Vin Weasel glob

Optacular

2012-02-17T05:15:00.000-08:00

Interactive animated swirl-o-vision meets Van Gogh’s classic "Starry Night".

Also, a blog of amazing optical illusions. These are literally incredible.

"It behooves every man to remember that the work of the critic is of altogether secondary importance, and that, in the end, progress is accomplished by the man who does things." - Theodore Roosevelt

Misnomer

2012-02-16T05:15:00.000-08:00

"My three year old daughter names all of her toys herself," says this poster. "Based on the names she chooses, you would think she was being raised a bewildered hooker." Welcome to the Island of Misnamed Toys and meet the gang.

Also... hey potty mouth, put your bad words to good use with the Charity Swear Box.

"The problem with losing your anonymity is that you can never go back." -- Marla Maples

A year in the life

2012-02-15T05:15:00.000-08:00

Get a bike. Lock it to a post in New York City. Take a pic every day for a year. Make a video.

And a Chicago man’s 2012 resolution: 366 Random Acts of Kindness.

"To believe all men honest would be folly. To believe none so is something worse." - John Quincy Adams

Lucky in love

2012-02-14T05:15:00.000-08:00

A classic tale appropriate for the day in this short film, Lucky Escape. Includes some mature language. (Thanks Bomser)

And some saucy material, a list of unintentionally xesual books. Save our libraries.

"Seize the moments of happiness, love and be loved! That is the only reality in the world, all else is folly." - Leo Tolstoy

Short term-inator

2012-02-13T05:15:00.000-08:00

Compressed parody goodness created for some "movie in 60 seconds" viral competition... Terminator in 60 Seconds.

And keeping it really brief, The Final Image is a blog of films’ last shots.

"A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably be unendurable." - H. L. Mencken

Concerted effort

2012-02-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

Time lapse of LA's Walt Disney Concert Hall setting the stage for a big shindig, which reminds of a small army of high-speed ants. [bOING bOING]

Speaking of such things, The New York Times takes a look at what the 1 percent does for a living (including an interactive graphic).

And a scales-of-income "walking tour" of the U.S., using Manhattan for its map.

"The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis." - Dante Alighieri

After and before

2012-02-11T07:14:00.000-08:00

Watch how a bodybuilder transforms himself from washboard to washrag in a mere five hours. (And now you know what to make of those too-good-to-be-true miracle infomercial claims.) [bOING bOING]

Also transformed, a series of famous works of art put through the sci-fi ringer.

"Honesty is for the most part less profitable than dishonesty." - Plato

Boots 'n' Cats

2012-02-10T05:15:00.000-08:00

Boot = bass drum, cat = snare. Add a little hi-hat "s" and it makes for a creative and percussive music video experience.

And a bevy of famous works of art improved by cats.

"Human inertia makes the everyday environment, the furniture, as it were, appear to be a given." - Todd Gitlin

Looney-cam

2012-02-09T05:15:00.000-08:00

Insane mofo records himself riding (dirt bike) on an almost-non-existent mountain ridge in snowy Colorado. [Gizmodo]

Also off the beaten path, 30 travel terms that don’t exist but should.

"The road to success is always under construction." – Lily Tomlin

Debunko artist

2012-02-08T05:15:00.000-08:00

Maybe you've been told that the Great Wall of China is visible from space, or that you use only 10% of your brain. While the latter might be true in some cases, check out 10 Misconceptions Rundown, a video by C.G.P. Grey, master explainer.

And a blog featuring a collection of nonsensical newspaper headlines from newsstand sandwich boards from a local newspaper's haiku-like headlines.

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle

Here I come to save the whey

2012-02-07T05:15:00.000-08:00

Wherever there is wrongdoing, Milk Man will be there (before the expiration date) to protect the innocent with his homogenized hurl.

And a calculator to help you answer the question, Is Your Food Spending Normal?

"The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ad bouncer

2012-02-06T05:15:00.000-08:00

Interesting new technique for removing ads from videos.

And a Tumblr of old ads pushing all those products your grandparents loved. (See also: the Vintage Ad Browser.)

"A dollar is not worth as much as you think it is. Your honesty is worth much more." - T. Boone Pickens

As good as the original?

2012-02-05T07:14:00.000-08:00

Nick McKaig, who's really good at reproducing music using just his voice, whips out The Simpsons' theme a capella in what may be his magnum opus. [Gizmodo]

And PillowMob will make you a custom puffy pillow head from a photo of yourself, a friend, or a pet.

