YOUTUBE: My Morning Run

Last year we posted a video of stuntman doing some crazy stunts around town, but this might take the cake. Two urban gymnasts climba nd tumble their way through London in a child-like dream jaunt about town. Watch until the end for a great humanizing conclusion to their little "jog."



Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: Betty White's Hoodies

As a follow-up to the post from yesterday about Betty White's partnership with clothier Hoodie Buddie to raise money to benefit the Morris Animal Foundation, comes this farse of an advertisement naming White as the "designer of the year". Full of White's sartorial wit and some great one-liners, the spot amkes it clear why this woman is a national treasure, even if she's got a mouth like a sailor.


Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: Extreme Water Slide

Three things to keep in mind before watching this video:
1) As the parenthetical title says "engineers are silly folk." True. They are also, in this case, crazy.
2) If anyone knows what type of motivation was used to convince the slider to commit this feat, please tell me.
3) Were there others who went before that we don't know about...?

Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: Hand Dance "We No Speak Americano"

By now its a pretty sure thing that you've heard the obnoxious and catchy techno-pop "We No Speak Americano" by the Australian duo known as Yolanda Be Cool. The original video has become a viral hit in and of itself, but this reinterpretation is much more entertaining, in my opinion.

Using a choreographed routine performed mostly using the hands while seated side by side at a small table, Suzanne Cleary & Peter Harding move quickly and synchronized as if they were marionettes being controlled by the same puppeteer. My favorite aspect of the entire performance is the fact that their faces show an expression somewhere between bordom and disinterest. Your face will be anything but.

Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: The Majestic Plastic Bag Mockumentary

Through the use of nature show style documentary, the Heal the Bay organization has created an ingenius public service announcement urging Californians to become more conscious of their polluting habits, most specifically the use of plastic shopping bags. According to the PSA, Californians alone use 19 billion plastic bags a year, with mnay of them contributing to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a continent-sized area north of the Hawaiian islands filled with refuse. Hopefully the reaction to this mockumentary will be as effective as the spot is clever.

Visit healthebay.org/bagbill to see what you can do!

Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: Mustache Baby Music Video

A friend recently sent me this video with a message that said simply, "This is the last music video you will ever need to see in your life." After watching just half of it, I knoew he was right. That being said, I give you Mustache Baby Music Video.

Sergio del Limonar

*This song is apparently by some absolute genius named Riva Starr.

YOUTUBE: Mike Tompkins Acapella cover

My two favorite types of videos on YouTube are those from people with talent and those who have waaaay too much time on their hands. This video, therefore, in double my pleasure and double my fun because it accomplishes both feats.

A gentleman named Mike Tompkins has created an acapella mash-up of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" and Bruno Mars' "Just The Way You Are". Its similar to some Star Wars acapella video I saw awhile back that used one person and some split screened editing to make as many parts as needed, but I don't like Stars Wars much and these songs are just more entertaining. Tompkins sings not only the lead and harmonizing vocals but also mimics guitars, percussion, bass, and somethings called a "kick" and a "pad" which I can only assume to be more percussion (?). Either way, it is incredible and the more this guy clones himself its all the better in my book!

Buzzy

YOUTUBE: Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Written by Dean Fleischer-Camp and SNL's Jenny Slate, who also provides the voice for the titular character, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On may be one of cutest and most instantly infectious things you've seen in a long time, unless of course you are currently surrounded by a houseful of baby otters, because those little guys are adorable.

The short video is kind of a mock-interview/profile of this tiny shell, named Marcel, with one beady eye and two pink and white shoes. Marcel is a nervous twitchy little thing, in that way that a socially awkward five-year old in a room full of strangers might be. Marcel's world is unique at best and he shares with us some of his wishes and favorite activities, like wanting a pet dog but realizing the fallacy in it and attaching a hair to a piece of lint instead.

You will love Marcel. There is no way around it.

Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: Minnesota Gurls

Well, doncha know...I think all of us here in the North Star state knew it was inevitable that somebody would do a parody of the hit Katy Perry song, "California Girls". Look at the facts: both states have the same number os syllables, girls from Minnesota are also "unforgettable," and, last but not least, the blonde here is natural (thank you Sweden, Norway, and Germany)!

Check out the hilarious "Minnesota Gurls" video, which, along with crazy accurate lyrics, also has a killer rap verse that even Snoop would have to admit was pretty "chizzle." And you betcha, starting with the first verse the song hits on all it means to be a true Minnesota girl.

"I know a place where summer winter spring and autumn
10,000 lakes finding a beach is not a problem!"

Hitting on everything from lutefisk, Lake Wobegon, the MOA, Prince, Joe Mauer, Paul Bunyan, wind-chaffed skin, and Spam, these kids got it all right. Well, done and about time, eh?!?!

Buzzy

YOUTUBE: Jane Austen's Fight Club

Jane Austen has been the author of many books about Victorian women and their societal struggles. Her books have stood the test of time and have even been adapted to modern popular culture in films such as Clueless (a remake of Austen's Emma). Well, according to this parody, there is one Austen story we haven't yet read, this one far ahead of it's time. Introducing, Jane Austen's Fight Club.

Taking obvious inspiration from the cult-film starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, and subtle inspiration from some of Austen's true novels, the fake movie trailer is hilarious, not only in concept but also in how the actresses commit to the part. I personally love the victory fist pump at the end, complete with sunglasses and leopard-print coat. Now, this is a classic for the ages!

Buzzy

YOUTUBE: iPad Games

Need more proof that Apple's newest product, the iPad is possibly more ridiculous than you already thought? Check out this segment of Bleep Bloop, a College Humor web-series, specializing in testing out new technologies. This is sarcasm at it's best, folks!

