Comments: There goes an afternoon

Excellent, I need some time wasters now while I finish out my last few days at this job...

Posted by Sandra at January 30, 2008 2:27 PM

Can't get it to load - I think you have blown their fuse for them!

Posted by Ellen in Conn at January 30, 2008 2:30 PM

too funny...must be careful to not giggle too loudly, working you know!

Posted by nifer at January 30, 2008 2:32 PM

could've used this as an extra smile today - of course I'm sure you've gotten the word out....

Posted by cursingmama at January 30, 2008 2:33 PM

Good gravy I can see how that can become addicting. If I didn't have to pee I would play for hours....laughing and having a full bladder just don't mix.

Posted by Heather at January 30, 2008 2:34 PM

Mine simply went splat. I got zero. I think I don't want to do better than that.

Posted by AlisonH at January 30, 2008 2:34 PM

Should I be grateful it won't load? "Pro-crast-in-aa-aa-tion is putting off work!" (sing to "Anticipation")

--A fellow writer, or should-be writer

Posted by Heidi at January 30, 2008 2:34 PM

Ok, can't stay and write, must go play!

Posted by danana at January 30, 2008 2:36 PM

I think you blew the fuse on them - or there are already hundreds of Harlot readers playing! I'll take my time and check in later. sounds very intriguing!!!

Posted by Chris S at January 30, 2008 2:39 PM

Oh, thank God it won't load. 'Cuz I don't need any more distractions from checking email, clicking on you to see if you've posted yet, checking email again, making sure the phone is working...

Posted by Madmad at January 30, 2008 2:40 PM

I'm so not clicking on this! I'm busy trying to finish some socks and I am SO..not clicking on that link. I am so NOT cl... ah, damn.

Posted by Barb Cooper at January 30, 2008 2:40 PM

HA! you've single handedly exploded the hamsters' site. they'll never know what hit them

Posted by leanne at January 30, 2008 2:43 PM

Adorable! I love it! So much for being productive today...

Posted by Sara at January 30, 2008 2:45 PM

This would be WAY funnier if they were urban grey squirrels rather than hamsters.

Posted by Presbytera at January 30, 2008 2:46 PM

That's very addictive... better get back to it! :)

Posted by Kai at January 30, 2008 2:48 PM

Hahahahahah awesome. And leanne is right, I think you've Harlotized their site because it took a loooong time to load. Thanks for sharing! =)

Posted by ashpags at January 30, 2008 2:49 PM

http://n.ethz.ch/student/mkos/pinguin.swf

That one is also quite addicting... and weather appropriate hehe

Posted by Amber at January 30, 2008 2:50 PM

OMG, you just made me crack up at work! That game is hilarious!

Posted by Michele at January 30, 2008 2:52 PM

Oh, this is absolutely fabulous. Love the music! Can't stop....

Posted by Dr. Jackie at January 30, 2008 2:56 PM

Mine also went splat. Twice. Fuhgeddaboutit.

Posted by Anne at January 30, 2008 2:58 PM

You and Lene are very warped women......

I guess that's why I like you!

Posted by Alyson at January 30, 2008 2:59 PM

Eeek, I can't get to it at work (yet I can get to your blog)!! Can't wait to get home and play.

Posted by Carol at January 30, 2008 3:00 PM

Thanks that was fun but I have to get back to work maybe this evening I'll try again.

Posted by Joanne at January 30, 2008 3:02 PM

If I could reach you
I would hurt you.

Posted by rams at January 30, 2008 3:04 PM

I think you Harlotted them.

I would have been addicted but my 2 year old kicked me off and got addicted himself.

Then it broke.

Posted by Julie at January 30, 2008 3:05 PM

Nice....the power of the harlot has crashed the little hamster site..... ;0)

Posted by Dani at January 30, 2008 3:06 PM

I dont *dare* show this to my husband. One of us being totally unproductive this afternoon is enough, and he eats this stuff up with a spoon. Thanks a lot, Lene!

Posted by violet at January 30, 2008 3:09 PM

Rams? I can, and I've got it covered.

Posted by Rachel H at January 30, 2008 3:14 PM

I love it! I'm up to 204 feet, and I think I'm getting the hang of it now. (I love it when the littel hamster voices cheer after achieving a "0" score!)

Posted by Carolyn at January 30, 2008 3:16 PM

Too much Fun!!!

Posted by Sheila at January 30, 2008 3:16 PM

hmph. I don't get it. Should I hit the hamster with the pillow? Catch it? Or merely boggle that the hamster has goggles?

Knitting doesn't involve hamsters and I've just been pleaded for socks by a co-worker...my plan to take over the office with yarn has begun!

Posted by haley at January 30, 2008 3:17 PM

Strike that -- it's 333 feet now!!

Posted by Carolyn at January 30, 2008 3:21 PM

Okay, harlot, fess up...you're really picturing a fleece-thieving squirrel instead of hampsters!

Posted by julie at January 30, 2008 3:22 PM

Single shot, or cumulative?