"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." - Robert Heinlein

Say it drawkcab

2012-02-04T07:14:00.000-08:00

Girl from Oklahoma can say any word backward, pretty much instantaneously. Ytterp evisserpmi.

Also wordy, Things We Say Today and Owe To Shakespeare, courtesy of the NPR blog.

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." - Oscar Wilde

Fear it

2012-02-03T05:15:00.000-08:00

The new face of terror exposed in this hair-raising short vignette.

And a bonus if you feel like putting the scissors to use, Microsoft has ported the popular iPhone game Cut The Rope so you can play it in your web browser.

Also fur grins, how my cat sees things.

"Sometimes it is better to lose and do the right thing than to win and do the wrong thing." - Tony Blair

Stage flight

2012-02-02T04:44:00.000-08:00

Baby bird crashes bluegrass festival. Cuteness and amusement ensues. Forward to 1:30 if you prefer it easy on the bluegrass.

And also good-natured, though I'm not sure this trend is sustainable.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." - Buddha

Birthday litter box

2012-02-01T03:13:00.000-08:00

What better way to send someone special heartfelt birthday greetings than a godawful cat video that looks like it was filmed in another dimension.

And an you imagineDean Martin, Jack Lemmon and Jerry Lewis in "The Hangover"? This and other examples of movie posters from an alternate universe.

"Age does not diminish the extreme disappointment of having a scoop of ice cream fall from the cone." - Jim Fiebig

If you get the opportunity, jump

2012-01-31T05:15:00.001-08:00

Strange way to mark the days of a year, but I suppose it could get weirder than this guy doing it one backflip at a time. [Gizmodo]

And get to know yourself a little better with What Your Favorite Blog Says About You.

"What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." - Ralph Marston

Jamming phones

2012-01-30T05:15:00.000-08:00

Watch a musician's surprising reaction to a cell phone ringing in the middle of his intense solo performance.

Alternatively, he could have tried the Shakespeare Insult Kit. (Directions for use: choose a word from each of the three columns, and preface with "thou".)

"Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame." - Benjamin Franklin

Cop a move

2012-01-29T07:14:00.000-08:00

Filipino traffic cop adds some style on the job. Or maybe he's just trying not to get run over.

And a bevy of photo remakes of famous art from a recent contest sponsored by Adobe.

"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Theodore Roosevelt

Dribble the town red

2012-01-28T07:14:00.000-08:00

Artist dribbles and dabs to create a portrait of Yao Ming using just a basketball and (fittingly) red paint. [Gizmodo]

And photos of a novel art installation comprising 180,000 tiny people holding up the floor. Also, let 'em eat fake... some truly impressive miniature food art.

"All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Do the job halfway

2012-01-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

Lesson learned: Never get into a prank war with an Aussie, or you'll suffer the wrath of a
42-foot car guillotine. [Gizmodo]

And a macabre and fascinating Tumblr where people offer up how they will shuffle off this mortal coil.

"A cause may be inconvenient, but it's magnificent. It's like champagne or high heels, and one must be prepared to suffer for it." - Arnold Bennett

Take a turn for the worse

2012-01-26T05:15:00.000-08:00

If Rube Goldberg created an ereader, it would be The Page Turner. I'm pretty sure there isn't an app for that.

Also more complex than it needs to be, pasta equations, an epicurean delight for the mathematically inclined.

"Computers make it easier to do a lot of things, but most of the things they make it easier to do don't need to be done." - Andy Rooney

Crowboarding

2012-01-25T05:15:00.000-08:00

Nature works in strange ways, and a crow devising a winter roof-o-lympics sledding event to amuse himself is merely one of them. Either that, or I'll have to change my opinion on witchcraft.

And similarly themed, the photographic series Animalia appears to explore what would happen if PETA and Affirmative Action went too far.

"To subjugate another is to subjugate yourself." - Elbert Hubbard

Curvy pool

2012-01-24T05:15:00.000-08:00

Billiards trick shots well worth watching. Caution: serious English ahead. (And more at the dude's website.)

And use this infographic to figure out whether that guy is a Geek or a Nerd.

"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it." - Jonathan Winters

Uneven platform

2012-01-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

From your friends at Funny or Die, a bad lip reading interpretation of Newt Gingrich's campaign policy views makes as much sense as anything we've got going in Washington today.

And also on matters political, the alter egos of Henry Kissinger, Queen Elizabeth II, et al. make Foreign Policy’s list of fake and entertaining Twitter accounts.

