05/2010 ~ Tech Toxic

5.31.2010

The Top 20 Viral Videos of All Time

7:39 PM

Dr STUD

Chocolate Rain

“Chocolate Rain” is a simple video — Tay Zonday, the video's singer and star, stands at his microphone and belts out a strange song about, well, a rain made out of chocolate. Text on screen (written by Zonday after he filmed himself singing the song) makes fun of the song and the video itself. Words can't really describe how strange this video truly is.

Numa Numa

"Lip-dubs" is a genre of viral videos that's defined by someone on screen lip syncing to a song that's playing in the background. Numa Numa is the mother of all "lip-dubs."The video's creator and star, overweight and quirky Internet celebrity Gary Brolsma, taped himself singing along to Moldovan pop group O-Zone's song "Dragostea din tei." The combination of the incredibly strange song and Brolsma's weird dance moves made the video an instant Internet sensation that has spawned several imitators, but nothing beats the original.

The Star Wars Kid

Star Wars Kid

Watching the Star Wars Kid is like driving by a car accident—you'd like to look away, but you can't. The video stars a reluctant and overweight French Canadian teenager who filmed himself performing light saber moves used by Darth Maul in the film Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Like a lot of viral videos, this one will have you howling while you're watching it but will make you feel bad when it's over.

Lazy Sunday

“Lazy Sunday” is comedy rap video by Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell about two guys having a boring, lazy Sunday that originally appeared on Saturday Night Live in December of 2005. Once the video made it to the then-fledgling video website YouTube, the popularity of both “Lazy Sunday” and YouTube exploded.

Afro Ninja

Actor/stuntman Mark Hicks' audition tape—in which he falls flat on his head, gets back up and attempts to use a pair of nunchucks until he falls back onto the floor—has been viewed over 80 million times and remains one of the funniest and most satisfying viral videos ever.

Evolution Of The Dance

Stand-up comedian and motivation speaker Judson Laipply's routine, "Evolution Of The Dance," holds the slot for the most viewed video on YouTube, with 120,364,195 views (as of 5/28/09). The clip is just as the title suggests: Laipply, within the span of 6 minutes, takes a live audience (and the YouTube viewer) through the evolution of dancing through time.

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent

Susan Boyle

Scottish singer Susan Boyle's appearance on a 2009 episode of the TV show Britain's Got Talent truly was a viral sensation—the clip received over 60 million views in just over a month. In the clip, the slightly overweight and frumpily dressed Boyle is set up in the clip to be an embarrassing joke. But, unlike most viral videos, the tables have been turned and this time, the subject of the video, Boyle, triumphantly sings "I Dreamed A Dream" from the musical Les Miserables.

Rick Astley-Never Gonna Give You Up

Rick Astley

Thanks to a very common Internet prank called Rickrolling, the music video for singer Rick Astley's 1987 song "Never Gonna Give You Up" is one of the most viewed viral videos ever. Rickrolling is a simple prank—the prankster convinces his or her victim to click a link, telling them it's going to be one thing (like a funny video, an interesting news story, or whatever might interest the victim). But when the prank's victim clicks the link, they are taken to the music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up." That person has just been "Rickroll'd."

Iron Mic: Eli Porter vs. Envy

Eli Porter

Not much is known about the stars of this viral video that was taped in 2003 but appeared on the Internet in the fall of 2007. We do know that made for a high school public access network and that is quite possibly the worst rap battle ever recorded. Both rappers are terrible, but where Envy is standard-issue bad, it's Eli Porter's strange and misguided performance that shot this video to viral video status.

Little Superstar

This scene from a 1990s Indian film is simple but nonetheless quite amazing. In it, the titular "Little Superstar" figure, an incredibly talented child dancer, break-dances to the Madonna song "Holiday" with a skill that eclipses most adult break-dancers, let alone other children dancers. Thanks to the child's adult-like motions, the clip is both rather funny and fairly freakish.

OK Go - Here It Goes Again

OK Go's music video for their song "Here It Goes Again" was probably cheap to make—it's done in one location, with one single shot and only eight props. But thanks to those eight props -- eight treadmills -- and an injury-defying coordinated dance involving them, the clip has made the rare jump from music video to viral video.

David After Dentist

David Goes To The Dentist

Videos of kids who are drunk or high on drugs would probably be sort of funny, but mainly just wrong. But the viral video “David After Dentist,” in which a 7-year-old kid named David is hopped up on the dentist's gasses after a visit to get some teeth pulled? That's comedy gold.

