Another great race: The Urban Iditarod

by Anna Brones on

The Iditarod started this weekend in Willow, Alaska; the famous race will last for 17 days and eventually end in Nome, Alaska. But just because you don’t live up north doesn’t mean you can’t have your own Iditarod fun. In Portland, OR, we celebrate this great race with our own version: the Urban Iditarod. Held annually since 2000, Portland’s Urban Iditarod also features dogs and sleds, except here “dogs” are in fact humans and the “sleds” they pull are shopping carts. One of the most important parts of the Urban Iditarod? Keeping the “dogs” hydrated, but in a city full of micro-breweries, that isn’t difficult.

Anybody else live in a city with a good Urban Iditarod?

American Airlines guide to Paris

by Anna Brones on

You probably don’t need another guide to Paris, but this month’s American Airlines Milestones Parisian overview is just too amusing to pass up. Besides a helpful section of what’s going on in Paris, there is a funny video guide to the city of lights. My favorite line from the clip:

“Behold the world’s most famous museum, the Louvre. Home to the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and that cute picture of dogs playing poker.”

Check out the “Backstreets” video for some humorous tips on all the typical Parisian things to find around the city. As the guide bites into a crepe full of Nutella, he intelligently points out, “Crepe. Or as they say in Paris…. Les crepes.”

And the video is complete with romanticized accordion music. You don’t have to use the site as your guide to Paris, but at least check it out for your own amusement.

Crazy cross-wind landing caught on video

by Grant Martin on

If you’ve ever been on your final approach during landing and noticed the plane shifting around laterally, you’ve experienced cross-winds. Usually this phenomenon is mitigated by proper runway placement, which is why you’ll usually see runways going in different directions at larger airports. But if the winds shift or if the airport only has one runway, pilots will occasionally be forced to land in a heavy crosswind.

Kent can tell you more, but to cut to the chase, wind blowing on the side of the airplane during landing is not an ideal environment. It makes it really difficult to land. Check out this video of an A320 landing in heavy cross-winds in Hamburg. Scary huh?

“We Are The World” impersonated by the Japanese

by Abha Malpani on

I watched this video 3 times in a row, it is freakishly fantastic. Apparently the song has been #1 on the Japanese pop charts for four centuries. I’m not sure what that means.

Anyway, they’ve really paid attention to every detail of the original 1985 version and I loved seeing all our western stars played by Japanese impersonators; it’s funny, fascinating and endearing at the same time. Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen will make you split into laughter, Tina Turner looks shockingly real and Cyndie Lauper (have ear plugs ready for her bit) is just helium-tastic! Ray Charles will probably not like his Japanese version but Michael Jackson will love his, as Japanese style he almost looks normal. Enjoy!

[Via Giggle Sugar]

Extreme sledding, the latest in extreme sports

by Jamie Rhein on

If you think sledding using a flying saucer is a thrill–I do, the thing can spin, there’s a sled out there that adds a whole new experience to winter sports. Mad River Rocket makes maneuverable adventure sleds that help you get a feeling you’ve turned into Superman. You don’t really leap over tall buildings, but flipping, dipping and darting through trees, over ditches, up embankments, down snow covered stairs, human-made hills and naturally formed mountains is on the menu–if it’s covered with snow, you’re in luck.

Extreme sledding is one of the latest trends that has turned the thrill of childhood into a sport that can send adults hearts’ racing. Here’s a video to show just what a Mad River Rocket sled can do plus an ABC News article that details its wonder. What isn’t shown is how the sled can also be used to tow gear if you’re hiking in the winter. The company’s Web site details more extreme sled info with loads of photos. [Thanks Davis Cox for the tip!]