August 28, 2008
Links 30
1. Jamie Livingston's Polaroid a Day - Jamie Livingston took a polaroid nearly every day for eighteen years. It's not so much that he took a photo every day -- many people these days take multiple photos each day -- but that he took a good photo almost every day. Or maybe it's just that there's something about a polaroid. I don't know. Anyway, take a look at this mental_floss article. The Wikipedia entry provides links to more information, too.
2. Lawrence Lessig on McCain on Technology - I'm a big fan of Larry Lessig. Check out his critique of John McCain's technology policy. (These issues are a big deal, folks.)
3. I drove past a number of wind farms, in a number of states, on my trip from Utah to Texas. The enormous alien-looking machines spinning slowly in the air can be a strange sight. It struck me that even a clean, renewable energy source like wind power has tradeoffs. Don't get me wrong; it beats a coal or nuclear power plant. However, I can understand why some people might take issue with living next to them. It's worse if you're a bird or bat. For example, wind turbines make bat lungs explode. Ech.
4. Fleshmap: Musical Genres - I've seen lots of links to this lately, but I'll share it because a few of you probably missed it. It's a chart of how often a part of the body is sung about, sorted by musical genre (from a sample of 1000 songs). It's interesting how hip hop stands out from the rest. Oh, there are actual photos of body parts, so it's NSFW. If you go to the main site there are a couple of other odd little 'studies'.
5. Radiohead's 'House of Cards' video - 'House of Cards' might be my favorite cut from In Rainbows. The video is worth mention, too. (If you have a fast connection, it's worth downloading the high res version from Radiohead's site.) Instead of using lights and cameras, they used "just data" (from Geometric Informatics for the closeups and Velodyne LIDAR for the landscapes). The effect is pretty cool. Plus, you can get the data from Google Code to do with as you please. The site also has a making-of video, viewer, and more.
28 Aug 19:10 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Link Dump '08, Music, Photography, Politics, Technology & Computing, Video
July 4, 2008
Happy Birthday
Happy birthday, U.S.A. 232 ain't so bad. (Actually, it's amazingly young if you really think about it). I wonder what you might look like in another 232. Anyway, here's a memory from your psychedelic 200th birthday. In some ways, I'm sad I missed the '70s.
(And, may I add: Could it be any more perfect that Jesse Helms dies and America throws a national party?)
04 Jul 23:51 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Video
June 25, 2008
Carlin (again)
In his NYT eulogy for George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld writes:
As a kid it seemed like the whole world was funny because of George Carlin. His performing voice, even laced with profanity, always sounded as if he were trying to amuse a child. It was like the naughtiest, most fun grown-up you ever met was reading you a bedtime story.
Here's a clip of Carlin actually performing for children. Not all that different from his normal style:
25 Jun 19:04 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor, Video
June 23, 2008
George Carlin Video Clips
George Carlin will be sorely missed. Here are several of the many clips you can find online:
- Modern Man
- Airline Announcements, Part 1
- Airline Announcements, Part 2
- It's Bad for Ya! (Part 6 of 7)
- Mike Douglas Show 1971 w/ Lennon & Ono, Part 1
- Mike Douglas Show 1971, Part 2
- Seven Words
23 Jun 16:50 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor, Video
March 26, 2008
A slap on the face... but very slowly
Here's another YouTube vid making the rounds:
You should also watch a man karate-chopping a block... but very slowly.
Makes you realize we really are "ugly bags of mostly water".
26 Mar 17:56 | Link | Category: Video
March 20, 2008
I Guess You'll Do
"We're on a schedule here."
Ingenious. (And depressing. Goes well with yesterday's life clock.)
"Now let's go camping!"
20 Mar 15:54 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
March 19, 2008
Wacky Wabbit
It seems like I've mentioned Assud the Hamas bunny before, but here's another fun clip in which he says that if the Danes have the audacity to affront Muhammad again, they will be killed. Specifically, he will "bite them and eat them up," like he wants to do to Jews. (I'm thinking the bunny should look more like Frank the Rabbit from Donnie Darko.)
The part I'm talking about is at ~ 3:34, but the whole thing makes for surreal viewing:
A fine (if bizarre) example of the variety of mind virus that is very pernicious indeed.
19 Mar 23:54 | Link | Category: Current Events, Video
"A More Perfect Union"
If you missed yesterday's speech by Barack Obama on race, politics, and history, it's worth the time it takes to watch (or read):
Candor and substance have been missing from political speeches and dialogue for such a long time that speeches like this are always worth remark. Though it may be lost on a polarized nation that follows the lead of talk show hosts and pundits who speak in binary, I was impressed by Obama's ability to elucidate the anger and frustration (racial and otherwise) of multiple groups (and to deftly weave both Jeremiah Wright and Geraldine Ferraro into his remarks). Unlike other politicians responding to a chink in their armor (think of Mitt Romney's "Faith in America" speech or the way John Kerry tackled his views on Vietnam), Obama faced the issue boldly and did not posture or pander to specific groups.
Reportedly, Obama wrote the speech by himself in two days, showing it only to several top advisers. Again, remarkable because it is so atypical these days. But those familiar with Obama's life story and political writing will not be surprised that he could tackle these particular issues with both nuance and bravery.
Reaction from a few major newspapers can be found on the Obama blog. As always, thoughtful commentary and lots of fine links at Ghost in the Machine.
(Update: The Daily Show chimes in: "And so, on 11 a.m. on a Tuesday, a prominent politcian spoke to Americans about race as though they were adults." Although, as evident in their "open discussion", dialogue is tricky, regardless of how great the speeches may be.)