Diet Coke + Mentos

Who knew when you combined Diet Coke with Mentos it'd create a geyser-like spray of foam? Well, thanks to the Diet Coke + Mentos viral video, we can know and enjoy that fact without having to ruin a perfectly good bottle of Diet Coke.

All Your Base Are Belong To Us

Thank goodness for whichever horrible Japanese-to-English translator was working on the video game Zero Wing. Thanks to him or her, we have the wonderful and rather hilarious viral video "All Your Base Are Belong To Us." The clip is a cut scene from the game that's meant to be dramatic, though the drama and emotion of the scene is completely ruined by the horribly broken English. There are a few versions of the clip, but the most popular has a techno remix tailed on the end, for good measure.

Leave Britney Alone!

Chris Crocker

International pop superstar Britney Spears was going through a rough patch in the fall of 2007. She had gone through a divorce, shaved her head, had a dismal appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards and released an album that was savaged by music critics everywhere. So Britney Spears super-fan Chris Crocker took to the Internet to tearfully beg everyone to, as the clip's title suggests, leave Britney Spears alone. The emotion that Crocker conjures up in this clip is what made the video shoot to viral status—it's like watching a 2-year-old have a meltdown, except it's a 20-something and its on the Internet. Like the Star Wars Kid, this is one of those clips you wish you could look away from but just can't.

Leprechaun In Mobile, Alabama

When a local news station in Mobile, Alabama sent a reporter to film a segment on some Leprechaun sightings they found a perfect storm scenario for making a viral video. Just watch.

Bubb Rubb and Lil Sis

A TV news reporter in Oakland was sent to investigate a new automotive trend where people get mufflers that whistle loudly and annoyingly. What he found was one of the funniest interview subjects ever—as Bubb Rubb himself would say, "Whoop whooooop!"

Bill O'Reilly Flips Out

The Fox News Channel anchor Bill O'Reilly used to be an anchor for Inside Edition. And, in this vulgar but hilarious out-take from O'Reilly's "Inside Edition" days, he loses his cool. In a BIG way.

The Landlord

When comedy legends Will Ferrell and Adam McKay started a video website called Funny Or Die, they decided to kick things off with a video of their own, called "The Landlord." The premise is simple: Ferrell's landlord is a 2-year-old child, who happens to be Adam McKay's daughter Pearl. A 2-year-old cursing at the biggest comedy star in the world?

7:38 PM

Dr STUD

Source

Want to get involved with social shopping but don't know where to start? These 7 essential social shopping websites will get you started whether you are interested in window-shopping on the web, getting product reviews, getting involved in a shopping community, keeping up with the latest fashion trends, or mainly focused on designer fashions.

Call it social shopping or shopping 2.0, these social shopping websites will hook you into a community to help guide your web shopping.

1. Kaboodle

What's to like: Kaboodle is a social network based on shopping and can put you in touch with other shoppers who have similar interests in products. Kaboodle also features product reviews, and as you grow to know the community, the product reviews become more relevant since you'll recognize some of the reviewers. A handy bookmark allows you to recommend your own products as you browse the web.

Visit the Website

2. MyItThings

What's to like: A fashion magazine created by the community, MyItThings goes beyond just shopping by giving you a virtual closet to show off what you have bought and a space to review your favorite products or even your favorite books, movies or music. It's a social shopping website and community-based dynamic magazine for the fashion-aware.

Visit the Website

3. Zebo

What's to like: A social shopping website that focuses on chatting with other social shoppers, getting tips, and browsing products, Zebo stands out by allowing you to ask the serious questions like what shoes go best with what dress. The "This or That" poll lets you post pictures and ask the community which they prefer, so if you can't decide which blouse to buy, or are wondering which necklace to wear out on a date, Zebo's there to help you.

Visit the Website

4. ProductWiki

What's to like: ProductWiki is a fantastic wiki resource for shoppers. Not only does it give you access to product reviews, it also lets you compare prices. Perhaps the best feature is the pros and cons which not only let you quickly see the good and the bad of the product but also, because you can also see how many people agreed or disagreed with each pro or con, you can see how accurate the pros and cons are.

Visit the Website

5. ShopStyle

What's to like: If you are into designer fashions, ShopStyle is the social shopping site for you. ShopStyle is like shopping the world's best boutiques where you can shop for thousands of brands from fashion names like Barneys New York and Lisa Kline Los Angeles. And not only can you shop fashion, you can also create your own stylebook and share it with others.

