Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 "Vibrator" broomstick

In yet another sign of what is the United States of the Morally Repressed, toy maker giant Mattel pulled what was sure to be the hottest Christmas item this century (or at least the wettest). The Harry Potter Nimbus 2000 Broom [LINKS: 1 | 2 | 3], a replica of the famous flying stick used by boy wizard Harry Potter has girls and their moms flying with glee. [click to read more +/-]

The reason..it’s vibrating sensations prove to be too much for the ladies. Indeed, the vibrating broomstick is sweeping teenagers off their feet since the first day it hit the stores, putting smiles on the faces of grandmothers and leaving young girls completely legless, or in some cases, flat on their backs with their shaking thighs wrapped around a length of vibrating wood. The reason for this throbbing tsunami of joy? The Rimbutt 2000 Harry Potter Broom—a four-foot long vibrating stick hand-crafted from solid beechwood—which promises to give Harry Potter fans ‘the ride of your life.’

Here are few reviews from the Amazon listing before it was also pulled (absolutely worth it!)..

• This toy was #1 on my daughter's Christmas list. So what the heck, although it has no educational value I figured it would be good for imaginative play. It wasn't until after she opened her gift and started playing with it that I realized that the toy may offer a more than sensational experience. The broomstick has cute sound effects and ***VIBRATES*** when they put it between their legs to fly. Come on---what were the creators of this toy thinking? She'll keep playing with the Nimbus 2000, but with the batteries removed.
  

• I recently bought this for my son, Vantro. He's a HUGE Harry Potter fan. Seen the movie 32 times (in the theaters) and made the paper. This toy gives him the ability to fly around the house zapping things. My only problem I see with the toy is the batteries drain too fast and his sister fights him over it, so now I need to buy her one.
  

• When my 12 year old daughter asked for this for her birthday, I kind of wondered if she was too old for it, but she seems to LOVE it. Her friends love it too! They play for hours in her bedroom with this great toy. They really seem to like the special effects it offers (the sound effects and vibrating). My oldest daughter (17) really likes it too! I reccomend this for all children.

• My 12 year old daughter is a big Harry Potter fan, and loved the part with the Nimbus 2000, so I decided to buy her this toy. I was afraid she would think it was too babyish, but she LOVES this toy. Even my daughter's friends enjoy playing with this fun toy. I was surprised at how long they can just sit in her room and play with this magic broomstick! A great buy for any Harry Potter fan! :)
  

When insults had class...

Just received these in an email and couldn’t resist putting them up here. These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words, including some gems from Churchill, Oscar Wilde and Benjamin Disraeli... [click to read more +/-]

The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor: She said, “If you were my husband I’d give you poison.” He said, “If you were my wife, I’d drink it.”
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An exchange between John Wilkes and the Earl of Sandwich (both English Parliamentarians of the 18th century):

–The Earl: “Egad, sir, I do not know whether you will die at the gallows or of the pox.”

–Wilkes: “That will depend, my Lord, on whether I embrace your principles or your women.” (thanks to Nick for the correction!)

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“He had delusions of adequacy.” - Walter Kerr

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“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” - Winston Churchill
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“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.” Clarence Darrow

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“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).

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“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it.” - Moses Hadas
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“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” - Mark Twain

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“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” - Oscar Wilde

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“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend…. if you have one.” - George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill

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“Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second… if there is one.” - Winston Churchill, in response.

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“I feel so miserable without you; it’s almost like having you here.” - Stephen Bishop

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“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” - John Bright

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“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.” -
Irvin S. Cobb

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“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.” -
Samuel Johnson

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“He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.” - Paul Keating

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“In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily.” - Charles, Count Talleyrand

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“He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.” - Forrest Tucker

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“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?” - Mark Twain

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“His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork.” - Mae West

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“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” - Oscar Wilde

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“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts… for support rather than illumination.” - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

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“He has Van Gogh’s ear for music.” - Billy Wilder

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“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.” - Groucho Marx

Ricky Martin's going metal... and Others...

Anything can happen on live TV. A local news show weatherman has to be ready to report no matter what. Even if there's a really scary bug. Even if that bug walks on your shoe. Even if you're really, really effeminate.

[click to read more +/-]

And Matt dances in 42 countries in 14 months. If Matt was a wanted criminal, this would be an infuriating piece of evidence to any detectives trying to capture him. He's the real-life Carmen Sandiego, only innocent and more adorable. I don't know why I like this video.. maybe reminds me of some fond memories...

There's a reason Internet shopping hasn't killed off the traditional mall yet. It's escalators. I always wanted to do this...

And ofcourse, here's Ricky Martin going metal... (wink!)