"A leader is a person you will follow to a place you wouldn't go by yourself." - Joel A. Barker

Family ties

2012-01-22T07:14:00.000-08:00

Of all the ways to ask her hand holy matrimony, 22 hours of shooting and whole lot more time editing a stop-motion Lego marriage proposal is probably near the bottom of my list. [CNET]

Also in a family way, is it true when they say, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree"? See for yourself... a few decision trees about The Effect Your Father’s Music Has On Your Own covering a variety of genres.

"To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever." - Henry Drummond

Shovel ready

2012-01-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

Who knows whether it will stand, but a Chinese company put up a 30-story building in a mere 15 days, all caught in a time lapse video.

Not really along the same lines — but definitely faster and topical — build your own president.

"By working faithfully 8 hours a day you may eventually get to be boss and work 12 hours a day." - Robert Frost

Fauxtoshop beauty regimen

2012-01-20T05:15:00.000-08:00

The beauty industry's best-kept secret — including pro-pixel intensifying fauxtanical hydro-jargon microbead extract and more — revealed, or rather ridiculed, in Fotoshop by Adobé.

Also transformative, Street Art - Best of 2011 will give you a new perspective on taking a walk.

"Advertising is the ‘wonder’ in Wonder Bread." - Jef. I Richards

Edible universe

2012-01-19T05:15:00.000-08:00

A tour of the universe via the kitchen, courtesy of Micro Macro. [Gizmodo]

Also lost in space, Scale of the Universe might give you a new perspective on how tiny and insignificant you are.

"Look Dave, I can see you're really upset about this. I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill, and think things over." - HAL 9000

Sez who?

2012-01-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

A worthy follow-on to the original, Sh*t Nobody Says is mostly the funny, snarky truth. (And if that isn't enough, Business Insider rounded up a 10 best 'Sh*t People Say' videos list you might want to look at.)

Also of no use, these presumably one-shot stock photos, a collection of photos so specific and odd you can't imagine how they would be used once, let alone again.

"Some people see things that are and ask, 'Why?' Some people dream of things that never were and ask, 'Why not?' Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that." – George Carlin

iFixate

2012-01-17T05:15:00.001-08:00

Saturday Night Live recently took a swipe at our collective phone fixation with a parody ad for "Headz Up", an app that sends realtime notifications about everything you're missing in life because you're staring at your phone. Sadly, it seems like it would be one of the more useful apps out there. [TechCrunch]

And while it's likely no one predicted we'd end up staring at little black mobile boxes, some of these predictions for the year 2000 made in 1900 are intriguing, and in many cases right on the money.

"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." - Niels Bohr

Shelf-ish

2012-01-16T05:15:00.000-08:00

Lot of word play in The Joy of Books, a colorful stop-motion animation.

And from the Good Book, @TweetTheBible86 that will retell the entire Bible, one verse a day (for 86 Years). [Mashable]

"If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I'd type a little faster." - Isaac Asimov

Ledger domain

2012-01-15T07:14:00.000-08:00

Betcha didn't know that Radwanderung translates to "bicycle tour", one way to say losing your marbles and mountain biking along a ridiculously steep gorge. Big cojones, little trail.

And now for no particular reason, here is ____________ wearing a cat. Kitteh Fashion photos of famous people — for better or worse, an up and coming meme.

"As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Ock n' Oll

2012-01-14T07:14:00.000-08:00

Check out the "Rock Ock", an eight-necked, multiplayer guitar and so-proclaimed world's largest multi-player instrument in action playing "Crossroads". Ladder sold separately. Great if you know players ranging in height from midget to NBA center.

And not too far afield, classic album covers re-created with clip art (and Comic Sans).

"Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end." - Henry David Thoreau

Twirls gone wild

2012-01-13T05:15:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly funny vid of construction workers attempting to subdue an out-of-control concrete buffer (or possibly a power float), punctuated with nicely done play by play improv by the dudes filming it from their window.

Also on the class warfare front, the hippie continuum... what level hippie are you?

"It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech." - Mark Twain

Buckle up

2012-01-12T05:15:00.000-08:00

Spend a few minutes and watch Don's version of People Are Awesome. Incredible scenery and stunts. Highly recommend higher def, like 720p full screen. (Thanks Bomser)

And a curious experiment, Twitter by Post presents an attempt to shift one's tweeting life to old fashioned postcards.

"Hasten slowly." - Augustus

Ice is nice

2012-01-11T05:15:00.000-08:00

Pretty cool under-lake filming and effects featuring two of my favorite things, freezing cold and water. [Thanks TED]

And above ground, Goths Up Trees, candid photos of goths in the wild.

