I was trolled hard by my best friend for Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

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1989-2010. My sisters and I recreated a childhood photo for my mom’s Christmas present.

My Grandmother: Same location 1920 & 2010

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Written by furiousfanboys

It’s been 8 years since Captain Mal and his crew flew off our screens for the last time. Even after almost a decade, Browncoats still turn out in droves for cons and events like Can’t Stop the Serenity. So whether you’re a long time fan or a newcomer to the series, here are 8 things you may not have known.

The Alliance troopers believe in ‘Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.’

The armor that the troopers wear is from the 1997 Starship Troopers film. The only modification is a purple paint job. After Firefly went off the air, the armor was once again repurposed for the Starship Troopers sequel in 2004.

Also, the sonic gun that is used in the episode “Trash” was reused by Joss Whedon. In Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, it became Dr. Horrible’s Death Ray.

“That’s not my name!”

Wash’s full name Hoban Washburne and is only given away in the novelization of the film Serenity. As for Shepard Derrial Book, his real name, as well the rest of his mysterious past, is revealed in Serenity: A Shepherd’s Tale to be Henry Evans.

Most of the names of minor characters are from real people

Jubal Early, the bounty hunter from “Objects in Space,” is named for Nathan Fillion’s ancestor who was a general in the Civil War. A lot of other character names come from sci-fi notables, such as Bester, the original mechanic of Serenity, who was named for author Alfred Bester and Brennert who was named for producer Alan Brennert.

Nathan Fillion keeps the show alive on Castle

There are numerous references to Firefly on Castle. The most recognizable would be when Nathan Fillion’s character Rick Castle dressed up like a “space cowboy” for the Halloween episode in the second season.  Other references include direct lines, like “I was aiming for his head” in the second season episode “Boom!,” or recalling skills learned on the set of Firefly, such as in the third season episode “Last Call” where Castle mentions he learned Chinese “at his last job.”

Han Solo had a cameo in the show

Well, more like 14 cameos. In every episode of Firefly, the cast and crew managed to hide a Han Solo in Carbonite toy in one scene. For example, in the episode “Jaynestown,” the toy can be found behind the mudder’s bar. It can also be found behind Mal while he’s cleaning his weapons in “Heart of Gold” and in the engine room when Kaylee is in her hammock in “The Message.”

The ‘Verse was well-populated with visitors from other sci-fi series

During the play in “Heart of Gold,” many famous space ships can be seen taking off from the Earth That Was. The Enterprise NCC-1701 from Star Trek, the Tantive IV rebel blockade runner from Star Wars and the Colonial Viper from Battlestar Galactica can all be seen carrying passengers away from the dying planet.

The ship Serenity was built full-scale

Most of Serenity was completely constructed to full-scale, but split into an upper half and a lower half. The cabin, front corridor, kitchen, rear corridor and engine room were built on one sound stage while the hold, med bay, lounge and passenger compartments were built on a second sound stage. It was so comfortable, that the cast would relax in the ship’s lounge between takes, rather than use the green room.

It’s still getting shout-outs

In 2009, Google released a real-time collaborative editing online framework called Wave. The name is based on characters in Firefly sending ‘waves,’ or messages, to others. Recently, the popular sci-fi show Fringe had an episode titled “Firefly” after the show was moved to Fox’s famed ‘Friday Night Death Slot.’  The CBS show The Big Bang Theory also references Firefly, such as in the season three episode “The Staircase Implementation,” where Sheldon has Leonard sign an agreement to always reserve Friday nights for watching Firefly, as the show is “going to be on forever.”

Bonus: Apple Emulator

Though the overall users bases are substantially different, the rest of the numbers concerning the two services are strikingly similar. What is interesting to note is, as we wrote about a couple of weeks ago, many more people tend to log in to their Facebook account regularly.

A bit of a note to you who might be considering advertising via either of the services — Though fewer people follow brands on Twitter than on Facebook, those who follow on Twitter are nearly 18 percent more likely to purchase something from that brand than those who follow a brand on Facebook.

How does Twitter stack up against Facebook when it comes to demographics and online activity? Digital Surgeons, an online marketing agency, has put together an infographic comparing the Facebook population to the Twitter population, and it shows that while the two are similar in many respects in terms of age, income and so on, there are also some crucial differences of interest to marketers and others looking to mine the data and pick a favorite platform. Among the biggest differences are that Twitter users seem to be more active, but less interested in following brands.