Visit the Website

6. Woot

What's to like: Woot only sells one product a day in what is called a "woot off." During the woot off, the community gives feedback for the item. For avid shoppers, it's a great site to check on each day for a good deal or just a quick, fun purchase.

Visit the Website

7. Iliketotallyloveit

Social News for Shopping - Iliketotallyloveit

What's to like: Described as a Digg for shoppers, Iliketotallyloveit allows you to add products, vote on products, and see what is popular and what is just around the corner. You can also limit products by type or by price range.

Visit the Website

7:35 PM

Dr STUD

Social networking websites have been around since the mid-90's, but in recent years, social networking has exploded across the web. The Web 2.0 initiative has made modern social networking sites increasingly popular and easier to use than the initial wave of sites that launched in the 90's.

Last year, Facebook surged past MySpace to become the most popular social network. Flixster also gained ground, overtaking Classmates, and LinkedIn rose in popularity as more people focused on their jobs. And while Twitter is as much of a social messaging platform as a social network, it has definitely led an invasion into the top social networks over the past two years.

op Social Networking Sites - General Interest

Facebook: Founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was designed as a social networking site for Harvard students. After spreading from Harvard through the university ranks and down into high school, Facebook was opened to the public in 2006. Why Facebook?
MySpace: Started in 2003, MySpace was a driving force in popularizing social networking and still maintains a large userbase. A highly customizable social network, MySpace continues to reposition itself in the industry. Create a Flashy MySpace Profile
Twitter: What started out as a microblogging website has quickly grown into a social messaging platform and one of the top social networks in the world. Twitter is phenomenon that transcends social networking to provide an outlet for news, trends, buzz, and chat among many other uses. 10 Great Uses for Twitter
Ning: A social network for creating social networks, Ning takes the idea of groups to a whole new level. The ability to create your own community makes Ning a great home away from home for organizations and groups looking to fill the social void. How to Create a Social Network on Ning
Top Social Networking Sites - Special Interest
Flixster: With a tagline of "stop watching bad movies," Flixster combines social networking with movie reviews.
Last.fm: Billing itself as a social music site, Last.fm allows members to create their own radio station that learns what the person likes and suggests new music based on those interests. In addition to this, you can listen to the radio stations of friends and other Last.fm members.
LinkedIn: A business-oriented social network, members invite people to be "connections" instead of "friends." Linkedin is a contact management system as well as a social network, and has a question-and-answer section similar to Yahoo! Answers.
Xanga: A social blogging site that combines social networking elements with blogging. Members earn credits for participating in the site and can spend credits on various things such as buying mini-pictures to post in the comments of a friend's blog.
Top Social Networking Sites - International Sites
Badoo: Based in London, Badoo is one of the top social networking sites in Europe.
Migente: A social networking site targeted at Latin America.
Orkut: Originally created by Google to compete with MySpace and Facebook, it has mainly caught hold in Brazil.
Studivz: A German version of Facebook with a strong audience in students.

7:32 PM

Dr STUD

Source
There are a lot of great uses for Twitter, but perhaps one of the best is as a source for humor. While there are plenty of funny comedians and actors on Twitter, some of the funniest accounts are by ordinary folks posing as famous people or fictional characters. So this list funny Twitter accounts takes in a big handful of these not-so-real accounts along with a few must-have humor accounts.

@TheOnion. We might as well start with the obvious. If you are a fan of satirical humor, there's no reason why you shouldn't be following The Onion. It's the quick and easy way to get your daily does of satire.
@FunnyOrDie. The brainchild of Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, FunnyOrDie might be the funniest website on the Internet, and their Twitter account makes it easy to follow their funniest videos.
@badbanana. And if we are going to make a list of funny Twitter accounts, we might as well include the perhaps the funniest person on Twitter. Tim Siedell might just want to give it all up and become a billionaire, but until someone offers him that job (and I applied for that position too!), we'll have his tweets to read.
@Stewie. Okay, enough with the real people and websites. If you want an occasional blast of fictional funny, Stewie is "working on ways to use Twitter for the whole world domination thing..."
@Broslife. nce you start following @Broslife, you'll be ready to star in your own sitcom called How I Met Barney Stinson on Twitter.
@Darthvader. First he brought peace to the galaxy, now he's bringing peace to Twitter. Thank goodness we have his dark benevolence watching over us!
@FrodoBaggins. Want to know what it was like to hang out with Gandalf? Want someone to end that longstanding debate on whether Gollum smells more like dead fish or burnt flesh? Let Frodo give you the inside scoop.
@Edgar_Allan_Poe. He's been dead for 161 years, but he can still correct your grammar in 140 characters or less.
@michael_bay. I'm pretty sure Michael Bay believes every star in Hollywood owes their fame to him and one of his short-on-story-but-long-on-explosions epics. Find out what he really thinks about the world.
@FatherKelly. Imagine you joined the priesthood and then a few decades later decided you might not have made the best decision, but it's a little too late for a career change. What would you do? Perhaps moan about it on Twitter.