19 Mar 11:36 | Link | Category: Politics, Video
March 17, 2008
Another classic from 'Extras'
Here's yet another funny video clip, this time from Extras. (Translation: I don't have time to make a proper post, but you'll probably enjoy this better anyway.) Be sure to watch through to the end. (It's funnier if you're familiar with the characters, especially Darren and Maggie... but still funny even if you're not.)
17 Mar 20:32 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
March 14, 2008
Pachelbel Rant
"Pachelbel's following me..."
14 Mar 19:14 | Link | Category: Humor, Music, Video
March 13, 2008
Guys and Dolls
Last year, Richard Hawley put out a great, funny video for his song 'Serious' off the Lady's Bridge album. It features a guy who lives with a mannequin that he treats like a girlfriend:
Seemed funny enough when I first saw it. But little did I know, there are people who actually do this. That is, they live with dolls and treat them as companions. (And there was also a comedy/dramedy made last year called Lars and the Real Girl based on the concept, but I live under a rock and hadn't heard about it.)
It's one of those things you expect to read in a sci-fi novel. You know, the aliens decide to put a human in their zoo, but then realize the human needs companionship, so they create the closest facsimile they can. Interesting fictional material, but quite bizarre to see in real life. The following documentary follows several men who own one or more $6500 'real dolls':
From a psychological and anthropological viewpoint it's fascinating. (For example, I suspect there are very few women who would do this sort of thing. It would also be interesting to look at differences between cultures.)
But it's mostly just, well, creepy, isn't it? And how far will it go? A friend pointed me to this page of creepy Japanese robots in an IM. Check out the Simroid (#3). Or to be completely creeped out, check out the details of the last item, the Japenese "Honey doll" sex doll that looks like it's about twelve years old. You'll agree with me: we're doomed. Completely doomed. Someone take me back to the Pleistocene, please.
(I've thought of starting a "We're Doomed" category for posts like this that show technology outpacing the human brain in ways that are frightening. Whaddya think?)
13 Mar 19:08 | Link | Category: Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Misc. Tidbits, Music, Technology & Computing, Video
March 12, 2008
Let me in!
So true. There's another one, too: Simon's Cat: Cat Man Do
12 Mar 12:45 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
February 29, 2008
3 a.m. ("Now then, Dmitri...")
You've probably heard about Hillary Clinton's latest ad, 3 a.m.. (I wish they had picked a different time for Hillary to be fully dressed and working at her desk in the middle of the night, because every time I hear "it's 3 a.m." I have flashbacks to that obnoxious Matchbox 20 song from the '90s.)
The pundits and blogs are all atwitter ("it's the new Daisy" etc. etc.). It's certainly not the most original ad, considering that Mondale ran a very similar one against Gary Hart back in '84 and LBJ ran one twenty years before that.
The Obama campaign has already put together a response, but Coudal Partners took Clinton's ad and did something simply brilliant with it (click for video):
(I love Dr. Strangelove, as I've mentioned once or twice before, so this was right up my alley.)
29 Feb 23:37 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor, Politics, Video
February 11, 2008
The Audition
There are many reasons why I miss Mr. Show, even after all these years. Here's one. (BTW, if you've never seen Mr. Show, you might not like the language.)
This one is good, too (just because it reminds me of pretentious twits I've known).
(via Cynical-C)
11 Feb 0:16 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
February 10, 2008
Mitt's Concession Suspension speech
As you might've guessed, Mitt Romney's departure from the GOP race has been a big story around these parts. Since I have an inexplicable habit of watching the local news, I've seen his concession speech a number of times. Every time, I get very irritated and have to resist the urge to curse at the television set. (Thanks to Jon Stewart, I know I'm not alone. See below...)
The speech, like so many Romney appearances and speeches, was peppered with trite GOP slogans and buzzwords (so much so that it makes me wonder if the "suspension" of his campaign was not Romney's idea as much as it was a stern request by party officials). I think this might be a reflection of his greatest failure as a presidential candidate, and one of the principal reasons his campaign never garnered majority support. As one of the columnists in the conservative, church-owned (i.e., usually pro-Romney) local newspaper opined, the "real" Mitt never showed up in the campaign. Regardless of whether or not this is completely true, there is no doubt Romney painted himself as "the conservative candidate" when his record clearly indicates he is (or was) not. From the same column:
In the end, in his never-ending quest to get votes and be all things to all people, he allowed Rush and Sean, those fading virulent talk-show superstars, to paint him as an arch-conservative when anyone who watched him win the governorship of Massachusetts — not to mention who watched him get along famously with Salt Lake's liberal mayor Rocky Anderson in the Olympic years — knows he's no conservative. He's the absolute king of the moderates. He proved that during our Olympics, building bridges, bringing people together, working within the system, considering all positions, creating solutions.
I'm not sure why Romney chose the campaign path he did. I suspect he and his staff simply calculated that it was the most viable path to the presidency. (It might have been, if not for Mike Huckabee.) But it's problematic when a candidate's stump speech rhetoric clashes so starkly with his record.
Like Romney's so-called JFK-speech (which I complained about in December), the 'campaign suspension' speech hit upon all the same tired themes we've been hearing from social conservatives and talk radio goons for years now. (The Democrats want to surrender to terrorists; pornography, welfare, and gay marriage are ruining the country - not disastrous wars, political corruption, woefully inadequate education, or dependence on foreign oil; etc.) Come on, Romney... you must be smarter than that. If you're not, you certainly do not deserve to be the Republican nominee, now or ever.
