Season of discontent

Well done if not difficult to believe passive-aggressive Christmas light display in Brighton, England.

And what your Christmas tree says about you.

"If the truth were self evident, eloquence would be unnecessary." - Cicero

Macquest

Nice and well done vid called The Legend of Digital Zelda is a computer-hopping adventure that might as well be an Apple advert.

And at my age, this real-time simulation to visualize U.S. births and deaths is just a little unnerving. [Gizmodo]

"A man's errors are his portals of discovery." - James Joyce

Frig Newton

With balls that roll uphill and blocks that climb ladders, this Rube Goldberg machine apparently defies the laws of physics for its one-minute run. [Gizmodo]

Also in a change of pace, Africans unite to donate radiators to less fortunate Norwegians so they don't die of frostbite. Satirical philanthropy is indeed uncharted territory.

"We've put more effort into helping folks reach old age than into helping them enjoy it." - Frank Howard Clark

Saxy lady

Might Beyonce's "Single Ladies" possibly improved through Benny Hill-ification in this mashup with Yakety Sax...?

And random combinations in Nietzsche Cats, an automated Tumblr experiment that adds Nietzsche quotes to pictures of cats.

"The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen." - Tommy Smothers

Perspective

The Rubik's Cube that isn't and other things your brain makes up in these amazing anamorphic illusions. [NPR]

And these shots of planned cities seen from space yield some unexpected macro-art.

"I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road." - Stephen Hawking

Don't follow

Science sinks to a new low as man dupes real birds into tweeting on Twitter.

And a collection called "Thanks, Textbooks" showcases the very best from the world's academic writing.

"Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status." - Laurence J. Peter

Pet peeve

Highly amusing video "Cat-Friend vs. Dog-Friend" completely nails the popular stereotypes of the pet world. [Mashable]

And some bad taxidermy photos that actually are quite good.

"Being right too soon is socially unacceptable." - Robert A. Heinlein

Morphing addict

A vase? A fish? A hat? All three??? But what is it? And what would you do with it?

And even if you're not a math nerd, these animated factorization diagrams are just a little mesmerizing.

"Change brings opportunity." - Nido Qubein

McTiny

Interesting demonstration — you can skip through to the end once you get the idea — of creating a tiny-but-edible fast food meal by combining some powder packets and water.

And a compendium of home arts and crafts failures when the less capable among us attempt to recreate the items they saw on the interwebs.

"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work." - Oprah Winfrey

Variety show

In a musical talent tour de force, Mia brilliantly cranks out about 57 varieties of the Stanley Steemer jingle in a multitude of styles.

And however you want to use it, choose the right apple with this flow chart to aid in your pomaceous decision-making.

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." - Mark Twain

Night and day

Novel variation on the time lapse riff — splicing day shots and night shots into the same frame for an interesting effect. Seeing people walk past sun-lit buildings while cars drive by at night is a little visually confusing. [Gizmodo]

And in case the Mayans were right about December 21st, Clockalypse is a countdown clock that suggests ways to make the most of your remaining time on Earth.

"Worry doesn't help tomorrow's troubles, but it does ruin today's happiness." - Gary A. Freedman

Happy medium

In what looks to be the best installment so far in its TED parody series, The Onion tears into the social media business for being the largely overwrought and vapid wasteland it tends to be. [Gizmodo]

And surely this guy is the world's best father, what with the photos and mug to prove it...?

"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." - Henry David Thoreau

AC/ad

Summer's long gone, but better late than never, they say. Can you remember any ads you've seen, ever, for air conditioners? Well BGH has made some that are perhaps too memorable — "Dads in Briefs", which I'm not sure if creepier than "Summer Hater". [CNET]

And this dude must surely be setting some records balancing impressive amounts of random stuff on his better half's head while she blissfully sleeps, unaware.

"Among famous traitors of history, one might mention the weather." - Ilka Chase

Crocodile rocks

Authentic and amazing stunt footage of every single attempt of the "crocodiles as stepping stones" scene from the Bond movie Live and Let Die. Yup, they used real crocs. [bOING bOING]

And strap yourself in for a semi-spectacular 360-degree thrill ride in a Formula One racer. [Mashable]

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill

Big buildup

Watch a world record fall in the form of the longest 3D domino structure ever — 18,800 of them — get toppled.

And Obsessionistas, an online collection of collections.

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." - Walter Elliot

Happenstance duet

Nice serendipitous jam in Miles Davis vs. LCD Soundsystem, which uses no editing or funny business, just two simultaneously played videos. [bOING bOING]

And more hidden secrets, this time in a Tumblr of Windows 95 Dark Side Tips. More power than you ever knew.

"We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology." - Carl Sagan

Turkey whisperer

Simple things to amuse a simple mind — man gets a big kick out of talking to turkeys. Seems like maybe he's spent a little too much time down on the farm...

And if your Facebook feed isn't oozing with revolting sentiment, check out Nauseating Inspirational Bulls--t From Facebook with its hilariously biting ultra-snarky commentary to brighten your day and make you truly thankful.

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein

Pool rules

Mini, mischievous monkeys are cute and all, but have no concept of poolside manners. "Cannonball!"