And while we are on the subject of Twitter, you might as well visit historical tweets, which takes a look at what some of the most famous people in history might have tweeted.

Video of SWAT Raid on Missouri Family

9:17 AM

Dr STUD

SWAT team breaks into home, fires seven rounds at family's pit bull and corgi (?!) as a seven-year-old looks on.

They found a "small amount" of marijuana, enough for a misdemeanor charge. The parents were then charged with child endangerment.

So smoking pot = "child endangerment." Storming a home with guns, then firing bullets into the family pets as a child looks on = necessary police procedures to ensure everyone's safety.

Just so we're clear.

Now there's video, which you can watch below. It's horrifying, but I'd urge you to watch it, and to send it to the drug warriors in your life. This is the blunt-end result of all the war imagery and militaristic rhetoric politicians have been spewing for the last 30 years—cops dressed like soldiers, barreling through the front door middle of the night, slaughtering the family pets, filling the house with bullets in the presence of children, then having the audacity to charge the parents with endangering their own kid. There are 100-150 of these raids every day in America, the vast, vast majority like this one, to serve a warrant for a consensual crime.

But they did prevent Jonathan Whitworth from smoking the pot they found in his possession. So I guess this mission was a success.

I've exchanged emails with the mother of the family, who was in the home at the time of the raid. I'm waiting on her permission to publish her account of what happened.

9:15 AM

Dr STUD

Source
While this post is meant to be humorous, it isn't meant to be humorous at the expense of my fellow designers. I know we all try to do what is best for our games, so don't take offense guys! It's just pining for a simpler time…

If Mario was first designed in 2010, he'd probably have to adopt some of our modern trends.

Thirty minutes later…

Maybe this warp pipe is safe.

9:01 AM

Dr STUD

Click here for the hi-res photo. It’s just awesome.

5:18 AM

Dr STUD

Source
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A good guide book

Step 1

First things first, check the travel advisories as www.travel.state.gov before you leave home to get the latest information on the place you're visiting ... for most people and most trips, this is no big deal, but you can register your trip with the relevant embassy(s) on this site just in case something happens.
Step 2

Next, empty your wallet before you leave home. Put back in your license, health insurance card, and up to 2 ATM and 2 credit cards. Everything else is better off at home. Write down the numbers of the cards you are taking and the phone numbers for the companies on the backs of the cards but do not write your name or address on it. Put this in a place separate from your wallet. Make photocopies of your passport. The idea here is that at all times, your original passport and your card numbers should stay either in a hotel safe or locked in your luggage. You will carry with you the photocopy and the real credit cards. Call your credit card companies before you leave. You don't want them putting a freeze on your accounts because to them it looks like irregular activity when you're abroad.
Step 3

Before you arrive, have a plan of where you are going and how you will get there. The last thing you want to do is be fumbling with all your luggage, a guide book, and papers with reservations on them when trying to find a cab. If you take a taxi, only ever get an official one from the registered stands. Once you arrive at your hotel, check in and get any maps they may have. Do not be concerned if they don't return your passport right away. In some countries, such as Italy, they routinely hold it for the first night in accordance with laws requiring the registration of foreign guests with the local police. This is part of why you brought photocopies.
Step 4

When you go out, have a plan for where you are headed. It is always preferable if you do not carry a map or guidebook in plain view. Try covering your guidebook before you go. It can be fun to wander and explore new places, just don't do it alone after dark. Carry with you the name, address, and phone number of where you are staying so you can communicate where you want to go.
Step 5

Finally, with money - whenever you can, use your credit card. That way if something goes wrong, you can always all the company as a recourse. For cash, use local ATM's - use ATM's attached to banks during the bank's hours of operation. When a foreign ATM eats your card, you really are going to want someone to be able to help you. The rates you will get charged on your cards, both ATM and credit, are lower than those you would pay for travelers checks or to exchange cash. Using your cards is simpler, cheaper, and safer so long as you followed my advice about calling the companies and copying the numbers for safekeeping. And, if you can bear it, men should not carry their wallet in their back pockets, and women should not carry a purse. Use any satchel you prefer, but carry cash, credit cards, and anything of value in front of you, across your body, and preferably, under clothing.