"Fishing, with me, has always been an excuse to drink in the daytime." - Jimmy Cannon

Thin is out

2012-01-10T05:15:00.000-08:00

Good bit of viral marketing from LG with smart thief caught on cam. [TechCrunch]

“Although this dress was one of a kind, apparently he didn’t think that I was his one and only,” and other well-reasoned break-up bargains on Never Liked it Anyway.

"I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders." - Jewish Proverb

All the Rage

2012-01-09T05:15:00.001-08:00

George Mason University's Green Machine marching band plays Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" and does, in fact, kill it. [bOING bOING]

And somehow apropos, whisky in a can gives you eight shots of Scotch in a non-resealable can. Can't imagine anything going wrong with that.

"An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't." - Anatole France

What a long strange trip it's been

2012-01-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

A whole year of backpacking around the world — 17 countries over five continents in 343 days — boiled down to just five minutes. [Gizmodo]

And some well-known American hand gestures to avoid using abroad.

"The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything." - Theodore Roosevelt

Dark Knight Lionized

2012-01-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

Voiceover from the viral "Dark Knight Rises" trailer impressively mashed up with scenes from Disney’s "The Lion King". [Mashable]

And how many titles can you name in these film alphabet "quizzes" from the 1990s, 1980s, and 1960s?

"Without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish men from beasts?" - Confucius

He said she said

2012-01-06T05:15:00.000-08:00

Amusing, dragtastic sketch Sh-t Girls Say pretty much nails it.

And things other people might say, check out vocabulary quizzes at Merriam-Webster’s website for a couple minutes of educational fun. Ten questions, max 10 seconds each.

"Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition." - Timothy Leary

Raider nation

2012-01-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

Does that scene look familiar? Raiders of the Lost Archives shows you a shot-by-shot comparison of the Spielberg/Lucas classic vs. scenes from 30 different adventure films made between 1919 and 1973.

Also derivative, “Catch 182,” “Jane Eyre’s Addiction,” “Green Eggs and M.C. Hammer,” and more book + band name mashups at Booking Bands.

"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking." - George S. Patton

Awe together now

2012-01-04T05:15:00.000-08:00

Folks with large cajones living on the edge of sanity in Like There is No Tomorrow, a compilation of awe-inspiring video clips.

Also risky territory, find your U.S. presidential candidate match using this handy quiz.

"Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward." - Victor Kiam

Animal attraction

2012-01-03T05:15:00.000-08:00

Tech-savvy pet bullfrog plays the game Ant Smasher on a tonguescreen device. [bOING bOING]

And an iPad app that lets you play with pigs. Real pigs, that is. [eater.com]

And in other visual pursuits, Buzzfeed’s collection of the "Most Powerful Images of 2011".

"There is no education like adversity." - Benjamin Disraeli

Bach in business

2011-12-31T07:14:00.000-08:00

Nice visualization of Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 prelude makes it enjoyable to both listen to and watch.

Also, Newt's Nudes, some funny-to-look-at Renaissance photoshoppery featuring Newt Gingrich's head.

"An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision." - James Whistler

Cat-amine

2011-12-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

Kittens trying to grab a snack after waking up from a painkiller-induced nap, complete with dubstep soundtrack. Great resemblance to their post-club human counterparts.

And a sizzling diversion, drag your mouse across the screen and draw with sizzling bacon.

"Success is falling nine times and getting up ten." - Jon Bon Jovi

Living in a world full of wonder

2011-12-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

A different kind of show premieres at a theater in France: Urban Flipper, a 3D light display playing pinball on its facade.

Other impressive imagery, winners from this year’s National Geographic’s photo contest.

"The man who has begun to live more seriously within, begins to live more simply without." - Ernest Hemingway

Merry Techristmas

2011-12-25T07:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the world you live in, where computer-controlled gadgets play Christmas carols with all of the soul you would expect. [Gizmodo].

And an electronics store in Vietnam invested ten people and two weeks to put up this 15-foot tall Christmas tree made from 2,500 "unusable" cell phones, and containing more toxic waste than the typical fake tree. [BI]

"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall." - Larry Wilde

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

Christmas Firework

2011-12-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

Katy Perry's "Firework" in no way qualifies as a Christmas jingle — or even a tolerable song — but good job anyway with this synchronized light display. (Caution: Might induce seizures and voluntary hearing loss.) [Gawker]

And Correlation or Causation?: What Facebook has to do with the Greek debt crisis, and other silly graphs. Correlation may not imply causation, but it sure can help us insinuate it.

