1. Depending on the resolution of your monitor, you’ll see the two videos side by side (which is ideal) or on top of each other (which is a bit of a bummer but not the biggest of deals).

2. Completely mute the volume on one of the videos - the audio is identical on both so you won’t be missing out. If you want to see each of the videos individually in full screen, return the volume to normal levels for the one you muted (obviously). Depending on your internet connection and the processing capabilities of your computer, you may have to watch these videos independently for smooth playback. We tried our best to make each of the videos entertaining on their own.

3. Press play on one video and then as quickly as possible press play on the other video. Then go back to the first video and pause it for a split second to compensate for the difference in start times.

4. When the opening sequences start up, the videos should be identical, pause and unpause accordingly to get them synchronized as closely as possible. You should be all set after this.

Let the hot girls, good times in Portland clubs and even the scary ending be your inspiration for this weekend's parties. Oh, and dibs on the black fringed mini-dress!

• Hair and boobies! What could be better?

Make your appointment now! It's for a good cause! Support National Breast Cancer Awareness month! Book on-line at: GingerSalon.com and select "Events" or call: (Irvington) 503-867-8577, (Pearl location) 503-546-4689

Victory Wolf has a few things in it but the main ingredients are cedarwood, tobacco and cade. Cade has a beautiful smokey birch tar aroma. Every time I smell it, I feel like I've been sitting by a bonfire. I made it for Jonathan because I wanted to make a smokey, masculine scent that smelled natural. Cologne for men mostly overwhelms me so I wanted a scent that makes you feel like it's there for a reason. An event or an act caused it to be. Going to a bonfire with friends is a good time and you smell awesome when you get home.

If you can't make it tonight, head over to Nationale and check it out this weekend!

• Is this Balayage highlighting? Who knows!

That's Monday, October 5th at the Doug Fir, 6-9pm!

Haircuts $9.95
Color starting at $27.95
Highlights starting at $39.95
Manicure and pedicure $22.95
European facial (this is where Alison inserted a Swiss ski instructor joke) $22.95

I can vouch for the facial. It was a good hour long, and by the end I felt like I was annointed with enough essential oils to be a Hellmouth demon's ritual sacrifice. (Obviously, I spent my 60 minutes fantasizing that I saved Sunnydale from Gavrok Spiders.) My future esthetician was super and the whole experience was worth so much more than 23 bucks.

See how happy I look!

- Beginning tonight the upstairs space at the Museum of Contemporary Craft transforms into The Holiday Shop featuring handmade gifts by fifty local artists. The opening reception tonight runs 6:30 to 8:30pm. After that the hours for the shop are 11-6pm Tuesday-Sunday and 11-8pm Thursday

- Also tonight is the Crave Holiday Party from 5 - 9pm at Lux Autohaus (410 NE 17th). Check out all kinds of local vendors, including Sameunderneath.

- Radish Underground (414 SW 10th Ave) will be be featuring brand new designs apparel designer Jayme Hansen and jewelry designer Elyse Bunkers from 5 to 9pm for First Thursday. There will be homemade eggnog and Paul Christensen (of Weinland) will set the mood with piano tunes.

- Also tomorrow (and tomorrow only!), Kalista Salon and Day Spa is offering half off a second service after the purchase of the first. So, get a massage and then get half-off a brow waxing, or whatever. Hit their website for appointment info.

- At 8pm tomorrow, head to PALA (105 NW 3rd) for a trunk show and listening event followed by a house dance party. Enjoy the tunes of Nikki Costa and New Orleans alternative rap duo The Knux during the trunk show which will feature lines from Neon Threads, Cave Clothing, Lunatik, Dimitri, and Lux Jewelry. House and dance music to follow.

- Oh Baby (1811 NE Broadway) is having a holiday open house on Friday Dec 5th from 6-9pm. There will be a fashion show, drinks from New Deal Vodka, and 15% lingerie during the show.

- Frances May is having a holiday open house on Saturday Dec 6th. Enjoy 20% off all day and a champagne reception from 5 to 8pm.

This isn't the Loyly of southeast Portland--they have separate hours for men and women with the exception of one co-ed period of time when you have to wear bathing suits (ugh), but if you did want to recreate this more enlightened scenario, Loyly can be rented out for private events. Hello, my next birthday party!

