MindComet Hubbies...

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Not only are the people that work at MindComet considered "off-kilter", but even our families push the borders of absurdity.

The team member's husband says that he needs to shave off the "chin hair" because Sith Lords don't have chin hair. Seriously? Why does someone know this?

No Cakeplow for Cake

Recognition Day was celebrated this afternoon during the lunch hour. Everyone huddled together on the brick patio 'neath the shady limbs of giant oaks. The smiles. The pizza. The beer. The backwash-level of tequila in it's sad bottle. And the cake. Oh the cake. You could see in it's simple white frosting and it's poorly-done hand-letteredness it's excitement, knowing that within minutes of being de-boxed, it would soon get to nuzzle against the fleshy face of some Mindcomet employee. The box was opened and heads turned to see if anyone was being cakeplowed today. No. A move was made to get Eric to do one since today is his last day. The cake seemed to rise a little fluffier in this possibility. All eyes went to Eric, even cake eyes. But no, Eric did not want to cakeplow. The cake heard this and sunk lower in it's flimsy white Publix rectangular box, even lower than it had been when it first arrived.

The cake now knew it would soon just be eaten. A knife, some cutting and then poof. It had heard about Mindcomet and their Cakeplow from the banana creme bundt and the bavarian cream on the shelf that morning. It was so excited that something different might happen to it when it got there. But cakes, like everybody else, shouldn't get their hopes up. Bad things happen...like a no-cakeplow day.

A Dork Haiku

Hubby: Dark Jedi
MindComet nerds marry nerds
Off to Wizard World



(Hey - can someone help me Photoshop a lightsaber?)

Worst Song Ever

My humps
My humps my humps my humps
My lovely lady lumps

The Hills are Alive...

Please join me in welcoming MindComet's two newest team members: Sven and Olga, massage chairs extrordinaire direct from Sweden.

Olga spent her youth as a dairy maid's stool. This is where she first found interest in the art of massage, carefully watching dairy maids deftly handle many a cow's udder. She quickly enrolled at the Stockholm College of Natural Health and Cheese Making, where she majored in shiatsu with a minor in curd pressing. In her spare time, Olga enjoys listening to ABBA and goat herding.

Sven grew up deeply entrenched in the Polka scene, and spent many years as a pipe organ player's bench. Mesmerized by his fellow accordion player's movements, Sven was inspired to become a masseuse. He eventually abandoned his first love of music and enrolled at the Institute for Herring Pickling and Theraputic Massage. He graduated with honors and holds his school's record for fastest herring pickler (37 jars in 5 minutes.) Sven enjoys skiing naked and climbing to the tops of mountains to yell "Ricola" in his spare time.

I'm sure we'll all be taking turns utilizing Olga and Sven's services. As to which one is which... uhm... I'll leave that up to you to figure out.

"Who would buy THAT?"

Most of us folks here at MindComet have hobbies. Some collect baseball cards, coins or even expensive Hello Kitty products. (You know who you are.) Well, if there is one place in this online world where you can find ANYTHING you want, it has to be the Bay of E. It's true: I sell crap...er..I mean items on there all the time for extra spending money. I mean, what do I care if some freak...er I mean customer wants to pay me good money for my old CDs, action figures and underwear?

Well, in the spirit of all things wacky here at mindcomet, I though I'd scour the internet for some of the strangest ebay auctions round. It turns out that there are several sites that catalogue this madness. whowouldbythat is one of my favorites. That is where I got this SWELL picture of a pair of homemade HE-MAN overalls! Wow! What a bargain!

Browse the site...enjoy the trainwreck...er I mean show. Make sure to view the Charlie Brown and friends thong. It's ART I tell you!

MindComet Karaoke

First off... why is "karaoke" so hard to spell? Why isn't it "kareoki"? Hukked on Fonix is dead to me.

Anyhow... Friday night MindComet hosted it's first official karaoke night! Pizza, beer, and bad singing filled the office for hours. Many people were caught on camera, unaware that their 15 minutes of fame had begun. That video is still in editing and will be used as blackmail at a later date. For now, we have at least an audio sample for you to enjoy and the pics to accompany it (above).