Posted by rams at January 30, 2008 3:22 PM

I'm checking this out as soon as the server will let me - seems everyone else is checking it out too!

Posted by Jo-Anne at January 30, 2008 3:32 PM

I kept getting zero :-(

Try Penguin batting at http://www.yetisports.org/ - it's very addictive

Posted by Karen at January 30, 2008 3:34 PM

I can't do this kind of crap. I killed five hamsters in a row within seconds after they were out the gate. My 10 year old daughter thinks I am a hopeless relic.

Yeah, well OK, but can she do a K3togTBL? Or follow a complicated fair isle chart? Or turn a heel without looking? No, I didn't think so.

Posted by Mama Cat at January 30, 2008 3:34 PM

Wow! I never knew I had such a talent for killing hamsters.

Posted by Bonnie at January 30, 2008 3:36 PM

OMG..."Flight of the Valkries!" Too funny...and I have a writing deadline I'm supposed to be meeting; thanks bunches Steph! :p

Kim

Posted by Kim at January 30, 2008 3:44 PM

Is this the same person who gave you the schedule for Christmas knitting? So why's she giving you this sort of thing when you haven't finished the Christmas knitting?

I'm sending this game to DH. He'll love it.

Posted by Marina Stern at January 30, 2008 3:45 PM

Evil. You're totally evil. My kids are home from school today and now they're plastered to my side watching me kill hamsters.

Posted by Mary Peed at January 30, 2008 3:46 PM

It won't load! It's been "harlotted"! heh.

Posted by johannab at January 30, 2008 3:47 PM

Ok, I love the panicked flailing on the way down, and fact that after the hamsters bury themselves in the earth they pop up with this tremendous grin on their little hamster faces.

(I also like the way you amended your blog post to reflect your new high score. If you get above 1000 today, though, we'll know you didn't get any real work done.)

Posted by violinknitter at January 30, 2008 3:48 PM

Oh great - another time waster!

Posted by Miss Scarlett at January 30, 2008 3:48 PM

Bad girl, Stephanie!!! Bad, bad girl!!!

Posted by Debi B at January 30, 2008 3:48 PM

My children tell me this game also is available on the Cartoon Network Web site, if this linked site can't take the pressure of knitting gamers.

Posted by Me at January 30, 2008 3:49 PM

I am SO bad at this kind of game; after splatting two hamsters I was overcome with guilt, shame and woe and went back to Neopia. THOSE guys are more durable....

Posted by dale-harriet in WI at January 30, 2008 3:51 PM

OMG I finally got 95 points. So much for my lunch break at work!

Posted by nancy at January 30, 2008 3:54 PM

The hamsters have nothing to fear from me. Tried it, sucked at it, tried it again, same result. I am in the hopeless relic catagory and darn proud of it...

Posted by Jane at January 30, 2008 3:58 PM

ohhhhh, a rest for my knitting fingers
just as compelling- freerice.com

Posted by maryofmckinley at January 30, 2008 3:59 PM

I only have one thing to say.

Seed.

Now I have my revenge.

(www.addictinggames.com/seed.html)

Posted by melissa at January 30, 2008 4:00 PM

this is the most awful gme. I can't get the hamster to glide at all.

Posted by Andrea Atkinson at January 30, 2008 4:03 PM

It's very hard to click on the rockets and rollerballs when the tears are streaming down my face since I'm laughing so hard it's become difficult to breathe! That was incredibly funny. Thank you. I will admit I'm no where near as talented as you; obviously, I need much more practice and/or another bottle of wine!

Posted by shawn at January 30, 2008 4:03 PM

Anybody checked out freerice.com? A whole different sort of time waster -- no gore, but no guilt either.

Posted by Fran at January 30, 2008 4:03 PM

Oh, that's cute! Off to email my daughter about it.

Posted by beadknitter at January 30, 2008 4:03 PM

Don't you know better by now than to click on her links?

(Your comment ID fields have forgotten me again. Glad to see everything's back to normal.)

Posted by Lucia at January 30, 2008 4:09 PM

hahaha No wonder you want to send those little critters into oblivion. They make me think of the squirels! It's great snowy day to knit and after sending one of those rodents 28ft I'm off to do just that . Good laugh, thank you .

Posted by JoanH at January 30, 2008 4:09 PM

Oh that's evil. Much needed evil.

Posted by Linda at January 30, 2008 4:10 PM

I'm so glad the hammies smile after I've splatted them so badly!!! Fun game! Thanks Lene! Gotta turn off the sound so DH doesn't come to see and take over the 'puter! Going back to splatting hammies....

Posted by samm at January 30, 2008 4:14 PM

My stepson introduced me to the time-suckage that is this game. Way too fun for something so simple.

Posted by Beverly at January 30, 2008 4:16 PM

I am truly feeble at this! My best score so far is 23ft!

I'm going to have to spend the entire day practising before my teenager gets home and I lose all street cred forever.

Posted by Eclair at January 30, 2008 4:16 PM

That's okay. I don't really need this job anyway. Thanks. Really.