Now, I love this kind of thing. And I desperately want to live in a world where one can cure aging, acne, cellulite, and baldness all with one little machine and about $350 bucks (plus the cost of refills on product). Incidentally, the Nu Skin system is distributing through multi-level marketing, which may or may not make a difference to you. To me, it makes me cautious. After the party (no I didn't buy the system, but I wanted to), I prowled around on the internets, and called Portland esthetician Jane Cowan, who I trust for BS-free takes on all things skincare, and this is what I learned: This technology is not new or unique (Jane refers to it as "old school"), and if you want to try something like this, there are many different companies producing the same things. It works (sort of). Like I said, the technology has been used for half a century. The variability really seems to rest with the product you use in tandem with it. The advantage of a system like this is not having to think about it. If you just follow their directions, you'll be fine--there are few complaints about the results to be found on the blogosphere, for whatever that's worth. But Cowan stresses that it's not going to replace the importance of genetics or lifestyle in your skin's appearance. (Notably, Cowan has a galvanic system for professional use, but says she rarely uses it because she rarely finds it useful.) Whatever Jane, I still want one. But I'm not $350-curious to see if using it obsessively would produce the kinds of results the company's reps showed me. The fact that you have to keep buying the gels, which are not cheap, puts me off. I'm not spending nearly that much money on my physical appearance on a regular basis as it is, so the argument that it's cheaper than spa visits is kind of moot with me. None of this is money-saving. So here's my cheapskate plan: Buy one of these machines on ebay for far less than the full kit goes for. Buy a bottle of aloe vera gel, and start experimenting. If all it does it make product more bio-available, I should be able to use anything water-soluble, yes? (Erm, I'm not necessarily recommending you adopt my cavalier attitude here, just to be clear.)

We'll see how it goes. If you've ever tried one of these, I'd love to know what your experience was. And even better would be recommendations of things I could slather on my face before zapping it with electrical currents. (What? Don't worry. Research. Lots of research.)

Wax On Spa Grand Opening, 3808 N Williams, December 6th, 7pm

Ugh. It all seems like so much trouble that it's no wonder so many people have thrown up their hands and all but given up. Now there's a new product designed to add a base layer of SPF without adding any hassle to your routine: sunscreen soap. The claim is that just lathering with this body soap gives you an SPF 10 layer of protection--a moderate amount, but better than nothing, especially as temperatures begin to cool and SPF mania calms down. I was able to try out Bethesda Sunscreen Soap , which is at the fore of this new skincare development. All natural, appropriate for sensitive skin, and packed with vitamins, it's a good soap with a nice thick lather and at $8 a bar (unfortunately not sold locally, but available online) it is long lasting, moisturizing, and has a very mellow scent. Of course, it is somewhat difficult to gauge the veracity of such a low SPF--it should prevent your getting a sunburn on your morning walk to the office?--but for the exhausted lazy-bones it at least represents an effort, without any additional steps to your morning routine.

Tomorrow, the company is holding another protest, a much larger campaign than it originally began, with stores in 23 states across the company participating. And while last year some of the employees (literally) half-assed it by wearing underwear under their aprons, this year all participants are said to be baring bum. Stop by the Portland store (803 NW 23rd) for a glimpse and some education tomorrow at noon, but be snappy about it: the protest is only slated to last half an hour. And if even the idea isn't centric to LUSH products, you may as well pop into the store as long as you are there to check out the sometimes-perplexing ("emotibombs" that create aromatherapeutic steams when you drop them on the floor during your shower, "shower jellies" that are like rubbing bricks of Jell-O on your body), sometimes-awesome (the bath/bubble bombs are generally great, and the selection is staggering), and sometimes-disappointing (I once tried a lip balm that actually made my lips worse) product line--the company has a lot of energy and ideas, and is one of the largest international beauty brands to dedicate itself to ethical business practices.

Sorry to get your hopes up--this was taken at the protest in Berlin. The aprons to be worn by the locals tomorrow are said to be more demure. Protest that.

If you haven't checked out the space, tucked away in NW Portland, consider dropping by this evening for the anniversary celebration from 6-9 pm. Or just go to the web site and read the list of services and see how long it takes before you succumb to the 30-minute hand massage (oh my poor typing fingers… ) or head, neck, and shoulder rubs…

The Dragontree's yoga room