5:14 AM

Dr STUD

Source
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Local Guidebooks
Travel Books
Cups

Step 1

Research before you go. Buy travel books, read Web sites, obtain travel brochures. Learn about the country you are about to visit.
Step 2

Buy a pocket language dictionary. Make sure it has a listing for common foods that you may find in a local restaurant.
Step 3

Contact local vegetarian societies once you arrive at your destination. Many countries have them, and they can help you find veg-friendly establishments.
Step 4

Ask around. Ask other vegetarians for tips on their experiences in a certain country. Ask veggie support groups. Put up notices on bulletin boards before you leave for your trip.
Step 5

Be creative. If there's nothing on the menu, order a few side dishes. Ask for the potatoes, salad and stewed beets, for example. Create your own meals.
Step 6

Buy food at local markets. Make up your own sandwiches. Buy bread, veggies and a bottle of water and have a picnic at the park.
Step 7

Bring your own supplies, such as utensils, cups, etc., along with you on your trip. You will then be prepared for picnics and other make-your-own meals.
Step 8

Be flexible. If you are going to Paris, you will find all the veggie food you want. But if you are going to Mongolia, the choices may be quite slim. You may have to alter your eating habits if you wish to eat. For example, if you are a strict vegan, you may have to eat cheese or drink milk, as nothing else may be available.
Step 9

Choose your vacations wisely. If you are a strict vegan, you may have to forgo certain types of trips, such as rugged expeditions that allow for limited provisions.
Step 10

Alert hosts in advance. If you are going to be a guest overseas, such as an exchange student, let the host or organization know you are a vegetarian. They will be able to accommodate you better once you arrive.
Step 11

Book a trip with a tour operator that specializes in vegetarian travel. There are many operating now. Ask a travel agent, or check with vegetarian resources.

5:13 AM

Dr STUD

Source
# Along with becoming a parent comes the responsibility of making good choices for your child. One of the most important choices when it comes to your baby is what to feed him or, more importantly, what not to feed him. Certain foods can cause great harm to babies, and some can even prove fatal. It is important for parents to talk to their family pediatrician about when to introduce babies to certain foods, because each child is different. Family history can help a doctor determine what foods might cause an adverse reaction in babies.
Choking Hazards
# According to Consumer Reports, food is the number one choking hazard for children, especially in those younger than five. There are various foods that should not be given to children under this age including grapes, raw carrots, raw apples, celery, raisins, potato chips, popcorn, pretzels, hot dogs, sausages, frozen bananas, gum, gummy bears, peanut butter, cheese, caramel, fruit leather, spaghetti and hard foods like chicken, steak and other meat that has bones in it.
Foods that Can Cause Severe Reactions
# Certain foods should be avoided until a baby reaches a certain age. Peanuts, strawberries and shellfish can bring about a life-threatening allergic reaction. These foods should not be given to children until they are at least two years old. Citrus fruits are acidic and should not be given to babies under 12 months to avoid an upset stomach. Avoid giving cow's milk to babies under one year of age, as their stomachs can't properly digest it. Broccoli and beans are gassy foods, and should not be given to infants younger than 6 months. Honey can cause botulism in children younger than one.
Unhealthy Foods
# Some foods don't cause allergies or severe reactions, but they are just altogether unhealthy and shouldn't be given to children. Adding extra sugar and salt to a baby's food isn't necessary, so avoid these substances when preparing your baby's meals. Never offer your baby deep-fried food or fast food. Some parents may be tempted to give their babies french fries because they're soft and easy to eat, but all that grease isn't good for infants. Babies should never be given soft drinks in their bottles. These sugary drinks often contain caffeine and offer no nutritional value whatsoever.

Double Meaning

11:21 PM

Dr STUD

All this photos has something in common, most of them are from Russia or made by Russians. The thing is common is… well everyone can figure out this by himself, probably.

Russian people - strange situations 2