The new episode of Bob Kushell, famed writer/producer from The Simpsons, was released on Crackle.com this week with a new special guest. The pilot program kicked off with a special appearance by John Stamos and Kushell keeps the ball rolling with his 5-minute "Talkfest" with another high profile guest, Neil Patrick Harris. My girlfriend got me Season 2 of How I Met Your Mother on DVD for X-Mas, so I've been watching NPH for a couple days straight now. My friend told me the mark of a good actor is if you can't see them any other way, so I will go ahead and proclaim Harris a tour-de-force for his character of Barney. Who knew a gay man could slay so many fine New York ladies?

WATCH AFTER THE JUMP

Remember the days when Domino Rally was the proverbial 'shit'. Even if those days were last weekend, there's nothing better than spending hour after agonizing hour for two seconds of utter elation. Well, now you can spend your work day or J-term lecture setting 'em up and knocking 'em down thanks to this site DrawMinos.com. Create a domino set, send it to your friends. Send it to your mom. It'll blow her mind.

While it doesn't have the spring loaded catapults or giant pendulums like the Domino Rallys of Old; it also doesn't accidentally fall when you sneeze in the wrong spot. It's the Monday after New Year's - you aren't doing work anyway. Stop lying.

Not everyone is meant to be a ninja.

Although Christmas is typically known as a Western holiday, Chris Kringle's influence has stretched to nearly every part of the globe, including the land of the Rising Sun.  In Japan, you'd think that the concept of a fat man in a red suit shooting down a chimney in order to give children presents would seem strange to them, however, they just can't get enough of Jesus's birthday. 

Just like all facets of Christmas, the Japanese have made traditional holiday carols their own.  They melodies have stayed the same, but due to the extreme differences between English and Japanese, the translations vary in meaning and in understandability.  Here are some of the more popular carols we sing translated from their Japanese meanings. 

Jingle Bells


Jingle bells jingle bells
The bell is ringing
Today is an enjoyable Christmas, hey!

Jingle bells jingle bells
The bell is ringing
Today we do fun sled playing too!

Kicking the snow
Over the fields and mountains
The sleigh is sliding lightly
With happy Mind!

The merry singing voice
The heart is full of joy
And our hopes and dreams
 flying in the sky.

Jingle bells jingle bells
The bell is ringing
Both the storm and the snowstorm fade away

Jingle bells jingle bells
The bell is ringing
La la la la la la la
Yeah happy smiling
 

Other translated carols: Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Silent Night.