There’s always an electric atmosphere in a packed stadium. But when night falls you can multiply that spine-tingling feeling by a thousand. And much of that is down to the massive floodlights illuminating the gaff. Indeed, these retina-dazzling monsters are brilliant. Literally. And that’s why we’ve decided it would be great to stick one in the house.

Sadly, unless you live in the land of the giants, it’s a bit difficult plonking a floodlight on your desk or next to your sofa. So thank goodness for the Floodlamp. A perfect gift for style-savvy sports freaks, this high-quality lamp looks just like a stadium floodlight. The difference is, it’s small enough to put on a table or next to an armchair.

Buy a pair and you can pretend your desk is a pitch and your pens and pencils are Premiership players. It really is completely brilliant.

Image and availability via Firebox

The Irish Coffee turns 56 years old today. It was invented by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Stanton Delaplane on November 10th, 1952 at San Francisco’s Buena Vista Cafe, based on a drink he had at Shannon Airport in Ireland.

This afternoon, the Buena Vista Cafe will attempt to win a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records by mixing a 12-gallon Irish coffee in a custom-made goblet.

Image via Flickr

The Vendee Globe is a round-the-world single handed yacht race held every four years, and it began today in France and will end in February. No stopping, no outside assistance, and no customized routing or weather reporting is allowed. It is extremely dangerous, and less than 60 people have ever completed the race, and there have been several deaths.

More after the jump…

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Picture taken on Fulham street just before the 1970 FA Cup final. Inside reads “Happy Christmas from the Chelsea Shed”.

Available (and image) from LondonBooks

Australia vs New Zealand league rugby match. Both squads face off in a very “Temple of Doom” moment.

Via Spoiler

Jared Hess is cutting his new film at my friends production studio here in the SLC. This is going to be a riot.

Via Etsy

Yep, Subbuteo streakers.

Available here.

Image via Pedlars

Someone in Germany is driving an automobile built for UK roads and has installed a Muppet in the passenger seat to avoid the speeding cameras. The speed cameras in Germany are made to take photos of drivers who sit in the left side of the vehicle, so the driver can’t be identified.

A German police source said: “The number plate is not enough. We need clear evidence of who is driving the vehicle too.”
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To go to England and attend a match like a local, you’ve got to pre-game at a nearby pub with supporters, drink the local ales, and you must eat a traditional English pie, right? But what exactly are these pies and why are they so tied to the traditions of the game in the UK? The Guardian writes about the “Pie Revolution” at stadiums these days, and (never having had a pie) I went to find out more…

More after the jump….

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