Posted by MonkeyGurrl at January 30, 2008 4:18 PM

Dang... I suck. I've been playing for like half an hour now and you know what my consistent score is? 0. A big fat 0. I think the game needs to be renamed Splat-A-Hamster or something.

Posted by Sea Anemone at January 30, 2008 4:19 PM

yee-ha!! i got a whole 74 feet. what a riot! now i have to go back and figure this thing out!

Posted by danana at January 30, 2008 4:24 PM

Holy Smokes. Add me to the list of writers dealing with a deadline by launching hamsters. 214 feet. I'm not showing this to teacher-boy DH until he's finished entering his midterm grades.

Posted by Ann in CT at January 30, 2008 4:25 PM

so funny, about the power. i remember my kids playing that game.. so fun!

Posted by isabella at January 30, 2008 4:37 PM

Pure Evil!!!!!

And me with stuff to do. . . it's like a deadly combination of nicotine and chocolate!!!

ha ha ha

Posted by Mea at January 30, 2008 4:38 PM

This one is fun, and super-addictive: http://paper-toss.freeonlinegames.com/

Posted by jill at January 30, 2008 4:50 PM

Despite your advice and my being 24 years old (fully within the technological age and should be completely capable to thwart you all at this game)....I still stink.

My yarn does not mock me so; why must the hamsters rub it in??

Posted by haley at January 30, 2008 4:51 PM

This is so wrong and so addicting . . . .

Posted by Stephanie at January 30, 2008 4:51 PM

I giggled the whole time I did the game. What a riot! My personal best after two games was 121ft in a single jump. We'll not discuss the several 0 ft's I got.

Posted by LeslieD at January 30, 2008 4:56 PM

I was going to brag about my 541 score, but you bested me first! I love this game!

Posted by Heather at January 30, 2008 5:01 PM

Awesome! I love it!

Hopefully once I get my new glasses, my score will improve. (damned hand-eye coordination!)

Posted by Sue at January 30, 2008 5:02 PM

Wonderful. Just what I needed. You have now corrupted my entire office. The strains of the Valkyrie song are echoing from all the surrounding cubicles as my co-workers abuse the poor hamsters.

Hah. My longest jump so far is 169. None of them have beaten me yet. . .

Posted by Shel at January 30, 2008 5:04 PM

Personally I prefer "Huge Manatee." When the eponimous animal flattens you, a solemn voice intones "Oh, the huge manatee!" Get it? hee hee he!

now, get back to purlin'

Posted by pamela at January 30, 2008 5:04 PM

What fun! I managed to get a total of 459 ft! My normally computer savvy son hasn't figured out how to grab the flight extenders on a regular basis yet, either. I did get them into the stratosphere (the sky turns blue) but that doesn't do much for the distance. Lene's blog had my mouth watering. Can't wait for the book and calendar. Please come to Cleveland, OH for a book signing (or I'll drive to Columbus, if need be.)

Posted by Jane P at January 30, 2008 5:05 PM

Why. Why would you do that to us? WHY???????????? I've only reached 355 feet. Damn you Stephanie Pearl-MePhee. Damn you.

Posted by Stephanie at January 30, 2008 5:07 PM

My 5 year old thanks you. Yet another game he kicks his mothers butt at.

However- when he goes to church Sunday, telling everyone "The Harlot" (he'll conveniently leave out the yarn part, of course) showed his mommy a "website" for shooting hamsters... I'm sending them to you. You can explain better than I ever could...

PS- best part? I can totally sit next to him knitting...while he shoots hamsters into the atmosphere--- (which cannot be good for the environment)

Posted by tracey in michigan at January 30, 2008 5:13 PM

I am going to dream of hamsters tonight!

Caroline, the SockPixie

Posted by SockPixie at January 30, 2008 5:17 PM

My longest single hamster flight was 131 feet. What's funny is that was the time I put the mouse down mid-flight to answer the phone. Evidently the computer plays better on its own than with me "helping".

Posted by Tami at January 30, 2008 5:20 PM

Curses! I had forgotten about that game...then I read your blog and there it is. Guess my knitting has been put on hold for awhile...along with housework....home schooling....sleeping.... gee - thanks!

Posted by Kristy at January 30, 2008 5:22 PM

My personal favorite is:

http://www.widro.com/throwpaper.html

Go ahead. Leave the power on and waste some more time :-)

Posted by Diane in Chico, CA at January 30, 2008 5:23 PM

I find it particularly amusing that the comment number is increasing so gradually today. I have littered the site with corpses.

Posted by Kayten at January 30, 2008 5:30 PM

Yes, www.freerice.com is my game of choice.
As a non native speaker of English I have worked my way up to level 45 and am very proud of it....but...it took me about three sessions to get it that that were not 20 grams of rice that are donated for each right answer.....but 20 grains !
I couldn't load the hamsters either....so I did a bit of freerice....it's for a good cause.....that's my excuse....but lunch break is over since 4pm ( 2-4 pm in Mexico ) and it's back to work for me until seven.

