JK Rowling: The fringe benefits of failure

At her Harvard University commencement speech, "Harry Potter" author JK Rowling offers some powerful, heartening advice to dreamers and overachievers, including one hard-won lesson that she deems "worth more than any qualification I ever earned."

Walmart Clown Commercial

Dancing Inmates - Michael Jackson's This Is It

Filipino, Philippines "Dancing Inmates" from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), a maximum security prison, were treated to a visit by Michael Jacksons long-time choreographer Travis Payne and dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid to learn performances from THIS IS IT.

Animator vs. Animation

Animator vs. Animation II


Animator vs. Animation (Original)

Star Trek: I Will Survive

Plasma Rocket Engine

From Wikipedia: "A plasma propulsion engine is a type of Ion thruster which uses plasma in some or all parts of the thrust generation process. Though far less powerful than conventional rocket engines, plasma engines are able to operate at higher efficiencies and for longer periods of time. Plasma engines are better suited for long-distance Interplanetary space travel missions.

Plasma propulsion engines were first developed by the Soviet Union during 1963-1965 to propel spacecraft to Mars. In more recent years, many agencies have developed several forms of plasma fueled engines, including the European Space Agency, Iranian Space Agency and Australian National University, which have co-developed a more advanced type described as a double layer thruster.[1][2] However, this form of plasma engine is only one of many types."

Practical Traveler - 10 Ways to Cut Your Travel Costs In 2010

NYTimes.com reports: "LAST year was arguably the year of the travel deal, with resorts and airlines practically begging for bookings, and many travelers finding bargain airfares and hotel rooms as a result. But airlines have cut back capacity, meaning there will be fewer seats going unsold, and resorts may not be as quick to cut rates to attract guests, now that the economy looks as if it might be on a slight rebound. So now is the perfect time to review your booking strategy. Here are 10 simple steps you can take to help cut your travel costs in 2010."

Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+

To find the path to long life and health, Dan Buettner and team study the world's "Blue Zones," communities whose elders live with vim and vigor to record-setting age. At TEDxTC, he shares the 9 common diet and lifestyle habits that keep them spry past age 100.

Crazy Nuts (Illusion)

This is a pretty cool optical illusion.

Science tricks for Parties

Prof Richard Wiseman from the University of Hertfordshire (UK) shows you how to do 10 simple tricks you can use at parties. All of them are based on basic scientific principles.

Social Media Revolution

Is social media a fad? Or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution? This video details out social media facts and figures that are hard to ignore.

The Google Story

Pigeon: Impossible

A rookie secret agent is faced with a problem seldom covered in basic training: what to do when a curious pigeon gets trapped inside your multi-million dollar, government-issued nuclear briefcase.

Article: Uncovering Steve Jobs' Presentation Secrets

BusinessWeek reports: "For his new book, communications coach Carmine Gallo watched hours of Jobs' keynotes. Here he identifies the five elements of every presentation by the Apple CEO" This article can help you to create an "insanely great" presentation.

Free VIN Checking Service

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) offers a free VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) checking service to help the public determine if a vehicle has been reported as stolen, or has been reported as a salvage vehicle by cooperating NICB members.

Mona Lisa Arby's

Kid Shreds on the Accordion

Rory Sutherland: Life lessons from an ad man

I found this to be an amazing interesting and funny video.

Canal plus the closet

Crash test: 1959 Chevy Bel Air

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety conducted a unique crash test to demonstrate the advances in motor vehicle safety over the last 50 years. In this test, a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air are both going 40 mph and the vehicles collide offset, driver side to driver side. This is the same crash configuration represented by the Institute's 40 mph frontal offset barrier test, which is used to rate the frontal crash performance of new cars.

Did You Know 4.0

This is another official update to the original "Shift Happens" video. This completely new Fall 2009 version includes facts and stats focusing on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology, and was developed in partnership with The Economist.

Baby Dancing to Beyonce

Web Site Story

CollegeHumor's first Broadway musical since (LOL)Cats.

Arthur Benjamin: Lightning calculation and other "Mathemagic"

http://www.ted.com In a lively show, mathemagician Arthur Benjamin races a team of calculators to figure out 3-digit squares, solves another massive mental equation and guesses a few birthdays.

Little Red Riding Hood v2.0 (updated for engineers)

Removing a cork from the bottle trick

Flutter: The New Twitter

Stunning passenger Hunter flight in the Swiss mountains

This video shows a low level flight Hawker Hunter flight in the Swiss Alps.