Click here to listen to the performance (5.37mb)

Until next time... so's your face.

Innies Of The World Unite

Although some may disagree, in our highly classified society, I think there are only two classifications that matter. Those who have innies and those who have outies. It is an age old struggle between people who have to clean a useless little cavity and those who have funny looking bellies. Here's a little song for you innies out there.

Jeremy's Belly Button Song

MindComet Office Fashion Part 1

Think your office fashion is diverse? Check out our peeps showing off their kicks.

Putty Genetics: A Social Integration Experiment

I decided to run a highly scientific experiment on integration of the MindComet team's various putty colors. Below you see the multi-step process along with the end result. After much deliberation, I decided to name the final coloring as "Greenish-Grey Muck" and will submit it to Putty World as they were the one's who made this experiment possible.


(sidenote: Putty World really needs to consider having MindComet redo their website - possibly pro bono, or for an exchange of goods/services?)

i just don't know what to post

Sometimes writing a blog post can be tough and I think we've all been there. The brain is dead and the 11th grade creative writing classes that your mom told you would pay off simply aren't. When in doubt write a bad song.

My Cakeplow Audioblog

Believe it or not, I'm walking on air...

Check this out:


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Believe it or not, this type of recognition means more to me than any local news story or "Today Show" ever could...

MindComet Celebrity Look-alike Part 1

Pirates died for you. Will you drink for them?

Yesterday was Talk Like a Pirate Day and nobody told me. Nobody told anyone. I read about it last night and felt pangs of guilt run through me like a steak knife down a side of beef. It just passed us as if Pirate Day were some unknown, unimportant, random day that doesn't require pomp and a little bearded circumstance.

I think we as an office should all do the following as pennance for our sin:

1. Go out and rent "Pirates of the Caribbean" tonight

2. Call Scott and ask his parrot to squawk a little while we place our phones on our shoulder and stand upright with our hands on our hips surveying our living room as if it were a recently conquered island with dead villagers lying about and co-pirates running around drunk carrying handfulls of red jeweled necklaces.

3. Get drunk and steal something from someone who doesn't deserve to be stolen from and who's just trying to get from point a to point b.

We are forgetting our past. And those who forget their past are doomed to forget it again. Someone here, now, maybe in this office might be a decendant of a pirate. I bet it's Wes. He is loud, laughs like a parrot and steals putty (Ok, that last thing is not true, but I wanted to alert the outisde world- putty has been stolen- we don't know who it is-do not bring your putty into this office- it will be stolen...maybe by pirates even)

But back to the office-pirates. Don't you care about your pirate past? Don't you want to celebrate what your forefathers did that allows you now to run around free and easy? Imagine if they hadn't thieved and pillaged. Where would you be? Probably back in Europe shearing sheep and collecting milk from cows with ground-dangling nipples so big you could braid them.

Please, people. Don't let this happen again. Let's not forget Pirate Day again. We can make it happen next year. Pirates gave so much so that we could have so much more. History is real and we cannot let it die.

Arrrgh.

The MindComet Freezer

I miss our old office. This new office is way too hot and it's driving me crazy. Sections of our old office were so cold that some people would wear sweaters and blankets in the middle of the summer. This office makes me want to strip down to my underwear and point a giant fan at the back of my aeron. Sure...everyone else is happy and able to live without hand warmers and space heaters, but what about me? What about my abnormally high body temperature? If it was up to me the office would be a giant walk-in cooler set just above freezing. Then you could just set cheese and beer on your desk and it would never go bad. Mmmmm cheese.

Fridays BBQ

This past Friday marked our first BBQ in our new digs. Burgers, dogs and beer...ummmmm. We forgot about veggie dogs for the vegetarians this time around (see Tara's photo below to see her disgust with us) but we'll hook those people up next time around.

TGI Thursdays...

Fridays Suck...

[Fridays are international, yo!]

...if you're trying to get work done.

