Congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals for their 11th World Series title. I didn't root for you -- my loyalties remain with the rival Milwaukee Brewers. But I will concede, you had a fantastic post-season! Definitely a joy to watch. Well played. Enjoy the trophy, and we'll see you in 2012.

"Cards win World Series, beat Texas 6-2 in Game 7"

-Jon
posted by Jon at 1:56 AM  I   I  0 comments

I've seen spectacular Christmas light shows, but this one's for Halloween. It's set up to correspond with the song, "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO, and features animated pumpkin faces that sing along. It also contains tombstones, hand-carved pumpkins, strobes, floods, and thousands of lights. It makes me wonder what these people are going to do with their house for Christmas!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:46 PM  I   I  0 comments

"It always seems impossible until its done."
-- Nelson Mandela

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:33 PM  I   I  0 comments

Here's something fun. It's a LEGO spoof on the TV series "CSI: Miami" (starring David Caruso), complete with bad puns, and plastic gore. I found it entertaining, so I thought I'd share. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 1:49 PM  I   I  0 comments

Former Miss France, Cindy Fabre, wore this chocolate bikini as part of the 'Salon du Chocolat", a yearly trade show for the international chocolate industry, held this year in Aix en Provence, France. It was designed by Benjamin Brass and constructed by Puyricard, an artisan chocolate company.

The entire outfit consisted of more than 300 pieces of chocolate carefully sculpted together in a gladiator-style bikini, including chocolate truffles, chocolate hearts and caramel filled chocolate bites. Even her shoes were covered in chocolate.

Fabre accessorized with a huge chocolate bangle and some brown feathers in her hair. She posed with a selection of metal bowls and whisks that are typical of those used to make chocolate treats.

I'm not really big into the fashion scene, but I've gotta admit, this is one of the more appealing outfits I've seen made out of food. Impractical, yes, but nonetheless striking! Would you wear something like this?

PHOTOS: See more of this tasty bikini.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 1:23 PM  I   I  0 comments

I'll be honest, I had fun playing around with this. It's an interactive, online, crappy piano. Literally. Go play it for a bit, and you'll see why. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 12:48 PM  I   I  0 comments

Yesterday, it came to an end. The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers in game six of the NLCS. The Cardinals move on to the World Series; the Brewers go home.

It's a bittersweet loss. Milwaukee has not had a team play in the World Series since 1982. Ironically, it was the Cardinals that beat them back then too.

This year, the Cardinals just outclassed the Crew. They played well, they got more runs over the plate, everything was clicking. In the end, they closed it out with a 12-6 victory. I would've liked to see the Brewers win, and the NLCS go on to a game seven. I could've handled a loss in seve; this just seems so premature, so sudden. But, it is what it is.

Congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals. Best of luck in the big Series. Play well, keep up the winning ways. Do your fans proud. I, however, am going to have to root for the Texas Rangers. You've played in 18 World Series, and won ten of them. The Rangers have played in one (last year), and lost. I've gotta side with the underdog.

In five and a half months, the Milwaukee Brewers will try for the championship all over again. Their first game of the season will be on Friday, April 6, 2012 at Miller Park. Their opponent: The St. Louis Cardinals. You can bet THAT series will be sold out!

So... here's to the Brewers. You had a fantastic season! You made it into the post-season, and were eliminated only two wins shy of the World Series. It was a spectacular run! Entertaining. Thrilling! Dramatic. Come back and do this again next year... and we'll be supporting you.

Why?

Because Brewer fans want crave a World Championship! We've never had one. There's a deep hunger. 42 years is a long time to wait!

"Pujols, Cardinals take wild ride to World Series"

-Jon
posted by Jon at 2:41 PM  I   I  0 comments

"We don’t judge here, man. I think we’re all a little bit crazy. I think you have to be kind of crazy if you want to be really good at something."
-- Prince Fielder (baseball player -- talking about teammate, Nyjer Morgan)

-Jon
posted by Jon at 2:09 AM  I   I  0 comments

Those that know me, know that I'm a big Sci-Fi geek. I love Star Trek. I time travel. I love the vast wonders of space. But I also love Joss Whedon's "Firefly". It is, in my opinion, the best science fiction television series ever produced.

Unfortunately, "Firefly" didn't last too long. FOX in it's infinite lack of wisdom, canceled the show after one season. They didn't think it had potential. Yet, here we are years later, and the series is still receiving high praise and developing a huge fan following.

One of the neat things about the cult fandom of "Firefly", is the steady stream of unofficial content being released. Fans write songs, produce video tributes, write stories, release artwork, perform skits... the list goes on. One of the latest items to be released, is a full-length nerdcore rap album titled "The Browncoats Mixtape".