And a couple of weeks post-election, a live feed of Mitt Romney's "likes" shows a slow deflation in this form of support. Odd that people even bother.

"A fool is a terrible thing to have around, but a fool with energy is a nightmare." - Russian proverb

Warp path

Surreal and bizarre is this "time remapping" video, which someone believes signals the age of technology advancement that allowed computers to start creating art for us. [bOING bOING]

"Fingerman", “Live and Let Love”, and some other good titles you might get when you spin the James Bond movie generator.

"To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect." - Oscar Wilde

Outtakes

Enjoy some intergalactic turbulence with Star Trek - Gaseous Anomalies, a series of clips that should not have been as funny as it was.

And this website called Film versus Music randomly links a movie scene to a music clip. Yakety Sax vs. Commando (or versus anything else, for that matter) does the trick.

"I lost some time once. It's always in the last place you look for it." - Neil Gaiman

Buck private

And sorta creepy dude with camera wanders around Seattle, filming people without their permission, to make a point. We get bent out of shape over stuff like this, yet passively and tacitly accept surveillance cameras as a part of everyday life.

Also for the somewhat paranoid, a site to check if your credit card is stolen. (A nice warning produced by the Anti-Phishing Working Group. Pass it along.)

"Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but, unlike charity, it should end there." - Clare Booth Luce

Prankly speaking

Take your yapping business into public and risk the consequences, especially when these cell phone crashers are around. [Mashable]

If your method of dealing with telemarketers is to simply not answer the phone, Call Hating will show you the enormous entertainment opportunity you're missing.

And in case you missed it, a summary of the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships in Finland. Looks like Nokia is still popular somwehere. (Or see the competition's website for more details.)

"Communism is like one big phone company." - Lenny Bruce

Topless breach

This 11' 8" bridge that peels the tops off trucks like mobile sardine cans is so bad-ass that it has its own website. [bOING bOING]

And 99 life hacks to make your existence easier. They span the range from brilliant to OCD anal retentive, though filtering emails on the word "unsubscribe" will wreck all your legit email lists.

"History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind." - Edward Gibbon

Repeat offender

Just one photo on the Tumblr Dogshaming wouldn't be enough for this mutt, so his owner had to shoot the "ultimate dogshaming video" to make his point. [Mashable]

And a collection of animated GIFs immortalizing those hapless infomercial characters who need to get their sh*t together.

"If you fear making anyone mad, then you ultimately probe for the lowest common denominator of human achievement." - Jimmy Carter

Not ready for prime time

Possibly more disturbing than the actual movie, "The Exorcist" re-cut as an 80s sitcom works if you like your heebie-jeebies with cheese. [Mashable]

And other enigmas, Mysteries of Vernacular is etymology animated in (eventually) 26 installments, one for each letter of the alphabet.

"The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding." - Albert Camus

Suit yourself

Pay no attention to the gorilla. Might this homemade (seriously) TV spot for Souvlaki Hut be the worst ad ever?

And generallybetter-crafted, YouTube Haikus, some little video nuggets of comedy gold.

"A man who is afraid to make mistakes is unlikely to make anything." - John Cleese

Don't open the box

Ostensibly cute animation about Schrodinger's Cat takes a sharp turn into disturbo-land. Well done, though.

And some bizarre and spooky GIFs, made from animated old black and white photos.

"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill

Flippin' amazing (literally)

Vi Hart with a quick lesson on Hexaflexagons, paper folded geometrically such that it bends the mind. If this were the 17th century, she'd be burned at the stake.

And check out the innards of peoples' libraries at Share Your Shelf, a Tumblr for bookshelf voyeurs.

"Cherish that which is within you, and shut off that which is without; for much knowledge is a curse." - Zhuangzi

Knock 'em dead

San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain shows off his arm to the Mythbusters crew with a fastball version of skeet shooting.

And speaking of accuracy, make your keyboard sing with Typing Karaoke.

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." - Vince Lombardi

Might as well

A collection of feline fails, "Cat Special Forces", set to an appropriate soundtrack.

And actually, literally, what your crutch word says about you.

"I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places." - Henny Youngman

Road work

Take a break from sitting still with this picturesque (to say the least) road trip across America, from sea to shining sea in under four minutes. [Mashable]

And more sightseeing, Share Your Shelf, a Tumblr for bookshelf voyeurs.

"Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be." - Daniel J. Boorstin

Algoween

A bit of a nerdly Halloween extravaganza, starting with Pumpktris, a fully playable version of Tetris implemented in a pumpkin. [Engadget]

Possibly useful — or maybe just nostalgic — today is Ze Frank's guide to trading Halloween candy. Everything you need to know to come out ahead when swapping sweets. [bOING bOING]

Also potentially useful, the Candy Hierarchy.

"It is bad luck to be superstitious." - Andrew W. Mathis

Slow -- children

Never woulda guessed that a laughing baby at half-speed sounds remarkably like an enthusiastic dumb giant on nitrous and Demerol.

What's in a name? Eight countries seem to think there's something worth making special laws about. And Hong Kong apparently loves weird English names.

