Move Over Guitar Hero: Meet Finger Drums!

Finger Drums Box
“You Can be Ringo with the Tap of Your Fingers!”

I love blogging about crazy toys, and I was actually hunting for a JPEG of a plush “Pee and Poo” (not even kidding) when I stumbled upon Finger Drums, the “electronic drum beat maker,” and I felt compelled to share. This actually looks like a fun toy disguised as a low-quality, mini-drum machine. According to the website, operation looks fairly straightforward. “Turn the Finger Drums on and start tapping your finger.” OK, got it. “Every time you hit a drum head, it lights up and plays the beat. Mix and match the beats to create your musical masterpiece. Use the record button to save your new monster drum loop.” Certainly, who needs ProTools when you’ve got Finger Drums?! It probably sounds like two tin cans banging together, but would still be a fun novelty gift for the drummer in your life. I especially love that the ad copy was obviously written by someone with no knowledge of drums or drumming, as the player is invited to crash the “symbol” (rather than cymbal) or to tap the “foot drum” (meaning the kick or bass drum). Hilarious. The “perfect drum kit for your hand” can be purchased at This Link for only $8.99!

Finger Drums

“Meet James Ensor, Belgium’s Famous Painter!”

skeletons-fighting-over-a-pickled-herring-1891
James Ensor (Belgian, 1860-1949), Skeletons Fighting Over a Pickled Herring, 1891

Fans of They Might Be Giants are likely already familiar with the name of artist James Ensor, because of their song “Meet James Ensor”, which is really quite fantastic. Geoffrey had never heard that song before, so I made sure to sing it to him a few times before we went to see the James Ensor exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) here in lovely, sweltering midtown Manhattan.
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Happy Birthday, Roger Taylor and Mick Jagger!

mick jagger and aston martin car photographed by gail worley
Mick Jagger and his Aston Martin (Photo By Gail)

I’m not sure how I missed the fact for all of these years that Queen drummer Roger Taylor, shares July 26th, his anniversary of birth, with Mick Jagger. Taylor made his first appearance on the planet in 1949, while Jagger was here a few years before that, in 1943. I mean Mick Jagger is Mick Jagger – the guy is just everywhere – but Queen is the band that were like a religion to me at a time (high school) when music can really, literally save your life. So I really should have committed his birthday to memory at this point. Sorry Roger! Happy Birthday, guys!

roger taylor image from instagram
No Hard Feelings (Roger Taylor from “Radio Ga Ga” Video Image Courtesy of Instagram)

Bad Idea Tattoo of the Day: Weird Al

Weird Al Tattoo
Image Source

Laugh of The Day: Samurai On The Toilet

Samurai On The Toilet
Image via QBN

Perhaps a Shot of Prune Juice Might Help . . .