EagleCam (Eagle's Prospective)

This video gives you flying prospective from eagle's point of view.

The World Builder

A man uses holographic tools to build a world for the woman he loves.

This is a short by filmmaker Bruce Branit known also as the co-creator of 405

Chad Vader Season 2 #1 "The Takeover"

Chad is back! Empire Market has been taken over by corporate chain Red Leader Foods. Chad and company get their first look at their new owner. To watch season 1, you can start here.

Bush Tours America To Survey Damage Caused By His Disastrous Presidency

The American Form of Government

An explanation of the various forms of government, and why America is not a democracy.

Bike Hero

Its Guitar Hero, played using a bike. Watch it and you will understand. You have to give it a minute before you appreciate the work involved.

One year in 40 seconds

All the photos were taken at the same spot for one year. They do a great job of showing the seasons changing.

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Quote of the day...

The future, according to some scientists, will be exactly like the past, only far more expensive. - John Sladek

Worlds largest Media Center Remote Contol?

This device is made from two PS/2 Dance Dance Revolution pads, a converter box, and some free code that is available for download. See the article for more information.

The Craft of War: BLIND

One of the best done Internet videos I have seen in a long time. If you're a Warcraft fan you will want to watch this.

The Funniest Online Video

These are the funniest online videos I have ever seen (IMHO). You might have to watch a minute or two before you really start to laugh.

Dad at Comedy Barn


Internet Help Desk


Triumph the Insulting Dog vs. Star Wars Geeks

If you have any suggestions for ones that you think are better, please include a link to it in the comments area. If I agree with your opinion I will post them in my blog.

Google: What is an Operating System Anyway?

eWeek's Google Watch reports: "Google charged the notion this week by releasing Native Client, an open source runtime engine, browser plugin, and compilation tool set geared to boost Web application performance on computing devices. Some observers think Native Client could be combined with its Chrome browser, Gears and to form some of Microsoft Windows-killing Web operating system."

Rumors are flying about a possible Google OS. As always, time will tell if they're true.

Take On Me: Literal Video Version

Ever wish songs just sang what was happening in the music video?

Stay Out Of The Dog House

This is a well done JCPenney jewelry ad.

Watch the International Space Station Assembled

Watch how the different parts of the International Space Station were added to each other. What I found fascinating was how some parts were moved around the station to different locations. You will have to watch the video to understand what I am talking about.

Tilted Twister - Lego NXT Rubik's Cube solver

This stand-alone robot made from Lego that can solve a Rubik's cube automatically.

Brain Power (60 Minutes)

People who are completely paralyzed due to illness or trauma are getting help communicating with a new technology that connects their brains to a computer. Scott Pelley reports.

Quote of the day

"If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside." -- Robert X. Cringely

NASA Urine Recycler (PG-13 for language) [aka: That's Not Tang]

Star Wars Vs. Star Trek

Astronaut demos drinking coffee in space

When Dr. Don Pettit lived aboard the International Space Station in 2002, he became known for his "Saturday Morning Science" sessions, during which he would demonstrate really cool, simple microgravity experiments.

Earlier this month, Pettit returned to space, this time as member of space shuttle Endeavour's crew on a mission to upgrade the outpost. After 10 days of hard work, the STS-126 crew got some time off Sunday morning and Pettit took the opportunity to film a special episode of Saturday, err, Sunday Morning Science.

In his video, which he later narrated for Mission Control, Dr. Pettit demonstrated his take on a zero-gravity coffee cup...

Classic Scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Here are some classic scenes from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975).

Killer Rabbit


Black Knight


French Taunter


Witch Village

Wassup 2008

Its been eight long years since the boys said wassup to each other. Even with the effects of a down economy and imminent change in the White House, the boys are still able to come together and stay true to what really matters.

YouTube Contest Challenges Users To Make A 'Good' Video

The Job

How To Behave On A Forum (8-Bit Version)

Here are a great set of rules for posting on most forums, including this site.

The Black Hole

A sleep-deprived office worker accidentally discovers a black hole - and then greed gets the better of him.

Is the IRS holding a check for you?

MSN Money reports: "If you're still waiting for your economic stimulus payment, it might be in one of the more than 383,000 pieces of mail returned to the Internal Revenue Service."

If you never received your economic stimulus, you might want to check out this article. The November 28th deadline is approaching.