On Fridays things blow up here... like, uh.... things that blow up really big! With the addition of the descending soundicles and the fact that every Friday is now crazy hat day, things are even more blown up. 80's music cranking, Thinking Putty contests, and it seems there's even karaoke in the works. Our new office also has a grill outside which was used for a company-wide lunch today. Add to all of this that most of us in this generation have serious ADD and you have an extremely challenging day to get production work done.

Somehow... everything gets done. Don't ask me how. It's not that I don't know, I just don't choose to share the answer.

Putty Love

When I first heard everyone in the office putting in orders for putty, I wasn't sure what all of the fuss was about. I figured its just putty, what's the big deal? When the shipment arrived I tried to remain indifferent, though the feelings I felt in my heart couldn't be denied. I was envious of my coworkers and jealous of the instant bond they formed with their putties. I sat back, bitter, as they stretched, bounced, chopped, squished, and sculpted. My resentment grew as I sat at my desk-- alone and puttyless. One day, when I was at my lowest point, an amigo of mine here at the office came to me with some awesome news. Apparently, his significant other did not approve of him spending so much time with his putty. He wasn't sure how to decide whom to give it to, so we agreed upon an old fashioned game of paper, rock, scissors. I knew this was my chance! After two of three rounds, we were deadlocked. The tension was unbearable..."one," "two," "three!"...YEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS! And victory was mine!

Joe Make Jeremy Angry!!!!!!

Joe make Jeremy angry! Joe say Jeremy music taste questionable. Jeremy say Joe smoke white rock. Joe get wrath of Jeremy. Jeremy squash Joe like stink bug. Use Joe face for turntable. Joe scream like little school girl. Joe wet shorts. Joe be soggy bottom boy.

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life

Ok, so somehow over the years I have become MindComet's resident DJ. Granted, I have kick-ass taste in music and I spin a little on the side. But I'm not a tyrannical despot when it comes to the music playing over our newly-installed rockin' sound system. I know that "techno" isn't everyone's cup of tea (Many of you have made that painfully evident. But know that when we have visitors, I'm usually asked to put on the beats. Why? Cuz it's probably cooler than what you're listening to.)

I know we have a couple coworkers stuck in the 80's. Great. Some like classic rock. I'm all for it. So I open the floor to suggestions. How do we handle the music in the office? It has been a topic of much debate for quite some time. Should it just be one big melting pot of genres? Or do we have theme-based days? Techno Tuesdays? Hip hop hump-days? Funkadelic Fridays?

Well whatever it is, the songs we play should follow some guidelines. Songs should be upbeat (no country, love ballads, etc), not annoying or distracting (heavy metal, punk, etc), and not contain swearing or otherwise distasteful lyrics (gangsta rap, booty, etc.) And pretty much everything from Jeremy's collection is ruled out, well, because his musical tastes are questionable, at best. So maybe I am a little bit tyrannical. It's part of my charm.

Post your suggestions, send your ideas via email, or just stop by the DJ booth (otherwise known as Joe's desk) and I will do my best to implement some sort of musical strategery.

Who's afraid of a nut?

Why is this man so excited, you ask? I'll tell you why! He is eating boiled peanuts...the nectar of the Southern Gods! What?! You've never had one?! Shame on you! Do yourself a favor and feed on the soft, salty goodness that is the boiled peanut! You'll never be the same! (And neither will your sodium level.)

What's that you say?! You are a NORTHERNER who doesn't eat "that kind of thing?!" Blasphemy! Leave this place at once! If you can't enjoy the simple act of stopping off the side of the road and paying a greasy redneck 3 bucks for a bag of these little gems, you are NOT a true culinary connoisseur!

Whether they are unseasoned or Cajun, boiled peanuts are just the ticket to liven up that stuffy office. Why just today, the man in the photo was virtually mobbed by foaming designers and IT personnel aching to get a few of his salty nuts! Don't just take my word for it: make them yourself and you WILL become a believer!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 quart green uncooked peanuts
1/2 cup salt
2 1/2 quarts water
Directions:
Wash Peanuts until water runs clear. Put clean peanuts in crockery pot, add salt and water; stir. Cook, covered, on high for 5 to 7 hours. Add additional water during cooking, if necessary, to keep peanuts covered.