Angelika
Mexico City

Posted by angelika at January 30, 2008 5:34 PM

This is my problem... the kids got some great puzzle video games for Christmas - I see one, and I have to play - for hours. At the end of the day, no knitting, no work, no dinner - but I did score in the 800s on "virus buster!"

Posted by Jeanne at January 30, 2008 5:35 PM

The hamsters are going to come after me; I've killed an alarming number of their brethren. Apparently my eye-hand coordination could use some work.

Posted by Suzanne V. (Yarnhog) at January 30, 2008 5:43 PM

On my apple laptop WITHOUT a mouse, the first time I managed to actually hit the hamster (took me a bout 7 tries), I got 171 ft. Woot!!

I wonder how well I can do with a mouse??

Ba

Posted by Ba at January 30, 2008 6:00 PM

It's the soundtrack that has me hooked. (By the way, my youngest saw me playing and asked for a turn. On his first try he out-launched me by 63 feet.)

Posted by Ruth at January 30, 2008 6:06 PM

You're totally kicking my butt. I can't figure out how to aim for the random objects, but I did finally figure out the trick to the whole gliding thing. I think.

Also, reminds me of Toss the Haggis, where one tossed a haggis onto a target on the ground. Sadly no longer around, that game rocked.

Posted by confiance at January 30, 2008 6:13 PM

Damn you! I have papers I have to read and chapters to write!

Posted by Natalie at January 30, 2008 6:15 PM

omg that's hilarious.

Posted by Tiny Tyrant at January 30, 2008 6:15 PM

I don't get it. I don't know how I got one to go 31 feet but I couldn't do again. Back to work.

Posted by Diane H at January 30, 2008 6:19 PM

This was ridiculously hard to do on a laptop without a mouse. Must be why I had to spend half an hour at it before I got up to 160 feet. ;)

Posted by Kristen at January 30, 2008 6:21 PM

MY CHILDREN ARE HUNGRY AND THE DAMN HAMSTER WON'T EVEN GO 100 FEET!!!! AAAHHHHH!!! Oh, I will get you, my little hamsters, just wait until the wee-ones are in bed....who needs sleep?? NOT ME!! *insane laughter*

Posted by Julie in Wi at January 30, 2008 6:23 PM

Now I remember why I don't play many video games...or drive a stick shift.... This whole hand-eye coordination thing just ain't my cuppa tea... LOL

Posted by Chris H at January 30, 2008 6:27 PM

47 feet.

Apparently I'm not destined for Olympic greatness.

Posted by Lynn at January 30, 2008 6:32 PM

Looked like a great game but alas, I'll have to stick to knitting. My timing is way off and I could only get one hamster to launch per session. After about 12 times I had to admit defeat. Perhaps instead of a pillow I need a skein of yarn.

Posted by Leslie at January 30, 2008 6:42 PM

Holy cow!! My top score is 39 feet. And most of the time, my hamster just splats. How on earth did you get 633?!!!!! I can't even hit them with the pillow.

Posted by Jo-Anne at January 30, 2008 6:47 PM

My kids are loving this . . . my 3-year-old outdid me on his first launch! lol

Luckily, I'm too immersed in building my Ravelry stash to be distracted for long. ;o)

Posted by Annalea at January 30, 2008 6:48 PM

Whew that's hard on a laptop! My record is 64 feet.

Posted by Ingrid at January 30, 2008 7:03 PM

Ummm... it still counts as family time if the whole family plays together, RIGHT??

Posted by jamie at January 30, 2008 7:03 PM

Too funny! My record is 311ft!

Posted by Angela at January 30, 2008 7:07 PM

Just what I needed.. another time waster! I totally suck at it, btw.

Posted by Patti at January 30, 2008 7:08 PM

I love the KND - wish half the cartoons on tv were as imaginative as this one!

Posted by Nicola at January 30, 2008 7:10 PM

Stephanie---thanks for sharing the hamster game....I think? On the third try I scored 328 and am totally stressed! Now I'm going to finish the second sock of a pair for a friends birthday. I'm wondering if my gauge will be waaay off due to my stress level. Oh well---it was fun in any case.

Jane

Posted by Jane at January 30, 2008 7:17 PM

Thanks a lot !!!!! Now I'll never get anything done. Truly sick but with just the proper twist. If you want more time wasters - try www.popcap.com

Posted by Judy at January 30, 2008 7:18 PM

That's one of the sickest, and therefore funniest, things I've seen in a long time! Thank you Lene and Stephanie!

Posted by Marti at January 30, 2008 7:29 PM

Thank you. I'll file that in my "favorites" with the Llama Duck Song and Badger Badger.

Posted by Juti at January 30, 2008 7:49 PM

I don't understand it, but that has me snortgiggling into my afternoon coffee. Let's hope my students don't walk in...

Posted by Jocelyn at January 30, 2008 8:10 PM

Too much fun!!! If only I didn't have things to do. Bookmarked for my next free moments (who am I kidding, I'll be playing when I shouldn't be...)

