Banana face fireworks

Well, it's different.

The year-end web (and tripping down memory lane)

The on-line magazine Salon offered their take on the viral videos of the year. They embedded multiple videos in an article analyzing the changing web video scene.

The website BuzzFeed, which is dedicated to tracking "viral web in real time" offered a list of the 12 biggest web stories of 2008 (through the Huffington Post.) I myself included some of these obsessions in my blog. But, I had missed some of these phenomena as they happened and I, for one, am happy to have caught up on things such as disaster girl. Who knew?

Speaking of the Huffington Post, they also have a "Big News Page" of lists for 2008. Now, I love lists. Their best youtube video list isn't my favorite. But, I did enjoy #5, "Star Wars according to a 3-year old".

And about Huffington, do you remember Strange Bedfellows? This is when Arianna was still conservative. She and Al Franken did commentary for the election of 1996 as a feature on Bill Maher's old show Politically Incorrect. She wasn't able to get her ex husband Michael to be Senator or herself to be Governor. But, her old buddy, Al, is on the edge of becoming a Senator and she finally has a real home with her very cool on-line news site. They really have come a long way, baby. What a long strange trip it has been. (Sorry for going to one ad cliche to one song lyric cliche....)

(But speaking of a strange trip), the link to Bill's old show was to my favorite episode on Timothy Leary and LSD. He gathered up three psychedelic users (plus a token non-druggie) who are non-repentant fans of the drug. It was this sort of show that led to him getting the ax from mainstream TV and landing on HBO. And, yes, Maher can be obnoxious but he can be wonderful, too.

Vote at "The Dish" for videos of the year

Andrew Sullivan's blog has a yearly contest of the best video. Check them out here. And vote if you wish. The hedgehog video is not the bathtub one. The only video I had seen before was Hey Jude. Whatever you do, you have got to check out that entirely crazy surfer. It's a fairly short video.

The Dancing Bird and Science

So do you know the internet sensation Snowball? It is a dancing bird. You really need to watch for only 10 or 20 seconds, because the bird has very limited moves if great enthusiasm. But, it was interesting to read today in the New York Times Magazine's 8th Annual Year in Ideas issue (look under Avian dancing) how Snowball is adding to a scientific understanding of where the ability to dance comes from in humans (and now birds). We await dancing dolphins. If you aren't familiar with this annual issue of the magazine, I would like to recommend it to you. Just slide through it looking for things of interest. I always read every word....
(Update: I was having trouble navigating the issue. But, it you click on the arrow at the top right, you can slide through the issue. Clicking on the alphabet didn't work for me, but it could be a temporary problem.)

Quick meal

Today we are having a house-warming party, so no time for a post. But, thought I would share this. Such an efficient eater!

In a more serious mood - but still relating to dogs and food - Brian sent me to this Gail Collins column in the NY Times today. Gail is always worth reading. Just wanted to give you a taste.

Cats on slide (with appropriate music)

I loved the dog in the snow from the last post, but was sooooo annoyed with the music. Now this has appropriate music with the video. Thank you.

Fun in the snow

This just in (thanks, Lynn!) Love the footage but don't you think they could have found a better song to play? Winter wonderland, perhaps? Other suggestions?

Excellence

I keep obsessing about this video.

Various academic research has come up with the figure of about 10,000 hours of practice to become a master in a field. If that bricks-on-head guy in the video isn't one of the best ever at moving bricks on his head, I want to see the one who is better! And, I assume this means that the guy has done this for, at least, 10,000 hours of his life. Wow. I assume he isn't paid much for his labor. Yet, he is world class at the task! Where is the Ed Sullivan show when you need it?

President Morphing, Downfall and a cat

President Morphing

I had many reactions to this video that morphs our Presidents from Washington to Obama. I took two pages of notes. But, I have done some severe editing. Here are my main impressions:

• Buchanan really looks gay. I also thought Chester Arthur looked gay. I checked the internet and, indeed, there are rumors that Buchanan (the only life-long bachelor President) and Arthur were gay. I also thought the portrait of Pierce had a punk-gay quality. No such rumors about Pierce - but do check out that photo.
• Andrew Jackson looks like he should be in a rock band. I think the Rolling Stones pre-wrinkles.
• Check out James Polk! He looks like a cross between Mel Gibson and ..... Please tell me who! (Update: the people have spoken - a cross between Mel Gibson, David MaCallum (Man from U.N.C.L.E. fame) and Bill Macy.)
  
• For morphing reasons, some of the portraits are the official ones but many are not. (Warning: If you click that last link, you are taken to a picture of Bush!) In the video, they chose smiling portraits from Carter through Obama. But, in reality, only two Presidents show teeth: Reagan and W. (Update 12/6/08 - Bush unveiled his "official protrait". No teeth. So, Reagan is now the only one with teeth showing.)
  

By the way, if you go to the youtube President morphing video, I suggest you check out many of the other morphs videos that show up in the "related video" list.

Downfall

Have any of you checked out any of the Downfall videos (from the film about the downfall of Hitler and the Third Reich)? My favorite (and a very educational one, at that) is Real Estate Downfall. However, stop! Don't yet click on that link. Later, I will give you a good sequence for really enjoying these clips. Also, in general, I am not going to bother to give you links because there would be too many.

There are a lot of versions. Probably the most famous (before the now-viral Real Estate Downfall) is Hillary's Downfall. However, while it has some good writing - the writers are too lazy to write a really good script and, in the sequence when "Clinton" is yelling, they overuse obscenities. Too many go for the cheap joke or swearing instead of a writing a really sharp script. Nonetheless, I did like it and other political ones such as the GOP's Downfall or Obama's Downfall. But, a youtube search will find them.

There are lots of different Downfall genres out there. One type is to use the clip to critique something like Macs, PCs, Second Life, Burning Man or Mircrosoft. Another type is even more absurdist - Hitler's car being stolen, Hitler buys the wrong bike. Then, there are a lot of sports ones: Brett's Fauvre's Downfall, Hitler's upset about Tennessee loss, Hitler Superbowl.

And, then there are the ones with self-reference to the phenomenon. One pleads to stop it. But, a really funny one (linked below) critiques those who don't "get it" which includes, I gather, a lot of German speaking folks.

So, if you want to go down the Downfall path in such a way to actually laugh more instead of less, I would suggest this sequence. First, watch the real estate one. If you don't like it and find it offensive, then stop and don't continue watching any. However, if you liked it, then find one on youtube that intrigues you (or click the Hillary link above.) Follow up with more if you wish. But do check out this one. Then, the topper is to see the real film dialogue but speed-ed up. If you want to see a (slightly different) version of the real one, here it is.

A Cat here

Why I don't have a cat

My friend, Lynn, also supplied this link that shows exactly why I don't want a cat. I prefer barking and slobber.

Favorite animal videos

Aren't animal videos the best? There are so many great ones. Dogs surfing and skateboarding, horses fetching the beer and answering the telephone, cats obsessively flushing toilets and the list goes on. They are all great but here are a few of my favorites.

You have already seen this, right? The reunion with the lion? But, it is worth watching again. Even though I know what is going to happen, I always cry.

Yes, it is possible to beat the odds. Go penguin, go!

An oldie but goodie. Only 9 seconds here.

If you have a favorite, please send it and I will post it for everyone to see. (Everyone = maybe a dozen people). It doesn't have to be an animal link. Any fun video would be great.