Up And Down, Round And Round, Super Mario!!!

This reminds me of when I used to play Katamari and I'd get urges to run over things so they would stick to my car... Hopefully, cyclists don't start throwing turtle shells at each other.

Side note: Talk about a non-news story! I mean it's really cool and all, but is there nothing else going on in Portland? I guess the local news is weird everywhere...

Shake It Like A...

I'm probably late on this but I just discovered Poladroid. It doesn't quite capture all the character and appeal of the real thing but it's a fun little program that can add an "artsy" touch to your jpegs. It's not a replacement by any means but it'll have to do until I get a Polaroid or an Instax. Download it for free!

Alone In Kyoto

This is a straight up repost of J. Martinez and Like Cool:

"Jeff Altman is a film colorist from Chicago. These scences were shot by his grandparents in 1958. This footage features only his grandfather; both behind and in front of the camera. He says:

'It was edited by hand some 50 years ago by my grandfather shortly after shooting it. Judging by the 3 minute length, I would say its safe to assume you're seeing all the footage he shot. 100 foot rolls of 16mm are of about 3 minutes in length. The order of the shots were probably changed, as well as removal of flash frames and other junk. '"

I used to wonder why tourists bothered filming their entire rides on the San Francisco Cable Cars; it just seemed so pointless. But now I know why they bother filming anything at all: it's so their grandchildren can find the footage, edit it, and post the video on the Future-Internet over 50 years later.

This video is amazing (and so are Altman's grandfather's other clips). It is littered with several beautiful shots--especially the smoker with the Bay Bridge in the background--but it's the time travel-like effect that really had me hooked. It's interesting to see how different, yet how similar, San Francisco was in the 1950s. I just love that the footage consists of things I see on a daily basis, like city streets filled with cars and people riding the trolley. Only here, the cars are old classics and the people are dressed stylishly in suits and dresses. The overall tone and feel of this video is great as well (in large part due to the excellent selection of Air's "Alone In Kyoto" as the score). It's relaxing and eye-opening at the same time. I feel like this is exactly what many musicians and directors are trying to achieve when filming music videos for indie rock records.

This makes me want to start taking more pictures again and shooting short crappy videos whenever I'm out and about. And one other thing is for sure: I will never make fun of video-happy tourists again. Ever.

If I May

Let there be no doubt: this guy is really good at doing random circus-type activities. Some highlights include jumping into his clothes and doing somersaults on a treadmill. I mean, I can't do a flip or a fancy yo-yo trick so I can only dream of doing both of those things at once. The guy's got skills. However, this video reminded me of something I have been mildly fixated on for a while now: the actual filming of youtube clips is just as funny, if not funnier, than the actual content of the video.

Imagine walking through the park and seeing someone set up a Flip camera on a bench. Then that person proceeds to stand on a picnic table and juggle blocks. After a while, he stops juggling and jumping, and he walks over to the bench to turn his camera off. Something about that just cracks me up. People who film themselves, by themselves, doing random things is just too funny.

I first discovered this when I was watching one of my cousin's friend's break-dancing videos on Youtube. She was doing her dance routine (mainly c-walking and popping) in her driveway with headphones on, at night with a porch light focused on her so we can actually see what she's doing. The video camera was clearly just sitting on the ground and she was by herself. That scenario cracked me up! I would love to be walking through a neighborhood and randomly stumble upon some kid making a solo dance video for Youtube. I'm guessing the kid would be slightly embarrassed at being discovered, which would be even funnier seeing as he/she was planning on posting this on Youtube anyway. I'm laughing now just thinking about it.

Playoffs?

So it's kind of old but I just saw this video on a Fatlace blog and I had to post it. It's DJ Steve Porter's "Press Hop" and it's dope. So dope in fact, that it got me to blog. It's been a while.

Wolf At The Door

I guess if you wanted to recreate a scene from a summer blockbuster for a wedding speech, you may as well choose one that is really funny and awesome. Sure, swiping lines from movies for your best man's speech is a little lame, but quoting Zach Galifianakis' toast from The Hangover is not even remotely close to walking around screaming "yeeeeah!," Chappelle/Lil Jon-style or butchering lines from Old School.

Poo-Putt Platter

So I've been playing catch-up with my "looking at garbage on the web" business these past couple days. Today, I stumbled upon this at Videogum. First of all, I think this hilarious. Yeah, it's entirely bizarre and weird but I like it. I think that says a lot coming from some one who A) can't stand Japanese game shows in America because of the whole "laughing for the wrong reasons" aspects of them, and B) has hospital bill issues of his own to worry about (some clam should give me a valuable pearl). Maybe I like it because it's more or less about poop and the added "knowing is half the battle/the more you know" non-lessons tacked on definitely add to the appeal. But mainly, I like that the main character's name is Unko-san because it's like naming your dog, "Dog" and because "unko" was one of, if not the first Japanese word I ever learned.

Tokyo Drift

Seeing as how I love riding hills on my longboard and on my fixed gear, I would probably love this as well. It's like a more serious take on BYOBW. Someone should buy me one...

It's Funny How

As long as Twitter is popular, Twitter jokes will be funny. And yes, you can follow me on Twitter.

Also, Mad Libs Men:



Maybe I should start checking out more stuff from College Humor.

Danger!

Wow! Please Internet, in honor of the new X-Men movie, please turn this into the Star Wars Kid. It'd be embarrassing not to...

P.S. Those things look really, really dangerous. Like, accidentally kill yourself-type dangerous. Yikes.

Swagga Like Us?

I think it was just last Saturday when I was telling someone about how awkward and weird it is when urban slang gets embraced by mainstream media. I think it was during a basketball game. It's one thing to hear NBA announcers talk about a team's swagger, but this video is just embarrassing. What's next, MSNBC talking about "squalie" and "piff"? How about Fox News dropping "pause" into there daily coverage? Sure, it's funny to see old folks talking about "chicken heads" but only when they know it's a joke.

And also, doesn't everyone want a "not afraid to give hugs"-type President?

I Wonder...

This is part of some viral marketing campaign for Valencia and Unibet. When they show Españeta, he's knocking the ball into the goal post similar to the Joga Bonito ad where Ronaldinho also used the goal to pass it to himself. I'm not saying they blatantly stole the idea but they kind of did.

There's something really cute about the tiny Japanese woman from Tokyo Sport speaking Spanish to Joaquin. Before being interrupted, she asks him about food and about playing football in Japan. He says how he likes paella and gazpacho over sushi, and that it's possible that he could play football in Japan in the future. I think.

This reminded me of when I helped a Mexican lady buy the right train tickets in Tokyo during my Japan trip. My Spanish is pretty terrible and my Japanese is even worse, but somehow I got her to Kobe or where ever she was going. At least I hope...

Shenanigans

The conclusion?

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Intro - Brawl Street: Get Ready to Buy Low! And Sell Die

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Unedited Interview Pt. 1

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Unedited Interview Pt. 2

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Jim Cramer Unedited Interview Pt. 3

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things w/ Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Jim Cramer

So there's that. It went down just about how I thought it would go down. As I've said before, Jon Stewart is clearly funny and intelligent, and he can talk off the cuff with the best of them. Obviously, he was up to the task of taking on Cramer. It being his show, he was able to dominate the discussion with his arguments and have video clips at his disposal. In addition to the stuff he had prepared, he was passionate and honest without being too condescending.

I thought Cramer came off pretty well too, considering he went on The Daily Show knowing he might get straight lectured for an entire interview. It's not surprising but he was a different character than the guy who made the talk show rounds saying Stewart was "a comedian". He might have been lying through his teeth but at least he seemed understanding and wasn't overly defensive. He didn't hurt himself anyway. And he did have a good point that he simply tries to be entertaining while giving out boring stock tips. My response would be that "boing" noises, rubber toys and yelling aren't entertainment but I'm probably not his target audience. Aside from that, the stupid antics aren't what Stewart took issue with, as he pointed out.

It's pretty amazing how The Daily Show and Jon Stewart have created such a following over the years (something that Cramer obviously realized) and it'll be interesting to see if this has the same impact as his ranting on Crossfire. Some people want Stewart to raise these issues in a different way, one that tones down the jokes but I disagree. He does what he does in a manner that gets a younger audience (albeit a primarily liberal-leaning one) interested in issues that they might normally ignore. He's not hiding behind comedy, so much as using comedy to bring these issues to our attention. I say, let him tell his jokes and make his faces if every-so-often we get discussions like this one. We'll see if it actually gets CNBC and Cramer to think a little bit differently and change their ways, but it was informative and entertaining at the very least.

When's It Comin' Out?

Look at ultra-stylish Kanye doing his best Denim Dan impression and listen to Aziz Ansari be hilarious. If paparazzi followed one of my friends around all the time, you know I'd be yelling out the most random things when the cameras were rolling. I wouldn't even need to be promoting something. I'd just holler out things like I was playing Catchphrase or something. It'd get old but I'd have some fun with it, I think. Anyway, I'm kind of looking forward to Ansari's new show with Amy Poehler and I'm glad it's not a spin-off of The Office.

D-D-D-Dora!!!

I suppose it says something about me, my generation, the media, news/talk shows, the economy, the Internet, the world in general, etc, etc, that I had never heard of Jim Cramer before all this John Stewart business, but I'm glad I hadn't. Then again, it probably says something equally, if not more important about all those things that a guy like Cramer has a show like that in the first place, but I digress. Anyway, he's feuding with John Stewart now which is a bad thing for him (and an entertaining thing for most Daily Show viewers). Hasn't he heard of Tucker Carlson?