Here are a few of the key findings represented in the infographic, which was based on data from a Barracuda Networks survey as well as an analysis from Razorfish and other demographic breakdowns from a number of sources (although the data on Twitter in particular is a little old — the service now has 190 million users).

• 88 percent of people are aware of Facebook, while 87 percent are aware of Twitter
• 12 percent of Facebook users update their status every day vs. 52 percent for Twitter
• males make up 46 percent of Facebook users, and 48 percent of Twitter
• 30 percent access Facebook via mobile vs. 37 percent for Twitter
• 40 percent follow a brand on Facebook vs. 25 percent on Twitter
• 70 percent of Facebook users are outside the U.S. vs. 60 percent for Twitter

Another Hilarious Track

Who could ever forget the first Lonely Island single featuring T-Pain (“I’m On A Boat”) that took over parties everywhere? No one. Well here’s the first single off of The Lonely Island’s second album, and although it isn’t as good as “I’m On A Boat” it’s still pretty funny and is always great to see rappers doing videos like this. Enjoy!

“This one’s dedicated to them girls that let us flop around on top of them.”

The Lonely Island – I Just Had Sex (feat. Akon) [iTunes]

Illustrated by Jesse Eisemann.

Written by brainz.org

Everyone thinks they’re too smart to fall for a scam until it happens to them. No matter how sure you are that you can spot a con, sometimes it just takes you by surprise. It doesn’t have to be a flashy stock market swindle; it can happen when you’re just walking down the street. Street con artists have worked for years at perfecting money-making scams, and they still get away with it.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to become paranoid, or you’d never leave the house! But there are some common scams that are worth looking out for, and some simple solutions to avoid being played for a chump.

10. The Pig in a Poke

The Con:

A simple trick dating back hundreds of years, the Pig in a Poke involves selling an item on the street, but switching the container so the buyer ends up with nothing. Originally, this involved convincing the gullible customer that a bag contained a delicious pig, when it actually contained a worthless cat. Though it seems archaic, versions of this trick are still practiced today. The street seller shows the mark their product, but exchanges the package after the sale is made.

How to avoid it:

Don’t buy things on the street as a general rule of thumb. If you do, make sure you’ve been given what you paid for. Especially if it’s a pig.

9. Art Student Scam

The Con:

You are on the street and are approached by young people claiming to be art students, selling their wares to make some extra cash for their studies. In reality, the artworks are very cheap copies and their production costs a fraction of the asking price. A particular version of the scam has been used in China, where tourists are lured to an exhibition and sold paintings at high prices.

How to avoid it:

Be careful when approached to buy goods on the street. Always be sure of what you’re paying for. If you’re a tourist, don’t get conned into making unwanted purchases through guilt or cultural embarrassment.

8. The Melon Drop

The Con:

A simple trick, where the scammer intentionally bumps into someone on the street, dropping a pre-damaged item, and then insists they pay compensation. The aim is to convince the victim that they are at fault. The name of the con comes from the practice of conning Japanese tourists into paying for a dropped watermelon, at disproportionately high prices.

How to avoid it:

If you collide with a stranger, you’ll know whether it was accidental and whether payment is justified. Be polite but reasonable, and don’t immediately take the blame. Oh, and keep an eye on current melon prices.

7. Distract and Grab

The Con:

The most fundamental of street cons, but an effective one. This one can take place on a busy street. One con artist creates a distraction, perhaps by causing a commotion or talking to the victim. Their accomplice takes advantage of this diverted attention to pick your pocket. There are many variants, and they all employ misdirection, so you don’t realize anything is wrong until too late.

How to avoid it:

It’s difficult to remain vigilant at all times, but try to be aware of what’s going on around you, particularly in areas where pickpockets are known to operate.

6. The False Good Samaritan Con

The Con:

This trick relies on presenting the appearance of helpfulness, when in reality the con artist is profiting from the charade. A popular version of this scam involves two con artists working together. The first poses as a mugger, stealing the victim’s wallet. The accomplice then plays a hero, ‘rescuing’ the stolen item from the mugger and returning it to its owner. The aim is to receive a reward, which can then be split between the two tricksters.

How to avoid it:

You don’t want to mistrust every good deed, but make sure you stay alert and look out for acts that seem suspicious. There may be genuine heroes in the world, but they’re usually in costumes.