"When I was a boy the Dead Sea was only sick." - George Burns

Shape up

Sprinkle some salt on a tray and sonically vibrate it to form different patterns, depending on the pitch. Sound does have a shape, and physics *is* cool, dammit.

And 21 well-known writers try their hand fingers at Twitter fiction, 140-character "novels".

"Asking a working writer what he thinks about critics is like asking a lamppost how it feels about dogs." - Christopher Hampton

The truth hurts. Period.

Some guy wrote on a tampon company's Facebook page that its ads are less than truthful, explaining that his girlfriend's wonderful time of the month isn't so wonderful. The company responded, amusingly.

And another lesson in how to handle adverse circumstances, How to Respond to Legal Threats with Cute Animals.

"By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher." - Socrates

Ruff and ready

Day in the life video as dog gets ready for another hectic day of dogginess.

And from "alpha male" to "You're The Man now, dog", Metaphor Dogs is a compendium of canine figures of speech.

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." - Arthur Conan Doyle

Paris-sights

If you can’t spring for a trip, this artful video of Paris via stop-motion is probably the next best thing.

And with "cheeky" and "spot on" seeping into our vernacular, it's clear that the Britishisms are here. There's even a blog for it, Not One-Off Britishisms.

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." - Stanley Horowitz

Worth spreading

The Onion kicked off its first spoof of the TED Talks in its new series Onion Talks with cars that run on compost. [GigaOm]

And get this on your radar going forward — the Ridiculous Business Jargon Dictionary. (Reminds me of previously reported corporate-jargon translator called Unsuck It.)

"If the lessons of history teach us anything it is that nobody learns the lessons that history teaches us." - Anonymous

Pink'd

After little brother messes with big brother's Facebook profile, the home decor payback is complete, merciless, and thoroughly pink.

And this summer, Honest Tea conducted experiments in 30 cities to test people's honesty and compiled findings into the National Honesty Index.

"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently." - Warren Buffett

A fate worse than

Might this be the worst — or best — movie death scene ever? Apparently, a clip from the classic Turkish movie "Kareteci Kiz 1973". [bOING bOING]

Also a little on the sketchy side, Sketchbooks of the Pros

"The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing." - Marcus Aurelius

Leap of space

Felix Baumgartner's insane-but-record-setting jump from the edge of space, deftly recreated in Lego.

And if you're wondering how high that really was, The Measure of Things might help you put it in perspective.

"Being on the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting." - Karl Wallenda

Contortion B major

Thoroughly impressive exhibition by a musical contortionist performing at a TED event in Mongolia. Impossible bending in ways God did not intend, with some self-accompaniment.

And then there's this site called HeTexted lets women post texts from men they met to ask what they mean. Proof of texting's deleterious effects on gender relations. It's not that complicated — don't over-think it.

"A mother takes twenty years to make a man of her boy, and another woman makes a fool of him in twenty minutes. - Robert Frost

Alternate transportation

Bus-rider invents a little game called Man-eater to entertain people on their daily commute.

And a few good reviews posted for this field guide called, The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America. ("This book is easily one of the top four reference guides for shopping carts available on the market today.") Makes a great gift, no doubt.

"When a subject becomes totally obsolete we make it a required course." - Peter Drucker

More than a game

Well-done halftime extravaganza from the Ohio State University marching band featuring a video game theme. [bOING bOING]

And Honest NFL Logos — the truth may hurt, but it's still the truth.

"Sure, luck means a lot in football. Not having a good quarterback is bad luck." - Don Shula

Magical mystery

Kitties get into some top-shelf catnip in this seriously psychedelic Litter Genie ad. "I haz no smelly" (and a toast-shaped head). [AdWeek]

And don't ask me why or how he figured this out, but Franklin Bruno has discovered that if you simultaneously play the 1964 minimalist song 'In C' with the 1976 disco tune 'Love in C Minor,' the result might bend the mind. [bOING bOING]

"Advertising - a judicious mixture of flattery and threats." - Northrop Frye

Fashion fast forward

Impressively choreographed 100 years of fashion in 100 seconds from trend-setting East London.

And the fedora draws major fire in internet circles, with sites like You Shouldn’t Wear That Fedora and Fedoras of OKC (dating site OK Cupid) devoted to shaming those that dare don the dandy dorkwear.

"Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new." - Henry David Thoreau

Didn't see that coming

Straight to the point in exposing a fake clairvoyant without wasting a second.

And some high quality trolling from Horsey Surprise in the traditional and refined sense of the art form, setting the bait and grabbing the reactions.

"Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion." - Jim Rohn

It's to scale

Funded by a presumably large chunk of dough from Red Bull, this building-size Rube Goldberg machine combines "freerunners" (insane humans) and large objects with parkour to create what is perhaps the ultimate effort in achieving a trivial and near-pointless result. Interesting to watch, though. [bOING bOING]

And awkward stock video, a dorkfest of a collection of strange and weirdly-specific stock video footage.

"Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men."
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Table the motion

Interesting demonstration wherein 32 metronomes started at different times eventually end up in sync.

And FILMography, a gallery of movie still photos held up in front of the locations and landmarks where they were shot.

