ASYLUM - For all mankind

Running the site Waffleizer means learning a lot about what works and what doesn't. With persistence, trial and error -- mostly error -- I have found that many dishes can be made to work in the waffle iron. But sometimes you have to really want it.

Here are four things that will waffle (more or less) and one that just won't.

1. Hamburger bun dough
This makes really impressive, kick-ass buns that look like waffles and taste like hamburger buns. You can then make the burger in the waffle iron, too. Finally, you can use the waffle iron to melt the cheese on the patty, making every layer of this burger waffled. The effect is amazing.

Now, the question is: Should you do any of this? Absolutely not. I can see making the patty in the waffle iron, maybe. But the waffled hamburger buns from scratch? As long as you own a frying pan and have access to a grocery store, you should probably stick to buying your hamburger buns in the bread aisle and frying up your burgers like a normal person.

There's a mural on the ceiling of the Great Hall in the Library of Congress that very nearly blends in with the many others found in the room. But when you look closer, you'll notice something peculiar: It depicts a bunch of naked guys holding baseball equipment.

Considering that baseball is played in uniforms and the Library of Congress is a government-owned entity, this seems more than a little strange. The surprising image is one of about 350 you'll discover in HarperCollins' stunning coffee-table book, "Baseball Americana: Treasures From the Library of Congress."

Asylum called up Susan Reyburn, a staff writer-editor at the Library, to find out more about this book and the amazing mural. Click through to learn more about the image that she and her colleagues refer to as "the naked 19th-century baseball team."

Showbiz news you actually want, from geek gossip to celeb train-wrecks.

Howard Stern told listeners he would join "American Idol" for a "ton of dough." (Popeater)

Hugh Hefner is being sued by Playboy for living it up on the magazine's dime. (TMZ)

2010 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition is out, featuring Brooklyn Decker on the cover. (SI)

Fox has hired a screenwriter for the "Daredevil" reboot. (FilmDrunk)

Charlie Sheen was charged with felony menacing and two misdemeanors after allegedly assaulting his wife. (Radar Online)

Megan Fox and Mickey Rourke make one creepy couple in the latest image from their movie "Passion Play." (Screen Junkies)

Since you probably skipped "Leap Year," enjoy these sexy shots of star Amy Adams. (Holy Taco)

Here are 20 mistakes from James Bond movies that you probably never noticed. (And check out more film flubs from "Teen Wolf," "Back to the Future 3" and other classics.) (Unreality Mag)

Is Justin Bieber really hanging out with Chris Brown? (Daily Fill)

Two weeks ago, a trailer for a new movie based on the video game "Tekken" started making the rounds on the Internet. Starring John Foo, it looks like the flick is set to be released in Japan next month. Though we haven't seen it, we're guessing "Tekken" will be the latest in a long line of subpar video games turned into major motion pictures. But no matter how terrible it is, our friends at StreetLevel are pretty sure it can't possibly be as bad as these 10 video game adaptations. (via StreetLevel)

Chayne Hultgren, nicknamed the Space Cowboy, has set a new Guinness World Record in Sydney today by swallowing 18 swords at the same time.

The 31-year-old beat his own previous record of 17 swords, which he set in 2008. But for all those wannabe sword swallowers out there, Mr. Hultgren warned the stunt has taken years to perfect.

"It's amazing," Mr. Hultgren said. "I've been preparing for this since I was 16. It is definitely one of my greatest achievements so far."

"World of Warcraft" Kid Freaks Out
Seriously, this is crazy (CollegeHumor)

Don't Understand The Health-Care Reform Plan?
Here it is in plain English (COED)
Need Valentine's Day Plans?
10 Things to Do (AskMen)

"Dante's Inferno" was a literary epic, then a video game epic and finally an animated epic. Gamers know that tomorrow, Feb. 9, is the day EA Games is releasing the much-anticipated "Dante's Inferno" to the public. And Asylum wants you to have one.

Two Asylum readers will receive a copy of the game for the PS3, in addition to a DVD copy of "Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic." In order to be eligible for the contest, all you have to do is fill out the form on the next page ...

... and enjoy your trip to hell.

Required reading from the week in books and comics.

Writer/comedian Julie Klausner dishes on the many stupid men she's encountered in "I Don't Care About Your Band: What I Learned From Indie Rockers, Trust Funders, Pornographers, Felons, Faux-Sensitive Hipsters, and Other Guys I've Dated." Best title of the year? We don't see Nicholas Sparks topping that one anytime soon.

Also in stores:
-- "Tupac Shakur: The Life of an American Icon" is a chronicle of the legendary rapper's life and career, as well as yet another opportunity to ponder whether Suge Knight set him up.
-- The graphic novel "Hellblazer: Pandemonium" celebrates the 25th anniversary of John Constantine. (Yes, the paranormal detective once played by Keanu Reeves.) Not bad for a character who was originally nothing more than an homage to Sting.
-- RuPaul has a new book? Is it 1997 again? Who still thinks being in the RuPaul business is a license to print money?

For most people, the idea of keeping rodents as pets is off-putting, if not downright creepy.

However, it's possible all these reservations could be put aside if we just embrace the capybara as a household pet. The semi-aquatic rodent native to South America can grow to be around 100 lbs. and about 2 feet tall at the shoulder.

Click through to check out the pictures of Melanie Typaldos and her pet capybara Caplin, and try to deny this is the cuddliest giant rat you've ever seen.

Our happy hour fact to amaze your drinking buddies with.

People who complain of boredom are 2.5 times more likely to die from a heart attack or stroke than those who don't.

Twenty-five years ago, British researchers asked 7,524 civil servants between the ages of 35 and 55 questions pertaining to their level of boredom. Recently, they revisited that sample group and calculated death rates based on the decades-old responses.

"The findings on heart disease show there was sufficient evidence to say there is a link with boredom," said the study's co-author. He added that some of the increase in heart problems might have to do with bored people being more likely to turn to smoking and drinking.

So you can be bored to death. But can you be tickled to death? Now that would be an interesting study.