5. Street Mechanic

The Con:

A stranger approaches a car owner with some helpful advice: something is wrong with their vehicle. It’s a problem that’s expensive to fix, but luckily the stranger has the mechanical know-how to fix the problem themselves. What the victim doesn’t know is that the stranger has created the illusion of the fault themselves (usually by something as simple as sitting on the bumper). After they’ve rectified the ‘problem’, the scammer asks for a relatively small amount of money. After all, they’ve saved the motorist hundreds of dollars!

How to avoid it:

Make sure any car trouble is checked over by a trusted source or professional mechanic. Be wary of strangers that just happen to be around in the right place at the right time.

4. Zig Zag Scam

The Con:

This scam is often pulled on tourists, and involves authorities accusing people of committing a crime. The victim is then held for the offense until a large sum of money is paid as ‘bail’. Fake CCTV footage is sometimes used to provide further ‘evidence’ of the crime. It is sometimes known as the Thai Zig Zag scam, as it has been frequently reported in Bangkok.

How to avoid it:

As this scam can be perpetrated by the authorities, it is difficult to prepare for. If you’re a tourist, it is best to make sure you’re accompanied by a trusted guide, to ensure that any danger spots are avoided.

3. The Fiddle Game

The Con:

The success of the Fiddle Game as a con relies on the greed of the victim. The most famous example of the trick takes place in a restaurant. A con artist claims to be unable to pay for his meal, but leaves a violin as collateral while he goes to get money. While he’s gone, his accomplice claims to be an expert on the valuation of the instrument, and offers to pay a large price for it. The hope is that the mark will offer to buy the violin from the original owner with the aim of selling it for a higher price. But by the time the purchase is made, both scammers are gone, free to share the money, and the mark is left with a worthless fiddle.

How to avoid it:

Unless you’re in some kind of violin emergency, it’s probably best not to buy one in a restaurant. But seriously, beware of overly happy coincidences.

2. Three-card Monte

The Con:

One of the most familiar street cons, and yet one that continues to take people in. The gullible bystander is asked to gamble on being able to spot the odd card out, after the cards have been rearranged. The con artist often uses shills to make it appear that winning the game is possible. But through sleight of hand and misdirection, the con artist can make sure the desired card is never found.

How to avoid it:

If you don’t play, you can’t lose.

1. The Pigeon Drop

The Con:

A trick that requires fooling someone into giving up money with the lure of prospective gain. The con artist convinces the mark that they should pool their resources with the promise of a larger haul down the road. But the money is switched out, and the greedy victim is left with nothing. There are a number of variants, sometimes involving convincing the mark to take off with the ‘money’ when they’re really escaping from the actual thief.

How to avoid it:

Always be suspicious of lucrative deals offered by strangers. As the old saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Bonus: Facebook Password Trick

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A letter to my dead girlfriend – m4w

Date: 2009-10-25, 1:36PM CDT

It has been a rough year darling. The ethereal power of Craigs List will get this message to you I am sure, like in some sort of cheesy 80s movie.

Well back to the last year, you of course died at the beginning of it which put things to a sour start. I spent last night with your mum and dad, we went to that Italian place in Wicker Park, who on the surface seem to be coping. I had everyone get together for my 25th which went well, your ladies are on top form and I think some engagements are brewing. Ellen is turning up the heat on Steve who will soon be forced down to one knee as you predicted.

Last weekend I finally took the step of cleaning out your clothes from the closet, which is very barren now. I invited your friends over to take your what they liked, it was an awkward session. I think they took them more as a favor to me than anything else. Liz cried when we pulled out all of your shoes, Miranda joined in and then Catherine broke down. It was strange to stand in our bedroom surrounded by three crying girls. I made a joke about them crying for joy at the prospect of some free Manolo Balhniks which they didn’t seem to find very funny.

A few girls have put the moves on and as you know picking up women is not a forte of mine. It seems the grieving boyfriend seems to be a good angle. Who knew! I went on one date and spent it talking about you, the poor girl. You would have found it quite witty I think. No other dates to report, I am going against your orders to move on for now.

I found one of those hair tie things that somehow managed to squeeze into every crevice in the apartment. It was under the bed. I sat on the floor holding it and cried. Until then I had held everything together but it just all came flooding out.

Every morning when I wake up I forget for a fraction of a second that you are gone and I reach for you. All I ever find is the cold side of the bed. My eyes settle on the picture of us in Paris, on the bedside table, and I am overjoyed that even though the time was brief I loved you and you loved me.

Love,

P.

• Location: Michigan and Wacker
• it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 1437101323

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