Things You Can Do With Very Little

See what's in your neighbors trash
(Amusement Potential: 20-30 minutes) You can learn a lot about people by what they throw out. You might uncover some dark secret about them. Plus, they might be throwing out something with value that still works, like a VCR.

Watch TV, repeat everything said in Italian accent
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes) Sort of entertaining. Fun to pretend the people on the screen are actually talking that way.

Step off a curb with eyes shut, imagine it's a cliff
(Amusement Potential: 2-5 minutes) To get any benefit out of this one, you have to have a good imagination. Don't step off immediately, build up to the jump. Study the ravine below. Feel the winds at that altitude. Step off and...AHHHHHH!!!!!

Burn things with a magnifying glass
(Amusement Potential: 5-30 minutes) Ants are always fun to use for this, but burning the face of someone you don't like, under some circumstances, can be just as entertaining.

Things To Do When You're Bored

See how long you can hold your breath.
(Amusement Potential: 4-20 minutes) Not that much fun, but it sure passes the time. Play with a friend, or try to beat your own personal best. Some tips: hyperventilate before hand, and stay as still as possible. My personal best is 2:00 (exactly).

Try to not think about polar bears.
(Amusement Potential: 1-5 minutes) This is especially hard, because by trying too much, you remember what you were trying to avoid thinking of. If you try too little, you end up thinking about polar bears anyway.

Scratch yourself.
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes) Go ahead, scratch yourself now. Even if nothing itches, go ahead. Doesn't that feel pretty good?

Try to swallow your tongue.
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes) There's not much to say about this one. It is possible.

Get yourself as nauseated as possible.
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes) Best achieved by looking straight up and spinning around. Try to be so dizzy you can't even stand up. This is also entertaining due to the "makes boredom seem a lot better" effect.

Facts About Iowa

Strawberry Point is the home of the world's largest strawberry.

Crystal Lake is home to a statue of the world's largest bullhead fish.

Kalona is the largest Amish community west of the Mississippi River.

The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art houses the largest collection of Grant Wood artwork.

Wright County has the highest percentage of grade-A topsoil in the nation.

Quaker Oats, in Cedar Rapids, is the largest cereal company in the world.

Cornell College is the only school in the nation to have its entire campus listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Sergeant Floyd Monument in Sioux City honors the only man to die during the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Maynard Reece is the only artist to win the Federal Duck Stamp competition five times.

Knoxville's National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum is the only museum in the country dedicated to preserving the history of sprint car racing.

Sabula is Iowa's only town on an island.

Van Meter is the hometown of baseball's Bob Feller, an Iowa farm boy who went on to greatness with the Cleveland Indians during the Golden Age of baseball.


Campers and motor homes are manufactured in Winnebago County. They're called Winnebago's.

Iowa is the only state whose east and west borders are 100% formed by water.Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Iowa is the only state name that starts with two vowels.

The famous actor John Wayne was born in Winterset on May 26, 1907.

With all these interesting facts, I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to live here. It's fantastic.

Train Kills Boa Constrictor

Commuters waiting for a train to the northern suburbs of New York City were surprised to see a boa constrictor lying on the railroad tracks, but the snake didnt block the rails for long.

Marijuana Flavored Candy

Connecticut on Tuesday joined a growing effort to weed out marijuana-flavored candy from store shelves when its attorney general said he would sponsor a statewide ban on Pot Suckers lollipops.

Police Search For Blues Brother Impersonator

Police responding to a call of a convulsing Elvis Presley impersonator soon found themselves in a high-speed chase of another faux celebrity — a man dressed as one of the Blues Brothers.

Nude President Bush Painting Taken Down

A cartoonish painting of President Bush in the nude has been taken down from the wall at the City Museum of Washington.

Man Presumed Dead Calls Daughter At Wake

Dane Squires was late for his own funeral. At least it seemed that way after people gathered Thursday at a Toronto funeral home to mourn the retired welder from Newfoundland whom they believed had been hit by a train.

Ode to Jordo

Jordo is a friend of mine.
He does a spectacular impression of a mime.
I know this because I have witnessed it.
You gotta love him for his charm and wit.

Jordo is a friend of mine, oh yes.
I bet you would have never guessed.
Some might consider him to be hot.
Especially when he does the robot.

A friend of mine Jordo is.
And I hope that I am a friend of his.
Even though he talks of squirrels, horses, and crazy things,
I like that at the beginning of messages he always sings.

This is an ode to my friend Jordo.
He has no friends and he has no foes.
Once you meet him I'm sure you'll be hooked.
And he'll be ok in your book.