Posted by Steph B. at January 30, 2008 8:15 PM

Yeah. Great. Thanks for that.

Posted by Julie at January 30, 2008 8:16 PM

Just what does it mean that my 5 yo managed to get 239 ft on his 3rd round?

Posted by Kris at January 30, 2008 8:20 PM

Give me back my life.

Posted by rams at January 30, 2008 8:20 PM

I. Hate. You.

Posted by Lise at January 30, 2008 8:28 PM

I totally suck at the hamster thing! In the amount of time I spent on it, I could have knit a lot more feet of yarn than I can launch those hamsters! Thanks for the entertainment, though. . . I think.

Posted by Lynn S. at January 30, 2008 8:28 PM

I can see I'm going to need a lot more practice at this hamster thing. I can't seem to break 105 ft. But there are socks calling my name that I'm really wanting to finish.

Posted by Kelley at January 30, 2008 8:50 PM

Once again, I stand with Rams. He who must write nice things about dead people isn't.

Posted by Presbytera at January 30, 2008 8:52 PM

Only if you come and turn mine off first.

Posted by Carol at January 30, 2008 9:00 PM

Not even going to click. I have already crossed paths with those time-stealing rodents.

Posted by Sarah at January 30, 2008 9:14 PM

You are just evil, evil, evil. My husband heard me cackling down the hallway and had to check it out. Nice to know I've got a game now, too.

Posted by Roralee at January 30, 2008 9:18 PM

Hi,

I know that as far as these sorts of games go, this is one of the gentlest. But still... what is it but a way of laughing at little animals being heaved into the air, and one more thing that has us spending far too much time on our computers? I'm sure I'm not the only reader who thinks about the range of computer games and their place in society/culture/education. But, scanning the comments so far, I may be the only one willing to comment and to leave myself open to being called a party pooper. Best regards.

Posted by Maureen at January 30, 2008 9:32 PM

Can't seem to get past zero myself. You got to keep your power today? Scattered outages on this side of the lake.

Posted by Diane at January 30, 2008 9:36 PM

I found "Die Valkyr" to be a bit unsettling as a soundtrack, but it's a very, um, interesting game.

Posted by Mel at January 30, 2008 9:38 PM

does it make me a bad person that i didn't want to stop until i beat your high score? (i eventually got 757. hopefully you don't have a competitive streak like mine and you won't try to beat that, because i would have to challenge you again and i'm sick of hamster squealing)

Posted by sarah at January 30, 2008 9:44 PM

my husband and i have been launching hamsters for hours now (thank god for having two laptops and wireless internet... or maybe not... so much else could have been done with those hours). but i finally pulled off 674ft. i think it is time to retire.

Posted by kim at January 30, 2008 10:14 PM

I just came back from my father's viewing. We are burying him tomorrow. I needed a laugh in the worst way. Now I'm afraid I won't stop laughing. Thanks.

Posted by Diana at January 30, 2008 10:23 PM

I managed to get stratospheric but I can't send the little rat any further than 23 feet with one pillow. And let's not mention the long string of zeros!

Posted by JosephineInOz at January 30, 2008 10:28 PM

My best is 267 feet. Thanks for the laugh! Now back to hamster gliding...

Posted by Anna at January 30, 2008 10:51 PM

I gave all five (six?) hamsters serious back problems by having them land without so much as a click on a pillow. I've decided to let them all recover without any additional friends coming their way. And, I'll admit, I only tried it because Stephanie thought it was fun. Me, not so much - I suppose my distractions come in other forms.

Posted by Lulu at January 30, 2008 10:52 PM

W00t! 605 feet! The Americans are gainin' fast!

Posted by Joey from Ohio at January 30, 2008 11:05 PM

Thanks. There goes my bed-time.

Posted by Mary at January 30, 2008 11:21 PM

Yes, but did you play the giant falling manatee game???

Posted by abby at January 30, 2008 11:32 PM

You are an evil woman. So is... Amber! She gave us this:

http://n.ethz.ch/student/mkos/pinguin.swf

--this is equally addicting!!!

Posted by Vicki at January 30, 2008 11:44 PM

227. Kept me from knitting

Posted by monkeyspinner at January 30, 2008 11:54 PM

:) I just wasted a good 10 minutes and got 0 ft! I need a teenager to show me how this works.

Posted by Gina at January 31, 2008 12:00 AM

676. And now I MUST go to bed.

Posted by Ruth at January 31, 2008 12:10 AM

I couldn't get anywhere for laughing my arse off!!

Posted by Shelley at January 31, 2008 12:15 AM

660!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by cedar at January 31, 2008 12:24 AM

This is all your fault, now my sister is beating me. Gahh. These hamsters do not listen to me very well. !60 high score for me.

Posted by A Sister at January 31, 2008 12:34 AM

I'm so behind with my life right now, I will not even go there. I'm currently in the throes of interstate real estate hell with 2 houses going up for sale this week in 2 different states, and an offer on a house in one of those states, which is not the one where I am, and recovering from getting my mother's house ready to sell in the other state so she can share the new house with us (not full time, TG).