Watch Jon Stewart's brilliant analysis of the speech:
(Update: Fixed YouTube link. When they take it down again, try the official one. The followup story about what gay marriage has done to Massachusetts is pretty funny, too.)
10 Feb 21:05 | Link | Category: Humor, Opinion & Thoughts, Politics, Video
January 26, 2008
Beat A Drum
People from 1 to 100 hit a drum:
It's from 'People In Order', a series of four short films.
26 Jan 23:53 | Link | Category: Misc. Tidbits, Music, Video
Oops
Note to talentless performers of shitty music:
Try not to fall off the stage. Especially if you're lip sycing.
Catching fake 'musicians' hasn't been so fun since Ashlee Simpson's SNL moment.
(via The Presurfer)
26 Jan 23:27 | Link | Category: Humor, Music, Video
January 22, 2008
Well, at least we know who ISN'T the "black candidate"
"Who let the dogs out"?!? WTF?! (If you're patient, wait for "bling bling" and "Michael Jordan" near the end of the clip.)
This is incredibly awkward (even by the standards of extremely wealthy old white guys). Combined with other issues (such as his religion's discriminatory doctrine pre-1978 and his lying prevarication regarding seeing his father march with MLK), it's downright unsettling.
22 Jan 16:09 | Link | Category: Politics, Video
Bill Clinton Has a Dream
Update: Fixed the video for IE7 users. Sorry.
I've done this, especially during boring speeches. (But luckily not on camera.) I'd love to know who switched Bill's cup of Joe with decaf. (Insert "vast right-wing conspiracy" - or "vast left-wing conspiracy" - joke here, if desired.)
22 Jan 15:51 | Link | Category: Humor, Politics, Video
January 20, 2008
Ch-ch-changes
This is some parade, yesiree Bob. *
20 Jan 13:55 | Link | Category: Humor, Politics, Video
January 7, 2008
Memories
What a great find. Do any of you remember this?
(via Centripetal Notion)
07 Jan 12:36 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Music, Video
January 6, 2008
Boom!
If you've ever watched Steve Jobs give a keynote speech introducing new products, you've probably noticed certain idiosyncrasies and favorite phrases. Someone compiled a bunch of them into a surprisingly funny clip:
When he demonstrates software he also says "boom" quite often. (For example, watch his demo of Exposé.) Naturally, someone also compiled a clip of "booms"
I am sooo glad there aren't hours of video footage of me because being confronted with all my little sayings and idiosyncrasies would be horrifying.
06 Jan 0:02 | Link | Category: Humor, Technology & Computing, Video
January 5, 2008
The Evil Eye
I don't know why this is funny, but it makes me chuckle:
05 Jan 18:09 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
The Most Important Issue for Voters in 2008
05 Jan 17:43 | Link | Category: Humor, Politics, Video
December 21, 2007
Why it's nice to have someone like Ron Paul in the race
From Fox's vapid morning show:
Watch the anchors wriggle and look around nervously. ("This isn't in the script! And who's this 'Sinclair Lewis' he speaks of?")
21 Dec 11:34 | Link | Category: Politics, Video
December 20, 2007
Pushing buttons in Texas
Being a legislator in Texas looks like fun:
20 Dec 21:52 | Link | Category: Politics, Video
Ice + Gravity
Ice falls from a 1600 ft. TV tower in the aftermath of the recent ice storm(s) in Oklahoma:
(See also: Falling CN Tower ice, "Dodging ice from above is part of city life"
20 Dec 20:59 | Link | Category: Video
December 17, 2007
8 Years of Daily Photos
I'm don't understand the allure of taking a photo of yourself every day (though every year can be interesting). Maybe it's fun for young people, but at some point you realize you're just getting older and worse looking ever day. But it seems like millions of people do it. Millions have also done the time-lapse thing, but this dude is so good at keeping the same expression day after day that it actually works:
Also check out Homer Simpson's:
(via J-Walk Blog)
17 Dec 10:50 | Link | Category: Humor, Photography, Video
December 11, 2007
Only One Explanation...
Sorry, but here's another clip of crazy ol' Huckabee, that total nutter. I just couldn't resist sharing it. In this clip, Mike says that the only explanation for his rising numbers in the polls is supernatural. Yep, God's doing it. Arrogance and delusion is a powerful combination.
(Maybe he really thought he was on the phone with God in that last clip I posted...)
Update: Maybe he's just being paid back for publicly supporting this statement "A wife is to submit graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ."
11 Dec 11:09 | Link | Category: Politics, Video
December 6, 2007
A Man Cold
(via Dooce)
06 Dec 20:14 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
December 4, 2007
A Stunning View
Yet more proof that watching 'The View' will rot your brain:
Wait... which came first: the brain rot, or 'The View'?
UPDATE: It gets worse. Someone just made me aware of an older clip containing all sorts of wonderful dialogue, including the following:
"Is the world flat?" "I don't know. I've never thought about it."
04 Dec 21:48 | Link | Category: Humor, Science, Video
Another Bubble
Via Fake Steve:
Blog Blog BLOG IT ALL
(It might be slightly funnier if, as a troubled youth, you unintentionally memorized every word of the stupid original song. Not that I would do something so weird...)
04 Dec 11:07 | Link | Category: Humor, Technology & Computing, Video
December 2, 2007
The Real Voice of Darth Vader
Sounds more like Rick Moranis in 'Spaceballs':
02 Dec 15:49 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor, Video
November 30, 2007
Huckabee's phone call from God
"You want me to deliver a message... and that would be... Yes sir, we wanna do what's right. And our president does. And we're behind him, yes sir, we sure are."