Creative's Habitual likings

Learn what they are! They may come in handy as bribes in the future.

Scott:
SKOAL-brute flavor, industrial strength

Joe:
Solitude-

Ryan:
Pixie sticks- he once ate 10 sticks in 3 hours

Mark:
Needs to constantly sing

Jared:
Guatamalan cigarettes

Alex:
Wife beater shirt collector

Wes:
Needs to use everyone else's computer

Ochie:
Phone calls with wife

Descending Soundicles

Today, music was brought back into the office for the first time since our big move. The official kind that comes straight from the top. Literally!! MindComet is now equipped to rock your socks off. (Or beat you incessantly with a hi-hat or cymbal, depending on your taste in music.) We've got speakers hanging from ceiling. Yes, the ceiling. "So what?" you say. Well, speakers hanging from the ceiling are a big hairy deal to me.

Frito Pie

If you ever have a chance to visit New York give our team a call...we'll take you for a meal you won't soon forget. The Cowgirl Hall of Fame in the village serves up a unique creation we have yet to find in any other restaurant. The Frito Pie : vegetarian or beef chili with sour cream and cheese atop fritos corn chips, all served in a frito bag. It's certainly not for picky eaters, but if you dig on chili it's something you've got to try.

Wonder Bread Eatoff Results!!!

Well, we actually did hold our Wonder Bread Eatoff as scheduled, before the move... it just took us this long to get the video off the camera! And... it's official! Jared Pervis is way fatter than Ryan Jennings. Well, if you judge fatness by how much Wonder Bread you can eat! Congratulations to our 1st (and probably only) Wonder Bread Eatoff winner: Jared Pervis! Now watch us stuff our faces below.

Our First Crazy Hat Day!

A few pics from the days festivities...








We want your pics! Send us a photo of you in a crazy hat at work with your boss and we will send you a $10 gift certificate for free itunes songs. Standard ball caps won't do, we want crazy people (crazy wigs also qualify)! One per person, while supplies last.

Update: we are no longer accepting hat pictures, but thanks for thinking of us.

An IT Haiku

An IT Haiku

Ponytail he has
Tall man presses the buttons
likes to breakdance some

Friday's cake plow

On Friday the MindComet team celebrated our monthly appreciation day. On the last Friday of every month we award our "Team Member of the Month", initiate the newbies with a tequila shot and of course celebrate work anniversaries with our now famous cakeplow ceremony.

Like they do on the Discovery Channel!

I can only speak for the creative department here at MindComet, but most of us would agree that it is important to have interests outside of work. It turns out that a few of us designers share an interest in nature and the beauty of God's creatures. On our way to lunch yesterday we were blessed to witness one of the most amazing of sights in the world... lizard copulation. At first glance, I thought they were wrestling until Pervis told me about the birds and the bees. I quickly grasped the concept and decided to show my support by poking at them with a stick. What an awesome day!

We declare every friday "Crazy Hat Day"

Sureeee... some offices have "casual day" but quit frankly we aren't really a suit and tie organization (well.... except for the sales team). Jeans and a polo don't really cut it when it comes to expressing ourselves creatively. We were looking for something bigger to celebrate our fridays... here are some ideas we considered:

1. Sumo wrestler suit day
2."MindComet Gone Wild" day
3. Cowboys and indians day (deamed too controversial given the recent FSU fiasco)
4. 80s pop-star day
5. Look... I'm only wearing socks! day

In the end we determined that we didn't want to see some people in just socks, so we settled on crazy hats. People don't wear enough crazy hats and it's time someone did something about it. From now on at MindComet every friday is crazy hat day. It doesn't have to stop there..... you too can join our crusade to make the work environment a happier, more creative place.

So here's the deal. Send us a photo of you in a crazy hat at work with your boss and we will send you a $10 gift certificate for free itunes songs. Standard ball caps won't do, we want crazy people! One per person, while supplies last.

Send to scott@mindcomet.com