"Errors using inadequate data are much less than those using no data at all." - Charles Babbage

Seize one's greetings

2011-12-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

A novel if not somewhat unearthly holiday greeting from British animator Cyriak. It's the thought that counts, I 'spose. [bOING bOING]

And watt's going on...? A gallery of the most out of control Christmas lights displays, courtesy of Gawker.

"Christmas is a time when you get homesick — even when you're home." - Carol Nelson

Nicer than your average bear

2011-12-22T05:15:00.000-08:00

Politeness rules the bear waves in this non-Disney clip.

And not quite as civil, someone put Google Maps Street View to good use in creating "Google Shoot View", a first-person shooter game. [BI]

"Be polite to all, but intimate with few." - Thomas Jefferson

Heads up

2011-12-21T05:15:00.000-08:00

Scary, near head-on collision with a truck on an icy road is yet another reason to believe.

Also in the spirit of the season, some of the all-time ugliest Christmas sweaters.

"The most important single central fact about a free market is that no exchange takes place unless both parties benefit." - Milton Friedman

Journey through the center of life

2011-12-20T05:15:00.000-08:00

Strange trip indeed, this video for The Maccabees' Pelican that runs you right up the gut of life.

And some classic album covers artfully redone in clip-art.

"Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact." - William James

Know when to fold 'em

2011-12-19T05:15:00.000-08:00

Nicely done stop-mo vid called Proteigon shows off a little arts and crafts cinemagic. [Gizmodo]

And no relation, an entertaining collection of the all-time worst family Christmas photos.

"A friend loves you for your intelligence, a mistress for your charm, but your family's love is unreasoning; you were born into it and are of its flesh and blood. Nevertheless it can irritate you more than any group of people in the world." - André Maurois

Pennies to heaven

2011-12-18T07:14:00.000-08:00

A convincing viditorial called Death to Pennies points out another case of government idiocracy.

On the topic of moolah: a huge xkcd infographic about the costs of everything from presidential inaugurations to the annual bill for having one Starbucks latte a day. And Death & Taxes boils down the U.S. federal government budget into a single poster that shows exactly how they're spending it all.

"What this country needs are more unemployed politicians." - Edward Langley

On the bounce

2011-12-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

If you can imagine skatepunks with pogo sticks bouncing around the Matrix, it would look something like this. [Gizmodo]

And more evidence of an identity mix-up, interspecies cross-dressing.

"It is a wise man who knows where courage ends and stupidity begins." - Jerome Cady

Bridge over troubled human

2011-12-16T05:15:00.000-08:00

Not bad singing from this willing baritone human speed bump, who should be able to make the move from reality show to Ford truck commercial.

And in other gratuitous violence, Old Spice now has a website dedicated to blowing things up, virtually speaking. [Gizmodo]

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells." - Dr. Seuss

Beat 'em and smile

2011-12-15T05:15:00.000-08:00

Grumpy school photographer tries to coerce kids into looking unhappy in School Portrait, but the truth will out.

Also, dude franken-shops family members to make genetic portraits with interesting results.

"It takes vision and courage to create -- it takes faith and courage to prove." - Owen D. Young

Whistler's mullet

2011-12-14T05:15:00.000-08:00

Watch this bit of daytime talk show gold as a man-with-a-mullet busts out a one-of-a-kind whistling performance while the audience appears simultaneously amazed and perplexed. Perhaps even funnier without the audio.

And another cultural oddity spotted at what appears to be a Texas fast food drive-though.

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Winston Churchill

Park ranger

2011-12-13T05:15:00.000-08:00

New York City parallel parker extraordinaire shows his stuff in a classic exhibition. [Gawker]

And on the topic of crime and punishment, a map of where adultery is il/legal in the United States.

"Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back." - Thomas Sowell

It will blend

2011-12-12T05:15:00.000-08:00

Watching the effortless blendomorphing of faces in Amalgamation is a trippy, watery and potentially hallucination-inducing experience even without the influence of mind-altering substances. [Gizmodo]

And somebody is watching you... Eyebombing, humanizing the world, one googly eye at a time.

"Change is such hard work." - Billy Crystal

Back to the well

2011-12-11T07:14:00.000-08:00

An old-school circus Well of Death in India featuring seriously impressive driving with just the right Road Warrior atmosphere.

And mostly unrelated, Ugly Renaissance Babies only a mother -- or 15th century painter -- could love.