"We know you don't take sides in the election, but if you did, we kinda think you'd hang in there with us, Lord, we really do... Yes sir... We'll pass those good words on... I see. You talk to the president, and he talks to you, anyway. And we know that. Yes sir. Take care of the family, and marriage. And the people of America. And all the people. And the children... I can tell you every one of us are committed to doing that, and a whole army of people out here..."
See also: my rant about Huckabee's comment on primates. Oh, and you can still get "When The President Talks to God" for free on iTunes.
(via Cynical-C)
30 Nov 18:12 | Link | Category: Politics, Video
November 25, 2007
Paul Potts
My mom was telling me about this amateur opera singer who made it big after appearing on one of those TV talent search shows in the UK. The video clip she showed me seemed post-worthy, probably because I've been doing some research into the evolution of music (specifically, adaptive hypotheses).
Anyway, watch this unattractive British bloke bring a crowd to tears and cheers using opera (Pavarotti's signature Puccini tune)... in the space of about thirty seconds:
25 Nov 13:34 | Link | Category: Music, Video
November 22, 2007
Racist GPS
(via Cynical-C)
22 Nov 13:50 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
November 8, 2007
Mythbusters (or Science on the Boob Tube)
About a year ago, the NY Times ran this story: Is Mythbusters the Best Science Show on Television? (The link is still in my bookmarks list, which is now to 622 items, thank you very much.)
If you have cable or satellite, you've probably chanced across Mythbusters (since Discovery airs it constantly). Basically, a team led by Adam Savage and the crazily mustached Jamie Hyneman test various urban legends and popular myths. It's definitely meant as entertainment. Every show invariably involves an explosion, crash, or some sort of mayhem or gross-out. But what's really cool about the goofy program (to a science nerd like me) is the scientific methodology they employ to test their hypotheses (folk myths, Hollywood conventions, and the like). The questions they explore are usually completely trivial (though entertaining), but their methods are usually solid. It's getting harder and harder to find decent science-related programming anywhere on TV (with the exception of the Science Channel and the occasional PBS, Discovery, or Animal Planet show), so I say hats off to the Mythbusters.
Here's a clip of them testing whether it's possible to drive a car into a moving semi-trailer like Hasselhoff did in Knight Rider (and there are many more YouTube; this is just the first that came up):
According to a more recent story, this season the Mythbusters will be tackling the famous question about the airplane taking off on a conveyor belt. Should be interesting.
For a complete list of their results (confirmed, plausible, or busted?), check out mythbustersresults.com.
There - I got rid of three bookmarks in one post. Only 619 to go!
08 Nov 18:25 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Science, Video
'Waterboarding'
Waterboarding is back in the headlines (and you've gotta love that term - 'waterboarding' almost sounds fun, like wakeboarding or something). Since Mukasey's lame dodging of the question, the issue is back on peoples' minds and a couple of videos are floating around the web with renewed momentum. One is a segment from FOX News that reminds me of a clip from The Daily Show (but nevertheless does demonstrate waterboarding). The other is a clip from Current (with annoying dramatic music but minus the stupid FOX talking heads), embedded below.
The issue is, of course, larger than waterboarding. There are plenty of other 'coercive interrogation techniques' that are just as - or more - questionable (e.g., sensory deprivation).
08 Nov 16:30 | Link | Category: Current Events, Politics, Video
October 11, 2007
British accents by Peter Sellers
This video, shot between takes on Dr. Strangelove, features Peter Sellers running through a variety of British accents (and of course the American Midwestern accent he used for President Muffley) -- all in less than ninety seconds. Pretty cool.
While I'm on the topic of accents, have you ever heard of Foreign Accent Syndrome? Very rarely, after stroke or brain injury, a subject will suddenly speak with a foreign accent. What actually happens is that certain aspects of speech (like pronunciation, pitch, and rhythm) are altered in such a way that it sounds to others as if the subject has an accent. From this article on FAS: "For instance, one of our patients, a native New Yorker, was so often mistaken for being Swedish that her doctor jokingly suggested she call herself 'Olga.'"
Here's a BBC story (and video) about an English woman who had a stroke and now sounds like she's Jamaican or maybe French Canadian.
11 Oct 23:36 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Misc. Tidbits, Science, Video
October 1, 2007
"I'm trippin' too"
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. (Or as I call him, The Iranian W.) Plenty of his statements indicate that he, like so many other world leaders, is blinded by ideology - or just batshit insane. The Holocaust denials, the claim of being "surrounded by light" during a speech, and so much more. Like this:
The most remarkable aspect of Mr Ahmadinejad's piety is his devotion to the Hidden Imam, the Messiah-like figure of Shia Islam, and the president's belief that his government must prepare the country for his return.
But I'll admit that he occasionally makes a good point (rhetorically, at least). And sometimes he can even be funny (albeit inadvertently). Like last week at Columbia University when he claimed there are no gays in Iran. Which prompted Andy Samberg's Mahmoud love song, "Iran So Far" (which was the whole reason I posted anything about Ahmadinejad's visit since it's been hashed and rehashed by everyone). The official clip at nbc.com doesn't work for some reason (typical), so enjoy it on YouTube. (If the clip below doesn't work, try searching for other copies.)
01 Oct 19:33 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Current Events, Humor, Politics, Video
September 30, 2007
Replaced with a look-alike
We all know that Paul McCartney died and was replaced with a look-alike. (Here's undeniable proof! Heh.)