Anyway, just noticed the post title from 2 days ago and, since I was born in Arizona (in Tucson and lived in Sedona as a tyke in the late 50s when it was in the back of beyond) and head off there tomorrow to recouperate, I must point out that dogies is properly pronounced with a long o, so needs only one g. Of course, since your dogies are knitted viniferous grape leaves, you really probably needn't follow the 'rules.'

Posted by KarenJoSeattle at January 31, 2008 2:15 AM

Hah, I've been playing it for weeks... but you've beat my best score. Maybe I need a faster mouse.
Or maybe I should knit and get a product when I'm done wearing out my wrist.

Posted by =Tamar at January 31, 2008 2:28 AM

It's too stressful watching the little hampsters fall and "swim" in the air!

Posted by Sheila at January 31, 2008 2:54 AM

I knew you were a yarn enabler, but this, well, for this I have forsaken my very 1st Rockin Sock club kit in favor of the hampster flinging. Where are my priorities?

Posted by trabug at January 31, 2008 4:21 AM

Oh great. And I thought you were only dangerous because of the yarn.

Posted by Sarah at January 31, 2008 7:38 AM

Oh my. My poor hamsters - half of them miss the pillow and crash into the earth. I did get one launched into space, though.

Posted by PlazaJen at January 31, 2008 7:51 AM

I'm 0 for 0. I stink at this game. Have you seen Free Rice? www.freerice.com TOTALLY addicting!

Posted by Debbie at January 31, 2008 8:30 AM

OK...that's gonna be a problem.....

Posted by Nancy at January 31, 2008 8:34 AM

You are evil, woman! I MUST not go back to this site! Don't you know that we serious knitters all have addictive personalities?

Posted by Suzanne at January 31, 2008 8:35 AM

Hmph. Hamsters are very hard to hit. Sheep, on the other hand, are much easier. (This will particularly amuse any Terry Pratchett fans in the group- assuming there are any left who've somehow escaped knowing about this.)

http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/discworld/freefall.html

Posted by RobinH at January 31, 2008 8:58 AM

As much fun as www.freerice.com.

Posted by Gin at January 31, 2008 9:08 AM

my hand/eye coordination is crap (17ft) lol thanks for sharing :D

Posted by kat at January 31, 2008 9:13 AM

Yeah, I can't even get the pillow to hit mine. Smack, straight into the ground. I'll have to stick to Bloody Pingu; I think I got that penguin up to 976 feet or so the other day.

And thanks - drat, I don't have time to look back - to whoever-the-two are who gave links for the seed and the Pratchett game; gonna try those out much later today! (Hm; maybe it'd work better for me if those hamsters were hedgehogs, and I drank some scumble?)

Posted by MonicaPDX at January 31, 2008 10:00 AM

"...but the hedgehog can never be buggered at all."

Posted by rams at January 31, 2008 10:20 AM

if you tell us what kind of
yarn you buy its sold out at webs
i can not play games cause of you
and lene could not get in
the calendar is not out
i will be lucky to get one
from all the preorders
you have been home too long
getting us into all kinds of trouble


Posted by elizabet a airhart at January 31, 2008 11:02 AM

this is just the sort of thing that amuses me so much that my husband wonders if I have lost it. Too fun!

Posted by amberincolo at January 31, 2008 11:07 AM

How do you get the skateboard to work?!!?!?! WTH? and btw, I totally hate you for this ;)

Posted by Lara at January 31, 2008 11:25 AM

Does PETA know about this?

Snork. And I thought Chicktionary was wasting my time.

Posted by dez at January 31, 2008 11:35 AM

My children thank you. They think the Yarn Lady is so awesome for sharing such fun silliness. (My four year old is the best so far in our family!)

Posted by Sheila at January 31, 2008 11:50 AM

Somebody mentioned Olympics, which leads me to ask an off topic question (which my massage therapist also asked me at my last appointment -- I think she's already worried!).
Will there be "Knitting Olympics" for the 2008 Summer Games?!

Posted by Judy in Montana at January 31, 2008 12:04 PM

Evil! Pure evil! Of course, I had to pass it along, too. Oh my gawsh! Soooo funny. :)

Posted by Chelsea at January 31, 2008 12:06 PM

Hey, try this! Also addicting and it is for a good cause. For every word you get right, free rice is donated to needy countries. (Plus I thought it was more fun than the hamster...I never got that figured out.)
http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Posted by Meg at January 31, 2008 12:09 PM

I stopped playing video games when the mail-lady came delivering my chablis sock kit... now I can say I'm taking leaf of my senses - wasting the evening away making leaves. It doesn't seem to be just one more round, or finish this section, now it's just one more leaf... and one more, and one more, and one more, well you can see the problem.

Posted by jeanne at January 31, 2008 12:26 PM

This is BAAAAAAAD!!! I have work to do!!!