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." - Maria Robinson

Makin' magic

From behind a building, off the wall, or on a slide or merry-go-round, it's the "world premiere" of this rendition of astounding basketball trick shots straight from the great state of North Dakota. [Mashable]

And some images to make perfectionists suffer.

"Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often." - Mae West

Exploit yourself

Well in time for Christmas, this Chinese Electronics Factory Worker console game lets you relive the thrilling experience that created your console in the first place.

And how much do teachers earn in your town? Are they scraping by or raking in? Also, the world’s 10 most expensive cities to live, based on how long it would take residents to earn enough to buy a Big Mac, an iPhone and more.

"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours."
- Hunter S. Thompson

Alt control

This mini-film about a clever cat that's had enough of his human and decides to take control presents a terrifying vision of a world turned upside down.

And StreamRead is a new type social web service that turns all your social media streams/feeds into a glossy magazine to read at your leisure. Satire, of course, as you'll see when you check out the amusing sample covers.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace."
- Jimi Hendrix

Line

Hercules, disappointed, as legendary actor Kevin Sorbo confuses stage direction with spoken dialogue. This could become a staple phrase / major league internet meme.

And 16 unfortunate misuses of punctuation.

"I think the world is run by 'C' students." - Basketball Hall Of Famer, Al McGuire

Found in space

Heartwarming short clip of tech-dad who sends his son's favorite toy into the stratosphere, with camera and GPS on board.

And another interesting adventure in space, cheerful Brad live-tweets his first acid trip at a fraternity barbecue.

"A day without sunshine is like, you know, night." - Steve Martin

Fan fare

Nice ploy by Doritos getting people to make them a TV commercial for free. And not a bad one, I might add.

And yuks abound in this imaginary collection of bad children's books.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Scratch that

Tell me this real and spectacular motorcycle accident doesn't look like a video game. [SV.com]

And a handwriting font for doctors that looks pretty authentic as well.

"Hope is a pleasant acquaintance, but an unsafe friend." - Thomas Chandler Haliburton

Measure twice, cut once

Bob's Workshop gives you handy step-by-step instructions on how to build a bookshelf — if you're man enough to follow them.

And photo aging: five guys, 30 years, one pose.

"Great acts are made up of small deeds." - Lao Tzu

Good migrations

The hills are alive with the sound of scuttling that is the wonderful horror of hermit crabs migrating. You may ask yourself where all those crabs are going and why. Not unlike our beaches in the 70s, if you think about it. As one commenter put it, "It's like a magical cross between a classic car show and the walking dead. Strangely beautiful." [bOING bOING]

And can you identify the arse or bishop in these obscured photos, or are you going to hell?

"If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself." - Confucius

iDisappoint

A post-Cold War slap from this Eastern Bloc iPhone unboxing gag. More proof-positive we want the government doing everything for us.

And a Tumblr of some damning iPhone Maps debacle humor.

"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose."
- Bill Gates

Dogs suck

While not likely a film you want to see, the "Vampire Dog" trailer is pretty entertaining and gives you yet another chance to hear Norm MacDonald voiceover a live action dog.

And if you feel like you've seen that one before, here's a little infographic on Hollywood's waning creativity.

Also on the silver screen topic, see what you know about classic movie outfits. (Highlight the black boxes to see the answers.)

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

Bird brain

Give a bird a fish and you feed him for a day. Give a bird fishing tackle and it's a whole other story.

And if you need to kill a few minutes, play six degrees of Kevin Bacon on Google.

"You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I'm not hungry enough to eat six."
- Yogi Berra

Cool bus

What certainly must be the best bus commercial ever made comes to us from Denmark, so make sure you click the "CC" button to get subtitles. [Buzzfeed]

Also, what a real life Clue mansion would cost you.

"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city." - George Burns

Hoods in the hood

Hooded parkour aficionado takes his best shot at a real-life demo of the video game "Assassin’s Creed", acrobatting over walls, building ledges, fountains, etc. [Mashable]

And if you find that it takes too long to get to the good part when playing Windows Solitaire, now you can have the gain without the pain.

"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." - George Bernard Shaw

Undercut

Amazon, purveyor of fine computin' tablets, unveils the incredibly versatile "Wendell", a new device that beats even its ultra-cheap $69 basic Kindle, in this imaginative ad from Conan O’Brien and Team Coco. [Mashable]

And LOL and other figures of speech don't always mean what you think they do in the private language of New York restaurant-ese.

"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein

Happy hour

Watch as a so-proclaimed world's best bartender puts on an impressive drink-making show. But three minutes to pour a cocktail...? Beer might be your best bet. (Thanks rasric)

And only vaguely related, America's best public bathrooms, an annual contest run by Cintas, maker of supplies for fine crappers everywhere. [bOING bOING]

"If you want something done right, get someone else to do it." - Marion Giacomini

Spin cycle

An amusing little Physics 101 exhibition, rodent style, in 2 Hamsters 1 Wheel.

And Cats in Stupid Places proves yet again that feline foolery on the interwebs is undoubtedly funny.

"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Keys to life

Never lose your car keys again with the Keycopter, a brand new airbreaking invention.