Less well-known, however, is the fact that Richard B. Cheney died and was replaced with a look-alike. This video from 15 years ago, in which the real Dick Cheney explains why the George H.W. Bush administration stopped military action in Iraq in 1991, is undeniable proof:
30 Sep 15:12 | Link | Category: Current Events, Politics, Video
September 23, 2007
More amazing cephalopod tricks
As I've mentioned before, cephalopods can do some pretty remarkable things.
Here's video of an octopus escaping from a box through a one-inch hole:
Octopuses (octopi/octopodes?) are not just masters of camouflage and escape. Some have even taken up the art of bipedal locomotion:
(Abstract and article from Science, for those of you with access.)
23 Sep 13:07 | Link | Category: Science, Video
September 19, 2007
Public humiliation
Sometimes "try try again" isn't the best advice:
19 Sep 18:25 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
September 18, 2007
Leave General Petraeus Alone
I wasn't gonna post this, but since it seems that everyone has seen that Leave Britney Alone video on YouTube (thanks to reputable news organizations like CNN and ABC), you should get the joke.
(via Cynical-C)
18 Sep 17:10 | Link | Category: Current Events, Humor, Video
September 11, 2007
"Yes."
Salvador Dalí on "What's My Line":
11 Sep 20:45 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor, Video
September 10, 2007
Beethoven Piano Sonata Parody
This might be a case where you have to love something to laugh at the parody of it (so if you enjoy Beethoven, you'll probably enjoy the clip)... It's Dudley Moore performing a Beethoven-style piano sonata constructed around the motif/theme from the famous Colonel Bogey March. Brilliant... and the never-ending coda is classic.
10 Sep 21:45 | Link | Category: Humor, Music, Video
September 6, 2007
Funny 'Slow Train' imitation
Since I seem to be in the mode of posting YouTube videos of people playing guitar, here's one of a guy singing Bob Dylan's "Slow Train" - updated with "current Bob" voice & style. Those of you who've seen performances from the last few years should have a good chuckle. Too bad the audio and video are so out of sync.
[ Here's the kickass 1979 version from Slow Train Coming. And here's a live version with the Grateful Dead in '88 (despite coming from what Dylan himself admits was the low point of his career, it's surprisingly listenable). ]
06 Sep 21:20 | Link | Category: Music, Video
September 3, 2007
John Lennon's YouTube vid
I could link to a thousand or so cool videos like that last one of Hendrix, but since I don't have time or space, I'll just link to one more for now.
The reason I choose this one is because it looks exactly like millions of other blokes on YouTube sitting in front of their webcam with a guitar. But it's John Lennon. In 1980. How amazingly weird is that? (And this strummed acoustic version of 'Dear Yoko' is ten times better than the cheesy polished version from Double Fantasy.) It's the best YouTube gem I've come across in ages.
03 Sep 22:54 | Link | Category: Music, Video
Jimi - "The Wind Cries Mary"
Cool video of one of my favorite Hendrix tunes:
03 Sep 22:48 | Link | Category: Music, Video
June 5, 2007
"I'm not planning on writing the curriculum for an eighth-grade science book"
No playlist for May.
Don't panic.
(There'll be one for June. Maybe even a week or two early.)
Silence will now resume.
But first, a lovely quote I just saw as I was perusing news stories...
"If anybody wants to believe that they are the descendants of a primate, they are certainly welcome to do it." - Mike Huckabee, candidate for President of the United States. (Video clip here or below.)
I guess I should be glad that I'm "welcome to do it." Listen, Mike... I hate to break it to you, but not only are you a descendant of primates (pl.), you are a primate. Your children, your wife, your constituents... they're all primates, as dirty and scary as that might sound to you. And if your god made you in his image, he must be a primate too. I mean, seriously. Have you looked in a mirror lately??? (We all know "even the president of the United States sometimes must have to stand naked.") Maybe he's never been to a zoo.
And the quote in the title of this post is also absurd. (As if the essence of what we are matters only in some inconsequential eighth-grade science book, but not to arguably the most powerful man primate on the planet.)
Fools.
05 Jun 21:32 | Link | Category: Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Opinion & Thoughts, Politics, Science, Video
October 26, 2006
George W. Bush and his celebrity translator
If you've seen the recent 'celebrity' ads from Geico (particularly the Little Richard one), you might appreciate this:
26 Oct 16:54 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
Rollercoaster Kid
Watch this video of a kid hanging on for dear life on a catapult ride (though whether or not he's actually in real danger is up for debate). The carnival music and maniacal laughing from 'Janis' (whoever she is) combine to make this one of the most bizarre and utterly classic videos I've seen on the 'net in a long time. God bless you, GoogleTube.
26 Oct 16:32 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
Fixer-Upper
It's slightly ironic that this video was created by a company trying to sell beauty products. Still, it does a good job of showing how billboards and magazines are completely distorted compared to reality.
You should also check out these excellent images: Celebrities without makeup.
26 Oct 16:18 | Link | Category: Photography, Video
August 3, 2006
Your United States Senators in Action
Aside from lamenting Bush's impending use of his first-ever veto on a stem cell bill a few weeks ago, I've been silent on the issue. So much has been said since then that I don't really think I can add anything. But I do feel the need to share a short video clip with you.
To see how low political discourse has fallen (and the depths to which intelligence and common sense have dropped) in the U.S. Senate, watch this utterly depressing video of Senator Sam Brownback discussing the issue. The video speaks for itself, so I'll keep most of my comments to myself. I'll just say that while I might excuse his astounding ignorance of biology (he's from Kansas, after all), I can't excuse what I consider his insulting, tasteless sensationalism.