"I went to a restaurant that serves "breakfast at any time". So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance." - Steven Wright

Subway phone jam

2011-12-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

A likely story: someone ripped off New York band Atomic Tom so they threw down a little jam on the subway using their iPhones. [BI]

And contrastingly for us older fogies, some bygone sounds your kids may likely never have heard. And in response, NPR has collected some modern-day equivalents.

"In this day and time you can't even get sick; you are strung-out! Well by God, I'll tell you something, friend: I have never been strung-out in my life, except on music!" - Elvis Presley

Digital Rube

2011-12-09T05:15:00.000-08:00

A different kind of Rube Goldberg machine at The Experiment, a prod-pro site from Honda lets you piece together some pre-made "machines" in your browser for a quick, fun diversion. [Mashable]

Morph into Neo a little and/or frighten away the casual snoop with this fake code site. Recommended attire: long leather coat and sunglasses.

"That isn't writing at all, it's typing." - Truman Capote

Toy stories

2011-12-08T05:15:00.000-08:00

With a little stop-motion and Google Maps Streetview, Address Is Approximate gives hope to lonely desk toys everywhere. [Gizmodo]

And Escape the Map is some well-done (though not so well disguised) Mercedes-Benz koolaid with a "trapped in Google Maps" plot that makes me think I've seen the movie before.

"When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal." - Napoleon Hill

As the page turns

2011-12-07T05:15:00.000-08:00

Funny and a little poignant, Page 23 is an award-winning short that explores the existential emptiness of living in an IKEA catalog.

And The Content Farm is a funny jab at content mills like Demand Media, featuring "informative articles about every topic, written by people with a passing knowledge."

"The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want." - Ben Stein

Shot clock expired

2011-12-06T05:15:00.000-08:00

Regrettable filmmaking exploit, how to lose $2400 in 24 seconds.

Also in the world of photography, the extent of photoshopping in magazines and advertising is astounding. Toggle the image displays to see how unreal it all is.

"For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mean streets

2011-12-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

Rad and gnarly street ski segment shot on some mean slushy and gravelly urban terrain in British Columbia. (Thanks Joel)

And some creative Haiku Street Signs from a New York City Department of Transportation public-safety campaign.

"Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was." - Dag Hammarskjold

Ultimate frisbee (catch)

2011-12-04T07:14:00.000-08:00

Connecting way down field in an amazing-if-true frisbee throw and catch. Must sea to believe.

And not really related, a cool tool to bring back YouTube looping from the olden days of the interwebs. Make Kate Bush spin forever...

"I can't run, I can't throw, I can't catch, I can't block and I can't tackle and this is my 21st year in the NFL." - John Kasay

another 10 quirky science stunts

2011-12-03T07:14:00.000-08:00

Christmas parties and like are just around the corner, and thankfully Richard Wiseman created another 10 quirky science stunts to "help ensure that you are the life and soul of any party". Good luck with that.

Also a sequel, Irina Werning's Back to the Future 2 perpetuates the meme of recreating old pics. (Semi-warning -- contains a couple random bits of nudity.)

"I'm not anti-science, I'm anti the way science is sometimes used." - Charles, Prince of Wales

Shiatsu Shih Tzu

2011-12-02T05:15:00.000-08:00

A short video that might signal the end of the world. The dog must be torn...

And on the flip side, My Cat is a Dick, a social proving ground for the time-honored opinion.

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

When life hands you lemons

2011-12-01T05:15:00.000-08:00

Hilarity in this quick clip, Lemonade sketch, from Irish TV show "Your Bad Self" that illustrates a potential roadtrip disaster.

And in other misconstruals, a nice collection of occasionally profane rants from the name-abused.

"Delay is preferable to error." - Thomas Jefferson

Vegislative mishap

2011-11-30T05:15:00.000-08:00

Congress has proposed reclassifying pizza as a vegetable for the purpose of "healthy school lunches", and Jonathan Mann has something to say about it in this little ditty. [bOING bOING]

And some Letterman-esque statistics can be had on a new Twitter account called @FakePewResearch... for example: Those who do not learn from history: 15% - doomed to repeat it; 85% - slept in.

"Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are more pliable." - Mark Twain

Stationery stop-motion

2011-11-29T05:15:00.000-08:00

Music video Against The Grain puts colored pencils to good use with novel stop-motion animation, featuring (among other effects) a pencil equalizer that beats along with the music.

And for those so musically-inclined, The Rap Board features rappers’ signature sounds, catchphrases, grunts and more.

