldn't want any smokers or dart-players in it.

(via GadgetryBlog)

More pics.

Gillette has come out with a five-blade shaver called Fusion. You read right. Not three or four but FIVE blades. That is the ultimate overkill, which prompted this parody from the Onion. Caution: Offensive language ahead.