And consider a new set of badass middle finger keys to go with your new attitude.

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

Penmanship

Timelapse video of artist Patrick Vale in an Empire State of Pen, as he draws a view of the Manhattan skyline from that iconic building.

And a Timeline of Future Events, including a Venus landing, New York enclosed in a big dome, and what happens to Lady Gaga, as predicted by novels and stories.

"I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose." - Woodrow Wilson

No chickens

Watch this feather-raising clip of an insane momma duck leading her ducklings across five busy lanes of freeway traffic. [Mashable]

And this for-some-reason fascinating wind map shows you the "delicate tracery of wind flowing over the US".

"Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold." - Helen Keller

Channel strategy

Lip-sync'd adults plow deadpan through a ridiculous script "written" by children in this debut installment of "Kid Snippets", Salesman, from BoredShortsTV.

Also, an amusing blog called Fake Science, a "less-than-factual" site crammed with "scientifically-flavored information" that is best consumed "when the facts are too confusing." (And read this Smithsonian Mag article if you're interested in how it came to be.)

"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." - Abraham Lincoln

Why not?

How better to kill part of a long boring retail shift than to come up with better names for things in the store's inventory...?

And xkcd has begun to answer hypothetical questions at What If?.

"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it." - Andre Gide

How low can you go?

Tim Storms holds the world record for the lowest note ever sung by a human — a G-7, or 0.189 Hz. Listen here as he belts out "Amazing Grace" with some amazing bass. [bOING bOING]

And an amusing Tumblr known as Dogshaming features photos submitted by dog owners publicly humiliating their hounds with explanatory signage. [Mashable]

"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andy Rooney

Break time

Take note: this Breaking Bad dance remix music vid may be the TV show trailer of the future. (Warning: spoilers for seasons 1 and 2.) [bOING bOING]

And if you're having trouble keeping up with which celebrities are still kickin', Death Rumors might be a big help.

"Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake." - W.C. Fields

Blazing forehand

In the spirit of all the "sports" recently on exhibit in London, the Slow Mo Guys have come up with fire tennis, a slightly more entertaining version of the traditional game.

And Sometimes Interesting is a blog cataloging "weird, forgotten and sometimes interesting things," a goldmine of the abandoned, remote and fascinating contrivances of mankind.

"Fire is the best of servants; but what a master." - Thomas Carlyle

Where credit is due

Does your wallet pack the plastic to power this percussive party of pioneering pop players?

Or if you prefer writing checks to plastic, maybe you could use a box of these Bigfoot checks. [bOING bOING]

"Do you think that when they asked George Washington for ID that he just whipped out a quarter?" - Steven Wright

Cookieman

Mystery solved about the deja vu you experience listening to Christian Bale's "Batman" voice. [bOING bOING]

A few months old, but nonetheless, what might be the best Craigslist used car ad of all time. [Mashable]

"All men are frauds. The only difference between them is that some admit it. I myself deny it." - H. L. Mencken

Bored games

Remember "step on the crack, break your mother's back" and other little boredom-killing games you played as a kid? (Which sadly may be dying off due to fawning parents and digital babysitters. George Carlin was a keen observer.)

And Ms. Attribution, a Tumblr that matches song lyrics and quotes from pop culture with historical figures.

"If time flies when you're having fun, it hits the afterburners when you don't think you're having enough." - Jef Mallett

Falling down

Some of this Ultimate Fainting Compilation I can understand, but what is it about the weddings...? [Mashable]

And Coolness Graphed delivers verdicts on wrapped in bacon, muffin tops, and other such topics of interest.

"Whenever you find you are on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." - Mark Twain

Modern problems

While amusing, this iPhone 5 parody commercial is more a sad confession and sobering reflection of the modern condition than anything else. [Gizmodo]

And wonder what Steve Jobs' typical day is like? See the last answers (click, "2 Answers Collapsed"). Harsh.

"Things do not change; we change." - Henry David Thoreau

Deep appreciation

Man enjoys delicious drive-thru burger, perhaps more than he should, and gets autotuned. I wonder if 5 Guys would consider an advertising run?

And on the opposite end of the spectrum, a thoughtful Tumblr in which the blogger "tells off" annoying elements of interior design.

"The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for." - Maureen Dowd

First-bird perspective

Check out this falcon helmet-cam if you want to see what it's like to hunt with nature's top-notch pro. Birdseye action starts around the two-minute mark. [Gizmodo]

And a website that spits out answers to the question, "What the #$%&! has NASA done to make your life awesome?"

"Today, you have 100% of your life left." - Tom Landry

Mission mash

Parody music vid "We're NASA and We Know It" mashes up LMFAO's hit with the NASA Curiosity mission in honor of the Mars landing. [bOING bOING]

And our world looks very strange from the perspective of the ground, as you'll see in these pictures from below. [Gizmodo]

"Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they are open." - Sir James Dewar

Do not call

Haven't seen a chatroulette skit in a while? There's probably a good reason. Until now, with this "Call Me Maybe" version.

And some guerilla art on the London Underground illustrates the tragedy (and humor) of the commons.