Sergio del Limónar

YOUTUBE: The PEN Story

Anyone who goes on to YouTube and searches for "stop motion" with find a plethora of resulting videos. Many are very well done, even by amateur standards. However, the measure of a great stop motion film in this era a technology, in my opinion, is the depth of the viewer's "how'd they do that?!" statement.

The PEN Story is one such video. Using photographs that creep throughout a house with creative styling, the "story" begins with a black and white class photograph and follows one of the pupils through his life until he is an older man who returns for a class reunion where the first picture is re-shot. Using over 10,000 printing photos, the video is impressive not only visually in its layout, but also in the planning and forethought that were essential for such a project. The added touch of authenticity of having the photo quality improve and evolve with the man's life journey is also a stroke of creative genius.

Accompanied by the song "Down Below" by Johannes Stankowski, and directed by Takeuchi Taijin, the video is a over a year old, but has recently found legs again. If you haven't been one of those who has seen it, take a peek and know what everyone is talking about!

Sergio del Limónar

YOUTUBE: Pregnant Ladies

I don't think anyone will disagree that Beyoncé's chart-dominating single "Single Ladies" has been over-played and parodied enough since it debuted over a year and a half ago. However, this reworking of the hit is great. It's called Pregnant Ladies and, believe it or not, features the dancing and singing of a very pregnant lady. The sight of her in a black leotard recreating Beyoncé's famous choreography is totally amusing, but the real creativity comes from the lyrics, which are all about the perils of having a bun in the oven. I'm not pregnant (knock on wood) but have plenty of preggo friends who can barely touch their toes and have to pee every ten minutes, so I can kind of sympathize; I also love how the lady in this video totally owns what she's doing (especially at around 2:00 when a couple teenage boys are lingering in the background wondering how crazy she might actually be).

Buzzy

YOUTUBE: Bruce Lee Ping Pong

In some foreign markets, cell phone maker, Nokia, is using old footage of martial arts master Bruce Lee to sell their new product. This video edits two such ads together. In the first, Lee is playing ping pong against several different challengers. The extraordinary thing is that Lee is using nunchucks while his opponents use the traditional paddles. Also, Lee kicks their butts.

In the second ad, Lee attaches a strip of some material that serves as a flint to the end of his nunchuck and then proceeds to light several things on fire. First he kindly lights a cigarette while it sticks out of a guy's mouth. (You can't see it but I'm sure he is wetting himself.) Then a box of matches is emptied out and the thrown, one at a time, for Lee to hit with the end of the nunchuck and the momentarily light. Chuck Norris and Jackie Chan have got nothing on this guy.

Sergio del Limónar

YOUTUBE: BP Spills Coffee

Disclaimer: I know this is a little late to be considered cutting-edge topical humour. I also realize that the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico and the way in which it was, and is still, being handled are not laughing matters.

Post: This is video is hilarious. Period.

Buzzy

YOUTUBE: FIFA Officials' Warm-up

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches holding most of the world's attention for at least some point every day during the end of June and early July, it comes as no surprise that these athletes are in peak condition. But what about the officials that chase that same ball up and down the pitch? Well, it turns out they need to warm-up too!

This video, Compenetración Arbitral, which can be loosely translated as "Synchronized Officials," features an edited look at the officials before the first round game between Mexico and Chile on June 25th. If these gentlemen ever need another career option, there's always the chorus line!

Sergio del Limónar

YOUTUBE: Will It Blend?

Designed with a motif that resembles a 1970's television game show, the YouTube channel, Will It Blend? does not try to be anything more than what its title suggests. Each webisode features host Tom Dickson seeing what will happen to various items when they are put in a blender. Dressed in a lab coat and safety glasses, Dickson thus far has tested a swim noodle, silly putty, and a digital camera. Using a dry nerdy wit, Dickson, and his Blendtec home blender, use creative buttons - like the "translate" button when he experiments with a German-language lesson CD - that are definitely not on my blender! And, as Dickson always warns, "don't try this at home!"

Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: Girlfriend Slam Dunk

Is you girlfriend super tiny? Do you love all things basketball? Want to see something the two of you can enjoy together? Check out this video of what appears to be a cheer stunt gone potentially wrong. I think my favorite part (other than the fact that the lucky girl actually made it throught the hoop) is that she clearly bumped her noggin a little on the rim and the guys are whoopin' and hollerin' like they won the NCAA tournament when she - the one who actually served as the focal point of the stunt - stands back rubbing her head.

Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: Tortoise Ride

There are no words. Not for this video or for why I couldn't stop watching it. Perhaps they should add this to the 1000 Awesome Things site from earlier this month.

Sergio del Limonar

YOUTUBE: 4-Chord Song (The Axis of Awesome)

I've had Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" stuck in my head for what seems to be an eternity. It'll go away, only to come back at the least opportune time - like on a run or while riding the bus when I have no other music options to distract me. Maybe its because it is written in one of the keys that good pop songs come in since "all the greatest hits...just use four chords."

This according to Australian musical comedy trio The Axis of Awesome. Their routine 4-Chord Song will affirm this idea. Using just four chords the group rapidly moves through close to 40 pop hits spanning a large number of years. Everything from classic rock band Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" to current hip-hop group 3OH!3's "Don't Trust Me" are represented. The only acts that might be a little obscure are the Australian musicians who are relatively unknown outside of the continent down under like Missy Higgins and Kasey Chambers (although Aussie Natalie Imbruglia's hit "Torn" makes a recognizable appearance.

Sergio del Limonar