It's produced by Adam WarRock, a former attorney and now the internet's foremost "comic book rapper". The album features samples from both the TV show and the follow-up film "Serenity", and is devoted to the crew of the starship Serenity.

Here's one of the singles off the Mixtape titled "Mal". It focuses entirely upon the popular character of Captain Malcolm Reynolds, played by the ever-cool Nathan Fillion. I'm not a big rap fan myself, but this song I like. It's catchy; a great tribute. Give it a listen, and enjoy!

LINK: "Mal", from the Browncoats Mix Tape

-Jon
posted by Jon at 8:52 PM  I   I  2 comments

As a professional artist, I've put together a t-shirt design in honor of this season's Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, and their popular "beast mode" celebration. I've also given the players a new nickname: "The Beasts of Brewtober".

So far, fans are already wearing these t-shirts; you might even see one at the ballpark. Or, a friend might be wearing one around town. Either way, they're out there.

To promote the design, and to encourage more people to wear these t-shirts, I've decided to give one away for free. Anyone who supports the team, the celebration, or just wants a free t-shirt designed by yours truly is welcome to participate. In order to qualify, all I ask is that you leave a comment on this blog post, and tell me why YOU want to win this t-shirt. At midnight tonight (October 12, 2011 - CST), I will select one of the blog comments, and that person will be sent a brand new free t-shirt from my store. No purchase necessary.

Simple as that. Leave a comment below, and a t-shirt like the one pictured above could be yours (be sure to include an email or facebook link so I can contact you for your address and size if you win!). If you'd like to see the other shirts available with this design, feel free to visit the design page in my store:

LINK: "Beasts of Brewtober" t-shirts

There you have it. A free t-shirt. Good luck, and happy commenting!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:20 AM  I   I  4 comments

Simon Tofield has released another one of his "Simon’s Cat" videos. I enjoyed it, and thought I'd share it here for all my cat owner-readers. In this short film, Simon's cat teaches a kitten the way of things. But it's not all that simple, as anyone with more than one cat already knows. Enjoy!

Or... view larger.

And, take a moment to check out Simon's other "Simon's Cat" videos.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 1:08 AM  I   I  0 comments

Here's a cute animated short film by Jacob Frey and his fellow students at the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg. It's about a determined hamster that... well, you'll just have to watch and see.

Keep watching after the credits, that's the best part! Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:48 PM  I   I  0 comments

Fifty-four years ago today, on October 10, 1957, the Milwaukee Braves won the World Series after shutting out the New York Yankees 5-0 at Yankee Stadium. Lew Burdette got the win, and was later named the Series MVP. During the series, he pitched three complete games and two shutouts. This made him the first pitcher since Christy Mathewson in 1905 to pitch two shutouts in a World Series.

1957 was the ONLY year Milwaukee has gone to the World Series.

Learn more about the 1957 Braves' World Series at Wikipedia.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:33 PM  I   I  0 comments

Tonight, by a nail-biting score of 3-2, the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fifth game of the 2011 NLDS series. In the bottom of the 10th inning, fan favorite Nyger Morgan hit a single into center field, Carlos Gomez scored from second base, and the Brewers earned the decisive third win to send them to the National League Championship Series.

The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies in their final game later in the evening, and, as a result, the Brewers and Cardinals -- the two best teams in the National League -- will square off for the chance at a World Series appearance. The first game in the best-of-seven NLCS series takes place on Sunday afternoon, 3pm (CST) on TBS.

During the regular season(s), the upstart Brewers and tradition-bound Cardinals are rivals in the National League central division. Neither team is particularly fond of the other. As a result, this should prove to be an exciting high-profile match-up!

For those that don't know Brewers history, this is the first time in 29 years that the Milwaukee Brewers have won a Playoff series. The last time they made it this far was in 1982. They were in the American League at the time, and beat the California Angels in that year's ALCS match-up. That sent them to the World Series where, ironically, they played the St. Louis Cardinals... and lost.

1982 was the the only time the Brewers advanced in the Playoffs... and the only time they appeared in the World Series.

So, as you can imagine, Brewers fans are overjoyed. And they have every right to be. A season like this has only came around once in the entire 41 years of the Milwaukee Brewers. ONCE. 1982. This time around, the Brewers look to change their fortunes.

Back in 1982, I was only 2-years-old. I had no idea what baseball was at the time. I grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin. I was a Brewers fan since I knew what the sport was. I've come to appreciate the 1982 season through the accounts in history books, but never in my life have I had the opportunity to experience my home team -- the team I follow with a passion -- make it this far into the Post-season. It's exciting, and surreal; to say the least.

Yes, this is a big year for the Brewers, the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin. They'll be playing 4-7 games against the St. Louis Cardinals... and I'll be watching. You bet I'll be watching! Naturally, I would love to see my Brewers have another shot at the World Series. But whatever happens, win or lose, this will have been one of the greatest seasons in franchise history. And that alone is something I will treasure -- and appreciate -- for the rest of my life.