"Star Wars" - an a capella tribute to John Williams

Shift Happens [aka: Did You Know?] (Updated Version)

How to Deal With Zombie Debt

wikiHow reports: "Collecting old debts - even debts for which you are not legally responsible - is becoming a very profitable venture. Companies can buy those debts (sometimes referred to as 'junk debt') for pennies to the dollar, then go after the people who they think are most likely to pay up. A phone call can turn into badgering, harassment, threats to sue, and other inappropriate (and sometimes illegal) actions. If you ever get a collector asking you to pay up on a debt that's 'come back to life', here's how to make sure your rights aren't violated."

I have some friends going through this right now, and here is a great article with how to deal with this type of harassment.

Barclaycard Waterslide Ad

One of the best ads I have seen in a little while. Here is a short synopsis: An office worker gets into a waterslide, which he rides on his commute home. During his journey, the commuter, uses his Barclaycard to swipe his way through subway system gates and buy groceries.

Automated Assets

Two automatons share a busy workday

History of the Wilhelm Scream

A Brief History of the Wilhelm Scream, as told by HollywoodLostAndFound.net creator Steve Lee - along with Directors Joe Dante and Tobe Hooper. From Showtime On Demand, and "Masters of Horror."

Sarah Palin Disney Trailer

An Alaskan hockey mom becomes Vice President in the wackiest family comedy of the year! Sound familiar?

Simon and Miss Schlampi the Cat at Night (Time Lapse)

Kids' Rock by Tim Hawkins

The graphics for this video ----, but the audio portion is historical.

Tim Hawkins - Smells Like Birthday Cake

Tim Hawkins on Church

Compare credit cards' rental car insurance policies

CreditCards.com reports: "If you're a veteran car renter, it's likely you routinely decline the rental company's offer of additional insurance coverage, smug in the knowledge that you're not wasting money. After all, if you get in an accident, your credit card will cover your deductible, right?"

Every now and then I have to rent a car. I always decline the damage protection options that they try to up-sell you, but I sometimes wonder if I am making a mistake. The credit card I use is suppose to have coverage for renting cars, but I never thought about the limitations of the it until I read this article.

Suggestion:

• Check the limitations of the coverage offered by your primary insurance and credit card on rental cars. Make sure that you are properly covered incase of an accident.
  

Popping Corn with Cell Phones?

I saw the following video (see below) a few days ago for the first time. It's people apparently popping popcorn with their cell phones, and it looks pretty real when you watch it.



TruthOrFiction.com reports: "A series of videos showing young people apparently popping popcorn with their cell phones. Four cell phones are arranged facing each other on the top of a table. In the center of the cell phones are several kernels of unpopped popcorn. The cell phones are called at the same time and as they begin to ring, the kernels pop."

Read the article for more information.

Poll Reveals 430 New Demographics That Will Decide Election

From the Onion: A recent election poll indicates vegan independents and skydiving widowers are among the groups that will have a major impact in November. (note: a small part of the video is a little PG-13)

First Flying Lesson (Commercial)

A very funny commercial created by the Centraal Beheer Achmea in the Netherlands. For the most part it should be fairly self explanatory. Although I may need to provide a little background, the guy is waiting for his flight instructor (who is late) to take his first lesson in flying a glider.

Digital Conversion PSA

With the impending switch from analog to digital video, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has released this informative PSA on just how easy the conversion will be.

Jules Verne re-entry video

Her is a video showing the destructive re-entry of Jules Verne ATV at the end of a successful mission to the International Space Station. The re-entry took place over an uninhabited area of the Pacific Ocean after two deorbit burns.

Watch the Video

Do we really need another browser?

Google recently released a new browser called Chrome, and now I am asking myself do we really need another browser? For years Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer fought a feature war, and Netscape lost. Then several years later, Firefox rose from the ashes of Navigator with all new code. Then took the Web by storm.

Although before Firefox there is another browser called Opera that seems to always be setting trends in the background. Although, it never really made huge waves as far as market share.

Much later, Apple wanting more of the browser market so they released a Windows version of Safari. I have to admit I have personally never tried it, and never have really heard too much good or bad news about it in the press.

With all these choices, I wonder if people are just getting tired of this all. I only use I.E. and Firefox, and as much as I like Google products, there would have to be real compelling reason for me to change. Although, I might try Chrome out of curiosity to see if I like it.

Plastic Logic's eBook Reader

Here is a light, flexible, and strong e-book reader designed for business workers to avoid having to carry papers and books everywhere with them. The product also features some inking capability (a limited ability to mark up documents).