"A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere." - Joyce A. Myers

Open the Bombay doors

2011-11-28T05:15:00.000-08:00

A troupe called "The Warriors of Goja" are slightly out of control in this aberrational display of superhuman powers on an Indian talent. Assuming you put eating fluorescent light bulbs, getting run over by cars, etc., in that category... [Gawker]

Also in matters of physical destruction, would you survive a nuke? Enter your ZIP code and drop the simulated big one to find out.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." - Charles M. Schulz

Siri-ous ad

2011-11-25T07:14:00.000-08:00

Another amusing Siri ad parody from the guys over at College Humor. (Warning: Contains strong language and mature themes, so plug the kiddies' ears.)

And a funny Tumblr with a literary bent: what if Cormac McCarthy was a Yelp reviewer...? [bOING bOING]

"A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion." - Chinese Proverb

Pass the gravy

2011-11-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

Another thing to be thankful for today -- Adam Sandler's Thanksgiving Song -- a comic feast performed live.

And The Quest For Every Beard Type from a guy who's grown it 33 ways (and counting).

"Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow." - Edward Sandford Martin

"Thanksgiving is America’s national chow-down feast, the one occasion each year when gluttony becomes a patriotic duty." - Michael Dresser

Breaking bad

2011-11-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

Yoga + breakdancing = Break ton Neck.

And an exhibit of sorts... all the art that you can cram into an Altoids tin.

"Ambition has one heel nailed in well, though she stretch her fingers to touch the heavens." - Lao Tzu

Lights, camera, action, roll 'em

2011-11-22T05:15:00.000-08:00

In what might be the most outlandish Bollywood car chase ever, this clip from an Indian film culminates in our rollerbladed-hero kicking some bad-guy ass with the aid of delightfully realistic special effects. The only thing we have to fear is fear of cars flipping randomly into the air and exploding.

Also ridiculous and movie-related, a not necessarily talented baby recreates stills from famous movie scenes. I normally eschew anything containing a baby, but the effort expended and ultimate effect somehow cross a line for me.

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." - Conrad Hilton

Liquid, courage

2011-11-21T05:15:00.000-08:00

Carlsberg beer ad pulls off a nice prank wherein a movie theater all but full with biker dudes sells the last two tickets to young couples until someone grows a pair.   What would you do...?  (Thanks ABom)

If you've ever sort-of noticed that all movie posters look the same but never really thought about it, you'll probably like this little bit of bloganalysis. [Gizmodo]

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt

Feline a little woozy

2011-11-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

Heralded by its creator as "a small furry dollop of animated whimsy," Welcome to Kitty City is a unique style of psychedelic feline warfare. Drive carefully.

And Teenage Mutant Ninja Noses may signal some sort of nearing social blogging apocalypse.

"A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way." - Mark Twain

Cain promises he is able

2011-11-17T05:15:00.000-08:00

Regardless of your political leanings, you might appreciate a little Mike Tyson in Herman Cain’s Campaign Promises, a F-or-D send-up of the Republican presidential candidate. Early, often, always, everywhere. [Gizmodo]

And somehow distantly related -- and exactly what it sounds like -- Sh-t No One Has Ever Said.

"A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul." - George Bernard Shaw

40 memes later

2011-11-16T05:15:00.000-08:00

Band called "The GAG Quartet" (note that there are three of them) cram 40 memes into one catchy tune. Behold, the national anthem of the internet.

And Drinkify is a useful new tool to help you figure what music goes with which drink. Party on.

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." - Bill Cosby

Where's the fire?

2011-11-15T05:15:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder about the force exerted by the water shooting out of a broken fire hydrant? See what happens to a car that has skidded over the open pipe after one got sheared off. [Gizmodo]

And Winning at Everything highlights the beauty of idiocy so brilliant that it mocks itself. (Thanks Gordon)

"All things are difficult before they are easy." - Thomas Fuller

Don't stop on a dime

2011-11-14T05:15:00.000-08:00

Watch a 99% stoner-looking dude inconceivably balance 3,000 coins on one thin dime in seven time-lapsed hours. [Gizmodo]

Mo' money -- an infographic with some interesting facts about the almighty dollar. And other ways to deal with your change: Tipping Etiquette Around the World.

"A man is usually more careful of his money than of his principles." - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Pee no evil

2011-11-13T07:14:00.000-08:00

Meet Oscar, a peculiar dog with a not-often-seen posture issue who might provide impetus for a change to his namesake acting award statue.

Also odd and hirsute, the Leg Hair Font, a hairy typeface created without a computer.

