Merry Christmas to my readers

I'm off for a four-day weekend, so am very unlikely to be posting here. You should all get outside anyway, but for those who insist on sticking around their computers (and/or avoiding their families), a few amusements to while away the hours. Hope you all get some cozy down-time in the coming days!

• Here's a little physics-type game involving strings and resonance. Make things bounce, cut strings to see how the pattern changes, fritter away some time.
  (via Medley)
  
  
• For the gift-giver with a dark sense of humor, here are some gore-based toys, including, for example, a shark with a part of his victim and a set of siamese twin bears. Many inexplicable things here...
  (via Bitch, PhD)
  
  
• Also for the bitter and/or twisted, cartoons of Foamy the Squirrel, full of rants and fist-shaking. How have I missed out on Foamy all this time?? Related stuff here.
  (via Adventures of Teapot the Cat)
  
  
• Toy-related, but not really gifty, a strangely evocative set of household items or desserts decorated with little plastic figures at work and play (several sets here). Hard to describe the appeal -- go have a look. (Flash required)
  (via kottke)
  
  
• For folks considering getting their kids a phone (but not wanting the charges and other crap that comes with them), there are now phones designed specifically for children, which can be programmed with a limited set of numbers, may include an emergency button, and have other parent-friendly features. Two that I've heard about this year are the firefly (I think this was the first) and the Migo (getting a lot of press recently). Great options!
  
  
• Here's a fantastic collection of 3D architectural models of famous buildings around the world. You can navigate around in them. You may need to download the viewer if you don't already have something that works it, but you could spend hours visiting these places...
  (via boing boing)
  
  
• A "lifetime daily planner" that has enough pages for the average life expectancy. (A bit too large for your pocket!)
  (via kottke)
  
  
• From the classic files, the great yoga fighting positions of Rumsfeld...
  (via dailyKos)
  
  
• A truly strange collection of USB flash drives, from body parts to food items. Wack!
  (via pal CHug)
  
  
• And last, for those looking for more long-term diversion, here's a list of the best video games of all time, a series of reviews (with screenshots and karma) at Gamespot magazine. Don't blame me if your favorite isn't there, but some great oldies and newies.
  (via kottke)

Finally, some cheery holiday wishes from pal Sid. Have some nog on me!