One of the problems with the technology will be the time and effort required to scan the documents electronically to carry them with you. Although, this can be avoided if the documents are printed to PDF instead paper to begin with.

EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment

From the creators of the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment, EeepyBird show us how to have fun with sticky notes. eepybird.com

A deaf girl learns to play violin

A beautiful, feel good commercial created for P&G's Pantene Chrysalis brand, created by Grey Thailand.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photographs

If you like photography, then you may like the following web page, it contains 25 stunningly beautiful photographs. All of these photographs were modified using a technique called High Dynamic Range (HDR). HDR can create stunningly beautiful pictures which can blur the difference between reality and illusion.

Due To Budget Cuts, This Is Your New Cubicle

I won't need to explain this web page, just check it out if you want to laugh. Just make sure to read the “New Company Policies” at the bottom.

The Large Hadron Collider (How it Works)

The Large Hadron Collider is the largest and most complex scientific instrument ever built and the highest energy particle accelerator in the world. The accelerator is located 100 m underground and runs through both French and Swiss territory. (27km circumference)

New Airline Rates

I recently took a trip to Europe, and I wanted to crack jokes like this especially about the cost of bring extra luggage onboard the airplane.

A Day in the Life of Link

Hilarious cartoon showing the downside of being a mute protagonist.

Wassup Holmes

Parody of Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskerville

Mars: 2020: Springtime

Animation created for a contest using Carrara Studio software. Contest theme was Mars in the year 2020 in the springtime. At the time I created it there was much talk in the news about previous Mars probes that had failed.

Large Hadron Rap

Rappin' about CERN's Large Hadron Collider.

Jeux Olympiques (Kasou Taishou) Olympic Games

Ray Bradbury Prunes Commercial

Strange prunes commercial from the 1960's or 1970's. By the way, 2008 and where is my pneumatic tube?

Death Star over San Francisco

Blu-Ray vs. Standard DVD

Study: Most Children Strongly Opposed To Children’s Healthcare

Pentagon's Unmanned Spokesdrone Completes First Press Conference Mission

"NORA: Practice Makes Purr-fect" - Check the sequel too.

Sequel is also up. Don't miss it! This is not a trick that was taught to Nora. She began sitting at the piano at about one-year-old. She's three now. She plays only when the mood strikes her, which is usually several time a times a day for short periods.

Droste Effect - a set on Flickr

Josh Sommers: "Images created using the Escher Droste effect formula. Created using Mathmap and the GIMP."

Very, very weird photography...

Web site design flaws make banking riskier - Security- msnbc.com

msnbc.com reports: "Many U.S. banks are unwittingly training their online customers to take risks with their passwords and other sensitive account information, leaving them more vulnerable to fraud, new research shows."

Something to aware when you use online banks. You have to be careful when you input your account information.

$12 Indian 'TV computer' a knockoff of '80s Nintendo system, not Apple II

ComputerWorld reports: "Can a 20-year-old gaming console be the way to offer truly low-cost computing to Third World students?

An international group of designers and graduate students believe it is, saying that they believe they can modernize a 'TV computer,' available for $12 on the street in India, by adding Internet access and other features while keeping the price affordable."

Computing in third world countries is going old school. I have to admit that this is a good idea, but they really need to make sure that they standardize the hardware and software platform.

Otherwise you just end up with a lot of competing standards, and everyone will be frustrated because people might not have the right hardware or OS to run the software they want.

Cool Zooming Art

Check out this cool web page. Its a flash application that you can use your mouse to zoom in and out of the picture.

Note: It might take a few moments to load

FASTRA - Low-Cost Supercomputer

This is a shorter version of a video where Dr. K. Joost Batenburg at the University of Antwerp in Belgium takes you to the ASTRA-lab where he demonstrates tomographical reconstructions on a FASTRA workstation.

FASTRA is a low-cost supercomputer with standard gaming hardware. The system consists of four dual-GPU NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GX2 graphics cards, it costs less than $6,000 (or 4000 Euro) to build. Using NVIDIA's CUDA technology this machine delivers roughly the same performance as a supercomputer cluster consisting of hundreds of PCs!



More information.

Incredible Machine

Time shrinked from 16 to 10 min. with a remix of Chicanes Offshore. Machine was made 1987 in Switzerland by Fischli and Weiss.

Pilot pulls record-setting 9.6Gs in Red Bull Air Race

Mike Mangold's winning run at the 2007 Red Bull Air Race in Istanbul.

IMHO: This guy does some amazing flying...