"Every noble work is at first impossible." - Thomas Carlyle

Paper proof water

2011-11-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

A music video called "Pirate's Life" entirely hand-drawn with markers on paper. Visual fairly cool, audio your call. [Kijek / Adamski]

If you've ever sort-of noticed that all movie posters look the same but never really thought about it, you'll probably like this little bit of bloganalysis. [Gizmodo]

"Bad artists copy. Good artists steal." - Pablo Picasso

Living small

2011-11-11T05:15:00.000-08:00

In an amusing clip from the Conan O'Brien Show, Louis C.K. vociferates like (almost) only he can about the deterioration of human fabric in the smartphone generation. [Gizmodo]

Also on matters of dubious value, HuffNo, a Tumblr that pokes fun at the Huffington Post.

And a vaguely related bonus: best name for a cute site ever.

"I rant, therefore I am." - Dennis Miller

Birds of a feather

2011-11-10T05:15:00.000-08:00

It's a natural phenomenon, sure, but murmuration -- huge flocks of birds sweeping the skies as if a single coordinated organism -- is a pretty freaky sight to behold. [Gizmodo]

Also from the scary world out there, terrifying teeth and menacing mouths abound at Nature Wants to Eat You.

"If I could come back as anything, I'd be a bird, first, but definitely the command key is my second choice." - Nikki Giovanni

Father Cooks Best

2011-11-09T05:15:00.000-08:00

If PB&J was your dad's idea of cooking, you might appreciate this parody, Top Chef: Dads, featuring a battle among that division's culinary elite. [Gizmodo]

And an amusing compilation of magazine top tips that need no parody.

"Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." - John D. Rockefeller

Pansy division

2011-11-08T05:15:00.000-08:00

Recently released secret DoD footage reveals a micro-dog in a tank costume that could be our last line of defense against invading hordes of squeaky toys.

And may the best letter win at Type Fight.

"In the long course of history, having people who understand your thought is much greater security than another submarine." - J. William Fulbright

Cool beans

2011-11-07T05:15:00.000-08:00

A stop-motion music video, "In Your Arms", painstakingly made with 288,000 jelly beans.

If you enjoyed Google's "Do a Barrel Roll" search trick making the rounds last week, you might also like these other whimsical search Easter eggs from the Googleplex.

"Data is not information; Information is not knowledge; Knowledge is not understanding; Understanding is not wisdom." - Cliff Stoll and Gary Schubert

Sonic bloom

2011-11-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

I'd buy a bunch more often if they looked like these flowers awakening in the morning when viewed at normal speed.

And like a blog in a candy store, the so-called Scandybars represents the cutting edge of scanning.

"And the heart that is soonest awake to the flowers is always the first to be touch'd by the thorns." - Thomas Moore

Up with people

2011-11-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

This YT uploader asserts that People Are Awesome, and I'd have to agree if by that he means absolutely freakin' nuts.

Also somewhat out of position, a bevy of models looking just slightly off kilter at Awkward Poses.

"I became insane with long periods of horrible sanity." - Edgar Allan Poe

Cleared for takeoff

2011-11-04T05:15:00.000-07:00

Would airlines fare any better getting you to listen if they traded in the generally unenthusiastic pre-flight instructions for a comedy sketch? [The Consumerist]

So it's you and 6,999,999,999 people on the planet. What's your number? (Remember to enter your DOB the British way: dd/mm/yyyy.) [Gizmodo]

"The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet." - William Gibson

Innuendo smorgasbord

2011-11-03T05:15:00.000-07:00

For whatever reason, cooking shows like the UK's Celebrity MasterChef seem to make for great double entendres.

Also a little uncomfortably saucy is this site where one of the Village People will groan out your IP address in a gravely voice. Fairly too creepy for my blood.

"What makes resisting temptation difficult for many people is they don't want to discourage it completely." - Franklin Jones

Makes your head spin

2011-11-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

Nice little animated micro-series from Open University called 60-Second Adventures in Thought. Our education system might be able to learn a little about how math, physics, etc., should be taught.

And a thinking-man's water fountain, Metalmorphosis, is a mirrored moving masterpiece located in Charlotte, NC. Fourteen tons of rotating stainless steel layers that form a giant bald head, equipped with live webcam.

"All the forces in the world are not so powerful as an idea whose time has come." - Victor Hugo

Better living through technology

2011-11-01T05:15:00.000-07:00

Amusing little parody ad from Google, no less, blasting the poor state of affairs of online shopping. Though regardless of how poor the experience, the lazy among us will not be deterred.

And influenced by The Onion is this recently launched site called Outkube that caters to moronic internet commenters. It's about time they had a burning platform.

"There art two cardinal sins from which all others spring: Impatience and Laziness." - Franz Kafka