Here's to the Brewers. Play well. Win for the fans. Because, for the first time in 29 years, the whole country is watching. It's been a long wait. Time to shine!

"Morgan lifts Brewers past D-backs in 10, into NLCS"

"Old-school Cards meet newbie Brewers in NLCS"

VIDEO: Morgan's single sends Brewers to NLCS

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:16 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
-- Steve Jobs (at Stanford's Commencement Address in 2005)

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:17 PM  I   I  0 comments

Today, Steve Jobs, American computer entrepreneur, inventor, and technology icon, has died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 56.

"Apple's visionary Steve Jobs dead at 56"

-Jon
posted by Jon at 9:56 PM  I   I  0 comments

Back in 1982, the Milwaukee Brewers were the winners of the MLB American League pennant. They gained the nickname, "Harvey's Wallbangers" because of their fantastic hitting power under mid-season manager Harvey Kuenn. This year, in 2011 and the Playoffs, the team has taken to what has affectionately been called, "Beast Mode".

First-baseman, Prince Fielder compares it to the popular kid's movie, "Monsters Inc." Two actions are required to enter the team's beast mode: First of all, you must make a great play. Second, you raise both hands, preferably above your head, pose your fingers like an attacking wild animal, and then roar.

It's become an iconic gesture associated with this season's winning Brewers. As I understand it, boisterous outfielder Nyjer Morgan was the first person to call the celebration "beast mode" while being interviewed on the subject by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal.

Of course, criticism of this celebratory gesture will always abound. The Brewers don't want to appear as though they're showing up the other team -- like when they got backlash in 2008 for Prince Fielder's home run celebration while playing the San Francisco Giants. Fielder crossed home plate, and then pretended to be the atom bomb while the rest of the Brewers were the fake town in the desert obliterated during nuclear testing. ... See Photo

It was a genius move, but very easily mistaken for rubbing it in the opposing team's face. "Beast Mode", while similar, is much more low-key. But just as genius.

Left-fielder, Ryan Braun explained the whole thing this way:

"We have a lot of fun. The 'beast mode' thing is something that we do for each other to kind of get fired up whenever something positive happens. And I think it's kind of taken on a life of its own. But it's something that we all enjoy doing."

And, ironically, it sums up the 2011 Milwaukee Brewers as they compete into the Post Season. So, I thought it might be interesting to combine the term "Brewtober", a popular term to celebrate the Brewers' rare appearance in the Playoffs, with the whole "beast mode" mentality. To that end, I've put together a video to commemorate the Brewers' successful season, and I shall hereby take a nod from the 1982 "Harvey's Wallbangers", and refer to the 2011 Brewers as "The Beasts of Brewtober".

Will the phrase catch on? I don't know. But it does have a certain ring to it.

Give the video a watch, and enjoy!

T-SHIRT UPDATE:
And, since I'm a designer/artist by trade, I ran with my inspiration, and created a special t-shirt design to go with the "Beasts of Brewtober" theme. If you're a fan of the Brewer's "Beast Mode" as they make their way through the Playoffs, you may find these new shirts appealing. Take a peek:

"Beasts of Brewtober" t-shirts by Jon Baas Designs

NEW VIDEO UPDATE:
The above video is the updated NLCS version of the original "Beasts of Brewtober" video. This version includes photos from the Playoffs, as well as the historic NLDS game 5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on October 7, 2011. The original video (seen here) was created in honor of the team's NL Central division title back in September.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Milwaukee's 'Beast' a hit with players and fans"

"'Beast mode' goes national"

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:35 PM  I   I  0 comments

Do you want to live forever? You can... by turning your name into a noun. The French doctor Joseph-Ignace Guillotin envisioned the guillotine. James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, is known for his now famous sweaters. Jules Léotard lives on in common dancewear. Yep. That's how it's done. You’ve got to become an object, immortalized forever in the dictionary.

Here's a catchy tune to explain how it works. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 12:19 AM  I   I  0 comments

As previously mentioned, today Netflix added "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" to its online video streaming service. DS9 joins the other live action Star Trek series ("Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Star Trek Voyager", and "Star Trek Enterprise") which were added in July. Each episode streams commercial-free.

In addition, "Star Trek: The Animated Series" has been added as well. As a result, Netflix now offers the entire Star Trek TV library through it's online offering.

You can watch all of these streaming Star Trek episodes with a computer or a Netflix-ready TV, XBox360, PS3, Wii, mobile device or other Netflix-ready device. All streaming video on Netflix is shown commercial free. Streaming-only subscriptions to Netflix cost $7.99/month.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:13 PM  I   I  0 comments