(via Cynical-C)
03 Aug 1:15 | Link | Category: Current Events, Science, Video
17 years and the oil's still there
It has been seventeen years since the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, but there is still plenty of oil just below the surface of beaches. Watch this video, in which high school students dig a shallow hole, pour water, and get oil:
In part two, they dig a hole just inches below the surface of a supposedly clean beach, dip cotton in the hole, and completely cover it with oil:
03 Aug 0:43 | Link | Category: Science, Video
Solla Solla Enna Perumai
Umm... I don't really know what the hell this is, but I'm compelled to share it for some reason:
Apparently it originates from this site, where you can find other similarly odd videos.
03 Aug 0:02 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor, Video
July 19, 2006
Giant yellow jacket nests / Giant Asian hornets
If you think you have large yellow jacket nests in your yard, consider what folks in Alabama have been finding:
To the bafflement of insect experts, gigantic yellow jacket nests have started turning up in old barns, unoccupied houses, cars and underground cavities across the southern two-thirds of Alabama.
Specialists say it could be the result of a mild winter and drought conditions, or multiple queens forcing worker yellow jackets to enlarge their quarters so the queens will be in separate areas. But experts haven't determined exactly what's behind the surprisingly large nests.
Just how big are the nests?
At one site in Barbour County, the nest was as large as a Volkswagen Beetle, said Andy McLean, an Orkin pesticide service manager in Dothan who helped remove it from an abandoned barn about a month ago.
Another one "filled the interior of a weathered 1955 Chevrolet parked in a rural Elmore County barn. That nest was about the size of a tire in the rear floor seven weeks ago, but quickly spread to fill the entire vehicle." Here's a photo:
While I'm on the topic of freaky things concerning yellow & black insects, check out this video (12 MB QuickTime) of Asian giant hornets attacking European honeybees. 30 hornets vs. 30,000 honeybees. Guess who wins? Gotta love the dramatic narration & music, too... heh. (Video also available in Windows Media.)
19 Jul 2:06 | Link | Category: Misc. Tidbits, Science, Video
July 13, 2006
Optical Illusion
Here's a fun optical illusion. Stare at the image and don't move your eyes until instructed. Then look around the room. (Works best if you run the video at a larger size. And mute the annoying soundtrack. Also, try not to get a migraine or have an epileptic seizure.)
13 Jul 1:37 | Link | Category: Cool Links, Video
July 10, 2006
Evolutionary Timeline to Scale
Recently, I've linked to web page scale models of the solar system and a hydrogen atom.
If you liked those, this might interest you: Evolutionary Timeline. It stretches life's history (from the earliest life on Earth through the present) across 135 feet of scrolling web page.
Like the other pages, this one provides useful perspective. It takes a lot of scrolling just to get to the first eukaryotic cells, after which it takes a lot more scrolling to get to the Cambrian explosion. The history of the genus Homo fits in the last inch or so.
It's a pretty effective approach for illustrating the depth of time. I'd like to see it expanded to include the history of the universe.... but that would increase the scrolling immensely.
One approach that has often been used is to condense the history of life (or the universe) into a 24-hour period, or a year. (In fact, the author of this timeline has a chart of a 'one year' timeline of life here.)
In Cosmos, Carl Sagan used a 12-month calendar to represent the history of the known universe. In this analogy, Earth doesn't form until the year's half over, the Cambrian explosion occurs on December 15th, Dinosaurs show up on the 24th, humans on the evening of the 31st, and all of written history takes up the last ten seconds of the year. As with the cephalopod video yesterday, I've taken the liberty of ripping an 8½ minute clip for you (15 MB, this time in MPEG-4, but QuickTime or VLC will still work). The information in the simplified story is a bit dated for nitpickers like me, but it's remarkably accurate considering its nearly thirty-year age.
Update: Here's an interactive Flash timeline of evolution. (It's a cool idea and has lots of good biology info., but the presentation is slightly confusing and far too busy.)
10 Jul 23:32 | Link | Category: Cool Links, Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Science, Video
July 9, 2006
I ♥ Cephalopods
Cephalopods are fascinating creatures, especially the coleoids (like the squid, octopus, and cuttlefish), which are characterized by large brains and chromatophores, skin cells that they use for communication and camouflage.
Using chromatophores and muscles, these cephalopods can blend in to the color pattern and texture of their environment like no other animal. I saw this Google Video clip over at the Cynical-C Blog:
I knew I had seen that clip somewhere before, and soon remembered where - on a DVD I own called Origins. I took the liberty of ripping a 3½ minute clip for your viewing pleasure (11.5 MB .MOV - you'll need something like QuickTime or VLC). It has some other really cool examples of camouflaging in it:
If you haven't had enough, check out The Octopus Show from Nature for some other cool videos. Don't miss this one, where an octopus, a "mere invertebrate," kills a shark. (RealPlayer required.)
And of course don't forget your Welcome Squid Overlords t-shirt:
IPod owners may be interested in the Cephal-iPod case:
09 Jul 0:30 | Link | Category: Science, Video
July 7, 2006
Citizens Forum
Watch this video clip from a city council meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. David Thompson discusses a rogue helicopter pilot that hovered over his house between the magnolia tree and the property line. It had something to do with ice in the arena, I think. The bottom line is, the boy scouts have a right to be scared.
(Think about this, though... what if he's right?)
07 Jul 3:38 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
July 6, 2006
Creationism and evolution tackled on 'The Simpsons'
I came across a brilliant clip from an episode of 'The Simpsons' that ran a few months ago. Sadly, only about 13 minutes of the show are included in the clip... but there are still some classic moments:
- Lisa's clandestine meeting in the school's "Single Purpose Room" where she has written 'Viva La Evolución' on the blackboard
- Homer, upon hearing that according to creationism, there were no cavemen: "Good riddance! Their drawings suck and they look like hippies."