Posted by Lorena at January 31, 2008 12:27 PM

It is sort of like playing the slot machines. If you can't get higher than a zero, then it probably isn't meant to be and you should walk away from the machine and don't look back! I felt bad for my hamsters as they "splatted" on the ground.

Posted by Gretchen at January 31, 2008 12:40 PM

You should all be reported to PETA. :)

Posted by Elaine at January 31, 2008 12:50 PM

Stephanie, we are coming to Canada with our luggage. I am sure you have room in your lovely old house for two more people. Since my husband got "Flight of the Hamsters," he has done nothing else and may lose his job.

P.S. - He says the hamsters look a bit like your toes. LOL
P.P.S. - He only has gotten to 23 feet.

Posted by Iris in Virginia at January 31, 2008 1:04 PM

Yep - this one's addictive. Who knew that sending hamsters orbital could be so much fun? (Socks are on stand-by -all three pairs, thanks to this...)

Posted by Jane at January 31, 2008 1:09 PM

Oh! The programmer should add the following disclaimer:

"No hamsters were harmed in the creation of this game."

Posted by Iris in Virginia at January 31, 2008 1:16 PM

Drat you, Lene! I wasted so much time on this!

Posted by Amy Thomas at January 31, 2008 1:16 PM

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one that finds this game wildly amusing! I've gotten to almost 700 feet before (I think it was 682). Sad, but I love that game!

Posted by Amy at January 31, 2008 2:29 PM

Sent this link to a friend who works for the Canadian government, and this is what I learned: Federal government employees are denied access to Hamster-mania...those who work for small arts organizations funded by the government however...

Posted by Kim at January 31, 2008 2:48 PM

Evil woman - they are way too cute! And way too entertaining!

Posted by Carol B at January 31, 2008 3:51 PM

I was feeling pretty good about myself today - down a couple of pounds, hair holding it's own, etc. That is until this darn game - I am the worst. I've launch 2 hamsters in a 1/2 hour. Ugh.

Posted by kathy at January 31, 2008 3:58 PM

Rachel? Denny? Maybe one of you should stop by Chez Harlot. Either she needs to be peeled away from the hamsters or the power needs to be turned on. Either way it's ominously quiet.

Posted by Presbytera at January 31, 2008 3:58 PM

Dude.

I'm with rams.

Posted by roggey at January 31, 2008 4:10 PM

Rachel H., please smote the Harlot one for me.

Posted by roggey at January 31, 2008 4:11 PM

ok. Today my grandson and I wasted an hour launching hamsters. He finally beat you score at 669! Of course my high score is only 352. I need to practice!!

Posted by robin at January 31, 2008 4:31 PM

My high schore is 101. lol i need to keep practiing! P.S. That free rice thing is addcting!!

Posted by Julie at January 31, 2008 5:05 PM

Thanks Stephanie, thanks a lot. First, yarn, then projects, now this?!? I can't handle anymore obsessions!!! :-)

Posted by Molly at January 31, 2008 5:11 PM

Thanks, I guess. I put off trying this (it took me a couple of tries to get used to the timing), and now I'm trying to make sure that I don't get addicted.

Posted by Seanna Lea at January 31, 2008 5:39 PM

Um, have the leaves have finally gotten to you? Or is it just because hamsters, like squirrels, are rodents? I refuse to click. I remember Pacman rehab. Don't want to do that again.

Posted by Linda V. at January 31, 2008 5:44 PM

Oh, god. Did you have to go and use your Harlot powers for evil?

Posted by Linda V. at January 31, 2008 5:47 PM

Heh... I LOVE all the game links.. and I play Free Rice daily.. it is on my daily crawl.. I try to donate at least 1000 grains of rice a day.

Posted by Naners at January 31, 2008 6:08 PM

haha, this game is awesome. Time eating, but awesome.

Wonderful. :)

Posted by Emily at January 31, 2008 6:42 PM

In keeping with the spirit of today's post, my MIL sent me this:

http://www.maniacworld.com/squirrel-obstacle-course.html

And you really thought you were going to be able to outwit your fleece-stealing squirrel?

Posted by Toni at January 31, 2008 6:50 PM

WHY? WHY? What have I done to deserve this?

Posted by Kate at January 31, 2008 7:14 PM

oh dear.. no post today. do you think the hamsters got her? damn.. they were squirrels after all.

Posted by leanne at January 31, 2008 7:25 PM

Joe, girls, Ken, anyone?
If our Yarn Harlot is still launching hamsters tomorrow instead of knitting and writing and doing other harlot-normal things, you've got to do an intervention!
I'm serious - this is a BAD THING! Take away her computer and wrap her in roving!
Lives of millions of knitters will be ruined if this does not STOP!!!

Posted by CurliSu at January 31, 2008 7:30 PM

I'm going to break the mouse with that game. They are so cute and happy no matter how badly I let them drop to the ground.

Posted by CarolynD at January 31, 2008 8:21 PM

For all those who couldn't get in, the original game is at the Cartoon Network site and, if I've done things properly, you should be able to click on my name (below) to get to it.