"As I grow to understand life less and less I grow to love it more and more." - Jules Renard

Last laughs

Some good, some bad, all insane — a nice compilation of the 100 greatest maniacal laughs in movie history. [Mashable]

And for no particular reason, famous album covers re-created with socks. (Yes, hosiery. Sock 'n roll.)

"You don't stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing." - Michael Pritchard

Better life

Some ways you may have never thought of to make things easier, Quick and Simple Life Hacks offers a list of quick and helpful tips 'n tricks.

And spoiled brats show off their bling things on the Rich Kids of Instagram.

"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't."
- Erica Jong

Dinner reading

A real actor gives a dramatic reading of a Yelp review for your thumbs up or down; the first in a series.

And the Exploratorium has the Science of Cooking, featuring profound pickle philosophy, molecular art of grilling, a spice map and more.

Also, some redesigned nutrition labels, winners of a contest to make them more user-friendly.

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table." - Ronald Reagan

PiPiPiP...

Fun on the Internet — friends take a picture in a picture in a picture video making a seemingly endless loop (well, 55 anyway) of pictures. [Gizmodo]

And a chronological map of "Pulp Fiction" makes a handy reference when watching it yet again.

"I've had a few arguments with people but I never carry a grudge. You know why? While you’re carrying a grudge, they're out dancing." - Buddy Hackett

Roadrageous

One driver takes roadway revenge on a second in this eyewitness video.

Also vehicular, some pretty creative literal humor.

"A man will fight harder for his interests than for his rights." - Napoleon Bonaparte

Hand me my wedge

Dude athletically attempts running leap to clear a golf cart, but comes up a little shorts. [Mashable]

And do you have the body of a weightlifter, basketball player, or gymnast? Find out with this interactive Olympic body matcher from the BBC.

"Leap, and the net will appear." - John Burroughs

Think tube

Take a break with Subway Thoughts, a contemplative, animated video series from Kurttoons.

Also from the Big Apple, the Trash Museum, a gallery of scavenged art in a sanitation garage.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." - Will Rogers

Summer in the city

It's been hot in New York this summer, hot enough to melt the Statue of Liberty like a giant ice cream.

And New Math used to quantify summer vacation.

"A pint of sweat saves a gallon of blood." -- General George S. Patton

Re-Bolt-ing

If you missed Usain Bolt’s 100m gold run Sunday night, here’s another option for viewing: the race depicted brick-by-brick in Legos, courtesy of the folks at The Guardian. [Mashable]

And 2,500 photos stitched together into a 20-gigapixel panorama of central London.

"It's always too early to quit." - Norman Vincent Peale

Down these mean tweets

Recent Jimmy Kimmel segment with celebs reading mean tweets directed at them. Better have thick skin to be in showbiz. (And a network censor at the ready. Caution: Some bleeped profanity.)

Also, the 10 weirdest things for sale on eBay, topped off by this bit of ridiculousness.

"No man lives without jostling and being jostled; in all ways he has to elbow himself through the world, giving and receiving offense." - Thomas Carlyle

Paper cuts

Worth checking is this bueno stop-motion video, "Tap to Retry", that an art academy student whipped up for her graduation project. [Mashable]

Also on paper, the winners just keep piling up at Awful Library Books. Among the latest: "Scream Your Way to Mental Health" and "Naked Nomads Unmarried Men in America".

And The Oxford English Fictionary. Defining words that aren't real. Yet.

"I told my dentist my teeth are going yellow. He told me to wear a brown tie." - Rodney Dangerfield

Banter up

I've never seen "Samurai Cop", but this little exchange makes it difficult to decide whether the acting, writing, or directing is the worst thing ever to grace any screen.

And something to permanently tick off your third grade teacher — misspelled tattoos.

"I don't believe in the no-win scenario." -- James Tiberius Kirk

Hangin' around

Something called "iQuad" flies a half dozen choreographed kites to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". And there's Ray Bethell, a world-champion professional kite flyer — who has managed as many as 39 kites in the air — flying three kites balletically.

And look ma, no bicycle. Floating photos that seem to be missing something.

"Creative without strategy is called 'art'. Creative with strategy is called 'advertising'."
- Jeff I. Richards

Historiff

A brief history of (some of) rock n' roll via 100 famous guitar riffs, done in one take.

And famous songs reinterpreted by tech nerds, as old computer disk drives cover "Bohemian Rhapsody", "What is Love", and others.

"Blues is easy to play, but hard to feel." - Jimi Hendrix

Challenging

The 135 Space Shuttle launches, all in one shot, the Grand Finale.

Got a minute? Here's a ridiculously frustrating and impossible 60-second game where you use your arrow keys to navigate a constantly-changing pathway.

"In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risks you take." - Adlai Stevenson

Square up

Super Mario brought to life with 7,000 Post-it® notes in a stop-motion animated video. [bOING bOING]

And use this handy calculator to figure out how many Legos it would take to build your house.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas A. Edison

Save me

Five months and 4,600 photos, with about 60 hours of filming and 20 more editing, result in Bonnie Tyler's "I Need a Hero" brought to life as a fantastic claymation epic.