- Ned Flanders declaring under oath that he is as sure that man and ape are not related as he is that "Jesus hates hip-hop"
- Ralph Wiggum saying "The George Will?!"
My favorite moment of all, though, is when Reverend Lovejoy and Ned Flanders tell Principal Skinner they want the school to teach alternatives to Darwinian evolution. Skinner replies, "You mean, Lamarckian evolution?" Classic.
[The biology geek in me would like to note that Darwin himself never ruled out Lamarckism since he was unaware of Mendel's work (or was he?) and its significance... but when most people talk about "Darwinian evolution", they're referring to the modern synthesis.] Just as a sidenote while I'm talking about Lamarckian evolution (something I never thought I'd be doing on this blog), some scientists feel that cultural evolution is very Lamarckian... that is, in species with culture (a group whose size is heavily debated), cultural changes are acquired during an organism's lifetime and passed on to offspring -- Lamarckism (of a sort)! In fact, I just finished reading a recent book by Eric Chaisson ("Epic of Evolution") in which he writes:
. . . in the recent history of humankind, Lamarckian evolution has clearly dominated Darwinian evolution. Cultural acquisitions spread much faster than genetic modifications. Our gene pool differs little from that of the Cro-Magnons some twenty thousand years ago, yet our cultural heritage is a good deal more robust in the knowledge, arts, traditions, beliefs, and technologies acquired and transmitted during the past thousand or so generations.
If you have trouble getting the Simpsons video from the site I linked to, try here (11.3 MB QuickTime).
For another very cool Simpsons video, check out the best Simpsons couch gag ever (10.3 MB QuickTime).
06 Jul 23:44 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Current Events, Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Humor, Science, Video
July 2, 2006
Bat-eating centipede
I should be posting an earwig video since the ugly little critters seem determined to be part of my life lately. I have the windows open every night to try and cool this place down -- and every night, hosts of friendly earwig visitors from the hatch outside make their way in. I'm usually sitting at the computer when I feel something crawling on (or pinching) my leg or foot. I look down to see five more on the floor. Ech.
But tonight it's centipedes... again. Back in April, I linked to a video showing a giant centipede eating a mouse. I guess I'm a 'classist' (i.e., partial to my own taxonomic class, Mammalia) so I found it uncomfortable watching the mouse being eaten by the damned centipede. Now there's a video (from David Attenborough - who else?) of a giant centipede eating a bat:
So it's giant centipedes 2, mammals 0. Someone must stop them! :)
02 Jul 0:26 | Link | Category: Science, Video
June 16, 2006
Lynn A. Westmoreland
Congressman Lynn Westmoreland, a bold and visionary leader from Georgia, has worked hard for his constituents. While he apparently has yet to introduce any original legislation during his term, the press releases on his web site show he has been busy... for example, voting for ANWR drilling and opposing legislation to designate Bill Clinton's birthplace a national historic site.
Before entering the U.S. Congress (in January '05), he introduced "common sense" legislation in Georgia to place the Ten Commandments in government buildings in the state. If you use the search feature on his web site, you will see that he has continued to co-sponsor and support various related bills in the U.S. House.
Stephen Colbert recently interviewed Mr. Westmoreland for his compelling 'Better Know a District' series. Westmoreland, a self-professed devout Christian, eloquently defended his case.... oh, wait.... actually, he could not even cite the Ten Commandments, instead stumbling around and badly paraphrasing three of the easiest ones.
Check out the very funny interview here: QuickTime (9 MB) or Windows Media (12.3 MB).
All I can say is... this is why I love Stephen Colbert. We all know that plenty of members of Congress (from both sides of the aisle) are incompetent and boneheaded. But at least when Colbert exposes it, he diverts me from anger and depression by making me laugh a bit.
Update: John points out that Westmoreland co-sponsored a bill in Georgia calling on the state assembly to commend Mel Gibson on 'The Passion of the Christ'.
It's nice to know our wise legislators are hard at work solving the serious and vexing problems facing our nation.
16 Jun 22:18 | Link | Category: Current Events, Humor, Opinion & Thoughts, Video
June 8, 2006
They are made out of meat
Check out this video: They are made out of meat. It's a nicely done short film based on a story by Terry Bisson first published in OMNI about fifteen years ago. (Reminiscent of old Twilight Zone episodes.)
(via Centripetal Notion)
08 Jun 20:48 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Video
May 3, 2006
Colbert's D.C. Truthiness
If you haven't seen the video of Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, you can grab a copy from Crooks and Liars.
People far and wide have been weighing in on this. I happen to be a huge fan of Colbert's brand of satire and irony, especially since he adopted the right-wing talk show pundit persona. So I basically agreed with Salon's Michael Scherer, who said:
It was Colbert's crowning moment. His imitation of the quintessential GOP talking head -- Bill O'Reilly meets Scott McClellan -- uncovered the inner workings of the ever-cheapening discourse that passes for political debate.
I also liked what Joan Walsh had to say:
Colbert's deadly performance did more than reveal, with devastating clarity, how Bush's well-oiled myth machine works. It exposed the mainstream press' pathetic collusion with an administration that has treated it -- and the truth -- with contempt from the moment it took office. Intimidated, coddled, fearful of violating propriety, the press corps that for years dutifully repeated Bush talking points was stunned and horrified when someone dared to reveal that the media emperor had no clothes. Colbert refused to play his dutiful, toothless part in the White House correspondents dinner -- an incestuous, backslapping ritual that should be retired.