If not, it's under the Kids Next Door bit.

Enter at your own risk.

(BTW: 424ft)

Posted by Julie at January 31, 2008 8:40 PM

How do you use the skateboard? I can't seem to get it to work.... :D I got my whole family playing this game, by the way. =-)

Posted by Darline at January 31, 2008 10:02 PM

I think I might be rescinding my earlier thank you . . . I've had to do battle with the kids to get time on my own laptop! lol (They don't have a computer with internet access.)

Posted by Annalea at January 31, 2008 10:33 PM

My kids discovered this last year, it's connected with the Kids Next Door cartoon(which is actually quite well done). We've played it for hours on end, laughing hysterically when the hamster gets launched into space. When my eldest son got a real hamster I had to convince him that it would not work the same as the hamsters on the computer.(!!!)

Posted by jennwx at January 31, 2008 11:22 PM

I can't play this without thinking of this Bugs Bunny cartoon. The entire time, I'm singing, "kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit!"

http://revver.com/video/109858/bugs-bunny-whats-opera-doc/

Posted by Alexandra at February 1, 2008 12:09 AM

You know, this game has probably kept chemistry from completely melting my brain. Mindless fun is good after learning about enthalpy of vaporization, fusion, and other fun things that will have no bearing on my life.

Btw, how do the skateboards work? I know that they let you glide a bit if you're on the ground, but it works sometimes and not others.

Posted by Convivialiddell at February 1, 2008 2:49 AM

I don't think I'm ever going to thank you for showing me this one.

Posted by Laurie at February 1, 2008 8:11 AM

Stephanie, please will you stop playing Hamsters Go Splat and blog already? Come on! By the bye, I got your Meditations for Women who Knit Too Much yesterday at my LYS. Like you, I can't pass up a good sale ...

Posted by Anne at February 1, 2008 8:49 AM

Are you pretending they are squirrels?

I hope you're not still playing;)

Posted by tracey in michigan at February 1, 2008 9:06 AM

Man, I'm supposed to be working. Not watching the hamsters go splat! It took me a while to completely understand it all, and I can't figure out the skateboard at all.

It might be more addicting than winding sock yarn . . . :)

Posted by Heather at February 1, 2008 9:58 AM

Oh Dear.. it is addicting isn't it?
Whatever you do.. don't go to www.find815.com.. you are a Lost fan no?

Posted by Denis at February 1, 2008 10:00 AM

413 ft in one shot- best total score:1005ft Ha! Beat that! Now if we could make our knitting work the same way...413 ft in one shot would make a pair of socks!

Posted by Lisa Castellano at February 1, 2008 10:08 AM

How I remember the "Hamster Days" in our family! I remember children begging, promising to clean the cage(we all know how that turns out),and wearing me down.
Because of this it was a pleasure sending Hamsters rocketing skyward and watching them splat on the ground.
I did get the hang of it finally-and I am sorry to report that no hamsters were hurt in the playing of this game.
We had Hedgehogs too!! Dear God, what was I thinking???

Posted by pat DeLeeuw at February 1, 2008 10:34 AM

oh gee thanks ... i wasted away about two hours playing that silly game yesterday. btw, you are way better at it than i am. i only got up to about 200 feet! :(

Posted by celena at February 1, 2008 11:14 AM

Excellent. Another time waster for my day. I've sent this to all my coworkers. Reached over 400 this morning.

Posted by Bethany at February 1, 2008 12:04 PM

Okay, I showed my eight year old and he knows exactly what cartoon it came from.....something called "Kids Next Door"? Well we were all in hysterics.

Posted by eloisemouse at February 1, 2008 7:54 PM

My new record is 500!!!!!!! I wish I had just let the link go, but now 24 wasted hours later, I reached my goal!

Posted by Samantha at February 1, 2008 8:14 PM

Well, my son and I are hooked on Flight of the Hamsters. He absolutely LOVES it (and for a 5.5 year old, has beaten me hands down already!). His high score so far is 634 and mine is a measely 212.

Posted by Rhonda at February 2, 2008 10:42 AM

My seven-year-old is also quite the pro at this hamster thing -- he made it to 647 ft while I remain in the double digits.

Posted by Suzanne at February 2, 2008 11:58 AM

Sheesh! I can't get any work done! I love this game! My highest score was 360... But I need to try and get more. Tonight I went into the deepest space I've ever been in.. up and up and up he went. I think we should get to count the "up" feet!

Posted by Mokihana at February 3, 2008 2:17 AM

I've been playing this crazy hamster game for 4 days now and can't get a score higher than 284!!! I just can't figure out what's wrong with my technique.

Posted by Jenn at February 3, 2008 9:28 PM

Jo: Wool Revival and Ewe Asked For It are also VERY nice yarn shops in Edmonton; if you have a few days in the city before heading to Athabasca, I strongly advise you to get acquainted with Wool Revival in particular, then you will be able to phone in, and keep the ties strong --- see you there one day?

Posted by jenni in edmonton at February 5, 2008 11:16 PM