And a nice bit of pareidolia in these eggs dismayed at their own fate.

"Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist." - George Carlin

Self-styled

Proving that Hollywood does indeed feed on itself, a Supercut of Sorkinisms (Aaron). Probably helps avoid writer's block, anyway.

And an amazing children's book from the post-War era, Hansi, the Girl who Loved the Swastika apparently is the biography of a real person.

"All good books have one thing in common — they are truer than if they had really happened." - Ernest Hemingway

Around and about

Six years in 24 countries on seven continents, "Terra Sacra" is an around-the-world time lapse journey celebrating our sacred Earth.

And grab a barf bag and visit some famous landmarks with these one-second GIF trips around San Francisco, courtesy of Hypno SF.

"Flying is hours and hours of boredom sprinkled with a few seconds of sheer terror."
- Gregory "Pappy" Boyington

Lego that wire

An epic piece of video reproduction using those little plastic snap-block toys, The Lego Wire. The obsession with this show continues to amaze me.

And a city map made of song titles. Plus a film map that's not bad either.)

"Justice is the set and constant purpose which gives every man his due." - Marcus Tullius Cicero

Quick trip

Groundbreaking (?) video of New Yorkers tripping on subway step at the 36th Street stop in Brooklyn. Apparently one of the steps is slightly higher than the others, causing a whole 'lotta people to stumble on their way up the stairs. Though I never thought of this as a filmmaking opportunity... [bOING bOING]

And a little furrier transformation for your Sunday paper, kittens take over the N.Y. Times. (And by the way, Meowbify.com lets you do this to pretty much any cat-deficient site on the Internet.)

"Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." - Douglas Adams

That sync'ing feeling

Another really good lip sync vid from Jimmy Slonina, this time it's the Screamin' Jay Hawkins classic, "I Put A Spell On You". Some serious mime skills on display, a bit like watching a Joe Cocker on meth. [bOING bOING]

And for no good reason, results of the 2012 L.A. Beard and Mustache Competition, with a gallery of photos, naturally.

"Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you're a thousand miles from the corn field." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

...and a smile

A Lonely Island production I hadn't seen, "Great Day" has a light and lively bounce featuring a cheery cokehead who sings about yet another fabulous day in his wonderful life. Lesson learned, yeah.

And just asking for it, morons post photos of their credit cards on Twitter. Maybe they all have LifeLock (?).

'Day, n. A period of twenty-four hours, mostly misspent.' - Ambrose Bierce

Unbearable emotion

Remember Teddy Ruxpin bears? Or maybe you saw Seth MacFarlane's new movie...? In any case, Severe Enterprises whipped up this art project that uses 80 of them to stream emotional content buried within that sea of noise we call the Internet.

Also, a little challenge for your color recognition expertise. Or try this more challenging (annoying?) test of dragging and dropping colors to arrange them by hue order.

"The purpose of human life and the sense of happiness is to give the maximum what the man is able to give." - Alexander Alekhine

Just win, baby

This experimental robot from Japan never loses at Rock, Paper, Scissors mainly because it cheats, using a camera to see and react to its opponent's impending in the blink of an eye. [Gizmodo]

And sort of on the topic of cheating, imagine What Celebrities Would Look Like If They Were Average Americans without the benefit of personal trainers, hair stylists, etc.

"You must lose everything in order to gain anything." - Brad Pitt

Over easy

Ever wonder what happens when you crack an egg under water? Me neither, but the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences shows all in this aptly titled short clip, "The Egg". Nature is fun, learning is good.

And Bad Questions for Yahoo Answers is a compilation of questions, apparently being asked by bored and ignorant kids.

"Problems worthy of attack prove their worth by fighting back." - Paul Erdos

Honest lies

Magician Marco Tempest shows us the magic of truth and lies (and iPods) using an application he wrote to sync videos across multiple devices, which — lest you think he's cheating — he borrowed from audience members just moments before the show. And this was from a TED talk, so you know it's quality stuff.

And on the topic of deception, What Junk Food Should Actually Be Called features junk food amusingly renamed to something closer to the truth. [Gizmodo]

"We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Not hungry

This clip of a clam apparently eating salt on a table looks unnatural, but for good reason. It turns out, according to this bOING bOING post, that they don't have giant tongues.

And We Know What You're Doing is a constantly-updating wall of idiocy, featuring people without enough sense to stay mum about hating their boss, being hungover, doing drugs, etc., on Facebook.

"There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have." - Don Herold

Chatterbots

The website Cleverbot showcases some awkward conversations of the not-too-distant future — I especially enjoyed "The morning after" — with AIs and avatars talking to each other about life, the universe, and who really knows what else.

And some patriotic fantasy art featuring figures from American history kicking butt and taking names (?). Teddy Roosevelt vs. Sasquatch, Thomas Jefferson fist-fighting a gorilla, Ben Franklin vs. Zeus, George Washington Zombie Hunter — all fodder for potential summer blockbusters.

"Always remember that the future comes one day at a time." - Dean Acheson

Existential indignation

The third episode in the Henri series, "Henri 3, Le Vet", finds the cat protagonist lamenting the many indignities suffered during visits to the "doctor".

And these animal footprint shoes might make fine footwear for winter wrongdoers of all ilks.

"I do believe that if you haven't learnt about sadness, you cannot appreciate happiness." - Nana Mouskouri

Unnatural extensions

Redubbing pop music to the vocal stylings of the undead is a common thematic put to especially good use in this (death metal version of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream").

And Birds With Arms lives by a single, simple credo — Photoshop human arms onto birds and send 'em in. [bOING bOING]

"I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is." - Albert Camus

Future shock

Twenty years later, prescient but cynical filmmaker Jeremiah McDonald has a conversation with his 12-year old self via a video he recorded in 1992. Refreshingly unsentimental, as B3TA puts it.

Also forward thinking, a birth plan by hipsters who likely would make the world's most annoying parents.

"The future has a way of arriving unannounced." - George Will

Adaptation

Another venture from College Humor, this one an action-packed parody trailer for a somewhat more grown up, live-action movie version of Dora the Explorer featuring Ariel Winter (the smart kid on "Modern Family"). [Mashable]

And an artist created these famous movie scenes in the style of a traditional children's picturebook.

"Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves." - Ernest Dimnet

Tweet and low

Nick Offerman, who plays Ron Swanson on NBC’s "Parks and Recreation", recently reappeared on Conan to redux a somewhat amusing segment in which his manly character reads the tweets of teen celeb-ettes in monotone deadpan. [Mashable]

And from street vendors to civil servants to the well-known, an artist's goal is to draw every person in New York.

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." - Mark Twain

But will it toast?

And how to amaze your dining companions by slicing a bagel into geometric wonderment to create a Mathematically Correct Breakfast. Next project, möbius strip bacon...?

And artist Kumi Yamashita's "Constellation" series of portraits are amazingly made from a continuous single piece of thread wrapped around nails hammered into a wooden board. [bOING bOING]

"Perfectionists are their own devils." - Jack Kirby

Thy quill be done

If you know someone with an out-of-control email signature block — hopefully not you — Declaration of Email Signatures is a somewhat amusing video, just in time for Independence Day. [Mashable]

And from illustrious past to confounding present, the American Hipster channel on YouTube profiles our country's current cutting edge. Heaven help us.

"Life without liberty is like a body without spirit." - Khalil Gibran

God bless America.

Let the good films roll

A neat bit of animation, this Tim Burton filmography, and quite a tribute, as well.

And another alphabet movie quiz, this one for famous comedies.

Also, see if you can identify 100 years of movies from Paramount in this iconic poster.

"The more powerful and original a mind, the more it will incline towards the religion of solitude." - Aldous Huxley

Don't weight

Apparently the Shake Weight finds few admirers when you shake one out in public, as this prankster/videographer's footage attests. [Mashable]

And also somewhat deceptive, "Blow Job Portraits" aren't what you think. Completely safe for work and everywhere else.

"Justice is always violent to the party offending, for every man is innocent in his own eyes." - Daniel Defoe

Clutch

Billed as inspiring and epic moments that embrace the idea of "now or never", though I'm not sure what the guy with the milk carton is doing in there.

And let's say you've got an essay to write and someone's snooping around, hecking up on you... well Essaytyper is here to help make you look like you're working. Just pick a subject and go.

"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure." - Bill Cosby

Great and small

Taking the "tilt-shift" lens to a near-psychedelic level, Bonsai Burma (a.k.a., Mini Myanmar) offers stunning views of Burma afforded only giants.

And from the "for what it's worth" category, The Net Worth of the U.S. Presidents, from Washington to Obama.

"It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has." — Henry Ward Beecher

Old Milwaukee Style

Summer's here and just in time is "Hey, Pass Me a Beer", a YouTube masterpiece that makes me want to move to Milwaukee just a little bit. [Mashable]

And illustrating that the windshield wiper is a seriously underrated medium of expression, some amusingly hostile — and in many cases profane — notes left on car windshields.

"The way humans hunt for parking and the way animals hunt for food are not as different as you might think."
- Tom Vanderbilt

Wired for sound

Enjoy F-or-D's production of "The Wire: The Musical" and experience America's failing drug war through the magic of song.

And a gallery of life-affirming, faith-restoring photos that might let you think for a minute that people aren't always awful creatures.

"One cannot weep for the entire world, it is beyond human strength. One must choose."
- Jean Anouilh

Spidercat

Other super powers you didn't know they had... apparently cats can walk down the side of a fridge with graceful aplomb. [Gizmodo]    And one of these dogs obviously is not like the others.

And for all-in-one bathroom reading material and supplies, 'Scary' literary toilet paper — a Japanese horror novel printed on a roll of TP — may be coming soon to a stall near you.

"I always feel it’s not wise to violate rules until you know how to observe them."
- T.S. Elliot

Voice of the customer

Not a comedy sketch but an honest to goodness ad, Jordan Knight sings the Old Navy catalog to launch their summer season. [Mashable]

And a gallery of oddly amusing old print ads.

"Far more thought and care go into the composition of any prominent ad in a newspaper or magazine than go into the writing of their features and editorials."
- Marshall McLuhan