Update: Video of Bush's reaction to Colbert's Press Secretary audition sketch (interesting between about 2:50 and 3:30)
03 May 23:35 | Link | Category: Humor, Opinion & Thoughts, Video
April 8, 2006
Video of giant centipede eating mouse
I generally don't have any problem with insects, spiders, and the like. But one arthropod I've always had a visceral feeling of revulsion towards is the centipede. This video doesn't help. You've probably already seen it since it's been buzzing around the web for a while. But if not... check it out.
08 Apr 19:32 | Link | Category: Misc. Tidbits, Science, Video
January 13, 2006
More Music Videos
As a followup to yesterday's post, here are a few videos I found in my bookmarks list (most from Transbuddha).
- Jose Gonzalez - "Stay in the Shade"
- The Album Leaf - "On Your Way"
- Jimi Hendrix playing "The Wind Cries Mary"
- Bo Diddley on Ed Sullivan
And, finally, a clip of John Lennon playing "Yer Blues" with Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Mitch Mitchell (plus an odd little intro chat with Mick Jagger). Courtesy of Google Video.
13 Jan 23:46 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Music, Video
January 12, 2006
Video for Dealership's 'Forest'
Last February, I included 'Forest' by Dealership in one of my monthly playlists.
Recently, I ran across a video for the song, created by Aaron Novak. I had a completely different vision of the song, but I still think the video is pretty cool.
12 Jan 19:10 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Music, Video
December 23, 2005
'Lazy Sunday' free from iTunes
A few days ago, I linked to a funny SNL short called 'Lazy Sunday' in the Quick Links section. Now Apple is giving it away as a free video download (for how long I don't know). If you use iTunes, grab it while you can.
23 Dec 11:31 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Video
August 15, 2005
Let's Save Our Environment
I don't even know what to say about this one... you just need to watch it.
One day my uncle picked up a hictchiker going down Topanga Canyon Blvd. The hitchiker gave my uncle a packet containing a cd-rom video and a few pages of song lyrics and the synopsis/proposal for a movie called "Kathy and Erol". Here is the video for your consideration.
(If you have trouble with the Flash version, try the QuickTime copy.)
15 Aug 13:30 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
July 13, 2005
Live 8 Video
I didn't watch Live 8 because... well, no need to delve into the reasons. For those of you who also missed / avoided it, you can watch online videos (in the convenient form of downloadable QuickTime movies) courtesy of AOL.
Frankly, most of the performances seem a bit uninspired. There are a few interesting clips, though. There was a good deal of buzz about Pink Floyd reuniting for the show... the performances didn't do much for me, except perhaps "Wish You Were Here". (Roger Waters tends to annoy me, but his warbly aged vocals actually add something to the tune.)
Also of note is the video of Peter Gabriel and Geoffrey Oryema performing (somewhat uncomfortably) Geoffrey's beautiful "Land of Anaka," a longtime favorite of mine.
13 Jul 22:36 | Link | Category: Music, Video
June 1, 2005
Even Better Than The Real Thing
Classic: The Improv Everywhere crew stages a U2 rooftop concert in Manhattan. One of the best hoaxes I've seen in a long time. (Download a highlights video here, 21 MB MPEG-4.)
01 Jun 16:20 | Link | Category: Humor, Music, Video
May 21, 2005
H.264 High Definition Gallery
Those of you with QuickTime 7 (Windows version "coming soon") and a sufficiently zippy computadora should definitely check out Apple's HD Gallery for some really stunning high definition video samples made possible by H.264.
21 May 0:11 | Link | Category: Technology & Computing, Video
March 23, 2005
16 Military Wives
Wired is running a story about how The Decemberists used BitTorrent to release their video for "Sixteen Military Wives". Get the torrent here.
You can get their latest, Picaresque (and their other albums - I highly recommend Castaways & Cutouts), from eMusic.
While I'm on the topic, does anyone else want to go with me to their show at the Lo-Fi Cafe on Monday? It's only $10. Let me know.
23 Mar 23:29 | Link | Category: Music, Video
March 17, 2005
Oops.
Remember last year when it was reported that a DEA agent accidentally shot himself in the leg during a schoolroom demonstration? The video appears to have hit the Internet: "I'm the only one in this room professional enough that I know I can carry a Glock 40"
(alternate link)
17 Mar 14:01 | Link | Category: Current Events, Humor, Video
March 2, 2005
Pre-Doors Jim Morrison
An old public relations film for Florida State University features a young Jim Morrison in a couple of spots. Very weird. It's here: Florida State University: Toward a Greater University.
And for some reason, the mention of Jim Morrison just reminded me of a brilliant Kids In The Hall sketch where a record store clerk (Bruce McCulloch) guides a customer (Kevin McDonald) on how to be a Doors fan.
No no no my friend! Doors fans aren't made, they're born. I think right now in Africa there's some guy madly beating on a drum. He's a Doors fan. Or an old lady sitting on the bus sucking humbugs. She's a Rider On The Storm, but she ain't never heard the sounds.
or
The gypsies had no homes, The Doors had no bass. But don't let that scare you, my friend. Let that liberate you! 'Cause when you're free flying with the Doors, man - what do you need a safety net for?
02 Mar 15:27 | Link | Category: Music, Video
February 10, 2005
Sugar On My Tongue
I was eating lunch (at 4 p.m., nothing's changed) surfing through the channels on the TV when I came across MTV2, and much to my confusion, Trick Daddy was rapping to a Talking Heads b-side. That's just too weird. (Also, it's kinda sad that I instantly recognized that stupid Talking Heads song.)
Talking Heads: