HOT STUFF | Top Cultured

Hampton Hotels Chain-of-Friends Sweepstakes

Posted by: Ryan Deal on August 27th, 2010

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

Let me ask you something, if you had an entire hotel to your disposal for an entire weekend, how big of a party would you throw? Well that’s exactly what the good folks at Hampton are looking to give you. One lucky Grand Prize winner will get 2 nights stay for themselves and 99 lucky friends. On top of that, they’re giving the winner an additional $5,000 to cover taxes all in their Chain-of-Friends sweepstakes.

Shoot, I don’t even know if I could throw that big of a party. I think I’d have to have my Grandma invite her Bingo circle. Maybe my Mom can bring her Cribbage club too. Then myself and my few friends will have some ladies to party with.

I’m only teasing, but lets think about this. You’ve got an entire hotel and 99 of your closet buds. What would you do? I know for me, the first thing would be a massive poker tournament. After a huge pizza party, complimented with loads of Mountain Dew, Bawls, and Ben & Jerry’s, we’d have an all-out, hotel-wide Hide and Go Seek game (“Olly olly oxen free!”). That’s just the first night!

The following day would start with a pool party and BBQ. There would be plenty of Marco Polo and Chicken matches for sure. Of course you’d have to wait 45 minutes after diving into the Buffalo Wings, pulled pork sandwiches, ribs and burgers before diving into the pool. With Nanna and Mom around you know you have to heed the age old advice they always told you.

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My head starts reeling when I think of all the other possibilities. I mean, we’ve still got another whole day to fill. I’d probably get a bunch of lazer tag equipment and throw the biggest baddest game of Capture the Flag ever. Maybe a few sack races, egg toss tournaments and kickball games too.

All I know is that would be the best weekend of my life…ever…and I’m including the weekend in my future after my wedding, after my first child is born and even the weekend after the White Sox finally win the World Series. So what would you do with the opportunity? I want to hear it.

You can enter daily for the chance to:
a) Win a daily prize of a free weekend stay at any Hampton,
b) Win the grand prize of the chance to book entire Hampton hotel for one weekend. The grand prize winner will receive 200 “Be My Guest” certificates for 100 of their friends to stay at a Hampton for free for one weekend. The winner will also receive $5000 to help pay the tax for the weekend

The great thing about this sweepstakes is that it is open to everyone, not just those that are Hilton Honors members or those that have previously stayed at a Hampton. So what are you waiting for? Head over to the sweepstakes page and get your name in the basket…and then do it again tomorrow…and the day after…and the day after…

Dancing Skyscraper Acrobats

Posted by: Dutch Mechanic on August 24th, 2010

This is an amazing display at the Thanksgiving Tower for Project Bandaloop’s noontime show. I’m truly blown away by what these performers are able to do. What amazes me even further is that there are people out there that not only can do this but take the time to learn and choregraph things of this quality. Imagine this being your “job”. What a great lifestyle…dancing hundreds of feet above the ground…along a glass surface….this is just spectacular.

Amazing Japanese Glass Ball Performer

Posted by: Scotty Trigg on August 18th, 2010

This dudes name is Okotanpe and was seen hanging out in Yoyogi park in Harajuku, Tokyo He has clearly practiced this art of “contact juggling” a lot. It’s super soothing to watch and the music he plays during his performance is awesome. It’s pretty mesmerizing. I would love to see this bro in real life. I could probably sit and watch him all day long. He seems like such a rad (and talented) individual.

Dear Walt Disney

Posted by: Oral Adams on August 18th, 2010

This is an amazing correspondence by a young Wendy from March, 1964. Seems she was a huge fan of Woody Woodpecker but gots his creator mixed up. She thought Walt was behind the mischevious bird when it is in fact Walter Lantz. Lucky for Wendy, Disney knows people in high places and was able to forward the message along.

It’s awesome to see that her letter got to that right person and that he was able to respond.

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Paris Rosen’s Front Flip Fail At X-Games 16

Posted by: Dutch Mechanic on August 17th, 2010

This is pretty scary but also pretty impressive…impressive that he actually attempted it. This seems to go against the laws of physics practically. How can one spin a motorcross bike forward even when the momentum is carrying you the other way. Although he didn’t land the trick, I give this guy so much credit for even trying…and from all looks of it I don’t think he was injured at all. Here’s to hoping that next time he gives it a go in competition he is successful.

New York City’s Park Avenue Before & After Cars

Posted by: Oral Adams on August 11th, 2010

We all know that heavy traffic and congestion in cities leads to increased pollution and greenhouse gases. We’ve seen a lot of recent city plans to cut these numbers down by lowering the use of automobiles within city centers by using increasing ridership on mass transit systems. Also by using vehicles that run on electricity rather than gas.

There was a time when New York City was not crowded with thousands of yellow cabs and tour buses. Check out how wonderful Park Avenue was when it was actually a route through a beautiful park. And now as it stands as a busy thoroughfare for schlepping people around Manhattan.

New York’s Park Avenue before 1922 (Aaron Naparstek)

New York’s Park Avenue, 1922, after “improvements” to allow automobile traffic (Aaron Naparstek)

New York’s Park Avenue today ( BuddhaCab)

via No Impact Man

Grocery Shopping Just Became Awesome

Posted by: Heesa Phadie on August 9th, 2010

Every husband or boyfriend would gladly do the weekly food march for his woman if all grocery stores had this. I think store managers should learn from the guys that built this beautiful display. If all of them did something to this extent I’m sure they’d get more business in a heartbeat (or a Koopa stomp).

[source]

And you may have seen these before but they’re certainly worth another look:

The Different “Phases” of Disney Princesses

Posted by: Oral Adams on August 6th, 2010

These amazing Disney princess interpretations are from artist HelleeTitch (Kate) on DeviantArt, you can see the whole gallery here. I find these to be such cool mock-ups of the possible different phases that a Disney princess might go through.

Kate has done an amazing stylizing the beautiful women of the Disney world in hip new ways. I’m not quite sure how she’s done it (talent like this eludes me) but however she manages just blows me away. A few of the sets have further explanations and descriptions by her.

If you weren’t already having dreams about Ariel or Jasmine, I’m sure now more than ever you’ll be seeing these girls in your sleep.

Queen Bee Aurora and her loyal Best Friend Cindy, Cheerleader Jasmine, Choir Girls Snow and Ariel, bookworm Belle, Tomboy Pocahontas, student council president Mulan and New Girl Tiana. All close friends at Disney High School!

Cinderella as Obsidian (Illusion): Cinderella managed to go from being a maid to a princess in one night without being recognized.

Aurora as Gala (Hypnotism): Even though it was the fairies that put the kingdom under a sleeping spell, it was because of Aurora.

Mulan as Emerald Spectre (Invisibility): Mulan went unnoticed as a female while training to fight the Huns.

Snow White as Crya (Sonic Scream): Her high-pitched singing voice.

Jasmine as Tornado Tempest (Flight): Although the magic carpet belongs to Aladdin, Jasmine does go on it.

Pocahontas as Nitrodash (Super Speed): All that space out in the wilderness gives Pocahontas space to run around.

Belle as Crimson Rose (Absorption and knowledge retainment): Belle reads about EVERYTHING.

Ariel as Hyrda (Hydrokinesis): Self-explanatory.

Tiana as The Wing Fury (Transformation): She was a frog for the majority of her movie.

Jasmine: Rockstar (hence the whaked out hairdo and guitar)
Snow White: Bumblebee
Mulan: Vampire
Aurora: Greek Goddess
Cinderella: Witch
Pocahontas: Gladiator
Belle: Devil
Ariel: Pirate
Tiana: Fairy

Helping Kids

Posted by: Oral Adams on August 6th, 2010

If this doesn’t pull at your heart strings and give you faith in humanity, I’m not sure what will…and you must be the Tin Man. These adorable little rascals use each other and their lunch tote to help save this poor pup. What a great show of the true nature of man…before we become tainted.

[source]

I Will Do Anything This Guy Says

Posted by: Scotty Trigg on August 6th, 2010

When John Cena asks you to shave your face, you ask “how close, sir?” With this BAMF yelling at me it wouldn’t make a difference if I had just stepped out my from door fresh my morning grooming routine…I would still lather up again and whip out my razor.

With the new Gillette ProGlide it’s like John Cena is attacking your stubble from the top ropes or has them in a Full Nelson. Your 5 O’clock shadow is like The Nexus, they stand no chance. He brings the pain and so does the new ProGlide. I know it may seem like hyperbole but I have personally used it and I do stand behind it. I know some of the razor/blade madness (when will they have 8 blades?) has gotten out of control but I can vouch for the “submission” power of these new razors.

I just wish that using a particular product make you more like the person endorsing it. While he’s a solid 240 lbs and stands at 6′2″, I come in at 6′ and maybe 135 lbs after talking the 6 lbs Big Badass Burrito from NASCAR Cafe in Vegas. Well I can hope and wish, can’t I? Anyways, what are you waiting for, step up and take the Gillette ProGlide Challenge, or face the wrath of John Cena.