In short, Stewart said some jokes, Cramer took them personally and can't manage to see the forest for the trees. On top of that, he's clearly taking this opportunity to raise his profile by refusing to let this thing go. He could have easily ignored it but he's "rap beefin'" the whole thing, if you will. In any case, Cramer better be ready to get cross-fired because he's going on the Daily Show tomorrow. Hopefully, John Stewart splits the jokes with some real discussion and shows Cramer how ridiculous he is being about all this. I mean, it's easy for Stewart to use the "I do comedy" defense but, as with the Crossfire drama, he does have some legitimate points to make.

This'll bring you up to speed with this feud, which I have been tracking on videogum, of course.

I'm Anomie. I, Mon Ami

Demetri Martin's DVD and new show are both very funny. However, it wouldn't shock me at all to find someone who didn't think he was funny. I'm guessing he could get at least a chuckle out of most people but his stuff is subtle and nerdy, in a way. It reminds me a bit of FOTC in that it's quirky and cheeky. He blends drawings, charts, figures, diagrams, skits, songs and multi-instrumentation with your basic stand-up comedy. And on top of that, I just found this gem:

'"Dammit I'm Mad"

Dammit I’m mad.

Evil is a deed as I live.

God, am I reviled? I rise, my bed on a sun, I melt.

To be not one man emanating is sad. I piss.

Alas, it is so late. Who stops to help?

Man, it is hot. I’m in it. I tell.

I am not a devil. I level “Mad Dog”.

Ah, say burning is, as a deified gulp,

In my halo of a mired rum tin.

I erase many men. Oh, to be man, a sin.

Is evil in a clam? In a trap?

No. It is open. On it I was stuck.

Rats peed on hope. Elsewhere dips a web.

Be still if I fill its ebb.

Ew, a spider… eh?

We sleep. Oh no!

Deep, stark cuts saw it in one position.

Part animal, can I live? Sin is a name.

Both, one… my names are in it.

Murder? I’m a fool.

A hymn I plug, deified as a sign in ruby ash,

A Goddam level I lived at.

On mail let it in. I’m it.

Oh, sit in ample hot spots. Oh wet!

A loss it is alas (sip). I’d assign it a name.

Name not one bottle minus an ode by me:

“Sir, I deliver. I’m a dog”

Evil is a deed as I live.

Dammit I’m mad.'

See what I mean? He's funny and creative but maybe not for everyone. Don't get it? Read about it at Paste Magazine.

Super Intelligent

This study by Virgil Griffith has been floating around the Internet the past couple days. I read the blurbs at Pitchfork and The Wall Street Journal and I'm sure that's just the tip of the iceberg. He has a study using books too but I haven't checked it out yet. Anyway, I thought I would post this even though it's pointless and not entirely surprising. Based on a number of factors, it makes sense that Lil Wayne fans might have lower SAT scores than people who listen to Beethoven. It's mildly interesting in a conversation piece way, but there are obvious "flaws" in the study which I won't get into because it's not important and Griffith is aware of them anyway.

Not to be too judgmental but the guy comes off as a "douche nerd." I guess that's to be expected because he's a hacker and hackers are attention-starved, egomaniacs in general. Beyond that, he's "actually a little embarrassed" by his 1370 SAT score(!) and when addressing the whole "correlation is not causation" issue with this study, he concluded with the word, "duh." I don't mean to be harsh or hypocritical, but smart people can be very smug.

Sick Wid It

Jeffrey posted this video on Gchat and I was compelled to make some comments... First of all, why do they keep saying "kids"? I'm pretty sure kids don't play *beer* pong. I realize that some people say "kids" and mean "people" and/or "young people" but this made the whole piece pretty funny. It seemed like they were trying to get Little Timmy (why is it always "Little Timmy"?) to stop drinking from the cup. Also, you know comedy is afoot when morning TV show hosts(?) get to say things like "sharing cups" and "spit swapping". Add in some talk about balls, in a spring break setting and the outcome is laughter, or at least snickers. And, um, doesn't that lady-host know the entire story is about not drinking from the cup? You may argue she's playing dumb, like in a PSA commercial way but I think she was just being clueless. She wanted to drink from the cup. Finally, one of the doctor's tips should have been, "throw the ball with an arcing trajectory to have the best chance of sinking your shot."


P.S. I always thought the water cup was the stupidest aspect of a really, really stupid game. I think it's common sense to know that the filthy cleaning water isn't doing anyone any favors.

Mighty Ighty Ighty O!

These are much funnier than they have any right to be...

AwesomeAwesomeAwesomeAwesome

This one

is the full song version of this one

which is just like this one

and they were both based on this one