Link Banana

The headline may be better than the video, but the video is still good for a laugh.

Though I find the effect less interesting than in stills, Keith Loutit’s tilt-shift time-lapse videos from around Sydney are pretty awesome.

• Bathtub III
• Bathtub II
• Beached (via Waxy; has by far the most people)

I’m a sucker for things like this. A small film crew took to the street of New Orleans and asked 50 people: “If you could wish for one thing to happen by the end of the day, what would it be?”.

(via Metafilter)

Calling to mind another recent example of surrealism: The Day with No News.

(via Coudal)

Really, I’ve not read it and don’t intend to. I’m just using it as an excuse to share some of my favorite episodes. Like:

• Hindsight
• Serious Issues
• Scrabble
• Thanksgetting
• Brain Crack
• Outside

Wanna see something really cool? Watch this short video of all the flights in the air over the USA at a given time.

(via siracusa)

Current has a pretty interesting video about Bhutan. Though it focuses on the problems that the country faces in the wake of the recent transition from a (generally benign) monarchy into a democracy, there are some interesting tidbits, like the prevalence of penises painted on walls — which are surprisingly not graffiti.

(via Passport)

A few weeks ago, Jon Stewart said that he no longer found it possible to hate the president. I agreed then, and I still agree after seeing this. An explanation and more is at The Lede. As it describes the video:

The video is grainy, and Mr. Bush isn’t visible on most of it. But the lyrics, which poke fun at some of the most controversial moments in the Bush administration — the prosecution of vice presidential aide Scooter Libby, the collapse of his nomination of Harriet Miers, former White House counsel, to the Supreme Court — are almost entirely clear, over the laughter.

And what’s more, the structure which looks like a child’s play house, is lived in. And you get a tour from the owner who looks quite normal sized.

(via Mark Larson)

Vulture brings news that The Onion is unveiling a movie, and though they seem to have no idea what the movie will be about, they’re convinced it will be hilarious. Based on the trailer, I don’t find it terribly hard to agree.

This isn’t the most interesting-looking format to see Mr. Bourdain (for that watch No Reservations on the Travel Channel), but it’s a good and funny interview which is well worth a look.

(via Dethroner)

This is impressive. Though I’m sure linguists and others will quible that some of her accents may be a little off, it’s rather mesmerizing to see a single person do so many accents end to end.

(via Neatorama, whose comments answer your burning question about where Ms. Walker is actually from)

I apologize for posting another kids-being-awesome video, but I just can’t resist.

(via clusterflock)

A few years ago the Defense Department decided to look seriously at prosthetic arms. Dean Kamen and Co. heard the call and have created something that looks straight out of science fiction. Though it doesn’t work quite as well as Luke Skywalker’s fake hand — for which it is named — it is impressive and seems a big improvement over any prosthetic I’ve ever seen.

(via Engadget)

In the field of “unbelievably cool and most certainly dangerous” how-tos comes this short video about how to make fireballs you can hold in your hand.

(via kottke)

Big Think’s a very interesting new website, which is definitely worth giving at least a little time and thought to. As it defines itself:

Our task is to move the discussion away from talking heads and talking points, and give it back to you. That is Big Think’s mission. In practice, this means that our information is truly interactive. When you log onto our site, you can access hundreds of hours of direct, unfiltered interviews with todays leading thinkers, movers and shakers. You can search them by question or by topic, and, best of all, respond in kind. Upload a video in which you take on Senator Ted Kennedy’s views on immigration; post a slideshow of your trip to China that supports David Dollar’s assertion that pollution in China is a major threat; or answer with plain old fashioned text. You can respond to the interviewee, respond to a responder or heck, throw your own question or idea into the ring.

Big Think is yours. We are what you think.

(via Magnetbox)