With Valentine’s Day approaching this week what better way to let someone know that you’re against everything that Valentine’s Day has become than with an, er, anti-Valentine? If you think Valentine’s Day has been overly commercialized by chocolate manufacturers and greeting card companies then take part me(ish)’s organized virtual protest, by sending your loved (or hated ones) a mini virtual protest card declaring you want them to be your anti-valentine.

See more: Be My Anti-Valentine 2007

Many readers just recently spent the…..haulidays….(forgive me) giving and receiving gifts from the heart (apologies to those who didn’t). Though many of the gifts you received are being re-gifted or sold on eBay, some of you might have actually gotten something you want to keep, so, brag away dear nerds and let us know what was sitting under your Christmas tree. If you didn’t celebrate any sort of consumer-manipulative holiday recently, what did you score on those busy, discount shopping days?

I’ll start with a few after the jump..

Read more of ”Bragathon 2006 begins! What was your haul?“

Happy Talk Like a Pirate day everybody! Started by a small group of friends in 1995, Talk Like a Pirate day has been a yearly tradition for many, mostly those who live on a ship and have a parrot on their shoulder, so, basically everyone living in Tampa Bay or Key West. In fact, Dave Barry, the nationally (internationally?) syndicated writer received a letter one day from the original pirates who pitched him their tradition (they had been talking like pirates to each other for over 7 years to celebrate). Barry ran with it, writing a column commending the idea and from there it was an international sensation and rightfully so. ARGHHHHH!

Read more: September 19th – International Talk Like a Pirate day!